Hi! I'm back again
I was told that my story was a bit too close to the original - and thinking about it, it wasn't completely wrong... But starting from now I'm changing things, notably in the time-line, as I think Tsukiko's presence had to start to make wave eventually (it is the point of an OC after all ^_^)
Hope you enjoy
side note. was told that the difference in power level between youko and kitsune was a bit confusing - I am talking about it again a bit more in a future chapter (writen but not ready to be published) and its about the same for all beast youkai and their daiyoukai counterparts.
so for those who are interested in an explanation right now:
a beast youkai gains tails about twice as fast as a daiyoukai, but only gains power, not special abilities.
once the youkai has nine tails and can go from beast form to human one, he's a daiyoukai. but even if he has nine tails physically, in power-level he is around four-tail for a daiyoukai.
then he can continue to grow stronger as a daiyoukai, gaining special powers and all, but physically he won't gain new tails, nine is the maximum.
Chapter XII. September 1996 Blades Reforged
The pack spent the next few days traveling slowly, as Kanna still hadn't woke up, and was carried by Padfoot during the day. Finally, on the third day, the little girl started to stir – then with a gasp, woke up, looking around her in fear and confusion.
"Hey. You're Kanna, right?"
Shippou had immediately taken charge under Tsukiko fond eyes – the kit making the "adult-sized" pack-member step back while he approached the little youkai. It seemed to work, as she relaxed slightly, before nodding a confirmation.
"I'm Shippou." he introduced himself, before asking "Do you remember what happened to you?"
She paused, but the calm and gentle demeanor of the kit that was even smaller than her physically was enough to help her keep her calm rather than panic at the memories, and she started to recount "Naraku sent me to steal some souls and defeat a sword." an hesitation "But I was locked in my head because of Naraku." another pause "And then my mirror lost, and the youkai got really angry, but not with me?" a note of wonder "And then I remembered all that Naraku did..." a shiver of fear this time
Those shivers would probably evolved into a full blown panic attack – but Shingetsu, and a Padfoot in his small size had crept up to her side as she talked and were now making comforting noises.
The fear recessed and was replaced with wonder, and she hesitantly pushed her fingers into the soft fur of the beasts.
"But I was fixed!" the little girl realize as the panic disappearing cleared her mind "And I changed..." she added, a bit of awe in her tone as she finally could see clearly the people around her
One of them with an aura intimately familiar to her by now, as she'd been literally rebuilt by her "You saved me?"
The "why?" wasn't voiced – but was so clear it made the pack ache. A child sounding so young shouldn't be so surprised to be saved. Still, Shippou was the first to find his voice, and letting his natural cheerfulness back into his voice, announced "That's because it's Tsuki-chan, our alpha! That's what she does!" a small paw pointed at the miko "And that's Kagome-chan. She's the same. I think that's because they're childhood friend." he explained in a conspiratorial tone
By now, Kanna was starting to smile too, taken in by antics of the kitsune.
"The houshi is Miroku. He's really intelligent, but he's got a problem with women... And Sango-chan is really cool, but scary when she's angry!"
A beat.
InuYasha twitched.
"Ah! And the grumpy annoyance is InuYasha!" Shippou added, mirth in his eyes "He doesn't look like much but he's our beta!"
"What's alpha? And beta?"
The kit nearly fell to the ground with surprise "It's... Tsuki-chan is our alpha! She takes care of us, and protect us, and help us grow up... She's like a really strong mum!" the kit finished with a nod, rather proud of his description "And Inu-baka is like the older brother! If Tsuki-chan isn't there he takes care of us, but he's still got things to learn too! And we're all pack-mate, so we're like a family, but even better! Even Padfoot," a bark "Shingetsu," second bark "or Kirara." a mewl "Even though she's a cat and cat's aren't supposed to get on well with us canine..." the mewl grew in protest "But she's an intelligent cat , so she doesn't hate people just because they're different!" a purr
As the kit explained, Kanna's eyes had gained life, but then, they grew concerned once more "And me?"
"Well Tsuki-chan saved you, so you're pack too!" he affirmed, turning her attention to the silver paw-print that had appeared on her hand while she was asleep, before adding with a triumphal smile "So I'm not the youngest now! And because I'm a big brother, I can help you learn all kind of things, and if people are mean with you I'll protect you until you're strong enough not to need me... But then I'll still help you, because that's what pack does!"
The fear that had crept back in the young youkai's eyes was firmly replaced by joy – as somehow, she knew the kit wasn't lying, not realizing that this was her first grasp on the Soul Sense she had gained when becoming one of Tsukiko's Holy Servants.
The rest of the evening was spent helping the girl acclimate herself with the pack – and it took a few hours for her to realize she had gained a strange new power, that the pack had then spent some time explaining the basis to her – Shippou, taking his self-imposed role as a brother and protector to heart, doing the most of those explanations.
It was hours later, as the pack was finally asleep, that InuYasha sat near his niece.
"So? What was it that made you react, earlier?" he asked gruffly "Didn't like being called a mum?"
"Do I really act like that?" the hime wondered
A snort "Do you really need to ask?" the hanyou confirmed in his own unique way
"It made me realize, when he called me that..." a sigh "Time isn't linear for gods you know."
"I'm pretty sure you've inherited your inability to talk simply from the bastard." InuYasha protested, before adding, serious this time "So there's another you alive in your time?"
"Two other technically." she smiled, amused "My first incarnation, Harriet Potter, who is currently going through the trials that will made her into me..."
"Feh."
"Harriet died young, alone, and without much to regret. After all, most of her loved ones were already dead."
"It's the other you're thinking about then."
"When I died as Sawada Kazami my elder child was not yet thirteen, and his little sister a year young." her voice was light "I know Renato stayed with them a few years before following me, but..."
"You still want to see them." the hanyou affirmed easily – even someone without children like him could understand that, what wouldn't he give to see his parents once more after all? Even thought he didn't even remember his father...
"Once I've lived a life, I'm not suppose to interfere with it." she stated rather than needlessly confirm the statement – this was something Fate had said after all
"I won't say to go and meet them." the hanyou stated – even him could understand than interfering into your own life with time-travel could easily get messy "But is checking on them interfering? You don't have to meet them to see them you know." he pointed out
Tsukiko's eyes were clearer at that affirmation – and as she stretched, before comfortably laying her head on her uncle's shoulder she nodded "You're right, oji-san, I was stupid..." a mumble "To think that stupid hat wanted me in Slytherin... I sure don't feel very cunning right now, not even able to think about going around the rules by myself..."
"That's why you're still a brat!"
"Hey!"
"Still, speaking of children..."
"I don't mind Shippou seeing me as a mother. Even if I'm barely older than him. I've still got life-times of experience on him after all." she answer the question he hadn't asked yet "Same for Kanna. After all, he's right, we're already family..." with that, she closed her eyes – and was soon asleep
InuYasha smiled at the trust she so easily showed him, before adding in a lower voice "You've got your answer, brat."
Shippou didn't move, nothing showing he'd been awake – but for the large smile now on his face as he snuggled into Padfoot's large form as in a blanket. He probably wouldn't be calling the ookami hime kaa-san anytime soon – but in his heart, he knew, each time he called her alpha, what he really meant.
¤.¤.¤
The next morning, the pack was greeted by a nasty surprise – a corpse, clearly controlled by Kagura's corpse dance, at the door-step of the abandoned hut they'd spent the night in.
Still, the corpse had no fighting intent – and was instead a simple messenger.
"A giant oni attacking a nearby village with a spider on his back. That sound's a lot like 'come and meet my new brother'." Sango was the first to comment
"Well, it would be rude to refuse the invitation, no?" Tsukiko commented mildly
"Keh. Who cares about rude! I've no intention of letting an occasion of getting to the bastard go!"
As for Kanna – while she didn't feel all that reassured at the idea of going toward anything linked to Naraku rather than fleeing in the opposite direction – Shippou had taken her hand, and affirmed "Don't worry, you don't have to fight." a smile, and FuurinKiba was in his small hands "After all, I can protect you."
