Author's note: This is a work after a long hiatus of writing and also my first fic in this verse, so pardon any mistakes! Chapter 1 is brief, to start things up and surmise the general background.
Exhaustion consumed the hanyou with each staggering step he took in his search, desperation and defeat clinging to every fiber of his being. Dirt soiled his sanguine robes and scratches adorned lanky appendages, where he adamantly refused to be garbed in fancy ensemble solely because of his royal status. Besides, it wasn't as if both sides of the coin scorned his very existence...
So why was he doing this again?
He could almost snort in indignation.
Plagued by the true bane of existence — the hanyou that everyone should be shunning at every turn, flinging inanimate objects at his head, attempting to obliterate the virulent creature (even though he wished a mere curse could void that piece of scum) — the enticement of Shikon no Tama's prowess have lead Naraku to lay waste on his lands, massacring his people with the shards gathered in his thirst to seek the completion of the sacred jewel.
Every single day, their palace would be badgered by flocks of humans, pestering the royalty to do something to impede this epitome of pandemonium and megalomania.
And all of a sudden, the Inu prince was useful, not some abomination they warned their children about.
He hadn't asked for the bastard of a yokai demon to impregnate his mother and left them both to their devices once he was conceived, nor did he ask for the furry appendages that stuck out like a sore thumb whenever he willed himself to forget — even for an ephemeral moment — that he wasn't a half-demon.
Despite his bloodline, loneliness had dominated most of his childhood and being ostracized by all humans that shrouded him, there was no one who showed him a silver of kindness or warmth. All except his mother.
Which led him back to his reluctant trek across the forest, where no humans dared lay a foot into yet had no qualms about sending a half-human into the unknown. Were they not aware that demons loathed hanyous as much?
But his mother had implored that he voyaged to entreat the very demon made his life into a living hell — his dog of a father, Inu no Taisho.
Whatever had compelled her to have the slightest notion that he would come running to provide assistance, to a woman and by extension, her citizens, he hadn't bothered inquiring about whereabouts nor her living conditions, or heck, a remote possibility of a child that he had left, he wished he had a modicum of that hope. Because what the hell, he had been going around in circles and not sighted the renowned castle she had spoken so highly of.
A frustrated growl bellowed from his lips, canine teeth grating mercilessly against chapped flesh and successfully coaxing ichor to flood the confines of his mouth.
"Where are you, you asshole."
Almost as soon as the words were uttered, a snarl hissed and the Inu prince jumped to his feet immediately, gaunt fingers curling around his sheathed sword and swiveled upon heels, waving it as a taunt.
Silence descended, but his guard wasn't easily lowered with fervent instincts kicking in and a familiar stench permeated his nostrils, wafting by.
Tenebrosity cloaked any movements, shadows hushed to a standstill as furry appendages twitched in discomfort, that the aura emanating from the mysterious figure could be alluring, yet dangerous at the same time.
"Show yourself, dammit. I don't want to repeat myself twice."
At the threat, a quiet chuckle resonated from his back and he spun around, managing to catch a glimpse of molten golden irises issuing a silent challenge.
Unbidden outrage had the prince's fingers trembling unconsciously, and a step was dared to close between the two.
"I'm not afraid of you."
Another mirthful laugh, fluttering in the winds that carried the vocals, and pale knuckles balled into a tight grip.
Whoever it was, was treating him like a prey, and a predator awaiting their next pounce, to throw him into a frenzy, and catch him by surprise.
Hackles thoroughly raised, a smirk graced his lips as he issued his own provocation, aureate eyes glistening with mischief.
"Aw, a full-fledged demon can't even take me on? I knew my reputation—"
Before his sentence could be finished, a feral howl reverberated and not a fleeting second later, did a flash of silver lunge at him, two physiques colliding against each other without preamble.
Breath knocked out of his lungs, Inuyasha's sword seemingly dissipated from his unyielding grasp and flung against a nearby tree, lodging deeply into the bark when strong fingers pierced through porcelain flesh and evoked a wordless cry, reluctant to allow a single moment of vulnerability prevail as a repercussion of his thoughtless words.
Barbarous nails sunk into jugular, soaking fingertips with the blood oozing from the trapped Inu's skin each time he struggled against the brutal hold, earning nothing but a steady flow of essence escaping his body and the humiliation gripping him.
Eyes screwed shut, he stewed in silence, resenting the fact that he had been defeated and refusing to meet what would be a scalding pair of condescending eyes boring straight into his visage, accompanied by a vainglorious smirk.
But nothing came as a greater shock, than a dispassionate voice conveying a disdain that shuddered through Inuyasha's frame.
"Choose your next words carefully, half-breed."