Wow, I can't believe this fiction reached 100 follows and 80 favorites. Thank you so much for reading up to this point! I hope I can still hold your interest for the upcoming chapters. Also, please feel free to review. :))
Chapter 50:
"I'm about to tell you a secret, Sesshomaru." Arisa randomly said while on their way to meet up with Jaken and Ah-un.
"I am not interested."
"Even if it is about Inuyasha?"
"If it pertains to the Tetsusaiga, I will consider it."
"Sorry, but it doesn't."
"Then keep it to yourself."
"Come on, don't be like that."
"..."
"You already have that powerful Tokijin sword. How long are you going to keep clinging to the Tetsusaiga?"
"…"
"…ugh, fine. At any rate, I'll just tell you about that secret."
"I said I am not interested. Stop pestering me."
"Inuyasha cried."
For a moment, there was a surprised reaction on Sesshomaru's face, but it quickly perished. Then, he smirked in a dull way.
"What do you expect from a miserable half-demon like him?"
"Sesshomaru…he was about to lose someone important to him. It's only natural to feel that way and cry." Arisa quickly defended.
"I do not have that kind of emotion."
She sighed. "Everyone has that emotion, regardless of demons or humans. You say that right now because you still haven't experienced it and because you don't have someone important whom you love. But once you do, you will know the pain and you will feel the same." She continued to say with conviction.
"…nonsense."
"You should do something with that arrogance, you know. Before it's too late…"
"..."
Someone important…whom you love, huh?
He secretly glanced at her, who was now looking straight ahead.
Who knows. What is love anyway?
Maybe that embrace from him a while back was just my imagination.
Arisa thought as they continued to walk in the deep forest. Not long after, they found Jaken busy entertaining Ah-un, and Arisa went ahead to give both of them a few gentle pats on their heads.
"Sorry I used up too much time."
"Oh yes you did, young lady. Sesshomaru-sama was getting irritable and I had to put up with it."
"I know." She replied, chuckling nervously.
Meanwhile, Sesshomaru was trying to sniff out Kohaku's scent around the area if he had gone there by any chance. Seemingly, a stroke of luck has come over as he had caught a whiff of his scent and ordered his companions to get moving.
"Let's get moving. That boy is nearby."
He said and darted right away with more speed than usual. Arisa and Jaken quickly mounted on Ah-un to rush after him. But, as soon as they caught up with him, she noticed that he was confronting someone familiar, wearing a kimono with a few purple streaks.
Kagura…?
"It's been a while, Sesshomaru." The wind sorceress greeted casually, but she was met with business.
"Did Naraku order you to interfere?" he affirmed brusquely.
"Ha. As if that man trusts me enough to boss me around these days." She replied with sarcasm.
"Why are you here?"
"You're after Kohaku, am I right?"
"It seems you have been keeping an eye on me."
Kagura bashfully averted her eyes. "Not really."
Hearing their conversation and noticing Kagura's actions, Arisa began suspecting something about her.
This woman…! Could it be that she has a thing for Sesshomaru…?
Kagura seemed to notice her silent glare and so she curled her lips up a little, which made Arisa's brows snap together.
What the…?
"Well, I could guide you to where he's going." Kagura continued to offer, but the dog demon declined, which made Arisa actually feel happy.
"I don't need your help."
"You're cold as always."
Suddenly, she felt that saimyosho were coming her way, and she clicked her tongue.
"Anyway. Kohaku headed towards the east, to a mountain named Mt. Hakurei. Be careful, though. It's protected by a barrier."
With that, she immediately released her feather hairpin and flew away on it.
Sesshomaru watched on as she went away.
"I said I didn't need her help."
Even if it was against her will, Arisa decided to give it a shot.
"Let's consider the information she gave. If it turns out to be a trap, we'll just have to find a way out."
He looked at her with searching eyes, to which she felt embarrassed at.
"W-what? Did I say something wrong?"
"No." he plainly answered, and then walked off towards the east, with Arisa and Jaken following from behind; still riding on Ah-un.
Half a day had passed as they were nearing the base of Mt. Hakurei. From there, Arisa could already feel the barrier's purity.
They stopped a few feet away from the barrier, and already, Jaken was starting to feel dizzy due to its purifying effects. Sesshomaru stared at it for a while, and tried touching it with his bare hands. Unfortunately, he was dreadfully rejected as well. There were lighting repercussions even after he pulled his hand out.
Arisa had the opposite though - she felt energized being near the barrier. Realizing that she was the only one who could enter the mountain, she breathed deeply and faced Sesshomaru.
"I guess I'm going inside, alone."
His brows knitted. "Do not be ridiculous. Naraku is inside."
"Naraku? Inside this extremely pure barrier? It's impossible! That guy is too corrupted and incorrigibly evil. If anything, he should be minced to dust the moment he stepped in here."
"Then are you suggesting that this is a trap, after all?"
Her shoulders drooped at his sharp remarks. "Probably…but still..."
Sesshomaru once again laid his eyes on the mountain, and brooded over on how Naraku was able to hide inside.
This must be the reason why I couldn't get a trace of him after he disappeared at that castle. But what was that bastard able to pull this time?
"I'll just go check out for Kohaku. If I can't find him, then I'll come back right away." Arisa suddenly suggested, thwarting Sesshomaru away from his thoughts.
"No."
"But why? Can you not trust me on this?" she pleaded, but with an irritated tone. Sesshomaru looked at her with slightly conflicted eyes.
I cannot let you face danger like that again.
"…"
"Sesshomaru…!"
"We will wait for an opportunity."
He simply said, and proceeded to sit on one of the rocks along the edge of the mountain.
The prospective onmyoji was disappointed with his answer, but she decided to give in for now and do some thinking, while taking a rest.
If he is this careful…maybe Naraku is really inside this barrier. But how…? Don't tell me that dude can cleanse himself…no, that's quite unbelievable. He can't even conceal his dark aura and the barrier he even used emitted vileness.
However, while they were in the middle of silent brainstorming, an unexpected guest had come and Sesshomaru immediately sensed him. He stood up and walked over to deal with whoever it was.
Arisa noticed his movement, and turned to him.
"Where are you going?"
He didn't answer, but a figure soon appeared. He had his hair pinned in feminine style, and he was wearing a kimono with an obi sash, and a scarf over his armor. Some parts of his legs were even exposed.
"AH! You really are that guy who killed Mukotsu!" he asked upon seeing Sesshomaru, to which the latter only stared emptily at.
Arisa who finally saw him, also stood up and went on-guard. But after seeing his style, it made her question his gender. Jaken, on the other hand, was still sitting on the ground, feeling weak. He was actually admiring how his great Lord was able to withstand the pure surroundings.
"State your purpose." Sesshomaru threatened, but the unknown person only chuckled in a flirtatious way.
"Damn. Now that I get to have a closer look at you, you're actually super handsome...heh, you are indeed Inuyasha's older brother. But sadly, I prefer cute guys like him."
Arisa's face twisted in disbelief.
Yep. He IS gay.
Sesshomaru glowered at him, however; and his hand was already at the hilt of his Tokijin, itching to slice down the cocky man in front of him.
"Oh, that's right. I just...came with the order of killing you."
He said nonchalantly, then drew his sword from his back and rested it on his shoulder.
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