Midoriko's Daughter Chapter 1: The Truth and The Castle, an inuyasha fanfic

Midoriko's Daughter

Chapter one: The Truth and The Castle

Kagome watched the urn sink beneath the Earth. A light drizzle of rain wept from the sky as she fought to breathe; silent sobs carefully lodged into her tight throat. Her brother, Souta, stood reticently at her side with both hands tucked into his pockets. Their grandfather sat lethargically with his back firmly boarded in to the wheelchair. Tears dripped slowly from his eyes, though the rain seemed to disguise the streams. The Shinto Priest began to chant a prayer for her mother's spirit. Kagome closed her eyes, only allowing two lone tears to slip beneath their prison-cells. "Gracious…" She held her breath, begging for the world to end, waiting for the nightmare to break its hold. "A kind and courageous woman, mother, Kami will open his arms to this angelic soul…" Her eyelids flickered open as Souta's lonely hand slipped into her own; gently she gave it a comforting squeeze.

It had been several days since the passing of Kagome's mother, and still she insisted the house just wasn't as clean as her mother would have had it. She scrubbed the counter tops and the kitchen floor. The silver faucets gleamed in the sun that poured in from the window above.

"Kagome." The old man called for his granddaughter to remove herself from the chores she used to mourn the death of her mother. He sat waiting for her in her mothers room. A thin film of dust coated all the belongings. Kagome slowly trudged up the stairs to the room, careful as to keep her eyes drawn to the floor, and not on the sentimentalities that rested in the forbidden room. "Kagome, please come here." He rolled his wheelchair near her and placed a straw sack into her grasp. "What is this?" Her once sweet and innocent voice had been buried beneath pain and within a short amount of time had become stolid. Silently he rolled away from the room. The walls crept toward her as memories, and as claustrophobia settled in she quickly ran from the room, shutting the door tightly before slipping into her own.

She sat comfortably on her bed as she poured the contents of the purse like sack onto her comforter. A glowing shard covered necklace slipped silkily out with a small scroll. She looked at the pieces confused. The scroll was torn and tattered on both edges; she carefully opened it with two shaky hands.

Kagome, today you are twenty years old. I wish I could be there to see your sweet face as you read this scroll. I apologize from the very depths of my soul for not being there to raise you my daughter. Please do not be upset with the family that raised you, for I and your father could not have done the job. By now you should know, you are a thousand years in to the future. The shrine at which you reside is very powerful, as I am sure you are also. You may not be able to return to the time at which you were born, but I am positive you may return home. My daughter you must return to the time of which you belong. Your true self you have yet to discover, for part of you lies dormant within your soul and can only be accessed by going through your life teachings. Please, you must reach Lord Sesshomaru, for your father had saved his life, and in return he will help fulfill yours.

It is of grave importance that you do not wear the necklace until Lord Sesshomaru tells you of its power. The rest of this scroll you are not permitted to read for it is for Sesshomaru's eyes only, and only he can release its words.

One day I hope you will know of my and your father's love for you my daughter,

Midoriko

"Grandpa!?" Kagome looked up hysterically to see her grandfather sitting in her doorway. "Kagome. Please do not be upset." He rolled quietly over to her and placed a comforting hand on her leg, "Midoriko was fighting a numerous amount of demons at the time, and your father had been greatly wounded. He came up to your mother and I in the village near the Bone-Eaters-Well begging us to take you. Your mother was well in to her pregnancy with Souta and told him she could not raise another at the time. He placed his hand on her stomach and chanted a hymn; when the song was over her belly was no longer swollen. I can remember it clearly, 'Do not fret. Your son will be born on the next three springs.' I could see the truth in his eyes. He told us to take you to the Bone-Easters-Well and jump thru. He gave us the straw sack as a gift for you upon your twentieth birthday…" He looked up to see if she had reacted to his story and was surprised to see her calm and ready for whatever else he had to say. "I know it is not yet your twentieth birthday, but with your mother's passing…and I myself not getting any younger, I felt it would be best to tell you and give you the gift."

She closed her eyes, letting all the information pass through her mind. "Who is my father?" She spoke with a clean stolid voice.

The old man breathed a heavy sigh, "The Lord of the Northern Lands." He stared into her mud-red brown eyes, "He passed shortly after delivering you to us." He took both her hands into his own, "I want you to know that he was a great Lord, a youki, but a great Lord," She knew for her grandfather to speak so kindly about a demon was very rare; she knew his words had to be true. "Also," He continued, "I want you to know that no matter who your birth parents are, your mother and I loved you dearly. Souta knows you as his sister, we did not wish to break this bond of you." Small tears slipped from her eyes, "I must go…" She stood up, allowing her hands to slip from his wrinkled paws, "Know that I also love you, Souta, and my mother as my family. It will never change I promise you." She walked to her closet and began to pack for her journey, "Please do not tell Souta. I will visit as I would normally." He nodded sadly as he rolled away from the room.

