500 Years and Waiting

By swirly87

Author's Note: Yeah…I'm um…trying to figure out this formatting thing. Please excuse the bad spelling and grammar. As for the Rurouni Kenshin characters…I totally love that anime, so I'm just using their names, personality, and looks. It's not really a crossover, kind of, but not really.

*Disclaimer: Sesshoumaru, Rin, and all characters of Inuyasha are the property of Rumiko Takahashi. All characters that are mentioned in this story, but are not part of Inuyasha are either my creations or are characters that have been changed a bit from their respected anime. This includes the characters of Rurouni Kenshin and any other anime that is recognized. *

Chapter 2: A Family Reunion

Inuyasha's Forest…

Sesshoumaru, Rin, and Jaken have been traveling for three days since that message arrived in the castle. They have been traveling with very little rest breaks and frankly, Rin was very tired of it. She had only 3 hours of sleep everyday since they left the castle and had only one small 10 minute resting break a day. Any other human in her position would have died or be too tired to go on. However since Rin was use to traveling a lot, considering she's traveling with three youkai, and very stubborn, Rin had managed to keep up with Sesshoumaru so far. However, I am going to faint if we don't stop soon. Thought a very tired Rin.

Sesshoumaru glanced behind him to check how the others were faring. He looked at Rin and finally noticed how tired she was. He saw how much she was sweating and how she was determined to keep up with him. He then glanced at Jaken and Ah-Uh, who looked very tired as well. Jaken and Ah-Uh are as tired as Rin, yet she is able to keep up despite the fact that the other two are youkai and she is human. She would be a very powerful youkai. Thought Sesshoumaru. As Sesshoumaru was thinking about how Rin would look as a youkai, Rin was starting to stumble a lot. Her eyes started to gloss over and suddenly she fell. Jaken and Ah-Uh quickly stopped. Jaken ran to Rin's side and shook her while Ah-Uh nuzzled her.

"Rin, are you ok? Speak to Jaken, Rin. Rin? Rin? Rin?! Wake up Rin!" screamed a very concerned Jaken, who had grown fond of the human over the years despite their constant bickering.

Upon hearing Jaken's screaming, Sesshoumaru snapped out of his thoughts and looked to where the screaming was from. He noticed Rin on the ground and Jaken screaming. He quickly ran to where Rin was and held her in his arms.

"What happened to Rin, Jaken?" asked Sesshoumaru.

"I think she fainted from exhaustion, Sesshoumaru-sama. Rin is human and requires more rest and sleep than we youkai do. At the pace we have been traveling, it has been very hard for her as well as for Ah-Uh and me, and we are both youkai unlike Rin, who is human," answered Jaken as he looked at Rin, concerned about her health.

Sesshoumaru looked at the exhausted Rin, who was sweating and breathing very quickly. He ordered Jaken and Ah-Uh to get cold water. When the two youkai left, Sesshoumaru carried Rin to a clearing and a shady place under a very large tree. He used a small cloth to soak up her sweat. After that, he just stared at her while touching her hair. He looked at Rin and his eyes were filled with regret. He regretted not taking better care of Rin and not checking up on her. I'm so sorry Rin. He thought. I should have been more aware of your health. With your energy and personality, I tend to forget you are human. I was so in a hurry to go meet Inuyasha and get this over with, that I forgot how fragile you are. Although you are unaware of how I feel, you are everything to me Rin and I can not bear the thought of ever losing you. I promise, from now on, to be more careful of your well being.

As Sesshoumaru made that silent and mental promise, Rin slowly stirred and slowly opened her eyes. The first thing she saw were Sesshoumaru's eyes. His amber eyes were filled with concern and regret. Sesshoumaru had immediately noticed Rin's stirring and looked at her.

"Are you alright, Rin?" asked a concerned Sesshoumaru.

"I'm fine, just tired, Sesshoumaru-sama," answered an exhausted Rin.

