Hello, all. I've reduced the wait slightly...only eight days! I'll be shaving it down little by little over the next few chapters. I have an alibi this time. I was sick all week with the Martian Death Flu. You know the kind of flu I'm talking about.

The kind where it hurts to breathe, but it hurts to hold your breath, so you have to weigh the merits of each while your lungs are exploding inside of you. The kind where every individual air molecule hurts you as it hits you. The kind where you feel like your skin turned to lead.

Simply put, it sucks. I missed school ALL this week because of it.

Oh, yeah. I finally tried my hand at writing some stuff for Sango and Miroku. Tell me if they're too OOC...I don't know their characters as well as I know Kagome and Inuyasha.

I finally hit 300 pages! And I think I might just reach 400 by the end of the story. If I do...that WILL be an accomplishment, for a first story, no doubt about it. This chapter is just about nine pages long, so it's longer than your average chapter. It introduces some surprising things about a character you THOUGHT you knew well. Oh, but I blather on.

One more thing. Some people have said my characters are OOC, and...well...they are, a little. I haven't seen the whole series, so there are some gaps. BUT! Before I start my next story, I pledge that I will do one of the following:

1. Watch the whole series

2. Read all the manga.

So I will be able to develop the characters more, show more of Sango & Miroku, etc.

ALSO! I have FINALLY figured out just what it was that made the chapters so weird and spacy. I have taken steps to correct this error. So now the chapters are normal again. YAYS!

REVIEWS!

Kai19: The whole Sesshomaru thing will rear up again in a few chapters. But there are other things to focus on in the meanwhile. * Your powers of deduction are...well, I'm not going to say whether you're right or wrong, just yet. You'll figure it out. About Tybalt, that is. * Tobias has some crappy timing, that's all I can say. He used to do it on purpose, but now he's just being dumb. * Will Kai ever shut up so Gary can write? I certainly hope so!

AkuReiX: I didn't really think it WAS a cliffhanger. It wasn't meant to be...

Cloud1900: There's still a few subplots to get out of the way, but we are nearER the end, yes.

Ryguy5387: Well, I figured that after fourteen cliffies in a row, it was time for a break. There will be others, though...

Lunar Inuyasha: Well, I'm not just going to TELL you the answers. Read the story. I think you spelled Sota right, and he DID appear earlier in the story. The chapters are between 7-9 pages long, usually.

hersheykiss1012: I will be waiting for you, when I write the new one. Don't think I'll forget!

master: Well, thank you very much.

Jeanne-chan56: I'm glad to see you still have such sunny spirits, even after finding out that your mother has a brain tumor...There's no use worrying, what good will worrying do? IT WON'T CURE THE CANCER. Out of curiosity...Do you drink a lot of caffeine- and sugar-filled drinks? Or are you just naturally hyper?

Anime-Crusader: The logistics of that are difficult. First, I can't officially publish a book, as that would be making money off of it and that's ILLEGAL. The copyright isn't mine. Second, wouldn't it be easier for you just to read it online, or to print it out yourself? It's already 300 pages long, printing that would be a chore.

Celestra: It's always good to welcome a new reviewer into the fold. I'm glad you liked the story. I like action, I like Inu-Kag romance...I wrote this story. It worked out great.

SSSSTTTTOOOORRRRYYYY!!!!

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Chapter 50: The Ancient Smithy

They had settled in for the night near the well. Kagome was devastated at the fact that she was once again denied seeing her family. Inuyasha had simultaneously tried to comfort her and swore that he would kill the General (A/N: using language so foul it would melt my keyboard to type it.)

It took several hours before Kagome stopped crying, and only in the protection of Inuyasha's embrace did she finally calm down enough to sleep. Inuyasha stayed awake, wary of some new devilry cooked up by the General. Tobias stayed awake, as he always did. Sango and Miroku eventually dozed off, weary from their travel. Shippo had been in Kagome's arms, crying because she was crying, for most of the night; however, when Kagome fell asleep, Shippo was plucked up and tossed away by a very territorial Inuyasha. He set about crying once more but finally went to sleep in Sango's sleeping bag.

