Note: Just a hint, but the fire is not Nanami's 'terrifying' power. It's just her weapon. The real thing will be revealed in a later chapter! ok, enjoy!
Forbidden
Chapter Five: Ветер Догнать (Chase the Wind)
Nanami sat on a hill overlooking the burning village, hugging her knees and sobbing quietly. Her dark blue eyes were fixed on the burned cross shooting out of a tarnished church on the edge of the village. -Is this punishment for my sins? Did their prayers for salvation not reach Your ears?... or if it was their time... then why so brutally?- Nanami demanded, but received no answer. She stood up, wiped her tears and walked away. She stifled her cries as she passed the city and got away as fast as she could. After a while, Nanami calmed down a bit, staring at a peaceful waterfall quite a distance away from the burned city. The woman looked at her reflection in the water; she was covered in blood and skin salty with sea water. She inspected the area and made sure she was alone. Seeing no one around, Nanami set down her quiver, bow and sword down on a flat rock next to the crystal clear pond. Then she remembered that all her belongings were on Teyn's saddle. Nanami whistled loudly and sat down on the rock, waiting for her horse to come. Within twenty minutes, Teyn' trotted up to her, alone. -Rin must have left with Sesshoumaru...-
Nanami stood up and walked up to Teyn', petting his mane. She opened a leather case on the saddle and pulled out a towel and a small glass bottle, setting them down on the flat rock afterwards. Nanami undressed and got into the water. She frowned and grit her teeth as the cold water caressed her toned legs and thighs. the girl took a deep breath and dived into the pond. The refreshing water cooled her off and cleared her mind. Her spirit was lifted a bit but her heart still ached. -Forget everything. You can't change the past. If it is fate, then let it be.- Nanami swam up to the rock where the bottle stood, pulled the stopper out and pored a small amount of viscous liquid into her palm. She tilted her head back to wet her hair and rubbed her palms together. The liquid foamed and she rubbed it into her hair and then washed it off. It smelled of roses, blossoms, honey, aloe and fruits. Nanami got out of the water, dried herself off and got dressed in clean clothes. She put on dark grey pants and boots, a sleeveless shirt that tied on her neck.
A twig snapped behind Nanami, making her grab her bow and two arrows. One she had aimed, the other arrow was turned upside down in her left hand, which held the bow. She walked quietly to where the sound came from. She was about to shoot when she realized it was a child. "Rin! What are you doing here?" Nanami asked, pointing her weapon away from the child.
"I followed Teyn'... Do you mind if I stay with you for now? Lord Sesshoumaru left and has not come back, and Jaken has been gone for a really long time." Rin pleaded. Nanami knew that if she agreed, she would have to deal with Sesshoumaru again, but she could not say no to the helpless girl.
"No, I would not mind. You can stay." She sighed. -Though I don't think I could stomach the sight of that demon...-
"Thank you!" Rin exclaimed and tackled the woman, wrapping her arms around her waist. Nanami couldn't help but smile.
The demon rested under a cherry blossom tree, mourning her
dead kin until she fell asleep from sadness. Rin washed up and cuddled next to Nanami, wrapping her arm around her. After a short while, she fell asleep as well.
A drop of water fell on the little girl's rosy cheek. She stirred and accidentally woke the demon. Rin rubbed her eyes while Nanami reached out her hand and caught the rain drops. Rin eyed the woman's sad expression and decided to lighten up her mood. She jumped up and pulled her hand.
"It's raining, Nanami! Let's play under it!" Rin tried to convince the woman. Nanami smiled. -Rain washes away the pain.-
"All right." Nanami gave in. Rin giggled and pulled the woman into a more open area nearby. The girl's shrill giggles filled the air as she began to dance with the demon. Soon, Nanami was laughing melodically and humming a beautiful song. Rin reminded her so much of a girl she had rescued a long time ago; the very girl who she held lifeless in her arms hours ago.
Nanami suddenly stopped and looked around. -We are surrounded.- In the forest, soldiers were approaching. They were lesser demons, but there were many of them.
