In ancient times demons existed.  They would often amuse themselves by taking the form of ordinary men to pass unobserved.  One such demon was the great old dog demon named Inuyoukai.

Inuyoukai had lived for a long time in this world.  He had done his duty and sired an heir, but his life lacked meaning.  He owned all of the Western Lands and governed the human lords of his realm.  He often took the form of a man to wander through the gardens of his various lords.  He found it amusing that the human lords tried so hard to shape nature to their own design.

While walking through the gardens of the lord's house, he would often come upon ladies of the court, or the lord himself.  The humans would give him proper respect and let him be, for they knew who he was and they knew garden viewing was a small price to pay for a great demon’s protection against lesser vicious demons. 

In one such garden, on one such day the great Inuyoukai stood in thought, gazing at a small bridge of flat, square stones.  He was surprised to feel something bump into him.  He looked down to see two brown eyes staring up at him.  The cheeks below the eyes blushed.  “Gomen nasai.  Su… Sumimasen,” a young, sweet voice graced his ear.

“My lady?  My lady?” called an older female voice from down the path.  “Please don’t run.”  Inuyoukai turned to see a woman in a plain kimono hurrying towards him.  She stopped upon seeing who was with her mistress.  She fell to her knees and supplicated rather gracefully.  “I do not deserve to live.  Please, my mistress meant no harm.  She is only a child.  It is my fault for letting her run.”

The great youkai smiled down at the young girl who stared up at him without fear.  “It is all right.  She can do no harm to me.  Children run around,” he said, thinking of his own son.  His child worried his guardian servant to near exhaustion with all of his little “adventures.”  He smiled down at the young girl.  “What is your name, child?”

“Kaguya”

“It is a pretty name, Kaguya.”

“Sir, are you a youkai?”

The servant bowed even lower, offering her life in place of the inquisitive child.

The great youkai smiled at the servant and her small mistress.  “Yes, Kaguya-chan, I am a youkai.  Your father pays tribute to me.”

“Then you must be very powerful,” she smiled brightly.

“Not powerful enough to stop a little girl from running into me.”

Kaguya giggled.  “When I am lady, will I have to pay tribute too?”

He blinked at her, his golden eyes filled with amusement.  “Perhaps.”

“What would you want?  I can write Chinese characters and sing with my koto.”

“I would like that very much,” the youkai responded, amused.

“Shall I go fetch my koto now?  I can play for you.”

“Maybe not today.  I’ll come see you tomorrow in your father’s hall.”

The girl jumped up and down in excitement, much to the distress of her servant, who continued to offer her life in the place of the child’s.

“Be kind to your servant.  She is trying to teach you to be a lady.  A lady walks softly through a garden, careful not to spoil the view or sounds.”

Kaguya blushed.  “Gomen…”

The youkai smiled and gave her a polite bow, which she returned deeper and with much grace.  He left so fast it almost seemed that he vanished.

~.^

The great youkai flew effortlessly back to his own palace.  The girl had been sweet and the experience refreshing.  He looked forward to their next meeting. 

A small white blur intercepted him.  He smiled down at his small son.  “Papa,” the pup greeted.

“Sesshoumaru,” the older youkai acknowledged.  “Where is your servant?”

A small, plaintive voice echoed in the distance, “Sesshoumaru-sama!”

“He tried to give me a bath,” the pup said with some agitation.

The youkai smiled at his son, covered in dirt.  “I can see why, you are filthy.”

“Oh, Papa…” the child whined.

The youkai changed into his smaller form and the pup followed.  The youkai sighed as he looked at his heir.  His kimono was askew and stained.  His hair was uncombed.  “Whatever am I going to do with you, son?”

The boy shrugged and grinned.  He frowned suddenly and sniffed his father.  “You smell like humans.”

“I had a run in with a little girl human today.”

“Is she dead now?”

“Sesshoumaru!” the youkai growled. 

The boy frowned.  “Humans are worthless, Papa.”

“I do not agree, son.”

