A/N: This story takes place after Inuyasha: the final act. I was not particularly loyal to the feudal era and Inuyasha time span pertaining to the actual years. I have extended it beyond its actual length and possibly started it before its actual starting point. Despite this, the storyline should flow smoothly. Hope this is not too much of a hassle.

Crimson Rain

Chapter I: Tetsuki.

He came and went as he pleased.

The gorgeous black bird with its glistening feathers and striking blue eyes stood on a branch just outside of Tetsuki's window. She placed a gentle hand against the bamboo straw bordering the windowpane and lightly dragged her fingertips along the hard smoothness of its surface.

The bird twitched and squawked once or twice before shuffling its small black-clawed feet from side to side before it peered at her with those luminous blue eyes. Tetsuki herself had the same deep blue eyes. Though they were slanted, they were considerably wide and large bordered with long, thick black lashes that swept her pale cheeks every time she blinked. Her hair was a murky sea of golden-brown ringlets that swayed loosely, yet gracefully down her back. She possessed elegance; she did not care to have.

The crow squawked again. How can such a horrid sound come from such a beautiful creature? Its existence fascinated Tetsuki to no end. She could sit at her window for hours just to watch this nameless black bird ruffle its feathers and peck at the tree bark. She'd grown accustomed to its frequent visits. He was usually spotted either near her window or out in the fields. Sure, there were many birds like him, but he was the only one Tetsuki liked. The crow was always around when she wanted to see him most. Every time she felt lonely or angry, there he was. His familiar squawking would catch her attention and she'd sit and talk to him for hours on end. She imagined that he was saying everything would be okay and she didn't have to be scared. She imagined him telling her to be patient and not let things get to her so easily. She imagined him bringing her comfort when the tears wouldn't stop. He was more than just some crow. He was her friend.

Tetsuki felt her arm grow numb and figured it had fallen asleep. With a sigh, she pulled her left elbow from the windowpane and rubbed it lightly to dull the sudden ache. She then switched to her right arm and placed her right elbow on the windowsill while her chin found refuge in her right palm. This had become her favorite pastime. Sit here, and just talk to the crow and admire its wild gracefulness. She figured it was waiting for her to tell it about her day. It stared at her for a long moment before shifting back and forth impatiently.

With a soft amused sigh, she began "I miss my grandfather…" and for a moment she recalled her grandfather. He was a huge bear of a man and despite his outrageous age, he had curly dark brown hair and a beard like a bird's nest—very wiry and full. He had bright blue eyes and lush pink lips that seemed to always hold a grin. He fought throughout the Eastern Lands for hundreds of years. Three years ago when the land gained its own empire, his fighting spirit was set to greater use. Sadly, he'd only fought in the Eastern Empire's army for only two years before his end was met. The tragedy was not foreseen and the story changed every time one of his "comrades" told it. In fact, Tetsuki made a song out of the men's wild assumptions:

"He was a coward with his tail between his legs!"

"He was a brave man, he made the enemy beg!"

"He shielded a sword from piercing my side!"

"He was killed by a demon a hundred times his size!"

"He killed a million wolf demons for calling him queer!"

"He was killed by a river demon just north of here!"

"He wasn't so brave."

"He didn't have pride."

"He dug his own grave."

"Or he's still alive!"

Despite how sick it was to make up such falsehood, Tetsuki didn't have much to go on. She was not there. It was obvious neither of them were around to actually witness his death so who knows what really happened. Most of their rambling came from scavenging for attention. Everyone wanted to seem important or significant in the lord's presence. Tetsuki rolled her eyes when she heard their suppositions ring throughout her memory. They were disrespectful as well as dishonest. To them, he was just a powerful general while to Tetsuki; he was her friend and grandfather. She missed him terribly.

"It's only been a year, but…" she bit her lower lip. The crow squawked. Go on, let it out. Tetsuki imagined its words. "One day, he called me into our family's sacred temple…"

"Come! Come!" grandpa Kinomatsu patted his knee for Tetsuki to sit. Before now, Tetsuki was not allowed inside the family temple room. He sat by firelight, ancient relics and other artifacts surrounded him. Because his body took up most of the room, Tetsuki could easily see what he wore. He was wrapped from head to toe with fur pelts and cloth woven by Tetsuki's grandmother. Atop his head was a furry brown hat made from the fur of an unlucky wolf. Tetsuki noticed the two long bulges in the bearskin cloth that was draped over one of his knees. Suspiciously, she walked warily towards him. She knew her granddad well. He would use his wacky antics to scare her, only to have her punch him through a wall or attempt to scare him back. Either way, they would both share a long gut-wrenching fit of laughter in the end. Kinomatsu grinned at her and under the shadows of the firelight; he'd seemed creepy and sinister. She didn't trust it and had ceased her stride. "Hurry, lass!" he said and smacked his exposed knee. At that moment, Tetsuki deciphered the bulges as outlines to a sword or two. Now she was interested and instantly closed the space between her and her ostentatious grandfather.

