Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach, Inuyasha, or any of their characters.
Light streaked across the night skies, illuminating the dark with brilliant shades of red and orange. Slowly the sun peaked out from behind the forested horizon, shrouding its intense gaze upon the land and signaling to all that morning had finally arrived once more. With the light pouring out again the hellish creatures of the dark retreated, waiting eagerly for the coming of nightfall so that they could seek out their prey once more.
A small distance south of the forest, along the base of several towering, snow capped peaks, was a village. Its huts built along the wooded mountainsides and next to a large stream that flowed off of the mountains. Its clear, fresh water sparkling in the morning light as a young boy made his way to it quickly with a small, wooden bucket in his tiny hands. His bright eyes glanced around him cautiously before dipping the bucket into the stream and hurrying away with the heavy load.
No water spilled over despite his hasty strides until he found his way back to a slightly run down hut, its roof sagging and door barely attached. It was away from the rest of the village, almost to the opposite edge of the forest. The boy disappeared within the house, exiting again only moments later with a tattered, dark green cloak hiding his small stature and a bow and a quiver full of arrows peeking through on his back. With a glance at the still snoozing village, he embarked into the still shadowy depths of the forest without hesitation.
The towering trees blocked much of the sun's rays with their broad leaves and reaching branches as they stretched over top of the boy in intricate patterns that only allowed small, shining beams to illuminate the dense wood. This, however, did not deter the small child as he continued on silently, an arrow notched loosely in his bow. He walked carefully but quickly, his bare feet avoiding dead leaves and twigs unconsciously and effortlessly as he looked for his query.
It took nearly four hours of careful navigation but finally a large deer lazily walked several meters ahead of him. The boy hid in the shadows, using a thick tree for cover as he pulled back an arrow and aimed. A long, furry ear twitched at the small noise of the bowstring as his prey became alert and froze mid step. He waited, holding his breath, as it looked around cautiously and then seemed to relax. As it dropped its head once more to nibble on the dew covered grass by its feet, he let his arrow fly, striking the unsuspecting animal in the chest.
It cried out but was cut short as a second arrow pierced the flesh in its throat, blood bubbling out immediately. It fell with a dead thud as the boy darted forward, pulling a cutting knife from his hip as he quickly set to work skinning and cutting out a large chuck of meat. His small, bloody fingers worked quickly and deftly, as he slid the meat into a sack that had been around his back under his cloak.
When he finished he quickly fled from the area, knowing the smell of fresh blood would attract beasts he did not want to encounter. After several minutes he dived into a hollowed out tree, covering his mouth with a hand to silence his labored breath as he strained his ears to determine if he had been followed. Silence permeated the air for several moments as the boy willed his heart and breathing to slow. Minutes passed before he cautiously exited, eyes alert and searching. Faintly he could hear the sound of the deer's carcass being devoured, making him have to push down his panic and uneasiness and move forward to safety.
A hiss sounded to his right, making his body freeze in fear and apprehension. The boy held his breath, hoping, preying, that whatever it was would leave and make its way to the feast he had left behind. After several moments he took a step forward carefully, listening for any other noises to signal if there was anything around him. Hearing nothing, he moved forward more quickly but made sure not to let his guard down less he end up like his prey.
Something solid and slick slammed into his side, slinging him into a tree truck with a loud crack. He swallowed the agonized scream begging to claw its way out of his throat and forced his body to move passed the pain. He was grateful that he somehow managed to land on his feet and bolted, pushing his legs as fast as he could as the sound of reckless, frantic movement thundered behind him. Running blindly in his panic, he tried to find a place to hide or escape, anything to get him away from the demon pursuing him.
Seeing a low hanging branch the boy grabbed hold of it, using his momentum to flip himself onto it before quickly scrambling up the branches into what he hoped would be at least temporary safety. The small boy pulled his cloak tighter around himself in an extra attempt to blend with the tree's deep green leaves. He held his breath once more as he watched the lanky demon dash passed the tree, its six arm-like legs rapidly propelling it forward. As the sound of its heavy footfalls faded, he let out a sigh of relief.
"Damn brat, stop making so much noise, 'm trying to sleep here." A voice sounded gruffly from the opposite side of the trunk, almost making the boy fall off his perch in surprise. He chose not to respond, opting instead to climb higher in an attempt to figure out where he had run. Hopefully, he hadn't gotten too far into the forest that he couldn't see his village any longer. " Hey, I was talking to you!"
