InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Nightwalker ❯ Smoldering ( Chapter 29 )

PLEASE REREAD THE ENDING, IT HAS BEEN LENGTHENED! I HOPE YOU ENJOY THE UPDATE!

 

Man. First I'd like to start out by saying, Happy 2009. We made it!

 

Anyway, I have to say thank you for those of you who reviewed and I also have to apologize for what many of you wanted for the next four chapters. No, the next four will be not be about the mating ritual. It seems like a very silly thing to do. Don't get me wrong, I love the lovey-dovey/ kinky stuff but we have to keep the story going. So as a treat, this chapter is really long, for your reading pleasure. I hope you enjoy it.

 

Anyway, this chapter is mostly setting things in motion for things to come. It's also showing how Kagome is…trying to get used to being a new being.

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

Part Twenty-Nine: Smoldering

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March Eighteenth, Hong Kong

 

 

“I'm going to go nuts! How do you guys stand this all the time?” Kagome paced as her fangs pulsed. She desperately wanted to feed, but the family wouldn't let her go near any of the humans in Hong Kong, where they were now staying until Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru returned. The two brothers had left for Africa where Kanna and her family had located several nightwalker families that were willing to join their cause. Because of that, Kagome was stuck in a house filled with only female nightwalkers that had spent the last two months trying to teach how to control her bloodthirsty urges.

 

And she had thought learning how to travel with her nightwalker speed had been the hardest thing to master. Kagome let the memory invade her mind to distract her from the ache in her teeth.

 

“I think my back is going to be sore for a week.” Inuyasha had whined the sixth morning after the mating ritual. He'd been trying to fasten the buttons of his shirt without arching his back. Kagome wondered if she should have feel guilty. The blue mating mark on the center of his back hadn't been the only thing causing him harm. During the nights of their union, she'd injured him many times with her feral needs. She wondered if he would hold her…vindictiveness against her in the future. Then again, the soreness she'd felt on her legs reminded her that she shouldn't feel the least bit sorry.

 

Of course, worrying about where their relationship will lead after mating was the least of her troubles. Shortly after the two of them had dressed, Inuyasha had called for Rukiya with his mind. He had then informed Kagome about the family's whereabouts in Hong Kong and told they would have to travel there by foot.

 

Kagome had no idea as to how she was going to do that. She had barely been a nightwalker for six days. She did not know how they had the ability to travel, or how to hunt, or to control her bloodlust. Learning how to run and jump with her new nightwalker legs had been difficult. She'd fallen on her face at least three times when Inuyasha had first taught her, but she had somehow managed to keep up with Inuyasha as they ran over the lands and ocean. Finding out she could run on water if she were fast enough had been quite a treat.

 

But learning how to move in her new body was nothing compared to trying to keep her hunger in check.

 

“Why can't I at least have some meat?” She asked Rukiya. The dark skinned nightwalker had been leaning against a wall of the room, watching Kagome patiently with her arms crossed.

 

“It's only been ten hours since you last ate. If you can't manage your urges for a full day, I doubt you'd have even a shred of self-control when we let you out into the city again.” Rukiya said patiently.

 

“Remember what almost happened the last time you were out there?” Claire reminded her.

 

Kagome bit her lower lip. She remembered a little too well. During their travels, she and Inuyasha had either feed from each other, or they had hunted animals. Every time she was near Inuyasha, she had wanted to bite him. He always smelled so delicious. It didn't take long for her to realize that she wanted to bite every male that crossed her path. When they had first arrived in Hong Kong at midnight, Kagome felt her fangs pulsing from the all the other blood scents.

 

Without really understanding it, she had watched a young man walk across the street, memorizing his stride and listening to his heartbeat. Inuyasha had to hold her back from running to him and drinking him dry. Now it was Lilliana, Rukiya, Clare and Kagura that were trying to help her control her bloodlust.

 

“Damn it.” Kagome cursed. Maybe she should give Inuyasha some credit. Being a nightwalker was much harder then she thought. She had gotten used to her agility, to hearing things at a higher volume. She had even mastered recognizing different scents without fainting from the mixture of distinct odors. Why couldn't controlling her instincts to feed be just as easily?

 

“How long did it take you guys to completely control your bloodlust?” Kagome asked.

 

“It took Inuyasha fifteen years to completely hold back his bloodlust. For Sesshoumaru, it was eleven years to master, and it took thirteen for me.” Kagura explained.

 

“That long?” Kagome gaped.

 

“It's harder for natural born nightwalkers. Human born nightwalker take less time since they once were of the prey they bite and since they still have a natural resistance to it for the first few years of their nightwalker lives.” Kagura explained.

 

“I mastered my bloodlust in five years.” Clare said.

 

“I took me seven years for complete control and for Rukiya it was four.” Said Lilliana.

 

Kagome felt her panic setting in. How long would it take her to have complete control of her bloodlust? How long would it be before she would no longer lose herself whenever she saw a man? “Was there anyone in your family that didn't take years to master this?”

 

Kagura shook her head. “Everyone nightwalker in the family had difficulty learning to control the bloodlust. It took years for Bill, Albier, Natalia and Christiano too. Learning how to move with your newfound strength takes little time to master, but learning how to control your feeding instincts takes much more practice. Most nightwalkers, natural or human born, have a difficult time adjusting to it.”

