V. SEALING

Despite that there were many questions that they all wanted to ask Kagome, the chairman suggested that it would be best that Kaname should return to class, and for Yuuki and Kagome to go back to patrolling the grounds.

"Kagome-chan, is it really possible that you can bind the Zero's blood?" Yuuki asked, as she and Kagome descended the stairs to the ground floor so they could go out through the door.

"Yes, I believe I can," Kagome replied. "It may take some time to gather the information I need, but I am confident it will succeed."

"Who was the friend you mentioned earlier? Was he a vampire as well?"

Kagome suddenly stopped walking causing Yuuki, who had been walking behind her, to bump into her.

"Kagome-chan...?"

"His name was Inuyasha," Kagome said. "And he wasn't a vampire."

With that, she walked off, leaving Yuuki to wonder, why anyone would want to name their child 'Dog Demon'.

The next day, Kagome called Sesshoumaru to ask him about the spell of sealing, if it could be used on vampires. Sesshoumaru had replied that it was theoretically possible, providing that they had something that would act as an aid to seal Zero's vampiric blood.

Kagome had thought that Zero's Bloody Rose would be the perfect medium for the spell, as he almost never went anywhere without it.

Kagome spent much time discussing it with both Kaname and Chairman Cross. She had informed them of the circumstances surrounding her relationship with her brother, with his permission and they had decided to keep the existance of demons a secret from both the Day Class and the Night Class for now.

Cross Kaien had not been surprised that Sesshoumaru was actually an inuyoukai, his colouring and mannerisms were not quite normal for an average human being, and he seemed to have a very good sense of smell, and hearing. However he had been surprised to learn that his little cousin had been a time traveller, and also the guardian of a scared object of immense power. It made him feel strangely proud to be related to someone with such a high rank, almost equal to that of a lord, or a Pureblood.

Kaname on the other hand, had been certifiably shocked to learn that Kagome's older brother was not only a demon, but also the ruler of the West, although he did not show it. His respect for Kagome had grown considerable. She would make a powerful ally, and it was clear to him that she had a strong sense of duty and honour, but still valued her family and friends, placing their welfare above her own. He smiled to himself, thinking that it he had been right to have another person other than Zero protect his precious Yuuki.

When the chairman and Kagome had approached Zero to ask if he would agree to have his vampiric nature sealed, so that he would be able to control it, Zero had automatically agreed, seeming very eager for Kagome to perform the ritual.

Kagome spent her free time making changes to the orginal spell, so that it would tailor to a vampire, rather than a demon. Although there were, of course, some elements of it that had to be kept the same.

The ritual had to be performed on the night of the full moon, for that was thew time when Kagome's powers were strongest, and the medium for the spell had to be an object that Zero would be able to keep close to him at all times, much like when Inuyasha had to always have Tetsuaiga with him, otherwise his demonic nature would be unleashed.

On the day of the full moon, Kagome was excused from classes under the pretense of illness in order to prepare herself for the ritual. She spent much of the day in her room meditating and going over the spell again and agwith intain.

That evening, Kagome walked to the chairman's office, where they had decided the ritual would take place. She was dressed in the traditional clothes of a miko of a white haori and red hakamas.

Zero was already there. He looked a little nervous but determined. He was dressed in a simple white shirt and trousers, rather than the school uniform. This was necessary for the ritual, as anything metal or any clothing other than white would disrupt the ritual.

Kaname, Yuuki, Cross Kaien and Yagari Toga (Zero's hunter teacher) were also present. Toga had opted to watch and see how Kagome intended to seal he 'cute' student's vampiric nature. The Chairman and Kaname were also interested to see how the ritual worked.

Kagome began setting up the seals to create a barrier to keep Zero in. The seals glowed before fading again, showing that they had been activated. Finally, she placed the Bloody Rose on the ground in front of her.

Zero knelt down in front of Kagome within the boundary, with his head bowed down. She had gone over the steps of the ritual with Zero the day before, so he knew what he had to do.

Kagome took up a branch that had been imbued with the qi of Boshinboku, dipped it in holy water and flicked over Zero in order to cleanse and purify his spirit.

As the clock struck midnight, Kagome began chanting in an ancient language that only those were trained in the mystic art knew.

The air around them began to crackle around them with what seemed like electrical energy.

The Bloody Rose began glowing with a pinkish light and manacles made of spiritual energy sppeared on Zero's arms and legs as his eyes turned red. He began to roar and pull against the bindings, like a caged animal eager to escape it's confinement. His instincts telling him to run.

"Zero!" Yuuki cried. She attempted to run to him, but was stopped by Kaname.

He held her tightly, preventing her from interfering.

All the while Kagome continued to chant as Zero thrashed about; the vampire within him trying desperately to get free.

Then she stopped and began forming hand seals whilst shouting, "Rin, pyou, tou, sha, kai, jin, retsu, zai...zen!" At the last word, she cried, "Be sealed!"

Zero screamed as markings began to form on his skin. It felt as though he were being branded with red hot iron.

The light from the Bloody Rose intensified and everyone had to shield their eyes, or risk being blinded.

Just as suddenly as it had come, the light disappeared, revealing Kagome, kneeling on the ground and trying to regain her breath.

Zero was also kneeling, but on all fours, panting and heaving heavily. The marks had disappeared into his skin, but he knew they were still there.

Yuuki, Kaien and Toga ran over to him.

Yuuki touched his shoulder.

"Daijoubu-des ka, Zero?" Yuuki asked.

He nodded. "I'm fine."

Kagome smiled at him.

"Your vampiric nature has been sealed. You will still retain your sense and need for blood, so you'll still need to consume blood tablets, but now you will not lose control over yourself," Kagome said. "But be warned, never let your Bloody Rose out of your sight. If you do, I shudder to think what might happen."

Kagome was exhausted after the ritual; sealing Zero's vampire side had taken a lot out of her.

Yuuki helped Kagome back to her room, which she had to herself, as it was a single. Scrolls and paper charms were littered all over the floor, on the desks, and even her bed.

After clearing away the worst of the mess, Yuuki helped Kagome change into her night clothes

As Kagome was removing the thin white haori, Yuuki noticed a tattoo on Kagome's upper arm.

Kagome noticed Yuuki looking at her strangely, or rather at something on her body.

"Kagome-chan, is that a tattoo?" Yuuki asked pointing at Kagome's left arm.

It was then that Kagome realised that it was the dark blue crescent moon that had caught Yuuki's attention. It was very much like Sesshoumaru's mark, which he bore on his forehead. She had recieved it when Sesshoumaru had formally adopted her as a member the House of the Moon.

"Oh, this? It's the mark of the Taishou clan; each family member has it on their body. And since aniue adopted me as his imouto, I was also marked with it."

Yuuki remembered seeing an illustration in one of their Japanese mythology books of a demon with a cresent moon on his forehead, which looked just like the one that Kagome had on her arm.

Demons were only a myth, weren't they?

But then most people thought that vampires were myths, and they were very much real. Albeit they were different to what the books portrayed them to be.

Then, if vampires existed, then why not demons?

Japanese words and phrases

Inuyoukai - Dog demon

Culture Notes

Haori - hip or thigh-length kimono jacket. (The type that mikos wear are called "chihaya".)

Hakama - a divided (Umanori) or undivided skirt (Andon) which resembles a wide pair of pants

I finally finished!

Sorry about the really late update. I am now in university studying Chinese AND Japanese, so hopefully my romanji will improve.

Being in uni will also mean that I have less time to work on my fanfiction, so I probably won't be updating them very very often. But I will try to as often as my time will allow.

Also I apologise if this chapter isn't up to the standard of the previous ones in this story.