"Me lord! Me lord Sesshomaru! Oh I'm so glad you're alive! I thought you were dead!" The green imp hurriedly wobbled over to his master in tears. "I thought Naraku defeated you me lord!"
An annoyed growl ripped through Sesshomaru's throat. The green imp immediately silenced himself and bowed in apology.
"Jaken" Sesshomaru commanded.
"Yes me lord?!"
"Let us be on our way." The green imp straightened himself, nodded, and followed his master who had already taken off and was miles ahead.
"Wait for me, me lord!"
Sesshomaru swiftly flew past all trees and obstacles in his way and reflected on his battle with the demon Naraku. He promised himself that the next time he faced Naraku he would not let him escape.
Soon he came to an abrupt stop. In front of him was a sight he had not seen in years. What is she doing here? Sesshomaru thought to himself. How did she find me? A tall matured woman stood in front of him. She wore a long white kimono that blended perfectly with her long white hair. Her soft pale skin glowed feverishly in the sun.
"Mother." He acknowledged her presence showing no interest on the outside although he wished to know why she was here.
"Sesshomaru." She looked past him at the green imp running towards them and back at her son. "How have you been my son?" She spoke the words in a dramatized manner, however Sesshomaru gave no attention to her false formality and chose to give her no response. He waited for her to speak again.
His mother heavily sighed and gave into his will. "It was brought to my attention that your half brother, Inuyasha, has successfully obtained your fathers sword, Tetsusaiga, before you." She smirked at her son's failure hoping for a response and continued to speak when she did not receive one. "Hmmm... Do not worry, I've brought you the sword your father left for your possession before he passed." She pulled out from behind her a long sword protected in its sheath. "Tenseiga."
This interested Sesshomaru. He analyzed the sword as his mother pulled it from its sheath. It did not look to be as great as the Tetsusaiga, and this bothered him. Still, he reached forwards and grabbed the sword his mother was handing him. Although only a few words were exchanged between them, he decided to take his leave without further conversing.
As night came upon Sesshomaru and Jaken, the forest in which they travelled became calm, sparing the few creatures that dwelled only in the darkness. Jaken sat close to a freshly lit fire, and Sesshomaru sat up against a tree with his arm resting on his bent knee. He wondered about the use of the sword he was given earlier that day and was eager to test its abilities.
When Jaken awoke the next morning, his master was nowhere to be found. Jaken assumed that as always, his master carried on without informing him. He quickly lifted his staff of two heads and went on a search for Sesshomaru.
···
"Please, I beg you! Spare us! Children run away!" The villagers ran away in anguish as Sesshomaru stepped into their view. Few were frozen from fear of the demon and his cold expression, and few from mesmerisation. Several villagers stared on at Sesshomaru who did not even care to notice them. They marveled at his beautiful and long white hair, handsome face, and smooth marble skin. However, Sesshomaru was here for none of them. This morning, he had awoken on a search for Totosai.
"I knew you would come." The elderly swordsmith gazed at the sword in Sesshomaru's hand. "Have you still not discovered its use?"
"What good is this sword?" Sesshomaru asked the old man. It does not pulse or ask to be used. Sesshomaru thought to himself. I cannot wield this sword. It does not conform to me. But why?
"This sword was not crafted to take lives Sesshomaru." Totosai noticed Sesshomaru become tense. "This troubles you? I assumed as much."
Sesshomaru could not understand why his father, the most powerful demon to have ever existed, would leave his son a useless sword. He tossed it at the old man and turned to leave.
"Sesshomaru, the Tenseiga is a very powerful sword. It's abilities are far greater than you know. Its use is for you to discover. Take the sword." The old man held it out for him.
Sesshomaru paused, turned around and stared at the old man. "This sword...it does not ask to be used."
"When the time for its use is here, you will know." Totosai's vagueness angered the impatient Sesshomaru.
"Tell me now, or I will take your life with my claws." Sesshomaru towered over the old man, who knew him too well to take his threat lightly.
"Your father was the greatest and most powerful demon that seized to exist. However, he did not despise humans as you do. He noticed their frailty but did not treat them as weak. He loved Inuyasha's mother, and now that half demon is able to possess the Tetsusaiga because he is also half human. Your father knew he would use the sword to protect humans. But...your father wished that you too would learn to love them. That is why he-"
"Love them?" The old man was cut off by Sesshomaru's disgust. "The lives of humans are useless. They are weak, unskilled, and stupid. Do not waste my time old man."
"That is why he left you the Tenseiga. The sword that brings back the dead. It does not take a life, instead it returns it." The old man urged Sesshomaru to take hold of the sword.
"Useless." Sesshomaru turned to leave once again.
"Wait! Take the sword Sesshomaru. It will be of great use to you. Its powers go beyond what I have told you. Take it."
Father. Did you possibly think that I would ever sink enough to admire humans? Sesshomaru thought to himself. But what else can this sword do? What other powers does it possess? He then grabbed the sword from Totosai and left without another word.
