Of Claws and Fangs
Episode 59

Sesshomaru looked at his mate in confusion. His fear for his pup's safety alleviated now that the Maidens were searching for him. "Weapon's Master?"

Akisame shrugged and looked to Haya, who repeated the motion.

The villagers gasped as not one but all four of the Celestial Maidens appeared in their village. Surrounding the demon. Now he will pay, thought a few. Tenmou glared at Nanshokagai. "You were warned, never to touch a Maiden, the Weapon's Master or their families Nanshokagai." Her sword slid easily from it's sheath. Raising her voice to where the villagers and the miko could hear, "This hanyou is the Weapon's Master of Amatsutome, he did not attack your village, the one who attacked it is there." She pointed to Nanshogakai.

She was caught, there was nothing to be done about it now. 'Just when I was having fun too.' Nanshokagai let her disguise drop, earning even more gasps from the villagers. "What will you do Maiden? Kill me and you disrupt the balance of power."

Tenmou glared at the spirit before her, "Hai, that it would. IF I kill you... but who said that was my plan?" A silver eyebrow quirked up.

The look in the Maiden's eye sent a shiver through her. Around her she could hear the villagers murmuring. The captain of the village guard stepped forward, kneeling and bowing low to the ground. "My lady Amatsutome .... how...how can we atone for our error?"

Keishou groaned as he came awake yet again. His eyes slitted open and saw the silver haired figures around him. "Amatsuotome?" he whispered. Why had the Maidens come?

Karite smiled at the Weapon's Master. With her scythe she easily sliced through the enchanted ropes. Together with Shussan they tended to his back gently. Suki released the arrow she had knocked it hit Nanshokagai in the shoulder. Tenmou spoke to the crowd. "There is the one who murdered your families and friends. This," she pointed at Keishou, "Is our Weapon's Master the one who holds the Maiden's weapons. It is not to us you must offer apologies but him." Her eyes never left Nanshokagai. "Next time you threaten spirit, I will leave a mark on you that no illusion can erase." Finally turning she clasped hands with her sisters forming a circle around Keishou and vanished.

Akisame had finished explaining to everyone how she had known to call the maiden when the four reappeared. A beaten Keishou in the center of their circle.

Yet again the Maidens were helping him find one dear to him. He was grateful for their assistance; he must remember to make another shrine, devoted to those of this world. The Maiden's sudden appearance startled him. Sesshomaru knelt beside Keishou, "What happened?"

Before any could respond, Keishou opened his eyes again, "Haya...where...Nansho--"

Haya slipped between two of the Maiden's to kneel at his side. "I'm here." Tears fell from her eyes as she saw the damage done to his back.

Shussan moved to stand beside Akisame, placing an arm around her waist. "Come, you must rest." She lead Akisame to the porch and assisted her to sit. Her eyes flicked around the clearing. Seeing Shakaku holding the babe she moved towards her. Stopping before the tora, Shussan held out her arms for the babe.

Tenmou bowed her head to Sesshomaru, "Forgive us, father of the Weapons Master and three Maidens. We had not expected Nanshokagai to be so bold."

Keishou reached up to touch her cheek, wiping at her tears. "She didn't come to you did she?" he asked, voice a little stronger now.

Sesshomaru shook his head and bowed, "No apologies are necessary. You have brought my son back, alive if not completely whole, for that I am once again in your debt," he paused, her words sinking in, "Three Maidens? I know Leena but..."

Shakaku handed the baby to the Maiden in awe. She had heard a little of the legend of the Celestial Maidens but had no idea that they were real.

Tenmou smiled, "Hai, three maidens. Two have yet to take up the swords of their worlds, and one has left behind hers to bring peace to others."

Shussan cooed to the child in her arms. Placing a kiss on the child's forehead, she whispered a soft blessing. With a smile she handed the infant back to it's mother.

Haya shook her head, "Iie, Keishou." She whispered, carefully wrapping her arms around him, "I thought I had lost you."

"You'll never lose me, koibito," Keishou replied, rubbing his cheek against her hair. His eyes flew open as a thought occurred to him. "My sword!"

Sesshomaru shook his head in wonder. "Can you tell me who?"

Tenmou was about to answer when Keishou's gasped words caught her attention. Turning she knelt beside him. "Visualize your sword, Weapon's Master. Feel it's weight in your hands. Hear the song of it sliding from it's scabbard. Know it's name. Now call the sword to you."

Keishou nodded and closed his eyes, doing as Tenmou instructed and when he opened them again, his sword was in his hands.

Nanshokagai sat in a tree, hiding from the villagers, looking at the sword in her hands with a smug smile. She would have the last laugh. Her smile quickly vanished when the sword disappeared. "Damn you Amatsuotome, damn you," she hissed.

"You are the Weapon's Master. You can call any weapon to you, provided you know it's name." Tenmou explained. "Rest well, I shall inform your sensei that you need time to heal before he continues your lessons."

One by one the four Maidens disappeared into the night. Silence cloaked the village, until it was broken by the wailing of an infant. Akisame looked down at Kaiya, "Are you hungry, sweetness?" She tried to rise but the soreness of childbirth, and her hand being cut made it impossible to rise by herself. Meeting Sesshomaru's eyes, "Help me, otherwise either our daughter will starve or I shall embarrass our other children."

Sending another silent thanks to the Maidens, Sesshomaru moved to assist his mate. He would have to ask Keishou later about the other two Maidens. He took Kaiya in one arm and gave his other to Akisame.

Sango came over to Keishou. She smiled gently down at him. "Now I can tell you that you look like hell." The hanyou laughed softly once, then cringed. "Come on Haya, let's take your husband inside."

Shakaku padded to Keikan's side. "It seems many legends I know of are in fact true," she whispered.

"Hai." Keikan said absently, his mind on the Maiden's words. "Three Maidens?" he muttered. "Leena is the Tenmou of her world... but who are the other two? Think.... Taka? no she's a grand child... unless the Maiden misspoke... Wait, Taka never knew her true father... her Grandsire acted as such. But the third?"

Haya looked at her mother and nodded. Together they guided Keishou into the hut. Bandages and herbs were quickly found and prepared, and the long process of treating the wounds began.

Shakaku cocked her head in curiosity. He was muttering low enough that she couldn't understand exactly what he was saying. "What is wrong?"

Keikan's attention refocused on Shakaku, "Nani? Sorry just trying to figure out what the Maiden meant by three. I know of one and maybe two... but I can't figure out the third. Or that stuff about Keishou and Weapon's Master."

Shakaku nodded. She wondered idly what her father would think if she told him that a "worthless hanyou" had been chosen to be the Weapon's Master of Legend. "Why don't you ask him?"

Keikan nodded his mind not really on what she had said. Suddenly a smile crossed his face and he spun to her. Moving quickly he grabbed her about the waist and lifted her into the air spinning in a circle.

"Oh!" she squealed as Keikan spun her around. "Keikan, put me down!"

Keikan did as she requested only to pull her close, "Chichioya and Hahaoya are back together...." He let the statement hang unfinished on the air.

Shakaku allowed her body to mold to his, knowing now what had made him so happy. She rested her head on his shoulder, nuzzling his neck. "Hai, when will you speak to them?"

"Give Kaiya time to eat, and then we will go speak to them." He said his hands running up and down her back.

"Hmm," she purred. "That feels nice."

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