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ABC Thought
Chapter 25
Old friend? Naraku? Who in the world is this man?
"Who are you trying to fool? I have never heard Sesshomaru mention anything about you!"
"Is that really so, I'm quite sad. Well, it's understandable since our relationship is a bit…Complicated."
Nanase snarls for every step forward Naraku makes.
"Quit playing around! What do you want?!"
"There's no need for you to get too cautious with me, Nanase-sama. After all, I'm an ally."
"Ally? I barely even know you!"
His ridiculous nonsense's overwhelming her.
"It doesn't matter whether you know me or not. What important right now is that I'm here to help."
"Helping me you said?"
For a moment there's a spark of hope in her eyes.
"Indeed. You're worried that this girl would reveal all of your crime to Sesshomaru…"
Somehow this strange man knows everything about them, about her, and the reason she comes all the way here just to search for Shiomi.
"However, I must tell you that none of this will work. No matter how many times you try to kill her, that regenerative ability will continue reviving the girl all over and over again."
Again with that so called special power. It irritates her so much that she ever hears that word again from someone else, she would slice them in half.
"So what if she can't die?! I will simply find another way to get rid of her. Beside, how did you know all of this?! Was you spying on me?!"
Nanase accuses, pointing her finger at him and Naraku chuckles.
"Now, now… Spying is such a harsh word. I prefer the terms *Observing*"
"Whatever, they're still the same! What are you really scheming?!"
Naraku snickers and approaches an unconscious Shiomi lying on the ground.
"Simple. I'm here to achieve the girl. And If you give her to me, I will make sure that she will never meet Sesshomaru again."
"And what if I refuse?"
"Then I will have no choice but to take her by force. You don't want that to happen, do you?"
His warning gives her chills yet she hesitates.
"How would I know if you're not going to sell me out?"
She definitely cannot trust a stranger, specially a weirdo like him.
"I believe doing so will gain me no benefit."
Naraku persuades her calmly.
"...Will you able to keep her away from Sesshomaru? Do you really possess the power to do that?"
Being cornered in this life and death situation, Nanase eventually gives in.
"Yes, you can count on me,"
He nods in much confident.
"Fine. Then hurry up and get her out of my sight!"
Nanase finally steps aside and turns away. Much to Naraku's satisfaction for not having to dirty his hand with another inu youkai's blood.
"Hmm..."
Now that he's able to carry her on his arms. Naraku observes her more closely.
"If you're done then get lost. You know that Sesshomaru can be here in any minute, right? I don't want him to misunderstand that you and I are allies, it's troublesome."
Annoyed to see the human girl is once again desired by another guy for absolute no reason, she shoos the eyesores away.
"Please worry not, my lady. Because I, Naraku has already taken care of that."
Despite her warning, Naraku smirks fearlessly.
"What do you mean by taking care of?! What did you do to Sesshomaru?!"
Feeling there's something wrong with her future mate through his arrogant tone, Nanase questions him out loud.
"Nothing much, I only sent some bugs to keep him busy for a period of time."
Meanwhile, at a forest not too far away
"Ryuuja no mai!"
Kagura waves her fan to create several tornadoes toward to the figure in front of her. Flying beside the woman is a mass of snake youkai, both alive and undead helping her with the battle.
"Soryuha!"
In counter, Sesshomaru summons giant blue stokes of lightning to negate Kagura's attacks and her eyes widened once seeing the lightning coming straight at her.
"Crap!"
To save herself from being electrocuted by the monstrous yoki, Kagura jumps out of the way to evade them. Helplessly watching his Soryuha subduing her Ryuuja no mai and destroys almost half of her army to dust within a split of second.
Damn that Naraku, just how much longer is he going to waste to capture a single girl?!
Once the blue lightnings are gone, Kagura gasps at the huge long trail on the ground nearby and curses inside.
To think that he would be going all out like this, Sesshomaru must be really cares for that human girl.
Taking the advantage that Kagura is kneeling onto the ground to take a a breather, the lord charges forward. Trying to get out of the area as fast as possible.
I can smell both Nanase and Naraku scents from Shiomi's location. But why is Nanase also there?
Kagura is not going to let him leave that easily however. Standing up from her spot, she gestures more and more youkai come to aid her, getting ready for another attack.
Sorry Sesshomaru, but I still have a heart to protect.
Sesshomaru frowns, holding firmly onto the Tokijin and slices those snakes in half one by one.
Trying to hold me back with those pathetic youkai of yours. Naraku you bastard! Just what are you planning to do with her?!
Back to Naraku and Nanase
So that's why I was able to get here first. This guy had planned to capture the girl from the start!
Nanase's eyes widened in realization, it was all because of Naraku's that she's able to find Shiomi before anyone else.
"Now if you please excuse me, I still have other business to attend to."
Naraku bids her farewell and attemps to teleport out of the area. As he's about to leave, Nanase calls out. "Wait!"
"Is there something wrong?"
He halts, shifting his head back.
"I want you to hit me."
Nanase demands causes his eyes widened a bit in surprise. Though he agrees to follow the brilliant idea without objection.
"Very well."
Once settled, she stands in front of him and crosses her arms up to her chest.
