Loving a Murderer

(REVISED)

Summary – After the final battle, Kagome completes the Shikon and watches in despair as Kikyou returns to hell with InuYasha in tow. Joining Sesshoumaru in a ceremony that marks them as part of his pack, Kagome and Shippou say their final farewells before taking that last leap over the well, knowing it would be their last time traveling between times...but what happens when she climbs out of the well, only to find herself and Shippou in a new time, one that is neither hers nor his.

Couple: Itachi and Kagome

Genre: Romance/Spiritual

Rated: M

Chapter One

Kagome stared at the spot that both Kikyou and Inuyasha had stood in merely a week ago. The look of happiness that his eyes held, they had at one time looked at her with that same happiness. There was only one difference with the looks of happiness, between Kagome and Kikyou, love. He had given his heart to Kikyou long ago and had only been able to give Kagome his friendship. She had no complaints, mind you. His friendship had been worth more to her than any amount of wishes the Shikon could ever hope to provide. Now, they were gone, deep in the depths of hell. Turning at the soft sounds of footfalls coming from behind her, she let her eyes rise up to meet the golden embers that belonged to her best friends older brother.

"Kagome, may I talk with you?" Sesshoumaru actually leaned against the bone eaters well.

"Won't your clothes get dirty leaning against that?" She asked, watching as he raised an eyebrow.

"Do not concern yourself with this Sesshoumaru's clothes."

She laughed as he shifted back to his old self, smiling lightly, Kagome walked up next to him and sat on the lip of the well. "What is it that you want to talk about?"

"...you. I wish to formally take you as my sister...a ceremony...for blood binding."

Kagome stared, slightly taken by surprise, "me?" she looked ahead blankly at the spot where Kikyou and InuYasha had descended into hell. Something like this, Sesshoumaru hadn't even offered to take InuYasha in as part of his pack. They never could find common ground...well, besides her. They both agreed that they wanted to protect her, and so both helped her train, and regarded her growing strength as nothing short of impressive. She wasn't the type to take notice of her improvement, not the way they did, but Sesshoumaru took his time with her, InuYasha made sure to tell her, and even Miroku and Sango acknowledged her growth. Seventeen years old, she was still growing, but she was stronger now than she had been when she fell down the well at fifteen.

"That's only if you want to. I would be honored to have you carry the markings of the Crescent Moon Palace. It would not only honor me but everyone in the Taisho bloodline."

Kagome's eyes started to water up and not trusting her voice, she nodded her head and leaned over and captured Sesshoumaru in a tight hug, her black hair falling over her shoulders.

"We will do the ceremony a week from now...that will give us time to prepare you." Sesshoumaru pushed off the well, and held out a clawed hand for her to take. "Let us go to the old lady Kaede's. I'll let you tell the others."

A small smile seemed to be permanently attached to her lips as she nodded and took his hand, sparing on last glance behind her before letting him pull her off towards the Village outside Inuyasha's forest.

Flashback

"I'm sorry Kagome, I love Kikyou too much to let her go back alone...I owe her this much..." Inuyasha looked away as her eyes began overflowing with tears. She placed a hand on his shoulder and felt him relax before letting her hand fall. Watching him as he walked up to Kikyou who stood near the god tree, he brought both his hands to her arms and pulled her in, hugging her tightly as a portal formed beneath them. Kagome sank to her knees as she was forced to watch the two get pulled down into the fiery pits of hell. She had spent hours staring at that spot and crying, over the loss of both her best friend and first crush...and by the end of her travels...her brother...

End Flashback

'Inuyasha...rest in peace...' Returning back to the hut, he let her enter first before following her in. She had kept the explanation quick and to the point, the only question she received was whether or not they could accompany them, and by his nod, she received excited congratulations and warm hugs from each of her dearest friends.

-x-x-x-

(One Week Later)

Kagome stood before her friends, before Jaken and Rin, with Sesshoumaru standing across from her and holding out a sharp knife. All things had been explained, and Rin had even tried to calm her frightened heart when she'd been told that she'd have to cut her flesh herself. She took the blade and her eyes looked carefully over the sharp knife. Listening as Jaken spoke and made everything all official, she wasn't really paying all that much attention. She had done this once already, before the war, she'd done this with Shippou, so it shouldn't scare her so much. But Shippou had cut her with his claw across her palm and then done the same to him, the blood ritual they had performed was so that she could truly take him in as her son.

The changes were nothing so skin deep, but she was faster and stronger, her hair had also gotten much silkier and only slightly longer, though not enough that anyone noticed. Sadly, she hadn't grown a tail or cute ears...but she supposed that was for the best.

