Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha, just my OC
"Ouch! Ouch! Och!" grunted Jaken in pain. "What kind of hell hole is this place? The rocks under my feet are red!"
Sesshomaru, Shiori and Jaken were walking through a volcano valley looking for a certain layer. Jaken was having some trouble walking and kept burning himself on hot rocks. Sesshomaru and Shiori, who were wearing shoes, had no trouble walking smoothly.
"hmmm, what is that smell? I smell roasting me somewhere," said Jaken excitedly.
"That would be the sweet smell of your burning flesh," Shiori said candidly.
"Huh"' gasped Jaken. He looked down to find his feat on fire and frantically ran around before they finally cooled down. He plopped down in front of a cave made of demon bones.
"So this is it, huh?" Shiori thought.
Jaken climbed to his feet and began hollering inside the cave, "Toutousai! You've finished the requested sword, haven't you? Today is the day of its completion!"
"Are you sure this is the right day?" She asked him.
"Yes, he said Lord Sesshomaru's sword would be ready in 10 days," responded Jaken.
He continued to call out, but there was no answer. Shiori found a note on the side of the wall. Apparently, this Toutousai had moved away. Sesshomaru walked up behind them both and observed the scene.
"It looks like 10 days was just enough time for him to pack up and leave," she said.
"So, Toutousai is gone, huh?" Sesshomaru calmly asked.
"Oh please forgive me my lord!" said Jaken as he bowed before Sesshomaru. "Toutousai has been known to be very temperamental with his clients and only makes weapons if he likes them!"
"I see, he has no intention of making a sword that suits my purpose, and so he has escaped," said Sesshomaru in the same calm tone.
"Well you can't blame him for not liking you," said Jaken. "Your résumé is one long death wish."
Sesshomaru looked at Jaken and smiled. Both Shiori and Jaken were thrown off by this. Why was he smiling? Did he think Jaken's comment was funny?
"No! Please don't smile at me Lord Sesshomaru! Please get angry! You're always so much harder at me when you're being passive aggressive!"
But Sesshomaru had already begun walking away. A terrified Jaken looked after him.
"You know, that may have been the scariest thing I've ever seen," commented Shiori.
"I think I just shortened my life span by 100 years!" whined Jaken.
"Come on, he's leaving," said Shiori, "unless you'd rather stay here."
Jaken hadn't realized it yet, but his feet were burning again. He shrieked as he ran around in a circle once again. Shiori watched him in amusement, before catching up to Sesshomaru. She was a little curious about the one called Toutousai. Since Shiori didn't go with Sesshomaru and Jaken to place the order, she never got to meet him.
"Lord Sesshomaru," she said in an attempt to get his attention. He turned to her in acknowledgement.
"This Toutousai, is he really able to create a sword that can rival the tessaiga?" She asked.
"I should hope so, he was the one who create tessaiga in the first place," he responded.
Jaken in the meantime caught up to them, though he still smelled of burning flesh.
"Yes, you see tessaiga was forged from The Great Dog Demon's own fang. That's why it's so powerful!" he said as he tried to scrape soot off his body.
"I see now, that's why the tessaiga's true form looks like a fang," Shiori thought.
They left the volcano valley and went to the grassy meadow directly beyond it. Ah-Un was there waiting for them. Shiori pat him on of his heads.
"I've picked up his scent," announced Sesshomaru.
"Uh…who's scent? Toutousai's?"Asked Jaken.
Sesshomaru climbed onto Ah-Un's back and looked at Shiori.
"Let's go," he said.
"Why do I have to go? Can't he just take Jaken? I don't want to be present at another one of his altercations! Especially after what happened last time."
Shiori was still trying to lay low so the tennin would have no reason to attack again. Even though her last battle with them was easy, she knew she wouldn't be so lucky next time. This was exactly something they'd expect her to do.
"I'm not going," she said.
But Sesshomaru's expression made it clear that he was adamant about her going. He wouldn't let up. This confused Shiori to no end.
"What's going on with here? Why does he want me to go with him so badly?"
"Okay, you win," she finally said. "I'll go with you…..but I'm driving!"
"Hey! You can't give my lord demands!" shrieked Jaken.
