"Holy shit what happened to you, did your uncle do that?"

"Souta! Watch your mouth."

"Sorry..."

Meiyakouto frowned, three seconds back at the temple and already somebody had brought up the red and white torn sheets he had for bandages poking out of his clothes. It was perhaps the most miserable job of wrapping wounds he'd ever done, but so long as they stopped bleeding, he didn't care. Something in Lilith's fangs must have burnt in deeply, because they were still really easy to open, even though they were just deep bites. Just moving had torn the wounds open in the morning when he leaned over to retch, and after he showered again, he stole the hotel's sheets to wrap his wounds. Getting off the flight they opened again, so he was bleeding freely into the makeshift bandages as he walked into the temple.

"Perhaps I should re-wrap your wounds."

"Maybe you should let Souta do it, some of them are really high up on my thighs..."

"Oh," her cheeks to a touch of crimson, realizing that meant he'd have to have nothing on to fully bind the wounds, "Souta, you go do it..."

"Hey, these wounds don't look like you got them fighting?"

"Hell no, uncle Alfred was a push-over, his wife gave me these, she used my powers to awaken her own, because she's part youkai too."

"But- why would she have bitten you here?"

Meiyakouto went crimson and Souta started to realize-

"It's not like that- she, I had no power against her... I swear she was some kinda fu- some stupid Succubus bitch or something..."

"I see," Souta let Meiyakouto drop it at that. When he came out buttoning his shirt and adjusting his jacket, he spotted a familiar face-

"Kaasan?"

"Son..." Meiyakouto's mother dropped the small suitcase she had in her hand and rushed over to Meiyakouto, she hand her hands around him in a instant, slightly shorter, her chin was against his collar, she felt the bandages beneath his shirt. "Meiyakouto you're hurt?"

"When did you get here?"

"I came as soon as Kagome's mother told me you were here, now don't change the subject- how did you get hurt?"

Meiyakouto wasn't sure how to answer the question, "Violence..."

It was a simple enough answer that was truthful enough, "When I came back from the well, I went to get father's family sword from uncle Alfred, Al was easy enough, but I got a rude surprise from his wife..."

Kagome looked like she was about to speak, piecing things together, but Souta caught her attention and shook his head, motioned her away from the two to explain.

"The well?"

"The temple's well, it can be used as a passage between now and the feudal era, I thought it was one way, until I met Kagome back there, I came back with her but- I'm sorry mom but I have to go back."

Her eyes became wide, "W- but why do you have to go back, you belong here, in the present, with your mother who loves you."

"Mom I'm 28, even if I had lived with you until I went off to college, I'd have moved out by now anyway."

"But- you hardly look like you aged at all."

"My aging slowed when I found a way to awaken my demon blood."

"Oh no- not this nonsense, your father told me he married into my family to get rid of that."

"And if I had been Kagome, maybe it would have worked, but he even admitted to me it that he failed, he killed himself because he feared losing control, but look at me, I'm in complete control of my heritage."

"I don't care about that- I want my SON."

"There's just things that have to be done..."

"The new moon is in an hour, tonight I will have all of Inutaisho's blades."

"Master, but what of Inuyasha's friends, the monk and the other demon hunter, they certainly will not simply let you kill him."

"If the monk tries his hand I will simply cut it off, the others are of no consequence..."

"Kanna! Kanna! Where are you!" Kagura looks around Nuraku's castle, with Nuraku gone, Kagura and Kanna were the only ones still there. Kagura wanted to look into Kanna's mirror and spot Inuyasha, see what had become of Anikai and the shard she left him. "Kanna why do you hide from me!"

Kagura hears a child-like laughter echoing through the halls...

"Kanna! Kanna is that you! Kanna where ARE you!"

"Soon his lordship will return to us."

"Kanna what is this madness that has taken you, come out here right now and explain yourself!"

"Kagura..." It was nothing but a whisper in her mind, but in Nuraku's voice.

