This is my disclaimer for everything, from this chapter on; I do not own anything or anyone in this story. Inuyasha and Lord of the Rings are not mine, so I give it up to their creators modestly. This is just a remake of their works, just a little something that I thought would be fun. R&R, y'all!

Immortal Surprise

CHAPTER ONE

"No!" Kagome yelled, giving it her all to rush to Inuyasha's side, but with Miroku and Sango both holding her back it was neigh impossible. Tears streamed down her face as she looked to her best friend, her first love, and his returning face of regret met her grief full on. Neither Sango nor Miroku spoke a word. They gave their friends the privacy of if the two weren't there, but were both allowing Inuyasha to do what he must.

"I promised, Kagome, I have to go with Kikyo," he spoke in a soft tone, only meant for Kagome's ears and for his intentions, everyone pretended not to hear the sadness in his voice. Kikyo above all else ignored the grief she was causing Inuyasha, but she merely stood there, waiting for the hell that awaited them both in mere moments.

"Please…" Kagome trailed off hopelessly.

"Feh. Like you say, I gotta do what I gotta do," Inuyasha said with his usual grin, though it did not meet his eyes in the slightest. "You'd better not run off with that mangy wolf when I'm gone. He's a runt," he joked half way, but he won out when he was greeted by a choked laugh from Kagome's shaking form.

"I won't," she said softly, but looked up with a soft smile towards his face. It was a smile he knew well from that day by the well, the day when she chose her fate to stay by his side regardless of this outcome. It brought a lump to his throat. "He's not my type."

"Whatever," he said, though the word held none of his usual attitude. The word was soft, much like a man defeated by a fate he'd fought against for years. "Here," he said, tossing something to her, which she caught, but when she looked up in surprise at what he'd given to her, he was already in Kikyo's arms. In a flash of light, the two were gone forever, in hell together as he'd promised her years prior. Just like Kikyo always wanted and, as she said, it was the only thing keeping her there.

"Inuyasha…" That was the sole word that brought on an avalanche of sobs, hiccups, and yells of grief from the petite, now twenty-three year old, Kagome. It took many hours for her sobs and cries to subside, but even longer still for her to note the new presence among the three of them. It was not Shippo, for he'd been left behind with Kaede, and she took a moment to stare upon the great demon lord. "Lord…Sesshomaru?" she questioned, but she was quickly busied with wiping her tear stained face.

"Priestess. The half-breed has passed." he stated rather than asked, but Kagome nodded anyway. It was the way things were between them, he would ask a not question and she would answer. More than usually affirming his not question to be true. Once Sesshomaru had gotten passed the grief of never obtaining the coveted sword of his brother's, he was able to come to terms with much of the things that had riddled him with rage for so many years. Humans, for instance, no longer left a bitter taste in his mouth nor an unquenchable need for blood in his beast. With this acknowledgement, he found himself having less problems admitting that he enjoyed Rin's company, even if only to himself. Then came the priestess, Kagome, who protected his young ward when he was not around at times. This gave him reason to be curious about her, gave him a guise to ask questions of her. It was during those long days, 'assisting' his brother with the defeat of Naraku, that he grew rather used to the priestess being around him. Awkward-silences turned to friendly chats, which turned to something he couldn't quite put his finger on.

"He kept his promise," she said pitifully, but her face remained clear. She looked up at Sesshomaru with the same calm, courage she had had since he'd first noticed her. Her face showed all emotions, but at the very same time it gave nothing away. It was a hard thing to understand without seeing, and even the blank lord could see such a priestess could be most helpful in times of need.

"Your wish?" he asked, it being a real question and the actual question, which both caught Kagome off guard. Her brows rose into her bangs before knitting together in silent thought. With a scrunched up face, she reached into her pocket, but as if by response to her thoughts the jewel within began to flash painfully bright. Everyone in the clearing averted their eyes and covered them, hiding from the sheer brightness.

"Kagome," a voice broke through to Kagome in her stupor of shock, and she looked up in complete surprise to see the great priestess, Midoriko. In her shock, Kagome fell forwards to her knees, but she just stared up at the long dead priestess. "Oh, child. Everything will become clear very soon," she said in a very soft, understanding voice. It was much like a mother speaking to a child who'd just fallen for the very first time.

"How?" Kagome asked, though as soon as the question left her mouth she realized something. Lord Sesshomaru, Sango, and Miroku were all three frozen in place. The trees, the nature, and everything around them were frozen in time. "What's going on?" The question caused a smile to glow across the older priestess's face.

