(I do not own Inuyasha or anything containing it, though I often wish that maybe I did. I think I might make this a cross over pretty soon here to stir up the plot and make the unthinkable happen. You wouldn't believe this but I rewrote this chapter 3 times and each time I had so many pages of it!)

Cruel Gift

By PinkGrenade

(I would also like to apologize for not updating sooner, but you know my mom got put in the hospital for awhile and was really sick. She is out now and is a lot better. Guess what happens then someone that I know is dieing and it's only a matter of time before she dies… It just seems there is always one event after another when I add on that another person who I know is actually a family member that had a bad heart but can't get proper treatment because she lives in another country. The summer I thought was going to be a great one turns out to be a bad one.)

Chapter Nine: Frozen Time

Dream

'You might think me awful,

But don't believe what you see,

I am actually pretty nice,

Nothing much like mice,

So dear just do me a favor,

Just don't get rid of that flavor.'

A little girl with chocolate brown eyes frowned sourly at a older man that laughed at the look on her face. She stuck her tongue out at him and he merely smiled and picked her up and placed her onto his lap.

"I don't think that is a very good poem daddy," she said with a huff. He laughed full heartedly and hugged her tightly to his chest.

"I didn't really think you would like it that much, Kagome," he said. She gave him a toothy grin and swung her small frail arms around his neck. She seemed to be only around the age of four, though held a certain intelligence in her eyes that no mere four year old could have.

"It is kind of an awful poem," she drawled out. He laughed at his daughter's antics and held her closer to him. He then bent his head down low so his lips were up against her ears.

"Kagome… Sometimes I think that you are too knowledgeable for your own good. You might even outsmart me one of these day," he said with a grin. She laughed and jumped down to the ground. The man smiled and bent down to his daughter while pulling out a small box.

"What is that box," Kagome asked. He smiled on opened it to show a beautiful ring. Kagome's eyes widened as she looked closer at the ring. It had something in the center that looked like a purple diamond and white diamonds surrounding it. There were green engraved leafs surrounding those diamonds and it had a golden band.

"That looks like it could be a purple diamond… But I haven't even ever heard of a purple diamond, maybe a pink one but those are extremely rare," Kagome whispered under her breathe. Her father just smiled and slipped it onto her small finger.

"This ring is for you and has been passed down in our family for generations, and yes you are right that it is a purple diamond. It is a well kept secret in our family that is worth millions of fortunes. Now it is your turn to wear it," he whispered to his daughter. Kagome smiled and then ran off yelling, "I'm going to go and play with Souta!" A slender female came into the room right after Kagome left.

"Is that a wise choice? Giving her the ring now? We weren't suppose to give it to her until she reaches the age of 18... I suppose you have your reasons for giving it to her though and in which I would like to hear right now," she whispered. Mr. Hirugashi turned to face his wife and pulled her down into his lap with a sigh.

"That ring has protection spells on it, though it may start to give her power it will also protect her. You also know that she wouldn't wear it out of the house because after all it is a 'purple diamond'," he said with a chuckle. Mrs. Hirugashi cocked an eyebrow and frowned at her husband.

"You told her it was a purple diamond? How stupid is that!" she whispered angrily. He laughed and just shook his head.

"Well what am I suppose to say? Yes this is a magical stone that was passed down from family member to family member to help them gain their true power and protect them. Honestly, she is a lot smarter than that," he whispered back. Mrs. Hirugashi sighed and shook her head and whispered back, "I know your right… You are definitely right…" They didn't seem to notice a small figure watching them form the stair way. The little girl frowned slightly and walked back up the stairs.

"He lied to me… He told me it was a purple diamond but then again I just assumed it was at first," she whispered to herself. Kagome then climbed up the stairs and then went to the latter and climbed up to the attic. It was fixed up like a little tea room and was fluffy and pink. Kagome just smiled and walked over to the window that faced the way of the street. She watched as a little girl walked out into the middle of the street to pick up a ball, but then didn't seem to notice the car coming down the rode. Kagome's eyes widened in shock.

