Chapter 21

NOTE: sorry for taking so long and for making this chapter being long, but I wanted to catch up with my chapters on another site, if you guys think i should make chapters shorter, please tell me!!!! =) Thanks!!

Nanami changed into black pants, tight, gray shirt with long sleeves and that tied up in tight strings along her spine. She walked up to a wide, ornamented armoir in the corner of her bedroom, opened it and pulled out a large drawer. From it she took out her armor; black and silver chest plate, shin-guards with a long, sharp spike at the top of each one near the knee, armor for her shoulders and a beautiful silver mask with carved fans on the sides to cover and protect the sides of her head. The eye slits were cat-like, with the edges closer to the nose gracefully pulled down, and the other edges stretching a bit out, hence giving the mask the cat eyes.

Sesshoumaru walked into the room quietly, watching Nanami while he leaned against the wall.

"I cannot let you go." He broke the silence with a soft whisper. Nanami stopped adjusting the armor and looked behind her shoulder at him.

"Like you have a choice." She returned to her armor.

"I do have a choice. Nothing's restraining me."

"So you would avoid war and let the army pillage your lands? And you cannot hold me back. Afterall, they're here because of me."

"I never said I would let them run around like a pack of crazed maniacs... I just said I cannot let you go." Sesshoumaru said as if hinting to something. Nanami stopped and looked at the floor, realizing what he meant; she was not leaving the mansion. She did not answer and finished putting on her armor, all while Sesshoumaru watched her.

"Stop staring at me." Nanami mumbled, twisting her long hair into a bun at the back of her head. Sesshoumaru's eyebrows lowered. -And she's back...-

"What makes you think that I cannot fend for myself at war?" Nanami asked sternly, fastening her quiver full of arrows with poisoned tips to her back.

"If you have not yet noticed, you're almost always near death when I have to come and get you. "

It seemed as if a spark had ignited in Nananmi's eyes and her expression changed to one of irritation. She turned and faced Sesshoumaru. She put on a coy smile and approached him, batting her lashes at him and giggling. Sesshoumaru was a little suspicious of her behavior and frowned.

"What are you doing?"

Nanami giggled like a dumb schoolgirl, batting her lashes furiously. Then, in a second, the laugh stopped, the eyes glared and a fist flew in Sesshoumaru's face. He just closed his eyes and moved his jaw to the side, as if putting it back in place.

"Don't forget who you are talking to. Just because I let you come within a foot doesn't mean I'm dependant on you." Nanami hissed.

"I came a lot closer than a foot." Sesshoumaru teased. Nanami scowled and slapped him... hard enough to leave a bleeding scratch from her ring.

"Only because I felt sorry for you, you egotistic cretin. There is no way a woman would even let you hold her hand with that heartless attitude of yours... I simply pitied you." Nanami bluffed proffesionaly, crossing her arms.

That was big blow to Sesshoumaru's ego. His mouth twitched into a grimace. Then he smiled, disturding Nanami a bit.

"Seemed to me to be a lot more than pity." He said and his eyes motioned to her mark. Nanami glanced at it and growled in frustration at Sesshoumaru before leaving the room. Sesshoumaru smirked to himself.

"Shouldn't you be at a get together with your goblin bretheren?" Nanami's voice called from the front door, trying to get on his nerves. The smile on his face quickly faded. -What did you just call me?!-

"Your tea party of a war awaits you, princess." He snarled back at her. There was a tense silence before Sesshoumaru leaned out of the doorway into the hall and a vase nearly crashed with his head.

"Lunatic!" Sesshoumaru called out at the steaming Nanami as the pottery shattered to pieces on the floor.

"Psychopathic narssicist!" She barked back.

"Mantal harpy!"

"Shitdemon!!" Nanami slammed the door behind her, surprised she called him such an awkward name.

