VAMPYRE
Chapter Four: Regeneration
Author: Hoowee
E-mail: hoowee_darkelf@yahoo.com
Warnings: Gothic horror, Blood and Strong Language.
Disclaimer: Inuyasha belongs to Rumiko Takahashi, not me.
The original characters of Nathania and Colvin do belong to me.
No profit is being made from this fanfiction, kindly do not sue.
....~*~....
A tiny green shoot, bathing in the last rays of the evening sun, sighed a little green sigh. Soon... soon he knew he would be as big and tall as the oldest trees in the forest and he could then pick up the clouds with his highest branches and toss them up to heaven to surprise the angels.
Content with his dreams of touching the sky, he never saw the foot that stepped down on him, crushing him to a gooey pulp.
"Sheesh, How long does this forest go on for?" Nathania panted, leaning over to put hands on her knees as she stopped her trek through the forest for a quick breather.
Staring at her hands she noticed the distinct lack of any improvement to the burns the hell-fire had left on her about a week and a bit ago, when she'd left Kagome and Nasty-san back at that village.
'Not that I didn't see any tasty treats walking around in that last village I past.' She thought to herself sarcastically, pushing herself back up to stand straight and blew a wisp of regrown hair out of her eyes.
'Wonder when it'll be long enough to plait again?' She wondered idly, setting off again at a swift walking pace, studying the strange fauna around her.
Five minutes into her journey her stomach rumbled loudly, protesting it's empty state. She stopped again rubbing her angry tummy with her hands.
"Dammit. Talking to Kagome brought up all those stupid moralistic issues again. I should've just chomped down on those kids I found yesterday instead of their dumb pet. I should've... " She growled something incomprehensible to the wind and kicked a stone out of her way, sending it ricocheting through the oncoming shadows.
"Well I'm sick and tired of being weak. The next pers... no, thing, that's unfortunate enough to cross my path becomes lunch... or tea, depending on your point of view." She smiled after announcing this to the world, a nice wide smile that showed off he sharp fangs to their best and then set off again, a new determination showing in her stride.
....~*~....
Meanwhile, in another part of the forest, not so far away...
Jaken was mumbling to himself as he collected dry sticks off the ground for his lord Sesshoumarus fire that night when a rather large stone flew through the gathering shadows of dusk and connected with his head with a savage sounding 'Crack!'
"Gwak!" He cried, more in surprise then pain, as he fell over onto his side, dropping the paltry load of sticks he had managed to gather together.
"Now where'd that be comin' from?" He muttered, rubbing the rising lump appearing on the side of his head in a wonderful shade of purple and blue.
Standing up he eyed the offending rock as if it should be embarrassed about who it had just hit. The rock didn't care, here was just as nice a place as anywhere else it had been.
Being distracted by the unsympathetic rock, he didn't see the shadows melt off of a strange figure appearing silently behind him.
Nathania, not being distracted by any flying rocks, took a second to study the strange creature that had it's back to her, frowning slightly at the strangeness of it all.
'Since when did midgets travel the forests of feudal Japan?' she queried to herself, but then brushed the question aside, her stomach making the final decision. 'He doesn't even come up to my knee... but I'm so hungry! Guess I'll just have to settle for a snack.' Taking a step towards the short demon she didn't notice a strange looking stick in her path, bringing her foot down on it with enough force to produce a shriek of protesting wood. 'Wood? Does wood shriek?' She shook her head to dispel anymore idle thoughts she turned to see the midget staring up at her in shock.
"Kya! You look even more fried then I do!... Wait a minute, did I just say 'Kya'?" Nathania hit herself with the palm of her hand, she had spent wa-ay too much time in Japan.
Jaken, seeing the staff of heads quite neatly caught under the foot of this horribly burnt demon, took that exact moment to make a hasty retreat.
'No sense in gettin' me self killed when Sesshoumaru-sama will be wantin' information of this new upstart demon in the same vicinity as m'Lord.' He thought, scrambling to get into the shadows before he was noticed.
Too late, he was suddenly tackled to the ground, cracking his head against that same damn rock again.
