Raven

Chapter Two: The Girl

o0o
Inuyasha
Age Unknown

The Hunter

(One Week After The First Feed)

The trail had gone cold.

It shouldn't have come to a surprise to him, knowing how the night creatures worked, but it didn't fail to frustrate and disappoint him, and even more so with a certain detail of the case:

Lady Kagome, made a newcomer, had taken the child with her.

Why?

Newcomers craved blood more than any beast Inuyasha knew, therefore traveling with a child would make whatever journey they were currently on nearly impossible. From what he knew about these creatures, youthful blood tasted the best to them, and that put the girl—Rin—in serious danger. He feared for her, deeply and personally.

And that's what made losing the trail all the more enraging.

"Detective, why don't we stop for awhile?"

The thief's voice cut into his thoughts. Miroku hadn't left his side since the day at the estate. There had been a look in his eye when Inuyasha's theory about Lady Kagome had been shared. Inuyasha could tell a roaring hatred had come crackling to life inside the man, despite his annoyingly cheerful facade. There were times when the mask cracked ever so slightly, giving him a peek behind those violet eyes, to the wretched torment within.

In the years that the detective had known the scoundrel, Miroku was famous for always wearing a smile of easy confidence, never letting his misfortunes get the best of him. He'd always been exceedingly polite and amiable, even when under arrest or being questioned, much to the chagrin of both Inuyasha and his fellow officers. Even if he'd been bested, Miroku never let them feel like they'd won.

In addition, the man had always looked handsome and young; his short, tapered hair unkempt but shiny; well-groomed, somehow, for a homeless thief; and his signature cream-and-tan-colored suit always looked clean and pressed (again, somehow).

Now, Miroku's face had gained a heaviness underneath his eyes that just wouldn't go away, no matter how light he made his expression. The cheerful mask he'd adopted could only do so much, and it really couldn't fool Inuyasha anymore. He'd started to wonder if Miroku's entire personality was based around that lie of a mask. Miroku's hair was still untidy, but it had also lost its lustre. There was a sparkle that had once lit in the man's eyes when he would flash his easy-going grin, but now it was nearly gone, barely a flicker when Miroku would seemingly try to replicate it. His suit was now filthy from road dust and dirt, wrinkled from being soaked in sweat and then air dried. He looked miserable.

Inuyasha couldn't blame him, though.

He understood all too well what the other man was going through. He understood the desire for revenge, and the lengths he'd put himself through in order to achieve it. Miroku's best chances of getting it would be to travel with Inuyasha, naturally, as he knew how to track the creatures.

Until this moment, however.

"We can't stop now," Inuyasha said seriously, looking at his map. "We just need to rethink our strategy—"

"I agree," said Miroku, looking back at the village they'd just left. "And we could do that over a pint."

Inuyasha ignored him, "...they can fly, but I don't imagine them traveling that way with a child, not during the day. No, has to be on foot. Has to."

"You know we could ask some friendly people what they have seen in the last few days… at a tavern," the thief suggested, taking a step towards the hunter. He put his hands in his pockets, his violet eyes dully sparkling with curiosity, clearly watching to see if Inuyasha would take the bait.

The statement got through to the hunter, and Inuyasha looked at the scoundrel, "That's true. Yes, let's go." He set off towards the village, "But we need to be careful with our wording as we interview these people."

Miroku followed him, catching up in stride as he agreed, "Wouldn't want to appear mad. Doubtful we'd be able to finish our drinks if we were being chased out of town."

"That," the hunter said, "and to not start a panic. We don't even mention what happened at the Higurashi Estate, or anything about Lady Kagome missing, agreed?"

"Why not?"

"Better to see what they know beforehand, without our questions influencing their answers."

That appeared to confuse him, "You think them dishonest?"

Inuyasha rolled his eyes, "People are dishonest all the time. It's in the nature of humans." He looked over at him seriously, "The reason for our discretion is for the people who lie to make themselves look important—especially in an investigation such as this—and I would like to save myself the painstaking, unnecessary, and time-wasting process of eliminating the false leads those people often send me on." He snorted, "It's tedious, and a missing kid is too important a case to indulge that idiotic behavior."

He heard the thief laugh slightly, "I don't think I've ever heard you speak with such… disdain, Detective. Well, not towards anyone but me."

Inuyasha gave the man a sidelong look, "As I said, this is too important a case to let self-centered people lead us astray."

"Very well," Miroku said. "I'll follow your lead, then."

The hunter looked over at the thief as they walked, "You don't need to pretend with me, you know."

"Pardon?"

