The air in the monstrous decaying head was suffocating, and not just with volcanic fumes that permeated the area. Torunn was stuck in the middle of Sesshomaru who only stood glowering at the old, doddering sword smith who continued to cower in fear in front of her. The demon Lord only gave the wolf warrior a blank stare as the answer to her question, while Totosai shook with fear, his already bulging eyes threatening to jump out of his withered skull. Torrun ignored the daiyokai and turned her attention back onto the old man.
"Well, what's the story here?" Torunn asked of Totosai.
"Lord Sesshomaru is out to get me!" The old man wheezed out, "Just take a look at what he did to my home!" Tounn followed his bony finger to where he was pointing and sure enough there was a large hole in the roof of the skull, covered up by what looked to be a tattered and patchwork blanket of sorts. She looked back at the stoic demon lord, trying to imagine him losing his temper like that. She might not have known him for too long, but she had never once seen Sesshomaru lose his cool.
"Now why in the Nine Worlds did you do such a thing?" Torunn asked, her brows slightly raised in amusement as she tried to suppress a smile that wanted to escape her lips.
"Because he defied me," Sesshomaru simply said.
"It's because I wouldn't make him what he wanted, and then threw a fit like an ungrateful pup!" Totosai retorted but immediately lost his bravado when Sesshomaru bared his bangs as he took a step forward. The old sword smith let out a wail as he tried in vain to find cover in his sparse home. Torunn rolled her eyes and walked over to the Demon Lord.
"Quit it," she hissed at him, "I need him alive and most importantly, compliant and you scaring him like that isn't helping." Sesshomaru's eyes went from the old man to Torunn, her own eyes hard. Clenching his jaw, Sesshomaru stood down but the irritation that he felt did not fade. Torunn took note of his reaction, being slightly perplexed by it but decided that it was not the time to address it. With a terse nod, she turned around to Totosai who still hadn't stopped cowering. Slowly she made her way to the old man, one of her hands in the air in a show of peace, while her other hand dug through the satchel that hung about her. After a few steps, Torunn stopped in front of him, her hand finally pulling something out of her bag. Totosai's mouth hung open in surprise as he laid his eyes on the broken hilt of a blade in Torunn's hand.
"That's – That's -!" Totosai stammered in disbelief, inching his way towards the sword in the outstretched hand.
"You recognize this?" She asked excitedly. The old demon looked back her, scoffing at her question as if he was offended.
"Of course I do! I remember every single sword I make," he said, "And that damned fool went and ruined this beauty!" Torunn stood there awkwardly, biting her lip as though she was trying to stop herself from saying the next thing on her tongue. It was a sheepishness that Sesshomaru only witnessed a handful of times since knowing the warrior woman. He raised one perfect brow in curiosity, idly wondering what she was going to do next.
"Well, you see," Torunn started to say, running a hand through her golden hair, "Odin didn't break it. I did. Well, not me necessarily but during a fierce fight -" Totosai snatched the broken weapon from her grip, interrupting her explanation. He sputtered about like a fish on land, gasping, with his shriveled mouth agape. Torunn could feel her right eye begin to twitch while her mouth formed a thin, white line of pure agitation but kept her cool. The last thing she needed was to scare Totosai herself and to have Sesshomaru give one of his signature "I-Told-You-So" looks. She didn't need that kind of arrogance at that moment. Torunn was already frustrated enough as it were.
Taking a deep breath, Torunn got her emotions under control as it seemed like Totosai was losing all of his control. She looked back to Sesshomaru who only had a small, smug smile. Finally, she exhaled and went back to the distraught fool. Gingerly, Torunn tapped Totosai on the shoulder only for him to gargle out another wail. Not expecting that reaction, Torunn took a step back from him in surprise.
"I knew that Odin was thick in the head but this takes it!" He said, pacing now with the hilt, "Letting a whelp of pup like you wield this fine weapon. What was he thinking? There's no way I can fix this junk now!" The twitch returned over Torunn's right eye again, now her turn to swipe the broken blade out of his hands. "Hey!" Torunn let out a frustrated exhalation as she held aloft the hilt high above Totosai's head as he tried to grab at it like a child wanting their toy. After a few moments of this, Torunn used her other hand to stop Totosai in his tracks by placing her hand on his wrinkled forehead. She exhaled again.
