InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Corporate Deception: Fate of Her Land ❯ Epilogue: Full Circle ( Chapter 18 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Corporate Deception: Fate of Her Land

Epilogue: Full Circle

By: TruSuprise

Disclaimer: Inuyasha and all affiliated characters belong to Takahashi Rumiko. The views expressed herein are solely those of TruSuprise.

The sound of a songbird competed with that of a table saw in the dusty atmosphere. The scents of drywall and paint thickened the air from where it wafted into the house from the adjacent buildings. Out the window, newly planted trees reached towards the late spring sun.

Running his hands through his newly cut hair, Miroku lamented the loss of his ponytail when a rainbow prismed glint caught his eye from the other room and caused his jaw to drop to the floor. Without warning, the excited houshi slapped his pack brother on the back, causing the Inu-Hanyou to glare at him irritably for having to take his eyes off the current proposal they were supposed to be working on.

“Inuyasha, you go dawg!” Miroku cat-called, causing Inuyasha and Sango to eye him curiously.

“Keh. What the hell are you talking about?” The Inu-Hanyou grumbled, trying to concentrate on Inu Properties and Preservation's next venture.

Miroku raised an eyebrow conspiratorially. “Oh, only about that massive engagement ring on Kagome's finger!”

“What!?” Sango shouted and dropped the stack of books she had been carrying over as reference material to instead rush towards her pack brother, her eyes demanding answers.

Inuyasha's own eyes widened, an expression of being a deer caught in the headlights transforming his scowl into a more comical expression as he tried to keep up with this inquisition his friends were subjecting him to. As if watching a tennis match, the Inu-Hanyou's wide eyes bounced from Sango to Miroku and back again, his newly acquired hairstyle of a ponytail flicking back and forth with the movements.

Finally, he'd had enough. In a flash, with a speed granted to him from honing his skills four years ago in what had been a battle against good and evil, Inuyasha leapt up. Quietly, so as not to call attention to himself and bother his mate, he shut the flimsy shoji screen door that separated the kitchen where the three of them worked from the family room where Kagome was deep in concentration over her books.

“Shhh!” Inuyasha hissed. “You'll disturb her. You know how she gets about her studies.” He had to hold Sango by the arm to keep her from running to her pack sister.

His friends didn't seem to care that his mate was studying. “I thought you'd never have the balls to ask her!” Miroku exclaimed.

Inuyasha growled. “Balls? It's not a matter of balls, you jerk. I just didn't think marriage was necessary! To a youkai, the ritual of mating is ten times as strong as the flimsy commitment of human marriage!”

Sango sighed breathlessly, taking a moment to look down at her own engagement ring and wedding band that had been on her finger for the past two years. “But you proposed anyway because you knew it was important to her.” She said with stars in her eyes.

Inuyasha's ears flattened against his scalp and he avoided Sango's eyes at all costs, a tell tale sign that the taiji-ya had hit the nail on the head.

“So, when's the date?” Miroku asked gaily, batting his eyelashes mockingly at his pack's beta.

A vein popped out of Inuyasha's temple and he crossed his arms in annoyance. “Keh. I'm leaving all the details up to Kagome. You'll have to ask her.”

“Don't mind if I do!” Sango said stealthily, her words timed in conjunction with the sound of the shoji door quickly sliding open. Her excited voice calling his mate's name made Inuyasha open his eyes in shock. They'd conned him!

Even still, the Inu-Hanyou couldn't hide the smile that tugged at his lips.

* * *

Kagome sighed at her books. Learning always had been her passion, and her desire to share her knowledge as a teacher had been even stronger. When Inuyasha had encouraged her to finally enter college and pursue her life long dream of teaching, she had been elated, though sometimes, she still loathed studying. The glint of her new engagement ring tore her away from her math book as she remembered why her mate had waited so long to propose to her. He had wanted her to concentrate first on getting into college and then getting used to the amount of work she'd have to accomplish to become a teacher.

Sometimes, Inuyasha really could be sweet, thoughtful, kind…

The sudden sound of stampeding footsteps shook Kagome out of her daydreams, and suddenly she was aware of her pack sister calling her name. Kagome's eyes widened in confusion as Sango and Miroku barreled at her, surrounding her at the low table where she sat. Questions about the impending marriage flew by too quickly for her to grasp as her pack sister grabbed her hand and fawned over her engagement ring.

