"..." Normal chat

ABC Thought

CHAPTER 14

Next morning

I, together with my family are having their casual breakfast at the dining table. And Megumi, who has been stalking me ever since yesterday, persisting in asking me how the *date* went.

"Was it fun? Have you two kissed yet?"

"How many times do I have to tell you, sister. That wasn't a date!"

And kissing?! Are you crazy?

Still she's too stubborn to believe a word I say and hits me by my shoulder. Causing me to almost drop the plate.

"Stop pretending, I know you two have something for each other!"

"I told you we weren't dating. There is nothing between us!"

Getting annoyed, I shout to make my point and only then, she stops.

"What? You mean that was just only friends hanging out? Jeeze, how boring."

To think that our conversation would end nicely however, now it's my mom who jumps in and suggest that it's not a bad idea to go out with Tatsuya.

"He is a good kid. Why don't you give him a chance?"

"But mom, I don't think of him that way."

Giving up, I get off from my seat and walk away before the topic gets any worse. "Anyway, I have to go back to my room and start packing. I'm getting late."

Just then Megumi tugs my shirt. "Hey, Shiomi. Can I borrow one of your coats?"

The nerve, she hasn't returned me the other coats for ages and now she's begging for another one. "No way, not until you give me back what I have lent you!"

"Please, pretty please? I promise I will return all of them after today."

Once again, I've lost against her pitiful pleading's face.

"You better be. This isn't the first time you promised me that."

Just how is she so good at acting. Seriously, she should have studied to become an actress instead of a doctor.

"Yay! Thank you! My little sister is the best!"

Hearing my answer, Megumi jumps in joy and hugs me.

"Sure, sure. Now let go of me already."

I struggle to breath within her strong grip.

Once reaching to my room's door, I turn the doorknob and to step inside. Only to back away and close the door immediately after, startled my sister who is standing next to me.

"What the heck? What's wrong? Why didn't you go in?"

Seeing me guarding the door for no reason, she urges.

"Uhm…uh…O-on a s-second thought, how about I bring the coat to your room later?"

"What are you talking about?! I have to get in there and pick, you don't even know which one I want!"

However, she doesn't want to and persist going in.

"T-then describe what it's like? And I will get it for you!"

After struggling with her for a couple of minutes, Megumi wins and pushes herself through the door by force.

"Jeeze, what's with you all of the sudden! What are you trying to hide in there, huh?!"

Can no longer stop her, I can only watch my sister steps inside helplessly. "W-wait! Onee-chan!"

Just as I've expected, Megumi freezes once seeing a strange guy in silver hair in funny costume, standing in the middle of my room and even carrying two swords at his hip. Then she frowns at the sight of a giant fur ball on his right shoulder.

"Can you explain to me why there's a cosplayer in your room? Little sister?"

I rush over to Sesshomaru's side to explain.

"Well..Uh…Y-you see, he is uhm…A friend! Yeah, a friend of mine! His name is Sesshomaru."

And I introduce my sister to the lord as well. Just in case that if she ever annoys him, hopefully he will consider us being siblings to show some mercy.

"Sesshomaru, this is my older sister, Megumi."

Seriously what is he even thinking, coming to my room in the middle of the day like that?!

*Flash back*

30 minutes ago.

At the Bone-Eaters well

"Onee-chan sure is taking long."

Peeking into the well, Rin comments about Shiomi's late arrival.

"This stupid girl! This is the second time we have to wait!"

Getting more and more impatient, Jaken yells. Once seeing Sesshomaru approaches the well's edge to take a look, he follows him from behind curiously.

"Sesshomaru-sama? Are you going to get her?"

However, he doesn't respond and jumps right in.

"Ah! Sesshomaru-sama, wait for me!"

Without hesitation, Jaken pushes himself up to the well's entrance and does a free falling, attempting to catch Sesshomaru's Mokomoko. Yet he misses him by an inch as Sesshomaru vanishes into thin air, he lands onto the hard ground his face. "Bwegh!"

"Jaken-sama! Are you okay?!"

From above Rin calls to him to check whether he's alright. Groaning in pain, Jaken can only cries for his lord helplessly. "Sesshomaru-sama…"

*End Flash back*

"Why are you here?!"

Therefore I whisper to Sesshomaru, only to be shocked by his simple answer.

