Truth in Blood

Chapter 7 : The Priestess

It was spring on what Inu assumed to be his 14th year, preparations were taking place all around for the Spring Harvest festivals. Inu was happily busy, and he hoped that this year would be like last year’s were he and Shippo had a great time driving Kaede up a wall. For the first time there was reason for Inu to be part of the celebration and Inu had wanted to try everything, Shippo went along egging Inu on and Kaede was left organizing, cleaning up and trying to stop the two of them from overeating, over drinking, running into everything, and basically exhausting themselves.

Spring was a busy season at work especially a few days before the harvest festival a lot of things needed delivering.

On this round of deliveries Shippo was not with Inu as he was delivering a series of fragile items to the Temple of Angels. Inu had delivered stuff to the hidden Temple of Devils during the Winter Dark celebrations and found it secretly amusing at how alike the two Temples were. Sure they had opposite colour schemes, different rituals, one was legal the other was not, and they sure as heck worshiped different things, but still the people inside both temples were frighteningly similar. Smug and assured that they were right, snobs the bunch of them. Inu chuckled to himself as he carefully set down an intricate crystal structure in its designated location.

“You, Boy!” A rather imperialistic voice rang out, Inu turned to see a girl slightly older then him standing arms akimbo staring at him. She was dressed in the traditional garb of Priestess trainees, but the cloth she wore seemed much finer, and her accessories were definitely made gold and precious jewels. Under the thick layer of perfume that she had on, there was a clean smell to her, the smell of one who had never been near a sewer or garbage heap in her life.

“Why is it you are placing the crystal trees in this hall, it is delicate work and the servants should have handled that. I am sure you can deliver the goods well, but placement of such delicate items requires a more graceful and refined hand.” The girl's voice bit out. Inu was more then happy to allow another to place the items, was going to bow in agreement and leave; when the head chamberlain quickly interceded.

“Lady Kagome, I understand your concern, but this delivery boy has an excellent hand. He has been delivering these for 4 years now, and the only time any of the crystal structures have been damaged or broken was when the servants took over placement from him. Last year not a single piece that he delivered and placed needed repair or replacement, so it is part of the delivery contract.” The chamberlain said trying to placate the girl.

“Huh! He doesn’t look like he has a delicate hand, but fine let me see him place the next one.” The girl glared at the boy, seeming to hope that he would prove the chamberlain false. Inu shrugged, and went to the crate he had delivered, carefully pulling out the next piece. Cradling it gently in his work roughed hands, the boy went accurately to the area the item was to be placed, set it down and locked it in place with steady, gentle hands. He did all this without saying a word, and while there was nothing challenging in his body language, his eye had a twinkle that said he was humoring a petulant child.

The girl who was busy looking at the boy’s body missed the look in his eyes. Inu was only slightly taller then the average for his age, his black hair hug down shoulder level, the white streaks carefully hidden behind a bandanna tied around his head. Behind his cheap and simple clothes however his body was well muscled and toned. Sure he was still growing into some of his limbs, but there was a promise of future beauty in the cut of the boy’s body, that was not lost on the Priestess. However thing about the boy that set him apart from the other boys in the priestess experience was the way he moved. He did not kow-tow to here as others did, yet there was no real arrogance in his stride, instead there was a quiet confidence of one who felt no need to prove anything to the people around him. There was a grace and sureness in his step that she had instinctively found herself admiring, and since one of her stature and position, could not be seen admiring what was clearly a ruffian from the streets; she had sought to put him in his place.

That it had been the chamberlain rather then the boy who had reacted had irritated the priestess. As a priestess she was supposed to be calm and tranquil, but the boy’s silence and the way he seemed to be an observer rather then a participant in the conversation about him, was infuriating. As a priestess she needed to develop inner peace and patience, as the soul-daughter of the high priestess of the circle she could jolly-well demand what she wanted and get it now!

“Very well, he seems to have a barely adequate hand,” she stated, even as she mentally asked for forgiveness for her lie. “What is your name, boy?”

“Inu, Milady.” Came the quiet answer.

