500 Years and Waiting

By swirly87

Author's Notes: Well here's the next chapter. Hope you guys enjoy it and thanks for the wonderful reviews. It might be awhile until the next chapter is up so bear with me please! Umm…sorry if this may upset some you, but Kohaku is probably not going to show up for a very long time after this chapter. The same can be said for Sango, Miroku, Kirara, and the kids. Sorry! It's just that they don't really fit into the plans after this chapter. However, those of you who watch Rurouni Kenshin may recognize some of the characters from that anime. I'm just using the characters since they fit into this story so well and the fact that I really love that anime as well. I just don't like the OVA for it is all.

*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 5: A Spar and some Confessions

While Shippou was off running into the woods towards Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru, the two inu-youkai being mentioned above, were engaged in a heated spar. Each youkai was trying to best the other and prove to the other that he was the superior brother. The spar so far had lasted about an hour and neither youkai seemed ready to give in to the other. They were in a clearing, surrounded by sakura trees; the dying leaves floating around them. Both were panting heavily…actually Inuyasha was the one panting; Sesshoumaru was only silently breathing a little quickly.

"Ready to give up, little brother," said Sesshoumaru, "You know you can not defeat me."

"Never Sesshoumaru! Remember I have beaten you before," replied Inuyasha, who was determined to prove to Sesshoumaru that he was just as good and worthy of their father's blood.

"Yes, but that was when I was being easy on you because you were a hanyou," retorted Sesshoumaru, "But now I'll prove to you who is the superior youkai. I will no longer go easier on you, little brother."

"Then why hasn't this battle ended yet, if you claim to be superior to me. If you were so strong, how come I'm still standing?" retorted Inuyasha, who was tired of Sesshoumaru's insults to his strength.

Sesshoumaru merely smirked and calmly replied, "Because I enjoy toying with you."

Inuyasha put up a face of anger and pretended to be deeply insulted by this. However, Inuyasha knew that Sesshoumaru didn't really mean what he insulted. Inuyasha was no longer that young, ignorant, naïve, impulsive hanyou that he was a decade ago. He was now a much wiser youkai, who still tended to be impulsive at times. He could now understand the underlined feelings and meanings behind someone's words and actions. Inuyasha was willing to be Sesshoumaru's little punch bag for the day. Inuyasha only wanted his older brother to release some of that pent up anger and frustration before it got to the point that his brother would actually harm Kohaku or anyone else that could easily get hurt or killed. He knew he was the only one strong enough for Sesshoumaru to fight with and release some of that frustration. He let Sesshoumaru's insults slide through him, knowing that Sesshoumaru's frustration, anger, and jealousy was making him say random insults and judgements. Still that didn't mean he couldn't pretend to be offended by it.

"Why don't we end it here and now. No more being easy on each other. Let's see who is truly stronger," challenged Inuyasha.

"Very well, Inuyasha. Let us end this here and now," agreed Sesshoumaru.

The two inu-youkai stood across from each other, silently observing the other's movements and trying to predict the other's movements. Each youkai held their swords, waiting for the other to begin. As if it was meant to be the bell to signal the fight, a single cherry blossom gently floated down between the two brothers. The blossom was fully opened, it had been very late to open, and had been the last to open. The cherry blossom had blossomed in the fall rather than the spring and had missed its chance to become a leaf and have a full life. Instead, it had fallen from its branch before it was ready to, in its prime time of life. The flower slowly floated toward the bottom of the forest floor, ready to be forgotten. When it barely landed on the forest floor, a clawed hand swept it up before it was placed inside a kimono. A loud clash could then be heard following the blossom being swept up. Fang sword clashed with fang sword. Sparks flew between the two youkai as they dashed back and forth from each other. Each strike was met with a defensive swing until finally, the stronger arm was able to push his sword against his opponent's sword enough so that his opponent's sword flew out of his opponent's arm and landed next to him. His sword was then thrust underneath his opponent's neck; his opponent raises his arms in defeat.

"Looks like you won Sesshoumaru, but that was a lucky win though. I'll beat you next time," promised Inuyasha as he went to retrieve his fallen sword.

"Sure you will. Remember Inuyasha, I was able to defeat you even when I only had my right arm," replied Sesshoumaru as he put away his own sword.

"That was when I was younger and more naïve. Remember I beat you before as well and that was when I was a hanyou," retorted Inuyasha as he dusted himself off and checked himself for how many wounds, bruises, and scrapes he would have to tend to later.