~.^

Kaguya woke up with excitement.  The day was the anniversary of her birth and her youkai friend had promised to come to the festivities.  She rolled out of her futon and stared at her reflection in the water her faithful servant had poured for her.  She washed her face and hands as her servant gathered various combs.  She sat, impatiently waiting for her hair to be straightened and styled.  “What if he doesn’t come?”

“He’ll be here.  He hasn’t missed a single one of your birthdays since you two met in the garden, has he?” the servant asked with wearied patience.  Her mistress asked the same question every year since she had met the youkai.

“I know, but I can’t help feeling that this one is special.  I come of age.”

“Yes, my lady,” the servant sighed.  “Your father may have several proposals in mind for you.”

Kaguya sighed.  “I don’t want any of THEM.”

“My lady, it’s…”

“My duty.  Yes, I know.”  She was silent for a long time, feeling the yanks on her scalp from the comb.  “I just hope father made me a good match… and my friend won’t be too disappointed in me.”

~.^

The lord faltered in his step as he came into the room.  “My lord, youkai,” he whispered and crouched on the ground.

“I’ve made a decision,” the youkai said solemnly.

“Yes, my lord?” the lesser lord cringed, fearing the worst.

“Your daughter, the Lady Kaguya, is fair.  Today she comes of age.”

“Yes, my lord.”

The youkai stared at the trembling man.  “I claim her.”

The lesser lord breathed heavily.  “Yes, my lord.”

“You will tell no one.  The festivities will go as planned and you will decline other offers of marriage.  I will go to her when I want her.”

“Yes, my lord.”

The youkai retired to the rooms he had been given in the lesser lord’s palace.  He sat heavily on the futon.  He was getting old and he knew it.  Was this to be the last mate in his life before death claimed him? 

His previous mate had been taken for convenience.  He had need for an heir to his lands and the demoness he took had provided him with one.  He had let her go to raise the child on his own. 

But this time he would choose for love.

He didn’t know how or when he had fallen in love with the energetic and rebellious Kaguya.  Perhaps it had been the moment she ran into him in her father’s garden as a small child.  He watched her grow up practically overnight, until the small child had become a young woman.  She always greeted him with warmth and always cried at his parting.  He knew exactly how she felt.  He found it amazing that someone so young and mortal could fill his spirit with so many wonderful feelings.  He felt naturally complete at her side. 

But to claim her as mate… the other demons would be angry…  mostly his own son who, despite the youkai’s teachings, hated humans.  “I deserve some happiness before I die,” Inuyoukai growled to himself.  “I love Kaguya.”

~.^

The banquet hall was filled with red and gold decorations.  No expense had been spared for the Lady Kaguya’s coming of age ceremony.  She resided behind a screen and listened to the male voices in the hall.  They spoke of politics and wars.  To pass the time, Kaguya amused herself by trying to identify each male voice by name.  Booming laughter filled the room and she smiled.  Inuyoukai was in the hall

There was excitement for a brief moment when the lord pulled his daughter out from behind the screen and showed her off to the assembled crowd.  Kaguya gazed demurely at the floor, trying to be the lady she knew she wasn’t.  All her instincts told her she should look up and meet their eyes.  She wanted to.  With a deep breath she finally raised her eyes and found herself staring at a dog demon clad in red.  She gave him a small smile before resuming her demure act. 

After all the food had been eaten and the courting presents assessed, Kaguya had been sent back to her room.  “My lady’s father has already accepted a proposal for you,” her servant whispered. 

~.^

She stared out on the moonlit lake from her futon.  Quietly she rose to stand before the sliding doors.  They had been thrown open to let in any night breezes.  The bells tinkled the arrival of a soft wind.  She shivered and let her night kimono fall down around her ankles.  The breeze tickled her hot body.  She lifted her arms to the air and water.

Warm arms surrounded her from behind.  Her heart caught in her throat as she turned around.  “Inu… Inuyoukai?” she whispered.

He kissed her as she always dreamed he would, stealing her breath as his fingers caressed her burning skin. 

“I… I can’t.  Father promised me to a lord.  It’s some sort of secret,” she whispered.

He caught her lips and pushed his tongue into her mouth, tasting her hungrily.  He half carried her back to her futon, never losing contact with her lips.  He laid her down and pushed himself on top of her. 

