Truth in Blood

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Chapter 17 : Stubbornness

Shippo was sleeping, the stress getting to the little kit, he had retreated to sleep before they got to the village. They had placed the little kit in bed, and covered him. Some was speaking in low voices. Shippo was slowly pulled from the embrace of sleep, he did not stir from his position on the bed, and he heard the whispering of the Ape Youkai and her mate.

“Poor Hanyou, he is very brave, this is the least we can do for him.” The female whispered.

“Yes, the kit will be no trouble, but to die in that manner..” The male's voice trailed off.

“Is there nothing that can be done?”

“No, not a thing, the poison in his blood was new to us, and very toxic. There is no antidote that we know of.” The male said sadly.

“What will we do.. the kit..”

“He will find out soon enough, let him rest now. A search will be sent out tomorrow, hopefully we will find some of his remains to bury.”

The conversation ended as the two hugged and left the cabin.

Shippo ensuring no one was around, sat up. Inu was poisoned, dying. Alone. No Shippo would not allow it. Inuyasha had lied to him, so he did not have to keep his promise to stay here anymore. Shippo pulled out a small straw doll, placed it on the bed, and magicked it to look like it was him sleeping. Shippo then scrambled out the back window and stealthily moved to the Forest. Once under the cover of the trees, he shot off. He knew, as he always did the direction his Nii-chan was in, and without hesitation the brave little Kitsune, ran to find his brother.

**

Sesshoumaru was back in the forest faster then any would believe possible. He sniffed the air, and began cursing under his breathe. He could smell it, the death caused by his own poison. Sesshoumaru flashed in the direction of the smell. What he beheld, took his breath away.

Sesshoumaru had seen many fighters before, but none like this. The Hanyou combined grace and strength. There was a rawness on his movements that spoke of natural ability rather then training of any kind. He radiated energy, and yet there was a control behind each movement, a preciseness of each strike, that spoke of strategy, planning and high levels of observations. Even with all that Sesshoumaru could see the poison, had worked its way through the Hanyou's system.

Then the Hanyou faltered, the poison tearing at his organs, drained his strength, between one strike and the next, the Hanyou fell.

His legs suddenly unable to hold him, Inuyasha felt them give out beneath him. He tilted his body so he rolled away from the twisted creature attacking him. But there was no feeling in his legs absolutely none. He turned to accept the blow that would take his life. Expecting to see the monster, all Inuyasha saw was blood, its filled his sight. Then the monster fell to the ground, others died or ran away. And the small cliff was suddenly clear.

Inuyasha stared at the being that had saved his life, and then growled. This demon, hadn't saved his life, fucking hell the demon was the one taking his life. He had attacked Shippo. Inuyasha could not use his legs, but.. he flung his blood at the demon Lord. They turned into deadly arrows as they streaked towards the Lord. Inuyasha was aware that it would not be enough to kill the Lord, but he wanted him to at least hurt him for scaring Shippo.

Distracted by the Golden eyes glaring at him, Sesshoumaru managed to dodge some but not all of the blood. A few darts sank into his upper arm. The poison of course did not effect Sesshoumaru, but the level to which the toxin had permeated the blood surprised him. It was amazing that the Hanyou was even able to move.

Inuyasha watched with satisfaction as the Lord bled, he wanted to make another strike, but dots formed in front of his eyes. The poison was overcoming him. He slumped forward, and was suddenly picked up by steely arms. Inuyasha struggled to get free, using precious energy to lash out at his tormentor.

Sesshoumaru tried to tell the Hanyou to calm down, but he refused to listen. More to stop the Hanyou from further damaging himself rather then for any concern for the much weaker strikes.. The Lord took the rag that had once been Inuyasha's shirt and bound his hands. Sesshoumaru then placed the Hanyou's upper body on his lap.

“Hanyou, listen to me, the poison is killing you. That is not my intention. The only antidote for this poison is my blood. You will drink it.” Sesshoumaru's long claw slit his wrist and he placed the hand over Inuyasha's mouth. Inuyasha locked his jaw and turned his head away from the blood. Demon blood was not to be trifled with, Inuyasha would die before he drank.

