My eyes scan the dirt path; we've been walking since this morning with the afternoon sun over us, covered by a thin haze of clouds. A soft breeze brushes my black hair over my shoulders, tickling my ears as strands pass by. I haven't been able to think about anything else other than my almost death, the jewel being taken, and why I wasn't just killed to begin with. With the jewel gone, taken from me by Inuyasha's ex, I feel like I can't be angry at Kagome anymore. I was so angry about it at the time. But now, it was my turn to have them stolen. The guilt is heavy, so heavy, it's hard to breathe.
"What are you thinking about?" Inuyasha asks in an almost whisper. He walks beside me, and has been, since we started. I wonder why. Should he be mad?
"All the times I was angry at Kagome, all the times she had the jewel stolen from her. I guess I can't be angry at her anymore. The shards were taken from me," I don't even lift my head; I just glance at him from the corner of my eyes.
"Don't worry about it. It's not like she stole all the pieces. We'll just have to find some more, no big deal." As he speaks, his torso is turned towards me, allowing his voice to be soft and understanding. I am afraid the guilt won't go away so easily.
Behind us, I can hear Sango and Miroku muttering to one another, but I can't hear what they are saying.
Inuyasha must have though, because his face snaps and turns to rage. He twists to them and cracks the fingers of his right hand. "Listen, ya morons! If you think I'm protecting Kikyo, you've got another thing coming, okay?" He then turns his aggressive aura at me. "You too, eh? Speak up! You got something to say, then say it to my face!"
But I didn't say anything. They must have brought something up that involves me.
"A cow?" Miroku asks.
My eyes narrow back at him in confusion.
"In the sky!" He points up.
Just as I am about to look up, a bolt of lightning comes between Sango, Miroku and Inuyasha and me. The ground explodes into dirt and dust, pushing us back a little from where we were standing. Inuyasha's left arm twists around me, blocking the dirt and rocks from hitting me.
"What's going on?" Shippo cries out somewhere near Miroku and Sango.
The dust starts to clear, revealing a dark brown cow with three eyes and two horns. On top of its back sits an old man, cross legged with a hammer with a long handle sitting against his shoulder. He doesn't look ominous or feel evil, but I am not entirely sure if he wasn't trying to hit us with his landing.
"Who the heck are you?" Inuyasha growls, pulling away from me to face the old man.
"My name is Totosai. Hello, Inuyasha." The old man's voice is just that, an old man's voice. But he has big bug eyes and tiny pupils that stare down at Inuyasha as if he knows him. "Draw your sword! I'm coming at you, ready or not!"
The old man leaps into the air from the back of his cow, hammer above his head. The head of the hammer starts to aim down at Inuyasha but Inuyasha blocks with Tetsusaiga. The strength from the old man pushes Inuyasha back a few feet, sending heavy vibrations through the sword from the impact. Totosai comes to a stop, landing where he had collided his hammer with Tetsusaiga. He scratches the top of his balding head with a single clawed finger.
"The sword is singing like an old saw, dull resonance! This kid can't be the right one to use it!" The old man shakes his head while sighing.
"Tell me who the hell are you?" Inuyasha yells. He charges at Totosai with Tetsusaiga readied in his hands. As Inuyasha swings down, the old man pulls out a long and wide strip of brown leather from the inside of his green and black striped kimono. The strip, alone, holds Tetsusaiga in place as it comes down at him. The leather not ripping or cutting into pieces.
"That's a piece of leather!" Sango exclaims in shock.
"You've been too rough with her! This blade is all nicked up. Have you been chopping down trees?" Totosai questions, still holding the blade in place.
I smirk, clearly remembering a few times Inuyasha had indeed, chopped down trees in practice with his sword.
"Wh-what do you know?" Inuyasha stutters.
"I think that's enough, Totosai." A nasally voice interrupts their odd battle. I narrow my eyes in search of the little flea demon to find him on Inuyasha's left shoulder.
"Myoga!" Inuyasha announces.
"So you're the swordsmith who forged Tetsusaiga?" Inuyasha asks.
We all sit under a small tree that sparsely gives us shade; all of us except for Sango, who stands in the sun behind Inuyasha and me. Totosai sits with his back against his lying down cow, his hammer back against his left shoulder.
"Precisely. I'm the one who forged Tetsusaiga from a fang that your father gave to me. Only certain circles of the finest blade-swinging demons are acquainted with my work." Totosai nods his head with every word.
"Certain circles?" Inuyasha inquires.
"He's either not very known, or he only crafts for higher up people," I mutter.
