InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Remembering You ❯ Eternally Yours ( Chapter 23 )

Author Notes: This is it. This is the very end of `Remembering You.' Actually, it's beyond the end, it's the epilogue. This is what happens to everything after all the thing I put them through in this fiction. It was a very emotional ride for me and I can't believe I'm letting them go. I will miss them all greatly. I promised myself that I would not allow myself to read the end of Inuyasha (yes, the manga is over in Japan as of June 18th). So here it is, the end of Inuyasha and Kagome's love story. Thank you for you patience through these years and thank you for anyone that read it all in one time. I hope to pick up `Quadrille of War' again. And without further delay, enjoy the last instalment of `Remembering You.' Enjoy the chapter!

 

Disclaimer: Inuyasha and Kagome's canon does not belong to me, but this storyline does.

 

Eternally Yours

By Hoshi-ni-Onegai

 

“Are you sure you can handle this on your own Inuyasha?”

 

I look up at the woman I've known for years handling a very pregnant belly. I have to smile at that. This is her third pregnancy and I can tell that she's feeling her age this time. Standing up from the crouch position from taking care of the eight-year-old ball of energy, I ruffle the top of the boy's head.

 

“Don't worry so much, you're going to have premature gray hair.”

 

She frowned at this comment. “I don't want to here that from someone that has always had gray hair.”

 

This time I frown. “It's silver.”

 

Rolling her eyes she looked down at the boy I had been helping tie the shoes of and shows a stern face. “Now are you going to cause problems?”

 

The boy scrunched his brows and shook his head vigorously. I raised a brow at the reprimanding woman. “He's not even your kid. Should you be mothering him Sango?”

 

She glares at me. “He's yours. You should be doing this.”

 

I have to laugh at that, “Mine? My nephew that is.” Looking toward the boy I smirk. “Hey Chizuru, go get the others so we can get going.”

 

The boy nodded and ran off to the other room where the sound of laughing children could be heard.

 

Sitting on the kitchen stool I sigh as Sango leans against the counter. “I think I'm going to get too old for this soon.”

 

She laughs at my comment. “You? Too old? Because of your half demon blood you're only twenty-seven years old physically.” Rubbing her belly she sighed, “I'm forty years old and pregnant again.”

 

I grin, “Not my fault you and Miroku can't keep your hands off each other.”

 

“I swear. This is that last one. I'm pushing the child conceiving timeframe as it is.”

 

“Maybe this one will be a girl.”

 

She smiled, “God, I hope so. I don't think I could handle four boys.”

 

“Inuyasha!”

 

Hearing the familiar voice I turn toward the doorway. “Kagome.” I open my arms up to her and she runs into them. “I didn't know you were coming with us today.”

 

She looks up at me with her stormy blue eyes that I love. She seems to be searching for something on my face.

 

“What wrong?”

 

“The boys won't listen to me.”

 

I laugh. “You're a girl. They're prepubescent boys. It's bound to happen. Where's Chizuru anyways? I sent him in to get you kids.”

 

She gave the best exasperated sigh I have ever seen a six year old give. “He joined in the game of cowboys and Indians the moment he came into the room.”

 

Taking Kagome's hand I lead her to the other room where five over-energetic boys are running around. “Come on idiots. We're going to leave without you if you don't hurry up.”

 

A boy with silver hair and with the same dog-ears I grew up with, scrunches his face at the sight of little Kagome holding tightly onto my hand with her tiny ones. “She's coming with us? I thought this was a day just for men!”

 

I roll my eyes. “If any other men come with me I'll call it that, but at the moment it's going to be five boys and one young lady. So get your brother and Izumi and Mizuki.”

 

Leaving the girl to fend for herself for a bit I return to the kitchen to find Sango getting the boys things ready. Seeing the mountain of backpacks and sleeping bags I shake my head. “They're coming to my house not a camping trip. I don't see why they need sleeping bags when I have enough beds for all of them.”

 

Narrowing her eyes at me she pauses in her packing. “Apparently you don't understand little boys, because trust me, they are going to want to camp outside on your backyard even when there are enough beds.”

 

Now I'm confused. From the way Kagome had described her slumber party with friends she had said they all shared beds and watched movies and made cookies. I guess the dynamics of boys and girls are different... the boys party sounds like more fun anyways.

 

“What should I do with Kagome then? Is she going to want to hang out with the boys?”

 

Sango shrugged, “I don't see why not. She's always with them when she comes over here. At her age, she barely notices a difference.”

