Vampires Love

Disclaimer – Once again, I still don’t own Inuyasha.

Thoughts – Is anybody starting to think that I need some serious help? 8)

ANNOUNCEMENTS!!!!! : You know, the other night I was thinking about this story and I realized that it was missing something…Sesshomaru action. And then I literally kicked myself because it’s been five chapters and just-nothing. So, I’m making it up to you all and pushing my plans ahead of schedule. Enjoy.

Translations – Yomi: Hell

Chapter 6: Coming Back


As nightfall does not come at once, neither does oppression. In both instances, there's a twilight where everything remains seemingly unchanged, and it is in such twilight that we must be aware of change in the air, however slight, lest we become unwitting victims of the darkness.

~William O. Douglas

The room was brightly lighted, white and silver candles blazing in the crowded, yet merry atmosphere. Colorfully clad women in elegant kimono, moved here and there, fanning themselves or else talking among the persons within the ensuing crowd. It was a party.

He looked around, expected his black hair to fall into his face but it didn’t surprisingly. It was down, trailing against the back of his calves, and it always seemed to get in his way when it was like that. But he had never thought of cutting it off. He was too vain for that.

He looked around, brown eyes scanning across laughing, smiling, makeup clad faces and sighed inwardly in boredom. Nothing but a room of brainless idiots, all crowded among one another. And then he saw something that wasn’t right. Pausing, his eyes looking once again for the off balance object and looked to the right to see it once again-an entirely black clad figure weaving through the crowd. His eyebrows raised themselves slightly at it. It was a woman…but he had not seen much of her-only a glimpse. Normally he would have just continued on, not bothering with the situation, but then he caught another flash of black amongst the vibrant pinks and blues. A black widow spider among multicolored butterflies.

He stepped forward, his silver robes billowing around him as he tried to work his way through the tightly knit groups. For the sake of air…why were there so many people here…? He felt the heat from their gaudily clad bodies overflowing around him and tried to move away from it all, but failed as he only came closer to another source.

There were whirls of perfume, and colorful jewelry as people moved and twirled around him. He became dizzy. But then he saw the black clad back of the woman and determinedly pressed on, fighting back the urge to vomit at the noxious smells and sights of the crowded mass. He wanted to forcibly gasp in air when he finally broke through them all, and onto a balcony, but he was too well mannered to do such a thing. To his dismay however, the figure was not there.

He gave a sigh of frustration at the empty sight and turned, only to see the back of the one he had been chasing directly behind him.

“Who are you?” He asked, taking a step back to distance himself, and move towards the cooler, darker balcony, away from the heated crowd. He watched her straighten, rich black hair up in an elegantly braided display against her neck, as it shone in the half darkness. A red silk ribbon was tied artfully within the coil of braided hair, the two ends tickling the back of her neck teasingly. They did not speak or look at him, only seemed to watch the crowd inside as they danced and conversed with one another. His eyes narrowed at her lack of response. He did not like to be ignored.

“Do you live somewhere around here? Why are you dressed in black-are you mourning?” The woman shook her head, her hair gleaming resplendently in the light of the moon. He saw what looked like tendrils of hair on the sides of her face float softly back and forth with the motion. He felt himself growing annoyed.

“If you will not speak then I am leaving.” He said with a frown, and then stepped forwards and around her. She did not move to stop him but instead lowered her head, chuckling softly. He stopped at the sound and looked at her face, but found it hidden by a thick veil, the intricate black lace smudging her features. He wondered why he hadn’t noticed that before, and squinted, trying to see through it but unable to. Instead, he watched as she raised one delicate hand and pointed inwards to the people there. One of his brows rose but he followed her hand, feeling a somewhat icy wind come from the balcony across him. And then his face turned to the room, and he took a step back with a shout of surprise.

Where there had once been laughing, dancing people, were now crippled, debilitated skeletons, shrouded all in black kimonos, torn to rags, barely hanging on to their bony structures. His eyes widened in horror as one of them suddenly looked into his gaze and gave an evil, twisted grin as it pointed one whitewashed bony hand towards him. It began to walk towards him, its empty sockets black and cold as the others began to follow, their torn and ragged clothing swaying emptily in the suddenly chill air. Out of instinct, he took another step back at the sight and looked over to see the original figure standing beside him.

