InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Nightwalker ❯ Unraveling ( Chapter 24 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

By: ji-an

The Hunt begins.

A/U My computer fried and I couldn't upload without severe formating problems so for those of you who saw a new chapter in your e-mail updates but not on the site, I'm sorry. I had to delete it because it was uploaded as one big paragraph...

Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Fantasy / Hentai / Suspense | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 07.29.2008 | Updated On: 04.06.2009 | Pages: 15 | Words: 16.0K | Visits: 2.0K | Status: Work In Progress

A/N: I've been meaning to get to this for some time. Since I uploaded this chapter on my sister's computer, the text came out funky. So I went back and fixed it…along with some grammatical errors.

Okay guys, I hoped and hoped and hoped that this would not happen but while I was writing, my charger literally, exploded. I saw a flash and some smoke and then I realized I had three minutes to upload this chapter on a new PC before I lost my charge. Basically, my beloved laptop with all my chapters and music and work…died. Which means that this will be the last update out of all my stories for a while seeing as this chapter which I was working on when it happened, was the only one I could save. I was also working a new chapter for 21 Bullets, but I couldn't save it so I have to start from scratch. This chapter is dedicated to my lovely sister Rain, for letting me use her computer in the middle of the night to save this chapter and get it to you. Without her, this chap would never have gotten to you.

Part two of this chapter is up! So I just finished a test, and thought I might as well sit and get to write since I'll be back to work tomorrow. I've got to stop all these late night writing marathons…but my writing is better at night…damn! No nightwalker reference intended.

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha, nor will I take credit for Romiko Takahashi's genius.

Part Twenty-Four: Unraveling

“You make quick work of orders, Narek.” He didn't reply.

“What did you do this time? Where did you take the remains? How I wish I knew that little vanishing trick of yours.” Fenrir followed him across the rooftops, landing at the top of seven-story building. “Do you sing in joy every time the king gives you a command?”

“Orders are orders. Do you believe you can go against him?” Narek said casually.

“I would never dream of it. I was simply asking if you jump to every command given to you.”

“When it's an order such as this, one can't wait to carry it out.” Narek said stoically.

“You're quite the sadist. Then again, I don't mind getting rid of a few rats myself. Of course, I'd prefer to rid myself of annoying faithful terriers as well.”

“I'd watch that tongue of yours if I were you. It might lead you to trouble in the future, or perhaps that mouth on your face has already thrown you down a pit of which there is no escape.”

Fenrir blinked for only a moment, then reminded herself that she shouldn't be surprised. No matter, she had ways of dealing with Narek and with him out of the way, it would be the other terrier's turn. Then it would be simply her and him. It was a matter of time and cooperation.

“I have one more question. If the messenger never got the chance to give his note, then will it get to the party?”

Narek's eyes glazed with satisfaction. “Then we'll send another courier to convey the good news.”

December Twenty Eighth, Hong Kong

Kagome wondered how long she would have to suffer from jet lag. Barely even two weeks spent in Moscow and she is whisked away to Hong Kong. She wondered how the family stood it. Then again, their biological clock seemed to be fastened to the nighttime no matter what time zone they were in. Kagome almost wished she had that mechanism so she wouldn't have to deal with sleep spells during the day.

She was sure that bags were going to appear under her eyes. As if she needed something like that to make her look even more ugly then before, she thought ruefully. Though it had been a while she since she was bitten, Kagome couldn't help but notice the sickly color of her skin. She tried her best to avoid looking in anything that would offer a reflection, which was something Inuyasha took quick notice of shortly after the arrival. In fact, he took notice of almost anything that changed. She'd sneeze in the house and he would know she did it even if he were across the street with the cars honking their horns. To Kagome's surprise, it didn't irritate her as much as she thought it would because Inuyasha, even though it was obvious he perceived it, persisted in making it appear that he was completely unaware.

Natalia had joked, saying that it was his concern for her when Rukiya “accidentally” heard Kagome's thoughts. The worst had happened: most of the girls in the family were zoning into Kagome's feelings, probing her for what she felt toward him, curious to see if there was something between them. With the exclusion of Lilliana and Kagura, Claire, Rukiya and Natalia were beginning to annoy Kagome. She didn't know how they, especially Natalia, could spend all their time teasing her and Inuyasha about “what was evidently there” when they had more pressing matters to fret about: such as the fact that Christiano had not yet made his appearance.

Though they'd been in Hong Kong about four days, they hadn't seen or heard from him. At first the family worried for him, but when Rukiya called to him with her mind, he called back saying that he was fine and had a lot of things to take care of before returning. Though Kagome seemed to find it suspicious, it surprised her that Rukiya was so at ease after hearing his calm voice with her mental connection. At least Natalia showed genuine concern: her eyes sparkled every time she heard her mate's name.

“Is he that busy that he can't even drop by?” Kagome found herself asking Lilliana one evening. Not wanting to speak with the other women of the house who were teasing her about potential feelings toward Inuyasha, Kagome had wondered into the hall outside her room to find Lilliana starring at the picture of the mysterious boy.

