Chapter 26

Part 1

"So have you been keeping up with your studies while I was away, Rin-chan?" Seishi pulled on a new kimono. She was washed, fed, and felt a lot better, even after the long and hard run home. The castle room she had been using hadn't been touched other then the daily cleaning by the maids, but she had found a few new things placed here. Perhaps Alex had gone looking around and got her some things while he waited; he wasn't the type to sit on his tail for too long.

Rin nodded her head, "Hai, I studied everyday and Alex-sama even helped me sometimes when I got stuck. I thought he was scary when I first saw him but he's really very nice."

Seishi couldn't help but laugh, "My brother looks like a brute, but he's a huge softy. I'm glad he was here for you to play with. I would have felt horrid if you had been lonely." She turned around to look at Rin as she fixed her obi. The pendent the sage had given her she was hung around her neck with a leather thong.

Rin pulled on her kimono and noticed the pendent Seishi was wearing. "That's a pretty necklace Seishi-sama. Did you always have that?"

Seishi blinked, then looked down at the amulet and froze. She had forgotten about it… but now that she was looking at it, her blood ran cold to see it blazing red. "Rin… I am going outside for a bit of a walk, why don't you go have Alex play with you again, he should be rested up by now…"

Rin blinked at the sudden change in Seishi's tone but nodded obediently, "Hai..." and he quickly excused herself.

Seishi fastened her obi, waited a moment for Rin to be well on her way, and then moved out of her room, walking briskly but not in a way that looked like she was in a hurry. She looked at the pendent again… Was Sesshoumaru returning? Yes… she could sense him now… Was it reacting to him? She hoped to the gods not… She smiled and greeted some servants as she passed, then headed out into the castle courtyard.

As Seishi stepped out into the courtyard and strong wind suddenly picked causing her to cover her face with her arms to shield herself from the harsh wind. When the wind calmed down and Seishi let her arms down she saw Sesshoumaru, the lord of the western lands, sliding down off Ah-Un and walking across the courtyards towards her. Jaken also slid of Ah-Un and led the large demon away, but not before flashing an annoyed look at Seishi.

Seishi ignored the look from Jaken and kept her eyes locked on Sesshoumaru. Well he hadn't changed in the few months she was away… he was still smooth and graceful in his movements, still gorgeous and deadly, still void of readable expression. With the amulet blazing and his detached manner, she felt a little on edge… Part of her was sure he wouldn't attack her or anything… Alex was still alive and breathing after all, and he would have killed Alex long before her. She just really didn't know what to expect from Sesshoumaru. Was the jewel in the amulet really reacting to him? If so what would she do? All this raced through her mind as she stood there watching the approach dog demon lord.

Sesshoumaru walked up to see and looked her over. For few moments they stood there in silence. Then finally he spoke, "... What took you so long?"

Seishi had almost forgotten his calm, soft, deep voice. Part of her was like, 'Oy, stop that,' she didn't need to think about his attractive traits… "It wasn't exactly a walk in the castle gardens…" she replied. What was she going to do… if the gem was reacting to Sesshoumaru… could he really be evil? She just couldn't believe it… not after all she had seen of him… No one could generally love a child as much as Sesshoumaru care for Rin and be completely evil… and he resurrected that village… and he saved her on many occasions… even if he were evil, could she bring herself to challenge him?

Sesshoumaru reached to his belt and pulled out one of the two swords he was carrying. He then grasped the sword by the blade and offered it to Seishi. "Here is Kitoiga... reborn..."

Seishi blinked, hesitated, then lifted her hand to accept it, "Totosai reforged it?…" Gave Sesshoumaru a look, "You didn't threaten him did you?"

Sesshoumaru smirked, "Maybe a little bit..."

Seishi gave him a disapproving look, and then she mentally slapped herself. She couldn't let herself get too comfortable. "Seems thing were quiet while I was away…" turn her gaze to the side, "It was a long trip, and then that sage turned out to be a hold perverted drunkard… I ended up working like a maid for a month before he finally talked to me and sent me on my way. I happened to pass by a village that looked strangely familiar on my trip back…" she turned her gaze back to him, "Why didn't you tell me you saved them?"

Sesshoumaru simply stared at her for a moment then started to move past her, "Tenseiga saved that village, not me..."

Seishi stood there unmoving as he walked past… once he was past she frowned, then turned to look at him walking away. Those words could have been seen as evidence toward the sage's words being true, but still… she couldn't bring herself even to think about listing her hand to attack Sesshoumaru. "… baka… if only you knew…" she said it softly but with canine hearing he could probably have heard her. She didn't care. She turned and walked away rather then following him inside. She needed some time to think… to figure out what she would do now.

