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Chapter 11

X-X-X-X

I wasn't worried when two ogres appeared, talking down on Sesshomaru before saying they would eat us. I merely played with my earring when the Inu-Daiyoukai ripped them to shreds with his claws. That was the sixth attack since Sesshomaru picked me up from that place. While I returned fully healed physically, the same couldn't be said about my powers. The flames were weaker compared to before, but the ability to purify Kohaku's shard was stronger than ever.

"Ah..." Sesshomaru glanced at me as I hugged myself. Something scary was approaching...quickly. "S-Sesshomaru-sama...I'm scared...I'm really scared...!" I told him holding myself.

"Get back." Sesshomaru told us.

That's when 'he' appeared, a youkai that sent shivers down my spine and made me fear him immediately. A great evil...so much stronger compared to Naraku. He ignored my existence and instead went straight for Kohaku. I quickly pushed him to A-Un and I broke away before my arms could get cut off by his scythe like arms. When my gauntlets formed over my hands and my flames went active was when he paid full attention to me.

"You...I see. I knew she chosen someone, but to think it'd be a little girl."

"Get back, now."

"Y-Yes, Sesshomaru-sama..."

I moved further away with Jaken, not turning my back or breaking my gaze away from that...that creature. I was afraid when I saw it suck in Sesshomaru's arm and...try to devour him. I couldn't...I refuse to let him kill Sesshomaru. I looked at my bracelets, but they weren't...they wouldn't transform! Why, why! I have to fight, I have to...I need to fight...right...? I saw Kohaku aim at that man and how he transformed his arm into tentacles that shot out towards the boy...and how he let it touch the Shikon shard before he went limp.

"Don't...DON'T TOUCH HIM!" That man barely had enough time to react when I sliced off his arm with my flame covered hand. I jumped back as he stared at me silently, observing me. I was breathing heavily as my flames began to recede, a slight burn going along my hand and arm that I used to cut off his arm. "Ugh...it's burning..." I muttered to myself.

"As I thought, you're truly her reincarnation."

"Her...?" I thought of the woman who helped me, who brought me to this place. "Could it be...?"

"Tsuki!" Inuyasha landed beside me, sword in hand. "You okay?"

"...Yes, I am..." I backed away slowly, not liking the way he was looking at me. "But I can't use my right hand or arm right now...His poison is strong...really strong...avoid touching him directly..."

"Kagome-chan?!"

"Kagome!"

"W-What...did he do...?" He just stared at Kagome and she fainted. I sensed something in the air...something familiar, but stronger at the same time. "Is she...?"

"Tsukichiyo."

"Sesshomaru-sama..." He stared down at me and I walked towards him. My gauntlets returned to bracelets and I slipped both onto his wrist. My flames encased it, a gauntlet like my own appearing on his hand...going up his arm. "Please...use it...to protect yourself...I can't...I'm too afraid to actually fight him..."

"Go."

"Stay safe...please..."

I ran to A-Un, helping Miroku pull Kohaku on before getting on behind Rin and in front of Miroku. We flew off and I hope we can get as far away as possible. I saw Sesshomaru transform into a huge dog then bite off the head of that creature...but the body still moved. I couldn't watch when I saw it try to kill Sesshomaru's dog form by crushing him. I'm afraid, I'm really afraid, I want to get further away, as far as possible.

"Tsuki-nee?" Rin asked as I held her tightly with my good arm.

"My power...won't do much good right now..." I watched as the body was scattered about, moving on its own. "I can't fight...my body and power isn't...ready..." I saw Kohaku sit up and when he turned around...he grabbed my throat. I quickly reacted, grabbing his wrist to try to loosen his grip. Miroku tried to help, but we were trying not to hurt him. "K-Koha...ku...!"

"He's being controlled by the Jaki of that youkai!"

"Stop it, Kohaku!"

"...if you kill me...at least...do it as yourself...!" I rather die if it is by his actual hand, not him being controlled like that day. "Don't...fight it please...Kohaku...!"

"Tsu...ki...ch...an..."

"Look at who you're trying to kill, Kohaku!" Kohaku's eyes were dark, but there were flickers of himself in there. "It's Tsuki!"

"Tsuki...chan..."

"Get me...to the shard...I can...purify it...at least a...bit...!"

"Got it!"

Miroku managed to get the hand off my throat before I pressed my hand to the back of his neck. An electric shock flowed through my hand and it burned, but...but...I refuse to let someone control my friend again! Kohaku screamed, but I kept pressing on. Give him back...! Give me back my friend! I won't let someone hurt him again! Kohaku's eyes returned to normal, but my hand...absorbed the taint...my body absorbed it. The scattered body parts aimed at us, more specifically myself and Kohaku. Sesshomaru reached us and he directed us to the ground...gathering the scattered parts closer around us.

"Tsuki-chan...Your arms..." Kohaku said as I leaned against Miroku.

"I'm okay, it's just a bit of pain..." I said smiling at him.

"Tsuki-nee..."

"Tsukichiyo." Sesshomaru tossed Kohaku my bracelets after the flames I put into them run out. "Good work. Protect yourselves."

