Chapter IV: Questions Answered

Disclaimer: I don't own Inu-Yasha. I will never own Inu-Yasha. That's a good thing.

A/N: I only got two reviews for the last chapter, and it's somewhat depressing. -_- Those who come back, I hope you enjoy this! If anybody loves fluff, like me, could you read my one-shot? It would make my day! Anyway, it shall be a little while before (I mean, IF) my precious fluff makes an appearance.

Reviewer Responses:

Orion Kohaishu: Thanks for another fantastic review!

Playmer: Don't touch my precious rosary! Actually, Chii is from Chobits and Kohaku is named after Sango's little brother. Thanks for your review!

]

Now that I've bored you enough, on with the chapter!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"So, Kou, how is the future?" Kohaku asked as they walked around the forest named after Kou's father.

"It's pretty cool," Kou replied, "There is in-home plumbing, electricity, and all kinds of fun stuff."

"Like what?" Kohaku wondered.

"Well, there's this thing called a T.V. Basically, it's a box that uses electricity that enables you to watch moving pictures on it. Like plays that you can watch any time," Kou told him.

"That sounds cool. But, um, what is electricity?" asked a baffled Kohaku.

Kou almost fell over. "It's kind of like lightning. It can make light and power things," Kou reasoned, but was met with a blank expression. "Don't worry, I'll bring you something sometime to show you," Kou assured Kohaku.

"That's good," Kohaku replied, "My mother and father have told me many-a-story about all the fantastic advances of the future. Since your mom left before I was born, I could never see any."

"Kohaku, can I ask you a question?" asked Kou sincerely.

"Sure, what's… um… what's that phrase?" Kohaku wondered.

"Um… up?" Kou asked.

"Yeah, that's it! What's up?" asked Kohaku.

"I was just wondering… um… if your parents ever talked about m-my f-father?" he asked shyly.

"Ah," Kohaku replied, "The great hanyou Inu-Yasha. They say he was one of the rudest, meanest, self-centered, and powerful beings they had ever met. They say he would snap at any person, at any time and for any reason, except for one person…"

"Who's that?" Kou wondered.

"Like you even have to ask? They miko from the future, Higurashi Kagome, of course. They said that she could subdue the demi-demon with a single word. What was it again? Oh yeah, Osuwari!" Kohaku watched with amusement as Kou visibly flinched.

"NOT FUNNY!" Kou hissed through gritted teeth.

"Oh, gomen ne," Kohaku apologized, "Anyway, they said that he would never back down from a fight, and would attempt to kill any male that came within talking distance of the miko."

"Really?" Kou asked, "Shippo tells me that he could've swore that I growled whenever this "Hojo" guy came along."

"Hojo? I've heard some funny stories involving him," Kohaku admitted, "My parents said that he would always bring your mom gifts whenever she was in the future."

"Yeah, when she was here, she said that my great-grandfather used to make up lots of excuses for her to explain her absences. So, in an attempt to win her affection, he kept giving her presents," Kou told him.

"That's what my parents said," Kohaku agreed, "They said Inu-Yasha would flip because his scent was all over Kagome. He was sometimes so ruthless, in fact, your mom would sit him in fear of the man's life."

"Really?" Kou asked, "He was that ruthless?"

"They told me that the leader of the northern wolf-demon tribe, Kouga, claimed Kagome as his mate and kidnapped her. When Inu-Yasha tried to extract his revenge, Kagome sat him and let Kouga escape!" Kohaku exclaimed.

"Really?" Kou asked, "I'll have to talk to her about that…"

"Enough information yet?" Kohaku asked him amusingly.

"Actually, I have one more question," Kou told him, "Do you mind?"

"No, not at all," replied Kohaku.

"Well, did they tell you anything about this?" asked Kou as he brought out the Tetsusaiga, "Mom mentioned it briefly, but didn't go into much detail."

Kohaku went bug-eyed. "Th-th-that's the T-T-Tetsusaiga?" he stuttered.

"Yeah, but what's so great about it?" Kou asked again.

"Before the great Inutaishou was killed, he commissioned the swordsmith, Totosai, to forge two swords from his fang, one for each son. Sesshomaru, your uncle, was given the Tenseiga, and your father was given Tetsusaiga. The Tenseiga is a sword of healing, said to be able to bring the dead back to life. Your Tetsusaiga, however, was a completely different story. Forged for your father to protect his human mother, the Tetsusaiga was placed in the black pearl and hidden in your father's right eye. They also say that it kept his youkai blood in check," Kohaku told him.

"Really?" Kou asked, amazed, "Wow. Please, go on."

"Sure," Kohaku replied, "The Tetsusaiga is a special weapon indeed. In the hands of a human, it stays the dull edge that you see now," Kohaku regarded the sword, "Also, it is impossible for a youkai to even touch the sword. Yet, it requires a demon's touch to transform into a fang."

