InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ This Wasn't In The Job Description ❯ Tessaiga ( Chapter 27 )

Chapter 27

 

Tessaiga

 

The next morning in the demon realm, Sango, Miroku and Kagome sat chatting after breakfast. Off to one side, InuYasha sat thinking. He was so intense, that the others thought it best to leave him alone. Absently, he scratched his head and huffed out a sigh. He was brooding on what Sesshomaru had said yesterday about Tessaiga. It irked him no end that his brother said he did not know all the techniques that existed for using the sword. But there was no way he was going back to his brother to ask him about them.

 

InuYasha's mood was beginning to itch at Kagome. She wanted to ask him what he was thinking about. The intense and brooding look on his face was becoming too much to bear.

 

“Is there some way I can help you, InuYasha?” said Kagome quietly, turning her body to face his.

 

Startled out of his thoughts, InuYasha's eyes darted at her a moment and then he blinked a couple times. He drew himself back out of the depths of the turmoil in his mind, and huffed again, scratching his head. Kagome sat watching him with a sweetly concerned and patient look on her face.

 

“I don't think you can,” InuYasha said wryly.

 

On the other side of Kagome, Miroku and Sango had broke off their conversation and now turned to see what InuYasha and Kagome were talking about.

 

“Why don't you tell us about it,” said Kagome. “You never know. Just talking to someone can sometimes help you clarify your thoughts.”

 

“I agree,” said Miroku. “We are your friends - you should let us help if we can.”

 

Realizing there was no way around it, InuYasha closed his eyes a moment and collected his thoughts.

 

“What Sesshomaru said about Tessaiga is bugging the shit out of me,” said InuYasha. “I don't like being told that I don't know how to use my sword.”

 

“So what can we do to confirm that what he said is the truth?” said Kagome.

 

All four of them sat and thought about this a moment. InuYasha sighed and then crossed his arms scowling in frustration.

 

“Do you know who made the sword?” said Sango suddenly. “If we could find the sword smith, I am sure he would be able to tell us.”

“I think that is a good idea,” said Miroku.

 

“Just one problem,” said InuYasha. “I don't know who made Tessaiga.”

 

“I'm sure Sesshomaru probably knows,” said Kagome thoughtfully, and then looked up as InuYasha growled irritably. “I know, bad idea to try asking him.”

 

They were all silent a minute thinking, when InuYasha hit on an idea. It may still be a long shot, but it was the best he could come up with. At least now, they had some direction and purpose in the demon realm until Kagome found a portal out of here. He still believed Naraku would ultimately try and crack the Shikon no Tama formula in the human realm, since it was easier than importing the technology here. As for Kikyo, well - she had just better find them before they found a portal, or she just might end up stuck here. Not such a bad idea, after all.

 

“Somewhere in these forests is said to be an ancient, youkai magnolia tree,” said InuYasha. “If I remember correctly, he went by the name Bokusenou. He might know where we can find the sword smith who created Tessaiga.”

 

“It's worth a shot,” said Miroku, and got up to go put out their campfire.

 

“How is your ankle feeling now?” said Sango to Kagome.

 

“Well it doesn't hurt so much,” said Kagome. “But I don't know if I can put any weight on it.”

 

His brow furrowed in concern, InuYasha knelt by Kagome's side and examined her ankle. It was still swollen, although not as bad as the previous day.

 

“Do you want to try and walk on it?” said InuYasha.

 

“Alright,” said Kagome, and stood up with Sango's help.

 

Kagome took a step, and then crumpled right into InuYasha's arms. He caught her against his chest, and she smiled up at him ruefully.

 

“I guess it's up on my back again for you, girl,” said InuYasha. “Let's break camp and set out.”

 

Quickly, they packed Kagome's backpack and gathered their belongings. Miroku and Sango helped Kagome up on to InuYasha's back, and they were off.

 

“Do you have any idea where this youkai magnolia tree is?” said Miroku from behind InuYasha.

 

“Not really,” he replied. “But it will be in a forest where the trees are the most ancient.”

“That makes sense,” said Sango. “Just how many forests are in the youkai realm?”

 

“As many as used to be in Feudal Era Japan,” said InuYasha.

 

Kagome gulped.

 

“That's a lot of forests to cover,” she said.

 

“I know where the most ancient of them are,” said InuYasha. “So I can limit the places we need to look.”

 

As they walked, Kagome rested her chin on InuYasha's shoulder, deep in thought. She was trying to remember what she could about the demon realm from her college history classes. But it wasn't easy. Not because she could not remember the courses she took, but because she was finding it hard to concentrate.

 

Flashes of the memory of InuYasha's confrontation with Kikyo from yesterday kept re-playing in her mind, causing twinges in her heart. So what if he still had feelings for Kikyo? He was allowed, after all. And in the end, it did not really matter. She could not bear the idea of not being with him, and would stay with him no matter what. With that thought, she rested her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes, tightening her grip on him. His long hair tickled her nose and she smiled.

 

“You aren't still afraid, are you?” said InuYasha. “Because you needn't be. I promise to always protect you.”

 

“I'm not afraid,” said Kagome. “I don't doubt your ability to protect me. But can you tell us exactly what we are up against here?”

 

“Besides some of the lower youkai thinking you may be good to eat,” said InuYasha, “and Sesshomaru's forces, we have Naraku's minions to deal with. Plus assorted other youkai who hate my guts because I am a hanyou.”

 

“That's just not right,” said Kagome. “I don't understand that kind of prejudice.”

 

“Well, it's what I grew up with,” said InuYasha. “After my mother died, I had no protection. Those assigned to protect her after my father's death abandoned me when she died.”

 

“That's just terrible,” said Kagome. “It must have been really hard for you.”

 

“I'm strong, and I'm tough,” said InuYasha. “I survived, and one day I will claim what is rightfully mine.”

 

Kagome was afraid to ask what exactly he meant by that. It all came back to his desire to become full youkai by using the Shikon no tama formula. This made Kagome feel sad. She would never want to see him become a cold, heartless youkai like his brother. She liked his fierceness and passion. It made her sad. The feeling made her say something before she could really think about it.

 

“InuYasha,” said Kagome wistfully, “I think you are fine, just the way you are.”

 

At her words, InuYasha almost tripped. No one had ever said something like that to him except his mother. Even though Miroku and Sango were his friends, this was something they had never voiced. And Kagome had said it so sweetly and sincerely, that he felt a lump form in his throat. He could not answer her, only rubbed her leg with his hand where he gripped it.

 

At his touch, Kagome's smile got bigger, and she turned her face into his shoulder, relishing it. Maybe there would be a chance for her in his heart, despite Kikyo.

 

A/N: Sorry this took so long. I had writers block...happens even to the best of us, I'm afraid.