The Life After

7/3/06

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or the characters of Inuyasha. I do not own Naraku, Inutaisho, Inuyasha, Sesshoumaru, Jakken, Rin, or Ah-Un. I also do not own Ayame, the Elder, or Kouga. Nor do I own the lunar rainbow promise. I do not own Kagome, Sango, Miroku, Kirara, or Shippo. I do not own Kohaku, Hachi, Kaede, or Kikyo or ANY of the characters or happenings from Inuyasha. Rumiko Takahashi is the wonderful creator and owner of said characters, manga, and show. I do not make money off of her characters or this story. Anything that is not owned by her is still owned by the people who own the Inuyasha show and movies. I give them credit for their work as well. I do not make money off of their ideas or episodes. This Disclaimer applies to this and all following chapters.

Author's Note: I gave in. I put some stuff I drew of this story on photobucket. They aren't great pictures, but I put a few sketches of Uki, Riki, Shen, and a wonderful scene from Chapter 17. Unfortunately I can't link you to the whole folder, so I'll just tell you the website for each picture. If you're interested in my stupid sketches, lol, go here, here, here, and here:
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h213/renai_unmei/The%20Life%20After/RikiandUki001.jpg
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h213/renai_unmei/The%20Life%20After/quickcolorShen.jpg
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h213/renai_unmei/The%20Life%20After/Chapter17006.jpg
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h213/renai_unmei/The%20Life%20After/babyUki004.jpg
I fear there is only one chapter left. My deepest apologies. Any ideas anyone on how I can keep this story running?
***NEW PICTURE*** Yeah ok so I know Sesshoumaru's not wearing those clothes there…and it's not a very good picture….but it's still a picture, right?! I drew this last year when I wrote this story…but I never got around to coloring it til now…perhaps that also inspired me to carry on. Let's hope so!!!
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h213/renai_unmei/The%20Life%20After/SesshyRinUki-1.jpg

Thanks: Thanks to everyone for appreciating Riki and Uki as much as I do! ^.^ I'm sure they would be grateful for being so loved. Don't forget to check out the above links, so you can see them like I do. Or atleast the best I could get onto paper. Thanks again to Sorceressofthenight! *hugs* Everyone seems to be glad that Shen's gone. I really dunno how much more story I'm going to be able to write. I'd hate it to be coming to a close, but I just don't know where to go. If anyone has any ideas, please feel free to email me at my address in the last chapter. Thank you music for the masses. I got your email, and I've probably already emailed you about this chapter. Thanks Diamond1984. It's nice to know that you've been reading and enjoying my story. Thanks to Femme Fatale. It's nice to see a review from you again! And thanks for appreciating the fact that I try to get at least one chapter a day. And you're right! I need a major plot twist to keep this story going, but I'm stuck. I'm debating skipping a few years, and continuing the story with Uki and Riki a bit more grown up. Anybody have any thoughts on that? Thanks to animegirl007. Sorry I got so upset over the Sesshoumaru not asking for help thing. I just hate to admit that I'm wrong. I'm trying desperately to keep the story going, but I'm failing miserably. Which is the reason for one of my shortest chapters to date. Tell me what you think of my drawings, too, please! ^.^ Riki and Ukiyomaru send their love, and they're also glad Shen is gone. Those two boys make a great team, huh? Wish me luck on keeping this story going, also, any ideas are welcome!!! I'm sorry, but I am at a loss. I can think of nothing else to write. I fear that there is only one more chapter to post after this. I will deeply miss all of my reviewers! Feel free to email me! If you do have any ideas of how I can keep this going, then please review or email. Enjoy!

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Sesshoumaru blinked his eyes, the darkness startling him. His eyes adjusted quickly enough, and he jumped as two familiar brown eyes were inches from his. “It wasn't a dream,” he smiled softly.

“I hope not. Cause I've missed you terribly,” Rin brushed his bangs aside.

“Kiss me,” he ordered.

“Normally I'd tell you not to boss me around,” Rin crossed her arms indignantly, “but this time I kinda like that order.” She bent to let her lips meet his. His were still slightly chapped, but he had lost the bags under his eyes. Unexpectedly his arms wrapped around her head, locking her in the kiss. He didn't let her go for ages, he seemed afraid that if he did let go it would just be a dream. When he finally released her, she looked down at him amidst the blankets. He kept running his fingers over her skin, unable to accept that his search was finally over. The bed was nowhere near as big and graceful as theirs in his castle, but it didn't matter. It was perfect just because they were together again.

