Disclaimer: Takahashi Rumiko has great original work. I do not. Please enjoy my spin on her story and characters.

Sesshomaru was standing in the lobby of his office when Kagome exited the car he'd sent to retrieve her. She knew he might pretend indifference, but he was just as acutely nervous about her decision as she had been about making it. His happiness relied on her decision as much as her happiness relied upon him. She knew he would let her go back to that time, causing him to live out the rest of his life alone. She also knew that she couldn't live with any decision that was made for selfish reasons. As Kagome opened the door and Sesshomaru casually turned in her direction, she smiled warmly.

"Can we talk somewhere other than this lobby?" Her words echoed off the great marble walls, showing exactly how public any discussion in the lobby would be. Sesshomaru waved her towards an elevator, and they both headed upstairs. Neither said anything, but their eyes met and held in the mirrored surface of the doors. When the doors suddenly opened, Kagome jumped and Sesshomaru blinked, breaking the contact.

"Please…" He opened the door to his office, letting her precede him in. Jaken was sitting in one of the leather chairs, hands clasped together. He didn't turn in their direction until Sesshomaru walked over to him and laid a hand on his shoulder. "Jaken-sama, Kagome has arrived to tell us of her decision." Jaken nodded and waited silently. "Would you like a cup of coffee?" When she shook her head, he motioned for her to sit down and he pulled another chair over from the conference table for himself.

"Before I say my decision, may I ask several questions?" Sesshomaru nodded. Kagome leaned over and took Jaken's hand, surprising both Jaken and Sesshomaru. "Jaken, why would you make such a sacrifice?" Jaken's mouth opened and shut several times, and she could tell he would have run around the room in little jerks if he'd felt well. Finally he gained his composure and answered her.

"Sesshomaru-sama has been in my care for his entire life. I took care of his father; I've taken care of him. However, Sesshomaru-sama has also become my friend over these last few hundred years. By letting Rin into our existences, he also showed me that feelings are not necessarily bad things, and our experience with Rin has softened both of us. I am old Kagome. I will not live to see too many more sunrises. It pleases me to sacrifice what time I have left if it will bring Sesshomaru-sama more happiness." He looked at Sesshomaru for a second, than looked back at Kagome. "It would also please me to bring you happiness. You have always treated Rin, and myself, kindly." He smiled for an instant, than went back to being his stoic, quiet self.

"Thank you Jaken, I needed to know that before I could continue." She patted his hand gently before turning to Sesshomaru.

"Sesshomaru, we have known each other a long time, time being relative and all." He nodded sagely. "Five hundred years is a lot of maturing. You told me that you didn't forgive InuYasha and learn to respect him as an equal until he was much older." He nodded. "If I agree to the second plan, how do you ensure that the Jidai Sesshomaru will keep your word? Ten years is hardly enough time to do anything, when one lives as long as you do."

"I do understand your dilemma. It is also one that slightly concerns this Sesshomaru." He stood up and walked over to his desk. "Rin will be of the age that she will have decided what I mean to her, and I will have finally realized what she means to me." Kagome's jaw dropped, Sesshomaru chuckled knowingly. "Yes Kagome, Rin was 16 when we made our commitments to each other. Not any older than you were when InuYasha was ripped from you. You knew you loved him at that age though." She nodded, still blushing. "If you had known that you would never see him again, I believe you would have made the same decisions Rin made, at the same age." Kagome got up and walked to the window, turning her back on him to stare sightless at the view.

"She was young in years Kagome, but look at what all she lived through as just a child. Rin grew up very early; it was her decision to stay with me. It was her decision to change our relationship. Ultimately, it was her decision for us to marry and be a family." He walked over to her and handed her a letter. "If you decide on the more perilous of the two choices, this is the letter that my younger self will be given by Jaken. I will make two copies, just in case my impetuous nature comes through and I tear up the first one."

Sesshomaru walked back over to the table and poured a cup of coffee. Both Sesshomaru and Jaken waited silently as Kagome started to read.

ooooooo

"Sesshomaru-sama, as you have noticed by the seal on the letter, and the age of your retainer, this is a letter from you, from time that has not yet happened. As long as you have known Jaken, you know that he is a loyal retainer, even though he has exhibited fear both of you, and for you. The year is irrelevant, it would take too long to explain the new calendar in this age. I will be brief and state 500 years have past since the day you will receive this letter.

