May 2008
Title:How It Could Have Been
Author:petalears
Rating:PG
Universe:Alternate
Summary:Inuyasha defies his father
Quote:"I know how men in exile feed on dreams of hope." - Aeschylus, 525-456 BC. From Agamemnon.
Inuyasha’s Rebellion
An hour later, Inuyasha sat next to his mother and was still staring at Makoto who was moving around seeing to his wife’s needs. He was mainly reassured by his stepfather’s words when he assured him that he intended no harm to Hanako. All the same, Inuyasha stayed close to his mother and watched intently as the baby was fed or changed, especially if it was the midwife or Makoto’s sister who along with her husband had come to help. It was no secret to Inuyasha that these two had no love for him, anymore than Makoto’s mother ever had, but they respected the power of the Lord of the West and left the boy alone.
For the first week everything was as good as it could be, Inuyasha’s siblings were often in with their mother and him, playing with the new sister under the eldest’s watchful eyes. But trouble started to brew when Sesshoumaru came to collect the hanyou in order to take him back to school. The young youkai prince stopped to speak with Makoto out of the respect due to the head of the house, and he learned that Inuyasha was very protective of the new baby and the reasons for it. Sesshoumaru thought for a while and determined that his little brother was probably afraid that any attempt to end the baby’s life would be painful for her. Although Inuyasha didn’t hear his brother speak, he did overhear Makoto’s sister speaking softly to her husband.
"That young youkai has just offered Makoto a solution to our problem, husband."
"You should not have been eavesdropping on your brother my wife."
"Be that as it may, are you listening? He is willing to come back when the hanyou is at school and says he can despatch the child quickly and painlessly."
"This then must be your brother’s decision; it has nothing to do with us."
"How can you say such things, that child would grow to be nothing but a burden on all our resources. She will never be of use to the family; she’d be unable to contribute her share but would still need feeding and looking after all day. We cannot afford to keep deadweight around."
"You are the fool, the child hardly exists now and the hanyou can pull his own weight and more; there will be no shortfall in this household, or have you forgotten who his and Izayoi’s protector is?"
"No of course not; but the babe is not his and he does not have to deal with her. It will fall on our family; you should encourage Makoto to take the youkai up on his offer...for all of our benefits."
"I will for a quiet life, for I know what a nag you are if you don’t get your way. Although I doubt Makoto will agree, he will not wish to upset Izayoi."
"Then tell him to make sure she doesn’t find out; let her think that the child died from natural causes."
"Very well, you have all the answers as usual." He said as he escorted his wife away and Inuyasha could no longer hear them speaking. He was worried now, what could he do? He looked down at Hanako who was lying quietly in his arms, a piece of his hair wrapped in her tiny fist and her own eyes transfixed as always on his own. The hanyou knew that his baby sister was never going to be strong, there was no movement in her legs and not much in her arms, but her eyes were sparkling and intelligent and she deserved a chance. Fear crept in his heart and also a sense of his brother’s betrayal bloomed deep in the youkai of his soul; his beloved Shu was plotting to take her away behind his back.
Inuyasha couldn’t cope with the influx of emotions as his mind vied between his human sadness and fear and his youkai anger; in the end the youkai won, it was stronger and had been triggered by the sound of Sesshoumaru’s voice as he called to Inuyasha. Even the calming scent of Izayoi and the soothing petting to his ears was not enough to stop the hanyou from changing. As of yet no one was in danger, the training the hanyou had received was helping him to stay stable, but it was a struggle that needed help.
Sesshoumaru was fully aware of his brother’s surging youki, understanding that the pup had changed to his youkai form and he immediately approached the room Inuyasha and Izayoi were in. He was scenting out who or what was the threat in the room and surrounding areas and his claws were ready to defend them against attack. Unfortunately, seeing Sesshoumaru barge in and reeking of his Dokkasou, was the final straw for the young hanyou and Inuyasha started to growl loudly at him, flexing his claws in preparation for his own attack.
"Inuyasha where is the threat?"
"You."