"I'm sorry to drive you at such a hard pace. I should have been more aware that you were getting too tired," said Sesshoumaru. Rin just stared at Sesshoumaru. She was quite shocked that Sesshoumaru had just apologized to her aloud. Rin then noticed Sesshoumaru staring back at her questionably. She blushed and looked behind Sesshoumaru. She then noticed Jaken and Ah-Uh walking towards them with the water. Seeing Rin look at something behind him, Sesshoumaru looked behind him and noticed the two as well.

"Jaken and Ah-Uh are back, but where did they go?" asked Rin as she watched the two walk more quickly towards them.

"I told them to fetch some water," answered Sesshoumaru. By the time Sesshoumaru answered Rin's question, Jaken and Ah-Uh were back. Jaken handed the water to Sesshoumaru, who then handed it to Rin. Rin looked confused at first when she was given the water, but when she looked back at the concerned looks of the three youkai, she drank some of the water before offering it them.

After they had each finished drinking some of the water, Sesshoumaru commanded that they would rest at that spot for the rest of the day. Sesshoumaru and Rin were sitting underneath the tree while Jaken and Ah-Uh sat underneath a different tree. Rin was sleeping against Sesshoumaru and somewhat cuddling up to his soft tail while Jaken was sleeping against a sleeping Ah-Uh. Sesshoumaru was the only one of them awake and as the other three rested, he observed his surroundings. As he watched, he picked up many scents. Suddenly he picked up a very distinct scent heading their way, a scent he was very familiar with, Inuyasha's.

A full-blooded inu-youkai was running through the forest at an impossible speed. He was running so fast, that any person or youkai could barely see a blur of white flash by. Unlike Sesshoumaru, this inu-youkai had long pure white hair and his amber eyes were darker. The stripes on the side of his face were dark violet compared to Sesshoumaru's purple stripes. Instead of pointed ears at the sides, this youkai had retained his white doggy ears on top of his head. There was no mark of any kind of this youkai's forehead and he wore a red fire rat kimono-like clothing. Instead of wearing a bead necklace like he wore in the past, this youkai wore a gold locket. Inside the locket was a very precious picture, a reminder of his love. A sword could be seen at the side of his waist. When this creature had wished to become a full-blooded youkai, his sword had changed as well, so that he would be able to use it even without his human blood. This youkai was none other than Inuyasha, Sesshoumaru's famous half brother. Inuyasha had been running straight at Sesshoumaru's direction ever since he picked up Sesshoumaru's scent. He had wondered upon why Sesshoumaru was there and had decided to ask Sesshoumaru himself. I hope it's not about that whole "heir" thing. He should ask people before suddenly appointing them to be certain positions in his political game. He thought grumpily.

As Inuyasha got closer and closer to Sesshoumaru, Inuyasha finally noticed the scents of the human and other two youkai with him. In his anger and impulsiveness, he had forgotten about the other people in his traveling group. Damn. He thought. I don't want to hurt anybody if this family union gets ugly.

When Inuyasha arrived to the clearing, he noticed everyone asleep except for Sesshoumaru. He was about to shout Sesshoumaru's name and ask about why they were here, when Sesshoumaru glared at him to be silent. Inuyasha silently walked up to Sesshoumaru and saw Rin snuggling up to Sesshoumaru. Inuyasha grinned at this while Sesshoumaru continued to glare.

"I see she's still with you Sesshoumaru. I thought by now you would have gotten rid of her, considering how much you despise the human race, but I see how comfortable you two are. She's quite attached to you, I see," silently teased Inuyasha.

"Shut up Inuyasha. I have more important matters to discuss besides your usual insults," an annoyed Sesshoumaru said silently.

"Then, by a means, let's talk dear brother. However, let us discuss this somewhere else, so that we do not disturb their sleeping. Speaking of which, why are they sleeping? It's the middle of the day and it's weird that they haven't noticed or heard me," asked Inuyasha.

