Chapter Five: Moonlight

Celene was dragged back to the palace with no chance of saving her friend. Sesshoumaru had joined them shortly after they left. She didn't want to know what he did to her, all he said was that she had been taken care of and Celene feared for what that might mean.

On the way home the group was too quiet and all that could be heard was the soft footsteps of the soldiers. Not even the mighty warrior's armor dared to make a sound.

When they arrived to the palace Rin greeted them with a smile, but then frowned and started crying when she realized that Kagome was not with them. Celene couldn't bear to tell the child that Kagome was probably dead by her lord's hands so she told the child that they had never found her. For hours Celene comforted the child while Sesshoumaru made all the necessary changes to the room that once belonged to a beautiful human.

Sesshoumaru had asked her to come to supper, she knew it was just him and her and that made her scared. When she got there she wore nothing fancy, she was there to demand to know what happened to her friend and if she wasn't dead, which was unlikely, she would demand that she be returned to the palace.

She found out later that night that it was easier said then done. She had never eaten with Sesshoumaru before so she kept quiet and he did also. When she thought he would be silent for the whole night he started to talk small sentences.

"No doubt you wish to know what happened to your human friend." Sesshoumaru asked coldly, not really paying attention to his diner guest.

Celene nodded hesitantly as she listened to him continue. "It doesn't matter, she cannot return to the palace. You will return to your previous chores and this palace will be run like nothing changed."

"You can't just do that! Do you know how many demons have warmed up to lady Kagome? Even your own ward looks up to that woman and you just…disposed of her like she didn't matter?" Celene snapped angrily, but Sesshoumaru didn't even flinch.

"And how is it that you a mere servant, can withstand the burning heat of the miko's powers when not even I could?" Sesshoumaru jumped straight to the point as he watched as the servants face turned confused.

"What do you mean miko power? When did Lady Kagome use miko powers?" Celene asked in confusion. She didn't recall what had happed. She just ran to Kagome, she could feel her sadness and hurt radiate off of her body.

Sesshoumaru lowered his head and thought for a moment. Was it possible that this demon didn't know of what she did? But even if it was possible, she should remember then comforting feeling of the miko's burning powers.

He was confused and so he let her eat then dismissed her. He was thinking about the human that he had dropped off at the nearest village. He didn't think it would hurt too much to see how the others had adjusted. With another miko at the village things would start to look up anyways.

The village was small and didn't have a real miko to protect it. It had about 20 villagers but that was all. It was around ten kilometers from the Palace.

It was after dark before he went there, surprised to find the miko not in the village. He followed her faded scent to a cliff covered with one single tree. Purposely he made some noise but Kagome didn't move from her branch. On her back hung her bow and quiver her arrows rattling against the quiver as the wind blew softly against his skin. He didn't smell tears or fear. She seemed distant, yet alert. Fluently she jumped off the branch and landed quietly. She turned around slowly, catching Sesshoumaru's eyes with her dark blue ones. He watched the moon light bathe her in its light making her look like an angel.

[Kag's P.O.V]

I didn't expect anything from him. I knew that this was better for him and his lands. With Calishe roaming the lands and with me being his target, nothing was safe. I had decided to go back to Inuyasha and the friends I had left. If nothing else Inuyasha would kill me and I wouldn't be a danger to anyone. I couldn't be afraid anymore. I had to protect Sesshoumaru like he protected me, and what about Rin and Celene? What would I do if they got hurt or killed because of me? My memory flashed back to the holy powers that eliminated off of Celene. I knew her secret, but no one else did. I would not tell anyone.

Sesshoumaru watched me with caution as he had the right to. The jewel shard was still in my neck and Calishe was still alive. He had no right to trust me ever again, not like he trusted me in the first place. I watched his steady eyes and smiled. "Sit with me Sesshoumaru. Just for a little while." Astonished that he even listened to me I smiled happily and sat down against the tree.

We sat there together. For the first time it felt as if we were somewhat friends. I laughed lightly, causing him to look at me like I had grown another head. "This is probably the last time I am going to see you, I'm just glad it is under friendlier terms." I told him, sort of explaining what I was laughing at.