Seishi found she wanted to think away from the castle… she didn't want Alex or Rin showing up to disturb her thoughts. She wouldn't go far… she was starting to feel weary on all levels, emotional, mental, and physical. Why was life so complicated… she had been happy here with Rin and Sesshoumaru and Jaken… but if it was true Sesshoumaru was really evil, she couldn't stay here… eventually it would lead to a fight which one of them wouldn't be walking away from alive. Not only could Seishi not bring herself to seriously fight Sesshoumaru, but Rin… If Seishi someone managed to kill Sesshoumaru, Rin would never forgive her. Even if there was evil in Sesshoumaru, Seishi still believed he genuinely loved the girl he raised as his own.

Seishi sighed, leaning back against a tree and looking up at the bits of sky that showed through the canopy of trees. Maybe Alex was right all along… she just didn't belong here.

Overheard in the dense foilage of the trees a snicker could be heard, "Look like your all torn up on the inside, pup..."

Seishi narrowed her eyes, but didn't move from where she leaned… had he followed her? "You're a long way from Mt. Borehime…"

The stranger she had met on the mountain's trail, Zetsumaru, hoped down out of the cover of the trees and landed a short distance in front of her. "I found something more interesting then a stinking old man." Zetsumaru's red eyes shifted to the glowing red pendent on Seishi's neck. "How mean of you... you leave the mountain without fulfilling your favor. Is that how you repay all debts?"

Seishi turned her head to the side but her senses were locked on him, "The sage told me to use it… I have no attachment to the blasted thing, so you can have it once I decide what path I am going to take."

Zetsumaru shook his head, "Soo sorry but that won't do. You see it I really need that right away. I'd hate to scar a face as beautiful as yours... but if you don't hand it over like a good girl, I'll dice you to pieces..." he said in dangerous low tone his eyes emitting an intense passion and all consuming will to kill.

Seishi turned her gaze to him, and then glanced at the pendent, blazing red… not that she needed to look at it to tell this guy was bad news. "Why is this trinket so important to you?" She was glad to feel the familiar hum on Kitoiga at her side… Like an old friend ready to jump to Seishi's defense. She retained her appearance of being relaxed, but really she was ready to move at the first sign of an attack or suspicious movement on his part. She hadn't forgotten that strange net from the mountain.

Zetsumaru splayed his fingers and crotched down and touched his finger tips to the ground, then he stood up and flung his arms out to either side, he moved his fingers back and forth and his gazed locked upon Seishi, "I care nothing for it... but a certain man I owe a debt to asked me to get it for him. Until I do I can never be free, so you see... I need it..."

Seishi moved off the tree, opening her senses… his youki was spreading out and she was going to have to be careful. "You know if you explain yourself, people might be more willing to help you… I promise I will give you the pendent; I just need it for tonight. You've waited this long, you can wait one more night. If you want to start a senseless fight, then that is your problem."

Zetsumaru put his hands down then pointed at Seishi, "I despise waiting... besides I rather prefer doing things this way..." as he spoke Seishi felt a sharp pressure around her neck, squeezing in cutting off her breath.

Seishi blinked, then growled, so that was how he operated… the sense of his youki spreading out… he formed threads with it. If she were human he probably could have taken her head off with these threads. Silvery violet youki of her lit her form some as she fought the choke. She frowned and gave the hanyou a look like asking him to reconsider… she really didn't want to fight… even if he was giving off a dark vibe… But if he persisted she would have to defend herself… and she didn't want anyone at Sesshoumaru's castle getting involved… She reached up to grasp his thread and break it.

Zetsumaru smirked, "Figured it out already huh? Well are you a smart pup... but lets how you handle more," he reached down to the ground and made a fist. He suddenly upwards and a thread grid appeared up from the ground and sprang forward enveloping Seishi.

Seishi said nothing as she was covered in the threads of youki… underneath she narrowed her eyes, annoyed now. The threads barely nicked her demon skin, but her clothes were being cut up some. With a low growl her summoned up a bit of her own youki… building it up to break the threads holding her. She was trying to keep discreet, since certain people might come to investigate if they sensed her youki spiking. But that really couldn't he helped… she let a youki burst out and shattered Zetsumaru's threads, freeing her. Her kimono had seen better days, but she was unharmed for the most part. "I really wish you hadn't chosen to attack me…"

Zetsumaru gritted his teeth in anger and rushed forward concentrating his youki in his right hand forming an energy blade, "Cry me a river..." he sneered as he leapt up a aimed a blow to her head.

Seishi watched him then at the last moment, Kitoiga was freed from its sheath for the first time in months and his blade clashed against hers. Seishi would admire the craftsmanship of the reforging later, for now she feed some of her youki into her own blade, then pushed outward with it to blast Zetsumaru back.

Zetsumaru used the fore of her blow to bounce back against a tree and hurl himself back towards her.

