Creed of the Other Breed by Demonlordlover

Chapters 1-6

Chapter One

They lived in secrecy. Their lives depended upon maintaining the fragile peace between their kind and their ignorant companions of the earth. Centuries have passed since they faded into history, becoming nothing more than a footnote to the world at large.

They worked, lived, loved; side by side, their origins were indiscernible from any other. Their seeming normality came at a price. Bound, their blood became thin. Their bodies as weak as any human's.

Yet it was only through the blood spells that it was possible to conceal their true nature from even science itself. Consumed in their food, it was as necessary as air. For those unable to afford the luxury of such potions, only exile or the ignominy of death awaited.

There were some who lived. A few who fled the persecution of their kind to seek the peace of far away mountains and clean streams. They lived, and they loved. Unbeknownst to their wealthy brethren, they also bred. Into that mix of freedom and unguarded love, monsters came to be. Blood thinned dangerously as humans unknowingly took the Others to their beds.

Unstable creatures more suited to remain as nothing but the figments of a forgotten nightmare scuttled away from the mothers that had borne them, dying in the process as they were torn in two by cruel claws. Protecting their progeny, the fathers attempted to instill reason and justice into the hearts of their soulless children.

Only when the blood of their fathers soaked into the ground did the monsters rejoice. Freedom, they breathed. No longer would they be ruled by anything other than the hunger that clawed at their bellies. They walked on the legs of men, but hunted with the insatiable ferocity of the Other.

Hidden in the depths of the wilderness, senses tuned to the skies above and the ground beneath their feet, their stomachs growled and their hearts snarled with wanton blood lust.

-----

"You are going, Sesshoumaru. I will not hear another protest on this matter," Ryu ordered.

Glaring at his father, Sesshoumaru's lip curled. He'd exhausted his store of excuses. The implacable resolve that coated each of his father's words had proved indicative of an unbending will. "Does the hanyou know of your command?" he finally asked sardonically. If his half-brother had agreed to this, then he would happily eat his Mokomoko-sama and ask for seconds.

Ryu growled out, "You know very well that he hasn't been told. As it is imperative that our cover not be broken, you should have known that I would ask this of you as soon as his plans became known. I can not allow him outside of my territory without supervision, not with his weakness. Yet, I also am wise to my sons' ways. I know better than to give him an opportunity to slip out of my control." Oh yes, he knew both of his sons' ways. Inuyasha's penchant for acting without thinking was a predominant trait. His crafty elder son, on the other hand, could outsmart even himself if given enough time to plot.

"What if he throws another tantrum?" Sesshoumaru asked with a cold sneer. Kamis above, he was truly cursed to be shackled with the indignity of the fact that the hanyou's parentage half-mirrored his own. Baka, Sesshoumaru thought scornfully of his absent sibling.

Tossing his hands into the air, Ryu glared into golden eyes that so closely resembled his own before running an irritated hand through his short silver hair. "Don't press me, Sesshoumaru. I've taken enough of your insults in regard to my choice in mate. Think what you will of me, but do not blame Inuyasha. He is the only one innocent in the whole mess between your mother and I."

Currently exiled to the farthest reaches of the known world for the attempt on his wife's life, Sesshoumaru's mother wouldn't be freed for another century. The bitch had simply been treating the human as a youkai, but had been punished for it by the laws that ruled their people in the times of human domination. Given that he held no fondness for the female, Ryu hadn't done anything to prevent the sentencing. Izayoi, his wife, would be safe from his mate. That was all that mattered.

'Only one innocent,' Sesshoumaru repeated in his head. He was guilty, then? Back ramrod straight, his voice grew even colder. "I will, of course, do as is commanded by my sire." For now. Until he finally grew strong enough to challenge even his father for his freedom.

Picking up on the simmering rage just beneath his son's frigid exterior, Ryu sighed forlornly. "What happened to us, son? Do you hate me so much, resent me for protecting my son who cannot do so for himself?" Knowing there would be no reply to such a loaded question, Ryu shooed Sesshoumaru away with a wave of an elegant hand. The argument that awaited him in light of the coming discussion with Inuyasha was enough to give him a headache. Perhaps he would seek out Izayoi later for another medicinal potion.

