A1969: yo! I'm back!
Alice: about time. –sigh- if I wasn't a vampire, I'd be dead by now, at the rate you update.
Inuyasha: finally! Someone who finally agrees with me!
Alice: I wasn't agreeing with you—I was only joking.
Bella: okay...
Kagome: is she always like this?
Bella: you get used to it.
A1969: anyway...once again, I have to say sorry for the late update. Oh, and thanks to those who read and reviewed!
-o-Chapter Eleven-o-
-Suppressed-
-o-Kagome-o-
"What the hell is taking them so long?!" Inuyasha complained, peering out the doormat.
"Can it, dog breath—you'll wake Ness," Jacob muttered, forgetting that Inuyasha couldn't understand him. I sighed as Inuyasha turned to glare at him. It was probably several hours since Renesmee had fallen asleep once again on Jacob's lap. Jake was gently stroking her hair, his eyes fixed intently on her face.
"What did he say?" Inuyasha asked me, somewhat grudgingly.
"He told you to keep it down," I said, sighing. "Otherwise, you'll wake Renesmee."
Inuyasha scoffed then sat back down next to me. "If I wake her up, it'll be a good thing," he said, his voice lower now. "Who knows? She might be dreaming about Sesshoumaru again." He shuddered.
I was silent. I glanced at Renesmee. Really...what was she dreaming about? Sesshoumaru again? Why? What was happening to her?
"I wish they'd find Myouga, and quick," I said, sighing, as I stared into the fire.
"Did someone say my name?"
My eyes widened in shock. Inuyasha had a confounded expression on his face. Shippou blinked up at me, and Jacob tensed, looking around for the unseen voice.
"Myouga!" Inuyasha screamed, looking around the small hut. "Where the hell are you?"
"Right here, Master!" We all turned to Renesmee. True enough, Myouga was sitting amidst her bangs.
"What the hell?!" Jacob hissed, looking down at the flea. "What the heck...?"
"You were there the whole time?" Inuyasha and I asked in unison.
Myouga blinked. "Yes, I fell asleep on this girl's head—she's quite warm, you see."
Renesmee suddenly let out a small groan. Her eyes suddenly flew open. "Jake?" she asked, looking up at him.
"Ness!" Jacob said. "I'm sorry we were so noisy!"
She shook her head as she sat up, causing Myouga to fall from her head and onto her lap. "Eh?" she said, blinking down at him.
"Why, hello, Miss," Myouga greeted, a friendly smile on his face. He leapt lightly onto her nose. "I must say, you're quite ravishing! I wonder if—" But before he could continue his sentence, Inuyasha reached out and took Myouga between his fingers.
"You mean to tell me," Inuyasha began, his voice deadly, comical fury in his eyes. "That you've been hiding out in Renesmee's hair the whole damn time?! Why the hell didn't you say something?!"
"I was asleep!" Myouga defended.
Inuyasha glared and then, much to our amusement, he held Myouga over the fire.
"Master, what are you doing?! Let me go! Have mercy!" The miniscule demon started squirming in Inuyasha's grasp.
"You made us...you made me wait the whole damn time?!" Inuyasha snarled.
"Inuyasha, sit."
Myouga flew from Inuyasha's hand and into my open hand. I tried to ignore Inuyasha's stream of profanities as he plunged face first into the wooden floor.
Jacob let out a howl of laughter as he watched Inuyasha sit up. "Don't laugh," Renesmee told him, sighing. "Not that I mean to be a killjoy, but you'll only end up arguing again." Jacob promptly stopped.
Point well taken.
Anyway...
"Hey, Myouga," I said, looking down at him. "There's something we want to ask you."
"Obviously," Myouga said, still surly from his enflamed experience. He let out a sigh. "My apologies, Kagome, for my uncouth tone. Anyway, what did you want to ask me?"
"Well, it's like this," I began. "Renesmee was able to..."—urgh, how could I say it in an inoffensive manner?—"she was able to...get to Sesshoumaru."
