6: Jealousy and Anger

"Dammit!"

"Come out, come out, where ever you are, little vampire hunter." The husky voice whispered through the air, freezing Kagome. "You do not have to hide from me, I will make sure you die a painless death."

"Come and get me," Kagome whispered, knowing that he could hear. " Come and get me if you can."

"You are asking for it, little girl." The vampire's dagger came out of nowhere and Kagome moved, quickly avoiding it.

"You missed." She taunted. "Your skills are getting old."

"No matter," The vampire replied. "You cannot hide forever, little girl."

Kagome hissed silently. She hated being called little girl, and he knew it, which was why he was calling her little girl, to get her so mad that she could not concentrate on her kill.

"So, who told you to come kill me?"

"You mean, who hired me?" Kagome avoided another fast moving dagger, landing on top of one of the tree trunks.

"Your master, who is your master? You cannot be a vampire because I cannot feel the change in you, but you cannot be human."

"And why can I not be human?" Kagome threw her dagger at the figure she saw below her from the tree and moved as another dagger hit the trunk where she had been.

"Very good, you almost got me there," the vampire chuckled silently.

"I am the best," Kagome grinned despite herself. She had the best training from the strongest vampil, didn't she?

"Then why is it taking so long to kill me?"

Kagome wanted to know herself, but she opened her mouth and said instead, "Because I am merely toying with you, do you not know?" She threw the dagger, this time quicker and removing herself before the vampire could see and hid herself behind one of the trees.

"Ah, cat and mouse games. I so do love them," the male voice laughed. "I so do love the thrill of catching you."

"If you can." Kagome was pretty sure that this vampire could not see her, so she launched an attack, boosting herself quietly up in the air and came flying at him. The wind blew at her fast and the leaves brush at her cheeks. She brought her sword out of its hiding place and in front of her. Ready, she counted, one, two—she thrust the sword in front of her, getting ready to cut of the vampire's head, but before she could slice, the vampire turned around and surprised her. She hesitated, just for a second, and that moment's hesitation could have cost her, her life, for the vampire disappeared and reappeared behind her, suddenly grabbing her arm and twisting it.

"Do you think you can sneak on me like that?" the vampire smiled as Kagome heard the crack of a bone and then he kicked her right in the stomach as he twisted her around to see her face, which was covered by a mask.

Kagome still had enough strength, even though she felt like fainting from the pain of the broken wrist, or was that a broken arm? She didn't care; she didn't have time to fool around. She had to get away. She could not kill him with this kind of injury, with a cry; she threw her many daggers at him, six of them to be exact with her good arm as she hit the ground. Without looking to see how much damage she had inflicted, she turned, standing up in the process and disappeared into the woods.

"Damn you!" The vampire cried as he pulled the three out of the six daggers that she had thrown out of him. One had stabbed his shoulder while two of them had gotten his chest, one just barely missing his heart. "You can run, but you cannot hide!" He roared and flew right after her, ignoring the leave branches that slam across his face and his arms. His only intent was on following the heartbeat of the human that had just injured him.

Kagome was breathing harshly as she stopped and leaned against a tree. She did not look behind her to see if she was being chased. Her heart was pounding and she could not seem to get enough air into her system. Her arm was broken, and it was her good arm, and her face was bleeding from the scratches it had endured.

"There you are!" Kagome had time just enough to turn around before the vampire slammed into her and threw her body across the forest. Kagome tried to steady herself so that her feet would touch the tree behind her, but her mind was too weak, and she slammed into the tree instead, taking the air out of her.

"A mere human, weakling," the vampire floated towards her. "Your master is dumb for sending a mere weakling like you to kill me. You shall die for his mistake." The vampire kicked her once again in the stomach. "But first, let me see that pretty face of yours."

Kagome opened one eye to look at the vampire in front of her. "My master is more of a master than you are, animal." She whispered, her voice too weak to shout at him.

"Foolish!" The vampire stepped on her chest. "You dare talk back to me while in your state?"

Kagome tried to push his feet off her chest, but he held on.

"Struggling will only hurt you more," he smiled evilly at her. "Impressive, even in the eyes of death you are not afraid to die." He stated.

Kagome stabbed his leg and he moved back with a roar. "Goddamn!"

Kagome got up while she can as she grinned foolishly at the vampire before her. "Never underestimate your enemy." She told him.

Before Kagome could react, the dagger that Kagome had stabbed at him came whirling at her, straight towards her heart, and luckily Kagome shifted so it pierced her left shoulder instead of her chest. "You missed me." She taunted. She dropped to the ground on one knee, staring at him with one eye opened. God, she felt so weak. She knew she should have waited until Inuyasha came, but she had been too mad, too angry, and she had thought that this vampire would be easy to kill. She would pay for her mistake, she thought as her head tipped forward, her eyes struggling to stay awake. She brought her good hand in front of her to steady herself.

"You cannot even stand up," the vampire came at her. "I shall make your death as painful as I can." He came at her.

Kagome closed her eyes, the strength leaving her immediately. She did not want to die, not now when she had never got the chance to tell Inuyasha how she felt. Kagome opened her eyes just in time to see someone else emerging from the darkness and slamming into the vampire. The vampire flew back, a mile away and slammed into a tree.

"You foolish girl!" Inuyasha's eyes flared red as he turned to face her on the ground. "What the hell do you think you are doing?"

