I do not own the show/manga of InuYasha. Nor do I own the characters.
I do own the creativity that has forced me to write a fanfiction, however. D:

It Is Not True
Pairing: MriokuXSesshomaru
Side Pair: InuyhashaXKouga
Chapter Twelve: New Moon

Night came quickly. Miroku stood a good distance from Kaede's hut looking up at the sky. It was a clear night with plenty stars and a very noticeable waning crescent moon. A new moon was to come tomorrow night. It would be an understatement to say that Miroku was worried. He feared for his friend's safety, but he knew that Inuyasha would have to think about what Sesshomaru sprang up on him. Even Miroku didn't think Sesshomaru would have said that. He was glad that Sesshomaru wanted to not only be allies, but try and build a relationship with his little brother. Although, it did seem weird to him. What was it that made Sesshomaru feel that Inuyasha would agree to it? Did he just ruin the friendship Miroku and Inuyasha had? Did Sesshomaru just want to break the ties between him and all his friends? Sesshomaru's words echoed in his mind, "You are mine."What did that mean?

"Even I do not think that long, Miroku." Lady Kaede magically appeared beside Miroku.

"Oh… Lot on my mind, I guess. . . How long have you been there?" Miroku smiled at the old lady.

"Ye did not notice?" Kaede brought her gaze up to the moon. "Inuyasha can take care of himself. He did so for quite a while before ye and the others showed up. Besides, death doesn't want him. He's too stubborn." Kaede turned to leave. "Ye have a bed when ye want it, it would be good to have some rest. I might not have been there, but I know it was stressful for ye today. "

When the old lady was gone and out of sight Miroku turned back to the crescent moon. "Not as much as it was for Inuyasha."

"You don't know the half of it, Monk."

Miroku jumped at the sound of a new voice that was familiar, but he couldn't place the face. "Who's there?"

Kouga stepped out from the shadows of a nearby tree and Miroku knew who it was. Kouga still introduced himself anyway. "Kouga, leader of the Wolf demon tribe of this area." He walked closer to Miroku so they could talk. "I didn't think the great demon lord of the west would mate with a human."

Miroku was momentarily confused. How would he know about him and Sesshomaru? There was no way Sesshomaru was telling anyone… did he even have friends? How much didMiroku know about Sesshomaru at all? Only then did he remember that Kouga had mentioned Inuyasha, maybe that was how he knew… but why would Inuyasha tell Kouga? "Inuyasha came to you?"

"More or less. I found him." Kouga raised an eyebrow. "So it's true." He took Miroku's avoidance of the earlier statement that it was a fact. "Why are you with Lord Sesshomaru?" Kouga paused to think up some of the few memories he had of Inuyasha's friends that weren't of the half-breed and Kagome. If he recalled well enough, the monk had a fondness for pretty women, not men. "Don't you like women? That slayer perhaps that you're always with. . ." Kouga may have pushing too much into the monk's life, but…Seeing Inuyasha the way he did. . It pushed him forward to ask question he normally wouldn't.

Miroku stared at him for a long while. Who did this demon think he was butting into his personal life like this? It was none of his business who Miroku loves. "Why are you so interested?" Even if Miroku saw Kouga as an ally, he didn't think Kouga had to know.

Kouga signed. "I wouldn't be sticking nose into your love-life if I didn't have a certain half-demon resting back in my den. You really did a number on him. He's not acting like himself."

"What do you mean?" Miroku began to feel guilty. He didn't want to cause so much stress and pain to his best friend. If all this was going to happen . . . maybe it meant he wasn't supposed to be with Sesshomaru, despite what he or Sesshomaru felt.

"Can't explain it. In any case, I think he'll be toughing it out with me for a while, so don't worry too much about him. If anything can get his spirits up, gotta be a few fights with me." Kouga huffed in a superior way, "You still didn't answer my questions."

Miroku sighed. If he told Kouga, maybe Kouga would tell Inuyasha what he said. "It…" Miorku found that the words were hard to bring out. Instead of staring at Kouga's quizzical and studying eyes, he looked back up to the stars and the words came easier. "I can't help myself. I thought I loved Sango. She turned me down. Sesshomaru…he's given me not only love, but a reason to live." He looked back at Kouga with a new stronger look. "Did we pass your test?"

