Truth in Blood

Tina, see here what Sess does, Kallipso thanks. Sorry Aff doesn't want long replies. But I do appreciate the support a LOT. Poor Inu thinks they want him dead... lol

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Chapter 16 : The shocks keep rolling in

Shippo whimpered as the female monkey demon huntress took the kit from Inuyasha’s embrace. She was the mother of triplets, his best friends, from the village. And it had been decided that she would look after Shippo in Inuyasha's place. The hunters gathered around Inuyasha and had a few words with him, that the distracted Shippo did not hear.
Then the hunters faded into the forest leaving the Hanyou alone.

Inuyasha’s face was impassive. He felt blank, empty. He had known this day would come, he was prepared for it. Ruthlessly he shoved his emotions aside, he would have time for self pity after he was dead. He leapt into the trees, moving slightly less gracefully then normal. The herbs he had applied helped manage the pain, but he could feel the poison spreading. The hunters had smelt it in him, and they had no antidote. As the poison spread, the smell of death began to radiate from the Hanyou.

Inuyasha made his way to the top of the waterfall. Here he could see the home that he had built. Here he could see the vast unbroken expanse of the forest to the North, the gold green glow of the canopy. He could just see the lands of the Seraph in the North East, there was the path that led to his home City, to Kaede and finally to the West was the Lands of the Demons, most likely where his mother had once lived. The winds teased his hair and tattered shirt, he breathed in the scents. Yes, this was a good place to fight, and possibly to die. Here under the sky.

He felt the poison spread inside him. The scent of death around him grew stronger. Inuyasha looked at the forest, without any real thought, his clawed hand traced a familiar path on his arms. Inuyasha drew a bloody sword and noted that the poison killing him, made his sword even more powerful. His blood was toxic, and so was the blade of the sword.

There was a rustling, and Inuyasha’s lips twisted with a smile. It would be damn funny, if he was dead by the time the Lords, got here. On the up side, at least he would not just die of poisoning. Creatures oozed and lurched out of the forest, drawn by the sweet scent of death. Adrenalin pumped in the Hanyou, his smile was focused and feral. His eyes shown with the light of battle, the demon in his blood roared. Inuyasha charged, his sword meeting claw and tooth. Excitement at meeting the challenge pumped through him.

Till the end, he would live!!

**

Sesshoumaru reached his destination an hour after he left the forest. Such was the speed he traveled with. His problem came after that, tracking down his target. Sesshoumaru, flashed through the castle, his home and the council chambers. Finally a half hour or so later, he stalked into the back room of the Garden Palace, and found his target indulging himself with a few courtesans and peers.

“Get out.” Was all the Lord said and all but one scrambled out.

“Nephew!” The Lord lounging on the deep cushions said, “You have terrible timing.”

“You are a terrible waste of space. It pains me greatly, but we have something to discuss.” Sesshoumaru said with ice in his voice.

His uncle sat up, rather messily, his long sleeves flying about, and draping on his head. “By all means, when my Great Nephew chooses to speak to me how can I refuse.” Sesshoumaru’s eyes narrowed at the picture before him. “Oh come one Nephew, you really cant deny it, your father and I are half brothers after all.”

“I have never denied the blood tie between us, this Sesshoumaru just does understand how one such as you (he gestured to the unkempt but clean clothes) could possible have come from my grandfather’s loins.” Sesshoumaru grated out.

“Easy really, when I have such a great big brother looking out for me and spoiling me.” His uncle grinned and winked. Sesshoumaru gritted his teeth, his uncle looked younger then him, and by all the elders; behaved worst then a child. His father had indeed spoiled and over indulged his younger half brother. He had no ambition, no drive and as far as Sesshoumaru could see, no morals. His only saving grace in Sesshoumaru’s eyes was that he was unwaveringly loyal to his father Inutaiso, and to upholding peace in the lands. “But I doubt you came here to discuss my indulgences, what can I do for you Nephew.”

“I need you to clarify a matter of law. I am the oldest of my generation, and thus the leader, if you were to have a child, would I be right in assuming I would have First Claim rights on the child?” Sesshoumaru asked rather bluntly.

His uncle looked a little confused and very sad, “Sesshoumaru, you know know very well though I have tried numerous times, I have no living children, all of the babies formed from my seed, have not survived to birth. Your question is unkind.”

“Unkind or not, this Sesshoumaru requires your pledge.” The Demon Lord said, though the words were harsh, his tone was gentle. His uncle had been one of the few sources of fun in his childhood, and though the memories were vague, the connections were still there.

