Chapter 2
The killing sword, the healing sword
Setsukoro awoke, his eyes greeting the oncoming brightness of the sun. The warmth reminded him vaguely of his bath last night. He sat up in the bed, the silken sheets falling messily to his lap. He looked around the decently sized room with wonder. Many Buddhist statues had been placed in the corners of the room. One large one was placed in an inset of the wall, directly in front of him. He smelled the burning of incense and saw a small bowl burning it near the larger statue. He began to slide out of the sheets when he noticed he wasn't clothed. Had Lilia put him here? He didn't care at the moment, for his stomach was growling with hunger. He stepped out of the bed and used his tail to cover his more private areas. He had gotten used to controlling it somewhat, apparently. He found a nice set of clothes to his right that had been lain out for him. He picked up the small sleeveless jacket and put it around his shoulders, ignoring the undershirt that was meant to go with it. It reminded him of a vest that was opened, the insides spread far apart. He liked the white color that it held. He then took the baggy pants, which were as white as his opened vest-jacket. They appeared to be pants assorted with many kimono outfits, a closed hakama of sorts. He put the pants on quickly and looked down at himself. The majority of his torso was showing, but it didn't displease him. He felt a good freedom of movement from the attire. That made him calm. He walked out of the room slowly, resting a hand on the doorframe on his way out, taking a quick look around. He saw no one but smelled something cooking in the direction of the cooking. The smell seemed to him as if it were right under his nose. It bewildered him how much he could smell in fact. Gasaka wasn't far off, sitting in the living room perhaps. Lilia was moving about in the kitchen. He could hear many delicate things too. The cursing under Gasaka's breath, Lilia's quite humming. He shrugged to himself and made his way toward the kitchen, his footsteps falling silently. He peeked around the corner and saw Lilia busy making something in a steamer over a wood stove. Setsukoro walked in and put a hand on the small dining table in the middle of the room as he sat down on the floor, crossing his legs.
"Good morning, Lilia-san."
"Morning, Setsu-kun."
Lilia moved about with a rapid pace, hurrying to get breakfast ready. She lifted the lid off the first level of the steamer, taking the delicate fishes from it and placing them on small black plates. She then lifted the second level and scooped the rice out into three small dishes. She ran both of these over to the table, setting the fish in the middle and the bowls to three spots around the table. Gasaka strolled in to the room, murmuring to himself, and sat at one of the bowls. Setsukoro looked at his for a moment then lifted his chopsticks and the bowl, and began to scoop some rise into his mouth quickly. He had nearly finished the bowl when Lilia finally returned and sat at her bowl. She ate slowly, watching Setsukoro with interest. He only finished his bowl setting it down, the bottom of it cleaned out. He brought his chopsticks to the middle of the table and grabbed a fish. He gripped onto the small sticks coming out of the mouth and tail and ate the fish quickly. It tasted delicious to him, sweet and succulent. Gasaka stopped eating his meal just to watch the man wolf down his food like that. Setsukoro placed the end of his chopsticks in the bowl, letting them rest there. He looked up to Lilia smiling.
"That was great, thank you Lilia-san."
Lilia blushed and quickly finished her rice. "Your welcome," she managed at last. Gasaka grinned at her. He knew what had happened last night. He always knew what happened in his house. She looked up at him quizzically, but he only winked and finished eating. While Gasaka finished, Lilia had gone to fetch some Sake. She brought back three smaller bowls now along with a larger white bottle. She poured Sake into each of the bowls and handed them out accordingly. Setsukoro looked down at the Sake strangely.
"I..I've never had Sake before," he said timidly. He looked at the bowl strangely, but lifted it slowly to his mouth. He noticed Gasaka, looking as if he were to burst, watching him closely. He touched the bowl to his lips and tilted it, the liquid spilling into his mouth and part of it down his throat. The rest he spit to the side. He held his mouth and looked at the ground gagging. It burned! God did it burn. He felt the liquid still burning within his stomach. He wiped his mouth, his face reddening. Lilia giggled after drinking hers quickly. She looked at him smiling, but said nothing. Gasaka strolled up behind him and patted him on the back. He leaned down next to Setsukoro's ear and spoke in a raspy, but seemingly wise voice.
