Black moon rising by Lady_Dark_Kitten

Watching

I've been watching you from a distance

The distance sees through your disguise

All I want from you is your hurting

I want to heal you

I want to save you from the dark

Kagome sat with Kouga on a hill; she was leaning on him as they watched the dark clouds role in. The silent watcher studied the girl wondering what it was about her. She was something… but what? She certainly wasn’t human.

Despite her apparent happiness she was still pained; he could see it swirling in her ora. It wasn’t just the hanyou something else had happened but he didn't know what. Sesshoumaru snorted at the girl wondering why she was wasting her pity on his half brother. The wolf prince was a much better choice for the girl.

Despite his suspicions he wondered again what made her so different that he would care? He had honestly hated the human and tried to kill her, sadly with out success. He shrugged it off as mere curiosity then he turned to watch Inuyasha for a moment and snorted again. The stupid hanyou should have known better than to bother trying. He dispelled the glowing fire pushing the distraction aside so he could continue his daily dry routine.

As Inuyasha sat in a tree behind Kouga and Kagome watching them jealously as Kouga put an arm around Kagomes shoulders. She looked up into his face and smiled sadly, he kissed her forehead making her blush as small tears formed at the corner of her eyes despite his attempts to comfort her. Why did it have to be Kouga, Inuyasha wondered. What was wrong with me?

“Kouga we should go back to the village its getting cold and it looks like rain.” He grinned at her sadly sparkling steal blue eyes.

“Of coarse Kagome.” He stood and scoped her up rushing to Kaede’s hut leaving a flurry of dust and leaves in his wake as the storm chased them. But Inuyasha didn't move he just let the rain soak him.

He was tired of Kouga; he wanted Kagome to be his like she was before. But she wasn’t yours… a small voice in his mind told him. He sighed wishing he hadn’t been so stupid. He looked up as some thunder started to resonate threw the trees. He frowned knowing that a tree was no place to be with thunder and lighting warring in the clouds. He jumped down and made his way to the village.

As he approached he saw Kagome and Kouga with Miroku and Sango on the porch. They where watching the rain bounce off the surface of the puddles and the lighting crawl across the clouds. He pushed by them to sit inside.

“Kagome?” she looked at Sango and frowned. Things where hard enough the young miko thought to her self, why did he have to be like that? Sota died only a few weeks ago, Kagome felt tears start to well up in her eyes and her birthday was tomorrow. Couldn’t he just push it a side even for a day? Just one?

“I know…” she sighed and ran her hands over her face drying her eyes. She kissed Kouga on the cheek and stood then walked into the hut. Kouga had long since gotten over Inuyasha’s rocky friendship with Kagome and was confided that she loved him, that his place with her was secure. But nothing in life is secure; things can change in a split second.

Kagome poked her head in to see Inuyasha playing with the fire. She stepped in but he didn't looked up. She sat across from him and pulled her knees up to her chest. He finally glanced at her threw his thick unkempt bangs. This was getting so old.

“What Kagome weren’t you enjoying the storm?” he mumbled sarcastically she looked into the fires chaotic dance trying to hold her tears back. Why did he have to be such a jerk? The sad part was he didn't even realize it till it was too late.

“Inuyasha… please…” he looked up at her as she tightened her grip on her knees. He watched her and she looked at him her head resting on her knees. “Inuyasha please try to understand and just...” He scowled at her; this was not the first time they had this squabble.

“But I thought…” she narrowed her eyes; she was tired to death of this never-ending argument.

“People change Inuyasha.” He looked back at the fire. “I’m sorry I can’t make you happy.” She stood up and walked to the door then looked at the floor next to her so she could see him out of the corner of her eye. “Inuyasha this cant go on forever.” He looked up to say something but all he saw was the door flap falling onto place. He looked back at the fire and leaned on the wall, he sat there most of the night.

Kagome sat next to Kouga. He wrapped his arms around her as she sat on his lap seeking warmth and comfort. They watched the clouds as the almost full moon started to peek threw. Tomorrow it would be full and it would start to disappear the day after. She looked at Kouga and tried to smile.

“Kouga, want to sleep on the porch tonight now that it’s cleared up?” She wanted to avoid Inuyasha for a bit. Kouga grinned mischievously at her as she scooted off him and he stood then entered the hut to retrieve her zipped together sleeping bags. He didn't look at Inuyasha as he walked in and back out; he felt a bit guiltily but not enough. Inuyasha had his chance and he blew it.

Kagome and Kouga curled together as Miroku and Sango stepped inside. Kouga lay with his tail over her legs listening to her steady heartbeat as she fell asleep. He nuzzled her neck thinking about tomorrow, thinking about what she promised him. He smiled she had made him wait for some unknown reason but he didn't mind. He hoped that he could make her forget her pain for just one day. Eventually the steady rhythm of her heart lulled him to sleep as he pulled her closer.

