Chapter Text
Inuyasha, Miroku, and Sango sat on the en outside their inn, watching Shippo and Kirara playing in the garden. It was yet another shabby establishment, another safe place to stay. The nights had been growing noticeably colder of late, but that wasn’t main reason for their favouring of inns and taverns recently. It was unquestionable that Naraku was gaining rapid interest in destroying them, and outside no longer felt safe. Since their last encounter with Kikyo over a week ago, for the few nights that had been spent under the stars, Inuyasha had kept watch the entire time, often with Kirara for company. The others had noticed, of course, and tried to offer to take a shift. Each time he'd started off with a speech about how humans needed more sleep, which quickly devolved into him growling at them and threatening them if they tried to stay up. Miroku and Sango took this with amusement each time, but he hadn't failed to notice that each day after, Miroku found a mysterious cloud hovering over some opulent house, and Sango didn't complain once about the deception.
But today had been a good day. They had a room, safely hidden from prying eyes, and at least this one had been legitimate – the townspeople had asked them to slay the family of demons that had been plaguing them, so there was no need for Miroku to con the place. The battle had been short and easily won, and had earned them food, coin, and a room to sleep in. Miroku had convinced the town of their victory against the 'vicious' worm demons, no one had been injured, and their bellies were full of warm food. Shippo was having the time of his life, jumping between the rocks surrounding the small garden pond and chasing Kirara. Evenings were practically the only time he had to play, since every day was spent travelling from village to village. At least the little fox seemed largely recovered from what had transpired in Naraku’s latest trap. Other than sticking within eyesight of one of his companions at all times, his nightmare remained in the past. The rest of their group had not been so fortunate.
“Sometimes I worry about Shippo,” Inuyasha murmured, watching the kit from under heavy-lidded eyes. “Y’know, that he’s not getting the support he needs to grow up properly.”
Miroku smirked but didn’t look up from the sutras he was making. “He’s an overly-small demon child who has repeated exposure to extreme fear and violence and has two mothers, one of whom slays demons and the other of which is a cat, and two fathers, one of whom is younger than him and the other of which is the demon equivalent of a pubescent teenage rebel. Why would there be anything to worry about?”
Inuyasha nodded slowly before turning to glare at Miroku. “…Hey!”
“You came off fairly well in that description,” Sango told Miroku wryly as she cleaned the Hiraikotsu.
“I always do,” he smiled back, before sobering. “But you’re right. His childhood isn’t exactly what I’d like it to be.”
“We should bring him back to Kaede,” Inuyasha muttered. “That’s what we planned to do before and we should have stuck to it.”
“I vaguely remember loud words being spoken to the contrary by a certain fox demon,” Miroku sighed. “But again, you’re right. Kaede’s village is the safest place for him.”
“I’d love to see this village,” Sango said thoughtfully. “It sounds lovely.”
“We planned to return there much more frequently,” Miroku shrugged. “Every few weeks to resupply. But it’s been…” He thought for a moment. “Almost two months?”
“May as well go back soon,” Inuyasha said. “It’s not as though we have anywhere else to go. There’s no sign of Naraku, and no Jewel shards nearby.”
A somber mood descended over the trio. Miroku’s hand absently brushed over the front of his robes, as he had done many times over the past several days, feeling for Jewel shards that were no longer there. “I can’t believe we lost them all,” he murmured softly.
“S’not your fault,” Inuyasha grumbled, his ears flicking back as he glared out into the garden. “It’s not like she stole all the shards out there. We just need to start over.”
Sango glanced between the two of them with brows raised in question. Inuyasha refused to meet her gaze, while Miroku shrugged tiredly. Inuyasha had been uncharacteristically calm about the whole ordeal, and it was no question as to why. His attentiveness to all of his pack but especially Miroku told of the guilt that still ate at him. The few times Sango had attempted to bring up what had happened with Kikyo, he had immediately become defensive and refused to talk about it. Miroku, too, had evaded the subject. She supposed it was never going to be easy for Inuyasha to accept that the woman he had loved had stolen from and threatened his pack.
“I’m gonna go find somethin’ to eat,” Inuyasha said, pushing to his feet then calling over to Shippo. “Hey, you want more food?”
Shippo instantly dropped the worm he was playing with and shot over like an arrow. He scampered up to Inuyasha’s shoulder without a second thought and smiled eagerly. The two disappeared into the inn, and the others watched them go.
“At least we can keep Shippo safe for now,” Sango sighed. “If it looks like we’re landing in another dangerous situation, I can send him away on Kirara.”
“If we’re given any warning,” Miroku mumbled darkly. “With Naraku’s traps, there’s often the element of surprise.” He gathered his sutras quickly and pushed to his feet. “You’ll have to excuse me. I’m going to the room to meditate.”
Sango frowned and followed him with her gaze. She finished cleaning Hiraikotsu, but the itch soon started under her skin, urging her to find her companions. Kirara appeared to be thinking along similar lines, for though she sat by Sango’s side, her ears were constantly swivelling, tracking all the sounds coming from the inn. They made their way back to the room but stopped just outside, as Sango picked up a quiet voice coming from inside. She listened in, but couldn’t make out the words. A feeling of unease prickled along the back of her neck and she slid the door open slowly and silently.
“-and purify the area. He won’t attack there…maybe. We’ll need to prepare everyone. Kaede can keep them safe.”
Miroku knelt alone on the floor, reorganizing the various items kept in his robes and muttering softly.
“Who are you talking to?” Sango asked, leaning Hiraikotsu against the wall and walking over. Miroku tensed, but didn't look up.
“Myself,” he admitted, somewhat sheepishly.
“Alright,” she smiled, kneeling down beside him. “Is he listening?”
“No.”
“Always a good sign,” she smirked.
