A/N: Here is the epilogue as I promised. This has been a great ride. Enjoy this last tidbit!

Disclaimer: I don't own the Inuyasha series!

Epilogue: Full circle

You know what to do.

Inuyasha's eyes opened slowly, taking his surroundings in bit by bit. He felt Kagome next to him, huddled close to him for warmth. The nights had begun to cool and he could feel the light breeze filtering through the cracked window. He covered her bare shoulders with a blanket and was satisfied when she smiled in her sleep.

A soft cry from the crib next to their bed caught his attention. The sound didn't sound urgent, only as if Kazue was only making his presence known in the room. Gingerly lifting himself from the bed, he made his way to the crib and peered inside.

Blue-gray eyes locked with his own, the soft silver tufts of hair getting in the way of his face. Kazue was now eight months old and easily identified his father with a smile and a coo. Inuyasha couldn't help grinning like a fool whenever his son—his son—looked at him that way. Like he was happy to know that he was there. Kazue lifted his arms, reaching for his father. Inuyasha immediately obliged and picked up the child. He was light as a feather and as he held him, he was mesmerized at how perfect he was. He was immensely glad that he had his mother's colored eyes and his hair. His face was still rounded, but Inuyasha could tell that he was going to look like him. He wondered if that was a bad thing, but he digressed. His ears also were just like his, much to Kagome's delight. Inuyasha wasn't as scared as he used to be about his children looking like him. Since his son's birth, people had begun to change. He could walk down the street in peace, with hardly a soul giving him a second glance.

Oh, there was still those who turned their nose at him, who glared at him when he pushed the stroller with his adorable son inside, who muttered hateful names under their breath but none of it could touch him because he'd already achieved his life's goal; having a family. He wrapped his son in a blanket and opened the balcony doors. He didn't feel the cold as he stepped out, and he was pretty sure that Kazue didn't either, but he had no clue and wasn't going to risk his son's health for a hunch.

Suddenly, the moon glinted off of something inside the room. Inuyasha's gaze traveled until he saw the source of the glinting; the Shikon Jewel. In an instant, he remembered what had woken him up in the first place and the dream he'd had. Midoriko had asked one last thing of him, something he knew he could do.

Picking up the jewel with his right hand and holding his son in his left arm, he headed toward the balcony. Outside, the moon was half illuminated, shielded by the dark clouds that covered its path. He held up the jewel and examined it for a second. It looked like it was in perfect condition and in a corner of his mind, he wondered how much it would be valued at. Still, a promise was a promise and he would do what had been asked of him. As he held it up, he thought of all the grief, anger and bitterness that this jewel had inspired in people. How it had ruined his past life and how it had pulled the strings of fate, leaving him to the dogs. He had made the first wish; it was only fitting that he would be the one to wish it away.

"I wish," Inuyasha inhaled, focusing on the jewel intently. "I wish for this jewel to disappear forever."

The jewel began to glow and the shimmering pink light grew brighter until the jewel was no more. A soft, white sliver was all that was left and began to grow until it took the form a woman.

Inuyasha held his son in both arms and nodded at the misty figure in front of him. "Midoriko."

Midoriko tilted her head in acknowledgment. "Inuyasha." A smile worked its way on her ghostly features. "Your son, Kazue, I presume?"

He nodded and Midoriko seemed satisfied with that. It was silent, but then something occurred to him.

"Midoriko, why didn't you just tell Kagome to wish away the jewel? She's been worrying for a while on what to do with that it."

Midoriko sighed and folded her hands neatly. "This was a strong type of magic, a powerful one. It is ancient magic that cannot be undone easily. Because you were the one to call on its magic that fateful day, the jewel was bound to your wish until it was fulfilled." She gestured to Kazue, who was quickly falling asleep in his father's arms. "If the jewel had been wished out of existence before gaining the happiness you had wished for, then all the magic that had brought you and Kagome together would have been undone, thus allowing the return of Naraku." She pursed her lips in thought. "Other things could have happened as well, but I wish not to divulge anything more."

"I understand," Inuyasha nodded. Sometimes ignorance was bliss.

"I am glad you have finally gotten what you've always dreamed of." Midoriko smiled softly. "And now that I am no longer bound to the jewel, I will finally be able to rest. Please, do not forget any of this. Keep what has happened in your heart." With that, Midoriko was blown away by the soft wind that was gone in an instant.

Inuyasha sighed, and turned around, only to see Kagome standing in the doorway of the balcony. She had a thoughtful expression on her face as she regarded him. He wondered how long she had been standing there in the first place.

To his surprise, she blinked and with a yawn, asked. "Who were you talking to, Inuyasha?"

Smiling a little to himself, he strode towards her and gave her a tender kiss on her forehead. "Midoriko."

Raising an eyebrow slightly, she responded, "And?"

"It's gone."

Kagome didn't need him to elaborate and sighed in relief. "Good. But why you?"

Inuyasha chuckled and began steering his wife back into the room. Gently setting Kazue in his crib, he climbed into bed with Kagome.

"I'll tell you all about it in the morning."

Kagome nodded, satisfied for now and too tired to ask anything more. She wrapped her arms around his waist and he mirrored her movements. He kissed her softly until she was fast asleep, warm and protected in his arms, drifting into a deep sleep himself after a while. He dreamed of the life he was now going to have and with the family he had always dreamed of.

Everything had finally come full circle.

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A/N: That's it! Hope you liked it!