Author's Rant: This one was inspired by one of my chapters in Naughty Dogs. Fair warning, its fluffy.


A Young Conversation


Sesshomaru was eight years old. At this age, most children were developing a fascination with the latest toys, working into becoming more sociable or simply figuring out the best way to entertain themselves.

Not him. As a matter of fact, Sesshomaru was quite mature beyond his years. There was no other child on his level of intelligence; none of them understood what he said or how he acted. This was the main reason he rarely spoke, or socialized with other children. He didn't see a point.

The playground on the way home was always ignored. It'd become an everyday routine for him to walk home alone after school, never think to wave or join the robust toddlers or anything. It was like this in his third grade class, he was the only student to keep his text books alphabetized and tucked neatly in his cubby hole. His snacks were normally healthy tuna sandwiches, a single red apple, and a bottle of crystal water. During recess he opted for staying indoors, reading Charlotte's Web and Aesop's Fairytales for sixth graders. When the bell rung to go home, he'd ride towards the front of the bus, be the first to walk off, head on home, complete his homework, have supper with his mother and father, then prepare himself for bed.

This came natural for him and he appreciated its predictability. This meant there were no surprises wanting at the end of the day. He despised surprises. There was no way of telling what the outcome would be. At least this way, he was in control of what happened.

However on one particular Monday afternoon, he was bypassing the playground it was raining pretty badly. He had his umbrella at the ready, ignoring the laughing, but for some reason today he decided to turn his head to the left. There he spotted a tiny little boy, hair as white as snow, swinging by himself on a swing set totally soaked. Two droopy puppy ears sagged to his sodden crown and the curtain of his long hair hid his bubble face from view.

Sesshomaru didn't notice his feet aiming for the little toddler, noticing just how small he was in comparison to himself. A mini chibi barely to his chest, maybe four years old he mentally guesstimated. He wasn't dressed to fashionably. His clothes look twice as worn and sagged against his skinny frame. Sesshomaru saw a small jerk of the little boy's shoulders and when he leaned in closer, he could hear crying.

Sesshomaru's feet waned in the filling puddles to stand beside the child, holding his umbrella over his head. The little boy didn't look up to see him there. He waited quietly for the crying boy to acknowledge his presence and after two minutes of no response, he grew impatient. "You shouldn't stand out in the rain. It's easy to catch a cold."

The voice startled the tiny little demon, turning his large honeycomb eyes up to the bigger kid. He sniffled, rubbing his wrist across his button nose. "W-what?"

Sesshomaru sighed through his nose, "I said, you shouldn't be out here in the rain. It's stupid to stay out here just to get wet."

The little hanyou scowled angrily jumping from the swing as he turned up to Sesshomaru. "I not s'upid. I not s'upid!" He angrily stomped on the muddy ground. The move caused him to slip and immediately he was flat on his bottom. The tears returned with full force. "You make me fall!" the child stood and ran away, crying out as he fled.

Sesshomaru looked after the toddler until he disappeared into the mist. He was surprised the boy had respond to him as he did. This was the very reason why he refused to socialize with people. They didn't understand him.


That following Tuesday the sun shunned down manifesting humid steam from the gathered puddle spots. Sesshomaru trailed down the side walk, automatically searching out the boy from yesterday. He spotted him sitting alone on a bench underneath a tree. He was clothed in the same clothes from yesterday, a stained red t-shirt and jeans too big for his stubby legs.

In his hand was a large loaf of bread he kept waving back and forth to the crowd of pigeons. When he hopped down to get closer, the motion scared the birds away. Now truly alone, the little boy waddled back to his bench, placing the oversized bread piece by his side and balled his fists over his eyes, in tears.

Sesshomaru stared for a while until he wandered near, unhooking his book bag from his back and reaching on the bench for the bread. Bit by bit he crumbled the slices in his hand and tossed them on the cement. Pigeons as well as a few wild chipmunks and squirrels started inching closer and feasted away on the bounty.

By the time he was tearing the last piece, the little hanyou's ears twitched at the sounds of chirps and squeaks, seeing the boy from yesterday throwing away his last piece of bread. The child gasped, looking at all his bread scattered on the ground, then to the taller kid, eyes big and sad. "Y-you took my food. Meanie!" The puppy hanyou leap off the bench and ran away, face flushed with sorrow.

