Epilogue:

The soft rain continued to fall down around them, unnoticed by anyone as they watched the last shovel of dirt being placed onto the growing mound before them. For a long moment, no one could say a word, utter a sound other than crying, as they just stared down at the marker placed before the grave; its occupant's name scratched into the surface by the claws of those who loved her the most. As a soft, haunting song began to echo around them over the rain, as a young woman sang a song of mourning, the others began drifting away from the grave; as proof that life goes on.

Before long, only two remained standing before her final resting place, but soon even the younger of the two walked away to join the others heading back toward their home. Minutes ticked away unnoticed by the last remaining mourner as he dropped to his knees in the mud and pressed his forehead against the cold marker in front of him. "Goodbye, Kagome. My love. My mate. We shall meet again in our next life," Sesshoumaru promised before rising to his feet once more; the simple feat taking far more energy than he could have imagined.

Feeling eyes on his back, Sesshoumaru turned around to find someone he was not entirely surprised to find standing there, waiting for him. Making his way toward her, already able to smell the scent of her death and clay body, Sesshoumaru held his tongue until he was standing before her. "I will hold up my end of the bargain our future selves struck. You can have your soul for 80 years, but after that it must be set free so she can be born in the future."

A soft chuckle escaped her lips before she informed him, "It seems my future self did not explain things clearly to yours." Thinking she was about to go back on her deal and not about to risk Kagome not being born to meet him, Sesshoumaru glared at her menacingly and was about to threaten her when she interrupted him. "Forgive me, the deal remains as it was meant to, I simply meant that I would not need the full 80 years. Once this body is blessed with a full soul, I will begin aging as I should have had I lived. I doubt I will live to be 100 years old."

Instead of responding, Sesshoumaru unsheathed his sword and gently place the tip against her forehead; allowing the soul contained within it to transfer to her body. As he watched her spirit leave him, no longer able to feel her presence surrounding him, he couldn't help but remember the last time he had used his sword. It had only been a few days previous, but to him it felt as though it had been a lifetime ago. It was the day she died and he had tried to use the sword to revive her, refusing to let her go yet even though he had known this day was coming for a long time, but the sword had refused him in turn.

It would seem that it could not bring back those that had died from natural causes and as much as he hated to admit it, as he had continued to swing his sword above her body over and over again even though the pallbearers of the underworld never appeared to be vanquished, he would have to say goodbye to her. Turning his attention back to the priestess before him as she gently laid her hand across her chest, feeling her heartbeat for the first time in over a century, he couldn't help but notice her scent of clay and death had been replaced with a much more pleasing scent of life.

Sheathing his sword once more, Sesshoumaru turned and started to head back home, before pausing for a moment to whisper, "Thank you for allowing me to correct my mistake." Walking away without another word, Sesshoumaru soon spotted Inuyasha coming toward him; confusion evident on his face. Before he could ask, Sesshoumaru explained, "A deal was made to give me the chance to have the family I had always wanted. Now it is your turn, brother. Your priestess can explain the rest to you." Placing his hand on his shoulder for a moment, Sesshoumaru nodded to his questioning expression before continuing on his way in the direction of the den.

Paying little attention to the two behind him, Sesshoumaru made his way out of the clearing near the well that would one day become her family's shrine and passed the threshold into the forest. Once the edge of the forest no longer blocked his view of its contents, he quickly spotted his son and began making his way toward him. Patiently, Inu-Takeshi waited for his father with his younger siblings and aged uncle. Once the demon lord joined them, they turned and began the long trek back to their family home.

As Sesshoumaru walked in silence, he did not bother fighting off the tears that made their way to the surface; he knew there was none there that would fault him for such a weakness. They understood that even a demon lord was allowed to cry when he lost his mate and the mother of his children. Turning his attention to the family that surrounded him, Sesshoumaru thanked his future self, for what seemed like the millionth time, for giving him what he never knew he wanted. For giving him the chance to live her life with his mate, for two more pups than he was ever supposed to be blessed with and for giving up his existence to allow him a chance at happiness that he did not deserve.

For 500 years he had denied himself the family he had always wanted and though he had only been with her for 60 years, she had been worth the wait; even if he couldn't remember it. And even now that she was gone, he knew he would never forget the woman who had shown him how to love, who had given him three beautiful children. He knew the girl who had filled the void within his heart would never be far from his mind.

AN: Wow, I can not believe I finished this story tonight. As always I am saddened by a story I brought to life ending, but at the same time, I am happy I got to experience this story and to share it with all of you. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. With the end of this story, the void has been closed forever as there will not be a third story. Honestly I can not think of anything that could be added that wouldn't take away from the story nor a better way to end it. Bittersweet it may be, but to me it is perfect.

Also if there is still any confusion, the second grave mentioned, when Sesshoumaru goes to the future, is Souta's.