His mouth opened and closed at her, but turned back once again to the white and black skeletons that were limping, gliding, some crawling-towards him. Then the figure began walking towards him until she was directly beside him. His brown eyes saw small parts of her face through the veil but still could not decipher who it was. The lacy material fluttered in the breeze, exposing her white chin and dark red lower lip. He stared at it, watching as she slowly lifted her hands to grasp it-and then lower her head as she took it from her face to pull it over her head, and let it fall behind her. He momentarily forgot about his dead visitors as just as slowly, her face began to raise…and then she looked at him, their eyes meeting.

His eyes widened in revulsion, causing him to take another step away from her, until he felt the stone railing against his back.

It was her…the vampire witch.

He saw her smile, the corners of her mouth tipping up to reveal her fangs in a almost seductive way, and then take a step towards him. He reached at his side for his sword but found it gone…he must have lost it in the crowd while he had been searching for her. Her smile widened, the skeletons falling back behinds her as she took tiny, composed steps towards him.

‘An army…from the people she has slain over the years…’ He thought offhandedly as she became feet away from him and he struck out at her, his fist aimed for her face. She blocked it easily, her smile turning into a sadistic grin.

“No…NO!” He said on a yell as one skeleton in what looked to be a bloodstained black kimono took his arm and pinned it back against the balcony. His free hand slammed against the side of her face, whipping it to the side with a crack, but she only paused before looking back at him, her grinning mouth staring down at him as she used an inhuman strength to pin him down fully. Thinking fast, he struck out with one of his legs and caught the creature in the ribs. It gave a soundless scream before toppling to the ground in a heap of ash and black silk. He spun around at the feel of something grasping his shoulder, and brought his elbow up forcefully, slamming it square into a skeletal face. It staggered backwards, tripping over another skeleton and falling underneath its companions many feet and bodies. He heard a crunch as it too, became a pile of ash.

‘They die too easily.’ He thought calmly as he grabbed the necklines of two kimono clad skeletons and flung them over the edge of the balcony with a roar. He looked over dozens more of heads and saw their leader giving him an interested look. He spit in her direction as he slammed too skeletal heads together, causing their necks to snap backwards and break, their bodies falling to the ground to turn to ash. His eyes hardened as he saw the congealing mass falling onto him, and put his arms against his chest in a defensive position. But then suddenly he felt something hard hit the back of his head and he felt a rush of air as stars exploded in his eyes. Not knowing or caring of what it was, he struggled, and then saw that it was Her. She had punched him with her fist, her skeletal slaves moving in quickly at his lapse and grabbing his arms to hold him still. His eyes finally cleared as he paused in his struggling to catch his bearings, and turned his head to see her mouth inching down, closer and closer towards his neck, the hordes of skeleton followers taking on her maddened grin.

He screamed angrily as he felt her fangs graze his skin and fought once more, surprised when her head lifted away from his neck to look instead down at his mouth. His eyes widened as without warning, her mouth came down onto his, her canines piercing through his upper lip to make him open his mouth. He screamed again as he felt her tongue begin to thrust into his and tried to bite down on it found her own teeth in his way. His eyes then looked up into her red ones, their depths swirling with crimson as her dark beauty began to entrance him. Forcing his eyes away, he saw the skeletons, their mouths gaping open as they gave soundless laughs. But then they suddenly stopped and began to instead watch him. Growing angry and confused at the same time, he pushed his uncertainty away, when two separate skeletons unbidden, came to either side of him and took hold of his arms, allowing the ones before to release him and back away behind their master. He jerked at his arms but found these slaves stronger then the last ones and cursed inwardly, screaming into her mouth as rage bubbled up within him.

She released his arms and cupped his face, her mouth leaving his to take his bottom lip between her teeth and playfully tug at it. He struggled against the arms of the skeleton guards again but their stronger grip kept him in place. He cursed her aloud, his body flailing as she nipped at his chin and began to give small kisses along his jaw down to his neck where they pressed teasingly into the skin enough to leave an imprint.

“The taste of a man’s blood before death is absolutely euphoric...did you know that, Sesshomaru? Filled with fear…flowing hotter and sweeter then if I had just killed you outright-it burns through your skin like lava.” She tugged at his lip again, the points of her fangs piercing it slightly to draw an infinitesimal amount of the rich red substance. His forehead smashed into her, making her release him with a growl and take a step back.

