Full Moon, Full Heart

Part IV:

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As an immortal creature, Koga didn't need to sleep much. He could go days without sleeping and be perfectly functional. One time, he'd gone three weeks, but he was definitely not functional after that experiment. His limit was usually about five days at a time.

It was a good thing he didn't need to sleep, because the journal of Kagome's grandmother was a real page turner. Her paternal ancestors were from a long-line of priestesses in Southern Japan — Okinawa. Her family had migrated north about seven hundred years ago, when a pair of twin sisters had been born to the royal family. The first born became the high priestess, the younger left when she reached the age of twelve, rather than risk an assassination.

However, the younger sister didn't leave empty handed. Her mother had spent the decade before having a scribe secretly copy the journal of the high priestess. Eventually, without the duties as high priestess, most of the descendants functioned as healers and herbalists, but the inane spiritual power remained.

"This is why Naraku wanted you," Koga said quietly.

"I'm sorry, what did you say?" Miroku asked, his voice choked with sleep. He had spent the night reading through the heavy tome from the Higurashi side of the family.

"I was just talking to myself," Koga explained. He closed the book and looked at the humans across from him. Inuyasha was asleep with his arms folded over the closed laptop and Miroku was half-way through the thick red book. "If Kikyo was from the Okinawa royal line and Naraku had an interest in her powers, that would explain why he tracked down Kagome. According to her grandmother's journal, Kagome comes from an earlier branch in the family — a split that happened two hundred years before Kikyo's birth. There were a pair of twin sisters — one became high priestess and the other was essentially banished. "

Inuyasha lifted his head slightly and started back at Koga. "I'm glad to know it wasn't my fault at least," he muttered. He blinked his eyes a few times and cleared his throat. "Does that journal have tips on how she can use her powers?"

"I'd actually like to have my aunt look over this book with me. She's an expert on the arcane. She'll be better able to interpret it than me," Koga said. He played nice with these hunters. It was time to take Kagome back to the tribe where she'd be better protected —- especially if there were vampires involved now. "I don't know that Naraku will be interested in Kagome now that he has his original priestess."

"I don't think we can even begin to guess at the machinations that go on in that creature's head," Miroku argued. He closed his thick book. "I won't have any machinations in my own head, if I don't get any sleep though. Gentlemen, I'm turning in."

Inuyasha yawned and knuckled at his eyes. "You aren't going to sleep, are you, Koga?"

"No need," Koga said. "I still have a few hundred years worth of material to read through. You should sleep though."

"I'm not naive to think my hunters and your tribe will continue to play nice," Inuyasha started.

Koga reached out and grabbed hold of Inuyasha's wrist. "It wouldn't be naive to form an alliance. The hunters have changed their code, you realize not all supernatural creatures are meant to be terminated. I would like to continue our civility — and not only for Kagome's sake." He smiled toothily at the hunter. "I actually like you, Inuyasha. Our temperaments are too similar for us to get along very well, but I do like you. I would like to offer a formal alliance."

"An alliance to take down Naraku?" Inuyasha asked.

"To work together on any threat to Japan," Koga answered. "This is my home and I wish to defend the people."

"I suppose I could endorse such a proposition," Inuyasha ventured. "It would be good to add a little muscle to the roster. What are your plans for Kagome?"

"Within a few weeks, she'll be just as much wolf as she is human. I don't quite know how to deal with helping her with the mystical powers, but your Miroku and my aunt certainly could be great resources in interpreting her grandparents' histories." Koga closed his book.

"You intend to take her back to your tribe," Inuyasha deadpanned.

"I intend to ask her," Koga agreed. "She'd be safer with me. You and your friends would be welcome as well."

Inuyasha shook his head. "We have work to do. Naraku and his coven of vampires aren't the only monsters lurking in the night." He took a deep breath and stood from the table. "I won't get in the way. She seems happy with you, but she's my oldest friend and I do love her. Do not get her killed."

Koga smiled faintly.

Inuyasha glowered. "Why the hell are you smiling? I basically just threatened you!"

"Because you and your brother are so similar," Koga said. He tapped the pale purple journal. "I think there might be a way to tap into your youkai heritage a little bit more with some information in this book."

"What do you mean?"

"You go get some sleep, it's just a little project I'm going to work on. Don't worry, I'll be sure to experiment with Sesshomaru first," Koga said with a chuckle.

Inuyasha huffed, but didn't say anything. He followed Miroku's trail down the hall towards Souta's room.

