Brothers
In a world where his father had lived, Inuyasha grew up to be fairly the same demon he would have been had his father died.
With some differences.
He was raised in his father's fortress, the son of a great lord, instead of in a village as the mongrel son of a princess. He was loved and cared for, not hated and cast out. His mother lived a long and full life, and Inuyasha had all the time he could have needed to love her.
His earliest memories, instead of just being of his mother, they are of his mother -- yards of dark hair, gentle dark eyes, soft hands, sweet smile, soft voice in a lullaby, and the scent of jasmine -- and his father -- long silver hair, soft fur, warm amber eyes, clawed calloused hands, deep voice, quiet laughter.
There is another presence in his early childhood, as well, this one brother. He is the scent of fresh rain, the feel of silk and armor and fur, long white hair and cool amber eyes and a deep, smooth voice without emotion.
But out of all of them, Sesshomaru -- for all his cool demeanour, his unquestionable ruthlessness, his apparent indifference -- it is Sesshomaru who is his favorite, Sesshomaru he wants to know, Sesshomaru he wants to be proud of him.
And it is Sesshomaru he learns the most from, because his mother doesn't know and his father is busy. It is Sesshomaru who teaches him of the different clans and tribes of demons, their lands and daily life and custom and ritual. It is he who seperates reality from myth, history from legend, truth from lie. He tells Inuyasha of their family history, of why he should be proud of the blood in his veins. It is Sesshomaru who is the first to tell him what half-breed means.
HIs mother teaches him to write and read, but it is Sesshomaru who teaches him how to use the words to his advantage. His father teaches him to wield a sword and defend his life, but it is Sesshomaru who teaches him of strategy and tactics and honor. It is his father who teaches him that fighting isn't always necessary, but it is from Sesshomaru that he learns sometimes it is. His father teaches him to talk things out, but it is Sesshomaru who teaches him to wound with words.
Sesshomaru, in Inuyasha's eyes, is the ultimate demon -- cool, proud, undefeated. He is smart, he's an excellent teacher, he's more patient than their father and he is scrupulously honest.
It is to Sesshomaru Inuyasha takes the hard questions, the one his father won't answer and the ones that upset his mother.
Brother? What is a half-breed? Mother took me to the village today, and they...threw rocks, and called me a mongrel and a half-breed.
Sesshomaru is silent for a long moment, apparently contemplating the answer. Inuyasha watches him patiently, not knowing that seeing his brother like this will be burned on his memory. Sesshomaru's eyes, for the first time Inuyasha can remember, show a bit of emotion -- sympathy, perhaps, or sorrow, but mostly they are knowing and uncompromising. He is a picture of demon power, Inuyasha thinks, in his white-and-red robes, his amber eyes cool, his white hair shining silver in the moonlight.
A half-breed is the child of a human and a demon. To the humans, a half-breed is something to be hated and feared. To the demons, it is something to be looked down on, to be ashamed of, to be destroyed if possible. You are a half-breed, Inuyasha. The humans will never welcome you. Nor will the demons.
Inuyasha winces. But that's not fair! I'm not mean!
No. But it is the way things are. And you cannot change it.
Inuyasha is silent for a long moment, tugging at his kimono. Brother? Are you ashamed of me?
Silence as Sesshomaru contemplates. There was a time. It is an unnecessary thing, and a waste of my time. I cannot change what has happened, and so there is no point in not accepting it.
You don't like Mama very much, do you?
She means little to me save our father's happiness. And it will be a fleeting thing, Inuyasha. He pauses. She will die, and it will seem soon, at least to our eyes. She is a human, and weak.
Inuyasha burrows into Sesshomaru's soft fur, shaking his head in denial. Not Mama.
It is unavoidable. Father would spare you the pain if he could, but it is impossible. It is something you must face.
Sesshomaru? ...Where's your mama?
She is dead.
Huge amber eyes -- nearly identical to those of his brother and father -- fill with tears, and he throws his arms around Sesshomaru. I'm sorry, Sesshomaru! I bet you miss your Mama.
Yes.
I'm sorry she's gone. I'm sorry, Sesshomaru.
Yes, Inuyasha. It is...all right.
End