(Inuyasha's POV)

"Don't you worry alright? Everything will be fine. Sesshomaru may seem a bit…rough around the edges but he means well…I mean he can't be too bad right? He did agree to keep you after all." Inuyasha stares up at the old man, who is barely taller than himself, with unconcealed skepticism. How could he make such a statement after the argument they just had? The scene is still fresh in the young child's mind:

'Get out…'

'But Sesshomaru—'

'Get the fuck out! Don't make me repeat myself!'

'I know you must be outraged but this is your father's final wish. This his death wish! Please find it in your heart to—'

'Why should I give a damn about his whore of a wife and their bastard child? None of this has anything to do with This Sesshomaru!'

'I know you feel as though he abandoned you and your mother b-but—' At that point Inuyasha had backed away and hid behind the older man in fear as the livid teenager approached them hostilely. He was positive by the look on his face that he was going to pommel Myoga if he kept talking, but the brave man simply swallowed and continued to speak. 'But you would be no better than him if you don't take care of your own blood! You'd be doing the exact same as your father. Inuyasha needs you—'

'Urasai before I send you to join him in the afterlife!'

'Myoga-jiji?' For the first time Inuyasha had dared to speak and he was surprised when the two adults stopped and stared at the sound of his soft voice. He had instantly regretted speaking up though. The one named Sesshomaru had glared at him with such intensity he was sure that his little body was trembling under his hatred.

'Inuyasha…why don't you go out and wait in the hall?' Never in his young life had he been so willing to listen to the old man before, but he was kind of disappointed that he did not get to hear the rest of their argument. He could not understand any of what they were saying. Only that they kept bringing up his father. Why couldn't he see him in the hospital?

"Inuyasha!" Myoga calls out for the fourth time.

"Huh?" His big brown-gold eyes blink out of their daze when the elderly man suddenly snaps his wrinkled fingers in his face. He must have been too deep in his thoughts to hear the elder call his name the first few times.

"Listen here! Make sure you follow every single thing Sesshomaru tells you to do, okay?"

"Hai, hai."

"No really. I know how rebellious you can get. He is not as patient as your parents. He is only ten years older than you and has no experience with children. Thus none of that defiance here, understood?"

"Yeah…"

"Inuyasha focus! If you don't heed my advice seriously you will be very misera—"

"Haaiiii." His voice comes out as a childish whine and his lips poke out in a bored pout. Why must the geezer lecture him every chance he gets?

"Good…well I have to go now—"

"Myoga-jiji?"

"Yes?"

His eyes shift down to his booted feet, and he uses his lustrous fringe to cast a shadow over his face. His voice comes out so faintly that Myoga must lean in to catch it all. "Why do I have to stay here? D-Does dad blame me for the fire? For k-killing…mom?"

"No Inuyasha. Your father…he um…just know that he does not blame you for any of this. Okay? You know him. He would never blame you for something so horrible. It was a tragic accident."

"Then why is he sending me away?!" His head snaps up abruptly and Myoga can see the tears threatening to spill from his puppy-dog orbs.

"Inuyasha…he does not want to, he…you will understand someday."

"…" The boy chews on his lower lip to stop the trembling and to fight off the anguish threatening to pour out of him in the form of tears.

"I must go now."

"…" Myoga rubs the boy's head in affection and inwardly prays for him before disappearing down the hill of the mansion-like home. "But I wanna' go home to dad…"

"Come here boy! Don't just stand in the doorway like that!" Inuyasha spins around and comes face to face with Jaken's deep scowl. A shiver runs down his spine and he has to cover his mouth with his hands to avoid shrieking like a girl. Did his older brother have monsters living with him? "Come now boy, I'll show you to your room."

Inuyasha meekly nods and follows the odd man to the long spiral staircase. Halfway up the steps he shakes his fears away when he realizes that he and the gremlin are about the same height. "Hey, my name is not boy by the way! I am Inu-ya-sha."

"Whatever."

"Nooo not whatever. Next you say your name baka."

"Baka?! What an insolent little brat!"

The young boy allows a playful smirk to spread across his face as he falls into step next to the fuming man. "Well, I wouldn't call you baka if I knew your name now, would I? Duh!"

"Why you! I-It's Jaken!"

"Okay then Jaken-san, where's my big brother?" He inquires as they reach the top of the staircase and continue down the long barren hallway. The walls are a crimson red color and the only thing that offers any decoration is a huge portrait of man framed in black. The man has red eyes and authentic long black wavy hair. His eyes are framed with blue eye shadow which stands out against his pale skin. In the painting he has on a dark black, purple, and blue kimono but the picture stops at his waist. His smile gives off a bone-chilling feeling, like something evil, and Inuyasha cannot imagine why anyone would want such a dark painting in their home. On the top on the black frame he can make out a word in gold letters; Na-ra-ku. Doesn't that mean hell?

Jaken scoffs at the boy's innocence and contemplates whether he should correct him on the way he should address the Yakuza lord…maybe he will allow Sesshomaru to handle it himself. "He is downstairs having dinner."

"Why aren't we down there too? I'm hungry!"

