I do not owe either the InuYasha characters or those of YuYu Hakusho.

Warning!!! Graphic gory scenes to ensue, please avoid reading this fic if you are not of a suitable age, or do not have parent consent! You have been warned!

Bitter Memories

Chapter three : A slip up

The dawn brighten the sky, one by one the trees came alive with the sounds of birds. All round her the forest hummed. Bugs, and other small animals called out from the safety of the underbrush. Her thoughts flickered to the seemingly harmless creatures momentarily before she was attacked by an onslaught of memories. Times just like this when her friends and her were walking through these very trees. She was tired of feeling empty, alone, and sad. They were all emotions that she never had dealt well with. Forcing her battered body forward she focused on pushing her emotions into a tiny corner of her mind where they wouldn't be able to hurt her anymore.

The walk took longer than she ever remembered. By the time she reached the outskirts of Kaede's village the sun was already at midday. Feeling the need to explain the situation to the elderly miko, she headed off toward the hut that they had called home for so long. As she entered the village, everything seemed to stop. The laughter and shrill cries of children faded, as did the conversations of the adults. Everyone stood still staring at the young miko they had come to respect and see as one of their own. She could only image what she looked like to them. She hadn't bothered to clean the blood from her friends off, nor had she cared when shoving through the woods. Her clothing must be torn, tattered, and soaked in blood. They all probably thought the group had failed, and she couldn't blame them.

At their stares she had paused, but quickly brushing them off she began to trek to the hut. Her legs gave out and she stumbled to the ground. Instantly, the village came alive again. People began rushing about, while others crowed around her. Someone could be heard calling for Kaede. She could only hope she remained conscious long enough to tell her tale. After a short amount of time, the crowd cleared letting the woman she treasured like a grandmother through. Once Kaede saw her, she quickened her pace and was at her side in mere moments.

Smiling softly at the old woman, she brushed off the woman's attention to her wounds. Tears filled her eyes as she slowly lifted her hand to her neck. Pulling the necklace from within her shirt, she cupped her hand around the jewel. Releasing her grip she let the jewel dangle from her fist. It glittered and reflected the light of the noonday sun. Kaede looked like she was going to faint, and several women did. These people had been dealing with the threat of Naraku for their entire lives. She began to see black clouding her vision, but before succumbing to the bliss of unawareness, she uttered the words these people had been longing to hear for a very long time.

As the sun set, the clouds were painted in the vibrant reds, pinks, and yellows that usually accompany a sunset. However, this sunset was different, it was special. In villages that have heard the quick spreading news, partying and celebrations were held for the demise of Naraku. A certain village was no different. The villagers sung and carried on while in a particular hut an old woman cared for a teenaged girl. With the approach of the evening, and the loud noise of celebration ringing through the air the girl stirred.

Her eyes opened slowly and groggily. The old woman hurried to her side, fussing over her. The girl sat up despite the protest of the village miko. The girl smiled a weak smile, one that did not reach her enchanting blue eyes; they held great sadness and depression. The elder miko took the girl into her arms offering her comfort for her pain. The girl only sat still, her head cast down. No tears spilt, nothing but a slight pained look crossed her face. Noticing this, the old woman pulled back and searched the girls face. Without encouragement the girl pulled away and told the miko the story of Naraku's defeat. She didn't leave anything out, nor did she pause. She just continued through till the story was done. Her voice remained quite, and monotonous, but the warm tears that ran down her face told of the inner pain the girl was trying to hide. During the story the miko sat perfectly still and listened, she never once interrupted. At the conclusion of the story the miko nodded her head and wiped the tears from the girls cheeks. The girl rose after a time and informed the miko that she needed to leave. After a tearful farewell, the miko watched from her door as the girl slipped into the shadows completely unnoticed by the happy villagers. That was the last time the miko would ever see her young apprentice.

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It had been hard. Saying goodbye to Kaede had been more difficult than she had ever thought it would be. Now she had the company of the dark, night shrouded forest and all that went with the forest at night. Deep haunting shadows lurked around her. The trees creaked and howled as the wind went through them. The large nocturnal animals shifted near her in the foliage. Too many times had she gone through InuYasha's forest to be too fazed by it, but all the other times the hanyou himself had been tracking her in the trees. Now she was alone, but she pressed on. She had a newfound strength; it was finishing her quest. Even if it was by herself. The familiar clearing was ahead. She could see it through the trees. The moon reflected on the grass, it's light casting a peculiar silver glow. The old well sat situated in the center of the field that she had 'sat' InuYasha numerous times in. The well glowed from the within as she stepped into the clearing. It was calling her home, and she was glad to oblige. Approaching the well she turned to take in the era that had held so many things for her. She sat on the rim of the well and looked to the stars briefly to gather herself. Finally ready she pushed off the sides and leapt into the insisting blue light of the well. The light encased her greedily. Her entire body tingled with the feeling of old magic. It had always been this way, but this being her last trip, it felt different. It was a figurative door. When she landed on her side of the well she would be closing the door on her past. She would be closing the door on her heart, right then she vowed to never let herself fall in love again. It just hurt too much.

