Alright, Alright I KNOW! I'm a terrible person for making you all wait so long, AGAIN. but I'm a first year University kid, it's taken its toll on me. but on the upside, at least i haven't stopped writing and abandonded the story all together right? think positive and try not to flame me, I really am sorry.

So its almost done guys maybe 3 more chapters at the most. but we'll see, I have a 5 month summer coming up, i should actually be able to get some stuff done here!!

anyways hope you like this, its got some rather important stuff goin on! let me know :)

Summary: She wasn't a priestess, she wasn't even 17 years old, and she didn't come from the year 2007. It wasn't until after her death that Kagome learned the truth about who she was.

Chapter: The Pebble that Became a Jewel


Everything was quiet; the world all seemed at peace. For now at least.

Kagome stood on the balcony outside of Sesshomaru's bedchamber. The grand terrace overlooked the private garden which used to belong to Lady Saiyuri – Sesshomaru's mother – before she died. She could remember spending afternoons with Lady Saiyuri pulling weeds or watering certain patches, then again she could also remember an 8 year old human her helping her mother in the gardens at the shrine.

Everything was so jumbled up!

Kagome sighed as she watched the sun set and the lands were bathed in soothing golds and pinks. This remembering thing was not getting any easier.

Two strong arms encircled her waist and Kagome leaned back into the warm support of Sesshomaru's chest. "What's wrong?" he questioned intuitively.

She smiled, "right now I would probably be yelling at Inuyasha, telling him we needed to make camp for the night."

"Do you miss them?" he asked, Kagome could tell he was upset by the idea that she may want to be somewhere other than with him, of her being unhappy to be with him.

Turning around in his arms Kagome licked her hands up behind his neck. "If you're asking if I would rather be with them, then no, but I do miss my friends. I understand that you and your brother never got along, but he's my best friend, and he has saved me from danger on more than one occasion. I miss him and Sango and Miroku, and especially my little Shippo."

"Shippo?" Sesshomaru raised a brow.

"You don't think you were the only one to take in a surrogate child now do you?" the Goddess smirked, "You've raised Rin well you know. She is such a sweet young girl.

The corners of his mouth pulled up into a soft smile, "she's a great deal like you. It's why I could never let any harm come to her, she just reminded me to much of you. It seemed like I had been given a second chance," he looked away as he spoke this, "another chance to protect you. I had failed once but I wasn't going to let that happen again."

"Oh Sesshomaru," Kagome placed her hand gently on his pale cheek, directing his gaze once more at here, "you didn't fail me. There was nothing you could have done. Even you were too young at the time, not strong enough. It's different now we're older, stronger and together. With the help of the others we will defeat Naraku," Kagome gazed up into his smouldering orbs.

He pulled his clawed fingers through her silky locks, "and how, my love, do you intend to find the others and then track down Naraku?"

A small gust of wind danced past the couple, carrying with it a tiny flourish of leaves and flowers, a light laughter traveling along with it, "That my dear boy is what I am for." Sesshomaru turned to where the wind had settled to find his mothers former best friend standing there. He bowed deeply in respect. She smiled, "it's good to see you again Sesshomaru."

"Mom!" Kagome ran to her mother, the two women embracing happily, "I've missed you so much! I didn't think you would be back so soon."

"Neither did I my dear, but your father came to speak with me about how you were doing and your brother saw him come from the well house. Poor Souta nearly had a heart attack trying to tell me how this guy could be a demon disguised as a human." The older angel explained, chuckling quietly. "We decided that it was time our whole family came back, to be where we belong. Plus at least here I can help."

"Do you know where we can find Inuyasha and Naraku?" Sesshomaru asked.

"Yes… Well, sort of. I know where they will be soon. Kagome's father and brother have set a false trail for Naraku to the Central Lands, her grandmother has sent Inuyasha and the others that way as well and I am ensuring that you have an audience of Demons and humans alike to see both our kinds work together, and to learn the truth behind all that has happened these years. To finally put an end to this feud."

"So it will end where it all began then," Kagome nodded. "How long do we have?"

"Set out tomorrow when the sun in the center of the sky and you will arrive when you are needed, no earlier and no later," Lady Korari answered.

"Mom, you said grandmother was leading Inuyasha and the pack to the Central Lands? Shouldn't she be careful, she could get hurt, she isn't that strong," Kagome said concern evident in her voice.

