Truth in Blood

A/n" . Since the world is AU all named chars here will be from Canon, small surpirse. enjoy n review pls

Chap 5 : Forging Bonds

Inu knew he had to get the mother and child to safety, fast. Inu was no longer poor, and since this constituted an emergency, he carried the lady who had the bundle of toddler strapped to her. Inu knew there were some empty hovels near his old place, which was monster free. He figured he would take the lady there and then call for the healer. He moved fast, and was glad the child seeming to sense the streets were a danger didn't start wailing. Inu reached the hovels, broke a lock and went in an empty one. He'd pay the owners in the morning.

He put the lady down and laid the toddler on the mat beside her.

“Okay lady, just hold on, I'll get the healer.” Inu said as he was about to leave. A weak hand caught his.

“No, no, please call no one.” The lady whispered.

“You are hurt, I cant deal with these injuries myself.” Inu replied.

“No, please.. will kill us.” The woman whispered, the cloth that swaddled her and the child slithered off, and Inu was shell shocked. The woman had elfin ears, shock red hair, sharp, real sharp teeth and claws. Doing that had taken all the woman's strength and she collapsed.

Demons.. they were demons, fear and superstition rose like bile in t he boy, he was going to jump up, to run and leave this mess to others, when a tiny hand grasped his fingers. Inu looked down.

The little toddler, had red hair and a TAIL, both bushy like a foxes. So small it still had fangs and claws, but it was the leaf green eyes that drew Inu, bright with fear and tears, the demon child whimpered, “Alp mama! Peas.. peas.. Alp mama!” Tiny hands grasped Inu's desperately, and the toddler seemed to want to climb up in Inu's lap.

Inu was still a little frozen, a few days, hell a few minutes ago, he would have sworn Demons were story created to keep humans scared, but now he had two of them looking at him to save them. He was in over his head, he wanted to run to someone older, to have them decide what to do. But there really had never been someone for Inu to run to.

The toddler seemed to lose his grip and failing to climb on Inu's lap fell back crying.

There had never been anyone to protect Inu, he never had anyone who would have protected him,. The child reached out to climb on Inu once more. The tiny clawed hand clutched Inu's pants, in that instant Inu made a decision. His fingers shook a little as he reached out and pick up the child. Raised up, the child launched himself trustingly into Inuyasha's chest, surprising the boy, he just managed to catch the kid and hold him. Tiny arms wrapped around his neck, the tiny face snuggled into Inu's warmth. Inu buried his nose in the mess of red hair, and breathed in an exotic combination of scent. His fear vanished as if it had never been there. This kid and his mom, needed him. Human or demon it didn't matter to Inu, they needed him and Inu never let people who needed him down.

Inu did a good a job as he could, with his limited healing skills and a ball of red, clinging to his neck. The child had refused to let go, and Inu had finally managed to get the child clinging to his back so tahat he could clean the mother's wounds, make a fire, and get some food together. Bread and slated meat were Inu's staple diet and he shared what he had with the little boy, the lady slept. By the time he had finished doing as much as he could for the two, Inu was exhausted. He gently placed the now sleeping child next to his mother and he himself sat against the door, to guard from surprises and fell asleep.

The next morning, Inu felt an immense tide of relief, when he saw the lady was awake, and looking at him from one eye. Her other had a blank blind look to it. In the light of day, her teeth however looked damn sharp, Inu found himself edging back to the door, he was aware he may be a god snack for a demon and her child.

“I don't eat humans. And I definitely do not eat children who have saved my life and the life of my grandson.” The woman spoke and Inu realized she was old, there was a weakness in her voice that instinctively worried Inu. “I am Kaede, a fox demon, and this” she said stroking the sleeping and sprawled child, “Is Shippo. Please, I need a few days to heal, I will need to sleep, will we be safe here?” The lady asked.

“Keh, course you will be safe, you sleep – I'll take care of everything. I have to go to work and get some stuff, there is some food here for you. Please don't leave this house, I know its not much but no one will disturb you here without invitation.” Inu carried the small bag of food to the lady, and carefully placed it beside her. He was straightening up to leave when his hand was caught in a clawed grip, Inu froze again.

The woman held his hand gently, opened his palm and stroked the work roughened, tough palm. “Such a strong hand, for such a tiny human child. Thank you little one, may I know your name.” Kaede's voice thinned as she strained to remain awake.

“I am Inu.” the boy answered.

“Your parents would be proud of your bravery Little Inu.” Kaede pressed softly.

Inu looked at her and saw her true intention for the statement, “My parents are not around, so you don't have to worry about them checking in on me. Im an independent operator, so relax already lady, by you sure are nosy.” Inu hoped to same the lady into silence, as a ploy that failed.

“When it comes to Shippo's safety I am very nosy. Go Young Inu we will be here when you get back.” The woman released Inu's hand and the boy lest the hovel. Inu found and paid the owner, then he ran off to work.