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When Kagome opened her eyes, she was greeted with the dark, dank, molding inside of the old well. Looking up she seen the wooden roof overhead. She was home. Climbing from the well, with the aid of the rope ladder her mom had put in, she observed the well house. With her fist clenched on her hip she took in every nook and cranny with a critical eye. The well house was as it had always been. In the corner near the big wooden double doors that served as an entrance, was a dust and cobweb covered broom. A fine layer of dust coated the steps, the only visible sign of anyone being in here for a long time was her own foot prints left the day she had gone nearly two months prior. 'I'm never going to come back in here. There's no point in it, except to remind me, and I don't want to remember.' The thought had pasted through her mind unwillingly, but she couldn't deny the truth in the statement. Shaking her head to clear her thoughts she walked up the three stairs and shoved open the left door. The night's air licked her face and she turned away from it. Heading to the God Tree she placed her things down. Now was as good of a time for a funeral as anytime. The courtyard of the shrine was empty; no one was visiting at this hour. She walked the stone path to the small memorial shine set at the very back of the property. The memorial shrine house was a small, one roomed building. It was secluded and surrounded by cherry trees. At present, the trees stood bare, they had already giving their flowers to the up coming winter. Vines climbed up the side of the house. In summer the vines bloomed covering the house in a variety of pastel colors. The door to the shrine was never lock and tonight was no different.

Inside, the floor was covered in mats. At the back of the building was an alter. Intricate wooden designs of kanji scripts proclaimed the death prayer. Atop the alter sat white candles, and incense. Walking up to the alter, Kagome kneeled and bowed her head in respect to the dead, before quickly getting up and snatching two white candles, and a fistful of incense. Turning on her heel, she strode out of the small building. Walking back to the God tree, a bush of roses lining the walk caught her eye. Their white petals shone eerily in the moonlight. Their beauty was undeniable with their full blossoms, and strong leaves. Stuffing the incense into the waistband of her skirt, she approached the bushes.

The thorns, although tiny were sharp and cut into her soft flesh easily. Grinding her teeth in frustration, she grabbed a rose and using her miko energy slashed through the stem. Repeating this action six more times, she clutched the flowers and returned to the God Tree. Her abused fist bleed profusely, the red blood spilling onto the pure white petals of the roses as she laid them at the base of the tree. Taking the incense she placed it in the ground upright in a semicircle around the roses. Finally, she sat the two candles evenly spaced in the very front of the memorial. Before Kagome had burned InuYasha she had removed his necklace. Now she placed it on the roses. Kneeing before the memorial, Kagome prayed for the souls lost to Naraku and the Shikon. With tears flowing down her face she reached into her backpack and remove the bottle of ashes as well as a lighter. She lit the incense first, followed by the candles. Once done she stood up and removed the stopper on the 'urn'. With a whispered goodbye she spilled the ashes and watched through teary eyes as they danced away on the breeze. Leaning down she blew out the candles and removed the incense from the ground. Picking up her backpack she turned and went towards her house. Warm lights, and voices greeted her. Pushing open the door she entered the kitchen, where her family was seated around the table playing a game. With the sound of the door they had all turned to see Kagome as she entered. They never expected to find a bloody, dirty, crying girl. Her mother got to her feet so fast she upturned her chair. Souta and Jii-chan quickly followed her. Her mother's worried voice called to Kagome.

"Oh my gods! Kagome!?! What happened? Honey, are you hurt? Baby, come here! Oh sweetie! Why are you crying?" At Kagome's shake of her head, indicating she wasn't hurt, her mother's warm embrace surrounded the shaking girl. Souta was hopping from foot to foot nervously, and Jii-chan was inspecting her arms for signs of injury, despite her telling him she had none. Her mother had begun to rock Kagome like a small child. Turning her head she laid eyes on Souta.