“I realized that Naraku might attack Kaede’s village simply because it’s important to us,” Miroku sighed heavily. “Try to eliminate those who help us. I have no idea how to navigate that.”
“We'll come up with something,” Sango said, a heaviness in her heart. “You'll come up with something, in all likelihood. But it’s all we can do to make sure the people there are as prepared as possible. It might actually be safer for them if we don’t visit too often. Naraku might not attack if he doesn’t believe it’s of value.”
Miroku grimaced at the idea. “I agree. Once we drop off Shippo, we should limit our visits to the barest necessity. The same should be said for anyone who helps us.”
“Jinenji and Kura, for example,” Sango said. “We should carry some of those herbs to fight miasma with us at all times, but we can’t draw Naraku’s attention to the garden.”
They both shared a heavy sigh. Miroku scooted over to the irori and poured them both some tea. They sat quietly for a little while, leaning against one another with Kirara sprawled across their laps.
“I hate that our battle has infected the lives of so many others,” Sango said after a little while, breaking the delicate silence between them. “People who have nothing to do with Naraku are in danger because of us.”
“I know," he said softly, staring out into nothingness. "While we must do what we can to reduce the danger posed to them, we cannot blame ourselves for the actions of another. We are not responsible for Naraku’s evil, even if it is our responsibility to fight him.”
Sango blinked rapidly and looked away, her lips pressing firmly together. Miroku’s brows furrowed and he placed a worried hand on her shoulder. After a few heavy breaths, Sango swiped angrily at her eyes and huffed.
“You’re right – I know you’re right – but I can’t help but feel like it’s my fault. My village, all the people Kohaku killed, I should have found some way to stop it.”
“No,” Miroku said firmly, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and hugging her close. “You had no way of knowing either of those things would happen. We are not at fault for those that Naraku decides to kill, and that includes Kohaku’s actions.”
“It’s not just that,” Sango whispered. “My village… My whole life I knew I wanted to be a slayer. And I was good at it. From the moment I started training, it felt right. I knew my place in the world. I wanted to help others, to protect those that needed protecting, but that wasn’t all I wanted.” She blinked up at him, her eyes shining. “I wanted a family. I wanted my own home. In my village, I could have that. I could be a slayer and a woman. They accepted me for who I wanted to be, even if it took a little convincing. And now, I don’t know what I’ll do. My home is gone, my people are gone, and I don’t know what will happen to me after we defeat Naraku. I know I can still be a slayer on my own, but that’s not a life.”
“I’m sorry,” Miroku murmured. He pulled her closer to him and held her close, as her brow came to rest against his chest. “I don’t have the answers for that. I can’t imagine all that you’ve lost. All I can say is, I know you can figure it out. If the world doesn’t have a place for you, then you will make one for yourself. You are strong and brave and wise. You can still have that life.” He leaned back, catching her gaze and holding it. “And I know it’s not the same, but you still have a family with us.”
“I know,” Sango sniffled. “I’m so lucky to have you all.” She frowned deeply. “And that’s another reason I feel guilty. What right do I have to mourn the future when we still have to defeat Naraku? People’s lives are in danger because of him. Kohaku is still trapped by him. And you!” She gestured weakly at Miroku’s right hand. “What right do I have to complain when your life depends on defeating Naraku? And he’s so powerful! I have no idea how to defeat a foe like that. We may never beat him, and I’m still worried about what comes after!”
“Sango,” Miroku said firmly. “Stop talking. You’re spouting nonsense. Of course you should be concerned with your future! Just because your relationship with Naraku is different than mine doesn’t mean that he hasn’t stolen your life. And you have every right to hold on to your future, to hold on to the path you chose before he appeared in your life. He is trying to take that from you as well, and that is unforgivable. I don’t know what will happen after we defeat Naraku, but it’s as important to fight for that as the life we live now.”
They hugged each other closer and stared into the fire, both drifting in their own thoughts.
“As for defeating Naraku,” Miroku continued, much quieter. “I have no answer. He is the most powerful foe I could imagine. All I know is that he believes we pose a threat to him. Why else would he be so intent on destroying us? We may not be able to fight him as individuals, but together, we are strong.” He smiled. “Besides, we have a weapon that Naraku could never match.”
“And what’s that?”
“Our dashing good looks.”
Sango let out a startled snort, and they both chuckled softly.
“Our compassion,” Miroku stated firmly. “Naraku cares about nothing but himself, and that will be his downfall. We have each other, and we have those who wish to help us. Kaede’s village, Kura and Jinenji – true, they are in danger because of us, but they are also our allies. We have people who want to help us. Naraku could never.”
Sango let out a small, laughing sob and brushed the tears from her eyes. “Thank you, Miroku. That does make me feel better.”
“Anytime, Sango.”
“It’s nice to be able to talk to someone about this,” she admitted. “Inuyasha’s a good person, but he’s not exactly the best with delicate emotions. And I love Shippo, but he has the attention span of a gnat.”
The startled a laugh out of Miroku. They remained side-by-side, somewhat intertwined, until Inuyasha and Shippo returned to the room.
“Food’s coming,” Inuyasha reported, plopping down next to them. “Not much, since we already ate, but they agreed that we deserved more since we’re heroes and all that.”
“Sounds reasonable to me,” Miroku nodded sagely.
The food that was delivered was almost entirely sweets. Miroku and Sango exchanged an amused look and then shot questioning glances at Inuyasha, who stubbornly refused to meet their gaze. It was unclear exactly how much Shippo had manipulated the request, but the result was piles of small cakes filed with sweet red and white bean paste, peach jelly, and sweet potatoes, intermingled with bowls of cherries, peaches, and pears. After all the food was laid out, Miroku and Sango couldn’t stop staring at Inuyasha.
“Alright!” he finally snapped. “So I was intimidating and Shippo was cute and we convinced the innkeepers that we deserved a treat! You’re welcome!”
