Quiet Time

"Shu..?"

"Hmmn?"

"Shu...are you listening?" Inuyasha whispered loudly, not wanting to awaken Michiko who was sleeping in the crook of Sesshoumaru's arm. She though didn't stir as she was used to people talking around her while she slept; Inuyasha was tucked into the other arm, wrapped securely in Sesshoumaru's tail. They had all been resting quietly while Sesshoumaru gently rocked Hiroto's cradle with his foot. The older brother would prefer to still be resting quietly, but knew it was a lost cause once Inuyasha started to pester him. However he kept his eyes closed and continued rocking; hoping that whatever his little brother wanted wouldn't require disturbing all of them.

"Shuuuuuu..?" Came the not so whispered, whisper; a bit more urgently this time. Sesshoumaru opened one eye and found two worried golden ones looking back at him, no more than two inches away.

"Alright, I am listening now Inuyasha, but be quieter; I don't want the other two to wake."

"What did Papa mean?"

"I don't know...what did he say?"

"He told Aunty that 'it was about time one of them took after him'." Inuyasha quoted.

"He meant that Hiroto resembled him, more than Mama I expect."

"Doesn't we all look like Papa and Aunty, Shu?"

"Yes to an extent, but Michiko and myself favour our mother more in build and overall look. Our crescent is on our foreheads, whereas Hiroto has his on his chest. He is a stocky infant, not quite so long in body as Mama and us, more like our father and his crests and markings are also the same colour as Papa's."

"I hasn't got a moon mark, nor markings...I doesn't look like Aunty nor Papa." There was a slight whine and Sesshoumaru was alerted to his young brother's growing unease.

"You will not look like Mama, you are not of her blood remember; you look like your own Mama when you transform. But you do look a bit like Papa now, your hair is like his and Hiroto's; more un...tamed. Your build too was sturdy when you were born and although you will never be as tall as our Papa, your general shape will probably be the same, as will our new brother." Sesshoumaru finished, knowing better than to tell Inuyasha that he did have markings like Inu no Taishou when his youkai was to the fore.

"Doesn't Papa think I look like him then, why did he say only Hiroto?"

"When did he say it anyway, I didn't hear him, is it possible you misheard?"

"I didn't; my ears are good for hearing. I was outside their door but I didn't go in; I think Papa was tickling Aunty again, she was making that funny laughing noise..."

"I understand Inuyasha." Sesshoumaru quickly interrupted; not wanting to carry on this particular line again. "Papa would have been talking about his pups with Mama then."

"Why doesn't he tickle my Mama like that, she likes to laugh as well; why doesn't Papa play with my Mama anymore?"

"Because...because your Mama plays with Makoto. Mates only play with their mates."

"That's silly...it's better to play with everyone."

"One day you will understand more clearly Inuyasha." Sesshoumaru said, hoping that the usual dismissal would work once more. It appeared to and Inuyasha settled down again...for five minutes. Then Michiko woke up and decided it was time for her to go off and play before bedtime, asking if Inuyasha wanted to go with her. But he declined saying that he would come out later, much to Sesshoumaru's chagrin, he had been hoping that he would be able to find a little more peace.

No such luck he mused, as once again he was confronted with the intense stare of the little boy who looked up to him in clear adoration and trust. A wave of protective love for the pup who was such a sweet little character with the instinctive strong sense of loyalty of a true Inu, rose in Sesshoumaru's heart, making him marvel at the changes that had come in his life since the birth of all his siblings. No longer was he an only child, now he had companions; they might be very young at the moment but in the long life of youkai, it wouldn't matter.

Inuyasha got down from his brother's lap and went to kneel by the rocking crib. He watched the sleeping baby and wished forlornly that he too had the elegant pointed ears and the decorative stripes of the new one. Inuyasha had known that Hiroto would not have the puppy ears as he did, long before the pup was born; that had been explained most carefully when he had asked. But he had still secretly hoped and couldn't help the disappointment. He was still too young to fully grasp why his family dynamics were mixed up, or how that affected him and how he was made.