"Anywhere but the face okay? Just one hit is enough."
As soon as Nanase's sentence ends, Naraku's tentacle comes out from his back and smacks her right at the stomach. The strike doesn't seem vital but its still powerful enough to send her flying a few feet away.
"You jerk! That was really hurt!"
Suffering from both of the impact and falling flat on her back combined, she yelps.
"Send my regards to Sesshomaru for me."
Naraku chuckles and vanishes into thin air.
As Nanase's crawling on the ground, rubbing her stomach painfully. Sesshomaru arrives to the scene.
"S-Sesshomaru!"
Her heart almost skips a beat. If Naraku had left a little bit later, they would have been caught red-handed.
Needless to say Sesshomaru's furious. As the person he's looking for has now fallen into his nemesis's hand. Now their scent have disappeared into the thin air, his searching for her is unfortunately back to zero again.
It seems Naraku and him do know each other. Guess that guy wasn't lying to me after all…
"Why are you here?"
Nanase's train of thought gets cut off once hearing Sesshomaru's voice questioning her.
"Uh…I.. Because I saw you were having a hard time looking for the human girl, so I wanted to help."
His cold, deadly tone sends chills down her spine and she gulps.
"I felt guilty for not be able to save her last time we were at the cliff. B-But that Naraku guy was too strong for me, I-I couldn't do anything..."
Avoiding his piercing gaze, Nanase sobs into her kimono sleeves and hold her stomach in pain. After gaining enough info, Sesshomaru flies off. Watching him disappear into the blue sky above, she snickers.
It's useless, Sesshomaru! That girl is long gone.
The next day
"Uhm…What… time is it?"
I stir, slowly open my eyes and glances around. Not recognizing a single thing around me.
"Wha-? Where am I?"
Rubbing my eyes to see more clearly, I'm inside a small traditional room and lying on a comfortable white futon.
"How did I get in here?"
And who changed my clothes?!
My school uniform's now replaced with a simple purple kimono.
Just what the hell had happened when I was unconscious?! Where are the others?
Looking around to find the owner of this place, something absolute in white sitting idly in the corner gets into my view. Surprised, I yelp out loud.
Turns out it's only a girl in white, literally from head to toes. Everything about her is whitt except for her eyes, which are totally black.
God, she startled me! How long have she been here? Why didn't she say anything?
The girl's holding a round mirror in her lap. Staring at me quietly and somehow doesn't seem to be bothered much about my scream.
After a while, I start to wonder if she is having some kind of strange disease that turns herself fully white. Curious, I try greeting her but the girl doesn't answer.
I wonder if she's shy. Let's try again.
"Do you live here alone? Where are your parents?"
Still no response and everything turns awkward silence. Fine, one more time before I'm calling it quit.
"Is this your home? Do you know where we are?"
Surprisingly this time she nods back and my face brightens.
"Then did you change my clothes by any chance?"
The girl nods again and I sigh in relief.
"May I know your name?"
"Kanna."
She answers dully and the door behind her slides open.
"So, you're finally awake, Shiomi. I was getting worried since you're sleeping for so long."
"Naraku!?"
My eyes widened by the sight of that dangerous man who had kidnapped Rin back then. Was he the one who brought me here?! And Kanna is also working for Naraku?!
"I believe this is the first time we talk one on one, is it not?"
Naraku approaches to the bed and I quickly back away. Trying to find something sharp to defend myself.
"Enough with that friendly chat! Why am I here?! What do you want from me?!"
There's nothing for me to use, sadly.
"The reason I brought you here was because I wanted to use you against Sesshomaru."
"You're keeping me as a hostage to weaken him?"
"Well yes. Not only that, you shall be the one to kill Sesshomaru. Isn't it sound exciting?"
"What? Me? Against Sesshomaru? What make you think that I can win?"
I almost laugh at his ridiculous idea. Hurting Sesshomaru, are you kidding me?
"Don't be too modest, Shiomi. I know full well what you're capable of."
Naraku recalls of a monstrous power that easily breaks Azusa's shield to pieces, a regeneration ability that keeps one away from death's hands for countless times.
He chuckles darkly once cornered me at the wall behind… Not to the mention the bond you share with him. Heh! I have already won just by having you in my hand.
"What make you think that I will fight for you?"
Trying hard not to panic, I push him away. Just who the heck is this guy?! How does he know so much about me?!
"Oh you will know why soon enough. And after getting rid of that irritating Sesshomaru. I will absorb your body into mine to strengthen my power."
"What?! Absorb?! You are crazy!"
Naraku grabs my arm and pushes me onto my knees to prevent me from running.
"Imagine once your regeneration ability is combined to mine, I will become immortal!"
Goddamn it! Just where the heck is Sora when I need her the most?!
*Flash back*
"Okay let me get this straight. You are the one who control my body whenever I'm unconscious ever since that incident?"
I started recalling to what happens back then, how I suddenly gained super power and flight and many more. As Sora exclaimed everything to be her working and grinned viciously.
"Yep! All mine!"
That sure was surely disappointing, when realizing that knowing that none of those cool abilities actually belonged to me.
"I see… And the reason you stay within me… was because of my regeneration ability?"