Kagome didn't even try to keep up with the questions. In the midst of the activity, her eyes found her mate. Leaning against the doorframe, his soft eyes were directed towards her and she smiled sweetly at him.

:This is all your fault.” Inuyasha commented accusatorily with his soul-voice.

:Like mate isn't excited.: Kagome returned with a roll of her eyes.

Inuyasha's expression softened further. :Couldn't be happier.:

:Me neither. We'll tell pack superiors later. After Souta's-:

The crashing sound of the front door slamming open and Rin's high-pitched voice suddenly broke the mood between Inuyasha and Kagome and abruptly ceased Miroku and Sango's incessant questions.

“Oh my god you guys, come on! We're going to be late!” Rin's voice precluded her appearance.

Accompanied by the sounds of multiple shuffling feet, the young girl's voice was finally heralded by her figure as the budding young woman turned the corner from the hallway. Dressed up, Rin sported a skirt perhaps an inch too short that billowed around long, slim legs while her dark, shoulder length hair bounced wildly, framing her face. Two toddlers, identical twin girls, were attached to either of her arms, the pitter patter of their feet and gasping laughs filled the room with warmth as they tried to keep up with their older sister. Hanging back a mere pace away was young Shippou. Already sprouting into a young man, the kitsune-youkai kept adoring, watchful eyes over his newest family members attached to his cousin. Though he was still a child by youkai standards, the attentive protector's hair had grown out, no longer clasped into a childish bow, and the sharp angles of maturity had begun to age his face.

“Kago-neechan!” The twins exclaimed as they laid eyes on their aunt. Already Kagome had taught them not to call her by the old woman's title of aunt, opting instead for the rightful title of pack sister.

“Yuri-chan! Emi-chan!” Kagome greeted the girls as they rushed into her. The toddlers' long, dark silver locks flew about them and their crimson eyes gazed adoringly at her, their obvious attributes telling in their parentage. The excitable twins then broke apart to hug their other pack members, each of them skirting Inuyasha to come in for a near embrace, only to dart away with giggles again, leaving their Inu-Hanyou uncle with a scowl on his face.

“Don't look so hurt, Inuyasha. They're just a good judge of character.” Said a sultry voice carried on the breeze.

The Inu-Hanyou frowned as two pairs of slow footsteps sounded through the hallway and finally, Sesshomaru and Kagura entered the humble room. Suddenly remembering their parents, the twins, Yuriko and Emiko, quickly detached themselves from their pack members and ran to the alpha couple, one leaping into Sesshomaru's arms, the other happily hugging Kagura's swollen, pregnant belly.

“Keh. One litter wasn't enough? I can't believe you want more pups.” Inuyasha mumbled in Kagura's direction, feigning irritation at the toddlers.

Sesshomaru sighed. His brother couldn't lie to save his life. It was obvious that the Inu-Hanyou couldn't wait for offspring of his own. “As transparent as ever.” He muttered, slipping a hand out to rest protectively around Kagura's waist. The wind youkai eyed him adoringly.

The twins giggled and rushed to give their flustered uncle flying hugs, trusting in their pack beta to catch them with strong arms. A smile replaced Inuyasha's scowl as he became absorbed in the toddlers' happiness. Kagome didn't miss the unbridled affection that shone through his amber eyes. A smile lit her face as her engagement ring once again caught her eye.

Finally, Kagome sighed, gaining her the attention of all of her pack members. “Can you believe it's been four years since we defeated Naraku?”

Each of the clan stopped to ponder Kagome's words, all eyes unfocusing as they retreated into themselves. In the past four years, much had happened. While the Taisho Clan had strengthened their bonds as a pack, the rest of the world had moved on around them, both human and youkai societies.

Without the presence of Naraku, the Southern Lands had been leaderless, but his former territories were not to fall into disarray. With the help of Ookami Kouga and the entirety of his Northern Lands, the two youkai factions of Ookami and Inu clans had divided the responsibility of both the leaderless Eastern and Southern Lands between themselves, working for the first time in a joint effort. For once, peace ruled the youkai lands, their previous struggles still oblivious to the humans that lived in their territories.

Over those past four years, the Taisho Clan had come together to begin rebuilding the Higurashi Shrine. Sango and Miroku had gotten married. Sesshomaru and Kagura had mated and whelped pups. Kagome had gone back to school in pursuit of her dreams. All of this had been done while continuing the business of Inu Properties and Preservation, the company becoming as profitable as ever. Happiness and success for the Taisho Clan had been on a steady rise since Naraku's defeat.

