InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Nightwalker ❯ Rebirth ( Chapter 27 )

UPDATE: THE ENDING HAS BEEN EXTENDED SOMEWHAT.

 

 

 

INPORTANT A/N, READ! In the last chapter, I meant to write Aorta instead of heart. Narek bit Kagome's aorta, not her heart, which Inuyasha said will kill a human even with the venom. I went back and fixed it.

 

 

 

 

This chapter is the beginning of the end of the story. It's a long ending, so relax, there's plenty to come. Anyway, I should say this now, my Chem Class needs top priority at this time, so I don't know how soon I can update in the future, still you never know when I might find time, so pay attention to updates.

 

This chap is a little confusing, but I did that on purpose to see if you can see the hints. Hold strong till the end, that's my advice.

 

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

 

 

 

Part Twenty-Seven: Rebirth

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“How is he, Rukiya?” Lilliana sat silently by the windowsill with her legs to her chest listening to the rest of the family speak without uttering a word. The mixture of anxiety and grief kept her voice locked. Several days earlier she'd used her deadly voice to push away an enemy, now all she wanted to do was curl up in a ball and cry. Everything was in chaos: half the family gone, one of them in a dire situation and the remaining members worrying if he and the human girl will pull through.

 

“Not good. He's very weak and his temperature is starting to drop.” Rukiya replied to Sesshoumaru's earlier question. “He's gone so long without feeding, it's starting to break down his internals.”

 

“And Kagome?” Claire asked, trying to mask the sob in her throat. Bill's death had been hard on her. Her cheer had dropped completely.

 

Hearing Kagome's name made Lilliana sit upright. No one knew what was wrong with her. She was alive, that's what Rukiya told them, but she wouldn't wake. She'd been given a fatal bite above the heart, the place where if bitten by a nightwalker one would die even with venom, yet she was still teetering on the edge of living, albeit in sleep.

 

“Can't we change her? At least she'd be alive?” Claire suggested. Everyone but Kagura turned their heads toward Sesshoumaru.

 

He crossed his arms and sighed, though his face remained stoic. “With all the blood she lost, and the strange state she's in, I fear changing her would do more harm then good. I don't want to take that risk when there's a chance she might wake up. Besides, it's against our rules to change a human into a nightwalker without their consent.”

 

“Screw rules! She's dying!” Claire shouted.

 

The family heads sent her a warning glare for her outburst. “Watch your tone, Claire. Naturally, we are all apprehensive and helpless toward the situation, but at times like these, we need to relax, wait and plan for the future. Nothing will be accomplished if we run around doing un-rational things in a panic.” Sesshoumaru stated slowly and patiently.

 

“How can you just stand there and be calm? Kagome's in a coma and she could stop breathing at any time, and the moment she does, so will Inuyasha. We're on the verge of losing two more people we care about and all you say is to wait?”

 

“What good would yelling do? All that must be done is hope for the best.” Kagura scolded.

 

Claire growled and stomped out of the room. “I'll punish her later.” Kagura shook her head. “How did this happen?” She sighed. The stress of their predicament finally melted her composed face.

 

“That's the same query I'd like answered.” Sesshoumaru neared toward Lilliana. “Care to explain? You've barely spoken since your return with a half dead human woman on your shoulder.”

 

If anything, that was an order for her to tell them what she knew. Lilliana had known that this exchange was to come eventually. While unavoidable, she would have wished for another time to discuss the subject for her spirits were elsewhere. Still, this conversation between the family leaders could no longer wait. Sesshoumaru currently stood with his arms crossed awaiting her explanation. How she would phrase what she had to say, Lilliana wasn't sure. She hesitated. “What would you like to know?” She began tentatively.

 

“First and foremost, about the affliction that is currently keeping my brother bedridden.”

 

Lilliana took a breath. “Nightwalker addictions have four levels. There's tolerance, second-generation blood ties, and then there's withdrawal and finally death. The addictions have a high point and after reaching this peak does it take a turn for the worse. When an addiction is made, after several bites, the nightwalker has so much strength that he can go for months without the blood he needs. This is tolerance. However, this leads to a strange blood connection. Any kind of pain Kagome feels, Inuyasha will feel. Second generation blood ties does just that, it connects her life with his. That's why the moment she dies, so does he.”