"Rin, go and hide. Take Teyn' and go into the cave behind the waterfall. Wait for me there and make no noise. Understand?" Nanami commanded and walked the girl to the pond. Rin nodded and did as she was told. Nanami rushed back to the meadow where they danced to get her weapons. She was barely able to grab her bow and arrows in time before a dozen arrows landed near her. Nanami darted further away from the waterfall into the woods and hid behind an oak tree and looked back at her assailants.
She scoffed. "Ugh. Amateurs." She stepped out from behind the tree and faced her attackers. They were weak, inexperienced demons. -Whoever sent this army is underestimating me...-
The posse stopped and looked at the young woman in their way. A few chuckles and a whole lot of lusty smirks came from the battalion.
"Now that's a prize fit for our leader! Look at that! Mmm..." One shouted excitedly, observing the woman.
"But she's not a demon!" Another mumbled.
"She ain't human either!" One more announced.
"Nah, she's a half demon, a delicious one at that!" Yet another soldier proclaimed lustfully and cackled until an arrow landed right in his throat. He collapsed to the ground with a thud. Nanami pulled out another arrow.
"I am not feeling very merciful at the moment, so you have one last chance to retreat and keep your lives." She growled at the dozen troops.
"Ha! Flee from a mere woman because she is able to shoot an arrow? Not on your life. You will serve as entertainment for my master... if you survive, that is." A burly demon grumbled and charged at Nanami with a triple-bladed axe. A sly smile crossed Nanami's lips. -Let's see how pathetic you really are.-
The demon roared and swung at Nanami with his axe. She ducked it and stabbed the soldier in his forehead with the arrow in her hand. Two more soldiers charged, and she shot both of them. A third demon attacked Nanami with a staff that had a long, sharp spike coming out of one end and three axe like blades on the other end. Nanami dodged the weapon, twisted it out of his hands and slashed the demon in half. The six remaining troops met the same fate within a few minutes. But Nanami knew that was not the end of it. More skilled soldiers were gradually advancing closer. -Why are there so many of them? Are they really after me or someone else?- She pondered as she returned closer to where the waterfall was. Demons were scouring the area, looking for something. A short demon with black hair, red eyes and twisted horns was about to go into the cave where Rin was hiding. -Damn- Nanami cursed.
"Hey!!" She shouted loudly and made sure she caught the demon's attention before hiding behind a tree. Nanami opened up a small pouch on her belt and allowed a few drops of rain to fall in. The powder began to release steam that concealed her scent. She ran from one tree to another, calling out to the demons, drawing them away from Rin. The soldiers fanned out, believing they would capture her faster. Nanami took advantage of their formation. Once one demon followed her sweet voice farther from his allies, she snuck up on him and finished him off.
After a while, the whole platoon was dead. The attacks ceased and the forest fell silent, except for the sound of rain hitting the leaves. Nanami waited for a bit to make sure there was no trap, and when nothing happened, she walked back to the waterfall. She climbed into the cave only to find it abandoned. A wave of fear washed over her when she noticed a few drops of blood on the floor. Nanami darted out of the cave, frantically searching for the little girl. There was no sign of the girl, but the demons have returned. They surrounded her once more. Nanami ignored the as she trailed the wet hoof prints on the forest floor, but two hideous wolf demons blocked her view. The soldiers were getting on her nerves, and she was far too worried about the girl to pay any attention to them. She swung at the demons with the axe and broke the barricade. She maneuvered the weapon with precision and speed, the surviving soldiers exchanged troubled looks and called for aid.
Nanami followed the tracks, ignoring them again. Loud pounding sounded from behind her. Whole bushes snapped and trees grumbled. Then it stopped and the forest fell silent. Nanami frowned and turned around. A gigantic dragon stared at her through the rain. -Marvelous. Absolutely perfect. How can this day get any better?- Nanami growled to herself and began to back away slowly, the axe tightly in her hands. The beast lifted up its claws, the thick chains restraining it rattling loudly, and formed a ball of lightning in its palms. -Damn it. My ring is no use against lightning...- The dragon hurled the orb at Nanami. She ran as fast as she could away from it, but she knew she was not fast enough. At the last moment Nanami turned to face the ball of lightning and dropped into the splits, bending her head down to her knee as the orb flew right above her. It crashed into the ground and exploded. Nanami got up and ran into the forest before the dragon could attempt to kill her again. She escaped one problem, but ran into another. -How can this day get better? Here's my answer...- Nanami scowled.