"Nuraku! But you're slain, by my own hand... WHAT IS THIS SPIRIT THAT HAUNTS ME?" Kagura grabs a small table by the side and throws it into splinters on the floor.

"Inuyasha-sama!"

"Miyoga?"

"Yes, it is me Inuyasha-sama, I've come to warn you, I saw your brother Sesshomaru-sama heading this way from the forest."

"So, dear ol' Ni-san's commin' this way again, guess he wants another piece of my Tetsusaiga."

"But Inuyasha-sama, your night of weakness is tonight, certainly that is why he chose tonight."

"Shit, and I can't use the Tetsusaiga- but, why would he come after it again- there's no way he could wield the thing."

Miroku comes over from behind the trees, "Inuyasha, has Kagome returned yet, I heard you speaking- oh hello Miyoga, what brings you here."

"I came to warn Inuyasha-sama that Sesshomaru-sama is on his way here."

"Well it is fortunate that we have Anikai with us, I'm sure all you have to do is ask-"

"NO! I won't ask for help from a demon."

"That's okay, I don't let myself fall between siblings and their rivalries."

"Anikai, where have you been?"

"Same place as Miroku, watching the well from a distance, in my case though I'm waiting for Meiyakouto's return, at which time I hope this show can finally hit the road again and we can hunt down this Kagura."

"You are certain you cannot aide Inuyasha."

"Not if he doesn't want to be aided."

"And I don't, so there."

"He's here."

Inuyasha followed Anikai's stare into the distance as Sesshomaru came into sight. The sun was just at the horizon, Inuyasha's silver hair was already dimming. His senses were weak enough that he hadn't smelled Sesshomaru coming. He unsheathed the Tetsusaiga and it didn't transform. "Dammit."

"Yes Inuyasha, make it simple, and just hand me the Tetsusaiga."

Inuyasha wasn't surprised at all when he saw Miyoga jump up and scurry into the distance, "Tch, stupid coward, not just Miyoga either, you're a coward for takin' me when I don't have any power."

"I need your human blood, fresh, to cleanse the Tetsusaiga of it's foolish charms, and at current, I can only get that one night of the lunar cycle."

Sesshomaru unsheathes his Dark Tetsusaiga and holds it out at Inuyasha.

"Another Tetsusaiga!- But how?"

"Totosai is not the only great craftsman in the land, and father has lost his fang more than the two blades Tetsusaiga and Tenseiga."

'Tch- I don't see why master left me to guard the human girl, come to think of it, why does he even keep her around,' Jaken looks down at Rin from Ah-Un, "No, no, foolish girl, swing the blade from the hips, not just the arms!"

Jaken jumped down from Ah-Un and went over to Rin, "Give me the blade, here, like this."

Jaken swung into the air with the Tentsume, demonstrating for Rin, then handed it back to Rin and hopped back onto Ah-Un. Rin practiced like Jaken showed her for a little while, then starting jumping around and swinging the bokken around chasing fireflies. She gave a particularly hard swing sideways into the air and a great gush of energy poured forth. In a path strait out from its wake, the grass grew a few feet tall and hundreds of flowers had sprouted. Rin gave a little shriek of joy, dropped the bokken to ground, and went to pick flowers.

"Huh! The Tentsume revived all those flowers..." Jaken came down and bent to examine the Tentsume with a curious glance.

He went over to a large tree, its branches were tilting down, and not a single leaf was on it. He swung the sword as Rin did, and the tree instantly bloomed, it's branches stiffened and leafs sprouted all throughout. Jaken jumped back and clutched his chest, "Gwah! Oh my."

"Hm, never thought I'd see you in the company of another demon, I thought you played with humans, and that Kitsune brat."

Anikai smirked, "We share a common enemy, no more, now if you'll excuse me, I don't bother myself with sibling issues."

Anikai bowed and walked away. Inuyasha came at Sesshomaru with the unchanged Tetsusaiga, Sesshomaru swung his arm and smashed Inuyasha into the ground, "Come now Inuyasha, certainly you can give a better performance, after all, it shall be your last."

