Chapter 31

The family dinner




In the door stood Kagome and was eying Mai and Inuyasha angrily.
"Both of you!" she said in a dangerously raised voice. "You just couldn't be louder, could you?! After me!"

Mai and the hanyou yelped, suddenly scared by Kagome's face and the aura of wrath. Both of them obediently trotted after the black-haired girl to the house, Mai supporting the wounded Inuyasha.

"Mai!" called a woman's voice. Mai lifted her head and saw Kagome's mother rushing to her. The woman hugged her. "Oh, Mai we're so glad, that you are finally back! I'll make a dinner right away!"
The girl managed with Kagome's help to drag the protesting half-demon to the living room, where grandpa Higurashi and Souta were sitting. Mai quickly said hello to them, before she was ushered by Kagome upstairs. The friend led her to her pink room.

"We must find something for you to wear." Kagome decided with a bright smile and opened her wardrobe. A while later the black-haired girl was making a huge fuss about choosing clothes for Mai. Eventually, she handed over a pile of various outfits. Mai arched an eyebrow, when she started examining them – all clothes were in very feminine style, also quite different from her own. She chose reluctantly a pink top, a blue skirt, much too short for her taste and some underwear. Then, Kagome led her to the bathroom and told to take time.

Mai closed the door and put her new clothes on the washing machine. She walked over to a large mirror and took a good look. The sight of herself was quite terrifying. Mai could easily pass for a ghost now. Her hair was messy and dirty, the kimono's state didn't need to be commented. She touched the bruised on her neck and winced. Mai took it off and filled the bathtub with hot water. She let herself relax at last – it was the first time from a really long time since she was bathing in hot water.

Mai's thoughts were drifting. She was thinking of everything and nothing in particular. She was glad to be here again, but will also miss Rin, Jaken and Ah-Un a little. She will definitely NOT miss Sesshomaru.

"Sadistic bastard." She muttered, scrubbing her skin, careful not to wet the bandage. The thought about the dog demon infuriated her. There were times, when he was almost bearable and, true, protected her a couple of times, but he was just plainly evil nonetheless. Mai dived under the surface of the water and held the breath, trying to think of something pleasant instead. She emerged, inhaling air and got out of the tub. Once dried, she put on Kagome's clothes and examined her reflection. She winced, when she saw, that the top and the skirt were a little bit too small for her – her friend had a better figure. Sighing, she went downstairs to join the Higurashi family. Mai stopped by the doorframe to observe, what was happening at the table.



The whole Higurashi family, along with the hanyou gathered around the table. All of them, except one, were waiting patiently for Mai to join them.

"Inuyasha, you should rest." Kagome hissed to the half-demon, who already devoured his steak and was eying at Kagome's. Mai wondered, how could he be able to eat at all, considering, that he had a huge hole in his stomach. Inuyasha didn't let such trivial matters bother him. He mumbled something inaudible to Kagome and grabbed the free plate. Mai narrowed her eyes and realized, that it was her portion.

"Hey!" she shouted, pointing her finger at Inuyasha. The hanyou's hand stopped in the midway to his mouth, as he stared at her. Mai gave him her most threatening glare. "Don't touch my food!"
Inuyasha also narrowed his eyes at her.

"Feh! Watch me!" he said smugly, grabbing Mai's portion of rice. The girl felt her face becoming red from anger. God, how Kagome could stand that guy. She stalked to him and punched him on the head with all her might. The effect was miserable – he didn't even flinch and Mai knuckles started hurting, but at least he was distracted. She used this and snatched her food from his hands and sat down, guarding her plates with her hand. The Higurashi family was staring at the two of them with an interest, waiting for something more to happen – and they weren't wrong.

"Feh!" Inuyasha sat back, folding his arms and looking away. Mai thought, that it was his way of pouting. The half-demon glared at her and smiled wickedly. "No wonder Sesshomaru wanted to strangle you."