I have sent Jaken back to you in order to fulfill several promises and help both myself, and someone who is also in this time with me. I will be as brief as possible, read this entire letter before coming to any conclusion. By this point, Rin will have made her desires known to you. (Believe me, I'm smiling at the memory of waking up in the middle of the night to her small hand on my chest and her lips on mine.) Please believe that this is only the beginning of a breathtaking relationship.

However, here is the crux of our dilemma. Rin is human, as we (both you and your future self) are aware. I could tell you exactly how many years she lived, but I won't. I will tell you that the time I spent with her was worth every moment of loss I continue to feel. I'm hoping you'll agree to the plan that was made by myself and this mystery person, of which I haven't informed you. It will benefit you Sesshomaru to listen and follow this advice.

Jaken is dying. He is much, much older than he would ever let you know. He figures he has merely days, and that's hoping he makes the journey through time. Housenki Jr. created a jewel that would allow one creature (youkai or human) to travel through time in one direction. In order to make that possible, you must seek out Housenki Jr. before the end of the era. He also made a second jewel that would allow Jaken to sacrifice his remaining time in order to endow Rin with youkai longevity. She will not live as long as I/you have; but she doesn't need to, you are already almost a thousand years old.

However, in order to make sure this transaction can happen smoothly, I have enlisted the help of the only one who can make sure the jewel used is completely pure. I would not have Rin altered in any way, and it would be possible for some of Jaken's less innocent personality to come through unless the jewel is pure. (By now, I know you know whom I speak of. Don't gnash your teeth; she's actually a good person).

Kagome (yes, InuYasha's Kagome) has purified the jewel so that Rin can remain who she is on the inside, while growing old as gracefully as you are. I do not know how long she will live; I wish I did. However, I will tell you that a single day longer than what I had will be an eternity of joy.

Kagome has made this decision at a great risk to herself. Since you now are beginning to understand love, and yes it only gets better from here, you can begin to gain a glimpse of the joy Kagome felt when around InuYasha. (No, don't ask me if they were intimate, I'm not willing to ask that question of her. Keep your thoughts pure, what you have with Rin is different, I can promise that)."

Kagome blushed wildly, hating the thought that Jidai Sesshomaru would have those thoughts. However, she kept reading.

"As you are aware, InuYasha traded his youkai powers to purify the Shikon no Tama and to have a normal life with Kagome. You are also aware that when they jumped into the well, one of them remained in his own time. You will not have the opportunity to get to know InuYasha as I have, so read closely. InuYasha is a good person. Although a little immature, he wanted the best for those he cared about. I spent some time with him after Rin died. He was the only one I knew who lost someone he loved as much as I loved Rin. I needed to find out how life continues. Sesshomaru had many, many more years ahead of me when Rin died.

InuYasha and yourself, although I'd never call us close brothers, did have several years in which to learn to respect each other. He once told us, 'My love is the feeling of a man who has been hardened by battle, but softened by an understanding that life can be fleeting and each moment should be lived.' That more than adequately describes exactly how I felt when I lost Rin. Although we are the older brother, InuYasha was far wiser than I.

Kagome has given up her chance to come back to your time and be with the man she loves in order for Sesshomaru to also find happiness. Jaken will pass his powers on to Rin, than he will quickly age and die. When he does, the gates to father's tomb will open, and he will be able to pas through. If InuYasha enters the gate with him, he will become dead. However, Tenseiga will be able to revive him. Kagome has put great trust in Sesshomaru that he will keep his promise to bring InuYasha back to the living world in this time so that InuYasha and Kagome may also find happiness.

In order to keep my word, I am sending this letter to you. You must make sure Housenki Jr. makes two jewels, one to return youkai and humans to this time, and another that allows a youkai to pass on longevity as a pure gift of love. You must also find Kagome in the present, exactly 10 years after she returns from your time. Give her the two choices, and then awaken InuYasha when she makes the second choice. It isn't right to leave her to suffer alone, so put any malicious thoughts out of your mind.

-Sesshomaru, you."

oooooooo

Kagome put aside the letter and said one word. "Hai."

ssssssssssss

A/N: It was very hard to write the letter from Sesshomaru to Sesshomaru. If I've missed something, please let me know.

Also, I know Sesshomaru is a little OOC, however, as I watched the later episodes, I noticed him softening quite a bit towards Rin, Kagome, and DogBreath. I imagine that 500 years and the love of a good woman would mellow him further. I've not received any overt flames from anyone, so I'm supposing that my thinking is believable.

Take care, and enjoy. –TK