Chapter 113

The council



"Mother!" the childish voices exclaimed and two youkai children darted towards Mai, wide smiles on their faces.

Both of them were boys in about Rin and Akira's age – one a little taller than the other. Both of them were clad in black feathered cloaks, just like her and bore similar demon markings. The resemblance to demoness Anzu was obvious, so there was no doubt about the kid's identity. Those were sons of the Crow Clan's leader. Damn, just when everything was going considerably smoothly… Maybe Mai could pull out deceiving the bunch of demons, who never saw the face of the person, who she was impersonating, but there was no chance, that the kids wouldn't tell a stranger apart from their own mother. Unfortunately, she was painfully right.

The boys happily darted forward with their arms widely spread to welcome their parent, looking like chicken hatchlings, but after a split second the smiles fell from their faces, as they came closer. The children stared at her, the happiness being replaced with horror.

"You're not our mother." The older one stated, taking a step back. "Who are you and what did you do to our mother?!"

Mai paled, frantically trying to think of something, that would save her, while the kids looked like they were able to scream for help. But, the girl was quicker. In a crisis situation like this, a rush of adrenaline enabled her to act faster. Without hesitating, she reached into her sleeve and dashed forward. The little crow youkai squeaked and stumbled back, afraid of her, as they were thinking, that she was some dangerous demoness, not an ordinary weak human female. The younger child yelped, when he stepped on his own cloak, falling on his butt. While trying to save himself from the fall he grabbed his older brother for support and dragged him along with himself in the process.

Thanks to that the girl gained advantage. In a swift move, feeling like some miko, she took out the ofuda, she bought in Okayama from the phony monk, and stuck them on the kids' foreheads. She prayed, that the monk, who was selling them wasn't a liar like Miroku.

Fortunately, not every holy man was stripped of virtue like her perverted friend. Once the pieces of paper touched the youkai's skin, bright light flashed and the boys began convulsing uncontrollably, as though constantly being struck by current. She felt a stab of guilt and pity for the kids, when she saw their eyes roll back, but there wasn't any choice. True, mistreating the kids was a horrible thing to do, but the lives of the children, she cared for, were at stake and only she could save them.

Quickly, not wanting to draw any unnecessary attention, Mai slid the door shut and ran to the closet, searching for something usable. She dug out a few kimonos and threw them onto the floor and grabbed all sashes and obi she could find. With hurry, she tied the convulsing crow demons tightly, nearly making them look like two mummies. When she was more or less sure, that they couldn't move, she gagged them. The girl took a step back and wondered, what she should do. She couldn't possibly leave the talismans struck to the demons' foreheads – she wasn't that cruel. Mai was nearly sure, that their brains would eventually get burned to the crisp if subjected to them for too long and she had no intention to harm them, despite the grave situation. The boys may be sons of a member of an evil organization, but the kids themselves were innocent and orphans at that. Besides, Mai would never murder someone with cold blood. But, if she left them just like that, they may set themselves free and cause a racket. However, if she managed to seal them in closet, for example, it could be all right.

The girl sighed. She grabbed the kids and dragged them into the closet. When they had been neatly packed inside, she took a two leaves of the scent-masking plant and placed them in the crow demons' clothing. Then, trying to be quick in case the boys possessed some dangerous abilities, like some acid-spurting power, she tore the amulets off their heads and slammed the door shut. She took out the rest of the amulets, she bought, and glued them to the closet's door. Once they were securely in place, she dragged a heavy wooden commode and hid the ofuda behind it, additionally blocking the closet door.

Mai sat down, leaning her back against the commode. She pulled her knees to her chest and hid her face in the hands. A horrible headache was approaching. Damn, why her life had to become that dangerous?! She had the urge to scream, but she had to be tough and somehow endure it. She sighed heavily. She was not cut out for this kind of job, but she was doing surprisingly well. Actually it was miraculous – she even managed to take down two youkai, even if they were only scared kids.
Feeling horribly helpless in the moment, she took out two futons and folded the pile of kimonos under them, making it look, as though two children slept under them. Then, she took a look in the mirror.

The person, that stared back at her looked like a complete stranger. Hastily, she brushed the long black strands of her wig. She washed her face and applied her make-up anew. Once done, she laid down, carefully not to spoil her disguise – it would be a problem if the wig would slip off in her sleep. She closed her eyes, but couldn't fall asleep. Seriously, how to doze off, when you have two demons locked in the closet? There were some noises coming out from it, but it seemed, that the crow youkai were unable to set themselves free.



