Chapter 11

Mai’s problem and Rin’s tears

During next two days Mai managed somehow to avoid Gorouza. Unfortunately, she didn’t have the chance to leave the castle again, for Aiko was keeping an eye on her all the time. She sent Shinji every day to the temple instead, but the young samurai didn’t bring any news of the arrival of the scholar. Mai felt like a bird in a cage and couldn’t wait to return to her own time. She even missed math!

The girl sat in the garden and didn’t notice that her betrothed, whom she had been avoiding so carefully until now, made his way towards her.

“Amayami,” he said, causing Mai to jump. “I am really happy to see you. Did you miss me?”

“Eh… sure,” Mai answered slowly, looking for an opportunity to escape. That Gorouza guy was smiling like an idiot and sat on the bench much too close to Mai. Mai pushed herself further from him, but he sat even closer. His eyes were looking at her lovingly, which scared the shit out of her. The girl cursed inwardly and reminded herself that she shouldn’t blow her cover. “You are a butterfly, a butterfly, a damn butterfly.” she was repeating in her mind as she forced herself to smile shyly.

“And you missed me too?” she asked, trying to sound like a weak princess. The man flashed another smile at her and took her hand. Mai stared at him with visible disgust, which luckily was enough for him to let go of her hand.

“Of course, my love. It would ease my heart if you could sing for me.” He said and was obviously expecting her to sing some song.

Damn, where is that old crone Aiko when you need her? Mai coughed.

“My throat is hurting today.” She made an excuse. “And my fingers too,” she added quickly in case that idiot wanted her to play the erhu, flute or whatever the real princess was playing.

Unfortunately, her fake betrothed got himself in a romantic mood. God, in her time she didn’t have even one boyfriend. Why must it happen to her now?

“Do you remember what you said to me when we first met?” he asked, hope in his eyes. Mai tried to wriggle away as he tried to embrace her. She didn’t notice that she was already sitting at the edge of the bench. She fell down with a loud “thud”.

“Crap! Shit! Damn you, son of the bitch!” she screamed. Shocked, Gorouza looked at her with horror, not believing, that his Amayami knew such vocabulary. He tried to help the girl get back on her feet, but Mai slapped his hand and managed to do it herself. She sent him a poisonous glare and stalked away.

She was furious and the man only triggered accumulated anger. She had enough of this whole princess-acting, of all those people. The only one she could stand was Rin, but she will most likely never see the little girl again. She wished to meet her again someday.

“Be careful what you wish for. The wishes tend to come true in the most unexpected way.” Her dad used to say it a lot. Mai didn’t know why she remembered this out of sudden.

“Hime-sama!” a servant ran towards her with a piece of paper in his hand. Mai took the letter he handed to her. She noticed that it was from the priest. She opened it quickly and read it.

My Lady,

We await you at the temple tomorrow at midday.

I have good news.

That was all. Good news? The two words caused Mai to be ecstatic! At last, her misery will end and she will go home. Hell yes!

Later, somewhere in the forest

Sesshomaru was sitting, his back leaning against a tree and hand resting casually on his knee. His golden eyes reflected the rising sun. He turned his gaze to the camp. His servant Jaken was snoring loudly and Rin finally fell asleep as well. The tears still shone on her little face.

During the last three days the girl wasn’t cheerful as always, but upset, obviously missing that human woman she met in the village. At night she would cry herself to sleep, trying to hide it from Sesshomaru. The demon noticed with surprise that it actually bothered him. Rin’s sorrow made him feel uneasy. Why did he allow himself to be that distracted by a mere human child? The powerful youkai didn’t know the answer, but decided that he can’t let it continue.

He scowled with disgust at the thought of getting another human companion, but the well-being of Rin was of utmost importance. Besides, the girl would benefit from having an adult with her when he and Jaken were departing. A human could prove useful. After all, he and the imp were demons, so their knowledge of a human child’s needs was vague.

Sesshomaru stood up as he made up his mind. The demon walked slowly towards the two-headed dragon.

“I will need your assistance.” He said quietly. He mounted the dragon and soon vanished in the clouds.