Chapter Thirty-Two
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Onwards!
For what felt like the dozenth time that day, I felt the knuckles of Inuyasha's hand brushing against my own as we walk side by side down the road towards yet another village. The touch sends an electric shock through me, though I'm proud with how steady I'm able to keep my heart. After all, it didn't do me any good to be as obvious any more about my feelings for the half demon culprit, not after the shit he had put me through not once, but twice, with Kikyo.
Inuyasha, however, seemed oblivious to his wrong-doings, and the absolute havoc he was causing me.
It had been a few days since the final encounter with Kikyo, and I had managed to bring myself to act as normal as I could manage. To my astonishment, I had been able to fake it till I made it pretty well, considering nobody seemed to really bat an eye at my behavior.
Other than Sango, of course.
'Then again, she's a woman like me and has a woman's intuition. Not much would get past her.' I have to allow myself that slight leniency. To her credit she doesn't pressure me for answers on what was obviously bringing me down, and I was thankful towards her for it. It wasn't something I wanted to continuously discuss, and beat at over and over again.
It had happened, it had hurt, and I was getting over it.
Slowly.
Though the touches Inuyasha had uncharacteristically been brushing me with throughout our days of travel would surely throw me over the edge of a fucking cliff if he didn't stop soon.
'He's never been like this before. Sure, he's all touch and grabby when things have gotten hot and heavy in the past, but he's never tried to discreetly touch me for the sake of doing so.' I frown at that, wondering what was up with him. When I would shoot him a curious glance at each touch, the only thing I would get in return was this unreadable, albeit, tender look. It almost made me melt each time.
Almost.
I reach up once again, the habit cut short as I remember with a distinct sting that the shards no longer rested around my neck. I frown deeply at the disappointment in myself that floods me once more in remembrance.
'I can't believe I couldn't stop her.' I sigh to myself, Mayumi's presence gently edging into my conscious.
'It wasn't your fault. Whatever magic that forest held, it also locked me away, along with our powers.' Mayumi states, and though I know she's right, I still don't feel any better about it.
"Stop worrying about it, Yua." Inuyasha's sharp voice brings me from my thoughts, looking up to find him glancing down at me from the side as he frowns. "It's not like she stole all the pieces out there. We'll just have find some more, no big deal." He insists, and I can't help the irritation that flares up in me when he so easily brushes off Kikyo's crime.
'Of course. Kikyo having the jewels is probably a good thing in his mind. She'll protect them better than me.' I can't help the self deprecating thought, my hands tightening into fists. 'It's his excuse not to find a flaw in the witch.' I could hear Sango whispering with Miroku behind us, but they're too far away to really be able to hear. Shippo, however, was very easy to hear as he sighs heavily and shakes his head.
"What can you do when the culprit is a woman he's still in love with?"
Hearing that said out loud hurts a lot more than I wanted to admit to myself.
Inuyasha turns sharply, gaze narrowed in on the poor boy. "Listen, and listen closely! If you think I'm defending Kikyo, you've got another thing coming!" Inuyasha shouts irritably at them, and I can't help wincing and rubbing my fingers against my temples, another stress headache starting to rear it's ugly head. Without a word I continue on by myself, moving well ahead of the group and away from Inuyasha's open denial.
"You think I'm going soft on her too, don't you?!" Inuyasha continues on his rant, clearly embarrassed at being caught as he turns towards Miroku and Sango. "You do! Well if you've got something to say, you should say it to my face!" My headache starts to reach a new level of pounding, and I open my mouth to say the two words that I knew would bring an end to Inuyasha's tirade, but a distinct sound of a mooing cow cuts me off.
"It's a cow in the sky?!" Shippo shouts out, sounding utterly amazed as I look upwards in my direction, not seeing anything but blue skies and some clouds.
Then I feel the electric pulse in the air.
Frowning I turn sharply, watching in bewilderment as lightening suddenly strikes down directly between Inuyasha and the rest of the group. I run back towards them, whipping my bow out and notching an arrow at the ready, body tense as the dust slowly settled.
Revealing an old man sitting on a three eyed cow.
'It's like something out of Greek mythology.' I can't help thinking as my eyes widen, my bow arm relaxing slightly in wonder. The old man had large eyes and a large crooked nose, along with a grey mustache above his lip and small beard at the tip of his chin. He was bald on the top of his head, the same colored grey hair covering the back of his head and coming into a short ponytail.
"Who the hell are you?" Inuyasha demands sharply, his right hand resting at the ready on Tessaiga's hilt. The old man looks at Inuyasha, his gaze thoroughly unimpressed, not showing any intimidation whatsoever.
"My name is Totosai." The old man with large eyes speaks, the long hammer-like staff he carried leaning easily on his black and green stripped yukata. What he says next surprises me. "Draw your sword, Inuyasha."
'Does he seriously want to challenge him?' My mouth drops open in shock, wondering if there was more than meets the eye when it came to the curious old man in front of us. Inuyasha actually hesitates, unsure as well if the old man was serious or not. As if sensing this, Totosai grabs his long hammer, whipping it about over his head.
"I'm coming at you whether you intend to defend yourself of not!" He threatens, clearly having no problem following through with his threat as he leaps off of his cow with a cry. Inuyasha draws Tessaiga just in time, the hammer coming down hard on the blade. I watch in fascination as Tessaiga vibrates.
'The Tessaiga…' I trail off in thought, Sango and Miroku's cries of disbelief echoing around me.
"He thwarted the Tessaiga with his hammer?!" The both say in unison, each sounding equal to the other in disbelief. Inuyasha looked up at his sword as well, his gaze curious before it turned sharply back to the owner of the hammer. Totosai lands a good distance away with a grunt, swinging his hammer back and forth lazily with both his hands.
'He's pretty spry for his age.' I can't help thinking, slightly impressed.
