Forever Yours by wolfYLady

Chapter 1

The nearly full moon hung overhead as a worried Kagome crept away from the small village: Edo, which had become her second home. Within the hut, she quietly left her resting friends, hopefully, unaware of her absence and enjoying their well-deserved sleep. After the long week that they'd all endure, they deserve a break from fighting.

Naraku had been ruthless in the last couple of days, sending wave after wave of demons in their direction as they came closer and closer to obtaining the now completed jewel, which hung ever so peacefully around Kagome's neck. Even after miraculously getting her hands on the cursed gem, the group had failed in destroying Naraku. Having been severely wounded, he had escaped but not before leaving them just as wounded. Sango had been stabbed in the shoulder, and left with several broken bones, while Kirara had three long cuts across her body. Miroku had three bruised ribs, a broken ankle along with having been poisoned by Naraku's Saimyosho. Shippo was all right having stayed hidden under the roots of a tree. Kagome herself had several dark bruises and cuts and a sprained wrist, but out of all of them, Inuyasha's injuries were the worse.

Inuyasha had been stabbed four times, once in the shoulder, the chest, and gut, and then in the thigh. Kagome had to use what healing she could do to stop him from dying from the blood loss. She had healed most of the stomach and chest wound, but it had nearly drained her completely to do so.

She was only thankful that Shippo had been there if he hadn't they wouldn't have been able to travel back to the village. Kagome along with Kaede and her new apprentice; a young girl of 13, worked tirelessly through the night. Cleaning everyone's wounds and healing what they could to make them comfortable enough to rest peacefully.

Now as to why she was wandering out into the woods at such a late hour? Looking for the stubborn hanyou of course, he had taken off sometime in the night while she was tending to Sango and Miroku.

He wasn't in any condition to protect himself with the number of injuries he had, the safest place for all of them right now happened to be the village. Even if he wanted to be left alone to "lick his wounds," Kagome would drag him back if she had to.

Wandering further into the forest Kagome held tightly to her bow with one hand and the jewel that hung innocently from her neck. She couldn't risk another shattering of the jewel before she could wish it away.

'Where could he be?'

Walking silently among the trees Kagome's form stiffened at the sound of a woman's gentle coo. Moving closer she blushed as the noise echoed that of a man's hushed groan. Even though she knew it to be wrong, she became curious of the lover's. The sounds of their love-making growing in volume. Whimpers and pleas came from the woman, her voice trembling and even breaking as Kagome heard their bodies thrusting against one another. Her cooing turns to squeals of delight as she sexually vocalized her wants, telling her lover where and how to touch her. Their passion only grew in volumes the longer Kagome stood in that spot.

Nearly as bright and red as a ripe tomato, Kagome had decided to leave the couple when the woman's cry of ecstasy left her rooted in her spot. Her head whipped to the side, hazel colored eyes widening, the color drained from her face while looking at two naked bodies. Their pale naked flesh slick with sweat caught the rays of the moon, leaving them completely visible, showing every muscle that worked to pull them together. Molded together from their conjoined hips, they clung to one another, their limbs entangled in a desperate attempt to bring themselves to the peak of ecstasy. They moved hungrily, touching all that they could reach the other almost as if they had become wild beasts driven only by desire.

Too enhanced by one another Kagome doubted they had noticed her, but then half-lidded muddled brown eyes met her own wide hazel stare. The older, supposedly dead, woman held her gaze as she forced InuYasha hand to her breast while cradling his head to her neck. Her mouth opened in a smirk with a breathy moan leaving her parted lips.

"InuYasha~" she all but cried out as her pleasure filled eyes rolled back while her eyelids flutter and body bowed against her will, finally overcome and pushed to the brink of total ecstasy.

Tears burned her vision in a mixture of rage and hurt. Her heart had finally shattered under the impact of this last, and final act of betrayal against it.

"InuYasha you bastard!" She screamed, allowing her pain to be vocalized as the first tear slid slowly down her flushed cheek.

