As Lyra slowly came to, she began to stir and open her eyes. There was a pain in her head, making her groan quietly. Then she heard a gasp come from beside her.

"You're awake!" came Rin's voice.

Lyra held her head and breathed out. "What happened?"

"You passed out from exhaustion," the girl explained. "You nearly hit your head against a rock but Lord Sesshomaru caught you just in time."

"Oh... How long was I out?"

"About a day. After you passed out, Kagome was taken by the Shikon jewel."

Lyra's eyes widened. "What?!"

"It's okay," Rin said with a shake of her head. "Inuyasha saved her and she destroyed the jewel."

Lyra breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness."

"But..." Rin sighed and looked down.

"But what?"

"Kagome didn't return. Only Inuyasha did."

Lyra's brows furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean?"

Rin looked back up at her. "She was sent back to the time you came from and the bone eater's well has closed."

"What?!" she gasped. "How is she going to get back?"

"We don't know."

"Perhaps it's because her reason for being here is complete," Lyra wondered aloud. "But Inuyasha... How is he doing?"

"Not too well. He's frustrated that he can't be with her."

"I hope she can return soon. Love is a very powerful thing."

Rin smiled. "Is that how you and Lord Sesshomaru came to be together?"

"I would like to think so. It was his eyes I saw in the well before I fell into it." She sighed. "Speaking of which, where is he and Mikazuki?"

"They're outside. I'll get them."

She got up and ran out. Looking around, Lyra saw she was in Lady Kaede's hut. Despite her throbbing headache, she forced herself to sit up just as Sesshomaru entered. She looked over at him to see Mikazuki sleeping in his embrace. She smiled as he went and kneeled down beside her.

"You're always saving my ass," she started.

Luckily, Sesshomaru was used to the way she spoke so informally. She would try to be formal with him sometimes but he enjoyed those moments when she was herself. However, at that moment he was in no mood to be light-hearted. Not that he usually was anyway.

"You disobeyed me, Lyra," he said, his tone clearly not happy. "I told you to stay in the village."

She sighed softly and rubbed her head. "I know, Sesshomaru." Dropping her hand again, she looked at him. "I'm sorry I disobeyed you. I truly am. But I'm not sorry that I got to find our baby and save him from Naraku. We were away from him for a month. I couldn't wait a minute longer."

Sesshomaru understood where she was coming from but it still bothered him slightly. She also had to understand where he was coming from as well.

"If Naraku killed you in there, there would have been no way to bring you back," he reminded her as he cupped her cheek. "I can't lose you."

She gazed up into his eyes and smiled warmly. "I would give my life a thousand times over to protect Mikazuki. Call it a mother's instinct."

"It's that instinct that caused you to faint."

"What do you mean?"

"Your desire to protect Mikazuki somehow manifested into a shield. It used your own power and energy to create it."

Her eyes widened slightly. "Oh, wow... Being a mother really does change a person. But how do you know?"

"I asked Lady Kaede and Totosai."

She giggled as she reached up and pinched his cheek. "I love it when you're civil for me."

He frowned at her actions and narrowed his eyes at her. "Still, that doesn't excuse you for your recklessness."

She held onto his hand. "I know and I said I'm sorry. You can punish me later but right now..." She looked at Mikazuki. "I just want to enjoy having my family back together."

He nodded. "Very well."

He helped her up onto her feet and continued to hold her hand in his with Mikazuki still asleep across his other arm. Just as Lyra was about to walk to the door of the hut, Sesshomaru held her back.

"Wait, Lyra."

She turned back to him. "What-"

She was suddenly cut off as he leaned down and pressed his lips onto hers. Her eyes closed and she instantly melted into the kiss. They were careful not to squash Mikazuki as she clutched onto his kimono and he wrapped his arm around her waist. Lyra only just realised that she needed that kiss as much as Sesshomaru did. There was still that unspoken air about what happened in the fake world but they were both happy to leave it all behind. It was all irrelevant to the present noment.

Just a few moments into the kiss, Mikazuki began to stir. They parted from the kiss and looked down at him to see his eyes opening. Lyra laughed softly and leaned down to place a kiss on his forehead.

"Don't you like it when mommy and daddy are kissing?" she joked. "I still can't believe you look nothing like me. You got everything from your father."

Sesshomaru smirked. "He is my son after all."

She looked up at him and pouted. "So, what am I? A stranger?"

"Let's go."

Lyra found it incredibly frustrating whenever he changed the subject but at the same time, she missed it. He took her hand again and they left the hut.

"Lyra!" Sango gasped before running over and hugging her. "I'm so glad you're okay."

Lyra smiled and hugged her back. "Likewise, Sango." She pulled out of the hug and looked around. "Where is Inuyasha?"

"He said he's gone for a walk."

Miroku walked over to them. "Lyra, do you perhaps know where Kagome is?"

