DISCLAIMER: All Inuyasha goodness belongs to the amazing Takahashi-san!

The Sword Smith's Secret

By MissKatt

Chapter Ten: Delivery

"Wait until my command!" Sesshoumaru shouted at the combined army as the Southern forces charged towards them. He narrowed his eyes and glanced down at the sword in his hands. He needed it to last throughout this battle. It had to last.

Kouga cracked his knuckles under the steel claws that were attached to his hand. The Goraishi had become a part of him not long ago after his ancestors' spirits had approved of him and his ways. He was thankful for the blessing as he was sure he needed the Goraishi and their grace for this war.

"You heard him!" Inuyasha called out to his troops. He was the chosen General of the Western army and he carried the title proudly. He and his brother may get into their altercations every other day or so, but war was when they truly got along with each other. They made somewhat of a game out of it, counting along their death toll as they went. He actually looked forward to this battle.

"Once the word is given do not let the enemy advance past the Boundary Point! We will keep the battle here and finish it!" Ginta called out before shifting into his wolf form. This was him and Hakkaku's time to prove to everyone why they were Kouga's right-hand men as well as his best friends.

"Don't let the trash enter our lands!" Hakkaku added before shifting next to Ginta and walking with him to stand at the front of the army with Inuyasha, Sesshoumaru, and Kouga. Just because they were Kouga's friends didn't mean they didn't know how to fight. Others often thought otherwise.

Ayame, who reluctantly followed Kouga's order and stayed in the back, prepared her leaves for a whirlwind attack when needed. She didn't like being looked down on just because she was a female, but it was better than not being included as a whole from the battle like Kouga originally wanted. Sometimes, she was happy she was so stubborn and got her way. She would prove to every male that females were more than capable of fighting as well.

Amber eyes watched as the South approached closer. He focused in on the front line. Were those humans? Their clothes seemed somewhat familiar. Ah, the Taijiya village of the South. Again, how typical of Naraku. Did he really think humans could inflict damage on them? Especially with one of them being a young female? How pathetic. He waited until he saw the youngest boy draw his chained, scythe-like weapon and throw it at the nearest wolf to start the attack.

He lifted his hand up and then swung it down, signaling the troops to begin their advance. He unsheathed his sword as his army rushed past him and charged across the ground himself, searching for Naraku. If he could get to him without using his sword too much, perhaps it would hold up long enough to eliminate the Southern Lord.

*~~~SSS~~~*

"What? The war has already begun?" The miko asked incredulously as she clenched the scroll in her hands. She thought she would make it in time to deliver Sesshoumaru his sword, but it appeared she was late.

"Well, technically the war has been going on for the past six moon cycles," Totosai pointed out and blinked when she shot him a look. "What? It is true!"

"You know very well what I meant. The first battle of the war. This is when war gets serious," She sighed and then re-opened the scroll in her hands, clicking her tongue as she read the message from Asano Sara.

To Totosai the Youkai Sword Smith and his assistant,

I implore you to please, please finish Lord Sesshoumaru's, my mate-to-be, sword for the impending battle! I would say before, but it will start at sundown tonight. He, the Western Army as well as the Eastern Army, have already moved into the Boundary Point to meet the Southern forces to fight the first battle of the war.

As his Intended, I am worried for his well-being with only a weak sword within his hands. I need him to return to me unscathed if possible. He is a strong warrior and needs a sword to match his strength and skill.

So, please, Totosai-sama, help my love!

-Asano Sara

Hime of the North

Impending Lady of the West.

Kagome sighed again. It kind of bothered her that she addressed Totosai so formally, but she was simply referred to as 'assistant'. Granted, that is what she was, but she had created Sesshoumaru's sword almost completely by herself. She took great pride in the fact and would make sure everyone knew it, especially Sesshoumaru. Maybe she would rub it in Kouga's face too since he had such a negative view on women.

