To Help You: Tetsusaiga may be referred to as the Sword of Earth at times or the Sword of Protection. Likewise, Tenseiga may be referred to sometimes as the Sword of Healing or the Sword of Heaven.
The General
Chapter Eight
Hatred is a constant wheel of pain.
Tetsusaiga was not happy. Tenseiga was worried.
Their plan had not been instated yet but it would need to be soon. So far, the swords had been incredibly lucky. Tetsusaiga's owner was willing; he had made the choice to nurse his brother hack to health on his own. That was amazing and fortunate. However, it conflicted him, the Sword of Protection told Tenseiga. He did not show it, but Tetsusaiga's owner's heart was dangerously exposed, reliving hopes that were once perceived dead. And the Sword of Healing sadly noted that its owner's intense hatred was most likely going to massacre any hope left in the hanyou, once and for all.
So far, that seemed to be the case. Tetsusaiga admitted its anger for the full demon. Its owner had gone to great lengths—especially within his own heart—to rescue him from imminent death. Tenseiga wanted to route for its handler but it hesitantly agreed that its keeper was being destructive.
However, beneath all that hatred, Tenseiga whispered, there was something stirring. It was not love, not even an inkling of liking, but it was a start. Now it was time for them to coax it out…in both of their handlers.
The Sword of Healing said: But it would be a dangerous balancing act. For its owner's heart, although blockaded from any sort of warm emotions, could easily sink farther within his black loathing. Doing that would destroy him.
Likewise, Tetsusaiga answered, its owner's heart would do the same. By the demon's words and actions, its owner's heart would finally harden for good and he would transform into that of his brother. Cold. Heartless. Untrusting. Miserable.
The woman who was pulling at his heart was making great headway in healing past wounds…but there was some that only his brother could amend. And if he so chose to reject the hanyou and hurt him terribly, there was a possibility that the boy's heart would revert and the girl would lose all of her progress. And maybe…his heart would reject her as well.
Yes, Tenseiga said, and the child in its group may lose her progress also.
It was a dangerous balancing act. Their plan was not made of stone; it depended on these brothers' choices. It seems, the swords both agreed upon, that it was just to be their task to mend any mistakes that are made and try to lead their keepers in the right direction.
They too, if they err, could destroy all this progress in the same way.
They would have to continue carefully.
Back in the field of rotting flesh, a storm brewed.
"I'm not through with you, you, you sick—!" Inuyasha, in frustration, cursed and cursed. He may have even made up some of the words he shouted. But this act of anger simply bandaged him. His chest was constricted from shame, resentment, and pain. He hated his decision, regretted it, and despised himself for being so stupid.
He was still so childish. He was so weak and pathetic and pitiful and a waste—a waste, a waste, a waste!
"What a waste."
He had wanted to be thanked. He had wanted appreciation and approval. But he understood that those things would never be given to him. At the very least...
He just wanted to be acknowledged. But not for this, not for the only thing he was ever acknowledge for. Being a hanyou—for being a weak and pathetic and pitiful and stupid and wasteful half-breed.
What did you expect? It's true isn't it? Everyone tells you this. And look at you. You were such an idiot. You are never supposed to help your enemy and you did. They're right. Everything they say is right. Stupid.
Tetsusaiga pulsed comfortingly in his hand. There was a tiny thought in the back of this tirade.
No it's not.
But it was lost in past hurts, past offenses, and past wounds ripping afresh.
To save himself from the pain, he got angry and it felt good.
"I…" he lifted Tetsusaiga, transformed it, and ran towards Sesshomaru, "HATE YOU!"
Sesshomaru's eyes flashed red again. He still wanted this fight and he wanted to indulge in it before he left. He would teach this whelp a lesson. He was going to be punished. The demon went for his Tokijin…
And it wasn't there.
What? Sesshomaru dodged his brother's haphazard swing. He looked down at his side, to only one weapon. Tokijin was gone.
He got angry too. "Inuyasha!"
Lord Sesshomaru, yet again, easily dodged another one of Inuyasha's attacks, punched Tetsusaiga out of his way, and got nose-to-nose with the hanyou. "Where is my Tokijin, Inuyasha?" He whispered threateningly, before having to jump back as Inuyasha recovered to deliver another attempted slice.
Inuyasha smirked that aggravating smirk and laughed mockingly as Sesshomaru's glare grew fiercer. "Ah, did you lose your precious little dagger, Sesshomaru? You really should take better care of your possessions!" Another attack, another dodge, and the dance continued.
"What did you do with my sword, Inuyasha?" Sesshomaru yelled, taking control of this fight and nearly slashing Inuyasha's head off.
"Why would I want your sword for?" The hanyou growled, tried at his legs but he jumped, way too high. Inuyasha rolled and Sesshomaru slammed, poison melting the snow in a fireworks array, at the place where the boy had just been standing.
"Do not question me, half-breed. I know it was you who took it."
Half-breed. Always half-breed. And always…his…FAULT!
