THE BLADE OF MINE.

Akane had spent four days in her own time.
Trying to make sense of the strange connection she had felt with Naraku on that tipsy night.
And aslo to get over her anger with Sesshomaru from the last fight.
When she finally had enough, thinking she had been gone to long, she made her way back.
To her utter shock, the last person she thought of was there waiting.

Inuyasha sat on the edge of the well as she climbed out.
He turned and glared at her.

"Your not Kagome."

"Well duh, Yasha-kun."

"Don't call me that, damn it. How many times have I said that?"

Akane acted as if she were in deep thought for a moment. Tapping her skull and staring at him.

"I think the last count was thirty seven."

"Keh, never mind." He rolled his eyes and stood up, placing his hands in his sleeves.

"Anyway, it is good your here I suppose."

"Is it now? Why, you miss me?" She batted her eyes at him playfully.

"Don't be stupid." He scoffed, but gave her a half smile, then he got an annoyed look as he turned and pointed off into the trees.

"Now that your here, Sesshomaru will leave, I can't stand him hanging around anymore."

Akane gasped. "What's he doing here?"

Inuyasha looked at her like she was a dumbass.

"Waiting for YOU, what else would he be doing hanging out in the trees for three days?"

"Three days?" Akane was amazed. He had been waiting there for her, so close to his brother, and had not started a conflict?

"Hey, are you okay?" Inuyasha leaned close to her with a frown.

"Your face is all red."

Akane could feel her heart speed up at the thought of Sesshomaru waiting for her.
Did that mean he forgave her outburst? She herself had decided to forgive him a while ago.

"Thank you, Yasha-kun, but I must be going." She waved at him and took off.

"What are you thanking me for?" He laughed as he watched her all but run to the forest.

Sure enough, Sesshomaru was just inside the line of trees, sitting up on a high branch.
Face as calm and serene as always as he looked down at Akane, who was catching her breath after her little dash up the hill.

"You are late." He stated simply.

Voice only having the smallest hint of annoyance.

She gave a cocky half smile. "Funny, I do not recall saying when I would return."

He gracfully jumped to his feet next to her.

"You are late nonetheless. You have always been back within two days time, so that is what I told Totosai it would be. If he refuses you now it is your own falt for being late."

"Huh?" She sputtered. "Totosai?"

Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow at her, head tilted to the side ever so slightly.

"You still desire a weapon, yes?"

Akane gaped at him, catching on to what he was doing.

"Y-your saying that I can?"

"You are set in your ways, and this Sesshomaru has learned that you are impossible when angry. And also, what I said before was..."

He paused, looking away. "It was careless and rude."

Akane's knees buckled and she nearly fell, but caught herself before he seen.
He was still not looking at her, which was so cute.

"Are you trying to maybe, apologise to me?"

"It is done." He stated. Looking her in the eyes for a moment before turning and walking off.

And just like that, the fight was forgotten.
Akane was amazed at how he could do that.
But she supposed, it was easier then talking it out for him.
And he was letting her have her way.

"One second more, Sesshy-sama!" She said as she went to walk by his side.

He glanced down.

"It is done." He repeated.

She smiled. "I know. But, I just want to say that I'm sorry too. For what I said. Forgive me?"

A rare half smile played on his lips. "Very well."

Akane could not stop smiling the rest of the way.

They had made a brief appearance at camp to check in on the others.
Thankfully, the two small ones didn't know about why she had gone, only that it was due to a disagreement.
That was what Sesshomaru had told them anyway.
Since Totosai was a decent ways away, they would fly there, which meant Rin and Jaken on Ah-Uhn, and Akane on Sesshomaru's back.
As they went, Rin and Akane chatted away about what kind of weapon she should get.
Jaken thought that a Naginata would be good, but both girls shot that idea down.
Little Rin thought of a weapon like what Kohaku had, but Akane invisioned herself cutting her own flesh more then not.
A sword, a simple Katana, would make Akane happy.

Once there, they left the other three members in a safe spot near the woods, and the two made their way to the newest cave the old man made into his home.
Sesshomaru stood back a ways.

