"Oooh. Look at that, Sesshomaru-sama." Jaken was mesmerised when they landed at the very edge of a huge volcano crater.
The ground was woven with red veins of bubbling lava flowing around black patches of scorched ground and ash. Nothing was supposed to live here and yet. In the middle of this apocalypse stood a skeleton of an ancient fish-like creature sunk into this deathly pool. The ground around the skeleton was solid black rock. Its bony teeth like stalagmites made a make-shift door to a humble home of a swordsmith they were looking for.
"The swordsmith lives here?" He pointed at the smoke that was trailing from the highest vertebra of the fish towards the darkening sky.
"This is his lair." Corner of Sesshomaru's lips turned upwards as he headed towards the hut with Jaken stumbling close behind him.
"What a wonderful result." The old demon hummed. His bony fingers were caressing one of the black twin blades lying on his whetstone. Leaning forward with a dreamy smile on his parched, narrow face, he was very content with his work.
Sesshomaru shot a little impulse of his youki towards the crouching demon, waiting to be noticed.
The swordsmith froze, his whole body trembled as he slowly turned towards the intruders.
"Sesshomaru…" He was glancing around, his huge eyes looking for an escape route.
"I see you are finally here, Totosai." Sesshomaru's golden eyes looked down on him as he crossed the threshold. He scanned the weapons lying everywhere inside of the fishbone house and forge. "I am here to commission a sword."
The old demon grimaced, angered by the demand. "Hmph," he scoffed, "I've already forged you a perfect sword!"
Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed dangerously as he placed his hand on Tenseiga's hilt. "You dare to call this useless sword, perfect?" He seethed.
"A-aah." He backed away, raising the twin black blades in front of him, in a useless, but instinctual defensive gesture. There was nowhere to run, once Sesshomaru already had his eyes on him. I have to make another exit from this house.
Sesshomaru's nostrils quivered when he picked up a familiar scent and he fixed on the blades. He knew both. One was completely black like a starless night on a new moon, while the other had a silver lining, a silver hamon made with Totosai's precision, carrying his signature. "Soumei's blades?"
"Huh?" Totosai blinked. Once. Twice. "Oh! Oh! Yes! Kaze and Arashi." He waved the blades in the air. "Soumei's picking them up any minute."
As if summoned, Soumei's youki tickled the edge of their perceptions. He was rapidly approaching Totosai's crater from the south and he had no reason to hide.
"Hn." Sesshomaru glared at Totosai. "You have a week, Totosai. Forge a sword worthy of this Sesshomaru until then. Otherwise, I will have to kill you." He turned on his heel and left in the opposite direction than Soumei was coming from.
Feather rustled as Soumei landed where Sesshomaru took off from. His eyes were trailing the white dot quickly disappearing in the sky. "I didn't know you two were friends." He teased the old demon.
Totosai shuddered. "We are not. He is my worst nightmare."
"Why don't you just make him the sword he wants then?" Soumei raised an eyebrow in amusement. "He'd stop bothering you."
"Hmph! I've already forged a perfect sword he inherited." He slapped the hilts against his knees. "Lowering my standards is out of the question. Besides, I cannot make a powerful personalised sword if he leaves me no material."
"He values his fangs too much. Yet, I've never seen him use Toga-sama's fang. What was its name again?"
"Tenseiga." Totosai huffed and his body relaxed, now that the threat was gone.
"The sword of heaven." Soumei hummed and dropped to the ground, crossing his legs. "Honestly, I don't remember Toga-sama ever using it in a battle."
The old demon glanced at him. "Well of course. Because Tenseiga is not a sword for fighting. It's a sword for healing."
"...healing, huh? So it cannot kill? Then, I understand. No one would want to heal their enemy in the midst of a battle." He tapped the side of his nose in thought, patiently waiting for Totosai to prepare everything.
Not elaborating the topic further, Totosai skillfully spread a clean cloth on the ground between them and aligned both sheaths and swords. The hilts were facing Soumei's right and the blades' edges were turned towards Totosai.
"They are ready."
Soumei nodded and reached for his renewed swords. "My feathers are singing." His smile widened as he reached to touch his precious possessions. "Thank you, my friend."
"Hmp. Do not destroy my house by testing them like last time." Totosai warned.
"Heh, I was much younger back then, don't worry." Soumei was carefully examining the blades, admiring the craft. Even the pitch black Arashi had an almost invisible hamon, slightly darker than the rest of the sword. The swords were steadily humming with the energy of their own, happy to be back with their master. They felt more reliable, harder and sharper, but he felt no new abilities. I thought I've gotten stronger than this. "What are the new features?"
"You can already feel them, can't you?" He tilted his head, but happy to talk about his swords he continued: "The new feathers you gave me make them steadier, sturdier, but I don't think they gained any new abilities. You've gotten stronger, meaning that your youki is greater, your body is tougher, but you yourself gained no new abilities or skills. Your sealing abilities are still just cheap tricks and easy spells, right?"
Soumei glared at him. "In other words, you are saying I'm dumb?"
He shuddered again. "Oh, no, no, no. Not you too." First Sesshomaru, now Soumei. I'm getting too old for this.