"You don't need to pretend with me," Inuyasha repeated. "You don't need to behave as if what happened simply… didn't." The man just stared at him. They stopped, and Inuyasha let out a gruff breath out of his nose. "It was horrifying, what happened to your woman. It isn't something someone simply buries away, especially not in a week's time."

"You think I'm trying to bury it away?"

"Aren't you?" the hunter said. "Most of the time you've been silent, except for the occasional question, and when you're not silent or questioning me, you're spouting your usual nonsense and nothing. I'm telling you: don't do that."

For the first time ever in their acquaintanceship, Miroku's eyes filled with fire, and he got close to the hunter. They were almost the same height, with Inuyasha being just a hair taller, but the thief had never looked more intimidating.

"I am not burying it," the man almost growled. "I am trying not to drown in it."

Genuinely relieved to see a reaction out of the other man, Inuyasha nodded, "That's better. Show me—"

"And I'm angry," Miroku went on, ignoring the hunter. "Furious. She and I were supposed to run away together. She was supposed to be my wife!"

"What else?" Inuyasha asked, still nodding for him.

"We kept postponing our escape," he continued, lost in his tainted memories. "Sango would tell me, 'It's not a good time. Lady Kagome needs me.' I admired her loyalty back then, but I see now: her mistress was the cause—for my beloved's hesitance and her horrible death." Miroku let out a haughty breath, "I must address that, to Lady Kagome herself. I won't rest until she has answered for it."

"She wi—"

"And YOU," Miroku snarled, pointing at Inuyasha. "I'm angry at you."

Inuyasha blinked, "At me? Why? I'm doing what I ca—"

"You haven't explained yourself to me," the man told him. "That day, you told me about night creatures and first feeds, but you never expounded on them. You never told me why or how you know these things—just that they're the truth! I have no choice but to believe you, Inuyasha. I have nowhere else to go, so I apologize if my presence and demeanor bother you so much, but I don't see any other way of coping—"

"I didn't want to tell you anything until we had a lead," Inuyasha explained with a sigh. "As I said before, a missing kid is an important case, and one that is deeply important to me—as is the slaughter that happened at the estate—but I wanted to have a solid lead, something tangible for us to work with to find Rin and Lady Kagome. I couldn't let anything distract me from the case." He looked at the disheveled man before him, his eyes softening just slightly, "I see now that it was the wrong line of thought."

Miroku eyed him suspiciously, "So… you were going to tell me more? About what you know?"

Inuyasha nodded, "Yes. And I still will. It's just a long, sad story for myself—not to mention complex."

The other man nodded just barely, "I suppose I can see that."

"And I will promise to tell you everything, that I won't hide things from you from now on—so long as you drop the act with me," the hunter said, pointing at him. "Lay it on the others, I don't care, but not me. You and I are going to be spending a lot of time together, I imagine, and that… thing you do irritates me to no end. Doesn't it exhaust you?"

At this, Miroku appeared sheepish, even a little guilty. "It… It is tiring," he admitted.

Inuyasha lifted his hands in a shrugging gesture, "Well there you go, then. Let go of the burden when you're around just me." He offered a lopsided smile, trying to get the other man to meet his eyes, "I won't let you drown. I promise you that."

"That's two promises you've made to me now, Detective," Miroku commented. "One might think you're warming to me."

The hunter chuckled, shaking his head, "Not on your life, sneak thief." He jerked his head towards the village, "C'mon. Let's go get that pint."

The man nodded, "Alright, then." They walked in silence for a few seconds before Miroku spoke again, "Thank you."

"Hm," Inuyasha murmured, "you're welcome. I know you needed that."

"How?"

The hunter kept his eyes on the horizon, "I've been through something… very similar."

He heard the thief audibly swallow, "You have?"

"Yes."

Another few seconds of silence.

"That day," Miroku started, inquisitive. "You said you'd seen something like it personally, once before."

"I did."

"And your very similar situation… did it have anything to do with that?"

Inuyasha closed his eyes, "Yes." He opened them and glanced at his companion, "I'd rather not speak of it. Not this day, but perhaps another."

"Perhaps another," Miroku agreed.

o0o

Miroku

The detective was an interesting travel companion. Though, in all honesty, Miroku had never traveled with another. He'd been on his own since he was nine, and had never seen the need to invite others along with him, or join a group. He didn't trust other people, he kept them at arm's length. That was, until Sango.

She was good. She was kind. She was a decent girl, who didn't deserve such an awful, violent death.