"They're very tired," answered Sesshoumaru. Sesshoumaru was about to stand up and leave with Inuyasha to talk, when he realized that Rin really was attached to him. Each time he tried to stand up, Rin would grab his tail and pull him down. Inuyasha watched Sesshoumaru silently struggle with Rin and couldn't help but laugh. He slapped his hand over his mouth to prevent waking up the others. He continued to silently laugh until Sesshoumaru stopped and glared at him.

"You think this is funny, Inuyasha?" snapped a frustrated and angry Sesshoumaru.

"Yes, I think it's very funny," answered Inuyasha, who tried to keep a straight face, but couldn't and he ended up laughing very hard. Luckily, Rin and the others were so exhausted that they couldn't hear him. Sesshoumaru continued glaring at Inuyasha. After a few moments, when his glare had finally taken its effect on Inuyasha, did Sesshoumaru pay attention to his current problem of being unable to move without waking up Rin. After thinking for a few seconds, he came up with a solution. He gently scooped up Rin and walked towards Jaken and Ah-Uh. He lifted Jaken off of Ah-Uh and placed him against the tree. He then laid Rin down against Ah-Uh where Jaken had slept before Sesshoumaru lifted him. After Sesshoumaru was down rearranging his sleeping companions, he turned towards Inuyasha.

"Let us go now," commanded Sesshoumaru before he started lifting himself into the sky and flew. Inuyasha lifted himself into the sky himself and flew after Sesshoumaru.

"Do you think it's alright to just leave them there, Sesshoumaru?" asked a concerned Inuyasha as he looked back at Sesshoumaru's sleeping companions.

"They will be fine. Once they wake up, they would notice your scent and would realize what has happened. They are not like your pathetic companions; they can defend themselves properly," answered a calm Sesshoumaru.

"My companions are not pathetic," retorted an insulted Inuyasha.

"Then which one of us had more companions being taken hostage or be used by Naraku?" replied Sesshoumaru. Inuyasha just shut up after that reply. Sesshoumaru just smirked at his quietness before landing in another clearing below. Inuyasha just followed him.

"So why are you here in my forest, Sesshoumaru? And don't say because you missed me and wanted to check up on your dear little brother 'cause we both know that that's a piece of crap," asked Inuyasha after the two had landed in the clearing. Sesshoumaru just stood in front of Inuyasha and appeared to be pondering about Inuyasha's question. After a few moments, he finally answered.

"Before I answer that question, Inuyasha. I need to ask you a few questions. What exactly happened in the final battle against Naraku?" asked Sesshoumaru as he looked straight at Inuyasha, so he could sense if Inuyasha was lying or not.

"The battle with Naraku? Why are you asking this Sesshoumaru? You were there as well. You saw everything," asked a surprised Inuyasha.

"I may have saw everything, but I didn't understand everything. After you and I destroyed Naraku with our swords, I saw you run back and cradle that dead mate of yours. You were crying so pathetically. So pathetic in fact that I had to come towards you two and bring her back to life with Tensuaiga so that you would stop shaming our royal blood with your tears. After I did that, I recall a sudden burst of light coming from the purified Shikon no tama, the jewel your mate had died to purify, and some miko appearing. She talked to you, but for some reason I couldn't hear the conversation. What I want to know is what that conversation was about, Inuyasha, especially since you suddenly turned into a full-blooded youkai during it," answered Sesshoumaru.

"Why would you want to know that, Sesshoumaru?" retorted Inuyasha.

"It's important and relevant to why I am here, Inuyasha," answered an exasperated Sesshoumaru.

"Ok, fine. When that miko came out, she told me she would grant each of us one wish, which strangely enough includes you as well Sesshoumaru. However, the wish she will grant has to be come from deep within our hearts; it has to be the one thing we truly desire, something we would want for all of eternity. It doesn't matter if we voice the wish aloud as long as we know what that wish is. That miko can read our minds. Once she sees our true desire, she'll grant it. She noticed that my wish as well as Kagome's was to be together forever. She granted our wish by transforming me into a full-blooded youkai-"

"But what does transforming you into a full-blooded youkai have to do with that wish?" asked a curious Sesshoumaru.