"Get away from the street! Get away from the street, get away from the street," she screamed as she pounded her small fists against the window. Tears streamed down her small frail face as her eyes widened. Then with a loud thud the car ran over the small little girl.

"That girl's life was just taken away in a mere second, just a mere second! Wait what is that," Kagome mumbled to herself. She saw the little girls body but then she also saw a transparent form of the little girl floating in the air. Then there was a beautiful woman floating on a broom next to her. She had silky blue hair and black eyes. She wore a purple Kimono. The little girl sat on the broom with the lady and then in the blink of an eye they disappeared… With that Kagome then fainted.

Her eyes open again as she looks around. This time she watched as a young woman with black hair places a spell on a cave. Her eyes widen in shock as she remembers where she is. 'This is in Inuyasha's forest… This place here is near the well.'

"Now the bracelet may be safe forever," the young woman whispered in a cold voice. Kagome's eyes widen in shock and she faints.

Silver eyes fluttered open in shock. Kagome sat up letting the blankets fall off of her chest. 'I don't remember that… That lady with the blue hair and that little girl who had died. Why am I remember this all now?' There was a purple shine on her hand and Kagome looked down to see the ring once again on her finger. 'So it has now come back to me. 'Then those last images… I know where the bracelet is hidden and I must now go and get it!' Kagome got out of bed quickly and threw on a black kimono with a silver obi. She also slid her two swords on by her waist.

"I must tell them of these new developments," she said to herself as she threw the doors open. She quickly walked down the hall only to bump into the other lord's son.

"Mm… How beautiful you are," he drawled out. Kagome growled and knocked him away and continued to walk down the hall. 'He needs to keep his mouth shut… His father wouldn't be proud of him doing so many of these things.' She sighed as she slammed open the door to the library. There sat Sesshomaru at the desk.

"I know where it is and I think we should leave soon.
I had a memory come back to me and then I had a vision come to me… I think we need to hurry though because I don't know if Sakura has found out yet. I will meet you at the courtyard in 5 minutes," Kagome said before returning to her rooms. When she got there she saw Shippo sitting on the floor playing the a toy. When he looked up at her there was a slight pained expression on his face. Kagome looked away with tears stinging her eyes. How could she be so stupid? 'I have been ignoring the boy who I had taken as my own son.'

"I am so sorry Shippo, I wont ever leave you alone like that again. I will be back later though, I had come to say good-bye and that I don't know if I will survive this day," she whispered before running out of the rooms. Seeing that pained expression seemed to haunt her mind. 'I have been ignoring Shippo when I shouldn't have. I feel like such a horrible mother.' Kagome then felt someone lock themselves onto her own foot. Her eyes widened and she looked down to see Shippo looking back up at her.

"What in the world are you doing?" she asked. His face was tear stained and his eyes slightly puffy and red. 'I can't stand to see him like this.'

"I am coming with you and don't say that I cant because I miss you so much," Shippo cried. Kagome's face softened as she looked down at her son. She may have adopted him but he was indeed her son by heart. Though she may not have acted like the best mother for the past month or so she was sure to make it up. Then her eyes widened. 'The Lord's ball is coming up within two weeks. Hopefully by then we can get all of this cleared up.'

"Fine but we need to get going, we really don't want to keep Seshomaru-Sama waiting," Kagome said in a mock voice. Shippo laughed and jumped into Kagome's arms. She then leaned down and kissed him on the top of the head. 'I hope Kagome… My mom never ignores me like that again.' Kagome's feet echoed throughout the hall as she continued down to the courtyard. She reached an open door and she stepped outside to see Sesshomaru standing there and waiting for her.

"Let's go," Sesshomaru said with an emotionless voice. Kagome's eyes widened slightly as he hadn't used that voice with her in awhile. It began to make her wonder whether something was wrong or not. She just shook her head and stepped beside him with Shippo in her arms.