He looked up at me, confused. "Inuyasha gets to his elder brother all the time," he pointed out. "And they both end up lashing at each other. But who can blame Lord Sesshoumaru? Master Inuyasha is as annoying as they get."
"Hey!" the hanyou protested. "Maybe I should just throw you into the fire, instead of dangling you over it!"
"He does have a point, Inuyasha," Shippou said. A second later, a loud thud echoed throughout the hut. "Ow! Kagome, Inuyasha hit me!"
"Sit!"
I ignored him as he cursed again. "Myouga, I'm sure you know what I mean," I said, sighing.
"Well, Kagome, the phrase 'got to' implies many things," he said.
I sighed. "What she means to say is that I've sucked Sesshoumaru's blood." My eyebrows shot up in surprise as I turned to Renesmee. There was a hard look in her eyes as she stared at Myouga. Her hand was encased in Jacob's, a sign of comfort to her.
Myouga nodded and then, a second later, his eyes widened in shock and disbelief. "Hold on a minute!" he said, shaking his head. "Kagome explained to me what you and your family are, but she also said that you could resist! Why on earth did you—"
"Because his blood calls out to me," Renesmee said quietly, her chocolate eyes fixed on her hand that Jacob held.
Myouga blinked. "Calls out?" Boy, for someone supposedly so smart, he's being a little dim right now.
Renesmee looked up at him, her eyes hard as ice. "His blood more than calls out to me...it practically sings for me," she explained. She sighed. "Meaning...I want him...badly." There was a pained look in her eyes as she said the words.
Okay, I know that she doesn't mean it that way, but hearing someone say that she wants Sesshoumaru badly is pretty darn disturbing. Even Inuyasha's eyebrows were twitching as Renesmee said the words.
"Wait a minute!" Myouga said, shaking his head again. "You want Lord Sesshoumaru? No one woman has ever declared herself—!"
"I don't mean it that way!" Renesmee shouted, blushing. "Sorry, maybe I used the wrong choice of words...let's just say I crave him..."
My eyebrows twitched. Both Shippou and Inuyasha looked as though they wanted to throw up. She was definitely using the wrong choice of words. Jacob was lucky that he couldn't understand Japanese!
"You...crave?" Myouga stammered, his eyes bugging out.
Renesmee blinked. "Oops, sorry! I don't mean it that way!" She let out a frustrated sigh. Her cheeks were scarlet. "Fine, let's be blunt. Myouga, you know I'm half a vampire, right? Well, sometimes, as vampires, we crave the blood of certain people..."
"I see," Myouga said, nodding. "And you said that you were able to get to Lord Sesshoumaru? Able to...drink his blood?" There was a pained look in her eyes as Renesmee nodded.
"I was wondering if you could tell me about the...side effects," Renesmee said.
Myouga sighed. "I'm sorry to say this, but even though I've feasted on the luscious blood of Master Inuyasha's father, I have never experienced any...side effects as you call them. But then again, Miss Renesmee, I'm a full-blooded demon—"
"Albeit an improper one," Inuyasha muttered.
"—so demon's blood will have no effect on me. But you...not only are you a vampire, a creature that I've never even heard of before, but you are half human...and humans cannot contain demon blood." He threw an uneasy glance at Inuyasha, who suddenly went quiet, his hard eyes fixed on the wooden floor. I knew then that, despite his aversion to the Cullens, Inuyasha could relate with Renesmee. Both of them were half human...both of them were in jeopardy of the demon blood within them. Looking at Inuyasha, I wanted to reach out and place a hand on his shoulder, but I didn't dare.
"So you really don't know?" Renesmee asked, looking defeated.
Myouga shook his head apologetically. "I'm sorry."
"What is it?" All this time, Jacob had been silent, but now, seeing the worried look on Renesmee's face, he broke his silence. "Does he know what that bastard's blood is doing...?"
Renesmee smiled at him. I was amazed at how easily her face was transfigured from worried to happy in a matter of seconds.
