Authors note at the end, please read.

Approx ages: Sesh : 14-15

Inuyasha : 2-ish

It had been a couple of days since 'the incident', as Sesshomaru had started calling it, and had been almost just as long since he had left his room. He'd tried to on numerous occasions but every time he just couldn't take it. It was like everyone he passed in the halls knew. Knew what had happened and were looking at him and pitying him and he just had to get away from their stares even though he knew there were none.

Nobody knew what had happened, InuTaisho made sure of it at Sesshomaru's request.

Besides, he reasoned, it wouldn't exactly be a good idea for him to go out in public when he had nothing decent to wear anyway. He found out the day after his attack, from Hakeem and his father, that his youki had actually been activated. InuTaisho had told him his eyes were glowing a brilliant blood red when he'd first seen him and after he'd calmed down, they'd faded to more of a light pink and hadn't changed since. They had given him a hand mirror so he could see for himself and as he was examining his new, temporary eye color, they'd also casually mentioned that he had grown ever so slightly… by a foot.

He'd immediately stood up to see how much of a difference that was and found himself eye-to-chin with his father where just the night before he was barely chest level. They had had a tailor waiting for their signal out in the hall the whole time and less than an hour later he was fitted for his new wardrobe. Unfortunately it wouldn't be ready for a week so he was stuck wearing nothing but his old robes which now came to a stop just a few inches below his knees.

He sighed. There was nothing to be done about it really, he just had to be patient... not that he would've left his room even if he did have properly fitting clothes...

Some times there were minutes where he thought he could do it. Just walk out and maybe find Kashi and joke around or track down Kim and bug her while she tried to do her chores... but those moments where few and far between, widely spaced between boughts of crippling anxiety and fear and spontaneous tears that he would never admit to even under the threat of death.

"They probably don't even know yet..." he whispered to himself, the depression he was getting so familiar with slowly beginning to creep up on him again. His father had promised that nobody would bother him until he was ready and that no one would know unless he told them himself. He didn't want anyone to know though... what he wanted was for this to all just be one really long bad dream and he'll wake up tomorrow and not be afraid to leave his own room and not shudder at the idea of someone touching him or flinch when someone makes a sudden move...

'Oh goody, more tears. I had so been hoping for more fucking tears.' Sesshomaru angrily swiped at his cheeks and buried his face in his pillow, curling up even tighter into himself and his many blankets as if making himself disappear in his bedding would make all the bad things go away but no matter how tightly he closed his eyes he couldn't block out the memories.

Unwanted hands all over him, forcing him down.

Pain in his face from being hit and in his heart from being hit by some one he trusted.

The sounds of fabric tearing as it was viciously yanked from his body without his permission.

Grass and dirt under his nails as he tried to crawl away only to be dragged back and beaten more.

The horrid sound of his own voice begging and pleading and crying...

He just couldn't close his eyes tight enough... there weren't enough blankets to block out these memories eating away at him like acid...

Sesshomaru watched his door closely as the familiar smell came ever closer, quickly accompanied by the fast steps of tiny bare feet. It was only seconds before a small shadow blob could be seen through the rice paper on his door. As it got closer the image became sharper and transformed into a clear outline of his one and only little brother. As the boy got closer, the image got smaller and smaller. Sesshomaru watched with disinterest, knowing that in a few seconds his door would slide open and reveal a little boy scared of the thunder storm and looking for protection from his fearless big brother and had, in fact, already moved over a bit to side to allow the new addition he so was sure would come to his bed.

Sesshomaru had just settled again when the small silhouette came to a stop outside his door. He watched and waited for it to open. He saw the tiny hand reach up and out to the screen, when he stopped suddenly in mid reach. With his small fingers just centimeters away from touching the door, he hesitantly retracted his arm.

Now, Sesshomaru was intrigued. Inuyasha had never hesitated to come to him when he was scared before…

Sesshomaru watched quietly as the boy stood there, seemingly unsure of himself all of a sudden, for what must have been minutes. He reached out multiple times, each time attempting to either knock or open the screen and then not being able to decide which would be best and retracting his hand altogether and each time the sky let loose another mighty clap of thunder he would jump and try again. Sesshomaru watched the whole thing, becoming increasingly curious as the seconds ticked by.

