InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Pearl ❯ Epilogue ( Chapter 11 )

The Pearl

 

Disclaimer: Just when you thought it was done, there's more that I still don't own.

 

 

Epilogue

 

She learned the cultured jargon of those bred

To antique crystal and authentic pearls…

Back home her breeding led her to espouse

A bright young man whose pearl cufflinks were real.

~Ellen Kay, A Pathedy of Manners

 

What's freedom for? To know eternity.

I swear she cast a shadow white as stone.

But who would count eternity in days?

These old bones live to learn her wanton ways:

(I measure time by how a body sways).

~Theodore Roethke, I knew a woman

 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 

The Demon's Assassin

 

During the days of the shogun and the samurai, men battled incessantly amongst themselves in order to gain the slightest modicum of power. In these times of wars and chaos, demons thrived off of the dead human bodies left behind in the battlefields. But there were some demons who were above mere carrion feeders; noble demons who possessed great power. They ruled over the four lands in their respective clans: the wolves to the North, the moths to the East, the snakes to the South, and the dogs to the West.

 

It so happened that the dog demon lord of the West had in his care a human girl-child, whom he had taken into his protection when she was very small. The girl was raised as a demon, and walked among them without fear.

 

“I wouldn't say I was treated as a demon. More like, not treated like a human.”

 

“You were spoiled.”

 

“Shh! Don't interrupt, I'm reading.”

 

The great dog lord was known far and wide for his cruelty and unending thirst for power. Yet as strong as he was, he had two weaknesses that could not be overcome. The first weakness was that the demon lord possessed only one arm, having lost the other in a battle in the underworld.

 

“What are you making that face for?”

 

“It wasn't a `battle.' It was a fluke. Beginner's luck. And it wasn't a weakness. It was a handicap. I overcame it.”

 

“You've never been handicapped a day in your life, stubborn ass.”

 

“Shh! I want to hear the story.”

 

The second and most powerful weakness was the demon's fondness for the human girl he kept in his palace. There was nothing he would deny her, and with time she grew into a beautiful woman. The lord was without a wife, and many feared that he would one day claim his ward as his lady, thus weakening the lineage of the Western kingdom. Yet very few saw her, as she was kept under heavy guard. Those who were permitted near her swore to her beauty, as well as her genteel manner and kind heart.

 

“Wow, I'm like Helen of Troy.”

 

“I don't ever recall you being that genteel.”

 

“I'm sorry, I was reading. Did you say something?”

 

So much did the demon prince care for his ward, that he endowed her with a magical spell that protected her from ever becoming old or dying. By this enchantment would the mortal woman be able to live with her immortal lord for all time.

 

“Housenki's gonna be mad that he didn't get any credit in this.”

 

“I'm not `magical' by any stretch of the imagination. Who wrote this again?”

 

It was during this time that the demon rulers of the East and South were being hunted and killed by an invisible assassin. Desperate for help, they sought the aid of the Western lord, who offered his protection in exchange for land. After a time, the Western Lands encompassed a great deal of the world, yet there was still the threat of the murderer in their midst. The neighboring lords had their suspicions against the West, but no evidence.

 

A young, brave general in the East was commissioned to ferret out the truth. Already knowing the assassin would be next in coming to his house, he laid in wait, keeping vigil over his land. The night came when the assassin slipped through the shadows and into the bedroom of the young demon, intending to murder him as he slept. But the general had been ready, and in the bed a servant took his place. It was by this trick that he was able to capture the assassin. However, he was shocked to find upon revealing the murderer's identity that it was in fact the human ward of the Western prince.

 

“He wasn't brave, he was insane. This thing makes him out to be some kind of victim.”

 

“Are you certain you want to continue with this?”

 

“I'm fine, don't worry. Just a little agitated.”

 

The general tried to execute the secret criminal, but the enchantment over the girl's life protected her from harm. Undeterred, the general then captured the girl's soul and held it for ransom, sending the girl back to the West to steal the two demon swords the dog lord was known to carry: a sword of unending torture and death, and a sword of healing and life. The girl set about her mission, but upon her return, fell to her knees in shame. Unable to betray her beloved guardian, she begged to her lord for rescue. The Western lord was infuriated at his secret plot being revealed and cast out the girl in the interest of his kingdom. Betrayed and alone, the girl managed to steal her master's healing sword, in hopes that she could still save herself. However, the general rejected the incomplete ransom, and seduced the broken girl, taking her as his concubine to further humiliate the Western lord. She was thus imprisoned; unable to die, yet unwilling to live.

