Arrankor: My goal was never to bash anyone, or to change the story that Rumiko Takahashi wrote. I've never disliked her work. Maison Ikkoku, Ranma 1/2, Urusei Yatsura, they're all wonderful works, I only wish I had such a lovely gift for storytelling. I don't claim that I didn't change the story, I don't have any delusions that Rumiko's characters would likely not have made the choices than mine did, she might even feel offended a bit with some of my perceptions about her characters if she were to read this story, but that's ok. "Game over" as it were. All I ever wanted, was for my own Sango and InuYasha, to live happy ever after. So with no more delays, let us join our friends for their final adventure- life.
[[I do not own InuYasha. Rumiko Takahashi owns InuYasha. She's a marvelous artist in the world of story telling. If you haven't followed her work, I know some of it wasn't well recieved and never received the following that InuYasha did, I suggest you check out some of them- Maison Ikkoku and Ranma are two of my personal favorites. Maison Ikkoku is a romance/drama set in modern japan between an apartment manager and her tenant, it's truly a romantic's fantasy. Ranma is more on the humor end of things, if you are looking for that solid ending that you got with InuYasha, or my variation of it if that's your taste- you won't find it with Ranma, but you will find the joy of the journey to reach it, and millions of inspired moments of romance, drama, action, and comedy. Don't get me wrong, Ranma ended exactly how it should have in the end, but as any person who enjoys fanfiction will tell you- there's room for some perspective there. :) Thanks for reading the story, and I hope you all enjoy it.]]
"The Happily Ever After"
"What was that?" Asked Miroku, as he looked over to Tsukiko.
"Just thinking of a good title.." She noted.
"Feeling nostalgic, now that everything has worked out in the end?" He asked.
"Who says it's the end? InuYasha will always be getting into trouble, and Sango will always be right beside him when he does; I'd say it's only the beginning, but that would be misleading.." Said Tsukiko.
"Right- because it began a long time ago.." Said Miroku.
"My story did. If I recall correctly, theirs began during a trip to your home shrine; isn't that so?" Asked Tsukiko.
"Ah, when we ventured after the wine of the mountain spirits... Yes, I recall that- do you really believe it started there? Either Sango already felt that way before hand, or she didn't start until afterwards in my opinion." Said Miroku.
"You have a very limited perspective, my dear; a woman's feelings are always present, I imagine she harbored a crush on InuYasha from the moment she woke up atop his back, nay- she likely felt something for him the moment he pulled her out of the very cloud of poison she'd unleased. The heart is very predictable, but what's unpredictable is what will happen to release those feelings, and how we handle them when they are." Said Tsukiko.
"..You make it sound like she ignored those feelings and pursued me out of a lack of options or something." Said Miroku, looking mildly annoyed up untl the point where Tsukiko leaned against him.
"It's not always about you- my dear, I'm talking about their story. Your story isn't over yet.." She admonished him gently as she opened her eyes, the cursed sight she had since birth venturing deep beyond the veil of time and space.
#
'My protective mask...!'
Sango was coughing already, the poison was quite potent- of course it was, she was trying to kill the demon, avenge her family, redeem the slayer's village the disgrace of having fallen to this demon's hideous plot.
InuYasha's nose burned with the scent of human blood, he didn't believe this woman could even move anymore, and yet she was still fighting him. He rose his sleeve up over his nose and mouth, hoping to block it out- along with the poison pillowing around them. '...Argh, damnit!..' He mentally cursed as he moved forward and grabbed the girl, jerking her along with him as he escaped the poison. 'Damn girl!' He cursed, but more at himself for not leaving her to die in her own poison. She deserved it! She attacked him!
'What's this guy... trying to do?' She wondered, feeling the poison gas vanish from around her, seeing the silver haired demon pulling her from the poison. 'There's no way he's trying to save me!' She thought, pushing such considerations aside as she pulled her Wakizashi from her side and thrust it into his arm.
