Unfortunatly, when Sesshoumaru woke up in the morning, Nanami was gone. Sesshoumaru bolted upright, scoping the room for the woman. She wasn't there. -How did she get past me? How could I not hear her or feel her stand up and leave?- He jolted up from the bed and frowned, leaving the room, hoping to find her in the main room. Sesshoumaru's eyes reached the genkan, where Nanami's clothes, sword and bow were missing. He let out a low, frustrated growl and, without thinking went to the door. He opened it, but stopped in his tracks. -You made a promise...- He reminded himself. -There is nothing you can do. She's gone. She knows what she wants and waht she needs to do. You have done enough to her. Don't infuriate her any more. Go back to your own life. You managed without her for two centuries, you can do it again...- Sesshoumaru convinced himself and reluctantly closed the door. -Let her go. Do not follow in your father's footsteps... Don't fall prey to your weakness... do not be like him.- Sesshoumaru walked away from the door and scoffed to himself. -Too late...-
Nanami made her way through the cascade of white flakes, looking a little odd in the golden kimono, boots and a fur coat. She was a bit weary of plowing her way through the thick layer of snow up and down hill through the forest. She had finally reached the hill overlooking the small village where Inuyasha had found her what seemed to be so long ago. She made her way down the hill toward a hut near the stairs leading to a shrine, thinking about what happened the night before. -You idiot. What were you thinking? He's tricking you again. And you're falling for it. Once was enough to last you a lifetime. He's a demon, you're an immortal. Might as well be human. You're not too different from them, except for your long life. Go back home, take your place as the admiral, live properly, like your people expect you to. They will shun me if they find out about Sesshoumaru. Ha, I'm already shunned by many... I don't even know if there is anything left of my people, my family... It's hopeless. I am so deep in this mess, there is no way out.- Nanami approached the hut slowly, recieving awkward looks from the villagers. Some stopped in their tracks and stared, others ran into their homes. Inuyasha walked out of the hut briskly, scowling.
"What are you doing here?" He asked, sniffing the air, obviously not liking something.
"Nice to see you too, Inuyasha. I'm just here to visit, as always." Nanami walked past him into the hut, greeted by a tight hug from Kagome and a friendly kiss on the cheek from Sango.
"Isn't this storm dreadful?" Kagome chirped as she sat back down on a mat next to a fire, roasting fish. Nanami simply nodded and sat down on the floor.
"What a lovely kimono. But it looks a bit out of place with your boots and jacket. Where did you get it?" Sango asked, observing the young woman. She sat down slowly and cautiosly, holding her round belly. Nanami just looked at her dress and brushed a few melting snowflakes from it.
"He gave it to you, didn't he? You were with him..." Inuyasha stood at the doorway, frowning and his arms crossed over his chest.
"Him who?" Kagome asked, brushing her black hair.
"My ass of a brother, who else?" Inuyasha snapped rudely. Kagome's eyebrow twitched but she restrained herself from saying her very effective incantation. Sango stared at Nanami, surprised.
"I can smell him on you..." Inuyasha announced, disgusted. Nanami shot him a cold stare.
"Well... did Sesshoumaru hurt you in anyway?" Sango questioned nervously. Nanami just looked at her with a 'you've gotta be kidding me' look.
"Right. I guess you wouldn't be so upset if he didn't."
"Not to mention all he had told her these past months. He's a despicable dog! He does not know how to treat a lady. Actually, he doesn't know how to treat anyone or anything other than himself. He's in love with himself! I bet if I gave him a camera, he would create a whole gallery of pictures of his face." Kagome rambled on, brushing her hair harder and harder. Nanami stared at her as if she was insane. -She's lost it...-
"Kagome, cool down." Inuyasha suggested. "What did he do to you?"
"Nothing, took me to his house on the mountain to wait out the storm. That's it." Nanami said, irritated.
"I don't believe it. Something happened, I know it."
"Well, if you really need to know... Jaken launched a chunk of half-digested meat on my plate during dinner... then got drunk and paraded around half naked. Satisfied?" Nanami answered, annoyed by Inuyasha's nosiness.
"Come on, Nanami. There's no way that after that fight he took you to his shack-"
"House." Nanami corrected.
"Whatev-See?! Exactly my point! You're defending him! Something happened, otherwise you would not have reacted this way! Spill it, Nanami!"
"Fine! He tried to apologize, and I made him promise that when I leave, he would not go after me. He did! That's it!" Nanami hissed and glared at Inuyasha.
