InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Nightwalker ❯ Jeoprady ( Chapter 8 )

All right kids, the bad guys make their move in this chapter. Hold onto your seats because it's going to a dangerous ride.

 

You know, out of all my stories this one is my favorite. ^_^ Anyway, I am greatly thankful for the swell reviews I got last time. I was considering changing this fic back to a one-shot but several of you pulled me out of the slammer. Shizuka Kaze, Sovereignty, and Caitypeach22, this chapter is dedicated to you for your wonderful comments and feedback; you have inspired me. Thank you so much and thanks to my other reviewers as well.

 

To Sovereignty: Yes, I'm a sucker for the oldies. I love Pink Floyd, Nazareth, Queen, basically the classics and Claire was born during that era. I love her outfit. It's funny how you have the same name.

 

To Shizuka Kaze: I totally agree. I don't like the Rin and Sesshoumaru pairings either. I mean, she's a kid and I can't imagine her as an adult. I always thought his character and that of Kagura were made for each other, so thank you for your opinion on that.

 

To Caitypeach22: I'm glad you like my original characters and I'm glad that you have someone you can relate to. I'm so happy that someone likes Rukiya. I've always wanted to have a character that was black. I hope that does not offend you in any way.

 

Warnings: Violence and sexual references. Don't read if you are offended, but this was meant to be a dark-fic.

 

 

 

Part Eight: Jeopardy

 

 

Two beings walked through the city, smiling smugly at the emptiness and the humans' futile attempt to protect themselves. Humans. Foolish humans. The woman snickered, a deathly, dark giggle. “They really believe that this curfew will do them any good? Ah, my sea of corpses, I can't wait.”

 

“I'd be calm if I were you, Fenrir. Less humans mean more authorities and nightwalker hunters.” The handsome man with jade eyes said at her side.

 

Fenrir grinned and came closer to him. “My, my Narek. I didn't realize that you were so intimidated.”

 

Narek looked upon her with his glorious, green eyes, smirking. “Me, afraid of humans? No, but the current status would make hunting rather…irritating. Of course, I wouldn't mind sending a few police blood-bags to the grave.”

 

“You're so bloodthirsty.” Fenrir remarked.

 

“Well I am a nightwalker.” He paused. “The king should arrive by now.” He looked up at the moon.

 

“But we're still stuck here tracking some worthless human.” Fenrir said grumpily.

 

“Oh she has worth all right, a certain nightwalker's life depends on her.”

 

“Whatever. She's as good as dead as soon as one of us finds her. It's a bit of an insult that he wants us to find this wench.”

 

“Insult? When you joined the Nightwalker King, you made a pact never to complain, did you not?” Narek narrowed his eyes at her yet Fenrir remained unfazed.

 

“So what if I did?” Fenrir cast her red eyes over him. “How about we make a bet? If I'm the first to find this woman, I want you to do me a certain…service.”

 

“What kind of service?”

 

Fenrir came close to him, holding onto his arm and whispering in his face, “Win, and you don't have to find out.” She said huskily. Disgusted, Narek pushed her away. She was one of the few nightwalkers whose skin was cold. Though allies, there was no real affinity for this woman. He would much prefer a warmer female.

 

“No thank you. I don't agree to your terms.” He turned. “Don't lose sight of your mission, Fenrir.”

 

“Oh, that's too bad.” Fenrir made a false and hurt pout. “Still prefer your little flower girl?” She smirked when he stopped walking, knowing that she struck a nerve. “Maybe I should wipe out the competition.”

 

Narek rounded on her, his eyes no longer their beautiful green but a vivid orange that was bordering on red. He then smiled and said, “If you end up doing something stupid, Fenrir, I swear, I may just slit that beautiful throat of yours.” Fenrir looked out into the night wide-eyed as Narek vanished.

 

 

 

Kagome sighed tiredly, stretching. “C'mon guys, let's skip on studying today and go out and DO something! I'm so bored!” She stared hopefully at Rika, Tsuki and Yuri across the table. The three girls looked up from their books.

 

“Kagome saying `no' to studying? My god! Run for it, it's the end of the world as we know it!” Rika made a fast motion to stand and pretended to make a break for the exit.

 

“Oh shut up.” Kagome huffed as she sat back down.

