Searching for Love in a World Full of Blood by Ikaru

Her Life

Fangs pierced in to the soft flesh of the man's neck. It had been a part of her life for so long that she didn't even hear the faint pop her fangs made upon entering the neck of her victim anymore. So many had she been force to kill in order for her to live, and all because of that bastard that turned her over one thousand years ago.

She was a vampire, a creature that supposedly only walks at night, but she had been special. A miko turned vampire. Her holy powers were great when she was alive, so when she had been turned it had an effect on the transformation. She was a day walker, but she could only feed at night. Should she try to feed during the daylight hours she would be forced into a transformation that would steal what little humanity she still possessed, she would become the monster she so hated. It was something closely associated with when a hanyo's demon blood would take control of them.

She had to find all of this out on her own however, because shortly after he had turned her, her "Master" had succumbed to her miko blood, burning up as a nightwalker would do in the sunlight. That was also the day she found out her miko powers were useful for purifying not only demons but vampires also, a fact previously unknown to all, but information she had shared willingly. Her miko powers remained after her transformation also, making her immune to them. A testament to her power, for none before her had been able to keep their powers, all were too weak minded to hold onto their purity of mind. They all eventually succumbed to the evil intentions brought on by the change. Her powers kept most of the evil things at bay, only leaving the thirst and the possibility of the change in their wake.

Her "Master," she later learned from others who had been turned by him, went by the name Naraku. He was a hanyo when he was turned, which other than giving him a slight advantage on strength, did nothing extraordinary to him. He had a penchant for going after beautiful women, though was known to occasionally partake of men, both sexually and to satisfy his thirst. The strength he had gained when he was changed caused him to slowly become corrupted by power. Foolishly thinking himself the strongest he choose go after mikos, who at the time didn't know the affects the changing would have upon them should it befall them, or what their powers were truly capable of. Those strong enough to resist the evil influences became what were known as day walkers, the earliest of which learned the hard way about the restriction of feeding at night. Many lost their lives after they went into the blood lust brought on by feeding during the day, either by their own hands from the madness, or by angry villagers seeking revenge.

It was by their example that she had learned the restrictions, and she tread carefully until she knew all there was to know about her new life. Her blood had killed her would be master, and freed those who were bound to him. They all sought her out, some to thank her, others to challenge her, because by killing him she had become head of the clan. She quickly taught them their place, showing them how powerful a miko she was. She just as quickly gained a group of loyal followers.

Sango was a beautiful woman who she had learned was a demon exterminator in her life among the living, her will had been strong enough to resist the influences brought on by the changing, and she apparently had some dormant spiritual powers that she choose not to develop. She favored her slayer skills to spiritual powers, either way they were strong enough to cause her to become a day walker also. She had warm brown eyes, waist length medium brown hair, sun kissed skin, and a tall, slim body that belied her true strength. She had become like a big sister to her almost from the start, being extremely grateful to having been freed from Naraku's evil grasp. She also helped to guide her in her early days as a vampire, and viciously protected her from those who would harm her. She didn't know what would have happened to her if it hadn't been for Sango. After she had adjusted to being a vampire, Sango had also extended her combat skill so she was better able to protect herself.

Miroku was another one who was just as grateful to be freed from Naraku, and was no less loyal than Sango. His wandering hand was something the former houshi claimed was part of the evil he couldn't fight with his spiritual powers that were strong enough to allow him to walk in the daylight, she eventually found out it was just because he was a lecher, that didn't stop Sango from falling in love with him though. He had jet-black hair that was just long enough to be tied into a small ponytail at the nape of his neck, blue-violet eyes, fair skin, just because he didn't work outside all that often, and a tall, mildly muscular form. His intellect was what she truly respected about the man though; he was wise and always had a calm answer to every situation, even when his wife was beating him over the head for fondling her in public again.

