About "Mamoru Mono": (spoilers may commence)
This story does not fit in, as it was originally conceived to be, the third movie storyline."Mamoru Mono" means "Something to Protect". In "Mamoru Mono", Sesshomaru, InuYasha, Izayoi, and Inu-no-Taishou are all still living. Inu-papa has not yet fought the fatal battle with Takemaru. The great sibling rivalry we all know and love has not been forged, and Sesshomaru is actually kind to and protective of his brother. To see how all this might change, and to maybe understand why Sesshomaru hates InuYasha, other than "dirty blood", you'll have to read on.
NOTE: This story is NOT BY ANY MEANS yaoi in ANY WAY. The affection show to InuYasha by Sesshomaru is NOTHING MORE than brotherly love. If I get any flames/reviews saying "Is this supposed to be yaoi?" or something like that, suffice it to say, I will not be happy.
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Mamoru Mono
A young InuYasha curled up into a ball as the village children kicked him—hard. He flattened his small silver dog ears, but he could still hear their taunts.
"Stupid half-breed!"
"You freak!"
"Go on! Get up and run home to your demon loving mother!"
Suddenly the bruised and battered hanyou heard a low growl and the shrieks of children. He felt the pounding stop, and uncurled his small body. He perked his ears and opened golden eyes, sniffing the air. There was no mistaking it— it was his big brother!
Sesshomaru continued his growling, standing in front of his little brother protectively. The children of the village were gathered in a small huddle in front of him, staring at him fearfully. They were scared of this full youkai. He hated these children. Just because InuYasha was different didn't mean they had to abuse him and make fun of him like this! Suddenly a small voice spoke up from behind him.
"Sesshy-kun?"
"Sesshy" stopped growling at the kids when he heard InuYasha's nickname for him and turned around. "It's okay, InuYasha. You won't have to worry about these idiots hurting you."
Seeing Sesshomaru looking down at him kindly and hearing him speak that statement, InuYasha smiled and stood up. His big brother smiled at him and turned back around to face his brother's tormentors. His features hardened and he began growling again. "Get. Out. Of. Here," he bit out. When they didn't movie he increased the volume of his growling. They turned and ran.
The full youkai immediately felt a small body latch onto his leg. "Thank you Sesshy-kun!"
Sesshomaru couldn't help but smile as he looked down at InuYasha. "Don't mention it 'Yasha." He tried to take a step, but the little hanyou still hadn't let go of his leg. "Hey, you need to let go of my leg little brother."
InuYasha complied immediately and grabbed Sesshomaru by the hand. "Come on Sesshy! Let's go!" He took a few steps, then stopped, wincing. "It hurts…"
Sesshomaru let go of InuYasha's hand and knelt beside him. "Where does it hurt, InuYasha?"
"My side hurts."
The full youkai paused for a moment, then swept his brother up in his arms, being mindful of the indicated side. "You'll be okay in a couple of days. But for now I'll take you to...Mom."
"Okay." The half demon snuggled down against his brother's pelt. It was almost dark, and as the night fell, the cold of the coming winter set in. Sesshomaru carried his half brother past the huts of the village, making his way towards a lone hut far beyond the others. A slim tendril of smoke rose from the small chimney.
Reaching the door of the hut, Sesshomaru shifted InuYasha's weight to one arm and knocked on the door. A woman with a wealth of long black hair and dark eyes answered the door.
"Sesshomaru! It's good to see you," she said. Then she caught sight of InuYasha. "What have they done to him this time?"
"Some kids were kicking him around. I scared them off, then came here. He says his side hurts," Sesshomaru responded, and walked in. Izayoi shut the door behind him.
Izayoi reached out to take her son from Sesshomaru. InuYasha, who had been almost asleep against the warmth of his brother's pelt, perked his ears slightly and opened sleepy-looking golden eyes. "My side hurts Mommy," he said."
"Shh, it'll feel better in a couple of days," his mother answered.
The small half-demon gave a little smile. "That's what Sesshy-kun said."
Izayoi smiled at Sesshomaru. "Well InuYasha, it looks like you're getting a little tired." She walked past a small table and pushed aside a piece of cloth used as a divider. She lay InuYasha gently on the small bed that occupied the room and covered him in a blanket. His mother brushed a lock of hair from his face and kissed hom on the forehead. "Sleep little one." InuYasha, eyes already closed, smiled slightly and snuggled down into the warmth of the blanket.
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Sesshomaru was awoken later that night by his sensitive hearing. And what he had heard was what sounded like whimpering. He stood, a little stiffly, from his chair by the dying fire and made his way past the hanging cloth into his brother's room.
"'Yasha?" Sesshomaru questioned quietly, walking over to InuYasha's bedside.
The hanyou sniffled slightly, tears leaking from his tight-shut eyes. "Sesshy, why do they have to do these things to me? Why do I have to be different?"
Sesshomaru's golden eyes softened as he looked down at him. He reached out a clawed hand and wiped the tears from his younger half brother's face. "It's okay InuYasha."
"Sessho, I'm cold," InuYasha sniffed, his tears slowly stopping as his brother gently stroked his small ears.
The inu youkai looked around the small room for another blanket, but nothing caught his sharp eyes. Reaching a decision, Sesshomaru whispered, "Move over, 'Yasha." InuYasha complied, and got a small surprise as his brother pulled back the blanket and climbed into the bed. 'Yasha turned over to look at his half brother, and Sesshomaru made a quieting motion. Then he hugged his bother to him, making sure the little hanyou's body was snuggled against the fluffy pelt.
"Better?" The senior brother asked, only to find that InuYasha was already asleep. He smiled to himself and closed his own eyes. Sleep came quickly.
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Torie-san: In case you were wondering, yes he did take his armor off before he got in the bed. NO THIS IS NOT YAOI. IT WILL NOT BE PRETTY IF YOU SAY IT IS. Thank you.