TTotosai
Now, draw your sword.
TTotosai
(thinking) Now, let's see if it works, Sesshomaru. If it has truly accepted you, Tenseiga should guide your stroke.
It didn't cut him! He swung the sword, but there's not a mark on it!
(pointing) Master Jaken! What is that thing, behind the demon?!
TTotosai
He's opened a path to the Underworld.
W-wha-what just happened?!
TTotosai
Isn't it obvious? The demon's body was just taken to the Underworld.
A technique that cuts through to the Underworld...
TTotosai
It is possible, because Tenseiga is a sword that can connect this world with the Underworld. (flashback of Sesshomaru resurrecting Rin) That is why the master of Tenseiga is able to see creatures of the Underworld. Furthermore, he has the power to bring the dead back to this world by killing those very creatures.
(glances at her, thinking) Hmph. if only you knew!
TTotosai
Instead of doing battle by wounding his opponent, the master of Tenseiga cuts into the path to the Underworld, and sends his enemy there for eternity! (Sesshomaru stares at Tenseiga, then sheathes it) That is how it is used. And the name of the technique is: Meido Zangetsuha. (thinking) He mastered it in his first attempt. I must admit I'm impressed, spiteful brat though he may be. But, Tenseiga has spoken; it has accepted him, like it or not.
MMoryomaru
(speaking of Kagura) What does she do? She dies. And dies in vain, at that.
(as she dies) Now that I've seen you... one last time.
(thinking) I shall be the one to determine, if she died in vain. (aloud) I am ready for battle. I now wield the re-forged Tenseiga.
TTotosai
The demon-blade Dakki, huh?
C'mon, you must know something about it!
TTotosai
[examining the broken Dakki] Well, yes. I have heard of it. Take a look at this! [he hammers the broken tip; green lightning erupts from it, and it transforms into a dragon scale]
TTotosai
One of Ryujin's scales.
[hops onto Inuyasha's nose and sucks his blood] I've heard of this sword! The legendary Dakki- [Inuyasha squishes him]
TTotosai
This one is a failed attempt, hardly worthy of the name.
"A failed attempt?" That thing absorbed all of Tetsusaiga's demonic energy! [smugly] Naturally, it still wasn't enough to defeat me-
TTotosai
[sternly] If the blade had been successfully forged, you wouldn't be here!
Are you saying it's possible that there's a real one like this, somewhere?
TTotosai
Why would you ask such a thing?
Well, if Tetsusaiga had the ability to absorb demonic energy like that, then fighting Naraku and Morymaru would be easy-
TTotosai
Out of the question! To achieve that kind of power, you'd have to fight against Dakki! If you were to lose such a battle, and all of Tetsusaiga's demonic energy were to be absorbed, it'd be just a rusty blade, incapable of being returned to it's original form! Tell me, Inuyasha: is that a risk you're willing to take?
TTotosai
Come on, boy: out with it! What'd he do this time?
No, it's Tetsusaiga; it hurt Inuyasha! It tried to burn him! I've never seen anything like it!
Oh, hello again, Totosai.
TTotosai
Hmm. Here, let me have a look. (Inuyasha hands him Tetsusaiga, which he examines) I see it's now capable of absorbing demonic energy. So?
(headbutts him) So I'm asking you what the problem is, old man!
TTotosai
There is nothing wrong with Tetsusaiga! (returns the sword) If there's a problem, the problem is you, Inuyasha!
What're you talking about?
TTotosai
Listen carefully. Demonic energy is like a poison, of sorts. Originally, Tetsusaiga was forged from the fang of your father, who was a mighty demon. He had the capacity to absorb an infinite amount of demonic energy! However, you, who are half human, simply do not possess the power to restrain the demonic energy absorbed by your own sword! Now, then, show me your hands.
Huh! What, are you gonna read my fortune or something?
TTotosai
(thinking) Stubborn boy! This much damage, and you still refused to let go of the sword?!
The Dragon-Scaled Tetsusaiga grew hotter as it absorbed more demonic energy.
TTotosai
It was warning you of the danger you faced- a warning you would have been wise to heed!
(thinking) So, Tetsusaiga never wanted to hurt Inuyasha.
All right, what should I do?
TTotosai
Now that Tetsusaiga has become stronger, you too must become stronger to handle it!
It's going to take extensive training-
We don't have time for any of that, and you know it!
TTotosai
(deadpan) That is unfortunate, but it's your fault for ignoring my warning in the first place.
My fault?! I'm begging you for help, and that's all you can say?!
TTotosai
Well, if this is your idea of "begging", I'd hate to see what demanding looks like. Since you insist, go meet the Great Holy Demon Spirit!