They had been "married", so to speak, not all that long ago. Due to the fact that they were, for all intensive purposes, dead they couldn't be married under normal circumstances, so she had come up with a way for them to be married in the vampire society, by her performing the binding ceremony. It was as simple as them slicing their hands open over a goblet, allowing their blood to mingle then both drinking half of the mixed blood after she had said a blessing over it. After the formalities were taken care of, they were allowed to consummate their relationship in private. There they would bite each other where their shoulders met their necks at their peaks, drink the blood until the wound closed, thus leaving a "mating mark" in demon terms. The drinking of the blood from the goblet beforehand was not only to signify that they were about to bind their lives together, but also to prepare their bodies for the drinking of their intended's untainted blood. Vampire blood could be toxic to other vampires, so by taking it in a diluted form before hand was a way to see if a binding was possible, or just to cause the body to prepare for their significant others blood. Both were very thankful to her for finding a way to become mates, and since then many other couples had come to her asking for her to perform the same ceremony for them. She was a peaceful soul, and readily agreed to all who asked her to perform it. For some though, they were not strong enough for the binding and ended up dying in their loves arms. None who came to her ever felt any ill will, as they knew the risks before it began; they all just went in with the hope that it would work.

She wasn't one to turn people. When she was forced to feed she let her victims die, rather than force them into the life that she had. She cared about those around her, and knew it was a hard life on them. It still wasn't know if vampire females could produce offspring, and this caused a strain on the relationships of those she had bonded, and this in turn caused a pain in her heart. She refused to force anyone into this life. She had, in her over one thousand years of life, only turned two people, both of which were knocking on deaths door.

One was a little kit that went by the name of Shippo. Others of his kind had attacked him, leaving him on the verge of death. She had always wanted a child of her own, and not having the chance in life, she decided that adopting this kit would fill some of the void. Therefore, she offered to turn him, and he agreed. He had feet that resembled a fox, all soft and furry, bright red hair that he tied into a poofy bun on the top of his head with a ribbon, his skin was pale, his eyes were a mesmerizing shade of emerald green, and was really, really short. He had been an outcast in his own clan, but she had accepted him for who he was, and like the others loyal to her he was a day walker, something that was odd as the kit had no holy powers. After much time thinking on it, she came to the conclusion that when she offered him her blood to turn him, the holy powers in her blood made him what she wanted him to be, a day walker like her. It didn't take long before he was calling her mama, and part of the void in her hear was filled, slowly her little family, as she called those close to her, was growing. Sango and Miroku were her older brother and sister, and Shippo was her son.

The last in her little group, was a hanyo in his life named Inuyasha. He had been attack by rouge demons in a forest, and that is where she found him. He was dying from his injuries, and he was still very young by human standards. A few moments of conversation revealed that his human mother had just died, and without her protection, the villagers had turned him out into the world. Therefore, like Shippo, she made him the offer of the change, and he too agreed, becoming a day walker. He became like a younger brother though, having just lost his living mother, he had no desire for a new one. Inuyasha had long, thick silver hair that had two puppy ears behind his bushy bangs, he was only a little taller than Shippo, he had sun kissed skin, and his eyes were a warm golden color. He and Shippo became fast friends, so her little group was complete, and for the past seven hundred years, all had been peaceful for her and her group.

Over the years many groups of vampires went to war with each other over territory and other such things. Her group was small but very strong, Shippo and Inuyasha having had grown into adults, had become exceptionally strong because of the demon blood in them mixing with her vampire blood. It had surprised everyone when Shippo and Inuyasha had started to develop into adults, because when you are turned your body supposedly stops ageing. The only conclusion that the group could come up with was that it was her unspoken desire that they be allowed to grow into adults, and her blood granted that wish for her. So they grew and became strong, few would dare mess with her group, and those who did didn't live to tell the tale. She hated to fight, and her group also preferred the peaceful life that they mostly enjoyed. That was becoming harder to maintain though, because more and more of the male vampires were noticing her.

She was a beauty beyond compare in the vampire world. Her long blue-black hair came down to her knees, she stood at an average height, with an average build, her eyes were the color of the sky, and her skin held a healthy glow, but her personality is what drew people to her. She was kind yet firm in her decisions, and she had a smile for everyone. She was one of the most powerful vampires alive, yet she lived modestly with her little clan. Many came seeking her hand to mate, but none were found to be worthy. To all her suitors she asked one question, and based on their answer, she judged them; some even lost their lives because they didn't like the rejection and tried to kill her.

