*Kohen = "Part two"

This is Part 2 of Sesshomaru Ante Iam ("Before Now") which is 14 chapters long and covers the early years.

Now I'd like that you who is reading this chapter, to have first read Part 1, but if you wish to read along anyway without doing that, well I guess that's kinda okay. Nonetheless I hope you enjoy this new beginning for this stage in Sesshōmaru's life.

• *within asterisks= sound effects* • Chichi-ue= archaic, polite form of "father" • "-sama"= confers great respect; like "Lord/Lady" • "-chan"= used to express endearment, mostly toward girls. Also used for little boys, pets, even lovers; sense of childish cuteness; like English "-y/-ie" •Nii-chan= affectionate form of "Big Brother"

Sesshōmaru Ante Iam Part 2: Passing Days- Chapter 1 ~ Inno—

~~Two Years Later~~

Sesshōmaru looked about twelve despite the fact that he was actually fourteen-years-old.

Inu no Taishō (the Great Dog General) stood near the door in the genkan (entryway where one removes their shoes) fully dressed in his armor. Sesshōmaru stood upon the elevated floor that overlooked it. At Taishō's side was Tōtōsai with Myōga on his shoulder.

"Now Sesshōmaru, I'll likely be gone for at least six months."

Sesshōmaru made a quick annoyed sound, the corners of his lips slightly pulling themselves into a frown, "…Six months…"
He cleared his throat trying to regain composure, "As general, is it possible for you to… return sooner?"

But Taishō caught his faint expressions and he couldn't help but think one thing about them…
"Oh Sesshōmaru… are you not just adorable~!"

"I am not 'adorable'!" There. Cool composure shattered.

"You are looking like tha~at."

He blushed, "I, I, I…"

Taishō walked over to him. Since Sesshōmaru was standing on the elevated floor he was about level with his father's neck. Taishō placed his hands at the sides of Sesshōmaru's arms, "There, there… I'll try to be back soon – and in one piece, okay?"

He nodded as Taishō stepped away.
"You behave yourself while I'm gone, and I expect you to be in one piece when I return too, understand?"

"Yes, of course, Father."

*smile*

Pause.

Taishō then firmly announced, "You may play with Yume but no 'pranks' such as capturing people or mindless destruction. Don't break anything that's in this house – don't break the house. So no explosives or unstable concoctions in or near the house. Don't burn the house down, in fact… don't set fire to anything."

"Chichi-ue, that was one time-"

"No. And no."

"Bu-"

"No." Taishō turned to Tōtōsai and Myōga, taking a quick glance back at Sesshōmaru. "And don't hurt them, gag them, or tie them up. Don't paralyze them, knock them unconscious, or make them sick."

*sigh*

"And don't kill them, or threaten to kill them. Only be civil-" Sesshōmaru began to roll his eyes – *Slap!*

"Pay attention. At the very least be passively indifferent to them, understood?"

Sesshōmaru rubbed his cheek, "Yes, sir."

"That's a good boy," Taishō was about to exit but before he left he winked at Tōtōsai and Myōga, "Good luck."

The door closed. Tōtōsai looked at Sesshōmaru, "What kind of trouble do you put your father through?"

Sesshōmaru growled. He barely cracked his claws when the door opened and Sesshōmaru was swiftly grabbed by the scruff and tossed onto Taishō's lap belly down!

He knew his son was going to do something like that once he closed the door, he heard that growl and the claws.

Sesshōmaru began flailing about, "Ch-chi-chichi-ue, I, I wasn't-!"

"Yes. You were. I'm going to leave you a reminder."

"Fa-father-! W-w-wait! Ah!- *Spank* -Ah!- *Spank!* -Ah!- *Spank!*"

Taishō set him down in the genkan, and rose patting off his legs. Sesshōmaru stood pin-straight with both hands behind his back, "Chichi-ue, I'm fourteen…"

"You look eleven." He walked over to the old men, "You two, I wish you luck." He patted Tōtōsai's shoulder before leaving.

For a moment Sesshōmaru was still and quiet.

He ran out the door slamming it shut behind him.

Taishō turned around to see his son running up to him. His eyes widened slightly but then it melted into a soft smile as he bent down to pick him up, "What's wrong?"

Sesshōmaru buried his face into the crook of his father's neck.

"I love you, puppy. Please be safe."
In case I don't you see again, the way you fear.

The boy further buried himself into his father's neck.

