For the love of yaoi, people, this is it! The end. The FINAL chapter of my legacy: Unholy Attraction. I can, without a doubt, say that this fic single-handedly made me a name on this website. I can remember thinking it was awesome to be on 30 favorites lists; then I began this story and that number spiked to over 200. And to think, this was never meant to be more than three chapters. Not only was it my first fic to make it to the double digits, it's likely to be the longest one I'll ever write. It was also my first one to break 100 reviews (let alone 400). And it took me over a YEAR to get this far. Just…wow. It blows my mind every time I think of all that has gone into this one simple story. Not to mention, I've made friends with quite a few people through writing this: shoutout to Heidi-chan, Kaylee-chan, Marysa-chan, and all the rest.

And this…this is my final author note. The last time I'll ever speak to you guys through the voice of Unholy Attraction is this writing right here. It almost makes me reluctant to stop, but I know you guys are anxious for the end. I only hope I don't disappoint. Let me take this opportunity to say just how much I've adored writing this story, hearing from you all, and anxiously scrambling to update while the ideas were still fresh. It's truly been a pleasure, and I hope to hear from all of you again soon in my future ventures. Welcome to the final chapter, Chapter Twenty: Wedding.

…

A single Shinto priest surveyed the crowd before him with carefully calculating eyes. He held a brand new bamboo flute in his hands, made specifically for this occasion. It was branded with the mark of a powerful demon lord—the Taiyoukai who would be participating in a soul-binding ceremony at dusk—along with the seal of the Shinto dojo that would be performing the ceremony with the help of the many demons studying within it. The demon holding the flute was the Head Priest, name of Kogarasumaru, and his whirring silver eyes were taking a moment to figure out exactly how many of his flute players would be needed to carry over the noise made by the crowd.

The guests gathered at this ceremony included the finest and purest—though not necessarily the best-mannered—demons in all the Western Lands. They had come flocking to the small dojo, which was nestled between the majestic peaks of two snow-capped mountain tops, at the request of one Lord Sesshoumaru.

The main ceremony was to be held within the dojo, in a large courtyard cobbled with silver-gray stones flecked lightly with fresh green moss. A stage made of similar stone had been built in the center of the courtyard, and that was where the couple would engage in the ceremony. Spring could be smelled heavily on the air, and the presence of many drifting sakura blossoms added to the majestic effect. Though winter was long since passed and only a smattering of melting snow still spotted the ground here and there, the dojo's famous sakura blossoms gave the impression of snowfall nearly year-round.

The sun was setting slowly over the many mountain peaks in the distance, casting streamers of tangerine, maroon, and lilac across the sky. These vibrant rays of light reflected on patches of glittering snow, transforming them into pools of faceted color. A few of these breathtaking pools rested on the roofs of the dojo's buildings and in its trees, making them seem to blend right into the mountain. The sight was one to be savored.

Kogarasumaru grunted. He supposed the dojo's beauty was one of the reasons why it was kept so secret. If other couples discovered this place, there would be no end to the requests to hold wedding ceremonies here. The students studying Shinto would never learn anything if their haven kept them busy year-round with celebrations. Kogarasumaru wasn't quite sure what had possessed him to even allow the ceremony he now stood in the midst of. The dojo hadn't held one in a hundred years or more. He was at a loss to explain how a Taiyoukai such as Sesshoumaru-sama had even learned of the secluded school's existence.

All he could say for sure was one evening his favorite apprentice had come rushing into his private chambers, babbling all sorts of nonsense about an angel of death descending upon them. Kogarasumaru tried several times to shake the man off, but was unable to do so. Giving the pupil a peck on the forehead—the only outward sign of their otherwise subtle romantic relationship—the head priest had left his chambers to see the cause of so much ruckus. His young lover was not the only one in a frenzy it seemed. The entire dojo was awake and fluttering about with the same call: an angel of death was upon them.

Several snippets of conversation drifted to his sharp ears, and he was able to discern that the alleged angel was waiting at the front gates. Kogarasumaru had been more than a little puzzled by this, since the front gates were merely a torii set between the same two mountain peaks that held the dojo itself. There was no actual ground there to stand upon. Perhaps it is an angel, with wings that allow it to float before our Shinto Archway, Kogarasumaru had thought at the time.

