Author's Note:

I know! It's been a while, huh? I just got my new desktop computer set up, so now I can get online and everything whenever I want and not have to worry about anybody else bugging me! Yay! I just recently figured out that I had already written out quite a bit of this story, I just forgot. That's the main reason I haven't posted in a while, but that's all going to change now! I'm going to try to finish my stories within the next few months and actually attempt to get my others out that I never posted!

Anyways…here you go…

Never Forgotten

By a very late: Artemis

Chapter Four

"Mother!" Juro's voice echoed down empty corridor after empty corridor. He stalked through the halls in search of the woman that was rarely in sight of anyone, preferring to hole herself up in one room or another with the company of only her sake bottle and perhaps a guard or two.

It disgusted him to no end the way his mother behaved so disrespectfully towards his father, but he could never fully hate her. She had given him life after all.

"Damnit…" He muttered to himself, not getting anywhere in his search. "MOTHER!" He snarled when he finally heard noises. How his father had ever lain with the unfaithful woman still boggled his brain. He tapped on the shoji screen, causing the breathless moans coming from inside to cease with a feminine growl.

"Go away, brat!" He scowled at her blatant disregard for loving motherhood, but he continued on.

"I need to talk to you. Put your clothes on and come out." He barked commandingly. He heard her huff before bustling about, and leaned against a wall to wait with his arms folded across his chest. She glared when she finally emerged from the room, smelling of alcohol and sex.

His nose scrunched of its own accord, offended by the smells. Deciding to ignore them like a good son, he proceeded to lead her down the hall and into an unused room.

"What do you want? I'm just a tad busy, so if you wouldn't mind speeding it up a bit, I would appreciate it immensely." She scoffed at her own request. Juro's lip twitched. No wonder his father never went anywhere with her.

"Who is Kagome Higurashi?" No point in holding off the inevitable, eh? The reaction was immediate and very noticeable. Umi's deep green eyes first widened, then deepened into the ugliest frown he'd ever seen on her face, and he'd seen some ugly ones.

"Where did you hear that evil witch's name?" She growled lowly, hatred dripping off every word said.

"Father, and some girl who claims to be her daughter." He answered after a moment's pause; the look on his mother's face was enough to make him gape in wonderment. Umi took a deep breath.

"She tried to seduce your father." She spat out in disgust, sinking into the pillows she had previously been kneeling on. "After changing from human to demon through bonding, she left him to find another demon lover. She just wanted to remain young and beautiful for a long time."

Juro digested the information. "Father said she died." He prompted for more answers. He watched her brows furrow in consideration.

"She did, about thirteen years ago. A dragon youkai charred her before my very eyes while a war was going on right in front of us." She stretched and got up to her feet. Raising an eyebrow, she stared at him. "If that is all, I'll be taking my leave." Juro nodded and got back to his feet.

'Something's not right about that story.' His heart came to the conclusion. His mother's hatred for the woman was plain to the most oblivious of minds. The only other person that could give him answers to the veil of mysteries was on a visit to the village.

He wouldn't shirk his new responsibilities any longer, but he would pay a visit to his dear-to-heart sister, Rin…she would know this Kagome person, and if not her, then maybe one of her older friends would.

Her head didn't move, but her eyes darted from side-to-side. She didn't have any clue as to where she was, and she had a goose egg on the back of her head. She could feel it every time she shifted slightly.

Aya slowly lifted her head and sat up on the futon she occupied. The walls were unfamiliar to her, as was the small bed she was on. A door opening made her avert her attention from her surroundings to a woman standing in the doorway.

Green, bloodshot eyes glared at her and the stench of alcohol attacked her sense of smell. The woman took a step forward, stumbling slightly to the side. Green glared into gold. She dropped to be eye level with Aya, emitting a low growl.

"You do look like him…but you have her face." The lady grasped her chin with clawed hands, turning it harshly. "Ch. So she came back, huh?"

Aya stared at the psycho that was slowly but surely cutting lines into her face. Her mind was muddled. Nothing about this place made any sense to her. She gaped at the woman's next words.

"It's a pity that I have to hurt this pretty face of yours." Before the lady could lift the dagger in her clumsy palm, Aya jerked away and let out an ear-piercing scream.

Every servant in the castle winced once the screaming began. Something was going on, but the question was, what? Some were annoyed while others were just down-right curious.

Confusion escalated when their Taiyoukai darted past everyone in a flash of white. Not but two seconds later, everything was silent once more and the servants went back to their daily chores.

It didn't take as long as she figured it would to get near the village, at least another couple of hours would be enough. The dormant butterflies in her stomach came alive with vigor. She hadn't seen her friends in over ten years. The very thought of seeing them again made her eager with anticipation and excitement.

"This'll be good for me." She muttered in a chant-like way. Convincing herself of it proved to be another challenge entirely.

Author's note:

Okay, so I left it at a cliffy…get over it. Next chapter should be out by next week, if I get at least ten or fifteen reviews. I am working my butt off for you guys, so what does it hurt to just press that little violet/periwinkle (depending on what color you see it as) button and sending me a nice message saying how much you liked the story? Or even tell me if I screwed up somewhere, I don't care! Much love y'all, see ya soon!

Artee