Nathania sat up from being sprawled out across the midget, spitting out leaves and dirt.
"Plagh! Well in my humble opinion dirt tastes like dirt no matter where you are in the world. She muttered, wiping the back of her hand across her mouth. Reaching over she grabbed the dazed Jaken by one of his arms and hauled him over so that he was in front of her.
"Ye'll get nothin' from me!" Jaken squawked, struggling to free himself from Nathania's vice-like grip.
"Wanna be my lover?" Nathania asked, her face a picture of seriousness.
"Wak?!" Jaken stopped struggling, wide eyed, a sweatdrop rolling down the back of his head. No one had ever asked him THAT before.
"Just joking." Nathania chuckled, seeing the look of absolute surprise that her question had brought to her small victims face. "You're just going to be a meal, that's all." She grabbed Jaken with both hands and pulled him close to her, hugging him to her chest. Kissing him softly on the side of his wrinkled neck she opened her mouth wide, her fangs lengthening, preparing to bite through skin and muscle.
"SESSHOUMARU-SAMAAAAAA!!" Jaken yelled shrilly at the top of his voice, feeling something sharp and cold press against the vulnerable skin of his neck.
Nathania bit down hard, feeling the midget stiffen in her grasp, and then the blood flowed.
....~*~....
Sesshoumaru was sitting cross legged on the ground leaning against a tree, half dozing as the moon rose above the trees when he heard Jaken scream his name. A frown formed across his delicate features as he opened his gleaming golden eyes and he snorted in disgust at how incompetent Jaken had become.
'What has that arsehole managed to do this time?' he asked himself, folding his arm across his chest, the best he could do to actually cross his arms since his mongrel half brother had sliced his other arm off with the Tetsusaiga.
Shifting so that his weight was no longer supported by the tree's trunk he sat up straight and scanned the shadows surrounding the clearing where he had decided to spend the night in a rather bored fashion, his nose telling him far more then his eyes.
He snorted in derision again. Nothing was out there but Jaken, burnt flesh and the slightest scent of fresh blood mingled with old. The little fool had probably tripped over the staff of heads, scorching himself.
Uncaring of what evil may have befallen his fool retainer he lounged back against the tree with the casual grace of a predator, eyes closed in the semblance of sleep.
Snap!
Keeping his relaxed posture Sesshoumaru smiled softly to himself. Some mortal was out there in the dark trying to sneak up on him. The entire idea was laughable.
Letting the fools scent wash over him he picked out distinguishing smells. The idiot was a female carrying with her like a shroud the stench of old blood and burnt skin. Sesshoumaru stiffened slightly as he picked out a more familiar scent mingled in with the rest of the girls stenches.
'Jaken's blood is twined through her body.' A low growl rumbled in his chest. How dare some mortal bug slice his servant.
Another twig snapped followed by soft hiss of complaint.
Leaping across the little clearing he grabbed the noisemaker by the throat a slammed her against a tree, fingers tightening slowly to cut off her air-way.
"What where you doing skulking in the shadows over there witch?" He asked the struggling girl, tone laced with boredom as he watched her grasp at his hand with her fingers trying to pry it away from her throat.
"... Not a... witch... tha's Trin... Ack!" Nathania's eyes bugged as Sesshoumaru tightened his grasp.
"I will ask once again. What where you doing in the shadows?" Turning his head slightly he eyed her, waiting for her answer, adding more pressure to her throat. Nathania kicked out at him, desperate to distract him long enough to be able to free herself.
'Not working Nathania,' She thought, black spots dancing across her eyes, 'time to cheat.'
Sesshoumaru smiled as the girl went limp and stifled a yawn.
"Pathetic." he swung around and threw Nathania to the ground, watching her bounce once then slide to a stop.
Nathania sat up slowly as the dust settled around her, groaned slightly then started a hacking cough, one of her hands coming up to rub at her bruised throat.
'Ouch. Okay, that hurt and I'm distinctly sure that I heard something go crack when I hit the ground. Damn, that means I'm going to need more blood...' Cracking an eyelid open she peeped over to where Sesshoumaru was standing, smiling at her.
