Thanks for your comments, my puppies! I'm very glad that the translation isn't bad, and you can read my story. If you see mistakes, please let me know!

…

"What a catch! Hanyo!"

Inuyasha froze. The demon held him by the scruff of the neck right in front of his face, and his red eyes seemed to become even more bloodshot — with pleasure.

"You are valuable now! I'm so lucky!"

"Who are you?" trying not to tremble, Inuyasha asked and spun around. "Let me go!"

Bend over, the boy still managed to grab the green palm. The demon grinned and unclenched his fingers — Inuyasha plopped down on the sharp stones of the cave.

"Ouch!"

"Silly! Your bites are a tickle to me."

Inuyasha wiped his mouth with the sleeve of his haori and looked at the demon impudent and caustic. Ongokuki just scratched his bare belly and laughed.

"Having character is good. I can sell you at a higher price."

"What do you need?!"

"I'm telling you: I'll sell you, that's my job. It's not often that I'm lucky enough to lure a half-demon by playing the flute, especially now when everyone is looking for the hanyo of Inu no Taisho. By any chance, you're not his puppy, are you?"

"I'm actually a fox," Inuyasha immediately lied. "A white fox."

"Hmm, really?"

The demon scratched his belly again, but this time thoughtfully. He was weak and stupid, and apparently also had trouble distinguishing smells. Inuyasha's lie satisfied him — nodding, the demon walked towards the entrance to the cave.

"Hey!" Inuyasha exclaimed and tried to run out, but the demon quickly rolled a huge stone, blocking his path.

"Sit here, puppy. An eternal dream awaits you soon."

…

Sesshomaru stood again in front of the tree. Five years have passed since their last meeting when he took Tenseiga, which old Myoga was afraid to give to him personally. And he did the right thing in being afraid — that day Sesshomaru cut down a quarter of the forest, taking out his resentment and anger. The oldest magnolia watched this in silence — it was impossible to cut it down so easily.

"Where is the hanyo?" the tree asked first, and its face stretched out in surprise.

"That's not what I came to talk about."

"Not about that? Rumors have already spread all over the island. The most delicious half-breed showed up, but it turns out he's not with you?"

Sesshomaru didn't like empty talk. But something had been tormenting the daiyoukai all these days. Even though Sesshomaru had made no promises to Inuyasha, he felt like a traitor.

"I left him with monks."

"So, why did you take him? Father made sure that while Izayoi is alive..."

"Izayoi is dead." The tree became silent. Its look warmed with understanding, so Sesshomaru immediately added: "I wasn't going to take care of my father's bastard — the boy followed me by accident. Now tell me..."

The face suddenly disappeared. Sesshomaru angrily pulled out his sword and hit the magnolia with all his strength — it only resulted in a pathetic notch. A deep, senile laugh echoed through the forest.

"I told you that's not what I came to talk about!"

"This is not the time to talk about this, son of Inu no Taisho. Come back in two hundred years, then we'll see."

The daiyoukai chuckled. His blood was boiling, but he humbly sheathed his sword. One who possesses only brute strength isn't worthy of being a daiyoukai — and Sesshomaru, of course, knew this.

…

Among the higher demons, no one wanted to gain power through a half-blood, but the youkai were anxious — Sesshomaru heard this while crossing the forest. Everyone was excited by Inuyasha's appearance. Maybe it would have been better for the boy to be devoured at his mother's grave. Sesshomaru seemed to be delaying the inevitable. He also felt guilty that he had not fulfilled his duty.

That evening he was flying past the monastery, although he was going to the coast. Everything seemed to be fine — Sesshomaru could smell Inuyasha. But it intensified closer to the rocks — not to the temple, not to the places where people were. The daiyoukai almost flew past... and headed towards the ground. The magnolia was right: it would probably take him two hundred years to grow up.