Kagome grinned up at her hero. "I am killing him for you."

"Killing him? More like he is doing me a favor." He snarled.

"I am glad to see you, too." Kagome's eyes closed as she fell to the ground.

"Ah, you are her master are you not?" The figure materialized in front of Inuyasha.

Inuyasha moved back and picked Kagome up before the figure could do anything with Kagome and stared at the vampire before him.

"Inuyasha, you are the famous Vampil I have heard so much about?" The vampire grinned. "Who is that? Your lover? You send your lover to do your dirty work?" He laughed.

Inuyasha came flying at him with Kagome in his arms. He twisted and kicked the vampire in the face and then in the chest. "I am just here to rescue her." He told the vampire coldly. "But I will be back for you, and to repay you in kind." He disappeared into thin air.

Inuyasha's heart beat heavily against his chest as he set Kagome down on the bed. He was furious with her and he also feared for her. God, she was driving him nuts! He had told her he was going to come back before they kill Arick ChanDeVaugn, one of the most wanted vampires in the world, but he should have know better. Kagome had not listened to him, she had gone off and found Arick by herself and had attempted to kill him by herself.

He moved Kagome a little and she cried out in pain. His hand moved back as if he had been electrify and stared at her. He gently touched her right shoulder, she wince but didn't cry out in pain. He pulled the dagger out of her shoulder and she gave a cry. Working quickly, he wiped the blood away from her shoulder and put his palm against it, to stop the blood, but to also heal it as well. A minute later when there were no longer any wound there, Inuyasha went to study her left shoulder.

"No!" Kagome twisted in her sleep as Inuyasha touched her arm gently.

It was broken, he thought grimly as tried to hold her still. She was going to be the death of him, he was sure, but before then, he was going to do his damnest best to teach her a lesson. Without another thought about the pain he was going to inflict on her, he grabbed her arm and twisted it back into the knot. She cried out in pain, this time louder than before and whimpered silently when he was done. He took a deep breath and sat back. Yes, he thought. She was damn going to be the death of him.

Kagome woke up feeling dirty but free of pain. She was smiling, expecting Inuyasha to wait on her, but he was gone. Twice she had woken up in the night to see Inuyasha sitting next to her, and now he was gone, the place he had been sitting had vanished, as if he was never there. Kagome frowned. She did not dream it all, she was pretty sure that she had gotten her arm broken and her shoulder stabbed along with a couple of bruises here and there, but she felt good as new. She stood up too quickly and was surprised by the sudden dizziness that came over her as well as the stars in her eyes.

"Steady," the voice came out of nowhere.

Kagome shook her head. "Inuyasha, is that you?"

"Yes," he answered. "Are you feeling better?"

Kagome didn't even think, she flung herself into his arms. "Thank you, Inuyasha."

"For what?" He asked with an amused look on his face.

She buried her face into his chest. "I am sorry I did not listen to you yesterday."

Inuyasha put his arms around her. "You better be sorry. I should really punish you for disobeying my order."

"But you will not." Kagome grinned, as she looked up at Inuyasha. "I will promise to listen to you as much as I can from now on."

"Which will not be much at all," Inuyasha muttered.

Kagome giggled. "I will try."

She looked so good and fresh that before Inuyasha could think, he had leaned down and brush his mouth across hers, surprising the hell out of him—and her.

"That is the third time." Kagome said, in awe.

Inuyasha managed not to chuckle under her surprised stare. "I hope you have enough rest for today."

"Yes," she nodded eagerly, getting out of his arm. "I am ready."

"For what?"

"For the mission!" She said. "We are going to kill ChanDeVaugn, are we not?"

"Yes, but not yet," Inuyasha admitted. He was going to kill him by himself; he was not going to take Kagome along with him. Not this time, there was a big chance that Arick might use her against him.

"Not yet!" Kagome frowned. "Why not? Do you think I am not good enough? With you there, I can kill him within three minutes."

"Do not be so boastful," he told her. "We will go in our own time. While waiting, you should visit Aninoko and her kids. You have promised them a visit." He suggested. "I will call you when I am ready."

No you are not.

Kagome sent the thought to him.

You are going to kill him by yourself.

And what if I am?

Inuyasha answered back.

Then I will go by myself as well, Kagome answered back stubbornly.

You have promised to listen to me, Inuyasha threatened.

I said I would try, Kagome answered furiously. I am going out.

Inuyasha did not bother to stop her as he watch her stomp angrily away.

Kagome went far, very far. In fact, she had gone right into the very town that Arick ChanDeVaugn himself, resided in. She didn't have to go far before she heard the ruckus. A bell was ringing, a very big bell, which was a very important event, she decided because everyone was running, big people and small people, all in one direction. She decided to join in the crowd.

She stopped before a crowd and made her way into the crowd so she could see what everyone was so excited about, and she found herself staring at a servant, or a gentleman dress as a servant. When everyone was gathered, he raised his arms to silence them.

"My good people," he said in a loud, masculine voice. "I have called this announcement because my master, the powerful and wealthy Arick ChanDeVaugn is in dire need of a wife." He paused for effect. "As you all have heard, his wife from the foreign country has caught illness and died three years ago. He is out of mourning now, and feel that he should take on a wife, however, he does not want just any wife."

