A/N: So I won't be updating any of my fics yet until January because all of us deserve a holiday break, :) Thanks for your reviews, and thanks for sparing a little amount of time from your hectic schedules to read this story. Happy holidays! :)
Epilogue
-Three Years Later-
Sesshomaru stood by the tombstone before him, silently offering a prayer to the spirit who came to him three years ago. How time flies. It only seemed as if it were yesterday when he had met with those three Christmas Spirits on that magical night. Ever since then he would offer his friend regular prayers, and he wondered if it had at least lightened his burden in the afterlife.
"Naraku-san, Merry Christmas." Kagome's voice said softly from beside him. She had probably finished with her own prayers. They bowed in respect and started their way downhill, leaving Naraku's grave lit with a candle and never out of flowers, since that Christmas night three years ago.
"What time is dinner at Inuyasha's?" Sesshomaru asked as he shifted his gaze to his blue-eyed wife, who met his warm regard with a spirit that was filled with life. Sesshomaru was genuinely happy, her light came back, and it blazed brightly, and he had been content standing by her warmth, these past three years.
"Seven," she answered, "And Haru and Shippo is staying in the common room for the night." She tilted her head as she pondered. "Rin said she was planning an all-nighter with Christmas specials and unhealthy food," she giggled, "of course, our two overgrown kids Souta and Inuyasha are in on the event."
Sesshomaru nodded. He would admit, ever since that fateful Christmas night, he never stayed late in his office anymore, the image of his tombstone a constant reminder of what would have happened had he continued his selfish ways.
Most of all, he never let Kagome alone in any airport. Wherever she would go, he was always there.
He smirked at the memory of two years ago when they met Dr. Hasegawa, who couldn't even make a move on his Kagome because her litigator husband was at her side, and she was wearing a ring on her finger, and she had their son in tow.
"What are you smirking about?" Kagome paused and looked up at him.
"I'm thinking, since Haru won't be sleeping with us tonight," Sesshomaru snaked his arm around her waist, "I get to have you alone-"
Kagome playfully pinched his cheeks, which were tinged pink from the cold winter air. "What are you talking about? You always get to have me 'alone,'" Kagome flushed, her pink cheeks turning red. "Every night, in fact," she mumbled, and Sesshomaru pulled her closer.
"Are you complaining?" he smirked, and she looked away, embarrassed.
"No."
"Then allow me to love you as you deserve," he hummed as he turned to her eagerly, dipping down to ask for a quick kiss. Kagome's blue eyes met his, and she smiled, complying.
It was exactly seven in the evening when they arrived in the house, and just right after they rang the doorbell, Inuyasha's door opened and they were tackled with an eager Haru and a welcoming Inuyasha and Kikyo. The house, it was not cold and empty anymore, for it was filled with laughter and stories and people, and love.
As they stepped inside, Sesshomaru paused to look up at the vast night sky. Snow was falling and all was peaceful, and he quietly offered a silent thanks.
"Koi," his Kagome's voice called out to him, and he turned to her, she was by the doorway waiting for him, her hand outstretched. With a smile he strode towards her and reached out, his hands warming hers, and they entered the home together and closed the door behind them.
From the gateway, a little child with flame-like blue hair smiled contentedly, and a giant with golden hair bellowed his jolly laughter.
"I never thought he'd realize," she said, and she turned to the giant.
"Hah!" the jolly man turned to a quiet grim reaper beside him, "He was a hard case indeed, but gloomy here was adamant that it'd work out. Who would have known?"
"Hmph," the spirit of Christmas Future slung his scythe over his shoulder and turned to walk away. "I only follow orders." He paused as he turned to the two. "Stop slacking. We still have a lot more work to do."
The two younger spirits grumbled as they gathered themselves for another long night. As the ghosts disappeared, the Spirit of Christmas Future took off his hood, dropping his concealment, his skeletal hands transforming to one in the prime of his youth, and his face revealed to be one of a very young man.
Endings, may it be by a simple change, signaled new beginnings,
and the young Spirit of Christmas future took a last look behind him, to the warm house he so proudly helped and he smiled.
"Merry Christmas," he said as he dissolved into a shimmer of light.
End
