The Midnight Bloodline

The group had no problem adjusting to the new members, though Kouga did spend the better part of an hour glaring at Kagura. He only stopped after Anisuke pouted; he then spent another hour in his own little world. They made pretty good time traveling to Kouga’s cave, and luckily no one in his pack knew what Kagura looked like, so the trip wasn’t interrupted by any death threats. Although there were quite a few lecherous glances thrown Anisuke’s way, making the three dominants very uncomfortable.
When they reached the main cave they were met by what had to be the oldest person Anisuke had ever seen, and considering that he knew Dumbledore, that was saying a lot. After that they were all ushered deeper within the cave were a gathering took place. It took all of three minutes for Anisuke to become completely and mind-numbingly bored, Shippo was fast asleep in his lap, Rin was dozing against his right side and Kanna was doing the same on his left.
Anisuke let his mind wander back to his early childhood, a time that he deeply wished that he could forget.
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He was five years old, Dudley had just invented ‘Harry-Hunting and he had run into the woods for protection from his already overweight cousin. He managed to become lost very quickly as his vision was already bad, but the Dursleys were trying to avoid getting him glasses. He must half walked for a good two hours when he stumbled onto a small clearing. There was a small creek running through it that he used to get a drink before he managed to fall asleep in the soft moss at its side. When he awoke he realized that it was already quite dark out and that he was no longer alone. Sitting across from him was a very pale man; he looked as if he had not seen the sun, ever. He also looked so very hungry.
The man seemed to creep forward, almost as if Harry was a wild animal that would run away at the slightest startle. When he was close enough for Harry to properly make out he came to the conclusion that there was no way that this man could be human. His eyes were blood red and he seemed to be scenting the air like a hungry animal. He reminded Harry of the movie that Dudley had gotten his parents to let him stay up late to watch, he had managed to watch parts of it as he refreshed his family’s popcorn and drinks.
He found himself asking the question before he really thought it through, his voice causing the man to freeze all movement. “Are you a vampire? You kind of look like the ones in the movie. Does that mean you’re going to eat me?”
The man tilted his head to the side as he looked Harry over from head to toe. “Are you not afraid that I will kill you? Are you not afraid of the pain I will cause?”
Harry took several moments to think this over. “No, not really. If you are a vampire, then human blood is what you have to eat, just like I have to eat plants and animals, so it’s just like the food chain that they were talking about on the television. I don’t mind dieing if it would help you keep living.” The vampire’s eyes widened. “As for pain, I’m used to that. I am always in pain, I can’t do anything right, and Dudley’s friends don’t like me.”
At that the vampire’s eyes narrowed. “Really, well I don’t think that I really want to eat you, you’re far to interesting, but I would like to know more about those children.”
After he told him about the horrible children that liked to hurt him the vampire carried him out of the woods and promised that the boys wouldn’t hurt him again. He said he only wished that he could take care of his family too. Unfortunately he had seen Harry’s scar and realized that killing the family would draw too much attention to his kind.
During the weeks after that the boys in Dudley’s little gang disappeared one by one, until only two were left, Dudley and Pier. It took several years for Dudley to form another gang of thugs and by then Harry was much better at getting away.
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Anisuke was brought back to the present when he was picked up with Shippo still firmly in his lap by Sesshomaru, Kouga had Kanna and Naraku had Rin. Knowing that he was safe he allowed himself to drift off to sleep.
Sesshomaru gazed onto Anisuke’s sleeping face with mild concern. Anisuke had been getting tired more often lately, and had started going into dazes. He knew that his coming of age was soon and hoped that that was the cause.
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They only stayed at Kouga’s pack’s cave for a few days before they headed toward the Western Lands. Luckily there had been no problems to deal with, the men that Kouga had entrusted his pack with were more then capable, but had no aspirations to take over. The loyalty that Kouga had within his pack was rather inspiring.
It was several days into the trip before Anisuke’s mind started to drift into the past again. This time it happened while he was staring into the campfire.
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It was the summer before third year; he was enjoying his time alone in Diagon Alley. All of the shopkeepers knew him as Harry instead of just the boy-who-lived. Today he had decided that he wanted to visit Gringotts, it had been a long time and he wanted to know more about what his parents had left behind for him.
He ignored the poem on the front door as he nodded to the two goblin guards, not noticing their surprised looks. He walked up to the nearest open teller and waited patiently for the goblin to notice him.
The goblin glanced curiously down at the lone boy, most wizards immediately demanded attention, even the young ones. “May I help you?”
Harry made sure that his voice was loud enough to hear, but not loud enough to make the goblin angry. “Hello, my name is Harry Potter and I would like to know if there is some way for me to speak to someone about what was left to me by my parents.”
The goblin was slightly confused; the boy should already know all of that. “You should have received a full statement on your eleventh birthday. Did you not receive this missive?”
Harry tilted his head. “No, the only thing that I got on my eleventh birthday was my letter for Hogwarts and that had to be delivered by Hagrid.”
The goblin was now worried; someone was interfering in bank business without them finding out about it immediately, this is not good. “I shall call someone to take you to the Potter family representative.”
He rang a small bell that garnered an instant reaction. A young goblin came up to them, a young goblin that Harry recognized on sight. “Oh, hello Griphook, how are you today?”
As soon as the words left his mouth every goblin froze in place as Griphook turned to address Harry. “I am doing most well, young Harry. May I ask how you remembered who I was and why?”
Every goblin seemed to strain to hear his answer. “I remembered you from when you took me to my trust vault from before first year and why wouldn’t I remember you?”
His honest confusion struck every goblin to their core; this wizard did not consider them to be lower then an animal.
