Author's Note: Sorry if this chapter is a little clunky, I'm out of town and borrowing my sister's laptop. I've really wanted to write the whole time I've been away so here goes…please read n' review and shoot me any suggestions you might have! Thanks!

Disclaimer: don't own Inuyasha

Inutaisho and Myouga had been traveling for a little more than three days on their journey back to the home of Toutousai when a thought occurred to the demon lord. Myouga had said that he had known Toutousai for years; perhaps he knew something about the swordsmith's strange habits. All he knew about Toutousai was where he lived and that he was supposed to be an excellent swordsmith. Hokutouki hadn't said much else about him, but then his ex-brother in law hadn't been very forthcoming with many details during Inutaisho's visit.

"Myouga, do you have any idea where Toutousai may have gone?" he asked. "Are there any places he frequents besides his home in the volcanic caverns?"

"I'm afraid I really couldn't say, milord." Myouga answered. "I've never known him to travel much, which is why I was surprised to find his home abandoned." he explained.

"Is he really as good a swordsmith as the rumors suggest?" Inutaisho asked in return. "He was recommended to me, but I'm afraid I didn't get very much information about him." he said.

"Oh yes, milord." Myouga answered. "He is an excellent swordsmith, perhaps the best demon swordsmith in the land." "However, his peculiar ways and eccentricities tend to keep his clients at a minimum." "Before he will agree to forge any sword, he must meet the demon who commissioned it, and if he does not take a personal liking to them, well. . ." he trailed off.

"So in other words, if he doesn't like me then he won't forge the sword for me." Inutaisho finished. "Hopefully I haven't come all this way just to be turned down."

"I wouldn't worry about that." Myouga assured him. "No demon lord with any malice or greed could have taken control of the sword you now possess." "Toutousai will know that, being a swordsmith himself." he told him.

"Thank you Myouga." Inutaishio said with a smile. The old flea did have his better moments, despite his cowardice. At the mention of Souunga, a wave of energy pulsated from the sword on Inutaisho's back, sending an involuntary chill down his spine. It still tried to rebel against him at times, but was becoming more quiet as the days went by. He still had to use more energy than he would have liked to keep it in check. He had practiced with it very little, still not sure what to expect of it. He had intended to ask Toutousai about it when he found him. He had seen its abilities in incapable hands, he shuddered to think of its power under one who had truly mastered it.

"I suppose the best place to look is at Toutousai's home again." Inutaisho said to Myouga. "Perhaps he returned in our absence, I certainly hope nothing has happened to him" he said.

The next morning, they set out again towards the volcanic caverns and Toutousai's home. They were making good time and would be there by evening, if nothing slowed them down. Inutaisho felt hope renew in his hear again. Perhaps the old swordsmith would be easier to find this time. A little after midday, just as they started up the mountains toward the realm of volcanic caverns, a strange thing happened that caught them quite by surprise. Suddenly, a great plume of fire streaked across the ground in front of them, leaving the path blocked by a wall of flame.

"Who goes there?" an old and suspicious voice asked. "What business do you have in these mountains?" the voice came, surprisingly from above them. They looked up. A demon bull with an old bony man perched on it descended from the sky. He quickly dismounted from his strange steed and approached the demon lord. "You, how did you come by that sword on your back?" he asked excitedly, and also nervously. "It is an evil demon sword, and the one who possesses it must have great power indeed, if it is to be kept under control and maintained." he informed them. To make his point further, he pointed his long hammer in the general direction of Inutaisho.

"Toutousai, please calm down!" Myouga called from Inutaisho's shoulder. "This great demon lord has subdued its power, I witnessed it myself, albeit from a safe distance." he told the old man. "I assure you, he has no plans of chaos and destruction." "Please, let us come up to your forge and speak with you." he offered.

