Moonless Night!

Author's note: Beware for this story has talk of sexual assault and rape. Most stories involve women being the victims but men can be victims as well. Sexual assault, rape or harassment is never okay. Please speak to someone if this has happened to you.

The summer air blew gently; the lightening bugs were active as they swarmed around trying to complete their task. On a hillside sat a young man and a younger woman as they watched the sun slowly sink and the moon start to rise. Their hair blew around them as they sat in silence watching the night starting to creep on the land. In a blink of an eye with a gentle pulsing and removal of a demon aura, the young man transformed. His white hair became black; his golden eyes became brown and his dog-ears and claws left.

Damnit, I hate being human. He thought as he glanced down at his hands. The young woman sitting by him glanced at him with concern, tenderness and something akin to lust in her liquid brown eyes. It was always hard on her to see him on his human nights. She was attracted to him in any form but his human form was the form where he said he liked her scent and she always thought she could see more of his emotions on these nights. Plus Inuyasha made a fine human specimen with his dark hair and eyes.

Why am I thinking these thoughts, she thought as she clamped her hands to her red cheeks.

"What is wrong with you?"

"I don't know what you're talking about!" Kagome said as she tried to get her heart under control.

Inuyasha sighed as he glanced back at their friends who were sitting up further on the hill. Feelings coursed through him, another reason why he hated being human. He had promised Kikyo that he would turn human for her, then later after she died and was resurrected that he would go to hell with her. However, the longer he was with Kagome, the more intense his feelings were for her. As he turned human, he could feel the love, tenderness, lust and desire all rise up inside of him, making it harder to keep his hands off of her. As time passed, his thoughts turned off of the beautiful young Priestess and down a darker path.

"Inuyasha, why don't you get some sleep?"

"Lay off it! I never sleep as a human."

"Why not?" She asked, her eyes meeting his. Their brown eyes clashed as she felt her heart beat quicker.

"I-I…I just don't!" He growled turning his head to the side.

"Inuyasha." Kagome said quietly as she placed a gentle hand on his arm.

He could feel his heartbeat increase as he felt the gentle hand on his arm.

"Forget it, Kagome." He growled.

"Inuyasha, you can tell me anything." His heart constricted at that. He tried hard to forget about it but as he glanced back into her eyes, he sighed, knowing he was going to tell her. His heart felt heavy but he was tired of keeping this secret and he wanted to tell someone and he knew he could tell the young Priestess.

"When I was…younger…I used to stay in human villages on the Night of the New Moon because I thought I would be safe. " He started as his eyes turned up towards the stars. "A few years ago...well more now when I was younger, I stayed in this village with an Innkeeper and his wife. They allowed me to stay in the barn for the night since I did some chores for them. That night after I fell asleep…I…well…she approached me in my bed. I…I…responded to her touch and I didn't know she..what was going on..I thought I was dreaming but I woke up when she…when she…put me inside of her." Inuyasha glanced at Kagome's face and quieted. Her jaw was clenched, her eyes wide with anger and horror and her body shaking with tension.

"I…I didn't know…I…I'm sorry." He tried to explain himself, figuring Kagome was angry thinking he took advantage of the woman.

"She…she…how dare she!" Kagome yelled jumping to her feet, her body shaking with anger. Poor Inuyasha! She took advantage of the poor boy, thinking she could since she gave him a place to stay. How dare she hurt him like that! Shaking her fist she started pacing, trying to calm herself and think of a plan. Is she still alive? Can Kagome find her? What would she do if she found her? Kagome tried hard to calm herself, tears finding their way down her face but the thought of someone betraying Inuyasha in such a horrible way was too much for the young Priestess. Poor Inuyasha, he was mistreated so much by humans and here humans thought demons were evil because they consumed humans. Some humans were worse than demons and this woman was one of them.

Inuyasha stared at her in surprise, watching her pace. He had already said her name multiple times but she continued to ignore him, her mind traveling quickly, her thoughts drowning out the half-demon. He could see the tears streaming down her face along with her hands fisted at her side. Was she really that upset with him?. After her continuing pacing, Inuyasha stood and silently moved until he was in her path.

Kagome clashed with something solid and as she moved her back, she felt strong hands land her shoulders to help balance her. Without thinking she wrapped her arms around him and buried her face against his chest.

