Chapter Four: Tantalizing blood

Inuyasha had been out all night watching all the people running around and enjoying themselves. He watched as kids came dressed in every costume you could think of… Power Rangers, Grim Reapers, Star Trek, Angels, Zombies, Cavemen, Princess… and…

He had to laugh. There were dozens of little kids running around dressed as vampires. Oh, boy if they only knew…

Chuckling, he continued on his way down the street. He loved Halloween. It was one of the few times of the year that he could walk out and not have to worry about anyone running away from him. It was also one of the few times of the year that he didn't have to worry about wearing a disguise. No long wigs… no hats… no shoes… oh it felt so good.

He paused outside a house where a large group of trick-or-treaters were waiting for candy. His went immediately to a young boy that looked to be about 10 years old, who was dressed as a vampire. Inuyasha had to roll his eyes.

'Oh, please,' he thought, 'Vampires haven't worn capes in centuries.'

The young boy went running down to cross the street to the next house. As he passed, Inuyasha heard the boy talking with his friends, "I got a Reese's! My sisters gonna flip for it!"

"What's your sister doing tonight anyway?" asked a boy with thick blonde hair who was dressed as a zombie.

"Why do you care?" the boy asked suspiciously.

"'Cause you have a hot sister!" he replied.

"She's 6 years older than us!" the dark haired boy replied.

"Yeah, but come on Sota. You can't admit that you have a pretty sister."

'Sota? Strange name,' thought Inuyasha.

"I really don't think that you're her type," Sota answered rolling his eyes. "And she's at a Halloween party right now. She went dressed as a priestess. You should've seen her! She looks like she came right out of feudal Japan!"

Priestess? Feudal Japan? These were words that Inuyasha hadn't heard in a long time. Inuyasha shook his head as he continued on. 'Come on… get with the times Inuyasha!' he thought. 'You can't go back… you've come too far to look back now anyway."

He spent the rest of the night wandering around the streets, looking at the decorations and the costumes, and just enjoying the crisp October air. His long silver hair blowing in a light breeze, his claws reflecting from the low light, breathing in the smell of apple cider and dead leaves… Inuyasha loved this day more than any other. It was really good to be out in his old clothes again as well… He was dressed in a crimson-red kimono that looked to be made of some strange material, and pants with a sword hanging but his side.

He wore this outfit every year for Halloween. I mean come on… he couldn't wear it any other time could he?

*Later*

He wandered onto a dark street, long after all the trick-or-treaters had gone home. He knew it was getting late, but he still needed to eat before he went home. He didn't want to bother any of the little kids… so he decided to wait until he was sure that they were all safely home before he went looking for his next meal.

Just as he began looking around he could hear the sounds of someone struggling, and some heavy breathing. Curious, he decided to go and check it out real quick. He wandered in the darkness of a large house… he didn't see anything unusual about it… that was until he saw a tall figure pressing another smaller figure up against the side of the house in a threatening way.

He was wondering what he should do when a slight breeze picked up and he could smell something. It was a scent that was making his senses go crazy! A wonderful, floral smell filled his sensitive nose, making his eyes widened in comprehension and his mouth water. It was then he realized that the smell was coming from the smaller figure that was being forced up against the house.

He came closer… trying to see what exactly was going on. His golden eyes were slightly glazed over from the hypnotic scent; everything around him was in a blur.

He needed that scent, he wanted it.

He didn't understand these feelings that swirled inside of him and he didn't care. His instincts were going haywire; telling him that if he didn't reach that scent he would lose his mind.

"What do you want Bankotsu?" demanded a female voice that sounded a little bit like chiming bells. He then saw that it was a teenage girl that was being pressed against the wall, by a larger teenage boy. He did not like where this was going.

He saw the male practically throw her against the side of the house, knocking the air out of her. She sank to the ground, gasping for breath. Now that the man was out of his line of sight he could get a better look at the girl in the low moonlight. He gasped.

She was a very beautiful young woman with long raven hair that surrounded a heart-shaped face, and stunning brown eyes. But what got him the most was that she was dressed in the attire of a priestess. She looked like she belonged in feudal Japan… wait a minute.

