Disclaimer: All characters from the series Inuyasha that appear in this fanfic rightfully belong to Rumiko Takahashi. I do not own anything in regards to their creation; I have Rumiko Takahashi to thank for that.

Author's Notes: Thank you to all those who supported this story and gave the time to leave a review. Any form of feedback is greatly appreciated.

fabelliot: Your reviews have always been so encouraging; thank you! Yes, similar to the canon, Sesshy really does look up to his father a lot and so his pov tends to focus on the Inu no Taisho instead of Kikyo/St. Hijiri lol! Well, his altitude is indeed a part of what makes writing a SessKik story entertaining, interesting and challenging all at once. ;D

8579: It's nice to be back. As usual, thanks for all the support!

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(This chapter was betaread by bubu-chibi-chan).

Chapter 25-Kako-hen: Deep Forest

We live our lives wandering to the ends of the earth

Believing in you

now I begin my journey with you

In search of the light

-Fukai Mori (2nd Ending Theme)

In the three months' time since the woman had left her presence in his life, the apathetic Sesshomaru was mildly surprised when he could no longer be bothered counting the number of times he had to interact with her. In fact, he had fallen into a habit of spending his afternoons with her and did not think of the woman as a nuisance anymore. Quite the opposite, if he had to be honest. While respect was not the term he would use, he had to inwardly admit that he had come to value her mode of conduct. Power, wisdom, grace, and perception — she had all that he found lacking in many beings.

In particular, her insight was most impressive. He was never social, for it often led to interactions followed by dull conversations. In the case with the female species of his kind, they would exert their utmost effort to fawn over him. The behavior was sickening and did nothing but test his patience to the extreme limits.

The Saint was nothing like that. She was discerning in a way that was appealing. She knew exactly when to stop, never overstepping any bounds that would irritate him.

Today was no different. Not in the mood for any disturbance, Sesshomaru sat under the shade of a tree in deep meditation. Having comprehended his needs, St. Hijiri merely volunteered her presence amidst the quiet rustlings of the leaves and the occasional chatters from the birds. He could detect her relaxed aura from the other side of the rough bark, an indication that she was here to enjoy the tranquility.

Unlike her, Sesshomaru did not choose the spot for recreation. He had the intention of synchronizing with his inner force and nature would aid to achieve the heightened state. Once his father returned from his log conference, he planned on challenging him in order to showcase his new strength. It was about time after all; another cycle of the blood moon had passed and the ritual he partook felt more generously rewarding than usual. Even if the Inu no Taisho underwent the same process, he was confident that he had harvested more energy this time.

A sudden expulsion of youki drilled alertness into the entirety of the west. The Inu prince rose to his feet, the motion devoid of his customary elegance. Although inexpressive, his pair of golden pools hinted unmistakable alarm as they widened by a margin.

"Sesshomaru?" St. Hijiri pushed herself up, having sensed that something was amiss even without the additional sensory information.

Sesshomaru did not care enough to answer, his attention ensnarled elsewhere.

Blood. The smell of blood was getting heavier. Worse, it wasn't from any ordinary youki.

'Impossible.' Only one word filtered through his mind as his brain attempted to deny the possibility he had always thought unfeasible.

The smell assaulted his nose in heavy waves. There was no denying that the impossible had occurred.

His father was wounded.

Realization finally sank into his stubborn mind and he was off in a flash, his figure a blurred white amongst the green.

The towering gates of the west, glistening silver in the morning sun, now formed the majority of the backdrop as the Inu prince distinguished his father's frame. Surrounded by several guards and supported by his friend and advisor, Hibiki, the Lord of the West was not the dignified supremacy his son was used to seeing. The once magnificent Inu no Taisho had his face marred by dirt and his hair disheveled. A part of his royal kimono was torn, the fabric on the right side seemingly only held in place by the cracked armor that lacked its customary luster. Crimson liquid ran rivulets down the arm that was grasping onto So'unga, which pulsed in an eerie purple.

"Touga-san, we must have your wounds treated." While he was relatively composed, there were traces of urgency latched onto Hibiki's tone. With an arm looped around the Lord of the West's back, the chancellor was careful not to aggravate his friend's deep wounds.

"They are nothing time won't heal," the Lord of the West responded calmly, his pride speaking despite his condition. Nonetheless, making a swifter recovery was his priority, so he permitted Hibiki to guide him to the physician waiting for them.

