Author's note: Phew! this sure was a long chapter, took me a while to finish it.
"..." Normal chat
ABC Thought
CHAPTER 10
The first thing comes into my view after a long slumber is an absolute darkness.
Huh? It's still midnight?
Confused, I wave my arms around to check for the surroundings but nothing come into touch. My backpack, Ah-Un, the giant tree i was sleeping against on with Rin last night.
Everything's gone, not even a single living presence is here beside me. And I don't recognize this place, at all.
Did they move me to somewhere else when I was unconscious?
"Rin? Jaken-san?"
Hoping that either one of them is nearby, I call yet there is no reply.
What's going on? Where's everyone?
Within the darkness, I keep on walking aimlessly for god knows how long. Then fasten up the pace, hoping to find an exit until there's no strength left inside. Only to be stuck in one place in the end and I start to wonder whether I have even made any progress.
Where the heck am I?! I feel nothing here, cold nor hot, airy or not. Not even a single sound.
Giving up, I sit down hugging my knees and staring at the endless black walls. Anxiety keeps building up inside for every second passes.
Did they get tired of my presence and decide to abandon me without noticing? Was it because Sesshomaru doesn't trust me anymore? Or because I was slowing them down? What did I do wrong?
I don't like it here at all. If Sesshomaru didn't want me to come along that much, he could have at least lead me back to the well instead of leaving me behind in such a bizarre place. Just how cold-heart can that guy be?
Feeling tears flowing down to my cheeks, I wipe it off and suddenly notice something.
Huh? My hand is visible?
Then I look at my leg and my skirt. They are indeed shining within the dark. Even though there is no sunlight or torch around. What kind of weird phenomenon is this? Am I still on earth?
Or could it be.. That I'm dreaming? Yes! That must be it!
That single thought instantly enlightens me and I shut my eyes to focus. Then open them again yet find everything's still the same. Having no choice but to use the final trick, I slap myself.
"Whack!"
The impact's so strong that almost send my soul flying and still, nothing changes. More importantly, my cheeks feel as if they're on fire.
Why is it hurt so much?
While trying to figure out what is even going on, a ball of light suddenly appears out of nowhere and floating right before my face. It's so bright that I have to cover my eyes from being blind.
"What…? What is it?"
I crawl backward as the light's getting smaller and smaller. Finally reveals to be an old friend of mine.
"It's you!"
The white fox just sit there, staring at me as I slowly approach.
"Weird, what is it doing here? How did it get in here?"
Well not like any of those are going to matter. As least it's good to know that I won't be stuck here alone. Kneeling in front of the strange animal, we exchange our gazes for a while and suddenly, I have a crazy urge to pet it since this is the first time I've ever gotten this close to a fox.
It won't bite right? I mean he/she doesn't look so aggressive.
With that in mind, I reach out my hand and aim for its head. However before I can even touch it, a strong gust of wind coming from behind the animal pushes me flying away.
Straight out of that hell hole and I jolt up from my spot, rubbing my eyes to clear up my vision.
Then a familiar sight starting to reveal in front of me, the forest, wild flowers, green grass plus the sound of bird chirping and feeling the warm sunlight at my skin. Lying on the ground next to me is Rin as she's still sleeping soundly while using Ah-Un's body as her pillow.
Sitting against another big tree not too far away from us is Jaken, who is snoring quite loudly. Then my eyes shift to Sesshomaru's spot and see those sharp amber eyes are on me.
Geh! Just how long has he been staring at me like that?
Seriously that stare of his, it always sends me goosebumps.
"Hmm…Onee-chan…?" Rin stirs and immediately draw my attention back to her.
"Good morning, Rin. Did you sleep well?"
Therefore she rubs her eyes tiredly, yawning. And Sesshomaru approaches the sleeping Jake.
"Jaken."
His call instantly snaps Jaken out of his wonderland. With half opened eyes, he looks up while wiping his drool. Then after being ordered to stay behind to look after us, he groans and reluctantly nods.
As Sesshomaru swiftly disappears into the woods up ahead, I turn to Rin.
"Come on, Rin. Let's us go wash our faces and find something to eat while waiting."
She nods in response and only a second later, Jaken begins to nag. "Hey! Do not go too far, you hear?!"
"Alright, I heard you." I shout back in annoyance. Jeeze, he's starting to act like a mother now.
A couple of hours later
"Jaken-sama, Sesshomaru-sama sure is late. We should have gone with him too."
Rin pouts in boredom as we're sitting together on a big branch lying on the ground. And Jaken, who is having his back facing against us, explains.
"Fool, Sesshomaru-sama has gone to a place with poison around. If he brought you humans. You'd be a goner for sure"
Having no other choice, Rin let out a long sigh and keeps on waiting. Suddenly she spots something in the corner of her eyes and freezes. Curious, I turn to look where she's staring at and see a familiar figure walking alone behind those trees.
