Wolfdemonofthenight- thanks! Is this soon enough?
Yumiko-You do? Good because I 'm doing this as I go...
earthgoddess- Thank you, and please keep reviewing!
Maocat-Thanks! Keep reviewing!
Disclaimer: Inuyasha is not mine. Ketsu is. 'nuff said.
Two days passed, and brought with them the sun. It was another bright day, something was getting increasingly annoying to Kagome. She knew what that meant, but she had agreed not to tell Inuyasha until the last moment. That, supposedly, was today...
"Kagome! Where are you?" came Inuyasha's voice. Kagome stood up from her spot, the same one from last night, and walked towards the Hanyou's voice.
"I'm right here, Inuyasha" she said quietly. She wanted to spend as much time with him as possible today.
"about time. You're always back earlier!" he said, leading her back to the village where Miroku, Sango and Shippou waited.
They each greeted her happily.
"Kagome, are you sure you're alright? You look like a ghost," said Miroku. He had given Kagome the hardest time concealing her secret, noticing little things. The sunblock she brought back after saying goodbye to her parents, the paleness, the affinity for night... He would have to know first, so he didn't tell Inuyasha.
Kagome smiled. "I'm fine, really." She said, trying her best to sound it. It wasn't easy, as the sickening weakness had set in. it was hard to walk.
Sango gave her a quizzical look. "are you sure, Kagome? You seem...Different" darn, she's catching on too.
"you guys need to stop worrying!! I'm fine, really! Now then, let's get going!" she said. Miroku nodded.
"we shouldn't dawdle"
They set off down a road they hadn't yet taken, as Kagome mentally said goodbye to the sun.
Twilight came. She knew she had to tell them, and now before Ketsu came to her. Somehow, though, She couldn't bring herself to imagine life without them. It was just too...hard. As they sat around the fire, Kagome looked at their sleeping faces. Time to say goodbye..., she thought.
As Kagome stood up to tell Miroku, Something ,moved in the corner of her eye. It wasn't Ketsu, he wouldn't sneak around the camp like that. It had to be someone else. She grabbed her bow, and stood carefully in the center of the space they had. An arrow was nocked, ready to go at a moment's notice.
She ran her night eyes carefully over the scene. Nothing. Might it have been an animal? No, animals don't move that fast. Finally, she saw her.
It was a girl , shorter than Ketsu and much younger. She was twelve at most, with auburn hair. the bangs were styled so that It was divided into two long, curved points like knives against her pale skin. Her eyes were a deep emerald, and she wore an outfit similar to ketsu's.
she beckoned for Kagome to come nearer. Kagome stepped warily forward, seeing that the girl was a vampire. Ketsu had told her that someone would come get her, as he prepared for the ceremony. It was apparently the girl's job to do so.
"Lord Ketsueki sent me" she said, almost inaudibly. Kagome let out a breath.
"he said that I could say good bye" she said. The girl looked at the four people in front of her.
"you don't have the time. The ceremony must happen now"
Kagome Frowned. Leave without saying goodbye?
"I am sure that you will be able to see them again tomorrow" she said quietly, Grabbing Kagome and promptly running off.
"Wait! I need to say goodbye!!" Kagome said, Feeling weaker and weaker. The girl didn't even turn her head.
"you will die unless you come now. We are almost there, anyway" She sad coldly.
But- Inuyasha.... I didn't get to say goodbye...
as soon as that thought was finished, Kagome was dragged to a halt before a grand clearing. Rocks came u[p from the surface like fingers, making a ring around a pedestal. The pedestal was stone, had carvings of bats and wolves all around it. Several more vampires were seated in coliseum-like stands. There was one seat at the very top of the stands, were the master sat. Kagome couldn't see him from here, but even at this range she could see the power emanating from him.
The girl lead her to the pedestal, Were Ketsu leaned against one of the stones. His hair was styled back into a limp horsetail. The clothes he wore now were closer to Inuyasha's. His shirt had a long V-neck, revealing just how muscular he was, and of course the main part was black. The sleeves were red, and his long pants were black with red sides.
He turned to look at her, his eyes once more bright as they were whenever she talked to him.
"are you ready?" he asked.
"I didn't get to say good bye..." she said. He frowned in response.
"I- I am sorry Kagome, you didn't get to do that. I will take you there myself as soon as the ceremony is finished. But you can't leave now- the ground here is blessed and is the only thing keeping you alive" he explained. Kagome looked down and nodded grimly.
"come! We must get started!" he said, lifting Kagome swiftly into his arms.
"don't worry. I won't let you die" he said, as he Laid her down on the pedestal. Another man, this one obviously an officer of some sort, stood at the head of the pedestal. He started to chant in Latin. Apparently giving Ketsueki instructions. He stopped, and then faced the crowd.
"This ceremony is to acknowledge a new addition to our family of the night. This girl has accepted the proposition, and tonight her life begins anew" he said. The officer stepped back, and let Ketsueki step forward. He leaned forward, right by Kagome's ear.
"The master has just given his approval. It's time now" he said, and leaned back. Now, he leaned towards he neck. She could feel a shiver go down her spine. Ketsu gently put a hand to the side of Kagome's face as his lips pressed against her neck.
For a second, that was it. Then came the sharp pain of the fangs puncturing her throat, and any warmth left in her body started to flow outwards. The pain was unbearable. Kagome started to gasp for air and wriggle around as Ketsu Stepped backwards, this time taking a dagger the officer gave him, and making a slit along his wrist. The blood that fell out fell directly into Kagome's mouth, and filled her with more pain as her physical body died. Her back arched, her arms bent backwards. She was squirming like a worm, and then she fell down hard on the pedestal once more. She opened her eyes and saw, truly saw, for the first time.
There were shades she hadn't even dreamed of, colors without names. She saw people's auras, their body heat. There was nothing she could not see. She sat up carefully, as Ketsueki helped her up. There was a roar of applause as Kagome was helped off the pedestal. She had been accepted.
And she was thirsty.
She turned to Ketsueki now, his smile filled with pride.
"you lived. Welcome to the Brood, Kagome" he said.
"I-I'm thirsty" she said quietly. Ketsu smiled.
"of course you are. Here, you shouldn't have anything too heavy on your first night." He responded, handing her a live rat.
Kagome took it , and bit into it immediately. She would have stopped herself, but the thirst was so great...
When she was done, she lifted her bloody fangs from the rodent. Ketsu held a handkerchief right by her, and she accepted it gladly.
"thank you" she said, wiping her face and sucking her fingers.
"do you still want to say goodbye, Dear Kagome?" asked Ketsueki.
"I think I can wait until tomorrow night, Ketsu... Now, I just want to drink..."
Kagome the vampire! NowKagome of the Quirinius line, she hunts for the first time next chapter. Keep reviewing, of course.
til next chapter,
Ares