Sango arose. It was very early, before the sun had even risen, but this was part of her plan. She glanced over at the others. Inuyasha had been lulled to sleep by Kagome. Tobias was nowhere to be seen. Miroku was asleep. Shippo was asleep next to her in her sleeping bag. I do like these inventions from Kagome's time, she thought, as she carefully extricated herself without waking Shippo.

She softly walked away from the camp. If I can get in a quick bath before the others wake up, then I should be safe from that pervert monk. I think I have until about sunrise. Arriving at a stream, she proceeded to bathe. Kirara lounged in a nearby tree, keeping watch for any unwelcome visitors.

Sango took out some of Kagome's soap and began washing. As she lathered, she found herself thinking about her friends. Kagome seems very upset at this new trouble. I wish I could do something to cheer her up, but I don't know what to do. I mean, what can I do? She ducked under the surface to rinse. Inuyasha is taking good care of her. A demon and a miko is a very strange pair, but they seem to be doing fine.

I wonder where Tobias got off to? Sango hummed to herself as she scrubbed. He looks more cheerful, now that Kagome's back, then he did since before we met the General. And that only leaves... She stopped washing, deep in thought. Miroku...

That hentai monk gives me nothing but trouble. He should be ashamed of himself, still groping me after all this! As if there aren't more important things to focus on. ... He is kind of cute, though.

Sango stopped abruptly and scowled. Where did that come from? Of course he isn't cute. He's a perverted houshi who can't keep his hands off me. How is that cute? She resumed washing, shivering a little from the coldness of the water. And yet... Her mind began to wander.

She thought back to the last time Miroku had groped her. She had, of course, smacked him with Hiraikotsu and screamed at him. But she couldn't help remembering that it felt...nice. Sango blushed as images sprang into her mind.

Miroku, standing by her and aiding her in battle...Miroku, chained up next to her in Kikyo's cave, giving her support...Miroku, standing over her, checking her for injuries after their battle with Naraku...Miroku, in her arms, as he...wait...that last one wasn't a memory!

Sango turned crimson and hurriedly finished up what she was doing. It isn't proper to think such things... she thought huffily. That monk doesn't deserve a place in my thoughts! Dressing herself once more, she beckoned to Kirara and they walked back toward camp.

Some time had passed; the sun had risen and Sango could see smoke trailing upwards from a cooking fire. As she neared the clearing near the well, she heard a roar of fury that sounded...like Inuyasha.

She had barely a moment to contemplate this, when Tobias tore out from the clearing and rushed past her, with a hurried "Hi, Sango. Bye, Sango!" as he sped away. Sango glanced after him with a quizzical look, then turned back to rejoin the group.

Tobias slowed to a halt, gasping for breath. He wiped his brow, and looked into the distance. He was near a stream.

"I think...I finally...gave him the slip," he panted. "Inuyasha...can be mighty territorial...sometimes." Tobias sat down heavily. "All I did was...say good morning..." He glanced away. "How was I to know...Kagome was in the sleeping bag...with him?"

Having finally regained his breath, Tobias stood back up. "Well, for once, I think I managed to evade Inuyasha's wrath. I have terrible timing sometimes...maybe I should just stay out here until he cools down." He grinned a little. "Of course, knowing Inuyasha, I could be out here for days." He bent down to drink some water from the stream. "This is deep. I could drown in here if I'm not careful."

An odd, whistling noise got his attention; it was growing louder and louder, and it was coming from the direction of the camp.

"What's that?" Tobias turned to look.

BOOM!

He turned just in time for a large boulder to cream him right in the face.

Back at the camp, Inuyasha was listening intently. He heard a loud BOOM, a sharp SPLASH, and a muffled "AGH!" He smirked.

"Heh, right on target." Kagome, frowning, came up beside him.

"Sit." Inuyasha was slammed into the ground, and Kagome stood over him as she spoke. "That was mean! I know you're upset he interrupted us...again...but that's no reason to throw boulders at him!"

"Feh," said Inuyasha disdainfully. "He deserved it. If he's doing it on purpose again, I'm gonna-"

"I think you really could have hurt him this time, Inuyasha! We'd better go see."

"I think he's fine. That puny rock wouldn't have hurt me, and he's almost as strong as I am," said Inuyasha vainly. "He'll survive."

