InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Nightwalker ❯ Decisions ( Chapter 11 )

Sovereignty, you were the ONLY one who understood my message in that last chapter! That is why THIS WHOLE CHAPTER is dedicated to you! Thank you for taking the time to learn about the Armenian Genocide, or even noticing. Thank you SO MUCH! I'm trying to raise awareness about it, and I'm so glad that at least ONE person noticed. I was a bit offended when no one remarked about that, but hey, I'm so happy that one person noticed. T_T I actually teared up.

 

Let me take a moment to clarify something.

 

BOTH Narek and Lilliana suffered through the same thing! They are BOTH hurt from the same past. The only difference is that Narek took a darker view of it, while Lilliana, though she hates what they did, decides to try and make things for the better.

 

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha, he belongs to Romiko Takahashi. However, Rukiya, Narek, Lilliana, Claire, Natalia, Christiano, Bill and Albier are all MINE! Especially Narek!

 

Also, this chapter takes a bit of a lighter tone, courtesy of our comic relief agents: Claire and Albier. I thought it would be nice after that last gloomy and dark update. Someone also suggested that after I reveal the histories of my original characters I should place Character Bios in the next chapter. What do you think?

 

 

 

Part Eleven: Decisions

 

 

“I don't appreciate this, Fenrir.” He said, throwing the bloody carcass at her feet. She looked up, unaffected, from filing her long, sharp nails. She spared the body a brief, uncaring glance before settling back to her hands. “ And your point is?” She said quietly.

 

“What do you plan to do with all this meat? Throw in one the streets like you have been doing? You're sloppy for a woman.” He said, nudging the body before walking past the heap of corpses that lay to waste in the dark alleyway. Fenrir looked about her, as though the grotesque sight was nothing.

 

“And you're too clean for a man. I hear that your prey have no marks whatsoever.” She slipped off the pile of flesh she had been using as her seat and walked toward him, her red eyes dissecting his green ones. He held completely still and silent, watching her warily.

 

“In fact, Narek, I hear that you don't hunt anyone at all. How do you manage to stay alive then?” Fenrir barred her fangs in a snide smile as she circled around him.

 

“I bite.” Narek's eyes changed to their autumn gold for emphasis. He gave her his back, looking into the sky as the wind swept through the alley. “The difference between you and me: is that I don't like to leave bodies behind. I don't like to make a mess.” His words hung in the air and Fenrir shrugged. “And,” he turned, “ I don't like drawing attention to myself.”

 

Fenrir smiled in false innocence. “Who said I was looking for attention? I'm just hunting. You're in no position to chastise me. You lost that human wench to none other then the very humans you despise.”

 

Narek did not reply, his face devoid of emotion. Fenrir surveyed him. His shoulder had long since healed, the wound closed. She suspected he might have been infuriated when losing his kill to humans of all things. However, Narek remained handsomely stoic and devious.

 

A long mute came between them. He closed his eyes as Fenrir spoke next. “Have I struck a nerve?”

 

Narek looked upon her, a dark smile on his face, his fangs shining through. “Oh, have you? It's a momentary setback. I've never left those I track behind.” The next instant he was gone and Fenrir cursed him. His calm face and how he never emitted anything other then clever mockery and seriousness made it impossible to see into his mind, much less guess what he was thinking, but it didn't matter, Fenrir told herself, she would have want she wants. She always did.

 

 

 

Sango was having a bad morning. There wasn't a single word about Kagome's attacker. It was beginning to get tedious. To top things off, the disappearances along with murders, all in one night, were getting more frequent. Several people reported that their loved ones never returned home. It was one thing to find a deceased body, quite another not to find one at all. Not to mention that her search for Kagome carried no results so far. If she didn't know any better, she would say that Kagome was a nightwalker herself.

 

She rubbed her forehead tiredly as she sat at her desk. The upheaval from last night's fiasco was chaotic. Richard may have looked calm on the surface, but his negative presence made even Miroku flinch when he had ordered them to look into the murders this morning. So what now? How were they supposed to fight an enemy that had the entire nighttime darkness as their arsenal? How could they defeat something that moves like the shadows and is quick like the wind? It was pure luck that the nightwalker of the previous night hadn't sensed them. It was chance that they managed to save Kagome, just by walking by that alley.

