Inuyasha: The Hanyou, The Joe... The Lost Son of a Sannin returns; continued

[cyber27]

He giggled a little bit at the ticklish tweak to his cheek. He figured that his parents rather he Not have his hair in the military hairstyle. "i know.... That and worse; Actual fist-fights........ Usually made me relieved that No One gave me the time of day........ Always left out in the cold when it came to my class' celebrating holidays, Christmas and valentine's; my teacher's always had to step up......... And when we were doing projects for Mother's day, I got mocked at...... Because of Whom I gave My gifts to..... and being the orphan in the class." Inuyasha said as he nuzzled while snuggling in due to the warmth that his Momma's arms offered. He knew that he had to try and stay awake a while longer for his daddy and his big brother's sake. He whispered to her that his daddy might need to show then tell for Naruto to make him understand Why when it came to his dog-demon side. He still didn't know what other motives his mother had for her actions towards his own. Things such as senses of security or showing his emotions were Never forced. The Walls that he had carefully built to protect his heart never breached and Or destroyed. He acted and looked repented, remorseful over how he reacted earlier, having made her and his sister cry.......

[charles wilbourn]

"I'm going to talk to daddy," Tsunade told Inu, "and ask him to come tomorrow night, or he can discuss matters with you outside, in the garden; there you and he can enjoy a bit of privacy. He has important stuff to tell you, but it's not going to take very long. I don't know pecisely what he has to tell you," Tsunade said, looking directly at Naruto, seeming non-verbally to demand his silence to his sister on the matter, "but I do know he's going to explain to you our decision to keep you in your human shape all the time until your 12, so that you'll know what it is to be a human boy full-time, a regular one, not a soldier, not a member of special services. There are a few things I can tell you about some--very bad--things that have happened to big, strong men, seasoned soldiers who had no magic side, but daddy can give you specific examples of these--quite unfortunate--things that many, not all but a significant number, of men who--well, changed SO much that they were given disability status by the federal government and medical--honorable--discharges from the army altogether as well as a monthly pension awarded to retired army officers, even though a lot of them were non-coms. I can tell you for a fact that money, free housing, medical care--everything--a regular slodier would receive, whether he were a non-com or an officer, is no substitute for what these men lost, and, very sadly, some of these men were SO ill they couldn't live with themselves and they took their own lives; there was nothing psychiatrists or the most powerful medication could do to save them. Daddy will definitely tell you about these men, all of them decent, good men, though unmarried of necessity, because of the threatened insecurity they faced and the unwillingness of most of thesemen to leave their wives widows at an early age, and if they had any children to leave them fatherless. But married men were not therefore banned from the secret service; it was an unwritten rule: really a matter of choice. But I've only just now given you ALL the information I have on the effect special services' assignments and missions these men went through; not WHAT they were required to do, how they snapped, and who they are. Daddy can give you the whole story. But rest assured your free of these things--for ever, we hope. Your safe here. You won't lose your mind; really, honey" and here Tsunade cupped InuYasha's chin in her hand, raising his head a little bit, "you're MUCH too sweet to be involved in these very serious, very dangerous activities--missions--often one-man operations--that threaten your life, change you gentle disposition into a hardened one, and even--maybe--bring on insanity; and your father and I prohibit ANY clandestine missions for you fromm ss for ANY reason; your safe now. When you're of age we still will forbid you to rejoin ss. We are allowing Kagome and Naruto to advance you traing in martial arts, and your daddy will teach you to revel in your demon heritage, but NO MORE potentially dangerous missions. If you must fight you must do so openly to protect the Emperor, to relieve poor people from open and malignant oppression and violent wars of conflict--again openly and in the tradition of a knight--errant who fights with a pure heart--which you definitely have--when and where he is needed. And, if you--you only--choose to follow the path of training to serve His Majesy as a Samurai warrior (and here your daddy and I are at your service), you will rule the territory he asks to hold in fealty to him with justice, in particular to the poor; you'll learn how to rule even with magnamity and forgiveness at home, but, perhaps, a little ruthlessly in the knightly tradition in combination with your daemon--doggie--wolf tradition, strategize and fight against threatening enemies. I know you have some experience in the usually peaceful practice of politics as a pretty successful diplomat of any age, and you might be able to stop --prevent--wars or hostile, malign incursions of enemy armies.