"Souta! Go upstairs and run a bath for her! Jii-chan, stop it she said she wasn't hurt! Oh my little baby! I never should have let you go." Brushing Jii-chan away, and sending Souta on his way, Kagome's mom lead the girl to the living room with her arm draped around her shoulders protectively. Once at the couch, Kagome laid her head on her mother's lap sobbing into her mother's knees. Her mother did the only thing she could, she ran her hand through her daughter's knotted hair and rubbed small circles on her back, cooing soft sounds of comfort to her crying daughter.

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After her bath, Kagome didn't really feel like talking, so she went to bed. Her family all took turns kissing her goodnight, and telling her how much they loved her. Sighing into the blanket, Kagome curled up into a fetal position and buried her head in her arms. As she began to drift off to sleep, she whispered half of the thought that had been racing through her mind for the last half an hour. She wanted to be emotionless to feel nothing.

"I wish I was like Sesshomaru…" As the last part left her lips she drifted into sleep completely oblivious to the pink glowing jewel around her neck.

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The morning came with the regularity that mornings tend to have. The birds chirped outside her window, the sounds of her mother banging pans in the kitchen, her brother's heavy breathing as he slept in his room down the hall, her grandfather's shuffling feet as he walked around the front of the house. With a jolt, Kagome sat upright. 'I should not be able to her Souta breathing and grandpa's footsteps out side! I can smell something too…" Turning her head to catch the smell she realized with a start that what she smelled was the birds outside her window, along with the wind, scents of people that had visited the shrine the day before, and her mother's breakfast. Fully awake, she stumbled from her bed. With surprising grace she stopped herself from tumbling to the ground. Something was wrong.

With inhuman speed she raced to her bathroom. Flinging the door open with enough strength to splinter the wood she zoomed inside. When inside she realized she could see perfectly fine without the light on. The utter blackness of the bathroom didn't hinder her in the slightest. Bringing fearful eyes up to the mirror she gasped and quickly turned on the light hoping it was just a trick of the shadows.

Staring back at her was a beautiful Inu-taiyoukai. Her hair had grown; it now rested at the top of her knees. The strands nearly glowed, and they were as soft as velvet. Her bangs had also grown and now lay even with her chin. They had lost their unruly appearance as well. Glittering aqua blue eyes full of terror and curiosity looked back at her. A nearly transparent opal marking lay on her forehead. It was of the Shikon no Tama; there was no mistaking it. On her cheek, directly below her left eye was a crystallized tear. Her eyes were lined in the same sparkling opal color that adorned her forehead. Opening her mouth she saw two sharp, long fangs. They were dainty compared to Sesshomaru's or InuYasha's, but they were still knife sharp. Pulling her bangs away from her ears she peered at her delicately pointed ears. Getting over the shock of her ears she brought her hands up to look at them with careful scrutiny. Her nails were long, sharp and strong. Her hands seemed slender and graceful. That's when she noticed her height difference. Before she had been only about five feet in height. It was obvious she was now at least another two inches. Her legs were longer, slim and toned. Her breasts were a cup size larger as well. Now she was in shock. Her wish had been to be emotionless like Sesshomaru, not be like him! What in the seven hells had gone wrong?!? A soft rumble emitted from her chest in her confusion. Glaring at herself in the mirror she tried to make sense of what had happened.

'Okay. After coming inside I was human. I took my bath, and went to bed. Oh KAMI! Shit SHIT SHIT!!! I didn't mean it that way! How could I be so careless! 'I wish to be like Sesshomaru'! Gaghhhhhh! Stupid, stupid, stupid!' By now the rumbling had grown to a full out snarl. Her chest reverberated with the sound sending sound waves that shook her entire being. The door to her bathroom flung back. Turning toward the abrupt sound Kagome's eyes widened in shock. There in her bathroom was a green and yellow-stripped demon. His black beady eyes took her in greedily. He looked like a ram youkai. He had long curving horns on top of his head, a long face, a big nose, and a long green beard. He was slightly human in appearance, until you reached his waist. At his waist he had the bottom half of a ram. Gripped in his hand was a blow dart.

"You have the Shikon No Tama! I can feel it! My boss will be quite pleased to meet you!" With that said he brought the blow dart quickly to his lips, and before Kagome could move, shot her. The effect of the poison took place quickly, leaving Kagome with two thoughts before she fainted. 'I can smell poison. That guy really stinks.'

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"Yusuke!!! Koenma has a new mission for us! Hurry up lazy bones!" Yusuke stared at the black screen of his communicator for a few seconds before yawning tiredly and flopping back to his bed. The warmth and comfort of his bed was just beginning to lull him to sleep when a piercing scream rang right in his ear.

