Disclaimer: I do not own the Inuyasha characters, manga, anime, movies, etc. They belong by copyright laws to Rumiko Takahashi et al.
A Soul That Sees Hope
More than two years have now passed since the destruction of Naraku. Her sister's memory has been preserved and the clay body is at rest. A young group of warriors has settled in her village and she could not be more at peace.
They are her family. The grandchildren she was never able to have. With their disagreements and ways of ending arguments they have brought a life to the small village it had never before seen. There is harmony between the two races that inhabit Japan.
A young kitsune plays with human children until he is called away by his foster mother, also a human. Both are guarded by an inuhanyou. No one cares any longer that Inuyasha is a half demon. He protects and loves the Miko no Shikon, a young priestess from a strange land. And she in turn, loves and protects him. There are times when they argue and eventually Kagome's temper will get the best of her and a loud "thud" will echo, signaling the "sit" command has better uttered.
There are two more warriors who've made their permanent home in her village. A young Buddhist priest and his taijiya wife. She had believed them lost to her constant sight but at the end of their wedding trip or "honeymoon," as Kagome called it, they'd returned. Sango had been in tears and Miroku, bless his lecherous heart, had been close to them himself. The demon slayers' village they had planned to make home had too many memories for Sango to live there but she was still determined to restart the village with her brother's help. After she had the baby she now carried.
"You insensitive jerk!"
"Wait, Sango! I didn't mean…" She sighs and waits for the young woman to come to her. They both did when one of the boys upset one of the girls.
"Lady Kaede, may I come in?"
"Of course, child. What ails ye?"
"Miroku." At times like this Kaede merely let one of girls rant until she, whether it be Sango or Kagome, comes around to admitting their love for their chosen man and goes to make up with said male.
These past months have been difficult with Sango's violent mood swings but they were managing. "Patience, child. He's just an expectant father. Many women complain about their husbands being insensitive." Many were but she leaves that part out. Miroku was not such a husband.
"I know, I just….Err, I'm being unreasonable again, aren't I?" Seeing that common sense ruled once more, Kaede smiles.
"Maybe a bit." Shippou runs in then, pausing only to give Sango a hug and listen to the baby's heartbeat.
"They're coming!" They are the Lord and Lady of the Western Lands. None were more shocked than she to learn Sesshoumaru had a wife. She'd counseled the young lady for several weeks about her still born child and eventually her family saw the life in her eyes steadily increase to match the strength of her power. They've come to perform the Pack Ceremony. Inuyasha would finally become an official member of his brother's pack. And the others would become an official part of Inuyasha's. It would extend their lives dramatically but Kaede was prepared to watch them remain the same in her last years. She is by no means ready to join Kikyou in the afterlife but her "grandchildren" would not age by the time she was. That was fine though. Her soul sees hope for the future of her beloved land. With these young warriors to guard it through the ages, Kagome's time is assured. Her soul sees hope in the eyes of the young men and women around her. Her soul sees the hope brought about with the mating and marriage of a hanyou and miko.
Lady Maria steps in then, a smile on her lips and a light in her eyes. "Are you ready, Sango?"
"You're sure this won't hurt the babe?"
"Positive; I too was worried but my husband assures me it won't." A delicate hand is placed on the lady's stomach and Kaede's eye widens with knowledge.
"I see congratulations are in order."
"Then let's do it. Shippou, you're going to have to stop that now," Sango chuckles. The fox cub has gone back to listening to the baby's heartbeat.
"Aw, Sango."
"Later, you can do so again." Kaede and Maria help Sango rise and the three leave the hut, Shippou trailing.
"Why isn't Kagome with pup? She's mated now."
"Because, young one, she is still too young in her world. Her mother gave permission for Inuyasha to marry her on the condition she does not conceive until she is out of school."
"I want a brother or sister." Kaede smiles and nods.
"I know ye do, Shippou. Think though, with Sango and Miroku's child ye can practice being a big brother. By the time ye are one, ye will not make so many mistakes."
"True." Kaede laughs softly. Her soul sees hope in this kitsune and anticipation. He truly wants to be a brother.
"Can we get on with things? I promised Higurashi-okaasan Kagome would be back early."
"Patience, little brother." Sesshoumaru begins walking to the clearing that holds the Bone Eater's Well. This is where the ceremony will take place.
Kaede stands to one side, allowing the demon lord to proceed as he must. Out of all those gathered, he has changed the most. At the beginning of the Quest, the taiyoukai was hateful and scorned all things human. He disparaged his brother's birth and sought to kill him. Now he has a human mate, a human child, and a hanyou child on the way. Her soul sees this, and hopes for the future abounds. What wonderful things must happen.
Yes, Kaede thinks, her soul sees hope.