Gwg: This epilogue is dedicated to all of those that stood at my side during the writing of this story. It meant a lot...and I truly appreciate it. So for all of you guys, here's the final installment of Sakura Blossoms and Kisses.

Give me a smile and shiny days, by your smile
I can withstand the cold of a frozen night. - - 1/3 Pure Heart Emotion by Siam Shade (Rurouni Kenshin)

Sakura Blossoms and Kisses: Epilogue

It's been so long since that fateful day in the Sengoku Jidai when we defeated the half-breed named Naraku. Things have changed since then, and I have to say that I really don't mind it at all. Inuyasha and Sesshomaru are mates and they share the Lordship of the Western Lands. Miroku and Sango got married a few years back and although they still fight, you can tell they love eachother. Shippou's grown up into a man, but he still acts a bit childish sometimes. Kouga married Ayame soon after Naraku's downfall and he's still the leader of the pack.

Kagura and Kanna have disappeared, although sometimes I get the feeling that they're still around. Kikyo disappeared with them, whether she's still alive or not though is a mystery. Kirara is still the same as always, although we think she's fallen in love with another fire neko. For myself, well...you'll just have to see...

"Bye Mom! Tell Souta I said to stay out of trouble!" a familar voice rang throughout the Higurashi Shrine as a black haired woman ran out of the door and towards the Bone Eaters Well. A smile was upon her face as she jumped into the well and disappeared without a second thought.

"Kagome!"

Twenty-five year old Kagome Higurashi looked up as she landed on the other side of the Bone Eaters Well. Looking down at her was the one and only Shippou with a transformed Kirara at his side.

"Hi guys!" she exclaimed in return as she climbed out of the well with a smile. This was the same routine that had went on for the last three years, Shippou always being the one to pick her up. The kitsune only grinned in response, having a slightly rogueish touch to his looks as he moved his auburn hair away from his face.

"Ready to go?" he asked as he motioned towards Kirara. Kagome nodded as they climbed upon the fire neko and headed towards the Western Lands. On their way there they talked about everything, including how Kagome's life had been since her last visit about a month ago. She'd managed to get through Highschool and was now going to college so that she could be a teacher, who would've thought?

"Inuyasha's really been wanting to see you again, Kagome. That's all that he's talked about for the last few days." Shippou intoned with a small smirk. He knew that his surrogate mother no longer had the same feelings towards Inuyasha, or at least the feelings of love anyway. They were the best of friends, even though they never got to see eachother a lot anymore. Kagome just nodded with a smile as she looked down at the scenery that they passed.

"He's not the only one. It's been a while since I've seen him," she replied with a smile as she ruffled Shippou's hair lightly. The kitsune laughed as he held on tightly to Kirara as she started to get closer to the ground.

"HEY!"

Kagome laughed as she looked down, seeing everyone looking up at her and Shippou as they desended upon Kirara. It wasn't long before Kagome was being greeted by everyone with smiles of happiness. Sapphire eyes shined with joy as she looked around, spotting Inuyasha standing off to the side with Sesshomaru. Upon the taiyoukai's shoulders was a very young hanyou child. He had the same long white hair as both of his father's and the same gentle amber optics. A set of doggy ears twitched on top of his head as he watched Kagome watch him.

The hanyou child had a silver moon on his forehead with blue markings where his father's magenta ones where. His name was Inutaisho, and he was the only son of Inuyasha and Sesshomaru. Kagome smiled at him, watching as he tried to wiggle off of his father's shoulders. Sesshomaru consented and set his son upon the ground, watching as he raced off towards Kagome.

"Oba Kagome!" he exclaimed as he jumped into her open arms. Kagome smiled as she ruffled his hair, earning an even bigger smile from him.

"Hey, Inutaisho-chan. Have you been behaving?"

A vigorus nod was her reply as everyone else started laughing. Kagome was still single, so she showered her affection upon the children of her friends. Sango and Miroku had their young twins by the name of Aki and Kohaku, their only children so far. Koga and Ayame had three pups, a girl named Taiya, and two boys named Ryo and Ryu. Shippou was still single as well, although he treated Inutaisho and the others as his own.

Rin was getting married in a few months with the permission of her two fathers, Inuyasha and Sesshomaru. She'd be living in a nearby village, but for now she remained a resident of the castle. Kagome set Inutaisho down with a smile before she hugged Inuyasha. He returned the gesture, smirking when Sesshomaru feigned a look of jealously before he hugged the miko as well. Everyone couldn't help but laugh as the sun shined above them and sakura blossoms swirled around...

It's a few years later now, and Inuyasha and Sesshomaru have another child...a girl named Yuki. Everything's going great, and even Shippou has found himself a mate. Sango and Miroku have another daughter named Kya, and she's a darling. Rin named her son Kotsu, and he's takes after his father with gentle blue eyes and untameable black hair.

Everyone's doing fine, and I'm just finishing up my first year of teaching. I've decided to take a year off and go stay with everyone in the Sengoku Jidai for awhile. Inuyasha and Sesshomaru invited me to stay at their castle and I think that I'll take the invation. It seems so long ago that I was in love with Inuyasha, and that he was pulled between me and Kikyo.

It's a time that I remember often, reliving the events in my head clearly. I can still remember Inuyasha and Sesshomaru's mating ceremony, how they stood underneath the sakura blossoms in a grove not far from their castle. I tried to imagine me standing in Sesshomaru's place, but even as I tried I could not...and it's something that still is impossible for me to do.

Inutaisho is growing up to be like his dad, arrogant and cocky...but it's cute when he does it. The years that I spent searching for the Shikon No Tama are the years that mean the most to me. In so little time I fell in and out of love, and forged frienships that will forever last. I know that the others feel the same, even Inuyasha. He loves Sesshomaru with all of his heart, and Sesshomaru returns the same love for his younger brother.

Sengoku Jidai...

A gentle smile appeared upon the features of the taiyoukai of the west as he watched his mate silently. They were standing in among the cherry trees, the same grove of trees that he had first kissed his brother under so long ago. His hair danced around his face with the breeze as the youkai lord relived that moment in his mind. So much passion had been instilled within that kiss...a passion that was still a live today.

"Sesshomaru?" the soft voice of his brother brought him out of his thoughts as he started towards him. Amber optics flickered with love as his eyes fell upon the face of his brother. He could drown within the eyes that looked so much like his own as he continued to step foward. Sesshomaru stopped just a few inches away from his brother with a smile tugging at his face. Inuyasha looked up at him, wondering what his brother was thinking about.

"Ai shiteru, Inuyasha..."

The words were spoken softly and before Inuyasha could reply Sesshomaru captured the lips of his lover with his own. The kiss told Inuyasha of the love that his older brother couldn't seem to relay with words...the love that they both shared. He returned the kiss gently as his nose picked up the scent of his brother mixed in with the scent of the sakura blossoms that drifted down around them. His heart was bursting with love for his younger brother as he cupped his cheek within his hand and deepened the kiss.

He could remember thinking that it would take forever to have his brother at his side. That it would take more time than either of them had. Sesshomaru could remember thinking that heaven was too far to reach, since his brother was the only heaven he could ever want. Yet now, as he stood kissing his brother with the scent of sakura blossoms invading his senses, he couldn't help but think that maybe heaven wasn't so far away after all...

Gwg: I hope that you enjoyed reading this epilogue as much as I enjoyed writing it. Although it may not include the closure you wanted, it at least gives you a glimsp into their lives after Naraku's defeat. I may write a side story, but that's most likely not going to happen. Until the next time I join you in the Sengoku Jidai, ja ne...