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ABC Thought
Chapter 62.
Next morning.
"Any idea what to do next, Jaken?"
Seeing me sigh right beside him, Jaken groans.
"If I knew. I wouldn't be sitting here talking to you."
Right now we're having tea break at our balcony, watching the scenery and discussing about the upcoming plans.
Although after a while, we notice a stir in Sesshomaru's calm demeanor. And that clearly grows worse by seconds, when he leaves his comfortable seat to step into our garden. Staring at the sky but not making any sound.
It feels as if he wants to leave, yet lacking a reason to do so.
"Is there something wrong, Sesshomaru-sama?"
Jaken's the first to react to his master's sudden change in attitude.
"Both of you, stay here."
One sentence later and Sesshomaru's gone. No explanation or whatever.
Hmm... Now that my demonic energy is unlocked, following Sesshomaru shouldn't be a problem.
"If you want to follow him then get onto my back."
I tell Jaken and he obliges, almost immediately.
"There he is!"
We catch up to Sesshomaru after a few seconds of running. Needless to say, he's displeased that we disobeyed him. Judging from that irritated expression his face is showing.
"I-It was her idea! I couldn't stop her!"
Terrified by his lord's glare, Jaken uses me as his shield.
Soon we find Rin, who is held captive by the same thief that we encountered a few days ago.
"Sesshomaru-sama! Onee-chan!"
Upon seeing us, Rin calls for our help.
"It's you again! Let her go!"
When I'm about to jump in to save Rin, Sesshomaru stops me and approaches the enemy with Bakusaiga in hand. Seeing him getting close, they throw her aside and swiftly disappear right off the spot. Not leaving any trace behind.
"Rin! Are you alright?"
Luckily, she only suffers few scratches from the fall.
"I'm okay. But..."
Rin turns to the unconscious boy lying on the ground nearby. His tattered clothes are tainted with black-colored blood coming the long cut on his right shoulder.
"Let me see if I can do anything to help."
However the moment I touch his arm, it sparks some kind of dark energy and burns my hand instantly.
"Ouch!"
This numb feeling... Did i just get electrocuted?
"W-What is it?! Did he hurt you?!"
Jaken and Sesshomaru rush over upon hearing my yelp.
"No. But it looks like he has lost too much blood."
Fortunately, that attack leaves no harmful effect to human.
"Hmm... Nope. Haven't seen him before."
After spending a few seconds inspecting the unfamiliar boy, Jaken states.
He appears to be around Rin's age. Messy long black hair, pale skin. Also lots of hair growing from his arms and legs... Wait, are they fur?
There are several part of him remind me of a youkai. Long and pointy ears, as well as fangs, sharp nails. Strange black markings that looks like stripes appears on all over his body.
"Anyway, Let's bring him back to treat his wound."
Kaede's hut.
"I saw him being chased by the bad guy back in the forest. So I tried to help him escape."
While watching Kagome cleaning the boy's wound, Rin explains to us what happened.
"Maybe he knows something about that thief."
Since there must be a reason for this boy to be hunted, Inuyasha voices his doubt.
"Rin, was there anyone else with him at that time?"
And Rin shakes her head. Claiming that he was alone when she found him.
"Let the boy stay here for a few days. Perhaps we will be able to gain some useful information when he's awake."
Therefore I suggest to let the boy stay in the village to keep him safe, and Rin agrees wholeheartedly.
"Nee-san, just leave him to us!"
Once done bandaging him up, Kagome tells me to go home to rest. Therefore we all call it a day.
The next day.
Much to our surprise, that boy recovers quite quickly. It must be because of his youkai's heritage.
"He has no parents. Not even a single name. Poor kid."
Therefore Kagome shares his pitiful story to us. Right now, that boy is sitting by himself at the small corner of the room and monitoring our every move.
"No guardian as well? What about his pack?"
"Apparently there is no one left."
The boy acted shy around strangers and only able to make out a few simple words when being questioned. Though he's quick to catch on to the new stuff that being explained to him.
"Does he know anything about the person that tried to kill him?"
However, Kagome shakes her head.
"He remembers being attacked. But has no idea why it happened."
She adds. "At that time, he simply thought that thief wanted to eat him and tried to survive."
For someone who has been living in the wild alone up till now, his reason quite makes sense.
"Can he stay with us?"
