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ABC Thought

- I am the bird that sings only for you -

Chapter 32

All of a sudden Sesshomaru shifts his head away from me.

"How could you look away from me after I confessed to you?!"

Stunned and hurt by his cold reaction, I try to get him to face me yet he refuses to move a muscle. Just then I notice something odd about his long ear.

Huh? They turns bright red? Wait.. is he blushing?

Getting embarrassed, my face turns just as red and I grab his shoulder to turn him around.

"Sesshomaru! Stop avoiding me and say something!"

Finally he returns to look at me in the eyes and grabs my wrist.

"Did you even realize what you've just said to me?"

"Yes, I love you."

Casually I repeat those words. Causing his cheeks turn even redder.

Okay, so what now?

Extremely flustered by my own boldness, I just stare at him and wait for his response awkwardly. Unsure how to act next. Then for a whole good five minutes or so we're stuck in that same position, with his hand still holding my wrist.

"Sesshomaru, how do you feel about me?"

Gathering up all my courage, I ask him again and notice Sesshomaru's fingers slightly flinch. Such reaction that I have never seen from him ever since we met.

"To this Sesshomaru you are…"

Seem to be borrowing the cold night wind to calm down, Sesshomaru opens up. Slowly and carefully.

"… the one that I do not want to live without."

My eyes widened in joy by his answer.

"However, once becoming my mate. I will never let you go, no matter how much you plead."

Sesshomaru gives me his final warning. And that if I accept him, our existence will be bound together and there shall be no turning back.

"Do you truly wish to live such life, Shiomi? You are given one last chance to reconsider your words before everything too late."

Why need to reconsider when I've already made up my mind?

Feeling contented after knowing his true feelings, I press a gentle kiss onto Sesshomaru's lips. Much to his surprise.

"Then let's be together, even if the world end!"

A week after

Nearby a stream within the forest

We're traveling together as usual, with I and Rin are carried on Ah-Un back while Sesshomaru and Jaken walking behind. Suddenly Sesshomaru halts his steps and looks at the sky.

"What's the matter, Sesshomaru-sama?"

Soon after Jaken asks, something from above falls straight into the stream before us.

It's no one else but the wind-user, Kagura.

"Oh?! Isn't that Kagura?"

Curious, both Rin and I jump down from Ah-Un's back to approach the stream to see more clearly. For some reasons the woman isn't moving nor opening her eyes.

"What shall we do, Sesshomaru-sama?"

Unsure what to do in this situation, Jaken turns to him.

"Leave her be, let's keep going."

Sesshomaru swiftly moves on as if nothing has happened.

"But we can't just leave her like that!"

However Rin protests, attempting to get into the water to save the woman and I stop her immediately.

"Wait Rin, the current here is too strong for you to handle. I'll do it."

Hearing my crazy suggestion, Jaken yells to object.

"What?! Do you even know what you're saying?!"

It's too late since I've already walked into the stream up ahead. Once approaching the fainted woman, I grab her arm and drag her back to the land. It's impossible, however.

What the heck! She's heavy!

While struggling within the strong current, I tripped over my own my feet and falls into the water. Watching my failed attempt from afar, Jaken has no choice but to step in to help.

"For God sake, just what do you think you are doing?!"

He reaches out Nintoujou for me to grab on. "Here, hold on! You idiot!"

But both of us are too heavy for him and at result, he loses his balance and falls into the water as well. Hitting my face with his staff by accident and cause me to release my grip on Kagura.

Now that all of us are in danger, Jaken calls for Sesshomaru desperately.

"Save me! Don't just stand there!"

Minutes later…

"Hak! Cough!"

Both Jaken and I are completely drenched the moment Sesshomaru letting us down onto the ground. Concerned, Rin rushes to our sides to check on us.

"Onee-chan! Jaken-sama! Are you two okay?!"

While I sigh in relief for not end up being drowned. Jaken yells and almost hit her head with Nintoujou.

"Do I look like I'm okay to you?!"

