Disclaimer: All characters from the series Inuyasha that appear in this fanfic rightfully belong to Rumiko Takahashi. I do not own anything regarding their creation; I have Rumiko Takahashi to thank for that.

Author's Notes: Hello there, everyone! I'm here to deliver the next part of this story. Plot-wise, I don't believe there was much problem with this chapter and most of the foreshadowing scattered throughout has been effectively put to use (at least I hope that's the case). However, I struggled with capturing the atmosphere of the setting. Fortunately, bubu-chibi-chan has pointed out my issues and provided ample help once again. That's primarily the reason why this chapter managed to be published as planned. So thank you so much, bubu-chibi-chan.

And of course, I would like to give a thank you to fabelliot, Guest, 8579, Flowrin, Guest, and Cyllan Anassan for leaving a review. All of your support and advice are greatly appreciated as they serve to motivate me and improve my writing.

fabelliot: Great insight! There is definitely something going on with Kikyo's memories and more is going to be revealed in this chapter. Hopefully, the details provided will be satisfying and serve to offer the answers to your assumptions. Personally, I hope that it will be an interesting read for you. ;)

And of course, Inuyasha and Kotori also deserve their happy ending. I definitely won't be neglecting those two even as I go deeper into the relationship between SessKik.

Guest: Yeah, the injuries are one of the primary initiators for the next few interactions between the characters. There's no way I'm going to get Sesshomaru and Kikyo, who are extremely wilful and prideful, to delve into their past under normal circumstances without making them OOC.

In this fanfic, Kikyo's body reached the age of 18 before it ceased to grow because of the Shikon Jewel. So yes, she won't age or die through natural means, much like Sesshomaru. As for her memories, it is indirectly mentioned that she is the one suppressing them. But then Masayoshi and the mysterious informant broke them free.

No way am I laughing. In fact, I'm glad that you're having fun speculating. :D

8579: Both Kikyo and Sesshomaru are ageless in this fic and can't die by normal means. So yep, perfect match indeed. ;)

Flowrin: Hi there, it's always a pleasant treat to see new readers being engaged with the story and leaving a review. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on the pros and cons of my writing. I can see the pacing is indeed bothering quite a few people, especially since SessKik doesn't appear to be making much progress on the surface. So I'll see what I can do to improve on that aspect while simultaneously delivering a good and satisfying plot.

Guest: Thank you for your support and comment. I'm really happy that you've decided to leave a review.

Cyllan Anassan: Hello there, new friend! Thanks for dropping by and it's awesome that you're enjoying this fic. Kikyo is a character who is often terribly misunderstood so I'm super happy to have found another person who appreciates and loves her. :D

Her fortitude and independence are also key factors that attract my interest. I did my best in trying to represent these aspects of her in this story. So I'm contented to know that you believe that I've portrayed her well, as with Sesshomaru as well.

Yeah, there's a lot of guilt cycling through poor Inuyasha's mind right now. Even if he isn't to be blamed (damn So'unga and Naraku!), he does feel responsible nonetheless. Kotori's mental support is easing his trouble a little, but he will have to confront the focus of his guilt directly soon if he wants to move forward.

…

…

…

(This chapter was betaread by bubu-chibi-chan).

Chapter 21-Vexatious Sensations

Recap: Last time, Hibiki and Masayoshi persuade Kikyo to treat Sesshomaru. Kikyo learns something about Sesshomaru from a mysterious voice and has her repressed memories unsealed.

Being a temporary lodging, the chamber that Sesshomaru was residing in lacked the sophisticated embellishment common for an aristocrat. Nevertheless, it was a far more comfortable living space than the room Kikyo was provided with. Letting her eyes wander around the interior for a bit, the miko eventually settled her sight on the futon that was made of white fur.

Sesshomaru was lying in a supine position. His breastplate and outer layers were removed, leaving him clad in a thin white yukata. Trapped in a realm of unconsciousness, his magenta eyeliners had become all the more noticeable as his eyes were closed. His brows were knitted tightly together, expressing agony that should never have been on a face as prideful and striking as his. It didn't feel right, like seeing a snowflake in the middle of a desert.