Sesshomaru said nothing as he slid back and let Shiori in front of him. She climbed on and grabbed the reigns.
"He's still so much nicer to her!" whined Jaken in his thoughts.
Shiori and Sesshomaru took off into the sky in pursuit of Toutousai. His scent was faint, but Sesshomaru was still able to pick it up. He also picked up several familiar scents. It was Inuyasha and his friends. They were all with Toutousai.
"Are they planning to overpower me together?" he thought.
"Lord Sesshomaru, I can feel them close by," she said breaking the long lasting silence.
Neither of them said a word to each other the entire ride. While she did enjoy silence, Shiori found this particular silence to be uncomfortable. She'd never rode on Ah-Un with Sesshomaru before; Only Jaken. Being this close to him gave her an odd feeling. She couldn't quite explain it. Shiori was relieved when they finally found them. Inuyasha and the others picked up on the approaching auras and were already staring at them in the sky.
"That's him! The guy who's after my life!" said Toutousai as he ducked behind Inuyasha.
Sesshomaru got off Ah-Un and floated next to it. He stared down at Inuyasha and his accomplices. He noticed they had a new human girl in their group. How interesting.
"Who are they?" asked Sango the demon slayer. She was their newest addition.
"That's Inuyasha's older brother, Sesshomaru, and his accomplice, Shiori," said Miroku.
"Inuyasha, why have you conspired with Toutousai to plot against me?" he calmly demanded.
"Because you happen to be evil Incarnate!" Toutousai shot back.
"Good one," thought Shiori, "The old man's got guts."
"Toutousai, it seems you're looking for an early retirement—into your grave," said Sesshomaru with an evil smirk.
Toutousai continued to cower behind Inuyasha. "I never said I was talking about you Sesshomaru! Why don't we discuss your sword after you battle it out with Inuyasha."
"I guess I spoke too soon," she sighed to herself.
"You sure changed your tune pretty quickly!" yelled Kagome.
"Did I? I don't really remember….." said a confused Toutousai. He was having a senior moment…..or at least pretending to.
"Toutousai, your word is as good as a blood vowel to me. Do not forget what you said," said Sesshomaru. "Did you hear him Inuyasha? He'll forge me a sword once I kill you off. So, you must die!"
Everyone ran for cover as Sesshomaru prepared to attack. Inuyasha drew tessaiga and swung it at Sesshomaru.
"We'll see who kills who!" he yelled. They began fighting.
Shiori quietly landed Ah-Un on the ground and watched the fight. She was already bored out of her mind. Why did he make her come to this? She could think of a million things she'd rather be doing then watching another fight between the hellhound brothers.
"You there!" Toutousai called out to her. She turned to see him and the rest of Inuyasha's friends coming over to her.
"You people again.." she said, "what do you want now? I already have a headache."
"Well someone's touchy," noted Kagome. "We're just trying to get a safe distance away from the fight."
"Who are you?" asked Toutousai.
"Nobody," Shiori flatly responded.
"Nonsense! I know I remember you from somewhere,"
Shiori stared at the geezer, "I can assure you, we've never met. But even if we had, I doubt you'd remember me anyway. You seem a bit senile, old man."
"hmph," said Toutousai folding his arms. "Well I can see why Sesshomaru would choose you as a mate. You're both so similar in attitude!"
Shiori tightened her grip on Ah-Un's reign as she glared at Toutousai. Toutousai felt sweat dropping from his forehead and hid behind Miroku. Had he said something wrong?
"She's his mate?" asked Sango.
"That I wasn't aware of," said Miroku.
Kagome frantically shook her head in an effort to calm Shiori down, "No, they aren't mates! They're just friends…..travel companions…acquaintances really!"
Shiori's rage began to subside a little. It appeared she was satisfied with one of those answers. She loosened her grip on the reign. Toutousai slowly slid out from behind Miroku and peered at Shiori. He then turned back to face the group.
"That was really scary," whispered Toutousai.
"I'll say," Shippo whispered back.
"For a minute there, I thought I was a gonner," Toutousai said as he continued to whisper. "But I wouldn't be surprised if they really were mates. They even have the same quick temper…."
