Wow, I'm done. 'Choices' is finally done!

My first multi-chapter fic; it's been an amazing journey.

I have so much to thank all my readers for.

I would like to especially thank those of you who have come back to reading 'Choices'. I cannot apologise enough for all the delays and drags in between, which I am sure, must have irked you all; I am truly sorry.

But, inspiration struck and here is the epilogue; I sincerely hope it is a fitting ending.

Please, leave a review if you are so inclined. They make my day, the reviews.

Choices

Epilogue

The scene was idyllic. Clear skies were interspersed with but wisps of cloud that formed patterns different to each eye that gazed up, pleasantly crinkled against the rays of the warm sun. The trees were laden with fruit, the branches bowing low under their weight and the children in the village smiled toothy grins at each other, smears of pulp around their mouths and their stomachs heavy with all that they had eaten. Even the elders had gathered for a bit of chat, sipping tea and reminiscing.

But high atop a mountain just a little farther away from the village, the scene was less than peaceful. A small-ish cave sat looking rather lonely and the grass around it was littered with swords, each in varying stages of completion. There were also a number of strange-looking tools, lying scattered by the swords. A rather large bull with three round eyes tossed it's head and moved restlessly from one patch of flowers to the next, unable to settle down. A wizened old youkai squatted by the tools, examining the swords one by one. He looked fine, but for a tick in his forehead that seemed to give away some kind of tension.

Suddenly, the bull grunted in annoyance and swatted its own back with its tail. "Momo," rasped the old youkai, "what's wrong?"

"Nothing; nothing to worry about!" came a muffled squeak from under the bull's tail, which was still pinned to its back.

Sighing, the youkai got up and went closer to his bull, saying, "You can let go now, Momo. It's alright."

With a movement that almost seemed like a shrug, the big bull let its tail swish back into place and a little flea wearing rather rumpled clothes hopped off the bull's body and landed gratefully onto the other youkai's outstretched hand.

"Toutousai! How are you, dear friend?" panted the flea.

"Myouga." Grumbled the youkai named Toutousai, acknowledging the old flea. "What brings you here, and why were you sucking Momo's blood?" At this, Momo tossed his head haughtily.

"Well," began Myouga defensively, "It's been a long journey, you know, tough on me. I'm not getting any younger."

"Mm. What news do you bring?"

"Aah," sighed Myouga, ducking his head, "I do not know what to make of it. Inuyasha-sama, Sesshoumaru-sama..."

Eyes narrowing, Toutousai asked sharply, "You prattle on too much, Myouga. I can sense deep tension in Tetsusaiga and Bakusaiga. I sensed less dense emotions in Tetsusaiga when Inuyasha battled Ryuukotsusei. That was a serious battle, slaying his father's worst adversary. This must be quite the fight."

Myouga nodded solemnly, "Yes. I think this is going to be the last battle against Naraku. This is to the death."

Pursing his lips, Toutousai said, "And you, the brat's retainer, are leagues of distances away. You old coward, Myouga."

"Hey! I...no, that's not what I..."

A small chuckle rumbled in Toutousai's chest and he said, "Eh. No use denying it; come inside and we'll have a talk."

Still sputtering in indignation, Myouga puffed out his chest and took upon a look of one who has been gravely misjudged. He hopped onto the ground and stared at Toutousai with baleful, reproachful eyes as the ancient sword smith carefully put away the swords lying outside and collected his tools.

Once he was done with that, he lumbered inside his cave and poured lukewarm tea from a roughly hewn wooden container that looked like it was supposed to be a kettle into a cup of some metal. Blowing a thin stream of fire out of his mouth around the cup, he warmed up his tea and squatted opposite Myouga.

"So... Tell me."

Myouga then proceeded to tell Toutousai the events leading up to the standoff against Naraku. His voice quavered and his hands gesticulated, punctuating his every few sentences.

Throughout his talk, Toutousai listened intently, cocking his head, with a curious expression on his face. "So the hanyou took the little girl. To tell you the truth, I did suspect that it was something to do with Naraku when I felt Tetsusaiga quiver, but when I felt Bakusaiga give out such emotions, I felt perturbed. Sesshoumaru, as you know just as well as me, is not somebody who loses control. What I felt was tightly reigned in fury, and this sense of urgency. Well, this explains it. Nothing explains his unnatural affection for the girl, but I think it will all work out for the better."

"Provided Rin is saved, though." Interjected Myouga.

"Eh...no, I think Sesshoumaru will come through. Now, the other thing that interests me is the...sealing, did you say, of that miko's powers. Most curious."

"Yes, Kagome-sama." Nodded Myouga, "It is, as I understand, the evil within the shikon, terrified by the true extent of her powers."

"Mm. Yes. I don't mind her. She tempers the brat; he's a nicer one to deal with when she's around. Doesn't club me on the head as much..." said Toutousai absently rubbing the back of his head.

"I agree; I like Kagome-sama too. She has gone through too much, that poor girl."

"Ah yes, I heard about the regrettable incident. Six...seven months ago, was it?"

"Seven, I think."

"The months leading up to Inuyasha finding her jolted me. Tetsusaiga was a swirling mass of guilt, and anger. Urgency, too. Oh, and love, of course. Stupid boy, doesn't know what's good for him, and when."

"I'm worried for her, Toutousai. For all of them. The others, they aren't unscathed either."

"Who isn't?"

"Mm. True. This battle is definitely much more different from all the others, I can feel it."

"How is she doing, the girl?" asked Toutousai suddenly.

"Oh? Pretty well, considering. I must say, I'm impressed with how much Inuyasha-sama seems to have grown up."

"An experience like that will do that to you. It's hard for things like that to leave you. Inner youkai, you know. Much harder to fight than the ones outside, and even I can't forge a sword to fight those. It's all up to the person." Said Toutousai sagely, slurping his tea.

"And now she has to face Naraku like she never has before. Like none of them ever has before. May the kami have mercy on them all."

"That's life..."

"An unpredictable mistress, for sure. Do you think they will all be alright, Toutousai?"

While Toutousai chose to stare into the dregs of his tea that remained, swirling it around the bottom of his cup contemplatively, Myouga sighed deeply, "They are good children. All of them. But I suppose, fate, is inescapable..."

"Fate?" looked up Toutousai. "I don't think fate has much to do with how a person's life turns out."

"Eh? You don't?"

"No... We are not defined by the situation life has thrown us. It is what we do with the situation, how we react to a situation that defines us. It is our choices that define us."

Myouga twirled his moustache and nodded slowly, as Toutousai continued.

"What is 'fate', but a result of our decisions? And what are our decisions, but our choices?"

Myouga looked up at the conviction on the other's face and said "Too true, friend. I think you are right."

Toutousai got up slowly, wincing a little, and walked towards an alcove in the back, to refill his cup of tea. As he busied himself pouring it, he looked back a little and said, "You know Myouga, I think they will be alright. You said yourself, they're good kids; all of them. They'll make the right choices ultimately, and that is what matters the most after all...making the right choices."

~Fin~