"Er, given the circumstances, there's not much I can do… As you can see, Sesshomaru-sama has been in this state since he was found," Masayoshi informed, hiding half of his face from Kikyo by using Hibiki's sleeve as a shield.

Kikyo said nothing, her mind being distracted. Perhaps it was because of the jaki that lingered heavily, but she found her miko powers restlessly stirring from the depths. She allocated some for healing, letting it flow around her body in a slow-moving stream. The sharp pain in her abdomen faded into a numbing ache. While she wished to do more, it was unfortunately all she could do for now without any new supplies of souls.

Feeling slightly less vulnerable, she approached closer to the menacing source in an unhurried motion and found a spot next to the daiyoukai. Her hand reached out to unpeel parts of his garment, leaving his left side exposed to her view. While other women might've been left gawking at his well-toned body, her focus was solely on the gruesome injury that was discoloring the skin. Condensed tendrils of jaki danced around the stump of his left arm.

The smallest of frowns married her features and it was upon detecting the subtle change that Hibiki opened his mouth to speak. "Miko, what are your thoughts?"

"The amount of jaki that has accumulated inside his body is lethal. He has done well to last this long." She cut her sentence short, opting not to state that it was just like the daiyoukai to be so stubbornly willful, even against a force that was devouring him from the inside.

With great caution, her finger traced the outer borderline of where the jaki circled. She promptly pulled back when her fingertips were tinged with spots of black. Her eyes flickered to the corner of the room, where Sesshomaru's swords were leaning against the wall. 'The balefulness lurking within is astounding. So'unga must've felt terribly threatened if it desires Sesshomaru's demise with such a strong intent.'

"…So, what can you do? Can you purify the jaki?" asked Masayoshi, with traces of hope sprinkled onto his voice. Although he was confident in his abilities as a physician, he couldn't deny that the concentrated jaki surrounding his lord like a second layer of skin was difficult to approach. If the miko could eliminate it, then he could continue with the treatment.

"In his weakened state, I'll risk purifying him along with the jaki," Kikyo rejected the suggestion as she returned her sight to Sesshomaru's dismembered limb. No matter how precisely she could control her powers, there was a high possibility that Sesshomaru's demonic energy would react violently. In any case, that wasn't even taking into account that her powers might not be enough to extinguish the threat.

"Then…" Masayoshi succumbed to silence, his sentence crumbling faster than he could formulate the syllables.

"If I can transfer the jaki that is in him to me, then I can use my body to cleanse it."

A peculiar glint manifested from the miko's eyes, something that the insightful Hibiki perceived. However, he feigned ignorance despite its seemingly ominous nature. As much as the miko's exterior suggested ill intentions against his lord, the chancellor was willing to gamble that she was more fueled by the prospect of the future than she was by vengeance. Besides, it wasn't as though there was another alternative to begin with.

But then her next request made the light in his golden pools dim. Hibiki's brows inadvertently narrowed and he sought clarification. "Pardon? I don't believe I heard you correctly."

"I'll need some privacy," Kikyo repeated, inwardly glad when she managed to maintain an unruffled tone. The recognizable pang biting her shoulder blade felt like nails being hammered down into her bones. Without her supply of souls from her Shinidamachu, the curse from within the jewel was beginning to stir restlessly, determined to break free of its restraint.

Her heart thumped hard against her ribcage with irregular beats, an apparent contraction to the façade of composure she had put on display.

Masayoshi exchanged a look with Hibiki. Neither of them had anything to say, presumably still trying to gather their thoughts from her abrupt request.

At any other time, Kikyo wouldn't have minded the slow pace; she was the opposite of the restless types like Inuyasha after all. The only problem was that the current situation demanded immediateness, which she responded by shifting her sight back and forth between the two demons.

"Eep! Don't eat me!" Despite being immune to her narrowing gaze due to being blind, Masayoshi seemed thoroughly frightened by the aura that emitted from Kikyo. He ducked his head to hide himself completely behind Hibiki.

More or less exasperated by the youkai's reaction, Kikyo tried not to pay much heed to his terrified ramblings in favor of turning her entire force to Hibiki. "What do you say? I won't be able to proceed with an audience."

