10. What Rings True

It was only polite to let Kagome recover before bombarding her with questions that Yori wasn't sure she wanted answered. Kagome had rested for a few days, regaining her strength and recovering from her wounds, and the group made an unanimous decision to travel towards Lady Kaede's house where, Inuyasha claimed, Miroku and Sango would no doubt be awaiting their return in a spot previously chosen as a monthly check spot by the group. Yori was a little confused at this, she couldn't fathom for what reason they would need a monthly check point. But she simply nodded her head and went with the plan.

They'd been walking for two days when Kagome suggested they stop to rest.

"Are you feeling okay?" Yori asked Kagome, sitting on a nearby boulder.

"Much better thanks to you. I have to admit though, when Naraku first showed me to you and you didn't do anything, I thought you'd forgotten who I was." Yori shook her head.

"I didn't help you because he would have imprisoned me as well had he known I remembered you. I didn't want us to spend the rest of our lives in such a horrible place."

"I know what you mean." Kagome smiled, but it didn't last long. She bowed her head as the wind blew, sweeping Yori's hair into her eyes and refreshing her mind. But she could tell a confession was coming. "Do you remember when Naraku told you I stole the Jewel?" Yori nodded.

"Yes, but what does that have to do with anything? He was lying." Inuyasha shook his head.

"No, he wasn't." Yori narrowed her eyes at him.

"What do you mean? He must have been." Kagura shook her head.

"Nope, for once in his miserable life, he was telling the truth." Yori turned back to her friend.

"Kagome?" It was a moment before she answer and Yori knew before she said anything that it was the truth.

"I'm afraid it's true." Yori couldn't her ears. Kagome was like a priestess, fow what reason could she possibly want to steal the Shikon Jewel. Yori had never known Kagome to be the power hungry type, so what was the motive?

"Why?" Kagome frowned as Kagura stood and walked towards Yori with her fan in hand. When she spoke, her voice was soft.

"Do you remember the night of your wedding?" Yori nodded.

"I had a nightmare about it. But I didn't realize it was my wedding, I couldn't see my husband." Kagura frowned.

"You two said your vows, kissed, and danced until the First Snow fell. But as soon as the snow touched the ground, windows shattered and the whole place was ambushed." As she spoke, Yori saw what she was describing matching up with her dream in her mind, all of the cloudy spots clearing.

"Smoke was everywhere and we could barely see anything. I remember. We were all separated; I was with Kagome and the little girl, Rin, and it was only took a moment before they were both passed out." Inuyasha said before looking to Sesshomaru, silently coaxing him to finish the story. He nodded and pointed his words at Yori.

"I was with you. The powder numbed my senses so when your hand slipped from mine, I was not able to find you. When the smoke cleared, you had been taken from me." Yori noticed his hands balling into fists. "You were gone for a year before we found a lead as to where you were. And when we learned you'd become the High Priestess, it was necessary to devise a plan to lure you out of the Sacred Lands. And while Koga, Kagura, and myself distracted you and your guards, the miko stole the Jewel." Yori winced at the word but nodded.

"So she pretended to be captured by Kagura?" Kagome tried to smile but Yori could see the guilt pushing through.

"Ya. But a little while later, we split up and that's when I was captured by Naraku. He took the Jewel from me and imprisoned me. And he made it a point to tell me how evil priestess really are. Apparently, Kiesu knew you didn't want to take her place as High Priestess and when she left the night you announced your engagement, she went to Naraku and asked him for help. In return she would turn him into a full demon." Yori stood up, shaking her head. She could take the wedding story, and maybe even the fake plan, but Lady Kiesu and Naraku working together, that was going to far.

"No, you must be mistaken." Kagura put her hands on Yori's shoulders.

"Listen kid, I know how you must feeling but-" Yori shrugged her Kagura off and turned to face the group. She felt devastated and it showed in her eyes. It couldn't be true, Naraku had to have been lying. Lady Kiesu would never betray everything she knew, everything that was so sacred. She would never betray Yori.

"Lady Kiesu would never have done such a thing!"

"But she did! She paired up with Naraku and together, they took your memories and stored them in that ring!" Kagome almost shouted, pointing to the ring on Yori's pinky finger. Tears filled her eyes as she stared at it. She knew Lady Kiesu had given her this ring, but it scared her. She couldn't remember when, she couldn't remember the exact details of day it was given to her.

