The Love Between Hanyou's chapter 7

Disclaimer: Ido not own Inuyasha or any of Rumiko Takahashi's characters. Enjoythe fiction!


The journey was painfully long, literally for Kagome. She desperately tried not to think of the pain circulating through her body, but it wasn't easy to ignore. Each movement she made was like needles stabbing at her joins, each breath she took burned her lungs and her head was spinning and throbbing. Myouga gave Kirara directions from atop her head, holding on for dear life when the wind picked up. During their flight Kagome went in and out of a fevered sleep. During one such uneasy rest Inuyasha talked with Myouga. "Hey, tell me something Myouga…" "Yes, Master?" he asked and hopped from Kirara's head to Inuyasha's upturned hand. "Do you think I did the right thing? Kagome doesn't realize it yet, but I've taken her humanity. I've put her through so much pain, and yet she stays with me. Why would she?" he asked. His eyes showed enlightenment and yet there was none.

"Lord Inuyasha, this isn't like you!" he shouted above the rushing wind "You never willingly express your emotions." He said point blank. Inuyasha flinched. "Just answer me damnit!" he shouted. Kagome stirred and he slapped a hand over his mouth. "Now that's more like you, master" said Myouga. "However, I don't agree about Lady Kagome. I think she knows her humanity is forever gone, and I think she is happy beyond expression that you changed her. You did it to save her after all, and you professed your love for her, and chose her over Kikyou." Myouga emphasized the last part and looked carefully at his masters expressions. "And after all, a painless existence isn't possible. When you fall you get back up. Lady Kagome is a wonderful example of the stubborn human nature. You'll never change that." said Myouga. Inuyasha smirked. "Lady Kagome staying with you on the other hand…I have no idea." Inuyasha's smirk faded, his eye twitched and he squished the flea.

"Why, master" he said and floated into Kagome's lap. Dawn approached and molten earth became visible. Totousai was standing outside the skeletal corpse of his home looking to the heavens. Kirara descended and the sudden movement jolted Kagome. She woke up and took in her surroundings: She was at Totousai's. Kirara landed on a cooler piece of earth and let everybody off. Kagome insisted on walking under her own power. "Hello, Totousai." she smiled as brightly as possible. "Don't strain yourself, we all know you feel like hell" was his reply. "Excuse you, show some respect for the Lady Kagome!" Myouga fumed irritably as he hopped up and down on Inuyasha's shoulder. "You knew we were coming did you, old man?" Inuyasha asked, shoulders squared, chest puffed and arms crossed. "No, but Kageseiga is behaving strangely. It was pulsing and trying to pull itself free from its sheath." he turned and began walking back inside his home. "Kageseiga? What's that?" Inuyasha demanded as he followed the old sword smith.

Totousai turned toward the two Hanyou's and flea. "Huh? Who are you?" he asked and received a large bump for it. "This isn't the time you senile old fool!" shouted Myouga. "Lady Kagome is in desperate need of Tetsusaiga's twin sword!" he shouted. "Oh yeah!" Totousai said and hit his palm with his fist like he was playing a game of jenkin. He led them deeper inside and bid them to sit. He went further into the darkness until he was completely lost to sight. "Kagome, are you doing alright?" asked Inuyasha trying not to let his concern show, though he didn't know why. "I'm okay." She said and forced a smile. Five minutes passed and finally Totousai returned with an object wrapped in dark green cloth. "So I'm guessing that's the sword?" Inuyasha asked rudely. "Yes, this is Kageseiga." Totousai unwrapped the sword to reveal the most beautiful weapon any of them had ever seen. Kagome's mouth dropped; Inuyasha's eyes bugged and Myouga smiled knowingly from Totousai's head.

Kageseiga truly was gorgeous. The sheath was a shiny lacquered black with what looked like gold etched into it. The gold was patterned with cranes and flowers. The grip was silver with some design etched into it, but it couldn't quite be discerned in the darkness of the cave. Finally their eyes roamed to the hilt of the magnificent weapon. It was wrapped with ivory cloth around the same black lacquered wood. Kagome drew in a sharp breath. "May I hold it?" she asked. "Of course, it's yours after all." He said and held it out for her to take. She reached out hesitantly at first, then grasped it in her right hand. It was heavy! She admired it more thoroughly this time, but lighting was still inadequate. "Can we go outside and look at it better?" Inuyasha asked Totousai, clearly still in awe. "Sure, sure." He said and followed the dumbstruck hanyou pair with an elated flea on his shoulder.

Outside Kagome could see everything. It was amazing. "This is my most dazzling work." said Totousai, obviously pleased with himself. "As you can see, the sheath has been carved with patterns of flowers and cranes and the grooves were filled with gold. The sheath itself was carved from a fallen demon tree which held a great demonic power. Moving further up, you'll notice a pored silver grip which I also etched flowers into. That too was filled with gold." Kagome and Inuyasha admired each part explained and noted the exquisite craftsmanship. Totousai truly was the best they'd seen. "Moving to the very top, you can see I had the fur of a fire rat woven and died to a perfect ivory and wrapped it around the hilt itself, which is from the same demon tree." Inuyasha turned to face Totousai and could have sworn he saw his head inflate. Kagome on the other hand was too amazed to look away.

