"Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it's better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring."
~Marilyn Monroe
"Kohaku?" The small voice of Rin rang out in a hushed whisper. Her chocolate brown eyes shimmering with curiousity like the child she was.
"Yes?" Kohaku replied, looking towards his young female companion and friend. His expression was serious but was soft and kind towards the little girl. Despite being a young boy he still was clothed in his yōkai tajiya outfit, making him seem threatening.
"Why did you react to what Lord Sesshōmaru said?" She asked innocently and genuiely interested.
Jaken turned to the conversation, interest and curiousity overcoming his judgement and mannerism. Well, what little manners he had. Sesshōmaru however, payed no heed to the conversation, wanting to ignore the fact that Akuma was supposedly in the area.
Kohaku blinked, taken back. "Oh, I see," he said in understanding. "You're wondering why I gasped when he mentioned the Shi no Tenshi."
Rin nodded happily in answer.
"I don't recognize that name," Jaken interrupted. "But it draws my attention that you recognize it."
"I do," Kohaku nodded. "She's a bit of a legend apparently in the demon society."
He stared off, remembering all the stories he had heard about the demoness' terrible and awesome power but retained humanity.
"The Shi no Tenshi, the Angel of Death, is a female inu yōkai and the daughter of one of the demon lords of the continent. Her power is supposedly limitless, not even she knowing her own bounds.
"They say that her beauty is more so enchanting and desirable than the power that she wields. And I quote, 'Hair like snow and yet softer than the finest of silks. Eyes of such beauty and radiance that resemble the first green of the spring pierce your soul. Skin fair and flawless like the goddess she is. Her beauty is unparelled from any such thing from this world and others.
"She is both feared and respected, but desired more than anything." Kohaku concluded. "There is a legend that the child she bears will be the conquerer of the world."
"Wow," Rin said in awe. "If that's what they say about her then she must be beautiful."
"Hearing that Kohaku," Jaken said looking thoughtful. "I have heard some rumors here and there and they say similar things but I've always known her as the 'Devil Lady'."
Kohaku nodded in unnderstanding. "I know, I've heard her been called by many names. But I think the most popular would be the 'Angel of Death'."
"That would be wrong," Sesshōmaru said surprisingly, several feet ahead of them. "She is commonly known as the 'Demonic Princess', due to the protectiveness of her family and how they treat her with such care."
They were silent after that. Surprised of Sesshōmaru's partaking in their conversation. He speaked seldom, and it was usually harsh and cold. But when he spoke of the demoness, he seemed kinder. Wistful, almost loving.
"She was fragile in a sense…laying unnesscary burdens and guillt upon herself," he murmered to himself. His fingers grew taunt, claws digging angrily into the palm of his hand. "She was a fool."
~Angel of Death~
Afterwards, the days seemed to prolong themselves. Laying an uneasiness and restlessnes in the traveling group. Tension built up quickly, leaving an uncomfortable silence hanging thick in the cool air.
Jaken heaved a sigh, his expression worried.
Rin took notice, truly worried for the imp's well-being. "What's the matter, Master Jaken?"
"What's the matter?!" Jaken repeated angrily. "Are you stupid? Do you not sense it?" It is true that tenseiga's meidō has expanded considerbly since that incident in the Underworld, but has yet to achieve a full meidō. I suspect that is why Lord Sesshōmaru has been impatient and ill-tempered since. I'm scared, Jaken thought worriedly, shrinking back away from Sesshōmaru. He's enraged even further if we even mention the title 'Shi no Tenshi'. Whoever she is, Lord Sesshōmaru seems to detest her greatly.
"Lord Sesshōmaru," a voice spoke ahead of them. Snapping his head up, he looked past Sesshōmaru to stare at an eyeless child. It looked human aside from it's empty eye sockets. "Do you wish to know the secret behind what tenseiga is lacking?"
"What?!" Jaken exclaimed in surprise and anger.
"The secret behind tenseiga, you say?" Sesshōmaru said camly, an undertone of annoyance and irritation hidden in his monotone.
"Yes, does it not bother you?" The child asked fearlessly. "Tenseiga's meidō is yet to achieve a full circle."
"Why you!" Jaken spat angrily. "How do you even know about that?!" He demanded just as fiercley.
"Silence, Jaken," said Sesshōmaru, his voice cold as ever.
Jaken reared back nervously. Frightened by his lord. "Who me?" He asked innocently. "But I didn't say a word." His lie cracking, allowing anyone to see his nervousness and fright.
