Junjou
(Self- sacrificing)

"Talking"

'Thinking'

Stressed
Kagome held the arrow in her hand and allowed her Miko ki to flow into it. It glowed with powder blue light before it was engulf by metal. She watched at the hot liquid ate the arrow. Kagome assumed that the wood of the arrow would somehow forge together. The metal began to cool and Toutousai slammed his hammer onto the forming shape of a blade. Fire erupted in his mouth as he coated the metal once more and placed a handle on it. Kagome sighed as sparks flew into the air; she only hoped that this sword would be a success.

"Touch the blade," Toutousai calmly ordered.

"Isn't it hot?" Kagome asked with skeptic look.

"You'll be fine," Toutousai assured.

Kagome figured his assurance was worth crack. He had most likely forgotten that the blade was still hot. She lowered her palms to the blade and noticed that both of her hands were as wide as the sword. The blade pulsed as her Miko ki flared to life. Toutousai covered his eyes as the room pulsed with purity. Kagome pulled her hands back; it wasn't in fear, but confusion. The blade had been trying to draw her power into itself. Toutousai reached for the handle of the sword and quickly pulled back. The handle shocked him and his skin hissed. Kagome's eyes widened at the sight.

"Is it supposed to do that?" Kagome questioned.

"I don't know," Toutousai slowly answered.

"What type of youkai could wield this?" Kagome questioned.

"It's not for a youkai," Toutousai calmly said as he pulled out a black leather binding.

Kagome held the sword as he wrapped the handle. The sword once again responded to her as she held it. Kagome studied the blade with great interest; it called to her. The handle of the sword of was made of a simple round pole with metal surrounding the end of the handle. Where the blade met the wood there was a piece of metal in the shape of a square blocking the blade from the handle. Toutousai sighed as he finished the blade and pulled his hands back. The pure aura of the sword was causing him to become weak.

"What type of sword is this?" Kagome question, it was a bit smaller then Banryuu.

"It's a Zanbato," Toutousai answered as he regarded his work.

"What's its name, who's it for, and is it powerful?" Kagome quickly asked.

"Its name…hmm…don't know," Toutousai mumbled.

"It has the same type of aura as Miroku's Shakujou, except it feels like me," Kagome commented.

"This Zanbato shall be known as Junjou," Toutousai proudly declared.

"Is it powerful?" Kagome questioned as she pulled her hand away from the blade.

"I hope so…I did forge it," Toutousai mumbled as he scratched his head.

"Who's it for?" Kagome questioned.

"A youkai can't wield it and neither can a normal human, so you can keep it," Toutousai offered.

I couldn't lift it!" Kagome protested.

"It is yours to do as you deem fit, but take care of it," Toutousai warned.

"Th-thank you, if there is anything I can do then just say the word," Kagome replied with a bow.

"Just take care of Junjou," Toutousai sighed.

Kagome sighed as she held the giant blade; it was big enough to impale a horse. She grabbed a cloth and began to wrap the metal. Toutousai stood up from his place on the ground and walked outside. He jumped on his ox and sent a look toward Bankotsu. The mercenary just watched the old youkai in confusion. Inuyasha scowled in confusion as the Moo-Moo took off into the sky. Miroku sighed and Sango shrugged as they turned to the hut. A scraping sound made its way to their ears.

Kagome grasped the handle of the sword and dragged it outside. She huffed and carefully lowered the rest of the blade to the ground.

"That's pretty…big," Miroku commented as Kagome scowled.

"Why'd he leave it?" Inuyasha asked as he reached out to the sword.

As soon as his hand reached the handle, a powder blue energy sparked and repelled his hand. Inuyasha yelped and pulled his hand back. Miroku studied the sword with a keen eye.

"Why the hell did it repel me?" Inuyasha practically growled.

"It has Miko ki, so maybe that's why," Kagome suggested.

Miroku reached and grasped the handle. They watched as he tried to lift it. Sweat beaded at his forehead as he struggled. The sword didn't budge from its place on the ground. Miroku ceased his struggle and stood up with a sigh.

"It seems to repel youkai and not respond to humans," Miroku sighed.

"It's just a sword," Bankotsu commented. He was eager to lift the sword. His hand had missed his Banryuu. He couldn't wait until he could have another sword in his hand.

"Care to try Sango?" Miroku challenged.

"If I was interested, but I am not," Sango replied as Miroku frowned.

"Give it a try Ban-Chan," Kagome encouraged. He raised an eyebrow at this with a shrug.

"Eh," he responded as Kagome growled at him.

"He couldn't lift it," Inuyasha mocked with a hidden grin. Bankotsu's eyes slid open and he glared at the hanyou.

"What was that?" Bankotsu questioned.

"I said you're too weak, and apparently stupid!" Inuyasha repeated with force.

"I'll show you weak!" Bankotsu growled.

He walked over to the sword and bent down to the ground. His hand hovered above the handle with a brief fear. If it rejected him, did it mean that Kagome rejected him? The sword was apart of her, and it was a possibility.

'Am I willing to chance that?' Bankotsu wondered.

A look of determination passed over his face. He gripped the handle and sighed in relief. Their eyes were watching as he stood in the silence with his hand on the handle. Bankotsu quickly lifted the sword above him. His eyes widened as he regained his balance. He spun the sword above him much like he wielded his Banryuu. Something felt different about this sword. It pulsed in his hand and he felt warmth spread across him.

"This is interesting," Miroku commented.

"Thanks for stating the obvious," Sango sighed. Miroku gave her a smile and she rolled her eyes.

"What does this mean?" Inuyasha asked Kagome and she tensed.

"Toutousai said the sword was mine and I could do what I deem fit," Kagome explained.