 

Sango rubbed her temples. She was mentally and physically exhausted. This was the third night in the row that she had not slept at all. A knock was heard at the door and she gave an unladylike grunt to allow entrance. Seconds later, Miroku came in.

 

“Have you been here all night?” He asked, placing his hands on her shoulders.

 

“Did you hear or find anything?” Sango asked, whipping a watery eye with her palm.

 

“No.” Miroku sighed. “Unfortunately. Things are getting out of hand aren't they?” Sango gave a large yawn.

 

“Why don't you just sleep for a couple hours?” He offered, placing a key in front of her face. “My office has a sofa.”

 

Sango sent him a suspicious look. “I'm your partner, not your bedmate, Miroku.”

 

“I know that. You are misunderstanding me. For once, I have no sexual intentions.”

“I find that hard to believe.”

 

“I can be chivalrous. You're not only my partner, you're my good friend, and I worry about you. I may be not be as dedicated to protecting the city, but at least I can help you wind down, even if it's not in the way I prefer.”

 

Sango smiled and took the key. “Richard won't be happy to hear that I'm slacking off.”

 

Miroku shrugged, a smile on his face. “That's why you have me. I can cover for you. Besides, there's only a big meeting we both have to attend today at one. I'll wake you up then. You just go and relax. It's dawn and it's too early for work.”

 

Sango gave him a quick hug. The force of her movement caused him to stumble backward a bit, but he returned her gesture with gusto, which resulted in a slap in the face. “If you touch my ass the next time I hug you, if I hug you, I might rip off your fingers.” Sango growled as she stepped away.

 

Miroku gave a guilty smile, patting the sore spot on his cheek. “Hey, you can't blame me for getting one last one out of my system.”

 

 

 

Next time, she's not leaving the curtains open because not only was that light hot, it was hurting her eyes as she slowly opened them. Without really thinking, Kagome made it across the room, pulling the drapes closed. She limped toward the bed, passing her watch on the counter. She picked it up, running her fingers over the circular frame. Was that a two or a seven? As her eyes adjusted, Kagome read the proper time: two thirty in the afternoon. The last time she had slept that late was in high school.

 

Kagome sighed. It was Saturday, which meant that if she went strait to Inuyasha to complain about being here rather then home, he could give her the reply that was already in her mind. Besides, she thought, she was too weak from being attacked yesterday. Kagome wondered when she had fallen asleep. The last thing she remembered was…she blushed. Pulling on her clothes, Kagome opened the door to her room. The house looked so foreign in daylight. The marble made everything glow.

 

Kagome was suddenly confused. Should she tiptoe around the house? Was everyone else sleeping right now? She snuck down the steps into the hall, walking toward the parlor, which was empty when she went inside and slumped into a chair.

 

What would happen now? She was in danger of Inuyasha's enemies, and if she left the house, she was going to by hunted down by the nightwalker hunters to be used as who knows what. Her life was suddenly thrown into a loop. If she couldn't leave, she couldn't go to school.

 

Kagome suddenly scowled. It was all his fault. If he hadn't gone and bitten her, this never would have happened! Her life would be normal, like she wanted it to be. Kagome stared at her toes. There was no point in blaming him now. What's done is done, but what will the future bring?

 

Something jerked Kagome out of her thoughts, making her stand. She headed toward the door to hear the sound of glass breaking for the second time. Heart beating quickly, Kagome rushed into the foyer just in time to see Claire burst out of her room, her skin flushed and her face in a scowl as she stared at something on the ceiling.

 

Following her line of vision, taking in a deep breath of relief, Kagome's eyes caught Albier as he hung upside down from the lights. Kagome felt her heart rate slow. After last night's event she had expected the worst.

 

“Listen doofuss,” Claire pointed at Albier threateningly, “If you don't give me those lyrics right now, I swear-”

 

“That what? You're going to come up here and spank me?” Albier stuck his tongue out at her. Claire looked livid and Kagome had the briefest of seconds to get out of the way because the next instant Claire had jumped and grabbed Albier by the collar of his shirt, throwing him into the floor where he quickly landed on his feet like a cat.

 

“Give me those papers, damn you!” Claire chased Albier around the large room while he taunted her, waving the papers around. With lightning speed, Claire jumped in front of him, snatched the papers from his hand, hooked her arm around his neck, and rubbed her fist hard against his skull.

 

“You're such a brat for someone who is more then forty years old.” She said with glee as she crushed her palm on his crown.

