Nomi's Story
"Who is this Nomi anyway?" Kouga asked Sora, thinking to distract all the wolves from Manta's pack from blindly attacking Sesshoumaru which would only get them killed and leave Manta quite packless. "Why would she have to be kept away from us wolves?"
"Ahhh..well that's a long story." Sora said with a slightly nervous look thinking that Kouga couldn't have come up with a worse topic for that moment. Nomi was always a touchy subject with Kouga much less Manta who hated Nomi with a driving passion ever since that incident..well this was not good. "Well Nomi is kind of my brother Kiyoshi's shadow in that where ever he is she usually is too. And well there was an incident in the past, well in your future that will make things..well it's better that Nomi keep away from all wolf demons as much as possible."
"A wolf or just demon slayer?" One of the wolves asked since he knew his leader would want to know but Manta was too busy trying to recover to ask though he was listening intently to what was being said for any ridicule aimed in his direction.
"Neither actually. She's a demon as well." Kyo said with a smile hoping that he could somehow defuse this though most of the demons were no longer watching Ferio swear and curse and were instead concentrating on the discussion until a new topic was suddenly causing a buzz which relieved Kyo greatly until he heard the word wind demon and with dread everyone looked at the screen. Apparently Ferio had ordered to be show what was left of his troops and now they could see said troops along with a wind demon riding on a feather heading straight for them. "Oh sugar." Kyo said with a wince as many of the wolves started snarling the name Kagura even though it wasn't Kagura Kyo knew knowing exactly who it was. "There goes the neighborhood."
Future
A figure dressed in a black kimono with pick sakura blossoms all over it and her waist length black hair flying out behind her the wind demon was a strikingly beautiful creature, her red eyes fixed on the demons as she headed her feather straight for her target. Technically she should call for reinforcements but she knew that as soon as the wolves scented her they'd be trying to kill her and then when Daddy heard about it he'd kill every last one of them dead. That wouldn't be good and so she'd just take care of them herself. Upon landing in the meadow where the fools had stopped to lick their wounds they all turned their attention to the average height girl walking towards them as her feather shrunk and flew into her hair. She was willowy of form and looked as dangerous as a fluffy bunny rabbit. As she had quite a reputation all over these parts Nomi wasn't surprised at all when they started with the jeering.
"Well lookie what we have here, its the great Lord's little pet." A particularly ugly weasel demon said with a sneer. "A little far from home aren't you little girl? You aren't careful you'll end up like your mother with pieces of you scattered all over the place."
"Maybe we should use her as bait, she'll draw the wolves out like bees to honey." One of the smarter demons involved in this said with a sly look on his face as he considered her. "After all she's Kagura's little bitch and they've been foaming at the mouth to get a hold of her ever since they lost her to Sesshoumaru." The demon pointed out, running his hands together like he'd just been presented with a wondrous gift. "Or maybe you'd care to follow in your bitch mother's footsteps and draw them out for us. Ferio would pay you well."
"No wonder you're Ferio lackeys, your brains must be smaller then a flea demons." Nomi said rolling her eyes like she was dealing with stupid children. "And I didn't come here to help you. I came here to kill you." Nomi added with a sweet and innocent smile that was in complete opposite to her words.
"Ha, like we're afraid of you." One of the stupidest in the bunch scoffed as he saw only the image she projected and not the core of who and what she was. "You'll scream for mercy when we're done with you, bitch whore. And then we'll send your rotting corpse to that pathetically weak dog demon you call father and then we'll tear him and his unnatural little abominations to shreds."
Eyes flashing violently Nomi pulled her blade from the sheath at her side and came running at them with fire burning in her red eyes. Jumping into the air her sword shimmered with a strange blue light, the slashes she made in the air flying at the demon targets, the slashes shown by blue light as they slashed through the demons with deadly destruction. Landing on her feet Nomi stared at the corpses littering the ground then seeing a few more left standing in shock finished them off with her blade before loudly proclaiming her anger while she gave the corpses the middle finger. "No one talks about my Daddy or my family like that! Stupid meanies!" Nomi added before sticking her tongue out at them and kicking one corpse in the head as she pulled out her feather and was soon on it and zooming away with a pouty look on her face.