A loud cackle filled a room of red silks… There sprawled across the bed was a beautiful woman with black hair and blood red eyes. Its was no other than Lady Sakura.

"I am so bored…" she drawled out. She flung her hair to the side as she jumped off of the bed. Her blood red kimono dropped slightly when she did so. There came a knock at the door. Sakura tilted her head slightly back to look at the door.

"Whom is it?" she asked in a sickly sweet voice. The door opened to reveal Inuyasha with a smug looking face. He walked quickly over to her and descended his lips onto hers. She moaned slightly when he slid his tongue into her mouth massaging her tongue. She pulled away and looked into Inuyasha's eyes.

"So what do you have to report to me today," she asked. Inuyasha ruffled his hair slightly before sitting down on the bed. He seemed to be slightly in thought and he turned his eyes to look at her. 'Even if he is under my control I cannot trust him totally.' He turned to his golden eyes to her and smirked slightly before inching closer to her. He placed a clawed hand under her chin and lifted her face up.

"Our sources in Sesshomaru's castle tell us that they have found out where the bracelet is. It is in Inuyasha's forest, or rather my forest," Inuyasha said with a smirk plastered across his face. Sakura smiled brightly and tilted her head to the side. She pulled her kimono down in the front slightly and could tell that Inuyasha was staring intently.

"Exactly where in Inuyasha's forest is the bracelet," she asked. Inuyasha's face hardened slightly and he looked away.

"We were not able to find out where it is located… I am sorry for disappointing you Lady," Inuyasha said in barely a whisper. Her eyes narrowed in anger as she stood up. She slammed her fist down against the desk and the vase that was on it shattered. 'They couldn't even find out exactly where it is? I am surrounded by fools and they are all starting to get on my nerves…'

"There is one good thing though… We do know that they are going to travel to the forest today so we can follow them and hopefully get the bracelet," Inuyasha said. Sakura nodded and sank back onto the bed. 'Well at least that is one good thing…'

"Prepare to leave," she in a cold tone.

A woman seemingly around the age of thirty-seven, was standing next to a huge tree. Cherry blossoms seemed to fall from it and drift down to the ground. The air was slightly polluted and there was noises of cars passing by. Mrs. Hirugashi was leaning against a tree in the back yard. It had been a long time since she last saw Kagome. They had, had no choice but to go to the police station and declare her missing. Tears seemed to roll down her face. It had been a couple months and Kagome said she would only be gone for a couple of weeks.

"Oh my dear Kagome, I miss you so much and I never told you about the truth," she whispered to herself. It seemed almost too painful for her to think of Kagome. Then there was some thought that popped into her mind, 'What if she is dead?'

"No she can't be, I wont even think about that, but what if she is," she mumbled to herself. Her eyes were watery and slightly puffy. Kagome had been like a daughter to her even if she really wasn't her daughter. She had taken care of Kagome for most of her life. Now she felt like she had lost her forever… She couldn't help but remember the moments of Kagome's life with her.

Flash Back

"Mommy no! It's suppose to go like this," said a little girl with a small pout. Mrs. Hirugashi laughed at Kagome. They were currently working on a puzzle and Kagome was trying to make the wrong piece fit in the wrong place.

"No dear it goes like this," she said as she put another piece there. Kagome frowned and stuck her tongue out at her. Mrs. Hirugashi began to laugh loudly and Kagome frowned.

"There is something I want to tell you Kagome," she said quietly. Kagome looked up at her with a slightly confused face.

"You are going to have a little brother or sister," she said. Kagome's eyes widened slightly at this statement. A huge toothy grin then spread across her face. She tackled her mom into a huge hug and looked up at her with hopeful eyes.

"Really," she had asked her. Mrs. Hirugashi had only nodded and smiled as Kagome gave her another bone crushing hug and a squeal of delight.

End of Flash Back

She could only smile as her thoughts wondered to how innocent Kagome had been. 'My sweet innocent little girl, and I will probably never be able to see her again.' She sighed loudly and closed her eyes listening to the wind.

