Disclaimer: InuYasha is the property of Rumiko Takahashi. I have nothing.

I'm Not Coming Back

Epilogue

InuYasha moved aside to give Kaito and his parents some privacy while they said their goodbyes. Taking a seat on one of the benches that surrounded the large brick dormitory building, he sat people watching, seeing all the weepy mothers saying their goodbyes to their nearly-adult children whom they still regarded as babies. There were even a few fathers shedding tears…

He shot a glance at Hojo. Of course the big baby was crying...InuYasha rolled his eyes. "What a wimp…" he grumbled under his breath.

After receiving a warm send-off from his parents and siblings, Kaito made his way over to the bench and took a seat next to his stepfather. "You know what this reminds me of?" he asked.

InuYasha shook his head. "What?"

"The day we first met. Do you remember?" The lanky eighteen-year-old asked with a grin.

InuYasha turned to him. "Of course I remember...do you? You were practically a baby."

The younger man nodded. "I remember it like it was yesterday…Do you know why I came up to you, that day in the park?" he asked.

"Because of my ears." InuYasha answered.

Kaito chuckled. "Yes, because of your ears…" he said, before his smile faded to a more serious expression. "because the hero in every bedtime story that Mom ever told me had ears like that...and it's not everyday you meet a real life hero."

All the air seemed to leave InuYasha's lungs at once as he fought to hold back the emotions that suddenly threatened to overcome him. He turned and threw his arms around the young man that he had always regarded as a son, just as much so as his biological children; he pulled him into a tight hug, hiding his tears, but not the emotion in his voice.

"You saved me that day, Kai." InuYasha whispered. "You are my hero."

"And you're mine." Kaito returned.

"I love you, buddy."

"I love you, too."

They held the embrace only a moment longer, before patting each other on the back and separating. They both quickly turned away to wipe their tears and clear the emotion from their throats.

"We're gonna miss having you around." InuYasha said in an exaggeratedly gruff tone.

"New Years isn't that far off."

InuYasha nodded. "Yeah...I guess not…do you need any money?"

"No, I'm good. Dad gave me a credit card so…"

"So dinner's on you from now on when we come to visit." InuYasha finished for him with a chuckle.

Kaito smiled. "Sure." he said as he stood from the bench. "Well, I guess I should get inside and start unpacking." he said as he stood.

"Alright. See ya, kid." InuYasha said, standing alongside him and giving him a slap on the back. "Call your mom every once in awhile." he added as he made his way over to his wife and slipped an arm around her waist.

"I will." he promised with a smile before turning and heading up the wide concrete stairs that led into the dorm building.

Kagome turned her head toward InuYasha. "What were you and Kai talking about?" she asked.

"Just man stuff." InuYasha answered.

"Oh really. Is that why you were both crying like little babies?" she teased.

"Oi! Nobody was crying!"

Kagome snickered as she wrapped her arms around his waist and leaned into his side. "Whatever you say manly-man." she teased.

He leaned down and pressed a kiss against her temple. "Maybe we can get the girls their own room tonight and I can show you just how manly I really am." he whispered into her ear.

"EWW!"

"We can hear you, ya know!" their two daughters called out from behind them.

Damn hanyou hearing…

"What are you two complaining about? Don't you want your own room?" InuYasha turned and asked.

The girls looked at each other then back at their dad. "Can we get room service?" the older girl asked.

"Sure."

"Oh! Can we rent movies?" the younger girl chimed in.

"You can rent one movie." Kagome answered, holding up a finger. "And I have to approve it first."

"Can it be PG-13?"

"No."

"But I'm thirteen!"

"And your sister's eleven."

"So? She's just gonna fall asleep in the middle of it anyway!"

"If you continue to argue with your mom there won't be any movie at all." InuYasha said sternly.

The older girl huffed and crossed her arms. "Fine…Can our room be on a different floor of the hotel at least?"

"Yes." InuYasha and Kagome said enthusiastically and in unison, before shooting each other knowing little smirks.

"GOD, GROSS! I'm going to throw up!"

InuYasha snorted and turned back to his oldest daughter with a grin on his face. "You do know where you two came from right? You don't need me to explain that to you?"

"No!" Both girls shouted and InuYasha and Kagome both chuckled at their children's revulsion.

"Okay, good. Let's go then." he said as he turned back around, slipping his hand into Kagome's and lacing his fingers with hers.

"You two are so embarrassing." Their oldest daughter grumbled.

"One more word and we're going to kiss right here in front of everybody." Kagome called back and the girls fell silent as the four of them headed in the direction of the parking lot.

The last fifteen years had held a lot of introspection and reflection for InuYasha, but more than anything they had held happiness. More happiness than he had ever dreamed a life could hold. There was a time when he couldn't imagine he'd ever know the feeling of contentedness he now knew, but many seasons had passed since that time. Many Christmas mornings, and water balloon fights, and dirty diapers, and little league games, and dance recitals. Many mornings waking up next to the the other half of his soul, breathing her scent, and feeling the warmth of her body, and hearing the gentle rhythm of her breathing. He felt undeserving of such a life, but he was grateful for every second, and he would never take it for granted ever again.

He occasionally still thought of Kikyo; wondering, if she would had lived, would his life have turned out the way it did? Would he have married her? Would he still have met Kagome? Of course he didn't believe that her destiny was to be a pawn along the road of his life. In fact, he didn't believe in such a thing as destiny at all. His hope for Kikyo was that she was resting peacefully somewhere, or that perhaps her soul had been reborn and was living happily inside a new heart. It was something he'd probably never know, but he chose to believe, because if there was one thing this life had taught him, it's that happy endings are possible.

A/N:

Thanks for reading!

Have a glorious day!

-SW