Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha characters nor do I make any money off writing this story. It is just an outlet from my mandatory writing I have to do for school.

A/N: Thank you all who have reviewed thus far. I am glad you all enjoy my story and my twists. And someone had asked me about Kagome if she was half and half or all miko. The answer is she is half Miko and half Demon. I am sorry if that was not fully clear in the last chapter. As for the other two questions they will be answered as well.

~*~*~*~ Chapter Ten: Kagome's Return ~*~*~*~

The rolling sound of thunder resounded through the plains as the young miko arrived on the other side of the well. The normal blue light lit up the sky from the well then faded away. Kagome looked up towards the dark rain cloud covered sky, "Some welcoming." She said softly as she adjusted the pack strap on her shoulder her mother had given with her filled with supplies. She grabbed a hold of the vines growing on the side of the well she began to pull herself up on the slick wet vines. She let out a frustrated groan, "Kagome?" came a gruff male voice. The young miko's eyes looked up believing she was hearing things now. "Whose there?" She called out waiting for a reply.

The shaggy red hair of Kai's peeked over the edge of the well, the young girls face lit up as his emerald green eyes came into view. Those eyes told her a whole different story than they did when she left. His eyes were tired and filled with concern, the fox general mustered up a smile. "So you decided to come back to us." He said as he reached his callused clawed hand down to the miko effortlessly lifting her out of the dried up well.

Kagome reached her hand out to trace a cut on the demon general's cheek. Something had happened she could tell by the look in her eyes. She tried to read deeper into the expression in his eyes but he turned his head away before she had the chance to understand the change in the general. "Kai, what has happened to you? What has transpired since I left?" She let out a surprised squeal as she was hauled into the strong demon arms.

"I will explain later Lady Kagome. There are to many eyes and ears out here for my liking." He said as he carried the miko bridal style in his arms running towards the closest village, Edo. Kagome looked towards the town of Edo with a confused look in her eyes. She did not understand why they were going towards the town instead of the western palace. She needed to talk to Sesshomaru not everyone else. The young miko's chocolate eyes squinted as she looked towards the village there was a powerful spiritual barrier around the town, this was something new and unexpected. "Kai you can't go in there the barrier will surely purify you!" She cried out as she noticed they were not slowing down. She looked up at the handsome face of the demon which now carried a smirk he was determined to defy her or just scare her. "Kai!!" She screamed as they got closer to the barrier. The demon general let out a laugh of pure joy at the girl screaming in his arms as they easily were admitted into the village of Edo.

Kai slowed to a stop in the middle of the village. He gently and carefully placed the Miko on her feet he stayed close to her side till he was sure she could stand on her own. Kagome's attention was not focused on staying upright or the demon general standing protectively beside her. Her chocolate eyes began to fill with tears as she looked around the village. "What has happened?" She whispered the question grief was laced into her words. As she scanned the village she saw it in a dilapidated state. The once flourishing village was now crumbling as if a army had stormed through the village raiding every home and not caring to be careful with any homes or personal belongings. The village of Edo was now a ghost town, only a few villagers stayed to try and rebuild their lives but was harder than it sounded. They had lost everything their homes, crops, and loved ones.

Kai's emerald green eyes scanned the destroyed village, "Kyra is behind this." As the name passed his lips he could feel the Miko's temper flair he was glad he was not going to be on the receiving end the young woman's temper. "After you left Sesshomaru began acting weird. Akira is locked in the dungeon in the castle and he does everything the wench tells him to do." He let out a deep sigh, "Kagome…" he said drawing the girl's attention to him. "I am sorry to be the one to tell you this but lady Kaede fought against the army to try and save her village and died in the process. She lives on in spirit still protecting this village with the barrier we passed through." The demon general was quick on his feet as he caught Kagome who grew weak in the knees from the news. Her tutor had passed into the afterlife and she was not here to try and help or protect the village from the demon army that had descended onto her second home. Her vision began to become blurry as tears impaired her vision.

"Why?" was the only word the young miko could get out in her state of grief and shock. She leaned her body weight into the demon general in fear she would fall if she did not lean on someone or something. The young miko felt as if the wind had been knocked out from her and her whole world had been pulled out from under her. "Why would someone come in here and destroy this village? Why did Kyra order this to happen?"

