Thank you so much byakugan-master93 for reviewing. I was starting to wonder if no one would review. Sorry about the rushing in the first chapters it's just that I love the story so much that I keep moving too fast to try to get to my favorite parts. I tried to be a little bit more detailed this time around. Okay so here is the next chapter. This is going to explain some of Inuyasha's relationship to Healo. (Italics means is in the past) I also want to ask if any one knows the spelling for Inuyasha's mother's name? If you know please tell me.

Chapter IV

MEETING HIS BROTHER

The white tresses of the hanyou's hair whipped violently in the wind as he leaped from tree to tree attempting to gain some space from his worried companions. 'What could Healo want with me. I am just a filthy half-breed…and an ungrateful one at that.' Inuyasha looked up to realize with a jolt that he had carried himself to the god-tree.

He lifted up a rock near the ancient tree and found what he had come for. Inuyasha lifted the priceless object as he stared with emotion filled eyes. It was a white rod. It was a little over a foot long and only about an inch thick. Its' tip was crowned with a regal diamond and the bottom was capped with a thin layer of gold.

As precious as the rod itself was, what was even more important was what it symbolized. This very rod had been presented by Emperor Malleus to the first lord of the North, Magus I. It had been passed down to the rulers of the Northern Lands since then. Circumstances, involving Healo's early life, had prevented him from taken the rod until only 123 years ago.

However, some time between 53 years ago and his reawakening Healo had left the priceless heirloom beneath Inuyasha's unconscious form. 'I don't know why he left this hear for me,' he wondered sadly as he gripped the artifact ', I should've been the one to find him. He was always there for me.' Inuyasha tensed as bitter-sweet memories came to him.

(Inuyasha's Memory)

Inuyasha stared with his golden eyes. He always enjoyed watching the road to see what warriors or other travelers would go by the village where he lived with his mother. The twenty-three years since the hanyou's birth had not diminished his mother's beauty, but even he noticed the solemn look that had slowly increased over the years. They both knew that the reason they lived in their tiny hovel on the outskirts of the village was because Inuyasha was a half-demon.

His mother refused to acknowledge the villagers' taunts over the years (rocks, words, and mysterious threats) and instead they had graciously moved farther away from their neighbors. However, they could not afford to leave the village. The roads were far too treacherous for a single woman and a young hanyou to travel on. Inuyasha aged much slower than mortal men for every half a decade he grew about one year in age, and a full demon ages at about one year for every decade.

Besides even if it were safe enough to travel where would they go? His mother had been born to a privileged family and so she was very skilled in the various aspects of weaving so that despite their antics the villagers at least could respect the mysterious ladies wonderful abilities with cloth. The town was located along a major trade route and so from time to time she would also be able to sell her skills to richer customers so that Inuyasha never wanted for anything.

The young hanyou snapped out of his thoughts as he noticed a cloud of dust over to the south-west. 'That road leads from the heart of Lord Sesshomaru's lands,' he thought with a touch of anger as his triangular ears flattened to the base of his head. He knew all about his older half-brother. One evening his mother had looked at him with a sad look in her eyes. "You have eyes just like your father," she said softly then a colder look came on her face as she said almost to herself ", like your brother."

After many days of pestering, and not a few tantrums, the hanyou had finally dragged the truth out of his mother. 'Why didn't my brother like me? Was it because I am a hanyou?' he thought despairingly as the fire in his eyes cooled. His mother hadn't given him a definite answer to that question. He knew that she would tell him when she thought he could understand.

However, the demons that finally topped over the road a few hundred yards away did not have the same eyes as Inuyasha. He did notice that all of them were dog demons and that most of them had the silvery hair that his mother had described to him. "The Western dog demons are unique in two ways," so his mother had said ", they have silver fur, or hair, and they are the most warlike of demons." Plus he noticed that two of the demons were carrying Western standards, a blue crescent on a gold background.

Inuyasha could see what his mother meant. All of the demons were tall and well built moreover they wore carried long spears with sharp, gleaming tips. They kept their eyes watching the road ahead and completely ignored the stares of villagers who had come to see the passing spectacle.

"Those two aren't from the West." Inuyasha was startled by the voice and turned to see his sweet mother watching the soldiers with interest. She pointed out into the column and said to her son ", do you see them Inuyasha?" Indeed he did.

The two demons were marching a little less strictly than the soldiers and were in the very middle of the formation. They were both about the same height as the Western demons and were dog demons, but there were several differences between them, the soldiers, and even each other.