"The sword is singing like an old sod. Dull resonance. This kid can't be the right one to use it!" Totosai rants, clearly to himself as he scratches his head in wonder. Inuyasha didn't take too kindly to that. Angry this time, he changes the old man, Tessaiga at the ready once more. Totosai calmly reaches for something in the top of his yukata, pulling out what looked to be a brown piece of leather from inside. He licks at it with his strangely long tongue, before bracing it in front of him and catching Inuyasha's blade with ease.
"He stopped the sword again!" Shippo calls out in amazement, my own mouth parted with surprise.
"That's a piece of leather!" Sango observes with wonder.
And as if things couldn't get much weirder, the old man starts to chastise Inuyasha as he begins to polish Tessaiga.
"You've been too rough with her!" Totosai grunts as he moves the leather along the edge of the large blade, completely ignoring Inuyasha's bewildered look. "This blade is all nicked up! Have you been chopping down trees?!" He gripes at him.
It's then that I remember a moment from when Inuyasha had first gotten the sword and been frustrated with the challenge of getting it to transform. He had hit it against a tree trunk.
"Well, you're not entirely wrong." I find myself speaking up, the old man's gaze turning towards me as he gives an unimpressed 'humph', before resuming his work.
"What do you know about it?" Inuyasha demands as he stands there with the sword still pressed to the leather. This time he sounds less biting and more insecure at the Totosai's words.
"I think that's enough, Totosai." Myoga's familiar voice speaks out, the flea coming out of nowhere to take his place back on Inuyasha's shoulder.
"Hey, long time no see." I mutter to the flea dryly, Myoga giving me an abashed look as he crosses his four arms. "You've missed quiet a bit."
"Like usual." Shippo sighs from his perch on Miroku's shoulder.
"Myoga?" Inuyasha questions, frowning. "You know this old geezer?"
"Excuse me?!" Totosai shouts indignantly, pulling back from the sword and replacing his leather piece back into the top of his yukata. "This old geezer could have whooped your butt with the state you've left Tessaiga in!" He shoots back, Inuyasha's fangs glinting under his lip with annoyance.
"You want to try me?!" He challenges back, Myoga sighing heavily on his shoulder.
"Enough, both of you!" He shouts, jumping up and down with frustration, before turning towards Inuyasha. "Totosai foraged Tessaiga for your Father!"
That causes Inuyasha to freeze.
Moments later finds Inuyasha sitting down across from the old sword maker, whilst I stood slightly behind with Miroku and Sango. Shippo and Kirara were sitting together beside Inuyasha, Shippo listening with rapt attention.
"So your the swordsmith who forged Tessaiga?" Inuyasha reiterates, much more calm than he had been before as he holds said sword in it's usual place against his shoulder while he sat.
"Precisely." Totosai answers with a regal nod of his head. "I'm the man who forged Tessaiga from a fang that your Father gave to me. Only certain circles of the finest blade-swinging demons are acquainted with my work." The old man goes on to boast. I lift an eyebrow, glancing towards Sango as she frowns at me and shrugs her shoulders.
I mean, how popular could this guy be if the Demon Slayers, who also created their own fine weapons, hadn't heard of him?
"Certain circles?" Inuyasha asks dubiously, as if thinking the same thing.
"I think that's a polite way of him saying he's not very famous." Miroku sighs as he sits down then against a small tree, absently picking at his ear with his pinky finger. I frown at the monk.
'How rude…' I mutter inwardly, shaking my head before my nose wrinkles in disgust as he digs out a wad of earwax, flicking it to the side. I turn to look at Sango, her own face showing disgust at the monk's actions. Sensing my gaze she looks up at me, to which I just simply raise an eyebrow at her as if to say 'him, huh?'. She rolls her own eyes, crossing her arms and turning to look back towards Totosai and Inuyasha.
"I don't give a rat's ass if you're famous or not, old man!" Inuyasha tells him, sounding irritated once again. Totosai, to his credit, hardly seems offended or phased by either the monk's or the half demon's statements.
"Well, now that I've seen the Tessaiga in action, I have to say the sword is being badly misused and abused!" Totosai rants once again, tilt his head back slightly and closing his eyes for a moment, as if concentrating on not losing his temper as he does on sadly.. "It sings a sad song indeed. To see my work like this…" his head bows forward as his eyes open sadly, "it simply breaks my heart." My brows furrow, his tone actually conveying the honesty behind his words. He really was upset to see Tessaiga in the state that it was in. Inuyasha reacted to the disappointment in the only way he knew he could.
Defensively.
"If you're here to pick a fight, just say so." Inuyasha replies, his tone snappish as he glares at the old man. Totosai groans in response, looking further disappointed by the challenge.
"Oh, this is useless, Myoga." Totosai turns his gaze towards the flea sitting on his shoulder, a hopeless expression on his face. "The Tessaiga can't be entrusted to someone as short tempered as this arrogant whelp."
I swear, even if just for a moment, I saw steam coming out from both of Inuyasha's dog ears.
"I see what you mean." Myoga murmurs thoughtfully. "It would probably be better if he just gave up the sword, rather than going recklessly into battle with it, blindly relying on a strength he doesn't have the discipline to wield." My eyes widen in surprise.
"Woah, woah, woah, hold the phone!" I look at the flea in disbelief, his own gaze looking at me with curiosity as the unfamiliar phrase passes out of my mouth. Despite his questioning stare, I push forward. "You're the one that took us to his Father's tomb, determined that he should have the sword. You said it was his birth right." I frown deeply, glancing towards Inuyasha before looking back towards Myoga.
I didn't miss the expression of surprise on the half-demon's face as I defended him.
'Truth be told, after everything we had been through this past week, I get why he'd be surprised. But still, no matter how much of a jerk he acts like, I would never leave him hanging out to dry. He has to know that.' I frown inwardly. "Are you saying after all the shit we went through to get the sword, Sesshomaru nearly killing us both in the process, that now he doesn't deserve it? I call completely and utter bullshit!" Myoga hesitated, holding his four arms up in a placating manner from his perch on the sword-maker.
