Epilogue

Hello to all of you out there in radio land! I hope you have your honey close, 'cuz midnight is close, and it's time to bring in the new year with love…or hell, lust! Next, we have a love song by Tachiko Urihuri, Don't go.

The radio began to play the slow, gentle song, sung by a tenor. The miko and her mate were cuddled up on the ground, watching their children play happily. On her back, gazing up at the sky, Kagome exhaled softly, her very breath swirling contently into the air. A small shiver ran down her spine, and she sighed again, this time at the warmth that suddenly enveloped her. Smiling up at her mate as he pulled her up from the ground and into his lap, she turned her head to watch the children racing around the yard, catching dragon flies.

"I warned you, miko." Sesshomaru's low voice caught her attention, causing her to cut her eyes to him in confusion. "Lying on the cold ground." His hand brushed over her stomach, "I assure you that my pup did not appreciate that."

"Your pup doesn't appreciate anything." Kagome groaned in annoyance, her plump lips puckered in a pout. "She hates everything I eat except for raw meat." She whimpered. "And I hate raw meat."

"She is merely introducing you to a finer cuisine. Besides, it will be over soon enough." Sesshomaru cupped her cheek, pecking her forehead, then looking up when three shadows stopped before him.

His son's pudgy face beamed at him, a beautiful rarity, as he shook his jar in his father's face. "Look, father! I caught some." A vicious smirk crossed his face like a lion that had finally caught its prey.

Kagome reached up and ruffled her son's straight hair. "That's wonderful, Danketsu. How many is that?"

"Hm," his eyes narrowed at the jar as he counted, "Four?"

"Right."

"I got three fireflies!" The small blue eyed tike scrambled up onto her father's strong back, pressing the glass jar in his face. "See, three, daddy!"

Sesshomaru gently took the jar from her, then arched a brow. "There is only one, Heki."

The girl's eyes widened and she stared in wonder at the jar, so innocent for her age. Her mind grew at a slower rate than a human child's, due to lack of oxygen when Kagome was giving birth. "Where did they go, papa?"

Mirth sparkling in his golden eyes, Sesshomaru took her down from his shoulder, setting her, with a smirk, on Kagome's chest. Said miko huffed, but did not object, since her daughter did not weigh much. "You see these holes you've made with your claws, daughter?"

"Mm-hm."

"They are too large. I assume your fireflies escaped."

"Oh. I get it." She replied, her eyes wide. "When I escape my room, you get mad…Stupid fireflies! Go to your room!" She huffed, tossing the jar carelessly aside.

Kagome shook her head. "You're teaching my daughter bad habits, Sesshomaru."

"Mother," Amaimaru smiled at her as he showed her his jar, filled with dancing fireflies, "look what I can make them do." Using his newly awakened telekinesis, he ordered the fireflies to form a heart, smiling with pride when they did.

"Very good, Amai. Show your father something." She looked to Kanna, who was sitting quietly by herself, holding her seemingly empty jar. Sitting up and sitting her daughter in the grass, she called, "Kanna."

Kanna looked up slowly, revealing tear-filled deep grey eyes. "I didn't," her voice was soft, broken, "I didn't mean to do it, mommy."

"Do what?" Urgently, she crawled to her daughters side, peering into the jar when Kanna held it up for her to see. "Oh…oh dear." The lightening bugs lay dead at the bottom of the jar, five souls swirling around in the jar, hitting the glass.

"They died, and the lights came out."

"She is a soul carrier." Sesshomaru muttered in wonder. He'd wonder, besides the girls appearance, what her youkai blood meant for her abilities. "She must be trained before she harms herself."

Kagome held her daughter to her chest. "Sh-she's only four, Sesshomaru. We can't send my baby off with someone we don't know."

"She will not have to leave us," her mate assured her softly. "We will hire someone to come visit. If she doesn't get proper training…"

'She could remove her own souls…or one of ours.' "O-okay."