Sesshoumaru stared at the door, one eyebrow raised. "Shitdemon?" He whispered to himself in surprise. He shook his head and frowned. -How the hell am I a shitdemon?-

Nanami stormed through the forest toward the place where she predicted the base camp would be. -My God, I am such an idiot! Everytime he's near me, I give in. Then when its too late, I finally realize what the hell happened!- Nanami ran her fingers along the mark he gave her, claiming her as his. She stopped walking and glared at the snow on the ground, a shiver running down her spine. -What have I done? I let him- Nanami shook her head, trying to clear the tears making their way to her eyes. She raised her chin up high, took a deep breath and put on the silver mask she held in her hand.

Nanami finally found the base camp after about three hours of wandering the coast. There was a fairly large main tent and about twenty smaller ones, each holding about a dozen soldiers, but she could not see a single one. Nanami made her way into the camp, and was immidiatly greeted by a shower of arrows. She continued walking calmly and when the arrows were just mere seconds away from hitting her, she made a precise turn, her arm stretched out, a wave of fire blazing behind it, insinerating all the arrows. She immidiatly continued to walk down the slope to the coast, the cold ocean breeze battering her. Four soldiers, two with swords, two with spears, surrounded her. Nanami kept walking until they aimed their weapons at her. She stopped and glared at the soldiers. She scoffed at their confidence and took off the mask.

"I take it you kill anyone who nears the camp. Even one of your own?"

The soldiers lowered their weapons and stared at the young woman before them in shock. Nanami pushed past them and made her way to the main tent. The soldiers that now began to peer out of their tents dropped their jaws, surprised at the sight of a woman, in addition a beautiful, young one. Nanami walked with her usual, proud gait, back straight, chest up, chin high. Two guards at the entrance of the tent, clothed in full armor, spears at the ready, obviously recognized her, but did not let her through. She awarded them a cold stare, but they did not budge.

"Let me through." She commanded.

"State your purpose."

"To stop you forgetful brawlers from attacking the wrong lands." She growled. The gurads didn't move. Nanami tilted her head slightly, sending a flash of fire up the staffs of the spears, making the guards drop them and inspect their unburned hands. Nanami pushed them apart and entered the tent.

There were three men in the tent, as well as a large table with stacks of maps and parchment. Aside from the table, there were three cots seperated by screens. Her father stood between the other two men, now gawking at her. One of the men was near her father's age, with short brown hair and green eyes, thin lips and straight nose. He was wearing armor and a fur pelt on top. The other man was much younger, with short black hair and bright blue eyes. He had very broad shoulders and was not as tall as the other two men.

"Who the hell is this? Who let her through?" The older man grumbled. Nanami's eyes narrowed.

"That's my daughter, Dmitri." Her father announced and returned to the paperwork on the table. Dmitri's eyes seemed to pop out of his head.

"That's her?!" The man asked, pointing to her. "So we can go home now?"

"Not quite." Her father answered.

"There are much more coming to attack." Nanami cut in. All three men looked at her. "I do not know who is leading them, but there are about 13 ships due to arrive here anytime now. The governor declared war on the Westernlands, he must have called for reinforcements."

"Why these lands? I thought we came for you?" The younger man asked.

"No, he came for the riches, not for me. He doesn't even know me. His nephew was wounded by the Lord of these lands, who came for me three months ago and braught me back here. The governor used the conflict between his nephew and Sesshoumaru as a cover to take over the lands. I cannot let him do that."

"Where is Sesshoumaru now?" Her father asked.

"He is-" Nanami began but was interrupted by a watchman bursting through the entrance into the tent.

"There are a dozen ships anchored in the adjacent bay!" He panted. Nanami glanced back at the two men, her eyes saying "I told you so."

Nanami was first to leave the tent and head to the location where the ships were spotted. Her father and the two men followed behind her. She reached the top of the cliff that overlooked the bay and was greeted by an arrow that would have pierced her shoulder had she not moved in time. She frowned and scoped out who shot the arrow.

Nanami's eyes widened and her mouth opened as soon as she recognized the shooter, standing on the deck of the closest ship. The shooter took of the hood of the cape and smiled maliciously. Nanami looked on dumbfounded, her arms dropped to her sides and she scowled.

"Maria?"

