Disclaimer- I do not own Inuyasha

CHAPTER EIGHT- Mystery of the Missing Sword of the Fang

Karanosuke had been in possession of Taiketsu, the sword of the elements for a couple of days and he found that he could control the powers of the sword to a certain extent however he wished to have complete control. The boy was practicing with the sword just outside the village and he was having very little luck. He could make lightening shoot from the blade and he could sometimes control the fire, however he knew that the sword had more powers that he was unable to tap into and that fact enraged him.

"Damn," Karanosuke muttered, staring at the sword. "I know this isn't the extent of your powers Taiketsu. Why won't you reveal the remainder of your powers to me?"

Kyo and Suichi happened to be walking by while the boy was training with his newly acquired blade and they heard Karanosuke cursing his sword. The two brothers walked up to the younger boy, coming to stand a few feet away from him and gazing at him intently.

"Having problems?" Suichi asked, one eyebrow arched as he gazed at his cousin.

Karanosuke glared at Suichi. "I'm not even going to dignify that with a response," the boy thought to himself in irritation.

"I guess that answers your question Suichi," Kyo said, rolling his eyes in the direction of his brother. Then he turned his attention back to his cousin. "You know Karanosuke I think I might be able to help you with your problem."

"How?" Karanosuke wanted to know.

"We can go and see Master Totosai," Kyo said.

"Who the hell is that?" Karanosuke demanded.

"He's the man that forged Father's sword, the Tetsusaiga." Kyo explained. "If anyone can figure out the powers of the sword, he can."

"Let's go then," Karanosuke said, sheathing his sword. During his stay in the village Karanosuke had become somewhat friendly with his half breed cousin and was willing to at least try his suggestion.

Kyo nodded. "Let's just go and tell Father where we're going."

"Very well," Karanosuke said.

So, their decision made, Kyo, Karanosuke and Suichi returned to the village. When the three boys walked through the gate and entered the village they saw Inuyasha and Kagome sitting beneath a large tree and they walked over and stood in front of them.

"Well if it isn't my three favorite boys," Kagome said in a loving voice as she gazed up at her sons and her nephew. "Why don't you sit down and join us?"

"Sorry Mother," Kyo said. "But we're on a mission." He turned his gaze toward Inuyasha. "Father, Karanosuke and I would like your permission to visit Master Totosai."

"Why do you need to go and see that old man?" Inuyasha wanted to know.

"Karanosuke wants to find out whether Totosai can unlock the secrets of Taiketsu," Suichi explained. "He's been having difficulty wielding the sword and Kyo thinks that Totosai may be able to help him with his problem."

Karanosuke clenched his hands into fists as he listened to Suichi telling Inuyasha about his problems however he forced himself to remain silent. He wanted to master the strange sword that fate had delivered into his hands and for that he needed Inuyasha to be in a cooperative mood. Angry outbursts would most likely not help with that at the moment so Karanosuke forced himself to hold his tongue, although it took every ounce of willpower that he had.

"I see," Inuyasha said. He thought for a moment then said, "Alright. I see no reason to object to your request. You have my permission to seek out the advice of Totosai. Take Karara and be careful."

"We will," Kyo said. "Thank you Father."

"Do you know how to get to the valley that Totosai calls home?" Kagome asked.

"No," Kyo said. "But Karara does. Father rode her the last time he went."

"Okay," Kagome said. "You boys be careful."

"We will," Kyo said. "Come on Karanosuke."

Karanosuke nodded and followed Kyo toward the hut where they lived.

"Karara," Kyo called out as they approached the hut.

Appearing as though out of nowhere a small cat demon meowed and jumped up onto Kyo's shoulder. Kyo smiled at his little friend and fondly patted the cat on the head. "Hey Karara. We need your help, okay?"

"Mew."

"Good," Kyo said. He tossed the small cat demon into the air and, in a burst of flames, the demon transformed into a larger, battle sized version of herself. Then, once the transformation was complete, Kyo and Karanosuke leaped onto Karara's back.

