A/N: So, now that ff .net is working again, I can finally get this chapter up. Also, I'm glad about the reviewer response on Suki killing Henka. After all she's been through, she deserved a scene where she killed him off.

One more note: Okay, please don't ask me to do another sequel. I AM NOT DOING ANOTHER SEQUEL. I'm sorry to disappoint you, but this story has to stop sometime. And the last chapter will make it clear that this story cannot continue on with the lives of Kuro and etc. I mean, then I'd be going into Inu and Kags great-great whatever grandchildren! So, yes, this story is the LAST one of this series.

HOWEVER, I am starting to come up with ideas for another Inuyasha fanfic. It will be Inu and Kags, but its going to be way different then the first one. Not an AU or anything, but, just another plotline besides the generic, "Kill Naraku". But it might not be out for a while, considering that I am doing another fanfic after this one of the Star Wars variety. (Can't help it, I watched Episode III again and got hooked!)

But, I hope you all will read the next Inu and Kags one I do.

And now, to begin (After that REALLY long Author's Note, I think it wins for longest…):

Chapter 24: All I Ask of You

It had been two weeks since the battle with Henka. Kuro and Suki had returned immediately on Kirara, much to the relief of her sisters. She woke up the next day, to find her beloved beside her, watching over her like a guardian angel.

The moment of her realizing that it was over and they were both alive had only been ruined by one thing—when Yume, Hana, and SHippou had walked in through he door.

Kuro knew his ears would never be the same after hearing that amout of squealing.

Kiri and Akuto had returned a day later, with secretive grins on their faces, revealing a shared secret. Kuro hadn't seemed to notice. He was more worried about Suki.

It had seemed that since they had returned, she seemed a lot sadder. She wasn't as cheerful as usual. Suki would sometimes stare out the window, only to sigh and turn away,. Kuro thought she could sometimes smell tears on her, but she wouldn't say anything when he asked. It was like she was distanced from the world; living in it but not comprehending it.

It didn't dawn on the hanyou what was wrong until he caught her walking in the woods one day…

Kuro had been out looking for food for their dinner, when he suddenly sniffed her scent. HE abandoned his hunt for mean in order to follow her.

Suki, still looking dejected, walked along what seemed to be a familiar path. Kuro followed her, feeling the need to hide behind trees.

Suki glanced at the thing, white scar on her left hand, and then turned, only for Kuro to recognize where they were.

The abandoned hut…he remembered.

Taking a small breath, her eyes still holding back her depression, Suki pulled the curtain back and entered into the hut. Kuro watched through the window.

His mate knelt down before the bed, the same bed where they had first become mates, where they first made love. "This is where it all happened…" Suki muttered, through lidded eyes. "This is where Kuro and I…" She sniffed, wiping a tear that had fallen on her cheek.

"Where our child was conceived…" She covered her face in her hands and began to cry.

Kuro knew he had watched enough. So that's what's bothering her…he thought. The miscarriage…

In truth, he was sad about the death of the child he had hoped on having, the child he wanted to have. But, he knew it mast have been ten times harder for Suki. At first, she was afraid of being a mother, but somehow, over the course of the day she had known, she had gotten used to the idea.

As he was walking away, he looked back at the hut. She had still not come out.

That night, when he came into their hut, (they decided to live in Inuyasha and Kagome's old hut) she was lying on their bed, pretending to be asleep.

When he laid down and joined her, he could hear her start to cry ever so softly. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into his chest, where she buried herself in, crying.

"Shhh…" he said, holding her close and running his fingers through her hair. "Its okay, Suki. It'll be all right. I'm here. Everything will be okay."

"Kuro.." she cried. "I'm s-sorry…it's all my fault…it—"

"No." he assured her, pulling her even closer. "Suki, it wasn't your fault. It wasn't your fault…"

Kuro didn't say it out loud, but he secretly blamed himself for his child's death. He had been deceived by Tai, and didn't get to her in time. She got kidnapped. And he failed again tin getting to her soon enough, allowing Henka to kill the unborn baby.

He knew it had to be all his fault.

When he told Kiri of this, later when she asked why Suki hadn't been getting morning sickness, she was shocked to learn the baby didn't survive. She had also told him he was a fool for believing the blame could all be placed on him.

"What is it with you?" she demanded, her amber eyes flashing. "You always try to blame everything on yourself! Well, I know one thing, baka. It was nobody's fault. It's only that bastard Henka's." And then she told him all he needed to do was comfort Suki.

But how can I help her? He wondered. It's been two weeks…

Kuro spotted Suki by the temple in front of the graves. She was kneeling in front of a new grave, a small stone placed at the end of the line, with no markings upon it. He sat down next to her.

Suki turned to him. "Kuro…" she felt better knowing he was there. She looked back at the small stone. "It's our baby's…even though he never got a chance to live…he needs a grave marker."

Kuro sighed. "You're right. Suki…it was…a boy, wasn't it?"

She nodded, a tear falling down her face. "Our son…you saw him too, didn't you? He looked just like you…" She hugged her arms across her chest, as if embracing something that wasn't there. "My son…" She started crying.

Kuro tried to calm her. "Suki…"

"Please, Kuro…" she begged. "I just…need to be alone, for a little while…"

He hated to see her in this kind of pain, but he knew there was nothing he could do to help. It might be better to let her stay in front of the tiny grave for a while. He stood up. "Okay…" and started walking away, only wishing he could make her pain go away.