 

“Seriously, when was the last time you actually wanted to do something before studying?” Yuri asked.

 

“I just want out, damn it! We're in college; can't we just do something fun? Go to a movie, the mall, something? I'm so tired of this. I've studied, finished all my work and then some. C'mon, let's just go somewhere!” Kagome pleaded.

 

Tsuki and Rika exchanged looks. “You know we would, but with the curfew in place, we can't go anywhere. I mean, catching a movie sounds good but it's already late. Plus I'm so freaked out that I don't even want to be out during sunset.” Rika said. “That dream really freaked me out too. I don't know why I keep thinking about it, but it gives me this feeling that the murders are more than what we think.”

 

“Really.” Kagome grouched. She wished she could tell her friends what she was going through, what happened to her a month and a half ago. Would they believe her if she just said that she was seduced by a handsome nightwalker and that now she was his favorite fruit? What would they think on the subject if she just ran it by them to see their reaction? She desperately wanted normalcy, to go out and do something a girl her age would do.

 

“Yeah,” Rika continued. “Remember that dream you had about that guy coming into your room?”

 

Kagome's heart rate doubled. “Why are you bringing that up now?”

 

“Well, now that I think about it, it's kind of alike: our dreams. I mean, we both dreamed of some kind of out of this world guy. What was he like in your dream?”

 

Kagome blushed. “Well, he didn't threaten me. He was…I felt like I was drawn to him. The dream didn't end there though. It stretched on. Something weird thing about him needing me and how I was in danger.” Why did she continue? Perhaps it was the need to somehow have her friends relate to what she was going through.

 

“So the guy in my dream was violent and the guy in your dream was not.” Rika remarked. “I'd trade my dream for yours.”

 

No you won't. Kagome thought. If Rika really could see what she was experiencing now, her opinion would be completely different. “Still, that's kind of romantic huh?” Tsuki interjected.

 

“What do you mean?” Kagome wondered just what was romantic about being tricked into having sex, and then becoming a prisoner just to stay alive.

 

“I mean, it's not like the guy forced you in your dream right? And if he needs you, isn't kind of, I don't know, satisfying that he would protect you from danger and that he relies on you?” Tsuki explained.

 

“I guess.” Kagome said but she did not agree at all.

 

Yuri breathed such a deep sigh that all three girls looked at her. “That's so sweet. I wish I had a dream like that. All I run into in the university are assholes. I'd be nice if I had a dream to cool my head. I mean, Tsuki, being the prettiest out our bunch gets all the losers too. Are there any decent guys out there?”

 

“That reminds me. Takashi spoke to me.” Kagome said aloud.

 

“SHUT UP! What did he say?”

 

“Nothing important, he turned out to be a total jackass, not at all like-”

 

“Like who?” The girls demanded.

 

Kagome had almost said his name again. What surprised her more was why she had almost said it. Sure Takashi had been a jerk but at least he was human and didn't look at her like she was something to eat…but he did treat her like she was. What was that comment about her being pretty and thinking she was too good for him? Since when was she considered pretty?

 

“Is there someone you met, Kagome?” Yuri smiled snidely.

 

“N-no, not really.” Kagome lied.

 

 

 

Kagome breathed in tiredly as she walked up the stairs to her apartment. In the end it had been too late to go to the movies or any kind of outdoor activity. Ironically, she had two curfews: one from the city that had no idea what they were up against, the other from a very dangerous man who made sure to keep her alive. It wasn't very reassuring.

 

Expecting to see one of Inuyasha's family members in her room, Kagome gasped at the new member standing near her balcony. He wasn't anyone she recognized from the house, but she knew immediately that he was a nightwalker. For one thing, those amazing green eyes of his could not be a human's. They looked like bright, jade gems had been engraved into his pupils. Second, his face was flawless and, besides Inuyasha, he would have been the most beautiful man she had ever seen. His hair was jet black and wavy, framing his strong face. He didn't look feminine at all, rugged and alluring.

 

“Uh, hi.” She walked into her room, placing her bag down. His eyes widened as if he hadn't expected her to speak.

 

“Hello.” His voice was husky and Kagome felt blood rush to her face.

 

“So, um, are you here to get me?”

 

He smiled. “You could say that.”