Rin cocked her head to the side. "Why do you always lie like that, Master Jaken?" She questioned. Innocence and curiousity plain to see. Jaken simply narrowed his eyes in fright, sweating rapidly.
The eyeless child before them turned her back carelessly. "If you wish to know, follow me." Having said that, she turned away from them, walking through the grass leisurely and fearlessly, not worrying if the powerful daiyōkai behind her might decapitate her.
"Lord Sesshōmaru…" Jaken whispered, unsure of his master's decision despite his decades of service. He knew full well that Sesshōmaru wanted to perfect the Meidō Zangetsuha techniqe, but at what cost would his lord do so? That the imp was unsure of, he feared the outcome and the aftermath.
Jaken was snapped out of his thought as he saw his master begin to follow the strange child. Wordlessly, the child lead them through the field and into a ravine of sorts. Steep pathways and slopes, huge spears of rock jutting out at random from the earth. Soon, the child lead them to a natural formation of rock that resembled and acted as a bridge.
They were midway crossing when Jaken spoke the question he had been holding back. "Lord Sesshōmaru, are you aqquainted with this odd child we are following?"
"No." He answered flatly, as if it wasn't a huge problem. But it was, in Jaken's mind at least.
"Well then, might this not be trap then?" Jaken suggested, scanning the surrounding area.
"A trap?!" Rin exclaimed from her spot atop A-Un.
"Revealing the secret of tenseiga, then leading Lord Sesshōmaru to his death." Jaken pointed out the obvious. "Or something like that."
"In that case," Sesshōmaru spoke. "I'll just have to kill him."
Kohaku gasped, pulling at A-Un's reigns and halting to a stop. "The child," He said incredlous. "It disappeared."
A sound resonated of the ravine's walls, causing Sesshōmaru's gaze to snap up, with the others following. A purplish orb flew towards them rapidly. Sesshōmaru leaped forward and out of the projectile's range. A-Un did the same, jumping to the side and flhying, Rin and Kohaku mounted on his saddled back.
Jaken however, was unfortunate and leaped sideways into thin air. He dropped, screaming as he plunged to his supposed death.
Sesshōmaru flew forward, climbing in altitude. His gaze fixed upon a spire of rock, the top flat with the child and another figure perched on its surface. "There you are." He growled, drawing tenseiga and launching a meidō.
It missed, leaving a gaping hole in the spire, wind rushing through the tremendous gap. "Master Jaken, grab on!" Kohaku called from behind him. Throwing down a chain with a metal weight at its end towards the flailing imp. It wrapped around the imp's neck, and Jaken grabbed on to it for dear life. "Did I not tell you that it was a trap?!" He yelled, tears brimming in his reptilian yellow eyes.
"Huh?" Rin said astonished. "Master Jaken, you're still alive?"
"What?!" Jaken snapped. "Are you disappointed?!"
"You purposely aimed at my footing…" A cool voice spoke. "Are you so desperate to learn the secret behind tenseiga, Sesshōmaru?"
"How dare you!" Jaken fumed. "Who do you think you are?"
"I do not care who you are," Sesshomaru said, reigning in his anger. "What do you know about tenseiga?" He demanded.
"I faced the sword long ago." The mysterious figure revealed. "Although the sword was in a diffrent form…when I fought against your father."
Sesshōmaru's eyes narrowed, his eyebrows pulling together. Against father…?
"How dare you make yourself look so young!" Jaken spat angrily at the half-masked man. Flailing his arms angrily in what was supposed to be a threatening gesture but made him look incredibley stupid instead.
The sword had a different form, Sesshōmaru thought as he drew his claws. He leaped forward, striking the ground that his father's former enemy stood upon. Green light flashed angrily and decimated a huge hunk of the rock.
"Interesting…you fight without your sword in order to learn its secrets?" The half-masked figure asked amused. "You underestimate me, Shishinki—a deadly mistake!" He swung his staff towards Sesshōmaru in midair. A purple orb flashing from its crescent moon top and flying towards Sesshōmaru angrily.
Sesshōmaru dodged the attack easily, as did A-Un. It struck hard the spire behind them. Sesshōmaru glanced back at the attack, his eyes widening at the circle it created. The meidō… he thought in awe.
