.Nanami turned and made her way back into the forest, hating the overwhelming sadness she felt deep down inside. She had never cried so much in her life as when she was with him. The snow covered forest reminded her of her childhood. She remembered playing hide and seek with Sesshoumaru while the rain battered the castle, his mother huffing, his father laughing; she used to watch him train with his father until his mother would shove her into the kitchen to scrub floors; she braided his hair once so they could scare his mother, which they did, and Nanami would never forget the screetch she let out when she saw her son with braids and her hair ornaments; they used to stargaze at night with Sesshoumaru's father, listening to the tales and ancient legends he would tell. But all that has changed after that Autumn festival. Sesshoumaru changed. He became the cold creature he is now. -Why did it have to be this way? Why couldn't things stay the way they were? Why is it that everything I do ends up in ruins?- Tears rolled down Nanami's cheeks. - Why is he so difficult? I thought he came back for me because he realized I did nothing to hurt him or his father. Appearently not. He came to stop Naraku. He came for my power. How could I ever even think that there was something in his heart? He was just toying with me all this time.- Nanami closed her eyes and stopped walking. She kneeled down and cried into her palms. -Oh, God... what am I doing? Why did it have to be him? I should have seen this coming, then maybe I wouldn't have angered Vlad. He would still be alive and I would live a normal life... Ugh! What am I saying? I hated him! I would be miserably stuck in a dreaded marriage...- Nanami felt as if she was insane. She wiped her tears away and put her palms on her forehead. -I wish I had the courage to show you what you've done to me, Sesshoumaru. I wish you could see what you're doing to me. You're the one that let me into your life, your fate, then turned back around and betrayed me... and you feel no remorse or guilt for what you have done at all, do you? Am I honestly so worthless in your eyes? ... You're not mine... You never were... You never will be... And maybe that's for the best...- Nanami rubbed her eyes and took a deep breath, looking up at the dark gray sky.
Sesshoumaru walked through the forest up higher into the mountains, an uncomfortable silence between him and Rin. Sesshoumaru looked as if he was trying to figure out a problem with no answer to it. He kept frowning and seemed to stare off into nowhere. Rin noticed it too, but did not dare breathe a word. Sesshoumaru was so withdrawn into himself that he failed to notice Inuyasha dropping from the air right behind him.
"You know, you really are a heartless son of a bitch." Inuyasha crossed his arms and wasn't ashamed of using harsh words in front of the little girl. Sesshoumaru turned around and glared at his half-brother with fury.
"I just saw Nanami literally breakdown in the middle of the friggin' forest and cry a whole river. What'd the hell did you do to her?" Inuyasha declared.
"When will you learn to stay out of others' business? I couldn't care less about her."
"You should seriously consider shoving that pride of yours up your ass, you know that? You're not fooling any of us. She's your kryptonite."
Sesshoumaru snarled threatningly and balled up his fists.
"Get lost, half-breed."
" I think you're the one that's lost. You're acting insane. Look what you did to yourself just so you could try and bring her back to Japan, and don't say that you did it to stop Naraku, because that would be no reason for why you got rid of your markings. And you wouldn't lose control of yourself just because Naraku had her ring, you know you could have killed him without turning to your true form. I'm not as stupid as you think, Sesshoumaru. And I'm not as weak. At least I don't deny what I feel and stick to what I set out to do. A little weakness, a little warmth in your heart, and you freak out, you consider yourself too high and mighty for anyone. Sango was right... There's not enough room in your heart for someone who gave you hers completely."
"Enough. Don't bother lecturing me about what to do with my life. I can manage without you. Leave before I do lose control and kill you and your whole little gang." Sesshoumaru closed in on Inuyasha dangerously.
"Whatever you say, pompous ass. Maybe you'll finally realize what you just did to the girl, who from now on, will be your worst nightmare, your most dangerous enemy." Inuyasha barked at his brother and made his way back to his own group. Sesshoumaru grit his teeth, his brother's words echoed in his mind. -How dare he? What the hell would he know about all this? He's never dealt with anyone like Nanami... Just that irritating, helpless priestess... But what if it's true? All of it... What the hell do I do now?- Sesshoumaru felt turmoiled, not knowing what he should do. He had never felt like this except during this whole grudge with Nanami. Sesshoumaru muttered something under his breath and picked up Rin. He held on to her as her ran as fast as he could toward the house far up in the mountains where he would come to rest or seek shelter from storms and foul weather. It was not too large, certainly not a mansion, but it stood on top of the mountain, surrounded by tall trees and shrubs, with a frozen lake behinf it. He jumped the stairs leading to the front door and opened it. A dim light was glowing in a room down a narrow hallway. Sesshoumaru set down Rin in the large parlor.