Everyone was quiet now, waiting for the next speech. Kagome was amused. Arick ChanDeVaugn was in dire need of a wife? She stifled a chuckle. This was obviously a trap. Just yesterday he was going to die and today he was looking for a wife. She knew, just as she knew her first name, that this was a trap, a very good trap to lure her out. She listened anyway, knowing that it was a trap and that she was going to participate because her killer instinct could not let such a challenge go without issuing it first.

"He is setting up a ball, a party and he asks that every maiden in every town be invited to his wonderful mansion up on the hill where he will take the time to court and to fall in love. The lucky lady who steals his heart will be married as his wife in three nights, starting tonight. He knows that it is not quite a very long time to fall in love, but he is pretty sure he will find one to his…" the servant paused and stare out into the crowd as if willing someone else to appear,"…liking."

With that he got down from the stage and disappeared. Kagome disappeared along with the crowd with a grin on her face, just like all the other ladies in the crowd. She knew who he was looking for, and she was going to turn his trap back against him.

"I am coming for you, Arick," she whispered as she disappeared into the crowd.

"Coming for you, and you better be ready."

Kagome avoided conversation as she held herself apart from the group of ladies. She was waiting, patiently for the man who called himself Arick to appear. In the dark of the night, she had not seen him very well and she was looking forward to seeing how he look with the lights on and everything, she doubted he was going to look very ugly, for rarely were any vampires she had seen ugly. All the vampires she had seen and killed so far were deadly, handsome, and they had charm and grace and everything a woman could dream of. Inuyasha had told her once why she had not succumbed to one of their deadly charms, but she had refused to answer him. The answer was simply: she had fallen for no one else's charms, but Inuyasha's, so their vampire charms could not harm her.

While deep in her thought, Kagome had missed the music announcing Arick's arrival, but she saw his arrival, and she had to admit, it was pretty magnificent the way he made an introduction. He was pretty handsome himself; dress in, not the usual style, but a different style, foreign style with strange black pants and a black shirt that went along with the black pants. She had heard from Inuyasha that it was known as a tuxedo, and it was what foreign men wear to formal balls or parties.

She was thankful to not be one of the girls that were sighing over him. Yes, his emerald green eyes did leave you feeling as if you were the only one alive in the world for him, and his wonderful dark brown hair made him look almost savage and out of place would send your heart a beating, he was still no match for Inuyasha, Inuyasha with his wonderful golden eyes and long straight hair—.

"Ma'am?"

Kagome grinned as she pulled herself out of her dream. "Hello."

"Do you not think he is a handsome devil?" The lady beside her sighed.

He is the devil himself, Kagome thought. "Yes, he is quite handsome, is he not?"

She turned her head sideways to look at her. "You do not appear too excited about this."

Kagome coughed. "Oh…it is just that…my fiancé had just died three weeks before and my parents want me to come here to see if I can find true happiness."

"Oh," the lady patted her hand. "It is okay, I am sure you will like him."

Not on your life, Kagome thought.

"Look, he is coming this way!" The lady giggled as she patted her hair. "Do I look good, wonderful?"

For a second, Kagome feared that he knew who she was, which probably explains why he was coming their way, but she kept her fear at bay. He was a vampire, he could read and hear her thoughts, her heart.

"Ah, why are two beautiful young ladies standing here, alone in the dark for?" He came up and kissed both of their hands.

"We are just talking," the lady blushed.

Kagome smiled. "Yes, talking."

"You should be out there, enjoying yourself." He smiled warmly at them and had he not hit Kagome, she would have thought him harmless.

"I cannot, sir, I am afraid I am shy." The lady said. "Forgive me, I am Riniko of the Fa family."

"Tinami," It was the first name that came out of nowhere. "Tinami, sir."

"I am pleased to meet your two," he bowed. "Allow me to introduce myself—"

"No need, sir," Kagome answered in a cheerful voice. "You know why we are here and we are here because you command us and so it is obvious who you are."

The lady beside her, Riniko, gasped at her rudeness.

He grinned. "Ah, that is so."

Kagome nodded her head. "Excuse me, but I must get going."

"Where are you going?" Arick asked.

"Somewhere." Kagome bowed and slipped away.

"That girl needs to learn some manners," Riniko shook her head. "Please, sir, forgive her—" When she looked up, he was gone.

Kagome sigh as she leaned against the tree trunk. Where was Inuyasha tonight, she wondered, was he thinking about her now, is he even thinking of her at all? She grinned to herself, oh well, knowing Inuyasha, he was probably too busy to even think about her once, but then again, he did save her, more than once. She owed him that much.

"What is such a beautiful girl like you doing out here alone this late?" The voice interrupted Kagome's thoughts.

"Oh," Kagome didn't even hear him come up, was he that quiet? "Mr. ChanDeVaugn, hello again, sir."

He nodded. "Please, call me Arick."

I do not usually call my preys by their first names, Kagome thought to herself, but outside she was smiling. "Yes…Arick."

He grinned, "So…what brings you here?"

Kagome didn't return the grin. "Nothing, I was bored at home."

He pretended to be wounded. "You came here merely for the fun of it?"

Kagome shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly. "If that is what you prefer to call it."

"Are you not," he moved forward so he stood in front of her, "interested in my…manly charms?"

"No," Kagome moved back so her back stood stiffly against the tree trunk. "I am not interested."

"Very interesting," he murmured to himself. "And why is that?"