"As I was saying, before a certain someone interrupted, she transformed me and then explained the situation to us. She told us that since we were from two different timelines that we couldn't be together right now. However, she said, we could be together later. Of course, we were confused about it all, but then she continued explaining. She said that by transforming me into a full-blooded youkai, I could live long enough to see and make Kagome my mate in 500 years. She then transformed Tetsuaiga so that it could still work despite me not having any human blood. She explained that the reason she transformed Tetsuaiga was so that I had a better chance of surviving the 500 years to see Kagome. That miko then did something to Kagome and told us that when we mate, Kagome would be able to live as long as I will. After that, she warned us that Kagome could only remain in this time for another 24 hours before it would be time for her to depart for her time and leave this time behind forever," explained Inuyasha as he stared off at a distance, remembering that day.

"You said something about a wish?" asked Sesshoumaru.

"Yes, she said that she will grant one wish to each person who participated in the fight against Naraku. Since you were there to fight him, you get a wish, Sesshoumaru," answered Inuyasha. Sesshoumaru just remained silent after Inuyasha's reply. He pondered about that wish. I could use that wish to make Rin my mate. I can wish her to a full-blooded youkai so that we can together, but I don't know if she feels the same about me though. Thought Sesshoumaru.

"Now you were going to explain why you're here…" said Inuyasha, waiting for Sesshoumaru's explanation.

"I'm here to find out why you don't want to be my heir," answered Sesshoumaru. Inuyasha sighed at that answer.

"I just had a feeling that that was the reason why you were here. I told your minions. Didn't they said you my reasons?" asked Inuyasha.

"They did, but I wished to hear your reasons in person," replied a calm Sesshoumaru.

"Like I told them, I don't want to be part of your little political plans Sesshoumaru. I will NOT be your political pawn and plus, why do you want ME to be YOUR heir? It's true that we don't hate each other as much as we use to when we were trying to kill the other. Now we just dislike each other and respect each other in a way, but why give me the second most powerful position in the western lands?" asked a very puzzled and suspicious Inuyasha.

"Do you know the laws of inheritance in the western lands decreed by our father, Inuyasha?" asked Sesshoumaru.

"A little, Myouji-jiji told me a bit. Only a full-blooded youkai with the royal blood can inherit the western lands, but what does that have to do with this? Despite the fact that I'm now a full-blooded youkai, why me?" asked a still puzzled Inuyasha.

"Before you became a full-blooded youkai, Inuyasha, I was the only royal full-blooded youkai. Father wanted to insure that our family line would keep his beloved western territory. He wanted me to start looking for a female full-blooded youkai to be my mate when I was 200 years or older. He decreed that I was to have a royal heir by the time I was 300 years so that our family line will continue," explained Sesshoumaru.

"So let me get this straight. You want me to be your heir so that you don't have to choose a mate and get a child right away. I will not be your pawn Sesshoumaru!" declared an angry Inuyasha.

"You do not understand Inuyasha. As you know an inu-youkai mates for life and we have long lives Inuyasha. I do not wish to choose a horrible mate I can not stand for eternity. Also, there are very few full-blooded female youkai. We males outnumber females at least 3 to 1. A hundred years will not be enough time for me to find the perfect mate," explained Sesshoumaru.

"So I'm suppose to be your heir until you find your mate. That still makes me a pawn. I'm only your heir so that I can help stall you some time! I refuse to be your heir. I refuse to be a pawn for you. You're using me like Naraku used me once!" yelled a very angry Inuyasha.

"I am NOT like Naraku, Inuyasha," hissed an equally angry Sesshoumaru, "It's true I have some selfish reasons for you to be my heir. It's not that I need the time to find my perfect mate; I already found her. I just need the time to find a way to make her my mate."

"Make her your mate. Well as long as she's a full-blooded youkai than she has no problem-"

"There's the problem right there, baka. She isn't a full-blooded youkai, she's not even a hanyou like you were!" exclaimed a pissed off Sesshoumaru.