Sesshomaru sent his children off to catch more, though they left reluctantly, worried for their sister. He held out his arms for Kanna, drawing her to his chest. "Kanna, stop this." He said lowly, but sternly, frowning when she began to cry louder. "There is no need to weep. Stop this behavior at once." The slight bark in his tone silenced her instantly, save a few sniffles here and there. Ignoring Kagome's glare, he stroked the young girl's hair. "You have cried. Do you feel better?"

Kanna bit her lip, shaking her head, her white locks brushing across her face and neck.

"Your crying has changed nothing. It was a waste of energy. Nothing can be solved by wailing. You may cry, but do not dwell on things. Yes?"

"Yes."

His face softened as he graced her with a small smile. "Catching more will be simple if you were so skilled that you caught five."

Kanna smiled slightly at the compliment. "Hm."

Sesshomaru brushed his knows against hers and embraced her. "It pains me to see you cry, my pup." He felt Kagome's aura flutter, and looked to her smiling face, her eyes teary. 'Humans.' He muttered through their connection.

'I know you mean that in the nicest way possible.' Kagome gushed.

"I love you, Papa Sessho." Her mother had told her as soon as she could comprehend that Sesshomaru was not her father. Even before she had, Kanna had sensed that there was a way her brothers and sister were connected to him, that she did not have.

"Aw, look, they're bonding!" Inuyasha's loud voice sounded as he burst through the gate, letting Rin down from his arms. "Such a nice father/daughter moment!"

Sesshomaru released his daughter and rolled his eyes at his annoying brother. "It is good to see you as well, Inuyasha." He looked down when Rin embraced his legs. "Hello, Rin."

"Uncle Shomaru! Look! I lost a tooth!" She opened her mouth in a wide grin, showing the empty front space off. Before Sesshomaru could reply, she had hurried over to Kagome, who was stepping out of Inuyasha's embrace. "Aunt 'Gome, look!"

"Wow. Did the Tooth Fairy give you any money?"

"Tooth fairy?' Rin asked curiously.

Kagome smiled, folding her arms above her round stomach. "I took a trip to America, and learned a lesson about the tooth fairy. She's a magical fairy who takes your teeth when they fall out and gives you money. Most of the time you have to put your teeth under a pillow."

"Oh." Rin's face fell. "I didn't. But I can tonight!" She flounced away.

Inuyasha growled lowly at his friend, not wanting Rin to hear. "Great, now I have to put money under her pillow tonight and every time she loses teeth. Wench! Jeez, what's the least I can give?"

Kagome smirked darkly, the wiped it away quickly. He'd get what was coming to him for calling her a wench. "At least 10 dollars when they're rotten. But hers, those pearly whites, are worth…25-30."

"You're lying."

"I'm not."

"Shit. But Rin doesn't know that."

"I'll tell her."

Inuyasha blinked. "W-what?! Why?!"

"Because, you called me a wench." She heard car doors slam, and two engines shut off. "Oh, it looks like almost everyone is here." She left him standing there to greet the guests with Sesshomaru. "Sango, Miroku, glad you made it!" She looked down at the three year old human child with them, their son. "Oh, and if it isn't Eminoku. Hey, little man."

"Gome!" He reached his arms up to her. "Up! Now!"

Sango tsked. "What do we saw, Noku-kun?"

"Up! Now!" When his mother cleared her throat, he added softly, "Please."

Kagome leaned over, wincing as she picked him up. Worriedly, Sesshomaru placed a hand on her lower back to support her. "I'm fine, Sesshomaru. Just a little too late in the pregnancy to be bending over."

"Oh, my lovely Kagome." Miroku's arms surrounded her. "You're one of the two women who can still look amazing while pregnant." His hands drifted down to her behind, where they were seized by an angry, jealous youkai. "Eh-heh. I-is that Inuyasha calling? Miroku!" He called his own name, trying to disguise it as Inuyasha's voice. "Yep, there he is again. Better see what he wants." Frantically, he zipped away.

