In the twenty years they had been preparing for war, Inuyasha had grown. Sesshomaru found it had surprised him more than it should have.
One day the pup had barely reached his knee's and the next, the top of his head reached the middle of his waist.
His hair had even lost the fur-like texture it held in his youth, strands gaining the silky quality of most Inu's.
He still donned his original robes but now accompanied it with a black obi - decorated in the same red sakura pattern that he wore upon his own clothing.
Sesshomaru was pleased and disappointed all at once.
Long gone were the days where he preferred following him around while clinging to his clothing.
Now, he traded joining him in his study for training his two-headed dragon.
Vying to speak with the generals rather than join him for tea.
Instead of watching him train, it was now Sesshomaru standing on the sidelines watching him as he progressed - albeit slowly.
He could easily defeat the recruits, but when he started placing him with some of the soldiers that had seen battle, he began to struggle. He had yet to grasp the aspect of holding his sword in tandem with himself and instead swung it as though he were using a club.
However, what the boy lacked in finesse, he made up for with passion and determination.
He would be a formidable opponent one day.
Sesshomaru inwardly winced as he watched his brother get slung across the training grounds. Each impact his body made with the dirt accompanied by some coarse word or phrase he had picked up from one of his generals.
Unfortunately, one day is not today.
The two brothers were walking through the woods bordering the shiro. Sesshomaru deeming the boy old enough to begin accompanying him in one of his lighter patrols.
Foliage crushed softly as booted feet walked across the grounds, ears pricked and listening for any disturbance while senses curled and glided out on all sides - hunting for any who had either wandered too far or those who simply had a death wish.
"Hey, Sesshomaru?"
Inuyasha's voice flitted from his side.
"Hn."
"I was just wondering... do - do you hate me for what's goin' on with the South?"
The question startled him so much he stumbled to a stop, eyes wide even as his brows narrowed.
"It's just the soldier's talk, and I mean... I guess I would understand if ya did since it's my fault for... ya know."
He watched as Inuyasha's ears tilted down as anger bubbled hot and fast inside of him.
"Look at me."
He watched the boy fidget for a moment before he could finally view amber orbs peeking beneath silver bangs.
"You are the Second Son, the Heir to the West, yet the title you hold separately from those, the title of Brother, hold more sway than any other. It is a vow, a command, and an honor. It is a duty, one that will have me gladly soaking my claw in those who attempt to say or think otherwise."
His small head bobbed as he nodded.
Sesshomaru let out a soothing rumble, noting the chaos in the boy's emotions.
Once settled, he turned to face forward, halting when he felt the tug on his sleeve. Looking down, he noted the way Inuyasha's eyes were shining with something close to determination.
"I'll protect you too, just so ya know. I won't let anyone talk bad about ya or hurt ya or - or... Well, I don't know, but I'll watch out for you too. We're both brothers, so it's not just up to you to do the only, uh - watching."
Sesshomaru observed amusedly as the boy stumbled through his impromptu speech, and could not fight the warmth settling in his chest.
"Hn. Perhaps one day. You will have to become stronger before you set my enemies turning in fear, pup."
A ghost of a smile quirked on his lips as Inuyasha growled.
"Hey! I almost beat Daisuke yesterday!"
"Almost."
Inuyasha grit his teeth, feet spreading apart, "why you..."
Sesshomaru chuckled, even as the adolescent pup flung himself forward in an attempt to wrestle him to the ground.
As they dodged and sprinted through the bush, neither cared for the forgotten patrol - settling for the brief moment of reprieve that the others company could give them instead.
Inukimi sat in the family quarters of the shiro, claws grooming through the halfbreed's tangled mess of hair, her jaw clenching.
This was not what she had been expecting to deal with upon her visit.
Low growl's occasionally voicing her displeasure every time he winced when a particular spot was pulled a bit too roughly.
"I do recall at one time telling you that the stables were reserved for mounts only."
"Ow."
She narrowed her eyes as she pulled a piece of hay from a large knot on the back of his head.
