Summary: When the well sealed up, she thought life would return to normal. She's mistaken as Sesshoumaru demands her presence in the Devildom to watch over Rin as she's made to join the Exchange Program. Just like before, trouble comes for her. Only this time it came in the form of Lucifer staking a claim on her. To her dismay, a being of Pride won't ever surrender.

Pairing: Lucifer x Kagome

Disclaimer: I do not own either series. Each belongs to their rightful owners.

Noye:
Flashbacks are written in bulk Italics.
Rin!Lillith Descendant.
Rin has an unnaturally long lifespan for a human due to being revived by Sesshoumaru's sword.

Prologue

She landed at the bottom of the well with a heavy thud, a thud that was probably as heavy as her heart was at that moment. She stood in silence as the magic that'd once surrounded the well finally dissipated into nothingness. It felt odd to just stand there and feel it fade away, almost as if it'd never even existed in the first place. She let her eyes close, onyx lashes fluttering against porcelain skin. As she did, her heart clenched in her chest. Tears stung in her eyes, a few slipping free to rain down her cheeks before she managed to push the rest away.

"Oh, come on," Kagome sighed. "What am I getting so sad about? I should be happy…"

She knew she should be happy! She was home for good. Wasn't that what she wanted since day one? To be able to come home in one piece? To be able to say that the danger that lurked five hundred years ago had been extinguished? To know that her friends would be able to live the rest of their lives without the existence of the jewel looming over their heads? The thought of those faces so far in the past made a fresh wave of tears wash over her, the weight of them nearly drowning her. Without warning, her knees buckled out from beneath her, and she fell. Her knees landed in the dirt resting at the bottom of the dried-up well, and she ignored the pain that spread from the coarse landing.

She kept telling herself that she should be happy, that this was the best possible outcome for everyone involved, but…- but…

A part of her so badly wished she could've stayed alongside her friends.

Her shoulders shook as harsh sobs were racked from her body as that realization- the one she'd been doing everything to push away from hitting her, came crashing down all around her.

She hadn't wanted to leave them all behind. She felt selfish for wanting the well to stay open for her own purposes. She knew it was wrong because if it stayed open, there was no telling what might find its way through in the future. Yet still…-

She almost felt like forgetting about them would've been better than having to remember them, but she couldn't bring herself to outright say those words. She didn't want to forget the faces of the past, the faces of her friends that she'd made on her time-defying destiny.

She shook her head and forced her tears to come to a halt as she sat at the base of the well, staring blankly at the side of the well in front of her. After a few seconds, she shook her head and sighed as she pushed herself up onto her shaking feet again.

"I'm happy to be home," she whispered as she let her gaze travel up the ladder that'd assist her on her climb out of the well. "Really, I am," she continued as she downcast her gaze to her muddy shoes, "but…"

Here, in her own time, a normal life called to her. She wasn't sure if she could go back to normal after all the amazing, horrifying things she'd been exposed to by fate's own decision. With a sigh, she shook her head and finally moved to ascend the ladder that hung over the lip of the well. She made it to the top, and her blue gaze landed on the closed doors to the well house. With a bit of hesitation, she reached for them. A gentle push opened them all the way, and a bright beam of sunlight bled into the otherwise dim and dark building she lurked in. She winced at first, cringing back when the beam of light caught in her unprepared eyes. As her sight adjusted, she took a step out.

"Nee-chan!"

She jumped at hearing her brother's excited yell, and she turned to the source automatically. He dropped his schoolbag where he stood and dashed over to her, and she barely had time to prepare herself before he flung himself into her arms.

"Souta!" She cried as she returned the tight hug. She could feel him trembling in her arms, or… maybe that was her? Relief flowed through her, and she could feel it seeping off of him in waves.

She'd told them last time before she left about the impending final fight. Her family knew that the next time they saw her, that it'd be all over. She knew… she knew that they must've been worrying about the worst each time a new day came and she didn't show up again. Without warning, a fresh wave of tears washed over her, this time the cause was completely different than the time from before, and she rested her chin on the top of the younger boy's head.