He felt a hand on his shoulder, but before he could react a powerful electric shock sent him in the air. It was Shiori. She stared at Toutousai as he plopped down into the grass.
"Just because your hearing has left you, old man, doesn't mean mine has," she said folding her arms.
Toutousai rubbed his wounds while Kagome ran to check on him. Shiori watched as Sesshomaru and Inuyasha continued fighting. Sesshomaru mentioned something about Inuyasha being unable to use tessaiga's full power. Inuyasha was knocked down into the ground, Sesshomaru calmly stood over him.
"Why are you here?" asked Kagome. "Why can't Sesshomaru just forget the tessaiga and move on. It's Inuyasha's sword."
"This is him moving on. He hopes to obtain a sword even stronger than tessaiga," said Shiori dryly.
"Myoga you lied," said Toutousai. "You said Inuyasha mastered the tessaiga and killed 100 demons with one swing."
"He did!" cried Myoga from Miroku's shoulder. "Of course I only saw him do it once."
"Hey didn't lie!" said an annoyed Kagome. "He has mastered it! Besides, every time they fight he always sends Sesshomaru running with his tail behind his legs!"
Kagome stopped when she realized both Sesshomaru and Shiori were giving her identical icy glares. This time, she was one ducking and hiding.
"Well now Toutousai," said Sesshomaru. "Don't you feel sorry for tessaiga? It's as good as useless the way Inuyasha swings it around like a Neanderthal."
Toutousai nodded, "uh-huh, I see now."
"Stop agreeing with him!" yelled Kagome as she hit him over the head with his own hammer.
"Don't you get weak on me old man! I'm just getting started! I'll show you what kind of power I really got!"
"Oh great, the blood's rushed to his head," noted Myoga.
He lunged with his tessaiga, but Sesshomaru caught his wrist and used poison claw. "Same basic move as ever."
"Well then Toutousai," called Sesshomaru over his shoulder, "do you still refuse to make a sword that suits my purpose?"
"Ummm, no chance!" he responded as his cheeks suddenly became 10 times bigger.
He let out a huge breath of fire at both brothers. Sesshomaru avoided the flames, but Inuyasha wasn't as lucky. An angry and badly burned Inuyasha stumbled over to Toutousai and hit him over the head.
"What'd ya do that for you bastard!" He screeched.
"You still stubbornly refuse, eh Toutousai?" said Sesshomaru starring over at them.
"Stop your complaining!" snapped Toutousai. "You know very well I've already fashioned you an excellent sword! The one at your very hip, tenseiga! That sword was also forged by your father's fang."
Everyone listened in awe. They had no idea Sesshomaru's sword, which hung on his hip, was also forged from his father's fang. No one had ever seen him use it during a battle.
Toutousai continued, "tenseiga was to be given to the elder brother and tessaiga was to be given to the younger brother. That was the Great Dog Demon's will."
"This blunt sword is in no way suitable for I, Sesshomaru," he said with anger.
"Oh, I've made ya angry, huh?" said Toutousai as he pulled out his hammer. "Okay, time to go!"
He struck the ground in front of Sesshomaru, and a river of Lava spewed out from that spot. Shiori jumped on Ah-Un and flew up. A fog of smoke filled through the air, and soon disappeared with the wind. But it was there long enough for Inuyasha and his crew to make an epic escape.
"They've escaped," said Shiori. Sesshomaru said nothing and only looked to the sky.
…
"That's the first time I've heard of that," said Jaken.
Sesshomaru and Shiori returned back to the meadow where they left him. Shiori recalled all the events to Jaken, while Sesshomaru sat down and pretended not to listen. She told what Toutousai said about tenseiga.
"My lord I think it's fascinating that the sword by your hip was also forged by your father's fang. I've never seen you use it before. What kind of sword is it?" he asked.
Shiori was also curious as to why Sesshomaru never used his sword. In the entire time she's known him, she'd never seen him use it once. Jaken knew Sesshomaru longer, and he'd never seen him use it either. Why was that?
"You want to know, Jaken," said Sesshomaru slowly standing up.
"Well….yes my lord. I'm quite curious," he said shaking a little.