 

“Inuyasha!” I turn to see Kagome tearing up and running towards me with the rest of the boys coming in after her.

 

Seeing her tears I narrow my eyes at the boys, one boy in particular. “What did you guys do this time?”

 

All the boys point their betraying little fingers at the boy in the middle. Standing there with an annoyed look on his face is the eight-year-old wonder that is my nephew with my namesake. “Inuyasha.” I still can't get used saying my own name at someone else. Especially someone that looks so much like me.

 

The boy barely glances at the sniveling girl and faces away. “I didn't do anything.”

 

“You said I was too stupid to play the game because I'm a girl!” Kagome is grabbing tightly to my pant leg as she points accusingly at the older boy.

 

I don't mind kids, I sometimes even like them. But the moment I get Inuyasha, Sesshoumaru and Rin's oldest son, and Kagome, Souta's only daughter, in the same room I get an instant headache. I sometimes wish they had never met... or at least not until they were in their mid-to-late teens.

 

“Inuyasha, stop calling people stupid. And Kagome, don't believe anything that comes out of his mouth.” Pointing toward the piles of luggage I give my orders. “Now everyone grab their bag and sleeping bag and head toward the front door. I'll meet you guys there.”

 

As the kids obediently scurry about I give a sigh when I'm left in the kitchen with Sango again.

 

“How are you planning to last an entire weekend if you're already tired within five minutes?”

 

I glance at Sango and shake my head. “I'll be fine. They'll be fine. Just as long as I can keep Inuyasha and Kagome away from each other. Seriously, they're like cats and dogs. With our names on those two kids you would think they would get along a lot better.”

 

Sango barked out a laugh at that. “Are you serious? You and Kagome were a lot worse than that before you confessed your feeling to each other. Actually, you were a lot worse afterwards as well. He's just in that phase in life when girls have cooties, but you'll see, in a few years he'll be head over heals for her.”

 

I frown at that. That is actually the last thing I wish upon those kids. Speaking of the devil Inuyasha comes into the room with an impatient look on his face. “Are you coming Inuyasha?”

 

Rolling my eyes, I turn toward Sango and say my farewells, “You guys and Rin and Sesshoumaru are to never plan a getaway on the same weekend ever again.”

 

Laughing she waves me goodbye and the little boy and I make our way toward the front of the house. “Hey Yasha.”

 

He looks up at me and frowns at the shortening of the name. He had never liked his name being shortened, something I had desperately wanted to do to avoid confusion but the little boy would have none of it.

 

“Yeah?”

 

“Don't fall in love with her.”

 

The look of confusion on his face is hilarious because I'm sure he has no idea what I'm talking about. “With who?”

 

I smile down at him but I know the gravity of what I'm about to say. “Kagome.”

 

Sticking out his tongue as if with an unpleasant taste in his mouth he responds, “Yuck. She's a girl!... She's Kagome!”

 

I shake my head, “Just remember what I'm telling you. Save yourself the tragic love story by finding yourself a nice half demon. Don't fall for a human, it'll just be heartbreaking.”

 

The boy barely understands what I mean by my words and shrugs it off like the weather. “Okay. Whatever you say Inuyasha.”

 

I frown, “Uncle.”

 

He rolls his yes, “Whatever you say Uncle Inuyasha.”

 

I sigh and look down at the boy then glance up to find the girl in question ready with her pink backpack and purple sleeping bag. Yeah, she's going to break his heart.

 

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

 

Days like these are when I miss her the most. Everyone is gathered around and the rain is softly falling. We're lined up in black clothes as if ready to be shot at. The priest speaks clearly, but no one is really listening. All he has to say is not as important as our own thoughts. It's more of a formality than something we need.

 

I'm standing next to my brother as people come up to give their condolences for Rin's death. I know what he's going through. I went through the same thing twenty-six years ago at Kagome's funeral. Sometimes it feels like just yesterday I woke up to find her sleeping soundly next to me bathed in the morning sun. I can still remember the way her nose crinkled and her brows furrowed as she woke.

 

I glance over at Sesshoumaru and I see the only sign of emotion I have ever seen on him. It is barely there, but the sadness in his eyes is apparent to someone who's known him for five hundred plus years. Even though I know he's going to go through bouts of internal depression after losing his wife to an inoperable brain tumor- the disease recalling memories of Kagome's father's death- I'm more worried about his kids.

