Epilogue

Sesshomaru stood on a rise, gazing westward. The Western Palace was just visible from his vantage point. He regarded it for a long time, unmoving. It looked exactly as he remembered though he had not seen it in over two hundred years. Memories flashed through his mind, some good, some bad. Ah-Un snorted softly beside him, one head nuzzling his hand until he patted it. The loyal creature had always been able to sense his master's moods.

Are you happy to be home, old friend? he wondered. Have you missed this place as well?

Home…

He had not called anyplace home in a long time. Not since he had left the Western Domain after his father's death to wander, seeking to increase his own power. He had vowed not to return until he had matched his father's power, to prove he was worthy to be Lord in his sire's place. He brushed his fingers lightly against Bakusaiga and Tenseiga's hilts. He had surpassed his father though not in the way he had once imagined. He smiled a bit sadly. There had been much his father had tried to teach him. Lessons in compassion that the arrogant youth had scoffed at. At the time, all he had been able to see was the power his father had held but not the compassion that tempered it. It was that compassion that had made his father a great leader, not just his strength.

He curled his toes in the soft grass beneath his bare feet. He was still dressed in the white and green silks he had acquired at Mai's. His armor was strapped to Ah-Un. He wasn't certain what had prompted him to return as he was rather than first tracking down new clothing and boots. Perhaps it had simply been too long since he had indulged in not worrying about presenting himself as the image of a proper lord. It suddenly no longer seemed as important as it once had.

With a slight feeling of trepidation, he began walking towards the Palace. It had been no secret that Inu no Taisho and his son had often been at odds once he'd hit mid-adolescence. Sesshomaru knew he had not always conducted himself well and demons had long memories. No doubt most of the same servants and retainers remained from when he'd last resided here. He pushed such thoughts aside. He was not the same prideful youth who had walked out of these gates two centuries before. Once within sight of the walls, his sharp ears caught the sounds of a flurry of activity as the guards keeping watch spotted his approach, alerting the entire palace to his arrival. He had sent Jaken ahead with word that he was returning. His mother may be regent over the West, but she preferred to remain in her own home except for when formal occasions or diplomacy required her to conduct her business here.

The gates were thrown open and he strode through without hesitation. He stopped in the courtyard and looked around at the bustle of efficient activity. A groom took Ah-Un to the stables, leaving him standing alone. He could sense curious eyes upon him as he strode across the courtyard and into the palace itself. He walked slowly through the long corridors. He stopped at the door to what had once been his father's study; now his, memories washing over him. His reverie was interrupted as he caught sight of a single demon approaching. He was a rare sight – stooped with age and from spending countless hours hunched over books and scrolls, small lines at the corners of his eyes and mouth. He had been old when Inu no Taisho had been young and had long been a close advisor and friend to the late Lord of the West. He stood before Sesshomaru, his sharp gaze seeming to look right through the young lord as he looked him over. He gave a nod of approval at what he saw and bowed.

"Lord Sesshomaru," he said respectfully. "It has been too long. Welcome home."

"It is good to be back," Sesshomaru replied. "Please, gather those who were advisors to my father. There is much to discuss."

The old demon's eyes crinkled as he smiled. He had been correct in his appraisal that the young lord had changed since he'd last laid eyes on him. For the better, it seemed. "At once, My Lord."

As the old demon shuffled off, Sesshomaru motioned to a passing servant. "I want a suite kept ready in the western wing."

"My Lord, your quarters have already been prepared and await you."

"They are not for me."

"My Lord, the western wing is exclusively for members of the family…"

"I am well aware. My brother and his mate will be joining us eventually and I wish for rooms to be ready for him. Knowing him, they'll be no warning he's coming until he bursts into the place."

"Of course, My Lord!" With a bow, the servant scampered away to carry out his wishes.

Sesshomaru pushed open the door and stepped into the study. He wandered through the room, his fingers trailing lightly over the cleared desk, the shelves still lined with books and scrolls, the mantle of the fireplace. Bitter memories threatened to crush him and he nearly fled. Instead, he sat behind the desk and opened a drawer to keep from dwelling on them. An old piece of parchment sat on top of the rest of the drawer's contents. Sesshomaru pulled it out and blinked in surprise.

It was a simple child's drawing depicting two silver-haired figures, one large with blue markings, one small with maroon ones, playing some sort of game. 'I love you, Father' had been written in the childish scrawl of a pup just learning to use a brush. Sesshomaru vaguely recalled drawing the picture for his father. It had been a very, very long time ago. Why had his father kept it for so many years? He started to replace it, face-down in the drawer, when something caught his eye. Something else was written on the back in his father's neat script. 'I will always love you, my son.'

Sesshomaru stared at the words, his throat constricting. Father... I was such a fool. I didn't understand what you were trying to teach me. I'm sorry...

He jumped when a servant knocked lightly on the door. "My Lord, your father's advisors have gathered as you requested."

"Tell them I'll be there shortly."

"Yes, My Lord!" The servant bowed and left.

Sesshomaru carefully replaced the drawing where he had found it. As he stood, a warm breeze wafted through the open window, ruffling his hair. Suddenly the walls of the room no longer felt constricting and hostile, laden with recriminations and regrets. They were now as he remembered them from his childhood, warm and welcoming. Their ghosts had been laid to rest.

He left the study to meet with those from whom he'd come to learn. There was much about the running of the West that he did not know and would need to learn before taking his father's place. For once he was not embittered by the thought. His father was gone but Sesshomaru was determined to become the Lord he'd wanted him to be. He smiled.

He had finally come home.

###

Mai smiled at the images that swirled before her in her scrying bowl. Silly pups, it certainly took you two long enough! She passed a hand over it, returning the shimmering surface to a dull grey. They had made their way back to their respective homes – Inuyasha returning to his village and Sesshomaru returning to the West. The distance did not matter. They had accepted one another as pack. Family.

Brothers.

Your father would be proud. Of both of you.

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A/N: Whew! Done! What I had intended to be about half the length of Double Trouble ended up being over half again as long!

I hope everyone enjoyed reading this story as much as I enjoyed writing it! Thank you for all the reviews! :)

I purposely set this story at a point where most of the other characters would be out of it. While I like all of the characters and was a little sad to not really include them much, I wanted the focus to be on Inuyasha and Sesshomaru and their acceptance of one another as brothers. That wasn't going to work well with all of their friends around to witness it.

There are several more story ideas, snippets, and rough outlines floating around in the warped and demented space I call a brain. And my Boy-Spawn keeps throwing out ideas and begging me to write a story out of them. Poor kid has inherited my twisted sense of humor. So there will be more stories coming at some point. :)