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The smell of a freshly cooked breakfast greeted Kagome first thing in the morning. She stretched lazily in her bed, only to knock into Sango— whom grunted in annoyance. "Sorry," Kagome said with a grimace. She eased out of bed and put on her slippers and ambled down the hall into the kitchen.

Koga and her mother were in the kitchen, working in tandem to make a breakfast feast.

"Good morning, beautiful," Koga said, glancing at her briefly over his shoulder and winking before turning back to the skillet he was manning.

"This is a huge breakfast!" Kagome scanned the table and counters in awe. "You're not feeding an army!"

"Oh? But, I thought I was," her mother teased. She set two pitchers of juice on the table— orange and cranberry. "The water is almost done bowling for the tea."

"How long have you two been up?" Kagome asked, going towards the kitchen drawer with the placemats and utensils. She began to set the table. "I'll do the dishes."

"I never went to sleep," Koga answered. "Your mother started preparations about an hour ago." He lifted the skillet and leaned over to sniff the contents. "Adding the green peppers really does make a difference Mrs. Higurashi."

"I know it does, dear." Kagome's mother smiled at her and then pulled out a chair at the table. "Join me, Kagome. We should talk."

"Grandfather had a lot to talk about last night," Kagome said, sitting across from her mother. "Miroku and Koga read through both his side of the family's history and grandmother's. There was a lot of material and I am looking forward to reading through it myself."

"I left your grandmother's journal on the end table in the living room," Koga called it. "I finished it a few hours ago. It's pretty amazing, really."

Mei Higurashi reached across the table for Kagome's hand. "My precious daughter, I know you seem to think this creature selected you because of your Higurashi heritage, but you don't know much about my side of the family — the Mochizuki line."

Koga snapped off the stove and turned around abruptly. "The Mochizuki line?" His blue eyes widened. "Your family name is Mochizuki?"

Kagome shrugged. "That's mom's side of the family — why?"

"Please, continue, Mrs. Higurashi," Koga said, his voice shook with excitement.

"Do you know where the surname Mochizuki comes from, Kagome?" Mei Higurashi asked.

"No, but I'm sure you're about to tell me." Kagome smiled at her mother. She poured some cranberry juice into a cup and began to sip it, enjoying the sweet, bitterness.

Mei Higurashi smiled faintly in return. "You never met any of my family, my parents died shortly before your father and I married. But we come from an ancient line — descendant from the woman whom bore Tsukuyomi a child."

Kagome choked on her juice. "The moon god?"

"After his sister-wife Amaterasu— the sun goddess— became angry at him for slaying Uke Mochi — the goddess of food, he sought comfort on earth. There was a human woman that had delicate skin that burned in the sun, so she only came outside at night. He watched her tend her garden every night. She had been widowed a few months before he took notice of her. One night, he caught her crying beside the koi pond near her home. He was moved by her tears as they fell into the pond and rippled the moon's reflection. He manifested himself on earth to visit her."

"I've never heard this story," Kagome said. "I may have been bored during grandfather's lectures, but I know my Shinto gods and goddesses."

"The woman didn't know he was Tsukuyomi. They began to meet monthly during the new moon— she told him her story and her heartbreak. She had been pregnant by her deceased husband, but the night he caught her crying she had lost the pregnancy," Mei continued, ignoring Kagome's interruption. "Tsukuyomi had watched the humans, but he'd always been dazzled by his sister-wife and didn't pay much attention to them. He found himself caring for this woman. After a few visits, they fell in love and she became pregnant again."

"During the new moon, when the moon is absent from the sky," Koga reasoned. "What was the woman's name?"

"Her name was Munfurawa — meaning moon flower," Mei explained. She smiled at Kagome. "And they had a son, named Getsuro- meaning moon wolf."

Koga pulled out a chair at the table and sat down heavily. "Your family is descended from Getsuro?"

"Do you know the name?" Mei asked.

"You're saying we're descended from Tsukuyomi and his human lover Munfurawa? What happened? Did he leave her once he got her pregnant and go back to his estranged wife Amaterasu?" Kagome asked. "I can't imagine the sun goddess would have been too happy about the situation." Even though the sun goddess had children with a god other than her husband. The standard rules didn't apply to gods in any culture.