Kagome silently cried as she packed for her trip to the Feudal Era. Her grandfather was right to give her the gift at this time. With the stroke he had suffered and the cancer her mother had undergone, there would be less and less time to give her the scroll and necklace. She was careful as she packed: 5 bras, 2 ceremonial kimonos, 2 simple kimonos, 2 different obis, 2 pairs of blue jeans, 2 tank tops, 1 over sized shirt, 2 simple t-shirts, 2 pairs of jean shorts, 2 pairs of pajama capris, 5 pairs of panties, 2 bathing suits, 4 pairs of socks, 1 pair of traditional sandals, 1 pair of flip flops, 1 picture of her and her mother, 1 family picture, 1 scroll, 1 shard covered necklace with the symbol of a water drop hanging in the center, a compass, a compact umbrella, 2 boxes of tampons, 2 bags of toilet paper…She tried to push the second bag in, but it was a futile attempt…1 bag of toilet paper, 1 hair brush, 1 zip-lock baggy with: 1 bottle of shampoo, and 1 bottle of conditioner…There was still a small vertical tube-like space waiting to be filled, she ran down the stairs and shoved in 1 empty water bottle, and 1 can of Pringles. Inuyasha would have to deal without his ramen this time, there simply was just no more room.

She ran up to her grandfather and hugged him tightly while whispering into his ear, "I'm better now. I can do this, so don't worry." "Souta?!" She yelled down the hall as she saw he wasn't in his room. "He went to his friend's." Her grandpa held the door open for her, "I'll tell him you said bye." She smiled, "Thanks grandpa!" Before rushing out of the house and into the well house.

Without even a small glance back, she leapt down the stone structure. A familiar blue glow bubbled around her as she soared through the sands of time. When her feet landed on the familiar soft ground she looked up to see a bright sky. Silently she closed her eyes, 'Mom I will never forget you, even after I figure out whatever I am.' She climbed up the vines on the side of the well wall and hoisted herself and her 20lb backpack over the edge.

Inuyasha awoke from his daydream as Kagome's scent erupted from the Bone-Eaters-Well. He leapt to the ground and embraced her, causing her eyes to go wide. "I am sorry Kagome, about your mother." Her body became completely involuntary as she closed her eyes and leaned into his touch. Her smooth fingers drifted over the rough fire-rat haori.

"Well Sango, it seems our dear Inuyasha has gotten into the habit of embracing vulnerable girls." Inuyasha immediately let go of Kagome and continuously beat on Miroku's head. Kagome allowed a light pink blush to spread her cheeks as she hugged Sango and Shippo tightly, "Guys, I've really missed you." Her voice was strange to them, holding none of the emotion she spoke of.

Sango grabbed Kagome's hand and pulled her to the village. "We each got you something to make you feel better. I'll go first!" Once Kagome was in Keade's hut, Sango ran back outside and came in with her hands behind her back. "Are you ready?" Kagome couldn't help but grin, "Yes of course!" A teeny bit of emotion sprung through. "Alright!" Sango handed her a small white dragon. "Oh my kami!" Kagome picked up the ivory creature, "He's lovely!" Sango blushed a deep red, "I'm glad you like him. He transforms just as Kirara does." Kagome sat him back down and hugged Sango tightly, "I love him, thank you!" Sango stepped back and allowed Miroku to take her place, "I exercised a demon just for this!" He pulled a furisode kimono out of a sack. It depicted coral pink cranes dancing on baby blue water; the water swirled into a pure ivory white. "Miroku! It's gorgeous!" She gave him a hug and surprisingly did not get her butt rubbed while doing so. "Thank you!" Inuyasha tried to hide a light pink blush that had so carelessly taken over his cheeks. "Here…" He tossed her a small object wrapped in a thin cloth. She looked at him confusedly, "What is it?" She wondered out loud. Her fingers quickly came upon a crystal and jade encrusted comb and mirror set. "Inuyasha, where did you get something so lovely?" He pushed his blush away, "It was my mothers." She hugged him, "Thank you Inuyasha, but you didn't need to give me this." He shrugged her off before walking away with a small, "Feh." She sat down and began to comb thru her hair, "Guys, I know this may sound weird…but I need to see Sesshomaru." She closed her eyes as soon as she said his name, and just as she suspected, Inuyasha began to throw his fit.