In instant, Sesshomaru whacks the little servant's head to shut him up and turns to me, also annoyed by my lack of thinking.

"You could have asked me if you wanted to save her."

But you were the one who said to abandon Kagura in the first place. "Right, sorry."

So unfair! Why am I the only one getting hit?! Wiping the dirt off his face, Jaken glares at me.

Once having calmed down, we turn to check Kagura, who has a big wound on her chest. After examining everything. From pulse to breathe, etc... Jaken states.

"She flew all the way here in this condition? But this is hopeless…"

Except seconds later, Kagura's body begin to regenerate and the wound is healed completely as good as new. Eventually she gains her consciousness and opens her eyes slowly.

"I'm not dead."

Though she seems to be surprised when being surrounded by Sesshomaru's minions right after waking up, except for Sesshomaru who is sitting miles away.

"Sesshomaru-sama saved you!"

Therefore Rin tells her what happens, smiling and Jaken counters. "While saving us!"

Having enough of waiting, Sesshomaru stands up from his seat and walks off.

"Hold it! Aren't you gonna ask what happened to me?!"

Watching him leave without speaking a single word to her, Kagura's displeased.

"I have no interest in what happened to the like of you."

"Even if I tell you I found Naraku's heart?!"

Once the *Naraku's heart* slips out of her lips, he spins around and I blink, finding the situation pretty amusing.

Oh now he's interested…

Therefore we learn from her that Naraku has become immortal. It's because his heart is not inside him but somewhere else. And in order to destroy Naraku, we have to destroy his heart.

"Sesshomaru-sama! Please be careful! It may be a trap!"

Not going to trust her words that easily, Jaken warns his lord.

"Hah! It's up to you to believe me or not."

Kagura smirks.

"Even so, how can we find his heart? Do you know where it is?"

My head tilt in thought, somewhat is curious about this whole heart stuff.

As if having asked the right questiom Kagura takes out a small green fragment and shows it to us. Saying that this is a youki crystal.

"Recently, Naraku got possession of a crystal named Fuyoheki, which is able to mask his youki. He uses it to totally hide the location of his heart."

Once finishes explaining the use of Fuyoheki, she breaks the fragment into a smaller piece and tosses it to me. I observe the crystal closely as Jaken approaches to take a peek.

"I've got it figured that this Goryomaru fellow is like the protector of Naraku's heart."

When being asked why Kagura has to figure out everything all by herself when she's a part of Naraku's group, Kagura only smirks bitterly.

"Hmph! That's because Naraku does not trust me. Particularly concerning his heart, he's never once told me anything."

After having heard everything, Sesshomaru declares.

"If what you told me were true…Naraku must already know that you're after his heart."

Kagura's immediately taken aback by his words and he adds. "And that means it's useless for you to take any further action. Kagura, are you trying to use me?"

"Without someone of caliber, I cannot kill Naraku. No one else surpasses you in skill or demonic power."

She replies calmly as if stating a fact, causing Jaken to gasp by surprise. Such flattery!

After thanking us for saving her, Kagura stands up.

"Already? Didn't you come to ask Sesshomaru-sama for help?"

Curious about why she is here in the first place, Rin asks her.

"I was only here to help pushing up the progress, that's all."

Then, a tint of disappointment and sadness can be felt in her tone.

"As far as I know, that Naraku wants the girl in hope for enhancing his strength even up to this time…"

Like a way to repay us, Kagura reveals a little more of Naraku's plan.

"What will you do, Sesshomaru? Are you going to let his plan success?"

Her words are like daggers that continously stabbing my heart. Irritated, Sesshomaru glares at Kagura to shut her up.

"Hmph! My thought exactly."

Having done talking, she snatches a small feather out of her hair and flies off.

"..."

I stare down at my feet and let out a sigh. Recalling to the horrible nightmare about me being help captured by Naraku for the first time. Whenever I close my eyes long enough, those memories will appear. Vividly as if it's only happened yesterday.

Suddenly feeling a hand on my shoulder. I flinch.