"You are late."

The heck? He didn't all the way here just to pick me up, did he? Wait, that's not important right now!

"Sesshomaru? Why haven't I ever heard of him from you before. Beside, isn't your *friend* a little bit rude, not saying anything to anyone and just standing there idling like that."

Megumi crosses her arms while questioning me. Feeling her intense gaze burning through my skin, I awkwardly look away.

"Well..I was about to many times before…But I keep forgetting?"

Hmm...Why did she have to hide about him from us? They're not in some kind of secret relationship, are they?

As expected, Megumi doesn't buy my lies so easily.

"You see... My friend doesn't talk much, he's a little shy! But he's definitely not a bad person, trust me."

Completely ignores what I'm trying to say, Megumi keeps staring at Sesshomaru from head to toes.

Was it because of him that she refused Tatsuya? This Sesshomaru guy indeed has a good face but still. There's no way I'm letting Shiomi throw herself to a weirdo!

"What nonsense-"

As Sesshomaru's about to say something, I quickly gesture him to stay quiet. Much to his annoyance.

"Shhh, just play along with me for a bit! Please?"

Fortunately he actually listens to my plead and remains silent. Good, at least he still know how to act.

"Too shy that he has to sneak up into your room in the middle of the day? Are you sure that he's normal in the head?"

Being oblivious to our dangerous situation, Megumi throws more arrows at us. Even giggling viciously when seeing his expression changes.

Goddammit sister, Are you trying to kill all of us or what?!

Seconds later and I sense a huge killing aura behind me. It causes my heart races to the point almost jumps out of my chest and I have to hold back the urge to burst in to tears, not even dare to turn around.

"What? I hit the bull eyes?"

Completely different from my reaction however, Megumi just smirks and continue mocking him. Causing his frown to intensify. Their glares burn so much that electricity begins to spark. While me, staying in between the two monsters, can only suffer in silent.

"Didn't you say you want to borrow my coat? Hurry up and take one so I can leave!"

Cannot let this continue any longer, I urges Megumi to get what she wants and gets out before Sesshomaru starts tearing us to shred. Fortunately enough, Megumi still know what her priority is and moves on quickly.

"What? Oh right! Fine, since I too have to go soon. We will deal with this matter later."

Once she's done with getting her coat, I shoo her away. "Have fun with your date!"

Peace has finally brought back to my life the moment Megumi shut the door. Not wasting time, I begin to pack up. While Sesshomaru remains still on his feet, watching me by running around the room to collect stuff. Once finished, I check my schoolbag one last time and approach him.

However before able to jump out of the window, I realize there are a bunch of maids and butlers tending the garden. And that means we will have to walk our way through the front door.

Which isn't a good idea either because the dining room, where mom's at right now, is just next to it.

There's no other way around. Guess we have no choice but to take the risk...

Having prepared mentally and physically, I grab his hand and drag Seshomaru out of my room and down the stairs, while completely ignoring his irritation cause of sudden human's contact.

As soon as we reach the front door however. "Shiomi?"

I flinch in shock for being called by my real name out of the blue. And even worse, my mom has already seen both of us. Curious by the sight of a strange man standing in her house, she asks.

"Who is there with you?"

She approaches and stares at him from head to toes. Hmm… What a strange look. Is this one of the youth's new trends?

"This guy is my travel companion and also a friend. His name is Sesshomaru, he came here to pick me up."

Therefore I introduce him and not forgetting to let go of his hand. Having learnt that Sesshomaru's my *friend*, she smiles and slightly bow to him.

"Oh I see, how nice of you. Hello, I am Shiomi's mother. Thank you for taking care of my daughter within these weeks, I'm really appreciated."

Much to my terror, she repeats my name again while Sesshomaru just stares at my mom without greeting back. Being left hanging, my mom whispers to me in confusion.

"Oh my, did I say something wrong?"

"N-No of course not! He's just shy, that's all. Don't worry about it!"

Once again I make up another excuse to cover for him.

"Oh is that so. Ho ho, How cute!"

Once hearing that, my mom giggles and pats his arm gently. Finding this handsome fellow interesting and even acts very friendly toward him.

I, on the other hand, just want to find a pit to jump down because of their unexpected/unwanted greetings. Taking a peek at Sesshomaru's face, I can clearly see that he is holding back the urge to slash someone.

