Chapter 53

The crazy chase




A pack of wolves ran onto the meadow, along with three men, not men – they were youkai. Mai recognized pointed ears and other characteristic features. They were dressed in brown furs and the one, who looked like a leader had some kind of armor on. The girl carefully took a step back, shielding the child from the wolves. She remembered Jaken telling her one day, that Rin was killed by wolves and Sesshomaru brought her back to life, using Tenseiga. Was it the same pack? Mai tried to retreat slowly, not drawing attention to her and Rin. Damn, where are Jaken and Ah-Un, where you need them?

"Mai…" the child whimpered, as the animals howled, staring at the two girls with hunger in their eyes.

"Shit." Mai cursed quietly, as the leader, the one with long black ponytail, turned around and stared right at them. Her instincts told her to run, but she knew, that it would be the worst option – the wolves would catch up in no time and rip her and Rin apart. The kid started sobbing, terrified to death. Mai felt her anger increasing and dominating the fear.

"Koga, we haven't eaten in days!" one of the three complained to the leader. Rin shivered even more.

"Go away. You're scaring the child." She said confidently to the black-haired leader. The demon folded his arms.

"Ha! You're only a human, how could you make me?" he asked smugly. Mai narrowed her eyes at him. How dare he? Another idiotic demon with an ego of the size of Japan, talking about human's inferiority. The girl's blood was boiling with anger, causing her to stupidly ignore the danger.

"Don't you dare look down at humans, you youkai piece of shit." She said in a warning tone, glaring daggers at him. The one named Koga widened his eyes, surprised by her display of confidence, but after a while a smile played on his lips.

"Oh, really? Then watch this!" he said and disappeared. Mai could see only a blurred shape darting towards her. Everything was happening so fast, that there was no chance for her to react in any way. She felt a gush of wind, as the youkai darted past her with such a speed, even Sesshomaru wouldn't be able to match. Soon the wolf-demon reappeared in the place, where he stood before, almost as he didn't move at all. Mai was standing, shocked, staring at Koga, startled with the speed.
The demon smirked at her, playing with some small item.

"You still think, that a human could be a match for me?" he asked. Mai didn't answer. A glimpse of reflected sunlight caught her attention and she looked closely at the item, the demon was playing with. She clenched her teeth as she recognized it – it was her hairpin! Koga noticed her anger and brought the piece of jewelry closer to his eyes and flashed a smile at Mai. "So human women like such things? I'll keep it then, as a present for my woman."

"You…" Mai began, infuriated, but a loud roar interrupted her. The girl looked up and felt sudden relief. "Jaken!" she exclaimed.
The green imp, sitting on Ah-Un's back landed between the girls and the wolves. Jaken gripped Nintoujou, ready to fry the enemies. One of the Koga's companions tugged his arm.

"Koga, these are Sesshomaru's companions." He whispered nervously. The wolf leader furrowed his brows.

"Sesshomaru? The mutt's brother?" he asked and the two other nodded. Koga considered something for a while.

"All right, we have nothing to do here. We're going!" he commanded and darted forward, the pack following him. Jaken jumped off Ah-Un and walked over to the girls.

"It's good, that they're gone." He commented.
Mai clenched her fist. That bastard Koga just ran off with her hairpin! No way she would let him steal it! The girl ran to Ah-Un and climbed on his back.

"Ah-Un, after them!" she shouted to the dragon, but one of the heads cast her a doubtful look.

"Mai, you don't want to…" Jaken began.

"Go or there will be no carrots!" Mai yelled at the beast, willing to take advantage of his weakness. Ah-Un still looked unconvinced and kept staring at Mai. The girl made a death-serious face.

"Ever."
Ah-Un widened his eyes, as he understood, that Mai meant what she said. He roared and soared into the sky.

"Mai, no!" Jaken shouted after the girl.

"She went after them." Rin stated the obvious. A drop of sweat fell of Jaken's face. When Sesshomaru-sama learns about this, Jaken will be dead for sure.

"I wonder if she remembers, that she has the fear of heights." Rin said.



"Oh shit. Oh shit. Oh shit!" Mai just remembered her damn fear of heights. At first she was so pissed, that she could only think of getting that bastard Koga, who stole her favorite possession, but now, when she was in air, she realized suddenly, that she didn't even spare a thought to what she should do, when she catches up to him. Wait, Ah-Un was supposed to be a battle-steed, right? So he should be able to cope with the situation – strike the guy down with lightning or something like that. She will have only to hold on tight and everything will be just fine.

"Ah-Un, I'm counting on you!"



"Jaken-sama, calm down." Rin told the imp, who was walking in circles and muttering something under his nose, sweating like crazy.

"How am I supposed to calm down?! Sesshomaru-sama will kill me if I tell him!" Jaken exclaimed.

"Tell me what?" said a deep voice above Rin's and Jaken's heads. Jaken squeaked from fear at the sight of Sesshomaru and was opening and closing his mouth, unable to utter a word. The demon narrowed his eyes. Then, slowly he looked around and turned his attention back to Jaken?

"Where is she?" the inu-youkai demanded. Rin and Jaken exchanged looks.

"Ermm… Sesshomaru-sama…" Jaken began hesitantly. "She flew away on Ah-Un just a while ago."
Sesshomaru glared at his servant.

"Did she escape again?" he asked calmly. Jaken stared at him, silent.

"No, Sesshomaru-sama. Mai went chasing a youkai, who stole her…" Rin hurried with an explanation.

"A youkai?" he interrupted. Rin and Jaken nodded at the same time.

