Chapter 74:
"You did not want to leave but you still did. Why?" Sesshomaru suddenly brought up when they arrived at the well, ready to plunge in.
Arisa blushed at once, stuttering as she gave him an answer.
"Y-you were actually listening to that?"
"..."
"Ahem. A-as what I've said, I was thinking of your situation and how useless I was. So even if it was hard for me, I—"
"Do not bother yourself worrying about me." He cut her off in a determined tone and stared at her with unwavering eyes, making her heart race.
"But-"
"Since Naraku considers you a threat, he will not stop wishing for your death. Be mindful and always stick with me from now on."
"Then you should also stop leaving me and Jaken alone out of the blue." Arisa quickly snapped back, but Sesshomaru only averted his eyes in a flippant manner.
She sighed in defeat at his candidly empty answer.
Really now? He's not even aware of that?
"Anyway, when I get a real-good chance at everything…his sorry ass won't be able to move again." she added with conviction, earning a brief glance from Sesshomaru.
All of a sudden, he took her by surprise as he grabbed her waist and pulled her towards him.
"W-what is it now?"
"Shameless, aren't we?"
She didn't have the time to process her reaction because at that exact moment, they had already jumped off into the well; sending them back to the feudal era.
"Sesshomaru-sama! Arisa!"
Jaken happily shouted with teary eyes as both of his companions emerged from the well together.
"I prayed so hard for your success—"
"Shut your mouth." His master commented irritably, to which he heeded and apologized right after. On the other hand, Arisa forced a smile as she addressed the little creature.
"…good to be back, Jaken. But can I talk to you for a minute? Just the two of us."
He shivered at her subtle warning, but he agreed anyway.
"I-I wonder what you want to talk about in secret."
She didn't bother answering him, and instead asked a quick permission from Sesshomaru to which he allowed without being skeptical.
"Why do you need to hide your discussion from me?"
"I have my reasons, Sesshomaru. We'll be back after this."
Arisa replied hastily and dragged Jaken towards the deeper part of the forest clearing.
"You idiot! Why did you tell Sesshomaru about my feelings!? And it's supposed to be a secret between us!" she yelled in moderation, obviously controlling herself not to spank him and cause a commotion.
"If only you knew! It saved him from agony! Aside from that, the timing just felt right."
"Oh, so you consider yourself a love guru now?"
"Of course not, you stupid woman! I have no time for that."
"Then what exactly happened that led you to spilling it?"
A shiver ran down his spine as he recalled the dreadful moment where Sesshomaru had transformed into a berserk version of his full-demon form, and it was his first time to see it happen in all the long years he'd been serving him.
For a moment, Jaken was hesitant to tell her, but thanks to Arisa's pleading powers, he ultimately submitted to it. He briefly described the situation that had occurred due to her impulsive absence. She had yet to see him fully transform since it was only now that she knew that he had a full-demon form, but imagining him going wild made her tremble.
She didn't know how to respond, and just requested Jaken to take his leave - to which he happily abided. She then took a piece of sacred sutra from her pocket and summoned her shikigami.
'It's good to see you back, Miss Arisa.'
"Hello, Shiroi. Yes, thanks to a certain someone who gave him permission." She replied with slight sarcasm, but the shikigami only chuckled.
'I was simply moved by his actions.'
"What in the world? Would you please explain further…?"
'He showed his persistence for five days straight. First, he attempted to kill me. Knowing it won't do, he used his sword that pure sword of his.'
Did I hear it right? He showed persistence? And he ACTUALLY used his Tenseiga…?
'On the next consecutive days, he brought a high-ranking monk and Kaede, to remove the barrier. They both couldn't, but he said it was enough for him to forcefully pass through.'
"He what…? He called Kaede-san, as in the Kaede we know?"
'Yes."
The clear look of surprise was fully registered on her face.
'Kaede told me that he looked desperate, so she offered him assistance. At that moment where he entered the barrier, he was in pain but it didn't matter to him. It was clearly written on his face that no one can stop him. It was enough proof for me.'
Arisa was quiet for a while, processing all of the stunning and unexpected information she just heard.
"First…my family. And then Jaken. And now, you…Shiroi. You all make it sound like he likes me at some point."
'Because he does. And not just like, but love.'
By now, she was almost convinced that he indeed has feelings for her, and it made her heart flutter. Then, she let out a short, troubled laugh. She felt Shiroi smile at her.
"…until he confirms it himself, I'll assume that he doesn't. I want him to figure it out on his own."
'That will certainly take some time and patience, Miss Arisa.'
"I know. But I'm prepared and I am willing to wait for him no matter how long it takes."
'What if he doesn't realize it at all?'
She fell silent, and smiled sadly.
"Then it means that he just considers me as someone worthy travelling with him. In short, a human friend he's fond of."
Shiroi sighed. 'Just why are you madly in love with this demon…?'
"…I don't know either. I really hated him at first, but then…it just happened."
'You're really strange.'
Arisa only smiled at her shikigami's response, and after that, she went back to Sesshomaru and the others.
Arisa showed up on the clearing, and saw Sesshomaru standing a few meters away from the wooden well, staring at a distance. A refreshing wind passed by and his long, silver hair gently flowed with it; and the bright rays of the sun enhanced his handsome features. She enjoyed the sight for a while, but it did not last as her presence was noticed. He looked at her with his usual deadpan expression – which was oddly sufficient to make her heart beat fast.
In that instant, she just rushed towards him and threw her arms around him, taking the dog demon by surprise. She felt her eyes water, and she pressed her cheek hard on his chest as she closed her eyes to stop them from falling.
"I'm sorry, Sesshomaru…"
He huffed at her sudden apology. "What are you talking about?"
"…for unintentionally causing you trouble."
He guessed that Jaken probably told her something about what happened during her disappearance. He also thought of her shikigami telling her everything, but he didn't want to be obvious.
"Nothing happened."
"…liar."
"Hmph. You can let go of me now."
Arisa only tightened her embrace around him, and she was expecting Sesshomaru to get irked, but much to her surprise - he wrapped an arm around her shoulders instead. He gave her a brief, caring look before gazing back up at the blue sky; and his eyes flickered with an unexplained bliss.
Jaken, on the other hand, quietly watched the two of them in awe, unaware that he was continuously stroking Ah-un's head, much to the liking of the double-headed flying beast.
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