“I can’t,” she cried, when his lips left hers.  She felt him open her legs and touch her in a secret place.  She wanted him to touch her there, but she was afraid.  “My duty…”

He kissed her fiercely, rubbing the place between her legs.  “Your duty is to me,” he whispered as he trailed kisses down her neck.  “Do you want me?”

“Yes,” she whispered.

Something hard and hot pushed itself into her.  She gasped, but he held her close and made soothing noises.  Slowly he moved on top of her and she realized with a start that it was a part of him inside of her.  They were joined. 

“Inuyoukai,” she whispered.

“Hush,” he breathed, moving against her.

She lay, unsure what to do or how to react to his gentle ministrations.  She could feel his hot breath on her neck and it made her shiver with excitement.  The lord she wanted was above her, inside of her… claiming her body as his own.  And there was nothing her lord father could do about it.  She had rebelled and won.

“Kaguya?” his voice cut into her thoughts.

“Yes, my lord?”

He stopped and gazed down at her with sad tenderness in his demon eyes.  “Do you enjoy this?”

She blushed.  “Of course, my lord.”

He sighed and kissed her cheek.  “You don’t have to lie to me, beloved.  I can tell your mind is elsewhere.”

“It’s just,” she sighed and turned her head to look out at the moonlit lake.  “Is this right?”

“Beloved,” he whispered, pulling himself out of her and laying beside her.  “I came into existence many centuries ago when humans first befriended dogs.  Since that time I have never met anyone who has completed me so perfectly as you have.  You taught this old dog to love and be loyal again.  I want nothing more than for you to be with me always.  The lord your father chose was I.  In his eyes the union was completed the moment I asked for you.”

“I am your lady?” she whispered.

“For as long as this life lets us be together,” he answered.  He cursed his heart.  He could have taken her in the darkness with no explanation and planted his seed, but instead he told her and now she had expectations of him.  He fought with his inner demon.  She was human and could never understand the risk he was taking for mating with her.  One side of him told him to go and never return, but the dog in him was loyal and would never leave his mistress.

She hugged him, her hot body sliding against his aching flesh.  He buried his face against her neck.  She touched him, gently exploring his body with her fingers.  This was her lord and husband, her friend and companion.  She kissed his cheek and tickled his back. 

He turned his head to look at her in amusement.  His golden eyes gleamed.  He kissed her and smoothly rolled back on top of her.  “Relax,” he whispered as he pushed himself back inside of her.  “Think of what we’re doing… how much I want you to want me… to hear you scream my name.”  He reached down between them as he spoke, rubbing a spot near their union.

She felt as if she was on fire, her whole body contorting as she cried out.  She stopped, breathing heavily.  She was vaguely aware that he was smiling in satisfaction above her.

“I am going to give you something, my lady,” he panted breathlessly, under great strain.

“What?” she asked.

“A child.”

She smiled at him.  “If it will please my husband…”

He nodded and closed his eyes, concentrating on his thrusts.  Finally his face twisted in what looked like agony.  He froze and she felt something hot enter her.  He collapsed, breathing heavily.

She hugged him, cradling his head in her arms.

“I can’t stay with you,” he whispered.  “Your people fear me.”

She thought of how her father trembled in the youkai’s presence.  “I know,” she responded.

“You can’t stay with me.  Other demons will kill you.”

She tried to imagine a world filled with demons.  It seemed too strange to her.  “I know.”

“Stay here.  I will come to you whenever I can.”

She hugged him close, not wanting to let go.  “Yes, my lord.”

~.^

Inuyoukai was never again seen in the sunlit gardens of the lord.  His presence was felt and heard at night, for the walls were paper-thin.  Noises of the demon lord taking his lady with nightly pleasures filled parts of the palace with cries and gossip.

Ladies in waiting feared to stay near their lady at night, knowing that her demonic husband would visit.

Soon gossip noticed the swollen belly of the young lady.  “Demon child,” they whispered.

~.^

The night the child came, no one dared to come help Kaguya.  Her father feared his own child and did not push to have protocol followed.