 

“I will beg your forgiveness for this until the end of time.”

 

“And I will always forgive you in turn, my husband.”

 

The Western Lands launched an attack on the East, and the palace of the young general was its target. The dog demon army was strong, and stormed the castle where the human ward of the Western Lord was held captive. Knowing his life was in danger, the Eastern general bargained for his freedom in exchange for the girl. The Western lord refused, determined that the moth demon would pay for the grievances he had inflicted. The general was defeated, but at the cost of the girl's life; she died in the arms of her beloved lord, cursing her very existence until the end.

 

Such grief and anguish plagued the demon lord for his actions that he swore the only way his honor could be restored was to travel to hell and beg forgiveness of the human he had so wronged.

 

Journeying to the Fire Mountains, he found where the only door to the world of the dead in the mortal realm existed. The demon lord battled the sentinels at the gate in order to gain passage. Their defeat came swiftly, and the gate opened. The Western lord entered, knowing full well that he might never return, but unable to rest until he had been forgiven for his betrayal.

 

For what seemed years, the Lord of the Western Lands did search the very depths of hell, and every crevice. As he searched, his missing arm did steadily grow back until he was once more whole. Yet in his heart he would never be complete until he found the woman he had lost.

 

“Aww! That was so sweet.”

 

“I thought it to be overdone.”

 

“Steal my sunshine then, why don't you?”

 

Along his journey, he found the soul of the woman he lost in three pieces: a child, a girl, and a woman. The child and young girl were difficult to locate, but willingly revealed themselves to their lord when the time came. But the woman did not want to be found, and hid from her lord wherever he searched. At long last, he discovered the place she had used to hide from him. In earnest, he begged her to forgive him, and promised to make amends to her however he could.

 

The woman, who had been overcome with the love she felt for her lord upon seeing him again, decided to test his word. So she asked, “Wouldst thou remain for all eternity in hell by me, even if I should fail to forgive thee?” And her lord replied, “Without question.” So the girl then asked, “Wouldst thou remain for all eternity on earth without me, even if I should freely forgive thee?” And her lord replied, “That would nigh be impossible.”

 

Having approved of his answers, the girl swore to return to earth with him, though it might mean her mortal body would one day die.

 

“Overcome with love? I don't recall you being overcome with anything but sheer loathing, and with good reason.”

 

“There was love too. Always love.”

 

When the demon lord arrived back into the world of the living, he found his land had been ravaged by the Eastern and Southern lands. He had no choice but to take arms to defend his kingdom, all the while watching and waiting for his broken girl to return. It was through great trial and tribulation that she arrived after traveling across the two worlds to the palace. Having sworn to himself to never again lose this woman, the dog prince did then court the lady in earnest. Over one course of the moon did she consider, until at last she warmly embraced her lord and accepted his proposal for marriage.

 

“You did much more than `warmly embrace' your lord.”

 

“Watch where you're putting that hand, or I swear to god I'll cut it off again.”

 

“Thou likest it too fondly, my lady, and scarce would take such an action.”

 

“You're so full of it.”

 

It was soon after that the young woman became fat with child, and gave birth to a half-demon son, destined to be the heir to the Western Lands. After the child had been safely delivered, the demon lord did then bestow the same magical spell over his wife to ensure her immortality once more. And so they lived on, reigning quietly over the land, for the lord had discovered peace in his heart and no longer desired power as a means for happiness.

 

The End.

 

~*~*~*~*~

 

It wasn't a castle anymore, but a penthouse in the higher end of Tokyo. There were no vassals, but corporations instead. There were no wars, only company mergers and take-overs. There was no more dog prince, but Sesshomaru still had the prestige that merited a `-sama' suffix from everyone shy of the emperor. There was no longer a misplaced orphan girl, but a woman who lovingly remained at the side of her demon husband for well over 5 centuries. And there was no lack of happiness under a reading lamp in the early evening, looking over the epic drama of their lives scrawled over slightly crumbling paper.

 

The two were sitting together in an easy chair that sat in the corner of their bedroom, with Rin in Sesshomaru's lap. She carefully rolled up the scroll and set it aside, before taking his left hand in her own and bringing it to her mouth.

 

Kissing the center of his palm sweetly, she sighed. “I'm so glad this grew back.” Nuzzling her cheek against the hand, Rin tugged his elbow onto her lap in an odd embrace.