With that, he'd jumped on Padfoot, dragging her along, and toward a nearby village drenched in blood.
The pack arrived just in time for InuYasha to put Tessaiga between two kids and a large, furry oni youkai, while Miroku raised a wall of water while gesturing at the two young boys to run.
"So you're the third one, eh!" the hanyou commented, blade still at the ready
"Kufufu, you just thought that despite being so big a monster, I was rather nimble." the youkai drenched in Naraku's smell affirmed
InuYasha's eyes widened at the statement.
"Yes, that's right. I can read minds!" the youkai turned toward the rest of the pack "Compared to I, Goshinki, my elder sisters are but minor characters now that I've been born!"
"Tch. A mind-reader you maybe, you still have to prove that you're not just all talk!" the hanyou announced loudly, jumping in the fight
Goshinki nimbly avoided the blast of Tessaiga, and Miroku's attack with his water halberd "You are all pathetic! I can read all your mind, even attacking several at a time won't prevent me from reacting to all of your attacks with how slow and weak you are!"
Tsukiko, Kanna realized from her place on Padfoot's back, was holding back from the fight – yet as both Miroku and Sango were blasted back, then Kagome violently sent toward InuYasha, she could see the light shaking of the ookami's hands.
This new alpha, the little girl mused, wasn't like the cruel progenitor that had created her to fight in his stead. She didn't shy from the fight, she desperately wanted to be in the front of the fight, protecting her friends...
"That's because we've got to learn to grow." Shippou whispered by her side - she wondered if she'd talked aloud, but the kit was already adding "You looked like you wanted to ask."
Shippou, too, looked like he wanted to fight, she realized.
"I said I'd protect you." he reminded her as she was about to ask – ask why he was still here when he so clearly wanted to be with the others
The ookami was frowning – the strategy her pack had adopted wasn't bad, attacking from several angles at the same time had been a good idea. But on top of being able to read their mind, which would have been a great advantage even for a weak youkai, the oni was far from being a push-over.
Worse still, where Kanna and Kagura, while both born from Naraku, each had deep inside their own feelings and emotions, whereas the only thing that she could read from the third sibling was pure malice.
The one good news in all this, she mused while InuYasha prepared himself to cut the Kaze no Kizu, was that despite his impressive level 152, the oni was just as young as his other two siblings, and as such what he had in instincts and raw strengths, he still lacked in experience.
The alpha eyes' widened as she saw the enemy not even bothering to avoid the powerful attack coming at him but instead taking it head on – and piercing through it.
"In the end," he boasted "your precious sword is still nothing more than a dog's fang..." and with that, he bit at the sword
Tsukiko had jumped in the fight as soon as she saw the cracks appear along Tessaiga's length, KageShin pushing the oni back with a bloody shoulder.
"So you managed to dodge even without hearing me." she noted, impressed – clearly the annoying offspring of Naraku didn't rely only on his mind hearing ability
As for the other, he stared at her with disbelieving eyes "Impossible! I can't hear your mind!"
A smile.
"Should I let you peak?" she wondered, the natural barrier around her mind descending but for an instant
The brief moment was more than enough, as the oni now looked crazed, whispering about the "countless voices" and didn't even react when his head was cut clean off his neck – after all, oni or not he was still a mortal, and unable to comprehend the mind of a being that had already ascended to another state.
"Wow. Scary Tsuki-chan made an apparition." Shippou commented, Padfoot having followed his mistress as soon as he deemed the situation safe "So was it breaking InuYasha's sword, or threatening kids that did it?" he wondered idly
"Well," Tsukiko sighed as she and her uncle were examining the damaged blade, completely ignoring the comment "we're due for a visit to Totosai it seems."
She had barely finished her sentence that a young voice was heard – and a little black haired girl arrived in the middle of the battlefield, followed by a harassed looking youkai – then a far more majestic one.
"Chichi-ue." Tsukiko greeted with a smile
"Musume." Sesshoumaru greeted in answer "You made quite a show of power the other day."
"We felt it from waaay back where we were!" Rin nodded with a bright smile "Sesshoumaru-sama was teaching me how to recognize youki and reiki, so he told me it was you and I recognized you from when Sesshoumaru-sama saved me, pretty angel!"
"How many times must I tell you to refer to people with their proper titles!" Jaken protested in an argument that seemed to have already been repeated several times "This is Seshhoumaru-sama's honorable daughter, alpha of her pack, heir of the House of Moon! You will refer to her as Tsukiko-hime-sama!"
"Tsukiko is alright." said alpha contradicted immediately – while Miroku barely concealed his bout of laughter at the reminder of how much their alpha didn't like lengthy titles
"But... she's pretty like an angel!"
"She's better than an angel!" Shippou immediately protested "Tsuki-chan kicks ass, and angels are just wimps!"
"Oh, alright then." Rin accepted the explanation easily "And who're you?"
Soon, Shippou was charming the little miko, and easily dragging her in a chat with the more reserved and shy Kanna.
"So she's your new charge?" the inu daiyoukai was noting meanwhile "Powerful, but young."
"Naraku made her, and broke her." his daughter explained "I stole her away."
The approbation was subtle in the small nod her father gave at the explanation, but she knew him enough to understand. After all pack oriented youkai like inu were were protective of all young, even if the Lord hid it rather well.
"And here?"
"Another of Naraku's spawn. Powerful."
The daiyoukai eyes fell on Tessaiga, still in a disgruntled InuYasha hands "Indeed."
"Its seal weakened." Tsukiko commented, "But I interfered before it broke."
"Relying on something like that is a weakness."
"It's even more difficult for hanyou." a shrug "And he had no one to teach him."
"What are you talking about?" the pack beta wondered, finally realizing that the two were talking about him
"Tessaiga is not only a sword, it also act as a suppressor of your youki."
"What? Why?"
"Because a hanyou near death has a dangerous surviving instinct that awakens all the potential of his youkai blood, making him far more powerful... but also little more that a mindless beast." his alpha explained, making him wince at the idea "This is something that can be controlled, but it requires intensive training, and quite a bit of meditation."
She smiled at the grimace of distaste her uncle had automatically let out at the mention of meditation – but her beta had grown quite a lot since the day she'd met him, and instead of immediately refusing, he asked "There's no helping it?"
"Otherwise, you'll always have to rely on Tessaiga, an pray for the blade never to be taken from you."
A sigh.
"Meditation and training it is then."
"Well said indeed!"
Most of the pack startled as a three-eyed bull popped suddenly, a familiar old youkai on it's back. Snatching Tessaiga out of InuYasha's hand, Totosai was suddenly crying loudly "Look at what you did to my work! Poor blade, it's ready to fall apart!"
Tsukiko sighed at the blacksmith antics, and glared at him, the old youkai reflexively stepping back at the Sesshoumaru-worthy expression.
"Will you reforge it?" she asked
"I will," he nodded "but it will need a filler."
"All the better." the alpha nodded – InuYasha had made great progress working with his father legacy – it was time for him to learn more about his own powers
Putting the damaged weapon in his mount's backpack, Totosai ambled toward the beheaded oni, nose wrinkling in distaste "Such a malicious aura." he sneered "Even dead it still ooze dark youki."
¤.¤.¤
With that, the wrinkled old youkai puffed up his cheeks – and let out a stream of blazing flames, soon burning the dead oni to cinders.
With a satisfied nod, he turned toward the pack "Well, lets head to the forge."
The travel to Totosai mountain was unbelievably short, Kagome mused – before Tsukiko, once more guessing about her thougths, explained "When a youkai is as old as Totosai, he tends to have a lot of different talents. One of those talents, a rather rare one since there aren't a lot of people left that can teach it, is that of being a Mist Path Traveler."
"Oh wow," Shippou realized, eyes widening "I thought it was only a legend! I mean you can barely notice it..."
"How does it work?" Miroku asked
"The wisps of mist that gather around him when he travels dims the path, and people don't realize that the path isn't quite the same as it usually is. This is a talent that helps alter any road you've already traveled to go from a place to another faster."
"This is so cool!" Shippou crowed "It's like a big fox illusion, but that only works when traveling!"