Fortunately for her, that was enough to convince Hibiki. The chancellor gave a slow nod before leaving the room with Masayoshi. Just before closing the door, his golden pools found Kikyo's pair of mahoganies and the two exchanged a brief but profound look.

"Miko, we shall be waiting outside. I hope you'll make the choice that benefits us all." The soft click of the door closing was followed by Hibiki's words.

'Standing guard outside won't prevent my escape.' It was somewhat odd that the first thought to cross her mind was she could utilize teleportation to escape. Now that the rosary was no longer a problem, she only needed to gather enough energy and she would be free. Eluding capture would be the next problem to tackle, though she was somewhat confident in her ability to remain undetected. Even so, a part of her was averse to the notion. It was the portion that she knew would conflict with her rationale and memories.

"I have no use for it."

"Why deny its use? Bakusaiga is your fang, a part of you."

"Hmph… its impotence only proves that I have yet to surpass father."

"So you're going to forsake it? Are you giving up, Sesshomaru?"

"…"

"I have a suggestion… would you be so gratifying as to lend an ear?"

'How persistent… Ah! I must not be tempted by distractions. I must begin before… it's too late.' She ignored the instinctive urge to clutch her forehead, for she was aware the gesture wouldn't help the splitting headaches.

Having assumed the worst for the future, she thought to prepare everything in advance. Yet, there was the matter of her churned-up feelings that she had to deal with first. They were whirlpools of complexity that dragged her into their spiraling center.

She found her gaze involuntarily settle on the daiyoukai. In her proximity was a face that was dazzling beyond depiction, framed by a lustrous silver mane that complemented his irresistible allure. There was a certain trace of familiar gentleness on his features now that the layer of customary frost had receded into him.

Her heart rate accelerated, with the culprit being none other than her own emotions. Urged by a temptation that she couldn't dismiss, she spared one hand and reached out tenderly for the daiyoukai. Her fingers caressed the markings on his face. It was an affectionate gesture that made her fingertips tingle with a sensation that she had forgotten. Her hand roamed upward, where she then proceeded to brush away the strands of stray silver from the crescent moon that adorned the center of his forehead.

'How long has it been? I've been avoiding an assessment but he has matured greatly.' Her memories clashed with the present and she was reminded of how much Sesshomaru had changed. The current Lord of the West wasn't the same daiyoukai she once knew. Their blissful moments were now nothing more than recollections as hundreds of years had passed. In a sense, both of them had changed; Sesshomaru, especially, had grown from the curious and juvenile youkai to the almighty demon lord who had his sight on great conquest.

Despite the bond they shared, five hundred years served as a large fissure that separated them. It was foolish to believe they could return to how they were before. 'A period that we can never retrieve… What is its significance then? It's meaningless to consider the unfeasible. Yet, why is it that sorrow permeates my heart? What is it that my heart yearns for?'

As a rule, she would never permit herself to be perturbed by her emotional burdens. But her inner turmoil refused to be settled in a repressed corner no matter how hard she tried. Hence, she attempted to appease it by closing her eyes and leaning forward at an agonizingly slow pace. Their lips touched for a brief moment in a gentle manner before she pulled back and sat up straight.

Sesshomaru's eyebrows twitched a little from the contact, though he didn't wake from his death-like slumber.

It had been fleeting but the rushing torrents of emotions that were stimulated delivered an irreplaceable speck of warmth into Kikyo's heart. Convincing herself that was adequate, she lifted herself into a standing position with a push, only to nearly stumble upon aggravating her wound. Unable to spare it additional care, she forced herself to disregard everything that was causing her pain. With staggering steps, she made her way over to the corner where Sesshomaru's weapons and battle gear were.

So'unga rattled upon her approach, adamant to break free from the spell that forced its dormancy. Paying it no heed, since it would be Sesshomaru's task to suppress it later, she reached out for the other blade — Tenseiga, also known as the sword of heaven. Out of the three swords fabled to be gifts from the gods, only Tenseiga radiated an aura that she felt comfortable being near. While she could comprehend the reason why the power-obsessed Sesshomaru would neglect it, she felt it was sadly a wasted potential. The healing fang would be capable of so much more if used by a person wishing for the greater good. But then again, who was she to question a sentient sword's decision? Surely Tenseiga must've seen something irreplaceable in Sesshomaru that no one else could rival.

