Chapter 9:

"AAAAHHHH!"

Arisa kept on walking without minding her surroundings, and thus led to her falling off a random steep area in the forest. Thankfully, she only landed having occasional grazes, but in a safe position, with her back on the ground. She slowly sat and looked up at the starry sky. Before she knew it, it was already nightfall. She sighed heavily.

Ugh, I should've just gone along with Kagome! They seemed more approachable and friendlier…and they could've helped me go back to that well…!

"But I instinctively chose to go after Sesshomaru…what in the world…" she mumbled out loud this time.

She promptly lied down on the ground again as she was about to give up for the day and rest first before finding her way back, but then, a familiar voice called out to her, much to her astonishment.

"Woman."

"Se-Sesshomaru…!?" she answered loudly as she quickly stood up.

"Hmph. So it really was you…"

"Wh-why…?"

There is NO way he came here for me. I bet it's just pure coincidence… she thought as she tried to calm herself down due to her overwhelming emotions.

"It looks like you're doing well." He casually replied and then turned around, already starting to leave. Arisa grumbled at his cold behavior, but decided to let go as she was not really in the position to get angry.

"W-wait, Sesshomaru! Uhm…maybe you could help me get out of here…?" she asked in a nervously polite manner, as she had no choice.

She sensed him halt and he whirled half-way. "Why should I?"

"Oh, come on, please…! I won't bother you again! Promise!"

Sesshomaru remained hesitant, and after a period of silence, he gave in and walked towards the cliff, then lowered his long, fluffy scarf.

"Hold this."

Arisa's expression brightened and she gladly grabbed onto it. Sesshomaru effortlessly pulled his scarf along with her on it.

"Get off." He commanded right after, and so she did. There was still a smile on her face, and it bothered him.

"You are smiling over something like this?"

"Of course I am. You helped me on your own accord, Sesshomaru." She replied with a sweet smile.

However, Sesshomaru just quickly turned away. "I simply did it with the condition that you won't be a waste of time again."

Her smile faded, but of course, she should've expected that. "Oh, right…"

With that, he continued walking away; and suddenly, she thought of the reason why she was here in the first place. She then ran towards Sesshomaru and when she was just inches away, she tightly grabbed his sleeve, earning a glare from him.

"I thought we had our conditions."

"W-well, yes…but let me do something for you."

"I don't need it. Now let go."

"Stop acting tough…! I know you are in pain. For real, this time!"

For a moment, there was a slight surprise on his face, but he quickly went back to his usual, expressionless demeanor.

"Tsk. I do not need any concern from a human like you. I owe you nothing." He said in a harsh tone, but it didn't cause Arisa to falter. Instead, she met his cold eyes, full of determination and care.

"There we go again with the human thing. Why don't you just be a good dog and sit for a while?"

She answered with slight irritation, and forced him to sit down, pressing on his left shoulder. And that's where she heard him whimper.

Bingo.

"Not in pain, huh?" she teased, and Sesshomaru just looked away.

She carefully rolled up his left sleeve, and she went pale. She could see the aura of the poison spreading towards his shoulder, now almost on its way to his chest and back.

"You see!? This is what you've enduring all this time!? This is even more complicated than when your arm was just cut!"

Sesshomaru couldn't reckon why she was in a state of panic over his arm, as he could see no problem with it, except for the occasional pains he felt.

"You seem to underestimate me, woman. Compared to weaklings like you, something like this is just a sting from a lowly insect."

"Sure,whatever you say. But even strong demons like you have their limits!"

Sessohomaru did not answer for a while; but still, he gave his thoughts.

"There is no such thing."

"You really are arrogant, you know that?" Arisa commented as she continued to apply the fresh salve she had just finished preparing, and then bandaged his arm using her handkerchief once more.

"It's that thing again."

"I have no choice. I don't have other stuff with me."

"Not that it matters."

"THEN you shouldn't have asked."

Silence went between the two, but it didn't bother them. Arisa was busy taking care of him while Sesshomaru just stared up at the sky, just waiting for her to finish.

However, Arisa was still bugged by the evil, poisoning aura as she was pretty sure she did the right procedure. Then, that's when she remembered how she was able to heal, just like what she did to Inuyasha; and to Miroku, who was also poisoned. She then gently put her hand on his shoulder, and concentrated on it. Shortly after, there was a faint glow of light coming out of her palms, and slowly, it dispersed the evil aura. Also, the glow did not stop that fast, compared to when she tended to Miroku.

Sesshomaru sensed something pure and calming, and he hated the idea of how it soothed him. He then looked at the lady beside him and saw that it came from her. He was a little stunned.

Since when was she able to heal like this?

He remembered back to where she first took care of his wound. For something that was deep, it surprisingly took a short time. It seemed like the medicine she applied acted more like a boost for him to heal.

Unbelievable…

"There! All done!"

Arisa exclaimed as she folded down his sleeve. She was about to face Sesshomaru to ask how he was, but suddenly, she felt light-headed, and her vision blurred.

What…is this…?

Not long after, she lost consciousness.

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