"Calm down, Yua. That's not what I-"
"Yes, there is no use stalling." Totosai interrupts. "I'll have to take the Tessaiga back immediately and break it in half." Inuyasha's reaction was instantaneous.
"What did you just say?" His voice his deadly as he draws Tessaiga, pointing it directly at the old man's head only inches from his face. Totosai has the good sense to look nervous this time as he leans back, mouth agape. "I don't care who made this sword you dried-up metal bender. It's mine, and I'll run you through with it if you even try to break it." He promises solemnly, Totosai looking up at him with wide and fearful eyes.
"I don't have to break it!" He quickly amends, his voice clearly nervous. "It was only a thought!" A tense moment passes as Inuyasha stares him down, not moving Tessaiga an inch, before ever so slowly drawing it away from Totosai's face.
"Sorry, I forgot to warn you about his temper." Myoga turns to Totosai calmly, sounding hardly apologetic at all.
"Don't worry, I'll sneak it away when he's not looking and melt it into cutlery." Totosai states back, clearly meaning to say it in a much softer voice than what he had used. I blink in surprise, my mouth parting slightly.
'Is he deaf or stupid?' Sure enough the sword is quickly thrust back towards Totosai's face, the sword-smith giving a cry of fear as he leans back once again.
"I'm only joking!" He pleads, eyes wide. I frown, shaking my head with exasperation.
What an idiot.
"Master Inuyasha." Myoga begins, his tone placating. "You haven't been able to unravel the mystery of the Tessaiga on your own. You have tried, but you can't figure out how to tap into the power that killed a hundred demons in one sweep." The flea goes on with brutal honesty. Inuyasha, instead of having a knee jerk reaction to mention of his failure, actually looks unsure of himself and hesitant.
'Woah.' I think to myself in wonder, gazing at the half demon's peripheral. 'He must really want to figure it out if he's acting like this.'
"Totosai knows it's secret." Myoga informs him seriously. "I think if you both took the time to get to know one and other and cooperate, you could awaken and harness Tessaiga's full strength!" Myoga finishes with excitement clear in his voice. Inuyasha pulls Tessaiga away from Totosai's face, placing it over his shoulder with a frown.
"Who's to say I won't get the hang of it on my own? I just need practice." He argues, though there isn't any force behind his words. I could tell it was his last ditch effort to not look unworthy of his Father's sword in front of us all.
Not to feel unworthy himself.
"I understand you have been collecting the Sacred Jewel shards for a while now." Totosai suddenly speaks up, and I can't help snapping my wide eyed gaze towards him. I honestly shouldn't be surprised he had heard about that, considering our reputation and knowledge of our possession of the jewel shards was reaching demons across Japan.
'Well, the shards we used to possess.' I think to myself, feeling the burning shame in my stomach once more as I feel the absence of the fragment from around my neck. My hands clench tightly into fists at my side, able to distinctly remember the cruel smirk on Kikyo's face as she took the shards from me.
"Who knows how many demons have multiple pieces of the jewel?" Totosai goes on, his words holding a truth that even I had been thinking about recently. "You know how difficult it has been to battle demons with more than one. Don't you want to awaken the Tessaiga's full potential in order to destroy demons with that enhanced strength?" He asks, before his large eyes glance towards me. "And to protect those that you care about?"
Inuyasha's back straightens at that, the indication of Totosai's words clear.
'H-how did he…?' I feel a soft blush at the tops of my cheeks, before glancing towards the flea on the sword-smith's shoulder. Myoga sends me an incredibly sheepish look, my eyes narrowing at the flea as I discreetly bring my finger to my neck and slowly make a slicing motion against it.
There would be no way the old flea would come back from the smashing I would give him after this.
Horrified, Myoga slips a little closer to Totosai at that.
"He does have a point, Inuyasha." Miroku speaks up calmly from beside me, still sitting against the tree behind Inuyasha. Sango nods as she stands beside me, a curious frown settled on her face.
"I think you should at least hear him out." She supports the monk, casting me a sideways glance, clearly expecting me to say something as well. I give a huge inward sigh at that.
'Why do they always think that Inuyasha will do something if I say to?' I grumble irritably, but I had to admit it was a little uncanny how the half dog demon, once so opposed to me, now listened to my advice with far more consideration. "What's it going to hurt to spend some time figuring this out if, in the end, you are able to unlock it's full power?" I add, referring to his sword. With a sigh, Inuyasha ducks his head in defeat.
"I guess." He mutters, allowing Tessaiga to transform back into it's dull form and sheathing it.
I don't miss the smirk Sango sends my way, though I pretend to ignore it.
"So tell me, what do I have to do, Totosai?" Inuyasha asks lightly, his tone suggesting that he still had some doubt that the old man before him held any answers.
"First I have to tell you that someone seeks my life." Totosai informs us, my eyes widening slightly at the random statement. Inuyasha is evening leaning forward slightly in surprise, waiting for the old man to continue. "A fool busted into my forge and ordered a sword that would rival the power of Tessaiga." I felt my stomach sinking at that, only one of Inuyasha's rivals coming to mind, and it wasn't Naraku for once. "He told me he would kill me if I refused."
'Yep, that sounds like a certain dog demon we know all too well.' I can't help thinking dryly, nerves bubbling in my stomach. I could still vividly remember the last encounter we had with Sesshomaru, the scene of his poisonous claws dug deep into Inuyasha's midsection was a permanent fixture in my mind when I thought of him. The terror I had felt that day seeing Inuyasha so badly wounded had hardly faded, and it still sent my heart racing.
"I want you to protect me from him." Totosai tasked us, his voice low. Inuyasha was hardly amused now, reaching forward and pressing his hand over the old man's face.
"Say 'please' before asking for favors." He mutters irritably, his gaze narrowed at the old man as he rocks Totosai's head back and forth with hand still planted firmly against his face.