“It has been four years, but look at how far we've come.” Kagura stated softly, lending her stoic mate a tender smile before assessing the entirety of her pack with a grateful expression.

Kagura's inspirational words lifted the spirits of the Taisho Clan. They had each gone through several hells fighting for what they believed in, and in addition to saving the world as they knew it, Naraku's defeat had also made them stronger both as individuals and as a family unit.

All eyes focused on Inuyasha. Finally aware that his pack was staring, the carefree smile on this face that had been directed at the twins quickly slipped into his previous scowl, a slight blush coloring his cheeks.

“Whadaya looking at?” The Inu-Hanyou barked.

Kagome smiled, thinking of how far just she and her mate had come. “Nothing, Inuyasha. Absolutely nothing.” She said softly

Rin sighed loudly, a hand propped on her hip. “Really, guys, Souta's going to be upset if we're late for his college graduation.”

Kagome cocked an eyebrow. “Oh yeah, there's another thing that only took three out of those four years to happen, for you to ask Souta out!”

“Kagome-neechan!” Rin yelped, her blush competing with Inuyasha's.

“Alright, alright! Everyone out of the house, we've got a graduation to attend!” Inuyasha snapped before gently setting the giggling twins down on the traditional tatami floor of the rebuilt Higurashi house. His pack scrambled at his order, still eager to obey their beta's command, and he shooed everyone out the front door, careful to lock it behind him.

Inuyasha rolled his eyes as Shippou and Rin quarreled over who would get into the limo after the pack alpha couple. In the queue that resulted, a fuming Sango had her palm plastered to Miroku's face, his own hand still planted firmly on her rear end. Emiko and Yuriko chased circles around their family. Unbeknownst to them, a gentle breeze lapped at the twin's feet, the first signs of their mother's power manifesting. At the helm of the impressive limo sat Jaken. As always, his head was cradled in a webbed hand as he pitied himself.

Kagome noticed Inuyasha's exasperation and slipped her fingers through her mate's. Their aura's met and mingled and together, basking in their shared happiness.

“We've come a long way indeed.” Inuyasha whispered.

“I wouldn't have had it any other way.” Kagome returned softly.

The silent message of the completion of a full circle that had begun four years prior was evident as the cherry blossoms began to float off their trees. They went unnoticed as they paid homage to the young mates beneath them who quickly joined the rest of their family on their way to meet with their last pack member.

Together, the Taisho Clan drove into the future.

-The End.

Author's Notes:

Now that this story is over, I'd like to dedicate Corporate Deception: Fate of Her Land to YoukaiMusashi. Without this fic, I would have never met the sweetest, nicest beta in the world, who soon turned out to be my kindred spirit. Thanks for everything, girl, this is for you! :)

Now, I'd like to apologize for all the blatant cliché's I threw into the epilogue. I was trying to get the full-circle feel from start to finish of Corporate Deception… hopefully I succeeded!

Once again, thanks to all of you who have stuck it out for the full year it took me to finish all 333 pages. 333, perhaps that's an omen… I've appreciated each and every one of your thoughtful reviews, and hope that you've enjoyed the journey as much as I have. It's been an immense pleasure to write this story and share it with all of you. Please review and leave your thoughts! Hopefully it'll help to make my next fics better.

Some of you have asked if I have any other stories planned.

The answer is YES! Too many to list, actually, but unfortunately, most of them, well, all but one, are not for the Inuyasha Universe. Thanks to a reviewer's great idea, I have been toying around with the idea of doing a back-story for Sesshomaru and Kagura, detailing the events of their relationship four years before the start of Corporate Deception. I'm trying to talk YoukaiMusashi into co-writing this with me. Hopefully, you'll hear from us in the not-so-distant future!

Outside of the Inuyasha Universe, I have several Sailor Moon fics planned. Now, before any of you laugh, I'll sheepishly admit that I love Sailor Moon, or, more specifically, the Outer Senshi. I've always wanted to write a romance for Haruka and Michiru, who are quite possibly my favorite anime couple, and I've finally got plenty of ideas to get me going. I've got a lot of work done through the planning stages for at least two stories, so for right now, Haruka and Michiru will be my priority. If you haven't watched Sailor Moon because you've only seen the North American dub version, I highly advise you get your hands on the un-cut Japanese version and at least watch the first and third seasons. You won't regret it.

Once again, thanks to each and every one of you and I hope you've enjoyed Corporate Deception as much as I have!