Authors note:

Not much to say, other than I love you guys. n_n

Chapter 11 - Ancient

The game was getting old. Sesshomaru could have sworn he'd been listening to it for hours already, although based on the sun's position above the trees it could only have been an hour at the very most. Even Rin had stopped playing, leaving only Jaken's squeaky voice to fill the silence. The human girl sat silently atop A-un, leaning forward and taking in the lush forest scenery around them eagerly.

"Trees. S. Squirrel. L. Lily. Y. Yellow." As if suddenly realizing that no one else was speaking, Jaken abruptly tried to draw Sesshomaru into conversation. "Your late fathers friend certainly lives deep in the forest." Silence met his valiant attempt. "Uh…yeah…"

A deep voice reverberated through the trees, making the leaves around them tremble slightly with the vibration of it. "Welcome. I have awaited your arrival."

Finally, Sesshomaru felt a sense of relief. They'd almost reached Bokuseno. Only a little farther. He continued to walk, finally spying the ancient magnolia tree just ahead.

"A voice from the sky!" Rin gazed up, trying to see the source of the voice.

Jaken craned his neck back and forth, bulging eyes intent on the tree canopy above them. "Uhh… I don't see anyone."

"I have been expecting you Sesshomaru." The tree was just ahead, framed perfectly in a beam of sunlight with shadows cast all around.

Sesshomaru focused on the tree intently, his gold eyes bright. "So you say that you knew I was coming, did you? Old Bokuseno."

"You've come to speak with me about the swords, I presume." As Sesshomaru stopped before the massive tree, the ancient demon's face appeared in the swirling bark. The eyes opened, casting to meet Sesshomaru's gaze. "Do you seek information regarding the Tetsusaiga, your fathers heirloom sword? Or perhaps…"

Rin gasped from behind him, peering between A-un's two heads to see the wizened old face that had appeared. "A tree demon!"

At his feet, Jaken was less enthused, and more terrified of the being before them. His voice quaked with fear. "Ohh. Lord Sesshomaru. What's that?!"

"A 2000 year old magnolia tree." There was more to the story. But Sesshomaru was less interested in fulfilling Jaken's curiosity at the moment, as he was to have his own questions answered.

"I see." Jaken's voice held a bit of wonder, further questions clearly on the tip of his pointed tongue.

Bokuseno continued, as if he'd been halted in the middle of a story. "It is true, the sheathes of the swords Tetsusaiga and Tenseiga passed down from Sesshomaru's father were carved from my very own boughs."

"They were?" Jaken's voice was filled with awe.

Before Jaken could question the tree further, Sesshomaru spoke. "Bokuseno, perhaps you could explain the link to me. Between InuYasha and the Tetsusaiga."

Bokuseno's eyes shifted back to the yokai. "InuYasha? Your younger brother?"

"InuYasha's blood has changed. The first time was when a demon bit and broke the Tetsusaiga. The second time he had let go of Tetsusaiga, while fighting me." The incident flashed through Sesshomaru's mind. The battle with his half brother. The way that the scent of his blood changed at the end, and the glowing red of InuYasha's eyes. Sesshomaru's eyebrows drew together. "His scent wasn't that of a half demon, it was the smell of a pure demons blood, like mine and my fathers."

"His blood had the same scent?" Bokuseno narrowed his eyes and chuckled. "I have my doubts." Had it been anyone but the ancient demon, Sesshomaru would have been irritated by the humor Bokuseno clearly saw in the situation.

"What do you mean by that?" Raising his head a fraction, Sesshomaru searched the demon's face, intent on getting a full answer to his request.

"InuYasha is a half demon. Born between a demon and a human. He could never become a full fledged demon."

Sesshomaru's eyebrows pulled together, he briefly considered demanding a straight answer instead of talking in cryptic circles. But… he trusted Bokuseno. Eventually, the tree would get to the point.

The ancient demon continued. "Sesshomaru there is something that you, a pure blooded demon are capable of accomplishing, but which InuYasha could never do."

"Go on."

"It is simple." The tree said, "I speak of protecting one's self."

"Protecting one's self?" Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed a fraction as he listened intently.

"Yes. In battle for instance. If you find yourself in a hopeless situation, you are able to remain calm. You never lose control of yourself."

An amused huff escaped Sesshomaru's lips. "It wouldn't be possible for me to fall into such a desperate situation."

Bokuseno chuckled, clearly amused by the self assured bravado. "No, I don't suppose you would. InuYasha is another matter however. If backed into a corner to the point where his life is in danger, his demon blood takes control of the body and he transforms in order to preserve his life."

That would explain his transformation.

The tree continued. "Unfortunately for InuYasha the pure demon blood of his father is too strong for a half demon such as himself."

Here it was. The answer he had been searching for. "What will the outcome be?"

Bokuseno seemed to take a breath before continuing. "Well… In essence the demon blood will devour his human soul. He will not be able to recognize himself. He will not be able to differentiate between friend and foe. He will simply kill. And with repeated transformations InuYasha will eventually lose his soul. He will become a demon who only knows how to fight and kill. And he will continue to fight until he is destroyed. I sincerely doubt that your father would have wished for such a terrible fate upon his own son, that is why he bequeathed InuYasha the sword Tetsusaiga. To protect his soul."

The Tetsusaiga protects him? So, if he releases the sword, he is doomed.

Sesshomaru took the news stoically. But the realization was daunting. Toga had not passed his oldest son over to spite him — he had intended to save InuYasha's soul from certain destruction. Toga had passed Tetsusaiga to InuYasha out of love. The revelation was overwhelming. Sesshomaru's hatred of his father's perceived slight, now seemed petty and foolish. For a long moment the lord was silent, his gaze on the ground as he absorbed everything Bokuseno had said to the fullest extent. He didn't even realize that Rin had slipped to the ground, until she was at his side.

"Lord Sesshomaru?"

Blinking, his gold gaze shifted to where she stood beside him, looking up at him with wide open brown eyes. For a moment their gazes locked. He felt that sensation again. As if something unspoken passed between them.

Shifting his focus away, he turned his attention back to Bokuseno, who was watching the interaction with apparent interest. Or… at least as much interest as a tree could have.

"Thank you Bokuseno." Sesshomaru spoke.

The tree didn't respond, but appeared to nod in acceptance.

"We will stay on Yakushima tonight." Sesshomaru said. "There is another matter I would speak to you about."

"Of course." The tree gestured to the left with his gaze. "There is a sheltered area and a stream a little deeper in the forest. Make yourself comfortable."

Rin smiled up at the tree. "Thank you for answering Lord Sesshomaru's questions, Master Bokuseno." The tree blinked slowly, perhaps surprised to be addressed by the human child. Rin, of course, showed no fear of the ancient demon tree. Without waiting for a response, she turned and skipped in the direction of the stream, laughing as she went. Jaken scrambled after her, pulling A-un to follow.

"Riiiiin! Don't go running off on your own! You must wait for me and Lord Sesshomaru!!!"

"I will return." Sesshomaru said to Bokuseno, his eyes following Rin's movements as she raced between the light and shadow between trees. The demon didn't respond, but made a sound of agreement. Silently the yokai lord turned and followed the sound of Rins laughter deeper into the forest.