Sesshomaru's eyes turned the same vivid hue as the awfulness that was staining the Lord of the West's white clothing. All the same, he didn't approach. His feet were rock still, similar to the resolve that was forming inside his heart.

In order to have injured his father, the opponent must've been a powerful daiyoukai. With Hibiki's attention focused on the Inu no Taisho's injuries, there wouldn't be anyone who was capable of dealing retribution. The thought spurred the passionate desire to act; it was up to him to kill the one who was responsible.

It was up to him to find out who was responsible; that was the passionate need that spurred him forth.

"This is some serious shit!" Just as he was about to gather some clues from the blood trail that his father had left behind, he heard one of the guards cursed, his claw running through his thick hair in furious scratches. "Hell! Ryukotsusei got Lord Touga good with that ambush. If it had been a fair match, then our Lord would've shredded that good-for-nothing into pieces! Like this!"

"Come on," another guard nudged his companion's elbow to cease the crazy swinging motions. "I know it's frustrating but we can't abandon our posts. Hibiki-sama said that it's critical we keep an extra eye out. The news that two of the West's most powerful daiyoukai had fought would get around fast. There's bound to be one or two who would try to take advantage of the disarray."

"Ack, this is why most clans keep to themselves. It's been centuries and that bastard of a dragon is still nothing but godforsaken trouble." The warrior continued to cuss as he made his way back to his post.

'Ryukotsusei.' Recalling names was never something he particularly cared about, though this name was not so trivial that it could be dismissed. After all, it was one that struck terror into the hearts of many. Ryukotsusei was the feared leader of the Doragon clan, formed by a band of hostile dragon youkai that were at continuous odds with the Inu clan. Having once terrorized the west, the Inu no Taisho had utilized manpower to initiate a tribal war that drove them into a small restricted area at the border between the West and the East. The animosity between the two clans ran as thick as their history. But to think that they would ambush his father during his return trip from the human realm was blasphemous.

Fury ignited inside Sesshomaru. Even if his features were still the everlasting sheen of ice, his aura radiated with a viciousness that told all that he was extremely livid.

They had hurt his father!

Unforgiveable.

He would personally ensure the demise of those insolent beasts. Just as he was about to act upon his desire and take off, the sound of crunching grass from behind him brought him to a halt.

"Behave in the duration of my absence. I won't be long," he uttered lowly, not bothering to turn his face around to look at the newcomer. He knew exactly who it was since there was only one person he knew who would announce their presence in this manner.

"I understand." Contrary to the expected, St. Hijiri merely gave an acknowledging hum.

"Do you?" he asked, somewhat surprised.

There was another soft hum before she spoke, presumably so that he wouldn't have the need to turn around. "There are times when a battle must be fought. This is one that is obligatory for your sake."

Rather than take it as a form of an impudent consent, he let it ring as an indication of comprehension. She understood what was at stake and how personal it was.

'Good. She knows.' With that revelation, he was unconcerned when she reached out for his left hand. Grasping onto his larger hand with both of hers, she applied a gentle squeeze. There was an odd sensation that stirred from the depths of his mind upon the contact. The tiniest urge formed, bringing a tiny twitch to his fingers. He resisted the temptation to curl them, though only because he had noticed the shimmer of white light that had temporarily coated his limb before fading away.

"What did you do?" Usually, he would have demanded the answer. Yet he didn't, because there was no intent of hostility on her part; he knew that from their times together.

"Nothing but a simple chant that would grant fortune," she replied, then paused for a hesitated breath. "Stay safe, Sesshomaru."

"Hmph." The sound, deep but lacking condescension, vibrated inside his throat as he shot into the sky at full throttle. His burst of youki generated a forceful gale, which torn at the saint's clothing as she watched him disappear in a stream of pinkish white mist.

"Little puppy, have you come in your father's place?" Rather than speaking from his enormous snout, it was the white mask embedded on Ryukotsusei's purple forehead that cackled like he had heard a side-splitting joke. The blue-colored lips moved, revealing sharp fang-like teeth that made the additional face eerie.

Sesshomaru did not reply, his golden orbs scanning his surroundings with great care. Nothing came to his immediate notice, which heightened his caution to the perk. In the coverage of the thick foliage, there was no telling what was lurking in wait. It would be foolishly naive to assume that the dragons would have left their wounded leader to defend for himself.