Past
"What the hell....Kagura's..daughter?" Kouga growled, her very name like a slice into his heart. God how he hated that name and the news that she would die made him happy even as he couldn't decide what to feel concerning her daughter. Apparently the girl was fighting on the right side but she was still that witch's daughter and there wasn't a wolf demon who knew Kagura's name who didn't hate her. Wait a it be...."Sora, is that Nomi?"
"How is it that our family is allies with the daughter of the wind demon Kagura?" Sesshoumaru asked as he pushed aside Kouga's question turning his attention to his daughter who didn't know whether to explain or try to lie her way through this. "Can you show that?" Sesshoumaru asked as he turned his attention to the woman controlling the mirror who was showing the images to them. Immediately a huge argument broke but those who were trying to keep the peace, mainly Inu yasha's group and the children from the future. The demoness was soon drawing upon her power with the warning that such things would drain her of so much power she would not be able to show them anymore. Since the leaders of their kinds for the area all wanted to see there was really no protests and soon the mirror shimmered and then images of children appeared as the story behind Nomi played out.
As they see and hear it
Coming into focus there were four children of various ages looking all to be around the age of seven to ten with one human girl that looked to be in her late twenties perhaps and obviously in charge. Three of the children were boys who all had the purple crescent moons and stripes on their faces to make their heritage obviously known while the girl with them looked a great deal like a miniature Kagome with her hair in pigtails wearing a bright yellow shirt with purple overalls. Her demon cousins all wore loose pants of varying colors with robes over top like miniature versions of their father Sesshoumaru. They were all walking along chatting away when the children started tugging on Rin's hand as they pointed to the east of them, talking about a strange smell coming from over there. Of course Rin wouldn't let them go but Ronin, always curious slipped away and realizing he was gone Rin didn't have to think about where the mischievous rascal had gone. Since she couldn't leave the other children behind Rin ushered them with her and soon they found Ronin standing over a still female figure in torn robes who was laying on the ground, not moving. He was shaking her shoulder trying to get her to wake up and the blood that was pouring from her wounds and onto the ground scared him though he was too much his father's son to show it. When they arrived on the scene Rin immediately hurried over and told Ronin to get away from the woman then once he'd complied Rin walked over and gasped when she identified the still form as Kagura, the wind user she'd once know as a child though she was in very bad shape and barely alive. Looking over her shoulder when she felt someone poke her side she saw Hotaru there looking at her with sad eyes. "What is it, sweetie?" Rin asked though she already knew. Hotaru cried when she accidentally stepped on ants, much less being faced with an actually dying person.
"Kiyoshi smelled something and went over there." Hotaru announced pointing a small distance away where her cousin had gone. "Is the lady going to be okay? We should get Uncle Sessie to come and make her all better with his magical sword."
Not likely, Rin thought with a grimace then remembering called Kiyoshi back. Shortly the boy came walking back only he was carrying something in his arms which he was staring at in fascination, not even looking where he was going. "Kiyoshi, what do you have there?" Rin asked and the boy quickly came over and held up his prize to his big sister so that she could see the infant he held in his arms, wrapped in a blanket with her bright red eyes wide and laughing, a smile on her chubby face. "A baby...oh my." Hearing the sound of crashing Rin could only blink when her father suddenly appeared with Jakken, both looking ready for battle. "Father."
"What happened?" Sesshoumaru demanded as his gaze swept over his children and Hotaru to make sure they were okay then down to the still form laying on the ground. He didn't feel one way or another about the wind usher and looking down at her still form Sesshoumaru felt a small stir of pity as everything she'd done was really a result of Naraku and not of her own will. In fact as far as he knew since Naraku's defeat she'd lived in solitary peace and he'd heard nothing of her continuing her former master's work. "Kagura...the wolves finally got her, they're looking for her now. I met up with them and came to retrieve you children so that you didn't get in their way."
"Sesshoumaru-sama...please." Came a weak voice and everyone crowded around as Kagura's eyes flickered open as though she'd been saving all her strength till the Lord of the West got there. "I beg you..take her..please...protect her from them."
