(I do not own Inuyasha or any of the characters…)

Cruel Gift

By PinkGrenade

Chapter Five: Shadowed Memories

"The name is Kanaye, I am one of the Generals here," he said as he held out his hand to her. She sighed slightly and took it as he pulled her up off of the ground. 'She is a very talented fighter…'

"It was a pleasure General Kanaye," Kagome stated softly. He shrugged his shoulders slightly as he went and leaned against the wall. Kanaye looked at Kagome and motioned for her to walk over and she did so.

"Is there something more you need General," she spoke softly. Kanaye looked at her and nodded softly.

"Have you been assigned a troop yet?" he asked as he watched the soldiers spar. Kagome shook her head slightly. Kanaye looked over at her then stated, "You should be getting assigned one soon… Do you understand how the commands work?" Kagome shook her head. He smiled slightly and continued, "There are the soldiers who of course have different rankings for their status and then there are the commanders. The commanders help the generals by watching over the troops and have command over the soldiers. The Generals have command over both the soldiers and the commands… Actually really simple if you just look at it." Kagome nodded but then stopped when something struck her mind. 'Shippo…'

"Is there something wrong Kagome?" he asked in a soft voice. 'I wonder what could be wrong.' Kagome just sat there and then suddenly snapped out of her daze.

"I have to go back to my rooms… I left my son there and I feel really bad because I told him I would be right back you know," she stated before walking off. He nodded and replied, "Then I will see you later Kagome…"

'She is very different now from when she was. I remember her when she traveled with Inuyasha. She had a very bright spirit and always seemed to be so happy. What could have happened along the way to make her spirit go down? She doesn't have that fiery look in her eyes anymore.' Sesshomaru let his eyes wonder across the landscape as he stared at his lands from the balcony. He heard a knock on the door as he turned around.

"You may enter now…" he said in a slightly lighter voice then emotionless but still held that coldness. When the door opened a little head popped in and then the body, it was a little girl with black hair and big brown eyes. She was indeed very pretty. Sesshomaru lightened up a little when she ran forward and hugged his leg.

"Sesshomaru-Sama, today Jaken and I went and picked flowers in the garden! I made him a flower crown but he didn't like it so I made him wear it! I had fun today!" she cheerfully said. She gave him a big toothy grin and he in return smiled slightly but no one could have noticed because it was the smallest one.

"Rin where is Jaken currently?" he asked. Rin put a finger on her lip as if to be in thought. 'I can only have an idea of where he is…'

"Well Jaken was being mean so I pushed him into the fountain and he stood there flapping his arms screaming, 'IM DROWNING'," she replied with an innocent smile. He chuckled to himself in his mind. 'Well at least it gives her something to do…'

"Is Sesshomaru-Sama upset with Rin?" she asked with slight sadness evident in her voice.

"No Rin, I am not mad at you… Why don't you go find Jaken and play more of your games," he replied with a slight hint. She nodded and hummed a soft melody as she pranced out of the room. 'I keep growing more and more intrigued by Kagome… Her beauty, aura, scent, and actions, she is like no one I have met before. I want to get to know her better…' He closed his eyes as the sunlight flashed through his bedroom. He then opened them when he heard a soft knock at the door. Sesshomaru turned his head and faced the door.

"Come in," he spoke coolly. The door opened and Kagome stepped in. She bowed and kept her head down. He then asked, "What is it Kagome?" Kagome lifted her gaze to his.

"I have come to ask permission to visit my friends in a village. It is located near Inuyasha's forest," she stated calmly. He looked at her then turned his head.

"One week… You have one week then you must return back to the castle. Is that understood?" he asked. Kagome nodded and mumbled, "Thank you Sesshomaru-Sama…" She then got up and walked out of the door.

"Miroku… How do you think Kagome is doing?" Sango asked as she gave him a side glance. He shrugged his shoulders as he stared at his hand… There was no wind tunnel… 'Kagome did us all a favor by destroying Naraku.'

"I am sure she is doing fine… She may even have a new life going for herself I am not sure if we should tell her about what had happened though… She cannot find out Inuyasha's body disappeared right after she left… He may still be alive and if so only slightly and if a problem should arise then we will tell her," he said calmly and they both nodded their heads silently agreeing not to tell Kagome unless a problem arised. Sango sighed and looked towards the hill from Kaede's village… She narrowed her eyes as she saw one tall and slim figure and another short. When they came into view her eyes widened and she sat up and ran to them.

"Kagome! Shippo! It is so good to see you guys!" Sango shouted as she pounced onto Kagome knocking her down. Kagome smiled slightly when her dear friend hugged her.

