An Untitled Feeling

Chapter 1

Nanashi looked out of her cave and into the snow; she was the next leader of the snow leopard demon tribe. The 250-year-old demon looked about 17 and her eyes told her true age, ice blue with hurt. Her silver hair blew in the light breeze. The other demons in her tribe were worried about their princess; she had been like this since Hiten was killed by InuYasha two years ago. Before that she was always happy and had a cynical since of humor always cracking jokes, that Nanashi was gone now, she was swallowed deep within her grieving heart.

"Nanashi," said one of the elders named Amai "Time has passed child, you must let your love for him go"

"I know" Nanashi replied to the elder's words. Her voice was distant as were her thoughts, her initiation of leadership was tomorrow. Nanashi was not ready for that responsibility, not now at least, she planned in running away that night.

Nanashi smiled at Amai and got up "I'm going to go take a walk" she said and she took a step outside to the snowy world. Though she was bare footed she didn't mind the snow, it was refreshing she had to clear her mind for tonight. There was not room for hesitation. Nanashi held out her palms and felt the snow melt on her warm flesh, the feeling soothed her racing mind to the point of tears. Doute and hesitation was gone, The young demon was ready to leave as soon as the last of her clan fell asleep.

That night Nanashi said her good byes to her close relatives and friends, kissing them gently so not to wake them. Stepping out of the cave and into the fresh snow from that afternoon Nanashi felt a twinge of guilt but she shrugged it off, she had to. Taking on last look and ignoring her burning eyes Nanashi thrust herself onward to outside world away from leadership.

Nanashi had spent two weeks traveling before she realized she was lost. She didn't mind, if she was lost there was no way she couldn'tgo back at all. She made her home in a cave not far from a smallvillage, the village was quite poor and was having trouble with the cold weather. The snow hadn't reached here yet Nanashi noted so the animals still feed on the crops. Nanashi didn't really care for the humans who lived near her but she ate what animals that ate there crops, acting as free pest control the villagers were grateful so they let her stay.

When a day came when snow looked like it was going to fall Nanashi decided to sit outside and wait for the incoming beauty. She spent most the afternoon watching a rabbit run back and forth preparing it's den with brush for the snow soon to come. There was a rush of wind and the rabbit stopped moving and flattened itself to the ground. Soon after the rabbit's actions of hiding Nanashi herd screaming and smelled the sent of blood. It was coming from the small village. Nanashi stood up and started towards the village, she didn't plan on protecting them she really just was curious of who could be killing them.

She reached the village in a matter of minuets but by the time she got there the snow had begun to fall and there were no survivors. but the culprit was still there standing it the middle of the blood bath. She stepped closer so she could get a better look at the attacker, who Nanashi saw made her eyes well up in tears and her heart stop.

"H-Hiten" Nanashi said voice cracking in her growing sobs, looking at the back of what she thought was the man she fell in love with two years ago. The man in front of her was not in fact Hiten he just looked similar from where she saw him.This man did have the same braid, but he had a different weapon and different clothing; the sword was twice the size he was and he was wearing a white kimono with blue armor. He hadn't herd her false identification of him, he was to busy laughing to himself, he had no idea of Nanashi's presents. In her clouding vision the man in front of her was still Hiten.

"Hiten!" Nanashi yelled and ran toward who she thought was her dead lover. He turned only in time for her embrace. This was confusing for him; first being called "Hiten" and now getting hugged by a strange woman he had never met before.

"Hey!" The man yelled as he pushed the confused grieving demon away from his body "Who do you think you are!? Huggin' me like that, wench!" Nanashi was dumbfounded; she had just been pushed away from the only one she loved, let alone called a wench. She shook her head still confused, she had longed to see him for two years. Nanashi's mind was not ready to admit this man was not Hiten.

"B-But Hiten" she stuttered she tried to get close to him again, this time trying to kiss him. Only to be pushed away again she stared at the man dumbfounded tears streaming down her face.

"And who is this Hiten guy?" The man yelled and pointing to his chest, "I'm Bankotsu, leader of the Band of Seven!"

"Ban-Bankotsu?"