"Sesshomaru…"

Notice my shoulders are trembling in fear, he ensures me.

"I will not let him take you away from me, never again."

And I nod to him, feeling relief by his words. Staring at the fragment in hand for a moment, I decide to give it to Jaken. He hesitates at first but eventually accepts.

"Somehow my feeling tells me that she's in love with Sesshomaru-sama"

Out of the blue Rin states. Causing both Jaken's jaw and mine drop.

"Rin, how do you know that?!"

"It's simple. Remember? She really praised him!"

"Rin, stop talking nonsense. We're going."

Enough with playing around, Sesshomaru urges us to move on and the little two quickly oblige.

For some reasons I don't find it THAT nonsense though. How strange.

Some days later

In one night

"Hmm? The crystal's light, it's fading."

Notices something odd about the fragment in his hand, Jaken informs us.

Just then I see a bunch of familiar people standing not too far away from our spot. They are Kagome and Inuyasha. Plus a creepy looking person that keeps attacking Inuyasha with his giant tentacle.

Quickly I jump off Ah-Un back and tell Rin to find a place to hide. While Sesshomaru draws out Tokijin and fires a green ball of energy toward to the guy to make him release Inuyasha.

"Kagome-chan! Are you alright?!"

Hearing my call, Kagome shifts her head back in surprise.

"Senpai!"

Huh? That's Inuyasha next to her, right?

There is a heavily injured guy, who resembles a lot to Inuyasha but without his Youkai features, sitting beside Kagome and breathing heavily.

But why is his hair black? His ears are gone too. What happened to him?

"There's no mistaking it, Sesshomaru-sama. That youkai has no youki."

Jaken informs him when they arrive to the scene.

"Moryoumaru, you are the one with Naraku's heart, right?!"

Hearing so, Inuyasha snaps.

"I have no idea what you are talking about."

The person called Moryoumaru smirks.

"Don't act innocent! The crystal that shriveled looking youkai over there is the proof!"

Not going to buy his crap, Jaken yells and shows him the crystals in his hand. Getting curious, Moryoumaru shifts his attention to him.

"Oh? You…. How did you get that?"

When Jaken's about to open his mouth to reveal everything to the enemy, Sesshomaru shuts him up.

"After following the disgusting smell that reached me, I found you…"

Or so he claims, mentions nothing about our meeting with Kagura from earlier.

"Hmph! And what will you do?"

Moryoumaru taunts. Not being afraid of him even for one bit.

"Kill you."

Right away, Sesshomaru fires another energy waves at him. Only to have Moryoumaru absorb everything into his giant hand and sends it straight back at us.

It's impossible to outrun that, and Sesshomaru warps his arm around my stomach to carry me away from the explosion. Leaving Jaken behind to dodge it on his own.

"Go."

He whispers into my ears once we land onto the ground nearby.

Taking the chance that the weird dude's still busy introducing his power, I quickly flee some miles away to where Kagome's staying. Assuming that I would be safe there.

"Senpai, you alright?!"

Kagome asks me once I approach.

"I'm fine. What happened to Inuyasha? Why does he look…so human?"

Letting out a tired sigh, Kagome explains that tonight is the new moon night. Whenever it occurs, every hanyou will lose all of their youkai power. And Inuyasha is not an exception.

"Don't get involved, Sesshomaru! He's my prey!"

Back at the battle field. Despite struggling within Moryoumaru's grip, Inuyasha keeps on yelling at his half-brother to back off.

"Hmph! Just as well."

Except Sesshomaru isn't going to give up on a fight just because Inuyasha asks him to.

"Jumping around in that disgusting form of yours was getting to be annoying. That's why I'll slice the two together."

Seeing Sesshomaru strikes at both of them. Shippou shouts to alert him from afar.

"Don't cut him! It'll just give Moryoumaru more power!"

As stubborn as always, Sesshomaru ignores every warning and keeps sending his energy balls toward to Moryoumaru one after another.