His eyebrows lowered ever so slightly in sorrow and I smiled again. "You made the right choice Sesshoumaru. I am a danger to your palace and because of it I will leave and go back to my friends so they can end this threat that I have become."

Sesshoumaru glared at me and I remembered what he told me. I was not to go back to Inuyasha, but I felt I had to. I didn't know how Sango was doing or Miroku, how about Shippou?

I stood to go. I had no more things to say. Once I was on the feet I could feel him stand quickly behind me and grab my hand roughly. Sadly I turned and looked him in the eye waiting him to explain. He never did. I stood there, my eyes fixed on his eyes as they grew only a few inches apart. I froze then panicked. I loved Inuyasha not Sesshoumaru. My hands connected with his chest as I pushed him away hard. He looked hard at my panicking self, confused and almost hurt. I kept telling myself he didn't know what he was doing, it was the moonlight. The full moon was scrambling his brain. I didn't stay after that, I ran, knowing somehow that he wasn't following me.

I don't know how, but I ran for several hours without stopping or thinking. All I knew was that I was putting one foot in front of the other, not stopping because why? What was I running from? Was I running from the person who saved my life, which had came for me when I was kidnapped, cared for me when I was hurt. What right did I have to run from him?

By morning I was in front of the well that was no more. The last time I was here I was tackled by Sesshoumaru. Cautiously I looked around me and frowned when the smallest part of me wished that Sesshoumaru was with me. I took a deep breath and walked to the village, walking the path I knew so well.

Horror crossed my face when I seen smothered smoke coming from the empty village. There was nothing left of my secondary home, but I knew someone was here. Inuyasha was here waiting for me. I found him, perched on a tree just outside the village. He looked at me, his red eyes full of hate. I took a deep breath and tried to talk to him.

"Inuyasha, I've come back. I ran away from Sesshoumaru so I could be with you." Did he feel abandoned? Was that the reason that he was so mad? I watched him jump down walking up to me slowly before grabbing my wrist holding me against him tightly. I wanted to panic and push him away but I didn't want him to be even madder at me so I let him hold me. "Where are Sango and Miroku Inuyasha?"

I heard him growl and I cowered in his arms. Quickly he pushed me away and I fell to the ground, confused at what he wanted.

"Hiriokots!" A voice screamed behind me. I watched Inuyasha jump away, his eyes on me, scared. Kirara's feet landed beside me. Sango grabbed me and shoved me up on Kirara, then took off again, grabbing Hiriokots on the way. I held on tightly to the neko as I flew into the air, Inuyasha following us by land.

If my heart wasn't pounding so furiously I would have thought this to be just like old times. Kirara jumped higher into the air so that we were covered by clouds, then she flew in the opposite direction. Something in me told me that this had become a regular thing. Strategies too lose the raging demon I guessed. When we landed in a small camp I could see Miroku and Shippou sitting around the fire. I only had to get off or Kirara to have Shippou launching himself towards me.

[End Kag's P.O.V]

Kagome hugged Shippou tight as tears welled up in Shippou's eyes. All three of them had been afraid that Inuyasha had really killed her, but they all knew in their hearts that he could never do that, even in his crazed stat, he loved her and she loved him.

Once Kagome was reunited with the group, things started to fall into order for everyone, everyone but Kagome. Often her thoughts wandered to the palace where she had been taken care of and housed for so long. She missed Rin greeting her every morning and Celene to talk to, but she always stopped her thoughts before they went to the demon who had saved her life not twice, but three times.

But even though her thoughts wandered and everything else returned pretty much normal, everyone, even Shippou wandered why Inuyasha had lost himself to his full demon form. A week from now it was the new moon, would he turn human? If so maybe he could tell them of his intentions.

"Kagome would you like to bath in the hot springs?" Sango asked almost shyly. Kagome nodded, she needed a bath after running so long.

She was excited to see that they had her back pack. Quickly she rummaged through it to gather her stuff before running off to the spring.

[With Sesshoumaru]

The great lord re-entered his home and walked silently up to his room, stopping at the room just down from his. As he opened the deep maple doors he looked into the empty sea green room, catching the scent of the miko but it had faded greatly. It was hard to believe she wasn't even there for much more then two weeks and already she had left her mark. He sneered to himself and found the nearest servant, telling her to try and get rid of the disgusting smell. Sadly she nodded then ran to complete her task.

