Across the Ages

on with the smut! The next few chapter might be kinda sappy but don't they deserve it now? LoL Hope you all like. Been thinking of doing some one shots too. Any comments?

Chapter Fifty-Two

The following days were spent building the funeral pyres and burning the dead. They would be remembered as hero's who fought against the darkness that threatened the world. While they'd not lost even half of their men, it was still too heavy a toll fo Ayeka's tastes.

Sango had gone to the crumbled ruins of the castle and she and Kirara had returned with somber expressions, bearing the body of young Kohaku. His nightmare of servitude was over and Sango took peace in the fact that he was free now. She wept over him and Kagome held her tightly, uttering those words that come instinctively to women. Words of loving comfort.

Sesshoumaru had Inuyasha had sorted through those who had surrendered. Kurama helped them with the sheer numbers. Most were human and had been taken over, controlled against their will. They had no desire to serve Naraku and no desire to die. They were simple people and they just wanted to go home. A feeling that was understood by them all.

Ayeka visited with the wounded and joked with them about the celebrations they'd have at the palace and how many pups they'd see. She silently hoped that she could count one of her own in that number. She thought back on her human partners, the times she should have concieved and she hadn't. Was she damaged in some way? Would she every give Sesshoumaru the silver haired, golden eyed pups he deserved?

She caught his gaze across the camp and she hoped and prayed to anything and anyone who could hear her to let her have those things she'd been denied so long. A home, family, love and peace. Surely, after all she'd suffered through, even she deserved that... didn't she? Silently, she berated herself. She deserved nothing. So much for her perfect, happy ending. She was damn lucky to have what she did.


The camp was being dismantled and packed up. The journey back to the west would take longer, with the wounded and the expecting. No one seemed to mind much, they were going home now, the hard part was over. Ayeka perched on the grassy knoll overlooking the working soldiers. Protective pride flared in her heart. This was what the throngs of people sought. This was the secret of life. To love and to have a place.

Sesshoumaru watched her, the wind lifting her hair to brush against her cheeks. She was doing better now. She didn't harbor fear of him or of Inuyasha, she took her death and resurrection with grace. She was grateful for the life she had. She felt reborn. He'd chuckled at her words and gotten an ear tweak for his trouble.

As he watched her, he thought of the changes he wanted to make in her life, no, their life. He wanted to retire her from military service, not willing to risk losing her ever again. She'd not like the separation from her men. Perhaps she could be his advisor. That would make her happy.

He knew that Inuyasha and Kagome would return to her era and marry in the human custom with her family and then Inuyasha would perform the binding spells on her when they came back. His palace would be full of life and laughter, the sounds of children playing. It would be good for Rin that way too. She'd been alone too long.

He had confided to Inuyasha that he wanted to start over with Ayeka, wanted to renew the promises and mating bonds. Inuyasha had agreed that it was a good idea. To show her that he would choose her all over again. Inuyasha mentioned several human customs that Kagome had told him about.

Demons didn't exchange rings, they exchanged blood. He planned on doing both and Sesshoumaru had questioned him closely regarding the human ways. Inuyasha said that he planned on buying a diamond ring as was the human custom. To show his intent to keep Kagome. When they were wed a simple band would be added to signify the circle of life and love that surrounded them.

According to Kagome, this was a crucial thing to human women and so he'd be damned if he DIDN'T do it. Sesshoumaru thought long and hard about that. He made a mental note to see Totosai regarding such things. He happened to know that the swordsmith, while tempermental and senile, was handy with more than blades.

He'd had a small necklace made for Rin, commemorating her rebirth at his hands. The result was perfect. He planned to lavish his wife with love and attentions, jewels and silks. Even though, she'd never cared for those things. He wanted her to know that she was beyond worthy of them.

By the time they returned to the palace, Kagome was showing her condition quite clearly. The soldiers were happy to settle back into daily life. The palace settled and preparations were made. Ayeka chuckled at the list in her hand, she wondered if there was eno9ugh booze in Japan to cover this.

Sesshoumaru had been somewhat distracted of late and that bothered her. He was not one to be distracted by anything. She often saw him standing at the balconies looking down at her, an odd expression on his face. She wondered what he was thinking, it was beginning to worry her.