Feeling empathetic to his situation, Rin asks for our permissions to let him become a resident of this village.
"But where he is going to live?"
Miroku's and Sango's house is out of question since they have children. Both Sesshomaru and Inuyasha aren't so fond of having a strange kid roaming around in their houses. So the only place left is Kaede's...
"Why not just build him a house?"
And Inuyasha offers his help. Along with Miroku and the others.
"I don't think leaving him alone right now is a good idea."
On the other hand, Kagome's keen on the idea of having someone beside the boy to keep an eye on him.
Beside, building something takes time. So we still have to find him a place to stay while waiting.
"Will it be alright?"
When I ask Rin whether Kaede has agreed to let him live in her village. She says that as long as everyone takes the full responsibility whether his problem arise, she will be fine with it.
"I suppose that's settled."
And just like that, we're done with our discussion.
"What do you think, Sesshomaru?"
Curious about his opinion, I ask him. As he has been staying quiet since the beginning of our meeting.
Yet Sesshomaru doesn't answer. All he does is staring at the boy's face and leaves.
Oh well, I'll take that as no comment then...
The following days.
From then on, we start visiting that boy frequently. In hope to have a chance to learn something about that strange thief from him. Unfortunately, for every single time he claims not knowing anything or having ever seeing them before.
So now we're struck by a tall blank wall. Not able to move on but too late to turn back.
Was it really just a random attack from the bad guy?
I mean, bad guys don't need a reason to kill. Right? They can even do it simply out of mood swings.
Some personal grudge from the people in the past, perhaps?
But the boy has no relatives, and he doesn't remember anyone as well. So it's going to be difficult to track down whoever or whatever that is related to him and the thief.
Sigh... This is just getting nowhere...
While having tea with Kagome inside Kaede's hut, I catch a glimpse of that boy following Rin from behind while carrying laundry baskets on his back. They must be heading toward to the stream nearby to wash their clothes.
What's more, he's laughing and acting carefree toward Rin. Just like any other normal kid around. It's a complete opposite image of what we saw a few days ago.
"Wow, that boy can help you with chores already?"
Turns out he's the one to volunteer to help. From moving heavy objects around the house to chopping woods, as well as burning them for hot bath and cooking.
Needless to say I'm amazed by such positive change.
"Contrast to his unfriendly appearance. He's a nice kid."
Kagome compliments him.
"He sure sounds like some people that we know. Huh?"
Haven't heard of my old joke for a while, Kagome giggles.
Within a few days, the boy has become quite close to Kagome and Rin. Even to the point that Kagome is thinking of adopting him, much to Inuyasha's distress.
"Kuro-kun! It's time to change your bandage!"
Kagome calls from inside the house and moment later, that boy appears by the door to greet us.
"Kuro? Is that his name?"
Surprised by the unfamiliar name, I ask her. Therefore Kagome nods.
His name probably came from his appearance, which is almost black from head to toes.
"Hello, Kuro-kun. How are you today?"
We exchange a glance before Kuro swiftly hides behind Kagome's back. It seems that he is still wary of me.
"Don't be afraid. This person is kind. She won't harm you."
Kagome explains to him that I'm a friend. However he refuses to listen and keeps avoiding me like a plague.
"It's fine. Mutual trust takes time to build."
Therefore I tell her not to rush things and let it happen naturally.
"I'm sorry, nee-san. Even though you're in a difficult situation, I ..."
All of a sudden Kagome apologizes to me for not being helpful lately.
"Please don't apologize. You'd done more than we could have asked for."
Even after hearing my reason, she still looks sad.
"I should be the one who feel bad. Not you, Kagome. I mean... this is my problem and yet, from the beginning up to now, all I do is watch."
Because that is the most all I CAN do to help without messing anything up. Struggling with the feeling of being helpless for one day after another, definitely isn't easy...
A week later.
Nightfall.
There's still no movement from Amenonuhoko or that thief. And I'm growing even more anxious.
It's already been two weeks since then...
Nothing seems to happen. Everything is quiet.
Unable to sleep, I keep tossing and turning around. Feeling the cold empty spot next to me, I let out a sigh again.
Today as well...
Ever since the incident, Sesshomaru's rarely home. And when he does, I keep catching him staring into space for no reason. Seriously, I wish I knew what he's actually thinking inside his mind.
If only there's something I can do to help... Even just for a little bit...
