{This time, I'm putting the song at the end, okay? ^_^}

Chapter 44: So Far Away (Epilogue)

After Sesshoumaru and Kyoko had reunited, they had made the decision to marry. However, after short deliberation, they decided to hold it off until after Naraku had been destroyed.

~~~ ~~~~~~~~ One Year Later, after Naraku has been destroyed ~~~~~~~ ~~~

Kimi smiled as she held two hands, one was Kusanagi's and the other was that of their first-borne son. She watched quietly as Sesshoumaru and Kyoko performed their wedding ceremony. [Finally… Kyoko has fulfilled her dream… Fate has finally given her a reason to smile…]

~

Sango's already wide smile widened even more as she felt Miroku pull her closer to himself. [Perhaps now life can go back to normal… Kyoko gave us her home on the mountainside, so now Miroku, Kohaku, and I are able to live together in peace. Even though Kohaku hasn't regained all of his memories, we have all of the time in the world to get back to where our lives were before Naraku came along. I have decided, though, that perhaps creating an entire village of taijiya is not such a wise idea. Miroku, Kohaku and I may be the last of the taijiya, but… at least we wouldn't lose another village…]

~

Miroku grinned as he pulled Sango closer to himself. [Not long, and it shall be our turn… we shall be the ones performing the ceremony… but… we didn't go through nearly as much as what Kyoko did… I wonder… if she had given up hope any one of those times… would she still be doing what she is? Would he still be by her side?]

~

Kagome sighed as she watched Kyoko and Sesshoumaru near the end of their wedding ceremony. [Wow… things were so simple back in this time… but… if I got married, would it be in this time, or in my time? But… I'm only seventeen, girls my age don't usually get married unless they are… well, with child. Then again… in this time, seventeen is almost late to get married… many of these people are married by the time they are fifteen… Oh well… it's not like I have time for any of that just yet… I've still got to finish high school, and then there's college… But… if I finish high school and then go to college, I certainly won't have time to come back here…]

Inu Yasha, sensing Kagome's anxiety, wrapped his right arm around her shoulder. "Kagome," he whispered, "whatever it is, stop worrying about it for now. We can deal with it later."

Kagome nodded, a wave of happiness washing over her as she remembered once again that she no longer had to fight for Inu Yasha's heart. [Kikyo told him that it wouldn't have worked, but I was alive and that Inu Yasha should focus on the present, and look to the future, and to stop dwelling on the past—on her. She still cares for him, but she also wants him to be happy…]

~

Sesshoumaru's grin spread across his face as he stood next to Kyoko, his gaze fixed within her eyes. [This is it… finally… no more worry, no more uncertainty, nothing. Just us. Not even Naraku can stop this… nothing can…]

Kyoko's eyes sparkled with happiness as she felt Sesshoumaru's hand brushing her bangs out of her face. [Despite everything that has happened, here we are… We finally made it… and… everyone is here, Sango, Miroku, Kagome, Inu Yasha, Kimi, Kusanagi, their son, Father, some of the local human lords, a few of Sesshoumaru's vassals, and… even Kagura came. She… She asked of our forgiveness after Naraku was killed and Sesshoumaru has given her the task of watching over our lands while we are gone and she is also to be among those leading his other vassals into battle, if that should ever happen. It's okay though… I understand that she was under Naraku's orders when she attacked me those two times.]

Sesshoumaru's smiled waned as he pulled Kyoko's face nearer to his and kissed her, signifying the end of their wedding ceremony. When the two finally broke their kiss, cheers were heard from the people in the small crowd, observing the ceremony.

Kyoko smiled as she felt Sesshoumaru pull her closer to himself. He pressed his lips to her forehead. "Kyoko, I love you."

Kyoko, caught in the moment, was only able to nod before she noticed someone walking towards them.

Kyoko's father approached the two with a smile on his face. "It is not often that a father allows his daughter to wed without first meeting the groom. However, it was Kusanagi that convinced me of your outstanding strength and capabilities, Sesshoumaru."

Sesshoumaru nodded. "Thank you."

"All I ask is that you take care of my daughter and keep her out of harm's way."

"Of course."

Kyoko's father nodded as he walked away. "I'm glad…"

[That was easier than I had suspected…] Kyoko smiled warmly as she stared into Sesshoumaru's eyes. She ran her hand over his face, as though to remind herself of the reality of the situation. "Let's go, Sesshoumaru-sama."

Sesshoumaru nodded as he felt the wind blowing in his hair and saw cherry blossoms floating through the air. [A new beginning, huh?]

This is my life;

It's not what it was before,

All these feelings I've shared.

And these are my dreams,

That I'd never lived before.

Somebody shake me 'cause I must be sleeping

~

Now that we're here, so far away

All the struggle we thought was in vain

All the mistakes, one life contained

They all finally start to go away

Now that we're here, so far away

And I feel like I can face the day

I can forgive, I'm not ashamed

To be the person that I am today.

~

These are my words, that I've never said before

'I think I'm doing okay.'

And this is the smile, I've never shown before

Somebody shake me 'cause I—I must be sleeping

~

Now that we're here, so far away

All the struggle we thought was in vain

All the mistakes, one life contained

They all finally start to go away

Now that we're here, so far away

And I feel like I can face the day

I can forgive, I'm not ashamed

To be the person that I am today.

~

I'm so afraid of waking

Please don't shake me

Afraid of waking, please don't shake me

~

Now that we're here, so far away

All the struggle we thought was in vain

All the mistakes, one life contained

They all finally start to go away

Now that we're here, so far away

And I feel like I can face the day

I can forgive, I'm not ashamed

To be the person that I am today.

~END~

{A.N.1. First, I don't know the exact details of a Japanese wedding ceremony, so forgive me for anything I've done that would be a major inconsistency.

2. Sesshoumaru's last thought refers to the cherry blossoms, which, if I recall correctly, signifies a new beginning. Sort of a reference to Kyoko and Sesshoumaru's 'new beginning' of being together in marriage.

3. Kyoko's father, well, he is acting as he is because he feels sort of akward about Kyoko's marriage to someone that he had never met before. Such an act was unheard of to him, who had been subject to a marriage which was planned by his parents, like many other nobles of the time.}

{Final A.N. It's been a long journey, but finally we have reached an ending. Kyoko has achieved happiness and I have the chance at free time, for the first time in… ^_^;; over a year. I do ask that anyone who has read the entire fan fic, please, please tell me what you think, even though many of you have already told me your opinions in earlier chapters. Also, if anyone has any questions, feel free to send me an e-mail and I'll do my best to explain. Unless it is something that is painfully obvious, no question is stupid. Also, it has been suggested to create a sequel, so if anyone has any ideas, send me an e-mail.}