Kouga was shocked by the new look in Miroku's eyes. He took a step back. How did the monk really know that Kouga was testing Miroku's feelings? Kouga sighed. He did pass, but Sesshomaru hasn't yet. It wasn't like Kouga was going to risk his life to track down the demon lord and test him. Not unless it was a necessary act. Besides, the monk spoke with such conviction that, maybe he didn't have to meet the Demon Lord. The mere fact that Miroku had mated with Lord Sesshomaru and lived was proof enough for Kouga. He "huffed" as a response and changed the subject. He didn't want to keep talking about a personal love life that wasn't any of his concern. "Where's Kagome and the other girl and the runt? I don't sense 'em here." Kouga looked beyond Miroku as if they were hiding in the distance.

Miroku didn't answer right away, since the subject changed rater quickly. He took it as he indeed pass. "… I was planning on asking Inuyasha that. . . but, well, I didn't get the chance." Miroku gave a nervous smile.

"Oh well." Kouga shrugged. Maybe he hadn't seen Kagome in a while that he was getting these strange… feelings… about Inuyasha. If he could just see her once more… "See ya." He turned to leave, but Miroku's voice stopped him.

"Umm. Kouga?"

"What?" He turned back around to face Miroku.

"Do you know… about the new moon?" Miroku looked nervous, as if he wanted to say something, but he wasn't sure if he should say it.

"Yeah… When there is no moon and it's less visible to hunt. What of it?" Kouga raised an eyebrow this time out of confusion.

Miroku sighed; it wasn't his place to tell Kouga what happened to Inuyasha on the night of a new moon. "… Just, make sure Inuyasha comes back tomorrow… before it gets dark." Even if Inuyasha hated him, he didn't want anything bad to happen to Inuyasha on his one night of weakness.

The way the monk acted made Kouga curious. "How come?"

"…No reason." Miroku faked a yawn. "I'm quite tried. I'm going to sleep. Good.. uh, night." Miroku wasn't sure he was supposed to say goodbye or see you later, so he settled on goodnight.

Kouga made a face as the monk walked away from him. That did not satisfy his curiosity. There was something going on and it dealt with the new moon. Kouga would find it out at all costs. Miroku was already well enough back inside the hut when he turned to leave, but almost jumped five feet in the air. There in front of him stood Lord Sesshomaru. Why hadn't he sensed him before? It was obvious that he was related to Inuyasha. He had the same golden eyes and silver hair. He may have not felt threatened speaking to the human monk but this Demon Lord… he would be lying if he said he was not scared for his life a little bit.

"You are Inuyasha's friend?"

Kouga wasn't sure why, but in the dark Lord Sesshomaru looked more… deadly, than he pictured him to look. Kouga, for lack of speech, nodded his head.

"And he is with you?"

Was it just Kouga or did he detect a little bit of worry from the demon lord? "Yes." Kouga watched the Demon Lord struggle with his words for a second.

"Is he okay?"

Kouga couldn't fake a more confused face than right this second. The stories he had heard of Sesshomaru were not like this at all. "He's… fine… or will be…"

"Alright." Kouga watched as the Demon Lord turned, but stopped short. "If you must question someone about my relationship with them, please do so with me. Do not bother Miroku again. The consequences will be deadly, I assure you."

And just like that Kouga watched Sesshomaru disappear. With his life still intact he went back to his den… He felt he would have to tell Inuyasha that Sesshomaru asked after him. The change in this evil killer was obvious. Would it be a weakness?

