I am the Moon

A:n/ I cry…I do not own Inuyasha…Rumikio Takahashi does.

Tracking an Inu

I stormed into the Western Palace in a tirade. I was on a mission to track down and

destroy Katashi. Disgust filled me as I recalled his touching my person. I imagined

devouring him whole in my true form. A devilish smirk played upon my lips that sent a

neko-youki scrambling. Smiling in this clan usually meant imminent death. I entered my

quarters and started to discard my bloodied kimono. My mother knocked on the shoji

screen door to ask for admittance.

“Come.” I called out.

The Western Lady, my mother entered. My mother was a Russian youki known as an

Uppyr. She was a vampire like creature that could walk in the sun. She fed from any

source of blood but youki were her favorite. Her eyes were a light sable-brown. Her

hair went past her hips and was as black as midnight. Her eyes were large and

surprisingly gentle. Her nose was small and very straight and a full sensuous mouth.

She was tall, almost five feet eight inches. Still my sire stood a head taller.

“Why are you battered?” she asked.

“There was an inu of unknown origin just wandering our lands.” I answered.

“Was he powerful?” she asked concerned.

“Yes, but I managed to do some damage to him.” I said smiling wickedly.

“Asuna! You are the heir. Your father would not approve of you tackling a powerful

youki without his aid.” She chided me.

“Mother, I was not going to stand around while he insulted my honor and my House!” I

fumed.

“Daughter, you are not your uncle Inuyasha. You must not run around without

thinking through your moves.”

“I am thinking. I am thinking that as soon as I can track him down I will destroy him.

Father would condone that.”

“Let us ask him then.” She said forcefully.

“Alright. I need to change to be presentable.” I growled quietly.

“I will be in your Father's study.” She said sliding open the shoji door.

“I shall be there shortly.” I snapped.

She left without making a sound and I grew irritated. My mother was a powerful youki

in her own right but she adhered to decorum and tradition more than my esteemed

Father did. I went to my black lacquered armoire and threw open the door. Inside were


many formal kimonos and informal battle haori and hakamas. I slipped into a simple

black haori with gold embroidery on the sleeves of sakura blossoms. I pulled on a plain

black pair of hakamas. I tied a dark yellow-gold obi around my waist that I slipped my

kitana into. I slipped into a pair of plain wooden clogs and braided my long silver hair. I

threw my bloodied kimono into the corner knowing that a servant would clean it up. I

slid open the shoji door and head to my father's study.

It took me ten minutes to reach the study and I knocked on the screen.

“Enter.” Replied the baritone of my father.

I entered and bowed at the waist to my lord and sire.

“You are injured.” He stated.

“Yes my lord.” I replied.

“Your mother has told me of the intruder. You will tell me your account.” He

commanded.

I took in a deep breath and composed my countenance. My father was a fearsome

creature. He could have been a Kami the way he looked. His face hardly ever

betrayed his emotions. His name meant `aristocratic assassin' and he lived up to his

name.

“I was bathing in the nearby spring when I sensed a powerful aura. I told the intruder to

leave and he refused. I attempted to make him leave.” I stated unemotionally.

“Did you injure him?” He asked arching a silver brow.

“Yes!” I said smirking.

“You intend to go after him?”

“That was my intention my Lord.” I answered.

“Hn.” Was all he said as he leaned back against silk pillows.

I waited patiently for his decision and stared at the tapestry behind his head.

“I will accompany you till the border.” He stated.

“I thank you my Lord.” I said as I bowed again.

I saw my mother's eyes flash red. I knew she was going to argue with my father and I

decided to vacate the ensuing battle. My mother protected her pups like a wild animal.

Even though we were grown, it did not seem to matter and she had killed to protect us

before. Our immediate family was very close but we were extremely formal. My mother

had passed on the ability of telepathy to her pups and my brothers and I usually

communicated that way.

`I will chap your hide later Daughter!' she snarled in my head.

`Till later then Mother!' I thought back.

She snarled again in anger and I shut her out. I was perfectly capable of hunting down

the bastard, Katashi. My father had trained me every day in his dojo from the time I

was five summers. I was more than equal to the task and I intended to make the cur

bleed! Several hours passed and I met my father at the gate to the outer palace

grounds. I bowed and he barely nodded and we left the Palace of the Moon.

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We traveled for several days heading toward the border. Most of the time was spent

in silence or sparring. We ended the second day in a particularly brutal match.

“You are not controlling your emotions Asuna!” he chided me.

“I am trying father!” I growled.

“I can anticipate your next action by the look in your eyes daughter.” He instructed

me.

Lord Sesshomaru had beaten me squarely and I was angered. I wanted to best my

sire in a spar but had not yet mastered the ability. My mother was right in saying that I

was hotheaded like my hanyou uncle. I adored my Uncle Inuyasha whereas my father

barely tolerated him. I did find that my father was rather stoic, but I knew he loved his

pups. I just wished to best him once, never mind he was centuries older than me. I went

and sat beneath a sakura tree and looked off into the distance.