"What do you mean brother? I am no threat to you or your mother."
"You have said you will kill my sister, you will do it when I am not here. You must go back."
"Inuyasha, you must stop your transformation, it is dangerous and it is time for you to come home."
"Go away Sesshoumaru. Go away." Inuyasha’s eyes glowed red and Sesshoumaru noticed that the pet name for him was not used. This was becoming serious and he tried to overpower his little brother’s youkai with his own youki strength, but it was shrugged off, much to the older boy’s surprise. When he realised he couldn’t compel Inuyasha himself, Sesshoumaru went to the window and howled for his father. Inu no Taishou only took seconds to arrive at the farm and was soon acquainted with the problem.
He was able to put two and two together and was annoyed with his eldest son for getting involved with something that didn’t concern him. Now however, he spread his own youki to quell his son’s in the same way that The Tiger had done for his unruly pupils, but to his disquiet, Inuyasha refused to submit. This made him need to up the strength to a level that would be unnerving for the humans and even Sesshoumaru was not lifting his head, although that might have been more because he sensed his father’s ire directed at him.
Inu no Taishou noticed with satisfaction his younger son’s eyes return to their brilliant amber shade and he smiled at the pup, holding his arms out inviting Inuyasha to go to him. Inuyasha was obedient and the father watched as the boy gently carried his sister and showed him the baby. The General looked over the top of Inuyasha’s head to lock eyes with Izayoi, pleased that she showed no fear of her pup, but he was sorry about the tiny baby who to all intents and purposes didn’t have a bright future.
"Are you better now Inuyasha? Are you ready to come back to school?"
"No Papa; I ‘m gonna stay here with Mama and Hanako."
"That is not practical My Pup, you must return with me and your brother."
"I can’t, he will kill her and they will let him. I’m the only one who can protect her."
"Sesshoumaru will not touch Hanako, he thought he was helping."
"Feh, if not him someone else will try. I am staying here." Inuyasha asserted much to Sesshoumaru’s amazement; the boy was defying their father to his face. But Inu no Taishou could tell that his son was not meaning to be rude, his youkai was still close to the surface so he sounded more abrupt, but the pup was obviously determined. The father stared at the son for a while, then at Izayoi who smiled and then nodded at him.
"Very well Inuyasha, you may stay and protect your sister from all harm; but I will not be disobeyed again, when I tell you to return next time there will be no argument." He let his youki out once more to reinforce the message and was pleased to see the proper reaction from the pup this time. Tears filled the boy’s eyes as he snuggled against his Papa and confided that his youkai hurt badly every time he thought about Shu and what he was going to do. Inu no Taishou held him tighter and said that he would have to work that out with his brother on his own, but to remember that Shu was still learning and hadn’t meant to hurt him.
Before he left, Inu no Taishou had a word with Makoto and discovered that he had not taken any of the options he’d been offered, mainly because Izayoi would have been distressed and he had no objection to the little protector staying with them. Then to add high visibility to any who might still have harboured murderous thoughts to the new child, the Lady of the West visited Izayoi and promised to come once a month to visit her in the future. This was a relief to Izayoi, she felt safer with the youkai presence for Hanako.
The Lady also had a present for Inuyasha, one of her own sashes to use for carrying the baby in a form of sling against his body, thereby leaving his arms free. She also had a warning for him, he was bound to get lonely in the time he spent away from his youkai family, his pack and because he was hurting from Sesshoumaru’s perceived deception. But it was important for him to remember that he was not alone, even if he felt far from them in his self imposed exile from the Palace. Inuyasha thanked his aunt for her kindness and the gift and assured her that he would be fine.
The Lady smiled kindly at the little boy, but her heart was sad for him too, she knew that he would not give up on his hope that Hanako would get stronger. But it was likely that with nothing else to do but care for the child, his desire for her improvement would be unrealistic and likely to end in heartbreak as he would surely reject any one who hinted that she was never going to be well. But she recognised the futility of trying to persuade the boy to any other course, he was his father’s son just as much as Sesshoumaru.