-----

"Do you know where we're going?" Kagome asked nervously. She tucked a strand of inky black hair behind her ear. "I don't want to get lost out here."

The fading afternoon light made her squirm apprehensively within her sneakers. Outside of the shrine grounds, she'd never been surrounded by such quiet before. Only the occasional crunch of fall leaves beneath their feet broke the monotony of stillness around them. Grateful for the thickness of her blue-jeans for warding off a stray burr or thorn, she wiggled her toes to keep them warm.

Scoffing at her friend's fear of getting lost, Sango grinned. "Trust me, Kagome-chan. I know exactly where I'm going out here." And she did. At the ripe age of two, she'd been brought into the mountains by her father. A guide for mountain climbers who dared to chance the unforgiving peaks that Japan had to offer, he'd ensured that his daughter would never flail about them helplessly.

Currently, she was guiding her friend through the forested base of the Rocky Mountains. She'd been flown out here as part of her father's business interests in the area. He was planning on expanding his expertise to foreign countries and wanted her to scout out an appropriate base. Since she was planning on falling into the position of his head guide, Sango hadn't had the option to say no. She had, however, wrangled a free plane ticket out of it for Kagome.

Right now, the air was crisp but not too cold for what was planned. Dressed appropriately for the weather, both women were protected from the elements in jeans, long-sleeved shirts, and heavy jackets.

A full week in the woods, doing nothing but reveling in her freedom from school, was just what Sango needed. Some of her other friends from Tokyo University were scheduled to show up as well, guided by her painstakingly drawn map. All of them spoke English and were well-off financially, so the week off traipsing about an American mountainside would be nothing more than a fleeting moment of fun.

Sango's eyes slid over the slight figure of her companion. Three years her junior, Kagome hadn't been able to attend University. While a studious student, her grades hadn't been excellent enough to grant her a scholarship. With the shrine also fallen on hard times, Kagome had gone to work straight out of high school a year ago. That was how they'd met.

Stressing over a round of exams, Sango had been in a huge hurry as she walked at a fast clip to the library. Just outside the steps, she'd almost run over Kagome as she manned a magazine stand. Drink can raised halfway to her mouth, the poor girl had been drenched as she ducked out of the way. Sango had been immediately contrite, but Kagome only waved her off with a smile. After that, Sango had taken care to greet the girl every time she saw her. Their friendship just simply bloomed from there.

And recently, Sango had decided that Kagome deserved a little fun in her life. The girl manned that depressing little cart, reading about the exciting lives of other people day in and day out, yet went home after dark bone-tired and alone. Sure, Kagome had her family. But Sango was pretty sure she was her only friend.

It wasn't that Kagome wasn't friendly. She was tremendously giving as a person and was as sweet as could be. She just didn't have the time to meet many people who would approach a cart-girl. Not to mention the horrendous hours she worked just to help out her family.

Sango sighed ruefully at the thought, ignoring the questioning glance slanted her way. If only she didn't plan on following her father's footsteps into the guide business. She was sure Kagome had more potential than to waste her life away on the streets selling magazines. Maybe Miroku would know of someone in need of a secretary, or some other office job that would take Kagome out from under the unforgiving sun and mercurial weather? Kami, she hoped so. That, and that some of her friends would take to the girl.

She had her moments of naivety, but Kagome was more mature than most. She took things such as honor and responsibility to heart; whereas others her age were still so very self-centered and into self-gratification.

In three weeks, Sango was leaving Japan for Australia to join her father on another business trip to travel the trails of the outback. It was supposed to be a vacation, but as some of her father's old guide friends would be there, Sango knew it was more his way of sponsoring her into the world he occupied. Kagome would be alone again, and she feared for her friend. She always smiled, always enjoyed the little pleasures of life, always greeted the day with optimism that it would be a good day.

Still, how long could that keep up? How long could Kagome look at the shitty hand she'd been dealt and not collapse into bitterness? Maybe if she had some friends besides herself, maybe if she found a man to depend on, Kagome wouldn't suffer such a fate. Sango hoped so with all of her heart.

