InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Confrontation II: Trials and Tribulations ❯ From The Mouth Of Babes... ( Chapter 9 )

A/N: As always, all characters will be walking that fine line of OOCness. I'm such a ditz!! I was supposed to update this chapter two weeks ago before I left for Christmas vacation, but me being the air haired I can sometimes be, I completely forgot!! Please forgive me!! I don't know how I feel about this chapter… The fact that Sesshomaru is talking so much… It just seems kind of weird, but it couldn't be helped. Anyway, Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year to you all!!

 

Disclaimer: I do not claim ownership to anyone with the exception of Joudama, Kanomaru, Susamajii, Teela, Reinto, Mana, and Rinji. Damn that was a mouth full!

 

Chapter 9:

 

From The Mouth Of Babes

 

“Daddy, where are we going,” Kanomaru asked, his head resting contentedly on his father's shoulder.

 

Sesshomaru didn't respond. He just continued to stare ahead of him at the cliff that was quickly coming into view. The Inu Lord was lost in his own thoughts of how he was going to explain to his son that he was half of what demons despised and humans detested.

 

“Father?”

 

Sesshomaru heard him and he smirked sadly. The boy would always revert to calling him, Father, when he felt he had done something wrong or if he felt he was being ignored. `Does he think that by calling me that, he will garner my attention faster?' Glancing down at his son, he stated softly, “You'll see soon enough.”

 

Kano leaned up and looked around him, `Where are…?' He knew they were still near the house, actually they hadn't even left the grounds, but the area that they were now in, was another area that his father had told him was off limits until he was older. Looking behind him, the boy watched in awe as the vast blue ocean appeared before him, like a big beautiful never-ending blanket.

 

The pup could only remember being brought down here once before by his mother, for what she called, a picnic. He also remembered on several different occasions watching his father stand out here for hours doing nothing but staring at the sea. He never sat down, paced back and forth or even bent over. He did nothing, just stood there staring ominously into the massive ocean before him.

 

On those occasions after the boy had watched for a moment too long, he would try to leave the confines of the house and go to his father, but his mother always stopped him. She would tell him, `Your father needs this time alone. He'll be in shortly.' Of course, his young mind didn't understand why, but he never fought her. He'd sit on the steps of the house or on his father's desk or even on his parent's bed, he didn't care where, as long as it gave him a good view of him mentor… The man he aimed to be. He would watch him incessantly until he turned from the cliff and came back inside.

 

Kanomaru shook that memory from his mind and turned his attention towards the blue sky high above him.

 

Fluffy white clouds rolled by as sea gulls flew just below them, dipping low into the water every now and again. His little ears swiveled back and forth, catching every squawk and chirp from the birds and the other animals nearby. Glancing down at the beach far below, he watched in amazement as a blue thing with claws skittered across the beach sideways and disappeared into the sea.

 

Pointing his little clawed finger, the boy asked, “Daddy, what was that?”

 

Sesshomaru followed his son's line of sight, but saw nothing. So he said nothing.

 

“It was blue and it walked sideways. And…and it had claws!”

 

The Inu Lord stared down at the beach that sat more than a few meters below them and wondered just how his son could see that far down. Of course he, himself could, because he was a full demon, but his son was only half of what he was.

 

`I suppose I've been underestimating his abilities.'

 

Kano screamed excitedly, “Daddy…Daddy, look,” as he pointed out at the ocean. “It's a flying fish! You never told me fish could fly!”

 

Sesshomaru looked just in time to see the shimmering silver and blue fish dive back into the water only to swim a few feet more and jump into the air then dive back into the water again. The Inu Lord actually chuckled at his son's excitement over such an insignificant creature.

 

Of course he had seen this before, but seeing it now was like watching it through his son's eyes, which made it a truly awe inspiring sight.