"Why do you need to see that mutt face!? Kagome stood up and placed her hands on her hips, "It's none of your business!" She didn't want to tell them about her newly discovered lineage…not until she sorted it all out. He ranted and raved until she sat him into a crater. "Maybe you can take this time to think Inuyasha! I'll just take…" She took a few minutes to think up a good name for her dragon, "Ogon and I will find him ourselves!" She quickly hugged Shippo, Sango, and Miroku before leaving the small village, bag in tow.

The white dragon was fast and quick through the skies; Kagome could barely scan the forest for Sesshomaru. When the trees became too dense to see through, she whispered to Ogon to return to the land. She rested on him with her stomach pressed into his back and her arms around his neck. "Oh Ogon, we'll never find Sesshomaru. He could be anywhere in the west." He growled lowly before snatching a squirrel up in his jaws.

She grumbled as the sun began to sink beneath the skyline. "Come Ogon, lets set up camp." She built a small fire and picked three apples from a nearby tree. The air was brisk and cool as it swam around her. Ogon curled up against her stomach in her sleeping bag. The silence around her was unnerving, and she found it hard to fall into the depths of sleep.

When the morning arrived Kagome was surprised to find Ogon already ready to leave. A slight groan escaped her lips as her stomach grumbled. "Ogon, could you please catch a squirrel for me to cook?" The dragon nodded before trotting off into the wooded area. He came back with a plump squirrel in hand. She grinned at him, "Thank you Ogon." She skinned the animal and watched in awe as Ogon cooked it with his mighty flame.

After breakfast, Kagome hopped on Ogon's back, "We need to find a river." He nodded in agreement. Ogon traveled fast through the lush forest. His large spiked tail wagged happily behind them. He turned swiftly until Kagome could clearly see a river coming in to view. While on his back, she rummaged through her bag for the empty water bottle. She waited as he walked to the bank's edge and began to drink before she jumped off. Water pooled into the small container. After taking a deep and long gulp of water she filled it up again.

"Lord Sesshomaru! Look it's Kagome!" Kagome's eyes went wide, could she believe her luck? Rin ran right up to her, hugging her leg. "Hello Kagome! Lord Sesshomaru-sama brought Rin here for a drink!" Kagome laughed nervously, "That's great Rin, you should get one." Her nervousness maximized as she pulled the scroll and necklace from her bag. "Lord Sesshomaru, I have an important matter to discuss with you."

He looked at her with little interest, waiting for her to bring him the scroll. She gently placed the scroll and necklace in his claws. Immediately his eyes went wide, but only for a matter of seconds before returning to their normal stolid manner.

"You are Lord Toshio's daughter." He spoke without a care in his voice. "You will be returning to the Domain of the Moon." Kagome stood blankly, staring at him, what was she supposed to do, say 'no'? Her heart quivered beneath her breastbone. "Kagome!? You will come with Rin to the Domain?" Her eyes were bright and huge as she looked up at her. "Yes," Was all she managed to mutter as she picked up her bag and allowed Ogon to shrink down to size.

Sesshomaru walked at a quick pace through the wild trees and prickly brush. Kagome was thankful to have Rin keeping her company. "Rin, where is the toad guy?" Kagome had never seen Sesshomaru without the imp before. Rin giggled, "Jaken is betrothed to a girl!" Kagome looked back at the child questionably. "He's at her father's home preparing for the ceremonies!" Kagome tried to keep her laughter in by placing a hand over her mouth. "What kind of demon is she?" Rin giggled at the question, "Well, Jaken s an imp… but she is a …a…a" Rin ran up to Sesshomaru and pulled at his right sleeve. He stopped for a moment before leaning down so she could whisper something into his ear. His expression held nothing but an emotionless mask. He whispered something back to Rin and then continued to gracefully glide through the forest. Rin came running back to Kagome and stood between her and AhUn. "She is an Obake." Kagome bit on her lower lip, "What's an Obake?" She tried, but failed to hold in her giggles when Rin repeated what she had done only moments before. "Obake are transforming beings, but naturally they look like root dwarves." Kagome smiled, "And did Sesshomaru-sama tell you this?" Rin shook her head, "Rin knew already, Rin just wanted to get the facts straight."