Nanami swiftly made her way down the steep cliff to the beach, while Maria got off the ship.

"What a pleasant sight, Zhanna-oh, wait... I forgot. Nanami, was it?" Maria's voice boomed across the howl of the frigid wind. Nanami scowled and her fists tensed.

"So what's in this for you... Maria? What's your motive? Money? Lust?" Nanami growled so coldly that it made the winter wind shudder.

Maria scowled back and lowered her bow. "My future."

"How would turning against your own friend have anything to do with your future?"

"It's amazing what one would do to have their dream become a reality, darling. You and I are not that close... I feel no guilt whatsoever in confessing all you have spilled to me on that boat to a very well-paying candidate in this war."

"You do not stand a chance against me." Nanami hissed.

"I do not need to. I'm here to watch my reward materialize." Maria said indifferently and brushed her long nails against her rugged leather vest.

"This may have been amusing if this 'candidate' of yours did not underestimate me." Nanami announced proudly as soldiers filed out of the ships Maria was on.

"Huh." Maria scoffed, still focused on her nails. "Your watchdog's not here to protect you, Zhanna-can I just call you that? I see no point in learning your name anyway. "

"Unfortunatly for you, he is not here, so there would be no one to stop me from getting my vengence." Nanami slipped her sword out in front of her.

"By what? Distracting you and shattering your focus with his looks?" Maria blew on her fingers.

"I am glad you still haven't lost your sense of accuracy." Nanami said sarcasticaly and set fire to her sword, which seemed to have caught Maria's attention. "Now, shall we settle this like dignified human beings?"

"Hold that thought, hun. We are not human. Maybe you have forgotten your roots... You don't belong here... with these... wretches. You abandoned your people. I'm simply doing the honorable thing here, so let's not fuss about it, shall we?" Maria chirped, taking her time approaching Nanami with a barricade of soldiers.

"Since when has the meaning of honor changed to that of greed?" Nanami snarled back.

"Enough chit-chat. I'm getting tired of this useless banter." Maria announced and snapped her fingers. Five soldiers stepped foreward in front of Maria and drew their swords. Nanami glared at them and forcefully stuck her sword into the frozen solid sand, waiting for the confused soldiers to make their move.

"You really think that's a good idea?" Maria crossed her arms and frowned. Nanami awarded her an offended look. Maria just snapped her fingers and a soldier in a black facemask stepped toward Nanami wearily, and effortlessly, almost as if he was just playing with it, swung the sword at the woman. Nanami absolutely despised it when she was underestimated, especially when she took the time to fight fairly, instead of just torching everything to hell with her concoction of a ring. She moved faster than the soldier could react, knocking the sword out of his hand and planting her knuckles into his throat. The soldier fell down to the ground, making abominable gurgling and choking noises.

Nanami's eyes seemed to slaughter all the cockyness of the soldiers, and made Maria back up a few steps..

"You'll have to do better than that... You wouldn't want to end up like my self-proclaimed imbicile of a fiancee now would you?" Nanami asked, stretching her neck. "Come to think of it... I beraly moved and he's already sprawled in the sand... huh... times certainly have changed... back when my father was in control, our army was undefeatable. Now this... sorry bunch of lanky boys beraly passes as guard of some ghost town. You did not honestly think that you could take over these lands and my army?" Nanami walked up to the soldiers, her commanding aura overwhelming, and ripped their masks off their faces. They stood and stared at her angrily, but did nothing.

From behind the crowd of soldiers came loud claps. "Bravo..." A man's voice growled as he emerged from the ship. He was tall and massive, with very pale green eyes that sent chills up one's spine. Nanami looked past the soldiers' heads at the towering man approaching her. He was undoubtably very handsome, with chisled features and very masculine figure. Nanami scowled a bit, wondering who the man was.

"So... after all this time, I find what rightfully belongs to me... I find what truly should be in my possession." His voice echoed as he finally stopped in front of Nanami.

"That useless speech would be more effective if I knew who you were." Nanami retorted coldly, presuming him to be another suitor.