"Take us to the valley where Master Totosai lives," Kyo told the cat demon.

Karara roared and flew off, in the direction of the valley. The journey was not a short one and as they flew Karanosuke soon became tired of watching the scenery go by. "So how far away is this place?"

"It will take some time to get there," Kyo told him. "Try to have a little patience."

"Damn it all," Karanosuke muttered, leaning back against the fur of Karara's back. He folded his arms underneath his head and closed his eyes, thinking that perhaps a nap might make the time go by quicker.

Karara flew to the valley where Totosai resided and lonce they arrived she landed outside the cave where the old sword smith lived.

Kyo nudged the sleeping Karanosuke with his elbow. "Wake up Karan. We're here."

Karanosuke jumped to the ground and stretched. Then he followed Kyo up to the mouth of the cave.

"Master Totosai," Kyo called out at the entrance to the cave. "Are you here?"

"Go away," a voice yelled from inside the cave.

"Good, he's here," Kyo said, turning to offer his companion a grin. "Come on Karanosuke."

Kyo entered the cave first, followed closely behind by Karanosuke. The two boys walked into the cave and, when their eyes adjusted to the dim light, they saw an old man sitting on the ground. The old man had large, bulging eyes and gray hair pulled back into a ponytail.

"Well if it isn't the son of Inuyasha," the old man said. Then he stared at Karanosuke and, although it didn't seem possible, his eyes grew even larger. "And who are you?"

"This is Karanosuke," Kyo explained before Karanosuke had the chance to answer the old man's question. "And he's the son of Father's brother Sesshomaru."

Totosai gasped. "You're the son of Sesshomaru?"

"Uh huh," Karanosuke said, nodding his head ever so slightly.

The old man studied the boy intently. "Now that I think about it there is a resemblance," he thought to himself. "However the boy more closely resembles his grandfather, the great dog demon. I can't believe I didn't notice that when the boy came in. I must be getting old."

Totosai motioned for the two boys to sit down across from him and the two boys complied. They sat down side by side on the floor of the cave, across from Totosai.

"So," Totosai said, addressing the two boys. "Why have you boys come to see me?"

Karanosuke pulled the sheathed sword from his sash and held it out to Totosai. "I recently came into possession of this sword. It has great powers however I am unable to harness them. Kyo said that you're a great sword smith and might be able to help so we have come to ask your advise."

Totosai took the sword from Karanosuke and studied it. He gasped at the sight of the sword. "I don't believe it."

"What?" Kyo demanded.

"Don't be rude," Totosai admonished. "You're so like your father."

"Totosai," Kyo said, his voice low and threatening. "Tell us what startled you so when you saw the sword. Have you seen it before?"

"Of course I have you impertinent whelp," Totosai said. "It was I who forged it." He turned to face Karanosuke directly. "What you have in your possession is Taiketsu, the missing sword of the fang."

"Missing sword of the fang?" Karanosuke repeated, confused.

Totosai nodded. "There are three swords of the fang, each commissioned by your grandfather; Taiketsu, Tetsusaiga and Tenseiga. Tetsusaiga and Tenseiga were forged first from fangs given to me by your grandfather. Then, some time later, he commissioned me to forge Taiketsu. He gave me one of his fangs for this sword as well, however it was to be different from the first two. For this sword he had also acquired the fangs of another extremely powerful demon. The second fang that he brought to me belonged to your father, Sesshomaru."

"My father?!"

Totosai nodded. "I took the fangs that he brought and with them forged Taiketsu, a sword that contained the combined powers of the demons whose fangs were used to make it."

"Wow," Kyo whistled. "I knew that sword was special."

"Indeed," Totosai said thoughtfully. "Taiketsu has been missing for several hundred years. Your grandfather fought an ice demon with the sword and during that battle Taiketsu was lost."

"That must have been the demon that I fought," Karanosuke said, gazing down at the sword with a thoughtful expression on his face. "His name was Yasunori and he told me that he was an ice demon. He was in possession of the sword when I fought him." Karanosuke turned his gaze toward the old sword smith at this point. "That demon's powers must have diminished over the years that he was sealed inside that cave."

