The long awaited epilogue is here! The last of the questions will be answered! Yes, it is short, but aren't all epilogues? Plus, I would like to think of this as the begining of the spin off "InuTaisho." More on that later. I own nothing.

Epilogue

5 Years Later

Izayio quietly wandered through her small herb garden. She stooped beside her Biwa plants. Humming a small tune that Mother had sung to her, she carefully fingered through the herbs and tenderly picked the fully grown ones. Behind her, she heard childish footsteps. She paused and twisted around. A small hanyou boy, about five stood at the edge of her garden.

"Sister?" His voice asked a question.

Izayio stood and moved towards him. She kneeled to his level, pushing his hair from his face.

"What's wrong, InuTaisho?" InuTaisho blinked his round golden eyes, his heavy white bangs bouncing on his small forehead.

"What's a halfbreed?" The small child asked. Izayio's breath caught in her throat and her caramel eyes widened.

She pulled the small boy to her and held him tightly, fighting back her tears. Over his shoulder, she could see Father watching from a nearby tree. Their eyes met and Izayio nodded slightly. Father disappeared in the shadows of the leaves.

Izayio pulled back and looked into InuTaisho's eyes. "Oh, InuTaisho…"

X

InuYasha quietly jumped down from his tree branch. He landed silently on the balls of his feet and padded deeper into the forest, heading towards the Bone Eater's well.

He had heard the village children call InuTaisho a 'halfbreed.' Of course, Asako now had Sango's temper and slapped several of them for calling InuTaisho that. He knew he should have explained to his son about what people would call and how they would treat him. Ever since Kagome…InuYasha's chest tightened.

He had made those last four months as easy as he could for her. Kagome had pulled through them, barely. She lived long enough to hold her newborn pup.

InuYasha had to stop and hold his head to keep the memory at bay. He didn't want to think about how Kagome had nuzzled their son. How Kagome then looked up at InuYasha. How he saw the light leave her eyes.

'Take care of them…I love you…InuYasha…'

Tears burned behind InuYasha's eyes. She died then. She had never got to be the mother she had longed to be. Izayio had to raise her own brother. And soon after, Moriko disappeared and not even Mushin had heard from her.

InuTaisho barely looked anything like Kagome. He had the family's white hair. There were rough purple marks on his checks. Two little triangular dog ears rested on the top of his head. On his human nights, the first night of the half moon, he looked similar to Kagome. His hair darkened to black and his golden eyes darkened to Kagome's chocolate brown.

InuYasha finally cleared the forest. The well stood there, waiting for him. His eyes squinted in the early morning light. Through the haze, he saw a flash of Kagome sitting on the side of the well in her school uniform. His eyes blinked and she flashed away.

He was losing his mind.

He slowly wandered into the small meadow. He then sat down beside the well, leaning back until the cold stone pressed into his back. A small giggle sounded through his mind. He groaned.

Kagome's memory would always haunt him. He should have never made love to her that last time. He should have waited until they were both healed.

He could hear Izayio slowly walking through the forest. He weakly looked up towards her shadowed figure. She materialized from the forest, holding InuTaisho in her slender arms.

"Father?" She called.

InuYasha slowly stood up and walked towards them. InuTaisho squirmed in Izayio's arms until she released him. The small child ran towards his Father. InuYasha stopped and watched as the boy slowed before him and held his arms out.

"He wants to hear the story again." Izayio whispered.

InuYasha looked into her eyes. His eyes then traveled down to his eager son. He bent down to his level.

"Don't you know it by know?" InuYasha asked quietly.

The small boy smiled crookedly up at his Father, a missing tooth could be seen. "Yes, Father, but I like it when you tell it!" InuYasha sighed and picked up his small son.

He turned and Izayio followed behind them. Together, they sat around the small well. InuYasha leaned his head against the edge of the well.

