A/N: Toutousai is back that crazy demon who forged the two brother's swords. Yup him and his freaky 3 eyed ox... hate that creature lol get this he's got his own shrine :D

10. The Great Sword-smith Toutousai

Morning came quickly. Haku and Inuko were already awake and folding sheets. I yawned and sat up. I pulled the sheets off me and stretched my arms. "Its morning already," I asked, Inuko and Haku looked over at me. "Yeah idiot you didn't sleep last night, you kept mumbling in your sleep, irritated me..." he hissed in a low rumbling voice.

"Well excuse me," I huffed folding my sheets as well. I neatly placed the sheets back into the bag that rested not far from us, next to the well and came back to where Haku and Inuko were, by the smoking fire pit talking.

"Hmph, I'm going for a walk," I huffed again, I wasn't angry I was just in a bad mood because I hadn't slept all night. "Where do you think you're going?" Inuko asked crossing his arms, following my gaze. "Girl business, do you mind?" I shouted at him, he took a step back as if noticing my agitated mood. "Don't wander too far, got that?" he retorted loudly.

I waved my hand at him and walked away passing him and Haku, back towards the woods. I needed some time to myself, to think, many things were going through my mind that night. I had to take some time for myself, retain my exposure.

I took my time over the tree stumps, shrubs and brushes. I stumbled a few times; my red hakama caught on some branches and ripped. "Shoot," I mumbled bending down to pull the branch out of the tiny rip. I sighed and stood up pulling my hakama up over my ankles.

I took a few more steps carefully; back to where we were last night and stood in the opened field. It wasn't a big field, more so small, surrounded by nothing but trees and forest, but one tree stood out from the rest. The Tree of Age's long, flourishing, and alive even after all these years. It was almost 200 odd some years ago when my father was pinned to this tree. I took a few steps closer to it and climbed on top of the long trunks, and touched its thick rigid bark.

I looked up at the tree, touching the small hole where the arrow pierced through my father's flesh pinning him to its thick exterior. "Father," I whispered resting my forehead against the tree. "Hey," a voiced echoed behind me. I quickly turned, to look, my heart jumped and tears came to my eyes. "FATHER," I shouted and jumped off the tree's trunks running into his arms.

He held me for a moment and then pushed me out of his arms, "what are you doing here?" he asked in a calm voice. "I was just looking... that's all," I spoke my words scarcely. "You are not supposed to be here," he hissed clenching his hands into fists at his sides. "I'm sorry papa, I was just curious..." I replied again, carefully speaking my words. He sniffed the air for a moment and then looked down at me; a growl rumbled in this throat and then subsided.

"You cut yourself," he said and bent down to my ripped hakama. He ripped a small piece of the hakama where the hole was, and wrapped it around the cut on my ankle. I hadn't even realized I had cut myself, or let alone was bleeding.

"Come on," his voice rumbled, he turned his back to me and held his hands up. "I'll carry you," he said again after a moment. I climbed onto his back, and allowed him to do so. It wasn't the first time I was carried by my father, anywhere for that matter, he used to always carry me on his back like this everywhere we went.

Father didn't run, nor stride, or leap even... he walked normally back towards the well, where we had slept for the night. Out of the clearing Miroko Haku and Inuko were there, I knew Miroko had come along as well. Inuko was right; he had defiantly come for Haku.

"InuYasha," Miroko prompted, after father had set me down to my feet near where everyone had gathered. "What happened to your hakama?" Inuko asked looking at my small wrapped wound, he too sniffed the air. "It's nothing," father answered, he came and sat next to Miroko on a blue colour blanket.

"You, young lady are in big trouble with me..." Miroko said looking directly at me; he shook his staff in the air, pointing it towards me. "I know I'm sorry, it wasn't my idea to have Haku follow us here... she did that on her own," I protested sitting down next to Inuko; Haku was at his right I sat at his left away from father. The one thing I was bad at was lying, there would be no way I could lie around my father, or anyone for that matter without getting caught. So the truth was better than nothing.

"Both your mothers are distraught over your behaviours," Miroko added again. I thought for sure father would be the one lecturing us; instead Miroko was doing it, and enjoying himself in the process. Let the scolding process begin, at least with Miroko we'd be let off the hook. My father on the other hand, once you get him started there's no knowing when we'd be forgiven.

"The three of you are coming home right now, got that?" father bellowed standing up; he didn't even look at either one of us. He closed his eyes, and picked up my bag.

"No," I answered.

"What?" father replied, he looked straight at me.

"No, I'm not going home... not until I finish what I started," my voice was shaky, and subtle.

"Excuse me young lady, but clearly you didn't understand what I just said..." father's voice rumbled, a growl sufficed.

"I guess you didn't hear Kikyko clearly either father, she said no..." Inuko answered for me, also standing up. Haku and I both stood up next to him.