'Tenseiga, I am aware of the circumstances relating to your existence. Hence, will you offer me your aid?' A mental communication with a piece of metal appeared ludicrous but she wanted to believe that the blade possessed its own will even after the soul of the Inu no Taisho was extracted. As if to encourage her anomalous musing, the sword of heaven gave a gentle pulse. It was at that moment she realized it might be able to sense what her plan was.

Her plan, if she could call it that, was just a last-ditch endeavor to correct what couldn't be taken back. Having obtained inspiration from the Inu no Taisho, she was going to use an ancient art long forgotten by humans – soul transfer. It was the technique that the former Lord of the West had used to split and infuse his essence into two swords.

Concentrating, she reshaped her aura and forcefully used it to claw at her soul, ripping out a large portion of it from its core. The internal damage manifested itself as a mouthful of blood that shot forth and painted the ground next to her feet red. Her body trembled from the agony that was beyond description and the hand that grasped onto Tenseiga unwittingly slackened.

With each pull that heaved a fraction of her soul out, Kikyo felt an agony that painted her vision with red spots and drove her to her knees. Yet, she didn't let go of Tenseiga, not even when her other hand dug into the ground as a means of distracting herself.

For several minutes, her entire body convulsed in pure suffering as it flickered in a neo-blue light. The radiance was graced with a celestial impression that started strong, but began diminishing with each passing second. Tenseiga, which she was gripping onto, shimmered in a mixture of white and blue as it accepted her offering.

By the time the blade was suffused with most of her soul, Kikyo's face was dripping with sweat and her inhalations were ragged with spasms. Granting herself a few moments to recuperate from what would've killed any ordinary human, she pressed her feet onto the floor and pushed herself up.

She staggered and nearly rammed her head into the wall. It was luck that she managed to prop a hand against the hard vertical surface just in time. With a stance as feeble as candlelight exposed to a harsh storm, even the simplest and softest of impact could terminate the next phase of her plan by knocking her out cold.

Her brain was screaming at her to stop. Banishing the notion that she was being self-destructive, she hulled her exhausted body back to Sesshomaru. The task that should've been easy for a child proved to be a struggle for her in her state. Apart from the physical and mental pain she had to endure, her steps were labored by the incompleteness of her essence. Deprived of almost three-quarters of her soul, she now lacked the mobility she once possessed.

Her knees crashed onto the ground beside Sesshomaru and her arms came forth punctually to prevent herself from collapsing onto his unconscious form. Had he been awake, then it was guaranteed that he would've responded with repulsion and shoved her aside. But at present, he wasn't going to be making any objections.

"Compassion. Generosity. Love. They're what you deem as one's greatest weakness. You abhor such merciful and convoluted feelings with utter contempt. Yet, they are what provide me the fortitude that I need," she said softly, despite knowing that the daiyoukai wouldn't be able to hear her. Heaving herself to a seated position, she suspended her hand above Sesshomaru's wound. A white shimmer enveloped her hand as dark streaks were pulled away from the daiyoukai. The sinister wisps entered her system, dying parts of her palm black.

Then she felt it. The tearing pain on her right shoulder made her grimace. With her powers running low, the curse of the Shikon Jewel was attempting to run amok. Worse, by attempting to save Sesshomaru rather than end him, Kikyo had broken the oath she had made with Takaharu. As a repercussion, the purity of her soul was being contaminated.

Her fragmented and tainted soul could no longer maintain the balance. She must heal Sesshomaru and relinquish her duty as the jewel's guardian to another before Magatsuhi could escape its confines. With her endurance placed on the test, she was compelled to hasten her progress.

'It's a small merciful fortune that Inuyasha targeted his left arm. If I undo the seal, it should allow his demonic energy to expel the evil from within.' As if hinting at her weariness, sweat dripped down from the side of her face as she held out her other hand. With her index and middle fingers pointing at the daiyoukai's severed limb, she slowly curled them inward and drew them close to her palm.

In that instance, brilliant streams of light spilled out from Sesshomaru's dismembered arm and engulfed the daiyoukai and the miko in a burst of green. The tendrils of the jaki shied away from the powerful discharge and Kikyo utilized the opportunity to take them all into her body.