"Foolish girl. You do not know who you are. You were led to believe that that power you behold has been in your bloodline for centuries... Not quite. Your mother did not even come from the bloodline you think. Her great-grandmother was human... Your liniage had nothing to do with 'your' power.-"

"And who would you be, knowing all you do about my family?"

"I am the son the guardian shunned and denied his rightful gift to. I am the true guardian, but without the treasure to guard. I was next in line to be the protector. Not you. You ripped my life from me. Stole it before either of us could even talk... A half-breed in place of the true-blooded descendent. And why?" The man grumbled and towered over Nanami. She seemed to not fall for it. She glared at him and did not shrink away.

"It must have been a very long trip here for you to come up with that theory..." Nanami hissed back.

"What blind confidence... Didn't it ever occur to you that you're not even related to the previous guardian? Isn't the power descended through family?"

Nanami froze in place. She had never thought about it. She believed that the old witch was someone like an instructor to the power, she completely ignored the witch's comment about being the previous guardian a few months back. Nanami felt ashamed and her commanding aura diminished to one of worry and fear.

Sesshoumaru walked into a castle on top of a hill that seemed to be out of place in the snow covered plains. The interior of the castle was dark and bleak, with many demon women in dark dresses and fear in their eyes, some holding small children, others just staring blankly, as if they could not see anything. Sesshoumaru made his way past them into the banquet hall. Three other men stood in the room, all demons. All dressed in their armor bearing their clan's crest.

"Lord Sesshoumaru... You have arrived. Would you care to tell us about this unexpected war declared by the barbarians?" The lord of the Southern lands asked, holding his arms behind his back. He had long black hair tied back into a ponytail, very dark, almost black eyes, and a scar stretching from the left side of his forehead, beraly missing his right eye, down to his bearded jaw. He wore a black kimono with a dark green ensignia of his clan on his left shoulder. The other men turned and looked at Sesshoumaru as well.

"You have avoided any communication for the past fifty two years, and seldom came to any aid before that. Why should we be involved in this war?" The Lord of the Northern Mountains protested. There have always been tensions between the west and his lands, partly because Sesshoumaru's father failed to form an alliance with them and fight alongside during their conflict because he was away, possibly with Nanami's father. No one knows.

The Lord of the Northern Lands was much older than Sesshoumaru, with dark brown hair streaked with gray. He had light brown eyes and an uncontrollable scowl. No matter his mood, his face always looked like he was scolding someone.

"Can you hide your grudge this one incident, Daichi? This is no time for petty squabling... Now, Lord Sesshoumaru. Please do elaborate on the situation." The Lord of the South asked impatiently.

"My father forged an alliance with a warlord from the north region of the mainland. They had fought multiple wars together to establish our lands and his empire. But the warlord has a child with a gift." Sesshoumaru hesitated to mention that the child was a woman. That would ruin any hope of an alliance with any of the lords.

"And...? What does that have to do with this?"

"In the course of the past two centuries, a rivalring warlord has established control in the neighboring region, and he wants what the child holds. And its here... There was a... misunderstanding, so now my father's ally is trying to prevent the attack, but it is unlikely.-"

"Why are they here? Why declare war when they could just get the kid and go back? No one has heard of this "gifted child" that they seek. So why would they go to war?"

"Because they also want the lands. Conquest. And the 'kid' is not a child... a grown immortal... a woman." Sesshoumaru reluctantly announced. The men in the room cringed.

"A war for a woman?" One of the lords bellowed angrily. Daichi scoffed and headed toward the door.

"You're on your own, Sesshoumaru." He said and opened the doors. The lord of the South closed in on Sesshoumaru.

"A woman?... Alright... Why you? Why did they attack you? Not me, not Daichi, not Hiroto..."

"You were the ones that summoned me here. I did not come asking for help." Sesshoumaru was begining to get irratated with the way the men were treating him.

"You're right. But we also deserve to know who is attacking our lands and people. What power could a woman possibly hold to make them go to war?"