"So that means it was basically made for hanyous?" Kou asked.

"It seems that way," Kou told him, "Say, can you make it transform?" Kohaku asked.

"Yeah, onii-san gave me a few lessons on how to do it," Kou told him, "My mom never wanted me to learn, but Shippo told me that as Inu-Yasha's true heir, I should know how to use his greatest power."

"You mean that a kitsune was able to touch the 'Steel Cleaving Fang'?" Kohaku asked, once again going bug-eyed.

"Yeah, Shippo was puzzled about that too," Kou agreed, "He said it probably had to do with recognizing father's pack, or something like that."

"So," Kohaku said and began to get excited, "Can you perform it?"

"It?" asked Kou, "What's 'it'?"

"Tetsusaiga's ultimate power!" Kohaku exclaimed, "The reason it's Inu-Yasha's strongest weapon!"

Kou's blank face gave him his answer.

"Oh well," Kohaku sighed, disappointed, "It was worth a try…"

"What?" Kou asked, generally curious, "What are you talking about?"

"Didn't Shippo tell you?" Kohaku asked him.

"No, he didn't. Could you please fill me in?" Kou asked.

"Tetsusaiga's not powerful because of what it's made of, or who wields it, but it's ability," Kohaku informed him.

"STOP PUSSYFOOTING AROUND AND TELL ME!" Kou yelled. Kohaku was taken aback.

"They say that if used correctly, the Tetsusaiga has the ability to slay one hundred demons with one swing." Kohaku stated, "This ability is called the Kaze no Kizu, or 'Scar of the Wind'. I don't know the whole story, but my parents describe it like this: When youkai fight in battle, their 'winds', or auras, clash. As they clash, they create a fissure in the wind. If one should slash through the fissure, it contains the ability to slay one hundred full-fledged youkai in a single swing."

"O-o-one h-h-hundred?" Kou stuttered, "I-in a s-s-single s-s-swing?"

"They also say that all of the attacks employed by the Tetsusaiga revolve around this technique."

"Wow…" Kou commented, "If I could do that, I could be nearly as powerful as my father…"

"Yeah, it—"

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

A gasp cut off their conversation abruptly. Kou's eyes widened in fright.

"That's my mother!" he exclaimed as they dashed off back towards the hut.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*`*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

They stared at each other for a good few minutes. Kagome instinctively grabbed for her bow and arrows.

"So," Sesshomaru asked, "My brother's wench has finally returned?" He jumped off and started advancing towards Kagome.

"Don't you EVER call my mother a wench!" Kou shouted as he jumped between his mother and Sesshomaru, Tetsusaiga drawn.

"Inu-Yasha?" Sesshomaru asked, "No, your scent is a combination of that dirty hanyou's and this wench! You are their pup?"

Ko-Inu-Yasha swung the Tetsusaiga down on Sesshomaru, who easily avoided it.

"What did I just tell you, you bastard?" Kou yelled at him, "Don't let me EVER hear you call my mother a wench!" Sesshomaru had a hint of anger on his otherwise emotionless face.

"Your wench of a mother obviously hasn't taught you your place, hanyou, allow me to teach it to you!" Sesshomaru said icily as he dashed at Kou.

"Sesshomaru!" a female voice called from Ah-Une, "What are you doing? He's your nephew for crying out loud!" Sesshomaru stopped dead in his tracks.

"Besides, I have a lesson to be at! That's what we are here for, ne?" she yelled at him. "While we're on the topic, what was with that hanyou crack? You and I both know what's gonna happen when we mate!" Sesshomaru's eyes widened.

'Oh kami-sama,' he thought, 'She did not just say that!'

Kagome had to use all of the willpower she had to keep from laughing. The great Lord of the Western Lands, Sesshomaru, being bossed around by a human girl? Priceless!

"Oh," she continued, "And by the way? GET ME DOWN!" she shrieked at him. Ah-Une landed and a very matured Rin walked off.

"Sango-sama," she bowed, "I'm here for today's lesson!"

"And Kagome-sama!" Rin turned to Kagome, "How've you been doing? We haven't seen you in sixteen years!"

"I've been doing fine, Rin, and it looks like you've been doing fairly well yourself," Kagome replied, giving Rin a wink. Rin blushed ten shades of red.

"As I was saying before we were interrupted, Kagome," Sango turned to her, "We have a few special students."

"Um, did I miss something?" Kou asked everyone.

"Oh, Sesshomaru, Rin, this is my son, Ko-Inu-Yasha." Kagome presented her son. "Kou, this is your uncle Sesshomaru and… aunt Rin?" she asked Sesshomaru, who just looked away with a snort. Rin just blushed—again.

Ko-Inu-Yasha took a knee in front of the Western Lord. "Gomen nasai, Sesshomaru-sama, I was just trying to protect my mother," Kou pleaded, "I beg your forgiveness."