“Never…I will never let you change me!” He said calmly, rage and fury coursing through him, behind his calm composure. She looked up at him from the corner of her eye and he saw her eyes flash momentarily before her smile intensified. She stepped forward again and grabbed his chin with her right hand, forcefully turning his face away from her to bar his neck. She watched his struggle more, the vein in his neck pulsing with rich blood. Her mouth watered as her lips came back to bare her fangs.

“That would be a day…the proud, unrelenting, Sesshomaru, becoming a bloodsucker…a no life king. My…what would your dearest parents say? Oh wait…” She brought their points against his soft white neck, and applied pressure to make him thrash more.

“I forgot…I killed them.” She chuckled softly once again at his searing gaze and pulled away slightly to lick the impression her fangs had made. The skeletal guards held him firmer, dead eye sockets staring down at him.

“Either way you choose, your death will happen and you will rejoin that bitch of a mother and disgrace of a father, in hell. And I will walk you to Yomi myself.” She hissed, her words more like that of a snake then a humanoid monster. Then suddenly, he watched as her skin began to become transparent, the balcony and skeletons around him seeming to turn into mist…and then disappear, his eyes snapping open as he awoke.

He sat bolt upright in bed, his teeth clenching together as the last bits of pain from his almost fully healed stump went through him. He forcefully shook himself, his black hair, rumpled and knotted from his thrashing, hanging around him. At first he thought she was still there. He could swear that he could hear her laughing voice…could see her piercing red eyes as they drilled into him. His remaining hand knotted into the silk coverlet and he cursed under his breath as he swung his legs out of bed and then scooted off to throw open his window and let clean, crisp air into his lungs. He breathed it in greedily as he stared out into the awakening darkness and suddenly noticed a thin sheen of sweat on his bare face and neck. He shook himself again.

“Damn her…my dreams are being controlled.” His hard eyes became grim as the sun began to peak over the horizon, and he clenched his fist.

‘I will not wait any longer! I am going to go and find her…today. She has toyed with me for the last time!’ He glared at the slowly rising sun and cursed everything he could think of silently, within his head.

She was scheming something…but he did not know exactly what and that frustrated him. He did not like not knowing all of the details when concerning an enemy. As it was, he knew only pointless things about her. He knew she could strike at any time…at any place…against anybody…but that was all. Before Yasumi had died, there had been a rumor of some blessed necklace able to purify dark souls…but Yasumi had gone out to get more information…had gone to gain his strongest card in this instant death card game…and had been grotesquely killed and made into a monster…a monster she rode on to most likely kill other people.

He cursed again. He had noting to go on…only the fact that she wanted his brother’s life along with his own. But he would not go down soon! He would fight and claw, and rip his way through her darkness. He, and his men of god would shine down their light unto her and destroy her! But as much as he rallied men and harnessed more power and weapons, he always seemed a step behind. Nothing seemed to hurt her…holy water, wooden stakes or arrows, burning oil or even sunlight. He had been told she had been sighted in broad daylight! And if she could do that, then what else could she do? This purifying necklace had been his only real weapon-or so he had thought-against her, and now he had nothing…no leads or signs of where it could possibly reside. The yellow rays of light pierced his eyes and he grunted, shielding them as he turned his face to the side. Good would prevail over the evildoer’s…that was what his parents had always taught him…but the question was, would he be ‘good’ enough to destroy her? Was he now tainted by her? Her control of his dreams…his mind? His brows knit together in thought. He would find a way. He would march at nightfall and let her come to him…and then he would give her, if nothing else, a nasty bruise from his new seer. He knew the subduing spell he had prepared for him would be ready by today and felt a small smile curl his lips. The little witch would never know what hit her when she found out.

*****

The boy was too gullible…to naïve for his own good. His death would be too easy to initialize.

She was lying within her bed having retired after instilling a part of her mind within the younger brother, and a sense of unnerve into the older brothers head. She was alone, after a brief search for her lover who had gone. The sun was rising and she had fallen asleep until noon time. She got up.

Dressing quicker then normal, she quickly tied the silk ties to a deep purple corset that had bone trim and exceedingly low cut, revealing much of hr breasts. Done, she slipped on what appeared to be a black, ankle length skirt, with a slit up on one side that went to her side. Securing it with an black leather cord at her hip, she slipped on soft silk slippers that matched her corset and tied her hair into an elegant French twist, tying a contrasting emerald green silk ribbon through it.

