Chapter 2

Sesshomaru

I had to get away from her as fast as I possibly could. What body temperature I

had left in me had all risen to my neck and I was almost overcome with the Urge. I can't

let that happen. As a matter of fact, that has never happened before. The Urge doesn't get

to me, ever. It's so strange how when her body crashed into me, it was like the blazing sun mixed

with an ocean of ice and had sliced through me. This feeling was indescribable; hot and

cold at the same time. And her eyes were no help. They were almost teal, and there was

a brilliant gold color flecked around her large pupil. Then there were oval

dark blue dots and it made her iris look like the tail of a peacock. I had never seen eyes

like those. I didn't feel like this last year when I first met her. What is so different

now? I felt like an idiot standing there just staring into them. I needed to control myself.

This Urge feels different than before and I can't name it. That could be very dangerous.

I made my way down the busy city streets, crossing them quickly to get to the

familiarity of Café Rouge. Inuyasha and Miroku should be there by now. I'm the late one today.

As I rounded the corner to the café, I could feel them waiting inside laughing. I could

hear Miroku flirting with the server and her stumbling over her words as she repeated their

order. What a dog, I snickered to myself. I opened the door and the little bell on top of it

rang for my entrance. Miroku and Inuyasha didn't look my way, they already knew I was here.

The attractive server hurried off smiling shyly and flustered with their orders held tight in

her hands.

"She's a looker, ain't that right Inuyasha?" Miroku proclaimed more than asked. Funny

statement coming from him. He's 100% blind. It was a mishap that happened when his father

passed away during an explosion from the chemicals he was working on. The chemical

splashed into Miroku's eyes, rendering him blind for the rest of his life.

"She's something alright," Inuyasha chuckled. I sat across from them on the round

table, running my hand through my hair in a weak attempt to wipe the Urge out of my

mind.

With a quirk of my brow, I nodded in greeting to them. They sensed something was

bothering me, but they dared not ask. Inuyasha simply gave me a look over and shrugged it

off. He didn't like prodding in his brother's affairs.

"Nothing much, my Lord. Just having some fun," Miroku said happily as he chugged

down a Dr. Pepper.

"I thought you found yourself a female, lecher. Why do you still divulge in this behavior?"

I told him for the millionth time. Not that it really matters.

"I care why? It's not gunna do any harm," he said licking his lips. "Besides, she doesn't seem

so interested in me. I think she's grown tired of a man that can't see her."

"Be that as it may, I tire of the rumors I hear about a particular hentai in my pack," I added,

flagging a waiter. I ordered promptly, just imagining the hot liquid sizzling the Urge as

he came up to me. Hmm, I wonder where that female went off too. Miroku probably

scared her off. Ha.

I studied the café. It was always welcoming to be in here. There were

black vintage patterns on the wall on a brown background and tea lights on every table.

The tables were made out of real wood, unlike those plastic things they are making now.

The chairs were a lovely violet color and there was a cushion on the back rest and on

the seat. I loved the smell of freshly ground coffee beans and chocolate. I smiled inwardly at my

close packmates as they chatted about football, and that's when I felt it. So did my friends. They

became quiet and glanced at me. The hair on the back of my neck prickled and I suddenly

got queasy. The door opened hard and Kikyo entered as if she were the queen of

England herself.

"Hello boys," she cracked a wicked smile. She sat down beside me crossing her

leg in my direction, her short skirt rising up. She smiled as sweetly as she could, but it

felt like daggers shot into my heart. I laughed to myself. She's been coming on to me for

years now. All failed attempts.

"Well, now that we're all here," I began, "let's get down to business. It is almost

the 23rd and the Feeding is drawing closer. We need to move our spot since the last place

was condemned by that stupid puff of a mayor and-"

"Oh Taisho, you're all about business and no play," Kikyo stroked a cold finger

over my arm. It recoiled in chills at her touch. "We always find a place to Feed without

difficulty. Let us enjoy our drinks," she smiled and took the coffee cup I had ordered

and placed it to her lips. She sniffed the aroma of my drink and put it down in disgust.

She reached into her pocket, pulled out a black vile, and poured red liquid into the drink.

Something about the blood smelled odd. Not at all like the blood we usually use. I

wonder what she's using now. Not that it's any of my business. I guess I'm not the only

one with the Urge cravings, though. Wonder how Miroku and Inuyasha are holding up. Our

beasts usually remained dormant throughout the year since we have scheduled

a particular day when we would indulge in its instincts; mostly the hunger for blood.

