Chapter 19:

I need a sword that matches up with Tetsusaiga.

Sesshomaru thought, and it suddenly made him feel irritated. The fact that Inuyasha was the heir of the great sword was one thing he couldn't ever accept.

And so, he decided to consult one of his father's old friends. He was known to be a great blacksmith – and his name is Totosai.

On their way towards Totosai's whereabouts, Sesshomaru noticed a familiar area – the spot where he was first found by her and tended to him. Back then, he merely thought of it as nothing but human meddling. However, he didn't expect that it would soon become significant.

He suddenly stopped and stared at it for some time.

"Sesshomaru-sama? Is something the matter?" Jaken asked as he also glanced to where he was looking at.

"…nothing."

They proceeded walking, with her occasionally appearing on his mind. His brows knitted, as a result of his silent irritation.

Why can't that woman just leave my mind? Or do I just want to see her—

He immediately stopped his thoughts, and his expression relaxed. At that very moment, he realized that he was at his usual calm self, yet she continued to exist in his mind. Therefore, he was still indeed the same Sesshomaru; only, he had already come to acknowledge and accept a single human in his life.

Arisa.

"I'm going to that well tonight. It's finally weekend, so I won't have to worry over absenting. That is…if the well does work." Arisa told herself as she prepared for school.

The day ended quickly, and that night…

"Mom. I'm going to the forest."

"Why?"

"I'm…just going to check on the well."

"To check on Sesshomaru, perhaps?" her mother replied with a playful smirk.

Arisa quickly looked away, feeling embarrassed.

Their mother smiled. "You should've just been honest, Arisa."

She now felt her cheeks getting hot, and covering her face was the only option.

"A-anyway! If I don't get back by midnight, it means the well gobbled me up."

"Wew…what a way to rephrase 'It means I went to see Sesshomaru'." Jin, who was busy with gaming, suddenly commented. Arisa's mouth twitched.

"See you!" she quickly said as she put on her backpack, then went to the door without looking back.

After a few meters, she reached the entrance to the forest.

"Wow…it has really been a while…"

She followed the same path as last time, and the well came in front of her. Her heart was racing as she slowly approached it. She grabbed on the edges, her hands trembling. Then, after a moment of hesitation, she jumped onto the well, and to her surprise, a bright light swallowed her. In just a few seconds, she felt the ground; a sign that she was on the bottom of the well. The familiar vines and leaves greeted her, and she excitedly climbed out of the well.

The clearing was in her view, along with the clear, starry night sky.

Setting aside her bag, she sat on the grassy land for a while, enjoying the peaceful and cool surrounding. That being said…

Wait a minute. How am I supposed to see him? He's probably on a different country by now! Who knows what he's up to or where he's going next? I don't know a single thing…!

Arisa panicked as she thought that.

"Maybe I should just go back…" she mumbled to herself, but then she changed her mind.

On second thought, I'll just have to enjoy the scenery for a while. This area is safer compared to when you go further, so maybe I'll camp out in here as it is.

Smiling, she lay herself down on the ground in a carefree manner. The relaxing atmosphere acted like a tranquilizer, and soon, she fell asleep.

"Mom, where is Arisa?" Ayame asked as soon as she came home.

"Why?"

"I was going to ask for company tonight."

"Oh...that's...she went to the other world."

Ayame's smile faded.

Woah, I can't believe she went one step ahead of me already...

"Is that so..."

Suddenly, she went to their store room, and grabbed a flashlight and a ladder.

"Jin, you're coming with me!" she said as she grabbed her little brother by the collar.

"What are you doing?" their mother asked worriedly.

"I'm going to see if I can enter the well."

As Ayame and Jin were nearing the well, Jin's constant whining and complaining began.

"Sis, it's too dark in here! We better go back...who knows what kind of wild animals-"

"Ssshh! We're going once I confirm this." she said, cutting him off.

They finally found the well, and Arisa directed the flashlight inside it. But, she couldn't even see a sign of solid ground. That scared her, and her attempt to jump vanished. It was impossible.

"Okay...we're going back."

"What!? No. You go now and check it out. You dragged me into this, and I won't let you do it again." he said in a serious tone as he grabbed the flashlight from Ayame and pushed her into the well.

"AAAHHHH! Jin, I am so going to punish you later!"

Soon, a loud thud was heard, and Jin slowly peeked into the well with the flashlight.

"The ladder! Put it down, now!"

"Oops..." he said as he abruptly put in the ladder.

Later, Ayame was able to climb up, her clothes a bit dirty.

"Now you know you can't. Only sis Arisa can." Jin said, as he took the lead back to their house.

"But you didn't have to push me, dimwit...!"

"I know you will never stop if you didn't discover it now."

"Ugh...!"

From a distance, a breeze casually passed by Sesshomaru, as they went ahead to see Totosai. However, he sensed something familiar brought by the breeze – a scent he recognizes. It was indefinite, but it made his nerves tingle in a good way; causing him to have that gut feeling of checking it out.

"Jaken. I am going to take a little detour."

"B-but…Sesshomaru-sama. We have come this far…"

"It does not matter."

"Then, I will come with you—"

"You stay here and wait."

With that, he was already on his way back, tracing where the indefinite scent was coming from.

Jaken wasn't so sure about it, but the aura around his master suddenly changed.

What or who could've possibly got a hold of Sesshomaru-sama's interest?

Sesshomaru's tracing had led him to the path towards the clearing, and it surprised him. As he continued on, the scent got stronger. It was already clear who the scent was from; and instinctively, his movement went fast, reaching the clearing in just a few minutes. The well was now in sight, and near it was a young lady, sleeping soundly. His eyes widened for a split-second, that pleasant feeling welling up inside of him at the same time.

He casually approached her, and stopped when he was just a few inches away from the young lady's feet.

"Arisa."

Arisa woke up to the deep sound of her name. She casually rubbed her eyes, and searched to where the voice came from, still lying down. There, she saw a tall figure standing beside her feet. After a while, she discerned who it was, and it was Sesshomaru, staring at her with a blank expression. Surprised, she quickly sat up and rubbed her eyes once again. She blinked a few more times, and looked up once again. No joke; it really was Sesshomaru. And this time, there was a hint of bliss in his eyes that quickly disappeared.

"Wha—Sesshomaru!?"

"What are you doing here?" he pointed out, ignoring Arisa being startled.

"W-well…I…uhm, tried jumping into the well to see if it still worked…and so…here I am." She explained, stuttering as she tried concealing her emotions.

To be honest, she was really happy to see him again.

"So the well still works, huh." He replied bluntly and turned back, already leaving.

He had to, as he could not contain the small smile that was forming on his face. He especially did not want her to see that.

"H-hey…! Where are you—"

"Are you coming or not?"

That very phrase made her even happier, as it was a clear invitation from him.

"Of course I'm coming!" she replied; immediately grabbing her bag and standing up, running to his side.

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