Moonlit Encounter:

A Tale of Dogs & Wolves 

By: ChocolateEclar [Or Shokora or Chokoreeto Eclar (Both Shokora and Chokoreeto mean chocolate in Japanese^_-)]

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha or any other character from the anime/manga "Inuyasha." So don't try to sue me.  ^___^

Claimer: I own Koinu (Nobara), Shirakaba, Yu (Yousukou), Hime (Yuck!), Mashiro, Itoshii, Haipaa, Koishii and her children, and all of Yu's younger siblings and cousins. To Tinuviel: Yep, a new relationship is blossoming. ^_^ Thankies!

To Sailor Universe: We'll have to see what happens to Ritoru. Anyhow, Samoshii was nice to Koinu until he dumped her. Thanks again!

To TetsuoTsubushi: *laughing* Yea, they'll get together soon. ^__^ Thanks for reviewing!

To Kyu-bi: Thanks a lot. You were the person that e-mailed me, right?

A/N: Here's a dialogue between Shippou, Inuyasha, and Kagome:

Shippou: "I am a new fighting man."
Inuyasha: "Stop trying to show off!" *hits Shippou*
Shippou: "Kagome! Inuyasha is being so mean!"
Kagome: *sweetly* "Inuyasha..."
Inuyasha: "No! Kagome, wait!"
Kagome: "SIT!"

Part 6: From Quarter Youkai to Hanyou and Back

As fall approached, school started again. Koinu was a senior at Ikasu High School and Shi was attended Otaku Elementary School. Both hung out with their friends. Both felt a bit torn at being apart from the one they cared about. Koinu hadn't seen Yu for quite some time and Shi was in a different class than his crush, Ouka.

About a week after school began, Koinu was gazing dismally at her school assignment in her bedroom, feeling her head spinning in protest. "Somebody should burn the guy who created math," she muttered as she scribbled an answer down next to the problem. Then, she turned away and went to the kitchen to grab a snack. She returned to find the following mathematical question no easier than its predecessor. She banged her head on her desk, grumping expletives under her breath. She heard laughing and she glanced sideways.

"Havin' fun?" asked Yu, grinning.

"Oh shut up," snapped Koinu good-naturedly. "You don't have to do this crap."

"What is it?" asked Yu stepping towards her.

"The torture known as math," replied Koinu showing him the problem.

Yu whistled and smirked. "My mom loves these kind of ninjen questions. She's always making me go to the city and get her books filled with 'em. You could ask her for help and bet she would give you a hand," he suggested.

"Really?"

"Ah huh."

"By the way, how'd you get in here?" asked Koinu.

"Your mom let me in," Yu answered.

"What about my dad? Isn't he home? I can smell him."

"Yea, he kinda wanted to kick me out but your mom gave him this 'death look' and he complied," explained Yu.

" 'Death look?' "

"Yea, it was scary."

Koinu laughed and said, "So why don't we go see your mom right now?"

"Alright, come on."

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Koinu followed Yu as best she could as he led the way in his usual tornado-like whirl. Yu glanced back at her and backtracked until he was with her again. "What's wrong?" he asked. He had been about a mile ahead of her.

"I'm only a quarter-youkai, dimwit!" retorted Koinu. She was panting and they still had a good thirty miles left to go till they would reach Mount Fuji and Kouga's pack.

Yu grinned sheepishly and said, "Well, I could carry you for awhile."

"Errrrr… Are you sure?" Koinu asked, her face heating up against her will.

"Why not? You're not very heavy."

"Not very heavy?" snapped Koinu, one eyebrow cocked and her hands resting on her hips. "How about 'not heavy at all?' "

Yu let out a clear, happy laugh that rang out across the wooded area they were in and traveled through Koinu's very essence, giving her an exultant shiver. "Alright, how's this? You're not heavy at all."

Koinu chuckled and said, "Fine, but if you drop me or make a rude comment I'll slug you."