"More, Sesshomaru. I'll gather every bits of your youkai energy!"

Moryoumaru laughs, absorbing every single one of them.

"That dope Sesshomaru! Firing them at Moryoumaru just means he gets stronger!"

As Shippou comments at how idiotic Sesshomaru can be. Jaken growls.

"Hey! How dare you call Sesshomaru-sama a dope?! I bet Sesshomaru-sama has a deep reason for doing this!"

"And what kind of reason?"

"If I knew that I'd have been calm from the start, stupid!"

Jaken shouts desperately and I sigh, face palming. "Seriously…"

As the sun is rising, Miroku voices his concern about Inuyasha being absorbed. It's also when his youkai energy returns.

"Inuyasha, just wait a bit! My arrow's soul energy might effect him!"

Kagome, who's no longer able to stand watching, takes out her bow to assist Inuyasha.

"Don't, Kagome! It's okay like this!"

However, Inuyasha stops her from doing so.

At dawn, I notice Moryoumaru's right arm, which after having received too many hits from Sesshomaru, has eventually broken into pieces.

"Hmph! The youkai energy of I, Sesshomaru could never be contained by someone of your meager caliber!"

Sesshomaru states confidently, firing another shot at Moryoumaru and finally damages his body.

"Just what you'd expect from Sesshomaru-sama! Such deep thinking!"

Imagining his lord's upcoming victory, Jaken cries in joy.

"He wasn't thinking at all, makeshift confidence."

Although Shippou thinks the otherwise.

While everyone is still being in awe by Sesshomaru's plan, Moryoumaru left arm is being sliced up open from inside out and there, Inuyasha appears in his normal form with Tessaiga in his hand.

"Damn you!"

As an act of panic, Moryoumaru releases a huge amount of Shouki right at him and they also quickly crawling to where we are standing. Luckily, Inuyasha and Sesshomaru immediately dash to our spot and get us out of there before getting poisoned.

"Come, Kagura!"

Taking the chance that none of the brothers is paying attention to him, Moryoumaru attempts to escape from the scene.

"You're not getting away!"

Sesshomaru then tries to hit him again. However a magical barrier shows up and negates his attack. And Jaken sighs disappointment, watching their enemies fly away helplessly.

A couple of days later.

Sesshomaru has eventually found Moryoumaru's location once again. Although this time Moryoumaru has donned something that look like a green-colored armor.

That armor appears to be working extremely well against Sesshomaru's normal attack. Whenever Sesshomaru shoots an energy balls at him, he will simply absorb it.

"Keep swinging that sword and soon your energy will be mine"

Moryoumaru smirks and grabs Sesshomaru with his tentacles. Though he frees himself soon after by cutting those tentacles into pieces and strikes at his shoulder.

"Souryuuha!"

At result of that powerful technique, Moryoumaru's armor is damaged and Sesshomaru's sword is broken in half.

"Tokijin! It snapped!"

Figures that he alone cannot win against Sesshomaru, Moryoumaru halts the fight and escapes from the scene. After throwing his broken sword away, Sesshomaru turns to me.

"Stay, I will be back."

Then he takes off into the sky alone.

Isn't he acting a little weird? What is he actually in a hurry for?

"Where is Sesshomaru-sama going?"

Being left behind once again, Jaken pouts.

"There's only one way to find out, we're going after him."

Having no desire stay in the dark, I get onto Ah-Un's back to follow Sesshomaru.

"What? Didn't Sesshomaru-sama tell us to stay?!"

Despite wanting to follow Sesshomaru as much as I am, Jaken doesn't want to disobey his lord's order.

"You can stay here if you want, but I'm leaving."

Watching me helping Rin to get on free seat behind me, Jaken's jaw drops. Fearing at the thought of being alone in this horrendous place and eventually comes along.

At a white flower field

From afar, I spot Sesshomaru standing in the middle of the field, along with someone else.

"Huh? Isn't that Kagura?"

Rin points at an heavily injured Kagura kneeling in front of him.