“Inu, Inu, what kind of name is that? Well it will do I guess, do you know Inu means dog in the old tongue, suitable is it not?” She said breezily, quite satisfied when the boy turned slightly away and just nodded. The boy needed taking down a peg or two, how dare he be soo.. be so.. the trainee priestess could not find the word to describe why the boy needed to be put in his place, but she felt he deserved it–therefore it was right that he be made to feel embarrassment.

Anyway feeling magnanimous, she forgave him and smiled brightly. “I am Lady Kagome, of the training circle. Since you are so good at your job, I will tell your boss to assign more tasks for you. I’m sure you could use the money.” She said pleased with her generosity.

The chamberlain who was aware Inu was his own boss, was spluttering in panic, the boy may take offense and never do another delivery to the temple. Before Inu was on the job they had had to replace at an average of 4 crystal ornaments a year, and each ornament was expensive. He caught the strange brown eyes of the boy and saw the wiry acceptance and indifference the boy had for the lady’s opinion. He sighed in relief. “Milady, please..”

“Yes thank you for your consideration.” Inu said diplomatically, hiding his amusement as the Lady nodded her head regally and walked off. The chamberlain raised his brow at the boy for stopping him from explaining. Inu shrugged “Anything you said would have prolonged the conversation and though that girl is good to look at, her voice was rather...err.. shrill.”

The chamberlain nodded, very impressed by the boy’s wisdom.

On the eve of Spring Harvest, Inu got word that he was to make another delivery to the Temple of Angels, to take a delicate statuette to the inner courtyard. The inner courtyard was the furthest, one not of the Temple or of noble blood, could go. It was a square open-air area at the centre of the Temple, where herbs and sacred plants were grown. The Statuette would be placed in the middle of a fountain in the courtyard, and Inu was to deliver and place the statue. Shippo had to be left behind again and the little demon was not happy about that at all. Inu had to promise to be back fast, before the kit let him leave. Looking forward to the Eve dinner that Kaede was preparing Inu assured the kit he would be back on time.

Inu took the statuette from the craftsmen to the Temple with no incidents. He planned to get the statuette in place and leave as soon as possible, ah the plans of mice and men. As soon as he entered the courtyard, the irritating Priestess whom he met the other day, popped up. She gave unnecessary instructions on how to place the statuette, Inu nodded respectfully, but didn’t follow a single direction. Mainly because if he had done so the Statuette would have ended up facing the wrong way and crooked. She carried out a whole discussion on her own, and she reminded Inu of Lissa as she never gave him a space to say a word in her rather convoluted monologue, and seemed happier for his seeming corporation and silence. It was not a memory Inu cherished, and he worked fast and effectively to get out of there.

He finished the job, hopped off the fountain, and was about to leave, when the priestess grabbed his arm. To say Inu was surprised would have been an understatement, he was not used to ladies of the upper class touching him, but the her clean scent about her was pleasing. He froze when he felt a delicate hand stroke the muscles of his arms.

“My you are strong, are you muscled all over?” the bold trainee let her hand trail up his warm arm and down his torso, finding and stroking the masculine curves of his chest, and ribs. “Oh by the Light, do you have a six pack?” the priestess asked, as Inu blushed. The touch was too intimate for him to be comfortable, and yet, it stirred him in strange ways.

Inu was aware of what went on between male and females, you can’t grow up in the streets and be unaware of sex. But having a toddler chaperon, attached to him almost 24-7 was not conducive to a male female relationships. Though a part of him cringed at her hungry and possessive touch, Inu found himself standing still allowing the intimate stroking of his chest and abdomen to continue. His breathe caught had deepened as his body flushed in uncontrolled reaction.

In spite of the silent inner protest, the stroking stirred his senses and he found himself unconsciously leaning into the touch.

---

Chapter 8 : Truth Frees (?)

The priestess went on tip toes and pressed a kiss to Inu’s closed lips. He could not move, so riotous were his emotions. Her lips were nice, soft and warm, but it was not right. Her scent up close was not right. But still...