 

“Once second-generation blood ties are established,” Lilliana continued, “it won't be long before withdrawal occurs. Eventually, Inuyasha would have needed more then the normal amount of blood from Kagome. He would have taken more and more blood from her each time, till eventually, he would have taken so much that not even enough venom would have saved her. He would have killed her and killed himself in doing so.”

 

“So you're saying he's doomed either way, whether Kagome lives or dies?” Sesshoumaru asked. Lilliana nodded mournfully. “And since the addiction can't be broken unless Kagome dies a natural death, turning her into a nightwalker won't solve the situation either. She'd be poisoned the moment he bits her.”

 

Kagura suddenly let out a squeak as though she had some sort of revelation. Sesshoumaru turned toward his mate. “Unless…but how can we possibly ask of such a thing from her. And then there's the question of whether she will pull through this coma to carry it out. And it goes against out code.” She said to herself, cupping her chin.

 

“What are you planning?” Rukiya asked.

 

Kagura spun and opened her mouth to speak but the next moment, Claire stumbled into the room and yelled out on a gasp, “It's Kagome!” The sudden shuffle out of the room began when a wail was heard from upstairs and when an identical scream came from across the house. Rukiya burst into Kagome's room, Lilliana and Claire right behind her. Kagome thrashed in the beg, her eyes shut tight in sleep, she cried out, beads of sweat rolling off her face.

 

Rukiya rushed forward to hold her down, but Kagome's strength, amplified by her sleep, threw her off. “Help me stop her from moving! She might hurt herself.” Claire and Lilliana grabbed Kagome's arms and legs and pinned them to the bed. Rukiya placed a hand on Kagome's shoulder, trying to keep her from bucking upward. Kagome wriggled and resisted but they held on till she stopped moving. She laid still, panting heavily.

 

“It's a fever dream.” Rukiya concluded. “Her skin is burning.”

 

“Why hasn't the wound closed?” Lilliana asked Rukiya, noticing the two points of blood on Kagome's chest. They were tiny red drops.

 

“I can't be sure.” Rukiya shook her head.

 

Claire gingerly let go of Kagome's arms, waiting little to see if she would move again. “Rukiya, is this fever, you know?”

 

Kagura knocked softly on the door before entering the room. “Inuyasha has calmed down.” She stated.

 

“Was he tossing and turning too?” Rukiya asked.

 

“Yes, Sesshoumaru had to wrestle him down.”

 

“Is he awake?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“You two,” Rukiya said to Lilliana and Claire, “stay here and watch Kagome for me.”

 

Kagura accompanied Rukiya on their short trip to Inuyasha's room. The air within was heavy with the scent of anguish. Sesshoumaru stood silently next to Inuyasha's bed, watching his brother who's back leaned against the wall for support. Inuyasha's eyes were vacant, and his breathing harsh.

 

“Are you all right?” Rukiya asked him as she sat down on the edge of the mattress.

 

“Better.” He huffed. “Now that the pain is gone.”

 

“Can you describe it? Maybe it could tell us what's wrong with Kagome.”

 

Inuyasha cringed. “It's like someone is grabbing hold of your heart and not letting go, crushing it. I couldn't breath. My entire body felt like it was being eaten up by an acid. And my insides felt as though they were being mixed by a spoon. It's almost like-” He coughed and spoke no further.

 

“Sesshoumaru,” Rukiya croaked, the moisture gone from her throat. “You recognize these symptoms, don't you?”

 

The family head let out a long exhale. “That traitor. He continues to break all the rules.”

 

Inuyasha sat up. “What?” He gasped. “You can't be serious!” He held his throat, rubbing it gently.

 

“I'm still not certain. Only time will tell.” Sesshoumaru answered.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“No way. But I thought they couldn't do that!” Claire and Lilliana listened to Sesshoumaru's theory while watching Kagome's sleeping body incredulously.

 

“Apparently our traitor can. I don't know how he has the capability, but it seems Kagome was extremely fortunate. He must have pulled away from her the moment she was about to die, thus initiating the changing cycle. Her symptoms are almost exactly the same. Though unintentional, it seems he transformed her rather then killed her.”