The idea of an ambush lying in wait seemed all the more certain when considering the magnitude of demonic energy that Ryukotsusei was emitting. No sane being would want to announce their presence by covering everyone else's youki in the vicinity whilst being injured.

'It's a trap.' Despite the conclusion, Sesshomaru didn't regret having tracked the foe's signature and pinpointed his location. Regardless of the possible dangers, he was not one who knew hesitation. Once his mind was set, he would triumph over all obstacles; he had to, because he was perfection itself.

"Ah, for all his incompetence, your father has taught you the fundamentals. You know to check your surroundings," Ryukotsusei guffawed, "But to make this more entertaining for me, I shall let you know that there will be no ambush of any sorts. I, Ryukotsusei, needed no one's aid to send your dear father running with his tail in between his legs. Likewise, I will have no problem taking a little fool like you as my hostage."

"I shall make you repent. You will learn to regret what you have done." The eyebrows of the Inu daiyoukai narrowed to a dangerous level. Aside from being contemptuous towards the Inu no Taisho, it was obvious that Ryukotsusei also held no expectations towards Sesshomaru's power. Only those who were fully confident in their abilities would announce their intentions without any reservations. Sesshomaru was well aware of such attitude, for he too shared the same penchant of being frank.

"Are you saying that you would defeat me? Heh, don't make me laugh, little pup. You are no match for me." Apart from the dragon's glowing red eyes, the mask that had purple markings adorning its white surface also pitted its dark black dots down on Sesshomaru.

The gesture was returned in kind when the Inu prince stared back. Now that he knew Ryukotsusei was alone, he decided to promptly turn his full and undivided focus on his foe simply because he warranted it. Despite being wounded, Ryukotsusei was indeed worthy to be called Touga's rival. The spine-chilling aura being discharged would have even the most courageous of souls trembled in utter fear. Such magnitude was something that Sesshomaru had ever seen from the Inu no Taisho.

In terms of raw output, Sesshomaru would admit that Ryukotsusei had him beaten. Nonetheless, the Inu prince refused to back down from the fight. Besides, there was still the psychological warfare that was being issued. He would have to be a fool to allow the dragon daiyoukai to exploit it. Hence, he countered the taunt in a challenging yet flat tone. "If pointless chatter is how you have come to acquire the subsidiary physiognomy, then I'll gladly remove it."

In response, his opponent's snarl told him that he had won.

"You are getting on my nerve, insolent small fry! This game will be much more amusing once I've reduced you to the whimpering puppy that you are!" Enraged, the long serpentine body of the dragon twisted. The tail whipped against the ground, cracking the earth into tiny fragments. For all his size, the dragon daiyoukai moved with the ferociousness of a sleek snake. He lurched, opening his mouth to expose the lines of razor-sharp teeth coated with saliva.

Sesshomaru took to the air and the beast's head smashed into the ground, splintering the soil where he had been standing. Swift to retaliate, he landed on the dragon's back and ran his weapon along the scaly surface. His swordplay, honed by years of training, was meant to kill. It existed to take lives away. Each strike was deadly and precise, befitting for the user known as the aristocratic assassin. Therefore, it was an eye-opener when the sword that was crafted from the master craftsman slid harmlessly off the scales.

'Bakusaiga cannot piece it.' The realization struck at the same time as Ryukotsusei's tail. The dragon took a swing at him with the extension. Sesshomaru felt a whoosh of wind yanking at a strand of his silver mane as he bent his knees and leaped back. His feet slid against the hard ground, prompting him to plant both his boots down firm to stop the motion.

"Are you going to whimper now? No weapon of any sorts can harm me. My body is harder than steel." Delighted with his ascendency, Ryukotsusei pushed for the offense and opened his mouth wide. Blue cracking energy gathered in seconds before he let it loose in the form of an intense bullet. A thunderous clamor reverberated, the blast making a beeline for Sesshomaru.

The Inu daiyoukai dodged to the right and the vegetation behind him became the victim. The trees erupted, engulfed in the large explosion that disintegrated them from the roots and generated an outsized crater in their place. Dust kicked in, causing a slight sting on Sesshomaru's cheek. It served as a reminder that he hadn't perfectly evaded everything.

His golden orbs narrowed into slits. Aided by reflex more than sight, he managed to raise his sword and timely blocked the large claw that intended to piece through him. But before he had the time to do anything else, Ryukotsusei seized him with an iron hold. In one aggressive motion, the dragon threw him into the earth before pressing his palm down on him with a bone-crushing impact.

