A/N: This story has been sitting around in my broken laptop for a few years. I have been fortunate to retrieve and upload it for your reading pleasure. I hope that you enjoy it.

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of the original characters from the Inuyasha series. However, the many characters that pop up from time to time are indeed mine.

"…." –Speaking

'…' –Thoughts

"…"– Spirits Talking

"…"– Beast Talking

Onward to the Future

That was the last time that Inuyasha ever spoke to Kagome before taking his mate with him and leaving. Weeks after the courting began, Kagome and Shippo moved to the Western castle. Sango and Miroku, who swore allegiance to Sesshomaru and were thus a part of the pack, followed after with Kohaku. They settled in the village just a few miles from the Western palace and, with Sesshomaru's permission, began training a new village of demon slayers. Sango gave birth to three boys and two girls who were all an even combination of their mother and father.

Ryuji, their eldest son, had his father's coloring but was his mother in personality. Seiji and Yukimi, twins, had their father's eyes and their mother's hair. Both were strong and intelligent and, thankfully, lacked their father's perverted nature. Both had also inherited their father's spiritual powers. Hatori, their third son, had his father's hair and eyes, but strangely enough modeled his personality after Sesshomaru. Hana, who was the spitting image of her mother, prided herself in being her "auntie Kagome's" emotional twin.

Kohaku, who suffered with nightmare of the horrors he had committed, eventually healed from his trauma with the help of a pretty little young woman with hair the color of dark chocolate and eyes that matched. They married and had a brood of their own. Each one of them happy children who took to their demon slaying heritage with far more grace than their father and with great pride of who they were.

After a few months of courtship, Sesshomaru and Kagome finally mated, to the obvious displeasure of many a demoness. The ceremony was long and tedious as it was more for the sake of protocol but beautiful nonetheless. Within a month of their mating, Kagome was pregnant with pup and gave birth some time later to a gorgeous inu boy identical to his father in every way but for the smile that was clearly his mother's.

Three years passed and the smitten Shippo asked Sesshomaru for permission to court the lovely Rin. The inu taiyoukai agreed without a second thought, proud of the man the kit had become and knowing that his daughter was in the best hands. Once mated, Rin's life force was extended to match that of her mate's; Kagome's heart just about burst with pride at her two children. The decades passed without a hitch and the small western family grew steadily, Kagome having given birth to three singles, two sets of twins, and one of triplets; Rin not too far behind.

The Western castle, that at one point in time was cold with the silence that the Lord of the West preferred, was alive with the sounds of running feet, screams, and laughs of many children. Kitsune hanyou mingled and mixed with inu pups. The parents loving them but weary of any and all pranks the mischievous children concocted; then came the time of sorrow as Miroku and Sango passed away in their old age. Kagome and Shippo, who had known them for far longer than either Rin and Sesshomaru, were inconsolable as the news of their pack mates passing reached them.

Sesshomaru and Rin found themselves alone for the first few nights as Kagome and Shippo curled around each other in their shared sorrow, all their pups piled on top of them in a united effort to console; later returning to the comfort that only their mates' love could provide. For weeks, the pups kept to their respective parents; doing what they could to bring them out of their depression. After long and unrelenting efforts, the pups succeeded and soon enough the castle was, once again, a happy home, much to Jaken's displeasure.

Years after Miroku and Sango's passing, Kohaku joined them. While sadden by the news, they did not lapse into despair as they had not been very close to the boy to begin with. Another three decades passed by in a blur when Sesshomaru received a surprise visit. He and his mate stood side by side as they watched a matured Inuyasha walk through the gates of the Western castle. He bowed in respect to both, but spoke only to Sesshomaru, requesting to speak with him in private.

Sesshomaru nodded his consent and gesture for him to follow, Kagome walking beside him the entire way. Once within the privacy of his study, he asked of his mate. Inuyasha had sighed and shook his head before muttering, "Let me just start from the beginning, if you don't mind?" Sesshomaru rose a fine brow in question on the man before him. He nodded his head in assent and at that Kagome made to leave. "No. Please allow your mate to stay." He asked. Sesshomaru stared hard at the hanyou before looking at his beloved mate. Kagome said nothing as she took a seat on the pillow beside Sesshomaru's.

"Go on." He said to Inuyasha. He watched as the younger man drew in a breath and released with, his shoulders sagging in weariness. "First things first, may I speak directly to her?" He requested, his eyes not leaving those of her brother. Sesshomaru glanced at his mate and at her nod he accepted the request. Inuyasha looked over at the woman that had been his first friend and the first to truly accept him for who he was. She looked exactly as she had that day all those years ago. Her eyes were, once again, alive with the joy that she had had when she was a girl growing into her womanhood and into her power.

