I didn't think this chapter would take so long. Problem is I watched Twilight, and it killed all my inspiration. UGH. Sorry there's no Sesshoumaru here either, but he will be in the next chapter… hopefully.

~Noitcelfer

Home

Kagome closed her eyes and let her body fall back into her bed. Home… finally. It felt as if she would never be able to return to this place… return to her life. With a groan, Kagome opened her eyes. Why didn't she feel content? Her life was no different than before, so why does it now feel like it's not quite right?

"My lady…" came a quiet voice from the door. Kagome sat up, the leather of her bodice groaning in protest. Shippou was standing at the door, wide eyed and unsure. He seemed to grow braver with his new identity, but he still held some of his old insecurities. Kagome had always thought that her new body had changed her, had turned her into a more powerful creature, but, after seeing Inuyasha, she wasn't sure anything had changed at all, like all this was just a cover for the human still inside her heart.

"Yes, Shippou?" she asked.

"I wanted to know if there are any other of us my age…" Shippou began, allowing his voice to trail off.

Kagome shook her head, "No… at least not on the level you are…"

"What do you mean?"

Kagome patted the bed next to her, and Shippou sat down before she explained. "I possess the mother blood for all vampires. The more removed you are from my blood, the less powerful you are. Since you are rather high up, you are rather powerful. There may be a few your age, but they would be at the fourth or fifth level from me."

"Can I meet them?"

Kagome hesitated, "I'm not sure that's a good idea… Once one gets to that level, one is barely the same creature…"

"What do you mean?" Kagome sighed and stood up, so much for her nap. She signaled Shippou to follow and she led them out into the forest. Kagome could hear Shippou sniffing every now and then. His heightened senses were new to him, and, not surprisingly, he was still adjusting. Kagome shook her head, how did it come to this? She felt cursed. Every creature she tries to save ends up dead, in one sense or another.

After a half hour of walking, Kagome stopped at the entrance to a series of caves. As she stepped into the darkness of the cave, she could hear rustling and murmurs as her night vision kicked in. The vampires lined the side of the cave, standing as perfect soldiers. "Bankotsu!" Kagome called into the ranks. Where he came out of line, Kagome couldn't tell, but he walked up with no rush and no sound. He bowed deep.

"My queen… what has brought you to the ranks of your loyal army? Does the lady feel a blood lust?" He smirked as he stood up. He was almost half a foot taller than Kagome, but his body was thin, almost only skin and ligaments. His skin was an ashen grey color, and his eyes dark red. After a moment, he looked behind Kagome to Shippou, and his smirk grew, causing his long fangs to slip past his lip. "I never thought you would be one for young blood, my lady, but he is rather fetching." Kagome backhanded him across the cheek hard enough to slam into the wall.

"Watch your tongue," she commanded. Kagome took a moment to observe her ranks, not a single one had moved to watch Bankotsu, much less help him. Kagome began walking down the line. Shippou was closer to her than was necessary, and the smell of fear radiated off of him. "Relax," she ordered him, "you have nothing they desire." For his benefit, Shippou relaxed. Finally, Kagome found what she was looking for. "Front and center."

The girl complied. She couldn't have been much older than Shippou, and she was shivering from head to toe. She must be newly turned. "What is your name?" Kagome asked.

"Kirara…" She whispered as she looked up. Her eyes were almost bright red, and her skin wasn't quite skin colored. Her black hair lacked the bluish tint that occupied Kagome's hair. She must have been pretty, since, even in this state, she had delicate features. Kagome nodded.

"Come to the manor tonight after sundown. Do you understand?" Kirara nodded and Kagome turned on her heels, exited where they had come. Once outside the cave, Shippou began to speak.

"So, if I hadn't been turned by you, I would look like that?" Shippou asked.

Kagome nodded, "Although, if I hadn't found you, you would have never been turned." Shippou was silent for a second.

"I don't mind."

Kagome laughed, "You say that now. Let us see if you are still saying this 200 years from now." Shippou was quiet, but Kagome could feel that he disagreed. When they arrived back at the manor, Kagome could feel something was wrong. Tension seemed to be emanating even from the wood of the house. Leaving Shippou on the edge of the woods, Kagome ran forward, bursting into the main entrance.

On the stairs, there sat Kikyou. She was looking at her nails as Kagome approached her. "What do you want?" Kikyou just smiled.

"Answers."

"What kind of answers?" Kagome didn't like this, and her body began to react. Her eyes turned gray and her fangs elongated.

"I want to know about Inuyasha."

"Why? You hate him."

"His soul is lovely, so dark and tainted."

"I will not help you steal his soul." Kikyou just smiled and disappeared. Kagome growled and jumped up the stairway to her room. Once inside, she stripped and put on a leather vest that tied up the front and a skirt that billowed around her.

"Where are you going?" Sango asked. It was brazen of her, but she did have a right to know.

"I need to warn them," Kagome growled after a moment. "One of the lower level vampires will be coming over later. Allow Shippou to spend some time with her." Kagome added before jumping out her window, taking to the trees to allow her to reach the werewolf castle the fastest. She had never been there but knew it lay somewhere between the mountains.