And she loved him, or at the very least, he loved her and she made him feel loved. It would have been enough for him. She'd been enough, the only thing he'd ever really wanted for himself. Everything else—his schemes, his thieving, his life on the run—none of it mattered to him anymore. Whatever joy he'd claimed from those actions had been totally eclipsed by Sango's warmth…

His mind went back to the detective, and Miroku watched the man talk with the bartender as the thief found a table for them in the far corner.

Inuyasha was mostly silent and serious, often muttering to himself as he looked at his map. It was the way he'd been all week. It was the case, Miroku guessed, the case was causing the detective's unrest, his dedicated focus. There was nothing wrong with that, and in fact, Miroku preferred it that way. The man looked like he knew what he was doing, and it was a large part of the reason Miroku was following him as he tried to track Lady Kagome's movements. As far-fetched as the idea of actual night creatures was to Miroku, it was Inuyasha's conviction when he spoke of the storied monsters that convinced him right away. He had never considered the detective to be mad or some kind of conspiracy theorist, so whatever remained had to be true, didn't it? That was how the saying went, after all—at least, Miroku was fairly sure that's how it went.

Still, it was frustrating that, after a week of following the detective, he still hadn't told him more than what he'd said to Miroku that day at the estate. From the way Inuyasha spoke, it sounded like there was an entire world of monsters lurking beneath the surface—a thought which terrified him beyond belief, but at the crux of that fear… was intrigue. The revelation had sent his mind spinning: were there other monsters, where do they come from, how many are out there, and how did Inuyasha know of them?

Another thing that struck him as odd was the fact they'd been away for a week, and the detective didn't seem the least bit concerned with going back to the police station, or at least calling them with updates on their progress (which, admittedly, was little to none). Miroku knew policemen, backwards and forwards. He knew who they were, where they went, and what their rules were—and as a strict rule, they were required to spend a certain number of hours at their desk each week. Inuyasha had arrested and questioned him multiple times over the years, so there was no question if the man really was a police officer, but this night creature theory of his led Miroku to believe there was more lurking beneath the surface of the police as well, or at least beneath the surface of Inuyasha.

That's what I'll ask about, Miroku thought as he stared at the detective, returning to him with two pints of the black stuff.

Detective Inuyasha had a certain likeability to him. On more than one occasion, Miroku had overheard his fellow officers regard him as tough but fair. It was an accurate assessment. The detective was gruff and blunt, and he was prone to long bouts of what looked like troubling thoughts, often sitting and stewing to himself. If he wasn't questioning his arrests or filling out paperwork, he was still, his eyes fixed on something far away in the man's own mind. In the field, the detective barked orders with high expectations and a firm hand on the reigns.

But more than that, more than the brooding grump he usually was, Inuyasha was a listener. Where other policemen berated Miroku upon his many arrivals to the station, the detective was willing to hear him out. Where other policemen let their rage be known, Inuyasha simply looked amused by Miroku's antics.

Now, as he looked at his traveling companion, Miroku thought the man looked more at ease than before on the road, carrying the glasses of beer with a light stride of his feet.

Inuyasha had a certain rugged appeal to his appearance, but the man wasn't that much older than Miroku—at least, it didn't seem that way. He had never asked. But serious indigo-colored eyes peered at the thief, from over the top of the off-white foam gradually bubbling away in his glass, and Miroku saw no signs of age around his eyelids. The detective's hair was long, black, and usually left loose around his shoulders, though there were times he'd seen the man gather it at the back of his neck in a low ponytail.

He sat before Miroku on the opposite side of the table, flaring the tails of his long black traveling coat out from the before settling in on the bench seat. The buttons were polished brass, and the trim of the entire garment's edges were gold. Inside the coat was lined with black satin, and Miroku knew from firsthand experience that Inuyasha kept all manner of accoutrements in the coat's many inner pockets. From out of the sleeves, Inuyasha's hands were clothed in gloves made of fine black leather—a signature of the detective's wardrobe.

Beneath the coat itself, the detective had on a fine shirt dyed a deep, rich burgundy with a simple black velvet vest over it. A final touch in the form of a creamy white cravat held his shirt collar together. Miroku himself felt rather self-conscious next to the man. Travelling hadn't done him any good as far as his grooming habits and general appearance. They'd stayed in cheap inns throughout the week, ones that didn't offer washing and pressing of clothing—yet somehow, Inuyasha always looked so put together. It was a bit baffling to the scoundrel.

The detective slid the pint of dark beer over to Miroku as he took a sip of his own. "So," he said after he swallowed, "what would you like to know first?"

He was taking a deep, appreciative swallow of his drink, closing his eyes and murmuring contentedly as it went down his throat. Miroku opened his eyes a moment later, setting down his glass, "I suppose I'd like to start with why you think Lady Kagome is—" he lowered his voice, "—what you think she is."