"Yes...Sesshomaru-sama..."

Sesshomaru charged at the head of that creature...unsheathing Tenseiga and instead of cutting the head he cut...some kind of spirit behind the head. So that thing isn't of this world and Tenseiga is the perfect weapon against it. Kohaku kept me steady when I almost fell over when I saw it pierce through Sesshomaru's abdomen from behind and the front.

"Sesshomaru-sama!" I screamed as he began to get crushed by the body parts. Inuyasha attempted to help, only to get caught as well. "Kohaku, my bracelets!" I shouted at him.

"You can't! You're in no condition to fight!" Kohaku shouted at me.

"But...!" I stopped myself when a bright light came from where Sesshomaru was being held...and...he is alright. "Sesshomaru-sama..."

"Toutousai-sama?"

"Eh?"

"Tsuki-nee! There's something in the light!"

"That..." My eyes widened when I saw his left arm returned and...a sword? "That's not Tenseiga...that's his own weapon born from his own body..."

"Sesshomaru-sama...he's amazingly strong..."

"Un..." Sesshomaru drove off that creature and I quickly ran up to him with Rin and Jaken right behind me. "How are your injuries, Sesshomaru-sama?"

"Worry for yourself more. That woman healed you, but you went and got yourself injured." Sesshomaru grabbed one of my hands, looking it over. "You need to rest."

"Yes...I understand."

"Don't be reckless. That body is not just your own."

"Eh?"

Sesshomaru ignored me and instead focused on listening to Toutousai. What does he mean by this body is not just my own? It's not like I'm with child. I glanced at Rin then at Kohaku who approached. Ah, that's right...this is a bond that goes both ways. I would feel immense pain and loss when they would die and...I'm sure they would feel it too.

"Come on, Tsuki-chan, you should get some rest." Kohaku took one of my hands, staring down at them. "...You purified my shard...but you hurt yourself instead...I'm sorry...I should have..." Kohaku said gritting his teeth.

"It's not your fault. I don't want anyone to control you or to make you kill people again." I stated staring up at him.

"...I'll protect you, I promise. No matter what." Kohaku told me, his eyes burning with determination.

"I know."

"Hey, how long are you two going to stay like that?"

"...!"

"Hiee!"

Kohaku and I quickly released one another at Inuyasha's question. Neither one of us could look at the other out of embarrassment...while the others in his group, minus the unconscious Kagome, was berating the hanyou for interrupting us. We went to a familiar village, apparently the place Kikyo lived when she was still alive. The old woman, Kaede, we would be intruding on is her younger sister. She was helping me with my injuries, washing away the layers of blood and dirt.

"Your injuries are healing quite quickly or they weren't as bad as they look." Kaede said gently pouring warm water over my hands.

"It stings a little..." I admitted flinching a little.

"Do you want help?" Rin asked looking over my shoulder.

"Your weapon must have protected you much more than we had assumed." Kohaku said fiddling with my bracelets.

"It would explain when I attacked him, but not when I tried purifying your shard." They probably repelled most of the taint, but when I didn't use them then I would end up taking the full brunt of the taint. "I can't purify it completely, hopefully when Kagome-san wakes up she can deal with what I cannot."

"Yes..."

"Un..."

Kohaku and I could feel the stares...from the others, how embarrassing. Kohaku silently said he'd go outside to speak with Sesshomaru, handing Rin my bracelets as I was having my hands wrapped up after ointments was applied. I was grateful that Kaede didn't wrap it too tightly, I could still fight if I have to. Rin put my bracelets on her own wrists, testing the feel of it. Kirara is on my lap, enjoying being with me again after so long. It wasn't long before Kagome woke up then soon after Sesshomaru left to hunt down Magatsuhi. I ignored the others around me as they talked...but why is Inuyasha staring at me so hard?

"Hey." I jumped at Inuyasha suddenly addressing me. "We heard about you, what you are, who you are. Do you really hate your family and life that much?" Inuyasha asked with a frown.

"...How much do you know about my past?" I asked, but not sure if I want to hear it.

"You left home two years ago without a trace, no struggle, nothing. Your mother still wants you back and...she's been crying for you." Kagome answered as Kirara mewed at me.

"Tsuki-chan..." Kohaku placed his hand on my shoulder. "You don't have to tell them if you don't want to." Kohaku said knowing a bit about my past.

"Tsuki-nee?"

"..."

"All we know is that you're angry at her, why is that? Don't you love your-"

"Don't talk like you know my situation!" I stared at the floor, remembering those horrible days. "I have no intention of returning, what goes on is none of your business."

"...Why are you running away?"

"...As a hanyou, you know what it is like to be rejected at every turn, don't you? You had your mother at least...not me. My own mother cries now, but what about my own pain before I ran away? A husband who wanted a son, not a daughter. Forcing a boy's name and life upon me..."

"Tsuki-nee..."

"...Sango, do you remember the day we met...?"

"Yes...you were much smaller than you should have been. You were covered in bruises, old and new. You were afraid to get close to anyone because you didn't trust any of us. You opened up to Natsume-baa-chan then Kohaku, it didn't take long before you were able to trust the rest of us with their help. Your name was given to you by Natsume-baa-chan after refusing to give us your actual name."