 

“You mean there's no one who didn't take more then a year to get used to this?” Kagome asked desperately. Any kind of reassurance was better then knowing it would take years for her to be able to completely keep herself in check without attacking someone just because their blood affected her more then the others.

 

“Narek didn't.” Rukiya said suddenly. “It took him three months.”

 

“But he's an abnormal case.” Lilliana hissed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kagome sat beside Lilliana trying to not to concentrate on food. It was a good thing Inuyasha wasn't her or she would have bled him dry with all her hunger. Sesshoumaru was lucky he had a mate otherwise she'd sink her teeth into him. When she and Inuyasha had reunited with the family, Kagome had seen the head of the family in a way she'd never seen him before. At first she was intimidated, her nightwalker senses telling her of the immense power within him, but then she had quickly learned to respect him as their leader.

 

The moment Inuyasha had come into the house, Sesshoumaru told Lilliana to begin teaching Kagome how to be a nightwalker. He then told Inuyasha his plans to find Kanna and gather more nightwalker recruits. His decisiveness and quickness told Kagome that he was very capable as a leader.

 

After Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru left, Lilliana decided they would start her training the next day. To Kagome's surprise, Lilliana was very patient with her. Whenever Kagome made a mistake, she would only scold and tell her to do better next time. Besides teaching Kagome how to fight with her new body and how to hunt, Lilliana had also had the task of explaining how nightwalker families function.

 

“Most nightwalkers live in groups.” Lilliana continued with her lecture. “There are some that are solitary, but much like humans we are social creatures. Every family has a leader. You know ours is Sesshoumaru. If the leader has a mate, she or he is the partner leader. The family heads keep the rest of the members in check. They make the final decisions, and if a family member wants to mate with another, they need the approval of the family heads.”

 

“Even if they the mate they want is within the family?” Kagome interrupted.

 

Lilliana nodded, looking out through a window on the far end of the room they were sitting in. “When Natalia and Christiano wanted to be joined, they went to Sesshoumaru and Kagura for their blessing.”

 

“Can families break apart into smaller families?”

 

“Yes. Usually that happens when two mates have a child. They can stay with their family or if the mate belongs to another, they can join two families at the same time, but really you only have to answer to the family you were born into. Also, if a family member gets out of line, it's the leader's job to punish them.”

 

“Is it always a beating?” Kagome asked, dreading the answer. She'd seen what Sesshoumaru had done to Inuyasha just over breaking the taboo of biting the same person twice. She hated to think she would be given a spanking, so to speak, every time she acted out of line.

 

“No. Depending on how severe the wrongdoing, punishments could be anything from scolding to separating one from the family. If a male in our family gets out of line, Sesshoumaru deals with them. If a woman does something wrong, Kagura disciplines them.” Lilliana looked down at her hands. “I slapped Inuyasha once. You should have seen how mad Kagura was at me.”

 

Kagome stared at her teacher. She tried to imagine Lilliana actually hitting him, but it just seemed too impossible. “Why did you do that?”

 

Lilliana didn't answer. It was back when Inuyasha had first developed his addiction to Kagome. She had been so angry with him and jealous that she had let her anger get the best of her. Kagura had been furious when she had returned. Lilliana had gotten the scolding of a lifetime. Inflicting physical harm against other members of the family was frowned upon and though Inuyasha felt he deserved it the time, it didn't change the fact that Lilliana had let her anger out of control.

 

But she wasn't jealous of Kagome anymore. At some point in time, her hostility toward the girl had diminished. Lilliana hated that it was in her nature to be untrusting of outsiders and that it took her time to warm up to another. She had been jealous of Kagome because she took Inuyasha's attention. She had never really known why, but Lilliana had felt some kind of connection with Inuyasha.

 

“You are his favorite you know.” Rukiya had once said. It was true. Out of everyone in the family, Lilliana had gotten along best with Inuyasha. Even Natalia hadn't been as close to her as he was, but at some point after Kagome had joined them, Lilliana had lost her connection with Inuyasha. She wasn't even sure if she even had a crush on him anymore.

 

“Lilliana, did you know that she would choose to save him?” Rukiya had asked the night they had left Inuyasha and Kagome to consummate their mating.

 

“I hoped she would, but I suspected that Kagura knew all along that she would.” Lilliana looked skyward in an almost hesitant way.

 

“And it doesn't bother you?”

 

“Why should it?”

 

“We always knew you had a crush on Inuyasha.”

 

“Did I? Now I'm not so sure.”

 

“Why?”

 

“Because I'm beginning to remember things Rukiya: things in my human life are coming back to me, the good and the bad. I feel like I don't know myself.”

 

The fact that she starting to get her memory back did nothing to help Lilliana. She had been right in thinking that the memories would only burden her. Now that the point in her life that had been missing was returning, she felt as if she didn't know who she really was. It had all started the night Narek had almost killed her. Slowly, in bits and pieces, Lilliana was beginning to remember what she had been like as a child, before genocide had claimed her life.