The kitsune himself didn't notice it – but Tsukiko didn't miss the glint of interest in the old youkai eyes at her young charge's enthusiasm. And when she thought back to the first time she'd met an adult golden kitsune a few life back – the speed at which he'd traveled may not have been simple speed after all...
Still, they were now nearing a peculiar mountain Kagome was rather sure she'd never seen in any geography book "The whole mountain is warded against humans." Myouga explained – apparently the annoying tick spent quite a lot of time there "But your pack bond will protect you."
"I think you may be the first humans in centuries to set foot here." Totosai confirmed "It's so infused with youki, albeit not particularly malicious one, that even the soil has become dangerous to humans."
The blacksmith swiftly guided them to a rather secluded part of the mountain, where his workshop was set in a giant youkai skeleton. Putting the sword on his anvil, he turned toward InuYasha "Open mouth."
The unsuspecting hanyou obeyed – and was soon owning one less fang.
"Bah don't cry, something like that will grow back in a day, even for a hanyou like you! Now let me work! It'll take three days and nights!"
And just like that, the whole pack booted out. Tsukiko couldn't help but laugh.
"While he is still cowed by chichi-ue, he is also far less respectful than in the future." she noted, amused
"The brat hasn't proved himself yet!" was Totosai loud response from within his forge
Even those among the pack that were less acquainted with Sesshoumaru could read the annoyance on is face.
"Anyway, we still have three days to wait, so what do we do?"
"Isn't it evident?" Tsukiko asked with a sweet smile that made her whole pack shudder in dread "We train!"
"Wah!" Shippou was the first to break down "I'm too young to die, please have mercy alpha!"
Sesshoumaru lifted an eye brow at the reaction, but didn't comment. Curious to see how his daughter managed her pack, he settled on a rock.
"Miroku, you'll work InuYasha on meditation in the morning, you should be able to work on your water control at the same time."
"Of course alpha." the houshi nodded with a smile
"Kagome, you'll be working with Sango on youkai hunting techniques."
The tajiya nodded – breaking the usual pairing prevented them from falling into bad habits, and teaching something was a good way to assure oneself you understood enough about the topic. On top of that, kind Kagome would benefit from being paired by someone a bit older, and less pacifist than her.
"Shippou, you're with me." a smile "Since you've hit your second growth spur, its ample time you learned to shift to your true form."
The kit whooped in joy at the affirmation, before stopping himself "But... Kanna?"
Smiling in approval at the concern, she simply pointed the kit toward his new young sister – the little girl was meditating. Or rather trying, as Rin was peppering her with questions, that she answered patiently.
"Kanna still needs a lot of meditation because of what was done to her." Tsukiko explained, not to loud to avoid bothering the girl "And she already knows it so I didn't need to say anything." a smile "And I think spending some time with Rin could be good for both of them."
The kit tilted his head, gazing thoughtfully at the two girls – and remembering how they'd found Rin among the wolves "Oh," he realized "alright then!"
"We'll gather back after midday for some Chaos enhanced training." Tsukiko finished explaining to the pack – and with that, all were off to do their own training as paired
"There are two usual ways to train for your beast form." Tsukiko was soon lecturing "The fastest one is by using your natural instinct, but has the downside of leaving you nearly feral on your first transformation."
The kit winced.
"The long way is by using mediation. But you've got a big advantage."
"How so?" Shippou wondered – if, like any proper daiyoukai, he was rather used to meditation since young, he wasn't by any mean a master a it
"Because as one of the few youkai to gain multiple Tails before hitting your growing spur, you've got power enough to try multiple times the transformation, as it is very tiring. And as a kitsune, you are already a shape-shifter."
"This is why you've been pushing my training like this!" he realized, eyes widening – after all he didn't use that particular talent that much in combat, so he hadn't understood why she'd been putting the emphasis on it that much
"The technique to shift to your true form is along the same lines as that as your talent, except that rather than force your youki into another shape, you let it mold into the shape it wants... Without loosing your mind to it of course."
"Of course." he repeated, now used to his alpha way of understating some things
After all, not losing your mind to your youki was the main danger to any youkai – the reason why all practiced meditation from a young age – and telling someone to let his youki do what it wanted without loosing oneself to it... well it was akin to the first time someone was told to think about nothing to learn mediation!
"So..." he wondered "Can you show me?"
A surge of power – and within moments, the small form of Tsukiko was replaced by a massive white wolf pup with fluffy tails more reminiscent of a fox...
Even if he'd seen it once before, it was still impressive.
Another heartbeat – and his alpha was back to her normal form, and gesturing for him to try.
And – it was much harder than she'd made it look like, but Shippou wasn't one to be easily deterred by difficulty. Hours went by as he tried again and again – each time gaining a bit more understanding about what he was trying to do.
"One last time before we break for lunch!" Tsukiko called
Shippou nodded that he'd heard – then closing his eyes, willed the change one more time, letting his youki flow through his small body, then searching further – the young child was enveloped in a surge of golden youki and blurred.
When Shippou opened his eyes again, everything looked far smaller than before.
Bewildered, he stumbled, not having expected for it to have actually worked this time, and let out a startled yip – that was answered with a laughing bark. Nipping at his heels, the large white wolf cub he recognized as his alpha was already darting away, challenging him.
Needing a moment to find the right balance between acknowledging the instincts that told him how his new body worked and not loosing himself in them, he was soon rushing behind Tsukiko.
The alpha let them play a few moments in the empty plain before leading them back to the place where the pack had settled, once more transitioning from one form to the other with seamless grace.
The kit copied the feeling of her youki, condensing his powers back to the form he was more familiar with – before collapsing, spent out.
She hadn't joked when saying that transforming was very demanding, no wonder you had to be both powerful enough and old enough to attempt this kind of change!
Around the fire place where InuYasha and Miroku had already started to prepare lunch, the rest of the pack was soon congratulating the barely awake kitsune – who despite how tired he felt, still had a large happy smile on his face.
Yet, despite his state – Shippou didn't miss the strange look InuYasha gave him before congratulating him, a look gone so fast he nearly think he'd dreamt it.
¤.¤.¤
It was only later, as the evening training with Chaos Game had been done and Miroku was commenting about the coming new moon – that Shippou remembered that as powerful as he was, InuYasha still remained a hanyou, neither human nor youkai, never looking fully human but on their night of weakness.
Never able feel the rush of freedom, euphoria and power a youkai felt when slipping in the true form of his soul.
His smile dimmed as he suddenly felt the joy of the day tainted by the realization he'd just had.
"Don't pity my brother for what he doesn't have."
The kit startled – deep into his mind as he was, he hadn't heard the daiyoukai coming closer.
"Still... It's not fair." Shippou couldn't help but complain "InuYasha may be an idiot, but he's as kind as any houshi, and as powerful as even some daiyoukai, yet he always have to prove himself worthy, be it to humans or us youkai more than anyone else."
"That's the lot of hanyou." the daiyoukai nodded "But my daughter is the proof that things will change."
"I'll make them if I have to!" Shippou nodded decidedly
"You'll have to grow stronger for that."
"I will."
The daiyoukai eyed him, as if testing his resolve – but Shippou didn't waver under the cold and calculating stare. Sesshoumaru affirmation that things were different in the future only reminding him that things weren't different yet, and that people had to do something for the situation to evolve.
He meant what he'd just said to the older daiyoukai – he may be young and small still, he was a daiyoukai too, even if he had no name to help nor uphold.
One day not too far away, Naraku would be dealt with, the Shikon no Tama put back together – and who knew what would happen to Kagome and Tsukiko then – and he would grow enough to earn his stripes too, just like Kouga had gone to do not so long ago.
Here and then – the kitsune decided that he too would settled for nothing less than the alpha marks on the first try, and become known and respected enough that his words would have weight among youkai.
Whatever Sesshoumaru was searching for, he must have found – for the if daiyoukai didn't say anything, his youki did flare. Shippou didn't need Chaos Game to understand what had just happened.
[Political System updated!