"There was once a girl who came out of this well. Her name was Kagome and she was from the future. She didn't know it, but deep inside her was a secret power," InuYasha paused. In his mind, he could see Kagome standing on the edge of the meadow, watching intently as her green skirt and black hair danced in the wind.

"Kagome freed a reckless hanyou boy. His name was InuYasha. He had been pined to a tree fifty years prior by another miko. When InuYasha learned that Kagome had the Shikon no Tama, he wanted to kill her to get it. However, she placed an enchanted necklace on him," InuYasha fingered the beads at his throat.

InuTaisho looked wide eyed up at his Father. InuYasha looked down at his son.

"Why don't you tell the rest?" InuYasha whispered, nearly choking on the lump in his throat.

InuTaisho nodded, his golden eyes round. "Kagome broke the jewel. Together, InuYasha and Kagome had to travel throughout the land collecting the shards. Along the way, they began to fall in love. They faced many obstacles, but eventually restored and destroyed the jewel. Kagome had to go back to her time for a few years because her family there still needed her. However, InuYasha came to this well every three days to see if Kagome had returned. One day, she did."

Izayio leaned her head back on her shoulder, watching InuTaisho. "Together they mated and had two children: Izayio and InuTaisho. They were named after InuYasha's parents. However, Kagome grew very sick while she was pregnant with InuTaisho. However, she loved him so much she told InuYasha to save the pup before her," Izayio continued.

InuTaisho looked back up at InuYasha. "Mother is gone now." The small hanyou finished quietly.

InuYasha nodded and looked towards the sky. He had left out a lot from the simple fairy tale he told his son. He had also told Izayio to leave out the bad parts she knew. InuTaisho didn't need to know about Naraku, Kikyo, Kiba, Marika, and all the other bad parts of the story. Maybe, one day, he would tell his son the real story. A piece of metal winked in the sun. He looked down at the small ring on Izayio's finger. He had let her keep her mother's ring.

InuYasha turned back to his son. "Ok. You heard the story, now run along and go play." InuTaisho looked fearfully up at him. InuYasha sighed. "Play with the twins or Kotaro. Maybe Shippou's back from training." He suggested.

InuTaisho nodded and jumped from his lap, running towards the village. Izayio peaked over at InuYasha before slowly standing and following her brother. InuYasha was then alone in the meadow again. He closed his eyes and allowed the memories he had been repressing of Kagome to flood through him.

He could not live like this much longer.

X

Rin ran the brush through the small yokai boy's hair before her. Kiyomi had given birth to a healthy boy. He had the inu-yokai looks of being pale with white hair. His yokai markings were red and consisted of a crescent moon between his black brows and smooth stripes on his cheeks. His ears were slender and pointed.

As agreed, the two domains had been combined. Kiyomi quickly recovered from the birthing and handed the child to Rin. Rin then became the mother. Sesshomaru had named him Takeshi.

Rin sat the brush aside. Takeshi moved and turned to face her.

"Thank you, Mother Rin." He had Sesshomaru's quiet voice.

Rin smiled. "Of course, darling."

The screen behind them slid open and Sesshomaru entered. Takeshi quickly turned and bowed.

"Father."

Rin smiled and stood behind Takeshi. Sesshomaru merely glanced at her. He focused on Takeshi.

"Takeshi, you should be training." Sesshomaru rumbled quietly.

Takeshi stood. "I am sorry, Father. I slept in this morning. I would not have gotten started if not for Mother Rin."

Sesshomaru stepped to the side. "Do not let it happen again. Now go to Hiro."

Rin's smile fell as she watched Takeshi's shoulders tense.

"Yes, sir. Sorry, sir." He quickly rushed from the room.

Rin looked up at Sesshomaru. "Sesshomaru-" She stopped when she saw the look in his eyes.

"He needs to learn. He needs to be strong, Rin. Father treated me the same." Sesshomaru explicated.

Rin bowed quickly. "Yes, of course, my lord."

Sensing he had upset her, Sesshomaru walked towards her. He placed his hands on her shoulders and drew her closer to him. Rin slowly hugged him back.