The night was dark without a moon to light it.  It grew darker and the palace dwellers shivered in their rooms as Inuyoukai arrived to support his bride.

Close to midnight a newborn’s cry pierced the night.

Inuyoukai held his small son in his arms.  He kissed the red face as the boy howled at the world.  “Inuyasha,” he whispered.

“He looks so human,” Kaguya breathed, weak from her ordeal.

Inuyoukai knelt beside her and placed the infant in her arms.  “He’s half demon.  Once a month he will look human, coinciding with the day of his birth.  He will be vulnerable then, as he is now.  It is the only time you can let your people see him.”

She blinked at him in confusion.  “My lord?”

“Our child is neither human nor demon.  He will have many enemies.  You must keep him safe.”  The old youkai touched the newborn that stopped crying to stare at him with too focused eyes.  Sesshoumaru had been able to walk and talk on his first day of life.  Inuyoukai could see the little gears work in Inuyasha’s head, but he didn’t speak.  “I am your father,” he whispered to the newborn.  “You were born because I loved a human and that will be your fate, as well.”

“Inu,” Kaguya whispered fearfully.  “You’re leaving, aren’t you?”

He stared at her for a long time.  Gently, he stroked her cheek and kissed her lips.  “I have committed the ultimate crime a demon can commit.  They will hunt me down.  As long as I live, you are not safe.”  He touched the boy’s eyes.  “Right Black Pearl,” he whispered.  Hastily he stood and rearranged his robes.

“Inu,” Kaguya cried.

He knelt again beside her and touched her face with his hands.  “The next time we meet will be in the next world, where we will have an eternity to love.”  He smiled and kissed her lips one last time before disappearing with the night.

~.^

A few nights later Inuyasha sat, playing on the deck outside of his mother’s room.  Kaguya had been amazed to wake up the morning after his birth with a small, white haired demon in her arms.  He had dog ears atop his head.  She knew he had had tufts of black hair and human ears the night before.  Then she remembered her lord’s words about his being a half demon.  The child was able to crawl around on his first day and seemed very inquisitive.  By the second day he could walk and wanted to go outside.  He stood next to the sliding door, trying to open it with his chubby baby hands.  She caught him in a hug.  “No, my love.  You mustn’t go outside during the daytime.  People will see you.”

The infant stared at her with sad, golden eyes.

“My baby, you are special.  No one should see you yet, except Mama and her servant.”

He brightened.

On his fourth night he sat outside her room, playing with a doll she gave him.  Suddenly he burst into tears.  Kaguya dropped the haori she was making for him from the firerat skin that had been one of the gifts at her coming of age ceremony to pick up her son.  “What is it, my darling?”

“Father is dead!  Father is dead!” the boy cried.  His first words filled his mother with pain.  She held him close and dried his tears.

“What is wrong with him?” Kaguya’s servant asked.

Kaguya rocked the sobbing child in her arms.  “My husband is dead.”

~.^

“So, my father is dead,” a young dog demon said.  He shivered and his limbs lengthened.  In place of the child sat a young man.  “So I, Sesshoumaru, am the lord of the Western Lands.”

“My lord’s father died in battle, protecting his human pet and bastard child,” Jaken, Sesshoumaru’s servant, said. 

Sesshoumaru stared at him as his garments reformed to fit his adult frame.  “Bastard son?”

“My lord’s father gave his human pet a child.”

Sesshoumaru made a face.  He looked like a full-grown lord, but his spirit was used to being young and he forgot that it was unbecoming of a lord to make a face.  “What is the bastard’s name?”

“Inuyasha.”

Sesshoumaru struck Jaken.  The name was too close to his father’s.  “Who named him?”

“My lord’s father.”

Sesshoumaru scowled.  “One must wonder why…”

“Sesshoumaru-sama?”

“Father already had an heir.  Why create a bastard one?”

“Perhaps my lord’s father was lonely…”

“No!” the young lord snarled, striking his servant.  “The great dog demon was too noble to take pleasures from a lowly human.”  The face was mature, but the quaver in the voice and the tears revealed the child within.  “That bastard will rue the day he was born with my father’s blood in his veins and the human wench will curse the day she seduced a demon lord to her bed.”

