InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Nightwalker ❯ Catastrophe ( Chapter 14 )

IMPORTANT! READ PLEASE! Re-read the end of this chapter. Otherwise, you won't understand the next chapter! The end has been extended and the title has been changed! So you've got a LONG chapter ahead!

 

How rude of me to forget this in my last chapter. Ahem. HAPPY NEW YEAR! Yes, yes, Happy 2008! Hope you have a wonderful year!

 

A few of you answered my question about who your favorite nightwalker is. I got a lot of Narek lovers out there. Which really surprised me. (C'mon, what's not to love? Well besides the killing, the sadist torturing, blackmailing…okay moving on. But remember he's MINE!) Claire seems to get a lot of love too!

 

Claire: “Sweetness! I feel loveded!” (Misspelling intended. Pronounced “Love-ed-ded”)

 

@ Angel-up-above-heaven, you got it right! You know who my favorite nightwalker is! Also, you really surprised me. After all the negativity between Lilliana and Kagome, I thought my readers hated Lilliana. It's good to have someone who loves my other favorite nightwalker, especially since I seem to torture her more then the others.

 

@Ookami Siruya, you got it right too!

@ Sovereignty: I don't own you. I own Claire! And you know who my fav is too!

 

 

FIFTEEN! My favorite number you are coming soon! YAY! ^_^

 

Again! If you have a favorite nightwalker, please tell me! I'm conducting a popularity contest! *Giggle*

 

WARNING: Violence, language, and gore. Note that this entire chapter is the battle, a fair warning to you.

 

Disclaimer: Don't own Inuyasha. He belongs to Romiko Takahashi only. But Rukiya, Albier, Chris, Natalia, Bill, Claire (Yes Sovereignty, Claire), Bill, Lilliana and Narek are mine!

 

 

 

 

Part Fourteen: Catastrophe

 

 

It didn't look like there was a battle being fought. Kagome thought as she stared at the silent building Lilliana had led her two. It stood, ominously towering over her just like the night when Sango and Miroku brought her here. There were no sounds of warfare, and the building seemed untouched.

 

Kagome wasn't sure if Lilliana had been ignoring her or if she somehow followed her toward the building without really catching her attention. She new very well about a nightwalker's heightened senses, but it seemed strange to her that several times she'd accidentally knock something over, or sneeze and Lilliana would not notice a thing as she walked a few paces ahead.

 

Kagome didn't know how she had managed to sneak out of her apartment with Kagura and Natalia nearby but she did. She took her chance and ran away via the fire escape next to her balcony. She supposed that the two were busy taking care of Bill to notice that she had left. Perhaps her scent had been overpowered by Bill's blood. She considered the circumstances of her escape lucky. It wasn't long after that Kagome noticed the shadow of Lilliana under the moonlight as she walked a distance away.

 

Her heart was hammering as she trailed behind her. There were moments when Kagome wondered if she was out of her mind. This was not like her. Going into a life jeopardizing combat was not something she would do on a regular basis. What was the real reason she was following Lilliana? At first, Kagome had convinced herself that it was Claire she was worried for, but that wasn't the actual case. She did not know why she felt the urge to get out of her apartment when she had the chance and waltz into dangerous ground. The moment she had seen Bill, his chest ripped open, her stomach had churned. Was the thought that this could happen to another member of the family what bothered her?

 

The closer she got to the building that was the named battleground, the clearer the answer was. Kagome was slowly discovering, as she walked several paces behind an unsuspecting Lilliana, that it was her curiosity that led her to her impulsive choice. She didn't really care for the safety of the family as much as she wanted to see this “war” with her own eyes. She wanted to know if what Inuyasha and the others claimed to protect her from was really happening. Despite the fact that the members of Inuyasha's family weren't as horrible as she had imagined, Kagome still held a hope for normalcy: to return to her life and wake up from this terrible dream of murderers and bloodsuckers.

 

She did not hate anyone in the family, but she did not want to be their prisoner either. Surrounded by a household of beautiful people who lived off human blood, Kagome couldn't help feeling like the white sheep in a heard of black ones. She felt…inferior, yet not in a racial sense but strength-wise. Every nightwalker she had met, even little Albier, radiated power. Would all those years of self-defense lessons be useful in the fray she was walking into?

 

Lilliana walked into the building. Kagome breathed in, brushing off her thoughts and trailed behind her.

 

 

 

 

 

Her senses have dulled. Rukiya was right when she said that she should hunt. Lilliana couldn't even smell or hear that well. Her throat was parched. What she wouldn't give to find a nice male blood bag and cut his shoulder. She felt uneasy as she stared at the building, hoping that her dulled abilities would pull through. Who knows, if she was lucky she could bite an enemy.