~It Is Not Ture~

Sesshomaru walked off into the darkness to go find Rin and Jakken. As strong as the monk was, he did have a lot on his mind and it wasn't safe for him to be outside alone at night. He didn't mean to ease drop on the conversations between his mate and Lady Kaede or the Leader of the wolf tribe, but he did. Sesshomaru had to hold his tongue many times when the Wolf Leader asked after their relationship, among other sharp objects located in a sheath. When Miroku left he only wanted to ask the Wolf Tribe Leader to not cause more stress upon Miroku, he still couldn't take much before he was questioning everything in his life. Instead he asked after Inuyaha. He did not intend to ask about Inuyasha. To see him run off like that was only slightly worrying. If anyone could look after themselves it was Inuyasha, but Miroku worried about him. And about the moon. Sesshomaru had nearly forgotten about the New Moon's effect on Inuyasha. If all went well, Inuyasha would be back by tomorrow afternoon, and this 'talk' Miroku wanted would finally be completed.

It irked him that now, after all these years, one single person could change him so much. He was only worried about one person before he happened upon Miroku while looking for Rin. Now he cared about a total of three people. Three too many. Did all of this start the day his sword told him to revive a little girl? Or did it start later when the same sword told him to revive a demon slayer? Or has this always been 'fate'? These were questions Sesshomaru would most likely never answer, even in his lifetime. The only thing he could do now was live as he wanted to. It was a strange concept, since he had always lived how he wanted to, but now it meant something different. The definition of the term "wanted" was very broad to him now. What he wanted above all else was safety for Miroku and Rin. Then for them to have everything they've ever wanted. Then to build a relationship with his half-brother.

For that to happen, however, Inuyasha would have to want that as well. Knowing how Inuyasha felt, Sesshomaru didn't think that would happen anytime soon. Now his half-brother would think the only reason he would want a build a brotherly relationship with him would only be because he mated Miroku. And would that honestly be the case? If Sesshomaru had never loved Miroku, would he want to be brothers with Inuyasha? Was everything now because of Miroku?

Yes, but that was why Sesshomaru had such strong feelings for Miroku. Anyone that could change a Demon Lord's way of thinking had to be strong. Sesshomaru didn't know anyone else who was strong physically as they were mentally. The monk may have a bad habit of over thinking, but it made him just as strong.

"Lord Sesshomaru!" Rin's voice brought Sesshomaru to the matters at hand. She was delighted that when she ran up to him and stopped, he placed his hand on her head for a pat.

"Let's go. We have work to do." With that Sesshomaru started out to the west.

~It Is Not True~

Miroku woke mid-morning. It felt strange to be the only one at Kaede's place. Like he was missing half of himself. When he walked out of the room Kaede had let him use, she had already made breakfast and laid it out for him, covered so no flies could get it. She, however, was nowhere to be seen. He ate his breakfast quickly even though he had nowhere to go and nothing to do. Sesshomaru had told him last night he had something he needed to do and he left. Miroku accepted it, since he knew he was a Demon Lord. In all honesty, Miroku had no idea what Demon Lords did. Sesshomaru was a rather unique Demon Lord, he had seen how human lords had houses to maintain and people to exert their Lordship over. Sesshomaru had none of that save a house a few people to tend to it. So what did he do?

Miroku sighed at his lack of knowledge about his lover when a woman came to Kaede's hut. Apparently his look had startled her and her voice was too soft when she spoke. Miroku did not understand her. "I'm sorry?"

"Oh uhmm. I was looking for Kaede… she was supposed to help my family with a spirit cleansing...Do you know where she is?"

"Ah. I do not." Miroku smiled at her and added, "Though I might not look it; I am a monk. If you would permit me to help instead…"

"Oh yes, please do." She smiled back and then walked out of sight.

Miroku figured he'd find things around the village to do while he wanted for Inuyasha to get back. At least it would keep him occupied.

~It Is Not True~
/SideStory

When Kouga had left that night, Inuyasha let sleep take him once more. His legs would be better by the morning and he'd leave. However, when he woke up, that was a different matter. He found that not only was he hungry, but Kouga was nowhere to be seen. This didn't sound like a horrible matter, until Inuyasha tried to leave. The tribe members that were in the den would not let him leave Kouga's 'room', for lack of a better word.

"Kouga told us not to let you leave until he came back." A female wolf tribe member said with her arms crossed.

Her companion did not adopt the same attitude toward him. "We're sorry, really. Would you like something to eat? I could go and bring you something."

"Shahi! We do not offer prisoners food."