~.^

Kaguya sat and awaited the return of her small son.  His intelligence continued to develop at an accelerated rate.  He was able to have complete conversations with his mother after only his first week.  She taught him everything she knew about reading and writing.

He liked to stay awake for most of the night and play outside.  He would return in the early morning hours to sleep.  Late afternoon she gave him lessons.  After dusk he would go outside to play again.

“Mother?” his little voice broke into her thoughts.  He sat down in front of her and she gently combed his long, white hair.

“Inuyasha, my baby,” she whispered soothingly.  “Are you ready for bed?”

He nodded and leaned against her as she held him.  He was all she had left of her lord husband.  She picked up the child and carried him to the futon so they could sleep.  “Mama,” he whispered, curling up against her and suckling her breast.

She touched his head, scratching behind his ears as he fed.  There had been no woman of her father’s household willing to nurse the strange demon child, so she did it herself.  She was secretly glad of this because they could share a bond that no other woman could share with her own child.

His suckling slowed as he began to doze.

Gently, she made sure he was under the pile of kimono and wrapped him in her arms for sleep.  She was careful to keep him near her breast so he wouldn’t wake her if he woke up hungry.

~.^

“My lady… My lady!” the servant cried.

Kaguya woke with a start and instinctively checked on her child.  He was sleeping peacefully beside her with a trail of drool down the side of his face.  “What is it?” she asked the nervous servant.

“My lady’s father wishes to see the child.”

Kaguya glanced at Inuyasha.  He whimpered in his sleep and his ear twitched.  “It’s too soon.  My lord told me to wait until new moon.”

“There is talk in the palace, my lady.  Some have seen the child out playing at night.  They were frightened and asked my lady’s father to speak to you.  If he refused them…”

Kaguya nodded.  “I guess it can’t be helped.  It’s a matter of face.  When will he see us?”

“He asked for you to come within the hour.”

Kaguya bowed her head to her daughterly duties.  She woke Inuyasha and combed his hair.  She dressed him in his new clothes before having her servant dress herself.  “Why, mother?”

“We are going to meet someone important.  You must remember what I told you.”

The little boy nodded and watched in silence as his mother finished dressing.  He was picked up by his mother’s servant and carried out of the room, following his mother.  He was set down on his own feet and he immediately crouched down beside his mother, showing the proper reverence towards the lord of the palace.

Murmuring voices filled the room from the gathered people.

“Is this the child?”

“My lord father, this is Inuyasha.”

“Let me see it.”

The boy was picked up and carried across the room to be set in front of the lord.  He was so terrified that he didn’t uncurl from his submissive bow.

“Sit up, child,” commanded the lord.

Inuyasha obeyed and looked up at the face of his grandfather for the first time.  For a moment he forgot what his mother told him about being shy and humble.  “Hello!” he greeted in his small, baby voice.

The room muttered in response.

“It speaks…?” the lord flustered.

The boy suddenly grew nervous and immediately resumed his submissive bow.  “I’m sorry, mother,” he cried.

“My lord father, Inuyasha’s father was demon.  He speaks and walks and does all the things an older child can do,” Kaguya answered.

“I see,” the lord answered.  “Leave me alone with the child and its mother.”

The room mumbled and left, casting glances back at the crouching boy.

The lord relaxed when the audience was gone.  “Kaguya… you have to be careful.  The palace is afraid.”

Kaguya sat up and pulled her son into her arms.  “I know.  I’ve tried to keep him away from everyone else…”  The lord made a motion for her to approach and she obeyed. 

Inuyasha sat, gazing shyly at the older man.

The lord smiled at the boy in a somewhat nervous manner.  “He looks just like his father.”

Kaguya smiled and nodded.  “He’ll grow up to be big and strong.”

“Kaguya… I worry.  If something should happen to me… your brother will take over.”  The lord gazed at his only daughter.  “He was never… comfortable with my choice in husbands for you.  I fear for you and the child.”  He stopped and stared down at the child who had just decided to try out his grandfather’s lap.  “He won’t bite, will he?”

