Epilogue
Never look back
The heir of the West had been born. This kind of a glorious event had made Inuyasha's old friends gather up at the palace of the West. Miroku and Sango of course attended, with all 6 of their children. Rin and Kohaku and their two-year old son were there as well. Yoruko was really proud of her little prince and Inuyasha's boasting had never been as bad.
The Western palace had changed, under the watchful eye of their new lord. Sesshoumaru's mother, Naoko, hadn't been thrown out of the palace but nowadays the dog demoness barely ever got out of her room. Mitsuko's years had finally caught up with her and the gentle grandmother was almost completely tied to her bed. She was still alive but weak and weary.
The palace was bright and full of excited, happy people anxiously waiting the big event tomorrow. The day on which the heir was to be presented to his people. That was why everyone was gathered here. All the people important to Inuyasha had arrived. Yoruko's father was there as well, as were a number of western nobles.
The dog demon guard Takumi, in the past known as the guardian of Kagome-sama, nowadays a mate of the former concubine Rei, was on the main gates of the Western palace. He had been put to a guard duty; however he was distracted by the pup. Shiori, a daughter of Sesshoumaru and now late member of the concubines, was being taken care of by Rei and her mate. She was the same as always, cheerful, enthusiastic and sweet.
"Ne, ne, ne, Uncle Takumi! Let's play."
"I can't play with you now, Shiori-chan. I'm working."
"But me wants to play!" the pup pouted. "Besides Uncle is only standing there."
"Uncle isn't just standing", Takumi countered. "I'm guarding the gates."
"Why?"
"What do you mean why?"
"Are there bad men coming here?"
"No, that's not – "
"Are those two over there the bad men?"
Takumi frowned and raised his gaze.
There were two travellers, obviously heading to the palace. They were dressed in peasant-clothes. They were still so far away that Takumi could only make out that one of them was quite tall and the other was slightly plump.
Then Shiori suddenly screamed and bolted forward.
"No! Shiori!"
Takumi watched hopelessly as the little girl ran towards the strangers in a silver flash. A curse slipped from his lips as he ran after the little one.
The travellers had stopped. The plump one had kneeled down onto the dusty road and was now opening her arms in an invitation.
With a joyful squeal the puppy bounced and landed into the stranger's arms in quite a force, nearly knocking her over.
"Careful", said the taller with a little growl.
And that's when Takumi stopped dead on his tracks.
It couldn't be...
"Me knew that Pretty Lady would come back with Sesshoumaru-daddy!"
The woman let out a gentle laughter as she carefully got up, still holding the pup in her arms. She finally looked at Takumi.
"It's been a while, hasn't it?"
Takumi paled and immediately fell down on his knees.
"Now now, Takumi-dear, that is unnecessary."
"Milord, milady, welcome back."
"I am no longer a lord, as you should know", said the demon quietly.
Takumi raised his head and looked at Sesshoumaru. The taiyoukai hadn't changed a bit. The same, however, couldn't be said about Kagome. The miko had clearly gained weight.
Shiori seemed also have noticed that.
"Why is Kagome-Lady's tummy grown?"
This innocent question resulted in Kagome laughing again, while Takumi hissed sharply.
"Shiori! That is not polite..."
"My tummy will grow a whole lot more as the weeks pass, Shiori-chan", told Kagome cheerfully.
Takumi's eyes widened and he looked from Kagome to Sesshoumaru.
Sesshoumaru gave a quiet nod to answer the question never asked.
Takumi started to smile.
"That is great news. Congratulations, Sesshoumaru-sama, Kagome-sama."
Kagome answered the guard's smile with her own.
"Me does not understand", Shiori pouted.
"Come here now, you", Takumi said, picking Shiori into his own arms. "Let's not put unnecessary strain on Lady Kagome. After all, she'll be having a pup."
"Really?! Will Kagome-Lady have a pup? Why didn't she tell Shiori that?"
Kagome laughed again and patted Shiori's head.
"Don't worry about that dear. Now, how have you been?"
"Me is great! Me lives with Auntie Rei and Uncle Takumi now."
"I'm glad to hear that."
They started to make their way to the palace, catching up at the same time.
"Rei!"
The cat-demon startled as she was pulled into a hug.
"Kagome-sama! What are you doing here?"
"What a silly question is that? Of course we need to attend the ceremony tomorrow. After all, the prince is Sesshoumaru's nephew."
"But I haven't heard of you coming... Haven't you told the lord..?"
"We decided to surprise Inuyasha", Kagome beamed.
"Dear, do you know where the Lord is?" asked Takumi, putting Shiori down.
"He is in the gardens, all of them are."
"That is good. Would you please guide us there, Rei?"
