Disclaimer: I solemnly swear I am up to no good. Oh, and I don't own anything from Inuyasha.

A/N: I'm so, so sorry for not updating sooner! Please do not beat me with sticks and rip me apart limb by limb! I am such a procrastinator and I really wish I wasn't. If you're done fuming and cursing me now, I'll tell you that this chapter has mucho fluffo. I am a big fan of the fluff and you should be too, if you already aren't. I promise, action is soon to come. Battles galore, for both Inuyasha and Kagome. Oh, did I reveal too much? raises eyebrows Hmm, well, on to the story!

P.S. Chapter 7 will come sooner than chapter 6, I swear!

An Eternal New Moon

Chapter 6

Dawn came swiftly, spreading her rays across the earth. There was a slight breeze cooling the air and birds began to sing their morning songs. Inuyasha stepped out of Kaede's hut, stretching his arms wide and yawning. Today was the day that Miroku had promised they could set out to find Kagome and crush the one who had ordered Kagome kidnaped. Well, the finding Kagome part was Miroku, the crushing the kidnapper part was all Inuyasha. Because of her venom he was human, because of her snake Kagome was gone, because of her intentions, she had upset the delicate balance on which the group depended, and that angered Inuyasha beyond reason.

It had taken both Inuyasha and Miroku a week and a half to heal from the snake's venom–to long to go without Kagome. They didn't even know if she was alive or not, but still they had to find her, if only to bring back a body.

"Just you wait, witch. I'll come and rip you apart with my cla–." Inuyasha stopped himself, looking down at his hands. His clawless hands. His human hands, with human fingernails.

"Dammit! If Tetsusaiga won't transform, and I don't have claws or demon strength...how am I gonna beat this snake person anyway? In my human form I'm, I'm...I'm useless." he slid down to the ground, gloom written across his face.

"Who the hell are you and why did you do this to me?" Inuyasha shouted to the air, pulling at his raven hair. "It feels like it's an eternal new moon, but it isn't! The damn moon still changes it's phases, but I'm still the same! How could this happen?" He pounded his fist into the ground as hard as he could, his face contorted into a menacing snarl.

"Oh, Inuyasha, you will find out my intentions soon enough." said a smooth, female voice in Inuyasha's ear. He jumped up, spinning around to pinpoint the voice, but there was no one there.

"Who are you!" he shouted, crouching down into an attack position. "Come and fight me instead of hiding like a coward!"

The voice laughed, sending chills up Inuyasha's spine. "That would be quite impossible at the moment. You see, I'm not really here."

Inuyasha growled. "Then whadya want? Tell me where you are so I can kill you! I swear, if you've hurt Kagome in any way..."

"You'll rip me apart, yes, I know." Said the voice with amusement. "I won't tell you where I am, except you'll only find it when the moon hides her face, in the direction where the sun awakens. What I will tell you, show you actually, is how your Kagome is feeling at the moment."

Inuyasha jumped up, his fists clenched in both anticipation and dread. He could see Kagome, but in what condition would she be?

Suddenly, it felt as if his mind was being ripped in two with poisoned claws. He fell to the ground, screaming at the pressure in his head and wishing it would be over soon. Putting his hands to his face, he could see distorted images of Kagome swimming in front of his eyes. Inuyasha reached out his hand to her, the pain making his eyes water. Then, as fast as it had started, it stopped.

Inuayasha could see Kagome as if he were standing in the room with her. She was chained to the wall by both her hands and feet, and he could see the hungry pairs of red eyes watching her.

"Kagome..." He said quietly, desperately hoping that she could hear him. Kagome stirred a little bit like she had heard something, but she shook her head and continued to stare at the wall blankly.

Inuyasha took a step closer to her, and another, and another, until he was standing in front of her. Crouching down, he saw that she had been crying. Her face looked utterly broken and hopeless, and it killed Inuyasha knowing that he could have prevented it if only he had tried harder. He lifted his hand up and reached out towards her face, hesitating for a moment. What if he tried to touch her and his hand went right through her?

Inuyasha steeled himself and touched her tearstained cheek, smiling when he could feel her. Her head snapped towards his and their eyes met.

"Inuyasha?" She whispered timidly, touching his hand on her cheek and smiling when she could feel him. He was right here in front of her, still in his human form. "How?"

He shrugged. "Whoever your kidnapper is, she's doing this, but I don't care. All I care about is being able to see you, Kagome. By whatever means necessary." Inuyasha put his other hand on Kagome's cheek so he was holding her head. "I will find you, Kagome. I promise."

Kagome smiled at him and nodded, enjoying the feeling of his hands on her face. Where was the angry, elusive Inuyasha she once knew? This Inuyasha was sweet and caring and wanted to save her. She didn't care if he snapped at her or went out to seek Kikyo. She loved him. Every single little personality quirk, every inch of him. Kagome loved him.