"Not that I'm complainin' or anything, but Kagome's sword sure is fancy…" said Inuyasha. "Of course it is!" he shouted, "She's a female! That and I've had over 60 years to improve it." Inuyasha whacked him in the head. "You impertinent dog, you should be grateful for the Tetsusaiga! I never should have entrusted it to you! Give it here!" he said, and reached for Inuyasha's sword. Inuyasha's fist met Totousai's head once again. "Totousai, this is wonderful! Thank you so much!" Kagome piped. "Oh, and sit boy." He sat. "What was that for!" he asked when he regained his bearings. "Totousai just gave me a sword that will help me stay a hanyou and you're being rude to him!" she exclaimed. "I…" but there was nothing he could say, she was right. He stood, brushed himself off, walked behind her and hugged her. He bit her right ear lightly as she shuddered and blushed a deeper red than Inuyasha's Kimono.

"Ahem!" Myouga and Totousai cleared their throats with a blush. "Now Kagome, if you'll take out the sword." He said. "Oh, sure." Inuyasha let go and she gripped the hilt. She pulled. Kageseiga immediately transformed. "This is…heavy!" she exclaimed as she let the blade hit the earth below her. "Yes, compared to a bow and arrow I'm sure it is; however, you must get used to wielding a sword, and no other besides Kageseiga will do." He finished. Kagome looked down at the blade. It looked identical to Tetsusaiga but the silver blade had stripes of black from grip to tip. It looked almost like an animal's coat. "Wow." was all she could manage. Kageseiga pulsed and the blade turned back to normal. It was just as rusty looking as Tetsusaiga. "Uhh…what just happened?" the hanyou's asked in unison. "What? You haven't mated yet!" he exclaimed, to which Inuyasha shook his head and Kagome blinked. "Kageseiga will not fully accept Kagome until the two of you are mated." He said matter-of-factly. "How does it know? It isn't alive!" Inuyasha snapped. "No it isn't, and I can't explain it, but that's the way it is, so even if I knew why, telling you would be kinda pointless don't ya think?" he snapped back. He did have a point.

"Um…wait a sec…what do you mean by mate?" Kagome asked as she re-sheathed Kageseiga. "Uh…well…" Totousai stammered "Well, I'll let you get that one, Myouga." He said and looked at the sky innocently. "Who, me?" He squeaked. "Master Inuyasha should! Well, go on and tell her." He said blushing deeply. "I swear you two are hopeless." He said as he faced an even more confused Kagome. "It's…uh…well…right." He turned away from her and frantically asked Totousai more about Kageseiga. "What attacks is Kageseiga capable of?" he managed to get out and was relieved when Kagome didn't press on about mating. "Well, that will reveal itself in time. First Kagome, you must be in perfect sync with the sword, like it's an extension of your arm. Then when you have mastered it, the techniques will come to you." He said, happy to indulge in a different topic.

"But better than that, you feel a bit better, don't you?" he asked. Kagome looked like she'd been struck. She hadn't noticed it until now, but all the pain was dulled a considerable amount. Her muscles no longer throbbed, only held a dull ache. Her head stopped pounding, breathing wasn't a chore and the fire inside her body was completely gone. "I feel almost at 100!" she said and twirled in a circle. Inuyasha's heart twisted a bit, he was happy beyond words she was feeling better. "Yes, but excuse us for a minute." Said Totousai and pushed Inuyasha back inside his home.

"Look Inuyasha, you need to be aware of something. Kagome isn't cured; in fact Kageseiga's power will diminish in but a few days. You have to mate with her or she'll be put through agonizing pain again!" he exclaimed. "But, she doesn't…she isn't…I can't." was what he finally settled for. Totousai wouldn't accept that. "And why not?" he demanded sternly. "She isn't ready for something like that, I can't…I'll feel like I'm forcing her!" he shouted. Kagome looked inside, but couldn't make out what was being said because she still didn't have full use of her demonic hearing. Totousai demanded he keep it down. "You love her, she loves you. I see no problem." "You make it sound so easy." Was all he said before abandoning Totousai.

"Kagome, let's go." He said and took her hand gently. "But…why? What happened?" she asked and pulled at her hand to free it. "Nothing, but you and I need to talk." He said flatly, holding her in his grip. "Well at least let me properly thank Totousai!" she demanded and sat him the instant he let go of her hand. She walked back to where the old man stood, laughing at the sprawled hanyou. "I never get tired of that." He said and dried the tears that had fallen. "Totousai thank you so much." She said and held him in a hug. "Really, I was so scared, and now I'll be just fine. The sword is beautiful, I'm so happy." She said and he held her back. He really was fond of her, and he was happy Kageseiga would have such a good master. "Better get going," he said and let go of her, "your dog is regaining his composure." Kagome giggled and trotted off toward Kirara and Inuyasha.

"Do you think the master will be able to gather enough courage to…" piped Myouga, only to be cut off by the old man. "I don't know, but he has to try." He contemplated their situation. "Aren't you going with them?" he asked when he noticed who he was talking to. "No, not now. I'll have to find our mutual friend first. She'll have plenty of questions when…well…you know. So I'll be off!" he said and hopped off Totousai's shoulder. "Yes, that would be wise. Goodbye." And with that Totousai walked inside his home. "Maybe I should have had Inuyasha draw me a bath…its so much work!"


AN: I'm sorry about the delay in updating, but I've been so busy! School is a pain and I ended up getting the stomach flu…however, I feel much better now. On a better note, how was the chapter? I have received some e-mails asking why I don't use more Japanese words and phrases in my writing, the simple answer for that is: many people don't know what they mean. I could use a glossary, but it's kinda a pain to look back, yes? BTW, Jenkin is basically 'rock, paper, scissors.'