Her question was a simple one, but it caused the men to think deeply. She wanted someone who would love her for her and not her power or title, and that was all the men wanted of her, so all were turned away. It had been going on for over six hundred years, and she had lost hope a long time ago of finding a happiness like Sango and Miroku shared.

One day a man approached her while she was sitting on a park bench in the middle of the day. He didn't talk to her. He just sat there, and watched as the world went by. She wasn't disturbed by his presence, though she knew he too was a vampire, she was comfortable. Soon day started to turn to night and she almost found herself reluctant to leave his calming presence, but she knew she had to return home or the others would begin to worry. As she stood to leave, he finally spoke, his voice a smooth baritone.

"May I ask you one question before you leave fair maiden?" the handsome stranger said, as he looked at her with his warm honey gold eyes.

"You may, if you tell me your name first, sir." She stated, she had a clue as to what he would ask so she prepared for the inevitable

"I merely wish to know your name, fair maiden. Forgive my rudeness; my name is Sesshomaru, leader of the Clan of Inu." He said as he stood and bowed to her in apology.

Needless to say, she wasn't expecting that. Her eyes widened for a moment, the she regained her composure and decided to give him her name if nothing else.

"My name is Kagome, leader of the small Clan of Tama." She was expecting him to make a grab for her or to suddenly try to claim her, with the mild look of shock that suddenly appeared on his face.

"I see, forgive me for not recognizing you, for I have heard rumors of your clan, but have never seen any of its members to my knowledge. Now that I know who you are however, I wish to get to know you, will you allow me this fair Kagome." He looked at her with genuine desire, he had money and power, what he wanted was someone to love him, and from the rumors, he had heard she wanted the same.

She saw the look he gave her. She knew of his clan, they were just as powerful as hers was only slightly larger in their members numbers. Moreover, he was said to be another of the strongest vampires, and a day walker to boot, that was new information. Nevertheless, like all the others she had to test him with her question.

"Why me?" was all she said, and he stood there for a time thinking. He knew this was had to be the question that so many males were talking about, and damn if it wasn't a hard one to answer. A few moments of thinking, and he came up with the answer that he wanted for himself, as her tastes seemed to be similar in the desire of a mate, as his.

"Fair Kagome, my answer to your question is this, I have money, I have power, and I have everything that anybody in their right state of mind could want. However, there is a void in my heart that I have tried to fill for years, but to no avail. I seek a woman to spend my eternal life with, one that I can love and will love me in return. All who have sought me out before only wanted the money or power that would come with being my mate. Therefore, I ask you, for you have no desires for my wealth or power as you have your own and do not require mine. The loneliness I see in your eyes is as clear as what I feel in my heart, please fair maiden allow me to court you, and maybe we can find what we both want so desperately." He said it with so much honesty radiating from his voice and his eyes that she couldn't have told him no if she had wanted too.

"You words touch very close to home, Sesshomaru; you have answered with the truth in your heart where others tried to tell me what they thought I wanted to hear with sweet words and actions. Very well, I will grant you permission to court me. You should congratulate yourself also, for you are the only one to look me in the eye when they answered and not my ample bosom, for I always have been told that my eyes are very expressive, and they were the key to the proper answer to my question." With that, she turned and walked away with a smile on her face.

Not long after that, the courting started it was just like any other modern day courting, going on dates and thing like that. It didn't take long for them to start falling for each other, and soon Kagome was performing her own bonding ceremony in front of both of their clans.

First Sesshomaru sliced his hand over the goblet allowing his blood to fill it half way as instructed by Kagome, who then sliced her own palm to fill the goblet the rest of the way.