 

“Ow! Claire leggo!” Albier tried to scratch himself out of her grip.

 

“Don't EVER touch my lyrics again you littler twerp!”

 

“Let go of me damn it!”

 

“Say that you'll never touch my stuff again!”

 

“Never!” Albier challenged.

 

“Are you sure about that?”

 

“Knock it off, both of you!” Kagome turned her eyes to the new voice. Claire flinched and slowly turned her head, her eyes locking on her elder brother.

 

Bill stood at the top of the steps, his eye watery as though he just awoke from sleep. Shortly after his appearance, Rukiya and Christiano came out of their rooms, both of them carrying annoyed countenances. Bill marched down the stairs, Rukiya and Christiano following, and physically separated Claire and Albier, hoisting the both of them up the collar.

 

“Oh year, sure, it's great to have the family back together.” Bill rolled his eyes. “My ass. It's not even been twenty fours hours and you two are going at it already!” He glared at Claire, who frowned guiltily, then at Albier, who gave a sheepish smile.

 

“And it's so early too! What's the damn idea waking me up in the middle of the day?” Christiano added from behind Bill.

 

Rukiya came forward, giving Claire a disappointed glance. “You're lucky that Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru are not in the house, otherwise you two would be in the punishment of a lifetime.” She warned darkly, her tone so foreboding that both Claire and Albier became as white as glass.

 

“Rukiya.” Bill began. “When you joke that believingly, even I start to believe you. You don't have to scare them to death. I don't think these two would get that big of a thrashing just for waking up the whole house.”

 

Kagome was about to speak in Albier and Claire's defense when a new voice came into the conversation. “So, do you tell the head of the family that the kids have been misbehaving?” Natalia gracefully came down the steps to stand beside Christiano.

 

In an instant Claire and Albier began throwing the blame at each other. “He went through my stuff and stole my lyrics!”

 

“She almost crushed my head!”

 

“Shut up!” Bill yelled, silencing the two. “What do you think Rukiya? Should we tell?”

 

“I don't see why not.” Rukiya wore a half smug, half irritated smile. “Maybe they will learn to keep quiet when other people are sleeping.”

 

“C'mon Teach! I'm the victim here!” Claire shouted.

 

Christiano came near and flicked Claire on the nose. “Ow! No call for that!” Claire kicked indigently in Bill's hold.

 

“We traveled for miles yesterday and you go and wake us up in the middle of the day. Don't you think you're being rude?” Christiano replied.

 

“I'd have thought you would at least try to be quiet while I'm napping Claire.” Bill scolded. Claire bit her lip and cast her eyes downward. “Sorry Bill.” She mumbled.

 

“And you.” Bill turned to Albier, who gave a momentary cringe, but smiled nervously as though he had been caught stealing a cookie from the jar. “Don't mess around with Claire's stuff. There's a little thing called privacy, you know.”

 

Albier looked to the side. “Sorry.” He said under his breath. “Are…are you guys still going to tell on us?” He asked shyly.

 

Kagome wondered why they were so worried. Inuyasha and his brother couldn't give that bad of a punishment. Could they? Bill placed the two young nightwalkers back on their feet. They looked at Rukiya who shrugged at their hopeful faces.

 

“No, I'm telling on you. Next time though, I may.” She breathed.

 

“Thanks, Rukiya!” Claire clapped her hands together.

 

“Now that that's settled, shall we go back to bed?” Natalia yawned, holding on to Christiano's arm.

 

“Let's.” Bill seconded, and the elder nightwalkers turned up climb the steps to their rooms.

 

Kagome watched Claire stick her tongue out at Albier before he went off to his room. She smiled. They were a family all right. She supposed that Sesshoumaru was the father of sorts. Kagura played mother. Inuyasha was second in command, uncle maybe. Rukiya seemed to posses some authority as well. Bill and Christiano took the roles of cool older brother. Claire and Albier were the cute adolescents while Natalia and Lilliana were the beautiful daughters. Kagome frowned. Where was Lilliana?

 

“Stupid, pain in the butt, lyric stealing, trouble making, annoying brat.” Claire huffed under her breath as she shuffled through the papers she was holding. Kagome smiled and came forward, patting Claire on the shoulder to get her attention.

 

“Oh, hey Blue. Didn't know you were there.” Claire grinned at her, placing the papers under her arm.