InuYasha turned to her dropping his hold on Kikyo, allowing her pleased form to slide off his and land against the tree that had been supporting them in their lovemaking. His eyes slowly widened in horror as he looked at her. He pushed the still smirking Kikyo away as he stared with his mouth ajar unable to say a word.

Finally after a long moment, his naked form in full view, he snaps out of his gaze. "K-Kagome," her name tumbles from his lips, and Kagome can't help but become angrier.

"Kagome? Is that all you can say to me right now!?" She growled her hand fisted at her side. She couldn't stand to look at him for another second, with a huff she turned away walking quickly back the way she'd come.

It was a moment later when he grabbed her wrist. "Kagome wait! It's not what you think," he urged her to look at him, his voice a broken whisper filled with hurt and despair.

"Leave me alone I'm sick of listening," Allowing her power to rise to the surface, Kagome smirked through her tears as he pulled his hand away from her with a yelp, her miko-ki no doubt zapping him in the process. She continued walking.

But he didn't stop. Instead, he jumped in front of Kagome which now forced her to gaze back at him showing he'd put on his hakama, which hung dangerously low, to chase after her. "Kagome listen to me! I swear it's not what it looks like,"

This pushed Kagome over the edge. "Not what it looks like!?" She yelled. "Do you take me for a fool InuYasha? Because I saw you. It'd be clear to anyone that the two of you were FUCKING EACH OTHER'S BRAINS OUT!" She yelled loudly knowing full well it would hurt his ears. Good.

His ears fell flat upon his head as he looked down unable to meet her cold hazel glare. "No," he whispered.

"Don't lie to me! I'm sick of this I gave up everything so that I could stay in this time! I'm tired of you lying to me!" Her tears burned, blurring her vision as she verbally lashed out at him. "You said you loved me! ME! I'm sick of you leaving me to be with her! I'm done with you InuYasha I'm going home, enjoy your life with Kikyo," She finished in a growl as she pushed past him on her way to the well.

This time he didn't bother stopping her.

"Goodbye InuYasha," She whispered knowing he could hear it before taking off in a ran to the well. She needed her mom right now.

Kagome ran blindly, her tears having blurred her vision when suddenly she tripped. Even after two years in the feudal era, she still found a way to trip over her own feet. But luck seemed to be on her side because looking up she was welcomed with the familiar sight of the Hongkui no Ido. It's weathered dark wood covered in vines which grew wildly with small white flowers that looked otherworldly at the moment glowing as they did thanks to the moonlight.

With the support of the well's edge, Kagome stands and without a second thought jumps, more like falls, into the well. She continued to cry as she looked up at the silvery moon before the sight was blocked by swirls of indigo and violet. So consumed by her heartache, Kagome barely took notice of the subtle difference. All she wanted was for her mom to hold her.

Cradling her face in her hands, Kagome sobbed loudly. Her chest heaving with every struggled breath, her whole body hurt. She could feel herself falling apart, all of the pain coming from the crack Inuyasha had created within her heart. There were no words that left her trembling lips, only the screams and cries of pain. The sheer pain brought her to her knees, and slowly she sank even further unable to move.

She called out to her mom, begging for someone to help her. And when warm arms wrapped around her in a loving embrace she fell into their warmth. It felt like her world was crumbling and that if not for those arms she would crumble along with it.

Pain stricken, Kagome could do nothing as she cried herself to sleep.

~o.O~O.o~

"Kagome," a womanly voice sang, making her name sound so beautiful with the added song-like quality in the woman's voice. "Kagome, it's time to wake up," the voice urged as the arms that had been holding her together slowly pulled away.

Kagome fiercely held onto those arms as the tears and heartache returned to her causing fresh tears to fall from her tightly closed eyes. She didn't want to be left alone; she needed them and the comfort she had found in them. She didn't want to be abandoned and left to her heartache.

A hand on her cheek calmed her fears as they whipped away her fresh tears. "There is no need to worry; I'm not going anywhere I promise," The owner of the voice sang softly, her voice drawing Kagome farther from her dazed state. The soft voice surrounded her in its gentle song-like coo. It was warm and welcoming, yet calming and excited.

