Author's Note: The first multi chapter I've posted in a long time. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha.
Sesshomaru watched the wriggling insect's futile attempts to escape his grasp. His father was out, leaving him with yet another nanny. He didn't bother to remember her name. She'd quit soon, just like all the others. Frightening, they called him. Too quiet, they said. He dug one of his claws into the bug, watching it desperately flail around before being reduced to twitching as the life in its eyes faded. Sesshomaru smiled.
–-
The dog general sighed as the new nanny walked away. The third in two weeks. All with the same reason: Sesshomaru frightened them. He'd asked his son many times and the boy's answer was always the same.
"I didn't do anything to them, Father."
Sesshomaru was intelligent for his age. Most three year olds weren't interested in matters of diplomacy. He was also doing well with his tutors, when they were around. It seemed like everyone he hired to care for Sesshomaru avoided the boy. He couldn't stay home to care for Sesshomaru. He was much too busy to care for a small child. Besides, that was supposed to be his mother's job. Not that he expected a woman who gladly betrayed him for another man to be a good mother. She must have thought so as well, because Sesshomaru was quite literally left at his front gate not long after he'd caught her with her new lover. But that didn't matter as long as he was able to get a woman to care for his son and, once again, it was time to search for a new nanny.
Sesshomaru sat on his bed. It was soft, comfortable like his clothes. In fact, everything in his room was soft and comfortable. So soft. So comfortable. So childish. Sesshomaru wasn't fooled. He knew that the reason everything was so soft was an attempt at child proofing his room. Because he might hurt himself otherwise. His stupid mother must have told his oh-so-wonderful father about how he'd gotten into the weapons. It wasn't like he didn't know they were sharp. He just didn't care that he managed to cut himself on a couple of them. He'd wanted to look at them closer when his mother came in the room and found him there. At that moment, there was only one thing he could do. Pretend. Pretend that it hurt, that he didn't know the weapons were there, that he was actually in unimaginable pain. And the stupid woman fell for it. She rushed to his side and told him that everything was going to be okay. Empty promises, all of them. He knew that she had already decided to send him to live with his father, a man he had never met, so that she could live with her new lover. Stupid woman. And she expected him to care for her if she lived to be old and decrepit? After giving him away because her new lover didn't like him? Forget it.
His father was no better. The man had no idea what to do with him and hired a nanny. Another woman to be his mother. Sesshomaru had hated her. She wasn't his mother. None of them were. When would they finally understand that he didn't want them pretending to be his mother, pretending to care about him, pretending to be someone they weren't? They only cared about the money. What right did they have to order him around? It only went to show that his father thought of him as a burden. The only time his beloved father even spoke to him was when the pretend mothers quit. Sesshomaru wanted his father to at least acknowledge that he existed. Sesshomaru had learned that his problems never disappeared just because he hoped they would. No, to make his problems disappear, he needed to act. The life of a bug meant nothing to him, so he'd use it as an example. That was just how little he cared for them. They labeled him frightening, so why not behave in a frightening manner? It was only fair.
–-
"Hello, you must be Sesshomaru. Your father has told me a lot about you. My name is-"
"I don't wish to know your name," Sesshomaru interrupted. Another pretend mother. She'll be gone before long.
"Sesshomaru, be polite," The dog general scolded. What is wrong with this boy? He knows better.
Sesshomaru turned to face his father.
"I don't wish to know her name," He said simply. "She will leave, just like the others." Why do you keep giving me pretend mothers?
"You will learn to show respect for your father, Sesshomaru. You will learn your new caretaker's name. Do not challenge me."
Sesshomaru's glare remained steady for a few seconds before dissolving.
"Yes, Father," He said. "What is your name, miss?"
As Sesshomaru's new nanny introduced herself, the dog general observed his son's actions and demeanor. Sesshomaru seemed passive, but he could see anger bubbling underneath the boy's strangely calm shell.
He is only three. How can such a young child hide so much rage inside? How long has he been doing this? Why is he so angry? Am I doing something wrong? Or is there something wrong with him?
–-
The dog general opened Sesshomaru's bedroom door. Everything was soft, as recommended. Sesshomaru would not be getting into any weapons here. Weapons would have to wait until he was old enough to handle them without injuring himself in the process.
Stepping into the room, he studied the figure on the bed. Breathing in, out, in, out. Sesshomaru was awake. He just knew it.
"Sesshomaru, are you awake?" The dog general asked.
No answer. Well, Sesshomaru could pretend to be asleep all he wanted, but he was going to hear what his father had to say.
"Sesshomaru, I know that I haven't been around for you. I'm a very busy man, but I do love you and want what's best for you. I know you don't like your caretakers much, but please try not to frighten them away. You are only a child right now. When you are older, I will be around to teach you. But until then, you will remain here."
It was awkward trying to say things in a way Sesshomaru would understand, but the dog general hoped that his words made some difference.
–- Author's Note: That's all for chapter one. About Sesshomaru's age, I personally think that demons take a long time to mature, physically and mentally. I'm using human years as a general idea of how old Sesshomaru is. Sesshomaru is just a very smart three year old. It also makes him young enough to be creepy without necessarily being evil. Thanks for reading!