Those who survive
Summary: 500 years have passed, and the world has changed beyond recognition. An AU drabble, in which Inuyasha comes through the well to the future rather than Kagome going into the past. Plus a lighter-hearted omake.
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha, any of the canon characters or concepts.

500 long years have passed, and the world has changed beyond all recognition. Inuyasha, who came through the well less than a year ago, had no difficulty adapting; Sesshoumaru, though, is trapped in time and tradition like a fly trapped in amber, a great, terrible stillness surrounding him and permeating the silent halls of his ancient fortress. Inuyasha hates it, hates the sound of his echoing footfalls and the way even the dust motes hang suspended in the golden light, waiting for the rapid, dancing footsteps and giggling chatter of a girl who has long since gone to her rest.

Sesshoumaru remains completely still as he approaches, not the slightest motion disturbing his ancient grace and frozen stillness; if Inuyasha didn't know better, he would check for dust on those heavy silken robes, cobwebs tangled in the thick fur.

"Hanyou," Sesshoumaru drawls, slow and deep, "what do you want here?"

Sesshoumaru still speaks in the old, formal court Japanese. Still, in his heart, the reckless, angry youth of 500 years and 1 year ago, Inuyasha is tempted to reply in the worst type of slang; he refrains nobly, merely answering as politely as he can stomach.

"I came to tell you Kagome is pregnant," he says.

Sesshoumaru lifts his head, fixes him with those ancient, feral golden eyes and Inuyasha freezes, crushed by the weight of centuries and the power of his brother's youki.

"Have you come to seek my congratulations and good wishes?"

"No, I merely wished to inform you as –" he almost chokes on the words – "you are the head of my family."

Sesshoumaru closes his eyes, freeing Inuyasha from his gaze. "And you have done so. If you wish it, I will congratulate you. Now – go." Sesshoumaru resumes his former pose, back to his frozen stillness, and the audience is over.

Omake

Inuyasha gets the hell out of there as quickly as he can, but not quickly enough to avoid Takezo, Sesshoumaru's pure-blooded son and heir: vicious, insufferably arrogant, bristling with power enough to back up every bit of his arrogance. Dressed in an impeccably tailored suit, his otherworldly colouring and skin markings magically disguised, he played the part of a modern human to the hilt – the powerful CEO of WestCorp, the monolithic zaibatsu that he had formed of Sesshoumaru's holdings after the Meiji Restoration and managed to hold onto, even after the war. And yet, for all Takezo's power and influence, among the youkai it is still, unquestionably, Sesshoumaru who rules –

Inuyasha wonders if that last part rankles.

"Uncle," Takezo says, with all the irony of a 500 year old nephew to a 20 year old uncle. "Allow me to congratulate you." Even Sesshoumaru's flat congratulations were more sincere. "Another injection of human blood into our bloodline. Grandfather would be so proud."

"And how is Jun?" Inuyasha asks pleasantly, smirking as Takezo's eyes narrow.

For all that the relationship between Sesshoumaru's full blooded heir and the hanyou son of his human mistress is not nearly as bitter – or as bloody – as that of Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha (Sesshoumaru had been around a lot more than the Inutaisho, and Jun was not nearly as bitter as Inuyasha, his childhood a lot happier) there was still an element of – mostly – good natured rivalry. Takezo was fierce, ruthless, ambitious and very aware of his position; Jun was easy going, good natured, a joyous youth with all of his mother's gentle cheer, and – almost – none of his father's intensity.

Jun was a scribe, a scholar, a poet, a calligrapher, an artist, and lately a musician.

"Jun is well," Takezo says shortly. "He is into jazz this year. No doubt you will find him in Tokyo, in one of the clubs. The humans are fascinated by his white hair."