Chapter Six

She really has a sweet heart. Too sweet, if you ask me. All of her closest friends, where originally her enemies. Despite her tough attitude, she forgives too fast, and forgets in a blink. In a way, that's just who she was. Second chances. Third chances. She'll keep on giving them, even when she's the one being betrayed.

The odd thing is, all those chances, make you want to change yourself.

-Inuyasha

He could smell the blood, though someone had attempted to lessen its aromatic effects. It was sharp, metallic, and heavy upon the nonexistent wind. His ears perked up, a single eye opening so he could peer curiously around the dark room. His large ears could hear the gentle rasping of his mistress' breathing from the bed besides him, and the steady thump of her beating heart. Her scent was calm and heavy with exhaustion, so he knew the blood could not belong to her.

With his main priority safe, the canine pushed himself to his feet. The curiosity of a dog would forever be his burden to carry and so, he found himself padding out of the room, and towards the scent of blood. There was no sounds of pain, nor the scent of distress, so he had no sense of urgency.

The new home that they dwelled in was strange, and never without mystery. There was always a new corner to explore, a new scent to discover, and a endless amount of hunting to be done. The old manor had a pest problem, with live rodents in every dusty corner, and even more familiars haunting the halls. Since his birth, Mamoru had never been kept so busy before.

The only downside were the males that stalked his mistress.

Now, the canine knew how it felt to be ruled by instincts. Hunt, rest, feed, defend, and play. All of his thoughts, could be traced to those primitive bases. He knew one day, his blood would age quicker than his body, and then he would be ruled by the desire to procreate. His early death was a curse, traced back to his ancestors, but his bloodline was honor bound to continue to defend Kagome all through her immortality, and perhaps, even after that.

The scent of blood was growing stronger as the hybrid slunk down the large stairs that lead to the entrance room. His ears were perked up, scanning the manor for any unwanted sounds. He didn't like how quiet it had become. Even the rodents were hiding in their disgusting homes, sheltering themselves from something. Mamoru didn't even like the fact that the scent of the animalistic males had weakened, revealing that they were not doing their normal stalking of his mistress.

A low whimper finally reached his sensitive ears, and the sound caused every muscle in his body to freeze. His lips pulled back to reveal fangs, and a shiver travels down his spine, raising his hackles along the way. It was the sound of a tortured soul, and it tugged on his protective nature.

Mamoru's nails scratched against the floor as he scrambled towards the sound. His long body whipped around a nearby doorway, his nose high in the air in an effort to catch more of that metallic scent, which was growing stronger as he grew closer to the source of the sound.

There was something familiar about that artificial flower and lemon drop scent. Something that tugged on his mind, begging to be remember. Mamoru was traveling down yet another dark hallway, where only a single door could be seen.

Mamoru pushed his nose against the seam of the door, catching the barest hint of that strange scent resting behind the flimsy wood. The red mutt huffed, knowing that to reach the source of the whimpers, he somehow had to get behind this locked door, and unlike the lock on Kagome's door, he could not see the mechanic that kept this one closed.

Leaning his head back, he let out a single, loud bark, which resounded through the manor.

Mamoru gave an amused huff when he felt the presence of one of the vampires drawing near. He had them well trained, knowing their weaknesses and annoyances. If he was too loud, it would hurt their sensitive ears. If he destroyed something, he would summon the tall male with the glasses. If he dug through the kitchen, the runt with purple hair would find him. If he happen to steal one of his mistress' underclothes, the sleepy alpha male, or the touchy redheads would appear.

While he was expecting someone to appear, he was not expecting someone to open the closed door from the other side. The wooden slab being yanked open surprised him so much that he leaped back in surprise, the fur along his spine stiff with nervous energy. Shadow, bruised eyes peered at him curiously, his head tilted to the side like a curious pup.

"What do you want?"

From the hallway behind Kanato, Mamoru could smell an increase of chemicals and blood. That fading, sweet scent was drifting from behind the vampire, reminding the dog of his current mission. He didn't care when he shouldered past Kanato, his muzzle high in the air as he traced the last of the scent. It was strange, because it was becoming more chemically involved, the further he traveled. Beneath his paw pads, he could feel the floor growing colder, as it sloped downwards, with each step he took.

Even his breath was starting to frost in front of his lips with each exhale he gave.

The canine was not sure he was expecting, but to enter an underground room, lined with seemingly endless amount of life-size dolls, was a surprise. His hackles raised in fear, and his lips pulled back to reveal gleaming fangs. It was an automatic response, as every doll appeared to be looking at him, and they were all appeared to be alive.

He barked once, bouncing to the left but none of them moved. Their glassy eyes just stared at him, glazed and yet, judgmental. Their pale skin gleamed in the weak light and they were all dressed in white wedding dresses. Yet, despite their life-like appearances, Mamoru's ear could not hear the sound of a beating heart or the quiet rasp of breathing.

With his fear diminishing, his curiosity came back and the mutt took several steps forward to sniff the leg of the closest doll. She smelt icy, and heavy with chemicals, with only the barest trace of a unique scent underneath. Most of this scent was buried under the sickeningly sweet scent of the vampire runt.

He trotted to the next doll, smelling nearly the same thing. The only difference was the unique scent that most items held. This time, it was stronger than most inanimate objects, but not necessarily out of place. This doll, with tumbling blonde hair and scarred hands, smelt even more like the runt, his sweet scent clogging his nose and causing him to snort in disgust.