"Well, now that I've seen the Tetsusaiga in action, I have to say the sword is being badly misused and abused. It sings a sad song indeed. To see my work like this, oh, it simply breaks my heart!" Totosai sighs, hanging his head to the side.
"If you've come to pick a fight with me just say so!" Inuyasha yells.
Totosai sighs again and turns his attention to the flea demon that now preoccupies Totosai's left shoulder. "This is useless, Myoga. The Tetsusaiga can't be entrusted to someone as short tempered as this arrogant whelp."
"You're right, he should just give up the sword rather than recklessly going into battle with it, blindly relying on strength he doesn't have the self-discipline to wield." Myoga squints his large eyes up at Totosai.
"Yes, there's no use stalling. I'll have to take the Tetsusaiga back immediately and break it in half," Totosai watches the sword as it shifts up and down in Inuyasha grip, following the pattern of Inuyasha's deep breathing. That is, until Inuyasha lifts the transformed blade up to Totosai's face.
"I don't care who made the sword! It's mine and I'll run you through if you even try to break it!" Inuyasha barks.
Totosai's mouth opens and his eyes widen in surprise. He cowers back but Inuyasha follows him. "I don't have to break it! It was only a thought!"
Inuyasha pulls Tetsusaiga away from Totsai's face and brings it back to his side, smirking at the fact he was able to get the old man to be submissive.
"Sorry, I forgot to warn you about his temper," Myoga shakes his head while sighing.
"Don't worry. When he's not looking, I'll melt it into cutlery," Totosai pathetically whispers loud enough for the entire group to hear him. Inuyasha growls and thrusts the tip of his sword back into Totosai's face. Totosai raises both hands in defeat, "I'm only joking!"
"Master Inuyasha, you've tried, but you can't figure out how to tap into the power that killed 100 demons in one sweep. Totosai knows its secret. I think if you both took the time to get to know one another and cooperate, you could awake and harness Tetsusaiga's full strength." Myoga nods as he speaks.
Inuyasha rests the fully transformed blade of Tetsusaiga against his right shoulder, closing his eyes as he thinks this over. "There's no 'mystery!' I'll get the hang of it. I just need practice."
"I understand you've been collecting the sacred jewel shards for a while. Who knows how many demons have multiple jewels? You know how difficult it has been to battle demons with more than one. Don't you want to awaken the Tetsusaiga's full power to destroy demons with that enhanced strength?" Totsai asks.
"He has a point, Inuyasha," Miroku says.
"You should at least hear what he has to say," Sango adds.
I glance at the group of us from the grass I sit on, and sigh. We've known this for a while now, but I am glad to be hearing it from everyone together finally.
"I guess it can't hurt. So tell me, what do I have to do, Totosai?" Inuyasha asks.
"First I must tell you, someone seeks my life!" Totosai closes his eyes briefly, nodding to his own statement. "A fool barged into my forge and ordered a sword, one that would rival the Tetsusaiga. He said he would kill me if I refused! Protect me from him!"
Inuyasha grumbles, his left hand cracking at his side. He lunges forward and grabs Totosai's face with his left hand. The old man freezes in place, and Inuyasha glares daggers down at him.
"Say 'please' before askin' for favors!" Inuyasha demands.
"What did he look like?" Myoga chimes in. "You never told me about this!"
"He has long white hair and he wears a cloak made of something white and furry." Totosai manages to say through Inuyasha's palm.
"What? Another old geezer?"
The very image of Inuyasha's older brother pops in my mind. The description fits him perfectly. Long white hair, and the weird furry thing wrapped around his shoulder. I am surprised Inuyasha didn't put two and two together.
"No, Inuyasha, it's Sesshomaru," I mutter.
"Huh?" Inuyasha looks down at me with surprise in his amber eyes.
"H-he's here!" Totosai stutters.
We all shift our heads around in search of the tall dangerous demon, but only when we look up do we notice a two headed creature with Sesshomaru on its back coming flying down towards us.
"Sesshomaru!" Inuyasha exclaims.
"Who is that?" Sango asks.
"Inuyasha's older brother," Miroku replies.
Sesshomaru comes to a stop in midair, looking down upon us the way I am sure he prefers to.
"Sesshomaru is the one after you!" Inuyasha turns to his brother fully, slightly slumped over just in case he has to fight right away. Totosai takes this opportunity to run behind Inuyasha, clasping his hands onto Inuyasha's shoulder and peering over to look up at the menacing demon lord.
"Yes! So, protect me!" Totosai cries.
