Chapter 47:

A few moments after Mukotsu was killed; a saimyosho came and picked up his sacred jewel shard then flew away. At the same time, Inuyasha arrived at the scene and saw Sesshomaru along with the barely conscious Kagome and the unconscious pair, Miroku and Sango.

"Sesshomaru…! What did you do to them!?" he angrily asked, but Kagome interposed.

"Wait…Inuyasha. Sesshomaru…saved…us."

"I did not save you. I only came to see the presence that Arisa felt." Sesshomaru replied derisively, and then faced Inuyasha.

"Where is Naraku?"

"Heh! As if I'm going to tell you anything…!"

"If you don't, I'm going to kill you right now."

Inuyasha gave Sesshomaru an annoyed look.

"How should I know!? We're looking for him too, but then we were suddenly attacked by these dead bandits. They call themselves the Band of Seven, but I'm sure they are sent by Naraku."

Hmph…so he is nearby.

He didn't say anything more and turned his heel to leave. Just then, Arisa shouted from outside the hut, signifying that she was already near.

'Sesshomaru! Are you still in there?'

"Oy! Is that Arisa?" Inuyasha nervously asked, and it made Sesshomaru frown.

"This is bad…! The poisonous gas still hasn't dissipated yet!" he continued to warn, but he wasn't sure if his older brother even perceived him, as the latter was already gone from his spot.

Arisa swiftly jumped down from Ah-un and rushed in an attempt to see what was happening inside the hut, but she was rather shocked to see Sesshomaru speedily coming towards her with a slightly worried expression. He instantly grabbed her on the waist and fled from the place, with their animal companion following right after.

"H-hey! What gives?" she complained, and he quickly answered back.

"The aura you felt came from a sacred jewel shard tainted by Naraku."

"Huh…?"

"Right now, he is using shards to revive dead men as decoys. I suspect he's already on the move."

"That cunning bastard…! Who else was inside? I'm sure there was something fishy going on in there."

"Inuyasha's friends, but he came too late."

"What happened, exactly? Are they alright?"

"They were poisoned."

Arisa's eyes widened in worry and shock.

"Then we should hurry and go back! I have to remove the poison in their system…!"

"Do not be foolish. That is precisely why we had to get away."

"Sesshomaru…!"

"Be quiet. I may have killed him but his poisonous gas still remains, intended for humans. You wouldn't be able to handle it."

"I'm a healer by heart, so-"

"That priestess wasn't even able to defy the poison. Are you saying you can?"

Arisa's mouth snapped shut, but she still had something to offer in their argument.

"I'll use a barrier…!"

Sesshomaru gave her a surprised glance.

"You can put up a barrier?"

"Well…yes, but not long enough...yet."

I'm still having difficulty with putting up a barrier while doing something else…but it could've been worth a try!

"Hmph. Unless you're sure, I cannot allow you to go back."

"But what if they are in grave danger…!?"

"Arisa. Stop concerning yourself with others and worry about yourself for once."

There was a hint of distress in his tone, and it made her to just give in for now.

His words are cruel, but his actions are the opposite. It almost looks like...he's trying to change little by little.

That night, they decided to have a rest and camped out at a forest near the lake. Sesshomaru was silent as usual, deep in thought. He was in a spot far from Arisa and Jaken.

Arisa glanced at him out of concern and wanted to talk to him, but something about his back told her to leave him alone. It suddenly reminded her of that one night when he went out for a 'long walk' alone.

"Hey, Jaken…"

"What is it?"

"Does Sesshomaru really have that time when he's like that?"

Jaken briefly looked at his master, and sighed.

"Well, yes. It's not really that surprising since he always leaves me behind without any notice."

"Eh…"

Once the flames were out and consumed, Arisa tucked herself to sleep beside Jaken. The little creature yawned and dozed off too right after.

Arisa opened her eyes early in the morning and was met with a deadpan expression from Sesshomaru.

"You're finally awake. We're going." He said and then turned around, already walking away.

Her half-asleep self immediately became alert, and she found herself scramming to follow after him.

"Sesshomaru…! Wait up…!" she pleaded.

"I caught that boy's scent, and he's not far from here."

"Who are you referring to?"

"Naraku's human puppet. The young demon slayer."

Arisa's eyes widened. "Oh no…you can't mean…Kohaku!?"

Sesshomaru remained silent, and they just went on. That is, until they passed by a small lake and heard the sound of a big blast.

"Stay here and wait for me." He ordered, and went ahead to see what caused the disturbance.

Jaken obeyed and took Ah-un in his care, but Arisa didn't and followed him anyway.

"Arisa! Where do you think you're going!?" he asked in a frenzy, but Arisa didn't answer.

What is wrong with them?

Jaken thought as he scratched his head out of trying hard to understand their actions.

"You really don't listen." Sesshomaru commented as soon as he felt Arisa catching up to him.

"Well, there might be something I can do." She answered back, and walked beside him indifferently.

The two of them were now close to the lake which was covered with morning mist and they heard someone throwing a tantrum. It came from a very familiar person that both of them know.

"Jakotsu! Renkotsu ! Ginkotsu or any of you from the Band of Seven! You cowards! Come out and fight me! I'm prepared to fight all of you right here and now!"

"It's Inuyasha…" Arisa murmured, and Sesshomaru only smirked. He quickly went and landed on one of the lake stones, then started talking.

"What are you shouting for so early in the morning?"

Inuyasha turned halfway to where the voice came from.

"Sesshomaru…" he mumbled, and then paused.

"Go away. I'm not in the mood to talk with you." He continued, but the older brother continued to taunt him.

"In the end, you can't even protect your friends."

"…"

"What a pathetic half-demon you are."

Meanwhile, Arisa listened to their conversation in disbelief.

Instead of comforting his little brother, or maybe leaving him alone, he chose to provoke him! What an asshole...!

"Shut up! Maybe I should just kill you and get the Tenseiga for myself. Then, I'll use it to revive Kagome and the others." Inuyasha threatened.

What!? So Kagome, Miroku and Sango were in danger after all…!

Arisa thought and it made her panic.

"Hmph. You think you're capable of using my Tenseiga? Try it, then." Sesshomaru replied smugly, and Inuyasha undeniably directed the Wind Scar at him. He was able to dodge it effortlessly and just went back to where he left Arisa, concluding his purpose. But his sudden disappearance made his younger brother think that he was hallucinating.

"Let's go." He said to the young lady, but she didn't budge.

"You go ahead. I'm going to take a look at them!" she said, and then ran off to meet Inuyasha.

"That woman..." Sesshomaru muttered in annoyance.

"Inuyasha!" Arisa shouted as she searched for him, and was thankful to see him still there. He was about to leave.

"Aren't you with Sesshomaru? Why are you here?" he asked sullenly.

"Take me to where Kagome, Miroku and Sango are. I might be able to do something about the poison."

"Heh. Even if you get there, it's already too late."

"Don't say that! We won't know unless we try!"

Inuyasha's mouth only pursed into a line, which was so not like him.

"Come on!" Arisa snapped, and Inuyasha hesitantly led the way.

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