Author's Notes: It has been an honor entertaining you all. Thank you very much for the support in your reviews and for adding this to your favorites and/or faving me as an author. I hope you like this short closure. Enjoy!

"Love has nothing to do with what you are expected to get, it's what you are expected to give –which is everything."

-Unknown-

"Serpent's Curse"

By: FenixPhoenix (Giselle González)

Epilogue: "Family"

Shinna Yuya closed her eyes and undid the braid that held her long locks in place. She felt the wind combing her hair with gushing fingers and smiled as the sun kissed her skin warmly, bathing her in gold.

She stood atop a hill overlooking a small house in the distance, not too far away. She was shoeless and curled her toes, feeling the moist grass softly underneath. She took a deep breath, loving the smell of wet dirt. It reminded her of her time as a nomad, following Kyo around, hunting criminals and saving the world.

Another gust of wind whipped her, rattling the Sakura tree in full bloom she was under and making a rain of petals fall over her like pink rain. She gazed at the horizon, taking in the magnificent view of the mountains ahead. It had been four years since Kenji's death. And it was not until now, until this very second, that she truly understood what he meant when he'd said that not all was what it seemed.

She sighed contently when a small hand slid inside hers, grasping it with a tender strength that drew a smile on her lips. She turned to look at the black haired toddler that was her son. When her eyes met his crimson ones, he broke into a toothless smile. Emerald eyes soften, extending absolute and undeniable love.

"Ah, there you are," she heard Kyo stating when he reached them. "He has been looking all over for you."

"You have, Kenji-chan?" she crouched before the child and planted a tender kiss on his brow.

Onime no Kyo shook his head. He wondered how in hell he'd been convinced to do a number of things he would never have considered in the past. Among such thing stood the idea of settling down and obtaining a stable job -albeit a good one since he could kill thieves and not be punished by the law.

Then, it had been only a matter of time before she had successfully convinced him of siring a child. Yet, perhaps the most outrageous thing he had let happened was to allow the boy, his first son, to be called Kenji!

Kyo sighed. Though he couldn't quite comprehend it, the name fitted the boy right. Had it not been for that samurai, after all, none of this would ever have come to be. So, in a way, he owed it to him, though he would never openly admit it to anyone.

"Mother," Kenji began, excitement tainting his tone, "I'm going to become a famous samurai of justice when I grow up."

"You are?" Yuya smile widened and her eyes glinted with pride.

"Yes! I'll be just like father," Kenji decided, trotting towards Kyo and wrapping his entire body on his leg.

"Really? Just like your father…" Yuya's eyes sparked with amusement and Kyo could tell she was trying not to giggle. Kyo scowled at her and ignored the jab.

He looked down at the boy clinging to him with arms and legs and smirked, feeling his chest swell with pride. Damn straight the little guy was going to be just like him! Kyo would have it no other way!

"Then, you better start training now," Kyo told him as, pulling him away gently. He gave him a soft push in the direction of the house and instructed him to bring the training swords.

Kenji skipped away happily, laughing as his small feet carried him with outstanding speed toward their house.

"See… you worried so much, but you're a good father," Yuya said as he approached her. "Though… really? You, a warrior of justice?"

Kyo ignored that again and hugged her tightly, happy to feel her body molding to his.

"Of course I'm both," he said with confidence and then whispered in her ear, "I am good at everything, remember…" She smiled but it didn't last long when he continued, "Unlike some who are only good at getting themselves in trouble."

Yuya broke the hug and stalked away, past her son, clearly irritated. "You just had to ruin the moment, didn't you?" she threw over her shoulder.

Kenji shook his head in disapproval and placed a hand in each of his hips, "You made Mother angry again, didn't you?"

Kyo quirked an eyebrow at his grown-up tone, "Of course not, she's a woman and that's what they do."

Kenji's eyes widened, "Really?"

Kyo nodded solemnly.

"Then I don't want a woman," Kenji resolved after a moment of reflection, "that way no one will ever be angry at me."

Well, that didn't end up as planned. Kyo quickly regretted his words and, kneeling before his son, he signaled him to move closer. He put an arm around his little shoulders, drawing him against his flank.

"I will tell you a secret though," Kyo said in a whisper, "all the troubles they cause are worth the happiness they bring… never forget that."

Kenji smiled at that, "Then I want one like Mother."

Kyo acknowledge that with pride, "Then you'll have to look carefully because a woman like your mom is like a treasure hidden underground… they are very hard to find, more so to obtain, but once you have it, you'll never let it go."

Kenji nodded, accepting the challenge and committing to it. Kyo smirked and stood up. With a curt nod, they parted, each with a sword, and got ready to start their training. Kyo could see the strength in his son and knew that it did not matter who stood in his way, he would get what he desired. And if indeed his desire was a woman like Yuya… well, he would have to face danger again and again. For women like Yuya, he knew, attracted danger like bees to honey… Then again, that was perhaps what made them all the more irresistible.

Kyo taunted his son to attack him by moving his finger in a 'come on' fashion. And as their swords met with the sound of wood against wood, Kyo realized that, though danger lay in his future, Kenji would definitely find his woman. And Kyo would make sure he and Yuya were there to see it happen. To see their son grow and his own legend unfold.

Oh, it would certainly be a sight to behold!

…::Fin::…

Story Written by: Giselle González

© Kenji Sakaki, Masaki Inoue and Takeshi Koga are property of Giselle González and were created for the purpose of telling this story.