AN: Well... the final chapter. Really, Kei and Fuu's story ends here, although there is still the epilogue to go, which merges together CiA, CaU, and D&H. I thought this chapter needed a lot of work, but I read it over, and I quite like it. It's just fluff. Pure, unadulterated fluff. There are things about it I would like to change: perhaps give the Neji issue more closure (but honestly, to have Fuu comfront Neji and get him to back off would technically be illegal, as would killing him) and I would have liked to have Fuu's entrance be more dramatic. To anyone whose read 'Daughter of the Blood', think of one of Daemon's entranes. Any of them. That's the kind of entrance I wanted for him.

Thank you for all of your support throughout the story. You've given me some very good insight into my own writings. In the future, I hope to correct the things you've pointed out to me in my own writings and try to perfect things which I find essential in any relationship, but, apparently, I cannot yet pull off in writing.

For all you Shippou fans (because you've all been asking about him) he will be making another appearance in the following chapter, but I think he'll have a much bigger part in D&H, once I get around to writing some more of it. I will begin posting D&H, as of right now, on Sept 6th. That is my plan. By then I will be back at school and will have two or three days to do nothing but sit on my arse and write.

It's a dream come true.

Now, on the responses... trying to be quick right now. Oh, and next week: Nihil Credo update. Right now, I'm atually trying to find a fluffy song for this chapter's title. Go figure that my boyfriend doesn't have any fluffy music stored on his computer.

clamofmacabre: As I stated in the first chapter, this is a sequel to Complete and Unconditional, in which Arashi forst became introduced. She has been mentioned before in the story, but only in passing. Why? Because they didn't know anything about Arashi until their memories were reawoken. In Fukou's case, because of how he died, he was purposefully blocking memories of Arashi because he thought he had been a horrible father for failing to protect his daughter.

Note: I can't beelive how many of you are concerned about the Neji stuff! (Sango's the jealous one!) ...I'm horrible. Shutting up now.

Kuro Dora... what they hell is this radio playing? Since when does B101 play rap? I leave for two years, and everything is... backwards! Anyway, nah. I wouldn't have Fuu "pull an Inuyasha" (not realted at all to "pull a Miroku", althought I will have to remember it for future chapters). For one, it never rectifies the situation, just makes it worse. Secondly, it's entirely too predictable. Arg, there's nothing good on the radio!

Siren of Erised: I fully believe in the emotional power of the clam! (Not the oysters, though. They're too horny to have emotions.)

lilSango: Two chapters. And I can't recall where they idea of Sesshy being the "prettiest man" Miroku had ever seen. My friend found a comic of Miroku groping Sesshy from behind and asking to bear his children, thinking Sesshy was a woman. That image has always stuck with me, so that's where that line came from. And it's a common theory in fanficdom that in the future, demons have to disguise themselves as being humans because they are the minority. Jumping on the bandwagon allowed me to concentrate more on the characters.

Chadrific: He did like this: Miroku taught Arashi how to fight. He taught her everything he knew about using her powers. Hell, he taught her everything he knew (except in regards to sex, being the protective father that he is), and yet, when her life hung on her ability to defend herself, she got caught. Miroku never knew that she made it out of that fight alive. He thought that he had failed his daughter by not being the proper teacher, and not being the proper father by doing everything in his power to be able to save his only child. So as far as he's concerned in that matter, he killed Arashi because he failed her.

Hoshiko: Fast again on updating, love. Normally, when I have regular computer access, I try to do it once a week, and generally succeed. Not only am I too busy to write a sequel to the Blooded, I would also have no idea what the hell to write at this point. What's left in that story that I didn't cover? So instead I'm covering my addiction to the paranormal by writing Nihil Credo.

Aamalie: I'm only an evil genius 1/3 of the time. 1/3 of the time I'm evil, 1/3 genius, and sometimes I'm both at once. (That's a complete lie, for the record. I'm incredibly ditzy at times... mainly in regards to sexual innuendoes. Which is why I still find it funny three years after I started writing SM fics that I can write a half-decent Miroku!)

purplepeopleeater: Stupidly noble? Hm... I like it!

Okay... must really start looking for a theme song now, otherwise, it's not going to be updated... God bless Lyrics on Demand... Today's theme is "Chapter One" by Lifehouse. I storngly recomment reading the lyrics. I love Lifehouse: http/www. lyricsondemand. com/ l/lifehouselyrics/ chapteronelyrics. html You know the drill. Delete the spaces.

Enjoy!