 

“I didn't know that you wrote music.” Kagome stole a glance at the lyrics.

 

“Huh? Oh yeah, I play guitar too.” Claire looked proud. “I used to play the drums, back when Bill would teach me.” She added.

 

“Bill plays the drums? You should form a family band.” Kagome laughed.

 

Claire shook her head. “Actually, Bill doesn't play anymore. The only one who plays an instrument is me.”

 

Kagome walked around Claire, looking her over. Out of all the people in the house, she and Bill stuck out the most. Claire was flamboyant. Bill was the least elegant looking of the bunch. “Claire,” Kagome looked her in the eye, “you said that you were bitten in 1967. Do you mind if I ask you about your human life?”

 

“Sure. Let's see…” Claire placed her fingers to her chin, concentrating. “I was born in Seattle in 1952. I lived pretty much a normal life: went to school, had friends. My dad left my mom when I was three. I never really had much of a father but Bill was there for me.”

 

“Wait,” Kagome interrupted, “you knew Bill when you were human.”

 

“Bill is my older brother.” Claire answered. “Bill hated my dad for leaving my mom, but he took care of me. Mom would drink all the time because she was lonely. Bill would work to pay the rent. I don't think I ever saw my mom when she was sober. After Bill became eighteen, we moved away from that dingy old house. Mom would beat me. I think she blamed Dad leaving on me. I was still little so I didn't get it at the time. When I was nine, Bill took me to live with him. Mom died shortly after.”

 

“I loved living with Bill. He used to be in a band, and he would invite his friends and they would play in our living room. In the summer we would go on cross country trips.” A nostalgic smile crossed Claire's face.

 

“How did you become a nightwalker?” Kagome asked.

 

“One day, as we were on our way to California, we were crossing a bridge. There was a car accident. The band members died immediately. It was dark and the car that hit us had been speeding. Our van had spun to the side of the bridge and hung just over the edge. Bill and I would have died if it weren't for Inuyasha. I think he had been walking along the bridge when he saw it. He pulled Bill and me out of the van before it fell off the bridge. I was dying, but I was the only one conscious. Inuyasha asked me if I wanted to live. I said yes, and then I was a nightwalker. I begged Inuyasha to let me save Bill and he agreed, so I changed Bill.”

 

“I'm sorry to hear about your mom.”

 

“Don't worry about that.” Claire waved her hand. “Never had good parents. Besides, I have Bill. Now though, I know what it feels like to be apart of a real family.”

 

Kagome couldn't keep herself from asking, “How did you change Bill into a nightwalker?”

 

Claire gave Kagome a sly grin. “You're very clever Blue, but I can't tell you that.”

 

“Why, because Inuyasha has forbidden you to do so?”

 

“Yup.” Claire nodded.

 

Kagome sighed. “C'mon. Claire, please? I've been dying to know how it's done.”

 

Claire sent a calculation look at Kagome. “Is this because you're worried you'll become a nightwalker too?”

 

Kagome fidgeted uncomfortably. “I knew it!” Claire snapped her fingers. “Don't worry. Repeated bites won't turn you into a nightwalker. And the venom won't kill you.”

 

Kagome rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. “But I want to know. Can't you tell me anyway? I'm curious.”

 

Claire scratched her head apologetically. “Sorry Blue, no can do on that one. I promised a vow of silence to Old Gloomy. Too bad you can't read minds. Bet you'd love to pick at his brain.”

 

“What brain?” Kagome chuckled. Claire bit her tongue. “Good one. Don't let him hear that.”

 

 

 

Sesshoumaru stood between his mate and his brother. They faced quite a conundrum. Inuyasha's eyes were closed, and he was silent. Kagura looked about the room with her lips pursed closed. His sighed, trying not to think of his current headache. If only his idiot of a sibling hadn't come in contact with the girl. They already had the constant strain of the revolt against the nightwalker king. Now they had the added difficulty of caring for a human. He leaned away from the wall, his eyes catching those of his mate. “Any ideas?”

 

Kagura cupped her chin her hand. “From what I've noticed this morning, they've started looking for her again. I don't think it would be a good idea to send her home, but imprisoning her here would also bring forth problems.”

 

“She'd skin me alive.” Inuyasha muttered to himself, clicking his teeth. “We have to move on. The equinox is in a few days and we have to be as far away from the cities as possible.”

