A New Friend

When Inuyasha woke in the morning with his senses and body completely returned to his hanyou norm, he was still cosy and snug in the nest made of Auntie's twin tails and held tightly against her shoulder. Giving a little wriggle he slid down into her lap and settled down, his golden eyes watching intently as she nursed Hiroto. The scent of her milk was calming to him, at once familiar and strange and he snuffled at the breast he was leaning against, trying to make sense of the difference. The Lady did not stop him, but she raised her eyebrow at her mate who asked Inuyasha what was the matter.

"I stayed like this with Mama when she fed Hanako; but it smelled different. P'raps if it smelled the same she might still be alive."

"It wouldn't have changed the outcome Pup; your Auntie's milk is scented with youkai whereas your Mama's is human, that's all." Inu no Taishou said as he petted his son's ears. But Inuyasha was quiet as he remained watching his little brother ,until their father pulled him onto his lap because it was time to switch Hiroto over. Sometime later he whispered:

"It's my fault isn't it? If I hadn't been bad and had to come here, she'd 'a been protected."

"I think you know that isn't true Little One; who would have hurt her after your Papa had forbidden it and you were only here with us for a week weren't you? The Lady said firmly and Inu no Taishou added;

"There was no sign or hint of anything wrong with Hanako, except that she was very poorly Inuyasha, and you probably helped her to live longer than she would have done normally anyway with your care. So I don't want to hear you blame yourself again alright?"

"But..."

"No buts, My Son; your tiny sister was ill when she was born and nothing further could be done to help her. I will not tolerate you assuming blame where there is none, do you understand me?" His father was very firm; he didn't want Inuyasha dwelling on imaginary guilt, it was too easy and destructive for a protective nature like his.

"I don't..."

"Do you trust me Inuyasha; do you believe me, or do you think I would lie to you?" There was no softness or reprieve in his father's voice and Inuyasha whined uncomfortably.

"I trust you Papa, you don't lie...Inuyasha knows."

"Then believe me when I tell you, that you could not have done more to save Hanako. Nobody could have done more for her than you did, and nothing would have saved her. Now leave it at that." He finished with a growl and although he might have seemed harsh, even cruel to a human, he was asserting his Alpha status over his anxious pup. He was compelling his son to obey him, in putting the baby's death behind him and not taking responsibility for that death.

Inuyasha sniffed a few times, his father's youki was strong and forceful, unnerving the boy a little. Besides he felt bad still about Hanako, but until he accepted his father's admonition, the youki wouldn't abate. It surprised him that it wasn't affecting Hiroto, but his father chuckled and said that the pup was protected by his mother's aura, when he caught the puzzled expression of the small hanyou as he looked at his brother.

Suddenly though Inuyasha realised he was not at fault, his father didn't lie and it was Inuyasha alone who was being foolish, and when he relaxed and submitted to the inevitable by stopping opposing his father, the youki vanished. Inuyasha leaned back against his father again and considered; and Inu no Taishou waited;

"I still feel sad Papa; even if it's not my fault. Why wasn't she as strong as Hiroto?"

"No one knows why some babies are born sickly when others are well and whole, but it is sad for the family when any child dies. You are allowed to feel sad Inuyasha, but not guilty about her death; remember this My Pup. If you were at fault, I would have asked you to learn from the mistakes you made, but you made none. Hanako's life had just come to its brief end."

"I know..." Inuyasha wailed, and the Lady swiftly swapped Inu no Taishou's sons around and held Inuyasha close, knowing that her maternal scent resembled his mother's enough to give him comfort. He cried for a while, but eventually quietened, although he didn't relinquish his place until there was a knock on the door and Sesshoumaru, who was holding Michiko's hand, was admitted. She immediately dropped her brother's hand to jump on her mother and nuzzle Inuyasha's damp face, whining at him until he nuzzled back and then she moved to do the same to the baby.

Sesshoumaru carefully examined Inuyasha and his aura, contenting himself that the pup was unharmed before he came to pick him up and lift him to his shoulder with his tail. He then turned to Inuyasha and nuzzled him, grumbling in his chest to reassure his little brother that the boy was safe and once again with his big brother. Inu no Taishou was wryly amused as always when Sesshoumaru's instincts showed themselves in this way, as the older one could forget that Inuyasha was his father's responsibility first, before his brother's.

But there was no need to call him on it; in their close relationship, Inuyasha's youkai acknowledged two Alphas and would always do so, due to the circumstances surrounding his birth and first year. All that mattered was that his boys looked after one another and Sesshoumaru had always recognised that his father was also Inuyasha's, with all parental rights...eventually. Inu no Taishou chuckled and Sesshoumaru looked over to him and had the grace to blush; then he took both his brother and sister out of the room, leaving his parents with the baby and to get up for the first meal of the day.

That evening there was to be a feast in honour of a special guest and Sesshoumaru could already smell the food being prepared, but before that came breakfast, and then he was to keep the other two amused until lunchtime. After a light lunch there would be much tooing and froing and he once again was commissioned to keep the smaller ones out of trouble. They would have to be bathed and dressed for the banquet, which would be the first either had attended for people outside of the family.

As they waited quietly for their parents and breakfast to arrive, Inuyasha and Michiko whispered to one another, plotting how to soak their brother when they bathed later and Sesshoumaru pondered on a few days past, when he had persuaded Susumu once again to tell him of his history. When Sesshoumaru had sought him out to finish his tale, two days after his spat with his father, the kitsune had tried to evade telling the pup anything. But Sesshoumaru was too intrigued to allow that and reminded Susumu that he had promised to speak, and that he could speak freely. Susumu sighed and walked to the fireplace looking down into the flames.

