" You really don't know? Or is this another of your dirty games? " Nanako asked.
" Believe me, I am not lying. Tell me what happened that day? " Jin looked Nana in the eyes . A and determined look.
Nanako told him about their night together, how they were drugged and the conversation she overheard. She told him everything. As he listened to Nana's words, his eyes popped open.
It got redder as her narration progressed. He could not hold back his tears as Nanako teared , narrating the pain and embarrassment she had been through.
" Nana. Believe me. I swear on my ancestors, I did place the stupid bet, but I had clearly told and walked out of it the moment we returned from our starry trip. My feelings towards you genuine Nana. I had no part or knowledge about the mischief of my mates. I am sorry Nana violating you. I have no recollection. But I apologize to you with my whole heart and am to take any punishment you want for me. I am madly in love with you Nana. I could not bear to go back home after seeing you breaking down that day. I couldn't help but follow here. Today when I thought I was about to lose you, I could feel my world coming to an end.
I am sorry Nana for all the pain I have caused. I really am. " He went down on his knees as he her.
Nanako could feel his sincerity. She could not bring herself to see him in that state. And the fact the misunderstanding between them was over, gave her an immense sense of relief. She smiled from her heart. She too bent down beside him, and hugged him, as she whispered his ears " Honestly, I too have liked you since the day I first saw you. When that liking turned love, I didn't know. As for that night, you did not violate me, I was willing. But the fact that you used me, was destroying my soul from inside out. Today, I finally found solace. " She her eyes on his shoulder. He stood up, looked at her closely and then pulled her to and held tight. He kissed her head.
" Ahhhmmm! Aaahhmm! " Their companion had returned already. They quickly broke apart.
Both sat looking at the other and smiling foolishly. The man got the supper ready in no time.
" Here comes the meal. Jump in" He invited the two.
As the three of them are, they talked about the events of the day. The man clearly didn't know
Nanako's identity and definitely didn't know anything about Jin as well. It worked well for them they kept it that way.
" But what was that beast that had appeared in the cave? I have never heard about it all my life these woods. Didn't it look like a wolf? " The man asked.
The question made Jin drop his meal . He sat there lost in thought and suddenly rushed out of cave.
" Aye. What's up with him? Did I say anything offensive? " He asked Nana. She nodded her agreeing that he didn't say anything offensive.
"I will go check on him," She said as she stood up. But immediately stumbled and fell.
"Careful miss. Your legs just got unfrozen, be careful, you are still not fully recovered" He said.
" I will be " She smiled and went out behind Jin.
He was standing at the edge of a cliff, pondering over something with his hands.
"Jin, what happened? '' Nana asked as she came up to him.
" Nana, the beast we had seen in the cave, was our ancestral spirit protector. It only appears somebody from our imperial family is in grave danger. " He said, worried.
" Oh! I see. But you weren't in any danger today. Were you? '' Nanako observed.
"Exactly. I wasn't. I wasn't even there when it appeared " Jin said.
" So? " Nana wondered.
" So, it must have come to save someone else from the imperial family at that place. " His voice indicating something.
" But there wasn't anybody from the wolf tribe there. Was there anyone? Wasn't it just me it was " Nanako was still clueless where the conversation was headed.
"Exactly Nana. It was there to save you. " Jin's voice was at the point of cracking.
" Me? Why would that be? Did it mistake me for a wolf? " She asked.
" It's a spirit protector Nana, it cannot commit a mistake. It was there to save you but not exactly . Something, rather someone belonging to the wolf family, now entrusted to you. " He . And it was a deadly pause. Nanako's brows arched with strain as Jin completed his with much effort " Nanako , are you pregnant? "
They both kept looking at the others as the world seemed to spin around them. Words were lost.
Nanako's hands reached her middle. She looked down at it and then looked up at Jin and then his words " Am I pregnant? "
Mia was looking at the lady with her eyes wide open. Her mouth was wide open as well. The reached her to close it for her. Mia held her baby bump with her hand and said " If this is , my baby is not the first one to be born between the tribes. " She said as she smiled wide. A of relief and optimism swept through her. " There is hope for my baby then. Tell me what next! What happened to their child? Where is this child? Why does nobody know it? Tell me please tell me all. " She begged her with eyes filled with tears of happiness.
" The reason my dear child, nobody has heard about their child, is because it is dead. Killed soon after it came to this world" She said as she held Mia's hand, which was violently at the revelation.
"Killed? " She could barely utter the words.
"Yes.Mercilessly killed by people related to him by blood. " The woman's eyes too were red with building up, as she told Mia about the fate of the baby she was so hopefully optimistic .
********
Near death experience
"Mia, now listen to me very carefully. As it seems we are in the Dream Dimension of Floating
Thoughts. And those who have encountered near death episodes can only come over. I think the fact we are able to have this conversation is that your life was already jeopardized. "
The lady said.
" Jeopardised as in, am I dead? " She was as confused as before.
" No, like I said. It was a close encounter with death, but you are still breathing. But we need to this space soon, or else our souls will be trapped here forever" Her eyes were full of fear she stroked Mia's hair. " I understand your pain and troubled child, so you need to hear what
I am saying. Whatever seems surprising or strange, just figure it out later. Let me tell you what I to do without interruption. Alright? " She asked Mia's permission and she nodded.