"You're home!" he exclaimed. "Home for good, right?"

She nodded, knowing he might not see it, but he could feel it. "Yes," she said. "It's over, we won." It was the best possible ending for this nightmare fairytale.

She said those words. She meant them from the bottom of her heart, no matter how much she longed to see her friends again.

It felt kinda good to hear those words, she realized.

She was home, after all.

She was supposed to start her high school career in a week's time, but she felt as if things wouldn't be going as planned. Especially now that a certain silver-haired demon stood before her, his stance as haughty as ever.

"Kagome-chan?" Ayumi peered over her shoulder to spot the figure that lurked outside her friend's front door. Yuka and Eri did the same, and they all glanced back at each other in uniform curiosity. "Who's this guy?"

Kagome felt her posture tense up at her friend's innocent inquiry. Why now, out of every possible chance?! He just had to show up right when her schoolmates were leaving after spending the day at her home! She bit back her huff and shook her head.

"H-He's a…-!"

"Friend," Sesshoumaru successfully cut in before she could start to scramble for a lie, and she looked at him, wide-eyed. He ignored her without fail, looking at the three curious girls. "I'm a friend of Kagome."

She honestly never imagined the day would come when she heard him say those words himself! They'd been allies in the past, especially towards the end of her days there, but that was about the extent of it, or that was how she thought he felt.

"Isn't that right, Kagome?"

She all but jumped when he posed her that question, and she quickly whirled around to face her friends with a saccharine smile in place. "R-Right, Sesshoumaru here is a friend I made a while ago!" she exclaimed.

The three girls were quiet for a moment before they shrugged and exited through the door as Sesshoumaru stepped to the side to give them enough room. "Even I wonder where you meet these guys, girl, " Yuka sighed.

Kagome waved them off, and, once they were out of sight, she sighed and turned to the figure waiting quietly beside her. She eyed him curiously and leaned against the side of the building. "What're you doing here, anyway?" she asked. "Not that you're not welcome or anything, but…" she trailed off with a sigh. "You just don't seem like the type to make sporadic visit decisions."

Sesshoumaru nodded. "You're correct. I'm not," he stated. Kagome tilted her head to the side in silent curiosity. "Something has come up, and I request your presence in the Devildom."

"The Devildom?" she repeated the word. "That's the realm of the demons, isn't it?" she asked, and he nodded. She looked at him, surprised. "Wait, why do you need me?" she asked. "I might not make the best fit among demons, y'know."

"What makes you say that?" he questioned, and she arched a brow.

"Very funny," she scoffed. "I'm a miko," she deadpanned.

"Something like that has never stopped you before in fitting in among demons," he retorted, and she couldn't find anything to say in an argument against his claim. "Anyway, your status as the Shikon Miko is exactly why I'm requesting you and you alone for this task."

Kagome sighed and relented a bit. "Okay, what task is it?"

"You're going to act as a guard for Rin while she's in the Devildom," he said, and Kagome's eyes widened.

"What?" The news was a surprise to her. "How can Rin be in the Devildom?" she asked. She knew that the effect of her revival by his sword had impacted her normal lifespan, but she assumed that he would've made it a point to have her life among humans.

"She's lived her life in the human realm up until now," he stated. "She's been selected for a sort of Exchange Program, and she will live in the Devildom for the next year. If I have you there, acting as a guard, I can ascertain that she's safe."

Kagome nodded. She wasn't able to find fault in his logic, after all. But…- "How do you know that it'll even be okay for me to go?" she asked.

"I've gone through all I must in order to get your permissions granted," he stated. "Although, when I mentioned knowing you, Diavolo became quite eager at the prospect of meeting you."

"Diavolo?" she repeated the unfamiliar name, and she figured it must've been the figure in charge of the program in some sort of fashion, more so since he seemed to want to meet her.

He nodded. "Well?" he questioned, "are you prepared to leave now?"

She jumped at the suddenness of it all. "You mean right now?" she asked, and he nodded. "I-I can't!" she exclaimed. "I have school-!"

"You'll be enrolled in school there, so don't worry. It'll count to your credits in your current school, anyway."