"Why of course. This way, please."
Odd nostalgia hit Sesshoumaru as he walked along the familiar corridors after the cat-demon. A small hand tugged his. He glanced to the side and saw Kagome smiling at him. He flashed a quick smile back as he let his fingers intertwine with hers.
Rei slid a door open and bowed a little as the two of them stepped through, into the garden.
There was a bunch of people cheerily chatting under the blossoming cherry-trees. Everyone was there. Inuyasha, Yoruko, holding her small son, Miroku and Sango, Kohaku and Rin. Children were playing near them, next to a pond.
Kagome and Sesshoumaru began to cross the emerald green grass.
A sudden shriek of surprise.
Rin, dressed in a red kimono, shot up from her seat. The others turned in surprise to see what had caused this sudden outburst.
Rin was crying, as she picked up the hem of her kimono and rushed over to them. She was a crying, trembling mess as she threw herself into Sesshoumaru's arms, clinging to his strong form.
Sesshoumaru wound his arms protectively around the human girl's body.
"Sesshoumaru-sama! I missed you", the girl sobbed.
"All is well, Rin", he assured in his deep voice.
And then the rest of them were getting up as well, startled and surprised.
"Sesshoumaru!"
"Kagome!"
Soon the couple was surrounded by people.
"Please", said Kagome, "let us all sit down. To be honest, my feet already hurt a bit."
Sango hustled Kagome to sit down.
Inuyasha sniffed and his eyes widened.
"Kagome!"
"Yes, Inuyasha?" was the miko's calm reply.
"You- You're –!"
"I'm pregnant, yes."
"EH?!"
"Wow, Kagome, that's great!"
"Congratulations, both of you!"
"How did he ever let you travel?"
Sesshoumaru huffed.
"He didn't like it at all", Kagome confessed, glancing at Sesshoumaru. "However, he had no choice. Either he'd take me along with him, or leave me home alone."
Rin let out a small giggle, through her tears.
"We haven't seen you for ages", Sango complained as she wound her arms around Kagome's shoulders.
"I know and I'm sorry about that."
"We still do not know how you ended up being with Sesshoumaru", Miroku reminded, leaning back to settle himself comfortably against a tree-trunk.
"That's true!" Sango exclaimed. "What on Earth happened to you after the War of Shikon? You disappeared so suddenly."
Kagome lowered her gaze and took a deep breath.
Sesshoumaru got lost into his own thoughts as Kagome told her friends about her adventures after the War of Shikon.
He could not deny that it did feel odd, sitting here in the garden he knew so well. This garden had always been one of his favourite spots in this palace. This had been his hiding spot. And everyone was here now. His half brother and his old gang of friends. Kagome was here. Yoruko was here. Rin and Kohaku... In a way it felt just like the old times. But still not, for everything had changed. Sesshoumaru finally fully realized that there was no way of getting back the past. However, thinking over it again, would he even want to get back his past? Would he seriously want to return to those days he had been suppressed under her mother's dominance, forced to rule over these lands he had never asked to be his burden...
No. He was fully satisfied in his life right now. There were only Kagome and him. And they were free. Granted, they didn't have a spacious palace where they lived. They didn't have such a fabulous garden as this. They did not have beautiful clothes like the ones all their friends were now wearing.
They had a small house on the root of a mountain. A beautiful lake was nearby, as was a forest. They did have a little garden. There even were a few cherry trees in their yard. They led a simple life. They travelled quite a lot. He helped villagers to get rid of tormenting demons while Kagome was specialized in healing. The two of them were very welcome in most of the villages in the north western area. Kagome took care of their little garden and the vegetables growing there and Sesshoumaru was responsible for hunting.
Their life was far from glorious... But the both of them were well satisfied with it. They were both, after all the obstacles, happy.
Sesshoumaru smiled to himself and concentrated back on listening to Kagome.
"I learned to know the true Sesshoumaru", Kagome said quietly, with a little smile. "The more I got to know about him the more I found I cared for him. He wasn't cold and emotionless killer. He was kind and loving. He truly cared for me."
"In fact, I had always been thinking Kagome would suit Sesshoumaru-sama well", confessed Rin.
"So that's what happened, eh?" Sango muttered out loud.
Yoruko stood up, cradling her son in her arms.
"Come, Sesshoumaru-sama, Kagome-sama. You've travelled a long way and I bet you are tired. I'll show you to your room personally and order the servants to bring you something to eat."
"That would be the most kind of you, Yoruko-san", Kagome replied politely.
"I really need to apologise my behaviour towards you, Kagome-sama", Yoruko said suddenly. She seemed to be a bit embarrassed.
"Forgive me", she beckoned as she bowed her head.