"You should go in first. He tends to run if he catches my presence."

"Well, that happens when you threaten to kill people if they annoy you." She teased.

"Hn. If he was not so rude and crazy, I would be less likely to act in such a way."

Akane laughed a bit, because it was true, and went inside.
It was smokey and dirty and was cluttered to the point she almost didn't see the old man sitting in a corner, eating what looked to be a rat. Eww.

"You're late, young missy!" Totosai croaked as he pointed the rat-stick at her.

Akane smiled. She liked the crazy old guy.

"Well, I didn't know I was to come until today."

Wide eyes became wider as he cackled away. "The mutt didn't tell ya till now?"

"Sssh! Totosai-sama, he's outside." She giggled.

"Oh dear," He gulped and whispered loudly. "Well we best get started then huh?"

"Please!" She said happily.

He stood and finished the rat in one take, stick and all, making her wince in disgust.
Then he clapped his hands and gave a grin her way.

"Okay then, are you familiar with the process?"

"Not really, but you need something of mine right? That's how you do your work."

He seemed to be getting exited as he dashed past her and began to rummage thru his cave, tossing rocks, hunks of metal, and dead things about like some freaky kind of rain.

"It's around here somewhere..."

Akane sighed as she watched him.
And tried to clean up as he made his mess, only to get showered on by his falling debree, which seemed to amuse the man.

"Now, now missy! No need to do that, stuff never stays in one place for long in here- AHA!"

Totosai help up a pair of plyers as if they were golden treasure as he plopped down on the floor.

"Found ya, ya little devil!"

Akane began to worry a bit.

"What exactly are those for, Totosai-sama?"

"Come sit next to me, missy, it's better then standing for this kinda thing."

She did as he asked, eyeing the plyers.

"Again, what are they for?"

"To pull out one of your fangs." He stated simply.

She sputtered like a moron.

"B-but, I ain't got any fangs! I'm more human then dragon."

"Okay, a tooth then, it don't matter what ya call it really, it's the same thing." He said calmly, like pulling out teeth was an everyday thing.

"But, my tooth won't grow back like Inuyasha's did! Is there something else you could use?"

He pondered for a moment.

"Do you need all your fingers?" He asked leaning in close.

She yelped and jolted backwards.

"Totosai-sama! Are you being serious?"

He nodded twice with a deadpan expression.

"Yep."

"Well shit then..." She looked at her hands, trying to figure what she needed more, fingers or her teeth?

"Why do you need something like this?"

"As a bonding agent."

She blinked. "Like glue?"

"In a sense. It is just as hard to fully explain as it is to do really, I would not ask you for it if it were not needed."

He seemed a bit offended.

"Oh, I know that, Totosai-sama!" She said as she moved closer to him. "I trust your skill."

That calmed the old man down.
He snapped the plyers at her with a grin.

"Now, say 'Ah', and it will be over in a blink."

Akane gulped, and opened her mouth.

"My goodness! What pearly whites ya got there missy!" He said in awe, making her laugh.

Just as he reached for her with the plyers, Sesshomaru burst inside.

"Enough!" He all but roared into the room.

Akane jumped at the commanding tone he had.

"What you want, can't ya see I'm working?"
The old man stated, waving the plyers at him.

Akane watched as Sesshomaru pulled her to her feet gently and glared down at Totosai.

"Can you not just make her a simple human blade?" He snapped with annoyance.

"What?!" She gasped. Not hiding her anger.

He glared down at her.

"Yes desire a weapon. But I did not agree to giving you something you may have no control over. The blades for yokai and beasts are not made for humans."

Akane clenched her fists and raised her chin at him, a mockery of his own stance.

"I am not JUST a human, and you know that!"

Totosai, who had been watching with open amusement, cut in with a laugh.

"Let the girl have her sword already. Traveling around with you of all people makes her in need of a good one."

The Yokai Lord snarled at the older man. "You are not going to harm her."

Totosai grinned. "Ah, so that's what this is about. You don't want her to be put in pain for what I need, is that right?"

