Chapter 112

In the enemy's den


Mai stared with horror reflecting in her eyes at the youkai gathered in the garden. The fox servants were busing around them, pouring tea and providing the snacks. The girl counted six demons, excluding herself, Ichizo and his men.  
Crap, the more contact with the youkai, the worse.

Ichizo smiled at her formally.

"Lady Anzu, I believe, that introductions are in order." He said.

And so she met the six other clan leaders: the fat and grumpy raccoon Sadao, old, but wise turtle Goro, the slimy-looking leader of the Salamander Clan Masahiro, the suspicious and hostile Oroha, the female viper. Mai fought the blush while Ichizo introduced her to Kou of the Swan Clan, the elegant man clad in white, with impeccable manners and pleasant disposition. The leopard cat called Yuudai was also good-looking, but had dangerous air around him.

"It seems, that Hosen of the Bear Clan is still not here." Ichizo noticed, frowning with worry.
Oroha the viper showed her pointy fangs.

"Maybe the winter stopped him." She suggested. "The weather is harsh on Hokkaido."

From an unknown reason, the demons laughed, as though the snake woman said something funny. Mai forced herself to smile, not to raise any suspicions. Ichizo bowed slightly.

"Now I must leave you." He said and stalked to converse with Yuudai and Oroha, who seemed to need more of his convincing.

Mai stood in place, frozen and having no clue, what to do. The demons were chatting with each other casually, formal, but rather friendly atmosphere in the air. It looked like some CEO meeting, but she didn't really want to talk to the youkai. She had no knowledge of their matters and only by miracle she managed to get through the conversation with Ichizo smoothly. Therefore she just stood still. One of the servants offered her a snack and she snatched it, occupying herself with eating and wondering, how she could break Rin and Kohaku free.

"Finally I have the chance to see you with my own eyes, lady Anzu." She heard a hissing voice by her side and turned around to see Masahiro the slimy Salamander, who wanted to speak with her badly. She winced, wanting to avoid this, but the youkai continued talking. "I heard a lot about you."
Mai tried to hide her nervousness.

"You did?" she answered with a question.

That was bad. The only thing she knew about this Anzu woman was, what she learned from the letter and her name. The salamander offered her a wide toothless grin.

"It is hard not to. Leading the Crow Clan for the past three hundred years, you gained much respect, not to mention, that previously you were your father's right hand man… woman to be precise."

Mai waved her hand.

"Do not flatter me." She muttered, as she obtained another information about the woman, she was impersonating. So she was kind of old…

Lord Masahiro arched his eyebrow.

"I am surprised though, that you did not bring any of your servants. We were expecting you to bring a considerably big entourage with you." He pointed out. "You wrote it in your letter."
Mai felt drops of sweat developing on her forehead. Right, the demoness had a lot of minions with her.

"Something delayed them." She lied swiftly, but Masahiro kept inquiring.

"Something?" he asked. Mai narrowed her eyes at him.

"Not your business." She hissed out.

The salamander youkai scowled, irritated with the cold attitude. Apparently he was a hostile one.

Unfortunately, soon he was joined by the reptile – lady Oroha approached the little group, her scales glittering in the sun. She scanned Mai up and down, glaring at her from above, as the viper was as tall as a man.

"Not impressive for a clan leader, I would say." She said in a mocking tone.

Mai returned the glare, frantically thinking, how should she behave.

"If your intention is to mock me, leave before I sink my claws in you." She replied in an equally mocking way, bluffing.

Lady Oroha hissed, angered, that she dared to threaten her.

"Don't you dare to speak to me like that, you feathery trollop!" she snapped at Mai, losing her temper quickly. "I challenge you to duel! Right here and right now!"
But the girl managed to keep her cool somehow and folded her arms, looking at the viper with disdain.

"Do not be foolish." She answered, mimicking Sesshomaru and his way of speaking. "A proper clan leader like you should know her manners. It is most disrespectable to behave like you do in the house of the host. Feel ashamed for your lack of tact and apologize honorable Ichizo."

Oroha blinked, not expecting Mai to say, what she did. Then, she looked around and realized, that all the guests were looking at her and nodding, supporting the short girl. The viper hissed from irritation, but Mai was right on this one – fighting in Ichizo's house was out of question and would be quite untactful. Glaring daggers at Mai, she bowed to the host.

"Forgive me my outburst, lord Ichizo." She hissed out.

The fox demon narrowed his eyes at Oroha.

"Lady Anzu's words are wise." He said slowly, looking at the viper demoness quizzically. "We do not need arguments among the members of the Alliance. "

Then, something popped into Mai's head and she stepped forward, patting Oroha amicably.

"Lord Ichizo, lady Oroha has quite a passionate nature, doesn't she? Such a trait would prove a valuable asset to our Alliance, as zeal comes hand in hand with passion." She said quickly, flashing a fake smile at the viper.

Ichizo laughed and the atmosphere wasn't so heavy anymore.

"You do not cease to amaze me, lady Anzu. I agree with you on this one." The lord Ichizo said, amusement in his vividly green eyes. "I believe, that it would be the time to begin the council meeting."

