Before they knew it, the day of their appointment with Totosai had arrived. Sesshomaru and Han left the Wolf Demon Tribe to collect the sword from Totosai's home. Though Han and Ayame hated to part, Han could not stay, and Ayame, who was still underage, could not leave the mountain-those were the tribe's rules. All they could do was embrace before reluctantly separating.
"Ayame, don't cry." Han gently wiped the tears from the little girl's face with her fingertips, but they kept falling. "I'll definitely come back to see you. I promise," Han said earnestly.
"Promise?" Little Ayame opened her eyes wide and looked at Han for reassurance. "Is that a promise between us?"
"Yes." Han smiled and nodded. "It's a promise."
"Then... then I'll wait for you on the mountain, Han. You have to come back!" Little Ayame clung stubbornly to her hand and said solemnly, "Once I'm allowed to leave the mountain, I'll come find you, too." She wiped away her tears with the back of her hand and broke into a broad smile, becoming that adorable, spirited little girl once again.
Han nodded, hugged Ayame one more time, then returned to Sesshomaru's side.
Inside the Wolf Demon Tribe chief's cave, the wolf demons gathered around the white wolf were rather dissatisfied.
"Chief, are we just letting them leave?" a wolf demon with mottled fur asked with a frown.
"What else? Force that demon to get engaged to Ayame?!" a gray-furred wolf demon retorted sarcastically.
"Damn it!" The first wolf demon punched the ground in frustration, sending up a layer of loose dust. "We worked so hard to bring Ayame and that demon together. That human girl kept getting in the way!"
"Stop that. There's no reason to take your anger out on her." The young white wolf who had been sitting silently to one side suddenly spoke.
"Hmph. Coward," the mottled wolf demon scoffed.
The young white wolf ignored him, and the cave soon fell quiet.
The young white wolf was the grand elder's son and the younger brother of the chief's wife. More than anyone, he cared about this tribe and wanted it to grow strong. Beneath his white fur flowed the noblest blood of the Wolf Demon Tribe, as great as that of his father, his brother-in-law, and the many white wolves who had come before him. Yet he was powerless against the subtle divisions within the tribe. The chief, the only one capable of keeping it all in check, was too frail to manage the tribe's affairs.
Perhaps, in the end, a wolf demon from outside would rule this tribe, he thought helplessly. The chief's illness showed no sign of improving, Ayame was far from grown, and his father, the grand elder, had no interest in tribal affairs. He had the will, but lacked the strength.
The pure white wolf sighed silently.
Meanwhile, Sesshomaru and Han had said their goodbyes and were ready to return to Sui Mountain.
His time in the Wolf Demon Tribe's territory had been enough for him to see the turbulent currents beneath its peaceful surface. Overly solicitous wolf demons, hostile wolf demons, indifferent wolf demons-the enormous tribe was rife with equally enormous conflicts. One day, those conflicts would erupt. But that was the Wolf Demon Tribe's own affair. He would not get involved.
They looked back one last time at the settlement bathed in warm sunlight, and at the little girl waving vigorously and doing her best to smile. Han waved back, then turned away, passed through the protective barrier, and continued along their own path.
"Han, will we really come back someday?" Yunai asked softly from her shoulder, a little downcast over their parting.
Seeing how the little rabbit clearly hated leaving Ayame too, yet was too embarrassed to show it, Han had to cover her mouth to keep from laughing. Otherwise, little Yunai might lash out in embarrassment.
"Yes, we'll definitely come back," she promised Yunai earnestly. At last reassured, Yunai stretched out on her shoulder, exposing a soft, plump belly. Han deliberately gave it a poke. Yes, it felt rather nice.
Yunai bashfully rolled over, revealing a short white tail instead, like a soft little ball. Amused, Han shook her head and stopped teasing the rabbit, simply keeping pace with the demon beside her.
The journey back to Sui Mountain felt shorter than the trip to the Wolf Demon Tribe, perhaps because they had had to search for their way on the outward journey. Once they could see churning lava and billowing gray smoke in the distance, they had reached Sui Mountain. The little rabbit wilted again. Han stroked those drooping long ears in sympathy, but she did not feel safe leaving Yunai alone outside Sui Mountain, so she could only bring the rabbit with her.
When they reached Totosai's home, they found him already standing at the beast-head entrance, holding the lead of his three-eyed ox, Mengmeng, as though he had known they were coming. Despite his kindly, comical appearance, Totosai had hidden depths.
"Ah, you're finally here. I thought it was about time." As he spoke, Totosai took a short sword from the basket on his back. It was not long, but neither was it small enough to tuck inside one's robes like an ordinary short blade. Its length was closer to that of a wakizashi. "This is your sword. Give it a name." The usually comical little old man wore a rare look of solemnity.
"Yes." Han solemnly accepted the sword with both hands and held it level before her eyes. With one hand on the scabbard and the other on the hilt, she slowly drew it out.
