Disclaimer: I do not own the characters from Inuyasha, only my story idea and my characters.

From Beneath the Ashes

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Chapter 7 - Final Endings
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The day dawned beautifully, a soft golden glow rising over the treetops sparkling on the nighttime drops of dew still clinging stubbornly to leaves. Leaves matching the color and intensity of the rising sun, gold and red, yellow and orange clashes with the green of pine trees scattered haphazardly through the woods. Sunlight glistened on the tips of the small waves that lapped peacefully against an old wooden pier that was decorated with soft streamers of white silk, draped gracefully along the railings.

A figure sat on the end of the pier studying the sun as it crept higher into the sky. Leaning back on his hands, elbows braced to hold his weight, he closed his eyes and sighed softly.

"Inuyasha." sounded a familiar voice behind him. Opening his eyes and turning, he saw Miroku standing at the head of the pier, looking faintly amused.

"Have you been out here all night?" Miroku asked as he walked down and sat next to him.

"Um hmm." murmured Inuyasha, once again closing his eyes and tilting his head back to let a gentle wind caress his face.

"Nervous?"

"No." Inuyasha replied.

"Well, I am." Miroku said with a tremor to his voice. Inuyasha opened his eyes and looked at the man sitting next to him. Miroku was pale and had his hands knotted tightly around the tail of his robe. He was dressed early, in his black monk robes with the purple outer-robe tied over one shoulder.

"Aren't you rushing a bit?" he said amused as he gestured at Miroku's wardrobe.

"Oh, well. . .I. . ." Miroku stuttered and then glared at Inuyasha as he started laughing, "It's not funny."

"Miroku, everything will be fine." Inuyasha said as he stood up and held out a hand to help the other man up. Miroku eyed Inuyasha warily before taking his hand and allowing himself to be pulled up.

"Yeah, tell that to me again just before they both walk down this pier." Miroku said sardonically.

"Sure, come on we should get back." Inuyasha grinned roguishly.

Inuyasha and Miroku walked back up the wooded path towards the shrine. Kagome and Sango were staying with friends last night, since the tradition was that the grooms could not see the brides before the wedding. Kagome's mother was to leave this morning to help the two girls prepare, while her grandfather and brother were staying behind to help them.

As the pair walked into the clearing surrounding the shrine as large car pulled up in front of the house. Inuyasha stopped suddenly as a familiar body rose from the car and turned toward them.

"Inuyasha." rumbled the voice softly.

"Sesshoumaru." Inuyasha replied, slightly confused as to why his brother had taken the time to show up for his wedding. He didn't totally hate his brother, but he was sure that the man wouldn't be willing to show up, since he had always rejected any other invitation Kagome had sent him over the past year.

"Today is the big day. Well, I wasn't sure you had it in you little brother." Sesshoumaru said, a slight chuckle escaping his lips at Inuyasha's stunned expression. "What did you think me that callous as to miss my only brother's wedding?"

"Uhm, no. Why did you come?"

"Because I wanted to see you finally marry that feisty wench of yours," Sesshoumaru said as he turned and pulled a bag out of the back of the car. "and because Kagome asked me to come."

"You came just because Kagome asked?" Inuyasha said, a frown creasing his brow.

"Yes and no." Sesshoumaru replied, turning back and looking down at his brother. "Just because we have never gotten along well doesn't mean that I totally hate you. You are the only family I have left and I would be remiss as to ignore a momentous occasion as this one. Kagome is the best thing that has ever come into this family and I am glad that you have found her."

Inuyasha stared up in disbelief as Sesshoumaru spoke, his heart thumping loudly in his chest. 'Sesshoumaru thought of him as family. Not some worthless half-brother that his father had with another woman.' he thought.

"Sesshoumaru, I . . .thank you for coming." Inuyasha said softly. "We were just going to get some breakfast before getting ready, would you like to join us?"

"I'd love to." Sesshoumaru said as he swung his bag over his shoulder and shut the car door before following the two men into the house.

~*~

Kagome sat staring out the window as she nervously twisted her fingers in her dress. The lacy concoction bared her shoulders and hugged her torso snuggly as it dipped down to her waist. The skirt trailed lightly to the floor in graceful waves. Her mother had wanted to put hoops under her dress to make it stand out and away from her body, but she preferred the soft draping of the material as opposed to the bell look.

"Kagome, are you ready to have your hair done?" Sango asked from behind her. Kagome turned and looked at her beautiful friend. She was dressed in a gown similar to hers, except whereas Kagome's dress bared her shoulders, Sango's had a lacy keyhole cut pattern around her shoulders, coming up and sitting snugly around her neck. Her hair had been pulled back to fall in a cascade of curls down her back, baby's breath and ribbons twined along one side of her crown.