With these words the fox demon left and the demons followed him. Oroha shot an angry glare at Mai, but said nothing. If she stood against the girl, the demoness would be condemned by the rest of the members for the ungratefulness.

"Tch!" she hissed and followed the rest.

Mai shrugged her shoulders and went after her.

The demons and the girl, who was impersonating a demoness sat down at the table, with Ichizo taking the honorable place. Mai nearly yawned, as the fox demon began an idealistic and horribly long introduction speech, that dragged on for the next two hours. She did her best not to show boredom, when the kitsune youkai was bitching about the country domination, the righteous duty to murder Sesshomaru and so on, not revealing any details though. He mentioned the machine, Mai saw before, but didn't really told much more than she learnt earlier.

"We need to crush the dog clan right now!" Ichizo ended his fiery speech, accenting it with slamming his fist against the table. Most of the youkai muttered an agreement, but the head of the Turtle Clan was opposed to the idea.

"The moment is not right. We should wait." The turtle said.

"We waited too long! We have to strike strongly and swiftly!" Ichizo defended his idea.

Lord Goro shook his head with disapproval.

"The dog clan still has allies." He said firmly. "We should try to plant a seed of disagreement in their ranks, so that the dogs would remain on the battlefield alone."

The leopard cat Yuudai snorted, hearing the turtle's wisdom.

"I agree with Ichizo. I have enough waiting. My clan is thirsty for glory. Anyway, I heard, that Sesshomaru broke the alliance with a Crane Clan." He stated, causing everyone whisper among themselves.

"Is that true?" Oroha asked, looking around, before she glared at Mai. "Perhaps lady Anzu could shed some light on the matter. I heard, that her spies are always well-informed."

Silence fell and everyone was staring at the girl, waiting for her to say something. Mai twisted her fingers under the table. The viper demoness smirked, sure, that she manager to make her adversary seem laughable now, but the girl flashed her a confident smile. Actually, she knew something about the crane clan. She cleared her throat.

"It is true, that Sesshomaru killed the Crane Clan's leader's sons, but they plotted to kill their own father." She shared her knowledge.

"The Alliance between the two clans still stands." Ichizo cut in. "The cunning bitch Sayuri managed to cover her son's blunder and keep the treaty. Still, it is meaningless, as the dog demon would be dead in a matter of days."

The elegant swan youkai Kou shifted in his seat.

"Anyway, Hosen is still not here." He stated the obvious, pointing at the empty seat. "Did he decide not to join the Alliance after all?"

Then, commotion followed the youkai began shouting and sharing their suspicions with each other.

"Lord Hosen was the best candidate for the vice-leader." Oroha whispered.

"The wolf tribes refused to join too." The salamander demon said.

"SILENCE!" Yuudai bellowed suddenly, gaining the attention. "Lord Hosen is delayed for a reason I do not know, but his absence cannot disturb us. We need to proceed and choose a strong leader!"
Yuudai's proposal met with the general acceptation and the time has come to choose the leader and the vice-leader of the Alliance of a Flame. In the meantime Mai decided, that she had to get close to Ichizo and somehow steal the medallion he had. Maybe if she could arrange a meeting after the council meeting… Still, the guards were a problem.

"Those, who vote for Ichizo for the leader, raise your hands!" Yuudai proposed the first candidate and raised his own hand. Nearly everyone followed his example, excluding Goro, who was glaring at the fox demon with disapproval all over his face. Mai also lifted her hand, acting like the majority.

"Six votes for, one against. Welcome the leader!" Yuudai shouted. Everyone began clapping and when they stopped, Ichizo stood up and bowed to the gathered with respect.

"I am deeply honored to be entrusted with this function. Now, if you please, let us choose the second-in-command." He said with a confident smile.
Goro frowned.

"Lord Hosen is absent, while the majority of the members would like him to have their votes." He stated.

The fox demon furrowed his brows.

"He cannot be chosen then. Propose your candidates." Ichizo decided.

Oroha shifted in her seat.

"Maybe lord Yuudai?" she asked, but the leopard cat shook his head.

"I decline to participate." He said, making the viper demoness frowned.

"Kou of the Swan Clan!" Sadao the raccoon bellowed.

The youkai with snow white wavy hair smiled, faking shyness. However, he got only two votes – one from Sadao and another from the leader of the Salamander Clan. Then, another candidate was proposed.

Lord Kou cleared his throat.

"Anzu of the Crow Clan!" he cried. Pointing his clawed finger at Mai.

"Eh?" a surprised sound escaped her throat, as she stared at the swan youkai. Did he just point at her?

She stared at the other demons and saw Kou lift his hand, then the palm of Goro followed, as well as Yuudai's. Oroha made a grimace, but also lifted her hand and finally Ichizo voted for her too.

"With the majority of five votes, lady Anzu becomes the vice-leader of the Alliance." He announced.

