Chapter Twenty-five: Toxic Shadow

Vampires were creatures of the night… blood suckers who preyed on humans…

That was what Kagome always thought when she heard the word 'vampire'. But for the last few weeks she had been living something out of a cross between a horror film and a romance novel. All that she needed now was for some creepy morbid music to start playing…

Kagome didn't know who, or even what, she was anymore. She had stayed with Miroku and the others there for the next couple hours talking about what it was they were to do.

Not that they accomplished much. Inuyasha, Koga, and Sesshomaru were all out looking for any kind of clues to Naraku's whereabouts. But so far, no one's heard from them. While it had her anxious, the others assured her that they were strong and not to worry.

Kagome forced a painful smile when she left—stopping only to give a hug to Shippo and Rin when they finally came running back to say goodbye. She drove along that empty winding road… trying to find some way to deal with what she had just learnt. In the last twelve hours she found out that she was the reincarnation of a priestess who died five hundred years ago… and is somehow the key to helping a coven of vampires find a cursed jewel to turn them all humans. Unable to stand it, that as soon as she reached the highway, she turned the opposite direction and headed straight for Half-Moon Cove.

The sun was slowly beginning to set by the time that Kagome had arrived at Half-Moon Cove. It looked a lot like the last time she had been here as she stared at the familiar crescent moon-shaped lake that was glowing in the fading light. She got out of her car and walked along the silvery sand…

So… they think that they could help her because she was a priestess? But what could she do? Even if they were right—and the more she thought about it—the more she began to think they were right. What was she to do to help them?

She sighed as she stared at the dead grass that was blowing pitifully in the cold wind. She wrapped her coat tighter around her… she planned to come here when summer comes around. She sat on the shore and watched the waves lap on the shore.

'Maybe I am a priestess,' she thought. 'Why else would they be so interested in me? Why else would they bother with me…? But why did it have to be me?'

She sat there for so long that she didn't notice when the sun had and the sky was full of twinkling stars… until she heard the sounds of an owl hooing from a tree. She sighed and got up, planning on going home when she heard a familiar voice.

"I thought you'd be here."

She let out a startled shriek as she spun around… to see Inuyasha was there…

Covered in bruises and scars…

"Inuyasha!" she gasped as she ran over to him and felt the injuries against his pale skin. "What happened to you? You're hurt!"

Inuyasha glanced at her concerned face, "Keh, they're just a few scratches."

Kagome moved her arm and looked at his 'scratches' in disbelief. "These are scratches?" He didn't answer.

"It's nothing," he repeated as he took her hand. "Just dealt with a couple vampires…"

*Flashback*

"Who's there?" someone called.

Inuyasha froze. Just a whisper and he has already been caught. His shoulder was grabbed and he was swung around. Before he could make sense of what was happening, a dark voice cried out, "Who are you? How did you get in here?"

Inuyasha recognized that voice… Naraku's servant…

Kageromaru.

And if that thing is here… then so is his brother Juromaru…

Baring his fangs he spun around and lunged for the two vampires—aiming to kill.

*End of Flashback*

"So you attacked them?" she asked as the two of them sat on the sand and he told her what happened.

"Yep," he answered as he threw a few rocks into the water. "Juromaru was the one who grabbed my shoulder and Kageromaru was the one who spoke. They work for Naraku, but even he had trouble controlling them."

"What happened to them?" she asked worriedly.

"Well, Koga showed up and kept them busy long enough for me to finish them off," he answered. "Two less vampires for us to worry about."

"Good," she said uncomfortably, though she had mixed feelings of knowing someone who can kill so fiercely.

He must've guessed that she was thinking something like that because he turned and asked her about her family. She shrugged. "Nothing much. Dad died years ago and Mom brought me and Sota up on her own—with help from grandpa of course."

She had taken her hair out of the tight pony tail she had had it secured in before. He couldn't help but notice how it cascaded well passed her shoulders. She was very beautiful, and her eyes had a mesmerizing quality to them.

"Sota?" He questioned softly, encouraging her to continue.

She obliged him, "My kid brother."

"Oh, the runt…" Inuyasha replied.