“Christiano never did like to leave things unfinished and come back with half the news.” Lilliana answered, her eyes pinned to the photograph.

“Doesn't he want to see Natalia?”

“I'm sure he does, but she knows that he has things to finish. Natalia will wait.” Lilliana pocketed her photo. “But he's not the one I'm worried about right now.” Lilliana looked down the dim hallway with an empty expression.

“Then who are you worried about?” Kagome couldn't help but ask.

“Sango and Miroku.” For a moment Kagome was taken aback, but then she remembered that Hong Kong was where they had settled. Her excitement to see Sango and Miroku overrode her surprise at having forgotten about them. Her joy was short when she replayed Lilliana's words in her head.

“Why are you worried about them?” Kagome asked.

Lilliana sighed. “Remember when Albier came to us back in Yerevan? He was out of breath and hurrying to set up a trail. Fenrir was chasing him and I heard from Rukiya that Narek was also tracking us at some point. Narek is notorious for always finishing anyone he intends to kill. I worry that Sango and Miroku might be in danger again now that we are here.”

Kagome bit her lip, hoping that what Lilliana feared would never come to pass.

Around the late afternoon the next day Inuyasha surprised Kagome by asking her if she wanted to see Sango and Miroku. Kagome had to fight the urge to jump out of her seat and automatically shout, “Yes!”

“I thought you'd want to see them. Plus, they have information from Christiano.” He had answered when Kagome had asked about his sudden generosity.

“Why can't he just bring the info himself?” Kagome clicked her teeth.

Inuyasha brought his hand up, lifting two fingers as he spoke. “One: it's daylight. And two: he's still keeping our trackers at bay with a fake trail.” He placed his hand into his coat pocket. “Besides, he said that he'd meet us tonight to infiltrate the nightwalker hunter base.”

Kagome stood. “Already? Who's going?” She asked.

“Sesshoumaru, Bill, Christiano and I.”

“What about the others?”

“Albier will set up fake trails with Lilliana. Claire will pick you up and take you back. Then she will head to watch Sango and Miroku. Kagura and Rukiya will stay with you in the house.”

Kagome nodded, repeating the information in her head again. “So when do I leave?” She asked Inuyasha.

“Right now, if you're ready.” Kagome leaped out of her chair and rushed upstairs. Rolling his eyes, Inuyasha heard her run around in her room, most likely throwing on more suitable clothing. A moment later she appeared at the base of the stairs, stumbling on the last step but regaining her balance quickly.

“Let's go.” Kagome chirped. He bit back a comment about hyperactive children and motioned for Kagome to follow.

“You're going during the day?”

“Only to follow you in the shadows till you get there.”

“Why does that sound like a stalker?” Kagome said aloud, earning her a look from Inuyasha.

“I was kidding.” She huffed as she headed outside to be greeted with the cold, winter chill. As promised, Inuyasha stayed in the shade. Though there were clouds above, sunlight still seeped through which meant that he wouldn't take any chances.

“Why are you so uptight all the time?” She asked Inuyasha as they walked into the city.

“I don't know. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I'm dealing with a wench who almost never knows the danger she's really in.” Inuyasha smirked at her.

Kagome stuck her tongue out at him. “So does that mean you're worried about putting me in danger or putting yourself in danger?” Kagome asked out of curiosity as they crossed another street. Inuyasha went silent. He pointed across the street, indicating that was where she needed to go. Confused by his sudden change, Kagome crossed and found herself under the shade of a skyscraper.

“I'd be lying if I said I wasn't looking out for myself,” Inuyasha appeared at her side, “but do you seriously think that little of me to say that I don't care about your welfare, and only my own?” He muttered hotly as he walked her down the street again.

Kagome was speechless. Before she could even turn to Inuyasha and apologize, he cut across her, pointing to the police building in front of them. “We're here.” He said through clenched teeth. “They should be waiting for you in the lobby.” With his job finished, Inuyasha turned and disappeared into the alleyway not too far from where Kagome was standing.

Biting her lip, Kagome entered the building, feeling completely foolish. She barely had her half inside when, “Kagome!” Sango practically pounced. “I missed you so-what's wrong?”

“Oh, just jet-lag.” Kagome smiled, her earlier dilemma forgotten at the sight of Sango's face. They shared a hug and Kagome asked if Miroku was near.

“He's getting me some coffee, but forget him, I want to know what happened to you these past few months! Is the family treating you okay?”

Kagome looked around the lobby, wondering if anyone could understand their language. Preferring the safety of being alone, she asked Sango if they could speak in private and was led into the detective's small office. As Kagome entered, she noticed another desk, which she guessed was Miroku's. Still partners, she thought. Sango set a chair down in front of Kagome. Kagome slumped into it just as Sango said, “So spill, I want to know everything.”

