Sorry I was so slow with this update! I was in Denver for a week and my granny is somewhat of a luddite. No internet and no TV makes ChaoticReverie go something, something… What's that you say? Oh, 'go crazy'? Don't mind if I do!

Anyways, here we go with the next installment. Hope you enjoy it.

WARNING: There is mild citrus in this chapter. It's nothing major, but it is slightly non-con.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters affiliated with the series Inuyasha.

Chapter 9: A Bloody Dusk

It was an unfathomable, desperate fear that woke her from sleep, gripping her throat with its strangling, gnarled fingers and hurling her back into the world of reality. Her nightmare had been so intense that she literally jerked awake, choking on a scream as she stiffened. Her breath left her in long, heavy gasps, eyes alarmingly wide as her hand shook feebly above her breast. She clutched anxiously at her top, which was soaked with sweat and plastered to her skin.

Kagome took a long, sweeping look around her living room, sighing and collapsing back onto the couch. Her laptop sat open on the coffee table, the Hello Kitty screensaver casting a fluorescent pink glow across the otherwise dark expanse of the room. She'd been writing about the upcoming charity event that the company was hosting when a sudden wave of exhaustion had swept over her. She'd leaned back into the couch, trying to gain her bearings and coax herself out of the drowsy stupor. Apparently she had fallen asleep.

She squinted at the small numbers along the bottom of her monitor, discovering that she had been napping for a good two hours. It was currently just past nine in the evening, and usually she crawled into bed right before eleven. She doubted that such would be the case on this night. Not only had her little snooze given her an apparent burst of energy… but the idea alone of going back to sleep made her shiver.

Never in her life could she remember having a nightmare as terrifying as the one she had just experienced. Vivid flashes of deep crimson burst behind her eyes, and she couldn't repress the helpless whimper that escaped her lips. She pulled her knees up to her chin, wrapping her arms around them as she recalled the awful dream.

She had been suffocating, trapped in an inky blackness that had no beginning or no end. There was no floor beneath her feet, and as she reached out into the vast oblivion her fingers met nothing of substance. She remembered holding her breath, her lungs screaming for reprieve and her mind urging her to take in air. Yet her body would not obey, she simply continued to flail her limbs as though trying to reach for something… anything. Finally, like breaking surface in a swimming pool, she had burst free of the bodiless entrapment, parting her lips to take in some much needed oxygen.

It had still been dark, though a faint glow revealed to her that she was submerged to the neck, bobbing in what appeared to be some kind of vast lake. The dim luminescence that flickered off of the surface gradually increased, casting reflections onto her face. As her surroundings grew brighter it became horrifyingly apparent to her that she was not in water. Dark shadows gave way to reveal deep red; an unending ocean of thick, hot blood.

Then she had noted a large, winding figure gliding toward her from a distance, drawing nearer by the second. It was a snake, one with piercing black eyes and glassy red scales. The serpent had reared up, rising to tower over her, and pulled back its jaws to reveal, long, curved fangs that glinted crimson. It struck, catapulting itself forward with all the speed of a bullet.

She shut her eyes…

Kagome shuddered, appalled by the vivid memory of her nightmare. Rising from the couch and stretching her stiff muscles, the shaky woman moved into her kitchen to make a fresh batch of coffee. If she wasn't going to sleep, she needed a good caffeine fix. She cracked her knuckles as she waited for the pot to finish, wondering to herself over how she should react to the dream. Her slender fingers clenched and unclenched sporadically as she mulled, her lip drawn between her teeth in proof of her silent contemplation.

Tomorrow was Saturday, which meant Sango would be home. She could always go to her friend for support, though she doubted the woman would have any answers for her. Perhaps she would get lucky and Miroku would not have to work that weekend. The schedule of a real estate agent was hectic at times… especially for good real estate agents. Miroku was one of the best in the city, as his persuasive mannerisms and charming appeal made for a particularly effective combination in the business.

Since the first day she'd known him, Kagome had seen that the male was gifted in the sweet-talking department. Hell, he'd managed to woo Sango, who had given more men black eyes than Kagome could recall; that in itself was a feat worthy of a medal. Yet aside from his knowledge in real estate, Miroku was also incredibly learned in matters of the supernatural. Apparently he'd studied a wide range of bizarre things as a teen, dream translating being one of them. If anyone could unravel the meaning behind her nightmare, it was him.

