Chapter seven

Petitefeeme: my written exams are finished. No I have to do my oral exams. Wish me luck! Here is another chapter! Read and enjoy! ^_^

The week that followed was anything but restful for me.

First, Haruki didn't sleep well and would wake more than one time in the middle of the night in tears and sometimes trashing around because of a nightmare.

When I asked her if she wanted to go live with the dragons, she began screaming and hugging me like crazy.

It took one whole hour to calm her and even after; every time I would leave she would make a fuss and make me promise to return.

And during the few hours of sleep I could get, I would dream of the same thing.

I would see a peaceful scenery transforming into a decaying battlefield because of the apparition of a sword (which I suspected, could be Sou'unga).

Fear and despair would grip my heart, almost suffocating, until a light appeared, letting the silver haired demon I already saw twice before enter.

I would wake up drenched in sweat, panting, and the following day I would be tired from morning to evening.

I finally snapped at the end of the week and decided to do something.

I had bags under my eyes and was tired, but I new I would continue to not sleep well until I resolved the problem.

So I made for Haruki a strong sleeping infusion. She wasn't sleeping well too and a full night of sleep would do her some good.

That done, I put a dark blue warm upper large kimono with red arabesques embroidered onto it as a cloak and transformed into an entirely silver dragon before taking off.

When I landed in front of Totosai, the silver haired demon was, surprisingly, still sitting in front of the old man's house.

He turned his head to me when I transformed but looked somewhere immediately after.

I hugged my kimono-cape tighter against me before walking inside. Even if Totosai lived in a crater, the nights in early winter could be cold.

"You should enter with me." I asked to the mute demon "This also concern you."

He made no movement to indicate that he heard me, so I shrugged it off before entering.

Waking Totosai wasn't an easy task, and after it I deeply apologized to him. He made a fire and sat in front of me.

I tried to tell him what happened to Akio-sama and couldn't help but explode in tears.

I had to take care of Haruki since I learned that he was dead, so I didn't have time to mourn myself. That aside, it was fun to see Totosai's face when he tried to calm me.

It took some time but when I was able to talk again, I told him about my dream.

"We have to stop that sword Totosai." I said my tone almost desperate "If not, I'm afraid that the world will end up the same as in my dream."

"Hm." Said Totosai, thinking "Sou'unga sure isn't a piece of cake. I'm afraid that it can't be destroyed."

"What are we gonna do then." I asked, this time really desperate.

"The only way to stop its destruction path is to tame the spirit within the sword. But it would be really difficult alone…"

He seemed thoughtful for a moment before taking a huge pair of tongs and looking at the someone behind me.

"Come here boy." He said "I will make you two swords. But only if you promise on your honour to help this young dragon."

I turned to see the young demon just behind us.

"Why two swords?" he asked.

It was the first time I heard the sound of his voice, apart from his 'hn'. His voice was very grave for someone who seemed to be only 16 years old.

"To balance the power of Sou'unga." Explained Totosai. "You'll need a power opposite and another one to act as a buffer between the two. But I'll need some objects other than your fangs."

The demon said nothing, just looked at him expectantly.

"First, I need one of your white scales young dragon." He asked, turning to me.

My eyes widened. A white scale was extremely powerful and even if the demon appeared in my dreams, how could I be sure he would use it with good intention?

I turned to observe him carefully. His amber eyes were so cold and unfeeling. The white power meant creativity, which in turn would mean having to feel.

But we had to stop Sou'unga, it was extremely important to assure a better future for the next generation.

For my little Haruki.

I stood and stepped next to him, looking at him straight in the eyes.

"What is your name?" I asked very seriously.

He seemed to understand it and answered: "Toga."

"Then, Toga-san." I asked, extremely seriously "If I give one of my scales to create one of your swords, you need to promise me on your honour to only use it to protect."

I knew noble demons took honour very seriously; like a way of life or something akin to that.

"I promise on my honour to only use the sword created from you scale for protection." He answered with gravity.

I searched in his eyes and saw the determined glint that proved me his sincerity.

I relaxed slightly and told Totosai in couldn't transform inside.

So we went outside and I changed my body into that of a dragon, only changing my red scales into white one, the rest of my features brown or red.

Extracting one of the scales of my tail (I totally refused to have a more vital part bare) wasn't a peace of cake. And it hurt like hell.

But after Totosai extracted it and while I was nursing my wound, he said.

"For the next sword, I'll need the tears of an angel."

We looked at him as if he was crazy (which in a sense he was) and he sighed before saying.

"I heard of a temple hidden in the highest mountain in the North. It is said to hold treasures never seen on earth. I think it is a good path to walk on if you want to collect angel's tears. Good luck. For tomorrow I will forge one of the swords."

He disappeared in his hut, leaving me bewildered.

'He isn't going to accompany us?' I though irritated 'He's really an old geezer.'

"Don't count on him unless it is related to swords and weapons." Said Toga.

He looked toward North before adding:

"North is the territory of lizards and snakes. Inu demons aren't warmly welcomed there."

