InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Young at Heart ❯ Childhood ( Chapter 1 )

[ P - Pre-Teen ]

By: Cierah

Childhood

He was only a child, no more then six years of age. Still a babe in the eyes of his elders, and son of a powerful youkai. He raced after a small butterfly that flew off a flower, his small arms and hands outstretched trying to reach it. Tiny giggles erupted from the mouth of this boy as he scampered through the grass.

His little feet were bare, and he was dressed simply. He wore white and blue pants and matching sash and his shirt was a simple light blue. His hair was bound in a top knot, to keep it tidy and out of his face. He was alone, as his father had gone in search of food. So he kept himself occupied by chasing little animals and butterflies around their campsite. There was a small fire burning in the center of the camp, and the sun was setting over the horizon casting everything in a pale orange hue.

A rustling from the bushes caught the child's attention, and he paused in his pursuit of the butterfly. Turning around, he looked at the trees and bushes where the rustling had come from, and didn't see anything. His small smiling mouth turned down into a frown, as he stood there listening. Sniffing the air, he caught a strange scent and shivered. Glancing around him nervously, he backed up a little. The rustling came again and he held his breath.

This was the first time he had ever gone hunting with his father, so he had experienced many strange things that day. He had discovered squirrels, and bugs, flowers and herbs. Now a new strange scent was introduced to him, but this time he was alone. His father wasn't around to explain anything to him, or tell him what caused the rustling in the bushes. Startled, and afraid, he took another step back, and cried out as a white thing darted out right for him. Tripping over his feet, he fell backwards, his hands catching him before he fell onto his back. Sitting there, he watched the beast as a little nose twitched at him, staring at him with big black eyes.

He felt his own eyes widen surprised. The long ears of the beast twitched, and looked at him warily, much the same way he was looking at the creature. Pulling his legs under him, he crawled on all fours, sniffing the white thing curiously. It didn't look dangerous to him. It didn't appear to have fangs or claws like his father, and it looked soft.

The thing turned around quickly and darted into the bushes, leaving him on all fours staring after the beast surprised. Frowning he called out. “Wait!” He gathered himself up onto his feet and darted into the bushes after the soft fluffy creature.

He was only able to run for a moment before something stepped in front of him blocking his path, making him skid to a halt on the leaves that lay on the forest floor. He blinked and stared at a pair of white pants. His gaze traveled up and he saw his father.

“Where do you think you're going?” His father's deep voice asked.

He wrapped his arms around his father's knees and peered past them at the little white thing darting through the bushes. Looking up again, his fathers golden gaze waited for a response.

He pointed to the retreating white thing, and looked up again. “What was that?”

His father's gaze looked back over his shoulder, and he chuckled. “That was a rabbit. Come, let's get dinner ready.” His father scooped down and picked his son up in one swoop, carrying his catch of fish in his other hand.

Grinning from ear to ear, the little boy snuggled up against his father's boa that hung over his left shoulder. It was soft, and he found himself many nights curled up against it. Rubbing his nose in the boa, he sniffed it sighing happily. It smelled like his father, he was safe. But in truth he never thought that he was ever in any danger. His father was never far away, and would come to save him should anything happen. Lifting his head, he looked at his father curiously.

“I am safe right?” He asked worried.

His father turned his gaze to his son surprised. “Why would you think otherwise?”

Shrugging, he sighed. “You would save me from anything right?”

His father stopped walking. “Do you not feel safe?”

“I do, but you weren't here.”

“Ah. I think I understand now. You think that I could not sense if you were in danger.” His father frowned. “Nothing will happen to you, Sesshomaru.”

Nodding, the boy squirmed out of his father's arms, and jumped down to the ground. “What will we do tomorrow?”

His father chuckled, kneeling beside the fire. He began preparing the fish and kept his senses open for signs of danger. “We will see when the day comes.”

“I want to see another rabbit.” Sesshomaru spun around in a circle his arms outstretched above him.

His father looked up from the fish, and watched his son spin around in circles. Sesshomaru stopped his spinning and stumbled slightly, and then he flashed a grin to his father as he expertly steadied himself. Shaking his head, Inutashomaru smiled at his son's exploits. “Come, sit and eat.”

Nodding, Sesshomaru knelt beside the fire, and picked up some of the prepared food and began eating. Half way through dinner, he yawned. This didn't get past his father who placed his meal down and stood up. Walking over to a small bag leaning against a tree, he pulled out a smaller boa and brought it back to the fire. Holding it up, showing his son, Sesshomaru's eyes lit up excited.

Looking up at his father he smiled. “Is that for me?”

Nodding, his father handed it to his excited son, as he stood up and snuggled his face in it. “It's soft like yours.”

“It should be.” Inutashomaru smiled. Picking up his son, he wrapped the boa around his boy and placed him a safe distance away from the fire. “It is late, rest and tomorrow we will find more adventures for you.”

There were no complaints from Sesshomaru as he placed his head on the soft fur wrapped around him. In minutes he was asleep, with his father looking over him protectively. Seeing his son finally asleep, Inutashomaru sniffed the air for danger, sensing none he exited the camp silently. He didn't stray too far away, when he came to a tree. Climbing into the branches, he seated himself high on one keeping alert. Night was a dangerous time, so sleep was not an option with his son away from the protective confines of their mountain home.