The collision drove a foreign sense of aches down the entirety of Sesshomaru's body. Disregarding the inner alarms, he attempted to escape from the disgusting clasp only to find that along with his body, his sword arm was pinned to the ground. He was rendered immobile and trapped.

"Whimper, little puppy. Make it loud enough that your dear old father can hear it and come to your rescue," Ryukotsusei taunted, digging his outmost claw into Sesshomaru's ribs. It penetrated the armor and flesh, drilling deep into the bones.

Pain exploded inside of him. But so did his youki in an unreserved manner. Primal instincts kicked in, encrusting his irises with a sheet of angry sanguine. Sesshomaru's physique morphed, his muscles bulging and his size amplifying. At once, statics of demonic power ignited in the vicinity as a giant white beast broke free from his restraints.

"What is this?" Ryukotsusei was thrown back by the sudden impetus from the transformation, though he appeared more stunned than hurt.

With raised hackles, the Inu daiyoukai exposed his white glistening fangs from his newly formed snout. Droplets of saliva plummeted down onto the soil and with sizzling sounds, melting fist-sized holes into the ground with their erosive nature.

Two pairs of crimson orbs locked onto each other, stirring bloodlust. Ryukotsusei acted first. Several spheres of energy spewed forth from his mouth. The Inu daiyoukai charged in, leaving a blur of white as he weaved through the projectiles. The first blast touched the tip of his tail. The second and third cracked the spot that he had stepped on a millisecond prior. He closed in before the fourth could be launched and pounced.

The two massive creatures of supremacy engaged in close combat, lashing out with their fangs, claws and energy blasts. They wrestled on the ground and in the sky, determined to craft battle scars on each other and simultaneously on the forest floors. But determination could only get as far for the Inu daiyoukai. Whereas his fur was covered in wounds, the dragon daiyoukai merely suffered minor scratches on his extremely ridged hide.

Any onlooker could predict the results and the Inu daiyoukai instinctively knew that winning would not arrive in the form of brutal force. Despite the adrenaline and the overwhelming urge to fight, the innate for survival proved to be stronger. The white creature adapted his tactic in the last minute, sidestepping to dodge a vicious blow. Ryukotsusei's teeth snapped empty space and the Inu daiyoukai utilized the chance. His gaze locked onto the prominent gash that the Inu no Taisho had created near the heart. With the beckoning from his father's mark dictating his action, the Inu daiyoukai failed to notice the white light that had shimmered on his right paw as he thrust his claw into the opening.

There was a howl of pure agony before everything was swallowed up by the darkness.

There was a foreign tingling sensation that danced on his lips as something soft was pressed against them. A taste of exclusive sweetness made itself known before it was followed by an explosion of bitterness as several crushed substances made their way down his throat.

Sesshomaru's golden orbs snapped open and he caught the remnant of a blurred exquisiteness that was celestial. Creamy white skin, eyes with the hue of deep earth, well-defined cheeks and long thin eyelashes – even if he didn't care for appearances, he had to inwardly acknowledge that the combination was appealing to the eyes.

It was a sight that should've been registered permanently. Somewhere deep down, a part of him had demanded that he commit the image into his memory. But in his disorientated state, that didn't happen and the beauty was all lost to him when the face before him turned away in a hurried manner.

The act of abruptly forcing his consciousness proved to be stressing for his wounded body. As the pain of his wounds flared into life, he was compelled to close his eyes once more and let the darkness catch him.

Exhausted but still vigilant, he listened as the person close to him stood up and took a few steps away. The slight noise brought about alertness and his fuzzy mind rebooted itself into working order. His eyelids cracked open to take in the back of the woman who had ignored his order to stay put. Her long tresses, as dark as raven's feather, framed the sides and trailed down her back before she gathered them inside her hooded veil.

When she turned around to face him again, the mask had returned and concealed any expression that she might be wearing to Sesshomaru. There was no way of telling what went through her mind. But if one thing was certain, it was that the Inu prince did not like how vulnerable he must seem to her right now. Not one bit. With his back leaning against a half-snapped tree trunk and his body rendered immobile from his grave wounds, he was at the pinnacle of disgrace. The one thing hurting more than his bleeding injuries being that of his pride.

The woman saw him in a pathetic state.

