There was no more horseback riding for Nanashi after that. She flew while the others rode. Her horse was relegated to pack horse. She was tasked with scouting ahead while the others rode. She looked around in earnest for signs of Sakyo and the others, hoping in earnest they could find Hiei before they reached the capital. She found signs of old camping ground and camp fires, which made a promising sign, if they were the right trail.
In the mornings and evenings, she would talk with Yasha, trying to get every bit of lore about angels out of him. He seemed slightly annoyed with her about this and would point out things he had already told on their previous riding. He nevertheless kept talking. He told her angels were servants of the hawk goddess of the Hayato elvish clan, the Great Hawk Spirit. Hence why they had bird-like wings. They were her servants and would help her ferry the dead elves or part elves to the afterlife for judgement. According to legends, the Great Hawk Spirit would also send angels down to the world from her realm to intervene in times of crisis; sometimes as warriors, sometimes as advisers, and sometimes as just witnesses. When they were on the world, only those who were elvish or part elvish could see or hear them while they were alive. Legend said that was because elves were descended from angels who decided to live out the rest of their lives on the world. Her angels were also considered holy beings. That was why they had white hair and white wings. The warrior angels would be armed with supernatural weapons, like the wind serpent Nanashi had unexpectedly inherited from the fallen warrior angel, Kaze, right before his death.
Nanashi had learned from the wind serpent that Kaze had been sent to the world to stop the dark crone, Kurai, who lived in the forest they were currently traveling in. Apparently this Kurai had acquired a certain cape off a mage she killed, the cape of no return, which, in the wrong hands, could have devastating consequences. The cape, once thrown over a person, would transfer them to a place where they would die. The Great Hawk Spirit wanted it found and destroyed. She had tasked Kaze to go and destroy it, but he had underestimated Kurai. She bound him and magicked him so he would be unable to fight against her. She then harvested as much as she could of his body for her magical stores that he could survive. She even tried to take the wind serpent from him, but desisted when she realized removing it would kill him. She was not interested in killing him outright.
Once she had taken all she wanted of him, she used the cape of no return on him, which in turn, dumped him in the woods right by a pack of hungry doxies. That was where Nanashi, Yasha, and Kurama had found him. Kaze had sensed Nanashi was half angel, even though she did not know it at the time. He gave her the wind serpent, telling it to go and serve her now and to charge her with destroying the cape of no return. Nanashi found it necessary to agree with the wind serpent to take up that charge, but only if it helped her rescue Hiei and pay back her debt to Ruka. It agreed without qualm.
Nanashi spent her days communicating with thte wind serpent as well as flying. At her, it was hard to build up the strength in her newly acquired wings. She was still adjusting to having them in their feathery glory. Her hair also got in her way when she flew. She was still trying to adjust to go from raven black to brilliant white. It was a side effect of sorts from the wind serpent grafting itself onto her soul. At Yasha's suggestion, she started to braid it into two braids on either side of her head so they would be out of her wings' way. He told her that was the way elvish women warriors wore their hair.
At nights, she continued to share a tent with Ruka. It was so cold that they would spend the nights sharing their sleeping bags zipped up together. Her wings were an added level of warmth for them. They could also easily be tucked up behind her back when she was not flying. The only difficulty she had were shirts and bras. She had to tear the upper back out of her shirt and squirm her way into her clothes every morning without bunching up her wings. Ruka was more than willing to help her out.
With Ruka, Nanashi had started feeling closer and more comfortable with her. She enjoyed spending time with her one on one. She did keep trying to convince her to do more when she worked for her than just as a guard. Being a half angel and 'stunning,' she said it would take her only one night with a wealthy man to make her rich beyond her wildest dreams.
Ruka brought it up again as they lay down to sleep. "You would have been able to pay off the whole debt with one night before your angelic-ness came out," Ruka was saying as she rested her head against Nanashi's shoulder. "But now, with those wings and wind serpent, you could get any man to beggar himself for you."