 

The building stood serene and quiet, a trademark of the nightwalkers: to make things seem completely harmless from the outside. Lilliana took a deep breath and walked inside. There was no one in the entrance and she walked several paces inward, alertly checking her surroundings. Something clicked from behind her. She didn't move, breathing in deeply and listening. A tapping sound and the feeling of the presence moving closer, she released. Like a tiger, she quickly turned and pounced on her stalker, scaring the girl out of her wits as she screamed.

 

Lilliana's eyes widened as she brought her hand back. Then she gritted her teeth, growling angrily.

 

“You scared the hell out of me!” Kagome puffed, her hand on her heart.

 

“What are you doing here?” Lilliana asked in a low voice, enraged to the point that she couldn't even yell.

 

Kagome fidgeted at first, but quickly regained her posture, looking Lilliana in the eye, challenging her. “I couldn't just sit around and do nothing. I have to see this for my self.”

 

“Idiot!” Lilliana scowled, her beautiful face morphing into a snarl like that of an angry tiger. “You think this is some sort of game? There are lives at stake here!”

 

“I know! That's why I have to help!”

 

Rage washed through her and in the next second Kagome's face whipped to the side, her eyes wide from the sudden attack and the back of Lilliana's hand stinging. She balled her hand into a fit as it fell back to shake at her side while she snapped viciously at Kagome.

 

“Do you release the kind of danger you put yourself into? Do you release what danger you're putting Inuyasha into! What if something happens to you, what will become of him then!”

 

Kagome couldn't speak. Shock had overpowered her words and she stared at the nightwalker in front of her, rage imitating off her. Lilliana's black, wavy hair had puffed with irritation, her nose wrinkled and her eyes flaming orange-green. Snacking her lips, her throat having gone dry, Kagome gathered her wits and spoke.

 

“I'm not some weak human you think needs protecting! In case you haven't noticed, humans have strengths and weaknesses too! I don't care what you say I'm not leaving!”

 

For a moment, Lilliana stared at her grumpily, but then grabbed her by the arm. “Not if I can help it! I'm taking you back!”

 

Before Kagome could even struggle, Lilliana stopped in her tracks, her eyes on the door, or rather on the person next to the door. Kagome turned, glaring at Lilliana for a moment before her anger disappeared all together. She looked at the boy at the door; several others appeared behind him all with dead looks on their faces, as though they were incapable of rational thought.

 

“Oh no.” Lilliana whispered under her breath.

 

“Oh, what service. Here I was thinking that I had to scour the city for the rest of your little family and low and behold you come to us. How sweet of you and you've brought a tasty morsel with you too.”

 

“Shut up, Hakudoshi!” Lilliana shook, her thoughts on how to safeguard the foolish human behind her. “Kagome.” She huffed under her breath. The girl gave the slightest of movements to know she was listening. “Get out of here and find a place to hide.”

 

“That's not going to happen.” Hakudoshi laughed from the doorway. Suddenly Kagome and Lilliana found themselves in the center of a circle created by the dozen or more drones that surrounded them.

 

“Tear them to shreds.” Hakudoshi turned to leave.

 

“You're not going to stay and fight you coward?” Lilliana spat at him.

 

“A weakened nightwalker and a human? I think my drones will be more then able to dismantle you.” With a menacing smile, Hakudoshi vanished through the door.

 

Lilliana cursed. Even with her strength there was no way she could keep all these drones away from Kagome. One of them would sneak away form her in her moment of weakness. One of them would attack the human when she was busy with the others. There had to be a way to keep Kagome in her sight and fight off the drones without her getting hurt.

 

Kagome shivered, her back against Lilliana's, as her eyes roamed over the expressionless soldiers. It was a deadly quiet as she stared, heart pounding at her adversaries. Breathing in, she brought her fists up. If she was going to fight, she was going to make sure to give them hell. She twisted her face into a scowl.

 

All at the same time, like practiced precision, the drones flew at them, claws and imitation fangs ready. Lilliana spread her claws out, ripping apart two drones apart at the same time. She flashed around Kagome like three hundred and sixty degree shield, taking down any drone that came into her path her claws.

 

With a roar, Kagome grabbed the drone that broke through Lilliana's barrier by the arm, flipping him over her shoulder and throwing him, headfirst into the ground. He stood and threw a punch at her face. Kagome ducked, grabbing his ankles and pulling his feet out from under him. With him on the floor, she kicked him, hard, in the middle, stomping her foot into his flesh until he moved no more. Two more drones pierced Lilliana's armor. Hurdling toward her, slim oozing from their jaws, Kagome charged at the closer one, sliding and tripping her.

 

She grabbed the drone's leg, using her weight to spin the drone, lifting and throwing the drone at her partner. The two drones hit the floor, crashing into several other ones like bowling pins and falling in Lilliana's path where they were killed on the spot by the quick nightwalker.

 

One drone came from the front, another three from behind, and Lilliana jumped, making them crash into each other. She landed and grabbed the nearest enemy, using him like a bat and hitting the other three. With them on the floor, she ripped out the neck of the one she had used as a weapon before quickly slaughtering the rest.