Author:petalears
Rating:PG
Universe:Alternate
Summary:Inuyasha defies his father
Quote:"I know how men in exile feed on dreams of hope." - Aeschylus, 525-456 BC. From Agamemnon.
Inuyasha’s Rebellion
An hour later, Inuyasha sat next to his mother and was still staring at Makoto who was moving around seeing to his wife’s needs. He was mainly reassured by his stepfather’s words when he assured him that he intended no harm to Hanako. All the same, Inuyasha stayed close to his mother and watched intently as the baby was fed or changed, especially if it was the midwife or Makoto’s sister who along with her husband had come to help. It was no secret to Inuyasha that these two had no love for him, anymore than Makoto’s mother ever had, but they respected the power of the Lord of the West and left the boy alone.
For the first week everything was as good as it could be, Inuyasha’s siblings were often in with their mother and him, playing with the new sister under the eldest’s watchful eyes. But trouble started to brew when Sesshoumaru came to collect the hanyou in order to take him back to school. The young youkai prince stopped to speak with Makoto out of the respect due to the head of the house, and he learned that Inuyasha was very protective of the new baby and the reasons for it. Sesshoumaru thought for a while and determined that his little brother was probably afraid that any attempt to end the baby’s life would be painful for her. Although Inuyasha didn’t hear his brother speak, he did overhear Makoto’s sister speaking softly to her husband.
"That young youkai has just offered Makoto a solution to our problem, husband."
"You should not have been eavesdropping on your brother my wife."
"Be that as it may, are you listening? He is willing to come back when the hanyou is at school and says he can despatch the child quickly and painlessly."
"This then must be your brother’s decision; it has nothing to do with us."
"How can you say such things, that child would grow to be nothing but a burden on all our resources. She will never be of use to the family; she’d be unable to contribute her share but would still need feeding and looking after all day. We cannot afford to keep deadweight around."
"You are the fool, the child hardly exists now and the hanyou can pull his own weight and more; there will be no shortfall in this household, or have you forgotten who his and Izayoi’s protector is?"
"No of course not; but the babe is not his and he does not have to deal with her. It will fall on our family; you should encourage Makoto to take the youkai up on his offer...for all of our benefits."
"I will for a quiet life, for I know what a nag you are if you don’t get your way. Although I doubt Makoto will agree, he will not wish to upset Izayoi."
"Then tell him to make sure she doesn’t find out; let her think that the child died from natural causes."
"Very well, you have all the answers as usual." He said as he escorted his wife away and Inuyasha could no longer hear them speaking. He was worried now, what could he do? He looked down at Hanako who was lying quietly in his arms, a piece of his hair wrapped in her tiny fist and her own eyes transfixed as always on his own. The hanyou knew that his baby sister was never going to be strong, there was no movement in her legs and not much in her arms, but her eyes were sparkling and intelligent and she deserved a chance. Fear crept in his heart and also a sense of his brother’s betrayal bloomed deep in the youkai of his soul; his beloved Shu was plotting to take her away behind his back.
Inuyasha couldn’t cope with the influx of emotions as his mind vied between his human sadness and fear and his youkai anger; in the end the youkai won, it was stronger and had been triggered by the sound of Sesshoumaru’s voice as he called to Inuyasha. Even the calming scent of Izayoi and the soothing petting to his ears was not enough to stop the hanyou from changing. As of yet no one was in danger, the training the hanyou had received was helping him to stay stable, but it was a struggle that needed help.
Sesshoumaru was fully aware of his brother’s surging youki, understanding that the pup had changed to his youkai form and he immediately approached the room Inuyasha and Izayoi were in. He was scenting out who or what was the threat in the room and surrounding areas and his claws were ready to defend them against attack. Unfortunately, seeing Sesshoumaru barge in and reeking of his Dokkasou, was the final straw for the young hanyou and Inuyasha started to growl loudly at him, flexing his claws in preparation for his own attack.
"Inuyasha where is the threat?"
"You."
