"..." Normal chat
ABC thought
- Would you be willing to love me? -
Chapter 28
In one afternoon
Bone-Eaters well
"Hanabi?"
Sesshomaru frowns at the strange word as I nod in excitement.
"Yes! The people in my time are going to hold a Hanabi Taikai tomorrow night! It will be fun!"
(Hanabi Taikai: Firework festival)
*Flash back*
Earlier this noon (Summer break)
As usual, my friends and I would gather up at our favorite ice cream shop for some treats and chit chat...
"Hey, Shiomi-chan! Do you know what day is tomorrow?"
My head tilted at her random question.
"Oh come on! Tomorrow is Saturday July 25th! Does that ring you any bell?!"
Irritated by my lack of social knowledge, Hana slammed her hands onto the table and I flinched in surprise.
"Stop it, Hana-chan. You do know that Shiomi-chan has been too sick in bed to care about any of that."
Kasumi just sighed and took another mouthful spoon of ice cream.
"Ehhhh! But it would be such a waste to miss out this big event!"
Hearing so, Hana pouted.
"So uhm… Can you tell me what's so special about tomorrow, Hana-chan?"
Therefore I ask her what it's all bout, feeling totally lost in the conversation.
"What else but the Sumidagawa Hanabi Taikai?!" (Sumidagawa: Sumida River)
Hmm…July…Saturday 25th...Hanabi…?
"Ah! Tomorrow is the firework festival, I almost forgot about that!"
Watching my amusing expression, Hana hit Kasumi's arm and giggled.
"See! I told you she would still care!"
Then Hana whispers to my ears. "Have you invited *him*to go with you yet?"
"Him? W-Well not yet."
I blushed and shook my head multiple times.
"What?! Then you should do it now before everything's too late! I bet he must have received the invitation from the other girl already!"
Hana shouted, went on ranting about what I should do in order to make a progress in my relationship.
"And what if he refuses because he has already agreed to go with *that girl*. Genius?"
Kasumi snickered.
The other girl? Oh, she must be talking about Nanase.
I was lost for a second when Kasumi mentioned her. Of course, they didn't know about what happened between us and thought that Nanase's still clinging onto Sesshomaru.
"Ehh! There's no way, right?"
Hana frowned in disbelief.
Actually, I would be more concerned about whether Sesshomaru interested in firework or not.
"Well, I guess trying for once is not going to hurt?"
Only waiting for me to say that, Hana gave me a thumb up.
"Yeah! That's the spirit, Shiomi-chan!"
*End flash back*
"Well, it's quite simple. All we have to do in there is to sit back and relax, enjoying the festival's atmosphere and beautiful fireworks."
Sitting on the edge of the well, I describe shortly about the festival's activity to him.
"Tomorrow night…"
Sesshomaru's voice trails off that causes my heart to race in anticipation.
"Yes, is it okay? Will you be busy?"
"Hn."
In the end Sesshomaru throws at me the same old confusing answer and swiftly walks off into the forest, leaving me completely dumbfounded behind.
"Eh?"
Hey! What kind of response is that?! Is it suppose to be a yes or a no?!
July 25th
In the morning.
Shiomi's room.
Since we're not going to walk on the street nor visiting any food and game stalls…Should I wear a Yukata or just normal clothes?
I stare at my white Yukata with red hanhaba-obi and sapphire blue butterfly decorations in the mirror, sighing.
Besides all that, How do I know if Sesshomaru's going to show up? Should I go back and ask again?
Suddenly there's a knock on my room's door and cuts me off from my thoughts.
"W-What is it?"
"Shiomi, you have a call."
My sister's voice coming out behind the door and I rush to open it. Picking up the phone to answer, I hear a familiar voice from the other line.
"Hello? Huh? Tatsuya-kun?"
30 minutes later
At the park nearby
Sitting on one of the benches inside the park, Tatsuya apologizes to me.
"I'm sorry for calling you out so sudden."
"No, it's okay."
Everything gets silence again. Feeling kind of awkward, I cough into my hand to remind Tatsuya why he calls me out here and he flinches.
"Well to be honest, at first I was only thinking about inviting you to the Hanabi Taikai tonight. But that can be easily done through the phone so..."
Tatsuya answers, scratching the back of his head.
"There's something else I want to talk to you, which is also equally important. Sogo-san, Do you remember the first time we met?"
"The first time we met?"
My head tilts in curiosity and he nods. "Yes, it was around 2 years ago…"
*Flash back*
2 years ago.
Shiomi's and Kagome's Junior High School.
Too heavy!
The teenage boy in black Gakuran (Boy's uniform) wearing big glasses and black messy hair that covered most of his eyes. Cursing at his teacher ridiculous chore while carrying a huge pile of paper in his hands as he walked clumsily out of the teacher's office door.
These papers are covering my sight! I can't see a thing!
"Ouch!"
Right after stepping into the hallway, he bummed into someone and they both fell. At result, the white sheets fell out of his hand and scattered everywhere all over the floor.