"But that was also when I only had my right arm and even then I was being easy on you," responded Sesshoumaru as he waited for Inuyasha to be done with his inspection. Sesshoumaru had no need to check himself for any wounds for unlike Inuyasha, he didn't have any.

"Well, now that you got back your left arm, you sure got stronger," commented Inuyasha after he was done with his inspection and after a moment of thinking about Sesshoumaru's statement.

"Yes, indeed. If you hadn't notice Inuyasha, I was fighting you with my left arm, not my right arm. I now practice using my left arm more than my right arm now because I had relied so much on my right arm before…and now that I have both arms, I will be even stronger. You were my test subject for that. And seeing how I was able to defeat you with this left arm, I must say that you have gotten soft in your fighting techniques," commented an observant Sesshoumaru.

"In times of peace, it is hard to find a person to practice with," replied Inuyasha, who wasn't insulted at all, because he knew what Sesshoumaru said was true.

"Haven't you been sparring with that perverted human friend of yours? He is quite strong, for a human, isn't he?" inquired a curious Sesshoumaru.

"Well, Miroku is strong, for a human. However, he has a family to care for now. He has no time to spar with me. And plus, I'm too strong against him for it to be an even match," answered a disappointed Inuyasha.

"Then what about that kitsune pup you have been taking care of. Don't you spar with him?" asked Sesshoumaru.

"Shippou is still too young. I'm sparring with him, but only to make him stronger and more experienced, not me," replied Inuyasha.

"Well then you don't have to worry about that now. At my castle, you will be given daily practices. A youkai heir must be ready to defend his future lands at all times," responded Sesshoumaru.

"That's the best news I've heard so far since you came Sesshoumaru. Finally, I can become stronger and not worry about killing my opponents," exclaimed an excited Inuyasha. "Can Shippou come as well? It'll be a great experience for him as well."

"He may come with us to the castle. He is your ward after all, seeing as you are the only older youkai around here. Being with only you for too long will be bad since he might pick up some or all of your bad habits. Coming to the castle will teach your ward the proper way of being a youkai. He should also hang out with other youkai his age there and Rin seems to enjoy his company as well," said Sesshoumaru before he paused in thought and asked, "But aren't you two needed here to protect the village?"

"In times of peace? I don't think so. And anyway, if youkai do attack this village while we're gone, there are still people here who can defend it. They have Sango and Kohaku, youkai exterminators, as well as Miroku, a strong human monk. There's also the fire neko-youkai Kirara. This village will be well guarded. There is no need to worry," assured Inuyasha.

Sesshoumaru looked a bit skeptic about this, recalling the many times he had had to rescue Rin and she was only one human! After a bit of thought, he responded to Inuyasha's assurance with, "Very well, but just in case, I'll have some of my youkai men around here. I do not want to hear complaints from you, Shippou, or Rin if anything happens to these villagers. Rin is rather fond of them you know."

"Yes, I know she is," replied a grateful Inuyasha, "You know what, Sesshoumaru? You've certainly gotten a bit more open and talkative over these past 10 years. Rin must have made a great influence over you."

"She has," admitted Sesshoumaru, "I suppose I am so use to her cheerful chattering that it is odd for there to be silence when she is not around me. You know Inuyasha, that at first I wanted to get rid of Rin because I feared the feelings I had for her would make me softer, weaker. However, she never gave up and continued to follow me despite me pushing her away any chance that I got. Despite my coldness, she remained with me for the past 14 years. Over these past years, she has slowly thawed some of my ice. I will be lost and stuck in the silence of darkness still if it weren't for her. Now I am too use to her voice, her adoration…her light. I will be…broken…if I lose her now."

Inuyasha listened to his older brother's confession with awe and a bit of disbelief. This was coming from his older half-brother; the one known as the Ice Prince who hated all humans and half-breeds. Now his brother of all people had fallen in love with a human, the very one he raised since she was a little girl. In some ways to Inuyasha, he felt that that was a bit disturbing, but he also knew in his heart that it was right. For wouldn't he, Inuyasha, be 500 years older than Kagome when he would see her again?

"Perhaps, it is time to go back to the village," suggested Inuyasha after a moment of silence. Sesshoumaru merely slightly nodded in agreement. As the two started to head back to the village, Sesshoumaru would subtlety glance at Inuyasha occasionally in the corner of his eyes. Inuyasha, who noticed this, soon got a bit annoyed.

