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ABC Thought

CHAPTER 4

At the pond

"Brr... So cold! I don't like this at all!"

Rin hugs herself and shakes horribly. Amused by her reaction, I laugh.

"Don't worry. You will get used to it soon."

Eventually Sesshomaru lead us toward to a large pond and now we're taking a bath in it. Hiding ourselves behind some big rocks to wash away the blood and dirt that getting all over our bodies.

As Rin's slowly sneaking away, I catch her and begin to wash up.

"Wah~ Stop it, onee-chan! I can do it myself!"

Rin, who was so unwilling to take a bath earlier, ended up in here as I had to drag her down into the water with me. And it sure was not an easy job.

"Oh no, you don't. You will just end up running away again."

Finally Rin gives up and stands still for me to wash her hair. But she doesn't speak and keeps staring at me. Curious, I ask.

"What's wrong?"

"You know what onee-chan? You are very pretty!"

I blush at Rin's sudden praise and flick her forehead.

"Aww, you are one cute little girl too. You know."

"Hee hee, really, onee-chan? Do you mean it?"

Seriously, I wonder how she can keep her positive attitude all the time when living in such a dangerous world. While also having someone like Jaken by her side for 24/7. Only imagining about that would drive me nuts already.

"Of course you are. There's no need to doubt about that."

I assure her while trying to get the mixed of dirt and blood out of my hair. Luckily I have them cut short or it would be so much of a pain to remove them.

"Ouch! This one is as tough as a rock."

Seeing me struggling, Rin offers to help. "Here, let me try."

Meanwhile, Sesshomaru and Jaken are sitting at the spot nearby. Different from Jaken, who is waiting for the girls quietly and has a boring look on his face. Sesshomaru seems to be deep in thought.

Such healing power that human girl is possessing. Is she connected to Naraku? A spy? What is Naraku scheming this time?

Clenching Tenseiga with his hand, the lord frowns in irritation. It doesn't matter what she is. If that girl ever tries harming Rin in any way, I will eliminate her.

15 minutes ago

"Jaken-sama, do you know where Ah-Un is? I haven't seen him for a while."

Suddenly remembered about their missing companion, Rin spoke up and Jaken shrugged.

"I don't know. Maybe it's slacking off somewhere in the forest again, like always."

Ah-Un? Had I heard of that name somewhere before?

"Ah-Un is not simply a dragon, he's also a friend. I will introduce him to you once he's back!"

Hearing so I nodded, thinking that meeting a dragon is going to be very interesting. Since I had never met one in real life, and let's just hope that he's tamed.

"I see. I can't wait to meet him."

Just then, Jaken pointed his staff at me and yelled, destroying our little happy moment.

"Don't you dare breaking your promise and explain yourself this instant! Can't you see Sesshomaru-sama is waiting?!"

I hadn't broken anything yet you know. How impatience.

"Alright, fine. What do you want to know"

"What are you."

Sesshomaru just had to ask the most difficult one and my steps halt, grinning in embarrassment.

"Well…How should I describe this...I really don't know what am I...either."

After hearing my *amazing* explanation, Jaken tripped over while Sesshomaru paused. He turned to me and I could tell from his eyes that he's going to kill me in any minute.

"Are you trying to prank us, you little wench!?"

Jaken confronted me in his lord's place. And I backed away, trying to ease the angry mobs.

"Wait, calm down! I haven't finished! You see, this wasn't the first time that occurred. I just kind of figured out that I had this in me when I was around 7 years old."

*Flash back*

10 years ago

(Shiomi will automatically changes her name into Sora as she's telling Sesshomaru and the others her story. But as a third person view point, I will put her real name here)

On a fine morning I, together with my mom and my sister, were on our way to our elementary school. Holding our mom's hands on each side and out of the sudden, my big sister got such a brilliant idea in her mind that she just had to share it with me immediately

"Hey, Shiomi!" My sister called me.

"Yes, onee-chan?"

Seeing me responded, she grinned mischievously.

"What do you say if I challenge you a race to school?"

Needless to say, I was completely taken aback by her sudden request.

"Why a race all of the sudden?"