 

A collective of two daughters and five sons, he has more on his plate than I did when Kagome passed away. His twin daughters had shed quiet tears in the hospital room when their mother had passed, but now they held their composure along with the rest of the Touken boys. The Touken family is nothing if not proud. The girls had already moved out and begun their life in the work force; one, was already engaged. But the rest of the family... The oldest of the boys is Inuyasha and he's only seventeen, his youngest brother Keigo is barely four years old.

 

The last of the people from the funeral come up to us. They're the people that knew Rin the best. They're the people we've known since this whole epic story started for us so many years ago. This is the third funeral that we have collectively been to. The first was Kagome, then it was Kaede three years after that, and now it's Rin.

 

Sango tentatively goes up to my brother and gives him a sincere hug. Pulling away she looks him in the eye, “I'm so sorry Sesshoumaru. I know saying that doesn't help, but please know that we all loved her very much.”

 

Sesshoumaru nods his head. Kouga and Miroku bow their head respectfully to him and his family. They leave and I am left with my brother and his seven motherless kids.

 

I glance up at him. “I hate to ask this, but what are you going to do now?”

 

He doesn't even flinch or make a gesture that he heard me.

 

“Can you raise seven kids on your own?”

 

“Are suggesting I get remarried?” There is an iciness to his voice that I had seldom heard.

 

I shake my head. “That's not what I meant. I know there's no one but Rin for you, but what about the kids? Can you handle all that?”

 

He doesn't say anything. I look over to Rin's seven children. I let out a sigh.

 

“Come move into my house.”

 

Sesshoumaru glances at me for a moment then nods.

 

And that's how the Touken family was consolidated into one house. Sesshoumaru's twin girls, Ageha and Kazuha, moved out of their aparment in the city. At twenty-four years old, they moved into my house as well. They said they couldn't let seven male dog demons live alone together and expect them all to be surviving by the end of the week.

 

About two weeks after the whole Touken clan ended up under one roof, my door bell rang. My house is out of the way so I don't exactly get visitors. When I opened the door a vision from my past greeted me.

 

“Kagome...”

 

She beamed up at me in her green sailor school uniform. It's been thirty-one years since my Kagome attended that middle school, you would think the uniform would change. But that wasn't the case. The only difference between the two Kagomes is their haircuts.

 

She stepped forward and gave me hug. “Hey Inuyasha. My dad sent me.”

 

“Sent you for what?”

 

Smiling she stepped around me into the house. “Heard the dog demons are living under one roof. I'm here to help the twins with holding down the fort.”

 

“Which twins?”

 

She rolls her eyes the same way my Kagome used to. “Obviously Kazuha and Ageha, but there seriously are a ridiculous amount of twins running around your group of friends. Sesshoumaru has two pairs and Miroku and Sango have a pair, and they're all identical!”

 

I shrug as I lead her toward the kitchen. “I guess three pairs is a bit weird.”

 

“I'm sure it is some kind of statistical phenomenon.”

 

We reach the kitchen and Sesshoumaru is sitting at the island drinking a cup of coffee. He sees Kagome and I can tell that he's a bit taken aback by the uniform. It's the not the first time he's seen her in it, but I think it's nothing any of us will ever get used to.

 

“Why are you in your uniform on a Sunday?”

 

Did he just talk? I stare at Sesshoumaru. That's the first time that he has directed a word at someone outside of his direct family since the funeral.

 

Kagome smiles brightly as she grabs herself a mug out of the cupboard and helps herself to coffee. “I'm part of the student counsel and we had an end of the school year meeting.”

 

I take the cup out of her hand and sip it. She frowns, I shake my head. “You'll stunt your growth.”

 

She rolls her eyes. “I doubt I'll be growing anymore. Anyways, are you two coming to my graduation?”

 

“Yeah Souta told me about it last week. We'll be there.”

 

Sesshoumaru gives no reaction, that's as good as a `yes' as I am going to get from him.

 

Kazuha, who is tall, slender and has the more feminine version of her Sesshoumaru's face, comes into the kitchen. “Kagome? What are you doing here?”

 

The younger woman grins. “Hey Kazuha, nice to see you too.”

 

Kazuha shakes her head and goes up to Kagome to give her a hug. “You know you're my favorite cousin.”

 

I roll my eyes. Sesshoumaru's twin girls adore Kagome, probably because they ended up with so many brothers and no younger sisters.

 

“She's not your cousin.”