"Seems the alcohol has made the man! The man who shall wipe it from my floor!" He laughed and walked out of the room, still chuckling from time to time. Lilia stood and moved for a piece of cloth hanging from the wall and moved to clean it. Setsukoro stood up quickly, and grabbed her gently.
"I'll clean it, Lilia. He was right; I should not have spit your Sake. I will clean." He grabbed the cloth from her and began to rub the hard wood floor with it, where the sake and been spit. He wanted to repay both the Grandfather and Granddaughter for their kindness. This was the least he could do.
After finishing with the floor, which took longer then he had expected, he stood up slowly. Lilia had gone earlier, to wash some clothes in the lake. He hadn't seen Gasaka since breakfast. He looked around, sniffing the air. He could smell Lilia clearly near the lake. The lake smelled good to him, the water soothing to behold in a terms of smell. He didn't smell Gasaka clearly; he was off in the woods obviously. He smelled something else too. He couldn't place it, but it didn't make him feel quite right inside. He went into the adjourning hallway and saw his two swords, Toukijin and Tenseiga lying against the wall. He took them and stuck both in the left side of his newly received sash. Lilia had laid it on the table for him as he was cleaning. It was white like the rest of his clothing, and was somewhat thick. It fit neatly around his waist, and comfortable even with both of the swords placed in it.
He strolled outside, hands clasped together behind his back. He stood on the porch for a moment, admiring the view before him. He rocked back and forth on his heels as he watched the tranquility that was Gasaka's home. A calm breeze was blowing neatly over his land, the tree's leaving rustling only slightly and seeming to dance together as if in some ballet. The grass waved with the trees, like strands of clean, silky hair. The sun almost seemed to shine off the grass blades themselves. The air was perfect, not too hot nor cold. He felt he could enjoy living his life here forever, had he not had so many questions he needed answered. His eyes fell to the lake in front of the house, and he watched Lilia with interest. She was singing a song, as she folded the clothes next to the water. He listened intently finding the song intriguing to him.
She sang, with a sweet, light voice, "I'm sure that the heart I left behind still lies hidden in the heart of the deep, deep forest…Exhausted, without the strength to search people vanish into the infinite darkness…If it's so small, I wonder if I can see it even now?" She then broke into a chorus, her voice rising, the sweet tone remaining, "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." She ended the chorus and stopped. She looked up from the clothes to Setsukoro who was smiling at her. Had he been watching her this whole time? She stood and quickly grabbed up the clothes. She straightened and waved arm to Setsukoro.
"Did you finish Setsu-sama?" she asked sweetly, loud enough for him to hear her.
He smiled and was about to answer her when he heard a loud crash. He instantly took in the smell of Gasaka who was now much closer. The smell of that same thing that displeased him was also much closer. Barely audible, he heard Gasaka yelling. Setsukoro lowered himself to the ground and bounded forward, landing next to Lilia, his expression fierce.
"Get inside Lilia! Hide, quickly!" he screamed at her as quickly as his tongue would allow. His hand was being drawn toward the hilt of Toukijin already. It seemed to anticipate the coming of his grip and shifted in his sash in order to be drawn quicker and more comfortably. Setsukoro would have found this unusual, but right now he didn't have time to decide why or how it could do this. He drew the sword quickly, the velvety sash made a swooshing sound as the blade was drawn, the fabric tingling against the blade's movements. It was held at Setsukoro's side now, the tip of the blade nearly touching the ground. The sound was ever closer now. His hand gripped tighter around the handle of Toukijin. He could feel every strand of silk in the hilt; the sword seemed to be a part of him as he stood.