Still, she glanced out of the mouth of the cave and saw that dusk was soon approaching. She came to the resolution that she would deliver Sesshoumaru his sword now, even if it meant diving into battle with them. She turned and looked at Totosai with a determined brow. "I'm going."

He let out an exasperated huff. "I knew you would," he replied and pursed his lips. "It is a good thing I already designed you a set of armor." He ushered her to follow him and she complied, following him back into the storage part of their home.

She tilted her head to the side as she watched him rummage through a few items before pulling out a covered box. He withdrew it from the room and placed it on the ground. She smiled when he pulled out the chest armor. "Toto-ji! It's perfect!" She cooed, taking the dark grey armor from him and slipping it on over her moss green haori. She tightened the pale yellow ribbon on her shoulders, lifting the armor into place. She then pulled her hair over her shoulder and began to braid it as he tied the matching obi around her torso to keep the armor in place.

He frowned as she swung her braid back over her shoulder and pulled on her black ankle boots. She then slid both hers and Sesshoumaru's swords into her obi and turned to look at him when he cleared his throat. "Be safe, Kagome-chan." He stated seriously. "Do not let anyone from the East wound you."

She smiled a lopsided grin at him. "I can't make any promises, but I will try, Toto-ji!" She waved to him. "I have to go! I will feel guilty if anything happens to Sesshoumaru because of his lack of sword!"

He watched her run out of the cave and shook his head. He didn't want her to go, not at all. He feared the worst and that not just being her death, but what could come after it.

She ran outside, intent on calling Momo for a ride, but paused when she saw the two headed dragon who had delivered the message still standing outside. She met one of their gazes with her sapphire blue pools and held strong as she walked over to them. Cautiously, she held her hands out to both of them, letting them smell her hands like one did with a dog. They sniffed at her hands before pushing their muzzled noses into her warm palms. She smiled gently at them and stroked the area in between their eyes.

"I have to ask, Dragon friend, will you please take me to your Lord? I have something that will greatly help him in battle." She spoke softly as to not frighten them.

The beast nodded and lowered its back low enough for her to climb on. She grabbed onto the horn of the saddle and swung her leg over it so she was straddling it. She took the reins of the dragon and nudged their hide with her heels to tell them that she was ready. With a mighty swoop of their wings, the dragon rose up into the sky with its passenger and took off towards the Boundary Point.

Kagome closed her eyes and hunkered down so that her chest armor was almost pressed against one of the dragon's necks. They were flying so fast, the cool sunset wind was almost painful for the soft skin on her face. She stayed that way for what felt like several minutes until she heard a rumbling from her dragon companion. Straightening back up, she let her eyes focus on what the dragon was looking at it.

A loud gasp escaped her lips as she gazed at the turmoil below her. There were so many bodies: both alive and dead. The once green grass beneath the soldiers' feet was now black with blood and burned from the few fire wielders she saw. The air, even from her spot high up in the sky, smelt of burnt flesh and rotting corpses all mixed with the scent of liquid iron. She shuddered, knowing the smell of blood very well from when her own village was attacked. She clenched her jaw as she saw the pack of wolves get sliced apart from an attack made from wind, their paws still twitching as they lay there.

She gripped the reins tighter in her hands as pain stabbed at her heart. This was just too horrid. The scene below her was way worse than when the bandits attacked her village almost two decades ago. Swallowing a lump in her throat, she nodded her head. She would help fight if it meant stopping another one of these battles from happening. She lowered her head to tell the dragon to take her down, but paused when she saw Sesshoumaru down below, facing off against a child on a flaming horse. She squinted her eyes to get a better look at what was happening. She let out another gasp when she saw his blade break off, the child getting ready to attack again.

"Take me down!" She ordered, urging the dragon to go towards his master.

*~~~SSS~~~*

Sesshoumaru's plan had not worked. It seemed that trying to weave through the massive amount of soldiers only made him a larger target. He could not walk more than three feet before he was attacked again. He raised his weakening sword and pushed back against the enemy's sword as it clashed against his. With another notch of strength, he pushed him back far enough to swing and cut through the man's neck; blood squirted from the wound and spilled onto the floor to mix with the other puddles of crimson.

