Disclaimer: I do not own any of the copyrighted/licensed/trademarked materials mentioned in this fanfiction (from InuYasha to my references to Nine Inch Nails or Harry Potter). They are the properties of their respective copyright holders and I in no way am insinuating that I own them. (Consider it free advertising.) I only own the storyline and any new characters that may crop up.


Chapter Seven: Discovery

In the mornings that followed no one mentioned Sesshomaru's outburst of sorrow. Shippo and Sango silently sympathized while Sota and Grandpa knew better than to antagonize him. Kagome spent the next few days elbow deep in studying for the end of year tests that would determine whether or not she would graduate. She studied hard and slept every chance she got. Lunch breaks with Megami were reduced to a quick bite and then a long study session in the school's library.

One night during dinner, Sango noticed that Kagome was not looking very well.

"Kagome, you look a bit pale. Are you feeling all right?"

Kagome seemed to come out of a daze, "Wha- oh, no, I'm fine. I'm just tired."

"Are you sure, dear?" Her mother asked, "You've been napping at every available moment. Should I make you a doctor's appointment?"

"No, Mom, I'm okay. It's just these tests. I've been studying like mad. My first test is tomorrow. I'll be fine."

So her pallid complexion was shrugged off for another time.

The next day, Kagome and Megami sat their Language Arts final. The test consisted of two timed essays (one argumentative and one analytical), one proofread, and a vocabulary exercise. The schedule had been rearranged for seniors to accommodate their tests and to have lunch and study breaks. Kagome scribbled frantically on her timed essays. Luckily the topic for her analysis essay was Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven." Death, despair, sorrow, and mourning … I've got this covered … Megami worked just as hard as Kagome. When the three hours for the time essays was completed, they were released for a lunch period. Kagome suggested just getting something from a vending machine. Megami was utterly against it.

"I need sustenance, real food, and in large quantities. You'll need strength, too," Megami looked to Kagome, "Hey, you're looking a bit pasty."

"You're the second person in two days to say that," Kagome grumbled moodily.

"I'm not trying to pry. Come on, you need something more than some pre-packaged crackers. Let's get a real meal. We worked our asses off this morning."

They visited the same place they first went to lunch together at. They sat at a picnic table outside of the restaurant and discussed study strategies for the second half of the final. "What do you think they'll throw our way?" Kagome asked.

"Hard to spot grammatical corrections, strange vocabulary … shit I would have never seen in America," she laughed and popped a piece of sushi in her mouth.

"Oi," Kagome sighed, "I've just been so tired lately. Maybe I am getting ill."

"Nah, you just look stressed. You should beef up on your protein. Maybe start taking a vitamin supplement?"

"Perhaps. But seriously, do you think we'll do fine on the other half of the final?"

"Kagome, we'll be fine! You just need to relax. If you go in all tense you're going to miss something very obvious," she looked at her watch, "We should get heading back."

"You're right. Let's go," Kagome sighed as she lifted her backpack over her shoulder.

The last half of the exam went as smoothly as they expected; about a smooth as a ride down a gravel road. Kagome left the exam more exhausted than usual. Megami came up beside her. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yeah. Just get me to the library. We need to study for chemistry tomorrow."

"All right. But if you start getting lethargic, I'm taking you home."

Megami took Kagome's school bag and walked with her to the library. The girls gathered their books on chemistry and began to sift through the enormous amount of information. After about a half an hour Megami hit the card catalog. "Damn it, I'll never get through the final with this garbage!" She resurfaced about ten minutes later with a list of six books. "Hey, Kagome, care to help me find all of these?"

Kagome arose from her seat and they began to rifle through bookshelves. The first five were simple enough, but the sixth book was shelved on the highest tier of the shelves. Megami got on one of the ladders to find the last book. She reached up to grasp the book and her shirt came up over the small of her back. Kagome yawned and when her eyes opened, she was staring at the exposed portion of Megami's back … and the kanji that were painted there. Conceal my blood. Kagome's eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets. She thought That is a concealment sutra! But what is it concealing?