It hurt, a lot. The physical pain was gnawing away his strength bit by bit, but it couldn't rival his mental suffering. His damaged pride hurt more than anything else. The humiliation he underwent was agonizingly unbearable.

Sensing his growing frustration from his spiked youki, St. Hijiri drew up beside him once more and kneeled down, one knee grazing the blackened ground. "Ease yourself, Sesshomaru. There is no need to be agitated. The victory is yours. You have defeated the one who ambushed your father."

In a more straightforward manner of speaking, she was telling him that he hadn't lost. Hence, there was no need to feel disgraced. The wounds he bore were a symbol of his well-fought battle, a fierce confrontation where he had managed to defeat the one who had been giving his father trouble. After all, ambush or not, Ryukotsusei was a daiyoukai who could fight on par with the Inu no Taisho. It would have been delusory to truly believe that Sesshomaru would emerge victorious unscathed.

He supposed he could accept that, even if he knew that it did nothing to change the fact that she was the key witness. His pride argued with logic however, and he was momentarily taken up by dangerous musings. But even if he had the strength, it wouldn't help to dig her eyes out from their sockets. Silencing her off for good was out of the option from the beginning so he didn't dwell on it.

"Hmph. You should mind your own business, woman." Stifling the lingering protests from his prideful heart, he mustered the most terrifying glare he could manage at this point. The bitter aftertaste of the consumable she had mouth-fed him tingled the tip of his tongue when he spoke, which promptly urged him to demand an answer. "What did you make me ingest?"

"I see that your usual attitude persists. If so, then surely you must look worse than what you feel." As expected, the saint wasn't intimated as she had the nerve to goad him. If his usual glowers weren't able to scare her off, then it was obvious that she wouldn't be affected at present.

"I do not want to hear your nonsense," he almost growled, "Answer my question."

"Medicine," she gave a proper reply this time.

Hearing that, his irritated tone was replaced with one that was condescending. "I do not require human nostrum. My wounds would heal without any assistance."

"I'm aware. However, the concoction I prepared is meant for internal injuries." As she explained, Sesshomaru became all the more aware that he was suffering from not only broken bones and lacerations, but also damaged organs from when Ryukotsusei had pressed him onto the ground. The massive internal bleeding would take much longer to heal than his external wounds, even more so because he had little youki to spare after his transformation.

"You should rest, Sesshomaru. I've created a kekkai. Nothing shall be getting in without my awareness." Pulling his attention back to the present was her soothing voice, which prompted him to take a look at the energy shield that flickered in and out of visibility fleetingly for him to see. The circumference covered the entirety of the scarred battlefield, an excessive amount of space that was mentally taxing to cover. Nonetheless, he could see why she would go through such effort. It meant that it would take some time before anyone from the west could notice, thus giving him ample time to respite and recover.

"Meddlesome woman," he uttered, though without the negative connotation such a phrase normally had attached.

Incontestably, St. Hijiri had proven herself to be trustworthy over the months they spent together. But even so, he ignored her suggestion and surveyed the surroundings with his half-opened eyes. He didn't doubt that she could fulfill the role of security, though the need to search for any prominent danger, to be alert no matter the cost, was engraved deep into his instinctive behavior from his father's teachings and experience.

It was when he was absorbing the sights of the churned grounds and demolished trees around him that he recalled everything. He was the one to come out at the top of their ruthless battle – against Ryukotsusei, the most formidable opponent that he had ever faced.

Yet, despite it all, could he call it his lone victory? Although the woman had followed him against his orders, she hadn't directly stepped into the fray even when everything was turning into mayhem. So that wasn't what irked Sesshomaru. She might not have interfered directly but she was in no doubt responsible for Ryukotsusei's current state.

His golden orbs panned out to the left, beholding the dragon daiyoukai that stood immobile near the outskirt of the kekai. No longer a glossy purple, his skin had been morphed into a sickly greenish-brown hue. What hadn't registered in his mind during the heat of the battle was now being evoked as clear images. He remembered the painful howl of Ryukotsusei's when he dug his claw into the gaping wound. But more importantly, he recalled how his paw was engulfed by a mystical white light.

The sight reminded him of the tender wound on his right hand. His index nail was torn right off, and what little was left of the nail plate was cracked and caked in dried blood. It generated a numbing feeling that persisted on his entire arm. Nonetheless, he no longer had the impression that it was the result of a physical cause. It was all because of her so-called 'lucky charm'. He supposed he ought to be infuriated at her but found himself unable to summon forth any aggressive urge. He blamed it on his exhausted state while mentally commenting that the woman was fortunate.

