"Sesshomaru! Now would be the perfect time to learn the Meido Zangetsuha!" Totosai urged from the sidelines.
For what purpose, he almost asked. Then he recalled that was somewhere Naraku couldn't reach. If he had one of his extensions of himself watching them then he couldn't take the shard.
But that meant sending his daughter into Hell. No, she had a right to be with the Inu No Taisho. Perhaps he would use it as a last resort.
Besides, Sesshomaru had no need for the jewel. He had no need for its power. Therefore it was utterly useless in anything else but keeping his daughter alive.
Decision made Sesshomaru drew the Tenseiga. As he did he immediately felt a difference with the blade. He couldn't quite explain it, only that it gave off a slightly different aura than before.
Inuyasha felt relieved at first. This meant that Sesshomaru had given into the truth of the situation at hand. However his relief was short lived when he could see that Sesshomaru wasn't giving his all into the battle.
Well, at least the Tenseiga was drawn. Accepting that this was the best Sesshomaru will do, Inuyasha began to follow his lead. Together they circled the young demon. They began attacking in perfect sync from opposite sides. She expertly dodges one and blocked the other. Their swords would spark as they passed.
Growing frustrated that she was forced into a corner, Akane unleashed a red aura that danced around her. Everyone stared in awe. She could copy Sesshomaru's attacks?
Inuyasha paused, as did his brother as the aura took form of a two headed dragon. Its cry was much deeper sound in comparison to the attack it was based off of. Akane aimed at Inuyasha seeing as he was the bigger threat. Red lightning reached towards him with the two headed dragon.
There was no time to use the Backlash Wave.
Sesshomaru shoved him out of the way. In a flash some of the blue aura of his own Dragon Strike stirred around him to form a makeshift shield to take the worst of the attack. His attack had enough time to raise his dragon's head to intervene one of the red heads.
The other bore at Sesshomaru.
Blue and red lines cut deep into the ground on either side of him. Sesshomaru stood, gasping. The Tenseiga glowed blue in its effort to heal him from the worst of the attack.
As he took a better stance, Sesshomaru couldn't help but feel a sense of pride. If only she had been given a proper chance. He could see her easily surpassing him. It left an ache in his chest.
Of what could have been. What should have been. If only it hadn't been ripped away. His only regret was waiting so long before he sought the safety of his mother's castle to wait out the pregnancy.
"This fight is getting nowhere!" Kagome readied an arrow. She knew Sesshomaru wouldn't last more hits like that. And Inuyasha was being just as hesitant in his own way of not using his more powerful attacks.
Akane dodged the arrow with ease. However following Kagome's lead the others began to swarm and overwhelm Akane. She was forced to stay on the defensive from the varied attacks and even Sesshomaru and Inuyasha worked together with the others that joined the fight.
Her eyes flashed crimson in her frustration. For a second it almost looked like she would transform. Then a blessed arrow hit the mark. It pierced her chest as it touched the shard. Akane dropped to her knees as she screamed in pain.
The shriek hurt their ears so everyone stopped to either cover their ears or leap away. A crimson aura surrounded her as her power fluctuated dangerously.
In the same moment memories revealed to her. Of watching Sesshomaru transform as he howled in pain. Of watching Inuyasha leap to fight her killer in fury. Then it surged forward to when Inuyasha named her.
"I'm...Hinata?" Tears streamed down her face.
Upon hearing her Sesshomaru rushed forward. He dropped the Tenseiga in favor of holding her close in his lap. She stared up into the sky as she screamed again.
The crimson aura enveloped him and Sesshomaru grimaced. The tainted aura was hurting him and yet he couldn't find it within himself to care. He had every intention of sacrificing himself.
"He's trying to absorb the taint within himself! Quick! Stop him before he's consumed!" Totosai understood what he was attempting to do.
Miroku rushed forward first. But the aura was too dark and powerful. He stepped back as he felt the taint almost reach his heart. He collapsed into Sango, who pulled him further away.
"Stay away from me!" Sesshomaru snarled, his crimson eyes meant promise of pain.
He could feel the taint reach within his heart and soul. His inner demon actually whined as the taint began to absorb them. Consuming them into the darkness.
"Damn it!" Inuyasha sheathed the Tessaiga. He grasped the Tenseiga with one hand, ignoring as it burned him as he took aim.
The Tenseiga pierced through Hinata's chest. Inuyasha let go of the sword in favor of pulling Sesshomaru back. For a split second he felt the taint reach into his heart and it made him shudder.
Sesshomaru withstood this? He couldn't imagine it. It felt as if the taint was trying to claim and tear his heart and soul apart. And yet Sesshomaru tried to absorb it all.
"No!" Sesshomaru struggled. In his panic he couldn't escape.