"I've never born any grudge towards you, Yoruko-san", Kagome said gently. "So please."
Yoruko straightened herself. She felt now that she could finally properly look Kagome in the eye.
"Sesshoumaru-sama", she softly stated, "would you want to hold him for awhile? He is your nephew after all. Family bonds are important to us inu youkais, as you know."
Sesshoumaru nodded. Yoruko quietly placed the sleeping prince into his awaiting arms.
The next day dawned. The shoji-door slid open and Rei stepped in.
Kagome stretched and sat up.
"Good morning, Rei."
"Good morning, Lady Kagome. Lord Sesshoumaru sent me to help you dress. He wishes you'll join his company at breakfast."
"Sheesh, why didn't he wake me up", the miko grumbled.
Rei hid her smile.
"Come now, Kagome-sama. We don't want you to be late."
"You mean any later than I already am?" was her witty response.
Rei smiled again. She had truly missed this miko.
A while later Kagome had got dressed with Rei's help and was now walking along the corridor, heading to the dining hall. She could already see the doors when she heard a quick, cheery "Thank you for the meal" from inside. Then the door opened and a kitsune pup stepped out. For a moment he froze, just staring at the woman before him wide-eyed.
Then he let out a shout.
"KAGOMEEEE!"
"Kyaaah", Kagome shrieked as she staggered backwards in her multilayered kimono for Shippo had launched himself at her with quite a force.
"I missed you so much!" the kit had tears in his eyes.
"Aww, Shippo." Kagome wound her arms around the kit and hugged him tightly.
"You look really pretty in that kimono", he said earnestly.
"Aww, thank you."
"Is it true that you're Sesshoumaru's mate now?"
"Yes."
"And you're waiting his child."
"Yes."
"Why him?"
Kagome smiled and looked at the kitsune boy closely. Then she simply said:
"Why not?"
"Are you happy with him?"
"Yes. Very happy."
"Well, I guess it can't be helped then."
Shippo hugged Kagome tight and then slid down.
"He's waiting you, you know. You should go. But promise you'll play with me later!"
"I promise."
Shippo smiled and turned to leave. Kagome watched his retreating form. He had grown, that child. Smiling to herself she walked into the dining hall.
The long awaited ceremony was over. The former lord Sesshoumaru's attendance with his chosen mate had been largely speculated by the Western nobles. Everyone had been keeping a close eye on Sesshoumaru's and his mate's intercourse with the reigning Lord and Lady. To their big surprise there did not seem to be any resentment or grudge. Instead the four of them seemed to come along just fine. The rumours of the hate between the great lord Inu no Taisho's siblings were now proved to be false. The nobles had also been rather curious to see the rumoured mate of former lord Sesshoumaru. Kagome, the miko of the Shikon, a mere human who had somehow caught the great taiyoukai's interest. She was dazzling in the blue-black multi-layered kimono as she stood by her mate's side. None of the demons present dared to scoff at her. They finally realised why this woman had been able to throw the life in the Western palace upside down. They understood why the former lord Sesshoumaru had lost his heart to this woman. Mortal, human and a miko, none of these mattered. There was none like Kagome.
Even though the nobles had gathered to the ceremony to greet their new prince, the real hot topic in the feast afterwards was the silent royal pair who once had reigned together over the great lands of the West, just to give all of it up. Such a giant leap to the unknown really required quite a lot of courage. Some of the demons present could still not understand how lord Sesshoumaru could have given up freely his right to rule. Why had he abandoned such a luxurious lifestyle and be satisfied, living like a mere peasant?
They would probably never understand why.
They had always led a life surrounded by glory. They could not see that Sesshoumaru only needed one thing to live happily ever after, and that one thing wasn't his lordship.
That one thing was standing by his side, smiling gently as she held the small prince in her arms. Her sapphire eyes glowed as she turned her gaze to meet up with the taiyoukai's golden stare. Her smile widened and she turned to Inuyasha and Yoruko, carefully placing the demon child into his mother's arms. She exchanged a few words with them, before stepping back to Sesshoumaru's side. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and she gratefully leaned lightly on him. She began to smile again as his clawed fingers gently brushed against her belly. She placed her hand upon his. Their fingers intertwined.
Their path together had just begun.
The End.What started as a mere crack evolved into something completely different and got out of hands, expanding and twisting further. It's time to close this story and fully concentrate on writing Tables Turned. Thank you for your attention and reviews. –bows-
Chie
Ps. For the impatient ones yearning for TT-update, I beg your patience. I'm about in the halfway of chapter nine, but since I recently moved to my own apartment I don't have internet connection. And I don't know when I will get one. So please bear with me.
Take care, everyone.
- Chie
