Forbidden

Chapter Eleven:The Soldier

Five Months Later

The midday, late summer sun warmed the roofs of a small seaside fort. The main street inside of the city was bustling with merchants selling their goods, heavyset women baking various pastries, and gypsies fortune telling to young, naive girls. One the shore, a group of soldiers were patching up a collapsed wall that was struck by a small tsunami about two weeks ago during a storm. It had saved the city from major damage and withstood the blow, but the next morning it collapsed. The wall was nearly completed, and the soldiers were eagerly working on the last bits and finishing touches. The soldiers mothers, wives, daughters or sisters had a habit of taking turns and bringing the men their meals. On the last day, for lunch, one of the captains sister, Maria, was bringing the meal and she convinced a friend to come as well. Maria walked through the markets, browsing, wearing a silk green dress that matched her bright eyes. She had long brown hair pinned up in a light bun, lightly tanned skin and a few freckles on her small nose and cheeks. She definitely turned men's heads, and she took pride in it. She walked proudly, and would occasionally nudge her friend's side and say "Zhanna, he's looking at us!" or "what a charmer!' while Zhanna rolled her eyes or ignored her remarks. Zhanna carried a second basket of meals for the soldiers in one hand, and picked up her blue, silk dress that billowed around her feet from the street floor. Her long, ash blonde curls draped over her shoulder and her blue eyes scoped out any interesting merchandise on her way. This was Zhanna's first time out to bring food to the soldiers, because she didn't want to be around the soldiers, or many other people in the fort, because they considered her a traitor as soon as they found out that she left her former post as admiral of the navy and fled to Japan. But they did not know that she left to find her father, and warn him of a plot against him by a longtime rival lurking in Siberia. She never found him, no one did, and his rival gained control of several trading centers in Siberia. Zhanna had grown accustomed to receiving dirty looks or insulting glares, and just ignored them.

As the two women approached the repair site, Maria began to fidget with the basket and bite her lower lip. Zhanna noticed and frowned. "What's the matter?"

Maria beamed. "I may have met a handsome, dashing young man with devilish eyes working here!"

Zhanna let out a 'that's typical' sigh. "Men. Is that all you think about?"

"Almost all. I'm a noblewoman with plenty of money and time. I can afford to take a profound interest in men."

"Hmm... 'profound interest in men'. That's a way to put it delicately..." Zhanna joked, causing Maria to slap her arm and call her something less than noble.

"Oh, shut up and look, there he is!" Maria whispered as soon as they entered the rebuilding site. She pointed at a young man in a loose, dirty white linen shirt with shoulder-length brown hair and dark purplish-black eyes. Zhanna thought she had just had the wind knocked out of her. -No, not possible... What the hell is he doing here?!-

"I told you he was gorgeous." Maria giggled. Zhanna awarded her with a questioning look.

"Ugh..."She mumbled and walked to the other half of the squad, still doubting herself for what she had seen. The soldiers stopped working, washed their hands and made their way toward the two women. Maria batted her long lashes at every attractive soldier that she handed a meal to and soaked up every compliment she received. Yet she kept close to the dark eyed man. Zhanna kept both of them in sight as she handed the meals out to every soldier. All of them received their share except for one last soldier. She pulled out the last meal, her eyes still fixed on the other man. Finally she turned and gave the meal to a young, well built man with short, pitch black hair in brown pants and an undone linen shirt. Her eyes wandered back to her friend, but were immediately diverted back when the soldier's hands wrapped around her wrist and hand.

"Nice to see you again, Nanami..." He said quietly in a deep voice. Zhanna's heart seemed to skip a beat as she recognized his voice, his amber eyes and a scar on his left forearm. He didn't take the food and just left toward the wall. At first Zhanna thought she was hallucinating, because the man didn't look like Sesshoumaru, but the scar, the eyes, the same voice... and he knew her childhood name. No one her knew her as Nanami. She was Zhanna to them, but that was not her real name either. She stood in place silently, staring in disbelief at the now black haired Sesshoumaru. -Why is he here? What does he want? I couldn't even recognize him... No marks, no silver hair... what did he do?-

Sesshoumaru sat down next to Ryuu, and just looked at Nanami. Her eyes told him she never wanted to see him again; he felt like he was a nightmare that became reality in Nanami's life. -I ruined your life, Nanami, I can't let that slip past my conscience.- Sesshoumaru admit his fault and ignorance, but his pride stopped him from letting everyone know, including Nanami. Yet he was willing to turn the world upside down and inside out just to have her back.