Kagome shook her head. “Nothing interesting happened until a few weeks ago. I spent three months hiding out in Yerevan with Lilliana and Natalia. Then a few weeks ago, Inuyasha arrived saying that their enemies were hot in his trail. We ran to the North, regrouped and came here.” Kagome explained while Sango walked about her office gathering a mug and filling it with tea she had kept on the table behind her large wooden desk.

“Sounds very dull. What did you do for three months?” As Kagome took the mug from Sango with a muffled thanks, Miroku appeared in the doorway.

With a quick greeting on Kagome's part, he handed Sango her coffee before regarding Kagome again. “It's good to see you.” He said.

Kagome looked Miroku up and down. “I see that Sango hasn't cut off your hands yet.” She teased.

He gave an innocent pout. “I'll have you know I've been on very good behavior, thank you.”

“Shockingly.” Sango snorted into her coffee.

“Enough already.” Miroku said calmly as the two girls lowered their giggles. “So, have there been any casualties on your side?”

“Oh, forget about me, I want to know what you two have been doing!” Kagome rolled her eyes.

“Well,” Miroku began, “as you can see, we've got our old jobs back, and we haven't been bothered by nightwalker hunters.”

“Have you gotten any information on them?” Kagome eyed the stacks of folders on Sango's desk.

“Why am I not surprised that you know about this?” Sango opened a drawer and slapped a thin file on the table. “I'm pretty sure I'm not breaking the law by giving you this since Nightwalker Hunters aren't suppose to be public, but I still feel a little strange about stealing knowledge about a faction I used to work for…in order to deliver it to former enemies no less.” Sango watched Kagome pick up the folder, flipping through the papers inside.

“Is this all?” Kagome asked.

“I'm afraid the only thing I found was the location of their base in Hong Kong. For some reason, this faction is more…guarded then ours. It almost feels as though they are wary of the revolt against the king.”

“They sure do seem to be more informed then we were. I spent a lot of time wondering and searching for anything or anyone out of the ordinary. I used to be able to tell one of our own easily, but this section of the nightwalker hunters is more advanced. It took me a while. I would have worried about them coming after us, but they haven't bothered us in months, so there's really nothing to worry about.” Miroku added.

“If they have information of some nightwalker families, do you think they could have documents about Inuyasha's family too?” Kagome wondered.

“Maybe. You won't know until you infiltrate the base.” Miroku slumped into the seat behind his desk.

Bill felt the sun retreating, but he didn't moved from his cross-legged position in the middle of the shaded alley. He kept his eyes closed, deep in the soothing calm of meditation. Having lost the patience to stand and stare at the walls, which was something the two brothers accompanying him were busy doing, he had decided to prepare himself for their endeavor. Waiting for Christiano meant watching for the sun to take all its light away as well. They were early.

He couldn't help but feel that something was bothering the two other nightwalkers. Years of living in the same family had given him the ability to guess what was going through the minds of those two, not that it was any of his business. The sooner dusk was over, the better for he was weary of this unbreakable silence that Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru had settled over them.

“Something on your mind?”

Bill opened an eye and gave Sesshoumaru an apathetic shrug. “Just wondering when Chris will make his appearance.”

“When the light is gone.” Inuyasha spoke. The clouds were beginning to turn orange. Bill felt the temperature lower and embraced the cold. Seconds dragged and finally the golden disk vanished behind the buildings. The three men deepened their inhalation, working through the scents of humans, car exhaust, snow, and brick for something familiar. Then Bill came to a stand and Sesshoumaru leaned away from the wall he'd been using for support while Inuyasha looked upward. A moment later, a figure dropped from above.

“Always with the dramatic entrances, eh Chris?” Bill came forward, shaking Christiano's hand as he straightened to his feet.

“What can I say? I'm fond of making an entrance.” Christiano returned Bill's smile.

“While I am glad for your safety, we have business to attend to.” Sesshoumaru cut through the reunion. “The location please?”

Christiano's grin dropped from his mouth to be replaced by a sedate line. “These guys are more aware of us than their counterparts in Tokyo.” He quickly conveyed the area to which they were headed, speaking of the guardsmen the humans had put around their base.

“Shall we head out?” Inuyasha asked.

Sesshoumaru nodded, turning as he said, “You don't look too enthusiastic.”

Inuyasha and Bill looked at Christiano. “I'm just regarding the situation seriously.” He said deprecatingly.

“I know what's on your mind.” Bill said instantly.

“Do you?” Christiano challenged.

“You're thinking of a certain little lady.”

When Christiano looked down at the ground without saying a word, Inuyasha growled. “You love hogging the spotlight don't you?”

Christiano looked up. “What?”

“Get out of here. We don't need your love-sick sighing while we're in the base.” If anything, that was permission to be excused. Smiling, Christiano ran out of the alley, his scent thinning with distance. “You're so soft.” Bill quipped.

“Keh.”

“Now is not the time.” Sesshoumaru reminded them.

As the three of them turned toward the direction Christiano had indicated, Inuyasha felt his middle clench as though there were a ball rolling inside of him. For a moment, he thought it was excitement or perhaps restlessness for their set task, but that was before he felt the sudden nausea. The next thing he released was that the blood that was the floor was his own and that the pain in his neck and belly had gone almost as fast as they had come.