"Come on sweetie, open your eyes for me," She cooed gently caressing Kagome's cheek. Leaning into the woman's touch, she opened her eyes still a little dazed from having just woken up. Blurred at first Kagome's eyes focus on a pair of smiling violet-red eyes.

Her hazel eyes widened as she took in the face of a ghostly transparent woman that she had thought to be her mom. But this woman before her could not be the humble and fragile woman she knew, for not only were they significantly different in appearance but the air around this woman spoke of sureness and battle but still had a gentleness that was similar to her mom. The woman looked at her with violet-red eyes framed by thick lashes surround by a pale heart-shaped face. Her soft pink lips were drawn upwards in a small smile that told of the gentleness of her battle-worn soul. Gracing her brow rested a lavender colored diamond telling of the power she held. Thick black hair sways around her head with a few strands falling into her face. This woman could only be called beautiful.

"Hello Kagome, it's been a long time my child," She said this almost brokenly with a teary look in her eyes. "There is so much for us to talk about,"

"I'm sorry but who are you?" Kagome finally asked as she looked at the woman dressed in an old-fashioned, form fitted, miko garb with the signature white top and red bottoms.

She stepped back out of the woman arms and regretted it. The hurt that flashed in her beautiful violet-red eyes made her heart constricted painfully. These eyes that she had never seen on another person, that held wisdom and sorrow, that knew and saw the pain of another's soul, and that she swore were so familiar. These eyes could not belong to any regular human.

"You're right, I'm no ordinary human," she told her. "I doubt the legend ever said I had been born to a human miko and a god," saying this she reached out and touched the small pink jewel that hung from Kagome's neck.

Opening her mouth in protest; to tell the woman to stop, Kagome was left speechless at what happened next.

A bright white light erupted from the jewel only to sink into the woman. The light crept up her fingers and then arms before it consumed her entire body.

Kagome was forced to shield her eyes as the light grew in intensity sending out waves of power that washed over her body. When the light faded, she looked back to see that the woman had taken on solid form and held a now crystal clear Shikon jewel in her hand.

With wide eyes, Kagome stared at the still unnamed woman in shock. Not even the strongest miko's alive had been able to purify the jewel in its entirety. All those in the past had done was briefly amplify the good within the jewel which was why Naraku, a being tainted by malice, had been able to defile it.

Here in a world of darkness, this woman had rendered the jewel obsolete.

Having been looking at the gem the woman's eyes turned upward, staring directly into her own and crushed the jewel within her hand. The sound cut through the still air like a knife causing Kagome to wince.

Bringing her hand level to her face, she opened her palm allowing Kagome to see the dust of the jewel shimmer, reflecting an unknown light from within the seemingly endless darkness.

"You know me as Midoriko, but I'd always hoped you'd call me mom," her voice took on a soft almost broken tone. Just as she had said it, she blew the dust of the once powerful jewel into Kagome's face.

A small yelp of surprise left her throat, but that did not stop the dust from getting into her eyes, hair, and mouth. In her attempt to get the dust off, the now named Midoriko placed two fingers to her forehead that left her unable to move and only allowing her to speak. Kagome remembered this technique from when Kikyo had done it before attempting to take Inuyasha to hell with her. The thought of him pulled at her heart bringing with it the sting of tears.

"Kagome why is that you cry over the inu-hanyou ?" Midoriko asked pulling her from her heartache. She looked away in shame; she didn't want to seem weak especially in front of the infamous Midoriko.

Kagome didn't have to say a word for Midoriko to shake her head. "I'm sure that Amai would say the same thing if she were here, but sweetie boy's like him are not worthy of your tears. You are worth so much more to so many people, and for him to allow you to doubt yourself and your self-worth is unforgivable. He is nothing more than a boy, and a boy does not deserve a virtuous and independent woman like yourself. It may not mean much now in the midst of your heartache, but you will find a man that will treasure you, for you. You were made out of love and have a long life ahead of you of which you will meet your soulmate, that I am certain of," Midoriko finished as she took a seat next to Kagome her body at an angle so Kagome could see her. Kagome mirrored her movements against her will.

