It had taken five long years but they were ready to for the citadel to open to the public; meaning the other lords of Nippon. Diachi was there during most of the construction, but Lords Haru and Ai, hadn't. The Eastern and Southern lords were expected to arrive in the next couple of days. The Western people were invited in celebration of the new citadel. Many headmen and elders had already responded back saying that they would come to the opening. Inuyasha sat in his study looking over reports for the upcoming harvest season when Diachi let himself in.

Sighing at the look of his nephew he almost whined in pity. In the five years it had taken to rebuild the citadel, time had taken a horrible toll on the hanyou turned human. No his youki was indeed, used up in the fight against the last of the dragon clan. Now as Diachi looked at his nephew, his black, inky hair had turned gray, his face was worn and wrinkled and his hands were withered.

Inuyasha looked up as he placed another report down in his pile. Rubbing his tired face with his hands he sighed. "Good day uncle. How was your trip?"

Diachi sat across from him and sighed. "It was fine my nephew. I see that Katsuro has been busy…"

Inuyasha smiled. "Yes he has. Yumi has given him three pups in five years… But I'm sure that it not what you meant…"

Diachi laughed but then he turned back to his nephew. Inuyasha was jealous and he could tell that the loneliness was catching up with him. Diachi himself knew loneliness; his mate having passed on over a hundred years ago. He loved her and still missed her but at the time he had other things to look forward to… His nephew's mating and giving him more nieces and nephews to spoil rotten. But now that the rest of his clan was dying with Inuyasha, he felt that he would soon leave this world too…

"He has been training more recruits. There is more to guard and therefore not enough warriors…"

Diachi smiled. "I am glad that the West will be guarded. The grounds are beautiful Inuyasha. I think your brother will be happy…"

Inuyasha sighed. "I hope he will… I grow weary uncle. I must retire for the evening. Will you escort me?"

Diachi smiled a sad smile. Getting up from his futon, he made his way around the desk to help him stand.

Inuyasha looked up at his uncle's face and scowled. "Do not take pity on this Inuyasha uncle. He deserved everything that Kami gave him. Somehow I think that it is a blessing that my youki never returned…" Standing up he felt his bones crack and pop back into place.

Diachi growled. He hated seeing his youngest family member like this; and he couldn't do a thing for him… "Why do you say that Inuyasha? With your youki, you could've seen your work come to pass…"

Inuyasha stood up to full height, though his back was now arched with age. "The West was not mine to rule uncle. It was Sesshomaru's and I took it away from him. I see this as a blessing because my suffering will soon end. I have come to terms with that. Everyday I feel a little more of my life leave me and I am not bitter…" He laughed. "Well not anymore. I have learned more in these last few years that many demons learn in hundreds, even thousands of years… I believe that hanyou are stronger than demons in that sense. Even humans for that matter…" He took a deep breath as he started walking towards his quarters; which was incidentally close to his brother's quarters. His barrier still stood strong and it made him happy. His brother will be happy to know that he kept everything the same.

Diachi marveled at the knowledge that his nephew had learned. "Why do you think hanyou and humans are stronger than demons Inuyasha?" He already knew where he was going with this but he knew that his nephew was trying to express his emotions. He was glad for his human traits; most demons saw it as a weakness, but he knew as well as many others now, that it was a gift.

Inuyasha smiled. His eyes lighting up as he looked up at his uncle. Diachi saw a small light of what he used to be in his eyes and it made him smile a true smile knowing that the youth was still in him. "They are stronger because they're time on earth is limited. They mature quicker and they understand life quicker. Demons could take centuries to learn even the simplest things… Like myself, I never learned it in time… Live each day as it was your last... But as a ruler of many demons and humans alike, you have to think of them too; what is best for your people and yourself last… It's that simple uncle."

Diachi smiled. "You have truly become a ruler my nephew. I am so proud of you…"

Inuyasha smiled as he reached his brother's quarters. Standing at the front of his door that lead to the sitting room, he clapped his hands, bowing to the door saying a small prayer in hopes that his brother could forgive him for every transgression he committed. Turning from the door he smiled at his uncle again. "Do you think that kami can forgive me uncle? I have learned many things, and I wish they would let me have a second chance to make up for the things that I have done… But…" He sighed sorrowfully. "I know they would never give me that chance. I will never know the joy of having a mate nor holding my first born child. So many things that most take for granted… Life is so simple uncle. I took it for granted. I will never see my actions to rebuild the West come to pass. My life fades and now I wish I could've done more…" Inuyasha walked to a window and gazed out of it a long while; Diachi just watched him.

