Author's note: yes, it's been a while since I updated, but after "having it out with my Muse", we are back on track with this story now. Wonders what a small hiatus can do. :)
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha or Lady Death, character(s) or story-wise. Inuyasha is owned by the very talented Rumiko Takahashi and her affiliates, as Lady Death is owned by her creator, Brian Pullido, and Avatar Comics (tm). This story, however, is an original from my mind. I'm receiving no $$$ for this; it's for entertainment only. My payment is your reviews.
As always, Enjoy!
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Chapter 13
Training, pt 2: The Way of the Sword
(Interlude two: from the personal journal of Jaken, Vassal to the current Lord of the West)
It has been almost one lunar month since that day. The day I felt "it". A great rift, an intense shockwave exploding across the lands like nothing I've felt before. Or, at least not in a long time. It was like that first time when I first met my Lord Sesshoumaru, out upon the battlefields. I had felt him coming our direction even before I saw him. I had felt his presence, and I knew that he was someone very powerful who could destroy me in an instant.
I will never forget that day.
But this feeling, this is very different. This rift, this aura, and this force…it is so powerful. I doubt that my Lord has even felt something this powerful as well. Perhaps not since his father, the Inu no Taisho, had passed, and I can only speculate how that must have been to him. But I must not be so bold and presumptuous as to think how my Lord Sesshoumaru thinks or feels—I am just a lesser demon—and even though I have served my Lord faithfully all these many years, I am still at his mercy. He never lets me forget it, either. I value my head attached to my body as it is.
But I can't help but to wonder what is going on in my Lord's mind as I see him even now. He spends many an evening on the balcony of his private chambers, staring off into the direction of the setting sun, the far west. How ironic, as it is where a forest lies that he has let that no-good hanyou brother of his, Inuyasha, live in.
Inuyasha is the most disgraceful and unthankful whelp, not even so much as simple notes of gratitude towards Lord Sesshoumaru, for letting him remain alive! I will never see how my Lord can go on day after day in knowing that his most pristine Inu youkai heritage has been tainted with the birth of that hanyou! But, my Lord has stated quite well that no one will have the privilege of killing Inuyasha than him—the rightful heir to Tetsusaiga!
The Tetsusaiga should have gone to Lord Sesshoumaru—he is the Firstborn! But how Inuyasha has it still to this day when he cannot even imagine, let alone understand, all the power it possesses!
I know that Lord Sesshoumaru will make his decision about Inuyasha and the Tetsusaiga one day. There are… more imperative things that warrant his attention right now.
Yet, I digress. The more important matters of hand currently worry me more than that of whether or not Inuyasha is alive.
It worries me, to see my Lord spending a lot of time on his balcony these evenings. I see him searching the skies; what he's looking for I know not. It is not as if he would ever tell me as well. I don't think he knows that I view his emotions even now as I write this, but if he did, would he confide his thoughts?
I feel he is so alone sometimes, and if it weren't for Rin (even if she's a flighty human girl!) and myself, I think he would have been much more of the cold-blooded and heartless killer that others make him out to be. He still is able to maintain an aura so intense, that to gaze upon his features would mean a certain and instant death. He has the same look right now, the look he displays towards his opponent before he so expertly dispatches them to their deaths.
But it is somehow… different. If I concentrate hard enough, I can hear him sniffing the breezes from the Westerly direction… maybe he's testing the air for something? Or someone? But who could it be? Does he think it to be Naraku? That mess of demons and human flesh would dare to enter the Western lands, knowing it to be the domain of Lord Sesshoumaru?! How presumptuous is he!
But no, now that I think about it more, it might not even be Naraku. For if that were the case, Lord Sesshoumaru would not hesitate to kill that wretch! But yet, my Lord has stood where he is, day after day, watching the setting sun, testing the air, searching…
I have a very bad feeling about this. The Western Lands may be in danger!
(End interlude)
"Nay not! Stop—enough! Your stance is off—square your footing!"
The Goddess of Death's voice boomed across the training field towards her charge. She lowered her sword and walked forwards, closing her eyes and shaking her head in frustration.
By the Abyss, but he is exacerbating! Though he learns quickly, he still insists on doing things his way. I am reminded, yet again, of myself. How I must have tested Cremator and his patience during my training!
She sighed, reminding herself that they were not so different. This half-demon boy, Inuyasha, held such a fire within him that she daresay it would rival her own someday. But on the day they met, he didn't have the power of his demon side to protect him, and this worried her thoughts as well. When Kagura had shown up, she felt compelled to protect him then.
She had met him while he was human, and even then, he held that same fire behind his very human hazel eyes. It intrigued her, the way he changed so magically when the sun rose, yet he had no control over it any more than she had control over her status as the Avatar of He Who Reaps.
They were not so different, further still, beyond the surface. He had been born into a world where neither side of his human nor demon blood was accepted. She was born a mortal woman who had given up her humanity to the horrors of Hell in order to escape a fate worse than death, only to become the living embodiment of it.
They both had lived with mistrust and persecution. They both were fighters. They both would not give up a fight until either their opponent, or they, were dead.
