Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or its characters in any way or form, nor do I make a profit from this story. The story-plot, however, is mine.
~~~O~~~
CHAPTER TWO - TEN YEARS
Ten years.
The kitsune huffed against the wind, staring down into the deep valley that lay directly to the east of the Western castle. His hands were folded into the sleeves of his forest green haori, keeping the light breeze from tearing at his clothes too much.
He had been ordered by his Lord to check out the rumours of a warrior-priest who had been seen travelling with a youkai child - apparently they recently been observed entering the Western Lands. The Western Lord couldn't ignore such a rumour when it came from multiple sources, and as the Lord he had to take into consideration that this unknown human could mean trouble.
"And that's why he sent me..." Shippou grumbled to himself. Because he, obviously, knew humans better than the Western Soldiers...seeing as Shippou had spent many years travelling alongside humans. Logic.
It was a stupid excuse! Sesshoumaru just wanted him out of the Castle!
This actually brought a cheeky smirk to the kitsune's lips - he was getting along with Sesshoumaru just fine, really. Things had just been a little tense around the time he'd gone and asked Sesshoumaru for permission to court Rin - he was lucky he got out of that meeting alive, to put it lightly. He'd spent days in the healer's wing recovering from his wounds. He found out later that Rin had dared tell her Lord off for his treatment of him, but either way; the end result was that he and Rin had been allowed to mate.
That as ten years ago.
Shippou now stood at 6'6'', looking equivanent to a twenty-five year old human. His auburn hair was kept tied up in a high ponytail which reached down to below his shoulderblades. His features were more refined, with high cheekbones, a sharp masculine chin, and glittering emerald eyes in the shape of almonds. One forest green stripe adorned each side of his face. Instead of one bushy tail he now had three long, proper fox tails - signs of his growing powers.
Yes, he had grown into adulthood in the difficult years since his mother-figure disappeared, and taking Rin for his mate had ensured her lifespan to match his. Neiher of them would be left behind, nor be alone again! He was full youkai, after all, his blood and youki was strong - tying Rin's lifespan to his had been no trouble.
All in all, he had figured that Sesshoumaru couldn't be too angry with him for mating Rin - because now he would never have to lose his little human ward to the human flaw of old age and eventual death. No, the real reason Sesshoumar wanted him out of the Castle, Shippou suspected, was because Rin was pregnant...aaaaand; apparently the Lord hadn't been prepared for THAT, even if Rin had been mated to a cheeky kitsune for nearly a decade already...go figure.
Said kitsune inhaled deeply, trying to catch the scent of this human he had been sent to find, but his keen nose couldn't even scent out anything other than the endless forest of the valley and the creatures inhabiting it. Either the human wasn't here, or he was a master of hiding his aura and scent...which was a disturbing thought. It would make his job much more difficult...yay...
Taking off running, Shippou just randomly chose a direction. Had to start somewhere, right?
"Here human, human, human..." he sniggered to himself, allowing himself a moment - they were far between nowadays. He was on his own out here, for the moment, so why not?!
Kishino grumbled, hanging over the edge of a hotspring while scrubbing sticky tree-sap from Tsuren's clothes. She had been instructing the small youkai child in how to harvest said sticky tree-sap from the mighty oak trees around the clearing. This was because she used the sap as an ingredient in a balm she applied to her skin and armour to suppress her female scent. While travelling through a land and time with youkai all around; with their keen noses and ability to sense auras, she had to be cautious and do whatever she could to maintain her male disguise.
The balm she would make later contained several herbs as well and the end result would last her for a long time, but alas; now she had been in need of more. Hence sap everywhere.
"There..." she heaved a sigh of finality and pulled away from the hot water, wringing water from the garments in her hands.
"Next time, though, Tsuren, rolling in the grass beneath the tree where we've collected sap, is not ON..." She winked at the cub and placed the clothes over a low hanging branch before she lowered herself down onto the ground next to the little seal-cub. She lifted him up into her lap and ran her fingers over his soft plush pelt. While she had washed his clothes, he'd taken on his animal shape so he wouldn't be cold.
She loved his seal form! He was so warm and fluffy! Snow white! Like a living, breathing, warm plushie! She couldn't resist burying her face into his fur and inhaling the pleasant baby-scent mixed with the scent of the forest and grass.