"Why can he lift it?" Inuyasha almost growled as his face turned red.

"I don't know, but he can have it," Kagome calmly said. Bankotsu looked over at her in surprise.

"Are you sure?" Bankotsu questioned with disbelief. It was like she was giving a part of herself to him.

"It's yours…just no rampaging!" Kagome stressed as he grinned.

"You can't trust him with a weapon!" Inuyasha hissed.

"I think the weapon trusts him. It was made from my Miko ki," Kagome reminded.

"Still," Inuyasha whined.

"A darkness is coming, we need all the fighters we can gather," Kagome softly said.

"Kagome is right, we should take this as a good sign," Miroku interrupted.

"I'll never trust him. Once a killer, always a killer," Inuyasha said as Bankotsu glared at him with dark eyes.

"Just get along, I'm not asking for friendship," Kagome sighed.

"Keh!"

"Eh, whatever."

Kagome smiled and gave a wistful look to both of them. They each were someone special in her heart. Her gaze turned back to the sky and she sighed. Something was coming and she could feel it call out her name.

Amatsu-Mikaboshi stood at the edge of the mountain and glared down into the depths of the drop-off. His crimson eyes searched the drop-off for anything of usefulness. A grim smile twisted on his lips as the wind rushed up from the depths. His hair blew around him before the wind vanished. He held his hand over the drop-off and closed his eyes. The wind shot up and his body pulsed red.

"Come to me Byakko, heed my call and obey," Mikaboshi calmly demanded.

The wind remained as the red aura mixed in with it. A red ball of energy formed from the wind as Mikaboshi opened his eyes. A smirk appeared on his lips as he forced his evil into the wind. The wind howled with rage before it became subdued. The red orb exploded to reveal a figure. Mikaboshi studied the figure with anticipation.

The figure was definitely male. His artic eyes stood out against the pure white of his braided hair. His skin was smooth and flawless. Along his bare arms, there were black stripes similar to a Tiger. His ivory skin reflected the sunlight as he glared at the god before him.

"Why have you summoned me?" Byakko coldly asked.

"A Miko and her dead lover seek the gift the four guardians offer," Mikaboshi informed as the guardian studied him.

"Then let them come," Byakko hissed.

"They seek only power," Mikaboshi warned.

"This is not my concern," Byakko calmly said.

"They wish to destroy the balance of the world," Mikaboshi stated.

"Then I will deal with them," Byakko assured.

Mikaboshi grinned as Byakko transformed into a giant white tiger. His form vanished as a gust of wind traveled down the mountain. Everything would go according to his plan.

'Soon the my darkness will affect them all.'

Kagome watched as Bankotsu lifted the sword and began to spar some invisible enemy. He brought the sword down and the blade struck the ground. Kagome squinted her eyes and searched for the life in the sword. There was something about the sword that caught her attention. It was as if the sword reacted to something. The Tetsusaiga reacted to Inuyasha, why not this sword.

'But what does it react too?' Kagome wondered.

"Damn," Bankotsu mumbled as Kagome turned her attention to him.

"What's up?" Kagome asked as she watched him stick the sword in the ground.

"I can lift it…but it seems dead," Bankotsu mumbled.

"Maybe you need to fight a real opponent," Kagome suggested.

"Maybe," Bankotsu agreed.

Kagome jumped from the Goshinboku and pulled the prayer beads from her pouch. Bankotsu raised an eyebrow at the beads. Kagome gave a smirk that had her eyes spark with mischief.

"I need to train not make jewelry," Bankotsu teased.

"So now you mock my weapon?" Kagome asked with fake shock.

"Those are just beads," Bankotsu dryly pointed out.

Kagome smirked and focused her Miko ki into the beads. She had been trying to make it so she could work the beads with one command. When she first began using her beads, she had commanded them in haiku. One word commands took much more energy and focus. The beads glowed and took on a warm feeling.

"Release," Kagome whispered as they formed into a staff.

"Impressive," Bankotsu mumbled.

"Just watch," Kagome whispered as she charged him.

Bankotsu quickly brought the Zanbato down to block her swing. Purifying energy sparked as the weapons clashed. Kagome pressed her weight against the staff and used it to push Bankotsu back. He grinned and twisted their weapons to the side so they were forced to break apart. Kagome jumped back and watched as he charged at her. She effortlessly dodged the sword as it slammed into the ground.

Kagome smiled asshe seriously fought the other. This was a chance to brush up on some skills without the sense of danger. Kagome kept dodging each slice and movement of the sword.

"Whip," Kagome commanded the beads.

She brought the whip around and made sure she had a firm hold on the blade. Bankotsu tugged at the sword and frowned when he found it wouldn't come free. Kagome smirked and roughly yanked on her whip with the intent of pulling the sword from his grip. Bankotsu held onto the weapon and followed the pull of the weapon. Kagome squeaked as he reached out grasped her beads. She froze expecting the weapon to react on its guard. Nothing could hold or grasp her beads without feeling their wrath. They would pulse and begin to purify the offender.

Bankotsu wrapped her beads around his fist and pulled her closer to him. Kagome's eyes remained trained on the beads.

"What's wrong?" Bankotsu questioned.

"You should be injured," Kagome whispered. Bankotsu raised an eyebrow in confusion before he glanced at the beads in his hand.

"There just beads," Bankotsu muttered.

'Why didn't they react?' Kagome wondered.

"No…they should have attacked you when you touched them," Kagome explained.

"Maybe their broke," Bankotsu offered.

"How disgusting," A cold voice stated. "The dead have no place among the living."

Author's Note:

Another chapter, finally uploaded. I'm proud of the way this story is going.
Thanks to everyone that continues to review.
Please leave a review and I'll update again