Sesshomaru entered the chambers where the new parents had secluded themselves. The panther demon quickly rose in defense of his family and hissed at the intruder. It was custom that families are sequestered with their newborn so that the child can imprint and create a strong bond with its parents. Sesshomaru's intrusion being a major violation of tradition, the family was well within their right to attack him.

When he continued to advance, they did just that. Though they were strong for demons, they were no match for Sesshomaru's overwhelming strength; particularly when they were concerned for their child who was in the room.

"Please, please don't harm my child!" the mother called out to him. Sesshomaru didn't even spare her a glance as he continued forward; the woman beginning to sob loudly.

Sesshomaru flexed his aura slightly and when the child's responded he found that, as he had suspected, this was not his mate. Though he couldn't bring himself to be disappointed, mating a cat would have been distasteful. He turned to leave,

"Cease your wretched wailing, woman. Your child shall not meet his end at my claws on this day."

Sesshomaru flew towards the woods in the distance after leaving the home of the panthers and couldn't help but snarl internally in frustration. His mate's aura was still hidden preventing him from locating her, he could only guess at where she could be. He began his search on his own island, the forest island, where he had first sensed her. He had Jaken gather all reports of demon births that had took place in the last few weeks before setting out to discern for himself which was his mate. Now though, his search having failed to reveal the whereabouts of his mate, he was forced to take a new direction; one he had not wished to take.

He would have to visit his brother.

As incompetent as his brother was, he should have been able to feel that large flux of power his mate had given off. However, he would have to be tricky about getting the information; Sesshomaru would die before he ever owed the half breed anything.

Inuyasha was nothing more than a stain on the great Inu line, a mistake that would have been rectified if not for the annoying humans and their treaty. His father could have easily wiped them out, but he found their politics amusing and decided to keep them close. They were his father's own personal ant farm and he loved to watch them struggle so hard and end up failing when a greater force destroyed their efforts. Well he was amused until the day his consort, Izayo's, childhood friend and secret admirer decided to take her back. What had ensued then was nothing but chaos with the dragons attacking from one side and his father being forced to retrieve his consort so to prevent a mark on his honor.

Sesshomaru and his father had never been close, they had more of a student and teacher relationship, but he truly despised his father when he was forced to perform the funerary rights and ascend as leader of the West. He was a mere two hundred and fifty at the time, a pup. Yet he was forced to give up his dreams of adventure and youth for steel and blood. His rise to power was not a welcome one for many and he had been forced to defend his birthright, each day returning to the shiro drenched in the blood of his enemies.

However, despite his father's death, he had not failed in his mission to retrieve his concubine and son. Thus the shackles of his father's life grew heavier as the care for his father's woman and bastard fell to Sesshomaru. The responsibility was suffocating.

When the woman had died of disease, he had been happy at first. That is until the half-breed began to follow after him; looking up to him as a parental figure. To Sesshomaru though, Inuyasha was the physical representation of all that he had lost. Even his mother left not wishing to be around the child. Eventually Inuyasha grew rebellious and left the shiro and Sesshomaru didn't care to follow; he had his own problems with the recent reports on a nefarious spider hanyou.

The next time he saw his brother, it was with a woman dressed in miko garb. They seemed to be traveling together and he could smell the attraction they felt for each other. He had come to claim his father's sword which had been placed in Inuyasha's eye. However, after venturing to his father's tomb he discovered that he was unable to remove the sword and left. Later he discovered that the half-breed had claimed the sword and was hunting the spider hanyou. The two kept their distance, not interacting unless it was unavoidable. Then the Fracture happened.

When he reached the small thatch of trees his brother called a forest he found that his brother's scent was half a day's old. He was about to follow after it when he caught wind of a fresher trail leading to a hut in the center of the village. The pathetic humans, knowing their place, removed themselves from Sesshomaru's path. He was an awe inspiring sight, his long silver hair dancing in the breeze while his clothes billowed about him. He exuded confidence and impatience. All remained silent as he passed, some even going so far as to bow, though a few disgruntled villagers mumbled complaints did reach his pointed ears.

"If we don't do something, people are going to start thinking this is a demon village!"

"First there was that half dog and his whore then there was that strangely dressed prostitute who I'm sure is a witch! Whatever shall we do?"

"I'm just glad they're gone! But now we have demon lords showing up, what could he possibly want?"