"I-I'm sorry! I didn't see you there! A-Are you okay?!
Panicked, he sat up to apologize while fixing his glasses.
In front of him was a short black haired girl, who seems to be around his age, in a green sailor uniform and sat on her knees.
"Yes, I'm fine. Don't worry about it"
Wow! So cute! Instantly charmed by the girl's appearance, he kept staring at her and completely forgot the situation he was in.
"Uhm… Are you okay?"
Confused why he's frozen, she asked.
"H-Huh? Y-Yeah! Totally"
Only then he's snapped back into reality and noticed the papers on the floor. "Oh no!"
Feeling sympathetic for the poor guy, and the girl offered her help and soon, all the paper was collected.
"Alright. This should be all of it."
She said, giving him the papers in her hand.
"T-Thank you!"
He bowed his head to her and she giggled.
"You're welcome. Though I must get back to my class now, it's almost time for the next period."
Therefore the girl left in a hurry. "Be careful next time, okay?"
No! Don't leave yet! I need to know your name at least!
Not going to return in regret, he stood up and called out for her. As she shifted her head back to look at him, he asked.
"M-May I know your name? Please?"
"Shiomi." She answered with a smile. "Sogo Shiomi."
He watched her disappeared into the crowd in the hallway. Completely dazed about what just happened and it's not until the bell rings that he finally snapped back to reality.
Crap! I forgot to give her my own name! And I don't even know which class or year she's in!
He looked around to find her but the girl's already gone out of sight.
"Miyamoto! Have you brought the papers to our class yet?!"
The teacher yelled out from the office's door and he flinched in terror, having no choice but to put that aside and got back to his duty.
"Ah! Y-Yes! I'm on it, Sensei!"
*End flash back*
"That boy from before was you?!"
I point at him, totally in disbelief and Tatsuya laughs shyly. "Ha ha, surprise isn't it?"
"Of course! you've changed so much that I barely recognize you!"
"Well, more like you didn't."
"Didn't?"
My eyebrow twitches in confusion and he sighs.
"You see, I was really happy when I found you again back at our high school entrance ceremony.."
*Another flashback*
1 year ago.
High School Entrance Ceremony (April)
At the school yard.
While making his way to the school's gym, Tatsuya noticed the short black haired girl from back then was now in high school uniform.
She was walking in front of him and not going to lose his chance to get to know her, he dashed right over to ask.
"E-Excuse me! Are you perhaps, Sogo Shiomi?"
The girl blinked in surprise and nodded.
"Yes. And who might you be?"
Found Shiomi at long last, Tatsuya jumped in joy and pointed at his face to remind her.
"It's me! I was the boy in glasses who you helped back in junior high school! At the teacher's office!"
However after spending a short moment recalling the past, she shook her head.
"Not a clue. Did you mistake to someone else by any chance?"
"H-Huh?"
Tatsuya's immediately taken aback by her answer and she looked at her watch.
"Oh! the ceremony is going to start so I have to get going now. Good luck on finding the person you're looking for."
Shiomi bid him goodbye and hurried to the gym, leaving the poor guy behind alone by himself.
"W-Wait!"
He tried to call out for her but she had already gone out of sight.
*End Flashback*
"I-I'm sorry. I totally forgot about what happened back in junior high."
Finally remember all of my wrong deeds, I bow my head to apologize.
"It's alright. What important to me right now is that I can finally be able to sit and talk with you, even going out to places to have fun…"
Tatsuya ensures me that he doesn't mind about my forgetfulness.
"I love you, Shiomi. Ever since then and now."
Suddenly Tatsuya looks straight into my eyes and confesses his feeling to me.
"Will you be my girlfriend?"
And I'm frozen on my spot, trying to progress everything at once.
Huh? Girlfriend? Me and Tatsuya-kun? But…I…
"Shiomi?"
My train of thoughts are cut off by Tatsuya's call and I apologize to him, again.
"…I'm sorry Tatsuya-kun, but I cannot return your feeling."
"Why?"
He asks, a great disappointment is shown on both in his face and voice.
"That is because…I've already have someone I like."
Miyamoto Tatsuya, whom I have always respected as a good friend from the start. And then there is Sesshomaru, who has already taken a special place inside my heart long before I can even realize what affection really is...
"I…I see..Even so, I will not give up on you. Not even a slightest chance"
Not going to let this rejection defeats him so easily, Tatsuya declares to me.
"And I'll wait until you accept me, no matter how long it will take."
His confident attitude throws me off and before I can say anything else, he adds.
"It's alright, you don't need to feel bad. Don't worry, I'm fine."
Somehow I have a good feeling that things between us three are going to get even more complicated from now on…
At night.
Back to Shiomi's room.
Standing in the middle of my room after having put on the Yukata, I keep staring back and forth between the clock on the wall and the Blue Butterfly Fan in my hands. Getting nervous as it's almost time yet he's still nowhere to be seen.
