Disclaimer: I own nothing of Inuyasha.

Yeah, Better Than Me

Chapter 4: The Bloody Truth

Kagome's (POV)

I knew my eyes were glinting in mirth as the villagers drew back from me in fear when I stepped swiftly into the light. As Kikyo drew her bow at me, Inuyasha took this as an opportunity to unsheathe his sword.

"Kikyo, it has been quite awhile." I let the corner of my lip turn up in a mocking smirk. "I'm pleased to see that you have our soul." I leered softly.

I turned my eyes to Inuyasha and lifted an eyebrow, inciting his anger with my mockery. "Tell me," I said softly showing a fang, "does she still feel like potting soil or has she moistened up?"

I watched, completely unsurprised, as she let go of her notched arrow and let it speed toward me. I concentrated on the arrow briefly, causing it to stop in front of me, before looking back at Kikyo. As I relished in the look of shock on her face, her arrow stayed suspended for my perusal. "You are so quick to lose your temper, not very priestess-like is it?" I reached out and picked up the arrow from in front of me as she notched another arrow.

My eyes passed over Miroku, who had wide eyes and his staff pushed out in front of him. My eyes continued on to Sango and stopped. Shippo. Carried in the arms of my former bestfriend, I felt my eyes soften at the sight of him. As I met his shocked eyes I saw his wide green orbs fill with fear. I felt a sudden pang of an emotion that was lost on me, because I knew it was me he was frightened of.

"Shippo sweeting, don't be scared." Was that my voice? My eyes widened at the emotion that was in the tremulous yet soothing voice of a mother. I sounded... I sounded almost normal, almost human, almost motherly. Almost. Inuyasha decided to speak.

"Ka- Kagome?" I took a small step back on reflex when he took one towards me. Kaede stepped towards me as well, peering at me closely before sighing.

"Aye, it is as I feared." I watched as Kikyo turned to stare at Kaede, completely lost.

"Little sister, she is not dead." The old priestess went to speak but Miroku cut her off before she could get a word out edge-wise.

"No, this is not the same Miko. Kagome: she is dead." I looked into his saddened eyes before he fearfully looked away, far too frightened by what I had become to keep eye contact.

"No, she isn't! She's standing right there!" Inuyasha began to yell about not understanding what everyone else seemed to and how they were wrong. Needless to say, I tuned him out.

"Mama?" Everyone paused and it went deafening silent as Shippo's whimper echoed out into the ally, I looked at him in hope, yet fearing he wouldn't understand.

Will he accept me?

I watched as he began to struggle and escape from Sango's arms. Looking up at me, slowly he began to walk to me. "Is it really you?"

I heard the question for what it was. Can I trust you? He came to a stop near my feet. Shuffling from foot to foot, he sniffed the air around me. His auburn eyebrows crunched in frustration as only the smell of blood and clothing came to him. I blinked once slowly and he scampered up my body to my throat. He sniffed and I waited, hoping, praying, that he could smell my scent this close to me.

Suddenly he hugged me and I put my arms around him as I felt a warm travel down my face. He could smell me under it all. He accepted me. That emotion was back, yet different. It felt like smelling home cooking for the first time in years. Kaede pushed forward with her bow and arrow. "I knew it! You are an under-walker!"

Shippo did not move from his spot but clung harder as he sensed danger. I observed as Inuyasha scratched his head before sniffing the air. I smirked as his eyes widened in horror and he took a stumbling step back. I lacked the fluids of normal anatomy, taken from the blood of those I fed on lent the moisture I needed. Unsurprising that as I cried, the scent in the air changed. Blood had a tendency to smell different for each species, after all.

"She reeks of human and demon alike. Like their blood, or their flesh." Shippo pulled away and I turned my face away not wanting him to see me like I was. Not wanting his fear. I felt his hand gently turn my head before he looked into my eyes. He reached out a hand and began to wipe away the cooled bloody tears from my face.

"Does this mean you'll be around forever, Mama?"

I smiled tenderly at him and nodded. "Of course darling." As I set him down he took my cold hand in his. I looked down at him. "Go get all of your things, if you want to travel with me."

He let go nodding my head and ran off into the hut.

"So, you're a vampire?" I let a pleased expression settle over my face at Sango's ever-working mind.

"Yes, but I would not try to kill me though. If you would manage to succeed, which you wouldn't, the punishment of the Underworld's Counsel would be much more...painful than just me killing you."

Shippo came out of the hut with a small bag. Picking him up, he spotted a green and black patch on my kimono.

"What does this mean, Mama?"

As he pulled my inner collar into the light to see it better I heard Kaede's sharp intake of breath.

"It means she's a Noble."

I shook my head at her and looked at Shippo as he began to trace the patch with his finger tip. "No, but close. This means I own land to protect."

"What land?" Sango's voice was a welcome and understanding tone.

I smiled proudly. "I am Lady Kagome of the Western Underlands." I reached into my pocket and pulled out an arm band with the symbol woven into the metal and gave it to him. "And you are my prince."

Love,

Deathly.

XD