"Move." The cold voice commanded.
"On the contrary, I suggest you move." Nanami hissed back.
"Fool." The demon growled and leapt past Nanami toward the dragon. The woman frowned at Sesshoumaru. -Fine. The dragon is your problem now.- She shrugged from the cold rain and continued the search for Rin. She returned to the trail of hooves and followed it. Soon, she heard the little girl's voice not too far away and sprinted toward her. Nanami saw her up on a hill standing under the leaves of a large oak tree and humming. The demon sighed and walked to the girl.
"Don't move. " A man's voice said athlete. -Who the hell- Nanami whirled around to see a demon with short, dark brown hair and burgundy eyes. He was aiming an arrow at her forehead. Suddenly he turned and shot Rin. Nanami tried to run to the girl but the demon grabbed her arm. "Wait. Watch." His deep voice ordered.
Rin let out an unearthly shriek and transformed into a black, shadow-like creature. It flew up and out of sight for a moment, then returned out of nowhere and knocked Nanami to the ground unconscious.
Sesshoumaru got rid of the dragon easy enough and the rest of the army fled on sight. He trailed Rin's scent until he found her deep in the woods, sitting on Nanami's horse, crying and clutching her arm.
"Rin." Sesshoumaru said quietly. She bolted upright and jumped off the horse. She ran to Sesshoumaru and wrapped her arms around his waist.
"Lord Sesshoumaru! I was so scared! The soldiers almost killed me..." Rin cried. Sesshoumaru gently placed his hand on her shoulder while he looked for any soldiers. His attention was brought back down to Rin's left arm. She was bleeding.
Suddenly, the man sensed a demonic aura approaching and the familiar scent of Nanami grew stronger as well. -Who is with her?-
Rin was staring in horror at something behind Sesshoumaru. She let go of him and backed up a few steps. "That's him! He hit me and chased after Nanami!" She said in a terrified whisper. Sesshoumaru turned around and saw a demon with short brown hair and dark red eyes. He had a smug grin on his face and was looking down lustfully at an unconscious woman in his arms; Nanami. The man looked up and turned toward Sesshoumaru, who already had his sword drawn. The soldier smirked and looked down at Nanami, bitting his lower lip and smiling.
"She must be something precious to you, huh?" The demon's gaze returned to Sesshoumaru. "Is that why you killed the dragon for her and why you intend to fight now?"
"No. That is not the reason for which you will die." Sesshoumaru responded completely emotionless. "I have no care for what happens with that woman." Rin looked up at her guardian with shocked eyes.
Nanami's eyes slowly began to open and she began to regain consciousness. Before Nanami could even realize what was going on, the demon used her as a shield against Sesshoumaru's sword. She could barely let out a scream when his sword stopped right under her chin. Sesshoumaru stared at the panting girl and drew the blade away.
"Liar." The red-eyed demon smirked. Then, as if thinking he was teasing Sesshoumaru, he hit Nanami in a pressure point on her stomach. She let out a soft groan and doubled over, breathless. The man was still holding her by her jaw. Sesshoumaru remained emotionless, but his eyes were on the girl the whole time. The soldier pulled Nanami up by her jaw, holding it tightly. She winced and a pained moan crossed her lips. The man chuckled and whispered into her ear. "I'll be hearing that tonight..." Nanami lost her temper and her elbow hit the man in his throat. He let her go and clutched his neck. Nanami fell to the ground next to Sesshoumaru. His sword was about to run through the soldier's chest when he yelled. "I come with a message from someone who used to be of great importance to you, Sesshoumaru."
"Who sent you?" Sesshoumaru growled.
