Epilogue

"You should be fine now." Kagome smiled at the old man before her.

"Thank you so much, Lady Kagome." He bowed to her, holding his bandaged arm close to his chest. After two more bows, he left her and walked over to his family.

"Kagome oneesan!" an adorable voice greeted brightly.

For just a moment, Kagome's thoughts jumped back to the young girl who had called her the exact same thing so many years ago. Then, smiling slightly, she realized how ridiculous that notion is. Rin, Sesshoumaru, Jaken, Cinga. All of them is just part of her memory now.

"Oneesan?"

Turning slightly, Kagome saw a beautiful girl standing at the edge of the village. Her hair was long enough to brush her waist. Surprisingly, tied on her head were beautiful flowers that were real. Her face shone with a brilliant glow. Her clothing were made from the finest silk money can buy. On her hands was a bow and a quiver of arrows.

"Hello." The goddess smiled. "Can I help you?"

"Oneesan is just as beautiful as she was almost nine years ago!" The girl smiled. She ran over, and gave Kagome a huge hug. "Rin has missed you, oneesan!"

Kagome's eyes widened, when she heard what the girl had called herself. "Rin?"

"I'm Rin, Kagome oneesan!" The girl laughed, smiling brightly up at her. "We all thought you've returned to heaven!"

This girl seemed to always bring Kagome to a state of speechlessness. "I.I.we?"

"Sesshoumaru-sama and myself, oneesan!!"

Kagome's eyes whipped over to the village's edge again. there, standing calmly before her was Sesshoumaru. He was still as impassive and stoic before. But now, his eyes shone with something brightly lit inside them.

It was enough to make her melt.

Her bones suddenly feel like eels. They weren't enough to hold her up. Plopping down on her steps, she never took her eyes away from him, just as he never took his eyes off hers. It was as though they were meeting in the forest that first time again.

Rin saw this. Smiling slightly, she withdrew herself from Kagome. "I'll be back, oneesan." She leaned close to her ear, and whispered, "He's really missed you, oneesan."

Then, they were left alone with each other.

~*~*~*~

Sesshoumaru watched Kagome pour tea for them both. Even though all these years had passed, she looked not a single day older. But then, she's a goddess. She's got eternal life.

"Kagome," Sesshoumaru began. "I." But, now that he sees her before him again, all the things he had planned to say to her fled his mind. No words can describe what was going on inside his heart.

"How have you been, Sesshoumaru?" Kagome asked, smiling at him, but not quite meeting her eyes.

"Oh, we have been fine. The lands are prospering. Now that Naraku is gone, the lands have returned to their normal states, and we have been in peace ever since. Those oni up there, of course, has been faring better ever since their new leader came about."

"A new leader, huh?"

"Yes. The old one had been slain by one of our men. His heir, however, is much better at keeping track of things then he had been, though." He couldn't explain this feeling. He sweating a lot in his hands, and his nerves were screaming at him to just blurt everything out. Yet, another part of him is afraid of what she might say in return to his outburst.

"Oh yes, his heir. Well, would I be able to meet yours soon?" Kagome still refused to meet his eyes, but he suddenly saw to golden spheres drop and clink to the ground.

Instantly, he realized where his own pearl had come from. "Tears of the Moon."

He got up, and walked over to her. "Kagome," he said, placing his fingers beneath her chin, and lifted her face to his. He saw the bright sea- gray eyes stare back at him, pain visible inside them. "I do not have a heir. I am planning on making Rin my heir."

"What took you, Sesshoumaru?" Kagome asked. Clink, clink. "I've waited and waited. Why did it take you so long to come look for me?"

"I had thought you had returned to heaven with Naraku." Sesshoumaru replied, looking down onto the ground. "I though my defeat had cost you to return with that chaotic creature."

The goddess didn't reply immediately. Instead, she looked at the gold chain that hung around his neck, with her teardrop dangling on it. Her first tear. "I cannot return, Sesshoumaru." She saw the question in his eyes, and elaborated.

"I am no longer an immortal, therefore, unable to return to my home, my kingdom. My eternal life was scattered to the winds, when I allowed it to break free of its seal."

Sesshoumaru was finding this all too hard to understand. "Seal?"

Kagome placed a hand on her throat, where her immortality had once hung. "My necklace."

