Disclaimer: do not own.
" I define a 'good person' as somebody who is fully conscious of their own limitations. They know their strengths, but they also know their 'shadow' - they know their weaknesses. In other 'words, they understand that there is no good without bad. Good and evil are really one, but we have broken them up in our consciousness. We polarize them. - John Bradshaw"
Everyone in the room turned to look at Kagome, coming to see her in a new light. Anyone being held for five months by a man like Naraku would have broken. Tony barely made three. Natasha took a moment to look closer at her, and saw the brief flash of relief cross her face. She knew from that that Loki had not shown them everything that the three of them deemed important, and could not help but wonder why. Even though a part of her knew exact what they were not showing them and why. And Natasha could not be more thankful to the man.
"So is that what Thor meant by the fact that you can't be painted black?" Clint asked even though he was confused on what being painted black meant. "And what exactly does that mean? being painted black?"
Kagome sighed and nodded at Clint. "Yes that's what Thor meant." Hades cut her off before she could finish answering Clint.
"Being painted black means being broken but not in the conventional sense of the term. When one is being painted black, their soul breaks. They are no longer pure. It is very rare for a person to be unable to be painted. So rare that most of the Gods thought the stories were just that, stories. When the soul breaks a person tends to lose their sense of reason, they don't care about the repercussions. All the dark thoughts and desires come forward and they act on it. And there's no coming back. Once your soul is broken, it's broken. The first time Kagome was nearly broken she was tainted but then all off a sudden, it stopped and her soul recovered."
The room looked at Kagome in question. No one really knee how she did that; that day not even the Gods. "Kagura was trying to get me to let go of my mind so one of Naraku's minions could control me. But then I realized what it means to be human. To be human means that one feels emotions both good and bad. So I embraced that and it stopped."
Hades nodded in realization that she did the impossible and was not even aware of it and laughed, Loki having come to the same conclusion joined in laughing with Hades. Which caused the others to look at them in confusion and question if they were losing their minds or not.
Odin looked at the girl in wonder. in all his years he had never seen someone like her, to understand what it means to be human and come back from being broken like that, was impossible. But as he looked at her soul, he could tell that she was telling the truth. The soul tells a story of all the wrongs done to it, if you look hard enough you can find the marks upon it that you are looking for. Hers was riddled with scars, but they were strong and fortified like she was not afraid of them being torn open and used against her. Odin realized then how much of a mistake that he and the other Gods had made when they abandoned her in that place. He was prude that his son went behind his back and supported the girl.
"Lady Kagome I have come to realize that the others and I made a grave mistake, off of abandoning you. And I would like to offer my assistance in reweaving Lord Sessohmaru. If you would accept my help that is."
Everyone stared at the Gods in the room. After Odin gave his sudden apology the Gods froze. It was clear to them that Odin was the type of man who never apologized for his actions. Kagome looked at Odin and smiled slyly at him. Causing everyone who knew her to sigh. "Alright but only on one condition."
Odin nodded showing that he wanted to hear the condition. "The condition is that you apologize to Loki about keeping him in the dark about his true parentage and that you take some of the responsibility for his actions that you inadvertently caused."
Everyone in the room held their breath at the silence that followed, their eyes darting back and forth between Kagome and Odin. Whom both never took their eyes of one another. Loki moved forward but a hand on his shoulder stopped him, following the hand back to it's owner he found Hades behind him shaking his head and giving him a pointed look. Knowing that he God was telling him not to interrupt the two, he sighed and nodded.
Kagome watched Odin with narrowed eyes. Trying to keep the smile of her face when she saw the conflict in his. The man never had to apologize to anyone in his entire life, granted his wife did not count. She knew that he did not like to admit that he was wrong. But it took a great man to admit his wrongs, seeing his hands clench. Kagome knew that she had what she wanted.
"Loki, I am truly sorry for keeping you in the dark about your true heritage, it was wrong of me." Odin spoke looking directly at Loki who was trying not to let his jaw drop at the man he once called father. In his whole life all he had wanted from the man was to be acknowledged by him. Then later on when he found out that the man he called father want not really his father had lied about it to him and had never really planned to tell him, all he wanted was an apology. He had never meant for it to go as far as it did. Feeling a squeeze on his shoulder he realized that Hades had never removed his hand. He was grateful to the other God, for reminding him that others were still in the room. He could go through the feelings that the apology bought out when, he Kagome and Hades were alone. But for the moment he played the part of the hateful Loki that everyone but those two, had come to believe he was. He remained emotionless to the apology.