“Thank you,” they both wheezed dutifully.
They all had to admit that the food was well received. Shippo immediately grabbed a cake in each hand an inhaled them in a most impressive display. The others took it as their cue to grab whatever sweets they wanted before the kit could dive in for more. And they all had to admit that it was nice to enjoy the simple pleasure of a sweet treat. They shared out the cakes and fruit with tea, while Kirara displayed an intriguing affinity for cherries. They chatted as they ate, and found some of the lingering tension dropping away. Shippo finished off a good four cakes on his own, in addition to several sticks of dango and two sweet buns, and then he began stiffing around near the others. Both Sango and Miroku shoved the remainder of their respective cakes in their mouths before he could think to take any. Inuyasha, though, was on his second cake, and still had an amount worth pilfering.
Shippo sat down on Inuyasha's knee and stared unsubtly at the dessert. Inuyasha growled at him softly and moved the cake out of reach. Sango chuckled at the interaction, as it was far from the first time that they'd had to guard their meal from tiny fox hands. Miroku, though, caught a flash of something in Inuyasha's expression as he tried to protect his food. He thought back on the many meals he'd shared with the hanyou, and how he'd always sat out of arm's reach until he was done eating. How he scarfed everything down as fast as possible. How even though he never snapped at Shippo, he always seemed to be on the defensive. And it made sense. From the little he knew about Inuyasha's past after his mother's death, food had to have been scarce. Miroku knew from his own travels just how precious it could be in hard times, and how easily others could take it if you weren't paying close enough attention. If you weren't willing to fight for it.
"Shippo," he chided the fox, and both he and Inuyasha looked up at him in surprise. "You can have what you want from the trays - so long as you don't make yourself sick - but you have no right to take what others have claimed. Besides, there's plenty to go around."
"Fine," Shippo muttered sulkily. He plonked himself down in front of the tray and grabbed another sweet bun, and just like that, any trace of a bad mood vanished.
Miroku smirked to himself and glanced up to meet Inuyasha's eyes. His friend was staring back at him with an unreadable expression, the cake still held in his hand as though forgotten. Miroku felt his expression soften and he offered Inuyasha a small, reassuring smile. Inuyasha's cheeks flushed bright red and he looked away, seemingly lost in thought before he shoved the cake into his mouth in a few massive bites.
They all purposefully enjoyed the evening as it faded into night. Sango popped the pits out of the cherries one-by-one and tossed them in the air for Kirara to catch. Inuyasha sampled all the fruit in a way that spoke to not having tried many in the past. Miroku watched him out of the corner of his eye, noting each expression as each new flavour burst on his tongue, and trying to convince himself that he wasn't staring. By the time the sun had set, and Shippo was sprawled across the floor in overstuffed sleep, the others sipped their tea in companionable silence. They had all but finished the drink when Miroku put a different pot over the irori. Inuyasha sniffed the air and wrinkled his nose, glancing at Miroku incredulously.
“Saké?”
“Why not?” Miroku shrugged. “It’s here, so we may as well drink it.”
“We never have before,” Inuyasha muttered.
“We’ve never had such cause for celebration,” Miroku smiled. “Today we rejoice in a job well done and the family we share.”
Inuyasha’s eyes darted between him and Sango. “You two had a moment while I was away, didn’t you?”
“We simply expressed our gratitude for all of our friends,” Miroku shrugged. “In these difficult times, our companions make all the difference.”
“I’ll drink to that!” Inuyasha cheered gruffly.
They passed out small cups of warm saké and each took a few tentative sips. Inuyasha hadn’t had the stuff often, probably because it was a strong drink that bit back and affronted his senses. Still, it was warm, and he had two small cups before deciding that the peaches were better. He also noticed that despite his grand proclamation, Miroku stopped after one cup. He’d never seen the monk even touch the stuff before, despite it being offered at several of the places they’d stayed in previously. He suspected that growing up with Mushin had curbed Miroku’s taste for the drink.
After Kirara wrinkled her nose at the cup they offered her, Sango was left to finish the provided jug alone. As had become customary since the encounter with Kikyo, they tried to cling on to the peace of the evening for a little longer, but gradually they started towards bed. Inuyasha carefully wiped the red stains of cherry juice off from the fur around Kirara's mouth, her tails lashing in embarrassment as he did so. He only teased her a little. Meanwhile, Miroku had to talk Shippo out of trying to eat the last two sweet buns, rightly stating that the kit would make himself sick, and falsely claiming that he wouldn't be the one to help him if he did. Everyone was in high spirits as they curled up together with full stomachs, warmed by the saké and fire.
It was some time later that Miroku woke to an elbow jabbing into his stomach. His grunt of surprise startled Inuyasha awake, and they both blinked sleepily at Sango as she struggled to her feet.
“Y’alright?” Inuyasha mumbled, rubbing at his eyes with the back of his fist.
“I need to pee,” Sango hissed at them as she stumbled to the door.
“Have fun,” Inuyasha said as he lay back down. Miroku, however, was not convinced. Sango could snap awake from a deep sleep and have Hiraikotsu in her hand in a heartbeat. Now, she was struggling to open the door properly. Realization slammed into him and he sucked in a startled gasp.
“She’s drunk,” he whispered fiercely to Inuyasha, whose eyes widened in response. They both turned to watch Sango struggling with the door and almost knock Hiraikotsu over in the process.
“I am not dealing with is,” Inuyasha whispered firmly, pointedly hiding behind a blanket.
Miroku sighed and rose to his feet, padding after Sango and following her through the inn halls from a safe distance, Kirara trotting beside him. The slayer wasn’t exactly drunk, per se, but she had clearly lost some coordination along the way. She hadn’t even appeared to realize that she was being followed. Miroku hung back as Kirara made sure she completed her objective, and he breathed a sigh of relief as she began the return journey to the room. Hopefully, this would be nothing more than a good story that they could mercilessly tease her about later.
