Author's Note: But what's this, another update? Is the world ending? I know, it's hard to believe. My original novel is with my critique partner and work has finally settled enough for me to write again. What better way to celebrate than with fan fiction! If I play my cards right, I should have another update in the next few days. Don't hold me to that if it doesn't happen, but my fingers are crossed. Thank you all for all the wonderful reviews, favorites, kudos, and follows!

~*Flame

Disclaimer: InuYasha & Final Act are all owned by Rumiko Takahashi, Shogakukan, Viz Media & Madmen Entertainment.

Chapter Twenty Five

It didn't take me long to find Jaken. His mysterious information network quickly picked up that I was searching for him. Within a day, he appeared by my side. What little information he found was no longer valid. After Kagome nearly destroyed Naraku, he, and his manor, disappeared. The spider was in hiding once more.

We took our time returning to Toutousai, listening for any clues for shards I could pass along to Kagome or whispers of Naraku. Yet all was silent. Given the plan to aid Inuyasha in mastering Tessaiga was neigh, it was for the best.

The sharp bite of sulfur floated on the air, the first hint we were drawing near Toutousai's forge. "Sesshoumaru-sama! Let me get the sword for you!" I glanced down at Jaken, lifting an eyebrow. I hadn't revealed the full plan to him, not wanting his creative feedback and another Mu-on'na incident. Instead, I only told him of the sword I wanted from the ancient smith.

"Do not dally." He could not push his youki under his feet as I did. If he wanted to face the lava and newly formed rocks on his own, so be it. He scurried away without delay, his cries of 'hot' and 'ow' following in his wake. He was strong enough to come out only slightly worse for wear, so I wasn't overly concerned.

Taking my time, youki protecting my boots as I crossed the simmering lava, Jaken ran out of the skeleton forge. "Damn that sneaky badger!" He stared at the gaping maw of the beast before searching around the desolate wasteland. "Where'd he go?" He froze the moment my footsteps behind him caught his attention.

"So, Toutousai has run away, I see." Was he already on his way to Inuyasha?

"Please forgive me, Sesshoumaru-sama." Jaken bowed repeatedly, as if the smith not being where he was supposed to be was his fault. Perhaps if he were aware of our plans he wouldn't be so distraught? "That Toutousai is a man of extreme likes and dislikes. I hear he will only forge a sword if he takes a liking to the client."

"So, in other words, he has no intention of making a sword that suits me." It wasn't surprising. He hadn't agreed to forge me one at our last meeting, but he hadn't denied the request either. I had so hoped he would change his mind. An excellent reward for aiding Inuyasha in mastering Tessaiga would be a new blade of my own.

"How else can I put it?" Jaken lowered his gaze. "It seems he doesn't like you," Jaken gasped as the words escaped his lips. Horror freezing his features. A small smile twisted my lips. No, I imagine Toutousai didn't like me much. Not when I constantly went after Tessaiga and ignored my own useless blade.

Panic filled the air as Jaken bowed once again, begging forgiveness he didn't need. I paid him no mind as I turned back the way we came. If Toutousai had left, he'd done so with Momo. Though I could use my youki cloud to fly, it would be far easier to travel by air. Which meant returning to the Western Fortress to retrieve my dragon mount.

I frowned in distaste. This would be the first time I stepped foot in any of the Western Strongholds since being stripped of my title. Would they even allow me inside? Jaken could always retrieve the mount for us, but he would be no match for the soldiers should they try to stop him. Though unwanted by the court, those in the Western Fortress had fought beside me and knew what I was capable of.

Much like the journey to Toutousai's abandoned forge, the trip to the Western Fortress was unremarkable. Still no signs of Naraku and only faint rumors of shards and wolves in the mountains. Nothing concrete enough to pass along to Kagome. It felt like no time at all before we stood at the entry of the Western Fortress. How many centuries had I called this place my home only to never return? Once the mount was in my possession, what need did I have to come here again?

Head held high, I marched through the gate, the eyes of the soldiers on guard glued to my person. None spoke as we strode across the courtyard and toward the stables, Jaken staying extra close by my side. A stable boy peaked around a stall, eyes widening as they landed on me.