"No it's not. I can smell him on you...On your skin." The half demon said in an 'as a matter of fact' tone. Nanami blushed insanely, and looked down on her lap. Sango and Kagome stared at her in disbelief.
"I came here to visit all of you, not confess every detail of my life. I will tell you nothing more." Nanami announced and glared at Inuyasha like a vicious animal. He left the hut, huffing and grumbling. There was an uncomfortable silence in the small hut, so thick, one could cut through it with a knife.
"Do you mind if I change, please? I can't wear this dress." Nanami said quietly.
"Sure, uh... go ahead..." Sango answered quietly.
"I'll, uh... go and talk to Inuyasha." Kagome said and stood up quickly, heading for the door. Sango stayed in the hut as Nanami took off the golden kimono. folding it neatly. Her fingers slipping gently past the obi, remembering how closely Sesshoumaru held her, how warm his body was, how helpless she allowed herself to feel in his arms, knowing he would protect her, yet denying it in her mind. Sango observed the young woman out of the corner of her eye, seeing the way she looked at the kimono. Nanami put on the clothes she wore two days ago that she kept in her coat and sat down near the fire, brushing her long golden curls over her right shoulder and stared at the fire.
"You don't have to tell me, but I know how you feel, Nanami." Sango whispered. The young woman glanced up at her.
"This feeling... it... it cannot be helped. I am just sorry to tell you that your heart chose the wrong man. Please, do not take that in offence, I just hope you do not make the wrong choice." Sango continued.
"What is the right choice, then? I leave him, he always finds me. Even after 200 years and that damn poison, he still finds me. Where ever I go, he will follow." Nanami whimpered quietly. Sango was the only woman that Nanami could confide in, the only one who could understand her. Sango felt pity toward the girl, saddened by the fact that she fell in love with a man who is incapable of feeling, whose heart is nothing but stone.
"I... don't know what to think or do. First he tells me such cruel things, doesn't hold back from hurting me, demeaning me without any hesitation... then tell-begging, even, for me to stay with him, telling me things like he would 'silence the thunder, turn day into night,' or kill himself just for me to stay with him, to listen to what he has to say. What else could I have done than leave?" Nanami felt depressed at how Sesshoumaru toyed with her heart. She wondered if he even meant what he said the night before. She regret that she stayed, that she believed him... that she held him so close, kissed him like she once did a long, long time ago. Nanami could not believe she let him embrace her, let his lips meet hers, even touch her. She shut her eyes to stop the tears and dropped her head into her hands.
"Oh, God... How could I fall for it again?" She whimpered quietly. Sango looked down at her pregnant belly and was grateful she was with a man who loved her, who would do anything to be with her, go to any lengths to protect her. She was not sure that was what Sesshoumaru felt for Nanami, even through all that he has done to get her back to this country, and then stab her in the back.
Inuyasha burst into the hut and snatched Nanami's arm, pulling her up.
"Hey, get your damn claws off of me!" She shouted, but Inuyasha just threw her outside. She was about to pounce him and tear his throat out when a strong hand pinned her by the neck against the wall of the hut.
"So this is what lengths you go to get you vengence?" Sesshoumaru's deep voice growled only a mere inch from her face.
"Your useless moron of a brother cannot do anything to help me." Nanami snarled back, putting both her hands around his forearm.
"It is not him I am speaking of... One hundred ships full of your people landed on my coast last night, and declared war on the Western Lands. Explain that little coincidence to me."
"You're lying, who would go to war with you?"
"You."
"I do not need an armada to get my revenge on you."
"Then who sent them? Why would they be here, then?"
"I don't know, you cretin! Let go of me!" Nanami shouted, slapping Sesshoumaru across the face. He bacame furious, baring his fangs slightly in a growl, closing in on Nanami, his forehead nearly resting on hers.
"Let me go." She whispered. Kagome and Inuyasha observed their interaction, each making their own conclusions.
"If they do not leave now, I will have to stop them my way."
"Well that does not seem to be a problem for you, considering you have done it before.Oh, and tell me, Sesshoumaru, how do you know they're my people?"
Sesshoumaru hesitated for a moment, then finally answered.
"Your fiancee was there."
Nanami turned ghostly pale.
"Vlad?" She asked weakly. "But he... you killed him..."
"No, I did not, considering he stood on my shores this morning." Sesshoumaru growled, wondering if Nanami really did summon them to war against him.