"When I was younger, I was sealed. My power was sealed away. It...it created a block on me...mentally and physically...Everyone around me belittled me, hurt me...because my power was meant to bring harmony...sealed it only made people reject me."

"Tsuki-chan..."

"Why would..."

"Inuyasha-san." I looked at him with clear eyes. "I cannot forgive those men who did this to me. I can't fully forgive the woman who calls herself my mother either despite knowing that being sealed change our relationship. However, it doesn't excuse the fact she hurt me emotionally by ignoring my pain...I rather forget about that life and live here. I have a life here, I didn't back there. She'll move on, my bond with the people in this time means more to me than anything else."

"...You should at least see her once."

"I won't risk her or anyone around her forcing me to stay when this is the place I wish to be."

"Keh."

"If I may ask..." I glanced at Miroku, wondering what he wants to know. "How did you end up in this time?"

"..." I petted Kirara's back. "I heard a voice that led me to a well at a shrine..." I remembered that day clearly. "A large tree with a bare spot...was at that shrine...I entered the area where the well is then I...jumped without hesitation."

"The Bone Eater's well..."

"Just like Kagome-sama..."

"Kirara picked me up and I arrived at the youkai taijiya village. The rest is as you know."

"What is this...voice that you heard, Tsuki-chan?" I kept silent at Miroku's question. "Was it a youkai? That survived up to your time and led you to the past because they knew you would end up in this time?"

"No, she was long dead."

"She?"

"Tsuki-chan, who was it?"

"...We all know her...after all...she created the Shikon no Tama...and she was the one who chose me to fight against Magatsuhi."

"Midoriko..."

"..."

"Tsuki-chan, I think you should-"

"I am not going to your time no matter what you say." I knew what Kagome was going to say before she said it. "No matter how safe you assume it to be. I won't leave Rin and Kohaku if Sesshomaru isn't going to be around."

"It'd be safer for you while you heal."

"I will not leave them vulnerable."

"Tsuki-chan, you should go."

"Kohaku..." I stared at him with a frown. "I will not leave you or Rin alone."

"Just for a few days. Sesshomaru-sama said that you have to rest and not to fight. Your powers are readjusting after being sealed for so long."

"But..."

"I promise, I'll be okay."

"Tsuki-nee, you should go!"

"Rin..."

"We'll be okay and I promise to make sure Kohaku doesn't go off on his own!"

"..." Kirara meowed at me, crawling up to my chest and began licking my cheek. "...Kagome-san, do you promise not to drag my past into any of this? You won't contact...anyone that knew me?"

"I won't, I promise."

"..." I stared at her, sensing no lies. "...Just a few days, until I'm healed."

"That's great!"

"Tomorrow!"

"That's fine too."

"Hmph!"

I was pouting the entire night after Rin and Kohaku managed to convince me to go. Kohaku was holding my bracelets hostage until it was time for me to return, knowing I would try to train with my flames while we were gone. The next morning everyone escorted us to the well and I stared down it...not really sure if I want to jump down there or not. I'm dressed in the kimono Sesshomaru gave to me, seeing as I couldn't greet Kagome's family in armor...if I do pass through.

"I really hope I don't end up on the other side..." I muttered to myself.

"Do you want me to jump down with you?" Kohaku asked looking towards me.

"...I'm not that big of a coward." Also, if I accept I know how the others will stare at us. It's bad enough before when we were just talking. "Rin, take care of Kohaku and don't wander off from Jaken-san...no rather, stay within eyesight of Sango or Inuyasha. Jaken-san is useless."

"I heard that girl!"

"Do you want to fight Magatsuhi?"

"T-that..."

"My point exactly." I hugged Rin tightly, a gesture she returned with a wide smile. I stood, staring at Kohaku. "Take care, okay?"

"You too."

"If you lose my bracelets, I will get angry."

"I know, I won't lose them. I'll protect them with my life."

"Not with your life. I rather lose them than lose you or Rin."

I jumped down the well with Kagome and I was so...disappointed that I actually did go through. There goes my smile. Kagome introduced me to her family which was...nice in a way. Her mother was kind and didn't ask many questions. Her grandfather was...a bit crazy and asked many questions about the youkai I had fought. Her little brother was shy and couldn't even look me in the eyes some days. Their cat reminded me a bit of Kirara, just fatter and bigger.

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Chapter 11 Ends

Tsuki's anger towards her mother is justified. I mean...Nana in the original series didn't believe in the original Tsuna and felt as if he couldn't succeed in life. Tsuki found a place to belong despite her initial clumsiness and weakness. The people from Sango's village would be hesitant to accept an outsider, but she was a mere child that Kirara brought so it'd be easier for them to accept her despite being sealed. I doubt they care as much about the 'oddity' concerning Tsuki when she was sealed since they had bigger problems in life like...you know surviving. Tsuki has little to no interest in returning to her previous life if she could help it, welp! That's all for now so until next time~! Bye-bye~!