"What about my family-!"

"Every two weeks, should you want, you have permission to come visit your family."

She glared at him for cutting her off a second time, and she folded her arms. "Okay, but I still need to pack."

"Clothing, supplies, and all other necessities will be provided to you," he stated. "Anything else, and I'll be able to bring it back to the Devildom for you while you get situated."

Kagome sighed and shook her head. "Of course, you totally got this all figured out, don't you?"

He smirked in response. "Naturally."

She rolled her eyes and turned to head inside. "Well, I still need to leave a note so my mom doesn't think I was kidnapped or anything."

"Very well," Sesshoumaru responded. "I'll be waiting outside when you're done."

She went to write the note, sighing to herself. "Guess I shouldn't even be surprised…"

000

"Are you prepared to meet Diavolo?"

She jumped at the question, whirling around to face the demon walking a few paces behind her. After a less-than-ideal landing in the Devildom, a meeting with some unknown figure to her had been the last thing she'd been expecting! Already being here was a huge draw on her energy as it was…!

"Right now?" she squeaked, and Sesshoumaru arched a brow.

"I mentioned he was eager to meet you," he stated, tone flat. "He knew you'd be coming, so his schedule was cleared just for this chance. Anyway, it'll be good for you, as well."

Kagome sighed and looked down at her clothes- they were just casual lounge clothes she wore around home. A pair of shorts that were hidden entirely beneath a shirt two sizes too big. They definitely weren't fit for a first meeting of any kind. Her shoes were actually fuzzy slippers for God's sake!

"If I go dressed like this…-" she began, trailing off, and Sesshoumaru looked her up and down, seeming to catch on to her point.

"Well, I'm certain it'll make for a memorable first impression, at least," he stated, and she bristled in response.

"Seriously!?" she hissed, only to be taken aback when he chuckled.

"Relax, I'm merely joking," he stated, and she arched a brow.

"When the hell did you develop a sense of humor?" The sound of him laughing was different, and, frankly, she wasn't sure if she liked it or hated it.

He ignored her comment and beckoned her along. "I have clothing picked out for you," he stated. "You have time to bathe and get changed. We're meeting with him in a few hours' time for tea."

Kagome let out a sigh in response, folding her arms over her chest. "I can't believe you made me panic like that, and all for a laugh."

He smirked in response, this time taking to leading her. "You're attracting stares, by the way."

Her cheeks flushed bright pink at his claim, and she peered over her shoulder, suddenly more than aware of the lingering gazes sent her way. She huffed and fixed the sleeve that was falling off her shoulder back in place and hurried off behind him.

000

The elegant fabric felt so luxurious beneath her fingers. Sesshoumaru had shown her to this room after she had the chance to bathe, assuring her that she could pick whichever she felt best about, and that he'd be waiting for her to rejoin when she was ready.

All the options were far too different than what she was used to, and it all felt too elegant for her. From ornate jeweled collars and flowing skirts, she was drawn to the most simple piece available to her.

A sleeveless, backless, royal blue dress that tied around her neck. The skirt had a black, lacy cover that she found was able to be removed, so she carefully detached it from the sleek material of the dress, setting it to the side so it wouldn't wrinkle. The dress she picked was a moderate length, not too short and not too long- reaching just to her knees.

Once dressed, she looked her reflection over in the full-body mirror. She was able to see the left-behind scars from her days spent fighting for her life. No matter how they drew her eye, she didn't feel ashamed as she looked at them. They told a story of her past, they were a part of her. She'd rather have them and her life, than nothing at all.

She smiled at her reflection and came closer, and, as she did, she could identify the outer points of the star-burst-shaped scar on the left side of her ribcage. Most of that one was covered by the design of the dress, but the faintest hint of it was still visible. Once close enough, she lifted her hands and fixed her hair.

She kept it flowing loose, deciding to do nothing more than brush it out. The long length reached far past her hips. She backed away from the mirror and picked up the pair of shoes she'd picked when she'd chosen her dress. They were simple, too, just a pair of black flats. She definitely felt more confident in them than any one of the heeled pairs.

