Chapter 41:
Sesshomaru and Arisa got out of the well, and the neighborhood forest's ambiance took them in. She actually wondered how he managed to carry her with just one arm like she was weightless, yet she was amazed by it.
Perks of being a strong demon, I guess.
"You can put me down…? I'll walk." Arisa carefully requested, but contrarily, Sesshomaru adjusted his carrying stance for her into a princess-style, even with only an arm. It was actually possible because he used his left kimono sleeve as support. Her pulse raced as she clung onto him tightly.
"W-what has gotten into you?" she demanded nervously.
"We will be there right away with this." He plainly uttered, and using his mighty speed, they reached her house in just a few seconds. She only got to reply to his statement once they had landed in front of her place.
"...right."
"We'll go directly to a chamber where you can rest." Sesshomaru said, and he was already searching for it.
"You mean my room…but I need to at least present myself to my family first."
He didn't answer, as he was busy sniffing the area locating for a good space.
"Found one. It gives off your scent."
"Sesshomaru…wait…! I told you-" Arisa called out, her tone a bit agitated.
He only gave her a once-over and prepared himself to hop towards her room anyway.
"Stop being stubborn."
"You stop being stubborn…!"
Despite that, Sesshomaru already made his move, and in an instant, they were overlooking her room window. He was about to break through by kicking, which made her panic.
"NO! Do not destroy my window!" she shouted and quickly tried to grab his leg.
He looked at her in confusion, and she hastily shook her head. But, her shout seemed to get the attention of the people inside as her mother and Jin went out of the house, and there, they saw her being carried by Sesshomaru.
"Arisa…? And…Sesshomaru?" her mother softly called out, and both of them glanced at her.
"Whoa, it really is them!" Jin exclaimed.
Arisa signaled Sesshomaru to go down, but he wouldn't budge. Instead, his forehead deeply furrowed.
"Come on…pretty please?" she whispered desperately and continuously tugged his sleeve.
For a moment, Sesshomaru only managed to close his eyes in annoyance. He offered her a disgusted look before finally going down and maybe…interact with her family.
Still held by Sesshomaru, Jin and their mother approached both of them, and noticed Arisa's frail features. Her mother quickly panicked.
"What happened!?"
"…just fever and colds." The young lady answered with a troubled smile.
"That's something you shouldn't take so lightly! Jin, you better take Arisa to her room."
"But sis is heavier than me…" Jin replied, pouting.
"Excuse me…?" Arisa interposed, her eyebrows twitching.
"I will do it." Sesshomaru suggested with a straight face, much to Jin's happiness.
Her mother looked at him, completely baffled. "Oh my. Are you sure?"
"Hn. It is what I was supposed to do."
"I see. Her bedroom is located upstairs, to your right."
Without any retort, he directly went inside their house; to which her mother fondly smiled at.
"Wait, I'll open it." Arisa requested as soon as they were in front of her room.
Once they were in, Sesshomaru's nose was filled with her scent. He observed her room for a while before laying her down on the bed. There were mostly bookshelves around, a big cabinet and a full body mirror on the corners, a study table, and a cosmetics area; though there wasn't much in there.
So this is what a woman's chamber in this world looks like.
"Thank you...Sesshomaru." she softly said, which grabbed his attention.
But to his surprise, Arisa was already snoozing. He sighed as he put her slightly messy blanket over her. He then stared at her for some time, and gently brushed back several strands of hair that covered half of her face.
Have a good rest.
As he went downstairs, he completely ignored the presence of Jin at the living room and their mother at the kitchen; and headed straight to the door.
"Wait, Sesshomaru." The mother called out.
It's amusing that this old woman has an extreme sensitivity to her surroundings, compared to someone I know.
Sesshomaru thought as he stopped on the doorway, waiting for what she was about to say.
"Won't you at least have a snack or rest a little? You might be tired after taking care of Arisa."
"No need." He quickly replied, and seconds after, he was gone.
The mother only sighed, to which Jin followed.
"Is it me, or he's just…unfriendly towards other people besides Arisa nee-san?" Jin commented, and his mother chuckled.
"Seems like it."
Sesshomaru went back to the feudal era, and there he found Jaken feeding Ah-un with the herbs he dropped a while back.
"This is a rare bunch, isn't it, Ah-un?" Jaken commented as he continued to give the herbs; and Ah-un responded happily.
"Jaken."
He called out to him with an unusually scary tone, to which the little demon nervously looked back.
"Se-Sesshomaru-sama…! You're back…!"
"What are you faring Ah-un with?"
"It's...um...the leaves you got before you went to the other world-"
In a flash, Sesshomaru was right before his very eyes sooner than he could finish his statement. There, he received a direct hit on the forehead; making him lay flat on the ground.
"T-the w-world is b-beautiful i-indeed…"
Sesshomaru didn't say anything and walked off to somewhere, leaving a delirious Jaken and a clueless Ah-un behind.
It was already evening when Arisa woke up. She still wasn't feeling well, but at least her fever had gone down a bit.
I can't believe I just went to bed without even changing...!
She slowly got up and removed her slightly dirty clothes and wore her pajamas. She then looked around her room, searching for someone.
He's not here. I guess he went back right after I slept…
But when she lied down on her bed once again, her door flung open and it startled her.
"Arisa…!"
"Ayame nee-san…" Arisa said with a weak laugh.
"I heard from mom that you're not feeling well! But how are you right now?"
"Still under the weather…but at least the fever's down a little."
Ayame held her forehead, and sighed in relief.
"By the way…I also heard that Sesshomaru came here with you."
"Oh…yes, he did."
"I would be lying if I said that I'm not jealous at all, but… I am happy that he brought you home."
Arisa didn't respond, and silence washed over the two of them.
"Ayame nee—"
"I'll bring you your porridge! You should eat, for you to regain your strength back." Ayame exclaimed, cutting Arisa off. She then stood up and went out of her room.
Arisa looked up at the ceiling, confused about something.
Damn it…I can't even bring myself to support Ayame-nee with Sesshomaru. Do I really feel nothing about him…?
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