Finally, Sesshomaru saw the child's shoulders slump and his head hang and heard the unmistakable sound of a defeated sigh just before the figure dropped to the ground in front of his door, curled up into the unmistakable shape of a ball and stayed there. It was nearly a minute until Sesshomaru finally seemed to realize what had just happened: Inuyasha, his baby brother, instead of running into his room and snuggling up to him to sleep like he had done a million times before, had chosen to sleep outside his door… on the ground… alone.

'Well… that's just not going to happen.'

Sesshomaru stood and walked with purpose to his door and slid it open with no hesitation. Inuyasha sat up in shock and looked on his brother with wide eyes as Sesshomaru looked at him with a scrunched brow and tilted head. Neither spoke as Sesshomaru crouched down to be eye level with the boy.

Inuyasha's ears, like his shoulders, drooped with every second his brother continued to look at him with penetrating eyes. He hugged his favorite blanket and stuffed bear closer to himself as his shoulders slumped and his chin met his chest, looking for all he was worth like a puppy caught eating his persons shoes...

Sesshomaru let him stew for a few minutes, trying not to smirk, before he finally took pity on the poor pup. He slipped a finger under his little chin and lifted his face up to look into his eyes.

"What are you doing out here on the floor?" He said slowly, cautiously.

Inuyasha just shrugged and looked down.

Sesshomaru sighed and rubbed his temple. "Okay, let me put it this way: Why are you out here on the cold floor when usually you take a flying leap into my bed without any hesitation?"

Inuyasha still didn't look up but he did mumble and answer that was even too garbled and soft for sesshomaru's great hearing.

"What was that? Didn't quite catch that."

He bit his lip and hesitated, but never the less answered again just loud enough for Sessh to hear him.

"Momma say you sad…" he said, hugging his blanket ever tighter and looked anywhere but Sessh. "Momma say that you wanna be 'lone 'cause you sad 'n I shouldn' bahder you..."

'... God... Fucking... Damn it...' Sesshomaru thought to himself running a weary hand down the length of his face. It was sad, sad day when his baby brother felt the need to tip toe around him to protect his delicate feelings.

"Just get in here!" he said with force. Inuyasha wasted no time running into the room he probably spent more time in then his own and diving head first into the warm, waiting bed. Sesshomaru followed and climbed in right behind the tiny lump of sheets in the center, at which point Inuyasha instantaneously glued himself to his brothers torso. Sesshomaru, having learned long ago that resistance was futile, just accepted it and hugged the boy closer, keeping him warm.

There was a flash outside his window, quickly followed by a loud clap of thunder. Inuyasha squeezed his tiny arms ever tighter around Sessh's midsection and buried his face in his stomach.

Sesshomaru, mostly because nobody was looking, allowed himself a small smile. He actually loved being the one this kid ran to when he was scared or sad. He couldn't explain it, or really put into words the worm feeling he got in his chest whenever Inuyasha needed him or how happy it made him when he knew he'd made Inuyasha feel safe. It was the strangest thing that he would never admit to anyone outside his own mind.

That being said, he held on to the boy tighter and buried his nose in Inuyasha's hair between his ears.

"Why do the storms frighten you so much?" He asked softly.

"'cause…" Inuyasha's response was muffled from the fabric of Sesshomaru's night clothes but the older demon understood none the less and smiled softly at the younger boys response.

"… why you not scawud… you not scawud of nott-ing…" he grumbled.

"Oh, well that's just a big bowl of not true."

Inuyasha looked up at him with wide saucer-shaped doe eyes. Sesshomaru rolled his eyes and sat up, placing Inuyasha in his lap and putting on his "serious face".

"Now, what I'm about to tell you top secret okay? So I need you to promise me you won't tell anyone what I'm about to say. You promise?"