Could this be the same girl that he heard that Sota kid talking about? It had to be… there was no way that it could be a coincidence.

'She looks just like…' he began but before he could finish the thought, he saw the bully walking towards her. He saw the blood drain from her face, leaving her looking dizzy and scared. He couldn't see the guy's face, but the terrified look on the girls face was more than enough for his blood to start boiling.

There was no way that he could stand back and watch her get hurt.

"I've been waiting for a long time Kagome," the bully said as he came near her. "You can't refuse me now…"

The girl was looking around her, as if hoping to try and find some escape route. Finding none, she turned sideways and readied herself for a fight…

That is until he made himself known.

"Hold it," he murmured dangerously from the darkness. "I would leave her alone if I were you."

The girl turned her head to look in his direction; Inuyasha smirked because he knew that they couldn't see him. The bully that the girl called Bankotsu growled as he looked around him, "Who's there?" he yelled. "So yourself."

"If you insist," he answered in harsh, yet deep voice. He calmly walked out of the dark and glared daggers at the bully now standing over the girl. Inuyasha saw the girl's eyes widened as he stepped into the weak moonlight.

He got an even better look at her. She had a beautiful face, with long, flowing raven hair that fell about her in dark waves. She was dressed in a soft cream kimono and dark red pants and a white hair ribbon in her hair… oh yeah, she really did look like she belonged in Japan 500 years ago.

The girl just stared at him as he came to stand just a few feet away from them and looking at Bankotsu with a look of disgust.

He then turned his head slightly to look down at her with a hungry stare in his eyes and he saw that she was looking at him in confusion.

Her smell… it made him hungry.

But he quickly turned his head away as he walked forward to Bankotsu and shoved him backwards, away from the girl.

"You should've listened," he said darkly as he advanced on Bankotsu.

Bankotsu stood his ground, and put of his fists, readying for a fight, "And you should mind your own busy dog-face."

That struck a nerve.

"As soon as I take care of you!" he yelled as he then began to fight with Bankotsu. He had to admit… this guy was pretty good. He dodged his blows and dealt back his own with deadly accuracy. But he was finally able to get behind him and punched him so hard that he fell like a ton of bricks. He hit the ground with a muffled moan.

After easily taking down that pitiful excuse for a human, he brushed off his clothes before looking over at the girl who was leaning up against the wall and asked her, "You ok?"

She seemed to be in shock because it took a minute for her to realize that he was speaking to her. "Y-y-yes," she stuttered.

After he finished brushing off the wrinkles in his clothes, he cautiously approached and crouched down in front of her before gently placed a hand on her shoulder. Her eyes were shadowed by her raven hair, hiding them from his gaze. He frowned when she flinched and cowered back as far as she could, whimpering pathetically.

"Shh..." he murmured to the girl, trying to calm her as he lightly stroked her hair and said that the idiot bleeding on the ground wasn't going to bother her again.

Slowly, the girl relaxed, and allowed him to help her get back to her feet.

"So…" he asked as he looked down at unconscious teenager before continuing, "You mind telling me why this jerk was bothering you?"

The girl shook her head in disgust, "Well, he's the most popular guy at my school. All the girls at school are in love with him… except for me… and I guess…"

"He wanted you too?" he finished for her in repulsion. 'What an ass,' he thought. The girl nodded, while putting her face in her hands, and began shaking again.

All of a sudden, the girl then leaned towards him and began to cry. Startled, he put his hands on her shoulders as he tried to reassure her. He felt his heart melt at the sight of her tear stained face. Not knowing why he did it, he gently pushed her back to look at her face and brushed his clawed thumb across her flushed cheek, wiping away a stray tear. Fear suddenly sparked into the girls beautiful brown eyes, and his chest felt like it was about to burst from the sadness as she took a few steps backwards, away from him.

"What's your name?" he asked lightly after a few minutes of silence. He could still feel her warm touch and he wanted to feel it again. She looked at him cautiously but she then timidly smiled.