Not long after that, he'd come face-to-face with Sesshoumaru-sama of the Western Lands. Kogarasumaru had understood immediately why his pupils had thought the Taiyoukai an angel of death, though his sharp senses picked up on the other demon's youki immediately. Sesshoumaru's hair was every bit as white and pure as the snow around them, contrasting with his fiercely murderous eyes. His lavish robes flowed around him with the slightest stir of the wind, and the youki gathered under him gave the illusion that a wisp of cloud kept him suspended in the air.

Kogarasumaru had expected a fight from this beautifully lethal creature, but instead he had received a request. Sesshoumaru-sama was desperately in love with a human, it seemed. Not only that, a human who happened to be a Buddhist monk. The Taiyoukai had not asked the monk yet if he wished to go through with the ceremony, but he was quite certain the answer would be yes. The only thing left to do was find a priest with enough power to perform the ceremony, or at least one that was willing to.

Sesshoumaru-sama engaged the head priest with tale after tale of the rejections he'd faced. A number of priests had refused to help due to a fear of demons. Others had done so because of the way Miroku's religion differed from theirs. Even more had bristled at the very thought of joining two males together in any form of holy union. How Sesshoumaru-sama had happened upon Kogarasumaru's dojo was then irrelevant to the Head Priest. He'd heard enough to know the demon was genuine in his feelings, determined, and most likely exhausted at this point.

With his thoughts drifting back to his prize pupil—the one who had first informed him of the angel of death and the one who often shared his bed—Kogarasumaru agreed to not only perform the ceremony but to open the dojo to any guests the Taiyoukai chose to invite. Before long, the simple plan had turned into an extravaganza worthy of a lord twenty times more powerful than Sesshoumaru-sama.

In less than a month, the fabric of the celebration had begun to come together. Little details served to entwine different aspects of the gathering, such as the gentle flute music that continuously floated just above the mingled conversations in long, elegant strains. Food had been selected to cater to every palette imaginable, no matter how finicky. Spicy aromas and rich flavors filled the air like savory clouds, left to marinade with the sugary smell of cherry blossoms.

Kogarasumaru observed the amiable scene with more than just a slight touch of satisfaction. It was truly a magnificent event, one he felt an emotional tie to despite having just met the demon groom and his human bride a month ago. He supposed a match as odd as a Taiyoukai and a Buddhist monk was bound to catch his attention. Nevertheless, the determination the couple had shown in seeking to unite themselves despite all taboo was one to be appreciated by all. Kogarasumaru felt a swelling of pride fill his chest. He would perform this ceremony with dignity and think of it as a special privilege all the while. It wasn't every day he got to watch a love as beautiful as this blossom before his eyes.

…

A knot of tension had worked its way low into Miroku's stomach, sending little tingles racing along his nerve endings. He was so excited he could barely think straight, let alone work the complicated folds of the kimono he was currently donning. Servants bustled here and there, some pinning sakura blossoms into the long hair Miroku had chosen to wear loose, some helping him arrange the layers of white and gold silk wrapping tightly to his body, and others performing a multitude of other small tasks that would have driven Miroku insane had he been left to deal with them himself.

Sesshoumaru had brought him to the beautiful dojo nearly a week before the actual ceremony, but the thoroughness with which the preparations had already been undergone made it seem as if it were happening that very day. Every surface was scrubbed, arranged, and glittering with a special sheen of youki in the air. It had unnerved Miroku at first to be constantly surrounded by so much powerful demon energy, but this was celebration energy and entirely different from the kind he'd experienced in battle. After a while, it had become nothing more than a hum in the background, more lulling than anything else.

Miroku had enjoyed a week of peaceful relaxation spent wandering around the dojo and its many splendid buildings. Training halls, libraries, armories, and an assortment of other like facilities were sprinkled at the ends of a labyrinth of paths carved directly into the mountain, all interwoven together. The monk had been immensely pleased with this opportunity to explore such an interesting place, so much so he'd barely had time to anticipate the approach of his wedding day. When the sun had finally risen on the occasion, splashing the dojo in crimson light that soon turned lilac, pink, and gold, Miroku had woken with a flurry of nervous energy.

He'd spent the next few hours in a daze, going through the motions of final preparation as if he were actually still dreaming back in his room. He tucked the final fold of his kimono into place and glanced sideways at himself in a mirror at the other end of the chamber. His reflection was one he barely recognized: tall, proud, and resplendent in the creamy tones of his wedding kimono. This chamber had been constructed at the end of a long path that would take him to the outdoor courtyard and altar. Once there…his soul would be joined with Sesshoumaru's.