"This Sesshomaru apologizes if you are upset."

Rin nodded against his chest. "'Tis fine, mi'Lord."

"You have done well with him, Rin. Now it is time he become a man."

Rin pulled back slightly and looked up at him. "He has barely seen five summers!" She interjected.

Sesshomaru looked down at her. "A yokai can never start too early in his training. Takeshi needs to be strong if he is to be lord over the western and eastern lands."

Rin looked away, nodding. "Though I disagree, I understand, mi'Lord."

Sesshomaru turned her face back towards his. Rin eagerly accepted his swift kiss.

X

Darkness was slowly creeping over the land. Izayio exited the hut of a village family, searching with her eyes. She had not seen Father since that morning. She quietly walked through the winding down village to Sango and Miroku's hut. She raped quietly on the flap. She heard Sango tell her to enter.

Sango looked up from her small cooking fire and smiled.

"Izayio, what are you doing about at this time?" She asked.

"The Sato boy sprang his ankle in the fields earlier this afternoon," Izayio paused and looked over at the children. They were playing amongst themselves in the corner.

Miroku chuckled at Sango's side. "He's never careful. You'll have your hands full with that one."

Izayio nodded oblivious. "Pray tell, have you seen Father?"

Sango looked over at Miroku. "I haven't since this morning. What about you Miroku?"

Miroku seemed to think a moment. "Not lately. Why? Is something wrong?"

Izayio's heart began to pick up and her breathing increased. She turned on her heel and ran for her hut. She pushed the flap aside, panting "InuTaisho!"

The young hanyou looked up from the small stuffed dog –which Mother had made for him while she was pregnant- he was playing with. His eyes widened.

"Yes, Sister?" He asked tiredly.

Izayio frantically looked around. "Where's Father? Is he still at the well?"

InuTaisho reached into his small Robe of the Fire Rat sleeve and pulled out a small piece of parchment. "Father said to give you this." He lisped out.

With shaking fingers, Izayio reached for the small parchment. Behind her, Miroku and Sango entered the hut. She mutely heard them ask about what was going on. She had to steady her hands to read the small note.

Written in Father's sloppy hand writing, were the characters for "Sorry. Take care of each other. I will check in. InuYasha." Izayio dropped to her knees.

Sango grabbed onto her shoulders and began to worry over her. InuTaisho quickly stood, crying out "Sister!" The note fluttered from her grasp and Miroku snatched it from the ground.

Izayio could not hear Miroku's shouts. All she could hear was Aya in her head.

'This is all Mother's fault!'

Izayio could not help but agree for once.

X

150 Years Later (Around 1508)

InuTaisho grunted as arrows pinned him to the tree. He struggled to loosen himself as the shooter began to leave. Inutaisho's struggles slowed as he heard his Robe of the Fire Rat begin to tear. Izayio would be mad enough she had to stitch it as it was, no need to make matters worse.

"I'll send Izayio-chan to release you." The shooter called over her shoulder as she walked back to the village.

"Why do you never make the final shot?" InuTaisho called after her. The woman stopped and turned to face him. Her slender face was framed by waist length, sleek black hair. She wore traditional miko robes.

"Do not come after the Shikon no Tetsu again. You're a waste of arrows." The miko turned and continued on her way.

"Feh, the only way I'll stop coming after the jewel, Momoko, is if you just hand it over to me." Inutaisho called after her.

Momoko stopped at the edge of the forest and slowly turned. "InuTaisho, why do wish to become a full yokai?"

InuTaisho barked a laugh. "Isn't it obvious, Momoko? Hanyous are weak."

Momoko returned to the clearing. "Your sister is a hanyou; a rather strong hanyou at that. You were born of a strong inu-hanyou and strong miko. You are a noble mix of both."

"The Old Man never got his wish of being a full yokai. I intend to fulfill my wish." InuTaisho retorted.

Momoko smiled softly. "Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Now, I must really go attend to Ryuu." Momoko turned to leave, but was once again stopped by InuTaisho's voice.

"Why do you take pity on that weak thief?" he asked.

Momoko looked over her shoulder at him. "I take pity on him because he is not long for this world." The miko walked out of the clearing.

It was not long until he could sense his sister getting near. Izayio walked out of the forest from where Momoko had just left and raced to her brother.

"Little Brother, why do you always get yourself in these messes?" Izayio asked as she removed the sacred arrows. Inutaisho landed softly on the ground.

"Feh." he huffed. Izayio watched as her brother followed Momoko's scent back to the village. Izayio stood next to the Sacred Tree as she looked towards the heavens.

"Mother. Father. Please watch after InuTaisho. I can sense danger over the horizon." Her dark hair danced in the wind as the sun set and darkness fell over the land.

X

"InuTaisho!"

InuTaisho turned in midair towards the person who called his name. Momoko stood out against the burning village behind her. Her bow was arched and ready. With a flick of her dainty wrist, she sent her enchanted arrow flying towards him.

With a gasp, InuTaisho flew back against the tree behind him. The jewel in his hand flew to the ground with a quiet tinkering. His now empty hand went to his chest were an arrow stuck out.

"Momoko…why?" His vision swam before going dark.

Izayio ran out from the woods. When she spotted her brother, she cried out in defiance. She arched her own bow, but quickly lowered it when the villagers began to yell out.

"It's the sister!"

"She comes to avenge InuTaisho!"

Izayio snarled and turned, quickly darting back into the woods.

"After her!"

Amongst the chaos, a small girl raced towards Momoko, calling for her. Momoko dropped to her knees and reached for the discarded amethyst jewel.

"Sister Momoko!" The small girl cried out.

She reached for Momoko's shoulder and kneeled beside her. Momoko chuckled darkly.

"All of this…for such a thing."

"Momoko! You have such terrible wounds! We have to take care of you!" The small girl exclaimed.

Momoko weakly turned to her sister, seeming to just now register the blood covering her left side. Shaking, she held up the jewel to her sister.

"I will not live. Listen well, Akira, take this and burn it with my remains. It must never…fall into the wrong hands again…" Momoko's voice trailed off.

Her eyes slowly closed. She then fell limply against Akira. Akira's eyes widened.

"Momoko!" She screamed.

X

500 Years Later (March, 2008)

A fifteen year old girl ran out of her house. "'Bye, Dad! Gramma! I'm going to school!" She called before slamming the screen closed.

She heaved a small pink bag onto her back and briskly walked towards the staircase that would lead her down to the street below. She paused while passing the well house. The door was ajar and she heard someone inside.

She tilted her head to the side and walked closer. She gingerly pushed the ancient screen aside and peaked in.

"Hello?" She called, feeling silly.

She heard shuffling inside and yelped when her brother, Kaito, appeared from the shadows. As her heart slowed, she glared at her younger brother.

"Kaito! You're not supposed to be in here!"

Kaito looked up at her with his childish brown eyes. "You really shouldn't scare people like that!" He grumbled.

The girl let out a sigh. "Come on, Kaito. Out of the well house."

"But Sakura, Byakko came in here and now I can't find him!"

Sakura sighed. "How did the cat get in here?" She huffed as she entered the old building. She delicately walked down the old steps.

Sakura looked around with her chocolate eyes, quickly scanning the room. "Are you sure he's down here?"

"I saw him come in here!" Kaito whined.

Clawing from inside the closed well made them both turn. Kaito jumped behind her.

"There's something down there!" He yelped.

Sakura sighed. "Yes, there is. It's our cat." She stepped closer and stopped. Something…cold tingled up her spine. She reached out a hand and then drew it back.

'There's something down there…'

End of SSoD. However, please stay tuned for the spin off "InuTaisho." It will follow some of the "InuYasha" story line, but it will be a contination of SSoD. Please Review! ;)

~Azarath101