'...!' He could feel a piercing pain shoot through his arm, wincing at the attack. He really should've let her die in there! No matter how many times he blamed it on her humanity, what impressed him most was her resolve- the more he'd come to know her, the more impressed he'd become by who she was- Sango, the demon exterminator.
'You intentionally refused to believe your eyes- so you reacted as you felt you should, your enemy was before you- it's only natural to attack him. You didn't know how close you were to dying, but still you could feel the truth, right? He did save you that day.. as he would many times, even from yourself.' Thought Tsukiko, smiling slightly.
#
'What do you mean he's being that way for my sake?!' Thought Sango, listening to the explanation of the monk beside her. 'Like YOU are a trustworthy source!' She thought, but the more he spoke, the more she considered what he said. 'Sympathy? Seeking Vengeance... for me?' Thought Sango, as she reflected on the monk's words and the demon's actions.
'You found yourself wanting to believe it so quickly- did you ever question why you could believe the words with such ease? You wanted to believe it was for you- because that meant he saw you.. he understood.. and wanted to help you. You needed saving still, and you had already seen that InuYasha was the one who could.. it was easy to label those feelings under the blanket of friendship, comrades even, but you wanted to support him, as you felt he supported you too- that's why you would so easily accept his help, and furthermore, would throw yourself to the wolves to help him in return..' Thought Tsukiko.
'..! This water snake, InuYasha can't find him alone in the water like this!' Thought Sango as she called Kilala to her and leapt into battle without hesitation. She hurled the Hiraikotsu flawlessly despite her wounded body. 'Damn it, no effect! Can my wounds still be weakening me this much?!' She wondered 'No, it must be the goddess' staff, it's made him invulnerable to my attacks!' She reasoned out, only realizing her situation as she saw the spiraling water twisting towards her viciously. The next thing she knew, she was falling throuhg the air. '..There's nothing I can do! I can't dodge in mid air like this..!' She reasoned out, as she bit down her fear and bared her resolve, trying to consider any options she had at that moment.
"Sango, are you okay!?" She focused her vision ahead of her again, to see InuYasha protecting her once again. "I-" She began, only to feel Kilala beneath her once again with a grunt- if she hadn't been distracted, she could surely have landed better at least, but now wasn't the time to scold herself for her distractions. "InuYasha!" She looked to him to see what had happened in these mere moments, she guided Kilala around to try to get a better position, but the battle was proceeding whether she was prepared or not. By time she circled around, she witnessed InuYasha being snagged by the snake in it's true form. "No, InuYasha!" She called forth.
The battle proceeded into the water, the very place she had hoped to avoid letting the snake escape to- that was his territory, even InuYasha wouldn't be able to put up much of a fight there. She found herself worrying excessively for the half demon's well being, right up until he began to gloat about surviving it seemed. 'Is this really the time?! What kind of idiot-' She thought as she very nearly threw Hiraikotsu at him, not realizing the feelings of annoyance she felt were more in regard to the fact that he'd worried her so.
As the trident was sent sailing through the air, she cursed herself for not being prepared to get it, but she wouldn't sit on the side lines any longer. She heaved up her Hiraikotsu once more and threw it, preventing the demon from assaulting the child who'd claimed the staff from the water. She moved forward just as quickly, perhaps she should've gone after the child first- InuYasha could surely last longer than him, but she didn't; she flew straight into the water, despite Kilala's aversion to it, Kilala could feel Sango's desire as strong as it was; she wanted to fight alongside InuYasha, and believed that in doing so, she would find herself content.
"Pretty slick maneuvering there, Sango!" Said InuYasha with a smirk, as he held hed arm, trusting Sango to guide him.
"That was nothing!" She said, as arrogantly as she could manage. 'Remind me to think Kilala later...' She thought to herself, before realizing she too was now bragging in the middle of battle. Thankfully InuYasha didn't give her a chance to dwell on that fact, not now anyway.
