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ABC Thought
Chapter 29
"If you are Nanase's servant then what are you doing here? Aren't you suppose to be with your master?"
Jaken raises his eyebrow at the new character.
"You're a few days late, Nanase's no longer with us."
And I suggest him to search for her somewhere else.
"No, the one I'm looking for is not Nanase-hime…"
Hakuseki suddenly draws out a sharp katana and points it at us.
"…But you."
His sharp golden eyes glares straight at me.
"What?! What do you want from her?!"
Being threatened, I step back further away from him while Jaken rushes to where I stand, holding up Nintoujou to the Inu youkai face to protect me.
"No, Rin get back. This guy is dangerous."
Rin attempts to approach us but I signal her to find a place to hide instead. Therefore she obliges and immediately jumps into one of the bushes nearby.
"I'm going to burn you alive!"
Jaken warns him as he's getting closer. However, Hakuseki doesn't seem to be wary about it.
"Any other idea, Jaken-san?"
Figure that he's not afraid to any of us, I whisper to Jaken.
"Arg, shut up! I'm thinking!" He groans in despair.
We definitely cannot outrun Hakuseki, considering how fast Nanase is. Should I just get him slash me to release Sora? Maybe she will be able to help us dealing with him. Okay then let's do that.
"H-Huh?! Hey! What do you think you are doing?!"
The moment seeing me step forward to face Hakuseki, Jaken yells for me to stop.
"You want to kill me right? Let's hurry and get on with it."
Ignores the little youkai yelling from behind, I ask him out loud.
"Wha?!"
Jaken's jaw drops at my statement.
In instant Hakuseki charges forward in full speed and I shut my eyes tightly, waiting for the impact. Yet seconds later I feel myself being lifted up and snap my eyes open. Seeing that I am now being carried on Hakuseki's shoulder.
"What are you doing?! Where are you taking me to?!"
Having me secured in his arm, Hakuseki makes his escape in an incredible speed.
"Shiomi! Onee-chan!" Both Jaken and Rin cry out to me from afar, trying to chase after us but fail horribly.
"What the hell?! Hey! Let go of me!"
Irritated, I yell into Hakuseki's ears. While struggling within his strong arm and hitting his back furiously just to get him release me. But to no avail since his body is as tough as a rock.
Eventually getting tired after the futile efforts, I give up and start to think of a better plan to escape...
Meanwhile…
At the other side of the forest
Sesshomaru's on his way back to the group after dealing with his personal business. Sensing someone is approaching him form behind, Sesshomaru halts his footstep and has his hand rests on Tokijin.
"You are…"
He speaks up when that person, who has run off on her own some days ago, stops before him. And the woman in red Uchikake leaps forward. Opening her arms wide to give the silver haired lord a tight hug.
"Oh, Sesshomaru! You had no idea how much I missed you!"
"Nanase."
Irritated by her overly friendly attitude, Sesshomaru immediately frees himself from her grip.
"What's wrong? Why aren't you happy to see me?"
Being rejected, Nanase pouts.
"Your presence never brings me joy."
He spats and walks off but Nanase stops him from leaving.
"Did you even realize that I've been missing for almost a week? Why didn't you go look for me? I was waiting for you days and nights."
She blames him for not searching for her whereabouts.
"I had no reason to do so."
"What do you mean there was no reason to?! I was all alone out there, with no one to protect! My life could have been in great danger! I could have been killed!"
"Keeping you safe has never been my responsibility."
Casually Sesshomaru states.
"Can't you at least act like you're worried? I am, after all, still your mate-soon-to-be…"
Upon receiving his cold treatment, Nanase's face saddens. The woman looks like she's about to cry.
"Nonsense, I've never once acknowledged you as my mate."
"Then who else would be suitable enough to be your mate but me?!"
Being rejected again by more of his heart-piercing words. Angered, Nanase shouts.
"That is none of your concern."
Sesshomaru replies, remaining his distant attitude toward her.
"None of my concern you said …Oh I get it…It's that plain human girl, isn't it? You have already decided that she's the one, haven't you?"
Nanase's bewildered by her own statement.
"Heh! You didn't even try to protest. Would that mean I was right?"
There's a long silence from him, and she starts laughing at how ridiculous it is.
"This is a waste of time."
Running out of patience to deal with her madness. Sesshomaru scoffs and leaves the place.
"What? Waste of time?! Wake up, Sesshomaru! That girl doesn't love you! She never does!"
However Nanase steps foward to stop him, clinging on Sesshomaru's arm and hoping that her words will get through his head.
"The only thing she cares about is herself! Can't you see?! She has been using you for her own goods ever since the beginning!"
Seeing him frowns in displeasure, Nanase adds for more impact.
"Sooner or later, she will replace you with another man! Please, you have to listen to me and get rid of her before she does that to you!"