"Lady Kagome, of the Shikon no Tama, will you take this blade and bring forth your blood, joining hands with Lord Sesshoumaru and becoming a part of his pack as Sister of the Crescent Moon name?"

"I will..." Kagome ran the blade over her palm and winced just slightly, feeling her blood spilling from the self-inflicted wound, she held the knife out to Jaken who took it and wiped it clean before holding it back out to Sesshoumaru who also took the blade.

"Lord Sesshoumaru, Taiyoukai of the Western Lands, and Heir of the Taisho family name, will you take this blade and bring forth your blood, joining hands with the Lady Kagome and taking her in as part of your pack and Sister of the Crescent Moon name?"

"I will..." Sesshoumaru brought the tip to his palm and sliced it quickly.

"Bring your hands together, and let set this bonding, for time itself shall not tamper the bond of blood, but strengthen it." Jaken stepped back, and Kagome and Sesshoumaru took their bleeding hands and gripped one another's. "Here I stand, my voice heard by these who have gathered before us to witness this Blood Bond...Sesshoumaru Taisho, and Kagome Higurashi who shall hereby be known as the Lady Kagome, Sister of Lord Sesshoumaru, Kagome Taisho, the Shikon no Miko!"

The room erupted with cheering from Kagome's friends and son, a few who had fought alongside them in the war, such as Kouga, and Ayame, were also present. Kagome blushed, but didn't release the hand of Sesshoumaru, she knew how it worked, and she couldn't yet.

"As these next few days pass, you will find change both physically and spiritually. You may both let go...Lady Kagome..." Jaken took a mirror and held it out so that her reflection stared back at her. Her eyes wandered up to her forehead where the outline of a crescent moon could be seen starting to appear. "You are now the sister of our Lord Sesshoumaru."

Rin was the first to run up and hug her, though Kagome kept her hands far from the girls' clothes, taking an offered wet towel from Jaken as he noted her hesitation to hug the little girl.

"Welcome to the family, Sister Kagome!"

Kagome laughed, "I think that makes me your aunt, since I'm Sesshoumaru's sister...because you're his daughter."

Rin looked curiously at her before another smile broke free and she laughed, "Then Shippou is my cousin!"

Kagome nodded, but her heart wasn't completely there in the smile, and by the look on Sesshoumaru's face, he could see that too. "I want to keep celebrating, truly, I do..." she looked to her son who had moved into her arms, he knew what was about to be said, but she herself was having a hard time coming out and saying it.

Sesshoumaru stepped forward, "tomorrow, Kagome will be taking her leave, returning to her time with her son."

Miroku and Sango both shared similar looks of heartbreak, but rather than tears, they gave smiles and moved towards Kagome. Miroku brought a hand to her shoulder, "should we not celebrate then, before you leave? Happy memories should follow you to your time, Kagome...not ones of tears."

"It's still too soon for us to cry, we can do that tomorrow." Sango hugged Kagome, the girl who had been like a sister to herself.

Rin was shaking as she tried to hold her tears back, failing horribly as they snuck by her closed eyelids, she looked up and smiled brightly, "we can play and have fun until you have to go."

Kagome could feel her own eyes burning at the tears threatening to spill forth, but she somehow managed to keep them at bay as she lift Rin into her arms and hugged the crying girl tightly before nodding, "we can play and have fun all you want until I leave tomorrow. For now, let's stay up and dance and sing and play into the night!"

They did just that, tears falling, and happy memories were being made. Kouga, Ayame, Miroku and Sango enjoying their final moments with Kagome as they danced with one another, Sesshoumaru even joining in. Rin stealing Kagome from Kouda to dance with her before Shippou cut in to dance with Rin. It was all in good fun, she sang outside with the kids, they counted the stars and she told them stories. As the stars looked down on them, she indulged Rin with a game of tag and chased her around, back and forth through the garden outside the palace. She, Shippou, Ayame, Sango and Rin finally settled down and were making crowns of flowers for one another. When the little girl fell asleep, it was surrounded by friends, and flowers, with Shippou and Kagome on either side of her.

-x-x-x-

Me: So...I HAD to rewrite this story. I was reading it, because recently I got back into Naruto, and I honestly HATED how stupid the plot was. Well, not all of the plot, but some of that was borderline idiotic and I apologize for not giving you better. I hope you guys will enjoy this better, the other one will be up a while longer while I rewrite it and catch up to where I left off. It will not go completely as the original did, I promise you that! Review, and tell me what you think, nyan~!