"K-K-Kagome." Inuyasha said as he glanced down at her. Was..she crying because of what happened to him? Although he hated being human since it always brought up memories of that night when he felt so weak and powerless, he never would have thought that any one would have cried for him. In the Feudal time, it happened to many orphans where adults took advantage of young children who offered services for food or shelter. After getting older and stronger, Inuyasha had returned to the farm and destroyed it but the woman and her husband had fled before he could kill them. After the one attempt, he gave up deciding that he would find the Shikon Jewel and turn into a full demon so he would never be that weak again. He met Kikyo and years later her reincarnation who was now in his arms gripping him as though her life depended on it. He felt warmth in his heart as he tried to calm the racing of his heart but it was hard with Kagome pressed so intimately against him.

"I'm sorry." Kagome said as she gripped his kimono even harder as she pulled herself even closer to him, her heart breaking.

"S-Sorry for what?" Inuyasha had no idea what to do. He wrapped his arm loosely around her waist and shoulder but he had no idea what had made her so upset.

Kagome struggled to calm herself. She could hear the embarrassment and shock in his voice. Sighing, she relaxed her grip on his kimono and stood back, resting her hands gently on his chest. Staring up into his eyes, she said what was in her heart, "Sorry that someone would have done that to you. It's not right nor is it okay. You were just a child and she took advantage of you! The thought of anyone doing that makes me sick!"

Inuyasha blinked in surprise knowing once and for all that Kagome was not upset with him but was furious at the woman who had taken advantage of him. His body trembled with emotion, mostly with relief, pain, sadness and anger. He had never told anyone about this before, believing that people would think it would be his fault, after all he was a half-demon. Because of what he was, he had been subjected to jeers and taunts by both humans and demons but at that age, he never would have thought that a human female would have done that to a "human" child. Inuyasha gently hugged Kagome. "Thank you." He whispered to her, feeling the peacefulness that he always associated with Kagome surrounding him.

She blinked as she heard him thank her but she held him even closer. She wrapped him in her arms, wanting him to feel her love and acceptance of him and for him to know that he's no longer alone.

"T-thank you for what?" Kagome's voice came out a little squeaky even to her own ears.

"For believing me." He said gently as he let go and glanced down into her face.

"Of course I believe you. I can't believe someone would do that. That's not okay..that's just evil." She said her voice hardening with anger.

"I…I'm a half-demon."

"Half-demon, full-demon or human, it's not right to do it to anyone. I don't care what you are! Besides…I lo-care about you as a half-demon. I wouldn't want you any other way." Kagome said with determination as she stared up into his eyes. At his blush, she realized what she had said and her face felt as though it was on fire. "I mean..you're fine for…a dog boy." She said.

"Pfft." He said as he crossed his arms, his face also turned to the side, pink on his cheeks.

Kagome sat back down on the hill and after a few minutes, Inuyasha sat down beside her.

"You can go to sleep with us, you know. We…we wouldn't…do anything like that." Kagome whispered to him.

"Keh, I know that. " He said back as his eyes once again lifted to the sky. Although the fear of her hurting him had diminished especially since he was a lot stronger than he used to be, the nights that he was human always caused him remember what he had gone through. The feelings of shame, betrayal and anger always coursed through him making it hard for him to sleep. Kagome glanced at him and shook her head, he was so strong but as he glanced down and met her eyes, she could sense his feelings of unease. Kagome moved until she was leaning up against him, at least tonight he wouldn't feel alone.

After a while, Kagome and Inuyasha joined Sango and Miroku. Although they looked curious seeing as they could hear some of Kagome's comments, they refused to ask. When Inuyasha sat down, Miroku felt his eyebrows rise as he watched her sit down to Inuyasha and lean up against him. The young half-demon turned human flushed as he realized Miroku was watching them.

"Got a problem?"

"No, no…just nice to see you two getting…cozy." He said with a chuckle in his voice

"It..it's not my fault…she's leaning against me."

Kagome chuckled to herself although she sat up and glanced at him. "What are you trying to say?" She said in a stern voice.

Inuyasha's hands came up and after some more bickering, the humans except one laid down to get some much-needed rest. Kagome refused to leave Inuyasha's side and lay against him, her back against his knee. She remembered hearing his voice, the shame and betrayal obvious in it and how he seemed to think it was his fault. He had done nothing wrong and tonight she wanted him to feel her warmth and know he was truly not alone. Much later into the night, Inuyasha glanced down at the Priestess. She had shifted in her sleep and her head was on his lap. Smiling gently to himself, he lead down and gave her a gentle kiss on her forehead. He felt peace in his heart for the first time in a long time; the memories were held at bay because of the gentle woman whom he loved and who loved him in return.