Chapter 1:
It was a particularly cold morning when Sesshoumaru stepped out of his cave. He was only a pup at the time. He puffed out his chest as he wrapped his exceeding long tail around himself to keep warm. He sniffed the air and caught the scent of a fire smoldering off in the distance. He shivered as he peered out over the cold gray mountains. He scanned the horizon with his sparkling amber eyes for a sign of his father. He had been gone for many months now leaving Sesshoumaru to fend for himself. His hair was caught up in the breeze and lightly fanned out like silver streams of light. His nose was slightly upturned almost as an external clue to his outlook on the world around him.
Then as quietly as a ghost he caught sight of a silhouette looming towards him with increasing speed. It was enormous yet graceful. Sesshoumaru backed up as the figure came closer and eventually landed with a soft thud on the cliff. It was his father. Sesshoumaru ran up to hug him but caught himself. His father always told Sesshoumaru he was a man of noble demon blood and should act as such. He stopped right in front of his father and gave a sweeping bow. His father did the same and that was when Sesshoumaru noticed a bundle under his father's arm.
"Father what do you have there?" Sesshoumaru asked. His father stood upright.
"What disrespect is this?" his father annunciated. Sesshoumaru forgot how he was supposed to address his father.
"I'm sorry sir. Please forgive my insolence," he immediately corrected himself. His father gave him a hard stare and sharp breath.
"I'll let it pass for now," his father stated shortly. Sesshoumaru let out a sigh of relief.
"Where have you been sir?" Sesshoumaru asked quietly.
"Never you mind child. I am here… for now," he replied flatly. Sesshoumaru's ears fell slightly when he had remembered the package.
"So what is in the bundle sir?" he questioned again.
"Your new responsibility for when I am away," his father barked. He lowered the bundle for Sesshoumaru to examine. Inside was a half demon toddler. Sesshoumaru sneered in disgust.
"You expect me to take care of the filthy half breed," Sesshoumaru spat. His father's eye flashed with anger and struck Sesshomaru across the face. He yelped in pain as he cowered back. His father struck him twice more and then grabbed him up by the scruff of the neck.
"You will say no such thing about your own blood child!" his father roared and rose his arm to strike him again. Sesshoumaru crouched down in fear.
"Sir please stop! How am I related to the toddler sir?" Sesshoumaru whimpered. His father lowered his arm and stared at his son.
"I've been gone so long," his father remarked almost with the air of someone commenting the weather. Sesshoumaru stood up.
"Yes sir, yes you have," Sesshoumaru stuttered slightly.
"So you wouldn't know then child," his father said in the same tone as his previous statement.
"Know what sir?" Sesshoumaru asked. His father sighed.
"This half demon is your brother."