“You will obey me, Hanyou. Drink or you will die!” Sesshoumaru ordered.
The Hanyou's lips twisted in a mocking smile, but he did not open his mouth. His body began to break out into cold sweat, but the eyes told the Lord that he would rather die then drink.

Sesshoumaru pinched the Hanyou's nose shut. Instincts forced Inuyasha to open his mouth to breathe, the sharp tang of blood filled his senses, immediately he spat and spasmed throwing up the blood refusing to drink.

Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed in frustration. If he did not drink the stubborn Hanyou would die in his arms. “Drink Hanyou, or by the blood of our ancestors I will break your jaw.” The Lord threatened.

Sesshoumaru truly did not know if the Hanyou's body could stand the trauma of another wound, but he would if he had to, his Hanyou would not die.

Sesshoumaru was going to make good on the threat, when a soft sound had his head snapping up.
“Nii-chan!” Shippo whimpered, he broke from the cover of the forest and walked up tentatively.

Shippo had reached the clearing just after Sesshoumaru had arrived. He had frozen, under the cover of the forest and watched in amazement as the Demon Lord had destroyed the monsters attacking his Nii-chan.
To Shippo's amazement, the Demon Lord was saving his brother.

He watched confused, happy and scared when the Demon had bound Inuyasha and told him to drink his blood. Inuyasha had refused, Shippo then heard the threat and he was moving forward, his fear for dwarfed by his need to save his brother.

Shippo's first steps were tentative, but when no whip hit him, he launched forward. He pretended the scary Lord was not there and small palms cradled Inuyasha's cheeks. “Don't die, Inu Nii-chan, please, don't die. If it will save you, please drink.” Shippo choked out.

Sesshoumaru back straight watched as the Hanyou his head on Sesshoumaru's lap, turned to the kit. The eyes that had been hard, sharp and blank, softened and warmed to an extent Sesshoumaru again found his breath catching, the only thing wrong with the picture, was that the look was aimed at the little Kitsune and not Sesshoumaru. Still the Hanyou relaxed his jaw, and his mouth opened. Immediately Sesshoumaru lifted the Hanyou, placed his wrist on the Hanyou's mouth, and forced his head to tilt up a little, so the warm blood flowed easily into the Hanyou's mouth. The position that Sesshoumaru forced the Hanyou's head into, was to facilitate the flow of blood and... had nothing to do with forcing the boy to look at him and not the Kitsune. Not a thing.

Warm blood filled Inuyasha's mouth, the metallic taste was sharp and heavy, but at the same time delicious. Inuyasha closed his eyes to block the cold visage looming above him, and he drank. He felt the power in the blood move through his system, the sensations of pins and needles traced the movement of the blood, as it neutralized the toxins. Inuyasha felt warm, and his mind and body stressed beyond endurance, slipped into unconsciousness.

“Nii-chan! What did you do to my brother?” Shippo demanded in panic when Inu slumped.

“He has fainted, his body needs to heal, and his unconscious state will facilitate his healing.” Sesshoumaru answered as he moved the Hanyou to rest more comfortably in his arms.

“Okay, but I am watching you, don't you hurt my brother.” Shippo said, it was a desperate and cute – but seriously ineffective threat.

Sesshoumaru was once again impressed by the kit's bravery, foxes were rarely overtly brave. Sesshoumaru watched as the Kit reached out and grasped the Hanyou's hands, even unconscious Sesshoumaru would have sworn the Hanyou moved his hand to clasp the Kit's just a little. The two may not have been brothers by blood, but the bond between them was undeniable. Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed, he could use this. Sesshoumaru having tasted the Hanyou's stubbornness was sure he was not going to gratefully follow Sesshoumaru, but he suspected if he had the Kit, he had the Hanyou as well. Sesshoumaru smiled, those that knew him would have shivered, the Kit being a child, actually relaxed a little.
“I will not hurt the Hanyou. But his wounds need to be cleaned. Can you show me the way to a hot springs?” Sesshoumaru asked.

