Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of its characters.

Chapter Sixty-Nine: Similarities

Muteki was definitely agitated that night as he adjusted his silver-white obi, the same colour as his hair, and waited for the doors in front of him to open. He would have to walk down the hall all by himself because his uncle would arrive slightly later.

Suddenly, he wondered why on earth he had come up with this brilliant idea.

He'd been excited about it until just now, and when he'd had to ask his father and uncle for permission, he hadn't doubted for a second that they wouldn't grant it. He knew he was doing the right thing and nothing else mattered.

But now that he was there, alone, listening to the humming coming from the already crowded room, he felt his courage fail him. Had it really been a good idea? For once, he hoped his uncle wasn't so stoic and uncompromising. Sesshomaru had made it clear to him, in no uncertain terms, that since he had chosen to replace his father in an official capacity, he would have to walk the small corridor alone — and that meant facing hundreds of hungry eyes alone as well.

He gulped and tried to return to the mood of only half an hour earlier when he had visited his mother fully dressed and seen her awake and more fit than that morning. His father had tried to soothe her as she cried with joy at seeing him, proud of what he was about to do, while Toga had given him a dirty look for making her nervous. Muteki had chuckled nervously, but seeing her lively had filled his heart with happiness and calmed his nerves.

But as he left his parents' rooms and reached the front door, his stomach had twisted again. And when he finally heard the doors open, he realized there was no longer much time to linger.

He took a deep breath and thanked the gods that, at the very least, Kichiro and Osamu were behind him — that his mother hadn't been discouraged when he'd insisted they stay with her instead. Even though he knew every demon would be focused on him as he reached the small platform, the presence of two other people behind him reassured him in the slightest.

At least, he told himself before lifting his face, straightening his shoulders and walking, he wouldn't have to talk. That would be his uncle's job.

When Sesshomaru walked in, despite the anger boiling up inside him at the underhanded and degrading comments from that part of the court that was currently hostile to him, he let his mask collapse for a few seconds in favour of a devilish smirk. Seeing some of them stare at his nephew in puzzlement and concern amused him immensely. It definitely hadn't been a bad idea to allow him to participate in Inuyasha's stead.

What did those fools think now? That his brother would retire and leave his role to his son? It was true that there was no limit to ignorance.

Reaching the platform and flanking Muteki, he regained his impeccable pose. Inwardly, he was also pleased to see that the pup's aura was calmer than it had been moments ago when he had been able to sense his agitated nerves from miles away.

As Jaken announced them, he cast one last glance at his nephew and then at the court in front of him. It was, indeed, difficult to say with certainty what emotions predominated on the demons' faces; there were so many that it was nearly impossible to categorize them. However, what he cared about that night was silencing the rumours and restoring the order of things; at the end of the meeting, everyone would remember who Sesshomaru was and what was at stake in trying to make a fool out of him and his family. Of feelings other than hatred and contempt, at the moment, he cared little; his concentration would be directed elsewhere.

A second later, his vassal slammed the nintojo on the floor to summon silence and quiet the voices that sought to overpower him and dominate the room. Sesshomaru seethed but waited for Jaken to do his job before taking the floor.

"Whatever has happened and whatever your opinion is nothing — I repeat, nothing — gives you the right to behave in such a degrading manner during a meeting that I personally ordered. You're not a bunch of puppies that need to be called out; I don't want a repetition of what just happened," he exclaimed, feeling like a parent scolding unruly children — which didn't improve his discontent. Why was that court becoming more and more annoying day by day? Why were such beings placed at the top of their demonic society? If he could have, he would have cleared out of the loafers. Of course, it wasn't possible to really get rid of everyone.

