Author's Note: I know it's been ages since I updated this while I've been busy getting the final preparations for my book, "The Gleaning Time—Arc One-In the Beginning" to be published (insert shameless promo here) but here's a very long chapter with action and a good portion of fluff that I hope will reawaken the interest in this story. Thanks for your patience and support.
NIGHT OF THE NEW MOON
A week later it was a day that seemed ordinary, with bright sunshine and warm temperatures for late summer yet it was far from that as it was the day before the beginning of new lunar cycle, what was simply called the "moonless night". And although the situation had little effect on human beings, for the hanyou Inu-Yasha it was definitely not the case. He was experiencing the heralding of the night that he would lose all his youkai powers and became as his mother was, completely mortal.
As usual, the change came gradually through the day, as evidenced by the loss of his keen canine senses, sight and of course smell. This irked him as the last time he had not been able to detect one of Kouga's impromptu and annoying visits to court Kagome, and when he had returned from the stream from fishing the persistent yorozoku was there with her, holding her hands and plying her with sweet nothings as she just sat there with a smile. This of course infuriated the hanyou as his jealousy was stirred and he acted on impulse, jumping between them and foolishly accusing Kagome of encouraging the ookami, which earned him another close encounter with the ground as she sat him.
Sitting in a tree, Inu-Yasha for the umpteenth time brooded about the incident as it had been that happening that led to Kagome's leaving for her era and then deciding to leave him for good so he arrived at the conclusion about how the entire circumstance was in fact Kouga's fault. For if the wolf would just get lost and stay lost, there would be no quarrels and Kagome would not have decided to end her visits and everything would be fine.
That mangy fleabag. Always butting in and trying to sweet talk her into believing he's so great and his feelings for her are deeper then mine. Feh, nobody knows how much Kagome means to me, I would die to keep her safe and by my side. Inu-Yasha scowled as he continued his silent soliloquy.
And I'll be damned if I let that skinny wolf cub take her away. She belongs to nobody else but me and I'll cheerfully kill anyone that tries to take her. The bastard Naraku took Kikyou away from me and robbed me of my treasure, but I won't let the same thing happen to the one I cherish most ever again. I won't lose my love a second time!
Inu-Yasha sniffed at the wind and his nose wrinkled in disgust as he could still pick up the stink of the wolf nearby. It appeared that his canine abilities had not yet waned since it was still mid morning and he surmised that Kouga was probably no more than a few kilometers to the south of where he and the rest were now.
Fine Inu-Yasha said to himself. I don't care where the baka is as long as he stays away from me. Or I just might have to kill him now that he can't hide behind Kagome's skirts. Keh, I may do that anyway, it's not a bad idea. The hanyou closed his eyes and leaned back on the tree branch. . . .
Meanwhile, down and over to the where the rest were camped, Miroku and Sango were discussing directions with Horosha as he gave advice on the best and swiftest route to the shrine. The ronin was most cooperative now that his belly was full of grilled fish and some wild vegetables that were prepared for a breakfast meal and he was using a stick to sketch out a map on the ground.
"If you follow this path t'will take you into the Ginsei no woods, which goes to the Hokiusei mountains, where the tribe of yorozoku dwells."
Shippou asked, "Aren't they the kin of Kouga and his tribe? The branch that has the woman Ayame who claims he's her fiancé?"
Miroku nodded, "They appear to be." At the ronin's perplexed expression he explained, "Kouga was the okashira of the eastern tribe of the yorozoku before they were wiped out by Naraku. Like us he is bent on killing him to avenge their deaths."
"Naraku? Who is that?"
Sango replied, "He's a fiendish hanyou who is directly responsible for so many atrocities against all of us and because of that, we are seeking him to destroy him. But it has not been an easy task, due to the fact that he possesses the nearly complete Shikon no Tama, which makes him extremely powerful."
"I see," Horosha said with a thoughtful frown. I wonder if the two apparitions that visited me at the village were sent by this Naraku. I recall that a woman and a boy came and as I got up to fight them, I was knocked out and then woke up the next morning, sitting against the wall. And I've felt peculiar since.
He said, "I don't know of what you speak but I can tell you that the okashira of the yorozoku in the mountains is an aged ookami who can be formidable in spite of his advanced years. And his tribe is very loyal as well as fierce warriors."
Sango tugged on the houshi's sleeve and asked, "Isn't that the elder wolf that Kagome healed with her ninja medicines when Kyokotsu of the Shichinin-tai attacked them?"
Miroku nodded as he added, "I'm certain it is and if so, we may get aid from them out of gratitude." He gestured with his staff to the ronin. "Onegai, proceed."