Odin not seeing past Loki's front growled at the man before turning to Kagome. "I've said my apology and I will take responsibility for what transpired during the time that Thor was banished here, and nothing further." Kagome raised a brow at the God's response to her, frowned.
Walking forwards, Hades tried to grab her arm as if to stop her which confused everyone in the room. Once she stopped in front of the two God, she raised her hand and slapped Odin before anyone could stop her. The slap had enough force behind it that caused the Old God's head to whip to the side. His eyes wide with fury and surprise. The others mirror his emotions, none had expected Kagome to slap the God.
"You are a blind old fool Oden. The only reason that Loki came to earth was because of the Mad Titan. And the only reason he was able to get his hands on Loki was because he fell of the bridge, and let's not forget that only happened because of you. If you had told him where he truly came from he wouldn't have done what he did. He would not have been on that bridge nor would it have collapsed. He may grow to forgive you, and Thor may forgive you. But I sure as hell never will. I will accept your help but after that I want nothing from you. But for you to leave Loki in peace, to let him serve the rest of his time in my custody." The room was shocked at the protectiveness that she had taken over Loki.
Natasha smiled slightly at how protective the woman was, and understood where it came from. Loki was one of the only two Gods that had not abandoned her in that castle. He had come to her in her time there, and helped. And for that Kagome grew protective of him. It was like how she herself was protective over Clint and Phil. The two of them save her and for that she would always have their backs.
Odin glared at the woman and nodded before turning back to the others in the room. "Have Thor come and get me when you find where the Lord of the West is until then I must return home." and with that Open was gone and the room was silent.
Kagome had moved to sit down at the table and waited for the others to mentally catch up with what had happened. Loki and Hades sat on either side of her. Both God seemingly relaxed despite how the others seemed to be tensed.
"Okay, someone please tell me that Kagome here did actually slap Odin, and please tell me that she did not just get custody of Loki?" Tony said from his place across the room.
Rhodey moved to stand behind Kagome and placed a hand on her shoulder, which caused her to look turn her head and look up at him. Rhodey motioned for her to stand, which she followed. Once she was standing the man wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in for a hug. Kagome smiled at this and buried her head into his neck and grasped at his back. She could feel her eyes starting to fill with tears. This was one of the reasons why she had never wanted to tell Rhody about what had happened. Not because she feared that he would pity her, she knew that he would never do that. It was because she feared that she would do just this. Cry.
Feeling her tears on his neck he pulled her closer to him and held her tighter. One of his hands moving to the back of her head. He had moved his head to her neck as well, breathing her in to assure himself that she was really there. After she had calmed down he slowly pulled back and moved his hands to cup her face. Using the pads of his thumbs he whipped her tears away before kissing her forehead, then he moved to kiss her.
Kagome pulled back and smiled at him, before sitting back down and turning to look at Tony who did not look pleased to say the least.
"Yes Tony, I did in fact slap Odin but it's not like he didn't deserve it. In fact I'm surprised that it hasn't happened before. Also yes Loki is in my custody now. And you have nothing to say about it. I will not listen to anything that you have to say about that." Kagome spoke slowly, as if to make sure that there was no mistaking her treating tone. Tony's jaw clenched, knowing that if they were to fight about out that she would win. Giving a sigh he threw up his hands and sat down at the table. As far from the two Gods and Kagome as he could get.
Natasha and Clint both walked behind Kagome and placed a hand on her shoulder and squeezed, reassuring her that they did not think any less of her after what they had seen. Natasha bent down and embraced the woman letting her hair that fell over them cover her lips 'If you ever and I mean ever need someone to talk to that will understand, you fine me. Okay. Anytime, even if I'm called out for a mission, you call." Natasha whispered in Kagome's ear, causing the woman to smile and nod, bringing her hand up she patted Natasha's arm before looking up at Clint and smiled at the man. Knowing that he was silently offering her the same. Natasha moved between Kagome and Hades's playfully shoving the God to get him to make room. Which caused the God to laugh and move over so she could sit beside Kagome. Clint shook his head and sat on the other side of Hades's. Not fully trusting himself around Loki enough to sit beside him
Bruce sat across from Kagome and smiled at her, Steve sat beside Bruce and gave her a nod Thor took the spot beside Loki. As he moved behind Kagome he ruffled her hair and laughed as she huffed at him. Rhodey moved to sit beside Thor.
Fury looked over the people in the room and sighed. Knowing that if anything happened to Kagome that he would lose both Romanov and Barton. Shaking his head he moved to stand at the head of the table. "Alright, now that we have learned that, our first move is to figure out where he is hiding, Higurashi do you have any idea on where he might be hiding?"