 

“Lilliana, are you okay?” Kagome asked. The tense expression on Lilliana's face made her anxious, but then Lilliana turned to her with a small smile. “I'm fine. I'm just reflecting.”

 

“What were you thinking about?”

 

“Just how I never thought this was how things would turn out.”

 

Kagome shook her head. “Believe me, I never would have imagined this either. To think I was content to just spend the next four years studying for the M-CATS.”

 

“You wanted to be a doctor?” Lilliana asked.

 

“I wanted to.” Kagome sighed sadly. “Now I don't even know if I can do surgery without biting the patient.”

 

“I'd put that profession out of your mind if I were you. Even though all nightwalkers learn to control their urges eventually, slip-ups do happen from time to time.”

 

“I know.” Kagome huffed, leaning her chin into the palm of her hand. “It's just very depressing when I think about what my human life could have been like if I hadn't met the family.”

 

“Do you regret it?” Lilliana felt sorry for her. Unlike the rest of the family, Kagome was never given the choice to become a nightwalker. Narek had just handed that life to her and deprived her of her old one. That only made Lilliana hate him even more.

 

“No, but I do plan to punch Narek's face in if I get the chance. I don't regret becoming Inuyasha's mate either. If I let him die, even I didn't want to be his mate, I don't think I could live with myself. So, even though I don't like it, I think I can stand being a nightwalker. It might not be so bad. I could go places without ever having to pay for travel fees, and I can almost fly. I think I just need some time to get used to it.”

 

“I'm glad to hear that.” Lilliana smiled at her.

 

“So what happens now?” Kagome asked.

 

“We wait until Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha return. I hate waiting, but at least it gives me time to teach you some things. Like how to control your hunger for instance.”

 

“Speaking of which.” Kagome pouted. “Can I please have some meat? I'm starving.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Humans made such interesting things. During his short time as a weak primate, he never would have imagined such cities. This was where it all began. Where he'd planted the seeds of his deception. And it seemed, by the sound of the traitors that were pursuing him, that the final scene of his puppet show was just beginning. To think they had the gall to challenge him. By scent alone, he was able to count. There were twenty. A formidable number, but against him, they were toothpicks fighting a sword.

 

It only took a moment. Before his attackers could begin the ambush, he'd already jumbled their thoughts. Without the motivation, and the sheer mental pain of the confusing imagines that racked their minds, the nightwalkers that had been following him fell unconscious.

 

“I'm pretty sure scrambling someone's thoughts and rendering them impotent is the same as killing.” Someone said from the darkness.

 

“Who are you to talk to me about killing?” He turned toward the figure. The man had walked out into the gloomy, trash covered streets from behind a parked car. “You've decimated more then I have, Narek.”

 

“True,” said Narek. “But as I see it, ending someone's life is kinder then leaving them to despair with a broken mind. That's not my reason for being here however.”

 

He sighed, turning to face Narek. “If you're desperate enough to seek me out, then it means something is happening to the king. Or someone has found out about your dirty little secret.”

 

“Both. Fenrir has made her move. You should watch for the nightwalkers close to the king. They might turn on you next.”

 

“How kind of you to warn me.” He joked. “Are you going to arrest her?”

 

“I need proof.” Narek said.

 

He laughed. “Ara, what are you talking about? Since when do you seek evidence?”

 

“Since Fenrir began controlling a small army of nightwalkers, and since she got hold of something to use against me.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inuyasha was actually really smiling for the first time in months. Finally. Finally they had a triumph. It was about time for things to begin looking up, especially after all the hell they had been through for the last few months.

 

“Don't let this go to your head, we have plenty to do.” Sesshoumaru reminded him. Way to kill the mood, Inuyasha thought.

 

Even though Kanna and her family had recruited more then two hundred nightwalkers to their cause, they still had to find the king and get close to him without Narek and Fenrir's interference. If only the two would drop dead, Inuyasha thought vehemently.

 

Especially Narek. Inuyasha wanted his head on a platter. Narek had killed Albier, Natalia, Bill and Christiano. He had almost killed Lilliana too. The fact that she had survived his venom was a miracle. Then he turned Kagome into a nightwalker. Inuyasha wanted revenge at Narek for making him feel this unrelenting guilt the most.

 

If only he had never found Kagome. Then she would have lived her life peacefully without having to give up her human life and her chance to find real happiness. Not that he didn't believe the family wouldn't be kind to her, but it didn't stop him from feeling like he had taken everything from her just by following his whims and joining with her the night they had met.

 

“I don't know what you're thinking about that has such an unfavorable look on your face, but I'd like to have your attention for a moment.” Sesshoumaru interrupted his thoughts. “ I hope your mate had learned better control of herself, because we will have to re-enter the city now. The girls may be safe for the time being, but I do not want to take risks. Though the king may not know about Kanna and the people she is gathering, I still want to make sure we inform the others not to let any information slip, especially since Fenrir has increased her mind reading capabilities.”

 

“Keh, I know that. I'm more worried about how we are going to keep our remaining members safe from Narek. Fenrir doesn't worry me as much as he does. The bitch is much easier to deal with then that fucker is.”

 

Sesshoumaru nodded. “I agree. If we want to finish the `King' we must get rid of Narek first.”