"My name's Kagome," she murmured, her eyes dropping from his. "Thank you… for saving me."

"Kagome..." he repeated before he stopped and looked up, glancing around them uneasily. Kagome stared at him in confusion, her head cocked to one side.

"I... I think we should get out of here," he murmured, grabbing Kagome's hand and pulling her towards the house. He had just realized that, aside from an unconscious Bankotsu, they were alone! He should never be left alone with a human! Especially one that smelled as heavenly as Kagome did. He was desperate to get somewhere public and, for Kagome's sake, safe.

But her magnificent, floral smell filled his nose again, making his eyes widened and his mouth water. He fought it however as he tugged Kagome towards the house, frantically wanting to get away from the smell that was making his teeth ache with the need to sink them into her flesh. He ran his tongue over his fangs, his body shaking from thirst. He glanced down at Kagome, his eyes focusing on her pulse point on her neck. He couldn't turn his eyes away from her…. mesmerize by the throb of the artery. He lost control.

Unconsciously, he started leaning in towards Kagome's neck, opening his mouth to reveal his fangs. 'Oh shit,' he thought as he saw Kagome freeze, staring at his fangs out of the corner of her eye. He pulled her against the wall of the house and leant against her, holding her close to him. She tried to force him off her, but he was much too strong and far too thirsty to comprehend what he was doing. His mouth immediately went to her throat, his fangs brushing her pulse point. He felt her stiffen at his touch and shake when he ran his tongue over her skin, coating the area in saliva. Before he could stop himself, he sank his fangs into the girl's throat, closing his eyes in ecstasy.

He faintly heard Kagome gasp in shock as he started to lick the blood from the wounds that he just gave her. This taste…! He loved the taste of her blood… it was the rarest and most delicious taste that he ever had in his existence. Her blood was like the finest of all wines… so sweet, so pure… he couldn't get enough.

However, he soon remembered that he had to stop before he killed her. Kagome had started to sag against him, her skin fading to an ashy white. He moved away from her neck, giving the area one last lick, once again coating the two tiny holes in saliva.

He watched as the twin holes closed over, completely healed… as if they were never there. He then glanced at Kagome's face. Her eyes were closed and her breathing faint. His eyes widened at this. He had so much of her blood that the girl had fainted. Slowly picking her up, bridal style, he cradled Kagome against his lean chest. He knew that she wasn't going to remember being bitten, but he couldn't just leave her here. He was trying to figure out what to do when he heard a door open.

He looked up to see the front door open and a few voices call out, "Kagome? Where are you? Someone said they saw you head out here?"

'Oh double shit,' he thought in a panic as three teenage girls spot him holding Kagome. 'Think fast!'

A girl that was dressed as a red devil looked in their direction and her eyes widened. "Kagome!" she yelled in a panic, causing the other two girls, a cop and a hippie, to look. The girl dressed as a hippie was about to go inside, 'Going to call the cops,' he thought. His eyes then widened… that gave him an idea.

"About time someone got here!" he yelled. He jerked his head over to an unconscious Bankotsu before continuing, "I don't know what that guy was about to do, but he knocked this girl out!"

The girls were staring at him, then at Kagome in his arms, then at Bankotsu on the ground, and finally at each other. Not sure what to do or who to believe. Luckily for him, Bankotsu chose that moment to wake up and cry out, "Damn you mutt! When I find you, I'm going to kill you for stopping my fun!"

Inuyasha put Kagome down and went over to Bankotsu and kicked him in the head. He turned his head back to the petrified girls and called, "I think that you should go and call the cops!"

The girl in red seemed to snap out of it and ran back inside, as the other two girls went to Kagome. Once Inuyasha had made sure that Bankotsu was out like a light again, a guy dressed in red tights that made him look like an idiot, came running out. He took one look at Kagome before he knelt down beside her and took her hand.

Inuyasha turned his head away… for some reason he did NOT like this guy touching Kagome.

The girl who looked like a female-version of the devil came back out with a phone in her hands and with what looked like everyone else at the party. "The police are on their way!"