 

The demon smiled warmly. “I did not have a reason to want it whole, until I wanted to hold you.”

 

“Flatterer,” Rin giggled, but she blushed all the same.

 

Sesshomaru freed his limb from her grasp and used both of his arms to pull his wife more snugly against his body. She in turn shifted herself so that her cheek was pressed to his, while her arms draped lazily around his neck.

 

“It was entertaining,” Sesshomaru spoke smoothly of the story, “but the real version was infinitely better. Perhaps we should write a letter to the editor.”

 

“I must say my favorite part was when the girl became `fat with child' from her demon lover,” Rin laughed.

 

Sesshomaru growled a primitive and feral appreciation of his wife. “You never were fat,” he scoffed. He pulled her roughly around in his lap so that she was facing him, and grinned wickedly.

 

Rin batted her eyes, still playing coy. “My hips say otherwise,” she said sardonically. “You should tell your children it's entirely their fault.” Her lower lip pouted out from her mouth.

 

The demon eagerly attacked the soft protrusion with his own mouth, nibbling in an effort to coax her tongue out. The woman surrendered easily, and fell limp against his chest in an effort to hold him as close as she could. Satisfied with himself, Sesshomaru pulled away, then moved his hands down to Rin's hips, gently squeezing them.

 

“I like your hips,” he purred, “and I will thank my children for them.” He then stood, scooping his wife into his arms and nuzzling his mouth into the side of her neck. “Right after I thank you for them.”

 

“You think you're so clever don't you?” Rin teased, giggling. “You think you're going to win that easily?” She was lowered to the bed, but quickly sat up and crossed her arms. “You must have forgotten whom it is you're married to.”

 

“I have not forgotten,” Sesshomaru murmured, hovering over her on hands and knees. “But if you think I have, then perhaps I should reacquaint myself with you.” He kissed her with a bruising strength, pushing her onto her back. Still, his hands remained planted on the bed, and the only part of his body touching her was his mouth. He felt her stubborn resolve slip a few notches, and mentally congratulated himself for being so suave.

 

Breaking the kiss, he gave a lop-sided smile. “Hello,” he hummed in his smooth baritone. He knew it was a sound she could not easily resist. Like chocolate wrapped in velvet, she had once described it; intimidating in its richness, but excruciatingly desirable all the more for it. “Do you come here often?”

 

“Okay now you're just sounding like a dork,” Rin laughed, smacking him on the chest. “I swear, I don't remember the last time you tried to use a pick-up line on me.”

 

“In 1956,” he answered, moving his hands under her shirt to hug her ribs. “But that is neither here nor there.” He let his thumbs smooth over the curves of the bones beneath her soft skin. “Why, is it working?”

 

Rin shuddered, her eyes drooping from her suddenly heavy lids. “No,” she sighed, “it's just not your style.” She leaned her head up and to the side, trying to tempt him into nibbling right beneath her jaw. “Demons don't talk like that.”

 

Sesshomaru happily complied to his wife's obvious desire, while moving his hands further up her sides beneath her shirt. “Oh?” he mumbled against her throat. “And how do demons talk?”

 

Rin closed her eyes and traced her nails across his back. “You know,” she whispered.

 

“Do I?” he chuckled. Her ear suddenly became his next item of conquest, and he was grazing the shell with his fangs.

 

“Yeah,” she trembled.

 

Sesshomaru pulled away to look Rin directly in the face. Her eyes were mostly shut, and she was looking back at him through darkened slits. Her mouth was slightly open, while her lips were swollen and pink from his earlier teasing. The demon smirked in triumph.

 

“You seem to have lost capabilities of forming a coherent sentence,” he gloated.

 

“Huh?” Rin groaned, arching her back as the hands underneath her clothes reached the summit of their journey. He was talking too much. She wanted to tell him to shut up and get with the kissing, but her brain just would not send the message to her lips. Everything was muzzy; too late did she realize that he had out charmed her at her own game.

 

I'll let him win, she conceded. Defeat isn't all that bad, anyway.

 

The demon lifted the woman off of the mattress, rolling himself onto his back and pulling her tightly against his chest. “Mine,” he growled, clutching onto her possessively.

 

Rin smiled as she reached her hands up to touch his face. “That's better,” she sighed, stroking her fingers down the stripes on his cheeks. It never ceased to amaze her how foreign, and familiar, he was. Her chest filled with a rush of emotion, making her cheeks blush. Centuries later, and he still makes me feel like a girl with a crush, Rin mentally laughed.

