Onna: Saiyuki is copyrighted to Kazuya Minekura. This lowly authoress owns nothing in relationship to this series. Open Up Your Mind is sung by MIRAI. Lyrics and translations taken from www.animelyrics.com. And this is it! The epilogue!

Yaone: *looks mighty relieved*

Hakkai: Yare yare. Read on and enjoy! O_^

*****

5 years later

"Heart rate is normal," Yaone smiled at her first patient, whose eyes were trained on the screen beside the bed. "Normal and strong. This is a very healthy baby boy."

The woman's eyes misted, beaming at her husband. "A boy... oh..."

The man leaned over to kiss her forehead, his countenance one of pride. "Is he all right?"

Yaone nodded, looking back at the screen. "He's fine. Everything looks normal, and I don't see any problems."

"Thank you, Doctor," he murmured.

She got up and turned off the screen, helping the woman fix her clothing. "I will see you all back next month for your next check-up. Now, you will have to take a lot of rests, no additional stress from work. I advise that you apply for maternity leave within the next week at least."

"Is she close to labor, Doctor?" the husband asked worriedly.

"No, she still has a little more than a month to go, but sometimes first babies decide they want to be born early, so I don't want to take any chances," she had just finished her sentence when there was a knock on the door. "Excuse me."

Her secretary greeted her the moment she emerged. "Someone's in your office to see you."

"Arigatou," Yaone inclined her head as she moved towards that direction. She softly pushed the door open, flipping on the lights.

And gasped at the large bouquet of flowers sitting on her desk.

She moved to the table, reading the card that came with the flowers.

Surprise, surprise, Yaone. I just thought I'd congratulate you for successfully obtaining your medical practitioner's license. We're all very proud of you.

Hakkai.

"You're quite a sight in that white coat," a soft voice murmured in her ear as strong arms wrapped around her waist.

"Hakkai!" she laughed softly, turning in his embrace. "What is this all about?"

He grinned at her, jade eyes sparkling. "We're having a party tonight, to celebrate your achievement. And we're not taking no for an answer."

"Sounds like I'm being kidnapped for tonight," she teased. "Shall I come willingly?"

"Willingly is preferred," he teased back, caressing her cheek. "I'll see you tonight?"

Yaone nodded happily.

"You did WHAT?!" Sanzo snapped at Gojyo.

"Rented a cruise boat for tonight with your gold credit card, for the party."

"THOSE THINGS COST A FORTUNE! And I'm not even coming to the damn party anyway!"

"Hey, you do have a lot of dough tucked away somewhere. You'll figure out how to pay for it."

"URUSAI!"

Hakkai grinned as the familiar sounds of fan against head resounded in the background. "Maa maa, minna-san. Can we please settle down?"

Goku stuffed a large handful of chips in his mouth. "Who's gonna handle the food?"

"What are we having?" Lirin added, grabbing the last handful from the bowl.

"OI!"

"NYAAAAAAAAH!"

"Goku-kun! Lirin-chan!" Toufa cried. "Yamete kudasai!"

Hakkai laughed at the sight. Sanzo was still hitting Gojyo with the fan, while his brother sat there reading a book. Toufa, who had moved in with Lirin and Kougaiji after the incident, was trying to calm both Goku and Lirin. This was beginning to turn into a routine for them, helping them put behind them the nightmare they experienced.

Hakkai sobered, remembering how he and Yaone were buried under the rubble, her skin burned in places and gashes on her cheek. He was not better off, he felt as bad as he thought she might have felt. She had lain there, unmoving, and for a sickening, heart-stopping moment he thought she might be dead, before she shuddered and weakly murmured his name.

It would be two days before the rescue team Dokugakuji had called finally manage to find them, having found Goku and Gojyo first. Then it would take months of interrogation on hospital beds before the rest of the gang was finally caught, convicted and jailed.

Sanzo still retained his double career as a mercenary and a lawyer. Gojyo and Dokugakuji continued to pursue their police careers. Kougaiji had been dismissed and was placed under a witness protection program. Lirin, Toufa and Goku have graduated from high school and are pursuing their university degrees.

Hakkai quit his job at the school and continued to work as a phone counsellor, while keeping his mercenary job under wraps.

Yaone decided quickly that she no longer wished to be a police officer and pursued her dream of becoming a doctor.

He grinned to himself. Their lives have all taken quite a turn. And tonight they will celebrate yet another milestone. Yaone was now a doctor.

The night held so many promises.

But Hakkai also had a surprise in mind.

Yaone stepped into the deck of the boat, trying to get away from the noise inside. Gojyo and Goku were arguing once again, and she didn't think she wanted to be around when Sanzo, despite his threat of not attending the party, brings out his trusty fan.

Moshimo ima subete ga umaku nante ikanai (Even when it seems that nothing can go right)
Makesou ni naru toki datte (and you want to just give up)
Hitomi wo tojireba kokoro kara (if you close your eyes)
Sekai ga miete kuru (you can see the world from your heart)

She leaned on the railing, enjoying the breeze around her face, reminiscing the last time she gazed at the stars this way. Five years ago...