 

“Are you saying you're going to confront him?”

 

“Yes. It's time you and I destroy him.” Sesshoumaru said before the two of them broke into a run.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kagome gritted her teeth, trying to walk without focusing on the people. It was hard to do with all the young men that were trying to get her attention. Typical, she becomes a nightwalker and gets a mate then starts attracting the opposite sex. Kagome replayed Lilliana's explanation in her head.

 

“Every nightwalker is a succubus by nature. Even if you don't look too attractive, members of the opposite sex are naturally attracted to you. It's a drawing mechanism that makes hunting easier. It may take a little getting used to.”

 

She said it. Kagome thought. She had barely walked into town and already she could feel almost everyone staring at her as though she were from the circus. Had she done the same to the family when she was human? At least now that she was a nightwalker, their unnatural beauty didn't affect her anymore. Now it made sense why every nightwalker she'd seen as a human was appealing in some way.

 

Two more minutes, Kagome chanted in her mind. Two more minutes and she would have made a great breakthrough in controlling her hunger urges. The family had let her into the city to test her. She had to be able to walk down through the town while suppressing her hunger urges for an hour.

 

Kagome took deep breaths, concentrating on the light across the intersection she'd been standing at. It was easier not to follow a young man with her eyes if she kept them pinned to an object. Her throat tightened in protest. Kagome swallowed, breathing in as she did so. Never in her life had she been so hungry.

 

Trepidation suddenly filled Kagome's senses. She shivered as though an ice-cube had crept along her spine. Unsure of how she knew, but she was certain she was being watched. She knew there were family members close by to watch her as she did this test, but Kagome hadn't felt this anxiety before. “When in doubt, trust your instincts.” Lilliana had told her.

 

But the nervousness she was feeling was nothing like the uneasiness she felt toward this test. Kagome took a deep breath and resisted the urge to swoon. Nothing smelled out of the ordinary, and the nosiness of the people and cars in the street didn't seem to change.

 

`Kagome!'

 

She jumped when Rukiya's voice called in her mind. “What is it?” Kagome called back hesitantly. Mental communication was easy, all she had to do was imagine it reaching Rukiya and it would, but that didn't mean it didn't surprise her when she felt someone else in her head. Maybe she was losing her mind.

 

`Congratulations. You passed.'

 

“You were watching me?” Kagome heaved a sigh. So that's what it was.

 

`Yes. We'll be there soon, stay where you are.'

 

Kagome leaned against the street pole on the intersection until Rukiya arrived with Claire and Lilliana behind her. “Not bad Blue.” Claire said as she reached her.

 

“We'll try this everyday until you get the hang of it for a few hours. Then we can start teaching you how to hunt.” Lilliana said as she reset a timer on her wristwatch.

 

“ Can't wait till we teach you about what kind of flavors there are.” Claire giggled.

 

Kagome gaped at her. “Favors? What do you mean flavors?”

 

“Everyone tastes different. I love fat people.” Claire said suddenly. “They are the closest things to junk food. Oh, virgins taste good too.”

 

Kagome tried to stop herself from laughing at the innuendo in that last sentence. So far she'd only fed from Inuyasha and was slowly getting used to eating raw meat. Truth be told, she still was a little disgusted by the idea that she would have to bite people, but she supposed it was what she had to do to survive. At least the family never killed their prey. If it was only blood she could deal with it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“It looks so different from up here.” Kagome said as she looked down. She stood at the edge of the roof of a thirteen-story building next to Lilliana. It was another lesson she was undergoing. Though she knew how to run and jump, Kagome had never done it in a city.

 

“I used to hate heights.” Lilliana admitted. “You learn a lot of things when you're no longer human. I'm over ninety years old and I still can't believe I don't act like an old maid.”

 

“I was wondering about that. Claire is over fifty, and she still acts like a little kid.” Kagome said.

 

“It's only her personality on the surface. You'll find that you act in a way that's most comfortable to you, but you will readily change your entire persona in different circumstances.” Lilliana paused. “Poor Claire.” She sighed.

 

“Does Bill's death still bother her?” Kagome asked.

 

“Why shouldn't it? It's only been two months since…it happened. I loved Bill too. He was my friend, but for Claire he was so much more. You do know that their mother used to abuse her right?”

 

Kagome nodded. “She told me Bill took her away when he turned eighteen.”

 

“Yeah. Bill was like a father to her, not just a brother. I don't think Claire will be over it so soon.”

 

“Doesn't it bother you?” Kagome said suddenly, earning her a raised brow from Lilliana. “Why doesn't everyone in the family just give up? Bill, Natalia, Christiano and Albier. I know everyone is still in mourning, but how do you guys keep going without ever wondering who could be next?”

 

Lilliana bent her knees and sat down at the edge of the roof. “That's also something you need to learn. I almost died, and you would have too if I hadn't gotten there in time.”

 

Lilliana took a long breath before she spoke. “I've seen what the nightwalker king can do. He's heartless and brutal. He killed three nightwalker children right in front of my eyes. Do you know that there hasn't been a natural born nightwalker birth in seventy-three years? If word gets out about a new infant, the king's nightwalkers are sent to kill the children. They can't stand the idea of a younger generation growing that could appose them one day. When I heard that they were hurting children, human and nightwalker alike, I was terrified and disgusted, that's why I continue. I can't stand the idea of children getting hurt. Besides, not fighting would make all my family's sacrifices in vain.”