“Inuyasha?” Bill's dire tone brought him back to the present.

“Sesshoumaru,” Inuyasha licked the blood from his lower lip, “I don't have a stomach, so explain to me how I can possibly…” He broke off, feeling another wave of queasiness from the revelation.

How quickly had it happened? Kagome wasn't sure, but as she had watched the sun go down with Sango and Miroku, while waiting for a member of the family to come get her, she felt an eerie presentiment in the back of her mind. Perhaps it was just edginess from spending a lot of time in an arduous atmosphere. Unfortunately, that was not the case.

“So where is the family hiding out now?” Sango asked when Kagome made a comment about having to leave soon.

“Oh, you know, they always find somewhere to stay. I don't know how they do it, but they do.” Kagome shrugged.

“It's too bad we can't have a place to stay everywhere to go. We have to pay for hotel rooms.” Miroku joked.

“ `We?' What are you implying?” Kagome chuckled.

“Nothing out of the ordinary-”

Kagome didn't comprehend what was happening until it was too late. Sango and Miroku had suddenly gone silent and fallen off their chairs, unmoving on the ground. Kagome shot to a stand, only seconds before her eyes caught the culprit of her friends' sudden collapse. It was as if the world had become traverse; Kagome suddenly felt seasick. Sitting on Sango's desk with his legs and arms crossed, watching her with a bored expression, was none other then Narek.

Every bone in Kagome's body felt like jelly and she could hear her knees rattling as she stood rooted on her spot, gaping at Narek with wide eyes. “What did you do to them?” Kagome feebly demanded in a guttural voice.

“Nothing fatal…if you cooperate.” His dark gaze was enough to tell her that he wouldn't hesitate to hurt her friends if she didn't agree.

Kagome gritted her teeth, feeling them clatter together. “It's still daytime.” She was either being unbelievably valiant, or completely stupid; Kagome felt it was the latter. “I could run out into the sun and you'd be unable to follow.” Her threat didn't sound as vicious because of her quivering voice. Yet, no matter how much her skin crawled, Kagome refused to cower in horror.

“You're freedom would be short lived. It wouldn't take me long to find you once it's dark. Besides…” Narek brought his hand up and slowly closed his fingers into a fist. Sango let out a scream. Kagome's vision whipped over to where she shook as though she were being electrocuted. She felt her bravery sink faster then the sun and as the room became dimmer from the loss of solar light, Kagome's panic rose.

“Stop!” Defeated, Kagome brought her hands up. “I'll do what you want.”

“Very good.” Narek opened his palm and Sango went silent. “Once this futile revolt your friends are struggling with ceases, I'll return to finish my other prey.” Kagome felt her stomach lurch in terror, unable to stop the bile rushing up like lava.

Claire saw the sun head southwest. “Sundown.”

Natalia, who had been reading across the room while Claire had watched the sun through the window, stood and said, “You should go get Kagome. Lilliana and Albier already left to start their errands.”

She waited patiently while Claire sat down to put on her sneakers. A moment later, Claire was on her feet. “Let's go.”

“I see you on the way out. I'm going to tell Rukiya I'm going along.” Claire nodded and headed down toward the front door while Natalia turned to find Rukiya, but that was before she heard Claire shout from downstairs.

“CHRIS!”

Natalia stopped, a familiar and slightly sour scent drifting to her nose. She turned, her original chore forgotten, and jumped the stairs to where Claire was crushing Christiano's waist.

“Can you let go before you completely cut off my circulation?” Christiano patted Claire on the head. She let go of him with a quick apology and smiled. “Where were you! Nat's been walking around the house like a lost puppy.”

“Really?”

Natalia almost couldn't believe her eyes, her ears, or her nose. She walked up to Christiano, looking him up and down. Narrowing her eyes, she said, “I thought you were supposed to go with Inuyasha and the others.”

Christiano shrugged. “They let me come and say hello instead.” He reached to embrace her, but Natalia shied away from him, inspecting him again.

“Natalia?” Christiano cocked his head to the side. In a flash, she had him by the neck.

“Nat, what are you doing?” Claire rushed to stop her, holding onto her arm and trying to pry it from Christiano's throat.

“Stay away!” Natalia ordered, swinging her arm hard, pushing Claire back.

“What's the matter with you?” Christiano chocked. Natalia brought her other arm up and slashed him across the chest!

“Nat! Stop!” Claire got up to her feet to try to separate them again, but Natalia's fierce glaze stopped her.

“Get Rukiya NOW!” Natalia bellowed.

“Nat, calm down. I'm sure he meant to come back and see y-”

“I SAID NOW!”

“Natalia, what are you doing?” Christiano didn't retaliate, blood oozed from his heart. “What's gotten into you?” A shine of confusion and alarmed betrayal shot through his eyes.

“NATALIA!” Rukiya's shocked voice was heard behind her, followed by Kagura's.

