It had been an eternity since she laid eyes on Inuyasha. She had let him live, knowing that he was alive and thriving was enough for the first years of his return. Kagome had been content to let him live as he was. In the mean time Sesshoamru ensured that each task and every opportunity opened for her. Himari was an angel, learning everything she had to teach and wanting more. Together they ventured into the world. Something Sesshoamru had been against from the start but their daughter was fierce and undoubtedly Kagome was nearly unstoppable. Her memories from her time lost had vanished, she resumed her time from the time she left. Her mind was stuck.

Sesshoamru found her looking for the boy or asking for her sister and he could see the sad realization when he had to remind her that though the boy was alive, her sister had lived a long and happy life with the demon slayer. She would nod, ask about her children, and then would retreat into herself. He fought the urge to protect her from her despair. She saw the priestess who lived among the villages. At first, the striking resemblance was too much, she had fled the room and cried for days. He held her through those days.

The despair did not fade, though she was happy, he could see the contentment in her eyes when they held each other into the early hours, but she always remembered.

He brooded. Looking through the window out to the expanses of his lands. He had built everything for her but he couldn't take the ache for her twin and son.

"Father?" Himari addressed her father. She had seen the interaction.

"Himari," he said and waited for her to continue. She sensed the emotions rolling off of him, he was distracted, mourning the grief that her mother experienced.

"Why don't you bring him here," she said and he turned to look at her.

"Who?" he replied and the young woman looked at him unflinchingly.

"Inuyasha, she wants to see him. And it may provide some closure," she said and Sesshoamru eyed his daughter. Of all the things she could have suggested he was floored.

"You think that mutt will calm her?" he said and suppressed the sigh. It made sense. She was no different from the woman he had mated. Her heart was still partly his after all. "Do you know where he is?" he asked and knowing Himari she smiled slowly.

"I have been tracking him since she returned.

"You have tracked the mutt for two years? How did you know?" he asked and she looked at him knowing that he was more intelligent than his question.

"Because father, I know her. She regrets the time she missed with me...but truly she was always his mother,"

"he is hunting the abomination Naraku, there have been movements throughout the region, he will not be away from the woman,"

"Then I'll bring her here too. Father, Mother will never heal from this unless she can see for herself that he is taken care of," Himari turned then. Not giving him her back but she was done with this conversation. "I will see to this, don't worry," she sheathed her sword and began to walk through the palace to the outer gate.

Her silver hair blew over serious eyes that scanned the area. The air was clear, each scent more pronounced than the last. She was looking for her. Her mother rested by the garden, her black hair and youthful face shrouded in serenity. Sighing the inuyoukai walked over and sat down at the base of the tree.

"You remind me of your father when you do that," Kagome smiled looking at Himari with admiration. "You are just like him," she shook her head and leaned over to kiss the top of her head. Himari let the maternal scent wash over her and felt the tinge of sadness.

"Do you miss him Mother?" she asked and Kagome saw the true question though she had not said his name.

"Yes, but too much time has passed, I would not be surprised if he had forgotten me altogether," she said and Himari shook her head.

"We do not forget. Mother I am leaving, I will be back in two days. Will you tell Father?" she asked and Kagome looked at her suspiciously.

"Are you off to see that village boy?" she asked and Himari reddened shaking her head. "Okay. then be back in two days," she said and Himari stood up and bowed. Kagome shook her head standing to wrap her arms around the woman. "Be safe," she said

Himari left them in a cloud. The summoning magic was second nature and feeling the wind on her face she sailed into the distance. Her uncle was notorious, leaving wreckage behind him and she knew that if she followed the scent of the sacred jewel she would find him there.

It was a few hours before she landed. The afternoon was nearly gone when she saw the light of his fire. The forest of the Bone eaters well had become his lair. Her feet touched down silently. Seeing the glow through the trees she could hear the party talking in the distance. Himari was confident in her skills but she had not expected him to be accompanied by so many. She smelled the scent of the demon slayers and felt the sacred powers of a monk and a priestess. She stayed back. Curiously moving closer until she could sense them.

"Kagome, stop being so crazy, I am being serious!" he said to a young black-haired woman. Himari caught the scent of the woman and froze unsure of why she was here.

"Mother?" she asked and crept forward.

"Inuyasha, I said stop. You can't be serious!" she was shrill, Himari knew immediately that the woman there was not her mother. She was close, not quite what she knew but related.

For a moment Himari kept still. She had always wondered what the half-demon would look like, and what her mother missed so much while her father kept his contempt for the mutt.

