So this is my first story that I have put on here lol:) I started with just writing stories for my friends and giving it to them since i didn't have the courage to put them on here...but...now that my friends have said "Artemis, put your stories on the site you won't get eaten alive," so here I amXD I hope you like my stories.

Disclaimer: I don't own Mai-Hime

. .

Full Moon

*Full Moon for the wolf gods*

Chapter 1

POV Natsuki

I remember the last day I was normal. Well for me it was normal. My old life wasn't the best but it wasn't bad either. It was 1869 and I was out hunting for my mother and younger siblings; it all started on that fateful sunny afternoon. It was stereotypical back then that men went out and did manly things like hunting, farming, and keeping their family safe. Women were the domestic type, they stayed home and watched the house and the kids, which by the way, isn't the easiest job in the world. But for me, I was the "man of the house" well, until my brother was old enough.

My name you ask? It's Kuga Natsuki. I used to be a cute girl who fetched water at the stream close to our house. Used to be anyway, now I hunt and tend the farm since my father went M.I.A for those miserable nine years, god knows what kind of action he got out in a forest hunting. He went in and never came out; at least that's what my mother said, I don't really remember much about that day. I was with him on the day he went missing, my mother was frantic because we were gone for hours and when we didn't come back at the time we always did she was about to walk to our closest neighbors when she found me sleeping on the porch.

She tried to get me to tell her what happened but she says I had a glazed look on my face void of emotion. For the rest of the night she kept me company as tears dripped down my face, she says I kept wiping them away saying "I don't know why I'm crying" and "I don't remember " over and over again. She kept me alive and held me close until the next day when I woke up like myself again; a happy little kid once more.

He made it hard on us, leaving my mother pregnant with four other kids to take care of. It was a hard life, but I learned to adapt and take care of my sisters and mother. I've seen many things that an eight year old should never have seen. My mother cut my long dark almost blue hair off to an inch above my shoulders, and then tied my hair in a ponytail with a white ribbon of my father's when he was a boy.

"Natsuki." She said to me with pain in her eyes. I looked up at her and waited for her to continue.

"This is your new self; it is time you learn a man's job until your brother is ready to take over." She finished speaking and began rubbing her already swollen belly.

I knew she was hoping for a boy, we all were. I nodded my head and gave her a reassuring smile.

Nine years have passed since my first haircut and now I'm hunting for the upcoming winter.

"I need a haircut even though I hate cutting it." I said to myself as I loosened my hair from its ribbon. I combed my hair with my fingers and blew it out of my face.

"It's already starting to get long again, soon enough I won't look like a boy anymore and people will get suspicious. Though, god knows how they're not suspicious now. I mean really do I look like a boy?" I finished as I took off my jacket. I ran my hand through it again and sighed.

"This never gets easier." I looked at the waterfall of the forbidden spring.

"Will I ever become who I want to be?"

Every time I ask that question, no one answers.

"No man may enter the spring, no man may hunt near it, and no man may drink from it." I smile too myself.

"That's why I'm not a man."

I take the rest of my clothes off and hide them in a tree alcove. I picked up my bow and quiver, and then I walked to the edge of the spring.

"The spring is always a hot spring in the winter, I wonder why that is?" I bent down and place my hand in it.

"It's nice and warm. Perfect."

I take a step back and dive under; the feeling was amazing on my cold skin. I swam around underwater a few more seconds then I came up for air. I slung my bow and quiver over my shoulder and began to swim towards the flat rock right in the middle of the fall.

"A shower for the gods." I whispered.

I pulled myself up onto the flat rock and into the waterfall. There I sat and waited for my kill, and maybe even Artemis, the goddess of these woods and of the hunt. After all I have been hearing rumors that she is close by, stealing young maidens away because they do not wish to be with men. How I wish I could leave that easily.

POV Nao (A.K.A Artemis)

"My-…ma-…lady…my lady!"

"Huh? What?" Nao mumbled.

"It's time to get up malady, we must move to the forbidden spring."

"hmpmm." Nao protested as she rolled over. "Five more minutes."

"Malady. Someone's in the spring."

"What!" Nao yelped. She was fully awake now. "What do you mean someone's in the spring!"

"Aoi means exactly what she said Nao! Someone's in the damn spring!" Chie said way too loudly.

Nao glared at Chie. "You know, just because your second in command now doesn't mean you can state my name and express profanity to your mistress." Nao stated.

Chie rolled her eyes. "That'll be the day, me calling you mistress…unless we would be doing something kink- OW!" Chie yelped. "Aoi! What'd you do that for?" she said as she rubbed the back of her head.

Aoi was completely red with fury. "Chie if you have to ask me that we're thro-mmph!" Chie gave her girlfriend a deep loving kiss. Much to Nao's disgust unless she was the one doing the kissing or being kissed.