"Quit looking at me like that! Why are you even looking at me? Is there something on my face or something?" exclaimed a peeved Inuyasha. Sesshoumaru merely stopped and looked at Inuyasha in silence before he spoke.

"You look more like father everyday Inuyasha," murmured Sesshoumaru, "You act more a lot like him too. His hair was just as white as yours is, not like my hair, which is more like my okaa-san's hair color. Your eyes are the same dark amber as his were. You inherited much of your looks and personality from father. I inherited most of my looks and my calm personality from my okaa-san."

"Really? I don't know much about the old man except that he was some great youkai lord and that he was our father. He died when I was too young to really remember anything about him," admitted Inuyasha who looked a bit eager to learn more about his father from someone who really knew him.

"Otou-san wasn't just a great youkai lord, he was the best. He would do anything and everything for his family and land. Otou-san was a youkai that everyone admired; youkais, hanyous, and humans alike admired him. He was unusual for a youkai lord though. He actually loved his family, subjects, and land. He cared for his family very much and loved his two wives very much. Love was believed by many youkai and still is believed to something that only the weak felt, but otou-san was anything but weak. He married my okaa-san out of love and it was fortunate for the two of them that she was a full-blooded youkai that understood his strange ways. He would laugh a lot and enjoyed playing games with me when I was young. He taught me everything he knew. He was very caring and he never lifted his hand to strike me. He told me to kill only when I had to protect those I love," explained Sesshoumaru as he looked away from Inuyasha, reminiscing about the good old days.

"Tell me more about father Sesshoumaru, please," asked an enraptured Inuyasha.

"As you probably would have noticed, he and okaa-san loved me very much. He and I were both devastated when okaa-san died. Okaa-san died when I was about 120 years old. She was poisoned to death. We never did find out who did it although otou-san and I searched everywhere and questioned everyone about it. 3 years later, otou-san met your mother and fell in love with her. I was still getting over okaa-san's death when otou-san informed me that he was going to marry your mother. I was very…upset and angry at otou-san. We had not found okaa-san's killer and here he was, marrying someone else and a human female 100 years younger than I to boot had. I felt betrayed, I thought my otou-san loved my okaa-san and will never marry again especially since he was married to okaa-san for many centuries. At first, when I saw your mother, I wanted to kill her and rip her to pieces so that it'll only be otou-san and me again looking to avenge okaa-san," confessed Sesshoumaru.

"Then what made you stop?" asked a curious Inuyasha.

"I just couldn't do it. Your mother was so kind to me and I soon saw why otou-san fell in love with her. In some ways, your mother resembled my okaa-san. They were both kind, beautiful, and deeply in love with otou-san. Soon, I grew use to your mother and slowly accepted her as my stepmother. And then you were born. Believe it or not, I actually cared for you when you were very young and looked after you like an older brother should. But then, that letter came," said Sesshoumaru, his eyes burning in hatred at the memory of that letter and the events to come with it.

"What letter? What did it say? Who was it from?" asked an enraptured and curious Inuyasha, who was acting like an excited puppy.

"It was a letter from okaa-san's killer. He wanted otou-san to meet him somewhere in the mountains. He was considering whether or not he should go in the first place and leave his family behind. He didn't want to leave us especially you, yourself, was very young and that time and very vulnerable to his enemies. I kept urging otou-san to go while your mother begged otou-san to not go because of some vision she saw. Finally, otou-san listened to me and left me behind to protect you and your mother. I personally wanted to go with otou-san, but otou-san wouldn't let me, he said I had to stay and protect the family. That was the last time I saw him alive," told a grim Sesshoumaru as he thought about what happened next.

"Saw him alive? What happened?" asked Inuyasha.

"The next day, I heard about the fight between him and that stupid dragon. It seemed that mother's killer had tricked him into fighting that dragon. Otou-san managed to trap that dragon, as you already know, but he died from the fatal injuries that he received. I was devastated by otou-san's death, so soon after okaa-san had died. Both had died from the same killer. One by poison, the other by manipulation. I wanted revenge. I was also upset about how otou-san had died. He wouldn't have died if it weren't for me insisting that he go; at the very least I should have gone with him," said a regretful Sesshoumaru.

