A Reason to Live

Chapter Eleven

Seeking Truth

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha.

The thick cover of black covered her entire being. Her she tried to see past the darkness, but as hard as she tried, it seemed to be in vain. There was no end to the darkness, no light at the end of the tunnel. Hell, the pain that shot through her body made her believe she would not even be able to crawl to the light if there was one. She could hear the whisper of voices, familiar voice at that. Soon she realized that they belonged to Inuyasha and Kagome, and once she made the recognition, a light began to invade her sight. At first it was dim, but quickly it became more brilliant in color. As she slowly inched closer to the light, she could feel the warmth from the light spreading throughout her entire body.

Finally after what had seemed like an eternity, Sango made it to the light, and felt her eye lids open on their own accord. "Look Sango's finally awake," Shippo's voice exclaimed as the small fox demon jumped up and down in happiness.

"Sango are you ok," Kagome questioned as she rushed to the brown haired demon slayer. Quickly Kagome knelt beside Sango, grabbing hold of her hand, and giving it a light squeeze. "Would you like something to eat?"

Feeling the lack of saliva in her mouth, Sango tried to sit up, but a sharp pain attacked her body, causing her to lay back down. "I'm thirsty," Sango said in a depressed tone. She hated it when people had to take care of her. It was nearly a fate worse then death to her, but this was one of those times she could not refuse help.

Almost instantly Kagome jumped to her feet, and grabbed Sango a cup of rather chilled tea. "Sorry it isn't warm, but we made it when we first got here, which was about three hours ago," Kagome explained as she watched Sango gulp down the liquid.

"That was excellent," Sango supplied as she finished the cup of tea in a single drink. "What happened after I blacked out? Where is Bankotsu?"

At the mention of the mercenaries name, everyone hung their head, including Inuyasha. "He went to go get the Banryuu repaired," Inuyasha said in a cold voice, anger lacing each word he spoke. "The bastard doesn't want us to come with him, because he is afraid it will be too dangerous. The damn idiot."

"How long ago did he leave," Sango asked. If they hurried, they would be able to catch him with ease. Three hours was not much of a lead when you had a half-demon and a neko demon as transportation.

"He headed out about three days ago," Kagome said, keeping her gaze away from Sango's.

"I thought you said we just got here three hours ago," Sango questioned. "Then how did he leave three days ago."

"Sango, you have been unconscious for five full days," Inuyasha supplied. "We have been traveling back to Kaede's village for the past three days."

"What happened with that Princess lady," Sango asked, still trying to process all of the information she was receiving. "Where you able to beat her Inuyasha?"

"I was far to worried about getting both you and Bankotsu out of harms way, that I didn't even bother fighting her," Inuyasha admitted, anger overcoming his voice. "I could have beat her, but I couldn't do it with both you and Bankotsu just lying in the way."

"Thank you Inuyasha," Sango said quietly. She knew how much it must have upset Inuyasha not to fight with her, and she also knew that Bankotsu was probably just as upset as Inuyasha, if not more so. 'Please hurry back to us Bankotsu. There is so much we must talk about.'

"THIS IS TAKING FOREVER," Bankotsu yelled into the air. "Where the fuck is this damned blacksmith?"

"I take it you are looking for Master Totosai," a meek voice exclaimed, causing Bankotsu to look around. Quickly Bankotsu grabbed the broken blade of Banryuu, and prepared to attack anything that would dare to attack him.

"Who is there," Bankotsu yelled. "Show yourself now, and I might not kill you, but if you force me to look for you, I will kill you!"

"No need for that my young friend," the voice exclaimed from right behind him. Spinning quickly, Bankotsu came face to face with nothing. "Down here! On your shoulder!"

Looking down, Bankotsu became aware of a little flea demon sitting on his shoulder. "Who the hell are you, and why shouldn't I squash you like the bug you are?"

"My name is Myoga," the flea demon exclaimed. "I am Master Inuyasha's most dependable servant."