"Stay here Rin. If you need anything, ask Jaken. I will be back soon." Sesshoumaru closed the door and rushed back to the meadow where he last saw Nanami. Once there, he followed her tracks into the other side of the forest until they led them to the field in front of a human village. Nanami was simply standing in the middle of it, barely visible through the falling snow, and staring at the village. It was starting to get dark, and the village lit up with hundreds of lanterns and candles. Sesshoumaru swallowed his pride, at least enough to let him approach the young woman, and made his way across the field. As he got closer, his pulse quickened and he had a gut instinct that she would explode as soon as she saw him.
Nanami listened to the wind howl, her eyes closed, trying to decide where to go to wait out the storm. She wanted to be alone, so she decided to make her way back to her mansion, eventhough it was so far away. She felt like someone was watching her, but she didn't hear anyone approach. She turned her head slightly to look around and behind her, despising what she saw. She turned back around, her back to Sesshoumaru. Neither spoke for a few moments, then Nanami broke the silence.
"Why can't you just leave me alone?" She said in a shaky voice.
"If I knew, I would have told you already." Sesshoumaru said honestly.
"Why do you keep doing that?" Nanami turned, frustrated. "You act one way this day, then completely change on the next! Can you make up your mind? You say one thing, then do another... Just tell me what you want and get out of here."
Sesshoumaru looked at her eyes. They were red and watery. -She was crying...-
"Say something! Don't just stand there!" Nanami shouted, trying to hide her impulse to hit him as hard as she could. But he seemed to be at a loss for words. Nanami shut her eyes and turned away. Then she opened them and whirled around, tackling him to the ground. She sat on his stomach and punched him hard in his face.
"Since words seem to have no effect on you-!" She hissed.Sesshoumaru flipped Nanami over and held her down by her wrists. There was a bit of blood at the corner of his mouth.
"Don't make this harder than it already is. Just... come with me." Sesshoumaru beraly forced the phrase out of his mouth. Nanami was awestruck.
"What?!" She said outraged. "Come with you?! Why in the world would I do that after all this?!" She struggled to get out of his grasp, but Sesshoumaru held her down and refused to let go.
"Come with me."
"No! I'd rather freeze out here than-" Nanami protested, but was cut short when Sesshoumaru stood up and pulled her up with him. He pulled her so close to him that she could feel him breathing and feel the warmth coming off of his body. Nanami felt her heart speed up and she blushed. Her eyes couldn't look away.
"You said you were sick of me, why are you here? You told me you couldn't care less. Then go. Naraku won't be able to get me, so you can drop the act." She whispered close to his face.
"Not an act." Sesshoumaru murmured, secretly taking in her sweet scent, memories flooding him.
"Then what is all this?"
"The truth."
"Truth? Seems a little too confusing to be truth..."
"Nothing is simple when it comes to you." Sesshoumaru regained control of himself, making himself seem as cold as usual.
"If it was, you would not have been here. Now, what do you want?"
"Just for you to wait out the storm with Rin." Sesshoumaru said indifferently.
"When will you stop using her as an excuse for everything?" Nanami snarled at him, sick of him hiding everything. "After 200 years, the least you could do is be honest with me."
"Fine. I do not want you out here alone." Sesshoumaru said through grit teeth. Nanami frowned.
"And do tell, since when do you have a conscience?" Nanami teased him by leaning in very close to his face, close enough for Sesshoumaru to feel the breath from her words on his lips, then she pulled back and tried to yank her arms out of his hands. Sesshoumaru felt as if a shiver-like feeling ran through him, but he remained unaffected and held her wrists.
"Since you finally opened your eyes." He spat out. Nanami's anger died down and she looked at him with offended eyes.
"Too bad you still haven't opened yours." She said sadly, hesitating for a moment, then finally whispering, "At least you would see what you're doing to me."
Sesshoumaru felt as if someone dumped a bucket of ice on him. He did not know what to say without hurting her even further, so he changed the topic.
"Want to or not, I am not leaving without you."
