Crusade Against the Moon

Prologue

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha nor the characters from the show.

A silent wish.

That was all it took. If only she had known. She would have done it sooner. She had thought her time was done, her quest complete. But... but...

Spending her life in this world... a life without him.

Gripping the old well, she closed her eyes, her heart and mind in tandem, and they whispered out what she truly desired, 'I want to be with you.'

A soft breeze with the scent of trees had caressed her face like a sweet kiss, and opening her eyes in disbelief, Kagome saw the sky. It beckoned out to her from the bottom of the well, and instantly she knew. It was time. She had to go, wanted to go.

Needed to go.

Turning from her mother's sudden appearance, with a teary farewell, she jumped, and fell back into time.

It was like jumping into water, air bubbles floating all around her. Then it was gone, and with a feeling of euphoria, her body became weightless. Enchanted, she watched as stars materialized before her by the thousands. They glittered and zipped by, reminding her of Inuyahsa's Meidou Zangetsuha. Overcome by the magic surrounding her, she deliriously wondered that if she reached out far enough, she might just be able to touch one. A sudden burst of blue blinded her and her ears popped. Heart dancing with anticipation, she opened her eyes again and watched as the blue turned to purple, melding, wrapping around her, then fading.

Softly, her toes touched down. From inside, the well looked the same; stony, dark, and brown. Long winding roots curled out at her, their pointed edges catching on her hair.

She stared down at the ground, mind reeling with doubt. What if?

What if the well hadn't really worked? What if she had just imagined it, the flashing lights, the winds of time pushing through her hair. Would this phenomenon be just like all the others? Would she return home, a soulless defeated corpse, just like her predecessor? Wandering in the future aimlessly, going through the motions, being herded around like the rest of her peers, pushed into empty occupations that left her wishing for more. Would she have to continue living aimlessly, being forced into an empty life she wanted nothing to do with?

She closed her eyes and took a shaky breath.

Surprised, the refreshing scent of trees slowly filled her lungs, spreading through her body, washing away her panic until she felt a calmness to the tips of her toes.

With her hope renewed, she opened her eyes and looked up.

'The sky.'

She stared at it in wonder as it peeked down, inviting and teasing her. It was the clearest blue she had ever seen. Trees splayed on the edges, waving to and fro. Birds sang, dipped, crossed, and disappeared from view.

'I made it.'

A dizzying feeling came over her as endorphins rushed to her head. The well seemed to move around her, disorientating her. She took a step back to steady herself.

Then something she recognized, a sound she knew; a gentle patting on the ground. It was fast, getting closer and closer. Each step a little louder than the last.

Her eyes dilated the second she processed the vibrations. Emotions suddenly overwhelmed her and she couldn't stop the small cry that escaped her lips. The well creaked as a shadow crossed over her body. She looked on, her eyes wide and stinging with tears.

Moving without realizing it, her shaky fingers lifted slowly, reaching for the appendage looming down at her. She swallowed the lump in her throat. His hand, so much bigger than her own, grabbed hers, and light as a feather lifted her out.

And just like that, she was on the other side.

Kagome's red shoes landed on the rim of the well, and all she could focus on were his golden eyes. Those eyes that haunted her every time she closed her own. She quickly realized she'd never seen anything or anyone more beautiful, more magical than him in her entire life. Everything about him was surreal. His white hair danced in the breeze, casting a spell and tangling intricately with her own, never to release her again.

She wanted to laugh, cry, hug him, and kiss him... but instead she heard herself speaking; her body again, doing things on its own. "I'm sorry, Inuyasha." She swallowed and took a breath, trying desperately to control her emotions, a small smile adorning her face. "Were you waiting for me?"

"Kago-" he couldn't even finish her name, swallowing thickly, he pulled her down to the ground and wrapped his arms around her, relishing in the scent he'd missed for three long years. "You idiot." He responded immediately. His rough words were whispered with affection and endearing to her ears as she closed her eyes and leaned against him. "What have you been doing?"

She had no time to respond, for at that moment she heard her friends holler her name. She took a step back to take them in and was surrounded in a rush. Miroku, Sango, their children and Shippo hugged her at once. Teary-eyed she laughed and squeezed them back.

The questions began immediately. One after the other and molded into incoherent words. Overwhelmed, she eyed Inuyasha as they absentmindedly pushed him to the back of the group. Returning her gaze, he stepped back quietly, a rare smile gracing his lips, and for a brief moment, everyone's voices muffled and disappeared.

Inuyasha was happy.

After the countless heart aches, horrors, and losses...her brave, stubborn, bittersweet demon of a man was smiling. As he stood there with his arms relaxed at his sides, his forest swaying behind him, and the grass tickling between his toes; Kagome felt a warmth spread to her very soul. She knew she would never forget this moment.