"But it wasn't your fault. Father wanted you to stay with us. I don't think he wanted to see you hurt. I think he knew that it was a trap somehow so he made you stay with us. Just in case he was right about it being a trap," reasoned Inuyasha.

"Perhaps, but I was still angry with you and your mother from preventing me from going with otou-san. I was especially angry at your mother for being right about her vision. My anger and regret grew and grew until it turned into hatred. I became as you remembered me as being, a cold and selfish bastard. From the day of otou-san's death, all I could think about was revenge. I wanted to be more powerful and be stronger; I wanted to be even stronger than otou-san so that one day I could avenge my okaa-san and otou-san. I left you and your mother behind in the castle in search of the one who killed my parents and I soon forgot about the two of you. I could not stand being with you and your mother back then. Your mother reminded me too much of my own okaa-san and you…you looked more like otou-san more and more as you grew older. I began hating you for that, looking like otou-san and acting like him. I especially started to hate how your human mother, and not my own mother, was still alive. I grew jealous of you, so much that I wanted to kill you right then and there, but I never could. Otou-san's words never left me, his last words of me protecting you and your mother. Memories of you as the little brother and otou-san's last words stopped me from actually killing you. I decided to leave your mother and you behind in the castle instead," confessed Sesshoumaru.

"Yeah, I remember those days. The people at the castle were quite hostile with mom and me. They never quite accepted us after father died. And when you visited, you were always cold and harsh with me. You rarely ever spoke to me and when you did, it was only if I was in your way. You never was able to look at me in the eyes when you spoke to me," remembered Inuyasha.

"Yes, I recall those days vividly. The castle servants were very loyal to otou-san and okaa-san as well as to me. They grieved over okaa-san's and otou-san's death. They felt that your mother and you weren't really part of the family; they felt that you were intruding on his death and taking advantage of his status and wealth. Soon, I believed their words as well and forgot about how kind your mother really was. I became lost in the darkness and I grew colder and colder. It was awhile before I found out your mother's death and a month later to learn that the very same killer that had killed my parents, had killed your mother. I came home as soon as I heard about your mother's death, but by then, you were gone. I never knew why you left. I didn't really care at that moment where you were. All I cared about was that I had again missed a chance of finding that killer and avenging my own parents' death. I suppose, a part of me knew that you were alive and actually cared about if you were safe or not. However, back then, I was a heartless beast and it was very hard for me to care about anything except for revenge," admitted a regretted Sesshoumaru.

"For the next couple of years, I could only hear rumors about you. A part of me was relieved that you were still alive; the other part of me wasn't. I started getting angry each time I heard your name uttered. I then forbid my servants from ever mentioning your name again. The last rumor that I heard about you was that a woman you loved had sealed you to a tree. What happened to you strengthened my resolve to never love anyone ever again and concentrate only on revenge. The next time I saw you after that was 50 years later and we were both after otou-san's sword. I was surprised about how much you've grown, but I also hated how much you looked like otou-san. I was still filled of hatred, jealousy, and pride back then. Each time we met though, I always told you I would kill you and I could have, but a part of me always stopped me and made me spare you. It was not until I met Rin that the ice around my heart began to thaw and melt. I never thought I could love again," confessed Sesshoumaru, "I am sorry, Inuyasha, for not caring for you as an older brother should."

Inuyasha was quite speechless at that point. He never really knew about his father or his brother. All he knew about them was what he had heard from other people or what he himself had witnessed. Inuyasha contemplated the story Sesshoumaru had just told: I was wrong about him all these years then. He had a reason to be a cold and selfish creature. I was like him once, after mom died and I had to survive on my own. All I cared about was being a full-blooded youkai and being stronger. I wanted him to recognize me as a strong person and not that weak little brother he always sneered at. I didn't care about anyone, but myself. I didn't trust anyone after mom died until I met Kikyo, but when Naraku tricked the two us into hating each other, I felt that I could never trust or fall in love again. I was wrong, I fell in love with Kagome. But for Sesshoumaru to not love for so long after he had experienced love before? I was only with mom for 6 years and I already loved her a lot despite my few memories of her. Sesshoumaru lived with his parents for over a century; he must have lots of memories about them. He must have loved them very much and then to go 73 years without caring for anyone or anyone caring for him? What a sad life! Luckily, he met Rin though. Hey, wait a moment…didn't he say that the one who killed his parents killed my mother?