Kiri sighed, turning away from the scene. She had resumed her only habit of spying, just to make sure her friend was okay. By the looks of it, she wasn't just quite yet.

Of course she's still sad… A part of her mind told her. She lost her child, didn't she?

Kiri placed a hand over her lower stomach. I wonder how it feels, to have a new life growing indise you, and then to find it not there a day later…

She closed her amber eyes. It must be the worst feeling in the world…

"Hey, sweetheart!"

"AHHHH!" Kiri screamed, jumping about three feet when she noticed Akuto was behind her. "Don't DO that!"

He grinned. "Couldn't help it, you looked deep in thought."

Kiri sighed. "I was thinking about Suki-chan…"

Akuto's smile faded. He had also heard of her sadness. "How is she?"

"Well, I don't know. I'd probably say even better if Kuro would just cheer her up rather wallow in his own self guilt."

Kiri and Akuot never really saw eye to eye on this subject…or on most subjects, for that matter… "You know, he did just loose his kid. They guy's got to be feeling some kinda hurt…" Akuto paused. "Speaking of kids…" He scratched his head nervously.

"Akuto?" Kiri asked. "What is it?"

He sighed. "Oh, hell. There's no other way to do this but to say it—" He grabbed her hand, making Kiri stare in confusion.

"Sweetheart," he began. "I want you…" he gave a short pause. "To be my mate."

A fierce blush worked its way up her face. It wasn't just because he had just said a few certain words. For one thing, when most people said this, it was expected right away. And it was daytime, in the middle of a forest, no less. But that was probably beside the point.

"Now?" She asked, in a small, squeaky voice.

"No, not right away!" he said. "I mean, first, we gotta wait for this thing with your brother to clear up, then we gotta build ourselves a nice little hut where we can raise Akutobabies…" He seemed to like that thought. "Also, remember I told you in wolf youkai culture, the female has to be completely submissive to the male? You definitely got to work on hat one, sweetheart."

Kiri snorted. "Yeah, right."

"Don't be so sure." Akuto said. "I can be very persuasive." He gave a small, playful growl which made Kiri shiver.

"Y-you're not very good at this wooing thing, are you?" she replied.

He shrugged. "Well, what would you like me to say? 'From the moment I first saw you, I was captivated by your beauty, and thought only of my wish for you—' Hang on a minute, that was true. I look forward to seeing that lovely sight I saw two months ago…" His green eyes twinkled.

Kiri shot back. "Oh yeah? We'll see who sees what! If you keep this up, I'll make you wear a blindfold—"

"Should I take that as a yes?" Akuto grinned.

"OF COURSE!" she bellowed, as a happy tear fell from her eyes. As he took her in his arms, back to her place of comfort, she muttered. "Jackass…"

He smiled. "Yep, I'm just a jackass. A jackass who loves you."

They kissed sweetly, clinging to each other in happiness. Without a care in the world…until—

"KIRI! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING:

She drew apart from Akuto only to see an extremely surprised and shocked Kuro, who had apparently just walked by.

She rolled her eyes. "Oh be quiet Kuro, like you didn't already know!"

Judging by the look on his face, he hadn't. "But…why are you…and him…?"

Kiri growled in annoyance. "Just go and cheer up Suki-chan."

Kuro didn't seem to want to comply to her request. "But…Kiri…you are…"

"JUST GO AWAY!" she bellowed, which Kuro did, still carrying his look of surprise.

Once he was gone, Kiri returned in the arms of Aktuo, the arms of the man who, despite everything, she loved. The man who had somehow, broken through the barriers that she had placed around herself, and had melted the ice around her heart. Who had taught her how to love, who she now loved with every fiber of her being. "Now," she smirked. "Where were we?"

The idea that Kiri was now with Akuto would take some getting used to. I don't get it…I thought they hated each other… Kuro pondered, while walking back to the village. I don't even want to know how the hell she ended up liking him…

As he was walking by the graves, Kuro noticed Suki wasn't there. She must have gone back to their hut.

When Kuro entered it, Suki was leaning against the wall, her knees hugged to her chest. When she heard him enter, her head popped up. Kuro could see tears in her eyes. "Kuro?"

He kneeled closer and pulled her to his chest. "Suki…"

She cried softly into his haori. "Kuro…I'm sorry…I…I just c-can't get over it…"

"I didn't expect you to." Kuro replied, cupping her face in his hands. "But Suki, remember, when you're ready, we can always try again."

Suki leaned back against his chest, closing her eyes. "Kuro…I know, but…it's just…when I held our child…it was almost…as if I suddenly realized…I wanted to be a mother…I want to have your children…"

Kuro stared. "Do you want to try again…now?"

She shook her head. "No, not yet but…I'd like to…soon…if that's okay…"

"Okay?" he looked down at her. "Suki, of course its okay! I want to be a father, but…I want you to be ready too."

Suki smiled. "I'll let you know when I'm ready."

"And I'll make sure that baby is born." Kuro said.

When she looked up at him, and he smiled down at her, he murmured, "I love you, Suki."

"I love you too, Kuro…" she replied, touching her lips with his. The simple kiss soon progressed farther, becoming much more.

But with that kiss, Suki was assured that one day, they could try again.

And she knew, one day, they would have their only family, their own children.

That was all she needed, to be happy.

A/N: Sad, but happy in the end. What did you think of Akuto's proposal? I got a kick out of writing it! Anyway, one more chapter, where you finally get to see Kuro and Suki's family. So, PLEASE READ THE LAST CHAPTER!