Black Diamond

Chapter 1: New Discoveries and Confusing Developments

A young girl with long, wavy, black hair hauled herself out the well, dragging a big yellow bag with her. As she sat down on the wells edge to catch her breath, a male voice reached her.

"Kagome! You're late!" Kagome sighed, she should have known that he'd be the first one to greet her – if he knew what greet meant.

"Sorry, Inuyasha, I lost track of time." Inuyasha's red haori bounded into view.

"Keh! Just make sure it doesn't happen again, wench." Kagome sighed inwardly.

Suddenly the jewel shards started glowing, caressing Kagome in its glow. Inuyasha turned to find Kagome surrounded by a pink light, enthralled, Inuyasha came closer only to be blasted back by an immense power. Back at the village, Sango, Miroku, Shippo and Kilala saw the light and knew it had some thing to do with Kagome, and rushed to the scene. When they finally got there, they saw Kagome beneath the light and started towards her.

The light finally withdrew and standing in Kagome's place was a black fox with silver strands throughout the fox's fur. What shocked them the most, however, was a silver and purple crescent moon in its forehead. The symbol of the west.

Meanwhile, Kagome was lost in her thoughts. While she was encompassed in the light, a voice had spoken. Numerous voices. But one had stood out, a female's.


"Kagome, maiden of the Shikon no Tama, we of the jewel have reached a decision. We will help you find your mate. Now this transformation can only be seen by those you consider precious. Not including Inuyasha, as we find him unworthy of your affections, and your mate can also see you." Came the voice. Kagome frowned.

"So what am I then? And what am I transforming into?" 'This is so weird.' She thought, utterly confused.

"You are now a full-blooded youkai. A mixture of fox, dog and Nyx, the night goddess. You were always meant to be this way, ever since you were born. Your transformation is into a small black fox, similar in size to Kilala. However, when you fight you will be up to Sango's waist."

"But I don't know how to fight. How will I fight? Can I still protect everyone? If I'm a fox, how can I talk to anyone?" As an after thought, Kagome added, "What if I walk into someone, and they can't see me?"

"All your training of fighting, and knowledge of your goddess form, is already in you. I think it might only come out when you have your first fight in your battle form. Even though Inuyasha cannot see you, you may protect him if you wish to do so. You are able to communicate with your loved ones via telepathy. Tell them that they should not talk to you out loud, but think their responses in their mind and you can hear them that way. If you are to bump into someone, they will feel you, and hear you." Kagome was absolutely shocked.

"Is that everything? All that, is everything I can do?" She gasped out.

"I have told you all you need to know, but I feel I have forgotten something important… Um… Oh yes! How could I forget, until you have found your mate, and have fallen in love with him, you will not be able to revert to your human form. Have you got all of this?" Kagome was shocked, therefore could not immediately reply. After a few moments she stuttered out a 'yeah'.


Next thing she knew, she still standing in the same spot as before, only difference was that the group, minus Inuyasha (who was knocked out) was staring open-mouthed at her. Remembering what the woman told her, she spoke, using telepathy.

'Guys, listen to me carefully, I am Kagome, please trust me when I say that. I am still trying to get my head around it myself, and believe me, it's very confusing. Before you ask anything, can you please only think your questions and responses? It would look weird to be talking to thin air.' Said a voice in all their heads. They scrutinised the black fox carefully. It looked trustworthy.

'How do we know we can trust you? How can we know you really Kagome-sama?' Then they looked at each other and thought, 'We can hear each other!' The black fox spoke up.

'I have enabled you all, apart from Inuyasha, to hear each other's thoughts. But only when you project them.' The black fox cocked its head. 'Well, do you trust me? Even in this form? I need your trust and loyalty before I begin to explain what has happened.' The group looked at each other and nodded. 'We will trust you.' The black fox nodded to herself then walked over slowly, gauging their reactions as she neared.

Kilala stood and walked toward the fox when she stopped a few feet away. The fox stood proudly as Kilala sniffed around her body then nodded when Kilala stopped in front of her and bowed low. The group stood open-mouthed at this display. The fox then walked toward the rest of the group again, this time with Kilala by her side.

'Nice to know you will accept me, I would have one hell of a time finding someone else who liked me. I'm still the Kagome you know, but with extras. I am now a full-blooded youkai.' The group stared at her carefully, now not knowing if she was dangerous.

'What kind of youkai?' Asked Miroku. Kagome looked at him, as if noticing him for the first time.