Sesshomaru turned away from his foolish companions. What was the idiot woman doing again? Why would she chase a youkai? What a troublesome female. Now he will have to waste his time again, retrieving her. He inhaled the air, picking up her and the dragon's scent and leapt into the sky.



"There!" Mai screamed, pointing with Her finger at the small figures on the ground. "Fly lower, Ah-Un!"

The dragon obeyed and made a circle above the wolves, so that now approached them from the direction, the pack was heading.

"Fry the bastard!" the girl screamed, frantically gripping the saddle. She knew, that all she had to do was stay on Ah-Un and keep the beast in the air, so that the wolves wouldn't reach them.
The dragon hit the one named Koga with some kind of electric attack, something like a lightning bolt.

"Cool." Mai praised Ah-Un, seeing that the cursed thief barely avoided the blow. Mai smirked at him.
"Give back my hairpin, you shitty bastard!" she called to him.

Koga squinted his eyes and recognized her.

"What a crazy bitch." He muttered. "Never! You must take it by force!" he shouted to her. Mai gritted her teeth. All right. If he wants a war, a war it is.

"Ah-Un, you know what to do, right?" she asked the dragon quietly. The beast roared in response – Mai took it as a "yes". She turned to Koga.

"Never mess with a pissed woman! Go, Ah-Un!" she cried and clawed at the beast. The dragon roared and began attacking, swiftly circling over his prey and approaching from unexpected directions, making Koga jump all over the place. The wolves and two other demons fled, terrified by the lightning blows. Mai's part in the battle was only shouting insults at the pack leader, as Ah-Un was doing his job splendidly – it turned out that he was a real battle-steed after all, not a mule, like she thought before.

"Give it back, you asshole!" she screamed.



Sesshomaru hurried to the place, where he heard explosions. The dog demon stopped, floating in midair, and took in the scene. Above the ground, Ah-Un was circling and fiercely attacking the demon below who was dodging energy blasts with great speed. Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes as he recognized the dragon's prey – it was the wolf youkai, he met some time ago near Hakureizan. Why would Mai chase him? Speaking of whom, the idiot woman was riding on Ah-Un and shouting elaborate insults at her opponent. Sesshomaru was surprised, that she would engage in battle from her own will. However, the most of the attacking was the dragon's part, as expected from a well-trained battle steed. The inu-youkai considered, whether should he intervene, but decided against it. The show was quite amusing and Ah-Un would use an exercise once in a while.

"Give it back, you asshole!" the woman screamed an insult at the wolf demon, as Ah-Un struck the ground inches from Koga.

"Get lost!" the wolf demon yelled back, dodging the lightning ball. Sesshomaru observed as Koga grabbed a stone and threw at Ah-Un. The dragon abruptly changed the direction of the flight and the woman yelped. The inu-youkai tensed. She slid of the beast's saddle, desperately trying to grab something for support, but failed at it and was on her way to the ground. Sesshomaru darted forward and in a heartbeat caught her. He landed in front of the wolf demon and dropped the woman on the ground.

"Ouch!" she whined, but managed to stand up. Koga glared daggers at the Sesshomaru.

"Keep your woman in line." The wolf demon said to the inu-youkai. Sesshomaru did not respond, but Mai was ready to dart to the wolf demon.

"Who're you calling his woman, shitface!" she screamed and wanted to rush forward, but the silver-haired demon firmly grabbed her obi, holding her in place. Mai shot him an angry glare over her shoulder.

"We are leaving." Sesshomaru said to the woman and pulled her closer to him, so that she could stand on the cloud he was about to form beneath his feet.

"No way!" Mai snapped at the inu-youkai. "I'm not going anywhere until the thief gives back my hairpin!"

Sesshomaru saw that she was glaring at him with determination, as if she was expecting him to do something. The dog demon averted his gaze from Mai and looked at the wolf youkai. Koga sighed and tossed the silver hairpin to Sesshomaru, who caught it gracefully.

"Here. Watch her better next time, mutt's brother." The wolf demon said and rushed westwards, vanishing out of sight.

Sesshomaru turned his attention back to his troublesome servant. Did she risk her life for a piece of jewelry? How pointless.

"Woman." He addressed her, his face dead serious. "Attacking a youkai was foolish. Do not do that again."

Mai mumbled something under her nose, pouting at Sesshomaru's voice. Suddenly, the demon grabbed her shoulder, bringing her closer to him. He leaned over her so, that their noses were nearly touching. The woman widened her eyes and slightly parted her lips, startled.

"Is that clear?" he hissed. The stubborn girl tried to turn her face away, but Sesshomaru grabbed her chin, immobilizing her head and forcing her to look at him.

"Well?" he asked. The girl finally looked him in the eye, her gaze angry, but her cheeks flushed.

"Yes, now get your hands off." She said. Sesshomaru held her chin for a moment and finally released her. Before she could step back from him, he took out the retrieved hairpin and placed it in the woman's tangled hair. Amused, he observed as her face was becoming bright red. Her certain reactions were indeed interesting.

"You are blushing, woman." He commented. Her face became even more flushed than before. She turned away from him, cursing under the nose. Sesshomaru put his arm around her waist and pulled her to him, pressing the girl tightly against his armor. He formed a shimmering cloud beneath their feet and they soared into the sky. The silver-haired demon was anticipating the usual occurrence.

"Gah!" Mai screamed and grabbed Sesshomaru tightly, shutting her eyes. "Not the cloud! I have the fear of heights, you idiot!"