"Grandpa, I am not 90 anymore, I've grown since then." She stood at five-foot-three and knew that no matter how tall or old she came to be, he would always consider her his little warrior lass. She sat just on the edge of his knee so that she could support most of her own weight—a stubborn action on her behalf. Even so, she felt grandpa Kinomatsu place his large supporting hand on her lower back before unwrapping the bearskin cloth that sagged over his other knee.

Tetsuki gasped when she saw them. Two beautifully crafted swords. They were both in their sheaths, but the natural glow from them made Tetsuki's heart pound with adrenaline. She wanted ever so much to touch them.

"These are the Twin Swords of the Kurai Ryuu." Kinomatsu stated with a hearty smile. Tetsuki could hardly speak, she was so enthralled. Kinomatsu glanced at his granddaughter then down at the swords before he looked back up at her. She sat with a smile on her face and a million sparkles in her bright eyes. She seemed frozen. He had to shake her lightly to make sure she was ripped from her trance. After a nudge or two, Tetsuki was able to speak.

"Oh! Grandpa! They are so—!" she felt his enormous hand clasp over her mouth, covering most of her face and eyes. She mumbled for a short period of time before forcing his hand from her face. Once free she gasped deeply for air. "Are you trying to suffocate me!"

"Shh!" Kinomatsu warned then chuckled. "I don't want your mother coming in here yappin'" he said as he patted the hilt of one of the swords. "This sword is Furenkotsu. It is the sword of strength, valor, and darkness."

"Darkness?" Tetsuki blinked incredulously. "Why would we want an evil sword?"

"Don't look too much into it, girl." Her grandfather shook his head while patting Tetsuki's back like he was consoling an ignorant babe. Tetsuki ignored it and nodded. Besides, she was far too excited to care for his belittlement at the moment.

These swords were phenomenal! Her blue eyes glowed with anticipation while staring at the sword's intricate design. Though they were practically doubles, Furenkotsu was a little different from the other. Embedded in each of the swords' hilts were alignments of some sort of stone or jewel and this particular sword had red stones while its brother had blue stones. Furenkotsu's stones formed a swirl and when placed right beside the other, the swirl continued in blue around the other side of the corresponding sword. The base color of both swords was of a light gray color. If her grandfather allowed her to feel them, she might have flipped!

"Mm...Hm..." Her entire body tense, Tetsuki tried to remain nonchalant. She stiffly nodded again for her grandfather to continue while her hands fiddled eagerly between her knees.

Kinomatsu laughed; a fit of wheezing, to keep from being too loud. As he chortled, his entire body jerked and shook beneath his granddaughter. Tetsuki felt her cheeks heat up.

"Just go on, you old fool!" she nearly screamed her whisper towards him.

Kinomatsu wiped a tear from his eye before placing a large, warm hand on the other sword. "This is Furenkotsen, the sword of wisdom, faith, and light."

"So they are opposites. That is so cliché, grandpa." Tetsuki said, feigning disappointment with a slight pucker of her lower lip.

"But, you still want them do you not?"

Tetsuki remained silent for a moment before biting her lower lip, a sure sign that he was right. Kinomatsu chuckled.

"I'll tell you what, runt. If you can pull them from their sheaths, you can have them."

Tetsuki couldn't hold in her enthusiasm any longer. "Really?" she clapped her hands together and hopped from his knee. Kinomatsu hurriedly shushed her and looked around suspiciously as if the walls had ears.

"Yes, really…" he closed his eyes and continued in a more serious tone. "But, don't think this will be a simple task. These swords are special and would only be pulled from their sheaths by a chosen one. Now, perhaps when you are a few hundred years older I can—"

"Wow, they are lighter than I thought!" Kinomatsu heard Tetsuki's amazed voice and opened his eyes to see his granddaughter holding the unsheathed twin swords in the palm of each of her hands. His jaw dropped.

"Tetsukiii~! My little warrior! I am so proud of you! You are the chosen one!" he shouted while he picked her up and spun her around. Seems neither of them cared at that point who heard them.