 

Setting Kanomaru down, he watched as he ran to the edge of the cliff and laid down so that he was lying on his bandage belly, his feet in the air kicking back and forth as if he had not a care in the world. His jet-black hair fell down his back and over his shoulders as his ears twirled in every direction trying to pick up every sound within range.

 

Standing back his hands clasped tightly behind his back while his silver mane blew in the wind, Sesshomaru watched his son in silence, he couldn't help but wonder, `Was I ever this carefree…naive? Nonsense, of course not! This Sesshomaru would never do such childish things! It's a fish…just a fish, nothing to get excited over!' Still, he couldn't help but to stare down on his child with a soft look of fascination playing across his normally stoic brow.

 

If he had, had a carefree upbringing, would he have turned out differently? Would he be able to pour his heart out to his mate and play childish games with son? Would he be able to swallow his pride and apologize for trying to kill his brother on one too many occasions? Would they have been friends, instead of now just struggling to get along? Would he care what people thought of him? Would he even be here now? Or would some faceless nameless demon have killed him off a long time ago?

 

The Inu Lord scuffed derisively, `Pfft, this Sesshomaru, never!'

 

He had no answers for the questions that plagued him and honestly this was not the time to figure it out. He was here to talk with his son, to make sure that the boy understood what it meant to be a half-breed, a hanyou, reviled, and as much as he didn't want to admit it, hated for something he had no choice in.

 

“Daddy, there it is again! What is it, huh,” Kano asked, jumping to his feet. Grabbing his father's hand he pulled him to the edge of the cliff so that he could see the creature that had him enamored. “See it's blue and it walks side ways.”

 

Peering over the cliff, the Inu Lord stated nonchalantly, “That is called a crab.”

 

“A…crab,” he repeated as if he was filing that definition away for later reference. Pointing to the opposite side of the large boulder that separated the beach below, the inquisitive child asked, “Well, is that a crab to?”

 

Staring in the direction that his son was pointing Sesshomaru took in the long orange body of the crustacean, the two large claws and the wide flat tail. Frowning thoughtfully he stated, “That is known as a lobster.”

 

“A…lob…ster and that one is a crab,” Kano stated as if memorizing it. Glancing back up and over the ocean he scanned it quickly looking for the flying fish that he had silently named, Guraida. “Daddy, Guraida is gone,” he muttered in a crestfallen manner.

 

Looking out over the ocean, Sesshomaru inquired, one eyebrow raised higher than the other, “Guraida?”

 

Letting go of his father's hand the boy, stated as if it was common sense, “I named it that since it seems to glide more so than it flies.”

 

`So young and yet so smart,' the proud Inu Lord thought, but stated, “It is a fish, did you really think it would stay in one place?”

 

Just then the fish in question pitched up out of the water only to be caught in the beak of an oversized sea gull that swooped down out of nowhere.

 

Kanomaru screamed, “Guraida!” And ran towards the edge of the cliff, but was stopped by his father's large hand before he could step over the edge. “Daddy, it's killing him! You have to save him! Daddy, do something! Please, it's…it's…”

 

Interrupting his son's tirade, Sesshomaru stated, “It's the way of the world,” while pulling his heir back so that he was standing directly in front of him still facing in the ocean.

 

Tears that the boy didn't want to let fall, pooled in his eyes. Wiping them away he quietly watched as the bird that had stolen his new friend disappeared into the horizon. “Why? Why did it kill him? He didn't do anything to that…that bird.” The more he talked the angry he became, “I hate those stupid birds!” Bending down he quickly picked up a small rock and threw it at a flock of birds that were flying by, “Get out of here you stupid birds! I hate you! I hate you!”

 

“Stop it,” Sesshomaru snapped, a little shocked at his son's outburst. He had never seen the boy loose his temper except when Rin was trying to make him wear a haori. To hear him say such things, quite honestly didn't sit well with the Inu Lord since he nor his mate ever spoke out in anger or yelled at one another.

