end only to begin again

'…'Thoughts
"…" Speaking
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Italics and bold - Writings
Italics - flashbacks
0oooo0 - Scene Change or POV Change


Chapter 23
Secrets Revealed

'It has been one week since that little embarrassing fight with Inuyasha, and I can't get that… that bastard out of my head!' ever since the Sesshomaru episode a few days ago Kagome could not shake the feelings he invoked in her. She could not understand it and she could not very well ask another youkai because they would look at her like she was crazy. It would be something that she as a youkai should know already, but she until recently was ningen. She racked her brain and Inu No Taisho's memory and came up with nothing on the reason for her actions.

What Kagome did not understand was that like a female a male can give off an aroused scent, and because of his power the scent would be highly addictive. The stronger the youkai the better the scent; and Sesshomaru had become aroused by fighting such a strong female. The fact that she also was inu and not related to him had a factor in the way his scent related to her. There were several things Kagome did not know about being youkai, but was about to find out. To bad she did not know exactly how soon this was going to happen.


Kagome knew something was coming, she could feel it. Her body preparing for something she slightly noticed the feeling and how it felt similar to her ningen period. She did not know much about female inu heat cycles but thankfully Inu No Tashio's memory she was able to know the clinical term for female heat. His memory could not produce an experience first hand because he was a male. She hoped he knew enough about her coming heat that she could avoid any problems. His implanted memory produced a basic knowledge but that was all it could offer her:


Female Inu Heat :

Estrus ("heat") is the mating period of female inu youkai. When estrus occurs, female inu are said to be "in heat" or "in season." Inu generally have their first estrous cycle when they reach the maturity of the body. Some females of the large breeds, however, may not have their first estrus until they are 120-240 years of age.


The complete cycle takes about 12 moons, resulting in 1 estrous period each year. Individual variation occurs, but a given female's pattern tends to be repeated regularly.


The estrous cycle can be divided into 4 stages:


1. Proestrus: This stage begins with the appearance of vaginal bleeding. It normally lasts from 1 to 2 days. Male dogs become very interested in the female; however, she will not yet mate with them.


2. Estrus: This is the stage in which the female will accept a male so conception can occur. Ordinarily, the stage lasts for 2 to 6 days. The female inu will only submit then mate a male who can best her in battle therefore insuring he is able to protect her while she is weakened during pregnancy. Inu youkai relationships mainly consist of one dominant and one subservient. By nature the male is the dominant of the couple which is why he has to prove his physical superiority over his chosen female; many males have died because of this. A female will only produce offspring if she is mated to the male she ruts with. During this time a mating mark cannot be placed because both of the parties will not be of right mind, it will fade with time unless it is reinforced at a later date.


3. and 4. Metestrus and anestrus: These 2 stages are periods of ovarian activity, but with no significant outward signs.

Kagome quickly learned that she did not like what the memory of Inu No Taisho supplied her with! Dislike would be an understatement she was absolutely pissed off! What was it with this time era and the need for men to rule there women? It was absolutely absurd, were males so afraid of a strong female that they felt the need to suppress them?! It was something she had always hated about this era which was the reason she loved her era so much. Women were not shadows of their husbands or mates; they were their own person an individual beings not possessions.

Kagome was so deeply submerged in her thoughts that she did not sense the coming youkai. Luckily for her Inuyasha did. She was startled out of her thought by the sound of Inuyasha withdrawing his Tessaiga. She looked up just in time to see a snake youkai charging out of the cover of the forest.


"Sssssshikkkkoonnnnn" the snake hissed as it slithered across the dirt ground heading straight towards the now shocked group; straight for Kagome.


Upon hearing the youkai's exclamation the group stiffened, it had been a really long time since they were attacked by a youkai seeking the Shikon. It was Inuyasha who came out of his shock first "Oi what the fuck are you talking about the Shikon is gone!" he shouted while waving the Tessaiga at the snake carelessly.


Sango and Miroku exchanged knowing glancing at each other, they had forgotten about how she still had the Shikon until they were reminded by the snake.


Shippo was standing next to Sango and Miroku when he heard the snakes screams, he watched as the snake headed towards Lady Kagome. It was then that Shippo knew… he knew he recognized her scent. Only difference was it now also had the scent of an inu youkai as well as he regular scent. "Ka-Kagome." he whispered low enough so Inuyasha would not hear him, but Kagome did.