Miroku saw a servant exit the room, most likely to inform the rest of the congregation that the monk was ready. His heart skipped several beats in his chest, fluttering about like a hummingbird gone mad. This was the moment he'd been waiting for; the defining moment in his relationship with the man he loved so dearly. He would belong to Sesshoumaru, and Sesshoumaru would belong to him. Forever.

Strains of flute music reached a rapid crescendo outside the wooden door that closed him off from the rest of the celebration. That was Miroku's cue to begin walking, but somehow he doubted he could make his feet work. Through some small miracle, he took a step. And then another. And another. Mechanically and deliberately. His hand shook as he reached for the door handle, so much so that it took him three tries to get it open. And then he was outside with the cool nip of evening air kissing his cheeks.

Splashes of Saturn light painted the sky in golden rings of dusk. The scene was one of tranquil beauty with an overlying air of excitement. The buzzing crowd silenced the moment Miroku stepped forth from the changing chamber, raising a warm blush immediately to his cheeks. The pace of the flute music changed from upbeat and conversational to deeper and more melodic. The beat was set at the perfect pace for Miroku to walk steadily in time with it, to flow with the rhythm itself.

The petals of a thousand pink sakura outlined the path he was to follow. And at the end of that path stood the altar at which Miroku would be wed. The Head Priest was already standing there, looking prim and solemn in a pressed black kimono embroidered with various white symbols meant to bestow good luck and prosperity. Several scrolls hung from the stone altar, filled to the brim with scrawled writing reciting the rites of a proper Shinto life.

Standing next to the priest was a creature more radiant than any Miroku had ever seen before. An angel stood in flowing robes of rich violet and black, meant to mirror the robes Miroku wore as a symbol of his monkhood. The angel's golden eyes seemed a thousand times more potent when contrasted with velvety purple, and the same went for the vivid difference between his pale skin and hair and the slippery black draped over his strong form.

Miroku nearly salivated at the sight of his lover standing there, looking so fiercely serene, ready to tear apart the world if it meant keeping the monk by his side. Sesshoumaru held his chin proudly, looking down to none of the guests around him no matter their status. His molten eyes locked on Miroku and drew the human immediately in. He was drowning in pools of pure sunshine and felt no urge to resist. He took a step forward, mesmerized, and then another. The crowd inclined their heads respectfully to him as he passed, never veering from the petal-lined path, but he paid them no mind. His attention was utterly riveted on the man waiting for him at the end of that long walk.

Miroku was vaguely aware of someone whistling in the crowd with approval. In some fuzzy corner of his mind, he recognized the whistle as belonging to Shippo. His entire band of friends had been invited, of course, and Inuyasha had taken his rightful place as best man. In a toast to the couple at a feast the night before, the hanyou had jokingly taken full credit for bringing Miroku and Sesshoumaru together, claiming that the reason they met in the first place was because he attacked and paralyzed his half-brother. In the end, he had given them a heartfelt blessing and wished them much prosperity, to thunderous applause from the other guests.

Miroku could see Inuyasha standing by his brother out of the corner of his eye. He was dressed similarly to the Taiyoukai in black and violet, though the proud air he wore was more one of his customary haughty confidence. A smile tugged at the corners of Miroku's lips. He was ecstatic to have his best friend by his side as he married the love of his life. Truthfully, he was ecstatic about it all.

"You look ravishing, my love," a melodic voice floated softly to Miroku's ears and his alone as he finally reached the altar. Sesshoumaru immediately swooped forward with majesty and grace, linking his arm with one of Miroku's and walking them both up to stand before the Head Priest. Miroku thought his knees would give out the second he felt the warmth of Sesshoumaru's arms seeping through their layered clothing to tickle his flesh. He utilized the demon's strength to keep himself standing as Kogarasumaru began reading the traditional rites of a Shinto wedding ceremony.

Youki hit the air like a flood the moment the ritual began. It was a powerful one that drew energy from every being in attendance, not just from the Priest and the couple themselves. Miroku shivered as the raw power swirled around him in tangible, though invisible, coils. It soaked into him, penetrating cloth, flesh, and bone to settle into the very center of his being. The rhythmic chanting of the Head Priest's voice grew louder, soon joined by the apprentices at his side. The light flute music also began to crescendo, picking up a quicker tempo as it went.

