Truth in Blood

a/n : I am going to make a huge jump in age here, and move time forward skipping some rather funny/brotherly scenes in my head, mainly cause I am as anxious as some of you to bring in Sesshoumaru. However since this is Nano.. I may err do Shippo Inu interludes of their journey West.. (**Err to misrepresent another fandom. :)

Chapter 11 : The Journey West

The journey to the Emerald Green forest alone took almost two years. The first few months they hardly made any progress West. The two boys had to travel in circles, double back, find places to hide, and basically avoid the numerous platoons of the Temple of Angels and Devils that scoured the lands out side the City of Andamite. Their journey was also slow, as while neither boy said it, they had wanted t o keep the city in their sights as long as possible. A part of their family resided in those walls, and for all that they had been through, it was the City who had raised Inuyasha. He had been nurtured by the walls, and harbored in hidden nooks. The City and their Granny Kaede would be sorely missed by the two boys, the circular route they took helped the boys adjust. They took their final view of the city 7 months after they had left her walls. They crossed a low mountainous barrier, that marked the extreme edge of Adamite's official boundaries. They went over the final rise, and hiked down . Neither boy turned and looked, they walked onward with determination, into their uncertain future.

The journey to the Forest required them to travel through the edge of Seraph lands. These lands were populated by pockets of humans and Seraph villages, and the terrain was not very conducive for two City boys living off the land. Inuyasha discovered that most Seraph, had low levels of power, they were only slightly faster and more agile then the average human, the magic they employed was mental in nature, channeled through precious and semi precious stones. They were amazing healers, and most all Seraph could move light items with their minds. The High Seraph were the aristocrats of the Seraph world, they lived in the heart of Seraph territory and were rarely seen in the boarders, so much so that the extent of their abilities were only whispered at.

Whether by sheer dumb luck or by higher design the two boys missed bumping into any of the High Seraph. Inuyasha had seen a High Seraph only once and that was from a far distance, but the being he had seen left an impression of out-worldliness and power. Inuyasha knew he could not come close to fighting that kind of power and after that Inuyasha actively avoided them.

Inuyasha realized that the main difference between Seraph and Demons was that Seraph powers were mental, Demon powers were more natural, animal and elemental based powers. The fox demons were the exception, as they had the weakest physical build of demons, fox demons made up for it by having an affinity to magic. It is said that in days of old, it was the fox demons that taught humans how to use magic, which is why the two kinds of magic were similar in execution. Though fox demon magic was far superior.

After traveling, getting lost, hiding out, learning many things, meeting different characters, running for their lives, helping random strangers, getting in fights, getting captured (but only once and it was SOOOO NOT THEIR FAULT), escaping and mainly surviving; it was two tired boys that made it to the Forest of Emerald Gold.

The boys were walking for what seemed like weeks through a semi-arid area. There was little food and less water, and the weather was ridiculous. Too hot during the day, and too cold in the nights. Shippo being small, was affected by the extremes in temperature, the little kit kept a continuous and entertaining list of all the things wrong with the area. Inuyasha listened patiently for the most part, never commenting that he did the lion's share of the walking, while Shippo rode on his shoulder.

If they had been walking in a field, in a relatively safe area, Shippo knew that Inuyasha would have twisted his ears, or bopped him one; if he complained, and made him walk. But in places where there was some real stress and danger to the little Kit, Shippo would always be firmly placed on Inuyasha's back or shoulder, and he could whine and complain, as much as he liked. Inuyasha never lost patience with Shippo when there was the hint of danger in the air, preferring to keep the Kit as close as possible. Inuyasha figured the complaining gave Shippo a healthy outlet for his stress, and allowed it, because Shippo's complaints were actually done in a really soft voice, for Inuyasha's sensitive ears alone and never drew undue attention to the two.

The two seemed to fight about food, Shippo would swear Inuyasha stole his food, so Shippo retaliated stealing Inuyasha's. It was a game for the little kit. But one observing the two as they crossed the arid waste lands would have noted, that the small kit, even though he had made an arduous journey had all his baby fat on him. The kit fairly glowed with health, he was rounded and, well cute. The Hanyou beside him, was one step from being emaciated. He was whip-cord thin, his face was gaunt. There was not a speck of fat on his young body. He was strong, his muscles corded and wiry rather then bulky. When one watched the two eat, one would see why this disparity was so. Inuyasha would “steal” food that looked big, but were actually not really essential from the Kit, like bones, plain rice, seeds,etc., when the Kit retaliated he always would somehow steal the meatier more nutritious parts of Inuyasha's meal. And though they seemed to fight, Shippo would end up stuffing his face and laughing while Inuyasha pouted; if you continued to watch, one would see the secretly satisfied look in the Hanyou's eyes as he watched Shippo gobble down his fill.