Chapter Twenty-Five: Chapter One

Just as he had said, Neji had arrived at six to pick up Kei. He had seemed totally shocked when she had walked downstairs wearing a light blue kimono with a pretty design on it in shiny royal blue thread, the kimono tied together with a plain white obi. At first he had thought the designs were supposed to be waves. They were in the car when he commented on it.

"No," she said gently, fondly touching the kimono. "They're supposed to be coral."

They parked not too far from where the festival was being held. The sun would be setting in an hour or two. Then the festival would really be busy, filled with teenagers out on dates and with families playing games and buying sweets the little kiosks sold. He helped her to the restaurant, where they had a very small meal. He promised her charmingly that they would fill up on sweet rice balls and chocolate.

After supper, they wandered around the festival. The sun was setting. Kei was growing tired. She had to lean on Neji for support. He wrapped an arm around her, drawing her close and letting her lean on him. She blushed. Neji wasn't as hard as Fukou, but he did smell nice, and he was warm and comforting. The way his fingertips brushed her neck made her shiver with pleasure. He treated her gently, and she liked it.

"Want to try playing the fishing game?" he asked her, pointing to one of the stands. She watched as people tried to catch fish with little were nets. It was harder than it looked. If you hit the water too hard or were rough with the net in any way, it broke, and then you lost your chance to catch the fish.

"Okay," she agreed.

Both of them paid and sat down. Kei was glad to get to sit after having just walked around. Part of her worried—the adult part of her mind which other adults had always noticed—that maybe she was pushing herself too hard, but she didn't care. She needed the relaxation and entertainment offered by the festival. She needed to get her mind off of school for a little bit, off of entrance exams, and off of Fukou.

The last excuse was most important.

Neji ruined his little net as soon as it struck the water. Kei had hers on her lap as she rolled up the sleeve of her kimono. Carefully, she stuck the paddle in the water, sinking her arm in as far as her elbow. Her other hand kept her sleeve up and out of the cold water. The fish scattered, but as her fingers began to turn numb, they began to swim back to her.

To her surprise, Neji patiently waited as she drew her hand very slowly out of the water. Then she waited again as the fish swam near her. With a quick flick of her wrist, she grabbed a fish swimming near the top of the water and drew him up. A goldfish flopped on her little unbroken net. Neji gave her a congratulatory kiss on her cheek for catching it, and she carried it around in her bag for the next half hour, until she saw a little kid crying.

"Here you go," she told the little kid, handing him the bag with the fish. The little boy gave Kei a broad grin, revealing a missing front tooth before he ran off, drying his tears and hollering to his family to wait so he could show them his new prize.

She smiled after him fondly. As she stood up, she froze. Neji's hand was encircling her waist, warm and supportive. That wasn't what bothered her, or what made her freeze. What had bothered her was the fact that she was certain she had seen Fukou in the crowd, standing out in the sea of happy faces with a look of horror, and in the sea of colorful kimonos because of his black leather jacket.

When she frantically looked around her, he was gone. Neji asked her what was wrong, but she lied and told him it wasn't anything. Kei was distracted as they continued to walk around the festival.

She wasn't able to get Fuu's face out of her mind. He had looked so wounded and vulnerable…

He stalked back to the car, furious, but hurt underneath that. He was just getting mad to defend himself. He really was hurt. Climbing into his car, he banged his fist against the steering wheel, his earlier elation forgotten. He didn't think he would ever be that happy again.

He had realized just how much she had meant to him, how much they had gone through each other in this life and their last, and he had lost her again. It hadn't taken her long to find a replacement for him, he bitterly noted. Had he seen her with Shin or Jou, he wouldn't have cared so much. Shin had made it very clear that girls had no interest in them, and Jou, although he loved Kei, was like a brother to her. Kei would never have gone out with Jou as anything but a friend.

But Neji… Neji…

She had stood there, looking stunning, the blue coral pattern on her kimono attracting his eye and making him smile. Sango. Coral. She had looked like a water goddess as she stood there, her long hair held back with a simple white ribbon, just as it was always held back, her hollow face beginning to be filled with liveliness again, forgetting the pain her body had caused her… forgetting the pain that he had caused her.

And then that bastard had appeared and stuck his arm around her waist and held her close, protectively. He had held Sango that same way. Maybe Sango and Kei hadn't realized what it had meant, but he did. God, did he know. Through body language, Neji was claiming Kei. He was keeping her close, protecting her.

He wanted to rip Neji's head from his shoulders.

He put his hand on the ignition, but he couldn't seem to start the car. He didn't want to drive while he was so out of it. His hands on the steering wheel, he stared straight ahead, his mind lost in his own thoughts.