"I believe she's gone to her time," she told them. "Her mission is complete and so the well sent her back. I suppose I would have been sent back too if I wasn't born here." She looked back at Sesshomaru. "I want to speak to Inuyasha before we leave."

As much as he was displeased, he agreed. "Very well."

While they waited for him to return, Kaede spoke to Sesshomaru and Lyra about keeping Rin in the village. It was a difficult choice and Lyra didn't want to let her go. However, they all knew it was best for her to be amongst humans again. It made the decision easier knowing that Rin was happy to stay in the village. Sesshomaru and Lyra had already decided that they would visit her often and also take her to the palace some days.

Inuyasha didn't return until that evening but he still kept to himself. Lyra joined him as he sat on the field, looking up at the stars.

"Hey, Inuyasha," she spoke calmly.

"Hey," he sighed. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine. But I'm not the one who's separated from the love of my life."

He looked at her in surprise. "Well..."

"Inuyasha, I can empathise with you. When I was forced to stay away from Sesshomaru, it was hard not knowing when I was going to see him again or if I ever was." She placed her hand on his shoulder and smiled. "But I know she'll come back."

His eyes widened a little. "How do you know?"

"It's a feeling I have," she shrugged. "I just don't know when."

Lyra was surprised herself when she saw a smile spread across his lips. There was also a glint in his eyes. And then he suddenly hugged her. She raised her brows, shocked by his embrace and awkwardly hugged him back.

"Thank you, Lyra. As long as I know she's coming back, I can wait a thousand years."

She smiled as they parted. "You're welcome, Inuyasha. Hey, you know what'll cheer you up?"

"What?"

"Wanna meet your nephew?"

He was taken aback by her suggestion. "Really?" Then he sighed. "I doubt Sesshomaru would allow it."

She waved her hand. "He'll just have to deal with it. I want Mikazuki to know his uncle. Come."

She grabbed his arm and led him to Mikazuki. He was still in Sesshomaru's arms, who was sitting away from everyone else. He saw her approaching with Inuyasha and stood. There was already a tension in the air between them but Lyra had to somehow get rid of it. After all they had fought together side-by-side and Inuyasha even helped protect the hut when she was giving birth.

"I want Inuyasha to meet Mikazuki," she said.

Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes at Inuyasha and he glared right back. Lyra could practically see the electricity shooting at each other, causing her to mentally scream. Finally, Sesshomaru handed Mikazuki over to Lyra before walking away.

"Wow. I guess he still hates me," Inuyasha said. "I'm surprised he hasn't tried to kill me now that Naraku's gone."

Lyra shook her head. "He doesn't hate you, Inuyasha. If he wanted you dead, he would have done it already." She looked at him. "Don't you feel as though there were moments where he could have ended you but he wouldn't?"

"I guess..."

"He's just being a typical older brother. Fighting and arguing and always trying to prove his strength. Except with more demonic stuff..." She cleared her throat as she noticed him looking at her weird. "Anyway, here. Meet Mikazuki."

Inuyasha looked at the baby and he couldn't help but smile as Mikazuki was gazing up at him. Lyra carefully passed him over into Inuyasha's arms and he made sure to hold him properly.

"Hey there, little guy," Inuyasha greeted. "I'm your Uncle Inuyasha."

Lyra smiled happily as Mikazuki seemed to want to talk back. Obviously he couldn't so he was just moving his arms a little. Inuyasha still couldn't quite believe that the baby was made from Sesshomaru. Lyra, definitely. But Sesshomaru? Hell must have frozen over. He wondered how his big brother would be as a father. But he also wondered how he himself would be as an uncle.

He chuckled as Mikazuki looked like he wanted to speak. "You know what, Mikazuki? I'll let you play with my ears. That makes you very special."

Lyra laughed at what he said. "I already know that he's going to love you so much."

He looked at her. "Thank you. Again. This really did cheer me up."

"Anytime. And I'll definitely bring him over to visit you."

"I'd like that."

Inuyasha soon gave him back to Lyra and they bid their farewells to everyone. She sat on top of A-Un with Mikazuki in her arms and Jaken sitting behind her. She gave them all one final wave before A-Un followed Sesshomaru's lead and flew away from the village.

Not long into the journey, Mikazuki had fallen asleep. The skies were clear and for the first time since she got there, the world seemed to be at peace. Of course demons still roamed around but nothing that couldn't be taken care of by local priests and monks. And Inuyasha and his team would continue to help whilst waiting for Kagome to return. Still, the air was clear and Lyra was content in knowing that Mikazuki would no longer have to suffer again.

As they travelled in silence, Lyra began to think.

"Hmm..."

Sesshomaru glanced at her as he flew beside them. "What is it?"

"Why does it feel like I'm forgetting something..? Am I?"

"No," he answered.

She shrugged. "Okay."

***

Kanda sat in the room he was given in Inukimi's castle.

'I sure hope they haven't forgotten about me.'