Chapter 127

The unexpected outcome




Mai was staring at the strange scene, dumbfounded. Kasumi was holding Sesshomaru's wrist with a self-satisfied smile on her face and the dog demon's clawed fingers were entwining Mai's palm. The girl gawked at her hand, that was being crushed in the inu-youkai's tight grip. Suddenly, she felt a shot of pain through her flesh in the exact place, where Sesshomaru's skin was touching hers.

"Ouch!" she yelped, trying to pull back the aching palm, thinking, that maybe the dog demon accidentally let out some poison from his claws.

At her cry Kasumi's smile dropped from her face, as she let go of Sesshomaru's wrist.

"I don't understand…" the crane-youkai muttered. The dog demon also released Mai. The girl swiftly pulled back, clutching her palm. As she examined it, the girl saw burn marks on her skin.

Seeing, what had happened, lady Sayuri tensed and, moving with demonic speed, appeared suddenly before Mai. The girl yelped, surprised, and tried to step back.

"Show me your hand." The demoness demanded. The girl shook her head and attempted to hide it behind her back. However, the demoness swiftly grabbed her wrist and brought the girl's hand closer, examining it. When she saw the burns, she gasped, her eyes wide-opened in shock.

"Sesshomaru, what have you done?!" she exclaimed. The dog demon looked at her indifferently.

"If anyone is to blame, it would be you." He retorted. The female inu- youkai glared at her son, fury on her face. However, before she released her anger, she looked around and realized, what show their group was just putting. "The three of you. We will discuss those matters alone."

The demoness started walking away, dragging struggling Mai behind her. Both the crane-youkai and Sesshomaru followed her right away, accompanied by the children and Jaken.

"Let go of me!" Mai hissed to lady Sayuri, but she only send her an intimidating glare, an oddly familiar one, and kept walking. Finally, she reached an empty room and pushed Mai inside, coming in after her. The girl instinctively ran to Sesshomaru and stayed behind his back, along with his other servant and the human kids. She couldn't not notice the murderous looks, that Kasumi kept sending her.

Lady Sayuri sighed and began massaging her temples.

"I think, that we have a delicate situation here." She said slowly, before turning to Kasumi. "Kasumi, you can take your leave now. Your presence is no longer required."

The crane demoness stared at Sesshomaru's mother in disbelief, looking as though she just had been slapped. She glanced quickly at the male inu-youkai, who was standing still like a statue, and then back at lady Sayuri.

"B-but…" she stuttered. "The wedding… I was supposed to marry Sesshomaru tomorrow!"

The dog demoness glared at her.

"Are you an idiot?" she snapped. "I will not have my son marry a woman, who will not be able to bear his offspring!"

Kasumi's eyes began tearing from anger, as she clenched her fists and sent Mai a hateful look.

"You would rather have him marry some weak human female?!" she shrieked, losing control over her behavior and breaking in tears.

Mai gawked at her. What the hell was she talking about? It's not like she was going to marry the demonic asshole just because he grabbed her hand to escape Kasumi, right? The rejected crane-youkai must have gone paranoid and was talking nonsense. Mai snorted at the mere thought of herself getting married to Sesshomaru – it would be surreal. Not to say, that the dog demon would probably rather commit seppuku than become involved with a human like Mai. She relaxed, feeling relatively safe, and observed the turn of the events, that was becoming more and more dramatic with Kasumi sobbing and threatening Sesshomaru's mother. The source of the quarrel, the silver-haired dog demon, stood with indifferent expression on his face.

"Calm down, Kasumi. Your tears will not make me change my mind." Lady Sayuri said coldly, before turning to her son. "I do not like the idea, but you will marry this human girl." She said, pointing with her clawed finger directly at Mai.

After her words, silence fell, but it turned abruptly into chaos. The human girl slowly came to realization, what the demoness just said.

"WHAT?!" Mai and Kasumi exclaimed simultaneously, while Jaken gave out a series of shocked squeaks. Rin and Kohaku opened their mouths agape. The only calm ones were Sesshomaru and his mother. The dog demon's only reaction was furrowing his brows. Lady Sayuri seemed to be irritated by the commotion.