"Inuyasha, why have you conspired with Totosai to plot against me?" Sesshomaru's cold voice reaches us without a problem.
"Because, you're evil incarnate!" Totosai replies for him.
"Totosai it sounds like you're looking for an early retirement into your grave." Sesshomaru says.
"I never said I was talking about you, Sesshomaru! Why don't we discuss your sword after you battle it out with Inuyasha?"
I roll my eyes at Totosai's lack of loyalty.
"Totosai your word is as good as a blood vow to me," Sesshomaru almost smiles. "Hear that, Inuyasha? He'll forge my sword after I kill you."
"Keara, run for cover!" Miroku shouts.
I nod, following the order, knowing just how dangerous Sesshomaru is even with my abilities. I stumble a little before rushing off a distance away, not too far from where I can't hear them, but enough to keep me in the safe zone for now. When I turn back around to see if Inuyasha is alright, I notice Totosai quickly following me.
"You can tell by their tempers they're related," Totosai huffs.
I narrow my eyes at him and grumble, "You're the one who started this."
"Oh! Did I really?" Totosai looks clueless at me, his big buggy eyes round with the tiny black pupil searching my face for the true answer.
Totosai reminds me of Myoga, both always acting so innocent and yet so scared. It's probably why they get along so well. I search around for Myoga and don't see the flea demon in sight.
"Where is Myoga?" I ask.
"Myoga is on Miroku's shoulder. He always goes where its safest." Shippo points up at the flea demon on top of Miroku's left shoulder.
"That means it's dangerous over here!" Totosai cries. He snatches onto the back of my shirt and tugs a little. "Let's go!" When I don't move, he lets go and runs off to the group, leaving me alone on the now dangerous battlefield.
I choose my steps carefully when I follow far behind. Rounding the battlefield at a good girth before I am able to reach Miroku, Sango, Shippo, the cow, and Totosai.
By now Sesshomaru is on the ground, a good distance away from Inuyasha but not far away enough for Sesshomaru glowing green whip to clash with Tetsusaiga.
Inuyasha leaps into the air, the Tetsusaiga raised over his right shoulder as he thrusts it down at where Sesshomaru stands. But once he reaches the landing, Sesshomaru is already gone and what is left is a thin crater where Tetsusaiga's power landed. Sesshomaru is up in the air, hovering in place as he stares down at his younger brother.
"Too slow," he mutters.
Sesshomaru lunges down at him with his right hand open and claws out, his palm glowing a greenish light that when collides with Tetsusaiga, releases a poisonous gas. Lucky for us, we are a distance away from the collision and won't get effected but Inuyasha starts to cough.
Sesshomaru takes this opportunity to slash his claws at Inuyasha, throwing the half demon off his feet and skid across the ground.
"Inuyasha's so slow, he's pathetic!" Totosai grumbles. He turns his head to Myoga who has managed to make his way to Totosai's right shoulder. "Myoga, why did you lie to me about his ability to use Tetsusaiga's full power?"
"He used it once!" Myoga cries out.
"He's right. Inuyasha usually wins in the end." I glare over at Totosai.
"Are you sure you weren't dreaming when you saw him do this, young lady?"
I cross my arms against my chest and snarl a little, "I was not dreaming, it is true."
Sesshomaru stands a few feet ahead of Inuyasha now, his straight posture and slightly tilted head makes him look menacing even as he's spouting out words. "Well, Totosai, don't you feel sorry for Tetsusaiga? He swings it like a Neanderthal. The famous sword is no better than a wooden club. A sword can live or die, depending on its master."
"Mmhm. A wise observation. I agree." Totosai says.
I am more stuck on the fact Sesshomaru used the word Neanderthal. I didn't think the term was made up yet in this time period and even so, where could Sesshomaru have heard it from? Strange.
"Don't give me that, swordsmith, or you'll really have something to worry about. I'm only warming up! Don't be too shocked to see the kind of power I really got!" Inuyasha enthusiastically exclaims. "Prepare yourself!" Inuyasha thrusts Tetsusaiga up in an angled attack but Sesshomaru simply steps back to avoid it.
"Great. The blood's rushed to his head. That's always bad news," Myoga pouts.
Sesshomaru lunges forward with his right hand and snatches Inuyasha right wrist while he's still open. A green mist comes off his hand filling the air around them.
"Tell me, Totosai! Do you still refuse to make me a sword?" Sesshomaru questions.
