One Masterpiece by A Mystic Lady [Oneshot #66 Whoopsie]
Title: One Masterpiece
Author: A Mystic Lady
Theme: Whoopsie
Genre: General
Rating: T
Word Count: 729
Author Note: New Story; updates will sporadic
Summary: He came to see a masterpiece but found mayhem.
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha, nor do I make a profit from this little bit of writing.
Raising his arm the silver haired youth brushed the red banner curtain up and slipped into the shop, tugging his younger brother in. Nodding to the swordsmith’s granddaughter who was cleaning the display cases, he moved to stand in front of one and gaze at the wall. Or more importantly at what was mounted on the wall. Second from the top rested a katana.
But it wasn’t just any katana, no this one was special. It was crafted by his father when he was a small boy, and though his father was proud of what he had accomplished he had left it in the care of his master and moved on into the business world to provide for his growing family. His mother had just announced that she was expecting his sister and his grandfather had insisted that father take part in their business endeavor.
Sesshoumaru yearned for the sword. Its simple form was graceful, the dark grey of the same-kawa with its white menuki, divided from the blade by a simple bronze tsuba. The bronze kojiri of the black saya was matched by the kashira. From past chances to handle the katana, it was perfectly balanced and the blade was etched with father’s mark near the habaki. This was the only blade made after he had earned his license.
But he didn’t just want it because it was beautifully crafted. But because it also represented the man that stood so tall in his mind that he didn’t want to forget. His father was a man that stood strong and proud, a man that missed his domination in his kendo tournaments, missed his sister’s performance in the school play, and also missed out encouraging his brother in his soccer met. And he wasn’t there to see the tears that fell from his mothers eyes.
His lips twitch as he felt a bit of wistfulness come over him. What if’s played in his head. What if he had been home, what if he had not argued with him that day? What if he had been the one to find the robber? Would his father have been shot? Why couldn’t he have just let the man take what he wanted? They circled his mind as he gazed at the katana. So many things changed in only half a year.
Sesshoumaru was pulled from his thoughts at the soft tug on his hakama; he looked down to his little brother. “Nii-san, I don’t think they have ice-cream here” Inuyasha said, his eyes on a large knife in the display.
“No, Inuyasha, they don’t. We will leave in a minute.”
“But Okaa-san and Rin are waiting.” Inuyasha said with a half-hearted tug, obviously divided by want to look at the knife more and getting his ice-cream.
“Just a min-“he started but was interrupted by a loud commotion coming from the back of the shop.
“Excuse me Inoue -san; I need to see what that was.” The prior woman, Sango, said and left them to rush to the back.
From the darkened opening they heard a loud female voice, “Shippo, I’m going to kill you when I get a hold of you!” At the shout a small boy with reddish hair shot out of the hall, ran to them and hid behind the smaller boy.
“Oh my, Kagome, are you okay?” Sesshoumaru heard Sango ask. At this he looked at the boy from the corner of his eye. He didn’t remember there being so many people here before.
“Ah, Inoue-san, come to see the katana again, I see.” Totosai-sama said as he slipped in from a side door. Sesshoumaru nodded his head, but kept his eyes on the entry to the back hall, where he could hear more commotion.
“Oh, I see you have met my youngest grandson, Shippo.”
“Oji-san, I didn’t mean too.” The boy said with a grimace.
“Didn’t mean to do what?” He looked owlishly at the boy.
“He didn’t mean for me to be caught in his prank,” A girl said from the hall, she was covered in a.., and here he tilted his head, pink goo. It mingled with her hair and ran down the sides of her face where it dripped onto her white hakama. Her grey eyes burned with indignation and she pierced the boy with them.
“Whoopsie?” he said with a lopsided grin and big eyes.
Definitions: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katana_construction
Same-kawa - Ray skin wrapping
Menuki - ornaments on hilt for grip, wrapped into the same-kawa
Tsuba - Guard
Kojiri - Metal at end of scabbard
Saya - Wooden scabbard
Kashira - Butt cap or pommel of hilt (Tsuka)
Habaki - Metal collar at guard (Tsuba)