Chapter 10

Tenseiga

I'm sorry to everyone about the wait. Really I am, my life has been so hectic as of lately, that I haven't had much time to do anything but work, or go to school.

inuyashas hun: I don't understand your question… email me or something so I can answer for you. Ok? Thanks for the review anywho!

Sisana: Thanks, and I'm not sure about her father either, once you mentioned it, it sounds neat. But, the characters seem to take on their own ideas as this goes, so I can't really say. I'm glad her personality is alright, and interesting. Did you get the 3rd movie in Japanese with subtitles? That's really interesting about Inu-Yasha's age. I never thought him to be that old! Anywho… here's an update for you… and I promise to try to get you another chapter of the other fic to beta… I have it corrected once on paper… just have to put it on the computer well, enjoy… now that you have a page long review to a review.

ArwenRivendell: More spelling errors! Where? I didn't catch any of them when I went over this…. Damn, I'm sorry about them. I'm glad it was funny . All thought should be italicized, so I'm sorry again if I messed that up too. I'll try to be more careful in this chapter. Thanks for the review.

Disclaimer: I don't own Inu-Yasha, or any of the characters from the manga or anime. I don't own Ashura, she's Bad Luck Novelist's character, but I do own Kira, Sorano, Taka-Mikoto, Kouseki, and Assarishita. Ok, now that that is out of the way… chapter 10…

((Chapter 10))

Miroku, Sango, Shippo, and Kira watched as Inu-Yasha was throw sideways. "Sh—Sessho-maru—" Shippo stammered, pointing. The adults, and a now battle ready Kirara turned to thou youkai as he glared at him.

"So, little brother, rumor has it that you were looking for me." Sessho-maru said calmly. Sango, Miroku, and Kira's grips tightened on their weapons. The youkai's gaze turned from the threesome and fell on the fallen Inu-hanyou.

"Sessho-maru, we've come for your sword, Tenseiga." Kira said as she stepped toward the youkai, drawing her sword. An icy stare turned onto the Taka-hanyou.

"My Tenseiga? And why would a half-breed like you want my Father's Fang of Healing?" Sessho-maru's voice was calm and cold as he asked.

"Well, it's supposed to bring back life from death, and that would be of great help, my lord." Kira growled, sarcasm dripping off of her last two words. Sessho-maru's eyes narrowed slightly in response.

"And do you believe, Taka, that I will just hand it over?" He questioned back. Kira smirked slightly.

"No, the thought never crossed my mind." The female raised her sword slightly, and it gleamed in the light. "But you will give it to us, one way or the other.

(( View Change))

'Inu-Yasha! Wake up, open your eyes!' Kagome shouted.

I'm—I'm awake… Inu-Yasha muttered. Life seemed to come back to the spirit at her hanyou's voice. Inu-Yasha got to his feet, his eyes falling on his older brother. "Sessho-maru…" He growled. Then he saw Kira, ready to attack the youkai. "Kira! Get back." Inu-Yasha snapped as he walked to the Taka's side.

"Inu-Yasha!" Shippo shouted from his perch on Miroku's shoulder.

"Inu-Yasha, are you able to fight?" Kira muttered out of the side of her mouth. The Inu-hanyou nodded slightly, his golden orbs still locked on his brother.

'You are not able to fight!' Kagome shouted. 'Inu-Yasha…'

I'm fine. Inu-Yasha replied. "Let's do this." He said, drawing Tetsusaiga from its sheath and squaring off against his brother, next to the Taka-hanyou. Kira nodded.

"Are you done yet? I grow tired of playing around." Sessho-maru said coldly. The youkai cracked his knuckles as they glowed with poison. Inu-Yasha and Kira growled in anticipation of the coming attack.

"Lord Sessho-maru!" A young girl's voice called. Everyone except for the youkai Lord turned to the little girl running up to them. "My Lord!"

"What is it Rin? I told you to stay put." Sessho-maru growled

'That's the little girl that was with Jaken, and who Naraku used to get to Sessho-maru.' Kagome pointed out. Inu-Yasha nodded silently in agreement.

"Rin!" A high pitched voice yelled, just as a dark green toad youkai came running after the girl.

"Master Jaken," Rin said turning back slightly. "I just wanted to see that pretty lady again." The girl smiled and turned around to look at hanyou's, youkai, and humans ready for battle. Her smile dropped when the "pretty lady" wasn't there.