"Inuyasha!" Kagome scolded him. "Apologize to Mai, now." The black-haired girl insisted, but the hanyou kept pouting. Kagome gave him a warning look. "Inuyasha…"

"No way." Answered Inuyasha and glared at Mai, who glared back. However, Kagome decided to interrupt their little staring contest.

"Osuwari." She said, casually reaching for the soy sauce. To Mai's surprise, Inuyasha fell instantly face-flat to the floor with a loud thud. After a while, he started to get up, cursing and shooting angry looks at Kagome.

"It was your fault." Said Kagome calmly. "Now apologize."

Inuyasha growled and turned slowly to Mai.

"Sorry." He mumbled finally. Mai nodded and smiled.

"You're welcome." She said, deciding to accept the apology. She cut her steak in half and placed one piece on Inuyasha's plate. "Here, eat it."

The half-demon stared at her, but Mai ignored him and turned to Kagome.

"Kagome, how did you do that?" she asked, fascinated by what she saw just a while ago.

Kagome explained everything about the beads of submission. After the incident, the atmosphere at the table was far more peaceful. Mai ate the delicious meal, chatting with her friend and her family, even exchanged few words with the hanyou, who seemed to like her a little bit more. As Mai thought, the trick with bribing with food did its part – it worked with Ah-Un too. Kagome and Inuyasha told her of their adventures in the feudal era and explained a few things about Naraku, who turned out to be the bigger scoundrel, than Mai thought. On her part, the girl described, how she spent the last two months first in the Asakura castle and then as Sesshomaru's servant and Rin's babysitter.

When Kagome's mother served the delicious dessert, they started talking about more up-to date matters. Her friend started whining about failing another math test, what made Mai think about the most pressing matters – return to school. That would be a nightmare! She didn't attend any classes or read notes and textbooks. She will be doomed and will surely share Kagome's fate! She'll have to study days and nights to make up for all the tests! Thinking of which, if she was the whole time in princess's skin, so she had to be here. Did she go to school? Did she write the tests? What possibly a princess from the feudal era could know about equations?!

"Mai!" Kagome called her, concern all over her face. "Everything all right?" she asked. Mai nodded slowly, her thoughts still oscillating around the school – she played in her head already the worst scenarios – being the worst in the class, even worse than Kagome, repeating a grade, being expelled from school.

"Kagome." She said abruptly. "What day is it tomorrow?"

"Monday. Why do you ask?" she replied. Mai's eyes widened. She had to study!

"Can you borrow me the notes, Kagome? If I have to go to school tomorrow, I have to prepare. How are my grades?"

Mai suddenly felt the stares of the whole Higurashi on her. The silence fell, interrupted only by the sounds of Inuyasha swallowing his food. Kagome shifted uncomfortably on her chair, clearly avoiding making eye-contact with Mai.

"About the school…" she began slowly, carefully choosing her words. "We'll talk about this later, okay?"

Kagome smiled at her awkwardly. Mai narrowed her eyes and glared at her friend. What did she mean by: later? She was gone for two months and simply couldn't afford to waste more time. She had a dream, for God's sake. The Tokyo University was waiting for her.

"Kagome, it's important for me. Now, where is the princess?" Mai demanded. She had to talk to that girl – she had to inquire, what happened here to avoid any awkward situations and had to inform the Amayami girl, that her fiancé was killed.

Mai noticed, that Kagome was about to panic. She wriggled her fingers and stared at the table. The grandpa, Mrs. Higurashi and Souta suddenly got interested in the structure of the ceiling. Inuyasha stopped devouring rice and stared at Mai.

"Eh? Kagome didn't tell you?" he asked. Kagome grabbed his ear and gave it a tug.

"Inuyasha!" she hissed warningly. Mai looked at her friend, unsure what was exactly going on.

"Kagome, what didn't you tell me?" she asked with suspicion.

"Err…" Kagome mumbled, avoiding answering her, but Inuyasha offered his assistance.

"You're dead." He said bluntly.