 

“What's your name?”

 

“Call me Narek.”

 

“Nice to meet you.”

 

“You're Kagome.”

 

“Yeah. You look so…”

 

Narek gave her a curious glance. “I look?”

 

“You look a little bit like Lilliana. You have the same eye and hair color. Are you related? Is she your sister?”

 

Narek laughed. “No, but I do know a lot about her.”

 

“Really, she doesn't talk about herself much. In fact, I hardly ever see her. What do you know?”

 

“I could tell you, but I'm not here to speak about her.”

 

“Right. So, shall we?”

 

Narek gave her a smile. It was a look that would have made her blush, but she felt uneasy for some reason. A deep foreboding presence filled the air, making a shiver run through her bones. She felt cold and knew something was amiss.

 

“Something wrong?” Narek questioned.

 

“Oh, I think I forgot something. I'll be back.” Kagome said as she turned to head into her living room.

 

Narek laughed from behind her. “No you won't. I can smell your restlessness, human.”

 

A voice triggered in her mind. Run. Before she could stop herself, Kagome yanked open her door and rushed outside, feeling the air whip past her face as she jumped down the stairs two at a time, bursting outside and into the orange sky of the setting sun. She breathed in deeply, looking behind her. He was nowhere in sight. Kagome took in a sigh of relief.

 

“Trying to run away?”

 

In a second she was pushed into the side of the building as the sun completely set. In two her upper arm was ripped open and a cry of pain escaped her. Then she looked up into Narek's handsome face, her heart beating fearfully.

 

“You're not one of them are you?” Kagome gritted her teeth, fighting the ache in her arm.

 

“Hmm…” Narek looked into her eyes. “What a strange color. You must be a really satisfying female because your looks aren't much to speak for.”

 

Kagome's face heated. Before she could think, a resounding smack was heard. Narek staggered from the red mark on his face as Kagome jumped over him and rushed across the street. “Oh run, run, it would only make it more fun to catch you.”

 

Her chest heaved, and she could hear his upcoming footsteps. Holding her injured arm, she rushed through the deserted town. The pain seared through her arm, spreading through her body. Her legs felt heavy and her heart felt like bursting, but she pushed herself forward. Running, she wheezed and felt dizzy from the lack of oxygen. Then in a single moment, her ankle twisted and she feel, her chin meeting with the ground. The next instant, she was hoisted up the neck and slammed into the wall of the alley.

 

Kagome's head snapped to the side. Burning and cracking, her back was on fire, her ankle was throbbing, and blood was oozing from her mouth and arm. She looked fearfully at Narek as he smiled at her; his stunning face did not show the monster inside.

 

“I'll make it quick and painless if you don't struggle anymore.”

 

“W-why? Why kill me?”

 

“Because killing Inuyasha has been a dream for all of his enemies. Killing you is the easiest way of killing him. Only if you die a natural death will he be free from his addiction, but if you are killed…Sorry, honey, you just got caught up with the wrong people.”

 

“Well…isn't that…uh…low? You're too afraid t-to confront him…so you attack me?”

 

Narek laughed mirthfully. Kagome took her chance. With all her strength she brought her knee hard into his stomach and he fell forward for only a moment as she attempted to flee, but in the next minute, he had already gotten hold of her again. This time, holding her aloft by the neck, he squeezed his fingers.

 

“Interesting, a human who can defend herself. Or better yet,” he chuckled, “a human woman who can defend herself.” Kagome clawed at the hand at her throat.

 

“So this is your face before you die…too bad he's not here to see this.” Kagome squeezed her eyes shut, refusing to let the tears in her eyes fall as her windpipe was slowly being crushed. Somebody…her vision was becoming blurry. Narek's voice sounded distant now, and black was creeping into her vision. In her distant consciousness, she heard a loud crack and screamed. N-no…

 

Why was the wind touching her face? Why was her body still on fire? Kagome opened her eyes too see Narek gritting his teeth a distance away from her. “Hang in there.” Someone said from behind her. Narek was bleeding. There was a large gash in his shoulder and a hole in his chest. Several other figures appeared in her sight. Who were they?

 

“Stay where you are, demon.” A voice ordered.

 

“How random is this?” Narek hissed. His eyes filled with pain. “You got lucky, saved by nightwalker hunters in the last second.”