 

Kagome breathed in a sigh of relief when all the bodies lay on the floor. Inuyasha was right: Lilliana was strong. She turned, panting, and smiled to the nightwalker. “Are you all right?” Lilliana wheezed.

 

“I'm okay. Thank you…for protecting me.” She found it odd that she was saying this to girl that didn't even like her.

 

“I-I didn't do it for you.” Lilliana turned her frown to the side, pink in her cheeks. Her resolve returned full force. “Now do you see how dangerous this is? I'm taking you back, now!” Lilliana made a move to grab Kagome, but the girl was already running the opposite direction, heading toward the stairway.

 

“Stop!” Lilliana screeched, running after Kagome as she rushed up the stairs, but her path was suddenly blocked. “More drones?” She hissed. “How many of these are there, damn it!” Snarling, Lilliana brought her claws up for another round.

 

 

 

 

 

Kagome rushed up the stairs as fast as her feet could carry, hopping the steps. She reached the top, right before the door to the next floor, leaning against the wall and panting. She hoped that Claire and everyone else were safe. That boy that had attacked them. Hakudoshi, Lilliana had called him. So he was one of their enemies. Was Narek here too? Kagome shuddered at the thought. She only hoped that she wouldn't walk into him. He wouldn't hesitate to kill her this time.

 

Feeling the strength return to her legs, Kagome pushed the door open and entered the second floor. There was only one word that could describe what she saw: chaos. The war Inuyasha and everyone spoke of was indeed real. Seeing the horrible scene in front of her, drones and nightwalkers attacking people, screaming and gunshots everywhere, was proof enough that Inuyasha wasn't lying. Kagome felt her last hope for freedom crumble along with an anger welling up in her that she relished.

 

A drone noticed her at the door. It charged at her, its claws ready. Kagome ducked, kicking it hard in the knee, hearing the crack of bone. The drone fell and Kagome kicked him into the stairway, slamming the door behind her, listening to the sound of the drone falling down the stairs. “Hope you break your neck you monster!”

 

She ran into the battle, searching for a nightwalker she might recognize. Where were Inuyasha and the others? She thought as she frantically searched through the turmoil. Finally, she did recognize one face, but it wasn't that of a nightwalker. She shot a nearby drone with a gun, the bullets making its head explode, and blood splattered everywhere.

 

“Sango!” Kagome called as she ran up to her. The young officer's mouth fell open in shock.

 

“Kagome! You're alive? What the hell are you doing here?” She shouted.

 

“I don't have time to explain! Wait, where's Miroku? Where are Inuyasha and the others?”

 

“So you are connected with them. I don't know where the nightwalkers are, but Miroku is helping fight the others off on the next floor.”

 

“Right! I'm going!” Kagome turned to leave, but Sango pulled her back by the shoulder.

 

“Don't try and stop me Sango. I'm pissed I need a few assholes to punch!” Kagome growled.

 

“I thought you might need this.” Sango put a gun in her hand.

 

“I don't know how to use a gun.” Kagome's fingers shook as her fingers enclosed around it.

 

“It's easy. Just point and shoot! Just don't point it at yourself!” Sango rushed back into the battle and Kagome silently thanked her before running toward the stairs.

 

 

 

 

Christiano snarled. Claire was right. The moment he had taken her out of the research center, wave upon wave of enemy nightwalkers and drones came to attack him. This was endless. There was no way he could keep this up. He already had three open gashed on his back from the last nightwalker. He guessed that it was the poison from the nightwalker's claws that was keeping the wounds open. Unless it was a drone that attacked him next, neither he nor Claire would get out of this alive!

 

He gingerly picked up the girl's body. His back gave a shock of pain as he bent but he pushed it aside. Her breathing was getting weaker. She needed the anti-venom and fast! Damn that Fenrir! If she and her henchmen hadn't destroyed the all anti-venom in the building he could've saved Claire by now!

 

He raced through the rooms, searching for Sesshoumaru and Rukiya. With all this fighting going on, he couldn't even contact Rukiya with his mind. He stopped for a moment, trying to concentrate on his family's scent, but he couldn't single out their distinctive scents! He cursed himself! He should've seen this coming!

 

Before he could continue his search, two drones came flying his way. He leaped out of their attacks, surveying his surroundings. There were less and less humans, more and more drones taking their place. There was no way to save the humans and themselves. The two drones came at him again. This time he kicked the first one on the ground, crushing its ribcage with his foot. The next drone came at him from behind, succeeding in getting a blow to his shoulder. Hissing in pain, Christiano quickly spun around and kicked the drone in the middle. It flew and hit the wall. Taking initiative, Christiano ran out of the room, kicking the door closed behind him.

 

“What a nice display.” Christiano stopped. He knew those drones had to have a master. Damn it! He had to take Claire somewhere safe! He didn't have enough strength to fight another nightwalker.

 

“You're life ends he-” the nightwalker's eyes widened.

