Chapter 17

Ambushed

Mai gasped, as she saw three men coming out of bushes. They wore rags and were armed with swords. The loathsome smiles were plastered on their faces. One of them whistled as he scanned Mai up and down.

“Hello, pretty one.” He said, sending her a lustful look.

Scared Mai took a step back and turned around with an intention of running at full speed. When she did so, she noticed, that two other robbers blocked her way.

Mai cursed, when she realized, that the men surrounded her. Damn, why didn’t she stay with the group? Why she had to be that stupid?

“We haven’t seen such a temping woman in a while.” One of them said, probably the leader. “She looks like a princess. Don’t you want to lay with the princess, guys?”

The robbers agreed enthusiastically. Mai shivered, when she understood, that they would rape her. The girl would rather die than let them do such a thing to her. She gritted her teeth and covered her front with her hands, suddenly realizing how revealing the thin kimono was. She had to stop them somehow.

“If you do something to me, a powerful youkai will kill you!” she said to them, trying to sound confident. She failed, however, as her voice was shaking.

The robbers started to laugh, as though she just said a good joke. Mai folded her arms protectively around herself and tried to figure out, how she could get out of this situation, before it would be too late. If only she managed to knock one down somehow, maybe she could escape… And what next? Mai was never good at sports and running was her weak point. There’s no way she could outrun five fit robbers. She took a deep breath to prevent herself from panicking.

“Have some fun with us!” called one of men to her, reaching out to grab her arm.

Mai slapped his hand and backed away from him. The robber smiled widely, what send Mai a shiver down her spine.

“Feisty!” he laughed and tried to grab her once more.

This time Mai put more force and hit his elbow. The man hissed, as he took a step back, clutching his arm. He spit on the ground.

“Bitch.” He muttered. “It’s time to teach you some respect!”

With this words he and his comrades rushed to her and tried to hold the girl still. Weak as she was, Mai wasn’t willing to give up without putting up a fight. She managed to punch one of them square in the face, but she felt strong arms grabbing her from behind and immobilizing her. She couldn’t move a limb. Two robbers were holding her and three other laughed, even the one with black eye. The leader approached her and leaned closer to her, his face an inch from hers, so Mai could feel his stinky breath.

“Ooo… What are you going to do now?” he mocked her, as he touched her cheek.

“Get your dirty hands of me!” the girl hissed.

Mai glared at him furiously. She didn’t intend to make it easy for them. She focused and with all her force she slammed her head into the man’s nose. She heard a characteristic cracking sound of a bone breaking and a pained scream. The robber was cursing and pressing his hand to the face. His nose was bleeding and had now a strange shape.

“Crazy bitch!” he yelled, as he slapped her across her face. “Who do you think you are? Some kind of princess? I’ll show you what we do with your kind!”

Mai’s eyes widened, as he ripped off a knife and stalked to her. Her breathing hitched with panic, as she thought, that he was going to slash her throat. The robber’s leader grabbed her long hair and pulled towards himself. Mai whimpered in pain, as he pulled it with more force. Then she felt the pressure disappear and fell backwards, free of his grip. She noticed, that the robber was holding her long brown hair in his hand. He tossed it on the ground and laughed.

“See, you’re an ordinary woman now.” He said with a lecherous smile, as he approached her. “Now, you will give us pleasure.”

He reached to Mai with his detestable hand, but the girl luckily managed to free her leg and attempted to kick him in the groin. However, something went wrong and she kicked his knee instead. The robber’s face turned red with rage.

“YOU DON’T KNOW WHEN TO STOP!” he yelled at her, infuriated and took out his knife once more.

Mai felt the cold steel as he put the blade against her throat. He moved it slightly and the knife cut the skin on her neck – only to draw a little blood. The robber lifted the blade to the girl’s eyes, so she could see her own blood staining the knife and then he licked the blood slowly of the blade.

“You better listen to me.” He said, sending her another lecherous grin.

Mai snorted.

“I would die first.” She hissed through her clenched teeth and observed, as man’s face was turning red again.

.

“Green Jaken, blue Jaken, yellow Jaken!” Rin was blabbering. “Now your turn, Jaken-sama!”

“Give it a rest, Rin!” the green imp whimpered. The little girl pretended, that she was pouting, but then her face brightened and she started singing some song.

Jaken sighed and looked back. It was some time since the human woman stayed behind, but she didn’t manage to catch up with them yet. They made a couple of stops along the way, so even a slow human should be able to get to the group, but she still wasn’t here. Maybe she got in some kind of trouble? Jaken ran to Sesshomaru.

“Sesshomaru-sama?” he spoke up.

“What is it, Jaken?” the silver-haired demon asked, without looking at his companion. The green imp cleared his throat.

“Maybe it would be wise to look for Mai?” Jaken asked, looking at Sesshomaru for reaction.