Korari laughed, "Oh Kagome, your grandmother may be partially stuck in that jewel but she is still a deity. We're stronger than you remember. Now I must go. Good luck my darlings, be safe and protect one another." The Angel paused a moment and moved towards Sesshomaru, "It is good to see you again. I know my Kagome is safe with you." And suddenly she vanished in a gush of wind and leaves.

Both were silent for a time, each thinking of what was to come. Kagome looked back at Sesshomaru, her Sesshomaru. He had changed quiet a bit since she had been apart from him. His previously soft, boyish features had matured into sharper more distinguished features, his markings becoming more prominent, his hair longer and he was taller and wore much more regal clothing. But it was his eyes that had changed the most. Before he had had eyes like liquid amber, soft and loving, but over the years they had become cold, bleak and unmoving stones of amber, as if nothing was there – or as if something was missing.

Kagome had noticed though that they had softened slightly since she had been with him again. She smiled sweetly when he turned his gaze to her, "I have much to tell you love. About what has become of my family and what has become of yours since the fall of the Great City."

"My family?" Sesshomaru was confused.

"Both your mother and your father," Kagome smiled, placing a finger on his lips as she saw him about to interject. "Live together in the heavens with my parents as members of their court. You don't honestly think that my family would allow yours to go un-honoured? Especially when both of their deaths were because of the war and because they were protecting of my family." Kagome stopped him from speaking once more, knowing what he would say, "Yes, your father did die protecting my family. Inuyasha's birth and parentage was planned. Inuyasha's job was to protect me until I could come back to you, and he did a fine job of that, it was your mother who selected Izaiyo to be your fathers second mate, she knew that it had to be a half-demon who accompanied me through this journey, and Izayio had been a dear childhood friend of your mothers. It is why she showed such compassion towards you."

"My mother?" Sesshomaru blinked in surprise.

"Yes my love, your mother was responsible for the birth of your brother and your father honoured her choice. Also, you must know a little of the Shikon Jewel. There is much more to it than what the stories tell. I need you to tell me what you already know of it," Kagome spoke seriously now.

It took him a moment to push aside what he had just learned about him family before he could focus, but when he did he thought for only a moment before speaking, "I don't know much. What I do know is that it was created by a Miko named Midoriko – at the time I thought it was only coincidence that her name was the same as your grandmothers. I know that this Miko trapped herself and a group of powerful rouge demons that attacked her village inside of the Jewel. And that she still fights within it and that the being whom possess the stone has access to great powers."

Kagome smiled, "if only it was that easy, but that is not the real story. Shortly after my family had been attacked there was a great uprising of demons against many human villages and my grandparents had to find some way to stop them. So my grandmother disguised herself as a human Miko and went to the villages that had been attacked to help them recover. After awhile she was able to determine where the demons would attack next and made sure that she was there before they were. She was able to drive the demons back into a cave where she fought them continuously, but they were relentless. Finally she used most of her energy and sealed them into a pebble from the ground, but with them she also had to seal away part of herself – that way the pebble would not become tainted with pure evil. It's that amount of pure and evil mixed energy that turned the small pebble into the Shikon Jewel. But because my grandmother did this she has become weak and is only partially 'here' so to speak. She is transparent and her power has diminished while part of her has been sealed away. If Naraku gets the jewel and fully taints it with his evil my grandmother will die. We need to get the jewel back so that I can purify it and release her."

Sesshomaru stood quietly, trying to process everything he had just learned. Finally he nodded, "the we will just have to go kill Naraku won't we?"

The Great Goddess brightened, "yes!"

The previously cold Demon Lord then took a step forward, bringing himself to stand just in front of Kagome, slowly he brushed a straying lock of silky ebony out of her face and tucked it behind her ear, "and once this is all over? What do you intend to do then my Koi?"

Slipping her hand around his pale wrist Kagome pulled it down and gently stroked the magenta strips that adorned it. "I plan to re-build the Central Lands and bring our people together again. That is, if you're willing to come back to the Central Lands with me."

"I would go anywhere if it meant that I could stay with you," Sesshomaru whispered before dipping his head down to press his lips to hers for the first time in a few hundred years, how he had missed her. When he pulled back he looked into the face of the one woman he had always lobed. No matter what he would always love her.

Kagome smiled, "I knew my Sesshomaru was in there." His eyes had softened into a liquid gold, finally his cold mask gone and a light smile tugged at his lips. 'This' was her Demon Lord, her Sesshomaru. Wrapping her small arms around his waist she rested her head against his broad chest. "Tomorrow marks the beginning of the end."