"Ok, I'm going down and aiming for his head!"
"Gotcha!" She agreed, knowing in her heart that he would too- because that was what InuYasha represented to her, at least that's what she believed- the will and stubbornness to do what he felt was right, what he chose to do, regardless of whether it was hard, or it was impossible.
"Do it InuYasha!" She said, as she flung him forward on a sharp thrust up from Kilala.
'I think it was in that moment, when you realized how alike you were- that you began to feel as though his life was more important than yours, because you knew then, that despite his words, he put your life before his as well; he put all of your lives before his, but he'd only just met you.. isn't that right, Sango?' Thought Tsukiko.
#
'There were many battles you fought side by side, many times you showed your willingness to do anything for him- wasn't there? You struggled with the very aspect of betraying him versus the desire to save Kohaku.. didn't you? You inevitably chose to do it, turning your back on him in order to save Kohaku- you believed that he might do the same if it were someone he cared for, like Kagome; but you knew differently. You knew that the idea wouldn't even occur to InuYasha, but because of your own selfish desires clouding that, and stealing the Tetsusaiga- you told yourself that he couldn't trust you anymore, even when he did. You intentionally suppressed those desires you harbored for the half demon, and distanced yourself from him outside of battle; in doing so, the monk's charm was easy to fall prey too- wasn't it Sango? He was strong in his own way, and shared the same conviction and drive that InuYasha did- a trait you admired, but no matter how many times you told yourself that the monk was where you belonged.. you changed yourself, what you wanted, what you hoped for, you made yourself Miroku's love interest- you looked at him long enough that eventually the love had grown from nothing.' Thought Tsukiko.
"Don't do it! As long as he's alive, there's still hope!"
"You're a great fighter."
'You couldn't refuse that those feelings existed in battle, could you?' Thought Tsukiko. 'You changed yourself outside of battle, indulging in the monk's company; but likewise, you changed yourself for InuYasha in battle, soon relying on him was just so natural, your passion wasn't just in the extermination of demons, or in the thrill of battle, you felt so natural in battle; putting all of your natural self into it, it was the one time you could be yourself fully..' Thought Tsukiko.
"To think you'd be delayed by these guys- it doesn't become you!"
'That's right, it wasn't the battle you loved; it was the man beside you in them that you loved having one excuse to be beside. When he wasn't there, your heart wasn't in it, was it?' Thought Tsukiko.
"InuYasha!" Sango charged forward, despite the overwhelming power of InuYasha's brother, Sesshomaru- prepared to fight Sesshomaru all on your own if necessary, to protect InuYasha.
"InuYasha!" Sango flew forward ahead of the group, reaching INuYasha as fast as she could to try to help even a moment more.
"Sango!" InuYasha charged forward and swung his sword, eliminating the walking corpse that threatened to pierce the slayer through.
'What of you InuYasha? You felt for Sango as well, didn't you? It was easier to hide back then, because Sango didn't speak it, nor were you compelled to look at her, as Kagome's appearance betrayed your feelings for Kikyo, into feelings for Kagome. You knew of your feelings for Sango all along, but because of Kikyo, you refused all feelings from the surface.. by time those feelings had grown, Sango was beside Miroku, and Kagome was attached to you.. you loved Kagome too, not just as Kikyo, but as herself.. so it was easy to tell yourself that Sango was happier where she was, even with the worthless monk as her partner, and you couldn't betray Kagome's absolute faith in you.. you couldn't betray her, like you felt you had betrayed Kikyo by accepting her..' Thought Tsukiko.
Sango half giggled to herself, as she felt her inhibitions vanish, and her balance suffer. 'We are always wasting time! We could be chasing Naraku! What are we doing? Chasing wine?' Thought Sango as she moved forward. 'If it were InuYasha, he'd have killed Naraku by now.. if Miroku and Kagome didn't always get in our way..' She laughed, blushing to herself as she made her way closer. "InuYasha!"