 

“DIE!” A hand came out from the nightwalkers chest, holding the crushed heart. The nightwalker fell, dead, revealing Lilliana behind him.

 

“Christiano! Are you all right?” She asked frantically.

 

“I'll live. Please tell me you have anti-venom with you.”

 

Lilliana's eyes focused on Claire. “On no! Claire, please open your eyes!” Her emerald orbs stung with tears. Claire didn't move, and Lilliana could barely hear a pulse. She fished into her jacket, her eyes enlarging.

 

“What?” She bit her tongue! She must have dropped the anti-venom when she tried pushing Kagome back in her apartment!

 

“You don't have the anti-venom do you?” Christiano asked hopelessly. Lilliana shook her head, tears running down her face. “Fuck! What the hell are you doing here then?” Frustration marred his voice.

 

“The anti-venom is with Kagura. She asked me to help! Unfortunately, that stupid human followed me here!”

 

“You mean Kagome's here! What the hell is she thinking?” Christiano snarled.

 

“That's what I'd like to know!”

 

“Shit!”

 

“What is it?” Lilliana turned. Two nightwalkers appeared at the end of the hall.

 

“Darn it! Christiano, I'll take care of these! Find Sesshoumaru and get Claire out of here! I'll find Kagome as soon I take care of these bastards!”

 

“But you're too weak!”

 

“Don't worry, I bit a few drones. Boy, did they taste horrible!”

 

Nodding, Christiano turned and rushed down the hall, yelling, “You better come back alive Lilly!”

 

The two nightwalkers slowly neared her, smirking. “Well, well. Looks like we have to fight the little girl.”

 

Lilliana smirked. “Don't underestimate me. I'm as strong as a mountain and I'm pissed! Pack your bags because you're going to hell!”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rukiya coughed. How many where there! Where were they all coming from! Were Narek or Fenrir even in the building anymore? She had taken down so many nightwalkers and drones. They couldn't take much more. Another wave and surely it will be the end of them. Even Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru were beginning to show fatigue and they were both natural born nightwalkers!

 

Rukiya hacked up blood. There was venom in her system. That last nightwalker had been a menace and managed to slice her arm with its poisonous claws. Her vision was getting blurry. She heard the horrible battle cry of another nightwalker, and didn't have any time to get out of the way. It clamped down hard on her neck, taking her blood and sending venom into her. With all the strength she could muster, she kicked it off with her legs, its fangs ripping her skin as she did so. She fell to the floor, the pain of the venom following.

 

“Rukiya!” Sesshoumaru cut off the head of her attacker, appearing in her hazy vision.

 

“We…have to get out of here somehow!” She felt him place his hand under her head.

 

“How many more of these bastards are there!” Inuyasha growled, killing another nightwalker. With it out of the way, he rushed to his brother's side as he tried helping Rukiya.

 

“Albier!” Sesshoumaru shouted. The boy came up to them. His leg and arm were badly cut but he was the most unwounded of them all.

 

“Take care of her.” He ordered him.

 

“You can count on me, boss!” Albier bent to pick up Rukiya.

 

“Sesshoumaru!” Inuyasha and his brother breathed in a sharp sigh of relief as Christiano appeared, carrying Claire. Inuyasha rushed forward, placing his hand on the girl's forehead. She was as cold as ice.

 

“My god, Claire.” Any colder and she would die.

 

“You two. Take Claire and Rukiya away from here!” Sesshoumaru ordered.

 

“How, there are drones everywhere! And guess what Inuyasha, you're lifeline is here too.” Christiano barked.

 

“What did you say!” Inuyasha snarled.

 

“Kagome's running around in the building.” Christiano answered.

 

“FUCK!” Inuyasha cursed. “How the hell?”

 

“She followed Lilliana here.”

 

“Why doesn't that stupid girl learn not to stick her nose where it doesn't belong!”

 

“We'll ponder that later!” Sesshoumaru interrupted in his commanding voice. “Inuyasha, find her and get out of here. You two,” he pointed at Albier and Christiano, “Follow me.” He placed his and on Rukiya's forehead. “Rukiya, do you think you could still contact Kagura and the others?”

 

Rukiya nodded. Sesshoumaru led them away, ordering his brother to find Lilliana and Kagome and get out!

 

 

 

 

 

Kagome had barely made it to the next floor when four drones attacked her at once. Unable to take down four at a time, she instinctively brought the gun up and shot them, stumbling backward from the gun's force. Damn, that thing was heavy and it gave quite a blow! But there was no time to think about that now. It wasn't long before she found Miroku. He was heading down when he came across her.

 

“You're alive?” He gaped.

 

“Sango's downstairs, go to her!”

 

“What about you?”

 

“I need to find Inuyasha and the others! Please trust me and go! She might need you!” She brushed passed him, but Miroku didn't head her words, chasing her.