 

“Everyone in our family fights for a different reason. Kagura and Sesshoumaru hate that the king breaks nightwalker tradition and rules in an unfair and anarchial way. Rukiya and Claire despise the way his followers brutalize and eat humans and how his followers are willing to hurt even innocent families.”

 

“And Inuyasha? What does he fight for?” Kagome asked.

 

Lilliana closed her eyes. “Many reasons. I think he hates the nightwalker king most of all. He hates injustice, he hates how families are killed if they do not join the king, and he hates how humans are disemboweled when the king's followers take a city. But I think, what Inuyasha hates the most, is that the `king' who allows all this bloodshed to happen…is his father.”

 

Kagome felt as though she was going to vomit. She slumped down to sit by Lilliana, unsure if her legs would support her.

 

“So I was right. He is related to them.” Kagome breathed.

 

“I knew you had seen him before.” Lilliana didn't look at her. “You would have found out eventually from one of the others. Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru never told any of us that the king is their father, but I saw him once and I knew instantly.”

 

“Do the others know?”

 

“Yes, but we never told Inuyasha or Sesshoumaru that we did. I think it's the shame. Their own father is the reason the nightwalker world is in turmoil.”

 

“They would fight their father?”

 

“If your father was doing something you knew was wrong, wouldn't you want to stop him?”

 

Kagome did not reply. Her family had always been kind and good and even though she was a nightwalker now, she still loved and missed them dearly. Could she really rise up against them if something they were doing was wrong? A new kind of respect for Inuyasha sprang into her chest. Did it torture him to fight against his own father? What about Sesshoumaru? Was he in pain too?

 

“You guys still fight, even if it's against family? Even when you lost so many people?”

 

“I won't give up until I'm dead. I want to sleep without worrying about having to fight the next day. I want to find a mate someday and be able to have children. We didn't give up when the very first family member died at Narek's hands, and we certainly won't give up now.”

 

Sometime later, Kagome walked several paces behind Lilliana as they began to walk back to the house the family was occupying. Kagome stared at Lilliana's back as she followed her. There was so much she didn't really know about the family. Lilliana had been with them for decades. She'd known Inuyasha for decades. Kagome wondered that if she stayed with them, could she form bonds that went deep and held strong like they did for Lilliana? Would she be able to form that kind of bond with Inuyasha?

 

The more time she spent with the family, the more she learned that she didn't know Inuyasha at all. He didn't really express himself around her. The night when she had demanded she become his mate had been the first time she'd seen him so emotional. What other things were there to learn about him? What other great features did he have besides his strong sense of justice?

 

He was overbearing and short with her sometimes, but he had protected her when she was human. He had mourned the loss of his family members and he was willing to fight his own flesh and blood for the greater good. Was she still judging him in the wrong way?

 

BOOM!

 

Kagome lurched forward. She stomped her foot on the ground to regain her balance, her ears ringing from the sudden sound. Lilliana turned her head in the direction of the loud burst that had come crackling through the air like a thousand fireworks exploding on the ground.

 

“What was that?” Kagome puffed, regaining her breath.

 

People opened their windows and car alarms went off. Kagome held her nose when several humans came out of their homes, muttering about the noise. Looking behind her, she saw a van that had swerved off the sidewalk and crashed into a nearby building. There was no sign of the driver since rubble and the car's deformed hood had covered the windows. Witnesses ran back into their houses and several people pulled out a cell phone.

 

Lilliana patted Kagome on the shoulder. “We should leave. This isn't any of our business.”

 

She led Kagome away from the crowd and into a less deserted part of the city. “What could have caused that driver to lose control? The streets were empty.” Kagome said as she rushed after Lilliana only to see the other nightwalker stop in her tracks.

 

“You're right. There were no other cars in the street.” Lilliana bit her lower lip, not liking the suspicious circumstances. Come to think of it, she hadn't even heard the car coming. She should have at least heard the engine, even if her hearing wasn't as strong as Inuyasha's or Sesshoumaru's.

 

“I think we really should get back to the others.” She said to Kagome.

 

“That sounds like a good idea.” Kagome gulped.

 

“Leaving so soon?”

 

In an instant Lilliana's eyes had turned from their light green to black. Kagome smelled them a moment before a dozen nightwalkers dropped to surround the two of them. Immobilized by their sudden appearance, she almost flinched when Lilliana touched her arm. Kagome tried to reach Rukiya with her mind.

 

“That's right, call them here to die.”

 

Lilliana growled as Fenrir appeared behind the circle of nightwalkers that surrounded them. “My, what a treat. I finally get to kill the flower girl. Oh and what a surprise, the human wench is alive and well, only she's not a human anymore.” Fenrir sneered, running her tongue over her fangs.

 

“I heard that nightwalkers that were just born have delicious hearts to eat.” Her red eye glittered with want.

 

“I'm sorry to say that we are not on your menu tonight Fenrir.” Lilliana hissed.

