Jaken shuffled out of the room with an uncharacteristic quietness. Sesshomaru-sama stood in the hallway, cold, and alloof as ever. "Jaken." His voice boomed out. He expected an answer.

Jaken adjusted the bundle in his arms. "It is... a son... Sesshomaru-sama."

"And She?"

"She is.. weak. It was long and difficult. She showed more strength and courage than I would have expected of her." Jaken allowed.

"Give it to me."

Jaken paused, almost fearful of relinqueshing the infant he spent so many hours and days getting into the world.

"Do you intend to disobey this Sesshomaru Jaken? give me the child."

"Forgive me my Lord, but he is weak, he battled long before he took his first breath, and even now he..." The green one faltered, but offered the babe to his master none the less.

Sesshomaru held the whelp in his one arm. The swaddling cloths fell away from the child's face and a small pair of pointy youkai ears became visible.

"Has she seen him?"

"Yes Sesshomaru-sama, she demanded to see him before sleep overtook her."

"He is not... malformed?" An unspoken fear crept to the Tai-Youkai's lips.

"He is, my Lord, a perfect image of his sire."

"Attend to her."

"Se... Sessh... Sesshomaru-sama?"

"Leave me."

"Yes, My Lord." The imp bowed low and returned to the birthing room.

Sesshomaru sniffed the babe, the smell of birth clung about strongly. He was, without a doubt, his get. The lifebeat was weak, he may have battled long and hard, but before long it would be for nothing. The whelp was dying.

Perhaps it would be better for him to do so. Sesshomaru thought. This world is no place for a child. The Lord of the Western Lands considered the fate of his offspring. He considered what had befallen the last silver haired child that had entered his life. He had often criticized his Chichi-ue for permitting that one to live past infancy. Before he laid eyes on the small bundle, he thought to end the child's life before it began, with a merciful hand. No... this world is no place for a... child He thought again. Now he should not even have to do it himself. The child was slipping away even as he looked upon him. Sesshomaru strode to the window and looked out at the starfilled sky, and glanced up at the moon. A crescent moon. A symbol that even this child, with only half of his blood bore. A rare proud smile crept across Sesshomaru's face. He knew then, why his Chichi-ue had seen to the survival of his half brother. This child, his child, was the future.

Besides... who among us would not be weakened and near death after three days of arduous battle.

The Whelp was now motionless, his lifebeat had ceased.

Sesshomaru set the bundle carefully on top of a table near him, and reached for Tenseiga. The sword answered his request and pulsed. The Tai-Youkai drew the fang and held it above the child, sought the soul bearers with his trained eyes. Jaken returned to the hallway to see his master with a sword poised above the babe.

"No my Lord!"

Sesshomaru swiped Tenseiga above the child, and through the soul bearers from the world of the dead. The child took a deep breath, and began to fuss, and then cry.

Jaken felt foolish for questioning his master, and feared what his punishment might be.

"Jaken."

"Yes, Sesshomaru-sama?"

"Return the Whelp to his mother so that he may feed." Sesshomaru returned Tenseiga to it's sheath at his side. "And Jaken."

The vassal winced.

"His name is Engetsutaro."

"Yes, Sesshomaru-sama." Jaken bowed low before shuffling over to the table to retrieve the now wailing babe.

The master of the Shiro strode out of the hallway leaving his faithful servant to carry out his command. Jaken let out an enormous sigh of relief before returning to the mother.

"Can I not sleep Jaken-sama?"

"My Lady, Sesshomaru-sama has ordered that the child be fed.. and as you can hear, so does the young Lord for that matter."

"I suppose if The Lord of the Western Lands commands it..." she said with a weak smile as she took her screaming babe back from a flustered looking imp and helped him locate his first meal.

"What... did My Lord say?"

"He named the babe Engetsutaro."

"Eldest son of the crescent moon." The Lady reclined her head on her pillow. "Forgive me Jaken... I am, so weary."

"My Lady, it is nothing for a youkai mother to be fatigued after three days of labor."

She smiled slightly. "And you, Jaken-sama, are a very excellent midwife."