Huh? Isn't that Kohaku?
Notice our abnormal silence, Jaken asks us. "What's wrong?"
"I-it's nothing."
And I pretend nothing has happened. Though the moment I turn back, Kohaku's already nowhere to be seen.
I wonder what's he doing here all my himself. Judging from our last encounter, wasn't he one of Naraku's underling? Could it be that Naraku is nearby?
Perhaps it is best to stay away from him for now. Who knows what that boy may do once he finds us.
The next day.
Once the sun rises, Sesshomaru leads us into another remotely mountainous region. Amazed by the beautiful scenery, I look down from mountain's edge to enjoy the view and feel the cool breeze blowing against my skin.
"They're coming." Suddenly Sesshomaru states, drawing our attentions.
Who are coming? I see no one else is here but us. While I'm still looking around to find whoever, Sesshomaru's already have his sword sheathed to counter a long line of zig-zagged, which was flying directly at us.
It reveals to be a bunch of blades which are connected together by pins, all coming from a young man appears out of the bush at the back. A strange feminine looking guy in yukata we've never met. with a purple scarf on his neck.
On the outside, he seems to be normal enough for a human. But then again who knows what's he hiding inside.
"One of Naraku's agents, huh?" Sesshomaru doesn't seem to be amused by his appearance.
"Hehehe, you're good…And even sexy." His smirk instantly sends a chill down to my bones.
Wait a minute...Did I just hear him call Sesshomaru sexy?
Well, I do have to admit that his beauty definitely surpasses any human and youkai I've seen here. Guess it's also normal that he attracts even same gender or different race (?).
"Like that poison user, the same corpse smell."
Much to that man's disappointment, Sesshomaru ignores his praise.
"Ohh, you've got a good nose. Just what I'd expected from Inuyasha's older brother!"
He smiles brightly and swings his sword at Sesshomaru. Just like last time, he easily blocks his attack and launches forward to strike him with his sword. But he's fast enough to avoid being smashed by jumping to the side.
"Woah! That was close!"
Witnessing the young man's in disadvantage in the fight, Jaken laughs at his face. "Wahaha. Stupid human, better give up and die!"
His arrogant attitude quickly dies down however once the zig-zag sword flies at us and hits the ground near where we stand. Causing three of us flinch in fear. "Ekk!"
"You said something?"
The man warns us to keep our mouths shut then shifts his eyes to me. Can't be sure whether I'm being paranoid or not but this guy isn't pleased seeing me together with Sesshomaru's group. Or should I say that he's clearly annoyed.
Suddenly, he points his weird sword at me.
"A woman, eh? Interfere us and I'll cut you into pieces, you got that?"
Dude, chill. I wouldn't dare even if you ask me to.
Figure that it won't be safe for us to stay, Sesshomaru signal Jaken to take us away from the battlefield. Quickly, he pushes us toward to the bridge.
"Come on, we're leaving here."
Doesn't want to leave her lord behind, Rin resists. "Eh... But?"
"He's right, Rin. We will only be in his way if we stay here."
I take Rin's hand and lead her away. Still, she doesn't fasten up her movement even one bit and keeps looking back to check on Sesshomaru. "But will Sesshomaru-sama be alright?"
"There's no way Sesshomaru-sama would lose to a measly human!"
Jaken assures her in full confident. I guess he really hold a high regard in his lord's power.
As soon as we reach the bridge, another man in armor and long sharp claws in his hand appears. Judging from his intense glare, it can be easily guessed that he's an enemy and not someone who would be willing to show mercy even to children.
"Uhm... Maybe we should find another way."
Scared, I push Jaken and Rin further behind. However the moment turning back, Sesshomaru and the other guy are fighting too close to where we are standing. Definitely not that path too.
Therefore the only way is to move forward. Meaning we have to fight our way through the bridge.
"Fool! You're not going to get away from me!"
The scary looking man shouts and charges at me in full speed.
"W-Wait! Can't we at least talk this out?!"
However he ignores my offer and I have to draw out the Naginata to block his attack. Yet barely standing straight. Damn it! He's strong!
Feeling my arms and legs are getting weak. I urge the Rin and Jaken to pass the bridge first.
"Both of you go ahead. I will follow soon after!"
Watching the two grown up humans struggling in front of him, Jaken bites his finger in anxiety. If something happens to any of them, I'll be killed by Sesshomaru-sama for sure!
And instead of leaving, Jaken jumps in between us and summons a long stream of flame at the enemy, destroying half of the bridge. "Nintoujou!"
Gyah! I watch half of the bridge burn down in terror as Jaken smirks at his victory. "Hehehe. Blown away, eh?"
"Why did you have to burn down the bridge, you idiot! Now it's your fault that we have nowhere else to run!"
Cannot believe that Jaken has turned our only escape route into dust. I pinch his cheek hard, almost shouting.
