Tenseiga

The corridors of the Palace were sombre and silent as the servants bowed to Inuyasha as he passed unheeding by them. His eyes were firmly on the way ahead as he carefully carried his dead baby sister towards the sanctuary of his father's study, that was also home to the life giving Sword of Heaven. Sesshoumaru, who followed, could feel the sadness and respect for his brother's situation from the servants and was pleased; the pup was almost in a trance and needed calm about him. In his opinion, Inuyasha was acting unnaturally normal given the situation, he had expected the boy to run to his father, yelling and crying for him to use the sword in panic.

Inu no Taishou was very alert however and waiting for his sons to appear. Not much passed his experienced mind and he could hear the soft singing of Inuyasha; as the boys reached the door, he took Tenseiga from the wall mount and held it at rest in his hand. When he heard Inuyasha call to him and ask him to open the door, he was already sliding the shoji aside to admit them and as his younger son walked in, the older exchanged looks with his father and Inu no Taishou indicated that Sesshoumaru could stay.

When he turned from the door he could see Inuyasha was kneeling, his head forward on the rug in the middle of the room with the baby in his arms held out in front of him, petitioning his father to save the child's life. Inu no Taishou could see the death imps clearly as he held the sword and knew that Inuyasha was waiting with bated breath until he felt the air swish past him as the sword was used. Sesshoumaru too was staring wide eyed at his father and Inu no Taishou was once again humbled in the presence of the power his sword contained.

"Get up off the floor Inuyasha; I have never needed my children to grovel before me if there is something they want. No son of mine will debase himself this way unless he has acted with total dishonour; I am not a tyrant to my pups." The strong words were spoken gently, but firmly, the general recognised the great need of Inuyasha and the instinct which motivated him. But even given the seriousness of the occasion, he would not have his pups act with anything but princely decorum.

"Please Papa." Inuyasha begged and Inu no Taishou was almost shocked at the pale, almost white face that now looked up at him. Inuyasha looked very like Sesshoumaru now; his normally darker skin was so washed out, although his eyes were huge in his face. The pup was exhausted from everything, including the severe controlling of his emotion.

"Place Hanako on the couch Inuyasha and then come over here."

"Alright Papa." He said, doing just as his father said; his trust in Inu no Taishou was absolute and he watched as his father placed the sword lengthways next to the baby's body.

"Before I use the sword, you must come and eat something and sleep, you are over wrought Inuyasha and then we must talk about what to do. You needn't worry; Tenseiga will still work for her after you are rested. Sesshoumaru, call for some light refreshment please and then you may go or stay as you wish."

"I would stay if you allow it Papa; Inuyasha is...disturbing me." Sesshoumaru whispered, in the certain knowledge that the pup, whose eyes never left his sister's body, was not able to hear him. Not too long afterwards, the maid brought in a tray with rice, fruit and meat and a bowl with a form of rice porridge made with milk and sweetened with honey. This last had been added on direction of the healer who had seen Inuyasha as he entered the Palace; sent up with the message that it would be of benefit for the young prince. Lifting his unresisting small son onto his lap, Inu no Taishou offered him a spoon with the porridge in it.

"I isn't a baby Papa, I can eats by myself." Inuyasha objected tiredly.

"But I like to do this for you My Inuyasha, and you are not a lot more than a baby to me." His father replied, remembering that when he spoke with his son later that he would have to use words the pup would understand clearly. Soon, Inuyasha felt heavier in his arms and the father leaned back comfortably in his chair to cradle the sleeping hanyou against him. Sesshoumaru came to sit by his father too, his own youkai uneasy and needing his father's close presence to reassure him.

Inu no Taishou didn't know how long Inuyasha would sleep, the pup was boneless and he could scent a soporific herb mixed in the rice porridge on his breath, courtesy of the healer. However it didn't matter how long; if Inuyasha slept all night his father would make sure he slept peacefully. In fact if ever his pups needed him, he would always be there; no matter if they thought they were too old. He smiled as he stroked the hair of his eldest as the boy sat, leaning his head against his father's knee.

