Author's Note: Yay! Part 1 of the Kitsune vs. Thunder tribe battle is here! This took F-O-R-E-V-E-R to write, and this is only half of it! More surprises are to come so enjoy chapter 25 and please review!

Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to or affiliated with Inuyasha, however this particular story is M-I-N-E! :)

Full Moon Rising

Shippo gazed out into the late afternoon light from his perch high in the treetops. He only had once chance to make his plan work, and the hardest part was making sure his grandmother didn't find out. The young fox was confident in his transformation skills, but the real trick would be to lure out one of the thunder brothers.

Much to his luck, he didn't need to. A stubborn and impatient Hiten had wandered out to blow off some steam. When Shippo's eyes landed on the enemy of his people, a malicious smile spread across his boyish face.

Finally! I can avenge my father's death by taking his murderer's life! Sorry Hiten, but today you die!

However, somewhere deep within the shadows a hooded figure covered in a baboon cloak watched the confrontation play out exactly as he had planned.

xxx

Inuyasha jerked to attention as the sound of thunder rang in his acute hearing. Looking around the camp told him he was the only one who heard the sound, but something about it set him on edge. When he ran into Naraku that afternoon, he had found him convincing the older thunder brother to patrol the edge of their territory. As far as Inuyasha could tell, Naraku had been keeping away from the thunder tribe up till that point. If his guess was correct, then Naraku was ready to launch the attack on the Kitsune.

Racing in the direction of the crash, Inuyasha's nose soon picked up the strong smell of blood. When he came upon the clearing where the smell was heaviest, he found Naraku standing over the dead body of Hiten. The Thunder heir's body was badly burned and long claw marks raked down his back in a bloody mess that reeked of a Kitsune's claws. The sight was gruesome, but it didn't bother Inuyasha nearly as much as Naraku's ever-present smirk.

"Guess this idiot was itching for a fight, but look where it got him. Hey Naraku, how we gonna explain this to his dad?"

Naraku's hooded face turned to the taiyoukai. "Not to worry, we won't have to tell him about this little incident," he said holding up a shard of the Shikon no Tama.

"Whatcha gonna do with that?"

A dark chuckle came from Naraku's lips. "Well, I was thinking I could resurrect the dead."

xxx

"I smell blood," Sesshomaru said calmly into the silent room where the rest of his comrades waited.

"Blood?" Kagome repeated curiously.

"Hmm? Oh, it's probably just some of the youngsters quarreling amongst themselves," Ukitake dismissed casually, as if it was an everyday occurrence.

"It is your grandson's," he replied, "mixed with that of the Thunder tribe."

Ukitake abruptly stood up, a horrified expression on her face. Eyes wide with shock, she barely whispered, "What did you say?!"

"Shippo?!" Kagome gasped as the rest of their group quickly came to attention.

"Has the battle finally started?" Miroku slowly rose to his knees, his hand inching towards Hiraikotsu, just as Sango readied her sword.

"Hnn," Sesshomaru's expression darkened.

At that moment the young fox prince staggered into the audience chamber holding his heavily bleeding side. His breathing was ragged and his steps faltered slightly, but the young man came back a triumphant warrior.

"What have you done?" Ukitake whispered softly before screaming, "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!"

Shippo held his grandmother's eyes as a confident smirk spread across his rugged face. "I killed him, grandmother! I took his life with these claws! Father can finally rest in peace!"

"You…" Ukitake's angry face slowly melted into a soft look before she flung her arms around her grandson. "YOU RECKLESS STUPID BOY!" she shouted as she squeezed him tight. "You've made me proud…"

"Did you learn anything from him?" Sesshomaru suddenly spoke up, an annoyed expression plastered on his face.

"Tch! All that idiot said was something about waiting for the moon. I'm gonna transform so I can get some more info from the rest of the tribe. I probably got a day at most before they find Hiten's body."

"No, you have done enough, Shippo. Once they find that boy's body they will launch an attack. I imagine we will have a least an hour, so take that time to heal those wounds. If we battle here, then we have the advantage." She cast a sidelong glance at Sesshomaru. "What will you do?"

"We will fortify your defenses here," he said evenly.

"Hold on a minute, Sesshomaru! One of us has to help the Kitsune find the jewel shards! That's the whole reason we are here! And besides, I've dealt with the Thunder brothers before!" Kagome exclaimed before looking at the others for help, however the rest of the group had their heads down and wouldn't meet her gaze.

