The Fortress never really slept, especially because the demons within in it had little need for such. Usually during the night, however, things quieted down and took on a more leisurely tone. Unless there was business, most retired to their quarters to relax; and that was how Sesshoumaru found his home upon his return.

He acknowledged the guards at the front gate, and swiftly made his way to his study within his rooms to make some last-minute preparations. His massive youki wore like a flag; alerting anyone present that he was indeed in the vicinity. He did his best to temper it down so as not to be bombarded upon his return.

He had some maps rolled out, and was making notes to himself as he combed over them, intermittently referencing other scrolls as he did so. There would be many questions for him over the next couple of days, and he had to be prepared for several possibilities.

He would ask the other lords of their concerns, and his growing population problem would no doubt be brought up. Not only would he have to find space for his newest citizens, but he would have to rethink the towns and villages as a whole.

Demons and humans had very different needs. If he was going to see them cohabitate, he would need to find efficient ways to see to them, never mind the precarious peace on which they would have to teeter. He would need solutions that wouldn't make it seem to the lords that he would encroach upon their lands, or outright usurp them.

He would seek Inuyasha's council on many of these matters, but the boy was very green. He would have to lay out a templet that Inuyasha could understand and follow, and allow him to fill in the blanks.

Then there was the matter of the hanyou altogether.

He had only spoken of him recently to the other lords, and though they were aware of his existence, none had met him. Inuyasha could be brash and uncouth. He had come a long way, but there were things about him which would never change. It wasn't necessarily a bad thing, but it would take some time to adjust. The old days of his father's council were long gone. And while a new generation was moving in, with him at the forefront, old habits die hard.

His word was not to be questioned. It would be easier if they were to simply go along with him, but if needed, he was still not above putting any rouge troublemaker in their place. Examples were sure to be made, and he had no problem making them. But he had spent the last few months painstakingly chasing that vile spider across the country, and he would prefer to handle this task with civility.

He rolled up one of the maps to put aside for later, and found himself staring at the desk at which he sat. It wasn't the desk he'd had as a boy- the one he'd bent Mioko over to force his father's hand.

He hadn't thought about that in centuries. Not until the miko had asked about his first sexual experience. But he'd obliged her. He simply told her because she wanted to know. What was it about her that broke down his walls so, to pluck such information from him?

He found himself wishing that she was there. That he could place her upon this desk, and just-

Then again, maybe it was better that she wasn't. She was not a weakness, but she was a distraction. Of the most dangerous variety; his father had paid the ultimate price for such a distraction. One of which he was aware, but cared not to break himself from.

He was not his father, but he couldn't deny that given the choice, he would welcome such a distraction. The difference was, it wouldn't kill him. If he truly could lead better than his great father, it wouldn't even be an issue. And so, he worked.

A knock at the door announced Jaken's arrival, and he summoned the toad to enter. With a bow he asked, "What is it you require of me, milord?"

Jaken was his servant, whether in the fortress or on the road. Though he had to get his webbed hands a little dirtier outside the fortress walls, inside he held more of a clerical roll. He saw to the mundane; mostly amounting to organizing the servants' duties. He was their master, so the lord would not be bothered.

"The council will be arriving soon for the summit. Are the preparations in order?"

"Hai, My Lord. The hunters have returned and the feast is being prepared. The staff has made the rooms available as well."

"My brother and his pack have agreed to travel to the fortress today. Prepare Ah-Uh and one other dragon to retrieve them and bring them straight here."

"Would you like me to go to fetch them as well?"

"No, you are needed here. Have the servants prepare a room in the family wing for Inuyasha and his mate. They will be moving in permanently. Have one of the luxury suites made up for the monk and the slayer as well. Be sure it is equipped with a spring inside."

"Hai, My Lord-"

"Have a guest room prepared for the old woman and the slayer boy each, and set up the kit in Rin's room for the time being. He shall be staying permanently as well."

"In Rin's room? Are you not concerned with the vicinity-"

"Not in the least. Do not question This One's will again."

"Of course not! My apologies, Lord Sesshoumaru." He groveled as he bowed low. Now he was almost afraid to ask.

"And the miko? Will she require her own room as well?" He was on thin ice with that one, but if he wanted a room for her and didn't have it... On the other hand, he may not want to make any other options available...

"That is all, Jaken. Send Jiro to me on your way out." He would give the woman her own room. When she asked for it. Though he hoped she would prefer to stay with him. Just the thought of having constant access to Kagome had his beast in an uproar, but he kept it at bay.

Jaken bowed again as he left, and mere moments later the Western General came through the door. He stood at attention and pounded his left peck with his right fist, their sign of solidarity.

"Are you prepared, Jiro?"

While the servants answered to Jaken, the soldiers answered to General Jiro. Sesshoumaru was, of course, the authority on everything. But the chain of command was to report to Jiro, and Jiro would report to him as he saw fit.

"The men have their marks, and will be in place soon. Guard will be doubled on the perimeter and at your ward's room."

"She is to have her guard with her at all times, as well as a backup."

"Yes sir."

"I have humans coming to stay as my guests. I ensured them full protection while in my lands. Do not make me a liar, Jiro."

"No sir." The general knew he had been keeping company with humans during his run to kill Naraku. Since joining forces with his brother's pack, his tolerance threshold had raised exponentially; which is to say he simply wouldn't kill them indiscriminately. Having them welcomed as guests in his lord's home, however...it would take some getting used to.

