I'm back! Hello everyone. Did you all miss me and more importantly my updates. Sorry it took so long but as some of you should know, I had severe Writer's Block, an entityt that provided me with too much stress. But don't worry, 'cause I'm back. I hope you enjoy this update as I think I did pretty well on it and it even involves interaction between Kagome and Midoriko. Hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don'tone Inuyasha or Yu Yu Hakusho or DBZ! But wouldn't it be lovely?

Face Your Burdens

Chapter 4

"Well, that couldn't have gone any better," Midoriko murmured to herself, watching as all three of her previously visited pure hearts made their decision and took their chosen paths. She'd just known those three were perfect, although she hated knowing that such pure hearts had to go into battle against such an evil adversary. The oncoming fight wasn't going to be easy, she knew, but she had to believe good would prevail and they would succeed in ridding the world of what as to come. She just hoped all of the four were strong enough to deal with it.

"Now to see to Kagome," She said and snapped her fingers appearing in a courtyard. She looked around in interest wondering why she hadn't appeared in Kagome's bedroom at this time of night. Curiously she turned her head, the pure energy radiating from somewhere in the vicinity. Midoriko had to lose her smile, already knowing the burden she was once again placing on top of her reincarnation's head.

Oh, yes it was true that Kagome was in fact her reincarnation. And the worst part about it was that Kagome knew it too, but yet she chose not to tell the hanyou about it for fear of him turning on her should he learn the truth. It was not all together and unfounded fear, as the hanyou switched loyalties almost as much as the houshi made a pass. But Kagome hadn't always known for sure, only learning the truth not more than a few months ago when Midoriko first made her approach to tell Kagome about this new evil.

She had to chuckle at that thought; what strange friends her reincarnation had gained. But nevertheless Midoriko was glad someone had been there for her throughout her turbulent teens and helped her grow in strength and mind.

Midoriko had known about Kagome for quite some time now, even before she was born, and had made it a point to watch over her during her travels to the Feudal Era; hence the Shikon no Tama. Before Midoriko's 'death' she'd had a vision of the girl, knowing that this was her reincarnation and that this girl would lead a very rough life.

What many did not know, not even Kagome, was that the jewel protected her each and every time she was in danger, causing the girl to become even stronger every time the jewel's power was used to protect.

Feeling out Kagome's energy Midoriko followed the endless amounts of pure energy and found Kagome standing at the base of the Goshinbo Tree, head tilted up and eyes closed. All too suddenly Kagome's eyes flew open and she glanced around warily for any type of threat.

Her head tilted down and instantly blue eyes met blue eyes as Kagome found herself face to face with Midoriko. She smiled serenely and, Midoriko realized with some regret, wisdom that shouldn't have been present in one so young. "How did it go?" Kagome asked calmly, sitting down on the small bench beside the tree.

Midoriko smiled and moved forward to sit next to her reincarnation. "It went well. I believe the team I recruited will do quite nicely."

For awhile the two sat in companionable silence, Kagome staring at the stars and Midoriko drinking up the peaceful night. "It's all about to change, isn't it?" Kagome suddenly whispered.

Midoriko calmly turned to the younger girl, a question in her eyes and sadness in her soul. "Yes, it is Kagome," she murmured. She was silent again before, "Are you ready?"

Kagome smiled again and leaned into Midoriko's touch when she hugged the girl around her shoulders, giving her comfort and strength at the gesture. "I suppose so," Kagome replied and then chuckled, although it wasn't real. "Anyone who can take on Naraku and live has to be ready for anything, right?" The silence became unbearable as doubt set in and fear echoed in Kagome's soul. Both women could literally feel the energy of evil beginning to dawn on the horizon. That was when she realized Kagome was crying silent tears of pain.

"Kagome," Midoriko whispered tightening her arms around the poor girl who had experienced more heartache and sorrow than anyone should, some of it not even hers. She'd had to witness a monk who was blessed with a cursed hand try to sustain life by filling it with meaningless banter to keep out the pain she knew to be threatening him. Kagome had had to watch time and time again as the slayer was thrown together with her brother, only to be ruthlessly torn apart once again. And then she'd had to watch Shippo, almost a son to her, eyes filled with terror every time something scary happened and she couldn't protect him.

"It's not fair," Kagome whispered and Midoriko knew it wasn't. It wasn't fair to burden anyone with the weight of the world, but both women knew somebody had to do it. And Kagome would sell her soul to Naraku just to keep her loved ones safe. "They should be here with me now or I should be with them. We shouldn't have to be parted by something so meaningless, such as time. Time is supposed to allow you to grow and be together; instead it is a merciless entity that slips away the more you try to grasp it."

Midoriko knew anything she tried to say to the poor girl would bring her no comfort, so instead she would offer her silence and quiet tenderness. Kagome now leaned her head against her incarnation's shoulder, tears leaking out of her eyes, staining Midoriko's silk kimono, yet neither woman chose to move or complain.

Finally after more than a few thousand tears were spilt and Kagome was resting comfortably again, did Midoriko speak. "Kagome, you must understand that I wish not to burden you with this. I know more than anyone what resides in your heart and yet I can do nothing to stop your pain."

Kagome sighed and sat up, although she remained in the older woman's close embrace. "I know, Mido, and I will be fine…eventually. One day when this is all over I will look back on my time spent with my family and know that my life meant something."

"Yes, Kagome, your life means something to everyone; to all of us. You have brought joy to a world of darkness, caused a hanyou to accept himself when no one else would, raised a son, a demon son, who had lost everything but his life at the hands of evil. You single handedly caused the village of Jinenji to take a closer look and not to judge a book by its cover. You also helped a slayer over come her grief and give her comfort in her times of struggle and hardship. And you have shown a monk wisdom beyond your years, the joy of everyday living and to take things one day at a time. You are lucky, Kagome. It is not everyday that a single person is loved by so many."

Kagome was smiling now, although there were now tears of happiness shining in her eyes. "Thank you, Mido, you don't know how much your words mean to me," She whispered.

The two women sat together in their own little world before Kagome decided to speak again. "So…when will the others be here?"

Midoriko sighed, once again thinking about the long task at hand. "The others will be here in two nights and I have no doubts that the three that I have chosen will aid you well. They are indeed pure of heart and I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by their appearances. I know that you will grow fond of them all, especially the ice maiden and even the kitsune."

Kagome looked up surprised. "You found a kitsune….and an ice maiden?"

Midoriko chuckled. "Yes, and I did a splendid job, if I do say so myself."

Kagome laughed as well. "And I thought Kitsunes were vain creatures, Mido-chan, but you take the cake."

"Hey," Midoriko protested, although both women continued laughing in their amusement.

"So," Kagome murmured quietly resting her head once again on Midoriko's shoulder. "Two days then?"

"Yes, Kagome," Midoriko replied softly. "Two days."

Well, that's it. I hope everyone enjoyed it and once again sorry for the most untimely delay. Well, that's it for now. Ta ta!

Ja ne

Kura-kun's-lovr