The Next Day

Sesshoumaru awoke in the morning to Inuyasha crying quietly and trying to smother his tears in his brother's tail. Pulling the pup around to face him, Sesshoumaru asked what was wrong. It was Inuyasha's fingers; they were all throbbing around his claws and he didn't know what to do with them. So a swift trip to the healers was in order and Inuyasha sat in Sesshoumaru's lap while his nails were examined.

"There is infection apparent; I'm afraid that Master Inuyasha's immune system will take a couple of hours to deaden it. But I will give him a strong sedative to help him sleep; it will also keep the pain to a minimum." While the healer prepared the medicine, he got a bowl of cold water and got Inuyasha to put his finger tips into the welcome coolness. He was still doing this when the sedative took effect and his head fell back against Sesshoumaru in sleep.

While he was like this, the healer took another look at the pup's mouth and removed easily the loosened teeth that had been damaged along with the fangs. He explained that they were hanging by a thread and obviously not re-settled and this time there was hardly any blood, neither did Inuyasha rouse from discomfort.

But when the pup woke up and the pain in his fingers was dulled, he noticed that he had lost more teeth, which brought on a fresh wave of tears. By this time, Izayoi was finished with Yori's morning needs and came in to see her older son bewailing his loss of teeth. She held out her arms to him and Sesshoumaru put him down so that he could go to his mother. Izayoi enfolded him and her scent was comforting.

Sesshoumaru squashed a feeling of jealousy, that Inuyasha wanted his mother and not his brother; it was only natural that the pup would rather have his mother. He watched as Izayoi rocked his little brother, her arms round Inuyasha's body and head, holding him tightly to her breast as he wept; the euphoria and endorphins of the day before having left him, sore and miserable.

"My baby; hush my baby, shhh you are alright, everything will be alright." She cooed and eventually he quietened and sleepily and instinctively nuzzled at her breast where he could scent the milk she was now providing for Yori, beneath her clothes. Without hesitation she opened her front to him and let him latch on, even though he had been fully weaned for over a year; he was still only a baby in many ways and at the moment he needed the comfort she could offer.

When he fell asleep again, Sesshoumaru took him from her and nuzzled his cheek; Inuyasha smelt of his mother's milk and his heart swelled when the pup cuddled into him and murmured 'Shu'. Inuyasha recognised him and was happy. Before they could leave however, his father entered the healing wing and went to get the update on Inuyasha from the healer.

He then came to Izayoi and told her that she and Makoto were welcome to stay as guests of the Palace for a while. She heard the gentle command and went to seek her husband who also recognised that the 'request' was mandatory. Inu no Taishou could also tell that Izayoi had nursed the small hanyou and was pleased with her instincts; but he was not willing for Inuyasha to go back to the human strong holding until he had got to the bottom of Inuyasha's trouble.

Not that the boy was a difficult case to work out, it seemed straight forward from what he could tell. But he would speak carefully with Inuyasha when he awoke. Thankfully, Inuyasha had inherited his father's healing abilities as well as his stubborn courage and soon he was ready and willing to go and play and talk with his father. Inu no Taishou had also promised that he would have some of the special juice and cakes that Inuyasha liked sent to the study.

Firstly Inu no Taishou sat Inuyasha on his lap and examined the tiny fingers and mouth for himself; making sure that the small boy was able to eat and drink such delicacies as the kitchens had provided. And was Inuyasha recovered enough to hold the cup or the cake, or should Papa feed him? Inuyasha giggled and told Papa he was silly; Inu no Taishou was heartened; there was no sign of trepidation or deep melancholy in the pup.

Then he wanted to enforce some of the lessons the child needed to learn with regards to his youkai, lessons that would teach the boy the need for claw and fang. Gently he watched his son as the pup got frustrated with the games he normally enjoyed and was good at. But without his sharp teeth to anchor or his claws to cut, the games were quickly annoying and Inuyasha lost his temper and stormed off. His father bit back his amusement and sternly called the pup to task.

"Inuyasha, getting cross doesn't help you learn; come here and we will find out what went wrong." The father caught his pup up in his arms and held him close, reassuring the boy with his youki and his love.

"I can't do it anymore, my fingers don't work nor do my teefs."

"Teeth, Inuyasha. That is why you need fangs and claws. These games help you learn to use your natural strengths. Although we try not to fight, sometimes it is the only way. But you can defend yourself or someone weaker than you. You need claws and fangs to help protect the babies, especially your little brother who hasn't got them."

"Well they is gone now, so I can play with the babies and not be dangerous."

"In a few years, you will get grown up fangs and your claws will grow back sooner; you need them my precious one."

"Noooo, I don't want them; I is dangerous, I hurted Shu."

"Why are you using your baby talk Inuyasha? You are seven now, a big boy. You didn't harm Sesshoumaru and you are no more dangerous than any other child."

"Humans not got claws and fangs."

"Human children still have to be taught not to scratch and bite one another Inuyasha; they are not dangerous, not if they are taught properly and that is what you also have to do, learn how to control your claws. All children have to learn not just you."

"Shu had to learn too?"

"Yes, he tore several of your Aunt's kimono with his claws and fangs before he learned to take care."

"Why She not like me then; why She say mean things and hurts my feelings?" Inuyasha was getting upset and Inu no Taishou didn't pick him up on the baby talk again, thinking that the boy probably felt more secure if he was babied for a while as his mother had realised. He also realised that Inuyasha was talking about Makoto's mother.

"Some people are scared of anyone who is different. It is a form of ignorance."

"But I's not different. Inuyasha is like you and Aunty and Shu; I's got white hair and gold eyes, and at night I is sometimes like Mama."

"She has never seen you like Mama and Makoto though has She, Mama makes sure no one outside the Palace knows." Inu no Taishou made the same emphasis as his son so that Inuyasha knew he understood.

"No, She has never seen."

"So to her you are still different."

"I s'pose."

"Inuyasha, this is important do you understand; you must always tell me or Sesshoumaru if you are not feeling safe, or if you think you should hurt yourself again. We will help you always, to see how you should do things. I don't want you to ever hurt yourself again like you have with your fangs and claws."

"I must tell you or Shu?"

"Yes, we can explain; for example I will show you how to hold the babies without hurting them, with my claws or my fangs and you can learn to do the same. The only reason you haven't done so before is because you were really too small and they wriggle; not because you will hurt them."

"Inuyasha understands Papa. Can I hold them?"

"If you want to."

"I'll tell Mama to forgive Uncle Makoto's Mama then, 'cos she's ignorant."

"What do you mean Inuyasha?" Inu no Taishou spluttered, picturing that scene with glee.

"Mama said she'd never forgive her for saying mean things to me; she didn't know I could hear her an' she was saying it to Uncle Makoto. I'll tell her too, I think." Inuyasha was all seriousness and Inu no Taishou hugged him fiercely, thinking how the older woman would hate to feel that she had a hanyou's forgiveness.

But he was tremendously proud of this tiny pup that was so good natured. Inuyasha might have been conceived in deceitful and less sober ways, but the father had never regretted the birth of this little blessing that combined the best of both human and youkai. He was thankful that the little one's aura was bright and cheerful and not dark, indicating he hidden troubles, but as a father he had learned and would always keep strict watch on Inuyasha.

IYQ Community, June 2008 Week 1; "Always forgive your enemies - nothing annoys them so much." - Oscar Wilde