Sesshomaru slowly drew the blade and slashed Jaken's body. Jaken fell back into the grass. Shiori was surprised by this strange move.
"He's killed him? He always threatened to, but I never thought he'd do it," she thought. She stared at Jaken's lifeless body…..that didn't seem all that lifeless. "Wait, where are the soul pallbearers? And….I can still detect life force in him. That scumbag's not dead!"
"Jaken, are you a fool? Get up, you're fine," said Sesshomaru calmly staring down at him.
Jaken sat up, "I'm alive? I thought I was cut in 2."
"Do you see now? This sword, tenseiga, is a blade that can't kill. I've no use for it," explained Sesshomaru. "Father used it as a healing sword of some sort."
"So it's capable of saving lives without killing?" she asked. Sesshomaru didn't seem to want to answer her.
"Were you worried, Shiori?" Sesshomaru asked without looking at her. "You seemed to think I really killed Jaken."
"Wha-" She stammered. "Worried, about that slimy creature? My lord, don't make me laugh!"
"Oh like I care about you, you impertinent broad!" shot back Jaken.
"hmph, ridiculous!" she said as she stormed off. She stepped over Jaken and nearly flattened him.
"oof!" he cried out in pain, "Why you little-"
He was cut off by Sesshomaru, who also stepped over top of him.
"Why did father curse me with this sword? I don't understand it. Why was Inuyasha entrusted with the tessaiga?" He stopped walking when he caught the smell of a wild demon approaching.
Suddenly, the lake in front of them began to swirl. A dragon emerged from the lake and tried to attack them. Jaken tried to run for cover, but they were out in the open. There was nowhere for him to hide.
"I'll take care of this one Lord Sesshomaru" She asked.
"Very well," he said.
Shiori unsheathed her sword and jumped into the air, dodging the dragon's claws on the way. With one swing, she sliced the dragon's head off. She then sliced it straight down the middle and jumped back before hitting the water. The dragon's mutilated body fell back towards the earth. Half of it landed on the banks, while the other half landed back in the water.
"Shiori," called Sesshomaru, "before you pray over it, bring me its left arm."
Shiori picked up the arm that was still attached to the body and hacked it off. In truth, she was disgusted by Sesshomaru's use of dead arms. She thought it was disrespectful, but she did as he asked. She presented the arm to Sesshomaru, and then turned to pray over the beast.
"I'll never understand why she takes the time to do that," he thought as he attached to arm to himself. "This dragon has given me a gift, with this I shall go back and claim what's rightfully mine."
"Lord Sesshomaru," Shiori sighed. "Do you mean to tell me that you're going back to fight Inuyasha once again?"
Sesshomaru walked pass her and began to levitate, "Let's go."
"Wait for me," shouted Jaken as he clung to Sesshomaru's pelt.
Shiori stared after them in complete disbelief. Was he really going back again?
"One dog fight after another," she said quietly. "Ah-Un, stay here."
The 2 headed demon was just fine staying in the meadow alone. To an herbivorous demon, a grassy meadow was paradise. Shiori flew after Sesshomaru. It wasn't long before he caught up with Toutousai and attempted to strike him down again. Luckily for him, Inuyasha was still nearby. Toutousai ran away from Sesshomaru and hid behind Inuyasha.
"Sesshomaru's back!" shouted Kagome.
"I shall destroy you all," announced Sesshomaru.
"Look," said Inuyasha with aggravation, "he doesn't want to make you a sword. So just shut up already! I'm tired of you mopping around about the tessaiga!"
They began attacking each other. Inuyasha took a swing at Sesshomaru, but he caught it with his new dragon arm. Even though tessaiga has a barrier on it to reject demons, Sesshomaru's arm was able to catch it. The dragon's arm was apparently more durable than a normal demon's. Shiori, who was still annoyed by the entire thing, watched the fight from a tree branch. Jaken watched the match from a closer range.
"Ha!" scoffed Inuyasha. "You're arm's already taken in too much damage!"
"This is enough, in any case it seems you don't even know about the windscar!" proclaimed Sesshomaru as he moved forward.
"Sesshomaru's able to read the windscar?" said a surprised Toutousai.