"That is not possible... I saw you kill him..."
"I will say it again... I did not kill him."
"Why is he here then?"
"That should be obvious. He wants me dead, and I cannot kill him because you will despise me even more."
"What does that matter? I hate you beyond redemption no matter what you do."
Sesshoumaru just stared into those gray eyes that he would never forget. He let go of her neck and backed away. Then he turned and left back the way he came from. Nanami just kept her eyes focused on his back. Her blood began to boil, enraged that Vlad was here to kill Sesshoumaru and take her... or kill her. She growled threatningly and bolted in the direction of the coast.
"Hey-Nanami!! Where the hell is she going?!" Inuyasha protested. Sesshoumaru merely looked behind his shoulder and continued walking. -Don't do it. Don't try and drive him off alone.-
Nanami ran as fast as she could without completely exhausting herself. -Is it true? Is Vlad really alive? A brush with death wasn't enough to tell him that he should stay away, wasn't it? He just imposed a death sentance on himself... whether it be from me or Sesshoumaru... What is he thinking? That I am just waiting to be carried off into that miserable city by him again and that he can have me under complete control?- Nanami ran for about an hour until she was about twenty miles from the coast- a long way to go. She heard the sound of marching troops, the clinking of armor and weapons and the barks of higher officers. She skidded to a stop on the snowy downhill slope and dropped to her knees behind the roots of a large tree. She peered out very cautiously and analyzed the army. They were all wearing armor and animal skins to keep safe and warm. Her heart seemed to drop to her ankles. Vlad was at the head of the platoon, clad in armor, a vicious glare adorning his scarred face, riding a rather large brown horse. Nanami scowled and reached for her bow and an arrow, but stopped halfway. -I can't take all of them on myself...- The string of soldiers seemed to be endless; they just kept pressing on and on up the hill.
Nanami leaned back and sank lower between the roots. -They'll destroy everything... everyone... for what?- She swallowed her anxiety and peeked out again, and as soon as she did, she thought she was hallucinating.
A very tall, fit man who looked as if in his early fifties, with gray hair, bright blue eyes, and pale skin walked with Vlad's uncle, the governor, at the side of the army. Nanami's jaw dropped in awe, not believing her eyes. She felt as if she was in a nightmare, like this was not happening, like she was watching someone else experience what was happening to her. -Papa...- Nanami could not believe that her own father was in alliance with her enemy. Just then, Nanami made a decision she should not have followed through with; She stood up and walked out from behind the tree.
"Papa?" She asked in a sad voice, feeling depressed and betrayed. The soldiers swiftly turned and drew their weapons. The gray haired man turned toward the young woman, his eyes widening, his lips parting in surprise. -Is that my daughter? Is this how much she changed?-
"Why are you here, father? Why are you with them?" Nanami interrogated.
"Is that really you, -"
"Who else would call you father in Japan? Why have you come with them?"
"I came to help them take you home. You were kidnapped, were you not? How did you manage to escape?"
"Kidnapped? I left by my own will. And I was never held prisoner." Nanami snarled, angry at the lie her father was fed. She heard the muffled gallops of a horse and her fiancee came into view. He jumped off the horse in front of Nanami's father and stared at her, remembering that night he was almost killed. He remembered seeing her behind the wall of fire, her eyes so fierce, they sent a chill down his spine. But that memory did not stop him. He took slow steps toward the scowling woman. He stopped in front of her and stared at her longingly, as if his almost accomplished rape never happened. He raised his hands to touch her face. Nanami grabbed him by his wrists and slammed him against the trunk of the tree she was hiding behind. Her hand grabbed his jaw and glared at him.
"What do you think you are doing? Do you honestly believe that all you have done to me was not a big deal?... Honestly... I wish he did kill you." Nanami hissed and let go of him. Vlad casually signaled his troops to continue their way through the forest.
"That creature does not even deserve to breathe after what he has done!" He growled ferociously taking a step toward Nanami.
"In my eyes, you should be dead before him." Nanami retorted coldly.
"That beast is no where near the man I am."
"You're a man? That's news." Nanami taunted.
"You're pushing your luck, girl." Vlad sneered and clenched his fists.
"Lady." Nanami corrected.
"One more rude remark out of that mouth, and I will kill you."
"Do not even dare speak that way to my daughter!" Nanami's father growled loudly, scowling. Nanami glanced at her father from behind her shoulder, then turned back to Vlad. She walked up to him slowly and placed one hand on his neck.
