Episode Ten: Trust under the New Moon

Disclaimer: I don't own anything…blah!

"Kagome's memories are gone?" Queen Tsukiyumi of the Western Lands exclaimed to her son. "How can that be?"

"I don't know", Sesshomaru said. He quickly returned home after the encounter with his brother and Kagome. He wasn't remotely upset that he was unable to get the fang. It was the lost memories had upset him. All of them just vanished from her. "She didn't even remember me. She is traveling with Inuyasha and a priestess as we speak."

"Oh dear." Tsukiyumi combed through her silver hair with her fingers. She wore a white kimono similar to her son's and a black bat-shaped choker around her neck. "This is trouble, indeed. We are supposed to protect her. I doubt that the Vampire Kingdom even knows she's alive." She lightly touched the choker. "I promised my dearest friend that I would protect her daughter."

"Mother…" Sesshomaru hated seeing his mother like this. She was, too, fond of the little vampire despite how Kagome used to fear her. "I will find her, Mother. I will help her return her memories rather she likes it or not."

"Eh?" she cocked her head to the side. "What do you mean 'if she likes it or not'?"

Sesshomaru sighs. "She has…changed drastically. Her face and body are recognizable, but her personality is bold and she developed fighting skills as of a pure-blooded vampire."

"Are you are positive that it's her?"

He nodded. "She called me 'Sesshou', a name only she called me so casually."

Tsukiyumi looked over her lovesick son. It has been six years since Kagome's disappearance and she was happy that the little vampire had been alive all those years. "I'll allow you to go to her, but don't make her remember anything. Stay by her side. With you there, knowing you are the biggest part of her memories, she might remember something she doesn't want to know."

"I'm fully aware." Sesshomaru turned on his heels to leave his mother's room.

"And Sesshomaru", she called out, making her son stop, "if what you say is true and Kagome is that girl, keep her away from Kaname. Knowing him, he will kill her."

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"My name is Kasumi", said the girl. "I'm from a village not so far from here."

After Kikyo had revived the wounded girl and treated her, she has also witness the slap that her best friend gave to the hanyou. She doesn't have a clue what happened between them two but all she knows is that they are ignoring each other. Kagome was next to her and the girl while Inuyasha stayed in the trees.

"Do you mind telling us what happened?" Kagome asked.

The girl looked down at the ground. "My village was attacked by Spider Demons", she said. "Everyone was killed and I managed to get out of there, but they chased me down. I am very grateful of you, Priestess."

"No worries." Kikyo smiled. "You just need some rest. Why don't you stay here with us for the night?"

"No way!" Inuyasha yelled as he leaped from the tree and landed in front of the girls. "She ain't staying with us. She can go back to her village. We don't have time for this."

Kagome's blood boiled. "What the hell is your problem, Inuyasha?"

"That's okay', Kasumi said as she stood up. "The demon's right. I can't stay. I ought to go back to the village."

"We'll escort you", Kikyo offered. "Just to make sure you're not ambushed on your way there."

Kasumi bowed. "Thank you, Priestess."

Kikyo and Kagome followed the villager with Inuyasha trailing behind them. Kagome often looks bad and see him glaring at her. Kagome huffed and ignored the hanyou all the way to the village. The village was empty and cold. Blood was thick in the air, but there were no bodies. Not even spider webs were found. It almost brought Kasumi to tears until she saw a man in robes walking out from a house.

"Monk Ritsu!" Kasumi ran and embraced the monk. "I thought I was the only survivor."

The monk hugged back the girl. "Ah, Kasumi. You survived, too."

"We found her out in the woods", Kikyo said. "We wanted to escort her back before we made our way back to our journey."

"Oh, please stay, Priestess and friends?" the monk asked. "I want to honor you guys for bringing back Kasumi. Just for one night?"

"Of course." Kikyo bowed.

"One night, huh?" Kagome muttered as she looked at the setting sun, then back to the monk. Something was wrong with this picture. Just where were the bodies? Why was the air so thick with blood and why was this place so…cold? Plus, she was getting a bad vibe from the monk. There wasn't a scratch on him. If this village was attacked, he should've gotten hurt. 'Just what is going on?'

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Night fell in the little house the group was staying in for the night. Kasumi made a big feast for them. Kikyo gobbled her share and rested, but Kagome and Inuyasha didn't eat at all. Inuyasha sat by the open door, staring up at the moonless sky while Kagome contemplate what was going on. Mostly, she was worried about Inuyasha, despite how made he made her. His scent was wavering, like he was disappearing, but she can see him clearly.

