Chapter Text
“KUROMARUUUU!!”
People walking by paused, giving the young girl incredulous looks as she stood, hands cupped around her mouth. Nanami sighed, dropping her arms in defeat, as the villagers shook their heads and continued on.
What do I do now? She hadn't gotten anymore leads, and the very recent ordeal concerning the oni-
Nope. Not gonna think about it. Push away the chaotic, red-haired demon.
A merchant’s call caught her attention, and for the first time, she was aware of her surroundings. This wasnt the Tokyo she knew. Instead of cars and vehicles on the streets, people walked, save for the occasional palanquin that passed by. Markets lined the streets, a child chasing a ball nearby. It was similar in a way, but a reminder that this was Edo.
Tokyo 500 years ago.
Not only that, she was alone. Even Mamoru wasn’t with her, and with each passing day her fear for Tomoe grew.
She stared at her feet, trying not to spiral. “How am i going to save tomoe like this-”
“Are you alright, miss?”
“GAH!” Nanami flinched back, hitting the wall behind her, eyes jumping up to the voice that apparently materialized in front of her.
It was a man, not much older than she was. He held a gold staff, rings jingling at the top(it was a wonder how that didn’t give him away). His brown hair had been pulled back into a small ponytail, clean features gazing at her in interest. Dressed in purple robes, she got the sense that he was a monk of some sorts.
Still, she clutched the wall behind her a little tighter. He didnt seem to be a villager.
“Sorry, sorry,” he bowed slightly. “It wasn't my intention to scare a fine lady such as yourself.” He looked at her again and offered a warm half-smile. She straightened, brushing the dust off her yukata. “Sure…sneak up on the unsuspecting lady, what a smart idea.” she muttered under her breath.
She flinched again as he let out a booming laugh. “...you’re quite funny, miss. Tell me, what's your name?”
“It's…Nanami?”
“Miss Nanami…it suits you. I am Miroku,”-he clasped her hand within his, the rings on his staff rattling together as it was moved to his elbow, and he sighed-"and I've been cursed, you see.”
“Cursed?” Her eyes widened, both at the gesture and his words. This could be great! He could have information on Kuromaru! “Was it-”
“No matter! I wouldn’t expect you to know anything about the demon. Besides, ive resigned myself to this fate.” Nanami’s hopes deflated.
“Oh…I see.” It seemed as though he didn’t want to share anything more…
“This curse threatens me with a short life, and with my travels, an even shorter one. Therefore, I have a favor to request from you.” He suddenly looked entirely serious, watching Nanami through pleading eyes.
A lump rose in her throat. She wasn’t sure how much time she had to look for Kuromaru. But there was someone in front of her in need of assistance. Perhaps she could hear him out first. She was a land kami! It was her job to provide assistance, wasn’t it?
With a new determined look on her face, she nodded, offering a smile in return. “What can I do to help?”
His smile returned, even wider.
“Would you bear my children?”
The village, people, everything disappeared. Or maybe, it was just the inability to process what was said. The smile she held twitched as she continued staring, sure she didn’t hear correctly. “What?”
Then it dawned.
Pulling her hand out, she backed up while sputtering nonsense. “How-? Curse-??” He just-! What the heck?!
“Monk-sama?” The monk stiffened, before he turned, his back facing a dumbfounded nanami.
“Sango! Ahaha…what’re you doing here?” There was a slight increase of pitch in the man’s voice.
“I could ask the same of you.” The woman pushed aside Miroku, revealing Nanami.
“Was this man harassing you?” The woman–Sango–asked, her voice dangerously calm. She was dressed in a kimono of pink shades, a green mo-bakama, and a giant boomerang strapped to her back. Purple cloth was tied around her shoulders. Her long brown hair was tied at the end, and the way she stood over Nanami had her fumbling for words all over again. Her brown eyes steeled at Nanami’s display.
“Uh…I…I don’t..”
“Now, I wouldn’t call it harassment-” Miroku tried to intervene, holding his hands up, yet shrank back as Sango sharply glared at him. Nanami, though still shocked, noticed one of his hands had a glove wrapped with prayer beads.
Sango turned back to Nanami, brown eyes softer than the look she had given him. “I apologize on his behalf, miss.” She bowed slightly, before grabbing the monk’s arm and marching out to the street.
“Sango-”
“Kagome and the others are waiting, Monk-sama, and you’re here flirting. Honestly-” she scoffed in disgust. The two left her field of vision, the interaction so random Nanami couldnt do anything but stare as they left.
A traveling monk, what a perv! What about chastity and all that–
Wait. A traveling monk.
An idea struck her. If the two were travelers, could they have any information about the fallen kami Nanami was looking for? Shaking off her earlier shock, she picked up her bag and stepped out into the street, searching for the monk and woman.
Villagers filled the capital, making it a bit difficult to locate someone. No, no, not them…not them either…
There! Walking side by side.
She made her way to them immediately, bumping and apologizing to the people around her. By the time she got close enough, Sango’s voice of chewing out the perv-Miroku- drifted over to her.
“You’re lucky I offered to find you instead of-”
“Excuse me! Wait-!”
The monk was the first to stop and turn.
“Lady Nanami?” Confusion flitted across his features, before he smiled (out of relief) again. “Ah, have you accepted my request-?”
“No, I uh, I wanted to ask something,” Nanami cleared her throat, not giving him a chance to bring that up again. Sango had also paused, slightly looking back. “Please?”
Suddenly, someone shouldered her aside, earning an oof from Nanami as she staggered. Pouting, she turned back. “Hey! Watch where you’re going!” the stranger didnt deign to reply, instead continuing onward.