Kaguya smiled and laughed softly.  “You’re perfectly safe, Papa.”

The lord smiled and wrapped his arms loosely around his grandson.  “There, little guy. Don’t be afraid of your old grandpapa.”

Inuyasha gazed up at him.  “Grandpapa…” he slowly repeated the word.  The boy snuggled against the lord.

“Oh look, he likes me!” the lord cooed in delight. 

“What should we do when my brother becomes lord?”

The lord tore his eyes away from the child and regarded his daughter.  “You must leave.  I’ll provide you with means… but you must leave this place and never come back.”

Kaguya stared at the floor in silence.

“I wish there was more I could do for you.  These are difficult times.  People are afraid... But we do what we must.”

~.^

As the child grew it became harder and harder to hold back his inquisitive spirit.  Kaguya often wandered in the gardens with him when he wanted to go outside.

One night some courtiers were playing ball.  Inuyasha rushed to investigate the game.  One of the courtiers tossed the ball away in disgust, making a comment.  Inuyasha chased the ball and retrieved it for them.  When he looked back the courtiers were gone.  He saw his mother standing nearby and rushed to her, forgetting about the ball.  “Mother, what’s a demon?” 

Kaguya stared down at him.  His little life was already full of so much pain.  Everyone whispered about him and no one accepted him.  He was too different.  She hugged him close.  He had to understand about that difference.  She picked him up and carried him back to their room.  She showed him his reflection in the water.  “Look, Inuyasha… do you see a difference in our reflections?”

He stared down at the water.  “Yes…”

“What do you see?”

“I’m little and mother is big.”

She shook her head gently.  “No, my love… Your father was a demon.  When he was in his dog form he had ears like yours and his coat was white like your hair.” 

“What are you?” he asked, looking back at her.

“I am human… all the people here are human.  People are usually afraid of demons because they are very powerful.”

“Was my father powerful?”

“Yes…”

“Were you afraid of him?”

Kaguya shook her head.  “No.  I loved him.  That’s why you’re here.” 

Inuyasha stared at his reflection for a long time.  “Are people afraid of me?”

Kaguya hugged him, silently crying.  “I wish they could see what I see when I look at you…” she whispered.  “They don’t understand about you… People fear what they don’t understand.”

He nestled in her arms, listening to her heart.  “Mother… I don’t want you to cry…”

“I know,” she answered.  “I’ll try not to.”

~.^

Kaguya left in the middle of the night.  Her father was dead and her brother had taken control of the lands.  She left her servant sleeping and carried her small son away along with a small sack of possessions.  No one from the palace ever found them.

~.^

Inuyasha tugged at his mother’s hand.  “Mother… mother wake up.”  She didn’t move to comfort him as he cried against her chest.  She was covered in blood.  The fight had taken a lot out of her.  They had nowhere to go except out in the open.  The nearby village wouldn’t house them.  They were afraid of Inuyasha… and he knew it. 

He had tried to convince her to hide there without him, but she would not leave him.  The demon had been slow in the execution.  Mother fell, exhausted to the ground.  Inuyasha stood over her, ready to fight with what little power he had. 

But then a man came and killed the demon.  He took one look at Inuyasha with his cold, gold eyes.  “So… you are the bastard my lord father left behind,” he stated. 

Inuyasha did not know what to say.  He had been called many things but he had never heard the word “bastard.”  “Who are you?” he demanded, sitting close to his mother.

“This lord is Sesshoumaru, your father’s heir.”

“My father’s heir?” Inuyasha asked, clutching his mother’s hand.  He could feel her heartbeat slowing.  “Can you help mother?”

Sesshoumaru regarded the woman Inuyasha protected with cold detachment.  “She lost too much blood.  She will die.” 

“No…” Inuyasha cried, staring into his mother’s eyes.  “Mother…”

“It is the way of humans… they are weak, they feel pain and they die.”

The boy was silent for a long time. 

Sesshoumaru made a face.  “I’ll come back after she’s expired.  We have to talk, bastard.”

