After Shiro left, the workshop rang with the steady clang of his hammer; steady, almost dull.
"Haven't you decided yet?" a boy's voice cut through the air, coming from nowhere.
The hammering stopped for a moment, then picked up again.
"Your idea sounds good, but I don't see you winning," Shiro said, his voice cool and even.
"Oh, come on, big brother." The air rippled like water, and a boy stepped out, his sly smile sharp as a fox's.
He blinked, charm rolling off him. "Did I not explain? Help us, and I'll save your sister."
Shiro gave him a hard look. "You're a demon. Why should I trust you?"
"Not all demons are evil, just like not all humans are kind. Honestly, humans mess up more often," the boy said, his mouth tilting upward.
This was Nura Rikuo, son of the Slippery Gourd and next in line to lead the Hundred Demons. Half-human, half-demon, he carried his father's strength and his mother's rare blood with more potential than that of his father. He could outshine his father one day; but not yet. He wasn't ready to take charge or face the Slippery Gourd head-on.
That's why he needed Shiro. Of course Shiro wasn't sold.
"How can I back you when I don't even know what you're after?" Shiro's tone stayed low. "Nura Clan's young master, why would you turn on your own father?"
Rikuo's smile softened. "My father… is he still my father?"
"He used to be a reckless, shameless old guy," Rikuo went on. "But he'd never kill humans or weak demons for no reason. He didn't rule the Hundred Demons with fear. He was fair and didn't care if you were human or not."
Shiro's eyes narrowed slightly. "You think Yellow Springs has him under control?"
"Probably. It's not just me; the old-timers like Yuki Onna, Ushioni, and Karasu Tengu see it too. Since Yellow Springs took over, they've been shut out. Even I can't get near him. This has to stop!"
Rikuo's easy manner dropped, his stare turning sharp. "That man needs to die!"
He fell to his knees, bowing low. "Please, lend me your strength!"
"We can't take Yellow Springs alone. But with that sword…the one he wants could break the demon realm's barrier!"
"If you agree, I swear as a Nura, I'll save your sister, Muramasa Yuri!"
Nura is a monster moved like shadows, slipping past any lock. Rikuo was better than his father at it; sneaking into the workshop through black snow and Ibaraki Doji proved that. He could get Yuri out, no matter the guards.
Shiro wanted to believe him but held back. "Even if the sword breaks the barrier, the Lord of Yellow Springs is still dangerous. Can you handle him?"
"And… Can you strike your father down?" Shiro's gaze bored into Rikuo.
Rikuo went quiet, his hand brushing his sword, Nenekirimaru; a blade that only cut demons. One slice could strip their power away.
It was his mother's keepsake. It was originally meant for Yellow Springs' forge by Rikuo's father but Rikuo protected it. It was proof that his father wasn't himself. He was either controlled by magic or something worse.
"I'll use this to cut the Nura Clan free from Yellow Springs!" Rikuo's voice hardened.
With the Nura's stealth and Nenekirimaru's edge, he could end the Lord of Yellow Springs in one blow, if he got close enough.
"Please, Master Shiro! It's not just for me….this city's lives hang on that sword!"
Shiro kept hammering, a faint, odd smile tugging at his lips.
"Right… Either way, I've got to make the sword. All I choose is who gets it. How annoying."
—--------------------------------------------------------------------------
On the top floor of Takamagahara Tower, over a hundred girls with strange talents lived in comfort; for now. They were gathered as sacrifices for some ritual tied to the Lord of Yellow Springs, but at least they had no worries about food or shelter.
Their days were free, and their biggest joy was playing girlish games. Laughter filled the vast space. Yet two stood apart: a quiet girl in a kimono and a jittery newcomer.
Shion didn't care for crowds. After a short stint in the games, she slipped away. Surrounded by girls her age, she still felt adrift, unsafe.
"Atsu…"
She missed her friend, her thoughts heavy. Drifting, she found Yuri, the kimono-clad girl, engrossed in a chain lock puzzle. Yuri's face was blank, but her focus burned.
"It's easy to unlock," Shion said softly, sensing Yuri's struggle.
"Hm?" Yuri's brow twitched.
She thrust the tangled lock at Shion. "Here."
Yuri had been stumped for ages; she didn't buy Shion's "easy" line.
Shion giggled, took the lock, and gripped the iron ring. Yuri expected some clever trick, but….
Bang, bang!
With a few sharp tugs, the lock snapped apart.
…Wasn't that metal?
Yuri gaped. Shion beamed, holding up the fragments. "See? Simple, right?"