They were almost back to the room when Sango froze, every muscle in her body tensing as she stared down a connecting hallway. She slowly shifted her stance, lowering her center of gravity closer to the ground, and sprang forward. There was a shout, and Miroku darted around the corner to see the innkeeper pressed up against the wall.
Sango glared the man down, holding her sword steadily at his throat. “I will stab you.”
“Alright, that’s enough,” Miroku said firmly, taking the sword from her hands. He turned to place it safely on the ground. “We don’t stab innocent- Sango!”
He turned around to find a dagger in her hand, now pressed against the man’s belly. He had to wrestle this one away from her, as this time she had anticipated his movements and clumsily fought back. He threw the dagger aside next to her sword and turned to the man.
“I apologize- No!” Another, smaller knife appeared in her hand. “Where do you even keep all those?”
Miroku decided that the safest option was to simply remove Sango from the man, so he wrapped his arms around her waist and lifted her up and away from him. She wriggled and let out several noises of protest, but apparently found herself unable to escape.
“My deepest apologies,” Miroku said to the innkeeper, who stared at them with wide eyes. “My companion has faced many enemies in the past. I assure you, this will not happen again.”
He gathered her weapons and carried her back to the room, shooting a wry smile at Kirara, who looked like she was regretting her life decisions thus far. Inuyasha gave them a curious look as Miroku deposited Sango on the floor, no doubt having heard what transpired in the hallway. Miroku placed the sword and dagger against the wall next to the Hiraikotsu and simply hoped that Sango wouldn’t find need to retrieve any of the other weapons hidden about her person.
“Where’s Shippo?” Sango whispered loudly. “I need to hold Shippo right now.”
Miroku dutifully passed the sleeping kit over to her and she immediately curled around him in a tight ball. Inuyasha shared a half-amused, half-concerned smile with Miroku as they lay down on either side of her. So much for a relaxing night.
~*~
Sesshomaru stood at the lip of the volcano, watching the lavafields below with veiled interest. Jaken struggled to make his way across the burning hot ground, his grating voice easily carrying back to where Sesshomaru waited. He already knew from the lack of youki inside the giant demon skull lying in the volcano’s mouth that their quarry had fled. Jaken’s vocal struggle was poor consolation for the loss. Beside him, his new mount stood obediently waiting for his next order. The two-headed dragonoid was the most competent mount he had acquired for some centuries, and he had no doubt that it would serve him well. As for Jaken, well, he had trained him well enough that it wouldn't be worth killing him now. Sesshomaru watched the imp disappear into the gaping jaws of the demon skull, calling out for Totosai. Jaken’s habit of talking to himself told Sesshomaru all he needed to know of the situation. At the affronted exclamation “Moved?!” the dog demon leapt from the rim and easily floated down to land beside the giant skull. He walked up silently behind Jaken, causing the imp to startle.
“So he has fled,” Sesshomaru said flatly, watching Jaken squirm.
“Please forgive me, Master Sesshomaru!” the imp begged. “That arrogant swordsmith is known to be very temperamental. He only forges swords if he takes a personal liking to the client who ordered it.”
“I see. He has no intention of making a sword that suits my purpose.”
“You can’t really blame him,” Jaken muttered and then froze, realizing his mistake.
He gasped in horror and chanced a look up at Sesshomaru, eyes bulging from his head. Sesshomaru kept his face blank other than the barest smile that twisted his lips. Jaken almost expired on the spot.
“You’re smiling!” the imp shrieked, jumping up and down. “Oh, don’t smile at me Master Sesshomaru! Please get angry! Please, I beg you!”
Sesshomaru silently turned and began walking away, allowing himself a small smirk. Jaken’s heart was hammering and his scent sour with fear. Even if it was amusing, Totosai’s broken promise was another matter entirely. Sesshomaru could not allow the swordsmith such disrespect. The world needed to know that betraying him was a death sentence.
~*~
They day was bright and warm as they walked along the dirt road. Shippo was chasing a butterfly and there was nothing around but forest and grassy fields. The townspeople had told them of a weasel demon terrorizing a nearby village which sounded as though it might have a Jewel shard. They decided to investigate before summoning Hachi to fly them to Kaede’s village.
“They said the village was just on the other side of that mountain,” Sango said, pointing out the path before them. “We should arrive before nightfall. That’s when the weasel demon is said to attack.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Inuyasha said with a toothy grin. “Just be sure to save your stabbing for the demon, Sango.”
She growled deep in her throat and glared at him. “I told you, we will never speak of that again.”
“Go easy on her, Inuyasha,” Miroku chided gently. “I’m sure that the ninety-year-old innkeeper and his teapot were a true danger in Sango’s mind.”
“I can kill you,” she whispered fiercely.
“I’m sure you can.”
Sango opened her mouth to snap at their stupid, grinning faces, when she was interrupted by a moo. She froze, her expression clouding with confusion. A cow? She glanced around, but there was no sign of cattle anywhere in the area.
“Where is it?” Shippo asked, climbing higher on Miroku’s shoulder to get a better vantage point. “I don’t see any farms nearby.”
Another deep, mooing bellow came from nearby, and this time they could pinpoint the direction. They all glanced up to the sky in disbelief. A faint dark smudge stood out in sharp contrast to the sun. As they squinted at it, a bolt of lightning struck down from above, splitting apart the earth between them. They all jumped back instinctively, grabbing at their weapons as the dust settled around them. A grizzled old human-looking youkai with bulging eyes sat upon a three-eyed ox demon. The old man wore a green and black kimono which fell from his bony shoulders and grasped a long-handled hammer. Inuyasha, who had been forced to jump to the opposite side of the demon from the rest of his pack, cast them a wide-eyed look.
“Who the heck are you?” he growled at the demon pair, dropping to a crouch in preparation for a fight.
