Ichijou found him in the hidden library with a wide grin. "I thought I smelled your blood, brother. What were you doing?" He was provoking him, but at the same time he wanted to know why Soumei was secretly practising.

"I resumed training with our terrifying father." Soumei looked up from a scroll. There was no point in lying. "Celebrate. Tomorrow's victory in the tournament might just be yours."

"Hmph. There is no point in winning against a weakened enemy."

"What do you really want?"

Ichijou tilted his head. "Practise with me too. In exchange, I can show you some of my tricks."

"..." What is this about? "I don't need your tricks." He said. Ichijou bristled, but before he could open his mouth, Soumei continued: "Tell me about our secrets instead. And do not lie."

Ichijou approached one of the shelves. The one Sojobo had been staring at every time he walked through the library. He pulled out two scrolls and a book and threw it on Soumei's table.

"It's written in code."

"It's not a code. Just a different cluster of symbols we do not use anymore. Learn it. Then you will be able to read it."

"What is it about?"

Ichijou smirked. "Read it and see for yourself."

"I swear that if you're making fun of me I will pummel you so hard our brothers won't recognise you."

"Well, until then, I'll see you in the training grounds in the morning."

While they were waiting for Totosai to return with the repaired Tetsusaiga, Hotaru and Inuyasha were passing time by sparring. Sango was a judge and she also switched with Hotaru from time to time. Humans did not have Inuyasha's energy levels.

Hotaru wiped her sweat and observed them with a smile.

"Is it fun?" Kagome asked curiously. "It looks that way."

"He needs to improve his skills." Hotaru whispered to Kagome. "Mindlessly swinging the huge sword around as he does can't be called swordsmanship. It's pitiful."

"Don't tell him that." Kagome nodded conspiratorially.

"Of course not." She chuckled. "But I think he realises it without us telling him."

"Yeah, but if you do tell him, he will shut you out and refuse it."

"Stubborn like a mule." They sure are brothers… Shiver ran down her spine and she glanced southwest. "Do you feel it too?"

"Hm?" Kagome tilted her head and focused. "There are no jewels in the vicinity."

"No it's not that…" She frowned. What is it? Youki? Her eyes widened. It was the familiar energy that was occasionally watching her. So it was that tengu! "Sango! Can I take Kirara with me for a moment?"

"Sure, what is it?"

She shook her head. "I think someone familiar might be close."

"Hotaru-san." Sango stopped. "It's a demon, isn't it?"

"I honestly don't know. That's why I want Kirara with me."

"It's the new moon tonight. You can't use your powers."

Hotaru sighed. "It doesn't feel dangerous. I will be okay."

"Can I come too?"

"No."

Sango crossed her arms. "Not dangerous you say?"

"Sango, please. I don't want to argue. I know that I will be okay."

######

Soumei landed on a branch in a deep forest. Close enough to let her sense him, far enough to prevent others from sensing him. He let her come to him. After all, he didn't hate humans and what would the point of watching her be, if he never approached her. It was the time to face the priestess who caught his interest.

The nekomata stopped on the ground below him, sniffing the air. But it was the priestess who found him first. When he stopped concealing his youki from her, her eyes widened. She remembered him.

"I am not here to harm you." He said and glided down. As his feet touched the ground a sharp pain erupted in his side, making him grit his teeth. "Nor take you." Trying to hide his still open wounds, he discreetly shifted his swords to pressure the wound and relieve the pain.

Kirara froze and hissed, pressing her side to Hotaru. "Shh," she caressed Kirara's neck and looked at the tengu in front of her. What is this sensation? Why am I not scared of him when his youki terrified me before? "You are injured."

Of course she can tell… He showed her the vial. "I need more of this."

"How did you get it?" She asked quizzically. She remembered the vial she'd left for Sesshomaru and which was still missing in her case.

Half of his lips curled upwards into a grin. "I liberated it from Sesshomaru as he was not planning to use it anyway."

