The problem with waiting when you had nowhere to go and nothing to engage in was that time would almost always slow to a crawl. The very same crawl that Sesshomaru was now suffering through. He had already seen to Rin, and even taken extra time to tuck her into bed. He had taken time to reassure the kitsune, and even placed him into bed next to Rin at her request, a sign of both of their favors even if no one else realized it. Normally he would have balked at such a thing, but the thought that if only he had held Inuyasha as close as a child it would have prevented all of this pain.

He checked on the monk's progress and had even taken time to ensure that the two women were not plotting something troublesome. The slayer seemed increasingly tense, while the miko was as insolent as ever. Daigon had been oddly subdued and the hold miko was just that, and old fast asleep.

Which left him with Tren and Alir. Socializing with his men was not something he had indulged in often, nor was ill at ease with. But his nose and ears informed him that the two were occupied with the fruits of their own mating bond.

So he was left with nothing.

He had even paid a visit to the wolf prince Koga. Who was still right where he had landed, and still very much a corpse. One in one of the early stages of decomposition. Sesshomaru lingered, taking detail of the now stagnant open wounds, the odd jutting of the smashed bones, and had even…in an extremely juvenile moment…poked the remains with a stick.

Not quite squishy yet.

After all of that riveting excitement all the he could do was wander Inuyasha's forest, unsure of where he would wait for the former hanyou's later. That was, until he came upon the tree where Inuyasha had spent his fifty frozen years.

Even in the time since Inuyasha had been freed little had changed. The scar where the arrow had pierced both flesh and wood remained, and the faint outline of Inuyasha's body was still visible. It seemed as good a spot as any, and so Sesshomaru arranged his tail in a comfortable manner, and sat himself in the shadow of Inuyasha's former resting place.

Not for the firs time he found himself pondering just what would have transpired ad the miko Kagome not freed his sibling. Would Inuyasha have hung there forever, perhaps becoming near one with the tree itself? Or would the arrow's power eventually have faded? The image of Inuyasha, muffled angry ranting ringing out, bursting forth form the inside of the tree in some distant further brought for a small chuckle past his lips.

But his humor quickly faded, and again he was left with nothing more then silence and worry. What would Inuyasha do once they were reunited later? What if Inuyasha had already left and he was here waiting for nothing? Certainly the former hanyou could be tracked, but what then? Would he have to try and force the boy to return home?

Inuyasha curiosity for their home and heritage seemed to be gone, so what did that left him left to use to entice? His heart only sank further as the hours ticked by, with no appearance by Inuyasha. There was part of him that was so utterly sick of all of this. The stress, the worry, the constant need to stay ahead of, and adept to, the incessant, ever changing problems. Could he never simply relax anymore? Did he have to be a the helm of every single issue, every single day?

He had actually hoped that Inuyasha would be able to remove some of the crippling burden form him, yet now this. Heavy…it was all so heavy. What would it be like, he wondered, to be able to simply lie back and let go? If only there was someone he could trust so fully.

There was of course, Inuyasha. But even though his blood felt so, Sesshomaru knew that he had to be wary around the boy. That much at least, had not changed.

Staring up at the sky as the soft light of the moon filtered through the tree leaves, Sesshomaru could only sigh. Perhaps this was all his punishment in a way. But that thought only brought more indignation. Unfairly judged…did nothing ever consider how much he suffered?

The cold light of the moon offered no answers…and he could only sigh.

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Two things became apparent with startling suddenness. The first was that he had apparently dozed off, a sure sigh of just how exhausted all of this was making him, and the other was Inuyasha's mildly off putting presence again looming over him.

Sesshomaru cleared his throat softly as he stared up to meet Inuyasha's eyes.

"Beg pardon." He murmured. "I must have been further taxed then I realized." "Or bored out of my mind." He added mentally.

He started to rise, but Inuyasha held up his hand, staying him.

"It's fine." Inuyasha started. "It was…interesting to watch you sleep."

He was not sure what to say to that, or how to feel about the idea of Inuyasha looming large while he slept. Such trust between them was something he greatly desired yes, he just was not sure that it could be placed just yet. For all he knew Inuyasha had been standing there, debating on whether or not to smother him.

Sesshomaru suppressed that thought, and the shudder it nearly caused. "Well?" Inuyasha suddenly asked.

"Well what?" Sesshomaru pushed back, anxiety building once more.

"Anything to say?" Inuyasha clarified.

Sesshomaru sighed, feeling drained once more despite his nap. He did not feel up to this. Peace…he just wanted peace.

"I do not know what else I can say." He declared. "I do not know what to do for you."

Inuyasha nodded, as if something had just been confirmed for him.

"I get that." Inuyasha started. "I also get that you think your little breakdown back there cleared up so much. But uh…not really."

Sesshomaru glared up at the ex-hanyou, his temper cutting into his worry. But Inuyasha held his hands up apologetically. "Don't jump ahead of me now." Inuyasha stated, and then let out a sigh of his own. "Look…I've been walking around, thinking about this and that, and I've come to a few decisions."

"I see." Sesshomaru murmured, unsure of what he could say to that. Torn between hope and confusion, he kept his face a neutral mask. Pity he could not do the same for his heart.

"I'm not sure I buy into the whole…hanyou thing." Inuyasha began." But there is that funny scent all over the place so…whatever. But here is what I do know. You're in pain, and I don't like how you've been avoiding me. Everyone keeps harassing me with the whole 'do you remember this, or how do you feel about that' but the only thing that stirs anything within me is you."

The declaration did wonders to raise Sesshomaru's sprits, but when he opened his mouth to speak, Inuyasha again cut him off. "I'm tired of the questions, and it occurs to me that…well…I don't really care about the stuff I can't remember." Inuyasha stated plainly. "I mean stuff like the kit, important obligations and the like, sure….let me know. But other then that….who cares? I was a hanyou? Well I'm not anymore. You can't decided what to do with me? Well I've decided."

Uneasiness was creeping back in, and Sesshomaru swallowed thickly. He could only pray silently to his fallen Father for aid in keeping this from turning terrible.

"And this decision is?"

Inuyasha's lips quirked in a small smile, and he offered his hand to Sesshomaru. He took it, and was easily pulled to his feet.

"Hello, my name is Inuyasha." Inuyasha whispered against Sesshomaru's lips, right before dipping in for a deep, filling kiss.

To be continued.