His face is burning… Taishō could swear that he felt Sesshōmaru nod once but then the door opened again – Sesshōmaru planted his hands firmly into his father's shoulders and pushed himself back with all his might!

*Plop!*

Taishō only took a step back, but his child's strength was enough that he broke his embrace to ultimately fall flat onto his back.

"Master… What's up with your boy?"

"Oh, I…"

Sesshōmaru leaped to his feet, "Nothing!"

Taishō stared then gave Sesshōmaru a peck on the cheek.

*blush*

"What…? I've seen him act like that to you before."
"Yes, and so have I."

"Be quiet!" scolded Sesshōmaru at the old men but then he felt arms wrap around him from behind… "Goodbye" he heard. He was let go. It took him a moment, but Sesshōmaru snapped out of it and scrambled toward his father grabbing his hand with both his own.

Tōtōsai, "Ah… so you do have some kindness in you."

Sesshōmaru let go, "Be quiet!"

Taishō, already more than a few yards away, "Don't make me hit you again, that's not the last thing I want to remember. I would much rather prefer to leave seeing your blushing, wide-eyed, clueless adorable face."

Sesshōmaru turned around, "Excuse me?"

"Like that."

Taishō would really prefer not to leave Sesshōmaru, but he had his responsibilities as general. There was no servant or maid who lived in their smaller house, mainly due to Sesshōmaru's own unruliness, so the boy was usually the one to do chores as punishments. It's not like Sesshōmaru would listen to anything they'd say anyway. If they crossed him, he'd kill them. He'd prefer not to put lives in needless danger like that…

He didn't want to bring Sesshōmaru with him – it was too dangerous – and the last thing he wanted was to put his boy into such a life, let alone get him harmed, captured, or killed.

He could stay over at his friend's home, but Sesshōmaru wouldn't want to "live" there while his father was away. He wouldn't be forced to stay there either, and if they did, he'd likely attack and escape.

Sesshōmaru could go to The Estate of their family anytime he wanted and stay with his grandparents, but he's so restless he wouldn't want to stick around for too long if his father wasn't there. And again, Sesshōmaru would attack any guards if they intended to force him to stay. A number of the guards are stronger, faster and better trained than Sesshōmaru, but he does have something that makes him deadly despite the fact that they're stronger: poison. A hit of that and it would buy him enough time to escape.

Grandfather certainly could restrain Sesshōmaru, but there would be a limit to it: with his maimed leg he can't move as well as he used to. Grandmother could constrain him too but she isn't as fast as Sesshōmaru so he could run away. There's always spells but... Grandfather wouldn't want to restrict Sesshōmaru that much. He'd allow him to leave anytime he wanted.

He would leave Sesshōmaru with his uncle, but he wasn't always available. Since he acts as the current head of the family, he also has to leave to take care of business sometimes. He could be gone for a long time, longer if it was overseas. There was also a risk to that. Head of a powerful clan? It's just as likely that Sesshōmaru could get badly hurt, captured for ransom, or killed.

There was always his aunt. She's able and virtually always at the family estate but… She keeps their parents company; helps with anything they need; and while their older brother is away she runs the family estate, and sometimes even handles more immediate and/or local problems that involve their clan's territory. She also wants to spend quality time with Muōka. She loves Sesshōmaru, and he loves her too, and yes, one could say he could help her out, but Sesshōmaru's quite the handful. He'd ultimately be something else she'd have to take care of.

In the end he had… few choices: force Tōtōsai and Myōga to at least watch over Sesshōmaru and the house, or to leave Sesshōmaru alone. He could only force them so much, especially with Sesshōmaru's killing intent, and other times he just didn't really have time to call them over. Things would suddenly come up: surprise attacks, invasions, wars, and so on. More than half the time he had to leave, he left Sesshōmaru alone to do as he wished.

To make things worse, Sesshōmaru inherited a certain sense of destructiveness from his grandfather, and to add to that his friend – his only friend – brings out some kind of immorality in Sesshōmaru. And he somehow brings out the same in her. Her brother has such impulses too, with or without them around - which was not exactly the best influence for either of them. Apart they aren't that troublesome, but together… they simply became such an evil destructive little duo. They get into all kinds of things. But unfortunately, there wasn't much of a choice – when Taishō left for general-business, Sesshōmaru would generally be left alone to do as he pleased.

What a shame...
What opportunities...