"I see," Totosai said. "So you have taken possession of a sword left behind by your grandfather and you want my help to discover how to use the sword's powers."

Karanosuke nodded.

"So," Kyo said. "Can you help him Master Totosai?"

"The powers of the sword are something you will have to determine for yourself," Totosai said. "However I will tell you this. Taiketsu can only be used to it's full potential by a descendant of one of the demons who donated a fang so that the sword could be created. And the fact that you are a direct descendant of both such demons means that in your hands the sword shall have extraordinary powers."

Karanosuke frowned, not at all happy with the way that this conversation was going. "But how do I use it? Extraordinary powers are useless if I don't know how to wield them."

"Train with it," Totosai told the boy. "Make the sword a part of you and Taiketsu shall reveal it's powers when it thinks you are strong enough and worthy enough for them."

"Some help you are," Karanosuke said, rising to his feet and slipping the sheathed katana back into his sash.

Kyo followed suit, standing a few seconds after Karanosuke did.

"Make the sword a part of you," Totosai repeated, refusing to further elaborate on how to use the powers of the katana.

"Feh," Karanosuke said. The boy turned and walked toward the mouth of the cave.

"You may not think so now," Totosai called after him. "But I've just given you the single most important piece of advice for mastering your sword."

"Whatever," Karanosuke called out over his shoulder.

Kyo ran after Karanosuke and the two boys jumped back onto Karara's back. Without needing a word of command the demon cat leaped into the air and began the long journey back to Kaede's village. Totosai watched them go, wondering to himself why fate had led the boy to the long missing sword. "There must be some reason why that rash young man discovered Taiketsu. I suppose only time will tell what fate has in store for the son of Sesshomaru."

"Well that was a big waste of time," Karanosuke grumbled as Karara flew in the direction of the village.

Kyo held a thoughtful expression on his face. "I don't know. If you keep the sword close by you're bound to figure out it's secrets eventually. The old man wasn't totally out of his mind when he told you that."

Karanosuke smirked. "I think you're both crazy."

"Highly possible," Kyo said.

When Karara touched down outside the village the two boys leapt from her back. The cat demon transformed back into her normal, smaller size and jumped onto Karanosuke's shoulder.

"Wow Karan," Kyo said, staring at his pet. "Karara's really taken quite a liking to you, don't you think?"

Karanosuke glanced at the small cat demon that was perched on his shoulder and shrugged. "I don't know why but she just insists on sitting there."

"Ahhh," Kyo said. "You've made a friend."

Karanosuke shot Kyo a dirty look but didn't comment. The three of them entered the village and walked over to their hut. Kyo pulled back the door flap.

"Mother, Father, we're home," Kyo called out as he and Karanosuke entered the hut.

"Welcome home dears," Kagome said as the two boys stepped inside.

"So," Inuyasha said. "What did the old man have to say about the sword?"

"Nothing of any use," Karanosuke said bitterly, sitting down across from Inuyasha.

Kyo sat down beside his father. "Master Totosai told him to keep the sword with him at all times and train with it and the sword would reveal it's secrets when he was ready to learn them."

Inuyasha nodded his head, a knowing look in his eyes. "Yea, that sounds about right. The old man definitely wins the prize for being vague."

"We did learn a little about the sword's history while we were there however," Kyo pointed out.

"Is that a fact?" Inuyasha said.

Karanosuke nodded. "Totosai called it the missing sword of the fang and apparently it was forged from the fangs of two powerful demons, my father and grandfather. Totosai said that it disappeared years ago, while my grandfather was fighting an ice demon."

Inuyasha stared at the sword. "So Father had three swords made from his fangs."

"Sounds like," Kagome said. "And for the last one he took up a dental donation."

"I can't believe Taiketsu, the third sword of the fang, has surfaced again after all these years."

"Myoga," Inuyasha said, slapping the flea demon that was perched on his chest before the parasite had the chance to bite him. He raised his hand and glared at the squashed demon in his palm. "What do you know about this so called third sword of the fang?"

