Finale: Reaching Across the Milky Way

The aftermath of a fateful encounter is fraught with disruption, fear, and chaos. But after a few weeks, the churning seas begin to settle and the threads of destiny begin to weave their stories again.

Inukimi flapped her fan lazily, the puffing air not moving even a single strand of her hair as she sighed. The drole ceremony was not due to start for a few hours and there was still a mess to clean.

Rising from her spot, she began a journey down the halls, deep into the dungeons of her palace. Past the cells that had remained empty for centuries, she came to rest in front of the one occupied by her sister, disheveled and chained to the wall - as she had been since her capture at the great battle.

"Where is that traitor Tsukiakari?" Inukojo snarled, baring her fangs at her sister. "That whelp deserves to die."

Inukimi demurely rolled her eyes and wafted her fan. "I believe you said that a few days ago when we last spoke. Do you have anything else you'd like to say, or will this be a repeat of our conversation earlier?"

"You deny me my right to seek vengeance against the hypocrite who stole my glory, stole my right, and stole my title?"

"You believe that your precious little daughter robbed you?" Inukimi smirked. "You could not be further from the truth."

"What do you know, you bitch!"

"Considering our lineage, I would hardly consider that an insult. But come, sister, do you truly suppose that it was your daughter who navigated you into this position? Then you are more of a simpleton than I thought."

Inukojo blinked a few times and then her eyes tinged red. "What, you?"

"Yes, me. Although honestly, this should not come as a surprise, not with how many centuries we have known each other."

"How?"

"Well, I suppose I can accommodate. But then again...perhaps I should keep my secrets, for the game is much more fun when you don't know the rules, no?"

"I am going to kill you!" The chains rattled and held firmly.

"I doubt it. I still stand by my previous statement: I won't reveal how trivial it was to put all of the pieces in motion." She swept a few paces. "I shan't sport with your intelligence by declaring how similar life is to a match of sorts - the metaphor, however apt, would be lost upon you."

"What are you talking about?"

"Hmm, although I am not sure which of my moves I liked the best, quite honestly the front runner was giving that worthless lizard demon some ruins to tramp around in, just to see what those foolish little dragon spawn would do."

"You've...been helping them...ever since they got here?" Inukojo narrowed her gaze, rage rolling off her in waves, but finding herself a bit short of breath and slightly lightheaded.

"What a ridiculous notion!" Inukimi softly lowered herself to the floor to level with her sister's lolling head. "I merely generate momentum when the mundane forces life to a standstill. A little prod here, a small tweak there - none of that is helping or taking sides."

She rose to her feet. "I will admit that luring those two retribution-driven dunces to our land was quite a large push, but you cannot say that our existences have been unexciting this past year or so."

Eyes wide and mouth agape, Inukojo had little response to this beyond labored breathing as a sweat broke over her forehead. "Why?"

Inukimi scoffed and spared the prone fighter a dainty look of incredulity with crossed arms. "Were you not listening? Life is dull. You may be content to spend your days with naught but a sword and a plan for the next twelve hours, but for others of us, we need more to justify 'sticking around', as you say."

"You...realize...you could have...doomed us….all." Inukojo had started to gasp.

"I think not," she smiled sweetly with an underlying malice that threatened to bite without hesitation. "While I won't pretend to know the outcome of my plans, the matches always end in my favor."

"You won't get…away with this…" Inukojo's voice was little more than wheeze. Inukimi sighed. The toxin was taking too long.

"Of course I will, I always do."

Inukimi put her fan in the depths of her sleeves and made several intricate gestures. A large, dark pool opened in the ground beneath Inukojo.

"Oto-sama may have favored you, but I was the one he feared," she said as her sister began to sink. "Do send him my regards."

With a cry of protest, the Lord of the Northern Lands dropped into the hole and in seconds the space was returned to its normal state - as thought nothing had happened.

Inukimi, metallic eyes gleaming, brushed off her hands.

"That is of course, if you choose not to behave yourself," she said with a sideways glance over her shoulder. "I plucked you out of that hellscape, but I am more than happy to send you right back."

Satsujimaro was leaning casually against the wall. "I should have known you would turn out like this - every part the same vixen your mother ever was."

Inukimi turned around to face her father for the first time in an eon. "I appreciate the flattery; bumbling, brash, and brawny fools such as yourselves are destined for ruin. Those of us who can play the long game will be the winners."

His lip curled in disgust. "If it weren't for your talent with swords, I would have cast you out when you were still a runt."

"The fact of the matter is, you did not and now you cannot touch me." She brushed past him. "Unless you desire an expedited reunion in the land of the dead, you'll do as you're told: just as I did as you bid me when I was a child."

"You expect me to listen to you? Your curse is gone. That little human girl made sure of that, whether she meant to or not." His face split in a grin. "See? I can speak about it because it's gone."

