Chapter 23
Setsuna sees Rin carrying the tray while she comes up the stairs. "Mother, why are you carrying tea at this time of night?" She asks as she offers to take the tray but decides against it.
"It appears that your bull demon had made himself home here. I'm just providing him with tea like a good hostess." Rin answers as they enter the guest bedroom where Gin is waiting patiently like a good guest.
"Thank you for the hospitality, Mrs. Takahashi." Gin said politely as he takes the tea.
"I'm just surprised that he was able to get here without being detected." Rin said as she sets the tray on the dresser quietly.
Gin gulps his drink. "Oh, I didn't know I was trespassing…" He tries to explain himself until Rin stops him.
"I know. We have a barrier that prevents anyone from entering." She tells him calmly. "Maybe if you want to, let us know about yourself. It's up to you."
Sestuna, and Towa sit on the little love seat by the window and little does anyone know, a small camera is aiming at the group by Sesshomaru.
A hours later, Gin finished his story to the family.
Towa holds her own while Setsuna shows a bit of sympathy. Rin on the other hand seems to be touched, "Oh Gin. I'm so sorry that you went through such a thing." She said as she holds her crying to a minimum.
Gin blinks his eyes in surprise. "Oh, I didn't mean to make you upset with my past." He tries to calm her down.
"Don't worry about her, Gin. Our mom can't hold it in." Setsuna takes hold of her mother's shoulders to calm her down. "Anyway, so it's just you and Mai. Were there anything else happening ever since you attended Sakura Hills?"
Gin shows a straight face. "I was drawn in by a peculiar scent in the building." He starts off. He digs into his jeans pocket to pull out a few pedals.
"Hold on. Are those the pedals from the trees that surround the school?" Towa asks him quickly. Gin nods. "Yeah. For some weird reason, I can tell the difference between actual cherry blossoms and these here."
That gave Towa an idea. "Hold, I'll be right back." She leaves the guest bedroom for a few minutes. "Where did she go?" Gin asks the other twin. "Towa has a knack for making sure if what you have and what she has are the same thing." Setsuna answers him.
It doesn't take long for Towa to return with a few cherry blossom pedals from their property lands. "Don't mind what I just did. We have a Sakura tree here as well." She smiles as she gives Gin her pedal. "Tell me Gin, can you tell the difference between these two?"
Being a bull demon, Gin could possibly rival the dog demons' sense of smell. "I know for sure that your pedals are the real thing." He confirms it with her bunch. "The thing about the pedals from the school is that the trees there are possessed by a tree demon."
"Wait a tree demon?" Setsuna asks in astonishment. Gin nods. "I was able to pick it up before Mai did. She wasn't fully in control of her abilities, and she didn't know that the pedal caused her to go on a calming path. I on the other hand was fully aware about it."
"Have you tried telling her about the problem?" Rin asks him.
Gin shakes his head. "I tried a few times, but Mai somehow, even though she was calm most of the time, couldn't believe it even if it's true. I think it's a mind control from the demon tree. Tell me this, has anyone else been affected by it?"
Towa and Setsuna faced each other, "We might think so. So far, it's the science teacher. She's been a bit too friendly with us since we arrived. But other than that, it's just her." Towa said to him.
Gin nods to them. "Have there been anyone else who would want you to follow your desires on what you want to do. Such as activities after school?"
That made Tow and Setsuna realized something. "As a matter of fact, we have been through that. The gym teacher wanted me to join the Track and Field team." Towa tells the bull demon her part.
"And my music teacher wanted me to do a violin recital. Does that sound familiar to you?" Setsuna adds in her part as well.
Gin nods. "Well for starters, you two are doing the right thing."
The twins don't seem to understand what he just said to them.
"What do you mean by that? Did something happened if someone were to join a group?" Setsuna asks him first.
"The thing is that the demon tree uses the victim's interests against them. At first, they believe what they really thought was great at start that they try so much to get better but, in the end, it kind of drains out their talent." Gin explains to them.
"Do you know someone who went through that?" Towa asks him next. "Yes, my sister Mai was one of those victims. I take it she had a spat at you?" Gin answers her.
"So, at one time, Mai was like a professional and then suddenly she's not so good anymore?" Setsuna said as she holds her chin.
Gin nods. "Yes. That's the way. The thing is if you inhale the demon tree's fragrance, it will manipulate you to increase your skills at the one thing you're good at. But if you're away from it, that substance wears off.
"So maybe that explains why you seem too good at the violin, Setsuna. You were more skilled at the school, but at home…" Towa turns to her twin.
"…Then the music I was good at wasn't working." Setsuna finishes it. "Anyway, do you get any details about the demon tree at the school?" She turns to Gin.
Gin looks down for a second. "I was at the second floor of the building with the window open and the tree was close by. At one point, I was focusing on the topic in class, taking notes until the wind carried its scent into the room, and then it said something about getting better. It told me its name. Neru Memori."
