Displaced

Inuyasha was now seven, but was still quite small for his age, the combination of his blood meant that he would always be built on a slighter scale to his older brother and father. Then again, he was not the size of an average human either, because his development was influenced by the slower maturing youkai blood. He was however a healthy and boisterous and mainly happy child who tried to please, even if he was underfoot or not where he was supposed to be.

He had settled into a fairly comfortable routine now. He was completely his normal self at both the Western Palace and the farm, unless Makoto's mother or siblings was around when he made himself scarce or virtually silent. Unfortunately this often got him a scolding about being sulky, but he knew to ignore it now and went off to play with any of the children that had come to visit.

Although Izayoi assumed this was only allowed because the little hanyou was good at making up games to play and keeping the other children occupied. But it didn't matter, the situation worked and Inuyasha had playmates that were eager to visit and see him. He had friends at the Palace too, children who were the offspring of various youkai who lived and worked there, so he never lacked for company if he wanted it.

But there was only one who he needed at all times, even more than his mother and father who he knew were always there in any case and that was Sesshoumaru. He absolutely idolised his older brother and never felt as safe as when he was in the elder one's presence; Sesshoumaru's scent calmed him and his youki soothed him when he was distressed. Inuyasha didn't consciously remember why this was so, just that it was and although he didn't know it, Sesshoumaru felt the same.

Therefore when Sesshoumaru was on a diplomatic training mission with one of his tutors for two weeks, Inuyasha was desolate. Inu no Taishou recognised that the bond between the brothers was stretched when the older was away, and this was the main reason that he had deferred the mission for Sesshoumaru, but it had to come sometime. He made sure that Inuyasha had access to him at all times though, because he knew the pup needed his youkai reassurance.

The couple of weeks went by at seemingly different rates for the brothers; for Inuyasha who was staying at the Palace for a special treat during the weekend that Sesshoumaru returned, it seemed almost a lifetime, whereas for his brother it went by too quickly. Sesshoumaru was in his element; he was highly intelligent and articulate and was praised for his diplomacy by everyone present. He had thoroughly enjoyed the testing of his abilities and had passed with flying colours.

Now he knew he would be able to be of genuine help to his father with real issues. And although he had missed his home and family, he had so much to do and think on, that he would have loved to stay longer. He also had enjoyed to some extent the social gatherings where he had been treated as an equal by the adults. So when he was bowled nearly over by a small red cannonball, he was almost taken by surprise.

"Really Inuyasha, you should learn to act in a more civilized fashion and not hurl yourself like a savage at people." Sesshoumaru said at his most autocratic. The little boy stared up at his brother; he didn't recognise all of the words but he did the tone, and he was hurt. Thankfully Sesshoumaru recognised that and bent down to pick his sibling up and nuzzled him. "I'm pleased to see you too Inuyasha. But you are getting too big to barge into anyone."

Inuyasha went to settle on Sesshoumaru's shoulder wrapping himself in his brother's tail as usual, but his brother put him down, telling him that he had also to give an account to their father of his time away and that he would see him later. Inuyasha understood and although he didn't want to let his brother go, he was obedient and cheered up when Sesshoumaru smiled fondly at him.

He was still waiting two hours later although he had seen his father leave the study one hour before. What was Sesshoumaru doing? Inuyasha crept up to see and found out that he wasn't the only one who had missed his older brother. Michiko, who was now crawling and into everything just as Inuyasha had been, also adored her older brother and had missed him very much. She was about ten months old and had a toothless grin which entranced Sesshoumaru.

Inuyasha got fed up with waiting; he couldn't hear Sesshoumaru talking to anyone and so he peeked his head around the door, and then crept up to his brother who was sitting in the chair with his eyes closed. His elegant striped wrist bent as his hand supported Michiko who was also asleep, curled up in Inuyasha's place in Sesshoumaru's tail. The small hanyou whined in his throat before starting to climb into his brother's lap, trying to reach up to the tail as well.

