Standard disclaimers apply.

A/N: This is the final chapter, and I would like to dedicate it to my dear friend Tana_san. Thank you, Jen, for always believing in me and giving me encouragement with your kind words.

I really hope you guys will like it. It is such an emotional moment for me to come to the end of a long story.

Title: The Third Parties

Chapter 20: Home

"Damn it! This dumb, worthless piece of crap is obviously not working."

I heard two bangs, which were unmistakably fists against the computer desk. I chuckled inwardly; that was SO characteristic of my half-brother.

"Inuyasha, stop blaming the poor webcam for your own stupidity. You did not attach it properly, Einstein." A feminine voice came from the other end of the blank screen. "And how many times have we gone through the issue of you using your colorful language in front of Emiko?"

"Oh, Kikyou darling, I am so sorry I did not manage to cure my son of his potty mouth disease when he was a teen. His brother is the only one who can keep him in check, and now that he's not around, Inuyasha seemed to have become worse."

That had to be Father.

Then I heard an adorable baby voice going "Gah gah, booooooo. Bwaaa!", erupting into a fit of giggles before Inuyasha yelled in what was clearly pain.

"Ouch!! Kikyou! Get. My. Hair. Out. From. There.!! NOW!!!"

"Inuyasha, stop yelling! It is hurting everyone's ears. Your brother does not need to hear your barrage of nonsense." Mother's voice could be heard. "Look, even Sesshoumaru is amused by your childish rants."

"Sesshoumaru? Can you see us now?" Kikyou questioned, obviously ignoring Inuyasha's whimpers as my baby niece Emiko continued to tug mercilessly at her father's hair.

"Hello, son!" Father and Mother chorused.

"Hello Father, Mother," I had to chuckle, it was pretty funny to be speaking to a blank screen. "And Kikyou, no. All I see is the keyboard."

"Inuyasha!! Turn the thing so it is pointing in our direction. How do you expect Sesshoumaru to see us when the camera is not even pointing at us?" Kikyou commanded. "Honestly, I find myself praying fervently that this stupidity is NOT hereditary. Don't you agree with Mommy, Emiko?"

"Gahaha Mamamama." Came the reply, whatever that meant in baby lingo, eliciting laughter throughout.

"Geez, why on earth am I allowing you guys to gang up on me?" Inuyasha grumbled as he continued fiddling with the webcam.

"Oh shut up, Inuyasha." Father remarked, successfully eliciting another round of laughter.

Then the focus shifted, and I found myself looking at five familiar faces with very different facial expressions. My parents were waving frantically at the screen, with Father smiling like he struck the first prize of the lottery and Mother scrutinizing me concernedly. My half-brother was still looking distressed as he tried to pry his hair out of his daughter's chubby fist, while his wife appeared relieved that the webcam session was finally working and my baby niece screamed in innocent joy as I waved to her. "Hellooo Shoshomawoooo!!"

"That actually means 'Sesshoumaru'," Kikyou laughed, holding up Emiko's hand to wave back at me. "We've been teaching her and telling her about you."

"Hello, little Emiko. How are you? I am glad everyone's looking well."

"Bahhh. Booboo weee!" She laughed again, before Mother spoke up.

"Son, did you lose weight again? Have you been eating well? You seem to have gotten thinner again. Darling, you should never have agreed to send Sesshoumaru to our company's branch office in Singapore for five years!"

Then Father laughed and said, "Don't mind your mother, Sesshoumaru. She has been rather paranoid over your well-being, now that you're not staying with us at home. She can never cook your favorite dishes without going on and on about how you're not around to eat them. I always have to assure her how you look the same size as you were before you left Japan."

"Promise me you will not skip meals," Mother added, and I nodded.

"And obviously, my assurances have fallen on deaf ears." Father mused in amused exasperation.

"Well, sucks to be you, old man! Seriously, Sesshoumaru looks the same to me, as ugly as always." Inuyasha laughed before yelping as Kikyou pinched him rather forcefully on the arm. "Ouch! What did you do that for?"

"Inuyasha," I began, as all eyes flicked back to the laptop screen. "I would appreciate it if my little niece is spared from your impressive command of colorful language."

"Whatever, ice king." He retorted good-naturedly. "At least she would learn to talk around me instead of going 'hn' at everything."