The next day dawned with abundant sunshine. Diachi woke up and smiled. Getting himself ready he walked down the hall and lightly knocked on his nephew's door. Not hearing a response he opened the door and sighed. Smelling the stench of death he walked to the unmoving form in the bed. Looking down at his nephew he saw that he had aged more during the night and had died in his sleep. He was saddened by this but the look of peace on his face helped him knowing that he passed in peace. Diachi let a few tears leak from his eyes, looking up as he saw Katsuro halt from running at the door.

Katsuro ran to the family wing of the citadel after he was awaken by a vision. The vision of him being crowned as the new Western Lord. Katsuro, walked into the room and gazed down at the lifeless form of his Lord and growled. "He knew didn't he?"

Diachi nodded. "He was to rebuild the West and he accomplished it. His part in life is done, and kami has taken him. He does not have to suffer for what he has done any longer."

"His suffering in this life is done, but he still has much to do…."

Turning the two males saw the kami, Amida-Nyorai, stood before them again. Her blue hair shone and the twelve layer kimono was abundant. Diachi sucked in a breath; could kami have heard his nephew's wish?

Amida-Nyorai smiled. "I am here to grant a wish that our Lord Inuyasha asked of us…"

Diachi smiled. "So he will be reborn then?"

She smiled. "Yes he will, but he will not remember who he is in the beginning. He will have to learn life's lesson again before his mind of this life will return. Kami has seen his heart, and he has truly changed for the better. He has also, without knowing it, paved a way for hanyou all over Nippon. Kami smiles on him…"

Diachi and Katsuro smiled. Seeing the soul of their loved one come out of the lifeless form on the bed, they saw it leave through the window and float to heavens above where Izanagi and Izanami opened the clouds for the soul to enter.

Amida-Nyorai smiled again. "Mother and Father are proud of the hanyou. They wish for him to be entombed close to his brother. Where he will never feel the loneliness ever again; afterall, pack is everything to an inu."

Diachi and Katsuro smiled and bowed to the kami. "It will be done my lady…"

She smiled. "The Eastern and Southern Lords just arrived. Katsuro you are to be crowned the Western Lord on this day. Are you ready to accept this responsibility?"

Katsuro bowed and stood. "I have led many warriors into battle. And I will not back down from this opportunity that kami has given me. Thank you my lady…"

She smiled. "I will now take my leave. Diachi you will live to see your nephews return to the West and you have much more to live for. Kami has blessed you, with knowing that your soul mate will find you soon…"

Diachi gasped. "Kya was not my…"

"No she wasn't. But you were meant to have her in your life; make no mistake." With that she started to disappear.

Diachi and Katsuro looked at each other and then at the body of Inuyasha. Diachi covered his body with the sheet and picked him up.

Walking to the garden, followed closely behind by Katsuro, Haru and Ai, as well as the rest of the house, they found another tomb waiting for them; very close to the one that already housed his nephew and mate. Diachi sighed. Coming up to the tomb, he gently placed the body down and saw as if by magic, the tomb closed itself and was sealed.

Diachi let a tear fall and turned to the house. "I, Lord Diachi of the North, proclaim on this day that our dear Lord Inuyasha has passed on to the realm of Izanagi and Izanami. They have blessed him. To take his place, General Katsuro will assume rule of the West as per kami dictates…"

The West was solemn but all bowed to their new Lord Katsuro as he took on responsibility of the West and its people.

And present became history. The West was named Kanazawa to hide it's identity. The garden that held the two lords was enclosed to keep their memory safe from outsiders that didn't understand. Katsuro continued to rule until the late 19th century. By that time, people wanted to help preserve the past and knew that Kanazawa castle would be taken care of. He still owned the land and continued to help it thrive until his Lord's Sesshomaru and Inuyasha returned to the West.

No this is NOT the end! I promise! I had to get this out of the way, to get to the real story….