Hearing her name spoken she turned and looked at Shippo in shock; she knew he had figured her out. Just by the sound of his voice she knew he knew her secret. Nodding her head yes she watches as his eyes widen and unshed tears strained his eyes.


Shippo looked upon the woman that meant so much to him as he grew up, she had returned to him in a form that would not die of old age. He was still really young and he did not look forward to explaining to his mother why he was mated already. He knew she would not be mad knowing who he mated; at least he hoped she wouldn't. He did not mate out of love like he was sure his mother had wanted him to, but he was positive that he could grow to love Rin because she was after all just like Kagome. He could still remember the day Sesshomaru came to him.


Flashback Start ::

Shippo and Kirara were in the clearing near the Bone Eaters Well, Shippo had taken to practicing his kitsune powers. He knew if he wished to make it to Kagome's time and see his mother again he would need to be strong. He would need to be able to handle anything 500 years could put him through and to do it he need to be prepared. Shippo had learned a trick with his fox fire that he needed to prefect, he was able to form his fox fire into a blazing katana. The buru-sendo (Blue Death) was long and the flames of the blue fire were surrounding it. The only problem with this attack was that he could only manifest the katana for a short amount of time, and it took a moment or two to form. He needed to make it last longer and appear faster.

Shippo was holding the katana buru-sendo focusing on maintaining the katana form when he sensed a strong youki. It was familiar, he had encountered this youkai enough in the past with Inuyasha to know it by memory, and it scared the shit out of him. 'What would Sesshomaru want with me? He would be able to sense that Inuyasha was not here, so why?' he thought while looking at the youkai lord. "Inuyasha is not here right now." he informed the Tai-youkai even though he knew that Sesshomaru knew.


Sesshomaru was looking at the kit with a cool mask of indifference; gauging his actions with a calculating eye. "I am aware of this kit; I have not come here for Inuyasha."


Shippo drew a startled breath; scared but curious he asked "Who are you seeking then?" he asked not really one for all the respecting title crap. After all he did spend a great deal amount of time with Inuyasha, so it would only make sense that he picked up a bad habit or two.


Eyes narrowing were the only indication of the anger Shippo's lack of respect of his station had caused him. "I want you to mate Rin." was all Sesshomaru said offering no reasons.


Sputtering Shippo responded to that outrageous order, because it sure as hell was not a request if the tone of his voice was anything to go on he was just 'ordered' to mate Rin. "Rin is still a child and so am I for that matter. I have just hit my 120th year 3 moons ago." Shippo stated while eyeing the indifferent Lord.


"There are no others, you will mate her. Once you do Rin's life will be extended to that of yours, she will age as you do." Was all Sesshomaru had stated to him, he did not and would not explain himself.


Granted it was not an exceptionally well thought out argument but Shippo understood… Sesshomaru did not want to loose Rin to old age. Shippo also realized what an opportunity this could provide him, if he accepted he would be considered "under Sesshomaru's protection" and that was not something ANY youkai would dismiss easily. He knew if he mated Rin the resulting alliance with the Western Lord could help him stay alive long enough to eventually see his mother figure Kagome again! With that in mind, "I agree to mate Rin in exchange for your alliance." he declared, head up while keeping eye contact to gauge his reaction.


Sesshomaru's eyes widened slightly in surprise, he could not believe that was all the kit wanted to mate Rin. He had asked many stronger youkai to mate Rin and they either declined because she was ningen, or they asked for way too much. "Agreed." was all he said before he seemingly melted back into the forest.


A month later he showed up with Rin, and they had been mated ever since. He did not love his mate yet, but she was such a lovely onna that he knew he was well on his way.


End Flashback ::

Shippo was nervous and extremely happy; he did not have to wait 500 years to see his Kagome again! Though she returned in a different form he could care less, he had his mother back.

0ooo0

The Snake was charging towards Kagome when Inuyasha screamed at it. The snaked paused then leered at Inuyasha "I am not ssstupid hanyou, I can sssenssse the jewel the inu wench hasss it." the snake youkai hissed.


Kagome was panicking; the snake just told Inuyasha something that might make him recognize her. She did the only thing she could think of in such a state, she raced to the incoming snake unsheathing her katana. It transformed within her hand with no more then a flick of the wrist, then she followed through by slicing the youkai in two. Kagome turned to Inuyasha hoping to see he did not realize who she was.