The Imp blustered

"Jaken... you may leave us... surely you are also in want of sleep, and I would like to be alone with my... son."

"As you wish My Lady."

The Lady closed her eyes after the vassal left, and began to sing to her newborn as he greedily sucked at her breast.

Years went by. Engetsutaro grew healthy, strong and handsome. As his Lord father had said on the night of his birth, the world, truly was no place for a child in his opinion. Engetsutaro was more or less hidden away in the Shiro while his Father and Lady Mother traveled the lands eliminating threats to their holdings. He waited patiently for the long days of his Chichi-ue's return. Often, his mother stayed in the Shiro to play with him, and teach him the things a mother teaches her child. He loved her dearly. He would laugh at her silly songs and stories, and look forward to the evenings when she would read him poetry before bed. The boy's father however, was an enigma. He did not play with him, he did not sing to him, he did not read to him.

Engetsutaro learned when he was quite young, about the order of the creatures of the world. There were animals, which were hunted and eaten. There were humans, short lived, weak and sickly creatures that scurried about all thier brief lives trying to be wealthy, powerful, or even just happy. There were youkai, and then there were the Tai-youkai. The lords and masters of the world. He was pleased but not suprised to be told that his father was one of these.

Engetsutaro was always seeking ways to earn his Chichi-ue's approval. When he ate dinner with his mother and father he was always silent and respectful, adopting his father's own quiet way. He worked diligently on his lessons with Jaken, and patiently awaited the day when he would grow and take his place beside his father to protect the Western Lands. The happiest day of his life was when he turned 8 years old and his father came home. His mother had always taken great care to be with him on his birthdays, but his Chichi-ue had neglected the particular day more often than not. Insisting that he had centuries of them to come, and that sentimentality was no excuse to ignore duty.

Before dinner, Sesshomaru sent for the boy, and Jaken ushered him into his parent's room where his Chichi-ue waited. The boy stood at the door where Jaken left him and waited for his father to speak. Sesshomaru was engrossed in some scrolls he had spread out on his desk and did not look up. Engetsutaro stood there for some time in wait. He did not posess the nervous impatience of a child of his years. He had no use for it. Did he not have centuries after all?

"Engetsutaro."

Sesshomaru addressed him without looking up.

"Hai, Chichi-ue."

"How many winters have you seen now?"

"Eight, Chichi-ue."

"And what have you learned of who you are?"

"I am Engetsutaro, son of the Inu no Taisho; Lord Sesshomaru."

"And what, do you desire of this day? the anniversary of your birth."

"The same I desire every day of my life. I wish to honor my Chichi-ue and Haha-ue."

Sesshomaru nodded. Pleased with his son's answer.

"I have brought something for you."

The boy's face lit up. In all his days, his father had never given him a gift.

"Something for me Chichi-ue?"

"Come here."

Engetsutaro glided to his father's side and waited while Sesshomaru finished what he was reading. The Tai-Youkai stood up, and pulled something out of the fold of his kimono. The child's golden eyes roamed to the small weapon his father held in his hand.

"Do you know what this is?"

"Is it a sword father?"

"No, a sword is not suitable for a child. This is a Tanto. You will learn to use this to defend yourself should the need arise, and you will keep this until you are old enough for a sword of your own."

Engetsutaro's eyes went as round as teacups and he reached out his small and dainty hands to touch the cherrywood handle.

"Stop."

The boy halted immeadiatly.

"This is a youkai weapon, it has its own youki, and you must be prepared to endure it until the weapon accepts you as it's master. It will cause you pain."

"I understand Chichi-ue. And I am not afraid."

Sesshomaru nodded and set the Tanto on top of the desk. "Take your weapon."

Engetsutaro reached out to grasp the handle of the blade without trepidation. He would not be a coward in front of his Chichi-ue. He grasped the handle firmly and gasped. The youki of the Tanto burned his hand, a freezing burn that traveled up his arm and threatened to consume his being. It twisted and writhed around the child's own youki, drawing it into itself, bending itself. Engetsutaro didn't know how long he could stand to hang on, but he bit the inside of his cheek, and resolved not to drop it. He would not fail the first test his father had given him. He would bring honor to his father, and be worthy of this gift.

