As the sun continued to set, Torunn and Rin made their way back to the campsite when the warrior eyed Sesshomaru sitting in the tree branch above area where they had stopped. Rin had begun busying herself with the spoils that she had managed to find, while the imp napped at the base of the tree. Torunn couldn't help but to think that the little snores that came out of Jaken were kind of cute, all of the gurgles and snorts sounding like a piglet. She had a grin on her face as she leaned against the tree, looking up to perched Demon Lord. She was determined to get the Demon Lord to open up to her, even just a little - Torunn was too curious not to try to know something about him. Sesshomaru, from what she could tell, he wasn't the most personable of people, but by Thor she was going to try, lest she go crazy from his silence.
"Hey, can I ask you a question?" She heard a small, tired sigh escape him. Torunn rolled her eyes, but took it as a 'yes', "Don't worry, it's nothing that personal but I am wondering if Totosai make both of your swords? I can only assume he did otherwise why would you know him."
"Then why did you ask?" Asked Sesshomaru who was losing what little patience he held.
"Well, I want to know what I'm getting myself into with this Totosai, especially if his weapons can do what Rin shared with me," Torunn said, noticing how Sesshomaru's body went rigid for a fraction of a second. Noticing that, she then continued saying, "Yeah, Rin told me how you brought her back to life, with a swing of your swords," Torunn finished, making a grand sweeping motion. Sesshomaru looked down at her, making a fool out of herself but not caring. If anything, it looked like Torunn was having fun.
Sesshomaru rolled his eyes and jumped down to her, graceful as a falling petal while she straightened herself to her full height, in a seemingly serious manner. Torunn nearly came eye to eye with him, who regarded her with a wary glance. Sesshomaru continued to stare at Torunn quizzically and then looked down at his hip, his one hand moving towards the hilts of his swords.
"No, he only made this one," Sesshomaru said, disdain dripping from his voice. To Torunn's surprise, Sesshomaru unsheathed his sword, the thinly forged steel shone brightly in the dwindling sunlight. She took the thin blade from his hand, never feeling a sword as light as this one - it almost felt like a feather. She marveled at the golden pommel, wrapped in intertwining lilac and white silk. She went to touch the blade itself, noting that it wasn't sharp, that it was in fact, incredibly dull. Her blue eyes gave Sesshomaru a puzzled look.
"It doesn't cut." It was more of a statement rather a question, "What is it made out of?" She hefted the blade, again stunned by its lightness. All the swords she had carried in her long life were made for hacking and for killing blows. They were powerful and most importantly, heavy. Torunn remembered the bandits she had ran into, remembering all of their skinny blades as well, and how they were no match for her shield even. She could scarcely imagine how they would fare against her blade had it not been broken. Torunn hoped that Totasai wouldn't make her weapon look like those blades.
"This useless blade was made from my father's fang," Sesshomaru remarked, then adding, "The Tenseiga does not kill."
"At least it has a pretty name," Torunn remarked with a wry smile, although Sesshomaru did not find it amusing. "So it doesn't kill, but can give life? And it's made from your father's fang?" He merely nodded his head.
And here I thought Asgard and Valhalla were weird places but this takes the honey cake.
"But it can't be useless if it can give life to anyone," she continued, "I think that's even more impressive than taking a life, or at least, more useful. It certainly proved that way for Rin."
"Hn," Sesshomaru huffed but said no more. It was then Torunn had taken notice to the larger, more fearsome blade that also hung at his side. She hadn't really noticed before but now she was closer to the demon lord and could feel the power that vibrated off of it. It seemed dark and powerful.
"Is that why you have that sword?" She jerked her head towards his hip, "If Totosai didn't make that one, then who did?"
"It doesn't matter. He's dead,'' Sesshomaru said flatly, thinking of Kaijinbo who had succumbed the blade's demonic power.
Torunn wanted to press further, but decided against it. She was just happy to have a genuine conversation with the mostly silent daiyokai, even if it was just about his swords but she was going to take what she could get. It's not that she didn't enjoy Rin's stories but Torunn wanted, rather needed, a change of pace. She missed the camaraderie she had back in Asgard and Valhalla.
"Oh," she replied finally, "Well, does this one have a name?" The demon lord gave her a quizzical look.
"You ask as many questions as Rin does," Sesshomaru answered her. Torunn gave him a dry look, but couldn't help but notice slight twinkle in his amber eyes.
Was he making fun of her?