"Well hurry up malady or we'll leave you behind!" Chie said still giving a loving look to Aoi as she got up and walked out of the cave while calling orders to the other hunter's.

Nao rubbed her temples. "Why must she insist upon destroying my mornings I was having the best dream." Nao grumbled.

"She's only worried about you malady. After all we just came back from the war with the Titans after nine long years." Aoi said soothingly while checking out her girlfriend's firm backside as she walked away.

Nao stared at her thoughtfully. "I suppose." The redhead smiled to herself as she got up and headed out to the open forest. There, she found everyone moving to get ready for the upcoming hunt for the trespasser.

Nao being too lazy even if she was Artemis tapped one of her most trusted furry wolf god council members and nodded for her to quiet everyone down. Haruka gave her a huge wolfish grin and howled at the top of her lungs.

[SIT UP! ARTEMIS HERE HAS SOMETHING TO SAY!]

Yukino one of Artemis' other trusted wolf god council member hid behind Haruka with ears fully back against her head. She then spoke up quite feebly.

[Um Haruka…you mean shut up]

[THAT'S WHAT I SAID! Geez Yukino stop coping me.] Haruka said as she growled and stalked out of Artemis' way.

Yukino whimpered and walked in the direction Haruka just went.

"Everyone!" Nao yelled. Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked at their Lady.

"It is time for the hunt. The hunt of someone that has invaded one of our most sacred places! The Fall of Rituals!" The hunter's roared with approval and Nao smiled impishly to herself as she went on.

"We will hunt anyone that dare get close! It is time my hunters. It is time to go out and conquer!" Artemis finished with bravado and looked at her hunter's as they yelled again and again her name.

"Now it's time. Grab your bows, then your quiver's, and mount up! Chie yelled. "We head to the springs!"

There was a thunder of footfall as everyone ran to finish what they were doing.

POV Natsuki

Meanwhile at the forbidden spring…

"How long will it take for something to come by?" I said out loud. Then I spotted it, a buck, fully grown by the looks of it.

I smile to myself, We'll eat for a month. I thought. Careful to not make any sudden movements I pulled an arrow from my quiver, notched it in my bow and pulled back. When I reached the tension point I let my arrow fly.

It hit the deer in its blind spot, an instant kill. The deer crumbled to the ground as I jumped off the flat rock and swam to shore. When I reached shore I ran to the tree alcove to fetch my clothes. Then I felt it, the rumble in the ground.

"Oh no." I said. "It's too early for them to come. What alarmed them to my presence?" I ran to the deer and threw on my clothes as I went.

"I must leave before they catch my scent." I pulled on my jacket and grabbed the deer with one hand as I put on my quiver and bow with the other hand. Then I pulled the deer onto my shoulders and start to run, but not before tying my ribbon around the bloody hole on the deer's neck. That should keep the blood out of the air and off the ground. I began to run as fast as I could without tripping over anything on the ground.

(…)

"Damn, why is this deer so heavy?" As I say this I start hearing howls all around.

"Damn! They caught my scent faster than I originally thought." Then I realized it I may have kept the deer's scent at bay, but I forgot the whole reason men keep their hair up.

"To keep the animals from catching their scent…Damn it! I would hit myself over the head if I had the use of my hands…" I start to run faster.

"This isn't going to work." I stop and look around. I saw something white streak past. What the hell was that? I shake my head and kept looking around. "Ah!"

"There!" I see a cave and stream. I put my hood up and then run into the stream and headed to the cave where I found a thin layer of ice in the cave pool I put the deer in it and tie the ribbon attached to the deer to a root near the pool.

"I'll come back for you soon." I said to the deer.

I rush back into the stream and walk in it till I reach where I came into it, and then I ran out of it on the opposite side and start running away from the approaching wolves. This way they won't know I was in the cave.

POV Nao(A.K.A Artemis)

"Have you found them yet?" Nao asked.

"No, but we've caught onto their trail." Chie exclaimed.

"Good keep on them." Nao said. She looked up at the waterfall in deep thought.

"There's just no way a man could have made it here and kill a deer in a matter of an hour. The animals know not to come here if they smell a man. So how come? Then it dawned on her.

"Of course!" Nao exclaimed.

"What is it Artemis?" Chie asked puzzled.

"The trespasser we're looking for…It's a woman!" Nao yelped in exasperation.

"Ooh fun. OW." Chie began but got hit in the head by a pissed Aoi. "I mean…What!"

"Call them off! All of them! Now!" Nao yelled.

"It's too late Artemis! Listen!" Chie said.

When she did, she heard it. A single howl. The wolves have found the girls scent. Nao stood wide eyed. Then she whistled and she was gone. The Alpha she wolf had picked Artemis up and put her on her back.