The thought did Nanashi flush. Or maybe it was because she was right next to Ruka, enjoying that cuddling. She was rather beautiful. "No," she breathed, shifting her wings beneath her.
Ruka turned her head to look up higher at Nanashi. Her eyes stared at her lips. "Maybe even a kiss and a touch from the right man would be enough to pay me back," she hinted suggestively. Ruka's hand rested gently on her stomach.
Nanashi felt her heartbeat speed up. "I can't help but doubt that," she thought aloud. "Before Saif, I mean Hiei, no one really looked at me that way. Acted that way towards me. They were all scared or intimidated about the rumor my uncle started that I was half demon."
Ruka clicked her tongue against her teeth. "Sounds like those down South in that town you grew up in are rather closed minded. You'd be better off with me in Gandara." She moved her head so close that Nanashi could feel some of her auburn hairs tickle her face.
"Maybe..." she murmured. "After we rescue Hiei. And then after I destroy the cape of no return. I don't know how long-"
She was cut off, in shock when Ruka moved suddenly. She pressed her hand on Nanashi's torso more firmly as she brought her mouth down on Nanashi's. Nanashi flinched and then froze, not quite sure what exactly was happening. Ruka brought her head back up, just barely lingering above Nanashi's. Her face was flushed and her eyes stayed trailed on Nanashi's lips. She kissed her again, making Nanashi gasp against her mouth. A small spark seemed to ignite with Nanashi. She could not decide if she wanted to keep the kiss going or to end it. She turned her head away, looking towards the other side of the tent. Ruka pulled herself away from her as far as the double sleeping bag would allow. Nanashi turned herself onto her side, facing away from Ruka, mind numb and heart racing. Neither of them spoke. Nanashi waited for herself to fall asleep, feeling slightly feverish.
The next morning lead to an awkward silence between the two of them. Nanashi flinched when Ruka went to help her dress, but allowed her to help anyway since it was either ask her or Yasha. She felt more comfortable with Ruka helping her. Yasha often wore gloves, but when Nanashi had asked him why, he would just give her a vague answer that she was better off not knowing.
Nanashi spent the rest of the day flying, scouting. Her mind wandered about the kiss Ruka had given her and the excitement she felt thinking about it. She found an abandoned camp fire that was fresh looking. She was excited, thinking they were getting closer and closer to Hiei. She just wanted to find him to the point where she could hardly stand it. She went back to where the others were riding, so excited to share her discovery that her awkwardness was forgotten.
Yet her awkwardness did return when night fell and she and Ruka were alone in their tent. Nanashi kept herself at a shy distance, even as she slipped into the shared sleeping bag with Ruka.
Ruka climbed in, keeping herself at as much of a distance as the sleeping bag allowed her. "Did you see anything else on your scouting?"
"No," she admitted, turning herself to face Ruka. "But we're getting closer to him. I can sense it."
Ruka gave her a sultry look. "What are you going to do with him when we rescue him?"
"What do you mean?" Nanashi asked, daring to snuggle a little bit closer to her.
Ruka gave her a smirk, moving herself closer, too. "Fly him off for a little one on one time?" Nanashi flushed at the thought. She shook her head. "You like him, don't you? That's why you've been so shy with me last night and all day. You're scared I might seduce you away from him."
Nanashi blushed crimson, having the idea of Hiei next to her in her mind, while it was actually Ruka next to her. "I... I'm... not..." she stuttered out. She felt like the sleeping bag was almost too warm for comfort.
Ruka moved to be pressing up against Nanashi's arm. "So you don't want him here with you, right here, right now?" she teased. Her hand reached out and rested down upon Nanashi's stomach. It felt eerily familiar. "Not wishing he were here to touch you?" Nanashi closed her eyes, face flushing. "Caress you?" Ruka whispered in her ear. "To kiss you?" Nanashi felt her breathing deepen. Nanashi felt herself grow a bit colder when Ruka suddenly pulled herself away. Nanashi opened her eyes, blinking over at her. "If you want another kiss, you'll have to come over here and get it," Ruka purred. Nanashi looked at her, feeling suddenly rather nervous. "Would you dare if I were Hiei?"