“Put him down!” She shrieked, preparing to stop Natalia's crushing grip on Christiano's throat.

“Don't you dare make a move!” Natalia warned the other women, noticing how they stood in distress at her sudden attack, not moving for fear of bringing harm to Christiano.

“Who are you?” Natalia demanded, turning back to Christiano.

“What are you talking about?” Christiano spluttered as Natalia's hand closed even more around his neck.

“Who sent you here?” Natalia gave a snarl that would rival that of a lion's. “Where is the real Christiano?”

“Natalia, how could you do this to me?” Christiano hacked.

She shook her head. “You're not MY Christiano! You think I'm so dumb that I can't tell my mate apart from a…” A spear cut through her heart. She understood.

“A drone.” Natalia dropped the fake. He fell to the floor in a fleshy heap while she shook with the knowledge of what his existence meant. “A drone so well made and realistic that Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru couldn't differentiate between him and-”

Radiating with fury, her eyes burning, Natalia grabbed the imitation and shook him, ordering him through bared teeth. “Who made you?” She demanded. “Who's the killer?”

The drone simply gave her a broken smile and died, leaving Natalia without a single clue about her mate's murderer. Seconds felt like days as Natalia stared at the body of the counterfeit. “No!” Claire shouted, running up to Natalia and shaking the catatonic nightwalker. “Nat, you're not serious! It's a lie right! You're lying!”

When Natalia didn't reply, Claire ran across the room to Rukiya who had her eyes closed and was trembling from head to toe. “It could be a copy! Just a copy, not a full drone! He could still be-”

Claire looked at Kagura in desperation only to see her crimson eyes leak with tears. Rukiya shook her head and held Claire close and the younger girl knew immediately that the tragedy was true. She wept into her older sister's shirt.

Natalia, trembling, closed her stinging eyes, and fell to the floor, letting out a heart-wrenching wail that would make even the most heartless man fall to his knees.

“We have to warn Sesshoumaru and the others.” Kagura coughed out through a sob. “We're not alone here.”

“She smells disgusting. Ugh, it makes me want to spill her blood to get rid of that stench.”

Kagome bent her elbows and pushed her upper half to a sit as quietly as she could. Taking in her surroundings, she noticed she had not been moved from the detectives' office. On the other side of the room, she could feel Narek's presence. As to who was with him, or how she had suddenly found herself unconscious, she didn't know, but Kagome found that she was brave enough to turn her head to see.

“I've discovered the location of your precious flower girl.” The redhead said to him.

Narek ran his tongue over his lower fangs. “Flower girl, Fenrir?”

“She's with that boy, and they're not far, setting up false trails…not that it matters what they're doing.” Fenrir added. “What to do with her?”

Kagome didn't move from her place behind Miroku's desk. She didn't dare look at the two nightwalkers for fear of letting her terror appear on her skin. “Ugh. She smells so rotten.” Fenrir made a hacking noise in the back of her throat. “Too bad, I could've used some meat.”

“You know better then to make a mess.” Narek warned her. “We have orders not to draw attention. We are only here to hunt, and that's what we'll stick to. No casualties…for now.”

“Fine. So I'll hunt instead. There's a certain colorful, little girl that I can't wait to sink my teeth into.” Fenrir turned toward the door. “Do you intend to rip the flower from its roots?” She asked.

Narek flexed his jaw. “I intend to cut its thorns and leaves.”

“Sounds like fun.” Fenrir opened the door and left the room.

For some time, Kagome sat motionless, working through their conversation. When she tied two and two together, Kagome's heart began to bleed panic with the idea that she wasn't the only one in danger. She looked around the room to find that Narek and she were the only ones in it.

About to voice her troublesome thoughts, Narek spoke before she could. “I was worried I would have to forcefully wake you.”

Kagome looked at him and regretted it, for in the second she met his cruel, green eyes, her throat went dry. She averted her gaze and said, “Where are Sango and Miroku?”

“I had to move them out of this room…or should I say out of this building. All the humans have left. You and I are the only beings in this place.”

“Are they-”

“I said they'd live if you cooperate, and they're out of harm's way.”

Kagome gulped. “Okay, so what do you want with me?”

“Bait.”

Kagome blinked. “Inuyasha will come for you.”

Kagome shot to her feet, knocking over the chair that had been standing next to her. “You're going to kill him.”

Narek pulled something out from his pocket, rubbing the shiny material on the sleeve of his white shirt. “If I wanted to kill him now, I could just strike you down.”

“So why wait? Here's your chance.” A part of Kagome's mind yelled insults at her for having the audacity to say such a thing, another section told her to hold strong and bit back if bitten.

Narek ran a hand through his hair, pushing the wavy, black locks back and giving Kagome a full view of the dark red stone on his finger. “Killing you is far too easy. Besides, I wasn't sent here to kill Inuyasha.”

“Then what were you sent here for?” Kagome inched closer to Miroku's desk; her hands behind her held onto the table and searched for something that could help her flee and warn the family.