"Everything's fine," she reassured.
Jacob still looked uneasy as Renesmee leaned her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes.
"They're back," Inuyasha said as he stood up, sniffing.
"Eh?" Renesmee opened her eyes and pulled herself away from Jacob. "Who's back?"
But before Inuyasha could answer, the six Cullens, Miroku, Sango and Kirara burst into the hut.
"We're sorry, we couldn't find Myouga," Miroku said as he and Sango sat down.
"That's because he's been here the whole time," I said, sighing, holding out Myouga to them.
Miroku and Sango looked furious. "You mean to say you've been here the whole time?" Sango said, glaring.
"My apologies!" Myouga said hastily. An annoyed Sango was very dangerous.
"Renesmee, you're awake!" Bella said, abandoning Edward's side to sit next to her daughter. "I'm sorry if Edward and I left—we had to look for the flea."
"He was asleep in my hair," Renesmee said, sighing.
Bella turned serious. "Did you ask him if...?"
Edward was suddenly beside her. "He doesn't know," Renesmee whispered, worry in her eyes once more.
"But how are you feeling?" Edward asked.
Renesmee attempted to smile. "I'm fine," she said.
"Liar." We all turned, surprised, to see Inuyasha regarding Renesmee with raised eyebrows, his arms crossed. "Why don't you tell them about that dream you had?"
"Dream?" Edward said.
"Thanks a lot, Inuyasha," Renesmee muttered. She turned to Edward and Bella. "I had a dream..." She suddenly reached out and placed a hand on Bella's face. Bella's eyes widened in surprise, but she soon turned serious, her eyebrows furrowed as though she were concentrating on something. Edward, too, had a look of pure concentration on his face as he looked intently at Renesmee.
"What are they doing?" Sango asked, voicing out my question.
It was Alice who answered. "Renesmee is showing them her dream," she explained. "It's her gift—she can show people her thoughts, kind of the opposite of what Edward can do."
We nodded as we turned to stare back at the trio. Edward suddenly looked angry, while Bella looked worried.
"I can't believe this," Edward said, breaking free of the tableau. "You dreamt that..."
"What's going on?" Jacob asked. He looked at Renesmee. "Ness...tell me the truth."
Renesmee hesitated then reached out and placed a hand gently on his cheek. Jacob closed his eyes as Renesmee 'showed' him.
Several moments passed by before Jake finally opened his eyes. "Weird, Ness," he said at last. There was no sign of conviction on his face, but his voice seemed hard.
"I'm sorry," Renesmee whispered, looking down at her hands.
"Bah, sorry about what?" Jacob asked, carelessly throwing an arm across her shoulders. "You dream about being a demon bastard, so what? What does it matter as long as I know that you're always mine?"
-x-Renesmee-x-
I was the worst.
I couldn't think of anything else as I lay in Jacob's arms. Everyone, except for Shippou and Kirara, had gone out of the hut, why, I wasn't quite sure...
Sighing, I snuggled closer to Jacob, feeling his warmth. I opened my eyes. He was asleep, his face relaxed.
I'm so sorry Jake.
Emmet's words from earlier in the day came back, brushing across the surface of my mind...
"Watch out Jake...she finds that demon appealing...I may be a guy, but even I know when there's danger..."
Was Jacob jealous? Of Sesshoumaru? It wasn't that Jake had been showing any signs of jealousy, it was just that...after everything I've gone through in the two or so days that I'd been here...
Why am I even thinking about Jake being jealous? He has no reason to be. Just because I found Sesshoumaru appealing, doesn't mean that my...desire for him leads to emotions.
I carefully placed a finger on Jacob's forehead and giggled as he let out a loud snore. "Love you, Jake," I whispered.
"So what do we do now, Edward?"
Huh? The voice belonged to Jasper, and it came from outside the hut, where everyone was. I automatically kept very still, trying not to make even the smallest of noises.