Then she picked up the goblet and said the blessing that she had for so many others, and prayed that it would work for her. The Goblet began to glow a faint purple, then green, then pink, before returning to purple again. She thought it was odd because normally the couples spiritual energies combined automatically when the blood was physically mixed before the blessing, to see it shift during the blessing as it had was odd. They threw caution to the wind, however, and drank their respective portions of the blood.

Nothing unusual seemed to happen, and neither became ill, so with the public blood bond complete, it was time to consummate their relationship.

They walked into her room, as the bondings always took place at her clan's home the mating usually occurred there also, in a specially prepared room of course. Her room was in a separate wing than the others, she really had no desire to hear the sounds that came from the act of mating, so she isolated herself from the rest of her clan, even her adoptive son. Which if the look he was giving her meant anything, the isolation would probably be a blessing on this night.

"You separate yourself from the others? I swear my dear, you are more like myself than you know." He said with a chuckle, and she blushed under his heated gaze.

"Yes, well with how many bondings I perform, and how many decide to consummate here, I had to for sanities sake." She said with a laugh of her own

"I see where that may be a problem, but I think form this day forward, my dear that problem will be solved." He said with a lecherous grin, and enjoyed her deeper blush.

They mated for well over twenty-four hours; they just couldn't seem to get enough of each other. Sesshomaru about had a, proverbial, heart attach when he broke Kagome's innocence. Naraku had had a penchant for playing with his food, so to speak, before he turned them, but apparently, she had been spared.

All was well for them, their clans combined and things had settled down in the vampire society. All was peaceful in their immortal lives, until one day Kagome started to become ill in the mornings. Everyone, including, Sesshomaru began to panic. Sango checked her over because they couldn't go to a regular doctor. When she came out of the makeshift exam room, she looked pale, and was in a daze. When everyone slammed her with questions, she was knocked out of her daze and finally managed to get out what she had discovered.

"She's pregnant." The world seemed to stand still for what seemed like forever. Then Sesshomaru disappeared into the room Kagome was in, and the next thing everyone hears is the surprised squeal of Kagome. When they all crowded around the door, they saw him swinging her around in large circles, with a look of pure joy on his face.

They discovered that the odd occurrence at the public bonding ceremony actually signified that they would be able to have children, their combined power made it possible, her purity and his strength.

The pregnancy lasted just as long as a living humans, and the labor was just as painful, and after sixteen hours of painful contractions and promises of painful dismemberments, she gave birth to a beautiful little girl.

"I'll call her Destiny, because I feel she is going to change the destiny of all our kind." A tired Kagome said before falling into the land of dreams.

"Destiny...it suits her." Sesshomaru smiled at the little bundle in his arms, the first child born of two vampires; yes, her future would be a bright one.

Destiny's birth had been a landmark for the future of vampires; eventually many more couples were able to have children due to the information gathered from her birth. Couples knew immediately if they would be able to conceive a child, and many who had previously been bonded were able to finally attain the level of power needed to conceive.

Destiny grew into a beautiful woman. Her hair was long and blue-black like her mother's, but she had silver bangs like her father. She was taller than her mother was, closer to the height of her father, her skin held color like her mother's, her father having been a demon in his life had naturally pale skin, she had a lean body with a strong build. Her eyes were the most unusual feature about her, they were similar to the sun in the sky, her pupils were a warm golden like her father's but her irises were a sky blue like her mothers. Her Personality was a mixture of both of her parents, she was warm and caring like her mother, and could be very aloof at times like her father, she also had a penchant for being overly serious, something her "Uncle" Shippo was more than happy to help her get over with his fox magic tricks.