It was then that he caught the faintest trace of that artificial flower and lemon scent that originally caught his attention. His nose lead him to the back of the room, to yet another beautiful doll. His nose pushed into the lace white dress, not knowing why he was drawn to this doll. He trotted around the base of the still woman, his tail wagging nervously the longer he relished in the scent. With a confused growl, he backed up to catch a full glimpse of the woman.

"She's the prettiest one so far," Kanato taunted from behind him.

Indeed, she was a beautiful sight. Her skin, which was once tan, was now as pale as the moon, and the only blemish his advance eyes could see was the bite mark on her wrist. Her small feet were encased in white heels, which were mainly buried under the extravagant wedding gown she donned. Her long black hair was pulled back on the sides, and left to tumble down behind her. Her short bangs were swept to the sides of her face, making the hair cradled her face, and leaving her cinnamon brown eyes to gaze at the world silently.

Fuji, she had said her name was. The woman that Mamoru had insisted be saved, even going as far as to chain his mistress to this horror house to let the innocent woman be free. Mamoru had escorted her to the edge of the Sakamaki property himself. He had seen her get away, and yet, here she stood, posed and cold.

An anguished howl tore its way out of his throat.

His song of misery reverberated through the underground room, his cry piercing the ears of all the supernatural creatures around. It was only when a hand wrapped itself around his parted muzzle, and another hand wrapped around the back of his neck, was he forced to be silent.

. ~: . V . :~ .

Only a single day had passed since she had last seen her Mamoru. Left alone, Kagome had taken to exploring the manor, and the surrounding grounds, by herself. The miko was not too worried about her companion. Mamoru had proven to be a challenge for the coven, and it appeared that Shu had a soft spot for her dog, making it highly unlikely that Mamoru would be harmed.

Kagome had recently discovered that the flowers at the back of the property were unique, and they riveted her attention. She was certain that some of the flowers, were hybrids that the world had never seen before, and like herself, they have adapted to the environment they were grown in. Their petals were spread wide to collect the small rays of moonlight, and dew somehow glimmered on their leaves.

She reached a finger out, tracing the silky surface of the crimson and purple orchid. It swayed gently under her touch, shying away from human contact.

"Subaru doesn't like them being touched," a quiet voice murmured in her ear.

"Kanato!" Kagome couldn't stop the surprised yelp from escaped her. "You scared me."

"Teddy and I like the roses better," Kanato continued speaking, ignoring Kagome's fright. "They can defend themselves unlike the other useless flora." He was standing just to the left of Kagome, staring down at the white and purple rose bushes that were twined, and blooming, together.

"I thought you'd like the vulnerable ones." She wasn't aware that her thoughts weren't staying private at the moment.

The miko yelped as her wrist was suddenly grabbed in a harsh hold, and she stumbled as the stronger male tugged her towards himself. She barely regained her footing before she felt her captured hand being shoved into the rose bushes that Kanato was in front of.

The more she struggled and tried to get free, the more the thorns bit and scratched at her skin. Kanato held her hand immobile, watching keenly as her struggles only brought her more pain. After a few seconds, he released her wrist, and the young miko managed to cradle her bleeding hand to her chest, without gaining more injuries, as she stumbled back a few steps.

He was watching her intently, his shadowed eyes unblinking, and his head tilted to the side like a curious child. He was waiting for her to do something, but Kagome was eying the vampire like he was a serpent, ready to strike.

As a single drop of blood swelled, and splashed to the marble floor below them, she watched as Kanato's pupils dilate.

"Why don't you heal yourself?" He asked quietly.

"It's a small injury, I don't have too." The jewel had yet to fully energize itself once again, and Kagome did not want to be in a position where she was fully mortal, and vulnerable. The cuts stung, but they weren't life threatening. Already, they were starting to scab over on their own.

"Do you like to play games with us?" Kanato took a step forward, and she took a step back. "Are you stupid? Or just delusional?"

"Kanato," her voice was stern, like she was lecturing an unruly wolf cub. Her tone of voice halted his advance, as vampire and miko watched each other. They were at a standstill, each one waiting for the other to react first.

He moved quick, putting himself directly in front of her before she even saw him move. Despite his childish appearance, Kanato actually stood several inches taller than the miko, and he had to lean down to lock eyes with her. His hand crept up to her throat, embracing it, but not adding pressure. It was a show of power, and Kagome glared back, refusing to submit to his display.

"Why do you pretend to be human?" His deadly fangs clipped together angrily, his eyes wide and confused.

"I am human," Kagome insisted harshly.

"Liar!" His hand tightened a fraction. "Liar! Liar!" Each time, his hand tightened, cutting off her breath until she was desperately panting for breath. "Why do you want to be human? They're fragile. They're weak. They're below me."

Each breath was short, gasping, and struggling to fill her lungs. Her hand, which has been cut from the thorns, struck out desperately. The sound of skin slapping against skin rang through the garden, and gravity pounced onto her shoulders, letting her fall to the floor. Kanato still had his hand stretched out, his fingers in position of a weak grasp from when he had held the miko's throat.

"You slapped me." His voice was dazed, quiet, and hurt. "Why would you do that?" His tongue swiped the corner of his lips, tasting the remnants of her blood that had smeared across his face.

"Quit. Attacking. Me." Kagome gasped out with each breath. Honestly, it was starting to piss her off. She had displayed that she more than capable of defending herself, yet these vampires continued to try and dominate her.

"Quit pretending you are human."