"I also recall telling you that your quarters were the only appropriate place to sleep."
"Keh."
She snapped her teeth at the unruly tone, rolling her eyes as he yelped.
Males.
She dug her claws in again, working furiously to right the crazed mane when all of a sudden she felt something - wet.
Swallowing thickly, she pulled her hand back, almost afraid at what she would find.
It was a fight not to retch at the string of saliva that clung to her fingers.
Inuyasha, noting her lack of movement after a time, turned his head - presumably to see what was causing her pause.
If the situation were different, she would have laughed at the look on his face, his eyes widened comically, and his skin turned ashen. She noted the way his throat bobbed as his aura skittered nervously around the room.
"Bath. Now."
He leaped up, feet skidding along the hardwood floor as he ran.
Her lips quirked before turning down in a grimace.
Rising gracefully off the floor with her hand held out of eyesight, she took off to cleanse herself of the mess.
Sesshomaru stood in the gardens.
Night had settled around the shiro in a soothing wave despite the lack of a moon. The hoard of demons residing under his roof no longer pounding at his senses as they all calmed under the weight of sleep.
The meeting had been tedious as they went over different strategies. The last of their allies had arrived just the day before, and it had caused the suffering work to be that much more difficult.
He desperately needed the rest, especially now that war with the South was just on the horizon. Another month and they would be marching.
Yet, despite how much his exhausted body called for the sweet comfort of his bed, he could not leave - would not.
His eyes carefully watched as a dark-haired boy made his way as quietly as he could through the grounds, walking quickly and with practiced ease to the large monument standing not twenty feet away from him.
A soft breeze rustled his silks, and he sighed.
"He still comes here?"
"Hn. Every moonless night."
Inukimi's brows softened sympathetically.
"What does he do?"
"Watch," he said, turning his attention to the scene in front of him.
Inuyasha walked up to the monument, and Sesshomaru did not have to be standing beside him to know what he was seeing - a great statue of their father in his true form sitting tall and proud, as regal as he had ever been.
However, instead of holding his head high, it was tipped down. Allowing the statue of the woman standing between his paws to caress his muzzle.
The carver had done well.
The utter detail in the stone was fascinating and awe-inspiring by itself, but it was the emotion he had been able to create in their carved eyes that had impressed him the most.
Greeting, comfort, joy, love.
It was easy to see if one chose to look.
Inuyasha stood before the masterpiece and began cleaning the debris. Once everything was back in pristine condition, Sesshomaru and his mother watched as the temporarily human boy dipped his head, offering up a prayer.
Once done, the two observed as he stepped forward, a finger reaching out to trace the image of his mother before reaching up to touch between the eyes of his father, yet pulling away at the last second.
A bitter laugh reached their ears.
"Ya know, it's weird. You were my father, the guy that helped create me, that saved me, that... died for me."
Inuyasha sighed, breath shuttering.
"But... even though I wish I could have known you, to at least remember what you look like, I can't help but wonder if you would have even been there for me as much as Sesshomaru has."
The two of them watched as he turned away and began pacing, Sesshomaru's eyes wide.
This had not occurred before.
"You may have sired me or whatever, but Sesshomaru - my brother - he... took care of me. When he didn't have to, and still doesn't! I mean, just the other day, he gave me this fancy new sword because I beat one of his Lieutenants in his army - finally - and he didn't have to."
They watched as the boy turned, slumping his shoulders as he dropped to the ground.
"He shouldn't have to. You shouldn't have left. You shouldn't have left him and Inukimi and mom and... and me."
Sesshomaru heard his mother's breathing hitch, her clawed hand reaching out to grip his arm.
"Why did you leave?"
At the broken whisper from the mouth of a small hanyou, the scent of salt spread across the gardens.
An: Ah! I originally planned to post this chapter yesterday, but I started reading it right before and just wasn't happy with it. So, I changed some stuff and then had to make sure it wasn't going to create any inconsistencies anywhere and it was just bleh! Frustrating day yesterday. Anyway! I am much happier with the way it is now, and hope you all enjoy!