“Who do you think this Katashi is my Lord?” I asked him.

“Hn. It may be that he is from the continent.” He remarked sitting himself across from

me.

“He is inu and quite powerful. His yoki was quite suffocating.” I stated.

“The continent then.” He commented.

“Why do you think he is in Japan?”

“Power.” Was his answer.

“Our clan's power?”

“He would not be so unintelligent as to face this Sesshomaru.”

“Hn.” Was my response.

I closed my eyes to rest, as tomorrow we would be reaching the border and I would be

on my own. I relished the patrols that I ventured out on. I normally changed into my true

form and was free. When I was at court, I was expected to be the next Lady. In the

wilds, I was myself.

“Tomorrow, Katashi filth. I will find you!” I whispered succumbing to sleep.
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My father had left me at the border to return to the palace. He understood that I

needed to prove that I could take down an enemy. If and when I took my place as the

ruler of the West, then I had to be strong. I had no doubt in my abilities but I also

knew that either my father or one of his trusted generals would be close at hand to

defeat any perceived threat against Lord Sesshomaru's heir.

I made my way further to the east and easily picked up Katashi scent. The scent was

barely detectable which meant that he had passed this way a few days ago. I pondered

his possible reasons for being on the islands. I imagined that he either intended to

raise an army or make an alliance either through treaty or mating. The West was the

undisputed power in all of Japan and my father the most powerful taiyouki. I toyed

with the idea of heading to Edo to visit with my Uncle as I hardly ever got to see him.

He and father had a very uneasy truce that my mother had been responsible for.

Inuyasha had mated to the Miko Kagome and seemed very happy. I had three cousins

that were quarter demon. The longer I thought on the idea; I intended to see it come

to fruition. I changed my direction a little more to the north to Edo.

I could travel with a jaki cloud but preferred to traverse the land on foot. I traveled

stealthily for three more days until I reached the edge of Inuyasha's Forest. I made

sure to allow my aura to be felt so as not to alarm my Uncle. From a distance, I

smelled very much like my father. I was not made to wait long when I saw a red streak

come to a halt in front of me.

“Oi, wench!” he greeted me.

“Uncle!” I replied enthusiastically.

“Where is the asshole brother of mine?” He asked conversationally.

“Uncle!” I admonished him.

“Asuna!”He said making a face.

“Hn.” Was my response.

“Come on then. Kagome will want to see you.” He commanded.

“How is your mate Uncle?” I asked.

“Bitchy as usual.”

“Uncle Yahsa, could you not insult everyone and everything?” I asked

“Keh, I s'pose so.”

I blew out a warm breath in irritation. My father was right in that he really was

inelegant and foulmouthed. I looked at him while we walked. He still wore the robes

of the fire rat. He looked so much like father that it was startling. His ears were cute,

which I imagined irritated the hanyou to no end. I started brooding about Katashi

again when I was brought back to reality by my uncle waving his hands in front of my

face.

“I apologize. I was contemplating my enemy's whereabouts.” I said.

“Enemy? What's going on?” he asked in concern.

“Have you heard of a rogue inu wandering about?”

“Not really. Is this youki dangerous?” he asked

“I consider him so. He was trespassing in the West.” I answered.

“You want to take him out because he set foot in Lord Icicle's territory?” he asked in

disbelief.

“Uncle Yasha it is a matter of honor. He was powerful but if he was honorable, he

would have come to palace and presented himself before the court.”

“Keh. Whatever!” he said dismissing the subject.

“How are my cousins?” I asked changing the subject.

“Akemi is going to be married to a samurai and the twins have moved to another

village to be slayers.”

“Slayers? As in kill youki?” I asked incredulously.

“Yes. I mean my tachi used to track and kill youki for the Shikon shards. What is the

difference hunting down killers?” he asked surprised.

“The days of the Shikon no Tama are long past Uncle. Are there really that many

dangerous youki?”

“You are hunting one. What is the difference?” he asked annoyed.

“Touché' Uncle” I answered.

“Akemi is still in Edo if you wish to see her.” He stated.

“I shall like to see her.”

“Shall I do some checking on this inu for you?” he asked raising a brow.

“Yes, maybe I will be able to pick up his trail from here.” I contemplated.

The rest of the way into Edo was in silence and that suited me. My uncle led me to his

and Kagome's home. It could not be called a hut but obviously was not a palace. It was

a two story dwelling that had housed their entire family. Kagome looked up from her

writing and a wide smile spread on her face.

“Hello Aunt Kagome.” I said with a half smile.

“Asuna, sweetie!” She said getting up and hugging him.


I was stiff and unused to too much physical contact but I allowed it nonetheless.

Uncle Inuyasha was smirking at my discomfiture.