Still a bit unsure, Shippo nodded. Holding on to Inuyasha's hand he felt a little better. He led the way to the hot springs.

The journey was made in silence.

At the spring, Sesshoumaru still carrying the unconscious Hanyou, walked into the water and knelt down. The water clearing away the grim, blood and muck clinging to the Hanyou's slim body.

“What is his name?” Sesshoumaru suddenly asked the Kit who was sitting anxiously in the edge of the pool, holding on to his bushy tail. Green eyes blinked at Sesshoumaru in surprise. At the prolonged silence Sesshoumaru tried again.

“You called him Inu? Is that his name, its rather common.” Sesshoumaru tried again, actually he found it insulting for a demon to be named 'Dog' which is what Inu meant in the old tongue.

“NO! Nii-chan has a cool name, Inuyasha, only I can call him Inu Nii-chan.” Shippo defended, unknowingly giving the Lord what he wanted.

“Inuyasha” Sesshoumaru rolled the name on his tongue. It was rather literal – DogDemon, Sesshoumaru gazed at the triangular ears. The name fit, it suited the Hanyou, perfectly.
“It is getting late, Inuyasha still smells of sickness, we have to take him to a safe place to recover. Take us to your house.” Sesshoumaru ordered the Kit.

Shippo hesitated then nodded. Until Inuyasha was better the scary demon, held all the cards. Shippo wanted to be home too, he wanted his brother to be safe. Shippo also knew that it was alright to show the Demon Lord their house, because when Inuyasha woke up, he would make them move anyway. So the Kitsune led the Demon Lord to their tree-house.
Sesshoumaru was a little surprised at their home. It was a home built by one who was comfortable in high places, the walled areas were small, and obviously used only during the wet season. There were no obvious comforts in the tiny home, a pile of cloth making the sleeping area. In a rather messy corner was a huge pile of toys of various sorts, many hand made. In the covered area to Sesshoumaru's surprise was a large cabinet, the only thing that looked bought rather then made. Food was stored on a branch of the tree, hanging from woven cloth. The tiny home was messy, but not dirty, humble and functional came to mind.

Sesshoumaru carefully placed the unconscious Hanyou on the pile of cloth. He bit back a growl when the Kitsune, more comfortable now that he was in familiar surroundings, immediately scrambled under the cloth and curled familiarly into the Hanyou's side. Before Sesshoumaru could tell the Kit to leave and not disturb the Hanyou, Inuyasha curled towards the kit, his position protective. The Kit whimpered and immediately fell asleep.

Sesshoumaru knelt beside the two of them, his head tilted in consideration. One clawed hand reached out and gently caught a few strands of silvery white hair in his finger-tips. Sesshoumaru's own hair was pure beaten silver, and was like silk to the touch, the Hanyou's hair was so different. It was like the softest cotton, it was like the softest downy hair of puppies. Hair your fingers itched to bury themselves in, it was warm, inviting. Sesshoumaru brought the strands to his face, breathing in the inviting scent.
The two had worked hard to keep each other alive. Sesshoumaru's traced the side of Inuyasha's face, in sleep he seemed so innocent, vulnerable even. He glanced at the Kitsune and saw the innocence mirrored in the tiny features. Sesshoumaru felt his usual possessiveness, give way to another feeling that previously he had only associated with Rin. They were both his now. He had no intention of letting the Hanyou go, and if it meant accepting the Kitsune, he would do so. Still this would be one of the last times the Kit took his place in the Hanyou's bed. For tonight though, he would guard the two while they slept. Sitting against the wall beside Inuyasha, he relaxed absently stroking the warm hair and cute ears.

Sesshoumaru created a barrier masking their presence, from a certain Seraph who he sensed just entering the forest. A strange peace settled on the tree house, as the Demon Lord guarded the sleep of two lost street kids.

--tbc