Inuyasha lifted an eyebrow, "Aside from the sheer amount of bodies, the animalistic manner in which they were killed, and that I told you I'd seen it with my own eyes before, you mean?"

Miroku nodded, "Yes. Aside from those."

He grunted, "Well, if that's not enough for you…" His indigo eyes went thoughtful as he recalled something from memory, "Night creatures crave blood—it's what makes them powerful, keeps them strong. They have to drink it, otherwise they'll go mad. That's why newcomers are so dangerous, especially during the first feed, because they've never had blood before and the first taste of it is…" The man sighed with a shake of his head, "The first taste is unlike anything that's ever touched their tongue. From what I hear. And read." He went on, "They drink, and drink, and drink until they're sated—which could be up to a hundred bodies, if they completely lose control. And they often do." Inuyasha looked at Miroku, "To my best guess—and it's a damn good guess, almost a guarantee—that's what happened at the estate."

"And you're certain it was Lady Kagome?"

"Most likely, yes," Inuyasha told him. "We found a dressing gown covered in blood inside the master bedroom—no tears, no claw marks. It was finely-made, too. Doubtful it belonged to any of the servants. There was also a washbowl of bloody water in her room—someone had rinsed blood off themselves. The wardrobe was ransacked as well, so she changed clothes. She would have had to, if she was covered in that amount of blood. Speaking of which," the detective said holding up a finger as he took another generous sip of his beer, "there were footprints in the bedroom—two sets of adult feet in the bedroom. One was smaller, clearly a woman's, and barefoot. The other was much larger, in a shoe, and these belonged to a man. Curiously, the man's bloody footprints were only found in the bedroom, nowhere else in the house or gardens, like the woman's bare feet were."

Miroku's mouth was hanging open, "Why didn't you tell me any of this before?"

"You were enraged when I told you my brief assessment of the crime scene. I saw that look in your eye," the detective said, taking another sip. "I felt you needed time to process it, and I needed to think about what my best course of action would be."

The thief was silent for a moment. Inuyasha wasn't wrong about that, but it still bothered him.

"In addition, I wasn't sure if you'd believe me, even after seeing what you saw," he offered.

Miroku nodded, "Well… alright then." He cleared his throat, sipping his beer again, "So, there was another man's footprints in her bedroom?"

"Only in her bedroom," Inuyasha confirmed again with a nod. "Which leads me to believe they belonged to her giver."

"Her giver?" he asked, confused.

"Yes. That's the term for a night creature who has made another, a giver," the detective explained. "Night creatures call their… affliction, 'the gift,' so it's an appropriate title, I find."

Miroku eyed the other man apprehensively, "And how… how are they made?"

"Most of the time, their potential newcomers are sleeping when they receive the gift. The night creature needs to bite the neck of their intended, drink a bit of their blood and then hold a mouthful of it as they combine both the intended's blood with their own blood, and then they share a kiss with the intended. After that, it only takes a few hours for the transformation to take place," Inuyasha finished, his eyes lost in a memory. He took another generous gulp of his beer, nearly finishing the pint.

A breath escaped Miroku, unaware he'd been holding it in, "My god…"

"But," the detective went on, recovering himself, "there's a catch: night creatures can only pass the gift on during nights of the full moon." Inuyasha gave the man a confident, lopsided smirk, "Night creatures are more powerful during night time, but they're at their most powerful during the full moon. And… it just so happens that two nights before you found the horrors at the Higurashi estate, there was a full moon."

There was another long pause of silence between them, and then Miroku nodded, "I guess that settles it, then. The last nail in the coffin."

"Heh, yes I suppose it is," Inuyasha agreed.

The thief looked at the other man, narrowing his eyes seriously, "Now, will you tell me how you know these things?"

The detective nodded as he finished off his pint, swallowing, "I'm part of an organization called The Order. It's very old, very secret, and very dangerous. We are a subsection of the police force, and only a handful of us can be recruited into it at a given time. People have to be vetted, to make sure they're not monsters in disguise, or press. Or both." Inuyasha chuckled to himself.

"So… night creatures aren't the only monsters?" Miroku asked, blinking. A chill ran through him.

He chuckled again, "Oh no, far from it. There's all manner of evil creatures out there—well, not all of them are evil, I should say."

"No?"

Inuyasha shook his head, "No. Part of The Order's job is to protect those monsters that prefer to live in peace, away from humans, and make sure they don't stray from that path." He went on thoughtfully, "The Order has sects all over this country, but we hope to expand our horizons to the entire world. Those of us in the organization can come and go as we please from our day jobs as policemen if there are problems with monsters afoot—which is true of this case; a newcomer is quite the problem."