"I've said enough, Inu, and I hope I have made your daddy's conversation with you after breakfast a little easier for both of you. "Tsunade herself was getting tired, and she still had to say a few words to Naruto. But she continued, concluding, "I have said nothing that daddy himself did not tell me to say. He's going to fill in a few gaps, give you some more information, tell you about your life--past and future, first among your doggie pack, and then, in company with many other members of your wild but canine familiaris pack, join a large wolf clan, where you are taken in for adoption by a she wolf and her mate, which actually makes you more wolf than dog. Now, Inu, before I speak to your brother, in your presence, no secrets: tell me what you are thinking--about what I've said, about anything. . . . "

[cyber27]

"I've seen that before....... soldiers led astray...... Financially I'm pretty well off, despite it being held in a trust since by wage-earning standards, I'm Not old enough..... If an account in my name Does exist here...... You'll find a rather large infusion....... My take-home's down to the penny can be Or would be transferred upon my request: only withdrew for clothes.... Mostly; I've been called frugal..... Meaning I Never wasted on trivial things, like toys...... It's known about how villages earn....." Inuyasha said...... He then recounted a story that he was told while visiting someone Duke knew who had headed up the organization sometime before he came along, The man was friends with an admiral who misguidedly joined the dark side, in the end.... the punishment fitting his crimes was bearing witness to his ship's sinking. He explained that the unit felt it was better if he lived within officers quarters, not the barracks like his mother thought. His adjoined Snake Eyes'...... looking like a small 1 bedroom apartment, just outfitted for his size and growth once he learned how to bathe and dress himself but to still have a watchful eye since it was known that the man had a soft spot for him. He looked downward. "I didn't mean to hurt you Or her when I ran in here." He lamented, obviously feeling guilty about earlier that evening. He still hadn't explained his different reactions to being stripped then spanked.

[charles wilbourn]

"Inu," Tsunade said, "I'm very glad you didn't have to live in the barracks. I was wrong about that, and I'm satisfied--satisfied especially that you were at least kind of looked after. As for the money, well, that's yours. Mama and daddy will tend to all your needs. We do all right financially. We'll arrange that your trust will be broken when you're 18. If you want to use some of that money for college, that's fine; but daddy and I are going to set up a college fund for you. As for your trust fund: son, that's blood money--your blood! You risked your life and were paid for it. So, you use that money as you see fit. Daddy and mama will buy everything you need."

Tsunade looked at InuYasha and stroked his sweet ears. "Don't worry about running into your room after this afternoon's incident with Kogame. Do you really think you're the only boy who's run into his room for privacy after being punished? Kagome and I cried loudly because of what happened, but in large part because you're daddy reminded us of your daemon-doggie side, something which neither your sister or I had consider. NATURALLY you lashed out at your siblings and I when you felt threatened! Even the gentlest of puppy dogs is going to fight back when he perceives himself in danger. Don't give that a thought anymore. . . . But your family will not forget you're semi-supra-natural state."

Tsunade looked at Naruto as she began thoughtlessly smoothing Inu's pale blond hair. Then she looked at Inu and said, "It's getting late, honey. Both of you boys will be able to sleep in tomorrow. I need to talk to Naruto now. So if you have anything else you have to say to me or ask me, or if you want me to brooch a subject with your brother you want to discuss, go ahead and tell me, or ask me."