Though she was here by a quirk of the Nexus of All Things, she began to wonder whether or not her being here, in his timeline, in his realm, was not "an accident". It seemed that Death followed him where he walked as well. If she had the chance, and if He showed Himself to her again, she would inquire into the matter.
Perhaps their individual Chords of Fate had been intertwined?
"What am I doing wrong this time?" Inuyasha huffed.
He looked just as frustrated as his aura appeared. His eyes held a steady gaze as she approached. Lowering his sword, Tetsusaiga, he realized that she must be thoroughly at the end of her limit of patience with him, and was thankful that it was only Kagome that held the power of "that dreaded word" over him. If his Sensei did as well, he most likely would not have any recognizable features by now.
Lady Death raised Apocalypse swiftly towards his head, which he blocked quickly with a diagonal upwards thrust.
CHING!
Rang the two blades as they connected. She was not asking her sword to stretch forth its power, and Tetsusaiga didn't respond as well. It was a simple thrust-and-block maneuver, used to test if one was truly off-guard.
"Good! You executed the 'Chop Down Tree' lesson to its fullest. Now, be wary of your footing." She stated as she placed a leg in between his and kicked out.
Inuyasha barely had time to look down and process what she had said when next his backside met the ground. She had swept his feet out from under him, the end result of her warning about his stance. He was off balance, and in doing so, had been easily thrown. She thrust her sword tip at the direction of his throat to show him how close he would have been to a certain death.
"Do you see now? How easy it was for me to unbalance you? How open you remain even now—your arms, your belly, and your very throat—exposed to the tip of my blade. What if I were charging at you, what is the action that you should have taken? What if my true intent were to lop off your head?"
She paused for his answer. His eyes searched unfocused, mentally trying to recall anything that he had already learned, or that she had taught so far. He found nothing, and once again was at her mercy.
"All I have to do now is step forward." Her voice did not betray her action as she leaned in.
"I don't know. I guess I'd be dead, if I weren't quick enough. Would you have really killed me?" he asked. He met her eyes, but was very aware of her sword's tip just a few breaths from his throat. She was so serious in her training that it was sometimes hard for him to tell.
"If you had been an enemy, you would be dead as you lay even now."
She lowered the sword tip slightly, letting what she said sink in. He understood it, and she had yet to display anything in her voice, her mannerism, or her scent that would betray her otherwise. He blinked his eyes; his silent motion conveyed his understanding to her lesson.
She removed the sword from his throat and sheathed it.
"Stay seated and rest your sword in your lap. It is the optimum position for your next lesson."
Inuyasha complied, and as he sat upright, Tetsusaiga powered down to its beat-up katana form. He let out a grateful sigh, and hoped that it wouldn't be mistaken for such. He found himself centering as he breathed in again, and closed his eyes. The White Goddess took note of this.
How quickly he is able to interpret what it is that I wish of him before I mention it, and yet… is he?
She began to circle around him as he sat, studying him, like that of a predator would do to its prey before the death strike. He flicked his ears in her direction as she walked around him.
"What are you doing?" he interrupted the lesson as he started to turn around towards her direction.
"Quiet. Remain still, and open yourself." She hushed him back to his meditative state.
"Listen only to the sound of my voice. Remember back to the stream, and how you were able to sense things, see auras, meld with another mind. The feel of the water as it flowed around, on, and over you—how it made you feel. Open up your mind, and let go."
He relaxed more as she continued her circling around him. Slowly, she withdrew her blade. His ears flicked in response, but he did not move. His energy hummed in a low vibe the more he let himself relax.
Good, now to see if he reacts accordingly…"Think now of the rising sun. What action does it take?"
Quietly, she raised Apocalypse above her head, and prepared to swing. He would either react, or get cut.
SHOOSH!
Down came Apocalypse, aimed at his head.
FWHOOM! CLANG!
Tetsusaiga transformed as he swung the blade high over his head, blocking her strike. He quickly realized that he was at a disadvantage as she pushed with her weight against his blade, forcing it back behind his shoulders. His instinct was to clasp his other hand onto the blunt edge of the tip to balance, but in the position he was in, it was near impossible.
"Face me and stand, blades connected!" she commanded.
"That's impossible! You have the advantage!" he craned his head towards her.
"Nay so! Do, or do not. There is no impossible!" She bore down harder, bringing his sword arm to a dangerous bend to where he had no choice.
Inuyasha pivoted in his seat to face her, and hopped up to a squat. He saw now what she spoke of. He had regained his balance, and was now able to push back against her. Grasping the blunt sword edge with his offside hand, he used the power in his legs to push up, rising to a stand as he did. When they were face to face standing opposite each other again, she disconnected her blade.
"Well done. Think now of drawing down the moon. HYA!"
She swung at his head again, but from the top this time.
SHING!
Apocalypse sung thru the air towards its target.
WHOOSH! TONG!
Tetsusaiga met it with a resounding tone as he blocked her strike again, hands in the same manner. The two of them stood, each reading the other's face to gauge the next move. She crooked the side of her head and gave him her trademark grin. He prepared himself for whatever she had.
"Now, think of a perfect circle."