"I KNEW IT! GET UP THIS SECOND!" Botan's scream scared Yusuke so badly he tumbled from the bed landing on his head. His lower half slowly slid down the side of the bed. Yusuke lay in a heap on the floor, while Botan laughed joyously. Grumbling about stupid death, and goddamn missions from a diaper-wearing child, Yusuke picked himself up from the floor. Botan was hovering above the ground on her ore; she wore a baby pink kimono, and matching hair tie. She grinned at the grumbling Yusuke in hopes of hurrying the reluctant Spirit Detective along. When Yusuke seen her smiling face, he scowled even deeper. Going to his dresser he got a shirt and pants from the drawers and turned to leave the room. He stopped half way to the door, a wicked grin plastered to his face. Turning slowly to the oblivious Botan, his grin grew. With a questioning look she turned his way, upon seeing his grin, she got nervous and twitched. With a small chuckle, Yusuke dropped his pajama pants. Botan turned bright red and nearly toppled from her perch. Turning away from Yusuke, she opened a portal to Koenma's office and took her leave. Yusuke was laughing manically at this point, pleased with himself for flustering the girl, and getting rid of her.

In Koenma's office, Botan quickly exited the portal to a room full of Spirit Detectives. Kurama, Koenma, and Kuwabara looked to her in surprise. Hiei only raised his eyebrow, the only show of emotion his face render. The bright red, flustered Botan stumbled into the room before she realized that all eyes were on her. Flushing to a cherry red the poor girl buried her face into her hands, trying desperately to cover her obnoxious blush.

"Botan? What is it?" Koenma asked. His voice was curious and slightly muffled by his pacifier. Grumbling through her hands the sensitive ears of Kurama and Hiei could barely make out what she said.

"Stupid Yusuke! That was so embarrassing! Jerk! When I get my hands on him I'm going to strangle him! Then I'm going to hand him over to Kayko, I'm sure she will want to hear about this!" Koenma, and Kuwabara shrugged off her mumbling, Kurama only was more curious to learn what Yusuke had done to deserve Botan's fury, and also what had caused her to blush so badly. Before he could ask, a portal opened producing the object of Botan's embarrassment. Yusuke, grinning and laughing to him self shot a glance at Botan. His laughter increased in volume when a still very red Botan shot him a furious glare. Not being one to be left out on a joke, Kuwabara sent questioning looks between the two before he had to ask.

"Hey! Urameshi! What's going on? I think I missed something." Kuwabara's confusion was evident in his voice. Yusuke looking to Kuwabara began to tell of his little victory over Botan, but was cut off as an ore sailed a crossed the room and smacked him upside his head. Botan and Yusuke were glaring at each other a crossed the room when Koenma cleared his throat, calling everyone's attention to him.

"Ahem. Well, I did bring you here for a reason. It has come to our attention that one of the most powerful gems in the world has arisen somewhere in Tokyo. We are unsure of its location, but it is imperative that you find it, and it's protector. This jewel is known as the Shikon No Tama. The Shikon is a jewel that can be used to grant a wish of either demons, or humans. This jewel has been coveted by many powerful demons in the past, and if someone were to get their hands on it I fear what the consequences would be. You are to find the jewel at all cost. If the protector is alive, you must bring him to me at once! His very life is at stake." Koenma's voice was deadly serious, and all the humor drained from the room instantly. Kurama's face had flashed in recognition at the name of the jewel, though no one else seemed to have any prior knowledge of it.

"Koenma, how are we supposed to find this protector? What are we looking for?" Kurama asked. The rest of the group, with the exception of Hiei, nodded. Koenma thought for a minute before shrugging. Everyone nearly face faulted, even Hiei stared at Koenma.

"Well, you see no one has see the jewel in five hundred years, and even then it was nearly undetectable by our radars. For some reason, it light up our radars like a Christmas tree for about two seconds late last night. We didn't have time to track it so we have no idea where it came from except that it was in Tokyo. Demons have a sixth sense for this jewel, that's why Hiei and Kurama were called in on this one. It will be like something tugging on the edge of your minds. As long as the demon is searching for the Shikon, there will be a pull on their mind to direct them to it. You guys have got to find this jewel. Hurry, the time we've spent talking another person searching for it could have found it." When a portal opened, they all turned to it and took off on their new case.

Hi everybody! I know I said I would have the gang meet Kagster in this chapter, but what can I say…I like suspense! Seriously, I didn't have the time, or the creative energy to write up their meeting. I am sorry about that. Oh well,…REVIEW PLEASE!