Horosha complied, "Once we've traversed through there, we will reach a group of lakes that are called Yubi Itsutsu. They are under the rule of a tribe of youkai known as Kawauso-rei who are very fierce toward outsiders and especially humans. We will need their permission to cross any of the lakes."
Myouga piped up, "However, they are approachable if shown proper courtesy."
Horosha nodded as he remarked, "It would be wise to inform the hanyou of that. He is extremely rude and they will not take kindly to that."
With his arms folded Shippou sniffed, "Inu-Yasha has very little couth when dealing with strangers. He's very secure in his power and will just challenge any that oppose him. He's a real hothead---OWWW, Inu-Yasha!"
A strongly placed punch by the one in question halted the kitsune's statement as Inu-Yasha joined the group, an annoyed scowl on his even features. He glared at the now bristling Shippou as he addressed him.
"Well, well. It seems that since I'm such a hothead, you'd have learned that I don't like to hear insults and tend to retaliate," the hanyou said casually as he held up a beefy fist before the enraged little fox who scampered over to Sango and began to howl.
The taijiya hugged Shippou to soothe him and admonished, "Inu-Yasha, you know he's still just a child. Why must you be so harsh?"
Miroku added sternly, "Hai, he really doesn't mean what he says. You, as an adult should take that into consideration."
Inu-Yasha retorted, "Feh, then he should act as a child and respect his elders."
Emboldened by the safety of Sango's lap Shippou lifted his head and retorted, "Like you do with Myouga-jijii?"
The hanyou glared at the fox kit just as the elderly flea leapt up onto Inu-Yasha's shoulder and acted as mediator to bring peace.
"Maa, maa, everyone calm down now," Myouga declared and then addressed his master. "Inu-Yasha-sama---," but the person in question had his attention elsewhere, his head raised to the blue expanse and a small white stream in bold contrast.
The hanyou immediately recognized the serpentine spirit shinidama-chuu—that means Kikyou's nearby but why? Does she have something new to tell me? Without a word Inu-Yasha leapt up into the breeze and followed the soul collector as it glided back to its mistress.
Both Sango and Miroku along with Shippou all took note of the appearance of Kikyou's slithering servant and all sighed in resignation as the kitsune, never at a loss for words said disgustedly, "Here we go again."
The ronin Horosha observed the goings-on rather dubiously as he wondered why destiny had deemed him to be among this unusual group…
Meanwhile, Inu-Yasha glided along tailing the shinidama-chuu as it led him to a clearing where a petite figure in red and white waited beneath a willow tree, its hanging branches waving in the wind like a veil around her. With her ebony tresses fanning in the breeze the miko made a fetching picture. The hanyou gazed at her in admiration as he landed softly before her, marveling at how in spite of the fact that Kikyou was made up of grave soil and her earthly ashes she was still beautiful.
"Inu-Yasha," she greeted him, neither cool nor warm. "How are you faring?"
Thinking about what awaited him with the coming of nightfall he grunted, "Keh, all right all things considered." He studied the visage of his former lover and asked, "So what brings you out here?"
"I wondered seeing you and your companions stopped here if you were still heading to the Tsuki Shrine," she remarked then pointed out, "you need to get there by the full moon to retrieve the lunahana blossoms, you know."
Inu-Yasha scoffed, "Of course I know. You were the one who told me that the flowers were needed and the only things to cure Kagome and I plan to get them to bring her back. But why do you want to know?"
Kikyou turned away and announced over her shoulder, "I went and saw Kagome."
Inu-Yasha felt his heart drop to his stomach as he imagined the worse Kami, iie I'm too late! Did Kikyou come to tell me…? He swallowed hard as he asked in a low hesitant voice, "I-is she---?"
"Dead?" Kikyou finished. She shook her ebony head and replied, "Iie, she is still alive but barely. There's a great deal of doubt in her heart and I think that may be keeping her from recovering. Also, the plague she suffers is caused directly by an evil attack by Naraku."
Inu-Yasha became limp with relief but then his heart constricted as he mulled over Kikyou's statement. "So you could sense that as well?" he inquired glumly as he remembered the strained situation that existed between him and Kagome prior to the attack that had laid her low. A fresh onslaught on guilt assailed him as he sighed and waited for the miko's words.
Kikyou asked, "Surely you have seen it, Inu-Yasha? That Kagome's powers have become stronger of late?"
"Aa." The memory of them defeating Hoshiyomi with the combination of her sacred arrow and his Kazi no kizo came to Inu-Yasha's mind as he nodded. With each battle they fought and won together, his admiration for Kagome's abilities grew exponentially.