Shippou(kitsune, LV123) has been upgraded from member to apprentice of the House of Moon: +50XP]
["Member of the House of Moon" title
updated to
"Apprentice of the House of Moon" title
+25% SP and XP when learning under another member of the House of Moon]
If Shippou was surprised, he at least had the advantage of having been talking with the daiyoukai, and so had realized that something was about to happen when the powerful youki mingled with his aura.
InuYasha on the other hand, was completely unprepared for both the youki, and the notification that followed
[Political System updated!
InuYasha (hanyou, LV140) has been added to the family of the House of Moon: +50XP]
["Member of the House of Moon" title
updated to
" House of Moon Main Family Member" title
+1 Intelligence, +1 Agility, +1 Charisma]
"What are you doing?" the hanyou couldn't help but ask suspiciously, unprepared for the notification
Because, more than a simple CP boost, it was the title change itself that spoke of massive changes – this was an acknowledgment he'd never thought to gain, had never really tried to gain, this was a true, and even rather important part in youkai society, the symbolic right to wear the blue moon his brother and alpha wore on their brow on his clothes.
This was full and undisputed acceptance from his brother.
And the hanyou didn't know how to react to this.
"Something chichi-ue should have been the one to do." the daiyoukai answered simply
"Don't expect me to call you onii-sama." he grumbled, unsure of himself
"Of course not." the older inu answered aloofly – his calm attitude may be a front, he wasn't much better than his sibling at dealing with emotions after having to hid them away for so long to earn respect as the youngest Cardinal Lord
As Shippou was settling for the night in a puppy pile with both Rin and Kanna but also Padfoot, Shingetsu and even Kirara, while InuYasha was speaking softly with Kagome, and Miroku awkwardly flirting with Sango – Tsukiko went to her father with a smile.
She wouldn't thank him for what he did, as much as she wanted to – because this wasn't why he'd done it, and because she was more curious about what had brought about that new change that was a clear step from this young daiyoukai to her beloved father.
"Your kit's soul was crying for InuYasha."
Her smile too dimmed as the short sentence was enough to make her realize the very same thing Shippou had earlier – something she already knew of course, from her era, but had never hit quite so close home.
"He was angry for the hanyou's lack of acknowledgment."
Between her innate knowledge about her father's mind, and her unearthly senses, she could divine the rest of the story.
Could feel the rage Sesshoumaru felt at himself that he had needed another youkai, one so young at that, to make him realize – realize that even him that had granted the hanyou pack marks hadn't even thought about granting him something that had been his birthright; realize that even if he acknowledged his brother the rest of the youkai still saw him as little more than a human mongrel while humans saw him as an unnatural abomination; realize that just as the kit had said it was up to them to change things.
So angry at himself was the daiyoukai, he didn't even realize that the sword by his side was humming in approval.
The next two days the pack spent training on the same layout as the first day, morning spent training by pair, the midday lunch paired with a verbal lesson for the children – as Rin was still with them – and the afternoon dedicated to more intensive training thanks to Chaos Game while Rin took back her usual training with Sesshoumaru.
Sango, who hadn't seen InuYasha's transformation before, was rather surprised as with the setting sun white hair faded to black, dog ears turning back to human ones.
"Tch." the hanyou was protesting from a low branch he was resting on "I hate feeling that weak."
"Well," his alpha suggested lightly "You know what to do..."
"Train not to feel weak, yes, yes, but it's not like I can train any of my usual abilities like that."
"Well you don't have youki right now," Tsukiko agreed easily "you still are in great physical condition even as a human. And getting used to fight in this form can only be beneficial for a worst case scenario."
"I guess." the hanyou turned human agreed reluctantly "Sango, if you wouldn't mind?"
"Of course." the tajiya agreed easily, equipping back the armor and weapons she'd relieved herself of from for the evening "We could go in an empty Arena." she suggested
After all while the hanyou trusted his pack with his secret, there was no reason to risk it being discovered by any other youkai around – and even if they were in a rather secluded part of the mountain, they'd still realized that the region was far from empty on their second day there.
On the contrary there was a village with a large market brimming in activity not that far away, making the mountain one of the most densely populated area for youkai.
The only reason why Totosai own strip of land was so empty was the irascibility of the old youkai, that the other respected if only because of his indisputable talent as a blacksmith.
As the two disappeared, Miroku relaxed slightly – Tsukiko smiled at the indication the houshi had been prepared to hold vigil all night if necessary to protect their beta's secret.
Sesshoumaru of course was near enough that he'd seen InuYasha turn human with the end of daylight, and looked as if he wanted to ask, but didn't. So Tsukiko was the one to inform her father about InuYasha's weakness – after all, the fact the hanyou hadn't even tried to hid from his brother had been telling enough.
The hime couldn't help but smile at how similar the two brothers were when it came to lacking in words.
The night was nearly ending, and the young alpha drowsing by her father's side, when youki flared nearby. Father and daughter jumped to their feet as from above them a large form jumped from the clouds it had been running on and dropped to the ground.
"My, what a surprise."
The inu youkai whose arrival had awakened the pack was a beautiful woman – with white hair, golden eyes and a blue moon on her brow.
"There has been rumors going around, you know." she commented casually "About the Lord of the West growing weak like his honorable father before him, mingling with humans and hanyou..." she looked around "I though the rumors laughable, but there may be more truth to them than I thought."
"Watch how you speak, woman!"
"My, is that a way to speak to your mother? Such an uncouth son I've raised..." the inu youkai sighed theatrically
¤.¤.¤
Cold she may seemed from the outside – Shadow's pack was getting to know Sesshoumaru by now, even if they wouldn't say as much in front of the daiyoukai – and it made his mother much easier to understand than she would otherwise had been.
Then, the daiyoukai caught sigh of Tsukiko. And from affected cold disappointment toward her son, she went into childish excitement.
"Oh my, seems that rumor too was true! Look at the adorable grand-pup I have! Just for that I forgive your insolence... No wait! Sesshoumaru, why am I seeing my grand-pup only now?"
From the sideline, the pack plus Rin and Jaken could only watch as the elegant and confusing woman continued to chastise Sesshoumaru like a pup.
"Wow," Shippou was the first to talk "I thought alpha was the only one to be able to surprise Sesshoumaru-sama."
"Rin didn't know Sesshoumaru-sama had a mother." the little girl by his side added "She's just as beautiful as Tsuki-chan."
As for Tsukiko – finally managing to find a moment to speak, she was bowing in the traditional greetings her father had accustomed her to "This one is honored to meet you, InuKimi o-hime-sama."
The young alpha was embraced in a bone-crushing bones.
"That's it, I'm keeping her. She'll become all cold and boring if she stays with you."
Tsukiko's smile softened in the older youkai's arms, as behind the words, she could feel the lingering regrets the woman had – for her son's strict education as heir of his house, that had made him grow serious too fast, then his father's death that had changed the serious boy in a cold adult far too early.
Even if youkai were more respectful of power, they still tended to disregard female, just like humans, except in the scarce matriarchal tribes.
"Chichi-ue is always patrolling so he forgets to visit, doesn't he?" Tsukiko casually remarked – making the female daiyoukai laugh at the hidden reprimand, while Sesshoumaru's eyes widened in understanding
So intent he had been on protecting the lands inherited from his father from the vultures waiting for him to show any weakness – the daiyoukai had indeed closed his heart to his family, thinking that keeping his mother away would protect her, but forgetting that she would miss him just as he had missed the annoying woman, deep inside.
After that, the two woman had settled on a nearby rock – InuKimi impressive in the way she managed to look regal even when sitting on a stone – with Sesshoumaru looming by their side. Chattering amicably, the older one had managed to learn that no, her son hadn't hidden away his pup from her, something that had secretly hurt her, but that she came from the future, that they didn't usually travel together but somehow always ended up crossing path.
Soon, Inukimi was drilling her grand-daughter about her pack, surprised, but not disapproving of the strange assortment of humans and youkai, something rather unexpected coming from such an old and powerful daiyoukai.
It was then that InuYasha appeared, the dawn having brought back his usual powers with him. The beta stopped awkwardly where he'd appeared, staring at the newcomer hesitantly – looking ready both to bolt and attack at the same time.