'It was your honest feelings, that one time- your passion for finding Naraku was only rivaled by the passion of wanting InuYasha by your side along the way. You were so honestly affectionate, enjoying the feeling of your bodies fitting together so well, as you tried to lure him into your arms instead.. but Kagome interfered once again, you didn't hate her, you understood how she felt, but you could still feel the pain of not having your feelings returned, as if you were left only with the perverted monk.' Thought Tsukiko. 'You attacked him as if he was in your way.. but you knew better, he did feel for you, so you devoted yourself to him- feeling rejected by InuYasha, you threw yourself into the life that you thought you wanted, that was.. enough.'
'You on the other end, weren't fighting to resist Sango's unwarranted affection, were you InuYasha? You were fighting to resist your own affection for the slayer.. Kagome trusted you, believed in you, you couldn't let a single moment ruin that, you refused to betray her by revealing your own feelings at the time. You didn't even realize that you hurt Sango in the process, did you?' Thought Tsukiko with a sigh.
"What's wrong?" Asked Miroku.
"InuYasha can be quite the jerk.." Commented Tsukiko with a laugh.
"You're only just now realizing that.." Commented Miroku with a smirk.
"You're more of a jerk- that I just realized."
"What brought that out?"
Tsukiko laughed. "Your personality, of course."
Miroku fumed briefly before realizing his hand was in a good position to.
"Try it, I promise it doesn't end well for you."
He sighed and resisted the desire.. for about three seconds.
Tsukiko left the room a moment later, with Miroku planted into the wooden floor. "I warned you.. but it's nice to know that you think it was worth it." Said Tsukiko with a smirk.
"...Totally.. worth.. it.." He admitted.
#
"InuYasha! You aren't getting out of it this time!" Yelled Sango, as she grasped InuYasha by the collar of his robe.
"I ain't tryin' to get out of it!" Corrected InuYasha. "I have to go get Kagome!"
"That's what you said last time- then suddenly a demon just happened to be in your path, and then the clothes got washed down the river, and then there was the cat- who misses the wedding because the cat had a stomach ache?!"
"He was making all kinds of horrible noises! I thought he might be dying!"
"IT WAS A CAT! THIS IS OUR FIFTH ATTEMPT AT A WEDDING!" Shouted Sango.
"What is your hurry anyway?! We don't have to make all these plans just to get married, when we wanna get married, we'll just do it!" Said InuYasha.
"WHEN?! Who was it that was asking me to marry him in the first place!?" Said Sango.
"I DIDNT SAY TODAY!"
"That was four years ago, InuYasha! If you don't want to get married, then just say so!" She yelled.
"That's not it!"
"I think it is!"
"Not!"
"Is!"
"Will you two knock it off?!" Said Tsukiko who emerged from the back room. "I didn't make yet another trip here, for nothing- Sango, go get ready, if InuYasha tries to back out- I'll know; and trust me, he'll suffer for it." Said Tsukiko with an unpleasant grin, as her eyes flashed once again.
"Did you just.." Said inuYasha, looking at her with an uneasy air.
"Correct, InuYasha- if you even consider missing the wedding, misfortune will follow you for every moment it crosses your mind." Said Tsukiko with a sadistic smile.
#
"I remember that day- Tsukiko did it purposefully I swear, even when I was trying to make it to the wedding, if I even wondered if it was time yet, I'd fall in the river, a branch would snap, or a horde of demon locusts would chase me.. " Said InuYasha with a snicker. "Kagome was so frazzled by time we got there, that I ended up missing the wedding anyway- you weren't exactly nice about finding me and Kagome asleep together either..." Said InuYasha.
"What did you expect? I come home, once again left without a groom- and damned if I don't find you and Kagome snuggled up in our bed!" Said Sango like he was being unreasonable for blaming her for reaching that conclusion. "Not to mention Kagome's clothing.."