“How long have I been asleep?” he wondered.

“Only a few hours. You were kind of asleep when Inuyasha and I came back to the river.” Sesshoumaru groaned at the thought of facing his half brother. “How are you feeling?”

“Wonderful,” he shrugged.

“Good,” suddenly she grabbed his hand and dragged him out of the bed.

“What?” he whimpered, not feeling quite as wonderful now that he was moving.

“The entire village is throwing a party in honor of Riki and Ukiyomaru's heroics! They'll be crushed if the guest of honor isn't present.” Sesshoumaru gave her a “who me?” kind of look, and she laughed, “Of course you! Come on!” she pulled him out the door, and an amazing sight met their eyes.

The whole village was outside, there were at least a hundred fires going, and food wafted from every direction. “Rin! Sesshoumaru!” Kouga waved cheerfully, from the biggest fire in the center of the village. As they drew closer, they realized that everyone was there. Riki and Ukiyomaru were telling their story and waving their arms dramatically, surrounded by Miroku and Sango's three children. The adults all sat around the fire. Ayame had her head leaned against Kouga, who was suddenly connecting his random attack with the happenings of the day. He was whimpering his apologies for having spared the wolf's life earlier. Rin sat beside her wolf friends, saying that Kouga could not have possibly known what Shen was up to. She had once spared him, herself. Sesshoumaru was still standing beyond the circle, were Rin had left him. He was staring around at everyone. Sango and Miroku sat with Kohaku; they were discussing the demon slaying business they had started. Miroku did not help slay the demons, but he was very useful in purification and extracting demons. Inuyasha was watching Kagome cook, trying to sneak tastes when her back was turned. A small Kirara bounded around the fire, trying to spend time with everyone. Shippo was leaning against a tree; sucking on a lollipop Kagome had brought him. She had traveled through the well earlier, to get food and more medicine. They had treated Sesshoumaru in his sleep, and he suddenly noticed that a lot of his wounds were dressed and the kimono he wore was not his own. Also his hakama was missing. He vaguely remembered seeing his armor and fur cloak in Rin's hut. He was not terribly surprised that his clothes were missing, they had been stained so completely red with blood, that you couldn't guess they had ever been mostly white. Rin looked up at her mate, suddenly realizing that he hadn't followed her. She waved cheerfully at him, and he began to shuffle over to her. Before he was even halfway there, two small sets of arms wrapped around his knees. He looked down distractedly.

“How are you feeling, Dad?” Ukiyomaru's face peered up at him, Riki's right beside it.

“Much better, thank you, Ukiyo.”

“Wow, your dad's really tough, Uki! I couldn't fight for two and a half years straight and be walking around the next day!” Riki gaped at his cousin.

Ukiyomaru beamed proudly, “That's cause my dad's the best! Right, Dad?”

“Clearly not.” They looked up at him, confused. “This party is in your honor, is it not? That means that you are far more 'best' than I.”

Riki and Ukiyomaru laughed gleefully, and raced off to play with Akina, Suki, and Sorano.

Sesshoumaru continued over to Rin and sat down. His head was throbbing slightly; there were too many things going on for him to concentrate. Rin placed a hand on his knee, lost in conversation with Ayame and Kouga.

“Dinner!” Kagome called suddenly. There was a rush, as the children raced to the fire.

Inuyasha grabbed Riki off of the ground in front of him, swinging him onto his shoulders. “No fair! I was here first, Dad!” Riki laughed.

“Not anymore,” Inuyasha chuckled, “You think I'm gonna let your big stomach eat all the ninja food?”

“Mom made ninja food?!” Riki beamed, and Ukiyomaru giggled in front of them.

Kohaku had meandered over to Kagome's side, helping her pass out the food. He rubbed his head awkwardly, then turned to her, “Kagome?”

“Hm?” she said, passing a plate to Akina.

“You know a lot about the Jewel right?”

“I guess so.”

“Do you think it could be used…to make someone more human?”

Kagome turned to him, looking rather confused. Then she caught his gaze and followed it to see Kirara curled up in Shippo's lap. He was running his hand over her fur. “I don't really know,” she turned back to Sango's little brother, “The Jewel can do lots of things. It probably could do that. You thinking of giving your shard to Shippo?”