Glancing down, cool turquoise eyes met fiery amber. He took in the long silver hair with a bit of surprise but let it pass quickly at the sight of two small, fuzzy looking canine ears situated on top of the man's head, one of which twitched in aggravation. In turn the older male looked upon the small, cloaked figure with open annoyance and anger, pissed at both being rudely woken from his sleep and ignored by the human runt. Said runt continued to remain silent, opting to continue his ascent in silence.
The male growled in annoyance, ignoring the fact that the child was doing what he had asked by remaining quiet. He was expecting surprise, shouting, disgust, something, hell maybe even an apology, but not stoic, impassive silence. It grated on his nerves as his sensitive hearing picked up the small creak and shift of the branches. " Oi, you better stop ignoring me you cocky prick or I may just get that demon back over here!" He shouted in annoyance, pleased when the boy paused.
" What is your name?" His voice came out softly, whispered like he wasn't used to speaking, but still held an almost melodic note to it.
" Why do you wanna know?" He asked gruffly, annoyed further at the sudden subject change.
" Simply curious." Turquoise eyes once more glanced at him, something unreadable to the silver haired hanyou swirling in them.
" I don't see why I should tell you then." He huffed childishly although he was intrigued by the boy's strange behavior and lack of disgust or fear at his presence. He thought that it should bother him that this human child wasn't afraid of him despite his obvious demon linage but, to his surprise, it didn't.
A loud crack sounded, the branch under the boy's feet snapping and immediately sending him plummeting downward. He frantically tried to grab onto the tree, but each time his hand slipped painfully over the rough bark, slicing into the soft flesh. A rough, calloused hand closed onto his wrist, jerking him to a sudden stop and nearly dislocating his shoulder. He quickly pushed the pain aside as he snapped his head up to look at the man that had saved him.
Instead of the annoyed growl he had already grown to expect from the man, the boy was surprised when he just sighed and yanked him up so that he had a better hold around his thin waist before jumping out of the tree. They landed softly despite the long fall and he was immediately released. " Thank you." He spoke after several moments of an almost awkward silence, looking at the ground.
" It's Inuyasha." The hanyou looked to the side, a scowl on his face and arms crossed. He didn't know why he was doing this and he knew he'd regret helping this kid but he was going to do it anyway.
" Inuyasha." The boy repeated, testing the name and pronunciation before a small smile graced his lips.
" And you are?" Inuyasha snapped impatiently.
" Hitsugaya Toshiro." He bowed deeply in both gratitude and respect causing the hanyou to blink at him in confusion. This was new. Normally everyone ran or tried to kill him on sight, but this boy didn't do either. He definitely wouldn't say that he liked being ignored either but the lack of disdain and hatred from the human was refreshing. " Do you know how to get back to the village?"
" And what if I did. It's not like I would help you get back." He scoffed, making the boy frown but remain silent once more. The smell of the boy's blood filled his nose as his hands continued to bleed unchecked, Toshiro ignoring them in his attempt to figure out how to find his way home. He sighed, knowing the stubborn hanyou wouldn't willingly help him without something in it for him. " Shit." Toshiro blinked in surprise at the sudden growl. " Stay close, kid, that demons back and it smells like he brought friends."
Toshiro gulped nervously, his body stilling as he looked around, straining his human senses to pick up what Inuyasha had detected. It took a few moments but faintly he could hear the demons' footfalls, hissing and heavy breathing accompanying them. He glanced up, searching for a high, sturdy branch he could use as a perch. Spotting one, he tugged lightly on Inuyasha's long red sleeve, snapping the half demon's attention to him and pointed to it. Without a word he grabbed the cloaked boy around the stomach in one arm and leapt onto the branch, setting him carefully on it.
He waited for a moment as the boy positioned himself between the branch and trunk of the tree. Toshiro nodded to him and Inuyasha jumped back down. He had been planning on just scooping the kid up and getting him to relative safety close to the village, not telling him that of course, and dumping him there. Granted he didn't like the notion of fleeing from the impending battle, but he hadn't expected the boy to understand that. Obviously, however, he had considering he managed to pick a very good spot to hide in that helped keep him safer and very much out of the hanyou's way.