Inuyasha heard the snake's proclamation about the inu youkai Kagome and the jewel. Things he knew and things he had suspicions about started to click in place. The scent all though different because of breed and species was the same. Her face and warm eyes, although her hair was silver and her eyes golden were the same. He knew right then and there who she really was, and then immediately after he realized he could never have her. Sadness, anger and self pity filled his heart; he loved Kagome and he was angry that he allowed others to advise him to move on, that she was not coming back, but here she was. She came back only a short 10 years later, as a youkai. He felt sadness because he took the advice and mated with someone instead of waiting for her to return. Sadness because he did not believe in her enough to know that she would do whatever she had to so she could return to him and she did. Self pity because he could never be with her because he was mated to another. Because who he wanted most was right in front of him but he could do nothing about it, not now not ever. "K-Ka-gome." he whispered with so much emotional pain and sadness that Kagome gasped in response.


She could not believe what she saw when she looked at Inuyasha; she could read him like a book. When he said her name so broken so hurt and sad her heart broke. "Yes Inuyasha, I have come back." she told him safeguarding her reactions not to show him her hurt and her sadness.


All the hanyou could spit out was "How?" he spoke with such a breathy tone she did not know what to say or do. She also noticed that the rest of the gang left them to their privacy.


"In the future I studied to be an archeologist, to discover a link to the past. When I was notified that my employers found something that dated back from this time I went there. When I arrived I found nothing but the bones of a dead miko, I was disappointed." she said pausing to give him a second to digest who she was before she continued.

"When I was walking up the mountain I sensed a youki aura, a barrier. So I followed it hoping that I found something to tell me of your fate, or the fate of all youkai. When I broke down the barrier what greeted me was exactly what I was looking for." she said to him and watched a curious light enter his eyes, she withdrew both swords.

"I found Tessaiga and Tenseiga in a stone pedestal much like in your father's tomb. Their presence there told me something that I did not wish to know, that you and your brother were dead. I fully intended on bringing them home so no ningen could take them. I did not want anyone who did not know of the sacrifices that you, your brother, and your father had made for the world to have them. I was not going to let them be toted to a museum or a private collector or some undercover youkai, not when someone who knew of your brave heart. When I had taken Tessaiga it spoke to me; told me I was the master of the blade." pausing to take a breath she continued.

"I did not understand how I could be the master of the sword because I am ningen, but thought no more on it. I figured I would think on it later when I returned home.

I went to take out Tenseiga, it turns out I am also the master of this sword. I had a vision of your death, everyone's even Sesshomaru's. I spoke with the spirit of your long dead father. That was how I had become what I am today; because I am the master of both swords I received your father's powers and skill in the literal sense. I was turned into a youkai, your father told me to go back in time and stop the deaths of those I loved, that this was my destiny. He told me not to tell you or unless they recognized me. He did however warn me about Sesshomaru, he said I needed to be wary of him because he would be curious as to the reason why an inu of his breed who was not of his clan would be in Japan. I guess silver Inu females are rare here." Her voice trailed off thoughtfully while figuring the truth in her statement.


Inuyasha was dumbfounded never had he expected to hear a story that complicated and he could tell she was not lying. His father turned Kagome into a youkai, by giving her his, then sent her to the past to stop his sons from dying. It was a little much for his simple hanyou brain to handle, he was still reeling with the idea of Kagome being back as a youkai adding the fact that it was his father's youkai.

He stood there staring at the girl when his mind continued to reel, his eyes rolled behind his head and he fainted.

Shocked Kagome ran forward to catch him before he could hit the ground "Inuyasha?" she said softly while she held him. She placed him on the ground and lightly slapped his face to wake him, but he would not budge.


Sighing she picked him up and followed the scent of her friends, totally unaware that she was being watched. That 'someone' had heard the whole story, though he was sure whether he believed or not he did hear it.

It was not until he actually remembered the miko's scent did he actually know she was telling the truth. 'So, father gave his power to a ningen female? How disgraceful… But two Tessaiga and two Tenseiga? What could that mean?' he asked himself before he left the cover of the trees to return to his camp. He also recognized the scent the miko was giving off, he knew she would be coming into heat soon. He was not sure what to do with that piece of information yet. He did not know how he felt about the kijo once being ningen, even though she had the power of his late and terrible father. He did wonder one thing, how she managed to fight like she had with him. As far as he knew the miko could not do nothing more then shot an arrow… poorly.


~*~