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"Youkai?" I asked.

Sesshoumaru nodded slowly.

"So... This's why yer so distant?" I asked.

He cast his eyes away.

"No, not really. I'd be this way if youkai were common creatures." Sesshoumaru said.

I started thinking really hard.

"So, why tell me?" I asked. "If yer Chichiue don't want nobody ta know, why tell me?"

Sesshoumaru looked back at me.

"I was tired of keeping the secret." He said.

Wow. I expected something just a little more elaborate... maybe even heart-felt.

"You already knew, anyway." Sesshoumaru said. "When you came into my room, days ago."

I nodded.

"My lips're sealed." I said.

He looked around the house.

"This is your old house, isn't it?" He asked.

I nodded slowly.

"I was born an' raised in this house." I said. "I never knew anythin' but middle-class livin', and I loved it here... Just a li'l too late, though."

Sesshoumaru slowly walked around.

"Three siblings." He said. "Your parents. A bloody accident."

I cast a sad glance around the room.

"Four siblin''s." I said. "Hahaue... she was pregnant, back then."

Sesshoumaru looked at me.

"Yeah... ummm..." I was having trouble keeping my voice in check. "Chichiue, Hahaue, an' my Ani-tachi were murdered in a robbery. I never heard what happened ta the baby, so, I figured..."

I slowly crouched down, and buried my face in my knees.

I fought to keep from sobbing, feeling rather confident that he did not know how to comfort a crying person. Particularly not a girl.

I quickly dried my tears in my skirt, and stood up.

"Ummm... w-what made ya wanna come out here?" I asked. "I mean... ya seemed so determined ta stay hidden in that attic..."

I looked over at him.

Sesshoumaru was walking around, looking at things, although the room was empty.

"No one's ever gotten quite so angry with me, and contained it so well." He said.

Contained? I screamed at him!... I might as well have...

"I wanted to know what I'd done to anger you, and how you contained it." Sesshoumaru said. "I know what I've done to upset you... Still, how did you contain it? You don't seem the type to bottle up your feelings."

I gave that some thought.

Yeah, I was usually pretty straight forward about myself, even when trying to control it.

And, yeah, I would've broken out into a screaming fit, and beaten him senseless... if it wasn't him.

No. I can't tell him that!

"I've had lotsa practice." I said. "It ain't easy bein' a farmer girl in a rich people world."

He went to the kitchen, and stopped.

"They cleaned this place rather thoroughly." Sesshoumaru said. "There's no trace of the murderer's scent left."

I watched him carefully. "Y-you can smell 'em?" I asked.

"Barely." Sesshoumaru said. "There are traces of blood, and other things. Mostly it's just chemicals for cleaning."

I lowered my head.

Right about then, we heard thunder outside.

Looking out the window, we saw that it had begun to rain.

"Geez. Babaue'll be furious with me." I said.

I made my way back upstairs, and started to climb out the window.

"You're going out in the rain?" Sesshoumaru asked.

I looked at him.

"Yeah." I said. "Why?"

"You might catch cold." Sesshoumaru said.

I smiled. "I ain't worried 'bout that." I said. "I never caught cold while playin' in the rain before. I don't think I'll catch it now!"

I climbed out onto the tree, and slowly climbed down.

Outside, I ran to the road, and started toward town.

To my surprise, Sesshoumaru continued to follow me.

"Ya don't hafta come with me." I said. "I'm just gonna go talk ta my old friends, and see what all's changed since I left."

I spun around to walk backwards.

"You don't think I'm interested in this place that you call home?" Sesshoumaru asked.

I felt my face get warm.

"N-no. I didn't." I said. "Nobody really cared before... Not unless they could make fun o' me 'bout it."

He followed me into town.

I went straight to the old high school.

Everyone was leaving early, due to the rain.

I immediately spotted my best friend's umbrella. She still used the same one from when she was a kid. Pink with little ducks all over it.

I went to her, and tapped on her shoulder.