At his affirmation she continued, "Then you must know that Naraku both fears and hates Kagome, and as he does you and I, sees her as a major threat to his plans. And that he must have sensed something dark in her heart to attack its purity and render her soul powerless, bringing her close to death so he derived an attack from the evil tainted souls to poison her. "
"But what? And how?" Frustration was overwhelming Inu-Yasha as Kikyou's words stung him, causing him to feel impotent and incensed.
Kikyou sighed and explained as if to a small child, "Inu-Yasha, Naraku has used evil in the form of miasma to attack before. To collect tainted souls in this time of pestilence when those succombing are in the prime of life is quite simple as many die with bitterness deep in their souls. And he is, after all an amalgamation of evil youkai in which the evil heart of Onigumo still beats."
"Onigumo, huh? That thief you harbored fifty years ago," Inu-Yasha said, his fury rising. "Keh, if I had known what you were doing then, I would have sent him down the river Styx with my claws and all this never would have happened."
Kikyou sighed, "Be that as it may, Naraku is determined to remove Kagome as a threat to his goals, just as he desires to destroy you and me."
A low gutteral growl issued forth from the hanyou as he bit out, "Naraku that filthy bastard! I swear by the Kami above that he won't win, I'll slice him to ribbons with my Tetsusaiga." He reached and drew out the great fang as he said half to himself. "He won't have her damnit, I'll see to that!" He then re-sheathed the sword as the miko went on.
Kikyou sniffed as she tossed her head, "Even if that happens after everything your efforts to save Kagome may still turn out to be futile, Inu-Yasha."
Alarmed he sprang forward and grasped her shoulders, demanding, "What do you mean by that, Kikyou? Won't the lunahana revive her?"
His first love pinned him with her cold umber orbs. "The lunahana has spiritual powers to purify the poison and revive her but she must also want to return."
"What are you saying?" Inu-Yasha asked, his heart sinking as he instinctively knew the reason.
Kikyou replied, "I sensed a turmoil within her heart when I was there, like she was unsure, confused." She saw the question forming in the hanyou's eyes and answered, "Of what, I don't know but perhaps you do."
Inu-Yasha paled as he recalled the entire scene in Kagome's time, in her kitchen as she informed him of her plan to come back with him to the Sengoku-jidai one final time, for thirty days and then leave and go to her own time, never to return. He felt the cold ache that he had been feeling regularly since that time and figured that it was the source of Kagome's own confusion for he knew deep down that she did not want to leave.
This is all my fault Inu-Yasha said bitterly to himself it's all because of me that Kagome's in this mess, that she's been hurt and nearly killed so many times. But she told me it did not matter and she did not care, she did it all just to be with me. All my life after my mother died nobody ever gave a damn about me, saying I was a worthless half-breed, unaccepted by youkai and human alike until I met her. She's cried for me and almost died for me just like right now and I keep on hurting her. Kuso! I'm such a fool, I promised to protect her and again I failed. I know she loves me and doesn't blame me, but again because of me she's been harmed and I'm gonna lose her—
He spoke in a toneless manner, "So you're telling me that if she doesn't want to return, she'll---," He closed his eyes as he could not finish the thought.
Kikyou pushed out of his grasp. "Hai. It is all up to Kagome." The miko then looked up and off into the distance as she said matter-of factly, "I sense the evil presence of a tainted jewel shard near. It has a malevolent glow of pure evil."
Inu-Yasha whirled and scanned the area. "Where?"
The miko added, "And I can sense the presence of two pure shards as well."
Feh, I know who that is, that nosy pest Kouga, butting in as usual. He still has two of the jewel shards in his bony legs "Aa I figured as much," Inu-Yasha remarked in mild disgust then changed his manner as he asked, "Where's the tainted shard, Kikyou? Kikyou?" He glanced about to look for her and saw her ascending into the air.
"Kikyou, wait!" the hanyou shouted as she was made buoyant by her servants and rose higher into the now golden late afternoon sky.
The shinidama-chuu had entwined themselves about the slender form of the resurrected miko and she glanced down at the hanyou with one last word.
"Beware, Inu-Yasha. The one who bears the tainted shard is a servant of Naraku and wants to make sure you don't find the shrine. Be very careful."
"Where is he, Kikyou? Kikyou!" Inu-Yasha cried but she had vanished on the wind and he was alone under the willow tree in the light of the soon to be setting sun….
Back where the others were camped, Sango was busy preparing the catch of fish that Shippou, Horosha and Miroku retrieved from the stream nearby for dinner. The fire was stoked and roaring as she skewered the fish on poles and placed them right within the blaze.
