Chapter Eight- Secrets Revealed

Inuyasha stood at the head of the group of vampires with his father, brother, and Rin standing on his left. He had found a large secluded area of trees last night and had decided that they would meet there for the gathering. Word was sent out and everyone had arrived.

He raised his arms for silence and attention. "Welcome. I'm glad you all found the place. I felt we needed a change of scenery. We're gathered so everyone can share in the happy news involving Sesshomaru and myself. Sesshomaru." He nodded for his brother to speak.

He turned to Rin and took her hands in his own. "Rin, when I saw you two years ago, I had no idea of the effect you would have on me. We shared much of ourselves to one another and tonight, I will share the biggest secret I have. I, and everyone you see here, are vampires."

Rin, to his surprise, laughed gently. "I thought as much. Your aversion to garlic, the hint of fangs you tried to hide when you spoke, and the vague answers I sometimes got." Her eyes then widened and she gave a hopeful gasp. "Are you going to turn me tonight?"

"Once Inuyasha grants his permission." Both looked at him.

Inuyasha smiled broadly. "I officially give you permission to turn Rin and, in doing so, she is now your mate."

Sesshomaru pulled Rin into a hug before he sank his fangs into her neck. He drank contently before withdrawing, pricking his finger, and dripping his blood into the holes. Rin gasped and then inhaled sharply as the vampire blood raced through her, stopping her heart, and growing out her fangs. The witnessing vampires clapped and cheered for the happy couple and at having a new clan sister until Inuyasha raised his arms again.

"Now, for my news. The weekend before last, I met a girl who is different from other teen girls. We hit it off from the start and I got the feeling that she's my soul mate when we went on a date this past weekend. She's invited me to dinner Wednesday night and, if her mother and grandfather approve of me, I will tell her I'm a vampire and hopefully, she'll let me turn her and then she can turn her family. If all goes to plan, I will have a mate myself by this weekend." A large cheer went up at this and Inuyasha signaled for silence. "I now invite you all to mingle and you won't leave until I say you can."

The group broke into smaller groups and some went to personally congratulate Sesshomaru and Rin as well as welcome the latter to the clan. Inuyasha moved among his clan members and they gave him their hope that his girlfriend did become his mate. He accepted their hopes and, as he turned to speak to those at the back of the area, he caught a flash of black fur and four legs. A werewolf? Inuyasha thought before dashing after the shape and stopping near a stream. His ears heard crying in a voice he knew and tracked it to find it coming from behind a bush. "Kagome?" he called.

Kagome stood in shock at what she heard but she also felt anger. Who did Koga think he was to announce something like this?

"Kagome," Koga said, sounding somewhat impatient.

"No," she replied.

"What?" Koga demanded.

"I said no. I won't be your mate. Not tonight or ever. I keep telling you to wait but you refuse to listen to me." Kagome turned and ran from the clearing, ignoring Koga telling her to stop. She fled the area and raced to a clump of bushes near a stream where she collapsed, crying. She did not want to be Koga's mate, but she felt that her grandpa may force her into it as he felt Koga would be a fine mate for her. It was this feeling that caused the tears.

"Kagome?" called a voice she knew.

"Inuyasha?" she replied.

"What are you doing out here?" he asked and she heard him heading her way.

"Stay away," she called and she heard the footsteps stop.

"What's wrong?" he asked, concerned. He heard a sigh and then, "I have a secret I've kept from you and I'm not sure how you'll take it or if you'll still love me."

Inuyasha smiled. "You're a wifewolf, aren't you? I visited your home yesterday and saw a paw print on the ground and I thought of your silver allergy. I completely understand why you didn't tell me and of course I still love you. Now, could you come out so I can see you and show you a secret of my own?"

"Secret?" Kagome asked as she came out of hiding, curious.

Inuyasha was almost speechless. Kagome was prettier as a wolf. She stood on four strong, lean legs and had an elegant snout. Her gold-brown eyes regarded him with anxiety. "Well?" she prompted.

Inuyasha smiled hugely to expose his fangs. "I love your wolf form. You're very pretty this way."

Kagome gaped at the fangs as Inuyasha spoke. "You're a vampire," she said neutrally.

"That doesn't bother you, does it?"

"Of course not. I still love you too."

Inuyasha came closer, crouched down, and scratched Kagome's chin. "That's good. Now, why were you crying?"

"The alpha, Koga, wants me for his mate, but I don't want to be his mate. I'm afraid Grandpa will force me to."

"Well, that's not right. Wait. Koga? As in leader of the White Claw?"

"Yeah." Kagome then barked a laugh. "Let me guess. You're the leader of the Red Fang."

"Correct. You know, I've changed my life plans. I had planned to eliminate all werewolves in Tokyo and have it be vampire territory. But now, I'm thinking of instead ending the violence between our races and having a policy of tolerance."

"That would be nice, but how will you accomplish it?"

"I won't. We will. Look, I love you and you love me. So I say, let's be mated. By being my mate, you'll have a high status and can make Koga end the violence on his end."

"Really? I could do that?"

Inuyasha laughed. "Of course. I'm clan leader and my mate and any children are treated with respect."

"Could we have children?"

"I don't know, but vampires are able to reproduce. We could try to have children at some point in the future. Werewolves are immortal, right?"

Kagome nodded. "Yeah. Grandpa doesn't look it, but he's almost nine hundred years old."

"Did your dad really die in a car accident?"

"He did. What about your mom?"

"She was stabbed by a werewolf with a sharpened cross to the heart 150 years ago. Dad got revenge with a silver dagger across the throat."

Kagome flinched. "I can see why you wanted to kill my kind."

"True, but it wouldn't bring her back and I now see a better future for both of our kinds."

"Speaking of which, I imagine we would need the blessing of both for our mating."

"Dad would have to do it for me. So, let's start with Koga. I could also propose peace at the same time."

Kagome nuzzled Inuyasha's hand before saying, "Follow me, my love."

Inuyasha smiled as he followed his mate into the forest. He knew walking toward a pack of werewolves alone and unarmed was foolhardy, but he trusted Kagome to protect him. And I will protect her when we ask Dad to unite us. This will be a big shock to Dad and Koga.