Chapter 55

Visiting Shiori




The woman smiled, happy that they accepted her invitation.

"My name is Nanako and this is Shiori." She said, pointing at her daughter. Mai smiled back at her.

"I'm Mai and those are Sesshomaru and Jaken." She said, looking for Rin. When she locked the kid on, she gripped the child's hand and lead her closer to Shiori. "And this is Rin. Maybe you two could play together?" she suggested.

Rin nodded vigorously and Shiori looked at her mother shyly, looking for approval. Nanako ushered the kid to play with the other girl. With the corner of her eye Mai saw a disapproving look on Sesshomaru's face. What a jerk! She only hoped, that he wouldn't open his mouth during their visit to share his opinion on hanyous.

Nanako led the group to her house. Along the way the both women were chatting and the kids were skipping in the front. Rin was teaching Shiori one of the songs already. Mai smiled, looking at the kid. Children in this age should play with peers and Rin didn't really have that opportunity. It would be great if she'd befriend another girl. The black-haired child seemed to have a really outgoing and cheerful personality compared to Shiori, who was rather quiet and shy. Nanako was observing the kids with wonder.

"I've never seen Shiori getting along with another child so well." Nanako said, sighing heavily. "The village children bully her all the time, because she's a hanyou."

"I'm sure, that they'll stop once she grows up." She said, thinking of her friend Inuyasha. Kagome told her, that Sesshomaru's younger brother had a pretty tough childhood too. Knowing him, he started to punch the crap out of his bullies eventually.
When they reached Nanako's hut, the rain drops already began falling. Shiori's mother looked at Ah-Un.

"Umm… your steed can stay in the barn with our cow…" she said hesitantly, giving Ah-Un a doubtful look. Surely she thought, that the dragon would eat her cow.

"He eats mostly grass and carrots. Your cow will be safe." Mai said. The woman nodded and Mai helped her usher the dragon into the barn. When they were heading to the hut Ah-Un roared, displeased that he was just left alone. Nanako invited everyone inside.

"I'll show you my toys." Shiori said to Rin, whose eyes brightened and both girls ran into the house. Jaken trotted after Nanako and children. Mai was about to go too, when she noticed that Sesshomaru just stood in the place, as if unwilling to go in. She approached him and flinched, as he shot her an icy glare.

"Sesshomaru, come inside. I'll be raining heavily soon." Mai tried to usher him inside.
"Hn." The demon turned his head from her. "This Sesshomaru will not stay in a human abode, with a hanyou."

Mai inwardly rolled her eyes. Great! Now she had to deal with a pouting demon.

"There's nothing wrong with Shiori. Rin likes her." She said patiently.

"The company of a hanyou is not appropriate for Rin." He replied.

"What do you have against hanyous anyway?" she asked, looking at the sky with concern. It'll be raining anytime now.

"Their sole existence is an abomination." He said with hatred in his voice. Mai gawked at him. How could he possibly say something like this with a straight face? If he told this Shiori, he would surely hurt the kid's feelings.

"I think, that there's nothing wrong with them." Mai said, sending Sesshomaru a challenging look, but the demon was stubborn. The girl sighed. "Sesshomaru, please bear it once. Do it for Rin."

The demon glared daggers at her, as she used the kid's name again into coaxing him into doing, what she wanted. Mai was sure, that she would have to think of another trick – this one didn't work anymore.

"This Sesshomaru will not be bothered by a human child." He said. Mai gritted her teeth. What a stubborn bastard!

"Fine." Mai hissed, glaring back at the demon. The girl untied her obi and demonstratively took off the outer kimono. It started raining already.
"What are you doing, woman?" Sesshomaru asked, frowning. "Dress."
Mai glared at him. She was going to be as stubborn as he.

"No. I'm going to stand here. We're going inside together or we stay here together. I wonder what you will tell Rin if I die of pneumonia." She told him, folding her arms.
Sesshomaru gritted his teeth. How dare she blackmail him? He glared back at her, not willing to yield to her demands.

"Do you defy me, woman?" he asked, his voice dangerously close to a growl. Mai ignored it. The rain was falling and both of them were soaking wet now, their hair plastered to their faces. The girl put her arms around herself, as she began shivering from cold. Now she started having second thoughts about her idea – her teeth were clattering. It didn't escape Sesshomaru's attention. The demon smirked triumphantly, seeing her in such state, sure that she would give up soon.

"I'm not going to change my mind." Mai uttered through her clenched teeth.

"Neither am I." Sesshomaru answered.
 The both of them kept standing in the rain and the girl was shivering even more. Mai sneezed. The demon shot her and angry glare and abruptly grabbed her arm.

"Ouch!" she yelped, as Sesshomaru yanked her arm and made his way to the house, dragging her with him. Unceremoniously he shoved her inside the hut and came in after her.

"You're all wet!" Nanako exclaimed when she saw both dog demon and Mai soaking wet, puddle forming under their feet. The woman quickly ushered the girl to another room and change in Nanako's dry clothes. Once Mai was relatively dry, she turned to Sesshomaru, who sat down in the furthest corner, all wet, his long silver strands clinging to his skin.

"I'll see, if I have my husband's clothes, that…" the woman started talking to the demon, with the best intentions, but Mai quickly dragged her away from him, noticing, that he was glaring at the both women with clearly murderous intentions.