"I did not! WIND SCAR!" Furious winds whipped around the elongated fang, the currents twisting and slapping one another, and their indistinguishable scent of rising power filled the atmosphere.
Sesshomaru, his body still strained from the akudoku toxin, would not be able to dodge this blow. He had overtaxed himself already. Thus he took out Tenseiga. Although worthless, it had protected him from Tetsusaiga's rage once before.
Both of their howls melded together, both so angry and conflicted.
However, at the climax of the attack, where Inuyasha would swing down triumphantly and release the pent up winds, something happened.
The Wind Scar…disappeared.
Sesshomaru and Inuyasha watched in shock as all of a sudden, the winds (moving so vigorously, they could be seen) dissipated upward into the gray sky. The flapping sound lowered and was gone and Tetsusaiga then was quiet.
Inuyasha wasn't feeling panic per se. Actually, he felt something that he could call embarrassment.
"What the--?" He shook the sword, trying to gain back the winds. Nothing. Tetsusaiga was done for the day, so it seemed. What's happening? Inuyasha feared: Is it deciding not to work for me anymore? Was it like when the weapon had been too heavy for him? Had Tetsusaiga decided that, due to his actions, his strength was not matched with that of his old man's anymore? Inuyasha stared at the wide-eyed reflection in the polished surface, confusion and worry pulling down his brows.
"What is it, Inuyasha?" Sesshomaru smoothly spoke. "Has Tetsusaiga tired of your foolishness as well?"
"Shut up!" Inuyasha spared him only a glance, continuing to give Tetsusaiga some good few jerks, and then looked it over. What's wrong with it?
Stupidity. Inuyasha was not paying attention. What did you expect from the likes of a fool? I shall rid this world of you once and for all! Sesshomaru was about to put away Tenseiga but when the weapon neared the tip of his sheath, it sparked and hummed angrily. "Tenseiga?" He asked in a whisper. Is it doing the same as Tetsusaiga? Sesshomaru ignored the Sword of Heaven and managed to sheath it. I am your handler, Tenseiga-- although I do not wish it—you will obey my command.
That done, Sesshomaru ran towards Inuyasha in a blur. The hanyou, still distracted, didn't see that punch coming. He flew a few feet in the air before landing in the snow. Inuyasha groaned, fingering his jaw. His throat was on fire again, the punch having jerked his head fiercefully to the side. He fumbled into a sitting position and cursed…and stiffened. His crash landing had dislodged a half-decayed body. The young soldier's face was completely gone leaving only hollowed eye sockets. A lowly and hungry animal must have found a disgusting and unsatisfying meal.
Sesshomaru, upon seeing the soldier, stood frozen in his tracks. His face, impassive, revealed none of the memories flickering in his mind. The boy had been under his command. By the condition of the body, and the quietness of Tenseiga, the netherworld imps had already drug off all these souls. None could be brought back. What a useless sword he had been bequeathed.
"You knew him didn't you?" Inuyasha said hoarsely. "It's your fault he died." Sesshomaru's eyes threw daggers of spite at the hanyou as he came to his feet. "Some leader you are."
The next punch nearly knocked him out.
"You have no say on this matter, half-breed!"
It took Inuyasha longer to stand back up. When he did, he managed to smirk past the pain. "What? Did I strike a chord there, Sesshomaru?" He relished a bit in that. The dog deserved it. "It's true though, ain't it? You're nothing like our old man. You can't even come close."
"Silence." Sesshomaru growled.
"Why should I? You finally get to see how it feels to be useless. Now you know what it's like to never be able to match up." Inuyasha wiped his nose. There was blood on his fingers and his knees were shaky. But he was enjoying this; it was like stealing something. You knew you shouldn't do it, but the thrill you got was unimaginable. His conscience protested against these harsh words, but it was ignored.
"You're such an idiot, Sesshomaru. That's why you wanted Tetsusaiga, huh? You wanted to be just as powerful as our old man. It won't help." Inuyasha frowned, his own words striking a chord with himself. "You'll never be good enough."
There was an angry and formidable quiet before Sesshomaru hissed in answer. His tone was chipped and icy. "And do you believe that you could ever 'match up' as you say, Inuyasha? You are far worse. You can never match up to the least of demons, never mind father."
"Shut up!" Inuyasha seethed. "At least I'm not going against his words and trying to steal something that's not meant to be mine! Besides, it's not like I said I wanted to be like him anyway. He's dead and buried. Why should I care?"
"Do not disrespect father with such talk."
"What? You care about what I say?"
Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes. "Father died because of you."
Inuyasha winced before retorting in full fury, "And you let him die!"
Inuyasha felt his stomach roll even though his veins were singing with his anger. Those were dangerous words, satisfying to say, but the power behind them scared him also. The reaction he got proved their danger.
Sesshomaru's youki licked off him in visible flames, engulfing him. His body stretched and ripped and fur erupt through his skin. He was transforming into his full form. Inuyasha tingled by the rising aura of danger. He was filled with the want to run. Tetsusaiga was the only thing that could go against Sesshomaru in this state, and it wasn't working for him. Even with only three legs, the great dog beast was a fearsome enemy.