But she now glared at him with ferocious eyes: shock was wearing off and fury stepped in. -If he wants his head to stay on his shoulders... he would leave now.- She then growled an indistinguishable threat and stormed off. After about five steps, she launched her basket with Sesshoumaru's meal in it against a wall and onto the dirt road. Her friend and Ruyy were too busy to notice, the soldiers too hungry, but Sesshoumaru's eyes seemed to be glued to her. He bit his lower lip, closed his amber eyes and dropped his head. He felt guilt's prickly fingers clutch his throat. He opened his eyes and looked down into his palms at the stained glass bracelet he slipped off of Nanami's wrist and crushed it in his fist.

Nanami stormed back out of the camp, furious beyond understanding at Sesshoumaru for even having the nerve to seek her out. -What the hell is he thinking? That I owe him something after all he's done? That it's my fault and I have to compensate for it? ... How could he... Has he no feelings, no conscience whatsoever? Does he not realize what he has done to me and my life?- Nanami quickly returned to the center of the city and ran into Vlad. He smiled, wished her good morning and hugged her.

"You're back early." He commented, his arm draped over her shoulder as he walked her toward the beach again. Nanami tried her best to suppress her urge to run off.

"I ... just didn't want to take too long." She murmured.

"Why is that? You seem angry?"

"Do I? It's nothing." She grew nervous, not wanting him to find out about Sesshoumaru. "A headache." She rubbed her forehead as if she really had one.

"Oh..." Vlad observed her and nodded understandingly. Then he frowned. "Who touched you?"

"What?"

"Your wrist, it has hand prints in paint. It looks like someone held your wrist with both hands." Vlad muttered in a tone slightly colder than usual. Nanami glanced over at her wrist and blushed. She had been completely oblivious to the fact that Sesshoumaru had paint on his hands and he grabbed her wrist a few minutes ago.

"And where is your bracelet? The one a gave to you?"

Again, Nanami had no clue that Sesshoumaru managed to slip the bracelet off her wrist. She did not know how to respond because he had seen her put it on this morning before she left and it was not easy to lose. She simply looked up, and shook her head. Vlad just sighed, his hand slipped from her shoulders to her waist, and he led her back toward the beach. He stopped behind the workers, next to a supervisor.

"Which one worked with paint last shift?" Vlad demanded, his arms crossed over his chest. The soldier pointed to a man with short black hair carrying the last heavy stones up to the top of the wall.

"Is that him?" Vlad asked Nanami. She didn't reply, not knowing what he would do to Sesshoumaru if he found out. Vlad grabbed her arm and squeezed hard.

"Is that him?" He asked sternly. Nanami wrenched her hand back out of his grasp and reluctantly nodded. Vlad turned his attention to the soldier and let out a loud, piercing whistle, motioning to the soldier with his hand to come down. Sesshoumaru glanced behind him and recognized the man as the captain of the boat Nanami left on. Nanami looked down at the ground and avoided his eyes. He approached them and stopped in front of the man and waited for him to speak. Vlad looked at the man from head to toe and especially at his hands. Their size matched the ones that were on Nanami's wrist. And Even though he washed his hands, some of the paint and plaster still remained on his hands, and his palm was cut as if he had crushed glass in his fist. Vlad scowled.

"Where is her bracelet, soldier?"

Sesshoumaru merely shrugged.

"Don't play innocent. How dare you touch my woman?" Vlad took a step forward. At those words, Nanami flinched out of his grasp, her frustrated gaze still on the ground. Sesshoumaru smirked.

"Your woman?"

"Yes, mine. Show some respect. Keep your filthy hands to yourself, you cretin. Don't even look at my woman.She's mine." Vlad felt over protective and competitive with this man for no apparent reason.