"Vlad..." She said sweetly, then swiftly forced him to the ground face first. Her right knee was planted on his back, right hand holding his neck to the ground, the other twisting his left arm backwards almost out of its socket. "You should really consider reserving a place in hell." She snarled and glanced up at her surprised father. "And take my advice... if you are threatening to kill someone, actually follow through with it."
"Get off. I'm not here to kill you. Just that atrocity that stole you from me."
"You won't find him."
"No, but he will find me." Vlad announced slyly.
"What are you going to do?" Nanami did not like the way Vlad answered her.
"Wait and see. And do not worry, no harm will come to you. Your father will take you home where you will await my arrival."
"Pretty brave of you to be commanding me around when I have you pinned to the ground."
"He will come to me, sooner or later. I have already wiped out three ports on his lands and established our control." Vlad continued as if she had said nothing. "The troops will arrive at the next town any minute now."
Nanami frowned and glanced up at her father. He looked away nervously. Nanami couldn't believe it. How could her father stoop so low?
The governor stood a few short feet away from her father and observed the interactions. He did not care for the girl and did not come for the same reason as his nephew. The Western Lands were rich and prosperous, and he could not resist the call of its riches. This was the perfect situation for him to gain control over the lands and open up a trade. The Sea of Japan and some of the richest lands would be his. He was starting to get impatient with the whole spectacle and quietly urged Nanami's father to walk up the hill and leave the 'kids' alone to finish their little brawl before he found out the truth.
"Wait. You told me that the Lord of the Western Lands, the son of my former ally, attacked your city, slaughtered half the population and kidnapped my daughter. What is this talk about the take over of the ports being bait?" The father demanded from the governor. Nanami glared at the governor.
"You low-life liar..." She snarled and stood up, allowing Vlad to get up and rub his shoulder. She heard screams, crashes and the clink of metal in the distance. She took one last look at her father, her eyes asking, "How could you betray me?" before she ran toward the sound. Her father frowned at the other two men and rushed after her.
Sesshoumaru overlooked the army storming into one of his villages. He snarled tensed his hands, ready to rip them all to shreds. He descended down the hill, furious, and made his way into the town. The paniced villagers were shocked to see him, but ran past him to the fortified part of the town to hide out the battle. Sesshoumaru greeted the soldiers on the main street.
"You dare tresspass on my lands with any hope of accomplishment?" He snarled in a deep, harsh voice, fuming at their intrusion. The soldiers stopped their attack and glared at the man, swords drawn, arrows aimed. They hesitated for a few seconds, then sent their arrows through the air and ran to him, ready to attack.
By the time Nanami got to the village, everything was quiet. She stopped and frowned at the pecliar silence of the area. Her father had caught up to her, and as soon as she saw him, she pretended to not know he was there and ran through the gates into the village. She stopped in the middle of the street when she saw no less than a hundred soldiers wounded or dead on the street, and Sesshoumaru standing and breathing heavy among them. He had blood all over him and his sword, and an arrow sticking out of his chest, close to the shoulder, right above his armor. He looked up at Nanami, who was already sprinting past the fallen soldiers toward him. Behind her, he saw his father's former ally, except the man was much older. He was staring at the beaten soldiers in shock. But Sesshoumaru's boiling point arrived at the gate a few seconds later. Vlad marched into the town and glared at the destruction of his men, then looked up at Sesshoumaru.
Nanami ran up to Sesshoumaru and immidiatly inspected the arrow lodged in his chest.
"Is it deep? Can you breathe alright?" She asked concerned, her fingers gently trying to pull apart the fabric around the arrow so she could get a closer look at his wound.
"I am fine... It's only a flesh wound." Sesshoumaru answered quietly, warmed by the fact that she was so concerned for him.
"How sweet... A barbarian and a reject from hell." Vlad declared loudly and drew his sword.
"You pathetic weakling. Do you honestly think that hunk of metal and your sloth-like movement will defeat me?" Sesshoumaru was amused by Vlad's blind confidence. The man just smirked.
"Ha, maybe not. But he will." Vlad sneered coldly and motioned behind the two. Sesshoumaru turned and saw Naraku in his armor-like orb.
"How nice to see you again, Sesshoumaru."
"Naraku... Isn't it time for you to be rotting in hell a thousand times over?" Sesshoumaru hissed.