"I see," Miroku said. He looked at the other man, readying himself, "What else can you tell me about night creatures?"

Inuyasha went into a calm, detailed explanation for Miroku, answering any questions the thief thought of in the moment. He learned a lot. Night creatures could daywalk, contrary to what legends and myths presented. It was theorized that night creatures themselves started this rumor as a way to convince humans—their potential meals—that they were human themselves. There was a certain amount of truth to it, however, as night creatures were more powerful at night, but they don't die in the sunlight.

Night creatures also had a second form—one that is far more "monsterlike" than their human appearance. If they haven't fed in a while, they risk losing control and becoming their wild self—all sharp teeth, long talons, lolling tongue, and fierce red eyes. Newcomers are born in this form because they haven't had blood yet. From Inuyasha's description of them, Miroku shuddered at the thought of Sango being killed by one.

It was unsurprising to learn that night creatures are immortal, and they don't age. The older a night creature is, the more powerful they are.

They can also shapeshift into an animal form of their choice, and it helps them conserve their powers during the day, quieting the call for blood.

They can fly, a fact that greatly surprised Miroku, and had him wondering how they would ever find Lady Kagome at this rate. But that's when Inuyasha offered an important counter to that point: they were travelling with a small child, and one who likely wouldn't tolerate being in the air for too long, so it would stand to reason their travelling party was proceeding on foot, untransformed.

Inuyasha also told him that night creatures coveted the blood of the young, that it was a delicacy to them, and little Rin was in great danger in the presence of a newcomer. And that was why they needed to find Lady Kagome and the girl, fast.

Inuyasha had just finished this speech when the tavern's waitress came by their table. "Hello, gentlemen!" she greeted, a beautiful blonde woman with tanned skin and big green eyes. She wore a red-brown apron about her waist, carrying a drink tray under her arm. "Shall I get you refills?"

"Please," the detective said with an amiable smile.

"Yes," Miroku agreed. He felt like he needed at least six more beers before he could wrap his mind around all this new information. There was a unique sensation of excitement, debilitating fear, and wonder surging inside his gut—it all seemed to translate into nausea, but he just swallowed and pushed the feelings aside for the moment.

"Right away!" the woman said cheerfully as she put their empty glasses on her tray.

"Before you go, miss," Inuyasha interjected, holding up a hand that hovered over her forearm. "I was wondering if you'd seen anyone new come through here in the last several days, anyone out of the ordinary."

The pretty woman considered this, shrugging after a moment, "I don't think so, sir. I can ask at the bar, if you like."

"Do that," Inuyasha said with a nod, letting her go.

Miroku chuckled softly as they watched the woman go back to the bar, "Not very subtle, Detective."

"Oh, like you're one to talk, sneak thief," Inuyasha said, rolling his eyes. "You're about as subtle as a rifle."

That actually made him laugh out loud, "Some might find that appealing."

"Doubtful," the other man said gruffly, his indigo eyes looking over the thief's form. "You're not nearly as charming when you look so disheveled."

"Is that so?" Miroku lifted an eyebrow, grinning out one side of his mouth, "You think I'm charming, Inuyasha?"

Inuyasha froze, and Miroku swore he saw the man's cheeks color slightly. "I only meant that you've been rather bold when you've been brought to the police station," he offered.

"And you find my boldness charming," said the thief, putting a hand over his heart. "Oh, how that warms me, sir. Here I thought we were mortal enemies."

"The day isn't over yet," Inuyasha mumbled, scowling at his hands. His cheeks were still stained with pink.

Miroku cleared his throat and made a point to smooth his hair slightly, watching the waitress cross the tavern to bring them their fresh drinks. "I'll show you just how charming I can be, sir, no matter my state of appearance," he muttered confidently to Inuyasha.

The waitress stopped at their table once again, setting full glasses of the dark beer before them. "I asked up front, sir," she told Inuyasha. "The miller's son is at the bar, and he said the only new people he'd seen personally was a couple trying to buy a goat from his father. They had a child with them."

Inuyasha paused, as did Miroku, and he looked at the woman, "Did he say what they looked like?"

"Not really, but he said they were finely-dressed," the waitress commented. "He thought it odd they wanted to buy a goat, looking the way they did." She pointed to the door, "He just left, but he and his father live on the edge of town, and they could probably tell you more."

"Excellent," the detective said, relief visibly blooming through him. "Thank-you very much, miss."

"Yes," Miroku said enthusiastically. "You have no idea how worried we've been, madam." He turned his gaze to Inuyasha, radiating warmth across the table, "It sounds like we might find your sister after all, darling."