 

“Those bullets were filled with poison. Even with your quick healing, it would be dangerous for you!” Another person said.

 

“Heh, I'll see you later. Say hi to Lilliana for me.” Narek jumped into the air. The sounds of gunshots followed his moves, but he was gone, fleeing into the night.

 

Kagome realized that her head was against something soft. She managed to turn her head, her eyes locking onto a familiar face just before the woman called out, “Get an ambulance here! Quick!”

 

“S-Sango?” Kagome croaked.

 

“It's okay. You're going to be okay.” Sango said as she hosted her up. Kagome felt the strength return to her legs. She balanced herself. “I'm fine. I can walk.” Kagome huffed as she steadied herself on her feet.

 

“Did he bite you?” Sango asked.

 

“Don't ask her that now. We need to get her to the base so we can treat those wounds.” A voice Kagome recognized as Miroku made her look for him. He stood a distance away, a rifle in his hands.

 

“H-how,” Kagome breathed in, “how did you find me?”

 

“Patrolling the city. We heard you scream. Are you sure you're alright to stand?” Miroku asked, placing his hand on her shoulder.

 

“I'm fine.”

 

 

 

An hour and a half later, Kagome was sitting in an office of a building she did not recognize with Miroku at her side. They had brought her here, bandaged her arm and ankle, then asked her a series of questions: all of them, she had not been able to answer. She knew now that these were the nightwalker hunters. They were the ones working to protect the humans in the city and though Kagome felt sympathetic to their cause, she could not bring herself to give them her private information.

 

Sango came back into the room, holding what looked like a needle in her hand. She came close to Kagome. “This will help you. Hold out your arm.” Obediently, Kagome did as she asked, feeling the momentary sting from the shot. “There,” Sango said as she pulled the needle out, “that should get ride of any nightwalker venom.”

 

Kagome jumped. “What do you mean ` nightwalker venom?'” she demanded.

 

Miroku answered. “When nightwalkers bite a human, they inject venom into their bodies. We don't know what the venom does or if it has any harmful effects. Research has just begun to see what it does. It's so hard to do research because all we have to go on are the humans who were lucky enough to stay alive after being bitten. All we have been able to do is create universal anti-venom. It also seems that nightwalkers are not immune to any other venom then their own. Those bullets that we shot into your attacker were full of that.”

 

So then, every time Inuyasha would bite her, he would inject venom into her body. That he had been doing this and he didn't tell her made her feel infuriated. That bastard, how dare he not tell her if there was something dangerous about him biting her! She knew there were more things he hadn't been telling her about his addiction!

 

“How do you get this stuff?” Kagome asked, trying to calm the rage and turmoil that had arisen inside of her. The momentary trauma of being attacked by Narek and the indignation of learning about the venom had racked her nerves.

 

“The dead bodies around town all carry them.” Sango answered. “Kagome. We really need your help. What is your connection to the nightwalkers? Why had that man wanted to kill you?”

 

“I don't know! I never even heard of nightwalkers till you mentioned it.” Kagome lied. For some reason, she could not tell them at all about Inuyasha. She could not open her mouth and say that she was now a dependence for some creature and that his family was protecting her, but she wanted freedom, and she wanted to ask Sango and Miroku if they could protect her and keep her away from Inuyasha's enemies. Even so, she couldn't, no matter how much she wanted to burst and tell them everything, she couldn't.

 

She wanted genuinely to be free of all of them, Inuyasha, his enemies, but somewhere in her knowing mind a voice said that it was impossible to escape this new reality. She wanted to know if she could get away from nightwalkers in total, to be free again and return to her life but…

 

“He'll come after for me.” Kagome thought aloud. She was sure he would, even though she hoped that he wouldn't, because he needed her. There was no way he'd leave her alone.

 

“We won't let him take you, don't worry.” Miroku assured, possibly thinking that Narek was who she was referring to.

 

“We're talking about a guy who can lift a car and hurl it across the road here. I don't think you can stop him.”

 

“The man that attacked you, have you seen him before?” Sango asked.

 

“No.” Kagome replied truthfully.

 

“You've been bitten more then once and you've survived. Kagome, we must make sense of this if we are to protect the people in the city. If there is anything you know, please tell us.” Sango coaxed.

