Author's Corner

Thanks for the reviews. Story picks up again from the bottom half of this chapter…

Sesshoumaru – The Path to Destiny

Chapter 14 : Analogy of a Blade

It was late into the night. Sesshoumaru was gazing at the skies with no more intensity than usual, from one of the many towers, the main central one to be precise, and was deep in thought. 'It's almost time for dinner. Should I let the miko eat in the main dining room or, should I have her come to my private dining room to eat with Rin. Decisions, Decisions, Decisions. She might not adjust well to eating with the kind that she usually purifies, and if she does actually purify someone, keeping her here will become all the more bothersome. Hmm… I suppose she might be able to teach Rin proper etiquette in eating, and she would also give the child some human company. Yes, Rin will have a lot to gain if the miko has dinner with us, so she shall….'

Several minutes later, Sesshoumaru stood with his back to the dining table in his private dining room, looking out the window again. He had sent word to bring the miko to have dinner here. Soon there was a knock at the door, to which Sesshoumaru announced permission to enter. Kikyo gracefully walked in. Sesshoumaru even while standing outside the Rose room earlier, had gotten the increased scent of the miko, now she instantly filled the dining room with her sweet tang, making him take unintended deep breaths of air. Sesshoumaru turned only his head to the right, to see the miko in full view, his sharp eyes taking in every detail of the new look of the miko.

He saw that she was wearing the pink and white kimono that had been lying on her bed. But this was no ordinary kimono; it was a royal piece of clothing made from the finest silk and cotton material, and dipped in a certain liquid that gave it more then ten times the strength and durability. The top consisted of a brilliant white inner haori that held her loosely around the base of her neck and left a small opening at the front that stretched down for about two inches. The outer haori was very similar to the outer haori of her white miko top - overflowing and spacious sleeves, it was the shiny luminescent shade of white with pure pink luminescent designs of falling flowers at the ends of the sleeves, three downwards curving pink stripes on each side of the area that covered her stomach from below her breasts, and on the frontal top of each shoulder - intricately stitched dark red roses were sewn in. The bottoms too were the same as the bottoms of her miko garb, but much more elegant, and again only the color was darker and thicker than the top and the ends of the bow; that was a dark pink, were longer and hung loosely, like that of his own sash. There were long slits, of light shaded pink, along the outer length of the bottoms, with luminescent pink flames erupting at the very bottom and spreading up to her knees in the front. She was also wearing pure white stocking that probably started from just above her knees but completely concealed her legs from that point below, her beautiful feet were on display to the public no more and were well protected and cared for now by the soft cotton material. She also wore something very much in likeness to a slipper, but was much more, well designed, with rich decorative styling, ensuring complete comfort and safety to her feet from just below the ankle on all sides.

Kikyo looked like a royal princess ...beauty and elegance visibly radiating from every inch of her.

Not more than a few moments had passed, and Sesshoumaru turned his head back to the view through the window.

Kikyo walked into the well lit room, a dining table for six with two on each length sat in the middle, and its chairs looked expensive and comfortable with the one on the other side of the breath of the table looking bigger and more lavishly decorated than the other five. 'Undoubtedly that must be Sesshoumaru's chair.' Kikyo perceived. 'I wonder why he had me brought to his private dining room. Samaege told me that only Rin was allowed to eat here.' Kikyo then looked to her right to see the handsome Taiyoukai standing in front of an arching window. As cool wind flowed in through the window, she could smell his scent; strong and powerful, sweet and deadly. But his scent died out from her human nose as soon as the breeze stopped coming through the window. She noticed him take a quick yet graceful glance at her before looking out the window again. It was night now, so Kikyo had nothing much to fear from him, so she slowly made her way to the left side of the room, dragging her fingers across the smooth surface of the table.

Sesshoumaru sensed Kikyo moving to the other side of the room, his golden orbs moved to the right corners of his eyes, and he immediately noticed that the miko's usual red ribbon had been replaced by a light magenta one that had long ends and several outgrowths that intertwined with her silky straight black strands.

"You will have dinner with Rin, and informally, teach her the etiquettes of dining." Sesshoumaru said in an indifferent tone.

"I understand." Kikyo said in an off manner, noticing that Sesshoumaru didn't have his armor on. "Ahmm.. You don't need to stay with me for tonight."

Sesshoumaru knew better than to ask her why, in case she changed her mind. 'Finally. A night alone. Nothing but peace and quiet. Maybe the miko will feel this way as long as she stays in the castle. I doubt it, but maybe the fates will be kind with me.' "Very well."

Soon there was another knock on the door and little Rin entered.

"Kikyo chan! You are here. Rin is very happy to see you." the child said hugging Kikyo. "No one told Rin that you were here."

"Sesshoumaru sama probably wanted to surprise you Rin." Kikyo said cupping one of the child's cheeks.