 

“Don't say that uncle Inuyasha.” This time it's Ageha that walks into the kitchen. “She's your godchild. So, we're the closest thing we're ever going to have to a cousin.”

 

I could see Ageha regret the words the moment the left her mouth. Sesshoumaru gave her a stern fatherly look. They still tiptoe around my Kagome's death. None of these kids have ever met her, and don't know our whole history. They just know that there was another Kagome in the past and that she was the love of my very long life.

 

“With so many siblings you two have I don't think you need to be adding onto your family.” I could always count on Kagome to consciously change the topic of conversation.

 

Ageha smiled appreciatively, “Speaking of siblings, the twins were asking when you were going to visit again.”

 

Kagome grinned, “Oh where are Mitsuya and Shizuya?”

 

“They're in the living room watching Keigo for a second. Here, help me carry snacks to them.” Kazuha handed Kagome juice boxes and led her out of the kitchen with Ageha.

 

“She didn't mean that.”

 

I look at Sesshoumaru, “I know. It's okay. It was a long time ago.”

 

“... I know how it feels now.”

 

I haven't gotten over Kagome's death and it's been over twenty years, I don't know how long it will be for Sesshoumaru. Rin is the only person he had ever opened up to, there are sides to him that he only showed her that even his kids have never seen.

 

“It gets easier.” This is a centennial occurrence; these are not moments that happen often between us.

 

“What gets easier?” And the moment ends with my nephew parades into the kitchen.

 

“Don't worry about it Yasha.” I see him frown. He hasn't changed since he was little. He still get annoyed by the shortening of the name, I sometimes wish Rin hadn't insisted that her first-born boy be named after me. I don't exactly understand why none of the other boys have their father's name.

 

Yasha sniffs the air and walks over to the fridge to grab a soda. “Kagome's here?”

 

He tries to be nonchalant about it, but I know my fifteen-year-old godchild sparks his interest. I had hoped that since they pretty much grew up together that they would only see each other as makeshift siblings -but I obviously underestimated young love.

 

“Kagome's here?”

 

What is this a parade of the Sesshoumaru's kids? After living alone in this house for so many years it's still hard getting used to the sudden influx of people. Chizuru, who is fourteen, takes after his mother in the looks department. But like Yasha, he also has dog-ears and silver hair. Also like Yasha, Chizuru has a thing for Kagome.

 

“She's in the living room helping your sisters with your brothers.”

 

Without any other word Chizuru was out of the kitchen and headed toward Kagome.

 

Yasha frowned. “When is he going to find someone his own age?”

 

Sesshoumaru raises a brow at Yasha's jealous tone. I laugh. “They're a year apart.”

 

The young youkai apparently didn't appreciate his younger brother's attentions. “She's older though.”

 

“You and Kagome are two years apart,” Sesshoumaru points out.

 

I laugh on the inside. I can't believe Sesshoumaru actually just said that to his own son.

 

Yasha glares at his father then leaves the kitchen.

 

I look at Sesshoumaru and laugh, “I don't want to be around when someone finally confesses their feelings.”

 

“You're one to talk. It took you centuries before you got up the nerve.”

 

“Whoever she picks,” He raises an eyebrow. We both know who she's going to pick. “Is going to get hurt. Both of them are. There's a reason why it's taboo for demons and humans to be together.”

 

My brother looks down at the coffee mug and grips it. I can hear the ceramic creak from the pressure of his hands, but he loosens his clasp. He looks up at me, “I'm not going to stop them.”

 

I nod, “I warned him when he was younger, but I won't stop them either. When they're older, I'll tell them. I'll tell him what his options are.”

 

Even though any relationship between a youkai and human is tragic with the simple factor of age progression. A full-blooded youkai ages one year every ten human years and half-demons every five. We eventually outlive our human spouses, but I know Sesshoumaru would say the same thing I do when I say that I don't regret it. The time I had with Kagome is something I would never give up, and I know the same goes for Sesshoumaru with Rin.

 

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

 

“Keigo!”

 

The young half demon stops in his steps. His small dog-ears perk up on attention. He ducks under the dining table and sprints out the room before the female owner of the voice catches up with him.

 

“Keigo!”

 

He rounded the corner and he felt his shirt collar pull as he was lifted up. I shake my head at my youngest nephew. “What the hell did you do this time?”

 

Sango comes around the same corner that Keigo came around. She sees that I grabbed the culprit and she leans against the wall. “I'm getting too old for this.”