 

Kagome zoomed into the next room, rushing through the hall, slamming the door behind her; it closed and locked. She ran through the hall, passing by a red room and slowing, her eyes narrowing. The room wasn't red; it was painted red and it wasn't a natural red. It was a bloody crimson. Kagome's eyes widened painfully, her pupils dilating. Those squishy things on the floor. They were organs and all from the bodies that covered the room, on the walls, the tables. The only living being stood in the middle of the room, his back to her.

 

Every one of Kagome's survival instincts told her to run, but she couldn't move an inch. She gasped, the grotesque scene making her shake. The sound of her breath had the killer move, he turned. Kagome's shuddered as Narek focused on her. There was something in his hand. Kagome looked at it. It was a heart. A human one. All this slaughter was his doing.

 

The heart fell from Narek's hand, making a “slush” as it came in contact with the floor. He took slow steps toward her, like a lion stalking its prey. Kagome backed away, pointing her gun at him. He raised a brow and them smirked. Why wasn't he saying anything? He was even more frightening when quiet.

 

Kagome closed her eyes and fired. She opened them to see, to her horror, the bullet had gone still in Narek's palm. He charged and Kagome screamed, closing her eyes but the blow never came. She had not heard the sound of someone scooting in front of her, but, she shivered from the sight of it, her savior.

 

Narek must have been furious to see her, for his face darkened. The animosity was almost tangible as Kagome came to a stand, staring at Narek over Lilliana's shoulder. She had appeared out of nowhere, stepping between them. Her shoulder rose and fell with her fast panting. Narek had stopped dead in his tracks. Kagome couldn't describe the look on his face. The instant of anger had disappeared and his appearance was once again emotionless.

 

Lilliana trembled. The one person she had hoped she wouldn't see. There was no doubt now. She would only fuel Narek's anger. It had happened many times before. Narek stood still, his green eyes clashing with Lilliana's tender ones. His were filled with nothingness, Lilliana's were filled with fear and determination.

 

“Bareve Narek.” Kagome didn't know what Lilliana had just said, but she would never forget what came out of her mouth next.

 

“Kagome, you'd better get out of here because if you die, I would really hate you!”

 

Lilliana heard Kagome do as she asked, her footsteps echoed throughout the hall. She focused on Narek. His handsome face remained stoic and he did not say a word. “Ascusomenc?” She asked him.

 

He nodded. Lilliana charged at him, but he was faster, moving out of her way, and pushing her into the wall. Lilliana hit him with her elbow and he stumbled backward. She took her chance and lunged forward, but he sensed her movements and ducked, tripping her by sweeping his leg under her feet. Her head hit the floor, and she only had a moment to get out of the way before Narek's foot hit the floor behind her.

 

She jumped back up, scampering away, breathing in. He was too fast. Narek looked at her from over his shoulder, still not speaking. Why wasn't he saying anything? He usually would be teasing her by now. Lilliana growled, charging again. He grabbed her by the arm, forcing her into he wall, pinning her arms above her head. Lilliana struggled and brought her face up to glare at him but Narek's attention averted from her and to the two humans that had just entered the room.

 

“Chanes!” Lilliana yelled, realizing what he was going to do. Narek smiled evilly, his fangs appearing.

 

“GET OUT OF HERE!” Lilliana bellowed to the two humans, but it was too late. Narek had already let her go and sunk his teeth into the female. Her eyes were large and she screamed, paling as the blood was taken from her body.

 

“SANGO!” Miroku didn't have a moment to fire his gun. Narek, finished with his work, had already given Lilliana a warning glare before vanishing.

 

Lilliana's eyes burned, and tears were forcing their way out of her eyes. Whenever she was around, people would die. Narek's anger at her was getting worse. The man was pleading to the woman on the floor, holding her hand.

 

“Sango?” He gasped, his throat dry.

 

“I'm really sorry Miroku.” She managed to say. The wound left behind by Narek was getting bigger, the cut on her neck letting more blood go.

 

“C'mon, don't close your eyes, please!”

 

Lilliana's heart clenched. She rushed forward. “I can save her!” She yelled.

 

“What? By making her one of you!” Miroku returned hatefully.

 

“No! Please, you have to trust me.” Sango looked up at the nightwalker, weakly. She had long since changed her mind. Not all nightwalkers were evil, but…

 

“Will you help me?” She asked. Miroku gaped at her. “Sango? What are you thinking?”

 

Lilliana looked at Miroku. “Take off your shirt!”

 

His jaw dropped. “Excuse me?”

 

“Take off the shirt!” Miroku removed it, handing it to her.

 

Lilliana brought the cloth to her lips, biting it, forcing her venom into it. Once she was sure there was enough, she tied it carefully around Sango's neck. “You're going to be all right.” She told the girl reassuringly. “Stay awake. You have to, and take deep breaths.”

 

Sango clenched into Miroku's hand. “I'm not going anywhere.” He said. She smiled weakly.

 

“But isn't the venom dangerous for her?” Miroku looked at Lilliana.

