When Inuyasha finishes, the silence between them is deafening.

"Say something, Sesshoumaru." The hanyou's voice cracks, raw from his unleashing, but underneath of it there's a sliver of something else.

Hope.

Sesshoumaru exhales slowly, careful not to release his control. "I do not deny your claims." His eyes snap sharply to his brother's, his mouth grim. "But I cannot change the past."

"No," Inuyasha says, an embittered laugh breaking free, "you can't."

"You have my apology." The words are tart like bitter melon on his tongue, but he is sincere nonetheless. "But the choice to move forward is yours alone."