"Should we leave?" Rosalie asked.
There was silence, during which a loud slap resounded throughout the forest. Urgh, Miroku being perverted again...
"No." I wasn't the only surprised at Edward's negation.
"Why not?" Rosalie asked. "After everything we've gone through in the last two days, we won't leave? Think about Ness...Being here isn't good for her."
"It's because of Ness that we aren't leaving yet."
Because of me...? "Ness," Edward went on. "Would you like to be part of this discussion?" He didn't need to raise his voice. Thanks to Sesshoumaru's blood, I would've known what he was saying even if he was whispering a hundred yards away. "She's awake," he explained to the others.
Sometimes it can get pretty annoying when your father knows how to read your head. I heard him chuckle lightly.
"What's so funny?" Surprisingly, it was Inuyasha who asked.
"It doesn't concern you," Edward said. Hm...he didn't sound the least bit hostile.
"Ness, are you awake?" Bella this time.
Yes, mom, I thought, knowing Edward would tell her. And yes, dad, I will be a part of this discussion...which is about what, precisely?
"We're debating on whether or not to go back to the present," Edward said.
Let me get this straight...everyone's said 'aye' to going back to Tokyo, but you're the only one who voted 'nay'?
"That's about right," he confirmed.
"What's she saying?" Kagome asked, intrigued.
"One-way communication is such a hassle," Emmett muttered. "Ness, why don't you come out?"
Can't...I might wake Jake.
"She can't because she might wake Jacob," Edward said, sighing.
"I'm surprised that dog isn't awake yet," Rosalie said.
"He isn't a dog, he's a mangy wolf," Inuyasha muttered. I automatically felt a surge of annoyance. How dare he call Jake 'mangy'?
"I forgot that you're what a dog should be," Rosalie said. "Stubborn, crude, and obstinate...but then again, not all dogs are like that, right? It's only you."
"Why you...!"
Yeesh, people, give it a rest, I thought. Can we please get back to the topic before the sun rises?
"Right." Edward's voice easily overrode the ruckus. "Yes, Ness, I don't think we should leave just yet."
Why?
"Because we don't know what that bastard's blood will do to you."
"I think it's best if we leave, Edward." Uh-oh. When Bella commands, Edward obeys.
There was a very pregnant pause. "But love, it's best if we stay here, where there are people who are knowledgeable about...demons." Wow...was he actually going to say 'no' to her?
"So far nothing has happened to Renesmee, aside from having heightened senses," Bella said. "Edward, it's just that I'm worried about her—I want to take her away from all this danger!"
"She does have a point," Alice said.
Edward was silent. And then he let out a sigh. "Kagome...do you think Sesshoumaru's blood will continue to manifest itself?" he asked.
"Eh? Um...I'm not really sure," Kagome said. "We asked Myouga but, as you know, he doesn't know the effects either."
"If we can be certain that there will be no more adverse effects, then we can leave."
"But no one knows!" Sango's voice interjected. "This case is strange, because no one in this country has ever heard of a vampire until now, much less a half-vampire...more so if that half-vampire gorged on the blood of a demon like Sesshoumaru!" I cringed at the guilt her statement provoked.
"Can you please be a little more tact?" Edward asked.
I don't mind. "Wait a minute..." Kagome again. "I think...I know who might know."
"Who?" Everyone asked.
"No!" Edward snarled, picking the answer straight from her head. "Are you insane?"
Huh? What was Kagome thinking?
"Listen!" she said. "When he saw you, he immediately knew you for what you were! He didn't even think that you guys were nukekubi! He knew that you guys are vampires! Don't you think it's possible that he might know something about this?"
Oh, hell no.
Was Kagome suggesting what I think she was suggesting?
"Yes, Ness," Edward said quietly. "She thinks we should ask Sesshoumaru."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
This was crazy.
More than crazy, it was insanely inane...
Nonetheless, it can't be helped.