Her fingertips gently grasped the ends of the hair hanging past his jaw. "Still such a simpleton. You think I cannot recast a spell? You believe yourself immune to the test of time?" His hair began to dry up, splitting as the life was drained away.

"I've given you enough life energy for now, but what would happen if I were to say, get upset?" When she pulled away, there was a tiny green stone in her hand.

"Wait," Satsujimaro reached for the rock nervously. "I need that to avoid the pull of the underworld."

With a tiny pat on his shoulder she returned the pebble. "Collect the troops and be on your way. I am sure you will enjoy serving your grandchild for the rest of your life."

She derived great satisfaction to hear the one-time ruler of the Northern Lands scramble to get up the stairs. Meanwhile, she took her time to wind her way back through the levels of the palace before settling into her personal chambers.

Jaken stood by. "Inukimi-sama, we should get going." He fell silent under her icy stare and bowed himself out of the room.

Of course they needed to go; yet another tedious loose end to tie up. But nothing was going to deprive her of the victory. She gazed into her primary green orb and liked the reflection she cast.

"Checkmate."

Elsewhere in the castle, there was a soft knock on Sesshomaru's door. "You may enter."

Tsukiakari entered, resplendent in red and white robes covered in silver and gold embroidery. "Are you ready?"

"Yes." He rose, Bakusaiga gleaming at his waist.

"Are you sure about that?" Her gaze was clear and hard, but still probing.

"I made a commitment to you last year - however hastily it was offered. I have made the declaration a thousand times to support you to the end of your days: I refuse to break any more promises." He frowned slightly. "I owe that to her and to you."

"In choosing a different path, I would not consider that to be retreating from your promise: you prevented my mother and the dragon demons from destroying the land." She smiled. "I also do not believe you need to be married to me to give me support, of that I am sure."

He caught her cheek in the palm of his hand. "If this will make you happy, then this step is also a part of that same promise." He dropped his arm and walked to the door. "We will be late."

Tsukiakari sighed and followed after him, making their way to the main hall in her aunt's palace.

There they had gathered nearly all of the feudal demon lords from the Western Lands, the warriors in service to the clan, and what few family members remained. Everyone was wearing their finest: Kongomi and Yoihito were in brilliant black robes, the chosen color of the new Ryudo, in honor of their new guardian, Omo.

Some were even wearing better than their finest and looking downright uncomfortable and itchy. Even from here, she could see Inuyasha tugging on the collar of his robes and Kagome's death glares signaling him to settle down.

The pair stood in the shade of the doorway, concealed for one final moment.

Tsukiakari gave her cousin one final hard look and then sighed again. Out the corner of her mouth she uttered. "I had thought you would have come to your senses by now, but I clearly overestimated you; you have given me no choice."

She snapped her fingers and then wiped them across her brow, right across her crescent moon. The golden light magic sticking to her fingertips with the last vestiges of the spell she had washed away to reveal her purple clan symbol.

Sesshoumaru's eyes went wide in what was quite possibly the most dumbfounded expression he'd ever displayed. She could feel his gaze flick up to her forehead.

"Your crescent moon - it's purple."

"An astute observation."

Numbly he reached up to his own, which still glowed with the golden brilliance that marked an engagement between two members of the inu clan. Tsukiakari could see members of the audience turning their way, confused at the delay and she decided to move things along.

"You were apparently either too oblivious or too hard headed to make the connection that our engagement never properly happened because you were already engaged to someone else. No doubt your mother's doing."

She smiled sweetly and grabbed his shoulder. "You have a choice to make."

She stepped into the light and the rest of the crowd settled back into their seats. Sesshomaru's slightly uncertain and uneven steps followed behind her as she made her way to the dias at the front of the room. There, they both stood in front of an altar, awaiting the official to move with the proceedings.

Jaken walked up a tiny set of stairs to a platform that made him level with the scrolls and artifacts needed to complete the multiple ceremonies that were about to take place.

Tsukiakari's hearing caught the faintest hint of Oh, kami-sama, HE'S delivering the speeches? This is going to - OUCH from Inuyasha's direction. She managed to conceal a slight giggle.

"Ahem!" Jaken cleared his throat and set to unrolling the scrolls with all the pomp and circumstance he could muster. He jostled his shoulders back, gripped the sides of the table and began to speak, his screechy voice carrying to all corners of the room.

"We are gathered here today -"

Sesshomaru marched right over to Inukimi, who was placidly sitting in her place of honor to the side of the platform.

His statement echoed around the room, "Open a pathway."

With her customary mocking tone, she raised her sleeve to hide her teasing smile. "Ho? What is this? Have you finally-"

"Will you open a pathway or not?"

Her sleeve fell, and with it, her gleeful expression, her countenance was now completely serious, although perchance a bit bored.

"Do you forfeit your right to rule the Western Lands and vow never to pursue such power in the future?" She shifted her head. "I will not ask again."

"And I will not ask again. Open a pathway."