'Oh crap. Why is it that bad-guys always have to smile before they do something nasty.' She squeezed her eyes shut again and concentrated really hard.
Sesshoumaru took a step towards his prey then stopped, a feeling of muzziness settling into his head.
Nathania grinned and tried to stand up so that she could face the demon properly.
"Crap." She whispered to herself wincing in pain when she put pressure on her left leg. 'Not a good time to have problems getting mobile girl.' she thought, half hobbling, half running over to where Sesshoumaru stood, shaking his head to clear away the drowsiness. Placing a cool hand on his neck to steady herself she leaned in opening her mouth wide to take a bite... and for all her troubles was whacked across the face as Sesshoumaru regained his alertness.
Nathania stumbled back a few paces, crying out when she put all of her weight on her broken leg then felt something warm and salty running from her nose to the corner of her mouth. Licking the blood away with her tongue she looked over to where Sesshoumaru now stood glaring at her with pure hatred radiating from those gold eyes that glowed in the darkness with a feral light.
"I no longer care what you were doing trying to sneak up on me bitch. I'm just going to kill you." he growled, a low rumbling sound that vibrated through his chest.
"How come every white-haired, girly-looking guy I come across calls me that?! It's so rude!!" She muttered loudly, hoping to distract him somehow, anyhow, or she'd end up dead.
Sesshoumaru raised his hand to just in front of his face, cracking his knuckles.
Nathania shuddered at the sound, then stared in disbelief as she saw two lines twine up around the youkai's wrist until they touched his hand.
Moving faster then Nathania could have possibly thought he leapt straight at her, hand clawed out in front of him.
Maybe it was just an accident or maybe the universe thought Nathania could use a break, but just before Sesshoumaru's poison claw contacted with her head her broken leg gave out, causing her to fall to the ground in pain while Sesshoumaru's momentum carried him forward until his hand struck the tree directly behind her melting it to a pus-like ooze.
Cursing, he drew his hand back then suddenly let loose a bellow of anger as he kicked out with his leg, sending Nathania flying past the melted tree.
"You fucking bitch!!" He roared at her, feeling warm blood running down his shin.
Nathania just smiled over at him and stood up, all signs of her broken limb gone as she stood, wiping her mouth with her hand then licked the last bits of blood off her fingers.
'Something about this blood is so intoxicating.' She thought, feeling power run through her body causing her to shiver with pleasure. 'Just the same and even more so then that other little midget I feasted on. Damn me for leaving him alive. I should of drained him dry.'
Her thoughts stopped rapidly as Sesshoumaru leaped at her again with his claw outstretched. Twisting her body she managed to move out of the poison claws path but Sesshoumaru pivoted almost mid-air and slashed at her, leaving a trail of fire across her cheek as some of her skin melted away to reveal he jaw bone beneath.
"Okay, I was peeved when Nasty-san indirectly caused my ears to burn off, but you're trying to melt my face off and I am now officially PISSED!" Nathania yelled at Sesshoumaru letting loose a growl of her own, curling her lips back so that he fangs could be seen as they grew to their full length.
Sesshoumaru snarled his contempt, coming towards her once again, death in his eyes.
Nathania stood her ground, concentrating so hard that the muzziness hit Sesshoumaru like a fist, causing him to stop and grasp his head with his hand.
Taking the opportunity, Nathania covered the small amount of ground still separating them and then pressed herself against Sesshoumaru's body, uncaring as his armour bit into her scarred skin, only hearing the pounding of the youkai's blood as it pumped through his veins.
"And now for the main course." She whispered throatily, stroking Sesshoumaru's neck, feeling the warmth through her fingers.
She bit down hard and sucked greedily as the first gush of blood filled her mouth but it wasn't enough, she wanted more. So she dragged her teeth across his neck, slicing open the skin so that more blood flowed from the wound she was inflicting. Lapping at the salty liquid she looked up at Sesshoumaru's face and giggled softly as she saw his eye's glaze over, then bit down on his throat once again.
....~*~....
Meanwhile, back in present day Japan...