Goro sent daggers at him, and Sesshomaru saw the exact moment he opened his mouth to start again, but he was beaten to the punch by Kosuke who, at least, was more composed than his former colleague. "Sesshomaru, as much as I don't agree with certain behaviours, I can't help but agree with some of the things said so far. We've all been waiting for answers ever since some disturbing information started circulating. I don't usually rely on rumours, which is why I've been waiting for you to clarify this situation. What exactly happened?" As seraphic as the elder had been, Sesshomaru had read the stern undertone, reiterated even by the pointed look he gave him as he asked his question. Nevertheless, the dai-youkai was grateful he had been spared Goro's complaints — for now.

"The events of last night were very unfortunate, but I do not appreciate when people embroider them with rumours. For this reason, I have seen fit to gather you here this evening. I ask you to listen to what I am about to say well because I will not repeat myself and I do not wish to be interrupted." He cast a glance in the direction where Goro stood next to Shou's family, and Jaken thought it wise to wave his staff menacingly to emphasize the warning.

"Late yesterday afternoon, my mother travelled to the village where my brother resides to summon his mate, the miko. Mine was in the early stages of labour and her assistance was needed. However, what was supposed to be a happy moment turned into a concatenation of unpleasant events. It pains me to note, once again, that our valley hosts its share of traitors." Most of the demons held their breath and gasped upon hearing this direct, and not at all veiled, accusation. Hence, Sesshomaru noisily cleared his throat to summon silence before Jaken could once again make use of the Nintojo.

"A demon, previously suspected of being the cause of the attack that has severely affected our lands, has seen fit to take advantage of the chaos to carry out his delusional plans." He paused, and this time his hard gaze settled on Tsubasa in the front rows. The butterfly demon was clearly struggling to maintain her composed expression; Sesshomaru was convinced that if he listened a little better, he would hear her teeth grinding behind that fake, neutral smile of hers. He wanted her to drop the mask, wished she would make a wrong move and give him the opportunity to finally get rid of her as well.

"Noboru, also known as your old Lady's older brother, was guilty of a not inconsiderable crime which, combined with the charges hanging over his head, allowed me to arrive at his conviction with disarming ease. I'm sure you all have already had a chance to hear the orders issued by First Commander Katsuro." He nodded to the dog demon in the front row and then resumed his speech. "He attempted — and almost succeeded — in killing my brother Inuyasha's mate while my mother and I were gathered elsewhere. Evidently, in his eyes, it must have been a fortunate coincidence that he met her as she headed, exhausted, into the royal wing after spending an entire night next to Rin-sama."

Sesshomaru knew what was being said about the attack on Kagome, and the reactions of those present were no different than he had expected. It did however leave him stunned that some were not afraid to show their satisfaction regarding this information. "As the official heir's mate, Kagome-sama is a very important figure to everyone, and the attack on her person, based on pure and delusional hatred, is in no way justifiable. Nor will anyone who thinks is right to show joy in this matter be justified," he announced with a sinister grin on his lips. Immediately, some of them who had dared to smile a few seconds before blanched. Could the Inu-no-Taisho condemn them for so little? He shouldn't have, but they couldn't have known that Sesshomaru was willing to do more than normal if it came to condemning as many traitors as possible, even with the slightest excuse.

"Unfortunately for Noboru, however, his mistake was underestimating her spiritual power, even if she was weakened. Because of this, he is now in the dungeons of this castle, trying to regain his energy following the counterattack that left him severely disfigured." The hatred he read in Tsubasa's eyes following that sentence was gratifying at best. "Had we been a few seconds late, and had my nephew here not been expertly instructed in the medical arts, I might have announced a different result this evening. It was he — while waiting for the arrival of the healers — who stopped his mother's hemorrhage." The pride that his hitherto atonal speech leaked out did not go unnoticed by any of those present, nor did the anger that took hold for a few seconds of the little boy standing beside him. Throughout his speech, he had been perfectly composed, imitating his uncle, but he could not be expected to remain impassive when speaking of what had happened to his mother.

"Given that, then, I confirm what has surely already reached your ears: as soon as some more pressing matters are settled, Noboru will be sentenced to death, and his executor will be my brother Inuyasha."