"Be nice," she told him firmly.

He smiled sadly, "That must be nice… actually having an older sibling who cares."

She looked up at the sound of his voice, "What do you mean? What about you and Sesshomaru?"

"No… we aren't exactly close. You see, we have different mothers," he answered grimly. "We didn't grow up together—nor do we have anything in common. He just can't get over the fact that a half-breed shares his blood."

"Then why are you both here?" she asked. If these two hated each other so much, why were they living together and helping to track down the same rouge vampire.

"Because he hates Naraku more than he hates me," he answered simply.

They didn't say anything for a long time, just enjoying each other's company. Kagome then realized that her family must've been worried sick about her. She stood up and said quickly, "Oh, I've got to get home!"

But as she ran along the sand, she felt Inuyasha grab her arm and spun her around to face him. He then pulled her close and crashed his lips against hers. Completely stunned but enjoying it immediately, she reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck and drew him closer as he planted his lips against hers. When she pulled away he moved forward, his hands going to the small of her back to pull her closer to him. He teased her bottom lip with his teeth. He nipped softly and she gasped in surprise, allowing him to deepen the kiss. His hands were making designs on her back, and her arms moved up to encircle his neck.

Grinning into the kiss, she didn't realize that soon she they both fell and were in the sand… she ran her hands up to touch his cute ears and he groaned into the kiss… she suddenly felt a surge of emotion coming deep inside—as if long since buried and only now awakening—

'Whose feelings are these? Kikyo's? Or mine?' she thought randomly. But at that moment she didn't care. She just continued kiss him long and hard. His trail of kisses reached her neck… and Kagome felt his fangs drink more of her blood…

*Morning* (And so you all know they didn't go that far. Just some hard-core kissing.)

Kagome woke up… sore and tired with sand in her hair and using Inuyasha's chest for a pillow. His coat was covering them both in a warm blanket. He opened his eyes and grinned down at her, "You awake?" he asked teasingly.

She smirked back. "You're lucky that your kisses are out of this world otherwise I would be angry at you for making me sleep out in the cold. They both sat up and were brushing the sand that coated them both and Kagome gasped when she saw the sun beginning to rise. The twinkling stars went out one by one… and then the horizon began to glow… almost as if it were liquid fire. It spread across the land, over the lake… and then up to the sky. It got brighter and brighter… until everything began to glow.

"Gorgeous," she whispered. The two of them watched as the sun crept over the horizon and slowly began to rise. "Oh, are you alright?" she asked, remembering that the light hurts him.

"Only a little," he shrugged nonchalantly. "Really, it's nothing…"

"I have to get home," she sighed and got to her feet. "Who knows what mom is going to be thinking. I promised to be back last night."

"It's only 4:30," Inuyasha said as he checked his watch. "If we hurry, I can get you back before she thinks otherwise."

She stared at him before she grinned, "I'll believe it when I see it."

He grinned back and said, "Get in. I'll drive."

She tossed him the keys and was now in shotgun as he got behind the wheel. She shut her eyes and began to doze off as he gently pulled out and went onto the road. She thought that she had only been asleep for a few minutes before someone was shaking her rudely awake.

"Kagome?" Inuyasha said as she slowly began to come out of her slumber. "You better hurry if you want to get into your room."

She opened one of her eyes to look at him. "What time is it?"

"Almost 5," he grinned. "If we hurry, we should be able to get you in and you can change so your mom will never know you were out all night."

"But we have to get home first…" she groaned as she closed her eyes again.

"But we are home," he laughed as if he thought she was dumb. Kagome sat upright and looked around her. He was right… they were parked in the driveway and the sun had almost completely risen.

"But… how…?" she gasped and stared at him. "That doesn't make any sense! It takes at least an hour to get from here to Half-Moon Cove!"

He grinned mischievously. "Sorry, but a vampire never reveals his secrets." His ears suddenly twitched towards the house. "Sounds like your mother is getting up."