 

After Keigo was properly punished for breaking a window -again- Sango slumps onto a couch. “Nothing makes me feel older than running after that boy.”

 

I laugh, “You're not old.”

 

“I'm fifty-six Inuyasha. I'm going to be using the senior citizen discount soon.” She glares at me, “And you and your hanyou blood mocks me. You finally physically turned thirty.”

 

Time passes faster than I am ready for it. Even though Sango and Miroku, both because of their years of training, look no older than forty-five I worry about them. I know that if nothing drastic happens to me, I will outlive them.

 

I can't think it's been an easy adjustment for everyone to have altered aging where it felt like we would be alive forever, and then have our aging back to normal. I sometimes wonder why all of us had our aging altered. I can't think of how Myouga, Kirara, Shippou, or even Sango made a difference in Kagome's second calling. It's like Amaterasu knew she would die, so she let her see them again. Thankfully, I don't think anyone regrets it nor resents it.

 

“So what are you up to today?”

 

I groaned, “I'm going to have lunch with Yasha.”

 

Sango raises a brow, “You make it sound like you're getting a root canal done. So why the sudden man outing?”

 

“He said he needed to talk to me. Something about a `big decision.'”

 

I huge grin split across her face. “Oh my goodness. Do you think its-”

 

“I'm completely convinced that's what he wants to talk about.”

 

“This is so exciting!”

 

I frown, this is not exciting, especially not for me. “He's too young.”

 

She gives me a deadpan look, “You were his age when you did it.”

 

I was his age. It was thirty-three years ago when I asked Kagome to marry me and be by my side forever. Little did I know that forever wasn't going to be very long for us. That's one of the greatest regrets I have in my life, not having married her in the end.

 

That's why I can't stop Yasha as he sits across from me in a booth at a diner. He's fidgeting with his food. He's nervous. I think he's more nervous with me than he will be with Souta when he asks him for Kagome's hand. But if he doesn't say something soon I'm going to smack the young dog demon upside the head.

 

“Who are you kidding Yasha? I know why you asked to have lunch with me today.”

 

He is taken aback, but he nods. “I'm sorry.”

 

I can't help but sigh. “You forgot the advice I gave... I guess you couldn't help it, you were so young.”

 

“I remembered,” He looks at me with a sad smile, “I just couldn't help but fall for her.”

 

“And you came to me for approval?”

 

“You were the one that was the most against us-”

 

“I'm going to have to stop you right there. I wasn't against you two getting together or being together. I just didn't want either of you to go through what my Kagome and I went through. And especially because she looks just like her and you look just like me, it felt like I was watching our story unfold in modern times. But I wish you two nothing but happiness. And I will make sure that you two don't go through what we had to go through.”

 

He nodded, “Thanks. It means a lot.”

 

I've been anticipating this moment since my nephew turned six and he started picking on Kagome. “Now you need to here your options.”

 

“My options?”

 

Apparently Sesshoumaru didn't tell him anything. “You know that you're going to age a lot slower than Kagome. You going to outlive her five times over.”

 

He visibly flinches. He's known this for a while. He probably started thinking about it the moment right after he fell for her and couldn't see a life without her.

 

“Yasha, you have the option of living life with her the way you do now. In a couple of years you're going to stop aging like humans. Demons age quickly for the first twenty-five years of their life so that we're not vulnerable children for too long. You're going to age one year for every five.”

 

“I know.”

 

“Or you can use the spell Kaede found. You've never met her, but she's the priestess that we knew from the feudal era.”

 

He leaned forward. “I know who she is. There's a spell? What kind of spell.”

 

“She told me that it was a spell to get rid of one of my sides. My human or demon. She said that since I was half demon it could be done, but she misunderstood the spell. You can't expel your demon or your human side.”

 

“Then what does the spell do?”

 

“It's an incantation that was made by a sorcerer that fell in love with a female youkai. The spell allowed half his spiritual blood to go to her and half her demon blood to go into him. They became the same species and with the same life span.”

 

He furrowed his brows, “You're suggesting I ask Kagome to take half my demon blood? I don't know if I can do that to her.”

 

I nod, “I know, but that's her decision to make. But I'm also giving you another option. You can give up your demon blood completely and you can live with her as a human.”

 

“How could that be possible?”

 

“You can give me your demon blood and I will give you my human blood.”

 

He stands up clattering the dishes on the table as he knocks into it. “What?! I- I can't do that! My mother told me before she died about how you lose control when your demon blood takes over. She was worried the same thing would happen to us, but since we don't fight she thought it would be fine.”