'Do you not remember me, Sesshoumaru?" The messenger asked through grit teeth. The demon remained still and silent. Seeing no reply, the messenger decided to speak once more. "I take that as a no. But no matter... yet." The red-eyed demon tried to move toward Nanami, but Sesshoumaru's sword stop him. Nanami glanced at the silver haired man out of the corner of her eye. -So now all of a sudden you're on my side?-
"I remember hearing you say you didn't care for this woman, so why all the protectiveness?" The messenger smirked.
"I am your concern, not her. She has no part in this." Sesshoumaru answered coldly.
"Actually... she is a very big part of this. Do you not remember your past? Who this woman is?" As soon as the man finished the phrase, Nanami glared at him in confusion, and then looked at Sesshoumaru with a questioning gaze, who glanced down at her in return.
"Huh. How ironic... You two used to be so-" The man did not finish the sentence, just shrugged his shoulders and shook his head. "And Nanami... oh, Nanami... How could you betray me?"
Sesshoumaru shot a glance at Nanami. Shock was written all over her face. She stood up and hissed at the messenger in Russian. " Have you lost your mind? I do not even know you."
"You haven't changed a bit... personality wise at least." Then the soldier stared at Nanami standing next to Sesshoumaru. From his angle, she looked like she was hiding behind the man. "Doesn't this sight bring back old memories... But enough chit-chat. You want to know who sent me? You want to know why part of your memory is locked from you?" The soldier questioned. Then he pointed to a small glowing dot on top of a mountain in the distance. "Be there in two days at sundown."
Nanami was a bit suspicious about the soldiers intent. "What's in it for you?"
The messenger only smiled and walked away into to the night.
Sesshoumaru and Nanami were both stumped at the message. They both stood in silence, thinking about what just happened. Finally Nanami turned and walked over to Teyn', still hiding her pain, grabbed a medicine bag and tended to Rin's arm, with Sesshoumaru observing her. Nanami could feel the demon stare at her and was getting very uncomfortable. Then a sly smile crossed her lips.
"You broke your promise twice in one evening." Her beautiful voice reached Sesshoumaru. He looked at her, his eyes demanding "What promise?"
Hearing no reply, Nanami knew that he had forgotten. She stood up and turned, resting her hands on her waist.
"You said that if I was ever in your way again, you would kill me. You did nothing back with the dragon but tell me to move, call me a fool and jump over me. Just now, I prevented you from killing that beast and you spared me and let him escape... Why?"
Sesshoumaru seemed a bit surprised. He did not know what to say.
"I spared you twice because you saved Rin twice." he finally answered.
"How long are you going to use her as an excuse?" Nanami fired back immediately. Sesshoumaru awarded her a death glare, but it did not disturb the woman.
"You must have gotten that glaring habit from your mother. You father rarely ever did that." She commented and turned back to Rin.
"And how would you know that?" Jaken's voice squeaked.
"Jaken." Sesshoumaru growled. "Stay out of it."
"Let's just say that Sesshoumaru's mother had feelings of slight discontent toward me." Nanami answered the imp.
"How do you know my family?" The man questioned.
"Family requires love and compassion for it to be a family. Your parents lost those feelings for each other even before your brother was born. And you, somehow, do not seem to have any feelings at all. You have a heart of stone... So how can you be part of a family?"
"Answer the question." Sesshoumaru was getting irritated with the woman's wisecracking and insults.
"The you must first answer mine... Why did you spare me and go against your oath? It cannot be because of a stroke of good conscience?"
-I don't know why... but I'm starting to regret my decision.- Sesshoumaru mumbled to himself.
"Shouldn't you be thankful that I spared you, instead of taking away your pathetic existence?" The man retorted.
"Pathetic-" Nanami said outraged.
"Rumors are always deceiving."
Jaken frowned at the two arguing demons. -All they are doing is firing questions and insults at each other. Why doesn't Lord Sesshoumaru silence that disrespectful little witch?-
"I beg your pardon?" Nanami hissed.
"If you are as powerful as you are rumored to be, then why is Naraku still breathing? ... How can a pathetic excuse for a demon like you be more powerful than the jewel that he seeks so passionately." Sesshoumaru snarled.