"S-S-Sesshoumaru-sama…" The boy stuttered, trembling in terror. I glanced toward Jaken, verbal command unneeded as he bowed before waddling toward the tack hanging on the wall. It was only moments before he had the dragon mount saddled and ready for riding.

"Come." I turned, Jaken following while leading the mount from the stable. More had gathered in the courtyard in the few moments we were inside. Nearly every eye in the garrison bored into me. Locking eyes with each one, I stared back, a silent threat in my gaze, daring them to stop me.

In the center of the courtyard, blocking the way toward the exit, stood one of the generals of the Western Army. The very one I served under in my youth while trying to prove myself to the West. I stopped, lifting an eyebrow at him in question. Was he going to stop me from leaving with what could be perceived as Western property? As if any here could ride the beast.

"Sesshoumaru-sama." The general bowed, my own greeting returned as a silent nod before continuing to move. Just as I was passing, I caught his whispered voice, barely loud enough for me to hear so close to his person. "The Court is blind with power. Do not listen to their venom."

"Hn," I hummed, ignoring the comment for now. My focus was needed on the current plan. I can always decipher his words later. Though it was good to know not all saw me as the Western Court did. The eyes continued to follow us as we left the Western Fortress, mounting the two-headed dragon once we moved past the gate.

Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath, searching for Toutousai and Momo. They couldn't have gotten too far. But the old smith could be surprising. Until I picked up on their scent, I would just head in the direction I knew Kagome was in. Though we hadn't had much time in the Dream Realm the last few days, it was enough to get an idea of where she and her group were traveling. That and the loss of their shards.

I wanted to do something about Kikyou, but Kagome wouldn't hear of it. Not when Inuyasha needed 'closure' from the past. The reiki-charged smack she gave me when I rolled my eyes at her still sent shivers down my arm.

The faint hint of sulfur danced in the air. Toutousai was near. Urging the dragon faster, it didn't take long for the smith to come into view. Inuyasha and Kagome stood beside him, their other companions not far to the side. Inuyasha turned toward me as I pulled my mount to a stop above them.

"So he's the one after you?" Kagome's confusion nearly made me smile. Toutousai had changed the plan on me. Instead of coaching Inuyasha through a sparing match, I was to be the villain. It was a role I could do well. At least this time Kagome knew it was all part of a plan to help Inuyasha in the end.

"Exactaly. It's Sesshoumaru." The ancient youkai hid behind Inuyasha, forcing the role of protector upon him. As if Kagome standing by his side wasn't enough.

"Inuyasha, what are you doing with Toutousai?"

"It's it obvious?" Toutousai peaked from behind Inuyasha's arm. "I'm trying to punish you." His words held a ring of truth to them. Was this for asking him to forge a new sword for me? I snorted, focusing on the plan. If he wanted to punish me, fine. As long as Inuyasha mastered Tessaiga it would be worth it. With Kagome a target, he no longer had the leisure to experiment as he had been.

"Oh, Toutousai. I didn't think you were so eager to die." The smith hid behind Inuyasha again.

"Wait, no… If you beat Inuyasha, I might forge you a new blade." Ah, there was my motivation for this skirmish. So I wouldn't just attack seemingly out of nowhere. Inuyasha balked at his words while Kagome ran up to argue with the smith. I did my best to ignore them. Kagome was too much of a distraction when such important training was about to take place.

"Toutousai, don't you dare forget those words." Dismounting, I used my youki to float in the air. Jaken stayed on the dragon, keeping them from joining the battle. "You heard him, Inuyasha. You can die for the sake of my new sword." Before I made another move, the humans pulled back, Toutousai following, leaving Inuyasha in the field alone. Releasing my youki, I fell to the earth; claws outstretched in a wide attack he easily dodged. Earth sprayed around us as he drew Tessaiga. The side slash of the blade was easy to dodge, and the overhand slice was even easier.

The fang parted the earth in the space I once stood as I leapt back. Calling my whip, I snapped at Inuyasha. Each crack connecting with Tessaiga, blocking it from reaching his flesh. If he wasn't careful, he would break the sword. Tired of the stalemate, Inuyasha ran at me, once again swinging his blade down into the earth. I jumped in the air; the attack missing, much to his surprise.