With mild amusement she drew out a dark stone edged with gem encrusted black and gold metal. On the far side of the room a ring of shade blossomed into a portal, giving the guests a peek into the endless night that was the underworld.

When she was finished, she tossed the trinket to Sesshomaru, who deftly caught it and strode confidently into the caliginosity before it closed up behind him.

There was silence for exactly one second before the audience erupted into a cacophony of speculation and confusion. Jaken was beyond appalled and stammered in aghast. Tsukiakari did her best to conceal her delight. About time and thank goodness: he would have made a terrible ruler.

"May I have your attention please?" She clapped and called out in a clear voice, somehow actually managing to wrangle everyone's attention to the front and center.

"My cousin regrets to inform you that he will not be getting married today."

Jaken paled and clutched the edge of the table while another round of whispers rose from the crowd. The disgruntled demon lords harrumphed quietly.

"He has also renounced his title and claim to the Western Lands," she continued, observing everyone's stunned reaction. "Clan rules dictate the last remaining eligible heir has the right to take those lands for their own. I do so at this time."

This seemed to allay the disapproval to some degree; the demon lords appeared to be in agreement, for inheritance law was quite clear among demons. But not for long, she thought and delivered her coup de grace:

"Our first act as the leader of the Western Lands will be to appoint our successor. We recognize Kongomi-tono from the Ryudo city state and request her presence."

This time, the room fell silent, staring at the shocked dragon queen making her way to the front of the assembly.

"Although it matters little this far south, we regret to inform you that several hours ago, Lord Inukojo of the Northern Lands was permanently relieved of her duties and her last surviving scion filled that vacancy. We are now the ruler of that territory as well."

Kongomi was doing her best to keep her composure.

"Governing the Northern Lands will require our full attention to ensure stability with both the Eastern and Western lands in the south. Therefore we will transfer the right to command in the Western Lands to a new ruler, effective immediately."

"You're not seriously considering…" Kongomi muttered under her breath in a strained tone.

"Kongomi-dono, will you take on this most solemn of responsibilities?"

The entire body of feudal lords jumped to their feet, complaining at the top of their lungs. The outrage! A backwater city state acquiring so much power! A child with hardly any experience! A girl in control!

Tsukiakari whipped her hand in their direction, twisting and curling her fingers. The aristocrats found themselves without sound.

"I seem to recall over the past year, when Sesshomaru-sama visited this entire body, not a single one of you was willing to assist or contribute to stopping the bloodshed that would have befallen all of us; each lord retreated to their castle while foreign soldiers and strange powers wrecked the lands.

"Save for one: Kongomi-dono took personal responsibility and played a critical role in ending this battle. She is the only qualified candidate. Plus, she has a dragon."

She slowly materialized a sword that gleamed with golden power. "I am not a violent person, but if I ever hear those banalities uttered again, I will not hesitate to bring down the full might of the Northern Lands on any of your fiefs. Do we mutually understand each other?"

There was a lot of emphatic nodding.

With a snap of her finger, the sword disappeared and the quiet murmurings indicated that sound had been returned. She smiled at Kongomi and affirmed softly, "You are the only one that I can trust to do this. Will you accept?"

Kongomi managed to escape her bubble of awe and smirked, "If that's what you want."

"Excellent!" Tsukiakari clapped her hands once in excitement. "Yoihito-san, if you would join us, please."

"What?" Kongomi reeled. Yoihito was tranquil on his approach, obviously prepared. The queen was shocked. "You knew this would happen?"

"I discussed the extreme likelihood of this possible outcome with Yoihito-san, yes." Although I did have to give our guest of honor a bit of a push out the door to make it happen, she thought as she contemplated her cousin's stubborn and proud nature.

Yoihito stood in front of Kongomi, the wounds from the last battle nearly healed into fresh scars that would last his lifetime, but for the first time since she had known him, he was filled with a single emotion: joy. It radiated from every inch of his face, of his body, and she could not help but feel a bit happy too.

Tsukiakari stepped back and took the opportunity to calm poor Jaken who had been overwhelmed to the point of collapse.

The once-called captain of the royal guard took Kongomi's hand in his own. "I am not great with words, but I promised myself that I wouldn't read off a sheet of paper." He looked up with eyes that practically sparkled. "You offered to make my dream come true. Is that offer still open?"

Kongomi fought to keep the tears at bay. "Of course it is, you idiot."

"Then we may begin." Tsukiakari managed to get Jaken onto his feet and stood behind him. "Jaken-sama, if you would be so kind as to complete the ceremony as rehearsed."

"Of-of course, Tsukiakari-sama." He'd completely given up trying to follow along and decided that now was a good time to just do what he'd been told.

"We are gathered here today to celebrate the forging of new bonds between these two who stand before us and their connection to the great Western Lands." Jaken held up the wana seal and placed it into their shared hold.