"You should stand in front of a mirror when you say that. You encountered him more than I have and yet he doesn't seem to fear you at all. So much for possessing the same power as your father. You are no stronger than your half-demon brother Inuya-" In a mere second, Nanami was pinned to the trunk of large oak. Sesshoumaru's eyes spelled murder, but Nanami thought otherwise. She pretended to throw a punch at the demon and when he grabbed her arm, she kicked him in his side. It barely had an affect because of the armor. She freed her right hand and grabbed a dagger from her belt. She tried to kick him again, but Sesshoumaru grabbed her leg around the knee. Nanami seized the opportunity and hacked off his armor so that he would be more vulnerable. It fell with a thud to the ground. Sesshoumaru threw Nanami to the ground, his eyes a burning red color. He glanced at his torn up armor that dangled at his waist and decided to get rid of it. He tore the rest of it off and threw it to the ground behind him. Rin was hiding behind a tree and staring at Sesshoumaru wide-eyed.
Nanami stood perfectly still and straight, her fists clenched, staring right into Sesshoumaru's demon red eyes.
"What makes you so confident? " Sesshoumaru asked in a voice more sinister than his own.
"The fact that men fear a confident woman." Nanami growled back and smacked him across his face. Sesshoumaru's eyes became more violent and angered than before. His large hands tensed and his claws began to glow and emit a poison.
"She's a goner!" Jaken wheezed as he observed the fight.
Sesshoumaru lashed his poison whip at Nanami, but she smiled wickedly, catching the whip in her hand, letting it wrap around her fingers, and burned it before it could poison her. Sesshoumaru was irritated enough as it was with the woman, but now she was just driving him up a wall. He let out a low growl and inched closer to her. Nanami decided to stop teasing and start fighting. She moved stealthily and just as swift as Sesshoumaru. She threw a forceful fist at the pressure point on his chest (right below the breast bone). Even though Sesshoumaru was able to dodge most blows and threw Nanami to the ground or at a tree several times, he himself tasted the dirt more than enough times. Nanami had one advantage in the situation; Sesshoumaru could not recognize her moves and was unsure of how to block her. It looked like a dance that would kill.
"Lord Sesshoumaru!!" Jaken shouted on top of his lungs. Sesshoumaru turned to Jaken fiercely, his eyes wild and enraged. Jaken turned pale and swallowed a lump in his throat, pointing with a shaky finger to the side. Sesshoumaru realized he had unwanted visitors, and he was barely able to control his anger -Damn it, Inuyasha-. Nanami took advantage of the distraction. She turned in place and kicked Sesshoumaru on the side of his head. He fell to the ground and Nanami was kneeling over him in an instant, a dagger at his throat. Kagome and Sango just stared at the two demons in confusion.
Sesshoumaru growled and with his arm quickly pushed the woman to the side on the ground. She groaned as her back hit the cold, hard ground with tremendous force. The demon grabbed both her wrists with one hand and held them above her head. Her legs were bent at the knees and Sesshoumaru grabbed her ankles and held her down, ensuring that she would not try anything. At this moment, Miroku and Inuyasha show up at the scene. Inuyasha's eye twitched violently and his jaw dropped to the floor, while Miroku slumped and mumbled "What in the h-"
Nanami was trying to catch her breath, but she kept her gaze fixed on the demon. Sesshoumaru was ready to rip the girl's throat out and drench the ground with her blood, but the blowing wind had a strange effect on him. He looked at the demon and had an unexplainable feeling of deja vu. His menacing expression faded and his eyes turned back to a cold gold color. Her eyes seemed to be so familiar, calling out to him from the past. Her scent and the wind evoked a strange memory.
A very young woman dressed in a floating dark blue kimono stood knee deep in the waves of the sea, the full moon illuminating her. The girl's golden hair was pinned up elegantly with beautiful, bejeweled silver pins and combs. She resembled Nanami so closely, yet she was different. More frail, but with happiness in her eyes. She was singing a slow song, she turned her head toward Sesshoumaru and raised her hand elegantly, gesturing him to take it. Sesshoumaru could only hear two words before someone came up from behind the girl and grabbed her, covering her mouth, and then the vision disappeared. Sesshoumaru snapped back to reality, but the words still lingered in his mind. -Ветер Догнать-
Nanami was disturbed by the way Sesshoumaru was just staring at her, not moving, not saying a word. -What the hell is wrong with him? Why is he doing that?-
Sesshoumaru let go of her ankles and stood up, still holding her by her wrists and easily bringing her up with him.