There was no surprise among the crowd — after all, Katsuro had already announced this solution — however, relief and anger were the predominant emotions after Sesshomaru had concluded that first part of his speech. Relief from those who had hated Noboru when he had been named a suspect in the attacks on the valley ten years before; anger from those in his circle. Noboru's impending death would definitely put a stop to their plans, but would they dare anything else later?

"We cannot do anything but approve of your choice, Sesshomaru," Hayato intervened, stepping forward slightly. "Noboru's conduct has been deplorable in recent years. Furthermore, given the accusations and the irrefutable evidence, there is nothing else left to do. We will await further instructions from you regarding the procedure." He bowed and then returned to his seat.

Sesshomaru nodded and then took a couple of seconds, concentrating on his breathing and realizing that he couldn't put off the second part of the speech much longer — the one everyone was most looking forward to. He wasn't a coward, but he knew that confirming what had happened would provoke violent reactions in many and, above all, would bring Katashi's proposal to the surface. Unfortunately, he believed he had already exhausted all the patience at his disposal in the last few hours and he didn't feel like resuming useless discussions; usually, he couldn't define himself as irascible as Inuyasha, but this time he ran the risk of snapping at the slightest provocation.

The stares of the demons there — none excluded — didn't leave him for a second when Sesshomaru finally started again. "Finally, I am also here to ask you to respect, over the course of the next few days, my family's privacy for a longer or shorter period of time. This care will in no way undermine the management of the lands in which we live, but I am sure I can rely on your sensitivity to honour this request of mine. Rin and I have just suffered the loss of the pup we were waiting for, and we would appreciate some time to manage this without disruption to our personal lives." He watched as lips parted in surprise, cheeks puffed with anger, eyes narrowed with contempt, and others pitied. He had prepared his speech well, and though he knew not everyone would respect that wish, he had felt it was the most appropriate move.

"Do you think this event has made you regain your wit, Sesshomaru?" burst out Goro immediately, not even caring about the silence that had descended on the room as a form of respect from those with more sense than him. "Do you understand that these childish whims of yours do not befit a figure of your calibre?" he huffed heavily and then continued, not realizing the furious stares coming from the platform or the disquiet that had engulfed the space around him. "Perhaps, this way, we will finally have a proper heir. No need to take time to grieve for a half-demon — we all knew that hybrids are weak and shouldn't even be conceived anyway; that's what happens when you mate with a human," he continued disapprovingly as the demons around him gasped and widened their eyes.

Incredibly, Shou's family was also among them. Although the Commander had intended to emphasize the need to propose his daughter as a concubine, he also knew that formulating certain thoughts on that occasion as Goro was doing meant crossing the line and provoking even more of Sesshomaru's wrath. Hearing how easily the ex-elder was doing it and sensing the aura of the dai-youkai intensifying gave him goosebumps. The only one who hadn't realized anything was Goro himself; the latter's mate next to him was trying to stop him but to no avail.

"We'll organize a selection right away; I already have a couple of names in mind that would be perfect," the cat concluded with the authoritarian and arrogant tone that he had always used when he was in the council and that — after so many centuries — he had not been able to abandon.

At that point, Sesshomaru was shaking with anger. He subtly signalled the guards to approach Goro. "I believe that, once again, you have forgotten your position, Goro, and the rights you have lost. Yet, it has already been years, and you should be used to it. Instead, you insist on being so reckless and getting yourself into trouble. I keep wondering if this determination of yours in asking for a pureblood heir isn't due to some plan I'm not aware of. Do you want to get rid of me, perhaps?" Goro blanched. "Then again, I am young and have no intention of abdicating in favour of anyone at the moment, but you already knew that," he smiled sinisterly.

"A ruler should never feel so safe, and above all, he should make sure he has an heir. Your father, in spite of his mistakes, has taken care of it without fail. I don't understand your unnecessary resistance. This charade going on for years must end," he pointed to Muteki beside him and then resumed. "The events of last night have confirmed to us the uselessness of the half-demons, and your brother only reiterates his unreliability. Not only does he live far from these lands, but he also misses such important meetings!"