The nerd in tights then cried out rather hysterically, "Call a ambulance!"

The girl started to dial when Inuyasha stepped in and said, "Relax! She just fainted! I'm sure that she'll be just fine with some sleep. But I suggest that you take her straight home!" he turned to walk away when Hojo got up and yelled, "Who are you? What did you do?"

Annoyed, Inuyasha didn't want to answer a guy in tights but said, "I was taking a midnight stroll when I heard fighting! I came to check it out and found that guy," he pointed a thumb at Bankotsu, "Attacking the girl and I jumped in. When I took they guy out, I turned around, and she was on the ground. I picked her up to take her back in when these girls," he pointed a thumb at the three girls and went on, "Came out looking for her. That's it!"

It wasn't a total lie. He just didn't say that he sucked her blood… that's all.

"B-but…" began the guy again as Inuyasha walked away, "My name is Inuyasha." And he faded into the dark.

*Later*

Inuyasha watched from the dark as Bankotsu was forced into the back of a cop's car with a bleeding lip and a black eye; still dazed and confused on what happened. Inuyasha grinned before he turned his attention to the girls who were helping Kagome into a car and drove off.

He followed behind them silently, easily able to keep up with the vehicle. He followed for a short time when they pulled into the driveway of large house that looked a little bit like a shine. Curious, Inuyasha jumped onto the branches of a tree and watched as Kagome opened the door and got out.

He was relieved that she was alright, and able to get out on her own, but was also surprised that she was still able to walk after he took so much blood. He watched as she waved to her friends, and bade them goodnight. Once the car let, Kagome turned and staggered to the back door. She looked so weak and exhausted that he was worried that she was going to collapse.

He looked up at a large window and decided to enter; just to make sure that she was going to get to her room. He leapt over to the windowsill, easily opened it and quietly snuck in. He found himself in a large room with Kagome's scent all over it. This must be her room.

He quickly crept out and went downstairs just in time to see Kagome enter the kitchen. He followed her… in her tired state; there was no way that she could possibly know that he was there. He followed her through the rooms, and watched helplessly as she stumbled around the kitchen, into a hallway and up a flight of stairs. He wanted to help her, but there was no way that he could without freaking her out. And stress was not what she needed right now.

He followed her without making a sound as she climbed the stairs and watched as her body buckled at the top. He nearly went mad with worry as she just laid there for a few minutes and didn't move. He listened to Kagome's ragged breathing as she then began to crawl to the first door on the left. She raised her hand and was able to turn the doorknob and inch her way into the room.

He watched her gasp for air as she then forced herself back to her feet and fell, still in her costume, and onto her bed. He watched as she struggled for mouthfuls of air, as if she had just run a marathon and closed her eyes. It was then that a soft breeze came in; Inuyasha began cursing himself… he left the window open.

But the breeze seemed to soothe Kagome and in no time, she was asleep. Once he was sure that she was in a deep sleep, he closed her bedroom door quietly and walked over to the bed. He looked down at her sleeping face and felt a rare smile appear on his lips.

'Kagome's nearly identical to… her…' he thought. There is no way that it could be a coincidence. He raised his hand and gently brushed her check. She began to breathe deeply, and Inuyasha knew that she was going to be alright; but she'll be sound asleep for most of tomorrow.

Feeling guilty, he picked up her blanket and laid it over her. He then raised her head slightly and easily pulled out the hair band. He laid her head back down… he felt his mouth water again when he looked down at her exposed neck.

It took all of his self-control to turn away and walk to her window.

Yes… Inuyasha was a vampire… that was something that he couldn't change… But he knew he couldn't stay away from her blood for long. Never in his entire existence had he EVER tasted blood as sweet as hers. He knew that he would be back for more.

He leapt out the window and raced home trying to get as far away from her as possible. He needed to let her recover before he tried to take more blood. If he tried to take anymore… it would kill her.

But he could still smell Kagome's scent… why…? He looked down at his clenched hand and saw that he still had Kagome's hair ribbon.

Smiling slightly, he put his nose to the ribbon and breathed deeply.

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