Chapter Nine: Takuma's Discovery

Disclaimer: I don't own Vampire Knight or Inuyasha.

It's been days and no one has seen Miroku or Kagome. Takuma sighs again, staring at a book. Senri looks over at Takuma, silently he rises.

"She'll be okay, you know. Kagome's strong, whatever happens she'll survive," Rima says, offering pocky to Senri.

"I'm just worried. I don't want anything to happen to Kagome. She's already been through so much," Takuma responds.

"Actually she's been through more than you'd ever realize. She's still unconscious," Shippo says, leaning on the railing.

"I am however confused. When we first arrived she said there was another pureblood, where is he or she?" Shippo continues.

"I am the only pureblood here," Kaname glares at Shippo.

"Right, cute glare by the way. You've got to remember I grew up with Sesshomaru, so glares are pretty much ineffective," Shippo snickers.

"You shouldn't be out of bed yet. You can barely stand," Akatsuki comments, seeing Kagome appear on the top of the stairs.

"I'm fine," she snaps.

"Go back to bed, Kagome," Kaname orders.

Sapphire eyes meet rusty brown, "You are no lord of mine. Do not give me orders."

"Where's Miroku?" Shippo asks.

"In my room, on the floor," Kagome replies.

"Why?" Hanabusa asks.

Shippo, turns and gazes into Kagome's eyes, "Have it your way."

"Ahh, damn it! Put me down," Kagome half yells at Shippo.

"Nope, you're too stubborn to just rest like you should be doing so I get to carry you," he sticks his tongue out.

She rolls her eyes as he sets her down on one of the couches. Takuma sits next to her. Ruka huffs, tossing her hair to the side.

"You know that wasn't very nice, nee-san," Miroku says.

"You were in my way," Kagome shrugs.

"That doesn't make it nice," Miroku comments, sitting on the other side of Kagome.

"So what did Kaname-sama do to make your alter ego hate him?" Takuma asks, cueing the others' interest.

"He betrayed me. He promised to never leave. After the failed attempt of turning me, he left. I already lost so much, lost him. It doesn't matter anymore, it's in the past and that's where it should stay," Kagome says, head lowered.

Miroku winds his arms around Kagome, pulling her to his chest. Kaname keeps his eyes locked on to Kagome's form. Shippo sighs, crossing his arms and leaning on a wall.

"Maybe Kaname-sama has changed since you last saw him," Hanabusa says.

"No, he hasn't. He's still the same selfish bastard," Kagome mutters.

"Language Kagome," Shippo chides.

Kagome sits up and arches an eyebrow in disbelief. Miroku laughs, knowing that even though Kagome was sad, that she was also much better than what she had been. Miroku grumbles when Senri plucks Kagome out of his arms.

"I'm not a ragdoll," Kagome pouts.

"More like a porcelain doll," Hanabusa states.

"Senri, please set me down so I can murder Hanabusa," Kagome lilts.

"No," Senri replies, watching Kagome in amusement as she struggles.

"Please, I happen to like you and don't want to hurt you but if you don't let me go you'll leave me with no choice," she squirms in his grasp.

Shippo laughs, finding humor in Kaname's glare. Senri sits in one of the armchairs, adjusting so Kagome can sit comfortably on his lap. She relaxes into him, placing her head on his shoulder. Her sapphire eyes blink tiredly.

"Sleep, 'Gome. Kami know you need it," Miroku says softly.

"No," she yawns.

"Sesshomaru wouldn't like to know that you've been refusing sleep again. Really, 'Gome you need it. You're exhausted, and if you don't rest soon your body is going to give out," Shippo responds, emerald eyes hardening.

"Not tired," Kagome cuddles closer to Senri.

"Then why are you cuddling with Senri?" Miroku asks.

"I'm mad at you and Shippo," Kagome responds, eyes drifting shut.

"She won't sleep for long," Senri states.

"She never does," Shippo says, eyes narrowing on Takuma.

"Let her rest, save your questions for later, Takuma," Miroku smiles gently at the blonde.

The others drift in out of the living room. Miroku stays close by, keeping an eye on his twin curled up in Senri's lap. Senri runs a hand though Kagome's hair, listening to her heart as it beat.

"Senri, don't move," Miroku warns as his sister sits up.

Kagome wails, "Sango. InuYasha."

Kagome shudders, eyes still closed. Twin orbs of sapphire snap open at the feeling of someone's hands rubbing her back. Senri lets go of her as she starts glowing pink. A few burns appear on his hands.

"What's happening?" Hanabusa asks, as he and the others appear in the living room.

Miroku yells, "No, Takuma don't! You're going to get yourself killed!"

Takuma wraps his arms around Kagome's body. He holds her even though he's slowly being purified. Kagome calms, recognizing her brother's reiki in distress. The arms holding her, loosen. Kagome turns, in horror she stares at the burns Takuma's body now has. Kagome sinks to her knees, trying to heal him. Kaname pulls her away and up into his arms.

"There is nothing you can do for him. He needs rest and blood," Kaname says, tightening his grip.

"What are you?" Ruka demands.

"I'm fine Kagome," Takuma says, slowly rising to his knees, "Kagome is a priestess, and Miroku is a priest. They both hold spiritual powers. I've had a theory on that for a while now. I wanted to talk to you about it."

"I'm sorry, Takuma. Forgive me Senri, you were burned as well," Kagome apologizes, head lowered.