Not bother to wait for my answer however, she released my mom's hand and steps up ahead from us.

"Alright! Whoever comes to school last is going to be a slowpoke! The loser will have to give up her sweats for the winner for a whole week!"

While I was still trying to progress what was going on, Megumi had already charged ahead. Leaving me with no other choice but to follow.

"That's so unfair! You started before counting!"

That's how Megumi successfully dragged me into most of her games, by always be the first one to give rules and play first.

"Megumi! Shiomi! Where are you two going!? Come back!"

Everything had happened too fast for our mom to react. And by the time we reached half way to school, I was still falling behind my big sister for a really long way...

"Onee-chan! Wait for me!"

I called out for her, gasping for air while trying to catch up. And the moment my big sister crossing the road, she turned her head around and waved at me.

"Hurry up, little sister! You don't want to be a slowpoke for the whole week, do you?"

When it was my turn to cross the road, I rushed forward with a thought in mind that the green light was still on. My eyes were too focus on my big sister, who was standing at the other side of the road and starting to disappear out of my sight.

And unbeknown to me, the traffic light turned bright red as soon as I begun to cross over.

"Screech!"

Suddenly there was a loud noise at my left side and the very last thing I could see was the sight of a car. After that, everything turned dark.

In that very moment, I had thought that everything around me had frozen.

'Hey! A little girl got hit by a car!"

Someone yelled and people began gathering around the little girl, whispers along with gasping sound were all aiming toward her, who was lying on a pool of blood.

"My god, she's dead!"

An old woman screamed out of shock, causing even more chaos to the whole scene.

"The driver had run away!"

Another man informed them that the car, which hit her earlier was nowhere to be found.

"Megumi! Shiomi! Where are you!"

Their mother had finally reached the road and noticed a group of people gathered into one spot ahead of her, in the middle of the road while the other cars had stopped moving.

Her instinct was telling her something horrible had happened. Still, she believed that her daughters were fine and had already reached to school. Only when their mother heard the whispers from some of the women nearby that she broke down in tears.

"Poor little girl, she could have waited."

"I thought she was in a hurry to chase after someone?"

"What kind of parents let their children cross the road alone like that?"

Shiomi's image instantly came across her mind as she forced herself through layers of people up ahead. There, she froze at the horrifying scene. Her arms and legs turned weak, shaking horribly as her face went pale.

"M..M-my...b-ba...by!"

Her words couldn't come out as she crawl her way to Shiomi.

"Shiomi...!"

She embraced her cold body. The pain in her chest, it was so great that almost making her heart skipped beating. It was too painful that to breath. Weakly, she glanced around the place to call for help in weak mumbles.

"A-Ambulance...I need to call for the ambulance! Please!"

"I just called and it's on its way here."

Someone responded to her and another person stated. "Miss, it's too late. She's already gone."

"No! She's not going anywhere! Not without me!"

She shouted back in denial and hugged to the lifeless figure even tighter. "Please, Shiomi! Don't leave your mommy like this! Please, i beg you!"

"Mom?"

There's a familiar little girl's voice nearby. She looked up and found her eldest daughter, Megumi, standing a few steps away from her.

"What happened? Why are you covering in red paint?"

Just a couple of minutes ago, Megumi got bored with the prank and and decided to end it. When on her way back to get her sister however, she heard her mother's horrifying scream.

To Megumi, that was the second in her life she ever saw her mother crying. The first time was when Shiomi's born.

Why is everyone standing around mom? Did she do something wrong?

Megumi noticed there were a lot of strangers surrounding their mother. Then her eyes landed on a small figure covered in red lying in her mother arms.

She couldn't identify who this was due to the injuries on one's face. Still, Megumi recognized the same dress from her school, the only different was that it's badly damaged.

"Is that Shiomi?"

Megumi took a guess and her mother froze. Knowing that she's right, the girl crossed her arms and pouted.

"Had you been here sleeping? And I had to go back just to look for you!"

There was no response from neither her sister nor her mother. Feeling something wasn't right, Megumi approached and whispered to them.

"What's wrong Shiomi? Why aren't you moving? Hurry up or we're going to be late!"

Her mom wouldn't stop sobbing or even letting go of her little sister.