"I am human. I bleed. My heart beats. I feel pain. These are all things that human do."

"You're an idiot. By that logic, you're a vampire too. You don't age. You can't die. You have powers outside a normal mortal." Again, Kanato was in her personal space, leaning over her crumpled form. Kagome could feel the soft puff of his breaths washing over her face, and smell the natural scent of a vampire. It was truly alluring. "And we both know you're no vampire."

"Kanato," Kagome moved so she could support her weight on her elbow, never once moving her gaze away from his wide eyes. "Why are you here?"

"I wanted to show you something but you never spend time with me." His lips twisted in a pout, one that appeared sadistic and false on his childish face.

"You never asked me for my time." It's not like she could go anywhere. Every time she traveled deep into the surrounding forest, one of the brothers would find her, and none of the gates, or doors, around the property, wanted to open to her touch.

Kanato's hand wrapped around her wrist, and he harshly tugged her upwards. She stumbled to her feet, barely gaining her balance, before he was tugging her along, after him. "I shouldn't have to ask," he was mumbling to himself, but she could just barely make out his words. "You should be honored to be in my presence."

. ~: . V . :~ .

"You've got to be joking."

The miko had seen quite a few strange things in her lifetime. She had also seen some haunting events. But this. She wasn't quite sure what to think about what was before her.

It was a dreary tea party, set up next to an unmarked headstone. Pastries of all kind were displayed on the table, and the table was set for four people. In the center, a childishly painted teapot was displayed. It was twice as large as a normal teapot, and it dwarfed the normal teacups that were in front of each seat.

"Don't be rude," Kanato was still gripping Kagome's wrist, and he dragged her towards the table. "I set this up for us."

They paused before a seat, and Kanato finally released her wrist so he could grip the decorated chair and pull it out. Both of his hands lingered on the back of the chair, and he looked expectantly at her. He continued to stare, the weight of his gaze only growing heavier the longer she hesitated.

"Sit!"

More out of surprise, than obedience, Kagome found herself moving forward and plopping into the seat. The chair was pushed forward, too far, and Kagome gasped as the edge of the table knocked into her stomach harshly. In the two seconds it took for the miko to grip the edge of the table and shove her chair back, Kanato had taken his seat across from her.

Silence, and awkwardness followed. The vampire was watching her carefully, expecting something from her. The miko was eying the vampire, expecting him to act first. What was she even suppose to do? This was a demonic tea party that she was not prepared for.

"Aren't you going to serve us?" Kanato gestured to the large teapot. "The host shouldn't do all the work."

"The host should do all the work," Kagome's tongue moved without thought. "It's rude to make the guest serve everyone."

Kanato's attention had already shifted, and he reached greedily for a pastry within his reach. "If you can't leave the house, and you're stuck here with us, does that make you a guest?" His words were quiet, as if he was speaking to himself, but his eyes flickered to the empty chair on his right side. "If she's not a guest, and she's not family, but she's nobody's bride, then what does that make her?"

There was a moment of silence, as Kagome waited to see if Kanato was speaking to her or not. "Am I suppose to answer that? Because I don't know either."

"I'm obviously not talking to you," Kanato snipped out before talking a huge bite of a pastry. He took his time to chew and swallow before continuing. "I'm talking to Teddy."

A quick glance around show that there was nobody there besides the two of them, the crumbling headstone, and an empty seat. Was Teddy a familiar, similar to the bat that Shu had summoned? Or was Teddy another spiritual thing, which she could not see?

"It is a pleasure to meet you Ted-"

"Do not speak to him." Kanato's hand slammed on the table, rattling all the dishes with an angry clang. He had risen out of his seat, his normally wide eyes narrowed in a harsh glare. "Do not address Teddy as if you know. As if you deserve to speak to him." He grabbed a nearby tea cup and tossed it at Kagome, who barely dodged it in time. There was the sound of shattering glass, as the delicate dish hit the ground behind her. "Humans do not get to speak to him." He was reaching for another teacup, and Kagome hurried to calm him down.

"I meant no insult Kanato. Nobody told me that Teddy deserves an exclusive audience, worthy of him."

Kanato paused, mulling her words over. After a few tense seconds, he took his seat again, all the while, nodding his head. "I suppose I can forgive your ignorance. You do claim to be human."

Silence descended upon them again. Kanato seemed pleased with the quiet, and stillness, of the night. He hummed slightly as he reached for another pastry. He quickly consumed three small cakes in an impossible amount of time. Kagome was surprised that the needle-like fangs didn't get in the way of the sweet, sticky snack.

"Are you going to pour the tea?" Kanato was still waiting to be served, and with his violent temper, Kagome was unsure of how long she'll get away with challenging him.

Serving the tea wasn't the same as giving into their dominant roles, so Kagome admitted a small defeat and reached for the large teapot in the center of the table. She had to stand up to reach Kanato's cup, which was across from her, and she watched as a burgundy liquid flowed out, lightly coloring the white walls of the cup's insides. When she moved to put the teapot back, Kanato released a small growl, reprimanding her for her actions. Hesitantly, Kagome poured her own cup of tea, grimacing at the sight of the innocent cup being filled.

"I see that you've already had tea with Reiji."

The miko nodded once, as she put the teapot back in the center. This time, Kanato made no comment or sound against the decision. "It was enough to turn me away from tea for some time, as I'm sure you understand."