'It's getting late', Inuyasha thought. He thought about leaving to 'go for a walk' until Kagome grabbed his sleeve. He was about to snap at her until he saw the worry on her face. "What is it?"

"Are you…okay?" she asked.

He feh'd. "Of course I am. I want to go for a walk."

"You can't", Kagome said.

"Oh, and why not?" he snapped.

"Did you not sense anything weird since you've been here?" she asked. "The thick smell of blood, the coldness in the air and the bodies of the say villagers are missing?"

Inuyasha's eyes widen with realization.

"And", Kagome added, "all of the houses are nice and haven't been touched." She gripped the hanyou's sleeve. "They never attacked this village. This is their village."

Inuyasha stood up. "Then we need to leave right now. Wake up Kikyo."

"Kinda too late for that", Kagome said with a sigh. "We're already surrounded."

"What?" Inuyasha looked out and saw dozen of red eyes staring at them. He gulped. 'Damn…why now?'

Kagome was able to wake Kikyo up and both girls were ready to battle. "I never really did like this place", Kikyo said with a yawn. "The food sucks."

"I've heard that spiders are a delicacy in other countries", Kagome snickered.

"Really? Let's give it a try." Kikyo shot out two arrows and purified the spider men that hid in the trees. As they tried to attack Kikyo, Kagome was quicker. With her poison kunais, she stabbed, slashed, and penetrated the spider men. Inuyasha punched and kicked the spiders that tried to get close to the girls, but he didn't use his sword.

"Inuyasha", Kagome called out, "use your sword. There's too many of them."

Inuyasha unsheathed his sword, but it didn't transformed and it didn't go unnoticed by the vampire. He swung his sword against the spiders, but he was caught by the spider webs they spat at him. Panicked, Kagome cut through the spider webs and held on to the hanyou how collapsed.

"Damn", Kagome cursed. "Kikyo, we're retreating."

Kikyo didn't question her friend. She shot one more arrow and darted to where Kagome was. She helps up the hanyou, whom upper body was covered with spider webs, and headed off, to the forest, trying to get far from the village. Once they were far enough, they put Inuyasha against the tree.

"What happened?" Kikyo panted. "We did we retreated?"

"Inuyasha collapsed." Kagome kneels down in front of the hanyou, reaching to the spider web that covered his face.

"Don't touch me!" He yelled.

Kagome ignored him. "What the fuck is your problem?" She yanked off the spider web and gasped. "Inuyasha…?"

The hanyou in front of the vampire and priestess…was now human. His hair was as black as Kagome's. His eyes, instead of a golden-amber, were a rich shade of blue. Instead of dog ears, he had human ears. His claws were also gone as well.

"What happened?" Kikyo asked. "Was this the cause of the spider webs?"

"No", Inuyasha said. "This only happens when there's a new moon in the sky."

"Fuck", Kagome cursed. "He's a half-breed. Every half-breed has some kind of weakness that will change them into a human. The weaknesses vary from different breeds." She then grabbed a fist full of his kimono. "What I wanna know is why didn't you tell us before we left?"

"I didn't know we were leaving for Kamui today", he yelled.

"Then you should've told us then. We would understand."

"You wouldn't understand! You're not a half-breed."

"Yes, I am", Kagome yelled back as she let go of the boy. "I am, too, a half-breed."

Inuyasha stared at the vampire, confused. "You're…what?"

"I am a half-breed", Kagome repeated. "I'm half human, half vampire. That is one of the reasons why I can last longer without blood than normal vampires. That's why I can't fly. That's why I know about Kamui."

Upon hearing this, Inuyasha growled. "You are a half-breed but you put on this 'holier than thou', thinking you are better than me when we're the same."

"We're not the same", she shouts. "I'm better than you in every way. You're a rouge half-breed that causes misery and death to others. You have no morals or senses, but I do. I cannot stand stupid half-breeds like you. You make me sick!" She turned away from him and crossed her arms. "You're weakness is the cause of our retreated. Thanks a lot, Half-Breed." With that, Kagome walked into the forest alone.

Kikyo watched the entire scene and looked at Inuyasha, whom was hurt from the inside and out. She walks up to him and patted his shoulders. "I'm so sorry about that, Inuyasha. She doesn't mean it that way. Kagome was attacked by a half-breed when she lived with Kaname. Kaname had repeatedly told her that rouge half-breeds are useless and she believes that."

