Chapter Six
Karmila finally started the walk back to where she was staying. She had sat next to that stream for a long time and had thought about a lot of things. She really wanted to see what her biological father was really like. She'd heard stories about him but it never registered that they were closely related.
Stopping at the door to the room where she guessed everyone would be, she took a deep breath and stepped inside. All heads turned to her, including her sister's, which she guessed wasn't really her sister anymore but her cousin. Walking over to her, she stood and they hugged. Hoping she was doing the right thing, Karmila hugged Kagomae and Inu Yasha in turn.
Sesshomaru stood when she approached him. Tilting her face up, he looked into her eyes. "You don't have to do this you know." She smiled and hugged him, burying her face in his kimono. "I know." She whispered. Laying a hand on her hair, he put his arms around her.
Kagomae patted Inu Yasha's hand. "I know. We'll miss her." Lana snuck away from everyone and into a dark room. This isn't fair. I know I should be happy for her, but I'm going to miss her way too much and it isn't fair! Shaking with emotion, she let the angry and confused tears just come.
Next Morning In Inu Yasha's Time
Sesshomaru was already up when Karmila got up. Another thing they had in common; up before anyone else. Stepping outside she was greeted by the songs of birds, warm sunshine and the fresh smell of the morning. "Are all mornings like this one?" Karmila asked, breathing it in.
"No, sometimes it rains. Or it's cloudy, or foggy, or snowy, or cold, or frosty." Making a face at him, he chuckled.
"Kagomae's daughter-"
"Lana?" Karmila offered. Sesshomaru smiled.
"Yes. Lana. She seems so much like my brother, it's unbelievable. Quick on her feet, quick with a weapon and never lets her guard down to a stranger. She'll do well if she ever goes for any kind of training." Karmila smiled at all the times they'd got into a fistfight. Of course, her being the girly-girl type she was, lost every time.
"Yeah, she is. Took out a whole gang once. If she's anything like Da -err- her dad was then, man." Another awkward silence. "So, do you know what we're doing today?" She asked, playing with her hair.
"Well, I know for sure that we're visiting an old swords maker." She blinked at him. "Swords maker? Why?"
"Apparently, for your and Lana's birthday's." Karmila looked stunned. Her have a sword? The closet thing to a sword she knew how to use was a nail file.
"I don't get it. Why would someone give me a sword?" Sesshomaru rose, kissed her forehead and said, "You'll see." Then walked into the house at the sweet aroma of bacon.
That Afternoon In Inu Yasha's Time
"Daddy, where are we going? We've been walking forever." Lana complained. Inu Yasha put an arm around his daughter.
"You'll see soon enough, Lana." Just then they reached their destination and the girls just stood and gawked.
Turning to Sesshomaru Karmila said, "We don't really have to go over there do we?" He laughed and tugged on her hair. "If you want, I'll carry you." Karmila thought about and climbed onto his back.
Lana clung to her parents and Miroku's daughter, Minkania, just followed cautiously.
"This is too weird." Minkania said, looking around. Lana, Karmila and Minkania all jumped when the old swords maker made his appearance.
"Inu Yasha! How nice to see you again! Lets look at the Tetsusaiga shall we?" Grasping it, Inu Yasha whacked him soundly on the head.
"I told you before. No one touches my sword."
Rubbing his head, he said, "Ah, yes, yes. I remember now." Spying Karmila, Lana and Minkania he studied them.
Looking at Lana's ears, he tweaked them and earned another solid whack on the head.
"Don't even think about touching me, you disgusting creature." Karmila giggled and Minkania just rolled her eyes.
"She's just like you, Inu Yasha!" Miroku said between snorts of laughter. Lana growled at him and he quickly sobered up. Inu Yasha laid a hand on his daughters shoulder. Giving it a bit of a squeeze, she backed down some.
"I suppose you're here for some swords for these fine young lady's?" He asked, motioning for them to follow him in. Karmila cringed when she stepped inside while Lana and Minkania looked around in awe. Going over to one wall that was covered with swords, Lana picked one up and it transformed into a humongous, heavy "thing".
Looking at it, she slowly picked it up, stroking the furry handle guard. The swords maker smiled, as if looking at her and sword together literally pleased him. He nodded as he walked up to her. "Your father gave me a fang to fashion the sword with right before you were born, young one." Looking over at her father, he grinned and pointed to an unnoticeably missing fang.