“I am called Totosai,” the old demon proclaimed in a wobbly voice. “Draw your sword, Inuyasha.”
Inuyasha bared his teeth and narrowed his eyes. How did this old geezer know his name?
“I’m coming at you whether you put up your sword or not!” Totosai announced, waving his hammer in the air. He gathered his legs up from under him and leapt from the back of his ox with surprising power. Inuyasha swore and pulled Tessaiga from its sheath, barely managing to swing it in front of himself to block the blow. The hammer connected with the blade with a loud clanging sound, pushing Inuyasha back with the force of it. He gasped as the sword quivered in his hands. How the hell had the old demon managed to push him back with a spindly old hammer?
Totosai jumped back and landed hard on the ground, muttering to himself. “That sword is singing like an old sod! Dull resonance- This kid can’t be the right one to use it!”
Inuyasha growled, his ears flicking back and lifting the sword as he charged. “Tell me who the hell you are!”
The old demon reached into his robe and pulled out a strip of leather. A long, frog-like tongue darted from his mouth and licked along the strip, his bugging eyes never leaving Inuyasha. As the Tessaiga swung towards him, he lifted the strip of leather above his head and caught the blade. Inuyasha ground to a halt in disbelief. The old geezer had stopped Tessaiga using a piece of old leather! What the fuck?
“You’ve been too rough with ‘er,” Totosai muttered, moving the leather strip up and down the blade as though polishing it while humming to himself in displeasure. “This blade is all nicked up! Have you been chopping down trees? What a shame, what a shame!”
“Whaddya know about it?” Inuyasha snarled. “Who are you?”
A dark speck sprang from Totosai’s shoulder and landed on Inuyasha’s. “I think that’s enough, Totosai,” a familiar voice announced.
“Myoga?” Inuyasha spluttered incredulously.
“Myoga, you told me this pup knew what he was doing!” Totosai accused angrily.
“I never said that,” Myoga defended himself. “But he is the younger son of Lord Tōga, the rightful inheritor of the sword.”
“Well, I suppose I can hear him out,” Totosai grumbled, dropping down to sit cross-legged on the ground. His ox demon immediately walked over and plopped down behind him so he could rest on the creature’s side. “What about those two humans? We can have a snack while we discuss.”
Inuyasha’s eyes widened as he realized what Totosai was suggesting and he instantly hurled himself between the old demon and the rest of his pack.
“Those are not for eating,” Myoga chided. “They are Miroku and Sango, and I suggest you treat them with respect if you don’t want to anger Inuyasha. He does not take kindly to any threat posed to his pack.”
“These dog demons are so strange,” Totosai muttered, shaking his head. “Though I can see he’s inherited his father’s soft spot for mortals.”
“Myoga,” Inuyasha growled dangerously. “Give me one reason why I shouldn’t rip this old geezer to shreds right now.”
“Totosai is the swordsmith who forged Tessaiga,” Myoga explained quickly. “He will be able to help you with the sword’s power.”
Inuyasha blinked skeptically at the old demon. He glanced questioningly at Miroku and Sango, who both shrugged. Cautiously, Inuyasha sat down across from Totosai, keeping himself planted firmly in front of the others. “I’m listening.”
“Many years ago, your father gave me one of his fangs to forge into Tessaiga,” Totosai reminisced. “He only wanted the best. Only certain circles of the finest blade-swinging demons are acquainted with my work. I am famous among those who know, and among those who don’t, I’m not.”
Inuyasha sniffed warily. “And what the hell is that supposed to mean?”
“I’m guessing it means he’s not very popular,” Miroku mused flatly.
“Whatever,” Inuyasha huffed. “I don’t give a rat’s ass if you’re famous or not, old man! What do you want?”
“Well, now that I’ve seen the Tessaiga in action, I’d say the sword is being badly misused and abused,” the old demon shook his head mournfully. “It sings a sad song, indeed. To see my work like this…it simply breaks my heart.”
Inuyasha growled indignantly. “If you’ve come to pick a fight with me, just say so!”
“Oh, it’s useless!” Totosai wailed. “Myoga, the Tessaiga can’t be entrusted to someone so short-tempered and bloodthirsty as this arrogant whelp!”
“I see what you mean,” Myoga sighed, leaping onto Totosai’s lap. “He shouldn’t be recklessly going into battle while relying on a strength he doesn’t have the self-discipline to wield. He should probably just give up the sword.”
“Yes, it’s best for all if I break the sword in half,” Totosai agreed. “Sooner rather than later.”
Inuyasha sprang to his feet and jabbed the sword against Totosai’s throat. “What did you say?” he snarled threateningly. Miroku and Sango instantly grabbed his shoulders, pulling back the bristling hanyou. “I don’t care who made the sword, you dried up, metal-bending old skinbag!” Inuyasha spat, struggling in their arms. “It’s mine, and I’ll run you through with it if you even try to break it!”
“It was only a thought!” Totosai wheezed faintly.
“Sorry,” Myoga muttered conspiratorially. “I forgot to warn you about his temper.”
“Don’t worry,” Totosai whispered back. “I’ll sneak it away when he’s not looking and melt it into a pendant.”
Inuyasha ripped from his friends’ grasp and lunged for Totosai again. “Say that to my face you two-bit junker!”
“Master Inuyasha,” Myoga said firmly. “You asked me to find out more information regarding Tessaiga’s true power. Totosai knows the sword better than anyone else. He can help you unravel the mystery, which you have no hope of solving on your own. He can tell you how to tap into the power which allowed you to destroy a hundred demons in one sweep. He knows the sword’s secrets! Please, just give him a chance!”
Inuyasha reluctantly sat back down, propping Tessaiga over his shoulders. “I ain’t making no promises. I can get the hang of the sword on my own.”