 

“Oh really?” Fenrir raised her hands, gesturing to the nightwalkers surrounding them. “Have you noticed what you're up against? One move and I sick them all on you. You'd be skewered. What do you say? Do you want a piece of the enemy?”

 

“I want the one with the green eyes.” A nightwalker hissed, eyeing Lilliana hungrily. “I wonder if her blood is a beautiful as she is.”

 

“Fuck off!” Kagome shouted.

 

“That sounds like a good idea. Why don't you come here sweetheart and I'll do as you ordered.” He hissed back. Fenrir and the others jeered.

 

“I don't care what you do with the ugly one. All I want is the flower girl's eyes.” Fenrir said.

 

“What do you plan to do with them Fenrir?” Lilliana hissed, preparing her voice. She hoped Fenrir didn't know about her new power. If there was no way of catching these demons off guard, then she could see little hope of escaping with her life. “Are you hoping my eyes would bring some beauty to your disgusting face?”

 

Fenrir's nose wrinkled as she snarled at Lilliana. “Of course not. I want to gauge them out of your skull and offer them to the king as desert.”

 

“Assuming the king does not kill you for your betrayal.”

 

Suddenly the nightwalkers surrounding them had their hands to their sides as though they were petrified. “What? I can't move!” A female enemy grunted.

 

Lilliana felt every muscle in her body suddenly become slack as though her nerve endings had been ripped. Kagome's throat tightened as she turned her head to look behind her. She'd know that voice anywhere.

 

“You are to die tonight.” Said Narek as he walked into the circle of nightwalkers toward Fenrir.

 

Kagome flinched when his eyes landed on her. “Ah alive are you?” His then focused on Lilliana. “Bari yerekun, Geretzcuhi.”

 

Lilliana bared her fangs at him. “Don't you EVER call me that!”

 

“I hate to interrupt your little reunion.” Fenrir called. “But it's time for all of you to die.” She said in a singsong voice.

 

“You really think you can defeat me?” Narek said in a bored tone.

 

“I don't think,” Fenrir brought up her claws, “I know!”

 

She rushed at Narek and swiped at his chest. He dodged swiftly and then bent low and grabbed Fenrir's ankle, hoisting her up and slamming her down into the street. She flipped herself back to a stand and ran back at Narek again. As the two continued fighting, the nightwalkers surrounding Kagome and Lilliana were able to move again.

 

Realizing their freedom, they charged at Lilliana and Kagome. Kagome jumped up before two pairs of claws cut into her sides. A nightwalker lunged at her while she was in air, but Kagome kicked him hard in the face. He landed in a crater on the ground. Kagome success was short lived. In an instant, two female nightwalkers had grabbed her legs, while two males held her arms. They brought her to the ground and held her still while a nightwalker punched in the stomach. Kagome doubled over as her eyes rolled into her head. She hacked.

 

“That's for kicking my face bitch.”

 

“Leave her alone!” Came Lilliana's voice. Raising her spinning head, Kagome saw that the five nightwalkers were also holding her up in the same way.

 

“Feisty one, aren't you.” Said a male nightwalker as he came close to her. He leaned into her face and said, “You really are beautiful. I can't wait to hear you scream.”

 

Lilliana bit his nose. He stumbled back shrieking in pain and then slapped her in anger. “You bitch!”

 

Kagome lunched forward trying to help when the nightwalker wrapped his hand around Lilliana's throat, but suddenly Fenrir crashed into the ground. In their surprise the other nightwalkers turned their attention toward her. Growling, Fenrir stood and glared beyond them. Her arm was cut and her hair tussled, but she didn't appear too bruised. As Narek appeared in Kagome's vision, she saw that there wasn't a single scratch on him.

 

“You're getting sloppy Narek.” Fenrir laughed, her eyes flaming. “You should have killed me by now.”

 

“Oh I intend to, very slowly I might add. I'm finding your useless attempt to destroy me quite entertaining.”

 

Fenrir screamed in fury. “Kill him!”

 

Three nightwalkers lunged at Narek but fell to the floor writhing in agony. “Nice try Fenrir. Do you honestly think you can be rid of me so easily? More importantly,” Narek began walking toward her. “Did you really think that you would live after you rallied nightwalkers to conspire against the king? Even if you somehow manage to defeat me, you changes being infinitesimal, you know the king would send another to kill you.”

 

Fenrir laughed. “You're wrong about one thing.” Fenrir jumped behind the nightwalkers that were holding Lilliana still.

 

“I will defeat you Narek.”

 

Kagome shrieked. Fenrir sunk her fangs into Lilliana's neck. Lilliana's face paled and she slumped forward. “You disgusting wench.” She wheezed.

 

Fenrir lifted Lilliana's head and made her stare straight at Narek. “What I shame. I get to slit her throat before you have the chance.”

 

“Don't you dare you bitch!” Kagome hit one of the nightwalkers holding her with her head. He reeled backward in shock. With him out of the way, Kagome jammed her free fist into the other man before kicking both of the nightwalkers off her feet. She lunged at Fenrir with her claws ready but was knocked to the ground by Fenrir's allies.

