Epilogue

Caring for the bodies had been a careful task, seeing as they had been subjected to both time and nature. The soldiers had done most of the work, being no stranger to death and decay. The bodies were wrapped up tightly and buried in columns by the stream. Even with all the bodies underground, the smell of death still hung tightly to the air. Mitsuhime had a ridiculous idea that the smell would always remain, though she knew well that the air would carry the scent far away.

She didn't know how Inuyasha and Sesshomaru withstood it. Miroku and Sango, she could see, held clothes over their noses to dilute the smell. And yet, there stood Inuyasha and Sesshomaru, receiving the full blast of the stench with their highly sensitive inuyokai noses. Even Mitsuhime, who had the scent of an average human, could only stand the smell do to the rotting corpses of yokai, which she had been around several times. They, unfortunately, had a tendency to smell quite putrid.

Kagome and Kikyo wandered around the graves, murmuring prayers to all the people. Kagome could almost feel as the souls found their peace, thanking her. She may hang out around yokai, but she was still a miko. She looked over at Kikyo who possessed a neutral expression, though she knew well enough to know when her sister was depressed. Seeing all the covered bodies disappear, swallowed up by dirt had been emotional.

Miroku leaned on his staff, standing next to Sango, thankfully keeping his hands to himself. "I did not realize how bad it had been," Miroku finally spoke.

Sango sighed heavily. "It almost seems as if the deaths has gotten worse. Though, considering they are now rotting corpses, it might be true."

"Yes, that would make sense," Miroku agreed. "I wonder how Mitsuhime is holding up."

Sango glanced over at Mitsuhime standing next to Sesshomaru, as stoically as him. "I think she had closure now. Being able to physically put their bodies to rest can allow her to do so mentally. At least, that is what I suspect."

Miroku glanced over at the two as well. "I think Sesshomaru can help her with that." Sango turned back to him, smiling. "I think so too."

Mitsuhime didn't move or make a sound. She stood by the tall wall of the village gate, watching as the village graveyard grew in size. It seemed almost like a dream, like she would wake up any second and everyone would be alive. But she knew it wasn't true. Mitsuhime's life had experienced a drastic change and there was no going back.

She looked down at the dirt, studying a small patch of flowers growing. Beach Morning Glories, she thought. It almost made her feel okay with everything. Almost.

Sesshomaru made a sound that sounded strangely like a grunt and she looked up. She saw Kikyo walking towards her. "Up on the hill by the stream," Kikyo said vaguely. "Under the tree." Mitsuhime nodded mutely, heading directly for the location.

Up on the hill was quite, the wind blowing lazily through the branches. By the trunk was a small mound of dirt, signifying a new burial. On top was a rounded rock with the word Morinoko carved crudely in. She smiled, realizing it had to be the work of Inuyasha. So maybe he did care, even if it was just a little bit.

She knelt down by the grave, letting herself impact the earth rather hard. It was the same place where Morinoko, so tiny, had come to show Mitsuhime that no one was truly unloved, not even her.

Sesshomaru watched from a distance as Mitsuhime knelt down next to the grave. "You could always sneak closer to hear what she is saying," Inuyasha burst in.

Kikyo gave him a harsh look. "Let her grieve for her cousin in peace, Inuyasha. There will be no eavesdropping."

Sesshomaru gave him an equally harsh look. "While you may be content with such a refusal to abide to simple privacy rules, I refuse to sink to your level." He was in fact curious of Mitsuhime's parting words, but he only wanted to know them if she was willing to tell him.

Inuyasha's ear fell flat to his head, and he sulked off to find Kagome. At least she loved him.

"I am so sorry, Morinoko," Mitsuhime started. "I always promised that I would be there for you when you needed me. And when you needed me the most, I was gone. If I had been more careful and less careless, you would still be alive." Mitsuhime sighed, trying to hold back tears.

"I wasn't there to save you and now you'll never grow up, like I always wanted to see you do. I wanted to see you become a young woman and to find happiness with another. But you can't do that now." A small tear left her eye, travelling down her face. It fell to the dirt below, vanishing into the earth.