The look on Inuyasha's face nearly made him break character.

"I—Wha—" the detective sputtered.

Miroku turned back towards the waitress, giving a weary sigh, "We've been on the trail for days, miss! His widowed sister ran away with a horrible man and her own daughter! She's not been in her right mind, and his family has been fraught with worry over the two of them, myself included. I couldn't bear the thought of my dear husband searching by himself, so I took it upon myself to join him, but as you can see—" Miroku gestured down at himself with another tired sigh, "—the life of the vagabond doesn't agree with me."

The waitress looked utterly crestfallen at the sight of them, "Oh, you poor things. You must be so tired."

"Yes, it is so, miss," Miroku agreed sadly.

She gave a feeble smile, looking at the two men, "How long have you two been together?"

The scoundrel sighed dramatically again, fixing his eyes on Inuyasha once more as he reached across to clasp his hand around the detective's leather-clad fingers, "My, my… it feels like ages. How long has it been, my darling?"

Inuyasha didn't move his hand, but he practically glowered at Miroku. "Entirely too long," he answered flatly.

Miroku chuckled, turning once again to the waitress, "Affection embarrasses him."

She giggled, "Oh, don't you worry." Her head tilted, regarding them silently for a moment, "Why don't you two rest here for the night? I can have your clothes washed and pressed before the morning. We'll feed you dinner and breakfast, and then you two can visit the miller in the morning."

"Oh, we couldn't possibly," Miroku said, feigning a humble expression.

"Oh, yes you could," the waitress insisted with a light chastising tone. "I won't hear another word. It's my gift to you in the hopes you reunite with your family."

"Well, aren't you a dear," the scoundrel said to her retreating back with a victorious grin. He met Inuyasha's eyes again, keeping their hands clasped as he felt the soft leather of the other man's gloves, "Is this calfskin? Marvelous!"

Inuyasha snatched his hand away with a shake of his head, "You're obscene."

Miroku chuckled into his beer, feeling a pang of grief in his heart, "I've been told."

o0o

Kagome

The goat had lifted Rin's spirits exponentially.

It relieved Kagome, watching the girl pet and speak to the animal in her broken toddler speech. Shame, guilt, and grief wrenched at her heart when she thought of Akira, the sweet mother of the child before her, and the horrible death she'd had at Kagome's own hands.

They'd found Rin in one of the servants' quarters, just off from the kitchen. During Kagome's hunger, some of the other servants (maybe including Akira herself) had apparently barricaded the poor girl in the room by herself to protect her. Rin was hungry, scared, and crying out for her mother when they'd cleared the furniture away from the door, and Kagome's appearance didn't help things. She hadn't had the foresight to wash her face or change out of her bloody nightgown before they opened the door, and the sight of Kagome (despite her trying to coo the child calm) had made the girl's screams all the louder, and she hid herself under one of the beds.

After Kagome had cleaned herself and changed her clothes, it took a bit of coaxing to get Rin to come out, but when she did, she clung to Kagome fiercely. When they were finally ready to leave, she'd covered the child's eyes as they stepped through the halls and exited the estate, shielding her from the horrors within and the courtyard outside.

Rin kept asking for her mother—when she'd be coming, when they'd go back, asking for home. Kagome didn't know how to answer her, the poor thing, so she would distract the girl with their surroundings as they walked.

They weren't headed in any real direction, keeping true to Sesshomaru's promise of "everywhere, anywhere, nowhere."

The man had protested many times over the course of the week about Rin coming along with them, but Kagome had refused. The girl was all she had left of her former life, and she was responsible for her, especially after what Kagome had done. Rin's presence complicated their travelling ability as well, a fact that Sesshomaru liked to constantly remind Kagome of, but she stood strong on her principles.

"You will crave blood before too long," Sesshomaru had told her at one point. "It would be wise to leave the girl with humans who can look after her. Blood of the young is difficult for a newcomer to resist—it is even difficult for seasoned night creatures to resist."

But again, Kagome refused. "We will find a way," she'd said, clutching the girl to her chest as she slept one night. "We will keep her safe, and we will find a way."

Thus, Sesshomaru begrudgingly began nightly hunts for food for the girl. The first time the man had changed into his other form—a large black dog—Kagome nearly screamed. He had to be almost the size of a horse, she'd thought. But aside from his size, the dog form was beautiful. Shiny fur the color of obsidian, juxtaposed with his intense golden eyes—he was gorgeous and otherworldly.

