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Chapter 5: Weakness
Hasu had carefully followed Sesshomaru when he zipped by Aika's house earlier on his way to the woods. At the moment, she was standing in front of a lotus behind a thick dense of trees a short distance from Sesshomaru and his companions.
She turned around as she heard Sesshomaru's footsteps approaching.
Coming from behind Sesshomaru, Rin approached Hasu with a bright smile.
"Oh! Good evening Aika-sama. How was your class today?"
"Oh Good evening, Rin. Class went well. The kids are always very well behaved. Thank you. And who are these gentlemen?"
"Oh, this is Sesshomaru-sama and Jaken-sama." Rin turned toward the duo. "And this is our village chirography teacher, Aika-sama."
Sesshomaru and Jaken just stared at Hasu as Hasu smiled timidly and made a subtle bow.
"What are you doing here, Aika-sama? It's almost dark."
"Hmm? Yes. I was collecting some woods for the stove when I came across this beautiful lotus. I try to uproot it to take back to my garden, but it sure is oneee stubborn plant."
Hasu grunted, trying to pull on the flower. Rin came over to help, temporarily forgetting that her hand was still bleeding.
The two women were, grunting, fussing, and giggling even though they were hopelessly unsuccessful.
"Rin," Sesshomaru interrupted with a warm and gentle voice.
"Yes?! Sesshomaru-sama."
"Do you have any herbs at home to stop the bleeding?"
"Yes, of course, Sesshomaru-sama. I have many different herbs at home for bleeding," replied Rin as she grunted trying to pull the lotus. "Argg! Ergg! Ergggg!"
"Then let's go home, Rin."
Sesshomaru started walking toward Rin.
"Yes! Rin. Let's go home to stop your bleeding. If not, you weak human self will bleed to death," Jaken chastised Rin.
"Hah?! But Aika-sama needs help. Let me help her pull this flower up real quick, then we can go home."
"Girl, when have you become disobedient to Lord Sesshomaru?"
Sesshomaru stopped walking and stared at Rin who was making so many unsightly body maneuvers trying to pull on one small stubborn flower.
He then gazed at the flower for a long moment then approached Rin and picked her up with one arm under her shoulders and the other under the bent of her knees.
"Oh?!" Rin seemed surprised but didn't seem to mind the motion. She fell into his arms.
Sesshomaru glanced at Hasu, "Stay away from that flower. It is poisonous."
Rin smiled cheerfully, "Say Sesshomaru-sama, how do you know that flower is poisonous?"
"Rin, as a gardener, you should know that a lotus does not naturally grow on dry ground."
Rin's eyes lit up, "Oh, yes. You Areee right."
Sesshomaru took a final glance at Hasu before taking off with Rin in his arms.
"Goodbye Aika-sama," said Rin as she got swept away into the air.
Jake was on the ground, "Lord Sesshomaru. Wait for meeeee!"
When the three left, a cool smile spread Hasu's lips with a light shade of pink gleaming over her eyes.
'Hmm! Such perfection. Sesshomaru is indeed powerful. After all, he sent your father, Shishinki, into the underworld.'
She giggled flirtatiously, "Tch! Tch! Tch! So, Toga, you found another perfect demon of your own species to create Sesshomaru to preserve your kingly bloodline, hah?! You slick hound. Could it be that arrogant, elusive Inu Princess Hikari? Could it be her where you hide the Meido Stone?"
Her light pink eyes darkened, contrasted by a fiery glare. She easily picked the lotus that she had pretended having trouble pulling out earlier when Sesshomaru was there.
She took in a whiff of the flower's scent. The image of Uekya-sama standing in front of a shimmering giant lotus in a lotus garden flashed into her mind. His gentle words rang in her ears.
"Hasu, that lotus is my gift to you."
"Oh, thank you, Uekya-sama."
"Your power is to bewitch your enemies. By absorbing the shimmering light flowing from this flower, your power will increase a hundred folds. No matter how powerful your enemies are, they will succumb long enough for you to dispose of them."
"No matter how powerful?"
Uekya chuckled, "But remember, the more powerful they are, the less time you have. Act fast, Hasu."
She cradled the flower in her hands. She skipped around the garden, dancing with the lotuses. She giggled melodically to the wind. The shimmering light of her body formed glistening swirls floating above the garden.
Uekya started to glide gently away on the top of the grass blades.
"Remember, Hasu. Only use your power to protect the beauty of this world."
"Uekya-sama, where are you goinggg?"
She stepped onto an upward path of appearing petals. They appeared faster, enabling her to briskly glide back to the lake for her nightly bath.
When she was in the water, she stretched out her hand and moved it slowly upward. A large glass tube, sealed at both ends, emerged from the water and suspended above the lake.
A lifeless lotus hung limply inside the glass tube. Its head drooped down with dried petals barely hanging on.
She looked at it with sullen eyes, 'Uekya-sama? Why were the humans so enchanting to you. They drove you to fight against your own kind and drove you to your unforgivable death.'
She swirled her hand, the water churned violently and swallowed the tube down to its hiding place.
'How could you leave me all alone in this world? I hate you, Akaibara! And your humankind. As soon as I regained my power, I will see to it that your kind knows nothing but misery through their pathetically short lifespan!'
Her thought returned to Sesshomaru. 'That girl. Is she your weakness? Are you in love with a human like your father? Love, is it?' She chuckled. 'Such a cliche of a weakness but never fails to be a weakness. Perhaps, I should start from her.'
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NOTE:
Guest: Thank you so much for your encouragement. It helps motivate me a lot.
Sgt. Sporky: Thank you so much for the explanation of the "ga" for the Tetsaigia, Baksaiga and Tenseiga. I did fall in love with the Japanese after this series, and I am very eager to know anything about them. And why are young men bad at feelings? Maybe I could understand some more. Why can't you guys just say it flat out ... lol..