Disclaimer: "Inuyasha", its characters, series plots, etc. do not belong to me.

Author's note (26.10.2009): I've revised the prior chapters of some grammatical and lexical errors, so please reread those when you have the time or desire. Hopefully it will improve your reading experience and your impressions of my skills…har har, if only people thought well of my writing.

To quickly explain the significance of everyone's names:

Sesshoumaru: 'killing perfection'
Takuya: 'eminent one'

Rin: 'companion' or 'little flower'
Keirin: 'beautiful forest'

Souta: 'tall grass'
Kusa: 'grass'

Chisato: 'great distance'
Sen: 'thousand', one of the characters that make Chisato

Jaken: 'evil point of view/unkind/hard-hearted'
Warukuchi: 'evil words/slander/evil speaking'

So this is the final part of "Promise." I hope that everyone enjoyed reading my take on the Inuyasha universe, specifically Rin and Sesshoumaru's unique relationship. Thank you everyone for your comments and suggestions: they were immensely helpful. So, I dedicate this final part to those who read through this story to its ends and have supported it through and through.

Thank you all and happy reading!


Promise
Epilogue


A third-year senior high student with shoulder-length brown hair chatted with her two friends merrily as they prepared to go home for the afternoon. As three girls went on with their lively conversation, a girl with long curly locks glared at them from five meters away. When the three chatting girls made eye contact with the girl with long curly locks, the long-locked girl turned her nose up into the air and walked to another part of the classroom in a snit. Naoko, one of the girls standing and chatting, sighed and said, "So I've noticed that Asami-chan hasn't joined us for anything for the last four weeks." She gave Chisato, the seated girl with the shoulder-length hair, a bleak smile. "I'm guessing that she still hasn't forgiven you yet, huh?"

"Oh, she'll get over it eventually," Miki chuckled while brushing a hand through her thick ponytail, her being the other student standing and chatting. "After all, Higurashi-kun was the one who asked Chisato-kun out. She can't stay mad at you if he's the one who picked you." The tall, star volleyball player sighed tiredly, "I'm just glad that you two finally got together, even if it is near the end of our last year of senior high."

"I know what you mean," Naoko agreed with Miki with a wry grin as she adjusted her glasses. "Their feelings have been obvious from day one; you'd think that they would have noticed during our first year."

Chisato blushed and smiled sheepishly at her friends' subtle encouragement. It had taken Souta and Chisato two agonizingly slow years to finally publicly admit their feelings and begin a dating relationship, and throughout that time their friends had been pushing them closer together. After all of the hardships that the couple went through, simply thinking about their present relational bliss made Chisato grin foolishly. However, Chisato's face quickly sobered when she noticed Asami watching their group from the distance. "I hope that she'll come rejoin us soon," the young lady whispered. "It's not the same without her."

"Oh, she's just cranky. Leave her alone and she'll come around," Miki assured lightheartedly. "In the end, she'll fall in love with another boy, and she'll realize that being mad over this is just silly."

"Hey, where is Kei-chan?" Naoko looked left and right and around the classroom. She noticed the schoolbag missing at Keirin's desk. "Don't tell me she left already."

"Ah, she had something to do immediately after school," Chisato remembered as she zipped up her own bag and stood up from her desk.

Naoko led the three of them out the door. While she headed the group to the shoe lockers, the spectacled girl asked, "She went on a date again, didn't she? With that Tsukishiro guy?"

"What is that about?" Miki questioned as she switched her indoor shoes for her outdoor ones. "I've wanted to know for the last two years but could never get a question in. If I remember correctly, she just met Tsukishiro-san one day at Higurashi-kun's temple. And from then on, they've been spending whatever time they have together. Kei-chan tells me that this guy isn't her boyfriend, but what else do you call a guy that you've been seriously dating for two years?"

"He's kind of sketchy, that Tsukishiro Takuya-san," Naoko whispered to her two friends while the three girls stepped out onto the school grounds. "According to all of the magazine profiles and internet blogs, he's eight years older than Kei-chan and he has a dangerous reputation in the business world."

Indeed, Tsukishiro Takuya was famous throughout Japan for his cold demeanor and lack of a human heart. In the last five years, he had forced five rival companies to shut down, merged two competitors into his own company's ranks, and changed the interior workings of Japanese business. Granted, Tsukishiro had given more people jobs due to his hostile takeovers and had cleansed a corrupted system; but still he had heartlessly forced a number of top executives to an early retirement. Everyone in business knew the handsome, expressionless face of Tsukishiro Takuya and his demonic, cut-throat management style. Respectably, his name was never scandalously attached to any other female, famous or not. But that was simply because no one had the guts to make up a story about Tsukishiro Corporation's shining star or even interview him to confirm any existing rumors.