...
..
And the moment I open my eyes again, standing before me is Amenonuhoko. A familiar shade of darkness surrounds us.
To be honest, I didn't expect much. But I'm glad it actually worked.
When I was stuck in this place and inherited youkai energy from Konohana, all I wanted was to get out. So it's safe to say that this is my first try going back in, willingly, instead of being forced by someone else for most of the time.
"Finally decide to show up, kid?"
Amenonuhoko greets me with its usual mocking tone.
"It's been a while. Though I have to admit that I missed you."
There's not enough patient to play along right now, so I cut the chase. "What is going to happen next?"
And Amenonuhoko turns quiet. Creating an awkward silence between us.
"Have you decided to change your master and chose that person?"
Cannot let this opportunity go to waste, I try to gain as much info as possible. Not that I expect it to tell me everything from the get-go. Simply a hint would do, please?
"Are you truly oblivious to all of this?"
Instead, Amenonuhoko smashes all of my hopes and dreams by throwing a ridiculous question at me.
"What the hell? If I wasn't, I wouldn't be coming here to ask you!"
I speak so fast, end up biting my tongue out of shock.
"Interesting..."
For some reasons, Amenonuhoko sounds amused.
"Since our link has yet to be broken. Am I going to be possessed again?"
Feeling our topic is leading elsewhere, I ask it to focus onto the main problem.
"Is that what you desire?"
And I'm struck with another weird question.
"Of course not."
After hearing my answer, Amenonuhoko only stares back at me. The silence lingers for quite a while and I'm starting to get confused.
What's going on? Why are we stop talking?
Both of us keep staring at each other like we're in some kind of contest. Until I cannot stand it anymore and ask Amenonuhoko to speak up.
"Say something, will you?"
Then one eye blink later, the darkness vanishes and I find myself back to the real world.
Huh?! What the heck was that?
..
...
"Don't even think about it."
Stepping out of the darkness, they demand Amenonuhoko to cease any shady business that is running behind their back.
"About what?"
Indifferent to their intimidating aura, it asks.
"No need to pretend being dumb. I know you well."
Casually they dispel the dark energy surrounding their hand, which was used to cast Shiomi off the soul realm earlier.
"Too bad, I blocked that girl's mind as well. So your temptation couldn't reach her."
Having ruined one of Amenonuhoko's plans, they smirk.
Next morning.
After what happened, I couldn't get back to sleep and ended up staying awake till morning.
"Did something happen?"
Kagome asks when she hands me a steaming cup of tea. Therefore I nod.
"I found Amenonuhoko last night."
She gasps in shock, but quickly calms down when knowing that we only met through soul realm. Not in physical form.
"Then... Did it tell you anything?"
"Jeeze, I wish."
Therefore I tell her about our strange conversation and how it ended.
"That is odd, indeed."
Kagome appears to be as clueless as I am.
"Kagome! Oh..."
Suddenly a cheerful Kuro appears, however the moment seeing my face. He quickly hides behind the house. Despite Kagome's numerous way to get him inside to meet me, he refuses and keeps standing outside staring at us.
"It's okay, go to him. I think Kuro-kun needs you."
I urge her to find him, since that pair of golden eyes is going to burrow a hole into my head with all the constant staring and glaring.
From here, I can see that Kuro hands Kagome something and she stroke his head. Then he smiles to her happily, like a kid that has just got praised.
Watching them interact with each other, I can't help but smile as well.
Looks like it's right to keep him here with us. After all.
In the beginning we're simply thinking of keeping him to gain information about the thief. Eventually, Kuro grows on us and now we're treating him like a family member.
Among us, Kuro chooses to stick close to Kagome and play with her. To him, she's like a mother figure that he never has. While the boy himself reminds Kagome of her little brother at home.
"Sorry for keeping you waiting."
A moment later, Kagome returns.
"Kuro-kun picked up some pebbles at the river and gave them to me."
She says, showing me the colorful pebbles lying inside her hand.
"Cute boy, isn't he."
Therefore Kagome nods. "Hopefully after everything's cleared up. He still stays with us."
Imagining Kuro finally has a home and be able to grow up in a peaceful place, together with the people he loves. I cannot agree more.
"Yeah, I hope so too."
The next day.
While on my way to Kaede's hut, I pass by a stream and find Kuro. He's standing still in the middle of it and has quite a serious look on his face.