"I have not introduced myself to you yet, I am Nanako. '' Mia's eyes gave away her shock but still held on to her silence, allowing Nana to continue. " I also happen to be Lin's great grand . '' She paused as Mia's eyes became even bigger. "I don't want history to repeat itself and to bear the consequences of my fault" Her eyes were tearing up, which made Mia emotional . She held onto Nana's hands as she continued. "This curse that you suffer is due to the my father bestowed on me and Jin for our wrongdoings. It's been hundreds of , but he still suffers somewhere where I cannot reach. My baby. " She could no longer .
Mia looked around at herself at that moment. Her body was slowly disappearing. She panicked "what's happening, what's happening" She was shrieking at full pitch.
"Mia our times are almost up here, if we forcefully linger any longer we might get trapped.
Before we part, you must find me in the real world. You need to know how it all began. Don't Mia. Find me. " Nana yelled as they both evaporated from their surroundings.
Back in this world, Mia opened her eyes and breathed with a heavy, loud sigh.
The liquid she was engulfed in had subsided till her waist. She took a few heavy gulps of breath then looked around. The images from her past still played in random accord. But Nanako's was still clearly ringing in her ears. She had to focus on getting out of there instead of sucked inside her past. She needed to let go of the temptation of taking a quick glance.
She needed to figure a way out. It seemed the place she was in responded to her mental state.
The more restless she got, the tighter the grip was of the liquid over her. The moment she heavily and cleared her mind, it subsided further down. Mia took her time to to get herself out of there. After what seemed like a few hours of struggle she did to break free. Once on her way out she took a quick look at the walls, which were now as if they were made of wax. Even the entrance started to cave in, but she managed to out.
"That was close" She thought to herself "are you alright sweetheart " She asked her baby bump
, dusted herself and started walking. " I am sure it has been hours since we last ate anything, 't we? Uuhhh, why don't I feel hungry? Ohhh! That fruit we ate in the dream world, that must been really real. Good, good. We don't need to bother about looking for food anymore . Let's concentrate on finding your father and then lady Nanako" She started looking for her right away.But she had no idea where Lin had gone. Her only chance was trying to find way to meet lady Nanako but that too was nearly impossible given the current situation. Also didn't know how or when the curse might end up following her again. Being able to avoid it only possible due to the barrier and the escape to the dream realm. She kept walking while her brain, when she saw that strange person she had saved pass a few yards ahead.
"Hey.Hey you there. Wait. Wait for me a second" She ran after him. Je completely ignored her kept walking fast with his tall feets. It was difficult for Mia to keep up. She went after him at speed anyway and after a few minutes of chasing, she finally caught up.
"Hey you mister. Why don't you respond? Didn't I save you last time? You even went away saying goodbye. You are such a strange person" Mia uttered, as she still breathed trying to catch up her breath.
"Who are you missing? How can you even see me? " The man finally spoke, facing Mia in a way.
"What do you mean by 'see you'? Do I look blind? You are standing right in front of me, why 't I be able to see you? " Mia questioned back.
The man looked as puzzled as Mia "I don't know Miss, but no one sees me. I have been like this . No human, animal or immortal has ever looked at me. They all saw right through me.
Nobody has touched or talked to me either. How can you see me, talk to me, touch me? " He .
"I, umm, I don't know. I did dress your wounds the other day, didn't I? " Mia asked.
He nodded in agreement "yes you did. And it scared me a lot. I never had anybody around. It scary and embarrassing when you treated me. So I ran away. " He said.
"What embarrassing. Why scary. I just helped you. " Mia felt a bit shy herself. "Ummm, I think what you say, you might be a special kind of spirit or creature. Don't you remember ? Like where did you come from? Ummm, did you have a family? " Mia was trying to the lost being. She felt real sympathy and sorry for him.
"Family? What is that? I come from here. I have always been here. " He said.
"Never mind. Had we met under another condition, I would have come along with you to find answers, but I have my own problems to solve. " Mia murmured.
"What problem Missy has? " He asked like an innocent child.
"Umm, quite a lot but as of now I need to find my husband and then meet his great grand aunt. "
Mia told him as simply as she could.
"Your husband? What is that? " He asked.
Mia laughed and said " That is a fox, who mostly looks like a human but is immortal. Has eye colors and rosy lips and cheeks. " Her heart thumping at his mere description.
"Oh I see. I saw that one leave you the other day " He said. Mia thought he must have been when Lin had left her inside the barrier. She just smiled at his gesture.
" I see that I will go to the forbidden forest another day soon. He had a bird along. " He said.
"What? " Mia's eyes lit up as she turned towards him in disbelief " Are you sure it was the same ? I mean you have only seen him once? Mia asked, unable to believe in her sheer luck.
" I never make mistakes. Same person missy. " He reassured me.
"Thanks heavens. Do you know which direction that is? Will you be able to take me? " Mia .
"Uhhh, I will try. I have never been there before. " He said humbly.
" That's fine. We can work it out" Mia said and pulled him along. He too silently followed her . After a few miles, Mia looked back and said " Are we heading in the right direction? "
He nodded his head in the negative.
"What? Why don't you stop me? Gosh! I feel so tired. Which way is it then? You are sure you the way? " She looked up at him suspiciously this time.
He nodded again. This time in the affirmative. Then he pulled Mia in his lap and started flying their destination.
"Oh my goodness. You can fly. And really fast and high. Why didn't you tell me so in the first ? Could have saved me so much walking. I have lived like a human all my life. Even I am an immortal, I am a useless one. No cultivation equals no skills whatsoever. " She busy complaining to herself as the strange person, zip zapping her towards the forbidden and Lin.