Once dressed, she gave herself one last look in the mirror before walking out the door. True to his word, Sesshoumaru was waiting for her. He looked her over as she made her reappearance before him, and she was surprised when he took a step towards her. She was frozen in place as he lifted his hand, something held firmly in it.

"Turn around," he stated, and she was too surprised to try and argue. She obeyed wordlessly, and she felt him thread sharp claws through a few locks of her hair. The longer sections of her bangs were pulled back and pinned at the back of her head by the clip he held. She could feel a metallic chain each time she moved her head, but she couldn't see the way it looked. "Better," he remarked, and she craned her head back to eye him.

"What'd you put in my hair?"

"A clip," he stated, and she pursed her lips in response to his very-obvious answer. He chuckled in response and patted the top of her head, much like he would to a child. "You can see it later, no worries. It's yours, after all."

"Huh?" she blinked, stunned at his claim. "Mine?"

He nodded. "Of course, now come on. We should be on time if we leave shortly."

She ended up falling into step behind him. As she did, she let her hand lift, and she felt along the shape of the clip in her hair. Though she didn't know what it looked like, she was able to map out the shape of a crescent moon and a large circle-shaped object. There were also a few thin chains hanging off the bottom, all seeming to be different lengths, but none too long that she could pull one over her shoulder.

She held her sigh back, having to be content with her little examination of the clip for the moment, and she rushed off after Sesshoumaru to catch up before he got too far out of sight.

000

Being left on her own in the powerful presence of the Devildom ruler wasn't what she'd been expecting! Sesshoumaru had left to who knew where with the promise that'd he return shortly. It wasn't like she was nervous or anything… well… maybe she was just a little bit.

She'd learned that the Diavolo she was to meet was actually the Devildom Prince the moment she'd arrived, and his butler- a demon named Barbatos, finally filled her in on his title.

"Lady Kagome!"

She was startled at the sudden exclamation of her name, and she peered at the figure that'd called to her in silent questioning. He was a large figure in terms of stature, and he had more than enough muscle to back his height up. She felt much smaller than she already was compared to most demons at her five-foot height. Despite his imposing size, he radiated nothing but friendly energy and excitement.

Unsure of what to do at first, she sent him a genial smile and waved before she finally found her voice. "Yup, that's me!" she said. "Although… feel free to drop the Lady part, I'm not one for formalities, usually."

He chuckled in response and came closer to her. As he did, she found herself practically shrouded by his powerful presence. She wasn't weak by any means, but even she felt intimidated by his power, despite his friendly disposition. "Very well, if that's what you wish!" he exclaimed. As he stopped directly in front of her, he held a hand out, as if silently asking for her own, and she complied. She let her hand rest in his much- much- larger one, and she had to fight the flush of red tempting to dye her cheeks a vibrant hue as he brought it up to his lips and left a chaste kiss on the back of it. "It's such a pleasure to be able to meet you! I never imagined in a million years that I'd get the chance to have you standing right before me, but here you are. Imagine my surprise when Sesshoumaru told me you two were old acquaintances!"

Kagome laughed and shook her head. "I'm not anything special," she said, only to fall silent when Diavolo shook his head. As he did, her eyes strayed up, catching sight of his short, vibrant red that seemed to move with each action he did. Gold eyes shined brilliantly as he looked down at her.

"Nonsense!" he responded, "you are a being meant to oppose demons, yet you choose mercy towards them, more often than not. You're a magnificent example of how unified peace is possible."

She was taken aback by his claim, but she was unable to prevent the smile that spread across her face in the next second. That was probably the nicest, most earnest compliment she'd ever received on her personality. Unable to help it, a warm flush dusted her cheeks. "Well, thank you."

He smiled and waved her along. Her nerves forgotten, she followed along with him. "I know I invited both you and Sesshoumaru for tea, but unfortunately it seems he had other things to attend to," Diavolo stated. "Surely you're not opposed to joining me on your own, right?"