Is Kuro alone today? Usually he'd be with either Rin or Kagome.
Stepping closer, I realize that he's staring at the water surface. Or the thing that is floating below it.
"Are you catching fish for today's lunch?"
Startled by my voice, Kuro jumps. Causing his prey to swim away in panic.
"Arg..."
Having to start all over, he groans and shoots me an annoyed glare.
"Opps... sorry."
Seeing me apologize, he just huffs and walks off to another spot.
"How about I help you? It's faster with two people, right?"
Before my feet can touch the water however, Kuro growls. Splashing the cold water at my face and throwing pebbles to make me leave.
"Alright, alright! No help then!"
Once everything's calmed down, Kuro returns to his fishing business. But this time it looks as like he's channeling something with his hands. Then all of a sudden, black electric spark appear surrounding him.
Eh? That same thing also happened when my hand touched his skin on the day we saved him.
Few seconds later, fishes can be seen floating on the water surface, one after another.
He electrocuted those fish to catch them easier. Clever kid.
So that's why Kuro wanted me to stay away. Since I could get hurt from that as well. And because Kuro's not good with human language, he used actions instead.
"Fish! Kagome!"
Then a cheerful Kuro shows me the fish he's caught in both of his hands.
"Good job, Kuro-kun! I'm sure she'd be very happy when receiving these."
Standing on the ground, I shout to him. Upon being praised, he grins brightly.
"Alright, let's go home."
Once done gathering enough fish, we return to Kaede's village together.
Few hours later.
"Kuro-kun? It's time to eat."
By noon, Kagome calls Kuro over so that we can eat lunch together. Yet he's nowhere to be seen.
"Weird. Where did he go?"
After looking around the place, I cannot find him. Same goes to Rin.
"Cracks-BOOM!"
All of a sudden we hear multiple loud explosions from outside. Even the earth below our feet starts shaking.
"Black thunders?!"
Up on the sky, we see a big mass of dark cloud hurling on top of a nearby forest. In the middle of a clear day.
"Rin, don't go anywhere. We'll be back!"
Quickly, we make our way toward to the source to find out what is going on and there, we find Sesshomaru, who is in the battle against a mass of black smoke on the ground. Under a freaking black thunderstorm.
"Kuro-kun?!"
Kagome's quick to spot that small figure within the strange smoke. It looks like he's also the one who controls these strange clouds and thunders above our heads.
"Please stop! He's not our enemy!"
Unfortunately, Kagome's voice cannot reach Kuro due to the loud crashes and many other chaotic things that are happening around him.
"Kagome, watch out!"
Seeing thunders are about to strike at our spot, I immediately drag her out of there.
"It's too dangerous to be near him right now."
Therefore I tell her to calm down and think of a way to save Kuro without harming him.
Just now, I notice Sesshomaru already has Bakusaiga unsheathed.
It's a sign that this is a serious battle.
Has he gone berserk?! But why?
This has never happened within Kuro's first two weeks staying with us.
He was calm and quiet, sometimes stubborn but never went overboard. Something must have triggered his mind in a bad way and turned him into this unstable state.
"Kagome, can you clear those clouds with your arrows?"
And now in order for us to get back in there, we have to get rid of those ridiculous thunder clouds first.
"Thwack!"
Kagome shoots her arrows at them. It works but they never fully go away.
"Where did they go?!"
"Huh?"
For a moment I was confused by Kagome's question.
Turns out, both of them are moving too fast for human's eyes to see. Having my power activated, I can catch up to their movements and start describing the fight to her.
"Well, they are here and... There and... Wait! No!"
Within one second, Sesshomaru deflects all of Kuro's rage attacks and strikes him back with Bakusaiga.
"Kuro's injured! Let's hurry!"
Due to the strong impact, Kuro falls onto the ground and the thunder clouds are cleared immediately. Blood can be seen flowing out from his wound and paints everything below him in black.
"Kuro-kun! Hang on!"
Kagome desperately tries to stop the bleeding. It's impossible, however. Even his youkai's heritage cannot save him from Bakusaiga's powerful effect.
"Please! Don't leave us!"
Despite our various effort to keep him alive, Kuro's body goes limp and his breathing stops.
"Can Tenseiga revive him?"
Immediately I turn to ask Sesshomaru. Calmly, he unsheathe Tenseiga yet refuses to use it.