Kanato huffed, before taking a sip of his tea. Resting his pale lips on the rim of the cup, Kanato continued to speak. "I've never been foolish enough to take tea from Reiji. Still, that is no excuse to dismiss me so rudely."

"I don't want it."

"I wasn't asking for your opinion. You will drink it."

Her fingertips were growing warm, as the her reiki reacted to the snarl in Kanato's tone. The muscles in her forearm twitched, a natural reaction to the supernatural power steadily coursing through her veins. Shadowed purple eyes flittered down to the moving arm, a grimace marring his face as he looked at her with disgust.

"I would be able to break your neck before your attack could reach me. You would need three seconds to form an attack strong enough to deflect me. I only need half that time." As if to prove his point, Kanato was suddenly by her side, with a strand of obsidian hair wrapped around his forefinger. "I'm smaller than my brothers, so I'm lighter. Faster." His very breath was washing over her ears, carrying the scent of powdered sugar to her nose.

Kagome took a deep breath, and willed her heart to slow down. Like any other predator, the excitement of her heart, and the scent of her fear seemed to excite the vampire brothers, and caused them to become rowdy. She took another deep breath, and felt her heart soothe itself to its normal beat. By her side, Kanato sighed in disappointment, revealing that her thoughts were correct.

Kagome leaned to the side, pulling her hair free, and she decided to steer the topic away from what the childish vampire could do, like hurt or kill her. "Why are we here?" She purposely stared ahead at the headstone, which had been given a seat at the tea party.

Kanato lifted his gaze to look at the stone, and a fond smile, with a matching gaze, appeared on his face. "Graves are so dark, and full of the smell of death. This one though, I sometimes think I can still smell her, or feel her heart beating beneath the ground.

"Like this, she's cold and secretive. She's no longer the timid, scared human that I use to torment. She's beautiful, rotting beneath the ground like the forgotten remains of a stray cat."

There was no inscription on the grave, nor any carvings to reveal who it belonged too. Kagome wondered who exactly laid in the ground. The Sakamaki brothers didn't seem to care much for mortals, yet Kanato spoke so fondly on whoever laid beneath that gravestone.

"Who is it?"

. ~: . V . :~ .

'As time -, I have accepted the fact that - - - immortal like those who surround me. Inuyasha barely looks like he has aged a - of years, despite the decades that have passed. My own hand tremble - - each entry, and every night, I find my eyesight falling dimmer. It is the nature of mortals, and I do not fear - - of Time and Death.

However, unlike us, Lady Kagome does not look like she has aged a -. We know that the jewel defends its -, but now I wonder, to what -? If Time can not touch her, what will become of our - friend? I do not have many - left, and even Inuyasha can not fight time. What will happen when we die?

What will become of our Miko?'

Reiji's face showed no emotion, though he was upset with his work. As the Japanese language had evolved over time, there were words and passages that were untranslatable in the journals. The penmanship of the writer was awful too, worse than Ayato's frenzied scrawls. Still, Reiji was brilliant and he caught the gist of the first journal. They were all boring entries, center around a woman who cared too deeply, and for far too many people.

Typical mikos.

The second book was almost too illegible to decipher. The handwriting of the previous writer was gone, and replaced with the slashes and scribbles of someone who pressed too hard on the paper, and must have had a low education. Outside of a handful of passages that described Kagome's ageless appearance, and her powers, there was only one passage in the second book that truly caught Reiji's attention.

'I - up Miroku's life. I - curious if My Beloved - translate for me. -, she claimed - of the name Miroku. She could not - him to mind. It - odd, but - decades have passed. Perhaps this is - - of mortals. I will seek - with the Elders to -.'

Lack of memory. It was an interest factor to consider but Reiji supposed that it was possible. The mortal brain was created, and used, differently than those of an immortal. The hippocampus of an immortal's brain was larger, and stronger, which made it able to retain more information, and store long-term memories for far longer than a mortal's brain.

Even if Kagome was possibly immortal, it does not change her physical make-up and components.

Still focused on the journal in front of him, Reiji made a mental note of several name. Kouga. Miroku. Sango. Shippo. Kaeda. Meaningless, most of them.

There were mentions of other names, which were far more interesting. Naraku. Inuyasha. Sesshomaru.

The last one was definitely an interesting name. A familiar name. Reiji was very good at history, especially when he was younger. He knew of many noblemen with powerful armies, and the Kings who would rule the wild lands. He also remembers meeting dozens of faces, being paraded around like a toy monkey, when that man wanted to display his sons.

He clearly recalled startling white hair, and blazing golden eyes. A daiyokai, one of the few who can boast of immortality. Even rarer, the only daiyokai who had gained the respect of the vampire clans, and had gained the social standings to meet the Vampire King himself.

"How troublesome."

. ~: . V . :~ .

"Are you not going to eat?" Kanato deflected the question, as he reached for his own pastry.

Kagome pursed her lips, knowing what Kanato was doing, but not really wanting to pursue it and risk upsetting him. Everyone had a few secrets, and perhaps, who laid there, had a very personal history with him.

Instead of answering, Kagome reached for a powdered cookie, with a strange glazed icing on top. The icing smeared easily on her fingers, and along the edge of her mouth, as she consumed it. The weight of Kanato's gaze followed every movement she made, assessing everything before him.

Mouth still full of baked goods, and tongue caked in heavy icing, Kagome couldn't help but moan lightly at the flavor. It was heavenly. Sweet, but not over powering. The icing was thick and heavy, but not sticky. It was still warm, despite the cool night air and she found herself reaching for another.