"Reptiles yokais then." I said, transforming back "I myself am a dragon yokai. They will listen."

"You're only a half one." He injected, doubtful.

"Believe me." I said, a hint of a smirk on my face "They will listen to me."

Since Akio-sama took me in, I was accustomed to people looking down on me because I was only a half demoness. So when I wanted for them to listen now, I knew what to do.

He still seemed somewhat unconvinced, but he let this matter slide.

"I'll return in the currant of the afternoon." I finally said "I will probably take my daughter with me."

"It isn't a wise decision." Toga said.

"I have no choice for the moment." I simply answered before transforming and taking off toward the village.

Haruki was quite excited with the prospect of travelling. At least it was taking her mind off mourning.

I passed most of the morning preparing the bags. With some tissue and a lot of lessons from Aisu, I was able to create two bags quite similar to those of my time.

I packed some medicine I made, and some Shizen-sama gave me. I packed some soap and the lemongrass essence I liked to put in my hairs. I also chose two towels, a comb made of demon bone Aisu gave to me on my 30th birthday and a few ribbons to tie our hairs.

I also took two warm outer kimonos (one butter yellow with white butterflies and one and one watery blue with golden circles), two normal outer kimonos (one pearl white with golden arabesques and one dark blue with white ribbons), two plain inner kimonos (one red and one white), two slashes (one dark blue and one pearl white) with some tabi socks and two scarves (one white and one black) I made myself for me and Haruki in case something happened.

I also took some blankets, my ocarina, my little lyre and some cooking tools.

I allowed Haruko to take some of her toys and her favourite book. But I also forced her to take her learning tools (some books on various subjects, some papers, ink and pens, a map of Japan and a little notebook).

I don't know how all of that entered our two bag packs, but it did and in the morning I woke up Haruki early.

Together we bathed and I braided tightly mine and Haruki's hairs before dressing up.

I didn't want to travel in kimono (I wasn't practical at all). So I chose blue dark hakamas and a light blue haori for me, and dark red hakamas and a lightly silvery haori for Haruki.

But I knew females in men's wears would attract attention, so I chose a beige outer kimono with white flowers for me and a red outer kimono with white arabesques for Haruki.

I tied it all with a dark blue slash for me and a red one for Haruki.

To the slashes I tied our flasks and a dagger for Haruki.

The little girl's education was far from complete, but she could more or less defend herself with her powers and a dagger. And it reassured me a bit knowing she was armed.

As for me, I tied my bows and arrows' set, as well as my naginata and my set of daggers, presents from Akio-sama (he also offered the dagger to Haruki).

At one o'clock, Haruki and I landed in a clearing not far from Totosai's crater.

I had flared a bit my aura so Toga was soon here, a sword on his hips.

I looked curiously at it and he noticed before answering.

"This is Tetsaiga, it was forged with your scale."

He draw it out of its sheath and gave it to me. I took it carefully in my hands and the sword hummed softly, glowing white for a moment.

Satisfied, I gave it back and asked Haruki:

"So dear, where is the North?"

The little girl concentrated before pointing to her right.

"Good." I complimented, patting her head before walking "Let's go."

Toga was for the most a silent companion. Sometimes Haruki would skip to him and ask him questions, and he would answer shortly before falling into his muteness.

When we stopped for a little pause during lunch, while I and Haruki were nibbling on some treats I made, Toga would try to make his sword work (without much success).

When we stopped in the evening, I would go hunt something while Haruki would search for aromatic herbs or mushrooms (I consisted a good training for her to recognise any edible plants).

I would after prepare whatever we found and offer some to Toga. He would always refuse, but I still offered each time out of politeness.

After eating I would wash the bowls while Haruki begun her lessons. After drying them and putting them away, I would help her until it was time for bed.

The little girl was currently reading her book while I was meditating. Toga was nowhere to be seen, having a knack for nightly walk.

I suddenly sensed something that didn't reassure me at all. There was a horde of demons, probably bandits, running in our direction.

There weren't per say powerful, but they were numerous and I was only in a ten years old body.

"Dear." I said calmly to Haruki, not wanting to worry her "Could you transform and go search for Toga-san please? It is late and I'm a bit worried."

"Okay kaa-san." The little complied before transforming and taking off.

Now that she was out of the way, I could do something.

The question was, what?

The problem was that they were really fast and even using my powers, they had endurance while I could still easily tire.

One of my options was to fight, but they were quite a number and I was only 108, not fully grown up.

So my only chance to survive relatively unscathed was to out smart them.

I hide in the shelves of the trees made my presence invisible.

I started using my powers to grow a specific sort of plants. The only problem was that it was one of my powers which gave me terrible headache and I had to work very slowly.

While I was working, the group arrived and stopped in the clearing.

"There's no one here." Grumbled an ogre, swinging his axe back and forth in annoyance.

Someone replied something to him but I was too concentrated, the beginning of a headache appearing already.

'Come on, just a little bit more.' I though while the headache began invading my head.

Finally the plants were grown up and their flowers opened, releasing their toxins.

