A/N: As promised, here's the epilogue :) This story has been a blast, and I'm sad to see it end! Thank you to everyone who reviewed, followed, favorited, whatever it may be - I really appreciate it! This epilogue is short and super fluffy, but I couldn't resist ;) Please read and review! I hope you've enjoyed this little story as much as I did writing it!

Epilogue

Sesshomaru slid the shoji screen open slowly in an attempt to stay quiet — he didn't want to wake Kagome. The smile that came immediately after stepping into the room was unwarranted, but he couldn't bring himself to care.

Kagome had been feeling fatigued lately, which was to be expected after traveling five hundred years into the past. His concern for her was strong, and he insisted she stay in their quarters and rest. Normally she would be angry if he attempted to make her stay in place and completely ignore his concern, but she didn't argue once.

After she returned from her time, and a particularly memorable reunion, he brought her to Kaede's village to see her friends. The slayer was the first to see her, running at breakneck speed and taking Kagome into her arms — they cried for what seemed like an hour. The monk embraced her next, though Sesshomaru kept a mindful watch on that one. Finally, Inuyasha stepped up. He had attempted to brush off her absence, but Sesshomaru could smell his happiness — as well as see it in his eyes.

Once they returned to the palace, the kit and Rin clung to her as if she'd just come back from the dead, both crying and laughing happily. Sesshomaru had simply observed silently, but the small smile on his face said more than enough about his own emotions.

Now, she'd been back for around two months. His first priority upon bringing her home was to return her to her previous health. The daiyoukai personally ensured that she was eating enough, as well as getting plenty of rest — that task was easy enough, as he was more than happy to carry her to their futon when necessary.

Sesshomaru smiled softly at the view before him. Kagome was awake, sitting upright in the center of their large futon. Her sleeping yukata was parted and loose, revealing the soft skin of her chest and ample cleavage. Soft furs and blankets draped over her folded legs and rich silks lay across the futon below her. Warm sunlight streamed in, illuminating her skin as she brushed her hair and hummed quietly.

"I assume you are well rested?"

Kagome opened her eyes and turned to him with a glowing smile. "I am! I had a nice nap, so I feel much better. I am a bit hungry though."

Sesshomaru nodded and closed the shoji screen before crossing the distance to her. He kneeled down on the futon and pulled her into his lap, wrapping his arms around her midsection and placing a soft kiss to the scar against her neck. He inhaled her scent, rumbling in approval.

"I will have tea and food sent."

Kagome hummed and tilted her head to the side to reveal her neck, a sign of submission that appealed to his inu instincts. He rumbled happily and gently bit down on her mating mark.

"You seem to be in a good mood today."

"Hn," he murmured softly. "Indeed."

She giggled as he placed another kiss to her neck. "You are in a good mood."

Gently she pried out of his grasp to bend forward, tilting her head to pull her hair into a loose bun. The daiyoukai frowned lightly when she pulled away, his hands never leaving her waist. There was something about her scent recently that was just incredibly alluring. As soon as she was done fussing over her hair, he gripped her hips and tugged her back into his lap.

"This One did not permit you to move."

Kagome giggled again as he nuzzled her neck and squirmed away from him. "This One doesn't need permission," she taunted.

Sesshomaru growled at this, grinning lightly into her skin. If she wanted to play, he was more than happy to oblige.

Gently, Sesshomaru lifted her up, ignoring her startled gasp, and tossed her down onto the futon. He snapped his barrier into place before leaning over her, nipping at her neck — eager hands moved from her waist, moving down to part her thighs and settle in between them. Something about her scent was drawing him in; he felt more playful and lighthearted, but at the same time very protective. He pressed his nose to the crook of her neck, rubbing her skin playfully and smirking at her giggles.

Clawed hands pulled the fabric of her yukata over her shoulders while his tongue ran a smooth line down her neck until he reached her collar bone, sucking on the soft flesh there and growling into her as she gasped. The daiyoukai inhaled deeply, but faltered immediately. One brow raised curiously as he pulled her scent in once more.

"Sesshomaru?"

Confusion twisted around her scent. Sesshomaru inhaled deeply again. He knew this scent, though only by instinct, and why he wasn't sure. He thought back to their discussion earlier — she was hungry, and tired. Her appetite had spiked lately, and her exhaustion was a constant battle. The alpha inu was aware that human women felt this way when pregnant or menstruating, but—

Sesshomaru froze, eyes widened. He inhaled deeply before pulling away sharply.

"Sesshomaru? You okay?"

There was no mistaking this scent now. The realization pulled a sharp tug of happiness from the daiyoukai, and he looked down at the woman in his arms and smiled gently.