She had always told him that Neji had meant nothing to her…

Damn it, why did it have to be Neji!

Held in Neji's arms, she relaxed against him. They hadn't stopped in a little while. Her torso was starting to ache. Sweat was beading in her long hair. Her breathing was raspy, and she was feeling light-headed. They way he touched her was beginning to make her itch. She was warm, and far too hot.

"Neji?" she asked, lifting her head from his shoulder. "Neji, can we please stop for a moment? I'm really getting tired."

"Of course we can. Just hold on a moment longer. We're almost there."

"Almost where?" she asked, stifling a yawn. Her drugs were starting to take effect. She could feel herself starting to feel drowsy. The fact that they were lost amongst the cherry blossom trees didn't help either. She didn't have the glittering lights or noises of the festival to wake her up. Forcing her eyes to stare open, she watched the trees pass her by. They looked like ghosts in the darkness. It was actually kind of creepy.

Within a moment, she heard the sound of running water. Neji guided her past a few bushes, and she found herself looking at a little clearing. It was exactly the type of clearing she would slept at with Miroku five hundred years ago. A little pool of water had coalesced from two tiny streams, the reflection of the moon making the surface look silver. The grass was long and wild. The blossoming trees framed the clearing. She felt like she was in a fairy-tale world.

"It's beautiful," she sighed. She all but fell down, having trouble bending over. She kicked off her sandals before putting her feet into the pool and relaxing. "How in the world did you ever find out about this place?" she asked Neji, giggling at the cold water on her toes.

"It's a secret," he laughed. Hearing his laughter, she turned to smile at him, but paused. He was leaning against a tree, his arms crossed over his chest, his eyes affixed on her. He wasn't taking in the sight of the forest, or of the moon and the stars, he was taking in her, and she recognized that expression. Kei didn't recall seeing it before, but Sango had, and the same dread and fear which had filled Sango when she had first seen Miroku look at her with such intensity and obvious longing and need now filled Kei.

She suddenly realized what kind of a predicament she was in. She was alone in the woods with a boy. There was no one near them. Kei had always yelled at girls in movies when they had gotten into that very predicament. It was stupid. One should be better aware of their surroundings than that. She had always wondered how they had allowed themselves to get into such dangerous environments. Out like this, with no one around and the safe lights and sounds of the carnival covering up you screams of terror... No on would ever hear you scream...

But this wasn't a movie, she pointed out to herself, pulling her gaze away from Neji and looking at the sparkling water. It wasn't like Neji was going to try and take advantage of her, because he was her friend. Friends didn't take advantage of their friends. But the point was that a bystander would think they had come out into the clearing for something other than to enjoy the beautiful night sky. Kei didn't want to see her good name being soiled.

The idea that it had been soiled by dating Fukou had never occurred to her.

He started the engine.

She heard Neji approaching her. His footsteps were sure and calculated, bringing back memories from when she had been camping and had heard thieves approaching their campsite. Then she had always looked over at Miroku, who more than often lay across the smoldering fire from her, and she had always found him awake, his weapon held ready.

It was frightening to hear that same sound when you were alone.

He looked back in the rearview mirror, looking for an opening in the traffic.

She tried to stand up, but found that she couldn't. Her head was still a little drowsy, her ribs aching. She didn't have the energy to stand up, not yet, but soon she would. She was becoming defensive, her senses expanding and adrenaline starting to flow through her body.

Fukou felt like something bad was happening, somewhere. He knew that it had to involve Kei. He felt a surge of anger in his body. Malevolent and strong, it made his teeth grind and made him swear he smelled blood.

He was a useless coward. Was he seriously going to walk away and wallow in his pity? Was he seriously going to let someone like Kei--his Kei--be subverted and used by a greedy, spineless, spoiled little brat like Neji?

Was he really that weak that he was going to let her go? Wasn't letting her go be the strong thing to do? Miroku would have let her go... When Sango had been courted by Kuranosuke, he hadn't like it, but he'd thought it had made her happy and he was willing to let her go because all he had wanted was for her to be happy...

Of course, there was one catch with that.

He pulled the key from the ignition.

He wasn't Miroku.

She felt his aura brush against hers as he sat down close to her. It made her shudder with repulsion.They weren't actually touching, but with her expanded senses, Kei could feel the warmth of his body and the texture of his kimono rubbing against her clothes. It bothered her. She could practically feel the heat in the air around him andhis aura leeching into hers. Kei knew exactly what he wanted as he leaned in her direction. She could hear that his breathing was slightly raspy. He smelled a lot like sweat from walking around so much. It was almost funny, the idea of pretty-boy Neji working up a sweat just from walking around a carnival...