I'm not being rejected, am I? Maybe he is busy after all? Or is it because he doesn't like spending time with me?
All of a sudden, strong wind blows into my room and right at window standing the person I've been waiting for.
"Jeeze. I thought you wouldn't show up!"
I dash over to greet him. However, Sesshomaru doesn't respond and keeps staring at me.
"Huh? What's wrong?"
Confused, I ask him.
"Nothing."
Somehow it takes him a short moment to answer and looks away.
I wonder if it's because of my outfit. Since Sesshomaru rarely sees me in traditional clothes.
"Uhm…Do I look that weird on Yukata?"
I hide my face behind the blue fan, embarrassed.
"No. It looks good on you."
This time he responds in instant and I jump in joy by his praise.
"Really?! I'm glad!"
Sesshomaru quietly watches Shiomi's smile for a little while longer before offering his hand to her.
"Let us go."
Sumida River bank.
After spending around 15 minutes observing from above, I spot a good place for us two at one of the empty roofs of the tall buildings around the Sumida River.
"Over there."
Once we land onto the floor, I rush over to the fence to check. Excited by the sight of the crowded street, which is decorated with colorful lanterns and stalls that are selling food and game's services.
Somewhat is curious about the human activities in this era, Sesshomaru walks to my side to enjoy the atmosphere. After waiting for a while and still no fireworks, my head tilts.
"Perhaps we're here too early?"
Once the words get out of my lips, we hear a sound of gunshot along with other smaller explosions and people's loud cheers from below.
"Ah! It begins!"
I look up to the night sky, seeing colorful fireworks appearing one after another. Needless to say, I'm completely awed by the beautiful sight before me.
"This is so pretty. Don't you think so too, Sesshomaru?"
I turn to ask him and he keeps staring at the sky, though his face doesn't seem to show much interest to the fireworks like I do.
Figure that watching this kind of stuff isn't really his thing, I begin to feel guilty for having dragged him all the way here and be the only one to enjoy the festival.
If I had known that Sesshomaru was going to force himself to come, I wouldn't have invited him and stayed home instead...
Not wanting to ruin the festive night, I try to come out with other options to do but they're mostly involved with going down the street and be surrounded with lots of human. Something that Sesshomaru definitely is not going to be delighted to be in and I eventually give up.
Having no other choice, I suggest the last resort. "Do you want to return?"
"No. It's fine here." Yet Sesshomaru refuses, insisting to stay.
"Uhm... Can it be that you are having fun?"
To my surprise, he actually nods back. In that moment I figure that when coming to expressing feelings, Sesshomaru seems to be doing it quite different from other people.
"You know... After going through so many things in the past, I've finally realize that besides searching for my own origins. There's something else I'd want to do…"
While watching the firework together, I confess. Smiling as our eyes meet. "I want to venture into that mystery world behind the Bone-Eaters well. Together with you, Sesshomaru!"
"Will you let me continue staying by your side? Even after finding out the real me?"
A couple of seconds more or less, Sesshomaru replies. His gaze's still fixes into mine.
"As much as you wish."
There's no word can describe how happy I am after hearing his answer, so much that I almost hug him and squealing out loud. Fortunately, I restrain myself not to take a huge risk just in time.
"Thank you. Sesshomaru."
Slowly resting my head onto his arm, I thank him and we go back enjoying our peaceful summer night, holding each other hand.
The next morning
At a stream within some unknown forest
(Since there's no school, Shiomi wears sleeveless white blouse shirts, short blue jeans and sport shoes with blue backpack)
"That one!"
Jaken yells to me from the ground, pointing at one of the fish swimming in the water. "I said that one! Why didn't you catch it?!"
"Do you know how hard it is to catch a fish bare-handed?! If you wanted it so badly, why didn't you come down here and catch it yourself?!"
I lose my cool after failing countless times and the little youkai scoffs.
"And why do I have to do that?! It is your job to serve me! Servant!"
"Who are you calling your servant, you arrogant little…!"
As I'm about to snap, Rin jumps in to ease us. "Onee-chan, Jaken-sama. Rin will catch them for you so don't fight, okay?"
"Hmph! Cheh!"
We glare at each other before turning away. Just then something appears in the corner of Jaken's eye and he frowns. "Huh?"
Curious, I shift my head back to him. "What? What is it?"
"Onee-chan, look. Someone's coming!" Rin alerts me. Pointing at the direction behind my shoulder.
Turning around, I see a light brown haired young man, tanned skin and about Sesshomaru's height. Geared in armor and black boots while his hair is all tied up into a high pony tail traces down to his thighs. Golden eyes and long thin orange stripe on each upper cheek.
However what catches out attention the most is the sight of familiar light brown fur behind his lower back.
Carrying a katana on his waist, he stops before us and Jaken speaks up, pointing the Nintoujou at him. "Who are you?!"
"I am known as Hakuseki."
Therefore the man replies, his voice is as cold as ice. "The most trusted and loyal servant of Nanase-hime."