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Chapter 40
"Sesshomaru-sama! Thanks god I've found you!"
The moment seeing Sesshomaru standing alone in the darkness, Kohaku rushes to his side to reunite with him. By chance, he gets a glimpse of the corner of Sesshomaru's face.
Those clear, beautiful amber eyes that always fill up with pride, are now painted with a tin of redness. This color doesn't seem to belong to a Daiyoukai who is about to turn into his true form however, it belongs to man who has just shed his tears.
Huh? Sesshomaru-sama hasn't cried, has he?
An absolute crazy thought pops up inside his mind and Kohaku instantly shakes it off.
No way, what am I thinking!? It must be the environment here that has affected his eyes.
Their journey continues in dead silence until they reach to a pit full of dead. There, Kohaku sees a black hole floating in the air and standing in front of them is a giant black figure, which is carrying an unconscious Rin in its hand.
It's not too hard to figure out that this ugly thing is the master of Meidou.
I've already lost her…That's why, Rin. You must live!
With one long strike from Tenseiga, the Meidou's master is easily defeated and Sesshomaru catches Rin into his arm. Yet she's still not showing any sign of living.
It can't be! She cannot be saved?!
Dropping Tenseiga onto the ground, he holds her tight.
Once again I… have failed to protect the person I hold dear.
Back to the Sky's palace.
"What's wrong, Sesshomaru? You look dejected."
There's an unusual expression on her son's face, she asks and earns a not-so-pleased glance from him.
"Did you know that this would happen to Rin?"
"You've already used Tenseiga before to revive that girl, haven't you? As you can see right now, Tenseiga is only able to call a dead person back once."
For every single one of his mother's words, his body goes stiff.
"That's natural. Life is always bound by limits. It's not a thing that can be saved multiple times. You were to be taught a lesson. About desire to save the life of a loved one, as much as the sorrow and fear that accompanies that loss. To value life."
Haha-ue's right, I was indeed too ignorance. To think that as long as I have Tenseiga in my hand, no one else will have to suffer from thought of losing their lives… Not to Rin, at least…
Sesshomaru frowns, his hand clenches into fist.
"Therefore to wield the sword, one must possesses a compassionate heart."
Then in order to teach Sesshomaru-sama about compassion, Rin had to die! No longer able to resist, Jaken sobs and she looks at him, surprised to find a youkai showing sympathy to a human girl.
"Are you crying, little one?"
"Sesshomaru-sama by nature will never shed tears that's why I have to fulfill that task."
"Oh? Are you sad, Sesshomaru?"
Taking the silence from him as a yes, she sighs.
"Fine, don't expect this to get happen again. You hear?"
Taking off her necklace, she put it on the girl's body lying on the floor. And from the Meidou stones shines a bright blue light which similar to the one from Tenseiga, then Rin's eyes slowly opened. Much to everyone's surprise and joy.
Rin… She lives!
Both Jaken and Kohaku rush to her side in joy. While Rin, who just got revived, still spacing out and not comprehend of what is happening. Soon she coughs and starts crying due to the shock.
"You're fine now."
Immediately, Sesshomaru approaches and caresses her face to calm her down.
"Yes, Sesshomaru-sama."
Feeling the warmth from Sesshomaru's palm on her cheek, Rin smiles and holds his hand. Knowing that she is now safe having the lord is by her side.
"Lady mother, allow me to pay you my gratitude on behalf of Sesshomaru-sama."
Quickly, Jaken bows to her in appreciation.
"Is Sesshomaru happy now?"
She asks, not taking her eyes off the small group in front of them.
"Very happy, I presume."
The little servant nods.
"Hmph! All this fuss over a little human girl, he has become like his father in the strangest ways."
Yet she scoffs, doesn't seem to be amused nor surprised by this strange development of her son.
Shocked by her accurate statement, Jaken's body busts into cold sweat and slowly shifts his head away from his lord. Cringing his teeth and holding firmly onto Nintoujou, the little youkai speaks to himself in determination.
