A/N – Okay, I was cleaning out my 'fragments' file on my hard drive and discovered some bits and pieces and rudimentary stuff. So here, in an excuse to use this material, I present three different points of view on the situation.

Disclaimer – I don't own Inuyasha. Don't sue.

CHAPTER V

1. The western youkai.

Time passed.

Sesshoumaru's subjects, deeply unsettled by the Inu no Taishou's suicidal love, were reassured when he showed no inclination towards mercy, compassion or tolerance. The new lord may be aloof, almost insufferably superior, and maddeningly hard to read, but at least he was steady; he always spoke the truth, no matter how harsh, and he destroyed anyone who crossed him – friend and enemy alike – with the same objective impartiality.

However, for centuries he had made his opinions admirably clear, openly stating his distaste for hanyou and his displeasure with any who had congress with humans. Therefore, it was understandably difficult to see why, having made such unequivocal statements, he had taken his hanyou half-brother under his protection…

Some of the more indiscreet grumbled. They whispered amongst themselves, exchanging glances and raising their brows, but even they dared not speak out against it – not publicly, at least, and most definitely not to Sesshoumaru's face. The Lord had made it quite clear that he would destroy any who questioned his actions; oddly enough, that was the only reassuring element in this deeply sordid affair. At least he had not gone completely soft.

The first rash, foolish pup that he tore apart for his discourtesy and presumption settled the matter, and then there was no need for any further examples.

2. Inuyasha

Inuyasha went with his older brother on his solitary progress over his lands. It had been two years since his mother's death, and Inuyasha – now eight years old – was growing taller and stronger. He had graduated from field mice and small birds to rabbits and, occasionally, very small fawns –

(Younger, slower than their mothers, the fawns were infinitely more vulnerable. Their meat was softer, too.)

Sesshoumaru had also taught him how to use his first power, the Sankon Tessou. As yet, it was rather weak, but power, as Sesshoumaru said, with his flat, indifferent stare, would come – power without skill or direction, on the other hand, was less than useless.

Sesshoumaru said many things, most of them disparaging. But when Inuyasha put his lessons into play – like that time when he had mangled the clinging vine youkai all by himself – there was a cool light of almost-approval in his elder brother's eyes that made everything else worth it.

3. Sesshoumaru

A creature of habit and routine, Sesshoumaru vaguely resented the upheaval and disorder that Inuyasha – by his very existence – had brought to his life. He was noisy and over-enthusiastic; his presence had almost incited the western youkai to rebellion, putting Sesshoumaru to the trouble of crushing it before it became a serious problem; he required constant supervision from even the pettiest mononoke –

But given the chance to be rid of him, Sesshoumaru knew he would not take it.

Not yet.

The pup was not ready to survive on his own. He had courage and spirit, but he simply was not strong enough yet to be completely independent; he had not yet acquired the full range of skills needed to defend himself against any who thought him an easy meal. Sesshoumaru was determined to make a capable, canny predator out of the half-breed no matter what it took.

Hence the lessons, and the impromptu training – long ago, when he himself had been little more than a pup, Sesshoumaru's father had taken him out into the wild and shown him how to survive. With no other frame of reference, he was teaching Inuyasha in exactly the same way.

One day, when he had taught him everything he needed to know, he would toss the brat out on his ear and resume his normal life. But until then it was Sesshoumaru who brought down their game, Sesshoumaru who walked in the lead, constantly searching for threats, and Sesshoumaru who sat underneath Inuyasha and tolerated his fear on the nights he turned human.

Had he known Inuyasha would be this much trouble, he would have let the pup fend for himself. But, having taken on the responsibility of raising him, he would do as good a job as he could before getting rid of him…

A/N - Just couldn't resist throwing in that bit about the fawns. Obviously, Sesshoumaru has no false sentimentality. Of course, I, the author, never really liked Bambi anyway...