She devoured two more in quick succession, and all the while, Kanato watched with his eerie grin.

"You moaned like that for Shu."

Kagome all but choked on her next bite. Bits of cookie escaped her lips, and she made an ugly gasping sound as she attempted to swallow, and breath at the same time. Wide, blue eyes stared at Kanato in shock, never expecting such crude words to suddenly escape such a child-like man.

"Does my baking bring you such easy pleasures? Or do you moan like that for everyone?"

Kagome chose to ignore the vulgar comments, as previous experience with the vampires showed her that arguing back, only enticed their violent behaviors. Her eyes strayed back to the grave, in an effort to distract herself long enough to breath normally again.

A deep growl, a sound that no human could hope to mimic, rumbled in his chest, as he caught where her gaze had wandered. "What if I told you that my mother lies there? Would you believe that?"

Kanato moved until he was standing by Kagome's side. His lips were pulled back in a mocking, sweet smile. The sight of the lengthened canines instantly put Kagome on the defense. "What if I told you that is was our wife?"

'Our wife.' Was it strange that Kagome did not find herself surprised? She had learned long ago to never judge a situation without understanding it. Perhaps vampires were pack creatures, and it was not uncommon to share a wife. Ookami demons sometimes had multiple mates, and even humans were not loyal to those they pledge to love forever. While the idea was strange, and made her uneasy, did not mean that it wasn't common practice amongst this new species.

Kanato's hand crept forward, snagging a strand of obsidian hair, and twirling it around his finger. The moonlight brought out a light blue shimmer, and the vampire seemed fascinated with each motion it made. His previous growl died down, and a quiet, childish tone replaced it. "Does it really matter who lies there? Wife, or mother. In the end, we killed them both."

He was pressing closer, invading her personal space. His very presence was thick in the air, nearly suffocating her, and pressing on her lungs. The world around them seemed to pause, as if waiting for the unstable vampire to pick a mood. His hand twitched, moving towards Kagome, and her hand instantly grabbed the silver fork, which was on the table.

His left hand gripped her shoulder, his strong finger digging into the soft muscle there. Kagome cried out at the sharp pain, clutching the fork tighter. "You belong to me. They did too, but they liked to make me mad. Do you want to make me mad?"

Kanato swiftly leaned towards her neck, and Kagome swung the fork out on instinct. Pain blossomed across her hand as Kanato's right hand whipped out, and knocked her hand back, sending the fork clattering to the tabletop. The fork had barely hit the tabletop when Kanato's left hand released her shoulder, and found itself wrapped around Kagome's throat, his thumb resting on her pulse point.

'He is fast.'

She was thrown back, her chair crashing noisily to the ground, as her shoulder slammed into the soft dirt, and send her bouncing back. A grunt escaped her, as she tried to roll elegantly with the sudden movement, and failed. She ended up tumbling back twice, before coming to a shaky stop, crouched on her throbbing knees. A soft push, just below her collarbone, sending her sprawling onto her back.

"Quit fighting me!" Kanato screamed like a child misbehaving.

Sudden weight dropped on her chest, knocking the breath out of the miko. Kanato was now crouched over her, his pupils blown wide, and his mouth open in a slight pant. He appeared torn between anger, and sadness. "I don't want to hurt you," he explained.

Kagome was not inclined to believe him.

"Let. Me. Go." Kagome thrashed underneath the vampire, but she was unable to even budge the stronger predator. Kanato didn't even appeared fazed at her struggling. Kanato picked up her wrist, the one he had bitten during their first encounter, and gazed down at the unblemished skin.

"That's why they think they can touch you." He raised her hand, so he could run his tongue along the soft underside of her wrist. "If you don't have my mark, then they think you're free to claim. Let me implant my mark against your lovely skin." The last words were murmured against her skin, Kanato's lips brushing her with each movement.

The moment his fangs brushed against her skin, Kagome realized the situation she was in. She was pinned to the floor, with a stronger, supernatural creature poised above her. Kanato had displayed in the past, that he did not care for her opinion, nor her pain. Despite being powerful, Kagome found herself scared, as the situation sunk in.

She was prey.

"I forgot," Kanato pulled back enough to gaze down at the miko. "You want to be pleasured first, right?"

She only had a second to react, but she froze when she felt Kanato's hand moved to harshly grip the back of her neck. The touch of the deadly fingers, near her spine, had her wasting her precious second, as apprehension and fear locked her muscles. Kanato's free hand gripped her left wrist, and hauled it above her head, pinning it in place. Her head was lifted up before she could react, and their lips met in a vicious clash.

Kanato's lips were surprisingly soft, but unyielding. His tongue stroked Kagome's bottom lip, trying to coax her to open to him. The miko kept her lips stubbornly closed, and even tried to break his grip by shaking her head, though she knew it was a futile attempt. The vampire crouched above her, growled at her weak attempt, and nipped at her lips as punishment.

His sharp fangs scrapped against her bottom lip, leaving a trial of blood and fire, behind him.

When she gasped in pain, Kanato wasted no time, and his tongue immediately swept in.

Kanato kissed in long, soft strokes, which was tinged with a taste of unpredictable wilderness. He explored, and then dominated. His tongue continued to try and coax her to play, but still she refused. She would not participate in this.

Her wrist was suddenly released, as Kanato moved his hand down. The fingertips of his left side, trailed down her extended arms. The touch of his skin was strange, and when it lingered in certain spots, Kagome could feel her whole body shuddering and tingling. Against her will, a low sound escaped the back of her throat, which only encouraged the vampire.