The taijiya sighed as she stared at the fish roasting within the flames and waited for the men to return from foraging in the woods. As she watched the fish turn brown her mind dwelt on how much she missed her friend. Kagome's quick wit and perpetual cheeriness was always a delight and usually took her mind off the darker aspects of searching for Naraku. In addition, she always provided some of the most intriguing objects of her modern era, the strange cleaning fluid she patted on her face before turning in, and the last time the girls were together, she had applied some colored powder on her eye lids that she called "eye shadow". Sango smiled as she recalled how Kagome insisted on putting the eye shadow on her to as she said "…bring out the color of her eyes." Sango had protested until she saw her reflection in Kagome's mirror and saw how her eyes seemed to pop out and afterward when Miroku saw her, his own eyes were wide with wonder and were trained on her almost continuously, drawing from her a deep blush at his attention. He had even suggested they go together for a walk, alone, which she in her flustered state declined, unsure of his intent and fearing his lecherous advances. The houshi had been disappointed yet honored her decision, staring intently at her all night until sleep had finally claimed them.
The taijiya's reverie was interrupted by a tall shadow covering the light of the setting sun and a dog-earred silouhette that was Inu-Yasha spoke to her.
"Sango? Hey, Sango!"
The hanyou's tenor reached through to her as she shook herself to consciousness and looked into the burnished gold gaze and replied, "Oh you're back, Inu-Yasha."
"Aa." He glanced about and inquired, "So where's everybody?"
Sango answered, "Out in the woods looking for other food like roots or wild vegetables." She gestured to the fire. "They caught the fish and then went out to look for more. Horosha said he knew of a way to find some edible plants so houshi-sama and Shippou-chan went with him."
"I see," Inu-Yasha said then spying the fish, reached into the fire and withdrew the plumpest one, which he then began to eat.
Sango watched with a raised brow. "That one was supposed to be Shippou's, he claimed it as his before he left," she pointed out.
"Humph! The little brat always tries to take the biggest for himself." Inu-Yasha spoke with his mouth full of fish.
"He's a growing child, Inu-Yasha. He needs more nourishment then the rest of us."
"Keh, you and Kagome are the same," he complained while chewing then swallowed and continued. " Always coddling and pampering him, he'll never get tough that way."
Sango sighed, "He's still a baby, you should have a bit more tolerance of him."
The hanyou said nothing, just finished devouring the fish and then tossed the stick into the fire where it sizzled as it was consumed. He then said in irritation, "Women!" as he turned and headed toward the opposite direction.
Sango jumped up. "Matte, Inu-Yasha, where are you going?"
The hanyou turned around and glanced over her head at the half-circle of the sun at the western horizon and then gave the taijiya a "you must be kidding look." Realizing what night it was going to be Sango turned and saw the dying day and then met his gaze nodding in understanding.
"Stay safe, Inu-Yasha."
He met her concerned eyes and returned the nod. "Aa," then headed off into the woods to hide and wait out the moonless night…
Much later on, up in the starlit sky, Kagura the Wind Sorceress was floating on her feather craft right above the camp and watched as the group had settled in beside the fire for the night. She opened her hand and studied the Shikon shard there that glowed with a malevolent light…
Earlier at the castle Naraku handed her the shard and directed, "Kagura, go and meet Horosha within Inu-Yasha's clan. Use that shard for it too has the same miasma as the one planted in him to make him kill Inu-Yasha." He then turned and headed down a hatch to hide himself…
"Humph," Kagura scoffed as she continued perusing the shard with the dark glow. "This shard will prompt the ronin to attack Inu-Yasha, eh?" She glanced up into the dark sky and remarked, "I guess this would be the night to try to slay him, since there is no moon."
She remebered the night she sent her wind to attack Kouga and steal his shards to try to destroy Naraku, a night like tonight when she saw for herself the powerful hanyou in his mortal state. She saw as he transformed back at daybreak and kept the knowledge of his weakness as a future bargaining chip to gain her freedom. But as she observed the many battles, and witnessed Inu-Yasha gaining strength with each one, she began believing that the inu hanyou would be the one to kill Naraku and set her free.
I really would rather not do this Kagura admitted but then cast her crimson eyes up and saw the saimyoshou buzzing above, Naraku's omnipresent spies hovering around to ensure that their master's wishes were carried out. The female youkai sighed in irritation, having only one choice.
"Kuso!" she expostulated as she swooped down to do as she was bidden….
Several thousand paces to the east, Kouga and the yorozoku were sitting around, planning the next leg of their journey. They were talking about the clan in the northern mountains as possible guides to the Tsuki Shrine.
Ginta remarked, "They will probably know exactly where the shrine is."