"He has instructed me to show you to your room and make sure that you stay there until he says otherwise. And look brat, you might want to do just that until Lord Sesshomaru is calm enough to deal with you."

"Hmpt." Inuyasha allows his habitual pout to take shape on his plump pink lips and crosses his arms in disdain. Everyone is acting so stuffy. "No fair…"

Jaken rolls his eyes at the young child and pushes open the mahogany door that they had stopped in front of. "From here on out this shall be your room."

Inuyasha steps in and does not get to respond before the door is being slammed closed. "Well goodnight to you too." He frowns at the door and turns around to explore his new room.

First off, the room is about twice the size of his old room in Okinawa and the first thing that catches his round eyes is the huge king-sized bed on the far wall near the wide window. There is a walk-in closet, which has nothing in it, and a big dresser that nearly touches the ceiling. There is a black desk located directly under the window complete with a rolling chair and there is also a medium sized bookshelf on the wall near the door. All the fabric and furniture in the room consists of black silk. The rug on the floor, the curtains, the bed sheets—everything. Although it all seems very nice and fancy Inuyasha cannot help but think that the place gives off a gloomy ambiance. He lets out a sigh and climbs into his new bed, ignoring the slight grumble in his stomach. As he snuggles under the sheets the feeling of emptiness and loneliness overwhelms him. He curls into himself and burrows his head into the plush black pillow. Thoughts of how his mom would tuck him in and read him a bedtime story pain his mind. She would pull the sheets all the way up to his chin and try to make her voice as calm and soothing as possible to ensure that he fell asleep without a fight. The few nights that he did not, he would beg for another story, and she would give him a motherly wag of her finger and start scolding him on why he needs his proper rest. He would pout and then she would end up tickling him and next thing they knew they would be wrestling around on his little bed engaged in their childish tickle fight.

His father would come in at the sound of all their giggling and inquire, 'Shouldn't you be in bed Inuyasha? And Izayoi, I am sure that you are not helping make that happen.' Together they would respond with a whining, 'Aaaw!' And his father would smile his calm, warm, barely there smile before picking him up and re-tucking him into his covers. His dad would ruffle his hair and his mom would kiss him on the corner of the mouth. His father would then flick the light off as they murmured their goodnights in hushed voices.

His father saying something like, 'Goodnight son. May your dreams be merry and bright.'

And his mother would soon follow up with, 'Nighty-night sweetheart. Mama loves you more than all the cuddle fish in the sea.' His mom would say something like that to him every single night. Stuff like, 'Mama Loves you more than all the stars in the sky' or 'Mama loves you more than every inch in every foot in every mile'. The next morning, he would always complain about her babying him too much. He is going to be ten soon after all, and she would just shrug him off and do it anyway. He did not really push it though, because secretly he loved it. Her words always got him to sleep at night with a warm fuzzy feeling that could only be inspired by motherly love. They may not have had much money, but his parents always spoiled him where it counted; in love.

But now they are not here…he took everything for granted and now he has nothing! Tears sting at Inuyasha's eyes once more as these thoughts bounce around his mind. He closes his eyes tightly and shakes his defiantly shakes his head. He refuses to cry. And besides, he is wrong. He does have something…he has a big brother now.

Even though he misses his parents terribly, his mind wonders to what life with Sesshomaru could be like. Maybe his older brother could do some of the things his parents used to do for him. Although he seems a bit scary, Inuyasha cannot help but think that he is also a little cool. What does he do for work to have such a big house? Is he an FBI agent? Or maybe an undercover spy? His mind illustrates countless possibilities as he finally falls asleep.

….

The next day Inuyasha wakes up at about ten o' clock: according to the digital clock on his nightstand. He watches the clock restlessly as thirty minutes tick by…then forty-five…then sixty and soon two whole hours pass by painfully slow. What in the hell could his brother be thinking? He remembers Jaken saying not to leave his room until he fetched him, but its noon and he is starving! His slight grumbling has turned into full out hunger pains. When does this guy have breakfast? And they have not even introduced themselves to each other yet. Could he be busy with his FBI or spy work? Nonetheless, he cannot go on without some food. Now. Making up his mind the small boy crawls out of bed and pokes his silver head into the hallway. Once looking both ways, as if crossing a street, he tip-toes stealthily down the hall and to the top of the stairs. His saffron eyes remain focused on the hallway behind him as he slowly makes his way down the stairs. After making it down, he finally looks back ahead of him and narrowly avoids running into his big brother! The intimidating mad stood there and stared down at him. It appears he has been there for a few seconds now.

"Oh!" His eyes widen in shock, but he calms down even in the presence of the stoic man's narrow glare. "I'm sorry, didn't see you there—" He is cut off quickly when he receives a swift backhand to the face. The force of the slap causes him to lose his balance and fall to the floor. His eyes sting with tears as he clutches his burning cheek and stares up at the still-expressionless man before him in disbelief. "W-W-Wh—"

"Why are you not in your room? I am sure that Jaken was successful in relaying my order for you to stay there until I came for you correct?"

