Three days later.
The three children stood at the entrance to Totosai's cave, each holding a brand-new weapon.
Inuyasha's blade was crimson, as if blood flowed within it.
The moment he gripped it, he felt a surge of heat pour from the hilt into his arm, then spread along his arm through his whole body.
It was a strange feeling, as if this blade had originally been part of his body, lost for a long time, and had finally returned.
Sakura's sword had a pale blue glow along its edge, warm and smooth as jade.
The blade was a bit longer than her broken shortsword had been, yet it weighed much less.
She gave it a swing, and the edge cut through the air with a faint hum, like a whisper.
Saku's... wasn't a weapon.
It was a pair of silver-white gauntlets, thin as cicada wings, so light on her hands she could barely feel them.
The gauntlets extended from her fingertips to her wrists, covered in fine patterns like rings of ripples.
"Gauntlets?"
Saku looked at the things on her hands, somewhat at a loss.
She had thought her weapon would be a saber, or a sword, or at least something that could be used to fight.
Totosai crouched down until he was level with her eyes.
"Your perception is the best weapon you have."
"These gauntlets aren't for you to go picking fights."
"They're to help you run a little faster when you're running away."
Saku froze for a moment, then nodded earnestly at Totosai.
"Thank you, Grandpa Totosai."
The corner of Totosai's mouth twitched.
"G-Grandpa?"
Totosai's expression returned to normal.
He stood, patted the dust from his robe, and looked at the three children.
"The weapons are forged, but I'll say the unpleasant part first."
"This still