"Shuddup! If I didn't do that he would slice you in half!"
He struggles under my grip, yelling back.
"So what if he slice me in half, it's not like I can-" Our argument is cut off by Rin's call from behind and we look back, seeing that she's trying to keep herself balance on the broken bridge.
"Onee-chan! Jaken-sama! The bridge is breaking apart!"
Quickly I grab both Jaken and Rin with me and run back to where Sesshomaru is. For sure it is a bad idea, but it's still better staying on land than falling into the oblivion to death.
"Release me this instant!" Jaken resists in my arm but failed anyway.
Suddenly sharp claws appear and shatter the wooden floor from below near my feet. Startled, I drop Jaken and he falls flat on his butt.
"Wha…! He's alive!"
Seeing the frightened expression on our faces, the man growls like he's in the advantage despite struggling to get himself back on his feet.
"Heh! You won't get me that easily!"
Brainlessly he destroys what's left of the bridge, dragging all of us down with him. In order to keep Rin safe, I hug her close and turn my back downward so that my body will hit the ground first.
While doing a free falling, I feel a rough hand grabs my left ankle and turns out to be that weirdo, again.
"I've got you!"
He smirks viciously after catching me. After spending a while struggling to get out of his grip, I manage to kick him in his face with the other foot.
"Let go of me! You creep!"
Only then I'm freed and land into a river instead of solid ground. However neither Rin nor I have enough strength to swim back up within the strong current and end up getting carried away.
"Onee-chan…"
Scared, Rin cries and hugs me tighter. As I try to reach my arm toward to the land for multiple times but to no avail, all of my effort has turned out to be useless against the cruel nature.
"Rin! Sora!"
Jaken's voice's the last thing I hear before falling into unconsciousness.
Some minutes later
"Cough...! Gasp!"
After almost like forever, I jolt up to breathe and immediately looking around to find Rin. Seeing that she is lying some feet away from me.
Quickly I crawl to her spot. My heart skips a beat when the girl isn't moving, nervously I check her pulse and breathing. Then sighing in relief that she's only fainted and totally unharmed.
After that I go to retrieve the Naginata which is lying nearby and notice that where we are sitting at right now isn't the end of the river. So we can't be possibly get washed up here. Does that mean someone has saved us?
"A-are you two okay?"
Suddenly hearing a man voice behind me and in reflex, I hold up the weapon and point to that direction in defense. "S-stay back!"
Standing in front of us is a man in armor that look exactly like the guy from before. Startled by my threatening, he raises his arm up in the air.
"Don't worry. I am a doctor, I won't hurt you."
Doctor? What is this dude blabbing about?
"You don't look like one to me! Thus you even tried to kill us just minutes ago!"
Not going to buy his crap so easily, I hold firmly onto my Naginata.
"There must be some sort of misunderstand here, I wasn't trying to kill anyone. It was me who got you two out of the river. Please trust me, I can help you."
The man pleads for me to calm down. And I realize that he sounds much more sincere and gentle than that barbarian from last time.
"You saved us?"
Half convinced and confused, I gradually lower my weapon and he nods, offering his hand to me.
"Come, I know there's a place for us to rest."
With no other option, I decide to follow him but definitely still stay on my guard. Who knows what this guy is thinking, he may stab our back anytime he wants to. If him and that man are different persons then good for us, If not then I still have my arms and legs to escape.
With Rin resting in my back, I and the strange man head off into the woods up ahead. Soon after Rin wakes up and has a conversation with him.
"…I see, you have companions."
And Rin nods, suggesting us to stay behind to wait for Sesshomaru.
"Yup. I suppose they're looking for us right now. So I think we shouldn't move around too much…"
Still, he rejects her idea and insists us following him till our companions come. And I actually agree with him, not wanting us to stay by ourselves in the middle of the woods and night is about to come. God knows what is lurking in here and my strength alone won't be able to defend us all.
Let's just hope that this guy would actually lead us to a civilized place like what he told us to.
We soon get out of the forest and reach to his house, which is near the base of a mountain called Hakurei. We also learn from him that there are a lot of children around Rin's ages with no relatives reside in that place.
However the moment setting my feet into the village, pain spreads all over my body. Only a bit but it's still uncomfortable and I gradually slower my pace.
Notice my uneasiness, Rin asks. "What's wrong, onee-chan?"
Curious, the doctor also turns around to check.
"I-I'm okay, don't worry about it."
Holding back the pain inside, I assure them that everything is normal.
Strange, they seem to be totally fine. Is it only just me?
Once arriving to a small hut inside the village, we are greeted by some children and one of the girl there seem to be surprised to see him. "Suikotsu-sama…"
"I'm sorry…For being away."
The self-claimed doctor apologizes.
"Is he really Suikotsu-sama?"
And my doubts begin to raise when those children looking at each other in confusion. Was this guy actually as good as he said he was?
