Problems Needing Solutions

Inuyasha spent the week with his human family, but he felt detached from them; the children worked and played as they always had, not seeming to notice that one of them was missing. But he did; he was too used to the small weight of his baby sister slung round his body for him not to feel her loss. At first he still wore the sash he'd used for the sling, but the sight of it upset his Mama and so he started to wear it beneath his firerat. Izayoi had been rather clingy to him of late too, not wanting him far away and it puzzled and upset him.

When Inu no Taishou came personally at the end of the week to collect his son, he found him down at the paddock looking at the horses as they grazed, obviously lost in thought. His father came close and Inuyasha leaned into him, the familiar strong youki surrounding the pup and making him secure.

"Are you ready to come back now Inuyasha, ready again for school?"

"I suppose so Papa."

"You don't seem so sure; I thought you enjoyed your learning?"

"I do, but..."

"But..? What is the matter My Son?"

"I upset Mama...I don't know why, but I been making her sad."

"It will not be you Inuyasha; she is still sad about Hanako."

"S'not Hanako; it's me. She is sad when she sees me, I can smell it and I think I sulted her."

"You mean insulted? Why, what did you do?"

"I only said I liked that she had even more white hair and was becoming Inu like me and Shu and all of us: she is Papa, she is getting white hair. I told her it was so pretty...but she got sad, not happy like I was." The boy said pensively and sighed. It was echoed in the mind of his father, as the reasons for the slight disquiet made themselves manifest to him.

"Would you like me to talk to your mother and make sure she understands you intended no insult?"

"Yes please, I fink I might say the wrong stuff again." Inuyasha sulked but he smiled again as his Papa ruffled his fringe and told him not to worry. He accompanied his pup back to the house and then asked to speak privately with Izayoi. Makoto of course agreed to this; mindful of the respect Inu no Taishou had offered him by the request not demand, and remembering that Izayoi remained a ward of the general.

As he followed Izayoi, Inu no Taishou took stock of her physically, she was still healthy, her body still slim although no longer slender, her eyes were clear and her teeth good; there was no obvious cause to worry and although she had noticeable silver strands to her hair, there was still spring in her step. But then she was only thirty four and although a lot of human women of the time would be finding difficulty at this time of life, Izayoi had more advantages than most. She'd been a pampered daughter and then been a ward of a wealthy youkai; she had access to the best of everything she could possibly need. Yet, it was obvious something troubled her.

"My Lord, can I offer you refreshment?" Izayoi asked breaking the silence.

"No, thank you child; but you can tell me why you are saddened about our son." He spoke to the point, not wanting to hear platitudes and needing to get to the source of the matter.

"I am unsure of what you mean My Lord..."

"You are not telling the truth my girl. Inuyasha says you are sad when you see him and I can tell he is not wrong, it lingers around you even now. He fears he has upset you, I have my own suspicions but I would rather you told me." He waited patiently as she paced and when she finally stood still looking out of the window, she began to speak.

"He doesn't know the significance of my whitening hair, he thinks I am changing to be Inu like him; this thought, it pleases him, but I am made aware of my age more each time I see him. I hate knowing that he will still be such a tiny boy when I die and I miss him when he is away from me. I can't help worry that I will not be there for him as he grows, he will face such challenges. I have just buried one child and am to lose another to his school again; I am just feeling low from that Sire, nothing more." However Izayoi burst into tears and Inu no Taishou went to put his arms around her, letting her cry out on his chest. It was as he suspected, worry for their son.

"Would you rather Inuyasha stayed with you and not attend school, it can be arranged; it may not be what you wish to hear, but he will not lose out by waiting until it is no more a problem for you. I have had cause to consider whether or not he is too young for such restrictive schooling before."

"No, certainly not on my account; Inuyasha enjoys school and it is important that he has friends there, I would not jeopardise that. Do not allow my upset to influence you; at least he will always have you and your family for which I am grateful."

"You do not have to be concerned for Inuyasha's future; I have provided for his safety where his youkai is concerned. It will be implemented when he comes to the Palace with me. I will inform you of the details at a more appropriate time."

"Thank you."