His hand was now resting by her left hip. His fingers slipped under the band of her thin pants, and stroked along her hipbone. A moan escaped her, as she wiggled against the body holding her down. Each movement brushed her hip against his stilled fingertips, and a coil of heat was gathering in the pit of her stomach.

She didn't even know about that spot!

His right hand gently laid her head down on the soft grass. She didn't even know when she had decided to join the kiss, but her tongue was now wrestling with his, trying to gain dominance, and failing. One small slip, and her tongue slid against the point of a single fang. The pink muscle split beneath Kanato's canines, and the taste of iron filled her mouth.

Kanato's kiss was suddenly rougher. A deep growl rumbled in his throat as his mouth suckled at her bleeding tongue. His right hand hooked under her knee, and opened her so the vampire could press closer against her. His arousal pressed insistently against her center, causes a small whine to rise in Kagome's throat.

A whine of objection, or encouragement, she didn't even know anymore.

As quickly as the kiss started, Kanato eased up. With a small gasp, Kagome found her lips free. She was panting for breath, as she felt Kanato trailed his lips down. He traced her cheekbones, followed the edge of her jaw, and trailed down her throat. He left wet, hot kisses in his wake, sometimes letting the tip of his tongue taste her skin.

Kanato rocked his hips forward, a hard bulge pressing against her sensitive, clothed core, just as a pair of fangs sliced into her neck. Her body was trembling with pleasure before, and was now thrown into a confused haze as pain wove its way through the sharp pleasure attacking her body. Strangely, the miko realized, that she liked the feeling.

He was still taking her blood, and as the pleasure faded, the pain of being bitten, was making itself more promenient. She was whimpering now, and thrashing in his hold, but her mortal strength was not enough to dislodge his body. The Shikon no Tama was warming her blood, attempting to burn Kanato like it had done before, but instead of discouraging the vampire, the heat made him bite down harder, and suck more deeply, as if challenging her body.

He was taking too much. The steady mouthfuls that he was drawing at first, were decreasing, as her body fought to keep the blood inside her body. Each pull was more painful, as Kanato fought back and forced her blood into his mouth. Her body was weakening at a frightening rate, and in one last desperate attempt, Kagome felt the jewel pool its energy into the palm of her hand.

Her left hand swung out, aiming for Kanato's face, which was still half nestled into her neck and hair.

Her wrist was snatched in midair, and its attempt was now aimed at her new attacker.

A pained grunt filled the area, but newcomer didn't let go, despite the fact that Kagome could feel his skin blistering against her own.

"Kanato, enough."

Darkness fell.

. ~: . V . :~ .

Subaru knew what he was risking. He was interrupting a feeding session. Even worse, he was planning on taking Kanato's prey away. Kanato, who was the unpredictable brother, who might share, or might attempt to kill them, depending on his moods. Normally, their coven respected each other's space, and their kills, but this one was different.

Subaru knew this, because, he was not the only one here, daring to encroach on Kanato's hunting.

Ayato was crouched by the pair, holding the once glowing wrist that belonged to the miko. His furious green eyes were locked on Kanato, and a loud hiss escaped him, when Kanato continued to ignore him, so he could continue to feed from Kagome's neck.

Subaru went around the crouched triplets, and grabbed the back of Kanato's neck, treating him like a rabid dog, as he forcefully hauled the crazed triplet away from his prey. Fangs were ripped from flesh, and Kanato reached out to grab the miko, but Subaru pulled him away before he could get a grip. Sharp fangs clipped together as Kanato struggled against Subaru's hold, but the youngest vampire was the strongest of them all, and he easily kept the unstable vampire away from the miko.

Ayato had dropped Kagome's hand, his blistered palm cradled to his chest now. "You can't do this to her!" Ayato was suddenly in front of Kanato, grabbing a fistful of the boy's jacket, and hauling him forward until he was ripped from Subaru's hold. The two brothers were nose to nose, and were growling fiercely, sounding rabid. "You know she hates that!"

"She's dead, Ayato!"

Ayato and Subaru both flinched, as if Kanato had physically struck them. With a snarl, Ayato struck back. "And that bitch is gone with her!"

The two brother separated, each one hissing at the other. Subaru felt like an outsider, watching the two brothers battle over a very personal issue. They retreated until they were each on opposite sides of the blank tombstone, and the miko laid forgotten on the ground.

Subaru saw no need to linger here, and he saw no need to leave Kagome behind. So he moved to scoop up the fainted miko. Her hair was spread out along the ground, with clumps of grass and dirt speckled in it. The bite marks on her neck had yet to scab over, but blood no longer seeped from the wounds.

"There's no one to gain approval from, Momma's Boy!"

"There's no one left in that grave, Ore-Sama."

Subaru picked up Kagome, carrying her bridal-style, with her head carefully tucked into his shoulder. Her heart beat a slow rhythm against his own silent chest, and he found the sound to be strangely soothing. The sickly sweet scent of Kanato's scent clung to her skin, making his own fangs ache in a confusing need. Did he want to erase his brother's scent, or just add his own to it?

He carried the woman back to the manor, while behind him, the sound of breaking dishes haunted the tea party.

. ~: . V . :~ .

Reiji was already inside Kagome's room, when the pair entered. Subaru's arms tightened around the sleeping woman, as he eyed his older brother. Reiji, ignored the duo, and continued on his task. His gloved hands reached down to pull a corner of the blanket down, in a silent command.