They know each other? She looked him up and down. The tengu, like Sesshomaru, didn't look older than 25, but she sensed he was older and stronger than the inuyoukai. Under the sash of his yamabushi-style dark grey and black garment were two powerful swords. Upper half of his longer black hair was tied up in a messy bun and despite his wounds, in his turquoise blue eyes there was a boyish spark, amusement, mischief even. His aura was both approachable and dangerous, like a beautifully polished blade, one wanted to touch despite knowing they'd be cut. So different from Sesshomaru.

"Are you an enemy? Or an ally?"

"Which do you prefer?" He was assessing her as well. Or unsuccessfully trying to. With his injuries it was near impossible to focus and unravel her spiritual powers.

"I think you can answer that for yourself."

Her blue eyes staring at him were so clear, he saw himself in them like in a mirror. He couldn't possibly be her enemy. Ever. Whatever it was, whatever connection they shared, he wouldn't be able to kill her. He simply knew he wouldn't even if his own life depended on it. Does she sense it too?

"Will you refill it?" He raised an eyebrow, since she was with Sesshomaru now, he expected some resistance.

Carefully, without touching him, she took the vial from his hand.

"You saved me from that arctic fox. I owe you." She smiled at him. "Show me your wounds if you trust me enough. I might be able to do more than just refill the vial."

"No, we have our reliable healer. I just need that potion."

######

"It was a tengu, seeking my help." She told Sango and the rest after she returned. "I don't know his name or anything more than that. He needed a potion to heal his wounds. I gave him that and he was gone."

"Tengu's are-"

"You don't have to tell me."

"Will you tell Sesshomaru?" Inuyasha asked with a raised eyebrow. Provoking. "Maybe a tengu would be a better companion."

"You don't know what you are talking about, Inuyasha." Miroku hit his head. "Tengu's are legendary demons. We do not know much about them, but they are not to be trifled with."

Hotaru nodded and rubbed the back of her head. "I don't know why he sought me out. But he and Sesshomaru probably know each other." I don't think the tengu would harm me, but I don't think following him would be safe.

######

Hotaru and Sango returned from their small adventurous tour in the surrounding forest. Hotaru picked some herbs she knew had the best quality when picked during the sunset before the night of the new moon, while Sango caught two hares and found some edible mushrooms.

"Damn it all! Totosai is late!" Inuyasha compalined.

"Well you did give him your fang. Of course, it takes longer." She replied as she and Sango walked out of the bushes. "Look, I caught-" She paused, glancing at Inuyasha. No dog ears, no silver hair, no claws, no golden eyes… He was human. "Two hares."

Kagome pouted. "You weren't surprised at all."

"Sorry. I already saw him back in our village."

"Well, it certainly does surprise me." Sango was staring at him in amazement. No wonder he was prickly the whole day.

"Well, you know, half-demons like Inuyasha have one night, when they lose their demon powers and become mere mortals." Miroku creeped up at him and pulled his cheek, revealing his teeth. "No fangs, see?"

"Miroku, you're havin' fun with this, aren't ya?" Inuyasha frowned at him.

"You don't really need to explain. Sango knows how half-demons function. And it doesn't necessarily have to be one night a month." She smiled and walked aside to help Sango quickly skin and gut the hares without disturbing anyone.

"If half-demons get attacked during their time of weakness, they can be easily killed. It should be kept a secret…" Miroku added.

Inuyasha sighed, "then how come more and more people know about my secret?"

"That's okay," Kagome smiled at him, "it means you have more people concerned about you."

"That's true." Sango agreed.

"And you!" He pointed a warning finger at her, "don't you dare say a word to Sesshomaru!"

She made a clueless face. "I don't know what you are talking about. I haven't seen anything. Not now, not before." He is your brother. You share a bloodline. Do you really think he doesn't know? Well… It's Sesshomaru… maybe he doesn't. Who knows?

"Hmph." He got up and left.

"What did I say?" She wondered.

"I think he is starting to see you as a friend again." Kagome smiled at her. "I just hope he won't stray too far from us."