Kagome sat up slowly and adjusted her disheveled yukata, only to be pulled back into his arms, this time in a strong embrace. "What's going on, Sesshomaru?"

"Koi," he murmured. "You are pregnant."

Her scent was overwhelming — dewy, fresh cherry blossom kissed pungent salt as the tears spilled down her cheeks. The surge of vanilla bean was so overpowering it nearly took his breath away. Sesshomaru chuckled and pulled away, running the pads of his thumbs over her cheeks and kissing her softly.

"H-How do you know?"

"Your scent, mate." Sesshomaru brushed his nose against hers, a soothing rumble bubbling from his chest. "It is different. I can smell the pup."

He watched the tears rolling down her cheeks. Kagome was silent for a moment, and Sesshomaru was amused at her reaction. She stared just beyond his shoulder, smiling to herself as she placed a hand on her belly. There was no bump, it was far too early for that, but it didn't matter. Sesshomaru chuckled and took her into his arms again.

"Sesshomaru," she whispered. "There's a baby in here!"

The daiyoukai openly laughed, too happy to care about concealing his emotions, and pulled back to kiss her forehead.

"Pup, koi," he said gently. "It will be a pup. Most likely pups, actually."

Kagome rolled her eyes and giggled. Pups, babies, cubs — it didn't matter. There was life. She and Sesshomaru created life. It was precious and magnificent.

Sesshomaru nuzzled her neck, forcing her back onto the futon gently and pulling her yukata open to burrow his nose into her belly. He inhaled her scent, now fully understanding the strange spike to her normal sweetness, and savoring it is he pulled it in. If she wasn't intoxicating before, she most certainly was now.

Thinking back to the previous couple of weeks, the daiyoukai was floored that he hadn't noticed it sooner. Any time he was near her, he couldn't help but touch her — one hand was always seeking out her skin, ghosting across her back and mating mark, over her wrists and hands. He found his normally protective nature heightened, as well.

Poor Nakamura made a near fatal mistake just a few days ago. Kagome had been resting on several floor cushions in Sesshomaru's study, leaning back against a large bookshelf by the fire as she read. Sesshomaru had seated himself at his desk, working on paperwork and signing documents while occasionally sneaking glances at his mate. Nakamura had entered the room with tea and news for Sesshomaru, but upon sliding the shoji open, he inhaled deeply and shifted his gaze to Kagome. The daiyoukai noticed this immediately, and watched as Nakamura smiled a bit overly-friendly to his mate as he offered her some tea. The spike in his attendant's scent was unmistakeable — thin traces of honey blossomed over his usual robust scent. Lust.

In hindsight, Sesshomaru would have realized how protective he was being and connected that to her scent (while most likely discovering her pregnancy earlier on), but all rationality was pushed aside, and in the blink of an eye he had his attendant pushed against the wall by his neck as dokkasou dripped from his claws. Kagome had attempted to settle him down, but as she moved closer to the offender, he snapped his teeth at her to keep her away. Though, she never listened… She stepped closer, and Sesshomaru wrapped an arm around her as he released Nakamura and pulled his mate away. Though Kagome had been incredibly concerned with Sesshomaru's outburst and didn't seem at all bothered by Nakamura's actions, the daiyoukai was more than happy to remove the attendant from his services temporarily. Of course, he would allow the man to work near his mate once again — eventually.

He took another deep inhale and smiled against her skin. Centuries of solitude passed before knowing Kagome, and even after meeting her he was convinced he was content alone. And then he found Rin, and after taking her in she became like his own daughter. Still, he was convinced a mate was unnecessary. Oh, how wrong he was.

Rin, his mate and soon-to-be little one, possibly more than just one, were his entire world. Sesshomaru had never known happiness like this, and he wouldn't trade it for anything. He placed a kiss just below her navel and pulled back to look Kagome in the eyes — the vanilla bean that swirled around her scent was breathtaking.

"I love you, koi."

She smiled and tugged him up to press her lips against his. "I love you, too."

Sesshomaru paused, deep in thought, and a wicked grin spread over his face, displaying his sharp fangs.

"This One will ensure you are more careful now. You are far too clumsy for your own good," he murmured. The spark of mischief in his eyes and the amusement laced through his tone were unmistakeable. "This One will keep you on this futon. To rest. The pup must be kept safe, koi."

"Rest," Kagome snorted, but complied as his lips began traveling her neck. "Right. I'm sure that's what you're thinking of."

Sesshomaru chuckled, rumbling out a short "hn" as he descended on her — there was absolutely no denying her accusation.