[cyber27]

"I could be wrong about the paperwork laying it out, but I think it's set up so I'd be able to access on my own without needing a guardian in my case Better known as an executor's signature when I'm sixteen, that's usually the permitting age to work in the US..... Usually Snake Eyes Or Scarlett would go with me since it was during a shopping trip...... That's Not it, Reason I acted differently between you and Kagome when-....... Was Too Scared, first What happened when Cobra had me and He hurt me was because I cried, pleaded....... For You....... Then It's because the bullies kept stripping me naked to make me transform to get me kicked out of school...... Because they thought I was inferior..... And when Clair and those other kids laughed at me, proved a belief that I've had for just So long; that the team's been trying to change; I'm Just Too Different to have friends or be liked, Ever!" Inuyasha explained. "Reason I lashed out Or threw a temper tantrum was because I felt like what I was saying was falling on deaf ears........ Even though I was trying to be as plain as possible when I was talking. I still don't understand why/how she acted like she did and what she said........" He added, putting in about Kagome's actions while she punished him. He felt his mother's hold tighten ever so slightly.

[charles wilbourn]

The small boy's mama was very sympathetic; indeed, her eye filled with tears. She was choking back sobs for the--what she now considered the unjust switching she had given a naked Inu out of doors, under the willow tree, in plain view of kids playing around or carousing outside. She had hoped that the thrashing she had given Inu would open the boy's eyes to the fact that he now had a mama, one who was concerned with his life, past, present and future. She wanted her action of last night to show Inu that his mama cared so much for him that she would thrsh him when he did something she considered wrong. But when she found out that that monster's blow to the head to whom she considered a fragile little boy and now the most important person in her life, caused memory loss so that he forgot important matters, such as the fact that he had a loving mama, a home--he seemed to have at least an inkling of this knowledge before his dreadful injury, that he knew for a fact that he had a mama, somewhere, who would save him from the harsh grasp of this truly evil man--well, then she realised why her son had not attempted to get in touch with his mama; that he had been brain damaged by that son of a bitch, who apparently believed Inu was less than human--probably didn't have a "soul" since, even though he was half-daemon and this gave him the beautiful--communication with the Celestial world; that the gods themselves often depended on him, and they would not do this with, as his "doctor", whom Tsunade began referring to as "Dr. Mingele," a "souless beast"--though Tsunade knew that all beasts--dogs, wolves, bears, wildcats, "all creatures great and small," were as eternal as man, perhaps even ontologically equal to him.

She held Inu tightly as she thought about all this, and then she positioned him so that the could converse face to face. "InuYasha, I beg your forgiveness for punishing you unjustly last night. Really, the only justifications I have for it are that first, I did it in ignorance. I did not listen to any explanations you may have had; I was blind with anger. But, there IS one thing that I do not regret relevant to the incident: I switched your chief heckler, Clair, on the bare, with her feet, butt and breasts humiliatingly bare, harder actually than I did you, and as I understand it, she was taken by other kids to a near-by rock wall, turned over it, and belted soundly, her butt and the rest still uncovered; you are not the only one who is bullied by that attractive but arrogant, self-absorbed cheerleader, cruel to those who are "different," to those whom, as you said before, she considers "inferior." Also, related to the switching you so unjustly received from me last night, Claire happened to pass by our house at the same time, and your sister overcame that bigger, and supposedly stronger, girl, 14 years old, and bent her over, switching he bare butt. As I understand it, Kagome made Claire hand over her panties to her, and Claire, no matter how carefully she sat, was exposed and laughed at, and the wind did not help her. Anyway, these two incidents, connected as they were to your own punishment, make me feel a little less guilty because both Kagome and I demonstrated that we are fully capable of protecting you; we both love you and want what's best for you--and that includes being left the Hell alone by bullies. In addition, the proposed legislation Kagome is pressing on the jr. student council, to severely punish not only the bullies your age and younger, but kids in the upper form--like Clair. Kagome or you will have to report incidents that disturb your peace, and I know you don't like to complain or make a scene. But both your sister and I are going to press you into school activities, where we know you will win friends; did you know that lots of students, notwithstanding my own disapproval of what you did, consider you just like James Bond? Don't worry about shyness or friendlessness."

At this point Naruto finally entered the conversation, though as yet uninvited. "Mom, if you don't mind, I would like to say something."

