Insert Standard Disclaimer here

"Twilight Guests"

It was evening. As usual, Izayoi was emptying out the dishwater onto the ground outside their house. Inuyasha had gone off into the nearby field to catch fireflies.

I sense a presence… there's a demon nearby… Izayoi stretched out her senses and located the source of the aura.

"Greetings!"

WHAP!

"How nice of you to drop in, Myoga."

"Any… time… Princess… ugh…" He fluttered down from where he'd perched at the tip of her nose.

"You know better than to do that," she smirked.

"Of course. I just couldn't resist a tiny sip from such a beautiful woman. It's been a long time, Your Highness." The old flea stood up on the field stone and took a tiny bow.

"So, to what do I owe the pleasure of this visit? Or did you just come to flatter me?"

"I bring terrible news, Your Highness! Lord Sesshomaru, the elder son of Inuyasha's father, has discovered your whereabouts! You must flee to a safe place immediately!"

"That will not be necessary."

Myoga zipped into Izayoi's hair. "Too late, too late!" he squealed in her ear.

Izayoi stared at the tall demon. Very much like his father, she thought. Right down to the fluff. "Lord Sesshomaru, I presume?"

He inclined his head slightly, affirming her statement. "You are Princess Izayoi."

"Correct."

"The same Izayoi who caused my father's death eight years ago."

How dare he! "Your father died protecting me… and his son."

"So there was an offspring after all. Where is he?"

"What do you want with him?" Izayoi asked, fearing the worst. If he has anywhere near the power his father had, there's no way I could stop him!

"I wish to ascertain whether he is any threat to my rule."

"Look, Mother!" Inuyasha ran up to her with his hands clasped together. He opened them to reveal more than a dozen fireflies, who all took wing, except for one who seemed content to crawl around on his left palm. It took Inuyasha a moment to realize they had company… they didn't often have any.

"Mother, who is this?"

"This is your older brother, Lord Sesshomaru. He's come to visit." She looked Sesshomaru square in the eyes, but his expression betrayed nothing of his intentions.

"Are you his mother, too?" Inuyasha inquired, looking from one face to the other.

"No… but your father was also his father. I'll explain later," she added, noting his perplexed expression.

"What is his name?" Sesshomaru asked Izayoi.

"Ask him. He's old enough to tell you himself."

"I do not ask things a second time. I do not often ask a first time."

Izayoi bit her lip. She didn't want to anger him, and yet…

"Hi, Lord Sessh… Sessho… I'm Inuyasha!" The long name was still a bit tough for him.

Sesshomaru stared down at the grinning hanyou child at his feet. He was obviously neither amused nor pleased to meet this potential challenger.

"Great," Myoga whispered in Izayoi's ear. "Inuyasha thinks he's found a playmate… this won't end well…"

Sesshomaru extended his right arm. "Stand still," he commanded Inuyasha, who uncharacteristically obeyed. Sesshomaru slashed quickly with a single finger, leaving only a small scratch on Inuyasha's left palm between the thumb and index finger.

"Ouch! That hurt!" Inuyasha yelled.

Sesshomaru ignored him. He lifted the blood-daubed claw to his nose, closed his eyes, and inhaled. After a moment, he opened his eyes again.

"I have smelled his blood. He is only half demon."

"You knew that already," Izayoi fumed.

"It is not always so certain," Sesshomaru reproved her. "But this Inuyasha is no threat to me." Sesshomaru turned away.

"Brother? Where are you going?" Inuyasha knew about brothers. They helped you when you got in trouble. He'd always wished for one.

Sesshomaru's footsteps paused for an instant and then resumed.

"Brother? Are you mad at me?"

"Inuyasha, shh!" Izayoi admonished her son. "Let him go. It's better this way."

"Why?"

"Your brother… Lord Sesshomaru… has business elsewhere he must attend to."

"Oh, hi, Myoga. When did you get here?" Inuyasha eyed the flea that now inspected the wound on his hand.

He's been hiding, as usual, thought Izayoi.

"The wound is not serious, my lady. Some hot water and a small bandage should suffice."

"Why don't we all go inside?" suggested Izayoi. I'll feel safer once we're all within the spirit wards… not that Sesshomaru couldn't break right through them.

Inside, Izayoi bound the injury and breathed a sigh of relief. I suppose it's a good thing he's only half demon… if he was a full-blooded demon, Sesshomaru probably would have killed us both on the spot. But since a hanyou couldn't possibly challenge a full youkai for their father's title, Sesshomaru let us be.

"Mother? Did I do something to make Lord Sessho… Sesshomaru mad?"

"He wasn't mad, Inuyasha."

"Then why did he hurt me?"

Izayoi couldn't answer truthfully. Myoga spoke up. "It is an ancient demon nobility tradition that the blood of a potential heir – or a challenger – must be tested by the current ruler and an impartial third party for purity and strength. I have been the third party, and though I must admit your blood is quite tasty, it is not the blood of a full demon. Lord Sesshomaru was concerned that you might be a threat to his claim to your mutual father's title… he is the new Lord of the Western Lands, after all. And if I know Lord Sesshomaru, he would not let any threat to his title live! Inuyasha, tonight your human half saved your life! And very likely those of myself and your mother," he added under his breath.

"But… why did he go?" Inuyasha's lower lip trembled. "Why didn't he stay with me? All the other children in the village have brothers and sisters."

Izayoi dropped to her knees and embraced him. "I'm sorry, Inuyasha… I wish I could give you brothers and sisters. But that's just not going to happen. I treasure you too much to hand our lives over to a man who would probably kill you the first chance he got."

"I don't understand, Mother."

"I know… maybe someday you will. Come on, bedtime."

"Ok."

As Izayoi prepared her precious boy for bed, Myoga sat on the front step gazing at the sliver of moon. If Sesshomaru had come tomorrow night, he would have found a human boy… would he have recognized him then? Myoga sighed. Who knows? Life is full of possibilities, yet only one course of events will ever be followed. It is a shame that events conspired to make this boy grow up without his father… without a place in this world.

He stood and dusted off his pants, then slung his traveling bundle across his back. "Time to head back to the grave… must keep up pretenses. Humph. I wonder where exactly Totosai hid the gateway to the fang, anyhow… absentminded old codger," he muttered as he hopped down the road.