"Let go of me." Nanami said quietly. She knew she had no choice but to go, but she was not giving in without a fight.
"Decide. Either you comply like a civilized person, or I'll have to drag you along myself."
"Neither. I do not want to come."
"Then where will you go? The storm is getting worse by the minute. To your father's mansion? You'll reach it by nightfall tomorrow. Do explain how you will accomplish that task in this weather."
"You do not understand this, do you? Why would I go somewhere I have no clue about with the man that tormented me for two centuries, killed my fiancee-"
"Did you really care that much about a man who disrespected you and saw you as his property?" Sesshoumaru interrupted, irritated by Nanami's mention of the man.
"What do you care? You do not respect much else than yourself either."
"If I did not care, I would not have come here, I would not have said anything. "
"So what do you want me to do? Thank you? Ha. Never."
"I want you to stop arguing and come with me."
"And I want you to let go of me."
"That depends. If you try and run, I'll catch you. And if that does happen, you will reach our destination unconscious." Sesshoumaru warned, still holding her wrists. Nanami certainly did not want to pass out again, so she swallowed her pride, cursed under her breath and let out a really choppy, angry "Fine." Sesshoumaru looked at her, surprised that she didn't start protesting again. Yet as soon as he thought it...
"But as soon as one ray of sunshine pierces those clouds... I leave. Without a word, without a trace. And you do not follow me. Not even if all hell broke loose on this land, understood?" She threatened.
"Stop your commanding around. I will do what I see fit."
"So my opinion does not matter?"
"Did I say that?"
"You were thinking it."
"I wish I was, but I did not... We have to leave now." Sesshoumaru slowly let go of Nanami's wrists and walked backwards, still looking at her, feeling as if this was all a bad dream. Nanami considered taking her chances and darting out of the forest, then she reluctantly walked up to Sesshoumaru.
"I will never forgive you. No matter how hard you try to redeem yourself." Nanami said in a gloomy tone and pulled the hood lower over her face and crossed her arms, pressing them closer to her body for warmth.
Sesshoumaru felt uncomfortable with her remark, and started walking toward the mountain.
The whole trip neither Sesshoumaru nor Nanami had said a word. All they could hear were the howling wind and the snow crunching under their feet. The snow kept falling faster and heavier, threatening to bury the land in thick layers. Nanami was starting to feel very cold and began to shiver slightly. She began walking faster and closed in on Sesshoumaru without realizing it. Sesshoumaru heard her shivering behind her.
"It's just past those trees." He said quietly and reached for the fur pelt on his shoulder, but Nanami quickly passed him, before he could even take it off. Sesshoumaru continued walking behind her. Nanami finally made it past the trees and stopped in front of the house. It was beautiful and modest. It was in a perfect location as well, on the side of the mountain near the peak, creating a magnificent view, except for the wall of blowing snow that blocked visibility past ten feet. Sesshoumaru walked up the stairs to the front door and opened it, waiting for Nanami to come in. She hesitated but came inside nonetheless. Sesshoumaru closed the door and focused his eyes on Nanami, who pulled down her hood and headed toward the coat rack in the genkan. She glanced at Sesshoumaru as if asking permission to take off her outerwear. It was his house, and as angry as she was with him, she was not going to abandon her manners. Sesshoumaru took off his boots, left them on the stone floor, took off his armor and pelt and hung it on the rack, all while keeping his eyes on the woman.
"You have no need to ask." He muttered and walked into the main room. Nanami slipped off her coat, hung it next to his clothes and took off her boots. She followed him into the room, brushing stray snowflakes from her hair. Sesshoumaru added more firewood to the fire pit in the middle of the room and looked up at Nanami. She glanced around the large room. It was dimly lit by white candles and was decorated by paintings and tapestries of nature on them. There was a dark tea table on the floor behind the fire pit with four ornate mats on the floor on each side. One wall was completely lined with bamboo shelves of scrolls, books and various kinds of scripture. Fur throws were settled around the fire pit, and a metal tea pot hung over the fire. A rice paper lantern stood on the floor a few feet away from the fire pit, close to the screen door that led to the hallway. Nanami sat down on one of the fur throws and put her hands up to the fire, warming herself.