 

“I can't help you. I don't even know much of what's going on. I'm sorry.” There were so many things about the nightwalker realm that she didn't understand. Inuyasha had made it a point to keep her in the dark, and how could she give them knowledge about things her mind refused to give?

 

Sango rose from her seat and walked out. Miroku took in a deep, unhappy sigh. “What's wrong?” Kagome asked.

 

“So much work to do and I don't get any alone time with her.” Miroku mumbled.

 

“You two are more than partners huh?” Kagome asked.

 

Before Miroku could answer, Sango walked back in, holding a hot mug. “Richard wants to see her.” Sango said.

 

Without really thinking, Kagome stood and followed the pair of them to a bigger office. A man stood behind the large desk in the center, waiting patiently as the three came in. “Please to meet you, Kagome Higurashi.” Richard said as he came up and shook her hand.

 

“How do you know my name?” Kagome demanded.

 

“We've been investigating about you for some time. We are in desperate need for your aid.”

 

“I'm not going to be some test subject so you can find out what nightwalker venom does to a person.” She voiced her opinions right then and there. Strangely, she seemed bolder around people now that she knew just what nightwalkers were capable of.

 

“Oh, of course not. We wouldn't dream of it.” Richard offered her a chair and she slumped down into it, ignoring the momentary spasm that her injured ankle gave.

 

“We need to know who it was that bit you first.” Kagome's heart jumped.

 

“I don't remember.” She said.

 

“Are you certain?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Not even in a dream?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Richard sighed then asked, “Do you know if you were bitten more then once? By different nightwalkers?”

 

“If I didn't even remember who bit me first, how could I know if I was bitten by two different people?”

 

“Did you notice the mark on your neck?”

 

“I did, but I thought it was a mosquito bite.” Richard placed his hand on his forehead tiredly. Kagome felt slightly guilty, but she didn't trust them for some reason.

 

Just then a woman rushed into the room. “Richard, sir!” She panted. “There is a nightwalker here to see you!”

 

“A nightwalker?” Sango exclaimed.

 

“Shall we let her in?” The woman asked.

 

Richard stood and nodded toward Miroku who followed the woman out of the room. Kagome's heartbeat began to increase in its frequency. It didn't help the next moment when Claire followed Miroku into the room. For the briefest moment here eyes latched onto Kagome and she winked. Kagome fidgeted and looked about the room. It didn't seem that anyone else had noticed.

 

“Hey there, Rich, how are you?” Claire said as she walked up toward the table. Richard stared at her wearily. “Is there a reason you are here Claire?” Richard asked. Kagome's eyes widened. Just what was Richard to Claire.

 

“Poo, did anyone teach you respect at all? Here I am, coming to visit and you don't even get up to give you dear, old aunt a hug.”

 

“AUNT!” Kagome yelled so loudly that everyone, including Claire, stared at her. She blushed. “She's your aunt? But she's a kid!” Kagome improvised.

 

“You're asking for too much, Claire.” Richard spoke to Claire in English.

 

“Dude, all I wanted was for you to show some compassion.” Claire replied in the same tongue.

 

“Is it okay if I skip this weird family reunion?” Kagome caught Richard's eye.

 

“Very well, I'm finished. You may leave.” Kagome bowed and turned to exit the room. Sango and Miroku's gazes followed her out. Outside, Kagome tried to calm her frantic heart, only to fail as another familiar face appeared.

 

The employees of the building did not see them at all, but Rukiya stood silently behind a large file cabinet. She quickly brought her finger up to her lips as an indication for Kagome to stay calm and quiet. She then pointed toward the door on her right. Kagome looked toward it and back at Rukiya as if to say, “Go there?” Rukiya nodded but Kagome didn't move.

 

This was her chance at independence. She was in a building, safely surrounded by humans who did not want to bite or kill her. She could ask them to hide her, to keep her away from them and be free. Why was she hesitating? Why was something telling her that she could not trust some of the people in this facility?

 

 

Kagome looked across to where Rukiya was hidden and the woman gave her a reassuring smile that drew her in. Kagome walked across the room, opening the designated door. She looked behind her to see that Rukiya had gone.

