The sword suddenly pulsed and Kaijinbo's manic smile widened as he pointed his sword directly at Inuyasha, saying triumphantly: "So you are Inuyasha! The sword has told me so. Disappointing."

Their eyes narrowed as Kaijinbo smirked: "I expected a demon, and yet I am faced with a mere mortal."

He laughed, and the group tensed even further as they faced the deranged demon.

"Inuyasha," Miroku asked quietly as they watched Kaijinbo carefully, "have you ever wronged this swordsmith that you know of?"

"No." Inuyasha admitted, but Yuki interjected quietly: "It's the sword. The sword is controlling him, and I'd bet it was made of the demon you said you fought recently, Inuyasha. The one that broke your Tetsusaiga."

Inuyasha's eyes widened and he gasped: "Goshinki. You're saying that sword was made from Goshinki's fangs?"

"Hehehe, yes indeed." Kaijinbo smiled. "And it thirsts for your blood, Inuaysha!"

Inuyasha's eyes narrowed angrily and he snapped: "I'm tired of listening to your jabbering! Prepare yourself, Kaijinbo! I'll hack you to pieces!"

He made to run at Kaijinbo, but Miroku lifted his staff to stop him while Yuki moved to placed herself directly in front of Inuyasha, standing between him and Kaijinbo.

"Huh?" Inuyasha asked, looking at Miroku and then Yuki incredulously. "What're you doing?"

"Don't be an idiot." Yuki pointed out. "You don't stand a chance in your current state, and you don't even have your sword."

"We'll deal with this." Sango promised as she ran ahead, taking first aim.

"Hiraikotsu!" She shouted as she threw her weapon, the enormous boomerang whipping through the air and towards Kaijinbo.

The demon ducked slightly, easily avoiding the demon slayer's weapon, and as it flew passed him, he mocked: "Ah, pity about your poor aim…"

He paused as the weapon came flying back at him, and Yuki's eyes narrowed as she saw Tokijin pulse once more before Kaijinbo turned and swung the sword… cutting right through Hiraikotsu. Sango's eyes widened in horror as she stared at the broken pieces of her weapon, while Kaijinbo laughed: "You fool!"

Yuki's posture tightened, but before she could move Miroku had taken off, shouting: "I'll admit your sword is formidable, which is why I'll have to resort to this!"

He threw a sutra right at Kaijinbo's head, the spiritual power paralyzing Kaijinbo as the demon screamed in pain, and Miroku swung his staff.

"Heaven's punishment!" He shouted as he smacked his staff right onto the sutra, splitting Kaijinbo's head in two, and causing the demon to fall back, seemingly dead.

The others stood in awe as Miroku turned away, thinking he'd won, but Yuki's sharp eyes detected Kaijinbo's hand twitch.

"Miroku, look out!" Yuki shouted sharply as she ran forwards, and Miroku turned quickly to see Kaijinbo suddenly lurching to his feet.

The demon, his eyes glowing even brighter red as the sword controlled him, lunged at the monk, only for the blade to clash directly against Yuki's twin swords.

"Yuki!" Inuyasha shouted, while Kagome gasped: "Her hair!"

Miroku too was staring at Yuki's now white hair and her icy-blue eyes, while Sango noted: "That's a characteristic of the arctic fox demons. Their fur turns white when they use their powers of ice and snow."

"Amazing." Shippo gasped, when Yuki grit out between her teeth: "Yeah, but right now, Miroku, run!"

The monk quickly got out of the way as Tokijin pushed Yuki's swords away, before Kaijinbo lunged at her. She avoided it swiftly, jumping back with her blades raised though she didn't attack Tokijin again. She knew its power would easily overpower hers, and she couldn't afford to take it on directly unless she wanted her blades snapped like Inuyasha's Tetsusaiga had been broken.

"He's acting like nothing's happened even though his head has been split open!" Shippo cried, and Kagome whispered fearfully: "Yeah. It must be the sword controlling him!"

As Kaijinbo made to attack her again, she jumped away again, twisting instead and placing her knives parallel to her face as she cried: "Winter Blaze!"

She swung her knives, sending out the bright blue slashes signature to her move, and Kaijinbo cried out as he was cut in various places by the attack though Tokijin blocked most of it. Yuki grit her teeth as she landed before the others, still at the front to protect them but further from Kaijinbo and his powerful sword.

"It barely fazed him." Kagome noted worriedly, and Inuyasha was also frowning as he muttered: "That's one of Yuki's strongest attacks, and it barely scratched the sword."