'I am a demi-goddess as well. Mind you, I can't transform into my humanoid form until I've found my mate. I am a fox demon and the reincarnation of Nyx, the goddess of the night. Shocking, isn't it?' She said as she gave a foxy grin. Shippo approached her carefully.

'Mama?' he said tentatively. She looked at him.

'Yes, my kit?'

'Now that your transformed into a real fox, does that mean you can be my real mother now?' He asked quietly with his head down. The rest of the group struggled to hear him, but Kagome heard him loud and clear. Her metallic eyes softened into pools of liquid silver, betraying her kind heart.

'Oh yes! Yes, my little kit.' She said as she made two of her four tails caress him tenderly. It was that moment that Inuyasha decided to wake up, groaning.

"What the hell? Where's Kagome gone? And why are you lot all staring at one spot?" He grumbled as he pulled himself up, wincing a little as he did so. Sango opened her mouth to speak when Kagome's voice in her head interrupted her.

'No! He can't see me! Don't say that I'm here! I went back into the well and sealed it because I was fed up with his attitude. I'm staying in my time for six months because I have found a priestess to train me there. I went to the village and told everyone while he was knocked out. You are to carry on finding the shard 'without me' for the next six months.' After Sango repeated what Kagome told her to say Kagome breathed a sigh of relief. She was safe, for now.

"Feh! That stupid little wench has cut back our jewel shard hunting! Selfish little bitch." He ranted. Kagome inwardly smirked. He didn't know how much he was right about that last little name he called her… Maybe it was time for some teensy tiny revenge though…

Miroku, meanwhile, had been watching Kagome the entire time Inuyasha was talking. Watching as when Inuyasha called her a bitch, Kagome got a nice little evil glint, full of mischief. 'Uh oh, Inuyasha's in for it now, it looks like our Kagome has some pranks to play…' Kagome looked over.

'Of course! I can't let him get away with calling me those names! Even though bitch might be a compliment, and besides, he can't see me now. It's going to become more fun around here…' She said with a fox version of an evil smile. Miroku gulped. Boy, she was scary sometimes.

They travelled to Kaede's village to tell her they were going. As they entered the hut she said, "So ye be leaving then, but were is Kagome-sama?" She asked while looking to where Kagome was and winking at her. 'Nice to see ye in ye final form Kagome, I've been wondering when it would appear.' Kagome looked at the old woman, all the while Inuyasha was telling the old woman the story of her disappearance, and gave her a grin.

'I should have known that you knew all along… I'll visit you soon Kaede-obaachan, ne? We should really get going.' She said with a smile, eyes still molten silver.

"Shouldn't ye be going now, Inuyasha? It'll be getting dark soon… and I'm sure Kagome-sama is fine on her side of the well." She said with a glint in her eye as she watched Kagome file out the door to wait outside. 'She'll be causing mischief, I just know it.'

While travelling, the group came across a demon with three jewel shards. Inuyasha, as usual, rushed into battle without thinking. Kagome, meanwhile, had been forming a plan to make Inuyasha hit it's weak spot.

'Sango-Chan! Use Hiraikotsu to hit it in the forehead! It's the youkai's weak spot!' She told Sango telepathically. Sango stole a quick glance at Kagome as if to say, 'your sure?' Kagome nodded and watched as Hiraikotsu hit its point, as the youkai cried out in pain.

"Inuyasha!" Sango shouted, catching his attention. "I think it has jewel shards! The forehead might be its weak point!" Inuyasha nodded, preparing the Tessaiga.

"Got it! You're going down." He said turning his attention back to the youkai. "Wind Scar!" He shouted. Kagome watched carefully from the sidelines as the attack hit the youkai. Analysing its reaction. Before the wind scar had hit it, the youkai had suddenly tried to retreat. It was like it knew what Inuyasha's sword could do. Kagome's eyes widened. The youkai had been working for someone, but who? Shoving the thought to the back of her mind, Kagome now focused on the jewel shards left on the ground. Padding over to them slowly, she gently touched them with her claw, then asked Miroku to take them, as they were now purified. Tentatively, he picked them up and put them inside his robes. Kagome could trust him with the jewel shards for now.

They set up camp early, and it was during this time that the group suddenly felt the loss of the little miko from the future. It was silent, a stark change from the chatter and laughter of normal evenings. Inuyasha went to hunt for fish, seeing as ramen wasn't an option and Kagome's bag - which had been found at the well - was left at Kaede's hut. The only thing they brought with them was Kagome's first aid kit because, knowing Inuyasha, at one point or another they were going to get hurt.

Elsewhere, a little girl picked flowers in a nearby field. Golden eyes softened slightly when the girl came up to the owner, holding a bunch of flowers. Then hardened into ice when a familiar scent came through the meadow. 'So, the youkai failed, did he?'