"I am! I really am!" Tetsuki yelled and though she wore the appearance of a seventeen or eighteen year old, she giggled and squealed like a small child.

Once their glory was spent, Tetsuki placed the swords back in their sheaths. "Will you teach me?" she asked while hugging both swords to her chest.

"I can't teach you, woman!" he sounded appalled. "You have to find your own fighting spirit your own way." He said while cracking his knuckles against his chest bone. Tetsuki was not pleased. She glared at him and gently placed the swords on their proper hooks. Slowly and calmly, she grabbed Kinomatsu's thick brown beard and yanked him down to her height.

"Please, grandpa! Please!" she begged her eyes big and shiny like the night's sky. Her eyes watered as well, adding to the sympathy- card she was going for.

"Nope, that's not going to work this time, lass." Her grandfather said without hesitance. "I'm telling you, you need to learn on your own. That is just how it works." Every time he said the word "own" he made sure to overly emphasize it. This made his granddaughter's eye brow twitch. It was like he was trying to get on her nerves.

Tetsuki's patience thinned. Kinomatsu knew this when she tightened her grip on his beard and growled at him.

So she is serious about this. He thought.

"Okay, okay." Kinomatsu muttered before picking Tetsuki up as he settled her on his lap. "I will teach you."

Tetsuki finally let his beard go as she threw her hands up in the air in triumph. "Yay!" but her glee was short-lived. The war… "But…aren't you going into battle against the Western Empire soon?" she asked and Kinomatsu laughed.

"That I am!"

Tetsuki tsked. "Awe!" her tone was laced with disappointment as she slouched against the large man.

"But don't worry, I promise to teach you all you need to know when I return."

Tetsuki wasn't taking just that. "I want a super punch promise or it doesn't count." She said while narrowing her eyes at him.

"Okay, super punch promise I will teach you all you need to know when I return." He raised his large fist and pressed it against Tetsuki's smaller one. From there, they interlocked their fists and twisted them ever so slightly.

The deal was done.

"Ahh, much better." Tetsuki said and was just getting off of him when he drilled his large still-clenched fist into the top of her head. "Ow! Ow! Ow! Oww! You jerk!" she growled and jumped the laughing man, determined to get her payback.

"Two days later he was gone." Tetsuki said. Her blue eyes were lowered as she fought the sudden tears that threatened to flow. "From then on, I snuck into the temple—well…I wasn't going to, but when I saw that dad couldn't pull either of the swords from their sheaths, I accepted that they had chosen me and no one else. I know grandpa wouldn't have wanted me to let them rust in the temple." She paused to breathe, her lower lip trembled slightly. "I've been practicing with them as well. I know it sounds weird, but I sometimes pretend they have voices telling me what to do and what not to do with them. I have yet to unlock their true potential like grandpa did." She then looked up and was a bit surprised to see that the crow was gone. She gasped and frantically looked around for it, but it was nowhere to be found. Perhaps it flew away, bored of her story. It had never done that before. The shock ripped her from her reverie and the tears instantly stopped. Tetsuki slumped back into her small wooden chair and pouted. "Tch, Some friend." She muttered.

"Tetsuki!" she heard her mother calling her.

Tetsuki sighed. She didn't want to go to that woman. She was so…horrible.

"Yes?" she called out.

"Come here, please."

"Please?" So we have company otherwise mom wouldn't be so adoring. Tetsuki almost wanted to wait for a few to test how long her fake attitude was going to last. But after a few minutes, she decided not to beat a broken egg. She stood up from her chair and very slowly made her way towards her room's sliding door, tripping over a few things here and there. Her room was always messy, with straps of paper and scrolls and clothes everywhere. She didn't care to clean because when she did, she couldn't find a blasted thing she was looking for.

Lazily, she slid her door open and entered the hallway. Her home was nothing special; very simple and clean—aside from the pig sty she'd just left behind. Her mother made sure the floors were spotless and sanitary. Most would think they could eat off of it, but Tetsuki wouldn't dream of it. The surfaces would be wet more often than dry and it smelled of wet pine and burnt coal all of the time. At times, she'd wished she lived in the large castle the lord of the Eastern Lands lived in. He had it made—servants at every beckon call and all the food he can get his hands on. Tetsuki had never seen him, but imagined him to be the handsome type. She expected someone sophisticated and charming. She'd imagined the castle to be a totally different world from her own. In her mind, it would be filled with pampered idiots throwing themselves at the lord like fainting goats.