 

“I'm breaking a lot of rules telling you this. Nightwalker venom is harmless for humans. It forced their bodies to make blood to replace what we've taken away. It will make your heart work harder, which is why you will feel weak, but you have to stay awake. Understand?” Sango nodded.

 

“Can you carry her?” She asked Miroku. He nodded, picking Sango up.

 

 

 

 

 

Kagome heaved, leaning against the door. That was the most horrible thing she had ever seen! All that carnage was Narek's handiwork? If Lilliana hadn't arrived in time, what would have happened to her! What had she gotten herself into! Lilliana had been right. There was no one more dangerous then Narek. Her heart was still thundering at the memory of it!

 

She leaned away from the wall, looking about the room. There was no one there. Breathing in, she walked across the room, opening the next door. This time, the room wasn't empty. Kagome shuddered. This was a nightwalker, she knew it. She backed away, hoping that the woman wouldn't turn and see her.

 

“So, you are the one Narek failed to kill two nights ago.” Kagome's heart skipped a beat. The woman turned, red eyes on her. She was like a less elegant, female version of Narek. She shared a similar, dangerous presence.

 

“Perhaps it's time I finished the job.” All Kagome saw next was the whip of fire and the red headed woman came at her. She could barely close her eyes.

 

Inuyasha.

 

A wisp of air blew in her face and it was over. Death didn't hurt. She thought. So, how was it that she could still feel? Kagome opened her eyes. The fiery-headed woman was holding her side, the blood oozing down her thigh. A shadow loomed over Kagome.

 

She looked up, seeing Inuyasha kneel over her. He was panting, his chest bleeding from what Kagome thought was the wound that had been directed at her. She quickly stood, her hand covering his wound.

 

“Why did you-” She began.

 

“Idiot! Don't you know by now that if you die, I die too!”

 

“What a nuisance.” Kagome tore her eyes away from Inuyasha, watching the woman clench her teeth as she struggled to stand. The wound on her ribs and side wasn't closing, reddish-black blood dripping down her leg. Her red eyes shut painfully, her skin whitening. It was as though she were turning to stone, her skin looking chalky and grey like marble. She looked at her palms and bit back a gasp.

 

From beside her, Kagome felt Inuyasha move. He came to a stand, wobbly at first, watching the woman across the room and pushing Kagome behind him. She shifted her focus then, her eyes pinned to his back. Other then the blood that was on his face and arms, Inuyasha did not seem too injured.

 

It was a good thing the attack was directed at a human. He could feel his body reconnecting the tissue. There had been no venom to poison him, and the injury had already closed. The same couldn't be said for Fenrir however.

 

“Damn it!” She hissed.

 

“It's amazing how fast it is, a natural born nightwalker's venom.” Inuyasha growled, satisfied to see her writhe in pain.

 

To his statement, Fenrir smiled wickedly. “What should it matter? By the time the venom gets to my heart, I'll be long gone, and you will die along the hundreds in this building.”

 

Inuyasha growled and charged at her. It happened so quickly. One moment, Kagome was watching Inuyasha rush toward her, his claws ready, the next the woman's fist plummeted toward the ground, and suddenly Kagome was struggling to regain her balance as the ground shook violently. In flashes, the room seemed to crumble. Dust and granite flew off the ground and walls, falling around her and spraying in her face. The last thing Kagome saw before she yelped and covered her eyes with her palms was a large piece of the ceiling falling toward her.

 

It made an impact, she felt it hit something, but no pain followed. When she was sure her eyes wouldn't sting, she opened them to see Inuyasha had shielded her. He was holding her close and under his coat with the arm around her back. His other hand was rubbing his crown, his eyes closed and his teeth clenched.

 

“That REALLY hurt.” He huffed.

 

Kagome blinked, not sure what he was talking about. It took a moment for the surprise to clear and she released that there was dust in his silvery hair. He had protected her with his head. Kagome fought the urge to laugh, forcing it down by remembering the situation she was in. She wasn't sure she wanted to see how offended he would be if she did laugh, at least not this time. Trying to force down the chuckle, Kagome looked about the room to see that the woman was gone; the place where she had been standing was now a large hole in the floor.

 

“I'm beginning to wonder how many bones I'll have to break by keeping you alive. Are you alright?” Inuyasha asked, opening an eye and stroking his scalp.

 

“I'm fine.” Kagome answered.

 

“Good, because I'm going to kill you.” He said in a low, threatening voice.

 

“I think I've had enough near death experiences for one day.” Kagome remarked sarcastically before she could stop herself. She censured herself the moment she realized what she had said because Inuyasha was already shaking her shoulders harshly, his claws digging into her shirt.

 

“Are you fucking crazy or just stupid! Maybe you wouldn't have such encounters if you were smart enough not to waltz into a fucking battle! And here I was thinking you have a brain.”