With a deep sigh, Soumei ran his fingers through his thick black hair. "Sorry. I don't want to be ungrateful, I just thought there'd be something new."
"If there is nothing new to be stored in your feathers and transferred to the swords, there's no helping it."
Soumei shook his head and took a deep breath, which helped him to truly appreciate his swords. The last thing he wanted was to offend them. It was the best he could get for now, if he wanted to have a more powerful weapon, he himself would have to become more powerful. He sheathed them and placed them to their rightful place at his hip.
"What are you going to do about Sesshomaru? He's more stubborn than a mule and doesn't take 'no' for an answer."
The old demon paled and shuddered. "Maybe I'll go find Inuyasha before Sesshomaru returns to get his sword."
"If you think the half-demon can protect you, and if you can find him… He has the other sword now, but I wonder if he can use it properly?"
Totosai scratched his head. "I doubt that."
######
Hotaru woke up in the middle of the night. She frowned and rolled onto her back. Listening to the sounds of the night, she wondered what it was that disturbed her. The fire was long out, there were no unusual sounds or smells. A bird was close, she could hear the fluffing of feathers. The energies around her were steady, no demons were close. Wait, no demons? She abruptly sat up and focused her power into her eyes.
"Oi, Myoga-sama! Where are you going?!"
The old flea stopped mid-step on the other side of a small clearing. He turned to her and sweatdropped. How can she see me? "I need to see Totosai? It's urgent." He hopped on the back of a crow he was using as a ride.
"Who's Totosai? And how am I supposed to get to Bokusen-Oh-sama without a guide?" She asked, but the bird took off already.
"Just go west and you'll get there!" He shouted, from a crow's back as they were flying away. "'til we meet again, Hotaru-sama!"
She sighed and slumped back to the ground. "Until our paths cross again, you old traitor." She huffed.
Soumei was practising with Zenki on the training grounds. They were exchanging friendly blows, using only wooden weapons. They were occasionally laughing and teasing each other. Soumei was trying to give Zenki a sword, but he refused, sticking to his signature fan and dagger. Although he was fairly good with naginata, yari and jo (jo - 127,6 cm long wooden staff), he seldomly used them in practices or tournaments.
Ichijou was watching them from the mountain ledge, holding a scroll he wanted to read, but couldn't focus with those two in his field of vision.
Sojobo soundlessly landed next to him and folded his huge wings. "Why are you not practising with them?"
"How could I? He won the tournament." He scoffed.
"That does not change the fact he is your brother. You could learn from him and he could learn from you. As you are now, you both have your limitations."
"Then why don't you tell him about our curse?"
"Why do you not tell him?"
Ichijou turned his head away from his father. He didn't want to admit that he didn't want Soumei to get even better. If Soumei learned about the curse, maybe he'd find a way to break it sooner. "He doesn't need to know."
Sojobo looked deep into his eyes. "When the time comes, he will figure it out. You would rather not become enemies at that point, because I will not allow another great tengu war."
A shiver ran down Ichijou's spine as he watched the magnificent ancient demon fly away.
Hotaru continued west as Myoga had advised her. As she was approaching the gorge she found wolf tracks, followed by human shaped footprints. Wolf demons. The tracks were a few days old, but it unsettled her.
Did I take the wrong trail somewhere? She wondered as she checked her surroundings again and satisfied there were no demons, she set up a small fire.
The next village wasn't that far away, she already saw smoke in the distance, but it would take her a good four hours to reach it and there was not enough sunlight left in the day.
Bushes rustled. She focused her energy on it and continued to pretend she was making dinner. Whoever it was, the child felt more uneasy than her and it piqued her curiosity. She left her case open and turned her back to it to prepare trouts for baking over the fire.
The bushes rustled again as the child approached her case.
She spun around to see a little dirty girl holding a small pack of dried food in her hands. A pack she stole from Hotaru's case.
"And who are you, little girl?"
"!" The girl turned to sprint away, but Hotaru grabbed the collar of her dirty yukata and pulled her back. She let go of the pack and fought to free herself without making a single sound.
"Hey, hey, hey. Calm down. I am not going to hurt you." It took several repetitions, until the girl calmed down, but she was eyeing Hotaru with distrust in her big brown eyes. "It's fine, I'm not going to hurt you. And I am no demon, despite my eye colour. When the fish are done I will give you one, okay? You must be hungry, right?"
The girl looked away, but her stomach rumbled. She was thinner than the usual kids Hotaru met in the villages.
Hotaru slowly let go of the girl's yukata. "Are you here all alone?"
She nodded and sat on the ground hugging her knees.
Hotaru noted bruises on the girl's arms, legs and her cheek. Each was in a different stage of healing. "Do you steal food often?"
She avoided Hotaru's eyes, which only confirmed Hotaru's assumption.
"What's your name?"
Now she looked at her. Opened her mouth and closed it. With a sad look in her eyes she turned away.
"You can't talk…" It wasn't a question this time. "Hmmm… Okay, let's see…" Hotaru tapped her finger against her lower lip. "I will put this fish over fire to bake and then we can play a game. And once the fish are done, we will eat together. What do you say?"