Mai nodded, in shock.
Crap, she wanted to sneak in and out, freeing the kids, not to become a vice-leader of the evil organization! She sat in place, frozen, while Ichizo was revealing the details of his plan concerning Sesshomaru. According to him, he set an elaborate and extremely powerful trap, that would catch and immobilize the dog demon, making him harmless. Then, during the full moon, when its light will be the strongest, he would use the machine to extract Sesshomaru's youki and then divide it equally among the members of the council.

When Mai asked, what will happen to the hostages, Ichizo told her, that they would be killed once Sesshomaru was dead. She clenched her fists under the table. The girl had to break the kids free somewhere around the next two days. Hopefully her youkai boss wouldn't be so stupid to come here, so she had the chance. After all not only the lives of her friends were at stake, but also the freedom of the humankind in Japan. Maybe it was a good thing, that she was the vice-boss now – it gave her additional chance to approach Ichizo and steal the key.

Finally the horribly long meeting ended and he demons began to leave the room, heading to their personal chambers. She stood up and followed the kitsune-youkai, when the raccoon named Sadao stopped her, placing his palm on her shoulder.

"I have noticed something strange about you, lady Anzu." He said.

Mai stiffened. Did he find out her identity? The raccoon sniffed her suspiciously.

"There is no youkai scent coming from you." Sadao informed her. "Actually I neither smell a demon from you nor feel your demonic energy. Is that not strange?"

The girl barely stopped herself from shivering. She couldn't lose her cool now, she had to think of some witty reply. She slapped the raccoon's hand and sent him a harsh, challenging look.

"Not everyone is so foolish to play open cards, lord Sadao. Now if you excuse me, I have some matters to attend to." Mai observed with satisfaction, that the raccoon youkai frowned, obviously at a loss of words.

He opened his mouth to retort, but he was interrupted by the jovial laughter. Mai heard someone clapping and whirled around to see Kou of the Swan Clan, showing all his perfectly white teeth in a wide smile.

"Nice retort, lady Anzu." He praised her, before turning to the raccoon lord. "You must be aware of the fact, that some youkai conceal their true power to mislead the opponent, lord Sadao. Besides, it is rude to harass the lady in the time of mourning."

Mai furrowed her brows. She was grateful for the swan demon to step in, but what the hell did he mean by: mourning? Did someone die?

Fortunately Kou chased the nosy raccoon away, but it didn't change the fact, that her plan has been interrupted. She wanted to get close to Ichizo, not to Kou. To make the matters worse, the swan youkai glued himself to her, not leaving her alone for a moment.

"How are your sons?" he asked with concern in his voice. "Surely it must be difficult for them to lose their father at such young age."

Mai blinked at him. She had no clue of Anzu's private life, so she was hearing it for the first time.
"Umm… it is hard for everyone. I do not wish to talk of it." She snapped, hoping to end this conversation at last and chase after Ichizo.

"I understand." Kou replied and looked her deeply in the eyes. "Maybe your children need a new fa…"

Mai hiked her kimono and, not waiting for the swan youkai to finish the sentence, she darted out off the room. Damn, what the hell were those demons thinking?! First they appoint her for the vice-boss's post and now some guy she never met before makes some weird proposals! Screw them all!

The girl ignored maintaining dignity and ran in the direction, where Ichizo went. She had a mission to fulfill. She nearly bumped into another fox demon, the very same, who kidnapped Rin and Kohaku. He hissed out, already opening his mouth to scold her, but apparently recognized her cloak made of the feathers and bowed deeply instead.

"Lady Anzu. I am at your disposal. Is there anything I could do for you?" he asked politely.

"Erm… not really…" Mai muttered, but changed her mind after a while. "Actually there is. Where can I find lord Ichizo? I need to speak urgently to him."

The red-haired demon bowed deeper.

"I am terribly sorry, but my master just left to attend his matters at the palace of the human emperor. I believe, that he will not come back till tomorrow noon to participate in the next council meeting. I am afraid, that you will have to wait for him till then." The kitsune-youkai replied respectfully.

Mai nodded, not happy about the twist of events. She hoped to try to get the medallion tonight, but in this situation she will have to wait till tomorrow. Definitely not good. She let Ichizo's retainer lead her to her rooms. When they were close to them, the fox demon just pointed the way. When he was about to leave, he spared a minute more for Mai.

"One of the guards said, that a surprise for you arrived, while the council meeting had been held. It awaits you in your rooms."

Mai wrinkled her forehead, wondering, what he meant by that. Well, there was only one way to find out. She approached her rooms and put her hands on the sliding door. She slid it open to see, what awaited her inside.

"Mother!" two childish voices exclaimed simultaneously.

The girl widened her eyes.

Crap!



Author Note:

Hey, folks. I see that you commented a lot, so please enjoy the next chapter. And don't forget to review it afterwards! I still wait for the reviews before uploading the next chapter... I know it's a bad habit but you know what is said about old habits...

Anyway, did you realize that the story is ending soon? Well, not right away, but there are only thirty-something chapters left. 
Okay, I'm stopping beating around the bush. I wanted to thank you for having so much patience with me, despite me taking the story off fanfiction.net and causing all the commotion, uploading so slow... And you keep supporting me and reading the story. Thank you for that. Now, virtual chocolate cake, anyone?