"You never told me this." Myoga speaks up suspiciously. "What did he look like?"
"He has long white hair, and he wears a cloak made of something white and furry." Totosai answers, his voice muffled by Inuyasha's hand.
"What, another old geezer?" He scoffs, and I look to him slightly unimpressed. I mean, I got that he and his brother weren't close, but seriously? He couldn't even recognize the guy with a description like that? Totosai gives a childish raspberry against Inuyasha's hand, causing him to groan in disgust and pull it back, flicking the spit off of his hand.
"Guess again!" Totosai goes on, and I can't help sighing impatiently.
"Think about it, Inuyasha. Who is the one person who would want a sword to challenge you for Tessaiga?" I ask, Inuyasha turning his dumbfounded expression towards me now. "Who wants Tessaiga?" His eyes widen as I can see the clogs slowly grinding into motion in his head. His lips part slightly, before looking down towards the old man with disbelief.
Yep, there we go!
"Sesshomaru? That's who's after you?" Inuyasha demands, his voice sharp.
'Clearly he was still a little hung up about their last reunion.' I think dryly, crossing my arms and shaking my head slightly. Suddenly Totosai grows visibly nervous, fear overcoming his features.
"H-he's here." He gasps out, and it's then that I can feel the charge in the air. Looking upwards with everyone else, I can't help being slightly blown away by the sight of the dog demon riding a two headed dragon.
'He sure knows how to make an entrance…' I swallow nervously, before frowning and allowing my energy to pulse forth, hands glowing with my aura. Sesshomaru comes to calmly hover over our group, looking down at us with cold indifference as he held onto the reins of his two headed steed with a steady and firm grip.
"Protect me!" Totosai exclaims, standing and moving to hide behind Inuyasha.
"Inuyasha, why have you conspired with Totosai to plot against me?" Sesshomaru asks calmly, though his words would suggest that he was, at the very least, irritated with Inuyasha. Totosai pops his head out from behind Inuyasha to address the dog demon.
"Because you happen to be evil incarnate." He shoots at Sesshomaru unwisely, and I can't help lifting an eyebrow at him.
The old man sure was brave when he had someone standing between him and death.
"Totosai, it sounds like you are looking for an early retirement into the grave." Sesshomaru comments coldly from above. I frown, allowing my energy to form into orbs in my hands, Sesshomaru's cold amber eyes slowly turning towards me. His lips quirk ever so slightly, before Totosai draws his attention back to him.
"I-I never said I was talking about you, Sesshomaru!" Totosai denies fearfully as he turns sharply to hide back-to-back behind Inuyasha once more. "Why don't we discuss your sword after you battle it out with Inuyasha?" He suggests, clearly putting Inuyasha on the chopping block.
"Totosai," Sesshomaru calls out, a cruel smirk now spreading over his handsome face, "your word is as good as a blood vow to me." He jumps off of the back of the dragons, hovering there in midair on his own. "Did you hear that Inuyasha? He will forge my new sword after I kill you off." The dark amusement in his voice was clear as he spoke, my stomach clenching tightly with anxiety, energy pulsing as if on instinct at the open threat made on Inuyasha's life. Able to feel it, Sesshomaru glances towards me with a dry amusement. "This time, if your woman interferes, I will not hesitate to end her as well." Inuyasha stiffens at that, his face turning dark.
"You won't lay a single filthy finger on her." He growls low in his chest in warning, the knuckles of his hands cracking as his claws glint dangerously in the sunlight.
It doesn't get past me that Inuyasha hasn't denied Sesshomaru's assumption that I was his.
'Focus, Yua!' I berate myself, swallowing thickly as I push away that thought and the barrage of confusion that came with it.
"Yua, get Shippo! You need to run for cover!" Miroku pleads from his prepared stance beside Sango. Even though Sango could easily defend herself, it was clear that the reaction to protect her had come so naturally to the monk he was hardly phased by it. I hesitate, Inuyasha obviously sensing my presence still behind him as he turns his head to look at me from over his shoulder.
"This isn't your fight, Yua! Go!" Inuyasha's voice is low and commanding, the expression on his face stern. The pull obey was too much as I found myself slowly nodding, turning and running the short distance to Shippo, gathering him in my arms and moving a safe distance away.
'What was that? Usually I can resist doing what he says, especially when I know he can use my help.' I frown deeply, feeling both confused and slightly worried at my reaction.
'Your connection with Inuyasha has deepened. He holds more sway over you now.' Mayumi speaks up as I watch Sesshomaru launch his first attack, hand just barely missing Inuyasha and plowing into the ground. When the dust clears there is a small crater left in his wake.
'What are you talking about? Him and I couldn't be further apart right now.' I frown at her, thinking of everything that had happened recently with the reemergence of Kikyo.
'Something has shifted with Inuyasha. I could feel it the moment it happened.' Mayumi replies, her voice soothing. 'His demon and human sides are more in sync than they have been since…' She trails off awkwardly, and I instantly know what she was trying to insinuate.
Since she had Inuyasha had been together.
'That doesn't explain how strong that pull of command has gotten.' I frown, wanting to move past the thought of those two together. Even though I knew I had nothing to worry about when it came to Mayumi, unlike Kikyo, it still gave me an uncomfortable feeling to be reminded that I currently housed the love of Inuyasha's life.
'It's because you're connecting with him in a much deeper way that I never had the chance to.' Mayumi explains, her voice taking in a hint of sadness. 'Though the pull would be much stronger if you were a demon, it's still there all the same.'
'What's there?'
'Your connection with his demon side.' Mayumi answers, sounding calm in light of my snappish tone. I watch as Inuyasha draws Tessaiga, charging Sesshomaru with a shout of anger, my eyes widening once Mayumi's statement registers. 'Even though you're human, you still can feel it, just not as strongly if you had any demon traits in you. If you had been even partially demon when he had given you that command just now, you wouldn't have hesitated at all to obey.' I swallow thickly at that, knees trembling.