The next morning found me, Jake, Edward, Bella, and Kagome and her friends in the same forest where we had seen Sesshoumaru the last time, during that fight with Naraku. Alice, Jasper, Rosalie, and Emmett decided to go on ahead to the well to wait for us...
Us, who would be looking for Sesshoumaru, my super massive black hole. It had taken Kagome a good part of the night and practically the whole morning to convince Edward that Sesshoumaru would probably know something about vampires. Edward had been relentless about looking for him, of all people. It was only after Inuyasha—fed up with Kagome's reasoning and Edward's adamant refusal—swore that he'd hack down Sesshoumaru if he tried to harm me that Edward, albeit grudgingly, had finally agreed to look for the stoic demon lord.
Jake, however, was another matter.
He was completely against us looking for Sesshoumaru.
"That demon bastard punched a hole through her gut! And you guys wanna look for him?! What the hell?!" Jacob had screamed.
Jacob, who was now walking beside me, looking both murderous and angry. "Of all the people..." he muttered. I felt a start of guilt. Jacob hated Sesshoumaru. Or maybe the more appropriate term would be loathed? Why was I so guilty? Because I wasn't doing anything to stop them from going to Sesshoumaru. The truth of it was...I could have stayed behind, with Jake, but I didn't want...no, I couldn't stay behind...
And I didn't know why...
"You are exactly my brand of heroine."
Edward had once said that to Bella...
Could the same apply to him, only on a more unromantic scale? Was I so addicted to his scent that I'd risk seeing him just to...
Before I could finish my train of thought, I felt a hand on my arm. "Edward!" I gasped, his grip being tighter than normal.
"Come with me, Ness," he said calmly, steering me towards a clump of trees.
"Edward?" Bella asked.
"Edward, what's up?" my Jake called.
"Go on, Renesmee and I will catch up." I could feel Jake and everyone else's eyes on our retreating backs. What did Edward...?
Oh, damn. He heard what I was thinking!
"You bet I did," Edward said quietly as he led me through the trees, their tops rustling quietly in the breeze. "Come on, let's run...I don't want anyone to hear what I have to say to you." Without further ado, he darted into the trees, like a graceful bullet, only he was faster.
Great, now what? I couldn't think of anything else as I ran beside him. It wasn't difficult to keep pace with him, thanks to Sesshoumaur...I shook my head at that thought. Edward didn't say anything as we ran, which made think that he was angry...
After a few minutes of aimless running, we finally came to a stop.
Edward was silent, his gaze fixed on the treetops, a faraway—almost reminiscent—look in his golden eyes. I could feel my heart thudding in my chest. My father had never chastised me before, never been mad at me...
When he turned to me, the look in his eyes was unreadable. "Renesmee Carlie Cullen," he said. Uh-oh...saying and emphasizing each syllable of my full name did not bode well. It seemed ominous.
"Yes...Edward Cullen?" I asked, trying to be funny, which was quite useless as I was just hopeless when it came to jokes.
True enough, Edward did not laugh, heck, his eyes didn't even twinkle. I inwardly sighed. Why was it that it was only Jake who guffawed at my most corny jokes?
"I heard what you were thinking," he said. "And I need to know—are you, for want of a better word, addicted to him?"
I blushed. Oh, lord...obsessed was bad, but addicted! "No..." I said, my voice trailing off.
"Renesmee, perhaps you're forgetting that you're mind is an open book for me?"
I sighed. "I am not...addicted," I said. "I mean...I don't even know him, for Jake's sake!"
"Ah," Edward said. "Jake...Renesmee, both you and I know that you want that scent...I should know. I've gone through that with your mother."
Of course. "The truth is..." I said, crumbling underneath his solicitous gaze. "I...am not sure...if I'm...addicted...not sure at all..."
"Think about Jacob...think what this does to him."
"What?"
He sighed. "Ness, Ness...Even though Jacob is your...soul mate, even though he knows that, platonic aside, you love only him...he's still jealous."