“You'll see soon enough. Put that down.”

Kagome visibly flinched, clutching the stapler she'd secretly wrapped her fingers around. “Put what down?”

“I assure you a few staples won't be enough.” Narek said stoically.

“Damn it!” Kagome growled out of frustration, kicking Miroku's chair. Was there no way to get passed him?

“I highly suggest you don't bother with any foolish heroics. I'd hate to have to put you to sleep again.”

“You expect me to wait quietly?” Kagome thundered. Narek brought his palm up and bent his thumb and index finger . Kagome suddenly felt her knees buckle and she found herself sitting on the floor as though she were pinned to it. Her legs wouldn't obey her.

“I expected false bravery, and while I am inclined not to kill you for the time being, it doesn't mean you will leave with room with all your limbs attached.” Narek paused, his eyes widening as though realizing something. “Not that it matters whether you struggle or not, because Inuyasha is on his way here already.”

“Kagura. ” Sesshoumaru growled.

Bill had already sensed that something was amiss when Inuyasha ran off, ignoring Sesshoumaru's demand that he stay put. Hearing Sesshoumaru say the name of his mate in such a drastic voice, made his fear for the family bubble in his middle.

“What is it?”

“She's distressed. And I don't know where that good for nothing brother of mine ran to, but it seems that the girls are rather unnerved by something. Rukiya's voice doesn't connect with me…” Sesshoumaru's voice lowered till it was no longer audible. He tensed, his hands forming fists, and his eyes reddening in warning.

Bill felt it too and barred his teeth as the presence came closer. “Come out boy. Don't bother with tricks.”

Bill felt his fangs lengthening as Hakudoshi came into the shadows of the alley. “How observant, Sesshoumaru.” He said.

“Are you here to lose your head? I'll gladly take it from your shoulders.” Sesshoumaru's voice spoke more than his calm features, but Hakudoshi was not swayed.

“On the contrary, I'm here for your head.” Hakudoshi charged at Sesshoumaru with his claws ready and the older demon prepared for the attack, but he never had the chance to defend himself. In the split second that Hakudoshi had sprang into action, Bill had run in front of the head of the family, using his sudden action to grab the enemy nightwalker's hands and roughly push him across the alley with a hard open palm push.

While Hakudoshi took several moments to shack the rubble from his hair and stand, Bill told Sesshoumaru in a hasty breath, “Sorry about this chief, but you need to head back and see what's wrong with the others. I'll take care of this brat!”

While displeased with his audacity for giving him orders, Sesshoumaru none the less took Bill's advice and turned to leave, but not before saying, “Live so I can punish you later.” And he was gone.

“How noble.” Hakudoshi had risen to his feet the moment Sesshoumaru had vanished.

“You wouldn't know that trait if it bit you in the ass.” Bill scorned.

Hakudoshi dusted off his shoulder. “Shall we?”

“I hope you enjoy dieting.” Bill brought up his claws.

Narek opened his eyes and turned toward the door. He felt the human on the side of the room flash her eyes toward him. So he was here. Narek took a few steps back just as the wall exploded and then crumbled away to reveal Inuyasha on the other side of the dust.

“You!” Inuyasha seethed. “I should've known you were behind this.”

“Just me? Where is your imagination?” Narek replied.

Inuyasha didn't retort, too cleaver to deal with Narek's mind games. He went straight to the heart of the matter. “Well, you've got me here. What the hell do you want?”

“Just to tell you that some people are strong when they are together but weak when separated.”

“What the fuck do you mean by t-”

“Inuyasha!” The moment the fight broke out, Kagome realized that she was standing. She ran toward the hole in the wall that Inuyasha had made when he suddenly pounced on Narek, pushing him out of the office and into the main hall of the police department.

Their movements were so fast, Kagome couldn't tell who was who, only discerning Narek by a flash of black and Inuyasha by flare of silver. Anywhere the two colors clashed, destruction followed, walls were torn apart, desks went flying and in the midst of it all, Kagome could hear Inuyasha's enraged howls.

“I'll tear you in two, you fucking traitor!” Just then Kagome saw the two of them collide, a powerful gust blew apart more stray furniture, and she could see Inuyasha's red eyes as he and Narek had locked hands. Something was coming off of them. It was so tangible Kagome could felt it brush against her skin, making her hair stand on end. It was power.

Narek and Inuyasha weren't just pushing each other, they were battling with their auras, and the strength of Inuyasha's energy mixed with the raw fury he was directing at Narek.

“Touching. All this anger for the danger you're family is in, and you fail to realize that you remain here, fruitlessly fighting me while you should be perishing by their side!” Narek's force suddenly enlarged tenfold and he threw Inuyasha up in the air before slamming him downward, a crater forming around his body.

Kagome ordered her legs forward but barely had she taken one step when she found herself numb from the neck down. Narek focused his attention at her, once again taking control over her body, but she was too fixated on Inuyasha's unmoving body to worry about her own welfare.

“And here I was thinking you'd be challenging.” Narek spoke.

