Disclaimer: Ahh, the final chapter, thus the final disclaimer. I don't own Inuyasha, simply admire it and write stories in my spare time.

Epilogue

"Mommy, when did you meet daddy?" a cute half-demon girl asked. Her honey brown bangs were falling into her eyes, and she brushed them impatiently away. Sesshomaru would want them cut soon. At the moment the girl was resting at her mother's swollen feet, having been rubbing them to ease the pains of pregnancy. The castle's fireplace crackled happily in front of them and lent the pair much needed warmth from winter's frosty bite. Ah-Un loved such weather. Not that he was here to enjoy it. At the moment the dragon-horse and Jaken were off with Sesshomaru, handling important business. It pained Rin to see them all leave, but it made their return that much more wonderful.

Rin smiled down at Sayuri, her little lily, and brushed her unruly bangs away. "A long time ago."

"Please mommy, tell me?" she whined, something that only worked on Rin. Or so Sesshomaru would have them think.

Rin laughed, still brushing her hair. "If I tell you, will you behave?"

An eager nod from Sayuri and Rin began speaking. "I met your father when I was eight years old, so that would be about.. thirteen years ago now."

"Wow..." A pause. "How did you fall in love?" Her original amazement was gone at the arrival of another thought. She continued rubbing her mother's feet, glad to be helpful.

"You don't just fall in love, Sayuri. It took time." Rin smiled at the wide eyed girl before her. Genetics had been gracious in giving the child most of Sesshomaru's looks, ears included. Many thought it strange that she would appear a full fledged demon, but Sesshomaru had concluded it was simply a whim of her breeding or a result of Juryokan's elixir. The next child would be a test to see which theory was true.

Not that Sesshomaru cared anymore about his children being half-human. Time had convinced the Western Lord that half-breeds were just as strong as full demons, as proven by his own brother and the half-human Naraku. As long as they were his, they were perfect.

"Was daddy your first love?"

Rin nodded, peering out the window, as if it was a entrance to her past and not into her present. "Yes. He was the first man I ever and have loved. I loved him even before I knew I did." She glanced down at the attentive child, soft smile appearing. "Does that make any sense?"

"Yes ma'am," she said, curiosity satiated for the moment. Returning to her foot rubbing, Sayuri fell into an unusual silence. Inquisitiveness was one trait of Rin that came out vehemently in the little half-demon. The girl wanted to know everything about everything, her parents included. The question of where exactly she came from hadn't popped up yet, but Rin knew it would be soon.

That was one conversation that Sesshomaru would be present for.

"Mommy, why are you smiling?"

…...

That night as Rin lay in bed, she thought of Sesshomaru. The two months without him had taken a toll on her. Rarely did he stray for such an extended period, but certain business required a professional's hand, difficult affairs that left Rin waving in false cheerfulness by the door while he departed and still waiting for days afterwords. In truth, she worried more about his absence than his safety, assured that he would return whole in due time.

Gods, how she loved him. Stroking her swollen belly, she turned to her side, staring at the place where he always lay. This was the bed they first made love in, the very place Sayuri's soul was born into the world. Without Sesshomaru in it, it was just another slab of wood with a mattress on top, memories or no. Even now she blushed at the memory of his slow and deliberate touches, how his fiery eyes bled gold in the dim light of dusk, the stab of pain and sweet release that fled her aching flesh on the night they joined as husband and wife.

Her Lord had done so much for her, had gone through great pains to protect and provide Rin with all she needed, going as far as to oppose demon nature to be with her. Accepting Rin, a pathetic human, was the first fiber of his nature he snapped, the second being his detestation of half-breeds. The moment Sayuri was placed into his arms, amber eyes bright even as she shed tears, a change came over the Great Lord of the Western Lands, a slight shift in the settled foundations of his person. Somehow along the way, Sesshomaru had found a heart and ones to share it with.

Heart pattering painfully, she slowly pulled herself onto his side of the bed, smothering herself with his scent, soul aching for its other half. He would return, if she only be patient.

If only time had taught her that particular lesson. Hugging his pillow to her tired body, Rin drifted off to sleep, only to dream of the demon Sesshomaru.

…...

A clawed hand.

Jerking, Rin wrenched her palm upwards, aiming for the nose..

The hand began to stroke her face, the other carefully holding her fist in its cradle.

"Sesshomaru," she cried out, burying her face into his chest as she had done to his pillow only hours earlier.