Minutes later and a group of people carry torches appears from the field not too far away. The old man, who seems to be the leader, speaks up when they approach to where we are.
"I thought it was Suikotsu-sama. He's come back…"
"What's with this group of villagers?"
Seems to be as confused as I am, Suikotsu asks them and they beg him to leave. Stating that it's his fault that the shichinintai attack this village and his face back then looked like a demon.
A demon? Could it be...?
Much to everyone fear, Suikotsu smirks and pulls out his claws. Proceed slashing the villagers, as the children screams and attempt to flee off the scene.
"You're really ungrateful, aren't you. Suikotsu-sama really took good care of you all…"
Suikotsu's face remains incredibly calm when chasing after the villagers and takes them down one by one mercilessly. Watching the old man collapses onto the ground in his blood pool, I burst into cold sweat and limbs immediately feeling weak.
I knew it! This guy isn't normal in the head!
Not going to stay here to wait for him finish his massacre, I push Rin to the other direction to escape. While hoping that he doesn't pay his attention on us.
"Let's get out of here."
However out of nowhere, the guy in purple yukata from before appears from the tall grass and grabs Rin by her back. Scared, the girl waves her arms and legs in the air, trying to get out of his grip as he points his sword at me.
"Make one move and she's dead."
After wasting more time listening to Jakotsu and Suikotsu's conversation, a Saimyosho appears from afar and flies to Jakotsu. Then he warns Suikotsu about the silver lord's arrival and tosses Rin to me before departing.
"Sesshomaru is coming! Come on, get going woman."
Somewhere at the mountain
Now we are on our way up to the top of the mountain. Of course, the higher we get the slower I walk. Not because of lacking of stamina but from something in this place that is making me feel uncomfortable. It's so painful to the point that I would collapse in any second if not for those swords pointing behind our necks.
God...This feels like torture...
"What's with you?" Annoyed by my slowness. Jakotsu asks.
"I don't know... I just don't feel good when being here." I murmur.
Turns out this mountain is protected by a holy barrier that would purify any youkai within it, even humans with corrupted mind like we are also being affected.
"Hmm…For you to be suffering this much…Don't tell me you're actually that impure?"
After taking his time explaining what this mountain is about, Jakotsu jumps right into conclusion for my suffering and annoyed, I scoff. "Mind your own business!"
"Whatever. Beside, that bastard Sesshomaru won't be coming. It would be too intense to come here, wouldn't it?"
Jakotsu smirks at their advantage. Though Suikotsu doesn't seem to agree when seeing a long silver hair figure with a sword in his hand approaching us from up ahead.
"Sesshomaru-sama!"
In instant Rin calls out for him.
As greeting, Jakotsu wields his long sword at him and like any other time, it's being reflected. They're also shocked to find that Sesshomaru is actually immune to the barrier but the idea soon fades once seeing a cut on at his hand.
"Hehehe... Sesshomaru, you're only just managing to stand because of the barrier, aren't you?"
While Sesshomaru and Jakotsu busy fighting each other, Suikotsu locks me inside his right arm and points his sharp claws at my neck. No matter how much I struggle to get free, this guy strength is just too much to handle.
"You there, little girl. Run away and I'll slit her throat then kill you. Got that?"
Suikotsu threatens Rin and she sobs, not even dare to move a limb. "Onee-chan…"
"Now you get it? Make one wrong move and your woman is dead. Though it's only a matter of time."
Meanwhile Jakotsu laughs as his victory is near.
What the hell did that dude just say? Who exactly is whose woman?!
But then Sesshomaru smirks. "Matter of time, you say?"
"What's so funny?!"
Perhaps Jakotsu's warning is pointless to Sesshomaru because he knows that I won't die even if being killed. But then again that's just my guess.
Not bother explaining why, Sesshomaru simply throws away his sword at Suikotsu chest to get rid of him in one hit. And I almost stop breathing when that sharp blade's only missing my face by an inch. In instant, Suikotsu finally releases me from his dangerous embrace and collapse onto the ground.
Holy hell! Did he try to kill me too or what?!
Overwhelmed, I fall down to my knees to catch a breather.
"Onee-chan!"
Assume that the situation is safe, Rin rushes over to my side.
"Y-Yeah. Let us hurry and get away from here."
As I'm about to get up, a hand grabs my ankle from behind and yanks it backward. Causing me to fall onto the ground again. While feeling dizzy from the pain, I hear a familiar voice from behind and Rin gasps in terror.
"Heh! You're not getting away, woman…!"
Great, that barbarian is alive.
Knowing that it's impossible to escape, I signal my hand to Rin not to wait for me and escape. Annoyed, Suikotsu slams my head hard onto the ground to shut me up.
"Hey, Jakotsu. It's okay to kill them both now, isn't it?"
Then he raises his sharp claws up to my neck and attempt to strike, only to have his that get pierced seconds later instead by an arrow coming out of nowhere.