Sesshomaru blinked his obvious confusion. He didn't understand what he did wrong. He thought the child want the animals to eat his bread. Picking up his book bag, he thought of a way to apologize and left for home.


He should've given up caring but just once, Sesshomaru wanted to see what the little boy looked like with a smile on his face instead of tears. When Wednesday rolled around he found the tiny toddler sitting by himself in an open space of the playground where only grass resided. In his left hand Sesshomaru carried an extra lunch bag with a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, a plastic bottle of milk and a large red apple.

The little boy was far from happy to see him as he surged to his feet, fists balled at his side. "Weave me awone, you meanie!"

Sesshomaru didn't stop until he was standing over the stubborn brat, shoving the bag in front of him. He didn't say anything and simply waited to see what reaction he would receive this time.

The boy snatched the bag from his hand and crouched on the grass to peek inside. He saw all the delicious food and peered up innocently to the one giving it to him. "Is dis mine?"

Sesshomaru nodded his head.

"I c'n keep it?"

Another head bob confirmed it.

"I c'n eat it?"

Sesshomaru refused to nod after this one.

"Why you gimme dis?" The hanyou tilted his head, closing the bag in his hand. "Do you like me?"

Sesshomaru frowned. He didn't like anyone. He barely tolerated his parents only because they provided for him.

His crunched up expression made the little boy giggle, "You funny face. I like you. Wanna be f'iends?"

"Sure," Sesshomaru's first word to the little boy in two days. "What's your name hanyou?"

"Inuyasha," Inuyasha smiled his toothy grin up to the taller boy. "What yo'r name?"

No one's ever asked him for his name before. It felt nice. "Sesshomaru."


For the next three weeks, there came a brand new habit Sesshomaru followed after school. No matter how the weather was, rain or shine, he made sure to venture down to the park to find Inuyasha. Never day they did something different together. Most of the time it was just Inuyasha doing majority of the playing and Sesshomaru watching from a distance.

Inuyasha didn't mind so long as he had his friend nearby. Sesshomaru would bring him all kinds of toys to play with and snacks to eat. On this very sunny day, Inuyasha was holding Sesshomaru's hand, swinging his limb from side to side, singing some made up song only he could understand.

The words came very loud, off key and mispronounced but Sesshomaru found it adorable though he'd never express it on his face. Inuyasha danced and cheered, injecting Sesshomaru's name in each song he sung, bringing a very small tilt of the older demon's lips. By the end of their walk together, Sesshomaru protectively wrapped an arm around Inuyasha's neck, keeping him tucked safely under his arm.

Inuyasha smiled widely up at him, "Sess'omawu?"

Sesshomaru looked down.

Inuyasha's smiled became soft as he snuggled his head into Sesshomaru's side. "You'we my bestest, best f'iend in the whole wowld."

Sesshomaru looked at him, eyes becoming gentle. He didn't instantly reply back but the way his insides melted told him all he wanted to know. Inuyasha was his very best friend too.

By the end of the park was where they stopped and parted ways. This time, Inuyasha grabbed Sesshomaru's hand to keep him from leaving so soon. "You pwomise to always be my f'iend Sess'omawu?"

Sesshomaru froze at first, shocked to hear such a vow being request. There was so much warm devotion dancing in Inuyasha's beautiful eyes, it made Sesshomaru reached out and pull him in a close hug. He would forever and always be Inuyasha's friend. No matter what happened.


Sesshomaru couldn't stand seeing Inuyasha's condition any longer. He'd been able to sneak some of his extra clothes to Inuyasha when his parents weren't looking; he'd been smart enough to get away with taking extra food to school. But now as the days went on he couldn't stand being away from him any longer. He wanted him near him always, never to have to go a day living in part of which he'd discovered from his best friend two days ago when Sesshomaru questioned him about his parents or where he lived. It stirred a terrible urge in his stomach to wrap Inuyasha in his arms and never let go.

So he demanded an audience with his parents, saying he wished to bring home a guest to spend the night with. At first both his parents were stunned silent to hear he'd even had a friend. His mother was all too willing to meet this person and instantly agreed. His father was just as eager to see who it was that gained the status of being his son's friend and waited.

