Forbidden

Three Months Later

The late november skies brought blankets of snow down onto the landscape. The air was fridgid and the wind only intensified the cold weather. The sea was bitter and dark, with no ship or boat insight for miles and miles. The trees were like skeletons, covered in a white layer of snow. But it was peaceful. There were no wrecked villages, no gruesome murders, or serious crimes in the area. Nanami seldom stayed with Inuyasha and his gang, and mostly spent her time alone in the forest. Twice she had visited her old mansion, to get her clothing, or take shelter from a storm. She visited Sango and Kagome once a week. Sango's belly kept growing and growing, looking like an inflated ballon. She seemed to be very happy, and that was all that mattered. Life was starting to get back to normal. There were no fights, no arguments, no chases. Rin had come to see Nanami once for a whole day, and, as agreed, Nanami had not seen Sesshoumaru after their last argument, and refused to talk to Rin about him. Rin mentioned to Nanami before she left that she really missed her and wanted to say something about Sesshoumaru, but stopped in midsentance and said goodbye.

A snow storm was approaching, because the skies had darkened and stayed that way since last evening. Nanami walked out of a dense patch of forest in the highlands, wearing warm, tight brown pants, leather boots that reached up to mid-calves with a white fur trim , a beige, loose shirt with a leather, metal and turquoise belt, and a dark brown fur shawl like clothing on top. Above that, she wore a jacket made from hide with white and gray fur on the inside. Her hair was braided into two realxed, fish-tail braids under the large fur hood. She was pulling a dead male boar with an arrow in its chest behind her to a small village across the rocky meadow. Two burly guards uncrossed their spears and let Nanami pass through. She carried the dead beast to a small hut in the middle of the town. She walked in and dragged the animal inside with her. There were three women in the hut, cooking. The village was that of the people that managed to escape from the raiding army almost a year ago. The one where Nanami saved a mother and her child from a burning home the night Inuyasha found her. Now she occasionaly brought the town food and supplies and helped them get settled back with their families again. They were surprised to see her at first, especially since she doesn't really look like the average Japanese woman. She always used to wear a face mask and say her face was badly burnt, and the villagers stuck with that story. They then mistook her for a demon, but she convinced them that she wasn't. She was simply from a different nation and was blessed with long life. Nanami spent most of her time here, in the little village and taught the boys to hunt when their fathers were busy and treated the sick and wounded.

The women thanked Nanami and asked her if she was hungry or cold. Nanami shook her head and just asked for a cup of hot tea. After she drank all of the tea, she talked with the women and warmed herself up for a while. Then she asked if the villagers needed anything, and when they shook their heads, she said goodbye and left.

Nanami pulled the coat tighter around herself when she was greeted by a harsh wind shooting snowflakes outside. She pulled the hood lower on her face, covering her eyes, and kept her gaze on the ground, glancing up once in a while to make sure she was going the right way. She passed the guards again and made her way across the meadow. The wind blew relentlessly and it kept snowing harder, making Nanami wrap her arms around herself. She crossed the whole meadow and finally looked up, barely seeing anything through the fur of her hood covering her eyes. What she did see, she preferred she never did. Sesshoumaru was leaning against one of the trees, his arms crossed over his chest, his hair still short, but no longer black. He was wearing a warmer, black and white winter kimono, armor on top and his fur pelt draped over his right shoulder. Nanami was speechless and just glared in disbelief at the demon. His golden eyes seemed to try and look under the hood that was covering her face down to the bridge of her nose. Her skin was more pale than it was in the warmer months, and the cold outside turned her cheeks rosy, as well as the tip of her nose.

"What do you want?" She asked coldly. "I told you to never come near me again."

Rin walked out from behind Sesshoumaru, wrapped in a thick red kimono and jacket.

"She won't speak to me until I speak with you and tell her what we decide. " Sesshoumaru said indifferently. Rin nodded.

"Fine. Speak. I have nothing to say. Except leave."