"Mom, why are you crying? Was it because we run away? I'm sorry I won't do it again."

Their mother couldn't think of anything to say and afraid that if she said something too shocking, her daughter could end up getting traumatized for the rest of her life.

"M..om..my...? Mom...Where are you...?"

All of sudden Shiomi called out to her weakly, and she couldn't believe in herself that miracle had happened. Her little girl was still alive.

"Shiomi? Honey, it's me, mommy. Can you hear me!?"

Shiomi cried, her little hands held onto her mother's arms tightly. "Sob...It…hurts."

Once the ambulance came, they quickly delivered Shiomi to her family's hospital.

At the Sogo hospital

As soon as their father received the news about the incident, he abandoned all his work and ran here.

"What happened!? How did Shiomi get into an accident?!"

Concerned and angered, he almost shouted at everyone in the hospital. But quickly calmed himself down.

"I-it was my fault, I shouldn't have let go of their hands."

Their mother sobbed as they're standing in front of the emergency room. Megumi was sitting on one of the waiting chairs leaning against the wall.

Then emergency room's light then switched off and one of the doctors walked out of the door.

"Doctor! Is my daughter okay?!"

Mr and Ms. Sogo rushed to his side as he quickly bowed to them.

"Good news, sir! Your daughter is completely alright. She won't be suffering any aftereffect in the future."

Only then, the two were able to let out a sigh of relief. "Really...? Thanks god"

Waiting for them to calm down, the doctor asked them to verify something, which he couldn't stop wondering about while treating Shiomi back inside the emergency room.

"It maybe rude to ask you this but... Are you sure that the girl was really get hit by a car?"

Needless to say their mother wasn't pleased with his ridiculous question.

"What are you saying, doctor?! Didn't you see she was all covered in blood and her dress was damaged?"

And he fluttered. "It just that when we checked Shiomi, there was no wound to be found. Not even single scratch, nothing at all! As if there was no accident occurred in the first place."

"If she wasn't injured then why there was so much blood? At that time I swear she had stopped breathing."

"I'm sorry but I have to say that I don't know. Sogo-san."

"Then can we meet her?" Their father requested for a quick visit and the doctor led them to Shiomi's room.

"Y-yes of course, sir, right this way."

"Mommy! Daddy! Onee-chan!"

Seeing my family rushed to my bed, I called out to them. Mom's and Dad's faces looked like they just experienced the worst nightmare they had ever had.

"Shiomi! Are you alright? Are you hurt?"

Megumi, hiding her face behind a bag of chocolate and approaching slowly to my side. No longer being over energetic like she's always be.

"If you feel uncomfortable anywhere, just tell us. Don't be afraid, okay?"

My father said as he stood beside my bed and I nodded.

"It hurt a while ago but I'm totally fine now, daddy. I can even stand up if you want!"

I attempted to show him but Dad stopped me before I could.

"There's no need to. I can see that you're doing well, my dear."

She's completely healed, just as he said. What's going on?

He patted his daughter head and the little girl giggled. Still, as long as she's safe, anything else doesn't matter...

"I'm sorry. Shiomi. I didn't know that my prank would end up causing such a serious problem."

Therefore Megumi mumbled, she looked like she would cry in any minute.

"Apologize accepted!"

Hearing that my sister finally relaxed and nodded. Giving me the bag of chocolate she had been keeping in her hands.

"I will let you have all of my sweets once we're home for a whole week. How does it sound?"

Nothing could describe how happy I was when receiving such a one in a life time offer.

"That would be great! Thank you, onee-chan!"

*End flash back*

"And... that how it ended!"

I clapped my hand to celebrate. Excluding what car, traffic light and hospital are, I was positive that they had gotten the main idea.

"That's it?! What's the point telling us that if in the end we still don't know what you are?!"

Though Jaken didn't appreciate my story time much.

And I shrugged in respond, making a pitiful face. "Didn't you guy want to know the truth of my origin? That's all I know."

"No one would want to hear about your stupid past!"

"But I do!" Rin raised her hand as I patted her head. "Thank you Rin. I know you do"

Apparently both Jaken and Sesshomaru were definitely not satisfied with my explanation but they decided to let it slide anyway...