Sesshomaru was intrigued. So his brother had taken in another woman and this one a professional. Something must have happened if they thought she was a witch. Humans and their ridiculous aversion to the occult.

To be honest, he had been quite suspicious when his brother didn't meet him at the village limits to warn him off by waving their great father's sword. So when he stepped into the hut, he realized why his brother's scent was still in the village even without the idiot himself being present. So he has sired a pup and took the woman as his mate.

"Lord Sesshomaru, how may we be of assistance?" Kikyo asked him as she made to prepare a pot of tea. He gave her a disdainful look for even thinking that he would need another's assistance. "Forgive me, what is it you seek here? Inuyasha left early this morning for the island of volcanos."

"He left his pupped mate alone in a village without protection?" His voice was hard with accusation. "Disgraceful." Kikyo said nothing, only moving to cover her womb with her hands, instinctively taking a defensive stance. He was about to leave to follow his brother when he recalled the woman's spiritual ability. "Girl, have you felt a rise in demonic powers in this area?"

"No, Lord Sesshomaru."

"And this woman my brother prefers to travel with rather than protect his mate?" Kikyo's teeth clenched tightly, "What of her?"

"She isn't not a threat." Kikyo's voice was cold as ice as she replied, her bangs covering her eyes.

"Hn." Sesshomaru hadn't detected a lie from the woman. He would have to investigate his brother's new woman now. Leaving the hut he began to follow the older trail of his brother. Knowing now that there was another with Inuyasha, Sesshomaru was able to find her scent. Though it was strange, her scent was almost identical to the smells of nature; if not for his superior nose he wouldn't have picked up on the small subtleties that distinguished it. His eyes narrowed in suspicion, this woman was becoming more and more questionable by the minute. He felt a smile stretch across his face; perhaps she would be strong. Feeling more motivated now, he increased his pace.

He was glad that he had sent Rin, Jaken, and Ah Un back to the shiro; it seems that he has a lot of investigating to do before he could return home. The mysteries kept piling up. The Fracture, his mate, that power surge, and now this new companion of Inuyasha's.

He could hardly contain his excitement at the challenges being placed before him.

Kagome was thrilled when they finally reached the entrance of Totosais' forge. She didn't even pretend to be surprised that the forge was actually the carcass of a long dead monstrous animal, nor did she comment on the three eyed ox that was standing patiently outside; after the walk she just had, she was just happy to reach stable ground.

The entire trek had been arduous to say the least; she was in constant danger of having a geyser or mini explosion set off under her feet every time she took a step. The energy wisps were just so thrilled at having someone so receptive to them that they couldn't help but show off. And Inuyasha? He wouldn't let her within thirty feet of him. Yet, despite their excitement, she could sense that there was an even greater collection of them farther inland.

"Hey old man! We need a sword!"

"Waa! Who is it? I know nothing about the disappearance of King Kir's victory feast!" Totosai yelled as he made to escape.

"What are you talking about you crazy geezer? You didn't happen to cause any problems in the sand kingdom did you?"

"Oh it's the useless brother." Totosai said as he once again relaxed next to a basin of water.

"Who are you calling useless you old carpet!"

"I see you have improved your taste since the last time I saw you, perhaps you are becoming wiser." He said as he watched Kagome dash to the water and begin scooping large handfuls into her mouth.

"Last time I was with Kikyo."

"Precisely."

"Why you!" Inuyasha called before introducing Totosai's head to Tessaiga's hilt. A few bumps later Inuyasha introduced Kagome. "She has some pretty strong power; all the swords that we have used so far have shattered. So we need you to make her a sword."

"She is strong?" Totosai's face was suddenly in front of Kagome's and she tilted her head as she watched the fire spirits gather around the demon. "I only sense power in the band around her arm. She is not fit for one of my swords. For only those demons of certain circles are acquainted with my work."

"Keh," Inuyasha tossed Kagome one of the blades that Totosai had finished, "Show him."

"Hey, you can't use that! It's for the Sand king in return for eating the feast!"

"So you were crashing parties."

"Well…" Kagome easily called on her power and the sword immediately burst into flames; the most prevalent energy source in the area being that of fire. Totosai's eyes widened even farther than they naturally were, the amount of power being channeled into the blade was immense and he could hear the metal screaming at being so full. However, he could sense no aura or power from the girl herself. It was as if the power channeled into the blade was purely natural, there being no hint of another's influence on it. Yet, this girl was clearly in control of it, her eyes alight with power.