"Because I already am in love with someone else," Kagome blurted out, which was true, she was in love with someone else. "But he died." Which was not true, he was very much alive and very much the man she love.

"Ah," he shook his head. "I am terribly sorry for your loss."

"So am I," Kagome answered truthfully. "So am I."

"So, Tinami, may I ask your last name?"

Kagome shook her head. "I cannot tell you, sir."

"And why is that?"

"Because it is a secret." She grinned. "What are you doing out here? Do not tell me you have already a girl in mind and is going to silently court her."

"No, I have no girl in mind yet," he returned the grin. "But I think I might have someone in mind."

Kagome's heart beat. He did not mean her did he? God, she hoped not, and she hoped so, for this would fit very well into her plans, but where and how would Inuyasha fit into her plans? She frowned at that thought.

"Why is there now a frown on your face when awhile ago there was a smile?" He stepped closer to her.

Kagome coughed and moved to the side so she would not be trapped. "I was just thinking, very badly of someone."

"I hope it was not me."

She shook her head. "No, not you, someone I use to know, a very long time ago."

Arick leaned against the tree trunk while Kagome stood off to one side. "So tell me about your family."

She shook her head. "There is not much to tell, just that my father and mother died when I was young and I live with my Aunt. I fell in love with this farmer, and we were to be wed, but he died while coming home one night, being killed by…some thugs, and I have been living with my Aunt in mourning ever since."

"T'is a sad story," He told her.

"And what about you?" Her eyes gleamed mischievously, "do you have any line of broken hearts along the way? Any family left behind?"

"Nah, there is not much girl, and my wife died just years ago, so I find myself wanting to marry again. My family died a very, very long time ago, so I am alone in the world."

Kagome nodded. "I know how that feels," she answered truthfully. And Inuyasha's parents also must have died a very, very, long time ago.

Arick stared at the girl in front of him. Yes, he was sure this was the one he wanted to be his wife. She was different, more pure than the rest of the girls in the main room of his. Their bloods had already been tainted by a man's, but this one, this one was still innocent, and very much what he was looking for in a girl. He had not thought to find someone like her here, in truth, he had only thought of this to bring out the killer lady and Inuyasha, who had mysteriously disappeared. This was all just an act, and he was hoping on getting himself some very good ladies for the night. This one he would have to guard well, he thought. He would choose this one when the time comes, yes, and she would be his. It would be an added bonus if he could find who the real lady-killer was though.

"Would you like me to escort you inside?" He asked. "It is getting cold."

"No," She shook her head. "You go on ahead, I want to stay out here for a little while longer."

Arick wanted to stay and talk with her a little longer, but he had to go inside. After all, he was the host and he still had a houseful of sweet young girls inside waiting just to be bitten. "I wish you well until tomorrow." He bowed.

Kagome nodded and disappeared.

Arick sorely wanted to follow her, but he turned the opposite ways instead. Just in case she decides to run away, he will have to get one of his slaves to watch over her. He grinned. He could hardly wait.

Kagome's plan was working exceptionally well for someone of her age. Though she had not seen Inuyasha at all within the two nights she had been staying in Arick's mansion, she was pretty sure he was going to show up sooner or later. In the meantime, Kagome found excitement by exploring the mansion and the hidden areas surrounding the mansion. She was sure to be hidden among the shadows all the time and was alert for any other vampire scents. What she found out amazed her, for there were no vampire slaves. Either Arick kept no slaves for himself, or he kept them locked up so that they could not amuse themselves with these wonderful ladies here.

She strolled along, watching the sunset. It was the third night, the final night that Arick was going to make a decision. He had been hinting at her who he was going to pick as his wife, and she was nervous because she had an idea who it was. What made her nervous was the fact that did he know that she was the assassin, or was he really interested and intrigued by her? She wanted to find out so that if she was going to walk into a trap she would be prepare, but his mind was kept close to her at all times and even if she did breach that wall of his, he would know anyway, whether or not someone was reading his mind. She had felt more than once when he was trying to read her mind, but pretended to be oblivious to all because she was a human, only a dumb foolish human who knew nothing about vampires and Vampils and all that stuff.

Inuyasha angrily watched as Kagome flirted with Arick for two whole damn nights. He watched as she strolled carelessly back and forth like the lady she should have been, would have been if he had not taken her under his wing and train her. He watched with a deep burning inside him because he admit, he missed her by his side. He missed her humorless attempt to get him to laugh, to amuse him. He missed her laughter and everything about her. And while he missed her, he was damn mad at her as well. He should have known that Kagome might do something as stupid as this, to walk into a trap that was so obvious to him. But he had faith in her. He had taught his pupil well and he knew as he knew his own blood and kind, that Kagome had something up her sleeve, he did not know what, but he knew, and he feared for her life. He could have made contact with her, but he dared not. He had not because Arick was a strong vampire. He had studied the black arts even longer than Inuyasha had, and he was a vicious killer. He was almost as old as Inuyasha himself was. If he made contact, there was a chance Arick might know, and he might attack. He didn't want anything happening to her because he was going to kill her himself.

When she had not returned home, he thought she had gone to the Prince and Princess, but when he made contact, she had never appeared there. Instead, he had found out that Arick had wanted a new wife for he was over mourning his first wife, and Kagome was one of those ladies in there, just waiting to be eaten by the wolf. He knew for sure, that Kagome was going to go down no matter what because in the face of a two-century year old vampire, she was not strong enough, but she was not going to go down without a fight.