"Pardon me while I kick his ass." Sango grouched, moving past the pair.

Kagome shook her head, then turned back to the gate, her face landing in her brother's chest. "Oomph."

Sota laughed, amused. He stepped back, a smirk on his face. "You alright there?"

"Shut up, Souta."

"You know, you're huge. Every time I see you, you're bigger. And that's sayin' somethin, since I just saw you this morning."

"Hey, you see this bump?! There ain't air in it! This is a youkai kid!"

"Whoa, calm it down, dearest. You're going to upset the pup." Kenji's voice reprimanded as he shoved his son aside to see his daughter. "Kagome!"

"Daddy!"

Sota scowled. "I didn't get that kind of greeting." He stumbled as he was yanked into their hug.

"Sota!!!!"

"That's enough!" He blushed, slithering away.

Kagome laughed, then grabbed her mother's shoulders, kissing her cheeks. "Hey, mom. You guys spoke to Ban?"

"Nope. Not since yesterday morning. He's supposed to be bringing me and Inuyasha dates. So the baka needs to get here alre- Hey, is that pocky?!" Eyes holding child-like happiness, Sota broke out toward the snack table.

"Help yourselves." Kagome said with a giggle.

"Down! Down! Want cookie!" Eminoku wiggled in Kagome's hold. When she started to bend and put him down, Sesshomaru quickly swiped the child away, sitting him on the ground.

"Do not put stress on your already weak body, Kagome. You are with pup."

Kagome sighed. "I know. I know. I'll be more careful." A horn honked, and she beamed. "Bankotsu's here." And there he was. Her brother strode in, three girls around him, and his younger brother behind him with another. "Ban, the playboy."

"Kaggy, baby, how've you been? We should do lunch. It's been so long." He flung himself at her, squeezing her tight.

"Bankotsu, it was yesterday."

"Sooooo loooong!" He whined louder.

"Stop yelling in my ear, you moron!"

Bankotsu grimaced out her, yelling, "Hey, you overgrown bitch! I was just saying that I missed you!"

"Well, next time, don't be so loud, brother!"

"I won't say it at all, sister!"

"Fine then!"

"Fine!"

"Don't!"

"I won't!"

"…I missed you too."

Bankotsu chuckled. "I know."

"Hey, sis!" Banryu nudged his brother away from Kagome, smiling in her face. Over the years, he'd grown closer to Kagome, comfortable with her as a sister. "Sorry I had you on hold so long last night."

"Sorry, my butt! What were you doing?!"

Banryu blushed a little, but answered truthfully, "My girlfriend, Aoi."

The girl who'd walked in with him flushed from her neck to her cheeks and back down into her cleavage. "Banryu!"

"It's the truth!"

"And you, Ban, still don't have a steady?" Kagome asked, her brow lifted as she and her brother walked toward the ice cooler. "

Bankotsu's tanned cheeks darkened as he blushed. "There's a woman." He whispered. "But she won't give me the time of day."

"Sounds like your taste. Reminds me of me and Sesshomaru. It took him months before I even let him take me out to dinner."

"I've known her for two years, but I can see it in her eyes. She's fighting it, because she has a mate."

"A mate…as in youkai? Ban, married women are off limits. Mated women are on a whole different island!"

"He doesn't treat her right, Kagome." Bankotsu's browns lowered as he frowned. "I think he hits her. I can't let that stand, not when I know…I know she's meant to be mine."

"Oh my god, you're in love!" All eyes turned to them, and Bankotsu gave a loud laugh.

"Sesshomaru, I think Kagome needs to lie down!" He pinched his sister's shoulder. "I have a rep, wench. Keep it down."

Kagome sighed. 'Yes. Being a playboy is a very prideful reputation.' "I want you to listen to me, and understand something. What I'm about to say doesn't even really have to do with your feelings. You need to rescue her from that."

"You think I haven't thought of that?"

