Author's Note: Here comes chapter 7, hope everyone is enjoying everything so far. . .let me in on any suggestions and as always please read n' review. Thanks to all!
Disclaimer: I'll say it again: I don't own Inuyasha
Sesshoumaru stood ready to strike. The villagers had picked up some of their farming tools and were advancing on him. At their first attack, he would destroy them all. "They are like ants in their useless toil. . ." his mother's words came to him as his father's had earlier. Thinking of them, killing the humans held no more remorse for him than stepping on an anthill.
"Stop this at once!" a voice shouted so loud it almost shook the valley. Sesshoumaru froze where he stood, his eyes wide. It was his father's voice, and never had he heard it so forceful and demanding. He knew it was aimed at him as well as the humans.
"There is no need for confrontation!" Inutaisho said as he got closer to his son and the group of villagers. "This is my son, and neither he nor I mean you any harm." "He has only stumbled upon your village in a child's curiosity." "Please forgive the intrusion, and allow me to help in any way I can. It is obvious a demon who devours human flesh has come down from the mountain and attacked you." "If you wish, I can have lumber and other supplies sent to you to help repair your homes." The villagers stared in shock, but it was visible that they believed Inutaisho. Some nodded numbly in agreement.
"You . . . would help us?" "A demon?" the headman said in wonder.
"Of course." Inutaisho said. "We have no reason or need to cause you harm or wish you ill."
"Tha. . . Thank you." the headman said, obviously in shock.
"Forgive us again for our intrusion." Inutaisho told him as they turned and quickly left.
Humiliation stung Sesshoumaru's mind like needles. Why had his father treated him like a stupid child in front of those mortal buffoons? Couldn't he see that they changed their minds and conviction after hearing only a few convincing words? How could he think them worth placating? Why would he want to help them when what had happened had nothing at all to do with him? He gritted his teeth in frustration and confusion.
"Why father?" he asked at last. "Why did you make a mockery of me in front of those humans, when they clearly intended to kill me?" His father stopped walking and spun on him.
"You have the impudence to ask me such a question?" his father asked him angrily. "You left the castle grounds without telling a soul and for no reason, wandered alone down the mountain, and entered a human village." "Then you proceeded to put your foot into business that did not involve you in the least." his father bit out. "You are too young to understand what a grave situation this could have become, for all involved." "It would not bode well for rumors to be circulating among our enemies that my son destroyed a village of humans." "It would make us seem as though we had no self control and no sense to judge what was our concern and what was not.""It would make us look like fools, weak-minded and vulnerable." "For peace to last, one must have security among all the creatures within their domain, down to the lowliest beast.""Making peace last through diplomacy is the truest sign of a great leader, not the ability to strike down your enemy." Inutaisho finsihed.
Sesshoumaru stared at the ground, as deep in his shame as he had been at the time he had first been reprimanded by his father in his early days of training. Perhaps he was still a child, and knew next to nothing. One thing he was sure he knew however, was that the humans were not something he should waste his time protecting or helping. He felt his anger rising again. His father turned to walk on, but Sesshoumaru stopped him with another statement.
"But why protect those humans, father?""I killed that beast that would have killed them all, and they turned on me in less than half a minute.""They don't even have the ability to think for more than a few seconds before their mind changes again." "Even animals have more sense than this." "Why not wipe them all out and put them out of their misery?" he asked cooly.
Inutaisho turned to his son once again, his eyes wide with shock. "Sesshoumaru, do not think that because you have now taken a life so easily that you are the supreme judge of who should live and who should die.""You have only the right to protect yourself, your honor, and others close to you if you choose." "You should not strike down all that are in your path just because you are able." he said.
"But they are stupid beasts!" Sesshoumaru shouted at his father.
"They are afraid!" Inutaisho shouted back. "Stop and think Sesshoumaru!""They are not like us. They have everything to fear!""They live in it, day in and day out, all their lives.""They are constantly aware of the threat from sickness, war, famine, demons, and even wild beasts in the forest!" "They cannot help but be afraid to the point of mindlessness when they are presented with more than one threat." Unlike animals, they have the consciousness to know that danger is around them always." "Think on those things before you judge them." Inutaisho said more softly. Then he turned and began the final trek back to the castle.
"To live in constant fear is no kind of life." Sesshoumaru thought to himself. "Especially if it takes over the mind to the point that causes actions such as those." He said nothing, and followed his father the rest of the way in silence.
When they returned and had settled down, Inutaisho went to his son's chambers just before the castle retired to bed. "Sesshoumaru?" he asked and knocked lightly on the door. His son opened it. "I came to tell you that you will be coming with me in the morning, back to the west." Sesshoumaru's eyes widened, but he said nothing and only nodded. "Your servants will have everything packed and ready in the morning.""I want you to come with me and help me patrol my domain and rid it of rogue demons." "Now that you have had your first kill, it is time you advanced further and learned what it means to be a warrior with a purpose." "Do you object to this?"
"No, father, I will do as you ask." Sesshoumaru answered. "I hope I will be of good service to you." he told Inutaisho.
Inutaisho smiled, sensing that his son had made some kind of peace with the events of the past two days. "I'm sure you will be, you are a fine warrior my son." "Good night, and rest well." he said as he turned to leave.
"Thank you father." Sesshoumaru said to his father as he walked down the corridor toward his chamber. "Even if we do not agree on certain matters." he thought as he pulled his door shut.