"No one in the Vampire Kingdom knows", she continues. "It's against the rules to non-pure blooded vampires to enter. Kaname trained Kagome to be as quick, smart, and fight like a vampire so no one would question her. But…it was Kaname and the half-breed that attacked her to believe all half-breeds are weak except her."

'So, it's Kaname's fault' he thought.

The bushes rustled, which startled both friend. Kikyo had her bow ready to shoot, but it was Kasumi, wounded and in tears, coming towards them. Kikyo rushed to the girl as she collapsed in her arms.

"Monk Ritsu", the girl struggles to say. "Monk Ritsu is…a spider." Then she passed out.

"I'm going", Inuyasha announced as he stood up.

"Wait!" Kikyo called out. "Wait for Kagome to come with you."

Inuyasha feh'd. "Send her to me when you see her, but I'm not gonna wait. I'll kill that spider once and for all." He took off in the direction of the village.

"Wait!" but it was too late to chase after him with a wounded girl in her hands. "Oooh, Kagome. Please come back. Inuyasha's going to get hurt."

Kagome wasn't far and heard Kikyo's cry. Maybe she did went a little overboard with Inuyasha and maybe hurt his feelings to the point to suicide. "I really need to keep my mouth shut", she whispered. As Kikyo created a barrier to protect herself and the girl, Kagome went after Inuyasha and the spider demon.

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Monk Ritsu, now surrounded by spider men was laughing with them as they drunk sake. The monk's real name was Orichi the Spider King. He had been coming to villages as a monk to bless the village, but then kills off the villagers after a week.

"The rumored girls and half-breed are so weak", he chuckled. "We outnumbered them and they retreated. They aren't so tough."

One of his men was laughing, and then they were suddenly cut down.

"What?!" Orichi exclaimed.

Behind the group was a lone human in a similar red kimono the half-breed from earlier was wearing. A sword was in his hand."You bastards will pay for what you did." He swung more, cutting off the heads of the spider men and he made progress as he slain the drunken men. Now, all was left was the fake monk, still in robes. "You're next."

Orichi laughed and transformed into a white spider, keeping his human head. Fangs elongated from the face and the legs extended long. "Really, human? You think you can defeat me?"

The man didn't care and he charged towards him. The man swung at the spider legs, but the sword wouldn't slice through.

Orichi laughed. "Pathetic human. You will be my supper!" He stretched his neck and headed towards the man's side. He then sunk his fangs into his side, poisoning him. The man let out a cry and became paralyzed. The spider king laughs again as he picked up the poisoned human. "Say your prayers!"

"Damn spiders!" cried out a voice as two kunais hit Orichi's head. When he turned towards the culprit, he gasps.

"Vampire!"

Kagome came to the village and found Inuyasha right on time. She cursed at herself for letting Inuyasha get as far to be poisoned and near death, but getting him away from that spider was first. "Looks like you have my friend there, mister spider. You might want to let him go…or else I'll have to kill you."

Inuyasha was a little relived to see Kagome, but he didn't want to see her in this state. She has been right abour him not talking to her about his weakness. And he had tried to prove her wrong by going after the head spider without protection. He deserved death.

"Ka…gome", he croaked. "Get…out of here. Leave…me."

"Are you stupid?" she asked. "Like hell I'll leave you here to die." Kagome leaped on to one of the spider's legs and snapped it apart by stomping on it with her heavy boots. The spider roared in pain, which gave her less than ten seconds to get Inuyasha. She made every second count. She leaped between legs and was able to cut Inuyasha from the spider's grasp.

It could be Inuyasha's imagination, but he could've sworn that he saw tears coming from Kagome's eyes as she pulled him to her chest.

Time was running out. Kagome needed to get Inuyasha to a safe place and draw out the poison before it reached his heart. She didn't have time to mess with the now poisoned and pissed spider demon. Searching around the house, she found an open door that led towards the storage room. Carrying Inuyasha, she rushed to the storage room and slammed the door shut.

She bit into her thumb to draw out blood. She drew a pentacle on the door and put both hands on the door. "Vampire Magic: Blood Barrier!" Kagome hated using vampire magic. She has always believed it was just laziness, but she needed to get the poison out of Inuyasha fast. She was able to find a blanket and a pillow for the boy. She notices that he started to sweat.