He explained that she herself would be able to transform once she decided on an animal for herself, but he told her to choose wisely, that an animal form is a permanent choice and that it would be best if she chose something practical, something that wouldn't attract too much attention during the day.

"Yes, because a large black dog is such a common sighting," Kagome had replied dryly, and Sesshomaru only glared back at her.

Another thing Sesshomaru told her was that because she was his creation, they shared a bond. He could sense her pain, her sadness, her shame, all of it. In return, Kagome could sense his pride (of her, of himself), his power, and his desire for her.

Kagome still desired him. She could not deny it, and it was useless to try. She knew Sesshomaru could sense that in her as well, but he hadn't mentioned it to her. Yet. She was grateful for that, and there were certain moments that she could sense the smallest bit of guilt in him. Tiny, but it was there.

The bond between them was permanent and strong. They would always be able to know where the other was, they would always know how the other was feeling. It was both a blessing and a curse in Kagome's eyes.

On one side, she would never be without her mysterious dream man again.

On the other, he was responsible for her killing spree.

Her new abilities were also a blessing and a curse.

On one side, she could hear, see, smell, and taste an entire new layer to the world. She could fly. She could run. She was free.

On the other… she was a murderer. She was a cannibal.

She was a monster.

And she would be a monster forever, with Sesshomaru.

"My lady," Sesshomaru said as they walked, Rin just ahead of them with the goat, "we should stop soon. For the girl."

"Yes," Kagome agreed, her eyes downcast. "We should."

They found a tree to rest under not far away, in the middle of a dewy field. The sun was setting on the horizon, casting a golden-pink light on the rolling grass. Sesshomaru found wood for a fire, and Kagome milked the goat (a task she hadn't been used to, but quickly found some manner of skill in), giving the substance to Rin as they waited for the fire to heat. Sesshomaru found a rabbit to butcher, and Kagome cooked it over the flames, sadly doubting it would be anything like the girl's mother's cooking.

Once Rin was asleep for the night, Kagome turned to Sesshomaru, "How long do I have before the blood calls to me?"

Golden eyes stared across the fire at her, and the man shook his head with a light shrug, "Difficult to say. I would have expected the blood to call on you days ago, but once again, you have proved to have incredible willpower for a newcomer." His head tilted in concern, "Have you felt anything like you had that night? Do you remember?"

Kagome tried to think, "I remember feeling… dry. My throat—it felt horribly dry. I remember drinking water, gulping as much of it down as I could, but it didn't help…"

"And then?"

"And then nothing," she said with a shake of her head. "I just remember waking up next to those koi fish."

Sesshomaru nodded slowly, thinking. "It is good you haven't felt the dryness yet," he told her finally. "That is the last stage of the call, before the madness sets in. You should not test it further, my lady. Animal blood will only sustain you for so long."

"What do you propose we do, then?" she asked, somewhat curtly. "I cannot very well leave the little one behind while we—" she lowered her voice to a whisper, for Rin's sake, "—murder another."

He blinked, "Murder? Why would we do that?"

"You said I need to feed—"

"Yes, but it isn't necessary that you drain someone completely," Sesshomaru said. "You are a newcomer, and you do require a greater amount of blood than myself, but you do not need to kill to sate the call of blood."

"I don't?" Kagome asked, feeling relief warm her chest somewhat.

"Of course not," he told her. "It would be woefully irresponsible for our kind to drain each and every one of our meals, and it would also bring attention to our existence."

She nodded, "Yes, I can understand that…"

Sesshomaru offered a smile, "In time, my lady, it is my hope that you and I can feed on the same person." The look in his eyes darkened, a lustful leer from across the fire, "Wouldn't that be fun?"

Kagome felt her face heat up and she looked away from him, changing the topic, "The point remains that we need to go somewhere. We need to have a destination in mind. I feel… exposed, out in the open like this."

"I agree," he said with another slight nod. He became silent again, thinking for a long moment, "I believe I have a place we can go. We shall rest and take off in the morning."

"Is it a place where there are… more of us?" she asked, her question laced with apprehension.

Sesshomaru shook his head, "No. The girl would not be safe there. The place I am thinking will have humans as well, like her. And it is safe. She will want for nothing."

"Good," Kagome said, swallowing and regaining her resolve.

"Rest, my lady," he insisted. "Tomorrow, we fly."

o0o

Sesshomaru

The grounds of the vast estate before them was at least three times the size of the Higurashi estate they'd left. They passed through the iron gate, announcing their presence to the guards, while a messenger frantically sprinted back to the immense house to inform his lord of his new guests.