"You would have gone to war if you had seen it too. My father entitled me as her guardian. I will not betray my father and stand idly to watch them ravage my lands and get what they want. I will not let them trespass on your lands or anywhere past the coast... whether you are part of the war or not."

"What about the girl? Where is she now?" The demon lord asked after thinking for a moment.

"On the coast." Sesshoumaru realized that he had left Nanami alone to fend for herself. He began to get nervous, his instincts telling him something was happening and that he needed to get to her, and fast. "I need to know your answer now. I do not have time."

"I will do as I see fit. If the war gets out of control, I will defend my lands."

"Then you would be wise to take a trip to your borders." Sesshoumaru warned of the attackers and left the room without another word, leaving the two remaining men alone and confused. He made his way past the group of sulking women and out of the castle. His instincts tore at him, telling him something was about to happen. Something wrong. Something dangerous.

Nanami trembled on her knees in the cold sand, the bleeding witch next to her, and her father, beaten in front of her. The man claiming to be the true guardian was standing over her father, aiming a crude rifle to his back.

"Give me whats rightfully mine and he doesn't die..."

"I did not will you the gift for a reason! I saw the future! I saw what would happen if you were in control of such power!! I did what I was entrusted to do! You are not the one and you never will be!!!-"

The man pressed the gun closer. Nanami bit her lip in frustration.

"Why don't you be a man and fight me instead of using hostages?!" She spat out.

"Now, I am no fool. You have the power to control the flow of time... you could easily kill me."

"Don't you think if I wanted to do so, I would have used it already? I can easily kill you without it. Just try me. I wouldn't stoop so low as to use it on someone as pathetic as you are, so do not flatter yourself." Nanami hissed, murder spelled in her eyes. The man smirked.

"She's so cocky... Without reason to be."

"Why don't you test that statement?"

"Not just yet. I'm awaiting a special guest." The man bit out the words and glanced toward the forest.

"More idiots screwed over at some point in their lives?" Nanami asked coldly.

"That's one way to describe him... I think you know him." The man motioned with his head toward the forest. Nanami glanced over in the indicated direction.

"He has nothing to do with this." Nanami quickly responded.

"Oh, yes, indeed, he does. His father killed mine. The debt has to be repaid." The man ordered his soldiers to lead Sesshoumaru to the coast, but he was already there.

His amber eyes pierced the cold air as the sight disturbed him.

"Good evening, Lord Sesshoumaru... " The man announced.

"Who would you be?"

"Do you remember that one, unusually cold summer, when your father left to the mainland to aid this charming little lady's father in a conflict over in Manchuria? Well, your father killed mine and we lost those lands to her father... to him. You're here today to repay your father's debt."

"Sorry to disappoint you, but your problem is not on top of my priority list."

"Never a doubt in my mind. That's why she'll take care of it for me." He pointed to Nanami, who looked at Sesshoumaru in shock, before continuing. "If she wants her father to live to see the light of another day."

"Oh, what's the matter, darling? He's just another demon. A representative of the inferior race-" The man scowled. Nanami's mouth snarled into a growl.

"What makes you think so highly of yourself? You're no different-"

"Oh, believe me. I am." The man mumbled. "I have no sympathy for abominations."

"And yet you are one." Nanami snapped, attempting to stand up, but the man shook his head.

"Uh-uh-uh. I did not grant you permission to stand up."

"Since when do I need your permission-"

"Mother, would you be so kind as to do as I told you?" The man commanded, and the witch shook her head in denial. The man scowled and glanced at a soldier standing guard over the 'captives'. The guard leaned over the back of the old witch and placed his blade to her throat.

"Go on… Kill me. I do not regret anything… except rearing a monster such as yourself." She wheezed.

"Oh, no, mother dearest, I wouldn't kill you… I'd make your life a living hell…" The man said indifferently. The soldier snatched the witch's right hand and spread her out flat on the ground, stepping on the tips of her fingers. An unbearable cracking sound resonated through the air. Nanami winced and glared death at the man.

"Do as I say or one finger at a time will come off." He announced.

"What do you want from her?" Nanami hissed.