"Uhm, Megami. Is – is that a tattoo?"

Megami's face went paler than Kagome's had been. "Oh fuck me …" Megami came down the ladder and her eyes were watering. "I feared this day would come. I just never thought it would come so soon. Oh, Kami, Kagome I am sorry."

"What? Megami, what are you talking about?"

Tears were spilling over and running down her cheeks. "Come with me. I'll show you." Megami took Kagome's hand while wiping tears away with the other. As they passed, they asked the librarian to please watch their belongings. Megami pulled Kagome down the hall and into the nearest girls' bathroom. Oddly, it was the one they met in about a month and a half ago. Megami let go of Kagome's hand, and turned to the paper towel dispenser. She grabbed a big handful of towels, wet them, and added a small dab of soap. Turning again, she put the wad of soapy, wet paper towel into Kagome's hand. "Wash it off. Don't be afraid of what you will see." She was still crying.

She removed her shoes and socks then turned her back to Kagome and lifted up the back of her shirt slightly. Kagome's hand shook as she moved her hand to Megami's back. She rubbed the moistened towel over the marks. The ink was tough to get off. "What is this stuff?" Kagome asked.

"It's waterproof ink," Megami sniffed, then continued, "That's why I added the soap."

With a little elbow grease Kagome managed to wash the sutra off, and that's when it happened. Megami's whole aura changed and she bit back a howl of pain. Her black hair turned white (the red remained), her ears developed points. The nails on her hands and feet lengthened into claws, and her canines became razor sharp fangs. Her eyes rolled back into her head as a white, fluffy tail poked out through the bottom of her skirt. When her eyes opened again, they were gold.

"M – Megami!" Kagome gasped.

Megami was still crying, "I'm sorry, Kagome. I wanted to tell you."

Kagome took a deep breath before shrieking under her breath, "You're a demon!"

"You know about us?"

"Know about you! I have two of them living at my house! Why do you think I've never invited you in!"

"Kami! Wait, you think I'm a full demon?"

"You're not?"

"No, I'm half."

"Are your brothers half?"

"Yes. When I said our mother died a while ago, that was over a hundred years ago."

Kagome thought a moment. White hair … gold eyes … a tail … "Are you a dog demon?"

"How did you know?"

"White hair and gold eyes. And, duh, the tail. I knew a dog demon. Still know one."

"There is one of us left?"

"Do all dog demons have white hair and gold eyes?"

Megami chuckled softly, "It's like a mark of a breed. Dobermans have pointy snouts and black and tan fur. Dachshunds have short, stubby legs and floppy ears. It's our mark."

Kagome thought quickly, "Come with me. I have something to show you now."

"Wait, I have to put the sutra back on!"

"How can you put a sutra on yourself? Especially on your back."

"My uncle taught us before he died. We needed to know how since so many of us had died. People no longer believed we existed." She reached into her purse and produced a bottle of waterproof ink and a short brush. She carefully began to repaint the sutra.

Kagome's mind began to catch up with all the signs. Her appetite, the attitude, the mysterious past, gym class … "That's why you always showered in the back. So no one would happen to see your sutra and recognize it. If it happened to wash off you could repaint it. You're the thing that whizzed by me in the hall the day after you got here!"

"Yes," she finished painting the sutra and her countenance appeared mortal once more, "I have to get there before everyone else to change, too."

"Come on. We have to hurry."

"Why?"

"Just trust me. I have to take you to my house."

The girls rushed back to the library, retrieved their things, and thanked the librarian for guarding their possessions. The girls ran from the school and to the nearest train station. They hopped the train to the Higurashi Shrine. Megami's usual self-confidence and upbeat posture had evaporated. She seemed genuinely frightened, even slightly defeated. Kagome worried for her. How will Sesshomaru react to this? But they need to know of each other. Shippo, too, needs to know that he is not alone in this world. She may possess some knowledge of what happened after we disappeared. They disembarked from the train and ran to the shrine. Megami slowed when they neared Kagome's home. "You're going to show me to them, aren't you?"

