A/N: It took me all night (with a migraine, I might add) but I finally finished this chapter. I know it's short, but it's pretty good, if I do say so myself (and I do!). Enjoy and don't forget to push that little blue "GO" button, when you have "Submit Review" highlighted. It's just a nice gesture. I supply the story, you supply the reviews. Pretty fair, I think...

Note: This is a Dream/Flashback/Sudden Memory Return

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha...but I know who does! (Just kidding)

What Is A Half Breed?

"Get out of here!"

Pain

"We don't want your kind in our village!"

Another pain

"Find somewhere else to live, half-breed!"

More pain

A group of children ran through the village, chasing a small, red clad figure, shouting insults and taunts while throwing stones. A sharp pain exploded on the figures arm, another on his back and a third, the most painful, on the back of his head. This brought the figure to his knees. A few more stones were cast before the antagonists tired of their game and dispersed, leaving the tiny figure, hurt and alone.

"It's not right."

Tear

"A human and a demon?"

Another tear

"She must be in league with them. They're evil!"

More tears

A small child, no older then5 years old, sat on the branch of a tree that was set in the center of the village. Attempting to hide himself from farther torment, he dared not move until he knew everyone in the village had returned to their homes. Moving slowly and as quietly as possible, he drew the sleeve of his haori across his eyes in an attempt to clear his vision. The pure white ears atop his head, which almost blended in with his ivory hair, twitched from side to side. Though he tried to block out the villagers comments, these ears only amplified their harsh words. Each insult echoed in the poor boys mind.

"Why do they hate me?" He asked himself. Looking down at his hands, now covered with scraps and cuts, he examined his claws carefully. He fingered a small bit of white hair that hung in front of his amber eyes. "Why do I have to be different?" Suddenly, his sensitive nose picked up a familiar scent, the scent of cherry blossoms, fresh cooked tempura and a hint of sake. He knew, beyond a doubt, who it was.

"Inuyasha?" A soft voice floated on the wind and reached the boys ears. A smile crossed his slightly swollen face. His salvation! "Inuyasha? Where are you?" Her voice was full of love and concern. Standing on his perch of a branch, Inuyasha prepared to leap from the tree. Just before his feet left the stable branch, though, the same soft voice said a bit threateningly, yet playfully. In came in a very low whisper, that could not have been heard if not for Inuyasha's sensitive ears.

"Inuyasha, don't you dare jump from that branch." Looking down, Inuyasha smiled as his mother continued to look around the tree, as if she had no idea her son was hovering right above her head. She knew exactly how to handle the villagers. Shooting a quick glance up into the tree, the beautiful woman down below winked then returned to her act of search for her son.

It was not more then 15 minutes later that the entire village was safely inside their own homes, when Inuyasha looked around for his mother again.

"Mother?" He called as softly as possible. She can't be very far away; her scent was still very strong. Out of the shadows, her figure appeared. Inuyasha happily jumped down from his hiding place, landing perfectly on the soft ground below. With one hand on the ground to steady him, he slowly stood up and smiled slyly.

"Inuyasha, you know I don't like it when you do that." She said, her voice concerned and loving.

"I know." He said matter-of-factly.

"What were you doing up there?" She asked. Inuyasha bowed his head.

"I...I was hiding." He admitted.

"Hiding from what, my dear?" She asked, taking his tiny, clawed hand into her own as she began to lead her son home.

"From the other children." He said softly. "They were teasing me again and started throwing rocks at me." Thinking back on that event, Inuyasha slowly raised his free hand and felt the back of his head. A bump had formed where the stone had made contact with him. He flinched when his fingers touched it; the physical and emotional pain came flooding back to him.

"They did?" His mother asked, her tone, not one of disbelief, but of slight surprise and sadness. The pair walked the rest of the way home in silence.

"Mother, why am I different?" He asked innocently when they finally arrived at their home. He was just taking off his haori and lying down in his room when his mother knelt down next to him.

"Because," she started, gently brushing aside his beautiful hair, "you are special. The Gods have blessed you with gifts and that is nothing that you should ever be ashamed of."

"But why don't the other children like me? Why do the villagers whisper about us? Why do they say mean things to you...about me?" Inuyasha's mother pulled back a bit, surprised at what her son was telling her.

"You... you know about that." She asked him seriously. Inuyasha didn't answer. He simply reached up and tugged lightly on one of his ears. "I'm sorry you had to hear those things. Some people just don't understand."

"Understand what?" He asked through a long yawn. His vision slowly began to blur and his eyes eventually closed.

"How wonderful you really are." She whispered into her son's ears. They twitched slightly, but he never awoke. "Good night." She added, kissing Inuyasha on the forehead then quietly left the room, tears of sorrow filling her eyes.

A/N: Poor Inu-chan. Kids can be so cruel to people who are different! Next chapter; Kagome and Inuyasha are going to discover what secrets the well holds! See ya then!

:: Aoura Maiden ::