I'm really sorry to keep you guys all waiting for this. It's getting especially hard to find the time to write now and this is getting so hard to figure out! I don't know if I really know where to go with this anymore! AHHHHHH! Okay, now that I've gotten that out, here's the next chapter, have fun. Read Review and Enjoy!
Japanese Words
Hai - Yes (Duh, but this is just for those who don't know . . . don't wanna confuse anyone.)
Alright! On with the story!
Mayu Kitsune
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Shinku
Finally, after what seemed like forever, the sun peeked up over the horizon. As if in response to the rising sun, people began to emerge from their huts and begin their daily lives. It seemed as though that creature only came out during the night.
Sango stirred as the sunlight hit her face. She mumbled something incoherent as she was still half asleep.
"Good morning Sango." A voice said. It sounded close. . . it was Miroku's voice!
She immediately sat up straight. She knew the surface that her cheek had been resting on felt too warm! She had been leaning against Miroku! She went completely red as she focused her gaze on the ground, too embarrassed to look at the monk that had served as her pillow for the night.
"Did you sleep well?" Miroku inquired, flashing her a smile.
"I-I didn't even know I fell asleep." she said quietly before seeming to turn on him, "You weren't supposed to let me fall asleep!" she exclaimed in a whisper. Her exclamation also an attempt to get the subject off of how she had been sleeping the night before.
"There's no need to be embarrassed Sango, no one's awake to notice." Miroku stated.
Sango just continued to blush, "What are you trying to say?"
"It's nearly the same as being alone." he answered his hand doing as it had so many times already.
Sango stiffened before smacking him hard across the face, "I'm not interested you pervert!" she growled.
Moyuru began to awaken at the noise outside, Miroku and Sango both seeming oblivious to the fact. The kitsune hanyou's ears twitched a few times before her eyes opened. It was morning already? She didn't want to wake up, or move. She was comfortable where she was . . . and warm.
She paused as she suddenly had a thought. She didn't remember falling asleep with blankets over her the night before, and something was tickling her ear and messing with her hair, like someone was blowing on her or something. She chanced to take a look, going bright red when she noticed that it seemed as though her and Inuyasha had both moved during the night. At some time or another she had rolled onto his futon and he had thrown an arm protectively around her, hugging her to him.
She fought back the blush. What did she have to be so embarrassed about? It wasn't like nobody knew that they were together. . . besides, it made her feel better to be so close. Perhaps it was just the fact that the idea of her rolling onto his futon in the middle of the night was a little odd. Even odder was the fact that it hadn't woken him up.
Moyuru tried to relax, suggling into him a bit. It kind of reminded her of before, a few nights ago when he had been trying to keep her warm and alive. It had been so comforting to know that someone cared that much.
Inuyasha shifted a bit behind her. He seemed to be dreaming. "No . . . don't leave." he mumbled.
Moyuru seemed a little confused. What could he be dreaming about? His eyebrows were furrowed into a worried expression. What should she do? Should she wake him up? She tried turning to him to scratch his ears, hoping that maybe that would calm him and she could continue to let him sleep.
His ear twitched a bit as she managed to reach it, scratching lightly behind it. He seemed to calm down a little. He let out a contented sigh, "Kagome." he murmured quietly.
Moyuru paused suddenly in her scratching. Kagome? So her feelings about this had been right all along . . . he still thought about her. She could feel the sting in her eyes as tears began to form in them. All this time she knew some things were too good to be true, why had she allowed herself to think anything different?
She freed herself from Inuyasha's half-conscious hold, getting to her feet and limping for the door. She looked at it a bit questioningly as she went to open it. It looked like it had been sloppily patched up to keep the cold from getting in. She didn't even remember that happening. She must've been asleep and slept pretty hard for that to have taken place without her waking up.
She paused and blinked as she opened the door to an enraged Sango and one very scared looking monk. Shippo and Kirara sat off to one side, watching. "I just don't understand, " Shippo mused aloud, "Why doesn't he ever learn?"