With the corner of her eyes Kikyo saw Sesshoumaru shoot her a brief quizzical look. Rin looked at her Sesshoumaru Sama and smiled.

"Sesshoumaru sama, is Kikyo chan going to have dinner with us?"

As if in answer to her question Sesshoumaru took his place at the head of the table. Rin sat to the immediate right of Sesshoumaru and Kikyo beside her. Soon servants bought in numerous types of dishes. Kikyo was shocked to see so much of food bought in. Sesshoumaru noticed this.

"Rin can be picky." he simply stated.

"Oh." Kikyo whispered, and looked at Rin who was carefully resting her eyes on each plate of food.

Kikyo helped Rin serve the food she wanted, and soon both were enjoying the well prepared meal. Only half way through, did Kikyo notice that the demon prince was eating as well. Without trying to make it too obvious she stole a peek at what the Taiyoukai was eating. It was fruits! Several different types of the freshest fruits were cut up into pieces and served on his plate. 'So he only eats fruits.' Kikyo reflected. 'I suppose he only eats because of the taste of them.'

Kikyo had to stop Rin several times from putting her hand into the plates of food. Slowly she taught Rin how to use all the correct utensils properly and was even able to stop her from chewing noisily. Sesshoumaru carefully noticed all of this and made a mental note of what Kikyo had been able to accomplish with Rin in one sit at the dinner table. Sesshoumaru also secretly noted how gracefully Kikyo served the food and even ate it, taking small pieces and chewing well before swallowing. 'Well at least she has good table manners, compared to her rather odd sleeping postures.'

Sesshoumaru finished his dinner and quietly watched till Rin and Kikyo finished theirs. 'The miko certainly has an appetite.' Sesshoumaru remarked to himself. After they finished, knowing the routine Rin wished the two adults good night, hugged Kikyo, and went to have her wash before bed.

"You may take to bed as well." Sesshoumaru said, going to stand near the window.

"Yes, I am rather tired and given the amount of food I ate, I should fall asleep instantly." Kikyo said smiling uneasily and standing near the table.

For a while there was silence, Kikyo didn't leave. Sesshoumaru started remembering again what his father had said about women's unpredictability and Sesshoumaru tensed up. 'She isn't going to change her mind and ask me to stay with her, is she? Damn! How I hate being in such a position. It's an insult beyond description by words.' Sesshoumaru grumbled in his head. Kikyo just stood there looking at his back.

"Do you want something?" Sesshoumaru finally asked.

"No."

"Good." Sesshoumaru said. "Now go to sleep."

"I want to… but… …I don't think I can find my way back to my room."(!)

Sesshoumaru felt like slamming his head against the wall………… 'Damn. Damn them all. Damn humans have no sense of direction. Maybe if I close my eyes long enough she will just up and disappear. You better not be laughing from where ever you are father, I mean it. Damn miko and her pestering presence.' Sesshoumaru grumbled; something he had never done before, not even within himself, and he found it to be rather relaxing. 'Perhaps I shall destroy a few acres of forests, and then maybe I will find my brother and beat him up. Yes…that should take my mind of the human in this room.'

Kikyo saw that Sesshoumaru said nothing, and apparently seemed to be looking at the wall that was a little to his left beside the window, with great interest. He then turned and walked towards the door, and summoned a servant and ordered her to show Kikyo the way to her room. 'He seems a little on edge, wonder why.' Kikyo thought as she left Sesshoumaru in the room and followed the servant.

+Scene Change+

Sesshoumaru was standing near the edge of Cloud Mountain, reflecting on what irrational and trivial thoughts he had had back at the castle, though the thought of beating up Inuyasha seemed to have a certain cooling effect on the Taiyoukai. 'I haven't seen or heard of that half breed since the destruction of Naraku. Still it surprises me that he was able to defeat him. Of course after I destroyed that pest Mouryamaru, Naraku was just a shell with no heart and merely needed enough power to be destroyed. The half breed must have finally learnt how to use the Tessaiga after putting all those outer powers into it, though I still don't think he comprehends the sword itself. Idiot.' Sesshoumaru stole a glance at the Tenseiga that hung by his sash. 'The Tessaiga certainly has become very, very powerful, after all it has absorbed or been given the power of many powerful demons. But Tenseiga apparently has more hidden power, that it is not yet willing to share with me…Hmm….' Sesshoumaru immediately began to analyze, 'The difference between the Tessaiga and the Tenseiga; the Tessaiga gains new power from outside, sometimes because of its ability to absorb Youki, and the Tenseiga's new power comes from within the sword itself. This must mean something, surely. What were your intentions when you forged had this sword forged for me father? No matter, this Sesshoumaru will find out….sooner or later.'

'But there is something else that is different about the two swords.' Sesshoumaru remembered. 'The Tessaiga un-transforms when hit by those damned purification arrows. But the Tenseiga is un-affected; it even protected me from the miko's power that night. Perhaps since the Tenseiga is a sword that can grant life, it cannot be affected by the powers of purity. Yes, that would probably be it. …. Ahh… it is incredible the levels of thinking and realization one can achieve when one does not have a female sleeping in one's arms.' Sesshoumaru thought calmly.

That last thought though, reminded Sesshoumaru of the miko back at his castle. Being out alone he was able to vent out his frustration without anybody having to see him loose his cool over a woman – or at all. His claws flexed, his lips parted to reveal sharp rows of clenched, glistening white teeth. His eyes narrowed, his hair seemed to come to life and danced about him as a sharp red slit passed across each golden orb.

Far off in the distance Sesshoumaru abruptly sensed a possible hundred demons or more, moving across the sky. 'This is the perfect time to fully test the limits of Tenseiga's new power. And let out a little steam……' With an evil smile Sesshoumaru looked to his far right, and then with the sound that a torch would make when it was lit and flames erupted from it by absorbing the air around, Sesshoumaru took into the skies, and was instantly beyond sight….

+Scene Change+

Meanwhile back at the castle Kikyo had slipped into a comfortable and light one piece sleeping gown. Even though the gown covered her up to her feet Kikyo had felt cold so she had covered herself with the thick soft sheet of her futon. Kikyo entertained no thoughts of the Taiyoukai what so ever, though if her body could think, it would surely have been doing so. Kikyo remembered having peeked into Rin's beautiful room and seen her sleeping soundly. 'She is a very lucky little girl. But I still don't understand how she came to stay here, in this place. I must ask someone about it, perhaps if I threaten to purify that imp he will spill it all out.' Suddenly Kikyo's thoughts turned to the fact that she was sleeping in a kingdom full of demons. 'I heard that no demons, except for Samaege, Jaken and a few others, are allowed into the royal quarters after Rin goes to bed, but still… Maybe I should place a barrier in this room.' Kikyo though soon realized that she was very tired and taking one last look at the beam of moonlight that was coming into her room from one of the windows, she fell asleep.

+Scene Change+

Sesshoumaru was a little cross with himself as he stood on solid ground, glowing sword in hand. A very good part of the forest before him had been almost completely incinerated. Sesshoumaru was right, there were much more than a hundred demons, but to the Taiyoukai's greatest displeasure, a single blast of the new power of Tenseiga had destroyed each and every last one of them. 'It is impossible that I underestimated Tenseiga's power, it must have increased since the last time I used it. But, how?' There were very few things that Sesshoumaru didn't understand and almost nothing when it came to the power of his sword, but Sesshoumaru just couldn't understand how Tenseiga's power had increased so much when it remained un-used and in its sheath. Sesshoumaru had felt the increase in power only moments before he had unleashed the blast, but it not only killed the demons but also took a good part of the forest as well, since he had unleashed its power while standing on the ground.

But soon enough Sesshoumaru was pleased to sense that more demons were headed in this direction. 'Yes, more of the flying snake like demons. Since Tenseiga seems to have increased its power then I suppose it would be prudent to test its new limits.' Sesshoumaru thought, his eyes focusing, the glow of the sword increasing in his hand, as the wind and the dust unsettled in an increasing invisible circle around him – all the signs of a mighty predator about to take on his prey.

The skies ahead of him were completely filled with demons, more than three hundred of them. Sesshoumaru was displeased that he could not have been more personally involved in the destruction of the previous cluster of demons, but Tenseiga's new raw power had sparked his interest and soothed his anger somewhat. Sesshoumaru rose into the air coming to level with the small army of demon monsters heading his way. Sesshoumaru perfectly sliced the air with Tenseiga in an arc in front of his body, blue energy whizzed through the air, in a fashion much similar to the Kaze-no-Kizu of Tessaiga, but the intensity of the power was so great that many of the frontal demons had already perished before the blast even got near them. The sound similar to a recurring explosion rocked the little forest as the wind created from the blast shook the tops of the trees that surrounded the burnt area. The skies were cleared completely of all the demons, but the blue blast continued to move through empty sky before it finally came to an end.

Touching down on soft earth again, Sesshoumaru marveled at the sword he held in his hand, inwardly of-course. He stood gazing at the blade with his cold expression, one eyebrow arched above the other, for several moments before sheathing it again. 'True these demons were not strong and quite small in size, but Tenseiga did exceptionally well. But what does this mean?'

OOO

After some careful thinking, the Lord of the Western Lands came to a decision. 'I think it's about time I paid a visit to that insufferable old man who re-forged Tenseiga. Yes…I will leave tomorrow, no delays.' With that Sesshoumaru turned gracefully and walked away, leaving the decimated forest behind him. The light mist that was hiding in fear a few moments before seeped back into the area, making the white clad predator with his smooth strides, look like he was floating away, as he faded into the veils of the blue night…