Mei reached for a chunk of cantaloupe on the table and popped it into her mouth. "He remained part of Munfurawa and Getsuro's lives. He visited every new moon, until the death of his son. He cared for them deeply and at the mark of their deaths a blood moon rose. He didn't visit his grandchildren, he didn't want to be attached anymore. The villagers all assumed Getsuro was the child born from her deceased husband, they didn't know about the miscarriage. "

"This is crazy," Kagome said. She shook her head in disbelief. Koga's face was awestruck. "What do you know about Getsuro?"

"He was legendary," Koga said. "He was Japan's native werewolf." He stared back at Kagome. "While my father was originally from Italy, my mother was from Japan. She was born during the Jomon period. Most of the Jomon hunter-gatherer tribes vanished with the Yayoi culture. She grew up with these stories." He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "I wonder if Naraku knew this or if he just somehow got lucky, he didn't grow up hearing the same stories as me."

Mei shrugged. "I don't know how he could have known, unless he had Munfurawa's mirror."

"Mirror? Like a magic mirror?" Kagome asked.

"It was a way she could communicate with Tsukuyomi on the other nights. It was also able to look into the past, present, and future," Mei explained. "He wanted her to be able to speak with him, but also to be able to visit happy times with her departed husband."

"I have a book about the adventures of Getsuro back home," Koga said. "My mother used to read it to me, so I am told. This was centuries before I ever visited Japan, but those stories are part of the reason we migrated here."

"So I'm descended from Tsukuyomi and his werewolf son on my mother's side, and from two branches of Shinto priests and priestesses of my father's side." Kagome blew out a slow breath. "This is heavy."

"Have you ever felt anything when you prayed to Tsukuyomi in the past?" Mei asked.

Kagome shrugged. "Not any different than when I prayed to the other kami. Have you ever felt anything?"

Mei smiled and her eyes took a far-away look. "I prayed to him to give me guidance when your father first asked me out. I wasn't sure about him. He was a little bit of a klutz and incredibly shy." She closed her eyes briefly. "I had prayed at the shrine dedicated to him in Kyoto — the Matsuno'o Taisha. There is a spring there at the base of the Arashiyama mountain that is blessed and when I looked down into the waters, I saw myself standing next to your father with a little dark-haired toddler in my arms and a swollen belly with a second child."

"Wow," Kagome breathed out. "I definitely need to try to pray to him again then!"

"It's important we be completely respectful and above reproach," Koga advised. "Tsukuyomi was easily disgusted and irritated, so you want to make sure you don't offend him. Getsuro was an extremely devout Shinto priest."

"What is that delicious smell?" Inuyasha called out as he entered the kitchen. His golden eyes widened and he licked his lips in anticipation. "Mrs. Higurashi, you are my favorite chef! You're the best second mom a guy could ask for!"

"Help yourself, dear," Mei said, smiling fondly at Inuyasha. "It's been a while since I've seen you at the restaurant."

"It's not exactly around the corner from where I live," Inuyasha said sadly. "Though, I was real tempted to buy that apartment above the restaurant last year when it was for sell, but it wouldn't have made my work commute ridiculous. Nothing ever happens this close to the shrine." He started to gather various plates of food and settled in at the table. As he stuffed his face, his eyes scanned the other three. "Did you guys figure anything else out about Kagome's heritage that might have interested Naraku?"

"Oh you will not believe what I just learned," Kagome said, shaking her head. "I still don't believe it."

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"We're going to Kyoto," Koga declared.

"Definitely, I want to visit the Matsuno'o Taisha shrine," Kagome agreed. "However, I thought you wanted to return to the tribe? And I need to make arrangements with my work. I can't just leave those kids stranded — they've been abandoned by enough adults in their lives."

"You don't need to be a perfect priestess before we go. We just need to ensure neither of us offer any sort of offense. You're Tsukuyomi's descendant. I think it would be good to go and just acknowledge that you know." Koga began to pace, rubbing his jaw thoughtfully. "We need to bring some sort of offering, but what I don't know. In Rome, we would bring wine. While I respect the Shinto religion and have studied it, I've never actually practiced it."

"There is nothing we have that a god would be interested in," Kagome said. "We should just bring the usual offerings— rice, sake, wine, seaweed, vegetables, salt, water," she listed ticking the items off with her fingers.

"And here I thought you didn't pay attention to Shintoism class." Koga flashed a teasing grin. "Besides, you don't have to ask for a boon or anything, or even his blessings, just let him know you learned of your heritage."