"By the way mom, what did you call me for?"

"Right! It's because of this."

She hands me a brand new box in white. Curious, I open to take a look inside. Turns out it's a box of chocolate, which contains around twenty five pieces inside and is from store that we like.

"Chocolate? Wow, they look delicious!"

Needless to say, I'm completely awed by the beautiful sight of my favorite treat and hug her in joy. It's been ages since I've eaten any of them. "Thank you mom! You're the best!"

"Have a safe trip okay?"

She caresses my head and I nod, drowning too deep within her gentle touch against my hair that almost forgetting about Sesshomaru, who's still here waiting for me from behind.

"Okay, we have to leave now. See you later, mom."

I let go of her and drag Sesshomaru away. As soon as we reach to the garden, Mina rushes over to us and jumps at me. Her push is so strong that it nearly make me fall backward.

"Sorry but I can't play with you today either."

I pat Mina's head to ease her but different from my expectation to see it yelping and whining about my departure like she always does. Mina just gets off me and circles around Sesshomaru instead, waving her tail at him excitedly.

For a moment I thought I saw heart shapes in her eyes.

Strange, isn't she always aware of strangers?

Now that reminds me, isn't Sesshomaru an Inu youkai?

And my jaw drops in realization. C-Could it be that…?!

Immediately I pull him away from Mina, much to her distress. "Mina be good, we're leaving!"

Not letting her crush escape that easily, she follows us straight up to the gate and not showing any sight of giving up until I ask one of the guards to hold her back.

Man, talk about obsession.

Surprisingly after all the dragging here and there, Sesshomaru doesn't seem to mind as much as I think he would. Or perhaps he just has a really high tolerance to deal with something similar to this. Considering how he has been keeping Rin beside him for god knows how long already.

I still find that hard to believe that he's willing to follow me around without having at least a single complain though.

Once making sure that the situation is safe, Sesshomaru picks me up and flies off.

Gliding on the sky, none of us shares a word to each other and it soon becomes quite awkward. Watching the scene of the city below, I try to find an interesting topic for us to discuss. However before I can open my mouth to say anything, Sesshomaru speaks up.

"Shiomi?"

"Y-yes! That's how I am called in this world."

After so many things have happened and all he cares about is my name?

Suspicious about my answer, his eyes shift to me and I continue explaining to cease the up-coming fire.

"B-but you still can call me Sora! They both are my real names!"

Being as sharp as he's always be, of course Sesshomaru isn't going to buying it. And I have no choice but to give in.

"Alright, alright I lied. Sora is a fake name that I created from the beginning, okay? It's because lacking of trust between us and thinking that I wouldn't be coming with you guys this far…"

While at it, I also explain to him my reason for not telling everyone the truth up till now because I afraid that they would no longer letting me tag along.

"There I said it! If you're still angry then just drop me from here or slash me with your sword, or whatever that float your boat!"

After blurting out everything, I cover my face in shame and wait for his punishment.

Surprisingly, all he responds is a "Hn" and remains keeping me firmly in his arm. Once reach to the Bone-Eaters well, Sesshomaru let me down for me to walk on my own. Though his face is still as cold as ever, sometimes I really hate him doing that face. It's so difficult to read what he's actually thinking in that complicated head of his.

At the other side of Bone-Eaters well

"Sesshomaru-sama, Onee-chan, welcome back!"

Rin's and Jaken's heads pop out of the well's entrance from above to greet us. As I climb up the high wall by tugging on the long vine while Sesshomaru just gently flies out of it.

"How many more times do we have to wait for you huh?!"

The moment seeing my face, Jaken nags and points his face at me.

"What happened, onee-chan?"

Curious about our late arrival, Rin asks me and I flutter.

"Well… I overslept?"

Nope, I definitely cannot tell them what happened back at my home. Although I did oversleep as well.

Instantly angered by my answer, Jaken yells and stomps his feet on the ground. Luckily before another annoying scolding can happen, Sesshomaru has stopped him.

"We're going."

"R-right, Sesshomaru-sama!"

Hearing his order, he rushes to his lord's side and completely ignores my presence. Then I hold Rin hand and we quickly follow them into the forest.

A couple of hours later

Within the forest

Like usual, Sesshomaru has gone off somewhere on his own and leave us behind in Jaken's care.