The other wolf demon, now noted as Shahi, looked at her friend. "What makes you think he's a prisoner, Niiha? Kouga did-"

"Didn't specify if he was or wasn't. So he is." Niiha looked down at her friend as if she had won a battle Inuyasha did not realize.

As much as Inuyasha loved fighting, he'd rather not watch these two. Instead of listening to them continue to talk outside of the opening to the rest of the den, he turned around and walked to the back of Kouga's room. He could go without eating; he's done it before many times and lived. At least his human side wasn't as strong as his demon side was.

Inuyasha wasn't sure how many hours he sat in the same place waiting for Kouga to come back, but for some unknown reason he started to get antsy. He wanted to leave now.

~It Is Not True~

/SS

Kouga looked up at the sky; night would come soon. He had finally wasted enough time. He hunted for his tribe and brought back the spoils throughout the day. His tribe would be in the lap of luxury for a while now. He only hoped that Inuyasha did not put up a fight and kill members of his tribe just to leave. He put too much faith in Inuyasha's tendency to do good. He must have been worried, however, since the travel back to then den took half the time he would usually take. Kouga wanted to get there long while after dark, when the moon was well at its apex, but he reached the den a little earlier. He walked into the den as if nothing was wrong. When he saw Shahi running up to him, Kouga couldn't help the drop in his stomach he felt. Did Inuyasha walk out? Did he fight back? Did he sneak away?

"Niiha thinks the half-breed is a prisoner… and hasn't fed him all day. I swear I can hear his stomach growl every second. Can I feed him, please?" Shahi, true to her nature, looked as sweet and innocent as her personality. She nervously glanced behind her to see if Niiha was coming to scold her again.

Kouga was about to answer, and scold Shahi for not acting as she thought best, when a familiar voice yelled at him. "KOUGA, DAMNIT! I KNOW YOU'RE HERE!"

Kouga let a tad amount of anger build. "SHUT IT, MUTT! I KNOW!" then he turned to Shahi, who looked physically hurt by the random yelling. "Uh, I'm sorry. If you could bring something for our tribe's friend, that would be much appreciated. I'll speak to Niiha. In the meantime, next time you think something is right, you act on it." With that he started back toward his room. Shahi went to collect some food for Inuyasha. Kouga paused at the opening to his room. He told Niiha to go and help Shahi. When he walked in, he locked eyes with a very upset looking half-breed.

"About fucking time." Inuyasha stood up. "I can finally leave now."

Kouga didn't waste any time. "New moon's tonight." Was it just Kouga's imagination or did fear give the tiniest wave from Inuyasha's face?

"So. Bye." Inuyasha said. He should have known! He should have kept time! Now today's antsy feelings made perfect sense. His body knew what was going to happen before he did. How late in the night was it? Would Inuyasha make it out of the den before the transformation took? He started to walk as casually past Kouga as he could without trying to give away his feelings, or God forbid have Kouga sniff them out.

As Inuyasha pasted Kouga he grabbed his arm. "Why are you so nervous?" He raised an eyebrow. "Miroku asked me if I knew about the new moon. What about the new moon?"

"You spoke to Miroku?" Inuyasha asked, avoiding the question. Why would he go and do that?

"Someone has to figure out why you're so… not you." Kouga shrugged still holding on to Inuyasha's arm.

"That's none of your business or concern, Wolf."

"It is if I'm your friend, Mutt."

"Who wants friend like you?"

"Obviously you, or you would have fought you way out!"

"Tut! Maybe I didn't want to-" Inuyasha felt it start to happen right before it happened. It always started out with a burning tingle feeling in his whole body. Like the power had to build before it released in his transformation. 'Aw, fuck.'Inuyasha had time to think before his hair turned black; his ears diapered and became human ears; fangs and claws became teeth and nails. He, right before Kouga's eyes, was human. Inuyasha's now dark brown eyes looked into Kouga's face. What was he going to do now?