The first demon crashed into view and Inuyasha noted that it was a centipede demon. Its long, serpentine body a dark red and plated with a thick exoskeleton with dozens of little legs rapidly moving it forward. As he approached it reared back to tower over the hanyou and let out a hiss, long, jagged pincers clicking open and closed in front of his mouth. Inuyasha wasn't impressed. Without a moment of hesitation he impaled the demon, his claws easily sinking through the hard armor and into the soft flesh underneath. In only a few moments the demon was cleaved in half, its dark blood splattering onto the ground in thick waves.
Two others rushed in, not quite as fast as the centipede, but more powerful. One was a bear demon, its fur pitch black with numerous scars peeking through. Its claws were wickedly long and sharp, the tips serrated in order to tear flesh apart. Its top canines poked about two inches from its lips that hid its row of sharp fangs. The second was a snake demon, its two heads bobbing up and down as he slowed to a stop. Its scales were also red and pointed with spikes.
Inuyasha smiled, looking forward to fighting the two demons despite their massive size, both easily twice his height. With a roar the bear charged at him on all fours before rearing back to swipe a massive paw down at the half demon. Inuyasha quickly hopped to the side, raking his claws across its shoulder before the snake attacked him. It moved with lightning speed, each head lashing out to sink its fangs into him. He managed to dodge but was then trapped between it and the enraged bear.
The bear once more attacked, powerful jaws snapping as he tried the snake's method before switching again to his talon tipped paws. Inuyasha growled, not liking that he was only able to dodge without countering. Between the quickness of the snake's strikes and the unrelenting attacks of the bear, he didn't have much of a choice. Inuyasha heard a faint noise above and to the side of him but ignored it, figuring it to simply be Toshiro, and tried to lead the demons slightly away from the boy's perch. There was a brief pause in the snake's attacks; its tongue slipping out to taste the air as one head looked up, spotting the boy.
A split second later, a hissing cry was emitted as an arrow landed directly into the skull of one of the heads and embedded in the truck of an adjacent tree, successfully trapping the demon. Inuyasha was surprised to say the least at the displayed which allowed for the bear to carve its claws deeply into his arm. He ignored the light, dying hiss of the snake as another arrow met its mark and the snake was killed, focusing completely on killing the bear.
Without the snake as backup, it was much easier to fight, Inuyasha landing many more attacks. Another arrow was fired as the half demon jumped back to avoid a wide, sweeping attack from the bear. It sank deeply into the flesh of its back, the bear letting out a loud cry and turning its attention to look for its new assailant. It was the last thing it did before Inuyasha used his claws to sever its head from its body. As the bear's massive head fell to the ground with a thud silence filled the forest again, both males waiting and listening for anything else that could potentially harm them.
After several more moments Inuyasha growled and glared up into the tree, gaze easily spotting Toshiro. " What the Hell was that? I didn't ask for your help!" He wouldn't admit it, but he was rather impressed with the boy's marksmanship and aim. He hadn't thought a human boy like him would really have it in them to kill a demon.
" I didn't need your permission." The icy glare hardened as Toshiro waited patiently for the hanyou to retrieve him from the tree.
" I can leave you up there you know." Inuyasha snapped, hoping to entice a reaction from the boy. He grew more annoyed when Toshiro didn't take the bait and react, instead just waiting silently. He grunted in agitation before hopping into the tree to fetch him, the pair landing lightly on the ground once more only a few seconds later. Inuyasha led them to the edge of the forest, the boy's village in sight only a small distance away. In all it took them about two and a half hours to arrive, surprising Toshiro who hadn't realized quite how far away he had gone. The pair had talked about many different things and only elapsed into an awkward silence a few times.
Toshiro continued walking around the forest's perimeter, bypassing the bustling village and headed to what appeared to Inuyasha as an abandoned house left to rot. " How is your arm?" Toshiro asked as they approached.
He tested it gently before answering. " Fine, nothing to worry about. I'm a hanyou, this is nothing."
" It still needs bandaging." He insisted.
The pair walked into the small home, Inuyasha complaining the whole way, but was surprised with how well kept and neat the inside was in comparison to the outside. It was small, but rather homey with a small fire pit in the middle and several cabinets along the back wall. Pots and kettles were stacked neatly beside them with several wooden bowls topping off the tower. Against another wall several blankets were neatly folded and what he supposed was the boy's bed close by. Different herbs and plants hung from the ceiling to dry out, filling the house with their rich scent that put the hanyou at ease.