"I paid attention, but my grandfather is a difficult teacher. Tsukuyomi is the moon god. I'm sure he knows exactly who I am," Kagome reasoned. "Mother says he didn't follow his son's descendants, but then why did he give my mother that vision? I will ask for his blessing, but I won't ask for anything else. He would know better than me what I might need or not need and whether or not he felt like helping."

"I'd like to pray to him too," Koga said.

"You do not practice Shintoism," Kagome protested. "You just said so. You can't learn everything from wikipedia."

"I have studied it. I have been in Japan for too long of a time to have not studied the native religions. I have great respect for Shintoism," Koga argued. "My mother was a Shinto— or at least its precursor since it wasn't technically called Shintosim until the sixth century to keep it separate from Buddhism and Confucianism." He reached for Kagome's hand and rubbed the back of her knuckles with feather-light grace. "I read your grandmother's journal and I listened to your grandfather last night, but really, I think it's your mother's side of the family that is the answer to why all this is happening to you."

Koga pulled Kagome close against him, cupped his free hand over her cheek, and then brushed his lips over hers. Kagome gasped minutely, opening up to Koga and reached up her free hand to entwine in his long, dark hair — she pulled his hard angles more firmly against her curves.

They kissed until they were both breathless, afterwards Koga held Kagome against him possessively. "My heart soars when I'm with you, Kagome. I feel like I've waited my whole life for you. And it's been a rather long, lonely life without you."

Kagome smiled against Koga's strong, muscular chest. "I feel the same way. I never thought I was anything other than ordinary, but with you, I feel like the most important person."

"You are my moon and stars," Koga said, kissing the top of her head and running his hands soothing down her back.

"You've been reading Game of Thrones," Kagome said with a surprise laugh.

"It's taken that man more than two and a half decades to work on that series," Koga complained. "So, you good with going to Kyoto? I'd like to make it to the shrine grounds in the evening when the moon has risen."

"It's not open at night," Kagome protested.

"Sure it is, just not to the public," Koga said with a cheeky grin as he angled away to look down at her. "If we take the train leaving in two hours, it will be perfect timing."

"What about the others?" Kagome asked, thinking about Inuyasha, Miroku, and Sango.

Koga shrugged. "We're allied with one another, but that doesn't mean we have to travel together like a pack. We can let them know our plans, but we part tonight. I will get one of those cellular phones so that we can contact one another."

"Mobile phones can be tracked," Kagome explained. "I imagine Miroku has something else we can use."

"Technology certainly has come a long way," Koga said with a sigh.

"Well, if we are leaving in a few hours that will give me more time to read grandmother's journal. I'm going back inside to settle in on mom's recliner, put my feet up, and read," Kagome declared. "Why don't you ask Miroku for a communication device that's not trackable or hackable?"

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"Why did you even invite him in?" Jakotsu demanded. He pointed an accusing finger at Naraku. "He only brings trouble!"

Jakotsu had just come home after a successful night preying upon the foreign tourists in the Shinjuku Ni-chome district. His gender-fluid and somewhat androgynous appearance always enticed walking blood banks. Suikotsu had met him near the train station and helped collect two of the flesh-wearing blood banks and deposited them with the rest of their sheep.

"I'm more interested in the beautiful woman in the middle of our den," Suikotsu said, leaning against a support beam, arms folded over his chest, and smiling at Kikyo.

"Other than two of our band getting themselves killed by the White Wolf Assassin and the Wind Witch, his offer is one I don't think we should turn down," Bankotsu said.

"The witch has her heart back," Naraku said, turning an annoyed eye onto Kikyo. The priestess crossed her legs, but said nothing. "Her actions were unfortunate." He waved a dismissive hand. "Both will be dealt with and your band can be brought back to life if you so choose it. Reality will be ours to shape. We could have night 24 hours a day! You won't be limited by the sun!"

"I like flowers," Jakotsu protested. "They smell nice. You can't have flowers without sunlight. Photosynthesis and all that." He sat down on the couch next to Reikutsu. "Maybe now you'll stop playing with fire — getting Kyokotsu combustable is unacceptable!"

"How would you create 24 hours of night?" Suikotsu demanded. "The world must orbit the sun and spin on its axis. You would create weather phenomenon unlike anything we can imagine, you'd screw up the magnetic field and we'd most likely be decimated by an asteroid— no thank you."

"Fine, you can warp reality to be day-walkers. Whatever! The point is we can re-write reality!" Naraku promised.