Kohaku nodded. Another jewel shard Inuyasha had left in circulation was Kohaku's. It had been removed from his back and purified; he had mostly kept it as a memento. He was also the result of another kind deed on Sesshoumaru's part. The Jewel had been pretty much the only thing keeping him alive. When Sesshoumaru had been leaving to collect his arm after defeating Naraku, he had seen Sango crying over a limp Kohaku. Without even thinking of it he had drawn Tenseiga and saved the boy. He was gone before she had ever gotten a chance to thank him. Now Kohaku had no use for it, and it was really sad that Kirara and Shippo were so very different, yet so very much in love. Kohaku said finally, “I just think they'll have more use of it than I will.” With that he waddled over and handed the shard to Shippo, who hugged him joyfully. Kirara had looked up at Kohaku with only one eye, as she had been enjoying sleeping in Shippo's lap.

A few seconds later, Kagome was called over to place the shard in the black diamond on Kirara's head. Almost instantly the cat became as human as any of the other demons around. She had pointed ears with black tips. Her long blonde hair flowed gracefully around her. Her eyes were still red, the black diamond still rested on her forehead, and she had black stripes on her wrists and ankles. Her two tails flowed off of her back, and she laughed and wrapped her arms around Shippo. Shippo blushed deeply, as she was sort of naked. Sango had thought ahead, and was instantly running back from her hut with an extra kimono for Kirara. Kirara didn't talk much, as she had gotten along fine without ever talking before. Also, to her great excitement, she found that she could change back into her cat self at any given time. For the moment, however, she curled up in Shippo's loving arms, leaning backwards to kiss his lips.

Rin had wrapped her hand around Sesshoumaru's, and he clung to it desperately. His ears hurt, how did Inuyasha stand all of this commotion? He was used to being alone, or at the very least with only Rin, Jakken, and Ah-Un. Now, not only were all of Inuyasha's friends running around and talking nearby, but the entire village was having their own parties around them. As if noting his thought, Inuyasha sat down beside his half brother. “Kind of noisy at first, huh? You get used to it though.”

“If you say so,” Sesshoumaru sighed.

“Hey,” Inuyasha said after a minute, “I think it's nice that you didn't abandon Rin. I wouldn't have expected it of the GREAT Sesshoumaru…still. I think an emotional side suits you.” Inuyasha punched Sesshoumaru's shoulder gently, then raced off to eat ramen with his son.

Sesshoumaru turned to Rin, “I don't understand.”

“Don't understand what?” she had seen his conversation with Inuyasha, and was smiling wide.

“Everyone here…is so nice to me? I know I have tried to kill at least half of them at one time or another. Why would they accept me?”

“You forget a lot of the stuff that happened when we were fighting Naraku, don't you?” When he didn't answer, she continued, “There have been several occasions when you wouldn't fight Inuyasha because he was injured.”

“I don't cheat, like that worthless Shen,” the taiyokai hissed.

Rin rolled her eyes, “Let me finish. You see that fox demon? You saved his otter friend's father, remember? You see that boy? You saved his life, too. Even spared it when Naraku made him try to kill me. That puts him and Sango on your side. You helped them all defeat Naraku, by getting them through the gate to the other world. You saved me and Kagome when that Takemaru was possessed by Sounga and tried to kill us.”

“Don't remind me of that human…he used my arm,” Sesshoumaru growled, suddenly wishing he hadn't reattached it.

“Don't be silly. I'm sure the jewel shard has purified your arm. Either way, you have done several nice things for everyone here. They appreciate you,” Rin rested her hand on his shoulder.

Before Sesshoumaru could argue the point, Ukiyomaru raced over to him. The child pulled himself into his father's lap, leaned back against his chest, and promptly fell asleep. “Children,” Sesshoumaru whispered, “are so very…unconditional.”

“He loves you,” Rin smiled.

“I suppose…I love him, too,” a smile played on Sesshoumaru's face. Perhaps, despite the noise and insanity, this was a perfect place to live. He looked over at his nephew and half brother. He could not ask Ukiyo to come with him. That was too much. He would have to leave his mate and son here. It saddened him. Though he would visit them often, he would still have to live in his castle and rule his lands. For a while, however, he would stay here. Everyone was so nice. Rin had changed his life drastically in just a few years. No one feared him anymore, but now everyone liked him. It was a hard thing for him to comprehend, but he appreciated it nonetheless. “I love you, too, Rin.”

“And I you, my strong, brave, protector,” she lay her head against his shoulder. He placed one arm around her, and the other around his son. Indeed, this was home, right here with his family and friends.