What did this all mean? Was Mayumi saying what I thought she was?
'Inuyasha is allowing the connection to strengthen on his end, Yua. It's a good thing, scary, but good. Even though he is probably doing it unconsciously, the strengthening of his demon presence over you is the instinctual way that he'll test your readiness to be his mate.'
I feel like the floor just dropped out from under me.
Was this all real? Could what Mayumi was explaining to me be true?
'But Kikyo…' I argue with myself, remembering the way he had held her so tenderly during their second reunion, clearly announcing that he would do whatever it took to protect her. Same as he did during our time in that cave. He had wanted to protect her even over me.
Or had I gotten that all wrong? Had my insecurities really blinded me that much?
Doubt sneaks in, wrapping around my thoughts and forcing me to try and look at the past events in a different light. My head begins to pound, and I wince as I press my fingers to my forehead and massage it.
"Yua? Are you alright?" Shippo snaps me out of my whirling thoughts, his blue eyes looking up at me with concern. I nod, forcing away any further thoughts on what Mayumi had just revealed, putting my attention back towards the present.
"You can tell by their tempers that they're related." Totosai observes from beside me, and I can't help but agree with him as I watch Inuyasha blinding swing Tessaiga at Sesshomaru once more, hitting the ground as his brother leaps into the air to dodge the attack.
"You're the one who started this whole thing!" Shippo exclaims irritably at the old man.
"Did I really?" Totosai asks in wonder as he gasps, looking towards the brothers wide eyed. I look at the sword-smith, utterly bewildered.
"You're not serious right now, are you?" I ask, looking at the old man wide eyed. Was his mind really that fucked?
"Hey, where is Myoga?" Shippo suddenly asks, and I frown as well, noticing the absence of the flea.
"He's over here!" Miroku calls, and my eyes finally lock onto Myoga standing on his right shoulder. Shippo jumps from my arms, running off towards where Sango, Miroku, Kirara and Myoga were all standing.
No doubt where he was much safer, considering that was Myoga's M.O.
I turn to follow Shippo, before Totosai suddenly grabs onto the back of my top, forcing me to a stop. I frown, looking over my shoulder at him. "What are you doing?" I snap. "Clearly where we are standing is dangerous if Myoga is all the way over there!" Without a word he suddenly lets me go, bending over the grab his hammer, before rushing off towards the others without me.
You have got to be kidding.
I look out towards the fight once more as I walk over to the others, the ground now scarred from both Inuyasha's sword and Sesshomaru's whip. The whip and Tessaiga continuously clash against one and other, no one seeming to get the upper hand in the battle. So far it was a far cry from the ass whooping Inuyasha had gotten before.
'Maybe he really has improved since then?' Inuyasha suddenly charges Sesshomaru, leaping into the air and bringing down Tessaiga over his brother once again. Sesshomaru feints to the side, before leaping upwards and feinting once more until he was side by side with Inuyasha. Landing a hard punch to the half demon's stomach, he sends Inuyasha onto his back, his body dragging a couple feet and kicking up dust. 'I spoke too soon.' Groaning inwardly I frown with concern, my aura sparking at my finger tips.
To hell with Inuyasha's orders. I wasn't about to stand by and let him be killed.
"Inuyasha is so slow he's pathetic!" Totosai exclaims, before looking to Myoga, the flea no on the old man's shoulder. "Myoga, why did you lie to me about his ability to use Tessaiga's full power?" He demands.
"He did once, I promise!" Myoga defends, jumping up and down in nervousness.
"Well, Totosai," Sesshomaru takes the time to turn towards the sword-smith, his expression calm and collected as always, "don't you feel sorry for Tessaiga? That famous sword is no better than a wooden club the way Inuyasha just swings it around like a neanderthal." I frown deeply, watching as Inuyasha's expression reflected the rage he felt at his older half-brother's words. "The sword could live or die, depending on it's master."
'What?' I frown deeply. 'Sesshomaru talks like the sword actually lives, rather than being in inanimate object.'
'Does that really surprise you with everything you have seen? The sword carries it's own aura, and auras only surround those things that are living.' Mayumi explains, my eyes widening at her words.
"A wise observation, I agree." Totosai states, nodding as he holds his head between his hands. I can't help the irritation I feel. After all, the old man begged Inuyasha to protect him, and yet here he was siding with the guy that promised to kill the old man for denying him a sword of greater power than Tessaiga.
"Shut up, you old sword-smith, or you'll really have something to worry about." Inuyasha slowly moves to stand, his tone biting. "I'm only warming up!"
His heavy breathing suggested otherwise.
"Don't be shocked when you see what kind of power I really got!" Inuyasha goes on, before charging at his half-brother once more. Swipe after swipe misses, unfortunately only emphasizing Sesshomaru's point from before.
He really did look like he was just swinging a club out there.
'Inuyasha…you hot-head!' I frown deeply, hands clenching into fists at my side once more.
"Oh great…" Myoga groans, clearly unimpressed. "The blood has rushed to his head. That's always bad news." I can't help but silently agree with him. Sesshomaru takes an opening, latching his hand onto Inuyasha's wrist, his poisonous claws burning away at the skin. Locked in place, there was hardly anything Inuyasha could do as the pain took over.
"Well, Totosai? Tell me, do you still refuse to make me a sword?" Sesshomaru asks over Inuyasha's shouts of pain, his grip like iron around the half demon's wrist. Totosai purses his lips in response, before doing something I had truly not expected.
"No way!" He denies, his cheeks suddenly expanding to an unnatural size. Leaping into the air he releases hot fire from his mouth, just like a dragon would. It swirls towards the brothers, still locked together, but Sesshomaru moves out of the way just in time.
Inuyasha, however, gets enveloped with a weak cry of surprise.