Nanashi rose to meet her challenge. She rolled over to Ruka, kissing her clumsily. It did not take many seconds for Ruka to take the lead, pushing her onto her back. Ruka pressed one hand underneath her ribs, almost like she was holding her down on her back. Ruka's lips pressed more firmly on hers, trying to get her to open her mouth. Ruka brought her free hand up to her jaw, stroking it. She relaxed her mouth, letting Ruka slip her tongue into her mouth in a rush. She followed Ruka's lead, letting her twist her tongue around hers in a joyful entanglement. She felt her warmth spreading throughout her chest.
Ruka kept kissing her, breathing deeply in her own right. Nanashi gasped as she felt her hand snake down to the bottom of her shirt, stroking her bare skin. Ruka hummed a laugh under her breath before renewing her dominating kisses. Ruka's hand roamed over her torso, skirting around the hem of her pants, the edge of her bra, and back again. Nanashi felt herself grow so warm she could hardly stand it.
Ruka finally pulled her mouth away from Nanashi. Nanashi stared up at her, not sure what to do or to say. Ruka smirk down at her lustfully before rolling herself over onto of her, straddling her waist. Nanashi felt apprehension rising in tandem with the heat she felt flushing through her. Ruka's hands came to rest on her shoulders, leaning her upper back down over her. "How far would you let him go?" she teased. Her hands stroked the tops of her shoulders teasingly. Ruka's hands came behind the collar part of Nanashi's shirt. "Would you let him take your shirt off?"
Nanashi stared up at her, transfixed. Nanashi raised herself up on her hands, allowing Ruka to pull the collar up over her head. The back was cut off the shirt to make room for her wings, so if she wanted to completely remove the shirt, it would have to come off by being pulled down over her legs. Ruka did just that. Nanashi felt herself tense up shyly, as Ruka crawled back up and over top of her. Her hands slipped behind Nanashi's upper back and beneath her wings to unhook her bra. Nanashi closed her eyes and held her breath as it was removed. Her chest felt so warm, but the air around her felt so cold. It was a surreal feeling.
She felt and heard the rustling of clothes above her. She opened her eyes to see Ruka had stripped off her own top and bra. Nanashi let lose a slight moan at the sight. Ruka was gorgeous, full chested, and unabashedly unafraid. Nanashi brought her hands up in front her mouth, partially covering up her own chest when she would have rather reached up and touched the woman in front of her.
Ruka gave her a smoldering look. "Would you cover yourself up for him?" she asked as she moved her hips back and forth over top of Nanashi. Nanashi whimpered, almost frightened when Ruka reached her hands down and took Nanashi's in hers, fingers interlocking. Using her hands, Ruka half pulled, half coaxed to her to sit up. Ruka shifted down her lap to make room for it. Nanashi's head ended up aligned with Ruka's neck. Ruka's hands came to rest on her hips just above her pants. "Would he let you touch him back?" Ruka whispered down at her.
Nanashi felt her hands come to rest against Ruka's side as if on their own accord. She raised her head up, kissing her hesitantly. Ruka purred against her mouth, opening her up to let her kiss her deeply, taking the lead this time. Nanashi was nervous she was pushing too far. She strained to since any sign of resistance from Ruka. She felt none. She kissed down to the side of Ruka's neck, as if on instinct. Ruka hummed down at her breathily, snaking a hand up to her hair, fiddling with it in its loose state.
Nanashi nuzzled her neck, not sure what else she should do. She peered down at Ruka's chest. Ruka brought the hand from her hair down to her chin, tilting her face up to her. She ran her thumb across Nanashi's lips. She then rocked her hips forward and back against Nanashi's lap. Nanashi panted huskily. Then Ruka reached her free hand down to Nanashi's and pulled it up to cup her breast. Nanashi just held it there.