Ever so lightly, Kagome tapped the blade against the wall of the cave. Immediately the area of wall around where the blade made contact was completely obliterated and the sword in Kagome's hand had shattered on contact. Through the hole, Totosai's ox blinked owlishly at them.

"I see." The elderly demon mussed, "Yes; that is the case." He moved to the back of the cave and began to rummage around; every now and then throwing an object over his head.

"So can you make her something or not?" Inuyasha huffed impatient.

"Help with what?"

"The sword!"

"Ah, of course! A sword!"

"Ahhh!" Inuyasha cried before heading outside. "I aint dealing with this right now. You two sort it out."

"Ok?" Kagome replied hesitantly as she turned to once again find the fire demon in her face. "Hello there…"

"Hmm. What to use…"

"Um, use?"

"Usually I would take your teeth, but you're not a demon so there isn't any power being kept there."

"So what will you use?" she asked as her heartbeat speedup. Hearing the increased pulse the demon smiled.

"I'll take your blood." He said as he pulled a massive knife from nowhere, grabbed her hand, and slit her wrist. She cried out at the sudden pain and watched as her bright red blood dripped into a ceramic bowl he had retrieved from somewhere. When her body began to heal the cut, Kagome couldn't help but gasp as she watched the energy stitch her cut together. That was before the old coot cut it open again.

Each time she began to close the wound the demon would cut it back open. Kagome was feeling faint when he finally decided that he had collected enough for the sword to be made. She collapsed to the floor and tried to fight off the dizziness that was obscuring her vision.

"What type of sword is your preference?" He asked as he scurried about gathering the material for a sword.

"I can handle any sword." The demon turned to look at her with a doubting expression. "I am not kidding." She said seriously as an arsenal of swords created out of her power appeared around her.

Totosai quickly turned back to his work and refused to acknowledge the hairs that were standing attention at the back of his neck. He had lived a long time and filled commissions by the strongest demons in the world. Being the coward he is, he was very good at reading when someone was able to back up their threats. And though she hadn't said as much, he was willing to bet that if he pushed her enough she would be more than willing to demonstrate her ability with all those swords on him!

He had also realized that the band around her arm was concealing her true power and aura; he wasn't the best sword maker for nothing! He specializes in making swords that do the same thing as her armband so of course he would notice. And if she was as strong as she seemed to be without the use of her true power, he did not relish the being that incited her anger enough to use it.

"I would just use these, but materialization requires a great deal of concentration. Having something physical to channel through would be easier and require less energy." She added as she twirled one on the tip of her finger. "Never know what you'll go up against."

"Any type of blade, huh?" he mumbled under his breath as he watched her easily handle the different swords. "Well, we'll just have to make every type then. I'm going to need a kitsune tail, dragon scales, spider heart…" he trailed off as he walked away.

"What do you mean every type? Like a shape shifting sword?"

"Precisely. Kitsune are notorious for their shifting and their tails are the source of their power. Dragon scales can be used for fortification against yours and your opponent's magic as their scales are the strongest material in the world, this way your power won't overwhelm the sword. A spider yokai has the ability to absorb other beings into itself, molding all the elements so they don't work against each other."

"And these yokai willingly gave you their body parts?" Kagome asked doubtfully, "This sounds illegal."

"Hmm? Oh it is?"

"…right. So why do you need my blood?"

"That's so it resonates with you and recognizes your power. It will be your partner and sentient."

"I see." Kagome said as she looked over at the other strange things he was gathering, not entirely confident in his sword making abilities, but then what does she know? After all, this was the guy who apparently made Inuyasha's changing sword.

Kagome watched him begin to brush and oil the kitsune tail, his fingers smoothing the soft fur as his fingers heated the oil gradually. When he was satisfied, he began to carefully arrange the scales along the sides of the tail so they only slightly overlapped each other. Kagome couldn't fathom how any of his materials could possibly become a sword, she had been required to take a course in the mechanics of weaponry which went into great detail about how swords, guns, axes, spears, and other various weapons were produced and the benefits of each.

Totosai had been rummaging around, no doubt looking for another strange creature to add to her "sword" when Kagome felt an approaching aura at an alarming rate. Yokai.

"Kagome!" Inuyasha materialized in front of her, "There's a-"

"Yokai, I know" Kagome replied quickly as she got to her feet and braced her body against the cave's wall for support; her head spinning from the massive blood loss Totosai had subjected her to. When she turned to warn the old sword maker of the danger she found he had already disappeared. Shaking her head she made to leave, "Let's go."