 

“I know, and I have no idea how I'm going to end up being if I were to become a full demon... but I've talked with you father. We have figured out everything. It's only up to you and Kagome to decide now.”

 

I lay out enough money to cover the entire bill and I slip out of the booth. “Just tell me what you two decide within the next few years.” I ruffle the top of his head, a habit I can't seem to get rid of no matter how old or tall Yasha becomes. “And congratulations. Just tell me when and where to show up for the happy day.”

 

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

 

I spun around in my chair. I'm so bored. It's one of those days at work where there seems to be nothing to do. Five minutes more of this and I'm going to leave. Who the hell is going to stop me?

 

The intercom beeps on. “Mr. Touken?”

 

Ugh. God. Let it be some kind of crisis. I'm bored out of my mind. “Yeah?”

 

“There is a Miss Kagome Higurashi to see you. She says she is your niece.”

 

Why am I getting a sudden sense of deja vu? “Send her in.”

 

The door creaks open and Kagome pops her head in. It's the exactly same vision I saw all those years ago when I hadn't seen my Kagome in eight years.

 

“What can do for you Kagome?”

 

Smiling she helps herself to a seat. “Just came to see my favorite godfather.”

 

I see the engagement ring on her left ring finger. I point to it, “Congratulations.”

 

She looks down at it with a smile I've never seen before in her. “Thank you.”

 

“How's your dad feel about it?”

 

She laughs, “He's ecstatic. He said that if there was anyone he could give his little girl away to it would be Inuyasha Touken. I think he assumes that Inuyasha is a complete copy of you.”

 

“You know your dad used to hate me.”

 

“Yeah, until he got his old memories back. After that you were the Inuyasha that he hero worshiped.”

 

She fidgets with her ring and I can tell she wants to tell me something but is afraid to. “I'm guessing Yasha talked to you about the spell? Did you two come up with decision?”

 

Kagome allows for a pause to take over the room then she looks me straight in the eye. “He doesn't know what he wants to do.”

 

I raise a brow, “He doesn't, but you do. That's why you're here.”

 

“I'm going to ask you for the biggest favor of my life. I want you to exchange your demon blood with my human one.”

 

“What? Are you asking to... Kagome, I can't do that to you.”

 

She shakes her head, “Inuyasha is still young, and he still in a way resents being half-demon. He hasn't accepted himself yet. I don't want to make him throw away an identity when he hasn't come to terms with it.”

 

“You can become a quarter demon along with him. Kagome, you becoming a half-demon is not going to do anything.”

 

“Yes it will.” She gets up and leans forward over the table. “I want to live my life with him.”

 

“And you want me to give up my demon?”

 

She smiled sadly, “I know you wanted to become human for my aunt. You wanted to live a life with her that is completely normal and human.”

 

“She's gone Kagome.”

 

“I know, but I want you to live a human life. I want you to feel like you have to fulfill every dream in your life. I want you to feel like you don't have forever to wait.”

 

I couldn't help the tear that slipped out of my eye. I stared at my young godchild and couldn't help but see my Kagome. She is the exact age my Kagome was when she died and they look identical. The words she had just said to me felt like it came from the only woman I had fallen in love with.

 

She came around the desk and pulled me into an embrace. “Please do this for me and Inuyasha... and for you.”

 

And that's how I became human.

 

I got an earful from Yasha the moment he caught wind of Kagome's plan. But she quieted him down and took him into another room. I'm not sure what she said to him, but when they came back out he hugged me and thanked me repeatedly. They got married by the end of the year and Kagome was pregnant a month after that.

 

About a year after that and seeing my great-godchild I decided that I was going to retire. After years of working it was time for me to take a break. Without any children of my own I passed on Touken Ginkou to Shippou. He finally had the body of a twenty-seven year old, but it was about time that he goes out in the real world and live.

 

When I told him the news he just smiled and shook his head. He proceeded to tell me that he'd take care of me like the grandson that I never have. I would have preferred the term `son.' But at the rate I'm going to grow old from now on, I'll catch up too quickly.

 

My age. It's amazing how much more I appreciate things now. Unlike the five centuries I had to kill before, I now have only a few decades before my human body wears out from old age. I spend more time with friends and family. I do all the traveling and activities I had always wanted to do, but had put off because `I had time.'