:: With the others ::

The sun was just barely peeking over the tall hills and already the inu-group was up and cleaning camp. Everyone had been mostly quite, each in their own world, still awaking. Suddenly the quite was broken though, when Kikyo spoke loud enough fro all to hear, but her eyes remained directed at the ground, "I agree that we should go to the Central Lands.

Inuyasha jumped up, "What?! You can't! Why would you suddenly agree with Sango and Miroku? Kikyo this is a TRAP, Naraku will NOT be there!!!"

Kikyo held her ground and looked up, catching Sango's eye, "we need to go to the Central Lands – I know we do."

"Kikyo we-" Inuyasha started, but was quickly interrupted.

"What do you know?" Sango asked.

"I might be dead, but I am still a Shikon Miko, I'm still able to feel the energy of the Jewel," Kikyo responded coolly, her eyes meeting Sango's. But kikyo could tell that Sango did not believe her, and rightly so for all she had done. "My soul has already been damned to hell, but I will not let my little sister die by the same hands I did. If Naraku gets the Jewel many people will die, including Keada. I'm asking you to trust me Sango."

The fearless demon slayer was speechless, Kikyo's eyes conveyed honesty and sincere concern for her sister, similar to the concern Sango held for her younger brother, Kohhaku. This was also the first time Kikyo had addressed her by name. Finally she nodded, "alright, we will go to the Central Lands."

"Wait! What?!" Inuyasha yelled, "you can't make those decisions, even Kagome wouldn't fall for that trap!" the moment the sentence came out of his mouth Inuyasha paled.

Everyone stilled.

It had become almost a rule that none of them were to mention Kagome's name after the first few week following her death.

"I-I didn't mean to….." Inuyasha stammered.

Miroku, who stood next to Sango, a hand gentle placed on her shoulder in comfort, spoke up, "we're going to the Central Lands."

This time Inuyasha didn't argue.

So it was decided. With that the camp was cleared and they began to make their way to the Sacred Central Lands.

The journey was made in silence and 3 hours after they had begun their travel, they came to the edge of the forest. In front of them was a tall hill, "maybe the Central Lands don't actually exist, shouldn't we have come to them yet?" Inuyasha suggested as they made their way up the hill.

Just after the sentence was out they crested the hill and everyone stopped. Expanding before them was without a doubt the ruined remains of what was once a majestic city. The old buildings went on for a few miles at least and on a hill overlooking the city was what could only be assumed as the formerly wondrous palace. But that wasn't what mostly caught the groups' attention.

Just below them, at the edge of the City Gates were two very large groups. The group to the left were humans, all with weapons, but none were raise like they were about to fight or ready for attack. To the right was a group of Demons, but again none of the looked they were about to fight.

Between the 2 groups stood 3 figures – 3 figures different from all the rest. A man and a woman stood near the Demons and one woman before the humans.

Inuyasha took a step back out of shock. "H-how?"

"What is it Inuyasha?" Sango asked, concerned for her friend.

"My mother…." Inuyasha paled, "and my father."

Everyone looked more closely now, and in fact it was true, the man below was without a doubt the former Demon Lord of the Western Lands, the Great Inutashio. Across from him, standing before the humans was a very beautiful woman who shared many similar features with Inuyasha, clearly his mother, Izayio.

"But who is that Demoness standing with your father?" Sango put voice to the question on everyone's minds.

Inuyasha knew instinctively who the other woman was, recognized her from a painting he had seen when he was just a young child. But he still couldn't believe it. "Sesshomaru's mother."

The group watched as these three spirits spoke with the two groups of people. All amazed by the simple fact that both groups seemed so willing to listen.

Finally, after a few minutes, the former Lord and Ladies of the West turned towards the Inu-group, all smiling. The three met in the middle of the groups and linked hands.

Inutashio smiled and inclined his head in acknowledgment of his youngest son; Izayio blew a kiss and waved lightly. Even Sesshomaru's mother nodded politely to him. Then they just vanished, gone as if they had never been there to begin with.

"Were they real?" Miroku asked, completely perplexed by the entire situation.

"Look," Kikyo pointed down to the groups.

Everyone looked to see that two smaller groups broke off, one from each group, and began to make their way up the hill towards the Inu-group. Curious as to what was going on the group started down the hill to meet half way.