"I don't know, Kagome." Inuyasha hesitated, "You don't look that great."

"I'm fine." She said as she straightened and assumed an emotionless expression as she walked brusquely past him.

"Keh."

As the aura got closer to them Kagome noticed how strange it was, the energy seemed different somehow. It was only as Inuyasha pulled his sword and Kagome reached for her own when she had a sudden realization.

"I don't have a sword… Shit! Inuyasha, I don't have a sword!" Kagome panicked next to him.

"Stupid woman! This is why I said that you should stay back in the cave! You aren't thinking clearly."

Kagome couldn't help but turn incredulous eyes on the half demon next to her. 'This must be a joke,' she though speechless, 'did this idiot just imply that he is capable of thinking clearly when the extent of his sword capabilities is depending on large scale attacks that require no thinking or skill?' Seeing her expression, Inuyasha bristled.

"What?"

"…"

"Whatever." He said as he turned to the yokai that was coming over the hill before resorting to his traditional hack now ask questions later approach. The demon was well over eight feet and it was eight feet of well packed muscle. His hands were tipped with razor sharp claws and his skin seemed to be shifting to match the landscape around him. A chameleon demon, I didn't think they would favor this kind of environment.

Despite fighting barehanded against Inuyasha's tessaiga, the chameleon was able to match Inuyasha blow for blow. Kagome would have let the battle play out without her interference if not for the sickness that seemed to have taken hold of the chameleon's energy. It was if the darkness had enhanced its abilities making it faster, stronger, and fearless. The beast seemed to fight without any care for his body and Kagome noticed that his body was healing at an alarming rate. Gritting her teeth as she forced her vision to clear, she advanced on the dueling pair.

Not having expected her to join, the chameleon was taken off guard as Kagome delivered a merciless kick to the back of his head which caused him to falter in his attacks. She quickly took advantage of his second of confusion and ruthlessly cut the Achilles tendons on both feet with the twin knives she materialized with her power. Despite her apparent immobilization of the demon, Kagome quickly retreated and knelt to catch her breath as the blades dissipated. It was in situations like this she needed a physical sword; the constant use of energy already placing great strain on her body.

Inuyasha quickly advanced on the fallen demon delivering blows of his own before the tendons on the chameleon healed. Soon enough, the battle was right back to where it had started as if Kagome hadn't intervened in the first place. She huffed and observed the movements of the chameleon finding that it had slowed slightly, as if it was not receiving the supplemented strength from the darkness in his whole body. Turning her attention to mapping the energy courses around him, Kagome quickly discovered that the places she had struck him with her power remained pure.

'It seems that my power has the ability to purify the darkness in its aura.' Kagome thought as she began to stand. She grit her teeth against the waves of dizziness that assaulted her before she forced her body onward. The demon was more weary of her presence now and managed to avoid her successive attacks with her materialized weapons. The strain on her body was immense as she forced a bow and quiver of arrows to appear but was satisfied when her attack finally made contact. He once again was immobilized, the arrow having sunk deep into his left knee. Dashing forward while ignoring Inuyasha's yell to stand behind him so he could attack, she wrestled the demon to the ground until he was completely immobilized in her hold.

She then began to channel her power through him, cringing as he cried out in pain. The energy cells didn't seem to be able to hold both the diseased blackness as her more pure energy resulting in their rupture. Switching tactics, Kagome fed him small doses of her energy in increments while encouraging his body to activate his healing by making small cuts along his back. In this way, her energy fused with his own; purifying the darkness as it moved throughout his body to heal. Soon the body began to recognize Kagome's energy as its own and a dark black puss was expelled from his body through the cuts Kagome continued to make on the Chameleon's back. Although he was still in pain, this was far less intrusive than rupturing his cells and wouldn't result in his death. When enough of her energy had been infused, she collapsed to the ground.

"Kagome!" Inuyasha's voice was distant and laced with concern. She turned her head in his direction, her vision obscured by black and red dots. He was running toward her so he didn't notice it; the overwhelming power. Just as she lost consciousness he appeared, a great white dog looming over Inuyasha from behind; unseen. His power rolled off him overbearingly, forcing those who felt it to submit. Though, for Kagome, she felt only the comfort of home and security from it. She sighed and relaxed, allowing the darkness to overtake her.

She hoped he would be there when she woke.