I gaped at him, pretty sure I resembled a half-vampire fish whose mouth was agape. "Jealous?" I asked. "Of...Sesshoumaru? Good grief! I knew men were obstinate but...why the heck would be jealous of someone who not only punched a hole through my gut"—Edward cringed—"but who also happens to be a complete stranger?"
He was silent. "That's just the way he's thinking," he said. "That's just the way...men are. Men are very protective of what's important to them."
Please, please, don't let him start a monologue on all the qualities of the xy chromosome. Edward smiled. "Fine, I'll spare you the next five sentences." He chuckled, but then he turned serious again. "But Renesmee...addiction isn't healthy...especially if the cause is a demon who goes by the name of 'Killing Perfection'."
I huffed. "I. Am. Not. Addicted to that effeminate demon!"
He smiled. "Good," he said. "However...I think it's best if you go back, follow our scent to the hut, then follow Jasper and Alice's scent, and catch up with them at the Bone Eater's Well."
"What?" I asked. "Dad, no! Jake...!"
"Ness," he enunciated. "Turn, go back—it's best for you."
"Dad, Sesshoumaru isn't someone I should be afraid of! Besides...I can handle it." Handle it? Was I even sure I could handle that scent without me going berserk again? But I set that doubt aside. Of course I could handle it, if I put my mind to it.
"Mind over matter," Edward said quietly, a faraway look in his eyes once more. He sighed. "No," he said. "I've gone through that with Bella, and I know how hard it can be to hold back. The only thing that stopped me from killing her"—he cringed again—"was my love for her. And I doubt that you love Sesshoumaru now, do you?"
"Of course not!" I said indignantly.
"Then nothing's stopping you from pouncing."
"My instinct for self-preservation. You didn't have to worry about your life with mom, did you?" I pointed out.
"Your instinct for self-preservation didn't stop you from giving in the last time, did it?" Edward raised an eyebrow coolly at me.
Point well taken. "Dad..."
"Go, Ness," he said, turning his back on me. "Go back. Now."
His tone left no room for argument.
"Fine," I muttered, turning my back on his. "But you'd better tell Jake where I went!"
I didn't wait for his answer as I darted into the forest.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
I ran back towards the old hut in record time. Alice's scent still hovered strongly in the air, a trail of it going north. I sighed as I followed her scent, the green of the forest whipping past me, the wind my hair. I hated running alone. When I ran, it was usually with Jake...
Would Edward tell him where I was headed? Would Jake come after me? I hoped so. I continued running through the forest, avoiding obstructions such as trees, but I didn't bother with the bushes, which, I'm sorry to say, were reduced to nothing but twigs as I ran through them.
I let out another sigh as I thought about what Edward said.
Addicted, he said. I wasn't addicted...
Addiction: compulsive need for and use of a habit-forming substance characterized by tolerance and by well-defined physiological symptoms upon withdrawal, according to Carlisle.
Hm…
Did I have a 'compulsive need' for his blood? No…?
Argh! What was I thinking? Pay attention to where you're going, Renesmee…
"Argh!"
I skidded to a halt and, before I knew what I was doing, I dived into the bushes the moment I heard the childish shriek pierce the stillness of the forest. Now what?
I hid quietly in the bushes, parting the leaves slightly with my hand. I could hear screaming—a child was screaming, chased by something that made loud thuds on the earth as it ran…
"Argh!"
My eyes widened in shock as the wind blew gently across me, bringing the child's scent with it. It was familiar…very familiar…
"Master Jaken, help me!"
Of course! It was that girl, Rin!
Wait a minute…wasn't she with…?
Before I could finish this unwanted train of thought, Rin burst through the bushes a few yards away from where I was hiding. She was out of breath, her face scratched and flushed, her hands and arms…bleeding (I tried to ignore the thirst, which I managed with success).
She stumbled on a tree root, falling face first on the ground. What was chasing…?
I didn't have to ask. A second later, a hideous…pig…burst through the bushes, brandishing what appeared to be an ax, and wearing armor.