The entire room flashed in a firework display of green, blue, pink, and black that mingled and clashed with each other. The lights shone with an overwhelming might that ruffled the air currents and yanked at Kikyo's hair and clothing.

Amidst all the explosion of colors and distorting waves of energies, an object took its shape. From the stump of Sesshomaru's limb emerged a lustrous piece of steel. Unmindful of getting cut, Kikyo grabbed onto the sharp edge and pulled it out, exposing the beautiful rune-like symbols that decorated the hilt.

As if to announce its awakening, the blade pulsed with an enormous amount of youki and spiritual energy. Contrary to what was expected, the opposing powers didn't clash. They instead blended in harmony, with her powers willingly taking on a passive role as a beta would to the alpha in a pack of wolves.

Even as her body was riddled with agony, Kikyo allowed a nostalgic smile to descend as she grabbed the sword by the hilt with her uninjured hand. Beholding the splendor, her eyes shimmered with unmasked fulfillment.

"…Bakusaiga," she whispered, "It's been a long time, hasn't it?"

"Hibiki-sama, shouldn't we go and see what's happening?" Masayoshi was unnerved. It didn't require sight to notice the torrents of discharges originating from inside Sesshomaru's room. With only a layer of wall and a door separating him from the overpowering force that sent chills down his spine, the physician wrung his sweaty hands.

"Patience, Masayoshi. There's nothing we can do at this point." In contrast to Masayoshi's nervousness, Hibiki stood with his arms crossed and his eyes on the closed door. There wasn't a hint of anxiety on his serene features, nor did his youki react in agitation.

"I didn't expect a lack of action from you, Hibiki." Myoga's voice cut in without any warning, causing two heads to turn concurrently toward the source. Perhaps it was due to the grave situation, but the flea had abandoned his usual method of entrance and instead stood with a serious posture on the chancellor's shoulder.

"Myoga, I'm pleased to see you here," Hibiki greeted with a polite smile. "I've nearly forgotten to thank you for informing us of our lord's whereabouts."

The chancellor appeared disinclined to pursue the topic that the flea youkai had introduced. Nonetheless, Myoga wasn't going to let it slide. While physical brawls were not his forte, he was rather assured that he was apt with words. At least, he hoped that he was confident enough to confront Hibiki for his young master's sake. "I'm just doing my job and looking out for the Master's children. But what concerns me is that you haven't been enforcing the rules you adhere to so much."

"Do you desire me to act?" The amicable atmosphere that Hibiki typically generated shifted to something more imposing. His golden orbs stared straight at Myoga for a few seconds before turning to the door.

"Certainly not. But—" Myoga left his sentence unconcluded when he heard a small weary sigh coming from Hibiki.

"Ease yourself. While it is my duty to reinforce the west's regulations, I do understand that there were circumstances involving young Inuyasha's assault against our lord," the daiyoukai sniffed, "I won't be involving myself in the complication, nor is it up to me to deal a fitting punishment."

His words must've sounded genuine, for Myoga visibly looked relieved. Hibiki couldn't blame him. After all, he knew that he had always been avoiding any topics relating to a particular hanyou. He supposed it was time he stopped being vague, especially after being told by the flea youkai that the secret they had been keeping for centuries was now out of the bag. "I'll be frank, my friend. I harbor no negative feelings towards young Inuyasha. He may be the seed of a forbidden union but he is in no way to be blamed for his father's decisions."

Although he had long accepted the results, there was a time when Hibiki had been overtaken by the flames of fury when he learned that his childhood friend had gotten himself intimately close to a mortal woman. Considering how he had forsaken his first love to become an avid supporter of the relationship between Sesshomaru's parents, he couldn't easily accept that Touga had neglected his family. If the chancellor had to confess what was in his heart, then it would be that he felt a strong taste of disgust that he had never felt before. Regret had also been predominant back then, and he was left wondering what could've happened if he had been more persistent instead of conceding victory to his best friend in their sole battle.

The hint of nostalgia on Hibiki offered some understanding to Myoga. Having obtained the answer he had been hoping for, he was quick to change the topic and drag the chancellor back from the past. "Ah, that's good to hear. That aside, the subject of your recent interest… Well, I've gathered the information you were looking for."