"Inuyasha," said Kagome, with an edge to her voice. "I think we're going to go take a look." At the look on Kagome's face, Inuyasha knew there was no arguing.

"Whatever." Grumpily, Inuyasha set off in the direction he chucked the boulder in, Kagome right behind him.

After a few minutes walk, following Tobias's scent, they came upon the stream. Inuyasha sniffed around, puzzled.

"The scent ends here, at the river..." He looked up at Kagome. "But I don't see Tobias, or the boulder."

"The river must have washed away the scent. Did he get swept up in the current?" suggested Kagome? Before Inuyasha had a change to answer...

BAM!

The boulder came flying from the water and nailed Inuyasha spot-on. He went flying, along with the boulder, above the treetops and into the forest. A sputtering wet Tobias emerged from the river.

"And THAT, Inuyasha," he shouted at the falling figure, "is known as PAYBACK! Well then, Kagome. Shall we enjoy a leisurely walk back to camp?" Kagome was looking in the direction where the boulder had fallen with some apprehension.

"Don't you think you could have hurt him with that thing?" she said, tentatively.

"Nah, he's fine. I was just a little stunned when he hit me. And he's almost as strong as I am," said Tobias, trying to look important, despite the fact he was soaked. "He'll survive. Shall we be off?" Kagome shrugged and began walking back.

"After all the times he hit me, I think I'm entitled to a bit of compensation," said Tobias as they walked away. Another roar of anger came from the woods. "Although that doesn't appear to be Inuyasha's viewpoint. See you!" Tobias ran in the opposite direction.

Kagome stared at the retreating figure. Forget the General. They'll kill each other first. Sighing, she made her way back to camp.


The water for the ramen was boiling by the time Kagome got back. There was no sign of Tobias or Inuyasha. Sango was sitting on a log, apparently lost in thought. Shippo was clinging to Miroku.

"When's breakfast? When's breakfast? When's breakfast? When's breakfast?" he whined repeatedly.

"I'm just getting started, Shippo," said Kagome warmly. She got out the ramen and began cooking. Shippo leaped over to Kagome. Miroku, freed of the kitsune, walked over and sat next to Sango.

"Sango, what's wrong? You appear upset about something."

Sango blinked. "Oh? Nothing. Nothing, monk. I'm fine."

"Is there anything I could help you with?" Sango turned away as she blushed horribly. She knew that he had definitely NOT meant what she was now thinking.

"Just, leave me alone!" she said, uncomfortably. To her disconcert, Miroku moved a little closer.

"Because if there was something I could help you with..." he whispered. "I would be happy to."  Sango's face burned and she trembled just slightly. She was so distracted, she almost didn't notice Miroku's hand slipping down to gently cup her bottom.

This broke her from her reverie in a snap.

"HENTAI!"

BAM!

THUD.

Miroku lay on the ground, all swirly-eyed. Sango put down Hiraikotsu and sniffed disdainfully in Miroku's direction. "It's what you deserve...stupid perverted monk."

Tobias burst into camp and fell on his face. "I think I threw Inuyasha off my trail. Kagome..." He raised himself up. "You're the only one who can stop Inuyasha from beating me senseless...would you, kindly, do that?"

Kagome nodded and turned away. Inuyasha was just emerging from the foliage with a grumpy look on his face. There was something behind him.

"Look what followed me home," he snarled. With a moo, a three-eyed cow ambled into the clearing, with Toutousai perched on its back.

"Well, hello there, you young'uns!" he croaked. "Long time since I met up with you last."

"Oh, hi, Toutousai!" said Kagome cheerily. "What brings you around here?"

"Oh, just taking a walk." The cow mooed. "Okay, a ride. Can't an old man go around for a spell anymore?"

"Who's he?" said Tobias, moving up next to Kagome.

"His name is Toutousai. He's a very great swordsmith...He made Tetsusaiga and Tenseiga from the fangs of Inuyasha's father."

"Interesting..." About this time, Toutousai caught sight of Tobias.

"Ohhh..." He pointed a quavering finger at the sword on Tobias's side. "That's a mighty fine sword you got there, fella! Mind if I take a look? A professional courtesy..."

"You can see it..." Tobias walked up and held it out. "But I'd rather hang onto it." He held out the blade. Toutousai looked at it with a practiced eye.

