InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Swords of Fate ❯ The Arrival of Myoga and Toutousai ( Chapter 6 )

[ P - Pre-Teen ]

By: Cierah

Chapter Six: The Arrival of Myoga and Toutousai

Before Sesshoumaru could enter the cave behind his brother, a thump made him turn around. Blinking, he stared into three eyes of a cow. Stepping back he glanced up and saw the swords smith. Rolling his eyes, he opened his mouth to say something, but something bit him, and he smacked his hand out of surprise and shock. A now flattened flea floated into his hand.

“Myoga.” Sesshoumaru muttered. So it was the same flea that had traveled with his father.

Toutousai walked up and looked Sesshoumaru up and down. “You look like you did all those years ago.”

Sesshoumaru raised his eyes to the sword smith. “Yes mind explaining this?”

Toutousai walked away.

“Hey! I was talking to you.” Sesshoumaru snarled.

“Master Sesshoumaru.” Myoga cried, hopping in his hand.

Looking down into his hand, Sesshoumaru turned and followed Toutousai into the cave. Before he could take a step however, he felt something brush against his legs and looking down he saw the two tailed cat mewing and gently kneading his leg. Pausing in mid step, he waited.

“Sesshoumaru!” His name was called from inside the cave, and he lifted his head.

“I'm coming, but mind calling off the cat?” He winced when a set of claws pierced the material of his pants and dug into his skin when he uttered the word cat.

Sango appeared. “Kirara.” The exterminator said happily. “I have a bowl of treats for you.”

The two tailed cat abandoned her kneading of his leg and ran off into the cave. Sighing with relief, Sesshoumaru followed, still holding Myoga in his hand. His eyes adjusted to the light in the cave, and he saw Toutousai kneeling off to the side among the others. Taking a deep breath, Sesshoumaru joined them and watched the sword smith pull Tenseiga out of its scabbard. Scrutinizing it thoroughly, he placed it to the side shaking his head, and then he pulled Tessaiga out and peered at that. Placing that sword to the side, he stood up shaking his head.

“Well, that's that.” He muttered, walking towards the entrance of the cave, leaving everyone open mouthed and staring at his slow retreating back.

“What do you mean that's that?” Inuyasha cried. “Hey! Get back here!” The small hanyou jumped to his feet and raced after the sword smith.

Sesshoumaru blinked. Inuyasha grabbed the smith's hand and started pulling back trying to stop his escape. Both his feet here planted heel down in the stone, leaning as far back as he could, pulling the arm of Toutousai who seemed not to notice. Inuyasha was being pulled along despite his efforts.

Suddenly Toutousai stopped, causing Inuyasha to be knocked off balance and hejolted forward beside the smith. The desperate tugging, then the immediate stop caused him to fly forward with his arms flailing at his sides, falling face first into the stone ground with a grunt of surprise.

“Goodness, what is this?” Toutousai murmured. “Who are you, boy?” The smith glanced down at the red blob on the floor.

Myoga sighed in Sesshoumaru's hand.

“You do look familiar boy.” Toutousai tilted his head gasping. “Are you my new apprentice?”

Inuyasha growled and lifted his head. “No, you fool!” Jumping to his feet he tried to glare at the smith, but rolled his eyes instead seeing only the knees of Toutousai before his eyes. Lifting his gaze he narrowed his eyes, trying his damndest to look menacing.

“Oh good a fighting spirit. Come along boy, we have a long way to go.” Toutousai nodded. Turning around he made his way to the cave door, but was stopped by other people in his way. “Oh, Kagome, Sango. Nice to see you again. Where is Inuyasha? I had wanted to speak with him about Tessaiga and how he treats that sword.”

Sesshoumaru rolled his eyes. “Some things never change. Still as senile as ever, old man.”

Toutousai turned around and nodded to the youkai. “Very right you are, Sesshoumaru.” The smith stopped suddenly, and gasped, eyes widening. “Goodness, what happened to you. You should be what, nine-hundred years old by now.”

Shaking his head, becoming annoyed, Sesshoumaru growled. “Not quite. Did you forget the reason for your coming? Or is this a game that you are playing?”

Snapping his fingers, Toutousai reentered the cave, stepping around Inuyasha mindlessly. “We should wait for Inuyasha to arrive.” The smith sat down beside Sesshoumaru and the smith smirked. Peering at the child, he nodded. “Well I don't have to worry about you killing me. You don't even have claws yet boy.”

Sesshoumaru grunted, clenching his fist. Myoga squealed in his hand and he looked down quickly releasing his grip. He had forgotten about the flea.

Toutousai turned around when someone poked his shoulder, and he peered into golden eyes of his apprentice. “Boy, you should not disturb an old man when he is having a conversation. Be good and wait by the door.”

Inuyasha growled, and Sesshoumaru chuckled. “I assumed we were waiting for Inuyasha?” Sesshoumaru grunted.

Toutousai nodded. “Now where could he be?” He said looking around.