"Inuyasha!" I frown, raising my hand up and using my aura to disperse the flames, giving a soft sigh of relief seeing him virtually unharmed due to his fire-rat kimono. Slightly singed, but otherwise unscathed, Inuyasha walks out through the path I had created for him out of the flames.
His angry glare locked on the old man beside me.
When he reaches us he grits his teeth, pulling his fist back. "That was a big help!" He punches him over the head, Totosai's face having still been expanded by fire lets lose some flames from his nose, the sound of a kettle echoing around us as steam leaked from his ears. Inuyasha's expression turns from one of irritation to wary bewilderment as he takes a step back, the flames closing in on the path I had just created for him. Sesshomaru lands just beyond, completely unaffected by the heat and his proximity to the fire.
"So, you absolutely refuse?" He asks once more, as if for good measure. Totosai makes a sound of impatience, his confidence decided boosted with the fire between him and the dog demon.
"Be quiet, you mongrel! You know as well as I do I've already made you one excellent sword!"
Say what now?
I frown in confusion, looking towards Totosai before lifting my gaze up to share an equally confused glance with Inuyasha. What the hell was the old man going on about? He didn't take long to elaborate.
"A famous sword that you now wear, the Tenseiga!" Totosai proclaims, and I look towards Sesshomaru, my gaze landing on the sword at his hip.
'Could that be it? He's not once drawn Tensaiga in battle with Inuyasha before. I wonder why?'
"I forged it from a fang given to me by your Father! He clearly instructed that the eldest brother would have Tenseiga, and the youngest brother would have the Tessaiga." Totosai goes on, the flames slowly dispersing in front of us. "That was your Father's last wish! It is a great sword of swords, no better and no worse than the Tessaiga. You should learn to respect it and love it!" The old man declares passionately, clearly devoted to both of the swords he had forged from their Father.
'If it is so great, how come he has never used it?' I frown in confusion, glancing towards the sword at Sesshomaru's hip once more. 'If it is of equal power to Tessaiga, why pursue Inuyasha's sword so vigilantly?'
"I have never seen Sesshomaru unsheathe his sword in any of the battles yet." Miroku, as if reading my very thoughts, speaks up. "Have you?" He questions me, and I shake my head with a frown.
"Never." I confirm.
"Do you dare imply that this useless sword is worthy of me?" Sesshomaru asks, his face dropping, frown itching at his lips. The egoism behind his words is mind-blowing to me.
'But then again…' I look towards Inuyasha, 'that's one thing that these two more often than not share in common along with their tempers.'
"Oh, I've made him angry!" Totosai exclaims, hearing the low growl vibrating from the dog demon's chest. It shook me as well, my energy snapping loudly now at the tips of my fingers. Totosai lets out a laugh, almost maniacal in nature, before taking his hammer and leaping into the air. "Time to take our leave!" He shouts, before bringing the hammer down onto the ground, the earth erupting into hot flames as it blows a path directly towards Sesshomaru.
'That's not fire…' I realize with wide eyes shock in the wake of Totosai's attack. 'That's molten lava!' A lake of the insanely hot melted rock now laid between us and Sesshomaru, the heat almost unbearable to stand near. In quick succession Totosai summons his cow, Inuyasha leaping onto it behind Totosai before grabbing my hand and pulling me up behind him.
"Hold on tight, Yua!" He exclaims, and in response I willingly wrap my arms around his middle as we're lifted up into the air and away from the destructive scene. Looking over towards our right I see Kirara carrying the rest of our group, relief slowly ebbing away at my nerves once we were a good distance away.
"I had no idea you were so strong!" Shippo exclaims from his perch on Miroku's shoulder, looking towards Totosai with wide blue eyes.
"I don't understand." Miroku speaks up, confusion clear in his voice. "Inuyasha should be asking you for protection, not the other way around."
I don't have to see the half demon's face to know how unimpressed he must look at Miroku's statement.
"You trying to say that I'm a weakling?!" Inuyasha snarls at him, eyes narrowed in challenge. Totosai lets out a huge sigh in front of us.
"Sesshomaru calls his great sword useless, and Inuyasha is useless with his great sword. How I overestimated both of them." He states despairingly from in front of us. Inuyasha stiffens, turning his ire back to the old man as his head snaps around from glaring at Miroku.
"What was that?!"
Totosai only sighs in response, but it was enough to incite Inuyasha even more. In quick succession the half demon leaves punch after punch on the old man's head. I can't bring myself to stop him. 'I mean, if the guy hasn't figured it out by now that it was bad for his health to insult either of the brothers, he deserves to get some sense knocked into him.' I think, frowning as I grip onto Inuyasha a little more when I make the mistake of looking down at the dizzying height we were currently gliding at. I suddenly feel his warm hand cupped over my own that were laced around his middle, the touch soothing and understanding as I move to bury my face against his back.
What Mayumi said earlier itched at the back of my mind again.
"Totosai." Sango speaks up then from her place straddling Kirara. "I've been thinking more about what you said earlier about Sesshomaru's sword. Is it really as powerful as Inuyasha's Tessaiga?" She asks, sounding genuinely curious. I pull my head up from Inuyasha's back, looking over his shoulder towards the sword-smith with renewed interested. I was curious to hear this as well.
"The Tenseiga? It's abilities are unlike anything I've heard of before." His gaze turns from Sango's, looking over his shoulder towards Inuyasha. "When your Father commissioned me to make it, I shuddered at the very thought of it's immense powers." He pauses for a moment. "Let us find a place to rest for the night, and I shall tell you more."
We continued on in silence until we reached the foothills of a mountain range, the forest giving us cover for the night. Inuyasha had left camp only briefly to hunt down something for us to eat, the wild pig he had found already gutted and butchered by the time he returned. Totosai had been kind enough to use his flames to cook the meat rotisserie style, the end result something delicious that we all hadn't had in a long time. The sun was nearly setting by the time we finished, and Totosai continued his story.
