Author: THERE! FINALLY AFTER (counts) ALMOST 2 YEARS! I have added another chapter! (gasps) whew… I'm sorry…I completely forgot that this was here, then there was the whole senior thing and the graduation thing and the moving thing and the first few weeks of college thing…I got SERIOUSLY destracted! Unfortunately that means my cat Gidgit is no longer here to comment as well (sobs loudly I miss my cat! Sobs some more) this is where the whole Miroku/OC stuff starts which I still am not too good at but I hope you enjoy it.

Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha show/movie/manga/character(s) but Nikko-Yasha is mine as well as Kamon Lestra. Oh and the song and its lyrics are actually an English translation from a lullaby in Outlaw Star, I don't own that either…

Twilight Nikko-Yasha: Chapter 8

By the Light of the Moon

Back at the top of the cliff the rest of the gang had set up camp in the grassy clearing in hopes that Nikko-Yasha and Miroku would reappear. Inu-Yasha was sitting in the tree keeping a lookout for even the slightest hint of his friend's whereabouts. The sky was becoming brighter as the dawn of the new day approached. Kagome and Sango were sitting by the fire quietly eating and Shippou and Kilala had fallen asleep on Kagome's bag. Several hours had gone by and the sun was close to high noon when suddenly Inu-Yasha sat up and began sniffing the air. Kagome and Sango looked up at Inu-Yasha just as he jumped out of the tree and landed over by the edge of the cliff.

"What is it?" Kagome asked as she ran up to Inu-Yasha

"I think I found them…" he replied "they're over there!" he adds and points.

"That's by the village where we first me Nikko-Yasha!" Kagome replies, she quickly stuffs her things into her bag, waking up Shippou and Kilala who transformed into her full self.

"Oh! Come on lets go!" Sango shouted as she grabbed Shippou and jumped onto Kilala's back. Kagome Joined Sango and with Inu-Yasha close by they head for the village.

In the village Nikko-Yasha sighed as she leaned against the wall of one of the huts. Her tunic was drenched in blood but she paid little attention to her wounds. She was too worried about Miroku. 'I hope I got him here in time…' she thought. She looked around at the villagers hard at work. She noticed a woman and her little boy as they passed by the hut, the little boy waved at her. 'It's a good thing that these villagers know me…or else getting help would have been hard' Nikko-Yasha thought as she nodded to the child in reply.

"Nikko-Yasha!" came a familiar voice.

Nikko-Yasha looked up just as Kilala appeared with everyone on her back.

"Its good to see you!" Kagome said as she jumped down from Kilala's back.

"Oh! What happened to you!" Sango said as she too jumped off "you're covered in blood!"

"It's nothing…I'm fine…" Nikko-Yasha replied "…and it's not all my blood…" she added quietly.

Inu-Yasha smelled the air as he walked over to the group. "It's Miroku's…what happened?" he said.

"What! Miroku? Where is he?" Kagome said in surprise to Inu-Yasha's comment.

"Miroku's inside…we were attacked…" Nikko- Yasha started as motioned for everyone to follow her to an empty hut.

The group sat around a small fire while Nikko-Yasha told them how Kamon attacked them and why. She even explained her past ("feh. I knew you were no good," "OSWUARI," and Inu-Yasha's face says hello to the floor) However, Nikko-Yasha did not mention how she had transformed into her old, full-demon self. For some reason, she felt that it wasn't the right time to mention it.

"That's unbelievable…" Kagome says after a long silence. Sango and Shippou nod in agreement.

"I have heard of the infamous Twilight…but after her strange disappearance most forgot about her…it is plausible that Lady Nikko-Yasha is Twilight Nikko-Yasha" Mioga chimed in from his seat on Inu-Yasha's collar. (Gee, look who bothered to show his face! Inu-Yasha says as he squish's Mioga)

"Well…now you all know…but lets discuss it more in the morning," Nikko-Yasha said as she, with difficulty, stood up and left the hut. The others agreed and everyone except Inu-Yasha soon fell asleep. Inu-Yasha decided the branches of a nearby tree were more comfortable than the hut floor. Nikko-Yasha, however, walked over to a nearby well and got a drink. Then she slipped into another hut and walked over to where Miroku lay sleeping. With a sigh she sits down and leans against the wall and starts to hum a tune. Try as she might she can't fall asleep, scene's of the day's battle haunting her mind along with the pain from her shoulder. Into the early morning, before the rise of the sun Nikko-Yasha is still awake, her mind far away on past events, slowly Miroku wakes up and looks around the room. He sees Nikko-Yasha, her eyes closed as she continues to hum.

"What happened?" Miroku asks.

Startled by Miroku's voice Nikko-Yasha stops humming and looks at him.

"Well…After you passed out I killed Kamon, hopefully for good this time, then brought you here" Nikko-Yasha quietly replied

Slowly a cloud moved away from the moon and moonlight poured into the room through a small window high in the wall. Miroku then noticed that Nikko-Yasha's tunic was covered in blood and that she was clutching her shoulder.

"You're hurt!" Miroku said as he tried to get up but was painfully reminded of his own wounds.

"Settle down" replied Nikko-Yasha as she gently pushed Miroku back down "and don't worry about me…I'll be fine"

"But…" Miroku protested as he tried to get up again only to be pushed back down.

"I mean it. I'll be fine, you, however, need to rest" Nikko-Yasha added as she once again leaned against the wall

"But you're hurt, you need hel…" Miroku objected. But he stopped when Nikko-Yasha suddenly leaned down and gave him a soft kiss on the lips. She then sits back blushing and closes her eyes. Speechless, Miroku just lays back and stares at the ceiling. Then Nikko-Yasha starts to hum once again.

"What song is that?" Miroku asks quietly after listening for a few minutes. Nikko-Yasha doesn't reply, instead she starts to sing the lyrics to the song.

"I don't know what words I can say

The wind has a way to talk to me.

Flowers sleep; a silent lullaby

I pray for reply, I'm ready.

Quiet. Days. Calm me, oh serenity

Someone please tell me. Ohm

What is it that they say?

Maybe I'll know one day"

Her voice trails off into the morning light as she finally finds peace in sleep. Miroku watches Nikko-Yasha as he breathing slows and her head nods off. With a slight smile, he too closes his eyes and drifst off.

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Author: yeah…so…um…I REALLY suck at this stuff…but I'll find some way of making it more interesting…promise…

I MISS MY CAT! (sob)