Chapter 5: Origin Story Part 2

As completely odd as everything was, it was hard to continue denying when you could literally reach up and touch something very non-human, and for that same very real touch to send shivers down your spine. Which is what Inuyasha had been doing for over 20 minutes. As well as he had several marks on his arms from the claws and a scrape on his tongue from the fangs. He could even visibly see his arms healing.

"Ok. Fine. I can accept that. I'm a hanyou. What exactly does that mean?" Better to get in all his questions if Sesshomaru was in a sharing mood.

"Enhanced senses, claws, fangs, increased speed and strength, better healing, you may need less sleep, longer lifespan, cooperation with spiritualists."

"Cooperation with spiritualists?"

"Priestesses, priests, monks, other untrained with powers. Our kinds coexist under the agreement that youkai not cause harm to humans."

"So, I'd assume no using our powers in public?"

"Grey area. We are not to cause harm. Many believe humans knowing about our existence would cause trouble and in turn, harm as human could turn on human ignorantly. Those with a strike against them are specifically forbidden from using any of their abilities in restricted zones."

"Restricted zones?"

"Large cities and spiritual sites mostly. For others, using their abilities is a grey area also because humans do not believe in magic, so they are more inclined to come up with a plausible explanation than to immediately assume youkai."

"You mentioned a strike?"

"Youkai who have caused low levels of harm or who were known to cause harm to humans before the agreement was put in place receive a strike."

"What's with the swords?"

"A seal. Father and I each have a strike against us so they seal our youkai power to the point no spiritualists can sense us. As long as it is active, the spiritualists let us do as we please. In our human forms we still have some increased senses, speed, and strength."

"Father has a strike?"

"We were youkai during the warring states era. Of course we fought humans. Though we have lived without violation for the 400 years since the agreement."

"Oh. Wait! WE?"

"Yes, we."

"But you're 28!"

"Why do you think father did not allow us to meet until you were 16? I could not age as you do. Your own aging stopped at 18, although at only 21, it is not yet obvious."

"But why am I only being told about this now?"

"Father wanted to wait until you are 25, when your youkai half would be considered full grown. Also, he was unsure how to tell you and simply putting it off until you would have to notice the lack of aging."

…

"Does mom know?"

"No, father's strike means he is forbidden from revealing himself to any human. Now, I have business to attend to. To transform back, bite your blade. Much of our energy pulses through our fangs, such as the one used to make that blade. The contact to your own fangs resets the seal, while blood overwhelms and unseals it. We will begin training tomorrow."