When they finally met it was the largest of the Demons, a cougar demon, which was the first to speak, "Inuyasha, second born son to the great Dog Demons, Lord Inutashio?"

Warily Inuyasha stepped forward, "Why are you all here?"

"We have been asked to witness your battle," one of the humans answered.

"'our battle'?" Sango echoed.

Another of the demons was first to speak this time, "Naraku is coming. We have been asked by the spirits of the Great Lord and the Ladies of the West to not interfere, for we are to witness what has been the cause of all our strife.'

"'The Great Lord and Ladies'?" this time Miroku questioned the words used.

"Lord Inutashio and his mates, Lady Saiyuri and Lady Izayio. They say that you must begin the battle, but aid will arrive and they will defeat Naraku, the creature responsible for their separation." The same human responded.

"He will arrive soon, you should prepare," a second human man finally spoke up.

The demons nodded in agreement and with nothing more to say the groups departed leaving the Inu-group confused and stunned.

"We don't need any help!" Inuyasha finally muttered.

"Who could be coming to help us?" Sango asked, more to herself than anyone else.

Miroku watched as the Humans and Demons all dissipated into the forest surrounding the valley and city, as the others muttered to themselves.

"Whoever they are, they best be ready to fight, because it looks as if it's about to begin," Kikyo's voice drew everyone's attention to where she was looking.

Sure enough, not far off, malevolent clouds of a dark purple miasma were building up and rushing towards them.

"How ironic that this is the place where I will finally defeat you Inuyasha and claim the Jewel for myself," the sickening laughter of Naraku filled the valley. "I will destroy you here today, same as I destroyed your brothers family!"

:: Earlier With Sesshomaru ::

He had been given many names over the years, starting with 'Great young Lord' and in the more recent years 'Cold-Hearted Beast' and 'Killing Perfection', but none so well known as his title of 'Human Hater'. Now, as Sesshomaru leaned against the railing of his balcony watching the horizon as the sky turned from dark blue to lighter purples and reds.

But it was not true, he was not a human hater – never could he bring himself to hate the people loved so dearly by his Kagome, even if he had been lead to believe that they were responsible for her death, she had always had faith in them. Though he may not have hated them, he was not fond of them, because they reminded him of her. And now she had returned to him, it was as if she had never been gone in the first place.

Taking in a slow, deep breath through his nose Sesshomaru was soothed by the soft scents of Vanilla and Roses with just a touch of cinnamon, he felt the feather light touch of her hands as they slipped around his chest from behind him and her head lean against his shoulders.

Placing his bigger hand around her much smaller one Sesshomaru squeezed lightly, "the sun rises, and soon we will have our revenge my love."

"Many lives have been lost because of Naraku, I will not see your brother and my friends lost as well, we will defeat him." Kagome nodded, "the time has come that we be on our way. We must finish this battle"

Without breaking her hold around him, Sesshomaru turned in her arms and wrapped his around her slim shoulders, "only this time, we will do it together."

"I wouldn't have it any other way," she smiled back at him.

The time had come for them to finally get their revenge, to fix what had been destroyed so many years ago, something they could only do together. With a deep breath from both Sesshomaru summoned his demonic cloud and Kagome released her wings from concealment and they took off into the sky.

:: With Inuyasha ::

"You sick bastard!" Inuyasha shouted as he looked around for Naraku, "you will pay for everything you have done. Today you die Naraku, you can't escape this time! SHOW YOURSELF!!"

"There is nothing you can do win Inuyasha, you cannot win. Without your precious Miko you are nothing, the Jewel can't be purified," Naraku laughed again, as he suddenly appeared before them.

The sky had darkened and Sango could hear the screeching of hundreds of demons as they blocked out the sun.

The group arranged themselves in their fighting stances. Inuyasha, with tetsigua out and transformed stood next to Kikyo who had her bow at the ready. Over to the left Sango held tightly to Hiridkouts, crouched down slightly, just a few feet away from her Miroku held to his prayer beads, prepared to unleash his wind-tunnel if necessary. They had left Shippo behind in hopes of protecting him form any danger, and with him Kirara.

This was only going to win one of two ways. They would win, or they would die. Either way, Naraku wasn't going to live to see another day.

And so it began.

:: With the others ::

The sounds of children laughing and playing joyfully could be heard throughout the prosperous village of the Demon Slayers. It was a crisp fall afternoon, the warm orange sun shining down on the happy families, a group of Slayers having just returned, successful, and all unharmed, the people were all at peace.