Emma-O and his wife-her master-knew of her plans for the two whelps. No doubt was in their mind at their satisfaction at it either, but something still bothered her. Things, for the last few days had been quiet…not much talk of anything. Even the feeding of the world above seemed less anxious and distressed then normal. It was what had stirred her from her sleep.

Sliding her screen open, she came face to face with Rin who had seemed to be waiting outside for her. Rin bowed respectfully to her and she nodded back. Kagome had turned the girl many years ago…out of a whim more then anything else sensing something useful within her…and she had been right. But still, everything about the girl still seemed at least partly unknown. She knew instinctively that the small girl-child felt the same feeling as she did.

“Mistress Kagome.” The said person nodded again to clear her thoughts and stepped softly past her. The child followed.

“You feel it.” The statement cut through the air as they descended the staircase and Rin nodded, tapped two fingers to her forehead as their eyes caught.

“She is calling you…She is worried about something.” Rin said, her words meaningful to the vampire master before her. Kagome paused slightly but then quickened her pace and began striding through the hallways towards the lounge.

“Now?” Kagome glanced down at Rin whose eyes flashed softly in the candlelight. She otherwise did not respond and Kagome, without a word, turned on her heel and made her way back the way she had come to the entrance doors. Irritated that they were slowing her down, she made a sharp pushing motion with her hands and the doors burst open with a crash. The feeling of unease increased with her and she cursed aloud. Not waiting for the doors to close behind her, she glided down the way to the streets and then felt a surge of pain run through her right arm. Her eyes hardened as she looked at it and saw what looked like five small indents, blood trickling from each. She didn’t even try to heal them as she already knew they would not heal as manmade injuries did. These wounds were not manmade.

They were fingernail marks. And not just any.

Cursing herself inwardly this time, she began to run, her legs silent as her equally silent feet padded the ground. She felt another squeeze of pain upon the same arm and began to push herself in her flight, her skirt flying up behind her as the slit allowing for room to run. She gritted her teeth as something seemed to gouge into one of her eyes. Refusing to cry out, she turned a sharp left and bolted through another street, looking for the gateway that would allow her to descend to further levels. The gouging intensified and she had to bite back a cry of discomfort. With her one good eye, she looked around carefully for what she needed-and then she felt found it and felt herself surrounded by a wave of black energy. Instantly, she was engulfed.

*****

“Coven member Sango…?” The said person straightened and looked over her shoulder to see Rin standing there, adorned in a black lace dress with matching gloves and slippers, her hair in the same ponytail as always.

“‘She’ is unhappy with our mistress.” Sango’s eyes widened at her words and turned fully to face her. Kagura and Miroku who had been talking behind her, paused to listen, as did Naraku who had begun to pour himself a glass of blood.

“Why? What has she done to deserve punishment?” Kagura asked as she placed her half empty glass down. Miroku’s jaw tightened at her words but he remained silent. Rin shook her head.

“I do not know. It could be many things.” Naraku snorted and they all looked around at him as he knelt down onto one of the sitting cushions.

“There is nothing that she could do...”

“Remember coven member Naraku, she also takes responsibilities for our actions as her responsibility for the coven.” Miroku said as he settled back, his black hair shading his eyes.

“It is not us.” Rin said firmly as she knelt herself. Kagura rolled her eyes in annoyance.

“It does not matter. Our mistress is in no danger against our master. Even ‘She’ abides by rules.” Sango shrugged at her words and ran a finger across her bottom lip in thought.

“Has she left?” Rin nodded and the others looked at each other.

“Our mistress will return soon.” The youngest member said, making herself comfortable.

“Like always.” Miroku said with a grin.

*****

The energy disappeared as soon as it had come, and she forced herself upright, not allowing the power of the blast to throw her off. Her calm mind registered an endless view of red earth encircling her, and to her right was a throne with a darkly clad figure sitting within it, surrounded by shadow. Gracefully, Kagome turned towards her and bowed as her coven members had done to her, her forehead touching the ground as she kneeled and leaned her butt back on her calves.

“Izanami-sama.” She said softly as she remained where she was, not moving to look up at her. She heard a rustling of fabric as the figure moved and then heard a soft sound, much like a sigh from the same direction. Within her mind, a telepathic link began to evolve and she closed her eyes to concentrate on it.