He murmured angrily as he turned and disappeared into the forest.

"Inuyashands like your woman there has found herself in deep water."

Inuyasha didn't answer Mamoru as he strolled past him. "I am going tonight. Tonight is when he shall have his pick of his wife and his scapegoat and sacrificed it to the Goddess of Desire. The moon is almost aligned with the three Dark Stars."

"I am impressed that you even know these arts." Mamoru grinned at Inuyasha.

"I have not studied both the good and evil arts for naught," Inuyasha told his friend coldly. "It is obvious that his foreign wife was killed to appease the god not but three years ago. Tonight is the real ritual, the opening ceremony. After midnight is where he will kill the new scapegoat and then marry the wife he has chosen."

"Why do I have a feeling I know who that wife or rather, scapegoat, will be?" Mamoru questioned.

Inuyasha did not answer. "We go tonight."

"Very well, I will try to help as many of the ladies as I can."

"He will not harm the ones he did not pick for it will bring suspicion," Inuyasha told him. "Nevertheless, you are to watch your back and kill the undead."

"And here I thought I was the prince," Mamoru sigh. "I am just a good for nothing prince, letting my friend issuing all the commands."

Inuyasha gave a faint smile. "You, my friend, are just a prince in name. I, on the other hand, am the one true prince, the one that your uncle has left his powers to."

"I am dreadfully jealous," he mocked Inuyasha.

"I believe you are."

"No," Mamoru replied seriously. "I am glad that I do not hold the power."

Inuyasha didn't answer.

"You do not have to be alone in this, cousin. A bride has finally come to you at last, you do not have to spend your years alone."

"That I cannot do." Inuyasha told him. "Come, let us find shelter for your wife and kids."

Mamoru watched as his bastard cousin disappeared deeper into the forests. He shook his head, and then followed behind.

Kagome nervously finger the red veil in front of her. Just as she had known, she was the chosen bride, the one forever to be linked with Arick. She had played her part well enough, pretend to not be interested in him and then be interested in him, pretend to evade some of the question, to act mysterious. Vampires most often, were and is always in intrigued rather than in love, and she had played her part of getting Arick madly and deeply intrigued with her enough to want to marry her. All she needed now was a chance to get at Arick, and then she can finally prove to Inuyasha that she did not need his help at least, all of the time.

"Are you ready?"

Kagome jumped.

"I am sorry, mi'lady, did I frighten you?" The servant bowed.

"No," she managed a small laugh. "You just surprised me, I am just nervous."

The servant smiled warmly at her. "It is nothing. The master is a kind master once you get to know him. He is wonderfully rich and very powerful as well."

Ohhh, I am impressed, Kagome thought. "Yes," she smiled warmly. "But that is not why I am marrying your master."

"We believe you will cherish our master well," the servant bowed and stepped out. "Please, whenever you are ready."

Kagome smiled and turned back to look at herself in the mirror. Her face was all covered with make-up, which made her look quite ill, but pale and beautiful. Her lips, which she had never thought were this big, were painted red, her bottom lip fuller than the top. Her eyelashes were long and curly with gave an exotic look about her. She had been changed, and she felt wonderful, magically wonderful, like a true vampire bride.

"Mi'lady?"

"Not yet," she answered, and then she turned to look at the human size mirror next to her and gaze at herself in the mirror. The lady looking back did not look like her, yet it was her. She was wearing a red dress that covered all of her body except her shoulders, which were left bare. The dress curved at her breasts and flounced everywhere, not revealing once inch of her curve, but enough to make a man wonder. The long red scarf, she wrapped around her shoulders, covering her neck and most of her bare shoulders. She wrapped the ends around each of her arm and left them dangling. Then she settled the small, but beautifully made crown of ruby around her head after putting a circular ring on her head that had a veil to cover her face. In the middle of her chest was a singular red rose that was frozen, frozen in time, and it shone brightly as she turned around and around to look at herself. She was amazed at how much a dress and make-up could do to a person.

Kagome stepped out of the room, grinning. Inuyasha was going to be here tonight, she knew it, could feel it, and with her looking like she was, he was going to fall madly and deeply in love with her, that was for sure.

Arick was waiting for her.

Atop the big mansion was a flat rooftop, which was where the ceremony will take place. She had already learned from the servant that the other ladies had already been sent home, disappointed. She didn't mind though, because they would not like being married to him anyway. Sure he had acted charmingly when around her and the other ladies, but Kagome knew the real him, and she had a feeling the real Arick ChanDeVaugn was going to be revealed tonight.

She climbed slowly because dressed as she was, she couldn't really move really fast. There were quite a few stairs to come, but she really didn't mind. She was holding a candle, and she was the only one climbing the stairs. It was dark, and she was feeling excited and nervous at the same time. Her mind was whirling, not focusing on one thing long enough; it was swarming all over her mind. She took a deep breath, and steadied herself. She could not fail; she had made it this far!

She reached the top of the stairs and saw Arick waiting for her. He was sitting on a chair, a really big chair, but he seemed to loom over the chair instead of the chair looming over him. His clothes were no longer the foreign clothes and instead he was wearing a big black cloak made out of silk. It shone in the moonlight. His dark hair gleamed in the moonlight as well, white streaks across his hair. They were longer now; reaching his shoulders, and fell across his face, long and straight, narrowed, but silky to the touch. His golden eye gleamed in the dark at her, with hunger, with passion, she did not know, but if she had not been so charmed with Inuyasha, she would have forgotten herself when those eyes gaze over her hungrily. For her blood? For her body? She shuddered. Her body chilled, this one even had the eyes of the ancients.