Sango looked up nervously and said, "Well Kagome, you see we—"

"I will stay with Sesshomaru. The rest of you should help the Kitsune," Kikyou spoke up suddenly.

"Kikyou…but…" Sango began before Miroku held up a hand.

"No Kikyou's right Sango. We are needed on the battlefield and if what Kagome says is true, then she will be the most helpful in dealing with the enemy."

"Don't worry, I will be defending this castle with all the powers I posses. Shippo, I will place you in charge of protecting the young priestess," Ukitake commanded. "Sunset is nearing and the full moon is upon us! We shall win this war!"

xxx

Sesshomaru watched the Kitsune stumble about, preparing armor and weapons, while he waited in a secluded room on the top floor of the castle. As the sun began to dip behind the mountain, the hanyou let out a low, frustrated growl.

Damn! Once the sun goes down I can no longer protect her! Curse this half blood of mine!

The last rays of sunlight disappeared, leaving nothing but dark shadows in the Kitsune's camp. Sesshomaru felt his body changing, and he instantly dropped to his knees as the force of his transformation set in. His claws and fangs began to dull, while his long hair turned jet black. His acute hearing and smell left him, leaving only the weakened body of a human behind.

Kikyou stood behind him, gazing at his form with sympathetic eyes before inching closer. She stood next to him in companionable silence, which comforted Sesshomaru a bit, but he couldn't help but wonder why she stayed.

"You didn't want Kagome to see you like this, did you?"

The question caught him off guard. He rose slowly, and with his back turned to her, he silently nodded.

"It is shameful. I cannot even protect myself, and I would only be a danger to her." He turned his head and met her eyes. "Why did you stay?"

"Well someone has to look after you, and I would probably be in the way down there." She gazed down at her open palm before clenching it in a fist. "I need to strengthen my power! I need to become stronger! I feel like I'm useless!"

"…You are not useless, Kikyou. Without you…I would have never found Kagome…" Sesshomaru whispered softly.

"Sesshomaru…" Kikyou's lips formed a small smile before her eyes widened and she whirled around with bow and arrow in hand.

"Keh, well this is gonna be easier than I thought." A heavily armored figure moved in the shadows.

"Be gone youkai!" Kikyou commanded, leveling the arrow towards the dark silhouette.

"Like that's gonna hurt me, wench." The figure stepped out of the shadows and Kikyou fired.

Inuyasha stood before them holding the arrow between two fingers before snapping it in half and giving the young woman a smirk. Sesshomaru quickly stepped in front of Kikyou and addressed the taiyoukai with a fierce glare. "What do you want, Inuyasha?"

"Tch! I got orders to kidnap that girl, so either get outta my way, or prepare yourself for a beating."

"Orders from whom?"

"That ain't none of your business ya bastard! Now move it!" he growled flexing his claws.

"No," Sesshomaru seethed, his eyes narrowing dangerously. He drew Tokijin and waited for his brother to strike.

Claws hit steel in a fierce clash, but Inuyasha's overwhelming strength soon brought Sesshomaru to his knees, panting heavily as blood oozed from the scratches that covered his body.

"Tch! This battle ain't worth it! I'll kill ya when your back to normal!" Inuyasha sauntered over to Kikyou and hauled the young woman over his shoulder. She kicked and screamed at him but a warning growl silenced her.

"What…did you do…to Ukitake…sama?" Sesshomaru ground out through gritted teeth.

"Huh? Oh, that old fox is trapped in one of Naraku's barriers. Doubt she'll get out any time soon."

"What?!" Sesshomaru exclaimed before coughing furiously. "Why…are you…helping him?!"

"Tch! Don't get me wrong, I ain't friends with that creep! I'm just usin him to get revenge on you!"

"Inuyasha…he's the one…using…you…" Sesshomaru warned.

The look in Inuyasha's eyes faltered for a moment before hardening once again. "Like hell I'd let that happen!" he shouted before leaping out the window into the fray below, leaving a wounded Sesshomaru to despair alone.

Other Author Note: Plot twist! And you guys thought Kagome was gonna get captured again. NOPE! Too predictable, and we all know how Inuyasha likes to screw everything up! Look forward to the next chap cause stuff is gonna happen!