Disclaimer: I do not own any of the copyrighted/licensed/trademarked materials mentioned in this fanfiction (from InuYasha to my references to Nine Inch Nails or Harry Potter). They are the properties of their respective copyright holders and I in no way am insinuating that I own them. (Consider it free advertising.) I only own the storyline and any new characters that may crop up.
Chapter Fourteen: The Newly Forged Hiraikotsu
Sango crept down the hall towards Kagome's room. She had tried to just go to sleep after the incident with Senkotsuke but failed miserably. Her head spun with confusion and inner turmoil. Her heart ached for some sense of peace. Like the kind of peace that you felt in Senkotsuke's arms? No, I shouldn't think such things. I have no right to peace while the bastard responsible for the deaths of those dearest to me still walks free. I cannot have peace yet. Kagome will know what to do. She has yet to love again … Sango reached Kagome's bedroom door and knocked softly. I don't want to wake her if she is already asleep. She heard the sound of footfalls and knew that Kagome was still awake. The door swung open slowly and silently. Kagome caught sight of Sango standing before her doorway and could see that her aura was blacker than ever. "Sango, what's the matter?" she asked with concern thick in her voice.
"I need to talk to someone. Something has happened."
"Come in." Kagome held the door open for Sango and the slayer walked in as if she were in a funeral march. "What happened, Sango?"
Sango put her head in her hands and sighed, "Senkotsuke kissed me."
The gears in Kagome's head turned at a phenomenal speed, trying to say the right thing. If the circumstances were different I would be laughing at her right now … but she will not be finding any of this funny or joyous. She blames herself as if she has done something terribly wrong. "How did it happen?"
"We were playing video games and I asked him why he was so calm about Sesshomaru becoming involved with his sister. His father and brothers flipped out, but he was totally cool with it. We got to talking, and we talked about how the death of a loved one can change people –"
"Wait a minute, how on Earth did you get on that subject?"
"I had said that I would have never expected Sesshomaru to care about someone except that I had seen how devastated he was after Rin was killed."
"I see. Go on."
"Well we talked about how all of them changed after their mother died, and I said how I never had the chance to mourn for anyone because we all focused on Naraku. I started crying, and Senkotsuke pulled me into his lap to comfort me. Next thing I knew, he was telling me that he'd never leave me and that he'd always be there for me. That's when he kissed me."
Kagome sighed. "Sango …" she began, but Sango continued.
"I tried to go to sleep and forget about it, but I couldn't. I came to talk to you since you've managed to uphold InuYasha's sacrifice for you."
Kagome looked at Sango as if she had just slapped her in the face. That's it! Enough with the light touch, it's time for some tough love. "Sango, I know you're going to think that this is just the pregnancy hormones, but you need to rejoin the ranks of reality."
"Wh-what? Kagome …"
"No, Sango. I have had enough of this. You are acting as if Miroku specifically instructed you to fade away and be a shadow of your former self before he died, but he didn't. He jumped in front of Naraku and died so that you could live damn it. Instead, you're moping about and acting as if feeling again is going to disrespect him and you're going to anger his spirit. That's bullshit, Sango! Miroku died so that you could go on to have a full, happy life, not fade away and become a wraith. Senkotsuke cares about you, and I know that deep down inside you feel the same way. I see how you look at him. Loving again isn't going to kill you."
"But, but you haven't sought another mate," Sango stuttered.
"I have a child to think of. I have no time to think about finding another man. My love has focused on my unborn son, on you, on Shippo, and on Sesshomaru. I may not have InuYasha. He may have died but I know that loving and living won't dishonor his memory. He wanted me to survive, to live, to love, to go on. Miroku wants nothing more for you to love and live again. I wouldn't pass up a moment, Sango. Take life by the throat and live like there is no tomorrow, because that's what Miroku wants you to do." Kagome took a long hard look at Sango and saw that her aura had lightened significantly. "Am I getting through to you?"
"I get you, Kagome. I just don't know if I can."
Kagome calmed and spoke to Sango softly, "I understand if you're not sure about opening up to Senkotsuke because you haven't had enough time to heal. But perhaps you should take advantage of this downtime during the search to give yourself some of that time. Just don't shut him out because you are clinging to the past. Let him help you through this. He has had losses of his own. He knows how badly you're hurting. And you know, I'd like to have my best friend back to normal in time to greet my son when he's born."
