Prologue

Kagome stood meekly in front of yet another council of foreign gods, soul weary and heartsick. A ghostly Midoriko stood at her side to plead her case. It was going as well as it always had.

"We have spoken to many other pantheons, and none want to take her on. This is our last hope for her."

"And why can't her own gods take her? Is she not their responsibility?" The one eyed god sitting on his golden throne on his raised Dais asked skeptically, his brow lowering over his eyepatch. To his left, a radiant woman with long, golden curls smiled at her with motherly sympathy, and it made a deep longing settle over her. Oh, how she missed her own mother. She didn't even glance at the two beings to the right.

"Our gods have washed their hands of her and the jewel she carries."

"Jewel? Of which jewel do you speak?" The shining lady asked, her tone much softer, sweeter, and it comforted Kagome in a way she hadn't known in what seemed like eons.

"My jewel," Midoriko answered, always ready to take on as much culpability as possible and make Kagome seem like an innocent gift to anyone who would take her. She appreciated it, but it hadn't worked yet.

"The jewel is mine, your majesties. I made it with my own spirit. It was reborn inside Kagome, where it was removed and shattered. It returned to her upon its completion. Being born inside her... it had the unpredictable consequence of making her immortal. She has essentially become the jewel. She is a dangerous weapon that cannot be disposed of. Her only hope is to be taken into a fold of beings much more powerful who would shield her instead of use her. I have tried many, many pantheons, but none want to deal with the trouble of my jewel. Our own gods are simply tired of it and want it out of sight. You are her last hope." She was pleading now, and Kagome knew that that must chafe the once proud warrior miko, but she was right, this was all of their last hope.

The God King made to speak, but that beautiful woman to his left placed her hand on his to still his tongue. She stood to her full height, golden robes flowing behind her as she seemed to float down the dais and stopped in front of Kagome. She smiled so kindly, taking Kagome's face in her hands and smoothing her thumbs over her cheeks. Kagome felt a sweet pulse of motherly affection wash through her, her wilting soul desperate to soak up as much of it as it possibly could.

"Of course we'll take her on, isn't that right dear?"

The man behind her sighed deeply before simply grunting in reply. His wife was never one to turn away a child in need.

"Hello dear one, I am Frigga. Welcome to Asgard."

-