Shippo being a loving child, would never have taken food that his Nii-chan needed, but Shippo being a child, was never able to see past the game and realize that he was given the lion's share of the food, though Inuyasha did the lion's share of the work to keep the two of them alive.

It seemed to the two; that without warning the arid land fell away, and they were staring at a 100 meter drop straight down. Below them stretching for a hundred miles was a forest. A see of green, with patches of bright yellow, created by huge treas that bore bright yellow carnation like flowers by the hundreds if not thousands.

Further to the West, separated by fields and a meandering river, was the rich lush lands of the Demons, to the north was endless grasslands, that spilled into the wild Tundra, and in the East to South East was the Lands of The Seraph. The two boys had traveled through the poorer lands of the Seraph, but as he gazed South East he could see while the Seraph lands were equally rich to the lands of the Demons. South separating the Seraph Lands and Demons Lands, was the ocean.

According to human tales the two sides were always at war, but as Inuyasha gazed at the Emerald Gold forest, he wondered if they truly were at war, it seemed unlikely to him. No forest could remain so untouched so, amazing if it truly was a battle ground between two powerful forces. Either way, they were finally there and Inuyasha and Shippo glanced at each other, sat at the edge of the cliff, and just watched the sun set on the horizon. Soaking in the sight and beauty of the forest that would be their new home.

The forest was a haven for the two boys. Shelter, food and water were available in abundance. They explored for a few weeks, before finally discovering a beautiful waterfall almost in the middle of the forest. Coming from the hills, the waterfall fed into a sparkling lake. The trees around the lake, were old thick and tall, perfect for the Tree House Inuyasha planned to build.

What made the lake area suitable was its location. At a quarter of his top speed (humans' full out running speed), it would take Inuyasha a week's travel to get to either boarder of the forest. A half a day's travel away, at Inuyasha's brisk walking speed, was a small hunting village, neutral to both Demons and Seraph. In case of an emergency and for trade, at his top speed it would take Inuyasha a day and a half to reach the nearest small town of Aotenraku, a demon town to the West, that was just at the edge of the forest. To Inuyasha's surprise both human and demon lived here. The Demon here were weak of course, Inuyahsa assumed that was why they choose to live in peace with humans. The closest city to Inuyasha's knowledge was the Sea Port of the Seraph, Gulls Holt, that he could reach in two or three days. He had no intention of ever crossing the river into Demon territory, so he had no idea where the Demon City was. Because of the memory of being chased by demons, Inuyasha wanted nothing to do with demon lands. Further he was confident that he could fool the average Seraph with Shippo's magic, he was not so confident about the Demons.

So the two stayed in the forest, and blossomed. Inuyasha had in their travels come across a book on fighting stances, he was finally able to practice daily in relative peace. Very quickly he became a deadly fighter. His claws were his main weapons, and by accident he learned that his blood could be used as a weapon too. He had found his out during his travels, where the were attacked by some Dire Bears, Inuyasha had killed two, and been raked by sharp claws down his arms and legs. The third bear was after Shippo, and was going to swipe at the Kit. Inuyasha had been too far away, and injured. He had a vague notion that he would throw his blood into the Dire Bears eyes and draw its attention. He flung the blood, as was amazed as it reformed into blades and pierced through the bear, killing it.

Much to Inuyasha's delight, his blood in battle would reform and become weapons that he could use as projectiles or as a blade. Shippo was impressed but he was not happy, it seemed that to protect him, Inuyasha had to bleed, to be hurt, and it always hurt the little one when he saw his Nii-chan claw his own arms to draw the blood that was used to protect them.

Inuyasha had no demon marking, but after two years of clawing his arms, four distinct red tinged scar markings developed across both his arms.

Inuyasha tried to keep a low profile. Once a month the two would go to the Demon town to trade for crafts, spices, clothes and books. He and Shippo always went to the town disguised as full demons (only Inuyasha would be disguised). In the town Shippo drew a lot of attention, he was cute and entertaining. Inuyasha deliberately faded to the background, keeping out of the way. The town's folk knew him as the little one's silent protective older brother. If there was work to be done and the two happened to be in town, they would suddenly find they had an extra pair of strong competent hands at their service. He helped without them asking, and was a little bashful when they tried to thank him. It was easier to give stuff to Shippo and tell him to thank his brother on their behalf.

In the forest Inuyasha was a different being. He ran wild for hours, feeling the wind and flexing his muscles. He made friends with a few hunters who did not know or care what a Hanyou was. The creatures of the forest which were not his hunting prey, were drawn to him.