"Everyone else has got stripes... you got two all over Shu; has Michiko got them on her bottom and legs like you?" Inuyasha whispered and Sesshoumaru rolled his eyes before answering in the affirmative. "Has Aunty and Papa?"

"They do have markings on their hips and ankles as well, but they only have one set each, whereas Michiko and I have two. Hiroto has one set the same as Papa, but you know this, you have seen them."

"I know, I think they are pretty...I like yours best, they are straight, although they look jagged in the bath."

"Merely an illusion caused by the water Inuyasha; now come back here, and don't waken Hiroto." Sesshoumaru was obeyed of course and he allowed Inuyasha to snuggle back into his tail, recognising the pup's actions as the need for reassurance.

"He is so small and yet he is nearly as big as Hanako."

"He is certainly a large pup; he is the biggest of all of us at birth."

"Will Papa beat him too?"

"I have no doubt that when he is old enough to get into trouble, he will need correction at times. It is a long way off yet however."

"What was it you did? Papa wouldn't tell me, he said it was your business."

"And so it is, it was a long time ago."

"Not to Papa...he says you are still a pup remember?"

"Even so, it remains my business Inuyasha."

"But that's not fair, you know all my business; I ain't got no secrets from you."

"I fail to see why it matters so much to you; you know that it happened, that should suffice. Would you wish Hiroto to learn of your own particular failing?" Sesshoumaru was grateful once again when Inuyasha was silent on the matter and settled down to be quiet and thoughtful. This time the peace lasted long enough for him to risk closing his eyes and dozing, until he realised that Inuyasha was not sleeping but contemplating still. Eventually Inuyasha once more disturbed Sesshoumaru with his strangely passionate answer.

"I will tell him Shu, and I'd tell my pups and their pups and your pups and all the pups; I'd tell them. I'm gonna be the best Grandpapa."

"There is plenty of time before you are a Grandparent Inuyasha, but what is this really all about?"

"I won't let any pup think he is just the only one bad an' everyone else is good; it will make him feel very sad and I don't like pups to cry."

"Tell me Inuyasha."

"Am I the only bad pup Shu?

"You most certainly are not a bad pup and I know Papa told you the same thing. All pups do wrong; you know I did when I took you on the hunt remember?

"I remember...I growled at Papa."

"That was very brave."

"It's just everyone knows when I has been naughty, but I don't know about everyone else. It makes me feel lonely. I don't like lonely, so I will tell all the new pups so they don't think they is the only ones and that makes it fair doesn't it?" Inuyasha pleaded and Sesshoumaru started to understand why Inuyasha needed to know the details. But his was not an easy memory for him to recall; not because he had forgotten, but because he had felt as Inuyasha did with no one to share. He remembered feeling that everyone was looking at him, whispering behind his back, judging and following him with their eyes.

Now he realised that it was just a form of childish paranoia, and that of course everyone knew that as a child he would face various disciplines as part of growing up, if he was not to be a spoilt, dishonest and therefore unpopular Prince. Sesshoumaru also realised that although he would hopefully not inherit the West for many years if ever, his father was wise and all training was required to start young if his pup was to grow well balanced and happy. The same principle applied without exception to his other offspring and the father never shirked his duty, even if it was at times unpleasant for all concerned.

Inuyasha rather naturally due to his human makeup took things to extremes quite often, Sesshoumaru thought, superiorly. The child's nature was intense, and compared to himself and Michiko who were more like their mother, Inuyasha was far more volatile which made him seem younger sometimes than the little sister. Sesshoumaru conveniently forgot all the times when he was younger and had thrown a tantrum over some slight or the other, and didn't take into account that Michiko's youkai was feminine and not always trying to assert itself over their father.

She would learn other ways in which to gain influence over the Alpha natures of dominant males, just as her mother had. Whereas Inuyasha was beta naturally and was not combative, at least not yet and it remained to be seen whether or not Hiroto was an alpha. It would not affect Sesshoumaru's position as heir if the new baby was or not, therefore the older brother was not threatened by the tiny pup. However, Sesshoumaru's sense of self importance made him balk at confiding in Inuyasha; but at the same time something in him yearned to do so.