Myoga's squashed body expanded back to it's original form and he sat in the palm of Inuyasha's hand, a thoughtful expression on his face. "I know that your father commissioned old Totosai to forge the sword out of fangs from both himself and your brother Sesshomaru."

"I find it hard to believe Sesshomaru would give one of his fangs to forge a sword that he would not have possession of," Inuyasha said.

"Hmm," Myoga said thoughtfully. "I'm not sure exactly how it was that your father managed to get a fang from Sesshomaru but I seriously doubt he was a willing participant."

Inuyasha smirked. "There's no way in hell he did it voluntarily."

Karanosuke had heard all he intended to listen to. He stood up and stuck the sheathed sword in his sash. "I'm going outside to train."

Kyo jumped up and followed Karanosuke out of the hut. "I'll come with you."

The two boys exited the hut and as soon as they were outside Karara reclaimed her perch on Karanosuke's shoulder. "Mew," the cat demon said as she settled down.

"Are you coming to help me train too Karara?" Karanosuke asked.

"Mew."

"Alright then," Karanosuke said.

"So Karan," Kyo said. "Where are we going?"

"I thought we'd go to that clearing in the forest," Karanosuke said. "You know, the one where we first met."

Kyo nodded. "Let's go then."

Karanosuke turned his head and looked at the small cat demon perched on his shoulder. "So how about a ride Karara?"

Karara jumped from Karanosuke's shoulder and in a burst of flames transformed into her larger form. The two boys jumped onto Karara's back and the cat demon leapt into the air.

"Take us to the well Karara," Kyo requested.

Karara flew to the clearing in the forest and landed beside an old well.

Karanosuke and Kyo leapt from the cat demon's back and walked to the middle of the clearing. Kyo drew his sword, the Tairitsu, and turned to face Karanosuke.

Karanosuke drew Taiketsu from it's sheath and pointed the blade at Kyo.

"Let's see what that sword of yours can do," Kyo said.

Karanosuke nodded, holding up his sword. He ran toward Kyo and swung his sword. Kyo blocked the blow and the blade of Taiketsu pulsed and fire shot from the blade. Kyo managed to dodge the flames but as Karanosuke swung the sword again more flames sprung from the blade.

"Wow," Kyo said as he dodged the flames. "You're doing great."

"Not really," Karanosuke said, looking at his blade. "I have no idea how I just did that."

"Oh well," Kyo said. "If we keep training you're sure to figure it out eventually."

"Maybe," Karanosuke said. "Well, there's only one way to know. Let's do it."

Kyo nodded and ran toward his friend, his sword raised above his head. With a smirk on his face Karanosuke raised his own sword and prepared for Kyo's attack. As Kyo swung his sword, Karanosuke used Taiketsu's blade to block the blow. The two swords connected and the two boys pushed against each other, each trying to throw the other off balance. Kyo was the larger of the two and he was winning the power struggle when the blade of Taiketsu began to spark. What looked like bolts of lightening jumped from the blade and Kyo's sword was knocked away.

Kyo knew that Karanosuke was concentrating all of his energy on defense, trying to keep his sword at bay and so he wasn't expecting another attack. When Taiketsu began to pulse with electricity Kyo was so surprised that he lost his grip on Tairitsu. The sword flew out of his hands and landed on the ground a few feet away.

"Damn that hurt," Kyo said, rubbing his slightly smoking hand. "That was some attack."

Karanosuke raised the sword and stared at the blade, which was surrounded by it's usual blue aura. "Why does this strange aura surround the sword whenever I touch it? It didn't do that when the ice demon had it."

"Master Totosai said that the sword would have extraordinary powers in your possession," Kyo pointed out. "Because you are the descendant of the two demons who gave their fangs to make the sword."

"Hmm," Karanosuke said thoughtfully.

"Don't worry Karan," Kyo said. "You'll figure the sword out."

The two boys spent the remainder of the day training. They took turns attacking each other to see what the sword would do in different situations and by the end of the day Karanosuke had control over both the lightening and fire attacks.

After a hard day's work the two boys sheathed their swords and sat down near Karara to rest. Kyo and Karanosuke leaned up against the well and watched the sun sink below the horizon.

"Should we head back to the village?" Kyo asked.

Karanosuke shook his head. "No. We'll take a short break and then continue training. The moon's very bright tonight. We'll be able to see."

Kyo nodded.

When Kyo and Karanosuke had caught their breath they stood back up and continued their training. The two boys unsheathed their swords and squared off against each other.

As the two boys trained, they began to notice that the moonlight that illuminated their training ground was slowly disappearing. Lowering their swords simultaneously Kyo and Karanosuke looked up at the moon and saw that the glowing orb was slowly being overtaken by darkness.

"What's going on?" Kyo wanted to know.

"Damn," Karanosuke muttered, clenching his hands into fists.

"What's wrong?" Kyo wanted to know.

Karanosuke said nothing. He seemed to be hypnotized by the moon and he stood staring up at the slowly disappearing moon, completely motionless. As he stood there the boy's appearance slowly began to change. His silver hair turned black and his dog ears disappeared, replaced by human ears.

"You're transforming into a mortal," Kyo said, surprise evident in his voice. "You've been in the village for a couple of months now and I've never seen you do this. I just assumed that since you were more than half demon it didn't happen to you."

"It happens," Karanosuke said unhappily, turning to face Kyo. "It just doesn't happen as often as it does with half demons."

When Karanosuke turned to face him Kyo saw that his amber eyes had turned brown and his fangs had disappeared. "So this strange occurrence of the moon makes you transform into a mortal?"

"Yes," Karanosuke said.

The two boys watched the moon being swallowed up by darkness and then they watched as it slowly reappeared. As the moon began to reappear Kyo focused his attention on Karanosuke, and to his surprise the boy's appearance did not change.

"I don't understand," Kyo said. "The moon's returning so why aren't you changing back to your normal form?"

"I won't change back to normal until morning," Karanosuke explained. "And I have absolutely no intention of returning to the village until I'm back to normal."

"Come on Karanosuke," Kyo said. "We can't stay out all night. Father will be furious."

"I don't care," Karanosuke said. 'No one in that village shall ever see me like this."

"Why not?" Kyo demanded. "The whole village knows I transform during the new moon and that doesn't matter to me."

"Well I'm not you," Karanosuke said. "And I refuse to allow any one else to discover the time when I loose my demonic powers. It's bad enough that you found out and I'm telling you know that if you ever tell anyone of what you have seen rest assured that I will kill you."

"Have it your way," Kyo said, relenting. "I'll just go back to the village with Karara and tell Mother and Father that we're going to stay in the forest and train tonight."

Karanosuke nodded.

"Karara," Kyo called out to his pet.

Karara transformed into her larger form and Kyo climbed onto her back. "Let's go home Karara."

Karara hesitated, glancing at Karanosuke.

"He's not coming with us Karara," Kyo said.

The cat demon walked over to Karanosuke and nudged him with her head.

Karanosuke rubbed the black diamond on Karara's forehead. "I'll be alright until the two of you return."

Karara nodded and leapt into the air.

"We'll be back soon," Kyo called out as he and Karara flew away.

Karanosuke sat down and leaned up against the well, however he did not relax. He knew that if a demon attacked him while he was human he had no hope of survival so he had to avoid a fight at all cost. He unsheathed his sword and stared at the blade. The strange blue aura that usually surrounded the blade was not there, which meant that the sword's powers were somehow linked to his demonic blood just like with Inuyasha and the Tetsusaiga.

"Damn," Karanosuke said, staring at the sword. "Even this will be useless tonight."

Karanosuke was extremely depressed by this discovery. Should a demon attack him before Kyo and Karara returned he stood very little chance against them. His only defense was the martial arts that his mother's friend Lady Miatsu had taught him as a child, to combat the village children that insisted on picking on him. And those would be of little help to him against a demon.

