Lessons Learned

Author: Shortey 83

Chapter 3 – Life is indeed full of Surprises

Disclaimer: I do NOT own InuYasha or Skyrim! I only borrow ideas because trying to drill them out of my head with power tools doesn't work! ^.^

Story Start:

The first night sleeping in an unfamiliar place hadn't gone over too well with Takara. It was spent mostly tossing and turning with thoughts of what could and would happen as well as wondering if anything could have been done differently to change her current circumstances. Then she wondered, despite her loneliness if she would. Life had just offered her a chance at adventure and there she lay doubting herself. She decided late into the warm summer night, that she would embrace this curve ball life had tossed her way no matter what.

In the Western Lands…

Sesshomaru stood out on the balcony to his chambers starring out into the starry night, deep in thought. The moon was full, reminding him of many years past. He knew that the world thought him cold and unfeeling, but there had been once- once when he felt freely and… He stopped his thoughts the best he could. The pain of that loss still ran as deep as it always had. It was like a fresh wound to his chest when he allowed himself to revisit those memories. How many times had he starred at the full moon, waiting for a change that would never come, a caress he would never again feel? Too many he decided and resigned himself to the fact that he would continue to do so. Power had been his escape from the pain, the more power he acquired, the more land he conquered, and the more foes he destroyed, the more it numbed the pain and left him cold.

Despite his best efforts, his mind wandered back to the days, many, many summers ago when he was young.

Having just mastered his abilities to fly in secret, Sesshomaru escaped his tutor's lessons. He allowed himself to free fall from the staggering heights of his mother's floating castle above the clouds, letting the wind rush past him. His mother would be busy in her chambers and his father was currently away from the palace leaving no one to catch him slipping out as he neared the ground he slowed his decent and landed softly in a forest. From the scent of things, there weren't any demons nearby, however, there were faint traces of humans, one sweet one in particular that drew him towards it.

"My Lady!" Someone shouted, making the trees and bush shake noisily as they passed through them. It was an older human woman, she seemed to be looking for someone. Sesshomaru hid behind a tree and watched as the woman ran off in a different direction, still looking for her young mistress while Sesshomaru continued to search for the sweet smelling human. Her scent was strong and yet he couldn't find her. That's when it hit him. Someone had tossed an apple and it hit him right on the head. He grabbed his head where the apple had hit him and didn't react fast enough to move out of the way of the figure jumping out of the tree in front of him.

"What are you doing, demon?" It was a little human girl dressed in a light pink kimono, her raven hair falling down her back freely. She wasn't much shorter than he was, but then again he was still a pup. "You aren't supposed to be here." She said, her face in a pout.

Sesshomaru dropped his hand to his side and clenched his fist. "How dare you speak to me that way, human?" he demanded "I go where I please." He had to admit that he wasn't expecting the little human girl to ball up her fist and hit him in the face and knock him down. "You better leave" she threatened him "I said you're not supposed to be here." Sesshomaru was a little stunned for a minute, unable to reply before he quickly stood back up. "You shouldn't be here either if that servant woman was looking for you." He argued taking a step towards her, but she balled up both fists and took on a defensive stance.

Sesshomaru took his time looking the girl over, he wasn't an expert but this human girl appeared to be around the same age as he, perhaps eight or nine winters. Her raven black hair was almost half way down her back, and her eyes were a bright blue that stood out against the dark tresses that escaped her face. She was small but fierce. "This is my father's land. I can be where I want to be, and right now I don't want to be at my lessons which is why I'm here." That caught Sesshomaru by surprise and he smiled. "Then perhaps I should be here too because I'm avoiding my lessons too." The girl looked surprised at that, but slowly lowered her fists as she looked him over. Then she gave him a wide smile. "You are in the right place for that, then. My name's Kimiko. What's yours?" "Sesshomaru"

From then on, Sesshomaru snuck out of his mother's palace whenever his father wasn't there to catch him although he had a feeling his father knew he was up to something. Sesshomaru's mother may not have cared that he was sneaking out of his lessons , but his father did.

Once he had been caught, sneaking back into the palace and scolded by his father. His father had mentioned how he smelled of human but he didn't press Sesshomaru for answers, he simply warned him to quit sneaking out of his lessons and allowed him to have one day every seven to go and do whatever it was when he left the castle.