By the end of that day, Sesshomaru returned with Inuyasha by his side, or rather hiding behind him because he was so shy of the brand new strangers.

"Aww aren't you just the sweetest?" Sesshomaru's mother Tsukiko embraced Inuyasha to her chest, nuzzling her face in his matted hair. "The poor thing needs a bathe," She looked to her son, sending him a small message before she turned a pleasant smile to her husband. "Taisho, be a dear and run the bath water for him. I'll be right up to help."

"Come on little guy," Taisho's deep voice rumbled down to the tiny hanyou.

"Sess'omawu," Inuyasha stressed nervously as he was led away upstairs.

Sesshomaru was about to follow when his mother placed a hand on his shoulder. He looked to his best friend, then to his mother curiously wondering why she wouldn't let him go.

"Sesshomaru," she softly called, kneeling to his height. "Where does this boy live? Who are his parents?"

Sesshomaru hesitated to answer, as he bowed his chin to his chest. "He doesn't have a home Mother. I found him at the park a few weeks ago. He doesn't know who his parents are and he doesn't have anywhere to go." A concentrated frown played on his young face as he turned to his mother. "May he stay here with us? I promise to take care of him."

"Sesshomaru . . ." She chewed her bottom lip. "It's not that simple sweetheart. We can't just take a child off the streets without learning what we can about him. What if his parents come looking for him? We wouldn't be able to keep him here."

"No," Sesshomaru stubbornly stomped, for once in his life showing his true age. "I don't want him to leave. Inuyasha's mine. He's my friend. I won't let anyone take him from me!" Sesshomaru bolted up the stairs just as his father was descending down.

InuTaisho stared after his son, and then turned to his wife to see her eyes filled with worry. "Something wrong Love?"

Tsukiko sighed, nodding her head. "It's Sesshomaru. He wants Inuyasha to stay with us permanently. He told me the child has no home or parents, but how can we know that for sure? Oh Taisho," she walked up to her beloved mate, laying her head on his chest. "We couldn't let Inuyasha go if he doesn't have a place to stay. Anything could happen to him out there."

"Shhh sweet one, it'll be fine. Of course we won't let the boy leave," Taisho couldn't live with himself he cast an innocent babe out with nowhere to go. "We could do some research, perhaps ask the police department if they know of any missing children or if there's been a death of two people. Anything at all just to be sure."

Tsukiko agreed. It wouldn't hurt to try. She only hoped Sesshomaru was willing to go along with it.


Later that night as the children were tucked into bed, Sesshomaru refused to let Inuyasha sleep on the floor, saying he wanted him under the covers with him.

The tiny tot happily snuggled beneath the sheets, basking in the warm given by his best friend. Sesshomaru hugged him tight, resting his chin between both perky ears. Before he knew it, his lips had firmly planted a soft kiss on top of the freshly washed head of hair, "I'll never let you go," he whispered fiercely. " You belong to me. You're my friend Inuyasha. You'll always be my friend."

Inuyasha was so happy to hear those words. "I will always been youw f'iend. I pwomise." It felt so good to be safe and secure in his friend's arms. He never wanted to live the beautiful haven created just for him. His breathing evened out and before long, the pale haired hanyou was slumbering in Sesshomaru's arms.


Sesshomaru meant every word he said. Not once had he allowed Inuyasha out of his sight for an instant. He always tried his hardest to be around, even when he was forced to leave for school, he made both his parents swear to protect him until he came home to take over.

This continued on for two weeks straight. Sesshomaru would literally race home to see Inuyasha sitting at the dinner table coloring a brand new picture of them together or telling him something new he'd eaten or seen on television. He never stopped chattering and Sesshomaru was perfectly fine with that.

"See Sess'omawu? See! I did it by myself!" Inuyasha's chest puffed with pride as he displayed his newest drawing of a rainbow and a bright yellow sun shining down on wrinkled face cat. "I make bwig sun. You like it?"

Sesshomaru nodded. It was all Inuyasha needed to squeal with delight as he snatched another piece of paper and went to work making a new picture.

"Sesshomaru, Inuyasha."

