1. The Half Demon
Inuyasha was just a small, boy, his long white hair streaming behind him. He wore the fire rat robes, and at the moment, was talking with some child from the village he and his mother lived in. Inuyasha's father had died long ago, right after Inuyasha was born. He had been protecting them, but died in the process.
His mother had told him about this. He had also learned that he had an older brother named Sesshomaru. She had told him that his brother was a dangerous demon that wasn't to be messed with. Inuyasha had then asked, "Will I be like that?"
His mother had hesitated, but then answered, "I hope not, Inuyasha." she whispered.
He hadn't said anything else after that, Inuyasha had never liked upsetting his mother and he sensed that she did not want to linger on the subject. But that was then, this was now. And right now, he was speaking to a boy named Kota; Kota was the same age as Inuyasha, but did not have ears or fangs. Inuyasha wasn't really sure why he had them either; he had never dealt on the subject.
"So Kota, do you think I might come over for a visit, if your parents say its okay?" Inuyasha asked.
"Sure, but what about your own parents?" Kota asked.
"Parent," Inuyasha corrected, "I lost my dad a long time ago, but my mom wouldn't really care." That was a lie of course, and Inuyasha would have to ask her, but she'd probably say no. But there was always a chance.
"Oh, I'm sorry Inuyasha, I didn't mean to insult you or nothin'." Kota apologized.
"It's not that big of deal." Inuyasha waved him off. Just as he was about to change the subject with Kota, both of them turned their heads to a shadow falling across them.
"Kota! Get away from him! He's not safe!" snapped the woman who towered over them. Inuyasha figured this was Kota's mother. She didn't seem very nice, considering she was waving her arms in front of him like someone would do a dog. Inuyasha stood, his anger side flaring in an instant.
"What do you take me for, woman? Some kind of dog?" Inuyasha snarled, baring his teeth.
"Ahh! The demon, it bit me!" screamed the woman, pretending to be hurt and drawing away from him.
"Demon? Bit you? I did no such think, and I'm not a demon!" Inuyasha yelled.
"Inuyasha…Calm down, I am sure this lady did not mean to compare you to him." Ezioi, his mother told him, "But Inuyasha, did you bite her?"
"No! She faked it cause I got mad!" Inuyasha growled.
"Demon? You say that monster is no demon? Who are you to defend him? That boy is as much as demon as any other that's attacked here!" the woman screeched.
"Bit you? A demon, where is the demon, Mam' ma?" asked an old farmer.
"In front of you fool!" the woman growled. A crowd had gathered now. Apparently Inuyasha had kept to himself in the village.
"You woman, you dare call my son a monster! You are the beast, for you can not see the kindness in his heart, he is no demon in my eyes!" Inuyasha's mother defended him.
"Are you really a demon?" Kota asked him quietly.
Inuyasha shook his head, "My mom would have told me, I know her."
"Then why do you have ears like a dog and fangs like one?" Kota asked curiously again, Inuyasha sensed no threat or sarcasm in his voice, but his defensive barrier was up at the moment.
"Because I'm different, I'm better than all of you!" he growled.
"Inuyasha! Come on, you need not stay here any longer, for it is apparent you are not welcome in this part of the village." With that his mother grabbed his hand and took him off to their hut.
Inuyasha looked small next to his mother because he was young, very young, at the age of nine. He sensed his mother's rage and protection, and something kept him from asking if he really was a demon, so he kept real quiet until they got home.
When they reached home, Ezioi led Inuyasha to the pot full of stew. It looked good, and…smelled good. Inuyasha found himself staring at it, realizing he was famished.
"Inuyasha, I have to tell you something very important. And you mustn't get mad for keeping it from you." His mother's voice had drug him out of his own little thoughts, and so he began to listen to her.
"Inuyasha, I have told you you're brother is a full demon. That is very true, and your father. I didn't tell you about. He was full demon as well, one of the strongest there was, he was known as the Great Dog Demon.
"Then he met me and I had you. Because I am human, that makes you only a half-demon. The lady was speaking half of the truth when she called you a demon, and knew that I must defend you for it. That is why I stood up for you. Please understand why I kept this secret, Inuyasha, For I had my reasons."