After flying through a sky that is painted in shades of gray, Inuyasha and Asahiko finally manage to visualize Totosai's abode.
"It's a volcano..."
"An interesting choice, but well he's a blacksmith, so it works."
"Ha, he most likely chose it so he wouldn't be found and not because of what you're thinking."
For every second that Inuyasha and Asahiko keep talking to each other, Totosai's home becomes clearer in front of them. Just as Inuyasha had described, Totosai's abode is in an active volcano, but not inside it, but in the crater above the lava that has dried up in it.
*Muuuu*
Letting out a Muu, the cow/ox belonging to Totosai begins to descend into the volcanic crater and in a few minutes, both Inuyasha and Asahiko have their feet on the warm ground.
"What are you doing? Get up!"
"But... It's so comforting just lying here... You must try."
Speaking in a super lazy voice, Asahiko starts to extend his limbs like a star and sticks his face to the warm volcanic ground without any trouble.
"Come on, let's go cow!"
"Hold on, hold on, I'm coming!"
Christopher/Asahiko pov.
Walking behind Inuyasha, who is on Totosai's ox, I struggled to keep my eyes open and my brain attentive to the surroundings. It was beautiful the atmosphere up here, not the place itself, as there are cracks in the crystallized magma that let you see the lava flowing underneath, but the ambient heat seeming to embrace me.
*Muuu*
Shaking my head sideways, I return to my normal senses and the first thing I hear is the *Muu*, but more importantly the place we have arrived at. It was the skeleton of a huge unknown youkai, which is embedded towards the inside of the volcano, its bones are pure white and seems to even withstand being soaked in magma.
"Let 's go in."
"Yes."
Nodding to each other and leaving the ox alone, both Inuyasha and I, set off into the body of the deceased youkai.
Some time later...
"Stupid boy, what have you done to my sword!"
"Make up your mind whether you're going to scream or cry!"
"Inuyasha, please mourn!"
"Shut up Asahiko!"
Leaving the teasing for now, I notice how Totosai's tears evaporate as they hit the ground and steam rises to the top. Closing the tear tap, Totosai grabbed the remains of Steel Fang with his hands and fell into his thoughts.
"So old man, can you fix it?"
"Impertinent child... Yes, Inuyasha, open your mouth."
Resting the remains of Steel Fang on the cloth in which they were kept at all times, Totosai pulls out some small pliers from somewhere and taking advantage of the moment when Inuyasha opens his mouth, rips out one of his fangs.
"Ahhhh! What are you doing, you old idiot!"
"Ouch, that must hurt. Inuyasha let it go, I haven't gotten mine yet."
"Ah, ah, ah, ah... it's a little green, but this fang will serve to strengthen Steel Fang."
Gulping for air desperately, Totosai completely ignores the bump he got from Inuyasha's blow and begins to analyze Inuyasha's newly obtained fang.
"Three days, in three days I'll be able to fix Steel Fang. About your sword Asahiko, it is already ready for its base form, maybe, yes, no... Yes, three days should be enough for the energy to stabilize."
"You work fast Totosai, I thought you were going to give me a stupid excuse and I would have to beat you."
That's what I call skills, it must take an amazing amount of time to create a magic sword, and when you consider how long normal ones take, Totosai's skills are amazing.
"My forging techniques are clearly amazing, but working with such a quality material, it made everything easier."
"Are you making fun of my old man!"
"Inuyasha for god's sake, there is no need to make fun of the low quality of your teeth... We all already know they are bad, no better said green, hahaha!"
"Asahikoooo!
Dodging Inuyasha by simply turning my body to the side, I quickly get up from the ground and say goodbye to Totosai. He has earned a bit of my respect for his skills, you have to give respect to those who deserve it and currently Totosai deserves it.
Two days later/Night...
Today was a beautiful new moon night. Thanks to the disappearance of the moon and the lack of human pollution, the stars in the firmament look like a bunch of precious gems lying on a black background.
"Watch Asahiko. he's totally human!"
"Let go Miroku and Sango stop watching me like I'm a freak show."
"It's amazing, there is no differentiation from a common human, your excellency."
Turning from gazing at the beautiful night sky, I guided my eyes to the spectacle before me. Inuyasha... Inuyasha literally transformed into a human. His white hair is now completely black, the dog ears have vanished from atop his head, the claws and fangs are gone, plus his entire atmosphere screams "Ordinary Human".
"Is Miroku shaking?"
"Give him a few seconds, Shippo, he's digesting it."
"U, ds, qy"
"Asahiko..."
I'm not going to laugh, I'm not going to laugh... I'm going to laugh... No, I can't do this to him, but it's so unexpected and so easy to use to tease Inuyasha. Hitting myself in the head with one of my tails, I control my muscle spasms and give Inuyasha a thumbs up, then calmly walk away.
"What just happened..."
"Asahiko, I seriously didn't take this opportunity?"
"Inuyasha how did you manage to buy it?"
"Shut the fuck up!"
Moving further and further away from the group, I leaned against a tree, before throwing a barrier covering the surroundings and letting my emotions free.
"HAHAHAHA, you saw his face, HAHAHAHAHA, now I understand why he desires for the pearl, HAHAHAHAHA"
Ha, I need air, but... HAHAHAHA. It's certainly never boring with Inuyasha around, although the fun with Kikyo is pretty good too... Umm, like two different flavored ice creams, but in the end they're equally ice cream.
Finishing releasing everything I was carrying inside, I make the barrier covering the surroundings disappear and start walking back towards the camp having a serious face.