Disclaimer: This story is based on "Inuyasha," copyrighted by Rumiko Takahashi. No infringement of copyright intended or implied.
Lesson Time
It wasn't luck that kept him living, given all the youkai who wanted weapons they shouldn't have who searched for him, ready to cause his demise if he defied them. Locating his forge near the heart of a volcano wasn't entirely because he was a fire youkai: it was only the first layer of defense. He had many more, including one of such long standing that even he frequently forgot it was only a role. How many people, mortal or youkai, would believe that a rude, forgetful, crack-brained, ancient-seeming youkai could possibly still have the skill to create a powerful sword, let alone the strength?
Sesshomaru, unfortunately, was well aware of the facts.
When all other layers of defense failed, be a coward. What good would courage and defiance be to a sword-smith? He wasn't ready to end up dead.
Certainly not at Sesshomaru's hands. Not when the pup still had things to learn, whom his much more to be dreaded father (even dead!) expected Totosai to provide with the appropriate weapon, when the time came.
So, for now, he fled.
Not without purpose, however.
There was that other pup of the Inu no Taisho. The pup, who now had his hands on Tessaiga, and according to Myoga, had shown at least the potential to control the powerful sword. Time to check out the younger pup, and see how badly he was misusing the blade.
It was time for some lessons.
Quite probably, for both pups…
Author's Note: Who is Totosai, really? This piece speaks more directly to the question animating this series than the first two. It was originally posted to the Inuyasha's Unsung Heroes community on Live Journal, for the prompt "Luck", on December 8, 2010. It won the contest.
(posted 12/30/2010)