Kirara mewed a response as Miroku continued to try and explain how his hand was cursed by a demon that just happened to have a fondness for Sango's rear. Miroku seemed to notice Moyuru, looking nearly relieved. Finally, he had a way to take the attention off of himself. "Hello, good morning Moyuru." He said quickly, causing Sango to look up.
"Oh, good morning Moyuru. I'm sorry, did we wake you?"
"No, it's alright."
"How's your leg?"
"Better." Moyuru answered. It was true; her leg was feeling much better, though it was stiff and sore. It didn't seem like her injury was in danger of reopening again.
"While that monk's not here," Sango began, sending a pointed look off in the direction that Miroku had disappeared in while she had been distracted, "how about I help you with your bandages. Besides, I need to ask you a few things if you don't mind."
"I guess that's okay." Moyuru answered, nearly reluctantly going back inside the room and allowing the demon slayer to tend to her.
Sango began her work, unwrapping the bandages and taking a look at the injury, "Looks like it's healing up pretty good already." she commented, ridding Moyuru of the old bandages and beginning to apply new ones. Moyuru winced as she tightened them a little.
"I'm sorry, was that too tight?" Sango asked quickly.
Moyuru shook her head, "No, it's just a little sore." She replied as the demons slayer continued to work. Sango finished after only another few moments.
"So, where do you thing Miroku went off to?" Moyuru questioned. She hadn't exactly seen which way he had gone. His running off like that had proved to be rather humorous. "I hope he decides to be helpful while he's around and about."
"I know what you mean. It's the least he could do." Sango stated irritably, nearly causing the hanyou to giggle at her peeved expression. She seemed to brush it off, trying to get back down to business, "We need to know more about that creature before we try to defeat it."
Moyuru just nodded.
"Do you mind if I ask you a few questions?" Sango asked.
Moyuru looked a bit perplexed, "About what?"
"That dream you had."
The kitsune hanyou seemed a bit hesitant. She had had the same nightmare again just the last night just before their encounter with that thing and it had been the same as the night before when she first had it. She didn't like to speak of it, it scared her. "What of it?" she finally questioned after a moment.
"Miroku thinks that what's happening here and your dream may be linked."
Moyuru thought for a few seconds, "So you think this dream I had is more like a premonition, something that's going to really happen?" she asked quietly, secretly fearing the answer. It would only confirm a feeling that she had about it all earlier.
"Well, something like that. That wound on that girl's neck had been familiar to you but none of us had ever seen it before. Maybe there's something in your dream that can help us beat that creature."
Moyuru just nodded before timidly beginning her description of the nightmare that had scared her so much.
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"Naraku?" Inuyasha echoed, not at all sounding pleased at the mentioning of that name.
Sango was currently relaying Moyuru's description to the rest of the group, "She said that he had been in her dream. Him along with that creature from last night."
Inuyasha and the rest of the group were sitting in the dining area of the inn. They were now all awake and had decided to eat a bit of breakfast as well as to discuss their findings. Moyuru was the only one missing. She had stayed back after asking for some time alone, stating that she wasn't hungry. Inuyasha didn't seem to like the way she was acting now. He felt nearly like she was avoiding him. The mention of Naraku's name though had jerked his mind away from those thoughts.
"This is troubling. It seems like her dream has more than just one link to reality so this last part of it may come to be true as well." Miroku mused, seeming pensive.
"So you're saying that Naraku's actually going to make an appearance huh?" Inuyasha prompted.
Miroku nodded, "He's already sent Kagura after the shards Moyuru has."
Inuyasha seemed to have become a bit irritable, he always got that way when Naraku was mentioned. "If Moyuru's dream is right and Naraku's behind all of this I say we take care of him now, he can't be too far." he growled.
"Calm down Inuyasha, there isn't much point in going after him now. He may not be far but we have no idea where he's hiding." Miroku stated.
Inuyasha let out an indignant huff, "Then what do you suggest we're doing?"
"All we can do is watch our backs. Naraku will eventually show himself if it's the shards he's after."
"There's more to it though." Sango chimed in. Everyone's attention was on her now. "More?" Inuyasha questioned.
Sango continued, "She said that in her dream Naraku had her wrapped up in something and was dragging her in. . ."
