A/N: For the 'For Keeps theme on Dokuga's LJ comm - this was for the one-shot contest, so there was only a minimum of 500 words. This one is 773 words.

All due recognition to Hans Christian Anderson for the inspiration.

Here it is! The final chapter of this story. :D I hope everyone enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it! Thank you for all the comments and support!

Originally posted on May 6, 2010. In one last, fantastic hurrah, this won FIRST place! Woot!

The End

The guests were few but honored - not for their political or social standing, but for being true friends. The bride smiled and laughed as the feast was laid out and instrumentalists took their places. And while the groom was quiet and sat stiffly in his formal kimono, a touch or a glance from his new wife would cause his shoulders to relax and even a smile to turn up the corners of his mouth.

Kagome wrapped her arm around her husband's as they sat at the long, low table closest to the newlyweds. "It was nice of you to pay for the wedding, Sesshoumaru."

He glanced at the groom. "I did not have much of a choice," the taiyoukai murmured. "As my half-brother, there is a certain amount of ceremony that must be observed at his wedding."

"A year ago, you wouldn't have even come here at all," she said.

"A year ago," he countered, "you had not yet forced me to..."

"Admit that good people can come from low places?" Kagome interrupted.

He gave her an admonishing scowl, which made her laugh. "To reevaluate my ideas about who is and who is not worthy to share in my life," he finished.

She smiled at him. "It's a lot to change in just a year," she said. "You didn't have to do this, but I'm glad you did. Kikyo looks radiant."

They looked at the former miko, still wearing brilliant red, but embroidered in gold and silk thread. Kagome had caught her fellow singer looking with some longing at the shrine maidens that had served the sake during the ceremony, but it paled in comparison to the joy that was on her face now. "I didn't think I'd ever get to see her like this," she whispered. "When we met, she thought Inuyasha would never marry her. She was so ready to accept that."

"Fear is something that should be defeated, not conceded to," murmured Sesshoumaru. "They could have done so earlier."

Kagome studied his serious profile. "I don't fault them for that. Do you?"

He let out a long breath. "No."

She knew that he only feared one thing these days - her inevitable death. She was so human, as he would sometimes say. It wasn't an insult - Kagome thought that he might be reminding himself of that fact instead. He could protect her from anything but time. Eventually, she would leave him, although she personally planned to give one hell of a fight first. His fear was losing her, but her fear was leaving him to lose himself, too.

"I'm afraid it's a human frailty to fear the unknown," she continued. "And some never go away. You just decide to go ahead despite them. But sometimes, that's enough, don't you think?"

Sesshoumaru turned to look at her. "Courage has its own rewards," he said.

She nodded in agreement. "There are things to look forward to. Things that could almost erase the fears entirely," she murmured, sliding a hand over her abdomen, covered in layers of expensive silk.

"Almost," Sesshoumaru replied.

Kagome took a deep breath and smiled, trying to expel every dark thought. She might leave him, but she wouldn't leave him alone. She rubbed at her still flat stomach once more. "Did I tell you that Hojo is getting married?" she asked brightly. "My family - including the two of us - have been invited. We haven't visited the village in awhile."

"Now, there is something to fear," the taiyoukai muttered, prompting her to laugh again.

"Kagome?" The Lady of the West looked up at the small platform where Inuyasha and Kikyo sat. The former miko pressed her hands over her heart and smiled. "Will you sing for us?" she asked.

"Gladly," said Kagome, approaching the dais and sitting before it. "Do you want anything in particular?"

Kikyo gestured to the musicians to relax. "Just you, sister. Whatever you wish."

The younger woman bowed deeply. Her song was new, unheard by everyone until the moment she open her mouth. It was one that had been months in the making - even Kagome hadn't realized it, but it came easily now. Her voice rose and fell as she sang with such beauty that no one could remember the words or the notes, except for the warmth that filled them when they listened. It was a song of home and love and how unexpectedly each could come to someone.

And when she finished and returned to her seat, there was only reverent silence, soft smiles and several tears in the eyes of the guests. Only Sesshoumaru moved to take her hand. "Precisely," he said, "my nightingale."