"Neither do I. Does that suit you Rin?" Sesshoumaru kept glaring at Nanami.

"Do you hate each other so much?" Rin asked desperatly, upset by how the two talked to each other.

"How can I not?" Nanami hissed. Her heart seemed to squeeze every time she breathed while he seemed to be unable to keep his eyes off of her. "You were the one that made me live a lie for two centuries, the one that killed me, the one that killed everyone around me. How is that fulfilling your father's oath?" Nanami growled, the wind howling between them. Sesshoumaru did not know how to reply.

"If you're dead, no one can get your power." He finally muttered. Nanami swallowed a lump in her throat. How could he be so heartless?

"I think the only one I need protection from is you." She hissed at him, ready to kill him.

"Too bad my father didn't think so."

"Yes, well, I'm sure he didn't expect his son to turn into a cruel, dishonorable killer."

Sesshoumaru uncrossed his arms and took a threatening step toward Nanami. She stood her ground and kept her eyes focused on him.

"Lord Sesshoumaru..." Rin said in a pleading voice. But both Nanami and Sesshoumaru ignored her.

"Go on... Kill me. You can do it... You're a demon, remember?" Nanami mocked him. Sesshoumaru grabbed her by her throat at an incredible speed. Nanami tried to make it look as if she wasn't hurt at all, until he tightened his grip.

"Do not tempt me. I would prefer killing you when Rin isn't here. And believe me... I will." Sesshoumaru growled at the woman.

"Rin, leave." Nanami said as loud as she could, despite the strong hand around her neck, and continued staring daggers at Sesshoumaru. Rin looked at Nanami in confusion.

"Go on, Rin. We need to have a mature conversation alone." Nanami reassured the girl. Rin glanced at Sesshoumaru, who seemed to be confused by Nanami's reaction as well, and reluctantly left back the way she came from.

"Go on then, kill me. She's not here." Nanami choked out. Sesshoumaru stared at the woman, surprised by her willingness to let him kill her. -What are you doing, Nanami?- Yet he tightened his grip around her neck, making her grab his arm and let out a pained gasp. He pulled down her hood with his other hand and kept looking at her coldly, as if he wanted her to suffer.

"Any last words?" He snarled, starting to lift her up off the ground slowly.

"Ты не мой..." She whispered, closing her eyes, a single tear running down her cheek. She was short of breath, on the verge of blacking out, and his cruel expression shattered her heart into a thousand pieces. Sesshoumaru grit his teeth and scowled.

"You're not mine..." Nanami mouthed again, holding onto his arm tightly. -You're not my Sesshoumaru... You're a stonecold killer... You never meant anything you ever said to me.- Sesshoumaru's expression changed to one of shock. But Nanami passed out before he could say anything. Sesshoumaru loosened his hold of her and picked up her body gently. He carried her into the forest, where there was much less wind and snow, and placed her against the roots of a large tree. He kneeled in front of her and just looked at her. - Nanami... I can't do this anymore. This has to end somehow. I can't fight you anymore. I can't lie any longer.- Sesshoumaru's eyes surveyed her face. She was not the same as she was two hundred years ago... She just grew more and more beautiful, more and more apprehensive. Sesshoumaru ran his hands through his hair and sighed heavily. -What the hell am I doing?- He watched the snowflakes fall on Nanami's wavy curls and eyelashes. Her cheeks were still pink and she remained unconscious for a long while. Sesshoumaru remained next to her and started to worry about Rin. -Where did she go? Is she lost?- He was starting to consider the idea of leaving Nanami where she was and going out to search for Rin. The snowfall got heavier by the minute, even the woods were being bombarded by it now. Sesshoumaru growled in frustration and picked Nanami up in his arms. He pulled the hood over her head and let it rest against his shoulder. Just having her this close to him made Sesshoumaru get the butterfly feeling in his stomach. -She will kill me when she wakes up...- As much as he wanted her to come to, he also dreaded it because she would be furious and will continue to tell him how much she hated him. Sesshoumaru could beraly follow Rin's scent because of the wind. After about half an hour, Sesshoumaru thought he heard Rin's voice a few feet away and turned toward the sound, afterwhich he felt Nanami shuffle a bit and a fist hit his chest. He winced and glared down at Nanami, but he couldn't see her eyes because of the hood.