"Rin, go back with Jaken." Sessho-maru said, still not looking at the new arrivals.

"But My Lord, where has she gone? The pretty lady in the green?" Rin continued, turning to her Lord. Inu-Yasha gasped silently as he realized who the child was talking about.

"You mean Kagome." The hanyou spoke. Everyone turned to him. The child smiled and nodded.

"Yes, that was her name. Where is she?" Rin questioned. Everyone was silent.

"She has passed on." Sango finally said, her eyes shaking slightly. Rin stood silently, just thinking about the demon slayer's words.

"How?" The child finally whispered.

"Rin." Sessho-maru snapped. The girl turned to look at the youkai, her eyes sparkling with tears.

"Lord Sessho-maru, bring her back, just as you did Rin." The girl begged. Inu-Yasha and the others froze at her request.

Sessho-maru stared coolly at the girl. Why did she care about a dead girl? "I will give you Tenseiga if you give me Tetsusaiga." The youkai spoke.

"My sword for yours…" Inu-Yasha muttered.

'No, Inu-Yasha. You can't give up Tetsusaiga.' Kagome tried.

"Fine, Sessho-maru!" Inu-Yasha growled, ignoring the priestess' words. The youkai nodded slightly and pulled Tenseiga from his waist. His brother closed his eyes as he thrust Tetsusaiga into the ground. As he let go, the sword became dull again.

"Rin, take Tetsusaiga." Sessho-maru said. The girl nodded and did as she was told. The youkai laid his own sword on the ground as Rin returned. Inu-Yasha watched as his brother turned and walked away.

Damn it… The hanyou thought as he walked up to the Tenseiga. He knelt down on one knee and reached for the sword. Inu-Yasha yelped in pain as a barrier prevented him from touching the Fang.

"What is it, Inu-Yasha?" Miroku asked, stopping at the Inu's side.

"There's a barrier, I can't touch Tenseiga. He knew that! Damn you, Sessho-maru!" The hanyou yelled, pounding his fist into the ground.

"Now, just relax, let me see." The monk said. He carefully reached toward the Fang, the barrier blocking the monk as well. Inu-Yasha growled in aggravation.

"You mean you didn't know that there was a barrier, Inu-Yasha?" Kira asked, also joining the monk.

"No, why the hell would Sessho-maru have a barrier on his sword?" Inu-Yasha snapped back.

"Who knows. Why wouldn't you be able to touch it? And then, if you can't, who can?" Kira questioned. Shippo blinked, his little mind working, as he looked at Tenseiga.

"Sessho-maru could." The kit said, jumping off Miroku's shoulder.

"Be careful, Shippo." Inu-Yasha growled. Shippo nodded and reached for the sword. As his fingers touched the sword, the barrier let him pass.

"It's my youkai blood!" Shippo shouted.

"What?" Inu-Yasha snapped. "That can't be. I have youkai blood, baka."

"You don't have pure youkai blood."

"Shippo…"

"It makes sense Inu-Yasha." Kira cut in. "Miroku couldn't touch it, and neither could you. Your human blood wouldn't let you pass."

"That mean you can't touch it either." Inu-Yasha snapped. The Taka took a deep breath.

"That's right."

'Kind of ironic hu? Sessho-maru cant touch Tetsusaiga, and you can't touch Tenseiga.' Kagome tried to laugh.

Don't worry, we've got the sword. Inu-Yasha replied to Kagome's words. So don't get to comfortable up there.

"Let's get going, Inu-Yasha." Sango said, bringing him back to the outside world.

"Sango's right. The longer Kagome's body and spirit are separate, the harder it will be for her to come back." Miroku added.

"I'll carry Tenseiga!" Shippo put in. The others nodded, considering he was the only one, other than Kirara, who could touch it.

"Then let's go." Inu-Yasha muttered. He waited as Miroku, Sango, and Shippo climbed onto Kirara's back. The Inu-Hanyou looked over at Kira as Kirara lifted off of the ground. The two hanyou's stood silently, both pairs of eyes locked on the others.

"Did you want something?" Kira asked.

"No,"

"Then what are you waiting for?" Both were silent again.

"Feh, let's go." The Inu-hanyou finally said, turning away and running back toward Kaede's village. Kira waited only another second, her eyes scanning the area again, before running after the rest of the group.

