Chapter 2- The Solution

As Kagome rode on Kirara, a mix of emotions washed over her. She was upset that Inuyasha didn't understand. She was torn because she felt useless. But most of all, she was confused, because she had no idea where she was going. Her destination was clear to her, but she did not know where to start. All of a sudden, a new feeling came upon her. Pain.

SMACK!

A tiny insect floated from her neck.

"Myoga, what are you doing here?" she asked the cowardly flea.

"Uh, hi Kagome! I was just, uh, taking a nap here on Kirara when I was awoken by a sudden breeze. Then I was swept away onto your sweet delicate neck." He explained. He hopped and found a cozy spot to sit behind one of Kirara's ears.

"Hey Myoga, maybe you can give me some advice since you're here." Kagome said, while looking around at the vast forest they flew over.

"I would be happy to be of service my dear. What seems to ail you?" he asked.

"Well, I need to learn how to fight, but I'm not sure where to start." Kagome replied.

"Why would you need to learn that? Did Inuyasha die?" the flea inquired.

"No, he's fine. I just want to be able to protect myself." She said with certainty.

"Well if you're going to learn how to fight, you will need a weapon." Kagome looked directly at Myoga.

"I left my bow and arrows back in the village." She imagined Inuyashas' reaction if she returned to them. "I can't go back there yet."

"Well maybe you can find a new weapon to master." Said the flea, only half paying attention now. Kagome thought over what he said for a moment and then she got an idea.

"Myoga that's it!" she exclaimed. Myoga, surprised at her excitement was wide awake again.

"What's it? What did I say?" He asked.

"Myoga this is important. Do you know where I can find master Totosai?" Myoga just blinked in reply. "Come on, you know where he lives right?"

"Well, I do….but…." he stalled.

"What? Where is it?" asked Kagome impatiently.

"It's not the safest place for humans. I don't recommend you going to see him." He answered.

"I don't care. If he can forge a sword for me, I can begin learning how to fight with my own power." She said matter of fact.

"But it's dangerous!" Kagome just glared at him until he gave in. "Fine, but don't say I didn't warn you. Come on Kirara, Totosai is this way."

It was mid-day when they arrived at Totosai's home. It was a grey and clouded area. The remains of a giant fish-like creature had smoke coming out of the mouth and eye sockets. Kagome began to feel wary, but she was determined.

"Master Totosai!" She yelled, "Are you in there? I need to speak with you!" The smoke subsided from the mouth of the creature and a hoarse voice replies.

"What!? Who's there? If you want my legs you'll have to rip 'em off my cold dead body." Totosai came out swinging a half finished sword. It hadn't finished setting yet, so as the old man swung, the blade melted over to the side. "Aw dangit. Blast this old thing, I'm never going to get it to work." Having almost been hit with a wimpy weapon, Kagome placed herself directly in front of Totosai.

"Master Totosai, it's me, Kagome. I need your help." She said directly.

"Oh, Kagome. Well why didn't you day it was you? I almost lopped yer head off." (Not). "What can I do for you? Here, come inside."

The two of them went inside, followed briefly by a smaller Kirara with Myoga still behind her ear. Totosai sat down and set the blade he held on a nearby rock that had been blackened by fire.

"So what's the matter, did Inuyasha break his sword again, but he's too cowardly to come himself? Guessed Totosai.

"Inuyasha doesn't know I'm here. The Tetsuiaga is fine." Replied Kagome. Totosai blew fire from his mouth onto the sword and he began to hit it with a hammer, straightening it out again. "I came here to ask you to forge me a sword." There was a loud clang that echoed throughout the cave like structure as Totosai stopped his hammer.

"You what?" He asked. "Why would you need a sword? The Tetsuiaga was meant to protect all humans."

"I understand, but I wish to learn how to protect myself, and in order to do that, I need a sword of my own." Said Kagome.

