1: The Meeting
It wasn't momentous, our first meeting.
Well, that isn't true for me. In fact, I don't think he even noticed me, hiding behind the trees, watching the scene take place in front of me. I had only peaked around once or twice. I was too frightened to say anything. Those boys that had been around him looked pretty mean, pretty tough.
But so did he.
He was so different from the boys around him. He looked like no one I had ever seen before. He was tall, for one. He stood at least a head taller than the village boys. He wore strange clothing too. His sleeves billowed out around him, clean as a fresh snowfall. His hair shone like a sword hilt, bright and silver and smooth. It was his eyes as well. There was a hardness in his eyes, a look. It reminded me of the men in the village who had seen to many people die, or too much blood shed. It made me shiver just to look into those golden orbs.
I can remember it so clearly, as if it happened not moments ago.
I had been coming back from the river with a sack of clean sheets and clothes strapped to my back. I was taking the trail through the forest, when I heard someone yell. They sounded angry, and I was afraid of getting involved in something I shouldn't, but my curiosity took over, and I investigated the source of the noise.
I heard more yells, and as I grew closer, I could make out the words.
"Who do you think you are? Dressing in those clothes?"
"I think he's a prince, Jiro!" A roar of laughter rose up at this comment.
I could see them now. There were five boys, standing around one taller boy. Immediately, I knew he was the one they spoke of. I stared in wonder at his smooth features, the strange markings on his face and forehead. I couldn't take my eyes away from him. Who was he?
In my state, I failed to notice I was walking toward them. A twig snapped under my foot, causing the group of boys to turn toward me. I quickly pulled myself together and hid behind a thick tree. My heart was pounding fast, but when I heard one of the voices say, "It's just an animal", I relaxed slightly.
"How did you get your hair that way? You look like my grandmother!" I heard a deep voice taunt.
I chanced a look from my hiding place. I could see the boy who had made the comment. He was laughing loudly, and putting his face close to the silver-haired one. How could he take their comments so lightly? He didn't even look as if he'd heard them speak! I saw his eyes, as they stared, unblinkly into the distance. For a second, I watched his face, but suddenly, his eyes turned to meet mine.
I felt my breath leave me. All I could think was, "He's not human..."
My thoughts were irrational, at first, but not untrue. He proved my theory by bringing up his arm, revealing a clawed hand with more markings on his wrist. The boy who had taunted him now loooked at his hand in awe.
"Wh-what are you doing?" he squeeked out.
The silver-haired boy's lips turned up in a smile. I shivered at the sight of it. It didn't look right. He looked...dangerous.
There had been a blinding light, at which I had sheilded my eyes against. In another moment, the five village boys lay in a heap around the silver-haired wonder, unconscious. I gasped loudly, mistaking them for dead. This time, my fear was replaced with worry. Without thinking, I ran from my place behind the tree, into the clearing.
He turned to me, his arm still raised. I stopped just short of the boys, my heart racing.
"Are-are they all right?" I asked. Looking back, I don't know why I cared so much if the boys were alive. I didn't really care for any of those bullies. I suppose it was just an excuse to speak to him.
His arm slowly went back to his side. His smile had faded, returning to his previous state of unemotional detatchment. "I have spared their lives."
"Oh..." was all I could manage.
He turned to face me fully now, his eyes looking me over curiously. I blushed underneath his scrutiny. He looked a few years older than me. I was only ten at the time.
"What is your name?" I asked, more to break the uncomfortable silence than anything. Secretly, though, I desperately wanted to know.
He seemed to think over my request. A wind rose up, blowing his sleeves behind him, revealing the armor he wore on his chest, and the sword in its sheath at his side. I tried hard not to stare, but I had never seen a boy so young carrying such a fine weapon.
"I am Lord Sesshomaru, heir to the Western Lands." He said this with a hint of pride in his voice.
"Lord Sesshomaru..." I said under my breath. I was amazed further. This boy was a lord? How could that be? There was something about him, something I knew I should know, but couldn't remember. It was just at the tip of my tongue. I knew what strange hair and eyes meant. I knew it was wrong, dangerous. But all of the warning signs seemed to mean nothing in his presense.
"So, where are your parents? Do you live in this area?" I asked, taking a step closer.
He seemed to tense up as I drew nearer.
"Are you all alone?" I questioned, a sorry note in my words.
He seemed to sense my pity, for his eyes flared up with internal anger, and he barked out, "I don't need anyone, human."
I felt my insides squirm. He just called me a human. And he seems so angry. I felt terrible. He'd just been teased and taunted by the bullies of my village, and now I was making him upset. I felt tears begin in my eyes, as I replied softly, "I'm sorry."
He looked at me strangely now. He was looking at my face, at my tears. I wiped them away hastily in shame.
"What is that?" He asked, nodding to my eyes.
I sniffed loudly as I wiped my nose on my brown sleeve. "I'm...crying. I didn't mean to make you mad."
He turned his head to look behind me, into the distance of the hills and the feilds. "Don't feel sorry for me. I'm fine."
"Are you sure?" I looked at him with concern, hoping I had not offended him. Something deep inside me wanted to make him smile, make him laugh. I wanted to know more about him. He was such a mystery.
His face softened as his eyes returned to mine. "Yes. I'm sure." A soft, slow smile edged onto his lips, and I felt my heart swell with happiness at the sight.
We stood across from each other, one human and one demon. I was unknowing to this boys wealth, of his lineage as a dog demon lord. But it didn't matter then. I was a human girl, looking at a boy I was liking more and more. And he looked back, with that rare smile I would come to love.
In that moment, at our first meeting, we were happy. And it wasn't momentous, or life-changing. But in the times to come, my life would be forever changed by the demon boy named Sesshomaru.
My name is Nanashi, and this is my story.
