Chapter 16: 10 years later

"Hurry up mom, dad! Their gonna be here!"

Inuyasha grumbled, "we're coming calm down, Izayoi." Inuyasha walked down the path with a 5 year old boy holding onto his hand and a 8 year old girl behind him with Kagome. "don't see why your so excited its only Shippo."

Izayoi gave Inuyasha one of his looks and stuck out her tongue. Then ran up ahead and meat up with Kiyoko and Reina.

Inuyasha shook his head and told Keade, the 8 year old -named after Keade after she died- that she can go with her sister. Keade smiled and took off after he sister her jet black hair flowing behind her. "Their so eager aren't they, Keiji." Keiji, the five year old nodded and Kagome walked past the two and told them if they walked any slower they'd miss Shippo. As she walked away a 2 year old boy on Kagome's back waved at his father and older brother. Inuyasha and Keiji exchanged looks and Inuyasha ran to catch up to Kagome

When they arrived to the village Izayoi was sitting with Kiyoko and Reina, while Keade was sitting with Taizo and Daichi, Taizo's 7 year old brother. Shippo then appeared and greeted everyone, he was now at Inuyasha's shoulders, his hair land tail longer. He wore a sword at his hip adorned with a fox ornament.

"look at you Shippo." Kagome said with a smile and hugged the fox demon.

"Its good to be back." He replied smiling. "looks like you've been busy Inuyasha."

Inuyasha made face and set Keiji down, "keh I'm not the only one."

"ok enough of that there are kids around!" Sango said walking out of their home.

Kiyoko watched Shippo as he conversed with Inuyasha and Miroku about his journey west. Reina and Izayoi noticed and began poking fun. Then Koga and his family appeared, His sod Kouji, who is 8; and Sakura who is 5. Keade greeted them and they sat with her while their parents went and greeted Shippo.

"I cant believe its been 15 years since we defeated Naraku." Shippo said and the others agreed.

"but we're missing two people." Inuyasha said and everyone had to think. "Sesshomaru and Kohaku.

"Oh yea." everyone said and then laughed.

It didn't take long for Sesshomaru and Rin, now 23, to arrive. Rin got off A-un holding a small half-demon baby in her arms. Everyone watched and stared in shock at the child, it was Inuyasha who said something, "Oh my god no freakin way!" Sesshomaru's face grew red even as he tried to keep his composure and Rin just beamed.

"I wondered what happened to you guys." Kagome said and congratulated the two.

"so how's it feel to join the club?" Inuyasha asked Sesshomaru with a smirking.

Sesshomaru shrugged, "strange."

Inuyasha, Koga and Miroku all nodded in agreement on how strange it is to have a child for the first time, but then they all agreed that it felt good.

As they talked Sesshomaru and Inuyasha decided to talk a walk, as Sesshomaru asked him to. They walked back to Inuyasha's home that had manage to get bigger since he moved it there. "So what is it?" Inuyasha asked as the stopped on the bridge and watched the fish swim.

Sesshomaru thought a while and watched Inuyasha feed the fish, "I'm not good at talking so openly, but my time with Rin has changed me."

"I coulda told ya that." Inuyasha said sitting on the railing of the bridge. "but go on."

"I've had time to reflect on the years past. I realized how mean I was to you for something that wasn't your fault." Sesshomaru chanced a look at his younger brother, but from his expression he continued, "I just wanted to say that I'm sorry, for everything I did to you, for not being what an older brother should be. Can you… ever forgive me, Inuyasha."

Inuyasha stood there speechless and as Sesshomaru grew more uncomfortable. It took Inuyasha a while to realize what his older brother had just said to him, when it did he just smiled. "don't be sorry Sesshomaru, it's not your fault. It's neither of ours, but its not Fathers fault either. Its none of ours. It's in the past. I don't hold a grudge against you nor do I hate you. Never did, in fact I secretly looked up to you. I was jealous of you for a long time, you knew father before he died."

" 'was jealous'?"

"mhm but after I died I got a chance to meet our father, he's the one who told me how to get back. He wasn't as serious as he seemed after we defeated So'unga." Inuyasha said and hopped down, "so what's your child's name?"

"His name is Shinji." Sesshomaru said casually.

Inuyasha nodded, "fitting, I guess. Should we go back?"

Sesshomaru nodded and the brothers left and rejoined the others just as Kohaku showed up, but the demons - and half-demon- knew he wasn't alone.

Sango smiled at her brother now a man and hugged him. "its good to see, brother."

"likewise, sister." Kohaku said, "oh yeah, you can come over now!"

After the words left his mouth an unfamiliar and yet she seemed familiar to Inuyasha, Kagome, Sango, Miroku and Shippo, she came out with Kilala at her heels. She said hello to everyone and took Kohaku's arm.

"Shiori?" Inuyasha asked as he walked closer to her, "it is you isn't it?"

"Hello, Inuyasha." She said and Kagome and the others gave out an awed 'no way' and the rest of the day was spent catching up and the kids running around playing.

At the end of the day Inuyasha and Kagome walked home, Inuyasha carrying Izayoi on his back, and Keade in his arms. While Kagome carried Souta, the two year old boy-named after her bother- on her back and Keiji in her arms. "I cant believe of all people its Shiori." Inuyasha said in a hushed voice.

"well he did seem attracted to her when he visited her years ago." Kagome said as their house drew nearer.

Inuyasha opened the door, "I guess so. it's still kinda weird."

After they laid their children to bed the two took the time to go soak in the bathhouse Inuyasha had Built a couple months after he moved the house to the spot. Kagome got in first and wait as Inuyasha heated it from underneath the house. When he entered the water had just started to warm, but it didn't take long for it to heat up to the temp they wanted it.

While the two bathed Sesshomaru and Rin had just returned to their own home, a small castle built in the middle of the western lands. Rin sighed as she put Shinji to bed, Sesshomaru watched as she sighed and tucked the baby in.

Rin gave him a smile as she walked past him and he followed her, as if by instinct. "What a day!" She said as she stretched and walked into the back where a hot spring steamed.

Sesshomaru nodded and put his arms around herm kissing her neck, "that it has."

Rin wriggled out of his arms and walked out, patted a stone, "we're home, Master Jaken," she said and dipped her feet into the water as she sat down. "sad that he's gone…"

Sesshomaru shrugged, not too sad that his vassal of a long time was gone. "yeah, I guess."

"Sesshomaru." Rin scolded as he shrugged again, "he was with you for over 50 years you can at least be somewhat sad he's gone."

"why should I be when I have you and Shinji?" He said and pulling her onto his lap. Rin rolled her eyes and kissed him on the nose before getting up and going to bed. Sesshomaru watched her from the corner of his eye and when she was gone he patted Jaken's grave before going inside himself.