"Fluffpillow!" She cooed softly and sniggered quietly as the baby seal squirmed in protest before transforming to his humanoid child form.
"Kishino-sama!" he pouted up at her face, and she chuckled softly, kissing his head and wrapping her arms around his small form even tighter before she placed him on the blanket on the ground, tickling his sides. His laugh chimed through the clearing, her own joining his for a moment.
A light shudder ran through him as they calmed, and she reached out to grab her haori; wrapping it around him. He settled down and was quickly falling asleep once wrapped in the safe and familiar piece of clothing.
Kishino studied him, feeling the tug on her heartstrings. She didn't know where she would be if she hadn't had him to care for all these years. Ten years on land. It was a long time, and youkai aged slower than humans, but she would have it no other way! With herself not ageing, it felt nice to have a child to care for a little longer than she normally would've had she kept her humanity.
"I love you, Tsuren!" She whispered and was rewarded by a soft purr from the small seal youkai boy.
"Kishino-sama, where are we heading next?" he asked sleepily, on the verge of entering dreamland, and she offered him a small smile in reply.
"I thought we'd start heading to the beach." She knew he would understand. There was only one beach she would talk about without defining specifically where it was. Their beach - where they left the water ten years ago.
"We haven't seen our family in three years, I think it's time to catch up."
Besides...Tsuren needed the salt water. Being away from his natural habitat for too long drained the little seal. Fresh water was ok, he often swam in his natural form in rivers and lakes, but the ocean was his home, it was a part of him. Normally they stayed by the ocean at least once or twice a year for a few weeks at a time for Tsuren's sake, but they hadn't been to THE beach in nearly three years. They both missed their seal family.
Her eyes travelled up to the canopy of leaves above their heads. Yes, the beach. Ten years. They should start moving in the morning.
"Show yourself, youkai!" Tsuren was awoken by Kishino's demanding voice.
He recognized the tone and depth of her voice, and knew she was 'male' again. He kept silent, and remained under the white haori while clinging to his protector's back. He'd been resting while catching a ride on Kishino's back as they walked, now headed for the beach.
They'd been on the road since morning. Walking for nearly 5 hours straight since lunch took its toll on the young youkai, but despite his tired body he dared a peek over Kishino's tense shoulder.
There, about thirty meters in front of them, stood a large red fox youkai. From the clothing Tsuren would think he was someone important, they appeared expensive even though they were made for travel. Three tails swished behind the fox, speaking louder than words of the male' agitation. Wow, he was an amazing sight to behold!
"I mean you no harm, nor do I wish any trouble, kitsune..." Kishino spoke softly, holding up one hand with his palm facing the youkai as a sign of no ill intent.
Kishino had no troubles understanding who the fox was. Even after twenty years apart he would recognize him. Seeing him now, though...he wasn't sure if he would be able to keep his 'cool'. And Kishino ALWAYS had perfect control of his emotions!
How many times had he not ran different scenarios of himself meeting someone from his past again through his mind? Countless nights while gazing at the stars, while dreaming in his sleep, and daydreaming while walking...
The fictions in his head were nothing compared to the very real scenario before him right now...
"You say you wish for no trouble, but you hide your aura and scent - thus you purposefully hide your true intentions from those who are sworn to protect these lands!" The kitsune bit back in a cold tone, emerald irises flashing dangerously before he charged.
"I am merely cautious as I travel through youkai lands!" Kishino's eyes narrowed slightly, and felt Tsuren shift on his back. Good! Battle-position. Good boy, he read the situation well!
It couldn't be helped, he threw his staff up, grabbing it with both hands and by doing so blocking the sword of the fox. The youkai's superior strength caused him to take a small step back, but he pushed against the physically stronger male and got enough space between them to swipe at the fox with one end of he staff.
He unsheathed his katana in a flash, holding it in his right hand, swirling the staff in his left. He prepared, using his highly enhanced senses to predict the fox' trajectory, the fast movements which would've made the fox invisible to a normal human eye were radared by Kishino's tuned senses.
His sword caught the youkai's sword with a loud clank of metal - the sheer force the youkai used caused a tremor to run through Kishino's arm. A few well chosen curses passed through the back of his mind, even Inuyasha would've blushed. His staff blocked the claws that attempted a swipe at his abdomen. It was difficult to fight well with a child attached to him and throwing him slightly off balance, but he found a way to make it work, since Tsuren needed his protection.