Mrs. Higurashi was setting the table for three. Her father, her son Sota, and herself. Sighing softly she wished she was setting a fourth place as well. She didn't completely understand why Kagome had to keep going back through the well with that strange boy Inuyasha, but she kept reminding herself that she could trust Kagome. It was hard, and getting harder to not feel afraid whenever she woke up to find Kagome's room empty, knowing that she had left to battle youkai and other creatures right out of ancient times with people she had only ever heard about from her daughter, but she tried her best to remain positive and supportive of what her daughter was doing.
'Kagome's doing what she has to do and she has all her friends from the past to help protect her so I have no reason to worry.' She thought to herself, placing down the last plate.
Thinking back she remembered every time Kagome had come home with cuts and bruises all over her body, or when she told her about some of the 'adventures' she had had and she couldn't help but shudder and think 'What if?'. What if Kagome was seriously hurt and needed proper medical attention... what if she had become lost or been kidnapped by some horrible beast... what if... what if...
Sitting down on one of the chairs she placed her trembling hands on her lap trying hard to still them and took several deep breaths to stall the tears that threatened to cascade from her eyes.
"Okaasan, are you okay?" Mrs. Higurashi looked down to see Sota kneeling by her feet cuddling their cat Buyo and looking up at her with eyes that could melt her heart.
"Yes Sota, I'm fine." She smiled tremulously and picked up her little boy and placed him on her lap, Buyo and all. "I was just wondering when a certain someone was going to come and get his dinner." She added, putting on a brave face for Sota. She could cry later, when she was alone.
"Grampa's out in the mini-shrine trying to bring Kagome back." Sota answered in all seriousness, rubbing his cheek along Buyo's fur, not thinking that perhaps his mother might have been referring to him and not her father.
"Well then we'll just have to go and get him or his dinner will get cold." She said, standing up and gently sliding Sota to the ground.
"Okay." Sota chirped happily and taking his mother's hand they both started out to the mini-shrine.
Opening the door Mrs. Higurashi blinked suddenly, seeing a group of shadows flow across the yard before her and head towards the bone-eaters well.
'What on earth?' She questioned herself, frowning.
"Come on Okaasan." She looked down to see Sota tugging gently on her arm and smiled down at him.
"I'm coming Sota." She said and shook away the fear that had settled in her heart upon seeing those shadows. 'After all the worrying I've been doing I'm not surprised that my imagination is playing tricks on me.'
Wandering across the yard the two came to the mini-shrine and stepped inside.
"Grampa! Tea's ready!" Sota shouted, perhaps thinking that the elder man's hearing had gone and he needed to shout to be heard, or perhaps he just being hyperactive as he skipped down the stairs.
Mrs. Higurashi smiled gently at her son. 'I have two such beautiful, intelligent children and Kagome is probably as safe as if she were here.' She thought, taking the first step down the stairs when suddenly the door slammed shut behind her and she was pushed head-first down the stairs into the dark.
....~*~....
"Ooh... *hic* ... tasty." Nathania giggled, dropping Sesshoumaru to the ground with a thud and swayed in time with the rest of the world.
"'Kay... I told 'gome... Ka-gome, that I'd meet her... umm... " Nathania frowned in thought, lifting her hand up to rub her chin and pursing her lips in the classic 'hard thinker' pose.
"Hey!" She suddenly cried then jumped in fright at the sound of her own voice causing her to trip over Sesshoumaru's prone body and sprawl out on the ground next to him and start giggling hysterically.
"I've got skin!" She laughed out loud, rolling over onto her back and stretching her hands up towards the night sky so that she could admire her arms and hands.
"Not a burn, not a blemish." She murmured, still grinning like mad. Sitting up suddenly she glanced over to Sesshoumaru and frowned.
"Hey Mr. Fluffy-thing. On my fine new skin, you," she illustrated who she ment by poking the youkai in the ribs, "are s'posed to compliment me." Again to illustrate the point she indicated herself by placing her hand delicately on her chest.
"Oh yeah, you can't do that can you. Stupid Nathania for forgetting that she killed you. If I ever see her again I'll slap her silly for doing such a nasty thing to you." She said seriously, shaking her finger at him in a chastising manner. Then she couldn't help herself and broke down into giggles.