"Come, Rin." A male voice penetrated Rin's senses. She looked up.

"Hai, Sesshoumaru-sama!" She said with a smile on her face. They got to a camp where a green youkai was sitting next to a dragon.

"Come. We are leaving." Sesshoumaru said, his deep monotone voice carrying across the camp. Silently the two youkai got up, following Sesshoumaru.

Following the awful scent he came across Inuyasha's camp, noting the absence of the human girl. The monk and the slayer's attention was focused on a black fox that was excluding a powerful aura, both demonic and divine. The black fox suddenly turned towards him and looked at him with stunning silver eyes. His thoughts ran ten miles an hour. The fox's silver eyes shined with mirth. 'What could be so funny?' he wondered. He watched as the fox came towards him and nodded her head in a polite bow. Then lifted her head, looked straight at him and said, 'You, of course.' In his head then turned her back on him and walked back to her group. Her voice sounded familiar for some reason, even though he had never met this fox. All this had passed in a few seconds.

Meanwhile, Inuyasha had been watching his brother look at the rest of his group intently, and wondered what in seven hells he was planning. But he was going to find out soon enough anyway.

"Oi, Sesshoumaru, what do you think your doing?" He shouted while drawing Tessaiga. Sesshoumaru looked at him.

"Rin wanted to see the girl, where is she?" He said, all the while trying to find out who the fox was. His eyes shot to where she was when he heard movement, and noticed that the monk and slayer had shifted to partially cover the fox from view. Suddenly curious, he took a step closer to the humans. Seeing this, Inuyasha shot in front of them, protective of his pack.

While all this had been going on Sango, Miroku, Shippo, Kilala, and Kagome had been having a conversation. Kagome's safety seemed to be the main subject.

'Kagome, please understand what we are saying, well, thinking. We don't want you hurt! Sesshoumaru will kill you!' Sango and Shippo were saying.

'No, he won't. Only those who care about my well being and me can see me. Oh, and my mate.' She added sheepishly, ducking her head as the group came closer to her. She could see the flames in their eyes, and it was scaring her.

'What?' they all hissed like snakes, 'Why didn't you tell us this earlier? Hmm?' She backed away slowly with her ears flat against her head, not liking the way their eyes glinted. Then, as if by a miracle, Inuyasha had jumped in front of them, facing towards her, but looking above her head. Slowly, as if dreading what she was going to see, she looked up, ears still against her head.

Sesshoumaru watched as the fox slowly looked up. Turning his eyes quickly towards the group behind Inuyasha, he saw fear, worry and guilt on their faces. Well, all apart from Kilala, but you could see it in her eyes instead. Looking back at the fox he saw that she was looking straight back at him, not a bit of fear in her eyes. Once again he was reminded of someone he once met, but still couldn't quite remember whom exactly. Coming back from his thought, he saw as the fox looked back at her group, then purposely began stroking in between his legs, a sign of trust and affection. Then, stopping her stroking sat down beside him, a proud look in her eyes as she looked back to the shocked faces of her group.

"Kagome!" The slayer gasped out. Sesshoumaru looked back at the fox quick enough to see the fox's eyes narrow, clearly displeased that the slayer talked to her out loud. 'Kagome? That's how I know this fox. When did she turn into a youkai though?' he thought, curious as to how this came to be.

Kagome looked up at Sesshoumaru, eyes shining with laughter. 'Yes, my name is Kagome, took you a while didn't it? To think, the great Sesshoumaru, Lord of the West, had a bad memory!' She laughed as he inwardly smirked, already forming a plan for revenge. Inuyasha turned to Sango and glared at her.

"What are you talking about Sango? You know Kagome isn't here…" he shouted at her. Sesshoumaru blocked out the rest of the conversation, instead choosing to watch Kagome.

Kagome watched the two argue back and fourth, trying to ignore Sesshoumaru's eyes on her - it was starting to freak her out. 'Why doesn't Inuyasha know that you're here? Shouldn't he be able to see you?' Kagome turned amused eyes on him.

'My, my, getting talkative now are we?' Her only response was a growl. 'Okay, okay! No need to get testy. The reason Inuyasha can't see me is because the Shikon no Tama is protecting me from harm while I try to find my mate.' For some reason, Sesshoumaru felt the tightening of his heart at the thought of Kagome going with another. 'Anyway, only those who I find precious, or those who care about me can see me. My mate is the only who can see me while not necessarily caring about me.'