“I understand you’ve been collecting fragments of the Shikon Jewel for some time,” Totosai said calmly. “Who knows how many demons have multiple pieces of the Jewel? Tessaiga’s power would allow you to face even the most powerful foe. You just need to awaken its true potential.”
“He has a point, Inuyasha,” Miroku said quietly.
“I think you should at least hear what he has to say,” Sango added.
Inuyasha scoffed and sheathed Tessaiga. “I guess it can’t hurt. Alright, old man. What do I have to do?”
“First, I must tell you that someone seeks my life!” Totosai announced dramatically. “A young fool barged into my forge and demanded I make him a sword that would rival the strength of Tessaiga. He told me he would kill me if I refused! I want you to protect me from him.”
Inuyasha lunged forward and grasped Totosai by the face. “Say ‘please’ before asking for favours.”
“You never told me about this!” Myoga said to Totosai. “What did he look like?”
“That young mongrel,” Totosai sighed. “He has long white hair and he wears a cloak made of thick furs.”
Behind Inuyasha, Miroku sucked in a breath through his teeth. He had a bad feeling about this. “He specifically asked for a sword to rival Tessaiga?” he asked the old demon.
“What are you thinking?” Sango asked, glancing between Miroku and Inuyasha.
Totosai gasped and blanched, his eyes slowly raising up to the sky. “He’s here!”
Inuyasha whipped around, instantly finding the figure flying towards them. Sesshomaru was a white blur against the dark olive green scales of the strange, two-headed horse-dragon he was riding. Inuyasha swore and drew Tessaiga.
“Who is that?” Sango asked as she pulled Hiraikotsu from her back.
“Inuyasha’s older brother,” Miroku informed her grimly. “They’re not exactly on friendly terms.”
“Protect me!” Totosai wailed, ducking for cover behind the hanyou.
“Inuyasha,” Sesshomaru called down from his mount in a low voice. “Why do you conspire with Totosai?”
Totosai popped his head out from behind Inuyasha. “Because you happen to be evil incarnate?”
“Totosai,” Sesshomaru smirked coldly. “I see you are rushing headlong into your grave.”
“What’s he saying?” Sango whispered to Miroku, squinting up at the smudge of the dog demon.
“No idea. He always speaks just loud enough for Inuyasha to hear. I think it’s his way of insulting us mortals.” Miroku grimaced. “He can hear everything we say, though.”
“I never said I was talking about you, Lord Sesshomaru!” Totosai was busy backpedaling wildly. “Why don’t we discuss your sword after you battle it out with Inuyasha?”
“Such loyalty,” Miroku grumbled darkly.
“Totosai, your word is as good as a blood-vow to me,” Sesshomaru stated as he floated up off his mount. “Did you hear that, Inuyasha? He will forge my new sword after I kill you.”
Inuyasha swore and held Tessaiga out in front of him. Recognizing the signs, Miroku grabbed Shippo and dragged Sango after him to the cover of a patch of trees.
“Shouldn’t we help?” Sango asked, twisting around to see Sesshomaru descending rapidly towards Inuyasha.
“They like to battle it out alone,” Miroku huffed, though he sounded unconvinced. “Sometimes limbs go missing in the process.”
Sesshomaru lifted a hand, green poison glowing at the tips of his claws. Then he dove towards the ground at breakneck speed. He struck and Inuyasha darted back, barely evading the bolt of poison which cracked the ground at his feet. He leapt back at Sesshomaru, viciously swinging his sword. Sesshomaru easily dodged every blow, a smug smile on his face.
“You can tell by their tempers they’re related,” Totosai muttered, appearing behind the trees beside the others with his ox demon.
“You’re the cause of all this,” Miroku reminded him sourly.
Totosai gasped loudly and scratched his head. “Am I really?”
“Inuyasha!” Sango called out. “Remember what I said about facing different opponents!”
Inuyasha growled. She was right. At his next swing, he feigned right before jabbing at Sesshomaru’s legs with a short thrust. His brother’s eyes widened and he stumbled back, barely avoiding the blow. The short thrill of victory shriveled and died as Sesshomaru’s eyes grew cold and hard. Light sparked at his fingertips and his yellow-green light-whip sprang from his claws. The whip snapped out at Inuyasha, who barely blocked it in time. He was forced back, giving up all the ground he’d gained, as the whip struck at him again and again. He could barely block the thing with Tessaiga's blade, and he didn't dare take the time to attack. He would be able to survive that poison, but the others weren't so lucky. And they were getting alarmingly close to where his pack were hiding. A thrum of fear ran through Inuyasha, and Tessaiga’s blade began to glow with amber light. The next time the whip struck, Inuyasha sliced through it, dissipating the power into the air.
Sesshomaru actually looked surprised, and Inuyasha wasted no time in pressing his advantage. He leapt into the air with a shout, bringing the Tessaiga slamming down towards his brother with a burst of power. The force travelled along the ground, kicking up clouds of dust. Sesshomaru rose through the debris into the air.
“Too slow,” he hissed before bolting back down towards Inuyasha, his poison claws connecting with Tessaiga’s blade. The resulting force sent a wave of poisons barrelling in all directions and pushed Inuyasha back. He coughed the toxins from his lungs but then Sesshomaru was pressing into his space. He didn’t have time to react before a fist connected with his face, knocking him off his feet and sending him crashing into the ground.
“That kid is so slow, it’s pathetic!” Totosai muttered from where he and the others watched. “Myoga, why did you lie about him using Tessaiga’s full power?”
“He used it once before!” Myoga insisted.
“Totosai,” Sesshomaru called, glancing over at them. “Don’t you feel sorry for Tessaiga? It is no better than a club in Inuyasha’s hands. The sword can live or die depending on its master.”
Totosai nodded. “A wise observation, I agree.”
Sango growled quietly and yanked on the collar of the old demon's tunic. “Stop agreeing with him, you fool.”