He watched as his own sword released a holy light that encased Hinata. The light absorbed the taint until there was none left. And in a matter of seconds the light dissipated, leaving behind ashes and a lone Shikon shard next to the Tenseiga.
Sesshomaru didn't have the heart to punch Inuyasha. He lowered his head until his bangs overshadowed his eyes and tears streamed hotly down his cheeks. After a moment of hesitation Inuyasha embraced him tightly as he too cried.
Nearly everyone looked away, fighting tears of their own. Days ago no one thought that losing an unborn child would be worse. And yet somehow Naraku had managed just that. Out of all the sinister plans that he had done, this was the worst yet.
Rin was the first to look up. A soft light caught her eye. She gasped as she pointed.
"Look!" Her voice drew attention and everyone looked.
The spirit of Hinata knelt before her parents. She appeared just as how she was as Akane. Only she wasn't mad for revenege. Hinata seemed peaceful. She smiled fondly at Sesshomaru and Inuyasha.
"Don't be sad. I'll be with grandfather and grandmother now. I don't blame anyone for this. Well, besides Naraku. But that's a given. I just wish I could have stayed a little longer." Hinata spoke softly.
"Hinata..." Sesshomaru couldn't form any words.
"It's okay. You don't have to say anything. I know. Just, make sure Naraku doesn't hurt anyone else like this again, okay?" She tilted her head a little.
"Yeah. He's going down after this." Inuyasha promised.
Hinata smiled. It was warm and sad. Yet it was full of love. She was smiling at both of them. And although their hearts ached there was a sense of closure that they needed.
She turned, as if someone was calling out to her. Hinata stood up. As she did a hand placed itself on her shoulder. Beside her was none other than the Inu No Taisho.
"I'll watch over her, my sons." He promised.
Hinata waved goodbye just before she and her grandfather disappeared. Everyone was so moved by what they had just witnessed that they weren't even surprised as the shard levitated before racing towards Byakuya, who appeared out of thin air.
"It seems the Lord Sesshomaru does have weaknesses." Byakuya commented before disappearing.
For a long moment there was silence.
"So, Sesshomaru, you still feel like handing the third upgrade of the Tenseiga over to the Tessaiga? Now that they're both here I have the option of one or the other." Totosai broke the silence when he approached.
"What? That can happen?" Inuyasha was confused.
"Well, it can be possible the Meido Zangetsuha ability can be used in both the Tessaiga and the Tenseiga. They are made originally from your father. It might require some tinkering on both of them to make it happen, but I believe it's possible. Course both of you now have to figure out how to use it."
Inuyasha wondered how that will work. He doubted Sesshomaru would teach him. He hasn't even learned the ability either. He supposed it meant he coud possibly learn first.
"So, are you still going to gift the final installment of the Meido Zangetsuha to the Tessaiga?" Totosai asked again.
"Do you have to ask? Just get it done already." Sesshomaru glared.
"Hmph. Guess it's too much to ask that you learn to be a little nicer. I know Inuyasha will stick around but I suggest the same to you. I'm afraid Tokijin landed in some lava." Totosai explained as he picked up the Tenseiga.
"I'm. Not. Weak." He snarled.
"Of course you're not. But do you want to be caught weaponless out there while protecting those children? I bet you're not even close to full strength yet." Totosai pointed out. Inuyasha wordlessly handed the Tessaiga over to him.
Honestly the blacksmith expected to have a rock thrown at his face. Instead Sesshomaru looked away, eyes hardening into a frustrated glare. He supposed progress was progress.
"How long does it usually take for a demon to recover from the birth?" Sango curiosly asked.
"Well it depends. But if I had to guess, Sesshomaru would be back in top shape in about another week. That is if he doesn't get severely injured. Because of today I would push it closer to a week and a half. But then again he's always had quite the healing abilities."
"Just get on with your job already." He hated being talked about while he was well within earshot. "The faster its done the faster I can leave."
"Yeah, yeah. I'll be taking these. Shouldn't take more than two days. I'll let you know if it's done faster than that." Totosai accepted Tenseiga's sheath that was tossed his way. He narrowly avoided catching it before it would have struck his forehead.
"So then you weren't holding back." Inuyasha had thought he was during the fight considering who their opponent was. What Totosai had explained had finally gotten through his head.
"Inuyasha..." Sesshomaru's voice was dark.
"What?" He blinked, ears twitching.
In a flash Sesshomaru punched him in the face. As the younger brother fell on his back the elder stood over him. He glared down at Inuyasha coldly.
"I'm going for a walk." He decided he needed a moment to himself and away from everyone before he snaps and actually begins to use his claws.
"Guess some things never change." Totosai commented with a sigh.
"Shut up old man." Inuyasha huffed.
Sesshomaru kept his comment to himself.