He didn't speak for the longest time. This was not unusual. In truth, it was an unspoken ritual of theirs, to hold one another in the silence, to re-accustom themselves to the others heartbeats.

Only now there were three.

"Are you well?"

Rin nodded into his neck, trying to get as close to him as possible. "Are you Sesshomaru?"

"I am now," was his honest reply. Carefully, he started rubbing his hands over her swollen abdomen, tracing lines with bloodied claws, making sure not to stain her silken kimono. He no longer bothered to bathe before returning to his mate. That would only further their time apart.

Just as those years ago, her heart rattled in her chest like a tiny bird, fluttering against her ribcage. Not that he himself was without reaction of course, just that his was not transparent. He felt her arms strong around his neck, the slender fingers loose in his hair. It had taken her some time to get used to even hugging him, more or less touch the silver tresses that swooped to his waist. It was her endearing shyness that forced a hunger in him like never before. Yes, demon wenches had been his, but this.. this was something that even the Lord of the Western Lands could not fathom. He did not wish to push her, to taint this innocence that was Rin. Not even on their wedding night, when she offered herself to him, awkwardness not due to ignorance but uncertainty. Knees apart, kimono exposing cleavage that left nothing to the imagination, eyes panicked like a cornered doe, he realized that he had made her nothing more than a common whore. It would not be right to take something from her which desired not taking.

So he waited. And thus Sesshomaru learned that he was much more capable of self-control than he himself even knew.

One year after their marriage. It was then that she opened up to him, allowed the Great Tai-youkai to slip the kimono from her shoulders, leaving them bare, then watch the fabric continue to the floor, along with the rest of her clothing. The awkwardness still present, of course, but this time anticipation saturated the air, along with moans of pleasure that continued until morning light.

He would not have wanted it any other way.

Pulling himself from the past, he inquired,"Shall we bathe?" A blush and a nod from the young girl and she was in his arms, cradled like those nights when nightmares destroyed her peaceful sleep. As the water ran hot in the tub, he mused how after all these years he could bring that lovely blush to her cheekbones.

After situating Rin, he began to lather her tanned skin with soap, rinsing as he went. His hands explored her body with the cloth, rubbing first across her neck, then collarbone, then down to her heavy breasts. This earned him a small moan that escaped before she could cage it, face aflame. Knowing to be gentle, he continued bathing his mate, saving her lower regions for last. She rested her head against his chest, lids at their nightly perch. Finally finished, he disrobed himself, then sank into the hot water, back to Rin.

Tentative hands on his back began to scrub the grime away, rubbing in soothing motions. Surprised, he turned to her, seeing her blushing face set in determination and love. Rin had never really done as such for him, shyness stealing courage. Now the nervousness was gone, blood calming in her face. She smiled, noticing him watching her. Tugging his hair to the side, she began to wash his lower back, massaging as she went. Then her hands went to his neck, down to his shoulders, then further to his hands, extra careful to remove all the blood.

"Um, could you turn around my love?"

And the demon lord did, hands woven from magic seams working out every kink in his body. Placing her on his lap, his eyes took her in, starving for her. She kept at her cleaning, smiling up at him every once in awhile, then getting such a cute expression when she cleaned him there that Sesshomaru couldn't help himself. Unable to resist, needing her touch, Sesshomaru lowered his lips to hers, tilting Rin's head back, hands gliding around her waist, pulling her closer.

It was some time before they parted.

"I love you," she whispered, quietly and without much breath. Rin needed him to know that, desperately needed him to see. Brown eyes met amber, lips once again reuniting.

"And I you."

Hours later they were naked in bed, wrapped in each others embrace. They had not spoken, nor made love. Because sometimes, the heart is all that is needed, and the flesh needs no fulfilling. Sometimes, in those rare moments when you can simply exist with one another, a look is all you need to feel complete, whole, alive.

And sometimes, sometimes, words are just not needed.

Author's Note:

Well, there you go. Thanks so much for all the support and patience because I am nothing without you guys. :))) Sorry if anyone thinks I am a.. well a YOU-KNOW-WHAT blocker, but I didn't want this story to end with a sex scene. Maybe I'll make something real lemony so I can be forgiven. ;)

Also, if you would like to read the prequel it is called "Only Words", (I've probably mentioned it before, I tend to repeat things), so please check it out! Once again, thanks a million. :D

Sincerely,

Angels and Immortals