Gross.

Her mother, Reiko, was the fainting goat-type. She would go out of her way to suck up to royalty. Like that wasn't bad enough; she also believed that men should be above women in any way possible and that a woman's duties lie in the household and gardens. According to Miss Ignorant, women could never do a man's job. Tetsuki strongly disagreed and would argue her point every time it was brought up—which was every single day. Maybe it was the karma of her foolish notions that caused her to look like a dried up piece of meat. Her mother had aged horribly. She was once young and vibrant, but on her 1000th year, she seemed to have slumped and gained every ridge and valley of the land on her face and hands. Her hair was a dull brown, pushed up into a loose ponytail usually while her eyes were of a grayish color. Much like her looks, she became bitter and spiteful. She did not care for anyone, but her husband and the lord of the eastern lands...and anyone wealthier than they were. Like Tetsuki, Reiko was nothing like her parents. Her mother was wise and caring while her father was headstrong and valiant. Tetsuki followed her grandfather's more brutish ways, which her mother hated. She would hit and shit-talk Tetsuki all the time about it.

Now she was being a little saint. What could be the cause? This woman had been miserable since Tetsuki could remember.

Tetsuki, in the slowest way possible, opened the door to their living room. She frowned. Something wasn't right. Her melancholy and otherwise bitchy mother was…smiling.

"You called me?" Tetsuki said while she stared at the woman in bewilderment as she gingerly cleared the room towards her.

"Oh, my beautiful, perfectly elegant daughter!" her mother placed her aged hands on Tetsuki's cheeks and kissed her forehead.

What in all the fucks?

Tetsuki's face was filled with confusion and alarm. "Uh…" she didn't know what to say. Beautiful, perfectly—what?

"Come, my daughter." Her mother's smile seemed to crack her face. "Would you like something to eat? I know you like rice cakes."

"No, I don't…"

"O-okay"

You almost cracked there, lady.

"How about some poultry?" she went to their tiny kitchen and cooking area and took out a knife.

Tetsuki stepped back.

"Your father will kill one for you soon." She walked up to Tetsuki with the knife in hand. Tetsuki tensed and took another step back.

"Mom…you don't want to do this." She said and watched her mother tilt her head strangely and awkwardly like she was trying to pull the "cute" card and was failing horribly at it.

"Do what, dear?" she said. "I just wanted to hug my gorgeous daughter is all?"

Tetsuki's eye twitched. What? "Alright, what the hell is going on here!" her words came with such annoyance and volume that her feeble mother jumped from being startled.

"Okay, listen." She said her voice a little deeper and darker than before.

There we go.

"The son of the lord of the eastern lands wishes to marry you."

There was a pause.

"Duh-whuh?" Tetsuki slouched, dumbfounded. At that moment a sliver of golden brown hair untidily peaked at the top of her head.

"That is exactly what I was thinking." Her mother snapped. "What would someone like him see in you?" she finally walked away from Tetsuki and placed the stone knife down. Tetsuki narrowed her eyes at her mother and shook her head.

Bitch.

"Where did you hear this nonsense from, woman?" she said, figuring her mother was just deranged and desperate…or just borderline insane. None of those assumptions seemed too far-fetched for Miss Ignorant.

"She heard it from me." A voice Tetsuki wasn't familiar with resonated from the front door. She spun around and saw a bald man who had to have been at least three-hundred pounds overweight. As Tetsuki panned his figure from the feet up, she saw he wore sandals that leaned slightly from the burden. His legs were not legs. They were folds of loose skin drooping over one another beneath the black and white kimono he wore. This kimono had no obi and was slightly opened to where the man's chest was visible. If bears were parasites, Tetsuki would have thought one had latched on to this man's chest. He was beyond hairy!

Well if that is a parasite, it'd be eating for centuries…

"And, who the hell are you?" Tetsuki snapped out of her gaze to glare at the man and placed a hand on her hip. She noted his haggard breathing, like standing was an impossible task for him.

"Please, sit down, sire." Reiko offered him to sit, but he refused with a shake of his fat head.

"I am Sanketsu. I am the son of the lord of this empire."

The look on Tetsuki's face consisted of one widened eye and one squinted eye. Her mouth was agape and lopsided like she'd just eaten something bitter. She felt bile rise up and burn her throat as she fought to keep it all down.

"I'm sorry. What?" she managed to choke out.

At that moment, her mother grabbed her and pulled her to the side. "Don't ruin this for us! You are such an ungrateful, wench. You should be proud that a man of his stature would want anything to do with a mistake like you." She held so much hate in those cold gray eyes.