Ditching the train of thoughts at that specific point, he dragged his focus on St. Hijiri, who was in the process of trying to retrieve Bakusaiga. The blade, which he had discarded in the middle of the fight, was buried in the rubble with only the tip of the hilt visible.

In all honesty, the weapon wasn't worth the effort. Hence, he looked to the side and voiced the thought in a dismissive manner. "Forget it."

"Why?" she asked, her hands clawing out the first layer of dirt.

"I have no use for it." Somewhat annoyed with her track record of doing the exact opposite as told – yet simultaneously be very cooperative if deemed necessary from her perspective – he shut his eyelids and permitted his eyebrows to pull down, drawing a clear expression of his current unpleased mood.

"Why deny its use? Bakusaiga is your fang, a part of you." Her voice traveled into his ears, even gruffer than usual due to her trying to remove a heavy load.

"Hmph… its impotence only proves that I have yet to surpass father." In every sense, he knew he hadn't outdone the almighty Inu no Taisho. Defeating Ryukotsusei was certainly not the benchmark, especially since he had survived the battle because the dragon daiyoukai could no longer continue. It was a victory that proved he could fight on par with another great daiyoukai. Alas, it was not a victory that could determine his worth when the subject of contemplation was the Lord of the West.

"So you're going to forsake it?" St. Hijiri grunted as she struggled to remove the rock resting on top of the metal surface. "Are you giving up, Sesshomaru?"

"…" His eyes snapped open due to a mixture of inward confusion and surprise. The question never quite sank in, with his mind trying to register the notion that she had the gall to articulate such an insolent suggestion. Before he could retort, she continued on as if the last part was a mere rhetorical question.

"I have a suggestion… would you be so gratifying as to lend an ear?" Taking his silence as consent, she carried on with an idea that was essentially the labor of the collaboration work between her and his father.

Only when she finished did he finally open his mouth, a slight indication that he had indeed been paying attention all along. Nevertheless, not once did he permit his curiosity to surface and instead masked it with a scornful huff. "So all this effort is to poison my veins with your spiritual powers. Quite an elaborative deception."

"I appreciate the sarcasm, Sesshomaru." Her voice was dripping with the same dry tone that he used. From behind the veil, he could somehow imagine her rolling her eyes to emphasize her exasperation. "You wish for a powerful blade that could rival your father's. I'm here to provide the opportunity. My spiritual powers will strengthen Bakusaiga and keep it dormant within you, so that your youki may nourish it over time. You said that the blade is worthless. If so, then there is nothing to lose. On the contrary, you shall obtain more power if you succeed. It shall be your power."

"Hmph, and your powers won't leave any influences?"

"What is transferred over is yours to command, and yours alone."

Her assured and immediate response left some further deliberations for Sesshomaru's brain, where he proceeded to reconsider all the potential benefits he could reap and the risks involved. Still, it did not take long to arrive at the point of decision; after all, the idea was far too appealing.

If truth be told, the sword that was crafted from his fang was a disappointment that shouldn't have existed in the first place. It did not possess even half the power that the three legendary blades, said to be crafted by the gods using the fangs of an Inu daiyoukai, had. Worthless, Bakusaiga was nothing more than a piece of useless steel born from his illusion that it could become something that surpassed legends. Based on that alone, St. Hijiri was correct; he had nothing to lose. At worse, his body would find the blade to be incompatible and corrode it with poison. He would be getting rid of trash regardless of the outcome.

His mind was decided, fixed and locked. "So be it, woman. Proceed as you like."

"As you wish. However, before we begin, I must know. Are you absolutely certain you wish to use this sword?" With a final yank, St. Hijiri managed to free the subject of her interest from the rubble with a strength that left the daiyoukai thoroughly unimpressed. While observing her effort with an apathetic attitude, he was once again reminded that even she was no exception to the fact that humans were physically much weaker compared to youkai. A task that would've taken him a second had caked her white clothing in dirt. Somewhere deep within him did not enjoy how her appearance was marred by something as simple as grime and he had to resist the urge to narrow his eyebrows.

When he gave no verbal remarks, she brandished Bakusaiga in a series of elegant movements. A stream of purple emitted from her hand and was gradually transfused into the glistering surface. "It may lack power but its craftwork is the finest I have ever seen."