Sesshomaru came at Inuyasha and swung the Dark Tetsusaiga at him. Inuyasha didn't wait to dodge, instead he came up and brought his own Tetsusaiga up and rolled with the momentum of the blow. His feet dug into the ground as he was pushed back a great distance into a tree, his back smashed in, then his head, his eyes jolted open in pain and shock and blood spilt from his mouth as he coughed.

Inuyasha put the Tetsusaiga into the ground as he pulled himself to his feet. "One swing brother, ask for death, beg for the end like the lowly Hanyou you are."

Inuyasha built a rolling growl deep in his throat before he charged again, he yelled out as he swung the Tetsusaiga at Sesshomaru's side. Sesshomaru jumped up and landed on the tip of the Tetsusaiga, Inuyasha's hands gave as the sword fell from them, Sesshomaru stepped forward, his boots smoking from the Tetsusaiga, he held out his own Tetsusaiga towards Inuyasha's throat. "You never deserved the Tetsusaiga, Inuyasha."

At that time Kagome finally poked her head up from the well, "Inuyasha!"

"Kagome, no! Don't come any closer!"

Kagome came up from the well and Meiyakouto poked his head up, his eyes immediately locked on the Dark Tetsusaiga in Sesshomaru's hands. In a single leap he was between Sesshomaru and Inuyasha, "Nice sword, Valson make it? I thought he retired."

"Because of me, he's un-retired."

"Good, 'cause it really sucks when a good blacksmith goes and retires when he's still got all his fingers."

"Meiyakouto, stay out of the way, this is my fight!"

Meiyakouto looked back, "Oh, you're here too, looks to me like you already lost?"

"He has a point though, we were previously engaged in combat."

"And now I am, have to see if the ol' guy got any better since the Umikokoro."

"He considers them comparable."

"So lets compare."

Meiyakouto unsheathed his Umikokoro, the massive waves of ancient Youkai miasma poured off the Umikokoro, the grass in the distance was wilting, and the smaller creatures of the field were panic stricken as they either died as well or scurried off. Sesshomaru smiled, with all the energy his sword was giving off, he could unleash the Tetsusaiga's true force.

The energy flowing from the Umikokoro began to twirl and dance through the air as Sesshomaru raised the Dark Tetsusaiga, "Bakuryu!"

The power of Meiyakouto's sword spun round and began to pour back at him when he swung his blade as well, "Arashinamiko!"

The jointed energy of the two blades just twirled into the air between them as the two blades pushed the swirling Youki back towards the other.

"Descend!" Meiyakouto swung down his blade and the towering mass of demon energy came flowing up and back down on top of Sesshomaru who barely jumped aside. Sesshomaru looked up as the clouds seemed to pour into Meiyakouto's blade, even the water from the nearby lake was being summoned to the blade.

"How does someone who smells so human posses such a youki?"

"My demon-blood may be diluted, but I found a way to completely awaken it, unlike Hanyou I don't suffer from losing my power once each lunar cycle." Meiyakouto reached to his neck and yanked off the three Umiko jewels and touched them to their spots on the sword, it's energy increased even further.

Sesshomaru and Meiyakouto crossed blades as they came close again; the energy flew upwards from both their swords. Kagome clutched her chest feeling pain from the Youki they both gave off, even Miroku was pained by it.

"Miroku, take Kagome and get out of here."

"Inuyasha, don't put on a brave face, come with us, this Miasma will hurt you too if it gets too powerful, especially since your already injured."

Inuyasha scowled and looked down, Kagome took one arm and Miroku took the other as they carried him off.

"I can already smell your blood, have I injured you already?"

"Nope, just tore open some bite marks, nothing more than an inconvenience and lousy relatives," Meiyakouto smirked as they crossed blades again then both jumped back. "Hakai Arashi!"

A powerful wake poured from Meiyakouto's Umikokoro towards Sesshomaru, who raised his Dark Tetsusaiga and forced the power around the blade again and he pushed it back with another, "Bakuryu!"