Sesshomaru only just finished his sentence when the little boy in his lap started nodding his head vigorously, waiting anxiously to hear this secret that Sesshomaru could trust with no one but him.

The older demon was trying hard not to smile. The boy looked like he was about to hear the most tightly guarded secret ever to grace the planet. He cleared his throat and kept his face stone still.

"Inuyasha…. I, too, have fears." There was a small gasp from his lap, but he ignored it and continued. "There is one thing that can scare me, and that thing is…" Inuyasha leaned forward in his lap, not wanting to miss a single word and waiting on baited breath….

Miroku laughed to himself while looking at his two companions, trying to hide it behind a cough… poorly.

"Honestly, you girls act like you're about to hear the secrets of the universe or something." He said with a smile, which only grew when he was shushed mercilessly.

"Shut up Monk." Sango hissed out, turning from the adorable scene in front of her just long enough to shoot him a glare over her shoulder, letting him know if he wanted to stay conscious, he should keep quiet.

"Miroku, we are about to find out what makes Sesshomaru, the biggest, baddest demon of the west, shake in his custom made, one of a kind, touch-them-and-you-die, baby seal leather boots and you are ruining the moment! Now, shush!" Kagome huffed and waved him off.

Miroku tried not to roll his eyes, he really did, but it just couldn't be helped. So, he shut up and turned back to the two brothers.

Inuyasha was looking up at his brother like he was a god and Sesshomaru took a deep breath.

"There is one thing that can scare me, and that thing is…"

'Pause for effect.' Miroku thought to himself with a smirk.

"… Spiders."

"WHAT?!"

"That's it?!"

Miroku bit his lips together at the outburst of his companions. 'Don't laugh. For the love of god, don't laugh.'

"Girls," he said when he felt a little more composed. "What exactly were you expecting? An hour ago we saw him rip off his own shirt because he thought there was a spider on it."

The girls both just folded their arms and grumbled under their breath.

"We just thought it would be a little more juicy than that…"

They continued to watch as Inuyasha tried to comfort his big brother, none of them able to stop their "Awww's" when the boy promised to kill every spider he saw if Sesshomaru promised to protect him on stormy nights.

"That's a deal." The older demon said and held out his hand. They shook on it, both smiling, when a particularly loud thunder crash was heard right outside the window and Inuyasha was once again buried in his brothers chest seeking solace. Sesshomaru held him tight and close, laying back down with his bundle still in his arms, where it stayed the rest of the night.

They watched for a while longer, just enjoying the scene in front of them.

"… I can't believe Sesshomaru was ever like this…" kagome said, slowly. "I mean, you can just tell clear as day how much he loves Inuyasha... What could've have possibly happened to change that?"

Sango could only shake her head, thinking the same thing.

Miroku sighed. "I guess… that's what we're here to find out…"

They nodded in agreement, taking one last look at their young friend, wrapped up and safe in his big brothers arms and smiling in his sleep, and the scene began to change.

They no longer felt the shift anymore, which they were all grateful for. When they stopped, it was day light and they were outside by an open stable.

Sesshomaru was grinning broadly (smiling like a loon was probably a better way to describe it), practically bouncing, he seemed so giddy. InuTaisho was next to him, leaning heavily on a post, his head down and covered by one of his hands and upon closer inspecting, they noticed he seemed to be shaking his head back and forth and muttering to himself.

Finally he looked up, a crestfallen look on his face and gestured toward one of the open pens.

"This… is NOT what I expected…"

Sesshomaru laughed and shook his head with no small amount of amusement. "And what, pray tell, did you expect? This is Inuyasha we're talking about. Last week his best friend was a rock and this surprises you?" Sesshomaru also gestured to the open pen. "You told him to pick a friend to keep with him forever… I mean… he did what you told him to do."

"I didn't mean this!" The older demon exclaimed, looking forlornly at the pen once again.

The three friends walked around the bickering duo to get a better view and were not disappointed for in this pen was a small (though still bigger than the last time they saw him) Inuyasha, covered head to toe with mud and twigs, wearing nothing but a cloth diaper and the biggest smile he could possibly fit on his tiny face and proudly holding a teeny, tiny baby potbelly pig.