"Hmm...not a scratch, nick, or chip anywhere! You've taken good care of this sword, there. Or should I say...it's taken good care of you!" Toutousai laughed and coughed a bit. "Not like that rapscallion over there. Why, when I saw him with that sword for the first time, it was like he used it to cut wood! It was so dented and scratched that-"

"Watch it, old man," said Inuyasha, advancing on Toutousai. "I-"

"Wait a second," interrupted Tobias. "What do you mean, it's taken care of me? How do you know?"

"My dear boy," said Toutousai haughtily, "any sword maker worth his salt should know that THAT is one of the three legendary Swords of Power! It's written all over you. That armor's a dead giveaway."

Tobias took a step back. "Nobody knows about the Three...the legends died out a LONG time ago. How do YOU know about them?"

"Know about them?" Toutousai chuckled again. "I know more about that there sword than you do, sonny. I also know about the General's sword, and your poor departed brother, so many years ago."

"Toutousai? Just how old ARE you?" said Kagome, tentatively. Toutousai smiled.

"Older'n I look, there, Kagome. Why, I was making swords when this here boy wasn't but knee-high to my old cow here!" The cow mooed. "Besides...there's nothing I recognize better'n my own work."

"Wait a fucking SECOND!" Tobias ran up and grabbed Toutousai by the collar. "Are you saying...that YOU...are the forger of the Three?!"

"Well..." Toutousai looked at his cow, then back at Tobias. "I'm not sure. I might remember if I had something to eat."

Everybody except Toutousai facefaulted.

"Is he always like this?" groaned Tobias, all swirly-eyed.

"Yeah," muttered Inuyasha.

After breakfast (Toutousai had eaten about three times as much as everyone else combined, as was his wont), they sat around the fire, discussing swords.

"So, if you're the one who forged the Three Swords...how old does that make you?" said Kagome.

"Well, I'm not too sure, there," harrumphed Toutousai. "See, when I was a young'un, they didn't have calendars like they do today. I'd say...oh...about eleven thousand years old."

"That makes you the oldest person in the entire world!" said Sango, with a touch of awe.

"I have a lot of questions," cut in Tobias. "Like, what are they made of, and why'd you make them?"

"Ah..." Toutousai reclined against a tree. "Now THAT'S a story. See...about ten thousand years ago, or something like that, I found these three elemental spirits. One of fire, one of ice, and one of lightning. Now, they were something to be reckoned with, indeed. I thought that if I could make some swords out of 'em, then those could be the most powerful swords I'd ever make!

"But what would I make 'em out of? They didn't have steel, or even iron back then, and no fangs to forge either. I was stumped. Then one day, my answer came from the skies. Really, it did!

"A meteor came crashing down, just a few miles from my home. I decided to take a look. When I got there, nobody else was around. I guess they were scared off or something. The meteor had bust right open from the impact, and there was this metal inside, like nothing I'd ever seen!

"I gathered up all of it and trucked it back home. Then I set to work. I thought that these three swords would balance each other perfectly, and everything would work out in the end. It always does with this sort of stuff. But was I wrong!

"See, these elemental spirits were a fickle bunch. Unpredictable. They were sometimes really strong, and sometimes they were nothin'. I thought by sealing them up in the swords, I could use their power for good. But, once again, I was wrong. They all had triggers, or ways you could use to activate their power.

"Yours, like you know, it really turns on when you're angry. The General's works when he loses all anger. And the third was when the holder was losing a battle. I thought that would balance everything, they seemed equal in power normally, and I gave them to three champions.

"But they fell to fighting, to see which one was stronger. It eventually came down to a real nice chap named Alarion, against a mean old guy called Druga. Alarion was using that sword you've got there, while Druga was wieldin' the General's sword, the ice one. They fought, but Druga didn't know how to use his sword any more than he," Toutousai pointed at Inuyasha, "did in the beginning. Druga was beaten and Alarion formed a nation. The swords were lost, though.

"I had a hand in that, actually. I realized that they would always lead to fighting, so I hid them away in the most remote spots I could find. I thought that I had taken care of that problem nice and tidy. But then you, and your brother, and the General came along and mucked everything up.