"But-" Sesshomaru was in front of her. He held her hand gently up to her face as a tear streaked down her cheek, making her face cold. Sesshomaru held up his left hand and Yori gasped. Wrapped around his ring finger was the identical twin of the ring on her pinky.

"Despite what you think, I gave you that ring. And it belongs on this finger." The moment the silver left her skin, Yori felt weak, like she was loosing the ability to stand on her own, and she grabbed onto Sesshomaru's forearms for support as the world spun around her. She watched in a daze as Sesshomaru placed the ring on her ring finger. As soon as it was in place, she lost consciousness.

...

Yori watched as what could only be memories flew by past her eyes. They came one after another with a white flash, filling her with emotions; the good and the bad, everything that was her and Sesshomaru.

"I think she's under the impression that we are interested in each other." Sesshomaru gnawed softly on her lower lip. "How foolish." he whispered and then kissed her fully, on the mouth.

"Will you kill me Lord Sesshomaru?" she asked dropping her bow and arrows to the ground. "Will you take my life as you have done some many others? Will you bathe your sword in my unworthy blood? Will you burn my corpse and curse the day I saved Rin's life? Will you kill me Lord Sesshomaru?" He stared at her, his eyes masked in hate and rage. He let out a growl and sheathed his sword. Yori watched and stared into his eyes which had resumed their usual cold stare. "Are you a fool then, Lord Sesshomaru?" He pressed his body against hers threateningly. Still, she did not flinch. "Do not test me girl. There is nothing stopping me from ripping out your throat right now." he said. "There is something stopping you, just like there's something stopping me from wounding you with my arrow." Yori said. She didn't avert her stare as he looked down to see the head of an arrow pressed to his torso. Sesshomaru looked at Yori's face once more and the backed away from her. She grabbed her bow and her arrows from the ground and turned around. She heard him say softly "The human like all humans."

"Yori." Her name left his lips. He took her face in his hands and brought his lips to hers, a kiss filled with passion and sorrow. Yori's eyes were wide open, surprised at his actions and before she knew what she was doing, her hands were around his neck. The two parted and Sesshomaru kissed her forehead. "I love you Yori." "But you said " He kissed her again, this time harder. "I know what I said and I'm so sorry I said it. I didn't realize how much I needed you until you left."

"Will you be my mate?" The question struck Yori hard. She looked up at him."Your, your mate?" "Yes. A mate is different that a husband or wife. The bond between husband and wife can be severed by anything; another love, fighting, power, money. But the bond between mates is eternal. Yori, I promise to love you, provide for you, and protect you to the best of my abilities. When all of this is over; the traveling and the fighting, I will return to the Western Lands where I am Lord. And I would be honored if you came with me to be my wife. You are the woman I love, you are the woman that I wish to spend the rest of my life with."

"Well, you are going to be the Lady of these lands. You'll have plenty of time to get used to it." And as the words left his mouth, he was sliding a ring on her finger. The ring was a sophisticated silver, with a diamond at the top, and two small engravings of a crescent moon, identical to the one on his forehead, on each side. She gasped at the feeling of the ring on her finger and smiled when she noticed his. It was identical, save there was a larger engraving on the top of his. Sesshomaru reached to his side and darkness enveloped the room as he shut the lights off. She smiled as he slid his arms around her waist and she snuggled close to him. His kissed her on the top of her head. "I love you Yori." "I love you too."