And this time Suikotsu lays on the floor for good.
"Onee-chan, are you okay?!"
Rin kneels next to me as I wipe the blood flowing from forehead's scratch off my eyes. Even my vision is fuzzy and ears going tingling from that impact.
"Yeah I'm good but damn, that's really hurt."
When Sesshomaru approaches us in his casual manner, Jakotsu is now nowhere to be found.
For a moment, I thought that I saw Sesshomaru-sama eyes turned red. Was it just my imagination? Confused about what happened earlier, Rin gives her lord a strange look but decides to let it go.
Then appears a long black hair woman in miko outfit, carrying a bow and a pack of arrows on her back and kneels next to Suikotsu. Judging by her appearance, I figure that she was the one who fired the arrow at him.
However what attracts me the most is her face, which looks oddly similar to Kagome. Just who is she exactly?
"Kikyou…sama…As long last I've reverted…It was because of the black light that I couldn't come out…"
Suikotsu mumbles under his breath but he sounds much gentle than before.
What does he mean by revert? Does he have double personality or some sort?
The lady, who is known as Kikyou, speaks. "You are…Suikotsu-sama, the doctor?"
From then on Suikotsu insists Kikyou on taking his jewel's fragment away. At first she hesitates but eventually agrees soon after. However, Jakotsu has taken the upper hand and steals it away from off the scene and leaving Suikotsu behind to fade into nothing but dried bones.
Turns out these guys are dead a long time ago. It's all thanks to this jewel's power that they're brought back to life.
"Uhm Kikyou-san? Thank you for saving us from earlier."
Therefore I bow to her in appreciation and she nods. "Sure, you're not injured are you?"
Her voice and attitude are so gentle that they give me a calm at heart. "Yes, we're alright"
"I'm sorry but we have to go now."
Rin grabs my hand to drag me away when she sees Sesshomaru is leaving. And I bid her farewell.
"Good bye, Kikyou-san."
Kikyou watches her disappears along with silver haired man. And she notices that she's been struggling inside the barrier for the whole time despite not showing.
That girl is a mortal, yet I detect a small amount of youkai energy resting inside her. How strange.
Some days later
In one casual morning
"Sesshomaru-sama...Perhaps, can I go back home for today?"
I ask for his permission to return. Since I have been away from home for a while now. Mom and the others must be very worried. Plus, I'm getting quite anxious about my school's performance as exam is about to come and I yet to be prepared for it. Not to mention that being absent for too long may get people to suspicious.
Sitting comfortably under a huge tree, Sesshomaru glances at me. Not answering and I just stand there waiting for him awkwardly.
Say something goddamn it! Is it a yes or a no?!
Rin then approach us. "You want to go back, onee-chan?"
Therefore I explain to her my reason for going home today. And it's probably going to take me two days to return.
"What about the way back to that well? Do you know it?"
Only after being asked, I realize that I've completely forgotten about it.
"Erm…Maybe?... No? Do you, Rin?"
Much to my disappointment, she shakes her head. "Not a clue!"
We're stuck in another long silence and I let out a long sigh, defeated.
Guess the only way for me to go home is to ask...
My eyes unwillingly shift back to the silver haired man on the ground. Him.
All of sudden, Sesshomaru stands up from his spot and gestures his head for me to follow before walking off.
What?! Is he going to lead me back?! Yay!
Overjoyed, my eyes turns sparkle in appreciation. "Thank you, Sesshomaru-sama!"
"Sesshomaru-sama, where are you going?"
Jaken wants to come as well but end up getting ordered to stay behind.
Thinking that it will be much more faster and convenient to fly there, I jump onto Ah-Un's back and follow after Sesshomaru onto the sky. "Jaken-san, I'm going to borrow Ah-Un for a bit."
"H-hey! Where are you going with Sesshomaru-sama?! Sesshomaru-sama!"
Jaken objects our sudden departure, as always, but is ignored anyway.
Around 20 minutes later
At the Bone-Eaters well
Once reaching to the magical well, I spot some familiar figures gathering next to it.
Huh? Isn't that Kagome and Inuyasha?
Therefore I get down from Ah-Un and call for her. Recognizing my voice, Kagome spins around to find me, her eyes widened by the sight of the man next to me.
"Sesshomaru?!"
In instant, Inuyasha pushes Kagome behind him and draws out his sword.
"Sesshomaru?! Why is he here- "
"- Is none of your business. Inuyasha."
Sesshomaru helps him finish his sentence, and I can feel the mockery in his tone.
Not going to waste any more time watching their pointless fight, I get in between them to explain. "Calm down, Sesshomaru is only here because I asked him to lead me back. That's all"
"Shut up! You are also on his side, who knows what you two are planning?!"
However, Inuyasha's too stubborn to listen and points his sword at me instead. Only to earn an Osuwari from Kagome right after for his rude action.
"Senpai, Are you also going back to prepare for the exams?"