"Please speak." Even supposing he was already quite certain of his hypothesis, Hibiki welcomed the idea of Myoga elaborating on the details.

Left out of the loop, Masayoshi ran his fingers through his tuft of white hair in slow strokes. He stood idly, while hoping the two interlocutors would realize how awkward the situation was for him. While he could attempt to invade their minds and try fathoming their conversation, he didn't dare try. After all, as gentle as Hibiki usually was, he was a stern enforcer of rules and could be unforgiving at times.

Unmindful of the physician's thoughts, Myoga cleared his throat and began his summary. "I was able to find six in the records. The first is Midoriko, the master of exorcism and the founder of the Youkai Taijiya. She raised two apprentices, Tsubaki and Saint Hijiri. The former grew to become a dark miko who is well-versed in curses. The latter, on the other hand, is renowned as a saint apt in the art of sealing. Next is Kakuju, an expert in spiritual craftworks like talismans. Then there's Kikyo, the miko revered for her purification abilities and foresight. The youngest is Hitomiko, who is skilled in kekkai generation."

Hibiki rubbed his chin in a pensive gesture and let out a low grunt from the depth of his throat. "Hmmm, if my belief is accurate, then two of the individuals you've mentioned are actually the same entity."

"Huh? But surely not! These mortals exist across different points throughout history. It wouldn't make sense."

The flea youkai's disbelief was reasonably voiced, considering how abrupt and forthright Hibiki's statement was. Nonetheless, the daiyoukai chose to remain in silence, opting to mull over the critical piece of evidence he had accidentally stumbled upon.

His conclusion arrived the moment he witnessed the astounding blast that had ripped through mountains. Even though he was at a distance, he could feel the explosive surges of demonic and spiritual energies. It was a potency that instilled awe. Yet it wasn't a foreign sensation. In fact, he had felt the exact same thing before, back when the Inu no Taisho enlisted the aid of a woman shrouded in a white veil. 'An attack combining the Kaze no Kizu and spiritual power. I've only witnessed it once, but I could never forget the glorious sight of Touga-san wielding Tessaiga and unleashing the power that made even me, a daiyoukai familiar with the sword's properties, tremble with fear.'

Centuries had passed since then but the impact of the display was everlasting. Hibiki narrowed his eyes unconsciously and his palms rolled into fists.

'In all of history, there should only be one human capable of matching her powers with Tessaiga's...' The more he dwelled on the possibilities, the more he became convinced that St. Hijiri was actually Kikyo in disguise.

The first thing that came to Sesshomaru was that he was in an insufferable condition. Unable to recall the last time he had to endure such indignity, he forced himself to wake up the moment his brain rebooted itself. His golden irises revealed themselves from his opening eyelids. While lesser demons might have been blinded by the lights that seared into him, the daiyoukai's pupils dilated in a second and granted him the perfect vision to survey his surroundings. He found himself in a recognizable environment, with two familiar faces staring at him.

"Sesshomaru-sama, you're awake!" Masayoshi exclaimed and might've leaped into the air in joy if he hadn't recalled the appropriate form of conduct before his lord at the last second.

"I don't need the theatrics. Tell me the outcome of the battle." Although Sesshomaru felt assured that his army would triumph over anything, he was not ignorant about obtaining some accurate details. After all, the battle at the summit hadn't proceeded as planned, with Naraku exploiting So'unga against him. In short, there was no telling if something he didn't foresee had occurred.

"U-uh, the west won. The corpses were all reduced to dust after a while," the young physician informed with a stuttering voice, obviously nervous by how his lord's eyes were piercing into him as he spoke. It felt as though he was being exposed to the full radiance of the sun at an extremely close range, with the looming threat of being scorched by the intensity. Large droplets of sweat gathered above his brows and dripped down.

Noticing the physician's growing anxiety, Hibiki patted him on the head before taking over. "Our enemy initially overwhelmed our forces with their sheer numbers. As individuals, they were of no threat. It was when combined, along with their ability to regenerate, that they proved to be meddlesome. However, Waramaru discovered their weakness. By infusing youki into arrows, much like how the miko utilizes her spiritual energy, our archers managed to generate explosions that vaporized the undead."