"Yes. What's wrong with that?"

"I'm scared, Kagome," Megami admitted.

Kagome reached out for Megami's hand. "Don't be frightened. I won't let them hurt you. You have been a good friend to me; are a good friend to me. They will not come between that. They won't harm you."

Megami nodded and plodded on to the Higurashi residence.

Kagome opened the door and led Megami inside. "Nice place," Megami said as she and Kagome removed their shoes.

Kagome smiled softly. I wish this was done under different circumstances … "Thanks. Now, wait in the living room for a moment. I'll return shortly." Megami timidly walked into the living room and sat on the couch. She appeared shrunken. Her fear made her try and seem smaller than she was. She did not want to stand out.

Kagome ascended the stairs and knocked on Sesshomaru and Shippo's door.

"Yes?" Sesshomaru answered blandly.

"May I come in?"

"Enter."

He laid on the futon reading another book of legends from the feudal era.

"I need you to come downstairs."

"Why?"

"Trust me. Megami has something to tell us."

"I'll be down in a second."

"Where's Shippo?"

"In the shrine with Grandpa."

She ran to the shrine and found Shippo and Sango helping Grandpa clean up.

"You guys! This is urgent! I need you both inside right now."

They followed her back into the house and as they entered the living room, Sesshomaru was descending the stairs. Megami looked to everyone. Sango gave her a warm, welcoming smile, "Megami! It's good to see you again!"

Megami's eyes were glued to Shippo.

Shippo seemed nervous, "Kagome, should I be here?" He knew that his appearance shouldn't be seen by mortals.

"It's fine, Shippo," Kagome reassured him.

Sesshomaru walked into the living room. "Kagome, what is this all about?"

Megami turned to him and she gasped. She was speechless and began to shake.

"Megami, is it? Are you feeling well?" he asked her.

She slid off the couch and knelt before him, bowing her head to the floor. "My lord! Lord Sesshomaru! We thought you had died!" She managed to speak. She looked up at him. "My father has told me all about you, my lord. I am so honored to be in your presence."

He bristled at her, "How do you know my name? Kagome, is this some sort of sick joke?"

Megami stood, "No. This is not a joke, my lord. Let me explain. Kagome, please get me a soapy, wet washcloth."

Kagome ran into the kitchen and brought back what Megami requested. Megami reached around to her back and scrubbed the sutra off again. She groaned and yelped with the pain as once again her ears, claws, and fangs lengthened. Her hair went stark white with her red streaks remaining and her eyes flashed their true golden color as her tail emerged.

Now Sesshomaru was the one who was speechless.

"Do you see, Lord Sesshomaru? I was not joking. I am not eighteen years old. I am two hundred and eighteen years old. I am a half demon; as are my three brothers."

Despite his shock, a small glimmering hope came to Lord Sesshomaru amidst his sorrow. I am not alone in this strange world. But, then his suspicion arose. "How can we trust you, Megami? How do we know that you are not working for one such as Naraku."

She growled at the name. "If I were not in my friend's home, I would spit at the name! The vile, despicable fiend! And if you were not Lord Sesshomaru, I would kill you for insinuating that I had anything to do with such a beast!"

"So, he lives?" Sesshomaru asked. Now we're getting somewhere.

"Yes. He does."

Kagome shuddered, "That bastard."

Megami turned to Kagome, "How do you know of Naraku?"

"Megami," Kagome said, "We have a long story to tell you."

"Wait!" Sesshomaru commanded, "How do we know we can trust her?"

"Sesshomaru, she is my friend!" Kagome exclaimed.