"She doesn't seem to think so." Sesshoumaru retorted and glanced at Nanami, who shook her head in warning. He just smirked. Vlad observed their interaction, and jealousy drown him.

"Zhanna... go home. You and I shall have a chat later." Vlad grumbled, but the girl stood in place.

"What are you going to-" Nanami was interrupted by Vlad.

"I said go-"

"What are you-"

"Go!!" Vlad shouted and pushed the girl toward the road. Sesshoumaru's eyes flickered. Vlad whirled around toward the soldier.

"Who the hell do you think you are?!" Vlad snarled.

"I was about to ask you the very same question... Vladimir."

Vlad stared at Sesshoumaru.-How does he know my name?-

"Who the hell are you?"

"A soldier."

"Then why is it that I do not know you? This is my army."

"Maybe you should drink less."

Vlad lost his temper and punched Sesshoumaru in his jaw. He swiftly grabbed Vlad by his neck. Nanami watched silently, arms crossed, not knowing if Sesshoumaru would tear the man to shreds or choke him to death. But then a simple cold smile crossed his lips and let go.

"Even she has hit me harder than you... how pathetic."

Vlad's temper flared and he took a dangerous step toward Sesshoumaru.

"How do you know her, soldier?'

"Why don't you ask her yourself? If she is indeed your woman, she wouldn't keep secrets from you."

Vlad turned and glared at Nanami, who avoided his gaze and looked down, then turned back to Sesshoumaru.

"I am asking you, not her."

"My past doesn't concern you. I did not come here so I could explain myself to you."

"I do not give a shit about your past, all I care about is why you are after Zhanna!"

"Zhanna, is it? ... Well, she knows why I'm here, and that's all that matters." Sesshoumaru looked at the girl and walked back to his post. Vlad looked as if he was about to explode. Nanami felt a chill run down her spine at Sesshoumaru's comment. Her eyes were fixated on the young man, and she had no idea of what she should do, or what to think... All she knew was that Vlad would not let this go by without punishment.

"You know him... You know him and you lied to me. You're infatuated with him!" Vlad growled at her. Nanami scowled at him coldly.

"Yes. I know him. No, I'm not infatuated with him. And I'm not obligated to tell you everything that goes on in my life."

"Oh, please! I've seen how he looks at you and how you look back! He's the one that you asked me to save you from! That demon on the beach! Do you take me for an idiot? I know what's going on!"

"The man 'I asked you to save me from'?! I do not recall ever asking you to save me from anything! I only asked you to send me a small boat to take me home! Why do you always have to make it as if I'm completely dependent upon you?!" Nanami snapped.

"Where would you be without me? You could not last four months over there without me!" Vlad barked back.

"I would be home if it wasn't for you! You had to come and get me and take me to your city, where everyone hates me through and through! You knew that! You wanted me to feel weak and completely dependant on you!"

"I wanted you to be with me! I love you! I-"

"You don't love me! You love what you will get out of the marriage! You want me to be your wife because my father is the General! You marry me, you inherit the most notorious army and navy in Asia! You inherit Siberia and 20 of the most wealthy, prosperous ports in Asia!" Nanami yelled into Vlad's face. "Tell me, how can there be love if such a prize stands behind my back. Especially if your father set you up for it!"

"You have no other choice. I'm the best you could ever find, so you should be thankful. You are my woman, and you will behave as such." Vlad said coldly, realizing that she wasn't clueless about his plans.

"I was not, am not, and never will be yours." Nanami growled threateningly.

"So you say, but you are nothing without me."

" That is your theory." Nanami turned her back to him and walked away.

" Oh, believe me. I'll make it true... and you will never see that demon again."

"What makes you think that you'll see me ever again?" Nanami snarled. Vlad lost his temper and grabbed Nanami by her arm tightly. He pushed her up against a wall in a narrow alley that led to the back of a small bakery.

"Now you listen to me, princess, this argument never happened, you've never met that demon, and you will obey me... Now... the governor's banquet is tonight, and we are expected, so you go back to the house, clean yourself up and get dressed."

"And if I won't?"

"You will..." Vlad threatened and pushed her out of the alley onto the street. Nanami stood up, stared daggers at Vlad and stormed off toward the house.