"She was changing!"
"Why were you there then!?"
"I came to check on her and found her like that!"
"So you decided to cuddle up to her?!"
"I went to move her!"
"What, into your lap?!"
"No you idiot, to Miroku's room-"
"How EXACTLY does moving someone involve cuddling?"
"She grabbed onto me! Wouldn't let me go!"
"So you just figured you'd go with it?!"
"I thought she'd let go if I stopped bothering her, so I waited! I just fell asleep!"
"Will you two be quiet, the baby is only just born and you're already about to wake it up!" Said Kaede with a grump as she came in with a bundle of InuYasha's robe, within was a demon- at least a small portion.
Sango and InuYasha's spat never continued, as they quickly found themselves engulfed in the shared affection of their son.
#
"He reminds me of InuYasha when he was a child.." Said Tsukiko, smiling slightly as she played with an adolescent part-demon. "Yes, you are just like your father- Kei."
"I'm relieved to hear you say that- I was kind of afraid that InuYasha was unsatisfied.. so to speak. He's been rather.. Miroku about it lately." Said Sango.
"It would please me if you would not use my husband as a verb for distant.." Commented Tsukiko but laughing slightly herself. "No, I imagine that InuYasha's troubles lay more in the future than in the now. He's torn between wanting a fighter, and wanting a peaceful life for his son. Any man born into his family must fight, not only is the world harsh for demons and non-demons alike, but those inbetween suffer from many angles generally; but also a result of his own father- a powerful demon whom's only love beyond Izayoi and Sesshomaru's Mother, was his love for battle- a worthy fight was it's own reward- InuYasha craves battle even when his heart craves peace, his blood burns with it when he's alone with his thoughts, he fears his son will suffer whether he teaches him or not, with strength comes those to challenge it, and with weakness, those to exploit it. InuYasha must decide for himself though, there is no correct path in being a parent- as I'm sure you learned quickly after your first children." Said Tsukiko.
"I think they've certainly taken a liking to him- whenever they do visit, they usually just end up playing with him instead of visiting with me even, I hear Miroku is having them help teach at his shrine." Said Sango. "They don't come home nearly often enough. Guess growing up with me, it's only natural to want to enjoy life with their father- butI miss having them around as well" Said Sango with a frown, imagining her young children back when they were just that- now they were all out of the house, and finding their own ways in life.
"I see you fixed that." Said Tsukiko, motioning towards the young Kei once more, as he circled around Tsukiko, hanging onto her hand, like a dance almost- laughing and enjoying himself, his garment that of the demon slayer, the ones of the village in which they resided.
"Just a little subtle encouragement that perhaps a modest life is not so bad." Said Sango with a smile.
"Oh I wouldn't worry about this one's path- trust me.. the lessons you teach him in your lifetime will remind him of who he is for many years afterwards, and the reflective nature of InuYasha these days, will ultimately guide him towards living his life with a mind of his history, and an eye to the future." Said Tsukiko, smiling as she closed her eyes for a moment, and opened them back up to the distance ahead.
#
"You.. really did do a good job Sango. I think.. that without you, he'd undoubtedly became as twisted as I was. Well, without you, he wouldn't have been born- but you get my point." Said InuYasha.
"..."
"He still grieves, as do I.. though based on the color of the flowers he left for you, I imagine he comes here almost as often as I do." Said inuYasha, kneeling down to place the copper colered flowers before the headstone. "I'm sorry.. it's not exactly an appropriate place, but.. I thought that, it was a fitting place none the less- maybe it's harder to get to, but.. no matter how many years pass, this place is always as peaceful and beautiful as ever.. and I hope you can tolerate my embarrassing mother for a while longer.. Kei and I will be leaving here shortly, but I promise someday, we'll all meet again- okay? I know we can't follow you.. Makes me wish I had more demon friends actually.. but it's okay; because even in hell, I'll still be with you- and that's enough.. " Said InuYasha as he stroked the top of the stone with his clawed hand, and let it slip away. "Goodbye for now, Sango.."