Kouga could not believe his eyes. He blinked a few times when Inuyasha's hair turned back. Then continued to watch the transformation. It was the smell that got Kouga first. The smell was unmistakably human. If he had not been holding on to Inuyasha's arm the whole time he would have thought Inuyasha disappeared and got a human to take his place. A human who, believe it or not, looked exactly like Inuyasha. Then when Kouga least expected it, Inuyasha looked at him with brand new eyes, quite literally. These were not the golden orbs he was used to. Kouga felt a spark go through his entire body. "Inu… yasha?"

Well, at least he wasn't defenseless with a hoard of demons chasing him. At least it was just Kouga. At least it was someone who didn't want to kill him. . . for the time being. "Yeah… It's me." Inuyasha looked away.

~It is not True~
/ESS

Miroku sat was finally back at the hut. There were many things in the village that needed fixing. Most of them weren't even monk work. He fixed a few wagon wheels, and countless roofs. The villagers who knew Inuyasha well and did not fear him told him how normally the half-breed would deal with these simple matters when he visited last. Miroku was happy to help, since work kept his mind off how little he knew about Sesshomaru and how worried he was about Inuyasha. However, the worry increased when night came and he was back at the hut. Inuyasha was not there. Did he stay with Kouga? Did he tell Kouga what happened to him the night of a new Moon? However, a familiar face was there in Inuyasha's absence.

"Well come back, Miroku! Finals are next week. I seem have gotten my days mixed up, sadly. So I won't be able to stay long. But I did get restocked!" Kagome looked behind Miroku. "Inuyasha isn't with you?" She suddenly looked as worried as Miroku felt.

"No, but he should be back..Anytime now." Miroku wasn't sure if Kagome would be as worried as he is. Then again, Kaede would have to have told her what happened to make her understand the gravity of Inuyasha not being here. "Kaede tell you.. what happened?" Miroku asked as he sat down next to Kagome.

Kagome smiled her bright smile at him, she could see the worry in Miroku's face. "Oh, Inuyasha'll be fine. I am sure." She handed him a fresh, and somewhat cold, water bottle. Kaede did tell her a little something. "Hmm. Just that Sango took Kohaku and Shippo to her village. Why? What else happened?"

Now would have been a good time to fill her in. "Nothing important." But fear clutched at Miroku's throat and told him to say something else. "Sesshomaru wants to be allied with us." Well, more or less, he kept telling himself.

"Whhha? Really? I don't believe it…" Kagome watched Miroku take a few drinks from the bottle of water she gave him. "Why would he do that? He's… He's… evil."

"Evil?"

"Oh yeah. You should have seen him with twoarms. That man was dangerous, well still is, but he was doubly dangerous. Could have killed Inuyasha had I not been there." Kagome reached into her bag and pulled out two candy bars, when Miroku passed for one, she placed one back in the bag and started to unwrap and eat the other one. "If you think he is dangerous now, you should have seen his demon dog form! Don't tell Inuyasha, but sometimes, I still have nightmares of it. His fangs were huge! I'd be stuck between teeth, in my dream that is. I still don't know how Inuyasha managed to cut off his arm." Kagome took Miroku's silence as if he wanted her to continue. "Though, I must say, if he really wants to be allies with us. . . I don't see the harm if he's serious. However… if he's just playing games with us….." Kagome let her voice trail off in an unspoken warning.

Miroku stood up. Was he the only one who thought people, demon lords, could change? "I'm going to bed. I am sure Inuyasha is safe…" Unless Kouga wanted to take advantage of Inuyasha's human state and kill him. Then he wasn't. But right now, Miroku didn't much care. It seemed his life was just going down the drain again.

Not only was Kagome worried for Inuyasha, but now she was worried for Miroku. He had that look in his face around the time that Sango told him she loved someone else… Which was always a bad look for the monk.

~It is not True~
/SS

"You comfortable?" Kouga asked the covered up Inuyasha.

"Not really, no." The muffled voice, that was Inuyasha, said from under three furs. In an attempt to keep the human smell to a minimum Kouga threw some furs he had around the half-breed… the human? Whatever he was now.

"This isn't going to work…" Kouga mumbled.