“Hn.” The tall demon didn’t slow down. “There is no need.”

Jaken wanted to ask something more, but resigned and went to his usual place in front of Ah-Un.

.

Sesshomaru was annoyed with that idiot woman. She should have stayed with group instead of trailing behind. What was she thinking with that foolish head of hers? At least she would be taught a lesson, if she had to run behind them for a half of day. The woman was still in the range of the demon’s nose, so Sesshomaru knew, that she was walking after them. There was absolutely no need of bringing her back now.

The silver-haired demon furrowed his brows, as he smelled another humans in the vicinity, but there was probably no need to worry. Suddenly, he stopped and Jaken slammed into his leg.

“Something’s wrong, Sesshomaru-sama?” Rin asked.

The youkai didn’t answer. He sniffed the air. Without doubt, he could smell the scent of blood, the idiot woman’s blood. He cursed inwardly.

Sesshomaru leaped into air.

“Stay here, Jaken!” he ordered the green imp and took off, vanishing in the lightning ball, which flew into the forest.

“Jaken-sama?” asked Rin, worry all over her face. “Do you think, that something bad happened to Mai?”

The small demon muttered something under his nose.

“I don’t know, Rin.” He answered.

.

The robber’s leader rushed to Mai, murder in his eyes, but his two comrades stopped him, grabbing his shoulders.

“Chief, do what do want to do with her, but wait till we get our share of her!” one of them was convincing the leader. Mai felt, as she would throw up. She started to struggle to free herself, but the robbers were holding her so, that she couldn’t move her body an inch.

The chief approached her and send her a wide loathsome smile, as he grabbed the front of her kimono and tugged it. Mai felt the fabric slipping of her shoulders, as the robber made a cleavage bigger. The man whistled with approval. Mai panicked.

“Let me go!” she screamed, while trying to wriggle herself from the strong grip. The men laughed, as they started to touch her bare shoulders, moving their hands lower.

“Help! Someone help!” Mai kept screaming at top of her lungs. “SESSHOMARU!”

One of the robbers grabbed the girl’s chin and tried to kiss her. She made it difficult to him, tossing her head to the sides. The man growled impatiently and slapped her. He was about to attempt to claim her lips again, but froze abruptly. Mai stared, as the man’s hand fell limply to his side and he unexpectedly fell on the ground. She saw, that he had a large gush on his back, the blood flowing from it made a puddle around his body. His limbs twitched for a moment and then he went still. Mai stiffened, as she realized, that the man has just been killed. She lifted her eyes from robber’s lifeless body and gasped.

In front of her eyes was none other than Sesshomaru. The demon was standing still, calmly observing the scene.

Did he was the one, who killed the robber? How did he do that? – Mai wondered.

Other robbers got angry, as they saw the death of the companion. One of the men, who were holding Mai released her, but the other man was still gripping her tightly, now pressing a knife against her throat. The other ripped out their swords and stood between her and the demon.

“Who are you?” demanded the leader of the robbers.

“I have nothing to say to the insects as you.” Sesshomaru said calmly, causing Mai’s attackers to boil with anger.

“Before we have our way with the woman, we’ll kill you and take that fancy armor of yours!” yelled one of the robbers and three of them rushed on Sesshomaru, swinging with their swords.

“Hn.” Sesshomaru didn’t draw any of his swords. He stretched his arm and Mai could see a green light at the end of his claws. Then, a green energy whip shot off his clawed hand and the demon graciously moved with his arm. The whip slashed the attackers, sending parts of their bodies in the air. Mai froze in terror, as a fragment of a leg flew inches from her face. She stared horrified at the silver-haired youkai, not sure, who scared her more – he or the robbers, who wanted to rape her.

Sesshomaru looked as calm as nothing had happened just now. Mai felt the robber, who was gripping her, start to shiver uncontrollably, as the demon turned his attention to him.

“Who are you?!” he screamed, panicked. Sesshomaru didn’t answer, as he slowly made his way towards them.

“One more step and I’ll kill her!” the terrified man threatened, pulling the blade closer to Mai’s throat.

Sesshomaru, however, didn’t stop. He smirked, what scared the girl out of her wits. Mai couldn’t follow, what happened then. The demon leaped forward with such speed, that the girl noticed only a blurred shape. Suddenly, he appeared right beside her and the robber. He moved his hand and Mai saw his sharp claws ripping the flesh of the man’s arm. The cut off limb fell to the ground, freeing the girl from the grip. She staggered forward and regained somehow her balance. She turned towards Sesshomaru and the man.

At first, the robber stared in disbelief , surprised, that his arm was no longer attached to his body. Then he yelped in pain and started to back away from the demon, staring at him with horror in his eyes.

