A/N: There it is. The end. It only took 3 years but it is finally over. I can't thank you all enough for waiting, for reading and for reviewing. Thank you for the awards and thank you for giving me the strength to reach the end. It was one heck of a ride and I'm glad you were all there to share it with me. Thank you for letting me get this plot bunny out and I hope you had fun reading. I hope to see you all in new stories and if not, thank you for being part of this journey!

Chun: Beginning

Firangi

Epilogue: Chun

Red smoke filled the vicinity, filling the lungs of everyone who stood near the vicinity of the fire. All their heads hung low, the lips sealed while they paid respect to their great leader for the last time. The reconstruction of the village began many moons ago and it was nowhere near being completely. However, their esteemed leader could no longer lead them into prosperity. During the night, he gave away his last breathe and past away in his sleep. Most people whispered that he died of a broken heart and that the organ could no longer sustained him. He lived long enough to assure that his people were actually safe from danger. The enemy was truly gone and he could leave in peace.

He had sons who could take after him. He was allowed to depart from this world and join his wives into the next.

Totosai hummed a song of respect for their chief while swirling around a long wooden stick with a string of red fabric attached to it, swinging in the wind. His eyes were locked on Inutaisho's body as Inuyasha and Sesshomaru continued wrapping him. They were rolling his body in furs, and would not stop until all that could be seen was his head. He was chief, he deserved respect and gifts for his next life. The two sons were quiet as they rolled away their Father, hiding him forever. Once it was completed, Inuyasha was the first to pull away. The next part of the ritual had to be completed by the chief to be; Sesshomaru. He remained kneeling at his Father's side, a corn hidden in his palm. He used his fingers to pry open his Father's mouth and shoved it inside. Sustenance for the next life. He would have something to offer once his soul was free.

Then, he stretched out his arm toward the fire. Inside of it was a rock. It had been carved with the symbol of their tribe, waiting in the fire for him to pick it up. He braced himself for the pain as he took it out and then, as per the tradition dictated, he pressed it to his Father's forehead. He felt the rock burn his flesh, the scent disgusting but he remained as he was. It was also burning his own skin but he ignored it; he did not even wince in pain. It would be an insult to his Father. Once he was sure the imprint was there to stay, he took away the rock and put it on his Father's fur covered chest. His Father could finally leave. He rose to his feet and backed away from the body.

"Our fierce leader is about to join his wives into the sky. He will be with the kamis and he shall be pleased for he was a fair chief."

The wind blew through Inuyasha's white fabric, the one wrapped around its waist. It was silky and soft and embroidered with shiny jewels; a proper outfit for the death of a King. Inuyasha crossed his arms over his chest, hiding his scar from view. It never healed properly because of the extent of the injuries. There was a permanent hole in his chest, forcing him to round his back and walk like he was crippled. But he was alive. At least, that was what his Father kept telling him whenever he complained about it. Nobody would want him as a mate; he was broken, he was not strong enough. He used to be - hence why he survived, but he could no longer offer a proper protection. Not to a mate, not to pup. He was doomed to live a life alone.

"Inutaisho refused to take another mate and there were no other sisters left to replace his wife. He will be leaving alone. They are waiting for him, waiting to bring him peace." He reached into a brown pottery vase beside him and grabbed a handful of dust that was inside. He then tossed the golden dust unto the body, covering it and causing it to glitter through the sun's rays. "He was kind, he saved us. He might have left us but he did not doom us. Through his loss we gain another leader; his elsdest son."

That was Sesshomaru's cue.

A leader's funeral was never just a funeral; it came with the crowning of a new chief. Him.

He took a step forward and then another, and another until he was standing between Totosai and his Father's remains. He kneeled to the ground in front of the High Priest, his white cloth dusting off some of the sand surrounding him, and he closed his eyes.

"Our new leader as proved himself already. He regained strength, he retrieved what we thought could never be retrieved. He fought a war for us, he protected our people. And he shall lead us into prosperity."

Totosai grabbed the same dust as before he tossed it upon Sesshomaru's silver strands of hair. The golden dust mixed with the black beads hanging from this tresses, contrasting with their darkness. "We welcome him and accept him as our chief."

"We welcome him and accept him as our chief," everyone repeated in unison.

The High Priest bent down again and grabbed another vase. That one was made of pale wood and was much larger than the other. He lifted it up from the ground using both of his arms and hung it above Sesshomaru's head. It casted a shadow upon his face, hiding the brown beads encrusted into the flesh of his cheeks. "Bask in the blood of our enemy." And then, he tilted the vase and a dark, clotted liquid poured over Sesshomaru's bed, coating his hair red.

After the death of the monster, they kept him. They dismembered his body, they tore it apart and collected his blood. It was intended for a feast, for the renewal of their village. However, his Father passed away before that could be completed. They found a new, more urgent use of the blood; Sesshomaru's crowning. He began his reign with the death of their enemy and the promise to never let anyone hurt his people that way ever again. It was a promise rotted in blood and it would last forever.

Once the vase was half empty, Totosai straightened it back up. "We also have someone else to welcome. The Alpha bitch."

And that was Kagome's cue.

Her feet were bare but her ankles were laced with golden ribbons that wrapped around her flesh all the way to her knees. A white drape was laced around her waist, covering her stomach up to beneath her breasts. Necklaces covered part of her chest but not enough. They shook with every step she took, creating a mirage of colors, almost like a rainbow. Her long black hair was braided and swung over her shoulder. Pearls were glued to her forehead, starting in the middle and going all the way to the tip of her nose. She advanced forward but instead of going towards the Priest, she went towards Inuyasha. She turned her head and look at the child in her arms.