"Hehehe, now you know it's futile!" Kaijinbo cackled, but Yuki's eyes slid briefly over to the skies, noting how it was lighting up. "So, come at me, Inuyasha! Or are you completely paralyzed by fear? Hiding meekly behind a girl and a child?"

Inuyasha growled as he stood with Kagome and Shippo, and Shippo said worriedly: "Inuyasha, don't be lured by his words!"

"I'm not going to fall for any tricks like that." Inuyasha replied firmly, even as he glared at Kaijinbo.

Inuyasha, too, had noted the skies brightening, and his eyes briefly met Yuki's bright blue ones as she glanced back at him. 'Just a little longer.' She seemed to be saying, and she knew what he was thinking, too. 'It's too long.'

"But the thing is," Inuyasha continued as he grabbed Shippo and then dropped the child to the side, "I'm not gonna run and hide any longer!"

He started to run passed his friends, and Kagome shouted furiously: "Inuyasha!"

"Why does he always have to be so stubborn?" Shippo demanded, while Miroku cried: "Yuki, stop him!"

Yuki had already moved to block Inuyasha – having foreseen his impatience and pride would get the better of him - but before he could argue or she could scold him, suddenly there was a bolt of lightning on the fields between their group and Kaijinbo.

Yuki raised her arm to shield her face from the bright light, squinting to see what was happening, before she blinked as the lightning cleared to reveal an old man with enormous, bulging eyes sitting atop a three-eyed cow.

"Who…?" Yuki began, when Sango gasped: "Totosai!"

"Who?" Yuki repeated blankly, and Kagome explained: "He's an old swordsmith, and the one who forged Inuyasha's father's swords!"

"Oh…" Yuki realized, while Miroku asked the old master: "Have you repaired the Tetsusaiga?"

"I should have known you had something to do with all this commotion." The old master complained to Inuyasha, who ignored him as he jumped around Yuki to sit before the old master on the three-eyed cow.

"You're late, or maybe you hadn't noticed. Give it here!" Inuyasha snapped, annoyed, as he grabbed a sheathed sword from Totosai.

Yuki watched with interest, wanting to see what this legendary Tetsusaiga looked like… only for Inuyasha to draw a rusty old sword from the sheath.

'That's it?' She wondered blankly, when a voice suddenly cried: "Master, don't do it!"

Yuki stared at the source of the voice coming from Inuaysha's shoulder, spying the tiny demon that had appeared on Inuyasha's chest.

"What's the problem, old Myoga?" Inuyasha demanded, while Yuki asked flatly: "Is that a flea?"

"Another friend of the old man's." Inuyasha explained, before he demanded of Myoga again: "Well?"

"Tetsusaiga will not transform when you are in your human form!" Myoga reminded Inuyasha, while Yuki stared.

"You aren't serious?!" She demanded, and Inuyasha scowled: "I can still take him."

"You haven't changed at all!" She cried, and he countered: "Neither have you!"

"They're squabbling like children." Shippo moaned, and Sango nodded.

Totosai meanwhile was facing Kaijinbo grimly, and he stated coldly: "It's been a long time, Kaijinbo."

"Totosai." Kaijinbo sneered. "I took you for dead."

"You've been busy crafting another wicked sword." Totosai noted with a frown. "Haven't you, Kaijinbo?"

"Hehehe." Kaijinbo smiled. "I shall prove to you which of us is the better swordsmith!"

"Totosai." Miroku chimed in as Yuki and Inuyasha returned to the seriousness of the situation as well. "You are also familiar with this Kaijinbo?"

"Yes." Totosai answered grimly. "He is a former pupil. I banished him a long time ago. He was most unorthodox. He killed ten innocent children for his sword. Wretched beast."

Totosai scowled at his former disciple as he explained to the others: "He covered the blade with human blood and oil in order to make it seethe with hatred."

"How awful." Kagome gasped while Miroku's jaw set in anger.

Kaijinbo cocked Tokijin as he challenged: "Draw your sword, Inuyasha! I shall crush Totosai's creation before his very eyes!"

"You'll have to go through me first." Yuki replied, placing herself in Kaijinbo's direct line.

"Foolish half-breed!" Kaijinbo cried. "Well, if you so desire, you shall perish first!"

He started to run at her, and to almost everyone's surprise this time Yuki ran forward to meet him.

"Yuki!" Sango cried, and Miroku added: "Watch out!"

But Inuyasha smirked as Yuki suddenly sheathed her knives while she dodged Tokijin, avoiding the strong demonic aura. Kaijinbo paused in confusion as the half-demon seemed to jump right by him without even harming him.