"At last, my wife has arrived." He announced in his husky voice. "Welcome at last, to my home. I have never truly welcomed you."

Kagome didn't say anything; she gave the impression of being afraid, nervous.

"Do not worry," he touched his chin with his thumb and forefinger, his arm leaning against one of the arms on the chair. "Come here."

Kagome obeyed, walking slowly until she was standing inches apart from him.

"Not one word?" His eyes gleamed. "Not one word for your soon-to-be-husband?"

"No," Kagome said loud and clear. "I did not wish to be picked."

"Ah, but you have been picked." He stood up and the chair disappeared. He leaned over her and his lips brush her ears under the red veil. "Be thankful you were not chosen as the scapegoat."

Kagome stiffened even more, but didn't say anything.

He laughed softly. "Do you want to know who I picked for my scapegoat?"

"What do you mean, scapegoat?" Kagome asked. "I thought you were allowed only one wife."

"Ah, I am, and I choose you," his forefinger slid across her cheek under the veil that hid her face. "Beautiful, very beautiful."

Kagome remained calm. She was not really going to marry him; she was going to kill him.

He turned away from her and someone else appeared on the scene. Someone that was tied to two very long poles, someone dressed in purple, and that someone was a lady. She didn't have her face covered and she wasn't covered in much. A purple cloth was wrapped around her body, and underneath, she was naked. She was standing like a statue, unmoving, but she was blinking. Both her wrists were tied with chains, each to a pole.

"Riniko?" Kagome gasped.

"Ah, yes, that is her name," Arick chuckled as he went over to her. "She was a little of a dessert, you could say."

"What are you saying?" Kagome backed away. This was cruel, even though Riniko probably deserved it, but she was a human, and humans were susceptible to charms and being hypnotized. Riniko was in a trance, no longer knowing anything around her, no longer seeing, just sensing her surroundings and craving the bite of her master.

"Do not worry, Tinami," Arick chuckled. "I do not want you to die. You are to be my wife instead."

"And what is she to become?"

"Why, my scapegoat. Do you not know that every three years, once the moon is aligned with the Dark Stars, the Goddess of Desire desires a sacrifice?"

Kagome's anger flared, "I do not know what you mean by a sacrifice, for I know not of a God or Goddess of Desire, but I shall have your head and your heart!" She flew at him, surprising him. The crown and the veil were thrown away. This time, she did not hesitate, and she plunge her sword into his chest, right where his heart was. He fell back, eyes wide, and hit the ground, unmoving. She got him, right in the heart. Grinning, she turned to look at Riniko, who should be coming out of her trance. It was easier than she had thought. She had thought him harder to kill, but—she shook Riniko, who was still not out of her trance yet.

"Riniko!" She yelled. "What are you doing? Can you not hear me? Out! Out of the trance you silly girl!"

Riniko did not move an inch, and Kagome frowned. If Riniko was not out of her trance, that meant that—

"No!" She turned around and saw that the body had disappeared. Her sword was lying there instead.

"Yes!" Riniko's voice came out of nowhere and before Kagome could react, the chains that were around Riniko's wrists disappeared and they were now chained on Kagome.

"Perfect," a voice came out of nowhere. "This is getting more interesting by the minute, do you not agree, Riniko?" Arick appeared out of nowhere, the same handsome face, the same clothes, this time there were no sword plunged into his chest.

"Yes, she is so stupid." Riniko giggled.

"What the hell are you doing?" Kagome snarled at Riniko, attempting to rid herself of the chains around her wrist, but they only tightened. "Siding with that—that demon!"

"He is no demon!" Riniko hugged his waist. "He is just a very strong and powerful man. You tried to kill him, and for that I will never forgive."

"What are you saying?" Kagome's eyes widened.

"That she is madly in love with me." Arick's rich voice spoke up. "Are you not, darling."

Riniko giggled again and snuggled more closely to Arick's body.

Kagome saw the small holes at Riniko's neck. "You monster, you bit her!"

"Correct," his strong fingers wrapped around Riniko's throat, "but she is of no use to me now. She has already been sacrificed. The blood already sipped. Do not worry, dear Kagome, you shall live to be my wife."

"What are you saying?" Riniko's shrill scream pierced the air. "You said I would be your wife, you promised! You told me—"

Kagome's face turned away as Arick's hands slid to her lips to silence her, and then when she was quiet and staring at him, his hands crept down to her slender neck, grasp it and twisted it.

"The scapegoat has been sacrificed." He said, and then he threw her lifeless body across the roof. It landed two feet away from him, but he paid no attention to where it landed. Instead, he turned to face her. "And now, I am ready for my wife."

"Get away from me," Kagome pulled the chains. "Let me go."

"I should have known that you were Kagome," Arick shook his head sadly. "You fell for my trap just like a fly in a spider web." He sighed. "This proves my skills are lacking. Even so, you came."

Kagome didn't say anything.

"You should feel honored," Arick laughed, "that I do not have to kill you now, instead, you will become my wife."