"Hmph! Is that woman trying to beg for Sesshomaru-sama to heal her wound?!"

Irritated that this can turn out to be one of her schemes, Jaken scoffs.

However the moment we arrive, Kagura disperses herself into purple dusts and vanishes. What's left of her is only a single white feather that swiftly gets carried away through the wind, together with the other white petals up to the sky above.

"Kagura, She's…gone!"

We all turn speechless after watching her unexpected final moment.

"She's free."

And Sesshomaru fixes us. Despite acting calm before everyone here. I can notice a tint of sadness in his eyes.

Days passed…

Soon after Sesshomaru's Tokijin is broken, the rumor about him being weakened has been spread widely over the land. Results in more youkai to keep coming to take his life one after another, not counting days and nights.

Fortunately enough, Sesshomaru still manages to drive them all off with his immense strength as well as maintaining his pride in check.

At night within a forest

"Stupid low life youkai! They never learn, do they?!"

Jaken spat as this is the nth times they come to challenge his lord.

They deserve an A point for trying though.

I sit in between Rin and a quiet Sesshomaru under a tree, staring at the campfire ahead of us while listening to Jaken's never ending nags.

"You should get some sleep, Rin. It's been a tiring day."

Notice Rin's nodding left and right, I pat her head. She then lay down onto the grass and covers herself with a blanket I gave her. While I rest my head onto Sesshomaru's arm, slowly drifting off into dreamland.

"Good night."

..

…

"Shiomi….Shiomi!"

Soon I'm awaken in the middle of the night by Sora's voice. Immediately, I sit straight up and look around to find her. While trying not to wake both Rin and Sesshomaru up.

"H-How come you're outside?!"

My search for Sora doesn't take too long since she has been sitting right before me, a familiar white fox that I haven't seen for ages.

"Come, let's have a little chat."

Not bother to explain, she heads off into the forest up ahead. As I glance back and forth between a seem-to-be sleeping Sesshomaru and Sora for a short moment before quietly following along.

"Okay, what kind of important matter that you have to appear yourself out here to meet me?"

It's not until we reach to a small stream some feet away that Sora stops, turning around to face me and I take a seat at the rock lying nearby.

"It's time."

"Time for what?"

"It's time for you to awaken your true power, to discover what you truly are!"

Thanks to her statement, I can no longer hold the excitement and cheer out loud. Then cover my mouth right after.

"You're seriously going to help me?!"

Once having calmed down and make sure that the situation is safe, I whisper to her. Therefore Sora nods in reply and I lean closer to check that she's not lying.

"No more trick questions and random disappearing on me, right?!"

"Yes…No more disappearing."

For some reasons her voice trails off and my head tilts.

"Even so, why now of all the timing?"

"Because you are ready."

It's quite hard to believe. From the beginning of our first met up till now, I find myself haven't changed that much. Experience, power, appearance or whatever you name it.

"Okay then, What am I going to do?"

But all of that doesn't mean I'm going to reject such special offer from her, this is a one in a life time chance after all.

Before she begins with her explaination, Sora makes me promise to listen and follows everything she's telling me to do tomorrow. Plus a warning that If I somehow mess up, she won't be guarantee for my life.

"And more importantly, we need Sesshomaru."

"Eh? Why?"

I ask her without thinking and she huffs.

"To protect you from things that lurking out there, what else? Don't you remember how many times you get yourself captured by youkai? And of course, for fast traveling too."

Right...

As I'm planning what to prepare for the long trip tomorrow. Sesshomaru's voice appears right behind my shoulder.

"Shiomi."

My feet jump in surprise.

"I'm sorry, did I wake you?"

Turning around, I find him standing only some inches away.

"Who are you talking to just now? Who is Sora?"

Sesshomaru looks somewhat confused.

Then I glance at the white fox at the back but she's gone. Turns out he has heard me talking but couldn't sense Sora's presence.

"Welll…Sesshomaru, I promise I will explain everything to you later. Because right now I need your help."