 

“But how?” Lilliana gulped. “I know he's powerful and has abilities only natural-borns do, but how can he have the changing gene.”

 

“That's just the thing isn't it? Narek breaks all the rules. Not only did he change her with her consent, but in order to change a human in to a nightwalker, he must be a natural born or second generation. Kagome has been asleep for the past four days. The conditions fit. Furthermore, I suspect that the same might have happened to you.” Sesshoumaru noticed the widening in Lilliana's eyes.

 

“Perhaps he pulled away before he could kill fully and you somehow held onto life until you were able to heal yourself. I believe your voice might hold the key to defeating Narek, since you described how badly he was affected by it.”

 

Lilliana shivered. She asked Claire to keep an eye on Kagome and left the room. “I think she might need some time.” Rukiya said. She'd been sitting in a corner watching the reactions on the girls' faces while Sesshoumaru told them of his suspicions.

 

“I'm more worried about Inuyasha. Since Kagome didn't die a natural death, his addiction continues. Not only is he weak from the cycle Kagome is going through, he's also drained from fasting for so long.” Rukiya sighed.

 

“There might be a way to save both of them.” Sesshoumaru said suddenly.

 

Claire jumped, a hopeful smile on her face. “How?”

 

“But it involves sacrifice on both their parts, not to mention we'd be breaking another rule, but I suppose this calls for an exception. Inuyasha, Kagome and Narek all disregard rules. Inuyasha by biting her more then once, Kagome by changing, and Narek by his betrayal and strange abilities.”

 

“And just what is your plan?” Claire asked.

 

“The same as Kagura's.”

 

“I don't understand.” Rukiya clicked her teeth.

 

“You'll know when she awakens.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

She did not know how long she'd been swimming in darkness, but the shadows gave her harsh beatings. The agony was the only indication that she was alive. Each strike against her made her wish she would no longer exist so the pain couldn't be afflicted on her person. Her bones felt like they were being stretched, her stomach felt as though it was being puréed from the inside, her skin burned like she were being stabbed with millions of cigarettes, and her heart felt as though it were shrinking.

 

Many times the darkness suffocated her and she had to kick and scream to breath. Floating in that abyss seemed like infinity. She'd been there so long, she forgot everything. All she knew was pain and suffering. One time, the darkness had thrown her into a fire. The hot coals had pressed not only into her skin, but passed through her like she was a ghost, charring her insides as well. She kept wishing to find some semblance of light; even the fire had been black.

 

Then, only once, the darkness had relented. In her eternity of torture, she spotted that tiny glimmer of light and forced herself toward it. The more she ran, the farther it became, but she persevered, fighting her aches, and finally touched it with her fingertips. Then she opened her eyes and could see.

 

It took several seconds for her to remember. Now finally free from the dark, she could make up shapes and colors. She stared at the ceiling like it was the most beautiful sight in the world. Something wound its way across her body. It was no longer pain, but rather millions of tingling sensations all over her body. Fatigue was the proper word. She was so sore to the point that she couldn't inhale without the heavy weight pressing all over her.

 

She groaned. Being in darkness for so long had taken away her senses. She could see clearly, hear voices downstairs, and smell the entire room, even the flowery scent that felt close. She lifted her head only slightly.

 

“Blue! You're up!”

 

A voice. It was wonderful to be away from the silence. Then Kagome heard several things at once: Claire's almost inaudible hiccups, a steady, slow heartbeat next to a more frantic one, a clicking sound in the distance. Three amazing scents floated into the room and Kagome suddenly felt a burning hand on her forehead.

 

“Thank goodness.”

 

Kagome blinked, turning her head to look at the five other people in the room. “What happened?” She grunted.

 

“You've been asleep for a week. How are you feeling?”

 

“Rukiya?” Kagome stuttered. When Kagome tried answering her question she bit her tongue. “Ow!”

 

“It looks like you were right Sesshoumaru.” Rukiya said.

 

“What kind?” Said Sesshoumaru's smooth voice.

 

Kagome felt Rukiya pull down her chin. She was too exhausted to resist. “She's a cobra-fang. Just like Narek.”