Can't stand listening to her rubbish any further, Sesshomaru shoves Nanase aside violently.
"Out of my way!"
Nanase immediately falls on her back. As the lord is taking off to the sky, she calls out for him but he doesn't look back.
"Sesshomaru!"
Back to Shiomi
Inside a dark basement of an unknown house.
As soon as Hakuseki let me down onto the ground, he takes away my backpack and ties up my ankles and wrists with a rope all the way to the back. Once making sure that I'm in check, Hakuseki heads off to the stairs, which is some feet away.
"H-Hey! You can't just leave like that! At least telling me why I am here!"
I call for Hakuseki, hoping to gain some info from him about this ridiculous abduction.
"To find and get rid of you is my order, from Nanase-hime."
Get rid? I frown at the word. Coming from Nanase, somehow it doesn't sound too surprising to me.
"I have to erase your existent in this world, by any means necessary."
Only then my head tilts. "And why didn't you kill me? You had already draw out the Katana but didn't use it."
"Because…I was not raised to harm female, no matter what race they were."
Hakuseki lowers his head, murmuring the real reason for doing opposite of what he's ordered to do. And my eyes widened in surprise by his warrior spirit.
"Beside, what's the point when you cannot die? Your blood will only end up attracting Sesshomaru more."
So he drew his sword earlier just to scare us. Seems like Nanase had already told him everything.
"Until when are you going to release me from this place? You can't just stay here and guard me forever, right?"
Hearing my question, Hakuseki pauses a bit before replying.
"Till when you ask? Perhaps until Nanase-hime and that man are betrothed."
The moment saying the last word, Hakuseki sounds forced.
"The toilet is over there at the corner."
He points at the pitch black corner on my right before leaving through the double doors on the ceiling, together with my backpack "And keeps silent or I will have to make you to"
You're telling me *That* is the toilet?! And how does you expect me to use it with both tied hands and feet?!
Hours later (Probably)
"Creak..."
The sound of opened doors from above gain all my attention and there, I see Hakuseki makes his way down the stone steps with a bunch of fruits in his right hand and a torch in another.
"Here, eat these. Don't worry. They aren't poisonous."
After placing the torch on the wall, he lays the fruits before my feet and I sigh.
"Okay, Hakuseki-san. As much as I appreciate your kindness…But how am I suppose to eat them with my hands are tied all the way to the back?"
He doesn't respond, and we're stuck in silence for awhile until I suggest only freeing my hands. Since I cannot run away with tied feet.
"Beside you've already taken away my backpack so there won't be anything for me to cut the rope. Please? It's really uncomfortable sitting with this position."
A couple of minutes later to considerate, Hakuseki finally agrees and takes out a knife to cut off the ropes on my hands .
"You better keep your words, miss."
"I always am!"
I grin happily once my hands are all freed and pick up an apple on the floor to eat.
"Thanks, now I'm able to enjoy the food you brought me!"
Confused by my carefree attitude, Hakuseki comments as he watches me taking a bite onto the fruit he brought with no caution.
"You don't seem to be depress at all. Do you even know what situation you are in right now?"
"Well, it's not like this is the first time I'm being captured."
"There's a chance that you have to stay here forever. You know that, right?"
Hearing his warning, I halt my eating. "No I won't, because Sesshomaru will come for me."
"How can you be so confident?"
Needless to say, Hakuseki's surprised by my trust for Sesshomaru.
"I just know."
At night.
Why is it so cold?! Aren't we still in summer?!
I curl into a ball in hope to warm myself. During the moment of despair the double-doors opens and I see Hakuseki steps down. Carrying something looks like clothes on his hand.
"Wear this, it shall be able to keep you through the night. It's cold around here when night falls, even in summer."
"Thank you, Hakuseki-san."
Accepting the brown leather coat from him, I immediately put it on. So warm… Such a life saver!
Somewhat feeling sympathetic to my pitiful situation, he turns away.
"No need to thank me… I am, after all, was the one who forced you into this."
Despite being Nanase's servant, the way he acts and thinks are totally different from her. Much more mature and perhaps dependable.
Maybe Hakuseki's really not a bad person?
Still, we've only met for no more than a day. It's too early to jump into conclusion.
"By the way, Hakuseki-san. May I ask you something?"
"Go ahead."
After receiving his permission, I bring up the sensitive subject from earlier.
"You don't seem to like the idea of Nanase gets married to Sesshomaru, do you?"
Immediately Hakuseki chokes on his own breath. "Wha-?!"
"Do you love her?"
Judging from his reddened face, I take it as a yes.
"I do not!"
Still he strongly protests and walks off from our conversation.
"Alright then. I get it you don't love her. No need to overreact like that."
Leaning against the wall behind, I yawn and pretend to be sleepy. After a while, Hakuseki finally gains enough courage to confess.
