"My Lord, you still have the demon's head! Surely that blacksmith didn't deny you and you just walked away…!" Jaken exclaimed, flabbergasted that his master returned to them with Goshinki's head still in tow.

"Enough, Jaken," came the great demon's smooth voice, "there has been a change in direction."

The powerful demon continued forward out of the swamp with, unfortunately, no clear direction. However, from how the blacksmith Kaijinbō made it sound, this other sword-maker lived high up in the snowy mountains. There was one such region he had never trekked, but he could always see the snow-capped peaks in the distance even through cloud cover. He essentially knew every inch of the rest of his lands, so this was his best guess on the location of the forge: Mount Zaō.

A commonly overlooked personality trait of the man had to have been his distinct level of curiosity. It greatly piqued his interest at the thought of another swordsmith, especially one of whom Kaijinbō would willfully lay down his pride for. Honestly, Sesshōmaru did not completely believe the demon's story and expected it to be a ruse. Despite this, Sesshōmaru was willing to see if he was right. There was also the chance he was telling the truth and there was, in fact, a more qualified weapon-maker in existence to forge his sword. Not only that, but the pronoun 'her' was suggestive of a woman, another rarity–no, an extraordinary circumstance in this line of work. It could mean so many things, including the potential for poorer quality products due to lack of strength or power. He just couldn't imagine a dainty woman battering away on an anvil with a hammer. Curiosity-driven, the young lord towed around the head of Goshinki in search of this mysterious swordsmith.

Sesshōmaru rarely–if ever–underestimated a situation, but he profoundly underestimated just how cold it was going to be. A day's time had passed from when he left Kaijinbō's shack in the middle of a warm, dank swamp and now he and his companions found themselves in the bitter cold presumably only halfway to their destination. A quick look over his shoulder and the tall man could see them all shivering, even A-Un. Deep in the recesses of his mind, he muddled over why he let the two little ones continue to accompany him since they often slowed him down in such a way, but that's where those thoughts remained–far in the back.

He looked forward again; a sea of mongolian oak and beach trees covered with thick snow was before them. They belted the base of the mountain, like a natural barrier to those less daring. He did not doubt his ability to protect his caravan, it was the cold that was the concern. He couldn't simply let A-Un fly them over, Rin would surely freeze at any higher altitude. He began to wonder if it was a natural phenomenon or something else.

After a few hours navigating the frosty forest, Sesshōmaru was becoming a bit frustrated. That is until his sharp eyes caught the sight of a barely visible trail in the snow. It was small but not as narrow as an animal trail, so he suspected it was an older pathway used by someone living nearby. Even if it wasn't the village, something was nearby to take shelter in. "I will find somewhere warm, Rin, just bear it a little longer."

"I-It's alright Lord S-Sesshōmaru," Rin stuttered through chattering teeth. "I'll b-be f-fine!"

The human girl Rin had made it obvious many times that she didn't want to be a burden to Sesshōmaru, so at the very least he had to commend her for it. Even if she was a bit of a hassle, he never made it known. A-Un followed close behind him as he started on the small track in the snow. It was leading upwards into the mountains, snaking around large trees and boulders. Finally, he saw it: a village tucked deep into a valley, just as Kaijinbō said. There were quite a few huts in sight, straw roofs covered in a blanket of snow with short chimneys poking out of it which produced thin smoke. He could see a couple of medium-sized farming plots as well. Nothing appeared to be growing, but a few people were out tilling the dark brown soil. Behind it, he could barely make out a crystal clear river with many little waterfalls and streams stemming from it. The village had quite a cold beauty.

"Ah ha!" Jaken exclaimed, waving his staff around frantically. "You found it Lord Sesshōmaru! This must be the village the other swordsmith was talking about. Why, I would have never suspected humans to try to live way up here in such cold temperatures!"

He noticed it then. He normally didn't pay too much attention to wildlife during his travels, but this village was a direct reflection of what he had been seeing along the way. Deer were standing among the villagers; some small and some tall, with dark mahogany fur and barely visible white spots on their backs. The fur was shaggy, undoubtedly from the season, so it was noted both bucks and does were present given some had sets of antlers while others did not despite appearing mature. Sesshōmaru saw quite a few of these deer as he and his company made their way here through the snowy thicket at the base of the mountain. He didn't sense any demonic energy coming from them and so concluded the wild mammals had either been domesticated or were simply there of their own free will. Both explanations were not exactly believable, either.

Sesshōmaru continued forward, his shoes leaving indentations in the snow as he went. He didn't go unnoticed, however. Several of the villagers who were outside noticed him, all having a look of concern wash over their faces. It didn't take long for the group of humans to assemble, blocking Sesshōmaru's path at the entrance to the village. They stopped a good thirty feet or so apart from each other, a gentleman in furred armor stepping up and stabbing the butt end of his long *kanabō into the ground. Sesshōmaru's eyes narrowed slightly, the ever-present frown on his face downturned. The deer had gathered with them as well, their large black eyes staring at him.

"Who are you?" shouted the man, his sharp blue eyes glaring at the demon. He was a tall, stout-bodied man with messy black hair. "Explain yourself, demon!" It was safe to assume Sesshōmaru was, considering his unusual attire, eye color, ears, and the fact he was traveling with two obvious demons–oh, and he was still carrying the massive Goshinki's head.