 

“GET OFF OR I SWEAR I'LL-”

 

“Silence that worthless girl.” Fenrir clicked her teeth in disgust. A nightwalker hit Kagome hard on her skull. She cried out and hunched over gasping.

 

“Kagome!” Lilliana cried, her voice hoarse.

 

“What a day. I finally get to kill Narek's precious the flower girl.”

 

Lilliana gasped. “What?”

 

“What? You didn't know?” Fenrir cooed. “Oh how cute. Why do you think you survived this long sweetheart? Did you really think you were just luck-”

 

She was interrupted by Narek's musical laugh. He stared at Fenrir malevolently. “You think that was my weakness? Just when I thought you couldn't get any more incompetent.”

 

Fenrir balked. “I mean it Narek. Unless you surrender, this girl's head is going to roll.”

 

Narek smirked. “Kill her.”

 

Fenrir flinched. “What?”

 

“Go ahead do it. But know that once you're finished,” Narek gave Fenrir a sinister look that even made her blanch. “You and all you're little followers will be nothing more then carcasses on the floor.”

 

The nightwalkers around Fenrir laughed. “You against all of us?”

 

“Bit unfair isn't it?” Narek smirked.

 

“Well, if that's how you feel,” Fenrir said, regaining her composure, “then I think I should stop playing games and destroy all three of you.” Fenrir brought up her clawed hand to Lilliana's neck.

 

“Lilliana!” Kagome yelped in desperation, trying to force her captors off, but before Fenrir had even touched Lilliana's throat, her arm had bent unnaturally backward. Fenrir stumbled back, screaming as her arm snapped in two. The nightwalkers holding Lilliana stared at her with wide eyes, their grip on Lilliana loosening from shock. Noticing this, Lilliana shook off her attackers with the strength she had remaining and fell on her hands and knees gasping for breath while Fenrir continued wailing in agony.

 

“You bastard!” Fenrir shrieked. “GET HIM!” All of the nightwalkers she had brought with her charged at Narek at the same time only to suddenly fall to the ground without once touching him. Fenrir yowled in outrage and pulled Lilliana up by the hair with her uninjured arm.

 

“This is all your fault!” She snarled, preparing to bite the Lilliana once again, but then Kagome, who had been freed when all the other nightwalkers had tried to attack Narek, knocked her back. Enraged, Fenrir moved to attack Kagome instead but froze when Narek spoke again.

 

“You had such a painful human life.”

 

Fenrir couldn't move, fear made her face whiten. “Abused by your older half brother,” Narek began as he walked toward her, “until you were taken into a mental institution under false charges.” Fenrir backed away from him as he took steps forward. “I saw it all in your memory. When you were finally set free, your half brother tracked you down and stabbed you to death. Then a nightwalker gave you life, and you became a cannibal.”

 

“STOP!” Fenrir screamed, her hands on her head as though reliving the memories was causing her physical pain.

 

“I suppose I should pity you.” Narek said when he stood over her where she wriggled in pain, holding her head. “Death would be an act of mercy against your useless existence.”

 

Narek placed his hand on Fenrir's crown and kneeled. “So now you won't have to remember those terrible things.” Fenrir stopped yelling. Her hands dropped to her sides, and when Narek stood, Fenrir's body fell to the ground as lifeless as a doll.

 

Kagome shook, frozen from what she'd just witnessed, but when Narek moved again to face her, she couldn't help but gasp. His gaze on her was short because his eyes had quickly moved to where Kagome was cradling Lilliana in her lap. Fearing what he might do, Kagome rose, bringing her fists up in case she had to protect Lilliana.

 

Narek smiled at her actions. “You don't want to move.” He said to Kagome while shaking his index finger. Kagome growled and prepared to charge at him, but her body didn't obey. She was paralyzed where she stood and helpless to stop Narek when he bent to pick up Lilliana.

 

“Let go of me!” Lilliana shrieked when Narek pulled her weak body close to his.

 

“Do you want to fall to the floor?” Narek asked in their native tongue.

 

“I'd rather be dead then held by you. Why don't you let me fall and let Fenrir's venom run its course instead of torturing me?” Lilliana echoed in the same language while pushing at his chest with her hands.

 

“If I let that wolfish woman's venom kill you, it would be a blow against my pride.”

 

“Just whose side are you on?” Lilliana struggled feebly only to have Narek tightened his hold.

 

“I'm where you think I am.”

 

“So you are on the enemy's side.”

 

“Of course.” He said.

 

“Then why don't you let me die?”

 

“Because if you are to die, it will be by my hand only.”

 

“If that's true then why hadn't you killed me the night you kidnapped Kagome? What are you after?” Lilliana spat.

 

Narek smirked at her. “Nothing in particular. I'm only looking to my own benefit.”

 

“And you're willing to sacrifice anyone's life for that?”

 

“Anyone but one.”

 

“And that one life is yours isn't it?”

 

Kagome's heart wrenched when Narek sank his fangs into the junction of Lilliana's shoulder and neck. She tried to fight against the invisible bindings that kept her in place but what Narek did next made Kagome cease all her struggles. All she could do was stare speechlessly when Narek cupped Lilliana's chin in his free hand and pulled her in for a kiss.

