What Lies Beneath The Eyes: Chapter 4

We were now on the road. I had been with the gang for about three weeks, and it was like endless walking. I didn't mind much. Right now, I didn't like walking. Even though I didn't want to admit it, I never thought that humans could be accepting and understanding as well. The first person I liked was Sango. She was becoming more like a sister to me, than a friend. She didn't have any problem being around me, seeing that her cat, Kirara, was a demon herself. It was like the two of us had much in common. The two of us have small adorable pets, that can both transform and we both despise perverts. Seeing that she works as a slayer, she seems to have a strong sense of responsibility along with a brave heart. Next, there's Kagome, who obviously opened up to me and became a sister to me as well. We were both from the modern world and were wearing the same type of clothes. Then there's, Shippo, who obviously took a liking to me and attached himself to my side. Well, he would often attach himself to Kagome at times. Lastly, there's Inuyasha... Well, he and I never talk much...unless he'd pester me about not moving fast enough, or not fighting back when a demon approaches. There was only one question in my head; how can I fight back, if I don't even have a weapon to fight with? Inuyasha seemed to care a lot about one of his friends. But with me, he doesn't seem to care what happens to me. I knew that he didn't like or trusted me very much. Who could blame him for not trusting me? I was the newest member of their group and I was the one having difficulties, coping with the face that I'm here, in another world.

As the group suggested that we'd take a break, I tiredly plopped down, flat on my butt, breathing in and out tiredly. I never knew that doing this much walking, could be a pain in the arse. These people sure look determined to find this sworn demon, they call "Naraku". Kagome and Sango had told me all about him, and what he did to Inuyasha, Miroku, and of course, Sango. By the way these people spoke of this person, I was pretty sure that he wasn't a good person, who'll never show any remorse for his actions.

My thoughts were interrupted, when I felt two arms tug on each and both of my arms. "Would you like to come to the hot springs with us?" Sango asked, smiling at me.

"I don't know..." I trailed, not wanting to be near the water.

"Oh come on," Kagome said, her arm wrapping itself around my shoulders. "it'll be fun and we need a third girl in the hot springs to keep us company." she explained.

I thought about for a little while, or so, before giving a nod. It couldn't hurt to take a bath, besides I feel like I could probably use one. "Okay, I'll go with you. Only because you asked me to." In a blink of an eye, Sango and Kagome were both pulling my arms, dragging me to the hot springs with Shippo, Kira, and Kirara following us.

I watched as Kagome, Sango, and Shippo enjoyed themselves and the hot spring, talking happily in their conversation. However, I wasn't having much as they were having. I sat against a tree as far as possible, away from the hot spring. If you remembered exactly what I said, then you know why. "Moka?" sounded a small voice that obviously belonged to Shippo. "Why are you sitting way over there?"

"Yeah. Why don't you come join us?" Kagome persuaded.

"The water's great." agreed Sango, coaxing me to join in.

I gave them an apologetic expression. I couldn't. I couldn't just jump into the water and act like nothing is going to happen. I can't. I just can't. "I'm sorry, guys." I apologized, confusing the three as if asking why.

"Aww!" pouted Shippo. "That's too bad."

"Why?" asked Sango, who sound disappointed.

"Yeah, how come?" Kagome asked, second in line to be disappointed.

I gave a nervous chuckle, scratching the back of my head. "Well...how should I put this?" I asked myself, trying to come up with specific words to put in a sentence. "Well... I can't really touch water, unless it's filled with herbs."

"Why is that?" Sango asked.

I was about to reply, when Kagome beat me to it. "That's it! I think I might have something, that might work." she exclaimed, getting out and walking towards her bag. She dug and searched through her bag, until she finally made a sound as if she found, what she was looking for. I was a little deep in thought, that I barely notice that water...smelled like herbs and sort of smelled great. "Give it a try."

I looked at her, hesitant. "Umm...are you sure that it's safe? The water smells like herbs." What kind of silly question is that? Why wouldn't it be safe, if the water didn't smell like herbs?

"What kind of silly question is that?" Kagome remarked.

"I...don't know. Anyway, I still can't get in." I said, making up my mind.

"Why?" The three of them asked, together.

"Well...I..." I stuttered, trying to find an answer to fill in the blank that was left empty. I didn't want them to know another secret of mine. It'll be too painful to talk about, if they knew. "I'm kind of...shy."

Sango gave me a reassuring smile. "Nonsense. It's just us girls here, so there's no need to feel shy." chuckled Sango.

I gave a sigh, not really having a choice. Not wanting to waste their time, I silently removed my clothes, before testing out the water, to see if it was safe to get in. I expected to feel a painful shock, but turns out that I felt nothing. I slowly got in and tied my hair up in a messy bun, not wanting to take the risk of getting it soaked. I instantly relaxed, when I felt how warm the water was.