At first Inuyasha had hunted deer. But after a few months in the forest a doe with a broken leg, heavy with foal, came to his tree and cried. Shippo watched with amusement as Inuyasha while grouching the whole time, had cared for the doe, and helped her deliver her twin foals safely. (He made Shippo go to the Town and buy him a book of delivering baby animals). After that, deer was taken off their menu, and Shippo would call Inuyasha “Ya Big Softy” when deer and various other normal animals would come up and nuzzle at the Hanyou. That always earned the Kit a good whack.

It was not just with animals, Inuyasha was not one to stand by when a human, weak demon or Seraph was in danger. If he could hide it, the beings he saved never even realize who or what had saved them. When it was unavoidable; he saved them and generally left while warning them to stay out of his forest. Not exactly leaving a good impression. Shippo always grumbled that he should be friendlier, Inuyasha would just growl at him.

Shippo did not really understand.

Regardless of what he did, to most he was just a Hanyou, a being that in legends was driven mad and turned on all around him. By not acting nice, what he knew to be inevitable somehow did not hurt his heart as much. Inuyasha fully expected that one day, one of the people he saved, would return with soldiers and a Priest or a High Seraph or a Demon Lord; to finally put down the potentially dangerous Hanyou.

Inuyasha being Inuyasha was prepared for that day.

When that day came, Inuyasha had made secret arrangements with the hunters to get Shippo to safety, knocking the Kit out if they had to. When that day came, if he could, Inuyasha knew just where he would make his last stand, he knew what he wanted to see as the darkness took him. When that day came, Inuyasha was aware that regardless of whom he saved, none of them would be strong enough to save him. When that day came, Inuyasha would ensure that those he cared for were safe, and he would meet his executioners with claws and courage,.

Until that day came, Inuyasha would live true to himself.

***

In the lands of the Seraphs and in the Land of Demons, rumors were whispered, just reaching the ears of the beings of power. The tales were confusing or a guardian spirit, a mad Hanyou, a magical beast, that lived in the Emerald Gold forests. The canny among them noted that since the rumors started regardless of how scary the creature was said to be, deaths of these lost in the forest, had decreased; and the number of folk saved from dire beast and monster attacks had increased.

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Chapter 12 : A curiosity

The little black haired demon had strayed. The small girl was a pretty little thing with elfin ears, and a red stripes down her neck. Her black tail was wagging uncontrollably. With the confidence of one who had been protected her whole life, she had skipped away from her guardians and followed a pretty bird into the lush green forest. She had slipped away from her guardians many times before without mishap, and her Lord Father was very proud of her skill. Then she noticed the pretty flowers and kept finding prettier and prettier ones, she never notice she was going deeper and deeper into the Emerald Gold Forest. Other creatures noticed though.

The girl noticed a bright gold and red flower, the flower was held in the hand of a woman that was emerald green like the trees. The woman beckoned offering the flower to the child, the woman smiled gently with kind eyes. The flower gave off an alluring scent, it was the most beautiful flower the girl had ever seen. Entranced she approached with a big smile on her face, reaching for the flower. Just as she was about to touch it, a monster pushed her to the ground.

She screamed in shock, and curled in fear. Expecting to feel claws tearing at her in any second. Instead she heard roars and a terrible fight. The monster was attacking the pretty woman. She was too scared to look, crying for her Lord Father to save her. Then the fighting stopped and she trembled, and finally peeked. She was horrified to see the pretty woman was dead, she looked like a dead tree, petrified and torn by the monsters claws. She stared at the monster, seeing only yellow eyes, and purple gore covered hair. She screamed and ran. Unwittingly, she ran deeper into the forest.

She was suddenly caught in an unbreakable grasp by the back of her dress. The monster was carrying her in to opposite direction from where she ran. She screamed some more.

The more terrifying the monster spoke.

“Shut up kid, I've eaten my fill already, you are too skinny to make a good snack. But PLEASE SHUT UP!” The monster growled.

Whimpering the child went quiet, praying hard to be saved.

The monster stopped and she was set on the ground. She waited for teeth and claws to tear at her, she would be brave and make Lord Father proud. She stood eyes closed, fists clenched waiting.

Nothing happened.

She waited some more still nothing happened.

Feeling a little silly the girl opened her eyes. The monster was just above her on the tree, watching with those scary yellow eyes.

“The village is that way kid, I know your scent now, and if you want to come wondering into this forest again, try to be a little bigger and fatter, you will make a better meal then.” The monster smiled showing sharp canines and teeth. It reached down and placed the green lady's flower into the child's hand. “You almost died for this, you better keep it. Now RUN!” The last was snapped out.