"If he's not back in half an hour, you should go check up on him." She shrugged and turned back to the hares. Even though her purifying energy was almost non-existent tonight, she was brimming with physical energy, joy. She wanted to sing and dance and move around.

I will practise tonight.

"You are in a very good mood today, Hotaru-sama, did something good happen?"

"Hm? No… It's the new moon." She explained with a smile. She didn't understand it, but she knew how her moods and strengths changed. "New moon is the start of a new cycle, the stars are the brightest. It is the liveliest night of the month."

"The exact opposite of Inuyasha." Miroku noted.

######

"Kaijinbo! It's been three days! Have you forged a sword from the demon's fangs?!" Jaken was stomping towards the demon swordsmith's hut with his usual air of superiority. As Sesshomaru's servant he felt entitled to commanding others. Very unwisely at times.

It wasn't different now. He walked into the hut and before he knew it, Kaijinbo sliced him in two with the newly forged sword.

"It's done! A magnificent demon sword!" He was bathing in the sword's evil aura, which was consuming him. Controlling him. He forged a dangerous sword. And the sword had a command for him: 'Kill Inuyasha.'

With that being his only thought, he left for a quest, letting the sword guide him.

######

Sesshomaru's head snapped in the direction where Jaken had left to collect his new sword. He couldn't feel his servant anymore. Has Kaijinbo just killed him? He wondered.

"Sesshomaru-sama? Did something happen?" Rin asked curiously, her big brown eyes watching him carefully. She felt comfortable around him, safe, but she was still a little wary with her questions.

"Stay here with A-Un. I will be back soon."

She nodded obediently, "yes, Sesshomaru-sama."

#####

The only one who didn't fall asleep was Inuysha, being too scared to sleep while he was in his human form.

"Won't you sleep too?" He asked her.

"It's the new moon, I'm not tired at all." She patted Kirara's head. "Can I ask you something?"

"Try me."

Just like before, he was kinder, more approachable on the night of the new moon. "...when you transformed, you told Kagome to stay away from you. Would you have attacked her too?"

He frowned. He'd talked with Kagome about this too, believing he wouldn't hurt her. Ever. But… "I don't know. I thought… I haven't had enough killing."

"Does it scare you?"

"..." He stared into the fire. "I've always wanted to become a full-fledged demon. As I told you before, I don't want to worry or feel scared during the nights of the new moon, but…" He remembered the worry on Kagome's face. "Was I really that scary?"

You didn't answer my question… "I only saw it through Kirara's perspective. I wouldn't call it scary. But distant. You've had almost the same face as Sesshomaru when I found him injured and he considered me a threat. His face didn't scare me, it's just that he could control himself… But unlike Sesshomaru, I don't think you'd manage to put your demon side under control on your own. Not without the beads of subjugation. No offence."

"None taken." He was surprisingly calm in his human state. "Wait… You've seen the bastard injured?"

"Twice, and both times it was your doing. You left scars on him." She smiled, watching the sparks travel up into the dark sky.

"Scars?" He frowned. "...thought the full-fledged demons don't get scars. I don't."

"If the damage is too vast… What's with the two of you anyways? You're brothers." She would probably never ask Sesshomaru this, but Inuyasha was easier to talk with.

"Keh, you wouldn't get that. My ma was a human. He hated her, me. And then I inherited the sword he wanted. Besides, he hates humans and half-demons. Anything weaker than himself." It was true. He knew he was right, she surely knew that too.

"Well, if your mother was a human, and Sesshomaru's mother is presumably alive, then your father had two mates, right?"

"Two-timed you mean?" His eyes widened in thought. He didn't know Sesshomaru's mother. He didn't know if she was alive or not. But if yes… "I don't know if demons care about that."

She raised a meaningful eyebrow. "If they do… There might be more to it, then just a hatred towards humans or weakness. Maybe it was something Sesshomaru couldn't understand. You never met your father, but he knew him. "

"Not like it's my fault. It wasn't my choice he died protecting my ma and me! I didn't beg for the sword either. Not like I did Sesshomaru wrong on purpose." He huffed. "So why try to kill me all the time? He's just hateful."

