Once In A Blue Moon

Author's Note: Thanks everyone! I don't know if this will be a better story than "Sanctuary", but I really hope it will. Thanks for the reviews, and I hope you enjoy the next chapter. Sorry about the cliffie! ^^ I just though it would be nice ending it with Sesshy and Kag sleeping under the leaves and the stars.

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Inuyasha woke up before any of his friends did. As his vision cleared, he focused his attention on a large white dog. His eyes became tinged with a red hue, and he stomped towards the sleeping couple. The loud growling emanating from the raging hanyou immediately roused Miroku, who was a light sleeper. The houshi watched from a safe distance as Inuyasha tried to claw his way through to his sleeping brother, but a light pink barrier disabled him from going a foot further. Inuyasha's hands were beginning to sting, and as he banged on the barrier with all his might, all it did was tire him out.

Miroku sighed, and turned back to Sango, who was unconscious with a wound on her head. He tried his best to heal her cuts and bruises, but he worried for her safety with Inuyasha on the rampage. Looking at the hanyou, he found that Inuyasha no longer struck the barrier, but was now looking helplessly inside the dome.

As for Shippou, he was miraculously unharmed. Safely tucked inside a blanket, high above in the trees, Shippou was snoring away.

Inuyasha stood, with a slight hunch, looking at the scene before him. His brother was in his true form, a white dog, laying on Kagome. It looked like a picture from a fairytale.

'Let's just hope this fairytale has a happy ending' he thought bitterly, fingering the sheathed Tessaiga on his hip.

He made a sharp turn, and climbed a tree. He made himself comfortable and kept watch over the camp. Miroku shook his head, wondering why Kagome did not wake from her slumber. Meanwhile, Inuyasha wondered why Sesshoumaru was so intent on keeping them away from Kagome.

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The scent of lavender and Sakura filled his nostrils as he yawned contently. He stretched his muscles from the most wonderful sleep he had in centuries. He was surprised to find that he was still in his true form, and found a woman underneath him.

After reverting to his ningen-like form, he examined the woman who saved him.

'Kagome,' he thought. The ningen miko who had intrigued him from the moment he had met her. He recalled that she was the reason for his comfortable rest. Sesshoumaru was somewhat thankful for waking up next to a vision of beauty, but a part of him was disgusted that he was in close proximity to a lower species.

For a moment, he struggled against his instinct to stay with the woman. He knew her blood was driving him crazy. His youkai wanted her, wanted to keep her safe, wanted to be near her.

Frustrated, Sesshoumaru shook his head, wondering how a youkai would want a ningen as a mate. But his heart clenched painfully as he stepped away from her. He looked at the sleeping woman, and his expression softened. There was something about the girl… but what?

She groaned, and tried to stretch, but the tree prevented her from becoming comfortable. Sesshoumaru used his tail to gently lift the woman from her position, laid her by his stomach, and curled around her, using her lap as his pillow once more.

'Just for a while' he thought, he would allow her to be close to him for a while longer.

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Kagome stretched as light shone brightly in her eyes. She briefly wondered why it was so cold in her room, until she recalled that she was not in the comforts of her room because she had not gone through the well back to her time. By why didn't Inuyasha wake her up like he usually did? So many questions filled her mind as her vision cleared, one of which was, 'Why is Sesshoumaru sleeping on me?'

True enough, the TaiYoukai was still fast asleep, and still in his inuyoukai form. Kagome tried to gently push the youkai away, only to have him growl in his sleep, and trap her between his paws. Unknown to her, Sesshoumaru had been awake for a long time, thinking about her.

He did not fall asleep as he had originally planned yet he stayed awake, watching the rise and fall of her breathing.

Kagome, on the other hand was busy trying not to 'wake' Sesshoumaru while she tried to look beyond the large inu's back.

"How do I get into these things?" Kagome asked aloud, not realizing that Sesshoumaru had sensitive hearing. Sesshoumaru decided to make his consciousness known. Kagome tensed as she felt him stand. She feared he would kill her, but much to her surprise, Sesshoumaru did nothing more than lick her face. He stretched for a bit, and sat back down, offering his furry stomach as a backrest.

Kagome looked at him warily, her legs underneath her, providing a comfortable sitting position for her. She observed the TaiYoukai, with his blood-red eyes, and his sharp fangs.

Sesshoumaru, however, was watching Kagome's reaction. He had not planned on the small show of affection, but his instinct to calm the woman down had been too powerful. Since she was linked to him, he felt everything she felt.

Why do you insist on fearing your mate, woman?

Kagome blinked, still looking at Sesshoumaru, who was now towering over her. With Sesshoumaru standing, Kagome could now see her friends around a fire. They seemed to be waiting for something, and since they had their backs turned from her, they could not see what was happening. She wondered why they hadn't attacked Sesshoumaru before she woke up. Could it have been possible that there was a barrier around the two of them?