Meiyakouto jumped high into the air and evaded the attack; mid-jump he met Sesshomaru in the air and crossed blades again as the two landed on opposite sides. Each turned to face the other, "It has been a long time since I have known an opponent who could truly take me on, if only you were full-blood youkai."

"If you say we could be friends, I'll have to make certain I kill you."

"Oh no, I would never presume, however, you do realize if you had the rest of the jewel which completes that shard around your neck, you could become full demon."

Meiyakouto's expression drops for a second as he looks to the Shikon jewel shard on his neck, "But-"

Sesshomaru charges Meiyakouto who barely manages a defense this time, he parries with the sword and jumps back. He shakes off what Sesshomaru said and lets the jewel shard fall back to rest at his neck. "It does not matter, I will give the jewel shards to my cousin, what happens with the jewel after that is not my concern."

"Isn't it? Right now the jewel is tainted with Youki, once purified, it could help to wipe out the Youkai race."

"So be it, I live in a world where there are no more pure Youkai."

"But can you live with knowing you could have stopped it?"

"Why don't you then..."

"I have more pressing interests right now, my brother's sword being one of them."

"Your brother the hanyou?"

"Yes."

Sesshomaru and Meiyakouto both come dangerously close to hitting each other, as Meiyakouto narrowly misses Sesshomaru's cheek as he pulls away, and Sesshomaru almost catches Meiyakouto in the mid-section before he jumps up.

"What is this Youki," Jaken exclaims with a trace of panic, the flowers Rin were picking had all died, as well as the tall grass, Rin, Jaken, and Ah-Un were all feeling the power of Sesshomaru and Meiyakouto's battle. "Rin, get on Ah-Un, we need to get out of these clashing auras or we will certainly perish."

Ah-Un lowers himself so Rin can get on, Jaken jumps on behind her and Ah-Un runs. Trees dieing behind them, leaves falling and fruits spoiling...

"Kaze no Kizu!"

"Kumo Dropu!"

Sesshomaru's attack comes at Meiyakouto, who swings his blade and simply banishes the other attack with an equal force of power. Energy begins to swirl around both blades again as they summon the full extend of their blades and swing it towards each other. The two wakes of Miasma push at each other and simply pool around and spread as neither can overpower the other. The two meet at the same spot as their powers and swing their blades, Meiyakouto cutting a deep wound into Sesshomaru's left arm, Sesshomaru catching Meiyakouto in the leg.

"Sui Nami!" A small blue beam lances through the pooled energy and strait into the cut in Sesshomaru's arm, blowing out one of the three jewel shards in his arm. The beam curved around by the will of the blade and the jewel shard clings to the blade. The shard at Meiyakouto's neck lifts up and seems to be drawn to the sword as well, the chain snaps and the shard flies onto the sword as well. Meiyakouto's aura staggers further up as his eyes transform into a blood red, the pupils turning blue, markings appear on his face, drawn in blue like claw gashes, and on his forehead appears the astrological symbol for Saturn. Everything around the two of them goes deathly silent.

"The bones of a thousand years-dead demon bones are not to be easily trifled with, if you summon enough of it's power, spirits previously banished from it may return, be sure to attach all three Umiko and it should help keep it under control, but if you don't be careful, you won't be able to control the blade."

"Then what happens?"

"The blade controls you..."

'Kuso,' Meiyakouto thinks to himself, he can feel his body move, but can do little to prevent it's actions, 'Stupid jewel shards!'

Meiyakouto seems to watch his body from the inside, but he can do nothing to influence it, 'Valson never told me how much control the blade could exert over me, then again, he probably had no idea...'

"A thousand years dead," Meiyakouto's body speaks, but not in his voice, a much deeper voice, with much more experience, speaks in it's place, "I don't know what power it is that brings me to the surface after so long, but I don't intend to give it up so easily."