"I don't mean do it with the underlying hope that it will bring you closer to her. I mean, just do it for her. Keep your heart as pure as possible. But don't just barge in there and start spitting accusations. First, make sure what you think is going on is actually happening. Once you're 100% certain, or even 70 %, you do all that it takes to get her away from that."

Bankotsu felt the anger rolling off of his sister's aura and grabbed her shoulder. "Hey, hey, calm down, Kagome. Do you have some kind of personal issue with this?"

"I lost a friend to physical abuse. She was fed up, and she killed herself. Things like that happen every day. If you can stop it…stop it."

"I plan to….I plan to."


Sesshomaru rose from his chair and made his way to Kagome. The children were asleep, so it was time for the adult party to begin. The second he placed his hand on her shoulder, he realized what had kept her quiet the entire night. She was meditating on something. "Kagome, what are you doing?"

"…"

"Mate," Sesshomaru grabbed her arm, pulling her up from the chair. Her eyes were hollow, a pale pink as she gazed over his shoulder. "Kagome!" He shouted at her, catching the attention of the other's.

"Hey, what's with Kagome?!" Inuyasha asked worriedly, hustling over to his brother. "What is she meditatin' on?"

Kagome blinked, then called out, "Come out, Naraku."

Sesshomaru's eyes widened perceivably, and he looked over his shoulder as the hanyou released his bind on his aura and jumped from his hiding spot at the top of a tree, landing a few feet away. "Naraku."

"Sesshomaru."

"Why have you come?"

Kagome felt the tears that had collected in her eyes trickle down her cheeks. "Why'd you come back?"

"I-"

"What are you doing here?!" She shouted, her tiny body trembling with anger and pain. "You just left, and now, now you're suddenly here!"

"K-"

"Did you come for Kanna, because I'll be damned if I let you take her from me!"

"Kagome, I thought I was doing what was right, leaving you here with Sesshomaru!"

Her tears flowed faster, dripping from her chin. "You did! I'm happy with him! I don't know what I would do without him. B-but you didn't let me make that choice…and you aren't in my life, and Kanna…Kami, Kanna needed you."

"I couldn't be here, near you. So close, yet so far. Don't be so selfish, Kagome."

Her shoulder's shook. He was the only one who'd call her on her selfishness. 'Naraku.' "H-have you been well? Have you been eating, and everything?"

"I've been taking very good care of myself." He smiled. "And you, you look ravishing, and plump."

She laughed, hugging Sesshomaru's arm. "We're having another pup."

"I'm glad for you." And his smile didn't shatter as he had thought it would. He was sincerely happy for you. "You are where you belong."

"I am." There was a silence between them; the only sounds in the night were the flapping of the fireflies' wings. "I still think about the day you vanished, sometimes. I dream about it."

*Flashback*

"Father!" Naraku gazed on with wide eyes as Sesshomaru's hands simply darted through his father's chest, coming out through the other side. The sight of his father's dead body fell to the floor. He hated the man with a bloody passion and yet…and yet, "Father! You killed Father!" He screamed, covering his eyes.

Sesshomaru cut hateful eyes at him as he lifted Kagome from the floor. "What kind of man are you? He nearly killed Kagome!"

"St-stop yelling at him, Sesshomaru. He's bipolar. This is his childish side." She winced as she was placed on the bed with as much gentleness as Sesshomaru could manage.

"Bipolar?"

"Yes." Pained eyes looked the poor hanyou over as he wept. "Naraku. Naraku, come here." When he laid himself on her bed, sniffling, she ran her fingers through his hair. "It's okay. It's alright. He was a bad man anyway. He hurt you."

He calmed at her words, his childish face molding into the mature one she knew as Naraku's. He sat up from her bed and looked away, tiredly lowering his head. "I can't do this anymore." He whispered to himself.

"They have medication." Kagome soothed, leaning into his back. "It'll help you be stable."

"Whoa." Attention turned to Inuyasha as he and the rest of the family filed in. "What the hell happened here?"

Sesshomaru grabbed his mate's hand in his. "I eliminated a threat."