Sesshomaru stood back, his hand on Tenseiga. The child was struggling, and nearly entering a seizure. He would not allow the boy to go comotose from the youki contained in the small blade. He believed the boy to be strong, but perhaps he wasn't ready to take control of a youkai weapon as yet. Or perhaps the youki of the lesser youkai used to create it were too much for the child to control. Sesshomaru berated himself. Just before he was about to knock the blade from the child's hand, the pain stopped. Engetsutaro looked puzzled. It wasn't burning him anymore.

"Chichi-ue... did I... break it?"

"No my son. You have been accepted by the blade, and it will now choose to serve you as it's rightfull owner." Sesshomaru was very careful not to show his relief, for that would mean that he had uncertainties.

"I will now see to it that you are instructed in defensive techniques, and you will come hunt with me this eve and ride Aun."

Engetsutaro was speechless. He had dreamed that one day his father would take him outside the Shiro walls to see these Western Lands.

"We shall see what other weapons you have at your disposal as well. One such as you, is not limited to blades and arrows as are humans."

The child was not entirely certain what his father had meant, but he could none the less, barely contain his excitement.

"You may go."

"Thank you Chichi-ue." Engetsutaro quietly backed out of the room and closed the door before he broke into a gleeful run to show Jaken and his Haha-ue his gift. He went a short number of paces before he remembered himself.

I am the grown son of a Tai-Youkai, with my own Youkai weapon. I am not wont to skip and run like a common human child.

Engetsutaro looked forward to his appointment with his father as he had never anticipated anything before. His Lady mother kissed him, and insisted he be careful, and admonished the two headed dragon Aun not to drop him under any circumstances. Sesshomaru had, in times past ridden Aun himself, but before and since Engetsutaro's birth had passed the beast on to his mate. As such, Engetsutaro learned how to saddle and care for the beast from his Haha-ue. At last, Sesshomaru entered the courtyard of the Shiro with Jaken in tow. He wore the same white clothes and armor that he had worn for a century before Engetsutaro was born, and carried his Tenseiga, the sword of the other world, that the boy had been told was crafted out of his grandfather's fang. Sesshomaru strode into the center of the courtyard and called to his son.

"Engetsutaro."

"Chichi-ue?"

"Let us sharpen your claws." The Tai-Youkai called to Jaken who shuffled over with some wood posts that had old pillows strapped to them.

"Claws are the basest of weapons to an Inu-youkai my son." Sesshomaru cracked his fingers and drove his poisonous claws through a board that Jaken had set up, dissolving the wood around it with no effort.

"Imitate me on your own target. If you would so choose, you may try to concentrate on your Youki and extend it to the point of your attack through your claws."

Engetsutaro considered what his father had said. It sounded complicated, but he was intent on attempting it. He closed his eyes, and stuck his tongue out to one side of his mouth and tried to sense his own warm aura. He concentrated on it, located it, and tried to tap into it. He cracked his claws, opened his eyes, and shot his arm out at his target. To his suprise his claws errupted in flames and the old pillow; feathers and casing, disintigrated in ashes.

Sesshomaru's eyebrows raised in suprise.

"Sumimasen Chihi-ue.. I didn't mean to burn it up..."

"Honookon Tsume.." Sesshomaru mused to himself as he inspected what was left of the target.

"I am sorry. Please forgive this foolish child."

"No my son, that was very good. I am merely... suprised."

"Suprised Chichi-ue?"

"Soul flame claw once belonged to your honored Grandfather. I did not expect to see it of your youki."

Engetsutaro knew not what to say, and so he said nothing.

"Come, the hour is late, and we must track a stag for your supper." Sesshomaru strode to the child, and lifted him effortlessly onto the back of the dragon, before mounting behind him. "Aun, ikuzo." And with that, the two headed dragon took to the sky.

Notes:

The name Engetsutaro translates as "eldest son of the cresent moon" just as his mother muses.

Chichi-ue honored father

Haha-ue honored mother

Sumimasen Sorry, please forgive me

Honookon Tsume Soul Flame Claw, rough translation

Ikuzo let's go