Megami motioned for her to calm down, "It's all right, Kagome. He wants to know why he can trust me, and I was taught to deny my Lord nothing he requests. Sesshomaru, I have been close to Kagome for nearly two months now. If I wanted to harm her before now I could have, and very easily. I have not because she is my friend, and because she bears the child of a demon within her."

Kagome's eyes watered and she swooned. In the blink of an eye, Megami was there to catch her. Kagome muttered, "I'm – I'm pregnant?"

"Yes, Kagome, you are. I smelled it on you when I sat next to you in class. I also knew it was a demon's child. Well, partially demon. Was the father half?"

She nodded in response. Megami sat Kagome on the couch. "Sorry to break it to you like that, my friend. I thought you may have noticed after not having your cycle for a while."

She began to cry, "I thought it was just the shock. The father died."

"Oh, my dear …" Megami hugged her friend, "I'm sorry."

Kagome began to cry, almost reliving her sorrow for her mate. She moaned the name "InuYasha" repeatedly in her tears. Kagome herself didn't know whether she was crying for happiness or grief.

Megami's eyes grew wide and she mouthed, "InuYasha …" Megami turned to Sesshomaru. "My lord, how does she know you and your brother? How does she know the name of Naraku, our most despised enemy?"

Sesshomaru motioned for everyone to sit down, "Well Megami, Kagome hasn't missed the past three years of school for illness. The well behind this shrine is the Bone Eater's Well …" and he launched into the account of their adventures in the feudal era; the time travel, the Shikon Jewel, Naraku, and that last, horrible battle and all who died. "And so Megami, the child she bears is my nephew; the son of my brother. She is the priestess who has been mentioned in all the stories your father has probably told you since you were a babe. Sango is the demon slayer mentioned, too. To us, it has been less than three months since that battle with Naraku. Where is Naraku now?"

Megami sighed, still petting her friend's hair as Kagome reacted to the news of her pregnancy. "My lord, I wish I could tell you, but I don't know."

He put his hands together and rested his chin on the steeple formed by his fingers, "Then tell me what happened after we disappeared through the well."

Megami took a deep breath, "When that battle ended, Naraku was three shards short of a fully restored Shikon Jewel. He was furious that you escaped. He began to search all of Japan for you. My father and others knew of your disappearance and fought to keep Naraku off your track or the track of the Jewel Shards. When you weren't found in Japan, he scoured the globe. As time wore on he forgot about you four, and concentrated on finding the missing three shards of the jewel. Thank Kami he never found a single one. He assassinated demon after demon, eliminating any competition for power. Whole families and clans were destroyed. We were some of the lucky few to avoid him at first. As industry and politics grew Naraku kept his hand in both. He always kept himself in a position of power. Now he has dealings with organized crime factions, such as the Yakuza and other mafias. His incarnations serve as his eyes and ears in politics, law, and corporations."

"Where are the jewel shards?"

"We don't know. My family has searched diligently for decades. There is no trace of them. The last lead we had was that it resided in America. That's why we were there for so long. Well, there were other reasons behind that, but that was the main reason."

"What were the other reasons, Megami?" Sesshomaru asked sternly. "You need to be completely honest with us. No more secrets."

"To put it bluntly, Naraku was the entire reason that Japan joined the Axis during World War II. Father would not stand here and let his sons be forced to fight for Naraku's designs. We fled to America only to find those of Japanese descent being drug into camps. So we laid low in Mexico for a while. It was in Mexico that we heard the lead on the jewel shards. We resurfaced in America during the sixties and began to search for them."

"How far did you get?"

"If it is in America, my Lord, then it is in the state of Oregon. We went state to state, ending up in Oregon last."

"Sango, get a map. I need to see where 'Oregon' is," Sesshomaru continued to question Megami. "Why did you befriend Kagome?"

Megami shrugged, "I really don't know. I was drawn to her. I felt that I could trust her."

Sesshomaru walked over and stood before Megami. "Rise," he commanded her.

Without hesitation, Megami stood to face her Lord. He reached up and took a hold of her chin, tilting her face to his. He looked at her eyes. "You are a dog demon."

