Chapter 66:

Sesshomaru's eyes snapped open just a few seconds after Shiroi and Arisa left. He felt a little groggy which confused him; yet the sensation of a sweet warmth in his cheek that slowly faded added more to his current dilemma. He quickly shifted his gaze to Arisa, and was surprisingly relieved to see her there, sleeping soundly. However, he couldn't shake off the odd feeling that was bubbling inside of him. And worse is that he was certain of it.

…why do I feel like I've woken up from a deep sleep? This is impossible.

It was too pure to consider it a threat from Naraku. But just to make sure, he decided to take patrol on the nearby surroundings…still unaware of everything.

Meanwhile, Shiroi had found the wooden well Arisa was talking about, and once they approached it, she quickly pulled herself out from her master. It took quite a minute for Arisa to be able to recognize her surroundings.

'Miss Arisa…are you really sure about this? Just a while ago you cried-"

"Yes, I am." She quickly replied, poker-faced. For once, she wanted to decide on something without emotional considerations.

'Then...have I done my service well?'

"You definitely did. Thank you, Shiroi-san."

'I am honored. I hope to see you again, Miss Arisa.'

"…"

But as Shiroi was about to go back to the spirit world, a possibility had crossed her mind; and he quickly stopped her.

"Please wait a minute, Shiroi-san…!"

'What is the matter?'

"I hope it isn't too much…but can I ask one more request from you?"

'What is it?'

"Can you…act as protective barrier on this well?"

'May I ask why…?'

"I know he won't, but just to surely keep Sesshomaru from going to my era."

'Oh. So he is able to go there?'

"Yes…apparently. No matter what he does or what he says, don't let him pass through. Even if he somehow gets angry or violent, do not let him. If it gets worse…purify him."

It took a while before Shiroi managed to answer.

'Don't you think you're being quite…cruel? You're contradicting yourself, Miss Arisa.'

She closed her eyes in resentment.

"I know that…but I have to. This is not the time for me to give in. Also…you absolutely shouldn't let me pass through as well, even if you suddenly see me below the well. "

'…alright. I'll do what you ask of me, but there is a time limit. I will only be here for a maximum of ten days.'

"That will surely suffice. I'm pretty confident that he won't even come anyway."

'Request accepted. Now you should go before he catches your scent. The herb's effects wore out on him and he was already awake the moment I ran from the place.'

"I'm more thankful that the herbs worked on him, even a little. I'll be taking my leave, Shiroi-san."

With that, Arisa reluctantly jumped off into the well, and a bright light completely swallowed her.

After confirming that nothing was apprehensive, Sesshomaru quickly returned to where his companions were by dawn; thinking that he wouldn't let Naraku outsmart him ever again. He relaxed a little as soon as he saw them, particularly…Arisa. He then went ahead and woke Jaken as usual, but it took him a hard, fist smack before responding.

Jaken felt muddled for some time, and he quickly became alert upon perceiving his master's glare.

"Sesshomaru-sama…!"

"Finally opened your eyes, dimwit."

"Whatever do you mean, milord? I always come around with your voice alone."

His brows raised slightly in suspicion.

"…hmph." He said slovenly, and went to his female companion.

"Wake up, Arisa."

However, there was no response at all. This time, he repeated his words with a louder voice and a harsher tone. Of course he didn't mean it, and he was sure that it would work. But much to his irritation, it did not. He then proceeded to shake her body, and that's when he noticed something weird. His brows knitted as he lashed her with his sharp-nailed fingers, much to Jaken's shock.

"S-Sesshomaru-sama…! What did you just do to—"

"This is not her." He cut Jaken off curtly and later on, it blew off like a puff of smoke, revealing itself as a small, human figure-shaped sacred paper.

This is ridiculous. How could I not notice this at all earlier? Have my senses dulled?

He suddenly recalled about his eyelids suddenly becoming heavy, then waking up feeling befuddled like it was from a deep sleep. And just now, Jaken hardly woke up if not for his punch. This strange situation drove him to begin searching for any wary clues just around the fake body. Soon, he saw the presence of familiar, burned herbs.

"Jaken. Are you out of your mind? Why would you possess something like these and burn them?" he asked scornfully as he showed remnants of the burned leaves to the little creature. He nervously narrowed his eyes to scrutinize the familiar leaves as an immediate response.

"Ah…! It wasn't me! It was Arisa who had those last night, telling me that they were for a good night's sleep."

His brows twitched in trepidation.

"Oh? These herbs are used to put demons into a temporary deep sleep. It could even affect someone like me."

Jaken's mouth fell wide open.

"What!?"

Sesshomaru's brows furrowed deeply that Arisa's behavior yesterday until last night and her questions that intrigued him the most suddenly struck him. He then tried to think of what could possibly lie beyond them, but it only brought him frustration as he couldn't derive anything from them.

He wasn't even finished with his thoughts and just fled the place with such speed, and decided to search every area possible with the hopes of finding her. However, he stopped midway as he couldn't pick up her scent - not even a single trace of it. He gritted his teeth in agitation, and his vision started to darken. In that moment, he lost his composure and suddenly stopped thinking rationally. He assumed that it was all Naraku's doing - that he was fooled by him right from the start.

You thirst for entertainment, Naraku? Then, I shall give you entertainment.

He began transforming into a full dog demon, but his eyes weren't the usual bright red. They were eerily dark and rough, and his white fur had black streaks. He howled so loudly that it was heard all throughout the vast land. Now that everything about him was enhanced, he was able to catch a trace of Naraku's scent. He disappeared in sight as he transformed into a big ball of gray light and headed towards the direction of his scent.

Jaken, who was busy thinking about Arisa's uncalled disappearance shivered at the sound of a deafening howl.

That's…Sesshomaru-sama in his full demon form…! Though…there's something different about it. It's like a wild boar that's about to wreck havoc across the forest. But why…!?

He quickly hopped on Ah-un in a panic and quickly gave him a command, to which the latter grunted in obedience.

"We must hurry to Sesshomaru-sama and stop him before he goes berserk!"

At the same time they flew fast to catch up with their lord, he tried to rack his brain to the core for anything he might have strangely felt or heard. Indeed, he was a little happy that the woman he treated as nothing but extra baggage for his glorious lord was now gone. Still, he couldn't help but feel sad as he was already accustomed of her presence and he couldn't deny that she was always there when he himself or Sesshomaru needed help. Then suddenly, he recalled the exchange of words that they had last night.

"…we weren't in good terms at first, but now I consider you a friend. Please continue to take care of Sesshomaru."

"Of course I will! You don't need to tell me that. I have devoted my life in serving Sesshomaru."

"Awesome, but I said to care for him. There's a difference."

"Hah? What exactly is the difference?"

He sighed in defeat, still not quite getting what she really meant.

"What in the world could she be trying to say…? Humans are so problematic."

Arisa was welcomed by a bright, sunny modern morning, but she came out of the well with a grim expression. She helplessly sat on the edge, her eyes brimming with tears.

Ugh…and I just said I would be firm with my decision…

In the end, her tears flowed uncontrollably, and she allowed herself to sob loudly.

I really hate this…

Her sobs echoed throughout the forest as she grasped on the edge of the wooden well so tightly that her fingernails could sink in.

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