"He's practically recruited every living youkai and creature of ancient lore that still exists," Bankotsu added. "He even managed to recruit Yura of the Hair." He grinned at Jakotsu. "Didn't you date her for a while?"

Jakotsu scoffed. "It was a brief experiment. A bad experiment." He touched his dark hair gingerly. "I'm lucky to have made it out not being scalped. She's a total hag!"

"Goshinki, Moryomaru, Menoumaru, Gatenmaru, Kageromaru, and Byakuya are a few of my more infamous allies," Naraku explained.

"You got Byakuya to agree? The great illusionist?" Bankotsu asked, his voice awed. "That's enough to impress me. That guy never gets his hands dirty."

"And you — are you in alliance with Naraku?" Suikotsu asked Kikyo.

She nodded. "Yes, and if we can all agree on this alliance. There's some questions I have."

"I'm tempted to say yes, just to hear these questions," Suikotsu said, smiling charmingly at Kikyo. She blushed in response.

Jakotsu snickered. "Don't get too close, Suikotsu. Her blood will burn right through you. Can't you smell that holy power?"

"Look, Naraku, I'm bored," Bankotsu said. He grabbed his gigantic sword from display and began to clean the edge with a cloth. "The whole reason I entertained this idea of an alliance is I'd rather die doing something than continue with this pointless existence. This world is too civilized. People just don't go raiding their neighboring village anymore. It's unethical or something. I don't know. I just want to get back on the killing field."

"You could just come out on the town with us," Jakotsu offered. "These people are so distracted and empty! They are looking for an escape from their boring, safe lives!"

"We're in," Bankotsu said. "Now, what exactly is it that will allow you to re-shape reality?"

"It's called the Shikon no Tama," Naraku explained.

Kikyo gasped and clutched at her throat. "I don't have it," she whispered.

"No, you don't. You lost it when you decimated your kingdom in that temper tantrum of yours five hundred years ago," Naraku explained.

"It didn't reappear?" Kikyo asked.

"My mother was a prophet," Naraku explained. "She described in detail the woman whom would possess the Shikon no Tama. I was confused at first, because it sounded like she was describing two different women. I realized only a few months ago that she was indeed describing two different women. One was you, Kikyo. The other was a woman named Kagome Higurashi."

"And how did you discover this Higurashi girl?" Bankotsu demanded. "Did you dream her up?"

Naraku smiled pleasantly. "I found out about her from a magic mirror an associate of mine possesses."

"No shit! You have Tsukuyomi's mirror?" Jakotsu asked.

"How do you know about that?" Naraku rejoined. "It's not a public story."

"I had some ancestors that passed down the story of Tsukuyomi's secret lover." Jakotsu shrugged. "I used to like listening to my grandfather blabber on by the fire at dinner time. How do you know about it?"

"My associate has had the mirror for several hundred years and learned how to master it. She's able to see into the past quite clearly and less often into the present and future. It's a very useful mirror," Naraku explained.

"So this girl has the magic object and she's going to just give it to us?" Bankotsu set his sword back against the wall. "I imagine it won't be that easy."

"It would have been," Naraku said sighing as he leaned heavily against the cushions behind him. "I turned her into a wolf, she should have followed me as her master, but something went wrong. She's gone over to my brother."

"Because you share the same bloodline?" Suikotsu guessed. "I've heard about that happening."

"No, I don't think that's why. I think it is something about her specifically that allowed her to ignore the connection we should share after my turning her." Naraku tapped his fingers impatiently on the arm of his chair. "I'll figure it out after we capture her."

"It shouldn't be too hard to find her," Kikyo said. "We can just use this magic mirror or your wolf connection, or something. It sounds like we have plenty of options."

Naraku frowned. "For some reason the mirror refuses to show her to me now. It feels as if it's taunting me. It wanted me to find her, but then it wanted me to lose her."

"Good thing you have us then!" Bankotsu smiled confidently. "My remaining coven have the best trackers in all of Japan."

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"This place is freezing. Will you be okay?" Sesshomaru asked, concerned about Kagura as her skin felt icy to the touch. The cold didn't bother him now that he was a supernatural creature. And then he realized it was stupid to ask— Kagura was the reason he was supernatural. She was a werewolf too.

"I appreciate your concern," Kagura said softly. "The cold didn't bother me when I was human either." She continued to lead the way over an empty meadow. Only the sounds of cicadas kept them company. "I grew up here in Hokkaido."

