The sun shown brightly in the sky while the animals wildly ran around the forest. Several seasons had passed since the defeat of Naraku and thus the destruction of the future Inuyasha plot, but Kikyo did not care, not one bit. Because she was happy.

Once Kikyo was healed after her 'encounter' with Naraku, Sesshomaru asked for her permission to court her and she graciously accepted with a smile, and so their courting began. And now Kikyo and Sesshomaru were getting married.

The wedding was a small affair with only a select few attending, such as Kaede, Inuyaha and Sesshomaru's mother, who had to Kikyo's surprise accepted her as a future daughter in law. The Wedding of Sesshomaru and Kikyo was held on the 7th of July, the same day as the Tanabata* festival.

The wedding ceremony began with an adjusted version of a purification ritual. The guests offered Kikyo and Sesshomaru good luck prayers for their marriage while the trusted Miko poured sake into three cups and handed them to the couple who had each taken three sips from each cup.

Sesshomaru read words of commitment that he had prepared beforehand, causing Kikyo to slightly blush in her shiromuku*. Kikyo did a similar speech as the wedding rings were exchange. The miko and Kaede preformed a Kagura* dance, and the ceremony ended with an offering of tamagushi* and everyone having some sake.

After seeing everyone off, Sesshomaru and Kikyo set off for their honeymoon in the city of Fukuoka. There they spent the next two weeks together before heading back to the Western Lands and for Kikyo to get used to the duties that come with marrying the Lord of the Western Lands.

Of course there was many yokai who protested Sesshomaru's marriage to Kikyo but they were swiftly silence. One does not threaten or injure the wife of Lord Sesshomaru and expect to come out alive. One lucky yokai managed to cause a permanent scar on Kikyo's right hand.

The shikon no tama was still guarded by Kikyo, and it would be burned with her, upon her death. Kikyo had no illusions that she would eventually die and leave Sesshomaru behind. But she refused to use the shikon no tama for her selfish wish to have more time with him. So with an iron resolve Kikyo chose to cherish her time with Sesshomaru.

As time went by Sesshomaru and Kikyo had Five children, a pair of triplets boys and a pair of female twins.

The first born son was named Katsumi, a carbon copy of his father with the exception of his personality and dog ears at the top of his white hair. The second born son was named Rin, a carbon copy of his mother with his fathers personality. The third and last son was named Minato, a perfect mixture of his parents with his aunties personality.

The fourth child and the first born daughter was named Chikako, she had her mothers long black hair and her fathers markings and eye colour. The last child and the second daughter was named Himari, she was identical to her twin sister except she had a quieter personality. All in all, Sesshomaru and Kikyo loved their children.

But as fate would have it, time moved rapidly. Kikyo watched as her children grew into respectable young adults that put the other yokai in their place, whenever their 'half-breed' status was mention. Sesshomaru would even allow himself to have a peaceful conversation with Inuyasha, exchanging stories about their late father.

And Kikyo would tell him, her most guarded secret as she lay dying in her bed at the ripe old age of sixty three. With a sad, pained smile Sesshomaru would comb his hand through Kikyo's hair, staying with her until she passed on to the next world. As per her wishes the shikon no tama was burned with Kikyo's body.

*****

A screaming Kate Bishop woke up in a hospital bed. Her memories were so fuzzy that she couldn't recall some events. A few seconds later, a nurse ran into the hospital room and sedated Kate.

The injection caused Kate to relax in the bed, and give her mind a chance to think. 'What happened? All I can remember is bits and pieces,' thought Kate, her eyes glanced over the room, looking to find her sister.

"Miss Bishops, My name is Doctor Momiji. You're currently in a hospital in Tokyo and have mostly sustained minor injuries to your body, which should be healed in a couple of weeks," told Doctor Momiji. "But you will now have a permanent scar on your right hand.

"I see... is my sister in the hospital?" Asked Kate, not caring that she was now scarred, she was wondering about her sister. Is she okay? Is she even alive?

"Your sister, Clare Bishops has been discharged from the hospital and I think she is staying in a hotel in the city," replied Doctor Momiji. Kate breathed a sigh of relief, her sister was fine.

"Thank you, Doctor," said Kate.

"It was my pleasure, your japanese is excellent. I would even say fluent," comment a smiling Doctor Momiji. Only then did Kate realize that she was speaking fluent Japanese. Where did this come from? An image crossed her mind but she put it away for later.

A loud growl came from Kate's stomach, causing her to blush in embarrassment. Doctor Momiji chuckled at the poor girl. "The nurses will bring you food soon. If you need anything else please go to the front desk," told Doctor Momiji.

"Thank you," said Kate as Doctor Momiji left to treat other patients. Ten minutes later, a nurse walked in with some traditional japanese food for Kate to eat. Once she finished the food, Kate was left trying to piece together her thoughts.

Kate's sister visited the hospital the next day, ensuring a teary reunion between the two sisters. After another day in the hospital, Kate was eventually discharged.

Clare had bought Kate a pair of white glows to cover up her scar. Stepping outside the busy hospital entrance, Kate put on the first glow on her left hand. Unfortuntly for Kate, a strong wind knocked the remaining glow onto the ground, shifting it on the street.

"Please excuse me," said Kate as she rushed through the crowd to catch the glove. The glove stopped at the bottom of a large water fountain, decorated with marble koi fish. A man with long black hair and a suit, picked up the glove.

"I believe this is yours," told the man as his eyes glanced at her right hand. Kate graciously took the glove from the man.

"Thank you, Mr..." started Kate, looking for a name to call him. Somehow the man in front of her seemed familiar, too familiar in her opinion. 'I have never met this man before in my life, and yet...' thought Kate.

"Inutashio, Inutashio Sesshomaru. And your name?" Asked Sesshomaru with a small smile.

"Bishops Kate, but you can call me Kate, Inutashio-san," replied Kate with a smile.

"Sesshomaru. I will allow you to use my first name as it is only fair," hummed Sesshomaru. Kate blinked and nodded towards him.

"Sesshomaru-san, I thank you again," told Kate as she glanced at the water fall from the fountain.

"I see that you are interested in this fountain. Would you like to know more about it?" Asked Sesshomaru.

Kate took a moment to answer him. "If it is not to much of a bother to you Sesshomaru-san."

"This fountain is known as the Tokyo wishing fountain. It is said that if person throws money and makes a wish to the fountain it will come true," explained Sesshomaru.

"And did you wish come true, Sesshomaru-san?" Asked Kate as she watched the water.

"Perhaps,' replied Sesshomaru as he watched Kate in fascination. "Would you like to make a wish, Kate-san?"

"I think I will, Sesshomaru-san," said Kate as she reached inside her purse and brought out a 100 yen coin. She took a moment to think of her wish, then threw the coin into the fountain. A certain realisation happened. 'To think that I would be alive, again.'

"May I ask what you wished for?" Asked Sesshomaru with fondness in his eyes.

"To meet somebody, again," hummed Kate with a playful smile. "It seems the fountain works, Sesshomaru-san."

"I'm glade to see you alive, Kikyo," said Sesshomaru as he reached to play with some of her hair.

"I'm glade to see that you're still alive," mused Kate as she went to hug Sesshomaru.

End

Tanabata - Star Festival
Shirumuku - Traditional Wedding dress, usually worn by a samurai bride.
Kagura - Scared Dance
Tamagushi - A scared branch