"Then she's human? Who is this person?" asked a curious and surprised Inuyasha, for he had never would have thought or even consider that Sesshoumaru would have already chosen a mate especially a human one considering how much he hated them.

"Rin…" muttered Sesshoumaru, so quietly that even Inuyasha with his inu senses had trouble hearing it.

"YOUR WARD?! I mean she's beautiful and all, but RIN?!" exclaimed a surprised Inuyasha.

"I know you're surprised Inuyasha, but-" started Sesshoumaru.

"Surprised?! I'm more than just surprised, I'm shocked. This is coming from Sesshoumaru, Youkai Lord of the Great Western Lands, who claimed to hate all humans. And now he wants one for a mate," replied Inuyasha. Sesshoumaru just remained silent as Inuyasha continued; "You've taken care of Rin for how long now, a little more than a decade I think. You've watched her grow from a little kid to a young beautiful woman and now you want her for your mate. Isn't that gross? I mean that's like wanting to marry one of your kids."

"You're one to talk Inuyasha. By the time you meet Kagome again, you'll be what…a couple centuries older than her? Not to mention you'll probably want to watch her grow up as well so you know when to meet her without ruining this timeline. And plus, I never loved Rin as one of my children. I just always loved her, the soul mate kind. Yes, even when she was a child. I just never had any of those kind of urges when she was that young. I'm not that disgraceful or disgusting like some youkai who like to do it with children, so don't you dare accuse me of being one," hissed an insulted Sesshoumaru, "Now that you're a youkai, you should learn that age does not matter when you choose a mate especially when you're a youkai."

"I'm sorry if I offended you or anything Sesshoumaru, I was just surprised that's all. So how are you going to get Rin to be your mate if she's human and you can only mate with a full-blooded youkai?" asked Inuyasha.

"That's where you come in Inuyasha. I need you to be my heir until I can find a way to either go around that decree or make Rin a full-blooded youkai. I'm considering that miko's wish to make her one," answered Sesshoumaru.

"Well that wish won't work unless Rin is in love with you as well and agrees with it," replied Inuyasha.

"That's why I'm considering that wish. I'll only wish that wish only if Rin agrees with it and wants to be my mate. I don't want to force her to do anything she doesn't want to do. So, do you agree to be my heir until then, Inuyasha?" asked Sesshoumaru.

"I agree, but only until you get a mate and a proper heir. I don't want to your puppet. Do I have to be do anything while I'm your heir?" asked Inuyasha.

"You just have to be educated in the laws, customs, and history of youkai. And go with me to important meetings as well as patrolling the western lands. It'll give you something to do for the next 500 years or so," replied a calm Sesshoumaru.

"That's it?! Great, that sounds like so much fun," retorted a sarcastic Inuyasha.

"So far, you just have to attend the ball that's two weeks from now. During that event, I plan to announce to the other youkai lords about you being my heir. This ball is suppose to be when I announce who my mate is, but I decided to announce you as my heir instead, so you HAVE to attend Inuyasha. Do you get it through your thick skull? You MUST attend. Better yet, you should come back to the castle with us, that way you'll have time be educated in how to be a proper youkai before the ball. That way you won't disgrace out family name," said Sesshoumaru.

"A proper youkai?! What's wrong with me now?" exclaimed an insulted Inuyasha as he looked at himself, his clothes and accessories.

"Your behavior is in dire need of improvement. You retain too much of the inu side of you," commented Sesshoumaru. Inuyasha just grunted and growled, "Whatever."

"Let's head back now then Inuyasha," said Sesshoumaru, who was content now that Inuyasha had agreed to be his heir.

"Fine, but can we stop by the village for awhile. I wish to inform them where I am going," replied Inuyasha.

"Very well. I suppose we can stay there for awhile. Rin, Jaken, and Ah-Uh are in need of some rest anyway," commented a thoughtful Sesshoumaru. Inuyasha just nodded in agreement and the two flew off back to the other clearing to pick up Sesshoumaru's companions.