 

The last word in Rukiya's sentence had Kagome spring to a sit, looking about the family with a frantic countenance. “How did I get here?” She demanded. “Where's Narek?”

 

“Relax.” Rukiya put a hand on Kagome's shoulder. “You're safe. You should thank Lilliana for bringing you back.”

 

Kagome held the stitch in her side. “Why do I feel like I've been through a paper shredder?”

 

“That's one way to put it.” Kagura half giggled. In am unexplainable way, Kagome both understood what had happened, and yet she was confused at the same time. The family must have caught on to what she felt because they became very stiff, she could almost smell it.

 

“What's going on?” Kagome pushed her upper half to a sit with shivering arms.

 

She found herself looking straight into the eyes of Sesshoumaru. “Lilliana, Claire, you're excused.” Claire made a whine in protest, but was led out by Lilliana.

 

With the two gone, Sesshoumaru turned back toward Kagome. The authority and presence of him was something Kagome had never noticed before. Without thinking she said, “You really are a lot like him.”

 

Sesshoumaru raised his brow. “I'll ask whom your referring to later. Stand up.”

 

Kagome slowly got to her feet. She stumbled twice and was glad for Rukiya's supporting arm on her back. Sesshoumaru inspected under such an scrupulous stare that Kagome couldn't help but want to hide behind Rukiya. If only she had the strength.

 

“Hmm. Very subtle physical changes.” He said.

 

“What are you talking about?” Kagome blinked.

 

The family head did not answer her question; instead, he led them out of the room. Rukiya supported Kagome's wobbly legs as the four of them walked into a parlor. Lilliana and Claire were called back and Kagome was placed on a soft looking chair. The family formed a semi-circle in front of her, somber looks on their faces. When Kagome was sure she could trust her eyes, after blinking several times and waiting for things to connect in her mind, she noticed that three people were missing from the meeting. Natalia, Bill and…

 

“Where is everyone else?” She asked.

 

Claire's eyes filled with tears, Rukiya looked away, and Lilliana covered her face with her hands. Sesshoumaru and Kagura frowned, but answered her question anyway. “Bill and Natalia have been killed by Narek.”

 

Kagome's hand grasped the shirt over her heart. Her eyes stung. “And Inuyasha?”

 

“He's alive…barely.” Sesshoumaru added.

 

“What? Why, what happened?” Kagome made a move to stand but Sesshoumaru ordered her to sit. She slumped back down in the chair with anxiety etched across her brow.

 

“I think this might explain a few things first.” Kagura pulled something out of her pocket and kneeled in front of Kagome. She opened a tiny mirror in front of Kagome's face and said, “Open your mouth.”

 

Kagome's head cocked to the side and she looked at Kagura like she had flowers growing out of her ears. “What?”

 

“Do I have to do it for you?”

 

Feeling foolish, Kagome did as ordered. Kagura placed the mirror in Kagome's hand and brought it up so Kagome could see the reflection. Kagome clamped her lips shut, throwing the mirror back at Kagura like it had burned her fingers. Shivering, she took two fingers and put them between her teeth then drew them back immediately.

 

They were real.

 

She looked up at the family for confirmation, and Sesshoumaru said, “Welcome to the nightwalker clan.”

 

Kagome shook her head. “Who changed me?”

 

“I think you already know that.” Rukiya said.

 

“But I thought that it wasn't possible. Inuyasha said that Narek is third generation. He can't change anybody.”

 

“But he did. I don't know how he did it, but you're lucky that you're alive.”

 

“Lucky?” Kagome shouted, slamming her hands down on her chair. “How can I deal with this? I lost my home, my family, and know my life as a human!”

 

“Would you rather be dead?” Sesshoumaru said ominously.

 

Kagome opened and then closed her mouth. “I thought not.” He stood and crossed his arms. “I can understand your loss, but you've been given new life and strength. It would do you well to appreciate that you're still alive and breathing. Besides, you're not the only one that's suffering.”

 

Kagome didn't bother to protest or show her upset anymore. Instead, she sat still, figuring that with her unrelenting weariness, it was best to listen to what they had to say. They were people who knew just how to be nightwalkers after all. “I'm listening.”