A chill ran through Yuri. 'I can't handle this girl.'
—--------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Brother" was a loaded word for Sesshomaru, all because of his father's messy love life.
As dog demon lords, blood mattered. Marrying outside the clan was rare, but his father picked a human princess, Izayoi, and had Inuyasha, a half-demon.
Sesshomaru and Inuyasha never got along. It stayed cold between them.
To Sesshomaru, Inuyasha was rude, weak, ugly, and shameless for loving a human (or so he thought). Worst of all, their father doted on him, which stung.
But after getting Bakusaiga and marrying Rin, Sesshomaru eased up. Attacking Inuyasha would've made him a hypocrite.
He figured sparing Inuyasha was kind enough. Inuyasha should thank him, even if he acted tough—deep down, he had to respect his big brother. That's what Sesshomaru told himself.
Crackle!
A bolt shot from the silver orb, hitting Sesshomaru's hand dead-on.
"…"
He pulled back, his fingers charred.
Kiyoko and Atsu who were standing next to him looked confused.. Haru turned around quickly, his shoulders shaking…
It started when Sesshomaru decided to save Shion alone after hearing their story. He wanted Atsu's orb to track her.
But then…
Haru, fighting a laugh, turned back with wet eyes. "Guess the Inugami Shrine's founder really cared for his kin. That amulet keeps demons off."
Sesshomaru nodded slightly while Haru smirked inside.
Sesshomaru thought hiding his past kept the shrine link secret. Not from Haru.
A amulet against demons? Inuyasha was a demon, and his kin carried that blood. Why make something that'd zap them?
The lightning just now was clearly the instinctive reaction of the demonic power left by Inuyasha - he really hated Sesshomaru from the bottom of his heart!
Although Haru was laughing inside, he kept his face blank. Pissing off Sesshomaru could end badly.
Sesshomaru felt tangled up inside. He knew the truth but wouldn't admit it; pride wouldn't let him. If Inuyasha were here, he'd have swung his already.
Good thing his icy face hid it all.
After a beat, he reached out again. "Kid, hand it over."
It was just a thing…he could force it. He'd tamed worse, like Totosai.
Atsu wavered, still unsure, but at Haru's nudge, he gave it up. The orb hit Sesshomaru's skin and flared. Tessaiga popped from Atsu's waist on its own.
The rough blade swung out, a sharp wind slicing free at the orb, knocking it loose.
"Ah!" Kiyoko caught it without thinking.
She braced for a jolt, shutting her eyes but nothing happened.
She opened her eyes carefully and found out that everyone was staring at her hand. The orb sat there, calm.
"I can't—" Haru pinched his leg, choking down a laugh.
Atsu blinked. "Wait, doesn't it zap demons?"
Haru: "…"
He glanced at Sesshomaru, whose face didn't flicker.
"Rest tonight. We leave at dawn to get her," Sesshomaru said, walking off into the woods.
Although he saw them as dead weight, he had to rely on them to use the beads for tracking, so he had no choice but to bring them along.
As for why wait? He had business tonight.
…..
That night, monster cries rang from the mountains…
'Safer now,' Haru thought, pulling his blanket tight.
…..
Next morning, Haru and Atsu stood outside the temple with Sesshomaru standing at a distance. Kiyoko lingered, hiding her reluctance.
She'd asked to join, but Haru rejected it citing the reason "combat effectiveness". She has very little demonic power left, which makes her only stronger than the average person.
Haru had his logic. He'd head back to the future, and Atsu was human; neither could stay with her long. Better to end it now than let it hurt later.
As the saying goes, a short pain is worse than a long one. Instead of parting with each other when the relationship is deep, it is better to nip it in the bud from the beginning!
Although this is cruel, it is the best option…
But Haru didn't see his mistake. Kiyoko cared more than he knew.
"I made this last night. Will you wear it?" She offered a red ribbon with bird, flower and animal patterns.
Haru paused, then nodded.
Kiyoko smiled, tying it to his wrist with care. The ribbon swayed, its patterns alive in the breeze.
"Goodbye," Haru said quietly, thinking it was final.
Sesshomaru wrapped them in a demon cloud, soaring toward Kyoto with the orb's guide.
Kiyoko watched them fade, then smiled slyly and slipped back inside.
Soon, she stepped out, packed and dressed to move.
"Sorry, Haru. I wove my hair into that ribbon… I didn't lie, I just didn't tell you..."
She grinned. "I'm decent at tracking."
.....
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