Disclaimer: I do not own Inu-Yasha. Akida cries for a moment then smiles but I own his plushie....

Moonlight

By Akida

Chapter 1: Akida, the Guardian.

Inu-Yasha sat up in a tree, staring up at the full moon. His mind drifted to the silver light, the same light that also cursed his best friend when he was younger. She, mother and father, had accepted him and his mother shortly after his father had passed on. They shared their home, their food, and their lives with him and his human mother. They didn't have to; after all they were full blooded demons. He was half demon half human, and his mother full human. But to them, they didn't seem to care. He was glad for those few short years of friendship. Since then, when they disappeared one day, he never really had a friend. He was so caught up in his thoughts that he barely noticed that the sun had risen and was half way through the morning sky.

"Inu-Yasha? Are you ok up there?" called a concerned voice. The half demon shook is mind clear, and looked down. Kagome was standing under the tree, with Miroku, Songo, and Shippo waiting beside her.

"Feh...Took you long enough, can we go now?" he said slightly annoyed that he had actually held up their journey for the shards. He landed on the ground, crossing his arms. Kagome nodded. Inu-Yasha huffed again before taking the lead from their camp spot.

It was about mid afternoon, when the first sign of a village came into view.

"Oh good, maybe we can rest there and get some more stuff, I am almost out of food." Kagome said stopping to look at her depleting yellow bag. She looked to the others. Miroku was rubbing his head again. Obviously he just made a grab at Songo who was replacing her large boomerang back on her back. Kagome sighed.

"Ah...Kagome...I am hungry." Shippo whined, again for the billionth time since lunch. Kagome could see that Inu-Yasha was about to turn around and yell at the little kitsune, but about half way in turning, he stopped. She watched as he flexed his claws, staring straight into the fields to their right. She followed his stare, only catching out of the corner of her eye, Songo and Miroku getting ready for a fight. She then saw it.

It was a white blur, at first it looked like a wolf, but as it drew closer Kagome was sure she saw it start to run on two legs, and then its entire body changed as it approached them. It stopped. Or Kagome, thought, She stopped half a dozen yards from Inu- Yasha, and started at him. Kagome took a moment to look the woman over. First was first, for a moment she thought that it was Sesshomaru, but a second looked clearly showed it was a woman, dressed in a pair of white leggings and vest. She wore no boots or shows. A sword was strapped to her back. It looked slightly different then other swords Kagome had seen around here, it actually looked more western, like it came from Europe. Her hair was white, and pulled into a high pony tail. Two little white ears poked up on her head, twitching here and there, listening intently to any sound they caught. Her hands flexed, letting the late afternoon sun glint on her long claws. Ok...maybe she looked more like a female Inu-Yasha then Sesshomaru, Kagome thought. But something was strange. Was she too a half demon?

"Who are you?" she asked in a cool voice, not taking her intense stare off Inu-Yasha. Kagome heard a brief growl come from her friend. She glanced at Songo and Miroku. Shippo had hidden behind her.

"Feh...why should I tell you?" Inu-Yasha stared, growling as if to frighten the woman. The woman smiled, showing off her fangs slightly.

"'Cause I am the Guardian of this village. And we don't like unwelcome visitors." She growled back. Kagome stared between the two, and then stepped in front of Inu-Yasha.

"Please, we only wanted to gather more supplies and food and perhaps stay for the night. Then we'll leave in the morning." Kagome said. The woman smiled, this time friendlier.

"Very well. I will escort you the rest of the way. By the way my name is Akida." The woman said, approaching Kagome and offering a hand to her.

"Akida?! The half demon hunter?" Songo asked, somewhat awed and excited at the same time. The woman turned to the demon exterminator.

"That I am." Akida smiled, and then she turned to Inu-Yasha, who stared at her.

"Its good to see you again, dog boy." She smiled. Inu-Yasha huffed.

"It looks like your still alive, wolf girl." He smirked.

Everyone stared. Akida knew Inu-Yasha. And Vice Versa. Kagome looked between the two. Akida then turned on heel and head towards the village. Inu-Yasha stared at her retreating form.

"Inu-Yasha?" She asked cautiously.

"Tell you later." He growled. Kagome shrugged and followed off in the direction that the others had started. Songo ran to catch up with Akida. Songo looked like she had just met her idle. Miroku obviously was contemplating whether or not to make a grab at the half demon woman.
Inu-Yasha brought up the rear. A mixture of hurt and happiness mixed on his face.
"I could have sworn you were a ghost, Akida, I could've sworn." He whispered to him self.

Ha ha...I make my appearance. So how is it that I know the Dog boy? And why does Songo seemed so shocked to meet me? You better believe that Miroku is going to have some painful bruises if he tries anything. Hehe...well here's a preview of Chapter 2.

"The festival? What kinda festival?" Kagome asked. Akida smiled at her as she passed many vendors and shops.
"The Festival of Spirits. Everyone goes to the shrine in the middle of the forest. They place candles and other things to remember those who go before us." Akida said.
"Wow...do you go every year then?" Kagome asked. Akida nodded. "Then you can show Songo and me. I really want to go. And I bet Songo can honor her village here as well." Kagome smiled. She just now had to think on how to get Inu-Yasha to let them stay for a few more days for the festival.
"I can't go this year." Akida said. Kagome looked confused.
"Why, does your Master not want you too this year?"
"Kagome, the start of the festival, the visiting of the shrine, is on the first day of a full moon." Akida said somberly.
"What wrong with that? Do you turn human or something?" Kagome asked. Akida looked frustrated, oh how she hated talking about her ....condition.
"No...look. I am going to leave for a few days. I'll be back, and I promise I'll take you to the last day of the festival. I have to go; I'll see you later tonight for dinner, Ky?" Akida said, and then dashed off. Kagome shrugged and turned around. Akida was hiding some thing and she was going to find out what it was.

Alrighty then....chapter 2 should be up soon. I hope.