"I don't understand how you're alive," Sesshomaru interjected before she could say more. He took hold of her shoulder and spun her to face him. His heart thudded heavy in his chest at the sight of her elegant features. She was just as beautiful as he remembered.

"It was a very near thing. I probably would have been dead if my heart had been within me." Kagura slipped out of his touch and started walking again with her back to him. "Whatever spell Naraku did to remove it, kept me from dying. Trust me, I wanted to die. I've wanted to die a lot over the centuries."

Several minutes passed without either saying a word.

"This is your home?" Sesshomaru asked, breaking the silence. It was a clearing, but there were remnants of an ancient stone dwelling in several places.

"My villagers considered me a goddess," Kagura reminisced. "All the women in my family — my mother, my grandmother, as far back as I know— had the power over the wind."

"Did your father have any powers?" Sesshomaru asked.

Kagura shrugged. "I never met him." She looked over her shoulder and noticed Sesshomaru had stopped walking. She reached for her his hand, he gripped it, and they continued on together, fingers laced together. "I was told that my gift was stronger than any of those that came before me. I thought it was a blessing, but it only brought me to the attention of Naraku."

She grew silent, memories of long ago flooding her mind, and Sesshomaru squeezed her fingers. "He killed them all, then he enslaved me, and I was forced to do his bidding for hundreds of years." She stopped walking and turned to meet his eyes. "Until you — I was able to resist some of his orders with you."

"Why are we here, Kagura?"

"I wanted to explain to you. I wanted you to know who I was," Kagura whispered. "I was good, Sesshomaru. I really was. I helped people, I protected them." She began to cry softly, tears slipping down her cheeks. One landed on their joined hands. "He made me do such evil."

Sesshomaru pulled her against him and hugged her close. The anger he felt at her was dissolving. He pitied her. He cared for her. "You got away. We can't change the past, but we can work together and make a better future."

There was an odd splash nearby on the shore. Their sensitive wolf hearing registered the sound that human hearing wouldn't have noticed. Sesshomaru sniffed the air, recognizing the scent. "That is a kappa. I used to eliminate them when I was a hunter."

Kagura shivered. A kappa was a terrible looking water monster that enjoyed feeding on the blood of children. They were better than the Nure-onna Kikyo had mentioned earlier, at least you could recognize the monsters from a glance. "Would you like to go hunting with me?"

"I can't think of a better first date," Sesshomaru said with a snort.

"You call this a date?" Kagura hissed.

Sesshomaru raised their joined hands and then leaned down close, brought his free hand around her waist, and kissed her firmly on the lips. Kagura melted against him. He pulled back. "Now let's go kill a monster or two and then celebrate with passionate sex in some nearby meadow. If all goes well, I think I'll even forgive you for turning me into a werewolf and betraying me trust."

Kagura smiled in the dark, Sesshomaru's superhuman vision able to see the pleased expression on her face. She nodded. "I believe that would constitute a date. And maybe I'll even forgive you for trying to kill me and leaving me for dead. Let's go kill a monster."

In the distance, a figure loomed, watching them. There was no scent to him, for he was the master of illusions. He watched as the two dispatched his pet kappa. He toyed with the idea of informing Naraku that his little wind witch was up north, but decided against it. He might have joined in alliance with the dark wolf, but that didn't mean he couldn't hold his own counsel and keep a few details to himself.

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Kagome shivered, more from excitement than the chilly night air. They had traveled to Kyoto on the Shinkansen. Koga had suggested traveling in their wolf forms, but she wasn't prepared to deal with the pain of the transformation and wasn't sure if she could with the moon starting its last quarter.

Matsuno'o Taisha was on Shijo street and had several shrine building for a few different Shinto deities. The one for Tsukuyomi had less ornamentation and was near the back of the complex, closest to the spring. Artshiyama mountain loomed in the background.

"Is it okay if I come with you?" Koga shifted the duffle bag over his shoulder, it was full of their offerings. "Or do you want me to just drop this off and retreat somewhere so you can have a private conversation?"

"You're a part of the conversation now," Kagome said, smiling up at him. They set their offerings at the base of Tsukuyomi's statue, Kagome said a proper and respectful prayer, and then led Koga outside. Together they kneeled beside the spring, the half-moon cast enough light to see their own reflections clearly. She continued praying to the moon god quietly, her words inaudible to human hearing.