"Keep quiet, girl." The witch whimpered in fear, ignoring the agony her now broken fingers were causing. Nanami was about to protest when she realized Sesshoumaru looked like he was struggling. Nanami frowned.

"Sesshoumaru?" She asked in a soft whisper. He just looked at her, without being able to utter a word, furious that something was in control of him. Nanami finally realized what was happening. The witch had temporarily paralyzed him. Nanami remember this tactic as one of the sorceress's favorite. If one was not trained in breaking this mind game, it was virtually impossible to break. Nanami's eyes whipped around to the man.

"Coward. Let him go." She growled threateningly. The man seemed to ignore her and headed toward her father, drawing his sword. A cold sweat drenched Nanami; her heart seemed to drop to her ankles and freeze. Her father remained calm, but fear was showing in his eyes. The man signaled another soldier to walk to Nanami with something wrapped in a red velvet cloth. The soldier stopped in front of her and unfolded the cloth. In his hands was an eerily beautiful black gold dagger with a cold steel blade, sharpened to perfection. The handle was adorned with sapphires and onyx stones. The soldier shoved the dagger into Nanami's hands and walked a few steps behind her.

"Cooperate and this will not be as painful as it could be." The man pronounced to Nanami in a mentor's tone and placed the sword to her father's neck. Nanami's eyes widened and she dropped the dagger.

"Pick it up." He threatened.

"No." Nanami retorted. The man pressed the blade closer to her father's neck, making him wince as a few drops of blood began to trickle down the cold steel.

"Fine!" Nanami shouted and scrambled to pick up the dagger.

"Good girl. Now, will you do the honors? You know deep down inside you want to. He poisoned your mind, your being, for more than two hundred years. He deceived you over… and over… and over again… You fell into his trap. Have you ever even wondered how many women have been in the same house… the same room… the same bed that he lured you in to? What makes you think that he's any different from any other man? Why would another demon seek your power or your possessions and he wont? After all, you are in control of the most prosperous lands in Asia. You have a virtually undefeatable fleet and army at your disposal… why would he be any different from Vlad? He loved you as well… or at least that's what he wanted you to think. What makes you think he's not playing the same cards?"

"That is none of your concern."

"No matter… I want you to suffer as I have, knowing that my own mother shunned my inheritance away from me and gave it to a harpy who affiliates herself with the son of my father's killer. Now it's your turn to suffer. To pay the debt you owe me. I grant you a choice… Decide who dies, your father or your lover?"

"You're a lunatic…" Nanami's hands trembled, holding the heavy dagger.

"Decide before I do it for you."

"I'm not killing anyone."

"So your father it is." The man prepared to slit her father's throat when Nanami shouted a distressed 'no'. She reluctantly forced herself over to Sesshoumaru, tears welling up in her eyes and her throat burned. Sesshoumaru remained still, but his amber eyes burned right through her. He seemed calm and arrogant as always, but in her he sensed fear, hopelessness and enmity. Her eyes looked at his. She planned to use her power to free her father and take the both of them to safety. She tried to convey the plan through her eyes, though she knew he wouldn't understand. She slowly raised her hand and aimed the dagger at his chest. Concentrating on the dull roar of the wind and the ice cold ocean waves, Nanami slowed her breath and heart, preparing to stop time. Her eyes closed for a moment, then she opened them.

Nothing happened. She couldn't do anything. At that moment she panicked. Her eyes warned Sesshoumaru something was wrong.

"Oh, I did forget to mention that my mother can still limit your powers. Oops…" The man explained, amused. Nanami stared at the old woman. Couldn't she ignore him? That way Nanami could have used her power and gotten them all out of safety. She glared at the old woman, her eyes demanding "What are you doing?!" The witch avoided the girl's glare and sunk her head lower to the sand.

"Quit stalling." The man grumbled. Nanami wanted to tear him to shreds more than anything, but she feared for her father. She glanced at him nervously. He was just as lost and confused as she was, but he kept his cool. Nanami turned back to Sesshoumaru and locked her fingers tightly around the dagger. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she looked into his amber eyes.