“Does my uncle treat you well?” I inquired.

“Yes, of course he does. You know I can still `it' him if necessary.” She said warmly.

My eyes held amusement and a little jealously at their openly affectionate relationship.

I was not sure if it was because she was ningen or if it was because they chose not to

live as nobility. I sat myself at the low table and she poured me some tea.

“Gome, I am gonna go check on something for the niece here.” He said as he was

backing out of the door.

“See you soon then Yasha. Try and not disembowel anything ok?” she replied with a

smile.

“Keh! Whatever wench.” He said leaving.

My aunt was a very beautiful onna. She had long raven hair and unusual blue eyes. She

was slight, barely over five feet and slender. You could not tell she had birthed three

pups. Her lifespan had extended to that of my uncle due to their mating.

“As delighted as I am to see you, what brings you to Edo?”

“I am tracking down a strange inu youki. I know almost the inu on the islands and he

is not one of them. He arrogantly trespassed into the West and I am going to hunt

him down.” I stated vehemently.

“Asuna, he must have done more than trespass.” She remarked.

“We engaged in battle. I was injured but not severely so. I will not be bested. It is bad

enough that I am not strong enough to bring my father to at least one knee but to

have a youki from the continent even try to take me on! I will take his hair shove it

down his throat so he will choke on it!”

“Dear he must have left quite an impression.” She said in a hushed tone.

“I want to kill him is all.” I said in shock.

“Are you sure?” she asked smirking.

“Aunt, he would be the last demon I would ever consider even being drawn to. He is a

first rate bastard!” I growled.

“Ok, ok. I am just saying.” She replied.

“Hn.” I murmured.

“If there is information to be had then your uncle will get it.” She assured me.

“I know he will. Where is Akemi? Uncle said she is marrying a ningen?”

“Asuna you realize that you are related to ningen. Your uncle is half ningen.” She

replied tersely.



“I am more than aware Aunt. Akemi is also part youki. She will out live her mate and I

know she does have some yoki.” I stated annoyed.

“She is upstairs and he is a perfectly lovely young man. He is also here. Would you

care to meet him?” she asked, pensive.

“I would be happy to meet her mate to be.” I answered.

I followed my aunt up the steps to the second level and saw my cousin and her soon to

be mate. Akemi was slight just like Kagome but had Inuyasha's hair. Her eyes were a

grayish-blue. Her moon light colored hair came to her bottom. Overall she was a

beautiful creature. The young man was tall for a mortal. His hair was shorter as was

the fashion of a samurai, with a top knot. His eyes were large and brown. He had a

calm demeanor and truly was quite striking.

“Asuna!!” Akemi shouted my name in excitement.

“Cousin.” I said inclining my head.

“You look well. Your hair is shorter.” She said with mirth.

“There is a story behind it that I well tell you later. Introduce me Akemi.” I

commanded.

“Still the lordly Lady.” She said smiling.

I managed a small smile for her benefit and inclined my head to her intended.

“I am Asuna.” I stated simply.

“I am Naoki my lady.” He said bowing.

I approved of the ningen for his common sense and addressing me properly.

“Sit cousin; tell me of your travels!”

Kagome nodded and returned to the lower level. I sat with my back ram rod straight

and stared at my cousin.

“Asuna is the heir to the West, Naoki. She is also a warrior.” She announced

enthusiastically.

I felt the ningen's eyes on me and saw them widen a little. He was holding his

composure well being in the same vicinity of a youki. I imagined he handled it well

because of his devotion to my cousin.

“How is my uncle and aunt cousin?” she asked.

“My father is well. My mother is well. Mother is not very happy with me right now

but it is of no consequence.” I answered.

“Asuna's family acts as if they have no emotion my love. They act as if all are beneath

them. In reality they are a wonderful and proud family. My uncle is a taiyouki and the

most influential in the land.” Akemi explained.



“Akemi, I believe you are scaring your intended. He will wonder what he is marrying

into. Come let us speak of other things.” I admonished her.

She eyed me with no malice but with mischief. She was the sister I never had and I

truly envied her in her informality.

“So then, what brings you to Edo?”

“A youki.”

“Youki?” she asked in astonishment.

“Yes, he is inu. I was hoping that Inuyasha could help me gather information.” I said.

“My lady! I have heard of this inu youki!” Naoki spoke.

“Where!!!” I said standing.

“My fellow samurai have spoken of a black haired inu heading to the north.” He said.

“Cousin, send the invitation to the palace of your upcoming nuptials. I will make sure

we attend. I must continue tracking the cur down.” I said quickly.

“Alright. I suppose good luck.” She called after me.

I rushed down the steps and made it to the door.

“I thank you Aunt for your kindness. Tell my uncle I appreciate his efforts but the

ningen has told me the information I seek.”

Before she could reply, I was out the door and heading north. I used my yoki and

created a cloud.