"Twenty-three," He spoke casually and swiftly turned to the right to block another attack. He knocked the weapon from his hands and let his whip wrap around the soldier's neck before tightening it and decapitating his foe. "Twenty-four." He added as he heard the body fall with a 'thump' to the floor.

"Keh! You better catch up, Sesshoumaru! Kaze no Kizu!" Inuyasha shouted as he swung Tessaiga. The wind blades cut through swarm of onii, leaving the body parts to fall lifelessly to the ground with a sprinkle of blood. "That makes thirty-six!"

Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed. He did not lose; especially not to his half-breed, half-brother. He leaped over two bloodied bodies and a dead wolf before continuing on with his attacks. He had just finished killing three more when he spotted a pale white child coming at him on a horse youkai.

"Well, isn't it my lucky day? I will be the one to finish off the great Sesshoumaru." The boy spoke with arrogance and patted his steed's head. "Go, Entei!"

Sesshoumaru held up his sword for defense and allowed the fire attack to bounce off his blade. He narrowed his eyes at the boy. "You speak too boldly, child."

"Ha! I am Naraku's incarnation and can be as bold as I want for I am the most powerful one. Now, die!" He shouted as Entei released more fire attacks at the taiyoukai.

Again, he blocked them. But, unfortunately, as he did, what he feared what may happen, did. With a deafening chank, the blade cracked at the base of the hilt and broke off. Growling in anger, he tossed the useless weapon to the side and leaped back to miss the next throng of attacks. He eyes widened slightly when he suddenly felt the boy's presence behind him. How could he be so fast?

"Victory to Naraku by me, Hakudoushi!" He shouted and swung his naginata at the demon lord.

Sesshoumaru raised his arm guard to block it, but his brow furrowed when the blade blocked and repelled back a few inches before it touched him. His eyes focused in on his arm guard and saw a soft hue of pink surrounding not just the armor, but his whole person.

"Sesshoumaru!"

Knowing only one person to address him without an honorific, he looked up to see the miko jumping down from Ah-Un. He regarded her with his normal mask of indifference, "Miko," He saw the barrier she had put around him disappear and narrowed his eyes at her. "Do not interfere with my battles."

She gaped at him. "Are you kidding me? I just helped you out! I saw that your weapon just broke!"

He turned his head from her. "I had it under control. Do not presume me to be as weak as you."

She flushed next to him. "Are you-?! Ugh, never mind," She pulled his sword from her obi and handed it to him. "Here, I received a letter saying you were already in battle so I came to deliver it."

"Letter?" He faced her once more and held his hand out to take the sword from her hands. As soon as he wrapped his hand around the sheath, he could feel the pulsing power within it. He put his other hand around the hilt and removed the blade from its scabbard. He gazed at the sword in his hand and felt the power surge through it and into his hands, almost begging him to wield it and use its power.

He raised his golden pools and looked at the battle-clad miko in front of him. "What is its name?"

She smiled gently and shook her head. "That is for you to decide. It is your sword, Sesshoumaru. Name it and bond with it and you will discover its true power."

He nodded and held his sword out in front of him. After a few heartbeats, he spoke the name he had given his sword, "Bakusaiga." The sword glowed a radiant green to match its owner's youki, which made Sesshoumaru smirk in approval. He looked back at the miko and nodded to her. "It is up to par with my standards. You have done your job, now leave."

"Yes, leave little fly and let me finish killing off my pray!" Hakudoushi snapped, twirling his naginata in his hand before swiping it at the two.

She leaped back and furrowed her brows at Sesshoumaru. "I have come to help!"

He didn't look at her as he responded, "You will only get in the way. The battle field is not for females, especially ningen females. Now, leave!" With that, he straightened out his arm and pointed the end of Bakusaiga at the boy, sending green and yellow lightning strikes at him.