Sesshoumaru carefully thought over his options. Kagome wanted to find out what he was thinking about, but respected his privacy. If he decided to join them, she wouldn't link his mind with the others, she wanted to talk to him without being interrupted.

"Okay, break it up. This has gone on for long enough." Miroku, ever the peacemaker, put his staff in between Sango and Inuyasha. It was starting to get violent. A short bark got everyone's attention, even Inuyasha's. Everyone turned to where Kagome and Sesshoumaru were standing. Inuyasha was staring at Sesshoumaru. Kagome looked at them all.

"Lets go! We don't have time to waste, Naraku's nearby!" Kagome's voice came to their ears. Inuyasha turned, trying to find the body to go along with the voice. Everyone else, minus Sesshoumaru, was shocked that Kagome talked out loud, in clear Japanese.

"Kagome? Where are you?" Inuyasha's voice came from behind them. Kagome smirked.

"Inuyasha, I don't know why, but the Shikon no Tama has turned me invisible." She lied smoothly, making it so she sounded frightened. Everyone looked at her in surprise.

"Really? This could be great for getting to Naraku!" Inuyasha said excitedly.

"I wouldn't go so far as to say that, you might not even live till next week." Her voice suddenly turned menacing. "I heard those names you called me the other day, and let me tell you, I'm not happy." By now Inuyasha was very scared and backing away from the area where her voice was coming from. Kagome watched as Inuyasha backed away, his hands on his ears just in case she said 'sit'.

She stood up, only visible by those who could see her. She was angry now. She circled around Inuyasha, ears back, teeth bared, eyes narrowed dangerously. Then she started barking and growling. Well, it was only barking and growling to the humans of the group and those that didn't speak inu. They watched as, while she was circling him, Inuyasha paled. A lot. They looked back at Sesshoumaru for translation, only to find him seemingly getting ready for a fight, and rapidly paling as well. They were shocked.

Sesshoumaru listened as Kagome, in the inu language, started threatening Inuyasha. When he heard her threaten to castrate him, he prepared himself for a fight. But he had this gut feeling that, if he interfered, he would end up never having children as well. He knew that the others were looking at him, so he composed himself and looked towards them.

"Sit down, this will take a while. It seems the girl has a lot to get off her chest." He paused as Kagome told Inuyasha to sit, and barely restrained laughing as he did a face plant. "She is currently threatening Inuyasha a lot." As the group nodded in understanding Kagome snapped at him. "I meant that she is making a lot of mean promises…" He corrected with a wince. The group looked at him with shock.

Ten minutes later, Inuyasha was lying on the floor badly bruised, and a very happy Kagome coming over to them. Sitting in the shade of the tree, she informed them, "Inuyasha has had his warning," Here Sesshoumaru nodded gravely in agreement, an action she ignored. "And he knows that should he do anything wrong to you lot or to me, he will have a little accident that result in him losing his ability to have children and to walk." She said with a sickly sweet smile. Everyone shivered, especially the males, terrified about what that meant.

"I broke a lot of rules, talking out loud you know. But I couldn't resist." She continued, not affected by anyone's reaction to her earlier comment.

"Kagome," Miroku started carefully, shaken from her comment. She turned to him, eyeing him. "Were you at all aware of the fact that your eyes glowed purple? Even the silver streaks on your fur turned purple." He said inching away when her eyes narrowed, and her irises swirled with both silver and purple.

"Kagome?" Sango asked, now worried about her adopted sister's intentions. "Are you okay?" She asked again when Kagome turned her glare towards her. Backing away when Kagome bared her teeth, hackles raised. Sango went over to Miroku, taking Shippo and Kilala with her. Sesshoumaru watched from afar as Kagome suddenly became hostile, deciding it was not his business. He turned away, only to be faced with the setting sun. Looking back at Kagome, who was now advancing towards the group, he watched as she suddenly backed off, instead turning towards the sun. Though she was still hostile, she had lost interest in the group, now walking up to the top of a hill. Curious, everyone followed her but still keeping a wary distance.

Now at the top of the hill, Kagome sat down, watching the sun as it set and still looking at the group from the corner of her eye. Then stood up again as it had finally set. Seeing a figure in the distance flying towards her, she stayed where she was, growling when the group came to close. They stayed back just in case she turned her attention back to them. She had scared them with her sudden mood change.

The figure came even closer, now heading towards Kagome. Kagome started walking towards it. Everyone could now see that it was a woman, a very beautiful woman, drawing the eye of Miroku. The woman turned toward them, revealing her stunning purple eyes. Miroku came towards them, completely forgetting about Kagome.