"Ha ha ha! Wasn't that funny Mr. Fluffy-thing?" She asked the demon, fully expecting him to answer her. But he didn't.
"I said, 'Wasn't... that... funny?'" she repeated carefully, as if she was talking to an old man near deaf.
She frowned when he didn't answer, pushing a length of her golden hair behind her shoulder.
Getting onto her hands and knees she crawled over to Sesshoumaru until she could look at his delicate face, pale from extreme blood lose.
Breathing in deep, Nathania let loose.
"I SAID... WASN'T THAT FUNNY?"
No response.
"Damn you, you're supposed to find it funny." she whispered, her breathing becoming ragged as she tried not to cry, leaning back on her haunches, her mood swinging. Slowly, a single blood tear traced it's way down her cheek.
"Colvin and the dark man take you." she said suddenly, standing up and angrily rubbing the tear away with the palm of her hand. Straightening her shoulders she sneered down at Sesshoumaru's body, lifted her leg back then sent a sharp kick into his ribs. "Bite me, I'm going to find Kagome." She spat out at him. Kicking him in the ribs again for good measure, she then leapt to the air, flying away fast, sobbing silently.
Laying on the ground, Sesshoumaru groaned.
....~*~....
Kagome, Shippou, Miroku and Inuyasha were all sitting around a small camp fire discussing possible rumours of the Shikon shards when the half demon's sensitive ears first picked up the distant sound. Ears twitching slightly he frowned and turned to look over his shoulder in the direction that the noise was coming from.
"What is it Inuyasha?" On the other side of the fire Kagome stood up, holding Shippou in her arms.
"Something's coming... " He said, standing up and placing his hand on the hilt of the Tetsusaiga, scanning the horizon for whatever had set his senses off.
"Perhaps it could be the village head coming to apologise to us." Miroku put in, getting up from his place on the ground to join Inuyasha, hoping the half-youkai wouldn't do anything stupid if it was the village head.
"Village heads don't fly idiot." Inuyasha barked at him.
"They don't apologise either after some stupid dog demon's jusMMPH!" Kagome smiled and sweated a bit at Inuyasha who had jerked around to glare at her and Shippou, the little kitsune's mouth still covered with her hand.
Growling to himself he turned back.
"What is that sound? A death chant?" Miroku frowned, his relaxed posture disappearing as his mortal ears picked up what had first attracted Inuyasha's attention.
Kagome listened hard to try and pick out what bits of the song ment as it carried to her on the breeze.
"It's horrible." Shippou shuddered, pressing his little hands against his ears to block out the sound.
Kagome had to agree. The singers voice was always just slightly off key making the chant hard to listen to, as if something was vocally scratching their fingernails across a chalkboard.
Suddenly the chanting stopped.
The little group exchanged curious glances and Kagome stepped in closer to Inuyasha and Miroku. 'I have a very bad feeling about this.' she shivered.
In the silence the sharp sound of metal against scabbard seemed to echo oddly around them as Inuyasha pulled the Tetsusaiga out, transformed and ready to slice.
As suddenly as it had stopped the chanting started again, startlingly loud and straight above their heads.
_"The hills are alive... with the sound of elephants."_
Kagome frowned, that sounded like English, that sounded like... "Nathania!"
"Hi Kagome!! ... Um... why are you all upside down?"
Craning her neck upwards Kagome saw a very drunk Nathania dangling in mid-air, head down and eyeing them all.
"Okay, I kinda recognise Nasty-san," Inuyasha snorted and re-sheathed the Tetsusaiga. "I can see you've got Shippou, Kagome... but, hey... I haven't seen you before!" Nathania twisted around from where she was floating and moved her legs as if she was walking, (upside down) until she somehow reached Miroku. "Hi newbie! I'm Nathania. I'm a vampire. I'm... holy crap! I'm upside down!"
Miroku, who hadn't been told anything about any vampires, let alone ones called Nathania who went around floating upside down, raised an eyebrow and gave Kagome a confused look.
