Across the Ages

Don't get mad. These things happen sometimes. One more chapter to go and I will start on the chronicles of the Children. LoL. Hope you all like. Don't worry anon everyone will pop up now and then in the stories.

Chapter Sixty Two

Time passes as it is wont to. For those no longer bound by it's constraints, the passage of it remains

unmarked by years, even decades. For the group that sheltered in the west it was so. And decades did pass, and

in the west, Sesshoumaru remained unchallenged. Inuyasha had taken Ayeka's place, becoming a general in that

great army. For he had no desire to rule the region.

Time passed and children grew. Kagura no longer toddled around the palace but was nearly grown. She was

most often in the village. Her spirit was gentle and she was known as a healer in the area. Kagome often looked

at her daughter and wondered if it was truly Kagura reborn, for the young demoness could call the breezes to

dance for her. Her joy with life bright and blinding. She was very close to her uncle Sesshoumaru. They couold

sit for hours in the gardens and not speak a word. Content to linger in companionable silence.

Kagome and Inuyasha looked much the same as they had when she had been born, although now they counted

their children at seven including their adopted son Shippou. Tohma had been their second born, a son. He had

his father's temper and fighting skills. He had elected to serve under his father as a captain.

Their second son, Satoru had left the western lands, Japan even many years ago. He had ventured to the

continent to learn the arts of magic. His youkai powers enhanced by spiritual powers inherited from his mother.

He was a quiet child, his personality much like that of his uncle. His younger brother Souta had followed in

his footsteps, although he was carefree like his mother.

Saio, the second girl born to them had been different from the start. She was quiet around those she

didn't know, bright and fiery to those close to her. She'd displayed a knack for finding secrets. Sesshoumaru

had taken over her training himself and she was ranked among his most elite. His league of Assassins. Beautiful

and deadly. Like the lord she served. She often worked near the youngest of Inuyasha's children, Taima.

Taima had been born full demon like all the others, however her power was unmistakeably that of a miko.

She was gifted with visions of the future and had predicted peace to continue. Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha often

called on her skills to see the future of their neighbors. Battles close the borders, could far too easily slip

inside.

Shippou had struck out when he matured. Inuyasha had been unprepared to father him, but he had done a

fine job. Shippou loved his adoptive mother and father more than anything in the world. Inuyasha had made him

strong, teaching him to fight and harness his powers. Kagome had taught him to read and think clearly. He'd

taken to Kurama and together they'd departed to adventure across the world.

Inuyasha loved his children, all of them. Full demon though he was, his hear recalled human emotions

and his new strength amplified those. His children were brash and outspoken and made his head ache half the

time, but in his eyes they were perfect.

He had wondered how Sesshoumaru felt, bearing hanyou children. But in a growing household full of

little ones, it had become an yours, mine, and ours situation. Everyone loved the pups, cared for them, taught

them. It was a family in every sense of the word.

Sesshoumaru and Ayeka were slowly catching up. Including Rin they had five children. They even had

grandchildren thanks to Rin. She'd met and loved a man from the village. A good hearted man, who'd loved her

like no other. While Rin had chosen eternity for herself, he'd not.

Eternity was too daunting an adventure for him. He'd chosen to remain utterly mortal and he'd passed in

the fevers of winter. Leaving Rin with three sons to raise. They too, had found a home in the palace. Hajime

had become the resident scholar and historian and he had spent many a day pouring over dusty scrolls and tomes

with Sesshoumaru. His younger brother, Bantsuma had become a soldier in the Taisho's army. He liked to fight

and drink and laugh. He had no ambitions beyond soldiering but he did it well.

Yoshiro, Rin's youngest son had risen to the leven of Captain and served under Sesshoumaru's heir,

Toga.Toga, Sesshoumaru's full demon son, was the spitting image of his father. Nearly as tall and just as

powerfully built. Cold intellect and flawless fighting made him the third most powerful demon in Japan, perhaps

the world. He wanted to find out.

He'd been growing restless as time went on, but he had no desire to challenge his father for supremacy.

Rather, he wished to conquer his own lands and ally them with the west. He seemed as cool and indifferent as

his father, but his temper was there...just below the surface. He ruled over the west, in those times that

called Sesshouamru away.

His twin sister Taisha was every thing that he was not, bright and fiery to his calm collection. She

was also identical to their father, save her eyes. Which danced with the sparkling green fire of Ayeka. She was

very close to her brother and very much her father's girl.

That the twins could harness the vast powers they possessed at a young age spoke volumes about the

demons they would grow to become. Taisha was forever chasing her uncle yasha around, she liked his ears. Then

when her half demon brother Ryu was born with the same ears, she'd promptly named him hers.

Ryu bore no demonic markings and looked to all the world like a hanyou Inuyasha. He was impatient by

nature and all too inquisitive and he had left with Kurama as well. Ayeka had balked at her son becoming a

reknowned thief, but his father had merely shrugged. He would not force his will on his children as had been

done to him.

Tohru, their second daughter was also hanyou. She had her father's golden eyes and her mother's fiery

hair. Sesshoumaru had cleary stated that since children of his line had silver hair and golden eyes that this

red hair was a clear indication of her mother's stubborness asserting itself.

Tohru was always with Kagura as they were both healers. She was warm and prone to laughter, a prankster

by nature. Inuyasha swore she should have been born a kitsune for all the mischief she caused. Sesshoumaru was

very fond of this youngest daughter and if he had a favorite, well she might easily be it.

Ayeka's children were happy children. Loving home and guidance integral in their existence. There was

the usual sibling rivalry but it was never ugly or tainted. Just good natured fun at each other's expense.

Sesshoumaru was a warm father, a loving father and his children adored him. Ayeka had never thought happiness

could grow so much.