Sesshoumaru's eyes opened and he pushed Inuyasha off his lap gently, wincing as sharp little claws tried to grip his tail to resist being moved. Speaking quietly but firmly, he told Inuyasha to get down and that once again he was too big to be held in the old way. But Inuyasha wasn't about to give up and he leapt up from a knee spring to reach his brother's shoulder; however Sesshoumaru moved to stand at the same time.

The boy's claws gripped instinctively and much harder to prevent himself from falling and they ripped long rents into Michiko's kimono before digging into Sesshoumaru's tail. The baby startled awake and started snivelling which, coupled with the sharp pain in his tail, made Sesshoumaru angry and he gripped his brother's collar and hoisted him up to eye level.

"Now look what you have done Inuyasha; you've destroyed Michiko's dress with those lethal little claws, apart from stabbing me and making my tail bleed. Just be thankful it wasn't your fangs or that your claws had scratched our sister. Now go away and leave me in peace."

Inuyasha's big soulful eyes were not working to appease the big brother this time, the little nail like claws had made his tail uncomfortable and it was time the hanyou realised that it was dangerous to not keep them under control. He couldn't always have his own way or be indulged and given everything he wanted.

"Michiko's in my place." Inuyasha whined.

"It is not just your place, you are getting a big boy Inuyasha, and I usually get Michiko to sleep like this, just as I did for you in the evenings. Normally you are with your human family at this time; I suppose you haven't seen me with Michiko very much. Be a good boy and leave us alone now; I know you didn't mean to hurt me or make Michiko afraid. Go to bed."

Inuyasha slipped out of the room and heard Sesshoumaru start to sing in a low voice to the little pup trying to get her to sleep again. He went back to his room and crawled into the futon very ashamed as he could smell Sesshoumaru's blood on his claws and he remembered when it had been his foster father's. Inuyasha's perception of his world was changing, he was considered a danger by the humans and was not allowed to play unsupervised with his little brother and now he could see that the precautions were wise.

He was a dangerous creature, he could have hurt Michiko tonight, instead he had made Sesshoumaru bleed and now he had been replaced. All the times that Inuyasha had thought longingly of being curled up with Sesshoumaru when he had been at the farm, his brother had replaced the little boy with the baby sister. Inuyasha felt very lonely, he was a pack creature, his parents never allowed him to sleep in with them, although they had his baby brother in the bed.

A few tears fell as he thought of how long he had wanted to once again curl up with Sesshoumaru before he slept; he'd promised himself that he would creep in and that was the reason he was staying overnight, but it seemed that Sesshoumaru didn't think he was entitled to do that anymore. His beloved brother had told him to go away and that he was dangerous, just as his human family had said.

It was no longer his right to feel the safe youki that he had missed while his brother had been away, now he was sure the little sister would be there. Inuyasha didn't realise that the circumstances around his first year of life had been totally different and that Michiko would be returned to her parents when asleep; he only felt unwanted and scared.

He was unaware when the Lord and Lady of the West popped in to see that he was alright. Nor was he aware when Sesshoumaru did the same and stroked his brow and kissed him before he too went to bed; promising the boy silently that he would play with him tomorrow to make up not giving him the welcome he had hoped for.

The young hanyou woke early in the morning, a sense of sadness hanging over him and he remembered the events of the previous evening. After thinking for a while Inuyasha got an idea that he was sure would make him acceptable again and he left the Palace and hopped over the walls using the fruit trees that overhung into the surrounding woodland and made his way back to the farm.

Two hours later he was very slowly making his way back to the Palace where his absence had just been discovered. He was not alone for long; his guard had caught up with him and was now carrying him back to his father as quickly as he could without injuring his charge. Sesshoumaru was worried, he had told the pup to go away and now it seemed that he had, he was telling Inu no Taishou this when they all smelt the hanyou's blood.

Inu no Taishou took his tiny son from the guard, the boy was out cold, blood dripping from his now fangless mouth and from the grazes on the tips of the clawless fingers; the salty scent of his copious tears burning bitterly in their sensitive noses.

IYQ Community; March 2008, Week 2. "We desire nothing so much as what we ought not to have." - Publilius Syrus