"So how are you guys holding up?" Kagome asked with a grin. Sango shrugged her shoulders then looked towards Miroku.

"Miroku and I are going to be getting married… I know you might find it a little odd but we are in love!" Sango cheerfully shouted. Kagome was taken back then smiled.

"I am very happy for you guys… I hope you will find true happiness together," Kagome said calmly. 'Sango and Miroku are getting married… I am so happy for them. One day I hope I will find someone to love me for me.'

"We do not need to stay out here… Come inside there is plenty of room for all of us to fit," Sango stated happily. Kagome nodded and scooped up Shippo as they walked into the hut. There was a small bed on the right side of the floor and a fire with a pot in the middle. They had shelves on the left side with some food. Kagome sat down across from them at the fire and smile.

"Cozy home you have here," she stated as Sango nodded.

"I like it and that's all that matters… Kagome how long will you guys be staying? I assume you will probably leave soon," Sango said sadly. Kagome sighed and looked at the one person who has been like a sister to her.

"We will only be staying for a week and may even leave in less than that," Kagome said with a sigh. Sango nodded in understanding and smiled sadly.

"What is with the look you are giving me?" Kagome asked in a amused voice. Sango laughed nervously and looked the other way.

"I don't know… It is just that sometime I worry about you even though I know that I shouldn't," she said with a solemn face. Kagome sighed slightly and walked over to her and hugged her tightly.

"You have always been like a sister to me and always will remain that way whether I like it or not," Kagome whispered to her before pulling away to see Sango's eyes brimming with tears.

"I am glad to hear that… Kagome," Sango whispered in a barely audible voice to her. 'She sees me as a sister… I am so happy about that.'

"Well when is the wedding?" Kagome asked very curiously. Sango blushed and fumbled with her hands and all of a sudden Miroku gave a huge outburst…

"Are you Lady's purposely ignoring me? I am standing right here…" Miroku said with a pout. Sango laughed and Kagome just shook her head.

"What about me?" Shippo asked with slightly watery eyes. Kagome smiled and picked him up and gave him a big hug.

"I haven't forgotten about you Shippo!" she said with a smile. Shippo laughed and hugged his mother tightly. Kagome smiled then turned towards her friends and asked, "When is the wedding?"

"Well we can have it tomorrow since you are here…" Sango said while putting a finger to her lip. Kagome smiled and nodded.

"Well then let us get everything prepared! Miroku go with the males and Sango come with me because we have much to do," Kagome said as Miroku left then she continued, "We need to make sure you have a wedding kimono ready and the ceremony is all set…" Sango laughed nervously at her friend's outburst. 'She seems so happy and I am glad for that…'

"Kagome lets go to my village… I want to get my mothers kimono that she wore for her wedding with my father. I remember when she told me that I would wear it for my own wedding," Sango mumbled at the last part as a single tear slid down her cheek. Kagome looked at Sango and understood how she felt.

"We should get going then…" Kagome said with a smile and Sango nodded. They both walked outside with Shippo in tow. Sango walked forward as Kirara transformed. Sango swung her foot over her back and Kagome and Shippo followed. They flew for 30 minutes until they came to a ruined village. They landed in the center of the village and they both got off and walked forward.

"I will wait here for you while you go and get the kimono," Kagome told Sango as she nodded and headed for her old house.

"Kisho what do you think about the new commander we have here?" Kanaye asked with an elegantly raised brow. Kisho smirked slightly and looked away. 'Only she is the most beautiful creature I have ever met in my entire life.' He shrugged his shoulders slightly.

"She seems to be very beautiful, a talented fighter, and she has the most intoxicating scent I have every smelt. Cherry blossoms, vanilla, and roses… All those scents mixed together can drive you crazy," Kisho said while blushing but hid it from Kanaye. He nodded in understand and looked towards the sky.

"She is very kind… Too bad she has a mate. I would have loved to court her," Kanaye said quietly. Kisho laughed slightly and shook his head. Kanaye turned and glared at him.

"What do you find so amusing about that?" he demanded. Kisho looked at him and smirked slightly before waving his hand in the air.

"Only that you think she has a mate when she doesn't," he said in a sarcastically rude voice while Kanaye glared at him. 'She doesn't have a mate so maybe I will have a chance…'

"There is another thing that comes into the matter also that you might want to know before running after her," Kisho spoke softly before looking straight at Kanaye.

"What might that be?" he asked in an annoyed voice.

"She currently isn't looking at getting a mate, so don't try to do anything with her," Kisho said quietly. Kanaye sighed before giving a glare at Kisho. 'I don't have a chance with her at all then…' They were unaware of the golden eyes watching them.