All thoughts ceased when Kagome placed her slender fingers on her friend's arm in concern. "Are you alright, Go-chan?" she asked, falling back on the familiar shortening of Sango's name.

Tossing her braided chestnut hair over her shoulder with a shrug, Sango patted the back of Kagome's hand reassuringly. "I'm fine Gome-chan," Sango murmured with a smile for the younger woman. Sometimes, her friend almost reminded her of a puppy. Capable of mischief, but in the end, only too eager to please or appease her master.

Smiling softly, Kagome allowed her hand to fall from Sango's arm. "Thank you again for inviting me. I don't know how you talked Mama into letting me off, but I appreciate it." Three months overtime without pay had been the price of wrangling a vacation from her boss, but she could have sworn her mother would have proven the largest obstacle.

Wryly laughing, Sango adjusted the pack strap that had been digging into her shoulder. "Well, when Souta gets old enough, he's going to learn all he wants to know about wild herbs."

Kagome gasped. "You promised to teach him? That is too much, Sango-chan! You shouldn't have to do something like that just for me!" She knew Sango hated plants with a passion. She'd only learned about them at her father's behest in order to survive in the wilderness if need be.

Shaking her head, Sango wagged a finger in from of Kagome's face. "What did I tell you about that, Kagome-chan? I am my own person, and if I want to help out your brother so you can come with me, then that's that. Besides," she added truthfully, "I'm going to have to teach Kohaku soon enough anyway. They can just sit through the same lecture together. Okay?"

Conscience eased somewhat by the admission, Kagome nodded. "Deal." She looked around the towering pines and shivered as another chill wind blew through her too-large jacket. Red, with numerous zipper pockets and a neon-yellow hood, the jacket had been given to her by Sango to use for the trip. Her own thrift store find hadn't been up to the challenge, her friend had explained. Despite her embarrassment at being unable to buy her own jacket, Kagome had accepted the offer with a smile of thanks.

Now, snuggled into the downy warmth of synthetic material, Kagome was grateful for the insight. She'd have hated to have spent her time miserably cold. And if there was one thing she hated, it was the cold.

"We're almost there, Kagome-chan," Sango said, breaking into Kagome's musings on the terrible reality of impending winter months.

"Oh, okay," she replied. With the news, her nervousness also returned. "Are you sure they won't mind?"

Rolling her eyes, Sango groaned. "Yes, I am sure that they won't mind. Even if they did, which they won't, it wouldn't matter. Okay?" How many times would she need to reassure Kagome that her friends would soon be the younger woman's as well? Granted, she hadn't put it like that, not wanting Kagome to know her actions were partly out of pity.

Proud as could be, Kagome hated pity of any kind. She'd refused many offers on Sango's part to give her money for a better lunch, or to buy her new clothes. Yet, despite the fact that she hated the reality that Kagome refused her hand-outs, damn if she didn't respect the girl all the more for it.

-----

"Hey Sango-chan!" Kikyo called out as soon as the pair rounded the small copse of oak trees that had blocked the campsite from view.

In the small clearing, four colorful tents squatted amidst the leafy, green bushes that had yet to shed their foliage. Overhead, the tall oaks spread their denuded limbs skyward in silent supplication to their ever present companions: the sun and the moon.

Smiling happily at her friend, with a hand on Kagome's back Sango urged her to approach the smiling dark-haired woman. "Hi, Kikyo-chan," she said with a wave. Greeting the rest of the group with a demure smile, Sango called out, "This is the girl I told you all about. Kagome-chan, these are my friends," Sango introduced, pointing to each in turn, "Inu-chan, Roku-kun, Kikyo-chan, and- " she hesitated slightly before naming one she hadn't known was coming, "Sesshoumaru-san."

Kagome swallowed her shyness to smile at each in turn. Sango had told her the names of all of the people who would be here, so she simply applied their proper names to their faces. The Inuyasha fellow, a lanky dark-haired guy with oddly bright brown eyes, scowled. Violet eyes twinkling, Miroku smiled widely and winked at her while tugging on his black, shoulder-length hair. The beautiful Kikyo, possessed of soft doe-eyes and a lush figure, smiled warmly and nodded her head in greeting from her side. The other guy, a white-haired Adonis with coldly golden eyes, didn't even bother to get up, but simply glanced her way before blatantly dismissing her.

