(A/N: THANKS TO ALL OF YA'LL OUT THERE WHO TOOK THE TIME OUT OF THEIR DAYS TO READ AND REVIEW THIS STORY. YOU GUYS ROCK ALL THE COLOR OUT OF MY WHITE SOCKS! XD IF IT WASN'T FOR YOUR REVIEWS AND SUPPORT, I REALLY DON'T THINK I WOULD'VE FINISHED THIS. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! HERE'S THE LAST CHAPPIE! ENJOY!)
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Epilogue
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"Three years… can you believe it's been three years?" Miroku asked his companion, breathing in deeply as he lay back onto the lush carpet of grass beneath him.
"Not usually, except when you're around monk. Then it tends to seem longer," came the teasing reply. He stifled a laugh as the other sat back upright, looking offended.
"Oh come on, Inuyasha. I'm not that bad of company, am I?"
"Let's just say it's good that your son wants to be a warrior like me, instead of a lecher like you," Inuyasha grinned evilly, stretching his legs out and putting more weight over his hands behind him.
"Hey," Miroku whined, bringing his hands up before him innocently. "You changed for Kagome, so why is it so unbelievable that I stopped my lecherous ways for Sango?"
Inuyasha shook his head; his carefully held back laughter slowly escaping him.
"Monk, I wished on the Sacred Jewel to become human, because I knew that was the only way Kagome and me could be together for the rest of our lives. You, on the other hand," he reached out and grabbed Miroku's shoulder good-naturedly, "you stopped being such a womanizer because the only women around here worth groping are our wives, and you know I'll personally rip your arm off if you were to even look at Kagome in a perverted way."
Miroku waved his hand in his friend's face, sighing in defeat. Silence fell over the pair, their eyes closing in bliss as the wind played across their faces. All around them, rainbows of wildflowers and matching butterflies shifted and moved with the breeze, their brilliant colors flickering like the flame of a candle in the fading sunlight. The slayer village lay below them from where they were on the hill, the repaired barracks and townhouses standing demur and erect amongst the vast forests and plains expanding out behind and all around them.
Children's laughter made their eyes open and then turn to see two young children daftly climbing all over the ever gentle Yuuto, who was laying on his stomach, sampling the grasses before him. The gelding seemed very uninterested in their rough housing on his back, and only looked over at them occasionally when they approached his head with some dark green plants to eat. The twins, a boy and a girl, raced around the gray, enthralled in a wild game of tag. They were identical, both with violet eyes and black hair, looking stunningly like their father, who watched them proudly.
"Fatherhood is such a blessing," sighed Miroku, grinning like a love-struck idiot.
Inuyasha laughed, gaining the monk's attention once more.
"How long was it before you actually realized Sango was going to have twins?"
"Uh, about a month before they were born."
"Wow… bet that was fun."
"You have no idea…"
"Uncle Yasha! Uncle Yasha!"
Smiling, Inuyasha watched the small girl, Hana, run towards him, catching her weight easily as she fell into his lap.
"Uncle Yasha, save me, save me!"
Her brother, Haru, ran after her, brandishing a small stick like it was a sword. His face was pulled into a playful grin, and stopped in front of Inuyasha, giggling as his sister jumped out of his lap and ran to hide behind his mass of black hair, her lavender gaze looking at her sibling in mock terror over his shoulder.
"You can't escape!" the three-almost-four-year-old hero exclaimed, puffing out his chest.
With a shake of his head, Inuyasha caught Miroku's eye and grinned mischievously, grabbing for a stick from behind him.
"Maybe… but you'll have to get through me first!"
He held it before his chest horizontally, pretending to be putting up a good fight as Haru eagerly whacked their 'swords' together, making exasperated noises as he winced under every smack of the wood.
"Go, Uncle Yasha! Go!" Hana yelled, grabbing fistfuls of his dark hair and waving the strands above her head.
Careful not to send the small boy's stick flying into his round face, Inuyasha tapped his own stick firmly against the other, effectively disarming his 'opponent'. Haru's eyes grew huge as his weapon fell to the ground at his feet, and he stared at the human hanyou before him with awe.
"Got ya!"
Screaming, Hana was grabbed by her father while Haru was hoisted up into Inuyasha's firm grip, both toddlers reduced to laughing and crying out as they were mercilessly tickled, their ruckus echoing around the valley down towards the village.
"Dinner!"
