Once In A Blue Moon

Author's Note: Thanks for all your reviews as well as your support! It's nice to know that people do appreciate my writing. Even though Inuyasha isn't exactly mine, someday, I hope to start my own anime.

I have no time to post up riddles or thoughts so, on with the story. I believe its only halfway done. Lol.

Confusion was etched on the normally stoic taiyoukai's handsome face. For one moon cycle, he had managed to control his primal urge to claim the miko who was living within his castle walls, much to his inner youkai's dismay. The blood bond that the miko had accidentally forged between them should have dissipated, as most unfulfilled mating bonds did.

Sesshoumaru was beginning to doubt if the bond that Kagome had created, albeit accidentally, was not like most.

Both Sesshoumaru and Kagome were changing, not only Sesshoumaru who was infused with Kagome's miko blood. He had noticed the oddly docile, almost submissive, attitude that the miko had shown for the past weeks. He knew that the fiery spirit within her had not been doused, but it was as if the connection between them was enabling them to act civil towards each other.

Sesshoumaru had a strange feeling that if he were to claim Kagome, as his youkai wished, that Kagome would return to her normally rebellious attitude... much like a female youkai would; testing the males strength and their compatibility.

Oddly enough, Sesshoumaru found himself anticipating the return of her previous behavior. As much as he demanded obedience and loyalty, it unnerved him to see Kagome acting like the women in his era. It was as if he knew she shouldn't have to be forced to dampen her free spirit just to please him.

'My mate should be a leader...' he mused, ' Not a follower.'

He had given up on pushing away his thoughts of her as his mate. His inner youkai had been delighted, goading him further, nagging him to claim her before some other youkai did.

But Sesshoumaru was a patient youkai. He knew that Kagome would never submit to him if she were forced. But then again, she was acting strangely.

'Perhaps I can irritate her enough to break through to her.'

Sesshoumaru grinned mischievously, knowing the best way to get to her.

'It's been a while since I played a prank on someone...' he thought. 'This should be good.'

"Jaken," He called out, knowing the toad would hear him.

Sure enough, the toad entered his study no more than a few seconds after he had called him. With wide eyes, Jaken walked up towards his lord.

"Find Rin, and bring her to me," Sesshoumaru said monotonously. "And make sure that Lady Kagome has help for the child."

Jaken did not need further explanation. He knew. The moment his lord had mentioned 'Lady Kagome', Jaken knew that the miko would soon be his lady. And for the first time in his life, Jaken found that thought comforting.

"Hai, my lord."

As he watched Jaken leave, Sesshoumaru went back to planning his prank. He would need Rin to successfully put his plans to motion.

Miroku rubbed his cursed hand, feeling unimaginable pain as it began to devour more of his flesh. He managed to keep a calm facade through everything, but during the night, he let out all his pain.

He ventured away from the camp, and sat near a large pine tree. Leaning comfortably on its trunk, he began to build a barrier to keep away preying youkai.

Closing his eyes, Miroku tried to keep his thoughts away from the pain. His whole body felt as if it was being consumed by a raging inferno, while his arm was being gnawed by hungry wolves.

For nearly two decades, he had to suffer through pain as the gaping hole became larger. Soon, it would be too big for the prayer beads to contain.

'It will devour me as it did my father' he thought sadly. His mind wandered towards the taijiya, Sango. The only woman he asked to bear his child with true sincerity. There was no doubt in his heart that she felt the same way he did, but their feelings had to be put aside until they rid the world of Naraku.

But something in Miroku told him that he would not survive through the week. The pain came more frequently, and it was now up to a point where he could no bear the pain while he slept. Sango had been worried about him, but he told her it was a mere nightmare.

His breathing was now normal, and he felt numb. Miroku could see the beginnings of the day. The skies changed from dark blue to pale pink as the sun rose.

He made it through the night.

"I pray we defeat Naraku soon..." he whispered to himself.

Could they find Kagome in time? Will he live to see the battle? Only time could tell.

Miroku rose, grasping the tree for support. His legs felt unstable, but Inuyasha would wake soon. He tried to walk faster, to prevent questions from being asked.

'... for I do not know if I can live to see another day.'

He entered their camp, feeling and looking as if he'd aged a decade in a day.

Shippou stood alert as his friends trudged onward, not knowing where they might end up. Inuyasha barely knew where he was headed, trusting his nose and snippets of old memories.

The kit had never felt more alone.

The thoughts of his dead family now weighed upon him. Kagome had been there to ease his mind, as well as his broken heart. But now that she was gone, who was left?

He did not want to attach himself to Miroku, because he knew, along with everyone else that the monk was nearly at the end of his days. They kept the knowledge secret, although they knew of his nightly whereabouts.

"Do you sense her anywhere?" he heard Sango ask.

Inuyasha grunted, and turned towards her. "No, nothing yet."

Shippou turned his gaze on Sango. He had thought of going to her for comfort, but he knew that she also had much to burden her.

'No, she doesn't need one more,' he thought.