"Kagome, I want to apologize for everything that I did to you back then. It was a long time ago, I know, but the damage had been done by me and me alone. I had no excuse for my attitude towards you back then and, to this day, I have no excuse. I don't deserve your forgiveness and I don't really ask for it, but I wanted to at least man up for all the mean things I said and all the disgraceful things I did. Any punishment you require of me, I'll do gladly in repentance."

Kagome's silver gaze stared at the man before her, so much like the younger version of him only with the appearance of twenty-five year old. The eyes that she remembered as being wild and scorching fire had somehow throughout the decades before soft and tame. They reflected the control that the younger Inuyasha never had, much less wanted. The way his spoke, the way he carried himself, but most importantly, the way he humbled himself before them spoke of his change more than words ever could.

"All is forgiven Inuyasha. Had you come here today as you were back then, I would not have done so, but seeing you know, I know that you have changed. Most importantly, however, you have accepted your actions and learned from them. I'm sure that while our relationship will not be what it once was, it can now be better with effort from both our parts." She said to him, a light smile touching her lips. Inuyasha stared at her in disbelief, not expecting such a response from her after everything that had happened, before grinning like a fool in joy.

"Thank you Kagome. This time I won't let you down." They reached across the polished wood surface and gripped forearms before turning back to Sesshomaru. "Will you begin?" He asked and Inuyasha nodded. He started his story on the day that everything had happened. He explained how Sesshomaru's words had struck the core of his being and in his shame, he had taken his mate and left the country.

He told them of the adventures he and Kikyo had had in the Continent and of the people he had met. He told them of the lesson in humility he had learned at the hands of small panda child, who had so great a power despite his young age. He went on to tell them of how Lee would never brag about how strong he was and how he always said that he couldn't have done it without the help of so and so.

He told the tale of the wisdom he had gained through the teachings of an old owl youkai then going on about the discipline he had gotten beaten into him at the hands of a harsh tiger youkai. He told them of his thoughts throughout the years and how he strived to better himself as a man by doing things differently when a similar situation arose. He told the story of the blind human child who had, without really trying, taught Inuyasha about acceptance of both himself, others, and situations.

Finally, he came to the tale of Kikyo. He spoke of how she had remained bitter despite it all. How, as time passed, she become colder, crueler, and darker. He told them of their arguments when she told him that he was fine the way he had been and that he should be doing what pleased her not everyone else. He told them of how she caught her in the throes of passion with another youkai; how he had let the male's mate, who had also discovered them, rip her to pieces as pack laws in the Continent dictated. He also told them of the decision he had made to spare the other male, feeling that what was done could not be undone and there was no point for someone else to die just to appease his broken heart and damaged pride.

He told them that he had made his way back to the same port he had first arrived in and bought passage on a water and wind elemental cargo ship in order to return home. He mention the trip to the demon village and had found it deserted then to the new location asking for Sango and Miroku only to find out they had long since passed. "With no one from my old pack left, I decided to come here and make amends for the past." He said as he looked at Kagome with a smile. He turned back to Sesshomaru. "I, also, wanted to ask if you have any use for me here under your command. I may not be in good standing, but I would much rather here close to the only kin I have left than all alone out there." He finished.

Sesshomaru gave his brother a look over and felt proud at who he had become. He stood up and walked made a gesture for Kagome and Inuyasha to follow suit. "I will test you Inuyasha. See how far you have come along and then I will see where your talents and skills will be of greater use. Kagome reached over and rubbed her cheek against his. "I must see to the pups mate. I'll see you at the dining hall when you are through." She said as she pulled away and bowed to Inuyasha. "I'll see you then Inuyasha. Welcome home." She walked out of the office and into the corridor before heading off.

Inuyasha looked at Sesshomaru. "Thank you." Sesshomaru raised a brow in question. Inuyasha chuckled, "For making her happy and for returning what I so carelessly took away all those years ago." Sesshomaru nodded. "She has given me far more than what I have given her. For that, I am grateful." Stepping forward, he said "Come. Let us get this over with." Inuyasha followed after him in silence, being sure to walk a few paces behind him in show of respect for his position. The gesture was not lost on Sesshomaru and he made no effort to hide the pleased smirk that tugged at his lips. 'Interesting. Very interesting indeed.'

A/N: I don't hate Inuyasha enough to kill him off , but I think that him going somewhere else to learn and grow was a good idea. I hope that you guys agree. It should be another one or two chapters before it's done. Ja ne!