Two hours later though, Inuyasha started to stir, finally opening his golden eyes wide as his memory rushed back to the forefront of his mind. He leapt off his father and ran to Hanako before Inu no Taishou called him back.

"Inuyasha, I told you she would be safe; do you doubt me?"

"No Papa...I just forgot where I was. Will you mend Hanako now?" Inuyasha asked as he reached for some meat and a drink. His father smiled at him;

"Plenty of time yet, Son; did you like the boar meat?" As his child nodded enthusiastically, he carried on; "Sesshoumaru, even though he is still young is one of the best hunters I know, quick and efficient and above all dedicated to anything he considers important. Do you know how he always manages to get the best?" Inuyasha shook his head, his mouth still chewing on the delicious boar but his eyes sparkling as he thought adoringly of Shu and the boar hunt.

"Sesshoumaru knows that the best animals are out the earliest to get the choice food; he in turn has to be out earlier than them so they will not know he is around. Then he is patient and chooses the one he wants and then he strikes, swiftly. There is a saying that the early bird catches the early worm...Sesshoumaru is like the bird, and we reap the benefit. Do you understand so far Inuyasha?"

"'Corse I do, Shu is cleverest, and strongest and the powerfulest."

"He certainly has power over the boar, just as the bird had power over the worm." Inu no Taishou said quietly, and Sesshoumaru was alerted by the sense of sadness from his father. He looked to his father who noted his glance but ignored him for now as he had a point to make to his younger son.

"Inuyasha, I too have power, power over life and death; You got here so quickly that I have power over Hanako in the same way as the early bird does over the worm."

"But you aren't going to kill her are you?"

"The point is, her life is in my hands...or should it be in your own? You assumed responsibility for the child when you protected her life and since you kept all harm away from her. Her right to life became yours to give, didn't it?"

"Yes she is mine, so please give Hanako her life back Papa."

"One thing that is always forgotten when one has gained power over one's prey and that is the unfortunate circumstances of that prey. For Sesshoumaru to be successful at the hunt, the more resourceful prey is unsuccessful; the bird is lucky, the early worm is unlucky. Let us consider what will happen to our prey, our Hanako, if we use our power against her death. Tenseiga can give her life again; it will also heal the immediate sickness that claimed her, but it cannot heal the original cause. The sword cannot restore her body to act as that of a physically healthy child any more than it will confer youth on the old, or regenerate missing limbs. It can only give her the life that she lost.

Hanako could be given her life again Inuyasha, and she might live and grow, but she would never be whole. She was intelligent; she would come to know of her limitations, her dependency, and her body would remain a prison. These are things you should consider if you are to be held responsible for the decision. Would Hanako wish to be brought back to this world where things would become increasingly difficult for her?"

"She would be alright, I would look after her, she loves me, I don't care if I have to always carry her or care for her. I can do everything now, I can always do it; please Papa, she is my responsibility, I will help her, I understand what you are saying but it doesn't matter, it doesn't, really it doesn't. Shu will help me, won't you Shu?" Inuyasha was sounding desperate and Sesshoumaru stood near him letting his tail come to calm him down. Inu no Taishou looked sadly between his sons, one thing perfectly clear to him and eventually he said;

"You may have assumed responsibility for Hanako's life Inuyasha, but you are not old enough to carry this burden. Therefore I am taking the decision away from you and I will not be persuaded differently. As Lord of the West my decree is that Tenseiga will not be used to bring back to life the child known as Hanako. She would gain no benefit from it and is at peace now. I deem it would be cruelty to use the power bestowed by the sword and granted to me as the wielder of the blade."

"Did you just say you weren't going to help me Papa?"

"Yes Inuyasha, I have made a law that says I will not revive Hanako for her own good and against your own judgement. I am sorry but I had to do it." Inu no Taishou watched his son's face turn rigid, the pup knew that a law would not be overturned; then Inuyasha's youkai began to rise quickly and he snarled at his father and his brother who started to reach for him.