"Kongomi-dono, queen of Ryudo, do you solemnly promise and swear to govern the peoples of the Western Lands with justice and mercy? To dedicate yourself to the protection of the lords gathered in this assembly today? To cherish the lands and commit to their survival, just as you would for the man standing before you?"

"I do."

Jaken stumbled a bit, looking around for guidance. "Ah, Yoihito….dono? …."

"Prince consort of Ryudo." Kongomi supplied, blushing slightly from having to say it out loud for the first time.

"Ahem," Jaken continued. "Yoihito-dono, prince consort of Ryudo, do you solemnly promise and swear to support your queen in the governing and management of the Western Lands? To dedicate yourself to her protection? To cherish and commit to the survival of the woman standing before you?"

"I do."

The seal flared with a heat that was uncomfortable, but not unbearable.

"The things which you have here before promised, do you affirm to them until the end of your days?"

Kongomi and Yoihito made eye contact and nodded. "We do."

"Then by the power vested in the great seal, let it be so!"

The amulet pulsed a dazzling white light that filled the space, blinding all for a split second before fading away.

Tsukiakari smiled a bit more broadly than her gentille upbringing would have preferred, but it was a happy occasion. She clapped her hands thrice and servants in dark blue robes opened the great doors.

"Let us all now partake in the celebration of Lord Kongomi's coronation and marriage." She gestured into the halls where multicolored lights twinkled, music could be heard echoing, and the unmistakable scent of delicious food beckoned. Regardless of what happened politically, the local lords could be counted on to revel and were already making their way out of the room.

Her work here was done. Tsukiakari moved to leave, but Kongomi caught her sleeve first.

"Where are you going? You can't leave me here to deal with all those stooges. They're going to be kissing up to me for weeks."

"Unfortunately, there is too much turmoil back home. I was honest when I said that the north needs my full attention. My mother's cruel and oppressive hand has sowed the seeds of discord and if I do not leave now, we may have another war on our hands." She drew Kongomi in for a quick embrace.

"I have full confidence in you. After all, what's a few backwards old men for someone who has haggled with a dragon?"

Kongomi smirked. "You got that right." Her grin dropped. "You will tell me, if you hear anything?"

"Only if you promise to do the same."

Yoihito reached up to tug on his wife's wrist. "Heika, your subjects await."

"Don't you dare start calling me that." Kongomi stomped down the stairs.

"Perhaps you would prefer hime-sama? For old times' sake?"

"Do you want to sleep outside?"

Their banter diminished as they made their way to the festivities, leaving Tsukiakari alone with Jaken, who was carefully putting away the ceremony items, and Inukimi, who had yet to abandon her position. She exhaled. It was over.

"Take him with you." Inukimi lazily waved her fan in Jaken's direction. "He's tenacious to a fault and obnoxiously loyal; you will not find a better servant."

Jaken dropped everything in his with a clatter on the floor. "M-m-m-m-m-y lady?!"

"I no longer have need of his services and I doubt that foolish son of mine will either. He has been with the clan since the beginning and these types of matters should be kept within the family."

Tears were streaming down his scaly face. "Inukimi-samaaaaaa!" He rushed towards her, dropping on his knees to grovel. "Never have I been more touched-"

Inukimi's eye twitched very slightly in annoyance and she flapped her sleeve to send him away. Tsukiakari gave her a bow and then ushered the imp towards the door. "Come now, Councilor Jaken, we have a lot of ground to cover. Please make Ah-Un ready to depart."

His eyes bugged out of their sockets. "C-C-C-Councilor?! Yes, Tsukiakari-sama! Right away, Tsukiakari-sama!" He sped away backwards, bowing and tumbling over himself.

Tsukiakari bobbed another small bow to her aunt one last time and then proceeded down the hallway.

"It sounds like everything went according to plan." Kohaku lounged on the steps of the courtyard.

"It did, although I have mixed feelings about my mother's fate. Despite the wrong she did in the world, I believe that deep down, I still held in her esteem."

"That's to be expected; family is different," he paused, "even if the family is as twisted as yours."

They walked the rest of the way together. "Did you not forgive Sesshomaru-sama?"

"I can still hold a grudge against him for being a complete moron." He held up his hands in defense. "Look, if he has gone to find her, then he's finally figured out what he has to do. I'm allowed to be annoyed that it took him that long."

"I do not believe he is as foolish as you would imply. Afterall, he is not the only male who acted irrationally as a result of powerful affections and he certainly won't be the last."

Kohaku pouted for a second and then broke out in a grin. They entered the bright sunshine, simply enjoying the warm rays and the possibility of what the future held.

Jaken took a breather in his frenetic preparations, also relishing in the pleasant sensation. The North. A barren wasteland for many lesser organisms, but to him, it was the place where it all began: his first days as a lowly retainer in the inu household.

He looked upon his new mistress, beaming with her compatriot, and realized that in a way, his years in the south with Inukimi and Inutaisho, and then Sesshoumaru felt like a dream. Now he had the chance to wake up. He was going home.

