“Tessaiga,” Sesshoumaru said, his claws curving around the frayed hilt as he regarded her closely. “You believe the sword to have this power?”

“Yep,” the girl said, smiling slightly. “Inuyasha used it to break through Naraku’s barrier once before.”

His eyes narrowed. “How?”

“With its other form—the Red Tessaiga,” she explained, her blue eyes gleaming. “Inuyasha was able to transform it into a shield-breaker by absorbing the power from the barrier gem of the southern bat youkai tribe.”

“Taigokumaru allowed this?” Sesshoumaru asked dubiously.

Even amongst demons, the bat daiyoukai was outspoken in his hatred of humans—and halfbreeds. Sesshoumaru had once been on amiable terms with his late son and heir, a friendship which had promptly ended once he learned that Tsukuyomaru had taken a mortal woman as his wife.

The girl shook her head. “No, his granddaughter Shiori gave the gem to Inuyasha—after we defeated Taigokumaru.”

Sesshoumaru’s gaze fell to the sword. He had always underestimated his younger brother, assuming him to be weak. Weren’t half-demons notoriously inferior—humans, even more so? And yet, Inuyasha and Tsukuyomaru’s daughter, along with the miko, had brought down a daiyoukai as powerful as Taigokumaru…

“So, you’re saying that the mutt’s sword should be able to take down this barrier as well,” the wolf concluded, his simple mind clearly straining to follow the logic of the conversation.

“Yes—I believe so,” the girl replied patiently.

“Heh.” Grimy claws ground into an even grimier palm. “Sounds like a plan to me. And once that barrier’s broken, I’m gonna introduce that whore of Naraku’s to a whole new world of pain.”

Sesshoumaru doubted this sincerely. Still, if what the girl said was true, he saw nothing to prevent him from unlocking this second form of Tessaiga. The sooner he brought down the mountain barrier, the sooner they could leave this accursed place.

“Right,” Kagome said, joining in the wolf’s enthusiasm, “and then it’s on to Naraku himself!”

“With my wife-to-be at my side,” Kouga added proudly, Tessaiga’s worn hilt fraying even more beneath the clench of Sesshoumaru’s claws.

The girl stared flatly. “That wasn’t part of the compromise.”

It was only her clear disinterest that had spared the wolf’s life thus far. Though the shards embedded in his legs increased his speed, Kouga was far from the daiyoukai’s equal. At least the girl seemed to recognize this much, with her thinly-veiled propositioning.

Yet another incentive to be done with this as soon as possible, Sesshoumaru reflected.

Unsheathing Tessaiga, the sword transformed at once in his hand. As humiliating as it was, he had only to think of the girl now for the fang to respond—further proof that his father’s perverse sense of humor endured with him still.

The wolves and the rest crowded around as he approached the barrier, bending his mind to the blade. Tessaiga glowed with his power, its color shifting from silver to gold. He envisioned a weak spot in the shield before him and focused upon it, the sword’s color deepening still.

“Shit, he’s really gonna do this,” Kouga muttered in awe.

Sesshoumaru scoffed inwardly as Tessaiga pulsed in his hand—warningly. He had a moment to blink before the sword flared violently, and he dropped it with a snarl.

“Sesshoumaru!” the miko cried, running forward and cradling his singed, blackened palm in her own. “What happened?!”

“Looks like the mutt’s sword doesn’t take to him so well. Maybe I should give it a try,” the wolf remarked as he strolled over, Sesshoumaru making no move to stop him as he attempted to pick up the sword—the untransformed Tessaiga sparking viciously in his unworthy hand. “FUCK! What the hell’s wrong with this thing?!”

“Kouga-kun, you shouldn’t touch what doesn’t belong to you,” the girl scolded.

On that point, Sesshoumaru agreed with her entirely. As his own pain faded, he watched in dark satisfaction as the wolf attempted to soothe his scalded claws.

“Now what?” Kouga demanded, glaring over at Sesshoumaru, who glared back.

“It’s been a long day,” the girl said tiredly. “A really long day. Why don’t we just give this another shot tomorrow?”

“Seems to me like your plan’s not going to work,” the Elder’s granddaughter grumbled.

“It will work, Ayame-san,” Kagome countered, her determined gaze returning to the daiyoukai’s. “I believe in Sesshoumaru.”

Once more he wondered about his brother, about his victories and his ultimate defeat. The girl’s presence had been the common thread underlying each and every one of his successes, it seemed. All that Inuyasha had achieved, he had achieved because of her. Could there be true power in this unyielding faith of hers? As he looked down into her beautiful face, so resolute and wholly focused upon him, for a moment, Sesshoumaru allowed himself to believe that this was true.

“…And anyway,” she said, turning back to the gathered wolves with a wry grin, “what other choice do we have?”

Inuyasha © Rumiko Takahashi