It wasn't that hard to realize that InuKimi was Sesshoumaru's mother after all – the daiyoukai princess his father had forsaken to instead take up with a human hime.
And as loud as he used to be about insulting his brother – he never had forgotten that he was the bastard child.
Evidently, InuKimi too had recognized the child, even if she hadn't seen him before. But before her eyes lightened up again, only sadness and longing could be read – what use was it to condemn a child for her husband's faults?
"You look just like your father." she couldn't help but remark as a greeting – and from the tone of her voice, even InuYasha couldn't miss it – she still loved the man "Why did my Sesshoumaru have to take so much after me?" she wondered with a pout
And just like that, any misgiving the hanyou had been about being in front of the woman were gone.
But anything he could have said was interrupted – as Totosai choose that moment to appear.
"I was wondering what the commotion was about," the blacksmith commented while holding out a familiar blade to InuYasha "Of course it would be you, InuKimi-sama."
"Long time no see, Totosai."
The youkai nodded his greetings back, then turned toward InuYasha "Well then boy, go ahead."
Having been waiting for that, the hanyou didn't waste a second – being without Tessaiga for three days had made him see just how much he'd come to rely on the blade, yet somehow he couldn't completely regret it.
While working to master his father's inheritance, he came to truly respect his blade, developing with it the kind of relation only true sword-master could.
Which is why, even before drawing the blade he could sense it had changed.
"Well of course," Totosai grumbled as he said as much "after all the blade that was your father's strength is now your own." a sigh "Draw it already!"
InuYasha obeyed – confirming that once unsealed, the blade still went from traditional katana to he large claw fang he was used to.
Except...
"What the fuck, old man! Why did it become so heavy?"
"Heavy?" Shippou repeated, surprised just as the rest of the group
"Bah! What did you expect!" the blacksmith protested "I just told you!"
"What he means is that for a blade forged from your own fang, usually it grows in power as the same rate as you do. But Tessaiga was already strong."
"So now I'm the one who must catch up?" InuYasha realized, eyes wide
Meanwhile Totosai, deciding his part was done with the hanyou, was already turning his attention elsewhere "Hu. Well give it!"
Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow at the unexpected demand, and Totosai went on "Tenseiga. Its opinion has changed once more."
Sighing at the stubborn daiyoukai, Totosai sighed "I'm saying I'm going to reforge it, not destroy it!" he barked "Your blade will become a cutting one."
At that, it was Tsukiko's turn to be surprise. Tenseiga, cutting? She knew the blade from back home, and didn't remember a cutting blade.
Sesshoumaru noted her surprise, but gave his blade nonetheless to the blacksmith, that with a "Three days and three nights, like the other." had already disappeared back into his workshop
The pack shared glance – they didn't have any reason to stay here any longer, but at the same time, none of them wanted to separate Tsukiko from her family now that they were reunited. After all - their alpha did talk from time to time about her daily life in the future.
And never had InuKimi been mentioned.
When you added that to the fact that she genuinely had seemed to see her for the first time when the daiyoukai had arrived – and there really was only on conclusion they could come to...
"Well," InuYasha loudly affirmed, making the decision for all "seems like we've got three more days of training."
Nobody – not even Sesshoumaru – commented on the fact that technically nothing was keeping their pack there, as the hanyou had his blade back...
"Alpha," Shippou requested, a hand on her sleeve "Let me train with InuYasha this morning."
Tsukiko eyed the kit – then satisfied that he was serious about his request, and didn't ask just to pelt the hanyou with pranks like he was wont to do from time to time she nodded, before turning toward Kanna "How is your meditation going along?"
The girl paused a second – still quite shy, but growing better by the day, even thought the ookami rather doubted she'd ever be as exuberant as the kitsune "Good." she eventually answered "I could do something else if you wanted?"
"Do you want to learn something?"
Surprised at being given a choice, the void spirit still thought carefully about it before eventually saying "The houshi talked about wards. It... sounded interesting..."
"Well his wards are powered by reiki, but the basis are still about the same for youkai, even if we don't always use the same medium, and I've got some books." a pile of school books were taken out of her Inventory
And Miroku was the one to take them "I'll work with her." he confirmed with a smile that was echoed hesitantly by the little girl
"Well," Sango suggested, sharing a glance with Kagome "shall we train Rin in some basic weapon training?"
"What weapon?" Sesshoumaru interrupted – taking an interest when it came to his ward education
"A bit of all we've got available." Sango decided with a nod to herself "After all we can't just train her in any weapon before testing first to what she's suited best."
The daiyoukai nodded his approval, and InuKimi clapped her hands happily "Its just the three of us left together! Your pack is so kind!"
Jaken face-faulted at the casual way the daiyoukai had forgotten about him – while the pack sweat-dropped at how easily she pointed out their maneuvering.
With that, InuKimi was dragging away both her son and grand-daughter "Come! Let's see what I can teach you! Hurry up, I want to visit the market tonight!"
The three youkai of the House of Moon didn't show back at the camp before the end of the afternoon – and by then, both father and daughter looked battered up, while a pristine InuKimi was smiling happily "That was a good work out! Now let's take a bath before going to the market!"
"Bath?" Kagome perked up "I didn't realize there was any flowing water nearby?" she added in wonder - usually one of the youkai told the human about any bathing place around
"There wasn't." Tsukiko answered, looking a bit bewildered "So obaa-san dug a hot spring."
The young miko decided not to ask how one could just dig up a hot spring, taking pity on the exhausted looking alpha.
The Lord of the West mother's seemed to understand that the humans weren't comfortable sharing a bath – although she had to be explained that it wasn't because they were afraid of her or Sesshoumaru but social differences – but the rest of the pack didn't have any excuses.
And so Shippou skipped away happily enough with them, promising to Kagome he'd leave a trail for her to follow latter and holding hands with Kanna, while InuYasha was dragged enthusiastically by the regal lady like an unruly puppy – and the three four-legged members of the pack were following happily too.
¤.¤.¤
Still, once in the hot springs, pack instincts weren't long to resurface as Shippou and InuYasha were soon bickering while Tsukiko was washing Kanna's hair.
"I can't believe my son will manage to find an ookami powerful enough to birth you." InuKimi was marveling while letting her hands play with the soft white fur "I mean the Lord of the East is an ookami but..."
"His daughter is an annoying weak thing." Sesshoumaru was the one to complete "Who'll never grow up."
"Yes I don't think Akiko-hime will ever mature." Tsukiko nodded "Fortunately, she has no interest in power, and her father was intelligent enough to realize she was in no way Cardinal Lady material. My mother was a European wolf."
Mother an son both took note on the past tense, but didn't comment on it, InuKimi instead wondering "Still, you look far more like a kitsune even if there's no mistaking your scent... You even show you tails like them!"
"Well they were the first youkai I met." Tsukiko explained
"Really?" Shippou interrupted his bickering, sensing a story he hadn't already heard "But you were human back then?"
"I was. And you can imagine how surprised how surprised Hiraku was when he realized what I was." a smile "Still we met a few times and eventually, I was made Friend of the Kitsune."
"And your alpha mark, what made you you took the test so early?" an amused smile "After all even my impatient son waited until he was over his second growth spur to take it." her eyes lost a bit of their shimmer as she added "Only in dire times do the pups have to grow up too fast."
"Tch. She's right," InuYasha commented with a smirk "Given how much of a mother-hen the bastard is right now, and how he sounds to be even worse in the future, I don't see him letting you go through the Coming of Age Trial without a good reason."
"Well... you're not wrong." Tsukiko laughed "But I was born with those stripes."
While the hanyou face-faulted in the water – a bit aided by his brother who hadn't appreciated the mother-hen comment – Shippou was the one to realize "Oh! Is it like those scars you've got from your previous life?"
"Exactly. Some events leave a mark not only on the body, but on the soul itself."
"So, how did you become an alpha then?" the kit wondered "After all, you said it was the first time you're a youkai!"