 

“I adore you,” she mooned.

 

“And I you,” he replied with a grin. “Even if your hips are fat.”

 

“Hey!” Rin yelled, snapping abruptly out of her spell. “That wasn't nice!”

 

The dog demon only smirked, pleased with his own sense of humor.

 

“You just totally ruined the mood, buster,” Rin spat. She tried to squirm away, but his hands on her held firm like a vice. Glaring at her captor and tormentor, she resolved to exact vengeance on him later with a well-placed knee.

 

Apparently sensing the righteous fury raining down on him, Sesshomaru kissed his wife's forehead apologetically. “I didn't ruin it,” he defended. “I merely put it on hold temporarily.” As if to prove his point, he curved his hands up her spine and over her shoulder blades, before lightly tracing his claws down the length of her back, then back up again.

 

Involuntarily, Rin closed her eyes and nodded her head in subconscious approval. “You're going to be sorry for this later,” she muttered in a wounded tone.

 

“As long as you enjoy it now,” he answered glibly, kissing her with gentle warmth behind his lips.

 

When the kiss stopped, Rin shook her head in defeat. “You're just too much,” she sighed. But she happily nestled her cheek into the curve of his neck, and reached a hand around to scratch the back of his scalp. The other hand rested on his shoulder, squeezing the muscle gently.

 

Sesshomaru curled around her body, cuddling her against his chest. It had only taken him 150 years to learn how to cuddle properly, and another 100 after that to attempt it with any frequency. Demons did not “cuddle” by nature, but he found that Rin slowly changed his once unbending instincts. “Pillow talk” was another foreign concept to him as a demon, but over the past century he'd given it a shot and found he was mildly successful in its execution. True, she would tease him for sounding corny at times, but he didn't really care. If it was funny to her, then it was all the more pleasing for him. Getting her to laugh for him was something he had learned to do right away, because the sound was something he found great comfort in. But being able to laugh with her had been an experiment in and of itself. What he held in highest esteem was his ability to make her melt with a well phrased, softly spoken sentence of the highest romantic caliber.

 

“You are exquisite,” he praised, his eyes wide and solemn.

 

Rin rolled her eyes. “That may be,” she griped, “but it doesn't explain why you still have your pants on.”

At this, Sesshomaru gave a short, explosive laugh. “I thought I had ruined the mood,” he mocked.

 

“You put it temporarily on hold, remember?” she insisted, eyes glinting with mischief. “I picked it back up.”

 

“It's a pity you can no longer be `fat with child',” he lamented. “You're quite charming when you're pregnant, you know.”

 

Rin stuck out her tongue and blew a raspberry at her impertinent husband. “I'm charming all the time, I'll have you remember,” she puffed. “Now, make with the stripping already.”

 

“You seek to tell this Sesshomaru what to do?” he grumbled playfully.

 

“Don't you `this Sesshomaru' anything,” she ribbed, poorly impersonating his voice. “If you're going to be difficult then I'll just have to leave.”

 

“Where would you go?” he scoffed, holding onto her even more tightly. Now it was a direct challenge for her to try and move.

 

Rin looked thoughtful for a second, and then replied, “Australia.”

 

“Australia?”

 

“Mm-hmm, that's where I'd go.”

 

“Do pray tell why,” her husband asked, quite amused.

 

“Because there are dingoes there,” Rin explained matter-of-factly, “and with all those wild dogs, I'm sure there must be at least one demon amongst them. And when I find him---”

 

But Rin was interrupted with a menacing growl, followed by being flipped over onto her back and pinned underneath the demon. One hand came up behind her back and held down her shoulder; the other was fumbling between them, furiously working his belt to come undone.

 

“Easy there now,” she breathed coolly, her stomach muscles clenching with her sudden excitement.

 

“No,” he barked. Finally free of the belt, and with the button and zipper pulled apart, he moved to unfasten Rin from her clothes. She could feel her entire body quivering as he unceremoniously shucked her free from her pants and underwear at the same time, before turning and yanking her shirt above her head as well. The bra was merely pushed down, and he latched his mouth onto a breast just as he took her in a jarring thrust. He moved frantically and almost desperately against her, as if she truly would run away if any hesitation was shown on his part. Her toes were curling in minutes, and her vision went completely white. All the while she was listening to his strangled breaths, muted groans, and her own soft whimpers blending together in the air between them. Abandoning her breast, he moved to her mouth and greedily swallowed her tongue. When she cried out gently, he silenced her, just as he silenced his own choked sobs in their kiss. Heaving to an abrupt stop, he draped himself over her while they both panted in rhythm of one another.