He jumped up to avoid a slash at his legs and leaned back; putting his staff behind him to catch his and Tsuren's weight and in the process threw his left leg up straight, making contact with the youkai's chin.
The kitsune leapt back and flared his impressive youki in an attempt to throw the priest off, but the priest's own reiki rose and clashed with it, actually pushing back the offending power. Kishino straightened his back and held his staff up in front of himself, narrow eyes watching the kitsune.
The fox blinked once before preparing another attack. So he had met a formidable opponent. Sesshoumaru had been right to take interest the possible trouble this human could cause.
"I seek safe passage through the honourable Lord Sesshoumaru's lands!" The human called, swinging his katana up and around to the back of his head to meet with Shippou's blade. He was very skilled in avoiding decapitation.
"I do not want to fight you! I just wish to continue my journey so I can reach mine and my ward's home by the shores to the east..." Kishino bit out through clenched teeth, spinning around and throwing up a barrier in time to deflect the sharp claws that would've tore large gashes in the back of his haori.
He pushed his powers into the barrer, the holy energy causing the kitsune to take a step back.
"Your...ward?" The fox arched an eyebrow arrogantly, and Kishino could swear to any Kami that it had to be an adopted trait from the ice lord himself - however, he refrained from rolling his eyes. Instead, he carefully reached behind his back, nudged the velcro-Tsuren with his hand and fished out the small seal-youkai boy from under his haori. He kept his staff in his other hand, ready to protect again if he needed.
"It's alright, Tsuren..." he whispered and placed the small boy infront of him, the child's back pressed tightly against his legs, his katana and battle staff crossed protectively infront of the small body.
He noticed right away the fox' interest in his ward. It seemed to dawn upon the fox that he could've injured the child, and it didn't seem like he enjoyed that thought, so Kishino wasn't all too surprised when he heard the next words:
"Share camp with me tonight." The fox' tone was nothing less than demanding, leaving absolutely no room for any form for objection or declining
"Kishino-sama..." Tsuren tugged on his protector's sleeve, and his dark brown eyes pleaded with the human priest to not follow the fox. The kitsune's massive and powerful aura scared him.
"We are in the Western lands, Tsuren. This kitsune serves the House of the Moon, and the Lord of the West. To decline or object to the demand of sharing a camp would be seen as an offence. And we are not here to start fights. Nor can we afford to disrespect the rulers of these lands. If this is the peaceful way to go to get on our way, then we must go with it...besides, you need some sleep."
"I know you could've kicked his butt..." Tsuren muttered, and Kishino had no way of stopping the bright chuckle that erupted in his chest.
"Oh, Tsuren, my cub, I don't kick butt!" He exclaimed softly, picking up the child and carrying him on his arm instead of on his back.
"I'm sorry!" Tsuren grinned, knowing what was coming.
"I merely show them not to mess with me!"
"...by kicking their sorry butts into next week!"
"...Have I raised you wrong?" The warrior-priest made big eyes at the seal-youkai, then grinned cheekily at him to let him know he was joking.
"No, Kishino-sama!" Tsuren used a sing-song tone before giggling, and Kishino chuckled deeply in response, following the aura of the fox into a clearing in the forest.
There was already a fire burning in the small camp when he and Tsuren arrived, so the warrior-priest set the child down and pulled a warm blanket from the small satchel on Tsuren's back. He cooed soothingly at the child and lead his ward to the fire. The fox eyed them both warily, but Kishino paid him no attention.
Once he'd gotten Tsuren to sit down he quickly went about removing his weapons and quivers from his person, setting them down on the ground carefully before he gracefully sat down by the fire. His weapons were, of course, within range should he need them. He did not take their safety for granted.
Tsuren wasted no time and crawled into his lap and snuggled into him while his guardian wrapped the blanket around him and passed him some dried fruits to gnaw on much to Tsuren's delight.
"The child adores you..." the fox mused out loud, and Kishino blinked.
"Ah. It's a side-effect from something I call TLC!" he grinned cheekily. As the fox blinked again, Kishino hurried to explain;
"It is just a short term for Tender L..."
"Tender Love and Care, I know..." the kitsune replied abruptly.
"I've heard it before..." the adult youkai was watching the human much more closely now.
