Start of School

When Inuyasha arrived at his new schoolroom for his first formal lessons, he was introduced to his new classmates. The introductions were not formal, the boys were all to be called by their given names and no indication of their parentage was to be made known. This was to make sure they all received fair treatment and formed friendships without pressure, at least for the first few months. At this time none of them cared who was who anyway, they were too young to have been manipulated and none of them would have had significant influence in any case, with one exception.

Wolf Cub Kouga was older than his classmates by some thirty years although being youkai, it didn't notice in anything other than his attitude. He was cocky and brash, but had a likeable personality and was determined in his heart to be the leader of his new little pack of ten new classmates. His teacher was not fooled however; he was the only one to know the identities of the children and the young wolf was not happy that he was only now being educated and with a bunch of children younger than he, the cub felt ashamed.

But circumstances had not allowed for Kouga to join any other school until now; he had been hidden away in another wolf pack to his natural one for his safety, ever since he had been born. He was the first male cub born to a now much older father; paternity was never in doubt however due to his scent, but there were rivals to his future Lordship who would kill the young heir. So Kouga had lived the life of a lesser noble until his father died, and now his trusted Regent had beseeched Inu no Taishou who had a class starting for his son, to take the cub and suitably educate him for his new status.

The legalities settled and Kouga pronounced and accepted as Prince of his Pack with one of his brothers-in-law as Regent was now as safe as the cub could be, and he joined the class as a late arrival. All of the new class would spend the time together, either being taught in lessons or living in the school house; a building set apart from the main Palace where they would all play, eat and sleep. All were close enough to be sent home for the holidays or the days that there was no school, every ten days they would have two at home.

Most of them accepted this without question, they rarely saw their parents anyway and were looked after by servants, so nothing much changed except they would form close ties with their new friends who would probably become closer to them than their own siblings. But for Inuyasha, it was nothing short of torture to know that his family were nearby, but never to see them except for the couple of days. Then he would have to split his time with his mother and the children and his father and his brother and sister.

The change had come about because Inu no Taishou had been advised by His Mate that it might be better for Inuyasha to be treated in exactly the same way as the others. That would mean not staying in the Palace with them as was the original idea, but in the school building with his classmates. She thought that it might make it easier for Inuyasha to make good friends being amongst the youkai children, instead of setting him apart. They prepared for tears or tantrums from the pup over the decision, but none came, which was a bit disconcerting but Inuyasha seemed alright at least until school started.

Inuyasha wasn't the only child to cry himself to sleep, that first week; all of them were in a strange place with strangers and felt alone. But they got through it and soon settled down into the new routine. It was different to anything they had been used to before, but they were all in the same boat with that and the teacher was kind and willing to explain, although he would take no nonsense. However one thing that had been drummed into the boys was the privilege they had of getting a good education, they were all willing to learn.

The first ten days seemed interminable to the boys of Inuyasha's class, but friendships were forming, some closer than others, but no one was left out and there was much to tell when they returned to their various homes for a couple of days. For Inuyasha there was a surprise, his human family would come to the Palace and stay in the guest suite so that he could spend all the time with all his family. So it came to be like a party on those days and Inuyasha felt very loved, as he was old enough now to appreciate a lot of what was being done for him.

By the second break, things had changed slightly, the boys were all less shy of one another and Kouga was the acknowledged leader of most of the boys except Inuyasha; he wouldn't admit anyone to the alpha place he had given to his brother. That didn't mean that he wouldn't join in with the games or adventures that Kouga devised, only that Kouga couldn't coerce him and that Inuyasha would question any of the more dubious activities the wolf wanted to do.

Inuyasha also became a haven for those who didn't want to do what Kouga wanted but were unwilling to say so; the hanyou had no qualms in refusing for them. Kouga was not a bully however, he just had a large ego, and all the boys liked and admired him; but he was far more interested in gaining the attention of the boy who quietly kept his distance. Inuyasha had no idea he was being elusive, as always he was just trying to be obedient to his father and brother in particular and work hard.

So far he had escaped any of the tutor's minor punishments for disruptions in class; whereas Kouga had several times been stopped from going out to join the others in the afternoons, when the boys were free. Most afternoons were free; as the long lived and slowly maturing youkai had many years in which to learn, school was only the mornings. Although as with all youth, their time needed structure or else they would find trouble so early afternoons were devoted to the dojo for practice, and then they could do as they chose within the confines of the school and the rules.

One week, Inuyasha was collected from his class by Jaken and taken to his parent's farm. Makoto's mother had become very ill and was not going to recover, so the family was going to stay at the homestead until she had passed on. At first Inuyasha wasn't sure why he was there, the old woman hated him, but Izayoi whispered that Makoto wanted the whole family which included him. For several days the lady lingered and as the family all gathered by her bed, she had last words for them all.

Her sons and daughters, grandchildren and lastly the hanyou who she refused to acknowledge as family, were all asked to sit by her while she spoke individually. Inuyasha had stayed against the wall while everyone else moved forward; he could hardly recognise her as the illness had aged her greatly, and the smell made him feel sick. When she called Inuyasha, Makoto accompanied him, just to make sure the pup was not alone with the woman who had been less than kind to the boy.

"Inuyasha, I would not die without speaking with you. I have never liked or trusted you, because of what you are. You are a nice enough boy on the surface, but you are a monster inside and you cannot help that. I once knew a hanyou when I was young; he was sometimes uncontrollable and didn't know what he was like. You are no different and you must beware that you don't kill your half brothers and sister or anyone else in madness. For your own safety and theirs, stay away from them; but do not hate me or allow your brother or father to seek vengeance for my words and for telling you the truth."

Not long after she spoke she died and left all in stunned silence until they all turned as one to look at Inuyasha. He could feel a wave of fear wash over them all, including Makoto and he felt betrayed at the distrust in his step father's eyes and the way he held his own children to him. Then his mother put her arms around him, her comforting scent had not changed; but he refused to allow the tears to come, although all he wanted to do was turn in her arms and give in to them.

"Inuyasha, you must listen to me my son; Mother was correct that hanyou can be dangerous if their blood becomes out of control, but your father has always known of this and has been training your youkai. You will never be lost child; you must forget these harsh words, put them completely behind you or you will dwell on harmful thoughts as you have done in the past and you will become afraid to live as you should." Izayoi spoke strongly not just to Inuyasha, but to the assembled humans, scorning their sudden fears of her small son.

"Izayoi is right; Inuyasha is no more dangerous than anyone else. Remember on whose lands we live, he is a most wise youkai and certainly has things in hand. Mother's memory was too long and it was twisted, we would do well to forget her prejudice if we would wish to stay here." Makoto too came and knelt in front of Inuyasha, who had hidden his feelings behind an impassive mask and now looked very like Sesshoumaru. He didn't move even when his step father ruffled his hair and his face was set all the way back to the Palace.

IYQ Community June 2008 "Not the power to remember, but its very opposite, the power to forget, is a necessary condition for our existence." - Sholem Asch