Sesshoumaru’s Imouto-chan, part 0

*Sesshoumaru pads silently through the forest, the only sound of his 
passing that of his silken clothes sweeping over each other.  
Jaken trundles along his side, just as nefarious and annoying as 
usual.  Sesshoumaru’s face reveals nothing, just a pretty mask, 
but his eyes reflect deep thought.*

Sesshoumaru: (Why is it that that brat brother of mine received 
father’s inheritance?  He is nothing... just an annoying hanyou...  
So, then, why does Otousan still defend him?)  *remembers a 
dream from the previous night*

*dream*

*Sesshoumaru stands alone on a cliff in that time just before dawn, 
when the sky lightens but the sun does not yet rise.  A cloud 
blows serenely overhead... but as Sesshoumaru watches, it 
begins to roil violently, rocked by an invisible turbulence.  The 
fluffy innocuous cloud becomes a storm, moving much more 
quickly than physically possible, and blackening out the stars 
and setting moon.  Sesshoumaru watches this all in silence, 
mildly curious but uncaring.  He looks away from the sky to 
stare straight off the cliff, where the horizon meets the ground.  
A light bursts, as if the sun peeking through the clouds; the 
light, instead of spreading like the rising sun, stays focused and 
draws quickly closer, defining itself into the head of a youkai.  
More specifically, Sesshoumaru’s father.*

Taiyoukai:  Sesshoumaru, why do you disobey me?

Sesshoumaru:  *as in the nature of dreams, is not surprised by his 
father’s sudden appearance*  What do you mean, father?

Taiyoukai:  I told you to take care of your little brother, Sesshoumaru.

Sesshoumaru:  He is an annoying hanyou brat, Otousan.

Taiyoukai:  *roars* Do not speak of him like that!  *in a more 
moderate tone*  This behavior disturbs my rest.  END IT!!!

*Sesshoumaru wakes up*

*back to present*

Sesshoumaru:  (Why do you take his part, Otousan?  I cannot stand 
the boy.)  *He glides lightly through the forest, wondering that 
his father would care so for his hanyou brother.  All 
Sesshoumaru’s life, the boy has been nothing but annoying, first 
having the gall to be born from the human wench who usurped 
his own mother, then not giving Sesshoumaru the respect he 
deserved, then falling in love with a miko-!  Nothing but a 
shame, the boy.*  (What good is a sibling, anyway?  I wish I 
was an only child.)  *Suddenly, small voices come into 
Sesshoumaru’s sensitive hearing. A small pair of girls whisper 
and giggle in a nearby glade.  Nothing to take note of... until 
one mentions a reflection of Sesshoumaru’s plague.  He stops 
Jaken with a hand, silencing the lesser youkai with a glare.  He 
listens.*

Girl1:  Ikana, what’s wrong?  You’re so glum!

Girl2:  *sighs*  Nothing, Mori.

Girl1:  That’s not nothing!

Girl2:  No, really... it’s just... Okasan’s having another baby.

Girl1:  Eh?  REALLY?  That’s great!

Girl2:  But then I won’t be her only baby anymore.  She’ll forget all 
about me.  I don’t want a little sibling.

Girl1:  Don’t be silly!  I’ve got a little sister!  Little sisters are 
wonderful!  They play with you when no one else will, and listen 
to you when no one else does, and if you take good care of 
them, they treat you like a hime^ and never ever say anything 
bad about you behind your back!

^princess

Girl2:  *slowly*  I guess...

Girl1:  And you know what else little sisters do?  If you feel bad, they 
always give you a hug or something like that.  There’s nothing 
better than a little sister.  It’s just like having your own personal 
servant, ‘cause they do whatever you say, only better, ‘cause 
you can’t play with servants!  You can’t even be friends with 
them.  But a little sister is always a friend.  

Girl2: *sounding happier*  Honto-ni?  Maybe it won’t be so bad!  
*pauses, then slowly...*  Ano... but what if it’s not a girl?  What 
if it’s a boy?  Miya has a little brother.  She hates ~him~.

Girl1:  *softly*  Oh.  Um...  *pauses, then cheerfully*  Well, that’s 
just too bad.  Boys are just annoying!

Girl2:  Yeah.  I don’t want a baby brother.  Just a baby sister!

Girl1:  Hai hai.  Girls don’t have cooties.

Girl2:  And they’re not annoying.

Girl1:  And girls aren’t as rude.

Girl2:  And we’re prettier.

Girl1:  And boys...

*together*:  ARE ANNOYING!

Girl2:  *adds*  By nature.

Girl1:  *pauses*  Except for Kitty.  He’s sweet.

Girl2:  He’s a cat.  He doesn’t count.

Girl1:  He’s still a boy!  He’s just not human.

Girl2:  So... ~human~ boys are annoying.

Girl1:  Hai.  It’s required.  *this ends the subject*

Sesshoumaru:  *to himself* Souka.  Even humans know.  *pauses*  
Jaken...

Jaken:  Hai, Sesshoumaru-sama?  

Sesshoumaru:  I want a sister.  *begins walking again*