"Jaken-san, are you ready to go?" Tsukiakari bent down to look at him curiously.

"Yes, Tsukiakari-sama!" He used his staff to propel onto the back of Ah-Un. "Now, if I remember correctly, it takes several days of hard travel to reach the old palace." He looked down nervously as Kohaku placed a strong hand on Ah-Un's flank and Tsukiakari took his other. "My lady, what-"

The group disappeared in a blink.

The portal closed behind Sesshomaru, abandoning him in a darkness he had not experienced in an age. The last time he visited, Tenseiga was at his waist, this time, with nothing except Bakusaiga to defend himself, he would need to be careful. He closed his eyes and inhaled, trying to get his bearings.

There was no telling if she was still alive. Weeks had passed in their world, but it could have been months or even years for Rin since their fight with the unnamed beast that had long returned to the depths of the underworld.

Every day since her departure had been a battle, trying to be rational: Even if she could survive, she always planned to return to the land of the dead. This is what she wanted.

Each time, the voice in the back of his mind decried his weakness: You only think that because you were not able to save her. If you had been more, you could have kept her by your side. You were too weak and now you deserve to be alone.

Back and forth, his thoughts had waged war on each other - You made a promise to Tsukiakari. - You are using that as an excuse to hide your faults!

Then today, at the last moment, his cousin had exposed a secret, one that revealed a new voice that he had not heard before.

Do I not also deserve a measure of happiness?

Suddenly none of it mattered. The promises, the lies, the excuses, the reasons, the past, the future. There was one single thought: it had to be her. Even if it was one more conversation, one more minute, one more second. He had to see her.

Whatever it took. Even if it meant asking his own mother for help.

That was the emotion he drew upon as he threw his pride to the wind. He was no longer the Lord of the Western Lands; merely a man with an unwavering goal. He spared a moment's hesitation before he knelt to the ground and took another deep breath.

It had been years since he last tracked by scent and he had certainly mocked his younger brother for stupid doglike behavior, but he was not above using every tool at his disposal in this, his moment of need. Surely centuries of selective breeding counted for something.

The only traces he could find were of death: decay and ash.

Tension mounted in his chest; he sniffed over and over again, but still nothing.

Sesshomaru felt a twinge on the edge of his consciousness, a presence he had not felt for some time. He whipped his head around, golden gaze settling somewhere unseen. The flicker of life was moving away. Fast.

He launched himself forward, racing in her direction.

Low level spirits and demons approached him, drawn by the power of the orb hanging around his neck. He paid them no heed; none of them were of any consequence.

Not fast enough!

The instant she felt his presence, panic had set in and instinct took over. Months and months of being alone and suddenly, he appeared.

Rin sprinted for all she was worth, pumping her legs, wishing that she was still yet imbued with the demonic powers she'd possessed for a week.

Damn it all, why is he here? He couldn't possibly have died - which means that he came via other means...

She skidded to a halt. She had promised him a chat, hadn't she? If he was here, then why not take the time to talk things through. Inuyasha and Kikyo separated with muddied air, only to find themselves in a battle five decades later. Rin shivered. She definitely did not want to end up like that.

So she waited.

Soon enough, Sesshomaru dropped down in front of her. His expression was as emotionless as ever. Though she did note that he was slightly out of breath, even if he was doing his best to hide it.

She bit her lip, gulped some air, and threw back her shoulders. With an awkward smile and a jaunty half-wave, she initiated the conversation. "Hello."

Expectedly, there was no response. That was an excellent start.

"I suppose you're wondering what happened." She hid her hands behind her back, bumping into Tenseiga slightly. Smooth.

"Come home." He held out a hand.

"I can't. You know that I can't." She turned away. "I'd need a new life connection spell. I know why Tsukiakari did it and I am grateful that it kept me alive long enough to help you all, but it came at a cost."

She squeezed her eyes tight and gripped her arms tightly. "Even now I feel guilty about taking surplus lifeforce from Yami: I was essentially binding him to a life of slavery. I could not do that again."

The kagekyo nuzzled against her.

"And I refuse to shorten someone's life as a means to be where I want to be. I cannot have that type of burden hanging over my head."

"I will outlive you, even if you were to take half my years. This does not matter to me."

"It does to me," Rin continued softly. "As much as I appreciate everything you have done for me, this cannot go on."

Secretly, she was on the fence. In her solitude, she had a great long time to contemplate what had happened and what she was willing to do for her own happiness. True, she would not use Yami like that ever again. Sesshoumaru on the other hand...

When she had the life leech as a human, it was a fraction of what had been required with the dragon mantle. Such a small amount would not necessarily matter, especially not if it was just for a little while.

But there was more to the equation than just the matter of balancing the life energy scales.

"There is more than just us. You have to think about your fianceeeeee-hey!"

Sesshomaru swept her up in his arms and leapt through a shining circle of light. The cold rain on the other side caused her to gasp as they sped away in the living world. He dashed and hopped and floated until he reached a cliff outcropping.

