SURVIVE

God this is the mid story – mind drain – tough writing – and literally just made the daily word count. Sigh!

The nurse is not really Jinenji's sister – he was just calling her that as a sister healer.

This is a break from the rest of the story – read and see.

Read, review and enjoy

Chapter 11 : Amusement and Bemusement

Sesshoumaru had not allowed even Jinenji into his chambers, at the break of dawn only he was witness to the human's transformation into a Hanyou. The change had been slow, beautiful, miraculous. It was and event that Sesshoumaru quickly decided was a sight that was for his eyes alone. He frowned at the short cropped hair, it seemed so wrong, an insult to the handsome Hanyou. The Lord's smile warmed as he reached up to stroke the silky puppy eared triangles on the Hanyou's head.

When Sesshoumaru had informed the Demon King of the existence of a Shiro Inu Hanyou, the reaction from his father and sister had been shocked surprise. The shock had quickly turned to outrage when they were updated on how the Hanyou had been treated. That a human had conceived successfully carried a child of their cast of Demonic blood, was unheard of in their long history. They had no doubt a female human had bore the pup, if the mother had been a demon there was no way the boy would have ended up among the humans. A slight frown marred Sesshoumaru's countenance. How had the boy ended up among the humans? There were so many questions.

Even with the investigations they had discovered very little about the Hanyou's history. They did not even know his name. He had been found floating in the pier of the city as a baby, and had been basically raised on the streets. He had seemed totally human for years – how had that been achieved? Then, he had been discovered by the Church of Light, who utilizing their spiritual powers had forcibly awakened the inner demon of the human – and the Hanyou had emerged. Not even Bakusen'O in all his years had ever heard of such a thing.

How had the boy survived the collar? They had put it on him when he was only nine; not even a child in Demon terms. Sesshoumaru had himself fought the collar and knew the effort it had taken one of his age and abilities to destroy. If not for the proof before him, the Lord of the West would have sworn that surviving the collar at that age would be impossible for pure blood Demons and Seraphim, and yet a Hanyou had survived. How?

How had all this been done? Where did the Hanyou come from? And above all else – who was the Hanyou's sire? He was not of royal blood, that was all that Sesshoumaru could tell. Only one closely related by blood to the Hanyou, would recognize the Hanyou as a member of their family, and with a whole town-full of Shiro Inu Youkai in the capital... the search would be difficult.

A quiet knock on the door disturbed Sesshoumaru's reverie.

Jinenji timidly walked in carrying more medical equipment than Sesshoumaru had ever seen outside of a healer's bay. Sesshoumaru watched with mild fascination as the sometimes clumsy Horse Hanyou set up a temporary medical bay with amazing efficiency and effectiveness.

Sesshoumaru had found the Horse Demon some 400 years ago during the height of his battles with the Seraphim. It had not been one of his most glorious moments, his battalion had been caught by a much larger, much more prepared group of Seraphim. Though Lord Sesshoumaru had claimed partial victory, he had lost a third of his Demons, and he himself had been severely wounded. He had almost lost his left arm in that battle. It had been a worthy battle, and the Seraphim that had almost taken his arm had escaped with a hole right through his belly.

Sesshoumaru would have lost his almost severed arm, if Bankotsu had not rushed Sesshoumaru to a village that was rumored to have an exceptional healer. Jinenji had healed Sesshoumaru that day, and saved the Demom Lord's arm. Sesshoumaru had immediately offered Jinenji a place in his service, but the gentle Hanyou had humm, and hawwed and with a great deal of fear turned down the Demon Lord of the West. Jinenji refused to serve any army in the war, as his oath as a healer meant that he treated both sides if they came to him. Jinenji had been shaking so hard when he told Sesshoumaru of his decision, the Demon had been concerned that the hut they were in would topple over from the vibrations generated by the gentle giant.

Sesshoumaru knew that if he persisted the Hanyou would have joined him, but he admired the healer's commitment to his calling. He left the Hanyou to his task, and sent word that the Hanyou was in his protection. It had been gratifying, when a similar proclamation was made by a Price of the Seraphim not long after that. In retrospect that incident had been a milestone in their long journey to peace.

Immediately after the war, Sesshoumaru had once again asked Jinenji to join him, and the Horse Hanyou had been childishly grateful and eager. The Lord had beaten the Seraphim to a similar offer by about a week. The curses of the Seraphim prince who had wanted the horse healer working for them had definitely been entertaining. For unwittingly providing such a spectacle to the Demon Lord, Sesshoumaru had presented Jinenji with the mirror. Using the mirror required confidence, and Sesshoumaru had been certain the hanyou would never have the guts to use.

Sesshoumaru's eyes tracked the slight twitching of the white ears, for the first time in his life, Lord Sesshoumaru was grateful that he had been mistaken.

The examination of the unconscious Hanyou was long and thorougher. The physical damage was extensive, but now that he was a Hanyou and being cared for, he would heal fast. It was his mental state that caused concern. The less stress on the Hanyou the faster his mental barriers would heal. Jinenji and other healers held long discussions and came to the conclusion that the best way to keep the Hanyou safe, was to keep him sleeping for a few of days until the barriers were stronger.