Sesshomaru quirked an eyebrow. "You bow down to me, boy, why?" he asked Kou.

Kou looked at him with confusion. "You are the Lord of the Western Lands and the air to my grandfather's legacy are you not?" Kou asked him, "Does that not make you the leader of the pack and my lord?"

Sesshomaru cracked a smirk, but it quickly vanished. "Stand, hanyou, for if your father saw you do this, he would readily skin you alive." Sesshomaru walked passed them.

Rin was about to scold Sesshomaru, but Kagome interrupted her. "It's nice to see you too, Sesshomaru," Kagome told him.

Sesshomaru turned his head and regarded her briefly, "And you, miko, and you."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

They proceeded into the hut and all of the kids greeted their new guests.

"We sure have a lot of guests today, ne Miroku?" Sango asked him.

"Yeah, it seems so," He replied, "Our family is finally together again."

"Yeah," Sango agreed, somewhat sullen, "Our entire family."

"My dear Sango," Miroku embraced her, "Is your sullen expression for your late family and villagers, or for the hanyou who gave his life to protect us?"

"I miss him, Miroku," Sango confessed, "Not like Kagome, of course, but I miss his ranting about Kagome, his yelling, everything!"

"I know Sango, I know," Miroku consoled her. "We all miss Inu-Yasha, he was our dearest friend, ne?"

"Hai, he was," Sango replied, "He was."

"So," Kagome asked everyone, "What do you say we have a party? This is the first time we've all been together in some sixteen years, we might as well enjoy ourselves!"

"Yeah!" everyone agreed.

"What about Kaede?" Sango asked. "Shouldn't she be in here too?"

"Yeah," Kagome agreed, "Shippo, Kou, and I will go get her. We'll be right back, okay?"

"Sure," Miroku told them, "Take your time"

Shippo, Kou, and Kagome said their quick good-byes and once again found themselves on the trail to Kaede's hut.

"Jeez," Shippo commented, "Sesshomaru is freakishly nice now."

"Yeah, much different from what I remember," Kagome agreed, "Him not trying to kill us is definitely a plus. It's surprising how great the married life is."

"You know what's scary? I've known two completely arrogant inu-youkai in my time with egos bigger than this forest. Yet you human women manage to turn them in to mushy little puppies, how do you do that?" Shippo asked her.

"We're just the best!" she exclaimed.

"If I can interrupt your little conversation," Kou remarked dryly, "We've just passed the hut."

"WHAT?" Kagome and Shippo asked, turning to see the hut getting farther away.

Kou sighed and shook his head, "My family is so dense," he muttered. Kagome and Shippo glared at him as they walked back towards the hut.

Kagome walked up and knocked lightly. "Kaede-sama?" she called, "Are you in there?"

"Hai, I'm on my way," she replied as she advanced toward the door, "What can I help ye…. with?" her voice died out as she laid eyes on the woman at the door.

"Kagome?" she asked her, "Is it really ye, child?"

"Hai, Kaede-sama, I'm finally home," she replied.

"Is Shippo here with ye?" the old miko asked. "He disappeared sometime after ye left."

"Hai Kaede-sama, I'm here!" he replied, coming out to say high.

"And who else is out here with ye?" she asked. "INU-YASHA?" she exclaimed.

"Iie," Kagome spoke up, "He is my son, Ko-Inu-Yasha."

"Oh, don't ye ever scare me like that again, child!" she scolded, "I thought ye knew better than that?"

"Hehe," Kagome laughed, "Gomen ne, Kaede-sama, but we did the same thing to Sango and Miroku! Thanks for helping us find their house, by the way."

"What do ye mean? I didn't talk to ye?" she asked Kagome.

"No, actually," Kou spoke up for the first time, "You spoke to me, Okaa-san used a subduing spell to hide my hanyou appearance."

"I see, I see," Kaede replied, "What can I help ye with? Food? Shelter?" she asked them.

"Actually," Shippo said, excited, "We were hoping you'd come to a party at Sango and Miroku's!"

"A reunion of sorts," Kagome informed.

"Sure, I will accompany ye to the party, just let me grab a few things." Kaede agreed. A couple of minutes later, they headed back to Sango and Miroku's, which promised to be one hell of a party.

However, unbeknownst to them, as they left, a lone blue serpent circled Kaede's hut.

"So," an eerily calm voiced echoed from the shadows, "She has returned, has she? Finally, it will all be said and done…" the figure turned and walked further into the forest…

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A/N: Okay, I know that Kou and Kohaku's conversation was a lot longer than Kagome, Shippo, Sango and Miroku's, but there was more to say. The next chapter shall be up in a week at the latest. Until then, can I please ask anyone who reads this to read my other fic, "The Power of Love"? I've only got one review and it's really making me depressed. Next chappie in 8 days tops!