Hakkaku nodded, "Aa." He turned to the okashira and inquired hesitantly, "Kouga, what do you---?"
Kouga was sitting with his arms crossed and listening with a bored expression on his handsome face when his nose wrinkled as he picked up a scent in the breeze and shot up with a scowl. "Kuso, the stench of Naraku is in the air, the bastard's close."
Both his vassals said in unison, "Are you sure?"
"Aa." He took another whiff and his scowl darkened as he recognized something else. "Worse than that, it's the reek of that witch Kagura, who killed all our comrades and family. I swear I'm gonna tear her apart with my bare hands." He took off in his whirlwind, leaving the two lagging behind in resignation to follow at their own pace….
In the camp, Horosha had sought rest sitting against a tree away from the group yet not far from where Miroku also slumbered, his staff resting on his left shoulder. The ronin held his wakizashi the same way, as he slept lightly, his many years as a samurai having trained him to sleep yet remain alert.
A whirl of wind announced the arrival of the wind sorceress as she emerged before Horosha, holding out the miasma tainted Shikon shard toward him as he slept. She moved with great stealth as not to awaken any of the others. An answering dark glow from his forehead, where the shard was planted glowed and Horosha's eyes opened into a blank, cold stare. But unknown to them, they were under scrutiny by a sage flea youkai, hidden in the glossy plumage of a crow perched in the high branches directly above them.
Kagura knelt beside Horosha and commanded softly, "Go and find Inu-Yasha."
The ronin repeated in a daze, "Inu-Yasha."
Kagura continued, "Find Inu-Yasha and kill him. He is in a weakened state and should be easy to destroy. Go and kill him."
The ronin rose slowly, taking his weapon in hand and headed off into the woods as Kagura watched with an impassive face, the saimyoshou fluttering about. As she finally took her leave, Myouga was prompted into action.
"Go down crow," he directed. "Inu-Yasha-sama is in danger, I must alert the others…."
Over in a clearing past the brook's bend, Inu-Yasha sat in the branches of a tree, hiding himself in the foliage, away from prying eyes. He had leapt into the tree just as the night fell, transforming to fully human to wait out the time of the new moon, and as usual, his human emotions intensified, making him edgy. He sighed and found himself haunted by wide sable eyes and a shock of silky raven hair that framed a face made all the more beautiful by her endless joy.
Oh Kagome he breathed her name reverently, his heart pounding as he cast his eyes skyward to gaze at the countless stars, like tiny diamonds scattered on the dark clime. Inu-Yasha smirked as he said it was just like this that time, too. A memory came to him about another starry night, 500 years in the future….
He was waiting for Kagome to return from the place she called "school", alone in her hut as her brother was at a friend's and mother and grandfather had business at another shrine and left him there. And as usual, he was getting worried and impatient as the sun was setting and she was not home yet.
"Kuso!" he cursed as he paced and groused simultaneously. "What the hell is taking her so long? It's almost night and she's still not back, I'd better go and get her."
Inu-Yasha was about to open the shoji and leap up to head to the school when his ears pricked forward and his keen hearing picked up the unmistakable sound of Kagome's soprano. But his blood began to boil and a growl rumbled in his chest when he heard another voice with hers, definitely male. Scowling, he peeked out a window slat and saw Kagome and the same human who had been with her when she was acting in the play at the Culture Festival talking beneath the torii. Jealously, he watched and listened as the two conversed…
"A-arigatou for walking me home, Houjo," Kagome stammered nervously, looking down at her shoes to avoid the would be swain's hot gaze. She was visibly uneasy as he took hold of her hand, which caused the hanyou watching to get even angrier.
"Don't mention it, Higurashi," Houjo said cheerfully. "I couldn't let you walk home alone when it was getting dark. After all I was the one keeping you at WacDonald's after school and talked to you for so long." He squeezed her hand and as he did, Inu-Yasha's hands balled into fists while he continued watching…and listening.
There was an atmosphere of awkwardness between the two when Houjo ran a nervous hand through his hair as he spoke hesitantly, "Ahhh, Higurashi, you know tomorrow night's the last dance before vacation."
She responded, "I know."
He pushed on. "Anyway, I figured that, well since you were back at school…that…that you'd want to go…so why don't you go…with me?"
Inu-Yasha was at his temper's end. Watching the human hold her hand was bad enough but now he had crossed the line. "Why that dirty---!" the hanyou growled and made to leap outside to confront his rival and stake his claim when Kagome's answer stopped him in his tracks.
"Arigatou for aking me Houjo…but I can't."
The young man's smile faded as he asked, "Why not? Why can't you go, Higurashi?"