"Hmmm, I supposed you couldn't have subdued it if you had any intentions of selfish conquest." Toutousai said. "It is still dangerous, and you will have to practice with it often before you really have complete control over it." "It won't be an easy task to overcome." he instructed. "Well, both of you follow me to my home, and we'll talk further." he told them after a moments contemplation.

Once they arrived, Toutousai examined Souunga. Once drawn from its sheath, an evil aura radiated from it slightly, but it did not stir. The old swordsmith looked thoughtfully at the large sword. "You really do have it under your control." he said, impressed. "Otherwise, once drawn from its sheath, it would have found the nearest half-wit demon it could possess and begin wreaking havoc all over again." he told them. "We will discuss later how to truly master it, but for now I must ask, is it the only reason you came to see me?" he asked Inutaisho. "You are a dog demon I can see, and a powerful one at that. Is it possible that you were sent here by a demon lord named Hokutouki?" he continued.

"Yes, he is connected to my family." he answered, not wanting to go into the complicated details. "He instructed me to come here and ask you about a sword I wish to have made." "He gave me the necessary items to bring and told me to tell you what kind of sword I wanted." he explained.

"Well, you seem like a nice enough demon lord." Toutousai said. "Why don't you tell me what kind of sword you have in mind." he told him.

"I wish to have a sword made that can kill a hundred enemies in one swing, yet bring a hundred souls back from the afterlife on my bidding as well." he told Toutousai. "So many are lost in battle, and so many more lose their lives needlessly every day." He continued. "I wish to have a sword that would enable me to protect those weaker than I and bring back the ones I was not near to protect." he explained. "And I need one controlled by my own demon energy and power, so that I may have complete mastery of it, and so that I will know its works are done by my abilities alone"

"I see, that seems like a noble enough reason." Toutousai said, rubbing his beard. "I must tell you however, that there cannot be a sword made that would be able to do those things." he told Inutaisho.

Inutaisho's blood froze. Surely if a sword as terrible and powerful as Souunga could be forged, then the one he envisioned could as well. He stared at Toutousai for a long moment. Was the old man testing him further? He was unable to tell; the old swordsmith seemed to be staring off into space.

"Is there no way the sword I speak of can be forged, Toutousai?" he finally asked. "Are my hopes in vain?"

Suddenly Toutousai snapped back to life. "No, not in one sword." he answered. "But I do believe it can be done with two." he continued. "Yes, yes, I believe that could work." "It would be better to have two anyway, the powers of them would be mastered more thoroughly that way." he answered. "What items have you brought with you that I may need?" he asked.

Inutaisho pulled the red jewel Hokutouki had given him from under his armor. "He said to give you this." he said as he handed it to Toutousai.

"Yes, this should do quite nicely." Toutousai said as he examined it. "Now I will need something else from you." "Two things to be precise." he said, eying Inutaisho closely. "Open your mouth wide for just a moment, would you?" he asked.

Inutaisho gave him a blank look. "My mouth?" he asked.

"Yes, in order for the swords to be controlled by your own energy, then I will require something from your own body." "Two of your fangs will do nicely." he stated. "Do not worry, they will grow back in just a half a day." he reassured him.

Inutaisho did as he was told, and Toutousai quickly pulled his two front canine teeth and set them aside. Inutaisho felt ashamed to admit it to himself, but he had almost wanted to yelp at the simple procedure. He wondered how he would be able to eat his dinner that night. He hoped they could prepare some type of stew.

"Well, I should be able to start on your swords first thing in the morning." Toutousai said proudly. "Until then, let's have some dinner and get some rest." he suggested.

Inutaisho felt his body begin to tingle with excitement, he almost felt like a small child again. His dream was finally about to become a reality, soon he would have the power that was necessary to protect and restore his domain. The two swords would give him the ability to quickly disperse his enemy, and save the innocent lives that ached his heart to see destroyed. Thankfully, a simple stew was prepared that night, and Inutaisho lay down to sleep that night feeling more at peace than he had in a long while.