"What's wrong," someone had asked from beside her. Her eyes snapped open but then softened as she saw it was only her son Souta. She smiled and patted on the soft grass beside her. He sat down and leaned his head against her shoulder.

"I miss Kagome," she said. Souta sighed as he looked at his mother. She had been a nervous wreck for the past month or so and it was starting to bother him. They had known that one day she might not come back but it might just be that the reality of it all was beginning to hit. She really wasn't going to come back. At least it had seemed that way for now…

They had been traveling on the cloud for awhile now and were just landing down next the bone eater's well. Kagome smiled softly as she walked by it. It held so many memories for her, some she did and didn't want to remember. They walked deeper into the forest and they soon came near a small hill that had a rock right in front of it.

"This is it," Kagome said. Sesshomaru looked over at her and nodded his head. Kagome took a step towards it and set Shippo down. She then walked up towards the rock and wiped away the moss and dirt that covered it. Her eyes widened in shock as she saw the writing on it. This was indeed it, this had been the moment that she was waiting for. 'I can finally get the bracelet and defeat Sakura then live peacefully with Shippo and maybe a family if I ever get the chance.' She then began to read the words out loud, but the strange thing was when she was reading them it seemed to be in a totally different language.

"What in the world," Kagome mumbled as she stepped away from the stone. The letters on the stone began to grow bright red and then slowly the stone slid to the side presenting a passageway that went down underground. Kagome looked back and nodded as Sesshomaru and Shippo followed her down the steps. It was fairly dark but lit by dim lights that seemed like they were just lit. 'But that can't be right because no one has been here for centuries… Have they?'

She sighed as they continued further down into the tunnels. Kagome's eyes widened when they soon reach the end of the tunnel. There on a stone plate was the bracelet shining a bright color of light. Kagome was about to take another step but then stopped.

"So we have finally made it this far, I guess it is a good thing," Kagome mumbled. Kagome turned her head back to Sesshomaru, her eyes seemed to be filled with more emotion then ever before.

"Thank you so much for helping me make it this far Sesshomaru," she whispered and he nodded back to her. Kagome then started walking towards the bracelet again but then stopped. There were footsteps behind them and seemed to becoming at an alarmingly fast rate. She turned her head to look and quickly drew her sword in just barely enough time to block the sword that slammed down into her. She looked over and saw that Sesshomaru was now in a battle with his brother Inuyasha.

"We finally get to meet Kagome. My name is Lady Sakura," Sakura said in a cold voice. Kagome's eye's widened slightly as Sakura's feet swept under hers making her fall down. She quickly brought the sword over her head to block the next attack. 'She is fast, very fast… I hope I am a match for her. I don't know if I could stand it if she got her hands on the bracelet.'

"What's wrong little girl," Sakura sneered. Sakura swiped down at Kagome's leg causing her to scream in pain. Blood spit out of the cut as Kagome raised her sword to defend another oncoming attack. 'I-I-I can't give up this fight, I have to win this… I haven't even gotten married yet, I can't give up my life!' Kagome growled and hopped up, ignoring the pain in her leg. She charged forward bringing forth her sword and swinging it down. Sakura's eyes widened as she blocked Kagome's oncoming attack.

"Well, well, well, it seems as though the little girl had it in her after all. Too bad it wont last for very long because I will have your life," Sakura sneered. 'She seems to be getting stronger, I will have to finish this off pretty soon and stop playing around.' The was a loud scream coming from the side and Kagome looked over quickly. There lay Inuyasha dead once again.

"He was dead already," she whispered to herself. Sakura smirked, 'This is just the moment I need.' She raced forward and slashed Kagome's back. Kagome's eye's widened and all she could see was red. There was a pain in her back and all she could manage was a whimper. Sesshomaru also lay injured over by the wall of the cave unable to move. Shippo was still in hiding on Kagome's orders. Sakura laughed as she walked towards the bracelet. She turned her head towards Kagome right when she got there and smirked.