Kai sighed helping the young Miko into a tent he had been living in while in this village. He had come to the village as soon as he heard word of Kyra's plans he came in an attempt to warn the village but had arrived to late to do much help. He knew Kagome would ask these questions but he still regretted having to give her the truth he could not lie to his friend. "Kyra commanded this because she was looking for you. She said something about looking for the sacred jewel guardian and believed you would be here knowing the last guardian Kikyo had resided here." He watched the emotionless face of the miko for any sign she was absorbing everything he said. Kai eased her onto his cot of a bed sitting on the ground infront of her holding her hands as any form of comfort to the young girl. "I know this is hard for you but your other friends are here too and more than willing to help us rebuild this village. And I give you my word I will protect you till the very end against this new evil Kagome." He said with true concern in his voice, Kagome slowly nodding her head as she tried to wrap her mind around the new information.

Kagome snapped out of the trance light state with a look of pure panic in her eyes, "Where are Rin and Shippo? It cannot be safe for them to be left alone in the western palace!"

Kai smiled watching the young girl she truly had a large heart to care so much about everyone else even in her state of shock. "The children are here. I made sure they were brought here safely, your friend Sango and her fire cat helped in the process." He stood brushing her bangs from her forehead placing a gentle brotherly kiss on her forehead. "Rest now. Dinner will be ready soon and I will come retrieve you. Then you can see your friends and the children. They will be more than thrilled to see you alive and well." He said knowing she needed some time alone to understand everything he had just dealt her. Kai paused at the entrance of the tent for a moment looking back at Kagome who sat there unmoving he knew her mind must be racing. He slipped out silently leaving her to her own thoughts.

Kagome buried her face in her hands shaking her head, "No, no, no!" She said letting out a frustrated groan. "This has to be a dream. I have to be dreaming all this cannot be bestowed on me at once. First my mother tells me I am part demon and part priestess and now this news. What else could go wrong?" She froze as the words passed her lips, "No do not even say that Kagome that always seems to bring more bad news." She said as she continued on her rant she paused in the middle of her rant as warm comforting aura wrapped around her senses and the scent of lavender soothed the wearing and troubled soul of the young miko. Her chocolate brown eyes became heavy from exhaustion "Rest" came the soft voice of Lady Luna as she kept watch over the troubled young girl. Kagome laid her wearing head on the soft feather pillow and was asleep faster than she realized.

Kagome was left to rest through out the night none dared to wake her in fear of having a upset friend on their hands. No one wanted to see their friend upset but they knew they could not avoid it forever. As the sun filtered into the tent Kagome's eyes fluttered open looking around curiously. "So it was not a dream." She said softly to herself as she slowly sat up on the cot rubbing the sleep from her eyes she was thankful for being allowed to sleep but still wished this would all be one bad nightmare. Her head snapped up at the sound of the flap of the tent opening before she had a chance to react she was tackled onto the floor by two overly excited children.

"Mama! I was so worried you wouldn't come back this time." Shippo said as he attached himself to the left side of the young woman who he idolized as his mother.

Rin quickly attached herself to the right side of Kagome it had been a hard week for the young girl. First the woman she hoped to be her mother one day up and leaves her and Shippo behind. Now her father figure was acting weird and the woman who she did not care for one bit had tried to get rid of her more than once. "Kagome you have to help Lord Sesshomaru!" She said with pleading eyes looking up at Kagome.

Kagome pulled both of the children into a tight embrace never before had she been so happy to see the two rambunctious children. She kissed both children's heads. "I will help Sesshomaru Rin but we must come up with a plan on how to do it or we will not succeed. But do not fret I will return him back to his old self for you." She said smiling down at the young girl while thinking 'I will do anything to see you two smiling again.'

====The Western Castle=====

Sesshomaru was pacing his study his claws kept scratching at the shard embedded in the back of his neck. He let out a frustrated growl as his claws dug deeper into the already gashed and bleeding skin. The shard caused him more pain than anyone could imagine, this shard was not made to control others minds being used in this way caused the shard to cause pain to the bearer of the shard. He had lived with the shard for the week, many of his servants now lived with the same shards in their backs. Kyra had taken control of his castle being the bearer of the majority of the jewel in her possession it obeyed her every command. In a rare fit of rage the demon lord slammed his fist into the wall. His amber eyes looked up at the window beside him he looked out onto his lands, they were slowly dying chaos was breaking out in all the villages he was responsible for he did not know how much longer he could hold out until his mind gave fully into the power of the jewel in his back and become Kyra's slave completely. "Kagome…" he said in a desperate voice he knew she had the power to end his suffering and his lands suffering he could only pray she would return to them soon.

Kyra smirked as she sat in the throne room her deadly claws drumming on the ivory arm of the thrown. She had a wonderful view of the western lands that were now in her hands. Her amber eyes fell upon the darkening sacred jewel hanging from her neck. "Give into the power Sesshomaru. You are so close." She said grinning knowing as soon as he submitted the jewel would be fully tainted to her command.

A/N: I am sooooo sorry for not updating lately.