Sesshomaru stopped Muteki with an arm before he could make any mistakes, not even looking away from the insolent old cat. "I suggest you shut your trap immediately if you don't want me to do it for you — and, believe me, I'd be more than happy to," he whispered lethally. His words boomed in the silence that followed. "My brother is at his mate's bedside after the vile attack on her. No one is stupid enough to condemn him for this choice, especially considering that his family has been targeted several times in the past. Well, no one but you, evidently. Besides, I thought the sight of a cat was excellent, but you didn't mention that my brother is enough trustworthy and respectful of his duties to send in his stead his eldest son, who has been beside me all along. Muteki, tell me, have you by any chance developed skills that allow you to blend in?" The boy chuckled and answered negatively. Of course, Sesshomaru made no reference to the fact that it was not Inuyasha who had proposed such a solution but Muteki. And his move proved to be even more strategic given the turn the evening had taken. He nodded and then let his gaze wander to the remaining courtiers, who continued to remain silent and wait for the outcome of that debate with bated breath.

"You have crossed the line, Goro, and because I am a composed person and do not easily lose my patience — even when it is put to the test — I am willing to let you go, this day, without serious consequences. Fear not, however, that you will not come out unscathed. For the time being, I think a night in the dungeons may help you reflect on what went wrong tonight and on your behaviour these past few years. Guards, proceed," he concluded, making a sign to those now next to Goro.

The latter was paralyzed with horror and anger, but recognizing that making a further spectacle would only make the situation worse, he merely glared at Sesshomaru once more. "I didn't think the truth could hurt you this much, Sesshomaru," he said. "You used to be a much prouder demon; you never stopped so low."

The dai-youkai smiled smugly. "I'm sure many in this room could say the same about you, Goro. I wish you a pleasant stay and hope you enjoy the company." Surely Sesshomaru did not envy the guards.

"Does anyone else think it's their right to discuss the topic, freely ignoring my previous sensitive request?" he asked those still in front of him. His eyes sought out Shou, who returned his gaze, and Sesshomaru smiled even wider, thinking of the commander's cowardice.

"I believe this is a topic to be discussed at a council meeting," Toru intervened quietly. "Apparently, it is necessary to take up the matter again, even though I thought it had been shelved. I regret to infer at such a sensitive time, but I would prefer that the unrest unleashed by this evening not spread further, especially considering that we already have so much to digest. Obviously, everything will then be shared among the residents to let them know what we have accomplished. I think mine is a pretty acceptable solution. What do you say, the rest of you?" he asked the remaining council members.

Sesshomaru peered at Kosuke, who seemed unperturbed but also busy reflecting. He did not open his mouth or contradict Toru and the Inu-no-Taisho, as the latter had expected, being that the elder had always agreed with Goro on the issue of the pureblood heir. Sesshomaru wondered why and attributed some of it to the common sense Kosuke had never lacked. Whatever he was thinking, Sesshomaru was sure he would hear about it during the council meeting.

He provided his consent and confirmed to everyone what Toru had said.

It was more than an acceptable solution and ended the discussion for tonight. However, he was no longer willing to put off a decision much longer; he had done that enough already. Soon, the nightmare generated by Katashi's vile proposal would be over.

"Inuyasha, what a surprise," the voice greeted him as soon as the half-demon had slid the shoji doors when he hadn't even set foot in the room yet. "You will agree with me that you are the last person I expected to see tonight."

Inuyasha gulped, setting his eyes on the dog demoness who had spoken to him without even lifting her own from Rin's sleeping figure. When he had decided to visit her, he had already taken into consideration that his brother may have ordered his mother to stay at his mate's bedside; he had also been aware that Kimi would question him.

What was he doing there? Was he ready?