Meiyakouto's fangs become even longer and start to protrude out of his closed-mouth smile. As all the teeth in his mouth begin growing, his jaw expands to hold. Meiyakouto's hair pushes out, the headband no long holds it up as it flows back behind him, he grows several inches taller and his skin begins to pick up traces of cyan and scales. His fingers thicken and his sharp nails become wicked claws. His face begins to press outwards and his lips pull back, no longer able to hide the wicked teeth behind them.

Suddenly it comes to Meiyakouto, the demon who controls him; it must be an ancient ryu youkai, possibly the originator of his entire line. Meiyakouto concentrates hard in an attempt to bring his own mind to surface-

'Ningen Youkai! You do not deserve this power you wield!' a voice yells back in his mind, 'you will submit your body to me and I shall live again through you, be honored young one, I can awaken your full demon potential and banish the ningen blood in you.'

He suddenly hears another voice in his mind, a sort of anti-conscience he had from birth, his demon mind- his true demon self. 'Yes, rid me of this Ningen who wills me so strongly!'

'No! This is my body and I banish you both!'

'Ha! You cannot banish a force such as myself!'

"But, if the blade controls me, how do I get control back?"

"The longer it holds sway over you, the weaker you will become to it's control, but if you can stop it early, you can have a chance, the first thing it will do is sway your demon blood, you'll feel as if your blood boils as the sword will force your demon blood to the surface."

"It already is," Meiyakouto sputters.

"No, because you still hold sway over it, not the other way around, you may have awoken your demon blood, but it's still submissive to you. The sword will turn that to his advantage and boil your demon blood to the surface, you will transform even more, even if you do break the swords sway, you'll stay that way until your night of weakness."

"But how do I take back control if I lose it?"

"When the time comes, you'll know."

'I'll know- Ha!- wait, I do know- Youkai Meiyakouto, you've been submissive to me all these years, but- now you give yourself to a demon who would completely suppress you in favor of himself!'

'He would not...'

'He would, he wants our body, not the mind that wills it, after he banishes me, he'll banish you as well!' "Only he will remain!"

Meiyakouto finally yelled aloud... His demon blood was pushing back along with his human blood, the aura from the sword that had encompassed both the sword and him was pushed back to the sword, Meiyakouto ripped the two jewel shards from the sword and put them in a pocket, "Sorry ancestor, I will not become banished, even for you."

Meiyakouto looked up to Sesshomaru...

'Strange, his Youki is increasing, the smell of human is diminishing from him?'

Sesshomaru was suddenly on the defensive as the transforming Meiyakouto charged with a speed that easily matched his own. Sesshomaru saw the sword's aura overtake Meiyakouto as he came in. The aura from the sword was beginning to outmatch the Dark Tetsusaiga, he tried once more to turn the Youki back upon Meiyakouto, but his Youki had suddenly staggered down, what had been surrounding the body was being forced back towards the sword. He had stopped his attack for the moment. He took the Shikon shards from the sword and pocketed them, and announced he would not be banished.

"So weak are you that the sword can control you and not the other way around."

"Shut it Inu Youkai, the forces in this sword are far more powerful that you can imagine."

"I- can imagine quite a bit more than you would think."

"The demon spirit banished from the bones that make this sword returned because of the Shikon jewel fragments. If that is the power of the Shikon, then perhaps it should be purified."

"If you say, my concern is my brother's sword."

"You mean the one right beside your feet."

"Yes, but I need his human-blood to break the charms that keep me from wielding it."

"Blah, blah, blah, I want this, I want that, I thought we were testing the Umikokoro against the Dark Tetsusaiga."

"You did think that, I thought you were merely staling for dawn so that my brother could regain his demon form."

"Pah! Like I care about a hanyou."

"Are you finished, or do you plan to raise your sword again?"

Meiyakouto looked at the Umikokoro in his hand... and dropped it, "I do not know which blade is better, but the answer is not worth my life."

"Good," Sesshomaru kicked the Tetsusaiga by him and it pierced into the same tree Inuyasha had smashed into earlier. He walked past Meiyakouto and towards his brother's scent...