 

“This is something I never expected to happen. Either way, you are welcome to join our family, but it seems some of us already considered you part of it.” Sesshoumaru looked toward Claire.

 

“The question is, who shall we assign to be your creator.”

 

“Assign a creator?” Kagome asked.

 

“When a human becomes a nightwalker, the person that changed this is sort of like their parent. I changed Rukiya, so it was my job to teach her of our ways. If you were changed under normal circumstances, Narek would be the one that looks after you. I considered letting Rukiya look after you since she was the one who created Narek but, I've decided Lilliana will be the best to watch you.”

 

“What?” Lilliana stammered.

 

“You were the one that found her and brought her home. I'm certain that if you hadn't interrupted, Narek wouldn't have stopped right before she would have died, so that makes you perfect for the role. Is that a problem?” Sesshoumaru gave her a commanding stare.

 

“No, sir.” Lilliana looked away. “I will take responsibility for Kagome.”

 

“Then it's decided. Now about Inuyasha.”

 

“Is he okay?” Kagome burst out suddenly. Ignoring her for the moment, Sesshoumaru turned to Lilliana and said, “You have a lot of work to do.”

 

He returned his attention to Kagome. “Currently, Inuyasha is recuperating. The wound you received from Narek has really harmed him. I'm sure you've noticed that whenever you are hurt, so is he. So naturally, he felt everything you did while changing into a nightwalker.”

 

“Why does it hurt so much?” Kagome asked.

 

“Because everything in your body is changing. Your bones become sturdier, you grow fangs, you internal organs extend and change shape, you muscles become tighter, your breathing apparatus enlarges, and your eyes, nose and ears become stronger. Also, during the transformation, you develop venom glands and heart chambers.”

 

“Heart chambers?” Kagome repeated.

 

“Humans have a four chambered heart. When they become nightwalkers, the heart changes as well. That's why you felt as though your chest was being ripped apart. When I changed into a nightwalker, I went from a four chambers to a six-chambered heart. It varies from person to person. Natural born nightwalkers have over eight chambers. Most human born nightwalkers have either five or six chambered hearts.” Lilliana explained.

 

“How do I know how many chambers I have?” Kagome asked.

 

“It depends on how many special abilities you have.” Rukiya continued. “Being a nightwalker, strength, speed, and in our case, smell and sound are always given. If you're second generation, you also have the ability to change humans. The extra chambers are equal to the extra powers you may have as a nightwalker. My ability to read minds came from my fifth chamber.”

 

Kagome couldn't resist. “How many chambers did Narek have?”

 

Rukiya took a moment to reply. “I've counted his abilities and I believe he has six, maybe more. We don't know what kind of extra powers Narek has. When you become a nightwalker, some of the traits from your creator transfer to you. You might have a few of his powers or all of them, only time will tell. You're the first and only fourth generation nightwalker, it makes you special I suppose, but it also means we can't predict what might happen to you, just as we couldn't predict what Narek was capable of.”

 

Kagome shuddered. The idea that she could have the same hurtful powers did not sit well with her. In fact, she was disgusted with herself. Her creator was Narek thus she had part of him in her. How could she have the same abilities he had used to hurt, hunt down, and threaten the family? What if she were corrupted just as he was? She didn't want to live in his shadow. She wanted nothing to do with him!

 

Kagome looked down at her hands. Her nails had grown out. Claws. Her skin looked smoother and paler then before. How much had she changed? How much will she change? Will she become the same cruel monster Narek was? Wasn't there a bond between creator and nightwalker? What if Narek could control her?

 

“I doubt Narek would acknowledge you as one of his, so I wouldn't worry. He can't control you if you can resist him.” Rukiya smiled when Kagome stared at her with her mouth open.

 

Kagome looked at her hands again, opening and closing them. It seemed it would take a little while for her fatigue to clear. “You mentioned that I was a cobra-fang. What's that?”

 

“Glad you asked.” Kagura spoke. “There are two kinds of nightwalkers: vipers and Cobra-fangs. All nightwalkers are venomous, but there's a difference between the fangs. A viper's fangs protrude. They grow out when it's time to bite someone, and retract when they aren't needed. Cobra-fangs however, are always erect, always ready to bite. As of now, you're the only one in our family.”