Lifting his gaze to the moon, Inutashomaru sighed. The night was peaceful for once.

He jerked awake when a strange hooting filled his dreaming state. Startled, he opened his eyes and remained motionless. Only moving his eyes, he looked around him, and heard other noises filling the darkness. He could see well enough, but his eyes were no where near as good as his father's. Rolling over on the soft fur he was curled up in, he lifted himself up on his elbows, looking for his father. The camp was empty.

He let out a startled gasp, and turned his head left and right. Maybe his father went out hunting again. Frowning, he pulled his knees under him. The new boa his father had given him was still wrapped around his tiny form, and he pulled it around him protectively. Sesshomaru wrapped his arms around it tightly, searching with his eyes for signs of his father. A hoot from behind him caused him to jump, and twist around startled. Taking a deep breath, he had to be brave. His father had said he could sense danger, so this hooting monster wouldn't be dangerous right?

Swallowing, he pulled the boa closer to him and buried his face in the soft fur. There were so many noises filling the night. Strange noises he had never heard before, and he was frightened. Putting on a brave face, Sesshomaru stood up and dragged his boa with him closer to the fire. He knelt down close to it, but it was burning low, almost dead. There was only the odd crackle as the embers heated. Sniffing the air, he tried to pin point his father, and smelled him. He was close. Smiling slightly, he pulled his boa around him tighter. He was the son of a powerful youkai, so being afraid wasn't an option for him. His father would be disappointed right? Frowning, he wasn't sure.

Looking around the camp again, he heard rustling in the bushes, and more hoots from the creature that had woken him. He heard voices. Frowning, he stood up and hugged his fur close to him as a shield. There shouldn't be voices at night. Stepping closer to the fire, he shivered.

Inutashomaru lifted his head, hearing a faint gasp from the camp. His son had woken. Shaking his head, he looked over his shoulder. He noticed his son move closer to the fire, and he smiled. Sesshomaru would have to get used to the night, and the sounds that accompanied it. Remaining where he was, he watched silently, until he heard voices. Startled, he stood up on his branch, and cocked his head to the side listening carefully.

“Humans.” He hissed. Without another thought, he jumped from the tree, and raced towards the voices. There weren't many, but they were too close to the camp. Slipping through the trees with ease, he followed the voices, which were getting closer to his son. Curling his lip in anger, he knew humans rarely traveled at night. Those who did had a fell purpose. Stopping, he decided his best course of action now would be to get back to his son and find another spot to camp out in.

Turning around, he raced back towards the camp, and entered the clearing in due time. Sesshomaru spun around quickly letting out a small cry of surprise. Without another word, he ran to his father, dropping his boa, and wrapped his arms around his father's knees. Inutashomaru quickly scooped his son into his arms, and gathered the small boa and pack. Without a word, he raced from the camp and ran through the trees, away from the voices.

Sesshomaru buried his face into his father's fur and felt the air rush through his hair. He always loved this part, flying with his father. He turned his head slightly and buried his face into his father's neck his eyes seeing only a little as they traveled through the trees. Shouts filled the night, and Sesshomaru lifted his head curiously. Looking over his father's shoulder, he saw orange fill the blackness. His father stiffened, and changed direction. The child never lost his sight on the orange hue that was dimming quickly as his father jumped higher into the trees.

“What is that?” He whispered.

“Shush.” His father hissed.

Nodding, Sesshomaru clamped his mouth shut, and kept watching over his father's shoulder. It took them no time to reach the forests edge, and his father raced through the field towards the mountains in the distance. There were no more voices that reached his ears, and his father seemed to relax a bit. He was still running and jumping however, and Sesshomaru knew that it was because of danger.

Inutashomaru jumped onto the rocks climbing the mountain quickly. Once his son was a safe distance from the humans, he would go back to discover their purpose. They would have already have discovered the camp and keep searching through the night, if their intentions were fell. Seeing a cave above, he jumped onto the outcropping of rock, and placed his son down, handing him the boa and pack. “Stay here.” He pointed to the caves entrance, and turned around. “Do not move until I get back.”

Sesshomaru nodded, and peered into the black cave. Looking back to his father, he watched as Inutashomaru jumped out of sight back to the ground. Taking a deep breath, Sesshomaru entered the cave and stood just inside trying to pierce the blackness with his eyes. Frowning, he took a deep breath and knelt down at the entrance. He still had the light of the moon here, so he was able to see some things. A tiny squeak reached his ears and he looked down at the small mouse that came to investigate the new being that invaded his turf.

Lowering his fingers, he smiled as the mouse sniffed at him. This one was a little different from the first one he had seen earlier in the day. It was all white with pink eyes. The other one he had seen had been brown and jittery, but this one was younger he noticed. Laying his hand out palm up, he let the small rodent climb up into his hand. Lifting his hand up he peered at it closely. It squeaked and sniffed at him. Giggling, he looked back outside. He wondered how long his father would be.

Shrugging his shoulders, he placed the mouse back to the ground and leaned against the caves wall. Pulling his boa around him, he curled up and waited for his fathers return. Not long after he was asleep. The little mouse sniffed around the child, then climbed up onto the fur and curled up in the soft boa and fell asleep, also waiting for his parents to return.