Closing her eyes, she gave him the biggest smile she could muster, not caring how ridiculous she might look. He deserved it. He deserved more. And she would do anything she could to give him everything.

Returning to her group of friends, she kept up with their questions as best as she could. Sango grabbed her hand and led her to the village. Everyone followed and chattered merrily, and before she even realized it, she was being ushered into Kaede's hut.

The older woman let her spoon clatter to the ground and gave her an impressively strong hug, pulling a laugh out of Kagome. Kohaku and a preteen Rin followed in and greeted her with a smile full of adult teeth. Then she was introduced to Sango and Miroku's twins and infant son.

The thick aroma of stew filled the small room and hit Kagome with a sense of deja vu, vanquishing the home sickness she'd been plagued with for years. She had studied relentlessly and overworked herself as a distraction from the past: of the fresh wooded scents of this world, the thrilling adventures, and how the wind would tangle in her hair as she rode against her courageous protector. She felt the corners of her lips lift as the ache in her chest ebbed away.

They made their seats around the brewing pot as Kaede tended to it. Kagome patted the spot next to her with a goofy smile, inviting Inuyasha towards her. He grumbled something about wenches already bossing him around which rose a cheery laugh from the group, and walked to her anyway.

Looking around, she took in the sight of her chattering friends. Three years had been far too long. Necessary, but she had missed out on so much. She looked on at her extended family, noticing the tiny growth spurt of little Shippo and Rin. She ruffled the boy's hair and asked him about his kitsune exams. He bounced on his rump expectantly while he told her about the new tricks he could do. "I even got Inuyasha a few times!"

"Did you now?" She laughed, glancing at Inuyasha. She was acutely aware of his body next to hers. His presence was comforting yet nerve wracking all the same.

Clearly not paying attention to Shippo, Inuyasha made no remarks about getting caught by his pranks. His face was slightly turned towards the middle of the group where Kaede was cooking, she would have thought he was looking at the old woman. Instead, he peered at her silently, chocolate flecks swirling inside a pool of honey. Bewildered, she watched his eyes roam about her face, down her arms and body, painstakingly slow, until he finally tore them away.

Her heart pounded furiously inside her and she averted her eyes just as quickly. Looking at her like that, what could he have possibly been thinking? She realized she had been holding her breath and granted her lungs air again.

She squeezed her skirt with shaking hands and tried to distract herself. "Ah," she cleared her throat and tried again, all while forcing away the memory of Inuyasha's eyes on her. "I'm so sorry," she bowed down low to hide her red face from her friends. "I didn't exactly plan this." Wait, no, that was wrong. She tried again as the group quieted down and stared at her, perplexed. "The well never worked again after I left. But today," she sat back up and looked at each of them, "I felt something different. Somehow, I knew I'd be able to return." She glanced over at Inuyasha who was now looking at her in full attention, his eyes a bit wider than before. Trying not to fidget under his scrutiny, she put her small fist against her still racing heart. "I could feel the well calling to me, and then I saw the sky."

Miroku was the first to respond, albeit hesitantly. "Lady Kagome, do you think someone opened the well?

She shook her head, her hair tickling her cheeks. "I don't know how or why I'm here, but I'm so happy to see every single one of you again. You see, this was so unexpected!" She opened her empty hands - palms up toward them, "I wasn't able to bring any gifts! I'm so sorry!"

Sango's laugh shocked Kagome, she'd never heard it so boisterous before. Slowly, it dawned on her that her friends were not the same people she had left behind. They had grown past all the pain. They had healed and started new lives. She would need to get to know them all over again.

Squeezing her newborn to her chest with her cheeks pink from merriment, Sango looked up at Kagome, her eyes twinkling. "Kagome, please! You don't need to bring us anything! Having you here again is more than any of us could have hoped for!"

Face full of mischief, Miroku pushed his feet towards Sango and wiggled his toes. With a laugh that filled the room, she tried swatting him away with the hand not holding their newborn son. Their twin girls were full of energy, chasing each other with their arms in the air, giggling crazily while winding between their parents over and over.

The setting sun casted a hazy yellow glow around the room, it's golden fingers reaching prettily through the windows. Rin paced about, serving everyone their plates. Kagome received hers and thanked the young girl. After blowing at her food, she moved it around with her chopsticks, pulled out some noodles and blew again, "so, how has everything been since we destroyed the jewel?"

"Don't be stupid Kagome," Inuyasha's voice practically cut her off. His eyes burning through her once more, "you destroyed the jewel, there was no one else."