 

Lilliana's hands fell from Narek's chest to hang limply at her sides. Stunned and immobilized, all she could do was stare at Narek's relaxed face with wide eyes. All over she could feel her body trembling, her vision blurring before unconsciousness claimed her.

 

“Lilliana!” Kagome cried.

 

Narek ignored her, looking down at Lilliana's comatose body emotionlessly. “Bari gesher sererlis.”

 

“Get your filthy hands off her!”

 

Kagome huffed in surprise when Narek was suddenly jerked to the side by a nightwalker she couldn't see. Something hit him hard in the center and Narek fell toward the floor, cart wheeled, and landed on his feet several paces away from where he'd been originally standing. A few feet away from him were Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru. Both brothers' eyes were blazing red.

 

“You've really gone too far this time. I'd say a punishment for you is long overdue.” Sesshoumaru hissed when he looked down at Lilliana in Narek's arms.

 

“By all means.” Narek said, setting Lilliana down on the floor.

 

“I'm going to rip your fucking heart out, you sick asshole. How dare you put your hands on her.” Inuyasha growled furiously. He looked about, noticing the other dead nightwalkers and Fenrir's unmoving body. He then saw Kagome. “Stay where you are, Kagome.” He warned as Sesshoumaru faced Narek. “This is one fight you might not want to entangle yourself in.”

 

Kagome nodded feebly.

 

“This is the end for you.” Sesshoumaru said a second before he and Inuyasha charged at Narek.

 

Realizing she was free from Narek's control, Kagome rushed to Lilliana, trying to wake her when a pair of enraged howls made her switch her attention to the fight. Narek was barely dodging Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru's claws. Inuyasha aimed a punch at his face, but Narek flipped backward and counterattacked, hitting Inuyasha right in the jaw. Distracted, he didn't see Sesshoumaru come up behind him. Sesshoumaru grabbed Narek by the neck and slammed him headfirst into the pavement. Narek kicked Sesshoumaru away from him before the natural born had the chance to stab his claws into Narek's heart.

 

Barely dodging an attack from Inuyasha, Narek spat when he managed to land on his feet a distance away from his opponents. Blood running down his chin, Narek's eyes became a misty black. “You sure have improved in ninety years.”

 

“Only this time, this will be one punishment you won't survive.” Sesshoumaru threatened through clenched teeth.

 

“Come at me then!” Narek growled, throwing his arms out in front of him.

 

Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha made a move to charge but doubled over as pain assaulted their bodies. Inuyasha gripped his chest feeling as though his innards were liquefying. Forcing his gaze upward, he grunted as he moved forward, fighting the agony that was attempting to keep him in place. Howling in fury, he slammed his fist so hard into the ground that the resulting shake broke Narek's eye contact.

 

In the instant the pain had lifted from his body, Sesshoumaru had rushed toward Narek and swiped his claws at his neck. Narek grunted as blood spilled from his throat, unable to dodge as Inuyasha came up, grabbed his wrist and hurled him toward a building.

 

Slamming against the wall, the wind knocked out of him, several bones cracked and Narek slid down to the floor. For the first time, desperation was seen on his face as Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru stalked toward him.

 

“I'll show you how to correctly use blood-bone control.” Sesshoumaru hissed, bringing up his palm. Narek let out a wail, holding his stomach. Electrical shocks seared every inch of his body and when the pain finally receded, he was hauled up by the hair to stand upright.

 

Inuyasha flexed his claws, glaring at Narek with every ounce of hated within him. This man had killed half their family, tortured one of his, and stolen Kagome's life. He deserved no pity. “Do join your comrades in hell!”

 

Inuyasha's claws stopped inches away from Narek's chest. He and Sesshoumaru were suddenly blasted away from Narek by an unknown force. Coughing, Narek did not look for the source of the power that had just spared his life as he already heard a voice in his head. “Lucy.” He gasped.

 

“I swear you are more trouble then you are worth.”

 

Forcing himself to a stand, Narek used the chance to escape. Before Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru could follow, he rushed toward Fenrir's body, picking the coarse up with his unbroken arm and disappearing into the darkness.

 

“Fuck!” Inuyasha cursed when Narek's presence vanished. “Come back here you bastard!”

 

“Damn him.” Sesshoumaru growled. Some time passed as the two of them stood there, letting their rage subside. It wasn't until the sky lightened that they moved to where Kagome was sitting holding Lilliana against her chest.

 

“Are you all right?” Inuyasha asked breathlessly when he reached her.

 

Kagome nodded, watching as Sesshoumaru lifted Lilliana into his arms. “She's breathing.” He said.

 

Inuyasha let out a sigh of relief. He then began frisking Kagome, checking for injuries before she slapped his hands. “I'm fine.” She said with a shaky voice. “You don't sound fine to me.” Ignoring her protest, Inuyasha lifted her till she rested her head against his shoulder.

 

“It's almost dawn. We should leave.” Sesshoumaru said.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What? I couldn't resist. I didn't want to wait until next chapter to write this and plus, I thought a short update would be nice after that long pause. But I'm scared out my wits. Please be nice when you comment. Also, I know some of you want to know what Narek said to Lilliana. You'll find out in the next chapter, huhuhuhu!