"So why doesn't Sesshomaru ever use Tenseiga?" I ask, my curiosity unable to held off any longer. Totosai glances towards me, before sighing softly as he sets his own empty bowl to the side.
"Because it is as dull as they come. It would be useless in sword to sword combat. It couldn't even cut wet paper." I blanch at that, as does everyone else.
"It's a blade that doesn't cut?" Inuyasha states, sounding just as astounded as the rest of us. What on earth would a demon like Sesshomaru do with a dull blade? "How are you supposed to fight like that?"
Better yet, how could such a thing hold a candle to the Tessaiga as Totosai claimed?
"The Tenseiga is not a sword you use against foes." Totosai states, before going into a deeper explanation. "To put it simply, it is a sword of healing. The Tessaiga is a sword that defeats the powerful, and the Tenseiga is a sword that has the ability to save the lives of the weak."
"It saves lives?" Sango questions in disbelief, her brown eyes widening.
"If the bearer truly has kindness of heart towards humanity, then the Tenseiga has the power to save a hundred people in one sweep." Totosai goes on, and I have to hold back a laugh of disbelief at the irony of it all.
'A sword that takes the kindness of heart to weld is owned by a heartless bastard. The sword really is useless to Sesshomaru.' What had their Father been thinking when willing the swords down to his sons?
"So the Tessaiga can slay a hundred demons in one sweep, and the Tenseiga can save a hundred people in one sweep?" Miroku reiterates, his gaze ever thoughtful as he sits next to Sango on the opposite side of the fire.
"But how are you able to use this sword as a weapon?" Sango asks, still clearly confused, just like the rest of us were. Except Miroku, of course, as always he seemed to have a half decent answer.
"It must be able to bring back dead souls." Miroku answers, glancing from Sango towards Totosai. "Such a power could be very useful during these feudal times." Ever so slowly the monk's gaze goes from Totosai to rest on Inuyasha, a knowing glimmer in them. I stiffen at that, chewing on my lower lip as it hits me.
Sesshomaru's sword could revive Kikyo.
Then another thought hits me far more profoundly than the first one, and in a much more hopeful light.
It could bring back Mayumi.
'No, Yua, it cannot on either of our accounts.' Mayumi replies to my thought, her voice holding a hint of regret. 'Both Kikyo and mine's souls have been reincarnated. The sword can only bring souls back from the depths of Hell.' I falter at that, frowning.
'I"m sorry, I just thought…I didn't mean to make you upset.'
'I know, Yua.'
After that Mayumi fades away beyond my barrier as she had a tendency to do when she was upset. I swallow thickly, feeling awful for once again torturing her with another failed way to bring her back to this life. As much as she always said she had come to peace with her death, it was only human to wish for life once more. To have the things that were so unjustly torn away from her. My gaze turns towards Inuyasha, eyes soft. 'To have the life she should have had with him.' I think of the hut back on the outskirts of Kaede's village, the time we had sat there and he had admitted to wanting a life, a family, with Mayumi. I chew harder on my lower lip as sadness rushes over me again, chest aching. 'Inuyasha was robbed of that life as well.'
"I almost called the sword the Coffin-Cheater." Totosai goes on, and I probably would have found the name itself hilarious had I not been so caught up with my thoughts of Inuyasha and Mayumi. "I opted for Tenseiga instead, it was a little more classy. Actually," he goes on as if in afterthought, "it was your Father who suggested the name." The old man once again addresses Inuyasha.
"I get it now. No wonder Sesshomaru wants a new sword. He can't use his." Inuyasha states, his voice filled with realization. "He's incapable of feeling kindness for people, let alone saving lives."
"Too bad this isn't working." Totosai agrees, frowning as he hangs his head slightly. "It was your Father's last wish, after all."
"Your brother is so black-hearted." Miroku readily agrees. "It seems like a cruel joke on our Father's behalf to have gifted him a sword he'll never be able to use."
Even I couldn't help agreeing with that one.
Eventually I picked up all of the bowls as the others went about getting ready for the night. At least the river was right where we were camping, so I didn't have to go far to be able to wash up. As I'm washing the second bowl, I feel someone coming to kneel next to me, looking to my side to see Miroku gazing back at me with a kind smile.
"I see things between you and Inuyasha are getting back to some semblance of normalcy." He murmurs quietly, and I can't help giving him a blatant look that suggested otherwise.
If anything things were even more confusing, especially after what Mayumi had said about our supposed connection.
'But, of course, Miroku has no clue about that. Not that I would tell him anyways.' I think to myself as I turn silently back towards washing out the bowls. Sighing softly, Miroku began to dry the bowls that I had washed with a scrap piece of cloth, stacking the finished bowls at his side opposite to me. As we finish the last bowl, Miroku stands, but not before leaving some parting words as he was accustomed to do.
"He's going to smarten up some day, and if he doesn't, the position of bearing my son is still open." He winks at me as I throw him a dry look, snorting lightly.
"I beg to differ." Nodding towards Sango as she laid out her bedroll, the monk's eyes follow, an unmistakably warm smile slowly etching onto his face.
"Who knows, maybe Sango would want you for a sister-wife?" Miroku replies saucily, turning away and heading back into the main camp before I could retort. Glancing between Sango and Miroku, I couldn't help mentally shrugging my shoulders.
Hey, I could do worse.
The next morning started out pleasant enough, culminating in Totosai leaping onto his cow once we had packed up camp and bidding us farewell.
All, except for Inuyasha, looked at the old man in disbelief.
"You're going to head out alone?" I ask dubiously, lifting an eyebrow. The same man who had begged for Inuyasha's protection was now going to go out and risk the wrath of Sesshomaru by himself?
Yeah, something definitely didn't make sense here.
"Well, Inuyasha is not much protection for me." As if unable to resist barbing the half demon more, Totosai openly insults him once again. Inuyasha, meanwhile, turns away with a scoff and crosses his arms stubbornly.