For a few years after, Sesshomaru would meet Kimiko in the woods on the outskirts of her father's palace. The two of them hardly noticed how the years flew by, but as usual with a male and a female, they slowly became more aware of the other. Kimiko had grown into a beautiful human woman, her long raven hair reaching past the curve of her hips. Her face went from child to woman in what seemed like no time to Sesshomaru. Her high cheekbones, cute little nose, and cherry lips were pretty, but her bright blue eyes, framed with long dark eyelashes drew him every time.

Sesshomaru wouldn't forget the day he had been bold enough to plant a kiss on her soft lips, nor how eagerly she returned his affections. He would also never forget the day he found her in their usual spot, her face stained by tears and her blue eyes red from crying. Her father had planned to have her married off, and Sesshomaru wouldn't allow her father to take his woman.

He asked her to meet him there the next night and she agreed without hesitation. That night Sesshomaru sought out his father and told him that he would be leaving the palace and not returning. It was then he revealed his love for Kimiko to his father and his plans to steal her away. He had expected rage from his father for his wanting a human for his, but he later came to realize that his father didn't share the same dislike towards humans. He only warned him to be careful and always guard his woman.

The next night, Sesshomaru had whisked Kimiko away under the cover of night, unhindered, and brought her to the little cabin deep in the mountains when he wanted to escape his mother. That night he had taken her as his, the night between them filled with the sounds of their lovemaking and their passion. Each night they sat out on the porch of their little home after he had prepared a meal for her and watched the night sky. Sesshomaru had whisked her away on the night of a full moon, and each full moon she had insisted that they make love in its glow. Sesshomaru had never known such happiness. He wasn't sure which had been the better. The night when she told him that she was with his child or the night she had given birth to their daughter, Asami.

That happiness had been stolen from him not even a full moon cycle later. It seemed that Kimiko's father had never given up his search for his lost daughter and he had found her while Sesshomaru had been away hunting. He felt her fear through their connection and rushed back towards their home. He would never forget the sound of her screams as they echoed down the mountain, nor the smell of the smoke that filled his nose. When he entered the clearing, her screams had died, and their home had been reduced to nothing but a pile of burning wood. Her father sat atop his horse watching the home where his daughter burned with her child and it was in that instant Sesshomaru came to despise humanity as the pain and rage of his loss surged through him leaving him cold and unfeeling as he butchered the army her father had brought, leaving him for last as he tore the bastard's heart out. He had failed his love and avenged her and in that instant, he vowed to never again allow humans cause him such pain. If he hated them and if he didn't love them, then they could no longer harm him.

Presently Sesshomaru sighed and pushed back the memories of his child and the human woman he had dared to love and lost. Had she only known how to defend herself perhaps she could have escaped, but then again she was but a mere human woman. What could she have done? It was too late to worry about the past though. It was not within his awesome powers to change. Even Tenseiga had not been forged yet. This pain would not consume him. With those thoughts, Sesshomaru headed inside out of the full moon's haunting glow.

The following day, Takara waited just outside the village with Rin and Kaos for InuYasha to return with this Totosai person. In between bouts of Rin playing games with Kaos, she would sit with Takara and tell her about her own adventures with Sesshomaru, InuYasha's older brother. It seemed like this Sesshomaru person was nice enough to Rin, but seemed to be cold towards everyone else. She would also talk about her secret infatuation with Kohaku, Sango's younger brother but made Takara promise not to tell a soul which she vowed she wouldn't.

At other times Rin would bring the flowers that were in bloom over for them to make crowns and necklaces out of while singing little songs about Sesshomaru. Takara had to admit then and there that she wished she had been lucky enough to have a little sister as cute as Rin. She was a sweet girl with a heart of gold. It was no wonder she had managed to find her way into a cold demon's heart.

It was about mid-day when InuYasha returned with a strange looking old man, dressed in green rags, riding a bull with three eyes. This was apparently the master sword smith Totosai. "Pleased to meet you, Master Totosai" Takara greeted him with a polite bow. "I must say" the sword smith began "You're awful nice to be around this one" He pointed back to InuYasha, who then hit the old guy over the head. "Yeah, Yeah… How about you stop blabbing and take a look at that bow of hers." InuYasha grumbled, his fist still balled at the smith who rubbed his head.