Ignoring his outrage, Kagome turns to me and mentions the important matter.
"That's right, it's going to be next week."
"I see... mine will start tomorrow morning."
And Kagome sighs, it's quite a long and desperate one.
Then a monk, who seems to be tagging along with Inuyasha and carries a Shakujou in his hand, leaves the nearby group and walks up to where I'm standing.
All of the sudden he grabs my hands before I can even react.
"Hello there, pretty miss. Would you like to-Gyah!"
Out of nowhere a whip comes flying and aiming straight at him. Luckily he's fast enough to dodge it within a mere second. "T-that was close!"
Having missed his target, Sesshomaru clicks his tongue. While I just stand there dumbfounded, having no idea what just happened. Would I like to what?
Watching us from afar, the lady in a ninja suit with her hair tied up into a high ponytail, shakes her head in disappointment. While Inuyasha and a brown hair kid with a fluffy tail at his back give him an unamused look. "Idiot."
Strangely, none of them seems to even care whether the guy's almost being killed.
Different from others reactions, Kagome blinks in surprise due to the unexpected turn of event. Hmm.. .That's the first time I see Sesshomaru acts like that. There isn't something between them, is there?
Kagome claps her hands to draw everyone's attention and begin the greetings.
"Alright everyone, let me introduce to you a friend of mine from the modern world. Her name is..uh... S-Sora"
She flutters at my part and I flinch, feared that she almost revealing my real name.
"She's two years older than me and we used to study under the same school. So technically she's my senpai."
Therefore I learn that the weird monk just now is Miroku, a good person but really love to mess around. Sango, the lady in suit who is a demon slayer and wields a giant boomerang, having this cute little two-tailed cat Kirara as her pet/companion. Then there is Shippou, a young and bright Kitsune in practice. (Kitsune: Fox demon)
"And last but not least is Inuyasha. I guess there's no need for introduction since you two have already met from before."
Kagome pushes him forward to face me and I extend my hand to greet him. "We meet again."
But he just scoffs and turns away, "Cheh!"
Yes, very friendly indeed. I can't help but wonder if this guy just simply doesn't like me or this grumpy, rude attitude has been running through their family. Especially that older brother of his. (It could be both)
Right, talk about the older brother. I turn to the silver haired man standing nearby.
"Sesshomaru-sama, you can go back now. I can handle things from here"
Hearing so, he responds with a "Hn" before flying off the area with Ah-Un by his side. Now that I think about it, he didn't leave right after we reached here, not until I told him to. Was he actually worried about me?
Nah, that's impossible.
I shake my head and almost laugh at such stupid idea.
"So senpai. What are you going to do once you get back?"
Kagome asks and I tell her that I will be taking a rest before working on my upcoming exams. As being absent from school for a while, there is going to be a lot of things to take care of.
"Wow, you don't seem to be worried at all!"
Her jaw drops when hearing about my plan.
"What about you, Kagome? Do you have any problem with your study progress?"
Hearing the word *study* she sighs, again.
"Well everything is fine except Math and English... I never like those subjects"
"Hm… I can understand your feeling as I too, not really fond of math itself."
Sympathizing with her situation, I comfort her and Kagome speaks up excitedly. As if having found a long lost companion. "Really, Senpai?! Even you having difficulties with it?!"
"Yup. My math scores are always the lowest comparing to other subjects."
"I know right?! They are too complicated for no reasons with all those formula and stuff!"
"Does anyone have a clue of what they're saying?"
Meanwhile Shippou asks, having no idea of what the girls are talking about and the others are also sharing the same fate. "Nope."
Yet they continue watching their conversation till the end anyway. Since they have nothing else better to do.
"Say, senpai. What was your math score in final exam when you was at my grade?"
Curious about my math's score, she asks and I answer bluntly. "90"
Suddenly her face freezes and she starts fluttering.
"B-But you said your math test was the lowest, does that mean the others are…"
Being completely insensitive as always, I grin brightly while showing off my results. "Yes. They're all marked 100."
Hearing so Kagome looks like she's about to collapses. Before giving up, she asks my the final question.
"W-what about your latest exam's result…?"
"Oi…" Standing behind us, Inuyasha tries to stop her from digging too deep. As he has somewhat figured out what their conversation is about. But it's already too late cause I have opened my mouth to speak.
"Well everything else was 100. Except math…"
"Which was…?" Kagome leans closer to me.
Still trying to figuring out the number, I murmur. "Uh...9...?"
With just that her spirit suddenly boosted up "9?!" before they're doomed into oblivion once she hears my final answer. "9..2...? Around 92 I think? Yeah 92."
"Whooshh…" A cool breeze blows at Kagome as she smiles painfully. Tears begin to rolls down from both of her cheeks.
Knowing this would bound to happen, Inuyasha crosses his arms and shoots her a bored look. "You know, you should have stopped asking when you still had some pride left."