Suddenly a part of the tree line broke to pieces, large splinters of wood flying over the vast lake. The pieces crashed into the water, sending small waves to the borders of the water. From the forest came running Gasaka, his pale face sweating profusely. His eyes were scared, as if he had seen through the gates of hell. He was breathing heavily, but was choking on a dark red substance that covered his shoulder and face. He was holding on to with a pained grimace. Parts of the blood were already caking along the outsides of the splatters. He was growling under his breath, trying to shout, but his breath was caught.
Behind him emerged from the forest, a great black demon. It's eyes were totally bloodshot, beginning to crust on the rims. It's heavy fur was matted on it's back, it's ears sticking out to the sides far, like some twisted goblin. Its face was also wide, long rows of teeth jutting from out of its lips. Its face was like some kind of Oni head. The strange part was the body was not like a normal Oni. It was rather a body of a lion, the neck short to the strange head. It's bodice stopped it's malicious movements for a moment. The muscles rippled along its body had stopped thrusting against the skin. It's eyes wandered over Setsukoro's person. It smiled broadly, reminding one of a Cheshire cat, had they really existed. It stalked up slower no longer pursuing the old man. It seemed to be wanting an audience with Setsukoro who only stood, albeit warily. His grip was still tighter around Toukijin, as he watched the demon approach. Gasaka ran behind Setsukoro, stopping only momentarily.
"Be wary, youngin'." He was then gone, into the house, or perhaps behind it. Setsukoro did not observe him much longer then a few seconds after he had finished his warning. Setsukoro looked back to the demon, his heart not skipping a beat. How strange this is. He wasn't afraid at all, it's as if he had done this his whole life.
The demon had finally stopped, perhaps twenty feet from Setsukoro. It still had an insane looking smile upon its persona, it's eyes searching over Setsukoro's figure.
"How did a young human man like yourself obtain the great Fierce Fighting God and The Heavenly Life Fang of the late Lord Sesshomaru? Hm?" the creature asked, showing a visible interest.
Setsukoro could only imagine the creature meant his two swords and responded flatly, "They are mine."
"You hold The Killing sword and The Healing Sword you weakling! Do not talk in such a manner to your superior!" The demon seemed to roar with every word, it's tail swishing madly behind it. It's face contorted again, to one of great anger and it eyed Setsukoro cautiously now.
Setsukoro again replied in a monotone voice, "I hold them both yes. However, you hold no superiority over me. In fact, the only superiority you hold is that of your growing indignity and disgrace. Your very body reeks with the stench of your idiocy. Perhaps I'll let you feel Toukijin's steel for being so impudent as to attack the poor old man. I shall now cure you of the disease known as your life. Goodbye, demon." His hand raised, the hand that held the Toukijin. He went to slash it forward, to warn the demon, but before he could orchestrate his muscles to do so, he heard a voice in his head. Reach with your mind. 'Attack using the blade soul of Toukijin and your own'. Setsukoro did not falter upon hearing the voice; he only came to an understanding. He did as he was about to and swung the Toukijin quickly and cleanly through the air in front of him.
The demon watched with humor as the young human swung the great Toukijin at the air. "What are you do-" he was cut off as heard a great howl of wind, like a banshee screaming it's death cry. Suddenly an extremely loud and deafening screech of energy was heard as a blue streak of youki (Demonic Energy) lit across the ground. It was like huge, long rows of jagged blue rocks. The energy cackled with a power too great for the demon, even with the simplicity of the swing. The rows of energy were eating the ground to pieces sending debris everywhere. The Youki then impacted with the demon, in a horrific blast. As soon as the energy grazed the foremost point of his skin, it ripped through him. The youki arched through his entire body, consuming his insides, tearing the flesh of his organs instantly. Then the rest of the youki consumed the outer skin of the demon, pieces of it flayed and torn, blasting into the sky. Any blood that tried to escape the tattered veins was only sizzled, and evaporated instantly. Shards of bone feel to the ground, like an autumn falling of leaves.