"I was fourteen and human when I was dropped in the middle of the Trials. I let you guess about how happy the youkai were about that." she laughed
"Yet somehow, by the end of the trial you were the one they designed as their leader, uh." InuYasha laughed while pushing his dripping hair out of his face "Figures."
"Uh. So my son wasn't the one to grant you your mark?" InuKimi noted "Too bad, that's something my husband boasted about for months when Sesshoumaru gained his stripes..."
"No," Tsukiko said with a mischievous smile, eyes on Shippou even if the kit didn't realize it "The one to grant me my stripes was his first General, and the most powerful nine-tailed golden kitsune of Japan."
Of course – the rest of the youkai understood what she hadn't said easily enough, the look of pride in her eyes clear. Sesshoumaru nodded his head in satisfaction, now having the proof that placing his trust in the kit the day before hadn't been a wasted effort.
As for Shippou, as the only who hadn't understood she was talking about himself, his eyes lightened in awe "This kitsune sounds so cool! You really should have been one too rather than an ookami... Oh I know, why don't you take shape-shifting as your next Tail power?" he asked excitedly "Then we could change together and look like twins!"
"You can already change yourself to look like her, dumb kit." InuYasha protested
"But I can't change my size!" Shippou protested as his hair, tails and eyes easily turned to white and gold
With an amused smile Tsukiko closed her eyes – and shrunk to the kit's size under his eyes "I didn't know you could do that! I thought you could only change your face or things like that since it's the human version you've got!"
"Metamorph can't change their species." she confirmed "But in our human form we don't have that much differences as we're both canine daiyoukai."
"Aren't they so cute?" InuKimi teased both her son and his brother "Now if only the little void girl had golden eyes, I could almost imagine they were all my grand-children..." a melodramatic sigh "But instead here I am with the knowledge that only one is mine, and that you apparently won't bother giving me more!"
The daiyoukai then turned imperiously toward InuYasha "Since my son is such a disappointment, I'm counting on you!" ignoring the splutter the affirmation provoked, her eyes seized him "You are already powerful for a hanyou, so even if you decided to mate a human you should be able to bind her to your life-spawn, and the inu blood would still be strong... And not only are those ears cute, but with you power you should soon manifest a tail too!"
"Wow, wait a minute, what do you mean binding a human to my life-spawn?"
"Well," Tsukiko was the one to explain "we haven't gotten to mating just yet since you've still got much to learn about youkai, and Shippou is still young, but when youkai mates, if one of the two has a shorter life expectancy, they can tie their life-spawn." the ookami explained – her eyes softened as she added "That Inu no Taishou didn't do so with your mother..."
"I already know he didn't intend to keep her." InuYasha interrupted "As a pup I once spied on a chat between her and some guy..." he explained "Apparently she was promised to some human lord, but didn't want him. So instead, she counted the days and managed to get pregnant with me." a frown "Probably hopping dad would protect her because of me, but since he died, that plan didn't work too well, eh?"
InuYasha smiled as he went on "But the thing is... When that guy told him that she could have her life as a hime back, she refused. Because the only condition they gave her was to abandon me. And she didn't do it. She preferred to struggle to live as a peasant, looked down on by people because she had a hanyou brat, that get back to the easy life she had lived before. And even if she used him... I still think she loved him from the way she talked about oyaji..." he concluded simply
"Inu no Taishou may not have intended to let her live longer than a human, he still loved his human hime." InuKimi was the first to broke the silence – gaining shocked look from both her son and his brother "We were mated, and he loved me too, but I wasn't enough for him I fear..." she admitted "I was used to submit to traditions and never went looking further, while he had a curious nature, and a fascination with humans..."
Her smile at InuYasha was the softest she'd shown until then "This is why I don't resent you. He was the one to fell in love with two woman, and not messing with your mother's life was also a proof of love in his eyes. He didn't want her to have to stay young, and unchanged, while the people she knew grew old and withered around her."
"Normal humans aren't equipped to a life as long as ours." Tsukiko nodded "Some of them may adapt, but most only grow sad or resentful. Because living too long puts a strain on their soul."
The affirmation made InuYasha and Shippou's eyes glimmer with sadness – as both were suddenly reminded that they traveled with three humans.
"Still, humans with powers tend to live longer life." the ookami went on explaining "And Kagome should never have been born human with the size of her soul, but that is probably the Shikon no Tama's meddling."
"You mean?"
"Souls change and evolve with their reincarnation. While people don't remember the things they experimented in their previous life, it still has an effect on their soul. Kagome's soul was indeed Kikyou's before her. And probably Midoriko's too. And the more powerful people grow, the larger their soul."
"So Kagome-chan should be a youkai?"
"As a young girl her soul could already handle the life of a hanyou." Tsukiko nodded "But right now, with how powerful she's grown, yes she could live as long as a youkai." a smile "Just like oji-san could."
"Huh?"
"Well you've grown oji-san. Just like InuKimi said, you'll manifest tails soon enough, that's rather telling for a hanyou." a smile "Even Sango-chan and Miroku-san won't live just the few decades of normal humans." her eyes were shining with hope "It may be a bit selfish, and part of the reason why I push then so far..."
"You hope for them to live through the centuries." Sesshoumaru was the one to understand
"I don't want to have to say goodbye at the end of this journey in the past." a shrug "I don't know about Kagome, but I know that once the Shikon no Tama will be destroyed, and Naraku beaten, my place is in the future. So I'm hoping for a see you in a few centuries when the time comes!"
"I'll be there!" Shippou promised immediately, hoping in his alpha's arms
"I know you will." she confirmed with a fond smile, adding with a pout "You'll even be taller than me..."
After that, the talk had died down, and the youkai had let Kagome and Sango take their place in the hot spring with Rin – with InuYasha keeping an eye on Miroku, who ended up being the last to take advantage of the warm water, and they soon were going toward the village they had know wasn't that far, but hadn't seen yet.
"Training is important," InuKimi was saying as she was herding them "But you need to relax too from time to time!"
"I'm not sure putting a pack as strange as ours in the middle of a youkai market is a good idea InuKimi-sama..." Miroku was the one to point out
"Bah, nonsense, they have noses so they'll know your under the House of Moon protection!" her smile grew sadistic, and the pack suddenly understood better how she could be Sesshoumaru's mother "And if they're too stupid to use their nose or their brain, then nobody can complain when we trash them!"
The houshi sighed, having come to understand in the few hours they'd spent with the regal daiyoukai that there was no reasoning with her – she was a force of nature, and the best course of action was to agree with her and pray the resulting damages weren't too bad.
In the end, there was less than a dozen of fight that were brought by their presence, which the pack decided to count as a success, and they did enjoyed their trip – Rin and Kanna ending up with new matching kumo-silk yukata courtesy of InuKimi, a blushing InuYasha putting a rather cute ornament in Kagome's hair (but only because it had an Enhancement Stone empty slot and could double as a hidden blade, of course) while Miroku and Sango were strolling hands in hands, the houshi having become a bit more honest about his feelings ever since Tsukiko had promised she wouldn't let him die from the kazaana.
The two following days were spent on the same rhythm, all of the pack training intensively during the day – and somehow, even if she didn't really know why, Tsukiko had the feeling that the hanyou was even more intent on improving than before, and was pushing the pack more too, taking his role as a beta to new length, and confirming in her mind that her uncle wouldn't always be her beta.
Now that he was growing up, she knew he'd earn his position as an alpha in his own right in a future not that far away.
The rest of the pack had realized too their beta's new attitude – but hadn't needed to ask as a morning, right after InuKimi had dragged away her family for training, the hanyou and the kitsune had taken turns to explain about what their alpha had told them in the hot springs.
About how souls grew in power and size – and how that in turn would affect their time on Earth.
[Hidden Quest Unlocked! Until we Meet Again...
First Goal: grow powerful enough to live until the XX century (3/9 Tails)
Second Goal: manage to live through the Great Disappearance
Third Goal: find your alpha in her own time
First Goal Reward:+100XP per Tail, +1 Tail Perk upon completion
Second Goal Reward:+100XP, new title unlocked upon completion
Third Goal Reward: +100XP, +1 Alternate Life Perk upon completion]
The pack had shared satisfied glances at the new quest – while it hadn't been necessary for their resolve, it did mean that they could do it. That even Chaos and Fate, the two who had the most say on Chaos Interface, wanted them to succeed.