That is correct, miko Sesshoumaru replied telepathically You are indeed a powerful ningen, something none have seen since Midoriko. Perhaps mating with you would be an advantage

Kagome swallowed, her throat became parch. She needed to break the barrier somehow… but how?

Escape is not something you are in the position to accomplish

He laughed and transformed into his ningen-like form. He took a step towards Kagome, who was trying to keep herself from Sesshoumaru. Sadly, there was no space in the barrier to do so. She found herself backed into a tree.

"Why do you fear your mate?" Sesshoumaru asked once again, confusing Kagome. She looked into his eyes, and fell into the golden depths. There was so much emotion written in them, which made Kagome wonder why she hadn't seen it before.

"I-" she stammered, not knowing how to respond, she started again saying, " I am not your mate."

Sesshoumaru's eyes seemed to turn red once more, but he controlled himself, and stepped towards Kagome.

"Miko, you cannot escape this Sesshoumaru," he replied solemnly, "My youkai wants your miko as its mate, and will not rest until it has you. It wishes to complete the ritual."

Sesshoumaru slowly lets the barrier melt away. Inuyasha, and the rest of the gang who had been in the camp before the barrier now stood, ready to fight.

Inuyasha growled, unsheathing the Tessaiga. He was about to strike, but he found that Tessaiga did not turn into its youkai form. No matter how hard he swung the sword, it still kept its rusted form.

Taking Inuyasha's disadvantage to his advantage, Sesshoumaru did something that surprises both he and Kagome- he lowered his face towards hers, and gave her a gentle kiss. Witnessing the kiss, Inuyasha threw the Tessaiga on the forest floor and struck at Sesshoumaru with his claws. But his claws never touched flesh for once Inuyasha charged; Sesshoumaru had disappeared.

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They traveled quietly back to Kaede's village. No one dared to break the silence, not even Shippou, who was always ready to gab. He stayed silent in Kagome's arms, wondering why Sesshoumaru had kissed his adopted mother.

Sango and Miroku worried for their friends. For Kagome's sake because of Inuyasha, and Inuyasha's because of Sesshoumaru.

'What will happen now?' Sango thought as she carried her Hiraikotsu. Kirara mewed softly beside her, offering slight comfort to her.

Meanwhile, Miroku wondered how serious the bond between Kagome and Sesshoumaru was. For Sesshoumaru to have changed so dramatically after a few days.

'How will Inuyasha react to another episode of sibling rivalry?' he wondered.

Kagome stared at her feet as she walked. So many things rushed through her mind. Sesshoumaru had left a definite mark on her that she would never forget. His eyes had opened a part of his soul to her, telling her of the life he had led. Kagome knew that nothing would be the same between her and Inuyasha.

For some reason, she felt as if she was betraying him just by thinking about his brother.

Inuyasha walked slowly and silently ahead of the group. Anger rushed through every vein of his body. He would not allow Sesshoumaru to touch Kagome ever again. He had underestimated the bond made between his woman and his brother. Sesshoumaru no longer considered Kagome a mere ningen.

'It's only a month,' Inuyasha thought. He was determined to keep Sesshoumaru from Kagome. No matter what the cost.

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Kagome sat at the rim of the well. Inuyasha had asked her to stay in her time for a month. She only assumed it was because of the scene that occurred during the morning.

"He really cares for you, you know."

Kagome turned around and found Sango standing behind her. Kagome offered a smile and nodded shyly.

"I know," she replied. " But he loves Kikyou. No matter how much he cares for me…Kagome… he will always love Kikyou."

Sango sat beside her friend and gave her a hug. " Everyone keeps their first love in their hearts. It just takes Inuyasha longer. After all… he blames himself for her death."

The women sat in silence, enjoying the breeze. Kagome looked at her watch and took a deep breath.

" I better go," Kagome said sadly. "I'll see you in a month."

Sango nodded, waving as Kagome leapt into the well, disappearing into her own time. As the older woman walked away, another figure appeared before the well. Clawed hands touched the rim, feeling the power resonating from the hole.

Sesshoumaru raised his eyebrow. He looked inside the well, not surprised to find an ordinary dry well. 'Why would she have jumped in? And where did she go?'

"You can't touch her if you can't reach her, brother," Inuyasha said with malice as he appeared before Sesshoumaru. He had an arrogant smirk on his face, and his arms were crossed. " She's gone into her own time. And only she and I can travel through the sacred well."

Sesshoumaru kept a stoic face, and calmly walked away, but not before whispering something in the air. Inuyasha tensed, turning around, he found that his brother was gone once again.

"Damn you, Sesshoumaru."

The wind blew harsher, blowing Inuyasha's hair from his face, as well as the words that Sesshoumaru had whispered…

"Bonds go beyond the laws of time, little brother"

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Author's Note: ^^ Thanks for reading. Review! Lol. I have a few ideas how I can get Inu out of the way, but I don't want him with Kikyou. I should change the categories… I don't know if this will still be action/adventure…