"What?" father's ears twitched, "I'll pretend none of this just happened, now move your asses or else," father retorted angrily this time. He slung my bag over his shoulders and stared us down, lifting his sleeves.

"Haku lets go," Miroko intervened as well, gesturing for his daughter to go before him. "No father, if Kikyko goes I go..." she shifted behind Inuko and didn't look her father in the eyes.

"Whoa, back up here..." Miroko said waving his hands in the air, "... you dare talk back to me?" he taunted again gesturing for Haku to go before him. Miroko didn't seem as agitaged with us as father was, father was angry and Miroko seemed very calm about the whole situation. I wish father could be like that... but that will never happen.

"I'm sorry father, it was my fault I came in the first place, I know I've upset you and mother and I know she's worried about me... but I must help Kikyko, I feel as if I am needed." Haku's voice broke through a dull hum, almost a whisper it trembled a little.

Miroko sighed and came to towards Haku; he placed a hand to her chin and lifted her face to his. "You may stay under one condition," he proclaimed, and turned to look at Inuko. "You must promise to take care of her," his eyes meet with Inuko's, Inuko nodded and stepped aside.

"What, your letting her off the hook Miroko?" father bellowed loudly, waving his hands in the air. "Unlike you InuYasha, I can forgive my daughter for her sins and allow her to become a woman by her own terms..." he replied, giving Haku a gentle kiss on the cheek.

"Gah, you are crazy monk, crazy..." he shouted at Miroko, as he passed by Inuko, and came towards me and also gave me a small kiss on the cheek. "InuYasha, the children have not committed any sins... they are forgiven, why can you not allow that?" Miroko placed his hands on his hips and looked at father.

"Hmm," father growled, "fine you win..." he added coming towards Inuko. "If anything happens to your sister in any way, I hold you I will never forgive you, got me?" he said waving his fist at Inuko. "I got it, don't worry nothing will happen," Inuko retorted his arms crossed. He didn't move from his spot or even flinch, me on the other hand, I stepped away from Inuko and father. I feared father, he scares me when he's mad.

"You," he said looking at me, I gulped. He took a step towards me and in looked me straight in the eyes.

"You better not end up getting yourself killed, understand... your mother would never forgive herself," he said this and turned away from us. "I wouldn't either," he mumbled almost a deep whisper; he walked past the well and stopped behind Miroko almost a foot away.

Miroko gave Haku a hug and held a hand up to us and walked back the way they came without a word. He wasn't mad at us, he was at first yes, but I believe he may trust us and actually allow us to continue on with our mission. My father on the other hand...

"Papa," I shouted at him as he followed close behind Miroko. He didn't turn to answer me, I ran to catch up to him.

"I'm sorry," I said wrapping my arms around him. He turned, and looked at me wrapping his arms around me too. "Be good my girl, and listen to your brother... don't worry about your mother, she'll be okay." He whispered gently against my ear. I felt my eyes tear up again; I tried not to cry and held my breath so I wouldn't.

"I love you..." he whispered again and let go of me. He turned and sprinted towards Miroko disappearing out of view.

Inuko's hand touched my shoulder; I turned and looked up at him. "Are we ready to go now?" he asked, I wasn't ready yet, I jumped at Inuko nearly knocking him over and cried into his arms.

"I guess not," he said holding me closely to his body.

After I composed myself, and gathered all our remaining belongs, Inuko slung the yellowish bag over his shoulder. "So can we go now or are we going to have to wait for more hysterics to kick in," he taunted waving his hands in the air. "Alright, we can go..." I replied walking ahead of Inuko and Haku. I tapped the edge of the well with my leg as we walked passed it, for good luck, and ventured into the unknown.

"So where did you said this Toutousai lives?" I asked Inuko. Haku looked at him as well; I yawned and stretched my arms above my head, and purposely turned around and petted Inuko's head. He hated when I did that. He glared at me, and growled.

"Cut that out I'm no animal you crazy human," he retorted loudly. Haku and I just laughed, and didn't say a word. "Gah, you are stupid sometimes Kikyko," his voice rumbled, he turned his face from me and crossed his arms. I snickered and turned around and kept walking. "So are we going west, or east?" I pointed in both directions.

"Neither," Inuko replied. "Honestly, I don't know where Toutousai is, father said to seek him out however if I ever needed anything," he replied, cupping a hand to his chin. Haku and I stopped in our tracks, looked at each other and then looked at him.

"W-what do you mean you don't know where he is?" Haku asked wearily. Her eyes narrowed into thin slits. "You mean to tell me we are travelling no where?" I asked waving a fist at Inuko, we both ganged up on him. He snickered and smiled a big smile and waved his hands in the air.

"Well no not necessarily, all we have to do is look for a three eyed ox..." he mumbled. "Three eyed ox?" Haku and I both said at the same time, standing close to each other.