 

“Bill was the only other cobra-fang.” Claire bit her lip.

 

For a little while there was silence. Then Sesshoumaru sensed the unease and spoke again. “Claire, you may leave.” The youngest looking nightwalker rose and left the room, taking her tension with her.

 

“Now on to the heart of the matter.” He said. “We've told you the basics of what you are. From now on, it's Lilliana's job to teach you how to hunt and answer any other questions you have.” He paused and took a deep breath. “We are worried about Inuyasha.”

 

“I'm sure you know that he's in a tender state. The way you feel right now, is exactly what he does. He's tired and weak because he has gone so long without blood.” Rukiya said. “His temperature is dropping. Because you did not die a natural death his addiction to you continues, and he cannot bite you now without endangering your life.”

 

Kagome rubbed her upper arms. “You're saying he's going to die?”

 

“He might. There could be a way to save him, but we'd be breaking a lot of rules, and we'd be asking so much of you.” Kagura stated.

 

“Screw rules. What can I do?”

 

“You'd be giving up more then you know.” Kagura said.

 

“Just tell me what it is.” Kagome begged. She didn't want to responsible for someone's death. True, it wasn't her fault she was a nightwalker, the blame rested with Narek. Kagome knew she'd have to fight and kill. She was a part of the nightwalker war now and it was kill or be killed, but she couldn't stand the idea of taking another family member away. They'd lost half of the people they loved, Kagome did not want to be part of the reason Inuyasha was lost if there was a way she could save him. There was only one question she feared: was she saving him for his sake or for hers?

 

“How can we save him?” She asked Kagura again.

 

“Nightwalker venom is dangerous to us, but among mates its not.” Kagura stated.

 

“I don't understand.”

 

“When we choose a mate, we are mated to that person for life. It's like marriage, but there's no prospect of divorce. Few nightwalkers choose to take a mate. If you were mated to Inuyasha, he could bite you without doing you harm. His venom would be harmless to you, and for that matter, your venom would be harmless to him, but mating is a dangerous process and there's more to it then meets the eye. If you choose to do this, you'd be giving up any kind of love you would have had in the future.”

 

Kagome didn't speak.

 

“I can understand that it's a hard choice to make. You've lost your humanity and everything that's familiar to you, but there was still the hope of finding someone you can truly love and treasure out there. You'd be giving up that last freedom too. Which is why we won't tell you how to mate. We've already broken tradition telling you this much. If you do choose to do this, Inuyasha will tell you how it will be done. I do hope that you do, I'd hate to lose my brother in law, but know that if you don't, I won't hold it against you.” Kagura rose from her seat.

 

“In any case, our work here is done. I'll leave you be now.”

 

Everyone except Lilliana left the room. Kagome didn't talk to her, she sat with her legs to her chest, thinking. Give up a chance at love with someone else, or be with Inuyasha forever to save his life. She'd lost so much, but she would live and he wouldn't. It wasn't fair. If she were in love with Inuyasha, this choice would have been easier. She cared about him, he was a friend, but did she care enough to sacrifice what new freedom she could have as a nightwalker? What if she mated with him, but fell in love with someone else?

 

“Lilliana.” Kagome whispered.

 

“Hmm?”

 

“What would you choose?”

 

“Love or duty. If I had someone I already loved, it would be a hard decision to make, but I don't think I can live with myself if I knew I let someone die. Do you love Inuyasha?”

 

“Why would you ask me that?” Kagome stammered.

 

“If you loved him, it would be easier for you to make this choice. To me, love is heart and heartache. It's like fire. It's warm and comforting, but it can burn you if it gets too hot. Even if you knew that love was light and dark, would you still want it?”

 

“Yes.” Kagome said without a second thought. “I know I look stupid. Thinking about losing someone I don't even have.”

 

“Believe me, Kagome, I really wish you would save him. But it's not my choice to make.” Lilliana left the room.