‘You seem to be getting slower Kagome…or have I just been too lenient?’ A soft voice whispered into her mind. It was subtle…slow and sensual…like a serpent coiling around its prey. It was deadly. Kagome remained where she was, silent.

‘I trust next time, your senses will remain sharper?’ Kagome nodded against the ground and finally was allowed to rise with a simple command from her master.

‘The elder brother…what are your intentions with him?’ Izanami said as she once again sat on her throne. Kagome looked up to see her shrouded in shadow once more. She was glad for that…her master was a fright to even her species…and Kagome was no exception to it. Izanami was horrific in appearance…a sight not even her husband could take-thus the different levels.

‘I will kill him.’ She said unsympathetically.

‘How?’ Kagome frowned and bowed her head slightly in respect.

‘I am not sure yet.’ She felt a tightening on her mind and clenched her teeth together at the pain.

‘As I recall, he should be dead already.’ There was a sharpness in her masters voice that Kagome did not miss, and she nodded again.

‘I have been thinking of ways to draw his pain out…beforehand. After all-his family…the ones I killed, are the reason for my existence. I want those two to suffer as I suffered before I was turned.’ Kagome bared a fang to emphasize her hatred and the grip on her mind slackened. Izanami gave a short laugh.

‘Ah…so you did know that you were not the first. I am impressed. However, it needs to be soon…he is assembling warriors…and even more powerful pawns.’ Kagome lowered her face to shield her glaring eyes from her master, even though she knew that she could see them. Her master saw everything.

“How soon would you like…my master?” Kagome said out loud as she fell to her knees once again. A surge of power flared within her mind at her creators answer.

‘Gather your coven…your slaves…and every power at your command. And march on them when they least expect it.’

Knowing better then to question her, Kagome put her forehead to the red earth and spoke.

‘As you wish…but if I might be so bold as to ask permission for something…?’ She felt another brief tightening on her mind but it was not painful, only curious at her audacity.

‘Such as what?’

‘May I play with him first?’ There was a pause and then a soft chuckling within her mind that seemed to grow louder and louder until it was an all out shriek of approval. She raised her head to the shrouded figure and watched as they leaned forward into the light. She forced herself to not shrink back at the sight but instead hardened her gaze, her fingers tightening into fists.

Her master was not even a figure. What at one time might have been a woman, was now a body of festering wounds and rotting skin. Maggots and snakes curled through the slimy flesh as long black hair, somehow untouched by her death, clung to her scalp where only half a face rested. One skeletal arm held a lethal black snake coiled around it. Kind of pet. One long fang hung down from her master’s jaw, the flesh of her face having-like her hair-remained somehow as it did when she had died, except for a large gash that came from her eye to the side of her jaw, where large black ants and baby scorpions feasted on the blood and everlasting flesh. It made even her want to turn away, but she held fast, her master smiling cruelly at her as a sudden unbearable amount of pain shot threw her eyes and mouth.

‘Drink their blood my daughter of the night…drink it and send them here, to me.’ Kagome only whimpered softly, her raven hair flashing red in the light as she opened her eyes and felt nothing there. Izanami had taken her eyes and teeth. That was the way her master departed from her company…her eyes showing her master everything she had seen…and her fangs everything she had tasted and said, so as there would be no trickery as there was with her sister Kikyo.

Sure enough, the black surge of energy encircled her form, and she was once again in the streets, her bloodied eye sockets beginning to heal as fangs already began poking through her gums. Her fists clenched through the painful process but she otherwise did not make a sound, and once done regenerating, she let her energy explode from around her as she ran silently to the castle. She conveniently found Jaken along the way and mentally ordered him to ready her pet and bring him from the holding cages…and to gather…“The Others.”

‘And Kagome…maybe you should add another member to your coven.’ Kagome grinned evilly as her masters voice whispered across her mind faintly.

‘As my master wishes.’

Her eyes glowed red against the fairy orbs as she passed them, the other night walkers around her staying clear as her aura flared, and her figure appeared at the gates before the castle.

‘Showdown.’


*****


NIGHTFALL: Western Kingdom


“Hurry up with those supplies! Tie those weapons tighter! Secure the horses!” Shouts and orders were thrown like rainwater from person to person as nightfall began to descend. Overseeing the whole process was Sesshomaru, dressed in full armor with a sword at his side and a hidden dagger in both of his boots. His hair up in a high ponytail, his eyes cold and hard as Inuyasha appeared at his side to join him. There was a silence between them then, and uncaring of it, Sesshomaru motioned his general to secure all of their resources.