The next morning Kagome woke with a start but she didn't move, she felt funny. She was tingling all over, she had a slight head ach and she knew she was being watched. She slowly sat up and looked around, there was nothing wrong and there where no shards. She scratched her head and yawned as Kouga lifted him self up on one elbow. She looked down at him and smile deciding to ignore the feelings for now. He mischievously wiggled out from under the top fold of the bed. His tail slowly wagging as he growled playfully and sat on his knees to nibble her neck. She gently and playfully smacked his hand.

“You’ll get your chance...” she smiled and leaned down kissing him.

“I know I will.” He murmured as he brushed her neck slowly with his hand making her shiver. She brushed him away and stood up then stretched.

“But it will wait… I kinda feel funny anyway.” He cocked his head to the side.

“What do you mean?” she looked at him and frowned.

“I don’t know.” She looked at the bright blue sky and smiled as she ignored her funny feelings. She sat on the edge of the porch and watched Inuyasha slowly emerge from the hut.

“Happy birthday Kagome.” He muttered as he looked at Kouga who was leaving to take care of some ‘business’. Inuyasha sat next to Kagome and she smiled at him. “So are you going to go see your family?” she nodded.

“In a bit.” She looked over as Kouga rounded the corner and smiled brightly at him.

They did breakfast and all the normal morning things. Then Kagome dug around in her pack so she could get dressed. Kouga watched her smiling, he didn't like to see her leave but he loved to watch her walk away. When she came out all changed she brushed her hair and flung the brush so it landed on her pack.

“Kagome do you want me to walk you to the well?” she looked at the hopeful Inuyasha.

“Ya,” she looked at Kouga who looked a bit dejected but smiled at her. She turned and started to walk.

“Kagome…” Sango grabbed her shoulder. “Don’t you want to take your pack?” Kagome shook her head.

“I have enough stuff, if I decide I need anything I can carry it.” She waved and turned to the woods Inuyasha hot on her heels.

The walk was quiet and Kagome was trying to enjoy the warm breeze and the quiet sounds that a walk in the woods made. Inuyasha looked at her as she stretched again. She grinned at him; it was her birthday why shouldn’t she be in a good mood?

“Kagome…” she slowed down and frowned at him. “Are you sure?” she scowled at him.

“Inuyasha it my birthday.” She sighed; he looked back to the hut.

“I know…” He frowned as he looked back at her; he knew what Kouga had planed for to day. “Kagome wolfs mate for life…” she crossed her arms.

“I know that Inuyasha.” She calmly stated. His eyes widened, he was hoping that would deter her from mating with Kouga giving him another chance.

“But Kagome…” she narrowed her eyes at him she was bound and determined to convince Inuyasha to stay off her back.

“Inuyasha I love him…” her voice faded for a moment and he could see tears start to glitter in the corner of her eyes “and every day we’re lucky to get away with our lives.” His ears flattened. “Today could be our last day...” she choked and turned away from him willing her eyes to dry. She started for the well and he watched her eyes wide at her depressing statement. He hung his head and fallowed her.

When she got to the glade she looked around her vision all the sudden turned black and white then faded for a second. But it came back sharper and more vivid. Inuyasha walked up beside her as she frowned and shook her head. He eyed her for a moment as she shook her head.

“Kagome are you ok?” she nodded.

“I’m fine the sun just hit my eyes funny that’s all.” He frowned at her as she stepped up on the edge of the well. “Tell every one I’ll be back around noon.” She started to turn and drop in. he noticed that she smelled funny and he didn’t know what the smell was.

“Do you want me to send some one to meet you.” she shook her head as she jumped in.

She softly touched down on the other side and climbed out of the well. She opened the door to the courtyard and looked around. Her grandfather was sweeping when he looked up.

“Ohhh Kagome happy birthday.” She smiled at him.

“Thank you grandpa… is everyone inside?” he nodded.

“I was told there’s a young man coming over too…” Kagome stopped dead in her tracks and one of her eyes started to twitch.

“Do you happen to know what his name is?” he nodded again.

“I think the girls said his name was Hojo.” She hung her head.

“Thank you grandpa.” She sighed heavily she didn’t want to have to fend him off again; she just wanted him to get a clue.

As she opened the door and walked in she could hear a giant commotion in the living room and shook her head. She walked into the living room and ended up right in the middle of party preparations. Everyone froze and stared at her.

“Miss Higurashi I told you you should have done this yesterday.” Erie poked the older woman’s thigh.

“Well I thought with you it’d be done before she got here.” She got off her latter and everyone kinda left things the way they where.

