Chapter 33:

"In the name of the Panther demons, we will seek revenge against your dog demon clan. Come to our village at once." She said in a confidently challenging tone.

"You don't seem to be contented with being defeated twice, I presume." Sesshomaru commented sarcastically, and Toran just let out a boisterous laugh.

"Nice try. But we have the means to revive our King."

"Oh?"

"You better come without delay, Sesshomaru. We will finally settle this fight and see who will reign."

He didn't answer, but he was glaring at her. With that, Toran vanished, leaving the place still frozen.

That night, Arisa was uncomfortable at the thought of possibly going to fight with a bunch, no - a clan of cat demons, without even knowing the scale of their powers.

"So Shunran is actually one of them…?" Arisa nervously asked.

"Did she do anything to you?" Sesshomaru asked; his tone a bit sensitive.

"Could it be that that was what you were worrying over when we went to get you?" Jaken voiced out as well.

Arisa looked at them ambivalently. "Yes…about that. You see, she suddenly came and gave me a bracelet, claiming that it was just her way of being friendly. But as soon as I wore it after she left, the bracelet disappeared. Though, I can still feel it…" she explained, lifting her left hand.

"You are a fool for believing such words."

"I didn't at first, you know! She said about knowing you and being her friend...so-"

"And you really thought I have someone like that as a friend?"

Arisa's face scrunched in guilt. "She's a demon...so yeah...?"

Sesshomaru quietly sighed as he and Jaken looked at the hand she lifted, and confirmed that they couldn't see anything either.

He then held her left wrist, much to Arisa's awe. Her heart unexpectedly started beating fast.

"Umm…"

"I cannot feel the bracelet you are talking about." Sesshomaru uttered as he continued to touch and study her wrist.

However, before she could reply, her body went stiff; and soon, she collapsed on the ground. Her eyes were wide open, but there was no glow in them. She couldn't move, but her consciousness was there.

"Arisa." Sesshomaru called out, but she was not responding.

"Arisa, what's happening to you!?" Jaken called out as well, panicking over her current state.

She tried to speak, but her voice won't come out. It was as if she was being controlled by someone. Not long after, a different voice spoke in her mind, taking her by surprise.

'Hello there.'

'Shunran…is that you?"

'Bingo! So, how do you find my gift for you?' she sneered.

'You tricked me…!'

'We heard that Sesshomaru was travelling with a young woman, and a human, no less.'

'So what if I am a human? Don't ever think so lowly of me.'

'Correct, because we found you useful, as it turns out that he didn't seriously consider our words. We will make you lure Sesshomaru to us.'

'You can't-'

Ultimately, Shunran was able to take full control of Arisa for some time. She made her run away from them, fast, and head towards the cat village.

Arisa forcefully smacked Sesshomaru's hand away then quickly stood up; causing him to simply stare at her, his eyes glinting feebly with distress due to her sudden actions. Jaken was flabbergasted too, making him step back a little. But, seeing that her face expressed internal struggling as she ran away from them, Sesshomaru instantly followed her. At the same time, Jaken took a ride on Ah-un to chase after them.

Arisa ran much faster than normal, due to the effect of Shunran's control. Still, Sesshomaru was able to catch up to her due to his unmatched speed. When she looked back and saw him very near already, she launched a spell that was befitting of Shunran: an illusionary, thick mist clouding all over the forest which made the dog demon halt.

Using Arisa's voice, Shunran left him a message.

"If you badly want to save this woman, you will have to come to our village."

Sesshomaru clicked his tongue, as the mist was taking too long to disappear. He could just go through, and find her with his extremely good sense of hearing, sight and smell. But because he has it extreme, he would certainly be allergic with the current smoke, since it belonged to a cat demon.

"Tsk. I will end this dispute once and for all." He said irritably, and used his Tokijin to dispel the smoke.

By the time Arisa's body had reached the village, Shunran let go of her controlling, bringing her consciousness and own movement back.

'Thanks to you, Sesshomaru finally took the bait.' Shunran said in a victorious tone.

'Funny how you really think he would come just to save me.'

'Doesn't matter. Now we are sure about him coming at once, as our King will wake up any moment now.'

Arisa didn't answer, as Shunran seemed confident enough of their plan. She then used the short opportunity to think of ways on how to get the bracelet off of her wrist. She thought of applying the symbolic cuts, but then she realized that she needed both of her hands. Using only one hand was viable, but she has yet to attain that level of skill. She continued to rack her brain, until…

Shikigami…! Maybe shikigami will do the trick…!

She then started recalling the requirements, and realized that she had no sacred object in hand, and she still didn't master the nine cuts to begin with.

I…guess I will have to find Shunran, and beat her.

Sensing that Shunran was out of the way for the time being, she started searching for her, while being careful of cat demons roaming around.

She stumbled upon a house which looked like their hideout, and was about to enter when suddenly, there were big cat demon guards who noticed her and attacked her.

Okay, now's the time…!

She quickly sensed the incoming cat demons, but unfortunately, they all had the same aura of mixed colors, just like Shunran.

Ugh, this can't be happening! Whatever, here goes…! Since they look a bit weaker than Shunran…maybe three cuts would be enough.

"Rin, Kyo, To!"

She chanted the words together with the hands signs, and a slightly bigger wave of white glow came out of her hands, dissolving the demons into glimmers of light.

She stepped inside the hideout, and was shocked to see more cat demons of different sizes and appearances. She tried sensing them again, but they all emitted the same aura of mixed colors.

Damn it…!

She then retreated, and went into hiding for a while.

I can't defeat them at once…I will need some help.

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