I shook my head, amused at Inuyasha's trademark mannerisms. The boy had finally become a father, and from what I could see and hear, my entire family was living very blissfully indeed. Father and Mother were both looking radiant and healthy, now that they have their little granddaughter Emiko to bring so much joy to them. Kikyou was just telling me in an email how the two new grandparents are heads over heels in love with the little girl, bringing her on all sorts of outings and lavishing her with toys and pretty clothes. Inuyasha and Kikyou, on the other hand, have learned to move on and leave the matters of the past behind them. Of course, no one could or should ever forget that such unhappy events had taken place in the past, but that was how things work, wasn't it? People learn from mistakes and move on bravely.

Despite their bickering and the constant stabs Kikyou makes at Inuyasha's obvious lack of common sense in certain areas, I could see how loving the two of them are. Even in front of the computer screen, I would catch him smiling at her endearingly when she wasn't noticing, and notice how his hand would sometimes rest on her head or her shoulders.

Emiko, was of course, growing to be more and more adorable with every passing day. Even though I was away from Japan, Inuyasha and Kikyou made the constant effort to integrate me into my niece's life by showing her pictures of me, encouraging interaction via webcam and also, sending me photographs and pieces of baby artwork via snail mail.

Then there was Kaguya, who had sent me some of her wedding pictures via email two weeks ago. She had gotten engaged to Kuchiki Byakuya whom she had been seeing for more than a year, and would soon be retiring early from her modeling career to focus on her marriage and new family. It was a decision which she had thought long and hard about, and also, something which I fully support. Modeling might be Kaguya's number one passion, and she did well in it to be at the top of her game, but the industry had always been too complicated for a girl with her innate soft-heartedness. So, in a way, I was glad she came to the decision to quit.

Everyone was still the same, with the exception of me. I believed I changed. For the better or the worse, I don't really know, but somehow I could see things from more perspectives now. And I had past experiences to reflect upon and depend on for guidance when I need it. With that, I am more determined to do things right if I do get a second chance.

It wasn't as if I really enjoy being so far away from the rest of the family and my friends, but I figured I needed the break just like she did. So when Father and the board of directors came up with the decision to set up a branch company in Singapore to tap into the Southeast Asian market more effectively, I had practically jumped at the opportunity, volunteering myself to head the new organization and oversee the operations for a period of at least five years until things have stabilized.

The sizeable number of Japanese expatriates here in Singapore has made it pretty easy for me to adapt to the new lifestyle, and I have managed to make a few friends here. I picked up more English and tried to learn Mandarin, though I could never pronounce some of the sounds perfectly despite attending classes. However, I was still by myself most of the time, and I've discovered new hobbies in photography, baking, visiting cultural sites and museums.

They might not be too impressive, as compared to some other hobbies, but they were better than my unhealthy hobby of playing the desperate hero to the damsel-in-distress. But I missed her, I really did. I missed her face, her eyes, her voice…her everything.

Gone were the times when she was simply a fifteen-minute drive away from me, and I missed the times we spent together sitting outside the convenience store near her apartment building, eating snacks by the roadside as we used to do as children. Her old phone number was no longer in use, as if she was really determined to avoid me once and for all, but I did receive an occasional postcard from her, with 'occasional' being once every six months or so. I've received one from Tibet, one from Taiwan, another from Cambodia, each telling me she was well and living her life fruitfully. She had sent them to my address in Japan. But there was never an address to which I could send a reply and tell her I was now in Singapore, so all I could do was read and treasure those postcards.

However, she did update her blog regularly with the pictures she had taken of every country she visited, and I was glad to see how she was looking healthy and happy in those photographs. I sincerely wished she was happier than before; Kagome never deserved to be sad. To put it honestly, I had been rather gloomy after her departure, wondering just why was it that I did not deserve to be loved. But then again, I managed to see light.

What was the point of having Kagome by my side if she was miserable? I'd rather she be happy; that was the extent of my feelings for her. I'd rather she be somewhere else on earth, living life the way she liked it to be.

So as always, my weekly Saturday morning webcam sessions with my family ended in laughter on their side and amused chuckles on mine. The same thing happened every week – Emiko would say the new words she had learned (I swear, babies learn really, really fast), Mother would fuss about my apparent weight loss while Father would disagree. The latter would ask me for updates on the company's progress, only to get shushed by everyone who unanimously agreed that 'precious Skype time should not be wasted on boring topics like work' and how he should just email me directly if he wanted updates.