“Kagome, daughter why are you loitering around at this time of the day, we need to prepare for tomorrow. You can play with the help after the festivals.” A regal detached voice said. Inu jumped back, embarrassed. His face bright red. Then his eyes widened and he gaped in recognition. Even Inu knew this Lady, for the last twenty five years she sat at the head of the formal Blessing Procession, She was the third most powerful individual in the City after the Lord and the General. She was the High Priestess of the circle of Light, Lady Kikyo, standing not two feet from a street kid, Inu would never have imagined he would have a chance to see her up close.

She was the most beautiful woman Inu had ever seen, her pale skin shone like alabaster marble. Her long dark brown hair was a wave down her back, and she was immaculate in robes of silver and blue. More then that this lady emitted magic and power. She turned to Inu, and he saw her beauty was dwarfed by the coldness in her eyes. There was a chilling indifference in them, a sense of superiority that had every hair on Inu’s neck standing in reaction. Her beauty was all surface, beneath it Inu could see an icy emptiness. Inu knew he did not want to be here. Not at all.

Kagome unimpressed turned to the Lady with an irritated look. “Mother, you have such poor timing, you ruined my entertainment. This was just getting interesting. Still you are right; I can always get this one to deliver things after the festival, hmm Inu, come by in say three days time, we can have a little fun then.” Kagome said with a throw away coy smile to the boy who was backing away with an appalled look on his face.

Inu was not one to take intimacy lightly. He suddenly felt sick, that someone had taken his first kiss without permission for what amounted to nothing more then interesting entertainment. Hell, no way, absolutely no way was he returning to this place.

Lady Kikyo turned her attention to Inu. She stared at him intently. She saw more then what was on he surface and she suddenly frowned. Inu felt his heart start thumping, something was screaming at him to run. He bowed politely, and began to try to back out of the courtyard. He had not taken two steps when by a silent instruction from their mistress he was flanked by two of Lady Kikyo’s servants who effectively blocked the way out.

“Boy, come here.” the Lady ordered. Seeing no choice in the matter, with reluctant steps Inu drew closer.

The lady’s magic swirled around her, causing her hair to sway in the breeze generated by the power. “There is something hidden about you, boy. There is a secret. I sense it is a secret even from you, so deep is it hidden, so deep does it sleep inside you.” The Lady said in a detached voice. Her eyes seemed to pierce Inu’s soul and she clamped her hands on either side of Inu’s head holding him in place. “Though it sleeps, the secret makes your life a lie.”

Inu felt a strange panic deep inside him. Something inside him screamed NO! No! This was not right. “Please Lady Kikyo No. Maybe whatever it is needs its rest, I like my life the way it is now. So maybe its best to leave it be. Leave sleeping dragons lie.” He tried to laugh and make light of it, but his voice cracked.

“Leave a lie, be? What foolishness is this? Do you not know the Tenants of the Angels boy? We of the Angels walk in the light, secrets are of the dark, lies damage, it is only the Truth that sets one free. To be freed of dark secrets is to be cleansed, that is the teachings of the Light. That is what you must treasure.” The Lady said in a reprimanding and condescending voice.

“Please milady, please; leave me be. I do not want this, I like my life.” He did not understand it but the instincts that kept him alive were screaming, telling him to leave it alone. Inu struggled to get free, but the woman’s magic held him in place. “Please.. if there is a secret it causes no harm, please. Leave me be.” He whispered.

“Nonsense child, you do not yet know the beauty of the freeing light, you are too young yet. Even if it causes no harm, it is against the principles of the light. Truth is not the best thing it is the ONLY thing. I do this for your own good, child. Trust in the wisdom of your High Priestess. Kagome, my daughter, watch carefully the spell I am about to use. I have very few opportunities to use unsealing magic, and this encounter is sent by the Angels so that you may witness it before your accession ceremony. Also since it is Spring Harvest to show this poor boy an act of benevolence by freeing him from a dark secret, is always a good thing.” Lady Kikyo’s body glowed as she collected the energy of her magic inside her.

Inu struggled with all his might, he tried to ask Kagome for assistance, but she was enthralled with what was happening, wishing to see a rare spell in action. Inu saw the lady glow and then the glow crackled and spit like lightning at the centre of her forehead. The ball of lighting went shot from her straight into Inu forehead.

The boy’s head was thrown back by the force of the magic, breaching his defences and burning through layers of his conscience. His body froze, for a few seconds, and then.. he screamed!