"What's she doing?" Shippo wondered while Totosai noted: "Huh."

'That girl…' He thought to himself. 'She realized her own swords would never be able to take on Tokijin. She will not engage in a pointless fight, unlike another half-demon I know.'

'But what will she do now if she will not fight?' Old Myoga was wondering as he too watched the girl's strange behaviour, but Inuyasha smiled.

'Right… now.' The two friends thought together, and Yuki's blue eyes tightened.

Just as she was passing by Kaijinbo, her hand shot out and the others all watched in surprise as the ribbons around her right wrist were suddenly loosened and thrown like a whip around Kaijinbo's hand.

Kaijinbo watched, puzzled, before he was distracted as Inuyasha yelled: "Too bad, Kaijinbo! You should have killed me when you had the chance!"

His hair began to fly and lighten, turning white as the sun's rays fell on him, while his nails grew into claws and his ears perked up on his head once more.

"He's transforming!" Shippo cheered, and Kagome sighed in relief: "The sun's coming up!"

Meanwhile, Yuki had landed behind Kaijinbo, skidding slightly as she pulled the demon's wrist sharply, causing him to stumble forwards and exposing his whole body as Yuki forced his hand wielding Tokijin far away from his body.

"Inuyasha!" She called, and he smirked, his golden eyes glinting triumphantly as the Tetsusaiga transformed into its true form, while he yelled: "Prepare to die, Kaijinbo-!"

His cry was cut short as the Tetsusaiga suddenly tipped in his hands, the end falling to the ground with a heavy thud as Inuyasha struggled to hold his sword.

Yuki stared at him, while Inuyasha grunted before he turned and asked in a dangerous voice: "Hey, Totosai. What the hell have you done to my Tetsusaiga, you old codger?"

"Huh?" The others all asked blankly, while Inuyasha yelled: "Answer me, old man! What did you do to my sword?!"

"Hmmm?" Totosai asked blankly as he scratched his head. "What, are you having some kind of problem?"

"As if you hadn't noticed!" Inuyasha yelled accusingly as he struggled with his sword. "Why is this thing so heavy?!"

"Oh." Totosai answered carelessly. "It must have something to do with that fang of yours that I used to bond it. Pay no mind."

"Are you serious?!" Yuki cried, for the third time in the space of an hour, while Inuyasha yelled: "Totosai!"

"Hehehe!" Kaijinbo laughed. "No use having a sword you can't even hold! Inuyasha, I will slice you in half, after I've dealt with this pretty little thing first!"

He thrust Tokijin suddenly at Yuki, and Kagome shouted in alarm: "Yuki, look out!"

The half-demon sprang out the way, barely dodging the attack as she threw her other hand's ribbon as a second whip to whack Tokijin away defensively. Kaijinbo growled as Yuki escaped, drawing her ribbons back as she spun her wrists quickly to wrap them back securely around her forearms once more while Inuyasha moved to cover her, dragging his sword behind him.

"You leave her alone!" He shouted, and Yuki pointed out dryly: "You might want to raise your sword."

"Shut up!" He exclaimed, shooting her an annoyed look, as Kaijinbo ran at him instead with Tokijin raised, shouting: "Then you will die first, Inuyasha!"

He swung Tokijin as Inuyasha heaved Tetsusaiga up and ran to meet Kaijinbo head on. The two swords clashed, and both sides leant in as they growled, trying to push the other back.

"It's a draw!" Miroku gasped as they all watched in a mix of wonder and horror.

Yuki had backed away as Inuyasha fought with Kaijinbo, the weaker demon unable to fully wield Tokijin's power against Inuyasha while the half-demon himself struggled to keep his sword lifted enough to block Tokijin let alone attack.

"Miss Yuki, you aren't going to help him?" Myoga asked, and Yuki glanced down at the flea demon in surprise.

"When did you get there?" She asked, and Myoga sweat-dropped when Kagome growled: "Myoga, did you abandon Inuyasha again?"

"Oh, uh, well…" Myoga answered evasively, and Yuki rolled her eyes.

"Well, to answer your question," she said instead, letting Myoga's cowardice slide, "I would, but I don't think Inuyasha's in danger any more. And I have a feeling he needs this opportunity to learn to use his new sword."

"Oh ho!" Totosai looked over at the younger half-demon, impressed. "Finally, someone with brains."

"Shut up, old man." Yuki sighed, glancing at Totosai in annoyance. "Just because I understand it, doesn't mean I won't kick your butt for not warning Inuyasha sooner. What if he'd been in actual danger?"