Back to the present.

"Alright, I'll go pick up our clothes."

I tell her to stay put before stepping out of the pond, toward to where we left them earlier but nothing is there. Confused, I wander around the spot searching for them. Trying to recall what happened before we jumped into the water.

They should be somewhere nearby these rocks, right? Can't be too far away...

Then I check the big rocks behind ours bathing spot in circle and finally. There they are!

Without hesitation I approach to collect them, and it's only then that I notice both Sesshomaru and Jaken are sitting under the tree like 10 feet away from me.

And judging from their looks, mostly Jaken's, they must have seen everything. Every. Single. Thing.

My brain and feet turn frozen on the spot out of shock and like a reflex, I cover myself with my arms while trying to find a place to hide. However, there is nothing around but short grass, wild flowers. And I definitely cannot climb onto those rocks to get back into the pond in this ridiculous state.

"How dare you walking naked in front of Sesshomaru-sama! What are you trying to do?! Showing us your true ugly monster self?!"

Angered by my disrespectful action, Jaken jumps up and shouts at me.

What does he mean by monster self!? Do you seriously thinking that I would want to show you my body or something?!

"Will you stop being crazy even for a second?! Who is trying to show who what?!"

Suddenly being insulted, I shout back. My face is burning bright red like a tomato out of embarrassment.

"Why would I even want to do something so embarrassing?! I'm not a retard!"

Sesshomaru, on the other hand, gives me his daily expressionless look. Before turning away with a "Hn" and irritates me even more.

What's with that boring response!? But no matter, I need to cover myself first.

Immediately I put on my school coat and back off from them.

"B-Beside, aren't you the ones being wrong here! Why didn't you guys wait somewhere far away?! Women need their privacy, you know!"

"And why would we care about your privacy?! You're not our master! Wasn't it your fault for being careless and leave the clothes here in the first place?!"

Jaken counters back and steps forward shamelessly.

I jump a few steps back, cringing my teeth at how right he is. Dammit!

"If you seriously thinking that you can seduce this Sesshomaru..."

Suddenly Sessomaru speaks up and breaks our fight, his eyes aren't focusing onto me. "...Then you are greatly mistaken, vermin."

His cold words instantly deals a painful strike to my heart.

What the hell is he saying now? Seducing?! Me?!

In order to gain back some of my dignity, I try to explain. "Hold on. I think there is some misunderstand here. You see, I am not..."

However, Sesshomaru cuts me off with another heart-piercing statement.

"There's nothing on that body can spark my interest."

After dealing the final blow, he simply walks off with Jaken. Leaving me behind with a broken soul. And to make thing worse, that damn little youkai shifts his head back and stick his tongue out at me, laughing.

"Bleh, What a morron! Serve you right!"

At that very moment, I swear thunders are rumbling beside both of my ears and my soul is stabbed right though with a huge broken *Pride* arrow.

Using the rest of my body's strength, I crawl my way back to where Rin is while trying hardest to hold back the urge to cry.

"Onee-chan, you're back!"

Rin, who is sitting by the river side, greets me and I hand her the clothes before walking straight to the pond, taking a deep dive into the cold water.

"Onee-chan, Are you taking a bath again? I thought you're done?"

She asks me while searching for her Kosode within the stuff. However it isn't there.

"Onee-chan, where's my Kosode?"

Rin approaches me once I get up to the surface. My face turns paler by second when replaying that embarrassing scene from earlier all over and over.

Not only had they seen my naked body but also accusing me of seducing them!

And then there is Sesshomaru, whose words had definitely hit me hard to the bones.

There's nothing interesting about your body. Nothing...nothing...(echo)

"Onee-chan, say something." Rin lays my arm to wake me up but to no avail as I have already fallen deep into the dark, sorrowful alley.

Mommy! I want go home! I hate those guys!

No longer holding back the tears, I burst out into tears out of shame and causes Rin to be even more worried.

"What's wrong? Did something happen?"

Unbelievable! My pride of being a woman up till now is completely ruined within such a short moment, being popped and vanished like a bubble.

