Beneath the Blood Red Moon

Summary: The group has finally killed Naraku, but at a price. Many lives were killed, but Kagome's purpose was finished and she was ready to go home. However, when she gets to the well the Lady Midoriko appears, telling Kagome the truth of her origins. Midoriko sends her 'home'. Almost like a reversed life, she goes home to her father and older fraternal twin sister. With memories of the more or less 'demonic' past, and now a future with a new family she hadn't seen since she was only a baby, how will Kagome fair?

Anime: InuYasha/Saiunkoku Monogatari

Couple: Kagome/Kouyuu

Genre: Romance/Adventure/Historical

Rated: M (''^o^'')

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Home Is Where the Spirit is!

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Kagome had immediately felt the warm embrace of the sun that hung high above her. She enjoyed this feeling, and was happy to have it, but still...she felt uneasy being home...

She turned and faced Midoriko.

"Lady Midoriko, what do I say? 'Hi, I'm the daughter that you sent to the future to save the past that would save our future. How have you been?'...I don't know about you, but that just doesn't seem like the worlds greatest greeting."

"Hehe, Kagome dear, you worry too much; and over the silliest of things."

"It isn't silly!"

"Of course it isn't, I'm sorry. I suppose what I meant to say was; you will know the right words when you see your family, so don't fret over it."

"..." Kagome frowned, "What if he doesn't wan't me?"

"Kagome! Your father is a respectable, loving, kind and honorable man; he would never abandon his daughter!" She bonked Kagome on the head for even letting the idea cross her mind.

"Ouch! Okay, okay...but...don't you think I stand out in this time?"

"Hmm?" She glanced down at Kagome's modern time clothing and chuckled. "I guess it will be proof of your story."

"Wait! Aren't you telling him?"

"Huh? Me? Of course not! You have a voice of your own, it's time you start using it! I can't lead you anymore than I already have; it's time for you to take control of your own future, your own way."

"I understand."

"...good; then it's time I go." Midoriko stepped before Kagome and pointed to a large wall and wooden double door entrance. "That is the Kou Residence. Now keep in mind, you her home close to the Imperial Palace, so you'll se many oddities happening, avoid being conspicuous. Also, see if Shouka will bring you some books to read from the Archives."

"Can't I go get them myself?"

"Ah...well about that. You see, woman can't enter the Imperial Palace unless the Emperor requests it themselves or they are apart of the Emperor's Harem. This is China, Kagome; not Japan, the laws are different."

"Not by too much; woman were not aloud to do much of anything for quite a while in Japan too. I will learn, hopefully I can stay out of trouble until I do."

"I am sure you'll figure something out."

"I'm sure,"

"I must be on my way, take care, Kagome."

Kagome watched as Midoriko bowed to her and faded away. Kagome blinked some tears away before bowing to nothing, "Goodbye Lady Midoriko..." She stood up straight and let her hand wander to her hilt; a since of reassurance built deep within her. 'I can do this...' She straightened up and walked forward towards the doors that had been pointed out to her by Midoriko. The walls were wearing and the roof looked to be falling apart. It wasn't unbearable though, but it could use some work. She walked through the large gate doors and followed the stone pathway up to the front door. Or should she say, the front slide screen rice paper door.

'This is in-between the future and the past, obviously...but please...tell me that they at least have showers...or a bathtub would even do.' She knocked close to the screen door and waited patiently. She could hear footsteps from behind the screen and closed her eyes nervously.

The door slid open and she kept her eyes shut. "Uh...may I help you?"

She heard a young mans voice and opened her eyes. "Oh, uh...i-is there a...Kou Shouka that lives here?"

"...yes, please come in. I will inform him that he has a visitor."

"I...I'm not a visitor."

"Oh? Who are you?"

"M-My name?" Kagome suddenly recalled the words Midoriko told her only seconds ago. 'You have a voice of your own, it's time you start using it!' She straightened up and pushed her nervousness and anxiety out of her before speaking. Her voice strong and full of pride; though for what...she wasn't sure yet, but she would find out soon. "My name is Kou Kagome; I am the youngest daughter of Kou Shouka!" She said boldly. The young man before her froze and his eyes widened. Now that she looked at him, she remembered Midoriko told her that she didn't have a brother, so the boy was a mystery to her. He had a platinum shade of long hair that fell past his shoulders a bit and teal eyes that were currently wide in shock and uncertainty; but what drew her attention to him the most were the calluses adorning his hands, no doubt from training with a sword. Yes, his hands resembled her own, only hers were less obvious.