Sesshoumaru's eyes didn't beg her for anything, they just remained as they always have been, cold and emotionless. –I won't blame you Nanami. You won't kill me. You're too smart for this; you'll find a way out. Just break me out of this spell and I will leave nothing but splinters of this fleet. Just do what you must to keep your father safe, I will take care of the rest.-

"Sesshoumaru…" Nanami whispered in a trembling voice. She shook her head and looked down, tears dropping to the sand. "I'm sorry…I can't… I don't want to…" She kept mumbling incoherent phrases as her forehead rested on his chest.

"Nanami." Sesshoumaru struggled enough to be able to mutter her name in a whisper. She glanced up and kissed his lips. "I can't kill you, Sesshoumaru." She whispered.

"Oh for Heaven's sake, enough of the drama…" The man protested, irritated by the affection of the two.

"Don't be afraid." Sesshoumaru managed to whisper to the girl.

"I can't do this…" Nanami sobbed.

"Then say goodbye to your father." The man became irritated and announced a final threat. Nanami took a deep breath and raised the dagger to Sesshoumaru's heart. She sobbed as she pushed its tip into his skin. He could feel the metal pierce his skin, he took one last look at Nanami's frightened eyes and closed his own. Sesshoumaru waited for the moment when all would be dark. He waited for the moment when he could no longer sense Nanami near him, when he could no longer hear her, see her, or even remember the softness of her lips. He waited but it never came.

"No, what are you-" Sesshoumaru heard the man's voice call out. He no longer felt the dagger in his skin and he heard the sound of metal piercing flesh. Then the spell was gone completely. –What's happening?-

Sesshoumaru opened his eyes and saw Nanami standing before him. She smiled weakly and her eyes looked sleepy and sad.

"Forgive me…" She whispered. Sesshoumaru felt a chill run through every inch of his body. He knew what she did but was afraid to look. –No…please…it can't be…-

Next thing he knew, Nanami was in his arms, a black dagger lodged in her, right below her chest, her blood coloring the soggy, gray sand.

"Nanami?" Sesshoumaru whispered, but she didn't respond and her eyes were closed. Sesshoumaru glanced at Nanami's father, who seemed to be distraught beyond salvation. He closed his eyes, started to weep quietly and dropped to the sand.

For the first time in his life, Sesshoumaru felt afraid, felt panic running through his entire body. He shook her limp body slightly.

"Nanami? Look at me... Open your eyes... Nanami-" Sesshoumaru dropped to his knees, holding her body close to him. He could feel tears make their way to his eyes, something that has not happened except once, for a brief moment in over two centuries, not since his father died. He could hear Nanami's father sob and let out heartwrenching sounds of agony. Sesshoumaru leaned in close to her face. She looked as if she was sleeping, her expression serene, no sign of pain or regret.

"Nanami... come back... don't leave me..." He whispered into her ear, knowing she wasn't there to hear him. Sesshoumaru listened and listened hard for any sign of life in her, hoping every second she might start to breathe again, or say something... but she was silent. Lifeless. Sesshoumaru shut his eyes as tears began to slip down his cheeks. He pressed her closer to him and kissed her ear. He wanted to say it, how much he loved her, but he didn't, knowing that she wouldn't hear him. He gently let her body rest on the ground and stood up.

The man was speechless. He glared at the dead girl and did not ever realize that he let his prisoner escape. -This can't be happening... it can't be...- His eyes switched to the old woman, still on the ground. -You witch... What did you make her do? Do you realize what you have done?!... Hell, of course you do, you were planning on it.-

"You set her up to do it, didn't you?" He growled to his mother.

"It was her decision. Her own choice... " The witch whispered.

"You lie... I want my power." The man threatened.

"There is no way that you can get it now. Thats why she killed herself. No one will be able to get the power now. For all I know it is gone now. There will be no more guardians but her. She took the power with her to the grave, to the netherworld... You will get nothing." The witch got on her knees. Her eyes seemed even more empty and gray. No one knew if she could even see through those misty orbs or if she just had visions of the past, present and future. The man was on the verge of explosion.

