Truth in Blood

Yes! I have won the Nano..

sessinulover, inusessy4life, Princess Sin, KatzeIason69, and all other who took time to review thank you so much.

Fluffy's Green Comb : Thanks for cracking the whip .. though u did slack at the end. ;P

Ladykaa28, kmoaton, Haltia : Thanks for the amazing reviews and opinions.

Read review and enhiy... by the way this is not the last chapter... in case it sounded like it,

Chapter 25 : Coming Together

Miroku and Inuyasha sat on the roof together for an hour. Neither said anything, Inuyasha because he didn't really know what to say, and Miroku because he was hoping his son would speak first. Miroku sat with his arms around his son and was content to wait for the boy to start talking, little did he realize if he was hoping Inuyasha would speak first, they would have been in the roof until morning. The night air got chilly and the wind picked up, and Sesshoumaru decided he had enough. He walked up and simply said a few words, “Dinner is getting cold, the little Kitsune is hungry.” that was enough to get Inuyasha and Miroku both down off the roof.

The four walked into the dining room, joining the 18 people waiting there. Immediately Inuyasha much to his disgust; was the center of attention, every one stared at him. Sesshoumaru saw his claimed one's discomfort and was about to make things ten times worse by ordering people to stop staring, when the Kitsune suddenly “poofed' to the top of the table in a cloud of pink smoke.

“Oh my look at this food, I am sooooo hungry. Inu Nii-chan you don't have to steal my food here cause there is soooo much! Wow lady, are you a Wolf Demon (The Kit jumped to the front of Lady Ayame blinking innocently.) I did not know Wolf Demons had... Oh My God is that a chocolate cream and strawberry cheese cake, can I have a piece of that first. I'm hungry, and you going to stave a poor little fox demon. I'm just a kid I need to eat. Why are you all standing around... Sit, sit Lady Wolfie you sit there,....”

The little Kitsune suddenly took over the room. All attention went to him, and he began organizing the Lords and Ladies of the Demons into seating positions that was not traditional and conventional, but more fun to the Kitsune. The small group indulged the Kitsune, advisors who were reluctant to be relegated to the bottom of the table instead of their exalted places at the head of the table, were quelled to obedience when both Sesshoumaru and Miroku growled at any who dared seem to even want to argue. Both Lords had realized something, Inuyasha had obviously relaxed when the Kitsune sprang into action and instinctively the Kitsune was reorganizing to table so that those who may have been mean and nasty to the Hanyou were sitting at the bottom of the table.

They were both surprised when Shippo placed Inuyasha between Sesshoumaru (Who was at the table head) and Miroku, expecting that Shippo would sit himself beside Inuyasha. Sesshoumaru was please that the Kit seemed to realize that they had a priority claim on the Hanyou. He was pleased, at least until everyone one was seated but the Kitsune, and the Kitsune skipped up to his big brother, who immediately made space for the Kit on his lap.

Shippo settled in, leaning against his big brother, his smile that he threw at both Miroku and Sesshoumaru, was a little smug. Sure he didn't get everything that was going on, but he was a fox demon after all, being crafty was just part of his blood. Shippo understood that both the demons had made a claim on Inuyasha who until now had been exclusively Shippo's. Now, Shippo have been brought up by Inuyasha, so he was not prone to being really selfish, he didn't mind sharing, buy he would not let them forget who Inuyasha belonged to first. Inuyasha was HIS Nii-chan long before he was anything else, and Shippo was just reminding them all of that.

Miroku being the only one who as yet knew of the claim, hid his smile as Sesshoumaru glared impotently at the Kitsune. He winked at the little one, and Inuyasha – Inuyasha knew the Kit was up to something. But he could not figure what, still he was comforted by the familiar feel of the Kit on his lap and just tried to relax.

Food was put before them and to everyone's horror, Inuyasha and Shippo both dug in. There was meat, steaming vegetables, fish and breads softer then either brother had ever seen. The food was hot and amazing, and for the next 10 minutes the two's focus was totally on the food, glorious delicious food. It took a while longer until both brother's simultaneously noticed the weighted silence in the room. Two faces, mouths stuffed with food, looked up.

While physically the two were poles apart, at that instant no one would have doubted they were brothers, they had the exact same look on their faces. Huge eyes, stuffed cheeks and messy mischievous and yet innocent faces looked up at their staring stunned audience.

Inuyasha went red, he swallowed his food, and sat back. Shippo leaned forward and spoke through the food in his mouth, “Umm you guys are not hungry?”

Jaken, one of the advisors relegated to the bottom of the table, jumped up, shaking in indignation and fury. “You.. you filthy creatures, how dare you dirty this grand table with your barbaric manner. You Kitsune are a child, but that filthy Hanyou has no place...” That was as far as the courtier got. Inuyasha's knowing that he had done something wrong, he was not sure what, but something had been ready to bow and leave the table. But to his surprise it was not 2 adults and Shippo who stood to his defense, rather 6 demons and Shippo faced the courtier in outrage. Sesshoumaru, Miroku, Lady Ayame and all three of Miroku's heart children rose to defend the Hanyou.

The fury directed at the advisor had him cowering on his seat. Again giving in to protocol Sesshoumaru allowed the new father to deal with the insult, while he drew the shocked and unresisting Hanyou to his side.