"He is my son as well Izayoi; I will always do the best I can for him. Now are you feeling better?"

"I will be fine My Lord, but please do not let him hang about me when you leave: I will find it very hard to let him go." She leaned on him once more, drawing from his strength, before standing up straight and walking out of the room to go to the rest of the family who were gathering for the evening meal. There was a lot of general chatter for the rest of the evening and Inuyasha had been hugged and kissed by his mother and told that there was nothing wrong; he hadn't upset her at all. Then Inu no Taishou swiftly gathered his son into his arms and said goodnight to the family and to a chorus of goodbyes, they disappeared on his youki cloud back to the Palace.

For the rest of the evening, Inu no Taishou was in his study, he was thinking on Izayoi's sorrow and an idea came to mind which once mulled over needed action. After calling The Tiger to see him and give him his advice the general took out his pen, ink and paper to write letters to the parents and guardians of Inuyasha's fellow pupils, suggesting a change of times for the school. The general preferred to write his own correspondence when possible; it led to less misunderstandings and the recipients were often more happy to abide by his requests when they felt they had been asked personally.

By the time he was finished, it was late and Inuyasha had fallen asleep, surprisingly on the Lady's lap. She was stroking the pup's ears as the little one snored; but Inu no Taishou could scent saline and he questioned her with his eyes. She just smiled though and wrapped Inuyasha into her tails allowing the boy to lie down fully supported and warm in his sleep. She rarely offered Inuyasha physical comfort beyond the odd kiss to his brow or caress of his ears, not because she resented him at all, but because he had a mother and it would be unfair to confuse him. The time would come soon enough to start the subtle changeover he would need, if he were to trust and come to love her in his mother's stead.

"He has finally wept My Mate?" Inu no Taishou asked hopefully, but his lady shook her head.

"He did not allow them past his eyes and they were not for the sister but his brother. Sesshoumaru was a little cold towards him this evening, refusing to allow the pup to cuddle in his tail. I have shown my displeasure by taking his place and dismissing our eldest from my side. He has not come back after taking the others to bed, therefore I feel he is probably sulking in his room and waiting for you."

"I have nothing further to say to him at the moment; I understand, but he mustn't take it out on Inuyasha. I am sure he will come round in the morning, so let him stew in his own room for now; he must learn I am not going to be forced into changing my mind by his tantrums. He will feel the same as Inuyasha does if I don't go to him, it will do him no harm." However, Inu no Taishou was not the sort of father who could leave anyone in distress for long, if there was something he could do about it, and later that evening he went to Sesshoumaru to see if the boy was asleep.

Finding him awake and reading or rather trying to, softened the father's slightly annoyed heart; being ignored started to make him angry though. Enforced solitude had made Sesshoumaru wallow in self pity over the fate of Tessaiga and he was now worked up into a cold state of mind and his alpha youkai was not prepared to give in to his father. The pup knew he was risking his sire's ire but he was too cross to care, in fact he was looking forward to the fight.

Inu no Taishou could feel his son's alpha aura was prominent and immediately raised his own; he on the other hand didn't want a fight with his proud son. Therefore he also made no mention of the heightened levels and merely asked Sesshoumaru what he was reading so late at night. His son refused to answer; he was feeling guilty about his reaction to Inuyasha and wanted the excuse to mouth off at his father. After finding he was not going to be indulged, he made some extremely rude and sarcastic comment to his father about the strength of his youkai being able to be sealed in a sword.

It was the wrong thing to say as Inu no Taishou immediately showed his dismayed son just how strong his youkai was, by letting out a great wave of his aura. It had the effect of quelling the boy instantly, much as it had done when he was younger, and against his will, Sesshoumaru sank to the ground with a whimper. The effect of the Alpha's aura almost shook the occupants of the Palace too, and guards suddenly burst into the Prince's chambers to make sure he was safe, only to find the pup with his head bowed and his father's fangs on the back of his neck. They immediately withdrew bowing to their King, recognising the show of discipline which hadn't been seen since Inu no Taishou had been the pup on the receiving end.