¤.¤.¤
When Tsukiko, Sesshoumaru and InuKimi came back from the daily torture the eldest so enjoyed inflicting on her family, both mother and son could feel the new resolve the pack had found – and even if neither showed it, both were proud of the pack gathered by the youngest of their family.
"Well," InuKimi had then announced with a small measure of regret "I was just coming for the market so its time for me to head home or my own young charges will start to worry about me."
Her youki flared around her, mingling with all of them "My son insisted to have my home warded, so with that you should be able to find it, so come and visit!"
And with a jump, the beautiful lady was replaced by a no-less beautiful great white dog, soon disappearing in the clouds.
[Political System updated!
You are now Favored of InuKimi
while this has no direct effect, people will now know that you are viewed favorably by InuKimi, Lady of the West and shiro inu daiyoukai of great power.]
[Hidden Quest Complete! Meeting the Moon Hime...
You have gained InuKimi's approval
Reward: +200XP, InuKimi's Approval (+10 to Poison Fang if/when unlocked and Poison Endurance) Perk unlocked
you impressed InuKimi enough that she has granted you free access to her home as one of her Favored
Bonus Reward: +400XP, InuKimi's Youki Mark (+1 to all CP ) Perk unlocked]
[Level up!You are now level 163!
+1SP]
[Level up! Sango is now level 119!
+3SP]
[Pack level up! Shadow Pack is now level 5!
+1 Tail Perk]
[Tail Perks
- Pack Symbiosis: you learn from your pack mate, Metamorph is now just as versatile as Shape-shifting but the skill is dropped down by half its points
- Dying Will: your determination unlocks the fiery powers held within your soul (inherited from past life)
- Moon Princess: your defensive abilities are granted a bonus based on your Light Affinity and your offensive abilities are granted a bonus based on your Darkness Affinity (unlocked by activating "Heir of the House of Moon" title)
- Youkai Miko: you may be the first, you certainly won't be the last, and you all will gain the characteristic of both species (unlocked by the Holy System update)
note that in the Youkai Miko tail-perk,the miko CP bonus will be decennial and not yearly given the life-span of youkai
Available: 1]
The pack wasn't given the time to think about the new Tail Perk unlocked as Totosai had chosen that moment to appear, sword in hand.
He held the weapon expectantly toward Sesshoumaru – without missing a beat the shiro inu drew the sword in a smooth, practiced motion. Tenseiga's blade hummed, light emitting around it. With a jump and a slash, the Lord of the West unleashed his new attack.
"Well," Totosai admitted, reluctantly approving "that's some good instinct and understanding of your weapon."
"And such an interesting attack, at that." Tsukiko echoed, eyes gleaming green – making her pack wonder what exactly they were seeing, in the large, dark crescent moon that had been opened in the sky
"This is Meidou Zangetsuha, the dark path of the moon." Totosai explained "It allows the wielder of Tenseiga to cut open a path that sends his enemies directly in hell."
The explanation stunned Shadow's pack – but explained only too well why their alpha had reacted to it, even if she didn't seem too disapproving for now.
"As you gain mastery over this attack," the blacksmith went on explaining "the form will go from crescent to full moon."
With that, Totosai seemed ready to go – but InuYasha caught him by the neck of his haori before he could disappear "Not so fast, old man!"
"What do you want?" the youkai grouched moodily
The hanyou drew his sword, not noticing the blacksmith impressed reaction at the ease with which he did it.
"It's already lighter, so what do you want?"
"It's lighter." the hanyou confirmed "But not yet as much as it used to. And while I can understand the value of training at my own rhythm, I don't have time right now."
Totosai eyed him for a moment, searching in the beta's eyes – and apparently founding what he was looking for.
"You must surpass your father." he stated dryly "The fastest way to do that would be to slay Ryukossei. But beware!" he warned "The old dragon may be sealed right now, he still was the youkai who caused the wounds that took your father's life, don't go to this battle lightly or you won't survive."
"I see." a resolute nod "Thanks old man!"
"Well I guess we've got our next destination then." Tsukiko commented "Chichi-ue." she turned toward her father, ready to take leave of him
"Until we meet again." the inu nodded with a small smile, before nodding toward InuYasha "Otouto." a nod to the rest of them "Pack."
With that, he was off, Rin and Jaken following, the little girl enthusiastically waving at them.
InuYasha was still shell-shocked from the simple farewell.
"I think Sesshoumaru-sama broke InuYasha." Shippou fake-whispered, making the pack laugh heartily
Soon, they too were taking their leave from Totosai, Myouga with them – apparently the old youkai knew exactly where the dragon was sealed and was volunteering himself to guide them there.
¤.¤.¤
Ryoichi, Shinobu, Kurama and the dozen of orphans traveling along came to a sudden stop as the countryside around them suddenly looked devastated.
"What the..."
"Eh. This is Ginka and Kinka 's doing. You shouldn't stay here, they don't stop for anyone, not even youkai."
Surprised at the rather warm welcome from a human to a group of youkai, Ryoichi asked "What do you mean?"
"They are two youkai brothers who are always quarreling." the old human explained with a resigned shrug "They don't care about anything else than trying to kill each other and all the neighboring villages are but collateral to their family dispute."
"Wow. That's overkill, even for youkai." Shinobu couldn't help but comment "So from the look on you face, I'd guess we're going?"
"You sure like to save people for a killer." Kurama added "I don't understand what's your deal with that." a shrug "I mean people live, people die... This sort of things happens all of the times..."
The kitsune eyed the youko speculatively.
While he could understand hardening one's heart to survive, it seemed to him the other fox had done so to an unprecedented level, and really seemed to have a hard time grasping what were even to him basic emotions. He sighed – while he wasn't a monster by any mean, he wasn't either the kind of people who could heal people around him. Or well, heal their mind, he corrected himself.
Healing a wound was easy next to getting stuck explaining emotions to a clueless youko...
Maybe it was because as a beast youkai, he'd had far less contact with humans and didn't know how to live in society.
"I'm not a killer, I'm an assassin." he opted to correct "The difference between an assassin and a killer is understanding the weight of a life." he gestured at the whole group, and even the human villager "I could kill you all here and now, but I don't. As an assassin, before killing someone I wonder 'why should I?'. A killer wonders 'Why shouldn't I?'."
"And you're not just an assassin. You're a healer too." Shinobu pointed out
"Exactly. And the difference between a healer and someone who merely knows how to heal is precisely the reverse."
"A healer will wonder 'why shouldn't I' and a con-man will wonder 'why should I'." a small Tengu said softly among the orphans "Father was a healer..." he added with a proud smile "And he used to say exactly the same thing!"
Kurama – didn't look like he really understood – Ryoichi noted. But he had still heard the explanation, and his thoughtful look was proof enough that sooner or later, when he'd learn more about the bonds between people, he'd understand.
While the kitsune didn't think he'd be the one to teach all that to his friend – he looked forward to meeting him again when the time was right and the youko had grown into his feelings.
That said, he turned his attention back to the human, who seemed rather approving of the philosophy, if his respectful nod was anything to go by, and started to ask more about the two brothers.
Apparently the two youkai bore no ill will to the rest of the world, be them youkai or humans – they were simply so engrossed in their never ending fight that everything around them ended up as collateral damages.
Their quarrel, whatever it was, went so far that they even ate and slept exactly a the same time as the other – as if one brother had ever saw a weakness in the other, he'd already had ended the fight in a quite permanent fashion.
"Well," the fox decided after his questions had been answered "let's go and ask those two about the reason of their fight!"
Shinobu rolled his eyes, Kurama looked ready to bang his head around the nearby rock – and the young orphans broke in cheers, all quite sure their hero would save those two youkai too, just like they had been saved.
Finding the two brothers wasn't too difficult – one just had to follow the trail of disasters...