"I'm surprised that Kei-chan would want to be with a man like him," Naoko shook her head, pushing up the bridge of her glasses. "I thought nice, quiet boys like Higurashi-kun and Kabuto-kun were more her style."

"Eh, she's always been the type to go after older, mature men," Miki grinned knowingly. "I'm simply surprised that Chisato-kun and Higurashi-kun aren't against the match," she remarked with a nudge towards her shorter friend.

"What is there to be against?" Chisato smiled. "Rin and Tsukishiro-san aren't dating—they're just together."

Naoko and Miki traded speaking looks and then turned their attentions on Chisato. "He takes her out to eat, doesn't he?"

"Yes."

"He treats her on his or her days off…they go to amusement parks, overnight trips, and things like that, right?"

"A few times," Chisato admitted.

"She gives him something on Valentine's Day and he gives back on White Day, yeah?"

"Yes, but—"

"She's even slept over at his place more than once, ne?"

"It was too late to return her home…"

Holding up their hands to stop Chisato from responding, Miki and Naoko said in unison, "They're dating."

"They aren't dating," Chisato assured with a deep sigh. "I know that's how it seems, but they don't regard each other as boyfriend and girlfriend. It's a complicated relationship that no one but Rin and Tsukishiro-san understand." Indeed, even if Chisato and Souta knew about Keirin's previous incarnate and her relationship to the dog demon Sesshoumaru, they could not explain to others the connection between Takuya and Keirin—even Keirin's two best friends could not understand the complexity of that relationship.

A promise that transcends time and life and death. Eighteen-year old Chisato could not help but to sigh at the thought. She wondered how Keirin and Takuya would keep the vow to remain with each other forever in today's society. Well, if she can keep a promise to reincarnate and be by his side forever, and if he can manage to find her here after hundreds of years, then anything is possible with those two. I have faith that they'll achieve their desires.

Pulling ahead of her two friends, Chisato exclaimed, "Let's go to that café next to the station!" She ran down the sidewalk as fast as she could. "Last one there treats everyone!"

Panicked by Chisato's deal, Miki and Naoko shouted while chasing after her, "Hey, wait for us!"


Dressed in a sable suit with a wine-red shirt and white tie, a tall young man walked ahead while an eighteen-year old girl merrily followed several feet behind him. "Takuya-sama," her sweet voice called out.

A deep voice sternly scolded, "I told you to stop calling me that," while the man turned to face the younger girl. He waited for her to catch up, only continuing when she strolled right beside him.

"But it's so fitting," Keirin teased as she took his large hand into her smaller one. "Besides I'm the only one that calls you that. Everyone else calls you Tsukishiro-shachou or Tsukishiro-san. Ne, or if people are really nervous like Warukuchi-san, then they'll call you Tsukishiro-sama." She knew that it was not nice, but Keirin could not help but to laugh at Takuya's newest personal aide. Although a good worker, Warukuchi was known to mutter insults and complaints about Takuya beneath his breath, only to freeze up under his employer's icy stare and to shrivel up and cower in absolute submission. He was a funny, frazzled man, lanky and awkward and overconfident, who reminded Keirin of someone else much shorter… "But see? No one else calls you Takuya-sama like I do."

No one else has permission to use my first name.

Seeing the futility in pushing for his point, Takuya yielded to Keirin's insistence and moved on silently. The couple walked down the street a little longer, giving side glances to show windows here and there. After passing three boutiques, Keirin quietly asked, "Do you not really like it?"

Dark-haired Takuya turned away from her, a sign that he felt embarrassed. "Only in public: I don't want others thinking oddly of our relationship."

Keirin fought back a giggle, knowing that the twenty-six-year old would not appreciate her thinking him cute. Instead she asked him, "Ne, when has Takuya-sama ever cared about what others think?"

Only when they're thinking about you—but he would never admit that out loud. The company president changed the subject, inquiring, "When will you be done with classes?"

"We'll be graduating next month," was the instant answer. Keirin knew what Takuya was doing, and she let him get away with it. As compensation, she swung their joined hands back and forth: an action that the man did not usually permit in public. "After graduation, I'll be moving out of my house and attending Tokyo University." She paused for a moment in front of a shop window to admire Takuya's newest gift to her: a new light cream dress with a spring green jacket on top. Takuya had bought this outfit for her on a whim, having seen it in a boutique window and thinking it suited Keirin.

He's always doing things like that…like when he bought me a cell phone only after knowing me for two days. Ah, now that was a memory to smile at. At that time, Takuya and Keirin had only known each other for two days; and when he had found out that she had lost her phone during her stay in Feudal Japan, the company president had immediately purchased a phone for her to use. Takuya could not put up with the idea of being unable to contact Keirin when he so desired. Ne, it looks like he's spoiling me…but he's actually spoiling himself when he takes care of other people. But that's one of the great things about him.