He looked through the doorway one more time before turning away, looking upon the miko's servant. Celene stood staring at the picture of his father. He often caught her doing that lately, ever since the miko had been kidnapped. Silently he made his presents known, but Celene didn't even budge. Sesshoumaru, hating to be ignored, let out a growl. He watched as she looked upon him in a bored fashion, then lifted up her duster and dusted off the picture, walking to the next one without even looking at him.

*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*

It had been six days since Kagome had left the small village where Sesshoumaru had left her. The rest of the inutachi group had fell into step with what was happening and Kagome, Sango, Miroku and even Shippou where practicing their combat.

For one hour twice a day the group would meditate, practicing to focus their attentions on one thing or anyone. Kagome's miko powers grew and she learnt several charms from Miroku while Sango taught Shippou some fighting skills. Kirara was a constant scout while the group practiced. Later in the week Sango even taught Kagome some hand to hand combat and how to use a small dagger and Kagome learnt quickly how to focus her energy into the dagger as she would her hand or an arrow.

When the night of the new moon came the group flew on Kirara to the village, scouting for Inuyasha's form, and it wasn't hard to find. He was lying on the ground, black haired and face down while a group of youki surrounded him, laughing at him. The group landed quickly and Kagome grabbed her bow, her new dagger resting on her waist quickly and fluently Kagome pulled back her arrow, watching as the youki looked at her and circled her, staring thirstily at her neck.

Sesshoumaru ran quickly to where the old well had been, and then followed it to the village where he watched the demon's creep closer to the miko, following him was Celene. He knew that his brother was a human on new moons and the servant had insisted of following so that she could maybe see Kagome.

Celene gasped as the youki circled Kagome and her group, running towards them as Sesshoumaru pursued her. With the odds for the rest of the Inutachi group being at least ten to three it didn't look very good. Celene jumped over the other demons heads and landed beside Kagome pulling out two katanas. Sesshoumaru stayed outside and watched as the humans took down the demons one by one. It wasn't until three gained up on Kagome, causing her to open her almost healed wounds. Celene gripped her katanas and fought harder, unknown to the aqua power that was surrounding her. As soon as she touched the demons with her katanas the demon would become ash, but she didn't stop. Twisting and turning as she had been taught at a young age she danced with blades or blue flames.

When the last of the demons fell she stood there, not caring or even paying attention to what she did, she rushed to Kagome's side and checks her wounds, placing her hands on them to see how deep they were. When she saw them she wished she didn't, but she also wished she could heal them.

Her aqua powers wrapped around Kagome's wounds, sealing each one until they were fully healed, not even a scar remained. Once she was done she felt drained and confused, falling to the ground and Sesshoumaru quickly caught her before she hit the ground. All stared at her sleeping form in wonder, all but Kagome who immediately rushed over to Inuyasha's body, only to see him barely breathing. She rolled him over on his side and looked at him, trying to find what was wrong.

It took a while before she noticed his eye open, but when they were she stared at them, tears filling her eyes.

"Inu-Inuyasha?" Kagome said hesitantly. He opened his mouth to speak but she placed her finger over his mouth and shook her head smiling. She was glad he was back to himself.

Sesshoumaru watched the commotion and burrowed his eyes together slightly, something inside him grew tense, bur instead of dwelling on it he just turned to leave.

Kagome's face lifted as she looked at the figure that walked away. "Sesshoumaru?" she said, uncertain of everything around her. He stopped and looked at her, his cold mask in place. Slowly, leaving Inuyasha angry, she walked up to the lord and stretched her hand out. "That you, for coming to help-…"

Sesshoumaru's eyes grew colder, "I didn't come to help. I can't to see if my brother would turn back to his pitiful state." He finished, turning back around, ignoring her outstretched hand.

Kagome shook her head and caught up with him, grabbing his arm. "Will you stay? I can answer your questions better then she can." She listened to him growl and let go of his arm, gripping her fingers in her own.

