Chapter 70:

Jaken was a little troubled about Sesshomaru's decision.

I thought for sure that he would go to her, but...maybe he doesn't really care? N-no! Impossible…! Arisa's disappearance was clearly enough to drive him mad. I'll just have to wait and see after we visit Bokuseno.

They reached Bokuseno after a few days and they were immediately greeted by a chuckle. Bokuseno already knew the reason why Sesshomaru had arrived.

"Good to see you again, Sesshomaru. You came because you want to know how you transformed into a different full demon form, and you could not control yourself. Am I right?" he asked with quite the cheerful tone.

"Ho. So you know what happened."

"I am a forest deity. Of course I have witnessed your howling."

"Then there is no need for me to waste more words."

"But why do you still not know? It's simply because of your new, profound emotions."

Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow at his answer.

"Are you mocking me?"

"I am not. To be honest, it has already been manifesting for quite some time."

Bokuseno chuckled, and continued to explain nevertheless.

"That transformation does exist. It is the hidden and strongest form for full dog demons like you and your father. Your father has once transformed into that when he was saving Inuyasha's mother. While in that form, you are indeed invincible; but it is also your weakest. Once you drop your guard down in that form, you're dead in an instant."

"…"

"And that form has been triggered by a really important factor – and that is the feelings you have for your woman companion. You have grown attached to her, and you do care for her so much that when she disappeared just like that, whatever reasons you had thought in that moment was enough to throw off your pace and composure."

"…"

"Your father was able to control it because he was aware of his emotions and has accepted them as part of him. And as for you right now…your emotions are still a mess. And that's what you need to fix."

"Are you saying there is no other way?"

"Yes. That is the only way for you to master that form."

"…"

Sesshomaru's brows snapped together on the ridiculous but 'factual' story he had just heard.

"…I came here to seek proper knowledge but you gave me pathetic fairy tales." He commented coldly and started walking off from the place.

"Everything I said was nothing but the solid truth. Full acceptance is all you need to do, Sesshomaru." Bokuseno replied with a sudden strict tone before concealing himself back into being an ordinary tree.

Jaken felt privileged that Sesshomaru allowed him to know one of his deepest secrets, but it was being ruined by the extremely bad vibes that Sesshomaru was giving off.

I understand why he is being like this, but everything Bokuseno said was very promising. Even I was enlightened too. But as a prideful dog demon, he still has it hard to accept facts especially when it comes to emotions.

He then decided to not say anything for the meantime and just accompany him until he calms down. But three days passed and his aura was only getting worse, and it was beginning to affect him too; making him distressed. And so he started putting up a conversation with his lord.

"Sesshomaru-sama? What do you think of what Bokuseno said?"

"Nonsense."

"Really, milord? But it seemed like he stated facts…"

"Shut your mouth if you do not have anything good to say."

"Urk…!"

Nonsense he says…then why can't he just get over it?

Just then, an idea popped onto his mind.

What if he learns how Arisa feels about him? Maybe that would save him from his current predicament?

Jaken swallowed hard, already apologizing to Arisa silently. He just had the feeling that it was the perfect trump card.

I suddenly feel bad that I was actually half-joking when I said all of that to her about Sesshomaru-sama having special feelings to her, but considering what just happened, it might actually be true after all. Here goes…!

"Sesshomaru-sama! I just remembered something... although Arisa told me to keep it a secret—"

"Spill it."

He was a little surprised at his instant response.

Would you look at that…!

"Arisa has fallen in love with you, Sesshomaru-sama. I have confirmed it myself."

There was a flash of shock in Sesshomaru's eyes, and Jaken saw that.

He then continued to tell him exactly what he and Arisa had talked about while they were waiting for him to finish his business with Sara. Silence filled the atmosphere as the soft, cool breeze rolled past them. Jaken was waiting for some sort of unkind answer, but he was already gone before he could get one.

"Does that mean my trump card worked?" he mumbled as he plopped down in relief.