"Would he let you touch him?" Ruka breathed down at her.
Nanashi nodded, giving her a tentatively squeeze and caress. Ruka purred down at her encouragingly. Nanashi felt her face flush as she looked down at her bare chest. She shyly kissed her chest, between her two large breasts. Her hand stroked absentmindedly as she did this.
Ruka gave a soft chuckle. "He would really like how innocent you are."
Nanashi looked up at her without meeting her eyes. Ruka took her hands in hers again, interlocking fingers once more. Ruka pushed her down onto her back, placing her hands on either side of her head. Ruka kissed her. Nanashi kissed her back readily, enjoying what they were doing more and more.
Ruka kissed her way towards Nanashi's ear. "I'll show you how men like him would like to be touched."
She nuzzled her to turn her head away from her so she could kiss behind it. Her lips barely touched her skin, but it sent shivers down her spine. Her lips headed down, going lower and lower. Nanashi closed her eyes, using on her sense of touch to feel Ruka's lips moved down the side of her face to the side of her neck. Then on down to her chest. Ruka's hand came her breast, cupping its smaller shape. Nanashi gasped noisily as Ruka slipped her nipple into her mouth. She sucked on it with unsuspecting intensity, making Nanashi arch her lower back. Ruka kept sucking on it at a pulsing rhythm, making her squirm beneath her. Her teeth bit down gently on the area surrounding her nipple while her tongue danced across it. Nanashi legs shuffled beneath her. She both wanted to squirm away and give into the tense feeling rising up in her.
Ruka gave the breast she had been teasing a soft kiss. She glanced up at her through he eye lashes. Nanashi's hands clenched nervously at the side of her head, where Ruka had set them down.
Ruka looked back down at her chest. "Would he play with the other one as well?"
Without waiting for a reply, she went to Nanashi's other breast, taking the untouched nipple into her mouth. She whimpered, panting heavily. She bit her hard this time around, making her cry out. Her back arched, legs twitching.
Ruka gave a soft laugh, bringing her mouth of her chest. Nanashi stared up at her, unsure where Ruka might go from here. Ruka smiled down at her in a way that made her both excited and nervous.
"Would you let him go any farther tonight?" Ruka whispered hopefully down to her. Ruka's hands came to rest at the top of her pants. Nanashi bit her lip, not sure what answer to give. "It would help burn off the heat coursing through your veins right now." Ruka rolled off of her, but laid next to her. Her hand stayed on the top of her pants. "The burning, intense heat you're feeling." Her hand came down to the center of her legs. "A feeling you would let him do to you?" Her index finger stroked up and down.
"I..." Nanashi panted out. Two fingers now stroked her, up and down, up and down tortuously. "I..." she panted again. Her head felt foggy and her center felt aflame. "Please," she pleaded, not sure what even she met.
Ruka took that as a go ahead. She undid her pants, making Nanashi bring her fists to her mouth. "How would he fuck you? So hard he'd make you scream?" Ruka asked her. Her hand came to the top of her fold, teasing at her clit expertly. "He would enter you, make you his own, for the night. I won't do that though. I'll let you save that for whoever you truly want to give yourself to, fantasy not included. Whoever you give that to, better have earned it. With love, money, or whatever else your heart desires."
Nanashi cried out, not sure exactly what was happening now. Her legs twitched, wanting to close, but wanting to spread at the same time. She felt so hot and so tense she could not stand it anymore. Ruka's hand stilled when Nanashi wished she would keep going. She pulled Nanashi's pants down to the tops of her knees, taking her panties with them. Ruka brought her mouth to her clit, licking and sucking on it with the same intensity as her breasts earlier. Nanashi covered her mouth, moaning into her hands. Nanashi arched her back, feeling an intense coiling turned release engulf her senses.
She then laid down very still beneath Ruka, panting in and out, ready to fall asleep all of sudden. She hardly moved as Ruka dressed her.
"Rest easy, sweetness," Ruka purred down at her. "No need to reciprocate tonight."