She slid the blade down towards the hilt of his, forcing him to hold his sword in both hands. She purposely held the connected swords high, another advantage she had over him, as she was taller. He had to overreach a bit, and Tetsusaiga's weight quickly bore down on his arms. But he would not give up.
He pushed back as much as he could, but his hold started to waver. She saw the opening and seized it. Bringing Apocalypse down further towards his wrists, it created a move so foreign to him that he found both of his wrists immediately rebelling against his mind to hold steady.
The Goddess swung her sword down and out to the left, causing Inuyasha to loose control of Tetsusaiga and send it flying from his hands again. It spun away from him in a circular motion. As he watched it sail thru the air, its movement suddenly hit him.
The motion his sword made in flight was just that—a perfect circle! He gasped, and shot his look at her.
She stood with her blade lowered, a slight smile on her face. He understands the meaning behind the moves now.
"Hold that thought—I'll be right back!" He waggled his clawed finger at her before trotting after his sword.
When he returned, he held Tetsusaiga at the ready towards her. She readied Apocalypse as well.
"What are those moves again? Will you show me in a slower motion?" he asked.
She pointed her sword tip to the ground, and asked him to seat again, but this time facing her. He complied.
"The first one I performed was called Rising Sun. You executed it in almost a perfect manner. It is an overhead-blocking move used to deflect a blade that is aimed at your head, if you are sitting. It is difficult to block an opposing blade from behind, how'er you did well."
She took up her sword, and he readied his. "I will swing in the same manner, and you block my blade."
Slowly she swung the sword towards his head. He raised his to block, and studied the move.
It was like the rising of the sun, the move he performed. Rising Sun, huh…
"Good. You observe it now, aye?" she asked. He nodded while shifting his eyes between hers and the two swords.
"How do I block an enemy's sword from behind like I tried before?" he asked.
"It is nearly impossible, short of disconnecting your shoulder, to do such. It is best if you learn to anticipate the moves of your opponent and be quicker than them. How'er, you may find a way yet, Poppet. You are resourceful."
He quirked the corner of his mouth in agreement. She did have a point.
"The move… about the moon? Will you show me again?" He perked his ears forward to her.
"Drawing Down the Moon? Aye." She raised her blade in a neutral stance as he readied himself.
Once again, Apocalypse thrust thru the air towards his head. This time, she had both hands upon the hilt, and exerted more force behind it.
SHOOWUM!
Sang the blade thru the air. Inuyasha almost didn't catch her move, and in a knee-jerk reaction swung Tetsusaiga up and over his head to block her move.
WHOOM! CHANG!
His stance wavered a bit as their blades connected again. All of his weight centered on his left leg, and she used it to her advantage. She bore down against his side as he struggled to right himself, to get above her force, to meet her move to a more middle ground. He soon found his grip loosening again as the tip of Tetsusaiga dipped towards the ground.
"Think of your balance, Poppet. Where are you weakest right now?"
She stared into his eyes as he grunted his frustration against her moves. His right leg was shaking from having to bear all of his body weight to push against her, and his sword-arm was tiring again. If he didn't do something, and fast, she once again would be able to disarm him.
He let out his breath sharply, not realizing that it was being held as he pushed back against her with his might. The muscles in his arms were burning, ready to give in under the strain. His knee was threatening to pop out as he continued to oppose her.
The Goddess pushed harder, this time his sword tip was being pushed back towards him. His offside wrist now stung from bearing the weight of the two forces, but he would not give up. He was determined to at least release his block with his sword still in his hands.
"How… do I… get out of this?!" He roared in frustration.
"Did you not hear my instructions?" was all she replied.
Her voice rang again in his head. "Think of your balance. Where are you weakest…"
That's it! I'm off balance again! That is where my weakness lies! He realized at that point that she purposely had done this move to show him how to adjust his balance. He shoved his right leg forward in a hop that sent his left one back to replace his weight in a more advantageous way.
He was open to her now to execute a fatal blow, but he would be able to strike back and block her more effectively as well. He quickly thrust his left arm against the blunt edge of his sword's tip, and pushed, using his newly found support in his fresh leg stance.
"Nnnngugh!" He gave one mighty shove and was able to push her advance back. She opened up a small space between them, then something in her demeanor changed. She swung Apocalypse in front of her, to her sides, and around her in a figure-eight motion, all with just her one hand. When she finished, she had squared her stance again and fixed him with a fighter's stare.
"Now Poppet, let us see how well you have learned your trainings. Come at me!"
Inuyasha balked a bit. Turning slightly to the left, he noticed that the rest of the group had stopped in their daily routine to observe. Kagome seemed very interested; her brow furrowed as if to foresee what was about to transpire.
Is she serious? She wants him to charge her? What will he do? It is not his nature to charge against one who he sees as friend, and yet…
He took a deep breath, focusing his energies. Tetsusaiga hummed in response, its blade glowing as its power was called forth. From his vantage, the White Goddess' aura was a whirlpool around her. An electric glow of blue-white surrounded her, trickling down to Apocalypse, changing to match the gold energy of the blade. She rocked from side to side slightly, readying herself for his charge.