"And yet, here we are, both still alive." She commented, smiling thoughtfully. With a content sigh she got up to her feet and stretched. "I'll go stretch my legs a bit."

Inuyasha nodded, frowning. She got him thinking about things that never bothered him before. "Don't wander too far."

"Mmm."

Walking around or practising during the new moons was her strange hobby. More so, when her spiritual energy was at its lowest. But she felt safe, protected by the darkness. Sometimes she even felt like these dark nights connected her to the person she used to be, but forgot all about her. It helped her analyse previous fights, see them from different perspectives. During the previous new moon, she'd come to Rin's village and now she was mothering the child and travelling with the demon. She never thought she'd do that. New moon, new beginning. I welcome you once again. Just don't tie me with that tengu, please.

"Hm?" She raised her head looking towards the east. The sky changed colour into strange purple, but it was still a good hour until dawn.

Hair on the back of her neck stood up. Something was coming to them. Dangerous and fast.

Without another thought she got up and ran towards her friends.

When she got there, the one with enormous evil energy was already there. It was a short humanoid demon with two tiny horns on top of his almost bald head. His eyes were red and he was obviously possessed by something. That something was in his hand; a sword overflowing with evil energy.

Inuyasha and Miroku were standing between the demon and the rest of their group.

"Who are you?" Hotaru asked, positioning herself on Inuyasha's right and slightly in front of him. Miroku was on his left.

"I am Kaijinbo. A master swordsmith."

"Sworsmith?" Inuyasha repeated, not believing that a swordsmith could get possessed by his own creation.

"Yes. I forged this sword, Tokijin, and now it is crying for the blood of Inuyasha." He was eyeing the group with his glowing red eyes. No one pointed at Inuyasha, but the sword seemed to know. In a second Kaijinbo lifted the sword and then pointed its tip on Inuyasha. "So you are Inuyasha," he said, "the sword has told me so. Hmmm? Disappointing, I expected a demon, and yet I am faced with a mere mortal."

"Inuyasha, can you think of any reason why he begrudges you?" Miroku asked.

"None."

"You hear the man."

Kaijinbo just laughed. He was there for a fight and he wasn't leaving without it. "As I told you, it is the sword that thirsts for his blood. Tokijin was forged from the fangs of the demon that broke your Tetsusaiga, the sword created by old Totosai."

Oh no. Oh no, Sesshomaru, you wouldn't… Hotaru bit her lip. Of course he would.

"In other words, the sword is filled with Goshinki's hatred for you." Sango made a good point.

Inuyasha's personality got the better of him and he wanted to attack barehanded, Miroku stopped him. And Sango, from behind the group, threw her Hiraikotsu at the evil swordsmith. To everyone's surprise, instead of dodging and getting hit by the returning boomerang, Kaijinbo slashed through it like butter.

Miroku attacked next with a sutra and his staff. He managed to injure Kaijinbo, he'd have even killed him, but the sword was using the swordsmith as a puppet. The split head had no effect. Miroku got lucky and avoided the slash aimed at him.

"The enemy here is the sword…" Hotaru mumbled and looked at the horizon. It was still some time until sunrise.

"Come at me, Inuyasha!" He was tempting. "Or are you so afraid that you can't move? Hiding meekly behind the women and the child?"

"So? And you? Being controlled by your own creation? Aren't you ashamed, swordsmith?" Hotaru took a step forward. She was in front of them. With her case and her tanto she could fend him off for a while. I cannot cross swords with him though.

Thankfully, Kaijinbo wasn't skilled with that sword. He was slow and predictable. Tokijin might've controlled him, but it couldn't teach him how to fight.

Inuyasha grabbed her shoulder. "You're not fighting my battle."

"And are you insane? Charging in your current state and without a weapon?"

He pushed her back and charged.

"He's an idiot!" She wavered, barely keeping her footing.