She stared ahead blankly, trying to look disinterested. Maybe he would get the idea that she wanted a few minutes of alone time if she distracted him…

"Nervous?" he asked, flashing her one of his charming smiles.

'Damn it,' she mentally winced. She had to go out with someone who was stupid… Her face expressionless, she looked at him. "What do you mean?"

"Well, if Fuu had done to me what he did with you, then I know I'd be a little nervous when another person expressed interest in me. But believe me, Kei, we're not all like Fuu. Some of us are nice guys. I'm a nice guy. I'm not like Fuu where I'm going to try and seduce you by acting like a block of ice one moment and like your friend the next,because I am your friend, Kei."

When he picked up her hand and held in his, she realized that her hand felt like ice. She was cold; she was scared. Her blood was being drawn back from other parts of her body and directed to more vital areas, like her lungs and brain. Her ribs ached from her increased heart and blood rates.

"I don't under…"

"Fuu always drops his girls once he tired of them, but he really liked you. I don't care if you two had sex. You're still gorgeous, and I still want you. I'll always want you," he purred, reach out and stroking her cheek.

She slapped his hand away, her grey narrowing. "You imbecile. He's never done anything but kiss me. And it's none of your business what we did together." Rolling her eyes, she stood up and dusted off tiny pebbles from her kimono. "I'm tired, Neji. I'm going home now. I wouldn't suggest calling me or talking to me for a day or two. I might remove parts of your anatomy if you do."

She hobbled away from Neji, leaving him there by the edge of the tin silver brook. She couldn't remember ever being so insulted in either of her lives. Her eyes concentrated on where she was stepping. She had been so focused on getting up that she had forgotten her shoes by the side of the pool.

'Stupid, stupid Neji! Stupid everyone!' she hissed, taking out her anger in her thoughts. She let out a little yelp as she stepped on a sharp rock, and she hobbled back a few steps. She backed into a warm body. For a moment, she thought it was Fukou, but when she looked, she found it was Neji.

"He didn't touch you?" he demanded, sounding confused. She shook her head as his hands gripped her arms. His hold was tight, but against the muscle of her arms, it didn't hurt. He couldn't even hold her, but he scared her nonetheless. He was irrational. "Stop lying to me, Kei! He had to have done something to you! He's always wanted you, right from the very beginning, I could see it! Then he finally gets you, and he only kisses you? I don't believe it!"

"Not every guy is as sex-crazed as you are, Neji! Fuu was nothing but a perfect gentleman with me. Now let me go."

"But…"

"I'm warning you, Neji. Let go of me before I kick you."

"But…"

She pulled her leg back and kicked him as hard as he could. He let go of her, hobbling back and looking down at his leg as if it had betrayed him. He looked up to find Kei turning back from him for the second time. Then he saw her freeze. Straightening, he found Fuu standing in the forest.

With his dark hair and his dark clothes, he practically blended in with the black night and the tree trunks.He moved so that his outline was aginst the cherry blossoms. The white petals almost seemed to be luminescent, reflecting the sky light back uponFuu so that his face was visible. He didn't look pleased. His mouth was tight, the lines of his face tight, and his eyebrows drawn together. Hiswhole body was still, the muscles in his shoulders and arms too tight with anger to be able to move, yet he still seemed to glide with grace. Kei took a nervous step away from Fukou, his green eyes following her. She felt like prey caught by some kind of a wild animal, but Neji felt ten times worse. He stared back at Fuu, and then turned and ran away. He had gotten in enough fights with Fukou to know that he was going to get his ass kicked if he hung around any longer. And he was also a bystander. He still knew how Fuu felt about Kei. It was plainly obvious.

So he ran, before Fuu could kick his ass for touching Kei.

Although scared at seeing him again, remembering the way his breath had landed on her skin and the way his words were said with outmost seriousness, Kei put her hands on her hips and looked at him with reprimanding. "You didn't need to frighten him away, you know. God, how come I couldn't see how much of a bully you were back when we were six?"

Hobbling still, and now her foot still sore from the rock on which she had stepped and from kicking Neji, she pushed him out of the way as she headed back to the festival, grumbling to herself. She missed the way his eyes lingered on her softly, or the way he let her walk by.

"I've come back for something of mine," he told her.

She stopped immediately. The fear didn't release her. If anything, it tightened around her heart. She recognized that tone. She hadn't heard it in five hundred years, but even if she were deaf, she would have recognized it. Fukou was usually guff. His deep voice wasmeant to be intimidating, or suggestive when he was with a girl. This voice different. It was light, simple… and happy. She could hear the unrestrained happiness in that voice. She wanted to turn around and look at him, but she was too afraid. If she turned around and he was mad at her still, she'd start crying, and then he'd start getting mad at her for crying. Boys didn't like it when girls cried.