Lady Death stood, waiting, and read the aura of her charge. His normal red coloring had changed, brightened, like that of when they had first sparred. But yet, something else was apparent. Small sparks of gold popped within the field. Her eyes glanced briefly down towards Tetsusaiga, where it emanated from.
Indeed? Is this truly now what he has learned, the power of his sword combining with his own, or do they yet remain independent, neither one fully letting go?
"We are not accustomed to waiting, Poppet. Do you fear?" she taunted him.
PTAH! "Me, fear you? Hardly. I don't wanna hurt you. You're a girl, after all, and my sensei…" He shook his head, uncertain.
"Then I shall give you an advantage. I will use only one hand. I will not ask Apocalypse to throw forth any energy waves; it will remain a… regular sword. Further, I shall remain grounded. I will not fly."
She removed her left hand, and gripped her blade closer to the hilt.
"Huh, pretty strong. For a girl." Inuyasha smirked. His confidence restored, he raised Tetsusaiga and charged.
When they neared each other, he swung down from overhead. She met his attack with a backhanded swing.
CHANG!
Her blade met his on the tip, and small energy clashes between the two combatants leapt forth. Inuyasha's sword wavered from the blow. He quickly raised it to block her move aimed at his throat. He surged forward in his steps, trying to upset her footing. With every step forward, she matched his with one back of her own, her eyes never leaving his, countering his moves as he swung again.
Apocalypse and Tetsusaiga battled each other for dominance with each connection, neither one willing to yield to the other. Inuyasha used all of the moves he had been shown so far, with the Chop Down Tree being the most used. Little did he know, however, that this move was also the one that expended the most of energy, and soon found him tiring.
He broke off his attacks; panting heavily, sweat running down his forehead.
Damnit! He spat. She has to have a weakness somewhere. Where can I gain an advantage? In his frustration, he didn't notice that she had switched hands.
"I know me that is not all you possess in attacks, Poppet. Would you truly let a mere woman beat you? How pathetic!"
Inuyasha snorted a drop a sweat away. Fine, she wants me to fight dirty then, I will. But I'm getting rid of this damn hot robe in the meantime!
Keeping one hand on his sword, he quickly removed the Fire Rat robe, tossing it off to the side. She followed suit, removing her cape. The two readied their stances again.
"I see me that you favor Chop Down Tree. Well and now. But you did not realize that by doing such, you would tire quicker. Pity." She grinned.
"Yeah? Fine fucking time to tell me that now!" He tossed his mane, shaking the annoying sweat off.
"Would you think me foolish as to tell you something when you are to learn it?" She emphasized.
"She does have a point." Miroku whispered to the others. Shippou giggled, while Sango hushed him.
"Hey! I heard that! Not helping!" the hanyou growled. He cracked his knuckles, and readied himself again.
"All right, now. Let's dance!"
He started to circle around her now, eyes never leaving her gaze. She side stepped at first, and then crossed one foot over the other, shaking her sword back and forth in front of him. Let us see how long until he notices…
Inuyasha stopped a bit. He narrowed his eyes, shifting them from side to side. Something's off here…
"HUWAH!!" Lady Death swung at him left handed, bending at her waist to aim for his legs. Instinct made him jump unexpectedly to avoid being cut. He stumbled upon meeting the ground, not realizing that her sword edge would be there. His mind flashed the image of Gather Water, and he quickly swung Tetsusaiga underhandedly, blocking her next move that would have sliced him up between the legs.
"You wench! That was dirty!" he screamed as his temper flared. "I was being nice, now you've just pissed me off!"
"Then stop with your flap, and fight!" She hissed back. She raised her powers to their next level, and Apocalypse surged.
Inuyasha furrowed his brow. What. The. Hell? I thought she said she wasn't going to call forth her sword's powers…
"You said you wouldn't call forth your sword's powers. What is this?" he pointed to the increased wave.
"And I have not. I am one with my sword, as it is one with me. The more you hesitate and question, the more you open yourself to your opponent…"
"And what's with switching hands—you never said you'd do that?"
"I said I would fight you one-handed, true to my word. Does it confuse you?"
He stopped. Uncertainty clouded his mind and he backed away, sword lowered. What is she doing?
"You run like the dog you are now? Where is your bravado, your fire? You know what it is that you need to do! Take up your sword and fight! STRIKE ME DOWN!" Her force shot forth and whacked him hard, upsetting his footing.
Bitch!
He gripped Tetsusaiga, and it pulsed. I know what I'll do. I'll show her the Wind Scar!
He waited and watched her energies. His focus soon saw the whirlpool of blue-white that was her own force as it snaked forth in front and around her. The energy of her blade caused a small fissure where the two forces collided and mixed.
There it is… HA! You're going down now! He raised Tetsusaiga overhead.
"Uhh, is he going to do what I think he's going to do?" Shippou questioned. He had risen to a stand from his sitting position to scamper behind Kagome. "He's gonna use the Wind Scar!"
"What? Has she seen it? Does she know about it? It'll kill her!" Kagome panicked, and started to rise. She was stopped short by the monk's hand upon her arm.
"It might not. Let's just see. Besides, she is asking for his full potential."
The group stayed where they were, and watched warily. Inuyasha swung his blade down.
"WIND SCAR!"