"Get to the point," urged Sesshomaru with a tinge of impatience as he regained on his feet. In spite of having been in a perilous situation, he still gave the impression of a strong warrior, with his shoulders squared and his posture condescending. It was exactly because such a strong sense of dominance radiated from him that the words of concern from Masayoshi were halted before articulation.

There was much to process and Sesshomaru was adamant to make up the time that he had been unconscious. The first thing he noticed was the strange taste that lingered on his lips. There was something peculiarly influential about it that stirred his insides. Another might've given in to the urge and savor the tingling feeling with the tip of their tongue. But being the daiyoukai Sesshomaru was, he dismissed it as insignificant and focused on the damage his body had sustained. Working with instincts, he ensured that his youki was being spent on recovery. A note of satisfaction dipped into him when his aura circulated his body. It flowed at a steady pace, even reaching the outermost parts of him like the tip of his fingers.

He could feel the strength returning to both his arms and it was such a realization that caught him off guard. Although his exterior revealed nothing, he flexed the limb in question on impulse. His gaze flew to his left. What came into his sight was a newly generated arm identical to the one he had lost.

The blemish to his otherwise immaculate form was gone, even if the stab to his pride had formed a mental scar. Needless to say, the unexpected development should've been a cause for elation. Yet, all the daiyoukai could think about was a possible explanation for the unnatural occurrence.

Even considering his regenerative ability, he knew it was easier trying to reattach a dismembered limb than to grow one back. In fact, sprouting an arm in such a short amount of time was unheard of. It would've required an immense amount of youki gathering in the wounded area all at once – it was youki that he should not have possessed given his condition.

But even as questions filled his brain, his ears were still actively absorbing everything that Hibiki was telling him. He listened as the chancellor elaborated on the seven mysterious individuals who set a tower on fire and how the corpses were eventually returned to being motionless shells.

A huff left his lips when Sesshomaru heard that the undead was now nothing more than ashes scattered across the battlefield. The outcome didn't surprise him. Once So'unga's powers were sealed, there was no reason to believe that the corpses would still be animated.

Contented with the details, he moved on with his thoughts. His gaze habitually roamed around for any clues until it caught sight of the three swords that formed a line along the wall. Upon detecting that Kikyo's seal was still in place, he decided to skim past So'unga. There would always be time to deal with its defiance later. The next item for his scrutiny was Tenseiga. The blade appeared the same on the outside, though he could detect the purity that was lodged deep inside. A frown materialized on his handsome features as he realized that the miko was the one responsible for the unwanted change.

His annoyance soon morphed into an unmistakable display of shock. His lowered eyebrows shot upward as his vision zoned in on the last blade, the only one without a sheath.

With an urgency that surprised Hibiki and Masayoshi, Sesshomaru chose to abandon his customary elegance and instead rushed over to snatch up the sword. In the instance his fingers wrapped around the hilt, he felt the blade pulsate with a vigorous motion. The powers that had accumulated during the centuries immediately recognized him as its master; Sesshomaru could feel the resonance his youki and his left arm had with the sword. It was no understatement to proclaim that the weapon was created to be wielded by him, like it was an extension of his body.

There was no mistake. There could be no mistake. The sword was Bakusaiga. His Bakusaiga, the fang that was sealed within him.

Sesshomaru felt something odd acting inside his chest. It was a rush of exhilaration that could be likened to having Tessaiga in his hand. What was previously unobtainable was now within his reach.

Bakusaiga was supposed to be sealed. Only she, the one who had cast the seal, could break it.

As if trying to cremate the realization into his head, the spiritual power that was dormant crackled and twirled around Bakusaiga. It made no attempt to burn his hand and merely proved its existence by reinforcing his sword, endorsing it with a layer of purple that acted as impenetrable armor.

"It's impressive, isn't it? To be honest, it astounded me when I saw it. To think that this is what you and she were invested in. My lord, you're indeed your father's son. You share his ambitions," Hibiki mumbled with a volume that was meant to be audible to Sesshomaru.

But Sesshomaru wasn't listening, nor did he care about the chancellor's comparison. Under any other circumstances, he might have offered a huff to acknowledge the noted similarities between him and his father. But currently, his stance was as still as a statue.