The rest of the day went by slowly with Kagome asking questions, and Rin asking Sesshomaru. She was surprised he had not once lost his patience with the child, but kept a rather indifferent air about him. Ogon had fallen asleep on the older dragons' back. She yawned silently as they continued on through the dense trees. "Lady Kagome." She was surprised to hear Sesshomaru call her with such a title. The words shivered down her spine until her legs moved toward the taiyoukai.

"You show fear?" He had not bothered to grace her with his golden eyes. When she did not answer he continued, "You are half Aisu youkai, and half Miko. Once I help you to unlock your true powers and other half, you will not look as you do now. You will be as or more powerful than a full blooded youkai, and also bare the markings of such." He stopped and bore straight into her deep brown eyes with his amber pools, "Are you willing to continue?" She looked away from him before nodding a meek yes. Satisfied, he turned and continued on. "If you do not follow instruction I will not continue to teach you." She whispered, knowing very well that he could hear the soft words, "Of course." He stopped again, but this time, although his stolid mask remained, she could sense anger ease in his youki energy. "You do not find this acceptable?" She quickly put an end to his wrathful emotions, "I only meant that I truly appreciate your generosity Lord Sesshomaru." He nodded, "Indeed" She quickly took that as a dismissal and scampered back to her place next to Rin.

Sesshomaru smirked in his mind, it amused him to hear the girl's heart beating so fast and the patter of her feet so hurriedly on the soft ground. She truly felt fear for her life in his presence; it was a…nice…feeling. 'She is…suitable…' 'Suitable for what might I ask?' He found himself chatting with his inner demon, as he did ever so often. 'Ladyship of course, what else were you think of?' '…The same.' For only a matter of seconds, a frown had marred his perfect face.

"Oh! Kagome this shampoop is amazing! LOOK! Bubbles!" Kagome laughed, "Its called shampoo Rin not shampoop…" Rin giggled and massaged it in her hair. Sesshomaru sat in the group's camp. The heat of the fire warmed his right side as he leaned against the hard bark of a tree. He listened keenly to the sounds around him. The great bubbles of laughter from the two females in the hot springs…The high chirp of crickets and locusts…He rose from his place beneath the stars as the energy of another demon came within a ten meter distance. He could feel it running straight for the two females.

Disappearing into the heavily blackened dense trees, he caught up to the demon. A small demon with long black silky hair smiled at him devilishly. He found himself bored with the creature already, "Did you not sense my presence in this area?" He asked smartly. "Yes Lord Sesshomaru, I did." It was then that he noticed a thin silver strip down its back fur. "I have a present for you My Lord." His eyes grew wide as the skunk youkai filled the area with a putrid stench. He released his poison-whip and sliced off one of the creature's paws before it quickly ran away.

When he came back to the camp Kagome and Rin had already dressed and were roasting five fish over the fire. "Lord Sesshomaru! What is that awful smell?" Rin ran up beside him, "You no longer smell lovely Milord!" He closed his eyes and walked passed them both. Kagome quickly rummaged through her bag and grabbed up the shampoo and conditioner. "Sesshomaru-sama!" He looked at her with red eyes. "Um…"She handed him the shampoo and conditioner before running back to her place by the fire. "What is this?" He asked unknowingly. Rin piped in, "Its amazing Lord Sesshomaru! It gets you all clean, and it smells wonderful!" He glanced down at the two bottles in his hand before continuing his path to the hot springs.

When Sesshomaru returned to the clearing he found Rin and Kagome cuddled up with Ogon and against AhUns' great belly. He placed the shampoo and conditioner against Kagome's bag. 'She would do well for Rin' 'I know.' He sat up against an old tree and closed his eyes, listening intently to the sounds of the night. He had been lucky the skunk demon had not been fully matured or the stank would have lasted for weeks; thanks to Kagome's sweet shampoo and his own potent scent the stank would be gone before the high hours settled in the following day.

"Inuyasha! Kagome wants to be alone. She's probably fine!" Sango hit him in the head with her large boomerang, "She doesn't need you barging in on her all the time. You told her last week that you want to be with Kikyou, so stop acting like a big baby!" Fire flared off her entire body. "Alright! Alright!" He jumped away from the angry female and sat on a mat in the hut, "I'll give her two more days, and if she doesn't show I'm going to go looking for her." Shippo jumped on his head, "You need to leave Kagome alone! If you weren't so mean all the time she wouldn't have to run off to your brother!" His little remark earned him a massive amount of goose eggs on his head, as well as a few circling stars.

The sun was beginning to sink beneath the Earth yet again just as Kagome saw a large village coming into view. She was extremely surprised to here Rin joyfully yelling, "We're here! We're here!" Kagome looked at her as if she were to be the village idiot, that was until Rin pointed up the mountain. She was to say the least, speechless by the spectacular beauty of the castle.