She laughed to herself, slouching back into the kitchen chair as she pulled a hand languidly through her hair. It occurred to her that it was also entirely possible that she was making way too big a deal over this thing. She'd had odd dreams before; what made this one so important?

Though the thought seemed to calm her tension, it did not ease the feeling of foreboding that lingered in the back of her mind.

The coffee machine clicked suddenly, alerting her to the fact that it had finished percolating. She snatched her empty cup from the table, deciding that she would be giving her friends a call come morning.

As she spooned the sugar into her mug her eyes were drawn to the kitchen window, where the last rays of the sun were peering over the horizon. The sky was painted a vibrant shade of red, the sun an alarmingly similar hue. It winked at her from the valley of her neighbor's roof, sliding from sight only seconds later.

Kagome frowned, turning her eyes away from the scene and back down to her coffee. The young journalist thought to herself that she had never seen such a red sunset, and she couldn't stop the idea that her dream may have some sort of significant meaning from filtering into her thoughts. It was silly, really, but a part of her simply refused to cast aside the notion that something bad was going to happen.

"Relax, sweet… if you cooperate, I'll make this a pleasurable experience for you."

The young woman struggled aimlessly in the iron grip of her captor, whimpering around the large hand placed firmly over her mouth. Her deep brown eyes shimmered in the dim lighting of the alley; tears rimmed her thick, black lashes as she stared up into the leering face of the assailant. The arm wrapped around her torso gave a warning squeeze, tight muscles constricting around her. She stilled as the air was forced from her lungs, the man's inhuman strength nearly crushing her ribs.

"Good," he purred in a satisfied manner, his voice sinful and deep and laced with the promise of unholy things. "I am going to move my hand. Do not scream, or I promise you will regret it."

She nodded stiffly, sighing a breath of relief as the heavy yet graceful appendage was removed from her lips. His arm remained firmly around her waist, his large body trapping her against the wall of the building. His deadly fingers curled under her chin, tilting her head upward so he could meet her gaze.

"What is your name, my lovely?"

She stared up at him, unable to look away from his unearthly beautiful face. She'd heard his question, yet chose not to respond. A slight frown marred his smooth expression, a small downturn of the lips and a crinkle of the brow. He bent his head, his nose only an inch from hers. She shuddered as his hair, blacker than the night that enshrouded them, pooled over his shoulders and blocked out the rest of the world, creating a curtain of silken onyx about their faces.

"It is unwise of you to disobey me. I have been incredibly lenient thus far… yet if you see fit to spit in the face of my generosity I will have no issue with handling you roughly."

She shook her head vigorously, murmuring in a voice so quiet that she could barely hear herself, "Abi… my name is Abi." The man before her obviously had no trouble hearing her, however, for he repeated her utterance in a deep, rumbling purr.

"Abi… it suits you."

She bit her lip, unintentionally drawing his gaze there. His eyes, the color of glistening garnets, shimmered with lust.

"I will offer you no delusions," he told her as he lifted his fingers to trace her mouth. He gave her an odd, almost wistful look before explaining, "I am going to kill you."

She squeaked loudly, and his hand shot up over her mouth a second time. He chastised her with his eyes, motioning for her silence before removing the appendage again.

Abi had to hold back a scream of terror as he pulled back his jaw, his upper lip curling over his gums as his canines extended until they were nearly an inch in length. His tongue paved a trail over her fluttering pulse, making her drag in a deep, ragged breath. His hands, large and warm, slipped up her blouse and cupped her breasts.

"Fear sweetens the blood," he hissed seductively into her ear while nimble fingers moved the lacy material of her bra aside, "though it grows sweeter still while in the throws of passion."

Through the terror that gripped her, Abi could not help the pleasure that swelled in the pit of her stomach as he toyed with her sensitive breasts, his precise, maddening ministrations eliciting a deep, needy ache within her. She fought it as hard as was possible, yet none of her attempts succeeded in halting the delight that was forced upon her. One of her captor's hands slowly meandered down her belly, past the waist of her jeans until it cupped the heat between her thighs. She moaned softly, despite her best efforts to remain quiet.

The bastard grinned; his smile was wicked and dangerous as the lethal tips of his fangs pressed against his lips. "Good," he crooned gently, applying more pressure to her most sensitive region.