"Sango, you look wonderful." Kagome said as she turned to look worriedly back out the window.

"Kagome, are you all right? You're not getting cold feet are you?" Sango asked as she rustled gently across the room to stand next to her friend.

"No Sango, I'm just worried that Inuyasha will change his mind at the last minute." Kagome said truthfully, expressing her deepest fears.

"You won't have to worry about that." Sango said with conviction. "Miroku will make sure that he is there."

"I hope so Sango." Kagome said softly.

"I know so, now let's get your hair done. It isn't long before we will finally make all our wishes come true." Sango said as she reached out and pulled Kagome up from her chair.

"Thank you Sango." Kagome said as she reached out and pulled her into a hug. Sango hugged her back and then pulled away, grinning mischievously back at her.

"You know you should worry about the wedding, but what comes after it." Sango laughed at the blush that furiously colored Kagome's face. "Come on, let's get ready."

~*~

The scores of guests murmured softly as the two men stood nervously twitching next to the priest. Inuyasha ran a finger underneath his collar, before looking over at Miroku, who was paler than he had been earlier that morning.

"Relax." Inuyasha whispered as he leaned over next to the man.

"I'll relax when you do." Miroku croaked hoarsely.

Sesshoumaru grinned behind his hand, coughing lightly to cover up his chuckle. Both grooms looked like they were about to faint and the procession hadn't even started yet. However, as the music started both turned a shade paler as they turned as one to face the on-coming group.

Inuyasha and Miroku both gasped as they viewed their brides for the first time. The sunlight streamed down between the trees, causing an ethereal glow to settle over their beaming faces. They walked together in unison, with Kagome's grandfather in the center. Since Sango's father had passed away when she was younger, she had asked him if he would escort her also. The old man had tearfully agreed, already considering Sango like another grand-daughter to him.

When the trio reached the end of the pier, Kagome's grandfather stopped and kissed first Kagome lightly before placing her hand in Inuyasha's and then Sango as he turned her over to Miroku.

"Heavenly father, we are gathered her to witness the joining of these two couple in the bonds of matrimony. Who giveth these two women for marriage?" the priest said, looking over the beaming couples.

"I do." said Kagome's grandfather proudly, nodding to the priest before stepping back off the pier and sitting down with the guests.

Inuyasha stared down into Kagome's lovely eyes and felt a feeling a peace settle over his soul. He vaguely heard the words that were being spoken around him and started slightly at the shape elbow nudged into his side. He turned to glare at Sesshoumaru, who pointedly looked towards the priest, who was smiling indulgently back down at him. A flush spread across his face as he caught Kagome's mouth quirked upwards in a grin. He smiled back as he turned his full attention to the man in front of them.

"Do you Inuyasha, take this woman to be your wife. To have and to hold, in sickness and health, until death do you part."

Looking back down into Kagome's eyes, he whispered softly, as he slid a gold band onto her finger. "I do."

"And do you Kagome, take this man to be your husband. To have and to hold, in sickness and health, until death do you part."

Kagome's eyes glistened with joyous tears as she looked back up into Inuyasha's eyes, her grip tightening on his hands as she in-turn slid a simple gold band onto his ring finger. "I do." she said back, her voice ringing with joy.

"As in with time and before, we have come together before God and man to join two hearts together. For what we have brought together, let no man tear asunder. In the name of the Father and of our state, I so duly pronounce that these couples are now man and wife. Gentlemen, you may kiss your brides."

~*~ One Year Later ~*~

"What should we name her, my love?" asked Kagome softly as she looked down at the small bundle squirming restlessly in her arms. Inuyasha sat down next to her on the hospital bed and reached out a tentative hand to stroke the tiny child's face.

"Serenity, for she is both my peace and my joy, as you are my love." he replied as he leaned over and kissed Kagome lovingly. "We shall never be apart again, my love. We shall be together, forever."

~*~ The End ~*~

A/N: The end, finally. I wanted to thank all my loyal readers of this trilogy. Your support and dedication has allowed me to finally finish this momentous work. Your emails and chats have been an inspiration to me that I will never forget. It all started out with a weekend writing of an idea that I got on the way home from work. I never expected the praise nor the awards that I have been given for parts of this story. I hope that you have enjoyed yourself and will come back again to read my other stories.

Thank you once again and may all your own stories garner as much praise and devotion as mine have.

~DBZ Vegeta