Now that we don't need to move anymore and have plenty of free time, I take out a box of crayon with a blank sketchbook from my schoolbag and give them to Rin.

"Here, I have something for you."

Curious, she stares at the strange objects in my hand before accepting them.

"What are these for, onee-chan?"

Therefore Rin asks, since these colorful looking things aren't food as they don't taste or smell like one.

"These are called crayons. Let me show you how to use it."

I pick up the red crayon inside the box and open up the sketchbook to draw a simple flower on it. Once done, Rin's eyes sparkles brightly and shows lots of interested in these magical pencil from the future.

"Wah! It looks so nice! I want to try too!"

Can no longer holding back my smile from watching her excited face, I pass her the book and Rin immediately picking various of crayons and start drawing multiple things at once.

Confused by the strange thing that she's just drew, I ask.

"Huh? Is this a frog?"

It includes two giant black dots inside a big green circle. But why does it have multiples of long tangled lines at top and bottom of its face?

"It's not a frog! This is Jaken-sama!"

After hearing her answer, I finally realize why this frog has wrinkles on its face. Then Rin proceed drawing his body and turning this version of Jaken completely messed up. Can no longer holding back, I burst out laughing cause of how ridiculous it looks.

Man, I swear he looks exactly like a mutated chicken.

Getting thirsty from all the playing around, I search for a bottle of water in my backpack and notice my mom's chocolate box from earlier.

Right, I almost forgot about these!

Taking out the box, I put it down next to Rin while she's still busy drawing. The second its lid is opened, the sweet scent of chocolate instantly gains her attention as she stops to take a peek inside.

"Are those candies?"

"They are chocolate. Take one, it's really good."

I give her a piece and she put it in her mouth with no caution. "Wow! Yummy!"

Then it's my turn to enjoy the treat as I put another piece in my mouth and chew, feeling the delicious chocolate slowly melts on my tongue.

"I know right!"

We continue drawing more stuff, laughing at our ridiculous pictures while enjoying the sweet. Meanwhile, Jaken's sitting with Ah-Un not too far away and starts groaning.

"Urg, how noisy!"

Despite having offered him some chocolate, he refuses them saying that peasant human food doesn't suit him.

Around 30 minutes later.

Hmm? Why is it so quiet?

Usually Jaken would really appreciate to have some of these rare peaceful moments in his life time. However, this kind of silence is giving him an odd feeling.

Curious, Jaken takes a peek at those two who are sitting with their back facing against him. And for some reasons they aren't moving.

These girls! What kind of mischief are they planning now?

Curious and annoyed, Jaken approaches them from behind and pokes Shiomi's back with his staff.

"Hey, what's with you two?!"

Yet only to earn a glare from the girl. "Huh? What was that?"

That fearlessness and arrogant attitude of hers irritates him even more.

"I asked what was wrong! Are you deaf?!"

"Who are you calling deaf… Huh?! You lousy kappa?!"

All of sudden Shiomi turns around and yells at him, causing Jaken to jump in surprise.

It takes him a moment to progress what is happening before getting back onto his feet and yells back.

"How dare you! You imbecile little human! Who are you calling lousy?!"

Entirely different from his expectation that she would shut up and stays obedient, Shiomi remains being stubborn and even sticks out her tongue to challenge him.

"Obviously you...Ugly!"

"T-this girl! Do you wish to die?!"

Can no longer holding back his anger, Jakens holds up his staff and attempts to whack some sense back to her head. However he notices something unusual about her face.

"Wait, why is your face so red? Are you drunk?"

Especially her breath, it smells like some nasty alcohol.

"Don't be ridiculous! I'm not drunk!"

In instant Shiomi denies and shoves him flying away. Trying to stand up multiples time and still stumbling here and there.

Getting panic, Jaken turns to Rin and finds that she's also sharing the same fate as hers. Though the only thing different, which is a bit better, is that she is acting much less aggressive.

"Hiccup! Hee hee…Jaken-sama's face is funny!"

And Rin points at him, giggling to herself like a maniac.

For god's sake, these girls have no limit when it comes to causing troubles. Shocked by their endless mischivious schemes, Jaken's jaw drops. Eventually he snaps and whirl his staff in the air.