"I warn you now, monk, don't come near my daughter with those thoughts." Kagome snarled, standing in front of the woman, eyes now fully purple. Miroku and everyone else stared at her, shocked, how could a nineteen-year-old girl have a fully-grown daughter?

"But Kagome-"

"I am not Kagome anymore… My name, is Nyx." Kagome/Nyx said dramatically. The woman looked down at Nyx, her eyes narrowing.

"Mother! You know I could stop him myself!" She whined, a pout on her full lips. To Miroku she was the most beautiful person on earth. She was – as she was in the underworld ranking only just under her mother.

"Hemera, you should know how protective of you I am by now, however much we are opposites to each other." Nyx told her, turning around to face her, eyes growing as hard as steel.

"Besides, no one but the gods and goddesses can see Nemesis as she sneaks around. I know that everyone, even my little Nemesis, is protective of you." She continued with a wistful sigh.

Sesshoumaru looked on, silently, then turned his head to the rapidly darkening sky.

"Play with me for a while, please? It's been a long time." He heard Kagome say. Intrigued, Sesshoumaru turned to see Hemera transforming into a fox as well. As they played in the dusk, everyone watched the two goddesses as they sprinted after each other occasionally nipping and biting. Being inuyoukai, Sesshoumaru could understand the intimacy that the mother and daughter shared. All inuyoukai played and kept in close contact with their family members.

Inuyasha groaned as he woke up. 'Man, she delivers a painful blow, when did she become so strong? Or powerful?' He got up slowly, starting to piece things together. Standing up, he could see everyone huddled together, quite close to his wretched half brother. Surprised to say the least, they, to him, seemed at ease even with him so close. A closer look told him that this was not the case. Their bodies were tense, but their faces were filled with wonder and awe. He started up the hill.

When he got to the top, his expression became like everyone else's. Playing in the field below him, two heavenly foxes played.

"Who are they?" He asked in a whisper, afraid to speak louder. Everyone jumped, but didn't make a sound.

"That's two goddesses. The black one is Nyx, and the other one is her daughter, Hemera." They chorused, sounding confused. They were. How could Inuyasha see them?

"Nyx looks familiar, who is she?" He said more to himself than anyone else. However, he saw everyone tense. Sesshoumaru looked up from the scene. After having a short debate with himself he decided to tell his bother the truth.

"That," He started, "Is your dear Kagome." Everyone looked at him, aghast. He gave away the secret. They looked back at Kagome quickly. Kagome suddenly stopped playing and looked with narrowed eyes at Sesshoumaru. She started toward them. Then she stopped in front of him.

"Do you know what you have done?" She hissed angrily. Her whole body glowed pink for a moment and she closed her eyes. Then she backed away a little bit. She opened her eyes and everyone gasped. Her eyes were pink.

"You have now endangered this girls life! By telling Inuyasha who she actually was when she was with her daughter, you have made it so she can be seen by anyone! You have betrayed our trust. We will no longer allow you near this child unless she comes to you herself!" She said quietly, but it rang loudly with authority in everyone's ears.

"Who are you?" Sesshoumaru asked calmly. In no way was he going to stay away from her - He felt attracted to her in a way he couldn't explain.

"We are the Shikon no Tama. However, at the same time, I am Midoriko." A gasp was heard. Kagome turned. Sango and Miroku were staring open mouthed at her. Quickly they gathered their wits and bowed, even Shippo and Kilala. Kagome smiled softly.

"You may rise, Sango, reincarnation of my dear friend. Kilala, my only companion. Miroku, wise, but lecherous, monk. Shippo, my reincarnation's son she never had. You have remained loyal to my reincarnation and to yourselves. You will be blessed when you most need it." She said kindly. They all rose. Then realisation dawned. Shock covered all their faces.

"K-Kagome is your reincarnation?" Sango was the first to recover. Kagome nodded, still smiling her foxy smile. Then her face hardened again as she faced Sesshoumaru.

"Do you understand, youkai? You are not to go near this girl. At all." She spat coldly. Sesshoumaru nodded. Then he just left. Kagome faced Hemera.

"You may go home now." She said.

"Yes, mother." Hemera nodded. "Goodnight." At this Kagome smiled.

"I'm sure it will be child." She said as she watched Hemera leave. Kagome's eyes returned to being silver then she collapsed. Sango rushed over immediately, Miroku and everyone else followed at a slower pace. Inuyasha even slower still, feeling guilty and responsible about what had taken place.

Kagome came to slowly, taking everything in. Everyone's aura was there, but, where was Sesshoumaru's?