Kagome laughed and sank down in the chair set up opposite of his own. "I'd love to!" she exclaimed. "After all, it'd be such a shame to let it all go to waste while we wait for him to come back." As she eyed the spread of desserts all over the table, she was reminded of just how hungry she was. She let out a sigh. "Being here is a strain on my energy," she admitted, "so until I get used to it, I'll probably eat so much just to recoup."

Diavolo let out a boisterous laugh that coaxed a giggle from her. "In that case, try all you like. I'm curious what your favorite might be."

As they indulged in the setup array of snacks and tea, their conversation ended up swapping to the matter of the Exchange Program.

"So, I know I'm going to be acting as a guardian for Rin while she's here," Kagome began. As she did, she felt Diavolo's stare return to her. "But other than that, I don't really know much else. Sesshoumaru is… well… a being of few words."

Diavolo chuckled. "I can understand your confusion, but you have nothing to worry about," he assured. "You can ask me anything you wish, and I'll do my best to give you your answer."

Kagome nodded her thanks, sighing in relief. "Thanks so much…" She shook her head and looked back at him. "Where will I be staying throughout the time I'm here?" she asked. "I know if I'm acting as Rin's guardian, it must be close by her, at least, and I know that won't be with Sesshoumaru."

"Right," he responded. "As of right now, we've moved Rin into the House of Lamentation under the watchful eye of a figure I trust very well. Naturally, you'll be staying there as well. Its been a few days since the program started. I do believe her room has been fixed to allow the two of you to share. At least, when she heard you were coming, that's how she wanted it done," he said, and she nodded in response.

"So I'll be sharing a room with her," Kagome said, a wave of relief flowing through her. At least that was one less worry for her… "Another thing…" she began, trailing off as she waited for his attention to come back to her.

"Yes?"

"When will I go join her?" she asked, and Diavolo smiled.

"You're free to go over after we've finished here! I'm sure the break I had fixed into my schedule is nearly up, as it is," he said. "I'm sure she's been waiting for you to show up, as well."

Kagome nodded, realizing they'd been talking about all sorts of things for almost an hour now, yet Sesshoumaru had yet to show back up. As she sat there, she huffed. "I wonder what's taken him so long…"

"Sesshoumaru?" Diavolo questioned, and she nodded. "He went to get things you'd need for your stay," he said. "Particularly things from your home in the human realm, I'm sure."

She paused and nodded. "Oh, right," she said, recalling back to earlier. She hadn't been expecting him to do it so suddenly, but she supposed it was just easier that way. "Another thing," she said, "about this House of Lamentation… how do I get there?"

"Don't worry about it," he stated, grinning her way. "I asked a friend to walk you over. He should be getting here shortly. However, if you'd rather, you could always wait for Sesshoumaru to show back up, and he'll escort you over."

Kagome shook her head, "no, don't worry about it," she said. "If he's already coming to get me, then I'll just join your friend for simplicity's sake." If he wasn't supposed to be arriving soon, then she might've chosen to just wait for Sesshoumaru, but she didn't want to make him waste time by coming here specifically to walk her over.

Not long after those words left her mouth, a new figure came to join them. Diavolo smiled his way warmly, and she turned in her chair- figuring he must be the one who'd escort her to where she'd be living for the time she was here.

He was practically just as imposing as Diavolo was…! Dark hair and sharp crimson eyes were the first things that drew her gaze. He was tall as well, not that she was surprised any. After all, he was a demon- he was bound to tower over her, too.

"Ah, Lucifer, right on time!" Diavolo stood up. "Kagome was actually just wondering about the way to the House of Lamentation."

Kagome stood up as Diavolo spoke, smoothing her dress down as she did so. She offered the unfamiliar figure a kind smile as she realized her prior thought turned out to be right. This would be the person showing her the way. Before she got too far, she turned on her heel to give a parting smile Diavolo's way. "Oh, and thank you for having me, Lord Diavolo!"

He laughed in response. "My pleasure!" he exclaimed. "Feel free to stop by anytime, I'd love to hear more of your stories sometime."

She nodded in response, happy to hear he'd enjoyed her rambling tales about her days traveling through time. It was nice to have someone listen so intently, especially when it was something she'd assumed that she'd have to keep to herself. Around demons, she didn't have to worry the same way about her secrets as she did around humans. "I just might take you up on that offer."

