Disclaimer: I do not own Ghost Hunt

Epilogue

One year later...

The sound of children are heard as Sho and many of his school mates run across the wide open space near the buildings. The former home of the Konoe family had been remodeled within a year. Sayuri looked at the shiny new roof and fresh paint. Everything had turned out alright.

"I hope you're proud, Kyo." Sayuri touched one of the pillars, watching from the open door as Sho and his friends played soccer.

"Sayuri!" Katsuro, her editor came up to her, "It's beautiful. So wonderful. The remodel was indeed an excellent idea!"

"Well since I had enough money to spend, I figured I give the old family home a face lift," Sayuri winked at him.

The Konoe compound was transform into a family rescue center. One side held offices and rooms for counseling. The other held a huge playground for the kids. A lot of the old trees were remove. There was another place for a huge banquet hall where parties could be held. It was something Sayuri knew that had to be done. Besides, her last novel Ghost Hunt did exceptionally well. So well in fact it was publish as a manga then made into a television series. There was rumors of a live action movie floating about. Sayuri smirked. She was still working on the script. She had some help though.

"It's beautiful! Wow, the pictures do not give it justice," Ayako spoke from behind. Sayuri turned around before bursting with happiness.

"Oooo belly! I have to talk to the belly!" Ayako was seven months pregnant. Despite her attempts to say that she looked fat, her sweet boyfriend thought she look radient. After the Konoe family curse was broken, Ayako and Monk began to date on a more serious level. They would be married soon after the baby would be born.

"Hi little one," Sayuri cooed, "You're going to be as beautiful as your mama or just as handsome as your papa."

She looked up, "I still wasn't told what gender."

"We wanted it to be a surprise," Monk showed up right behind his fiance.

"Oh really? You told Mai. You told Gene. You told John and Yasu and everyone else but me! Why keep it from me?"

"We wanted to...we wanted to tell you on this day." Ayako smiled, "we had a feeling it would give new meaning."

"Why? Why would..." Sayuri gasps.

"It's a boy," Monk told her, "and we're naming him Kyo. I hope you're okay with that."

"I'm more then okay with that," Sayuri felt tears, "I'm delighted. He would be too. Ooo, our little Kyo."

"If it was a girl, we would have named her Yuri but it's a boy," Ayako laughed as Sayuri got even more teary eye.

"What's going on?" Gene looked handsome in his black jacket, "Oh you told her the news of the little samurai in your belly?"

"I'm going to spoil that baby rotten!" Sayuri announced. A party was held in honor of the opening of the center as well as congratulations to a certain couple who just got recently engaged. Ritsuke was grinning as Tsubaki showed off her new engagement ring to Masako. Sayuri couldn't be even more happier. Everyone was doing well. John even finished and became a full fledge priest. He came back to visit and stay for the birth of Ayako and Monk's baby boy. Naru was also happy with his girlfriend, Masako. Mrs. Davis showed up with her husband. Everything seem to be good. It was peaceful.

It was how it should be.

She felt a pair of arms come around her waist.

"Hey," She turned around to her boyfriend, Lin.

Lin and her stayed together for well over a year. Sayuri was beginning to feel like it was forever. And she didn't mind it one bit. She loved it. She loved him. Her little family. And how that family was growing. She was beginning to secretly envy Tsubaki's and Ayako's happiness.

"Come with me for a moment."

"Where are we going?" She followed her handsome Chinese man outside. The courtyard was dazzling with new stone and the pagoda shine in the twilight. Tiny lights brought a mystic feeling to the area. He lead her up to the pagoda. Inside, a small plague was put in place.

In honor of those who had passed beyond and shall never be forgotten.

"I just want to share a quiet moment with you before the party begins," Lin held her hands in his. Sayuri truly had grown from the skeptic she was to the beautiful medium she was today. His beautiful lily who blossom into the most interesting person in his life. The weight of what was in his pocket was taunting him, pressuring him to hurry up before the moment would be over.

"It's going to be crazy but I'll love it. I'm proud of myself. Look at this! It looks better then I imagine. Glad you kept me from going crazy." Sayuri laughed.

"You drive me crazy," he whispered in her ear.

"Mm hmm, in a good way."

"Sayuri?" Lin pulled away to look into those grey eyes.

"Yes, Lin?"

"It's been a year." Lin quietly pulled the box out of his pocket. Sayuri didn't see him do it. He wanted her distracted long enough so he could pull it off.

"Yes, a year. A year since the curse was broken. A year since Gene was return to you. A year...almost two since we first met."

"Mm hmm."

"I'm glad that I found that ad. I don't think I could live with myself with the 'what if I didn't'. I think I would be miserable...or worse." Sayuri felt her heart swell, "I'm glad that I have you, Sho, the others in my life. You all made it so much better."

"How much better?"

"Almost perfect."

"I think I can make it absolutely perfect," Lin held up the box, opening it. Sayuri gasped at the sight of the old ring in the box. She looked back and forth between the ring and Lin. He finally kneeled down to her. Tears were already forming in her eyes but she was smiling.

"Sayuri, will you?"

He didn't have to form the words.

She already knew. She was the one. The one he would be bonded with forever, in life and in death.

"Yes, I will." Sayuri grinned as he placed the ring on her finger. He kissed her in the twilight in the center of the family home. The very place where it all began...and ended.

"I love you."

"I love you too. So very much, my stoic man." She giggled at the look on his face, "is that why you were being extra secretive? To keep it a surprise?"

"Maybe, was it a good surprise?"

"Yes, it was perfect."

The couple share the rest of the moment alone before they went to join their friends and family for the party. All was peaceful. All was right with both the living and the dead. The ashes were scattered and remembered. The pain was soothed. The story had a happy ending.

Thank you guys so much for reading this story. I'm sad that it has to end to. But don't worry. I have plans for a new Ghost Hunt story. I just want all my Autumn Ashes readers to keep an eye out for it. Thank you guys for all the reviews and everything! I'm glad that I could end Sayuri's story on a good note. Just be ready when Takara's story comes out. I think you'll like her just as much as you liked Sayuri.