"Hmph, your concern is unneeded. As is your poor imitation of swordplay," he huffed with his chin tilted at an arrogant angle. As visually pleasing her sword style might be, it felt like it was something suited on a performance stage than on a battlefield.

"I was never brought up to be a swordswoman, nor did I find the need to refine the skill for any reason," she responded with an unruffled intonation that hinted she wasn't offended by his insult in the slightest. Her stance mirrored his as she approached his left side, crouching down to meet his eye level. Catching on in an instance, Sesshomaru pulled apart his damaged cuirass and peeled away the left side of his tattered kimono to expose skin from his shoulder blade and below. A moment later came the gentle touch of St. Hijiri's hand and what drifted into his body was a warm sensation that left a gentle tickle.

As she articulated a soft chant, the blade that was balanced horizontally on her free palm was lifted by an invisible force little by little. It was left suspended several inches above the base of her hand before St. Hijiri relinquished the contact she had with Sesshomaru and grabbed the blade by its sharp edges. Even though blood was dribbling down, the saint gave no pause in her movement as she pushed the weapon into Sesshomaru's arm hilt first. Differing from what he assumed, there was no pain or discomfort as his body acted akin to quicksand and pulled Bakusaiga in.

The progress was less than three minutes but it had the impact of an intense marathon as St. Hijiri dropped onto both knees and used her hands to support her shaky form. Left panting heavily in an attempt to obtain as much oxygen as possible, she couldn't summon forth the additional effort to examine the result of her handiwork.

But Sesshomaru could, and he did. The daiyoukai flexed his left claw several times, paying careful attention to any signs of abnormality. Only when he was positive that everything was fine did he reached for the saint, seizing her right wrist in a firm grip. Being gentle was never a part of his agenda, though he made an unconscious effort to ensure that his hold could support her form without hurting her.

"Was that necessary?" he asked with pretended indifference, his golden orbs flicking down to take in the blood on her palm. The crimson burned his eyes with an intensity that was like staring at the sun.

"Yes. It is the essence of a blood seal." Oddly enough, she supplied him with a straightforward answer rather than attempt to wrench her hand away. Given her aversion towards someone invading her personal space – which he knew about because he shared the same trait – it was quite bizarre. But he did not dwell on it, as something else captured his attention.

A blood seal, she said. In other words, she was telling him that she was the only one who could undo the seal on Bakusaiga. She had failed to inform him of what kind of spell she would cast, though he supposed it did not matter now. Regardless, he had no intention of letting someone else but her bear witness to the outcome that they had envisioned. When the time came, Bakusaiga would either reemerge with a power that could shake the heavens or a disgraceful realization that it was still a scrape of metal.

"…It seems you have made yourself useful coming here." Disgruntled that blood was seeping out from the cuts and was dying her porcelain skin red, he ripped the bottom part of his sleeve and tied the cloth roughly around her bleeding hand. With no experience in the art, his pride took a stabbing blow upon his awareness of how lumbering his fingers were being. He ignored it and instead focused on how he had positioned the fabric so that the Inu clan's crest was fully visible. It was technically still red on white but at least it was more gratifying to look at.

He let go once satisfied and she glanced at her newly bandaged hand with obvious surprise. A short chuckle then erupted from her throat, which nearly prompted the daiyoukai's ears to fine tune his hearing further. "Never would I have anticipated this. Sesshomaru, you really do have a circumventing approach to expressing appreciation."

"Hmph..." His head rotated to the right, his eyes closing in relaxation as to not bother looking at her anymore. But all in all, he gave no denial to what was said. He knew that the saint was intelligent enough to pick up on the implications. In spite of what he would usually believe, he was rather content to leave it like that.

He felt her shift a little when she took up the spot next to him. Completely at ease, he permitted her companionship from within the protection of her kekkai and was able to settle into the tempo of the most peaceful sleep he had in a long while.

More Author's Notes: With the conclusion of this chapter, I'm hoping that some of the scenes in the previous two arcs, especially the bulk of chapter 21 (about Bakusaiga), will have a greater resonance and meaning. Naturally, I know I haven't gotten to elaborating on everything that would ultimately lead to the time that the majority of this story is set in. But I do wish to take the time to develop our two favorite characters and I hope that you can see and enjoy the growing chemistry here. ;D

Leaving off on the usual note, reviews and feedback are welcome. And I'll see you all next time!