"Awe. Kagome stop getting so mad it was only a suggestion," he replied and she crossed her arms before taking a bound text and throwing it at the half-demon. Inuyasha ducked. The book flew through the bushes, Himari reached out and caught it in her hand rather than let it hit her.

"Shouldn't that book have landed somewhere," a male voice wondered aloud. Himari dropped the book and found all of them standing at coming towards her. She jumped into the tree above and watched them look around. Disguising her scent she was amused as they searched.

"That is strange. I thought I felt someone watching us," the woman said and Himari was surprised.

"How perspective," she said aloud. Amber eyes met. The half-demon looked at her with pure confusion as his nose picked up the released scent.

"You?" he felt the blood ties, smelled the scent of Kagome and His brother, and took a step back letting go of a pained breath. "Her?" he said weakly.

"Yes, I have come because of her. Do you know what I want from you half demon?" she asked him and Her uncle looked at her as if he'd seen a ghost.

" is she." Inuyasha backed away and began to run into the distance. Himari sighed.

"Who are you!" the young priestess demanded. What she saw made no sense. Who was this demon, why did she have the markings that Sesshoamru had, and what had caused him to flee?

"You!" Himari said. "What relation are you to the Lady Kikyou!" she said and the girl; was taken aback.

"I was reincarnated, my name is Kagome," she said and Himari laughed.

"A family name no doubt. Come. we will find the half-demon and I will take him home," Himari was immune to the looks of wonder on the faces of the humans.

"She's home!" Himari saw the transforming magic of a fox kit.

"Shippo?" she asked and the kit looked at her realizing who she was. "Can I go too?" he asked and the demoness sighed.

"Come, the rest of you stay and I will return your companions here to you," she said and the humans nodded knowing that this was a personal matter.

She looked at the demon slayed and smiled. "You are of the line of Demon slayers to the west," she remarked. "Perhaps I will test your strength, but not now. Human!" she called and Kagome allowed herself to be transported.

Himari flew into the distance. The half-demon had gotten far. But it was not far enough. He lept through the forest. Fleeing her as if she brought news of death. "Half demon, Inuyasha!" she called and he pushed harder.

"No!" he cried and Kagome looked at her with alarm.

"Why are you doing this? Obviously, this is upsetting him," she said angrily. Himari admired her protectiveness but shook her head.

"I must, for her," she said and pushed harder to catch him.

"Inuyasha!" kagome yelled and he hesitated. The demoness dove. Using the poisoned claws at her hands to rip through trees and grab onto the red cloth. He fought. Himari put the girl down and stood her ground against her uncle.

" you smell like him! But can you fight like him?" he asked and flexed his claws. Himari smiled, she relished the challenge and brought poison claws.

"Why don't you find out," she said not intending to truly fight the demon. Inuyasha withdrew his tetsuiga and Himari grinned and withdrew her blade, " you will come with me," she said and he pursed his lips.

"Why would she want to see me now. " he said and Himari could see hollow eyes. They were filled to the brim with rage and tears and she stopped.

"She has returned. She desires to see you," she said and Inuyasha felt his heart racing.

"But He-" he started and Himari held up her hands.

"Father has agreed. You have to come home," she said and he huffed.

"That is not my home," he said

Kagome watched the treeline for the return of her daughter. The palace grounds were still. The soldiers were gone on the latest skirmish and only the few workers inside the grounds meandered from one place to another. She sighed and went to look for her demon.

"Sesshomaru?" she called.

There was no response but as she turned to look for him she ran into his solid form. His hands moved to her arms and he pulled her to him to bury his nose in her hair. He growled softly " You summoned me?" he said and she smiled.

"it's quiet, Himari is supposed to be back…. I am just feeling a little lonely," she said and he nodded.

" You will accompany me," he said and she smiled when he picked her up and began to walk

"Where are we going?" she asked

" home," he said and she looked over at the palace he had built. She expected him to walk through the front door and through to their bedroom. But he went through the grounds nodding to the few workers and set her down at the steps of their cabin. She smiled and looked at him.

"What are we doing here?" she asked and he opened the door. She stepped in looking at the sparse furnishings and felt her heart swell. " it looks exactly like it did when I left," she said bringing her hand up to whip away tears. She turned and beckoned him in. Sesshomaru had to duck to get in. She turned and embraced him. Her nose pressed against his sternum. Bringing his hands up to comfort her he felt the release of emotions she had yet to show.

"Kagome," he said softly.

"I missed everything, Sesshomaru," she sobbed and he feathered his hands through her hair and kissed her tenderly.

"I have much regret."

" no! You never stopped looking, you did everything I knew you would. But I feel so lost. Maybe Violet could take us back? Maybe she could take me back." she cried and Sesshomaru held onto her tightly.