I silently listened to Sango and Kagome talk away in their conversation, with Shippo relaxing next to me. I could practically tell that the two of them were practically like sisters. They're always there for each other, when they feel depressed, or scared. I wish I can able to have friends, without having them judge me for what I am. "Moka, you're awfully quiet today." Kagome commented.

"Yeah." I agreed meekly.

"What's wrong?" Shippo asked, with worry.

I gave him a sweet smile. "It's nothing. I'm still in a shock about changing from two different worlds and all. I'm in a world with so many people walk around it, with different lifestyles."

Kagome gave me a smile. "Yeah. Pretty ironic, isn't it?"

"I'll say."

"So how come you aren't able to touch water, without herbs, anyway?" asked Sango.

I gave a sad sigh. I was about to tell them what kind of race I am. Though, I would have to tell them sooner, or later. "If I tell you why, could you promise that you won't judge me for it?" The three of them, looking slightly confused of what I was talking about, gave a nod. "Have you ever heard of vampires?"

Kagome looked interested. "Yeah. I think I know what you're talking about."

Sango looked at her, a bit curious. "You know what she's talking about, Kagome?"

Kagome nodded. "They are heard in myths, stories, and even movies, from where I live."

"That's right." I nodded, signalling that she is indeed right.

"What's a vampire, Moka?" Shippo asked, curious as well.

"Vampires are living/dead corpses that is believed to rise from the grave at night to suck the blood of human people. They are immortal creatures, who age and age for so many years and still live on forever."

"So in other words, they're like demons?" Sango implied, question.

I gave a nod. "Something like that. Vampires are ruthless and cold-blood bloodsuckers, who are eager to feed of humans to stay alive. Even if you beg for your life, they won't spare you a glance, or a minute. You're just dead. Some vampires, aren't mostly like that, though. Vampires are ultimately strong. They have super human strength and can kill you in less than a minute, if they wanted to. They are not easy to kill, but that doesn't mean that they don't have a weakness."

"What do you mean?"

"Vampires feel threaten, when they're near pure water, the sun, or garlic. Vampires instantly die when they are impaled in the heart with a wooden object, beheaded, exposed to direct sunlight or consumed by fire."

"Wait a minute, Moka." Kagome interrupted. "Are you saying you're a vampire?"

I gave another sad sigh. "Sadly yes. That's what I am." I waited for them to panic, or even ostracize me for my race.

"Wow! This is so cool!" I heard her exclaimed in amazement. I gave her a puzzling look, not expecting that. "I can't believe that I'm meeting an actual vampire. But if you're a vampire, how come you're not consumed by the sunlight?"

I giggled slightly at her question. "That's because I'm not the actual vampires, you see in the movies, or myths. I don't share many weakness as much as regular vampires do. I'm not technically a vampire, though."

"Then what are you?" Sango asked.

"A Dhampir."

"What's that?" Shippo, this time asked.

"A Dhampir is a child born from a vampire and a human, essentially a hybrid of both. More specifically, a dhampir is usually the child of a father who is a vampire, and a mother who is human."

"Wait..." Kagome interjected. "Since you're half-vampire, will you need to drink as much blood to stay alive?"

I shook my head. "No. Not really. But on the night of the new moon, I will have to."

"What do you mean? Why?"

"Because on the night of the new moon, that's when I change into a full vampire. I start to feel sick, my hair starts turning silver, and my eyes turn a blood-red. I honestly despise that night, but the good part about it, is that it only lasts for one night. And that's all."

"Whoa! That's so cool." Shippo exclaimed. "It's almost the same with Inuyasha."

I felt my face heat up, hearing his name. "What do you mean? How so?"

"Because on the same night that you turn into a full vampire, he turns into a mere human."

He turns into a human on the same night, that I turn into a vampire? What big weird coincidence. So he's just like me then.

After all of us finished bathing, we dried ourselves off with the towels, Kagome had brought from the other world. "Moka, what happened to your back?" Kagome asked, concerned.

By now, I already knew what she was referring to; the scars that had been given to me on my back. I took a glance at my back. "Oh...you mean these? It's nothing. These are just scratches."

I watched as Sango frowned at my false excuse. "They don't look like scratches, and people just don't have them for nothing." I knew she was right. It doesn't make any sense of what I said. I started to tremble. "Honestly, Moka... What happened?"

I gave them an emotionless expression. "If I tell you the whole story, do you promise not to tell anyone, especially your friends?"

Kagome nodded. "Of course we would. We're your friends, right?"

I gave a nod and told them the story of what happened to me.

I'm going to stop there, because I don't want you to know Moka's secret just yet. If you're angry that I made your favorite vampire a Dhampir, in all honesty I don't care. I just wanted her to be like Inuyasha, since the two of them were both loners in the past. Before you ask why I made Moka a half-breed, that'll be explained later in the chapters.