'That may be that they do not have a chance but it does not mean that I do not have a chance… Kagome," Sesshomaru whispered in a cold voice to himself. 'She is so perplex… I do not understand her. She doesn't try to pester me into taken her as my mate than other woman try to do. She is more beautiful than others…' There came a knock at the door and he turned to look.

"Come in," came his emotionless voice. The door creaked open and in ran the green toad who threw himself at Sesshomaru's feet. He looked down at the toad known as Jaken and asked, "What is it?"

"Lord Sesshomaru! The Lord of the South Masahiro is coming along with his son Hiromasa…" Jaken mumbled and shook slightly in fear of Sesshomaru. 'So he is coming and he is bringing along that annoying son of his…'

"Make sure the guards are more secure… I don't want that boy of his going after my female servants. Am I understood?" Sesshomaru asked with narrowed eyes as the soldier gulped and nodded his head quickly.

"Leave now," he spoke coolly as the soldier left in a hurry. He sighed as the soldier closed the door room and leaned against the wall. He put his clawed hand onto his forehead and whispered to himself, "Sometimes I get annoyed by these pestering fools that seem to have no idea for themselves in their lives." Her turned his eyes to the rolling hills and sighed.

"Sometimes I wonder why I bother with these lands… I was stuck with them when father left himself vulnerable by marrying that damned human," he said with his eyes narrowed.

"The Lady is dead! The Lady is dead! The Lady is dead!" rang through the air of the castle. A young demon ran through the halls with his long silver hair flowing behind him. He came upon a door and swung it open to see a beautiful demon on the bed as if resting. She had silver white hair with skin as white as snow. Her cheeks lost their rose like color. Her lips bright red… He lean figure against the bed. She was wearing a black kimono with silver lining along with a silver obi. She lay on a silver canopy bed with her eyes closed. There were black roses all around her body as she rest in peace. The little demon ran forward and sat on the bed with tears poring from his small golden eyes.

"MOMMA! MOMMA, WAKE UP! PLEASE WAKE UP MOMMA!" he screamed as he stared in shock then he whispered, "Momma please…" There was a creek type sound and her turned his head to see his father Inutaisho standing there. His long silver hair cascading down his back with his golden eyes staring with sadness at his son, he stood 6"10 and had a very muscular body.

"Father… What happen to mother?" the boy asked with deep sadness… Inutaisho stared at him and then turned his head away from the boy.

"She... Caught a rare disease and was not able to recover from it. Even with her demon blood she couldn't survive it. I just don't understand how she could have gotten sick with her demon blood it just isn't possible," he mumbled lowly. Sesshomaru had more tears cascading down his face now. Inutaisho walked over to his son and enveloped him in a warm embrace…

"Father, you are not just going to go and marry another woman because mother is dead now are you?" Sesshomaru asked with a very serious voice. Inutaisho sighed as he looked down at his son.

"Of coarse now… Your mother was one of a kind and no one will ever be able to replace her. When I have a son there is no reason for another mate, most of them would just want the title anyway and not love me for who I am," he whispered to his son. Sesshomaru looked up and smiled and hugged his father tighter. Intaisho smiled sadly then whispered to his son, "You should go to be now… The funeral is going to be held tomorrow morning." Sesshomaru nodded but before he left he went and placed a black rose on his mother's chest and then walked out of the room leaving Inutaisho. He walked over to his wives body and placed a kiss on her lips which were starting to turn cold.

"Always… Always I will love you and only you," he whispered to her before walking out of the room…

The Next Day

It was raining and lighting as the sky was filled with dark clouds. There were rows and rows of friends and soldiers who bowed their heads in respect for the Lady of the Western Lands. All the Lords and Lady's of the other lands were there. Sesshomaru sniffled and cried silently as his father held him tightly. There were six soldiers walking down the long trail with three people on each side and each had one hand holding the black casket with silver lining. They stopped and lowered the casket into the grave and everyone silently watched as it was buried.

"Let us go inside for the traditional reception," he spoke softly to his son as he nodded. They walked into the room where black roses were all about and people were speaking lowly. A woman in a beautiful red and black dress came up to them and bowed her head. She had black hair that came down to her knees and chocolate brown eyes. She had very fragile skin and was considered very beautiful for a human. Sesshomaru sniffed a little and caught the scent. She was mortal…

"My name is Shizuyo, I am very sorry for your loss Lord Inutaisho and Prince Sesshomaru," she whispered. Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes at the human and said nothing. He looked up at his father to see a distant looked and narrowed his eyes slightly.

"Thank you… Your generosity is accepted greatly Princess of the Southern Lands," he kindly replied back and she smiled at him kindly. Sesshomaru felt depressed… He did not like the way things were going between them.