"Too slow." My hair floated around me as I let gravity take over, pulling me back down. Dokkasou pooling in my claws, I connected with Tessaiga, the fumes forcing Inuyasha back and his arm to cover his mouth. Not giving him a chance to recover, I was playing the villain after all; I flashed over to him, punching him in the chest and sending him sliding across the ground.

As he lay there recovering, hints of Toutousai and Kagome's conversation floating toward me. The urge to focus on their words nearly won out. I needed to get Toutousai to focus, to stop trying to distract me with Kagome. He may not realize her connection to me, but she did. At least with the warning I gave her, she stayed out of the battle. I'd hate to replace another chest plate so soon.

"Toutousai, do you not feel pity for Tessaiga?" I half turned toward the group, keeping Inuyasha's prone form in my peripheral vision. "Your famous sword, no better than a log. All Inuyasha does is swing it around. A sword can shine or dull depending on its wielder."

"A wise observation." He nodded, hands on his head in distress. Though I warned him of Inuyasha's use of the fang, it was much different to see it in person. "That's my opinion precisely."

"Don't agree with him!" Kagome practically growled, Toutousai's stolen mallet in her grasp.

"Damn it! Stop it with your jokes," Inuyasha snarled, slowly standing from the blow I delt him. "I'm only warming up. You'll be shocked at my real power. Prepare yourself!" He ran at me, Tessaiga by his side. Did he finally see the wind scar? I nearly huffed as he swung the sword haphazardly, as I easily dodged. He wasn't thinking, this was no good for training.

Taking advantage of his wide openings, I grabbed the wrist of the hand holding the fang, dokkasou pouring from my claws as it ate away at his skin. "Well, Toutousai? Will you forge a blade for me now?" It was more of a goad for Inuyasha than a question for the smith.

"No way!" I felt the heat of the fire before I saw it from the corner of my eye. Jumping back, Toutousai's flames missed me but completely engulfed Inuyasha. I landed well beyond the line of fire, Inuyasha looking no worse for wear now standing beside the smith.

"Do you absolutely refuse to make me a sword?" Though part of the rouse for our plan, my question was real. Toutousai didn't need to break up the fight between us, not when our plan had yet to succeed. His only reason would be to take Inuyasha aside to explain the technique to him. But that didn't change the fact that I wanted a new sword from him.

"Shut up!" The ancient youkai bristled, pointing his finger at me. "I already made you a fine sword! The Tenseiga at your hip." He glared at me and I gnashed my teeth. "I, Toutousai, forged the sword from your father's fang." The flames between us died, crackling and shrinking away into the earth. "Tenseiga for the older brother, and Tessaiga for the younger. That was your father's last wish. It is a sword among swords, just like Tessaiga. Why not learn to love it for what it is?"

Hundreds of dead flashed across my vision from a battle long ago. Love Tenseiga for what it is? What was there to love? "You dare imply that this blunt slab of metal is worthy of me!" My youki pulsed, bangs floating as my ire poured from me. No one deserved this useless blade. For him to think otherwise was beyond insulting.

"He's angry! He's angry!" Toutousai laughed. "I guess I'll take my leave." He leaped up and smashed his hammer into the earth. Fire and lava bubbling between broken rocks as the split in the earth rushed toward me. Forcing my youki underneath me, I floated above the carnage. The once calm meadow was now a steaming, bubbling pool of lava, granting them an escape from my rage. Their group specks in the horizon as they flew away.

"Sesshoumaru-sama!" Jaken called, the dragon mount hovering over the small circle of earth beneath my feet. Leaping up, I quickly mounted the dragon. What a waste of time. I growled, taking the reins from Jaken and leading our mount away from the lava field. Toutousai took more offence than I expected simply by asking for a new sword. He granted Father two. What was so wrong with me asking for another? Especially when the one I have does nothing.

It was clear I couldn't rely on Toutousai to make this plan succeed. I could hope he would explain more while they regrouped, but I wouldn't count on it. If Inuyasha was going to master the fang, if he was going to do what was needed to protect Kagome, it would be up to me to ensure he finds the wind scar.

Perhaps our youki was too similar, making it more difficult for his dampened senses to distinguish. It may be helpful to have a vastly different youki for him to train with. It wasn't likely for him to face another inu youkai. I suppose it was time to obtain another arm.