It broke the frozen state the girl was in and she ran, and ran. She ran back to her guardians who had just begun to panic. She threw herself into their arms. They gently took the strange flower she clutched desperately from her, and tried to get her to tell them what happened. She could not speak through her tears. Her guardians immediately began the journey home, knowing that the punishment from the Lord for their carelessness would be great.

***

Inuyasha sighed. He washed out the purple blood of the tree Sprite. Stupid vicious flesh eating creatures. Stupid people who could not see such an obvious trap. Inuyasha remembered laughing sarcastically at how obvious a trap it had been. But obviously some beings had no instincts of self preservation.

Stupid kids, Demon, Seraph and Human, he had lost count of how many he had saved in the forest. He never liked scaring them like that, but it was the most effective means of ensuring that they never came into the forest alone again. The first few kids he had saved had all come back to the forest with friends trying to find their 'Hero'. After the first few fiascoes of having to save a child multiple times, he had learned that scaring the kids was the best way to keep them safe.

When Shippo was around, he would leave without a word and Shippo would use his magic, make himself seem like an adult human, demon or Seraph and lead the kid out, sometimes even talking to their parents. But when Shippo was off playing with the hunters kids, Inuyasha was stuck with this freaking routine.

That kid had been so oblivious, so confident and unafraid. Well that was gone now. If Inuyasha could get his hand on the parents who let a child so trusting wander into the forest, he would smack them one. If Inu had ever been that stupid he would have never made it past his third birthday. This little girl was stupid, this little girl was lucky, so damn lucky.

To dry off, Inu climbed a tall tree to catch the last of the setting sun's heat.

Inu stood on a high branch, leaning against the tree, watching the sun set over the golden light touched canopy. Alone he allowed his thoughts to wander just a little down forbidden paths. He remembered his mothers scent, she was warm. Her scent was of jasmine, milk, sunshine, a hint or rose, and a underlay of fear. That dark bitter tinged scent had always been about her, and even as a babe in arms the Hanyou recalled that scent.

The evening breeze caught his long hair, played with the drying silver strands, making them glitter to gold in the light of the setting sun.

Try as he might, there was no scent of his father, in his memory. Maybe his father had loved his mother and died saving her, like in the fairy tales? Hah! Inu was no fool, he could not remember ever believing in a fairy tale. The hard reality, the most likely scenario was that his human mother had probably been raped by his demon father. Now that he mixed more with demons and Seraph, he knew that it was not unheard of. Then again, sometimes it was a love match, Inu had even seen a few traveling Hanyou who had been accepted totally by their demon families, thus protecting them from going mad.

As much as it was a nice thought, Inu had never been one for self delusion, he knew that it was most likely that one of the demons that had tried to hunt him and his mother down would likely have been his blood father.

He wondered absently how much it would hurt to have the truth confirmed.

He sighed, damn useless thoughts. Still, there was one hope his heart harbored, as he stood on the tree, he said a prayer, made a wish to what ever cared to listen. Though he may only discover it on his death; his one wish, the one childish, unrealistic, irrational wish that he harbored in the most secret part of himself, was that his mother had survived. That she made it to land and was safe, That she thought him dead and was at peace. That she had someone to look after her, and no longer smelled of fear. And that above all else she was happy, smiling everyday, with a new happy human family.

A small smile on his lips, Inu made his wish, and then sealed tight the dark box of useless thoughts in his heart. He took a deep breath an leapt.

The fading sun matched his leap, as he gracefully disappeared into the thick forest. He was Inuyasha, demon dog of the forest, and he had work to do.

***

Far to the West, the little girl ran to her father, who was speaking to his advisors. His presence immediately comforted her, she stopped running two inches away from him, and reaching out grasped his long white robes, with desperate hands. He did not not pick her up, a clawed hand dropped lightly to her hair.

“Why is my child distressed?” He asked in calm outwardly cold voice.

She burst into tears, he sat on his chair allowed her to lean on his knee. Her tears, soaking his robe. He patted her back and stroked her hair. He listened patiently as she told of how a monster had killed the pretty lady, and threatened to kill her in the future. The advisors and guards listening around were appalled that the precious princess had been treated so. Their anger at the monster burned, it would die for this abomination.

The child felt better when the demons around promised that the monster would pay for this deed. Her natural confidence slowly returning, the child began to relax. She beamed at the soldiers and advisors for their kindness. She hugged her silent father's knee and stood up, dusting herself. Now that she was safe, she recovered with the amazing resilience of Demon children.