"Oh! My! God! I wish I had my camera!" Kagome squealed, one hand clutched at her chest and the other grabbed at Sango's arm, who happened to be in a very similar state of mind.

The girls smiled and giggled and squealed in delight (in much the same way Inuyasha and his little baby pig were) and Miroku, if he were being honest with himself, was all to close to joining them… If there was one thing he learned about his friend over the two plus years they had spent together traveling, it was that Inuyasha had had a hard childhood. He never talked about it so all Miroku could do was speculate but he'd seen how Hanyou's were treated and he knew that some horrible things must have happened in Inuyasha's past to make him not even want to utter a single word about it. Miroku had to admit, it warmed him to see that Inuyasha at least had a few happy childhood memories too and looking at the monumental grin on the little boys face, he was the happiest the monk had ever seen him.

It was a very dirty, muddy but happy two year old that wandered over to InuTaisho and Sesshomaru, holding his new friend to his stomach with both arms. He stood at their feet and looked up at them with a smile bigger then they'd ever seen before.

Sesshomaru grinned as InuTaisho sighed one last time and bent down to look his youngest son in the eyes.

"Son…" he began warily. "… are you sure this is the one you want?" Sesshomaru could hear the trepidation (and slight hope) in his voice and stifled a laugh.

While this wasn't the outcome they had expected it certainly got them the same results.

It was tradition in their family that when they were children, they would get a "pet". Really, it was a companion. A friend that they could keep with them for the rest of their lives and for the last thirteen generations that "friend" was a two-headed dragon. Sesshomaru got his when he was three and named her Ahh and Uhn. A few months ago she laid some eggs which hatched the week before. InuTaisho had been so excited all week for Inuyasha to finally be able to pick out his new best friend and about half an hour before told the boy to go into the pens and pick the one he wanted. Of course he didn't take into account that Inuyasha, being the boy he was, would take that to mean any animal he could find, not just the ones laid out for him and Sesshomaru watched in amusement as Inuyasha nodded with vigor.

"Yes! He my best fwend!" Inuyasha stated, resolutely and the other two demons new from experience that that was that and may god himself be damned to change it.

InuTaisho straightened out slowly and sighed. "Alright. Go play with your new... best friend." And Inuyasha ran off with a happy shriek. "Six perfectly good, rare two-headed dragons worth thousands in their own right... and he goes for the pig." The older demon muttered under his breath.

"Dad, you're talking about a kid whose best friend last month was a mouse he found under the table. The week before that it was a fly got trapped in his room and couldn't figure out how to get out. You told him to go into a barn and pick something. What were you expecting to happen?"

"….."

"I mean, at the very least you should've taken all the other animals out first. Honestly, I think we're lucky he didn't come walking out of there with a horse fly on a leash or something."

"….. but it was a pig! How can he possibly call a pig his best friend?!"

"Dad, just accept it. "Sesshomaru gave the sulking man a pat on the back and walked off to join his brother… and maybe talk him into going for a swim to clean him off.

"I'm not going to be the one to tell him what bacon is made out of!" InuTaisho called after him.

Sesshomaru hung back a bit and just observed. Inuyasha was animatedly talking to the tiny piglet in his arms, waving his hand back and forth in conversation, the animal his favorite places, his favorite tree, his favorite rock because he actually HAD a favorite rock. He hadn't let the little thing out of his sight since they left their father a few hours before.

Inuyasha had a big smile on his face and bounce in his step as he walked along in front with his new friend. It was such a … sweet…. Sight that even Sesshomaru could help but to smile at the scene.

They had gone for a walk through the forest and eventually landed at the lake a mile into the trees. Sesshomaru had sat by the edge and watched the boy and pig splash around in the shallow end, throwing water back and for and generally making a mess but at least getting clean the same time.

