I DO NOT OWN INUYASHA!

Chapter 50

Inuyasha looked over the crowd of people and nervously drummed his fingers on the arm of his throne. He was uncomfortable and just wanted to be in bed with his mate. He was dressed head to toe in crimson silk, except for a dark purple obi. Even his slippers were crimson. He winced at the reminder that he was wearing slippers and curled his toes. He hated having anything on his feet. He would never get used to them and flat out refused to wear them unless absolutely necessary. Like now.

Soft music was a background noise to the murmur of conversation throughout the throne room. His clothes weren't the only thing making him uncomfortable. His castle was full of strangers. Strange demons. And occasionally the word hanyo floated up to his ears. There were so many conversations that he couldn't tell if the word was used as an insult or not.

His human friends were sitting off to his right in an area he had set aside for them. He could see some of the demons in the hall casting curious glances at them. He didn't care what they thought. The humans were his friends. He glanced at the windows. The sun was almost down. It was time.

Inuyasha took a deep breath and stood. The hall was instantly silent. He cleared his throat. "Ladies and gentlemen. Many of you don't know me. Some of you do. But most of you know who I am. I am Inuyasha, son of Inu no Taisho, Lord of the Western Lands. I greet you all and thank you for being here for the public presentation of my first born child." He turned to the left and a door at the side of the hall was opened.

Sesshomaru looked radiant. He was wearing silk in the opposite color's Inuyasha was wearing. The deep purple brought the markings on his face into vivid clarity. In his arms was their daughter, wearing a white kimono decorated with silver moons and gold stars. The silk of the kimono was so long it touched the ground at Sesshomaru's feet. Shippo walked close by his side, wearing the same colors as his father.

Inuyasha took the baby when Sesshomaru reached him. He held her up, tilted slightly so the room could see her face. "My daughter. Tsukiko."

The room erupted in applause. Inuyasha handed the baby back to Sesshomaru and the two of them sat. The crowd parted and a small group of richly dressed demons approached. One by one they inclined their heads to Inuyasha, bent to kiss the baby's head, and laid a gift at Sesshomaru's feet.

Inuyasha stood again. "I thank the Lords of our neighboring lands for the honor they show myself, my mate, and my children." He bowed to the room before raising his hands in the air. "Please, enjoy the tastes of my kitchen and the pleasure of each other's company."

Conversation started up again. Servants came and moved the gifts to a dais that had been set up behind the throne, giving them a place of honor until the gathering concluded. Sesshomaru leaned towards him and kissed his cheek before whispering in his ear. "I'm so proud of you."

Inuyasha smiled at him and bend to kiss the baby goodnight. He pressed his lips to Sesshomaru's ear. "I love you." Sesshomaru smiled as he stood and left the hall. Inuyasha watched him leave with both a feeling of relief for him going off to safety in the inner castle, and a little bit of sadness that he would be left alone to deal with a room full of demons.

Well, not quiet alone. Shippo took Sesshomaru's place on the second throne and looked out over the room, a little nervous. "There are so many demons here. I didn't know it would be so many."

"All we need to do is sit here. Talk to some people if they approach us. Should be easy enough." He looked up to see Koga sauntering towards him. The wolf bowed and stood up with a grin. "Koga. Nice to see you."

"You look like a Lord, Inuyasha. It's a bit of a shock to me, who's seen you covered in mud and fleas." Koga set a basket to the side of the steps and bowed again. "A gift from the wolves to celebrate the birth of your daughter. Congratulations, mutt."

Inuyasha frowned as the mangy wolf walked away and headed to where Kagome sat. "He's still annoying."

"He always will be. But you don't have to put up with it now. If he annoys you too much you can sick the guards on him." Shippo gave Inuyasha an impish grin.

Inuyasha roared with laughter, causing heads to turn. "You're damn right. I didn't even think of that." He ruffled the boy's hair and turned to the line of people waiting with gifts. He wasn't nearly as nervous anymore. He had a room lined with guards and his wickedly smart boy at his side. It was going to be a good night.

Inuyasha groaned and he peeled off the slipped and tossed them into the fire. "I am never wearing slippers again." He sat on the end of the bed and rubbed his aching toes.

Sesshomaru slipped behind him and wrapped his arms around him. "You don't have to wear them. You're Lord. You can wear whatever you want."

Inuyasha snorted. "Says the man who made me wear the damn things." He untied his obi and tossed it aside. "We have a pile of gifts to sort through tomorrow."

"That will give me something to do." Sesshomaru pulled open Inuyasha's clothes and ran his hands over his slightly damp skin.

"I had to open one of them. It was moving."

"Puppy or kitten?" Sesshomaru nipped playfully at Inuyasha's neck as he started pulling his clothes off of him.

"Puppy. Fluffy and white. Shippo was instantly in love with it. He played with the silly thing for the rest of the night. He's calling it snowball."

"Mmm. Seems he's found another friend." He nibbled Inuyasha's shoulder.

"He wanted to bring it to bed. I told him if he wanted to sleep with the puppy he has to do it in his own room." He stood to let the rest of his clothing fall to the floor.

Sesshomaru looked up at him and put his hands on his hips, turning him around. "What did he say to that?"

"He said that was fine. That he's ready to sleep in his own room."

Sesshomaru sat back and put his hand to his chest. There was an odd sort of flutter. "I don't know how I feel about that. I'm so used to rolling over at night and watching him sleep."

"He's old enough, Sess. He doesn't need to be sleeping with us. It was always supposed to be temporary, until he was ready and comfortable enough being here to sleep alone."

"I know." He laid back as Inuyasha crawled over him. He moaned softly when his legs were spread and his lips captured.

"Besides," Inuyasha wrapped his hand around Sesshomaru's swelling member. "Without him here, I can take you anytime I want." He kissed his mate passionately and reveled at the feel of his body wrapping around him.

Sesshomaru groaned when the baby started to cry. He legs his arms and legs fall from around Inuyasha. "You were saying?"

"Well, almost any time." Inuyasha laid down and watched Sesshomaru stand and move across the room to the cradle. They had moved it a little closer to the fire so the baby would be warmer.

Sesshomaru bent and lifted the baby, wrapped in the soft blanket Kagome had made for her. Sesshomaru cradled the baby and rocked her gently as she nursed. Inuyasha loved just watching him. He was so beautiful. So graceful. He looked down at their daughter with a face full that shone with love. To Inuyasha, it was the most beautiful sight in the world.

Sesshomaru turned, feeling eyes on him, and smiled at his mate. "What?"

Inuyasha shook his head. "Nothing. I just love you. That's all." Sesshomaru's smile brightened. His life now may not have been anything that he would have imagined, or planned. But it was perfect. It was going to be a good life.

The End

Well here it is. The end of my story. 50 chapters. 149 word document pages. 85.5k words. And a little over two years in the making. I hope everyone enjoyed it! I know I enjoyed writing it! If you enjoy my writing, please take a look at my other works. And look forward to the new Inu/Sess story I am starting. I love the pairing so much I need to write a story with the pairing being reversed. Like I said before, it's going to be darker. Not as lovey and happy. But just as enjoyable. To write anyways.

Thank you to all my fans and followers who leave me reviews. You're love of the story encouraged me to keep writing until I felt the story was at an end.