"Congratulations on being accepted," Takuya said with a slight upward curve of his mouth: invisible to most eyes, but blatant to Keirin. He gave her hand an extra squeeze so she knew just exactly how happy he was for her.

"Ne, I had Takuya-sama's help," the young lady reminded gleefully. "I don't think I would have passed the entrance exams if you hadn't helped me study." Indeed, anyone could have passed Tokyo University's entrance exam after going through Takuya's intensive week-long educational boot camp. Keirin had almost died during that time but felt grateful that Takuya had taken time out of his busy schedule to tutor her. His employees had been unhappy about his impromptu "vacation," especially when they were in the final stages of completing a major account; Warukuchi-san had thrown a fit every day that week. But their president never took vacations, so no one could muster the courage to tell him he should not leave then. Instead, most had done what Warukuchi-san had done, which was to tearfully and unwillingly wish Takuya a relaxing time out of the office.

Everyone may be scared of him, but they sure do depend on him. Poor Takuya-sama, always responsible for so many people—heh, he really is a softie!

When Keirin smiled with a carefree spirit, Takuya felt relieved. Pleased that she did not hold bitter feelings against him for the brutal studying sessions he had forced her through, he told Keirin, "I'll treat you when I return from my business trip."

Ah, he said that he would be leaving today for the mainland, the young lady remembered. "How long will you be gone this time, Takuya-sama?"

"Seven days."

Her heart fell with the number. "So long?"

"It's a little longer than usual because of an engagement meeting my parents planned," Takuya explained with a straight face. The young company president wondered how his companion would take this news. There were only two possible outcomes, both unfavorable for him.

"Oh, an engagement meeting…" Predictably Keirin dropped his hand from hers and walked a bit further ahead.

"Rin."

Takuya rarely called her name, and for him to use his term for endearment for her meant he was serious. Keirin turned to face him at his command, a smile still plastered across her face. However, Takuya knew better than to believe that bright grin. He knew very well that inside Keirin was trying to keep her tears at bay.

"Come here."

Wordlessly Keirin returned to his side. When she stood close enough, Takuya wrapped his powerful arms around her and held her close. "Don't be like that," he whispered into her ear.

The girl's face buried into his shirt, he felt the vibrations ask, "What do you mean?"

"I'm not going anywhere," Takuya promised her with his deep voice. "And you're not leaving me anytime soon. So don't worry."

Ah, he saw through me, like always. Pulling away from him slightly to stare up at him, Keirin started, "But you'll need to marry a proper lady soon, yes? The president of the Tsukishiro Corporation needs a strong, beautiful lady as a wife by his side, right? I remember Tsukishiro-san speaking about that at the last party."

She heard Chichi-ue say that? The young man felt his anger flare at the audacity of his father to say such things in front of Keirin. And now she had some sort of silly notion deeply rooted in her mind...

"Ne, Takuya-sama can't afford to stay close to me—I'll only bring you more trouble and greater burdens. I can't be selfish by demanding for more of your precious time. You'll have to spend a lot of time with your wife when you marry." To say it out loud gave Keirin a restless feeling as well as depression. It took her sixteen years to find her Takuya-sama, and since then she had not gone longer than two days without him by her side. She could not imagine how she would live when he finally married.

Hoping to disguise her anxiety and unhappiness, she prattled on, "Already people don't understand our relationship and give Takuya-sama so much grief over it. And life will become even more difficult for Takuya-sama if you're engaged and I'm still by your side. You can't be seen spending time with two women, and since I won't be engaged to you, I will have to surrender Takuya-sama to your fiancée. It's only right, after all. And then—"

"Rin."

"—I wouldn't be able to—"

"Rin."

She stopped to stare.

"I'm not getting married."

"But—"

"I'm not getting married." Takuya looked down at Keirin, his stern eyes daring her to challenge his statement.

The tenderness of her gaze marked her surrender. But she still inquired, "Won't you become lonely?" Won't you be lonely if you don't have a proper woman with you? You can't possibly want to live alone without a family of your own.

"Why would I be lonely when I have you with me? You're staying with me, aren't you?" The man frowned when he did not hear an immediate reply. At the hint of a changing tone in his voice and the slight furrow of Takuya's dark brows, Keirin knew that he was frustrated with her. But his frustration melted away as his strong arms tightened around her and he sighed into her long, dark hair. "Rin, when I asked you to stay by my side two years ago, I meant it both ways. I want you to forever be with me; and in turn, I will forever remain with you. Isn't that our purpose together?"

Isn't that what you swore as your last incarnate and I as mine?

"Are you sure?" Keirin whispered. "Is it okay to stay like this? Won't your parents be angry?" She gazed at him through her warm chocolate eyes. "Will we be able to stay together like this?"

To give Keirin enduring assurance, Takuya kissed her on her crown and rested his forehead against hers.

"Promise."

The End