The girl glanced at her hopefully and gave a small nod.
Hotaru smiled at her cheerfully. "Great, I will learn your name tonight. Even if you cannot speak."
######
Hotaru patted the girl's black hair. Hours of playing and eating tired the girl and she curled by Hotaru's side. "Sleep well, Rin."
Being in Rin's childish presence felt familiar. Despite the bruises and obviously bad treatment from adults, Rin was able to smile and laugh. She still had energy to play and enjoy herself, enjoy the good food and attention she got from Hotaru. She was like a little sun, shining through dark clouds in Hotaru's troubled mind.
Did I have a baby girl? Was she similar to Rin? At what age did she die? What was her name? She wondered. Hotaru's head started thumping with a dull migraine. The more she pushed for any sort of memory, the worse the pain got. She learned that those headaches indicated that she'd been in a similar situation or met similar people before, she just couldn't remember. It was a sign there were memories banging on a gate formed by a seal or a curse. Damn it!
In the morning, Rin led Hotaru towards the village. Her stomach was full, so she was happily hopping and smiling the entire way. Like a little sun. Hotaru thought, smiling too.
When they were passing a half standing hut with a caved in roof Rin stopped and pointed at the hut, then walked towards it. Hotaru followed her.
She held up a dirty shred of cloth that was supposed to be doors and peeked inside.
It was a dirty, dark place. Not fit for a child to live in. The holes in the roof let only a few rays of sunlight in. The wooden floor was rotting from the rainwater that got in, moss was growing in the far corners. Small fireplace was moved from the middle of the room and replaced by a low table. Several shelves were filled with dishes, some were broken, some covered in dust and dirt. A bow with a torn bow string and several arrows, tied together with a hunting knife and spear were resting in a far corner of the dark room. With a few clean wooden toys, the rundown hut looked inhabited.
"Is this your house?"
Rin glanced at her and droplets of water she was drinking from a jar trickled down her jaw. She nodded.
"Are you here all alone?"
A nod.
Hataru exhaled sharply. How did she survive the winter? "Can you take me to the village's chief? He might have a use for a doctor."
Rin paused, thinking. Then she stepped towards the entrance and motioned her hand for Hotaru to follow.
The chief of the village was an older man with a scar on his right cheek as Rin pointed at him. He was working on the field with all other men and a few women. But the first to approach them was a short woman in her fifties, with narrow eyes, thin lips that looked like a dried plum and what seemed like an ever present frown of disgust.
"Where were you, you little ungrateful brat?! Hah?" She pulled Rin's ear, almost lifting her off the ground. The girl's face twisted in pain, but she made no sound. "You need to work, if you want us to feed you!"
Hotaru placed her hand on the woman's wrist. "Let her go. She is only a child."
The woman glared at her. "And who are you? A witch?" She asked with distaste, leaning back, away from her.
"A miko. And a doctor." She replied, ignoring Rin's curious gaze. The perception spell was covering her real features once again.
"Hah, we've got no use for witches. Be gone!"
"Mizuki-san!" The chief frowned at her. Dusting off his hands as he approached them. "You don't have to scare all travellers that go through the village."
"Sure, we should feed them, so they can talk about us and lead in another group of raiders." She scoffed.
He pushed the old lady towards the field, "go help Hana-chan, teach her your technique. I will handle the miko-sama."
"-sama? Pche! She should be gone!" She turned on the heel and stomped towards the younger woman, who looked like she wanted to run away. "Hey, you brat! Come here at once!" She shouted over her shoulder at Rin.
The girl peeked at Hotaru apologetically, and with her head lowered she trotted onto the field to lend her hands.
"What shrine are you from?" The chief asked, leaving his hands hanging by his sides freely. He didn't introduce or bow. He showed no respect towards the guest.
"Not a shrine. I come from the demon slayer's village." She replied truthfully. He didn't trust her and she wasn't offended by the lack of friendliness.
"Oh, demon slayers. You are far away from home then, why are you passing through?"
"I am looking for someone, who should be further in the west." She smiled. "But in villages I pass through, I usually ask if they have a need for a doctor in exchange for a meal and a place to sleep. I am rarely turned down."
"Are you offering your… services to us too?"
"If I may." She tilted her head in question. She wanted to stay there for a couple of days, if only for Rin.
"Rin led you here." He sighed.
"Yes, she joined me in the forest. What happened to her?"
"Her parents and brothers were killed by the raiders last spring. She stopped talking or showing fear after she saw that carnage." He shrugged. Almost every family lost someone on that day. "She has no one, so we took her in, but we barely grow enough food for us..."
"...not for someone else's child…" She added.
His eyes widened, "I didn't mean-"
"It's okay. We live in times of war, I understand." She drew fingers through her hair. "Let me stay and heal your people, I believe you have some injured and sick after the long winter. I don't require food nor a bed. I will take Rin with me when I leave though."
He blinked in surprise. "You can't save them all."
"I want to save her. Unfair as it is."
A/N: Let me know what you think but remember, reviews are appreciated but never necessary.
S.