Thoroughly soaked, he set her down gently. She stomped a few paces away, splashing in the small puddles before whirling around to admonish him.

"It's a nightmare out here - we could have finished the conversation back there." She reached to draw Tenseiga. "I am bringing us back, right now. What did I tell you? Every minute I spend here is drawing from Yami and I don't want that!"

Without saying a word, he calmly walked over to her and wrapped her in his arms, making sure to shield her from the downpour with his furs. Under the covering, she couldn't see his face, but she heard one word.

"Listen."

And so she did.

She listened to the wind and the rain, muffled from within the pocket of warmth that cocooned her. She listened to her own heartbeat, thudding in her chest, very aware that it was his life energy that sustained her.

For the first time, in a very long time, she listened to his heart. Without his armor, his elegant kimono was drenched, clinging to his skin. With her ear pressed almost directly against his chest, Rin was able to hear the rhythmic pounding that mirrored her own.

Then she heard him take a breath.

"When you...died…" he paused to exhale and started again. "Every time you almost died, there were words that I wanted to say, and when you came back, I put those words away. I was self-assured in my own strength that I could protect you and I selfishly believed that you would always be there to hear them some day."

Rin stopped breathing altogether, trying to catch the low tone of his voice.

"When you...died...I finally realized that those words would be forever left unsaid. That the life experiences and sensations on the edge of my dreams would be left unexplored. I did my best to live my life to the standard you would have desired, but I learned my lesson too late: there is no meaning to those actions without you."

Despite her earlier tone, she discarded her reservations for the moment: it was more important, at least for right now, to finally have an honest discussion. She smiled and hesitantly wrapped her arms around his chest, encouraging him.

"When you are ready, I will let you go. We can remove the bond as you asked, but until then: give me your time. Please."

The long silence that followed amplified the hush of the rain and the distant thundering of storm clouds.

She removed her arms and could feel him stiffen from rejection.

She leaned back, pushing aside the fur to force her face into the onslaught of droplets. Her eyes locked onto his golden ones to give him the brightest smile she could. "That, I can agree to."

Sesshoumaru cast his gaze downward and blinked a few times. Rin reached up to rub her thumbs against his cheeks, pretending not to notice the tiny bit of moisture that gathered suspiciously below his lashes. He looked back at her again and then granted her the faintest of smiles.

This prompted her to widen her smile even more and she drew his face in close. "I love you too."

She closed her eyes and gave him a quick kiss.

"Rin you-" he was interrupted by a brilliant white light that erupted between them and they both drew back, shielding their eyes with their arms. When the light faded, Rin blinked. Then she noticed that the moon on his forehead had returned to its original purple state.

"What was that? And what happened to your moon?"

He sighed. "As I was attempting to tell you - you have just made our arrangement permanent."

"I am sorry, care to explain it in terms that actually make sense?" Rin put her hands on her hips, her irritation keeping her warm for a few extra seconds.

"The original spell my mother used to bind your soul to your body, was apparently a mark of engagement. One that connected you...to me." He could send Rin's increasing anger. "Engagement spells are intended to be temporary until the parties perform the final ritual, completing the spell and making it binding."

Rin shot him a disbelieving look, flavored with a dash of mild outrage.

"Do you mean to say that I have been walking around multiple planes of existence, openly engaged to you? Without my knowledge or consent? Were you planning to tell me this at any point?"

She did not pause to let him answer. "And then - let me get this straight - because I kissed you, we're somehow married."

"Is that correct?" He did not reply. "Answer!"

"Yes."

"What does this marriage bond entail?"

"The marriage bond ties both the soul and the life," he quoted from the ceremony documents he had just memorized for his wedding to..someone else. "In the case of sickness or other impairment, one of the soul mates may draw from the other."

"So, it's a life leech. I will assume it cannot be removed like we just discussed...only a few moments ago. Is that about right?"

There was no rebuttal from Sesshoumaru's corner of the ring.

"Kami-sama, why is everything so complicated with all of you?" Rin pinched the bridge of her nose - she could feel a headache coming on. Let's just think about this rationally, there's no use grieving what can't be undone.

"Listen up! I can't say that I am happy with how this happened, but I will go along with this under one condition!"

She pointed at him. "When I have lived my lifespan as a human and my body gives out, you have to let me die properly, like a human. No resurrections, no magic spells, no coming back to the underworld, no nothing. Can you agree to that?"

There was a nod.

"Good; I've died enough times as it is."

She smiled and walked over, pulling him towards a rock that placed them in the lee of the wind.

"I am not quite ready to be a married woman yet. I don't care what your stupid magic spell says. I expect a proper courtship. You're not getting out of this because of a technicality."

She snuggled into his chest and smiled teasingly. "Kagome-chan has told me all the wonderful things they do in her world like 'dates' and I was thoroughly impressed with what Inuyasha-sama was able to deliver! I have high expectations for you!"