Miroku was a kaze youkai, and his beast was rather untameable. But we manage to keep

the reins on it with the help of the others in our pack. And now that the rebellions

are starting to turn into a civil war, we couldn't chance any one breaking out of control.

"Kikyo, you look…really nice today," Inuyasha said, his eyes shifting to her pale legs

and back to her face. Her black hair was accented by highlights of electric blue. The

blood red lipstick contrasted too brightly to her white skin. She had cold dead brown eyes.

They showed no expression, yet when you looked into them, you felt evil climb into your

stomach, making your body shift uncomfortably. As much as you despised her, her spell

captured your eyes, your heart to follow. That's exactly what happened to Inuyasha. The

poor creature is absolutely in love with her, and hated me for her attraction to me. 'Sorry

brother. Not my fault', I apologized silently.

"Yeah, whatever. Seshy-Taisho, why don't you come with me to the club tonight?

There's a new DJ and I hear his mix is totally wicked," she licked her lips and arched her

lips into a callus smile. 'Wicked, just like you', I thought with disgust.

"No. I have to scope for a new ground. One that isn't condemned or

already taken by Them." If there was one thing the churned my blood more than the

woman clinging to my arm, it was Them. They are the reason why we are in the midst of an

upcoming war. The rebellions decided that the council of Youkai, which once contained

Sesshomaru himself, had done nothing as humans took over the world. They began to forget

the existence of demons, most allocating them to fairy tales and nightmares. The rebellions

decided upon themselves that they would correct this dishonor by bringing youkai-dom back

into the modern age with a gusto. The leader was Naraku, a spider youkai who was tainted

by the jewel.

Ah, the jewel. Sesshomaru's amber eyes suddenly became molten with anger. It was in his possession.

Until there was a raid upon his estate and half of his pack was slaughtered. With one last painstaking

glance at his mansion, Sesshomaru grabbed his closest packmates and fled, knowing the jewel had already

been captured. That was the only reason for the attack in the first place. Though he would kill anyone who

would claim he fled out of cowardice. No, that wasn't the reason. The reason he fled was because that very night

a strange visitor came upon his dreams as he slept. She was a beautiful thing, definitely not youkai or human.

She had miko powers, and the only miko that could come to mind was Midoriko herself, the guardian of the jewel.

"Sesshomaru," she whispered to him in his sleep. He began to toss in his sheets, feelings of dread

invading his conscious. "Awaken, Sesshomaru and flee. The war has begun and the jewel will leave

your home tonight. Grab your comrades and flee, for I know things you do not. You cannot die here

tonight to protect your pack. You have greater things to accomplish before your time," she warned

pleading him to move.

It was a night he refused to reminisce upon for long, as he squared his jaw and set his eyes back

to their cool indifference. Kikyo noticed the change in his aura, and knew when to back out.

"What a shame. It would have been nice to take someone along and have some

fun with," she sipped the improved version of coffee she mixed and let out a satisfactory

sigh.

"I'll go with you. I haven't been out in a while. And pretty girls shouldn't go out

by themselves," Inuyasha added hopefully. Kikyo rolled her eyes and shrugged giving

up.

"Sure. Come by and get me at eight. We'll party hard while this one," she said

pointing at me with her cup, "spends another night all alone." She rose purposefully

slapping a few bucks on the table. "Oh, and by the way Sesshomaru, Kaede wasn't

feeling too well this morning. She asked me to tell you to get another prescription from

the pharmacy before you went home." With that she left. Well, I guess she isn't all evil if

there's someone else besides herself she worries about. There's a heart somewhere inside

that ice.

"Well, I'd best be getting home. Gotta shower and stuff for tonight, haha," Inuyasha

sneered. Too bad the poor sap hasn't got a chance with her.

Miroku and I sat there for a while, lost within our own thoughts. I had to find a new

ground. There has to be other places where the crystal will light that we haven't found

yet. At least the damned thing has one advantage; it keeps us from craving during the rest

of the year. Forged by an ancient witch in debt to my father, the crystal shone

a brilliant white, almost pure, color during the time that it was dormant. When the annual

time neared for us to begin our Feed, the crystal will tug at our souls, warning us to

Feed soon or the consequences would be severe. It was also crafted to work as almost

a locator. See, there were certain hot spots, if you will, that allowed our demon energy

to over power our instincts, but not our consciousness. Without them, if we were to let

our demon to take over, we would not be able to control our actions. When we find a hot

spot, the crystal will glow a bright blood red color, announcing the place where we would

Feed. But the crystal came at a price. If we turned away from its call, it would rip away

our humanity and we would succumb to our inner demon fully, and become one of Them.