“Brother…” Inuyasha’s voice was hard in the dimming light, and his brother seemed not to pay even an ounce of attention. Inuyasha continued on.

“Are you…going after ‘Her’?”

His brother’s body stiffened.

Uncertainty rushed through him like a water snake through a fast moving current when one of Sesshomaru’s eyes looked at him.

“Are you really so stupid?”

Inuyasha swallowed slowly, refusing to allow his brother to bully him into backing down.

“I think you shouldn’t…you’re not strong enough yet, and if you waited the army could expand even more.” Sesshomaru’s head actually turned to fully look at him, and he had to swallow again in order to not step away from the hatred boiling up within his brothers eyes.

“I care nothing for what you think, Inuyasha.” He said darkly, his hair swirling in the heavy breeze.

“Sesshomaru-”

“She killed our parents…have you forgotten that?” Inuyasha hardened his gaze at his vengeance burning in his elder brothers eyes. His gaze slowly turned to a glare.

“You should know better then to just run blindly into a fight.”

“Blindly?” The breeze strengthened, making his hair whip to the side.

He didn’t back down.

“It is better to die than to live in shame, and you are foolish little brother to think otherwise. I will avenge our parents in your place if I have to.” Inuyasha snarled at him, becoming brash in his sudden anger.

“She will kill you! You aren’t ready for her-” He saw a flash of white before his brothers hand connected with his face, snapping his head to the side. He took a step back in surprise, the place where he had been touched burning in pain. It was as if the world had stopped then as some more foolish soldiers stopped and began to stare, others watching with curiosity and fear at the display.

He was silent as he turned back to see his brothers seething gaze, the offending hand already at his side once more.

“You may continue to be a child until you DIE for all I care…but I will not wait any longer. She will be brought down, and to hell with this army-or my life! So long as I succeed, they do not matter!” His words were draped with a corrosive acid that seemed to burn away at his face, making it more like the vampires they hunted, then that of a human beings.

“I won’t let you.” Surprised by his words, Sesshomaru barely dodged the blade that suddenly was swung at his chest. Leaping backwards, Sesshomaru looked in surprise at his brother, who had a sword in hand as he got into a battle stance.

“I can’t let you hurt her!” And with that, he lunged at him again, the sword arching past his shoulder as he stepped to the side, his own sword in hand as it collided with his brother’s, the sound of metal on metal ringing through the air.

“Sir!” Two soldiers rushed forward to stop Inuyasha but Sesshomaru commanded them away.

“She had bewitched him! Stay away or I will kill you instead!” Sesshomaru said calmly as he blocked another attack. Inuyasha eyes widened at his brothers words and then his anger returned full force and Inuyasha charged him, his sword swinging around to almost catch him in the shin before Sesshomaru twisted to the left, avoiding it completely.

“Is this how you will fight her? Without any form or defensive tactics? You will die within moments!” Sesshomaru said with a sneer as he punched Inuyasha in the shoulder causing him to reel, and fall to the ground. Without waiting even a second for his brother to move, Sesshomaru smashed his booted foot into his brother’s hand holding the sword and heard him scream, his fingers releasing the weapon. Kicking it away, Sesshomaru took his own sword and slammed it clean through his brothers shoulder so that it buried slightly into the ground below him. Inuyasha screamed again, his eyes rolling into the back of his head from the pain as he passed out.

Glaring down at the still figure, Sesshomaru unflinchingly wrenched the sword from his brothers body and plunged it into the ground, coating the blood with dirt instead, a low growl coming from his lips in anger. As they had fought, a circle of men had formed, the others remaining where they were to watch for themselves. Disgustedly, Sesshomaru stood and left the sword where it was as he wrenched another from his general, who had two. The man was smart not to say a word, and instead began giving orders once more, the men instantly moving back and forth with last minute supplies.

‘She is tearing us apart.’ He thought as he glared at the sword, his brother’s blood still visible as some had sprayed over the grip.

“Sesshomaru-sama.” Turning to see his brother’s still body being lifted by a few guards to be taken inside, he looked past them to a small man who was walking hurriedly towards him, carrying something almost as long as himself. His hard eyes glanced once more at Iinuyasha’s body, focusing on the breathing chest as it lifted and lowered with each breath.