"Well…I…I-It's not that I don't…"
"Did you tell her how you feel?"
"I can't."
Confused, my head to tilt. "Eh? Why not?"
"Because I'm only a servant, I'm not worthy enough for her…"
Hakuseki smiles sadly.
Not worthy enough… Now that makes me wonder…Do I too? Worthy for him?
"Do you mind telling me more? About the story of you and Nanase."
Curious about their relationship, I ask him about their past and he hesitates for a moment before deciding to settle down a spot next to me.
"…Nanase-hime and I have been friends ever since we were small."
Hakuseki is the first born son of the General of the clan's army, who is known as lord's loyal subordinate and they both are very close friends.
When they were little, his father always brought him along whenever he visited the lord's palace and that's how they knew each other. As ridiculous as it sounds, he had actually fell in love with Nanase-hime at first sight.
As Nanase being a single child, she grew up completely drowned in her parents love, getting whatever she demanded without having *No* as an answer.
"Despite her childish acts, I believe that deep inside Nanase is a kind and gentle person."
Hakuseki smiles whenever recalling to his long time crush.
"If her parents love her so, then why did they set her up with an arranged marriage to some old geezer for wealth?"
Remember about Nanase's story from before, I ask him and Hakuseki sighs. Explaining that it was only an excuse the lord used to get rid of Nanase's spoiled attitude. However, she took it way too seriously and ended up running away from home.
At result, the whole place turned into chaos as everyone was sent out to search for her, no matter day or night.
"Suddenly 3 days ago, Nanase-hime showed up. I was overjoyed to find her at our secret meeting spot…"
*Flash back*
3 days ago
At an unknown flower field in the South
"Nanase-hime! You're finally back! I-We were so worried about you! Are you alright?! Have you been well?!"
Hakuseki rushed to see Nanase, restraining the urge to hug her since they had not met each other for almost a month.
"Hakuseki…I returned to this place because I knew you would eventually come here to find me."
Completely opposite to the man's expression, Nanase stared into the night and kept her distant.
"Yes! Of course! I passed by this field everyday just to look for you! I'm glad that it worked!"
Therefore he nodded, smiling brightly that she still remembered their promises from before. Although their happy reunion didn't last too long until Nanase sighed in distress.
"Hakuseki, I have a request."
"Do tell, you know that I am willing to do anything for you."
"I want you to eliminate someone for me."
"You want me to kill who?"
His eyes widened in shock and Nanase bit her lips in anger, remembering back when Shiomi threatened her life at the forest.
"Just a damn human wench that had been keeping me away from my mate."
Hearing the word *mate* coming out from her lips, Hakuseki's immediately taken aback.
"M-Mate? What do you mean by that?!"
"Yes, I have finally found my mate, Hakuseki. His name is Sesshomaru, Lord of the Western lands."
"Sesshomaru?! That ruthless man?! You chose that guy?!"
Over me?! The closest man you've ever been with?! His heart ached when seeing Nanase's being completely swooned over another man, right in front of him.
"Hmm? You seem to know him."
"Not yet in person, I've only heard about him from Chichi-ue before…."
Hakuseki had heard stories from his father about this man, what kind of a man he was and what he was capable of. Deep down Hakuseki knew, that he still had a long way to go to be able to be compared to him.
"Of course, Sesshomaru's famous. He's powerful, handsome, smart and charming…Plus he saved my life, even letting me travel along by his side."
Nanase sighed in awe. Recalling to Sesshomaru's cool demeanor the moment he saved her from the boars with his incredible skill.
"Life?! Who dared to hurt you?!"
Ignoring all those praises she had for the western lord, Hakuseki's way more concerned about her life being threatened when she's out of his protection.
"Some dumb wild boar at the forest. It's already long dead cause Sesshomaru killed him."
Nanase huffed, hands on her hips and urged him to get onto his work.
"But that doesn't matter right now. You have to get rid of the human girl who's traveling with Sesshomaru for me, as soon as possible!"
Hakuseki almost choked on his breath after hearing another shocking news, "Human girl? Sesshomaru's traveling with a human? What kind of relationship they're having?"
"Nothing! They are just servant and master! But that pest doesn't know her place and completely goes over the line!"
Suddenly Nanase lost her cool, cursing the idea of her mate sharing a bond with a lowly human.
"If she really was then why didn't you ask *your mate* to kill her right at the spot?"
Confused by their situation, Hakuseki asked.
"Because… she couldn't die, no matter what *we* did."
Nanase murmured and turned away. Leaving Hakuseki lost even deeper in this conversation.
"What do you mean by *couldn't die*? Isn't she human?"
"I don't know how but this girl has some kind of special power that keeping her from dying! It's really annoying! Please, Hakuseki! You have to help me!"