"Enough!" she exclaimed. "My decision is final. The wedding will take place tomorrow."

"I'm not marrying anyone!" Mai shouted, shocked by the unexpected twist of the events. "Especially not this arrogant jerk!"

"A human will not touch my Sesshomaru!" Kasumi yelled, her eyes turning scarlet and demonic aura swirling around her frame. Jaken squeaked, seeing the reaction of the crane-youkai, but he also wanted to defend Sesshomaru's honor.

"Sesshomaru-sama will not lower himself to taking a human as his spouse!" he exclaimed, waving with Nintoujou. Rin frowned at his words and smacked him.

"Congratulations, Sesshomaru-sama!" the child exclaimed cheerfully, happy as never before in her short life.

"ENOUGH!" Lady Sayuri bellowed, silencing everyone. She glared at the noisy group and focused her anger on Kasumi. "Kasumi, go back to your father."

"But…" the demoness began, but closed her mouth, seeing youki swirling around the dog demoness, as she approached the crane youkai.

"Get out." Sesshomaru's mother said calmly, her voice made a shiver go down Mai's spine. Kasumi was also intimidated by the female inu-youkai and, without saying a word, she turned on her heel, storming out of the room. The sliding door nearly broke from the force she put in closing them behind her.

Lady Sayuri looked at her son.

"Tell your servants to wait outside." She said. The dog demon glanced at the green imp.

"Jaken, take Rin and Kohaku out." He ordered. Jaken, slightly disappointed, that he had to leave, ushered the children out of the room. Mai rushed after them, thinking, that if the servants were to wait outside, she was counted in.

"She stays." Lady Sayuri decided and Mai stopped abruptly, when she felt Sesshomaru's hand pulling her obi from behind. Hesitantly, she turned around to face the dog demoness. The girl was not eager to stay with her and Sesshomaru – she had a really bad hunch about this.

Once the three of them was alone in the room, the male inu-youkai decided to finally voice his opinion.

"I have no intention of going along with your schemes, mother." He stated. "There will be no wedding."

Mai let out a relieved breath. Thanks god, Sesshomaru wasn't so stupid to agree to this madness as well. However, lady Sayuri didn't look as happy as the girl. She frowned at her son.

"You gave me your word, that you will marry and produce a heir, when we meet again. The circumstances are… unfortunate," she cast a doubtful look at Mai. "but the word is word nonetheless."

"Hn." Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes. "Do you wish to have a hanyou grandson so badly?"

The demoness countered his glare.

"A hanyou grandson is better than none at all." She retorted. "You will marry this human girl!"

Mai observed the stare contest between mother and son. The situation was… weird, to say at least. The girl was still in the first shock and the repercussions of the possible outcome didn't reach her brain yet. Besides, she felt somewhat left out – no one even bothered to ask her, what she thought about the ridiculous issue.

"I don't…" Mai began, but was interrupted by Sesshomaru, who suddenly grabbed her arm and pushed her towards the exit.

"I will not marry the human." He hissed and was about to leave, dragging the girl along, but lady Sayuri blocked his way, appearing before him out of nowhere.

"I will not be lenient, son." She warned him. "I give you two choices: either our agreement is cancelled and you are stuck in the castle instead of me or you will wear your wedding kimono tomorrow. The choice is yours, Sesshomaru."

Mai felt the demon tensing. She expected him to protest and leave right away, but he was standing still, not giving any response. The girl panicked. He wasn't seriously considering this marriage thing, was he? She frantically looked at lady Sayuri, who was glaring at her son, as if intending to break him only with her gaze. Mai cleared her throat.

"It is some joke?" she questioned the female inu-youkai. "You can't really expect Sesshomaru and me to do something like that!"

The demoness glanced at her briefly, before looking at Sesshomaru again.

"Be silent, girl. The decision is not yours to make." She replied dryly. Then she addressed the dog demon. "What have you decided, Sesshomaru?"

"Tch!" the inu-youkai hissed, noticeably pissed. Suddenly, Mai felt him jerking her arm and shoving her towards the demoness. The girl stumbled and fell at the feet of Sesshomaru's mother, giving a small cry of pain. The demon, however, didn't even bother to look at Mai, focusing his attention on lady Sayuri. "Do with her what you like."