“So is this everyone?” Kagome desperately hoped that her grandfather was wrong but Eire shook her head.

“No we invited Hojo to…” Kagome sighed.

“When’s he suppose...” then the doorbell rang. “Never mind…” she put on her best smile as she answered the door. And there was the young perpetually happy young man; at times he made her sick. No one should be happy all the time, its not natural she remembered thinking. “Hi Hojo.” He grinned at her as she let him in.

But once he couldn’t see her face she frowned and tried not to grind her teeth in frustration, it was her birthday for crying out loud. Why didn't they ask her last time she was here if she wanted him here? She just couldn’t seem to catch a break; kagome went to the bathroom and popped some ibuprofen for her head ach.

When she got back to the living room everyone sat around and ate cake and ice cream. They told some jokes watched a movie and handed Kagome her gifts. Her mother gave her two, one was a mountain bike not only did it have a basket on the front but also it had a better utility wrack than the last one had on the back.

The other was a modern bow like the ones they practice with at school; she also bought her a crap load of arrows. She remembered having told her mother that she used one and that they had a tendency to get smashed. Kagome blushed whishing that her mother had given it to her after everyone was gone.

“Thank you mama, its nice.” She looked over the sleek black weapon; she really did love it. Mostly based in the fact that it would be much harder to break.

Everyone kind of looked at her funny but didn’t say anything. Eventually everyone started to say their goodbyes and filed out the door. But Hojo pulled Kagome aside into the kitchen.

“Yes Hojo?” he blushed and looked at the floor before looking her in the eye.

“Kagome I…” he took a step toward her, knowing what he was going to say she cut him off.

“Hojo… before you go any farther with that I can’t.” he frowned and backed up.

“Why not?” she sighed.

“Because I’m involved with some very important work Hojo that’s the real reason I’m gone all the time…” it was true and it made the perfect escape goat, but she had to tell him about Kouga too. “And I have a relationship, we work together…” his frown deepened. “No it’s not a relationship based on convenience.” He looked at the ground.

“I see…” he looked back up at her wondering what a 16 year old could be doing that was important enough for her to skip school so much. “Can you at least tell me what you do?” she shook her head.

“No I can’t… and I have to go.” he nodded.

“That important?” she nodded at him. “Well I won’t keep your coworkers waiting.” He walked out to the door and closed it behind him. She sighed grabbing her bike and bow.

“Love you mama but I’m late.” She nodded as Kagome walked out to the well.

She looked around to be sure she wasn’t being watched. She entered the well house and as she looked at it she realized that she would never get the bike in the well let alone out on the other side. She would have to have Inuyasha get it for her later. She hoped threw and looked up at the clear blue sky on the other side. She was glad to be back because she was starting to feel more at home here than in her time. She straitened her bow and quiver on her back then started to climb, when she reached the top she met Shippo’s green-eyed gaze.

“Kagome I’m so glad your back.” She smiled at the kit as she swung her legs over the edge of the well.

“I’m glad to be back.” She stretched when her feet where on the ground and Shippo suddenly seemed fascinated by something. “What Shippo?” he wrinkled his nose.

“Is that a bow?” Kagome smiled.

“Yes mama bought it for me, she got me a new bike to but I can’t get it threw well.” He smiled at her. As they approached the hut Inuyasha and Kouga perked up smelling Kagome. Kouga was off at full speed and snatched her off her feet swinging her around making her giggle wildly.

“Kagome…” he set her down gently and ran his hand down the side of her face before bringing her in for a tender kiss; making Inuyasha fume. When they parted Kagome smiled and threw her arms around him pushing her face into the crook of his neck. Then she pulled back and looked at Inuyasha.

“Umm Inuyasha I have a new bike on the other side could you go get it for me?” one of his ears twitched. She felt terrible for asking him but she couldn’t do it.

“Of coarse I can. I’ll be back in a few.” Then he was gone, Kagome smiled and sat on the porch with Kouga looking at her new bow.

When he got back he set the shiny new bike next to the hut. She eyed it enjoying how nice it looked wail she could. They goofed off all day playing games. There was lots of hide and go seek. Then there was tag… Shippo ran everyone into the ground. Night did eventually fall and everyone but the kit was thank full for it. Kagome was enjoying it but

Sota’s death hung over her like a dark cloud.

As everyone sat around the fire eating dinner and chitchatting about this that and the other Sesshoumaru watched Kagome threw the eerie blue fire as she start to get antsy. And the full moon was slowly rising to its peek.

She stood up and started to rub her arms pacing back and forth, she itched all over. Her stomach was turning and her head was pounding. Kouga stood and took her by her shoulders gently. It’s happening, Sesshoumaru thought to him self as she started to turn pail. He dispelled the fire and was off.