"Go ahead, Naruto dear," said Tsunade, smiling.

"One way or another, Inu, I'm on your side; I'll always be there to protect you against those--brats--that tease you or force you to transform. I have your back, brother. I'll be around, and when I'm not, then I have lots of friends, even clones, who will be there--all of them black belts. You're gonna be safe, Inu. And Kagome--I know her--shell take care of you like a she-wolf protects her youngling. Don't worry, kid. You can go to the PS in confidence! And you won't have to lift a finger to protect yourself. But, so that you yourself will not be without defense, before we continue your training in the ancient martial arts of Japan, I'm gonna teach you to fist-fight--this summer, before school starts. You'll be FULLY equipped, armed, to face your hecklers and tormentors! And never be afraid to use what you know of the martial arts!"

"Thank you, Naruto!" Tsunade said, truly grateful. "I hope all this makes you feel just a little better, Puppy! Now, with regard to your sister's discipline of you this afternoon: I know that you thought it was manifestly unfair, and that her stripping of you served not only to embarrass you, but much more important, reminded you of how bullies--and even a few "good kids," I imagine--stripped you in school to help facilitate your daemonic, doggie shape, subsequently leading to your expulsion. Well, Inu, I KNOW their treatment of you was deplorable, and their belief, like Dr. Mingele's that you were only an animal, "inferior" to them: son, you showed A LOT of fortitude and will-power. You did not transform, even though you were stripped and cornered! I believe everyone can learn something when their Power is challenged, put in question, assaulted! YOU were vilely tested by totally unsympathetic examiners, and you passed their hateful, really inhuman "tests" everytime! You are morally, mentally, and physically strong! Someday you will be absolutely invincable!

"now," Tsunade continued, "back to Kagome: your sister knew no more of Dr. Mingele's experiments on you than I did; she did not know that stripping him forcibly for a spanking was WAY too close to the way those brats at school treated you; she may have heard something in the hall, may have known someone was being totured; but I doubt seriously she knew it was you. When it comes to punishment Kogame believes that accompanying nakedness to spanking is a very important part of corporal punishment because it increases humiliation. Such punishment is pretty effective on un-tormented kids; it gives them a sense, not only of humiliation but also the knowledge that they are not yet the "masters of their own destiny" but are still under the discipline of their mama, daddy, or older, more mature brother or sister. Kogame thought this added punishment--which, I think to you, was even worse than the actual thrashing, am I right?--would serve to help prevent what she considered bad behavior in you, and the fact that she did it in the afternoon, in plain sight of everyone, did not help your situation. The main reason that Kagome was so strict with you is that she was angry, because she thought you were lying, and secondly that you were calling her a liar, and this second reason had the effect, not mainly of angering her but, more importantly, hurt her feelings--really, this second reason was why she punished you so severely and humiliatingly. But, Inu, here again you showed strength, fortitude; you did assume your little doggie form so you could run away faster and be alone in your room, but you did not do this until Kagome's spanking of you was over, and you listened to what she had to say: not until the whole thing was over. I don't like them, and God knows you don't, but these tests, when you overcome them, make you stronger, and I noticed this during Kagome's--chastising--of you. Anyway, I promise, except in very exceptional circumstances, never again to spank or thrash you in the bare. I can't speak for Kagome, but I will talk to her about it privately in the morning. From now on, when you misbehave, I will as a rule only spank you with your pants and underwear down. Now, as regards to my and your sister's emotional outbursts that you heard while you were in your room--these came as a result of daddy's reminding us of your dual, daemon-doggie nature, and we did not take this into consideration when we disciplined. Inu, you, are by no means ontologically inferior to ANYONE. You have the advantage of assuming animal shape when it suits you and when you find it necessary--among other reasons. As a daemon you have unknown and untapped powers within you that can make you a great ruler of men later. Yes, you are "different," but this difference is your superiority to others, not to your "just a dog" appellation, as you are teased with by school mates." Suddenly Tsunade changed the subject. "One more thing I know about your sister: she is dominating; she always has to be the leader; and though for the most part she's sweet and charming to family--including you--she has the makings of a little tyrant, but your daddy and I will check this. Naruto, do you have anything to add?"