“I'm going to rip out those eyes one day.” Inuyasha snarled as he slowly got to his feet. Kagome's reprieve for Inuyasha's life didn't last long. Narek's face was directed at her.

“What do you intend to do, you bastard?”

“Isn't it obvious?” Narek's eyes didn't leave Kagome. “I intend to trap you here. I can't have you in my way while I go to…visit your family. I just hoped that they prove to be more entertaining than that boy you sent to deter me.”

The blood in Inuyasha's body turned to ice. “You fucking…what did you do to Christiano!”

He sprang. Narek dodged and was behind Kagome the next instant. He brought his claws up and Kagome felt feeling return in the form of pain as the sound of her skin and collarbone snapping invaded her ears. She fell to her knees, her hand flying to the crimson rip, letting out a scream that was echoed by Inuyasha's.

Even if he didn't believe his eyes, the searing throb on his shoulder was enough to tell him the disadvantaging truth. With his body already tender from the struggle against Narek, feeling and attaining Kagome's injury made him lose almost all his vigor.

“Second generation blood ties. So it has happened.” Narek spoke, watching Kagome wail in pain and seeing Inuyasha's shocked face.

“What?” Inuyasha rasped.

“Surely you've noticed by now. Had you not seen the connection before I made it patent? Or do you need me to explain the severity of your predicament?”

“Shut the fuck up and tell me what you did to Christiano, and get the hell away from Kagome!”

Ignoring the gushing wound, Inuyasha prepared to charge, but in the seconds it would have taken him to do harm to Narek, the enemy nightwalker attacked Kagome without even touching her. She caved into herself, holding her legs close to her body, screaming. Inuyasha fell back with the same pain, feeling as though his muscles were being pulled apart from his bones.

“To answer you're wailing: the same which I intend to do to the rest of your family.” Narek turned to exit but paused.

“Why don't you just finish me then? Why leave me alive?” Inuyasha croaked as blood smoldered in his throat.

Narek turned the handle. “Killing you will have no merit. Besides he wants you alive. He would like to see you and your brother one more time, to kill you himself for your insubordination. Now if you'll excuse me, it's time I had a little chat with my creator.”

Narek left Kagome and Inuyasha to their injuries, he walked out into the night with his mind intent on having a “friendly” visit with his maker, but that was before his nose bought the aroma of something deliciously alluring to his nose.

Sesshoumaru reached the home only to realize that it was empty. Scent told him that Kagura and the others weren't far, but it also told him that an enemy had been here. Following the wind that carried the girls' scents and their pursuers' smell, he suddenly caught another whiff of something familiar, and he did not like the sour tinge in it.

However, he did not have time chase it, because in his pursuit of Kagura and the others, he'd come across Claire scuffling with Fenrir on a rooftop and his nose told him that Natalia was somewhere on ground level fighting a battle of her own. Slowly, to conceal himself, he landed on a distant roof, listening and waiting for an opening.

Claire pounced and landed on Fenrir, smashing her into the granite. “You bitch! Where is he, I know you know!”

“I would be,” Fenrir kicked Claire in the middle and she went flying, “honored,” she flashed behind Claire and hit the girl behind the neck with her elbow, “not to tell you.” Claire let out a yelp and fell against the roof, crunching through it and into the top floor of the structure.

Fenrir followed. Coughing from the sudden attack of grime, Claire was barely getting her wits about her when Fenrir appeared overhead and revealed her fangs. Claire struggled to stand to avoid the bite. Fenrir suddenly jumped headfirst to the side.

She hissed at the other figure that had hit her. Claire's eyes cleared enough to reveal Sesshoumaru. Fenrir spat. “This isn't finished.” She punched through the wall and was gone.

Claire got to her feet. “Thanks.” She didn't smile, in fact she became even more anxious then before. “Where are Bill and Inuyasha?”

“Inuyasha is injured somewhere, find him.” Sesshoumaru ordered.

“What about Bill?”

“He can hold his all against Hakudoshi. Find Inuyasha.”

“But-”

“Do as I say.” Sesshoumaru's eyes darkened. Claire bowed her head; the wounds on the surface of her skin closed themselves now that she no longer had to strain herself.

“Please find Albier and Lilliana. I don't think they know about all this.”

Sesshoumaru watched her go. He exited the broken room. Natalia hadn't been far, and she'd been holding her own quite well, the two defeated nightwalkers on the ground told him as much, but something about her was incongruous.

“What happened?” Sesshoumaru asked after he'd helped her defeat the nightwalker she'd been fighting.

Natalia looked at him. There was something wild and angry about her face. “After I destroyed that drone, Fenrir and a few dozen of her mercenaries came in. We were separated. I don't know where others are.”

“Then we shall look.” Natalia nodded at his order but her fierce expression was gone when Sesshoumaru said, “What's this about a drone?”

“Kagome? Hey, are you all right?”

Kagome mauled the sounds over in her mind till they made sense. The anguish her body felt from the wound took away all kinds of strength from her, including her ability to make sense of things. The world seemed so slow now that the fighting was over and Narek was gone. It felt wonderful and terrible at the same time.