 

A retort rose in Kagome's throat but stopped before she could word it. She concentrated on something other then the enraged nightwalker in front of her. “Do you smell something?” Inuyasha blinked and turned his head to the side, his hands till on her shoulders. What was that stench? Kagome wrinkled her nose. It was horrible; it smelled like…

 

“Gas?” Inuyasha breathed, straightening. “We have to get the out of here.”

 

He reached for her wrist, pulling her out of the room and down into the hall. Kagome breathed out a partial sigh of relief, but that was before he spoke again. “I am so going to trash you when we get out of here.” She should've figured as much.

 

She struggled as he pulled her across the hall, trying not to lose her footing because he was running so fast. The rooms passed by in flashes, only giving her a second to see them. Kagome's gut twisted suddenly as they passed a red stained room, suddenly recalling her savoir. She tried tugging her hand from Inuyasha's vice grip. “Lilliana! Is she still here?” She panted.

 

Inuyasha stopped so quickly that Kagome bumped into him. He stood still and didn't say anything. For a moment, Kagome was worried that another enemy had found them, and tried hiding her shudders and slowing her rapid heartbeat. Luckily for her, Inuyasha didn't tense and it seemed as though he was concentrating on something.

 

“She's close by.” The next second he was hauling Kagome again while running through the hallway. He could hear less and less screaming from the humans, telling him that they were no longer putting up a good front. At this point, all he hoped for was that his brother and the others had somehow escaped and they could find a method to flee as well.

 

“Inuyasha, slow down!” Kagome wheezed from behind him. Hissing out of aggravation, he stopped and knelt in front of her. Kagome gave him a slightly confused look.

 

“Get on, stupid.” He huffed. She gave him what he thought was a glare but clenched onto him anyway.

 

Placing his arms under her knees, he set off again in the direction of Lilliana's scent. Was that blood he smelled? It wasn't Lilliana's but it seemed so eerily familiar. A drone came around the corner, noticing him. Kagome screamed in his ear just as the creature charged. Trying to ignore the headache of her wail, Inuyasha flashed by the drone, but not before butting off its head.

 

“Don't yell so loud, wench!” He growled, continuing his way.

 

Kagome opened her mouth to say her witty reply but was again cut off. Inuyasha had stopped running. Curious, she looked over his shoulder. They had reached the end of the hall and he was looking through the glass on the door. The drones and nightwalkers beyond were taking the initiative, the humans falling back feebly.

 

“Not good.” Inuyasha scoffed.

 

“Is Lilliana in there?” Kagome asked.

 

“No, but she's close.”

 

“I really hope she's alright.” Kagome said to herself.

 

Inuyasha kicked down the door at his side, rushing into another maze of rooms that Kagome could barely see. Soon, he halted in front of another door, kicking it down. Kagome stretched her neck to look over his shoulder.

 

“Inuyasha!” Lilliana stood, a look of relief on her face. Kagome's eyes traveled from the green-eyed nightwalker to the man and woman on the floor.

 

“Put me down!” She began struggling, tugging on Inuyasha's hair. He gave a small yelp out of irritation and placed her on her feet. Kagome rushed across the room, kneeling beside Sango and Miroku. “Sango? What happened to you?”

 

“I was attacked by the tooth fairy. What do you think happened?” Sango answered, painfully. Kagome looked at the cloth covering Sango's shoulder. The tips of the material were white, the rest dyed red with Sango's blood.

 

Inuyasha walked into the room, ignoring Kagome as she frantically spoke with the other two humans. He looked up and down at Lilliana who stared back at him. She didn't seem to be injured, but he could smell Narek on her. He growled, anger seeping into his protective side.

 

“You're not hurt?” He managed to say, trying to force down his rage. Lilliana must have sensed it because worry flickered across her face. “No.”

 

“Good, because we have to get the fuck out of here.” He said.

 

“How? There are drones and nightwalkers everywhere. We'd be lucky enough to find an exit, let alone escape.” Lilliana replied.

 

Inuyasha roared out of frustration and fury, hitting the wall next to him. It burst and crackled under the force of his fist. “Then we'll make a hole in the wall and get out!”

 

“But there are drones and nightwalkers waiting outside too.”

 

“You think I care! There has to be a way out of here!” He snapped.

 

“There might be a safe way out.” One of the humans interjected. The two nightwalkers turned to look at Miroku.

 

“This building did have a basement once. It led to a subway station close by. Maybe we can still use it to sneak out.” He explained.

 

“Where is this so called basement?” Inuyasha asked.

 

“If you can protect us till we get to the elevator close by, I can lead you there.” Miroku answered.

 

Inuyasha nodded and walked across the room to where Sango was leaning against the wall. He grabbed the woman by middle and lifted her over his shoulder. “Can you hang on?” He asked. Sango nodded, wrapping her arms around his neck.

 

“You want to take them with us, right?” He asked Lilliana.