Mai's eyes snapped open. Did she fall asleep? She remembered staying awake till the sky began turning grey in the east, but then everything became so hazy… Crap, she was really exhausted and she must have had a short nap. At least she felt fresh and focused now, what was good, since she had to keep her mind sharp today. She wanted to steal the damn medallion from Ichizo. The girl sprang to her feet and took a look at the closet. The commode and ofuda were still in place, but there was quiet there. Apparently the kids also got tired and dozed off. She checked her make-up and fixed the smeared fake markings. Then she slid open the door leading to the garden and froze, looking at the sky.

The sun was in its highest position. It was noon, what meant, that the council meeting was about to begin. Damn, she missed her chance to catch the fox demon before the meeting! Mai smacked her forehead, angry at herself, that she wasted such a golden opportunity. To make the matters worse, she was late. She quickly scribbled a message to the servants, telling not to go inside the room and disturb the kids sleep under the penalty of death, and darted to the council hall.

She was running along the spacious corridors like crazy. She thought, that she memorized the route, but she was wrong. She asked for directions a couple of times, but nevertheless it took her much too much time to get to the right place. Before going in she took a deep breath and composed herself, trying to look more like a fearsome youkai lady than a human girl, who overslept and lost her way.

She placed her hands on the door and slid them open.

Mai stepped in confidently inside and immediately felt everyone's eyes turning on her. She did her best to endure the gazes and suppress her nervousness in order to stay in character. Behaving as arrogantly, as Sesshomaru would do in her situation she stalked towards her seat at Ichizo's right side and sat down calmly.

"Forgive me for being late." She said more to the fox demon than to other members of the council, trying to not to sound it like an apology at all.

The leader of the Alliance sent her a disapproving look. Ichizo folded his arms, straightening his back and appearing more intimidating.

"Better this be the last time, lady Anzu." He reprimanded her in a harsh tone. Mai bowed slightly.

"I understood." She replied, trying not to cause any trouble by her behavior.

Right now she needed to get on Ichizo's good side if she wanted to steal the damn key. But, what she should do once she gets to be alone with the fox demon? It was not that easy to knock down an adult youkai and steal the medallion from his neck. Besides, she used up all the ofuda already on the real Anzu's kids. Damn, she had no clue, what to do.

While she was desperately trying to come up with some plan, her eyes were wandering, observing the council members. She saw the same faces as yesterday – some of the youkai looked really bored by Ichizo's dull speeches. Her eyes slid over the handsome Kou, the old and grumpy turtle Goro and they rested on a tall man with a broad chest. She narrowed her eyes, while looking at him. She didn't see him before.

The youkai gave off the air of hairyness – the mane on his head was thick and brown, he was also an owner of an impressive beard, which had been neatly braided. He was warily gazing at Ichizo, his eyes looking as though he was only waiting for his prey to stumble. Besides the dangerous facial expression, his posture was impressively huge. The man seemed to be over two meters tall and was firmly muscled. The girl decided, that if someone gave him a battle axe and a helmet with horns, he would look just like a Viking. But… who was he? Then, she remembered. Yesterday the demons mentioned, that the one named Hosen was late. He was supposed to be the leader of the Bear Clan from Hokkaido, if Mai remembered well. Actually, it would fit the man's appearance.

"Be careful not to try to leave after the sunset." Ichizo said, after he finished the long opening speech about the need to cooperate.

Oroha furrowed her brows and flexed her slender fingers.

"Why is that?" she asked in her usually rude tone.

The other youkai also straightened themselves on their seats, suddenly waking from the numbness and becoming interested in what was happening during the meeting. Ichizo made a gravely serious face.

"Shall anyone try to step in or out the outer walls of the palace, starting today at the sunset and ending at the sunrise after the full moon, he or she would be caught in the trap, I shall set to capture the leader of the Dog Clan." He said with a self-satisfied smile playing on his lips. "It would ruin our plan, not to mention, that the once caught, the victim would suffer unimaginable pain."

Silence fell in the spacious room. Mai furrowed her brows. Damn, that meant, that if she didn't manage to set the kids free before the sunset, she would be trapped for another day and two nights. She definitely didn't like the idea. Well, she had to do her best and accomplish her mission as soon as possible. It was killing her, that aside obtaining some vital information, she was still in dead end.

"It cannot be helped." The leopard cat Yuudai stated.