"I...I see, please follow me." He opened the screen door wider and she stepped in. Closing the door behind her, he motioned her into a waiting room before closing a screen door and moving to find Shouka.

Kagome sighed and sat down. Patiently, she waited for her father to arrive.

"Now, Seiran, calm down. Are you sure you heard her right?"

Kagome heard a few minutes later. The voice sounded kind, and humor was laced within his words, which worried her. She was afraid that he would take her as a joke, or perhaps a liar. Maybe he wouldn't even acknowledge her as that, or he would have her removed at first glance, or―

"Oh, well hello. Seiran wasn't lying, you really do resemble Shokun. At least that explains why he believes you so much."

"Well, do you mind if I ask you something first, to clear this up." He smiled and sat down across from her. Seiran watched from the doorway, not sure what to make of his guardians words.

"What do you mean?"

"If you are my daughter, then tell me...what have you been doing away from home?"

'If...!'

"You should know. I was living in the future, in Japan, during a time more advanced then this. You gave me to a woman named Midoriko when I was only a baby, or so she says. I was fifteen when I fell down a well and back in time five hundred years. Then I started an adventure with some oddities that I came to love and adore, searching for the fragments of a powerful jewel called the Shikon no Tama; trying to get it before a spiteful demon named Naraku did. Had he achieved the complete jewel, he would have wished for the entire human races' extinction to be carried out for years to come, through terror, horror, pain and anxiety. Fear would have enveloped the world and darkness would have embellished the future; this day would have never seen the light of day, but rather the flames of hell."

The mans closed eyes gave way to a tear, "...Ka-Kagome..."

Seiran was stalk still. 'He couldn't mean...this girl...is telling the truth?!'

Shouka moved to the side of her and embraced her in a hug. Kagome wasn't sure why, but her heart suddenly compressed at the feel of his strong arms around her. Her own, trembling arms, wound themselves around him as she hid her face in his shoulder. "This...is real?" She asked in a quiet voice. "Daddy..." The word was foreign, she had never really had the chance to use it. "Daddy!" She cried out, tears falling from her eyes. "I don't want to leave again, I want to stay here!"

"Don't worry, I won't let you go anyway. My little girl is home. Now, Shuurei can finally meet her little sister, again."

"..." Kagome let her father rub soothing circles on her back while he held her until her eyes fell heavily shut and sleep took her.

"Seiran, could you retrieve Shuurei for me. Don't tell her about this; just tell her that it's important."

He bowed, "Yes, Master-Shouka." He left with the objective of retrieving Shouka's other and oldest daughter.

'My Kagome, I'm so happy. My one regret...is that Shokun couldn't be here to see you too.'

He pulled her into his lap and leaned against the wall, hugging his youngest. He didn't want to let go, afraid that she would disappear from his life once more.

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Shuurei sighed; it was so weird for her to be back working as a teacher. Not that she could complain, but she really wished she could be back at the palace. She was worried for Ryuuki; of course, it still irked her that he pretended to be oblivious and played a 'foolish prince'. Yeah, that annoyed her, but he did save her life and put his fear of the dark behind him for her...and, well...she still wanted to be there, and cheering him on from the side and watching him progress from afar. Even if all she did was say small things like 'give it you best' or 'keep up the good work' she wanted to encourage him, somehow.

"My Lady, your father has requested me to get you."

"Eh!? But Seiran, I'm in the middle of class!"

"Nai Sensei, we will be alright."

"Touka-Chan,"

"Yeah, I'll keep an eye on everyone until you get back Shuurei-Sensei!"

"Hm, alright then. Ryuushin-Kun, Touka-Chan, I'll leave you two in charge, everyone behave and continue with the lesson. I will be back soon to see your progress."

"Hai, Shuurei-Sensei!"

She smiled before leaving her class. She walked over to a nearby shop and asked the owner to keep an eye on the school room while she was gone before continuing on with Seiran.

"What does father need?"

"...I will let him tell you, it isn't my place."

She frowned, 'Is it bad?'

Seiran looked deep in thought and it worried her. What had him so focused and dazed at the same time?

-x-x-x-

Seiran opened the door for Shuurei and the first thing that caught her eyes was her father embracing some woman she had never seen before. The second thing that caught her attention was that the woman was asleep and the third thing to catch her eyes was...she was no older then herself.