Chapter 6 :Inu Ni-chan!

For the next four days, Inu ran ragged, he worked, got food, and returned to the hovel at night. The Demon Lady Kaede seemed to be in some kind of recovery trance, slept most of the time. The child was confined to the hovel with a sleeping lady, so by the time Inu returned the kit was bursting with energy. The Green eyed child, adored his Inu.

For the first time in his life, when Inu returned at night, a cry of joy rang out and the a warm body hurled itself at him, totally trusting that he would be caught and held. Inu was awed by that trust, there was no one, not a single being in his memory he would have trusted enough to run and jump at, with an absolute security that he would be caught. Inu had always saved himself, and the trust the kit placed in him, touched a part of the boy that nothing and no one had ever come close to touching. Still Inu tried to distance himself, he caught the toddler, but quickly put him down. He hugged the child but always placed him next to his grandmother when it was time to sleep.

On the 5th night as he returned more tired then he could remember being in a long time, he felt something different in the air. But the 12 year old was frankly too exhausted to think much about it. Looking after an old and a very young demon was draining the boy physically, mentally, emotionally and financially. This first 3 things Inu, didn’t pay attention to, but the last was a cause of concern. Inu sighed; he would have to take on more work to look after the old woman and the kit. He would not mention it to them of course, it did not really cross his mind that there was no reason for him to help, he just did. They needed him and it was enough.

Inu was carrying a bucket of coal back to the hovel for the fire. Building the fire when he got back was the first priority, the night had a hard bite to it. If he had been by himself sleeping in the high reaches of the City, Inu would had just added a layer of clothing, found a relatively shielded nook, and slept. Inu was used to ignoring the cold of his city but, a sick lady and little child deserved to be warm.

Inu lugging the heavy pail of coal, smearing soot on his trousers, he opened the door to the hovel and walked in. The pail clattered to the floor, almost but not quite tipping over. Inu stared in shock.

The hovel was already warm, a strange blue flame lighting the small stove. Kaede stood at the stove, and some amazing smells filled the hovel. Shippo sat by the stove his eyes hypnotized by the food. The demon lady was already better, and the little hovel had been transformed into a warm place.

“Ahh-aa, Not another step!” Kaede said to the young boy at the entrance.

Inu looked down, his bangs covered his eyes, so he missed the warm smile that accompanied the words.

He nodded his head, never looking up. “Its good you are better, you can keep the coal, I guess, or give it away, I don’t need the stuff.” Inu’s voice was emotionless and flat, they didn’t need him, not anymore. He was surprised at how much he missed the kit’s welcome, but now that the child had more important distractions, he was not surprised that the greeting was not forth coming. Still it hurt a little that Kaede had felt the need to spell out that he was no longer welcome. Inu knew that warm places were not for him. He was not ignorant; people only wanted street kids like him around when they had work or things for them to do. She hadn’t needed to say anything, he would have just quietly left anyway. Inu bowed, and backed out of the door. They would be alright now. There was nothing left to be said, as far as he was concerned.

“Inu! Inu!” Shippo tore himself from the amazing sight of food, when he heard Inu’s voice. Before Inu had taken as full step out the door, The toddler flew at him, knocking him over. Inu ended up on his butt, with the tiny kit sitting on his chest, looking worried. Small hands petted Inu’s pale cheeks. “Inu Nii-chan fall down?”

“I hope you do not mind, Shippo was talking about you all day, and I mentioned that he should call you properly. I expected him to call you Inu-kun, but he immediately began saying Inu-big brother. If you don’t like it tell him firmly and he’ll stop. Anyway there is a wet cloth and bucket at the side of the door, kindly wipe off the soot and clean your hands and face before coming in.

Inu’s jaw dropped open, he stared at the Lady. Shippo deciding that Inu was still for too long, grabbed the cloth and began wiping Inu’s face. “Clean e’fore foods. Shippo helps Inu Nii-chan, faster clean, faster eats.” Shippo earnestly began to scrub at Inu’s face, making more of a mess.

Gold brown eyes went bright, the lump in his throat grew. Inu suddenly push off Shippo and bolted out the door. Shippo looked hurt and confused, tears gathering like glistening diamonds in the bright eyes, quickly Kaede picked up the kit. “I’s hurts Inu-Ni-chan? Inu is no wants to be mys big brother?” Shippo asked ready to start brawling.

“No little one, Inu just needed to clean up a bit more so we can eat faster. I think he really wants you as his little brother, mayhap more than he knew.” Kaede said comfortingly, a knowing and sad smile on her face as she saw the silhouette of the boy leaning against a far wall, his body heaving under the stress of emotions he felt.

