Laughter could be heard from Kagome's village in the East. Shippo was performing some of his demon tricks in the field for the children before dark. Kagome and Mine boiled herbs in their hut while Sango helped her son, Taro, climb around Goshinboku as Dai, her daughter, picked flowers. Inuyasha and Miroku sat around a fire drinking tea and resting after a long day of exterminating demons from neighboring towns. In the Northern lands Kouga, Ayame, and their daughter, Haruko, treated the clansmen that were attacked by the birds of paradise earlier in the afternoon. To the South, Yasuo and Kanaye continued training as demon slayers in order to perfect their fighting, and learn as much as they could about the many different demons inhabiting the area. As the sun set behind the mountains of the Western lands, the wind gently kissed the leaves of the forest where Sesshoumaru's castle reigned. Rin and Kohaku lived on the northern edge of the forest in a tiny village; they worked as the towns' healer and protector. Between Rin and Kohaku's village and Sesshoumaru's palace, a cottage stood in the middle of a clearing hidden from the outside world.
"Where are you? The pond is not that far you should have been back by now." Sesshoumaru turned toward the West and watched the day turn into dusk. He heard her coming moments before she appeared through the trees.
"This should last us until we leave for Kohaku and Rin's." Placing the water jugs to the side of the hut, Sutefanii walked over to her husband and laced her arm around his elbow and held onto it.
"We leave the day after tomorrow, correct?"
"Yes, Sesshoumaru."
"Then I'll have time to go back to the palace before we head out."
"Why are you going back?"
"I have a gift for Rin and the child."
"But the baby is not due for another six months."
Looking at his wife sternly "It will be an early gift."
Sutefanii smiled and looked back to the mountains as they swallowed what was left of the sun. Naraku had been dead for nearly ten years. After Inuyasha and Kagome disappeared with The Bone Eaters Well, everyone thought the worst since it took them three days to return. Once the Well materialized and Inuyasha jumped out with Kagome in his arms, the threat was finally over and the friends could live peacefully with their families.
"I love you, very much" Sesshoumaru moved his arm around Sutefanii's waist pulling her close him.
"I wont let the others know, don't worry" she teased and gazed at him with the sapphire blue eyes that always took his breath away.
Letting his desires take over, Sesshoumaru kissed Sutefanii, lightly at first, but then more aggressively as her passion for him fueled his hunger. Within the safety of the clearing, the two made love under the stars.
"Cursed half-demon and his miko. Killing life's most precious gem and it's worthy master. The jewel rejected the horrid priestess from the past, that is why she is dead" the silver witch let out a sigh "No matter, Gin will fix this mess. Now that she has found all of the components to her spell, she will bring the gem and it's mater back from the world beyond!" Gin cackled evilly as she threw the purified dirt from the bottom of The Bone Eaters Well into the mixture steaming from her cauldron. Releasing a pink light with purple hues into the air, the bubbling concoction overflowed shattering the pot. Lying on the ground where the flames of the fire danced, lay a familiar creature with the mark of a spider burned into his back.