Tetsuki sighed. "Don't use me to better your worth. If you like him so much, why don't you marry him?" She whispered and saw her mother's clammy right hand twitch. She knew that if his "majesty" was not in the room, she would have struck her hard across the face.

The "prince" cleared his throat. "If I may?" He suggested and like an instant mask, Tetsuki's mother was wearing her phony smile again. It made Tetsuki sick and bile burned her throat once again.

Fucking goat.

"I would like to tell Miss Tetsuki why I have chosen her, a commoner, to be my bride." Sanketsu, once again, cleared his throat while pulling a scroll from his side-pouch.

Tetsuki rolled her eyes and slowly turned to face him. Her body slumped slightly to show her disinterest in anything he had to say.

"Your hair!" he read with such confidence, it made Tetsuki giggle and snort. Her mother smacked the middle of her back and made Tetsuki yelp and straighten up.

"Your hair is like fire!" there was a pause. "Your eyes! Your eyes are like the brightest of skies!"

Haha, what?

"Your skin! So fair, like that of a cloud!" he paused dramatically.

Both Tetsuki and her mother awaited his next few words.

Moments passed.

"Uh…is that all yo—"Tetsuki began.

"Your lips! Your lips are of the pinkest of flowers!" he continued, making Tetsuki groan before she could stop herself. Sanketsu's cheeks were set aflame. "Excuse me! You are being rude!" he shouted and Tetsuki wiped a nonexistent tear from her eye. Her mother was as red as a fire ember. Instead of smacking her daughter's back, she pinched her, digging her claws into her daughter's flesh until she drew blood.

Tetsuki tensed up and bit her lower lip to keep from reacting. Once her mother stopped, Tetsuki stepped out of her mother's reach while she slowly rubbed her back. The puncture wounds were already healed, but they still ached something fierce.

"Please continue, sire." said Reiko with a soft pleasant smile. Tetsuki glared at the floor while Sanketsu put his scroll away.

"Indeed. Miss Tetsuki." He looked at Tetsuki with a boyish grin. "I wish to tell you how I feel without reading."

"Thank goodness" muttered Tetsuki while her mother ignored her quiet insolence.

"Tetsuki, a month ago I saw you in the fields and I have to say that you are the most beautiful dog demon I have ever seen. You walked with such confidence and grace that I could not look away. Your eyes are large and of the brightest of blues. Your skin is fair and smooth like my father's silk. Your lips are of the pinkest of flowers."

Tetsuki mouthed his last few words in a mocking manner. She'd heard this before. He was no different than the village boys who constantly competed for her attention.

"Your breasts are full and voluptuous. They made my mouth water..."

Why? Did they remind you of meat? Tetsuki mused.

"They curve ever so softly down your small waist and wide hips. And your legs! Your legs are laced with muscles, but have a pleasant female softness to them. Oh, and your buttocks—"

"Whoa, there!" Tetsuki had to stop him. Amusement aside, she was beginning to feel uneasy. "Remember, my mom is right here."

"My apologies." He bowed by nodding his head dramatically slow. "Well, Miss Tetsuki. Will you marry me?" he asked as Tetsuki shook her head no.

"Sorry, I am not ready to marry." She decided to let the poor guy down easy. He made her laugh and he was bold enough to approach her. She had to give him credit. Her mother growled.

"You don't have a choice." A rough deep voice entered the doujo.

Tetsuki smelled musk and smoke. It must be her father, Meidamaru. He stood at six-foot-two, four inches taller than Reiko. He was a well-built man with black hair and dark green eyes. He took pride in the wild dingo look. His brows were full and bushy. His nose looked like it had its own muscles and his lips were thin and dark. His skin was sun-browned which made him look more like a barbarian than anything else. Tetsuki had decided a long time ago that he was just compensating for the fact that he was a wimp on the inside. She'd seen him strike her mother and on many occasions, he'd hit her as well. Tetsuki despised him.

She glanced at her father, but didn't protest. Unlike her mother, her father wouldn't hesitate to smack her mind straight in front of guests; even the great son of their lord. Sanketsu gave a goofy half-smile. "Then it is settled!" he chimed and bowed his head again before wobbling his way out of the door.

Was that it? Was that all he came here to do? He just needed consent and he was off to plan the wedding. Tetsuki was boiling with rage. She was the one getting married, shouldn't she have a say in the matter? Meidamaru walked towards her and for a moment, Tetsuki thought he might smack her just for shits and giggles.