Sesshoumaru sighed, making his mind up; there was something compulsive about Inuyasha that made his youkai want to please the pup. He knew the younger boy so well, that he was unafraid that Inuyasha would deride him for his misdemeanour, as he was honest enough to admit he probably would have done, had the tables been turned. Nor would the pup turn from him in disgust as for many years he had done to himself whenever he thought of it; no, with Inuyasha it was safe to share.

"Very well...Grandpapa, I shall tell you so long as you don't interrupt me." He said making Inuyasha giggle and snuggle down into his brother's tail.

"I was just a few years older than you are now, perhaps twenty five at the most; I had always been a good pup and needed little correction normally, and I suppose I was well on the way to being spoiled. I was used to getting my own way as normally I didn't want to do anything I should not." At this point Sesshoumaru stopped, but there was no, 'don't make excuses' from the pup, as there surely would have been from him. Encouraged, he carried on;

"I had been warned that I was not to practice with my whip in the house for obvious reasons, and I did not; but I had a ball that I used for target practice, to train my eye and reflexes. Of course the inevitable happened and I miscalculated, causing a table to fall that had displayed a lovely tea set. Immediately my personal servant started to clear up the mess; he was kitsune and very mischievous as they all are although a little too forthright for my personal taste. You know Susumu, he has always been loyal to me, but Papa knew he was also protective of me; he had always hovered around since I was born and had gladly taken on the task of being at my beck and call, when it had been offered.

Papa came in while the mess was being cleared and called me to task; I denied having been disobedient and out rightly blamed Susumu, saying he had been careless while showing me one of his tricks. I could not look at either of them as I lied, nor when I compounded the falsehood by affirming it again when Papa asked me if I was sure of my facts. Then he asked Susumu if this were true and had he known not to practice in the rooms of the Palace, to which the kitsune nodded. Papa said very well and told us to both stay until he returned.

"When he did it was with the same strap you became familiar with. I had never seen him look so serious and he took Susumu and hit him twice with the strap, with the advice never to lie to him again, especially when it involved me. I wanted to be sick, I was so ashamed; my servant had done nothing to deserve his punishment except to take my blame. But I was not off the hook; after he had finished with the kitsune, Papa called me to him. He noted my demeanour, but told me I had let myself and my parents down. It was not the disobedience, nor the broken china that was the problem, but I had lied to him, putting the blame on someone who felt he was not in a position to deny the allegations.

"I had been given the option at least twice to own up but had only made matters worse by keeping silent to the truth. Did I think my father a fool not to know what had happened in reality? Was I to be a dishonest and unreliable Prince? Did I think it honourable that my subordinate be punished instead of me? I was already in tears at this point, I quite rightly felt guilty, but also Papa had never spoken to me so harshly before. But my tears did not get me out of trouble and as he did to you, he beat me with the strap; but I received four strokes and in front of Susumu.

"Susumu was then told to leave and he could have the rest of the day to himself, whilst I reflected on my error by myself. I did do; I walked around as I was unable to sit to contemplate, and I realised how loyal Susumu was to me, I have never forgotten and of course neither has he, but neither of us has mentioned it again. I have never needed a repeat of the lesson either and I would advise you never do, Papa means it when he says he can wield that strap most effectively."

"I'm sorry you was all alone Shu; I wish I had been there like you was for me."

"So do I, but you are here now and that is always a comfort to me; but Papa didn't leave me alone for very long before he came back to make sure I understood why he had hit me, and to tell me once again he loved me. How strange you are sometimes Inuyasha, but I do believe I feel better about this for the first time since it happened."

"You is not lonely anymore Shu, you have all of us now."

"Funny Pup; I am going to miss you Grandpapa when you go back to the farm tomorrow."

"Me too, can I stay with you now Shu?"

"Of course Pup." Sesshoumaru was quite happy to stay quiet and still and eventually when Susumu came in to bring his master refreshment, he asked the smirking kitsune to put the sleeping Inuyasha to bed.

IYQ Community; July 2010 Week #3:

Old age is like everything else. To make a success of it, you've got
to start young.

-Theodore Roosevelt