"Then why is this the first time I have met you," Bankotsu questioned, giving the flea a disapproving look. "Each time I have fought against or with Inuyasha, you have been nowhere to be found."

"I do most of my serving from afar," the flea responded, smiling lightly at the mercenary. "And now, I am going to help you since it will help Master Inuyasha."

"And how do you plan on helping me little flea," Bankotsu questioned, still giving the flea a displeased look.

"I am going to take you to see Master Totosai," Myoga replied. "He is the greatest blacksmith ever. There is not another demon or human who can make swords or other weapons as strong as Totosai."

"Should I venture to guess that this Totosai is the one who originally forged my Banryuu then," Bankotsu asked.

"Oh you are quite correct," Myoga supplied. "He also forged your brother's blade as well. Two of his greatest creations."

"Can he forge me another weapon to go along with my Banryuu," Bankotsu asked. His excitement was beginning to grow as he talked to the small flea demon. "If I could have another weapon like Banryuu, I would be able to defeat Naraku with ease."

"He has already forged you another weapon," Myoga exclaimed. "You see, your brother has come unto a great evil. It is so great, that you may not be able to defeat it with just the Banryuu. So Totosai took the remains of your 'brothers', and forged them into a single weapon."

"WHAT," Bankotsu snapped, causing Myoga to fly from his shoulder. "You mean this bastard took the remains of my team and forged a blade from them as well?!"

"Sort of," Myoga supplied. "He only took the remains of Jakotsu and Suikotsu."

"Why the hell would he do that," Bankotsu hissed. "They could have been brought back to life, just like I was."

"If that was true, then why haven't they already been brought back to life," Myoga asked as he jumped onto the tip of Bankotsu's nose. "Now listen to me. Totosai did not just take their remains without asking their souls for help. He explained to them what would be happening, and they were eager to come back as your weapon. They were the two loyalest members of your team, and you should be honored to have them fighting at your side once more."

"But they are not fighting at my side," Bankotsu snapped. "They are fighting as my fucking weapon."

"Exactly," Myoga supplied. "They are putting their trust in you. I know you are upset, because you believed that after you defeated Naraku, you would find the key to bringing them back, but the truth is that there is no way to bring THEM back. They were not cursed by Kami like you were. They will eventually find everlasting peace, but you are destined to wander this Earth. You will be forced to watch everyone you love and care about die before your eyes, if you do not fulfill your mission set by Kami."

"And what is that mission," Bankotsu sneered. "Since you know so much about me, what is this great mission I must accomplish?"

"I have pondered that question since I first heard of your destiny," Myoga replied in a solemn tone. "However, I have yet to come up with the answer to that question. The more I think about it, the more I realize that, I am not meant to answer that question. You are. When the time comes, you will learn what your mission is, but for now, I would concentrate on learning the key to defeating your brother, Hakai."

"So that bastard is really my brother," Bankotsu hissed in anger. "Everything he said was true then?"

"I am afraid so," Myoga acknowledged. "You were brought into this world through death, and partly because of that, death has become your gift. You are one of the most talented killers to ever walk the face of the Earth, and you have used that gift for your purposes, and that has left you dead twice. Now you have a third opportunity to use your gift to help others. Don't waste it."

"So which way is this Totosai's place," Bankotsu exclaimed. "We need to get going so I can get back to Inuyasha." 'And so I can see Sango again. There is so much we have to talk about.'

The former leader of the Band of Seven began a trek that lasted well over three more days, and on the third day, Myoga called for him to stop. "We are here," Myoga stated. The two were standing in front of a large mountain. Directly in front of them was a small, human sized cave that lead into the mountain. "Please wait here, Young Master."

"Whatever," Bankotsu exclaimed. 'This guy had better be as good as the flea says he is. If not, then I will just kill him and the flea.'