 

Time never felt any shorter than when Souta died. Then five years later Sango died, she was ninety-two. Miroku fell apart. His four kids and twelve grandkids tried to be there for him, but they didn't understand. I asked him to move in with me and he took me up on the offer. He even joked that I was trying to start up a brothel of widows.

 

So at my house lived Miroku, Sesshoumaru, Shippou and me. I would have invited Kouga but even after all these years I feel like we would have pissed each other off too much. Kouga also ended up getting married, again, with a female wolf demon from Italy. He had a bunch of kids again and I don't think he could be any more content.

 

Speaking of demons, I see Myouga every-so-often but it's like usual. No one notices when he leaves, we just notice when he shows up. I can't believe that guy is still alive. And Guy Donahue? Last I heard he was head of the Underground police department. Good for him.

 

Sesshoumaru is till working, he's still young and all. But I don't think he'll ever get married again. He, like Miroku and me, is a one-woman man. I can't believe we're just a group of hopeless romantics.

 

That never seemed truer then when Miroku died thirteen years later. He was one hundred seven, and I've never seen a man die happier. He said that he outlived the wind tunnel that had doomed his early life. He also said he couldn't wait till he could be with Sango again.

 

Then it was Sesshoumaru and Shippou with me in the house. Sesshoumaru's grandkids came to visit all the time. Yasha and Kagome visit the most. Their brood of eight terrorizes the house every time they come over. Their second son looks just like his father and by default, like me. This time he didn't get my name, it saved on the confusion of someone calling for `Inuyasha' and having three identical people turn around.

 

“So how's it going Inuyasha?”

 

I frown, “Uncle.”

 

Yasha rolls his yes, “Uncle Inuyasha. Anything new happening?”

 

I laugh, “I'm ninety-six Yasha, nothing new happens anymore.”

 

He looks over my gray hair, wrinkled face and purple eyes. Any trace that I was a demon is gone. He, on the other hand, looks like he's in his early thirties. And I know exactly what he's thinking now.

 

I pat him on his knee, “I don't regret it Yasha. I don't regret it a single day.”

 

“Even in old age?”

 

“Old age? Don't call an old man old, it's bad for his heart. But yeah, even in old age. Actually, especially in old age.”

 

He nods, “Okay.”

 

Kagome comes into the living room and plops down next to me and gives me a kiss on the cheek. “Hey Inuyasha.”

 

I grin, “You spoil an old man.”

 

Yasha frowned, “You just told me not to call you old.”

 

She rolls her eyes, “Ignore him. Are we still all getting together for Christmas?”

 

“Why wouldn't we? I expect you kids to come here and cook me a good dinner.”

 

She laughs, “I'm not that great of a cook.”

 

Yasha shakes his head, “She's an amazing cook.”

 

She blushes and playfully smacks her husband. These are the moments that convince me that I made the best decision of my life. These two kids can have the life that Kagome and I always wanted.

 

I lightly grip Kagome's hand and she turns her attention to me smiling, “What's wrong?”

 

“I want you two to be happy forever.”

 

A bright smiles spreads across her face, “There's nothing stopping us.”

 

And there's nothing stopping me. The next spring, exactly one hundred years after my Kagome had died, I felt my body withering. I said my goodbyes to everyone; they didn't know it was a goodbye though. They all came over for my birthday a week before -I knew I didn't have much left.

 

Sesshoumaru figured it out and took off work. He didn't do anything in particular. He just stuck around the house. It was nice having the company, albeit it was silent company.

 

Maybe it's because I had been alive for so many years and dying was something so completely different. Sure, I've almost died in battle a few times, but this was different. So one Sunday morning I asked Shippou to take me to the Higurashi shrine.

 

With the tetsusaiga in my hand Shippou walked me up the steps.

 

“Are you sure this is where you want to be?”

 

I look at the man shouldering my weight as I walk slowly on the shrine grounds. I can still remember a time when he barely reached my knee. “You're one of the people I've known the longest. You've been with our group for a long time.”

 

The fox demon frowns, “Don't get sentimental. It feels like a goodbye.”

 

“Let's just call it like we see them. Now take me to the goshinboku.”

 

He helped me get nestled by the roots of the tree. I pat him on the sholder. “Just hang out around here. Sorry for making you take care of-”

 

“Don't mention it.” He gives me a hug, a rarity from the demon. “You were like an older brother. I'll never forget everything that you and Kagome did for me.”

 

“You're going to be a formidable demon.” I grin up at him, “Don't terrorize the world too much.”