“Don’t give me that, swordsmith, or you’ll really have something to worry about,” Inuyasha muttered as he climbed to his feet. “I’m only warming up! Just wait ‘til you see what I really got!”
He swung at Sesshomaru again, who again dodged effortlessly.
“Oh, no,” Myoga muttered from Miroku’s shoulder. “The blood’s rushed to his head.”
Sesshomaru’s hand darted out and snatched Inuyasha’s wrist. Poison burned along his claws and sank, burning, into Inuyasha’s skin. “Do you still refuse to make me a sword, Totosai?” he asked, dangerously low.
Totosai appeared to consider for a long moment, then nodded to himself. He leapt into the air, his cheeks puffing up before he spewed fire from his mouth onto the brothers below. Sesshomaru leapt out of the way while Inuyasha cried out, desperately covering his face with his sleeve. The flames faded away, revealing a smouldering hanyou. He stalked over to where Totosai had landed, smoke still rising from his robes. He struck the old demon across the face before brushing away the singed edges of his hair.
“You absolutely refuse?” Sesshomaru asked, landing lightly across from the scorched earth.
“You ungrateful mongrel!” Totosai shouted at him. “You know as well as I do I’ve already made you an excellent sword! It’s not my fault that you’re too stupid to wield Tenseiga!”
Sesshomaru’s eyes darted to the sword at his hip, disdain on his face.
“You have a great sword of swords,” Totosai continued passionately, heedless of Sesshomaru’s death glare. “No better and no worse than the Tessaiga, just as your father intended! You should learn to respect and love it, you ungrateful brat!”
Miroku swallowed and pushed Sango further behind the trees between them and Sesshomaru. The inu-demon’s voice was deathly calm, his youki rising around him. “Do you dare imply that this useless sword is worthy of me?”
“Oh, I’ve made you angry, have I?” Totosai cackled. “Time to take our leave!”
He sprang into the air, swinging his hammer above his head and bringing it crashing into the ground. Fire and rock burst from the earth in a flaming torrent towards Sesshomaru. As the inu-demon leapt for safety, Totosai snagged Inuyasha by the robes and dragged him onto his waiting ox demon. Miroku and Sango exchanged a glance and jumped onto Kirara’s back with Shippo. She sprang into the air after Totosai’s ox, making their escape before Sesshomaru could follow. They hid in the low cloud cover as Totosai patted his mount affectionately.
“Good boy, Mō-Mō,” he praised. The ox mooed in response.
“I didn’t know you had that kind of power!” Shippo gasped at Totosai. “Why are you asking Inuyasha for protection? It should be the other way around!”
Inuyasha growled, while the old demon shook his head forlornly. “Sesshomaru calls his great sword useless, and Inuyasha is useless with his great sword! How I overestimated the both of you.”
“So, Sesshomaru,” Sango said, glancing between Miroku and Inuyasha. “Not much for brotherly affection?”
“Indeed,” Miroku nodded. “He’s a little…”
“He’s an evil, selfish bastard with no regard for anyone’s life but his own!” Inuyasha spat.
Miroku shrugged. “I was going to say ‘unfriendly’, but…”
They landed Kirara and Mō-Mō in a clearing by the river. As Inuyasha began cleaning the soot from his face and combing out the burnt ends of his hair with his fingers, Miroku turned to Totosai. “You made Sesshomaru’s sword?”
“I sure could use a bite to eat,” Totosai grumbled, ignoring the monk. “I’m practically fading away from hunger!”
“I’m hungry, too!” Shippo piped in helpfully.
Inuyasha heaved a sigh and turned to the swordsmith. “Look, if I find you something to eat, will you tell us about Sesshomaru’s sword?”
Totosai nodded enthusiastically. Inuyasha sniffed the air, immediately picking up the scent of wild boar. Kirara trilled and rose to her feet, but he shook his head. He still trusted his old demon about as much as he trusted Myoga not to run away in battle. If the old codger tried anything, he wanted the others to have Kirara nearby to get them to safety. He set off at a run, quickly tracked down the boar and killed it with a rapid blow to the head. Grudgingly, he accepted Kirara's help in carrying it back to the group, though he kept a careful eye on Totosai the entire time. The old demon wasn't making any threatening moves, though. He babbled delightedly as they set up a spit, and used his flaming breath to set the fire.
“So Tenseiga,” Inuyasha prompted as they sat down around him. “Is it really as powerful as Tessaiga?”
“Its abilities are unlike anything I’ve heard of before,” Totosai said wistfully. “When your father commissioned me to make it, I shuddered at the very thought of its immense powers!”
“And yet Sesshomaru refuses to use it,” Miroku commented dryly. “I’ve never seen it out of its sheath. Have you, Inuyasha?”
“No, now that you mention it.”
“The Great Dog General gave me two fangs,” Totosai continued, lost in his own world. “The elder brother was to have Tenseiga, and the younger the Tessaiga. His instructions were very specific. Sesshomaru just isn’t impressed with a sword that doesn’t cut.”
“Doesn’t cut?” Inuyasha spluttered. “No wonder! Who the hell would want something like that? How’re you supposed to even fight with it?”
“The Tenseiga is not a sword you use against foes,” Totosai corrected. “It is a sword of healing. The Tessaiga is to defeat the powerful, but the Tenseiga is to save the lives of the weak.”
“A sword that saves lives?” Sango asked. “I’ve never heard of anything like it!”
“If the bearer truly has kindness of heart towards humanity, then the Tenseiga may save a hundred in one sweep,” Totosai nodded.
“How can that be used as a weapon?” Sango asked.
“It can turn the tide of a battle,” Miroku murmured. “Such an ability could be very useful in these warring times.”
“I almost called the sword the Coffin-Cheater, but Tenseiga was more classy,” Totosai reminisced. “Actually, it was Lord Tōga that suggested the name!”