Brushing that feeling off, she countered, "Well, after the last two days I've been talking, or rather listening nonstop to Rin, I wanted a break and besides, it looks like you have your fair share of stories to share, and I love me a good story. Not that it's easy for me to try to get anything out of you."
"If you share too much, your enemies will know your secrets," Sesshomaru replied to which Torunn guffawed.
"Share too much, they'll never know what is the truth and what is the lie," she replied, a lopsided grin on her face as she leaned against the tree again. Sesshomaru eyed her up and down, still not sure what to make of Torunn. He wanted to reply that what she said made absolutely no sense, but he suspected that she didn't care one way or the other.
"Tokijin," he replied instead. Torunn cocked her head in curiosity.
"Huh," she commented, "Not as pretty as the other name but impressive all the same. I'm happy to see that this sword isn't like all the other ones I've come across. They're all so thin- how do you do any sort of damage with them?" Sesshomaru gave her a bit of incredulous look, but then remembered her broken blade and how large it was in his hand, almost twice the width of his Tenseiga. Tokijin was almost the same width but still slightly smaller than hers.
"How do you mean?" He asked.
"Before I ran into you, I came across some men who used these skinny blades on me, and couldn't even get through my shield," Torunn explained, "The blade actually got stuck in my shield! How pathetic is that!" She barked out a laugh and then finished, "Not that I would have needed a sword to take down a couple of weak mortal men, I can't help but imagine what would have happened had I had my sword."
"You would have eviscerated them," Sesshomaru replied. A part of him wanted to see her fight with a sword out of pure curiosity. Would she wield it with the grace that she held when she ran and fought hand to hand with him? Or would it be the pure, unbridled brute strength he saw when Torunn fought Koga? Torunn was an odd mixture of barbaric and adroitness in her battle style that he did not understand but somehow wanted to conquer.
Torunn smirked. "I'll take that as a compliment."
"Don't," he curtly replied, "I am merely speaking the truth." Torunn rolled her eyes again but still kept the smile on her face and waved at him dismissively.
"Fine, I won't," She said, "But can I at least thank you for the correct assumption?" Sesshomaru turned from the warrior woman, his eyes going back to the branch he sat in before she had disturbed him.
"Hn. Do what you please," he merely said, jumping back to branch. Torunn let out a sigh but was surprisingly content with hers and Sesshomaru's conversation.
Better than nothing at all, she thought to herself as she wandered off to make a fire for the night.
After dinner, Torunn was lost in thought. In the commotion of the spar between Lord Sesshomaru and, herself, and entertaining Rin - who she had just tucked into "bed" atop A-Un - Torunn thought about Sesshomaru and his arm, or rather lack thereof, and the curiosity still burned inside her mind in how he had lost it. She shifted her weight on the ground, trying to get a comfortable potion while her back leaned against a large fallen tree. Her gaze went towards the stars that began to dot the ever growing night sky. She took a deep breath and locked her gaze back onto the Demon Lord.
"Hey Sesshomaru," Torunn called across the fire pit. Jaken's head immediately shot up, his yellow bugged eyes staring daggers at the warrior.
"That's Lord Sesshomaru to you, cretin!" He shrilled, but Torunn merely rolled her eyes, while the Demon Lord in question did not make a move, nor acknowledged that he had heard her.
"Lord Sesshomaru," She continued flippantly, "My apologies. Any way, I meant to ask you something - how did you come to lose your arm? I never got the chance to ask you during our - er - first encounter." Jaken began to sputter as Sesshomaru's eyes turned hard as stone while Torunn, who in turn gave a puzzled stare.
Sure, Torunn thought he seemed testy when she first commented on it that night but Torunn only thought that it was due to the fact they were about to fight, and that he was just too prideful. He narrowed his eyes even more.
"That is none of your concern," Sesshomaru replied, his voice has sharp and hard as steel. Jaken shook his small head in fervent agreement. Torunn threw her hands up in feigned defense.
"Sorry - didn't know that was a touchy subject." Torunn said, still caught off guard. Jaken scoffed at her.
"Of course it is! Anything that has to do with the Lord's dimwitted half-brother makes his blood boil!" The little imp demon shuddered in anger. Torunn's eyebrow raised in surprise.
"Your brother did that to you?" She asked, compassion leaking into her voice, "Inuyasha? Isn't that your brother's name?"
"How do you know that?" Jaken asked, astonished. She shrugged.