"It's getting late, mom, so I think I'll bring it up tomorrow."

[cyber27]

"I do, Momma...... honest...... I could tell that you were mad at me for being gone And probably wouldn't hear me out, figured I deserved it, somehow and had to make amends, to redeem myself...... I don't think so, My old school's located In a city closest to the G.I.Joe base..... Think of american cities with the known training academies Or armed forces bases; Army, Air Force, Marines, Navy: West Point, Annapolis Or Air force...... The team was gonna send me to one when I either got out of High school Or College.......If I wanted to go into a single branch since G.I.Joe employs All known branches of service, even civilian besides their special units~As in the Ninja Forces.... As I said; That money would allow me to live comfortably on my own Once I'm big enough, even if it was base sanctioned housing Or in the town....The other kids thought i'm, I was a spoiled little runt who got lucky Or Someone's pet-project because many of them hero-worshiped members of the team and thought I wasn't Not good enough....... And like I told Naruto; I didn't call you guys liars, Said that you didn't understand..... Knew if I struggled.... It'd make it worse..... I tend to be judged by my appearance Alone....... Other village leaders have Never questioned my age...... Rather praised because they Only knew that shinobi sent out kids of Any age..... That was the model G.I.Joe went by with my education and Training..... Snake Eyes knows it too.... He was trained in a similar way since he was a kid." Inuyasha said, unintentionally giving the dreaded sad puppy dog look, without realizing it after nodding to her question... He also wondered if the four had realized that the prior attitude was a shield of protection and who would bring up the issue. He'd would reach up to wipe away any tears before sleep won out. He wouldn't been surprised if his father overheard them like his mother had before. He didn't know just how skilled that his big brother was As a disciplinarian Or how long it would be before he could sit down comfortably after their "talk" the following night Or Even long, painful And Severe the resulting lesson would be......

[charles wilbourn]

Tsunade noticed InuYasha's "puppy dog look,' and while he had this appearance he yawned widely, just like puppies do when they are getting ready to bed down. Tsunade smiled at this; she held Inu close to her bosem and stroked his head; she smoothed down his ears and scratched them, as she had before, and Inu snuggled close to his mama. Once again, like a little doggie, he yawned, but he seemed satisfied that his mama was still there, and that no harm could befall him.

"It's SO obvious that your tired, Inu," his mama said, "And I'm soon going to let you curl up and go to sleep. But I must know: do you at least like Kagome--or hopefully love her--even though she forcibly stripped you like your tormentors did at school in order to thrash you "properly," as she and I saw it? I hope that you will love her as your sister; she loves you, and she will discipline you. But even though I said she has the makings of "a little tyrant," she won't use discipline so much as to control you--which I worry that you see this action--but as a demonstration of her love for you, a desire to protect you, to keep you safe, even to defend you from yourself---as I think was a reason for her belting of you this afternoon--from as she sees it very naughty or even destructive behavior on your own part. Finally she can, and will, punish you for either causing or becoming involved in dangerous situations that could cost you your life--or WOULD if she weren't to rescue you. ALL of these are legitimate reasons to tan you; and I know Kagome, she WILL as a rule punish you in the nude; however, if ever you believe her punishment of you is unjust, and you have some kind of proof or evidence that it was, or if her treatment of you is SO bad that you almos--or do--transform and run away (even though I know you won't; you're a very brave boy!), then your daddy and I will have a "talk" with her--I think you know what THAT means!