After that the trip was straight forward and enlightening, both for Harry and the goblins. Harry left the bank that day with a completely different view of the venerable Headmaster. He had rerouted all of Harry’s mail and had been slowly siphoning Harry’s money. The goblins had done everything in their power to reclaim everything and to make sure that no one, including the Headmaster would know that Harry was involved. They gave him a new key that only he could use and a money bag that was also tied to him.
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Luckily the rest of the trip to Sesshomaru’s castle was uneventful, something all of them were grateful for. Anisuke felt shock and amazement travel through him at his first view of Sesshomaru’s home. It made Hogwarts look like a hovel; it was by far the biggest castle he had ever seen. The whole castle looked to made out of white marble, it glistened in the morning light, the grounds were extremely well tended, and it had dozens of towers spearing off from the main body. It was the most beautiful castle he had ever seen though it did feel a little empty and lonely.
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The men that Sesshomaru left in charge were ruthlessly efficient; they protected the lands with their lives and kept everything within them running smoothly. They held Sesshomaru in the highest of regards and fell almost instantly under Anisuke’s spell. They deeply approved of his presence and spent quite a bit of time answering his every question in the days preceding his birthday. Even with that distraction, Anisuke noticed that Sesshomaru, Kouga and Naraku got more and more anxious the closer it got to his birthday.
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The day of his birthday was spent opening presents from all of the members of his group as well as the members of Sesshomaru’s staff that he had managed to befriend. The staff had all gotten his clothes that they though would compliment his pretty figure and eyes. Many of them shot covert glances at their Lord as Anisuke cooed over each new article of clothing, some of which were rather revealing in this time period, which caused their Lord’s eyes to twitch as he shifted in his seat, along with the other two dominates.
Sesshomaru had gotten Anisuke a beautiful golden necklace with a jade figurine on it that suspiciously resembled Sesshomaru’s other form, not that Anisuke knew that. It was an expression of affection and of possession.
Kouga had gotten him a small bracelet made of fangs that the wolves of his pack had lost, a slightly more subtle claim.
Naraku had gotten him an expensive calligraphy set, he had seen Anisuke eyeing one in the last village that they had passed through and had gone back to get one. He figured that he could make a better claim that night.
Kagura had gathered several beautiful feathers together to make a fetching hairpin that brought out Anisuke’s eyes and went well with his pale skin tone.
Kanna had worked with Rin to gather some of the most beautiful flowers in Sesshomaru’s many gardens to create a rather large bouquet. Anisuke had immediately cast a charm on the flowers to keep them fresh.
Shippo had drawn a picture of Anisuke surrounded by Sesshomaru, Kouga, and Naraku as they all sat at the base of a large oak tree and watched as the three children chased after butterflies. Kagura, Ah-Un, and Jaken watched from farther back in amusement. It was very well drawn; Anisuke loved in and asked one of the staff to have it framed.
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When the end of the party neared Anisuke found himself being pulled out of the room by four older women who glanced over their shoulders with smug grins aimed at the dominants who were growling at the table. They knew it was necessary, but that didn’t mean that they had to like it.
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Anisuke was not happy; the women had dragged him into a bathhouse and proceeded to strip him. He had never been more embarrassed in his life. He was then scrubbed down with sweet smelling oil, and his hair was thoroughly washed with a similar smelling liquid. By the time they were done he felt soft and smelled like lilies, which he was not going to complain about even if he did feel like a bloody girl.
After they were sure that he was both clean and not likely to flee they clothed him in a simple white robe with nothing underneath and led him to a beautiful room with a huge fluffy futon and a dark cherry vanity and wardrobe, he loved it. They sat with him on the floor at the bottom of the bed and what looked to be the oldest one cleared her throat.
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Quira found the whole situation vastly amusing, three of the most powerful yokai of the time including her Lord were completely enamored with this little fox. She hadn’t been this amused since the Lord’s father fell for that human woman and stalked her for a good three months before he even said hello.
She looked at the little one and cleared her throat to get his attention, he had gorgeous emerald eyes. “Little one, do you know anything about your coming of age, the heat or about mating?” Oh my, judging from that blush she assumed no.
“Mating?!” Anisuke would have been even more embarrassed, if it hadn’t been made impossible by that bath.
Quira sighed. “Yes child, mating. When a submissive yokai such as you reaches the age of 15 they go into what is known as a heat, this is to attract a dominant mate to them. Their bodies do this by releasing pheromones so powerful that they send dominants into a lustful frenzy.” Here the current blush doubled in brightness. “For most demons the first one to reach the sub is essential the ‘winner’, but with Midnight Kitsunes several dominants are needed to center them. Your kind also have a defense mechanism, you started leaking special pheromones several weeks ago to draw only the most powerful dominants to you.”
Here she paused to let it sink in, which she could tell that it had when his eyes widen almost comically. “Yes child, you drew those three dominants downstairs to you, they are the most powerful and also the most compatible to your personality.” She could she the doubts swimming in his eyes. “They are not being forced, they all care about you.” She could she the doubt fade slightly. “Yokai mate for life, so no dominant takes the decision lightly. The only way to take on another mate is for the first mate to die while giving permission for the other to take on another.”
She turned to gaze out of the window, it was nearing nightfall, and she needed to hurry. “Soon you will fall into a rather deep sleep; it is the beginning of the coming of age and signifies the transition into adulthood. This sleep is different for everyone; many get the chance to speak to their ancestors.” She cleared her throat once more, this time it was to cover her own embarrassment. “After this dream you will wake up in a heat induced haze, you will feel hotter then you have ever felt and it is at this point that those three will likely break into the room to claim you in order of meeting.” None of the subs in the room could meet each others eyes at the very thought.
The four women quickly left Anisuke to his thoughts as he crawled into the futon. Three mates, three men who were going to love and protect him and his kits, both present and future, it was what he always wanted, a family, perhaps not the way he had envisioned it but still a family.
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