This chapter is a flashback.
Humanity
A beautiful woman sat at an altar, praying for her dead lover. Elegant silk robes covered her and pooled on the floor where she knelt. She rocked an infant against her chest.
The hair rose on the back of her neck, and she knew she was not alone.
"Human." A gentle voice spoke out behind her.
The princess turned around to face her intruder.
Terror filled her. She couldn't breathe.
Touga's wife stood on the balcony behind her. Her unearthly white hair settled around her shoulders. She looked so cold and emotionless, so unlike her dead mate.
She knew she must be there to finally kill her. Did she mourn Touga as she did? Could she blame her for wanting to kill the mistress responsible for his death?
"I have come to retrieve the child."
She clutched the baby to her chest so fiercely he cried out. His cries were jarring against the otherwise quiet of the night.
"No. You will not take my child from me."
The ethereal youkai raised an eyebrow. "He will be raised as my own son."
"He is my son!" The noble woman shouted.
"You will teach him the ways of youkai? You will defend him when others despise him?"
"I will do what I must for my son, but he will be raised with his fellow humans."
"He is not a human. He will be powerful."
"I refuse to have him raised with youkai! I have seen enough brutality. Who will teach him humanity?"
"Very well. You are refusing my help?" Manako asked.
"Yes, please, just leave us alone. Touga trusted me to take care of him, so I shall."
The room reeked of negative emotions; a mix of shame, regret, grief, and fear.
This was the woman who her mate had found favor with? How disgusting.
"What is the child's name?"
Izayoi looked up from her infant with a tear-stained face, "Inuyasha. He named him Inuyasha."
"Take care of him, Izayoi." She commanded.
The distraught woman didn't see or hear the demoness leave.