"Oh…Kagome, you pick yet?" He asked curiously, his head tilted slightly to the side.

"She does not have to pick." Naraku spoke up, his voice weak, his head bowed. "I am no longer an option for her."

Kagome whipped around to face him at his words. Her mouth opened, but she found herself unable to speak. Clearing her throat, she tried again, "W…what do you mean?"

"You will be with Sesshomaru. I am not right for you."

"B-but I thought you needed me."

"I need you. You need Sesshomaru."

"Naraku-"

He lifted a hand to silence her, sliding off her bed and walking slowly to her window. Staring out of it, he subconsciously allowed his hand to lower from its place clasping his gown, revealing the tattoo on his back. "Kanna will find a far better suited father in Sesshomaru." Sliding open the window, he stood on the ledge and faced Kagome. "And you will find a better mate."

Kagome tried to raise from the bed, her breathing frantic. "N-no, stop!" She cried out at the pain in her back.

A tear streaked down Naraku's face as he grinned, the wind tossing his hair and causing his tear to streak diagonally. "You're pointlessly harming yourself. You won't stop me."

"S-sesshomaru, grab him! Do something!" She cursed herself. Sesshomaru was so pointedly ignoring her. "Father! Bankotsu!" No one moved, so she struggled to climb out of bed, and found herself being forced down. "Stop it! Let me go! Naraku!"

"I love you, Kagome." He leapt out into the air.

"Naraku!!!" Kagome cried.

***End***

She'd been fighting so much that Sesshomaru had called in a nurse to sedate her. She'd awakened the next day calmer than before, claiming to have accepted it, but only delusional. She and Sesshomaru had started over, 'dating' for a year before he 'proposed' again. Never did she forget, nor could she if she tried.

"I wanted what was best for you, and Kanna. I would have only brought you both pain."

"You could have at least let me decide that. I needed you."

"As I stated before," Naraku averted his eyes as he spoke, "you wanted me. I fulfilled your carnal desires, your hearts desires, what your mind craved. I did not take care of you. I did not give you the feeling of eternal, strong security that Sesshomaru can without a doubt provide. I am man enough to know that I could never amount to what he is, and I could never treat you the way he could, as you deserved. I did what I did because it was what was needed. Hate me if you will."

Kagome looked up at Sesshomaru, as if asking for permission, which she was. When he nodded, she released his hand and rushed to Naraku, wrapping her arms around him and nuzzling his neck. "I could never hate you."

Painfully slowly, his arms rose to surround her, and he crushed her to him. "Yes. I know this."

"I missed your scent."

"And I, yours."

She peeled his hands from her waist, beaming up at him. "Kanna has grown well."

"I've watched," He smiled in return, looking over at his daughter, "from the treetops."

"So you know she's a soul carrier?"

"Yes…Strange, don't you think? To be made from a miko and kumo hanyou."

Kagome nodded. "Yes. I agree…She tells me stories about dreams she's had where a man with black hair and bright red eyes held her and danced with her. She calls him father. You know anything about that?"

Naraku's face filled with shame. "I could not stay away. I tried at the beginning, but then one night, she was crying. I noticed that neither you nor Sesshomaru had noticed yet. I held her, and after that…I could not let go of her. I'm sorry."

"No need. She is your daughter."

Carefully, he approached the tiny child and brought her into his arms, stiffening when she adjusted. He didn't want to wake her. Once she was still, he brought her closer, held her tighter, buried his nose in his hair. "Kami, Kanna…You know, Sesshomaru, the first time she called you papa, I wanted your head on a platter."

"Were the situation the other way around, your head would be on a platter."

"And then tonight, when you called her your pup…it hurt, yes, but then I realized, you had accepted her. My daughter, my precious, fragile little girl," he chuckled, "the pup of the infamous Lord Sesshomaru. The doors you will open for her, the possibilities she will have. She could do anything in this world!"