Sesshomaru-sama! I vow to bury this deep dark secret of yours into the depth of my grave!
Back then, Jaken didn't mention a thing about Shiomi's existence. Instead he used tons of excuses, mostly about Rin, to get his way out of Sesshomaru's mother inquiry.
After having a brief talk about Kohako's condition, Sesshomaru's group swiftly departs the sky palace for their next location.
Later at night.
.
..
…
The moment waking up, the ceiling is painted in white and the floor's covered with a specific type of small blue petals.
Myosotis, isn't it?
Feeling a little bit of light headed, I sit up just to stare blankly at the empty space up ahead.
There's something strange about these harmless flowers. They bear no magical effect or anything special and yet, I always feel at ease whenever seeing them.
Is it because they remind me of you?
Standing on my own two feet, I start walking aimlessly until hearing a sound of something's moving behind. Turning around, I'm shocked to find my dearest is standing before me, teary eyed.
"If only had I known everything would turn out this way, I wouldn't have asked to come with you. Then we wouldn't have fallen in love and you wouldn't have suffered as much as you are now."
Shiomi speaks between her sobs.
"I was stupid, it's all my fault…"
Her hands and face, are now as cold as ice.
"No, You didn't do anything wrong."
Brushing my lips against her forehead, I ensure her as she clings to my chest tightly. The flower's scent is still lingering on her black curly hair as I caress them.
Loving you was the decision that I had made. It was also I who had insisted on following this path.
"That's why… Shiomi, you shouldn't be crying."
Because of you, I was able to experience what were called happiness, sadness, jealousy, and affection… the things that seemed so strange and unfamiliar to a youkai. To be able to discover another side of myself that I did not aware of. A Sesshomaru who could think and act for someone else sake other than himself.
"No, you don't understand! That's not how you are suppose to be! It was me who made you like this!"
However Shiomi rejects my affection, she cries even more and her body trembles heavily.
And before I can say anything else to comfort her, Shiomi speaks up again. Calm and soothing. Her mind seems to have relaxed yet the grip on my body has not loosened up even for one bit.
"And it shall be me alone who can set you free. But even so, I cannot bring myself to do it… I can never hand you over to anyone else."
"Because you are mine, Sesshomaru. You only belong to me."
…
..
.
Within a split of a second, everything vanishes into thin air once the consciousness returns.
A dream…?
I open my eyes only to see the cold reality, tired and dejected. Now that the rare nap's been ruined, there's no reason to sit in one place any longer. Therefore, I decide to get up and take a walk.
Before leaving, I glance at Rin, who is sleeping sound next to Ah-Un and the dozing off Jaken sitting nearby.
"Sesshomaru-sama, please wait…for me…Snore…"
Even in his sleep, he is still haunted by the thought of being left behind.
After making sure that the situation is in control, I swiftly make my way out of the deep forest.
Standing on top of a cliff to feel the cool night breeze brushing against my skin, I watch the bright full moon up above the sky. Only to bitterly realizing that even with this calming atmosphere still cannot stop the anxiety from building up inside my heart.
Meanwhile at an unknown location.
"Oh? I would never expect to find you in this kind of place."
Byakuya's paper crane swift landing sends a gust of wind toward to ground and lifts up numerous of white petals into the night sky. Approaching the long white haired woman who is sitting next to one of the shrubs from behind, the man speaks in a half-amused and playful tone as he picks up a white petal's stuck on his right shoulder.
"You actually have a soft side to your personality, huh? With wild plants, no less."
"Beautiful yet delicate, aren't they?"
Caressing a white Magnolia within her palm before crushing it into pieces, Sora smirks darkly.
"Interesting indeed… Especially the damaged ones."
Hmm... She's not simply talking about flowers, is she?
Byakuya's eyebrow raises at her play of words. Enough relaxing with the beautiful scenery, Sora stands up from her spot and turns around. Greeting him with a mysterious smile.
"So, what's the news?"