"Let him go! Who needs him?" Inuyasha insists impatiently. "The old geezer would only slow us down anyway." He bites back, Totosai turning his head to look over his shoulder at Inuyasha. With a determined 'hmph' he climbed off of the cow, walking calmly over towards Inuyasha and grabbing at the hilt of Tessaiga before he could be stopped.
"Give it back." Totosai orders, Inuyasha still looking at him stunned. "The Tessaiga is useless in your hands! It would be better off as scrap metal!" Inuyasha's reaction was almost too quick to watch, Totosai suddenly hunched over and groaning weakly in pain with multiple goose eggs on his head. Inuyasha, meanwhile, had taken Tessaiga out of Totosai's grasp, his fist still poised above the old man from hitting him.
"I told you not to touch my sword." Inuyasha grumbles, and the perverseness of that statement isn't lost on me. I choke back a short, face flushing at the awkward sound it makes. Inuyasha blinks in surprise, he and the others all looking at me curiously.
"Uh, Yua? Are you alright?" Sango asks lightly, her eyes watching me with uncertainty.
"Yep, fine, fine." I wave off, biting down hard on my lower lip to hold back another laugh that wanted to pull free. Totosai takes the moment of distraction to scurry away back to his cow, looking over his shoulder at us with superiority.
"Don't say I didn't warn you!" He exclaims, large nose in the air. With a smack of his hammer against the cow's ass, the cow takes off in a dust cloud, leaving us far behind.
"He's not afraid to speak his mind." Miroku observes lightly.
"Either Totosai is extremely brave, or extremely senile." Sango adds dryly, her head tilted in wonder as she gazes at the old man's retreating form.
Inuyasha was speechless for once.
As a group we move on, though I'm hesitant to do so. What if Totosai could have helped Inuyasha achieve full power with Tessaiga? Despite the old man's attitude, he obviously would know just about everything there was to know about the Tessaiga. I voiced this thought soon after to the half demon, but he scoffs in denial.
"That old fart is full of it." Inuyasha argues, looking stubbornly away from me to the side as we walked.
Rumbling can suddenly be heard coming from behind us.
Turning sharply, my mouth drops open in surprise as I see none other than Totosai himself racing back towards us, his cow kicking up large plumes of dust in it's wake.
"That was quick." I frown, feeling uneasy. My back goes ramrod straight as an all too familiar signature pulses in the air, a glowing large orb appearing just behind the old man. It crashes into the ground directly behind them, sending both he and his cow flying. Reacting quickly I throw my hands out in front of me, letting my aura surround them both as I levitate them directly over to us, setting them both down safely. Totosai looks at me wide eyed for a moment, before he turns back towards their attacker as the dust settles.
'Of course, speak of the devil and he shall appear.'
There stood Sesshomaru, looking even more deadly than usual.
Inuyasha is the first to react, running forward to stand between us and his brother. His body is tense as his hands clench tightly into fists. "Sesshomaru!"
"Stay where you are, or I'll tear you both to shreds." Sesshomaru promises, his cold voice sending unpleasant shivers down my spine. Whether he was speaking to Totosai or Inuyasha, I wasn't sure, but the old man didn't waste time. Leaving his companion behind, he rushes to hide behind Inuyasha, looking with wide eyed fear past him towards the pissed off dog demon.
"Did you hear that?" He questions nervously. "I think we're in big trouble now!" I frown at that, Inuyasha growling in annoyance as he turns his glare from his brother towards Totosai.
"Listen, old man. You've got no intention of making Sesshomaru a new sword, now do ya?" He asks the sword-smith, Totosai shaking his head.
"No." He answers simply, his voice still trembling with fear. Inuyasha smirks cockily, turning back towards his older half-brother.
"You hear that?!" Inuyasha shouts towards him. "I've had enough of this bad rep over Tessaiga, and now I'm itching to use it and fight!" He goes on confidently, my anxiety sky rocketing hearing him. If he went into this battle all hot headed and trying to prove a point, it would be over before it even began. "So let's settle this once and for all!" Inuyasha draws Tessaiga, the sword transforming as he does. Totosai scrambling away, looking nervously back towards the brothers as he does. Sesshomaru can't even bring himself to look amused as he typically did as his younger half brother's challenge, instead his eyes narrow as he charges at Inuyasha once again.
"Have no fear." Sesshomaru begins, before I can't stop the gasp of horrified shock as he reveals his new arm. It's green in colour, consisting of only three digits all tipped with sharp claws. It clearly came from another demon, and as it gripped onto the sharp edge of the blade, it was obvious that it's previous owner had been a strong one at that. Shocks flew around the brothers from the contact of Sesshomaru's new hand and the sword, Inuyasha grunting with the effort of keeping his footing and not giving an inch as Sesshomaru bore down on him. "It will all end today!" He promises lowly. "You'll never have the power to beat me! Not without the Wind Scar."
'The Wind Scar?' I frown deeply, looking towards Totosai as Sesshomaru said that. The old man's shoulders slumped, his expression telling me that Sesshomaru was right in his proclamation. Looking back towards Inuyasha, his face scrunched up with concentration as he kept the hold strong, I could see a flicker of doubt in his eyes at his brother's words.
This was going to be a whole new ball game.
Soooooo guess what?
Guess again!
Guess one more time...
KOGA IS IN THE NEXT CHAPTER!
It feels like we've been working towards this point for FOREVER! I'm so excited to bring him in, guys, I mean SO EXCITED! He's honestly one of my favourite characters from the serise. In fact, I've dabbled with some KogaOC ideas, though nothing has been set in stone quite yet haha.
Anyways, thank you again for your support and your patience and understanding during this time. It's honestly great to be in school with the kids - I really did miss seeing them since we closed down back in March. But...it's stressful too. Again I promise that I will finish this story, even if I can't make as many updates as quickly as I had during the summer.
Please continue to bear with me!
Until next time!
T.O.T.