TTotosai
He's the demon equivalent of a wise old hermit. If you want to master the Dragon-Scale Tetsusaiga, you have no choice but to go train under him.
(angrily) Tetsusaiga has the ability to steal techniques from the weapons of its' foes. Tenseiga, on the other hand, has no such power. (He has a flashback of Shishinki taunting him as he died) Both of us know that Father's true intention, from the beginning, was for me to perfect Meido Zangetsuha- but only so that Tenseiga could then be absorbed back into Tetsusaiga! That is the truth- isn't it?!
TTotosai
(nervously) Ahhhh! Wow, I'm impressed!
TTotosai
You figured that out all by yourself, huh? Well, you are exactly right- are you disappointed?
(glaring at him) Huh- I'd be disappointed if Tetsusaiga could actually cut me down. But that shall never happen! (raises Tenseiga to strike)
TTotosai
(raises his hammer) Whoa, there! (he slams it into the ground, creating a circle of blazing lava around Sesshomaru)
TTotosai
(irritably, unseen) Say, Sesshomaru- why do you think your father set up your swords this way in the first place, huh?! Do you really believe he favored Inuyasha, and simply left you the short end of the stick, so to speak?! (Sesshomaru growls) Either way, your thoughts are too clouded right now to see the truth! As long as you remain so narrowly focused on the heirloom Tetsusaiga, you will never understand your father's long-term plans!
(thinking)... What was Father's long-term plan?
TTotosai
Sesshomaru, abandon these attachments. Abandon your attachment to the sword as well as your hatred toward Inuyasha. Once you do, you may very well surpass your father! (Sesshomaru scoffs and walks away, Totosai and his demon-ox are shown cowering behind a boulder) Well, I thought that was it for us!
TTotosai
..Sesshomaru, are you able to accept what has happened?
(sobbing) Lord Sesshomaru, I am literally sick with grief! For Tenseiga to be absorbed into Tetsusaiga like that, it's unbearable-
I do... not care. We're leaving, Jaken.
TTotosai
One moment, Sesshomaru. Although you may find little consolation in it now, I suggest you take it. (gestures at Tenseiga) It fell from the path to the Underworld.
Hmm? (thinking) That's... that's Tenseiga!
Wasn't that sword... broken, already?
I see. That light I was following must have come from Tenseiga.
TTotosai
(offering Tenseiga to Sesshomaru) You may not be satisfied with this sword that cannot cut, but Tenseiga is powerful, for it heals.
(scoffs) So, what? I'm supposed to take it and go around healing people, now? Don't be ridiculous.
Please wait, Lord Sesshomaru!
Um... (she takes Tenseiga and runs after Sesshomaru with Kohaku) I'll give it to him when he's in a better mood! I promise!
What's gonna happen to Sesshomaru? Everything that our father gave us, is now mine. There's nothing left.
TTotosai
If I were you, I'd be worrying less about my brother and more about mastering that new Tetsusaiga! (Inuyasha balks) You do realize you had help, right? You didn't escape from the path to the Underworld on your own.
...Yeah. (thinking) If I hadn't been guided by Tenseiga's light... I never would've made it back.
TTotosai
Besides, Sesshomaru hasn't realized this yet... but he's one step away from obtaining a weapon of his own. And he'll be pleased to learn that this weapon is not an heirloom from his father.
Lord Sesshomaru, I thought you were going to die!
[weeping] I never once stopped believing in your victory, Lord Sesshomaru!
[mockingly] "Our tears would only dishonor his magnificent end?" [Jaken jumps and spins around]
Staff of Two Heads! [He uses the Nintojo to set Shippo's tail on fire]
[runs off] Agh! That's hot! OW! HOT!
TTotosai
Please show me your Bakusaiga, Sesshomaru. [Sesshomaru holds up his new sword, Totosai nods approvingly] Hmm. This sword has always been a part of you, Sesshomaru; it was waiting for you. But, before you could wield it, you needed to show you were worthy of it, by standing on your own as a great demon.
What's this?! Why, I'll have you know that Lord Sesshomaru has always stood on his own-
TTotosai
[scornfully] Will you shut up?
[thinking] It makes perfect sense! Overcoming his attachment to Tetsusaiga... that was the test for Sesshomaru. He had to let go of the past.
TTotosai
You once lost your left arm in an attempt to take Tetsusaiga. It was a most unfortunate event. But now, you have gained a new arm, along with Bakusaiga, a sword that is truly yours and yours alone. Proving, that you have finally surpassed your father and that you have been released from your obsession with Tetsusaiga.
InuYasha · 501 quotes