Nanase grabbed his shoulders and pleaded. "You are the only one I can trust! I know you will find a way to deal with her till I officially become his mate!"
Officially? Does she mean that they haven't…?
After a long moment of hesitation, Hakuseki has no choice but to agree to aid Nanase. Because he couldn't being himself to refuse her. Not when she needed him the most.
"Please worry not, Nanase-hime….I, Hakuseki will try my best…"
*End flash back*
"And what will happen once Sesshomaru's here? Are you going to fight him?"
Feeling bad for the guy after listening to his story, I try to convince him to give up when everything has not gone too far.
"It's not like I have other choice."
However, Hakuseki refuses my offer. He acts so calm that it sends a chill down my spine. It's as if he has predicted what is going to happen and completely embraced his fate
"If losing my life can somehow bring her happiness…Then I shall do it with no regret."
Then he stands up from his seat, bidding me goodbye before getting out of the basement and closed the doors.
"It's late, you should rest."
Next morning
"Clang! Clang! Wham!"
Loud noises of metal crashing onto each other multiple times, plus a rumble from the floor above instantly snaps me out of my slumber.
"Earthquake?!"
I go panic like a headless chicken and try to find a place to hide. Until more sound of swords colliding gives me a hint that this is not natural disaster and I sigh in relief.
Hold on, sword?! Is Sesshomaru here already?
Quickly I try to reach to the stairs but fail, as both feet are tied into one. And loosening up the rope is impossible when Hakuseki tied it too tight. If only my pocket knife was here! I would be able to cut this in no time!
Sadly I left it inside my backpack, which was probably disposed by Hakuseki yesterday...
I have to hurry or Hakuseki-san will die! Sora! Where are you?! Please, lend me your power! Only for a little while will do!
*Just for a little while, okay? If you want more then you will have to free me!*
Much to my delight, Sora's finally responds.
Yes, just a bit. I promise!
Within a split of second, my left eye turns red and I feel an enormous energy flowing inside my body.
"Wow…I feel…so different."
Alright, no time to be amazed. I need to get out of here first.
I easily tear apart the thick rope just by walking and once breaking the double-doors on the ceiling to get outside. My eye instantly changes back to normal and that energy's also fades away. Phew…Just in time!
Stepping outside of the small hut, I find Hakuseki and Sesshomaru are fighting each other not to far away. While further in the back watching them are Rin, Jaken and Ah-Un.
Rin spots me instantly and lays Jaken's arm to alert him. "Jaken-sama, look! It's onee-chan! She's really here!"
"Of course she is, you idiot! How dare you doubt Sesshomaru-sama's ability?!"
Jaken spat, doesn't care about that matter for one bit and continues watching the silver haired lord proving his skill against his rival.
After a while of struggling, Hakuseki's sent some feet away by Sesshomaru's unexpected attack and drops onto the ground, gasping for air.
"Urg!"
He moves backward as Sesshomaru approaches him with the Tokijin in his hand, about to use Soryuha technique to finish the fight.
"Such a weakling." Sesshomaru insults the injured man below and points the blade at his face.
"Stop!" Just before he can cast any lightning, I jump in and stand before Hakuseki to defend him.
"Onee-chan!" Shocked by my crazy action, Rin and Jaken shout. "Stupid girl! What do you think you are doing?!"
Seeing me, Sesshomaru halts his sword and shoots me a question look.
"Please Sesshomaru, don't kill him! Hakuseki-san isn't as bad as you think he is!"
Therefore I plead Sesshomaru to not eliminate his enemy since he's already won the fight.
"You…Why are you helping me?"
Taking the chance that he's left with some seconds to breath, Hakuseki sits up but cough out blood due to the wound all over his body.
Concerned, I squat down before him to take a check on his injuries. "Are you okay, Hakuseki-san?!"
Just as I finish speaking, we feel a enormous murdering aura right behind us and I turn around. Only to see Sesshomaru's expression has turned to be even more frightening.
Much to our horror, he tightens his grip on the Tokijin.
"Hmph! Not only you wearing his clothes but also protecting this vermin… Only staying with him for one day and you've already decided to become his woman?"
"Eh?" Both I and Hakuseki are dumbfounded by his over the top statement. "Wha...?"
His clothes? He must mean Hakuseki's coat. But whose woman is he talking about now? What the heck?!
And before I can open my mouth to explain, Sesshomaru points Tokijin at us. Demanding us to confess things that neither I nor Hakuseki have ever done or even thinking of.
"Speak. What else have you two already done while being alone?"
"What the- What are you saying all of the sudden?! Are you out of your mind?!"
Can't no longer stand his ridiculous imaginations, I yell in despair.
Oh my… Sesshomaru-sama is jealous. Both Rin and Jaken thought the same thing but don't dare to speak out loud. That guy is so dead…