Kagome balked in surprise and choked on her food. Coughing, she glanced up at him, 'was that supposed the be some kind of compliment?' She quickly put the bowl on the floor, the contents sloshing around the rim.

Shippo jumped up, his slightly longer legs floating as he patted her back. "Inuyasha! You idiot!"

Finishing his food, Inuyasha let it clatter beside his feet and pointed menacing chopsticks at him. "Watch it runt."

Miroku and Sango looked up over their bowls amused, slurping at their noodles and chewing veggies merrily. Clearing her throat, Kagome let out a hearty laugh. "Guys I'm okay!" She turned and snatched Shippo from the air, squeezing him in a hug. He bristled for a moment before settling in. Leaning her head against the little fox's crown, she peeked up at Inuyasha and sighed happily, "I really missed you guys".

Eyes going wide as eggs, Inuyasha blinked once, twice, face coloring more each time. His adorable ears swiveling around like satellites... her smile broadened shyly and he suddenly realized that was directed specifically to him.

Sango's soft laugh drew their attention. She placed her bowl down gently, and rubbed her newborn's delicate head. "We missed you too Kagome, very much."

"Yeah!" Shippo peeked up from beneath her arms, "especially Inuyasha! He checked the well every three days!"

"Wh-what?" She stuttered, shocked, and looked up at the man in question.. who was now standing over them. Shippo flailed his legs, yelling her name for protection. But she was too dumbfounded to act.

He checked every three days, for three years. That familiar ache in her heart returned, pulling at her painfully.

In a blur of red and white, Shippo was no longer in her arms. Both demons were gone from the hut. She looked to her friends who laughed and shook their heads.

"This has happened before." Miroku explained, "earlier today, to be exact." His daughters finished their bowls and threw themselves at his lap, sighing sleepily. He rubbed their backs in soothing circles.

"We didn't know he was being so persistent until Shippo let us in on the secret." Sango continued, looking on at Kagome with an expectant smile.

Touching her cheek, Kagome responded in understanding, "ah." 'He checked every three days,' she thought to herself again.

The room quieted down. Everyone spoke to each other in hushed voices. Time passed and Kagome observed her friends silently while finishing her plate. The sight alone seemed like a memory, like it wasn't really there, like if she reached out, it'd all ripple and dissolve away until she woke up only to realize it was all a dream.

Noticing that the sky was darkening and Inuyasha hadn't returned, she got up to excuse herself, but a little snore undulated through the air, pulling a soft laugh from the mother. "Looks like we should head home now," she said, head motioning towards her children.

Walking towards them, Kagome held out her arms, "I can help bring one."

Miroku thanked her and handed over one of his daughters.

"What's her name?" She asked quietly.

"Miyako." Miroku whispered.

Studying the little girl's face, Kagome's heart suddenly tightened. Her watery gaze took in the child's features. Small pink lips, long curled lashes, and a sprinkle of freckles over her cheeks like her dear Uncle Kohaku. "Miyako," she repeated in awe, "beautiful child." Her friends had married and had children! She felt like she was in some kind of twilight zone. Everything was the same - but wasn't.

Clearing the lump in her throat. She followed them out of the hut to their home. It wasn't too far from Kaede's, probably a block's length away. Inuyasha was still not around. She looked up at the neighboring roofs suspiciously, thinking she might have caught a glimpse of his hair, but found nothing.

Entering the small home, she tucked Miyako into the large futon the family shared and hugged her friends goodnight. Sango held her a bit longer, successfully squeezing out a few more tears, "I'm so glad you made it back," she whispered. Pushing away and holding Kagome at an arms length, she smiled, her loosely tied hair bunching up around her shoulders, "let's meet up again tomorrow."

Kagome nodded clumsily and wiped at her lashes. "I'll be here first thing in the morning."

Sango exhaled, clearly relieved, and spun Kagome around, a mischievous smile on her face, "now go get him!" Startled, Kagome was suddenly pushed out of the hut, the door flap banging noisily against its frame.

The clean night air filled her lungs, and her head went dizzy with the sight before her.

With uneven steps, she walked up beside the man who had relentlessly haunted her dreams. She watched him inhale deeply, his red clad chest rising slowly, then contracting. His face was turned up, nose pointing towards the sky and eyes closed. He looked so serene. She smiled as a fuzzy ear flicked her way.

Hypnotized, she reached out for his moon kissed hair and drug her hand down its length, the strands cascaded through her fingers until they slipped free.

He titled his head towards her and opened his eyes lazily. They watched each other silently, unspoken words and emotions flowing between them.

Turning from her, he swiftly bent to one knee, "get on".

She walked towards him obediently. "Where are we going?"