"Just what do you two think you are doing, huh?! Drinking wine in the middle of the day like that?! The nerve! Sesshomaru-sama is going to eliminate all of you when he returns!"

"Then before that can happen…"

Isn't fazed by his warning, Shiomi smirks and crawls toward him. There's something different in her aura that makes him back away in fear.

"Wha, wha-?! What are you trying to do?!"

And Jaken screams for his life the moment she launches herself at him like a hungry predator. "...Gyahh!"

15 minutes later.

Sesshomaru returns from his personal business and notices that their resting spot has now turned into a mess.

Shiomi is grinning, holding Jaken down with her arms, drawing something on his face while Rin's waving the two-head staff around and chanting Nintoujou all over, laughing like a maniac. Standing at his spot, Sesshomaru can even smells the alcohol coming from their bodies.

His frown deepens while he's looking for a certain youkai among the group. Therefore notices Sesshomari's divine presence, Jaken jolts up from his spot.

"S-Sesshomaru-sama!"

He squeezes his way out of Shiomi's grip and rushes over to to his side for help. Thinking that Sesshomaru will at least showing some pity toward him for his hard work to keep the monsters in check.

However, all he receives is a cold look from him. "Jaken, explain."

His golden eyes shift from Jaken, whose face is now covered with colorful drawing to Ah-Un, which whole body is also been covered up with various colors.

"W-Well you see…"

As Jaken's reporting the situation to Sesshomaru, Shiomi's voice from behind but him off.

"Hey! Where are you going?! I haven't finished!"

Terrified for what is about to come, Jaken quickly hides behind Sesshomaru's legs to shield himself and points at the criminal, shaking horribly.

"I-It's her, Sesshomaru-sama! Everything was her fault!"

Seeing Shiomi attempts to seize Jaken, Sesshomaru grabs her wrist.

"Stop this ridiculous act."

He orders and she struggles, trying to yank her hand back from his strong grip.

"Who are you to ordering me around?! Let go!"

Ignoring his deadly glare, she kicks him at his legs and scratches his hand multiple times to get free yet he doesn't budge. While Jaken finds that it's a miracle for Shiomi to not have Sesshomaru finish her right off the bat.

And after the while, Shiomi finally calms down and stares at him straight in the eyes. Declaring with full confident.

"Fine, if you're that stubborn…Then prepare to suffer from my Divine Punishment!"

Somewhat getting an uneasy feeling about that warning and her sudden change in tone, Jaken pops his head out to take a look.

"What!? What are you planning you-"

Without hesitation, Shiomi flings her right arm around Sessshomaru's neck and jumps up to kiss him right on the lips. His eyes widened in shock once feeling her lips brushes softly against his. While Jaken watches them from below, jaw dropped and falls onto his knees.

On the other hand, Rin's awed by the impossible scene in front of her and giggles.

At that very frightening moment, time has seemed to stopped flowing and every other living object has turned solid frozen. It's not until three seconds later that Shiomi let go of him and grins mischievously.

"How was that huh! Scared of me yet?!"

"You…! You…What have you done to Sesshomaru-sama, you wench?!"

After witnessing her sinful act, he yells while crying a river.

"Who are you calling wench?! Do you want to be punished?!"

Irritated, Shiomi turns to him. Her eyes shines like a cat in midnight. And Jaken quickly makes a run for his life. Yet ended up tripping on his own feet and fall flat on his face. Having no other choice, he warns her with his staff.

"I-I'm going to burn you to death if you get any closer!"

As if it's going to stop her when she keeps getting closer and closer.

"Behold! Divine-"

However Sesshomaru, who has gotten back to his senses just in time to step in and covers Jaken.

"Step aside! I'm done with you already!"

Tired of getting interrupted multiples times, Shiomi walks around Sesshomaru to avoid him yet tripping over a tiny rock on the ground and loses her balance. In instant Sesshomaru reaches out to catch her from falling.

Instead of causing more troubles, Shiomi just lies quietly into his arm. Curious, Jaken approaches cautiously to check. Only to see that her eyes are shut tight and even snoring.

"Eh?! She's sleeping?!"

He then glances back to Rin's spot, finding her asleep on the grass next to Ah-Un. With papers and crayons are scattered around. And Sesshomaru carries Shiomi over to where Rin is and gently places her down lying next to her.