"By 'she' you mean the servant?" Sesshoumaru asked, Kagome nodded and he nodded in return.

When they were all around Kagome when they regroups, then Kagome, Sango, Miroku and Celene walked with Sesshoumaru back to the camp and Kirara carried Shippou and Inuyasha's weak body.

The group traveled for over five hours before stopping in a clearing, on the way Kagome easily explained that Celene was not only a demon, she came from a miko bloodline as well. This surprised Celene as well as Sesshoumaru but the rest of the group, not really knowing the pretty demon walked in silence. The whole ride Inuyasha didn't talk, or even try to talk. Kagome frowned when she noticed that it was because she had openly invited Sesshoumaru into the camp.

When they were all set up in the clearing Sesshoumaru dismissed himself and Kagome didn't know whether to follow him or let him have is space, so she when off on her own. A little ways off, just within hear distance of the camp she slowly climbed a tree and sat on the lowest branch, thinking to herself.

What would happen tomorrow morning? Could she really pretend like nothing happened just go on living in the feudal era, forgetting that Tokyo ever existed? She would give everything in the world to talk to Inuyasha about it, but Inuyasha wasn't who she needed right now. It wasn't hard to see that this had affected there relationship more then anything. She couldn't love him after what he did to her. She could even trust him anymore He had taken her family away, now she had nothing. She didn't really want to return to the group, she wasn't sure she could. It would be weird and they would be distant, she wasn't sure she could walk in the complete silence, no one brave enough to speak. Was this the life she was headed towards?

Someone called her name and her head snapped up, hand on her hip where her dagger was strapped. She looked down into light eyes and relaxed, jumping down. Easily she settled in beside Sesshoumaru and followed him back to the camp.

While making their way back to camp Sesshoumaru cleared his throat and started to speak. "I have planned to stay until the morning of tomorrow. I wish to see if Inuyasha takes form again, if he does you will not remain here." That being the longest sentence Kagome had ever heard him say she didn't add a comment of her own. They entered the camp in complete silence. Their entrance did not go unnoticed as Celene watched Sesshoumaru look at the young human and nod slightly. She smiled to herself. She was certain the lord was falling for the human. That's why he couldn't have killed Kagome.

Later that night Inuyasha had requested an audience with Kagome alone. Kagome walked up to the small hut and took s deep breath, not sure if she wanted to be alone with Inuyasha. When she entered the trees where Inuyasha had requested to sleep for the night she was slightly afraid. The moon shone down on his like a spot light that screamed out danger. Ignoring it she sat beside him keeping her emotions trapped and her legs from running. He watched her carefully fighting herself and frowned. He hadn't meant to harm her, but it seemed as if they would never be the same.

When Kagome was settled she felt his eyes on her, slowly she turned her head and seen Sesshoumaru's eyes pointed in her direction also. Quickly she pointed her attention to Inuyasha who was speaking to her.

"I ruined us didn't I?" Kagome didn't know what to say to this so she only bowed her head. That was enough for him, he continued. "I don't know what came over me Kagome. I felt so mad that you would want to leave me, and after when Sesshoumaru had said to me, it didn't make sense."

Kagome froze and her head shot up. "What did Sesshoumaru say to you?" she said angrily. Both Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru went tense.

Inuyasha looked at her sadly. "He didn't tell you?"

"Tell me what."

Inuyasha took a deep breath. He was welcoming me…us to the palace. He wanted us to defeat Naraku together. Then you wanted to leave…you left me."

Kagome grabbed his hand and her eyes filled with tears, but she won't let them fall. "I didn't leave you. You chased me, you almost killed me, and then you destroyed the well. Sesshoumaru saved me from you."

Inuyasha frown deepened. "The well?"

Kagome stood up, tears urging to fall. "We can never be the same. You took my family from me Inuyasha. I have nothing left." With that she left him, walking into the darkness of the forest the only light was the moon as it tried its best to climb through the branches that held it at back. She came to a stream and jumped over it, not caring where she was going. When she heard a crack she whirled backwards and lifted her finger. Miko powers flew from them and hit a tree that someone was standing behind. The tree cracked and fell the demon she knew very well standing there exposed, a slightly shocked expression on his face.