The little girl smiled lifting her tiny arms to try and steal the jewels on her mother's face. A tiny tuff of black locks decorated the top of her head while amber eyes shone deeply with amusement. Kagome's smile grew as she rocked the naked pup in her arms. "Hold Rin," she said as she gave her daughter to Inuyasha. He nodded and carefully tucked the child in his own arms.

Once she confirmed the safety of her child, she went to Sesshomaru's location and kneeled by his side. A daughter. Everyone was surprised; everyone expected a boy. But she did not care. She knew it was important to have an heir, she knew a girl could not take over - though her mate could. Regardless, Rin was her personal miracle. The child that should have never been but was and there were no greater gift. The Kamis allowed her to have a child and if she was female, there was a reason for that. And there would be more children - because she could. She could have them. She was no longer barren or broken. And there was no longer a threat looming over their heads.

As soon as her daughter was born, Kagome knew what to name her. She was not certain how Sesshomaru would feel about it but he never argued with her about it. Rin fitted. It was a way to keep her sister's soul with them. It was even possible that it was Rin herself. Her soul might have found another way to travel. Kagome could not explain it but since the first time she looked into her child's eyes she knew; She was Rin.

"We welcome a strong Alpha bitch by our Chief's side. She killed the beast, she rescued us and she has given the tribe a female heir." He moved the vase so that it was above her head instead of Sesshomaru's. "She shall honor us and give the tribe more heir, more children and more prosperity. She unites two tribes and she brings people together."

Her Father was there, standing in front of all his people. This was it; the true unification of their tribes. His daughter was a leader and Inutaisho's son was the chief. The pup born from the two of them held the blood of both side. Nobody could deny their link, nobody could say that one side mattered less than the other. They were one tribe and would be that way forever. It was too late to overthrow it, too late to change it. His daughter did achieve more than he ever thought she could. She was the last one, the weak one, the one who fought him on everything and now, she was the Chief's mate.

"Here is our new alpha bitch." With those words pronounced, Totosai dropped the rest of the blood upon her head, coating her head and her skin with the vile deep red liquid. She remained there, her eyes closed, while Sesshomaru reached out for her hand and intertwined their fingers.

Once it was completed, Totosai put the vase back on the ground. "It is complete."

He took a branch out of the fire and tossed it upon Inutaisho's body, lighting it on fire. Sesshomaru and Kagome got back on their feet and stared at the flames. He was free and he would join his wives into the sky. It was done for him. Now, Sesshomaru held the power and he had to protect his people. He knew one thing; he would be a better leader than the ones that came before his Father. He would not destroy people mindlessly without thinking of the consequences. He refused to let other generations pay for his mistakes. The massacre that happened would never take place again. That monster might have been out of its mind but he would not take any chances.

People began to scatter around, heading towards the feast that followed his newly acquired title. He remained there with Kagome by his side. He heard his brother's quiet footsteps as he joined the couple. Rin was asleep in his arms, carefully tucked against his chest.

"Thank you," Kagome whispered as she carefully retrieved her daughter.

"So, when can we expect another girl?" he teased.

Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed. "Watch your mouth."

"You seem good at producing them, brother."

Kagome shook her head before moving herself between the brothers. Their relationship was better. It would never be great, it would never be what it was but they could speak with one and another. Inuyasha saved her life and Sesshomaru owed him. Also, now that their Father was gone it was simply the two of them. If something happened to Sesshomaru or their child, it would all fall upon Inuyasha's shoulders. Also, Sesshomaru respected his strength; despite the injury, he survived. He pulled through and he lived. Even if he was weaker than before. Kagome did try to heal him once the fight was over but all she managed to do was repair some of it. She did not control it perfectly - but it did save him.

She had hope that one day, she would fix him completely.

"Join the others," he barked as he gestured towards the table.

"Yes, Chief."

Sesshomaru ignored the lack of his respect in his brother's voice and focused his attention on his child. He was absolutely convinced she would have been a boy. Then again, when was the last time things went the way he expected them to? He did not mind. Kagome was female and she was the one who took down the monster. She had a hidden strength nobody had ever seen; not even him. She was not the wild weak thing he met a long time ago. She was a strong alpha bitch, one who bore him a strong child - he had no doubt. Plus, things were easier now that her language skills were better. He worked with her and they managed to expand her vocabulary greatly. She used those skills to teach her own people this new language. It was a slow process but it was working.

Her father would not be alive forever and his own was dead. Byakuya was the only one left who spoke the neutral language.

"No fear," she began, her voice less shaky than before. "He feels like a boy."

He arched a silver eyebrow, his mouth twisted as he looked at her, searching for an answer. What did she mean?

She smiled as she nuzzled Rin's face with her nose. "He feels like a boy."

He stared at her face, watching the sparkle in her eyes and then dared to lower his eyes to Rin's face. She was asleep and she was very much a she. Unless she meant…and his eyes went lower. He dropped to the ground, his knees absorbing the whole shock. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pushed his nose to her stomach. Yes. She was with pup. Again. Sesshomaru tilted his head and looked at her.

"I was not sure," she grinned.

"This one will be a boy," he confirmed.

He pressed his lips to her stomach and her smile grew in size.

Despite all the deaths, all the losses, life was possible. They would fix, they would create and take relief into this world of peace. It did not have to be darkness all the time; sometimes, the light breached through. There was no weight on her heart, no pain swirling inside of her chest. She was no longer stuck in her nightmare, and she was holding her child in her arms and carrying another one in her stomach.

And there was her mate, right by her side.

The one she thought she would hate forever.

The one who became her family and allowed her to finally be herself.

This was the freedom she dreamed of all those years.

-The End-