"Put me down, you bastard!" She hissed, and even though he couldn't see her eyes, Sesshoumaru could feel her icy glare through the hood. He scowled and put her down on the ground. Nanami backed away immediatly and stared at him in fear. -You really were going to kill me, weren't you?- Nanami rubbed her neck with her hand. Then she bolted past him, running as fast as she could. Sesshoumaru frowned in confusion and looked in the direction where Nanami was running.

Rin stood still next to Kagome, wrapping the kimono jacket tighter around her. Kagome was wearing a thick blue sweater, red scarf, and black pants and boots. Inuyasha was still wearing his usual red kimono with the addition of shoes.

"What do you think they're doing?" Kagome asked Inuyasha, who just jumped down from the tree branch he was lounging on.

"Arguing. Fighting. Then arguing some more." Inuyasha stretched and shook the snow off of his body. Kagome glanced at Rin, then back at Inuyasha.

"As silly as that sounds, I'm afraid that's true. I just fear they might hurt each other." Kagome muttered. "It's been more than an hour."

Out of nowhere, a woman in beige just flashed past them, followed by a silver haired demon. Inuyasha cocked his eyebrow at the sight. "What the hell?!" He yelped. Kagome just looked in their direction and frowned.

"I would expect arguing, but chasing each other?" Kagome frowned. Then she snickered. "I wish I had a camera, that would have been a moment to remember."

Inuyasha looked at Kagome with confusion. "What's a camera?"

"Oh, I'll show you later. Now let's follow them." Kagome forgot that she wasn't in her own time and things like cameras did not exist.

Nanami kept running as fast as she could through the snow, which just made it much more difficult. -Why is he following me?- She looked behind her and saw Sesshoumaru chasing her without any difficulty with the snow. She let out a low growl and tried to pick up speed. Apperantly, Sesshoumaru got tired of running so he leapt into the air and landed right in front of Nanami, making her skid to a stop. She scowled and balled up her fists. -Doesn't this bring back memories.- Nanami thought sarcastically. Sesshoumaru stood up straight and glared as Nanami tried to catch her breath.

"You really think you can outrun me?" He asked calmly.

"Worth a try." Nanami snapped back and sprinted off. Sesshoumaru growled and grabbed her arm, pulling her back and forcing her to stand in front of him.

"Would you stop running!" He commanded. Nanami tried to wrestle her arm out of his grasp, but he just held her in place.

"Damn you, Inuyasha. Can you, for once, resist the impulse to show up where you're not needed?" Sesshoumaru barked at his half-brother.

"Shut up and let the girl go!" Inuyasha snarled in reply as he ran downhill to his brother. Sesshoumaru just pulled Nanami closer. She just looked at him strangely and still tried to pull her arm away. Kagome let go of Rin's hand and let her walk toward Nanami and Sesshoumaru.

"Leave us." Sesshoumaru threatened Inuyasha as soon as Rin got behind him.

"Like hell we will! You think I'll let you kill her?" Inuyasha replied harshly.

"I would sooner kill you than her."

Nanami stopped trying to unhinge his fingers and looked at him. -He never was going to kill me?... Or is he lying again?-

"We all know that. Yet you already killed her once. How do we know you won't repeat that little incident?" Inuyasha taunted.

"If you do not leave now, I'll repeat that 'little incident' on you and that priestess." Sesshoumaru threatened.

"Hey, what did I do?" Kagome protested.

"You wouldn't dare touch her." Inuyasha defended her.

"I wouldn't want to. But if you don't get lost in the next minute, I'll kill both of you."