"Kagome-sama?"
"Oi! Don't call Kagome an elephant, it's rude!" Nathania snapped, breaking out of her shock and swatting at the poor houshi who quickly took refuge behind Kagome. Unable to connect a hit and unwilling to take a swipe at Miroku if she might get Kagome, Nathania burst into tears.
"Waah!! You're all so rude and I c-can't get d-down!!!" she wailed.
Inuyasha , deciding that he had had enough of this idiocy, stomped over to Kagome and glared at her.
"What?" Kagome asked, still keeping an eye on Nathania who had stopped wailing and was now desperately trying to stifle some giggles.
"She's you're 'friend' bitch, do something about her.
"Don't be so impolite to Kagome-sama Inuyasha." Miroku said, appearing from behind Kagome and whacking the half demon on the head with his staff.
Inuyasha felt a vein pop and growled at the priest.
Kagome on the other hand was still watching Nathania who had somehow managed to float up behind Inuyasha undetected.
"Nathania... ?" Kagome started to ask but was silently shushed by the floating girl.
Carefully, so as not to distract the arguing pair, Nathania reached out one long finger and then flicked Inuyasha's ear.
"Yipe!" Inuyasha jumped around in surprise and then growled something foul under his breath when he saw Nathania dangling behind him.
Nathania, Kagome and Shippou on the other hand thought it was absolutely hilarious and all broke out into giggles and laughter making Inuyasha's temper boil.
"Shut-up bitch!" Inuyasha snarled and took a half-hearted swipe at Nathania which the girl bobbed away from still smiling broadly. Turning around he glared malevolently at Kagome and Shippou, then at Miroku as well who tried to cover up his smirk with a cough.
Still floating upside down in the air, Nathania started to turn very green.
"Oooh... I don't feel so good... " she mumbled, putting her hands to her stomach, then passed out and since she was no longer conscious she also fell from the air, landing with a thump on the ground.
Kagome walked quickly over to where her friend had fallen and knelt down next to her, gently tugging her until she lay right side up.
"She's normal again." Kagome said out loud, studying Nathania's features.
"Normal?" Miroku asked, not quite sure that he would have referred to a flying person as 'normal'.
"Yeah, she's not a shrivelled up old corpse anymore. Wonder how many humans she had to kill to get this way?" Inuyasha said in a cold voice, not asking to get the answer for himself, but more for Kagome to hear the answer. That Nathania was a Western demon who killed to survive.
"Huh?" Miroku was thoroughly confused. Who was this Nathania and what kind of a relationship did she have with his new travelling companions?
"I wonder how come she was drunk?" was all Shippou asked, getting down from Kagome's lap so that he could look at Nathania, gently prodding her arm. Inuyasha snorted.
"Feh, I say we just take her Shikon shard and leave... " Inuyasha stopped mid-sentence in shock as he caught a familiar scent.
On the ground Kagome stared up at him, concern on her face.
"Inuyasha... ?" Miroku asked, placing his hand on the youkai's shoulder only to have it shaken off.
"She smells of Sesshoumaru." he said, swallowing hard.
"What!" Kagome looked down at Nathania with large eyes.
All Nathania did was smile in her sleep.
....~*~....
Meanwhile, elsewhere...
Somewhere in the middle of a very large forest, Sesshoumaru woke up with a very raw throat and a very real anger...
To Be Continued...
Notes from Hoowee:
Iapologise now for the funny sounding Jaken. I don't know, he's always sounded just a wee bit Irish to me in the Viz translation and I just couldn't pass it up.
Just with the Sesshoumaru thing, yes I do believe that he could survive being Nathania's tea. I mean if Inuyasha can survive Sesshoumarus hand going straight through his spine and other internal organs when he's only a half-demon then Sesshoumaru should be able to survive having his throat ripped out.
Ooh! Something very important was mentioned in passing in this chapter. (Hoowee the mysterious Darkelf.) It'll probably make more sense later but I just thought I'd point it out now.
Quote:It's not the dark that I'm afraid of, it's what I can't see that could be in the dark that I fear. - "?".