Warmth

5

 I want to preface this chapter by letting my readers know that if you've read chapters 1-4 before 4/7/24 there may be some slight changes you may have missed. Namely, in chapter 2, the village leader Kenkō has undergone both a weapon and personality change. Other chapters experienced small correctness and clarity changes. If you've made it this far because you can read a story without needing instant gratification as soon as chapter 1, congratulations, you are a dying breed. As always, constructive critique is encouraged as well as a simple 'atta girl' for encouragement if you are enjoying this content. (Yes, that is Hak from Yona of the Dawn, but he looks closest to our dearest Kenkō.)

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Tenseiga, forged from the fang of Sesshōmaru's father, Tōga, was passed down to his son after his tragic demise. It contained powers that transcended the natural laws of life and death, a feat only recently discovered by its new young owner. The blade had only throbbed one other time before now when it compelled its master to use it on a young girl who had been mauled by wolves.

Rin...

But what was it compelling him to do now?

The strange woman smiled at them. It was gentle, yet enigmatic, as if it held the wisdom of ages past and the warmth of a comforting embrace. The glow of her face seemed to illuminate the darkness around her; a brilliant display of calm confidence. In the flickering glow of the stone lanterns, she greeted her guests, "Ah, visitors. Welcome."

She rose from the floor then, handling the unfinished blade with care as she placed it on an iron-capped stump, her anvil. She grabbed a wet cloth from one of the nearby buckets and began to wipe away a clay sludge from the sword.

Jaken took stock of her ethereal appearance, but having grown impatient, he was galled at her behavior. "Visitors?! You are in the presence of the great Lord of the Western Lands! You will show respect!" He hopped back and forth on each foot, waving his staff.

Sesshōmaru reached down to grab Goshinki's head by the horn and tossed it out in front of him. "I need a sword forged of this demon's fangs. I was told you were the person for the job."

The cloth was pinched around the blade and pulled taunt to its tip, collecting any leftover sludge before being plunged back into the bucket. The red-haired woman didn't meet his eyes and instead seemed to be more focused on the task at hand. "A recommendation?" she questioned softly, dipping the sword into the elongated tub of water beside the firepot. "Hm, I don't get those. Surely it didn't come from Kenkō."

The dog demon noted the smile still on her face. It was like a parasite. He took a step closer, but couldn't ignore her skillful hands as she handled the blade. Its edge had recently been whetted as it seemed to glisten brightly in the light of the stone torches. Knowing how to not mishandle a sword that was still without its *tsuka would require extensive dedication to the craft. This woman was, without a doubt, who he had been looking for.

"My master was informed by-" the imp started.

"Jaken, wait outside for me."

Jaken stumbled, gawking loudly, "Wha-?! But my lord...!"

"I won't tell you again."

Sesshōmaru's voice cut through the air with a sharpness that brooked no disobedience. With a reluctant nod, Jaken backed away, casting one last bewildered glance at his master before begrudgingly stepping out of the forge. He grumbled to himself the entire way out, finally reaching the door of water with the invisible bridge that led to the outside. "Oooooh I'm too afraid to try to go across without that rock Lord Sesshōmaru has! I guess I'll just have to wait here..."