"God-dammit, Inuyasha, just get out of here! You're nothing but a pain in the back!" Nanami growled, irritated by the barking between the two brothers.

Inuyasha glared at Nanami, offended.

"Do it." She said sternly. Kagome walked up to Inuyasha and took a firm hold of his hand.

"Come on, Inuyasha. Let's go. The storm is getting worse, we have to go. She'll be fine. He won't hurt her."

"You don't know that."

"Trust me. I do. He won't harm her, but he will hurt us. I'm leaving." Kagome said quietly and shot one last glance at Nanami before walking away. Inuyasha let out a frustrated grunt.

"Fine. But you're not fooling me." He said and ran back to Kagome. Nanami turned toward Sesshoumaru and stared at him with anry eyes.

"Did you talk things through, Lord Sesshoumaru?" Rin said nervously.

"No, Rin." Sesshoumaru said, looking down at her.

"Rin, honey, why don't you go and stand under that tree while we finish our little 'talk', alright?" Nanami said calmly, and Rin reluctantly nodded and left, again.

Sesshoumaru finally let go of Nanami's arm, hoping she won't run again.

"What shall we do about our little problem?" Nanami said, for once not glaring at Sesshoumaru like he was an obimination.

"I am getting tired of your presence." Sesshoumaru said arrogantly. His comment hurt Nanami, but she would have to swallow her pride before she would show him that.

"As if I am not of yours? If that's so, then why did you come here and run after me?"

"Because this needs to end now."

"Agreed. I leave and never come back. You don't track me down and find me. For any reason whatsoever. Deal?"

"Fine with me. But what about Rin?" Sesshoumaru talked to Nanami calmly, and coldly. As if he could not wait until she left, and he did a good job of letting her know.

"She can come visit... alone."

"Fine."

"Alright." Nanami felt abused. This man had caused her so much pain, so much sorrow, yet he acted as if she had wronged him. Nanami turned and began to walk away, still feeling his eyes linger on her. She felt an empty feeling as she walked away, toward the storm, but being stubborn and proud, she hid it and denied it in her mind. Rin ran down hill into the meadow clumsily and skidded to a stop next to Nanami.

"I don't want you to go, Nanami! Why are you leaving?" She whimpered, hugging Nanami's hips. The woman kneeled down and picked the girl up, embracing her tightly.

"Rin, I have already told you why I cannot stay. Please understand... Don't be upset. You can still come and visit me."

"But-but-I-" Rin started to sniffle and Nanami knew she would start crying now. "I wa-want you to be m-my-"

"Rin, that's enough. Let's go." Sesshoumaru cut her off nervously, anticipating what she wanted to say. "You'll catch a cold." He added and turned in the other direction, walking away.

Rin held on tightly to Nanami, crying softly into the furry hood. Nanami turned toward Sesshoumaru again, watching him walk away.

"It will be alright, Rin. You have to go now." The woman tried to let Rin down, but the girl wouldn't let go.

"No, I want to stay! Lord Sesshoumaru won't let me visit you often! I asked to go every day, but he only let me go once for a day!"

"You will come. Don't cry. Maybe someone else will come along that will be a better friend to you than I." Nanami glanced at Sesshoumaru, who seemed to be irritated by the phrase.

"No! I don't want anybody else here! I don't trust anyone else!"

Sesshoumaru stopped walking and looked back out of the corner of his eye, upset by Rin's tears and sadness. -That is enough... That woman is ruining everything.- Sesshoumaru walked over to Nanami, who eyed him with anger.

"Rin." He said sternly. Rin finally let go of Nanami and turned to Sesshoumaru, not even looking at him. She walked past him, back uphill. Sesshoumaru held Nanami's fierce gaze for a moment, imprinting an image of her into his mind. Then for a second, his eyes changed from cold to sad as he realized that this was really happening. He looked down at the ground, turned and walked away.

"Goodbye..." Nanami whispered, tears welling up in her eyes. Sesshoumaru stopped for a second, then kept walking.