By now Sesshoumaru was shaking in trepidation as his father continued to hold his neck and growled threateningly. Finally when his pup went limp, submitting in his grasp, Inu no Taishou ceased his thundering growl; but he didn't let the boy go and embrace him as he usually would do at the end of discipline. Instead he held Sesshoumaru out at arm's length by his hair, pulling his head back and making him expose his throat, and finally he saw what he wanted; his son's eyes huge and damp gold and exactly the same as his younger children.

"You realise at last you are still very much a child Sesshoumaru? You certainly are not old or wise enough, let alone strong enough to challenge me or any of my decisions that you do not like. I am disappointed that you refuse to let go of the Tessaiga, but it proves how very young you are I suppose. Perhaps I have expected too much of you, allowing you to have responsibilities you are not yet ready for; I shall review your tasks."

"No Father...p...please." The voice was subdued, even timid and certainly not challenging. But Sesshoumaru was grateful he hadn't received a thrashing, his father was furious even now.

"I must; how can I leave any part of the West in your care when the paramount safety of your brother concerns you less than your overrated pride. You would rather see Inuyasha dead from insanity and surrounded by carnage one day, than graciously allow him the use of his heirloom that you mistakenly have always coveted. Well forgive me when I say that I will not see that happen to any son of mine if I can do anything to prevent it, and if that means keeping you away from him, then so be it." Inu no Taishou took a deep breath and let go of his son; he knew the boy was crushed by his harshness, but in the circumstances it was necessary.

Sesshoumaru could hardly breathe after his father's display and his words cut through any residual anger straight to his heart, as he pictured his father's worst nightmare for Inuyasha. There was no doubt in his mind that Inu no Taishou was not exaggerating his fear, and Sesshoumaru felt great shame in his behaviour, not only to his little brother, but also his father by his rudeness. He sank to his knees on the floor, his own youki dissipating under the stress and leaving him weak; too weak to get up on his bed, so he sat down and just rested his head on the side.

Inu no Taishou was met by his mate who had put Inuyasha to bed, the pup hadn't awoken when the flare of his father's youki had passed over the Palace; he was always secure in the familiar aura. His Lady got him a glass of mulled wine and patted him on the back with a wry smile on her lips.

"You don't think that was a shade of overkill, My Love; everyone knows you are the most powerful youkai in the world?"

"Our eldest thought to challenge me; I showed him it was not a good idea."

"Does he still live?"

"I am not in the mood My Love, for facetious comments."

"Very well, I shall rephrase; does Sesshoumaru need a healer?"

"Of course not, he is not stupid; I had to show him that it would be many years before I would take a challenge from him seriously. He just needed to be put in his place."

"Does he need his mother then?"

"No, no he will be alright; it is I who need his mother right now." He picked up his mate and carried her to their suite, mindful of the small hanyou who was tucked up in the nursery room attached. Having to be silent added a certain piquancy to their coupling; both remembered Inuyasha's earlier foray into their rooms, and although not much older, this time he might ask awkward questions that neither fancied answering at the moment. Finally they too slept and the Palace was quiet except for one corner where a lonely young youkai brooded.

Sesshoumaru dwelled on his father's unvarnished words and painted the picture vividly of his little hanyou brother dead; killed by his uncontrolled youkai and not recognising anyone or thing. It was as if he could feel his bond break and the pain was unbearable, he would never want that to happen to his Inuyasha. Eventually the softening tears came and he hugged himself, needing the comfort and feeling so alone.

"I don't want you to die Inuyasha, I really don't; your life belongs to me, you will not die."

"I's not going to die Shu; you's going to protect me anyway and Michiko and Hiroto, isn't you? See I is here and you shouldn't cry Shu, your youkai won't like it; 'sides it makes me sad too and my youkai don't like that eever." Inuyasha crawled into the space between Sesshoumaru and his bed and put his head under his brother's chin, making little comfort growly sounds and didn't bother when Sesshoumaru's arm came round and hugged him so tightly it hurt. His youkai told him that Sesshoumaru needed him and so he came, simple as that; he would always come when his older brother needed him.

IYQ Community; September 2010

Week #1:

Suffering is nothing. It's all a matter of preventing those you love from suffering.

-Alphonse Daudet