 

Kagome couldn't believe she was hesitating. She knew that mating had more then just being tied to Inuyasha forever. When she imagined getting married, she always thought that her husband, or mate in this case, would be the man she'd treasure for the rest of her life. Her relationship with Inuyasha was completely rocky. They met and made love on a whim and only recently, they had been on friendly terms. But he'd done so much to keep her out of harms way, even when she hated his methods. There was so much between them they would need to overcome.

 

Could she really try and make this work? Her time to choose was limited. Inuyasha was getting colder the more time she spent in this room contemplating. Kagome gulped. He was dying and this was all she could think about?

 

She stood. Her legs trembled only a little, and Kagome realized that her exhaustion had ebbed away slightly. She was beginning to regain her strength. Slowly, she made her way across the hall. It was like she was a baby learning to walk for the first time. She held onto the wall for balance. The more she walked, the steadier her stride became.

 

She didn't know where she was going. In fact, her nose guided her. The scent of the family floated around downstairs, but the scent of another came from the room she was headed toward. Kagome softly rapped on the door. There was no answer.

 

Without waiting for a reply, Kagome opened the door and entered the room. Inside was completely dark, but her new eyesight made out the objects. And he was there, sitting with his back against the wall. She didn't see his face at first. His elbows were on his knees and his head was downcast.

 

He looked up as she got closer to the bed. They stared at each other for a while. “How are you feeling?” Kagome asked finally.

 

“Tired.” He said. His voice was low. “And you?”

 

“Much better then when I was asleep.” Kagome looked down. “I'm sorry.” She said.

 

“What are you sorry for?” He laughed. “You haven't done anything.”

 

“They told me how you went through the same thing I did during my transformation.”

 

He harrumphed. “Well, maybe I deserved it.”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“I don't know. I guess I fell like it's my fault. If I had been more careful, maybe Narek wouldn't have gotten a hold of you. Maybe you'd still be human, and able to go back to your normal life when we finish this godforsaken war.” He huffed.

 

“That doesn't matter now. I'm a nightwalker, and there's no way to change it.”

 

“That's true.”

 

“But,” Kagome felt her heart beat faster, “there is a way to change your fate.”

 

“Stop.” Inuyasha suddenly barked. “I don't want to hear about it!”

 

“You don't care if you die?”

 

“I do care, but, I don't think I can go through with it. I can't have you as my mate.”

 

Kagome stomped her foot. The room rumbled. “Why? Is being mated to me sound like such a horrible idea?”

 

“Let me get straight to the point Kagome. You don't love me.”

 

Her inability to speak out against it proved that he was right. “And I don't love you. But you have your whole life ahead of you. I've been alive for seven hundred years. I've had plenty of time and unlike you, no one took that time away from me. You could go on and have the normalcy you would have before you met me.”

 

“You're right I could.” Inuyasha gave a wry smile at her answer. “But I won't.” The grin dropped from his face.

 

“I was lying when I said I didn't care if you died. I don't love you, but that doesn't mean I don't care about you. I can't live with that kind of guilt. I won't let you die on me and put that weight on my shoulders, so I'm willing to sacrifice the life I could've had. Letting you die will make me the same monster as the man that created me.”

 

Inuyasha growled and limped off the bed, grasping her shoulders. She looked up to him without a flicker of doubt on her face. “You have no idea what you'd be giving up. When you became a nightwalker, everything about you was reborn, even your virginity. It would be like before I met you. You could give yourself fully to someone you really care about. I had my chance, I took it. I had plenty of experiences in life. You could be with someone that didn't force you into being with them. You have no obligation to me. I won't hold it against you.”

 

Despite what he was saying, Kagome still saw hope in his eyes that she would choose him. “I do have an obligation. You saved my life plenty of times. Now it's my turn.”

 

He shook her. “Why are you being so damned difficult! You should be furious with me! I practically raped you, twice, and I took you away from your home, isolated you from the rest of the world, just so I could survive! You think I did it for your protection? You really think that I once cared that if we left you behind, you'd be in danger?”

 

“You're lying.” Kagome said. “You did care if I got hurt. You said so yourself back in Hong Kong. You want to live, even though you are telling me this.”

 

Inuyasha growled and then sighed, covering his eyes with his hand. “I put you through so much shit. You spoke about feeling quilt if you would let me die, but I'd feel horrible if I let you go through with this. There are so many nightwalkers out there that you could fall in love with that are better then me.”