"Move." He commanded and instantly, Tetsuki complied. She stepped to the side then walked towards the door. She hated being in the same room as her father—hell she hated being in the same house as her father. It was like the air had gotten thicker and she just needed to breathe.

"And where are you off to?" Reiko asked while running about like a mad-woman, fixing dinner for Meidamaru who was lounging about in the corner of their living space.

That's none of your fucking business, hag. "I'm going to visit grandmother. She said she had something for me."

"No, you're not. You're going to help me cook." Her mother insisted while cracking an egg or two. "Help me cook" meant "Discuss some minor important shit you don't care about". Tetsuki clenched her teeth. She would have declined, but she felt her father's gaze burning into her back. That was another thing she hated about her father; his awkwardly long stares. She was at the age of 196. She knew what those stares meant and it sickened her to no end. Reiko didn't notice it—or at least pretended not to notice. There were times when her father found excuses to touch Tetsuki. He would ask her to let him brush her long hair or to allow him to massage her shoulders and each time she said "no". It must have had something to do with her mother looking like a dried prune. He wished to have new blood and was sick enough to prey on his own daughter—his own blood.

Tetsuki stepped away from the door in an attempt to get out of his line of sight. It didn't help that she wore skin tight clothes nearly all the time. Throughout the years, she'd grown womanly curves and wearing her younger clothes did not help much when it came to modesty. Her grandmother would make her new clothes, but she'd been mourning the loss of her late husband for the past year and Tetsuki didn't feel right asking any favors of her.

From the corner of her eye, she saw her father's hand move from over his lap. His erection was palpable. Once more, bile seared her throat.

That sick bastard.

The rest of the evening consisted of Reiko arguing with Tetsuki about her wifely duties. Valid and invalid points were made. Slaps were involved. Tetsuki normally felt the need to hit back, but this was an every night thing. Not only was Tetsuki used to it, but she wouldn't dream of physically harming her mother. The hesitance wasn't for reason of respect. It was more like she would potentially snap her brittle mother like a twig. The arguments and the physical abuse seemed like a persistent thing. It never stopped or went away. The only break Tetsuki had was when she went to sleep and the minor thirty minutes she had when she woke up. Working in the fields and secretly training were bonuses when she felt she had time. There were nights she trained instead of slept. Swinging her twin swords and creating stances and techniques always soothed her mind after a rough day—oh…and the crow. Her secret diary usually made her life a little more bearable.

Indolently, Tetsuki made her way down the hall towards her room. Like every other day, she was drained by the end. Her mouth was practically dry from the amount of quarrelling she did. She knew her mother would never agree with her and she'd never agree with her mother. With a sigh, Tetsuki placed her hand on her door, but a sudden soft bumping made her pause. She listened intently as the blunt sounds continued followed by a shuffling or dragging sound. Tetsuki frowned beneath her puzzlement. Was it the crow? No, the crow wasn't nearly as heavy. Perhaps she could decipher the sound and match it with a different animal of some sort. She braced herself while she pressed her ear to the thin door. The thump sounded again, only closer to the door, making Tetsuki jump back. It literally sounded like someone was dropping and dragging bags of rice across her floor. Tetsuki's heart raced. What was in her room?

She sniffed the door for a moment before stepping away from it to peer down at the bottom molding. A shadow of something swept across it once and then again. She frowned. Maybe it was a pervert grabbing her undergarments for debauched reasons she rather not think about. Maybe it was that weird Sanketsu, trying to find other metaphors to describe his affection for her. Your trash! Your trash is like…Tetsuki shook the preposterous idea from her mind. Whatever it was, it was going to get its ass kicked for going through her personal belongings. Tetsuki placed her hand on the door and with the count of one, two, three, she slid it open.

Empty.

The room appeared even messier than she left it, but the culprit was nowhere to be found. It didn't seem like anything was stolen, though who would have wanted her junk anyhow. Cautiously, Tetsuki stepped inside, looking around every inch of the room. She decided instantly that she would not be jumped by whatever it was and remained vigilant and alert. Her domain was silent aside from the rustling of the tree just outside of her window. After about twenty minutes of searching, Tetsuki lowered her guard and decided that the perpetrator had bolted. With a sigh, she fell upon her soft padded make-shift bed and stared up at the ceiling. It was then; she realized how exhausted she truly was.