My sensitive ears suddenly picked up the bell for the end of period one

announcing that I had to get back to class. Not that it would really matter, I could just

stop going to school all together under the facade of a false professor, despite the advantages,

and still make quite the fortune. Seeing as how I have my own law firm, where I have hired

only the best of youkai prosecutors. In these difficult times, it gives me a momentary sense of

gratification knowing that I can do some semblance of good, after abandoning my pack.

The investors that gave me the original loan for the firm all think Sesshomaru Taisho was

a lucky law-grad student who had a canny eye for profit. However, in order to maintain

the persona I adapted as a high school professor, I invented the scheme that my father, was actually

the head of the firm, and not myself. I had documents conjured to make everything through and final

and no one could deny it. Any time that my "father" was needed to sign a document, I was legally

a co-signer, so he would never have to make an appearance. It would be difficult for him to,

seeing how he was killed 600 years ago. Humans are such delightfully gullible beings.

Some were worthy of exception to that fact. Like that truly annoying detective always on

our case about one thing or another. He convinced himself that there was some sort of

funny business going on about us. He had every reason to be suspicious. We are, after all,

centuries old demons. But he didn't have to know that.

As I made my way back into school, I was assaulted with pleased sighs and stares

intended to strip me of my clothing by every girl I walked past. I nodded to those close

enough to me in hopes of deterring them with a simple hello. So easy to swoon hormonal

girls these days. To think they actually believe they have a chance with me. I wouldn't

even be caught dead with a human girl. Suddenly peacock colored

eyes flashed in my brain and I found myself completely stopping mid stride. Although

some human girls are more pleasing to the eye then the masses here. My eyes widened a

fraction as I mentally shook my head of the though. 'Am I losing my mind? No human

girl is worthy enough for me' I chastised myself. They were all annoying and sought out

the depth to my wallet. They knew who my "father" was and wanted me for the title.

Again, those peacock eyes flashed and I knew it then that it must be the Urge calling for

bloodlust. I have to get rid of this problem. And soon.

The periods came and went and before I knew it, it was lunch hour. I grabbed my

books from my desk hurriedly trying to avoid as much of these wenches as possible. As

I neared my 2012 Ferrari Enzo, I could already see the envious glares of the guys in the

parking lot. It's not such a big deal; even though they probably wouldn't be able to afford

this car even after their retirements. My car was black with butterfly doors and black

leather interior. On either side of the front license plate was a single white fang. On the

driver side door, was the white decal of an intricate katana which appeared to glow.

On the passenger door, was the decal of another katana, this one with dripping blood.

They represented my two blades, which I still kept close to me in my new home. They

were not needed in this modern age, but they held a great deal of my past.

All of a sudden the hairs on the back of my neck prickled tightly. I looked

around trying to find the source of the assault on my senses and locked my eyes on my

prey. There she was, walking with another girl who resembled her, laughing whole

heartedly. 'Must be her sister," I thought. Suddenly I found myself walking towards her

and at that moment her scent drifted towards me in the wind and I felt the Urge trying to

claw its way into control. I shut my eyes to push it back down as her scent got stronger.

I then felt a familiar thud on my chest and a gasp. My eyes shot open still feeling the

bloodlust as I looked down sharply at who would dare touch me, red beginging to

make a halo around the whites of my eyes.

"Oh God, I'm so sorry, Professor Taisho! I didn't even see you there," said the wonderful

voice of the girl who had been on my thoughts all day. I looked to the floor and noticed

her books were once again spilled on my feet. Simultaneously, we bent to pick them up

and our hands touched sending the most electrifying shock even stronger than earlier.

Taken aback, I realized that it wasn't just a hormonal thing I was feeling from the Urge,

she really shocked me! Trying with all my might to not let on of my disposition, I

gathered her books and stood with as much suaveness as I could muster at the moment.