"Of course I am," Sesshomaru called over his shoulder.
"What's that?" asked Kagome.
"It's the correct movement which unleashes tessaiga's power." Replied Toutousai
"Huh? Quick! Tell Inuyasha how to do it!" Kagome exclaimed.
He shook his head, "I can't. It's not something that can be taught. He must learn it for himself."
"This windscar thing, why is Sesshomaru able to see it while I can't?" thought Inuyasha. "That must be how he was able to slay 100 demons with one swing. He even used a human arm to do! I'm gonna figure out how to do it."
Inuyasha and Sesshomaru continued fighting. With each one of Inuyasha's swings, Sesshomaru mocked his incapability of mastering his sword. Inuyasha became even more determined than ever to find this, so called, windscar. Sesshomaru finally grew fed up with his tactics, and slashed at Inuyasha's face with his poison. Inuyasha was left temporarily blind.
"Oh, he'll kill him for sure this time!" said Jaken happily.
"Hopefully," replied Shiori. "These sibling rivalries are so tiresome."
But just like that, Shiori's hopes were crushed. Inuyasha not only survived, but he seemed to have newfound confidence. He suddenly began running at Sesshomaru and leapt in the air with his blade ready to slice. But he didn't slice his brother directly; he was aiming for a spot in the air.
"That's it!" he shouted. "It's the windscar!"
Inuyasha swung his tessaiga through the windscar and a powerful force emitted through the sword. Sesshomaru was caught directly in tessaiga's blast. Shiori could see his armor disintegrate as he tried to with stand the attack. She'd never seen him so close to the verge of death before. Suddenly, his body lit up and he just seemed to disappear.
"L-Lord Sesshomaru?" cried Jaken. "No! He can't be dead!"
Shiori watched as tessaiga's blast subsided. He was nowhere to be found. Things weren't looking good.
"He's dead? But, that can't be! Although, his energy did seem to just….disappear. Could he truly be gone?" Shiori thought to herself.
She had already climbed down from the tree and traced the lines of tessaiga's blast. She followed them to where Sesshomaru was struck down. Inuyasha said nothing as he examined her reactions. She didn't catch the scent of death in the air, but still…..
"What is this…feeling?" She asked herself. "Why do I feel this way?"
"You there," Toutousai called out to her. "There's no need to be upset, that wretch of yours is still alive."
"Huh?" gasped Shiori.
"What do you mean he's still alive?" asked Inuyasha. "You saw what happened! He disappeared in the blast!"
"You didn't feel your windscar strike him down did you?" Toutousai asked.
Inuyasha looked away as Toutousai continued to talk, "even though you hate him, Sesshomaru is still your brother, and you couldn't bring yourself to kill him. And that's why I accept you as tessaiga's true owner. Because you have a heart. A demon as ruthless as Sesshomaru should never have a sword with such power."
"And what of tenseiga, the sword used for healing?" asked Kagome. "Wouldn't a person need to be kind hearted in order to wield it?"
"Possibly, but I'm unsure," responded Toutousai. "But it did choose to save Sesshomaru's life from tessaiga's blast. That act means it chose him as its true owner."
"Then that light that surrounded his body in the blast was from tenseiga?" thought Shiori.
"What happens now with tenseiga is totally up to Sesshomaru's heart," he finished.
Shiori turned and walked away from the battlefield. Toutousai called out to her.
"And where are you going?"
She turned, "the battle here is over. There's no point in staying."
"You're going to collect your mate aren't you?"
She said nothing and took off into the sky leaving an infuriated Jaken behind. He quickly ran after her.
"Wow, she didn't get mad that time. I'll bet she really is going to look for him," said Kagome. "Did you see her face when she thought he was dead? She looked so sad. It was almost heartbreaking."
"Do you think she's in love with him?" asked Sango.
"Yeah right!" said Inuyasha dismissing their theory. "Who could ever love that heartless bastard?"
Shippo looked at Inuyasha, "I'm sure someone said the same thing about you at one point. But look at you now!"
"Why you little!" Inuyasha hit Shippo over the head.
"Inuyasha, sit!" commanded Kagome.
"Ack!" cried Inuyasha as he fell forcibly to the ground.