Akane's anger deflated. "Sesshomaru-sama..."

His face gave nothing away, and his voice was solid ice.

"I care not. If she were to become possesed by the blade later it would only be an annoyance to me."

The old man cackled away. "Still so cruel."

Akane sighed, and looked up at him. "Please, don't make me have to do it behind your back, cause you know I will."

The two had a glaring match for a long while.
So long that Totosai began to fidgit as he waited for all hell to break loose in his home.
Again.

At last, when Akane was close to tears from her anger, Sesshomaru gave a deep sigh and turned to face the old man again.

"If you had another bonding agent to use, would something else of hers be enough to make the blade her own?"

Totosai looked him over, interested in the sudden change in mood. "Yes... her blood would do fine if I had another bone to use."

Sesshomaru dropped down in front of the man.

"So use one of my fangs in her place."

Akane blushed scarlet. "Sesshomaru-sama! Why would you-"

"My fang shall grow back. Yours will not. Nothing more to it then that." He sounded annoyed and as arrogant as always.

But she knew he cared.

"Well, I'll be!" Totosai cackled away for a moment. "I was right then. You care for this little dragon girl."

He paused and gawked at her. "What did you do to him, young missy?"

Sesshomaru growled. "Silence, old man."

Akane held in a laugh.

"Fine, fine, just open up will you?" Totosai gave a small look of approval to Akane as Sesshomaru closed his eyes and opened his mouth.

Akane was kinda shocked at how sharp all his teeth looked, and how white.
And for a split second, she pictured that mouth biting her in playfull kisses.
She shivered. Oh, she was such a bad person...

With a count of three, Totosai grabbed and yanked out Sesshomaru's left canine fang.
Akane winced, yokai or not, that had to hurt.
Sesshomaru showed no sign of pain as he stood and went out the door, not even looking at her.
But the fast way he moved told her it had hurt.

"Oh yes, this will do well indeed!" the old man stated as he went off to find something else.

"Will he be okay?"

"What? Oh, the mutt will be fine. That fang will be back by morning. But I must say," He paused to laugh.
"It has to hurt like hell right now. You should have seen his father when I pulled out HIS fang. That man screamed and howled like a little girl for an hour afterwords."

"Really?" Akane giggled at the thought.

"Indeed he did. Big baby that one." Totosai returned from the rubble with a small flask that he handed to her.

"Now, I need you to fill that halfway for me, so don't get all girly on me."

He turned and reached for a knife, but when he went back around, he was shocked to see that Akane had bitten open a small gash on her wrist.
She began to fill the flask as he gawked at her.

"What are ya, some kinda crazy?!"

"Just a bit, yeah. I hate being treated like some wimpy girl. Now losing a tooth or finger is one thing, but I'm used to using my blood to heal wounds." She stated with a cocky smile.

The old man gave her a look of respect.

"Well, then I appologise for assuming."

"No worries, Totosai-sama." She handed him the flask and stood.

"Now if I may go?"

He nodded at her and waved her away, clearly already mind set on his work as he walked off.

"Return in ten days time."

"Will do! And thank you."

She bowed to him and left the cave in a hurry, wanting to find Sesshy before her wound closed.

She found him not far from where they had left the others.
He was leaning with his back to a tree, slowly hitting the back of his head on the bark behind him and his hand was clamped firmly over his mouth.
She felt so bad at being the reason he was in pain, but he looked kinda cute and childish as he banged his head.
Not like that would help at all.
He didn't see her a few feet away. No doubt the pain was clouding his other senses.

"Sesshy-sama?"

The moment he caught her voice he dropped the hand from his mouth and stiffened.
He turned to her and said nothing.

"Thank you. I know you'll say the reason is for your own purposes, but thank you. You just willingly put yourself in pain. For me."

He swallowed, and nodded.

"Here, take some." She offered him her wrist, still dripping slowly.

Sesshomaru glared at her.

"I know, I know, you hate help, don't need it, blah blah blah." She returned his glare.

"But you just helped ME, so just let me return that in the only way I can. Yes, you'll be fine by the morning, but this will make it hurt less until then. So, please?" She begged him.