Inside of the cave, Myoga ran into one of his greatest fears. Standing in front of the old blacksmith was Sesshomaru, Inuyasha's older half-brother. "I'm sorry for the delay Lord Sesshomaru, but your sword is fully repaired now."

"Good," Sesshomaru said in calm and cold voice. "I shall spare your life once more as payment for your work."

"I have never received better payment then yours, Lord Sesshomaru," Totosai said as he bowed deeply to the great Lord of the Western Lands. "May fortune smile upon you, and those that travel with you."

Without really listening to the elderly looking man, Sesshomaru turned to leave. "Please wait Lord Sesshomaru," Myoga exclaimed as he jumped onto the dog demon's nose.

"I thought I smelt your presence flea," Sesshomaru stated as he flicked the flea off of his nose. "Now why do you halt my departure?"

"I beg of you my Lord," Myoga began. "I have brought the former leader of the Band of Seven to this place, and I request that you give me a moment to lead him away from here, so you are not forced to look upon his ugly features."

"My what," Bankotsu's angry voice called from the opening of the cave. "And if it isn't Inuyasha's older brother. What are you doing here?"

"That is none of your concern," Sesshomaru spat. "However, you should learn a little respect for those who are superior to you. I would gladly teach you, but you are not worth my time, and I have more pressing matters to attend to."

"What's wrong," Bankotsu asked as he began walking towards the full-blooded demon. "Are you scared of me?"

"Me scared of you," Sesshomaru questioned as he lifted his right eyebrow at the mercenary. "Not in your wildest dreams human. I simply have more important things to do then fight with trash such as yourself." Bankotsu was about to say something back to Sesshomaru, but was hit in the head by a rather large stone ball.

"I am sorry about this Lord Sesshomaru," Totosai exclaimed as he bowed to Sesshomaru again. "I will be sure to teach this pathetic human a lesson for you."

"That won't be necessary this time," Sesshomaru supplied as he walked away from Totosai, and past the now unconscious Bankotsu. "However, the next time we meet, I will just kill him with my own bare hands."

"Yes my Lord," Totosai exclaimed. Once Sesshomaru's presence was completely gone, Totosai took a set in front of a small fire that had been at the center of his makeshift home. "That was a close one."

"Why was Lord Sesshomaru here," Myoga asked as he came to rest on the old man's shoulder.

"He wanted me to repair and upgrade the Tenseiga," Totosai responded as he continued to look into the heart of the fire. "Things are beginning to take shape out there. Soon the great battle shall take place, and I fear that we may be doomed no matter how hard we fight."

"You must not think like that my old friend," Myoga exclaimed. "We must all keep a positive outlook on things. Besides, we have both Lord Sesshomaru and Lord Inuyasha on our side."

"It won't be enough just to have them on our side," Totosai exclaimed. "We need them to work together, and I just don't know if that is going to happen."

"You forget, we still have Bankotsu as well," Myoga supplied. "If you can train him, like you trained Hakai, then maybe it will be enough to ensure us victory without those two being on the same page."

"I don't think I can teach him," Totosai supplied. "Hakai was so focused on killing anyone who would not help him, that I was forced to train him. Besides, if I teach him how, he will never become as powerful as if he learned it on his own. Then again, I could always use another apprentice!!!"

A/N: Well I hope you enjoyed this chapter. It truly was just a filler chapter, meaning I am using this chapter to buy me some time for the next chapter. Also, I needed to bring in Sesshomaru, who is going to play a major part in the story (that is still a little ways down the line). I really did not want to do a scene with both Bankotsu and Sango talking about their feelings just yet, mainly because I agree with a review I received about them falling in love way to fast. Of course they will talk down the road, but I am not going to have them proclaim their love for one another just yet. Sorry, I am evil. I know. Once again, Thank you to all of my great reviewers!!! You are the greatest!!! You are all my Reason to Write, ok that was a little corny. I can't believe I just said that. Wow, I am so ashamed of myself. Well I hope you all enjoyed this, and look for more soon.