"Like he was trying to absorb her." Miroku finished for her, seeming a bit shocked. It may not have exactly been the case, but it was definitely what it sounded like.
"Wait a minute." Inuyasha interjected, eyeing the monk skeptically with his hands shoved in his sleeves, "Are you positive about this? It was just a dream."
"We're not positive, just cautious. Her dream sounds more like some sort of foresight and you can never be too careful with one that vivid."
Inuyasha still didn't seem satisfied, something just didn't make sense. "Why would Naraku want Moyuru? She's only a hanyou. The last time Naraku pulled that one he went after Sesshomaru."
"He's got a point. Naraku only absorbs full-fledged demons, what would he want with a half-demon?" Shippo questioned after swallowing his food.
Miroku didn't even seem like he had to think about his answer. It looked as though he already had it all figured out, "He seemed interested in her abilities before. She does have power, she just doesn't know how to control it. Maybe Naraku wants her powers for himself."
Now it all seemed to make sense. "I get it, so he thinks that by absorbing her he can gain her abilities and learn to use them." Sango concluded.
Shippo went a little wide-eyed, "Woah, then he could really do some damage! You remember what Moyuru did with that!"
"How do we stop him? We don't know where or when he's going to attack." the demon slayer inquired.
Miroku thought for a moment before answering, "It looks like we'll have to watch Moyuru closely, especially now that she's injured."
Inuyasha gave him a somewhat annoyed look, Well, doesn't he have the answer to everything today. he thought. He was inwardly grumbling but he knew that the monk was right. He stood, beginning for the door, "If Naraku even gets near her I'll take his head off." he muttered darkly before heading back to the room.
"Well, there he goes." Shippo commented as soon as the hanyou was out of ear-shot, "He looks like he knows what he's going to do, but what about us, what do we do?"
"We should probably rest up. That creature only attacks at night from what we've heard, we should try to be ready for it." Sango stated as the rest of the group headed back for the room as well.
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It didn't take Inuyasha long to reach the room, pausing as he caught Moyuru's scent outside the door. Wasn't she supposed to be staying in there? She wasn't supposed to be up and walking around! He inwardly cursed before beginning to track her.
Where was that crazy female going? They couldn't afford for her to wander around like this while Naraku was possibly out to get her! Her scent lead him to the forest and the scent of water soon joined it.
Another stream? Inuyasha thought to himself. Is this why she asked for some time alone? Another bath? She must've taken one nearly every day that she was at the village with them. She was definitely one of the cleanest people he knew.
He stopped before coming into viewing range and listened. He didn't want to walk up on her taking a bath. . . again. At least this time it wasn't at night and it wasn't as cold out, actually the day had been pretty mild thus far. When he didn't hear the sound of water sloshing he figured that it was safe to continue.
Moyuru sat with her back up against a tree and her injured leg stretched out in front of her. She seemed pensive, her eyes focused on nothing in particular ahead of her. The hanyou took a deep breath, letting out a long drawn out sigh and closing her eyes.
"What are you doing all the way out here?" Inuyasha questioned.
Moyuru nearly jumped out of her skin, one of her hands instinctively going for the weapon at her side. When she noticed it was Inuyasha she calmed putting a hand to her heart. "You scared me." she breathed.
"Don't tell me you walked out here on your injured leg."
"It's fine. Tomorrow should be the last day it'll take to heal." Moyuru insisted.
Inuyasha just let out a heavy sigh, flopping down next to her. He became a little troubled when Moyuru seemed to scoot away from him a bit. Why? What had he done to make her want to stay away from him? He looked to her in question, but decided to avoid the subject. It obviously made her uneasy. "I'm supposed to be watching you, the others seem to think that your jewel shards aren't the only thing Naraku's after." the inu hanyou stated.
"I know, they're taking my dream seriously."
Inuyasha gave her a look, "If you knew then why the hell are you out here?"
"I need some time alone. I need to think."
"What have you been thinking on so hard lately anyway. You're being even quieter than usual."
"Inuyasha." Moyuru said quietly.
"What?"