Subaru laid Kagome down, and watched as Reiji pulled the blanket back up, covering the miko from view. All that could be seen from under that blanket was her tangled, dirty hair. From the corner of Subaru's sharp eyes, he saw Reiji reaching into his pant pocket, and pulling something out.

"Don't you dare." It didn't matter what was in that crystal vial, Subaru knew better than to trust any of Reiji's chemicals.

The self-proclaimed head of household, paused his movements. The vial of clear liquid appeared harmless, and there was no sharp, or concerning, scents in the bottle. Still, Reiji was a master of poisons, and all the brothers had fallen victim to his experiments at one point in their past.

"Don't you find it odd that her night terrors have not returned?" Reiji had no consideration for the sleeping woman, keeping his voice steady and loud. The fainted woman didn't even stir at the sound. "This vial keeps her mind heavy with sleep. It stops whatever ailment that is threatening her heart when she sleeps."

"She said it wasn't needed." They had all heard the miko when she revealed her secret. In a household of vampires, it was impossible to have any kind of secrets once it was spoken.

"She doesn't know what she needs. She is too uneducated." Subaru bristled at the insult, feeling a need to defend the miko. She was handling herself better than any of their previous brides. "She refuses to listen to her instincts, and instead entices our own to the surface."

Subaru couldn't argue against that. The scent of her fear, when she dreamed, made all their fangs ache. When Shu had 'changed her dream', the scent of her arousal, combined with her fear, made it difficult to leave without taking her body and blood. Repeatedly. Passionately. To have a repeat of that incident, would mean facing those same demons again.

And Subaru wasn't sure if he wanted to defeat them.

The glass vial suddenly found itself in Subaru's hand, and the glass shattered under Subaru's crushing grip. Without another word, the youngest turned and left the room. Perhaps tonight, he'd stay guard by her door. He could just imagine the heady blend that may arise from her if her nightmares pounced. He could also feel the air growing darker, as Reiji grew more displeased as the situation sunk in. The air would only grow more charged and uncomfortable as more of the brothers were drawn to fainted woman.

Maybe tonight, he'd stay in the church. She didn't need his filthy touch added to the onslaught of harassment she was already receiving.

. ~: . V . :~ .

The pain woke her first. She had merely turned over, so she could snuggle into the overly fluffy pillow on her bed, when the movement send sharp pain down her neck. Her hand absently reached up, and traced the two ragged puncture marks, and the torn skin around it.

'Kanato's bite. Again.'

With the memory of the bite, the events of that night slowly tinkled in. The unmarked grave. The strange tea party. The kiss. The coil of desire.

Kagome groaned and buried her face into the pillow. This was starting to get out of control. She felt like she was losing her grasp on the whole situation.

"She looks flustered," a voice cooed in her ear.

"Shut up." An arm wrapped around her waist, and pulled her back into a chest. "Why did you follow Yours Truly?"

Ayato and Laito. The troublesome duo that always seemed to haunt her steps. The miko found herself deepening her breaths, and keeping her heart rate slow. She had only manage to fool a supernatural predator once with this trick, but she was still unsure how strong vampire senses were, even compared to her old canine companions.

"A little monster informed me of your argument. I-"

"Tattletale."

"What do you hope to accomplish with her, brother? Do you want to replace Little Bitch?"

"Quiet. Go away."

There was a whining sound, so animalistic, that a primal part of Kagome wanted to respond back. It was a call for attention, a need for something. "Hato, open up. We know you're awake."

Kagome tensed under Ayato's arm, and her eyes flew open. She couldn't see Ayato, who was snuggled into her back, but Laito had managed to drape himself on his belly, on her other side. His head was resting in the palm of his hand, his wild red hair falling around his face. His hat was gone, which left his vivid green eyes to stare hungrily at her.

"Hato, do you like it rough? Kanato appears to have left some marks behind." He leaned forward, his hypnotizing gaze holding her in place, as he reached a hand out to trace the new wounds. His nostrils flared as he took in her scent. "I don't smell that elixir in you. Shall I give you something to dream about? I can leave you sweaty and panting for all the right reasons."

"Don't forget about Yours Truly."

Remembering the last time she had the two vampires near her, made her hesitate. Her immediate response was to deny them, and send them away. However, she couldn't deny that there was a warmth growing in the pit of her stomach, the longer she stared at Laito's eyes. The lustful brother, sensing her hesitation, leaned even closer.

"I want to hear those sounds that Shu made you make. I want to taste you on my lips. Feel you wrapped around me. I can make you feel so good," the body behind her shifted, as Ayato pressed closer to her, "and with two of us, you'll forget your own name."

"Say yes." Ayato's voice was now cooing in her ear. His tongue snaked out to trace the rim, all the way down to her earlobe, which he pinched carefully with his canines. "It wouldn't be the first time we've shared."

What if I told you that it was our wife?

"Stop." They weren't listening, pressing in even more against her. The air around her felt thick, heavy with desire, with hesitation, and with fear. "Stop!"

They froze. Laito's head cocked to the side, his eyes drooping close. "I see. Does the pure miko feel intimidated by a threesome? Perhaps you want to start slow? Do we need to fetch another brother for you?" Laito's eyes popped open, and a lewd grin pulled on his lips. "Can I watch?"

"Hentai." Ayato growled from her other side. "Yours Truly should be first."