"That was…" Kohaku stared at the gaping hole the meidō left. "Meidō Zangetsuha," Jaken finished for the stunned tajiya. "Not bad, but Lord Sesshōmaru's is bigger." "Yeah, but that meidō was a complete circle." Kohaku noted.
"Meidō Zangetsuha was originally my technique, I'll have you know." The masked man said as he landed with ease. "It was mine—before your father stole it! He stole it—along with my face." Shishinki said angrily as he removed the half-mask to reveal that indeed he was missing half his face, including the other purple eye of the pair.
"From what I've heard thus far," Sesshōmaru stared at the whining man. "You've summoned me here to whine about your technique being stolen and your face, destroyed."
"Only one practitioner is needed for a technique… don't you agree, Sesshōmaru?" The older demon replaced his mask, before swinging his staff again. "Espically when tenseiga is an incomplete blade!" He taunted as he fired his own meidō.
Incomplete… Sesshōmaru thought as the meidō hurtled towards him.
"Look out!" Rin shrieked as Jaken yelled out simuetaneously, "Lord Sesshōmaru!"
Said demon easily stepped out of harm's way, his molten golden eyes glaring at his attacker. "Tell me what you know about tenseiga." Sesshōmaru demanded dangerously calm.
The other demon scoffed. "You wish to know the secret of tenseiga? Even as you approach your death?" Shishinki asked, his tone begrudgingly admiring.
"It appears that you have no intention of answering me," Sesshomaru stated as he drew the tenseiga. "In that case, you are no longer needed." He fired, the incomplete meidō hurtled toward his enemy, but the masked figure made no move to escape.
"Sesshōmaru your meidō is needlessly large and malformed," the demon noted. "But you'll never be able to produce a complete meidō like I can!" He taunted, firing his own meidō in the centre of Sesshōmaru's. Sesshōmaru watched on as his own meidō was swallowed effortlessly by a smaller yet complete meidō.
"Lord Sesshōmaru's meidō… it was swallowed by Shishinki's meidō," Kohaku watched in awe. An uneasiness setting upon him.
"Sesshōmaru!" A new voice called out from behind them. Inuyasha, Sesshōmaru thought bitterly, glancing at the hanyō.
Sensing something above heard. The female yōkai tajiya turned to look upwards at the flying dragon, A-Un. Her eyes fixing on one of three of the riders that sat on the dragon's saddled back. "Kohaku!" She called out, her voice filled with concern for her younger brother. The complete opposite of Sesshōmaru's attitude towards Inuyaha.
"Sister…" Kohaku whispered, as he stared down at his older sister. Guilt and sadness welling up in his sorrow filled eyes.
"Could it be…?" Shishinki marveled, his single purple eye fixing on the blade sheathed at Inuyasha's waist.
"Shi-Shishinki!" A tiny voice cried out from Inuyasha's shoulder. "Huh?" Inuyasha turned to look at the cowardly flea demon. "Myōga, you know the guy that Sesshōmaru's fighting?" The hanyō asked.
"Yes! He is known as Shishinki—the Ogre of Death!" The old flea responded. "He was a demon that you and Lord Sesshōmaru's father defeated long ago!" He explained, bouncing up and down nervously, before adding: "He was a fearsome opponent if I recall!"
It's impossible, the old flea thought nervously. How is he still alive? This is bad, if Lord Sesshōmaru were to ever learn the reason Milord left him the tenseiga… there's no telling what he would do.
"Is that the old flea, Myōga?" Shishinki asked. "If he's here, then there's no mistake." He fired an attack towards the hanyō and his group. "That is Meidō Zangetsuha!" Myōga screamed in fright. Inuyasha pushed himslef out of the way and pushed Kagome to the ground a split second before the meidō struck. The attack barely missing them.
"Bastard!" Inuyasha snarled. "What the Hell was that for?!" He demanded drawing tessaiga, and quickly unleashing a deadly Kaze no Kizu.
"So it is tessaiga," Shishinki concluded. "I heard the old man had two sons. He gave tessaiga to his youngest, did he." He taunted
"Hey, Sesshōmaru," Inuyasha turned to his older brother. "Why are you fighting this guy?"
"Sesshōmaru, do you not find it strange?" Shishink questioned in a taunting voice. "Shouldn't the elder brother have recieved the tessaiga?"