"Look," Torunn began, "I know this doesn't look good but Odin seems to think you're the only person who would be able to fix this weapon. He has faith in you, Totosai." She wore a tight smile across her face, trying to show him some of that good faith, but he merely narrowed his eyes at her, looking her up and down, his neck even craning a bit to get a full visual. "I really need your help. Like any good warrior, I feel practically naked without my weapon. Even though it was not my intended weapon, it soon became inseparable from me once Odin received Gungnir from the dwarves." Totosai's eyes grew large at her statement.
"What did you say?" He asked in an accusatory tone, removing her hand from his head. Torunn's head tilted in curiosity at the sudden shift in his demeanor, but then it hit her like Mjölnir .
Totosai was jealous. Torunn could see that he felt betrayed by Odin for using a different weapon, and that's when she had a plan, a wolf-like grin that began to stretch from ear to ear. She relaxed her stance, feigning ignorance.
"Well, a long story short, two sets of dwarven craftsmen were commissioned to make treasures for the Gods back on Asgard and one of the gifts was a magical spear that would never miss its mark once thrown and it was given to Odin. Even he admitted that he needed some help after losing his eye for wisdom." Totosai barked out a laugh.
"A lot of good that did him, the old fool!" Totosai was practically foaming at the mouth with outrage, as Torunn exchanged a knowing glance with Sesshomaru, though his face remained stoic and impassive as usual. The warrior woman nodded solemnly as she listened to Totosai rant and rave about how "Those dwarves couldn't even shoe a bull properly! The nerve of them!" The warrior woman gasped in shocked while the daiyokai looked on the scene in front of him, watching Torunn wrap Totosai around her finger. She truly had a knack of manipulation he noted to himself with a semblance of unease. He tried to shake of the creeping sensation of doubt that began to burrow itself in his mind but there was something there that would not stop pestering the Demon Lord.
Had Torunn been manipulating him, Sesshomaru, this entire time? Was all that she done in good faith? He mused to himself, then quickly chiding himself, Of course she had been - how else would she have been able to make him bend to her will so? He tried to not let it effect him, but Sesshomaru could feel himself losing that battle, feeling an irritation start to take root deep inside him.
"Wow, I had no idea that you felt so strongly about this," Torunn remarked, pulling Sesshomaru out of himself, "Truly I am sorry that you are hurt by his incredibly selfish actions, but I think I might know of a way to get back at him." Totosai stopped his manic pacing and turned sharply to her, once again his eyes narrowed on her as she continued, "If you help me come back victorious with this weapon, that would be severe blow to his ego." Totosai pondered on that though, humming and hawing aloud. All of the sudden, he exclaimed aloud excitedly.
"I'll do one better!" He exclaimed, taking the broken blade from Torunn's hands again, march pass both Torunn and Sesshomaru and threw it into a nearby lava pit. It was Torunn's turn to foam at the mouth with outrage, sputtering like a fish herself all the while Sesshomaru made no move to react other than his brow rising again as the old broken weapon became one with the earth once more.
"But- You just- I can't believe -!" The warrior woman stammered as Totosai wiped his hands and headed back to the bewildered woman.
"I told you I couldn't fix that piece of junk," he said matter of fact as he stood hunched in front of her, "So I'm going to make you a brand new weapon, and for you alone." As he finished his thought, his wrinkled hand shot up to Torunn's chin and with a surprising amount of strength, brought her face down to his level, saying "But I'm going to need something from you first." Torunn's face was squished between his bony fingers, confusion written all over her features.
"Whad d'yew need fromf meh?" She tried to ask but as her mouth opened, the old man's hand shot in and with practiced precision, ripped one of her canines. Sesshomaru growled and took a step forward but Totosai paid him no mind since he had gotten what he needed from Torunn. As she stood up bewildered, eyes stinging from the sudden and very surprising pain she had just endured, she shook her head and without hesitation hit the crazy old man upside the head, a bump rapidly forming from where she had struck. "What in the name of the Norns was that all about?! Do you have a death wish?" She rubbed her jaw, still tender from where he had unceremoniously yanked out her tooth.