"I don't know," Laito hummed from the other side. "We don't want you to call at the wrong name. Might leave a bad impression on our delicate Hato."

Kagome had definitely lost control of the situation. She was still exhausted from blood loss, and now she was confused on how they even got to this topic. What right did they have to discuss her virginity so openly?

"Hato, which brother would you like?" Laito's hand was suddenly cupping her cheek, and bring her head forward, until their lips were nearly touching. He mistook her confused silence, as hesitation. "You're so greedy. You don't have to choose if you don't want too. Our coven is surprisingly good at sharing."

Laito's lips pressed against her own, at the same time that Ayato's lips pressed against the back of her neck. Two hands, one belonging to each brother, traced her body. Ayato stroked down her side, following the natural rivets of her body, while Laito's free hand traced her pale throat, down between her breast, and stroked her belly. Their touches left fire in their wake, causing a flame of desire to coil in her belly again. A startled squeak escaped her, as Ayato gripped her hip, and pulled her even more against his chest. There was no mistaking the desire, and heat, that Ayato was feeling. Not when it was pressed against her back so insistently.

Then, they were gone.

Without Laito's hand, Kagome's head fell back down into her pillow. Her body screamed at the abrupt halt to the sensations, her legs tensing beneath the blanket, as a quiet groan escaped her throat.

That, was just not playing fair.

. ~: . V . :~ .

"Why don't we just explain the truth?" Subaru's fist smashed into the wall, which rattled some of the furniture in the small greeting room. "It's better than this damn squabbling."

Reiji sighed, leaning back against his plush chair, as he readjusted his glasses. "She is still mortal. She may not understand, and the last thing we need is her rejecting all of us at the thought."

"She wasn't that shock when I told her about Yui." Kanato's voice was quiet, barely above that of a whisper.

"What is it this time?" Ayato's loud voice announced the sudden presence of the two redheads.

"We almost had her," Laito was reclined on one of the couches, obviously pouting.

"That man found out about the sacrificial bride," Reiji was quick to fill them in on the situation. "He was not pleased that she almost escaped. He plans to visit, to check on the well-being of his sons."

Reiji reach a gloved hand out, making sure that his palm was facing upward. With a puff of smoke, a small crow familiar appeared. The critter hopped forward, landing on the floor, between Reiji's feet, before growing in size. Within seconds, the familiar was the size of a large vulture, and his beady red eyes, nearly identical to the man behind it, surveyed the room. Gaining a nod from his conquerer, the bird leaned forward and proceeded to vomit the carcass of a bat onto the carpet. Bat familiars were one of the first creatures that all who contained the Sakamaki bloodlines could conquer. This one would have looked like any of theirs, if not from the single white patch near its chest. It was a distinct marking, that none of the sons could replicate. This familiar belonged to their father, Karl Heinz.

For the first time, Shu made his presence known. The eldest had been reclining against a nearby wall, his silence making him easy to overlook. "Mamoru hunted that down a few days ago. It appeared to have an unhealthy interest in my mortal."

"Does he know?" Subaru spoke the question that they were all wondering.

"We don't know," sighed Reiji. "This could be the first messenger. Or it could be the eighth. There's no way to tell how much he knows."

"But he likes to collect mikos," Kanato's childish whine gave voice to the real reason they were gathered.

It was a concerning thought. If Kagome was not claimed, then she was free to be taken. Karl Heinz would have no guilt about taking his sons' prize. It fact, stealing from his sons, might even give him more pleasure. As much as the brothers were unwilling to share with each other, they knew they would have no chance at the miko, if she was completely taken from their care.

"Why are we fretting?" Ayato shrugged a single shoulder. "We just have to make sure she chooses one of us before he gets here. We just need to charm and seduce her."

"Hmm? Why does she have to choose?" All fives heads turned to Laito. "It wouldn't be the first time this coven has shared a wife. It's not even uncommon amongst our kind anymore. Besides, what woman hasn't dreamed of having a harem?"

*Throws my hands up* Nothing is going my way. I'm hating this, the more I write it. I seriously had to force myself to write this chapter. None of the characters want to play together now, and I had to find a weak reason to force them together. Hence Karl Heinz. I know it's a weak reason, but it was that, or a whole chapter dedicated to a time skip, and that felt like a worse copout.

Okay, I'm done with plot for some time. I hope I've written enough plot to satisfy some of my readers. Smut is incoming. I want to write smut. I'm gonna write smut. Smut is incoming. I don't want to write plot for a chapter or two. (So make your opinions known now, if you're hoping for a specific brother).

As always, this is not beta-ed. Feel free to point out mistakes, or send me a revised version of this chapter, all tainted with red ink that points out my mistakes. I'll fix them . . . eventually. I'll take another look at this chapter in a day or two, with a fresh mind and more patience.

Shameless Plugs/Recommendations

The First Bride - by LightPhyre

I really like this story. It is a reverse harem, featuring a Yui who I don't want to strangle (all the time). I love the characterization of the brothers, and how the author writes about humans adapting to vampire lifestyles. Honestly, probably the reason why this chapter was even finished, and why I didn't leave this story for who-knows-how-long.

She Raises Her Face Towards The Moon - agendersubaru

Really cute story. I love Ruri, and her disability. I also like the depth to the Sakamaki brothers too, and it has the most convincing Christa I have read about. Plus, little Shu who cares about his younger siblings? Yes please. I'll admit, I'm loosing interest in the story as Ruri grows older, but I'm in love with the childhood chapters.

-Nightshade