In this world when life can be so tough
You must be strong
Just believe in yourself and don't you fear
So open up your mind and close your eyes
Take another look from the other side

Five years since she and Hakkai met, five years she met these group of people who had quickly entered her circle of friends, now rejoicing with her, celebrating her success. Yaone felt joy and contentment seep into her, she wouldn't have life any other way.

Kodoku na yoru demo mayoi osoreru toki mo (Even on a lonely night, when you wander afraid)
Ima wa hitori demo kono ashi de doko made mo (you may be alone now, but)
Aruite ikeru hazu dakara (your feet can take you however far you want to go, so)

Just hold on tight hitomi tojita nara (because if you close your eyes)
Look inside yourself kagayaki ga aru kara (there's a shining light there)
Yes, subete shinjite hoshii (if you have the strength to live)
You can take another look from the other side

Just hold on tight kokoro kujikete mo (even if your heart is breaking)
Reach into your soul ashita ga mienakute mo (even if you can't see tomorrow)
Yes, ikiru tsuyosa ga areba (if you have the strength to live)
You can take another look from the other side
Ai no subete ni deau made... (until you find all that is love...)

"Enjoying yourself?" she heard the whisper as the reason for her contentment drew near her, placing strong warm hands on her shoulders.

She nodded at him, gracing him with one of her dazzling smiles. "Thank you..."

Kono sekai de ikinuite-iku tame no tsuyosa wo (I wish for you to have the strength)
Anata ni negatte-iru kara (to make it through this world)
Kokoro no tobira wo hiraitara (so open up your mind)
Nanika ga miete kuru (and you'll be able to see...)

Hakkai smiled back, brushing away a lock of wayward plum hair. "No need to thank me, it was all their idea."

"I might have known."

"I have told you that we're proud of you."

"You have, countless times."

Just remember you are not alone
So don't you fear
Even though you're miles away
I'm by your side
So open up your mind and close your eyes
I'll be there for you no matter where you are

He laughed at that. "Well, I'll say it again, but differently." He gently drew her into his arms. "I'm proud of you."

Yaone felt she would melt from his gentle yet piercing gaze. "Arigatou, Hakkai... You were all there when I needed you all... I couldn't have life any other way..."

Hoshi no inochi nara nagai kedo itsu made mo (The stars may live for a long time, but that doesn't mean)
Onaji kono hibi ga kurikaesu wake ja nai (that the same days will repeat over and over forever)
Ashita wa dare ni mo mienai (No one can see into tomorrow)

Just hold on tight hitomi tojita nara (because if you close your eyes)
Look inside yourself kodou kanjiru kara (you'll feel a heartbeat)
Yes, "MIRAI" shinjite hoshii (I want you to believe in the future)
You can take another look from the other side

Just hold on tight kokoro kujikete mo (even if your heart is breaking)
Reach into your soul ashita ga mienakute mo (even if you can't see tomorrow)
Yes, chigau sekai ga atte (there's another world out there)
You can take another look from the other side
Ai no subete ni deaeru yo... (and you'll be able to find all that is love...)

"I wouldn't change anything myself," he answered, stroking her hair.

She leaned against his chest, sighing contentedly. She and Hakkai have been seeing each other for years. Slowly as each day passed she felt him becoming part of her life more and more. She knew she couldn't bear life without him. He had been her strength and anchor since the first day they met.

"Yaone-san?" he whispered, gently tilting her face to look into her eyes. "Can I ask you something?"

Just hold on tight hitomi tojita nara (because if you close your eyes)
Look inside yourself kodou kanjiru kara (you'll feel a heartbeat)
Yes, "MIRAI" shinjite hoshii (I want you to believe in the future)
You can take another look from the other side

Just hold on tight kokoro kujikete mo (even if your heart is breaking)
Reach into your soul ashita ga mienakute mo (even if you can't see tomorrow)
Yes, chigau sekai ga atte (there's another world out there)
You can take another look from the other side

"You know you can..." she murmured, mesmerized by his gaze.

Hakkai smiled at her before drawing back a little, gently reaching into his pocket. She watched as he extended his hand towards her, revealing a small, square object.

Yaone gasped when he revealed the content, and she faced him, his face expressing joy and hope, her eyes brimming with tears.

"Yes!" she cried, flinging her arms around him, kissing his lips with all the love she could muster. She kissed him again, and again, and again. "Yes! Yes!"

"Yaone..." he murmured huskily, crushing her to him. "I love you..."

"I love you..." she whispered between kisses.

He drew back, his smile loving, as he took the small object in the box, before slipping it on her finger.

A beautiful amethyst engagement ring. One that is solely, uniquely hers, just as she was meant for him.

And he for her.

Ai no subete ni deaeru yo... (and you'll be able to find all that is love...)

*~*OWARI*~*

*****

Onna: WAFF OVERLOAD! WAI!!!

Yaone: Onna-san!

Hakkai: Sugar high desu! ^^

Onna: I love the WAFF! WAI~I!!! Call me an old-fashioned girl but I think weddings are so~o romantic!!! Thank you for the reviews! Go and read Ninjou, the story I co-author with my best friend bluejay, while you're at it, onegai. ^^ That'll be the story I'll be working on until I get a new idea, which hopefully I would have by the time I'm free to write seriously, maybe in 2 weeks or more. AAAAGH!! I HATE MAJOR HOMEWORK!

Yaone: Onna-san...