Miroku slipped his hand down to find Sesshoumaru's, lacing their fingers together. The energy pouring into him was disconcerting, though not painful. The reassuring squeeze of Sesshoumaru's fingers around him was all he needed to feel to know his lover was there with him, always and forever. He could feel his very soul itself being lifted from his body to buzz in the air just above his skin. Sesshoumaru's was there too, and through the gentle coaxing of the priest the two began to blend together. A single entity was made that night from combined souls and endless love. They could no longer live in this world without feeling the very essence of the other. They were bound, for today and a thousand tomorrows, to the one other creature in the world they dared to give their fragile hearts to.

Gradually, the energy faded away, leaving a smooth buzz in the air as the only proof it had ever existed in the first place. Kogarasumaru then blessed the couple in several holy ceremonies involving the drinking of sacred sake and the washing of their hands in water that had been thrice purified under the light of a waxing moon. The many rituals were said to bring good fortune, health, wealth, and happiness, though Miroku knew they needed nothing other than themselves to accomplish that. His hand stayed twined with Sesshoumaru's through it all, a physical representation of the unbreakable bond that had formed between them.

When the rites had finally been completed, the Head Priest handed the show over to Sesshoumaru, who turned to the crowd and announcing in lilting tones, "The man you see before me is my mate, now and forever. I will protect him with my life and care for him as long as I am able. Any desire he has will be my honor and priviledge to fulfill. I love him like no being has ever loved another before, nor ever will. I promise him my soul, my body, and my very existence for all eternity."

Miroku's heart swelled with pure joy as Sesshoumaru turned back to him and met his eyes directly. With those whirring golden hues boring into his, Sesshoumaru whispered it again, "I love you Miroku, to the end of my days."

"And I you," he replied in a shaky voice that was nevertheless loud enough for all to hear.

Applause broke out in thunderous waves, and Sesshoumaru pulled Miroku close for a deep kiss that left them both tingling for more. Their bodies folded together naturally as they gazed at each other, lost to the world around them in a deep sea of their boundless affection. Sweet nothings were murmured and small kisses were exchanged for the remainder of the night before the ceremony finally wound down. The guests dwindled away to bed: full of food, drink, and the heady passion still heavy on the air.

Miroku and Sesshoumaru remained standing at the altar for long hours afterwards, tightly embraced in each other's arms under the light of thousands of fireflies. Time stood still that night as a special gift to the new couple. They were granted an endless moment of serenity in which to bask in what they had accomplished. Two souls wandering aimlessly through a lonely world had discovered each other and overcome so much. There was no more solitude, no more questions, no more heartache. Nothing stood between them now to block the path to true happiness.

"You are infused with the very essence of my kind," Sesshoumaru whispered as he held his lover close, his breath a tickle against Miroku's ear. "You no longer need worry about remaining safe amongst the inu youkai. My love will always be there to protect you, precious, just as I will always be by your side."

Miroku stood on his toes and planted a soft kiss on his lover's lips. A mischievous grin rose to his face as he replied, "Then take me back to our bed and remain by my side for the rest of the night."

Sesshoumaru grinned hungrily and swept the monk into his arms, locking lips with his mate before they had taken more than a step. Good fortune followed in their every footstep as the new couple disappeared into the night. Their love kept them bonded through all adversity, together forever just as they had promised. Heedless passion had led to endless love between the two most unlikely individuals—a holy monk and a demon of hell.

It truly was an unholy attraction.

THE END.

Y'all had no idea how much research I had to do for this. Kogarasumaru is the name of an actual Shinto priest from the feudal era. A Torii is a sacred Shinto archway. Shinto is the main religion in Japan, and the one most prevalent at weddings. It was a lot of fun to read about the traditions observed at a Japanese wedding, but difficult to incorporate that into my story. If you ever get a chance, read up on them.

And…just…wow. It's really over. I hope you enjoyed this last chapter and its decidedly happy ending. I had the feeling I would be signing my own death certificate if I made it anything but pure fluff. Truthfully, though, that was the ending I had always intended. I made these two boys suffer so much along the way, they deserve a little bliss. So, be sure to tell me what you think, and not just about this chapter. What do you have to say about this story now that you've read it from beginning to end? Did you follow it from the beginning or pick up on it later? These are things I'm dying to know, so don't be shy. I adore you all, and I wish you many happy readings.