Mother Dearest

Sesshomaru thought back to the day they recovered his mother's body. She was in her true form, a large white dog. It wasn't too many years ago that she lost her temper for the last time and the turmoil of the event stuck to him. She had been shot with arrows, slashed with swords and smelled of burned hair. She had apparently been struck with torches as well. His mother was not as immense as his father, but still a respectable size. Sesshomaru himself would not finish growing in his demon form for many years to come and had already surpassed her in size. Some said that maybe he would surpass even his father who was of gargantuan proportions.

His parents had a blow out the evening before.

'Gods, Don't they ever stop?' thought Sesshomaru, resisting the urge to rub his temples. Sesshomaru could hear the bickering through the walls of his room. His parents were never at peace anymore, not after his father, Inu no Taisho, had proposed a truce between the dog clan and some unusual human village.

"These humans will be the death of you, Inu no Taisho!"

"Why do you say that? That's what these negotiations are going to prevent. Peace, Seiobo, peace is what I'm after. We're getting older Seibo, and must remember where our strength lies; in our future generations."

"You just feel yourself getting weaker. You are afraid of Sesshomaru!"

"Hmf."

"What? What is so amusing Inu? Eh?"

"I think you are insecure."

"Insecure? About what? Sesshomaru is powerful enough to take you and that ridiculous village of yours on! Hell, so am I!"

"Don't be ridiculous. They have a long line of warriors. I wouldn't take them on alone if I were you, Seiobo."

"How dare you! How dare you insinuate…I will not take ANYMORE OF THIS!" his mother screamed "I WILL NO LONGER TOLERATE YOUR PRESENCE IF YOU INSIST ON KEEPING COMPANY WITH HUMANS!"

Seiobo stormed towards the door.

"WHERE ARE YOU GOING!"

"TO FIND YOUR PRECIOUS VILLAGE! Or one just like it!"

"SEIOBO! SEEEEIOBOOO!"

By the time she had passed away Sesshomaru hated his mother, but in the back of his mind he held a few special memories. He remembered warm evenings when he was little; catching fireflies, trying to count the stars, and a host of other silly childish activities that were comforting. They had a respectful memorial service and he spoke with his father about vengeance.

Sesshomaru folded his arms into the wide sleeves and leaned back onto the smooth stone wall. The candle light flickered and cast eerie shadows across the room. "Will you not avenge her, father?"

"I have not decided" responded his father.

Sesshomaru gasped. "How could you not! What?"

"SHE…she was…Sesshomaru, she was foolish to attack them!" His father looked at his own hands and clenched them into fists.

"You, you are sacrificing your family's honor for the sake of that pact you made with…with those…humans!" He spat the word 'humans' as if the sound of it gave him a bitter taste in his mouth. "You have become weak, father. You're afraid of those villagers. Keh. Pitiful"

"You need to learn Sesshomaru, it is not always necessary to kill. Mercy is one of the ultimate tests of power. Sometimes it is better to walk away. If we leave them alone, they'll leave us alone."

"It is necessary now. Or are you walking away from honoring my mother?"

"No, Sesshomaru."

"Yes. You are. I cannot allow her murder to go un-avenged. As if it is not bad enough that you have disgraced our name by mating with that human concubine… disgusting…insulting. There are also rumors that…" He could not bear to finish that sentence out loud 'You're going to replace me with a half breed for the sake of a demon-human alliance'.

Sesshomaru stormed out into the darkness of night, feeling the humid air of summer making his clothing stick to his skin. He sped into the forest and transformed into his terrifying pure demon form. With a roaring bark and a howl at the moon he was off towards the village hungry for blood, revenge, and was dizzy with power.

'Am I not everything he requires for an heir? What does he need with another child? A child of dirty human blood no less! "Humans are filth! Do you hear me Sesshomaru!" You were right mother, humans are always the problem'.

Sesshomaru did not have far to go when a familiar scent tickled his sense of smell. 'Father' He was crossing a great wide open field when he found his father standing his path in human form. Sesshomaru skidded to a stop in front of the puny human-like in his path, not fooled by his small appearance. He knew his father to be the greatest of all demons in the western lands in stature, and amount of victories. 'Is this it? Will I fight him tonight?'

"Stop Sesshomaru, I will not lose my only son to the same ridiculous temper to which I lost my mate." Sesshomaru growled and bared his fangs.

'I could easily kill him in this form with the poison that can seep from my fangs, yet another new addition to my natural arsenal. I grow more powerful everyday.'

"Sesshomaru…my son…you are about to attack a town of demon slayers"

'Demon slayers?' Sesshomaru's growl came from deeper in his body now. 'Did father know? Did he let my mother charge off to her death? He must have…let her go to…be rid of her…' Sesshomaru felt that he would burst or explode from all the treachery, the betrayal, the loss, the anger and worst of all the helplessness. He felt his legs shake beneath him. It struck Sesshomaru that 'I cannot defeat my father…yet. I am still a mere pup compared to him. I have been one of the few to witness his true form and though I am great in my own right he could still swallow me whole. It is useless. I am still powerless compared to him.'

His father had a thought that perhaps Sesshomaru would strike, but his fear proved to be wrong. Sesshomaru was breaking inside. The larger dog backed up and howled a mournful bellow. Again and again, he howled until he had no strength.

His father stood before him for the first time aware of is son's pain. He believed Sesshomaru to be feeling-less and indifferent to the world. To witness his son in such grief made the great dog demon, ruler of the Western Lands feel utterly powerless. He did not plan this to happen, nor did he think his mate would meet her end so soon. She was young for a dog demon. 'Seiobo you were still so beautiful, and full of vitality. What a waste, my mate.'

Hoowwwwwwwl! Sesshomaru laid down his enormous bulk against the warmth of the earth. The sky was getting light and Sesshomaru's eyes noted the fading stars. 'He killed mother just the same as if he had slashed her himself. He let her run off, did not stop her, nor would he aid her. All to protect his human alliance. Cursed humans'. Sesshomaru's mind began to wander 'I had almost made the same mistake as mother tonight.' His stomach churned at the thought. 'I must restrain myself against such rash action. I must cultivate discipline, beginning with this pain. I must be patient. I will have my revenge when I am ready and able, no sooner, no later. I will have my power and I will be top dog, father. Some day I will destroy you.'