Sango and Miroku had watched the house of the west swell with life and indeed their own village teemed

with it. They were old and gray now, backs bent with age, eyes growing rheumy. Inuyasha had recently begun to

detect the creeping scent of death on them and knew time was drawing short.

They'd brought eight children into the world. Maia their firstborn daughter had become a slayer, having

a natural skill for it. Their son Kentomaru had done the same, weilding weapons alight with his father's

spiritual powers. Kaede had been born next with the miko powers and healing skills of the woman she had been

named for. Nomiko their son was a gifted slayer and scholar and Sesshoumaru had granted him access to the vast

libraries of the west.

Kira, their third daughter was also a slayer and she'd inherited her mother's right hook. She often

used against her brother and fellow slayer Imari when he teased her too much. Gatsu was the fourth son born to

them, also a slayer and scholar and he had become the resident poison master. Brewing deadly concontions and

potent potions as well as perfecting antidotes to known poisons.

Ninia, the fourth daughter had left the village and went to the palace of the west. Despite her tender

years she had sparred with the great Taiyoukai and earned a place among his secretive league. While being a

warm and tender person herself, she'd brought killing to a level of art. Something that Sesshoumaru admired.

Their children had grown and matured and taken husbands and wives. Hana had married Kentomaru and

enjoyed nothing more than seeing the wellbeing of his home, giving him a daughter, Nabu. She'd married a fellow

slayer and hung up her weapons to be a wife. Mushin, a quick learning young man had come to the village to

become a slayer and Sango had taught him herself. He'd not disappointed her and in time, he'd taken her

daughter Kira as his wife. Their son Shino was a highly skilled slayer in his own right.

Imari with his sense of humor and his father's roving eye had somehow managed to convince a pretty girl

named Ama to marry him and leave her own village behind. Being a healer she quickly found a place in the

slayer's village. After she'd come, Imari's eye only ever wandered to her. They had single daughter, Doshin.

She'd learned and grown and at the age of Sixteen she'd bowed before the lord of the west and offered her sword

in service. She'd learned some healing methods and also assisted the healers of the army when needed.

Sango and Miroku still squabbled like they had in their youth, but the houshi had been a loving husband

and father and if his often perverse nature had passed along to his children. Well... he wasn't held all that

accountable. Sango had seen her children grow and was blessed to know her grandchildren as well. The village

had been reborn. At last, her heart found peace.

It was in the spring that word came to the palace that Sango and Miroku had made their final journey.

Going together, peacefully in the night. The silver lords of the west and their wives had come to pay homage to

fellow heros and lost friends. Ayeka and Kagome and wept openly and Inuyasha had waited until after the others

had fallen asleep to slip out to the little shrine and caress the stone with powerful and youthful fingers.

He couldn't describe what he felt at the moment, the burning in his chest. The sheen that swamped his

eyes. They had been his friends, the only friends he'd ever had. They'd cared for him when he was hanyou and

had loved him despite his many shortcomings.

Sango had been like the sister he'd never had and Miroku had in many ways replaced the brother he did

have. They had been more than friends. They had been pack and now they were gone and he was powerless to fight

the decision they had made. His fist clenched tightly but then his eyes softened and he smiled faintly.

"I don't know why you didn't choose eternity. It's not that bad. We could have all been together

forever. But I guess you had your reasons. Feh. Whatever. Gonna miss you Sango...you too pervert" he whispered

and then he'd returned to his mate, a peice of his life now lost beneath the soil. His final words to them

lifting on the breeze and into the night.

Word came from the east that Koga and Ayame had finally mated, merging the packs. Apparently the two

were still suffering growing pains from each other. Inuyasha had laughed over the fact that Koga was probably

having a hard time controlling Ayame. If only she were as sweet and docile as his Kagome. He'd been whacked for

that comment.

Kagome had seen the end of her family. Grandpa had grown older and passed on in his sleep. Mama had

passed quietly as well. Kagome holding her hand, while Inuyasha smiled gently at the woman. Souta had taken to

racing motorcycles and his life had ended at the hands of a drunk driver as he rode home. A tragic end to a

life that had so much promise. Souta had always been good and kind and surely didn't deserve this end.

Inuyasha had heard the screech of tires from the base of the shrine steps and dashed outside to see

what the matter was. He'd caught the scent of blood and barked at Kagome to remain inside. They'd been visiting

Souta, he didn't like to alone in the shrine without mama and grandpa.

Inuyasha had seen the twisted wreckage of the bike, and Souta lying motionless thirty feet off. He'd

known by the scent that life no longer flickered there. He'd gently removed the helmet, and brushed the hair

from the opened eyes. He'd swallowed a sob as he closed those eyes... forever.

The drunkard had stumbled from his car, unharmed and unfazed. Inuyasha had been enraged that he should

be fine when Souta had lost his life. Eyes bleeding red, he'd pounced on the man without hesitation. He'd donw

what instinct demanded of him. A member of his pack was dead and this was the peice of shit that had done it.

Inuyasha had beaten the drunk to a pulp and then made certain that justice was done. On his terms. He'd

managed to drag the corpse behind the car as Kagome appeared. Her shrill painful cry, making him wince. Kagome

had been heartbroken at the loss and he had gathered her in his arms, stoking her hair and back to comfort her

as best he could. There wasn't anyone else left in their lives that was mortal however.

In the blink of an eye the well had closed and Kagome Higurashi had vanished from one life and began

another. The adventures they would know were as yet unknown but she faced them bravely with Inuyasha and

Sesshoumaru and Ayeka. Past hurt would heal, and new happiness would be found. She smiled at that thought and

Ayeka with her. Surrounded by the family she had made, she stepped foward........

Into eternity.