Kishino nodded, lowering his gaze to the soft head of white hair that rested against his chest. Tsuren found complete comfort in listening to his heartbeats and his chewing was getting slower. Not long before that little dear would be asleep.
"How long have you travelled with your ward?"
Kishino glanced back to the kitsune, tilting his head slightly.
"Ten years..."
"Ten?"
Kishino nodded slowly. The fox seemed to lose himself in thought. Kishino found his thoughts to stray as well while staring at the fox. He had grown up. No longer a small kit, but a fully grown man, a beautifully handsome male fox! With three tails! Oh his heart couldn't be more proud! Still his chest clenched. He'd missed his growth!
"My name is Kishino..." He offered Shippou his name, inclining his head to the fox - attempting a smooth intro into conversation.
"Kishino Hito."
"Wait, what? Hito? THE Kishino Hito?" The fox almost (note, ALMOST!) gasped, and Kishino blinked several times. So, they had heard of him in the Western Lands...
"That's what I said." He replied slowly, almost reluctantly, keeping a suspicious eye on the fox.
"The warrior-priest that defeated the corrupt dragon Mitokatsuryu singlehandedly in the Northern Lands? And then proceeded to aid the Lord of the South in his battle against invading black rat youkai from the mainland?"
"...yes...?" Kishino tilted his head. The rumours must've travelled across the lands faster than he'd first thought...
"...that was ten years ago!" the fox continued and Kishino hesitated slightly.
"Yes, I know how much time has passed since then..."
"But you're so young...barely out of your teens!"
So that's what Shippou couldn't get his head around? Kishino chuckled softly and shook his head, glancing up at the dark canopy above their heads.
"Ah, yes. I have seen some wise women and men about this...condition..." Kishino rubbed the back of his neck, trying to ignore the impatient look in the green eyes on the other side of the fire.
"My holy powers protect me from the touch of time. I guess you could say I'm immune to time. I've been the same for the past twenty years...and I will remain so for an incredibly long time."
The fox narrowed his eyes even more at that piece of information. Immune to time...
"You didn't even think twice about sharing that kind of information with me, human..."
"Nah..." came the short, unceremonial reply, followed by a quick shrug of shoulders. It was the truth, so why hide it? Shippou could sense no deceit - which only made him more curious. It did dawn upon him that he had yet to introduce himself, manners had been long forgotten somewhere between attacking the priest and inviting him to share camp.
"This One's name is Shippou; Heir of the Western Lord, Sesshoumaru." the words were spoken slowly, almost like he detested how the words tasted in his mouth.
Kishino stared blankly at the kitsune. The name. Shippou. Hearing him say his own name out loud... He was fighting internally, using all of his willpower to not throw himself at the fox and declare all his deepest secrets and blow his cover in a heartbeat. That...would be very...unmanly. Emotions were once again reigned in and concealed.
"I thought the Lord of the West was an Inu youkai..." he tried instead to distract himself, fishing for info or the backstory to Shippou being declared Heir.
Shippou was heard scoffing, which brought Kishino's ocean blue eyes to lock firmly on the kitsune again, surprise swimming in his deep blue irises for a brief moment.
"Oh, he is. He's just too bloody stubborn to take a mate! He took me in when I was a kit after my mother disappeared, and he's trained me for twenty years straight - no mercy. Since I am conveniently full youkai, and despite my young age; already a three tailed kitsune... I guess it was convenient to name me heir to the West...that way he doesn't HAVE to take a mate to gain an Heir."
"...you didn't even think twice about sharing that kind of information with me, youkai..." Kishino arched an eyebrow, smirking at Shippou in such a way he could almost SEE the skin on the youkai's arms crawl with goose-flesh.
"Damn, Hito-sama. Throwing my own words back at me? No humans, and less than a handful youkai dare do that..." Shippou snickered wickedly. Perhaps he could coax the human into another fight.
"Seeing as I am timeless I see myself as neither human nor youkai, Shippou-sama. I don't always follow the norms or rules of either species...I kinda just go my own way."
Blue met green over the fire, locking gazes and holding it for a long time. In the end it was Kishino who withdrew his gaze in order to put the sleeping seal-youkai boy down, tucking the white haori around the child before leaning down to nuzzle him affectionately.