The true aftermath of Arisa's disappearance had finally sunk in to Jaken as well. She was already an essential part of their group, and it wasn't the same without her.

Good luck, Sesshomaru-sama…

"Arisa? Sorry to interrupt your studying, but can we talk?" her mother asked as she knocked on her door.

"Alright, mom."

But it wasn't just her; Ayame was there as well. She had a definite idea of what they wanted to know. And just like that, she told them what exactly her current self has been up to in the olden times and her ongoing dilemma.

"I can't believe you're an onmyoji over there! Now I kinda want to see you in action." Ayame commented jokingly, but in contrast, their mother grimaced a little.

"What did you just say, my dear? You now have onmyoji-like powers?"

"Sounds like it, mom. Why…?"

But before she could reply, Ayame already stole their mother's chance.

"You didn't even ask for his opinion yet. You're depressing over things that aren't even soothed out." Ayame interjected, trying to change the subject and it made Arisa gasp.

"He said it himself that I am bothersome. Begging won't do anything either."

"Are you sure about that? Did you give him ample time to answer? What if he was struggling to find the next words, so that was all he could end up with?"

She was pretty shocked at her sister's words.

"I…"

"You should know him very well by now, Arisa. If I were you, you better go and talk things properly with him, asap."

"A-Ayame is right, Arisa. It's too early to let your love go in vain." Their mother said in a sincere manner.

She remained silent, but she was already considering their words. Though, she couldn't help but wonder about her mother's expression when she told them about her being an onmyoji.

Three days of extreme concentration and understanding on the notes given to her by Yukino and Mari had consumed Arisa. She had just come back, but she had to read the whole semester's lectures in two nights. But after that, she was able to finally have a breather from the hectic final exams. By the time they went out of their classroom, sleepiness started to get the whole of her being. Just then, she had unconsciously bumped into someone, and it made her plod on the floor.

"Ouch…"

Yukino and Mari went to her side in panic.

"Arisa, are you okay!?" they both said in unison, to which she smiled uneasily.

"Yeah…"

Yukino and Mari were about to scold the person who bumped into Arisa, but they stopped when he lent a hand towards their friend and spoke in a fine, gentlemanly tone. More importantly, it was someone familiar to all of them.

"I am terribly sorry. I'll help you get up."

With a bit shaky hand, she accepted his offer anyway and she was easily pulled up. At that moment, she quickly let go of his hand and smiled nervously at him.

"Thank you…"

"It has been a while, Arisa."

"Yes, it really is...Kohei. What brings you here? I thought you were studying at X university…"

Yukino and Mari were speechless as the two of them talked.

"Ah…about that. I'm transferring here next semester, so today I decided to take a look around."

Her heart skipped a beat after hearing his words.

"Oh…I see. Well, I guess I'll see you around." She said while avoiding his gaze, and quickly walked away. Yukino and Mari hurriedly went after their friend after exchanging short greetings with Kenji.

"Oh my god, Arisa! Do you have any idea who you just talked to!?" Yukino exclaimed in between the lines of disbelief and excitement.

"That was THE Kohei Takeda, the school heartthrob during our high school days…!" Mari added in excitement as well.

"He was just visiting, but almost all the girls there were already swooning over him."

"What do you expect from an eye candy?"

"And well…he was your ultimate crush back then, am I right?" Yukino jeered all of a sudden, and it made Arisa flush in embarrassment.

"That's a thing of the past…! I'm completely over him, so stop bringing it up."

"Really? Then what's with that kind of engagement a while ago, huh?" she continued to say with a teasing grin.

"It's only natural! I haven't seen him for a long time, and then he suddenly appears like that."

"Okay, fine. We'll accept your explanation for now."

"Besides, it's an awful memory. I was instantly rejected the moment I knew he was dating that beautiful upperclassman."

"Ugh, that hit us hard too, actually. Good thing you haven't confessed to him yet."

"That's true." Arisa replied with a soft sigh.

Besides, I am already in love with someone from another dimension...who will never be mine. I guess I'm just doomed when it comes to romance no matter what world I am in.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX