Official Summary: This time, in the search for tomorrow, everyone must make the ultimate sacrifice to protect those they love, even if it means losing them...but some friendships, some love, can last lifetimes.
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of the people within that universe.
1 - A Beginning to an End
Akuouji was silent as he bowed his head, his long black hair covering his face. Akihiko was pouting next to his brother, his head hung to the side. Sesshomaru sighed inwardly at his young sons.
Looking at them was almost like looking in the mirror for Sesshomaru. They were only up to his waist though, still too young to have retain their true dai youkai form yet. They were only in their tenth winter and Sesshomaru had retained his true form after fifty winters.
Even at such a young age though, the two were identical, his spitting images. He mused over their identical facial and body features, but wondered at their differences at outfits and personalities. Like always, the two were like day and night.
Both of his sons shared his lean build, fair skin, golden eyes with slit pupils, and waist-length hair. Both even shared his short bangs. However, that was where the similarities ended.
Akihiko wore his long silver hair up, identical to his father's if let down, tied with a red ribbon. His bangs were shorter than Sesshomaru and Akuouji.
Akuouji wore his hair free, copying his father and uncle in that retrospect. The crescent moon on their forehead were identical except in color, Akihiko's red while Akuouji's silver.
Their identical jagged strips on their cheeks were also the same color as their crescent moon. The two boys wore matching kimono, similar to their father's outfit.
Both wore black sashinuki hakama however, with Akihiko wearing a white kimono and Akuouji wearing a dark gray one. They both wore red sashes around their waist.
The two have yet received their battle armor as of yet. In fact, they would not receive it either if they kept missing their daily lessons and training. Something of which Sesshomaru had just finished scolding them on.
Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed at his sons. "What do you have to say for yourselves?"
Akuouji raised his head as Akihiko shifted uncomfortably, looking down at the ground with sudden interest. The dark haired twin took one glance at his brother before straightening his posture and looking up at their father.
"Nii-san and I wanted to see if the rumors were true, chichiue."
Sesshomaru's eyes fell into an unreadable mask. "You are my heirs. Rumors should hold no interests to either of you." He glanced at Akihiko before looking back at Akuouji. "But what rumor have led you two from your studies?"
Akihiko glanced at his brother the two silently communicating, Sesshomaru's eyes watching the two closely at their telepathic communication. The two have always been able to do it since they were young and Sesshomaru had accepted it with ease.
Rin was still disturbed by it, but she was just happy the two got along well. Akihiko seemed to sigh once more before finally meeting his father's eyes.
"Chichiue," Akihiko began slowly, "is it true that one of us is betrothed to Minami-chan?"
Sesshomaru blinked at the question. The alliance between the South and the West? How they have heard of this surprised Sesshomaru, but he continued studying them through his emotionless mask.
He studied them both very closely.
Akuouji had lowered his head again, his eyes hidden from Sesshomaru's view as Akihiko continued looking at their father with curiosity. They were his sons, through and through…but they still had Rin in them.
"Come," Sesshomaru said quietly, turning around and walking out of his studies to the window overlooking their ancestral home.
Sesshomaru's studies was placed at the highest peak, overlooking the whole palace in the clouds. He waited patiently as the two pups followed him to the window. Akihiko to his left as Akuouji came to his right. Sesshomaru felt an ounce of pride, his eyes looking at his two sons before back at the palace grounds.
"Do you see anything wrong with this scene, my sons?"
Both of the twins shared a look of confusion before looking back out at their home. There was nothing wrong. They could see the garden, knowing that their mother was probably there tending to the flowers. They could not hear it, but knew that the armory and training grounds were filled right now at noon with soldiers sparring and training their skills.
No, everything was alright.
At peace.
"There is nothing wrong chichiue," Akuouji finally replied to his father, his golden eyes never straying from the scene unfolding in front of him.
Akihiko nodded from where he was.
Sesshomaru nodded curtly. "This is what peace is."
He paused shortly, turning his gaze to the gardens.
"This is what we must maintain as lords of the land. We must align ourselves with other lands to keep this peace. Peace is the greatest achievement one can make as a lord, as the strongest one in the land…and the greatest things in this world require sacrifice."
Sesshomaru's voice softened. "This Sesshomaru have paved a great path before you, my sons. When the time comes, you both will understand what I have done."
He turned to both of them. Identical golden eyes looked back at him. "Peace, stability, and prosperity. That is what a lord such as we must maintain for our people, for those we protect."
Sesshomaru turned away from them and walked to his desk, kneeling down to look at his scrolls. "A great leader is also one to not let unworthy distractions get in their way of greatness."
He looked back up at them. "I expect a full report of your studies by the next moon. If this Sesshomaru hear more of your absences, there will be consequences."
The twins quickly nodded, knowing that their father was letting them off easy. The two bowed to him and left, leaving Sesshomaru looking after them. Sesshomaru shook his head and felt as his lips turned at the sides into a smirk. The two were a handful, Jaken having complained that they were worse than Rin.