Inuyasha wiped away a tear that had escaped the corner of her eye with his thumb. He put on his usual cocky smile. "Hey, don't worry. Even if I'm human, I'll tear whoever hurt you to shreds. Claws or no claws."

Kagome smiled. "Mikahebi. Her name is Mikahebi. Get me out of here, Inuyasha. All these snakes are creeping me out."

Inuyasha nodded, suddenly feeling strange, like he wasn't there anymore. Mikahebi's voice rang through the chamber.

"Alright, that's enough for now." She said. "Inuyasha, time to leave."

Inuyasha's eyes darted around the chamber, then back to Kagome. Her image was fading fast, and he could no longer touch her. The pressure in his head was back again, ripping apart his mind. Kagome reached out to him, fear written all over her face.

"Kagome!" He shouted, putting his hand out to touch her's, but he was too far away. Inuyasha couldn't reach her anymore. She was fading, fading, until she was gone and Inuyasha found himself on the ground back in Kaede's village in a daze.

He picked himself off the ground, his mind reeling. Did he really just talk with Kagome? The real Kagome? She seemed real to him and that was enough. Inuyasha would find this Mikahebi person and get Kagome back where she belonged. With him.

Inuyasha stalked back to Kaede's hut, determination written all over his face. Miroku, Sango, and Shippo turned to face him, quite disturbed by the intense look he gave them.

"We're leaving." He said in a low voice. Sango, wearing her demon slayer outfit and carrying Hirakotsu on her back, stood up and walked over to Inuyasha.

"I'm ready to save Kagome." She said, nodding at him. Kirara transformed into her larger version and meowed, rubbing up against her master. Shippo jumped up onto Inuyasha's shoulder and tugged at his hair.

"Don't forget me, Inuyasha." He said.

Miroku picked himself up and grabbed his staff and Kagome's bulging backpack, momentarily stumbling from the weight.

"Ready when you are, Inuyasha. We're here for you."

Inuyasha nodded and led the way out the door, patiently waiting for the others as they said good bye to Kaede.

They set off, Inuyasha leading the way.

"How do you know where to go, Inuyasha?" Asked Sango.

"Mikahebi...approached me." He said with a growl.

"Who is Mikahebi? Is that the one who kidnaped Kagome?" Asked Miroku. "She's from the mainland. What is she doing here?"

Inuyasha stopped and turned towards the monk, nearly throwing Shippo off his shoulder. "You know the witch?" He exclaimed.

"Not personally. She's the goddess of the new moon, and her symbol is the snake. She can transform into a snake herself and she had the ability to talk to them. The venom of her special snakes is very poisonous and causes the victim extreme pain and weakness, unless properly treated. Mikahebi was sealed up years ago, but I guess her seal has been removed by someone who didn't know her power. Before she was sealed up, she agreed to house a snake demon in her body and became a demon herself. She is one dangerous demon, but what does she want with Kagome?" Explained Miroku as the group resumed walking eastward.

"So, a snake demon, huh?" Said Inuyasha, the cocky attitude creeping back into his voice.

"I can take her!" yelled Shippo, brining his fist down onto Inuyasha's head. Inuyasha growled and picked him up by his foot.

"No you can't, pipsqueak! I'll be the one to defeat her!" To emphasize his point, he bashed Shippo on the head a few times and dropped him on the ground.

Inuyasha gloated for a few seconds until Miroku's staff came down on his head. Shippo jumped up onto Kirara, pouting as Inuyasha let out a string of obscene curses.

"Inuyasha, you can't put Shippo down like that." Said Sango as Miroku removed his staff from Inuyasha's head.

"Indeed." Agreed Miroku. "Shippo is just a kid and needs to be treated as such."

"Hey!" exclaimed Shippo. "I don't need to be treated like a kid!"

Inuyasha smirked. "Good!" He brought his fist down on Shippo's skull for the second time.

"Inuyasha, you idiot!" Yelled Shippo, latching onto Inuyasha's arm with his teeth.

Inuyasha ran around screaming. "Hey, Shippo! Ow! Get off me! Get off before I really can't control myself and hurt you! Ow! Ow!"

"Boys." muttered Sango. "Idiots, every single one of them"

"What about me?" Asked Miroku.

"Don't push your luck, monk."

Miroku sighed and turned towards the east, to the ravings of Inuyasha and Shippo in the background. "Well, this journey is getting off to a great start."

A/N: Hey, chapter 6 up! Yay! Anyway, hoped you liked it. I'm so sorry I couldn't get this up sooner! I just can't apologize enough for this, can I? Well, chapter 7 will come sooner, I promise. If it doesn't, you have permission to gouge my eyes out with razor blades and drink the blood from the sockets. Sorry, that's my friend's favorite threat. Okay, well, if you want chapter 7 up really really soon, REVIEW! I love reviews, and you should leave me one, even if it's two words. Review, or I will hunt you down! Kidding.

In the next chapter, there will be action, I promise! Until next time, luvs.