"Uh….No way!" Totosai leaps into the air, filling his mouth with so much air that his cheeks puff out unnaturally wide and then he blows out fire in a twisting swirl down to the two of them. But like before, Sesshomaru jumps out of the way, avoiding the attack all together and leaving Inuyasha to get scorched by the flames.
Totosai lands beside Inuyasha, who's now darkened from ash and fire but his clothes, hair, and skin is untouched by scorched marks. Inuyasha slams his fist into Totosai's head, forcing Totosai to release the rest of the air from his mouth with steam.
"That was a big help!" Inuyasha barks.
"So, you absolutely refuse?" Sesshomaru asks from afar.
"Be quiet, you ungrateful mongrel! You know as well as I do that I've already made you an excellent sword! That sword you wear, the Tenseiga! I also forged it from a fang given to me by your father. He clearly instructed that the eldest brother would have the Tenseiga and the youngest brother would have the Tetsusaiga. That was your father's last wish. It is a great sword of swords, no better and no worse than the Tetsusaiga. You should learn to respect it and love it!" Totosai rages.
"So, Totosai did make a sword for Sesshomaru," I mutter. Of course, on the request of their father.
"Though, come to think of it, I've never seen Sesshomaru unsheathe his sword in any of the battles yet, have you?" Miroku questions.
I shake my head no.
"Do you dare imply that this useless sword is worthy of me?"
"I've made you angry, have I? Time to take our leave!" Totosai leaps into the air again, this time lifting his long handled hammer and slamming it into the ground. The ground explodes into flames, encircling Sesshomaru and turning the battlefield into the pits of hell.
Inuyasha leaps to me, wrapping his arm around my waist and lifting me up onto Totosai's three eyed cow. Inuyasha sits in the middle with me behind him and Totosai climbs onto the front. The other three get on Kirara and we all fly off away from the destruction, and Sesshomaru.
My fingers clench onto the back of Inuyasha's red shirt as we lift off into the sky. I watch the flames on the ground slowly disperse as we disappear.
"That was impressive, I didn't know you could do that." I look over Inuyasha's shoulder at Totosai.
"I'll say! I don't understand. Inuyasha should be asking you for protection, not the other way around," Miroku adds.
"You sayin' I'm a weakling!" Inuyasha shouts, leaning towards Kirara and glaring death at Miroku.
"Sesshomaru calls his great sword 'useless' and Inuyasha is 'useless' with his great sword! How I overestimated both of them!" Totosai mumbles.
"What was that?" Inuyasha barks. He beats Totosai on the head a few times, leaving large welts where he landed his punches. "I am not useless!"
I roll my eyes, but they quickly narrow. Totosai claims that Sesshomaru's sword is powerful as well. But how powerful? Is it in comparison to the Tetsusaiga? "If Tetsusaiga is for destruction, what is Sesshomaru's sword's ability?"
"The Tenseiga? Its abilities are unlike anything I've heard of before. When Inuyasha's father commissioned me to make it, I shuddered at the very thought of its immense powers."
"A blade that doesn't cut? So how are you supposed to fight with a sword like that?" Inuyasha probes.
We've come to sit around a fire pit with a small boar cooking away that's tied to sticks above the fire. A stream flows nearby, allowing the three eyed cow to relax and drink. I sit next to Inuyasha as he stands with his arms crossed.
"The Tenseiga is not a sword used against foes. To put it simply, it is a sword of healing," Totosai says, being the only other person whose sitting by the fire.
"Healing?" I question. I have heard of a similar story a long time ago. The legend goes that a swordsmith named Muramasa challenged his master, Masamune, to see who make the finer sword. They both worked tirelessly, and both finished their swords. They decided to test the results with a contest of who can cut the most in a small creek. The contest was to have the swords facing against the current. Muramasa's sword, the Juuchi Yosamu, cut everything that passed its way: fish, leaves, and the very air which blew on it. Masamune lowered his sword, the Yawarakai-Te, and waited. Only leaves were cut. The fish swam right up to it, and the air hissed as it gently blew by the blade. Muramasa scoffed at his masters lack of skill, but a monk saw the whole ordeal. He walked over, bowed low, and he began to explain what he saw. The first of the swords was a fine sword, however, blood-thirsty and an evil blade. It did not discriminate as to who or what it would cut. The second was by far the finer of the two, as it does not needlessly cut that which is innocent and underserving.
I am not sure if the legend was real, who knows, but Tetsusaiga and Tenseiga, kind of remind of the two swords. One for destruction, and one for healing or innocence. I guess not completely the same.