She peeked up to see Sesshoumaru looking blankly in the distance with a mild look of horror on his face. Biting back a laugh, she put her arms back around his chest.

"When we do finally take that step, do you think your brother would prefer 'Inuyasha' or 'ni-chan'?" This elicited a shudder and from what she could see, a slight grimace. No doubt the entire family would be thrilled to have a human to call their own.

The family. Inukojo. How could I have forgotten?

Rin jolted in alarm and Sesshoumaru immediately tensed. "Your aunt! The army! What happened after I left? Is everyone safe? Did the villagers make it out alive?"

She reached pinnacle confusion when she felt him relax, but then he explained. "I do not believe that will be a problem." He tugged her tighter into their shelter, to evade the storm.

Far to the south, along the coast, was a city made from black stone. It was once forged by dragons, then destroyed by the very same, and then rebuilt by the people who came after. Ryudo was no longer the same as it once was, and yet, very much unchanged in many respects.

At dawn, the cool ocean air pushed aside the dry summer sky. In a few hours the streets would be filled with dragonkin, going about their business: visiting the markets, greeting old friends, enjoying drink and laughter, all under skies filled with soaring dragons.

On the very edge of the cliff slumbered the massive form of Omo, not quite awake for the day, with birds and smaller dragon demons basking on the warmth of his scales.

Kongomi, queen of Ryudo and Lord of the Western Lands turned onto her back, shifting the silks and cottons on her bed. A low murmur rumbled beside her.

"Do you need to get up this early?"

She glanced at Yoihito and gave him a playful slap on an exposed shoulder. "Is that something the chief military commander of a nation should say?" She arched her back and lifted her arms above her head. "You know there is a lot to get done."

"There is always a lot to get done," he grumbled. She had learned following their unexpected wedding that the captain-turned-prince was actually terrible in the mornings.

"Well, I don't think you have much choice in the matter. He's due to start any minute-"

A cry arose from a swaddle of cloth next to their bed as an infant dragonkin wailed at the top of his lungs.

Yoihito was up in a flash, grabbing their son and wrapping him in a lightly bouncing hug. He caressed the child's golden hair. "There's a good boy." He paused when he saw his wife staring out the window. "What is it?"

He turned to look at the pink and yellow sunrise, along with the black bird gliding on the thermals, heading straight for them.

Kongomi gave a satisfied smirk. "He's done it."

The sun beat down mercilessly and Kohaku cursed not having taken that villager's offer for a straw hat. He sweltered on the back of Ah-Un, the fresh breeze doing nothing to assuage the rampant heat.

It was times like these that he regretted joining Tsukiakari's military command, if only because the navy kimonos were much heavier than his old demon slaying garb. Even in the northern lands, there was no escaping summer's endless march.

He landed in a massive courtyard surrounded by stone on all sides. A few soldiers with telltale demonic ears rushed forward to collect Ah-Un's harness. He gave them a nod and a brief word of thanks, heading into the fortress.

Unlike Inukimi's palace, this castle was fully utilitarian - stone, iron, and little else. Tsukiakari did not seem to mind, but sometimes Kohaku longed for a bit more color. Without waiting for an introduction, he let himself into the lord's chambers.

"Yes, thank you Jaken. Please make sure my father understands that I expect a full report in his next correspondence." The lord in question reviewed a multitude of scrolls laid out before her. She looked up as Kohaku entered. "That will be all for now. If you would be so kind as to prepare these for the next council meeting?"

"Right away!" The imp squawked and scurried from the room, with only the tiniest sniffs of disapproval in Kohaku's direction.

"What news do you bring me?" Tsukiakari laid back in her hefty chair.

Kohaku rubbed the back of his neck and stretched his tight muscles. "Shouldn't you already know? I did send a messenger eagle."

"Yes, but I like hearing it from you."

With a sigh, he indulged her. "I was able to connect with the locals, found where the soldiers were hiding, had them captured and they'll be sent here for sentencing and rehabilitation." He gave her a meaningful look. "Does that satisfy your curiosity?"

"Very much so. That appears to be the last of the reported insurgences. We are making excellent progress after these past few months." She made a mark on one of the scrolls. "You are due for some well earned rest time, if you'd like."

He sat on the corner of her desk. "That works. Sota was asking if I wanted to 'go with him on holiday', only, I'm not sure what he meant. Maybe holidays in his world last several days." He shrugged. "He mentioned some of his other friends would be there as well."

"Oh, like Yurie-san?" Tsukiakari fluttered her eyelashes in his direction.

"What? Who?" Kohaku thought for a moment. "Oh, no. Sota's friend was courting Yurie-san, but I think the courtship was called off, so I can't imagine she'd be there."

He noticed the demon's continued stare. "I know you're trying to tease me, but it has no effect." His voice dropped slightly. "Not when there's someone else."