" if she could have we would never have been apart. Kagome, I cannot bring your sister back. Or the boy but I will do anything in my power to make up for the time you've lost." he said and she sniffed nodding.

"I want to, if only…." she shook her head and Sesshoamru felt her shove down that sadness. Her eyes changed and she leaned up to kiss him deeply. He growled and moved back with her to the Futon. It was the same one the Kami had gifted them. She was aggressive, pulling apart his houri and then hers so that she could push aside the despair she was feeling. He welcomed the show of affection. By the time she was gone, he had missed this. Her eagerness for the trust they had was intoxicating after searching for nearly two hundred years. The smell and feel of her skin were as he remembered.

Pressing her to the futon Sesshomaru took control of the situation. Instinct drove him to linger above her mating mark and bite down slowly until she submitted to him fully. Her short gasps brought him back to reality. When she reached for him and pulled him down tighter he let himself lean in.

Lips and claws found every inch of her body. The sensation of the ritualistic lovemaking was uninhibited. Knowing the other as an extension of their own body. Kagome gasped when he entered her, grasped him with her blunt nails, and felt the waves of pleasure until the moment of completion. Gasping and holding him as a lifeline she felt him as before. His red-tinged eyes and pursed lips lingered over hers and she kissed him.

"One more time," she said and he nodded.

Inuyasha was reluctant. Looking at the demon woman as an affront to all of his senses. There was no doubt who she was and what was lying before him. Many emotions mixed in him, the loss and despair he thought he had escaped was resurfaced and he was at a loss. Go and see her? Did she want to see him? What would she think after all this time? The thoughts brought tears to his eyes. He leaned down and covered them with his long hair.

" inuyasha, dont delay. She wishes to see you," she said and he looked at her.

" is that all, she wants to see me, why now?" he said and the young demoness was surprised.

"I was told about your time together. I was under the impression that you would also want to see her," she said and the half-demon grunted.

" you are mistaken, now leave," he said and stood.

"Why?" she demanded and the silver-haired man leveled with her.

"She abandoned me! where has she been?" he said and Himari shook her head.

" it is a long story," she said and looked at the girl who watched them with innocent eyes. "Let me tell you," she said and described the events from her perspective. At first, the half-demon shut down, he crossed his arms and frowned not wanting to hear the story. At this point, she explained the reemergence of the priestess and the time since he looked at her with mixed emotions.

" So he didn't keep her from him. She was truly gone," The girl said and the inu demoness nodded.

"If you don't see her, she will never smile again," Himari knew she was being dramatic but the plan she had devised proved to be more difficult than she thought.

Inuyasha looked at her and seeing the seriousness he huffed. " so be it. You smell of that stuffy prick, but if it's for her I will go," he said and Himari nodded thankfully.

"Good, let's gather the fox and be gone," she said and looked around. Shippo flew through the air and clung to the woman. " come here, both of you," she said and reached for Inuyasha and Kagome.

It was dawn when Sesshomaru pulled himself away from his mate. They had spent the night there in their old hut and he felt the nostalgia of being where this all started. Kagome stirred when he moved. She reached for his hand and grasped it.

" where are you going?" she asked and he leaned down to her and kissed her temple.

"I must patrol the parameter of the lands. I will be back shortly," he said and she nodded and rolled over. He smelled her then, the feel of new life brought him to attention. They had coupled a few times during that night and he was sure that once more they were expecting a child. He nodded, this time it would be different. He was sure and seeing the slow breathing and calm features of his love there was no doubt in him that she would be filled with the same excitement as the first time.

"If only you could forget that boy," he said softly. He turned knowing his daughter would bring the mutt, he could feel the approach of her power. The smell of pure demoness power entering his domain reminded him of the coming reunion and he left.

It would be better if he went there. Too many hard feelings separated the brothers. The whelp was destructive, loud, and uncouth. Things that he had learned during his mother's absence.

"What will you do Inuyasha, now that she is back?"

The grounds of the palace were underfoot before the dawn. The edge of the territory was shrouded in the demon lord's power and Himari saw the priestess shiver with fear.

"Where are we?" she asked and the half-demon stayed silent. His face was masked in indifference and with a few steps he sniffed the air and gasped. The mask cracked and the boy looked around almost hurriedly before running towards the forest and going to the steps of the small hut at the edge of the palace grounds. He gasped seeing his old home with mixed feelings. He slowed and stopped at the door and raising his hand he hesitated.

His lips burned, eyes blurred and Inuyasha knelt and felt tears fall like they hadn't in decades. Gasping he heard a small stirring and looked up as the door opened. It was him.