"What is the status of the council? I trust they are on their way." He was busying himself with deskwork while his general reported.

"All have accepted and are expected."

"Have your men any news of which This One need be made aware?"

"I believe you are aware, but keep your eyes on the dragons. The Lord of the South knows better than to cross you, but his nephew Tanaka is well known to despise you for the West's role in the death of his father and brother. He is young and arrogant. I doubt he will act, but that his resentment is widely known, I suggest you consider it."

Sesshoumaru was aware of Tanaka's hostilities. He was only Heir to the Southern Lands, but the heirs joined their lords at summits so that they may be prepared to fill their position when the time came.

The South's lands stretched further than the West's, but were a baron and desolate place to behold. Their population was scarce because few could survive the climate comfortably. It was suitable to dragons, however. It also tended to be the place fugitives went to escape justice. Sesshoumaru rarely followed any criminals to the lands, as exile there seemed punishment enough in many cases.

His father died shortly after his battle with the previous Lord of the South, but not before sealing him dormant with his fang. Inuyasha had eventually been the one to finish the dragon off. Sesshoumaru was not without his own retribution, however.

Though the dragon didn't technically kill his father, he was blamed for attributing to his death. Sesshoumaru would have his vengeance when he challenged his son and heir in battle, and served him his fatal punishment.

Inu no Taisho's life had been for Sesshoumaru to take. It would have been his milestone victory, proving once and for all that he had surpassed his father in power. Though it was now widely assumed that he had, it wasn't the unquestionable fact he had longed to prove true. It had been yet another thing that had been taken from him that night, and his revenge in kind had proved most unsatisfying.

Tanaka was the second son, but his uncle proved more powerful for the time being. He was getting older though, and it wouldn't be long before Tanaka challenged him for the title.

"Inuyasha and his mate have elected to move to the Western Lands. I shall announce him as my heir at the summit." This caught Jiro off guard. He knew Sesshoumaru had planned to name his brother heir, but not so soon. He doubted the other lords knew of this yet either.

"You are prepared, My Lord?" He knew what it meant too. To introduce Inuyasha meant that he would implement his new world order immediately. Demons and humans were by no means friendly. Most were appalled at the thought of their once great leader fathering a son with a human woman, and naming Inuyasha as heir would be rubbing it in their face. Apparently, the time had come.

Sesshoumaru just stared blankly at his general, letting his stoic mask answer for him. He was always prepared. For anything. But he had one more thing of which to inform him.

"They shall be wed here tomorrow as well. Prepare the guards, as I expect all to attend." Jiro's discomfort at the news was palpable.

"Are you sure that is wise, My Lord? There has never been a human ceremony at the Western Fortress."

"This One is aware, Jiro. Is it not an opportunity to instate our plans of peaceful coexistence, to have the hanyou Heir to the West wed a human to a demon audience?"

"It's just...no one is expecting that. They may feel ambushed."

"It is to be the new way of things, General. You would do well to get used to it."

"Many had assumed that the next ceremony at the Fortress would be after you yourself take a mate, My Lord." Sesshoumaru only shrugged in response. He didn't care what others expected. Jiro remembered something then.

"Didn't you say your brother had mated a miko?" No response from the demon lord meant he could continue...carefully.

"You seem quite eager to normalize a union between a miko and a dog demon. Why is that I wonder?"

Only two beings at the fortress had witnessed his indiscretion at the celebration. Jaken knew better than to discuss his lord's personal business with anyone, even his lord himself. That left...

"Do not be too upset with Kai, my lord. It is imperative I get all information from my soldiers. I basically had to beat it out of him." So, it was the whelp. He would be having a talk with him about discretion and loyalty.

"This Sesshoumaru has no such designs on the miko." It wasn't a lie. They had agreed to keep it casual.

"If that is so, why not set your sights on a demoness and take a mate?" A question he long ago tired of hearing. He wouldn't dignify it with an answer, and opted to instead focus on the scrolls in front of him.

"Look. Despite your father's proclivities, I can't say I'm not shocked. You were one of the most outspoken in your disdain for the human race- particularly the human women who ensnared the hearts of demons. That you have lain with one concerns me greatly. I know you have changed your tune but...you were just having fun, right? A bit curious, perhaps?" Jiro and Sesshoumaru had battled in the armies together since they were pups. They weren't exactly chummy, but the demon lord allowed him to speak a little more freely than most. 'Maybe too much,' he was now thinking.

"I know you don't feel that you are in need of a political union, but it need not be a chore. There are several beautiful, powerful demonesses just waiting to get their paws on you. Hey, maybe you'll find one at the summit! I know that Touran-" his scoff at that shut him right up.

"Whom This Sesshoumaru allows to share his bed is none of your, or anyone's concern. Shall we consider the matter dropped?"

"Just...think about what you're doing. Your father was the greatest demon to ever rule the Western Lands. That honor now belongs to you. Do not forget, that those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it." That was enough. As if it were something he hadn't considered a thousand times.

"That is all, Jiro. Prepare yourself for the summit. Re-familiarize yourself with the proposed maps and guard stations, and double check This Sesshoumaru's proposal for possible blind spots. I do not want any surprises on my end this evening." The General was making to leave when Sesshoumaru added, "And inform Kai he has been demoted to a level 1. Effective immediately."

Jiro cringed at outing his informant, but nodded once, and left.