She voiced her concerns to Kurama and he smiled softly at her. He knew exactly what was on the mind of the dog prince. It wasn't because he didn't love her, it was because her loved her so much. This tiny human woman had sent the dog into a flat spin. He'd never recover from her. Not now that he'd fully experienced the facets of her love.

"Are you listening to me Youko?" she asked, using his first name. Golden eyes slid to her, slightly guilty. "Of course" he assured her, "You worry about too much Ayeka. Sesshoumaru has a great many things on his mind right now. Just give him a little time". Ayeka nodded, it was good advice.

The invites were sent to the four corners of Japan. All youkai lords and ladies were to come to the western lands. No one would dare to argue such a summons. Sesshoumaru was not one to rub the wrong way. He'd commanded the finest gems to be brought to him and he studied them carefully. His eye critical as he imagined each one against the beauty of his wife. It seemed that most of them seemed dull compared to her.

He gathered a box of them and carted them off to Totosai. "You want me to make jewelry?" he asked. Sesshoumaru nodded, "It must be the most wonderous peices you have made to date, they are for my wife" he replied as though it explained everything.

Inuyasha had decided to take Kagome home to her era before she gave birth. Sesshoumaru had smiled and nodded, handing his brother a small leather bag. "What's this?" he asked, skaking it, hearing a distinct clinking of coins. Sesshoumaru waved him away, "Go but I require a few things as well" he said.

Inuyasha and Kagome left a short time later. One of Ayeka's formal kimonos tucked in the yellow bag she carried with her. It was during this time that Kurama was able to catch up with Ayeka, he listened to her talk of her long lives and her many battles with Sesshoumaru.

"You love him don't you?" Kurama asked and she smiled radiantly, "I do, more than life". That was his answer. "What fears do you have then?" he asked. Ayeka looked away and in a quiet voice she told him how she felt, her feelings of unworthiness, her fear of never having children.

He took her into his arms, and held her tightly, rubbing her back softly. She sobbed against his chest as though her heart might break. And this was how Sesshoumaru found them, the scent of her tears reaching him and causing him to seek her out.

Kurama looked up at him and slowly lifted Ayeka away from him. "Maybe you should tell him those things" he whispered to her. She looked up to see Sesshoumaru looking down at her. Kurama left them alone and the taiyoukai remained motionless for long minutes.

The moonlight cascaded down on his wife, making her glow softly. She was no longer human, she'd become an angel in that moment and he sighed softly in contentment. He'd been avoiding her for days now, busy trying to find ways to please her. She'd obviously taken it as his not wanting to see her. That could never the case.

"Why are you crying?" he asked softly and she sniffed slightly. Kurama was right, she should tell him all her fears and so she did. She laid her heart and it's darkest corners wide open to him. The words tumbling up and spilling from her lips to fall at his feet.

Sesshoumaru was shamed that he'd not known she carried these feelings within her. He gathered her into his arms and stroked her hair, "You say foolish things" he told her in a gruff whisper. He pushed her out of his arms and stood before her again.

Ayeka watched as the most powerful demon, slowly knelt before her. "Ayeka," he said softly, and she watched as he extended a clawed hand to her. There gleaming in his wide palm was a glittering ring, adorned with a perfectly cut diamond. She looked up at him in confusion.

"Ayeka, Inuyasha tells me that this is an important part of human courtship" he went on, "Will you be my wife.... again?". She gasped at his words. Tears filling her eyes as he took her little hand and slid the ring onto the proper finger. "I only want you Ayeka. I wanted you then and I want you now. I would only ever choose you. I want to say the words again, do the ceremonies again" he told her. His golden eyes serious and fixed on her, "I have only wanted to prove myself worthy of winning your heart".

She threw her arms around him, hugging him tightly. Her heart so full of happiness that it hurt. "Yes, yes I will" she said between sobs against his neck. He brushed her bangs from her face, drying tears as he went and pressed a heated kiss to her trembling lips, tasting her sweetness and the salt of her tears. Pulling back he whispered three words that stopped time, "I love you".

From the rooftop, Kurama leaned back and smiled. This was what the Taisho had wanted all along. He smiled up at the sky, "Well old friend, looks like your idea is back on track". Above him a star winked brightly as though to agree.