"The Tetsusaiga is a sword that defeats the powerful, and the Tenseiga is a sword that has the ability to save the lives of the weak. If the bearer truly has kindness of heart towards humanity, then the Tenseiga has the power to save 100 people in one sweep," Totosai says.
"So the Tetsusaiga can slay 100 demons in one sweep and the Tenseiga can save 100 people in one sweep?" Miroku asks.
"But how are you able to use this sword as a weapon?" Sango questions.
"It must have the ability to bring back dead souls," Miroku suggests. "Such a power could be very useful during these feudal times"
"I almost called the sword the 'Coffin Cheater,' but I opted for Tenseiga instead. It was a little more classy. Actually, it was your father who suggested the name." Totosai scratches the bald part of his head with a single clawed finger.
"I get it now. No wonder Sesshomaru wants a new sword he can't use his. He's incapable of feeling kindness for people, let alone saving lives," Inuyasha smirks.
"Too bad this isn't working. It was your father's last wish, after all," Totosai sighs.
"He's so black-hearted," Miroku mutters.
"I don't think he'll be happy even if he could use the sword," I mumble.
"That smells good," Shippo chimed in, his blue eyes focused on the small boar cooking over the flame.
"A well-roasted pig, indeed." Totosai lifts the stick with the boar tied on it and let the boar drop completely into his mouth. Puffing out his cheeks in an unnatural way while he chews. "Dig in!" But once he swallows, he looks around confused, "Where'd the roast go?" He asks, as if he doesn't know he just ate it all.
"You ate it, you pig," I hiss.
"Where am I right now? Who are you people?" Totosai looks back and forth between all of us.
Miroku sighs, taking the butt end of his staff and pushing Totosai over on his side.
The next day after we've woken from our slumber, we walk Totosai along the dirt path into the forest. He rides on top of his three eyed cow, his long hammer resting against his left shoulder.
"Farewell," Totosai says, barely turning his head towards us as he speaks.
"You're heading out alone, after what happened yesterday?" I inquire.
"Well, Inuyasha's not much protection for me," Totosai grumbles.
"Let him go! The old geezer would only slow us down anyway!" Inuyasha huffs.
Totosai leaps off his cow and lands next to Inuyasha. He grabs ahold of Tetsusaiga just underneath its guard and tries to pull it from his waist band.
"Give it back. The Tetsusaiga is useless in your hands! It's better off as scrap metal!" Totosai demands in the grumpiest old man voice he can muster.
"Don't touch my sword!" Inuyasha slams his fist onto the bald top of Totosai's head four times before pausing and glaring down at his welted work.
Totosai quickly climbs back onto his cow and rushes off, screaming, "I'm warning you!"
"He sure speaks his mind," Miroku says.
"Either Totosai is extremely brave or extremely senile," Sango wonders out loud.
We start off in our own direction, opposite of Totosai. I walk next to Inuyasha while Sango, Miroku, and Shippo walk up ahead.
I glance up at Inuyasha, surprised he's letting the old man go. "I am surprised you aren't going after him. He is the one who made Tetsusaiga, he may know more about it that could help."
"Hmph! Yeah, the old fart is full of it!" Inuyasha places his hands on his hips and turn his head from me.
The sound of clapping can be heard, and we look around, and behind us we see the shape of Totosai and the cow rushing back towards us, leaving dirt and dust smoke flying behind him.
"Somethings not right…" I mutter.
Just as I say this a large white orb floats up behind Totosai. It lands directly behind the old man, throwing the cow and Totosai off the ground and forward a few feet. Where the orb lands kneel Sesshomaru.
"Sesshomaru!" Inuyasha spits.
"Stay where you are or I'll tear you both into shreds." Sesshomaru demands, standing straight up in a crater that I can now see he created with his blast.
Totosai scampers up anyhow, and runs behind Inuyasha. "Hear that? We're in trouble!"
"Listen, old man. You don't intend to make Sesshomaru a new sword now, do ya?" Inuyasha questions with a raised brow.
"No!"
"Hear that?" Inuyasha glares back to his brother. "I've had enough of this bad rap over Tetsusaiga, and now I'm itching to use it and fight! So, let's settle it once and for all!"
Inuyasha unsheathes Tetsusaiga and just as he does, Sesshomaru reveals a nasty looking green three finger clawed hand. Sesshomaru eliminates the space between him and Inuyasha, and grabs Tetsusaiga by the middle of its blade. Electricity emits from the blade and the clawed hand.
"Have no fear. It will all end today," Sesshomaru says. "Without the wind scar, you'll never beat me." Where the claw meets the blade, smoke starts to rise.