"Ha! That will not have any effect on me!" The boy laughed and raised his barrier. As he did, it absorbed the attack and shot it back out towards the two.

Kagome dove to the right, rolling on the soiled ground for a moment before springing back up to her feet. Go figure that as soon as she delivered the sword that she had solely created, that it would be turned against her. She looked over at Sesshoumaru, who had his eyes pinned on the evil child. She watched him lunge forward and swing his new blade at him, but was met with the same barrier as before.

She pursed her lips together as she studied the youki barrier that surrounded the arrogant boy. Normally, she wouldn't condone killing a young child, but his evil aura made shivers run up and down her spine. She yelped when a searing pain began to burn into her shoulder. She looked behind her to the flaming horse not ten feet away from her. She patted the small flame that lit her haori and turned to face the youkai. She slid her feet shoulder width apart and held her sword firmly in front of her.

Entei snorted loudly and stomped his front right foot on the ground before he fired more fire balls at her. She illuminated her sword with her reiki and blocked the attack. She stood still as he charged at her, his hooves making soft thumping noises on the moist dirt. She clenched her jaw in nervousness, but focused on the training that Totosai had taught her. She waited until the horse was close enough and promptly side stepped to the left and let the blade slice the horse from the shoulder of his left shoulder all the way across to his ribs. It wasn't too deep of a cut, but the reiki quickly made work of the youkai.

Hakudoushi paused in his attack on Sesshoumaru and slowly looked over to where his fallen companion was. "Entei!" He called and narrowed his eyes at the girl. "Bitch!" He shouted and suddenly swarmed towards her, his naginata pointed for death.

Kagome prepared herself in a defensive stance, but when Hakudoushi swung down his weapon, he was blocked by Bakusaiga. She looked to her right and gave a soft smile to see Sesshoumaru there, his honey orbs narrowed. Aww! He had saved her! Maybe he really did somewhat accept her!

"How low can you be to attack a worthless, weak miko? You are fighting me. Do not forget your opponent." He growled and sent a charge of his youki at the kid.

Okay, maybe not.

She huffed, but kept her blade lit with her reiki. Her cerulean eyes widened when the barrier absorbed the youki and she quickly encased her and Sesshoumaru in her own barrier as the attack shot back out at them. She pursed her lips together when Sesshoumaru shot her an annoyed look before looking back at the barrier now that it was close enough to inspect. To her, it was just a youki barrier. Was it that easy? Hoping her instincts were correct, she swung her sword at Hakudoushi.

Sesshoumaru watched the miko's sword hit the barrier, but was surprised when it sliced through it. Apparently, he wasn't the only one surprised as he saw Hakudoshi's eyes widened in horror when he realized his barrier had been breached. Taking advantage of the situation, he released another burst of his Bakusaiga's lightning and watched as it pierced the boy in the chest and tore him apart.

Watching the boy fall to pieces, and guilt stabbing in her chest for taking away another life, Kagome turned and gave Sesshoumaru a weak smile. "We aren't that bad of a team."

His eyes slanted her way. "Hn," He glanced around the battle field and saw that they were doing fairly well with minimal losses. It was the South who was suffering. "Leave, Miko. You are not needed."

She blinked and let her face turn into a mask of anger. "I just helped you! How can you say that?"

"As easily as I just did," He replied and began to make his way towards the back of the field where he expected Naraku to be.

She stumbled to keep up with him, her short legs jogging to do so. "Sesshoumaru, wait!" She called. She shrieked when a youkai suddenly jumped out in front of her, its large jaws snapping at her. She lifted her arm in defense and winced when its teeth sunk into the flesh of her forearm, her blood seeping into its mouth and down her skin to her elbow. Before it could bite down into her bone and break it, she flared her reiki. The youkai backed off with a howl, but one of its fangs snagged on her chained bracelet and broke it off as it fled.

Adrenaline still high from the surprise attack, she ignored the pain in her arm and put her feet into gear to chase after the taiyoukai as he made his way across the battle field.