“So my father wanted you to make a sword for each of us,” Inuyasha said, shaking his head. “No wonder Sesshomaru’s pissed! He can’t use his! He’s a dried up husk of a demon with no soul. He could never feel kindness towards anyone!”
“He wouldn’t be happy with it, even if he could use it,” Totosai sighed mournfully. “Even though it was your father’s last wish.” He poked at the wild boar and licked his lips. “A well-roasted pig indeed!”
Everyone took a step towards the roast, ready to eat. Totosai lifted up the boar by the spit, unhinged his jaw, and swallowed the entire thing whole - the boar that had been almost as long as he was tall, and twice the weight of him. His previously concave belly stuck out like a ball. Shippo wailed and Kirara stared at him with an absolutely heartbroken expression.
“Huh?” Totosai said, looking at the stick in his hand. “Where’d the roast go?”
Sango shared a glare with Miroku. “Can I stab him?” she muttered quietly.
~*~
“I didn’t realize your sword was also your inheritance from your father,” Jaken said as they walked along the swamp. “Why don’t you use it, Master? What kind of power does it hold? It must be something remarkable!”
Sesshomaru stopped with a flash of annoyance. “You want to know, Jaken?”
“The idea of two swords forged from your father’s fangs is extremely intriguing!” the imp prattled on, unaware. “It’s like the swords are two brothers born from the same father, and yet…” His heartrate jumped as he realized his mistake. “Not that I mean to compare it to you and Inuyasha, Lord Sesshomaru! I’m not at all concerned that your hanyou brother can wield his sword! It doesn’t make him more powerful- I’m sure you would use yours if you could- I mean-”
“Jaken!” Sesshomaru snapped.
“…yessir?” Jaken turned around slowly, trembling.
Sesshomaru unsheathed Tenseiga and slashed the imp across the chest. A dark blue light shone from the blade and trailed after Jaken as he fell to the ground. Sesshomaru almost sighed.
“Get up, Jaken. You’re fine.”
Jaken gasped as he realized that he was, indeed, alive and unharmed. “How can this be?” he asked, springing to his feet. “It’s impossible! You just cut me in half!”
“Do you see now?” Sesshomaru asked flatly. “This useless Tenseiga is a sword that cannot kill.”
“What’s it good for, then?” Jaken asked as he sheathed the sword.
“Precisely.”
A rumbling sound came from the swamp. Sesshomaru pursed his lips. This was why they had come. His father had seen fit to bestow upon him a useless sword, while blessing Inuyasha with its powerful twin. He would claim his rightful inheritance. When the dragon burst from the swamp, he met it with flashing claws and a wave of youki. He formed a light-whip with his claws, slicing the kami’s head clean off. As it fell to the ground, another flash of power severed its arm from its body. Sesshomaru stepped forward and picked up the limb.
“This dragon has given me a gift,” he said. “Now I can return and claim what is owed to me.”
~*~
“I’ll be off, now!” Totosai informed them jauntily, climbing onto Mō-Mō’s back.
“Looks like he finally got tired of us feeding him,” Inuyasha grumbled, incredibly peeved about the evening, night, and morning spent fishing and hunting, only to have everything disappear down the old demon’s gullet. He'd only managed to sneak one fish to Shippo and another to Kirara. None of the roasting meat had cooked long enough for the humans to eat it before Totosai got it.
“You’re leaving?” Miroku asked the old demon flatly. “Just like that?”
“Well, Inuyasha’s not exactly much protection for me,” Totosai said.
“Let him go,” Inuyasha growled. “The old geezer would only slow us down. I hope Sesshomaru does find him!”
Totosai’s head whipped around, and his eyes narrowed. He jumped from Mō-Mō’s back and reached for Inuyasha’s sword. “Give it back! The Tessaiga is useless in your hands! It would be better off as scrap metal!”
Inuyasha snarled at him. “Any part of you that touches me or my sword is getting removed.”
Totosai huffed and made an about turn. “Don’t say I didn’t warn ya!”
He leapt back onto Mō-Mō’s back and smacked the ox’s flank with his hammer. Mō-Mō shot forward, leaving a trail of dust behind him as he disappeared down the road.
“He’s certainly not afraid to speak his mind,” Miroku observed.
“He’s either extremely brave, or extremely senile,” Sango agreed.
“Should we go after him?” Miroku asked Inuyasha. “He never actually said how to control Tessaiga’s power.”
“I think it’s better for everyone sanity if we leave the old fart to it,” Inuyasha drawled, earning several nods of agreement.
A mooing sound came from behind them, and they all turned.
“And, he’s back,” Miroku sighed.
Mō-Mō was running toward them at breakneck speeds. Slowly, a white orb of light began growing from behind him. Inuyasha's heart sank as he recognized the concentrated youki. The orb caught Totosai and Mō-Mō, sending them flying through the air and crashing to the ground.
“Sesshomaru!” Inuyasha growled.
“Stay put, or I will tear you all to shreds,” Sesshomaru warned as the dust cleared.
Totosai yelped and ran to hide behind Inuyasha. The hanyou sighed. “Listen, old man. You’ve got no intention of making Sesshomaru a new sword, right?”
“No!”
“Ya hear that?” he called out to Sesshomaru. “I’ve had it up to here with you and all this shit about the Tessaiga. Let’s settle this once and for all!”
“Rest assured,” Sesshomaru said, raising his left arm, to which the claw of a mighty dragon was fastened. “It will all end today. You may have won the Tessaiga, and you may be collecting mortals and weak demons, but you have no power to beat me – not without the Wind Scar.”
Before Inuyasha could question what the hell that was, Sesshomaru darted forward, his dragon’s arm clamping hard over Tessaiga’s blade. Sparks flew, power surged along the sword, and the blade began to quiver under the force of it.