Sesshomaru, Kagome, Rin, and the goat strolled down the long gravelly path towards the main house. There was a fountain at the very in, placed in the center of the driveway, so one could circle around it in a carriage or on horseback as they arrived or departed. Lily pads, waterlilies and other greenery decorated the water at the base of the fountain, and koi fish of various colors swam about in disorganized groups.

The house itself stood five stories high, made of pale bricks with wide windows. Kagome was looking up at it in awe, while Rin regarded it with a mild curiosity as she was held against Kagome's hip.

The front doors opened to reveal a line of servants with welcoming smiles, ushering them in with warm greetings. Sesshomaru gave a glance at Kagome. She didn't look nearly as collected as she had before her change he noted with a sense of guilt. The hem of her dress was tattered and dirty from travel, and her hair wasn't brushed or styled or clean—Kagome had attempted to put it in a kind of knot at the back of her head, but it looked sloppy and was now beginning to come loose.

She must look a picture to these people, he thought sadly. His angel deserved better.

A servant who could only be taken as the head of the house approached them from the grand stairs, wearing a black suit, white gloves, and a stoic expression.

"Welcome, guests," the servant greeted, professional and dignified. "Our lord shall receive you in his study. The handmaidens will take young Rin and… the goat—" he eyed the creature with a disgusted expression as it stood in the immaculate hall, bleating occasionally. Sesshomaru fought the urge to smirk, but managed to keep his expression neutral. "They will take them to the kitchens, and she will be fed."

"Thank-you," Kagome told him, setting Rin down. A pair of sweet-looking handmaids took her hand and the goat's lead, cheerfully strolling them over towards another end of the house.

"If you'll follow me, miss, sir," the head servant said, whipping around to lead them up the stairs. He took them through a series of twists and turns, through archways and doorways, finally stopping at a set of double doors at the very end of a hall. The servant turned slightly, opening the door for them, "He is just inside, honored guests. I shall leave you all to prepare the tea."

"Thank-you, Hoshi," a deep voice called from within. "That will be all for now."

Sesshomaru let Kagome enter first before he stepped in behind her. The study was large, but well-filled with bookshelves, tapestries, a fireplace with a sitting area, and finally an enormous desk at its centerpiece. The shining leather chair behind it was turned away from them, hiding the estate's lord from view, and it didn't turn until the study door clicked shut behind them.

When the chair whirled around to face them, Kagome gasped, "L-Lord Kouga?!"

Sesshomaru smiled down at her, "Did I not tell you this is where we were going, little fang? My apologies." He looked at the scowling man before them, his own grin broadening, "Thank-you for receiving us, Lord Kouga."

The other man stood, fuming. He wore a deep blue suit that brought out his fiery turquoise eyes and matched the even tan of his skin. His feet made no noise as they stomped across the room, stopping just inches from Sesshomaru's face, "What have you done to my beloved, you filthy night creature?"

At this, Sesshomaru only smiled, "She called to me. I had no choice but to answer her."

"I did no such thing!" Kagome protested with a defiant glare up at him.

Kouga snorted in agreement, "What you mean is her blood called to you. How dare you?" He shook his head, "Lady Kagome and her young guest may stay, but I will not allow you—"

"You will," Sesshomaru said, his voice going dark. "You owe me."

There was a tense silence between the two men, and then, "How long do you intend to stay?"

"As long as we like. As long as we need to," he said with a shrug.

Kouga let out an exasperated sigh, looking down at Kagome, "And what was her first feed like?" At that question, his angel closed her eyes in shame, and apparently that was all the answer the lord needed, for he scoffed again. "The Order won't like that. They'll be looking for you."

"The Order?" Kagome asked, looking frightened.

"They will not touch her," Sesshomaru vowed with a hiss, glaring at the thought. "I will not allow it."

"You may not get the choice," Kouga growled. "They will track her down."

Sesshomaru nodded, a slow, sinister smirk spreading across his lips.

"Yes, and that's precisely why we need someone like you… moonclaw."

o0o

Aaaaand BINGO!

So, if you can't tell by now, this story has that weird thing The Walking Dead does, where it's a show about zombies, but nobody ever says the word zombie. So yes, "night creature" is vampire, and "moonclaw" means what you think it means!

Now, for this fic, I'm going to do something I've never done before: I'm inviting my beloved readers to give me suggestions on where this story should go, as I only have a vague idea. So give me your predictions, your theories, your desires, for they may end up in the final product!

I hope you liked this chapter, and I'm sorry there's no smut yet. I'm thinking there's a way to include some in the next chapter, though, so don't worry! I'm still the DeadlyGlacier that you know and love!

Let me know what y'all think, and I hope you guys stay healthy, warm, and happy,

Glacier