Sango smiled, and her aura was almost back to its normal hue. "I'm sorry, Kagome."
"It's all right. I tried to be nice about this, but the time had come for a heavy hand. Just remember that we're here for you and we love you. Now that you have cleared your mind a bit you can try to get some sleep."
"Yeah." Sango lazily got to her feet and then stopped, "Wait. I haven't asked in a while. How is the baby?"
Kagome smiled. "He's fine. The only thing giving me trouble is that I cannot think of a name for him. I want it to be special; to mean something, you know."
Sango nodded and muttered, "Indeed." She looked at Kagome and saw that her belly was starting to show a little more. "You know that child is going to be adored."
"Yes." Kagome smiled more to herself than anything. "I just wish sometimes that his father could see him."
Despite her strength and love, she will always miss him. But, she has the strength to go on. We should all follow her example. Sango now felt that it was her turn to offer a little comfort. "He'll always be watching."
"I know."
Sango was awoken the next morning by gentle tapping on her bedroom door. She brought her face up from her pillow in a half-awake daze. "Hmmm? Whooizit?" she mumbled looking around with half open eyes. Kilala mewed and stretched as she awoke as well.
"Miss Sango, my grandfather wants to see you in the forge," Senkotsuke's voice came through her door.
Sango slowly sat up and scratched her head, "I'll be down there in a minute."
"Okay," he said and walked away.
She rolled out of bed and rummaged through her closet. Kilala pawed the window, begging to be let outside. "All right." Sango walked over and opened the window for her, "Go play with Alex." The two-tail zipped out the window and Sango returned to her closet. After donning a Legend of Zelda tank top and her Tripp pants, Sango ran a brush through her hair and tied it in her usual high pony tail. She slipped a pair of sandals on before entering the hallway. Before she knew it her feet had carried her into the lower level of the house which accommodated the forge. The heat was intense and she thanked Kami that she had worn a tank top. She approached a large door with Senkotsuke's family crest embossed upon it. An orange hued glow lit the cracks of the door. This has to be it. Sango knocked firmly and heard Totosai rasp, "Come in, Sango." She pushed the enormous doors open and stepped into the forge. An overlarge anvil stood right before her. Totosai, Jinkaru, and Senkotsuke stood between the anvil and the bellows. Upon the anvil laid an enormous boomerang, intricately crafted and impressive in appearance.
"Is that … my hiraikotsu?" she asked in awe. Megami and Sesshomaru came from a side store room bearing bands of leather for Sango to use. Sango looked at everyone overcome with emotion. "Totosai, I don't know what to say."
Megami smiled and handed Sango the leather, "Grandfather wanted all of us to be present. The three fangs from Senkotsuke, Sesshomaru, and me were used to create this, and it was wrought by the hands of my father and grandfather. However, we all felt that you should add the finishing touch."
Sango took the leather straps from Megami with reverence. She approached the hiraikotsu slowly, as if she came into the presence of something holy. All present watched patiently and solemnly as Sango began to bind the appropriate straps and grips to the newly forged hiraikotsu. Senkotsuke strode to her cautiously and held out two matching holy charms for her to affix to her weapon. Sango met his eyes as he stood holding these ornaments out to her in an offering of forgiveness for his offense the night before. She smiled at him warmly and carefully took them from his hand, "Thank you, Senkotsuke."
"Always a pleasure, Miss Sango." He smiled back, understanding that he had been absolved of his trespass.
She undertook her duty again, securing the charms with great care. At last, she tightened the large strap that would hold the hiraikotsu to her back and bowed respectfully to Totosai and Jinkaru. "I am in your debt."
"Think nothing of it, my dear," Jinkaru said kindly.
"Don't worry," Totosai wheezed, "You'll get a bill in the mail." Jinkaru elbowed his father in the ribs.
"What are you going to name it?" Sesshomaru asked Sango.
Sango put her hand to her chin and said, "I haven't thought that far yet."
Sesshomaru approached Sango and set a hand to her shoulder, "Take it out after breakfast and get a feel for it. A name will come to you."
"Good idea," Sango mused.
"Well everyone, I'm famished. Let's go see if Grandma has finished breakfast." Megami blurted and began ushering everyone to the upper level of the house. Once on the landing Sango could smell the wonderful aromas of sausage, eggs, and French toast and her stomach began to growl. The group made their way through the hallways until they found Yamashita in the large kitchen. Kagome was setting the dining room table as Yamashita took the last batch of French toast from the grill.
"Good morning," Yamashita beamed at everyone.
They all returned her greeting and passed through to take their seats at the table. Soon everyone was digging in and making conversation. Sesshomaru eyed Megami with confusion when he saw her constructing a sandwich from her breakfast. She placed a sausage patty, a fried egg, and a slice of cheese between two pieces of French toast. When she went to take a large bite he could not stop himself from saying, "That cannot possibly taste good."
"Shush. I'm hungry and the nearest McDonald's is about forty miles away," and without another word she took a big bite.
Senkotsuke caught sight of her from the corner of his eye. "Good idea." And he followed suit. Sesshomaru shook his head (as did a few others at the table).
After breakfast Sango changed into shoes and retrieved her new weapon from the forge. She silently stole out a side door and strapped her hiraikotsu to her back as she trotted into the forest following no path in particular. Sango whistled in three short bursts, calling Kilala. It wasn't long before Sango's ears were greeted by a jovial roar as Kilala came into sight. She was already in her large neko form, and at the sight of the hiraikotsu the two-tail could hardly contain her enthusiasm. Kilala came bounding up to Sango and nuzzled her gently. Sango petted and stroked her fur, "It's been a while, girl, but I know you're up to it." Kilala jumped happily and Sango thought to herself she has spent too much time with that dog … Sango climbed atop Kilala and they sprinted through the woods together.
The pair found a broad clearing and Sango wasted no time in getting back into her routine. She gave Kilala the signal to begin their combat exercise. They both moved seamlessly through their evasive tactics. Sango lifted the boomerang from her back and took a deep breath before giving it a skilled throw. "Hiraikotsu!" Like lightning, it cut through the air and swung around in a perfect arch back to Sango's hand like it was equipped with a tracking system. Sango swelled with pride in her new weapon and gratitude towards Totosai for his skillful work. "Down, Kilala. I need to really get a feel for this new baby." Kilala landed gently and Sango dismounted. She strode forward about ten paces and sent the hiraikotsu air born once again. It swept around the trees and clipped the tops clean off. She reached up and the weapon once again returned straight to her hand.
Sango caught sight of something new to the environment upon catching her hiraikotsu. She saw a figure silhouetted by the sun holding a large claymore like Bankotsu's Banryuu, the U.S. translation calls it a "halberd" but a halberd is a staff with an axe-head whereas a claymore is a great sword. White hair streaked with red shone in the sunlight. The figure raised its hand and beckoned for Sango to attack. The figure spoke, "I won't give you an opening."
Senkotsuke … Sango readied her weapon. With a furious war cry, she charged Senkotsuke and he mirrored her actions. They met midway through the clearing, swinging their weapons. A tremendous clamor of clashing metal pealed throughout the forest. Senkotsuke gave Sango a calculating glance. "Do you still have it in you, Sango? Can you still fight?" Sango broke away from him with a growl that would have made any of the dog demons proud. She wildly swung the hiraikotsu at him and he avoided her with ease. "Come on, Sango! You can do better than that! Hit me!" he egged her on.
Kilala charged at Senkotsuke for attacking Sango. Sango put a hand out to her, "No, Kilala. It's okay." She sighed to calm herself and turned back to Senkotsuke. "This is one-on-one." Regaining her stance, Sango raised her hiraikotsu once again. Senkotsuke lifted his claymore. Each gave the other a shake down with their eyes until they jumped back in unison. With another charge they began an all out brawl, meeting swing for swing and countered each hit the other delivered. As they sparred Sango felt her spirits lift and mind clear. With each minute she felt the atrophy that gripped her soul loosen its stranglehold. As Sango eased back into her usual fighting mind frame her movements became more fluid. With split-second precision Sango saw an opening and delivered a strong upper cut square on Senkotsuke's chin.
He stopped a moment and rotated his jaw. Senkotsuke looked to Sango. "Good hit," he complimented. Sango nodded and stepped back to ready for another round. She brought her heel back and as she shifted her weight to that foot it fell through a rabbit's warren. Sango completely lost her balance and fell backwards. She shouted as she toppled over. Upon contact, she was completely silent.
Sango opened her eyes and found herself in the lounge of an inn they had once stopped at while in the Feudal Era. Geishas danced for customers and poured sake for others. Sango looked across the table from her and saw Miroku sipping his own cup of sake. She jumped at the sight of him. "Miroku!"
He set his cup down and looked to her with concern. "Sango, are you happy?"
She was thrown for a loop by his sudden question. "I don't know."
"I want you to be happy. Are you doing what will make you happy?"
Sango felt guilty as she answered him. "No."
"Sango, your soul is withering away. Don't fade for me. You've found your fighting spirit again, but you need to fight to regain your passion for life."
"Miroku, it's just so hard."
He reached out for her hand and spoke firmly, "I know it is. But you have to, for me. I'm dead, Sango, and nothing will change that. I want to look down on you from time to time and see you making the most of life; not letting it slip through your fingers!"
Tears began to well up in her eyes. "Miroku …" she rasped as she began to cry.
Miroku stood and walked around the table to her. He knelt down and took her hands in his. "My time is up. I have to go now. I want you to be happy," he leaned towards her and kissed her brow. "Live again. Love again."
Sango gave a start as she awoke in her bed. The back of her head felt cold and sore. The sounds of muffled weeping met her ears. She opened her eyes to see Yamashita sitting next to her. Yamashita's face brightened at the sight of her opened eyes. "Ah! There we go, my child. I knew you'd come around soon enough." Yamashita turned from Sango and chastised the weeping figure, "Now, Senkotsuke, control yourself. She's fine."
Sango brought her head up slowly and saw Senkotsuke by the foot of her bed with his face buried in her blankets while he cried. "What happened?" she mumbled, feeling a little dizzy. Sango carefully felt the back of her head. Oh, an ice pack … that's why my head is cold …
"It's all my fault," Senkotsuke sobbed into her comforter.
Yamashita turned a scolding eye to him. "I said to calm down!" The wise demoness looked back to Sango and Senkotsuke's sobbing diminished. "When you fell, your head struck a log. Luckily, it was mostly rotted and just knocked you out cold. Senkotsuke picked you up and raced back here. Kilala couldn't even keep up with him. He came in crying and screaming. He thought you'd been gravely injured but you merely suffered a stout concussion. You've been out for a while. Kagome saved you some dinner." Sango wrinkled her brown and frowned. Yamashita asked, "Are you feeling nauseous, dear?"
"No," Sango groaned, "I just don't want to move."
"That's all right. I'll have Kagome bring it up to you," Yamashita got up and left Sango's room.
Senkotsuke slowly brought his face away from the blankets and looked at Sango with bleary, tear-stained eyes. "I'm sorry. It's my fault you were injured. I should have caught you."
Sango slightly shook her head at him. "No, it isn't your fault, Senkotsuke. We were training and accidents are bound to happen. Just be thankful that your claymore didn't slip and really strike me."
"Don't say that!" he rasped as he grimaced from the thought.
"Then don't blame yourself," she stated firmly, making it abundantly clear that the subject was not open for further discussion. Senkotsuke bowed his head slightly, agreeing silently that he would not press the matter any more. Sango looked over Senkotsuke's bent head and saw her new hiraikotsu hanging on the wall on new hooks. "Where did those come from? I didn't put those there," she mused, talking about the wall mounts.
"Oh, I did that when you first went out. It was my other gift; Sesshomaru's, too. It was his idea, but I made them in the forge early this morning."
"That was very nice," she said with a smile, "Thank you, Senkotsuke." He blushed and waived his hand signaling to her that it was no big deal. Sango took a deep breath and thought for a moment about her day. I didn't even get a feel for my weapon. I can't name it yet. But I feel the fire again. The fire to fight. The fire to feel. I feel … free. She watched Senkotsuke nervously fidgeting on the edge of the foot of her bed. He fights well. What else could I expect from a family like his? But what I don't understand was his taunting. Is it a combat technique of his? Or was he speaking his mind? "Senkotsuke?"