 

Wiping his eyes with the back of his hand while the other rested at his side balled into a tight fist, Kano allowed his head to lull forward in defeat. `That bird was just like that thing that attacked me! I didn't do anything to it and it still attacked me! When I get bigger…when I get bigger I swear to the gods, I'm going to kill them all!' His fists were now clenched so tight that the white of his tiny knuckles were showing.

 

Noticing this, Sesshomaru rested a hand on his son's shoulder and stated calmly, “Calm down, pup. There is something I must discuss with you.”

 

Kanomaru sniffled, and stepped back so that he was standing against his father's legs. The pup's chest was rising and falling rapidly as a tear slipped down his cheek. He didn't understand it! All he knew was he was weak and so was Guraida. He heard his father's voice whisper, `It's the way of the world.' What did that mean? Why would he say that, instead of saving his friend? Wiping his eyes again, he turned swiftly and buried his face in Sesshomaru's hakama as the tears he had tried not to shed began to fall from his eyes.

 

Sesshomaru was taken aback. He wasn't use to dealing with his son when he cried; this was Rin's job. Okay, he kind of understood why the boy was crying, but it honestly made no sense to him. It was a fish…a fish that he had only seen for the first time, 15 minutes ago. He'd never touched it or even seen it up close, but here he was crying his eyes out like it was a long time pet. Didn't the boy understand that if the bird hadn't eaten it, it would only be a matter of time before someone else did?

 

“Daddy, why? Why do I have to be small? Wh…why can't I be big like you, then I could have protected myself and I…I would've saved Guraida,” Kano mumbled into his father's hakama, while rubbing his runny nose across the white material.

 

Sesshomaru understood perfectly now. Kanomaru wasn't only crying for the fish, he was also crying for the things that had been done to him. `He feels weak.' Picking up his son Sesshomaru did something he hadn't done in centuries. He sat down on the ground his legs dangling casually over the edge of the cliff. Settling his son down so that the boy was once again facing the ocean he stated softly, “It's time for you and I to have a talk.”

 

Wiping his runny nose with the back of his hand, Kano sniffled then nodded and leaned back against Sesshomaru's chest.

 

Deciding that it would be best if he didn't beat around the bush, per se, the white one began, “Do you know why you're a hanyou?”

 

Not understanding where this talk was going, the boy glanced up at his father's solemn face, then back out at the ocean. Nodding lightly he replied honestly, “Yes, because you told me I am.”

 

Okay, so that wasn't a total lie. Sesshomaru had told him on several occasions that he was a hanyou, but he never actually explained exactly what a `hanyou' was.

 

Glancing down at the two little puppy ears swiveling constantly on top of his son's head, he sighed softly hating to have to explain this. The Lord of the West had never been one to do much talking, but who else could have this conversation with his heir?

 

“You're a hanyou because your half human and half youkai.”

 

“Like Uncle Inuyasha, right?”

 

“Yes. What happened to you in the forest, probably happened because of that fact.”

 

Glancing back at his father with wide eyes, Kano replied, “Huh?”

 

It was obvious that the boy didn't quite understand what he was saying so he continued his explanation, “Because you're a hanyou, most demons will not accept you and most humans will fear and hate you.”

 

Turning halfway in his father's lap the pup questioned, “Why?”

 

Sesshomaru wanted to scratch his head, but refrained.

 

Knowing that the child would probably only grasp a small amount of what he was about to say the Inu Lord continued anyway, “Your mother and I being together is not looked upon as something good by most demons. Therefore, they will hate you and attempt to take your life, because you are the product of she and I being together.” Glancing down at his son, he finished, “Humans will fear you because you look different from them and because you're stronger… They will hate you because you are more than they will ever be.”

 

A moment passed before the boy finally spoke again, “But daddy, why would they hate me? Doesn't being both demon and human make me…me special?”

 

Sesshomaru didn't have an answer for that. Of course, he thought his son was special, but he would never say something so…so sentimental out loud, even if his pup would be the only one to hear it.