Inu was helpless, as the energy of the Head Priestess tore through him. He tried to deflect it, to run, but there was no escape, the energy hungrily sought out the part of Inu that willingly slept deep inside himself, further in his psyche than even the instincts that protected him. The energy pierced through his last defence, and burned awake the part of Inu that would have been satisfied to sleep forever.

Jolted form its state of hibernation, it roared to life. Unable to stop, unable to halt what was about to happen, it was burning in pain from the energy of the Priestess. And as it spread bubbling through his system, it screamed with the awareness and regret that it was about to destroy all that Inu had worked so hard, had sacrificed so much, to built. That part of Inu so long asleep, was awakened, but not without a sense of regret.

The boy screamed, energy emitted from his body. Not the White energy of the Angels, not the Dark energy of the Devils, but a red, gold and purple vibrant energy, the energy of a unique being, a fusion of two, the energy of a half breed, a Hanyou.

Kikyo dropped the boy in surprise, his energy burning her hands. He hit the floor hard, and cried in pain. His body was writing in growing agony, as his blood seemed to boil and pulse inside him and his skin burned. Inu cried out in pain, “Help me, please, help me!”

“Mother what have you done?” Kagome said in shock!

“What a sad secret, a waste of magic really. He is just a half breed, a vile half demon. There is no place for one such as this, you there summon the guards to kill him.” Kikyo’s voice was calm, exasperation coating her words, she wanted something impressive instead she got this. She addressed her servants, who stared at horror at the boy seeming to have been changed by “Angelic” power. Servants ran, but they did not have any intention of returning.

“Mother do we have to kill it? I mean half demons from the stories can be strong, he may be a much better bodyguard for me then a normal person.” Kagome watched the boy shivering in pain, with sympathetic eyes, she didn’t want to see him killed.

“Yes, a half demon would be an excellent guardian for you my dear. Depending on how he looks once he fully transforms of course.” Kikyo said looking at the boy with new eyes. Perhaps she could salvage the situation after all. Her daughter would be a high priestess, and having a Hanyou as a slave would be appropriate.

“You mean he may look like a monster?” Kagome’s sympathy went a little thin at the thought.

“It is possible. Halflings usually turn out to be the most beautiful or the most hideous of their kind. So whether we keep him or kill him will depend on how he turns out. Still there is the problem of controlling him. A half demon cannot be left to simply roam free.” Kikyo said considering.

“Mother, since he will be MY half demon, can I use the subjugation beads, that Grandma created? They were made for Unicorns, but would they work on a half demon?” Kagome asked urgently.

“Oh, my yes! They are old magic, one of a kind, very strong one such as he will have to obey. Quickly, go get them child hurry, I will watch this one.” Kikyo urged.

Kagome sprinted to the display chamber in the inner temple. She reached into a display case, pulled out a long strand of ancient beads, they vibrated with old power. Perfect. She sprinted back to the courtyard.

The pain Inu was feeling was slowly becoming manageable, he was curled up against the fountain, trying to make sense of the world. He suddenly sensed the energy of the two priestess approaching. “Help me, please!” he managed to say through cracked bleeding lips.

“We will help you, don’t worry. Boy, that is our role after all.” Kikyo said as she nodded approvingly at her daughter, who approached the boy with the subjugation beads.

“Inu, Inu, don’t worry about anything.” Kagome cooed. “There beads will help control what ever is coming out of you. You will work here then, be with me, and protect me. I am to be High Priestess you know, so serving me will be a great honour for a street kid like you. Consider these your Spring Harvest present.” Kagome’s voice was honeyed and pleasant.

She smiled sincerely as she approached him with the chain. Yes, if he had the beads on, they would not have to kill him. They could control him, and give him the highest honour of serving in the Temple of Angels. “I’ll help you, and be there for you, once your dangerous parts are controlled by the beads.”

Holding the beads out she approached the confused and pained boy. Her sincere smile meant to calm and reassure him, these beads were for the boy’s own good.

--- tbc—

Yayaya I have mentioned Im evil.. Remember to review pls.

Chappie is dedicated to LadyKaa28 for the seed of the idea about the beads..... hehhehehe.