As if on cue, Shahi and Niiha walked past the opening that was Kouga's room. Both held food for Inuyasha, but when they looked around all they saw was their tribe leader bending over a mound of furs. "Uh, Kouga, here is the food… Where is the half-breed?"

Niiha sniffed and then covered her nose. "Ew. What's that smell?"

Shahi sniffed, but all she smelled was the fruit she was holding. "Your nose has always been weird. I don't smell anything."

"Put the food down and leave." Kouga's voice held the authority of the tribe leader and the two wolf demons could do nothing but obey.

"I'm hot." The muffled voice told Kouga.

"I know." Kouga sighed, then struck by an idea he should have had first, he quickly unwrapped Inuyasha, ignoring his protest while he did so and draped the furs over the open entrance to his room. "There, now you don't have to hide so much…"

"It's just for the night. Once the sun comes up I'm back to normal."

"This happens every new moon?" Kouga asked. Inuyasha had already told him the basics of what had happened, it was just hard to wrap his mind around it.

"No, just the first new moon of every month." It was pointless to lie now. Kouga already knew. What he was going to do with the information was up to him.

"Shame. You don't look half bad as a human." Kouga said out loud. As soon as he words left his mouth he knew they should have been thought only.

Inuyasha huffed at him. "Don't tease me. It's bad enough this happens to me. I don't need your attitude." If there was one thing Inuyasha hated more as a human it was the fact that the emotions he felt were harder to hide.

Well, that was new. He half expected Inuyasha to… Well, he wasn't really sure. Hit him. Curse at him. Something other than 'huff'. Was Inuyasha's human personality different from when his demon side was strong? Kouga took it upon himself to test this theory. "Who said I was kidding?" Kouga walked away from his handiwork of the makeshift door and stood closer to Inuyasha.

"….. Why else would you say something that weird?" Inuyasha questioned, half-confused. He didn't like anyone getting to close to him when he was human. Especially if they were demons. Kouga surely wouldn't attack him while he was human… would he? Earlier he said they were friends. You don't kill your friends. Inuyasha felt the sudden need to remind Kouga of this fact.

"What if I thought it was true? You look softer. Do you feel softer?" Kouga closed the space between him and Inuyasha quicker than Inuyasha would have liked.

"Hey! Whoa, now you're being creepy. Kouga!" Inuyasha's voice was louder than it should be as Kouga's hand reached over and touched his face.

"Shhh! You don't want the whole den in here do you? To know your secret?" Kouga had been right. Inuyasha did not hide his shock and fear as well as he would have, had he been his normal half-demon self. Kouga moved his hand from Inuyasha's face and took his arm and pulled up the sleeve to feel the skin on Inuyasha's arm.

"Okay!" His voice was hardly above a whisper now, "I get it. Haha. Jokes on me. Now let go." Truth be told, Inuyasha didn't get it. But this touching made his heart beat too fast that he cold feel it in his throat and ear it in his years. Kouga was making him feel awkward and he needed to get away from him. Since Kouga did not have a strong hold Inuyasha was able to pull his arm free and take a few steps back.

The memory of that day at the lake, the touch of Inuyasha's skin, and even the hushed whisper from Inuyasha's lips made Kouga act a way he most likely shouldn't have. "There is no joke." The few steps back Inuyasha had taken were futile; Kouga reached over and pulled Inuyasha back to him and brought the half-breed into a kiss. It was quick, since Inuyasha saw this coming and bit the wolf demon's lips. Kouga brought his hand up and wiped a small amount of blood off his lips.

Kouga's blood painted Inuyasha's bottom lip when he spoke next. "You leave or so help me, I will walk right out in all my human glory and die just to get away from you."

Hi!
Well, that didn't go as Kouga planed.
I made this longer... I think I put two chatpers in one? *shrug*
I know this chapter is mainly Kouga and Inuyasha! I'm sorry!
Sesshomaru and Miroku will have more parts in the next chapter, I promise! 3
And when have I ever broken my promises?
Aside from updating quickly. .

Thanks for the R&Rs! *Mwah!*
Did I really…? =/
….. Eh, Screw it. If you're reading you get a kiss. =P

Much love!
:3
Maddening Shroud.