My eyebrow twitched. A bipedal pig, wielding an axe, wearing armor, and foaming at the mouth? This Era just kept getting weirder and weirder…
"Master Jaken!" Rin shrieked as she stood up and backed away from the demon pig, her eyes wide with fear.
Oh, right! Rin!
"Hey, piggy!" I shouted, stepping through the bushes.
The pig stopped in its tracks. Both it and Rin turned to look at me. The little girl's eyes widened with recognition. "Miss Ness!" she shouted…delighted?
The pig stared at me, its red eyes narrowed. Okay…it looked fierce. It slowly turned away from Rin and made its way towards me.
Crap! A tiny part of my vampire mind reminded me that I was a half-vampire, not just a half-vampire, but a half-vampire who had just gorged on the blood of a great demon. I could take that pig on anytime. However, that was just a tiny part of my mind—the greater part of my concupiscence was preoccupied with the demon pig that was slowly making its way towards me.
I clenched my fists in a determined way. Why should I run? All my life, I'd always been protected, surrounded by my vampire family (as well as my human chief of police grandfather, Charlie), and werewolf friends. I'd never had to fend for myself, secure as I was.
But…
Did I really want to be so secure all the time, always depending on others? Sometimes, I wanted to do things for myself, but oftentimes, I found it impossible, what with my vampire family and Jake always hovering around. Not that I found them annoying, it's just that, I wanted to be a little more…independent.
I was jarred out of my thoughts by the demon pig that was growling at me. Wait, did pigs even growl? It took another step towards me, but I kept firm. I was pretty certain vampire skin was harder than that rusty old axe it was carrying, but…
It still looked scary!
C'mon Ness, be firm!
It growled at me, and I growled at it in earnest, my voice harsher than was intended. It suddenly stopped in its tracks. I saw its nostrils flare, sniffing the air, no doubt. And then, unbelievably, it turned tail and ran into the bushes.
I stood there, blinking like an idiot. What just happened?
And then, I knew. A second later, the wind blew towards me…
Then and there, I thought I would go mad. It was his scent! I slowly turned around and, sure enough, there he stood, hidden in the shadow of the trees…
"Lord Sesshoumaru!" Rin cried out, joyful.
Shoot. How ironic—Edward sends me away so I wouldn't have to run into Sesshoumaru, and lo! Speak of the demon…
I felt it then. The madness that threatened to take hold of me. The fire burned painfully in my throat, spreading throughout my body, taking control of it…
"You." Sesshoumaru stepped out of the shadows, his golden eyes narrowed menacingly at me.
The fire was spreading, burning…
I wanted to lunge, I wanted him!
NO!
If I attacked him, and he killed me, Jake would be so devastated!
Sesshoumaru took out his sword, and Rin's eyes widened as I crouched down, ready to spring, my mind completely overwhelmed by the flame. I growled at him, and he narrowed his eyes at me.
Think of Jacob! THINK OF JACOB!
Jake would suffer if I died…and I did not want him to suffer!
Jake, Jake, Jake, Jake, JAKE!
The thought spread throughout my mind and body like water, pushing the fiery thirst back to my throat. Keep calm, keep calm, keep calm. I could do this, like Edward. I could keep the thirst in check, because I wasn't a monster!
"Miss Ness?" Rin's voice.
Huh? I blinked. I was…kneeling on the ground, both hands on my head, my eyes shut tight. Eh? I didn't even notice…
But what I did notice was Sesshoumaru still staring at me, with those cold, fierce eyes. I looked up at him. I could feel the fire threatening to spread again.
No way.
I wouldn't give in!
I could do this. Slowly I stood up, the wind whipping gently passed me. My arms and legs were trembling. I took a breath, which was so wrong, because a second later, the flames raged again.
NO…
As I looked at Sesshoumaru, I fought it down, fought down the irresistible need, the overwhelming desire for this demon that threatened to take hold of me.
He was still staring at me, sword pointed at me.