“Sesshoumaru, I don’t know how you developed that darn stick up your ass, your dead wife has a lot to answer for. Still, it is almost an insullt for you to ask me such a question, as my Brother's son, it goes with out saying that you have First Claim rights on any child of mine. It is a happy thought, it would be much to their benefit and honour after all. Nothing would please me more if I could offer my daughter as your mate to make up for the witch you married.” His uncle smiled a little wistfully.

“Does the gender of your child impact my Claim right?” Sesshoumaru asked suddenly.

“Err.. no, of course not.” His uncle scratched his head. “Okay, nephew, that is enough, what is this about? You will answer me.”

“Oh course Uncle. You have after all given me what I desire.” Sesshoumaru’s smile was of the cat that had gorged itself of stolen cream. “One last question, about fifteen, twenty years ago did you dally with another?”

“Sesshoumaru! You know I love your Aunt. I would not... bah, alright, its not a big secret. It was a period she and I were not talking after all. She asked me to get out, so I bummed around the islands. There were lots of women in that period. Would you like a list?” He asked wagging his eyebrows.

“Spare me! I want to know if you dallied with a human?” Sesshoumaru asked.

“Hmmm... only one, that was 19 years ago. She had the largest most beautiful eyes in existence. I met her on a Seraph Isle – Selvon. She was a merchant's daughter, very beautiful. We spent a magical week together. Then I had to leave, when I visited a few years later, she had moved on. Sweet Izoyoi.” he said with a dreamy, reminiscent look on his face.

“In that case, congratulations Uncle you have a son.” Sesshoumaru said without inflection. He watched his uncle pale at his words.

“That is not funny nephew, if someone has made such a claim it is a cruel lie.”

“It is no lie, the Sesshoumaru has just encountered a Hanyou, of maybe 18 years in the Emerald Gold Forests. He looks like a mix of human and demon, his demon blood pumps very strong. But the truth is on his blood. It spilled and I smelt the hidden layer of Seraph in the blood. You are the only other half demon, half Seraph that I know who has dallied with a human. More, with the exception of certain features, he is a copy of Grandfather and Father. This Sesshoumaru is not mistaken, Uncle you have a son.”

His uncle swayed and sagged against the wall. His face was dazed. “Who is he, what is his name?” he choked out. “Where is he, I must find him.”

“I do not know his name yet, but fear not I will bring him home. He, after all now belongs to me.” Sesshoumaru's said possessively.

“Sesshoumaru, what.. what are you saying?”

“By your own words, you son is now 18, and as such, the First Claim Right takes precedence over all other relationships. Not you, not father, not the Council be it Seraph or Demon, can lay claim on this one unless the First Claim Right is surrendered. And I have no intent of surrendering the claim. You have a son Uncle, and he is now mine, mine to keep, mine to protect and mine to mate.” Sesshoumaru said turning to go.

His uncle's hand caught his arm “Sesshoumaru, please..” the confusion of emotions was apparent in the man's eyes.

Sesshoumaru looked into his Uncles gray eyes, and felt a wave of pity, his uncle had loved children, cared for him when he was a pup. But he had lost so many pups, his unique blood they had believed made women carry the child to term, impossible. To suddenly, find out that it was not so, you have a son. That you have never know of his existence , must be wrenching. Sesshoumaru knew that if he had never known of Rin's birth until much later, he would have been devastated.

Life was full of hard decisions, he would share, but the Hanyou was his.

“Fear not Uncle, do I not protect what is mine? Now I have to leave before the Seraph get to him.” Sesshoumaru nodded, and sped off.

An hour later, the Lady Ayame walked into the room expecting to see her husband carousing with his dubious friends. Instead she found him sitting on the floor staring at the door in a daze, his eyes full of soul deep pain. She ran to him, knowing something was very wrong.

She knew he was not a faithful husband, but then neither was she a faithful wife. She had 3 children from other men, that her husband happily raised. They had a strange relationship, at times open, at times exclusive. Confusing to others, but it worked for them, keeping life exciting and different. What kept the together was that they did love each other dearly.

She thew her hands around him. “What is it? What's wrong?”

“I...I.. didn't know.. how could I not know.. I don't know,, what to think.. to say.” He said through dry lips and a closed throat.

Ayame stroked her husband's pained face, “Its okay, Miroku my love, whatever it is, we will face it together.”

---tbc--

So did you guess? At what point did you guess? Happy?