 

He nods and smiles, “I'll try.”

 

He walks away to leave me alone with the goshinboku. It's the weekend and the shrine is empty. There is no one in my field of view. The sakura petals float around me. The same sakura trees I planted all those years ago.

 

I look up at the leaves that are beginning to sprout from the goshinboku. The sunlight filters through and I feel something sweep through me. My eyes widen. This is a feeling I've gone through countless times before.

 

Looking down at my previously human hands are claws. My gray hair is once again silver. I can feel my dog-ears sliding to the top of my head. I smell the sakura petals again. It smells like Kagome. The sounds, smells, sights around me is sharpened. It felt like I had a fog that fell over me for the past sixty years. Now it's lifted.

 

I'm a hanyou again. I smile up at the trees. “Thank you.”

 

I can feel my energy draining. I take in the world that held onto me for over six centuries. I'll miss it here, but this is what my life lead up to. And to honestly say, I miss Kagome more.

 

“I hope you're still waiting.”

 

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

 

He felt like he had woken up from a long dream. Opening his eyes he could see the familiar canopy above his bed and a quick glance of the room showed that it was his room. Sitting up on the satin sheets he felt like he was missing something. Something big, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

 

He changed out of his sleep clothes and pulled on his robes. Why did it feel like it has been years since he did this last? This was something he did every night. He was Tsukiyomi, god of the moon, it was his duty to wander the night for all of eternity.

 

Walking up to the water basin he sighed, maybe it was just one of those nights. Washing his face he looked up in the mirror.

 

“What the hell?”

 

Tsukiyomi traced his features in the mirror. His face was exactly as he remembered it, but his once silver-blue hair was purely silver. His blue eyes were now amber. What was the most surprising were his ears. They were no longer at the side of his head, but looked like dog-ears at the top of his head. And there, in those very ears was his blue stud earring on ear and a small red hoop earring on the other ear.

 

“Wakahirume.”

 

He sprinted out the doors into the night air. He went bounding down the long steps. It didn't matter why he looked the way he did, what was important was that he came back. And if what Amaterasu promised was true she should be back too. He knew exactly where she would be.

 

He made his way through the trees and long weeds. Dodging branches and leaping over boulders he finally came upon the clearing. The clearing where he first met Wakahirume. Where their souls first met.

 

Bathed in moonlight stood a woman with his back to him. Her hair was long and black, not like the gold of Wakahirume. Her robes were navy, not red. But even though her coloring was different he knew.

 

“Wakahirume.”

 

A breeze kicked up her hair and she turned around tucking her hair behind her ears. Her steel-blue eyes locked onto his fiery amber ones. Her eyes widened, then a relieved smile spread across her face.

 

Tears welling in her eyes she called out to him, “It took you long enough Tsukiyomi.”

 

He walked up to her then stroked her cheek. She closed her eyes taking in the moment. “Is this real?”

 

Opening her eyes she nodded, “You're finally here with me.”

 

“How are you outside? You're the goddess of the dawning sun, you can't be out in the night.”

 

“I'm the goddess of the moon now. When I got to Takamagahara, Amaterasu was taking care of the sun and moon. She needed to relieve the burden.”

 

He furrowed his brows in confusion. “Then what am I now?”

 

“God of the moon. We can be together from now on, not like the stolen minutes like before.” She pulled him into a kiss and leaned her forehead against his. “I love you Tsukiyomi.”

 

He felt a tingling sensation go through him, it was something beyond the kiss. He searched her eyes, “Wakahi-... Kagome?”

 

“You remember? How? It took me years before I got all my memories back.”

 

He grinned and pulled her into an embrace that he never wanted to let go of. “We're soul mates remember? If my soul is willing all my memories would come back to me.”

 

He stroked her hair and repeated the words that she had said to him so many years ago. “Remembering you is the reason I was born. It's what makes me complete. It's what makes sense in all this chaos.”

 

Fingers tangling in her hair he couldn't believe that he finally had her in his arms.

 

“Kagome... Kagome.”

 

Pulling back she allowed her fingers to memorize his face. “We're finally together? Forever?”

 

He finally allowed a smile to come cross his features, “Like I would settle for anything less.”

 

She grinned at the man that contained the soul she fell love with. No matter how many obstacles that come in their way, they can get through it. Because when you're soul mates there is always going to eventually be a happily ever after.

 

“I love you Tsukiyomi... Inuyasha.”

 

 

 

The end.