𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝; 𝐒.𝐊.

𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞

> 𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧, 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞

—————

Naraku was defeated. 

Peace came upon the band of friends and allies, and slowly, the Feudal Era recovered from the scars Naraku had laid waste upon them. Kagome wished for the Shikon no Tama to disappear, and with its disappearance, the magic of the Bone Eater's Well faded as well. They returned to the village, reuniting in celebration before slowly drifting away and to their own paths in life, though their affection for each other, spoken or unspoken, remained strong.

Sango and Miroku had settled down elsewhere, content with their family. 

They would visit her sometimes, bringing with them more concourses of children and even more expecting ones each time. Sango had borne Miroku's many children and himself well over the years, and though spats occurred, they always resolved them well, and he remained far more devoted to her than to his priestly duties.

Rin settled comfortably with the village, and the villagers loved the little ball of sunshine that she was. 

Kaede took on the girl as her apprentice, and though she lacked the spiritual power, her proficiency with herbs and medicines became nothing to scoff at. Eventually she was heralded as a medicine woman, and was deeply trusted by the humans around her. Over this time, she grew closer to Kohaku, and as the years passed, their friendship bloomed into a love that held them both strongly together despite their scars and struggles.

Sesshomaru visited the village in passing, often.

He often checked up on his surrogate daughter in his own, quiet way, and respected her decision to stay with the humans well. The only problem occurred when he and Jaken learned of her engagement to Kohaku. Those days had been grim indeed, and it took many diplomatic talks and reassurances to ensure that the Daiyoukai acquiesced to Kohaku's request for a blessing for marriage.

Inuyasha mourned Kikyo for a time, properly.

He would quietly seek out the moments of solitude that would allow for rest and thought; the slow moments, when the energy from the wave of Sango and Miroku's children barely disappeared, the silent times, when the moon hung pregnant and bright, and the gentle wisps, where the flowers of the meadow would flutter their scent to him. In those moments of sublime patience, he could feel as if he could let go of the heart he had given to Kikyo.

Kagome was engaged to Inuyasha.

She understood all too well the heart he had long harbored for his former and deceased love, and as such, she was patient with him. When he needed those quiet bits, she would stray from him, though not far. Her gaze would hold onto his back, her expression serene, but her eyes often filled with the sorrows her love could not express, and tears would disrupt the surface calm of her face.

For it hurt her to see him push her away and hurt, like he had many times before.

Like he had when Kikyo was alive.

She found herself mourn the pained heart of her love. 

And all was well.