Kagome's answer was shaky but clear. "B-because I have to go away again."
Houjo was crestfallen. "G-go away again? But why?"
She sighed and replied, "Because I have to have some tests to go to for my…swollen joints."
"Swollen joints?" Inu-Yasha asked. "She never let me know she had swollen joints." He fretted about her alleged problem and continued listening to the rest of the conversation…
Houjo sighed as he said in resignation, "Okay Higurashi. I guess I'd better be going then." He turned with his head down, his disappointment plain and headed for the stairs.
Kagome called out, "Gomen Houjo," then turned and headed towards the house so Inu-Yasha came and slid the shoji open to meet her.
"Hey Kagome, what took you so long to get back and why were you---?" the hanyou demanded but she walked right past him and into the hallway, scanning the house.
"So where's everybody?" Kagome asked as affronted by her ignoring him Inu-Yasha strode over and glared at her.
"You didn't answer my question."
Meeting him eye to eye she countered, "You didn't answer mine."
For a few tense moments they had a standoff, with neither budging until the hanyou grunted impatiently, "They are all out."
"Oh." Kagome walked into the kitchen and went to a cupboard to take out ramen. She tossed over her shoulder, "Want some?"
Inu-Yasha nodded and sat to wait as she prepared the cups of noodles for the two of them. The meal was then eaten in silence as Inu-Yasha brooded about Kagome's unusual demeanor. She was quiet and sad, something that made him uneasy and she never explained why she was so late getting home and was with the human, which bothered him greatly, not to mention this alleged condition of her swollen joints. But he wanted to keep the peace between them and wisely decided not to push the issue.
After they were finished, he watched as Kagome reached to a box by the cupboard and turned a knob, sending soft music into the air. His eyes continued to follow her as she sighed, went to the shoji and slid it open to look up into the night sky. Worried about her apparent melancholy, the hanyou rose and went to join her.
"Kagome, are you all right?" Inu-Yasha asked, concerned.
She did not answer, just stood staring into the sky, which was clear and filled with stars along with the nearly full moon.
"Kagome?"
She replied in a faraway wistful manner, "You know, sometimes I wish I could go."
He was baffled. "Go where?"
"To the dance."
Kagome strolled out into the middle of the shrine grounds, near the goshinboku and Inu-Yasha followed, perplexed about as to what she was referring. Then he remembered that was what the human man had asked her and his curiosity was stirred.
"Kagome, what's a 'dance'?" Inu-Yasha wanted to know as the music from the box in the kitchen was floating on the breeze and she began humming and swaying along with it.
As an answer she took hold of his right hand and replied, "Just put your hand on my waist like this, Inu-Yasha." Getting right in front of the hanyou she placed his hand firmly on the soft curve of her back as her hand rested on his shoulder.
"Then take my other hand and move along with the music."
She grasped his hand and was firmly in his arms, immediately causing his body to respond to the combined sensation of her feel and scent as she moved slowly back and forth so he did the same. And gradually he felt a rapt sensation of pleasure as his eyes were captured by hers, dark, fathomless pools reflecting the moonlight above. His heart began to pound as his emotions became hot and intense and other intimate thoughts came to mind while he stared at her lips enticing him to draw closer…
Inu-Yasha shook himself as the memory had morphed into a fantasy, blurring the line between what really had happened that night she taught him to dance and what he had hoped would take place. It was after that incident that they had been more aware of each other, at least from his viewpoint. But it was also the time Kagome had been subtly pulling away, making him feel confused and a little hurt by her attitude. Then came the incident with Kouga and fight between them that sent her back to her time to make the decision to leave…for good.
His heart aching at the thoughts, Inu-Yasha was feeling the rise of frustration overtake him as he tried once again to determine the reason for Kagome's imminent departure when a slight rustling alerted him to someone or something approaching. He tossed the thoughts aside as he rose to scan the area, his eyes focusing on the surrounding brush.
Drawing out his Tetsusaiga, he barked out a challenge. "Hey out there! Show yourself!" The hanyou in human form leapt down on the ground, sword at the ready, albeit untransformed.
A line of bushes rustled again as the ronin Horosha emerged and stepped out into the clearing before Inu-Yasha and he lowered his sword as he acknowledged the new member of the group.
"Oh it's you," he said as he re-sheathed his sword. He regarded the dour countenance of the vagabond samurai and noticed with a chill that his eyes looked blank and peculiar.
"Hey, are you alright?" Inu-Yasha asked, laying a hand on the ronin but then was taken aback by the evil glow in the man's forehead as he brushed him away. "Huh?"
