Disclaimer: I own a headache...but no Inu-kun or the others.
Wow. It has been forever, hasn't it? Like, a few months..try a lot of months. I feel horrible about it, really. But this was the hardest chapter to pull together in a reasonably organized manner. I had the worst case of writer's block and a lot of things going on in my life. So I'm sorry that it's been so long. But I thank all of my readers that have been waiting for this chapter to come out sooo much. I love you all!
Chapter 20 - Merging of Worlds
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Sesshoumaru did a lot of work that night. He and Kagura contacted a lot of people in high places, did a lot of research and backed up a lot of arguments most would die for if they were in his place. Human rights weren't something most demons would vouch for. After seeing the courage and friendship between everyone in his household, though, Sesshoumaru was disgusted to the point of taking their side (we all know he really has a soft spot for humans, though). Thanks to him, slowly, humans gained their rights back. Over a year's period, they had equal rights, the same as all the demons. Within that period, hanyous were slowly accepted as well. There were still demons that didn't like humans, but they had grown accustom to the fact that they had to deal with them every day. These new laws brought a new light upon the mansion of the Western Lord.
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"Lord Sesshoumaru, when are we going to the park?" Rin's bright brown eyes popped up at the edge of the inu-youkai's paper. She hopped from foot to foot in anticipation, waiting for him to answer. The kitchen door swung open and Rin turned her attention to Kagura, who had just walked in; cell phone in hand.
"Jaken, you idiot! I said to hold the conference...Are you really so stupid you can't decipher a fu–" Her conversation halted when the little girl pulled on her forest green skirt. Her eyes flinted down to the girl. "Yes, Rin?"
"Can you take me to the park? Lord Sesshoumaru isn't talking again...is he okay?" The child asked. Kagura's lips were graced with a rare smile. "Sure, I'll go." She pressed a button on her cell phone and set it on the table. A strange youkai in her office was having a panic attack, not knowing what to do with the members of the committee that weren't supposed to be there.
Kagura let the little girl grab her hand and explained that Sesshoumaru had moods that he got into sometimes, as the two walked out the door. Sesshoumaru watched as the two most important people in his life walked on, chatting as if it were always this normal. Never in his life would he have imagined feeling this way about a human. A little, innocent human child, so pure that he couldn't help but feel a bit affectionate. And then there was Kagura. Throughout all their differences, they found a way to come to a mutual affection. Which, over the course of time, grew to a greater degree.
Sometimes people would talk about the odd "family." Not to their face of course, but they all heard it. Sesshoumaru and Kagura was a couple others never would have fathomed in a million years. Then there was that human child of all things. Passer byers always commented on what a wonderfully strong youkai child they could have had, but instead they take that..imp..in under their wings.
But the oddest couple of all was that hanyou brother of his and his significant other. People noticed Inuyasha enough as it was. Those ears and silver hair made him noticeable miles away. But that human girl that was with him drew more attention to the duo. Kagome was beautiful. Even demons admitted that. Even so, they would have thought that a son of the great lord would chose someone more sufficient. Inuyasha always snorted when people commented on Kagome. She was wonderful. He knew it, but the chances of him ever admitting that in public just to show them up was rather slim. But what really amused people was when that red-haired fox child tagged along with them. Now, that was a sight. Usually the little guy perched on Kagome's shoulder and avoided swings dealt from Inuyasha. Other times, he was running around Kagome's feet, begging for her attention, which she willing gave with the kindest smile.
Sango and Miroku were the first to make their relationship known. Shortly after human rights were activated and marriage was allowed, the two lovebirds were engaged. They received the least bit of attention, because they were the most "normal" couple, and could easily blend in with a crowd when the group went out. Sometimes, though, they would recede in to a huddle of people if Kagome and Inuyasha got in to an argument, which was very often.
Surprisingly, youkai acquired to the new laws seemingly quickly. A few of the older youkai who had lived with the laws of slavery their whole lives were a bit upset, and didn't like that they had to pay the humans for their services. Eventually, a vast majority of them changed though. There were still those that didn't like humans. Those were the lower ones that were constantly harassing humans. They were the same ones that were arrested and charged for their actions.
Humanity is wicked in the way that people just don't like those that are different from them. It's a sick reality. After a while, youkai began to realize that even though the humans were different from them, it didn't make them any less important. They were living things as well. They deserved freedom just as much as the next. Which raises the question as to why such a thing was ever initiated to begin with?
After much history research, Sesshoumaru and Kagura found an answer. It's the same thing that lies at the base of every nation and every youkai and human heart alike. The desire for power has been the cause of many events that could have been prevented had more open-minded people been in charge during the day of human enslavement under youkai. Power is a disease that, once caught, is hard to cure completely. The person that has the disease must give in, and admit that they've gone too far. Either that, or it must be taken by force, usually resulting in an ugly resolution.