PREEEEEEE! Tetsusaiga connected with the ground and screamed forth its power towards Lady Death. Her eyes widened.
WHAT?
Quickly she centered her power to the forefront, and Apocalypse's wave increased. She braced for the impact.
The Wind Scar slammed into her force, causing her to stumble a step, but she held firm. Apocalypse asked for its power to be released, but she denied it.
Yes—such power from him! This is what I wished to see, to feel.
She felt the sword strain and waver in her grasp. Should I let you go? Aye, I think me that I shall. Let us see what he does.
In the time it took for a heart to beat once, she raised her power just enough to protect herself, and let go. Apocalypse shot out of her hands as her energy quickly amassed to compensate.
Gods above! I know not how much my power can hold off! And yet, should I fall…
The Wind Scar slowed a bit, and she seized the chance. She clamped her power off fast and let the wave carry her. She was lifted up and went limp before she hit the ground, rolling as if unconscious.
When the wave of the Wind Scar had gone, Inuyasha was in shock. Three widened lines were ripped into the ground, fanning out to stop where they had connected with their target. Not far from there was Apocalypse on its side, and the crumpled form of Lady Death, motionless.
"SHIT! Oh shit! Fuck! What have I done? Kagome! Miroku! Sango!" Inuyasha ran with Tetsusaiga at the side towards his sensei.
Oh Kami—what if I killed her?
He reached her form before the others. Not sure that she was even breathing, he knelt down to feel her pulse. Before he touched her skin, she shot her fist at his jaw unexpectedly. It connected, and he flew back. She leapt up and grabbed her sword. As he hit the ground, she was upon him before he knew what had happened, blade tip thrust towards his chest. She stopped a hair's distance from going thru.
The group stopped in disbelief. "Inuyasha!" Kagome cried.
The Avatar and the hanyou's eyes met, and for the moment, all time ceased. Inuyasha realized he had been outsmarted again, and wary of the sword tip, slowly drew his chest up to take in a breath.
"Fly Like Arrow," the White Goddess stared into him. "Where is your death strike? Your finishing move?" Her eyes narrowed, waiting for his response. Nothing came forth but the sound of nervous shuffling from the observers. Inuyasha flicked his ears back as he made an attempt to sit up.
"I thought I had killed you." He whispered.
"And yet, here I stand. Yet again, you find yourself under the tip of my blade. Tell my why." She nodded her head up.
Inuyasha glanced around, unfocused, going over what had happened to have him under her sword again. She had asked him to give in to his fire and to strike her down, and he had complied. Where did I go wrong? Did I go wrong?
"I did as you asked, Sensei." He glanced up.
"And?" He sword tip remained.
"I should have told you about my sword's attacks…" he dropped his gaze, shaking his head.
"Aye, you should, but that is neither here nor there. Think." She tapped his chest with her blade.
His eyes shot up as if she had clocked him again. "You tricked me! That's the oldest trick in the fighting book—and I fell for it! Son of a…"
"Always," the Goddess interrupted, "expect the unexpected. In warfare, there are no rules. You were defeated this time by a simple miscalculation, that being in underestimating your opponent. Your concern for my welfare is duly noted, yet had you been an enemy, you would be dead, again, as you lay even now."
She sheathed her sword, and offered her hand. Inuyasha reached out for it, but she withdrew.
"I wish for your sword." She asked.
He startled, not certain he had heard her correctly. As he leaned over to grasp Tetsusaiga's hilt, Sango questioned.
"Inuyasha, are you sure?"
"No, but Sensei wouldn't ask if she wasn't." He handed her his sword, blade towards him. She gripped the handle, and for the moment felt the snap of the repelling barrier. A small amount of her energy flared in response.
"Oh, you think to be a nasty little bugger, eh? I think not, Tetsusaiga." She mocked the sword as she said its name.
What happened next made Inuyasha's eyes widen. Lady Death gripped his sword into both hands, and urged forth another surge. Tetsusaiga flared and transformed with a mighty hum. It appeared to be larger, or was it just the illusion of being within the grasp of someone else?
"There you are. Aye, much more to your true self." The White Goddess smirked at the sword as she let go of one hand and swung it overhead. Tetsusaiga whistled, high and sharp, as it cut the air. She swung it around her left side, then her right, drawing figure eights in front again.
She held it aloft, and urged it to display its power with that of her own. "Show us, Tetsusaiga. Show him."
The sword responded with a blast of a gold field that rivaled her own blue-white. The blade shone brilliantly then changed to the red color of the Barrier Breaker. The Goddess heard a low rumble at the change.
Sound waves? Indeed, but does he know?
She pushed more of her power forth, and the two energies fought for dominance, the red glow surging down, retreating as the blue-white surrounded it, and blended with it. Lightning shot out of the force to arc back in, and as it did, the color of the auras changed.
"Whoa… look at that!" Inuyasha exclaimed. "It's purple!"
True to his seeing, the aura of the combined energies of the Goddess of Death and Tetsusaiga had formed a purple color. Lady Death closed her eyes, letting it swirl around her, lifting her hair up to dance around. She envisioned something within her mind's eye. It felt ancient and powerful.