"Who is she?" Sesshoumaru said in confusion then figured it out when his son came over and showed the baby to him, Kagura managing a weak smile at the sight of her child. "You wish me to take your child? Why would I of all people do such a thing?" Sesshoumaru said in a cold tone though he already knew why. In the recent years people had assumed he'd softened a lot more then he had and were continually underestimating him and what he would and would not do.
"Please..Nomi has done nothing wrong but..but they will tear her to shreds for my..sins. They've killed my..my love and now me. I will not ask you to save me..only her. The wolves..they fear you and will leave her..alone if she is under your protection." Kagura said before breaking into choking coughs, coughing up blood which had the children moving closer to Rin and Sesshoumaru even while they stared at her. "I beg you...Lord of the West..most powerful demon..take her and give her the life..I couldn't."
"And have the wolves attacking my holding and those connected with me in revenge for taking away their prize?" Sesshoumaru said shaking his white head, refusing to look at the child for fear of weakening. "Kiyoshi." Sesshoumaru added as he looked over at his son who was watching his father for instruction, the baby gurgling happily in his arms. "Put the child with her and we're leaving."
"No." Kiyoshi said simply and everyone gapping at the boy in startled surprise, Sesshoumaru obviously not knowing what to do since his children knew better then to question him and it was his child so he couldn't harm the boy. Demanding the boy to put the baby down the boy simply shook his head. "She's mine." Kiyoshi stated with a stubborn look coming into his eyes as he cradled the child against him protectively. "Nomi is mine, I'll protect her from the wolves."
"They'd tear you to shreds." Sesshoumaru pointed out in exasperation.
"You wouldn't let them." Kiyoshi pointed out wisely and since it was true that he would tear apart anyone who even raised a hand to one of his children Sesshoumaru couldn't argue his son's point. Looking from the still form of Kagura who watched him to the children and Rin who were all looking at him expectedly Sesshoumaru shook his head then turned his attention to Kagura.
"She will have mine through my son." Sesshoumaru said and then ordered all his children to start back towards the house, turning his back on Kagura even as she thanked him. Herding the children away they could distantly hear the howls of the wolves and in protection Sesshoumaru transformed into his true form and had everyone climb on for a ride, arriving at the meadow on the east side of his holding clearly visible in no time. Transforming back Sesshoumaru walked with the children following close behind with Rin covering the back, everyone quiet knowing better then to speak since they could all tell that the great Lord of the West was not happy at all.
Aware of the looks his siblings and cousin were giving him Kiyoshi was too busy gazing at his new ward to pay much attention to the looks. It was as if the little girl had him hypnotized and all he could think about was that he would take good care of her and that when she grew up she'd be as powerful as his Mommy and the wolves would quiver at the sight of her. Feeling a hand on his shoulder Kiyoshi looked up to see Rin with her hand on his shoulder, a sympathetic look on her face. Not so young that he didn't see the problems with his plans Kiyoshi looked at his big sister with a questioning look. "Do you think he'll let mommy help me with her?"
"I don't think he could stop her, Ki." Rin said with a wink as she smiled down at the baby. "And you have a very beautiful baby there so you'll have to take very good care of her."
"I will." Kiyoshi said with a serious look that looked absolutely adorable on his pretty cute face.
Meanwhile
At that point the pictures blurred and then there were clips shown of Nomi as she grew up, usually with Kiyoshi within reaching distance as she took her first steps, picked flowers and played with Kiyoshi and his brothers with obvious delight. There were a few with Sesshoumaru in it but by all appearances he ignored the child and to a large extent seemed to pretend she wasn't there or that she even existed. Then the pictured cleared up and a new scene began with the girl Nomi looking to be around seven in human years. She was sitting a meadow without anything but trees and woods in sight as she picked flowers which she was forming into a pretty arrangement, discarded daisy chains all around her. She was humming under her breath but then she stopped suddenly and looked around her as though she sensed something was wrong. Getting to her feet she dropped her flowers and started running just as the causes of her fear came into view. Fourteen full bloodied wolf demons had her surrounded on all sides forming a circle around her as she turned every which way looking for a means of escape where there was none. A wolf broke away from the circle to reveal himself as Manta, an evil and cruel look on his face as he approached the child who started to back away then forced herself to stand her ground, junting out her chin rebelliously. "Well well, looks like the little bitch wandered a bit far from home and away from her protectors." Manta sneered as he towered over the girl. "You know that Sesshoumaru sama doesn't even want you, don't you? We could take you right now and when we were done with you there'd be nothing left for him to trace..not that he'd bother or care. After all your nothing but that weakling son of his's pet, a weak little pest Sesshoumaru sama would likely be thrilled to get rid of."