"I needed one of those to be able to make your sword," he said acting as though he had done that hundreds of times before.
"And you didn't think to warn a warrior?" She shot back.
"You're fine - don't get your fur in a bunch. It will grow back before you know it," he said dismissing Torunn, "There's no amount of warning I could give to prepare you for that, so I've learned to not warn anymore and to just go for it." Stunned by his actions, Torunn could only open and close her mouth, wanting to say something but finding nothing to say. She pinched the bridge of her nose, exhaling deeply again.
"Alright then. Now that you have my tooth, what are you going to do with it? I can't imagine it being good enough to serve as my weapon," Torunn mused aloud.
"Of course not! This is to help forge your weapon, and to derive your powers from you to the weapon. I've done it with everyone of my swords so far. Just ask Sesshomaru," the old man said as he walked over to a long forging hammer. She turned to the daiyokai who merely raised his chin, remaining silent in this exchange. Totosai continued, "His father's sword is made from his father's fang, just like your sword will be made from your fang." Torunn's flicked over the space where the canine used to reside, already feeling a point already beginning to grow.
"How long is it going to take you to forge it?"
Totosai hummed aloud for a few moments. "Three days."
Torunn should have been elated at the news that she would get her weapon in such a short amount of time and on her way back to Asgard but there was sense of longing that tugged at her spirit. Only three days? Ignoring the rising sadness, Torunn had a thin smile on her face, bowing deeply to the sword smith. "Thank you, Totosai. I can't wait to see the look on Odin's face when I come back with an even greater weapon than his." She stood back up, winking at the old man as she did. Totosai let out a dry and raspy laugh, his hand clasping onto her shoulder.
"You know, you're alright Torunn!" He said, clasping again on her shoulder in delight, "Come back in three days time and I guarantee you that you will have a sword that will make ol' one eye green with envy." The two of them laughed as though they were old friends as Sesshomaru stood silently watching everything. The daiyokai turned and made his way out of the skull. Torunn caught this and turned to walk after him.
"Thank you again, Totosai," she said over her shoulder, "I'll see you in three days!" And walked out of Totosai's home. She found the moody demon standing waiting for her and she smiled broadly at him. "That wasn't so bad!"
"Hn," was all Sesshomaru said, not turning to her. Torunn tilted her head as she stopped in her tracks, waiting for him to scoop her up again to make their way out of the volcano. The two inhuman beings stood in silence, and for the first time since knowing Sesshomaru, Torunn truly felt uncomfortable in it. She could tell something was bothering him but for the life of Baldur could not figure out happened.
"Is everything alright, Sesshomaru?" She said as she walked closer to him. Her hand instinctively went to reach for his sleeve but he pulled away.
"Let us get going," he said in a clipped tone.
"Oh, alright. How do you want to do this?" There was definitely something eating at him but knew better than to try to pry at the moment. Sesshomaru crouched, his back to her and she awkwardly climbed on, her knees gripping at his side as she stiffly wrapped her arms around his shoulders. As she settled, Sesshomaru launched himself into the air and made their way back down the fiery mountain. Torunn no longer feared the flight anymore but something else sat uneasy in her stomach as they made their descent and she was going to get to the bottom of it, so help her Thor.
After his feet touched the ground, she slid of his back and walked directly in front of him, but Sesshomaru simply walked around her. She cocked her head and put her hands on her hips, annoyance vibrating off of her. Sesshomaru made no effort to assuage her feelings. She grounded her teeth in irritation. As he continued to walk, she sprinted ahead of him, stopping directly in front of the Demon Lord.
"What gives?" She asked, "What crawled up your ass and died?"
"Do not talk to me like that," he said. Torunn scoffed.
"Like what?"
"Like an equal."
Torunn was taken aback, even going so far as backing off slightly. Where was this coming from?
"I'm sorry," she said, "But last night we sure were talking like equals. What happened from then until now?" Hurt began to course through her body.
