Note: I re-uploaded this chapter and fixed a few things so it makes more sense.

THISISTHESTUPIDLINETHATSEPERATESTHESTUPIDAUTHORSNOTESFROMTHESTORY

The nighttime sky was a deep, dark, purple, and the glow from the moon covered everything in an eerie light. The lake water shimmered with an unearthly luminosity, but the figure next to it paid no heed. She was too immersed in the bloody rabbit carcass lying in her hands. She lapped up the sticky, red fluid with hungry eagerness.

When the rabbit was sucked dry, she wiped her lips with the back of her hand and tossed the carcass into the lake, where it floated gently to the bottom. With that, she turned and stalked away, her strides long and purposeful.

Before she got completely out of the clearing, she turned around and raised her head, revealing hard, silver eyes. She hissed, "I know you're there. You can't hide forever." Then, she spun around, her black trench coat flying behind her, and marched away through the intimidating looking forest.

Inuyasha shuddered when she lifted her head, and her silver eyes almost seemed to pierce through him. He was shocked when she addressed him and told him he couldn't hide forever. How had she known he was there?

He hit himself on the head when he noticed something. 'She's a vampire! DUH! Of course she can sense me! I'm so stupid!'

Just then, he realized something else of vital importance. The vampire had strode away through the forest, towards where they had set up camp… 'Kagome!'

When Inuyasha got back to camp, he was relieved to find that everybody was safe and sound. Shippo, Miroku, Sango, Kirara, Kagome… wait. Where was Kagome?!

Inuyasha searched frantically around the camp, and was surprised to find that Kagome was sleeping peacefully under a large willow tree. The branches hung down around her, forming what almost looked like a protective barrier surrounding her resting form.

'Huh.' Inuyasha thought. 'I don't remember that tree being there when we set up camp.' He merely shrugged it off as obliviousness. So, he leapt up onto a branch in an oak tree that loomed above the camp, so he could watch over his friends as they slept.

Well, that was the idea, but he dozed off about half way through the night, and everybody else was still sleeping, so nobody saw Kagome as she got up and slipped out of the clearing.

'Phew,' thought Kagome in relief as she walked through the forest, being careful to make as little noise as possible. 'I was sure he was never going to go to sleep.'

As she strolled, Kagome couldn't help but gaze around in bewilderment. 'I never realized just how pretty the forest is at nighttime.' She scowled. 'But then again, I'm never in the woods at night, because nobody thinks I can take care of myself. I mean, come on! I'm not made of glass. Well, at least Shippo thinks I can take care of myself.' But then she remembered something that happened a few days ago.

FLASHBACK

"Kagome, watch out!" Sango yelled as the demon shot towards her. "Got it!" Kagome shouted back as she took out an arrow and made quick work of the threat.

'Huh. That seemed too easy. Most of the time, it's at least a little challeng-" Kagome's thoughts were cut off when a bird youkai, identical to the one she just destroyed, came swooping in. "Oh, damn," she cussed as the demon came heading straight for her. "Kagome!" Shippo screamed in fright.

With surprising agility, she jumped over the bird's head and landed on its back, stabbing it with an arrow as she did so. The creature shrieked in fury and twisted its head around to knock Kagome off him, sending her into a tree a few meters away. A sudden sickening CRUNCH was heard.

"KAGOME!" Shippo cried, terrified that his surrogate mother was extremely hurt.

"Shippo, would you stop your pointless-" Inuyasha cut himself off when he assessed the situation. Kagome was lying in a crumpled heap on the floor near a tree with a HUGE dent in it, the bird demon was looking rather triumphant, Shippo was screaming Kagome's name in a frightened manner…

"You bastard!" Inuyasha roared at the bird youkai.

"Took you long enough, idiot..." Shippo mumbled under his breath. The hanyou turned to glare at Shippo in such an intense matter that the kitsune shrieked and cowered behind Miroku.

"Shippo," Miroku directed, "Why don't you go see if Kagome-sama is alright? She did hit the tree rather hard." Shippo nodded his head obediently and scurried off to where Kagome lay in a pile of limbs at the base of the tree.

"Kagome, are you alright?" Shippo asked.

Silence.

"KAGOME! SAY SOMETHING!" He pleaded desperately after she didn't say anything for a while, tears streaming down his face.

"Ugh...Shippo? Is that you?" Kagome mumbled groggily.

"Kagome?" Shippo whispered hopefully.

"Yes my son?" Kagome murmured.

"Oh, Kagome! I thought you were seriously hurt! You didn't say anything and you hit the tree really hard and I was worried about you…" Shippo babbled.

He stopped his pointless ramblings as he realized something.

"Kagome, I never want you to do anything so stupid again! Do you hear me! You could have gotten seriously hurt! Do you understand?!"

"Yes, mom." Kagome growled. Nevertheless, she chuckled and hugged Shippo to her. Inside though, she was seriously depressed.