"Sleep well, Tsuren..." he whispered softly before his body tensed. His nose hovered above Tsuren's soft cheek for a few fleeting moments, his eyes shifted in their sockets to focus on something behind Shippou.
Shippou was instantly on guard with the shift in Kishino's body-language. Alarms went off in his head. He didn't sense anything!
Within the blink of an eye the warrior-priest had rolled to his right, gotten up on one knee and fired the arrow with his short bow - it blazed past Shippou's head, missing by less than a hand's width. The power imbued into the projectile stung against his skin. Milliseconds later a heavy thump sounded, followed by a scream of pain belonging to a large bird.
Shippou snapped his head around to catch sight of the eagle youkai that writhed on the ground, Kishino's short arrow embedded deeply in its abdomen. Clawed hands were desperately trying to remove the offending sharp missile to no avail.
"How..." Shippou turned back to the priest and had his breath caught in his throat. The crouching position, the bow, the eyes...it tugged at something in the back of his mind...
"There is a tribe of eagle youkai who cannot be sensed by other youkai...they live on the rocky cliffs and barren rock islands off the western coast..." Kishino's voice was strained, and he rose to his feet, recalling the arrow to his hand. The arrow dislodged itself from the bird-youkai's guts and flew into the open hand which clenched around it, tightly.
"You remind me of someone..." Shippou glared at the priest, who walked past him like he hadn't heard him.
The Warrior-Priest was moving over to the spot where the eagle was writhing still, the purification happening in slow-motions by Kishino's demand - an unconscious display of the level of control he had over his powers.
Kishino's rage blazed like an inferno around him, for anyone who could see auras it was quite an intense sight. Silvery pink and ice blue whites swirled like an inferno of flames around the human male. An impressive aura, bright, pure, and dangerous! Such rage because of an attempted attack?
"You jerk! You f*cking overgrown chicken nugget! Hasn't your kind learned that you can't get past ME?! Haven't I told you to stay the f*uck away from me and my ward!?" Kishino hissed, the tip of his boot connecting with the eagle youkai's hip. The motion drew a wicked hiss from the youkai before the eagle burst into purified dust, sparkling pink before it faded into the night.
"Jerk?" Shippou tilted his head. He was, officially, curious beyond belief! Something was REALLY nagging at the back of his mind...TLC, immune to time...jerk...chicken nugget?
"...at the lack of something better to shout at it..." Kishino muttered darkly. His eyes were glued to the spot the eagle had been, slowly blinking out of his enraged stupor when he spotted the tips of another pair of boots in front of him.
As he slowly let his gaze travel upwards he found himself staring directly into the face of the kitsune. The intense emerald orbs quickly caught his own ocean blue and he couldn't look away.
"What?" Kishino grunted, trying to sound irritated in order to hide how unnerved he was by the close proximity of the other male.
A clawed hand rose and cupped the left side of his face, and there was a flash of a vicious canine smirk.
"You've been lying to me..." Shippou's voice had dropped several octaves, and Kishino sweatdropped slightly.
"I have not!" He protested, flushing slightly as the fox leaned in closer. Ok, Kishino thought, this was getting awkward fast!
"Shippou-sama! That's enough! I'm not one to judge if you're into other males, but I assure you I am not!" He feigned rage to further hide the rising blush to his cheeks.
"Tell me about the eagle-youkai...the ones with no aura..." Shippou noticed the hitching breath of the human, feeling the heat under the skin on his face through his palm.
"They...killed Tsuren's parents...other youkai can't sense them."
"Hn." Shippou scoffed, before his nose was firmly embedded into the priest's jet black hair, right behind his ear. Kishino made a sound of protest to the invasion of his personal space, especially since Shippou seemed to be inhaling deeply.
Kishino felt dread soak through his entire being when the fox' other hand reached around him and quickly disposed of the strip of leather that kept his hair tied together in a plat. The clawed hand ruffled out the masses of black hair before he pulled back and arranged the locks around Kishino's shoulders.
Kishino's heart hammered in his chest by now.
His own eyes shone with intense emotional pain as the emerald green eyes of his once-adopted son flashed with hurt at the image he knew he now portrayed.
He wanted to cry, but he had long since forgotten how to indulge in such a relief of emotional pain, but his breath still hitched several times.
In the end it was Shippou who broke first. Kishino's heart ached as he caught the pained snarl coming from the kitsune, then Shippou was gone. He'd left.