"Why were you so focused on Tessaiga when Tenseiga is so much cooler?" I looked across the grotto as Kagome joined me in the Dream Realm. That wasn't what I expected her to ask about first. Though given Toutousai was traveling with them, I shouldn't be surprised. He likely told them of what Tenseiga was rumored to do.

"Don't be fooled. The blade is useless." She frowned, sitting in front of me instead of atop the boulder as she normally would. I lifted an eyebrow but said nothing. Whatever she had to say was important enough she wanted to be face to face.

"Why think that?" I frowned, my deepest shame filling me. I never spoke to her of the panther war. When we finally ran into each other again after so long, she had fallen down the well. Things could have been different had I sought her out and opened up about my failure. It was a mistake I wouldn't make again, regardless of the pain that threatened to overwhelm me.

"There was a war shortly after Inuyasha was sealed." I stared into her eyes, refusing to look away. "Many Western soldiers fell and Tenseiga refused my call." Her eyes widened, understanding swirling within the sapphire pools.

"Have you ever tried it since?"

"No." She frowned, staring down at her hands.

"How quickly after they fell did you try to bring them back? Maybe there's a time limit?" I shrugged, the sleeve of my haori lifting with the motion. Kagome's brows furrowed as she leaned forward, pulling up my sleeve, Tenseiga forgotten as the dragon arm revealed itself. "What the hell?"

"To aid in Inuyasha finding the wind scar." I watched as her hands ghosted over the scales, rising until hovering over where it joined with my flesh.

"I've always wondered how you got this to work." Her finger traced over the line where flesh met scale.

"Hn," Her hand stroked down the scales, the heat of her phantom form seeping through. "It's won't last long." Her gaze flicked to mine before returning to the dragon arm.

"Thank you." I nearly missed her words with how quiet they were. Pulling the dragon arm away, I forced her to focus on me, an eyebrow lifted in question. A flush spread across her cheeks. "For keeping your word and not hurting Inuyasha badly."

"Hn," I leaned back against the boulder, closing my eyes. Not that long ago I would have despised the care she showed to him. The grass rustled as she shifted before her heat soaked into my side. Calm washed over me as the weight of her head rested against Mokomoko-sama.

"Someday I hope that you two can get along so we can travel together." She sighed, sinking deeper into the fluff. I hummed, wrapping my arm around her waist. I didn't have the heart to tell her I doubted such a thing would ever happen.


I sneered as the sickeningly sweet scent of rot encircled me. I knew the arm wasn't long for this world, but I expected it to last longer than this. I'd have to seek Inuyasha now before the arm got any worse. I just hoped it would last long enough for him to find the wind scar.

With time being of the essence, I didn't wait for Jaken to wake for the day. I left him the dragon mount, instead traveling to where I could smell Toutousai through my orb. Taking a deep breath, I forced my youki to condense, compacting my form into the small space. Shooting off, it took only moments for me to arrive. My orb conveniently burst in an explosion of power on top of the ancient smith, sending him and Momo flying.

Dust filled the air, blocking my view of everything. Claws at the ready, I kept my focus on where Inuyasha was last I saw him.

"Sesshoumaru!" Inuyasha ran forward, body tense and on guard. Toutousai and Momo lay crumpled between us, in the way of our training.

"Stay put. I will tear you and Inuyasha to shreds." The threat was enough for Toutousai to scramble to his feet to once again hide behind Inuyasha.

"So he says. What will you do about it?"

"Old man, you don't want to make Sesshoumaru a new sword, do you?" I nearly snarled, long given up on getting a new sword from the smith. The rouse was only rubbing salt into the wound at this point.

"No."

"Hear that? And I'm fed up with everything about Tessaiga. Let's settle this once and for all." Good, let him focus on the battle at hand, focus on finding the wind scar. Inuyasha drew his sword, Toutousai running to safety as I ran at the hanyou, dragon claw extended.

"Rest assured…" Sparks and smoke billowed from the claw as it connected with Tessaiga. "It will all end today. So long as you cannot see the wind scar." If he couldn't find the wind scar after this, I was at a loss for what else could be done. He would never master Tessaiga and Kagome would be in more danger than I was willing to allow.