"Let's have a look then" he said holding out his hand. Takara picked up the bow and held it out to him, but she didn't release it. Totosai gave her a question look "I won't steal it, if that's what you're thinking" he assured her. "That's not the problem" she blushed in embarrassment. She must have appeared really attached to the weapon. "It's just that it seems to be too heavy for anyone but me to hold." She explained. Totosai nodded "I consider myself warned, so go ahead and release it so I may see for myself." Takara hesitated but did as the old, demon smith bade and as soon as her fingers left the weapon, it fell heavily to the ground, taking the smith with it. He looked at it confused for a moment before he tried to lift it again, to no avail. "You were indeed wise in calling me here, InuYasha" The smith finally got out. Totosai then looked back to Takara with instructions to pick the bow up where he could better examine it.

He was silent as he studied the runes and the make of the bow before he spoke again. "Can you use this?" Takara shrugged. "I never tried. I was just trying to get rid of it when we found out I was the only one who could hold it." The smith seemed to mull over her words before he spoke again. "Put on the quiver and see if you can fire it." He looked behind him. "Aim for that tree with the low hanging branch." With those instructions he moved behind her along with everyone else.

Takara placed the quiver on her back, and drew an arrow before looking back at everyone. "Just so you all know, you're not allowed to laugh at my failure because I've never shot one of these before." At that Kagome came up and showed her how to hold the bow and explained the basics of firing a shot. With a nod, Takara put an arrow against the bowstring. This was going to be the fun part, the bowstring and the bow itself didn't look like it had any give. She probably wouldn't even be able to pull it back, but she tried anyways. Taking a deep breath, Takara lifted the bow with the arrow firm against the bowstring and prayed as she pulled back. To her shock the bow gave way to her efforts and she took aim. She saw her target and released the arrow. It flew straight and fast, right to the point where she had been aiming.

"Nice shot" Kagome complimented. "I honestly think that was beginner's luck" Takara admitted to her.

"Well give it another go, and see" Totosai urged.

Takara gave him a nod and aimed just above the first arrow and again hit her mark, shocking herself again. "Impressive, now go and retrieve your arrows." But as Takara moved to fetch her arrows they disappeared and Kagome gasped. "They're back in your quiver!" Sure enough, when she turned to look and counted her arrows, she had twenty four again.

"What were you thinking right before they disappeared?" The old smith asked her, moving closer to get a better look at her arrows. "I was just thinking about how I didn't want to walk all the way over there to get them." She giggled. How convenient that she didn't have to worry about fetching her own arrows. Totosai nodded and sat down, looking like he was thinking hard about something. Takara and everyone else sat down too as they waited for him to answer. In the meantime Kaos had turned into a lap dog, or at least he must have thought he was one as he moved and put his furry rump right in her lap. "I'm sorry. Were you sitting here?" she asked, reaching up and gently tugging at the skin on each side of his head while he panted from running around with Rin. He eventually moved to lay down, not moving his butt from her lap while doing so.

Everyone laughed at him. "He's quite a character, isn't he?" Kagome laughed while moving over to pet him. "You have no idea. He's quite a lover too. I probably should have named him Casanova." Kagome cocked her head to the side "How come?" Takara leaned forward and drummed a little on his sides before she looked over. "Call him over to you for a second" Kagome got to her knees and patted them. "Come here Kaos" she called him. He got up and went over to her and sat beside her with a paw on her lap.

"Kaos" He turned his big black head towards her "Does she want the kisses?" It was so sweet how he cocked his head to the side before he wagged his tail. "Give her the kisses." No sooner did she say the words then Kaos was licking Kagome's face insistently. Breaking out into a fit of giggles, Kagome fell back laughing, Kaos following her the whole way until she rolled onto her stomach to hide her face, but that didn't stop him from licking her neck and ears first on one side before he jumped over to the other side. Takara gave him a few more minutes before she called him off. Kagome sat up still giggling as Kaos walked away.