He had never once taken her offer of her healing dragon blood, no matter how injured he was.
Those golden eyes were filled to the brim with stubborn pride as he silently refused her offer.
Akane got an idea as he stared at her.
Since he refused to move, she held her wrist up to him with a teasing smile.
She knew if she made if a challenge he would not refuse.

"So, you really gonna let this go to waste are you? Such a shame. What, afraid you won't be able to stop once you get another taste?"

His eyes went wide. She had him.

"Fine, whatever, you most likely don't have the willpower anyway."
She gave a dramatic sigh and dropped her hand.

The look he gave said that he knew what she was doing, but he snatched at her wrist anyway.

"Hey!" She yelped.

Violently, making her gasp, he pulled her to him and not only licked at the blood that flowed but bit into her upturned wrist.
Pain mixed with pleasure as his fangs went in and he sucked at the blood with a growl.

"Aaaah..." Akane sighed and hissed as he drank his fill.

His eyes flashing red with desire just before he pulled away and tossed her hand to the side with a look a victory.

"There." He said, catching his breath. "Happy?"

She felt like she was soaring. "Way more then that, Sesshy-sama. Thank you..."

Baffled was the look in his eyes.

"Still not afraid?"

"Nope. How's the pain?"

"Gone. Foolish girl."

She rolled her eyes and reached up to his face, making him freeze as she wiped some blood from his swollen lower lip.

"Can't you just say 'Thank you Akane' like a normal person? Foolish yokai."

Sesshomaru went to say something, and she took the moment to place her blood coated finger into his mouth.
She had no idea what made her do it.
But when he reacted on instinct, gently sucking at the blood, she hissed in a breath and heat filled her core.
By the fire in his eyes she knew it was his turn to play with her, as he toyed with her finger with the tip of his tongue, waiting for her to give up and remove it from his mouth.
With a gulp she knew he seen, she pulled her hand back and held it to her chest, her face on fire as he gave her a coy smile.

"Thank you, Akane." He teased as he walked away from her.

"Oh, yeah, I sooo lost that round..." She mummbled from behind him, and he have a short laugh as proof he heard her.

Ten days came faster then Akane thought.
And she was beyond happy when Sesshomaru said it was time to go back to the cave.
They chose to leave Rin and Jaken behind this time, seeing as how the girl wasn't feeling well.
So Akane rode Ah-Uhn this time, which was fine.
She always worried about being to heavy for the Yokai Lord, even if he never said so.
Once on solid ground, he helped her off the dragon.
As they walked, a thought hit her.

"Hey, what kind of dragon is Ah-Uhn?"

Sesshomaru frowned. "Why the sudden interest."

"Well, he's a dragon, I'm part dragon, yet I cannot talk to him. You think I would right?"

"Hn." He gave her a half smile. "Smart girl."

My god, she thought, did he just said that? Did he just say something NICE?
She blinked up at him in amazement.
He chose to ignore he over reacting.

"The creature is part dragon and part horse actually, hence why he cannot speak, because even a full dragon can take human form."

"He's part horse?!"

"Indeed."

Akane gaped. "Ouch."

He gave her a look of interest.
She blushed.

"Well, ya know, a dragon and a horse... made a baby... so yeah, ouch."

He laughed. It was short, but he laughed.

Akane was happy to have gotten him to do that, it had been awhile since the last crack in that mask of ice.

"There ya are! Thought ya might be late again." Totosai greeted them at his door.

"Nope. Right on time." Akane gave a salute.

"Just finished it this mornin' I did! And I must say, I think you'll like it. A fine blade indeed."

Akane followed him inside, Sesshomaru staying behind, letting her see it first.

"I don't know what it can do, mind you, that bit you'll have to do yourself." The old man said as he held out a cloth covered sword in his arms.

"That's fine." Akane removed the cloth and looked in awe at the blade in his hands.

A curved katana, bright silver, with bolts of blue running thru it. The hilt had a gold crescent moon base, and the handle was covered in black and dark green scales, with the top also gold.

"He's beautiful..." She breathed in amazement.