"I have much to discuss with you, but do not let the situation disturb you. Everyone and everything will be as if none of this has ever happened," she said with a lyrical giggle, and she floated down to stand before the younger girl. Staring, Kagome just stood up after a good two minutes, but jumped when she saw Kiara jump to Midoriko's side. "Oh, my furry companion, so you've decided to assist Lady Kagome, have you?" she asked in a joyful tone, and was greeted immediately with a purring two-tailed Kiara.

"Assist me? With what?" Kagome asked, thoroughly confused, but become worried when a slightly frown crossed Midoriko's face.

"So little time, but so much to explain," Midoriko spoke to no one in particular, and at the very same time she seemed to be talking everyone. This made Kagome tip her head in her kitten like confusion. A bell like giggle filled the air as Midoriko took Kagome's face into her hands, smiling brightly. "One door closes, another must open. You've completed one difficult quest, now another has come into your path. Unlike this past one, this one, I assure you, will be your last. At the end of this journey, you may choose to remain there or return to your family. I will come to you in the end to hear your choice," she explained in her bell like tone of joy as she ran her thumbs up and down Kagome's cheeks, as if to comfort the girl before her. Kagome felt nothing, just gained a stare of utter shock. Through the entire journey, Kagome had told herself that once it was done, she would return home and go on with her normal life. Normal. That was a good question. "Can you return to the life you once knew or would you only return to yearn for the life left behind?" Midoriko asked once she'd released the young priestess. Raising her hand, she stroked the two-tailed cat softly as she awaited a response.

"I just-I'm-Am I suited for this new world better?" the young priestess asked, but quickly blushed as she realized her question didn't quite cover what she wanted. "What I mean is, will I be able to defend myself, assist others, and all that better than I did here?" she asked looking somewhat saddened by her own thoughts. "I want to be helpful in more ways than just standing around shooting arrows," Kagome explained bashfully, but a giggle made her look in somewhat surprise and annoyance. Bearing her soul to the elder priestess was turning into a laugh-at-Kagome fest. Quite hurtful.

"Oh, dear, dear Kagome, this is why I've appeared before you," she said with a playful smile, but this left Kagome drawing blanks. With another giggle, the elder priestess waved her arm and as quick as it had happened, the rest of the world was moving once more. "A wish will come in time, shard collecting ones," Midoriko spoke, voice suddenly very serious and calm. It was as if the giggling, bubbly woman from moments ago was gone. This fact both confused and worried Kagome. Why was it that the great Midoriko felt the need to be withdrawn with others but not when alone with Kagome? "There is much to be done, but little than a year to do it all, so I must be quick. Our dear Kagome, here, will be sent on yet another journey, one in another time and place. She will need all the help she can-" Midoriko explained before she was cut off.

"Kagome will not go without learning to defend herself. That weak excuse for a weapon she calls a bow will be mastered and then some," Sesshomaru explained, still half in awe at seeing the long dead priestess before. It was not, after all, every day that he saw the dead appear from such a tiny bauble, even such as the Jewel of four souls. A smile crossed Midoriko's face as she opened her arms to the group.

"There is little I can do for the four of you, soon to become five, but I can offer solutions to possible future problems," she explained before smiling down at the sleeping cat on her shoulder. Though before any of them could think to speak and wail was heard. Before any could gather who it had come from, an overjoyed and distraught Shippo appeared. Launching himself into Kagome's unconsciously awaiting arms, he cuddled his mother, but was soon stopped dead at the sight he beheld. Turning, he being held on Kagome's hip, Shippo stared in wonder at the long dead priestess, Midoriko.

"I just thought because I felt the spike of power that something had happened and I couldn't feel Inuyasha and then I felt Sesshomaru's anger and then….and then," the young fox, having kept so much inside during his race to reach his mother, broke down into loud sobs of both relief and loss. Though Inuyasha hadn't been the kindest person in the group, he'd been the only person the young fox could learn to be a demon from. The loss was most difficult for him, but he was also mourning for the loss of a possible father figure. Like Kagome, Inuyasha had to a lesser degree became a father to Shippo. Though, unlike Kagome, who was his mother to Shippo, Inuyasha just fit the roll.

"Shh, it's gonna be okay, Shippo," Kagome soothed as she pulled the young boy to her and hugged him close. It was something she'd grown used it, being the comfort to the rag-tag group of shard collectors. She was the one that they usually came to when they were upset, but Shippo more so than the others.

"My plan," Midoriko spoke, bringing the attention of the group from the motherly Kagome back to herself. "begins with a simple process and ritual that Lord Sesshomaru will know well enough. The first step will be for Kagome and Kiara to become one,"

Hope y'all enjoyed. Read, review, and help me get the muse to update faster XD