"Inu-Yasha," Horosha's raspy baritone had a sinister quality that put the hanyou on guard at once. "You've become mortal and weak, hardly worth my time as an opponent."
Although he felt vastly weaker as a human Inu-Yasha scowled as he bristled at the jibe. "So you've come to fight me. If you think so, why don't you try and come at me." He withdrew the Tetsusaiga and got into a classic fighting stance holding the sword with both hands at his waist pointed at the opponent's midsection; a chodan no kamae.
Horosha laughed, "Worthless hanyou, I've wanted to slay you from the moment I saw you." He drew his wakizashi and also got into a chodan no kamae stance. "Prepare yourself for the afterlife!"
He charged forward, the tainted Shikon shard glow making his face a mask of hatred and his moves inhumanly fierce and fast, putting Inu-Yasha on the defensive. As a former samurai, Horosha's skill with the blade was formidable and the hanyou had all he could do to parry the attacks as the ronin came after him relentlessly.
Kuso, his skill is unbelievable Inu-Yasha admitted as he moved to avoid the flashing, deadly blade he moves like a snake and that power! That light on his forehead---could it be he's under a spell of Naraku's? He glanced at the red glow at the eastern horizon and mused I gotta last just a little bit longer, the night's almost over. But his lack of attention was his downfall as Horosha took the wakizashi, knocked the Tetsusaiga from Inu-Yasha's grasp, and pinned him to a tree trunk.
The ronin held the tip of his blade at Inu-Yasha's throat and laughed, "As I thought, you were a weak opponent, even for a hanyou. Did you honestly think you could defeat me with that rusty stick you call a sword?" He glowered as he snapped, "Now die!"
But at that moment, a whirwind hit Horosha full force, sending him and the blade flying to slam into a tall rock, rendering him unconscious as he crumpled to the grass. The action also served to knock the tainted shard from the ronin's forehead, where it tumbled out, a dark sliver by his head. Amazed by the event, Inu-Yasha watched as his savior, a fur-clad figure emerged from the tempest with two bright spots of pink light shining from his legs, the pure power of the Shikon no Tama.
The yorozoku Kouga stood with arms akimbo as he cast his azure orbs dispassionately at the fallen samurai. "Feh, humans are so weak and easily invaded by the beast Naraku." He then glanced at Inu-Yasha with a smirk and scoffed, "I guess you would know and saw that fact for yourself, eh Inukkoro?"
Having recovered from the initial shock of being rescued by his loathed rival, the hanyou snorted, "Keh, what the hell are you doing here butting in, ookami?"
Kouga arrogantly tossed his head. "Humph! That's gratitude for ya. In case you didn't notice, I saved your scrawny ass. That samurai had you pinned and if I hadn't come along he would have skewered you like a fish."
Inu-Yasha said acidly, "Who asked you to?" He glanced at the brightening eastern sky and stated, "I'd have taken care of him 'til sunrise when I transform back and regain my powers so I didn't need your help."
Kouga got right into the hanyou's face and "I didn't do it for you, baka. Kagome would be very upset if she awoke and found out you'd been killed and I'd move heaven and earth to make her happy. So I did it for her, not you."
"Why you---," Inu-Yasha sputtered in rage as his other friends came up along with the sun, signifying the end of the moonless night. Immediately he began his transformation back to hanyou with his hair changing back to silver and his claws and dog-ears returning.
The trio came running over, with Myouga, who leaped onto Inu-Yasha and attached himself on his lord's neck. "Thank Kami you're safe, Inu-Yasha-sama," he said as he sank himself in to have a draught of his blood, prompting the hanyou to slap his hand down on the flea youkai.
"Myouga told us Kagura had prompted Horosha to attack you." Miroku spotted the prone form of Horosha by the rock and admonished, "My goodness Inu-Yasha, did you kill the man?" He knelt beside to try to bring the ronin around, patting his cheeks as Sango and Shippou crouched beside him.
Inu-Yasha opened his mouth to reply but Kouga cut him off. "Keh, I didn't kill him, just knocked him hard against the rock. And good thing I did, 'cause if I hadn't, Inukkoro would've been pierced clean through and become dog meat."
The hanyou balked at the wolf's statement. "You're full of it, Kouga. You just always butt in where you're not wanted or needed. There's no way that human would have killed me." He stood with arms folded, glaring at his hated rival.
Kouga sniffed in derision as Miroku said firmly, "That's enough the two of you."
He turned his attention back to Horosha, who was still out but Sango was there, holding a clamshell with an odiferous substance under his nose. Curious, he was about to ask her what she had but was halted when Horosha's eyes fluttered open as he came to.
