I OWN NOTHING BUT THE STORY LINE AND THE CHARACTERS THAT YOU DON'T KNOW FROM THE STORY!

Epilogue 2

Movement

"Now, Bask in my glory, Princess, for you now stand in the presence of Koga, Leader of the Wolf Tribe; and youngest, I might add."

"And a cheater." Takara replied, looking up from the shirt she was sewing.

The young demon's mouth fell open. "What? Why do you say that?"

"Because you have two shards of the Scared Jewel in your legs, and another in your arm, making you stronger. Anything not of your own ability qualifies you as a cheater; therefore, you, Koga, are a cheater."

The young man crossed his arms. "I thought you'd be proud, Takara."

"I am, just a bit disappointed that you have gone against my words of advice and used the Jewel Shards anyway. I am sure that you knew this was coming the moment you took them from those bodies."

"Well, look at it this way, Princess. If I had left the Jewel Shards in the battlefield, then someone else would have taken them and used them for ill purposes. Now, with them close by, you can keep a good eye on them." He gave her a smooth look. "Wouldn't you rather do that than worry yourself over what foul hands end up with them?"

Takara couldn't help but give a smile as she shook her head. "You never cease to amaze me. Of all the ones here, you're the only one that make me submit."

"Well, I learned from the best," Koga grinned. "You did raise me, after all."

"Yes, I suppose I did, didn't I?"

Lorene had died giving birth to Koga, no father came forward so Takara had taken in the child as her own. It seemed it was her fate to be raising children not her own. She didn't complain though. It had happened for a reason, so why not continue on with it? Who knows, maybe she would get a fifth child to raise; hopefully it would be her own…one day; hopefully.

Koga had bright blue eyes and long black hair pulled up in a ponytail with a brown cord as he was cloaked in a brown wolf pelt with a matching tail. With the matching headband with silver and black armor with a small sword on his hip.

"Koga," Takara had set aside the shirt she had been working on. "Would you mind taking a walk with me?"

Koga looked surprised but a grin spread on his face. "Of course, Ma."

"Ma, Princess," Takara shook her head as she stepped out of the cave and into the light. "Pick a name and stick to it."

"I would use beautiful, but you don't like that."

"Of course not. I raised you as a son, not a husband."

"True, but that could change, you know." Koga told her.

Takara sighed. "We have talked about this many times, us and the elders. It's not happening. I know the others have tried to beat it into your head to make it happen but it won't and if the pressure continues then I shall leave the Wolf Tribe behind."

"I'd rather you not do that, you know?" Koga crossed his arms as the air blew around them on the cliffs they walked up. "I wouldn't have made it this far if not for you."

"Tell me something I don't know," Takara replied. He gave her a grunt and she chuckled. "Tell me, Koga, what do you plan on doing in the future with this Tribe?"

"What do you mean?"

Takara paused at the edge and stared out over the forest and the mountain beneath them. The Waterfall sat nearly 100 feet beneath them, the soft sound of the water calming the air about them. "Where do you see yourself leading the Wolf Tribe to?" She looked at him. "What is your goal of being the leader of the Tribe?"

Koga's blue eyes hardened as he began to think, cupping his chin on his fingers. "Now that you got me thinking about it, I'm not quite sure. I know that I want to make the Wolf Tribe as strong as it was in the older days; to make us become a tribe that the Birds of Paradise and others fear to mess with. I want to make us a tribe that the Goddess of the Moon would be proud to live with." Koga faced her. "A tribe that you can call home, no matter what happens."

She let a grin break out. "Well, no matter what happens, you never have to worry about that happening, Koga. Living with you and your tribe for the last 50 years has made you all part of my family. I can never be ashamed of that; Jewel Shards involved or not."

Koga pounced on her, throwing an arm over his mother's shoulders. "Have I ever told you how much I love you and how proud I am to be someone that you can be proud and unashamed of?"

"Almost every day," She answered him. "In both words and actions." She pressed her lips against this forehead. "Ginta and the others are probably looking for you. Go and brag to them for a while."

Koga looked at her funnily. "Are you all right, Ma?"

Takara gave a nod. "Yeah, I'm just not feeling very good right now. You go and have fun with your friends."

"All right," Koga turned. "But I'm gonna bring you something to make you feel better with dinner tonight and you'd better take it, understand?"

"Yes, Ma," She replied with a smile.

He smirked and then took off back down the mountain. She watched until he was out of sight before dropping to the ground and staring out across the trees and rocks again, cupping her face in her hands.

The Moment the Sacred Jewel had been shattered, she had known. The power of that Jewel had shot across to her, as if Midoriko was telling her what had happened. Ikkaku had come to her instantly, asking what they should do. It was odd for her brother to ask her for plans; it didn't happen often. He had asked if they should go around and gather the Jewel Shards.

"And do what with them, Ikkaku? Gather the shards and keep it safe until we find a way to destroy it? Do you know who will come after us? I'd rather not have demons and humans attack us for the Jewel; especially not during the nights of the Ceremony."

Ikkaku sighed. He apparently hadn't thought of that part. "They would, wouldn't they…"

"It's because they're morons." Takara commented, closing her eyes. "I will not take the chance of letting that damn bastard try and control me again!" She tightened her fist. "I apologize, brother, but there's nothing that we can do. Not right now. I ask that you don't get involved with it unless you absolutely have too. Please."

~It can never be easy, can it?~ Takara sighed, closing her eyes. ~Midoriko is stuck in that damn jewel and here I am, sitting on a cliff with a bunch of wolves. I can't do anything for her, can I? There never was, was there?~

Takara wasn't sure how long she sat there staring at off the cliff and thinking to herself but she knew it was dinner time when a wolf had come up to her and began to lightly pull on the sleeve of her kimono.

"All right," She smiled, placing a hand on the wolf's head. "I'm coming." Walking with the wolf down the path again she wore a smile on her face until the scent caught her. She paused, confused for a moment. A scent that she had not been close to in years.

Coming to a halt in front of her home, she searched frantically for him, but he was no longer there. But he had been there. Sesshomaru's scent was all over the cave, and it was still strong. He had just been there. Had he known that she was on her way towards him and left? Was he still not ready to face her?

~What was he…~ Takara's thoughts fell silent at what was sitting on her bed. He had come here to leave her this? What was going on through that man's head? Sitting down, she softly picked it up; it made a soft smile spread across her face. Was this supposed to be some sort of apology to her or something? These clothes that he had worn all those years ago; they looked brand new, as if they had never gone through a battle once in the existence. That white kimono with the magenta flowers on the collar and sleeves. Those 'ballooning' pants of his. Those boots.

He had been here. He knew where she was at. He had left her this…but had kept her pendant. He had kept her heart.

~Damn bastard~ She could feel the tears starting. ~Foolish Bastard~ She buried her face into the clothes, taking in a deep breath of Sesshomaru's scent. ~I miss the bastard…~

Unfortunately, that is where the story ends. I would love to write the chapter where they finally face each other but then that would ruin what I have planned for the actual anime chapters that I am writing. Just add this to your favorites and I shall let you all know when that begins. It shall be soon, I promise.

Please Review! I like to know what you all think :)