"A lapse in judgement," Sesshomaru replied coldly, "And now I have fulfilled my end of the bargain." Torunn's blue eyes grew large, anger rising from the pit of her stomach like bile. She bit her lip, trying to hide the pain and confusion she was feeling.
"Gods," she said, shaking her head in disbelief, a mirthless laugh escaping her mouth, "I cannot believe you right now. And I cannot believe me, either." At that comment, Sesshomaru turned sharply to her. "I cannot believe I made myself think that anyone could mean anything to you."
"And nor can I believe that I believed anything genuine came out of your mouth," he shot back.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Torunn asked offended, "When have I ever lead you to believe that what I've said and done was not genuine."
"Please," Sesshomaru said emotionlessly, "Everything you've ever done was to your own benefit. I saw the way you manipulated Totosai like it was nothing." Torunn's jaw dropped in utter disbelief, followed by another scoff. "Do not try to feign ignorance, you knew exactly what were doing the entire time."
"You are so incredibly dense," Torunn said tightly, "I cannot believe I thought such different things about you, but I should have known."
"You know nothing about me."
"Nor do you about me," Torunn retorted, "So do not pretend that you are so righteous, Lord Sesshomaru." He bared his fangs at him but she did not flinch.
"Do not take that tone with me," he said, his tone sharp as steel.
"Then don't bare your fangs at me!" She was practically shouted at him, "Friggs, I honestly thought I was getting through your thick skin but I was wrong. No one will ever climb beyond what you have built - you won't allow it. Fine, be alone in your icy palace, you frigid bastard." Tears began to sting her eyes, "Do not pretend to know what I am feeling better than I do. I was stupid to assume anything. I guess we are no longer at that impasse that you accused us being at." She turned her gaze towards the ground, a heat growing in her cheeks. Sesshomaru said nothing and turned away from her, and started to walk away. She did nothing to stop him, didn't even watch him go. She let out laugh that was mixed with a held back cry.
"I'll go back to Rin to say goodbye and by the time you come back, I'll be out of of your fur," she called out to him, "I'll let them know you're going away again. Rin told me that you were good at disappearing and running, so I suppose she would understand." He turned around to her and cut her such a look that it actually did make her flinch. It was filled with malice and anger that she had never seen from him, but said nothing more and jumped into the air. She stared at him in incredulity as he disappeared into the blue summer sky. She wiped the tears that were forming in her eyes, threatening to fall to the ground.
Fine, if he really wants me gone, I'll go. In three days time, you'll be on your way back home and you'll never have to think about his stupid beautiful face again, she told herself as she sprinted back to the cave to say her good byes to the sweet human child and even to the grumpy imp that stood guard. She would rather be in a place that she was wanted than a place that resented her. Torunn took off in the direction towards the cave where they had left Sesshomaru's wards.
A buzz rang through the air as Naraku sat silently watching the strange warrior rush from the Demon Lord, hardly believing his luck. He didn't have to lift a finger to make the two of them were separated. The pieces were falling into their places, a sickening grin spreading across his face. Chiyu-Ryoku shouldn't have too much of a problem luring his prize out with the insufferable demon lord out of the picture.
He rounded the tree that served as his vantage point as he watched the two warriors bicker back and forth, flying into the air on his miasmic cloud, knowing he had little to fear now. He was certain that by end of day, Naraku was going to have her power and strength and soon, he would be to defeat not only Sesshomaru but Inuyasha and his pathetic comrades. Nothing was going to be able to stop him from collecting the rest of the Shikon Jewel Shards once he had her in his possession. He looked to his surrounding saimyosho, flicking his wrist as he did.
"Go follow Chiyu-Ryoku," he said to his flying insects, "I want to see how the Shikon Jewel shard I gave him works against this strange warrior." The buzzing continued as a group of them went off in the direction of where she had run off to, the grin on his face never once leaving. Now he only had to wait for Chiyu-Ryoku to deliver what he promised. He continued to fly, his dark blue and purple silk kimono fluttering on the wind. Patience is a virtue, he mused to himself, a chuckled dancing off of his lips.