Only then, the dense me finally realize the true meaning behind her questions and I quickly apologize. "Oh no, I'm so sorry Kagome-chan."
"No…It's alright, senpai...It's not your fault."
Despite telling us that everything is fine, her face is as pale as a corpse.
"Yeah, it can't be her fault that you're suck at studying, right?"
Inuyasha, another one with no capable of reading other's thinking/feeling, chuckles.
"And whose fault would that be?!"
An angered Kagome yells. Her voice's so loud and scary that it causes him to jumps in fear. Notice the tension is rising up to the cloud, I try to calm the two down. Only to fail miserably.
"If you weren't there in the first place I would have been able to study properly!"
"Hey! Don't you lay that on me! It was obviously your fault from the beginning for lacking of concentration!"
"H-how could you say that?!"
"W-Wait...!"
"You are such a jerk! You idiot! Osuwari!"
"Bwegh!"
In the end, Inuyasha is the one to suffer the most by kissing the hard ground multiple times as the chanting keeps going on and on without any sight of ending...
From afar, Shippou sighs at the overly familiar scene. "Didn't you say you have something really important to take care of at home?"
Miroku shrugs in defeat, "I think Kagome-chan has already forgotten about it."
Sango shakes her head, "Somehow I'm not really surprised."
"Hey, Kagome-chan."
A brilliant idea crosses my mind and I try to draw her attention. Only then, Kagome stops punishing Inuyasha and shifts her head to me.
"Yes, senpai?"
"I know it won't be much but… How about we study for exam together? Maybe I will be able to help you with some pro-"
While still talking, Kagome jumps in front of me and grabs my hands tightly, almost crying.
"Really, senpai?! Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!"
"Y-yeah. I will come to your house around 8 P.M, will that be alright?"
Therefore I appoint the time and place for our meeting. While she just nods at everything coming out of my mouth.
"Yes, totally!"
My eyes shift back to Inuyasha, who is lying under the ground and seems to be in too much pain to even move. To think that Osuwari chanting thing could do this much to a half youkai. I guess it's really not something to be easily underestimated.
Once returning home, I was greeted by a long and tight hug from mom along with a bunch of questions, which mostly were about my health and the journey that I had went. Though she looked a sad when hearing that I still hadn't gain any information about my power and needed to leave again in two days.
And while I'm gone, mom had informed the teacher about my awful flu, which causing me to unable to leave my bed for days. Not forgetting to ask the others not to pay me a visit as this sickness is infectious. As bad as it might sound, the excuse had actually worked miraculously.
Also I decided to hide her about the world behind the Bone-Eaters well, along with Sesshomaru's group and the life-threatening incidents. Since they would probably gave her a heart attack and I would be banned from leaving home for the rest of my life...
In the evening
8 P.M
Kagome's bedroom
Kagome has set a small round table in the middle of her room for us to study on the floor since her desk won't be enough for two. There we have prepared books and notebooks, along with hot coffee to go through the night. And then there's Inuyasha, who has settled himself on her bed from the beginning yet never sits still.
"I can understand why Inuyasha is with us but…"
I say, glaring at an uninvited guess standing beside Kagome's bedroom window. "What are you doing here, Sesshomaru-sama?!"
Sesshomaru, who has forced his way into Kagome's house at the same time as I did, ignores me and continues watching the scenery outside as if everything is normal.
Just how the hell did he know about my study group plan anyway?! What's the point sitting in one place and wasting his precious time when he's always acting so busy?!
And if Sesshomaru came here to fight with Inuyasha, he should have done so ages ago instead of exchanging glares with his brother from time to time like having an unrequited love. Or...
He didn't come all the way here just to mess with me, did he?
Annoyed by his attitude, I slam my hands onto the table and try to find a reason for him to leave.
"What about Rin? Are you going to leave her all alone?"
"She's doing fine with Jaken."
His answer makes my jaw drop like a dying fish. But I'm not fine at all!
"Still, don't you have better things to do. Sesshomaru-sama?"
Sesshomaru ignores my question and looks away, refusing to move a single inch. Why you…!
"Heh! Maybe he's here waiting for me to chop off his other arm too" Then Inuyasha's words immediately draws my attention.
Too? Does that mean Inuyasha was the one who did that to Sesshomaru's left arm?
Not getting worked up easily like his brother, Sesshomaru's smirks.
"Didn't you think too highly of yourself, little brother?"
Instantly ticked off just by a tiny mocking, Inuyasha stands up from Kagome's bed and scrolls up his sleeves.
"What was that?! You wanna fight, you bastard?!"
"Stop it, you guys! Can't you see we're busy here?!"
Can no longer hold back, Kagome shouts at them. Yet the intense between them remains the same. "Senpai, please say something"
"Like he will ever listen."
I sigh, not even bother to spare a glance at those two.