Kagome glared at him. "I refuse to be your pitiful wife. Kill me instead. I would rather die then become a vampire, any vampire's wife!"

"Tsk, tsk," the vampire pointed his finger at her. "That is a very bad thing to say to your husband."

Kagome's struggle grew fierce. "Let me go and fight me like last time instead."

"That I cannot do," he shook his head sadly. "The time is almost upon us." He strolled past her and then behind her. "I am sorry, but I will have to bite you. This will hurt, but only for a few seconds, after that you will know pleasure beyond anything you have ever felt before." He said against her ear as he closed his arms around her waist and brought his hands up to hold her still.

"I cannot, for some reason, hypnotize you, do you know that?" He kissed her neck, the part where he was going to bite her. "For some reason, I cannot breach that wall of yours. But it does not matter now, after tonight, you are mine to command and to do as I please."

"I will not become a play thing for you," Kagome said savagely against him. "You have my mind and my body, but you can never have my heart."

Arick's fang lengthened he chuckled. "Very soon, I will have your heart no matter what." He brought his fang down, almost touching her skin, but a sudden change in the air stopped him.

"A thunderstorm?" He stood up, willing his fang to shrink, his eyes seriously searching the surroundings.

Kagome gave a sigh of relief, whatever it was; she was going to kiss it because it just saved her from getting bite.

"Ah, a thunderstorm," Arick's humor came back, "Ah yes, a thunderstorm. Welcome, Inuyasha. You have finally decided to join us."

Kagome's heart leaped. Inuyasha? He was here?

"Let the girl go." Inuyasha's dark voice came out of nowhere. "This is our battle, she has nothing to do with it."

"Oh yes she does," Arick's voice was no longer charming; it had turned cold. "She has everything to do with it."

"If you seek revenge, seek it with me, not with her."

"What is this girl to you?"

Kagome waited for the answer, and when the answer came, it broke her heart.

"The girl is nothing. She is just a pupil I took under my wing. Let her go and fight me instead."

The thunder crashed, and lightening flashed. Inuyasha's figure was to the left, or was that right of hers?

"Ah, but that is where you are wrong," Arick cackled. "She is everything to you. And I shall kill her, destroy her, just like how you destroyed my Adriania."

"Your grudge goes back a long time," Inuyasha's voice remained calm while the thunderstorm raged against them.

"You killed her, and I shall take your lover—you friend, away from you too." Arick's voice grew ugly. "Tonight she will become my wife."

"If you get past me, you can have her," Inuyasha was suddenly in front of her. "Done deal?"

"Get past you? Hah! I shall do more than that, I shall drink her blood for you to watch, like you had with Adriania."

Kagome closed her eyes; she was no longer standing, but was instead, being hold up by the chains that were chained to her wrists. "You drank the blood of a vampire?"

Inuyasha's eyes glanced behind his shoulder, at her. "It was the only way to gain more power."

"Yes, and you wanted more did you not?" Kagome said harshly. "Power was—is everything to you…you cannot let it go—for love, for trust. You cling to your power, thinking it will save you in the end, but it will not."

Inuyasha ignored her remark. "Rest. I will handle everything from here."

Kagome refused. "I will watch you kill him, and then I will know for sure how cold your heart really is, and how I can not reach it." Kagome was feeling weak, but she didn't care. She was going to watch; she was going to see how much of a cold-blooded murder the man she loved was. She was feeling cold, she was shivering from the rain, but she didn't care, not anymore. Not with the hole that was in her heart.

Kagome shook her head to remove the water from her hair; her hands were still chained—chained? She looked at her hands; no they were no longer chained. "What—?" She stared at her hands as if never seeing them before, and then she looked up at Inuyasha's back.

With a flip of his hand, Inuyasha and everything else disappeared. She found herself in similar surroundings, she was surrounded by her old stuffs once more; she was once again, "…home." She murmured.

She was in dry clothes and no longer wearing Arick's wedding clothes that he had given to her. After a minute, she found herself drifting off to sleep instead.

"Sure, send the lady away," Arick sneered. "So she will not have to see how ugly you get."

"Adriania did not abide by her vows," Inuyasha said calmly, coldly. "She killed, not to feed, but for fun. She killed and drank them dry, she did not just take one sip, but she took all of their blood. She broke her promise to the prince, and she broke her promise to her own kind. As a protector, I swore to the King himself before he passed away that I will watch over his people, I will judge to kill or not to kill, and she, I judged to kill. You, I save, but I should have known you would go crazy. Very well," he held his arm out. "I shall send you to your lover. You wish to be dead for more than a century now, and now I have the right to grant you that wish."

Inuyasha moved before Arick could even blink, his sword went swiftly and quietly through Arick's neck, and then Inuyasha was behind him, his back to Arick. They were back to back. Inuyasha stood up from his fighting stance just as the head of Arick ChanDeVaugn fell off his very own body.

Inuyasha turned around and was not surprised to see the body crawling towards its head, which had rolled a couple of feet away. He moved slowly because at the rate of which the body was crawling, it was going to take forever to reach.

"You have studied the dark arts," Inuyasha continued on, as if nothing has happened, "but that does not make you stronger than me. I have lived only one century longer than you, but I am still stronger, I am still the wiser. I would have left you alone had you not kill, but you have killed." He grasps the end of his sword with both hands. "You have sipped dry the blood of humans, you have toyed with their hearts and their minds. You have killed for naught but pain and pleasure, and you have broken your sacred vow to our master, to the King. It is now within my right to send you to meet our master whether in hell or in heaven." With that, Inuyasha plunged the sword deep into the heart of Arick. He twisted the sword around to make sure there was no living piece left, and then finally when the body stopped moving, he slowly pulled the sword out.

