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ABC Thought

Chapter 33

Next morning

At the top of an isolated mountain far away.

Sora hurried me to get going at dawn and without no other choice. I had to wake Jaken up, much to his annoyance. Luckily Sesshomaru was there to shut him up before he could even nag a single word.

And Rin, who had been told to stay behind several times, insisted coming along and throwing tantrum everywhere until she's allowed to go.

"Sesshomaru-sama, where are we going? Where is this place?"

Jaken asks his lord while carefully makes his way up on a long, narrow mountain's edge.

"We'll find out soon enough."

Hearing a not so informative response from Sesshomaru, he groans.

How odd, There is absolutely nothing here but rocks. I scan the area in doubt and suddenly, Sora warns me from up ahead.

"Incoming!"

"W-what?! There's still more?!"

In instant I hug the wall right beside me to keep myself from falling, preparing for another upcoming assault.

"What is it?! What now?!"

Watching my abnormal reaction, again, Jaken turns panic and yells. Not knowing what is coming at him and having no idea what to do to save himself.

"Huh? What's that sound?"

The wall begins to tremble and we hear a big rumble right above our heads. Confused, we all look up to find the source.

"Falling rocks!"

We, except for Sesshomaru, shout in despair at the sight of huge rocks rolling down from the top of the hill, aiming right at where we are standing. "Gyahh!"

Have I mentioned that this weird mountain is miraculously filled up with a bunch of death traps? Yeah, Sora definitely *forgot* to tell us about that crucial part before we setting our feet onto this hellish place…

As we're trying to run away, the earth below Jaken's feet crumbles into pieces and causes him to fall.

"Ahhh!"

Fortunately, Sesshomaru catches him by his collar just before he drops into the oblivion. Saved by the very last second, he cries while thanking him.

"Sniff… Thanks for rescuing me, Sesshomaru-sama…"

Once reaching to safe place, Rin, Jaken and I kneel on the ground. Panting and sighing in relief.

"If it wasn't because of your stupid idea! We wouldn't have ended up in this stupid place!"

Jaken, after seeing his life passing through his eyes for too many times in one day, finally loses it and snaps at me.

"I-I'm sorry…"

Feeling guilty as I was the one who had pulled him into this mess, I bow to him to apologize. But he doesn't accept it so easily.

"Do you think just a simple sorry of yours will make it all up?!"

"Jaken-sama…"

Rin too, tries to calm him down and receives the same result. "You shut up!"

"J.a.k.e.n"

Sensing Sesshomaru's murderous aura eating him up from behind, Jaken gulps and immediately changes his attitude. "…H-However, since I'm a generous youkai, I-I will f-forgive you this one time! You got that?!"

"Come, we're almost there."

Not leaving us any time to rest, Sora urges and rushes up further ahead. Quickly I stand up to follow. While Jaken groans at his seat, not wanting to go.

A little more of walking and we reach to a thin wooden bridge, which seems to have been long abandoned, leading straight to the other side. When below it is a dark abyss.

"This doesn't look safe at all…"

Jaken frowns, watching their only way through flapping or swinging back and forth within the strong wind.

"Well…We can't give up now, right?"

Curious I make my first step onto the bridge, only to withdraw instantly when the wooden step let out a cracking sound. Watching Sora strolling up ahead with ease, I try hardest not to look down and give it another go, slowly and steady. While praying that the bridge won't break apart cause of my weight.

It's okay… Sesshomaru knows how to fly…We will be fine…

Suddenly hearing Rin's yelp from behind, I look back but not dare to make any move.

"Are you okay, Rin?"

From here, I can see that Sesshomaru has caught her by the collar in time.

"I'm okay!"

In the end we have no choice but to hold onto Sesshomaru and let him take us to the other side. As this is the easiest and quickest method. Once passing the small bridge, we're greeted by a giant double red doors and Rin's instantly awed by its size.

"Wow… What a huge gate."

Then I try to open them, yet they don't bother to budge. Seeing me struggle to open a simple door, Sesshomaru swiftly steps forward and pushes them wide open with just one single push.

How I envy of his monstrous power.

I shoot him a jealousy look and walks inside as he glances back to me, all confused. "?"

"It's so dark in here."

Rin rushes forward and waves her arms around. While I search for a flashlight inside my backpack. When getting a hold of the object, I turn the switch on and a long line of white light's brought into the cave, much to Jaken's and Rin's amazement.

"What kind of magic is this?! Onee-chan! What is that you're carrying?"

Curious about the strange item in my hand, both Jaken and Rin gather around me excitedly and ask.

"It's called a flashlight. Here, want to try it?"

I explain how the flashlight works before giving it to Rin. She gladly accepts then waves it all over the place, seems to be having a lot of fun. "Yay!"

"Oi, Rin! Don't run around too much! We still don't know what's in here!"

Jaken warns her but she's too excited to care. "Yes, Jaken-sama!"

While playing around, Rin steps onto a moving floor and it let out an abnormal crumble sound. Confused, the girl freezes on the spot and looks around.

"What's that sound?"

Turns out she has activated this place's trap, causing multiple arrows along and a giant axe flying out from both side of the walls where we – Sesshomaru, I and Jaken are standing. In a flash, Sesshomaru's drags us out before any of those sharp blades can reach to our heads.

"Huff…Huff…! That was close...!"

Once safe. We fall onto our knees, trembling in fear.

"You idiot! Didn't I just tell you not to run around aimlessly?! I almost died because of you!"

Almost has a heart attack cause of her careless act, Jaken shouts at her. Waving Tokijin in the air furiously and Rin covers her head, apologizing.

"Calm down, Jaken-san. We are still fine, aren't we? So don't scold her too much."

