Well folks, I do believe this is the last chapter. I was wondering if I might do more, but things just wrapped themselves up neatly here, and I feel this is the right place to end it. Fanfiction endings tend to sneak up on me, so I'm sorry you guys didn't get much of a warning in advance. But it's here. Let's jump in.

I can't move. Every bit of energy in my body floods into my brain as I try to sort out what's happening, what's happened, and what I should do. I vaguely register Dad appearing in the doorway, and Mom grabbing his arm in alarm. Neither of them look at each other. Una, who's been happy-go-lucky since I've returned, lets out a whimper as she lowers herself to the floor, ears going flat, and eyes upturned at the demon lord before her.

A low, nearly inaudible growl rumbles from Sesshomaru's throat, and he steps forward, taking me by the wrist and pulling me to my feet. The movement seems to jolt my dad out of his stupor.

"If you don't let go of my daughter and explain yourself, Sir, I will call the police!"

Sesshomaru doesn't so much as glance his way. Instead his angry eyes burn into me, and my knees begin to turn to jello. Sure, I've seen him upset a few times, but never has he directed such vicious animosity my way. Beautiful and elegant, terrifying and powerful...he's truly the essence of demonic nobility.

"I said let go of my daughter!"

My breath catches when Dad takes a firm step towards the intruder, and I stupidly blurt, "Why are you here?"

Dad stops, and Sesshomaru's grip tightens as he growls, "I will not repeat myself."

...He really...came to fetch me? But he already has Rin, right? And he shouldn't know what Tsukuyomi told me, meaning that even with Rin at his side, he still...came for me.

My eyes flicker to my dad, reading the mix of confusion and hostility in his expression, and hesitantly, I reach over to cover the hand clasped around my wrist. Squeezing lightly, I request softly, "He's my dad, please respect his wishes."

It takes him a minute, and during that minute, the pressure around my wrist remains constant. Then it relaxes, and I squeeze his hand in thanks before also letting go.

"Explain yourself. Why have you barged into my house, how do you know my daughter, and where exactly were you planning on taking her?"

This time, Sesshomaru does show a reaction, in the form of a slight pinch at the corner of his eyes, which he then turns on my father. "I've already explained why I've come. Ren is mine, and I'm taking her back to where she belongs."

"I don't know who you think you are—"

Dad stalks forward, and I half shout, "Wait!"

He doesn't seem too pleased, but he stops his advance towards Sesshomaru, although the distance between them is already halved. Despite his annoyance, Sesshomaru thankfully doesn't appear to be concerned about my dad's threat. If Dad were to lay a hand on him, however, I have little doubt he'd react more than a little negatively. I clear my throat, wondering how, and what, I should explain.

"Sesshomaru, these are my parents. Mom, Dad...this is Lord Sesshomaru. He's uh...well, for the past two months or so…"

"Is that where you've been?" Mom's voice is quiet. "With him?"

"Yeah...for the most part. You don't have to worry, he's really a gentleman. Even when I…" Actually, I should leave out the whole possession situation. "Er, even when he had no reason to let me hang around, he's put up with me, and he's helped me out when I've gotten myself into trouble. He may not be the most polite person, but he's a really good guy."

"If that's true, then I'm glad," Dad starts, "but I cannot overlook the fact that some creep has turned himself into the character my daughter has a fascination with, and used that appearance to manipulate you."

Even if it isn't directed at me, the accusation stings. "Dad, that's not—"

"Because Ren is fond of you, and you've allegedly kept your hands off of her, I will give you one chance. Get out of my house and never come near my daughter again, and I will consider not reporting you to the police."

I internally groan.

"You misunderstand," Sesshomaru shoots back. "Ren is not your property, and she is returning with me."

"Well she sure as hell doesn't belong to you!"

For heaven's sake, I just want some time to think! But Dad's *this* close to getting the police involved, and Sesshomaru is not one to back down. I don't know if guns can hurt him, but I really don't want to find out!

"Okay!" My exclamation thankfully claims the attention of both aggravated men. "I'm not anyone's property. I'm glad we have that settled. Dad, I get why you're upset, I get that this looks bad, but you have to believe me when I say Sesshomaru isn't some evil pervert dressing up in order to kidnap me." The description causes Sesshomaru's brow to twitch with irritation, but as worked up as he is as well, he still doesn't seem in danger of doing something notably troublesome. "I understand it would sound insane if I swore to you he's not in costume, and that he's literally the person I've drawn and painted all these years, and there's no way you'd believe me. I wouldn't believe me either, and if I were to give you all the reasons, true reasons, that it's true, everything coming out of my mouth would sound absolutely mad! But at the very least I'm going to do my best to convey that he's not the villain you're making him out to be! He did not seek me out. I sought him. He didn't even know about my existence until I found him. And he never offered to take me in. He never offered me anything. He let me do as I pleased. He hardly could have cared if I had stayed with him or not." My gaze flits to Sesshomaru before fluttering down to the floor. "Although...that seems to have changed...but he is not manipulative. He says what he thinks, without any filter or double meaning."

"How can you say that when he barged in here and declared you belong to him?"

Heat begins to rise in my cheeks. "H-He didn't mean it like I'm property. I just...he knows…" My face is now thoroughly aflame. Do I really have to confess right here, in front of my parents?

My heart leaps and my eyes widen when Sesshomaru's fingers thread through mine. I lift my face to find Sesshomaru's eyes on me once again. There's no longer anger to be found in his golden orbs. When he speaks, his words aren't spoken to me. "Ren is mine because she chose to give her heart to me, and I have chosen to accept it."

His words send my pulse thrumming. Thoughts of Rin, and Tsukuyomi's prophecy, my previous jealousy, and what could be going through my parents' minds swirl in my head, but…

You know…

Fuck it.

I step in, my free hand curling in the hanging, torn sleeve, and I press my lips to his. In contrast to the rest of his cool skin, his lips prove warm. He tilts his head a bit to create a better angle, and his fingers gently massage my intertwined hand. When I pull back, I'm stunned by the blatant affection in his eyes, and he lays another small, soft kiss on the corner of my mouth. After basking for a moment in the warmth of his gaze, I turn slightly to face my parents. Dad's turned absolutely tomato red, although in his case it's probably more in fury than embarrassment. Mom still hasn't stopped looking shell-shocked. I try to contain it, but a small huff of laughter escapes me, anyway. Not the most romantic scenario for my first kiss. Although, now that I say that, his lips kind of felt somewhat familiar…

Also turning to my parents, I can't decide whether I'm embarrassed or delighted when Sesshomaru swears, "No harm will come to Ren while she is in my care. I swear so on the name of my father. I do not break my word."

Dad doesn't seem to know what to do with himself as he glares at the man who...would it be too presumptuous of me to think of what he just said as kind of like a proposal? Telling my father he'll protect me...I guess it's not quite synonymous with taking care of me, but it's close enough, and dammit, I really like the comparison! So much so that I almost can't bring myself to care if my Dad isn't so fond of it. I'm a little surprised, though, when it's my mom who speaks.

"Ren...are you leaving with him?"

"She most certainly is not!"

"Hush!" Having scolded Dad into reluctant silence, she waits for my response, her face unreadable.

My hand curls a bit more firmly around Sesshomaru's. As much as there is to think about, as much as there is to consider...is there really so much complexity? Rin's reincarnation or whatever, as horrible as it is that she'll never reach adulthood, that also means my previous concerns are void, especially considering Sesshomaru...Sesshomaru came for me, took my hand, and kissed me back, even when he still has Rin. The feudal era is dangerous. Demons, gods, and strange forces are at work, not to mention human wars, but I have Sesshomaru to protect me if necessary, and there's nothing stopping me from learning a weapon or two. And the feudal era...even as I stand in my bedroom, in the apartment I grew up in with my family and dog, the feudal era...feels like home. The people there never look at me like I'm some sort of freak, they don't treat me like an outcast. And despite my brushes with death, it was in the feudal era that I first got to see the daytime sky. The world since I've gone to the feudal era has blossomed with color.

And at the center of it all is this beautiful, prideful demon.

"I'll come back." I can feel moisture in my eyes as I tell him this, and try to blink it away. "I'm sorry I left without saying anything."

Dad pivots on his heel to go get the telephone, only for Mom to stop him solidly with a hand at his chest. "Naoki...she should go."

"Are you seriously—"

Mom doesn't wait to hear what he says, passing him to enter. She stops before me, holding her elbows, and scans me slowly head to toe, and back up again. Then her eyes travel to Sesshomaru, and before she's finished giving him a similar treatment, her eyes fall shut, and she lets out a long breath. When she opens them, she makes direct eye contact with me. "I feel like...there have been a lot of misunderstandings between us. I've probably not been the best mother I could have been. I've always clung onto rationale, and put feelings in second place, and you've given me a lot of time to think on that. I'm sorry. I don't want to keep making the same mistake." She shifts to face Sesshomaru. "Sesshomaru, was it? Lord Sesshomaru? Can I ask about the title?"

