Epilogue

The years came and went, and Sesshomaru and Kagome grew closer, with their love for one another drawing deeper. Sesshomaru even had a showing at a gallery, which caught a lot of attention and created a name for himself as a master of the brush. Sesshomaru eventually sold his half of the graphic design company to Hikaru, with Kagome's support, to focus on his own art. Hikaru flourished in the business, with Shippo as the head designer, he even employed one of the men who use to come to the community center as a teen.

Rin had eventually married a nice young man by name of Kohaku. He was the brother of a fellow professor at the University. The two had meet one day on campus when Rin was a Sophomore and running to class across campus, she had collided with him outside the building and the two were inseparable since.

Lord Tsukuyomaru and Lady Shizu surprised everyone when they announced that they were expecting, about four months after Shiori and Inuyasha married, saying that now that one was out of the way, they were ready to corrupt another.

Inuyasha and Shiori didn't start trying until two years after they married, Inuyasha saying that he wanted to give Shiori time to settle into her job and give the couple time just for them. They now had three kids and a fourth due anytime.

Souta, after graduating University, went on to medical school to become a doctor. He graduated with top honors and started his residency at Tokyo General Hospital the next week. It was a year later that he met a lovely woman, by name of Hitomi, who owned a bakery. The two married after dating for a year, and were expecting their first child in five months.

Grandfather passed away ten years after Kagome married, and although it saddened everyone, he stated before he died that he was proud of his grandchildren and he felt blessed for his full life and looked forward to reuniting with his own wife and son.

Mrs. Higurashi remained at the shrine, with Souta and his wife moving in, she was never alone. She even hired a few of the teens from the community center to help out around the grounds. Rin and Kohaku eventually moved in as well and Mrs. Higurashi found herself always surrounded by laughter and love. Many years later, when she passed away, Kagome was heartbroken, but the love and support from her husband and children pulled her through.

The most interesting development came two decades after Sesshomaru and Kagome wed. Toga finally admitted to being in absolute love with Lady Satori, who smacked him, then kissed him. She had been in love with him since childhood, but never said anything for fear of being rejected. Toga apologized profusely, stating that he never said anything because he thought she didn't see him like that. The two mated that night.

Kagome and Sesshomaru sat on a bench in the courtyard of their house, Kagome leaned against Sesshomaru, who had his arm wrapped around his wife. The two watched the leaves fall and enjoyed the breeze of a warm afternoon. It had been two hundred and fifty years since they married and mated and each year had been better and richer then the previous. Takahiro was currently courting a nice young woman, who adored him. The twins had moved to Kyoto and were working in environmental technologies. Their next child was off in London, working as a department head in the European branch of Taisho Industries. The youngest had just graduated college, and still lived with them, she was currently on her way to a job interview, having just left the house fifteen minutes ago.

"Beloved?" Sesshomaru asked.

"Hm." Kagome replied.

"Would you be opposed to taking advantage of an empty house?" he questioned, his tone playful.

Kagome turned to her husband, then smirked. She stood up, lifted her skirt a bit and pulled her panties down, throwing them at Sesshomaru.

"Catch me if you can." she taunted, running into the house.

Sesshomaru smirked, then chased his wife, catching her at the stairs and carrying her the rest of the way to their bedroom. As he laid her down, he stared into her eyes. She was still just as beautiful as the day he met her.

Sesshomaru, although regretful for his actions at the time, was equally grateful. He had met the love of his life and learned that the simple things were the most important. His family was the greatest and most rewarding adventure he had ever faced and looked forward to experiencing all the new and wondrous possibilities with them at his side.

"I love you." he said with reverence.

"As I love you." she returned, her eyes conveying the same regard.

The End