The hanyou's eyes narrowed even more. “I'm standing right here, you idiot!” He shouted.

Toutousai gasped. “You shrunk!” He stated.

Growling frustrated, Inuyasha jumped onto the old mans lap and pulled his hakama in his grip. “I didn't shrink you fool. You were brought here to explain this.” He waved to him and his brother.

“Oh that's right. You both had been fighting and were wondering what had happened to you. Well isn't it obvious?” The smith chuckled.

Inuyasha, still in the smiths lap, growled. “We were changed into children. Would you mind explaining to us why?”

Toutousai grunted, holding his finger to his chin. “Now, let me see. Oh, that's right. Sesshoumaru, what sword did you use when fighting Inuyasha?”

Rolling his eyes, Sesshoumaru sighed. “I started with tokijin, but the blasted hanyou dislodged it from my grasp.”

Toutousai nodded. “Right, you then used Tenseiga, a healing sword, to fight.”

Gritting his teeth together, Sesshoumaru nodded. “I have used the sword in the past, sword smith.”

“Yes, very true, but have you ever used the sword against Tessaiga?” The smith asked.

Sesshoumaru paused, and glanced at Inuyasha who was still in the smith's lap with his hakama firmly between his clenched fists. Inuyasha glanced at him and frowned.

“I don't think you have actually.” Inuyasha muttered.

Sesshoumaru shook his head. “I haven't, now that you mention it.”

Toutousai nodded. “Well, there's your answer.” He made to get up, but Inuyasha snarled, gripping his fists tighter. “Oh, alright. Tenseiga and Tessaiga were both made from your father's fangs were they not?” Shaking his head, he muttered in exasperation. “Children!”

Waiting for a moment as both Inu pups nodded, he then continued. “Well, you see, the fangs were your fathers. If you think about it, you really wouldn't have fangs in your own mouth fighting against each other for dominance, right? It's the same now that they are swords. They know that they are from your father's fangs, were once a part of each other as much as your father, so they are telling you what they think of the constant bickering.”

Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru looked unimpressed.

“Tenseiga was never meant to be used in battle against Tessaiga. The moment the swords realized the intentions they decided they had enough and intervened.”

Inuyasha growled. “They're swords!”

Sesshoumaru nodded. “How can swords intervene or even know what is going on?”

Toutousai looked at Myoga, who was inching his way onto Sesshoumaru's shoulder. “I think what Master Toutousai is trying to say is that when the swords clashed in battle; you opened a rift in time. A healing sword not meant to be used in battle, and a destructive sword meant only for battle, used against one another opened this rift taking their owners to another level in life.”

“So how is this reversed?” Miroku asked, listening intently.

Myoga sighed. “I'm not certain it can be.” He squeaked suddenly when he was gripped tightly in a fist.

Sesshoumaru glared at the flea. “I am not staying a child!”

“If I'm not mistaken, to get back to your normal selves, you would have to find this rift and seal it. This is a theory.” Myoga moaned, twisting in the youkai's strong grip.

Inuyasha released Toutousai's hakama and stepped out of his lap to glare at the flea. “Wouldn't this rift be at the sight of where it opened?”

“Not necessarily.” Myoga muttered still struggling to free himself. “The rift can fluctuate between its own dimension and anyone it chooses. It can pop up for moments, or it can remain in place for long periods of time, but it can also vanish and reappear miles away minutes later, or disappear entirely for years.” The grip on him got tighter.

“So do you mind explaining how we are to find this rift?” Sesshoumaru snarled.

“This is a theory, Master Sesshoumaru. If this is in fact the case, the swords must work together and release their curse on their owners. The owners must work together, put aside their differences, and basically prove to the swords that their intentions have changed. If the swords believe that their owners are worthy, then they will show the way to the rift. Much like they did when they drew you to Sou'unga.”

“Their pulsing.” Inuyasha grunted.

Myoga nodded. “Now they can show the way to the rift, but if you don't reach the rift before it vanishes then you would have to start your search over again.”

Sesshoumaru took a deep breath, and closed his eyes. “Basically a never ending cycle.”

Myoga nodded, and sighed when the grip on him released. “Remember this is in theory. I can only assume that this is what the swords had intended. Your father never wanted you brother's to fight, and so he made sure that you never would.”

Sesshoumaru opened his eyes slowly, and glared at the flea. “There is something you're not telling us.”

Myoga gulped. “Well…uhh…if you cannot reverse this in the swords allotted time that they have set, you will remain as you are, reliving your childhood.”

Sesshoumaru reapplied his grip on the flea. “And what pray tell is the swords allotted time to break this curse?”

Myoga squeaked. “I don't know. You would have to ask the swords.”

Sesshoumaru growled and dropped the flea. “This is ridiculous.” Standing up he stalked out the door of the cave, and left the others sitting there staring in stunned silence at the news they had just heard. If things were going to get complicated, then this was only the beginning.