But Inu, she's your sister--almost your twin since you're both the same age. She's going to want to play with you, along with her friends, a couple of whom are boys about your age, and that's going to be very good for you because it will give you the chance to make friends and acquire playmates outside of Naruto and Kagome; on top of this Kagome is going to want to play with you by yourselves, and that is quite fine because it will bring you too closer and closer together. Now Inu, you should know that your sister's favorite games when she plays with her friends are "house" and "school"; naturally she is the mom at home and teacher at school. All of the kids say that they always have fun when they play either of the games with her--especially school because she acts like a real teacher and reviews real lessons that their teacher has gone over that day, in addition to adding relevant information that their real teacher has overlooked. The result of this game has been improved grades among students; Kagome is very intelligent and articulte, and she can simplify abstract matters that the teacher has not explained adequately or has made students even more at a loss. In her game of "school" there are a number of boys, and in fact the game has expanded with more and more players. But remember, it's just a game. However, as you may see it, there is one drawback to her "school"--and "house"--games: she REALLY paddles students who misbehave in her "class" or who make low or failing marks on the "tests" she gives. She uses a hairbrush on her "students' " bare bottoms--in fact she removes their pants and underwear entirely, and for girls she unfastens their skirts, removes them, and these bad girls lose their panties until after "school." As I said, she paddles students HARD with her hairbrush, then sends then to the corner bare bottom till the end of "class." Most of this discipline she applies to boys. Since it's only a game a participant need only say "I quit" and leave, but this doesn't happen much. I think these kids--the boys she thrashes--don't get enough--or any--physical punishment at home, and inwardly feel that they need it, though this may only be a subconscious belief, and submit to her stern discipline. Girls, too. I'm not TELLING you to participate in these games, but, as I said, it will give you a chance to develop commeradity with other kids, all of you under Kagome's hairbrush; you can even make friends: so, it's something to think about.

"But Inu, please, for her own sake--and mine--DON'T hate Kagome! Her thrashing of you this afternoon was loving and well-intentioned; I'm a mama, I can tell!" Tsunade waited, somewhat apprehensively, telling him as she did almost all there was to tell about Kagome's stern, maybe relentless discipline, for Inu's resonse. Since Kagome had played these games at her former home Tsunade did not have first-hand knowledge, but "through the grapevine" she knew what was going on and judged--rightly--"Well, THAT'S Kagome all right!" And she also talked to her playmates.

[cyber27]

"I Do care about, Love her....... It's Not that I HATE Kagome for earlier.......... I just DON'T UNDERSTAND her feelings towards me, since we barely know each other....... Said It before...... Too Different to be liked Or loved by anyone, as far as the other kids...... Kids I use to know think, say I'm UGLY, A DISGUSTING FREAK......... Why I Concealed my features, Especially when I had assignments...... Don't feel....... Kept my emotions tightly locked away, never showing them." Inuyasha said with a bit of a blush while getting comfortable, meaning his former schoolmates, giving reason to hide his emotions behind an attitude befitting a soldier. It was first time that he talked about the scars brought forth by bullying. He wouldn't been surprised if his parents perhaps even his siblings tried to track down and round up his old tormentors to teach them a lesson. He nuzzled into his mother as his hair and ears were lovingly stroked and affectionately caressed. He felt his brother's hand rub his back and shoulders soothingly. Years of tension seem to melt away by this simple touch.

[charles wilbourn]