Way to go bonehead. Inuyasha bent his knees and brandished the rusty and scraped up Tetsusaiga. It was the only thing he had besides tooth and claw. This wasn't going to go well.
"Inuyasha!"
Kagome?
"Hiraikotsu!" Sesshomaru, the dog, grabbed the boomerang right out of the air as if it was a Frisbee. His poison saliva dribbled past his chomps and around the large weapon. He made one good chomp and the Hiraikotsu cracked, slivers of bone flew by the breaking.
Sango, riding atop Kirara, Kagome in tow, snarled, "Don't you break that, Sesshomaru, or I'm going to personally kill you!"
Inuyasha straightened, looking up into the sky with the least bit of gratitude. Sure they kept him from dying, for now, but this wasn't their fight. Why did they always have to get into things?
Miroku, Shippo on his shoulder, ran up beside him, cheeks tinged red by the cold. "Sango is not very happy today, as you may be able to tell."
Inuyasha scoffed, "Do I have to wonder why, pervert?"
The monk feigned insult. "Oh, now that is uncalled for my friend. I am a dignified saint of Budd—"
"Ah, shut up Miroku. I had to put a snowball down your shirt to wake you up. Sango hit him hard." Shippo filled in to Inuyasha, who rolled his eyes.
Sesshomaru did not look happy to have a cat-youkai flying around his head. He swatted at Kirara and missed several times--the neko was an avid flyer--before finally catching her hind legs. Kirara, and the women on her back, spun and fell.
"Kagome!"
"Sango!"
The men, who yelled said names, ran under the falling girls and managed to catch them. Inuyasha a little bit more easily than Miroku. Kirara, being of feline persuasion, transformed back to her kitten form, flipped in the air, and landed on her four feet. She sank into the snow, mewing with discomfort by the wet and cold.
"Sango, are you alright?" Miroku whispered. The taijiya blinked open her eyes but they were not filled with thanksgiving. She glared forthright at him, knocked him aside, and ran to her companion.
"Oh Kirara, are you okay?"
The monk was not pleased. Women.
"Kagome, what are doing here!" Inuyasha yelled, showing his concern for the girl in a different manner than the houshi. She answered with a scream as Sesshomaru sank his canines down upon them. Inuyasha flipped backwards, Kagome still in his arms, and saved them from getting eaten. The hanyou even got one good kick to Sesshomaru's nose.
"W-we wanted to help." Kagome finally said as soon as they made it the ground and she gained back her footing.
Inuyasha snarled, "I don't need any of your help."
"Well, what kind of thanks is that? We're your friends, Inuyasha!"
"Yeah, yeah, whatever." He pushed her to the side, knocking her to the ground.
"Hey!" Kagome huffed, feeling the cold sink into the fabric of her winter jacket. She rolled to her butt and glared at the hanyou, who was preoccupied with Sesshomaru. "Inuyasha!" He ignored her and she got a little miffed.
Sesshomaru and Inuyasha were eyeing each other down. The world melted away. They were enemies who were linked by blood and with the same desire to kill the other. They hated their brothers. Both readied to attack…
But a certain teenage girl, suffering the same monthly ailment as the taijiya, interrupted…again.
"Inuyasha…SIT BOY!"
Crash.
"Kagome." Miroku hissed. What had she done that for?
Now, Lord Sesshomaru had just been handed the perfect opportunity to murder his kin, on a silver platter if he so wished to deem it. But the demon then acquired a much more satisfying idea. He returned to his humanoid form in a fantastic spin of white light, his impassive face never leaving his brother's struggling form. He watched Inuyasha try to fight against the rosary's spell and a nagging want took over him. Now is the time. Kill him now.
Father's face, it softly persisted in the recesses of his mind. He tossed it away and went back to his new plan. It was really an old plan, one that he had been honing to an art form: torturing the hanyou, destroying him on the inside.
He smiled. It was the smile of doom and homicide.
What better way to annihilate an enemy than from within?
"You have finally understood your place, Inuyasha. On your belly like the dog you are. What better to be chained to a human girl than by the means of a collar?"
Inuyasha cursed him but the words were getting to the hanyou, as indicated by that small flicker in his eyes and his bout of profanity. You knew it got to him when he retorted with anger.
The smile fell and Sesshomaru bowed to one knee. He gripped Inuyasha firmly by his chin. "What!" Inuyasha said before the demon could begin. "You going to kill me now?"
Sesshomaru studied the hanyou, relishing in the look of unease that stretched across Inuyasha's face. "There are worse things." After he whispered those words, Sesshomaru slammed the whelp's nose into the snow and regally stood. "Filth," he spat and in a blink of an eye, he melded into a shimmering ball of energy and flew off.
Inuyasha came to his knees, wiping his cheeks. There was dirt in his mouth.
Filth.
Inuyasha growled and spat.
A.N: Edited July 5, 2009