“Lord Father, I had picked many flowers for you, but I dropped them. But I have one really pretty flower for you. Do you like it Lord Father?” the little girl gestured to her Guardians, who immediately gave the flower to the girl. She happily placed it gently in her fathers' clawed and striped hand.

Sharp gold eyes narrowed.

“Daughter, a monster attacked you, how did you manage to keep this flower?” the regal voice asked.

“The monster said since I almost died for the flower I should keep it.” She replied with a small wobble in her voice.

“What did the monster look like and did it talk to you?”

“Yes Lord Father, the monster talked in this nasty growly voice, it had big yellow eyes, and really long sharp teeth. The monster also had ugly purple hair, messy and lumpy. I was really scared. I won't go int the forest again, it is waiting to eat me.” the Child realized that while the others had reassured her of destroying the monster her father had been silent. “The monster killed the pretty lady who wanted to give me the flower first, Lord Father. It did not really give it to me. You will kill it, yes? You will kill the monster that wanted to eat me, won't you?” She asked a little worried.

The great Lord sighed. Her tutors and guardians would be whipped raw for their gross incompetence, and be glad he did not have them killed.

“That would be a little difficult child. The monster that wanted to eat you is already dead.” The Lord said evenly. The child blinked in confusion. The Lord looked at her steadily.

“The pretty lady, was a Wood Sprite, they are slow moving creatures. So they bare beautiful flowers or alluring fruit and draw their victims close. If you had touched the flower, you would have been poisoned and devoured by the creature. Rin, you should have remembered your lessons, creatures do not speak coherently, deliver children to safety, give them flowers and let them walk away safely. Monsters do not go around ensuring that naughty children have reason to fear the forest and never seek to enter it.” The Lord said in his flat voice.

The child's eyes went as wide as saucers. “ The yellow-eyed monster saved Rin?” In her distress for being a naughty child she reverted to baby talk. “Rin, didn't say thank you. Rin needs to go back and say sorry and thank you.” The distressed child started crying again. The Lord hid his sigh, a low grade head ache forming, this was the only time he ever found himself wishing that the child's useless mother had survived his daughter's birthing. He nodded at the nursemaids, that immediately picked up the child to comfort her.

“Rin,” he said in a stern voice, “This matter is to be dropped. If you ever go near the forest or wild areas without all your guardians with you, I will have you punished severely, understand?” The child nodded immediately, the Lord Father in that tone of voice was not to be disobeyed. The unhappy little demon girl was taken back to her quarters.

“Now that, that has been settled, shall we get back to discussing the trade treaty, My Lord?” One of the advisors asked, breaking the silence that descended after the child left.

“Hhm, Jaken, who said the matter was settled?” The Lord asked still looking at the strange flower.

“You did my Lord.” The ugly, dwarfed demon advisor spluttered in a ingratiating voice.

“The matter is settled for, Rin. I would like to know more about the demon that saved Rin.” Came the cool answer.

“By my Great Lord Sesshoumaru, there are are no demons with purple, lumpy hair and yellow eyes.” Jaken spluttered in protest. “It is beneath my Great Lord to waste his time on what must be some sort of poor deformed creature hiding in the forests. It must be a hideous thing.” That earned the ugly advisor raised eyebrows all across the room, it was a true case of a pot calling a kettle black.

“Jaken, silence!” The Lord said coldly, and the advisor immediately cowered in his chair. The Lord turned to two of his personal guards, twin cat-like demons, “Looks like the rumors that you heard are true after all, there is something in the Emerald Gold forests. Sango, Kilala, since you were the ones who first brought the rumors to my ears, go find out more about the being in this forest.”

“Do you wish the being capture and brought here my Lord?” Sango the more vocal of the two asked.

“Such a hideous creature probably has a good reason to hide, leave it be, it is just a curiosity. Gather some first hand accounts of the creature and a more accurate description. Do not spend more then two weeks on this task though, it is hardly critical.” The Lord instructed. He was curious but he would not waste too much time on the matter.

The two nodded, bowed to the Lord and walked off.

The Lord went back to work.

Some hours later, he never even noticed trodding on the flower that had fallen unnoticed beside his chair. The Lord went about his business never noticing the crushed offering of his daughter.

---tbc---

Ok question time... To adjust the angst meter, cause mine may be off the scale at the moment...

1) Should Inuyasha's mother be alive or not?

2) Should his blood father be alive? If so should Inu be the child of rape, or not. (In this story Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru are NOT brothers, they are related but not so closely.)

3) Who would you prefer as a powerful being in opposition (NOT evil just not Sesshy's BFF) to Sesshy, choices: Miroku or Kouga?