A/N: -lip quiver- You guys are so amazing. Thank you so much for your support already! I'm very excited for this!

Again, thanks Kaye for helping me develop this plot :3

-MissKatt

DISCLAIMER: All Inuyasha goodness belongs to the amazing Takahashi-san!

The Sword Smith's Secret

By MissKatt

Chapter Three: The Assistant

Sesshoumaru stood in front of the opening to the sword smith's cave. This time there was no way he was going to leave without a sword; he would not be denied any longer. He deserved a powerful sword! He needed one that would withstand his relentless strength, especially with the oncoming battles of the war at hand. Naraku would not win due to a faulty blade that could not live up to its expectations.

Amber scowl set in place, he stalked into the depth of the cave, his footsteps silent along the compact dirt. As he walked throughout the worm-like youkai skeleton, he took note of the rise in temperature and knew he was reaching the workshop area. As he entered the large room, he looked around before noticing a scrawny boy working hard over a blade.

"Boy," His word was sharp and thick with authority. It sliced through the quiet setting as if it were tofu. He glared as he was promptly ignored; the boy's back not so much as tensing to reveal whether or not he had heard him. He scoffed at the ridiculousness of the thought. Unless his ears were lame, there was no way he did not hear him. "Boy!" he said more sternly.

He continued to ignore him, the hide he was using rubbing vigorously along the blade in repetitive, even, strokes. A cloth was tied around his head, his black hair disappearing within it. He was a thin boy; the clothes on his skin were loose and baggy. His haori was short sleeved, resting right above his elbows. His hakama hacked to below his knee and tied to keep them in place, creating a poof effect much like his own hakama that were tucked in his boots. Dirt covered his arms, his hands disappearing into short black gloves.

His amber eyes glared with the fire of the sun. He was not one to be ignored, especially by some human male in raggedy clothes. "Do not make me call upon you once more, boy. You will answer me when you are addressed to. Do you understand?"

Silence rang throughout the room save for the rubbing sound of the leather on the blade. An irritable growl escaped his lips. "I am not playing, boy. Answer me!" Again, he was ignored. He had had enough. This Sesshoumaru did not play games. He cracked his knuckles before he let his claws glow neon green with his youki. Flicking his wrist, a whip extending from his digits and heading straight for the boy.

CLANK!

Sesshoumaru was stunned, to say the least, though he did not show it. This human male had actually deflected his whip! His reaction speed was so…quick for a human, even for that of a lesser youkai. Who was this man? How were his senses so keen?

"Ch," The boy said with a very feminine voice, clicking his tongue. He turned around fully to face the youkai, his lips pursed together. "You made me scratch the blade. I was almost done polishing it too."

The taiyoukai of the West was not accustomed to being blamed for such trivial things. It was his own fault for not responding to him. "Boy-" His eyes snapped open wide when the blade was suddenly hurled at him. It barely made a sound as it left the boy's hand and pierced through the air. Luckily for his speed and senses, he avoided it, the sword sticking straight into the wall where his head used to be. With a growl, he pulled the blade from the wall and pointed it at the boy. "I grow tired of your disrespect. Do you so eagerly wish for death?"

The boy quickly drew a sword from its sheath and met his opponent's eyes with sapphire blue. "My disrespect? Pardon me, youkai, but I am not the one addressing someone wrongly."

His amber pools narrowed. "Do not speak to me in riddles." He would end this fool's existence for his incompetence. He charged at him with his youkai speed, but his blow was blocked by the blade. How could he read his movements? His lip curled up in displeasure. There would be no more mercy or reservations. He picked up his speed and charged again, but this time, instead of the sword slicing into the boy's flesh where it was aimed, he was repelled back by a pink barrier before it disappeared. Reki?

"Ah, you are as strong as they say, Sesshoumaru. But, I still think your senses are off." He replied, untying the cloth that bound back his hair. He had managed to break the barrier with the power of his swing.

The taiyoukai, momentarily forgetting the lack of honorific, furrowed his brow when long, raven hair fell from the tie, landing at the boy's waist. It was then that he noticed two small, non-manly mounds upon the 'boy's' chest. Kami, he had been outwitted by a female; a miko nonetheless. "What are you doing here, girl?"

"Ah, now you have it right!" She laughed at him as she tied her hair back in a ponytail with the cloth. She held her hand out to him for the sword, looking at him with a sly smile. "I was working until you rudely interrupted me."

He gave her the sword with a dark glare. "Nonsense; you cannot work here. This is the home of Totosai, the youkai sword smith."

"You are correct. I am his assistant," She said, placing the blade back down on its slate before beginning to polish it once more. "He is out at the moment, but should be returning shortly. Will you be waiting, Sesshoumaru?"

He raised his hand and tucked a strand of his silky, silver hair behind his pointed ear. "How is it you know of me?"

She laughed once more, the sound coming out in pants as she pushed her strength into the leather, rubbing it against the blade. "Who doesn't know about you? You are the Lord of the West and in war with the South," She shrugged. "It is all anyone speaks of in the towns. Well, that and your looks. My, do the females of the villages admire you."

"Hn," What else did he expect? The war was affecting everyone. Trade routes were closed, non-soldiers were dying, and supplies were dwindling. "I will wait."

"Would you like some tea?" She offered, still not turning his way as she continued to buff out the new scratch on the sword.

"I suppose it would be acceptable." He replied, shifting to sit down on the tatami mat by the fire. Perhaps this female was not as infuriating as he thought.

"The herbs are by the fire, a kettle with water there as well; help yourself," She answered and smirked once more when she heard his annoyed grunt.

No, she was still irritating.