Toshiro walked further into the house, depositing his cloak, bow, and quiver by the door first, and the bag with the deer meat by the fire pit. He then made his way to one of the cabinets, rummaging through for only a few moments before withdrawing a neat roll of bandages and coming back over to Inuyasha. " Here." the bandages and a damp rag were thrust in front of him. He grumbled before taking the bandages and shrugging out of his top, ignoring the kid as he began making a fire. Cleaning the wound was easy enough but wrapping it proved difficult with one arm and left him very annoyed and growling at the stubborn cloth not doing what he wanted it to.
Without a word the bandages were plucked from his hand and his sloppy wrappings unwound. He opted to remain silent as the child cared for the deep gashes, choosing instead to actually look at the now uncloaked boy. His hair was gravity defying with its spikes and was not just pale as he'd originally thought, but actually white like his own. The turquoise eyes focused on his shoulder were colder than a human child's should be and showed little else. Up close to him, Inuyasha could make out the faint traces of dried blood on his right cheek along with a bruise just barely peeking out from under his bangs.
Inuyasha was snapped out of his observations when the skinny child stepped back to survey his work. Glancing at it himself he had to admit it was done rather nice and neatly. Not one to voice gratitude, he simply put his shirt and haori back on, the boy not asking for anything.
With Toshiro home safely and his wound tended to, Inuyasha supposed there really was no point or reason to his staying. He knew he should leave, was about to, but the tantalizing aroma of cooking meat teased his nose and made his mouth water. He watched as Toshiro prepared another strip of meat, coating it lightly with a mixture of herbs before laying it on a skillet over the fire, the meat hissing. His stomach growled noisily, catching him by surprise just as much as Toshiro. " You may stay if you like. You did save me after all. Remain as long as you like."
He was grateful but suspicious. So what if he'd saved him, he was a half demon, something to be scorned, hated, shunned. Not invited into a home and cared for like an actual person. At least that's the treatment Inuyasha was used to, the way he was sure all humans believed was the right way of things. " Why would I want to do that?" he sneered, acting as if the very thought of staying in the human's presence was the last thing he would ever want to do.
" Your stomach." Toshiro replied, not looking up at him, opting instead to slap another piece of meat onto the skillet and intensify the delicious smell of food.
Inuyasha glared at him. " I could always just kill you and take it." He huffed.
Finally the teal eyes leveled their gaze back on the older male, a thoughtful look settling in them. " You will not harm me." Toshiro said matter of factly, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. His voice held no doubt or hesitation. " If you were, you already would have. If you wish to leave, feel free. I am not forcing you to stay." The slight hint of sadness in his eyes, the powerful look of loneliness shining in them for the briefest of moments, silenced the hanyou. It was an all too familiar look.
They elapsed into silence filled only by the sound of the crackling fire. Inuyasha found himself relaxing slowly in the quiet boy's presence, knowing he had nothing to worry about there. He couldn't explain how he knew without a shadow of a doubt that this boy was genuine in his acceptance of him, but he did. At first he was worried maybe the boy had set some sort of trap in order to kill him, past experience teaching him to always expect that from the seemingly kind. However, the very idea of the boy doing such a thing was quickly changing into a ludicrous notion.
" What's a kid like you doing out in the middle of the woods alone, anyway?" He asked as Toshiro handed him several pieces of meat and a bowl of vegetable stew he had put on the fire to warm up.
" Hunting."
" In a demon infested forest. You're dumber than you look." He immediately realized his mistake in word choice as the white haired child flinched, his hold of his stew tightening. Inuyasha knew this boy must be hated in this village. Why else would he live alone, on the very edge, in this decaying hut? Strange appearances had a way of turning people against you. He quickly attempted to correct himself, sympathizing with him more than he'd ever admit. " I mean, look what happened. If I hadn't shown up and saved your ass you'd be dead, Kid."
" You have my thanks for that." Inuyasha couldn't help the amused smirk when he saw the kid's eyebrow twitch after a moment, " And my name is not kid, it's Toshiro Hitsugaya."
" I'll call you whatever I damned well please, you brat."
Again his eyebrow twitched. " Bastard." He growled under his breath, scowling in annoyance. Inuyasha bit into his food victoriously, proud at finding something that enticed more than just an icy glare.
As time drug on they had small conversations about random topics. Some were general and informational and were normally started by Toshiro, the boy wanting to know more about Inuyasha and places passed his small village. Others were meaningless and mostly started by an irritated comment of Inuyasha's.