"Yes."

"As is your father?"

"Yes."

"Who is your father?"

"My father is Jinkaru; Grandson of the great Tensuke."

Sesshomaru nodded then said, "I was unaware that Tensuke had a son."

"He didn't. His daughter is my grandmother."

"I see. Call your brother Senkotsuke, tell him what has happened and we'll figure where to go from there. Kagome, go relax. You need your rest."

Kagome motioned to get off the couch before Megami opened her mouth. "My lord," Megami said, "Why did you not tell Kagome of her pregnancy? Surely you smelled the child."

Kagome's head whipped around to face Sesshomaru, "What?"

"Megami, not now," he said in an attempt to avoid an outburst, but it was too late.

"No, Sesshomaru!" Kagome spat, "I want to know why I'm always the one in the fucking dark! First my mother hides information from me. Megami did, but at least she confessed when I noticed the sutra on her back. Now you! You of all fucking people should have told me that I was bearing a child! Not just any child, your nephew! Nephew … NEPHEW! You already know what the fuck I'm having? I don't even get the joy of the damned ultra sound. What the hell is going on around here?"

Megami stood up with Kagome, "I should have told you privately. I thought you would have known by now. Come on, Kagome, go relax and you can ask him this later."

"No! I want to know NOW!" Kagome shrieked and stomped her foot.

Sesshomaru turned to her coolly and said, "Did you really need that on top of all the grief we have had to manage? Did you need the pressure of soon becoming a mother to a son who would be part demon? Did you want that burden known until needed?"

Kagome shook with repressed rage, "Don't you think that it may have helped my grief to know that I carried InuYasha's son?"

"Everybody stop!" Megami shouted. Sesshomaru and Kagome looked to her. "This won't help a damn thing! Now, what's done is done. Kagome, you have your child's health to think of, and Sesshomaru, you can't go back in time and tell her now. So cool it!" without another word, she stormed off to call Senkotsuke on her cell phone.

Kagome and Sesshomaru, utterly dumbstruck, watched Megami walk out the front door, rifle through her purse, and pull out a cell phone and pack of cigarettes. She lit a cigarette and dialed a number.

"She smokes? I never knew that …" Kagome said under her breath.

Hearing her comment, Megami retorted, "I only smoke when I'm stressed! Which is now!"

Megami looked somewhat cornered, and Sesshomaru could hear Megami and Senkotsuke's phone conversation.

"I'm fucking serious Senkotsuke. You need to get over here!"

"Megami, you sound really freaked out."

"I AM really freaked out! Senkotsuke, Kagome saw my sutra."

"What? Megami what the hell were you thinking?"

"Senkotsuke, skip the lecture! She didn't trip out! She knew of our kind. She knew!"

"What?"

"She knows about demons, Senkotsuke. Two full demons live with her."

"You're shitting me!"

"No! I'm not! Senkotsuke, I know you'll think I'm pulling your leg on this but, Lord Sesshomaru is here."

He was utterly silent. "He's alive?" Senkotsuke whispered.

"Yes, he's alive, and I've seen him."

"I'll be there as soon as I can."

"Hurry up, bring me a change of clothes, and don't look like a fucking slacker!"

Megami hung up and put out her cigarette. She walked back in and damn near it bumped into Sesshomaru. She looked at him, and her eyes remained glued to the indigo crescent upon his brow.

"Is something the matter?" he asked.

"N-nothing. How is it that you have that crescent as a marking?"

He rubbed it gently, "From what my mother told me it's a rare marking. The only thing she ever said about it was – no, it's ridiculous …" he trailed off.

"No, come on, tell me," she begged.

"My mother told me that I would know my mate because she would also bear the crescent."

"I see," Megami nodded softly. "Interesting. Well," she sighed, "Senkotsuke should be here soon."

Sesshomaru motioned to the couch, "Make yourself comfortable."