#
"Hello mother.. I'm sorry it took so long to come again.. I hope you didn't worry. I brought father back here too.. he told me that he couldn't go with you still.. but that's why I wanted to make sure to bring him here.. because even if you can't be in the same place there.. you can be here.. y'know? Heh! Kind of soft of me.. I guess." He muttered, embarrassed. "Before he.. passed.. he told me where to find the flowers he always put here.. I went and got you some, he said they reminded him of you.. I guess the color? He wasn't very imaginitive, as you know.." Said Kei with a chuckle. "Anyway.. I won't.. disturb you anymore.. but I'll check back, okay? Oh, and, I think the others will come to visit soon, they wanted to pay their respects for father and.. well, y'know- show you their children I guess. I dunno, that mushy stuff just confuses me sometimes." Muttered Kei as he glanced to the side, hearing someone approach.
"Is this the place?" A girl asked, a tail lingering behind her, and bushy black hair falling far down her back.
"..Yeah, these are my parents.." Said Kei.
"Hm.. I think the place is really nice.. but why'd you wanna meet here? Seems kind of strange." She said.
"No.. reason." He blushed.
"InuYasha? My father told me about him! He was always having to save him!" Said the girl with amusement.
"Nu uh! Feh! Your father must've been getting old when he said that, my father had to spare him more than once!" Argued Kei.
The two gradually began to wander off, bickering about who's father would win in a fight. "Heh, InuYasha vs Koga- would've given an arm to see that one..." Commented Kei before pausing and heading back, bowing before his mother and father's graves. "I'll visit again soon, I promise!" He said as he then proceeded to jog along and catch up.
"You're pretty wierd sometimes, y'know? They can't actually hear you." Said the girl, as she placed an arm on his back, patting it far too powerfully for her own good, as evident as Kei had to repeatedly prevent himself from falling forward from each blow.
"Feh! Of course they can; when's the last time you visited Kagome's grave? Or koga's?" He said, as if defensively, but he froze as he realized she had stopped moving. "I-uh, really I didn't- I mean, it's.." He stumbled, trying to find a good way to reconsider his last statement.
"Maybe you're right.. I had better visit them.. come on, you're coming too- I don't want to sound like an idiot, talking to myself, alone." She said as she smiled at him, causing him to blush again, while she ran on ahead. "Race ya!"
"Wait! No fair! Kikyo!" He called out before growling in her ever fading direction, as his eyes shifted from the natural brown color to hold more of a golden light, his fangs extended slightly and he charged forward to close the distance.
#
"It was really nice of them to visit.." Said Sango with a chuckle. "For Koga's daughter, she's surprisingly inhostile."
"Yeah, I guess- but I still don't like the way she tries to push him around like that.. and he falls for it everytime, what an idiot.." Commented InuYasha.
"Oh come on, you're just as bad InuYasha."
"Am not!"
"Are too!"
"Not!"
"Not this again, you mean.. Tell you what, catch me- and I'll take it back." Said Sango as she got up quickly and took off, causing InuYasha to fall back who had been leaning against her.
"H-Hey! No fair!" He called out with a growl, and soon was chasing her.
'Maybe someday we will have to go beyond this place..' Thought Sango, as she played with her beloved InuYasha once more.
'Maybe someday we will want to even..'
'Maybe someday we'll hunger for another life, to love and cry and feel pain and joy within, but for now.. this is enough. This life.. is more than enough, to satisfy us- so long as we are together.'
"Got you!" Said InuYasha as he grasped the girl from behind, picking her kicking form up to prevent her from getting away.
She proceeded to turn around and wrap her arms around his neck, sliding back down into his grasp. "That you did- and you'll never be rid of me." Said Sango as she moved closer and pressed her lips to his.
THE END