"Oh well." Totosai shrugged, and Yuki groaned.

They all turned back to the fight as Kaijinbo mocked Inuyasha: "Ha! You can't even lift that sword properly!"

"Dammit." Inuyasha growled as he tightened his grip on his heavy sword, and Kaijinbo yelled as he raised Tokojin once more: "Prepare yourself! This time, you'll meet your maker!"

Kaijinbo leapt at Inuyasha, and the half-demon's eyes narrowed as he saw an opening and he shouted as he swung his Tetsusaiga: "Not if I can help it!"

The two clashed swords once more and sparks flew as the pair leant against each other once more, Tetsusaiga's glowing gold while Tokijin's glowed purple. Kaijinbo laughed manically as Inuyasha grit his teeth, and the demon taunted: "Pathetic Totosai!"

Yuki's eyes widened and she leant forward in anticipation, while Kaijinbo cackled unawares: "I would have expected much better from yo-!"

He was cut off as Tetsusaiga suddenly cut through him, the power of the sword too much for the lowly demon to handle. Yuki's eyes narrowed and her ears flattened to her head as Kaijinbo was completely destroyed, shredded to pieces, but Tokijin flew up into the air, unscathed.

She watched it land, jamming itself into the ground a few feet away, while Inuyasha breathed deeply with the effort he'd exerted.

"Incredible." Miroku gasped as the group slowly made their way forward, and Totosai agreed: "Yes. The sword held up, but Kaijinbo himself was unable to withstand his power. The very sword he forged overpowered him. The wretched fool deserved it."

"Inuyasha?" Yuki questioned as she walked up to him, and he grunted at her as he fought to get his breath back while Tetsusaiga transformed back into its rusty form.

"I'm okay." He growled. "Just mad!"

He turned and ran, snapping: "Totosai! I want to talk to you!"

The old master turned to face the half-demon as Inuyasha stopped before Totosai, still panting heavily.

"Something about the sword you don't care for?" Totosai asked casually, and Inuyasha demanded as he lifted the rusty Tetsusaiga: "How in the hell do you figure I can carry around such a heavy sword? One thrust, and I need to stop and rest!"

Yuki rolled her now darker blue eyes before turning and moving to examine Tokijin more closely while Totosai asked seriously: "Do you wish to know how to handle the heavy Tetsusaiga?"

Inuyasha blinked, and the others also perked up as Inuyasha asked in awe: "You mean there's a way to do it?"

"It's simple." Totosai answered, and he leant forward as Inuyasha also leant in, watching Totosai intently.

The pair faced each for a moment, Totosai staring Inuyasha down seriously as Inuyasha waited patiently.

After a moment, Inuyasha smiled and he placed his hand on Totosai's shoulder as he said lightly: "You aren't going to tell me that the answer is in building up my own strength, are you?"

Totosai flinched guiltily, and Yuki sighed as Inuyasha immediately punched the old man's head.

'Idiot.' Yuki thought absently while a lump grew on Totosai's head.

"I should have known!" Inuyasha growled, annoyed, while Kagome sighed: "The old guy shouldn't have even brought it up."

"Mhm." The others all nodded.

Totosai simply ignored them as he turned back to the now abandoned Tokijin, noting Yuki staring at it intently. The old master came up behind her, opening his mouth to speak, when she warned him as she eyed the sword warily: "I wouldn't touch it. Its demonic aura is incredible even now."

The others looked over in surprise, all of them returning to the situation at hand, while Totosai raised a brow.

"I'm glad you noticed." He noted approvingly. "Many a demon, especially half-demons, might have been tempted by the false power it also provides."

"Well, I learnt the hard way that power isn't always everything." Yuki muttered, glancing briefly at Inuyasha.

His face remained impassive, and Yuki knew it was because, despite their similar backgrounds, he still desired the powers of a full demon while Yuki did now.

Totosai meanwhile was watching the half-fox thoughtfully. She was certainly very different from most of the others, demon or half, that he had encountered, more human than even Inuyasha. And yet, she retained the power and cunning of long-living demons. And something was also telling him that she would be special in her own way – and his belly was never wrong.

Deciding he would continue to observe this girl, Totosai turned back to Tokijin, intending to reach for it when he flinched.

"The evil won't allow me to extract it." He murmured in horror. "Who could have commissioned Kaijinbo to forge such a sword?"

The group could only shake their heads, and Miroku stated firmly: "We'll have to construct a barrier around Tokijin to contain the aura. Otherwise, we won't be able to control its evil."