What a pity, I even planned ahead how to use the strength to help the others or at least be able to defended myself from dangerous situations.
"That's right. It's pretty useful and you know that too."
"It's really not because we're related or anything? I mean, you did mention something similar to that topic when we first met."
While at it, I asked whether she had any info about my origin or this strange healing ability. Since there must be a specific reason that she chose my body to posses to begin with.
However she just tilts her head and acted as if none of that had happened. "Oh? Did I?"
"Yes!"
I yelled to knock some memories back into her head and Sora giggled mischievously.
"I was just joking, there's no need to get so worked up like that. Though what if I say we that are related then will you believe me?"
Needless to say I was taken aback by her question. What the heck?! Is she playing another trick question with me?!
Amused by my deadpanned face, she laughed even louder. "Ha ha… I never know teasing you can be so much fun."
This girl, I can't identify whichever of her saying is the truth anymore!
"And why didn't you go back to your own body? Don't you feel uncomfortable sharing the same flesh with a human being?"
Suddenly after hearing my complain, Sora halted her laughing and glared at me.
"Simple, it's because I don't want to."
*End Flash back*
No! I cannot let him using me to fulfill his dirty plan! I have to get out of here!
I kick him out of the way and charge full speed to the door up ahead. However, Naraku teleports up to the door and pushes me back inside the room by his tentacles.
"Trying to run away huh? I don't think so."
Not giving up that easily, I get back up and attempt again. Only to receive more hits at the stomach.
Seeing me collapse on the floor choking for air, Naraku approaches and lifts me up with one of his tentacles. "There's no chance for you to stand against me, girl. You know it"
"No! I will never work for the likes of you even if you kill me!"
I protest, struggling to get free but to no avail as his grip on my neck is getting tighter by seconds.
Hmph! Even to the verge of dying, she still doesn't fight back. Why is she trying so hard to hide her power?
Naraku's starting to lose his patience. So he releases Shiomi and decides to try another tactic.
Perhaps I should get on with the plan first and see where it will be going.
"Kanna." Naraku calls for the white girl standing behind him and she nods, slowly approaches Shiomi with a mirror on her hand.
"W-What are you trying to do?!"
His hand forces me to look into the mirror she's holding. All of sudden a flash appears from its surface and the next thing I know, my mind is completely gone blank.
"Remember to keep her soul well, Kanna. Do not get loose of her no matter what happens." Naraku smirks at the lifeless body lying on the ground.
However only a couple of seconds later, Shiomi moves again and stands up from her spot. Alerted, Naraku backs a few steps away. Sensing a tremendous aura coming from her.
Notices the change of color in her eyes, he smirks. "Hmph! Now I see what's going on. Two souls sharing a body, why didn't I think of that…"
Wanting to test the girl's power, Naraku fires several of energy beams toward her.
"Heh! If you truly wish for I to follow your orders around like a good little girl over there. Then you better prove yourself worthy to me, Naraku"
Sora evades them all and destroys every single one of his tentacle coming at her by bare hands with ease.
Extremely fast. Looks like I have no choice but to use it to take her down.
Naraku releases his deadly shouki toward the girl in order to stop her. Different from his expectation to see her suffers, she doesn't seem to be affected even for a little bit.
"What? Is that all you got? Wasn't you so full confident of your power just a while ago?"
She finally reaches to where he is standing and strikes. Not letting her win so easily, Naraku activates his shield.
"It's useless, my barrier has been enhanced by the power of Shikon no Tama. You will never be able to destroy it."
Once hearing the name coming out from his mouth, she halts. "What was that? Shikon no Tama you say?"
"That's right. I, Naraku is the one who possesses most pieces of the jewel. And once finish collecting all of it, I shall become invincible."
"Turning you invincible? Hah! Are you still in delusion believing that piece of junk can help with your hopeless case, do you?"
Sora bursts out in laughter and cracks her fingers, throwing more punches onto his magical shield.
Calling the Shikon no Tama *that piece of junk*...What an arrogant wench.
Sora's cunning attitude irritates Naraku greatly. "The jewel is much powerful that it looks. You will never know what else it's capable of."
"Wow! Perhaps you're right. It really is powerful, I'm quite impressed!"
Sora snickers when the barrier begins to crack. And his eyes widened in shock.
Impossible! She damaged my new shield with her bare hands?!
"Kanna! Steal her soul!"
He orders and Kanna obliges, holding up the mirror to the girl in front of Sora as she shifts her head back and smirks.
"Now you want my soul too? A greedy one, aren't you?"
One surprise after another, she stares straight into the Kanna's mirror without fear. Causing a huge amount of light leaves her body and flies into it.
She wanted her soul to be taken? But why?
Naraku's confused by her reckless action. It's not until the mirror's about to crack for being overflowed that he truly understands her intention. Never in his life has he seen such overwhelming energy.
"What's wrong, Kanna? Full already?"
Sora chuckles as Kanna retreats to the back, protecting the round mirror within her embrace. Now that his weapon's turned useless, she turns back to Naraku.
"Looks like your plan to control me has failed horribly. So, what are you doing to do now huh, Naraku?"