You are a brave one to hold the Tetsusaiga without a care to its barrier, woman. You have the blood of demon as well as human flowing in your veins, like him. What it is that you, calling forth its name, seek in doing such?
She answered. I am the Queen of Hell, and the Avatar of He Who Reaps. I seek only to show him what he is denying. That which lies within himself and in the blade. I seek to show him the Way of the Sword.
Indeed? Within the energies was a dark vortex. A rift of matter that bore the same signature as her blade.
Chaos.
A giant draconic head slowly came forth from the black and stared into her very being, eyes dark with an ancient power. And in doing such, you seek to change yourself as well?
I seek to bestow a gift, for when he attains oneness with the sword, and can stand forth as my equal. She opened her eyes and faced the dragon.
Do you seek to change yourself as well? Nothing is given without an equal sacrifice in return…
She hesitated. What did it mean?
Ahhh, the Living Embodiment of Death does have doubts? One who calls herself the Queen of Hell doubts her own self, and yet, you see yourself so bold as to think you can wield the Blade of Hell, Sou'unga?
She started. How did it know?
I know everything, Lady Death. More than you would know of yourself at times. The moment you took up the Apocalypse sword, you became one with me. You know who I am, and so shall he. Be mindful of what it is you ask, for as you are a part of me, he is not. He must learn our ways, if you seek to bestow our… gift… to him. He must learn the Balance.
The draconic form and energy concentrated into a darker color before pulling within. It would not go where she had wished it. The time was not right, and yet her request was not denied.
The aura that was the blade's snapped within while her own returned. Tetsusaiga powered down to its beat-up katana form. The White Goddess lowered it, and was contemplative. Indeed, I was not denied. The time is not right.
"What… just… happened?" Inuyasha blinked at the Goddess.
Lady Death lifted her gaze at her charge. "I… inquired… about your sword. But it is not to be. Not yet." She muttered the last part to herself, and returned his sword to his hands.
"You have a most unique sword, Poppet. But it still calls to you, and you still do not heed the call."
He returned her look with that of disbelief. "What? I don't know… understa…" his voice trailed off.
"Mayhaps, a different approach is now required. My lord monk, Miroku?"
The young man had been leaning against his staff, lost in the wonderful display of energies when the voice of their new friend snapped him back to the present. "Hai… Nozomi?"
"I, or rather, we, will require your assistance in Poppet's next learning."
Inuyasha back-stepped. "Ohhh, no—I've been doing fine with just you training me. I don't need or want a lesson in how to be a lecher!"
Miroku placed his hand over his chest in mock amazement. "Inuyasha, I'm hurt. Do you truly see me as such? And here I thought it was just Sango…"
"Well, if the robes fit…"
The two girls giggled. Sango blushed as the very same thought crossed her mind, wishing she had beaten the hanyou to the punch.
"Nozomi, what is it that you seek my skills in? Inuyasha is not so simple-minded as he appears…" he kidded.
The hanyou glared, hand on the sword's hilt. "Shut it, monk."
"Balance, my lord monk. Poppet's next step is to learn balance." The Goddess stated simply.
"How is he gonna show me proper footing when he only swings around a stick with rings on it?" Inuyasha pointed at the staff.
"Not balance of the body, Inuyasha," Miroku interjected. "Balance of mind and soul."
He flicked the tips of his ears, clearly at a loss.
"Meditation. Surely you have seen me in quiet reflection every morning and every evening?"
"Naw, I just thought you liked to sleep a lot. In weird, twisted positions. Like tree vines. And this is supposed to be for your mind and soul?" He squinted his eyes and shook his head.
"There are many forms of meditation. But if you wish to learn those specific poses…" the monk chimed.
"Ah…heh heh. That's okay." Inuyasha blushed at the image of "Tiger Scorpion Asana". It looked perverted. Figures…
"Your body is relearning balance now with your sword, and so you mind does follow. Teaching your soul will knit the three into one; thus, becoming one with your sword." The Goddess explained. She backed up a few steps, drawing her sword again.
Inuyasha readied himself; stepping forward away from the group, hand on the hilt of his sword.
"Stay yourself. Observe." She held a hand to stop his advance.
Lady Death tried a visual approach this time, one that she hadn't used since the time of the Judgment War. Holding Apocalypse, she focused her memories forth, recalling the very first time she held the Chaos blade.
"Every blade has but one master, or mistress, as every swordsman has but one true sword. There are a few who can, and have, mastered more than one blade. To do such requires extreme focus, patience, and dedication. It is a rare being who can wield more than one blade and have no ill effects."
"My father could. Three swords were his. Tetsusaiga, the Tenseiga, and Sou'unga. At one point in time, he was the most powerful youkai around, even without any of the swords. Or so I've been told."
Inuyasha reminisced on a part of him he knew nothing about other than what Myoga the flea, or the smith, Totosai, had spoken of in past times. Even Sesshoumaru held his father in high regards when it came to being powerful.
"Swords are more than just implements to deal death upon others with. They feel, respond, and are alive, thru you." She raised her power to show him, and her blade hummed, their auras separate in color at first, then blending into a muted shade where they connected.
Why do I smell this scent every time she does that? It's different than her normal scent. What does it remind me of? His mind perked at placing a name to the smell, but it escaped him.