Just as her eyes closed, Tetsuki felt something considerably heavy land on her stomach; like someone dropped a hundred pound rock from the height of a tall tree. Tetsuki grunted and her eyes flew open. There she came face-to-face with huge navy blue eyes, sharp like a rattle snakes pupils. When it blinked, Tetsuki realized that its eye-lids were positioned horizontally rather than the usual vertical position. It purred lightly and rubbed its dry, smooth scaled skin against her cheek. Tetsuki sucked in a breath before screaming. She back-handed the creature across the face, watching it land on the wall on all-fours.

Tetsuki rolled out of her bed and stood up to get a better look at the creature. It was mostly black. The spikes on its head and back were bent like hooks facing its long tail. The thing blinked and a thin film of white covered its blue eyes before receding into the bottom of its eyes like an inner see-through membrane. Tetsuki panted for a moment as she watched it walk into the moonlight with its tail beneath its private like a scared puppy.

A Dragon!

Tetsuki gasped and placed her hands over her mouth. She hadn't seen a baby dragon before, but always wanted one. What was it doing in her room? She glanced at her window and noticed she hadn't placed the curtain over the pane like she usually did. That figures. She looked down at the creature as it slowly backed away from her. The whimpers escaping it were heartbreaking.

"Oh, no I'm sorry." She whispered as she kneeled down with her hand extended in a friendly gesture. "I promise not to hit you again…I'm sorry…" she said, but the baby dragon backed away once more until it was completely enveloped in darkness. Tetsuki pouted. "Ah man…"

"I see you've met your new pet?" a familiar voice sounded from her window.

Tetsuki ran to where she heard the voice, nearly knocking over the wooden chair. Her grandmother, Minira, stood just beside Tetsuki's tree with her hands behind her back. She was a small woman with huge bird-like round eyes. Her hair was in a thick braided ponytail that was draped across her shoulder. Her tresses were very thin and held more of a golden color than brown. Her eyes, in Tetsuki's opinion, were of the prettiest mixture of warm colors she'd ever seen. It was particularly gold, but there were greens and oranges and yellows all mixed together. The assortment of the colors was always unpredictable. Other than her home-made cotton yukata, Minira wore Kinomatsu's heavy bearskin pelts. In a year's time, she'd developed a hunch-back because of the additional weight. Despite the changes in her appearance, she never took the pelt off. Understandably, she'd taken her husband's death harder than anyone else. Minira smiled softly "You didn't come to see me."

"I'm sorry, grandma…" Tetsuki whispered. "Mother wouldn't let me, but thanks for the uh…dragon." She said while she settled her body against the windowsill. Her grandmother said nothing, her usual smiling face held a sudden shadow.

"Come here, sweetie." She said while she stepped back so Tetsuki would have space to land. Without hesitation, Tetsuki jumped out of her window and hugged her grandmother.

Minira was the only person Tetsuki knew who was shorter than her, so she felt the most comfortable standing near her. "What's wrong, grandma?" Tetsuki asked while pushing the wind-blown strand of golden brown hair from her eyes.

"You know there is a meeting in the castle tomorrow." She began. "The Lord of the Western Lands and his cohorts will be attending. We are going to try and end this war before it gets out of hand."

"Isn't that a good thing?" asked Tetsuki with a scratch of her head.

Minira sighed. "Have your storm come to pass, yet, Tetsuki?" she simply asked while staring directly at her granddaughter.

"What?" Tetsuki couldn't help but to ask. "You mean…my…what?" she tried to think of the question literally, but she knew that her grandmother wasn't talking about an actual storm. Perhaps she meant her ladies' month? Why would she ask about that? Why would she call that a storm? Tetsuki's mind was whirring.

"My storm has passed." Minira said while her hand caressed the soft fur of the pelt. "You know…there is always a wind before a storm…there is always a warning or a signal." She seemed to be speaking to herself more than to her granddaughter, but Tetsuki listened all the same.

"I ignored the winds. I ignored the signs." She looked up at Tetsuki. "But I could not ignore the storm." Her voice was grave and distant. It scared Tetsuki to see her grandmother like this. She didn't understand a word she said, but to see so much pain and misery in her gaze made tears crawl down her cheeks before she could stop them.

"Grandma…" Tetsuki began.

"Listen to me, girl." She snapped and Tetsuki instantly obeyed. "Your grandfather had been wounded on several occasions. He'd come home with broken limbs and scars. I've caught him in tears, bawling like a newborn!"

Tetsuki's eyes widened. She couldn't have imagined seeing her tough grandfather whining, let alone, bawling. Tetsuki sniffled and wiped her eyes. Her chest was starting to hurt from the emotional tension she wasn't ready for.