Miraculously a bolt of lightning stopped Inuyasha. In that bolt a three eyed cow appeared. It was carrying Totosai with the repaired Tetsusaiga plus his long hammer.

"Totosai?"

"Is Tetsusaiga repaired?"

The old man ignored them all. "Oh dear… I should've known you had something to do with all this commotion." He was watching Kaijinbo with disappointment.

Inuyasha hopped on top of the cow glaring at Totosai: "You're late if you haven't noticed. Thank you." He took Tetsusaiga and hopped off.

"Inuyasha-sama, don't do it!" Myoga was jumping up and down on his shoulder. "The Tetsusaiga won't transform for you, when you are in your human form without your demonic powers."

"It's been a long time since we met, Kaijinbo." Totosai addressed his former student, stepping in front of Inuyasha. He needed to buy them time, the sky was already brightening.

"I took you for dead, Totosai."

"You've been busy crafting yet another wicked sword. Haven't you, Kaijinbo?"

He laughed. "Totosai, I shall prove to you without a doubt which of us is the better swordsmith."

"Totosai-sama, do you know Kaijinbo?" Miroku asked curiously.

"Aah, yes. He was once my disciple. I banished him a long time ago. He was most unorthodox. He killed ten innocent children to create his sword. What a wretched beast. He smothered the blade with human blood and oil in order to make it seethe with hatred." He explained pitifully. Then his eyes landed on Hotaru. "And who might you be, pretty little priestess?"

"Just an acquaintance, who happened to be passing by. My name is Hotaru." She bowed respectfully to the old demon. "Glad to meet you, Totosai-sama."

"Draw your sword, Inuyasha! I shall crush Totosai's precious creation before his very eyes."

"Heh, I won't waste any time doing you and that sword in." Inuyasha charged with Tetsusaiga that wouldn't transform.

Kaijinbo threw him off, causing small lacerations and then crossed blades with Tetsusaiga. Inuyasha, although kneeling on one knee, managed to parry him.

He remembered! And the Tetsusaiga didn't break! Hotaru cheered.

In a few more minutes, that Inuyasha withstood, the sun rose and Inuyasha turned back. Tetsusaiga changed its shape from an old rusty sword to a huge fang. Immediately, Inuyasha's hand was dragged to the ground under the weight of his repaired sword.

"Hey, Totosai, what the hell have you done to my Tetsusaiga? Answer me, old man! What did you do to my sword?!"

Totosai sure knew when to play dumb senile old demon. He scratched the top of his head: "Hmm, why? You having problems?"

"As if you haven't noticed?! Why is this thing so damn heavy?!"

"Ah, oooh, it must have something to do with that fang of yours I used. Pay no mind."

"Hahaha! No use having a sword you can't even hold!" Kaijinbo taunted. "I'll slice you in half, Inuyasha!"

Those two clashed a few times. Inuyasha was having a hard time handling the heavy Tetsusaiga, swaying and tripping and Kaijinbo was relying on Tokijin too much. If only Tetsusaiga was lighter, Inuyasha would've gotten an easy victory.

And Kaijinbo kept laughing and mocking Inuyasha over the heavy sword.

"He should just drop dead already…" Hotaru mumbled, shaking her head. How long is Tokijin going to prolong his life?

The next clash of Tokijin and Tetsusaiga ended up vaporising Kaijinbo. The sword spiralled through the air and stuck itself into the ground. It sucked life from all plants in two metre radius and remained there, emitting its evil aura far and wide.

"Hmph…" Totosai snorted, "the sword held up, but Kaijinbo himself was unable to withstand its power. The very sword he forged overpowered him. That wretched fool deserved it!"

A/N: Let me know what you think but remember, reviews are appreciated but never necessary.

PLEASE, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, I am NOT interested in any art commissions I have to pay for! I am writing this story for FREE, in my FREE TIME, if you want to do do some fan art in your free time, because you like the story, I am all ears and happy to discuss, but otherwise... PLEASE, stop spamming my PMs with what I consider scams.

S.