Part of him wished he was anywhere else — next to Kagome to be precise — but the more mature one, the voice that didn't want to be stifled and tormented him, had pushed him in that direction. It was as if his body had moved on its own, and Inuyasha had only truly realized where he was only when Kimi had spoken to him. And it was hard to deal with the feelings that had brought him there.

On the other hand, as much as leaving Kagome put a strain on him, he knew that staying with her would be an excuse to postpone the inevitable. Inuyasha knew that his mate wasn't alone; Toga and the guards were with her, who, by the way, had already fallen asleep. And as he watched her rest, avoiding the wounds on her body that were still far from healing, other emotions began to eat him alive.

The guilt had left no escape for him either.

He had reflected following his confrontation with Sesshomaru and his son's request — he hadn't done anything else, actually— and as much as anger was dominant, he knew that Kagome was right and that he couldn't hold it against him for eternity. They had known about that attack all along, and he had to understand that Sesshomaru hadn't really meant to hurt or kill her, his mate had told him sternly. Why add weight to the burden he brought on his shoulders? Why not accept his apology and help him through those days when his pain was greater than Inuyasha's?

The half-demon couldn't understand how Kagome could be so forgiving even in such a situation, even though he knew it was in her nature and that, in fact, he would have been surprised if she told him anything different.

Then, the thought of his brother had brought Rin back to his mind, and he felt his heart heavy both for what had happened to her and for ignoring her so far. How was she doing? How did Sesshomaru feel about having to leave her to keep running his lands? How could pretend nothing had happened just to keep up appearances? Inuyasha knew that even if Sesshomaru didn't indulge in grief, he was feeling inwardly emotions he didn't even have experience with. The past ten years had not prepared him for such an eventuality.

He admired the way he managed to appear strong all the time, but at the same time, she felt pity for him. Sesshomaru was unable to metabolize feelings like grief and mourning; he didn't know how to do it. How much would this inability hinder him? How would he relate to Rin, who, instead, was an open book?

He stayed in his room, his face hidden in his hands, not knowing what to think. Finally, realizing that it wasn't in his spirit to stand there, feeling sorry for himself or be consumed by anger, he decided to go see Rin.

Toga had been surprised; the guards had been surprised — he had been surprised. And now, Kimi was questioning him about his reasons.

Inuyasha's mind was a blur, but he was certain of one thing: his heart cried for Rin, not as lucky as Kagome, who could still have children without having to worry more than any other woman in that era. Rin would have to wait centuries; Rin had suffered for ten years asking the Gods to grant her a desire so normal and at the same time so unattainable for her.

Kagome was fine, she would recover, he had repeated like a mantra ever since he had received word from the healers. He was damn pissed at his brother and Kimi for not keeping their promises, and he also knew that he was not normally the type to forgive easily — the exact opposite of his mate, as he tended to hold grudges for a long time. However, what was the point of telling himself that he had matured, that he had grown up since he had become a father if he fell into similar mistakes? What good would it do to show hostility towards Sesshomaru if it created a crack in their hard-won relationship? More importantly, could he be at peace with himself if he clung to certain feelings, putting his family's needs aside? Rin had always been a part of it, even when she wasn't Sesshomaru's mate, and now he had pushed her aside.

He felt ashamed of how he had behaved and had come to the girl's bedside to apologize, even though he knew she wouldn't even acknowledge him at that moment.

"Well," he began as he approached her, "Toga stayed with Kagome," he offered as an explanation.

Kimi nodded, still not turning towards him. "And you thought well it was time to come see your brother's mate? Maybe you thought it was the right time since he's busy elsewhere." Of course, the woman was always damn straightforward.

Inuyasha stopped when he reached the foot of the futon on which Rin was lying. "Rin isn't just Sesshomaru's mate," he barked, completely ignoring the demon's provocation. "I have every right to visit her. I certainly know her better than you, her newly appointed guardian; I watched her grow up!"