At the thought of Rin, Sesshomaru felt his whole body relaxed.
His Rin had become even more beautiful as the years passed them by. She had blossomed into a true beauty, becoming the mother of the west with a will stronger than any he has seen before.
The youkai court has not accepted her yet and Sesshomaru feared that they would never accept her, but Rin had only comforted him on the matter. His Rin was now reaching her twenty seventh winter, her eyes still sparkling with hope for their future and her smile still bright for him and their sons.
Sons…
Sesshomaru's fingers clenched and unclenched. He set aside the scroll and sighed. Rin was pregnant again. She was entering her third month and hoping for a daughter.
He stood up and walked towards the window, eyes casted towards the garden where he knew Rin would be. After years of asking, Sesshomaru had relented, unable to say no to her anymore.
Also…he was looking forward to another child. Raising his sons with Rin had only made him see how motherhood had strengthened his hold to live, to maintain the peace in which his children and his legacy can prosper in. Yes, Sesshomaru know understood why his father died for Inuyasha and Izayoi.
He would do the same for Rin and his children.
...
Akihiko scowled over at Akuouji as the other hanyou walked beside him with his hands behind his back. Akuouji turned met Akihiko's glare with a stoic one.
"What is it," he asked with patience.
Akihiko shook his head and looked ahead of them. "Chichiue likes you more. If it was just me he would have forbidden me to train with occhan."
Akuouji blinked at his brother's exclamation, his lips scrunching up in discomfort. "What has led you to these thoughts? Chichiue has never shown favoritism, aniue."
"You wouldn't notice Ah-kun," Akihiko replied softly, referring to his name for Akuouji. "Everyone favors you: occhan, hahaue, and even Minami-chan…"
Akuouji stopped in his tracks, his eyes sharpening. Akihiko stopped also, a few feet ahead of Akuouji. He faced away from Akuouji, his fists clenching. He felt Akuouji's eyes on him, but he refused to turn around even as he said his next words.
"I know that it's nothing. They love us the same, but I know that chichiue does not like the way I behave and hahaue does not think I can take anything seriously. Occhan has always said that Shikagetsu and Seitentsu respond better to you than to me. Minami-chan never sees me."
"Aniue," Akuouji whispered quietly, his fingers flexing in hesitance before slowly reaching for Akihiko.
The white twin shrugged his brother's hand away and shook his head. "Even though you are the quietest, I live in your shadow."
Akuouji came forward and lightly tapped Akihiko in the forehead. The white twin's eyes snapped open in surprise, his mouth opening and closing. Akuouji looked at Akihiko with solemn eyes.
"Do not think like this, aniue. You are not a shadow and I am not a wall for you to overcome. We spent our lives always being compared. It's hard. However, do not let my mistakes and accomplishments hinder your own. We walk different paths in life with different achievements."
Akuouji smiled then, his lips turning up at the sides and Akihiko's eyes widened in shock at the emotions on his stoic twin's face.
"I can't help or change what chichiue and hahaue does or what others say when they compare us. All I can do is give you word of encouragement and wisdom. I have never thought of myself above you or below you, aniue."
Akihiko blinked in surprise. He stared at his twin for a long moment, watched as Akuouji's hand fell away and as the smile on his face fell. He saw the stoic mask fall back onto his twin's face and was still in shock as Akuouji sighed.
"Akihiko," Akuouji finally said, snapping the white twin from his stupor. "Let us go to hahaue and help her with the garden."
Akihiko grinned then, his heart filled with a sudden lightness at the sign of affection his usually emotionless twin showed him. He laughed and threw an arm around the dark twin's shoulder, causing Akuouji to stiffen at the physical contact.
"What," Akuouji began, but Akihiko's boisterous laugh silenced his voice.
"Ah-kun, you are such a momma's boy," the white twined teased, repeating what Kagome had called Akuouji on their last visit to Inuyasha Forest in the East.
Akuouji blinked at the term, but was dragged away by a laughing Akihiko before he could make a retort.
...
Inuyasha sighed as he shifted Kaiya on his back, the little girl yawning into her father's back as she snuggled deeper into his shoulders. Her small hands tightened around her father's neck, Inuyasha's hand coming up to loosen it so he could breathe.
His ears flapped as he canceled out the discussion between Kagome and Sango, the two of them trailing behind him. Kagome and Sango chattered on as Inuyasha continued carrying Kaiya on his back, the three of them reentering the village.
Villagers, as they notice the return of the three, greeted them as they passed by. A few old women would hand goods and food to Kagome and Sango, thanking Kagome for her healing from previous weeks and Sango's hard work in handling a demon problem.
The two women paused and accepted the supplies, chatting with the villagers. Inuyasha ignored them, opting to walk in the shadows to avoid conversing with people. Kagome watched as Inuyasha disappeared around the corner, heading out towards their hut, even as she listened to an old woman complain about an ache in her back.