"Why did you give it up?" The Demon Lord asked, though he had a disctinct feeling why and who she had given it to. Kagome didn't reply. But her silence was enough to confirm his suspicions. "I'm sorry."

Kagome looked over at him, surprised to hear such a deep degree of sorrow in his voice. "I don't regret it."

"Any why not?!" The Lord cried, frustration and anger at himself bursting out. His control vanished, as he paced the room. "There must be a way for us to get it back. I'll get it back for you Kagome. Even if it means I'll disrupt heaven and hell for me to get it for you. I will."

"It can't be taken back, Sesshou-kun." Kagome smiled briefly. "But I don't regret it."

"And why not?!"

". . . . . . "

"I descended onto Earth because I wanted to find love." Kagome said. "I wanted to know what love is. What it's like to risk your own life for another." She turned her sad gray orbs toward him, and Sesshoumaru felt his heart rate starting to speed up. "I found it, Sesshoumaru, in you.

"I realize you don't feel for me the same way. But I don't regret my decision. I've experienced love. I've accomplished my dream."

"Who said I don't love you?"

The kiss came gently and softly. But it's effects were enough to shatter even Father Universe and Mother Earth. The teardrop around Sesshoumaru's neck began to glow. The silver, golden light shimmered in the air, surrounding the two.

Kagome could feel herself being lifted into the air, Sesshoumaru still holding her tight. Eyes closed, she enjoyed the feelings it gave her. It's leading her somewhere. But she didn't really care where, as long as Sesshoumaru's coming with her.

Opening her eyes a crack, she found the all to familiar castle face her. InuTaisho-sama, Higurashi-hime, Sango, Miroku, InuYasha.all the Gods of heaven was there in her kingdom, standing before her castle.

They smiled a welcoming smile at the two of them. "I.what happened?" the astonished goddess asked. "How did I return?" "You've obtained your immortality, Kagome." Higurashi-hime said, embracing her daughter. "I'm so glad you're back, my daughter."

Sango, meanwhile, looked over at Sesshoumaru sternly. "You're a lucky guy, getting the affection of my best friend. If you hurt her ever again, buddy," she warned, jabbing him with a finger, "I swear I'll tear you apart, piece by piece." Miroku tried to calm down his other half before she bore a hole through Sesshoumaru's heart.

The youkai lord, however, were completely lost. Heaven was amazing, sure, but what is he doing here? "Sesshoumaru."

He whipped around, when he heard that familiar voice. InuTaisho- sama was standing beside his daughter, a necklace in his hands. "You shall become my daughter's counterpart, the God of the Moon, otherwise known as the Lunar God. Are you willing to accept?"

"I," Sesshoumaru frowned. "I'm not sure I understand."

"I am pretty confused as well." Kagome bore an identical frown. "I thought I gave up my immortality?"

"It was your tear, darling." Higurashi-hime smiled. "It brought you back."

"My tear?"

"The fates told us, before you were born." Her mother said. "We knew you would descend to Earth. We were told how hard it would be for you to obtain your immortality. Your first tear held your immortality the moment it escaped its confines. The Tear of the Moon."

Kagome didn't know how she should react to this turn of events. She turned to Sesshoumaru, who had now accepted his duties and gift from InuTaisho-sama.

He stood by their castle, a slight smile on his face. Around his neck, still, were her golden-silver tear. "No mother." Kagome smiled. "Not the Tear. My Tears of the Moon."

The End!

Author's Corner

Yuki: *sniff*

Hachi: *pats Yuki's face* It's alright, darling, it's alright.

Yuki: *goggle* Are you COMFORTING me, Hachi??

Hachi: *blink* *stare* . *BLUSH!*

Yuki: You WERE! Aww! How SWEET!!! *cuddle* I always knew you loved me! *smile*

Hachi: *rolls eyes* You're strange, Yuki.

Yuki: You're like the older brother I've never had! ^_^ Hooray! *cuddle*

Hachi: I will NOT blush. ~_~

Yuki: OK, since this story's over, I guess I should elaborate on the new story. Hachi helped me plan the first few chapters already...o_

Name: Heart of the Sea Rating: R Summary: Cursed by a vengeful god, Kagome has long since gotten used to her nightly cycles. But, when she meets the strange with the intense eyes, could she realize her one true wish, and bring herself to confess? READ AND REVIEW!!!!!!!!!