The two looked up at the same time to see Ms. Tsukiko standing there with a tall gentlemen dressed in tailored suit, his eyes were dark red and he had long wavy dark hair. "Inuyasha," The mother Inuyoukai stepped forward, taking the child by his hand. "We have to go on a trip for a while."

"How wong?" He questioned. "Can Sess'omawu come?"

"No sweetheart, he has to stay here."

"Huh?" Inuyasha looked back, nervously. "I no wanna go," he whimpered. "C'n I stay pwease?"

Tsukiko sadly shook her head. "I'm so sorry sweetheart."

"I be a good boy. I pwomise."

Sesshomaru froze, eyes wide. He slowly stood, looking at the tall stranger to Inuyasha, then to his mother, gaze filled with questions. Where were they taking Inuyasha? Where was he going? His feet were carrying him behind them, before he was poised in flight, barely missing Inuyasha as he walked outside the front door with the tall man.

He was about to run after them until his mother cupped his shoulder, holding him back. "No sweetheart. You stay here," she sadly chimed.

Sesshomaru grew desperate, lips quivering. "Mother. . ." That one word held so much inside. She couldn't even look him in the eyes. It told him all he needed to know.

He took off upstairs to his room and locked himself inside, throwing his face into the pillow. He wouldn't cry. He never cried. But his heart did ache so very much because he was so scared.

He was afraid he would never see Inuyasha again.


Sesshomaru counted each day that passed without Inuyasha. He refused to talk to anyone, he always stayed in his floor and when it came to dinner, he picked over his food. He'd visited the playground loyally every day, waiting for Inuyasha to appear, but he never came.

His room was the only place he could find peace, as he looked at everything his little hanyou played with. Underneath his pillow there were stacks of misshapen drawings. Often he'd pull one out just to stare at the careful strokes of a crayon and the clumsy wiggles in other places.

He missed Inuyasha so much. It'd been twenty seven days since he'd last save him. He was beginning to think he'd never see him again.

Suddenly there was a gentle knock on his bedroom door. He didn't bother answering. He didn't care who it was. The knocking continued on, until he grunted, "Leave me alone."

The doorknob jingled and twisted, pushing forward. Sesshomaru sighed. He'd thought he'd locked the door.

". . . Sess'omawu?"

Sesshomaru shot off his bed, shocked to hear his name called like that. From his bed, he stared blankly at the tiny little boy holding his father's hand as he smiled wide.

Inuyasha wiggle his hand free and waddled as fast as he could Sesshomaru's bedside, "Guess what? Youw mommie and daddie said I c'n play 'ere all the time now. I don' live at da' park. I live 'ere now!"

Sesshomaru looked to his father, silently pleading that this wasn't a joke. InuTaisho chuckled, winking his eye as he shut the door behind him. "Play safe," he said before the door shut tight.

Sesshomaru's throat clogged thick. He didn't know what to say so he only acted. He bounced off his bed and wrapped his around Inuyasha's shoulders, rocking him side to side as he inhaled his pure scent softly kissed the top of his head. "You're mine, Inuyasha. You'll always be mine."

"Always?"

"Yes, always."

Twenty Years Later

How the years seemed to fly as they did. Sesshomaru kept to his childish vow even as he and Inuyasha came to grow up together. He never allowed his best friend to stray far. They attended the same high school for as soon as they could, got accepted to the same college and even when Sesshomaru graduated before Inuyasha, he always made sure to be around.

When he got a new job out of town, he made sure there was enough room for Inuyasha to stay as well. However as the time went on, Sesshomaru's feelings became much more then friendly and soon he became infatuated with his hanyou so, that he proposed. Inuyasha had been speechless and so thrilled. It'd always been his secret wish that they become married someday. It was dream he'd held dear since they were teenagers.

On their wedding night, Sesshomaru cherished Inuyasha's body like the precious beauty he was, being gentle and vowing his devotion to him for all eternality. The years to follow, just before they'd fall asleep, Sesshomaru would whisper the same words he'd said since the day he got Inuyasha back.

"You're mine, Inuyasha. You'll always be mine."

"Always?"

"Yes, always."


TBC: Kiddie Inus are so precious.