Totosai laughed. "A male blade is it?"

"Yes. I can tell. He feels like Sesshomaru, and a bit of myself, both of us together."

The old man nodded. "Indeed true. And I can tell you one hint about how to unlock the power hidden inside this sword."

Akane gently took it, felt the spirit of the blade welcome her touch.

"I'm listening."

"When you filled that flask of blood, you planned to go and give some to Sesshomaru right?"

She finally looked up. "How did you-"

"Your blood was filled with the desire to soothe the pain of another, to protect him. That desire is the key to the sword. I fear it will be a simple blade when you fight for yourself, but if you are to fight to protect, I believe it shall be more."

Akane took his words in, and pondered the meaning of them.
It suited her. To protect those she loved more then herself.

"I love it." She kissed Totosai on the cheek and the old men went red as a tomato.

"W-well, never been thanked like that before. Should start making swords for girls more often."

Akane laughed at his words as she made her way outside.
No doubt Sesshomaru had heard it all, but he said nothing as she smiled and help the sword up for him to see.
He took it from her slowly, turning it over in his hand and studied the blue lightning bolt pattern that covered the blade.

"A fine looking sword." He said after he looked it over with great attention.

"I think so too. He smells like you."

Sesshomaru got a very comical look on his face.

"It SMELLS like me?" He said, taken aback.

"Yup!" She grinned.

He clearly thought she was nuts, and she pouted up at him.

"What, it does smell like you. Can't you tell?"

"This Sesshomaru does not go sniffing swords. You, however, may do as you like." He said.

"Hey!" She stoped when she seen the teasing smile on his face.

She blushed pink.
Sadly, that smile vanished quickly as he looked over he shoulder.
She followed his gaze.

"Now hang on just one minute there missy!" Totosai came out waving something.

"Ya got so happy that ya left without the other bit ya need!"

He handed her a sheath covered in the same black and green scales.

"Oh, duh, stupid Akane." She playfully hit her head before taking it and carefully placing the blade inside.

"Thank you so much!"

"Sure, sure, now remember my words." He waved a finger at her. "When fighting for you, it is just a sword, so you need to be good at it!"

"Trust me, Totosai-sama, I am!"

"Come to me if there is anything wrong with it."

"Promise."

"Now, if you don't mind, I've some tasty rabbit waiting for me." And he turned and left, speaking over his shoulder as he went.

"Take care of that girl, Sesshomaru! She's the only one who can put up with that attitude of yours!"

Akane placed her hand on Sesshomaru's chest just as he went for the old guy with a growl.

"Down boy, don't ruin a good day." She teased.

He relaxed and sighed. "Someday..."

"You'll kill him, yes I know, but for now leave him be could you?" She patted his armor before walking off towards Ah-Uhn.

They flew in silence for a while.
Akane unable to keep her eyes from her sword.
She could feel it, like it was speaking to her without words, and she wondered if all yokai blades did so.
She sensed that the sword was shy, and somehow stubborn, and she glanced at the person she was sure it got that from.
She still hadn't gotten over what he had done.
Not only had he given up a fang for her sake, but he had showed that he cared, in front of someone else.
He never did that.
Surely he knew that Totosai would tell Myoga, and in turn it would get back to Inuyasha.
She knew how his mind worked, so she knew he must have thought of that before he acted, and yet he had acted anyway.
It seemed just when she thought he disliked her, he would do something like this and set her mind to wonder just the opposite once again.
It made it all the more difficult to fight her growing feelings.

"Are you going to name it?" Sesshomaru asked suddenly. He must have caught her watching him for too long.

She blushed and went back to the blade with her eyes.

"I did the moment I touched him."

"Oh?" His turn to look at her.

"Ryutoya." She smiled over at him.

He considered it. "Why that?"

"Ryu is dragon. Toya is ten. It took ten days to create this blade. Not a super thoughtful name I guess, but I like the sound of it."

He nodded. "I like the sound aswell."

More silence as they went.

"Sesshomaru-sama?"

"Hn."

"Thank you."

He said nothing. As she expected.