Kagome choked as she quickly got out. As soon as she shut the door, Inuyasha was there and swung her up onto his back before they leapt up into the air and to her windowsill. She quickly opened the window and slipped inside. "Thanks," she whispered as she turned back towards him—who was clinging onto the sill as he looked at her. "But what am I supposed to do now?"

"I'll be back soon enough," he promised. "Until then, try to stay out of trouble."

"You're one to talk," she grinned back. His eyes rose to meet her expressive brown ones… in that second—she know she didn't imagine it that time—his golden eyes flashed a blood red…

She blinked… but then they were back to normal. "Inu-Inuyasha?" she asked with concern in her eyes. "Are you alright?"

"Yes," he said as he shook his head, as if getting rid of a fly. "I just… it's hard… sometimes I can't help myself."

She rubbed her sore neck. "Inuyasha. I-about last night…" she began slowly.

He raised his head up at her. "We sometimes forget on the spur of the moment." He reached up and kissed her lips again. "I personally liked it."

This time, she leaned in and kissed him hard and passionately. Neither one wanted to do it, but they finally pulled away and they were panting for air when they did. "I'd better go." He said softly, breaking the silence, she nodded silently. Then she blinked…

And he was gone.

When he had left her, all Kagome could do was stare at where he had been. Her limbs were weak, and her body was heavy, though her veins were flooded with electricity. Kagome's fingers reached up and touched her lips softly, as she remembered his lips on her own all night. A smile spread almost as fast as the blush…

After sitting in the same position for about fifteen minutes Kagome jumped when her mother called out to her.

"Kagome?"

"I'm here mom!" she called back at once.

"Oh, you're home!" she heard her mom sigh in relief. "I was starting to get worried when you didn't come back by the time I went up."

Kagome grabbed her bathrobe and wrapped it around herself and a towel to cover her sand-filled hair. She stuck her head out and when she didn't see her mother she raced to the bathroom. "I'm fine mom! The—ah—traffic was really bad last night. That's why it took so long. I'm gonna take a shower ok?"

"Ok, sweetheart," she called back. You can't help but love mom. Just as long as Kagome didn't do anything illegal, her mother was so easy on her. After a long, hard shower she felt that it was safe enough to come out. She returned to her room and collapsed onto her bed. Just as she was thinking about getting some more sleep, her phone rang.

Swearing to herself, she got off the bed on stiff legs and approached the offending appliance. She stared at it for a second, when it rang again she reached out to pick it up, 'Maybe it's Inuyasha.' she thought hopefully, but then shook her head, 'Stupid! He doesn't know my number; I never gave it to him. So who could it be?'

She flicked it open and said wearily, "Hello?"

"Hey, Kagome!" It was Eri.

"Oh! Hey Eri! Did you want something?" she asked, trying to sound upbeat, but sounded close to falling asleep.

"Oh, good your home!" she said happily, "I was calling all day yesterday but you never called back. You're mom said that you were out and would call me when you got back."

"Oh, I got back pretty late," Kagome lied quickly. "Mom was already in bed by the time I got here and… ah… I didn't bother checking my messages."

"Oh," Eri said in surprise. "Well, I was wondering if you wanted to go to the mall with me and the other girls today?"

"Um, yeah, sure," Kagome said slightly distracted, her mind was still on the tall handsome vampire who had kissed her…

"Kagome?" Eri asked sensing that something was wrong. "Is something wrong?"

"No, no, nothing Eri," she said softly. In truth, she was still really worn out… but she needed to get out. "I just had a… beautiful nigthmare."

They talked for a little longer before Eri hung up. Kagome fell back onto her bed, wondering when her life got so complicated. Kagome then heard a light knock at her door.

"Kagome? You in there?" came Sota's voice from out in the hall.

Kagome felt the need to scream as she slowly dragged herself out of bed. "What is it Sota?"

"Mom says that breakfast is ready," he answered. "You coming?"

"Yeah," Kagome answered… but she smiled again at the thought of all those kisses last night. "I'll be there in a second."

(Cute huh? Just a little bit of romance… I couldn't help myself. Things are getting darker—but in more ways than one. But why are Inuyasha's eyes glowing red? What is going to happen? And when is Naraku gonna strike? Find out soon!)