"It's best to leave him alone now." She whispered firmly to Nanako. Mai thought, that they were lucky, that the youkai didn't kill someone already.

Jaken took place beside his master and Mai helped Nanako with making the dinner. The woman turned out to be a very kind, but also tough person. The girl learned, that she secretly married a bat demon, Shiori's father, but sadly he was murdered by kid's grandfather, when she was little. Since then Nanako was raising her daughter alone, shunned by the villagers and blamed for the conflict between people and the bat youkai.

"It must be hard for Shiori and you." Mai commented, cutting carrots. "Didn't you think of moving to another village?"
Nanako sighed.

"It's not so easy. A hanyou child will never be accepted fully by humans and youkai – everywhere it would be the same." She said sadly. Mai gasped, as she thought of something.

"Actually, I know of a village, where the people could treat you and your child well. They are accustomed to having a hanyou and youkai around. Have you ever heard about the village at the Bone Eater's Well?" she asked Nanako. The woman shook her head.

"I guess, that Jaken could draw you a map." Mai said. "A friend of mine lives there, who is a hanyou. His name is Inuyasha."

"Inuyasha?" Nanako asked. Simultaneously Mai felt a malicious aura filling the room. She didn't have to turn around to know, where it came from. Shiori's mother furrowed her brows and looked at Sesshomaru, ignoring his death glare. "I met this Inuyasha, he's a good man. Are you by any chance somehow related to him?"

Sesshomaru cast her an angry look.

"Inuyasha is Sesshomaru's brother, but they don't really get along." Mai explained quickly.

"Hn." Sesshomaru averted his gaze from women. "I do not consider that hanyou as my brother."
Mai sighed heavily. Here we go again. She swiftly turned Nanako's attention from the demon and they concentrated back on making the dinner. Once the stew was ready, they all sat by the table – all except Sesshomaru.

Fortunately, Nanako didn't seem so surprised, that the demon wasn't eating with them. Both women were busy watching the kids anyway – the both girls weren't eager to sit by the table, they wanted to continue playing. After stuffing Rin and Shiori with rice, the kids ran off to the corner of the room and were playing with the hanyou's dolls. Nanako smiled gently, looking at her daughter.

"I've never seen Shiori being so friendly with another child." She said. Mai also smiled.

"Rin also doesn't have any friend among her peers. It's good, that they befriended." The girl told Nanako, who nodded. Mai sighed, contented. The visit was quite nice, except Sesshomaru, who was pouting in the corner, refusing even to get his ass here and dry by the fire. The girl had an opportunity for some girl-talk and Rin found a new friend.

"You're lucky." Nanako said. Mai looked at her.

"Why?" she asked.

"Your daughter looks very normal for a hanyou." Nanako told her, smiling.
"Eh?" Mai got confused. "Daughter? Hanyou?"

"Rin is yours and Sesshomaru's daughter, right?" Nanako asked, getting equally confused as Mai. The girl felt her face getting red. What the hell is about with all those people, who take them as a family?! And, for god's sake, Mai was only seventeen!

"It's not…" the girl began, stuttering from surprise and embarrassment.

"The woman is not my spouse." Sesshomaru spoke up. Nanako was staring with wide eyes between angry demon and red-faced Mai.

"Oh, I understand." Shiori's mother said, nodding. "It's not shameful, that you two are not married. The most important is that you're raising your child together."

"But…" Mai mumbled, wanting to clear the misunderstanding. She cast a quick glance at Sesshomaru and, with horror, she saw, that he just stood up. The girl could tell that now he was getting really pissed off by the awkward situation.

"This Sesshomaru would not lower himself to sire a pathetic hanyou!" he hissed, narrowing his eyes. Not good – Mai thought and moved herself so, that she was standing between the demon and Nanako. The both kids stopped playing and were staring at the situation. Shiori's mother frowned at the statement and clenched her fists.

"Nanako, don't say anything." Mai tried to warn the woman – it was extremely stupid to provoke Sesshomaru, even if Mai herself felt the urge to punch him for his racist behavior.

"You're the worst, like those men from the village!" Nanako exclaimed, insulting the demon. Sesshomaru took a step forward, clearly intending to close the distance between himself and Nanako and do something to her. No way Mai would let that throat-grabbing-bastard do such a thing. Quickly, she leapt onto him and put her arms around his waist, obscuring his movements. It was slightly embarrassing, because she was technically embracing a man, but she wanted to save Shiori's mother from the demon's wrath. The inu-youkai stopped, surprised by her action. Mai turned her head to her companions.

"Jaken, get Ah-Un. Rin, say goodbye to Shiori and go with Jaken." She said quickly, feeling that Sesshomaru's strong fingers were tightening the grip on her shoulder. Mai ignored the pain. "Nanako, we'll be going."

Nanako nodded and ran to Shiori, hugging the child. Mai looked up and her eyes met Sesshomaru's icy glare. She smiled faintly at him.

"It looks like it stopped raining." She uttered. "Shall we go?"
The demon instantly shoved her of himself and pushed towards the exit. When they were at the door, he looked over his shoulder at Nanako, who was trembling from fear.

"If you want your child to live long, teach it to avoid the youkai." He said and dragged Mai to their group. Soon they departed, continuing the search for Naraku.