Inuyasha breathed out a sigh of relief as he escaped the village center, his head nodding in greetings towards Miroku as the monk appeared from his and Sango's home. The monk, now in his late thirties, was as healthy as always in his late primes. Miroku smiled warmly at Inuyasha, walking towards him.
"Inuyasha, welcome back," the monk said as they reached one another. Inuyasha shifted Kaiya again, keeping her secure on his back.
"Nothing happened when we were gone?" Inuyasha grunted as he looked around. "Where are your brats?"
"We're not brats, Inu," said an exasperated voice.
Inuyasha fought off a groan as he turned to meet the irritated eyes of Tamae. Taka was right behind her, tying her hair up. The twins had grown, spitting images of Sango with Miroku's cheeks and eyes. They were in their demon hunting attire, weapons of all sorts attached to them.
"I meant your brothers," Inuyasha began to only suddenly ducked as he felt the sudden movement. Inuyasha cursed under his breath as he flipped Kaiya from his back, holding her still sleeping form close to his chest. He growled at the young man that tried to jump him.
Minaro landed gracefully onto his knees and hands, standing up to face Inuyasha a scowl on his face. "I was sure I could get you this time."
"What the fuck, Minaro! If you had hurt Kaiya," Inuyasha began, fuming at the younger man, before Tamae slapped her younger brother upside the head, interrupting Inuyasha's tantrum.
"Baka," she snapped at him, slapping him again.
"Ow, stop it! What the hell, Taka," Minaro grunted as he swiped Tamae's hand away.
At being mistaken for her twin, Tamae punched him, Minaro flying backwards comically at the attack. At the same time, Taka's voice could be heard over the sound of a body hitting the ground, "But I'm Taka!"
Miroku and Inuyasha watched the little episode with raised eyebrows before ignoring the three siblings as Minaro flipped back up, engaging his twin sisters in an argument. Miroku grinned sheepishly at Inuyasha.
"Is Kaiya-chan okay? I'm sorry about Minaro."
Inuyasha grunted. "Hn, she's fine."
Even as he said this though, Miroku watched with amused eyes as Inuyasha clutched his daughters closer to him, almost as if the closer she is to him, the safer she would be. However, Inuyasha's smothering woke the girl up, her arms pushing Inuyasha's arms, trying to loosen them.
"Papa," she whined sleepily as she tried to sit up in his arms.
Inuyasha's eyes suddenly softened, his hard features becoming less intimidating as he shifted Kaiya in his arms. When she pushed to be let down, he reluctantly relented and set her up. The ten year old yawned sleepily as she clutched his shirt sleeve for balance.
"Are we home," she whispered.
"Yea, we are. You want to go sleep at home," Inuyasha asked as he rested his hand on her hair.
Kaiya shook her head, rubbing her eyes. When she spotted Miroku, a smile popped on her face, her face lighting up. "Ji-san! Where's Rokuro-kun?"
Miroku's lips turned into a grin as he nodded towards his hut. "Sleeping. You should go wake him up, he's been asleep for a long time now."
Before the words even left his lips, Kaiya was gone. Inuyasha's eyes narrowed after her, his lips turning into a frown. "She's too friendly with your brat."
Miroku chuckled softly, patting Inuyasha on the back. "They're too young for those things."
"What things? Is your perverted boy doing something to Kaiya!?" Inuyasha made the move to follow his daughter, but Miroku caught him, sweating bullets at Inuyasha's suddenly killer intent.
And this was how Sango and Kagome found everyone. The sound of arguing, cursing, and fighting met their ears before even the scene did.
Tamae and Taka were fully engaging Minaro in a fight, the young teen surprisingly holding his own even as both sisters combined their teamwork to get him. Inuyasha and Miroku were arguing, Miroku holding onto Inuyasha's waist. The monk's pleading could heard even by Kagome and Sango.
The two women shared a glance, their eyes rolling at their family.
"You want to take the kids," Kagome asked with a sigh.
"Which ones," Sango replied with a deadpan voice as she eyed the teenagers and the two men acting like teenagers.
Sango and Kagome shared a look before suddenly laughing together.
Eventually, Kagome told Inuyasha to sit, bringing both men down (because Miroku was still holding onto Inuyasha when the hanyou went down). And after a while, Sango had beat some sense into her children, slapping Minaro upside the head in a similar manner as Tamae did, when she heard about what he did to Inuyasha and Kaiya along with mistaking his sisters' identity.
All five were grumbling and groaning by the time Kaiya woke Rokuro up, the two children slowly trying to sneak away from their crazy family when they were greeted with this scene. They saw Inuyasha and Miroku whimpering at Kagome's angry lecture and the teenagers sitting like sad guilty puppies around an annoyed Sango as she snapped at them about the broken demon equipments.
"Maybe I should not have come back," Kaiya whispered to Rokuro as they slowly tip toed away.
Rokuro nodded, watching the adults with wary eyes. "Yea...shoulda escape while you could."
~Until next time~
A/N: Yes. The sequel has begun. Excited? I am.