"I should have pulled him from the war. I had the power to pull him from the war." She sighed. "I ignored those signs and I lost him in the storm." She looked down. "Has your storm passed?" she asked the question again, only more insistent. Tetsuki was starting to think her grandmother was drunk. She spoke of nonsense

"No." Tetsuki muttered. What does this have to do with the meeting, though?

"Then, don't ignore the wind. Don't make the same mistake I did." Minira replied. She suddenly pulled Tetsuki into a tight hug. "Maybe you can avoid the storm." She whispered the words into Tetsuki's sensitive ears, making it tickle slightly. The words seemed to be imprinted into her brain at that moment. Still lost, Tetsuki stiffly nodded and pulled away from the hug. She knew that she would have to embrace this awkward moment; otherwise she'd be disrespectful to the only person who gave her respect.

Moments passed and the baby dragon made its appearance at the windowsill. Tetsuki's grandmother nodded towards it and allowed it to land on her shoulder. Tetsuki pouted. She knew that the dragon would hate her forever from how it huffed and looked away from her, its nose in the air.

"Oh, stop it, Havoc." Minira whispered to it and petted its head. "She is your master now."

Havoc? Tetsuki made a face.

"Go get acquainted, yes?" Minira pointed at Tetsuki as Havoc blinked slowly before shaking his head no. Tetsuki huffed and blew her hair out of her eyes.

"I'm sorry I hit you, alright? You startled me." She tried to explain. This little guy sure knew how to hold grudges. She had to have apologized more than enough times. She placed her hands on her hips.

Havoc looked at her for a long time before jumping onto Tetsuki's shoulder. She was a bit alarmed because his claws dug into her skin a bit and it tickled a little. His small movements to get a more comfortable position sent tendrils of chills down Tetsuki's spine and she giggled nonstop.

"That's a good boy." Tetsuki said with a soft smile. Havoc rolled his eyes and looked away from her, making Tetsuki narrow her eyes at him. "Have it your way." she shrugged and decided to approach the meeting subject once more.

"So, about that meeting…" was all she could think of to say. "What's up with that?"

Minira looked a bit confused. "I told you it is to make peace between the eastern and western empires. I believe it is a good idea, we are of the same race after all."

This was true, however unlike the dog demons of the Western Lands, Eastern dog demons were either brown or black. Tetsuki heard that Western dog demons had gorgeous white fur and flawless features. She'd wanted to see for herself, but knew she'd never make it past the Intermediate Gates just on the edge of the forests. However, she knew that if she had gotten past those gates, she would never return.

"Yeah, but it is the matter of who will be the lord of both lands that will cause problems. Everyone wants to lead." Tetsuki said while Havoc continued crawling around her body for a comfy spot.

Minira smiled. "I am glad you noticed that."

Tetsuki pouted.

"Oh, come now. You know you are always the lost and confused one." Minira chuckled. Her remark made Tetsuki blush from how true it was. Because of this fact, she remained silent and embarrassed.

"I hear that us, 'commoners' may attend for judgmental purposes." Minira continued while reaching into her satchel for something. Tetsuki's eyes widened. This was her chance! She would finally be able to see the other side of the Intermediate Gates. If those western dog demons were of pure white fur, she wanted to see their humanoid forms. She wondered if they all looked like old men. White hair seemed like such an elderly trait.

"I'm going!" she said, though she hated the fact that she'd have to see Sanketsu's fat poetic ass, staring at her. She felt Havoc find his place atop her head as he curled up and closed his eyes.

Minira was about to open her mouth to say something, but Tetsuki beat her to it.

"I better get to bed. I think Havoc has the right idea." She said with a yawn. Minira smiled.

"Now that's my line." She tippy toed and kissed Tetsuki's cheek. "Goodnight, love. And remember what we talked about." Minira then turned and walked away before Tetsuki could kiss back.

"About the meeting or the storm-thing?" she called after her. Minira just chuckled to herself and shook her head. Tetsuki pouted and jumped back into her window. She hadn't gotten to train and she felt a little upset the crow left her, but now she had a dragon pet and the chance to meet the lord of the western empire. Seeing as she had a lot to look forward to, she didn't allow herself to dwell on her swords or that inconsiderate bird. She picked up Havoc and placed him beside her on the bed before cuddling next to him. Her exhaustion was instantly replaced by anxiety and excitement. With all that was going to happen, she knew she wouldn't get much sleep at all.