Half of the youkai muttered an agreement, while the rest stayed silent, displeased to be trapped inside as well. Actually, maybe it wasn't the worst news for Mai, for it meant, that absolutely no one would be able to leave, including Ichizo. This way the fox wouldn't be able to ran off to the emperor's palace again…

The leader of the Turtle Clan, Goro, coughed.

"There is one more urgent matter, we have to take care of quickly." He pointed out, his voice sounding like a creaking of old wooden planks. "Lord Ichizo plans to get rid of our most dangerous opponent, but we cannot forget, that there is one more."

The kitsune-youkai furrowed his brows, as he entwined his fingers.

"One more?" he repeated.

Everyone held their breaths, staring expectantly at Goro, but the turtle demon didn't look as though he was about to satisfy their curiosity.

"Inu no Taisho sired another son." The deep voice bellowed. It belonged to the leader of the Bear Clan, the huge Hosen. The man folded his arms, sending a challenging look at Ichizo. "Did you not forget this tiny detail, Lord Ichizo?"

The fox demon glared at his adversary, his irritation showing on his face, but he maintained his calm demeanor perfectly.

"The one, you are speaking of, is merely a lowly hanyou, the fruit born out of an affair with a human woman. He is no threat to us." Ichizo stated with confidence.

Mai tensed. Crap, they were talking about Inuyasha. Now her other friends were being dragged into this mess too. Wasn't it enough, that she had to worry about Sesshomaru, Rin and Kohaku?
Hosen slammed his fist against the table, accenting his argument.

"Fool!" he exclaimed, anger burning in his eyes. "The hanyou may be a son of the human mistress, but in case Sesshomaru dies, leaving no offspring, he would become formally the head of the clan!
As long as there is continuity of succession in the Dog Clan, their allies will still linger on their side."
Ichizo glared daggers at Hosen, but sat still as statue, showing no fury. Mai noticed, that the tension between the two was so powerful, that it was nearly suffocating the council members. The fox demon brushed his red strands with the sharp claws.

"The youkai, that are allied with the Dog Clan would never follow as weak creature as a hanyou." He stated with all confidence he could muster, but the bear demon was ready to counter his argument.

"Weak?" the Viking-like man repeated. "I would not call him weak. He may be half human, but youki is strong in him. I heard, that he wields the demon sword Tessaiga and has enough power to battle the pure-blooded demons like an equal. My spies also notified me, that he was the one responsible for cutting off Sesshomaru's left arm, while no youkai managed to wound the Dog Clan's leader so severely before. Knowing that, would you still call him weak?"

Ichizo didn't respond for a while, when her ran out of the arguments, having lost to Hosen miserably. He looked at the fellow council member with hatred in his vividly green eyes.

"If you insist on eliminating him, you must have a plan already. How about presenting it to us?" the fox demon suggested, hoping to humiliate the bear demon a little, but Hosen flashed him a confident smile, as he was ready for something like that coming.

"Naturally I do." He replied. "I happen to be acquainted to a certain person, who volunteered to cope with the problem in our stead."

"Who would that be?" Oroha asked suddenly, as the viper demoness grew impatient with the two fellow youkai ping-ponging the insults at each other. She was tapping her clawed fingers against the table, a grimace on her face.

Hosen nodded.

"I invited this man here. If you agree, I wish to introduce him to you all. Shall he come in? I believe, that he is waiting behind the door at the moment." The bear demon retorted.

Oroha furrowed her brows and the other youkai glanced at the door with sudden interest.

"Show him in." Ichizo decided and the door slid open.

Mai also turned her head to see the face of the man, who was supposed to assassinate Inuyasha. If she obtained this information, she would be able to warn her friends in time. She gazed at the dark-haired man, who just stepped into the council room. His appearance was a bit disturbing, but he was a youkai, so that was understandable. He was dressed like some kind of general. The girl didn't recognize his face – she was sure, that she never had seen the man before. Hosen's acquaintance took place behind the bear demon's back and bowed with respect, but Mai sensed some fakeness in his behavior.

"State your name." Ichizo demanded harshly, glaring at the newcomer.

The man smiled charmingly, before replying.

"They call me Naraku."


Author Note:

Hey, folks. How do you find the plot development, huh?

Sorry for another delay. I guess that it's a bad habit which should be changed. This time I don't have a good excuse... I was busy, but I had some free time too... and I was hooked on watching Stargate Atlantis. Since the last post I've watched four seasons. Such a nice wather outside and yet I was stuck at home with Tv show....

Anyway, please review. I have only one season left, so I'll be uploading faster. Probably.