Takara winked at her before she gasped. At her gasp Kaos stopped and sat, putting his ears back and looked at her with big, sad brown eyes. He looked so guilty. "Kaos…"she teasingly scolded "How could you?" He gave is tail a little wag as he looked at her. "You should be ashamed of yourself…" she told him and he put his head down and a paw over his muzzle… looking ashamed indeed. She had taught him that trick when he kept chewing up her dad's shoes. Who could possibly look at that and not forgive him? The group laughed and Kaos made his way back to Takara and she hugged his fluffy body. This is why he was her best friend. He always made her laugh even if he didn't understand how happy he made her.

"Well, I believe I know what we're dealing with here" Totosai finally spoke up. Everyone turned their attention back to the smith. "That is a dragon bone bow and those are dragon bone arrows." He revealed. "What's that mean, old man?" InuYasha demanded. Totosai cleared his throat and began.

"As you all are probably aware of, dragons are not mortal creatures, not demons, and yet they are not gods. They are however, children of the earth. They are creatures of the elements, fire, water, earth, wind, and lightning. Creatures not to be trifled with for the simple fact that no matter how many times you destroy a dragon, you cannot kill it. At least most people can't." Totosai paused and Sango spoke up. "What do you mean they can't be destroyed? My village had slain several dragons in its time." Totosai nodded in agreement. "That may be true, but where you destroyed the dragon's body, you didn't truly slay it. You see the only way to truly destroy a dragon is by destroying its soul. Even if the body dies, the dragon can be reborn in no time within its element. For example, if the dragon was a water dwelling being, its soul would only need to find water for it to be reborn."

"So what does any of this have to do with Takara and her bow?" InuYasha asked. That was what she had been wondering herself.

The old demon looked to Sango. "What did your village do with the bones of the dragon's it slayed?" Sango thought for a moment. "Nothing because they disappeared when we killed the dragon; they returned to whatever element the dragon was." Totosai nodded. "That is exactly my point because you never truly destroyed them." He pointed an old boney finger at Takara. "That bow was forged by someone who had the power to destroy a dragon's soul and I'm willing to bet my life that you are able to do the same." Takara starred at him wide eyed in shock.

"How would she go about doing that, Master Totosai?" Miroku asked.

"It's simple, when she slays a dragon, she will absorb its soul into her own. To put it simple she is a mortal being with the soul of an immortal dragon."

Takara's head was spinning with so many questions she felt she might faint. "Slay a dragon?"
She asked "I had a hard time flushing my goldfish when it died. How do you expect me to slay a dragon?"

Kagome giggled "Did you really?" and Takara nodded. "Yeah I cried too. It was pathetic, but that still doesn't answer why I am able to hold and use it."

"Of course it does. You see, with the power to absorb a dragon's soul you hold the unique ability to handle a weapon made from the bones of a truly defeated being. I'm not telling you to go out and slay them without cause. I'm telling you that you have the ability to protect others from them. Not all dragons are menacing creatures bent on death. There are as many peaceful ones as there are fierce ones." The pointed towards the bow again. "You see the beauty of that weapon is that it is able to determine the will of your foes. During battle, if your foe truly means to harm another out of an evil desire, it will allow you to fire it. However, if your foe has no intention of causing true harm it will not allow you to fire it. Of course it may be used to hunt game, but as far as using it as a weapon, it will never allow you to falter from an unjust path." He stood up and approached Takara, who sat taking in all he had said. He ran an old finger along the bowstring. "That is possible because of this." He told her, still stroking the bowstring. "This, my dear, is a dragon's heart string which is how the bow is able to determine good and bad intentions. It will not lead you astray."

He looked her in the eyes as he spoke again. "You have the ability to absorb a dragon's soul but you also possess a gentle and forgiving heart. That is why only you are able to hold and wield the bow as a weapon. While it may be able to attack, it was made to defend and protect. That was the task you were given. It doesn't mean you have to seek out dragons to destroy them so you can stop worrying about that."

Takara let out the breath she had been holding. "That's a relief, but I guess if I get word of a dragon attack, I'm supposed to investigate huh?"

The old smith nodded and gave her a pat on the head. "Yes, but don't worry. There aren't many reports of dragon attacks typically." With that the old man stood and jumped up on his cow and began to leave. "I would suggest getting some battle practice though. Remember your target was a tree and those don't move." He called back over his shoulder leaving the group with many questions that he wasn't able to answer.