“Keep your eyes open!” The voice above her demanded and Kagome shot her lids up to see Inuyasha's blurry face.

“Don't touch it!” She snapped when she felt his hand on her shoulder.

“Give me your hand.”

“No!” She was too weak to see beyond selfishness. All she wanted was for her shoulder to stop churning and to close her eyes. Luckily, her loss of energy kept her from rebelling when her hand was pulled from her shoulder. A moment later, two points of ice were inserted into her wrist. Kagome tried to wrench her hand away, without once trying to comprehend why warmth came into her body instead of more pain.

Her vision cleared somewhat. “Inuyasha?” He was slightly distorted because of her fuzzy eyesight, but Kagome was sure that there was a gash identical to hers next to his neck.

“Keep your eyes open, okay?” She managed to move her head a tiny bit. His voice faded while she did her best to do as he asked. Somewhere she could hear shuffling and she felt herself being lifted. Her arms and legs were hooked around something and Kagome tried not to concentrate on her shoulder by biting her lip.

“What happened?” She whispered.

“Just keep your eyes open and you'll be okay.” With great difficulty, Kagome forced her lids not to close when moonlight hit them.

Kagome wondered what was going through his mind, if he was thinking about his injury or hers, or if he was thinking about his family. Unknown to her, it was all three.

Second-generation blood ties, Narek had called it. Was it the name of the stigma that connected Kagome's sense of pain with his? It didn't make sense. Kagome wasn't second generation, and neither was Narek for that matter. And how could Narek could have known what might happen with his addiction to her? Did that mean he knew more then he revealed, and more importantly, where had he gone, who had he hurt, what had he done to Christiano, and what did he mean when he said that the king wanted them alive?

So many things rang through Inuyasha's mind. His confusion matched his fatigue, for the low stamina in Kagome's body was also his. But the puzzlement and weariness did not compare at all to Inuyasha's feeling of helplessness. The family was in danger, and he was too weak to do anything to help them. Kagome was wounded and would die if he bit her to restore his strength. Not to mention what her death would do to him. Christiano was gone and Inuyasha prayed like he never prayed before that there was no more terrible news waiting for him, but at the dreadful turn the night had taken, and at the deeply saddened scent he was picking up, Inuyasha knew that there was still another tragedy preparing to rear its heartbreaking head.

He placed Kagome down on the sidewalk, thankful that there were no humans near the empty backstreet to stare. Catching his breath, Inuyasha knew the venom he'd injected in her hand was taking effect, because he was slowly getting warmer. So many nightwalker scents were in the air: his family's, his enemies', his blood, and then…

With a jolt of hidden energy he didn't know he had, Inuyasha picked Kagome up again and rushed toward that salty scent. The smell of blood and tears mixed together and it became more poignant as he got closer. He raced toward the edges of the town, hearing the sobs as he got closer. Finally, the town became a single road and sitting with her legs close to her body had been Lilliana.

She didn't move when Inuyasha reached her. She shook from head to toe, gasping. Various cuts were on her arms and her face was hidden behind a messy, sweaty clump of black hair. Placing Kagome down once more, he approached Lilliana.

“Lilly?” She twitched, but didn't respond. Inuyasha placed his hand on her shoulder, trying to shake her.

“Is she…” Kagome tried speaking.

“Lilliana?” Inuyasha called again.

This time, she brought up her swollen eyes to him. “He's…and Narek said…Albier…Inuyasha, he's dead. I heard Albier call for help…and then Narek…”

Lilliana wailed, grabbing onto Inuyasha's shirt. Be strong. It was hard to do when his heart felt as though it were being crushed by both Lilliana's tears and Albier's demise. He had to keep his wits about him; they weren't out of this yet. With much coaxing, Kagome helped a little, Inuyasha was able to get Lilliana to her feet and take her and Kagome back toward the city, where he followed his brother's scent.

Claire appeared first with Bill, black and blue and bleeding, leaning on her shoulder. Natalia joined their group and close to sunrise, Rukiya sent them news through their mental link that Kagura and Sesshoumaru had fought the remaining enemy nightwalkers off. When Inuyasha asked what happened to Narek, Fenrir, and Hakudoshi, all Rukiya told them was that they had retreated. The family joined up together and fled away from the city. That night, they lost two family members, but nonetheless, with heavy hearts, they made their way to safety, knowing full well that the future battles were going to be much worse then what they had just experienced.

Well there you have it! I don't think you need me to tell you that this chapter was difficult. Anyway, allow me to explain a few things. For those of you who have noticed, Inuyasha was sharing Kagome's pain in the last chapter, and it finally appears true in this one. How did Narek know about the pain ties? Does he know more then he lets on? I'll let you ponder about that.

Also, I dropped a clue, here and there about a certain someone…

Please forgive any spelling/ grammatical errors seeing as I don't have time to re-read and get to them. It's about two a.m. here. I hope you enjoyed.