Then he stormed off the room, leaving the girl dumbfounded, wondering what the hell was that supposed to mean.

"Hey!" she shouted after the demon, but he didn't even turn around or glance over his shoulder.

Sesshomaru's mother sighed.

"Get up, girl." She said, yanking Mai on her feet and scanning her up and down. The girl tried to follow her boss, but lady Sayuri firmly gripped her wrist, nearly crushing it with her demonic strength.

"Let me go!" The girl hissed, struggling with the female inu-youkai, who seemed to be unimpressed with the fuss Mai was making.

"We seem to have a misunderstanding." The demoness said shortly. "You are not to see your betrothed till the wedding."

Mai stopped struggling and stared at Sesshomaru's mother, the seriousness of her situation slowly reaching her mind, although she refused to believe it.

"What wedding?" she uttered. Lady Sayuri sighed heavily.

"Are you deaf or dumb, human?" she asked harshly. "Tomorrow you are marrying my son."

Mai kept staring at her with a stupid expression on her face, still in shock.

"B-but Sesshomaru would never…" she began, but the female inu-youkai was beginning to grow impatient.

"He consented already." She snapped at Mai. "Now we must place you in your chambers."

The demoness grabbed the girl's arm tighter and dragged her after herself out of the room. They passed numerous corridors and climbed a lot of stairs, before reaching the chambers, that were supposed to belong to Sesshomaru's bride. Mai struggled and protested along the way, but the demonic strength of lady Sayuri was superior to hers. The female inu-youkai pushed her into the large room and left, ushering the servants out. The girl was alone.




Mai sat on the bench near the window and was staring at the sky. Slowly, she began to realize, what would exactly happen to her.

"Oh crap." She muttered. It was still so difficult to believe. The whole situation seemed to be a big joke, but gradually it was becoming more and more real. In short: the demonic mother of the demonic asshole was going to make her marry Sesshomaru. It was so wrong! Mai felt anger welling in her.

She clenched her fist, having decided, that no youkai will order her around and make the most important life decisions for her! No way, she would let them do that! The decision, whom to marry belonged to her and her alone. How in the world did it even happen, that Sesshomaru agreed to this madness?! Right, the bitchy mother blackmailed him to stop him from wandering around if he disobeys.

"Egoistical asshole!" she cursed aloud, clenching the window frame. She refused to marry HIM. The demon was much kinder to her than before and almost likeable, but to have him as a husband… a nightmare. Mai wouldn't be able to stand the man for ten minutes, not to say her whole lifetime.

Besides, he was a demon! A real youkai – with youkai looks, youkai strength, youkai abilities. Damn, she wished to have a normal family, not a demonic husband, that kills everything that stands in his way without any remorse, and a bunch of Inuyasha-like kids. She wanted to escape the guy somehow after Naraku is defeated and the current situation seemed like a life sentence.

Suddenly, Mai heard the sound of sliding door, that made her snap out of thinking about the nightmare she was in. She turned around to see the newcomer and sighed with disappointment, as Sesshomaru's mother came in, carrying a bunch of white clothes. She carefully hanged it on the special stand and the girl saw, what the demoness brought – a snow-white wedding kimono. The girl felt an unpleasant twisting in her stomach.

"This kimono was meant for Kasumi, but it should fit you as well, even though you are shorter." Lady Sayuri said. "There could be some adjustments needed, so you will have to try it on."

Mai glared at the demoness and turned her back to her.

"I won't wear that." She stated stubbornly. The female inu-youkai frowned.

"Of course you will. What else would you like to wear on your wedding day?" she asked. The girl didn't have the slightest intention to yield. Now, when the first shock was over, she was prepared to fight with all her strength.

"I'm not taking part in any wedding." She said. The demoness sat down casually.

"Do not be foolish. The situation is unfortunate, but since you are the only woman, that could be a mother of Sesshomaru's child, it cannot be helped. Neither me nor Sesshomaru are thrilled with this, considering the fact, that you are a human, but we accepted it and you should do so too." She lectured Mai. The girl turned to look at her and sent the demoness her most poisonous glare.