"Am I missing something? What's going on here?" Inuyasha blurted out. Kagome was asking the same question in her mind. -Sesshoumaru is not even trying to harm her now. What made him stop?-
"What the hell Sesshoumaru? First you wanted to kill her, and now we find you on top of her, gaping at the girl like a freakin' creep-" Inuyasha barked.
"Shut up, Inuyasha." Sango ordered, forming an idea of what was taking place.
"You have a tendency to show up in the wrong place, at the wrong time. And you lack the mental capacity to think beyond what you think you see, little brother." Sesshoumaru scowled and turned his anger toward Inuyasha.
"Oh, yeah, you dumb bastard?! And how do you explain your armor on the ground and your kimono disheveled?!" Inuyasha yelled back, seeing Sesshoumaru's shirt pulled apart almost completely, his chest and sculpted abs exposed. Kagome's and Sango's eyes fixed on the demon and stayed there for a moment. Then Kagome turned her attention back to Inuyasha.
"Stop being so dull, Inuyasha. Can't you see that they really were about to kill each other?" Kagome then turned toward Sesshoumaru once more. "Until something stopped you."
Rin came up to Sesshoumaru and tugged on his sleeve. "Milord, Nanami is leaving." Sesshoumaru turned around and looked for the woman. She was standing a few yards away, alone in the night. The man felt a sharp pain in his forearm and looked down at it. Blood stained the sleeve and there was a deep gash in his arm. The blade in Nanami's hand grazed his arm when he pushed her off. The pain only got worse. Sesshoumaru looked at the woman once more. The storm clouds dissipated and a little of moon light illuminated the area. Nanami's eyes seemed to be brimmed with tears as she looked at Rin, who was beginning to panic.
"Forgive me, Rin. But he has brought this upon himself. The poisoned blade was not meant for you, Sesshoumaru. I stopped from slitting your throat for that reason... You only have a few minutes left." Nanami said quietly. She pitied the little girl, and it brought tears to her eyes, yet she held them back. Sesshoumaru showed no sign of pain or worry, but underneath his invincible exterior, he could feel the poison spread through his veins. Nanami was walking away, while Rin was crying hysterically and hugging Sesshoumaru. Sango, Kagome and Miroku all looked troubled. Inuyasha scoffed and crossed his arms over his chest.
"He's got the tensaiga, he's got nothin to worry about." Inuyasha said, pretending to be unconcerned, but his eyes gave him away. Sesshoumaru stood silent. -Tensaiga doesn't protect against this poison...-
"Ветер Догнать" Sesshoumaru said calmly. He knew he was about to lose consciousness, if not his life, but the words stopped Nanami in her tracks. She whirled around and took a few steps toward the man.
"What did you say?" She asked wide-eyed. -How could he know- Before he could answer, Sesshoumaru collapsed to the ground. Rin let out a deafening shriek and dropped to her knees next to Sesshoumaru, bawling hysterically. Inuyasha sighed and put the tensaiga in Sesshoumaru's hand. Nothing happened. "What the-"
"It's too late. The sword is useless now." Nanami said quietly, her eyes fixed on the ground.
Nanami was torn in half about what she would do. -Should spare him with the antidote now and be forced to kill him later... or stop wasting time and get it over with now?- She had a strong feeling that if she spared Sesshoumaru, he would hunt her down and kill her first. But if she kills him now, Rin would be left heartbroken and all alone. Something else tore at Nanami's heart. She would not be able to forgive herself for taking the life of a man who could have taken hers in an instant, but refused to: technically, he had never even wronged her so as to deserve death. And yet, in mere minutes, he would be gone from this world... Sesshoumaru's voice repeated "Ветер Догнать" in her mind.