"Are you tired?"

She pursed her lips at his evasion, "a bit," and quietly reached for him. Her fingers twitched on his shoulders. The familiar rough feel of his haori was comforting. Yet the sudden urge to hold him coursed through her. Before she could change her mind, she bent down and wrapped her arms around him. He reached back for her legs slowly, hands hovering close, his claws tickling her skin. Her face flushed when he finally made full contact, and the warmth of his hands seared up her body.

"I can take you back to Kaede's if you want."

"No," she answered quickly, almost desperately. She tightened her arms, holding herself close against him. She couldn't go back yet, she wanted to be with him a little bit longer. Overwhelmed by the feelings rushing through her, she stuffed her face in his hair to hide her embarrassment.

She peeked up his shoulder when she felt him move. He had turned his face towards her, an elfish smile gracing his features, a pointy fang barely peeking through, like he was trying to stop himself from chuckling.

Her throat went dry. His eyes and hair were glowing down at her, the moon created a silver lining around his face, a stark contrast to the darkness surrounding him. She took advantage of the sight and ingrained it to her memory. The slender curve of his nose, the sharp bend of his jaw, the shadows of his dark eyebrows, his forest scent of pine and earth.

He squeezed her thighs and her eyes went wide as she focused back at him. This time his fang peeked out completely with a mirthful smirk. "Let's go for a run, Kagome."

He took off before she could answer. Scrambling to keep her grip, with three steps and one giant leap, they were soaring through the air. Exhilarated, she closed her eyes and leaned back. She was weightless again. Somewhere in the thick of the trees, an owl hooted. A little further back she could hear the whispers of a stream. There was no other feeling like this one. Nothing else in the world could compare to it.

All the empty nights she had spent in her time alone, studying, drowning herself with distractions, trying not to think of the nightmares from the past; she had been so traumatized after the final battle that deep inside, she was afraid of returning, afraid of the dangers, afraid of the hurt, the pain.

But this, this was worth it.

Ever so slowly, they descended, gliding down smoothly. With the grace of a cat, Inuyasha landed on a flakey branch, it creaked in protest, pine needles detaching and hovering around their faces for a split second before he pushed off again, and higher they went, like the streak of a shooting star across the sky.

How could she have forgotten this? The good parts of being here.

Above them, the moon shone full and bright, lighting different pockets through the trees and paths for Inuyasha to follow. She didn't know how long they had run or how far the distance, and quite frankly, she didn't care. After a few more moments of basking in each other's ethereal high, she leaned towards his back to rest her cheek. "...I couldn't have done it without you, Inuyasha."

The said half demon slowed his run to a jog, bounding through the branches steadily, lower and lower until they reached the ground. Slowing to a even pace, his bare feet crunched the twigs and dead leaves loudly. "You're talkin' about the jewel again, aren't you?"

He sounded almost... disappointed.

She nodded sleepily against him. "Back at the hut," she yawned, "you said-"

He shrugged. "We don't talk much about it anymore."

"Oh." She opened her eyes and watched the large trees go by in dark shades of green and blue. His back was exceptionally warm. "I'm sorry."

She should have been more considerate. Of course they don't talk about it anymore, their lives were finally as they should be - normal.. happy. Who would ever want to bring such awful things up again? She hesitated, a thought crossing her mind. "I could never forget the sight of you, Inuyasha," she squeezed him, trying to comfort herself desperately. The visions of her past crossing her mind, "you were there one moment, and then, you were gone."

Inuyasha's chest tightened painfully, the memory was difficult for him as well; watching her fade from view with the stricken look on her face, until black engulfed him and he'd found himself back at his time, staring in horror at the dirt before him at the bottom of the well. He remembered how he'd wanted to lash out and let his heartache take over. But instead, he stared, exhausted and hopeless, knowing such and attempt would be futile. This time, it was out of his control. There was nothing he could do.

"Am I really here?" She asked herself quietly, her tired mind in a haze.

He grazed his thumbs on her thighs, trying to convince himself as well. His hold on her tightened slightly, and he managed to choke out gruffly, "you feel real enough to me."

She hummed pleasantly against his back, "I've missed you so much." She yawned, then inhaled deeply, her heart becoming more steady with each step he took.

Inuyasha stepped to the edge of his forest, the village slumbered peacefully below, the dark sky sparkled like diamonds.

Could this be a dream? He had so many about her before, some more vivid than others, and every time he woke, he'd been left with a heavy and aching heart. Closing his eyes, he sighed, hoping this wasn't another fantasy his mind drew up, and like a prayer, whispered her name into the night.

(A/N)

Edited 11/08/15. I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Please review!

~Rubella