Moyuru hesitated a moment, "Go . . . go be with Kagome."
Inuyasha nearly fell over. What was she talking about and where the heck was this all of a sudden coming from? "Huh?"
"If you really still care about her then don't let me get in the way." Moyuru stated firmly, thought her eyes remained focused on the ground in front of her. She seemed a little upset.
"Moyuru . . ." he Inuyasha nearly stuttered. He stared at her hard. Had he done something wrong? He reached for her hand which rested on the ground beside her, but she moved it before he could hold it.
"You said her name this morning . . . in your sleep. You wanted her to come back." she murmured.
Inuyasha turned nearly beet red. He had done what! "In my sleep?" he echoed, "B-but that doesn't mean anything, I was half out of it!"
"You're wrong . . . the truth comes out in your dreams while you sleep no matter what kind of front you put on during the day." Moyuru argued.
"But-"
"Even the strongest people can't avoid it. Like my brother. He would stay so strong for me and act like nothing was wrong . . . " Moyuru began, cutting off Inuyasha's reply, "but during the night sometimes, Akiko, the healer that took care of him when he was sick or injured, told me that he would wake up screaming. On the inside, he was just as scared and upset as I was even though he tried to say different."
Inuyasha stayed silent, his eyes focusing on the ground in front of him. Why did she have to be so deep? In nearly everything she said she still showed that she had a heart that had aged beyond her years. She was an old soul with the knowledge of a few lifetimes stuck a young person's body. She had seen war, betrayal, cold blooded murder, experienced prejudice, pain and nearly even death. It didn't seem like anything could be hidden from her for too long.
"I can tell you care about me, but you care about Kagome in a different way. You were mad at her when you decided you wanted to break things off with her." Moyuru stated.
"Yeah . . . I guess I was . . ." Inuyasha admitted. He had been angry. He had seen Kagome with Hojo and thought that she had been two timing him. Moyuru was right about one thing though, he did still care about Kagome.
"So you see? Maybe you should still be with her. You probably just had another misunderstanding, but either way you still love her."
Inuyasha stayed quiet as he thought it all over. Hojo had just given Kagome a hug . . . just like he had been giving Moyuru one when Kagome had jumped to conclusions.
"Don't get me wrong, you're a good friend Inuyasha, and maybe that's all we should be." Moyuru said softly.
Inuyasha looked at her in question as she began to get up. "Where are you going?" he asked, standing to help her.
"I was just going to go back to the inn before everyone else started worrying." she replied. She suddenly paused once she was standing, her ears moving and her eyes scanning the forest around them.
Inuyasha looked to her in question, "What is it?"
"There's something here." she answered. She had heard a slight rustling in the bushes somewhere around them. It could have easily been mistaken as a breeze but her gut told her differently. She listened for it again, only finding silence. Yet again, an eerie silence had fallen over the forest as it had done the night before when they were attacked.
"We have to get out of here." she stated suddenly.
"What?" Inuyasha questioned. He handn't been expecting this. What was the hurry.
"Just trust me, I don't have a good feeling."
"If it makes you feel any better." Inuyasha replied, scooping her up. He didn't quite understand her sometimes, but she was supposed to be back at the inn anyway. He began off with her, taking off through the forest.
"I think that thing is here." she said quietly, she was still alert and searching the trees around them for any sign of the creature. She didn't like the feeling she was getting at all, or the strange silence.
"It's probably nothing, that thing only attacks at night."
Moyuru hadn't hardly seemed to hear him, her gaze traveling around, "I hope you're right." she stated, sounding distracted. She nearly froze as she caught movement out of the corner of her eye. A shadow flitted quickly from a tree branch behind Inuyasha. "Look out!" She cried.
Inuyasha whirled, following her gaze. There was something heading straight for them! He leapt to the side and not a split second too soon. He tried to get a good look at the creature but as soon as it hit the ground it darted off into the bushes again.
He broke out into an all out run back for the village, "They said it only attacked at night!"
"Apparently they were wrong." Moyuru stated, holding on to Inuyasha with her arms thrown about his neck. Normally he would have stayed to fight but Moyuru was injured, he couldn't just put her down and risk her getting hurt worse or killed.
