a/n: if you have any drabble ideas please leave them in the reviews! i'll do my best to implement them as i update. speaking of updates, i'll be doing such as i get or read your suggestions. thanks so much for reading and i hope you enjoy! : )

Do you have someone to protect?

Sesshomaru's features hardened. His father had asked him this ludicrous question long ago, but centuries later it still managed to haunt him. The fact that he remembered it now while watching his brother proved even more absurd. It only confirmed how irrational his father became toward the end of his life. Mating with a human — how wretched.

The yokai sighed inwardly. As soft as his father had become, Sesshomaru had been no wiser in agreeing to foster Inuyasha. In fact, he sourly regretted approving of such under Father's crafty words. There were numerous occasions where Sesshomaru thought to disobey his dying wish, which was to murder his brother. One swipe of his claw in the right place would do it. Simple enough, really. But something always held him back.

Oblivious to his brother's malicious plots, Inuyasha gazed into the fire, poking the burning wood with a stick. He sneezed, rubbing his nose red, then huddled into the blanket around his shoulders. A-Un shifted its tail around the child, and Inuyasha leaned against it. As he began closing his eyes, he caught the narrow stare of his elder brother.

"What?" Inuyasha was instantly wide awake, tense with suspicion. "What did I do now?"

Sesshomaru stared for another heartbeat before shutting his eyes. Inuyasha was exactly the fool he took him for if he believed he had to do anything to receive a displeased look. The fact that Father burdened Sesshomaru with looking after him was nuisance enough. He was a great dog demon, not a babysitter for his orphaned sibling.

Inuyasha chewed his lip as he watched Sesshomaru. As usual he'd closed himself off from further conversation. It made the half breed huff, ruffling his jagged bangs, and mimic his brother's crossed arms. It seemed that no matter what Inuyasha did, good or bad, there was no winning with Sesshomaru. He couldn't even get the guy to say a few words without upsetting him! The yokai had never been one for small talk, but Inuyasha thought he'd be an exception. Over time it proved annoying to be brushed off so carelessly. Inuyasha wasn't Jaken. Yes, he was a child, but he was a child of the great Inu no Taisho — just like Sesshomaru. That in itself deserved some kind of value.

Frowning, the young hanyou leaned on his hands and crawled forward. He knew Sesshomaru could sense him approaching and braced for a writhing look or a command to stay away. Yet the yokai did nor said a thing the closer he drew, and within seconds he was at his brother's feet.

Inuyasha wiggled his ears, "brother?" he tested quietly. When more silence followed, his topaz eyes glanced through his bangs. A crease had formed in the yokai's forehead. Clearly he didn't want to be pestered by chit-chat. He never did.

Which was why Inuyasha straightened his shoulders and lifted his head. For once he needed to assert himself, "Sesshomaru." He pressed. There was something he wanted to talk about, and it seemed very urgent the moment he thought of it.

Although by his brother's clenched jaw it seemed he wanted no part in it. He remained still as stone against the tree, arms crossed with indifference. His creased brow was the only indication that he acknowledged Inuyasha was there at all.

A fire of determination flickered through Inuyasha's stare. If the yokai wanted to play Quiet Mouse, the hanyou was game. They had all night.

—

Waiting proved harder than Inuyasha previously perceived. Actually, no, it was much more boring than difficult.

Nevertheless, he sat patiently for Sesshomaru's response: a twitch of the mouth, wave of a hand, a grunt. Anything. But as the silence continued, Inuyasha believed he'd receive nothing after all. Perhaps Sesshomaru's will was stronger than he expected.

Inuyasha thought to proceed with conversation anyway; however, he quickly reconsidered. What good would that do if a simple call of the name wasn't enough to engage his elder to talk? Or even look at him for that matter. At the same time, Inuyasha wasn't sure he could keep these thoughts to himself either.

Ah-Un grumbled then, pulling Inuyasha from his thoughts. He hadn't even noticed he'd let his eyes wonder away from his brother. They focused on his hands now. So small, he thought. In comparison to Sesshomaru's his claws were nubs. They curled in his lap as the disappointment set.

Another gruff noise came from the two-headed beast behind him. The hanyou intended to ignore it, but that was before the creature gave a quick flick of its tail against the boy's shoulder. Inuyasha yelped and turned to yell obscenities. He stopped short when Ah-Un nodded toward his brother.

When he faced forward once more Sesshomaru had his eyes on him. The boy's confidence almost broke under his scrutiny. For someone who talked so little his features were terrifyingly expressive. Inuyasha was momentarily speechless, but he shook his head to regain composure.

"I want you to stop treating me like..." Inuyasha's voice came quietly, and he cursed his meek tone. "Stop treating me like Jaken. I'm tired of it, Sesshomaru. We come from the same blood. We're equals."

His brother stared at him in a way he often did. It was a long, calculating gaze that made Inuyasha itch all over. But he held still and levelly met the eyes of his elder. Only a breath had passed before Sesshomaru eventually closed his eyes. Again.

"Don't be ridiculous." He said.

"But I'm—"

"Your level of incompetence is greater than I imagined if you truly believe we are equals, Inuyasha. I assure you that my father's blood does not guarantee power or esteem — neither of which you have."

Inuyasha balled his fists and stood. Even standing straight, he was barely as tall as Sesshomaru was sitting. Although the hanyou cared not for those little details. He marched toward his brother in an angry fury.

Sesshomaru regarded him steadily, eyes cold. "You dare bare your fangs at me, little brother?"

"So what if I do?" Inuyasha snapped. At the very least it was what he deserved. "You think you're so much better than me just because you're older. It's not fair! You'd treat me better if Father were here. He wouldn't let you—"

"That's enough." Sesshomaru snapped, lacing every ounce of venom in his words. The half breed tested his patience far too often. The yokai rarely lost his nerve, but Inuyasha seemed determined to change that. Clearly, he had a death wish, which Sesshomaru was all too welcome to grant.

"All I want is a chance." Inuyasha said after a moment's pause. "You don't have to be nice to me or… or love me, but at least give me that. Please."

Sesshomaru's eyes shifted from his younger brother and got to his feet, "Ah-Un." The scaly beast lifted its head toward its master. "Watch over Inuyasha."

"Wait!" The hanyou stumbled after his brother, who made way toward the forest, "Sesshomaru!"

The yokai paused, but didn't turn to face him.

"I'll get you one day." Inuyasha vowed. His blood pumped with adrenaline. "I'll be stronger than you and Father. Just watch."

By time he finished his sentence, Inuyasha was yelling at the trees, and Sesshomaru had disappeared among them.