"Hello," she ventured. Uneasy at being the center of attention, Kagome began to fidget.

Sensing it, Sango spoke up, "Hey Kikyo-chan, what else needs to be done?"

Humming in thought, Kikyo answered, "There's nothing else to do except set up your tent. We got here early this morning, so we've pretty much got everything covered."

"Great!" Sango dropped the pack from her back and motioned for Kagome to do the same. Both women dug into the polyester satchels and retrieved the tent props and gear.

Grateful for the opportunity to do something useful, Kagome busied herself by helping Sango with the tent. Given her companion's expertise in the fine art of camping, however, the task was accomplished within minutes. "Sango-chan," she asked shyly, "Is there anything I can do?"

Taking in the fact that everyone else was sitting around the fire that had been lit while they worked, Sango shook her head. "We've done everything now, so it's just a matter of having some fun. Come on," she handed her a bag of marshmallows, "let's make some flaming bombs!"

Giggling at the image, Kagome caught the two wire skewers Sango had drawn from her pack and thrown to her. "I've never roasted marshmallows before," she said happily after claiming a seat on the empty log that had been drawn to the fireside for that purpose.

Shamelessly shocked, Inuyasha glanced at the girl from his place at Kikyo's side. "Eh? Where've you been living, a cave?"

Kagome shrugged nonchalantly, used to receiving the same looks from others. "I just never had the opportunity, that's all," she patiently explained.

Inuyasha subsided with a huff at the evil glare sent his way via Sango and Kikyo.

Calming her eye of death, Sango looked at Kikyo from across the fire. "Kagome lives on a shrine. Didn't you need to speak to someone about ancient legends?" As subtlety went, that had been rather lacking, but Sango was desperate to find common ground for her friends.

Knowingly taking the bait, Kikyo chuckled. "My dissertation isn't quite coming along like I would wish for. I'd love any help with gaining interviews with local color for my paper."

Intrigued, Kagome inquired, "What legends, if I may ask? My grandfather loves to talk about what he knows, so I'm sure he'd be agreeable to any questions you might have."

Waving a hand negligently, Kikyo thanked Inuyasha as he handed her a canned drink from the cooler before answering, "Demons. I just love to learn about the origins of the legends about them. It's really intriguing, how they went from being a part of daily life, to simply falling into the black abyss of mere memories for most people."

"Oh," Kagome laughed, "I have probably heard more about demons from my grandfather than most ever forgot!"

Until this moment content to remain silent in the background as he leaned against a tree, Sesshoumaru's cold voice broke the fragile sense of camaraderie that had formed over the group, "It is amusing to think that a girl such as yourself could know anything of value."

Kagome lost her smile. She turned quiet eyes on the woman in front of her. "If you want to talk to my grandfather, Kikyo-san, I'm sure he'd love to give you an interview."

Kikyo smiled warmly. "I would prefer 'chan,' if that is alright with you." Kikyo liked this quiet, unassuming girl. She reminded her of herself at a younger, more insecure age. Sango was right. Her room-mate during their recent University days had told her a lot about the petite girl. Kagome needed a few friends. People who could bring her out of her self-imposed shell and into the world.

Only someone completely and totally insecure would have taken the insult Sesshoumaru had dealt out. Sometimes, Kikyo thought, he was the bastard he so often named Inuyasha. It was too bad he was such a cold fish. Her Inuyasha was rough around the edges but was also a real sweetheart when you got past that.

Still bent on ingratiating herself to the group, as really, how could she be so ungrateful as not to try for Sango's benefit, Kagome subsided into silence after nodding.

The rest of the night passed quietly for the group. Unable to prolong the torment of smiling when she yawned for the fifth time in a row, Kagome finally bid the others good night. She left the log for the tent and the dubious comfort of the hard ground. Thinking through the evening, she concluded that, while Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru clearly held something against her, Miroku and Kikyo were quite likeable. She would steer clear of the two males for the week, and hopefully, the time could be spent enjoying her freedom. No matter how brief it may be.