"Fair enough," said Yu, laughing again. He held out his arms to her and she allowed him to pick her up, her legs propped up over his arm and dangling down. For a few moments both of their faces were red, but then Koinu forced herself to relax, leaning against him slightly. "All set?" inquired Yu.

Koinu cocked her head up at him and nodded. Then Yu sped off with Koinu tucked securely in his arms. Koinu's eyes widened at the velocity, wincing every time Yu would barely miss an object like a tree or a boulder. She had a sneaking suspicion he was doing it on purpose and almost growled.

Soon Mount Fuji came into view. It looked as if it had been dipped in white, its distant top, which was 12,388 feet above sea level, snow-capped. As they reached the tribe boundary, Yu set Koinu down and motioned for her to follow him. When they reached a tree-filled spot a few minutes away from the enclosed area where all the caverns where, they bumped into Hime who smirked.

"Well, well, if it isn't the wittle wolfy and the mutt girl," remarked Hime. She was dressed in her full armor, which made Yu rather wary of her intentions. The armor consisted of a thick, russet-colored breastplate and protective buckskin leggings. Her white hair, which only reached the nape of her neck and curled around her ears, was wet and scraggly looking. Her blue eyes glinted dangerously as they glowered back at them.

"We want to see okaasan, Hime," Yu said.

"You can't just bring an outsider onto our land like this."

"Why not? Because you say so?" snapped Yu.

"I am the future leader of the pack after all," replied Hime haughtily.

"You're a possible just like me AND Nyuuriidaa!" shouted Yu.

"That little twerp? He's only eight," retorted Hime.

"So what?! He's the next in line after me! He's one of our younger kyoudai!"

"Whatever," Hime stated dismissively.

As they were talking, Koinu had been studying Hime. She appeared as strong as Yu. 'Maybe stronger?' she pondered remembering how much older Hime was then Yu and her. She was as tall as Yu and well protected. Koinu was sure the armor would slow down Hime though, which could go against the demoness.

"Let us go," Yu commanded, his voice cold.

"I will," began Hime before turning her azure eyes on Koinu. "Only if she defeats me."

Yu gazed at Hime and Koinu. Koinu had a feeling he was weighing her chances of winning against the urufu youkai.

"Fine," Koinu said in as poised a tone as she could muster.

Yu could see the uncertain spark in Koinu's golden eyes and he protested, "You don't have to-"

"No," interrupted Koinu. "I'm fine with this."

Hime smirked and said, "Daft mutt."

Yu stepped out of the way as they sized each other up and prepared to strike. Hime made the first move, slashing at Koinu with her newly extended claws. Koinu jumped out of the way grabbing onto a tree limb above them. She scrambled up, feeling her blood pounding in her ears. Her youkai instincts were kicking in, telling how what to do.

Hime pounced at her causing Koinu to crouch on the bough and strike the she-demon in the face, sending Hime flying. Koinu blinked in surprise and then grinned. 'Maybe I don't know my own strength,' she contemplated. She dived off the branch when Hime jumped up and tried to kick her.

Koinu landed on the ground in a dirty heap. Yu almost laughed at her lack of grace but then Hime came down after Koinu, slashing her across her stomach. Koinu winced and rolled away from her opponent, bleeding slightly. She snarled at Hime, crouching in a feral position. Her pupils were narrow slits and her fangs were elongated somehow.

'Her youkai blood's getting stronger,' thought Yu. He watched as Koinu and Hime came at each other. Koinu threw back her fist and brought it forward hard on Hime's jaw. Hime managed to only scratch Koinu that time. They continued on and eventually Koinu was limping slightly because of a deep cut on her ankle and Hime was losing blood from a slash on her face.

The hair on Yu's neck was sticking up and something important and just out of reach was nagging at his brain. 'Something's not right,' he thought. That was when Koinu was sent soaring backwards and into a tree. Yu called out to her and growled at Hime who was after her prey in a heartbeat. Koinu hit the tree hard but slowly got up again, wiping blood off her lips. She slashed out at Hime as the other female came at her. Hime was sent to the ground but still managed to grab Koinu's ankle, sending her down too. Koinu struggled, kicking Hime until she let go.