“Put him in his room-and tie garlic around his neck. Have the priest bless him as well.” They nodded, and as the soldiers disappeared into the mass of people, he ripped his eyes away to look back at the wizened man.

“Myoga…you have it?” The old man bowed and brought the package from under his arm to hold it up to his master.

“Oh course my lord! Just as you requested!”

Taking it, he uncovered the object to see a necklace made of ivory and emeralds and a long sword, delicately made but perfectly balanced. He stared, his breath caught up in his throat.

“Where did you get this?” Sesshomaru asked, taking the necklace from around the sword and looking at it.

Myoga laughed nervously, his eyes scanning the ground for nonexistent objects.

“I have been looking everywhere for this seer. Where was it?”

“It was…in my truck my lord-”

“YOUR TRUNK?!” The old man actually fell to his knees with a sob.

“I’m so sorry, Sesshomaru-sama! But I was doing some cleaning before you left and-” Sesshomaru raised his fist above his head, looking ready to kill the man before him.

“A MAN DIED FOR THIS! AND you HAD IT?!” Myoga wrung his hands together.

“Well, under the circumstances, and uh-being as the situation is well…plausible, I am left to ascertain that it was…well...yes?” Sesshomaru let out a howl of rage and picked the old man up by the front of his robes, shaking it roughly.

“Perhaps my lord should go and rest…the creature isn’t here…we’ve put up wards-”

“I want you to be silent. You’ve caused enough damage for today!” Sesshomaru said as he dropped the old fool, clenching the necklace in his hand.

“Get ready to move out.” Sesshomaru said venomously to his generals. The nodded quickly and mounted their horses, going to the front of the lines to wait for Sesshomaru to lead them out.

“My lord! The sword…your father said to give it to you when this day came.” Sesshomaru gave him a cold look but looked over the weapon.

“It’s name.” He asked as he looked over the blade.

“Tenseiga. It revives the dead…and since ‘She’ is dead…”

Sesshomaru’s eyes widened slightly, his knuckles tightening over the hilt.

“You might live after all Seer. Now go. Go and make sure my brother is taken care of. We will return when she is gone…”

‘Or I am dead.’

“Let’s move.” He said as he mounted his horse, galloping out to the front of the line to lead them on.

“To battle!” He shouted out as he did so, his shoulders yelling in agreement.

*****

“He didn’t listen to me! The fool is going to hurt her, mother!” Inuyasha cried as his “mother” held him in her arms on top of his futon.

She hushed him silently, patting his head gently.

“Hush, Inuyasha…you did what you could.”

“No, I didn’t! I should have fought harder…but he’s my brother…I just couldn’t hurt him fully!” Inuyasha fairly howled.

Kagome looked over his head at the dead guards and priest, the barely alive Seer staring terrified at her. She had placed a spell to keep him alive…for now. Inuyasha could not see them however, most likely a good thing as their throats were ripped out, blood strewn everywhere across the room. The fear he had in his eyes drew at her bloodlust and she smiled at him, allowing her teeth to flash in the fading light.

“You are so brave…but you did not do as I asked.” She said, letting a touch of disappointment resound in her voice.

“I’m so sorry…what can I do to make it up to you-to prove that I can do better?” Inuyasha asked desperately, looking up into her face, his eyes pleading. He saw the face of his mother smile down at him and felt her hand cup the side of her face.

“How far would you go?” She asked softly, a touch of sensuality coming into her voice.

Inuyasha gave her a determined look.

“Anything! I vowed before that I would do anything!” She smiled and put his head against her shoulder.

“I am glad. Now relax against your mother.” She said gently as she smoothed her free hand down his hair. He nodded and did as she asked, relaxing against her body trustingly.

“Everything will be fine…you’ll see Inuyasha.”

“Mother…”

She moved away his hair from his neck and tilted his head to the side.

“Remember your vow.” She whispered softly against his ear.

He shivered slightly, suddenly realizing that the voice who had spoken was not his mother. His eyes opened in surprise but he was too late.

He felt her mouth open over his neck – and then felt what felt like two knives sink into his neck.

He screamed, flailing around wildly as he realized that the body of his mother was gone to be replaced with a completely scarlet clad figure instead. He panicked, realizing instinctively who it was, even as he felt his body growing weaker from loss of blood.