The spring's waters began to ripple and a tall, leanly muscled man with long dark hair and silver eyes appeared before them. He wore robes of silver and deep blue. "You are descended from my son, Getsuro, Kagome. I have heard your prayers and I bless you, granddaughter."

"Lord Tsukuyomi," Kagome started with a respectful bow, stretching her arms out and prostrating herself. "We are honored by your presence."

"I had been wondering when Mei would tell you about me," Tsukuyomi said. "I had pondered what sort of blessings I might bestow upon you, but with my beloved Munfurawa's mirror in that beast's possession I must be generous."

A watery fingertip lifted Kagome's chin and she looked up to see Tsukuyomi's reflection was now a three-dimension figure made of water and moonlight floating over the spring before them. She sat up fully. "You shall have access to the knowledge possessed by your ancestors regarding the use of your holy powers. You do not have the luxury of years of studies. You will be able to transform into a wolf without pain, as well your human- turned-wolf allies. Koga, the wolf prince, son of the lovely Akari whom was taken from this world too soon, shall be immune to silver and the youkai blood your mother possessed shall give you additional strength."

Tsukuyomi closed his eyes. "You will need allies. I shall enhance the youkai bloodline within Sesshomaru and Inuyasha. Sesshomaru also will not be harmed by silver and can transform without pain. The Miroku amongst your companions will have access to the same arcane knowledge as Kagome and his spiritual powers enhanced — I will speak to Fujin about another trick for him." He paused. "Sango will have increased strength, agility, and rapid healing." He smiled. "Those youkai descendants at that children's home you're so attached too will have access to their ancestor's powers too."

Kagome felt overwhelmed by the blessings and the amount of people he was blessing. She was also anxious about the reasons why. Naraku and his minions must truly be a force to be reckoned with if a god was willing to offer so much intervention. She felt tears slipping down her cheeks in rapid succession.

Tsukuyomi reached across and captured the tears onto his fingertips. "This is a a precious offering, granddaughter. I will treasure it more than the food and wine you brought — though I do appreciate the gesture." He began to slowly fade, the moon's light began to penetrate him, making him ghost-like. "You need to find the mirror of my beloved. It is in the hands of a white haired medium in Osaka. She is working with this Naraku. That is how they found you. That is how they can find you again."

"Maybe we want them to find us," Koga suggested. "I know of the woman whom you speak. She is hidden deep. I've been unable to find her for least three hundred years."

"Then you must seek the aid of Fujin's daughter, or else you will lose, even with these boons I have granted." Tsukuyomi had vanished before them, but Kagome felt a warmth in the moonbeams now.

"Who do you think if Fujin's daughter?" Kagome asked.

Koga shook his head. "I have no idea." He rolled back his shoulders and stretched his neck to either side. "More time passed than I realize. We've been here for hours. You should rest, you'll need it."

"I can't wait until I don't need to sleep, like you," Kagome grumbled.

"I can sleep, but it's generally not necessary," Koga explained. "There is a system of caves within the mountain. I say we take wolf form, since it won't hurt anymore for you, and make our way there."

Kagome nodded. It would be good to try out some of the new gifts from Tsukuyomi. "Tomorrow, we are going by the youth home. I need to check on my kids, especially if they've been blessed somehow. They must be terrified."

"Very well," Koga agreed. "It sounds like we'll be recruiting some of them to our cause." He let out a deep breath. "The wolf tribe doesn't have the types of fighters it used to. Over the last two centuries especially, the fight has simply been extinguished in so many. Ever since the Meiji era, it's been very hard for our kind."

"So, Naraku wants me because of my connection with the moon god. That still doesn't explain why that connection is important to him. We're missing something," Kagome reasoned. She tapped her temple. "Maybe after a good night's sleep I'll be able to filter through some of the knowledge grandfather moon god deposited into my brain and I'll find the answer."

Koga transformed instantaneously into a wolf and bumped against the back of her knees playfully.

"Okay, okay, let's go," Kagome agreed. She inhaled deeply and then transformed into a wolf without pain and almost immediately. 'Thank you, Tsukuyomi,' she silently prayed in her mind.

Together, the two wolves raced alongside the spring for the mountain. The moonlight guided them in a way that instilled confidence in their hearts for the mission to come.

Koga navigated through a quarter mile of tunnels at the base of the mountain and found a place with a small opening that allowed the moon to shoot a beam into the cavern illuminating the area. He and Kagome settled on the cool stone floor and snuggled next to each other.

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