Then they sort of wrestled, each trying to stand up before the other. Eventually Hime won that struggle being heavier and stronger than Koinu. She then pushed Koinu down and stepped on her stomach, causing all the breath to whoosh out of the quarter inu-youkai.  Koinu thrashed about, trying to get free.

"Hime, let her up!" Yu hollered.

Hime smirked, she looked eerie with blood dripping from the scratch on her cheek and her hair tousled.

Koinu looked worse; she was sweaty and filthy and her clothes were ripped. Her eyes were now fierce pits of golden flames, her pupils contracted. "Git off!" she screamed digging her nails into Hime's leg.

Hime yelped and swore, quickly removing her leg. Koinu got up; she was breathing heavily, letting out great wheezing breaths. Her face was contorted with rage, her mouth open and showing her sharp fangs.

Yu got another feeling of 'wrongness' then. He felt panicked and his tail was sticking up alertly. 'She's changing,' he thought.

Koinu was changing. Her hair was turning white and tiny pointed, canine ears where growing atop her head as her ninjen ears vanished. Her nails were becoming razor-sharp claws as well.

"She's turning into a hanyou!" shouted Yu in shock. "Gods! Stop, Hime! If she turns into a full youkai she'll lose control!"

"Oh shut up! I can handle any mutt no matter what they become!" screamed Hime, dodging Koinu as she slashed at her with her newfound claws.

"Urgh! Hime, you moron!" roared Yu. "Stop, Koinu! Koinu!"

Koinu glanced at him irately. She was losing her control already, her personality gone. Something flickered in her eyes. Something like recognition.

It made Yu shout, "Listen to me, Koinu! You have to stop! Stop fighting Hime! Calm down!"

Koinu's inu-ears cocked towards him but she didn't look at him again, instead she leaped out of the way as Hime tried to punch her. Then she kicked Hime from behind, sending the urufu youkai to the ground.

"Urgh!" Yu shouted again in frustration. An idea came to him though. 'This should get her attention, I hope,' he thought. "Hey, Nobara!" he yelled.

Koinu stopped instantly and her head swung around towards Yu.

Yu smiled knowingly. "Come on, Koinu. You remember me still, right? I'm Yousukou. You remember me as Yu."

Koinu scrunched up her golden eyes as if she were fighting to reclaim him in her memory.

Meanwhile, Hime was getting up and preparing to strike Koinu again.

Yu noticed this, getting ready to stop her. "Koinu?" he called.

Koinu looked at him with wide, tear-filled eyes. Her ninjen ears were returning, causing the canine ones to disappear, and her hair was going back to its natural jet-black color. "Y-Yu," she said weakly before collapsing on the dirt, her tears falling.

Hime was about to cut her foe with her claws then but Yu came at her and kicked her at a tree. "Enough, Hime," he said, picking up the unconscious Koinu.

Hime snarled but didn't get up, instead she stayed on the ground grimly, watching them go towards the caves.

Yu watched her out of the corner of his eye for a while before realizing she wasn't going to move for the time being. He glanced down at Koinu who had reflexively cuddled up closer to his chest in his arms. He felt his face heating up and looked away. Soon the wolf dens would come into view.

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A/N: Geez, does anyone like Hime? She asked especially cruel in this chapter, picking on Koinu and all. Okay, the right word for her behavior's probably bitchy. *laughing*

A/N 2: Someday Koinu might go full demon. She doesn't have a very good hold on her demon blood after all. *eerie music*

A/N 3: Here are the only translations:

Ikasu=smart/cool/sharp/stylish (Choccy: So basically Koinu's HS is called Cool High School. *sigh* I'm pathetic.)

Otaku=geek/nerd/enthusiast (Choccy: Shi's school's pretty much is called Geek Elementary School. *sighs again* I'm going from pathetic to just plain pitiful.)

A/N 4: REVIEW!!!! ^___________^ Bye!