She smiled confidently as the music made its way to her ears. She placed the veil over her face and held her flowers close to her stomach. The, she pushed the door open and made her way down to the black carpet that awaited her. Rin walked slowly a little ways ahead and Yori's feet stepped over the red rose petals and crushed them, filling the room with their beautiful smell. She looked up as gasps rang about the room. The bride's maids and their pairs were on both sides of Sesshomaru and the "priest". Sesshomaru's eyes widened as Yori came closer. Her gown flowed behind her and she looked like an angel in a room full of demons. She reached the altar and he took her hands in his. Time passed quickly in Yori's eyes for all she could really hear was the sound of her own heart beating inside her chest, filling her with love and happiness. Sesshomaru's eyes seemed to peer into her very soul and welcome her to his. Finally, the words were spoken; the words that all had waited to hear. "You may now kiss the bride." Sesshomaru gently raised her veil and revealed her wondrous face. He bent down and placed his lips to hers and grabbed her in a passionate embrace. The room burst into cheers and Yori smiled a huge smile. She was so happy, it seemed unreal. She turned around and threw the bouquet over her shoulders and looked to see who'd caught it. Sango was holding the beautiful flowers and Yori giggled and then let out a yelp as Sesshomaru swept her off her feet and walked with her to the gardens. "Alright! Cut the cake!" Kagome yelled and Sesshomaru set Yori down and walked towards the cake. He was bending over to read the inscription in icing that Yori knew read: Let Love Remain Strong Throughout The Happiness Of Forever. Yori had a wild idea as she tangled her fingers in Sesshomaru's hair. And before he could look at her, she pushed his face into the cake. Inuyasha fell on the floor laughing as Sesshomaru looked at Yori, his eyes hidden in butter cream icing. But just below the surface, she could see a smile. She turned to Kagome and gave her and thumbs up, and when she turned back around, she was mildly surprised to find a handful of cake smeared across her face. She wiped it from her eyes and looked at Sesshomaru who was actually laughing. And the next thing she knew, the wedding cake was flying everywhere. People were screaming and laughing and having a grand time. Sesshomaru leaned over and licked a bit of icing off of Yori's cheek. In response, she turned to him and tackled him to the ground, the two disappearing behind the table. She handed him a napkin and they both wiped their faces off. Yori kissed Sesshomaru and he wrapped his arms around her waist. Some one cleared their throat. Yori turned and looked up to find their group of friends staring down at them. "What are you two doing?" Inuyasha asked. Miroku smiled knowingly. "I would think it wiser to wait until the honeymoon." he said, winking at them. Yori blushed madly and helped Sesshomaru off the ground.

...

When she opened her eyes, she was in Sesshomaru's arms, being carried as the group continued to made their way towards the check point. She felt so different now, with her memories. All of her time in the Sacred Lands had stolen everything from her; her memories, her happiness, her love. And having it back just made her want to fly.

"Sesshomaru?" She whispered his name, not wanted to reveal to the rest of the group she'd awoken. Sesshomaru didn't look down at her, he simply continued to walk with his vision ahead.

"Yes?" Yori swallowed. "Can we go home now?" He smiled down at her.

"Of course."

When the group arrived at the check point, Sango and Miroku were indeed standing there, worried expressions on their faces. When they saw the group, they rushed over.

"It looks like we missed a lot, seeing as you've found Kagome and Yori." Sango said.

"Tell me Yori, do you know who we are?" Yori nodded. "Well that's wonderful."

"It is." Sango smiled and the two hugged. "I'm so sorry I caused so much trouble but I'm so grateful for all you guys have done for me. Thank you all so much for your help, I owe you." Inuyasha scoffed.

"Hey, what are friend's for?" Yori smiled.

"You'll take care won't you? No more getting kidnapped by evil priestess?" Kagome said grabbed her friend and hugging her.

"I promise, scout's honor." Yori saluted and they laughed before waving goodbye to one another and going their separate ways. And it wasn't long before Sesshomaru's castle was in view and the two
were walking up the stairs to the front doors. Yori breathed in deeply and took Sesshomaru's hand before nodding to him. When the doors opened, to Yori's surprise, something ran straight into her. It grabbed her legs tightly and felt very soft. Yori looked down.

"Lord Sesshomaru, you found her! Oh Yori I missed you so much." Rin was crying and shaking slightly. Instead of the orange patterned dress she was used to, the child was wearinf a yellow sundress with pink bows in her hair. She was a little taller but other than that, she looked completely the same. Yori crouched down and hugged her small form.

"I missed you too Rin. And wow, look at how much you've grown." She put her hand over the little girl's head and then her own, comparing heights. "You're almost taller than me." Rin smiled and grabbed Yori's hand. A butler appeared at the bottom of the stairs.

"Welcome home, Lady Yori."

A/N: Thank you all for baring with me, can you do it for just a little while longer cause it's not over yet! :}