It was then I realized that I was a goner, unless I did something…
"Hi!" I said brightly. Okaaay…I swallowed as the thirst threatened to take hold of me again. "You're…Sesshoumaru, aren't you?"
He didn't answer. He just stood there, glaring at me, like the demon dog that he was. "My name's…"
"Renesmee," he interjected coldly. He took another step towards me, sword pointed straight at my heart.
I could feel my heart thudding erratically in my chest. He wanted to kill me, obviously! A part of my mind warned me to bolt for it, and I was seriously considering, until Rin spoke up.
"Lord Sesshoumaru, please don't harm her," the little girl pleaded, running in front of me. "She saved me!"
Actually, I think it was Sesshoumaru and his threatening presence that saved her, but I didn't trust myself to speak.
"Rin, step aside," he ordered.
Rin hesitated. I gently nudged her aside. She shouldn't get involved in this. "Go on, do as your told," I murmured to her.
She looked up at me, then at Sesshoumaru. She stepped aside. It was just me and him now, and I knew that I had to do something, but if I ran, I thought he'd chase me then kill me. Jake, where are you?
"About what happened," I began, one foot unconsciously moving backward, ready to bolt for it. "About me…biting you…" He glared. "That was…unintentional…and I'm sorry…" Lord, what could I have looked like, I wonder?
He still glared. "So, why don't we let bygones be bygones?" I asked, trying to fake a smile. It was hard to do, what with the burning rage in my throat…What the hell was I still doing here anyway?
He took a step towards me. Gah! Bolt for it, Ness!
"Lord Sesshoumaru, Rin!"
Eh? Both Sesshoumaru and I turned towards the rustling bushes and, a second later, that little green guy, Jaken burst through the bushes, shaking his head. "Rin! Thank goodness I've found…!" He blinked, taking in the scene before him—Sesshoumaru pointing his sword at my heart. "It's you! Kill her, Lord Sesshoumaru!"
"Master Jaken!" Rin snapped. I surprised myself by giggling at her imperious tone.
They all stared at me, save for Sesshoumaru who was glaring at me. "Sorry," I muttered, flushing.
Sesshoumaru glared and then, miraculously, he slowly lowered his sword. My eyes widened as he sheathed it, and then he turned his back on me. It was then that the thirst raged. His back was turned, how stupid of him…
NO! I automatically stopped that train of thought. I could control it…
"Leave." Huh? Sesshoumaru's cold voice whipped me out of my internal struggle. I looked up at to see him walking into the trees. "The next time, I won't be so magnanimous."
Who needs your magnanimity anyway? Oh, wait…don't answer.
"Ah, Lord Sesshoumaru, wait for me!" Rin shouted as she dashed after him. She suddenly stopped and turned to me. "Miss Ness? Thanks for saving me," she said, beaming.
I smiled tentatively at her. "I didn't really save you," I said. "It was actually Sesshoumaru." Him, and that death glare of his. She continued to smile, so I went on. "Do you want me to help you with those cuts?" I asked.
She shook her head. "It's fine! Besides, I have to leave before…Lord Sesshoumaru, wait for me!" Without further ado, she turned and ran into the forest, running after him, with Jaken at her heels.
A few moments passed as I stood there, and then, I slowly smiled. I had managed it; I had managed to control myself! Sure, I had forgotten to ask him about vampires and demon blood, but hey?
I felt elation building as I, too, turned and ran to the opposite direction, towards the Bone Eater's Well, where Alice and everyone else waited.
-o-o-o-o-o-o-
A1969: yay, I'm done!
Alice: you're happy about finishing a chapter? I'd be happy if I got that Dior Couture black coat with the…
A1969: excuse her. She's just upset because Bella didn't let her buy it.
Bella: honestly…thousands of dollars on a coat?
Kagome: -speechless-
Inuyasha: what's a…daiyour?
A1969: never mind. Anyway, thanks to those who read and reviewed! Hope you guys review!