Toshiro was surprised when Inuyasha didn't immediately leave after they ate their dinner. He'd honestly expected the man to and then never see him again, but there he still sat talking about a demon he had killed far south of there. The boy didn't admit it, but he enjoyed listening to the hanyou even when he seemed to only be bragging about something he'd done. His tales were so much more interesting than anything Toshiro had ever experienced or done. He hoped one day he could leave this village and have adventures too.
Inuyasha didn't say anything, didn't let it show, but he could sense the demons lurking nearby in the forest. They were targeting the village that much was certain and he'd be damned if he let a kid he went through the trouble of saving die now. So he stayed, enjoying the human kid's company more than he'd ever admit. Toshiro obviously wasn't much of a talker but when he spoke he didn't hold back his opinion. He shared it freely in short, concise sentences that were straight to the point and sometimes painfully blunt. It was amusing for the hanyou to watch him get flustered when he said something he hadn't meant to.
It was late when Toshiro succumbed to sleep, his small form curled up on the floor across the fire. It was afterward that Inuyasha allowed himself to think of the strange child. He seemed too trusting, which was odd considering the injuries he was sporting that were all too familiar to the hanyou. He was bullied in that village that was certain. An outsider not knowing his persecution was probably a welcomed change of pace, now that he thought of it. Perhaps that was why Toshiro had so readily accepted him, but that was still far too trusting for his liking. It could get the kid killed.
He wouldn't admit it out loud, barely did to himself mentally, but the boy's accepting attitude was refreshing. The only other person he'd ever met that had been able to even tolerate his very existence was his mother and she had died decades ago.
It wasn't long until he too felt the tug of sleep on his consciousness. Wanting the feeling to go away, he stood and paced quietly, refusing to fall asleep while on watch. A small, barely audible cough snapped him from his musing, his attention falling once more on the boy. The fire had all but gone out, casting the room into a chilly darkness the hanyou was only then noticing. Without even really thinking about it, Inuyasha grabbed a tattered blanket off the floor and draped it over Toshiro's small, slightly shaking body. He scowled as he felt the urge to smile as the child burrowed into the cloth, curling in tighter around its warmth.
He debated leaving in the morning, right before the sun rose and surely before Toshiro awoke. It would save him the trouble of having to say good bye. He refused to admit it, but he knew he'd miss the boy even if he had known him for less than a day. It wasn't until about dawn that Inuyasha made his choice when to leave as he quietly exited the home, leaving Toshiro sleeping soundly. He paused outside of the door, breathing in the fresh, crisp air before heading towards the forest again.
" You'll come back and visit, right?" Toshiro's voice hesitantly pierced the air causing Inuyasha to freeze. " I would like it very much if you would." He whispered and Inuyasha turned to face the still half asleep human. His hair was messier than normal and teal eyes hazy.
" Count on it." He'd probably end up regretting this decision but at the moment it felt like the right thing to do. He liked that he could be for Toshiro what Inuyasha had so desperately wanted when he had lived with his mother; a friend, a companion, someone that didn't only see the outside appearance, but saw what was inside. Someone that saw him for who he was as a person.
He was graced with a small, genuinely happy smile. " Until then. Goodbye Inuyasha." He bowed slightly.
" See ya later, Toshiro." Inuyasha turned and restarted his retreat to the woods, waving behind him half heartedly.
For more than a year Inuyasha made frequent trips to the northern village to see Toshiro. They grew close, forming a brotherly bond neither had shared with anyone else before. They rarely ever spoke of it, instead just taking it as it was. They both knew how the other felt, could tell from how they acted and treated one another, so both were fine with their unspoken bond.
Inuyasha shared his dream of becoming a full demon with the boy and Toshiro shared his desire to leave, to travel with the hanyou. He told him when he met Kikyo and discovered the Shikon jewel and when he decided that maybe he'd rather be fully human and live out his life with Toshiro and Kikyo by his side. Toshiro supported him regardless of whatever choice he picked and let as much be known, something Inuyasha was grateful for. Inuyasha noted when Toshiro had been acting strange the last time he'd seen him and made a mental note to question him about it on his next visit. Little did he know that several days later he would be sealed away and Toshiro left behind, alone again.
Hope you enjoyed the chapter and will stay tuned for the next. I'd also love it if you would leave a review telling me what you think.
~MusicFantasi