Miroku stalked up to the short ugly Lord. Miroku deliberately dipped his finger in a glass of water and drew out a blade of water. With a flick the blade pierced through the loud mouthed advisors shoulder. “Oh my, Jaken looks like you had a little accident, a little more to the left and you would not have had a throat to allow such venom to spew out. What a tragedy that would have been.” Miroku said with such sarcasm that the advisor launched back stumbling to the floor.

Ayame's oldest child Bunzo who was half wolf and half fox demon, growling stalked around and picked the advisor up be the collar. He walked him to the door and tossed him out of the dining room. Then Sesshoumaru spoke, “Any who have issues with my Inuyasha's place at this table is free to leave now, know that if my weapon is drawn I will show much less mercy then what Miroku did.” A causal claw trailed down Inuyasha's tense jaw and flipped back a lock of hair, exposing the claim mark.

The silence was deafening.

“Wow that was so cool Lord Miroku, you made a weapon from water. Inu Nii-chan can make weapons like that too but from his blood, not water.” The Kitsune said, from Inuyasha shoulder where he had leapt to at the first sign of violence.

That broke the tension. And Miroku turned to the Kit, “Really, like me huh? That is good.” The Lord smiled at both the boys, and dinner continued as if nothing had happened. Shippo glanced at Inuyasha with a raised brow, as if asking what was that about, they had just been appreciating the food. Inuyasha shrugged back, who knew. He rolled his eyes, weird Nobility had weird rules.

Then dinner was over and the Hanyou was urged to the private sitting room with the 6 family members.

The the questions began, and Inuyasha squirmed. For him one word answers were enough, and excerpt of the conversations are as follows.

“So Inuyasha where did you grow up?” Amaye asked

“In the City of Andamite.” Inuyasha answered.

.....

“Was it a good place to grow up?”

“Yes”

.......

“What did you like about the city?”

“The library.”

......

“Oh what did you like about the library?”

“It was quiet.”

..............

“Who brought you up?”

“Lissa. A human.”

....

“Oh! A human, wonderful is she nice.”

“She died.”

!!!!!!........

The conversation kinda died at that point. They soon discovered what Sesshoumaru knew, you want information on the Hanyou, ask the Kitsune. Only problem with that was that they got information on what happened after Inuyasha was a little older, his early childhood were a mystery. To some of them to think that the quiet Hanyou was the son of Miroku was almost unbelievable, until they took into account his charisma. By his presence alone he drew attention, like his father people were drawn to him, but unlike his father, the young Hanyou seemed to have no clue to his appeal.

Shippo fell asleep on Inuyasha's lap.

Sesshoumaru signaled and servant came to take the Kitsune away. Inuyasha's fists clenched, but he allowed them to take the Kit. Miroku's children left as well waving at Inuyasha.

“Come we will retire for the night.” Sesshoumaru said indicating for Inuyasha to follow.

Puppy ears flattened. Inuyasha's spine straightened to the point of pain, it was time for him to pay for what had been given. He had met his father, and Shippo was safe, he would be grateful. He would do this. “As you wish my Lord.” Inuyasha said. He would not make a big deal out of this, his own father was the child of a prisoner, she must have been taken as a Slave of his Grandfather. It seemed to be a pretty normal thing among Demon Nobility.

Something about his son's voice made Miroku pause. “Inuyasha my son, you are claimed, you know what that means. Right?”

Inuyasha shrugged in response.

Miroku's concern grew as his son, his his eyes beneath his bangs. He reached out and lifted the strong face to meet his eyes. For a second dark emotions heavy and painful swirled in the Golden eyes and then nothing. Inuyasha closed his emotions tight and a blank look entered his eyes.

“Inuyasha do you know what it means to be claimed?” Miroku repeated, his eyes demanding an answer.

“Do not worry. I know my place. I won't make a scene or spread rumors. Sesshoumaru's lady wife will never hear a thing from me. He is caring for Shippo, training him and he has claimed me in payment. Its a fair deal.' Inuyasha said without a hint of emotion. They all looked a little stunned at the Hanyou.

“Inuyasha, you are equating Claiming to Slavery?' Miroku was aghast, and Sesshoumaru was a insulted.

“No. My Lord explained I wasn't a Slave. Its just like a business deal, everyone gets what they want.” Inuyasha said with a blank smile.

Miroku was pushed away as Sesshoumaru stood before his claimed one. “First this Sesshoumaru is no longer mated, my wife died five years ago. Second tell me what is it that you get out of this deal? I get your body and what do you get?”

“I get Shippo safe of course.” Inuyasha replied.

“What do you get for your self?” Sesshoumaru demanded.

Golden eyes blinked at the Lord, as Inuyasha tried to think of what the Lord would want him to say. “Um.. I get a comfortable life.” he said.

“You care not for comfort, Hanyou. What is it you get?”

“I get Shippo safe, and I got to meet Lord Miroku, that is enough for me. I will not welch on the deal, my Lord.” Inuyasha insisted, he was confused, what did they want him to say.

Sesshoumaru stared at his claimed one. Miroku broke in.

“Inuyasha, being claimed is not a business deal. It means that Sesshoumaru has the right to mark you as a potential mate, before any other. You are not his Slave my son, you are his promised mate, and if all goes well he will be your mate on the night of the next new moon. Before the new Moon night, the mark allows him to convince and court you any way possible, including bedding you.”

Inuyasha's jaw fell open, and Sesshoumaru used that opportunity to claim a long deep kiss.

-- tbc---