Sesshoumaru caught himself admiring the young woman as the glow of the flame bathed her skin and glinted off her golden hair. She had proportioned features placed perfectly on her face. Eventhough she was not the most beautiful in the land, she was still beautiful in her simplicity. Sesshoumaru forced himself to look away, fearing she would notice. He took a deep breath as Inuyasha's words repeated in his mind. - "A little weakness, a little warmth in your heart, and you freak out, you consider yourself too high and mighty for anyone. ...There's not enough room in your heart for someone who gave you hers completely..."- Sesshoumaru stood up and left the main room. He walked down to the right end of the hallway and slightly opened the screen door to Rin's room. The little girl was wrapped snuggly in a thick blanket, breathing deeply. Sesshoumaru closed the door and leaned against the wall opposite from it. He put his hands on his forehead and closed his eyes. - How can this be happening? She is driving me insane. Even if she isn't saying anything or doing anything. What the hell have I done? I destroyed any relation I had with her... She despises me. She will never forgive me.- Sesshoumaru opened his eyes and took a deep breath. He walked to the other end of the hall to his room. He walked in and closed the door. He took off his warm kimono and changed into a lighter one, letting it dry from the snow. Sesshoumaru repressed the urge to just break his own hands for being as cruel as he was to the girl. -How very honorable, you idiot.- He cursed at himself, remembering telling Nanami he could not have cared less for her, that she was better off dead in this world and that he was willing to do it. He felt foolish about how he went to so much trouble just to find her again, admitting that he would stop at nothing to do so, yet when he did find her and bring her back, he just left her and completely shattered her. -Could not have been more honorable than that. Might as well have rubbed dirt in her face and hand her over to Naraku on a silver platter. You're damn lucky she even talks to you, much less comes with you to your house.- Sesshoumaru growled, furious with his behavior. -So much for the son of the great dog demon. Afraid of his own feelings, acting like an adolescant girl who can't make up her mind... "Ты не мой... You're not mine." ... She was right. I am not who I was before. I am weak...- Sesshoumaru was shocked to hear himself say he was weak. But at least he admitted it. He may have been strong physically, but emotionally he was weak. -Pride. That's all that ever controls me. My pride prevents me from showing my feelings, my thoughts, it makes me do the things I've done. And all that just hurt and offended all of those around me. Especially Rin and Nanami...- Sesshoumaru decided that he was going to swallow his pride and stop hiding everything. He looked around the room, making sure it was clean and comfortable enough for his guest.The walls were of a calm, light green color with light wood lining the walls. There was light beige and black carpet covering the floor and a white bed near the floor to ceiling screen doors leading to the gardens outside. Next to the bed was a small pot with a cherry blossom branch in it. Rin planted it there in the spring, and it hasn't died yet. Sesshoumaru walked over to the small black table and lit the candle that was on it. He used it to light the fire in the firepit in the middle of the room. He closed the screen door to the closet and finally left the room. He walked down the hall and stopped at the entryway to the main room. Nanami was looking at the scrolls on the shelves and the paintings on the wall. A door creaked open behind Sesshoumaru and a sleepy, green imp in a night gown creeped out. He rubbed his eyes when he noticed Sesshoumaru and dropped to the floor, his sleeping cap flying off of his head.
"My Lord! You have returned! That storm out there is dreadful! And I have a feeling it will not let up for a few days!" He squeaked. Sesshoumaru flinched from the high pitched tone of his servant and looked at a more pleasant sight in the main room.
"Oh, would you like some hot, jasmine tea milord?" Jaken offered. Nanami glanced at Sesshoumaru, then returned to her browsing. Sesshoumaru nodded once and opened the screen door completely. Jaken wobbled into the room but stopped almost immidiatly.
"What is that disrespectful wench doing here?!" He screetched.
"Jaken!" Sesshoumaru barked, making the imp cringe and shrink. " You will adress her with the same respect as you adress me. Understood?" He said in a cold tone. Nanami stared at Sesshoumaru in surprise. Sesshoumaru just looked back at her calmly.
"Yes, milord."
"Apologize."
"Wha-... yes, master... Forgive my harsh remark..." Jaken spat out, then hesitated for a moment. "Lady Nanami." He finally choked, his eye twitching. Nanami found Jaken's disgust toward her amusing, considering how meek and helpless he was compared to her. Nanami smiled a weak, but coy smile, and turned away from him, observing the tapestries on the wall. Jaken grumbled and boiled the water in the tea pot. Sesshoumaru observed the woman, her curiosity making him want to smile. Eventhough she had not said a word, Sesshoumaru listened intently to her silence, remembering that she promised him that she will never forgive him. He observed her every step, her every movement, knowing this may be the last time she will be near him He feared that after the storm, she will leave without a trace, as promised.