"Alyssa!" Nao yelled.

[Yes. Artemis?] The wolf thought.

"We will not make it! Will you send Shizuru for the girl? We must get the girl to safety, I know this foolish hunter." Nao said as she cast down her eyes. "It's not right for her to have the same fate as her father I couldn't save him as it was then."

[Yes Artemis of course. Shizuru!] The she wolf said as she howled for the young second in command.

[Ara. Yes Alyssa?] Shizuru came to the Alpha's side.

[Go and find the female hunter. Protect her if you must.] The she wolf said to her young friend.

[Of course.] Shizuru bounded off into the forest, already knowing where to find the hunter.

"I hope she makes it in time." Nao mumbled.

[As do I Malady, as do I.] The she wolf said as she began to run faster toward the beginning chaos.

POV Natsuki

I'm really cold. I can't believe I went into that river. I thought this as I crashed into more bramble bushes thus tripping over a root.

"Damn." I mumbled as I landed on the forest floor.

My vision blurred, I knew I was going to pass out from just the overwhelming thought of being found and killed. My face then grew hot with tears.

"NO. No way am I giving up! I have a family to feed." I struggle to my feet pissed off.

"I am not giving up hope because of some wolves chasing me, even if they're gods." Then I hear it, distant footfall.

"Too big for anything else but those damn wolves." I grumbled to myself.

I start running again, my face still wet from crying. They're getting closer...I'm not going to be able to out run them.

"SHIT." I stop and turn pulling an arrow out of my quiver and notch my long bow. My vision blurs again from my tears, I wipe them away and pull my arrow back to touch my face as I've practiced many times before.

"Come at me with the best you got you damn wolves, if this is my last stand I sure as hell am going to take one of your sorry asses with me…or I'll be pissed." I grit my teeth and wait. Then there was silence.

"What the-." Then in the corner of my eye I saw a flash of white. "Son of a-." I turn and watch as a 6ft wolf lunges at me its eyes a crimson red.

I don't have time to react except pull my arrow still attached to my bow up to protect myself from, what I thought was, its awaiting jaws but then it just so happened to be its shoulder thus successfully lodging an arrow into said shoulder. The wolf wraps its big paws around me and cries out in pain as we fall down the hill that just so happened to be right behind me, figures.

We go rolling down the hill each bump softened by the wolf's protective paws… Wait what! Why would this wolf be protecting me? I was totally confused but that thought end abruptly when we came to a bone crunching stop, well it sounded like it since my bow snapped in two and got crushed. Damn there goes my hard earned money. I barely hear the sound of the other wolves going passed under the white wolfs furry stomach. Who by the way saved my ass. I try to move but stop when the wolf on top of me yelps in pain.

[Ara, are you okay?] I freeze.

"Did this wolf just talk to me?" I said into its belly.

The wolf yelps in surprise this time. [Ara, Ara, Why yes I did and I wish you wouldn't talk into my fur it tickles.]

"Eep!" I yelped as i wiggle under her totally freaking out. I mean I love wolves…something I can relate to but Geezus a huge one that talks, by the way, is on top of me! She cries out in pain and I freeze again. I look down at myself and mumbled softly.

[Ara, I didn't quite here you. Come again?]

"I'm sorry for hurting you if I wiggled around too much. Also for the arrow…I thought you were trying to kill me.]

[Ara. Kannin na] the wolf tries to get up but just yelps again.

"Wait! Stop moving! Lay still, that arrow had poison on the tip!" I yell.

I manage to pull myself forward and I meet the wolf's eyes. Damn. They really were crimson, I wasn't seeing things. I get up and move around to get a better look at the wound I inflicted. That's not good… My hand begins to go closer to the wound and I hear a warning growl coming from the white wolf. I look into its eyes.

"Is this your first wound?"

[Unfortunately yes. You caught me off guard actually] I could just tell if the wolf was human it would have put its hand over its mouth and giggled. Wow…what a weird mental image I shake my head and grimace.

"This is going to hurt so grit your teeth and close your eyes."

[Ara and what will Trespasser-san do to me when I close my eyes?]

I blush scarlet red. Why did this wolf make it sound so sexual…she's a god damn wolf for crying out loud…oh wait…when did I decide she was a girl? Probably that damn sexy Kyoto-ben…this wolf is so making fun of me…not fair.

"Wha- I was just…" I look anywhere except her eyes. I fidget under her watchful gaze and then look at her from the corner of my eye shyly.

The wolf tilts her head. I look at her and I can just picture her covering her mouth and laughing. [Ara. Trespasser-san is very cute yes?]

"Wha- I am not cute!" I blush again, it going all the way to my collar bones I then stomp my foot and make fists as I look at her with total humiliation. "Why you…"

I then heard a rumble coming from her. "Are you laughing at me!" I yell at her.