"Why don't you take a seat?" Totosai began his with his hammer again. Kagome sat nearby. "I've been looking for a new project. You see this sword I currently have is worthless. I started forging it with no purpose, therefore it has no power. I suppose I could melt it down and start over with a little inspiration from you." Kagome smiled.

"You mean it? You'll really forge a sword for me?" Kagome clapped her hands together with hope.

"It's not that simple." Said Totosai, deflating Kagome's enthusiasm. "For me to forge a powerful sword for a specific person, I need something from that person."

"What do you need? I can go get supplies." Said Kagome quickly. She turned toward Kirara, then felt a sharp pain at the back of her head. "Ow! What was that for?" She turned back to Totosai to see that he had yanked a few strands of her hair out.

"These should do the trick." He then blew a white hot fire at the sword, melting it down to a silvery puddle. As the metal boiled, he dropped the strands of hair into it, then blew a slightly cooler blue fire on the mess. "This is going to take a while. Would you mind going out and finding us some dinner Kagome?"

"Sure, no problem." She was fascinated by the process, and she wanted to help out where she could. "Hey Kirara, let's go." The cat grew to her larger size and stretched. The little flea on her fur hopped down.

"I think I'll stay here Kagome." Said Myoga. "I'd like to catch up with old Totosai."

"Okay, I'll be back as soon as I can." Then Kagome and Kirara flew off in search of a nearby village. When she was a speck in the distance, Myoga approached Totosai.

"Are you really going to make her a sword master Totosai? What if she gets injured trying to use it? Inuyasha would not be happy with you." He said.

"That look in her eye. If I didn't make her a sword, she would have gone somewhere else. Isn't it better that she carried a weapon built specifically for her, then to go off blindly with some other random sword?" replied Totosai.

"Hm, I guess." Said Myoga. Silence fell over the cave as Totosai continued his work.

Kagome found a village near the edge of the mountainside. She saw a group of people working in a nearby field and decided to ask for some food from them.

"Excuse me." She approached the villagers. "I'm just passing through and was wondering if you guys had any spare food." They people looked at her like she just spat acid at them. A man replied,

"Are you kidding? We barley have enough for ourselves. Why don't you bug someone else? The only way to get food in this place is if you work for it." He huffed and continued his work.

"I guess there's no other choice." She said quietly. Then she yelled after the man, "Is there work I can do here?" The man turned back to her.

"Listen kid. If you want work try talking to the head of the village. He's in the house at the end of the road."

"Thank you" Kagome ran off in the direction the man pointed her in. When she got to the house it appeared to be abandoned. "Hello?" she called out. "Is anybody home?" There was a clatter inside and the door slowly opened. A short, elderly woman answered,

"Yes, what do you want?"

"Hi, I'm just passing through, and I need some food. The men down the road said I could talk to the head of the village about finding work to get food. Is there anything I can help out with?" said Kagome quickly. It was getting dark. The old woman scratched her head.

"Are you a priestess?" She asked. Kagome wasn't sure how to answer.

"Well, I suppose so." She said. The woman pointed to the mountain.

"Over near the mountain there is a cave. It used to be a shrine but now some demon is defiling it. If you can take care of this demon and return the shrine to its natural state, I will give you some food."

"Sure thing. I can do that." Said Kagome nervously. Kirara jumped into her arms making her feel a little better.

"Wait one moment," the woman retreated back inside the house and came back moments later with a shimmering white rock. "This stone should aid you in defeating the demon." She handed it to Kagome and said, "Good luck" then she slammed the door shut.

Kagome turned toward the mountain and sighed. "Well, I better get started. I want to return before it gets too dark."

They found the cave easily. Walking cautiously, Kagome held Kirara in one arm, and a lit torch in her other hand. It wasn't long until they found the shrine. There were bones scattered everywhere around it. Kagome set Kirara down so she could take a closer look at the shrine. So far there was no demon, but she did sense some sacred jewel shards. Just then, there was a sliding noise behind, Kirara grew to her full size and growled as a figure stepped out of the shadows.

Who is it?