As years passed, people changed and the two mixed, and standing next to a hanyou in line for your burger was quite common. Half the time, that hanyou would be your friend that you just got out of school with, and you decided you'd both stop for some food and talk about the latest gossip.
Kagome and Inuyasha had a beautiful daughter who didn't have to face the same horror that her father faced in school or that her mother faced at the factories. Her best friend was Sango and Miroku's son. Rin, a popular girl in her high school now, was usually the babysitter of the two children. The families all lived close to each other in the same neighborhood. Along with many other youkai, humans, and hanyou. Sure, there was still a youkai or some punk kid that showed their dislike for the other, but usually things remained relatively calm and peaceful.
Every once in a while, Kikyou would come by to visit her sister and the rest of the gang. She was ever-grateful to Sesshoumaru and the rest of them who worked so hard to free the humans. Sometimes, she and Kagome would sit on the back deck after everyone else had gone to bed. The two sisters would reminisce on the past and what had happened. They realized that they were the revolutionary generation. They were the ones that had lived through that hell and survived. They lived through the terror of not knowing if your life would end because of a simple mistake, or if you had just looked at a youkai the wrong way. Kagome still has nightmares about being separated from her sister that day. She still twists the ring around her finger that her sister let her keep. Sometimes, when she doesn't notice, Kikyou will look at her with a look only a loving sister can give, grateful that she's sitting beside her baby sister. She remembers the day she didn't know if her sister was still alive. She didn't think she'd ever find her, and here she was, sitting next to her joking about something stupid Inuyasha had said at dinner (that shouldn't be a great surprise to anyone).
The world kept turning. Life grew more bearable between youkai and humans than ever before. It grew to a point where there wasn't much of a difference. Not that anyone cared anyway. Differences faded to a thing of the past, and was something children only read about in history books anymore. The past remained exactly where it should: in the past.
And they all lived happily ever after (I've always wanted to say that).
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Yes, that's the end of it. I didn't want to get into all the itty gritty details of everything. I don't think there's much of a need to. Trust me, I worked it all out and everything, but then this would have gotten too legal for everyone to keep interest.
I wrote this story with a valid point in mind, and I hope that people realized it by the end. See, I live in the south, and still today there is segregation. People segregate themselves, though, and I think it's quite sad. I am lucky that I am one of the people that have many friends of different races, religions and cultures. But sometimes I see people that don't like someone else just because they're different from them. Things like that really piss me off, because they don't even take the time to get to know the person. There have been times also, where they've said something about a friend of mine and made a crude remark. It really hurts, because the people they insult are usually great people. I don't think there's a need for this at all. I know our parents and our grandparents were part of a totally different generation. I can only hope that we change that, and that people can set the past aside and move toward the future. I don't want my child to grow up in a world where he/she has to see this like I do. I know it's not as evident as it was in the past, but it's still there a bit. People need to grow up and be more mature. If my friends and I can set aside our differences, why should it be so hard for the rest of the world? I know that it seems like a lot to ask of a lot of people, but it's really not asking much when you think about it. Why can't we all live by that lesson they taught us in kindergarten? Just..be nice to everyone. I saw this poster once in my sister's school. It said, "Don't see a person in color, see them with your heart." And that's so 1st grade, but it's also so true. I know one little fanfic won't change the opinion of the whole world. I don't want to make a huge impact and I don't expect it to. Just hopefully, just maybe I can let my readers see where I'm coming from. I'm not out to change anyone's minds or their ways, only you yourself can do that. But sometimes I wish people would look at things with a different eye. That same eye they looked at things as a child. When race, religion, and culture didn't matter because that person next to you was a new friend with whom you'd always share your Crayola crayons, when it didn't matter what name brand you wore because everyone wore the same thing from Wal-Mart or JC Penny, when no one cared about how their hair looked because you were young so it was going to be sloppy and messy. I don't want anyone to insult me for my views, because I am entitled to my own opinion. I am just a simple authoress who wants people to enjoy her story. With that said, everyone, have a wonderful day/week/month/year.
Make sure to look for my next fic, because I should be starting it pretty soon. Just keep your eye out for the one and only Kae-sama!
I would also like to thank all of my readers for their reviews and for the everlasting purpose to continue this. I'm going to have this in the best order that I can..starting from the first chapter
Kawaii Rin
Eden
RavenC
Prepare For I Am the Sugar Kitten
DramaQueenABZ
sapphire-glass
queenie
Ashley
Kylria
windgal
e
April
I would especially like to thank DramaQueenABZ, because she has been my most active reviewer, and has given me many tips that were very useful. And she's stuck this whole fic out with me the whole time, so I commend her on that. Hopefully, she'll read my next fic and like it just as much..lol..along with the rest of you. I would greatly appreciate it!
Much love to all! Kae-sama