Through the coarse fabric of her jeans she could feel one long, slender digit sliding back and forth, lingering momentarily over a portion of her anatomy that sent sparks alighting behind her eyes.

He watched with great amusement as his prey squirmed aimlessly against him, her face flushed with arousal. Her pulse maintained a fast pace, beating a hypnotic tattoo in his ears. He supposed that she was attractive enough, and reasoned to himself that she would make a charming addition to their race. Yet, he was far too hungry to let this one go; there would be other opportunities.

By this time she was mewling softly, unable to help her reaction to his practiced, sure ministrations. Thus far he'd yet to meet a single woman who was immune to his advances. He'd had centuries to perfect the arts of seduction and sex, and he took great pleasure in using these tools to bring his prey to their knees… or backs, as the case may be.

She clutched at his coat with her small, feeble hands, her head tilted back as heady bliss seeped through her being. She was close; he could taste it on his tongue. Her fear was still there, palpable and ever present, mingling with the pleasure he wrought upon her delicate female body.

He grinned, pressing his lips against her neck and murmuring softly, "What do you want?"

Abi groaned throatily, waging an internal war with herself as his hot words leeched into her ear. She tried so very hard to scream, to cry for him to let her go; she knew that her completion meant her death. Yet she found she could not deny this man, the agonizing rapture he was forcing her to endure clouding her reasoning and making her seek the end she knew he would give her. She parting her suddenly dry lips, stammering, "D-don't… don't s-stop!"

His smile stretched, revealing those fatal, curved fangs that would warrant her death. He looked more malicious than the devil himself, poised over her like a great beast waiting to strike.

She shook her head in denial, biting her lip until it bled. In less than a heartbeat he had sucked the torn morsel between his teeth, lapping at the small amount of blood she'd drawn forth. It only succeeded in making her hotter, and a wanton moan burst from her mouth, her fingers twisting desperately against his chest as her climax drew near.

He lapped at her neck, where in moments he would sink his teeth into her pliant flesh and feed. She bucked frantically against his hand, hissing in pleasure as he quickened his strokes. He felt her stiffen, watched as her eyes glazed and her pupils dilated.

She shuddered, a small cry of completion spewing from her lips… and then came the pain. Her call of ecstasy turned into a scream for help, but the large hand that had been on her breast wrapped around her jaw, muffling the desperate shriek. The rough draw of blood from her veins was more excruciating than she could have ever imagined. His canines, embedded deep in her neck, pulled and tore, quickening the flow of her crimson life-fluid.

Through the agony she felt his fingers, still rubbing studiously, drawing out her release. It was an odd combination of thrilling euphoria and blinding pain, the tears in her eyes a mixture of bliss and fear. Then, slowly, she felt all of it ebb, dull until it was nothing but a pulsing throb. The night sky grew darker still as everything began to fade away, her arms slung limply over her murderer's shoulders. She whimpered softly, a small gust of air leaving her as the world around her slid to a stop.

He withdrew reluctantly, letting the last of her blood seep down her neck to stain her blouse. Groaning in satisfaction and licking all traces of it from his pale mouth, the dark-haired man withdrew a slender blade from his coat pocket. Drawing it swiftly along her pale neck, effectively erasing the twin puncture marks that branded her skin, he then wiped it off on a her shirt.

He eyed the now sallow face of his latest victim, smiling sweetly and kissing her lips, stealing the last bit of heat from them before carelessly depositing her in a dumpster.

Tucking the knife back into his coat, he leapt gracefully up onto the nearest catwalk. From there he scaled a ladder to the roof of the building and perched himself neatly along the edge. His eyes scanned the darkening horizon, taking in the deep red shade of the sun's fading light with a slight twinge of amusement. It had been a bloody sunset… the first of many.

Sesshomaru stared out his balcony window, a sensation of foreboding seeping into his chest as he sipped languorously at a recently warmed glass of blood. There was something off about this evening, though he couldn't quite place it. The feeling was disconcerting, and for some reason he could not make it dissipate. A part of him sensed that something was amiss, and he pondered to himself if he was just being ridiculous… or if there was reason behind his unease.

Come morning he had plans to pay a visit to the fitness center he frequented to acquire a membership card for the lovely young journalist he intended on wooing. He'd planned on resting, yet doubted that sleep would find him this night. Taisho could never rest when something was bothering him. He needed to know why he was reacting so strangely.