"What?! NO!!" He boomed and threw the sword at his mother, the blade gliding through her chest like a knife through butter. Blood trickled from the witch's mouth and around drenched the rags she was wearing.

"Foolish boy." She smiled and laughed slightly before collapsing to the ground. The man looked insane, on the brink of tearing his own limbs off, but Sesshoumaru was already planning to help him complete that task. As Nanami's father sobbed over his daughter's body, Sesshoumaru turned and stormed over to the man. Without warning or hesitation and swung at the man's face. The man tried to avoid the blows but only ended up with a broken nose and eyesocket.

"You worthless piece of-" Sesshoumaru snarled before bashing the man's face into the nearby boat. To Sesshoumaru's surprise, none of the soldiers attacked him. They just watched silently and morbidly. The man regained some balance, gushing blood into the cold ocean, and hit Sesshoumaru with an oar from the boat. The oar splintered into hundreds of pieces as it impacted with the demon's head. Sesshoumaru let out a low growl and cracked his neck without using his hands. An acid whip manifested in his hands and he lashed out at the man, viciously cutting him across every part of his body.

"Not so confident now, are you?" He growled and dealt a final, fatal blow to the man's neck, slitting his throat. The man fell into the water, gurgling, choking sounds reverberating against the boat's hull.

Maria was observing the whole situation unfold from behind the backs of a dozen soldiers. Her pulse began to race with the sight of the demon. He was just an unstoppable killing machine ready to repeat the port incident a few months back. She snuck away quietly cursing at how nothing worked out as she was promised and that her life was ruined. If she goes back, she would be tried for treason, and most likely killed, and if she stays here, Sesshoumaru will find her and turn her into dog meat. She was able to make her way to the cliff from where Nanami came.

"Maria? What are you doing here?" Ryuu was dumbfounded to see his brief romance before him. She turned pale as a ghost, her mouth dropped open but she said nothing. She just pushed past him.

"Hey, Aren't you-" Ryuu was offended but then was cutoff by a gust of wind, scented with Nanami's blood. He immidiatly turned toward the coast and scoped the area. He ran his hands through his hair. "Shit..."

The soldiers were acting peculiar in Sesshoumaru's opinion, but then again, he really didn't care at the moment what anyone was doing. They all retreated back to their camps without a word. No one even got into the ocean to retrieve the body of their leader. Sesshoumaru walked out of the sea and stopped on the cold, sandy beach. His eyes skimmed the area for Nanami, but he could not find her. All he saw was the older commander that occompanied Nanami's father, Dmitri, approaching him.

"Lord Sesshoumaru-"

"Where's the girl?" He demanded.

"She and her father are on a ship headed toward the mainland. The best medics are on the ship with them, so the girl is going to alright. Two of our best soldiers are with them for protection as well." Dmitri announced. Sesshoumaru looked a little unsettled.

"Which ship?"

"Lord Sesshoumaru, Vlad's army is still in your lands, and they are moving fast. They have already destroyed multiple cities. With all due respect, as ruler of these lands, wouldn't you want to rid your people of these vermin? My men and I are here to aid you and seek vengeance on our mutual enemy... I think the girl can wait, you know she will come back as soon as she is healed. There are thousands in danger, thousands who depend on you to keep their homeland safe, Lord Sesshoumaru, as your father once did." Dmitri tried to persuade Sesshoumaru to fulfil his duty and not chase after the girl, who the council back in Siberia wanted to be home, away from foreign demons and danger.

Sesshoumaru's eyes were fixed on the ocean, where a ship was rapidly sailing away into the gray horizon. He let out a frustrated growl and turned toward the forest.

"You'll know when and if you're needed. " He said in his usual cold tone and departed without another word to the man, who stood on the beach a little confused by the remark. Then he looked toward the seas, where the mutilated body of the man claiming to be the true guardian was being washed ashore by the dark waves. Dmitri shook his head and walked toward camp.