Kanna cracked her eyes, blinked, then opened them wide, staring into Naraku's. Her head tilted to the side in an innocent manner, and she hit their foreheads together. So, he was real this time, she concluded. Reaching up tiredly, she grabbed his face in her chubby little hands, turning him from side to side. She jumped at the sound of his voice.

"Forgive me for waking you, Kanna."

He'd never spoken in her dreams, and his voice, it was so smooth and soothing. She smiled. "Father."

"Kanna."

Kagome wept happily, but quietly at the exchange, smiling giddily at Sesshomaru when he pulled her close.

"Kagome, can you imagine it? Our daughter, one of the richest women in Tokyo, in the world! She will own a corporation, divided evenly with her siblings. I expect great things from you, my little one." He kissed Kanna's forehead. "From you, and your brother's and sister, and any other siblings you have. With Kagome's blood, I'm sure you will have the world bowing at your feet." He was so happy, he didn't want to let her go, but he had to. Sighing disappointedly, he began to rock her, smirking as her lids lowered, "I will always be in the shadows, my beloved Kanna, and in your dreams. I will protect you at all costs. You are my tenshi." When she was sound asleep, he handed her off to Kagome.

"You can visit you know, with Kanna…and even Sesshomaru and I, right, Sesshou?"

"…" Sesshomaru's resolve fainted at her glare. "Perhaps."

"I may visit, sometime…perhaps. I think it may be better if I remain hidden. Sesshomaru," he glared heatedly, "fail to protect my daughter, or Kagome, and you will see my vicious side. I warn you."

Sesshomaru could have snorted at the weak threat, but instead, he took it to heart. He owed the hanyou that much for giving him Kagome without much of a fight, and for giving him Kanna. "I shall heed your warning, Naraku."

"Very well. Goodbye, Kagome."

"See you later." Kagome replied stubbornly, standing before him and pouting.

"Later." Smiling fondly, he raised her hand to his mouth and kissed it as he had when they had first me. "Now, off you go…to Sesshomaru." He nudged her away.

Cradling her hand to her cheek, she watched him off with a smile, then gazed back at Sesshomaru, grinning the widest of grins.

The radio, long forgotten in the excitement, called all attention as the radio personality began to count down.

10…

9…

8…

7…

6…

5…

4…

3…

2…

1…

0!

The couple molded together, all in their own intense kisses. Kagome and Sesshomaru, though, were the last to separate. Kagome inhaled deeply a few times before smiling at her amused, and cocky, mate. "Four years ago, Sesshomaru, four years ago, you knocked me down. But, with the help of Naraku, you've picked me up, and put the pieces back together. I love you."

Sesshomaru locked their lips again, drawing back only to mutter, "I love you as well," before dipping back down. He mused to himself as his family set off fireworks, and waved sparklers, Happy new year, indeed.

~Fin~ Hope ja likey.

Ohhhhh, guess what?! I'm learning Japanese in school, and I can read all 46 of the first hiragane symbols! And I can say I'm an idiot! Watashi wa baka desu. I feel so educated. Now, I can speak a bit of Spanish, a tiny bit of French, and smidgen of chinese that I learn from Ni Hao, Kai-lan, and a bit of Japanese! Oh, and english!

Six ways to say I love you

-English- I love you

-Spanish- Te Quiero/Te Amo

-French- J'taime

-Chinese- Wo ai ni.

-Italian- Ti Amo!

Wooo!

I'm done now

No rlly, I am.

Oh, Review! Wow, that's the first time I've said that...should I delete...Kami, I'm weird for writing the first thing that pops into my mind...just to be fun, I'm not going to delete it. Hey, have you ever been writing and you were tired and watchin gsomething else so you accidently typed what was going on? I did that. i was writing a fan fic chap and Speed Racer was on the tube, so I started writing, "Hey, Sesshou, I Mr. Chim Chim, find Speed. Ha ha ha *snort*.

...

...

I digress. I'm a rambler when I'm sleepy. Anywho, night night. Or good morning.....yah.