"My father was a minor Lord of the Kitsune, I, his third son. Father was caught in between sides of a territorial war and when it became clear that your father would be victorious, mine threw in his lot with him. To sweeten the deal, I was offered to Inu no Taishou who refused me, saying he did not hold hostages, let alone children; but my father left me stranded and alone when he decamped. Your father then offered a home in the West which I accepted.

"At first I was treated as an honoured ward, but to tell you the truth I was bored out of my skull doing nothing. But I was fairly high born and your father wouldn't put me to any menial work. Then when you were born, I was greatly reminded of my own newborn brother; I missed him and my other siblings greatly and your father suggested I might like to help to take care of you. I have never regretted taking him up on the offer."

"How old were you Susumu?"

"I had just reached adolescence; about the age you were when your brother was born."

"Have you many left at your home, do they contact you at all?"

"My mother yet lives, but my older brother is now Lord; he is stronger in character than my father. I am from a litter of four, two older brothers, an older sister and then me. A few years later another litter was born, but only one survived, my younger brother. Your father is very kind and sometimes allows me home to visit when you are back in school. So, there you have it: in my previous life I might have been able to call you friend, rather than master."

"You would be an impossible friend Susumu; you are bad enough as a servant, I doubt I would survive your tricks if I considered you a friend, you would be somewhat of a mixed blessing." Sesshoumaru said with a grin. Susumu knew he didn't intend to be offensive and retorted;

"I too would find it hard to always please you as a friend, who knows what trouble I should be got into; I should probably find too many causes to dislike, instead of love you." Susumu watched as Sesshoumaru stared at him for his audacity and then positively grinned, before launching himself at the kitsune and bowling him over.

"You would not hate me; This Sesshoumaru would forbid it."

"I could never hate you My Lord; I am very fond of you and have been so since you were whelped." Susumu twisted quickly dislodging Sesshoumaru, and then he pulled the pup to his feet. "Now I must get on and finish tidying this room...if you will allow me, My Lord Sesshoumaru."

"Did Inuyasha give you any trouble tonight?" Sesshoumaru asked remembering that the small hanyou had been put to bed by Susumu instead of his father, as Hiroto was giving his mother a hard time.

"No, he never does; he prefers it if he is put to bed by one of the family, but other than that is not fussy and I think he is quite fond of me. He is a delightful child as well and very caring; he thanked me today for looking after you when he couldn't." Susumu chuckled, remembering the serious faced pup, but soon he had finished with the room and bade Sesshoumaru goodnight, leaving his Lordship to think some more. Sesshoumaru thought about how he would feel if he had been ripped away from his family and sent to live as a servant to some spoilt pup, and he didn't like his conclusion; therefore in the morning he went to speak with his father.

Later that day Susumu was called in to Inu no Taishou's presence. The General kindly told him that Sesshoumaru wished him to release Susumu from his servitude, to allow him to go home to his family if he so wished. Susumu was free to do as he pleased from now on, his own oath to be of use to Sesshoumaru was deemed fulfilled, by both Sesshoumaru and his father. But Inu no Taishou did say that it was important to Sesshoumaru that Susumu remain his friend and be free to visit or stay for as long as he wanted.

To that end, a position of ambassador would be made available for him; to open up fresh alliances with the kitsune and wolves, both of whom had no formal diplomatic route to the West. This was a new position, but had been under consideration for a number of years. However there was no obligation placed on Susumu, who could return to his homeland still free, if he chose not to accept the occupation. Susumu was left reeling; he could be independent and yet not lose his cherished relationship with the West. Freedom to go home again; his brother had wanted him home ever since he had become Lord in his father's place.

Indeed it was only Susumu's own integrity in keeping the vow he'd made to the Lord and his new son, that kept him from returning in the earlier days; Inu no Taishou would have sent him back if he'd wanted to go then. But the General had later held him to his promise once Sesshoumaru had grown fond of him in return. As he watched the play of emotion cross the kitsune's face, Inu no Taishou was proud of Sesshoumaru; the pup had indeed grown in understanding and maturity, it was high time for Susumu to be free once more to do as he pleased.

"It only leaves me to express my own gratitude for your devotion to my family, especially Sesshoumaru; he will miss you greatly, therefore I say, whatever you decide, do not be a stranger Susumu. You can let me know your decision in the morning." Inu no Taishou dismissed Susumu with the request for him to speak with Sesshoumaru, already knowing that the kitsune would accept the offer.

Susumu found Sesshoumaru and bowed low over his former master's hands, he was speechless for a while as he found it difficult to know what to say. His tears were eloquent enough however and Sesshoumaru laid one of his hands over the kitsune's head in a form of blessing.

"I do believe I will miss you Lord Susumu and not just me, but I know Inuyasha and Michiko will be miserable; they will not understand."

"You will allow me to visit you all; I may consider you all my friends?"

"I shall insist upon it; I am going to feel the loss of you for a long time Susumu, however I do not regret letting you go." Sesshoumaru pulled the kitsune into an embrace before turning away, his own eyes wet. Susumu had always been there in the background, or when he had been afraid and his parents busy, ever since he'd been born; but Sesshoumaru no longer needed him for those services, it was time for Susumu to move on.

Inuyasha Quotes Community; August 2010 Week #4:

Probably no man ever had a friend that he did not dislike a little.

-E.W. Howe