Seishi moved to the side easily so he'd head up hitting the tree that had been behind her instead of her. She frowned… this wasn't a fair fight… he had a warriors spirit, but he was still a hanyou… she had a unfair advantage on many levels… "I really don't want to kill you… But if you persist you leave me little choice…" She leveled Kitoiga at him… she was using the sword more in defense then attack.

Zetsumaru glared back at her with a smirk on his face, "Then quit your whining and just do it," he said as his eyes burned contempt at her

Seishi frowned, "Do you really wish for your own death?"

Zetsumaru shrugged, "I honestly don't care, in many ways death is the only true freedom" he said flatly as he renewed his attack on her.

Seishi cut herself off from her feelings… he was going to keep attacking here… she had to disable him… she couldn't hesitate… As he attacked her his time, she avoided him blade of youki and lashed out with Kitoiga. She wanted to avoid any mortal blows, but being a hanyou he should have been able to survive a great beating before being in peril.

Zetsumaru gasped and Seishi's sword ran him though. A smile drifted onto his face as he collapsed on the forest floor.

Seishi heard him fall… but she preferred not to look. She could smell his blood and had felt her blade connect. He probably would survive if nothing else got to him first. "Please don't come back here again." She cleaned the sword blade with the sleeve of her ruined kimono. Pausing, she allowed herself a glance back, "Why? Why attack someone you have to have known could kill you… over something I told you I would give you tomorrow? Was it really worth it?"

Zetsumaru coughed and gasped for breath, "I don't have until tomorrow... it must be today..."

Seishi sniffed some, his blood smelt wrong... His energy and first sniff made her think he was a hanyou, but now she wasn't as sure, "... What are you?"

Zetsumaru coughed again, "You first guess is closer to the truth then you think... Once a long time ago I was a hanyou, but I was killed by a dark priestess who placed a curse on me... She doomed my soul to wander the lands of Japan for five thousand years. It's been roughly five hundred since then and I am so tired of wandering. But recently I was passing by a mountain to the northeast they call Mt. Hakurei. There I met a demon that offered me a new life and body if I could bring him that amulet you are wearing. He said if I don't return to Mt. Hakurei by tomorrow at sunrise this body will turned to dust and will doomed to wander once more..."

Seishi frowned, "If you had explained your situation to me instead of attacking, I would have given it to you…"

Zetsumaru glared at her, "I don't need your pity! Either finish me off or leave!"

Seishi sheathed Kitoiga, "then I choose to leave," and turned to start back toward the castle but paused… frowning at Sesshoumaru standing and watching the scene. "… Sesshoumaru…" She said flatly, "I had it under control, you didn't need to come." She started forward again.

Sesshoumaru said nothing but stood watching as Seishi started to make her way to the castle but then suddenly sprang forward running straight at her his hand on Tenseiga's hilt.

Seishi blinked, it looked like Sesshoumaru was rushing her, but what reason would he have to attack? She stopped, part of her telling her to have Kitoiga ready, another confused and frozen. But Tenseiga wasn't a sword to kill, so she was more confused. She was so focused on Sesshoumaru she didn't notice anything else.

Sesshoumaru continued to rush straight at her but then leapt over her head. He twisted in mid air slashed at Zetsumaru who had been about to stab Seishi through the heart. As Sesshoumaru slashed him Tenseiga left behind a dark trail that got wider by the second. Zetsumaru screamed in pain as the dark trail grew into the shape of a crescent moon. The crescent moon could only be described as a void that transported anything nearby it to the netherworld. Then just a quickly it the void vanished. The result of the attack was devastating to Zetsumaru. The portion of his chest between his neck and heart had been transported leaving nothing but thin air behind. There was a large burst of blood and Zetsumaru's body feel to the ground while his head plopped down nearby it. All of this had happened in mere matter of second and Sesshoumaru had not even touched down to the ground yet. He then landed and gazed at his blade. "For once that pathetic old fool made himself useful..."

Seishi could only stare at the gruesome scene when she turned. She wasn't sure what just happened, but it hadn't been pretty, "What… was that?"

Sesshoumaru found his thoughts drifting back Totosai's cave on the day he had sent Seishi off to find Mt. Borehime.

(Flashback)

"Wait Sesshoumaru, you mustn't follow her. It is a journey she must complete without you, now sit down I have something I wish to talk to you about." The old snake demon said as he settled down on the fur peat on the floor of his cave dwelling.

Sesshoumaru didn't follow after Seishi but he also made no move to sit down with Totosai. He stood tall and firm looking down at the sword smith.

Totosai sweatdropped, it would feel awkward talking to him having to look up at him but he knew Sesshoumaru would have it no other way. "To be honest with you Sesshoumaru, I really don't like you or even talking to you... but out of respect for your father I will honor his last wishes." Totosai gulped as he felt the heat of Sesshoumaru's irritation boring down on him. "Sesshoumaru I have been keeping watch over you these many years since your father's death, and up until recently you have shown yourself to be a self-serving and merciless demon..."

Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes at Totosai, "If you don't hurry up and get to the point, I'll give you a first hard example of just how merciless I can be..."

Totosai felt a cold sweat running down the back of his neck but kept speaking; "Recently however I have seen a change in you. For the first time in you life you have started to fight for someone other then yourself. You have fought and suffered to protect someone else and Tenseiga is reacting to the changes in you. Your father told me if that were to ever happen, then I am to take the Tenseiga from you..."

Sesshoumaru's eyes grew dark and dangerous as he prepared his claws to cut the insolent old man down where he sat.

"... and reforge it into a sword that can be used to do battle and can use Tenseiga's ultimate attack, 'Meidou Zangetsuha' " The old man added unaware of how close he had come to death in that moment.

Sesshoumaru held back the blow that would have ended the old sword smith's life, "Reforge Tenseiga... that can be done?"

Totosai nodded and the old man stood up and walked over to his forge. "Leave the Tenseiga and the Kitoiga here. I will bring them to you in three days time."

Sesshoumaru stood there staring at Totosai's back for while. He wasn't entirely sure of what the old hermit said was true or if he was merely trying to trick him out of the Tenseiga. Sesshoumaru withdrew his father's heirloom sword from his belt. It wasn't really like the sword was all that useful in it's current state at any rate. He set Tenseiga down by the pieces of Kitoiga and turned to leave. "Then I will see you in two days. If you are late, I will have to kill you." He stated flatly and left the cave.

Totosai stood shaking in the knees a bit, "That ungrateful dog! I said three days, not two! Does he have any idea who hard it is to forge these swords! Kitoiga isn't even my creation! How can I be expected to fix it and reforge Tenseiga in such a short amount of time! His father was never this unreasonable..."

(End Flashback)

Sesshoumaru slid Tenseiga back into his belt and looked at Seishi, "Tenseiga's true form, the Meidou Zangetsuha..."

Sesshoumaru looked back down at the sword on his belt, "But it is still incomplete... Eventually a full moon will appear rather then a crescent."

"… I see…" the shock faded, and misplaced anger surfaced, "I didn't need your help. If you hadn't showed up I wouldn't have taken my attention off of him and gave him that opening."

Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes, "Distractions will always appear at inopportune times. You must be ready always, never sometimes..."

"Why don't you just stay the hell out of my business; I don't need you coming to my rescue all the time!" she turned and took off toward the castle, she was feeling very upset, and she wasn't even totally sure why.

Sesshoumaru snarled at Seishi's back, where the hell did she get off saying that? He had only been concerned for her and this was the thanks he received. If she had said that to him back when they first met she would have had him attacking her as well. But he would say nothing now. No, no, no, he would let her have it later on. He wasn't sure what she was so mad about but fighting with her now might end up with them fighting and getting injured yet again, and even he had grown tired of it all.

Sesshoumaru turned around to see to the matter of Seishi attacker, but was very surprised to see the body gone. He quickly sniffed to get bearing on him but with the blood still remaining his scent was everywhere.

Once Seishi sensed that Sesshoumaru was not following she slowed down on her way back to the castle. Then suddenly she felt a presence behind her. She tried to turn but whatever it was grabbed a hold of her back. Hands reached around and grabbed at her chest.

Seishi's eyes widened and she gave an outraged snarl, lashing out at her harasser. As she tore away from them, she felt the leather thong that held the amulet around her throat snap free.

Once the amulet came free suddenly the attacked back off and disappeared into the nearby bushes.

Seishi blinked, turning in time to see the bushes move behind the retreating assaulter. She took a step to follow, but then growled and yelled after them, "Well GOOD RIDDENCE!" That thing only brought her trouble anyway. She snorted, brushed herself off, and then trekked back to the castle. She wanted another bath now more then ever.

Seishi fumed a while, but she calmed down with a bath and realized how stupid it was of her to blow up like that with Sesshoumaru. But the incident did confirm some things in her mind. She spent the remainder of the day with Alex and Rin, and when night came, she sat beside Rin's bed telling her stories until the young human pup drifted off to sleep.

Seishi tucked the blankets around Rin to keep her warm, then brushed some of her unruly black hair out of her sweet sleeping face. Seishi sat there just looking at the girl for a good bit. Of all the things here, Rin was something she'd miss the most. She hoped that if she had any pups of her own some day, they would be a wonderful as Rin.

Seishi sighed and stood, moving out of the room. "She's already asleep," she said as she stepped out. She had sensed Sesshoumaru's approach before he reached the door. She turned her blue gaze to Sesshoumaru as she slid Rin's door shut. "We need to talk…"

To Be Continued in Part 2…