"Hasu-chan!" I whispered.

She spun around in shock, screamed in my face, and threw her arms around my neck.

This was typical of her. Hasume had always been easily excited.

"Oh! I thoughtcha fergot 'bout us!" She cried. "Whatcha doin' 'ere? Ain'tcha livin' life in luxury, now?"

I scoffed. "If that's whatcha wanna call it." I said. "Snobs everywhere ya turn. Everythin's gotta be perfect. Ballet. Itchy dresses. Fine dinin'. An' everybody looks down on me 'cuz I'm a hickey!"

She let go of me. "That bad, huh?" Hasume asked. "There ain't anythin' good 'bout the high-life?"

I smirked. "I didn't say that." I said, casting my gaze back to Sesshoumaru, who was waiting at the gate.

"Wow! Now, there's a catch fer ya." Hasume said. "He's yer beau?"

"Oh, hell, no. He's engaged." I said. "But, I like 'im. Wish 'e'd call off the marriage."

"So, what's 'e doin' 'ere? Don't 'is fiancée think think 'e's cheatin' on 'er?" Hasume asked.

"Maybe. But, 'e ran away from home because o' her." I said. "The high-life gets rough, even for the people born in it, I guess."

"Then, 'ere's yer chance! Turn on the charm! Steal 'im away!" Hasume said.

"I cain't." I said.

"Why not?" Hasume asked.

"Ya need ta meet 'im." I said. "C'mon. I'll introduce ya."

I stepped behind her, and pushed her all the way over there.

"Geez, what's yer..." She was now looking up at Sesshoumaru.

Hasume's skin began to grow chill bumps, and it was perfectly warm out.

She stiffened up, and I could hear her breath becoming more rapid.

"Yeah. Shiroiinu-san, this's my best friend, Hasume Mizuhana." I said. "Hasu-chan, this's Sesshoumaru Shiroiinu. He an' I 'tend the same high school."

Hasume let out an odd squeaking sound, as Sesshoumaru seemed to glare down at her.

I patted her shoulder.

"Takoyaki anybody?" I asked. "It's been too long since the last time I had good, Osaka-style takoyaki."

Hasume squeaked again. Sesshoumaru scoffed.

"'Kay, then." I said. "I'm buyin'. Let's go."

I had to push Hasume a good ways away from him before she started moving on her own again.

"Wow. 'E's so intense! What's up with 'is eyes? It felt like 'e was starin' right inta my soul, tryin' ta burn through it 'r somethin'!" Hasume said.

I gave a weak smirk. "That might be the case..." I said, quietly. "But, yeah. I'm surprised I ain't made a fool o' myself, yet."

I cast a glance back at him.

He was glaring up at the sky, for some reason.

"Are ya sure 'e likes takoyaki? I mean... 'e's got that look." Hasume said.

"Oh, I wouldn't worry 'bout that." I said. "He's real calm 'bout a lot, y'know? It's just a matter o' how long I stay 'ere. I feel like I'm holdin' him here, since 'e's followin' me."

We went to get takoyaki, and spent another few hours in town.

Later, when night fell, it was still raining.

I was about to call a cab. Then, out of nowhere, I was picked up.

I gasped, as I settled down on Sesshoumaru's back.

"W-what -" I tried.

"Just hold still and you will be just fine." He said.

He looked back at me, then turned ahead, and began running.

He got me back to Babaue's house within a few minutes, bid me good night, and ran off.

I went inside. I could tell Babaue was not happy with me. But, I couldn't hear a word she was saying. I was too... mystified, I suppose.

I'll never forget the way he looked at me, that night.

That protective, loyal, almost loving look... it'll be burned into my memory... Forever…

Youkai - Monster/Demon.

Chichiue - Father.

Hahaue - Mother.

Ani-tachi - Older brothers.

Babaue - Grandmother.

Takoyaki - Octopus dumplings.

Gosh, I loved writing this chapter! I hope you enjoyed reading it! Please, review!