"This old priestess told me about him, and about you," Torunn continued, turning her gaze back to Sesshomaru who continued his hardened glare at the woman, "She failed to mention the bad blood between the two of you, though."
"Bad blood!?" Jaken almost shrieked, "That ungrateful half-breed stole Lord Sesshomaru's birth right!"
"Shh!" Torunn made a motion of a finger to her lip, her own blue eyes growing hard at the little imp demon, "You're going to wake up Rin." The little girl began to stir atop of A-Un, but otherwise stayed peacefully asleep. Jaken's face grew red, whether from embarrassment or anger, Torunn couldn't tell. He mumbled something underneath his breath that Torunn chose to pretend to not hear. She then gave her attention back to Sesshomaru, who's own gaze turned from both her and Jaken. She let out a defeated sigh.
"Alright," Torunn said as she began to rise from where she sat, "I won't press the issue anymore. Sorry. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to take a quick dip in the river. I saw a one not too far away from here and I would like to not smell like - well like I have been lately." As she began to walk off, Torunn caught the a slight nod from the increasingly moody demon lord, as if he was giving her permission to. She could have laughed at the thought but decided to hold her tongue. Sesshomaru was already sensitive about that exchange - even just bringing up his half brother got his fur riled up.
I really messed that up, didn't I? I thought that we made progress earlier today, she thought dejectedly to herself. After Sesshomaru had opened up about his swords, Torunn held hope that she could ask him things without him biting her head off. Obviously that wasn't true. It was like cutting stone from a mountain - you had to pick and ax with all your might just to get the smallest piece to work with.
Even though he was bound by his word to help her, Torunn decided that she try to be on her best behavior from now on if she was going to survive this journey - even if she didn't know what exactly what she had done wrong. Torunn sighed heavily; she only had to play nice with the insufferable demon for a week or so. She had been through worse.
Torunn wandered in the dark woods, letting the stars and the moon guide her path, trying to remember just how far it was she remembered where the stream was. With her claws she marked the trees she passed, making sure that she would remember how to get back to the campsite but Torunn didn't worry so much about that. She still was a little worried on how upset the Demon Lord became with her questions. She would find a way to make it up to him, somehow.
After a short while of hiking, Torunn finally stumbled upon the sound of water, gurgling and bubbling ever so slightly; Torunn smiled but felt some confusion. The air felt warmer than it had before, and that was something she had not expected but welcomed nonetheless. As she approached, the warmth enveloped her like smoldering fire of the hearth - not too hot but was exceedingly comfortable, similar to a bath. And as Torunn approached the source, she realized that it was a bath!
"Praise the All-Father!" She exclaimed as Torunn started to hastily undo her many layers, putting them in a pile near a tree she stuck her dagger in, hanging the wolf pelt on the hilt. Carefully, she lowered herself into the warm waters, reveling on how it felt on her aching muscles. Torunn dipped her head beneath the water, trying to wash her unruly hair. She shot back up to the surface, letting out a sigh of contentment.
Naturally occurring warm baths? Maybe this place isn't so bad, she thought to herself, feeling a wave of homesickness wash over her but shook it off. It wouldn't be long until she was back home in Asgard, but even home didn't have these miracles.
The moon had moved into the center of the sky and Sesshomaru had begun to wonder where the wolf-warrior had ran off to. She said that she wouldn't be long, but that had been long before the embers finally burned out from the fire that she has started.
Not that it mattered, he idly thought to himself. If she were gone, that would make his life so much easier but for whatever reason, he could not help but be curious of Torunn's whereabouts. If only to keep his words as a Demon Lord, he reminded himself.
Jaken had fallen asleep against A-Un as Rin continued to sleep on top of the two headed dragon. Silently, the demon lord rose and kicked the imp demon awake. Startled, Jaken sprang to his feet, wildly waving his two-headed staff that he had in his hands. He was about to say something when his already buggy eyes grew larger, and let out a sigh of relief at the sight of his master.
"Oh," Jaken exhaled, "It's just you, m'lord. Er - not that it's only you - I meant -"
"Quiet Jaken," Sesshomaru said. Instantly, the imp demon shut his lips. After a moment of silence, Sesshomaru said, "I will return. Watch over the camp." And began to walk away, in the direction of where Torunn had meandered off, leaving a bewildered and slightly deflated imp demon behind.
Silently, Sesshomaru followed the path that Torunn had left behind. Her unique scent made it easy to to track her - when she wasn't trying to masque her smell. His own fur bristled at the thought on how she had deceived him that night but shook it off. The demon lord would knew he would have to get over that eventually. Lingering on such petty things such as that did not make him look good, nor did it make him feel good.