The inu hanyou was suddenly forced to change direction as the thing attacked in front of him. He narrowly escaped as it again hit the ground and darted off. That had been too close! Inuyasha muttered a curse before trying for the village again, maybe they could get help if they got back to the others.
No sooner than he had turned he was forced to change direction by the creature. It lunged from nowhere, it's claws barely raking across one of Inuyasha's cheeks. He cried out in surprise, this time even stumbling backwards.
"Inuyasha! Are you okay?" Moyuru questioned.
"Yeah, I'm fine." he answered, sounding irritated. What was this thing doing? It was so fast that one would think it's aim wouldn't be so bad as to miss twice.
It lunged for the third time, missing for the third time and putting them still in the same direction. Moyuru had taken on a pensive expression. Something just didn't seem right about all of this. "Inuyasha, you have to put me down and fight it." she said suddenly.
"What?" Inuyasha exclaimed, narrowly escaping getting his face clawed again.
"You have to fight it, you can't do that carrying me! We can't keep running like this!"
"What are you, crazy?" Inuyasha prompted, not stopping and not putting her down.
"Haven't you noticed?"
Inuyasha didn't look to her as he answered, sounding anything but happy, "Noticed what, the shadow in the bushes that keeps attacking me? Yeah, I've definitely noticed that!"
"No, not that, the fact that it keeps putting us in the same direction." Moyuru retorted.
Inuyasha looked confused, "What are you saying? Are you saying that that thing's actually trying to lead us into a trap?" he inquired, finally stopping.
They both paused as they heard an all to familiar voice, "Well, you are the clever one aren't you Moyuru? It's unfortunate for you that you didn't figure it out sooner."
The forest around them began changing and and a strong demonic aura suddenly made it's presence known. The sky changed from blue to dark and cloudy. Part of the forest had been nothing but an illusion and they now stood in the courtyard of Naraku's castle.
"Naraku!" Inuyasha growled, "So you were the one behind all this!"
Naraku smirked, his red eyes focusing on Moyuru as she glared back at him. "So, Moyuru, you still have something of mine that I would like back as well as something else." he stated.
Moyuru seemed a bit confused. Something else? Like what?
Inuyasha began to turn to go out. It was very uncharacteristic of him but he couldn't fight and protect Moyuru at the same time like this. It just wasn't going to work. His retreat was brought to a sudden halt as he noticed something blocking the exit. It was crouched down, it's hair dark purple in color and covering its face.
It slowly straightened, revealing a figure that looked more like that of a woman. Its clothing was a lighter shade of purple than its hair and was trimmed in black. What was this thing? Was it safe to even call it a she? It raised its head to look at them, now everything was clearly visible.
She had piercing blood-red eyes, even a deeper color crimson than Naraku's. Her large claws had been retracted down to the normal length of a human's fingernails and her fangs down to the size of normal teeth. Other than her strange color of hair and eyes she looked like a normal person.
"Hello, Inuyasha." it purred in a plainly feminine voice.
It talks? Moyuru thought in disbelief.
"I was rather disappointed last night when I couldn't get my fill. Your blood tastes. . . different." it said, giving a sadistic smirk to the inu hanyou.
Inuyasha seemed a bit perturbed by this. Different? Did she mean different as in good?
"Inuyasha," Moyuru said quietly.
"Yeah?"
"It looks like now our only chance is to fight."
He knew what she wanted him to do, she wanted him to put her down and he didn't want to chance her getting hurt. The look he wore was obviously one of inner conflict. If he put her down then she or whatever that thing was would go after her wouldn't it?
"Oh, I see." the purple haired woman suddenly said, "You don't want to put your little girlfriend down because you're afraid I'll go after her instead of you, am I right?"
Inuyasha didn't answer, just glared at her. She suddenly gained a somewhat indignant expression, "What do you take me for? An animal? No, I'm much more than that. I don't go after the weak and injured just because they can't fight back." she said before seeming to regain her smirk, "I like my prey with plenty of fight in them. You make feeding so much more enjoyable when you fight with every little last bit of energy you have left, making your blood run faster and taste so much sweeter."