My body begrudgingly betrayed me again as my mouth curved into a smile and I stepped

a little closer to her passing the books into her delicate hands slowly. Bending forward

to whisper in her ear, I said "We should meet like this again. I seem to like seeing you

flustered." Another gasp escaped her lips and my bloodlust nearly claimed me. I leaned in

towards her as if to kiss her and moved my lips to her cheek earning the most satisfying

blood rush to her face. I could literally hear the blood coursing through her veins. It

sounded absolutely delicious. I found myself nearing her neck and I finally caught what I

was doing. Stepping back quickly, I focused on her eyes. Pleased at the unfocused look in

them, I nodded at her sister and walked casually back to my car, knowing full well there

was nothing casual at the intensity of the Urge I almost succumbed to.

Pacing myself slowly, I noticed my nightmare come to life standing at my car

with the most feral look upon her face. If looks could kill…

"What was that?" Kikyo demanded stepping up to me so we were only breaths

apart.

"To which 'what' are you referring to?" I countered snidely.

"Why did you touch that human like that? Besides the fact that her blood is no

where good enough for you, you have me remember?" she nearly screamed. I took a

menacing step forward to her and grabbed her by her neck and threw her into my car.

Jumping into my seat, I took off, not giving her time to regain herself. I pulled the car

into an empty ally and got out. I opened her door and stood waiting for her to get out.

She knew what was coming to her and she remained seated where she was. I didn't bend

down to talk to her as I said,

"Get up now, or I will force you into submission." Gathering as much dignity as

she could, she climbed out of her seat. Before she had the chance to get fully on her feet,

I grabbed her at her neck again and slammed her into the brick wall beside us. I let my

fangs grew out and bared them out to her threateningly, daring her to say a word. My

beast was barely under control since the experience with that girl, Kagome, and this nearly blew

him into a wild fit. "Do you challenge your alpha?" I hissed into her ear. I could hear her

heart pump madly in fear of her existence.

"No," she said with conviction.

"You are not mine. What I do is my concern. You are not my mate and the only

reason you are alpha female is because there is no other to take your spot. Females are

rare but do not think of yourself as an asset to my pack. Learn your place," I spat at her

viciously and waited. She bared her neck to me in sign of submission and I leaned down

and sniffed her jugular looking if her blood still wanted to question me. All I could smell

was her jealousy. Suddenly, her foul scent of arousal hit my nose and I threw her away

from my person the moment I smelled it. She turned her back to me for a moment to

regain her wits and I was thankful for it or else her blood would spill within minutes. I

collected myself quickly and waited for her to turn back to me. When she did, all I saw in

her eyes was hatred. She stepped up to me fearlessly, ignoring the warning growl I was

letting out.

"What would you do with her? Even if you were to allow yourself to fall for

her, you would kill her eventually. I smelled your blood lust. You were so close to it.

For whatever reason, her blood calls to you. There was never another that could

withstand it. Only me. Me! I'm the only one who doesn't die every year as you nearly

drink me dry and have your way with me. Can't you see I'm the only female for this male?" she pleaded.

I thought about her words. It was true. The last time I tried subduing the Urge with another youkai

bitch in heat, I nearly killed her. Kikyo had to rip me away from her and give me herself to me.

Througout the centuries, something changed in the youkai existence. After being forced to

go into hiding in order to protect ourselves from the advancing human race, our youkai became

much more feral and destructive. Powerful youkai such as myself and the council never fell

prey to the beast. But all those in the rebellion have, and they are demanding that every else follow

the same pursuit or fall to their bloody claws.

As I was deep in my thoughts, I felt her hand clasp around mine and I smelled her arousal again.

Apparently she thought I would satisfy her this night as I have done this past month.

I don't know why. The thought of her touching me makes my skin crawl. I hated her

scent. It smells of mint and death. But almost every night this month I've taken her to my

bedroom. I didn't love her. Hell, I wasn't even attracted to her. I felt like something was

calling to me, though. Not that it was her. I just took out my frustration on her because I

couldn't figure out what was summoning to me.

But not this night. I will have none of it. I needed to be alone from females.

Ripping my hand from her grasp, I stepped away from her and headed back to the car.

She harrumphed and sat in the passenger's seat, knowing that I had rejected her. She

had a point though. I could never be with a human girl. Let alone any girl. I would kill

them within the first week. To hell with going back to school today. It was causing more

problems than it was worth. I never had to worry about being reprimanded since the principal

was a youkai himself. I thought about the girl with peacock eyes and my frustration

level intensified ten fold. I had to find a hot spot. Now.