Small huts where the samurai lived surrounded the outside of the western domain. A heavily guarded bridge passed over a large moat to connect the lesser-ranked samurai to the higher ranked ones and the artisans of the domain; Here rested a massive training dojo and plenty of farming land. Weeping Cherry Blossom trees swayed in the cool night air as they stair-stepped the mountain. It looked as if the castle had been built in to the mountain itself. The sea blocked off the far northwestern side and mingled with the moat. As they traveled farther into the domain more and more detail came into view. The castle walls were an ivory white, glistening beneath the moonlight perfectly. An ebony black trimmed the triangular roofs. Kagome's heart leapt from her chest as the walked up the many steps on to each level of the castle. Lush gardens of every flower imaginable flourished and separated each level. The path was of stone, as were the steps, and the great walls of the castle. Great dog demon statues stood in their true form along the entrances to the rooms. Finally they made it to the highest level. Kagome placed her delicate fingers on her chest as she tried to hold her heart inside. The doors to the tower were made of rich cherry wood and were adorned with a multitude of immortal fully alive moonflowers. She touched the soft petals and vines with the tip if her finger. Sakura blossoms danced from the lush trees and sprinkled the rich green grass.

Kagome held her breath as Sesshomaru opened the doors. She was reluctant to step inside, afraid she might somehow destroy the balanced perfection. Rice-paper paintings decorated the walls with battle scenes and ancestors of the Inu Taiyoukais. He led them to a large stair-well and began to travel down to the second highest level of the domain. The floors were a rich pearl white and clashed with the black walls of the hall. Few servants were on this floor and only a couple of guards. Sesshomaru pointed to his room, "This room you are never permitted to enter unless it is an emergency." He walked to the room to the left of his, "This will be your room." He held back a small grin when Rin ran to her own and beamed, "This is my room, and you can come see me anytime…especially in an emergency!" Kagome couldn't help but laugh at the small girl. "Rena, take Lady Kagome's things to her room." A meek young servant came and took Kagome's bag, "Yes Milord." "Lady Kagome a servant will wake you tomorrow morning and take you the morning meal, afterwards you will accompany this Sesshomaru to the library." Kagome nodded, "Thank you Sesshomaru-sama." He nodded in return before leaving her to do as she wished. Afraid of getting into trouble, she simply tipi-toed her way to her room.

The walls were adorned with a lush and thick ivy. On the east wall rested an indoor waterfall that so amazingly enough filled and filtered her personal hot springs. She was amazed by the structural abilities of those in the Feudal Era. Her bedposts were made of what appeared to be living intertwined willow and sakura blossom trees. Criss-crossed vines, moonflowers, and sakura blossoms formed a canopy above the bed and connected at the tip of each post. Vines criss-crossed along the bottom to form a sort of hammock. A forest green futon cushion rested atop the hammock-like structure and was topped with ebony silk sheets and a thick but soft outer cover. Long vines covered in moonflowers created a curtain, blocking a plush grass-covered balcony. A huge Weeping Sakura Tree stood broadly at its edge to bring shade to the flourishing grass. Waves crashed from the sea far below the balcony, bringing in a sweet sea scent. Three large vine-made baskets hung from the walls and inside one was a stack of training yukatas.

She pulled her big yellow bag from her new bed. Quickly she discovered her sadly…forgotten…dragon Ogon had managed to bury himself far into the bag. He gave a soft whimper and yawned when she lifted him from his home-made bed in a bag. She proceeded to refold all her clothes so that they too could fit into the baskets. The hot spring seemed to call to her, so quickly she got her pajamas and bathing supplies gathered up and sat them next to the pool. She stripped off her clothes and proceeded to slip down into the inviting waters.

Sesshomaru crossed his arms over his head as he lay on his futon. 'We really enjoyed her admiration of the castle. Did you see the excitement in her eyes?' 'Whose?' 'Just forget it and remember, you can't play village idiot with me…We are one.' Sesshomaru growled lowly in his chest and closed his eyes. A small grin played on his lips as he thought of Jaken's torment with the Obake princess. 'Do not forget you are also…' The voice was cut short by another, but louder, growl.

Well everyone I hope you all liked the first chapter. I'm trying to stay ahead of my posts on here as usualy, so as soon as I type up chapter 3 chapter 2 will be up and ready to read. So please everyone, tell me what you think; suggestions, or comments. Thanks!

3EmoRagDollX3