They were a little surprised when Lord Sesshoumaru had accepted that solution without protest. It was not for them to know that Lord Sesshoumaru was rather enjoying him himself as he meticulously examined the sleeping body, and watched the slight twitches of the delectable ears and lips as the boy slept. Patience was a virtue that Sesshoumaru had cultivated over his long existence, and delayed gratification only added to his pleasure at the end of the day.

Warm, cared for and guarded the Shiro Inu Hanyou slept.

On the second day of the Hanyou's 3 days of slumber, Sesshoumaru returned to his rooms after the day in court, a strange scent caught his nose. Jinenji had been called away to talk to the timid raccoon healer; who had almost had an apoplexy when Sesshoumaru had tried to question her. With Jinenji absent, his Hanyou was supposed to be alone. Rage mingled with concern, as the Demon Lord flashed into his chambers.

He barged into the chambers, the doors slamming open. He heard a tiny 'eep', and a scramble of sound. A flash of slivery white disappeared under the huge bed, and then silence.

The bed was empty, but his nose was telling him that his Hanyou was still in the room. Only there was another strange scent, it was not a scent of danger – not a scent of anything malicious. It was a scent that brought to memory green grass and trees.

Sesshoumaru had a curious feeling of bemusement, it was so alien to him, it was interesting.

Very slowly, Sesshoumaru crouched down and peered under the massive bed.

There was a tiny whimper and more scrambling, and Sesshoumaru blinked in amazement at the tiny figure huddling at the far corner of the space under the bed. The huge golden eyes and tinier version of twitching ears, he spent long hours watching, gave away the identity of the tiny Hanyou.

It was unbelievable, but then, what about the Hanyou so far had been 'normal?'

Considering his options, Sesshoumaru stood, and deliberately made a drama of moving back, and sitting on the sofa. There was no movement or sound from under the bed.

After five minutes of silence Sesshoumaru said in his normal calm voice, "Well, it seems I have a cowardly little kitten hiding under my bed."

Sesshoumaru had not quite counted to three, when there was an insulted gasp from under the bed and a irate head popped out. "Pup not a kitten and Pup not coward. Pup... Pup... just cold, and under the bed is nice and warm." the child stuck out a tongue at Sesshoumaru blew a messy raspberry and ducked under the bed again.

There was that bemused, enchanted and amused feeling again.

"You will come out now and tell me how you came to be here, I will not hurt you." Sesshoumaru said firmly.

"If you try to hurt Pup, Inu, Yasha and Inuyasha will get you!" Pup said as he crawled out rather hesitantly from under the bed. His golden eyes the largest feature in his face, filling with tears. "Pup wanna go home, no like this place. Please, Pup wanna go home."

"Where is home?" Pup looked confused, unable to respond to Sesshoumaru's question.

"How did you get here?" Sesshoumaru tried instead. The Demon Lord was tempted to reach out and pick up the cute child, but he had a feeling 'Pup' would disappear if he tried. There was something definitely magical and almost ethereal about the little child.

Pup was dressed in an off white houri, simple but durable. He twisted the ends of his long sleeves, and looked extraordinarily guilty. "Inuyasha is sleeping, Inu is sick and Yasha is looking after him. Yasha say Pup has to stay in home and be good, but the dirty, dark sky was gone, and Pup wanted to see. Yasha and Inu also sleep, so Pup can fly and come to see, but Pup now don't know how to go home. Pup wants thems, Pup wants to go home!" Working himself up emotionally the pup was going to burst into tears, when to Sesshoumaru's horror his eyes suddenly went blank.

Before the Demon Lord even took a step towards the Pup, the Pup's eyes rolled back, and a bright flash of light blinded the Demon Lord for a moment. When his sight returned lying sprawled on the floor was the still sleeping fully adult Hanyou, dressed in only the loose pants that the healer had put on him.

Sesshoumaru's eyebrows rose. He glided forward, lifted the body in his arms, breathing in the now familiar scent of his Hanyou. He placed him carefully on the bed and tucked him in. Then he stood beside the bed looking at the sleeping figure for a long, long time.

Interesting... very.. very... interesting.

Ooooo

Deep in the mind of the still sleeping dominant aspect, inside the sanctuary; Pup was caught between getting his head bopped and being hugged to death by the Demon and the Human aspects. All three older aspects had been jerked from their slumber by Pup's spike in distress, and Inuyasha had fought the healing sleep long enough to jerk Pup back, and slam him into the sanctuary. Inuyasha slept as his other two aspects dealt with 'disciplining' their own younger self.

-tbc-

Lol some were asking if the aspects would disappear not now that Inuyasha had combined. Of course not – too much I can do with it, also if they disappeared Inuyasha would not be able to bear the loneliness, he still needs them. I suspect over time they will appear less and less, but he will never allow them to disappear.

Heheeh hope you liked it – and NO – Sesshy is NOT attracted to Pup, he is not into Shouta.

Well what did you think? Interesting – not – I wanted to give a light chapter to make up for all the angst – and Pup is about the only way to do it. Review please, Pup needs to be 'hugged." :)