'What? My own son doesn't even think I can take care of myself? I thought at least Shippo wouldn't treat me like some precious statue! I don't need everybody taking care of me all the time! I'm not fucking GLASS!'

END FLASHBACK

Kagome was somewhat depressed for a while after that, but, like usual, nobody noticed.

'Sad.' She thought. 'Aren't they supposed to be my friends?'

A sudden rustling of leaves at her right brought her out of her musings, so she crept silently closer to see what it was.

When she was near enough to see what it was, she gasped.

'No way!' she thought.

For there, sitting on a tree branch above her head, was a black dragon.

Its scales shone in the light, and on its toes were 3-inch long claws that glinted dangerously. Its fangs were also very long, sharp, and pointy. They too were gleaming treacherously. The eyes were a hard silver, reminding Kagome of the moon's rays. It was only about the size of a rather small child, coming up to the middle of Kagome calf, but Kagome could practically feel the power coming off it. Two black wings were attached to its back. They were about the length of one of Kagome's arrows, and the thin skin was stretched tightly over the bones. Its paws were rather large for a creature of its small size, for they were about the size of an orange. There were long spikes that went down its spine and tail. The tail also looked rather big on the small dragon. It was curled around the branch, as were his sharp claws, to keep from falling off. On the center of its forehead was a tiny silver star that matched its eyes perfectly. The star was made up of five small triangles, and was also located on the sides of its eyes. There were two blood red stripes on both of its wrists, and on the top of its head, nestled in between it's small horns, rested a tiny crown.

"Oh my gosh…" Kagome whispered breathlessly. "It has been such a long time since I have seen a black dragon. I thought those died out centuries ago."

'That is what most people think,' came a warm, soothing voice inside her head. 'In fact, I'm actually rather surprised that you recognized me, young one. Most people do not even know a dragon when they see one. They think we are some mutated demon or something.'

Kagome blinked. "Woah, woah, woah. Hang on a minute. You're telling me that black dragons still exist?"

'Yes, young one. There are still black dragons that exist, but we are in hiding because of the humans. Most of them capture us and sell us as pets or they kill us and sell our body parts for money.'

"I'm so sorry."

'Do not be sorry, young one. It is not your fault.'

"I know, but still. I just feel really bad that they would do that to you guys. They obviously don't know the legend behind the black dragons, otherwise you guys would be able to roam free without fear of being captured or hunted."

It was the dragon's turn to blink.

'You still remember the tale behind the black dragons, young one?'

"Of course I do! What sensible living creature doesn't? Other than the humans, of course."

The dragon chuckled.

'You are still rather lighthearted for one of your race, are you not?'

Kagome's stare turned icy.

"You should not judge me by reputation or legends. What others of my race have done do not affect who I am. Although, I must say,"

Kagome licked her lips.

"Some of the prey that they have caught in the stories sounds mighty tasty right now."

The dragon chuckled again.

'But didn't you just eat, young one?'

Kagome sheepishly scratched the back of her head.

"Yeah, I know, but that wasn't really enough to satisfy my cravings. I mean, one measly rabbit! Come on! I think the ants need more than that."

Kagome looked thoughtful for a moment.

"Hey, Waizu?"

'Yes, young one?'

"Why don't travel with me and the gang? I'm sure Inuyasha wouldn't mind another pack member, as long as he doesn't have to feed you, but that won't be a problem. Besides, I'm going to need someone to keep my temper, and now that I think about it, my hunger, in check for a while, at least until I visit Toutosai. Plus, we're going to be passing by the well because I'm running low on supplies, so you can come and visit my family with me. Mama and Souta haven't seen you in a really long time, so I'm sure they'll be happy that you came to visit."

Waizu nodded his head in agreement.

'That sounds like a wonderful idea, Kagome. But, how are you going to explain the black dragon perched on your shoulder when you get back to camp?'

Kagome smiled slyly.

"Oh, don't worry; I'm sure I can think of something…"

The dragon once again nodded his head. But then he looked up and noted the smirk that had appeared on Kagome's face.

'Kagome, you're not planning on doing the same thing you did last time, are you?'

Kagome just grinned cunningly, and with that, they set back off for camp, Kagome thinking of all of the delightful stories she could come up with to explain the black dragon her shoulder, and said dragon hoping above all hope that they didn't have a repeat of last time.

Waizu grimaced. Oh yeah, that was fun.

THISISTHESTUPIDLINETHATSEPERATESTHESTUPIDAUTHORSNOTESFROMTHESTORY

YAY! I got my first story uploaded. About time too. Well, anyways, I jus have to say something. The vampire at the beginning of the story is not, I repeat, not, an OC. Ok, we good? We're good. I am looking for at least three reviews. Flames are fine, but if you tell me my story sucks ass and should rot in hell, at least tell me why, ok? Ok. I should the next chapter uploaded by the weekend, but I need three reviews!! Goodnight:)