Nanami knew Sesshoumaru was watching her, but not with his usual, cold eyes. She glanced at him then turned back to her curiosity. His eyes were longing pools of amber. Usually, Nanami would have been very uncomfortable and would have said something, but she didn't this time.-What the hell is with him? Can he decide what he wants to do? Or should I expect him to be strangling me tomorrow?- She pondered. Nanami was sick of fighting, yet not willing to make peace.
Jaken felt less and less comfortable in the room with Sesshoumaru and Nanami at the same time. He was even more disturbed with the way Sesshoumaru was acting around the woman. -There were plenty of women that have fallen for my lord; a princess, a wind sorceress, that geisha fifty years back, and who knows how many demon girls that drooled over him, yet he had no interest, and even if he was with a woman sometime while I wasn't around, I doubt he acted like this. How is she any different? Why does she have such a strong effect on him and his actions? Ohhhh, I have a bad feeling about this.- Jaken poured hot water into three tea cups and handed one to Sesshoumaru, the other to Nanami and kept the last one for himself. Jaken drained the cup swiftly, ignoring the burn of the water that he chugged.
"If you have no other need for me, milord, I shall retire to my bedchamber. " He said, swallowing his pain.
"As you wish." Sesshoumaru said calmly. Jaken scrambled back into his room, shutting the door behind him. Sesshoumaru took a sip of hot tea when Nanami turned toward him.
"Why the hospitality all of a sudden?" She said quietly. Sesshoumaru glanced at her and looked into her blue-gray eyes.
"Why not?" Sesshoumaru did not want to reveal anything just yet.
"It's always the same with you. Say one thing, do another." Nanami turned and took a sip of her tea.
"Come." Sesshoumaru murmured quietly and walked down the hall to his bedchamber. Nanami frowned and followed him, not knowing what to expect from him. She walked into the room from where the light was coming from. Sesshoumaru had mixed up the cinders in the pit and gazed up at the entrance. Nanami looked at the room then at him with suspicious eyes.
"You may stay here if it suits you." Sesshoumaru announced and left the room, closing the door behind him. Nanami just glared at the door and sat down on the bed. -What is he trying to do me? Why is he acting so strange? ... I am getting very annoyed with these mindgames.- Nanami pondered before standing up and undressing. She kept her eye on the door, making sure no one, well Sesshoumaru, would come in. Although, she doubted Sesshoumaru was the peeping type. She took off everything except her beige shirt and crawled under the thick white blanket. Nanami turned to her side, facing the screen doors opening to the gardens. The night seemed to be light because of the layer of white covering the landscape. Nanami fell asleep listening to the wind outside and the crackle of the fire wood in the pit.
The next morning Nanami was woken by a loud, high pitched scream that made her jolt upwards and let out a shocked scream as well. At the same time in the main room, Sesshoumaru felt as if his ears were blown off. He growled loudly and sat up sharply, his eyes barely opened. The wake up call was so unexpected that when he bolted upright and rushed toward the scream, he stumbled over the fire pit he slept next to and stepped right onto the hot coal and cinders. Sesshoumaru quickly jumped away, avoiding a burn, and snarled a curse under his breath. He rushed into the hallway and headed to where he now heard Rin franticly shouting and yelping. He stopped in the doorway to his bedroom and slumped.
Rin was bouncing up and down on the bed, her arms wrapped tightly around Nanami's neck, yelping happily, not a single word distinguishable from the ruckus. Nanami tried to make Rin stop bouncing like a hyper puppy as the little girls elbows kept hitting her shoulders. Sesshoumaru's eyes then fell onto Nanami's exposed toned leg that tried to balance Nanami while Rin kept bouncing, making his eyebrows raise a little. He looked back at Rin, as if he didn't see anything, ears ringing from her happy screetching.
"Rin!! Sto-o-op jump-ing! You're start-ing to hurt m-me!" Nanami stuttered as the little girl's shoulders kept hitting her chin and jaw. Finally, Rin calmed down and let go, out of breath.
"Sorry." She said cheerfully, tugging on the sleeves of her white night gown.
"Rin. Was all that screaming really necessary?" Sesshoumaru rubbed his closed eyes with one hand before opening them and glancing at the little girl.