The sword rested obediently in the girl's hands, quietly sliding free of its scabbard in accordance with her wishes. The docile blade did not look sharp, but once it was fully revealed, a faint blue light flowed along it. Its presence instantly sharpened, and the blade turned pure white, faintly translucent, as though washed with water. Its lines were smooth, its simple beauty extraordinary. As it moved through the air, she could faintly hear the sound of the air being cleaved.
"Thank you," Han said earnestly to the old man before her. "This is an extraordinary sword."
"Then use it well," the old man said, looking at her with his great, bell-like eyes. "For this sword to accept you so easily, you must be its destined owner. Treasure it."
"Yes." Han nodded solemnly, taking his words to heart.
Totosai smiled in satisfaction. "Have you decided on a name?"
"Not yet." Han looked at the dog demon beside her. "Sesshomaru should be the one to give it a name."
Seeing the stubbornness in her eyes, Sesshomaru did not object.
A name for her sword...
After thinking for a while, Sesshomaru said, "Clear Torrent. Its name is Clear Torrent."
As though responding to its name, the sword suddenly emitted waves of light, like ripples spreading through the air.
Holding the sword, Han felt its pulse. The faint vibrations seemed to be gradually falling into rhythm with her heartbeat.
It seemed to like the name, accepting it so quickly.
"All right." Han lifted her face and gave Sesshomaru a broad smile. "Clear Torrent it is!"
"Yes," Sesshomaru answered softly.
Han lowered her head and closed her eyes, holding the sword in one hand while brushing the other over its blade. The keen edge passed across her hand without harming her at all. Instead, a refreshing coolness traveled from her fingertips to her heart.
From today onward, your name is Clear Torrent, Han told the sword silently. It trembled gently in her hand, answering without a sound.
"Totosai." Sesshomaru suddenly addressed the old man, his tone devoid of any chill.
"What is it?!" Totosai was startled by such a courteous Sesshomaru.
Sesshomaru took in the old man's reaction and could not help frowning. Had Totosai become hostile toward him?
"The price for forging the sword," Sesshomaru said. "What do you want?"
A renowned swordsmith would not readily forge a blade for someone. Even a steep price would be only natural.
Han stopped communing with Clear Torrent and looked up at the two of them. She had assumed Sesshomaru and Totosai were friends, so she had never considered the question of payment, thinking it was merely a casual favor. After all, forging a sword in a month was hardly difficult for a demon skilled in smithing. Now, however, it seemed a price still had to be paid.
For demons, there was no receiving without giving, nor any giving without receiving.
"It's hardly worth mentioning. There's nothing this old man wants. Only..." Totosai appeared to want nothing in return, but Sesshomaru, who knew the nature of demons well, understood that the old man before him must have something he truly desired.
Han also raised her head to look at the old man.
"Say, if it isn't asking too much, could you give me some of your blood?" Totosai lowered his head and, for the first time, met the girl's eyes without playing the fool. "I don't need your life's blood. Ordinary blood will do."
Han hesitated. The importance of blood went without saying, whether for humans, demons, or other beings. The power residing in human blood was so weak, yet even that meager power could provide an opening for someone seeking to kill through a curse. For powerful demons and other creatures, blood held not merely pure power, but a close connection to the being itself.
For demons, a part removed from the body was not truly severed from it, but remained connected in another form. The sword forged from Sesshomaru's fang carried not only the power inherent in a demon's fang, but also a particular connection to Sesshomaru himself. That was why Sesshomaru had lost his composure when Totosai removed his fang. He had refrained from objecting further only because he trusted Totosai to some extent. Though Han knew every part of a demon's body was important to them, she did not understand the precise nature of those connections.
"Would that be all right?" A rare look of anticipation appeared on Totosai's face.
"No." While Han was still hesitating, Sesshomaru refused at once.
"Sesshomaru! You have no idea what power this child's blood holds! With her blood, a demon won't lose their true nature. Don't you know how important that is to demons?!" Totosai was angry for once.
"If it's necessary, please take it." Han's voice suddenly cut in. Seeing Sesshomaru's displeased expression, she gently shook her head. This was her decision. She did not want Sesshomaru to pay a price that should have been hers to bear.
Sesshomaru turned his head away coldly and stopped looking at her.
The girl bit her lower lip, feeling hurt, but stubbornly stood by her decision.
Under Han's insistent gaze, Totosai steeled himself and took her blood as requested, enduring Sesshomaru's increasingly icy stare.
"Sesshomaru," Totosai said meaningfully after putting away the blood he had finally obtained, "isn't it time you went back to take a look at the Western Lands? The Leopard Cat Tribe hasn't been wiped out yet."
Sesshomaru looked at Totosai, who had suddenly said such a thing.
Totosai shook his head and refused to say any more. He merely climbed onto the back of his three-eyed ox, Mengmeng, and leisurely departed.
Before you continue