With that, she turned and walked the rest of the way to the new figure. Once she stopped just before him, she offered him that same friendly smile she greeted anyone with.

"You're Lucifer, correct?" she asked, and when he nodded, she was relieved that she'd heard Diavolo right. "It's a pleasure to meet you, as well!"

In return, he offered her a mild smile as he hummed in response. "I suppose I could say the same to you, Lady Kagome."

She shook her head and flicked her hand in a flippant wave. "Just Kagome, please. I'd rather go without formalities," she said, sighing a second later. "It feels so weird to hear people put "Lady" before my name, anyway," she added with a faint laugh. She never got used to it in the past, either. "Anyway, if I'm gonna be staying here for a while, might as well drop the formalities."

Starting on their way, she let her eyes familiarize herself with the path they were taking. The sooner she imprinted it into memory, the better, she knew. He didn't make a move to interrupt her doing so. About halfway, or what she deemed to be long enough, she turned to look at him.

"So, about Rin…" she trailed off, a small frown on her face. "How is she doing? How's she been so far…?" Rin, of course, trusted Sesshoumaru more than anyone else, and she would be lying if she said she wasn't worried about the way she was faring. Other people… outsiders… it was usually a gamble on how well she'd adapt, and she speculated that might be another factor that pulled Sesshoumaru to make this decision.

He glanced at her at hearing her question, and she was able to feel the faint prick of ire that came from him the following second. "She's doing her best to keep her nose out of trouble, at least."

Kagome nodded, "I take it that means she's been safe, too?" she questioned, sighing softly when he nodded.

"I've appointed her a keeper during her stay," Lucifer commented, and she craned her head to the side. "She's far too innocent to roam around on her own, anyway."

Kagome stifled a laugh and nodded, "yeah, that might be true, but she's cautious, at least." She glanced down at her feet, a mild frown on her face. "I'm surprised that she was the one chosen…" she admitted. "Or, I'm more surprised that somehow Sesshoumaru backed down and let it happen." She paused and shook her head. "I doubt there's not much he wouldn't do to protect her," she added.

"Once the paperwork was done, there was little that could be done to reverse the situation," Lucifer commented, his voice automatically pulling her attention back up. "Having you come was a fallback plan, it seems. It worked, too, because here you are."

Kagome stifled the urge to roll her eyes. "I bet he would've just brought me kicking and screaming if I declined his offer in the first place," she commented dryly. "Honestly, agreeing just seemed a lot easier in the end for everyone involved."

As they made it to the building they'd been heading to, her eyes landed on the silver-haired demon in particular.

"Good, you're here," he remarked, and Kagome scowled at him. "I've dropped off what you might need for the time being."

"Thanks for that, at least," she retorted dryly. "I take it you're leaving now?" she asked, and he nodded in response.

"If you're here, I have no reason to stay," he commented. "If you mess it up, well, your life."

Kagome scoffed and rolled her eyes. "Oh, my life, yeah right! You've tried to kill me half a dozen times already, and I'm still here. I thought we came to an agreement that you just can't kill me," she commented. Sesshoumaru met her stare head-on, and she could feel his irritation as she smirked up at him. As he left, she gave him a parting smile and called out over her shoulder, "no worries!"

Not long after he left, they finally went inside. As soon as they did, Kagome was nearly knocked back when a pair of arms went around her hips.

"Miss Kagome, you're finally here!"

Auroua-chan: A few things to note about this! Rin will fill in as MC (with a bunch of differences, obviously.) She also has a lengthened lifespan due to being revived by Sesshoumaru's sword. Currently, she's about 13.

Pairing is final, but might have slight SessKag hints here and there for fun.

Characters like Inuyasha, Kouga, Shippo, and Kirara will show up, too! Very soon, some sooner than others, too.

Anyway, that's it for now! Thank you all for reading, and I hope you all enjoyed! Hopefully I caught all the errors before posting, but if not sorry.

Please remember to Review&Favorite&Follow, thank you!

Bye for now~