"I'm sorry Lord Sesshoumaru, I'm just so happy that Nanami is here! Does that mean that you aren't arguing anymore?"
"Hardly." Nanami answered sharply, before Sesshoumaru even had the time to open his mouth to speak. Sesshoumaru pretended to be completely unaffected and left back to the main room. The happiness on Rin's face died down a little.
"So you're still fighting with Lord Sesshoumaru?"
"I would rather call it 'settling our differences'. Fighting sounds like this is a childish argument, not a very serious conflict." Nanami said as she stood up and walked over to her clothes, folded neatly next to the closet door. She noticed the door was completely open, and a beautiful golden kimono with pink and burgundy flowers and elegant leaves hung in plain sight. Nanami's lips parted and she frowned, glancing back at Rin. She was pretty sure Sesshoumaru closed the door last night, and almost as sure that he did not have ladies' dresses in his closet... then again... who knows?
"Rin, does this belong to someone?" Nanami asked. Rin shook her head.
"It's yours now. My Lord brought it into the room at night. I don't know where he got it, but he did, and you should be grateful." Jaken's voice grumbled from the threshold. Nanami was surprised he didn't wake up earlier during Rin's screetching frenzy.
"I will be grateful when it's due..." Nanami said as she took the kimono off the rack. "Vengeful when needed... Loving when I want to be... and loyal when my trust is earned..." Nanami finished as she prepared to put the beautiful dress on. "Do not tell me what I should be and what I should feel. That is for me to decide and me only."
Jaken grumbled something quietly and dragged himself back to his room.
Sesshoumaru had already started up fire in the pit in the main room and was resting on one of the fur throws on the floor, shutting his eyes for a little. Then he sat up, hearing soft footsteps and the quiet swish of fabrics in the hallway. Next he heard much faster, more frequent steps that ran down the hall. Rin popped into the room, a toothy, bright smile on her face. Nanami followed and gracefully entered the room in the golden dress. Her hair was unbraided and draped over her shoulder, and she was barefoot.
"So... I presume this belongs to you?" Nanami said, leaning with her right shoulder against the archway, lifting up the skirt of the kimono a little to show what she was talking about. Rin giggled slightly and put her hands over her mouth. Sesshoumaru's brows lowered. -Here it goes again...-
"I take that as a thank you." He said cooly. Nanami shrugged and walked into the room. She had her arms crossed and looked at the narrow windows under the ceiling, covered to prevent the snow from getting into the house. There was a chair below one of them. Nanami walked over to it, lifted up the dress to her knees and stood up on the chair. Sesshoumaru frowned and tilted his head slightly.
"What are you doing?"
Nanami stood up on her tip toes and pulled down the window cover, glancing out to see if it was still snowing. There was much more snow on the ground than yesterday; the house was practically burried, and it still kept snowing. Nanami slumped in dissapointment and shut the window again. She got back down to the floor and sat on the chair. Sesshoumaru knew she was hoping the snow had stopped so she could leave, and he was thankful it hadn't and he had a little more time to be with her.
"And to which one of your women has this dress belonged to, if not all of them?" Nanami asked, her mood fouled by the weather. Rin's eyebrows raised and she stared at her master.The question disgusted Sesshoumaru.
"None. I brought it from the village nearby." He grumbled through grit teeth.
"Oh, so you killed some unfortunate noble woman to get it?"
"Why is it that you always assume that I kill to get what I want?"
"Well, there have been a few incidents in the past in which I do recall you resorting to violence and slaughter to get your way."
"Some things cannot be settled peacefully."
"Is this one of them?" Nanami crossed her arms, holding on to Sesshoumaru's gaze.
"I do not intend on hurting you."
Nanami scoffed and looked away. "You already have... over and over again."
Sesshoumaru felt something clench his heart. He looked away at the cinders.
"I'm hungry, Lord Sesshoumaru." Rin broke the uncomfortable silence in the room. Sesshoumaru used Rin's hunger as an excuse to get out of the house. He stood up and went to his room. He closed the door behind him and changed into his winter kimono, glad to have a chance to think things through, and decide what to do with the angry woman.
"I'll return in a few hours." He said when he returned to the room after he changed. He put his boots on, grabbed his sword, threw his white fur pelt over his shoulder and opened the door.
"Maybe you will be in the mood to talk to me maturely and without crude remarks." He glanced back at Nanami, who was still sulking in her chair, and then left.