Mostly, Sesshomaru didn't like how much of a fool that he had looked in front of Torunn.
Sesshomaru was the Demon Lord of the Western Lands, the son of the Lord Inu-Taisho - his enemies trembled at the mere mention of his name. He was the most powerful daiyokai - and yet he fell to her tricks. From the first time Sesshomaru had analyzed Torunn, he knew Torunn was a competent warrior. Hell, he knew she was better than just competent.
She was powerful - despite her disheveled appearance. Despite how she carried herself when she was comfortable around his wards and himself, even. Torunn had wounded his pride, without even trying, without even knowing that she did just that. Sesshomaru shook himself from his silent self-reflections when he caught her rugged scent again - the sea salt, earthy scent and just a tinge of wolf. And he then he caught another scent mixed with hers.
A snake yokai? He thought to himself, picking up his pace a little bit, They haven't been seen around these parts in almost a century. Sesshomaru came upon some natural hot springs. He spied a lone akamata yokai and Torunn who still sat in a natural hot spring bath, who looked more irritated and bored than anything, her arms spread across the walls of the earthen tub. Sesshomaru chose to keep himself and his aura hidden, wanting to see what Torunn was going to do.
"Look, I really don't want to fight you - or anyone for that matter," Sesshomarau over heard Torunn say, her tone nonplussed as she splayed her arms lazily behind her on the wall, "I just came here to take a bath and to be on my way." She continued to sit nonchalantly in the warm waters, as the snake demon, crossed his own arms in annoyance, letting out a huff that matched.
"That'sss too bad," He said, his forked tongue flicking in and out, tasting the air, "Your aura and power are deliciouuuuss, and I want a taste of them." His yellow eyes narrowed on her. Sesshomaru could feel Torunn's own annoyance roll off of her in waves. He had to suppress a grin as he spied Torunn's eyes practically roll into the back of her head. Taking a deep sigh as if to try to keep herself calm, she pinched the bridge of her nose, closing her eyes.
"Fine," She said, still not looking at the infuriating snake demon, "You wanna fight? Then give me that fur pelt on the ground, would you?" The akamata let out a short laugh.
"Now why should I do that? Why should I help you, woman?" The demon slunk himself closer to Torunn, eyeing the warrior as she bathed, and Sesshomaru had half a mind to step in from the shadow but as soon as that feeling came over him, it just as quickly left him - this was Torunn. She didn't need protection. He didn't need to protect her. Why did he even feel the need to do something as trivial as that? Sesshomaru reminded himself that he didn't care about her - that again, if she were gone, that would make his life all that much easier.
And yet the conflicting feelings still remained.
Before he could make the decision to do anything, Torunn leapt from the warm waters, and neatly sliced a bit of the insufferable akamata's tongue out of his own mouth when he carelessly flicked it again with her claws. Torunn stood defiantly not caring in the slightest bit that she was naked, sopping wet and vulnerable. Well maybe not vulnerable, but still As the snake demon yowled in pain, Torunn took the chance to rake her claws across his face, now partially blinding the idiot in addition to potentially making him a mute.
"That was for ogling me," She said, no humor in her voice, her claws dripping in its dark, inky blood. Her toned seemed to scream that she didn't care if he lived or died at that point. Her tone that said it would actually be better if he did bleed out right then and there, rather than to deal with her full fury.
Instead of choosing the wise decision, the snake demon chose poorly.
"Why you wench!" He angrily hissed at her, though his mouth sounded though it was packed with cloth, "I'll kill you for that!" And stupidly tried to lunge at Torunn, only to fly blindly head first into the water, as she merely side stepped next to her pile of clothing. Sesshomaru's amber eyes grew slightly wider as he watch her swiftly pull the dagger from the tree where her pelt hung from, and drive it into the akamata's back as he tried to rise from the water. He let out strangled gargling sound as slid back into the waters, his blood dying the once clear spring into a dark red. Torunn let out a deep sigh as she wrapped herself in her wolf pelt around her naked form.
"Had he just given me my pelt, he would still be a live - maimed but at least still breathing," Torunn said absent mindedly to herself, slowly beginning to collect her belongings as Sesshomaru started to turn away. She was truly an enigma that he would probably never understand, despite his own curiosity being piqued at this exchange.
"What? Didn't you enjoy the show?"