"He cannot be saved."
Sesshomaru states, much to our shock. "What?!"
Helplessly, we watch Kuro's small body fades into ashes and disappears. The only remains of him is the pitch black spot imprinted on the dry soils near our feet...
"Why did you have to kill him?! He's only a kid!"
Horrified by Kuro's sudden death, Kagome cries and starts blaming Sesshomaru. Yet he doesn't spare her a glance and keeps staring at Kuro's remaining. Completely unsympathetic and emotionless.
"Please, calm down. Kagome. I'm sure Sesshomaru didn't want this to happen as well."
And I step in to clear things up, stating that everything that happened was an act of defense. "I saw them with my own eyes."
"But... Sob... Sniff..."
Only then she stops, tears begin to fall even harder.
"I'm sorry..."
Holding Kagome tightly, I try to comfort her. Yet end up crying uncontrollably as well.
Since there's nothing more we could do, Kagome and I made small burial for Kuro right at the spot where he died.
When we returned home, Kaede and Sango were the first to know about the accident. Then Inuyasha and Miroku. We didn't have the heart to tell Rin, however she managed to eavesdrop our talk and knew about his ill fate...
Nightfall.
"They refused to eat anything and couldn't stop crying..."
Wiping away the tear from her eyes, Shiomi recalls to their solemn evening. Like the others, she's heartbroken about Kuro's death. But she had to stay strong to support Kagome and Rin, whose feelings got affected by it the most.
"Was you hurt anywhere?"
After having calmed down, she checks for his injuries. Though most of them have fully healed by now.
"I know this is not the proper time to ask but... There's something that I've been curious about for a while now."
Can no longer keep it inside her heart, Shiomi asks him. "Sesshomaru, why was you there?"
"To get you."
Back then, Sesshomaru was on his way to pick her up and met Kuro. Ended up having to fight him since he's become unstable. To the point of not being able to understand words or recognized anyone around him.
"I see. Thanks for telling me."
Shiomi rests her head on his shoulder to find comfort. Feeling his hand gently stroke her head.
"Yesterday, I met Amenonuhoko in the soul realm. And..."
She's thinking about getting back into soul realm to see Amenonuhoko again. However Sesshomaru's quick to dismiss that idea. Saying that it's too dangerous.
"You'd better give up seeking for it."
He doesn't want her to get involved with Amenonuhoko any further she already is.
"I just wanted to help."
Shiomi's disappointed that her idea is disapproved. Still, she isn't fond of making him worry either. So she has no choice but to find another way.
But that is for the later part. Because right now, Kagome and Rin come first. Only after making sure they are okay, she will think of a better plan.
"Sesshomaru, you know that I trust you. Right?"
Staring into Sesshomaru's eyes while holding his hand, Shiomi states.
..
...
Flashback to the day they saved Rin and Kuro.
"Why did you stop me?"
They questioned Sesshomaru the moment he arrived. Clearly they're irritated, since their plan's ruined by him.
"You was hurting Rin."
And his reason was because their method displeased him.
"Whatever. Hurry up and hand that boy over to me."
Couldn't waste more of their time arguing with Sesshomaru over something trivial, they demanded.
"What do you want from that kid?"
"Are you worried about him? You two barely even know each other."
"It's not his life that I care about."
It's also because Sesshomaru hates doing something without a clue. Especially when that something related to Shiomi's well-being.
"That boy is... important to my plan."
On the other hand, they found it strange that Sesshomaru's reluctant to give Kuro up. "Don't tell me that you are trying to protect him?"
"They are."
It wasn't hard to figure out who Sesshomaru was implying.
"Can't you think of a reason to take the boy away?"
"They will become suspicious."
At the moment Kagome, Inuyasha and the others were there to take care of Kuro. They wouldn't be fooled easily and would try to follow him for further investigation.
All of that would lead to their location being revealed, as well as putting their plans and secret alliance at risk.
"...Then get rid of him."
As a last resort, they asked for Kuro's life, which surprised him.
"Didn't you want that kid alive?"
Therefore Sesshomaru wanted to confirm whether they're certain about their decision.
"Not anymore. I changed my mind."
Didn't bother to explain why, they turned away.
"Make sure that he's gone for good."
Their conversation ended with a warning.
"It's either him, or us. Surely you've already known which side to pick."