"Yes," he acknowledged her.
"When we were fighting today, why did you speak so harshly to me?"
"Oh, that was nothing personal. I find that it is most effective at times to tease an opponent into a frenzy to get their blood boiling. They blindly attack at times and may cause them to make mistakes. With you, I was hoping to get you to unleash some raw strength to see what your new hiraikotsu can really do."
"What my new hiraikotsu can do? What are you talking about?"
"Your new weapon has been made with three demon fangs by a master craftsman, there is bound to be a demonic attack that can be revealed. That's why I kept taunting you, hoping that you would unwittingly activate that attack."
Sango crinkled her brow. "You mean that I can perform an attack like the Tetsusaiga's Wind Scar?"
"Along those same principles, yes."
Sango's mind roamed somewhere between shocked and impressed, "I hope that I can learn this attack before facing Naraku. It would help so much."
Senkotsuke nodded. "Yes, but don't worry about that tonight. You should relax. That was quite a hit you took," he stopped to laugh, "In that case, I'd better relax, too, before you give me another upper cut."
Sango now laughed, "Sorry about that. You were provoking me."
"I deserved it. I knew I was playing with fire by talking to you like that. Kagome told me about how many times you slapped Mi – whoops!" Senkotsuke looked as if he almost swore at temple.
Sango sat up slowly. "Don't worry about it. I did slap Miroku a lot, and he deserved every welt I gave him." Senkotsuke still looked embarrassed, and Sango reached out and petted his hair. "Hey, don't worry about it. A lot has happened in the last twenty-four hours, and I'm not quite so upset anymore. Kagome knocked some sense into me, and oddly, so did the log." Senkotsuke looked at her as if she may have hit her head harder than they thought. "Maybe I'll tell you once we've taken care of Naraku, but trust me, I'm fine. It doesn't nearly hurt so bad to talk about him today."
Senkotsuke leaned up and kissed her brow. "I'm glad you're better. It killed me every time you'd cry. And I'm doubly glad that you didn't really get hurt today. I would have never forgiven myself."
Sango smiled and stroked his hair again. She whispered, "I would have wanted you to."
The next morning Yamashita called for Megami, Sesshomaru, Kagome, Sango, Senkotsuke, and Shippo to join her in the sitting room before breakfast. One by one they ushered into the room and sat upon brocade cushions as Yamashita poured tea. At last, Kagome came in leading a half-awake Shippo. She poured the last two cups of green tea and spoke, "I'm glad you're all here. Totosai and I have collaborated on a map of the lakes of the Blue Mountain region. Now, the family has frequently visited Meacham Lake. There is no strange activity there or we would have stumbled across it by now." She reached under the low table and produced a 20" by 30" map of the area. She unrolled it on the center of the table and pointed to an area marked Union County. "In this area there is easy access to three lakes. We have never been to any of them. We have been close, but never really investigated them: Wallowa Lake, Hot Lake, and Morgan Lake. I suggest that you start there. Since we only have two licensed drivers and two people who are fluent in English, I suggest that you split into two groups. Make it look like you are camping and are tourists. Each investigate a separate lake in the morning, and regroup to examine the third in the afternoon. I also suggest that you take your trucks. Getting to these areas are a bit difficult."
"Good work, Grandmother," Senkotsuke said with pride.
"Thank you, Yamashita-san," Sesshomaru bowed his head.
Yamashita shook a finger at him. "I've told you to stop that, young man. Call me 'Grandmother'." Sesshomaru chuckled, for he was reminded of Kagome's mother.
"When should we go?" Shippo asked with a yawn.
"Well, my dears," Yamashita said loftily, "I'd suggest tomorrow."
"But Yamashita-san," Kagome blurted, "Everyone's armor and swords are still in transport. The delivery service said it would take two to three weeks for them to arrive here due to customs and international freight procedures."
Yamashita smiled softly. "My son pulled a few strings, put money into the right hands, and they arrived first thing this morning."
Sesshomaru felt that he could dance a jig from sheer joy (if he knew how), and Kagome let out a sigh of relief knowing that her mate's sword was safe.
Megami looked around the table. "Tomorrow then?" she asked of everyone.
All heads nodded in agreement.