"After Alarion (the country, not the man) vanished, I had a time finding either of you. But you both kept a low profile, that I knew about, and eventually, I guess...I just didn't think it was important."

"Well, it is important." Tobias stood up and advanced on Toutousai. "Old man...Tell me how to defeat the General."

"What?" Toutousai bristled. "It isn't that easy, you know! It isn't like some sort of special technique that instantly defeats him! You have to try!"

"I have tried, goddammit! I've tried for seven thousand years!" Tobias roared.

BAM!

Toutousai smashed Tobias on the head with his hammer. "Calm down already, you're making a fuss!" Tobias sank to the floor, rubbing his head. He took a deep breath.

"All right. I'm calm now. But the point is-"

"The point is, the reason the General's stronger than you is that he's figured out how to unlock his sword's true power...and you haven't." Tobias glanced sharply up.

"What? How do I do that?" Toutousai shrugged.

"Couldn't tell you if I wanted to. It's different for each person." He blinked and looked at Inuyasha. "You know, Inuyasha, now that I see the Three are out again, I need to tell you about something."

"What?" Inuyasha muttered.

"Your sword was built with the Three in mind." Everyone looked up. "Yeah, that's right. Your sword was supposed to balance out the other three."

"I thought the Tetsusaiga was made for protecting humans!"

"That too. That was the main purpose. Here's the thing. After the whole story with Alarion, I figured I needed some way to keep those swords in check. But I couldn't do it! I had no materials strong enough to make another sword that was even close to their power. When your father approached me for Tetsusaiga and Tenseiga, I realized I had a golden opportunity."

"What are you getting at, old man?" Inuyasha said.

"The point is, your sword kills demons, but it has another purpose. I knew about the General, and I knew that the Shikon Jewel would lure him in eventually. So I built this sword to defend against the other three."

"So Tetsusaiga is like the Fourth...of the Three?" said Tobias in an awed whisper.

"Yep. I made four legendary swords in my life, not just three. Isn't that crazy?" Toutousai smiled lopsidedly.

"How's it work?" Inuyasha was intrigued now.

"Well, there's a special technique that you can do, that turns the very power of the Three against themselves! It can do a lot of damage if you do it right. And it's called...uh...it's called...what was it called again?"

They all facefaulted again. "Don't tell me you forgot!" roared Inuyasha.

"Umm...I'm sure I'll remember it eventually. Just lemme think for a second." Toutousai scratched his pointy chin. "Well, if I ever remember it, I'll be sure to get back to you."

"Toutousai? There is one thing I've been meaning to ask you..." Tobias lowered his eyes. "If one of the Three is broken, do its pieces still have magic in them?"

"Oh, yes, sonny. You might even be able to reforge the pieces into one or two swords. Though...only I can make it as strong as it once was." Toutousai chuckled.

"The reason I ask..." Tobias reached into his robes and pulled out a small shard of gleaming metal. "When the General and I fought at Alarion, we were blasting each other with everything we had, and to hell with damage to anything else around.

"I missed him with the Blade of Death, and instead I hit Marcus's sword. It burst into pieces. I recovered one, but the General knocked me away before I could do anything else. When I woke up from the fight, the rest of the pieces had gone with Alarion. I've kept this around...for old time's sake."

Toutousai looked at the shard studiously, then he looked back up at Tobias.

"Actually, that shard was the very heart of the sword's power. Why, I bet if you found the rest of the pieces, even if they HAD been reforged, and put them together with this one here, they would rejoin into the original form. Then things would be a little more balanced...all three swords back again.

"Oh, and...what'syourname, Tobias, c'mere for a minute. I want to tell you something private." Tobias shrugged but went along with him into the foliage. After a few seconds of talking, they emerged again.

"Well, I have to be getting along now. I have things to do!" He chuckled and coughed. "Saddle up!" Toutousai leaped onto his cow. It mooed as it rose into the air and flew.

"Bye, young'uns!" called Toutousai as he flew away into the distance.

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Did I do well with the Sango/Miroku bit? DID I? Tell me! And, well, did I do well with the rest, too? There's only one way to tell me...(other than stalking me and pinning a note to my forehead, but I don't recommend that)...REVIEW!