[Kannin na, Trespasser-san, Kannin na. I just can't help but laugh at your most adorable aspects, I have never seen someone stomp there foot like that.]

I cross my arms and grumble at her. She tilts her head again. [Ara, what was that Trespasser-san?]

"My name is not Trespasser-san…it's Natsuki, Kuga Natsuki…and you are?" I unfold my arms and walk up to her. She watches me and then turns her head away.

[Ara, and why would Natsuki want to know my name, am I important to Natsuki?]

I blush. "Why you…" then I notice that she's shaking. "Are…are you okay?" I touch her and she starts but then gives out a warning growl. I huff and give her a piercing glare. "Wolves shouldn't be so stubborn…just tell me your name…it's only polite to after someone gives you their name…"

She looks away again and then I hear it. [My names Shizuru, Fujino Shizuru…it's a pleasure to meet yo-] I pull out the arrow stuck in her shoulder. She howls out in pain and I rush over and grab her muzzle.

"Sorry…distraction…" I give her an apologetic smile. She's still shaking. I start petting her head and whisper to her. She relaxes and I scratch a little behind her ear. I turn to her shoulder again and put my hand to the wound. There's still poison in here…it doesn't look like it's gotten any farther so if I suck it all out the wound should be okay.

I feel Shizuru nuzzle my back and I look at her. [So how is it?] I tried to smile at her but it ends up as a grimace. [Ara, is it really that bad?] I shake my head. I start to shake. [Tell me my Natsuki]

I stop and look at her. "My Natsuki?"

She looked surprised and confused, she shook her head. [Ara, Kannin na I do not know what made me say that] She looked away and I blush and start to mess with my hair. I look down and see the arrow that started all of this.

"You know, when my hair gets too long I have to cut it to make myself more boy like so that I can take care of my family ever since my father disappeared. He left my mother pregnant with four children to take care of with no man to watch the house. It was hard on me but necessary when we have to survive in a man's world. When my brother was born I thought I wouldn't have to do this anymore but I was wrong, I realized he wasn't old enough yet to hunt and work the farm so I'm stuck like this until he's old enough. He's nine now and I will teach him all I know when he is thirteen. No one asks me what I want, and no one will in this type of world unless I make it happen."

I look at her and she is watching me. "My arrows…The ones that I mark with red have poison on them. They're used for animals that have the intent to kill me." I look at my bloodied hand. "The poison is going to spread."

[Then leave me.] She pushes me away from her.

"No." I step on the arrow that stabbed her in the shoulder and snap it in two.

She growls at me and shows her teeth. I narrow my eyes at her. I walk towards her and her hair on the back of her neck bristles.

[What are you doing?] She gives a warning growl and I grab her nose and pull her face toward mine until I was looking into both of her eyes.

"Listen. You need to stop being stubborn and let me help you damn it. Just because you try to sound deadly and your eyes are crimson doesn't mean I can't hear the fear and uncertainty behind your growls."

She's shocked and she nods. I push her face away and lean down to the wound. I look at her from the corner of me eye and then look back to the wound. I start syphoning the poisoned blood out and I feel her shaking and hear her whimper as she lies down and I kneel down to meet her half way. She rests her head on my shoulder and I let her until I tasted no more poison. I pet her soothingly and then she lifts her head so that I could rip my sleeves off and wrap them around her shoulder to stop the bleeding.

I looked at Shizuru. She was staring at me intensely with those crimson eyes that always catch me off guard. Is that really her true eye color?

I blush and start wiping as much blood as I could off my face.

"W-what is it?"

[Did you get it all?]

"Yes, I think I got most of it."

[Good cause I'm about to-] Shizuru collapses the rest of the way to the ground.

"What the-"

I watch as her fur disappears and she turns into a beautiful naked woman maybe no more than a year older. She had golden chestnut hair that was long enough to cover her supple chest, that I might add was sculpted by the gods themselves well the amount I could see, My eyes were traveling down to her perfectlytoned abdominal and about the go lower when my eyes grew wide at what I was about to do and slapped my face as hard as I could.

"Holy Shit!" I sidestep and fall over a root. I scramble backwards and start breathing heavy. "No one told me wolf god's changed into humans! What the hell!" I wobbled to my feet and looked at her face in shock. I shake my head and slap my face a couple times again. "Get ahold of yourself Natsuki. You've seen your siblings naked before, it's no big deal that you just happened to figure out that this wolf god is a sexy naked woman that needs your help." Shit why is my heart beating so fast. I grab the part of my shirt above my heart and squeeze. Quiet my beating heart, be still.

I go over to her limp body. Wow she's gorgeous!

"Even better up close." I clumsily took off my jacket and drape it over her. I notice her shoulder is finely wrapped still so I smile and laugh at that. Great, what now?