“Lady Nanami, perhaps we should move to the side?” Miroku chuckled. She sighed.
“That’s probably for the best…” Sango voiced her agreement as well. The three walked to the nearest side, a shaded area with abandoned market stands. Nanami dropped her heavy backpack with a sigh of relief, earning a look of curiosity from Sango.
“So,” Sango prompted. “Your question?”
“Oh! Yes!” Nanami straightened. “I came to find someone.” With the way they both waited, she took it as a sign to continue.
“You see, I'm looking for a fallen kami by the name of Kuromaru. Have any of you heard of him?”
“Fallen kami?” Sango paused, before shaking her head. “No, this is the first time I’m hearing anything about it…”
The monk also shook his head. “I'm afraid not, Lady Nanami.” he gave a sigh. “I apologize for not having more information for you, especially since you came after me-”
Nanami waved her hands, trying not to let the disappointment show, smiling weakly. “No, no, it’s alright. I’m sorry for bothering.”
“I can assure you, it definitely wasn’t a bother-”
“Monk-sama.” Sango’s tone made him stand a bit straighter as he forced out an awkward chuckle. His gloved hand went to the back of his head, while his other hand gripped the staff tighter. Nanami stifled a giggle at the scene.
Sango cleared her throat. “Although, if you’d like to tell us more, perhaps we could be of more help.” While she clearly meant to be helpful, Nanami wasn’t sure if it would be entirely smart to tell them about Tomoe, who was being hunted by pretty much everyone in this era. Face slightly falling, she eyed the boomerang strapped to Sango’s back. These people seem very nice, though. I'm sure it won't hurt to explain some things?
“Well, I'm trying to break the curse of someone close to me.” Tomoe’s marked face popped up in her mind, and she shuddered. It was a reminder of how limited her time was. She paused, trying to word the next part without giving away too much.
“Since he made a deal with him, I need to find Kuromaru, or else he dies.” The monk gave a hm, eyes skyward as he thought this over. Sango also appeared to be deep in thought, before snapping her head up to Nanami.
“What do you intend to do when you find him?” Nanami opened her mouth but quickly closed it. A few moments later, she spoke again.
“All I really need to do is ask how to break it.” She grinned at the two, who seemed to be gaping at her. “Then everything will be fine!” Tomoe would be saved, and Yukiji… her smile faltered a bit at the thought of the kind woman entwined with his fate. That's not the point right now, Nanami thought. Focus on Kuromaru.
Miroku and Sango exchanged a glance.
“Miss Nanami…surely you don’t think it’ll be that easy?” Sango looked quite worried as she faced her again.
“What do you mean?” Nanami cocked her head.
Miroku gave a sigh. “Lady Nanami, would a fallen kami really just give you the answer?” The monk looked quite worried. “After all, they’re known to bargain.”
Nanami turned over his words in her mind. She had expected to give up something. But it wasn’t something that really worried her.
She’d do anything for him.
“If there are consequences,” Nanami replied, “I’ll deal with them later. I need to save tom-him.” She stood tall with her answer.
Sango nodded. “Well, it seems you’re prepared…would you like help?” Nanami shook her head.
“Thank you, but I'll be alright!” She smiled again. “I won’t forget the help you’ve already given me.”
“Right. Stay safe, Lady Nanami. I might come back to visit.” The monk turned once more, and set off in his original direction, turning his head slightly so Nanami could catch the wink he threw at her. She blinked. While his intentions seemed…to be in the wrong place, he was quite polite. I wonder if the curse has anything to do with his hand…
“Miss Nanami,” Nanami was brought out of her thoughts. She turned fully to Sango, who looked a bit hesitant. “About the quest you intend to go on, may I give some advice?” Nanami gave a nod, signaling for her to go on.
Sango leaned in, one hand on her shoulder while she spoke quietly into her ear. “While you seem very determined, I ask that you be careful. Especially if you’re dealing with a fallen kami.” she leaned back to meet her eyes. The words flipped her stomach as she swallowed. She had known since the start that this would be dangerous, but it was the only way to save Tomoe from the curse.
Still, she was grateful to the woman. It was easy to see that she had been through something similar. “Thank you, Miss Sango. I won’t forget this.” Sango softened, squeezing her shoulder once more before turning, following the path the monk took.
Nanami watched her figure go smaller, until she couldn’t see her entirely. Sango’s words were clearly meant as a warning, but it only made her more determined to find Kuromaru.
Putting her hands on her hips, she looked up to the sky, bright blue and cloudless.
“You’ll be fine soon, Tomoe, I’ll make sure of it.”
“Nanami?” She turned at the sound of her name, a familiar figure sitting atop a horse, staring at her through the veil she wore.
“Ah! Lady Yukiji?!”
~~~
“I wonder what kind of curse that person’s under that has her going to a fallen kami,” Sango mused to Miroku as they made their way back to their group, shopkeepers calling out prices and goods in the street. She turned to him wide eyed. “Should we have gone with her?”
Miroku shook his head. “I think she’ll be able to handle her own,” he glanced in her direction. “I sensed spiritual power from her.”
“She’s a priestess? Wouldn’t she have mentioned that?” Sango still looked unconvinced. Miroku shrugged, rings on his staff ringing with the movement.
“She didn’t mention a lot of things. It seemed she didnt want to tell us the whole thing.” Sango looked back to where they left her.
“I hope she reaches her goal,” with a sigh, she turned her gaze forward again. “She reminded me a little of Kagome…”
“Hey! What took so long?!” a spot of red made their way to them, the voice clearly annoyed.
“Inuyasha! Sorry, someone needed some help…”