"I will not marry Sesshomaru. Ever." She said loudly and slowly, so that the words would reach Sesshomaru's mother. Lady Sayuri wasn't impressed by her resistance and her face showed no emotions.

"I want to talk to Sesshomaru." Mai demanded.

"He will not see you till the wedding." The demoness responded. The girl felt pissed, that the bastard didn't even have the guts to face her and explain, why the hell did he drag her in his twisted family issues.

"Why won't he? Have you forbidden him?" Mai inquired. The female inu-youkai sighed, tired by the girl's demands.

"It is a custom. Besides, we agreed, that it would be better for you not to see him." She said patiently.

"If he doesn't even want to talk to me, I won't even consider marrying him." Mai responded stubbornly, even though she lied a little bit – under no circumstances she would consider marrying the arrogant jerk.

"I do not understand, why are you so reluctant to marry my son. He is a fine match, after all." She said, examining her red claws. Mai snorted.

"He's a demon." She made her point. The demoness nodded.

"He is. As a Taiyoukai he can give you strong children, stronger, than any human male could." Lady Sayuri responded. Mai narrowed her eyes at the mention of the children. No way she would have Inuyasha-clones running around her future home!

"It's not about it!" she protested. Lady Sayuri sighed.

"He is an attractive man. Do you think otherwise?" she asked. Mai felt a blush appearing on her face, as she remembered the sight of Sesshomaru with only his hakama on… and without it. She couldn't deny, that the dog demon was sinfully handsome, the way it should be illegal. Lady Sayuri smiled, seeing Mai's blush. "You should feel honored to be his future spouse. Many demonesses would kill for that privilege."

The girl stopped blushing at the youkai woman's remark.

"I'm not a demoness." She said stubbornly. "And I will rather die than marry this pompous, arrogant, egoistical asshole. And I won't change my mind!"

She glared at the demoness, as though challenging her, but lady Sayuri decided not to argue.

Maintaining her calm demeanor, she stood up and made her way toward the door. While lingering in the doorway, she glanced at Mai.

"I will leave you for the night to think it over. I hope, that you will change your mind till the morning." She said.

"I won't." Mai declared. Lady Sayuri turned around and left, locking the door to the girl's prison behind her.




After the conversation with Sesshomaru's bitchy mother Mai realized, that the attempt to talk some sense into the demons' thick skulls was totally pointless. Lady Sayuri was so determined to have grandchildren, that she was even ready to marry her son off to a human against the will of both parties. Sesshomaru wasn't better either – he planned to go through the wedding nightmare to be free from his mother's nagging and be able to happily chase strongest demons and battle them. Sacrificing Mai's life dreams was a minor detail, not worth their attention. It was apparent, that the wedding will take place tomorrow, despite the girl's protests. If only she could just vanish from here…

Suddenly an idea popped into Mai's head. It was crazy and utterly stupid, but she didn't have the better plan. She had to escape again. The girl was sure, that she could find an ally in Jaken and most certainly in carrot-loving Ah-Un, so she had to get the hell out of here and find those two. She saw the stables, where the dragon was and she was almost sure, that she could find the way from here. Then, she would just fly away and stay with Inuyasha for a while. Maybe she could return to Sesshomaru, when his mother calmed down…

The girl made her decision – she was escaping! Mai glanced at the door – the only way out. It was locked and there were guards outside, so that way was out of question. However, there was another possibility. She came closer to the window and looked down. Almost immediately she stepped back, feeling, that her head was spinning. Crap, there was over ten meters between her window and the ground. How could she come down? Mai took a deep breath, trying to think positively. A rope. She needed a good rope to use it for climbing down. She looked around the room, looking for something, that would do. She saw a bed, some other furniture, the white wedding kimono and a closet full of clothes. An idea dawned on her, as she approached the closet and opened the sliding door. Inside there were fine kimonos and various obi. The girl took one of it and examined the material – it was thick and long, so it could easily support her weight. If only she tied a couple of these together, it would serve as a good rope. Not wasting any time, she got to work. Swiftly, Mai tied the ends of several obi and estimated the length of her makeshift rope. It should be just enough. She tied one end to the heavy bed and threw her rope outside the window.

She grabbed the silk fabric tightly. She took a deep breath and swung her leg over the window frame.