The one who was marching closer to where Inuyasha and his mother watched from their doorway was slightly shorter than the other, had amethyst eyes and robe, and was carrying a scythe. The demon wore a serious expression and showed little emotion as he conversed with his compatriot. Inuyasha was wondering how his companion was managing to march through the warm day in his attire.

He had long black hair, deep sapphire eyes, was wearing a cloak, and wore a dark katana at his side. Inuyasha could see more emotions on this man's face. He stood tall but his face seemed kind enough and he smiled softly as he turned a curious glance to the silent villagers who merely shifted anxiously at his attention.

Suddenly the demon's gaze caught Inuyasha's eyes which widened when the demons face took on a confused tone. A moment later he glanced at Inuyasha's mother and his face became paler, if it were even possible, as his eyes widened in shock and then turned to joy as he smiled fiercely.

The dark demon flicked his wrist and shouted ", Halt!" The soldiers turned to see what their leader was watching and moved swiftly to make way for him. The solemn demon followed his leader as he walked straight towards Inuyasha and his mother. His heartbeat speed up and his ears flattened as he naturally moved closer towards his mother. He was relieved to see that his mother was not worried and, in fact, was actually smiling and he thought that he saw unshed tears shining in her eyes.

The demon strode forward, beaming, and came to stand only a few feet from his mother before stopping. Inuyasha watched the demon's face quietly trying not to speak. He noticed that the purple haired demon was watching him coldly. The dark demon gave a sad smile and said kindly", My lady, I am glad to see that you are safe."

Inuyasha's mother gave a small bow before answering softly", It is a welcome surprise to see you again Lord Healo. I was starting to wonder if I would ever see you again." His mother noticed the purple haired demon and said quickly ", Lord Magus." The demon eyed her in an almost cynical fashion before saying ", Lady Izayoi (sp)." Inuyasha growled softly.

Healo's only sign of displeasure with the other lord was a quick glare which was answered with an apologetic nod. The kind lord gave a quick smile to the young half demon whose annoyed expression was replaced with curiosity. He asked with a louder voice", So you would be young Lord Inuyasha?" Inuyasha grinned joyfully allowing his canines to come into view.

Healo laughed softly and said", I suppose that that will do for a yes." Inuyasha's smile faltered as he looked to his mother who was also laughing and gave him a reassuring look. The hanyou smiled again and stood taller as he replied", That would be me, but who are you?"

The reaction from the villagers, soldiers, and even Magus was decidedly negative. The soldiers made noises of derision in their throats and shook their heads and Magus gave Inuyasha a malevolent smile. However, the worst response was from the villagers who openly whispered their hopes that 'at last the hanyou will be punished.' They would often tell Izayoi that she didn't beat her son enough, and try to claim that that was the reason they were so cruel to him.

Blood rushed to Inuyasha's cheeks and he turned his gaze to the dusty ground. He felt a hand of support on his shoulder and was surprised to find this Lord Healo as the perpetrator. The demon smiled grimly at the hanyou before turning to confront the others. Silence pervaded the area by the time his cloak finished fluttering. The soldiers immediately straightened and came to attention as their leader stared coldly at them. Healo apparently decided that no words were needed for the soldiers or his companion, or perhaps that there were not words enough, and turned his attention to the gathered villagers.

The people stared willfully back at the demon lord as he began in a calm voice", Why do you have such…unpleasant…emotions towards these two individuals?" He paused and waited for an answer but he received only defiant silence and smirks from the people. His soldiers tensed noticeably as they gripped their weapons and glared at the humans. Healo sighed before continuing ", You should know that your stubbornness will get you no where. For the past couple of decades your village has taken advantage of the political chaos in the Western Lands to deny the West and even the Empire's sovereignty over you and your land."

He paused for a moment before his face and voice became noticeably colder. "Understand that those days are at in end. Only three days ago I swore in Lord Sesshomaru, son of Lord Inutaisho, into his rightful place as Lord of the West. He will not hesitate to crush you if you flout his authority, and I will not hesitate to deal with you if you ever show malice towards this lady and her son again."

Calming noticeably, Healo smiled at Inuyasha and said ", I suppose you wouldn't remember me. The last time I saw you was only a week after you were born." Inuyasha was confused by the demon lords actions so he said with a frown", Why did you stick up for me?"

The demon smiled kindly before answereing. "First, because no one deserves to be hated because of their origin. We cannot pick who we are born as, only who we become. Second, because your mother is a kind, loving, and brave woman and I honor you as her son. Last, because you are the son of Lord Inutaisho who I held as my father, and, therefore, consider you to be my brother."

Yay!!! I finally updated. I think this was better. Let me know what you think. R&R please!!!