3 year later

Sesshomaru was about to go into his father room when he heard whispering inside. He opened it slightly and was shocked to see Shizuyo and his father speaking. He hid his scent and listened in on the conversation.

"When are you going to tell Sesshomaru I am your mate?" she asked sadly then continued, "If he is your son then you should be able to trust him to accept us and the love we have for each other!" Inutaisho looked away form her. Sesshomaru's eyes widened in shock, 'He promised me he would not take another and promised me he would not love another!'

"I do not know how he would react… This is my son if you haven't forgotten and I do not know how he would react to this… I promised to him the day his mother died that I would not take another mate or love another but I have," he said with sad eyes. Shizuyo turned her head away as tears fell from her sad eyes.

"You do realize I am pregnant with your son, do you not?" she asked sadly. He nodded and stared down at the ground. Sesshomaru was even more shocked at this and staggered back as he felt his back pressed against the wall. 'She… She… She is pregnant with his child?' Sesshomaru's eyes filled with tears but he continued to listen.

"I… I know. I will take care of you both but it my take my son some time to get use to things but for now we will not tell him about the new addition," he told her. Her eyes shed with tears as she threw her arms around him and buried her head into his chest.

"It is not fair," she whispered. He nodded and then whispered back, "I know, I will go and get us something to eat so wait here…" Inutaisho walked over to the door to see it open a little and he had thought he had left it closed. When he opened the door he was shocked to see Sesshomaru leaning against the door with tears shedding from his face. He looked down at the ground and then back to Sesshomaru who now stood up and glared at him.

"YOU PROMISED! YOU PROMISED ME!" he screamed at the top of his lungs. Inutaisho looked away in sadness and whispered, "I know… But please understand… I never expected to fall in love with another and if your mother hadn't died from that disease I wouldn't have. Things have changed and I am in love and need this person as my life partner. Please accept her because she is the new Lady of the Western Lands." Sesshomaru glared at his father and turned away.

"I will accept her for now and only now," he whispered back with anger before leaving the room…

1 Year later

Sesshomaru and his father were fighting off a witch in a cave to protect Shizuyo and her one year old baby Inuyasha… The witch laughed hauntingly and then started chanting and Sesshomaru stared in shock as his father was placed in a crystal case and put into an internal sleep. Sesshomaru's eyes bled red and rushed forward as he plunged his claws into her chest and she fell dead. He turned around to see Shizuyo crying softly. She looked up at him and whispered, "Thank you… Thank you so much for protecting us." He glared at her and turned away.

"Since my father is now considered in a way dead that means I am the Lord of the Western Lands… You have lost your title as Lady. I suggest you pack your things and return to you own lands or you will be removed by force… You and that bastard child of yours are the reason he is dead now! So leave," he whispered under his breath as she stared at him before getting up and walking away and that was the last time he saw her… That was the day he turned cold…

Sango walked down the path the next day with villagers surrounding each side… She was in a white kimono with many different layers and it had a low cut and had a slit in the front of it. The arms were very long and she had her hair down she fell to her butt. She walked up to Miroku and the wedding ceremony started. 'She looks so beautiful… It is the day of her life. One day I will find the love of my life and get married, hopefully.' She frowned slightly but then straightened her face when the vows were started.

"I Miroku proclaim myself yours and yours only… Through sickness and health, until we are parted sadly by death…" he spoke and went all dramatic at the end of his speech. Sango giggled slightly as he smiled at her. 'They are so happily in love…'

"I Sango proclaim myself yours and yours only… Through sickness and health, until death we do part," she said quietly. Kaede smiled and spoke out loud, "I proclaim this young couple now joined in marriage!" There was cheering throughout the whole crowed. Kagome smiled brightly at her sister like figure. She walked up to her and gave her a heartfelt hug.

6 Day later

"I am so sorry you have to go… Goodbye Kagome, you are much like my sister and always will be whether you like it or not," she said with a sad smile. Kagome walked up to her and gave her a huge hug before stepping back away from her and whispering, "Goodbye…" Kagome then picked up Shippo and walked into the forest… 'I hope someday I can find someone to love me and hold me.' The image of Sesshomaru came into her mind and she shook it off.

A/N: Happy Birthday to me! Happy Birthday to me! It's my birthday today the day I wrote this… July 12. Man I am happy. Well right now I am on vacation and was lucky enough to use my moms lap top to write this and update it. Thank you for your reviews and please review again on this chapter because remember your reviews keep my writing this story!

Yami Pandora: Yes… I updated! Thank you so much for reviewing!

Inu Girl Demon (Anon): I have finally finished the next chapter and thank you much for reviewing!

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Sesshomaru's Play Thing: I have just answered that question. Thank you for reviewing!

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