"How is Sesshomaru?"
Ray could tell that Inuyasha felt anxious when asking this question.
Leaning against a large tree, Ray turned and carefully looked at Sesshomaru's younger brother before speaking slowly.
"He's fine."
Hearing this, Inuyasha seemed to relax, his shoulders dropping slightly.
But he still had one more question, his eyes searching Ray's face.
"Then... who are you?"
"You can think of me as Sesshomaru's second personality."
There was logic to Ray's statement.
First, after arriving in this world, he appeared within Sesshomaru's consciousness space.
Starting from when Sesshomaru demonized and confronted Inuyasha—who had just obtained Tessaiga—Ray began sharing a symbiotic experience with him.
He possessed all of Sesshomaru's memories, and the experiences of these past few months were no different.
Moreover, Ray could clearly sense Sesshomaru's emotions and thoughts.
This was completely consistent with what he had learned about Dissociative Identity Disorder back on Earth.
The primary personality creates secondary personalities to cope.
The secondary personalities are aware of the primary, while the primary has memory gaps.
Different personalities take turns managing the body.
In half a month, when he leaves, Sesshomaru's consciousness will return to take control again.
The only difference is that by then, Sesshomaru will recall most of what Ray had done during this period.
As for whether Sesshomaru would remember the Straw Hat Pirates, Ray wasn't sure.
The excessive conformity to the disorder's traits made Ray briefly doubt whether he was actually a secondary personality or a separate demonic entity.
If that were truly the case, it would be fascinating.
But the possibility was basically zero.
After all, he had crossed over from Earth to the world of One Piece, born there rather than emerging from Sesshomaru's psyche.
...
Hearing Ray's words, Inuyasha's mind became chaotic.
He stammered as he continued questioning Ray.
"Th-then... you're also... Sesshomaru?"
"For these next two weeks, I am him."
Ray responded calmly.
The system had clearly informed him that for these three months, he was Sesshomaru.
He wasn't lying.
While the two brothers were talking, Kagome, Sango, Miroku, Shippo, and Kirara arrived beside them.
Hearing the content of their conversation, Inuyasha's companions were extremely surprised.
"How... should we deal with this?" Miroku muttered, rubbing his chin.
"Does Inuyasha suddenly have two older brothers?" Shippo asked, eyes wide.
"This current Sesshomaru seems much more pleasant," Sango noted.
"Yes," Kagome agreed. "Just a few days ago, he specifically came to save Inuyasha when he lost control after demonizing."
The group's discussion made Inuyasha extremely uncomfortable, to the point where his hair stood on end.
"I don't need... him to save me!"
"Good boy!" Kagome patted the embarrassed Inuyasha's head, patiently comforting him like a puppy.
Without continuing the conversation, Ray stood up and walked toward Zoro and the others.
"Sanji, take Luffy and the others to rest in Inuyasha's village for five days. Oh, and remember to keep an eye on Zoro."
Sanji was overjoyed. "Great arrangement! Kagome-san, Sango-swan, we'll be troubling you for the next few days."
Transforming into a seductive noodle, Sanji floated toward Kagome and Sango with hearts in his eyes.
Witnessing this scene, Ray sighed helplessly.
"Forget it. Usopp, you lead the team instead."
At that moment, Robin arrived with an angry Nami in tow.
"Ray, aren't you coming?"
The Straw Hat Pirates waited for Ray's response with bated breath.
Even Kagome and the others watched with nervous anticipation.
Inuyasha was no exception—his eyes were wide open with dread.
The thought of Sesshomaru living in the same village as him was something he couldn't accept.
Just imagining the two brothers eating together made him shudder violently.
Even if this was "Ray," he still looked exactly like Sesshomaru.
No, not just looked the same—it was literally the same body.
"Don't come, dont't come, absolutely must not come," Inuyasha muttered quietly like a mantra.
But with Ray's acute hearing, no matter how softly he spoke, it was audible to him.
Ray ignored Robin and turned to Kagome.
"I have matters to attend to. During this period, I'll trouble you all to look after Luffy and the others."
Kagome's lips parted slightly, her heart surging with turbulent emotions.