"A little touchy, are we, Inuyasha?" Kimi laughed. "I don't feel like I said anything wrong."

He huffed. "Like I don't know you."

She finally looked at him and wasn't surprised to find that the proud, somewhat arrogant expression the hanyou usually wore was gone. Instead, his shoulders were slightly slumped, his face paler than usual, and his eyes contained a mixture of emotions, including major sorrow, regret, and... guilt. It didn't take words for Kimi to realize that Inuyasha carried the same weight as her son; it was a shame the two of them didn't recognize it, not that it would do any good, she thought.

She let silence fall over them until it was Inuyasha who broke it.

"How is she?" he murmured. Maybe he hadn't expected a real answer either; probably, he had asked just to somehow express the pain he felt without saying it explicitly, show that he cared even if his mere presence was proof of it. The fact was that her answer didn't anger him, though it was essentially useless.

"Time will tell, pup. I think you can answer that even better than I can; I'm certainly not the best person to understand certain feelings." Inuyasha only nodded, but Kimi wasn't finished, which amazed them both. "However, I think it serves little purpose to feel bad pondering things over which we have no power. My son may think he's all-powerful most of the time, believe he can change the course of his existence by waving his claws, but I'm not that arrogant." Inuyasha arched an eyebrow, ready to snort, but Kimi beat him. "I know what you think of me, and I also know what the general image I give is. However, I am well aware of what it is impossible for us to change and when it would be ideal to spend our energies in more indicated ways."

The half-demon looked at her narrowing his eyes; he wished she would continue and explain that inexplicably long speech of hers, but he knew it wasn't going to happen. What exactly was she referring to? Was she telling him to stop being mad at Sesshomaru and move on? Or, rather, was he talking about his presence in that room, the pain that he was sure was clearly visible on his face?

Inuyasha knew he wouldn't get an answer, nor would he ask her outright.

"Now, if you don't mind, since you're here, I'd like to take the opportunity to breathe some fresh air," Kimi announced as he finally stood up. "I entrust you with the girl; be careful."

He had to bite his lip to keep from answering her, curt, that he would surely do a more diligent job than she did when he had entrusted Kagome to her. However, he also knew that it would be wasted breath, and at that moment, he just wanted her to leave him alone; she could really get on his nerves when she wanted to.

Kimi smiled wryly and finally left him with Rin. Inuyasha sat cross-legged and watched Rin even closer. He knew from what the healers had told him that what ailed her wasn't a physical ailment — because she hadn't suffered any unforeseen injuries during childbirth — but a mental one. The aura and smell around her confirmed it; the pallor and the dry tears, the dark circles under her eyes and her duller hair were another proof.

"I'm sorry, Rin," he whispered weakly as he adjusted her blankets and then leaned down to brush her forehead with his lips. Then, he looked over his shoulder to make sure no one had seen him and settled back down, ready to stand guard until Kimi returned.

The weight on his chest hadn't lightened, but strange as it was, he felt that visit and the conversation with Sesshomaru's mother had opened his eyes to more than one thing.

N/A: And here we are, sorry I'm a day late, but for a moment I also thought I wasn't going to make it today. Yet I did make it. Hooray!

About how Sesshomaru fared, we had no doubt: although he wasn't in his best state of mind, he couldn't help but make his beautiful impression. And next to him, Muteki followed his lead. Goro, of course, could not remain quiet and I have plans for him as well - meanwhile, he will spend the night in the company of Noboru.

What do you think about the last scene? I tried to show Inuyasha's maturity, as opposed to the part of him we are more familiar with thanks to the anime that has been predominant in the last few chapters. Now that he and Sesshomaru have a stable brotherly relationship - despite their differences - it didn't seem right to make them fight longer. Plus, I wanted to emphasize Inuyasha's feelings about Rin's condition.

In the next update, there will finally be interactions between Sesshomaru and Rin, for the most part. See you in a week next week and I hope you enjoyed the chapter!