"I guess… This means I win," she said. Sakura then reached out her hand to the bracelet and snatched it. 'The moon bracelet, so powerful and now it is all mine.' She slowly slipped it on. As soon as she did it clamped down on her wrist. Sakura gasped and fell to the floor shaking in pain. 'What is going on? What is happening? This isn't suppose to happen!' There was a bright light shining throughout the whole cave. Kagome struggled to see what was going on.

"What is happening," Kagome murmured. The light it was so warm and Kagome could feel herself healing. Then the room got cold, very cold. When the light died down there was Sakura frozen in ice. The bracelet then appeared on Kagome's wrist. Her eyes widened when she looked down.

"Why did it appear on my wrist, why?" she asked herself. She looked over to see Sesshomaru also fully healed and Inuyasha once again alive. She just then realized that the bracelet was indeed far more powerful then the jewel of four souls could ever be. There was a small light that filled the room and when it died down there stood a older tiger demon and a female with long black hair. She walked up to Kagome and knelt down beside her.

"My daughter you have done a great deed here, you helped defeat this woman… She will come back though. The spell that binds her here will not last forever and when it fades you must kill her. I cannot stay long but I have been watching you from afar. I am afraid to say that I had died many years ago. I walk the Earth only as a memory so I could protect you. I will now give you your true power because you deserve it. Please understand I had to give you to my sister for your protection, I will be gone to the other world once I give you this power. We were only granted special permission to be here to protect you. I love you so much," the woman said in a cold whispered voice. Kagome's eyes widened in shock when the woman touched her forehead. She could feel warmth throughout her whole body, but then there was a terrible pain and she gasped in shock and passed out. When she next opened her eyes she found herself laying on the grass next to the well.

"Kagome I am so sorry… Sakura had a spell on me and I could see what I was doing but I just couldn't stop it. Then there was Kikyo whom also had a spell on me. I hope one day that you may be able to forgive me but I know that you probably will never be able to do that," Inuyasha said. Kagome looked to the side to see him with sorrowful eyes. 'I knew that could not really be him doing all those things.' She smiled slightly and embraced Inuyasha tightly. Tears rolled down her face as she remembered what had happened. She had met her mother but just as soon as she met her she had disappeared to the world where the dead go.

"I knew it couldn't be you, I knew it just couldn't be you… I am glad it wasn't because I feared so much Inuyasha, I feared that you had turned on me, especially when you tried to kill me," she whispered. Inuyasha smiled and tightly embraced her again. She smiled brightly now that she had Inuyasha back with her.

"Kagome, there was something that I had wanted to tell you before Kikyo had placed the spell on me… You see the thing is… I love you Kagome," he said. Kagome's eyes widened in shock. For years she had longed to hear those words, for years she had waited for him to return her feelings. Yet, now that she had it she couldn't help but feel there was something missing. Her eyes then widened in shock when she looked into Inuyasha's eyes. 'I am not in love with him anymore… I am in love with his brother.' Kagome then pulled away from his embrace.

"Inuyasha I am so sorry… I am not in love with you anymore. You see the thing is that I am in love with someone else. I think I could only consider you my brother now," she whispered. Inuyasha nodded his head and then looked away. He had known it might come to this.

"I knew you wouldn't wait for me for long… It was just a matter of time. I hope you find happiness Kagome, I truly do," Inuyasha said sadly. Kagome nodded and pulled away just to get knocked down by a little orange ball. She looked down to see Shippo and she laughed.

"I missed you to Shippo, but first there is something I need to do," she said as she set him back down. Kagome then walked over to where Sesshomaru was and smiled. He looked over at her, his eyes seemed much softer then before. Kagome's eyes widened in shock when she saw this.

"I… You almost died Kagome, and I had thought that I had almost lost you," he whispered. 'I almost lost her, and when I had thought I lost her I had come to realize that I had feelings for her. It might even be love…' He looked over at her and was shocked when she rapped her arms around his waist.