One after another, the bandits stumbled on the ground, unconscious.

I dried the flowers and sighed, leaning on the bark beside me to try to reduce the throbbing headache pounding between my eyes.

I barely managed to dodge the demon that sneaked behind me.

I grasped the wound on my shoulder and landed on the ground, before leaping again away from another blow.

Now that I could see my attacker, I noticed he was a tiger demon. He wasn't that much fast or extraordinary strong, but he was apparently smarter than his pears and I was myself restricted because of my pounding headache.

I took out my daggers (my naginata had stayed on the floor, not practical to hide in the trees with) and tried to counter his attack, but this demon was a mass of muscle while I was probably a hundred of pounds lighter than him.

So in the end he shoved me hardly onto a tree trunk and moved in for the final blow.

My eyes turned white and I create a shield to throw off the attacker.

He crashed somewhere and I took the chance to run.

Of course the demon was faster than me and caught up with me in no time, throwing me harshly to the ground.

I closed my eyes and prepared to feel pain only to feel a rush of wind near me.

I opened my eyes to see Toga sparring with the demon and Haruki rushing to me.

"Are you okay okaa-san?" she exclaimed, kneeling in front of me.

I flinched when her tone caused me more pain and said in a hushed voice:

"I'm okay don't worry sweetie. I need you to go find me my medicine for headache. Be careful the yokais there are just out cold, not dead."

She nodded before straightening and running to the clearing we settled in earlier for the night.

I turned to look at Toga and finally noticed that Tetsaiga was in a transformed state, meaning he had finally achieved some steps forward to master the sword.

The tiger demon was older and stronger than him, but the inu teen was holding his own very good.

Haruki soon was back with my bag and my gourd. She handed it to me and I rummaged through my bag for some medicine.

After swallowing the pill with water, I felt better and took care of my shoulder wound.

Haruki helped me while I changed into the dark blue outer kimono with white ribbons.

By the time I was finished, Toga dealt the final blow to the tiger demon and I told Haruki to close her eyes.

I used my earth power to burry the corpse and straightened.

"We should move a bit." I told him "All the demons in the clearing aren't dead."

We retrieved quickly our things and moved some miles more.

When we finally settled in another clearing, the night was advanced and Haruki was ready to fall asleep.

I quickly gave her a cover and she curled in a corner before falling asleep.

I gathered wood and lighted a fire before taking the blood covered kimono.

I discovered a little sewing kit and silently thanked Aisu before taking the blood off the tissue.

It was fresh so I didn't leave a stain that couldn't be dealt with a bit of water and soap.

I then mended as well as I could the cut.

"I saw what you did with the sword, congratulation." I said, concentrating on my sewing.

"It is only a tiny fragment of the sword's capacity." The inu replied.

"It's still an improvement." I replied "Progresses always begin with a first step."

He replied nothing, I awaited no answers. With almost one week travelling with him, I became slowly accustomed with his stoic silence.

Toga looked at his two female companions while they slept.

The more he travelled with them the more they intrigued him.

He met only one or two dragons in his travel, but they were always stuck up and haughty creatures, despite their politeness.

The little girl, Haruki, was the spitting picture of joy and innocence. More surprisingly, the girl possessed a human form. She was indeed powerful to achieve such a feat at barely 90 summers.

The love she held for Haruko was obvious.

Haruko was who intrigued him the most. She was apparently very well educated, smart, powerful, self-sufficient, gracious and gentle. She was what defined a true lady, and she had no more than 100 summers.

She seemed to have adopted fully little Haruki like a mother while she was a child herself. And he was astonished that she was more skilled than a lot of demoness she met.

What happened during the attack was even more intriguing.

He was walking, his mind wandering freely, when Haruki came to find him, saying that her mother had sent her to retrieve him.

He came back at a leisure pace only to find a bunch of comatose demons sprawled on the clearing's floor.

Of course Haruki immediately worried for her mother, even more so that they could smell her blood.

They trailed the scent and when he saw her on the floor about to be killed by that tiger, something snapped.

His beast awakened and his instincts kicked in, telling him to protect. He responded and the sword transformed.

He didn't know how, but somehow, Haruko, and probably her daughter as well, had succeeded into making him see them as pack, something that never happened before for nobody (even his best friend Akane wasn't granted such honour).

He didn't know if he really welcomed the feeling or not.

His thoughts were interrupted when Haruki woke up, saluted him before waking her mother (Haruko was a heavy sleeper).

Petitefeeme: And here is the seventh chapter! I had fun writing this one because I love taking the little clues we have in Inuyasha about the past before the story and linking them with my story.

In Inuyasha, said hanyo couldn't use Tetsaiga until he told Kagome he would protect her. Well, in my story, it comes from the oath Toga made Haruko. XD

I hope you liked the little insight of Toga's mind at the end of the chapter. I wanted a different point of view to explain why Toga was able to use his sword (and understand a bit more how an inu's mind worked).

I will make other 'links' like that in later chapters. So stay stunned ;)