"I'm..I'm not afraid of you." Nomi said though her voice shook slightly since she wasn't entirely sure that he wasn't right. "And he will too care..Master Sesshomaru will kill you if you lay a hand on me."
"Well then lets just see." Manta said with a laugh that had her shrinking into herself at the cruelty she heard in the laugh. "Several members of my little group here lost family thanks to your mother..they'd love to get some payback. An eye for an eye." Manta said then backing up told his wolves to tear the girl to shreds. The first to reach her picked her up by the front of her kimono and backhanded her before throwing her over to another who caught her before throwing her hard to the ground as the girl silently cried, in serious pain as she curled up to in a ball as one of the wolves drew back his foot to kick her again after his first hard kick to her ribcage. The second kick never came though as a roar of fury filled the air and all the wolves backed up to surrounded their leader as Sesshoumaru came snarling into the clearing, his sword out and the most frightening dark and angry look anyone had ever seen on his handsome face. Getting between Nomi and the wolves he simply looked at them as they shook where they stood in fear, his very look terrifying them to the bone.
"Nomi..are you alright?" Sesshoumaru asked in a surprisingly gentle voice, never taking his eyes off the wolves as he waited for an answer. When she replied that she was okay Sesshoumaru's eyes lost some of their heat but there was still plenty to spare. "You've developed a death wish, Manta. What made you think you could get away with laying a hand on one of my children?" Sesshoumaru asked in a soft but very deadly voice. 'Were you under the mistaken impression that you could take me on even with your pathetic little furballs there to help you out?"
"But..but she's not your child." One of the wolves stupidly said as he pointed at the child who was peering from behind Sesshoumaru, her arms wrapped around her waist.. "She's that evil bitch's daughter. She's nothing but an abomination."
"You've all just sealed your fates." Was his answer as Sesshoumaru reached for the sash to his robes and removing said robes threw it behind him with orders to Nomi to put the garment over her head and to plug her ears. Waiting a moment for that to be completed Sesshoumaru turned around briefly to check then turning back to them proceeded to massacre every wolf there, tearing them literally limb from limb leaving only Manta alive though minus an arm and sorely beaten. Backing Manta up against a tree with his blade at the wolf's throat Sesshoumaru gave his orders. "I will let you live only to spread the word of what has happened here and why. Anything that dare even think of attempting to harm what is mine will be killed and very unpleasantly at that. Now run, away." Sesshoumaru commanded and backing up watched the wolf take off running, leaving the remains of his comrades where they'd fallen. Waiting until he was out of sight Sesshoumaru walked back over to Nomi and removed the robe from her head, the child blinking at him with tears rolling down her cheeks, her fingers in her ears. Gently pulling them out Sesshoumaru put the robe back on then to the girl's obvious shock picked her up and started walking back the way he'd come with her cradled in his arms. "Never wander away like this again, Nomi. Everyone was worried sick." Sesshoumaru commanded and had the girl nodding her head rapidly in agreement. Minutes going by the girl seemed to be thinking hard about something before she finally spoke.
"Master Sesshoumaru.....you told those bad wolves that I was one of your children...but you said that I was Kiyoshi's and that I wasn't your child before..so which is it?" Nomi asked as she looked at him questioningly, her little face swelling up already from the slap she'd received. "Am I a servant like Jakken or am I yours like Kiyoshi and Kohaku are yours?"
Quiet for a very long time Sesshoumaru finally answered. "You're mine..just like Kiyoshi and Kohaku."
"Oh." Nomi said with a growing smile before hesitantly wrapping her arms around his neck and when he didn't tell her to let him go she smiled and laid her head on his shoulder. "Does that mean I can call you Daddy like Dare and Sora do?"
"I'll think about it." Was his tense response.