Tsunade turned her head about, not wanting InuYasha to see the angry, disgusted look on her face. Then, smoothing her features, she said to her son, "Inu, you are the most beautiful boy I have ever laid eyes on." This was not empty praise but genuine truth. "You are different, of course, but you are different from other kids because of your superiority to them--and a lot of them know it! You are a daemon, a mysterious being beyond the comprehension of man! You have the ability to transform into a little doggie, and yet you have made a pact with master wolves and have a she wolf who wants to be your mama. Moreover, you are semi-divine, and you have had contact with gods who send you on errands, and you also come into contact with celestial beings. Yes, Inu, you are different, but your bullies? they don't think, at least not consciously, that you are inferior to them. The fact of the matter is that they're jealous of you; they know you won't fight back and they take advantage of this. I'm sure you've heard it before, but I'm going to tell you again: bullies are cowards, and they only attack "different" kids whom they perceive as defenseless and weak. But this summer THAT will change! Naruto will continue teaching you the gaps you have in the martial arts! And you will learn street fighting! It will be totally unnecessary for you to even think about tranforming yourself, or to be overpowered, pushed to the lockers and stripped, these bastards thinking you will transform, probably so you can run quickly away. Instead if you give one or two of these bastards bloody noses and black eyes--as a boy fighting in your own defense--I'm sure they'll run away and not bother you anymore! Besides, you have Naruto to support you, and Kagome, with her demonstrable stength and political influence, will be there for you too. The fact is, Inu, that the three of you together form an unbeatable team! That's just one of the reasons, beside their care and love for you, that I chose them as your brother and sister. . . . . Well, Inu, you're a freak and different: like a god is a freak and different! I've told you: you have as yet untapped powers; powers that may rest for now in your subconscious; powers that have nothing to do with your Power to transform! And you will come into contact with them while you meditate during Naruto's further training of you.. . . . You see, Inu, all people have untapped powers seemingly locked--and totally unknown to them--and these Powers are all different. But YOU, son! You have Power lodged in your unconscious that exceeds that of even the most powerful, intelligent, or creative men possess! If you could learn of them and master them--well, there's no limit to what you can do! Do you want to be a Samurai? Do you want to be rewarded for exceptional service by the Emperor by your creation as a Private Counselor? Do you want to be his Prime Minister? Do you want to be Military Dictator of Japan, occupying the office of Shogun? You have the Power, seemingly "locked" in your unconscious, but I know it is within access to you through contact with your innerself which you can attain through long and serious meditation--on whom but yourself!"

Tsunade once again, rather suddenly changed the subject to his sister. "InuYasha, I want you to know that Kagome loves you very much. You can be sure that all of the discipline she administers to you in future will be deserved, for your own good, and a reflection of her sisterly love for you. It's important that you know that spanking, when it is justified is a form of love. I have to say that the thrashing she gave to Claire yesterday did not stem from any love of her. Kagome's punishment of Claire was justified, but believe me, Kagome does not love Claire. She loves you, inu, and her whipping of Claire was done, partly in revenge, partly as a warning to her of what lay in store for her in the future if she--DARES--to tease you anymore, and partly as just punishment for her treatment of you while you could in no way defend yourself. Kagome did this out of concern--and love--for you. I know that your sister's thrashing of you this afternoon was in large part the result of--what seemed to her, but I know really wasn't--you calling her a liar and in that way hurting her feelings; and yes, it happens that sometimes, when it appears that you are--somehow--personally insulting males and females under whose authority you have fallen, will spank you--but chiefly because they believe you have delberately tried--and succeeded--in hurting their feelings. These spankings are not given you really in a sense simply of anger without concern for you. Really, they are hoping that you will come to understand THEIR feelings--that you have hurt them, and they want you to "get this through your head"--through your bottom.. . . . As regards Kagome's thrashing of you, though it was all based on a great, really disastrous, misunderstanding on her part, she believed there was also the question of respect due from you to her, and, as she interpreted it, the consequences of lying--resulting from her ignorance of the actual truth you were telling her.--Al in all, she was trying to teach you a lesson in the only way she knows how to right now--and the vehicle of teaching lessons to kids often, and often justifyingly, is spanking. So you see, in the instance of the naked whipping Kagome gave you this afternoon, she was taking on the role of a sisterly teacher which, though it may not seem so at the time, nor yet for a while afterward, is also a form of love.. . . . Inu, Kagome--and Naruto--love you very much, and both of them look upon you as a superior entity--beyond, somehow, "being<" BUT they both expect the best from you! One more thing about Kagome: she is going to make bullying a punishable offense at the PS, and she's doing it mainly for your sake! On their first offense they're caned 25 times on their bare bottoms with a bamboo cane, and at their second they are thrashed 40 times AND summarily expelled! This may not eliminate bullying, but it will certainly check it!" Tsunade stroked Inu's lovable ears, causing them to bend back in the way of dogs receiving gratefully affection.