“Please, spare me! Forgive me!” the man began pleading for his life.

Sesshomaru said nothing, as he slowly approached the robber, flexing his fingers. Mai watched in horror, as the demon pierced the man’s chest with his bare hand. The arm dove into the flesh past wrist. The robber screamed in pain and coughed blood. Sesshomaru waited patiently until the end of man’s agony and then the pulled his arm back. The lifeless body fell on the ground.

Mai’s eyes widened in shock as she took in the scene. Two dead bodies laid on the ground, the smaller fragments of human flesh were everywhere. And Sesshomaru was standing in the middle of it, calmly shaking the drops of blood of his claws. The girl shivered, as he made his way to her.

He grabbed her chin and lifted her face. Mai looked away, as he examined her face, avoiding his gaze. Finally, he released her.

“Woman, did they violate you?” he asked her.

Mai shook her head, staring at her feet. She was still shivering – she has never seen so much blood in her life. The sight of the demon ripping those men apart with his bare hands terrified her. She knew, that Sesshomaru was dangerous, but until now she didn’t really realize how much.

Mai felt a touch on her cheek, clawed fingers brushing across the bruise in the place, where the robbers’ leader hit her the face. Surprised girl looked up at the demon. His golden eyes met hers.

“You’re hurt.” He stated quietly. Mai pushed his hand away and glared at him.

“It’s nothing.” She said sharply. “It doesn’t hurt more than my neck did this morning.”

Sesshomaru’s eyes went cold. The demon looked at her disheveled kimono critically. He grabbed the edge of fabric and slid it back into the right position, covering Mai’s bare shoulder.

“If you continue to dress yourself in such a provocative manner, do not be surprised, when the incidents like this one occur again.” He said, looking at her cleavage.

Mai blushed and covered her front with her arms. Sesshomaru snorted impatiently and grabbed her arm, yanking the girl closer to himself. Mai tried to protest, but he put his arm around her waist. As she looked down, she saw some kind of a cloud forming beneath the youkai’s feet. She yelped, as both of them were lifted off the ground and flew away, supported by a strange cloud. Mai panicked and, suddenly remembering her fear of heights, she screamed, while clawing on Sesshomaru. She shut her eyes and continued to tremble. The flight was short – soon the demon yanked her off him, sending her an annoyed glare.

“Mai!” Mai felt happy Rin slamming herself against her legs and putting her small arms around her waist. “You’re all right!”

“Yes.” Mai answered, hugging Rin back and smiling at the adorable kid. “I was in trouble, but Sesshomaru saved me.”

“Your beautiful hair is gone!” the kid exclaimed, while pointing to Mai’s head.

The older girl lifted her hand to her hair and noticed, that it reached only to a little bit past shoulders, not to her knees, as before. She sighed heavily, as she remembered the attackers cutting them. Somehow it felt right, when her hair was like that – she felt more herself.

“It’s okay. It’s only hair.” She said to Rin and patted the kid’s shoulder.

Mai looked up, as she felt the silver-haired demon’s glare drilling into her.

“Woman, get yourself on Ah-Un.” Sesshomaru ordered.

Mai looked at the two-headed dragon and winced, not really willing to get anywhere near that creature. Ah-Un roared, as if he was thinking the same as the girl.

“No, thank you.” Mai refused politely. Sesshomaru kept glaring at her. “Or maybe I’ll reconsider.”

Mai freed herself from Rin’s grip and made her way to the dragon. She stopped by Ah-Un’s side.

How the hell I’m supposed to get on this thing? It’s too tall! – she thought, as she tried to jump somehow onto the saddle or pull herself up with her arms, without any effect. Ah-Un roared impatiently.

“Don’t complain.” She spoke to the dragon. “I’m trying to… Gah!”

She yelped, as Sesshomaru grabbed her obi, lifting her off the ground and yanked her onto the saddle. Mai clutched the edge of the saddle.

“Thank you for helping me out.” She said to the demon, smiling shyly at him. “And thank you for saving me from those men. I’m really grateful.”

“Hn.” Sesshomaru turned around from her. He stood still for a moment and then spoke up quietly. “Human food does not suit me.”

“What?” uttered Mai, not knowing, what he was talking about.

“The apple.” Sesshomaru said.

Mai looked at him, still confused, then she realized, what he meant.

Did he just apologize? – Mai thought surprised. She wanted to question him more, but then Rin skipped to the demon and tugged his sleeve.

Sesshomaru turned his attention to the child. He bent and grabbed Rin’s obi. The kid squeaked with delight, as he lifted her from the ground. The little girl landed on Mai’s lap.

Then the silver-haired demon turned away and started walking away. Ah-Un moved, lead by Jaken. Mai had to grip the saddle to keep her balance.

“Let us go.” Said Sesshomaru, as the group made way through the forest.