"To become one with you sword is to know your sword. Feel it. Hear it. Name it. Let it flow in, thru, out, and around you."
She slowly swung the blade into elongated arcs around her body, letting the energy of Chaos matter flow from its beacon. Apocalypse's energy ebbed and rushed in response to the motions of its mistress. The Goddess' eyes were unfocused as she relived her early training sessions with Cremator, millennia ago. She moved the blade thru its paces, letting the flow of energies go where they might. She changed hands in a direct manner in front of him, noticing that he was paying close attention to her.
"Do you hear, Poppet? Hear the wind as it connects with the blade, hear the blade as it slices between the air?" she asked.
Inuyasha looked at her when she spoke, then watching the blade closely, his ear tips perked forward, indicating his focus at the sword. His eyes followed her movements, observing how her wrist turned and twisted to accommodate the weight of the sword, watched how the sword's energy did slice the air as she described, leaving a small transparent trail in its wake.
His ears gathered the sounds of the sword as it sliced the air, flickering slightly as it imprinted into his mind. He watched the Goddess intently, pupils dilating as everything made sense to him in the way her movements were. His eyes snapped up to meet hers, the corners of his mouth curling up as a twinkled lit in the gold orbs.
Lady Death stopped briefly, and held her hand out, silently asking him to join her. He rose and stood by her, eagerly drawing out Tetsusaiga. She brought her sword in front of her, and he did the same.
"Close your eyes, and think of nothing but your sword. How it feels within your hands. How you hands feel when they rest upon its hilt. Let the energies go where they may. Open your mind, and let go."
He took in a deep breath, bowing his head slightly. As he exhaled his breath, eyes closed, his grip on the hilt loosened. He played with the weight of the sword in his hands, a slight up and down motion with his wrists. As he did, his aura responded to glow a brighter shade of red.
The White Goddess decided to try something completely different now. She quietly lifted herself into the air, keeping hers eyes on him, and lighted directly in front. His flickering of ears told her that he might open his eyes.
"What are you doing?" His brow furrowed. When he threatened to open his eyes, she tapped Tetsusaiga's tip with the tip of her blade, brining his attention back.
"Remain closed, your eyes. Tell me what you feel." She instructed.
"I feel my sword in my hands…"
"I feel my sword in my hands—of course you feel your sword in your hands! Do you not remember? How your eyes look, but do they see? How you hold items in your hands, but do they feel? How your ears hear, but do they listen?" She was close to smacking some sense into him at this point.
"Nozomi, if I may?" Miroku inquired, stepping forward. She nodded slightly and gave the monk her space in front of the hanyou. Inuyasha twitched his nose as the scents changed between the two.
"Oi, what do you have to show me? It better not be anything that I'll have to…"
"No, Inuyasha, you may be cute, but if you were to have dark hair other than the time of the New Moon..." he kidded.
The hanyou let forth a low growl while the others guffawed. Miroku's jibe was able to set Inuyasha's concentration back to being serious, and the monk thought of something he might be able to identify more with that would make his mind correspond to her teaching.
"How did you feel the first time you held Tetsusaiga? The first time you felt it pulse in your grip, the first time you saw and felt it transform? The first time you successfully called forth the Wind Scar? Or the Backlash Wave? Or the Red Barrier Breaker? Or Adamant Barrage? Tell… Tetsusaiga, yes." Miroku placed a hand upon Inuyasha's shoulder.
"Tell Tetsusaiga how you felt."
Inuyasha furrowed his brow again, remembering that there was more than one person present, and how silly he suddenly felt to be pouring out his heart onto his sleeve. "I'll try."
"Nay not. DO, or do not. CAN, or cannot. There IS no try." The Goddess commanded. She glanced at the others and motioned for them to remain quiet. The two girls and the kitsune sat again on the grass as quietly as they could and watched.
"How did you feel?" He heard her voice, asking him again. He gathered his focus in another breath, and recalled the time when he and his half-brother where inside the belly of their father, fighting over who was the rightful one to wield his most coveted sword.
"I felt, at first, that you weren't anything spectacular. You looked liked scrap. This—I thought. What's so great about this—it's a piece of junk! But then, as I saw Sesshoumaru transformed into his true nature, and trying to kill Kagome, I just couldn't stand by and let that happen. I held you and charged at that bastard with you, but you didn't even scratch him. I swung at his form with all my might, and you glanced off of his sides. It felt like you were mocking me. Like they mocked me; the villagers…" he trailed off, sounding sad.
Tetsusaiga dipped low in his grasp, like the sword remembered as well that time.
Miroku blinked. Is it remembering as well?
"But then," Inuyasha continued. "After our fight had moved outside onto dad's shoulder, I realized that here I was, here he was, and there you were. With me, by my side. And it was different. I thought I don't care how small I may be, and I don't care how beat-up you might be, but I'll be damned if I'm gonna let that son of a bitch hurt Kagome. She's the only thing that I can trust to call friend right now. When I saw her crying, I lost it. I didn't know what to think. So I told her to just shut up and let me protect her."
Tetsusaiga raised in his hands, apparently lighter, and pulsed.