(Back at the Village)

"InuYasha, do you think it was a good idea to allow the children to travel on their own like this?" Miroko asked, entering his crowded home.

"InuYasha, Miroko where are the children?" Mother retorted, blocking father and Miroko from entering. Kira ran to her father's side and clung to his arm.

"Is Haku okay?" Kira asked looking at her father. He smiled and nodded, placing a hand on her cheek. The younger children of the bunch were outside playing.

"We let them go," father replied, passing by mother.

"What do you mean you let them go InuYasha, Kikyko has the jewel with her..." she waved her hands in the air and glowered at father. He didn't even reply, he sat down on the floor and yawned.

"Miroko," Sango said calmly, "Kagome's been sensing an evil demonic presence since the jewel left the village," she proceeded to explain; Kagome looked at her and intervened. "I have a strange feeling that Naraku might be back," she said callously, and crossed her arms. Miroko's eyes widened, father didn't move from his spot.

"We destroyed that bastard years ago Kagome, I don't know what you're worried about," he answered resting his head against his arm.

"InuYasha, the jewel locked Naraku away when I destroyed it I destroyed him with it," mother retorted angrily.

"So we think now that it's reborn, Naraku may have come back with it," Sango also prompted coming to Miroko's side.

"What did you just say..." father growled, jumping up from his position. His voice echoed outside the house, Miroko's younger children stopped playing and looked over at the house.

"I said you should've forced the kids to come back InuYasha," mother bellowed loudly, crossing her arms. "Stupid, why didn't you tell me sooner," father retorted angrily and growled.

"Arghh InuYasha, I can't believe you would come back without the kids," mother shouted.

"W-wait, they didn't want to come back," he said nervously.

"INUYASHA, SIT BOY!" mother shouted, followed by a loud thud and father engraved to the ground.

"Aaaarrgh, Kagome!" Father shouted loudly.

"Father said that if we call for Toutousai he'll appear," Inuko prompted giving me a smile. I narrowed my eyes at him and glared, "What do you mean call for him, what is he some sort of satanic demon or something?" I asked in a static voice.

"You are an idiot," he rambled, while we walked through a small village. It was east of the mountains, and not far from the forest of InuYasha. I placed my hand over my eyes and looked up at the blue sky.

"Stop calling me idiot Inuko," I yelled at him as I followed sagely behind him. "Keep up will yeah, stop daydreaming," he shouted back at me as I ran towards him. "Sheesh, what's your problem?" I recoiled, and slouched my shoulders downwardly. I was tired of walking, and needed a good rest.

"I don't like the smells in this village, we'll get in and get out quick..." he protested, his voice growled quietly. I sighed deeply and grabbed Haku by the arm intertwining my arm with hers, "Come on Haku lets go look around for a while," I pressed pulling Haku along.

"Hey, I just said we get in and get out quick... didn't you understand that, damn," he shouted at us while we skipped along together. The village was small and quaint; farmers grazed their fields and waved at us as we passed through their village. Many young children where outside playing and chasing each other with sticks, two of which trotted towards us, with flowers in their hands. A young girl and boy greeted us with big smiles on their faces.

"You're a priestess," the little boy shouted with glee.

"Your pretty, I'm Setsuki..." the little girl beamed, and handed me her flower. I took it and smiled down at her; she grabbed my hand and pulled me alongside her. I pulled Haku with me as well our arms still intertwined.

"Your lady Kikyo aren't you, you've come back to us?" she shouted with such happiness in her voice.

"Well you could say a priestess in training, but I'm definitely not Kikyo" I replied touching a hand to my face. Lady Kikyo, why was I being called Kikyo, sure my name sounded similar to hers... but I was definitely not Kikyo. Who was she anyway, all I knew about her was that she was father's first love, and she ended up dying because of Naraku. This worried me, I was dressed like a priestess in a hakama, and haori but it didn't mean I was a real miko priestess.

Inuko lagged behind us, but kept close watch as the little girl and boy danced in front of us leading us to a shrine.

"A shrine? Why are we here Setsuki?" I asked her slowly pulling myself from her grasp, she sensed me try to retort away from her and stopped. She turned and faced me, and smiled. "This is the secret shrine of Lord Toutousai... come see come see..." she pointed at the shrine and jumped up and down in glee. Did she just say lord Toutousai? Does she mean the same Toutousai we are looking for?

Inuko's ears twitched, as he leaned in between us. "Huh? Lord Toutousai, I don't remember him being a lord... or having a shrine..." he taunted stepping between Haku and I separating us.

We walked up the steps of the shrine, Inuko ahead of us, and made it to the entrance. It was a small shrine nothing fancy or big, it had a very old roof and the charms that were hanging over the wishing well were written in a very awkward dialect. I reached for one and squinted trying to read it.

A long stick slapped my hand.

"Ow hey!" I shouted rubbing my hand.