I didn't catch any Naraku's scent from her just now.

Watching the white clouds flowing slowly up on the sky, Sesshomaru recalls to the incident earlier.

If her power didn't come from that vermin but from another force. Then I would have no need of her any longer. The faster she's gone, the better.

In the afternoon

After that painful accident, we somehow manage to regroup and keep on traveling aimlessly into the woods. During the whole time, I never stop pouting and completely avoid Sesshomaru's face and Jaken's call, which piss the little youkai off to his spine.

Seems to be annoyed by my attitude as well, Sesshomaru speaks up.

"If you care so much about your little ego then go by yourself next time."

Basically he's telling to me to die alone if anything happens. I know he is not wrong and I realize my place in this group, but these words are still too hard to digest.

Does it kill him if he say something nice to me for once?

"Why is it that I've never once being welcomed nor being treated like a normal human being? Even though i had tried so hard..."

Clenching my hands into fists, I take up all my courage and talk back to him. It's only then that Sesshomaru finally turns around to face me.

"What did you-"

"Don't you *what* me! If there's something bothering about me then just speak it out already! I'm sick of being treated poorly like this!"

Out of anger, I grab his Kimono chest sleeve and yank it. Because of that Sesshomaru's glaring daggers at me but I have any intention of letting him go.

"If it wasn't because of that stupid well, I wouldn't have been here in the first place! And I wouldn't have to deal with any of your mental illness!"

Once done yelling, I snap back to reality and realize what I have done is something considered to be absolutely unforgivable.

From afar I can see that Jaken and Rin are turned frozen in shock, their jaws drops almost touch the ground and gasp like fishes out of water. On the other hand, Sesshomaru's face looks a little surprised as his eyes widened a bit more than usual.

Damn. He's going to kill me now, isn't he…

I immediately let go of his kimono and step few step backs, continuously bowing to him to apologize.

"I-I'm very sorry!"

Just then I notice something else also equally important.

Wait, why do I have to be afraid? It's not like I can die, right?

Taking a quick glance at his hand, I groan.

It's still hurt like hell if he strikes me with those claws though.

After pausing for a some good seconds, Sesshomaru opens his mouth again to speak and I shriek in fear, weakly covering my head. Oh no! Here it come!

"Did you say you come here through a well?"

However, instead of shredding my body into pieces, he simply asks a question and I slowly open my eyes.

"Yeah, why?"

As if having a clue about where I am from, Sesshomaru states, "If you're no longer wish to stay. Then you're free to return to your own world."

"What did you just say?! I can really go back?! But how?! You're not lying, are you?"

I jump in joy and keep asking him how go home. However, he doesn't reply to any of my questions and walks away.

"How dare you calling Sesshomaru-sama a liar?!" Jaken almost hits me with his staff for insulting Sesshomaru.

"Jaken."

Once hearing Sesshomaru's call, the little servant immediately ignores everything else responds. "Y-yes? Sesshomaru-sama?"

Therefore he approaches his lord, waiting for his command.

"Go get Ah-Un, we will leave by tomorrow morning."

"Right away, Sesshomaru-sama."

Once everything is settled, Rin rushes to me with an open arm.

"Isn't it great, onee-chan? You can finally go home!" Are you happy?"

Myy head is completely blank, have yet to believe what just happened.

That Sesshomaru guy, he actually agreed to help me...

Still, what will he do when we reach to that strange well? I had tried to jump back down but failed miserably. Perhaps he know another way around?

Well, I don't care whatever his method is. As long as it works and bring me back home. Far away from him and this crazy world.

Once night falls, due to being too excited that I can't just fall asleep and Rin decide that we should stay awake to talk. Now we're lying onto the ground full of grass and stare at the deep nigh sky, chatting about many things. Mostly exchange stories about my world and her world.

I wonder how's everyone doing. Hopefully mom won't get too worried and get herself sick.

I close my eyes and take a deep breath, enjoying the cool breeze and the sound of waving grass. Overjoyed that the day for me to return is unexpectedly near.

Oh how I miss my comfortable and peaceful life back home. I can't wait to get back! Just how long have I not been able to take a hot bath and eat a proper meal already?