The woman gained a disturbing look in her eyes as she described her preference, licking her lips as though imagining the flavor. If anyone had ever truly had a lust for blood, she did. Inuyasha and Moyuru gave her uneasy glances. It seemed as though this creature had also acquired a taste for hanyou blood.
"So Inuyasha, what do you think of my newest incarnation?" Naraku prompted.
Inuyasha looked back at him, "Incarnation?" he echoed, didn't Naraku's incarnations always smell like him?
"Yes, she definitely is different, her scent doesn't match mine, or at least it would if she didn't reek so heavily of blood and death." Naraku answered.
"Yes, blood, what a wonderful scent." The purple-haired woman mused.
Naraku looked to her, "Shinku."
"Hai?" she prompted, giving an unnerving smile to the two hanyou.
"Do what you wish with Inuyasha, but leave the kitsune hanyou to me."
Inuyasha hesitantly and carefully sat Moyuru on her feet. They were going to have to fight. That seemed to be the only way out of this. How did they get into these situations anyway? Naraku on one side and some blood crazed demon on the other. This was insane.
"Be careful." Moyuru warned.
"I will, I won't let anything happen. We can take these two idiots down." Inuyasha replied, getting ready to fight. He drew out the Tetsusaiga, staring down his opponent.
"Right." Moyuru agreed, taking out her weapons and taking a stance though putting hardly any weight on her injured leg.
Shinku smirked, "It's feeding time." she stated as she began to change, her claws growing out long and her fangs doing the same.
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"Oh, Myoga, I haven't seen you in a while." Kagome stated as she wheeled her way through the forest path on her bicycle. She had been on the trail for a while now and hadn't slowed down in the least. She was determined to catch up with Inuyasha and the others! She wasn't going to stop until she did either. She could sense the jewel shards that Moyuru had and every moment she followed this path the feeling grew stronger.
Myoga had suddenly shown up, like he normally did. There just as fast as he could leave at the first sign of trouble. He sat perched on her shoulder. "Are you so sure this is a good idea?" he asked.
"Am I sure what's such a good idea?"
"Going out on your own like this, it's dangerous."
Kagome let out a humph. "I can take care of myself. Besides, trouble follows Inuyasha."
"But what of the demons?"
"What about them? I'm a priestess, I can use my bow and arrows."
"But you've never traveled alone before!"
"Well," Kagome replied, "now's as good a time as ever to start."
Myoga gave somwhat of a sigh. What was with the independence trip all of a sudden? Why did everyone in their little group always have to make such rash decisions when they were angry at something? No one ever played on the safe side anymore!
Kagome continued to pedal with more determination than she could ever remember having. There was something wrong with the group, she could feel it. The feeling she had gotten in the pit of her stomach the day before was now much stronger. Someone was in deep trouble and she had to be there to help!
She was sick and tired of being the one that always had to be rescued. This time things were going to be different!
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Alright, you people are seriously going to have to continue to bear with me on this one because I'm still not quite sure where I'm going with this. I can't seem to decide! At this point, there is a number of things that could happen, but which way to go? I've already started the next chapter I still can't decide!
Anyway, so what did you think? REVIEW PLEASE! Reviews are always great! Oh yeah and just another little bit of info for those of you that are curious about my made up Naraku incarnation's name. Shinku is actually Japanese for crimson and as a name actually means something like "despair, torment" or something like that. I can't quite remember, but one of my buddies looked it up for me. I was actually pretty happy that the name seemed to fit pretty well.
I'm sorry, but I can't really give you a preview for chapter 26, because I don't even know what's going to happen next. Writer's block sucks. I'm also working on chapter 6 of my AU Inuyasha western fic. (and if you haven't read that one, then maybe you wouldn't mind. People tell me it's good.) as well as chapters for my own big long original stories of fictionpress.(Which so far ain't doin' so hot.) So this may take a while. Sorry for the inconvinience, but like I said, I will have these things up as soon as possible. Thank you for reading and don't forget to give me some feedback!
Mayu Kitsune