Inuyasha winced at the harsh tone in the words.  The man left him alone.  He would do nothing to help his mother.  She didn’t deserve to die.  She had been protecting him.  He rested his head against her chest and listened to her labored breathing.  Her heartbeat slowed until it beat no more.  He cried.

~.^

“Where are we going, big brother?” Inuyasha asked, following Sesshoumaru.

“You are no longer a baby... It’s time for you to leave.”

“Leave?”  Inuyasha blinked up at him.  For the past few years he had been living with his elder brother. 

Sesshoumaru wasn’t the kindest person in the world.  He often made nasty comments about the boy’s deceased mother, just to get a rise out of him.  He was harsh and taught tough lessons, warping the child’s trusting nature into something else… something frightened and suspicious.  Usually Sesshoumaru was only nice when he wanted something… and Inuyasha quickly learned to distrust the older demon’s smiles. 

The boy often asked, “Why do you keep me around if you obviously hate me so much?”

Sesshoumaru never gave him a straight answer.  Sometimes he said, “I wanted to fuck with your innocent mind.”  Other times he just laughed.  There was always something uncomfortable in his eyes. 

Once Inuyasha saw him drunk.  It happened every so often, but this time was different.  His elder brother was actually in a jovial mood.

“To you, father!” he cried, raising the bottle of sake.

“What are you celebrating?” Inuyasha asked suspiciously.

“This is the anniversary of my father’s death… He died because of you and your mother…”

Inuyasha stared down at the ground, feeling odd.  “Why do you have me here, big brother?”

“Because you are my father’s bastard.  I hate you and your mother but you have my father’s blood in your veins and you can’t take care of yourself yet, you pathetic whelp.  I hate you.  I hate everything you stand for.  But if I let you die when you’re still helpless… I betray my father’s blood.  It’s my fucking DUTY to make sure you grow up.  Don’t think I won’t kill you when you’re old enough to fight back.”

Tears filled Inuyasha’s eyes.  “I HATE YOU TOO!” he snarled and stormed away.

It was soon after that when Sesshoumaru announced they were going on a trip.  He led the young demon far away from the Western Lands.  “I never want to see you again.  Stay away from my lands or I’ll kill you.”

Inuyasha nodded dully. 

Sesshoumaru paused before leaving, glancing back at the young demon.  “Try and stay alive for a few decades at least… my father’s blood was too noble to be lost so soon by his worthless bastard.”

~.^

He made his way from one village to the next, stealing food wherever he could find it.  His mother had always paid for their food with money she had in a sack… but Inuyasha didn’t have any money.  He had lost everything except the clothes on his back when his brother took him away to live with him.  Luckily he wasn’t hungry too much. 

His childish body soon filled out from a hard life spent on the run.  He stayed away from humans and demons alike… not trusting either species.  He was a half-breed and he was cursed to live life alone on the fringes of society as an outcast… at least that was what Sesshoumaru had always told him.  There was no reason not believe it, especially since he remembered the hell he and his mother went through when he was a child.  Humans gave them nasty looks and demons tried to kill them.  It was a hard world.

Deep in his heart he began to formulate a plan.  He had to find a way to get stronger so he could gain respect and perhaps find somewhere to settle down.  He was tired of running… tired of being alone.

~.^

He listened in as the demons spoke below him.  They were planning to go hunt down a priestess who protected the Shikon no Tama.  Inuyasha’s eyes went wide as they argued over how to divide the power once they got hold of the jewel. 

If the jewel could be coveted by the two full demons… perhaps it could make him strong. 

He followed them in silence, his fully-grown body, lithe and silent.  He stayed down wind of them, careful not to alert them to his presence.  They traveled a long time before coming to a clearing.  There sat a young woman deep in meditation.  The demons attacked and she reached for her bow.  The demons were slain. 

Inuyasha stared at the woman in shock.  How could such a weak human slay full demons with very little effort?  He pondered this at length and was surprised to see her look purposefully in his direction and raise an eyebrow. 

“I know you’re there,” she said quietly, not moving to raise her bow to him.

“Kuso…” he cursed and retreated. 

--End

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