"I was told by someone that people here have a duty they must fulfill. And when they are done, they die. You always wanted me to be happy, didn't you Morinoko? That's why you were always there for me. It was you that brought me to Sesshomaru. I feel guilty knowing that your death is what made me find the happiness I always needed. I always needed to be loved, you knew that. That is why you loved me, even if you were raised not to. But you weren't the love I truly needed, were you?

"I wish you could meet Sesshomaru, Mori-chan. You would like him, I know you would. He even has a small girl named Rin, who is so much like you. You two would have been friends, I just know it." Morinoko was sobbing now and she couldn't get her emotions in check. So she decided to stop trying and just let the tears flow. "I-I wish you were here, Morinoko. I wish you weren't dead. It isn't fair! You were pure and kind and you didn't deserve this fate! You were meant to live and to share your acceptance with the world, Mori! It just isn't fair!" Mitsuhime pounded on the dirt, taking out her frustration on the earth.

Suddenly, Mitsuhime felt a rush through her system and she heard a small giggle. She looked up, but she didn't see anything. Without words, she could feel someone telling her something.

Be happy, Mitsuhime. You deserve it. My job was to bring you the care you needed and I did that. Now go, grieve over me no longer. I brought you Sesshomaru, I died for that. Do not allow my death to be in vain.

Mitsuhime smiled sadly, placing her hand a few inched above the dirt in front of Morinoko's grave marker. Once again reconnecting herself, she willed the earth to heed her command. As if by magic, a small bloom rose out of the spot, thriving at an impossible rate. The flower bloomed prettily, a bold contrast against the gray stone. A Beach Morning Glory. It seemed fitting to Mitsuhime that seeing as it had begun with this flower, it would end with this flower.

She stood up, for once in a long time feeling full; having reconnected with the very nature she was meant to be with. She closed her eyed, feeling the voice of the forest fill her ears. She gave a smile, feeling the spirit of Morinoko wash over her.

You always were a child of the forest, weren't you?

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Sesshomaru looked over at Mitsuhime who walked towards him. For once, she seemed at peace with herself.

"You are okay now?" He asked quietly, watching her. She smiled up at him, taking his hand. "Yes, actually. I feel quite fine."

Sesshomaru was happy to hear that, taking her up in his arms. He bent down slightly, looking her in the eyes. Seeing her acceptance, he gently took her lips with his own.

Mitsuhime realized that the life she had lived was over now, allowing a new one to begin. And she was okay with that.

The End

A/N: Oh. It's over. I have no purpose now. Dang it. I hope you enjoyed my story and that it made you smile at least once. As a writer, that's kind of my job. : )

And in case you are wondering, Morinoko means Forest Child (or, at least, that's what Google translate told me).

Now, for anyone who really liked my type of writing or story-telling, I'll tell you this: I won't be putting up anything for a while, BUT I do have a story in the making. It's in that whole post-production state and I need to heavily edit it before I do anything else with it. Sadly, it doesn't have a name (the unofficial title right now is Monster Inside Me). It is a SesshomaruXKagome AU story, so if you're okay with that, feel free to read it later. It'll probably go up during Thanksgiving Break (11/17-11/25). If you care and want more information, I'll answer any questions.

AkibaraLatina: It's a website, right? If so, sadly I have a limited data download and catching up on a whole season is out of the question. I was able to get my little sister into the series, so she is slowly buying the anime. I'll see it eventually. : ) And I didn't really mind Ayame, though she was never my favorite character.

Sangoscourage: Thank you; you've been an excellent reader! And I am Happy that you all liked my story so much. You guys have all been awesome!

Pandababii: Really? The first? That makes me feel all great and stuff! (/^.^)/

Tsukino Aisuru - A: I can only imagine how much you would love a sequel (your puppy-dog eyes gave me a hint), but as of now, I didn't plan on having one. Truthfully, the story always kind of ended here. BUT, if I ever get an idea, I'll make one. Just because you asked. I am a sucker for puppy-dog eyes.