Inuyasha was out of the question. He had no time for the kit, and Shippou knew it. Inuyasha only had one thing in mind; the Shikon. Without Kagome, Inuyasha would have to search twice as hard for the jewel.

No, right now, Shippou only had one person to turn to. Himself.

Suddenly, he smelled something coming towards their direction. He didn't need to inform his friends, for they already knew.

Inuyasha had already wielded the Tessaiga, and was ready for anything. Miroku was prepared to unwind the beads around his hand to draw the enemy into oblivion. And Sango already had her Hiraikotsu at hand.

A strong gust of wind blew at them, nearly knocking Shippou off of Kirara. When the wind settled, a large feather was left.

"Damn, and I thought I could catch you unguarded," a familiar feminine voice said sarcastically.

Inuyasha growled, and took a step forward. "Stop playing, Kagura, and show yourself!"

As if on cue, Kagura stepped out from the feather, which shrank and floated into her kimono. She smiled cruelly, and eyed their group.

"It seems you've lost the weakling," Kagura said. "I wonder where she's gone to?"

"Kagome is no weakling!" Sango yelled in defense. "As I recall, she managed to best you, twice!"

Kagura narrowed her eyes at Sango, and sent a gust of wind towards her. Sango used her Hiraikotsu as a shield, but it only covered certain parts of her body. The wind struck her legs and cut through her suit like knives.

Sango fell on her knees, as the deep cuts on her legs began to bleed. Miroku, fearing for his love's life, opened his kazaana, but Kagura only laughed.

Inuyasha saw movement in the corner of his eyes, and gasped in horror.

"Miroku! No!"

But his warning came late. A swarm of Naraku's saimyoushou flew towards the hole. Miroku breathed heavily as the wasps injected him with venom. Unable to continue, he wrapped his hand and placed the prayer beads around it.

Inuyasha faced Kagura, pure hatred reflecting in his eyes. Without Kagome there to create a scar in Kagura's wind, Inuyasha knew it would be a tough battle.

Shippou stood, between Sango and Miroku, not knowing which one to tend to first. Sango smiled, and looked at Miroku.

"Help Miroku, I can live," Sango said, with tears in her eyes.

He nodded, and scurried towards the sweating houshi. His hand was becoming an unhealthy purple color, and his veins looked green. Shippou began to worry, not knowing what to give Miroku to stop the venom.

He tore off a long strip of his sleeve, and tied it tightly around Miroku's hand, cutting off its circulation. He then scratched it deep enough to let the blood flow.

'Please let this work...'

Sango tended to her legs, and called for Kirara. Shippou was about to protest, but Sango only smiled.

"Inuyasha needs help..."

Inuyasha blocked all of Kagura's attacks with Tessaiga, but he wasn't able to land a single blow on the wind youkai. Then, out of nowhere, Sango's boomerang hit Kagura while she was distracted.

Kirara landed beside Inuyasha, ready to pounce again. Kagura, however, now had to face Sango, as the taijiya retrieved her weapon.

"Well, seeing as I wounded a few of you," Kagura started, taking out her feather. "I believe I've done my job."

Inuyasha growled, and ran towards her, with his claws ready to rip out her throat. Unfortunately, he was only able to create a gash on her arm.

Kagura smirked. "That hurt. Until next time."

Inuyasha yelled in frustration, and sheathed Tessaiga. He turned around and walked towards Miroku. He found the houshi and Shippou near the woods.

Shippou was just hoping that Miroku would make it through, and truthfully, Inuyasha was too. Kagome usually had something in her pack to help them when they were wounded. But now that she was gone, Miroku would have to endure the pain.

Sango wasn't going to be able to use her legs until they healed, so their trip would be far longer than he had planned.

"What are we to do now?" Sango asked Inuyasha.

Shippou watched as the two sighed.

"I- I don't know."

Unknown to the group below, the silent guardian of the Kurayami watched from above. With sad eyes, he fled to the skies, to return to his post.

"Shintaro, my old friend, I do not know if our children can do what we could not," he whispered. "Suzaku grows stronger, while their allies are dropping like flies."

He landed gracefully on the soft forest floor, and glared at the darkness within the core of the forest. After helping the kami with their fallen one, he had been given the chance to return to his family. To mend the gap between his children, and to apologize to his eldest son for his mistake... but Suzaku had taken it away from him.

Suzaku was slowly regaining his powers. He was able to change many things in the future, whispering in ningen's minds, condemning many youkai, forcing them into hiding. Touga knew that soon Suzaku would be able to break through his prison without the aid of a holy man.

Author's Note: I apologize for not posting this up four days after the upload of chapter 20. I had a bit of trouble keeping track... anyway news!!! After this fic, I plan on starting a new Romance fiction, this time Miroku/Kagome. Its a refreshing pair... kind of have to pair Sango up with someone else though... and that will be a major challenge.

WAIIII! Sesshou has a mischievous side!! I can't wait to show you guys what I have planned for him to do to Kagome! I promise its nothing bad... In fact, its quite humorous. I should know, I've done it dozens of times!

Saimyoushou – for those who don't know, are the poison wasps... I finally found the japanese name for them. FINALLY!!