"...Father?"

"Shuurei, please take a seat. I have something important that I have long since needed, yet avoided, to tell you."

Nervously, Shuurei sat down across from Shouka, Seiran followed suit, hoping to get more insight into the story he had vaguely learned of.

"Firstly, to understand what I am about to say, you must first know who this girl is."

"..."

"Her name is Kagome, Kou Kagome. She is my youngest daughter, and your younger twin sister."

Shuurei's eyes widened in shock; was this possible?

"I and your mother, only eight months after yours and your sisters birth, were visited by a beautiful woman who spoke of an issue that needed to be resolved. She told us that the youngest of our daughters was meant for a future in another time, another place, where she would be a great hero. She asked for us to give her pur youngest, and we declined."

"..." Shuurei was still getting over the fact that she had a younger twin sister, but still she listened.

"However, she had brightly shined with a violet hue and spoke of the destruction that would be brought down upon our family, our friends, our world, if Kagome didn't go with her to fulfill her chosen future. So, with great reluctance, we gave the woman, the Lady Midoriko, our youngest daughter. We prayed for her safe return, day in and day out, but still, we feared that we would never see her again, so we kept it to ourselves. Now however, she is home and I have no intention of letting her go again. I can only hope that you will find it in yourself, to forgive me, and welcome her. She was destined to be a hero...and return a hero. Something similar to that was told to us by Lady Midoriko, but I could care less now that she's home. I just don't want to lose her again."

"...where...where di this 'Lady Midoriko' take her?" Shuurei asked, her eyes trained on the sleeping girl, or 'Kagome'.

"I myself am unsure, but I believe details can be discussed later, when she has settled in. Seiran, I was hoping that you could explain the rules and guidelines of this era to her. She didn't grow up with our lifestyle, so I thought it would help. Shuurei, do you think you could let her join you on a couple of your daily activities; let her get to know her home and its surrounding area?"

"Sure, but is that alright? How does she feel about all of this? I, for my part, am still trying to comprehend these details. I'm trying to understand why now of all times she's here, and not before. What could have hindered her return for fifteen and a half years? Where was she? What perilous past did she have to endure, to save our future?" Shuurei sighed, "I suppose I can ask those questions later, for now...let's get her in bed."

"Let me My Lady," Seiran moved to Kagome and picked her up from his Guardians lap. "Should we decide which room to give her, permanently?"

"There is one next to mine that's not being used." Shuurei said, opening the door for Seiran and her father. "It has a bad in there, but no blankets or sheets. I'll go get those ready on the bed, if you can hold out a moment longer, Seiran."

"It's no problem. Your...sister is light. However, Master Shouka, could you please remove her sword, it's rather uncomfortable."

Shouka smiled, "Right," He stepped forward and started to remove the sheath from her sash.

"I am surprised she has one, but can she use it?" Shuurei asked.

Seiran glanced at the blade, "I'd like to find out."

Shouka paused in removing the blade and bopped Seiran on the head, "You will not bother her in hopes to see her draw her blade," He went back to untying the sash from the sword.

Shuurei left to retrieve the blankets, leaving the two with the family's newest addition.

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'These arms, they are not his...warm, yes...but not his.' Kagome felt movement on her side and her instincts kicked in. Her hand reached for her hilt and her eyes opened. She knocked the arms holding her away and landed crouched down on the floor with her sword drawn. She moved swiftly away, distancing herself from the young man. She got a good look at who she was about to strike and stood up straight, returning her blade into her sheath before bowing apologetically. "I'm sorry. I thought...I didn't know who was holding me, forgive me for my assertiveness."

"It's my fault, I should have kept you with me, and carried you myself. This is Seiran, and..."

"I set the bed up, you can bring her―" Kagome looked next to her where a girl her age stood. "She woke up?"

"And this is Shuurei. She is your older sister...by four minutes."

"Wow, a whole four minutes." Kagome smiled, "It's nice to meet you, Shuurei-San."

"Shuurei, just Shuurei." Shuurei smiled.

For the first time in a long time, Kagome felt...whole...she felt complete. She felt more completed then when Kikyou had died and given her the rest of her soul back. Yes, this was her home. This warmth that filled her body, heart and soul...it was the spirit that she had left behind; the spirit that linked her to this era, this country...and her home.

'I'm home...'

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Me: I hope you all enjoyed this next chapter, Please Read and Review and I'll update soon! Please Regard Me Kindly! ^_^''