"I hate you, I hate you; you don't love me, if you did you would give her back to me. I hate you." Inuyasha's voice was high and growly, but his words were clear and although Inu no Taishou was far too experienced not to have expected the outburst, it still hurt to hear. Besides that, he had to exert his aura again to subdue the volatile hanyou, who was letting his anger trigger his transformation. Sesshoumaru's eyes had widened in surprise; he was still unused to anyone shouting at his father let alone getting away with it.

Inuyasha stormed out of the room and headed to the gardens where he proceeded to vent his anger on some of the smaller trees and shrubs, wrecking them beyond the point of recovery. He was still destroying things when his mother called to him. The family had followed Inuyasha to the Palace at the invite of Inu no Taishou via Sesshoumaru, and given that Inuyasha was already on his way, they decided to go. His mother's scent was instantly calming and he allowed her to put her arms round him.

"I think you have done enough damage Little One; I think it is time to calm down don't you, before your father makes you repair his garden."

"I won't do it, his trees are dead and I'm glad; he won't bring Hanako back, so I won't bring his garden back."

"Your father is right not to use Tenseiga Inuyasha; it wouldn't be fair to her."

"You don't want Hanako?"

"That's not what I said; of course we would love to have Hanako, but she is not a toy for anyone to play about with, and unless she could be made complete...it is far better for her this way. You must try to understand." Izayoi was determined to show a united front with her son's father, but she knew Inuyasha was not ready to see the truth. She was grateful that Inu no Taishou had taken the decision from their son's shoulders; he was far too young to be saddled with the burdens of guilt and a possible human lifetime of a dependant, who would grow old while he was still such a child.

It was certain that no one else would care for an elderly Hanako, if she outlived her family. She would be neglected, or at worse left to die alone if Inuyasha wasn't there; it had been an unspoken fear of Izayoi and Makoto, that the child would prove to be physically strong even if unable to use her body properly. One day Inuyasha would see that, but they would all be long gone before he was old enough to understand all of their reasoning. Inu no Taishou had spared them all by his actions, and for that, Izayoi was eternally grateful.

By now anyway Inuyasha was spent and rested in his mother's arms quietly; but he was too quiet, seeming at the moment to spend time either noisily demanding, or submissive. His youkai was warring internally with his humanity; he wanted to cry for Hanako but at the same time, his youkai forbid such weakness, demanding a more violent satisfaction for his pain. Izayoi stayed with him until it was time for the evening meal and put Inuyasha to bed herself.

"Goodnight My Baby." She said softly thinking him asleep already only to hear his exasperated reply;

"I isn't your baby Mama, I is the biggest one."

"More than you yet realise, you will always be my little boy Inuyasha." She said cryptically and kissed him again before leaving.

Later that night a silent tiny shadow crept along the halls of the sleeping Palace, past any guards with practiced ease and headed for his father's study. He picked up Tenseiga off its mount and walked slowly towards the body of his sister who was now resting in a small crib. He swallowed hard at seeing her face; she looked like a doll more than his little Hanako, her bright lively eyes were closed and her face was so still it looked as if carved from pale wood. He tried to swing the sword over her body, but it was too heavy for him and he almost screamed in frustration.

However he summoned more strength by letting his youkai out and that helped him swing the sword, but time after time nothing happened and he found himself surrounded by his father's aura once more. Inu no Taishou had stayed in his study to keep vigil over the tiny girl, and knowing also that his hanyou son would undoubtedly come to do precisely what he had, when he tried to use Tenseiga himself. Once more the general found himself looking into the crimson eyes of his son, but they were subdued.

"Enough My Pup; Tenseiga is my sword, it works only for the correct owner. Besides the time has now passed; it is no longer early but late and she has fully passed on. I know you don't understand but it cannot change the outcome, she has gone and is at peace; you must leave it now."

"I can't...she is so cold."

"Stay here and watch with me Inuyasha, your presence will make her warm." He held his pup close to him, forcing the youkai back to its dormant state and grateful that Totousai had returned with all the elements needed to keep the boy's youkai in check.

Inuyasha Quotes Community; March 2010 Week #2:

"I think we consider too much the good luck of the early bird and not enough the bad luck of the early worm."

-Franklin D. Roosevelt