"I know… Sesshomaru I have realized something, I think I might be in love with you," she murmured. He smiled and it had shocked Kagome. Sesshomaru never smiled, not at least since his mothers death. He tilted her chin up and closed his eyes. He then leaned down and kissed her passionately. Kagome then closed her eyes and slid her arms around his neck. She had found someone that would return her feelings without having to wait for years. She then pulled away and Sesshomaru gave her a questioning look.

"I want to say good-bye to my family," she said. He nodded and his emotionless mask had slid back into place. Kagome bent down and picked up Shippo while walking over to the well. She smiled as she looked down at the well. It held so many memories for her and now she would never see her family again. While holding Shippo she bent down and picked a couple of flowers. When she had gotten back up she bent over the well. Kagome then threw the flowers into the well and watched them as they drifted down towards the bottom. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she turned away with Shippo still in her arms.

"Good-bye everyone," she whispered. She was about to walk back towards Sesshomaru but then her eyes widened. Kagome felt something pulling her and soon she was falling backwards into a pink light. It wasn't the normal blue light when she had gone through the well. Something was different but then she found herself and Shippo floating in time. There in front of her was a lady with long blonde hair and crystal blue eyes. She was wearing a long flowing white gown.

"My name is Time… I control all time. It was I who had sent you back into the past of the Feudal era and it was also I who closed the portal to your home. Now that you have done what you were suppose to I am going to send you back to your family and then I will close the well so you wont be able to go back to the past again," Time said. Kagome's eyes widened and she started crying and hugged Shippo tightly to herself.

"My dear what is the matter?" she asked. Kagome looked up at time, her eyes were puffy and red and she seemed so heartbroken. 'I may never see my love again… At least I still have Shippo and that was an accident.'

"I had finally found love and now it has been torn from my grasp," Kagome said. Time only smiled and embraced Kagome with her arms. Kagome felt a soothing and familiar warmth to the touch and leaned into it. Time only smiled and hummed softly.

"Do not worry for demons stop aging completely at the age of 18, so that means you have also stopped aging. You will see him again, don't worry," she said. Kagome frowned slightly and looked back up to Time.

"There are no demons in my time though," Kagome whispered. Time only laughed and looked at Kagome slightly shaking her head. Kagome looked at her very confused.

"My dear, there are demons in your time. There is as many demons as there are humans. Just remember things aren't what they always seem, now it is time for you to be home but first I shall give you a gift," Time said as she touched Kagome's brow. Kagome slowly glowed pink and then it died down again. Kagome was going to open her mouth to speak but then she felt herself being pulled again with the same pink light. When she opened her eyes again, she was laying on her bed. Kagome stood up and walked out the door and down the stairs. There she saw Shippo, Souta, her mother like figure, and her grandpa all talking about her. Mrs. Hirugashi turned to look at Kagome and smiled brightly and ran to embrace her. Earlier when she found Kagome she had called the police and told them she had been found and was at home safe and sound. Mrs. Hirugashi looked like she was about to speak but Kagome held up her hand to silence her.

"Do not worry I already know everything and yes, I missed all of you very much… I am gad to be home and I would like to introduce all of you to my adopted son Shippo," Kagome said. They all looked shocked to see that Kagome had adopted him. A year or two ago they had performed the demon way of adopting so he would be her son fully. Kagome snapped out of her trance and smelt the air. Indeed her mother was a demon, Souta a half, and her grandpa a demon. Kagome was happy to have her family back but at the same time she had lost her newly found love. There was something that time had said that she was hoping dearly was true. 'Don't worry for demons stop aging at the age of 18, you will see him again.' She smiled slightly and began to talk to her family.

A/N: Hi, hi, hi… Well here is a chapter for all of you who had been waiting a long time for it. I know, I know… But you know when things come up then things come up. I will keep updating and wont just leave it there for a long time again. So here you go and I think I might make another chapter this weekend for you all if you like this chapter. Your reviews keep me going. I will respond to your next reviews I promise but it's just that I am kind of tired and want to go to sleep now…