(( Switch))

Inu-Yasha ran on. Both he and Kagome were silent. Are you still there? The hanyou finally asked softly.

'Yes, I'm not going anywhere.' The priestess replied. Inu-Yasha nodded.

Alright. He didn't know what else to say, so he kept quiet.

Inu-Yasha… I can't wait to be in my own body again… but will I be able to tell you what I need to? The priestess thought to herself. The hanyou reached Kaede's hut. There was no one outside, so he pushed the curtain door aside and entered.

Dark golden eyes looked over the scene in front of them. Kaede and Miroku were praying over Kagome's pale, still unmoving form. Sango sat across from the three, Kirara purring in her lap. Shippo stood next to Kaede, holding Tenseiga tightly. The hanyou sighed silently as he moved to Miroku's side. "How's it going?" He asked.

"Anytime you're ready." Miroku answered. Inu-Yasha nodded.

Ok Kagome, Shippo'll use Tenseiga. The hanyou thought to the teen.

'Alright.' Kagome replied. 'I'll be seeing you soon.' She added.

Yeah… Inu-Yasha muttered. Kagome smiled to herself and exited the hanyou's mind. "Alright Shippo, do you know how to use that?" Inu-Yasha snapped.

The kit frowned. "Do you?" He growled back.

"Just swing the damn sword." Inu-Yasha said, sitting down cross-legged near Kagome's head. He folded his arms inside his haori sleeves. Shippo growled at the hanyou.

"Shippo, don't mind Inu-Yasha." Sango said, coming to stand behind the youkai.

"I know." Shippo muttered. The kit set Tenseiga down and carefully pulled the Fang from the sheath. He held the hilt carefully and tried to lift the sword. The kit tried to swing the Fang as he had seen Inu-Yasha do so often.

"Watch it Gaki." The hanyou growled, grabbing the youkai's wrist, stopping the kit from slicing into Miroku's arm. Shippo gulped in surprise. Inu-Yasha stared at the kit for a second before letting the small hand drop. "Look for something to destroy, preferably a demon." Inu-Yasha went back to his previous position.

"Yeah," Shippo said with a slight nod.

(( Outside))

Kira stopped outside the hut and listened to the other hanyou inside. Her head immediately filled with questions. The Tenseiga is to much for the Kitsune to wield, so what can we do? "A full youkai…" The Taka-hanyou whispered as she pushed her way into the hut.

No on turned to look at her. She watched as Shippo tried again to swing the Fang over Kagome's body. Nothing happened. "That's not going to work." Kira heard herself say. Now everyone's eyes turned to the female hanyou.

"What?" Inu-Yasha snapped.

"You heard me; Shippo is too young to wield Tenseiga. We've got to find a different way." She repeated.

"So what do you suggest?" The Inu-hanyou growled, a death glare locked on the female. She held her youki in check as she walked to the kit's side.

"Come over here, Inu-Yasha." Kira said calmly. He stared at her another second before getting to his feet and walking to Shippo's other side.

"Now what?" The Inu questioned.

"Shippo, hand me the sword."

(( View Change))

"Kagome… it looks like our time is about up." The man said. The priestess hugged her Father tightly, tears stinging her eyes. He kissed her forehead lightly.

'I'll miss you Papa…' Kagome breathed.

"I'll still be here… I'm so proud of you." He added as he pulled away. Kagome tried to smile as the world around her fell into darkness.

((Change))

Kira bit her tongue as the barrier around Tenseiga burned her skin. "Anytime, Inu-Yasha!" She muttered.

"Oh shut-up, I'm coming." The Inu replied. He turned sideways and slid into the spot next to the Taka. He stretched out his hand and gripped the hilt just below Kira's hand.

"Well, what do you know, I was right." Kira said as the barrier vanished. Inu-Yasha growled lightly. "Come on, Kagome's waiting." Kira added.

The two turned to the younger priestess' body. Their eyes widened as they fell on about twenty imps, all crawling on Kagome's body. "Let's do this." Inu-Yasha muttered, his eyes narrowing. Kira nodded.

The two hanyou's lifted their arms together and then swung the Fang over Kagome's body.

((A.N.))

Ok, there it is. I'm already working on the next chapter, so I hope the wait will not be as long as last time. Until then,

Myst