"I'm seeking the swordsmith in the mountains. It would benefit you greatly if you directed me to him." Sesshōmaru was straightforward and to the point, not wishing to waste any more time. Rin was only getting colder.

The man gritted his teeth, effortlessly maneuvering the large weapon to hold it out in front of him. The way the others seemed to gather behind him was indicative of his position in the village being a protector. The truncheon he held was noted to be glowing slightly from certain engravings in the iron. "I'm not telling a demon where anything is. Just turn around and go back to where you came from."

An older woman behind him was standing slightly hunched over, studying Sesshōmaru and his party intently. Her eyes were stern for the longest while until she caught sight of little Rin lying on A-Un's back, eyes closed and appearing exhausted and shivering. A girl! What is this demon doing with a human girl?

"How dare you speak to Lord Sesshōmaru that way!" Jaken screeched, unable to allow humans to berate his master. "My master will-!"

"Enough, Jaken." The dog demon narrowed his eyes, dropping Goshinki's head. His right arm raised just below his face as his fingertips began to glow a poisonous green. Strange, that club is emitting a large amount of spiritual energy. Is this man a sage? "Put your sword away. I do not intend on shedding human blood today, but if you do not direct me to the swordsmith you will leave me no choice." Sesshōmaru stated this in earnest, Rin may not be awake enough to notice but she would find out eventually.

"Why you…" the man, presumably the leader of the village, growled under his breath. He hoisted the massive spiked truncheon up to lay across the back of his shoulders. He was about to take a step forward when the old woman stuck her arm out in front of him, blocking his way. He looked down at her in surprise. "What are you doing? If this demon will not go on his own then I will slay him!"

"Silence, Kenkō!" the woman spat. "Have you not noticed the little girl he has with him?"

"Huh? Little girl?" The man, Kenkō, looked back at Sesshōmaru and his party once more. He noticed Rin then and his shoulders drooped slightly. "What is he doing with a human girl? It can't be anything good."

"Call it a woman's intuition, but I don't believe this demon is here to cause us harm on purpose. That girl is freezing and could die soon if she doesn't get inside and get warmed up. If we can at least convince him to let us take her, I believe Lady Ishimaru will be fine."

"You can't be serious…!" Kenkō shouted. "If something happened to her we could all perish!" The concern on his face was paramount, his dedication to his village a high priority.

"Nonsense. Lady Ishimaru instructed us all on how to behave if something were to happen. Stop acting like a child." The old woman stepped forward, closer to Sesshōmaru. A doe appeared to be in step behind her. "Demon, we will grant you access to see the swordsmith you seek. However, we will only do so if you let us put the young girl inside. She will freeze to death if she goes from this point forward."

By this time Sesshōmaru had lowered his arm, his fingertips returning to normal as he listened to the old woman. His gaze shifted back to Rin again; he couldn't deny the woman was right. Rin needed warmth, and fast. If he was only going farther up the mountain from here there was no way her tiny body would make it. He would have to leave her behind. "Very well. A-Un, let the old woman take Rin."

The two-headed steed padded closer, turning just so the elder could reach up and slide Rin from his back. Rin could be heard moaning slightly, but she was nearing unconsciousness and did not open her eyes. She could only be heard mumbling "Lord Sesshōmaru…" faintly under her breath. The woman nodded her thanks to A-Un before turning to rest Rin on the back of the deer comfortably, as she had been laying on him, and the two walked past Kenkō. "Give him the stone, Kenkō."

She and the deer disappeared behind the small crowd of people, Sesshōmaru's sharp eyes following her until she was out of sight. Jaken was most displeased at this decision, but his master had already silenced him once. He stood beside Sesshōmaru as Kenkō shoved his hand into his pocket to reveal a small rock.

Kenkō and Sesshōmaru both took a few steps closer to one another, within arm's reach. The suspected leader of the village outstretched his arm to hand the demon the rock, his eyes hard. "You'll need this to get into the cave, otherwise it won't open. Don't lose it."

Sesshōmaru held out his right hand, palm up, and let the man drop it into his grasp. "And where is this cave?" he inquired.

For a moment it was as if a threat of electricity shot between their piercing gaze. "Follow the river until you get to a large waterfall. The entrance is there," Kenkō instructed begrudgingly.

"Very well. Take care of Rin. Jaken, we're leaving." Sesshōmaru regathered the head and turned quickly in the direction he was given after tucking the rock into the top of his hankimono. So far, everything Kaijinbō said continued to hold its validity. He was also further convinced this other swordsmith was a woman considering how the villagers addressed her. This was a minor and insignificant bit of information, but he could not deny that it interested him, if only slightly. Blacksmithing was traditionally a man's job, and at this point he was imagining a brawny woman in a dirty apron.

"W-Wait for me my lord!" Jaken yelped, quickly rushing to catch up to his master.

Instinctively, A-Un chose to stay in the village as well. He nosed himself past Kenkō and through the villagers to follow the woman and deer who had taken Rin. Sesshōmaru paid him no mind, expecting it. The dog demon held up his hand and opened his claws, revealing the rock in his palm. His eyes narrowed as he trudged through the snow. This is just a piece of iron… If those humans dare to fool me, there will be hell to pay…

*kanabō: (literally "metal stick" or "metal club") is a spiked or studded two-handed war club used in feudal Japan by samurai.