When Kyo and Karara reached the village they touched down outside the hut that Kyo shared with his parents. Kyo quickly entered the hut and saw his parents and twin brother sitting around the fire.

"It's about time you got home," Kagome said. Then she stopped. "Wait. . . where's Karanosuke?"

"He's still in the forest," Kyo told her. "We've decided to spend the night in the forest and continue with our training. The moon is offering us good light and Karanosuke wants to continue working on his sword technique. I just came home to tell you that."

Inuyasha nodded. "Very well."

Kagome stared at her husband. "You're going to let them spend the night in the forest alone. Have you lost your mind? What if a demon attacks?"

"Then one or both of them will slay it," Inuyasha said. "They aren't exactly normal kids you know. Besides they'll have Karara with them. She'll protect them should a demon attack that they are unable to handle. Surely between the three of them they can handle any of the puny demons that remain in this region."

Kagome relented. "I suppose you're right."

"Thanks Father," Kyo said, turning and running from the hut. Kyo ran back outside and jumped on Karara's back. "Let's get back to the clearing Karara. I'm not so sure we should have left Karan alone in the shape he was in."

Karara roared and leapt into the air.

Karanosuke was still leaning against the well when Kyo and Karara returned from the village. Karara landed beside the well and as soon as Kyo jumped from her back she transformed into her normal size and jumped onto Karanosuke's shoulder.

"I think she was worried about you," Kyo said, laughing. "Apparently she didn't think you would fare so well as a weak mortal boy."

Karanosuke glared at Kyo. "I would stop right there if I were you," he warned. "Just remember the new moon comes along a lot more often than my time of vulnerability and I can get even with you a number of times before this happens to me again."

Kyo's laughter abruptly stopped as he realized that Karanosuke spoke the truth. And with that new sword of his Kyo didn't stand a chance against him while in his human form."

"Damn," he muttered.

"Hah," Karanosuke said. "Better watch what you say Kyo-Kyo. You might find that it comes back to haunt you."

"Don't call me Kyo-Kyo!" Kyo yelled, taking a step toward Karanosuke, his fists raised.

"Oh I'm really scared," Karanosuke said.

"Hmph," Kyo said, deciding not to pursue the matter further. "Karan, there's something I've wanted to ask you for awhile now."

"And what's that?" Karanosuke asked.

"Why have you stayed in our village for so long?" Kyo asked.

"What do you mean?" Karanosuke wanted to know.

"I could tell when Father first dragged you home that you didn't want to be there," Kyo explained. "So why have you stayed? Why didn't you sneak off the moment you had the chance?"

Karanosuke thought about that question for a moment before replying. "I was hoping that being around your father might give me a clue as to the whereabouts of my own."

"I see," Kyo said.

"Besides," Karanosuke said bitterly. "It's not as though I could hide from your father. He's half dog demon and has an extremely keen sense of smell. He would easily be able to track me down."

"This is true," Kyo admitted.

"And your mother would definitely have him do it," Karanosuke said, his voice different this time.

"You have a soft spot for Mother, don't you?"

"She reminds me of my own mother," Karanosuke said. "She treats me with kindness, despite what I am."

Kyo nodded. He understood.

The two boys spent the night in the clearing, neither of them sleeping. Karanosuke refused to sleep in his human form and Kyo stayed awake to keep him company. As the sun began to rise Karanosuke began to transform back into his normal form. His hair turned silver, his eyes turned amber and his dog ears returned.

"I'm glad that's over," Karanosuke said, releasing the breath that he hadn't even realized he'd been holding.

"Shall we return to the village?" Kyo asked. "You can tell my mother how much you care for her."

"Shut up!" Karanosuke ordered. "I didn't say that."

"Yes you did," Kyo said.

Karanosuke grabbed Kyo by the collar of his kimono. "I'm warning you."

"All right, all right," Kyo said. "Calm down. I won't say another word about it."

Karanosuke glared at Kyo. "You'd better not or else I might have to hurt you."

A/N- And thus ends yet another chapter of Karan's story. Hope you enjoyed. Feel free to review and let me know what you thought.