I try to ease him while patting Rin's head, seeing that she's in the verge of crying. "There there, don't cry."

After suffering through various kind of chaos, we're lead to an old wooden double door and I gently push it open to step inside. Then we see a small simple room and in the middle of it sitting a giant lump of rock, lying on top of it is a small chest around human palm size. Shining brightly under the sunlight from a hole above.

"What's this? It's all covered in talismans."

As we approach to have a closer look, I notice the chest's warped carefully with old talismans. And strange words can be seen written all over them. On the surface of the rock, which is just right under the chest, appears to be a message that was carved in unfamiliar language that I've never seen before.

"Jaken-san, can you read these?"

Therefore I turn to ask him and he steps forward to take a look.

"Step aside, let me see!"

As he's busy studying the strange words, I reach out to touch the chest in curiosity. Only to have my hand electrocuted by its barrier a second after. "Ouch!"

"Onee-chan, are you okay?!" Rin asks me in concern and I nod. "Yeah that was really silly of me though."

"Stop..!"

Suddenly hearing an unfamiliar voice ringing by my ears, I look around but seeing no one.

"Rin, did you hear anything?"

However she shakes her head in response and I ask Jaken.

"Did you, Jaken-san?"

Confused, he raises an eyebrow at me.

"What are you blabbing about now?"

Then I glance at Sesshomaru, hoping to find a clue from him but his face remains calm as ever. Confused, my head tilts. Weird, was it just my imagination?

"Jaken."

Tired of waiting, Seshomaru asks his servant and he let out a sigh.

"My apologize, Sesshomaru-sama. This sentence here is written in an ancient language that exists longer than we do…"

Hearing his explanation, Rin pouts in disappointment. "Aww, does that mean we all have come here for nothing?"

"Shiomi."

Out of nowhere Sora appears right before my face, causing me to jump in surprise.

"The message says that in order to unseal this chest, we need to collect a full-fledged youkai's blood. And that would be Sesshomaru's blood."

She explains what to do next and lands next to the small chest. Needless to say I'm shocked by the sudden requirement.

Sesshomaru's blood?! Why are we using his blood? You didn't mention anything about that to me before!

"Didn't I tell you to listen to whatever I say and no question? Now hurry up, losing some drops won't kill him."

And how much exactly is some?

"Keep pouring until the seal is neutralized, shouldn't be taking too long."

Getting nervous, I slowly turn to Sesshomaru and pleads for his aid.

"Uhm…Sesshomaru? The chest says that in order to break the seal, we will be needing your blood. So…"

Not going to let me finish my sentence, Jaken jumps and yells at my face.

"What?! Sesshomaru-sama blood? Why would Sesshomaru-sama have to shred his precious blood for someone like you?!"

"Do I look like I want to him to? But we don't have any other choices here. This is the only way to open it."

Therefore I try to reason with him, but it doesn't work. As always.

"Then stop this absurd business and return!"

"Eh?! How can you tell me to quit after going this far?!"

"I don't care! That's your problem!"

While Jaken and I are busy arguing over us staying or leaving, Sesshomaru has already cut a line on his palm with sharp claw and let his blood drop onto the small jewelry chest.

"S-Sesshomaru-sama!"

Jaken gasps by the sight of warm red liquid running through his palm and I watch him, amazed. Wow…He sure acts fast, doesn't he?

Just like Sora's said, his blood's able to neutralize those old talismans as we watch them burns and fades away completely, leaving it unprotected.

"That's it… Now take the chest, Shiomi!"

Sora guides me and I gulp, feeling the anticipation filling up inside as I reach out to grab the object. In react to my touch, it shines an orange aura and carefully, I open up the lid.

"Creak."

Instantly a huge ball of light appears from within the chest and flies through my chest. Once it's gone, my eyes feel extremely heavy and I fall on my knees.

"Onee-chan!"

Both Rin and Jaken rush to her side as Sesshomaru catches Shiomi into his arm.

"She's knocked out cold."

Jaken frowns, scratching his chin in deep thinking. "Hmm…The light just now, was that her sealed youkai power?"

"Sesshomaru! Get away from that damn chest!"

Just then they hear Inuyasha's yell by the doors and seconds later, Inuyasha and his teammates crowded the room. Having no clue what is going on, Rin and Jaken keep staring at him.

From behind, Sesshomaru frowns once noticing Shiomi's aura is changing dramatically. Her hair starts turning white and grows much longer, down to her feet. She's gaining fangs, pointy ears and claws.

"Inuyasha, senpai is…!"

Kagome gasps at Shiomi's new appearance and he notices the empty jewelry chest lying on the ground next to her.

"Damn it! We're too late!"

He curses. Drawing out Tessaiga and gets in defense stance.

"What are you guys talking about? Late for what?! And what are you lots doing here?!"

Tired of staying in the dark, Jaken asks them out loud.

"Heh heh heh…"

Suddenly Shiomi chuckles and without warning, she tries to claw Sesshomaru's face, who is still holding her in his arm and in reflect he backs away. Carrying both Jaken and Rin with him out of the dangerous range.

"Onee-chan?!"

"W-What the hell was that for?! Are you trying to kill us?!"

Needless to say both Rin and Jaken are shocked by her abnormal attitude. Almost having a heart attack.

"At long last, I have been reborn after countless years of waiting!"

Nine long white tails are now visible behind her back as Shiomi slowly raises on her feet, smirking. "It's all thanks to you insolent fools."

"What?!" Everyone gasps in shock at her statement.

Her hands clench into a fists, she glares at the two Inu Youkai standing before her with deadly red ruby eyes.

"That's right, descendants of Inu no Taishio… Prepare to bow down to the power of the true Western Lord!"