Downing the contents of his cup he moved swiftly to the foyer, where he pulled his coat from the rack and stepped out into the cool evening air. The city was busy, and he had no intention of dallying. So, as opposed to walking the streets, he took to the forest behind his estate, using the cover of trees to mask his presence. With unnatural speed and grace he charted the dense woods, slowing only when he sensed a human within short distance of himself.

The air was thick, though not humid, cooled by a dense fog that shrouded the ground. Mist danced about his form, swirling in little circles as he passed. When he emerged into the park he was surprised to find the person he'd been seeking seated casually on one of the many stone benches along the pathway.

Albert turned to him, smiling lopsidedly as he rose. "I was wondering how long it would take you to arrive," he greeted.

"You were expecting me?"

The tall brunette nodded, looking up at the slowly brightening moon as he elucidated, "You sensed it as well. I figured that you would want answers as to what it is."

Sesshomaru gave a playful grin. "Am I so obvious?"

Nightingale shook his head. "No. You're merely curious, and rightfully so. I, too, had many questions when I was a fledgling."

The man's expression turned wistful. "I remember that time; so long ago, it seems."

Sesshomaru regarded his friend silently, awaiting his clarification. He watched the handsome male shift to look at him once more before turning to walk down the path. He followed.

"What you are experiencing now is the activation of your sixth sense. Not unlike the beasts that roam this earth, we too have the ability to sense things beyond the limits of sight, sound, smell… It is an instinctual response within us that lets us know when something is approaching."

"We can sense changes to our surroundings?" Sesshomaru asked, wonder coloring his tone.

"Yes, but not in the same way as an animal. While beasts can often feel an oncoming change in their environment or in the atmosphere, we have a... oh, what to call it...?" Albert paused to think a moment. "I believe the best way to describe it would be a type of foresight. Not like a vision, but rather a strong feeling that suggests an upcoming occurrence that is of import."

"So," Sesshomaru began, mulling over this knew information, "what exactly is coming."

Albert shrugged. "It's difficult to say. At times we merely react to changes in our own lives… but when something can be sensed by all of us… it's usually not good. Whatever it is, it's going to effect the entire reviver community."

Nightingale stopped by one of the many fountains scattered among the park's winding walkways, gazing down at his reflection as he went on, "I'm certain it will not take long for the problem to reveal itself. All we can do is wait… and prepare ourselves for anything."

A late night jogger rounded a corner, her eyes immediately lifting to the two men who graced the path in front of her.

Albert smiled charmingly, tipping his head in greeting. "Good evening, miss."

She blushed and kept jogging, squeaking a quiet 'hello' to the pair of them before disappearing around another bend.

Her dark hair made Sesshomaru's thoughts shift to Kagome, who was probably sound asleep at that very moment. He certainly hoped that whatever was going to happen would not involve her. She was far too kind and wonderful to be mixed up in such things.

"You look worried."

Sesshomaru shook his head. "It is not something I enjoy… this feeling. To know that something is going to occur yet be unaware of what it is, or when it will happen… it disconcerts me. I've always been a man who loved control."

Nightingale smiled, a little laugh sounding in his throat. "You should know by now that control is not something that we regenerators have an abundance of. Though we have impressive willpower things are often out of our hands."

Taisho nodded, thinking to himself that he knew it all too well. Had he been in control of his own future he would be curled up in his bed, mortal as the day he was born. But that was not the case. He'd been handed a new life, one that was both invigorating and maddening at the same time. While it came with great perks, he was not certain that they were worth it.

"Go home and rest, friend," Albert called over his shoulder as he strolled noiselessly away, offering a small wave as he departed.

Sesshomaru sighed quietly, turning and heading back the way he came. He would attempt to take his comrade's advice, though he doubted he would be able to find enough peace to do so. Worry was something he had never dealt with well.

Hmmm… very interesting…

I love Albert… he makes my life easy. While he will have a more substantial role later on, at the moment I simply adore using him as a means of explaining things to you. I figure that there is no better way to enlighten you than in the same manner that Sesshomaru is learning… like you're a part of the story…

So many questions! What does Kagome's dream mean? Who was the murderer? What upcoming event could have both Sesshomaru and Albert concerned?

You'll have to wait and see!

Please let me know how you feel about the story thus far.