Now that I think about it, Kouga did mention that Sesshomaru's not a half-youkai, different mother perhaps? Is that why their relationship turn this bad?
"If you excuse us for a bit."
Quickly I drag Kagome out of the room and close the door.
"What is it, Senpai?"
Confused, she asks. And I convince her to ditch these brothers and find ourselves a another place to study.
"Somewhere like Wacdnalds maybe?"
Leaning against her bedroom's door, I suggest many other options but she refuses them all.
"Uhm I don't think that will work...You know they can find us in any minute, right?"
Damn it! I completely forgot about their sharp noses!
Therefore Kagome voices her worries that both Inuyasha and Sesshomaru may cause a fuss if other people see them. Plus their over the top crazy attitudes.
"As for Inuyasha, I can manage but Sesshomaru. who knows what he will do."
"But there have got to be a way to-"
Suddenly our conversation get cut off by a loud crash coming from Kagome's room.
"What the heck?!"
We barge inside only to see that her room has now become a total mess. While the other two main characters with a not-so-happy expression on their faces, swords ready on their hands and points it at each other.
Horrified by the scene, Kagome screams. "My room!"
Girl, your room will be the least thing to worry about if we don't stop those crazy brothers..
"If you two want to fight then go somewhere else! Leave my room alone!"
In instant Kagome's yell turns me dumbfounded. "Wait what...?"
It's even more shocking that they actually oblige and jump out of the window. Yet they pick her yard to be their next fighting arena and my face turns even darker.
That's not any better either! They're going to wipe off the whole shrine at this rate!
And I turn to Kagome, hoping that she's planning something to stop the guys but she's too busy picking up her books to care.
"Snap out of it! We're having something more important to deal with right now!"
Cannot waste more time, I drag Kagome out of her room despite her unwillingness and head to the front yard.
"Nee-chan, what happened?"
Sota peeks out of his room due to the loud sound as we run pass him.
"I-it's nothing! Go back to your room!"
Higurashi house's front yard
Once we reach there, Sesshomaru and Inuyasha have already in a middle of the fight. Fortunately enough, they're mostly doing normal attacks and everything is still intact.
"Kaze no…" My heart skips a beat by a loud call from Inyasha as he leaps into the air with his giant sword And thanks to Kagome's quick thinking, she chant the word and he immediately gets back onto the ground.
Hurt and annoyed, he yells. "What was that for?!"
"We have rules here! No special moves or anything that will summon energy waves!"
Kagome gives him an X signal with her arms and Sesshomaru smirks at his advantage. Before we know it, he has changed his stand position and aura can be seen surrounding his sword.
Wait, I notice that stance! My eyes widened at the fearful deja vu and no bother thinking twice, I rush into the battlefield to stand before Inuyasha.
Then I hear Kagome's gasp. "Senpai?!"
Inuyasha's yell. "Hey! What are you doing?!"
And Sesshomaru's deadly order. "Stand aside."
"Y-you heard what Kagome-chan said, you can't use special moves here! If you're insist doing so then I-I will have to stop you no matter what...!"
Gaining all my courage, I talk back to him and almost choking my own breath. Arms and legs are about to give up but I have to remain standing. Still receiving no response but a deadly glare from the guy, I shut my eyes tightly to hope for the best.
I know this is going to hurt a lot. But it's still better than having Kagome's house being destroyed.
Meanwhile Iuyasha and Kagome notices an abnormal hesitation from Sesshomaru.
"Huh? He's not moving?"
Much to their surprise, Sesshomaru loosens his grip on the sword and that aura also disappears.
My face brightens up and I rush over to Kagome's spot, relieved to know that he's no longer trying to summon any giant energy waves. Kagome too, sighs in relief to see that I'm still intact.
"Senpai, that was really dangerous. What will happen if Sesshomaru wield his sword at you?"
Being scolded due to my reckless act, I can only smile awkwardly.
"Well it's not like I can die anyway. Better than watching your whole house being wiped out by him."
I had to do something to help. Since it was me who suggest about this whole group study things to begin with and ended up leading everyone into this mess.
Therefore we continue keeping the two brothers in check, at least until they finish their fight. When they're done, the result is a draw,
Wait! What the heck are we doing out here?! Aren't we suppose to be studying right now?
Only then I remember something really important and call Kagome.
"K-kagome-chan? W-what time is it now…?"
"Huh? It's 11 P.M, why?"
Being oblivious to our situation Kagome answers. It takes another second for her to realize and she looks at her watches again, finally figures out what I am trying to say.
"This is going to be a long night, isn't it..."
I sigh in defeat.
"At least we still have some time to review some lessons before the exams. It's better than nothing right?"
Kagome still manages to find something positive to lighten up the mood.
"Well if you say so..."
Sadly, things didn't work out well in the end for Kagome due to lacking of study materials. Apparently more than half of Kagome's books and notebooks were badly/completely damaged by some you-know-who guys...