"Sesshoumaru, did you say that the killer of our father killed my mother?" asked Inuyasha.

"Yes, I did. And when I find that bastard, I am going to rip him into pieces and then bring him back to life and kill him repeatedly. I'll continue doing that for as long as it will take to make him wish he were never born," said a blood-lustful Sesshoumaru, whose hands had formed into fists so hard that blood was dripping from his hand.

"You mean you haven't found that murderer yet?" asked Inuyasha in disbelief.

"That murderer is a lot harder to find than killing that stupid Naraku. I'm still searching for him whenever I can, but…according to Rin, I should not be so obsessed about it, it is…as she tells me…bad for me to be so blood thirsty. She assures me that one day I will find that murderer, but until I do, I should enjoy life the way my parents wanted me to," said an amused and somewhat smiling Sesshoumaru. As he said this, Sesshoumaru thought about how Rin had lectured him before about enjoying his life and saying that that was probably what he parents wanted him to do. He couldn't help, but smirk at that memory, his fists became hands and the cuts on his hands soon faded away, thanks to fast youkai healing.

Inuyasha noticed the change in Sesshoumaru, from sadness and anger when he thought of his parents' death to amused and happy when he thought of Rin. Inuyasha was glad that Rin had brought so pleasant a change to Sesshoumaru. It did make Inuyasha wonder though: Was this the real Sesshoumaru? The one Rin saw in him, the one that had cared for me when I was a baby and a toddler? Was this how Sesshoumaru was before father died and he was consumed with hatred and revenge? Could this have been the brother I could have had? Does that mean I could have had a happier childhood? Inuyasha grew increasingly angrier with the mysterious murderer who had robbed him of his father, his mother, and his brother. He wanted revenge as well.

"I'm going to help you find that murderer too, Sesshoumaru. He ruined my life too; he took away your mother, our father, and my mother. We both lost our parents to this fiend. I want a part of this revenge as well," declared Inuyasha.

Sesshoumaru was about to reject Inuyasha's offer of help when a vision of the past appeared before his eyes. He recalled the day that he had asked his father if he could go with him to the mountains and avenge his mother. Oh, how he really wanted to go with his father that day! Sesshoumaru looked back at the eager Inuyasha and decided to allow Inuyasha to be a part of the battle, for did Inuyasha not lose his dear ones also? Thus, Sesshoumaru nodded his head slightly, accepting his younger brother's help. Inuyasha smiled gratefully, for he wanted to avenge his mother and help his older brother.

"However, Inuyasha, you must not become so obsessed about this revenge as I was," remarked Sesshoumaru as he thought about his past self.

"Yes, I know. I know we must avenge our parents, but not at the expense of our loved ones," replied Inuyasha as Sesshoumaru listened.

"Um…now that that is settled, how about let's head back to the village?" suggested Inuyasha. Sesshoumaru was about to nod in agreement when he caught a scent in the wind; a scent he could recognize anywhere and would never forget it, Rin's scent. He turned to Inuyasha, who noticed the scent as well. Inuyasha sniffed the air, and realized that Shippou was with her as well. As Sesshoumaru sniffed the air with Inuyasha, he realized he could not find the annoying scent of the human brat that had been hanging around his Rin. I wonder where that human brat is? Why is that kitsune with Rin and not that human? Thought Sesshoumaru. The object of his thoughts soon came into his view, but what he saw made him angry and jealous. There on the back of the kitsune youkai was his beloved Rin. A youkai, a male youkai, was carrying his Rin. Sesshoumaru began to growl silently.

Inuyasha noticed Sesshoumaru's dark expression and could barely hear Sesshoumaru soft growling, but Inuyasha looked to where his brother was glaring. He noticed Rin riding on the back of Shippou and realized why Sesshoumaru was angry. He turned to Sesshoumaru and calmly said, "Sesshoumaru, you need not get jealous over Shippou and Rin. Shippou is well aware of your feelings for her. He's a very observant kitsune despite being naïve sometimes. He won't try anything on Rin. That I should know, I've practically raised that kitsune since he was 6 years old, the same year you started to raise Rin. Those two are just friends, nothing more."

Sesshoumaru stopped growling and decided to retain his cold look at Shippou. Shippou, who although was still running at the two inu-youkai, noticed his cold look and started to get a bit nervous. As soon he was close enough to the inu-youkai, he let Rin get off his back. Rin then immediately ran to Sesshoumaru and hugged him. Sesshoumaru, surprised yet again at this, merely held Rin and gently hugged her back.