The white silhouette that frequently visited his mind appeared once again. Only this time, it overlapped with the miko's form. Despite his honed self-control, a semblance of emotions found a crack in his stoicism and manifested from his golden orbs, which quivered slightly.

After countless speculations and refusal to accept the possibility, it was Bakusaiga's reappearance that eradicated any more room for denial.

The miko was indeed the one that had come into his life but then left without any remorse.

"Where is the miko?" Not bothering to mask his irritation, Sesshomaru allowed the dangerous glint in his pair of golden pools to show.

"Eh? She… um, she left a while ago, my lord," stuttered Masayoshi, unnerved by the growing irritation that he could detect.

"She insisted that she was tired. So I've arranged for Jaken to escort her back. However… there was something about her that troubles me." It was unknown whether or not he intended it for suspense, but Hibiki dropped his sentence in a low voice and cast his eyes downward.

Following the chancellor's gaze, Sesshomaru noticed the red dotting the ground next to his feet. He discreetly gave a whiff and discovered that it was the miko's blood.

"Find me a sheath for this blade." With his brows knitting together, he tossed Bakusaiga to Hibiki before exiting the room. From behind him, he noted the jolt of purification powers, followed by the older daiyoukai's startled hiss.

Sesshomaru did not bother looking back. His steps were lacking the graceful rhythm typical of him the further he traveled down the long corridor.

He soon came to the ward where soldiers were being treated. The area was heavily infused with a strong stench of blood, though that didn't misguide him. His sharply refined nose was unfailing as he pinpointed his target's scent.

'Damn her.' The curse resonated inside his head for countless cycles, with his youki condensing around his form to express his inner mood. Giving the impression of someone heading into a vicious battle, none of the subordinates he encountered dared to approach and inquire about his condition.

'All except for one,' he noted drily, finding little to no patience to deal with the nuisance.

"S-Sesshomaru! So you're awake! And your arm is back already…!" Hobbling towards the daiyoukai was Inuyasha, with his Tessaiga being used as a cane. The bare-chested hanyou appeared with his customary haughtiness. Yet, the guise lasted for a moment before his cocky smirk was replaced with an uncertain frown. His eyes averted direct contact with Sesshomaru's and the next few sentences rolled off his tongue in a tentative but awkward manner. "Look, good to see you back up. I see that you're as conceited as always. I've heard from Kotori about what happened. Can't say I'm proud of what I've done… So—"

"Inuyasha, we'll discuss everything later. Now, out of my way." Impatience dominated and Sesshomaru pushed his half-brother away before he could react. He continued with his large strides, determined to get to Kikyo before he could unleash all his pent-up anger on the wrong person.

Although Sesshomaru's shove lacked a powerful thrust, the weakened Inuyasha lost his balance. Had it not been for Tessaiga, then he would've toppled over and made a fool of himself. Peeved, he was just about to snap at the daiyoukai from behind when he saw Kotori rounding the next corner. 'Crap! She's done brewing the medicine? That was quick!'

"Ah, Sesshomaru-sama! You're… my apologies!" Presumably having sensed the dangerous aura surrounding Sesshomaru, the demoness was quick to comprehend that her lord had no time for her and scooted off to the side.

Sesshomaru made no acknowledgment as he rounded the next corner. As he approached one of the stairs leading to the basement, he overheard a little of Inuyasha and Kotori's conversation. The two were seemingly engaged in a senseless squabble about taking medicine. Ignoring the unnecessary background noises that were growing louder by the second, he grabbed the stair's door and slid it open. No sooner was the staircase fully exposed to him did his acute nose catch a strong scent of fresh blood.

'That fool!' A frown marred his features when the implications sank in. In the next second, he descended the stairs in a blur of white.

"S-Sesshomaru-sama!" Jaken's yelp could be heard as he sped past. The daiyoukai's youki discharged outward as he gathered speed, which knocked the startled imp off his feet and back down to the bottom of the stairs.

Sparing his dazed servant no attention, Sesshomaru shoved aside the last door in his way and was met with a sight that prompted instant action.

More Author's Notes: Preview – Next time, Sesshomaru confronts Kikyo about their past, present, and maybe even the future.