"And you pulsed, like you are doing now. Yes, you remember now, don't you?" And I remember now, too…
"I charged at Sesshoumaru's form, determined to do something—anything—to stop him from hurting us—hurting her—further. You roared forth this power, like a clap of thunder had hit you, and grew. You connected with flesh then as you carried me up on this flow of your power. When I saw you again, you had come thru flesh in a burst of crimson, and you were changed. You were larger—you looked like a giant fang! You gleamed in the light, bathed in Sesshoumaru's blood, and you said 'Here I am'!"
The sword pulsed harder. It asked for more.
"You were no easy thing to master. You were hard to swing, like I wanted to. It pissed me off to no end how often Asshole tried to take you from me as well. But you wouldn't let him. You forced him off every time he even got as close to touching you. He can't touch you still to this day. I think that not only was he out to kill me and take you from me, but he was out to destroy you for cutting off his arm then as well. I think he didn't want to own you, I think he wanted to break you. Break your spirit, your fire, your life into submission, until you no longer had a will of your own."
Inuyasha opened his eyes, staring at the blade and its scratches, its bents, its imperfections, and smiled.
"But you wouldn't let him, any more than I wouldn't. When you broke in my battle with Goshinki—Naraku's incarnation—my heart dropped. I thought I had lost you. I ran to Totosai with you as fast as I could, and begged him to fix you. Make you what you once were. But you would never be what you once were. You were reforged with one of my own fangs… and you became… a part… of me…"
His voice slowed to almost a whisper as his eyes drifted to meet the gaze of the White Goddess. She stared intently, slowly her quirked smile showed. "Continue," she said, and the light of the setting sun shot down her blade as she placed it on her shoulder.
He nodded. "You were heavier, and harder for me, like you were testing me. Daring me to swing you now, daring me in defiance. I felt that I was fighting against myself. But you would not yield, and neither would I. Those two old cronies of my father's suggested that I go to the North regions, where I could find a way to make you lighter. They suggested that I pierce the heart of Ryukotsusei, my father's old enemy, who was sealed to the side of a mountain by him in his last battle. Then Naraku came, and freed the dragon. I thought 'Oh shit! What do I do now?' I honestly was scared. You had been knocked out of my grip a few times, and I started to fear for my life. I was transforming, but I knew that I had to get to you, regain your feel in my hands, and kill him! I fought against myself and my transformation, and the moment I had you again, your thunderous roar brought me back to my senses."
B-BOOOOOM!
The sword let forth a long pulse as it recreated the event, and grew.
FWHOOOOM!
"Yes, that's just what you did. Then I saw the fissures, multitudes of them. The dragon shot forth his youki along with a blast from his mouth, and I swung you. Your energy was greater than before. You met the dragon's blast in an explosion and pushed back! Back into him, back from where it came from! I stood and watched in amazement as you became the dragon's youki and ripped him to shreds!"
He whooped. He swung Tetsusaiga one-handed around a circle at his side, and the blade sang. "And you gleamed brilliantly as you did sing then like you do now."
SHIIRRROOOOMM!
The blade cut the air again as it left its energy wake in a long spectacular trail. Inuyasha stepped back and swung it overhead, to his sides, behind his back, faster with each swing, relishing the sounds of the sword, the scattering of air as it was parted, the feel of their energies as they connected. He swung figure eights in front of him, one handed, each turn a little bit faster than the last.
"What do you call this blade?" A voice asked him.
"I don't call it anything. Its name is Tetsusaiga." The blade glowed brilliant red, transforming to the Barrier Breaker.
He slowed his paces then, watching the red glow blind his vision slightly until he focused away. He thought to himself.
Should I show them your Adamant Barrage—how spectacular that is as well?
Without being called forth, the blade encrusted itself with diamonds. They jutted across the sword like icicles, reflecting the last rays of sunlight into the eyes of the others. He aimed the blade away from the group and raised it high.
"ADAMANT BARRAGE!"
He swung the blade hard into the air, aiming at an imaginary foe. Tetsusaiga shot forth its spears, gleaming wickedly with their promise of rendering asunder all that opposed as the light kissed each flying shard. The group watched as they flew into the twilight of dark, rivaling the first twinkling of stars.
Inuyasha was lost in his memories as the sword returned to normal. He was so distracted momentarily that he did not see Lady Death approach. She swung Apocalypse from its resting place at her shoulder and down towards him. He instinctively swung Tetsusaiga backhandedly and connected. The blade was at full force, and snapped with a loud clang against the opposition. He squared himself to face her.
Lady Death turned her head, remaining her eyes on her charge. "Clear yourselves away."
The group gave a large breadth to the pair and settled again. Miroku leaned in to the girls and smiled.
"I think he understands now, what it means to become one."
Inuyasha and Lady Death stood with blades connected, both vying for the other to submit, each other's powers flaring in defiance. The White Goddess quirked her grin, and noticed how his demeanor had changed as he returned his own smirk back at her, and raised his internal powers. Tetsusaiga surged brightly.
"Indeed? You think you can best me? Vain and presumptuous are you, aye?" she taunted.
He shot back. "Only one way to find out, huh?"
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