Many years later when Destiny was fully grown, and Kagome had had twelve more children with Sesshomaru, with another on the way, found her standing on a balcony of their large mansion holding the small swell of her belly. She was still early in her pregnancy, and was wondering how her mate had managed to convince her to have so many children. She had swore to him during her labor with Destiny that she would cut off his dick if she had to go through that again, he had just laughed it off and then winced when she broke his hand as another contraction hit. She laughed at the memory, as he had whimpered for over a week as his hand healed. Normally it would have only taken a day at most, but she had inadvertently pushed a tiny bit of her miko energy into it, causing it to take longer to heal. Her powers couldn't kill him now, but they could definitely help her bring the mighty Sesshomaru to his knees, hell if she had to go through the labor he could deal with the broken, hands, arms, and even his nose once, and he would do it with a friggin smile, she thought evilly. It was all fair in her mind, and he never complained, he was too caught up with being a father, again, to worry over a broken appendage. Though he did walk on eggshells, it seemed for about a month after the pregnancies, possible to placate her so she wouldn't go through with her original plan to cut off his dick, as he knew she could and would do it if she really was pissed enough. She sighed and rubbed her swelling belly again, and then she felt a strong pair of arms wrap around her from behind.

"What were you thinking about mate?" he asked quietly as he rested his head on her shoulder.

"I was wondering how come I continue to allow you to get me pregnant." She said with a laugh.

"Well that is an easy one mate, you wanted a big family like I did, so the natural way of things would require you to become pregnant many times in order to attain that family. Also I believe you enjoy the act of mating far too much to give it up so quickly." He said the last with a wicked grin, as he nuzzled her neck from behind.

"Yeah well you just wait, I've figured out so many new and innovative things for the vampire society, one day I'll figure out how to let the males enjoy the act of birthing a child. Then maybe you won't be laughing at me after I give birth, or I might just follow through with my threat to cut off you package." She said with glare to cement her point in his mind, the she developed a satisfied smirk when she felt him shiver behind her as the thought of regrowing that part of his anatomy sunk in.

"You have developed quite an evil little streak, my love. I do believe you have been hanging around myself for far too long." He said with a chuckle.

"Are you still happy with me Sesshomaru, we have been together for so long, are you getting bored with me." She said with a sniffle.

"I do believe that would be the hormones talking my dear, for if you were not current pregnant with our fourteenth child you would not ask such foolish things. No my mate, I love you as much now as I did all those years ago when we first became mates." He said as he turned her around and cuddled her to his chest, effectively stopping her whimpers and sniffles.

"I have a confession mate, and I hope you can forgive me." He said as his grip tightened minutely on her still form.

"What is it?" she asked with a worried look, if he had kept it from her it must have been important.

"Many centuries ago, when I was still a young vampire, a young woman who had just been turned managed to kill my master, something I had been trying to do for years with no success. I felt anger, relief, and gratitude when I was free of him. The woman freed us of his evil, now I had to face my own demons and come to terms with them. Therefore, I left, and I didn't return for several centuries. Thinking upon her, I felt, the need to see her and thank her in person. However, when I finally found her I found the words wouldn't come so I just sat beside her enjoying her presence." He paused for a moment to let the information sink in.

"Your master was Naraku, wasn't he." She said almost too quietly for him to hear, but he caught it.

"Yes, Kagome, he was, but you freed me of him, and for that I am eternally grateful to you. The day I found you on the bench, I had my doubts it was you for a while, then your aura jogged my memory. Then I contented myself with basking in your presence, and I felt a sense of peace that I hadn't felt since I was alive. When you went to leave, I felt a part of me was being torn out, so I had to stop you somehow. I had never learned your name before I had left, so that seemed like a logical place to start. When you told me I realized I had forgotten to tell you my name. It was rather rude of me, and then I fibbed to you about not knowing you and your clan. Please forgive me, and know that the words I spoke to you that day were the truth and came from the bottom of my heart." He hung his head after that, not expecting her to leave him or anything drastic like that, but he was expecting to lose a part of his anatomy. She was quiet for a long time, and that worried him more than anything did.

"I had my suspicions during our courting, but I'm happy that you finally decided to tell me...Sesshomaru?" She said looking up at him.

"Yes my mate." He said lifting his head a little to look into her eyes

"I love you." She said with a warm pink blush staining her cheeks.

"I love you too Kagome and I always will." He said snuggling her closer to his chest.

And they did live on, Kagome had about twenty more children for him, And they ruled their little realm for the rest of eternity in peace, never forgetting that day in the park when he opened his heart to her, and the day she accepted him.