"Miroku, can't you put some kind of sacred spell on it?" Shippo asked hopefully, but Miroku shook his head.

"The aura is too strong." He admitted grimly. "I'm not sure any of my spells will be able to seal it completely."

"What about your idea to create a barrier then?" Shippo tried, but Miroku sighed: "Easier said than done. We'd need to hire men to build it, and that requires money, which we're sadly lacking."

Yuki sighed as she glanced at Inuyasha, who shrugged beside her, before they snorted as Shippo stated bluntly: "Then make some money with your fake fortune telling."

"I make an honest living, I'll have you know!" Miroku exclaimed indignantly, and Yuki raised a brow in amusement while Shippo countered: "Your job as a monk is to help people, so how about helping us?"

"Point taken." Miroku conceded. "If I agree to this, I'll need to keep some of the money to entertain myself with the ladies. I may not make as much as we need…"

He trailed off thoughtfully, and Shippo sighed: "Couldn't you forget the ladies just this once?"

"You could entertain yourself with this lady for free." Yuki smiled sweetly, causing Shippo to choke while Miroku looked over in surprise.

"I enjoy having a vicious duel with men until one side cries mercy." Yuki went on with a wicked smile and Miroku immediately gulped as Inuyasha snorted. "Just so you know," she flashed her teeth, "I've never lost, but some men have been known to lose their ability to have children."

Miroku's eyes widened in fear before he closed them and stated quickly: "Perhaps I can forget the ladies just this once?"

Kagome sighed while Shippo shook his head at Mirkou, and Sango stated bluntly: "Idiot."

"Hey!" Miroku protested, when Inuyasha interjected impatiently: "I've heard more than I need to. We're wasting time here."

He drew his Tetsusaiga, stating confidently: "I'll use Tetsusaiga to smash it to bits!"

He lifted his sword with great difficulty while Yuki sighed.

"It won't work." She told her friend bluntly, and he argued: "Oh yeah? Watch this!"

He jumped at Tokijin, swinging his Tetsusaiga and tried to land a blow to break the sword… only to meet a protective barrier.

"What?" Inuyasha gasped before he was flung back by Tokijin's sheer aura, landing on his feet a few paces back from the powerful sword.

"Told you." Yuki informed him, and he asked, dumbfounded: "Is Tokijin unbreakable?"

"It's evil power is incredible." Sango noted as they stared at the sword, and Shippo added with a shiver: "Almost as if it's alive!"

"Who do you think asked Kaijinbo to make it in the first place?" Kagome wondered, and Miroku answered firmly: "We can talk about that later. But right now, we should distance ourselves from it."

"I agree." Yuki added while Totosai nodded in agreement, and Inuyasha interjected incredulously: "You mean, you want us to run?!"

"Anyone capable of withdrawing a sword of such evil would have enormous power." Totosai replied. "You're no match at present."

Yuki winced, knowing Totosai had said exactly the wrong thing without even needing to look at her childhood friend. Inuyasha's eyes had narrowed, and he folded his arms like a sulky child as he sat down firmly on the ground.

"I'm waiting here." He stated flatly.

"Inuyasha!" Kagome protested, while Yuki sighed: "Inuyasha, grow up."

"Shut up, I'm not a child." He growled, and she muttered: "Stop acting like a child then."

"I'm not, and I've made up my mind!" He snapped, and Yuki sighed while Shippo pointed out: "If you hang around the sword, it might be dangerous!"

"He's right." Sango added. "It's wiser to distance yourself for now."

"No!" Inuyasha returned determinedly. "Do what you want but I'm not going to move a single muscle."

The group stared at him incredulously, except Yuki, who sighed. She settled down beside her friend, and Inuyasha growled: "I also don't need protection, Yuki."

"Sure you do." She answered with a bluntness only a foster sibling could have. "You'll always need protection from your own idiocy."

"Hey!" He complained, but she replied pointedly: "Pipe down, I'm only staying here for another night. I refuse to sit here longer than that."

"Heh! I'm staying until the other guy appears!" Inuyasha growled, and Yuki shrugged.

"If you say so." She said shortly, putting an end to the conversation, though she knew Inuyasha wouldn't actually sit that long either.

He could be stubborn as a mule, but she also knew how to handle him. Right now, his pride had been hurt by Totosai's words, but if she gave him a night to cool off, then she could remind him of his foremost mission to defeat the mysterious Naraku. Hopefully, Tokijin's true owner wouldn't come looking before then.

*A/N Song of the day: Hanyou from the Inuyasha OST. The link is as follows: /7NKb_xsEN7U