How can they sleep so peacefully after creating such chaos?!

Jaken groans, watching those two sleeping like children. Looking at Sesshomaru, his face remains miraculously stoic as if nothing has happened and surprises him even more than ever.

In the afternoon

After feeling like forever, I open my eyes and find myself lying on the grass. Struggling to to move and my muscles feel extremely heavy. For some reasons everything's kind of fuzzy as well.

Strange, since when have I fallen asleep without knowing?

While trying to recall what have happened, something stirs right beside me and I notice that Rin's lying next to me, soundly asleep.

I did remember about the eating chocolate and drawing stuff with her part but what after was a total blank...

My eyes shift to Jaken's spot, which is really far from us and once our eyes meet. He gives me an annoying "Hmph!" and turns away, much to my confusion. What's with him?

Then I turn to Sesshomaru, who is sitting against a big tree a couple feet away from Jaken, seeing that he's staring back at me. And there is something odd about him that I cannot describe.

Somehow his stare is …different? Just what exactly has happened earlier? How come I don't remember anything?

Figuring that squeezing my brain out won't do much. I decide get out of here to find some cold water to clear up my head. Oddly enough, Jaken flinches uncomfortably the moment I get on my feet.

After searching for a bit, I find a small stream running nearby and squat down next to it. Dipping my hands into the clear, cold water to wash my face. Seconds later, every single piece of missing memories from before comes back all at once and hit me hard to the brain. That cursed chocolate and... kissing?

…I kissed Sesshomaru?!

Collapsing on the floor, my face turns pale in all kind of shades then red as a tomato from embarrassment.

Oh god, how am I suppose to face him now?!

That crystal clear image is still vivid in my mind not matter how much I try to erase.

And it was my first kiss too!

Then I realize having lost something mentally important from the incident as well and die even faster inside.

A couple of days later.

In the morning

Within the next few days, I had tried to act normal as much as possible by talking to them. Yet it's already difficult enough to make a small chat with Jaken and maintaining an eye contact with Sesshomaru would have seemed to be an impossible task.

To make it worse, that haunting image would pop up in my head whenever I tried to call him and things just ended up getting nowhere. It kept repeating like that all over and over till I eventually gave up.

Guess that I have to wait until everything is cooled down to even do anything...

Well at least on the bright side, Jaken has stopped ignoring me and responds back to my persistent calls with multiple of yelling.

"Jaken, stay."

Sesshomaru's low voice instantly cut off all my thoughts.

Jaken nods just like that we watch the lord floats off.

"Hmm… Ah-Un has disappeared again. I wonder where he went."

After checking around and doesn't see the two-headed dragon, Rin asks.

"Maybe he was hungry? Talk about hungry, do you want to get something to eat?"

I suggest us finding something to eat and Rin nods.

"Jaken-sama! We're going to grab some food, do you want to come?"

Hearing so, he groans in despair but follows us anyway. Somehow I notice that he walks in a very slow pace on purpose to keep a long distance from me.

"Hmph! It's not like I have a choice."

After spending a while to search around the area, I finally find something edible enough to eat and show Rin the raspberries in my palm.

"Look what I've found!"

Much to my satisfaction, she jumps in joy at the sight of sweet fruit.

"Yay, berries!"

Though the only one who doesn't seem to be happy as much is Jaken.

"Are you two done?! Hurry up will ya?!"

Taking that as a hint from him getting impatient, I quickly collect more berries from the tree to finish the hunting.

"Alright, alright just one more minute. I'm almost done"

Just as I'm about to pack everything up however, there's a big rustle coming out of the bushes from where Jaken is sitting and second later a huge crimson Oni around 10 feet height (3 or 3.1meters) appears, with big horns on his head and carrying a huge wooden spike, glaring down at us.

"A-An Oni!" Its sudden appearance causes Jaken to jumps in terror and rushes to Rin to protect her.

While I, who is completely horrified by the giant figure in front of us, turning dead freeze on my spot. As much as I want to run away, my legs and arms are shaking nonstop. I-I can't move my feet.

Having no other choice but to get in defense, I drop the berries in my hand and get hold onto the Naginata to face the giant.

"Hah hah! You think a little bug like you can harm me?!"