Her voice wavered. "What do you want back, Fuu-sama?"

"You."

She didn't turn around. Somehow, she managed to keep from turning around. "Don't say such things," she snapped at him. She held her breathe a moment longer before she willed herself to turn around. When she saw the expression on his face, she had to look away to keep from crying. She spoke down to the ground. "Don't say it unless you really mean it."

"I told you once that I was going to come back for the other part of my soul, and that when I did, I would realize that you're the best person to have my heart. I lied. You're not just the best person, Kei. You're the only person."

Kei heard him approaching her, but she didn't move. All she could think about was the last time she had seen that gentle expression, when he had asked her to bear his children on that day five hundred years ago. Soft fingertips reached under her chin to draw her face back up. She didn't even have time to see his expression before he kissed her, sending shivers down her spine. His lips trailed over hers in soothing little waves, the warmth of his breath caressing her face. His hands hovered nearby, barely touching her. Her head swam from his kiss. Her eyes closed, and she relaxed against it, embracing the feelings his touch caused her, embracing the way she wanted to cling to him to never let him go again, and letting their happiness overtake all their other emotions.

Breaking the kiss, he threw his arms around her and drew her close. She winced in pain, but he couldn't tell. He just hugged her as tightly as he could, desiring to never part from her again. Kei nuzzled her face into his shoulder. She didn't even mind the feeling of his cold leather jacket pressing unvomfortably into her cheek. She closed her eyes fiercely and tried to forget how she had been treating him for the past week. They'd both been idiots.

"I'm sorry, Kei. I didn't mean it. I didn't mean any of it!"

"I know you didn't, Fuu. I know you didn't," she consoled, rubbing his back. "People never mean the things they say when they're mad. I forgive you, and I'm sorry too. God, I'm sorry! That wasn't what I meant to say, I shouldn't have said any of it! I just… I was so upset that you didn't seem to trust me, that you still thought your dad was right, and he's not. Deep down, you know he's wrong! Me, your mother, Kagome, Kaede, Arashi, Kohaku's Sakura, we're not like that! And then I said your name without realizing it, and I felt so bad!" she bawled. "God, I'll never say your name again, Fuu!"

"But I love hearing you say it," he admitted. He lifted his head from her shoulder and found her staring up at him. He smiled and his hands gently brushed her cheeks. "I mean it, Kei. I love it when you say my name like that. I don't want you to ever be formal with me again, not in this life or the next one. I don't. I know you, inside and out, I know you Kei, and I always will, so no more formalities."

She continued to cry, but rather than get upset that she was showing emotions, he was trying not to cry from happiness himself. "But… but you remember. I can tell that you remember, just from how you looked at me. You've never looked at me like that, not since I can remember, no matter how hard I wished I would see him looking at me, you always remained closed off from me. What made you…."

"Sesshomaru," he replied, cutting her off. "He lent me a book I'm supposed to give to Kagome and Inuyasha. Arashi lived."

"Of course she did…"

"No, you don't understand. I… Miroku… We… I thought she had died. There were bandits. They had a knife to her throat, and then they stabbed me from behind, and the last thing I remember hearing was her screaming." He shuddered. "But she lived through it. She lived a long time, for back in the Sengoku Jidai. But not as long as Kaede. No one lived as long as that old hag." His cheeks went red. "I mean… Kaede-sama…"

Kei was laughing at him, laughing so much it didn't matter that her ribs were hurting. In the midst of her laughter, she couldn't feel the pain. "God, I missed you."

"I can't believe you waited this long for me…"

"Not for you, not for Miroku. I missed Miroku, I did, but I missed Fuu more. This past week was torture. I don't care what you act like, or who you are, or what you come back as, I'll always love you, Fukou."

He looked puzzled. "But you said…"

"They were said out of anger. I didn't mean them. I was frustrated. Every time I tried getting close to you, you just pushed me away. I didn't mean it. I want to be by your side, through thick and thin! Sango and Miroku, Kei and Fukou: we defeated Naraku, and now we can defeat University and help people the way we always did and god, yes, I'll bear a dozen kids for you and you'll be the best dad on the face of the planet and I will never let you go until the world crumbles into dust and the stars fade and even then I will still love you no matter how much of a pervert you become!"

"Kei?"

"Yes?"

"Don't forget to breathe."

"Oh, shut up, Fuu, and let me enjoy this moment."

-The End