"My father was a fierce demon general, and I have inherited his position, and responsibility."

I flinch a bit when he mentions his demon blood, but oddly enough Mom seems to take it in stride. "I see. Well, Lord Sesshomaru. I can't say I'm too happy about entrusting you with Ren, but I know just how dear to her you've been her entire life, and if I am to trust what my own daughter has said, then...you probably will be what makes her happiest."

"Rika, have you gone mad? How can you—"

"It just...feels right. I've gone too long ignoring both her feelings and mine. Besides—" Mom turns to look at Dad so I can no longer see her face, but they way her words come out choked up causes the tears to finally roll down my cheeks. "—you saw how happy she is with him. I've never seen that expression on her face, Naoki, not once in eighteen years." When she faces me again, I let go of Sesshomaru's hand in order to wipe my face. "If you want to go with him, Ren, you can go."

"Mom!" Tears coming faster than I can get rid of them, I lunge at my mother, wringing her waist with my arms and burying my face in her shoulder. A second later I feel her arms around my back, a hand on the back of my head and her chin on the crook of my neck as she pets my hair. I can hear in her voice that she's begun to cry, as well.

"Forgive me, Ren. I love you. Please be happy, and come visit if you can!"

"I love you, too!"

A few seconds later, another pair of arms wrap around the both of us, and I begin to cry harder, one hand rising to grip my father's arm. I'm not sure how long this lasts, but at some point it briefly crosses my mind that I'm keeping Sesshomaru waiting, and I pull back with a heavy sniff. I'm glad I was never into make up. If I was wearing any, I'd probably look a wreck, if I don't already,

"If you make Ren cry, I'll see to it you never see her again."

I laugh shortly. "Thanks, Dad."

"And you know if you need anything, or if you change your mind, or if he does anything you don't like, you can always come back."

"I know." I kneel and scratch Una's head, which seems to reaffirm her despite her fear of Sesshomaru. "You have to be brave, Una, and be there for Mom and Dad while I'm gone.I know you can do it. You've got the name of a dragon!"

And so Sesshomaru and I start on our way back to the Higurashi shrine. We draw a lot of eyes, but the attention is hardly anything new. I'm just glad no one seems to realize I'm the girl who's been missing.

"So did Kagome tell you where my house it?" Although now that I think about it, I'm not sure how she would know, either.

"I followed your scent."

Oh, like Inuyasha followed his scent back when I was still looking for him. It makes sense, them both having dog demon genes. I'm sure Sesshomaru doesn't want to hear that comparison, though.

"Thank you for coming to get me. I...don't quite understand, though. You were ignoring me before I left. If I did something to upset you…"

"That's right." Suddenly he turns to me, grabbing my arm and dragging me close as if to kiss me, but he stops before our faces touch. "Why do I smell the disgusting scent of that god on your skin?"

I blink. Tsukuyomi? What does this have to do with him? "H-He visited me a little before you came. He explained our connection, and told me I should return to you."

"Do not let other men touch you, and do not call out any man's name but mine." With this said, he releases me and walks ahead. I'm planted where I stand. Is he...jealous? Of Tsukuyomi? But he has a wife, and no matter how much she hates him, he still clearly loves her, meaning…

I giggle and catch up. We walk in silence for awhile longer, until we reach the steps leading up to Kagome's family shrine. There, Sesshomaru finally asks,

"Ren, what is a police?"

The End

Wow, this has been my longest story, yet! Thank you to everyone who's read it through, followed, favorited, or commented! It makes my day every time I get a notification! And I do believe, at the beginning of the story, I promised to tell you how I visually imagine Ren at the end. To me, she's a pretty average height, around 5"5, and she has short, but thick black hair that isn't quite as neat as a bob. Obviously she's pale at the beginning, and her eyes are a dark brown. If you guys still have a way you imagine her to look, I'd still love to hear about it! I know the one person who's shared already imagined her completely different. It's always fascinating to hear what you guys think about my OC's, both personality-wise and visually. Gah, this end note is getting long, and I've got somewhere to be, so I'll be signing off, now. Thanks again for reading! I wish you guys the best from the bottom of my heart, and I'll see you again with my next story!