'Sesshomaru is asking me for a favor? He's truly not the same person anymore. It seems there's a chance for Inuyasha to get along with him properly. Hiss~ what a scene that would be, hehe.'
"What? Is it not acceptable?" Ray pressed when Kagome didn't respond immediately.
"Of course it's acceptable! Onii-san, you can rest assured and leave them to us!" Kagome puffed out her chest and responded with righteous confidence.
Beside her, Inuyasha froze.
He stiffly turned his head toward Kagome. "You... what did you call him?"
"Ah? Did I say something?"
"Ne... never mind."
Seeing Inuyasha's awkward expression, Ray felt two different emotions.
From his own perspective, he enjoyed messing with Inuyasha.
From Sesshomaru's perspective, being called "big brother" by Kagome gave him goosebumps all over.
But the feeling of teasing his younger brother didn't seem too bad either.
...
After telling the Straw Hat Pirates to rest, Ray left Chouchou behind and flew alone toward the distant mountain forests.
Someone was still waiting for him there.
Zoro, Sanji, Nami, and the others followed Inuyasha's group toward Kaede's Village.
After two and a half months of primitive forest life, they were eager to return to civilization.
Along the way, the group hunted some wild game.
Sanji insisted on treating everyone to a feast.
Inuyasha and the others were delighted—they loved Sanji's cooking—and actively helped with the hunting.
The dog boy killed one wild boar but thought it wasn't enough, so he took out the boar's entire family for good measure.
Miroku circled around Nami and Robin.
Seeing that Sango was currently distracted by Sanji's flirting, he realized his opportunity had come!
His hereditary right hand slowly reached toward Robin and Nami's ass, only to be met by a sharp bite on his rear.
"Ah! What are you doing, you stinky dog!"
Chouchou snorted twice. "I won't allow you to lay hands on them, you human pervert leader!"
Hearing this, before Miroku could speak, Sanji turned to look at Chouchou.
"Chouchou, are you insulting me?"
"No, no, Chouchou is praising you," Zoro immediately explained with a smirk. "But in my eyes, you're not worthy of being the pervert leader—just a lecherous pufferfish."
"Moss Head, you're asking for a fight!"
"Bring it on."
Soon, the two were rolling in the dirt, wrestling.
...
After arriving at the village, Robin and Nami took Chouchou aside while everyone else was busy preparing the meal.
"Chouchou, what exactly is the relationship between Ray and that little girl?" Nami asked, her eyes narrowing.
"You have a blood connection with Ray. Even if he doesn't say anything, you should know roughly, right?" Robin added, crossing her arms.
Chouchou looked at the two women with a human-like conflicted expression on his canine face.
"I can't say.... I'll get beaten if I talk."
"Come on, just tell us. Does Ray like young girls?"
As Chouchou kept refusing, Nami kept pestering and coaxing him.
Just then, a white figure arrived beside the group, accompanied by a dragon-blooded Two-Headed Ox Demon, a little girl, and a small yokai.
Ray had returned briefly to drop them off.
"Sesshomaru-sama, I'm still a bit afraid of human villages," Rin whispered, clinging to his sleeve.
Ray gazed tenderly at Rin and gently patted her head.
"There's no need to be afraid when I'm here."
Nami and Robin twitched at the corners of their mouths upon seeing this scene.
'This is definitely not father-daughter affection... oh my god!!!'
Nami felt her heart shatter, and Robin was equally heartbroken.
Their theory was confirmed in the worst way!
But they weren't the only ones witnessing this.
Inuyasha, who was carrying a stack of firewood, froze in place.
The logs clattered to the ground one by one. Goosebumps crawled all over his body.
"...You... you... AH, MY EYES! Hahahahaha~" Inuyasha pointed and laughed hysterically, tears streaming down his face.
"Sesshomaru acting like a doting parent?! I'm dying!"
Ray turned, his expression darkening instantly.
"What are you doing? wan't to hit me? Don't think I'm afraid of you! Tetsusa— Ouch!"
Ray moved faster than sight, delivering a swift, merciless punch to his brother's head before flying off again into the forest.