"Inu Yasha, you never told me you gave him one of your fangs for the sword." Kagomae said, looking at the sword that greatly resembled the Tetsusaiga. Shrugging, he went over to their daughter. "How do you like it?" She started at it then at him. "How do I like it? How do I like it? I love it!" She threw her arms around him.
"It feels like its been molded to fit my hand and that its alive. Its wonderful." Minkania went over and looked at it. "Wow, Lana. This is a great sword."
The swords maker selected another sword, this time, from a very small series of other swords and handed it to Karmila. "Take it out." Sesshomaru encouraged.
Slowly and carefully, she withdrew the sword from its shaft. As if feeling the need to be outside, she withdrew it fully with a bright light and held it up in the air for a minute. A ruby and sapphire studded guard glittered in the afternoon sunlight.
"Wow." Minkania and Lana breathed out in unison. Karmila could feel the power surge through her hand, up her arm and throughout the rest of her body. As if for the finale, the swords maker handed Minkania a sword that appeared much smaller than the other two.
"A young woman with extremely fine talents; deserves an extremely fine sword." The swords maker said, waving a finger around in the air. "Although, none of these swords are greater than the other, they are all made and refined especially and only for you." All fathers looked extremely pleased, while the mothers looked a bit stunned.
"Now, if you would like to try these out, I believe we have company coming." At this Kagomae looked at Inu Yasha. He just folded his arms, bowed his head, closed his eyes and said, "Let them come."
The second the words were out of his mouth, the ground began to shake. Kagomae got her bow and arrow ready but Inu Yasha just held an arm in front of her. "They're ready." Was all he said.
It came as a somewhat surprise to the girls that they weren't scared, but confidant. The first demon came crashing towards them. Lana unsheathed her Tescuagia and jumped into the air.
"Iron Shadow!" She yelled and eliminated the demon with one swing. Standing back, Inu Yasha grinned proudly. Landing on her feet, she spotted two pink glass shards.
The second demon came up and Karmila sprinted out to the battlefield, pushing her cousin out of harms way. Skidding to a halt, she panted. She was mad now, really mad.
"No one tries to hurt my family and gets away with it! Silver Sheath!" And sent the demon to dust land with one hit. She, too, picked up two pink glass shards.
The third, very unwelcome, demon came charging up in a blind rage. Minkania held up her Suestmiga in front of her face. Closing her eyes, it began to glow an eerie blue. Grasping the handle, she faced the demon head-on.
"Yukai Strike!" She yelled, her voice echoing as the demon burst into dust. Picking up her two pink glass shards, she re-sheathed her Suestmiga.
Karmila looked at her Taimaiaga. "I can't believe I did that." Sesshomaru put an arm around her. "You've had it in you all this time. You just haven't had the proper outlet for it."
Inu Yasha's grin widened. "That's my girl!" Lana smiled and looked at her Tescuagia. "Thank you." She said quietly and gently slid it into its sheath. Minkania smiled and gave her friends a thumbs up sign. "Nothing can stop us now."
"Yeah!" Lana and Karmila said in unison, pumping their fists in the air. Sesshomaru turned to the swords maker. "Thank you. I shall most likely request your services again."
Kagomae hugged Lana. "Your all grown up now. I can't believe it." Lana smiled. "Well, I'm still going to be living at home until I finish school."
Minkania hugged her mother and father. "Thank you for this wonderful sword." Miroku and Sango smiled at their daughter. Little did she know that pretty soon, she would have to look after another family member. Soon-to-be family member, anyways.
Karmila turned to Sesshomaru and smiled. "Thank you." He smiled and put her hair behind her ear. "Anything for my girl." She hugged him for the first time and felt the click. Now she could fully accept that he was her father just as much as Inu Yasha was.
"So, will I be doing that often?" Lana asked. Inu Yasha laughed and squeezed her with one arm, putting the other around Kagomae. "You bet."
Lana patted her Tescuagia and said, "Good, 'cause that was sort of fun." Kagomae smirked. "Figures she'd have your love of fighting." Everyone laughed and started back to the house.
"Say, what do we do with these pink glass pieces?" Karmila asked, taking them out of her pocket. All the adults exchanged knowing and slightly worried looks, while the kids exchanged confused and curious looks.
"Looks like its high time we let them in on our part of the story." Miroku said, tightening his grip around his daughter.