A few minutes later, she placed the hide on her desk and sheathed the sword. "Ah, all done! Now all I have to do is deliver it!" She said happily and placed it on the row of swords. She turned towards the entrance of the cave when she saw her father-like figure hobble into the room. "Toto-ji!"

He smiled at her before gasping in horror when his beady eyes fell onto the taiyoukai. "S-Sesshoumaru-sama!"

The taiyoukai rose to his feet, towering over the sword smith by a few feet. "It is time, Totosai, for my sword to be created. Do you understand?"

He stared at him intently, his eyes wide. "Yes."

Sesshoumaru lifted a brow. "So you will finally make it?"

"No." He replied, tilting his head to the side. He looked down at Tenseiga and the back up at the taiyoukai. "What was the question?"

He growled loudly. "I grow tired of your senile ways, Old Man. You will make me my sword. You have served my father by creating his swords, so you are obligated to create one for me as well."

"It seems to me," The girl cut in, coming up to Totosai's side. "That you already have a finely made sword. Why do you need us to make you a new one?"

"Mind your own business, girl," He hissed, eyes narrowing. "And I do not need you to make it, only Totosai."

She shook her head with a knowing smile. "If he does create a sword for you, I will have a role in making it." She put her hands on her hips as she looked at him, her eyes traveling down to his sword; she could sense the broken reki barrier on it.

"I will not have some miko touch my blade and taint it. It will be powerful and full of youki, not of some weak reki to hold back its potential." He snapped, his lip curling up to show his distaste at the thought of it. It only lifted more when she laughed at him.

"Tell me, Sesshoumaru, has your blade helped you out in any way lately? Did it save you in the heat of battle?" She asked knowingly. When he just glared at her, she continued. "I will take that as a yes. That was the 'weak reki' in the blade."

"Lies," He spat and turned on her, his aura flaring threateningly. "Tenseiga is my father's sword, created from his very own fang. He was the most powerful youkai in his rein; he did not rely on a miko to help create his sword!"

"But he did, Sesshoumaru-sama," Totosai spoke up. "Even back then, my assistant was Midoriko, a very powerful miko. That is the secret behind my weapons."

The inuyoukai's eyes widened a fraction, his amber orbs displaying the shock from his words. "What of Tessaiga?"

The sword smith merely bobbed his head. "Hai, that one especially. The reki keeps Inuyasha's youki in balance as well as makes it so that only he and your father can touch it."

"Hn." All of that was from the power of a miko? He had no idea. Why hadn't his father told him as such?

"Also, Sesshoumaru-sama, I cannot create a sword for you until you have passed your father's test," Totosai spoke up.

"What test?" He snapped, this being the first time he had heard of such a thing. His father had set up a test for him? Surely there would be question if he would pass were it a question of strength or agility. That would be easily done.

"I can't tell you. That would be too easy," He said and quickly cowered behind his assistant when the Lord glared hard at him. "I can't!"

He flared his youki, his aura wrapping around the two in front of him. Why did they both insist on playing mind games with him? "How will I know if I pass this test?" He hissed out from a clenched jaw.

Totosai looked up at his daughter-like miko and suddenly had an idea. "Sesshoumaru-sama, have you met my assistant Kagome?"

He glanced at the miko and then back to the old youkai. "Briefly."

"Well, she will tell you when you have passed!"

"Ehh?" She asked, looking over her shoulder to peer down at the short sword smith. "Why me, Toto-ji?"

"Because of how your nature is. Only you will be able to deem when, if ever, it is fit for him to have a sword." He nodded in triumph, patting himself on the back for saving his own hide.

Kagome blinked. "But, Toto-"

Sesshoumaru released a deep growl. "Do not take me for a fool. No woman, much less a miko, will decide my fate. I will have a sword, Totosai."

"Hey! Do not insult me just because of my heritage!" She snapped, putting her hands back on her hips.

He ignored her, his eyes pinned on the sword smith behind her. "Totosai-"

The sword smith held up his hand and shook his head. "If you want a sword, you will have to impress the lady first. That is the condition I have set in regards to your father's test."

With a scowl set in place, he promptly turned from the two and began walking away. He couldn't believe the sword smith was making a fool out of him. And not just the sword smith, his father, too! Why would his father set such a ridiculous hurtle in getting his sword? Did his father truly hate him after all? Or was this simply a way to continue to pester him even after death? Somehow, he imagined his father was laughing at him from the afterlife.

Stopping promptly, he exhaled silently as he made his decision. He would not let his father get the better of him; would not let him win in their little quarrel. "Miko," He said, not so much as turning to look at her. "Come."

She lifted a brow and crossed her arms over her chest. "Do not order me around, Sesshoumaru. You do not rule over me."

"Whether I rule over you or not, you will address me with respect," He hissed, the threat evident in his tone.

"I will address you as I please," She shot back. "Why should I respect you if you do not respect me? It goes both ways, Youkai."

He dug his claws into the flesh of his palm once more. For her sake, and the sake of his sanity, he chose to ignore her statement. "It seems that you are the one who will decide if I get a sword or not, so you will come with me."

"Again, do not order me around," She said and looked at Totosai when he squeezed her shoulders, his eyes pleading her to go. Sighing, she gave in. "But, I will allow you to accompany me while I deliver a sword. It is a four day travel to get there and back, so I hope you are prepared. However, please remember to not be a hypocrite. I will treat you the exact way you treat me. I do not put up with rudeness."

He ground his teeth together. With no other choice, he agreed with much reluctance. He needed a sword and all he had to do to get it was impress this miko. It should not be hard, he being the taiyoukai of the West, but he suspected that it would be a very long four days.