They were heading back now and only a few minutes from home, enjoying the walk and sun and calm of the forest when Sesh paused, and sniffed. He made a quick grab at his brothers shoulder, bringing him to a halt and brought his finger to his lips, letting him know to be quiet.

Inuyasha knew to immediately listen and hugging his new friend tight as he quickly hid behind his big brother, holding his pant leg in his tiny hand biting his lips between his teeth. Even with how young he was, he understood the importance of being quiet when told, which was something the older inu was infinitely grateful for.

Sesshomaru listened and took another sniff. There was something in the air, a scent he hadn't smelled before yet it was still oddly familiar. It was a person for sure, a human, but it was way too close to their home and in the back no less. Sesshomaru and Inuyahsa were coming back from behind the palace. No one but family was supposed to go there, it was a private place.

They both heard a rustling at the same time. Inuyasha was fully behind his brother and Seshomaru growled, crouched and bared his claws. He was certainly still in training but he had gotten a lot stronger and faster since his change and he'd fight tooth and nail to protect his baby brother if it came to that.

They watched with bated breath, as the woman walked out from behind some foliage.

She was... beautiful. And the closer she got the more anxious Sesshomaru became because, while he had never met this woman, she smelled… oddly familiar… or rather, similar maybe. He narrowed his eyes and glared at the mystery woman as she came just a little closer, trying desperately to place the scent because even though he didn't know her, he knew without any doubt that she was powerful. he could feel her strength rolling off her in waves with no effort, prickling his skin and seemingly trying to decide if he was worth killing.

She stopped and clasped her hands in front of herself, a small, friendly grin on her soft lips. Her dark hair hung loose by her face and her elegant, but casual gown flowed around her in the light breeze. She looked…. Almost like…

"Hello. I guess, based on your stance, that my sister didn't tell you I was coming for a visit."

"Sister?" Sesshomaru questioned cautiously, never lowering his claws and being sure to fully block his brother from view.

"Izoiyoi. My little sister. She can be somewhat... flighty sometimes."

Okay... so the smell makes more sense then...

Sesshomaru relaxed his stance and stood up tall.

"No, she must have forgotten to mention that... did you just arrive or..?"

"Oh no. I got her a few hours ago. you guys were out by the time I arrived though."

She bent to the side a bit, trying to glean a glance at her nephew who was still hiding cautiously behind Sesshomaru, although he did gather the courage to peek out at the woman.

"I apologize if I frightened you." She was looking into Inuyashas one visible eye and gave him a small smile as non threatening as she could be.

"Hes a little shy around new people." Sesshomaru answered for him, bordering on defensive. he was still a little on the wall about this woman. he knew she was telling the truth and she was Inuyashas aunt but she still had more power than many demons he'd met and wasn't willing to take many risks that involved his brother.

"I don't know where he could have gotten that from." the woman stated, giving Inuyasha a little wave and a smile. "His mother certainly had no problem walking up to complete strangers and telling them her life story when she was his age." she laughed to herself.

Inuyasha had been listening the whole time and while he might not have understood most of it he did seem to get that this woman didn't seem to be a threat... and she seemed nice... and she kinda smelled like mamma.

He bravely took a step and a half out from his behind his brother (not letting go of his hakamas just yet though of course) and decided to introduce himself.

"Hewo." he said softly, giving a tiny wave as he did still have his new baby pig in his arm.

The lady smiled and knelt down to be closer to eye level. "Well hello."

Inuyasha cautiously took a few more steps closer and away from Sesshomaru, who had to fight himself not to follow on the boys heals.

"My names Inuwasha" he said as formally as he could and bowed down low to her.

She giggled and bowed down to him as well.

"Hello Inuyasha. My name is Midoriko."

I just want you guys to know that I havent given up on this story. A lot of stuff happened in my life and that had to come first. I promised a looooong time ago that come hell or high water I would finish this god damned fanfic and by the grace of Satans dirty underpants I will Finish you!

Dont give up on me.

and thank you to everyone who took the time to comment and encourage me to continue.

this is just a little shorty, teaser chapter to let you guys know I'm still alive and I'm trying my hardest to get this thing written.