"What….happened?" he rasped while the houshi and taijiya both assisted him as he struggled to sit up.
Inu-Yasha came forward and replied, "You were fighting with me…"
Kouga came and finished, "…and I knocked you out," earning a heated glare from the hanyou.
Horosha stared at the hanyou and ookami, an incredulous expression on his craggy visage. He shook his head and said, "I-I came to fight with you…is that what you're telling me?" He glanced at Kouga and added, "I have never seen you before."
"Are you saying that you had no idea you had come here to attack me?" Inu-Yasha asked in disbelief.
Horosha answered, "Aa, the last thing I remember was settling down for the night. I knew you were gone but I figured you had your reasons and never gave it a thought. And then I wake up here on the ground."
"Keh." Inu-Yasha was dubious as he glared at the ronin, thinking him a liar.
Then Shippou spotted something glittering in the morning sun, on the grass by where Horosha had lain and went to pick it up. The kitsune piped up, "Hey minna, look what I found," as he tried to touch it and was thrown back by the evil force still clinging to the tainted Shikon shard. All eyes were on the fox kit and the shard in question when a saimyoshou came from out of nowhere, buzzed in and swooped down to capture the shard, flying up and away before anyone could react.
"Hey, come back here!" Inu-Yasha shouted but to no avail as the insect disappeared as a speck in the blue expanse. He looked over at Horosha and stated, "You had a Shikon shard inside you, I knew that there was something fishy about you." He cracked his claws menacingly.
With eyes wide Horosha snapped in defense, "I had no idea that there was a shard inside of me. It must have been the night when that woman and child visited me that the shard was put in me."
Miroku nodded in understanding, "That sounds like Kagura and Hakudoushi. When did they visit you?"
The ronin replied, "The night I spent in the village. I had been awakened and I drew my sword to fight then I was knocked out."
Kouga smirked and said, "Ha, I knew Naraku and Kagura were involved in this. I picked up on his stench where I was and came over to confront him and I found him." He tossed a thumb at the ronin and asked, "And who the hell is this baka?"
Horosha's eyes narrowed as Sango answered, "His name is Horosha and he is familiar with the northern lands so he's agreed to guide us to find the Tsuki Shrine."
At that moment, Ginta, Hakkaku, and the wolves all arrived on the scene, gasping as they were out of breath trying to follow Kouga at his exceptional speed. Ginta was the first to speak, huffing and puffing.
"Kouga, was Naraku here?"
The okashira replied, "Iie, just a false alarm. The human had a tainted shard and was under his spell. But it's broken now so we can be off."
Hakakku asked, "Are we heading for the northern mountains now, Kouga?"
Horosha had risen to his feet and inquired, "Are you yorozoku part of the clan from the north?"
Kouga responded, "Iie, we hail from the east but the northern tribes are our comrades."
"Are you heading there?"
Kouga sighed, as it was apparent that he had no choice but to ask Ayame's clan's help to find the shrine in time. Not if he wanted to save the life of his true love Kagome. "Aa," he muttered.
The ronin turned to Miroku and stated, "It would be wise if we traveled with them. The yorozoku from the Hokiusei would accept us readily if we were with their comrades."
"The idea has merit," the houshi said, nodding.
"Nani?" Kouga spat. "You want to travel with us?"
Inu-Yasha burst out, "You're mad if you're suggesting we team up with that mangy ookami."
"For once I agree. I don't want Inukkoro with us for many reasons, the main one being that he's too slow to keep up with me." Kouga said arrogantly as the hanyou's eyes narrowed and he sprang forward to confront his enemy.
"Why you stinking---," he growled but Miroku stood before him and placed his staff as a barrier. He became the lone voice of reason.
"Listen Inu-Yasha. We need to find the Tsuki Shrine by the full moon to retrieve the lunahana to save Kagome-sama's life. And although Kouga is your sworn enemy and rival, he can ensure that we get through the territory of the northern yorozoku tribe without incident. Time is short or have you forgotten that she could die if we don't make it in time?"
Inu-Yasha stared into Miroku's eyes and said to himself you're telling this to me when it's been my every waking thought to save her. He grunted and replied, "Very well then, we'll go with them."
Kouga shook his head in disgust and said, "Fine. Then let's get going." He turned northward and took off in an eddy of leaves and dust.
"Hey, wait a minute!" Inu-Yasha exclaimed as he too left, leaping up and off to follow after Kouga.
Ginta and Hakakku both turned to the rest and said resignedly, "Here we go. Everybody follow us."
Sango, Miroku, Shippou and Horosha all boarded Kirara and took off as well…destination---the northern mountains.
NEXT……THE YOROZOKU OF THE NORTH