 

“Narek learns quickly. Letting her loose would subject her to getting caught by him again. He's a strong hunter. No doubt he found her at her home, which would mean that her apartment is no longer safe.” Sesshoumaru mused. That would mean that she could never return home. Inuyasha reflected to himself, thinking that she was never safe in her house to begin with. An inward smile spread over him, but then he scowled at himself. Why was he thinking that?

 

“I don't think it's a good idea to bring her with us. She would be dead weight and in even more danger as we move around, but she'd be in equal danger here.” Kagura sighed. “This is so annoying.”

 

“Also, she'd be leaving her life behind. No doubt that would raise anger on her part.” Sesshoumaru looked at Inuyasha as if saying that said girl's fury would be directed at him.

 

“Actually, Sesshoumaru, I want to ask you something. Do you think it's possible to make a drone of Kagome? So she could somehow live out her life here?”

 

Sesshoumaru stared wide-eyed at his brother. “Make a drone. I suppose we could, but it's still not the best plan.”

 

“So what's our choice?” Kagura asked. “Do you let her stay here? We could assign a family member to watch her. I'm sure they will be more then able.”

 

“That won't help this fool here.” Sesshoumaru pointed at Inuyasha, who sent him a scathing look in return. “Shut up.” He growled.

 

“It would be quite a hassle for Inuyasha to travel back here ever few days to bite her.” Sesshoumaru ignored him.

 

“True. I forgot. We take her with us then? Traveling is tough on a human. It's going to be difficult no matter which we choose.” Kagura groused.

 

“Kagome aside, what do we plan to do next? If we leave, Narek and whoever is with him should leave as well. Should we go back to looking for the bloodstone or do we try to locate our bastard king?” Inuyasha and Kagura looked at Sesshoumaru, waiting for his word.

 

“Some of us will head for the Americas. If Rukiya has any clues for us regarding the bloodstone, we'll go search where she indicates.” He finally spoke.

 

“The Americas? Are we going to Canada? You're referring to the clue that Narek gave to Lilliana. I don't think it's a good idea to listen to what that bastard has to say.” Kagura growled.

 

“Even so, it's the only information we have presently.” Her mate replied. “We should get back to the task at hand: what to do with Inuyasha's little addiction.”

 

Said nightwalker growled, walking across the room and staring out into the sunny afternoon. “She's going to pissed as hell, but I think we should bring her along. I can't keep coming back here to bite her, and I don't like the idea of leaving someone to watch her behind, especially when the King sent Narek to kill her.”

 

“That means we have to make a drone of her.” Kagura added. “Before we go, I think we should see Richard one more time. If Kagome's drone were moving about the city, they would notice sooner or later. To tell him to leave her alone would be best.”

 

“I agree.” Sesshoumaru responded. “We should send his great aunt to have a word with him.”

 

 

 

Sango yawned. The meeting had dragged on for so long and truth be told, she would rather sleep then lead the investigative search for Kagome. The nightwalkers that had visited Richard a few nights ago, the little one Claire and her friend, had said that they stood no chance against the enemies in the city. She was beginning to agree. The best they could do was protect the citizens, but it was a failing cause.

 

She looked down at the folder in her hands, rubbing her eyes. Miroku stole a glance at the packet from her side. “What do you think?” He asked.

 

“About the plan? I don't know. We've already sent some policemen to watch the girl's apartment if she comes home.” She answered.

 

“That's not what I meant.” Miroku shook his head. “I mean, don't you think Richard is taking things to the extreme?”

 

“I'm not so sure about it either. Doing it would be all but impossible.”

 

Miroku breathed in a sigh. Richard's proposal was still plaguing his thoughts. “So,” he changed the gloomy topic, “how was your nap.”

 

“Pleasant. Did anyone know I was sleeping?” She peeked at him from the corner of her eye.

 

“Don't worry about that.” He waved his hand. “I think I'm probably on probation for covering for you.” Miroku smiled weakly.

 

“Sorry.”

 

“Why don't you make it up with dinner?” He put his arm around her shoulder.

Sango smiled and shrugged him off. “Keep dreaming.”

 

Miroku pouted. “Still playing hard to get eh?”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yes, I know it's a shorter chapter, but this is what I could manage with finals and all. I have a final tomorrow and I am SO NERVOUS! I hate history! Anyway, Marry Christmas, Honokaa, Kwanza, or whatever celebration you do in December that I don't know about.