The two youkai they happened upon had the upper half of a human, and a lower half of a snake – and the two large scaly tails were entwined together so tightly it didn't look like they could be pried apart.
" So," Ryoichi asked after having the two's attention by sending a well aimed Fox Fire ball between the two "what's your deal?"
"What? You interrupted just to ask?" the first one, with red skin and fire at the ready asked
"Well you are causing quite an inconvenience for everyone around you." he pointed out
"And what about our inconvenience?" the second one, with golden skin and lightning brimming around, asked "Try living with him day in and day out!"
"Can't you just live apart if you can't stand each other?" Shinobu wondered
"Tch we would if we could!" the fiery twin asked
"But that's the curse of our specie!" the other added
"We're born from our egg as one being with two head, the stronger head preying on the weakest as soon as we break out of our shell." the red brother took over
"Well that's how it is for the others at least." the lightning sibling added "As for us, we could only wound each other, neither able to take control of our body..."
"Yet unable to separate as we were born to be one." the red one completed
"So we're battling to this day, knowing that the only way for one of us to be free is to kill the other." the lightning sibling concluded with a shrug
"That's sad." one of the orphan that were gathered behind their protector affirmed
The little youkai, probably some kind of canine given the black tail in his back, was holding protectively a smaller child in his arms – Kenshin and Isamu were kuro inu and brothers, and had been collected but a few days before, Ryoichi remembered.
While usually calm and collected, Kenshin, the elder, had been nearly feral when they'd found him, having spent the months since his parents' death on the run, protecting his younger sibling from the youkai who would see young orphaned daiyoukai as an easy prey.
And powerful they would be – for while both were over their first grow spur, with Kenshin, looking to be around nine year old nearing his second one, Isamu looked barely older than four, and once properly fed and rested, it was soon evident that the pup had the potential to grow up to be a force to be reckoned with.
Still – for those two brothers, seeing the two youkai fighting like that was rather unthinkable.
"That's the lot we were given." the red youkai shrugged "It's not as if we hate each other, you know. We were just born to fight, Ginka and I."
"If I killed Kinka, or if he killed me right now," the other agreed "we wouldn't resent the other." a shrug "This is how we live."
¤.¤.¤
"And if you could be separated without one dying?" Ryoichi asked "Would you do it?"
The two siblings shared a glance – neither lowering their weapons – before answering together "We don't want people to interfere in our fight."
"I know of another youkai specie just like yours. Except that neither need to kill the other." Ryoichi explained, not contradicting them - their relation may be one of violence, it was still their own
"How is it possible?"
"There is an unbreakable bond between siblings," Ryoichi explained "but a skillful healer can cut the two separate at birth." a shrug "Between the high regeneration us youkai benefit from and appropriate care, they grow up just fine but apparently their physical bond may be broken, the mental one never is."
"Meaning?" Shinobu was the one to ask
"When a pair of those youkai fight together, you better not be on the other side." Ryoichi laughed – remembering his first meeting with a water orochi and her wind orochi twin – that had been one fight to remember "They can share thoughts as fast as if they were of one mind, feel when the other is in trouble. They never hamper each other on the battlefield, and are always where other need them."
"Sounds like you fought one. Er, two."
"Umiko and Kazeko were fearsome opponents." he admitted easily
"While that sounds good..." Kinka admitted wistfully
"I don't see what it has got to do with us..." his brother added on the same tone
"Ryoichi-sama is a healer." Shinobu stated
"And an assassin!" one young youkai added, probably still on the earlier lesson
"That too." the hanyou nodded, used by now to the children "But right now, I think he's offering to help you."
"Why?" a wary youkai asked
"What good would it do for you?" the other added just as leery
"See!" Kurama crowed in triumph "I told you normal people don't just travel around the countryside gathering orphans and helping people all around! That's just weird!"
The loud affirmation was soon followed by a surprised yelp as one of the younger child had managed to slip past Shinobu to resolutely kick the youko in the shin.
"Ryo-sama isn't weird! You're weird! Meanie!" the small earth sprite bit out, the leaves that replaced hair bristling around his head while he frowned at the youko
Ryoichi wondered if the orphans weren't becoming a bit too attached to him – then turning his attention back to the two "If you really need a reason... The two of you not destroying everything around you would be one." he stated , before adding with a shrug "Beside, I've got six little brothers and sisters. I know siblings aren't supposed to kill each other."
"You aren't going to be bone tired for days again if you heal them?" Shinobu checked discreetly with the leader of their group "Because I may not be a healer, I'm rather sure this isn't good for you."
"What I used last time was dangerous." the kitsune admitted "But I haven't lied to them, what I'm talking about is rather simple if you know what to do. It's just that since they're both already adult it will be both easier as they already have separate bodies, and harder because the power held in their blood has never been shown how to work in another way than biding them together. It will hurts badly..."
The brothers, that had spied shamelessly on the talk, shared a glance – thinking, perhaps for the first time in their life, about a life without the other yet no death included.
"Let's try this."
The two brothers took the group back to their den, and after eyeing them dubiously, Shinobu was the one to unceremoniously drop a young youkai in each brother's arms.
"Here. If you've got something in your arms you won't just accidentally forget and try to start a new fight while Ryoichi-dono's working."
After that, the two brothers – and Shinobu who was listening attentively nearby while keeping the children busy by advancing the daily lesson usually held on the evening - - turned their attention toward the kitsune.
Soon, the children were busy scribbling their kana and kanji in the dirt while Ryoichi started to explain, as precisely as he could, the procedure used on new-born orochi.
"Why are you saying that to us?" Ginka wondered after a while
"After all you said it would be different for us adults." Kinka completed
"So that when you decide to have children, they don't have to kill each other or go through your ordeal. I'll be leaving you notes about it too, feel free to share this healing method with other orochi if you want."
After that, the two brother became more attentive, trying to commit to memory all that Ryoichi was saying – and the kitsune himself clearly trying to simplify all the medical jargon out in order to give out a method clear enough that anyone could do it.
By the time he was ready to operate on the two brothers, neither was surprised when with a quick slash he wounded both to start scribbling the Chinese pictograms most youkai used for youjutsu.
"Most ancient language could be used." he explained while working "As long as the inner meaning is preserved. Here I'm using this one to symbolize the separation between two people, that one is to impress that ties of blood can be mental just as well as physical and the third is for you to keep your individuality. Don't forget it!" he warned "Otherwise the mind-bond you'd create would be even worse for the siblings than the physical bond between the two of you."
Eyes widening, the two brothers nodded hurriedly – they could imagine easily enough how bad that could be...
"This will hurt." Ryoichi reminded them as he channeled youki in the two wards he'd just written with their blood
Sure enough – as each ward illuminated, Kinka's whole body was irresistibly dragged toward one – Ginka's toward the other.
During what seemed like an eternity, the two felt like their body were being wrenched, blood boiling and lightning coursing through their veins. And suddenly – mercifully – it was over, each brother painfully dragging himself upward and realizing with wide eyes that indeed...
They weren't together anymore.
But the hint of loneliness the idea made them feel was soon washed away as both realized at the same time – that in the far reaches of their mind, close enough to be soothing, far enough not to be annoying, they could feel a familiar presence.
[Hidden Quest Complete! Ouroboros...
You've taught the Elemental Orochi a new way of saving their young, they in turn will teach their children, until the method passed down through the ages makes its way back to you
Reward: +100XP, +1 Tail Perk]
Ryoichi had to laugh, as Chaos Interface confirmed what he'd been wondering about all along – the method he was teaching Ginka and Kinka would be taught by the two of them to their children, and passed down from generation to generation.
Until two sisters granted him the knowledge, something rather rare outside of the clan, as repayment of a life-debt they owned him.
Talk about a snake biting its own tail...
The day nearing its end, they stayed for the nigh – and by the time they left the next morning, each brother had already gone his own way, itching to finally be rid of the other and learn to live.
Ryoichi smiled as they went on their way too. Knowing how he did the elemental orochi, he was rather certain they'd end up living side by side again.
A bond that strong could be changed, but never broken after all.