 

“Wild dogs indeed,” Sesshomaru puffed, narrowing his eyes at his wife.

 

“It got your attention,” Rin offered with a weak smile. On second thought, she decided he really doesn't need that well-placed knee kick as much as I thought. It would be a crime against nature.

 

“That was quite intense,” she giggled.

 

He kissed her passionately once more, before pulling away and rolling to her side. His arm lay on her chest and cradled her chin in his hand. Sesshomaru schooled his face into the bored mask he was best known for, and offered it as the definitive answer to her implied question.

 

“You think you're being mysterious,” Rin snorted, “but you really just look like you haven't a clue.”

 

“This Sesshomaru should not have to explain his actions,” he soothed, rolling to his side to better face Rin. “You should intrinsically understand them.”

 

The woman laughed. “You were jealous!” she shouted, smacking his shoulder playfully. “You were jealous of someone that doesn't even exist!”

 

Sesshomaru lightly traced his claws down her bare side, eliciting a shudder from Rin's highly sensitive body. “I was merely acting in the best interest of your invisible boyfriend. He would be entirely unable and ill-equipped to handle you and your fickle moods, so it was my duty to distract you and provide him with means to escape.”

 

“Ill-equipped?” Rin smirked.

 

Sesshomaru nodded seriously.

 

She thought about arguing, but really only wanted to snuggle in the affectionate after-glow of her husband's passion. “You're probably right,” she sighed, rolling over and tangling herself into his limbs.

 

“Unquestionably,” he sniffed.

 

They lay together in quiet contentment as the world continued to age outside of their windows. They had each other through the centuries, but it did not make it any easier to watch their surroundings die away. However, there was always comfort in knowing that for every civilization that disappeared, another rose to take its place. There had been moments where they questioned eternity.

 

Wars and revolutions became background static to their lives. Their children were raised to face the reality that power alone did not corrupt; it was the quest for power that brought destruction in its wake. World War II had nearly driven them both insane. The youngest children were still living at home, and while they were able to safely relocate themselves to a more remote area, the suffering and death they had seen could not be undone. Once, Sesshomaru would have relished in this. But as strong and powerful as he was, this was a force he could never hope to control. It shamed him to run in the face of adversity, but he knew that the protection of his family was entirely within his means. They survived, and pushed onward. Still, there were times where holding one another became the only reassurance they had that things had gotten better, and would continue to do so. Forever.

 

Rin yawned and tried to stretch from within the confines of her husband's arms. “What do we want to do tonight?” she asked.

 

Sesshomaru sighed and loosened his grip on his wife. If it was up to him, and it probably wasn't, he would be perfectly content to stay like this for the rest of the night and not bother with the noise and smell of Tokyo nightlife. “What did you have in mind?” he asked grudgingly.

 

“I was thinking we could go see Kyoshii and Ami,” Rin said, pretending to not hear the boredom in Sesshomaru's voice. “We could pick up the grandkids, and go see a movie with them. Give our youngest and his wife a night off.”

 

The dog demon smirked. “They put you up to this, didn't they?” he asked incredulously.

 

“What? Is it so strange to want to spend time with our grandchildren?” She blinked wide, glassy eyes at him and pouted her lips.

 

He sighed again. “What time?”

 

“I told them we'd be there around six,” she chirped. “That gives us enough time to have dinner and make the train.”

 

“Since you're so on top of things, what did you have in mind for dinner?”

 

Rin sniffed, pretending to be hurt. “Well I was going to suggest something quick like ramen, but---”

 

“That's fine,” Sesshomaru answered, abruptly rising from the bed. He set about composing his clothes back into their standard perfection, then looked down impatiently at his wife. “Don't dawdle, Rin.”

 

She groaned and flopped to her side, before shuffling to her feet. “I just knew I'd regret the day when your brother introduced you to ramen,” she complained. “I don't understand how he doesn't have a heart attack everyday, with as much sodium there is in that stuff.”

 

“Do not belittle the only useful thing Inuyasha has ever done for this Sesshomaru,” the demon replied haughtily.