A group of young boys a girls played together close by the home of the village head, from which a girl, approximately 13 years old, sat quietly overlooking the children while cleaning and tending to a small pile of metallic weapons.

"sister, come and play with us," called out one of the boys from the group.

The girl smiled, "not today Kohhaku, I still have much work to do, you have fun," she called back.

As the children continued to play amongst themselves an older gentleman came out form within the main house and sat next to the girl, quietly watching the children play.

Finally, after a few minutes of silence, the man spoke, "one day Sango this village will be yours to protect, and those children will be your Slayers to command and care for."

Sango turned to the man, "but father, Kohhaku should be the one to take charge of the village, not me."

Her father turned to her, his face serious, "you know as well as I do Sango, your brother is no fighter. This village needs a strong leader like you, Kohhaku knows that."

Sango just nodded, she truly did know, that In truth Kohhaku was not a fighter, she would have to be the one to take on the village.

"I trust you to watch over and protect these people just as you protect your brother. You'd never let him down, just like you'd never let me down Sango," her father smiled as he patted her on the shoulder.

/////////////

It was sometime mid-day, though the temple grounds were dark, thick grey clouds having blocked the sun out many hours before. The rain that fell from them was cold and unending. Fitting for the day.

Standing alone, out near the open gates of the temple stood a small boy, maybe 7 or 8 at the most, cold and wet, staring out towards the small graveyard where a set of men piled the last of the dirt onto a recently occupied grave.

The boy's mother.

"Miroku, child, come in from the rain," came the call of the boy's new guardian, a middle-aged monk.

When Miroku didn't move the monk left the cover of his house and made his way into the rain towards the boy.

When he finally reached the child the young boy looked up "Mushin, is momma with dad now?"

The old monk sighed sadly, "Yes Miroku, your mother couldn't be happy without your father, so Kami took her to be with him so she could be happy once more. Now let's go inside."

Miroku finally began to move forward but his eyes were now trained onto his hand, "I'm gonna disappear too, like dad, aren't I Mushin?"

The old monk stayed quiet for a moment before he spoke, "I don't know Miroku. If the creature that did this to you and your father can be found, then maybe it can be fixed."

The small boy looked up at his mentor through the rain, "What do I do until then?"

"Find yourself a beautiful woman to bear your children," Mushin smiled. If only he knew the effect those words would have on the young Miroku's mind…

:: Back to present ::

Inuyasha and Kikyo made eye contact as both dodged yet another attack aimed at them from Naraku. Both had lost so much to this Jewel, to Naraku.

Kikyo had sacrificed her childhood to learn how to protect the Jewel, she had lost Inuyasha because of Naraku and her life because of both.

Inuyasha had lost Kikyo, the woman who had stolen his heart, he had lost 50 years of his life and he had also lost Kagome.

Kagome who he had sworn to protect no matter what. She had had nothing to do with the jewel, it wasn't her fault she was Kikyo's reincarnation. He had failed to keep her safe like he had promised her he would. Yet again he had failed to protect one of the people he loved most in his world.

Naraku would pay.

Or at least he hoped.

At this rate they would never win. For every hit they got in on Naraku, two more were returned. Luckily they had not lost their energy yet, but it wouldn't be long now before it began to wane.

Just then, as hope began to be lost, a streak of pink shot through the clearing and slashed through a few of Naraku's tentacles, purifying and disintegrating then upon impact. He screamed out in anguish and rage.

The Inu-tachi looked among one another, in attempts of figure out who had shot the arrow, but the only one of them who had that type of power, to create a purifying arrow was kikyo, who at the moment, had her bow over her shoulder. She was not the one who had taken the shot.

A dark snarl ripped though Naraku's lips as he looked up and caught sight of who had shot him, "You! You're supposed to be dead!"

Everyone turned slightly, looking to see who it was.

Everyone gasped.

There, in her trademark skirt and sailor shirt she stood. Bow raised with another arrow knocked in and pulled taught. As if she had never been gone, looking just as she had the last time they had seen her.

Kagome.


Yes i left it on another cliff-hanger, you should all be used to this by now.

The next chapter will be the big one, so heads up on that!!

Anyways I hope you all liked it, and you have to let me know, it keeps me writing.

the more reviews i get the faster my next chapter comes out! (its true, everytime i get a review i remember i need to write more and i open up the story and get to work)

Much love,

Aya-Chan