A Kiss Under The Crescent Moon

As Shippo followed Jaken to his room he noticed tapestries and paintings littering the hallways. Many of the paintings reflected dog demons in battles. Shippo remembered that the dog demons were known for their many battles they won. The battles all had one thing in common. They were all battling to protect someone or something.

Jaken had shown the others where their rooms were. The others were now getting settled into their rooms. Shippo realized that his room was the farthest down the hall of the Eastern Wing. Finally Jaken stopped in front of a door at the end of the hallway. "This will be your room, fox," Jaken said in a disgusted tone.

Shippo rolled his eyes as he walked into his room. "Jaken, where is Crystal's room?" Shippo asked turning to Jaken.

"Lady Crystal," Jaken said in a bored tone, "Has a room in the West Wing where the royal family sleeps." As Jaken was about to leave when he tripped over his own feet. Shippo couldn't help but to laugh at the toad like demon's fall.

Shippo walked into his room and looked around. It was set up very much like Crystal's room but had a more male feel to it. The exquisite look of the room was carried throughout the whole castle. Shippo's eyes fell on the window just above the table. He walked over to the window. While looking out over the window Shippo noticed a beautiful garden with flowers, shrubs, and a beautiful tree in the middle of the garden. 'I should bring Crystal out here,' Shippo thought.

Crystal was always on Shippo's mind. He could not stop thinking about her since the day they first met. He fell in love with her when he saw her with Kikyo. He saw Kikyo put her bow and arrows down with a shocked look on her face. He heard her say to Crystal that she was Moridico's reincarnation. Crystal stood there not wanting to fight Kikyo she just wanted to be lift alone. Shippo then decided to run up to Crystal and tell her the reason why he was there. Shippo ran out of his room to go find Crystal.

Crystal sat down at the table in the main room of her sleeping quarters. Her mind wandered off toward a certain fox demon. He was always kind and caring. She loved the way he was able to understand her. He was always there when she needs him. Never once did he fail to disappoint her. Deep down she wondered why she felt so different when he was around. Whenever he was near it was like the whole stopped right at that moment. She longed to be close him everyday, every minute.

"Hey, Crystal," a voice said coming from the door.

Crystal turned around to see Shippo standing in the doorway to her room. "Shippo, what brings you here?" Crystal asked while walking over to him. He stood almost two inches taller then her.

He smiled at her, "I just came to see how you are doing." He said as he walked passed her and into her quarters. "There's a place I want to show you. I know you will love it." He reached out to grab her hand.

"I better not," Crystal said with a frown, "Tonight is the crescent moon is not?"

"Yeah," Shippo said looking at her.

Crystal stopped for a minute. This maybe my last human night, Crystal looked down at her wrists. Purplish pink markings were now appearing. She walked over to the mirror over her dressing table. She took off tiara and looked at herself in the mirror. The crescent moon was now appearing on her forehead. She put the tiara back on and turned to Shippo, "On second thought lets go," She said while grabbing his hand.

They walked out of hand in hand. Crystal never knew such happiness that she felt at that time she just hoped that they could stay like that forever. She looked at the demon walking next to her. Her mind clouded with the memory of the time they first met. He saw the love and compassion in his eyes. That is what first touched her. The love just radiated from him. He had such a big heart. She wondered what life would be like if he was her mate and some dimwitted dog demon. 'We are both from the canine family,' She placed her head on his shoulder. Shippo released her hand and put his arm around his waist.

They found their way outside. The sun was amount to go down and Shippo smiled at the thought of being with her at sunset. He would take her to the garden and they would sit under the tree in the middle of garden. They finally reached the garden. Shippo realized the garden spanned the whole back area of the castle.

"Shippo," Crystal said looking up at him "Lets find a place to sit. The sun is about to set. I really don't want to be standing when it sets."

"Sure," Shippo said while leading her to the place he had picked out for her. He had some servants bring out their dinner so that they could eat under the crescent moon. He it wanted to be special. A night away from everyone else, where no one would know where the two teens was. He led her to a soft blanket he had set out for them. He decided to have a picnic when he was looking for Crystal's room. He thought that would be perfect setting to tell her that he loved her with all his heart. "I think we will sit here. What do you think?" Shippo said while smiling.

Crystal looked over at the blanket that was piled hi with food. She had forgotten that she missed dinner that night. She was always so worried about people finding out her human night. Not that it would do them any good if they were to attack. She could take anyone on with their hands tied behind their backs. She and Shippo walked over to the blanket and sat down. "Shippo,"

"Yes,"

The sun dodged down behind the castle and she was in her human form. "This is my human night. It may be my last." She said this with a smile. Crystal ran over the blanket all the while looking behind her. She noticed Shippo had stopped and was looking at her. Crystal frowned, "You, don't like my human form?" she asked.

"Uh, no," Shippo said, "you look just like Kagome. The only difference is that you have InuYasha's eyes in his human form," Shippo said as he sat down on the blanket.

Crystal stood there for a minute and then went and sat down next to Shippo. She reached out to grab a piece of bread from a basket near in between them. She took a bit of the bread and then looked at Shippo. She noticed he was watching her. Their eyes met, Crystal smiled at him as she leaned over and placed her head on his shoulder.

"Crystal, There's something I want to tell you."

"Yes."

"I love you."

Crystal moved away from Shippo and looked into his smiling eyes. "I love you too,"

Shippo drew Crystal close to him and kissed softly on the lips. They held each other for a few more seconds before break apart. Crystal smiled that was the best night ever. She leaned into him to kiss him again. This time they hugged while their kiss lingered for several minutes before breaking away.