 

“Please.” Came her answer. “Don't forget to stay awake.” She told Sango before going to stand by Kagome. The girl gave her an uneasy smile, which Lilliana returned with a glare.

 

“Lead the way.” Inuyasha said to Miroku. He ushered them through the door, slowly walking into the battleground that Inuyasha and Kagome had peered into earlier. He pointed through the glass and Inuyasha could see the elevator all the way across the large room.

 

“It won't be easy getting there with all those drones and nightwalkers.” He said. Inuyasha pulled Sango from his back as gently as he could, transferring her to Miroku. “Leave them to us. You three head into that elevator.”

 

He opened the door and instantly, drones and nightwalkers flew at them. Lilliana and Inuyasha ran in, deflecting the enemies away from Miroku, Sango and Kagome as they rushed across the room toward the elevator. Kagome heaved, running beside Miroku.

 

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a drone fly toward her, and she drew breath in to gasp, but before she could even exhale Lilliana had crushed the drone into the floor. Kagome panted, felling her legs spasm as she ran. Miroku reached the elevator first, his hand punching the button on the wall. Kagome almost fell to her knees when she caught up to him, but managed to get inside of the small room just as the doors slid closed behind her.

 

Seeing them vanish behind the elevator doors, Lilliana punched a switch she had noticed on the wall. The fire alarm went off and artificial rain fell from the ceiling. “Inuyasha, cover your nose!” Lilliana shouted as she pulled a fire extinguisher from its case on the wall. Holding her nose, she blew the white foam on all over the room.

 

“Good thinking.” Inuyasha said, trying not to breath in that horrible scent.

 

“That's should distract them for a little while.” Lilliana said before heading toward the elevator, pulling apart the doors. The metal gave a groan as Lilliana spread them.

 

“After you.” Inuyasha said.

 

 

 

 

 

“We stopped?” Kagome asked Miroku when the she didn't feel the dizzy feeling of the elevator descending.

 

Miroku didn't answer. He put Sango down. “Are you all right?” He asked her.

 

“As I'll ever be.” Sango answered tiredly.

 

Miroku nodded and reached for something on the floor. He felt around for a bit and then Kagome heard something click. The floor opened, a small rectangular hole that led to what Kagome hoped was the secret basement Miroku spoke of.

 

“Will you help me get her down there?” He asked Kagome.

 

Before she could even answer, the elevator shook. Get in there, hurry!” She told Miroku fearfully.

 

A fist came through the roof of the elevator before it was ripped open like tissue paper to reveal Inuyasha. “Hey.” He said, slipping through the opening he had made with Lilliana following.

 

“You almost gave me a heart attack!” Kagome stomped her foot.

 

Inuyasha ignored her, looking into the dark hold on the floor. “That the way out?”

 

“Yes.” Miroku said breathlessly.

 

Inuyasha walked past him, jumping down through the passageway. A moment of silence followed his decent, but soon his voice drifted up from the gloom. “It's safe. Send the injured woman down.” He said.

 

Lilliana reached for Sango. “Keep your eyes open.” She said to her. Sango nodded weakly. “I'm trying.” She said.

 

Soon, Miroku had slipped through the hole after his partner, and Kagome looked down apprehensively when it was her turn. “I can't see a thing down there.” She said nervously.

 

Lilliana huffed out of annoyance and hopped down before her, calling back. “Jump. I'll catch you.” She sounds unhappy about that, Kagome thought as she gulped and went in.

 

Kagome bit her lip but, thankfully, Lilliana caught her and put her down. “I can't see a thing down here.” She sighed.

 

“I can.” Inuyasha said.

 

Kagome felt warm hand hold hers. “Don't get any ideas.” Came Lilliana's voice.

 

“Why would I do that?” Miroku's voice answered. Kagome felt the Lilliana's hand pull her; she followed it through the dark. Her breath came out in raspy, quick huffs, while her heart thundered against her sternum. It was one thing to be in a battle, another to walk down a ominous, unknown path. Luckily, it wasn't long before Kagome could see a light in the distance.

 

Sighing out of relief, she saw Inuyasha's outline as he came closer to the light. It was a small hole above them. He looked through it before punching the wall, hard. It crackled and blew apart, letting light shimmer over them. Inuyasha leaped up first. Lilliana went after him helping Kagome and Miroku up into the dim subway station once she was out. As soon she was out of the pit and her feet her firm on the ground, Kagome looked about. The station was deserted and she was standing right under the tracks.

 

Biting her lip, she followed Inuyasha, Lilliana and Miroku out of harm's way. “Are we safe?” She asked to no one in particular.

 

“Not yet.” Inuyasha answered.

 

“I hope the others are all right.” Lilliana said under her breath.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I AM DONE! PHEW! I stayed up till five a.m. writing this one! I was on a role and I was afraid that if I stopped, I would lose it! It was five in the morning and I was still working! I'm my lying, I'm really not! I'm so tired…please don't kill for this chapter, if you don't be nice to me, I'm going to cry…