Inuyasha turned and took Kagome's sword and then went back to Arick's body, the voice of Kagome's words haunting him: 'Power was—is everything to you…you cannot let it go—for love, for trust. You cling to your power, thinking it will save you in the end, but it will not…it will not…' Minutes later, Inuyasha poured some saki over the grave of Arick ChanDeVaugn and Adriania Homiki while the home of Arick's roared in flames. "Go in peace, my friends." He poured all of the saki and then threw the bottle away into the flames and disappeared.

No, it will not save me, he thought. There was a time when I thought power was not everything, a time when Adriania and Arick were still the same people I knew, the same vampires, but that was a long time ago. They betrayed my trust, killed my family and my friends, that is why…Kagome, I cannot trust in love—in anything—anymore….

Inuyasha silently nodded to the doctor. "Thank you for coming and seeing her."

"You have already done enough," the doctor smiled kindly at Inuyasha. "Her fever is rising dramatically, and her body is doing its best to fight off the fever. It is by her will alone, whether she lives or she dies. I cannot do much now that my work here is done."

"Thank you," Inuyasha bowed.

"Your wife has a strong spirit," the doctor grinned at her. "She will live, no doubt about it."

Inuyasha nodded again and didn't say anything.

She was dreaming.

Her family was to her left; Inuyasha was to her right. Her family was calling to her. They wanted her to take their hands, to follow them. She didn't want to go. She wanted to follow Inuyasha, she belonged to Inuyasha, but he was not calling out to her, he was just staring at her. He was not extending his hand; he was not doing anything to encourage her.

"Inuyasha?" She called to him. "Are you not even going to ask me to stay? Are you just going to let me go?"

Inuyasha looked at her. "To stay, to go, it is by your decision alone," he told her, his voice echoing in the dark dimension. "I will not decide for you, cannot decide for you." Then he turned away, as if expecting her to leave with her parents, as if already knowing her decision. Her eyes widened, and then she smiled. She turned back to look at her parents, she took a step towards them and that was it.

"I cannot go this time," she smiled at her mother, at her father, at her uncle and everyone else. "I have someone else now."

Her mother nodded. "Go with care."

Her father smiled. "You go and get him."

Her uncle smirked. "You are my little niece, be a good girl until your time, will you?"

Kagome nodded, and then she turned back. "Inuyasha!" She called, waving her hand. "Inuyasha, wait for me! I am coming back. I am coming back to you!"

When Inuyasha opened his eyes the next morning, it was to find the familiar black eyes looking at his, the familiar eyelashes, and the familiar mouth that he had kissed.

"HI!" She called out loudly.

Inuyasha nearly fell off his chair. "What the—"

Before he could react, Kagome flung herself at him. "I am here to stay. I am so sorry for all the trouble I have caused, and I am so sorry about what I said to you about power and not believing in love and trusts." She was talking so fast, but she didn't care, she now realized why Inuyasha acted the way he did. "I will not leave you, not ever, ever again." She vowed.

Inuyasha was too shocked to say anything. He was not expecting an apology from her, and he was not expecting her to fling herself at him like this.

"Kagome, are you sure you are alright?" Inuyasha pressed his forehead against hers. "Your fever seems to be down."

"I am alright," Kagome pushed Inuyasha away from her. "I feel fine. Are you going to be busy today?"

He was about to shake his head, but caught himself in time. "Yes I have something to do."

"Oh," Kagome frowned. "Your mission?"

He nodded.

"May I go with you?"

Inuyasha shook his head. "No."

"Fine," Kagome sigh. "When are you leaving?"

"As soon as you are well."

Kagome frowned again. "You mean you would have gone sooner if I did not become so ill?"

Inuyasha refused to answer. "Are you sure you feel much better?"

Kagome beamed at him. "Thank you for not abandoning me," she reached up and brush her mouth across his. "There."

It shocked the hell out of Inuyasha that he just stood there and stared at her.

"May I at least have permission to visit Princess Aninoko and Mamoru and their family?"

Inuyasha was too shock so he nodded his head instead.

Kagome grinned. "I am getting out of bed, is it okay if I get out of bed, Inuyasha?"

"Just be careful," Inuyasha told her.

"I will, I do not want to get my fever again." She stretched. "Inuyasha, I have something to tell you."

"What is it?"

"It is a very, very, dark secret." She said cheerfully.

"Then why are you so cheerful?" Inuyasha muttered.

"Because it is not dark to me, but I think it will be dark to you," she told him.

"I do not understand you."

"I do not understand you too, sometimes," She grinned. "Inuyasha, I love you."

Inuyasha shook his head. "What?"

She grinned. "You are a Vampil, you can hear me. I am going out, and if you are not gone before I come back, I will follow you."

She turned to look at him.

Be careful, Inuyasha. I do not want you dying on me.

Inuyasha heard, but he didn't answer her back.

I love you . She whispered mentally to him, and she knew he heard because he shook his head again, as if not wanting to hear it. Tough luck, she thought smiling. She was not going to leave him and she was not going to let him forget that she love him.

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End