The miko's words hung heavy over her head, and she could picture her mom saying that because she had told her many times before that Inuyasha was not her soulmate and couldn't give her the love she wanted. But most surprising was that this miko, who had lived centuries before her mother could even be conceived, knew her mother's name.

"How do you know my mom's name?" she asked

"I picked her to raise you, in my place that is," Midoriko said mournfully, sounding almost on the brink of tears.

"How? Nothing you're saying is making any sense, I was born in 21st century Tokyo Japan to Amai and Junsui Higurashi," Kagome urged getting frustrated with this woman's contradictions.

"Yes you were born in Japan but not in what will be Tokyo,"

"Stop it! Can you please just give me a straight answer," Kagome growled growing more irritated, she noticed her questionably borderline-behavior but she couldn't bring herself to care. Every emotion felt amplified and raw as her restraint had been shattered with her heart.

Giving a heavy almost tired sigh, she spoke tiredly, "I suppose so seeing as there is no other way of telling you. Do you remember the story of how the jewel came to be, how I died?"

"Yes of course! You fought for seven days and seven nights against hordes of demons; that later became one demon. And to defeat them, you used your soul which created the Shikon Jewel," Kagome explained quickly, she had always felt sorry for the older miko seeing as she had to die and even after death could never be able to find peace in the afterlife.

"That's true but there is so much more you don't know and that the legends never tell," She said this with a light humorless chuckle as she tiredly looked at her from the corner of her eye before looking off into the endless darkness. "Please be patient with me I've never been much of a storyteller," After her little warning she began to tell her story.

"Decades before I was to die in the infamous battle that created the Shikon No Tama I had been born to a simple shrine maiden by the name of Sutaraito who had been the beloved mortal mistress of Bishamon, the god of happiness and war.-" Around her, the world of darkness rippled to take on a battlefield of war and death. Her words created a story that played around them. Kagome nearly screamed as a horse with a man on it's back ran through them in the same fashion as if it had been a phantom and perhaps it was. Atop a hill, in the distance, the horse stopped allowing a man to slip off with a small feminine figure at his side. They embraced the other sharing a passionate kiss. "The god had been very much in love with my mother, having called her 'his happiness.' They had met on accident in the midst of battle. She'd been kidnapped by a rogue group of soldiers that had pillage her village and Bishamon had saved her after having heard her cries of help and felt her longing for happiness for not just for herself but her country.

"It had been love at first sight, and all though he could never stay with her they had been inseparable for the months they had been together," the man and horse disappeared to show the woman holding the hand of a small girl no older than 3. "He sent many treasures to my mother and even me after I had been born. My mother had been marked a harlot, many even assumed she had been enchanted by a demon for my eyes were not that of a human, for this reason, many villages would not accept us living or even staying in their villages.-"

The scene rippled again like water only to show a dark scene encased by night. The small girl, now six in appearance, raced past them her cheek spattered by blood and tears."It would be several years later when my mother would be killed in protecting me from several villagers that attacked us in the middle of the night. I ran and when cornered had been protected by an unusual creature who I would later know to be a demon and even later call my mate,"

"He had appeared in a flash of speed and disarmed the villagers that had been aiming to kill me. When they attacked, he only pushed them aside doing all he could do to subdue them without hurting or killing them. I had watched in amazement from behind him and when he went to leave I followed him captivated by his beauty and strength," the girl walked pass again following a tall figure shrouded by shadows. Kagome silently noted the similarity in how Rin followed Sesshomaru.

"I followed him till we came to a village up in the mountains where a small mix of humans and low-level demons lived side by side. It was only when we were standing on the hill overlooking the village that Koroshiya told me why he did not kill those villagers." moving her hands outward and then down an illusion of the man appeared before both of them. Kagome looked at Midoriko to see her watching the illusion adoringly and then she looked at the transparent demon.