The shock of welcome had been too much for Inu, he wasn’t crying, not really. His eyes burned but tears refused to fall, he just choked and heaved, trying to compose himself. Inu didn’t understand what he was feeling, it felt good, but so damn overwhelming. He could not have stayed in the hovel a moment longer without crying, and he was too much of a man to cry. So he had bolted instead. It took a few minutes, but finally he composed himself. He then went to the neighborhood well pulled out a bucket of water and washed himself.

Relatively clean, Inu returned to the hovel as in nothing happened. The moment he stepped in the little demon was all over him, demanding to be cuddled, asking if he was alright, and apologizing all in one breathe. Inu tried in vain to settle the toddler, finally frustrated Inu grabbed the kid by the collar and held him in front of his face. “Settle down, Shippo! I was just cleaning up! Okay?”

The toddler relaxed trustingly in the grasp, looked at Inu seriously, crocked his head and replied, “Inu Nii-chan?” Green eyes seemed to pierce the distance Inu has placed between himself and the child, unseen a bond forged between the two. Inu hesitated and the Shippo's eyes clouded with tears as he demanded one last time. “INU NNIIII-CHAN?!!”

Inu gave in, “Ya, okay, call me what you like, as long as it makes you happy.”

That concession did not satisfy the child. “INU-NI-CHAN not happy?” Teary eyes refusing to leave Inu’s.

A soft sigh escaped the older boy, and he gathered the kit close in a hug, burying his head in the shock red hair Inu whispered, “I’m happy Shippo, so happy.” Small hands closed around his neck and the child snuggled against him. The two were still for a moment.

A long growl filled the room. Shippo’s head popped up, “Me’s hungry, see dragon in tummy make grumblly sound.” Inu chuckled and tossed the kit into the air and on to his shoulder, Kaede who had been focusing on the food preparations to give the two boys time, waved them over and handed a warm bowl of stew to each boy.

Inu ate the stew, it was warm and, for the boy who had not had hot food prepared for him in a long, long time, the food was utterly delicious.

That night Shippo crawled away from his grandmother to snuggle beside Inu, curling into Inu for warmth. After a bit Kaede walked up on quiet feet and sat on the other side of Shippo. Her usually hidden tail, curling out, expanding and fluffing out, she placed her tail on both boys, as she settled and slept.

Warm food inside him, in a warm room, covered in a gentle warmth Inu felt wonderful. More wonderful than he ever felt before. Half asleep he snuggled into the warmth, and slept the sleep of the innocent.

**

The next two years were a time of joy to the growing boy. For the first time in his life he had a family. As long as they did not plan on eating him Inu had no problems accepting so called demons into his life. Others however may have killed them on sight. Much to Inu's relief, Kaede's recovery meant that she could use some strange magic to hide the fact that she and Shippo were demons, from the rest of the world. Her magic allowed them freedom to be out in public for up to 6 hour in a stretch.

Kaede however was an old demon and her body did not recover a hundred percent from the monster's attack. So while her magic and mind were strong, her body was weak and she spent most of her time in a tiny cottage that the fox demoness had gambled off a weak minded human. The cottage was in a safe but poor part of town. The old lady was soon considered invaluable to the slum committee as she assisted in healing and looking after the sick.

With the old one busy, Shippo of course choose to spend as much time as he could with Inu, and was introduced to everyone as Inu's little brother. Inu in his line of work needed to move fast, and though Shippo had amazing bursts of speed, he did not have the stamina Inu had. After Shippo who had been trailing and lagging far behind Inu, had almost been crushed by carriages, Inu and Kaede devised a sling carrier that attached to Inu's back. It soon became a usual sight to see the boy with his brother running through the city on his numerous deliveries.

There were places however Inu never allowed Shippo to go, and the kit learned that when Inu spoke in a certain stern voice, he could not be budged, badgered of convinced to change his mind. Inu never took Shippo to the churches of the Angels or those of the Devils. The priests were said to work magic, and Inu would not risk them seeing past Shippo's disguise. He also never took Shippo to meet very rich or powerful clients, nor allowed the kit to accompany him on the more dangerous missions. At these times Shippo was left with Kaede, he always seemed to know when Inu was returning and could sense the direction Inu was coming from before he was in visual range and olfactory range.

The small gang that worked for Inu, seeing the kit so close to their 'boss' lost some of the apprehension they had for their secretive and strong leader. They pushed to get more of Inu's attention and time. Slowly but surely by the end of the first year of Shippo's arrival, Inu was not just a 'boss' he was an admired friend and leader.

So for the two years, until some time in what Inu estimated to be his 14th year, Inu truly was at peace. Sure he worked much more and at more dangerous jobs then before, to provide the bulk of finances for his small family, still it was worth it. Living in the slums, working extremely hard, Inu was happy as he finally found a place he belonged with a small family and friends.

Inu was at peace until that day on his 14th year, when the truth hidden deep in his blood was ripped from within the boy. Until the truth tore every aspect of his life apart, and shattered the hard-earned fragile peace in his heart.

--tbc