 

Searching his father's eyes for some hint of acknowledgement, Kanomaru asked, “If…If I'm stronger than humans, doesn't that mean I can help them?”

 

The Inu Lord thought that over for a moment before replying, “I suppose it does, but most humans are too closed minded to think in such a manner.”

 

Feeling around on his head, Kano caught the tip of one of his little black ears between his forefingers, “I like my ears and mommy always says that they're cute. Did she lie to me? Are my ears the reason why they'll hate me?”

 

Sesshomaru covered his son's hand that was tugging aggressively at his little ear, with that of his own, “Your mother would never lie to you. What you have to understand is that some humans will have no reason to hate you, they just will.”

 

Sighing, Kanomaru let his hands fall into his lap; his little face was the perfect visual description of confusion, as he stated in a quiet, perplexed tone, “I think…I think humans are stupid. How could they hate someone that they don't know?”

 

Sesshomaru chuckled lightly, almost unnoticeably, “I suppose I thought the same way at one time. But the truth is most of them don't have a reason to trust us.”

 

“You mean demons?”

 

Nodding lightly, the Inu Lord continued, “There are some demons out there that feed on humans. There are also some that torture them unmercifully for no reason, so when they come across someone like you or Inuyasha, they don't know what to do or what to think. So they hate.”

 

Frowning, the little boy stared up at his father, his eyes speaking the things his little mind couldn't verbalize. They held fear…confusion…anger. He couldn't understand it, part of him refused to understand it. It didn't make sense. “I…I would never hurt them…humans, daddy. I wouldn't,” he continued, with a negative shake of his head, as if that would affirm his answer.

 

`I know you wouldn't son, I know you wouldn't,' Sesshomaru thought, but had no reply for his pup.

 

After a moment of silence passed between them, Kano asked, “Daddy do they hate you too?”

 

“They fear and loathe me.”

 

The little boy narrowed his eyes as he stared at his father, “Did you hurt humans? Is that why they lo…loathe you?”

 

Refusing to lie to the boy, Sesshomaru responded, “I only hurt the ones that got in my way.”

 

Seeing no need to doubt what his father stated, Kano scratched behind his little ear and asked, “The demons hate me because you and mommy did something wrong, is that what your telling me?”

 

`It was going so well,' Sesshomaru thought as he allowed his son's question to roll around his mind for a moment. Thus far he had been truthful in the words that he spoke to his pup. He hadn't sugar coated anything or made it sound like it would be a walk in the park, so he wouldn't start now. He'd tell him the truth as hideous and as heart wrenching as it was, how else would he learn?

 

“Your mother and I did nothing wrong. However, most demons do not see it that way.” His mind slipped back to the time when he first found out that his father was cavorting with a ninjen. He remembered how much he hated him for sullying their bloodline. He remembered telling him that he was being foolish and that he had clearly lost his mind. He remembered the rage he felt the first time she dirtied their home with her stench. `How wrong I was,' he thought while closing those memories away for another time.

 

The wind tussled his hair as he spoke, “For as long as I can remember, a demon mating with a human has always been thought of as…forbidden. There are a few of us, my father, your grandfather included, that have thrown this knowledge aside, and happily mated the human of our choosing.” Glancing down at his son that wore an expression that told him, he had lost him somewhere, the Inu Lord finished, “In retaliation for my decision, you will not be accepted by them. Should you be caught outside of these gates without someone that can protect you, they will attempt to take your life.”

 

Kanomaru stared back at his father then turned his attention back to the squawking sea gulls. Inhaling as if he had the world sitting on his shoulders, he stated, “So…So I'm a hanyou because…because you and mommy chose to make me a hanyou. And…and because of that…demons will hunt me, and try to kill me.” He stopped took a deep breath then continued, “That thing that attacked me…he wanted to kill me, because…because I'm…I'm a…'half-breed',” the boy finished sadly. His shoulders were slumped forward and his ears lay flat against his head as he tried to grasp the importance of just what he was being told.