"I do not kill unless I have to, but if I must admit I will die protecting those that cannot protect themselves," He spoke in a soft but still manly voice. He looked so handsome, yet he had an air of indifference around him, but he looked down at Midoriko with fondness in his azure colored eyes. He stood probably at 6 foot with waves of raven colored hair that fell to his knee. He looked so much like the other demons Kagome had come across yet not at the same time. The sun had colored his skin a light tan, but most of it was covered by black hakama tucked into black boots and a gray haori that had a layer of black and silver samurai armor over it. On his hip were two swords one that looked oddly familiar with a thick straight blade and a circular iron guard and a handle that narrowed to a circle at the end.

With a wave of her hand, the illusion seemed to turn into feathers of light that left on an imaginary breeze.

"The village would later be known as Rinbo-" Kagome noted that was the name of the slayer demon village that Sango had once lived with her family. They were then surrounded by a beautiful garden."And would be where I grew up alongside my childhood friend Natsuki, I learned how to use my miko-ki and swordsmanship along with archery and many other forms of weaponry. All weaponry came easier to me than most maybe it had to do with my father being Bishamon, but I was always happy and looking to make others happy. Nothing made me happier than to be with Koroshiya though,"

"I followed him everywhere and worked so hard to impress him yet nothing seemed to grab his attention. Even when I discovered I aged like a demon, he didn't seem impressed. It had to have been many years later that Koroshiya had been called to war by his old friend and ally Inutaisho, I had pleaded with him not to leave, saying that the village needed him more than a general with thousands under his control.

I remember crying and the pain of the heartache at the thought of him dying in battle," Midoriko gave a huff. A slightly younger Midoriko slammed fists into the chest of Koroshiya, angry tears in her eyes as the demon looked down at her.

"What did he do?" Kagome asked not noticing that she could move now as she leaned closer to Midoriko. She was finding herself interested in the story that created the legendary miko.

"He kissed my forehead and promised he'd return to me," She smiled. The scene before them mimicked the action before burring as they embraced.

"Did he?" Kagome asked panicked. "He must have right!?"

Midoriko laughed and patted her knee. "Yes, but it would be three long years before he would return. I had been so angry with him and had ignored him for months keeping to myself and what friends I had in the village; Kirara, Amai, Junsui and Natsuki," with a wave of her hands once more another illusion appeared this one is leaving Kagome with wide eyes.

Standing before her in the traditional miko garbs stood a young version of her mother. The thick brown hair topping her head was pulled into a bun at the nape of her neck. She looked so different than the gentlewoman that had raised her, but she couldn't be any other woman than her mom. Her hazel eyes were looking at the male that had an arm wrapped around her waist which held her to him.

The man looked much like what she could remember of her father. His black-brown hair hung just above his nearly black eyes while he smiled down at her mother. He was somewhat muscular without being muscular, on his form he wore a white haori and navy hakama and simple sandals. On his shoulder sat a content Kirara looking just as she knew her to look with yellow blonde fur and black markings.

The third had to be Natsuki. This had to be the most beautiful demoness Kagome had ever seen. She had perfect porcelain skin with a single set of markings consisting of jagged violet stripes that lined her high cheekbones. It was her gold eyes though and braided silver hair that told her of the demons lineage. She no doubt was a dog demon of noble birth with a connection to Sesshomaru and his clan. Her kimono looked far too simple to be on her as the pink fabric fell to her ankles.

"Those are my parents,"

"Yes, they were my closest friends and when I had been killed they granted me my dying wish,"

"What was that?"

With a flick of her wrist, the illusion disappeared much as the last had. Again they were on a hilltop, the one she had spoken of that overlooked the village that glowed brightly in the night. Before them, Koroshiya looked at the scene.

She continued ignoring Kagome's question this left her irritated, but she wanted to hear the rest of the woman's story.