Witnessing our weak attempts to protect ourselves, the Oni laughs out loud and points at Rin. Demands us to hand her over. "Enough fooling around and give me the child!"

"I won't let you take Rin!"

Gathering all of his courage, Jaken holds up his staff to summon fire in order to burn it, but to no avail as the Oni whacks Jaken by the side before he can and easily knocks him out cold. "Bwegh!"

Scared, Rin hides behind me and tugs my skirt, crying.

"Try to run as fast as you can and don't look back, okay?"

I whisper to her and step up ahead, trembling like a rabbit. Expecting to get hit and perhaps eaten alive in any moment. Still, I need to make sure that Rin has to make out of here alive.

"I have no interest in you. Outta my way!"

Annoyed when seeing that his food is escaping, the Oni attacks and sends me flying out of its way to chase after her. At result, my body slams hard onto one of the trees in the area. The force is so strong that I can even hear the sound of my bones shattering into pieces. Flopping down onto the ground, I instantly cough out blood.

Soon the sharp, painful feeling of everything breaking apart inside takes over me and my consciousness fades within a heart beat.

Notice that Shiomi's down, Rin immediately abandons her escape to return and ends up getting caught.

"…Such a delicious child, just my luck!"

Finally catching its breakfast, the Oni brings Rin up to its face and licks its lips, opening its mouth wide full of sharp teeth and slowly putting her inside.

"Sesshomaru-sama!"

Completely helpless seeing death is coming in front of her, Rin screams for her lord. Praying that he will hear her voice and comes to rescue them.

"Oi, fat ass!"

However the Oni's delight moment doesn't last very long as he hears someone insulting him from behind. Irritated for being called fat, it turns its head around and sees that young girl who has got hit from before is now miraculously recovered. To the point even standing up straight on her feet and walking fearlessly toward them.

"Has anyone told you that it's rude to hit a woman?"

She stops in front of it and smirks, tapping the Naginata on her shoulder and glares at the Oni in the eyes.

"What? You're alive?"

Confused, it points its finger at her.

"Oh? You think that little bitch slap of yours would actually do any harm to me? Didn't you just think too highly of yourself?"

And in a flash, She dashes forward to slash its leg off with ease.

"Eh?"

The way Shiomi moves her blade is so fast that it's not until a second later for the pain to kick in and it roars, dropping Rin to the ground. Hurry to get back on her feet, Rin rushes over to Shiomi's side but halts as soon as she notices something odd about her face.

Huh? Why are her eyes red?

Ignoring the little girl, Shiomi jumps up on the air to dodge the Youkai's huge wooden spike. Seeing that the other arm of its has gotten redundant, she cut it off in one hit and watches it cries in pain again.

Finally awaken by all the roars and cries, Jaken's jolts up and crawls his way to where Rin is. His jaw drops the moment he looks into the air and sees that the person who is fighting against the giant is no one else but Shiomi, who he has been calling weak and useless all this time.

"W-What's going on? What happened to her?!"

Confused, he asks Rin. Still not believing in his own two eyes but she shakes her head in defeat.

"I- I don't know. Onee-chan suddenly become like that after getting hit from that Oni."

Angered, the Oni tries to seizes her with its other hand. And due to that, it loses its balance and falls backward on its butt, creating a big rumble.

"Alright, enough playing."

While in the air Shiomi just chuckles at how miserable the thing look and decides that to end it. Gently, she lands onto the youkai's chest and slices in half with her Naginata.

"How pathetic."

Then she jumps off, however the moment her feet touch the ground. She holds her head and starts to tumble, seems to be suffering in pain despite not having a single scratch on her body.

Getting worried, the two rush over to her side to check yet she pushes them away, even shouting at them.

"Back off!"

Shiomi curses while they watch her speechlessly. Right now she acts nothing like the normal Shiomi that they know of. It's as if she has become a total different person. Just who or what exactly is this girl?

Just then, her eyes returns to its original brown color and she starts losing her aggressiveness.

"Rin? Jaken-san…?"

Much to their surprise as she calls out for them.

"Onee-chan! Are you okay?!"

Rin makes her way toward to her to help.

"...I"

Shiomi mumbles in some in-comprehend words that she cannot understandand before flopping down onto the grass. The last thing Shiomi sees before losing her consciousness is the image of that white fox, which staring down at her quietly with its deep red ruby eyes.