 

Rin laughed sweetly. “Oh, and I suppose your nieces and nephews mean absolutely nothing to you in the grand scheme of things?” she grunted, pulling her jeans back on. She reached her hand out absently, searching the mattress. “Hand me my shirt, will you?”

 

The garment was placed in the awaiting fingers of its owner. “In the grand scheme of things,” Sesshomaru retorted, “very little means anything to me. However,” he amended, catching the furious gaze of his wife head-on, “on the individual scheme of things, there is much that I care for.”

 

“Always talks in riddles,” Rin mumbled grumpily, shifting her bra back into place.

 

“Always complaining,” Sesshomaru shot back arrogantly.

 

“Always full of himself.”

 

“Always making poor decisions.”

 

Rin flashed a death glare at Sesshomaru. The demon instantly began choking on his words and mentally slapped himself for being so careless. Although he knew Rin had forgiven him for his harsh words all those centuries ago, he still felt terrible when he uttered anything that slightly resembled his previous insensitivity.

 

“That was a little below the belt, now wasn't it?” he said sheepishly. “You see? You poorly decided to love me, despite the fact that I am romantically incompetent.”

 

Rin smiled and shook her head. “Always perfect,” she purred in a low voice, twining her arms about his neck.

 

“Always forgiving,” he murmured, resting his forehead against Rin's.

 

They kissed tenderly and deeply, for it was all they knew how to do.

 

Rin twined her legs around Sesshomaru's waist as she fell back onto the bed. “How much was your heart set on dinner?” she asked when they finally surfaced from each other. “Because I can always call my invisible boyfriend up here.”

 

Sesshomaru groaned as Rin's nimble fingers found themselves on his belt, trying to work it open once more. “No,” he breathed heavily, “your invisible boyfriend has already gone downstairs. I, on the other hand---”

 

“Please,” Rin begged in a raspy voice. She looked to her husband with eyes full of need, and a sly grin as her hands found themselves on his skin. Her fingers gently grasped onto him, and he was pulling his own clothes off quite shakily.

 

“Slow,” she whispered, finally taking off her clothes and pulling him down to her.

 

“When should I stop?” he murmured, joining her body and gently rocking his hips.

 

Rin smiled. “Never stop,” she hummed.

 

“Is forever enough?” he asked. “It's all I can give at such short notice.”

 

“Yes,” Rin laughed, “forever will do for now.”

 

~*~*~*~*~

 

A/N: And so the monster sleeps. This story nearly killed me, what with all the nights spent until 3 or 4am obsessing over a particular nuance that I ended up deleting anyway. And yet I found myself searching for ways to prolong its inevitable ending. I enjoyed this, very much. Just a quick note: for those of you who have me on author alert and you get little messages saying that The Pearl has been revised, relax. I haven't changed anything drastic—just checked spelling, grammar, and small snarls in the overall tapestry. If I do change something drastic however, I'll be sure to note it in my author's profile page.

 

I fondly dedicate The Pearl to Botan, who was the first to admit to being a fan, even though I didn't believe her. I throw my comma offspring in your general direction. Thank you for getting upset when the tennis coach grabbed your hips to demonstrate a move; it made for a good chapter. Thank you also for talking me out of killing Kado, and for trying to talk me out of killing Kagome; I had to come to a compromise on that last one. I wish I could say my Rin-complex isn't as advanced as it seems, but I know I didn't fool you. My parts and pieces were not so disguised that you didn't recognize them: the emotionless jerk, smashing boobs, the green song, horses, cherries, messy room, and gardening. It was an open book after that. I promise to seek professional help. (Shallow words, considering I'm a behavioral therapist, eh?) Thank you also for our Learning Center phone consultations. Ms. Grammar would be so proud. Without you, I would have ended up writing the Japanese rendition of Titus Andronicus. You have once again saved the world from me. I'll let you catch your breath before I try and do it again. You'll have your payment in the form of one-shots soon enough.

 

And, of course, without the peachy keen readers and reviewers I had throughout this tale's journey, I probably would have made it to chapter 3 and then scrapped it. You are my sunshine. I try to read anything written by my reviewers, but the process has been slow going due to this all consuming writing process. I promise I'll get there. Don't think you're off the hook either. There will be more down the road. After all, some of you were nice enough to put me on your favorites lists, and I can't disappoint you all, now can I? It may take a couple of truck stops and endless cups of tar coffee, but I'll eventually create another destination.

 

Maybe I'll actually give writing something about Inuyasha a stab. It's his series, after all.

 

love, asiancherries