"I was so worried about you, Sesshoumaru-sama. I was afraid you and Inuyasha-oneesan were going to get hurt from sparring with each other. Are you ok? Are you hurt anywhere?" inquired a worried Rin who, as soon as she was done hugging Sesshoumau, was examining Sesshoumaru from top to bottom for any injuries.

"I am fine, Rin. No pathetic brother of mine is going to beat me," assured an amused Sesshoumaru as he watched Rin examine him.

"I know, Sesshoumaru-sama, but I can't help it. I keep thinking about that time I first met you when you were badly injured. Were those injuries then not caused by your younger brother?" retorted Rin after she was done examining Sesshoumaru. Inuyasha then looked at Sesshoumaru and gave Sesshoumaru a look that said, "I told you so."

"Yes, but that was only because I was underestimating him and was being far too easy on him," replied Sesshoumaru, who looked back at Inuyasha with a "I am more superior than you" look. Rin stared at Sesshoumaru in slight disbelief as she watched the two brothers tease each other like brothers. Although it was unbelievable at first sight, she shook her head a little after watching them for a moment before she smiled in happiness. She was glad that the two have finally gotten along after all these years.

Sesshoumaru watched Rin's face as many emotions crossed it. He wondered what Rin was thinking, but he did not inquire her about what she was thinking about. Instead, he suggested, "Let us head back to the village now and start preparing for the trip back to the castle."

Shippou, Inuyasha, and Rin looked a bit surprised at this statement. Inuyasha and Rin did not think that they would be going to the castle so soon.

"We have been here at this village long enough. It is time to head back home," said Sesshoumaru, who said this calmly and sternly.

"But it's only been 2 days though, Sesshoumaru," complained Inuyasha, "Do we have to go back now?"

"Yes, we do, Inuyasha. We have a ball to plan that's coming up in 2 weeks and you have youkai etiquette to learn. Actually, you and your ward there need to learn proper youkai etiquette in less than 2 weeks. The faster we get back to the castle, the more time you will have to learn…unless of course…you would rather embarrass yourself and our family name at the ball?" replied a calm Sesshoumaru.

"Oh, of course not," retorted Inuyasha, "It's just that it seems so soon and…"

"Hold up…I'm going with you guys? Why didn't anyone tell me this?!" exclaimed an alarmed Shippou, "And what's this proper youkai etiquette I have to learn in less than 2 weeks?"

"See Sesshoumaru, I told you he was observant," said Inuyasha to Sesshoumaru before turning his attention to Shippou, "Sorry Shippou for not informing you earlier. Since I'm the only adult full-blooded around here, I have to be your guardian and you have to be my ward. And since I have to go to the castle with Sesshoumaru, you have to go along with me so that I can watch you. Plus it'll be a good time and place for you to interact with other youkai your age and learn more about our kind. As you know personally, I'm not exactly the best role model and teacher of how to be a youkai, especially about full-blooded youkais considering I've only been a full-blooded youkai for the past 12 years."

"Well then, I guess it's ok then. Just tell me next time ok? I don't like surprises and I really don't like it when people dictate my life," sighed an understanding Shippou.

Rin watched the three youkai as they talked and thought about what they said. I'm really going to miss Sango, Miroku, Sakura, Mirogo, Kirara, Kohaku, and everyone in the village. Thought Rin. Well at least I don't have to worry about those awkward moments with Kohaku that I was expecting after that conversation we had in the forest. Still, it would have been nice to stay here for a couple more days, but Sesshoumaru-sama is right. We have a lot to do back at the castle. We have a ball to plan and it has to be perfect since Sesshoumaru-sama is planning to announce his heir that night. Plus, Inuyasha and Shippou have a lot of things they need to learn before the ball and 2 weeks is a very short amount of time to learn that many things. We were only suppose to stay at this village until we are well rested and now that we are, it's time to head back home. Home sweet home.

"What are we waiting for? Let's go then! We have a lot of things to do. We have the planning to do, the cleaning, the teaching, and…oh my goodness…we haven't even decided on the theme of the ball!" interrupted an excited Rin, who grabbed a sleeve of each of the three male youkai. The three males could only stare at the female in astonishment as she talked about the upcoming ball while dragging them back to the village.