"Kagome" he croaked.

"Shh, don't say anything." She opens up his kimono and his white shirt he wore underneath. "I'm going to suck out the poison."

"Won't…your bite…turn me?" It was hard for him to talk, but she understood.

"No", she replied. "I'm a half-breed, remember? My venom won't turn you…if face, it should dull the pain." She grabbed his hand, which was cold as ice. "Do you trust me?"

Inuyasha nodded. "Yes."

Kagome nervously inched closer to his bare neck. Her fangs elongated and pierced through the skin. It could be the poison, but Inuyasha's blood tasted sweet to her. She felt him relax and his breathing was slowing down. She pulled away once she drank away the poison. Her vision and senses enhanced thanks to the blood.

"How do you feel?" she asked, pulling a blanket over him.

"Better", he said. He opened his eyes and smiled when he was able to look at her face. "Thank you."

"You're welcome." She tucked his black hair behind his ears. "Look, I want to say sorry. My anger got the best of me…you're not weak and I don't hate you."

"Don't worry about it." He squeezed her hand. "In some levels, you were right. You are better than me. You have skill and morals while I did think about no one but myself."

"You should rest. You must be tired."

"I am…" He blushed. "Say, Kagome?"

"Yes?"

"Would you…come under the covers with me? I'm still cold."

Kagome was hesitant, but she got under the blanket with Inuyasha and held his body to hers. "Better?"

"Yes. Kagome?"

"Hm?"

"Earlier, I saw tears coming from your eyes when you came to save me. Why were you crying?"

Kagome blushed. She as hoping he didn't see her tears. "I…I thought I was going to lose you. You're part of my family. I don't want you to die."

"Oh. I see."

After a while, they stayed silent. Inuyasha fell asleep and Kagome was wide awake. She didn't know when the barrier will break, but she also didn't want to let go of her friend. This is the closest they have ever become, and in her heart, she knew she would also have to protect Inuyasha in the future and she was happy about that.

Hours passed…and finally…the blood barrier disappeared.

The shaking of the storage house startled Kagome and woke Inuyasha. Inuyasha recovered quickly and was quick on his feet. The spider demon tried to break though the storage house to get to them. Kagome wasn't having that.

When the spider king broke through, Kagome let him have a taste of her kunais. "Man, I hate spiders." While the demon was stunned, both her and Inuyasha darted pass the demon so Inuyasha could get his sword. They both ran out of the house. The sky showed that it was nearing dawn.

"So let me get this straight", Kagome said. "Night of the New Moon, you're human, but by morning, you'll be a hanyou again, right?"

"Right. So it's soon."

The spider king crushed the house into pieces. "Wretched half-breed and vampire. I will devour you both!"

Kagome was ready to battle, but Inuyasha held out his hand to bock her. "I got him", he said with a smile.

Kagome smiles back. "Heh! Don't get yourself killed."

He feh'd. "As if!" He gripped the sword tightly as the sun's rays bathe his skin, blinding the spider demon with his transformation. He black hair turned white, his nails grew into claws, and his dog ears appeared on top if his head. With that, the tetsusaiga transform into a massive sword.

'He's…protecting me?' Kagome thought. 'Heh…he's such a show off.'

"Die half-breed!" the spider king charged.

"Yeah, right." Inuyasha leaped into the air and slashed the spider king into pieced and dissolved him into ashes.

As Inuyasha landed, he sheathed his sword and walked by Kagome. "Come on. We need to find Kikyo."

Kagome smirked at the hanyou. "Hey, wait up!"

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"I'm so glad you guys made up", Kikyo said.

When Kagome and Inuyasha found Kikyo and Kasumi, they let her travel with them until they were able to drop her off at a safer village. She thanked them and the group took off. Kikyo was happy that both of her friends weren't still mad at each other. It would make the trip a lot easier.

Inuyasha kept his eyes on Kagome as he walked beside her. When she was holding him, she was so small against him. He didn't realize that she was so small and so warm. He noticed that she yawns. "Say, aren't you tired? You've been up all night."

"Yeah", she said. "Taking care of a poisoned human does that to ya."

"Here." He gotten in front of her and kneel down. "Get on my back. I'll carry you."

Hesitant, Kagome climbed on the hanyou's back. He held on to her as he began to walk. Kagome felt like a kid, but her tiredness overtook her. 'I don't hate you, Inuyasha' she thought. 'You do have your badass moments.'