The melancholy mood hanging heavily in the room popped when a large crow with red eyes swooped in through a window. It dropped a tightly wound scroll on the desk before disappearing in a puff of black smoke.

"Is that-?" Kohaku's and Tsukiakari's eyes met.

She reached for the scroll and had it open in a matter of seconds. Her eyes scanned the message and met Kohaku's, shining with joy.

"Mama, why aren't we celebrating with oba-chan this year?" Miki asked as Kagome finished tugging the obi in place. "I wanted to write a wish like we learned in school!"

"Papa wanted to show you how they celebrate it in his hometown. Hold still!" She tried to wrestle with the wriggling child.

"But I wanted to write a wish! Papa said they don't do wish tags here!" Miki whined, but consented to sitting in her mother's lap to get her hair combed.

"Did you know the festival isn't just to write wishes?" She could tell from how still Miki went that she hadn't. "The festival is to mark a very special day: it's the one day during the year when a princess finally gets to see her love."

Miki tilted her head to the side so Kagome tilted it back as she tried to affix a ribbon to a tiny ponytail on top. "Why can't she see him all the time?"

"This princess used to have a very special job, weaving the most beautiful cloth in the world. She would sit next to the Milky Way and make clothing all day."

Miki giggled. "Mama, you're silly. Sensei told us the Milky Way is all the stars in the sky. You can't sit next to the stars!"

She tweaked Miki's nose. "You can if you are a princess of the Heaven realms. They say that up there, the Milky Way is a giant river of stars. This princess could sit next to those twinkling stars all day long. But it did make her very lonely."

"There," she patted the bow. "You're all set. Shall we go find Papa?"

"I want to hear the end of the story!" The girl pouted with all her might.

"Alright, why don't I tell you the rest of the story as we walk down to the village?" She gathered Shinobu in her arms, not quite waking him, and then took her other child's hand.

"What happened to the princess?" The sound of skipping feet scuffed against the dry dirt.

"She worked very hard on her cloth, but she was very sad and alone. Her father, the king of the heavens felt bad for her and arranged her to meet someone: a cowherd from the other side of the Milky Way."

"Wow! He must have traveled so far to see her!"

Kagome chuckled slightly, suddenly thinking of others who must have gone to great distances to see someone they loved.

"Yes, he must have. They fell in love and got married."

"And they lived happily, ever, after!"

"Not exactly. When they were married, the princess didn't have time to weave her cloth and the cowherd's cows strayed all over the heavens. This made the king angry and he separated them on the opposite sides of the river."

"Booo! Evil king!" Miki screwed up her face with all the disdain her little body could muster. "Time out corner for him!"

"You're right, it wasn't very nice. The king felt bad, so he said they could meet one day a year."

"Is that festival day?"

"That's the festival day. If the skies are clear, a bridge forms across the Milky Way and the lovers can meet." Kagome glanced at the twilight sky. It had been sunny all day, but some clouds had rolled in later in the afternoon.

Miki was also worriedly looking at the weather patterns. "But, if there are clouds, then the princess and the cowherd can't meet." Her lip started to tremble. "Is the princess going to be sad again?"

Kneeling down, she wrapped an arm around Miki. "Everything will be fine. Look." She pointed out a break in the clouds, exposing the first stars of the night.

"Yay!" Miki broke out in a wide, beaming smile before glimpsing someone in the distance. "It's Papa!" She trotted down the path as quickly as her kimono would permit.

Kagome carefully picked herself up, trying not to rumple her own yukata. As she approached the village, which was bathed in flickering light from bonfires and lanterns, she too noticed Inuyasha, now with a bundle of daughter in his arms.

"Oji-san!" Miki squealed, arms outstretched.

"Oji-san?" Kagome whipped her head around behind her and gasped.

Sesshomaru was walking down the grassy hill from Inuyasha's tree, hair loose and flowing over a white kimono with red trim, Bakusaiga slipped into his waist, lush white fur draped over his shoulder.

Next to him dressed in orange and gold, hair carefully tied back with flowers, revealing a purple crescent moon on her forehead, was a smiling Rin. She caught sight of Kagome and dashed down towards the happy family and the festival.

Kagome raced to embrace her friend.

Whether a fairytale princess and a cowherd, a half-demon and a school girl straining to find one another over a distance of five hundred years, or even a demon lord and a young woman learning to understand one another while treading the line between life and death: they were all the same.

In the face of every challenge, they were able to turn towards one another and fight back the doubt that they might never see one another again. Through miscommunications, romantic rivalries, misunderstandings, saying goodbye, and enduring long separation, each time they were able to turn towards one another and move forward. That was the important thing.

And so it came to pass that the lovers separated by time and space were finally reunited; no longer were they yearning for one another and Reaching Across the Milky Way.

The End

A/N: *Pushes back the chair and drops the quill on the floor.* It's over.

I recommend checking out my afterword for thoughts around the story, as well as Sesshoumaru's epilogue: Light at the End of the Day.