Sesshoamru looked at the youth with indifference omitting an aura of pure dominance. " boy, you are late," he said and Inuyasha swallowed his tears moving to get out of the way when Sesshomaru stepped past him and looked back over his shoulder. " see that you do not upset her," he said and went on.

Inuyasha looked at his brother knowing it was nearly killing him to stand by and let this happen. Taking a few breaths the half-demon stood and knocked slowly on the door.

Kagome was awakened by the sound of the knock and sitting up she wiped the sleep from her eyes before standing and going to the door. As her hand touched the door she felt the energy of a demon, it was familiar, and feeling a pang of remembrance, opened the door to a bowed silver head.

She gasped. The half-inu-yaokai did not look up but she reached out and placed her hand on his ears rubbing gently. "Inuyasha?' she said and he looked up. His face was soft, eyes hardened but the features she had watched grow from an infant into a child were there and she knelt to put her arms around him.

"Mother," he said and she cried. It was a long time before the tears dried, his as well, and when she could speak he looked at her and grabbed her arm to put his nose on her temple. " you are the same, why?" he started and she put her hand on his shoulders and looked at the man who was her son.

"The kami, grabbed me out of the battle, when I emerged it was like no time had passed, but. Inuyasha. I am so sorry I couldn't give you the life you needed. I wanted that from the moment I found you, are you happy?" she asked and he looked at her with mixed emotions. Standing and taking her hand Inuyasha led her back to the small group. Her eyes were puffy, she sniffled softly when she felt the arms of the kitsune.

" shippo?" she asked and wondered at his appearance. The red-haired fox smiled and took her hand. Transforming, she watched him grow to his full height and fill out as a man. Inuyasha looked at him surprised.

"I have been waiting all this time lady Kagome," he said and the woman looked at her with evident shock. The priestess looked at Inuyasha.

" she looks like…. Me," she said and Kagome looked at her counterpart.

Inuyasha nodded and holding his mother's hand let her see his companion. "Inuyasha, who is this?" she asked and Inuyasha sighed.

" she is the reincarnation of Kikyou, her name is Kagome," he said, and Kagome looked at the young woman with some curiosity.

"Kikyou?" she said and slowly walked to the girl and embraced her. The girl was stunned, awkward but Kagome needed the connection. " my twin reincarnated?" she wondered and looked between them. " you found her?" she asked and Inuyasha shook his head.

"Mother it is a long story," he said.

Himari watched from a distance, her smile was smug and when she heard the footsteps of the Demon lord she turned. "I was right, Father. Look," she said and the demon lord approached her and in an uncharacteristic show of affection placed his hand on her head.

"I am proud of you, Himari," he said and she blushed and turned crossing her arms.

" don't embarrass me!" she said looking like her mother. He let the smile touch his eyes.

Inuyasha stayed for three days, during that time things that were long forgotten were brought to the surface. The bond they shared was timeless and the reincarnated twin filled the void that had been missing, kagome learned about her sister's family, the demon slayers, and the battles she was in. Kagome marveled at the generations she could see and was satisfied.

"She and Haku lived a long life, she died with honor and her descendants have kept the shrine until This version of her reemerged," Inuyasha explained.

His mother nodded. Reaching out to the girl and squeezing her hand. " and you found her, it is all so strange but…. I am happy. Thank you." she said and looked around for her daughter. " Himari?" she called and like her father, the girl appeared out of nowhere and placed her hand on her mother's shoulder.

" yes, mother," she asked.

"I need you to tell your father I would like to see him," she said and The demon lord appeared beside her. " ah, Sesshoamru, I something I want to do," she said and he leaned down to nuzzle her temple.

The younger version of the woman's twin looked at the stoic demon with terror, in all the time she had seen him it had been in battle. She stood backing away when the amber eyes pinned her in place.

"What is is my love?" he asked and the half-demon watched the elder demon with wariness.

" I want to see them, take me to the grave of my twin, I want to see what it's all become,"

Looking around at the Fox, her son, and the image of her twin, Kagome felt at home, she felt right, and knowing that as with all things time went on, she finally felt in synch with all the changes. Her demons were terrifying, and she loved them dearly.

The End

it's been a while! I have never forgotten about this story and have spent many days re-reading and enjoying the story. it took two years for me to finish, but I'd never been satisfied with the quality of my work. misspelled words and phrases riddled this story and what I wanted more than anything was to go back and fix it. So finally it's done! this is the Eplougue, the final piece of this story that was missing for all these years. if you would take a few minutes to look at the changes I've made. from chapter one forward I have rewritten a great deal, keeping the original story but clarifying it and bringing it up to its full potential. with all the love I have please leave a review and let me know what you think.

Idreamofinuyoukai, out