 

Stepping into the next room, where many people were typing and several doors stood with the letters that said, “Authorized Personnel Only,” she scanned the room and nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Then her eyes found her. Lilliana, pale and watery eyed yet pretty as usual, was hiding underneath an unoccupied desk. She held up her hand, gesturing for Kagome to come closer. Kagome took a few steps before Lilliana gave her the sign to halt. She pointed to the right and Kagome followed her finger till she came upon a doorway. She looked back and Lilliana nodded.

 

Kagome went through the door to find herself in a hallway where more humans were coming and going, some carrying files and others carrying what looked like lab equipment. She found both Lilliana and Rukiya hiding between a few, large, white bags placed in front of the disposal window that led toward the dumpster behind the building. Rukiya pointed toward an elevator on Kagome's right and Lilliana held up her hand showing her two fingers. Kagome mouthed “Second floor” and Lilliana nodded.

 

Walking inside the elevator, Kagome pressed the button for second floor and waited. Finally the “Ting” of the elevator reaching its destination rang and Kagome walked out into a large foyer-like room. There were metal detectors lining the room from left to right, several guards standing next to them. She remembered walking through them when Miroku and Sango brought her here. Kagome scanned the area and did not find anyone she recognized. Then she found him; he was standing on one of the large chandeliers that were hanging from the ceiling, the man that was with Inuyasha that night she found out that her experience was real. She vaguely remembered Inuyasha calling him by name, “Sesshoumaru.” He beckoned for her to go back through the metal detectors and into a door on the left side of the room.

 

Doing as he ordered, Kagome found herself in a stairway. She walked down the stairs to be welcomed into a parking lot. Scanning the area again, her eyes locked on Rukiya, Lilliana, and Sesshoumaru as they crept by the shadows of the room, still silent. Kagome sent them an annoyed look as if asking why they were hiding and Lilliana pointed toward the corner of the lot where a security camera was hanging.

 

Nodding in understand, Kagome waited for Rukiya to point to a glass door on the other side of the lot. Making her way towards it, Kagome saw the three of them vanish as she opened the door and stepped into a dark alleyway behind the building's parking lot. She looked about the darkness, feeling slightly nervous. Then her eyes, her heart racing, attacked to Inuyasha as he concealed himself in the shadows of the alleyway. She made a move to go to him, but he put up his hand, telling her to stop. She sent him an exasperated look and he pointed upward. Kagome noticed another camera perched atop the alley. She looked back at Inuyasha and he pointed toward the exit of the alleyway. Biting her lip, Kagome peered back at him, shaking her head. He rolled his eyes and pointed to himself then to her as if saying that he would be following her.

 

Nodding apprehensively, Kagome followed his line of direction and walked out of the alley into a large, deserted intersection. There weren't even cars coming and going. She wondered how late it was. Turning, she stared at the building she had just come out from. It towered over her, it's glass windows reflecting the moonlight.

 

Shaking from the cold, Kagome walked away from the building and down the street, looking about for anything that might come out and get her. Her ankle slightly sore, her back and arm throbbing a little, she couldn't help herself from looking about her surroundings frantically.

 

Passing a narrow passageway, something shot out, got a hold of her arm and pulled her into the lane. Kagome drew breath in to scream, hoping Inuyasha was nearby as she collided with a burning body. The being's arms held her close and she struggled for a moment before, “Relax it's me.”

 

Recognizing the voice, Kagome looked up to be greeted with Inuyasha's golden gaze. She gasped in a sigh of relief and rested against him, enjoying the feeling of his fiery warmth as she leaned her weight on her unhurt ankle. “Don't scare me like that.” Mentally, physically weak and exhausted, she did not complain or attack him this time as he held her. “You actually came to get me?” She puffed.

 

“You didn't really think that I'd let you escape did you?” As unwelcome as the feeling was, Kagome felt safer and a deep red hue covered her face.

 

 

 

 

 

How's this for update soon? This is my Halloween present for you! Yes, I realize that it was a day early, but I may have plans for Halloween and I also have an astronomy test the following day. I was greatly inspired this time and just wanted to write. I can't promise that updates would be this fast in the future.

 

Also, I have made my favorite bad guy EVER. See if you can guess who.

 

Anyway, please be kind enough to comment, they fuel my overused brain-cells.