"How cruel!" Jaken exclaimed from A-Un's back. "Bringing up the one subject that has tortured Lord Sesshōmaru the most… it's true Milord has tried to take the tessaiga many times. He even sacrificed his left arm. He finally gave up and began to train the tenseiga, and now this…"
"Master Jaken," Kohaku butted in. "Your explanation makes perfect sense…" "But if Lord Sesshōmaru were to hear it, he'd make you suffer for merely saying it out loud." Rin finished for him. Jaken shuddered in response and hid slightly behind Rin.
"Shishinki, you summoned me here to fight, did you not?" Sesshōmaru asked coolly, ignoring the conversation. "Then there is no need for all this idle chatter!" He roared, firing another meidō. Shishinki barely blinked, firing a meidō of his own to counter.
"Sesshōmaru's using the technique too," Kagome noted. "Yeah, except his is way bigger." Shippō added. "Bigger yes, but his technique is still incomplete!" Myōga chirped from Kagome's shoulder.
"Weren't you just with Inuyasha?" Miroku questioned, his eyes narrowing. "He ran away again," Shippō sighed.
"Sesshōmaru, what do you know of tenseiga's birth?" Shishinki prodded, he did not wait fo an answer. "Like I said before, tenseiga was in a different form back when I fought against your father—to be more precise, tenseiga didn't even exist." He revealed slyly, a growing smirk on his marred face. "I fought none other than the tessaiga!"
Is he saying that tessaiga was the one to steal Meidō Zangetsuha?! Inuyasha thought, wide-eyed.
Sesshōmaru gave Shishinki a smoldering glare, his golden eyes darkened to an amber with untamed rage. Shishinki merely chuckled, like the whining maniac he was. "So," the half-faced demon said amused. "You didn't know Sesshōmaru? Well then, how to say this? Tenseiga was originally tessaiga's—"
"Silence!" Sesshōmaru snarled, effectively cutting of Shishinki. He swung tenseiga in a wide arc, firing a meidō. Shishinki followed, countering with the same attack before firing another—which Sesshōmaru dodged easily.
"I presume the old man wasn't able to control my technique after stealing it…" Shishinki smiled smugly.
Kagome whispered to Myōga: "Is that true Myōga?"
"Yes, yes!" Myōga stammered in confirmation. "It is true my lord was pondering how to use the technique once he aqquired it!" He bounced up and down nervously.
Shishinki smirked smugly hearing those words. "That is why the old man cast the technique away from tessaiga…and that unwanted technique was past on to your tenseiga, Sesshōmaru."
Unwanted technique… Sesshōmaru thought bitterly, eyes narrowing.
"Tenseiga and tessaiga were one sword?" Inuyasha said. "That means originally, tenseiga and tessaiga were one sword?" Kagome repeated stunned.
Why… Sesshōmaru pondered. Why would father do this…?
"On top of that," Shishinki added, oblivious to Sesshōmaru's obvious anger. "The younger brother smells part-human—it seems unthinkable. Why would the old man bequeath tessaiga—his original sword, to a mere half-demon?
"Sesshōmaru, it seems as though your father passed you by in favor of your younger brother." Shishinki smiled at the daiyōkai's anger.
Why—why would father do this? Sesshōmaru thought. Tessaiga's barrier rejects me from even touching it. He raged on, scowling as the memories of his countless attempts to steal tessaiga surfaced. First, I was given tenseiga, a sword meant for healing, instead of fighting. And now, the technique I finally learned; Meidō Zangetsuha, was the one tessaiga no longer needed. Why father? Why would you treat me this way?
"Do you see now?" Shishink jeered. "The tenseiga is an incomplete blade. Tenseiga, a mere part of tessaiga, will never be able to produce a full meidō. No amount of training will change that!" He shouted fiercely, firing a meidō to prove his point.
It raced towards Sesshōmaru. He made no move to dodge, however, far too upset and angered. Before Inuyasha could even unleash the Kaze no Kizu, a black-clothed blur tackled Sesshōmaru to the ground. "What?!" Said hanyō blinked in surprise.
All eyes were on the daiyōkai and the newcomer. "Have you gone mad?!" A feminine voice snarled. The voice belonged to Sesshōmaru's tackler, a beautiful, green-eyed woman with snow white hair. She stradled his lap, a fierce expression on her face.
She was dressed in a black Chinese cheonsam that went a bit past mid thigh, with a cherry blossom design stitched into the front. A red ribbon adorned her petite waist. She also wore black, thigh-high tights witha pair of black flats. A pair of black, fingerless gloves ran up from her fingers to the crease of her elbow. She was to say in the least, beautiful.