~~Next day; evening~~

Sesshōmaru's leaned on the door, "Tōtōsai, make something to eat."

"You can cook. I know you can – you're father made you learn."

"... Never mind that, I gave you an order."

*Sighs* "What do you want?"

With a straight face, "Deep-fried whole fugu smothered in sauce."

"What?"
"Goodness, what does Master feed you?" asked the flea.

"Stop asking silly questions and go cook. Now."

"Hmmm… How can you be so affectionate and be such a spiteful child… at once?" commented Tōtōsai while pulling his beard.

"You know, Sesshōmaru-sama, your honorable and terrible grandfather isn't 'all there' himself, perhaps you yourself, well, inherited…" Myōga stared at Sesshōmaru for a moment.

Surprisingly though, Sesshōmaru didn't further bark at them. After some silence, Sesshōmaru turned his back to them, "I can still kill you at a moment's whim."

~~Days Later~~

The old men were at the door and Sesshōmaru stood once more on the elevated floor watching.

"You really have a rotten attitude; I don't know how Master puts up with it. But your father did say that he would be gone a minimum of six months. I'm sure you can last."

"You're going to return in six months then?"

"No, but we will be checking on you monthly. You can take care of yourself. As your father said, go play with your friend in the meantime."
"Yes, Sesshōmaru-sama. Oh, and can you… please not tell Master?"

"That you abandoned me and your duties?"

"No! Not 'abandoning,' just… leaving temporarily."

"...Right. I didn't want you old geezers here anyway."

"See! That's exactly why we're leaving!" Tōtōsai opened the door, "Goodbye."

"Tch, good riddance."

~~An Hour Later~~

The old sword smith was riding on his trusty demon-cow, Mōmō, who was just walking along when some called out, "Hey, Tōtōsai!"

They stopped and greeted the General's brother, "Ah… How are you, Akiyo-sama? What's with that look?"

"Aren't you supposed to be with Sesshōmaru right now?" asks the uncle.

Myōga quickly says, "Don't get the wrong idea Lord Akiyo! We are simply going to take a break – for our own well-being! Especially since Sesshōmaru's very disrespectful and rather… rather… homicidal."

Tilting his head to the side, "True. Your point being~?"

"That's why we left but, but, but we're going to check up on him regularly."

"Right…"

"Are you going to look after him, Akiyo-sama?"

"He didn't leave me in charge *shrug* Besides, Sesshōmaru can care for himself, and he can come over any time or stay with his friend right?"

Tōtōsai and Myōga sighed in relief. Uncle Akiyo walked away muttering to himself, "I don't even know why Roshi left them in charge of the boy, they're incompe-"

"Farewell, Master."

Akiyo looked back, cheerily waving, "Bye-bye you two~!"

~~Meanwhile~~

"Yume."

"Sess-chan."

Sesshōmaru met up with his only friend: Yume. They're at their 'spot' – a lone bodhi tree. They extend hands: clap using only the fingers, shake with their index and middle fingers, and snap – clap, shake, snap.

"So, The General's gone again, huh?"

"Yes."

"You cry~?" she taunted.

"Shut up."

She was his age, but unlike him she actually looked around 14. Sesshōmaru was half a head shorter.

"Wanna hang out at my place?"

"Fine."

~~A bit later~~

Sesshōmaru was sitting by a table pulling out a dagger from it then flicked the dagger back again into the table - *Tok* And repeated - *Tok* *Tok*

Yume sat across from him with her chin in her hands, "Hey, Nii-chan said that he's gonna go someplace tonight."

*Tok* - "Where?"

"Well, he didn't really tell me, but he said that you could come along too."

"When?"

"Right before sunset. So you want in Sess-chan?"

"I have nothing better to do." - *Tok*

~~Hours later; nighttime~~

Tōtōsai was eating roasted pig with Myōga.

"Tōtōsai, are you sure it was wise to leave Sesshōmaru alone? I mean what if-?"

"He'll kill it without so much as flinching. He'll be fine Myōga, stop worrying. I mean, what's the worse he could do?"

"I, I would rather not think about that actually."

"He's fine."

To be continued…

**From my other fic Sesshomaru Ante Iam:
Yume appears in chapter 4; to know why Sesshōmaru's mom isn't in the picture go to chapter 10; to know who the family members mentioned by Taishō are, and who Akiyo is, go to chapter 12; to know why Sesshōmaru is 14 but looks 11-12, go to chapter 14.

Of course, if you want to.