Yuuto's head shot up and the blusterous activity behind him instantly paused as Sango's voice drifted up to them, the harsh sound of a ringing bell nearly driving out her voice entirely. Shuffling to his feet with excitement, the gelding turned his head towards the others, patiently waiting for them. Standing with the children in tow, Miroku and Inuyasha strode up to the gray and mounted onto his bare back, Miroku and Hana in front, and Inuyasha holding Haru behind them. Not waiting for a signal, Yuuto ran towards the village at an easy lope, his speed gaining joyous whoops and hollers from the small children astride him. He whinnied in response then slowed before the entrance to the village, walking proudly with his charges towards the main house, unguided, where the demon slayer stood waiting for them in the doorway, her newest born son, Michi, sound asleep in the carrier strapped to her back. His chubby hands were firmly grasping strands of his mother's brown hair in his small fists, his own rebellious black tresses the only part of him completely visible as it stuck out of the blanket wrapped around him.
"Mommy!"
Wiggling free, Hana and Haru ran towards Sango after Miroku and Inuyasha had dismounted, their arms outspread wide. She laughed as they latched themselves to her legs, beaming up at her as she patted the tops of their heads lovingly. Then they ran inside, arguing over a spot near the dinner table, nearly knocking over Shippo and Kirara who were settling down into their seats. Shaking her head at them, Sango reached out to her husband, who wrapped his arm around her waist, gently placing a kiss on his son's forehead and her cheek before they followed the twins inside.
Inuyasha smiled after them but lingered at the door, his navy eyes searching around as they slowly followed Yuuto, heading towards his stable. Kagome stood there beside the corral gate, shaking a bag of oats as the gelding whickered, stopping to nuzzle his mistress before stepping into his pen. Dumping his grain into the trough, Kagome notched the gate lock, smiling at the large horse. Throwing the empty bag against the grain barrel propped up against the fence, she paused as two arms suddenly fastened themselves around her waist, a familiar scent covering her.
"And how is my angel this evening?" Inuyasha whispered into her ear, smiling against her hair as she laughed gently, placing her hands upon his own. He peppered small kisses against her neck, making her lean comfortably against him, her head slowly turning to his until she was almost facing him. Placing a sweet kiss her lips, he caressed her face affectionately, jumping slightly as she moved his other hand down to the small round of her belly, a tiny foot kicking at his palm.
"He's becoming more active," Kagome whispered with a smile, looking down at her swollen stomach. Staring down in wonder, Inuyasha's grin widened, the small bump against his hand growing fiercer. A chuckle escaped him as he nuzzled his wife's neck, tenderly placing his lips on her shoulder.
"He sure has your confidence, doesn't he?" he stated proudly, moving around to face her, where he dropped to one knee and placed an ear to where his unborn child thumped against his cheek.
"Inuyasha? What are you doing?"
"Shh," he ordered playfully. "Can't you see I'm trying to have a conversation here?"
She laughed his name then fell silent as she shook her head at her husband's antics.
He was quiet for a few minutes, nodding occasionally until a surprised look passed over his face and he pulled away, pretending to be shocked and impressed at the same time.
"You're going to be emperor and have thirty wives?"
"Inuyasha!" Kagome cried, incredulous.
"What?" he laughed, standing up to lock her gaze. "Don't worry, I won't tell Miroku…"
With a laugh, she slugged Inuyasha in the shoulder mischievously.
"You're such a demon!"
He folded his arms around her, smirking evilly.
"Half-demon, remember?"
"Not anymore," she whispered, snuggling into his chest.
He looked down at her, his eyes shining.
"Yeah," he agreed. "Not anymore."
Placing a kiss upon Kagome's forehead, Inuyasha guided her back to the hut, where their friends were waiting. He stared at the house that had been built for them, and smiled as passed by, eagerly awaiting the day that the sound of a child's footsteps would echo around on the wooden floors.
But that would come in time.
For now he was content.
He had a home, friends, and soon, a family he could call his own. He had Kagome, for the rest of his life. He was loved; he was blessed.
He was complete.
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(A/N: I can't believe it's over… T.T Well, it was so much fun to write, and I hope ya'll enjoyed reading it! Hope this epilogue didn't disappoint… I swear I was going "AWW" the entire time! LOL… funny how I can do that to myself… proud to say it is now 2:01 am, Saturday, 23 August 2008, and this story is officially complete! YAY! Until next time… this is demonwings737 signing out! R&R plz!)