"You should keep a closer eye on your woman." Naraku cackled. Sesshoumaru frowned and turned around toward Nanami. Vlad was holding her, his hand covering her mouth, her back against his chest, his sword bloody. She was frowning in pain and blood was seeping from a long cut across her stomach. Vlad was smiling evily at Sesshoumaru.
"What will the 'Great Lord Sesshoumaru' do now?" He asked. "Save the little siren, or your lands and your people?"
The layer of white snow was stained with drops of crimson as the blood trickled past Nanami's trembling fingers that held her wound. Sesshoumaru felt himself losing control again, much like he did that night three months ago. Vlad was staring at Nanami with combination of lust and bloodthirst. Then he leaned in close to her ear.
"This is for your betrayal." He whispered, moving his hand from her mouth to her neck and pressed his lips roughly on hers. He threw her to the ground and turned away. She beraly managed to get on her knees, on hand holding her stomach, the other in the snow.
"You monster! You spawn of the devil! I hope you die a humiliating death and the whole world knows you as the traitor you are!" Nanami screamed, the warmth of her breath fluttering in the frigid air. Her father was running toward her, tears welling up in his eyes. He dropped in front of her and hugged her tightly.
"I am so sorry, honey. Find it in your heart to forgive me. Hold on, you will be alright." He whispered softly, tears begining to slip down his cheeks. He glanced up at the man in front of him, behind Nanami. He resembled his former friend so closely. He was a feirce sight... His eyes were closed and it looked like the demon was trying his best to repress his desire to rip everything to shreds.
"Decide, Sesshoumaru. Your lands or the woman." Naraku reminded him grimly. Sesshoumaru's eyes shot open, now a deep red shade. He was breathing heavily, his chest moving up and down rhythmicly, his jaw and neck tensing to the point where his veins were visible.
Nanami's father watched the transformation cautiously, knowing that when it happened, nothing in the world would stop the man from doing what he needed and wanted to do. Nanami took deep, steady breaths and turned toward Sesshoumaru, her haunting blue-gray eyes fixed on the demon.
"Sesshoumaru..." She whispered weakly. More soldiers filed into the city; the ones through the entrance were under Vlad's control, the ones from the back were demons sent by Naraku.
"Get her out." Sesshoumaru demanded in a deep, demonic voice to her father, who obeyed without a second thought about it. He pulled the girl up as she stared at the demon, and walked her back to the entrance.
Vlad was walking toward his soldiers when Nanami lost her temper and ripped free of her father's grip. She used every ounce of her strength, and ran toward him without making a sound. She leapt into the air and made a crescant kick aimed right at Vlad's head. The force knocked the man to the ground face first in front of his troops. The soldiers all stared at their commander in shock and shame, not believing that a woman took him down. Nanami snatched his sword from his belt and aimed the scabbard's chape at his spine, right below his neck. With one swift, precise motion, she thrust the rigid scabbard into its target, making Vlad scream in pain. She launched the weapon at the soldiers, giving them all death glares. She stood over Vlad, grabbed him by his cape and turned him over so he faced her. She kneeled and closed her eyes. The wind around the two seemed to freeze in place, the snoflakes hung in the air motionless. Vlad felt as if he was underwater, not understanding what was happening. Nanami opened her eyes; they were blinding white with a blue tint. Vlad did not know how to react other than be scared out of his mind.
"Not such a hopeless puppy after all, am I?" Nanami said in an eerie voice. "You cannot control everything and everyone that comes into your little self-conscious world ... so enjoy life without control."
Her father was as awestruck as everyone else. He had never seen her daughter use her power. The only one that has was Sesshoumaru, and he knew that if she had enough strength to use it, she had enough strength to survive. Naraku, who fled before the last time Nanami revealed her true self, seemed as if he was about to rip his own limbs off. -The ring doesn't hold her power?! What the hell was that whole expensive ambush for?! It cost me my most successful creation! Where is the source of that abomination's power?-
Sesshoumaru used Naraku's shock and lack of focus to his own advantage and attacked him, sending a torrent of energy twice its usual power at him, shattering the barrier. Naraku was ripped to shreds, but he managed to release a huge cloud of miasma around his body slivers. Sesshoumaru swiftly snatched Nanami's black gold ring from one of Naraku's blown off fingers before he could take it back.