On the other hand, Kikyou would update me on Emiko's progress and also, share things like new recipes, recommend interesting TV programs, or get me to buy some exotic Southeast Asian spices to send over to her in Japan (she's currently into the whole Thai cuisine thing). As for Inuyasha…well, let's just say he is still the same old Inuyasha. So conversations would be undoubtedly dominated by a whole load of vulgar remarks which I would shudder to recall, sarcastic stabs at each other's ego and good-natured criticisms.

I could not keep the half-smile off my face as I recalled snippets of the funny conversations we had in the day as I now strolled along at Esplanade Park near Marina Bay, taking in the impressive sights of the modern and historical architecture of the area. The buildings were all lit up; forming a captivating night scene with the skyline against the inky black canvas of night sky, and a balmy breeze was gently blowing. A live band was playing at some fancy outdoor pub in a distance. Sounds of small waves rolling on the river conjured up a soothing rhythm, and my thoughts once again went to a certain raven-haired girl as I watched couples sit around chatting, laughing and cuddling.

Times like these made me think of her, and sadly, they made me long for her too. So I took in the panoramic night view silently, watching the faraway Ferris wheel turn ever so slowly.

I took my new DSLR camera out from its casing and tried to capture a few shots of the night view along the Esplanade Park. Focusing on the majestic Ferris wheel in the distance, which would undoubtedly bring Emiko much joy when I send the picture to her, my finger pressed down on the shutter button. A few snapshots were taken, and just as I was about to take another picture, a passer-by had stepped into the range of the picture, and the bright flash caught the individual by surprise.

Unable to keep the little tinge of annoyance within my mind, I was oddly surprised to hear what was undoubtedly a Japanese-accented voice apologizing profusely in English.

"I am so sorry, I did not see-"

The voice died when I put my camera down to look up abruptly at its owner. The earlier annoyance I felt dissipated with the balmy night breeze, before surprise and an overwhelming joy overcame me. My eyes met widened eyes of clear, sparkling brown, and the world stopped spinning around me as I struggled to believe that what my eyes saw was real.

"Sesshoumaru…?" She broke the silence. Her voice was uncertain, as if in doubt, just like I was.

It was her. It was really her.

Fate had not forgotten us after all.

"Kagome..."

Then her beautiful face, even more mesmerizing than my memories remembered it to be, graced me with a heartfelt smile which was accompanied by a few unshed tears in her large, expressive eyes.

Returning her smile with one of my own, I stepped forward as she too, closed in the distance between us. Her footsteps became quicker with every step she took in my direction, and it wasn't long before she threw herself into my embrace, paying no heed to the onlookers around us. My arms wrapped fiercely around her, and I pressed my face into the top of her head, inhaling the familiar fragrance that could only belong to her.

She withdrew slightly from the embrace to look at me. "Why are you…?"

Placing a finger on her lips, I shook my head. "Shhhh."

Explanations were not needed; I was pretty sure we have a lot of time to catch up in the future. For now, I just wanted to hold her forever.

"I missed you, Sesshoumaru…" She said, looking up into my eyes. "I was planning to go home soon, but I never expected to see you here…"

"Home, to me, is where you are." I told her. This was how simple life should be.

I cradled her face in my palms, memorizing the way her skin felt under mine. The tropical heat made her skin slightly damp and oily, but I couldn't care less. This was Kagome, and that was all that mattered.

"Don't go away again…" I whispered softly, watching her eyes soften with growing emotion. "Stay by my side."

She nodded, and I saw two tears fall down onto the ground between us from her closed eyelids. Then she threw her hands around me again, shedding tears of joy and longing into my chest.

"Welcome home…" Kagome whispered, pulling my face down to hers to meet her warm lips.

And we were home.

The End.

A/N: We have come to the end of The Third Parties. Somehow, a part of me feels really glad that I've completed this story which I grew to love so much, but on the other hand, I know I'd miss this story. Never had I written a story which delved so deep into human emotions and reality, and it is a very welcoming change from some of my ongoing works. I enjoyed writing this story greatly, and I really appreciate the heartfelt and sincere reviews I've received from you lovely readers.

The Third Parties is also the first time I saw my review page resemble a forum more than…well, a review page. It got everyone thinking and gaining new perspectives, and somehow, I felt myself grow along with the story. Thank you so much for giving this story a chance, and I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.

Love,

MissTeak