Gasaka was watching from a window in his home. Lilia was bandaging a deep wound on his shoulder when she looked up to see Setsukoro swing his sword at the air. Both her and Gasaka saw what transpired next in a few seconds, suddenly the wind picked up and a blast of energy had consumed and torn the opposing demon to bits. Their mouths fell open and Lilia immediately ran outside.
"Setsu-kun!" she yelled to him, tears already rolling down her face.
He turned in time to only see the spirit of the demon, which was nearing the gates of hell suddenly, lash out at Lilia. Its tendrils did not seem to make contact with her at all. They only seemed to pass through her body completely. However, as they did pass, her eyes went blank, and her limp body fell to the ground in a heap. Her crumpled body sat motionless on the ground, her face down in the dirt. An evil cackling could be heard somewhere, laughing at the corpse of the girl. Though it was soon cut off by the same voice screaming loudly then shutting out completely as it was torn from this existence, to hell.
Setsukoro's hand went limp and Toukijin's blade pierced the earth as it left his grasp. It stood in the earth, forgotten about for the moment. Setsukoro's eyes were wide and his lip was quivering. He walked slowly toward the girl's body, each step as if it were his last. No weight distribution was cared about nor though about. It looked like he was a drunkard. He fell to his knees beside the body, tears rolling down his cheek.
"Lilia. Lilia," he called over and over, wanting her to wake. He nudged her with the back of his hand playfully then set it back on his lap, still calling her name. He then felt a beating of a heart somewhere. Was it from Lilia? No. It was coming from…. Tenseiga…He looked at the sword boredly. He cocked his head and said quietly, almost laughing, "Tenseiga? Can't you see she's sleeping? You'll only wake her. Only sleeping." He seemed to smile, but really his eyes became more distant as he stared at the corpse. 'Use Tenseiga to wake her, Setsukoro. Use Tenseiga.'
Setsukoro laughed, the tears rolling faster, "I will not stab anyone in their sleep, much less a sleeping girl! Please, your humorous whoever you are. Wherever you are." He looked around him despondently looking for the voice.
Before he knew what he was doing, his hand was around the hilt of Tenseiga. His eyes widened and he gripped his sword arm with his left yelling, "Stop! You fucking spirit! You killed her, do not make me defile her corpse!" His mind seemed to lose its quirk of insanity in that moment, and he eased himself. He let his hand draw the Tenseiga. He stared in horror as he soon many imps. Imps covering her body, crawling on it. He looked to his right and saw too many imps crawling over the remains of the great demon. He looked back to Lilia's body and to the imps. He drew back his hand and slashed at all of them. Each let out a scream as it was slashed in a vital spot. The bodies fell, and then disappeared. He let drop the sword, the Tenseiga, and stared at the body coolly. He then heard a murmur and saw Lilia somewhat.
Gasaka had watched the whole thing transpire, and had been crying. Crying a mixture of blood, sweat, and tears, was he. He watched as the young man slashed at something invisible on Lilia's back. Then he fainted as she sat up to look at Setsukoro.
Lilia awoke quickly. The sudden lash on her psyche that occurred a few moments before had been brutal. Her soul was at ease now, it was warming her whole body. She looked to her left and saw Setsukoro sitting there, looking surprised. His second sword, Tenseiga, was lying in the grass, unsheathed. She looked at the blade for a minute and her eyes widened. Had it really…brought her back? She looked again to Setsukoro who nodded slowly, knowing what her question was. She nearly fainted herself but had enough energy to stand fall into Setsukoro before passing out. She was exhausted. Gasaka was injured and exhausted. Setsukoro was in perfect shape, mentally, and physically. Emotionally, he was a wreck. So many things revolved around him that couldn't be explained. He was worse off then any of the three.
