Vines lowered from the trees and rubbed his back as he cried out in anguish.
"I had thought it odd that you would banish Inuyasha after caring for him for so long" the old magnolia tree said once he had calmed
"There was no other way to protect him. If they knew that I care, they would have killed him. If not then, he would never know any peace as they would always be after him. At least this way he will be safer."
"I understand your reasons, and I know that does not make it hurt any less" Bokuseno consoled
"Can you find Myoga? Although he has always been a coward, he will help Inuyasha. He can watch over him."
"Why not choose a retainer of your own, rather than one of your fathers?"
"This one has none that he can trust."
The old magnolia tree stared at him, assessing the truth in his words.
"It shall be done"
"Do you know of the location of the Tessaiga? The sword will help him. He can channel his youki, it will protect him"
Bokuseno's face contorted into a pained look, the sounds of the forest stilled and he replied gravely "The Tessaiga is seen, yet never seen. Protected, yet unknown to its protector."
"A riddle?" He asked incredulously "Where is it?"
"Head North to find the Staff of Two Heads, you will find your way"
Rising, he composed himself before he returned to the shiro and made preparations. He wasn't sure how long it would take to find what he needed, but he was persistent.
Sesshoumaru took to the air, rushing towards the hut his brother had lived in.
When he got there he found the barrier had been broken and the hut burnt to the ground. Everything his brother had owned had been destroyed including the barrier anchor but thankfully he did not find his brother's body amongst the rubble. That gave him hope that his brother had made it to safety somewhere.
He then began his trek north.
Over the next four decades Sesshoumaru searched for the staff, trying to make heads or tails of the riddle. Every moon cycle he would travel back to his Shiro to take care of his lordly duties.
He also searched for his brother. To be honest he spent more time searching for his brother than for the staff.
Frustration boiled in him, he thought about how he used to disappear when he was young. How long had his father searched for him before finding him?
His father could leave for years and not return. He didn't recall going to the shiro at all during his first two hundred summers.
He decided he would spend more time looking, and stop alternating moon cycles between searching and at the Shiro. If they needed him, his aura would be obvious enough they would be able to find him.
It had been about two seasons since his decision when he came across a battle on the plains of Musashi. Hundreds of small green imps were fighting the Bikuni tribe.
Sesshoumaru would not alter his path for lesser demons, so he proceeded to walk straight through. A Bikuni was about to eat what he assumed was the leader of the toad demons as he approached.
"You are in the way. Move aside"
The Bikuni turned but did not move. Sesshoumaru used his youki whip and sliced the Bikuni to pieces. The imps parted like an ocean to let him pass.
One of the imps -the one that had almost been eaten- jumped up and proceeded to follow him.
"Please my lord, you saved my life, it would be an honor to follow you"
Inclining his chin, he muttered a disinterested "hnn"
He hoped that the lead that he had would finally bring him to the staff. Decades of searching in this area, and he had walked by this small waterfall more than once. He had even drunk from the pool of water.
Reaching into the falls, his hand brushed aged wood instead of the rock face he had expected and he withdrew the staff.
He could not believe it, it had been right here all this time.
He turned to the imp that was following him, and tossed the staff to him.
"If you can use this, I will entrust it to you" he said to the imp, noting the way the imp perked up.
"Thank you my lord, what is your name?" It asked, bowing low with the staff.
"Sesshoumaru"
"Thank you, Sesshoumaru-sama"
The imp stood, placed the staff on the ground before him and concentrated its small youki into the staff. The male head turned and opened its mouth, fire pouring out in a display that startled the little creature so much he dropped the staff.