 

It was true, but Kagome didn't see it happening. “It wouldn't change anything. Technically, even if I am a virgin nightwalker, you'd still be my first. And I told you before, I can't live with the idea that I let someone die! I'm not changing my mind, Inuyasha.”

 

“I refuse.” He turned back toward the bed. “Now get out.”

 

“You'd rather die?” Kagome asked.

 

“It's better then living with the guilt.” He said without turning. She saw him shacking.

 

Kagome grew impatient. Taking a breath, she swung him around and pushed him down on the bed, straddling his waist. “Either you tell me what I have to do to be your mate, or I will force myself on you!” Kagome closed her eyes, feeling her face burn. She held his face in her hands and pressed her lips against his. He gave a start at the contact but didn't push her away.

 

“Well?” Kagome asked when she pulled back.

 

“Get off.” Inuyasha growled. He pushed at her arms, but he was too weak to remove her, and with Kagome's strength slowly rising, for once, she had the upper hand.

 

“No, I'm not getting off.” Kagome shook her head.

 

“Move.” He grasped her shoulder and pushed her away, jumping to the other side of the room.

 

“I won't do it.” He mumbled.

 

Though he was farther away, Kagome noticed the gold in his eyes had changed to red, a reaction to her blood. His hands had become fists, shacking with the force of controlling himself. He wanted to bite her and he was resisting again.

 

“Why are you being so stubborn?” Kagome snapped.

 

“Because I don't want you to be with me when you know that there's no real affection between us. Mating is also about finding the right person. It's not right.”

 

“You're just saying that to keep me away.” Kagome said as she inched toward him.

 

“And what if I am?” He growled in warning. “I've lived my life, I've fallen in love before. You can still have your chance.”

 

“But it's not fair toward you isn't it. I have to choose between love and duty, you have to choose between life and death.” Kagome stopped when she was an arm's distance from him.

 

“That may be so, but you could find a man that wouldn't be a bastard like me. It's my fault you lost your human life, it's my fault I became addicted, and it's my fault that you turned into a nightwalker. Now you want me to take away your freedom to love someone else?” He tried to get away from her when she came closer, the red in his eyes deepening.

 

“I choose to give it up. Please Inuyasha, if you really care about my sake, you'd show me the truth, that you really do want to live. Besides, you'd be giving something up too. Say yes and tell me what to do.” Kagome's heart felt as though it were working triple time. She gulped.

 

“Kagome, please be reasonable.”

“Stop hiding it.” Kagome insisted. “I know you don't really want to die.”

 

“I could live off meat.”

 

“But you'd get weaker without my blood.”

 

“But you could-”

 

“No I couldn't!” Kagome yelled, her eyes beginning to sting now. “If I did make the choice not to do this, every time I'd look at my future lover's face I'd feel pain that I let someone die to attain that love! It's selfish! A part of me still wishes I could do it though. I do kind of wish I didn't care about the consequences but I have a big conscience and I can't! I choose to do this, Inuyasha and nothing you say will change my mind! Please let me save you!” Kagome panted.

 

He stared at her in silence for a while. His breathing became harsher. “There's really nothing I can do?”

 

“No.” Kagome turned her face away to hide the salt on her face.

 

Inuyasha closed his eyes and brought his hands up to his temples. For some time he stayed like that, considering. “You're absolutely sure.”

 

“Yes.”

 

He clenched his teeth together. He walked passed her and toward the door. Kagome felt as though there was a hole in her center when he walked out of the room, but a moment later he returned and locked the door behind him.

 

“I told Rukiya and the others to leave.”

 

“Why?”

 

“When two nightwalkers mate, they have to be completely alone. The others will go on ahead to give us a few days.”

 

“Why a few days?”

“Because the mating ritual lasts five nights.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yay, the long awaited chapter is up! Tadaa! Kagome's a nightwalker! Anyway, I have major work for Chemistry coming up soon, so for all you perverts out there, I'm sorry to say, you'll have to wait a little longer for me to get all my naughty thoughts together to make the (GULP) next chapter.