 

Sesshomaru wasn't sure if he was being asked a question or if the boy was simply making a statement. What he did know was that he didn't like hearing his son call himself a `half-breed'. “Where did you hear that term, `half-breed'?”

 

Lost in his own thoughts Kano mumbled, “Jakken said it.”

 

Turning the child so that he was kneeling in his lap facing him, Sesshomaru gripped his arms firmly almost shaking him. “You are not a half-breed. You are Lord Kanomaru, Heir to the Western Lands. Yes, you maybe a hanyou, but my blood… The blood of the Tai-youkai flows through your veins. You are not a lowly vagabond or an orphaned pup. You are to allow no one…to ever…call you that, do you hear me?”

 

Kano stared into his father's fierce golden eyes. His orbs traveled over the purple crescent moon that sat in center of his forehead, then down at the two burgundy stripes on either side of his cheeks. Reaching up slowly he touched one of Sesshomaru's pointed ears. `I'm not like him at all.'

 

“Kanomaru?”

 

Blinking as if he was coming out of a trance the young hanyou asked, “Father, will I ever be like you?”

 

“My blood runs through your veins, pup. You are more like me, than you know.”

 

“But I don't have any markings. My hair isn't like yours and because I'm a hanyou, I'll never be as strong as you.”

 

“Your eyes are the same as mine, are they not?”

 

“But…”

 

“But nothing. As long as my blood flows through your veins you are a part of this Sesshomaru. It doesn't matter what you look like. You are my pup. And never are you to allow anyone to call you a `half-breed', do you understand?”

 

“Yes,” Kano responded solemnly.

 

Determined to end the conversation since he felt he had talked way too much for one day, the Inu Lord stated quietly, “Good”. Standing his son up beside him, Sesshomaru slowly stood up and began dusting the small pieces of debris from his kimono. He could tell that there was something else bothering the boy, but it was to be expected, was it not? The right thing to do, would be for him to ask the pup if he was okay, but that would be prying, wouldn't it?

 

“Daddy?”

 

Turning from the cliff, he replied, “Yes, Kanomaru.”

 

Looking up at his father with eyes full of wonder, Kano asked, “How exactly did you and mommy create me?”

 

Sesshomaru looked at his child then away quickly. He couldn't believe his four-year-old son had just asked him that! How on earth was he supposed to answer such a thing? Surely the boy wasn't seriously asking about mating?

 

`Surely not!'

 

Thinking that his father must not have understood him, Kano clarified his question, “Daddy, what did you and mommy do to make me a hanyou? Mana said that birds and other animals lay eggs to have babies, so what did you and mommy do? How'd I get here? Did you have to help her? Is that how I got your eyes? How'd you do it, daddy? How did you give me your eyes?”

 

Trying to ignore his son's unwavering stare, he thought, `Oh Kami.' There was no way that he was going to even attempt to touch this subject. `He's too inquisitive.' Refusing to lie to him or make up fairytales about magical beings, Sesshomaru stated rather nonchalantly, “Perhaps you should ask your mother or Mana about that.”

 

Smiling lightly at the blush that stained his father's cheeks, Kano decided that he would definitely have to ask his tutor or mother about this. Snaking his little hand into that of his father's, he stated, “Daddy, even if I am just a hanyou, I'm still glad that you and mommy did whatever you did to have me.” Jogging lightly, in order to keep up with his sire's wide strides he finished, “Maybe when it's my turn to be Lord, I'll be able stop people from hating people like me and Uncle Inuyasha.”

 

Sesshomaru stared down at his son with pride. `Perhaps he did understand what I said to him,' he thought as he closed his hand around that of his heir's. `You my son, will be better than this Sesshomaru. That, I am sure of.'

 

Until Next Time…(Isn't it weird seeing Sesshy act like a father?)