"Koroshiya followed me around everywhere constantly aiming to get my attention, but I had been too angry with him. When he had been away, I had written him, but he never wrote back leaving me not knowing if he were dead or alive. It had been Amai that urged me to talk to him; she had always been good at getting people to listen and even better at guiding them.

"And I, of course, took her advice. It had been after the mating ceremony of Natsuki and Inutaisho that I went looking for Koroshiya." The "other Midoriko" walked through them to approach the demon.

Kagome took a mental note that Natsuki was indeed related to Sesshomaru; although she wouldn't have guessed her to be his mother.

"He had been standing at our spot, the one he had brought me too when he had saved me all those years ago. Not a word had been spoken between us when he took me into his arms and kissed me for the first time. We would be mated that night under the light of the moon and stars," and like before they watched as the illusions moved their lips forming unheard words before Koroshiya kissed a teary-eyed Midoriko. It morphed into a scene of the two smiling while rubbing Midoriko's swollen belly.

"We were only mated for six months, in that time I became pregnant. He had been called back to war by Inutaisho and died two weeks later," Midoriko took a deep breath as if reliving the pain. Kagome reached out grabbing her hand and gently squeezing it. The image around them shattered.

Midoriko turned hesitantly caressing Kagome's cheek, and Kagome accepted her touch. She could sense no lie from this woman that had allowed herself to be so vulnerable in front of her.

"I had you though," Midoriko whispered allowing her tears to fall. "I was determined to be there for you when you'd been born but that had been robbed from me by a jealous human man. He'd been filled with so much jealousy and rage that he'd had to have been pushed to the brink of insanity. In his jealous rage, he wandered into the forest, where he would offer him to what would become the demon Magatsuhi.

"Even though he's sole desire had been to be with me, in offering himself to a horde of demons, his soul was consumed with another desire. These 100 demons combined with a sole desire to destroy me.

"On the night of the full moon, they attacked," Midoriko paused taking a deep breath looking off into the distance, as she continued all the while with Kagome still holding her hand.

"I had sent an urgent message for help to Inutaisho when I had felt him approaching. Magatsuhi was a combination of many demons, he looked almost like a giant lizard, even breathing fire as he tore through my village. I told the villagers to run knowing that this battle would only end in bloodshed. I knew I couldn't defeat him, but I didn't want to die."

Although Kagome knew how this story would end, she couldn't stop the tears that flowed freely down her cheeks as the battle finished before her eyes. The almost dragon-like creature tore through the village breathing fire as his body crushed the huts to the ground. Off to the corner, Mirdoriko passed the buddle she had been holding lovingly not long ago to Amai who looked to be scream "No" and then was forcefully dragged away by Junsui. With tears in her own eyes, the other Midoriko changed the beast.

Kagome couldn't help but cry. Midoriko had felt so much pain in her life, so much loss, and she was a part of that loss. She had been robbed of being a mother and of living a life of happiness and love. Instead, she had been surrounded by war and blood.

"After seven days and seven nights I couldn't fight anymore. My final moments would be within a cave just outside the village. With the last of my strength I took in the giant soul of Magatsuhi, but to do so I had to use my soul,"

Midoriko took Kagome into a hug as she finished the story and the world faded to darkness once more. "Forcing both souls from my body, I wished for you to live without knowing the kind of war that I had. That we could have lived peacefully somewhere far away," Pulling away cupping Kagome's cheeks, they looked at one another both crying. "I hadn't thought my wish to be heard till the jewel had been placed in your body, I knew your soul and to feel it around me and see you grow had to be the greatest gift of all,"

"My wish for you then had been for you to live, my wish for you now is to find happiness," With teary eyes, Midoriko kissed Kagome's forehead leaving Kagome with a tingling sensation on her forehead. "You carry my symbol now, whenever you need me know that I am always with you,"

Her bright violet-red eyes were the last thing Kagome had seen before she felt herself being pulled backward and the world around her shifted. Above her, Kagome saw an enormous full moon and dozens of stars dotting a dark sky, but at the same time, she felt the rush of air against her back.

And then her eyes widened in realization. The moon was growing smaller.

And she was falling!