"Unfortunatly, I have to cut our charming little meeting short, Lord Sesshoumaru. But do not despair, you have not seen the last of me." Naraku announced in his typical snobby tone and began to flee. But before he dissapeared completely, he ordered his demons to destroy everyone in sight. Sesshoumaru would have easily killed Naraku then and there, but he wanted Nanami to get her revenge with him. Naraku's demons prepared to attack and let out a few growls. Sesshoumaru smirked maliciously and sheathed his sword. The demons let out a bizzare sounding battle cry and charged at Sesshoumaru with their weapons, wether they be swords or body parts, drawn and aimed.
Nanami stepped away from Vlad, her hair floating fluidly in the air, creating a surreal scene of a goddess like woman staring death at the soldiers.
"Out of my way." She demanded. The warriors took on battle formation in reply and readied their weapons.
"Have it your way, but you will not stop me." She said.
"Kill her!" Vlad shouted loudly. Nanami took a deep breath and the soldiers froze in place, unable to move. She took her father's hand and with him made her way through the barracade of statue-still soldiers out of the city. Less than half a mile into the forest, Nanami collapsed unconscious.
Back in the town, Sesshoumaru hacked to pieces the whole entire demon army within a few short minutes. The stench of demon blood filled the air and tainted the white town dark red. Sesshoumaru turned toward Vlad's army, who didn't seem to be distrubed by his rampage. They stood in a half circle, surrounding him, swords and spears drawn. -Persistent fools... once wasn't enough?-
"I want his head on a platter!" Shouted Vlad. Sesshoumaru was surprised the creature was even saying anything. He was paralyzed from the neck down, yet he had the guts to say anything against a demon who could turn him into dust in seconds. Sesshoumaru bared his fangs and growled, ripping the arrow from his chest. He examined the tip, dripping with his blood, then glanced up at the army.
They charged at him with a deafening battle cry. Sesshoumaru dodged almost every single blow and slaughtered every single warrior that attacked him. He seemed to have more trouble to get rid of Nanami's kind since they seemed to have a more developed battle technique than Naraku's clueless, disorganized demons. Just when the warriors seemed to have him completely surrounded and close to being overwhelmed, Sesshoumaru remembered why they were here, what Vlad convinced was happening. He remembered all that his mother had done to him and to Nanami. His own mother betrayed him, poisoned his mind, and crippled his life and the lives of Nanami and her family. He took out his anger at all the wrongs that was done to him and to Nanami on the army, eventhough those men had no fault. A burst of power seemed to flow into him because there was something of a shockwave resonating from him and he slashed the whole army to dust with one swing of his sword. Not only did he take out the whole army, but half the city and forest for miles. The landscape looked as if a meteor hit it and destroyed all signs of life. That is, all life except for him, Vlad, and the very fortunate Nanami and her father, who could now be seen because there was no forest to obscure them from sight.
Sesshoumaru took a heavy, deep breath, and sprinted off at unseen speeds toward Nanami, leaving Vlad to the villagers once they come out of their fortified hide-out. Her father was looking around in awe and horror at the extent of the damage Sesshoumaru had done. The only reason they survived was because he dived into a small ditch with Nanami. Sesshoumaru was standing behind the two on the edge of the ditch. Nanami blinked slowly and woke up, cringing at the sharp pain in her stomach. The cut was not deep enough to do any fatal damage, but it did hurt, it wouldn't stop bleeding and it could get infected, so she had to treat it soon. She sat up weakly and looked around. Sesshoumaru was back to normal and helped her father get out of the ditch, then jumped in himself. Nanami stared at him, not sure what she was thinking. Sesshoumaru took her right hand and slipped the black ring on her finger where it belonged. She looked at it for a moment, wondering how he got it back. Nanami glanced up and examined Sesshoumaru. He was covered in blood. She could not tell wether it was his blood or the soldiers'.
"I'm sorry. I have to go back. I have to stop from any more of the soldiers coming. I'm sorry. I know you will be alright, you have a stronger guardian to protect you than I am. I have to find that low-life governor and stop him from calling anymore troops into these lands." Nanami's father pleaded to his daughter. She stood up, holding on to Sesshoumaru's arm. He took hold of her waist and wrapped one of her arms over his shoulders, and helped her out of the ditch. She let go of Sesshoumaru and embraced her father.
"I love you, papa. I'll be fine, do not worry about me. Take care of yourself, and come to the old mansion soon. Promise me you'll come back."She said quietly and kissed her father's cheek. He rubbed her back and took a step back out of Nanami's arms.
"I will, honey. I'll be back in a few days. I promise." He said quietly and glanced at Sesshoumaru, but said nothing. Then he walked away in the direction where the soldiers marched from.