"What do you mean brother? I am no threat to you or your mother."
"You have said you will kill my sister, you will do it when I am not here. You must go back."
"Inuyasha, you must stop your transformation, it is dangerous and it is time for you to come home."
"Go away Sesshoumaru. Go away." Inuyasha’s eyes glowed red and Sesshoumaru noticed that the pet name for him was not used. This was becoming serious and he tried to overpower his little brother’s youkai with his own youki strength, but it was shrugged off, much to the older boy’s surprise. When he realised he couldn’t compel Inuyasha himself, Sesshoumaru went to the window and howled for his father. Inu no Taishou only took seconds to arrive at the farm and was soon acquainted with the problem.
He was able to put two and two together and was annoyed with his eldest son for getting involved with something that didn’t concern him. Now however, he spread his own youki to quell his son’s in the same way that The Tiger had done for his unruly pupils, but to his disquiet, Inuyasha refused to submit. This made him need to up the strength to a level that would be unnerving for the humans and even Sesshoumaru was not lifting his head, although that might have been more because he sensed his father’s ire directed at him.
Inu no Taishou noticed with satisfaction his younger son’s eyes return to their brilliant amber shade and he smiled at the pup, holding his arms out inviting Inuyasha to go to him. Inuyasha was obedient and the father watched as the boy gently carried his sister and showed him the baby. The General looked over the top of Inuyasha’s head to lock eyes with Izayoi, pleased that she showed no fear of her pup, but he was sorry about the tiny baby who to all intents and purposes didn’t have a bright future.
"Are you better now Inuyasha? Are you ready to come back to school?"
"No Papa; I ‘m gonna stay here with Mama and Hanako."
"That is not practical My Pup, you must return with me and your brother."
"I can’t, he will kill her and they will let him. I’m the only one who can protect her."
"Sesshoumaru will not touch Hanako, he thought he was helping."
"Feh, if not him someone else will try. I am staying here." Inuyasha asserted much to Sesshoumaru’s amazement; the boy was defying their father to his face. But Inu no Taishou could tell that his son was not meaning to be rude, his youkai was still close to the surface so he sounded more abrupt, but the pup was obviously determined. The father stared at the son for a while, then at Izayoi who smiled and then nodded at him.
"Very well Inuyasha, you may stay and protect your sister from all harm; but I will not be disobeyed again, when I tell you to return next time there will be no argument." He let his youki out once more to reinforce the message and was pleased to see the proper reaction from the pup this time. Tears filled the boy’s eyes as he snuggled against his Papa and confided that his youkai hurt badly every time he thought about Shu and what he was going to do. Inu no Taishou held him tighter and said that he would have to work that out with his brother on his own, but to remember that Shu was still learning and hadn’t meant to hurt him.
Before he left, Inu no Taishou had a word with Makoto and discovered that he had not taken any of the options he’d been offered, mainly because Izayoi would have been distressed and he had no objection to the little protector staying with them. Then to add high visibility to any who might still have harboured murderous thoughts to the new child, the Lady of the West visited Izayoi and promised to come once a month to visit her in the future. This was a relief to Izayoi, she felt safer with the youkai presence for Hanako.
The Lady also had a present for Inuyasha, one of her own sashes to use for carrying the baby in a form of sling against his body, thereby leaving his arms free. She also had a warning for him, he was bound to get lonely in the time he spent away from his youkai family, his pack and because he was hurting from Sesshoumaru’s perceived deception. But it was important for him to remember that he was not alone, even if he felt far from them in his self imposed exile from the Palace. Inuyasha thanked his aunt for her kindness and the gift and assured her that he would be fine.
The Lady smiled kindly at the little boy, but her heart was sad for him too, she knew that he would not give up on his hope that Hanako would get stronger. But it was likely that with nothing else to do but care for the child, his desire for her improvement would be unrealistic and likely to end in heartbreak as he would surely reject any one who hinted that she was never going to be well. But she recognised the futility of trying to persuade the boy to any other course, he was his father’s son just as much as Sesshoumaru.