"I-I'm sorr—"

"Answer my questions."

Inuyasha uses the railing to help pull himself to his feet and quietly gulps before mumbling. "He did tell me…"

"Then why are you out here?"

"I-I was r-really h-hungry, so I t-thought—"

"Thought that was a valid excuse to disobey me?" The sharp tone in his voice informs him that he had better not answer the question in the affirmative.

"No…"

"Let us get a couple of rules straight right now." How did he expect him to know the rules when he hadn't even talked to him last night? Although Inuyasha is known to have a smart mouth he is also smart enough to know that he should probably keep that to himself. "Number one: I am always right."

What kind of rule is that? He wonders to as his head cocks to the side.

"Number two: If I am wrong then…consult rule number one."

How the hell are these rules!? He scowls at him slightly and crosses his arms at the arrogant man.

"Number three: You do everything I say, exactly as I say it. Number four: No attitude and Number five: Stay out of my way."

"Okay…" He notices him shift to walk away and desperately grabs at his sleeve. "Wait!"

"Don't touch me!" The snarl is so fierce that he immediately lets go and cringes away from the man.

"U-Uh sorry!"

"What do you want?!"

"I just wanted to tell you that…I'm umm Inuyasha."

"So what?"

"Um, so uh, nice to meet you." He holds out his small hand with the expectation of it being met with Sesshomaru's but after a more than awkward pause he ends up letting it drop limply to his side. "Umm well you're Sesshomaru, right?"

"Wrong." His stone face turns into a chilling glare and Inuyasha must stop himself from trembling like the night before.

"Wrong?"

"You are not to address me in such an informal manner."

"Oh, aniki then?" Inuyasha flinches when the man raises his hand to hit him again but sighs in relief when he drops it just as suddenly.

"You call me that again and I'll beat the living daylights out of you, understood?"

"H-Hai!"

"You shall call me Sesshomaru-sama."

"Sesshomaru-sama?"

"Good boy." His voice is laden with monotoned sarcasm.

"Sesshomaru-sama? Um, why can't I call you aniki? You are my big brother aren't yo—Ack!" In an impossible instant, Inuyasha finds his feet leaving the ground. His tiny hands fly to his brother's fingers which are currently locked in a death grip around his scrawny throat. Sesshomaru yanks him up by the throat until the boy is eye level with his amber glower. "What did I just say? Don't call me that! And don't you ask me any questions. This Sesshomaru does not answer to children. Understood?"

"…" Inuyasha's feet kick out frenziedly as he tries to pry his brother's fingers from around his throat. No matter how hard he scratches, it does not seem to affect the older sibling in the slightest.

"Answer me when I am speaking to you!"

"N-N…gh…hah, hah! Nngh!" His hands fall as the air is squeezed out of him. How does he expect him to speak when he cannot breathe?

"Come on, I know you can't be this weak." A sadistic smirk graces the cruel man's lips as his grip tightens dangerously on the boy's windpipe.

"Y…y-eh...ss."

"Yes what?"

He tries in vain to swallow and his eyes roll back as the oxygen is cut off from his brain. He has no idea how he manages to mumble his next words in a hoarse whisper. "S-S-Ses-sho…ma-a…ru-s-sam…a." As soon as the last syllable stumbles out of his mouth Sesshomaru releases his hold and he hits the floor with a loud thud. The Yakuza lord simply watches as his little brother gasps like a fish out of water at his feet. His face is pressed against the hardwood floor and his silver hair is draped all over his face and shoulders. After a few seconds he becomes disinterested with the scene and steps over the prolonged child. When Inuyasha hears his footsteps, he props himself up on his shaking hands and breathes out a weak.

"Wait!"

"What." Sesshomaru stops but does not turn around.

"W-when hah i-is hah breakfast?"

"Breakfast? I'm on my way to lunch."

"C-Can I j-join—"

"No." He interrupts bluntly.

Inuyasha cannot believe his ears. "What? Bu—"

"No buts. If you cannot obey me then you won't eat. You should have never left your room."

"But, Sesshomaru-sama, I'm hun—"

"No buts!" He pivots around on his heels with a hand raised threateningly and Inuyasha stumbles to his feet and runs back towards the stairs where he cowers down in fear near the rail. "Go to your room." Inuyasha literally trips up the stairs and dashes back to the safety of his room. He slams the door carelessly and searches through teary eyes for anything to make him feel safe. Back at home when he was upset, he would cuddle up under his bed with his kitten Kirara in his arms. He glances at the bed and sobs harder when he sees that the space between the bedpost and the floor is nonexistent. Instead he pushes the chair aside and crawls on all fours under the writing desk. He pulls the chair back in place and it serves as a semi-boxed off area where he can sulk in peace. He does not bother trying to stop his wailing and brings his knees to his chest so he can wrap his small arms around them. How could his brother be so mean to him? What did he ever do? Could he possibly hate him already or could it be that he is still in a bad mood? Either way his heart yearns for his mother more and more with every painful beat. "Mommy…I-I'm s-scared!" His cries are borderline hysterical as his young mind realizes that things will never be how they used to be.