He reached up to push her away, anything but she grabbed his arm, her grip like an iron band around his forearm. He screamed, the sound rebounding around the room as he realized his helplessness…and realized that he was going to die.

She smiled against his neck as she sank her fangs in deeper, making him scream again and sucked harder, drawing more blood then before.

She felt his wild pulse beginning to slow, his writhing body beginning to calm as the loss of blood caused him to weaken. Soon, he was limp in her grasp, his arms falling to the sides as his eyes slowly lost their dark color, lightening significantly. The same happened with his hair, streaks of gray appearing through it as she drank, soon becoming lighter and lighter until they were white. And just as the last drop of life was gone from him, she released him and looked down at him.

“What a rush.” She whispered as she kissed him hard on the lips. He couldn’t even close his mouth he was so weak, and he tasted his blood on her lips as she kissed him.

As she pulled away, he used all of his energy to murmur one word.

“L…i…ar…” And then he was gone.

From beside them, the Seer gave a strangled cry of horror and satisfied, she stood, her bloody mouth smiling as she waked over and kicked him roughly onto his back.

“Where did he go?” She asked, her eyes turning hard and flinty as she stared down at him. He stuttered, unable to speak and she became impatient.

“Tell me or I will turn you as well.”

His eyes widened.

“T…urn…?”

Her eyes glowed red in the darkness and he gulped in fear.

“Answer me.”

“No…”

She kicked him again, grabbing his neck and twisting it almost to the point of breaking. Screaming in pain, he kicked out at her wildly but she only continued to hold him.

“North!” He gasped, his eyes bulging out of his head from pain. She smiled pleasantly at him in return.

“Thank you!” And she broke his neck, killing him instantly.

Using his robes to clean her mouth, she stood and looked around to where Inuyasha was. He was still unmoving and she smiled, walking over and lifting his head to tilt it back as she brought his body into her lap.

Slicing open her shoulder, she brought his mouth to it and let him smell the rich red liquid as it trickled from her skin. She saw his mouth twitch, his tongue moving slightly within his parted mouth and she smirked, pressing his mouth into her shoulder. Instantly, she felt him try to weakly suckle, his eyes still closed in his feeble stage.

“That’s it…taste the life I took from your servants.” She whispered coaxingly as his tongue brushed over the sticky liquid.

She looked up as she felt him latch on fully to her shoulder, her eyes closing slightly in pain as his mouth shuddered and small fangs began to grow from his mouth, sinking into the bloody cut. He was now one of her kind now. He had made the first move to search for blood, had managed to survive through the turning process, and had not fought that, thus sealing his fate. And for now and a few days after, he would be extremely weak, a shell of a true vampire like herself. Inuyasha would be her slave…a minion. He would become a new addition to her coven, become like Sango, Miroku, Rin, and Naraku. And like them, he would serve her, feed from the humans above ground, and help her to destroy the one person he had been trying to save.

Sesshomaru.

She laughed, burying her hands into his now whitish silver hair as she threw her head back in dark laughter.

“Rise, Inuyasha. And greet the darkness with your new master.”

‘Wait around Sesshomaru. I’ll be around.’ She thought with a evil smile.

IMPORTANT: Izanami, as some of you might know was the wife of Izanagi, the god who created many islands, deities, and forefathers of Japan. While Izanami herself birthed them. She is the goddess of creation and of death, and was killed after birthing Ho-Masubi, the “causer of fire” when he burnt her badly. Mourning the loss of his wife, he went to Yomi (hell) to retrieve her. It was dark and when he found her she bid him leave because she had already eaten the food of the dead and did not wish to return. Still determined, he staid. Later, while she was sleeping, Izanagi took a comb that held back her hair, and set it on fire, causing him to see his wife. She was a rotting, decomposing corpse with maggots crawling through her skin. He ran, and was chased by ‘shikome’ (or, ‘foul women’.) They are much like the “Furies” seen with the roman mythology hell, which were female personifications of vengeance, and had the effect of driving their victims insane. Then there are ‘Hisa-me’, which are the original females of death. So, Izanami is not in fact married to Emma-O. They are actually different, but I just wanted them to be husband and wife since she had been a god at one time. Sorry if there was a mix up.


Translations 2 – In case anyone would like to know, "Better to die than to live in shame." Is a Japanese proverb and in Japanese is: Ikihaji kaku yori, shinu ga mashi. It is in reference to the overriding importance of honor.