"That explains a lot," Akatsuki says, breaking the tension.

"Help me to my room please," Takuma says.

"We'll talk after you've rested Takuma," Miroku promises.

Kaname takes Kagome to his room. He sets her down on his bed. He runs a hand in his hair, turning rusty brown eyes in her direction. She curls herself up, knees to chest. Kaname sits next to her. He goes to tuck her hair behind her ear when she flinches away from his touch.

"I'm sorry, so sorry. I-I didn't mean for any of this to happen," Kagome mumbles, eyes filling with unshed tears.

"I apologize. I should've known that I would only hurt you in the end. I know now why you rejected me all those years ago. You loved him, Takeru. InuYasha as well," Kaname whispers.

"InuYasha and I were more brother and sister than anything. I loved you as well, I hurt you, both of you and I never meant too," Kagome replies.

"I left when you were most vulnerable, I should've stayed. Perhaps we can give it another try?" Kaname says softly.

"I don't know. I really don't. A part of loves you still even after all you've done. I will always love you but I don't think…I can't. This time there are others, like Yuuki," Kagome shakes her head.

"People like Kiryu?" Jealousy instantly colors Kaname's voice.

"Zero and I are old friends, Kaname. Let's start off as friends, move forward," Kagome smiles.

"Mmm, I can do that," he says reclining on the bed, pulling Kagome with him.

Kaname runs his fingers across Kagome's scar littered body. Tracing them, remembering the past that they shared. He stops at her hips. On each hip is a star shaped scar.

"Where did these come from?" He murmurs.

"The one on my right side has a large scar running up from it. Mistress Centipede did that, ripping the Jewel from my side. I've always had the other one, kind of like a birthmark, but Miroku doesn't have one like it," she responds equally as quiet.

"Interesting. You never did get around to telling me about the ones' on your back," he says.

"Car accident, when I was really little. It killed one my uncles," Kagome shifts, turning towards Kaname.

They stay that way for most of the night. Kaname closes his eyes letting sleep take him. Kagome wakes, slowly and silently getting out of bed. She leaves Kaname's room and heads towards Takuma's. Takuma shares a room with Senri. Kagome sits on the edge of Senri's bed and heals his arms, which were burned. She goes over to Takuma's bed. She heals him as best she can, but the more severe burns linger.

"Kagome? What are you doing here?" Takuma hisses quietly.

"I hurt you and Senri, so I'm helping you get better," Kagome responds.

"You don't have to. I'll be fine," Takuma says.

"Do you trust me?" Kagome asks.

"What? Yes, why?"

"Good, I want you to bite me."

"Kagome, no! I'm not going to bite you."

"Don't make me force you."

Takuma sighs, seeing the stubbornness in Kagome's eyes. He takes her left wrist and bites into it gently. The explosion of flavor on his tongue made Takuma close his eyes. She was so pure, and there was this undeniable thrill he got from tasting her. She tasted like vanilla and jasmine in a beautiful blend. Kagome tasted wonderful, so much that he almost didn't want to stop.

Takuma pulls his mouth away from her wrist, licking the wound so it would seal and catching the last few drops of her lifeblood. He felt great, amazing. A surge of power courses through his veins.

"Takuma? Are you okay now?" Kagome asks sleepily.

"Yes, Kagome. I'm fine now. Thank you," he whispers.

Kagome slumps into him, falling asleep. He arranges her on the bed, fingers brushing against a star shaped scar on her left hip. He looks at it perturbed. He leans back on his bed, reading his great grandfather Takeru's journal. His grandfather fell in love with a human, not just any human but the Shikon Priestess no less. He described the Priestess as raven haired with orbs of sapphire that could shift to have lightning streaks of grey in them. Takeru was describing Kagome, Takuma realizes.

Entry from Takeru's Journal

(Takeru's Point of View)

I watched as the raven haired Priestess teased the Inu hanyou. She was truly a wonder, never judging anyone or thing for being what they are. She thankfully wore kimonos now, instead of the odd and revealing ensemble she had worn before.

"Are you okay Takeru?" The Priestess asked.

"I'm fine, thank you," I replied head lowered.

"Okay," she said, turning back to her friends.

"There's a hot spring not far from here. Go, I know you want to bathe," the hanyou stated.

"I'll go with you for protection," I offered.

"Thank you, Takeru. That's very sweet of you," the girl reaches up on her tiptoes and presses a kiss to my cheek.

I lead the young Priestess to the hot springs. Thinking that she was already in the springs I turned. She wasn't in the springs yet. She throws a smile in my direction before entering the springs. How odd, a priestess shouldn't have that marking. On the Priestess' left hip was a scar in the shape of a star. Only vampires from the Pureblooded Higurashi lineage bared that marking.

End of Takeru's Journal Entry

Takuma snaps the book shut with audible noise. He goes over everything that he knows about Kagome. He can see his ancestor's reasoning. He himself might have believed but the entire Higurashi clan was massacred sixteen and half years ago. It just didn't make sense. Things weren't adding up. Takuma sighs, turning towards Kagome, watching her as she slept peacefully. Eventually falling asleep himself.

Author's Note:

I know it's been a while since I last updated but I hope you enjoy this chapter. Tell me what you think. Review, PM, and don't forget to vote for a pairing in the poll. Lots of Love, Saya.