Chapter 129

White wedding




Mai was mortified, when Sesshomaru's mother was practically pushing her towards the place, where the ceremony took place. The girl's legs kept trembling and she felt the barely controllable urge to just dart off without looking back. She and Sesshomaru were supposed to approach their seats from the different directions and sit in the designated places in front of a small altar. The dog demoness eyed her critically.

"When the music starts, go." She commanded and left Mai to take her place.

The girl nodded stiffly. Crap, she was so scared, as though she was about to die. She wiped her sweaty hands and took a few calming breaths, hoping to fight off the horrible nervousness. Mai peeked to see the place, where the ceremony would take place in a matter of minutes. The courtyard was filled with the demon guests. The human children were holding large flower bouquets, standing along her way to the seat. Sesshomaru's mother sat in the front. Behind her the girl discerned Jaken, Rin and Kohaku. The little girl was smiling widely, apparently delighted by the fact, that Mai and Sesshomaru were getting married. The demon-slayer did his best to look serious and was hushing Rin. Jaken, on the other hand, was mourning. The tears were flowing down his face. The girl in white placed her hand over her heart – Jaken was the one, who shared her mood today.

Finally, the executioner showed up, that is the demonic eremite, that was supposed to conduct the ceremony. Mai felt the rope tightening around her neck. Then, the peaceful sound of shamisen echoed throughout the courtyard. To her it seemed like a sound of the falling blade of a guillotine. She clenched her fists till her knuckles turned white and began walking to face her doom, her gaze set on her feet. The wedding kimono was too long for her and she had to wear platform sandals because of that, so avoiding falling face-flat was the crucial thing. When she was close to her destination, she dared to lift her head.

Mai's eyes widened, when she saw Sesshomaru. The silver-haired demon was walking slowly, but confidently her way, dressed in a wedding attire. He didn't have neither the armor nor his usual clothes on – he wore traditional black haori and dark hakama, that contrasted with his silver hair and fair complexion. Over his shoulder was flung the white fur and the inu-youkai had Tenseiga by his hip. The girl barely stopped herself from gasping, because he was looking just dashing. At least he's not ugly, she thought with a little bit of a relief.

The girl looked at Sesshomaru's face, but it showed as much emotion as an average sculpture. He didn't even grace her with a single look. When she reached the designated place, she and her demonic groom turned around simultaneously, so that they were facing the guests and sat down in front a small table near the altar. Mai did her best not to wrinkle her kimono, but had a feeling, that she failed at it nonetheless. She shot a quick glance at Sesshomaru, but he was still behaving, as though she even wasn't here. The girl clenched her fists discreetly. She knew, that he was blackmailed into this marriage as well, but he didn't have to treat her like that! Arrogant asshole.

The guests bowed to the bride and the groom and the ceremony began. Mai looked at the old demon, who was conducting the ceremony and blabbering about the importance of the institution of marriage, but she wasn't really interested in what he was talking about.

After nearly an hour of pointless talk, the man got to the point. The girl was quite relieved. She wasn't eager to swear to be Sesshomaru's good wife, but she wanted to be over this horribly long ceremony. Mainly because her butt began to hurt and the legs went numb.

The old man's two female assistants, someone like miko among humans, brought ritual sake to the pair. On the small table in front of Mai and her demonic groom were placed three cups, that varied in size. The old demon poured some sake in the smallest one and passed it to Sesshomaru, who finished it in three sips. Then, the cup was refilled and passed to Mai. The girl took it and took a sip. She nearly choked at the taste of alcohol. Quickly, she took two more sips and returned the cup. The same thing was done with the middle and then the largest cup – first the groom, then the bride drank the sake in three sips, according to the tradition. Mai's head began spinning.

The old man nodded to Sesshomaru, giving the demon a sign to recite the vow. The inu-youkai set his gaze in front of him and began reciting in a strong, confident way:

"We have now become united as husband and wife in this place. We respectfully pledge to make our hearts as one, give mutual help and support, faithfully execute our marital duties and responsibilities, and spend all the days of our lives together with unchanging trust and eternal affection."

Then the demon hermit nodded to Mai, urging her to recite the same words of vow. The girl bit her lower lip, hesitating a little, as her gaze wandered over the guests. She saw Sesshomaru's mother making a gesture like cutting a throat and pointing at the human children. Mai flinched and took a deep breath. Everyone was beginning to grow impatient with her prolonged silence. The girl set her gaze on the sake cups and began reciting the same vow, doing her best not to stutter. When she finished, the man conducting the ceremony turned around to face the guests.

"Sesshomaru and Mai are from now on united!" he announced. Mai felt, that her life has just officially ended.

The gathered guests ritually bowed twice, than clapped their hands twice and bowed again.
After the ceremony was completed, Mai and Sesshomaru stood up. One more thing had to be done before the reception. The groom was supposed to take of the white cloth from the bride's head and dress her in an uchikake - an elaborately adorned silk brocade kimono, which should symbolize, that she belonged to him now. The girl hesitantly looked up at the dog demon. Sesshomaru was gazing at her, but his face was so expressionless, that she didn't have a faintest clue, what he was thinking about. Gently, he lifted the fabric from Mai's head and passed it to the one of the eremite's assistants. The other female offered the red uchikake, bowing deeply. The inu-youkai took the kimono and glared at the girl, pointing at the clothing with his eyes. Mai furrowed her brows, wondering what the hell did he want. Then it dawned on her – he didn't have his left arm anymore, so dressing her in the uchikake might be problematic for him. He wanted her to help him and spare him the public humiliation.

Mai narrowed her eyes and glared at her newly acquired husband. First the bastard put her in this horrible situation, that led to the unfortunate marriage, then refused to talk civilly to her, ignored her during the whole wedding ceremony and now he wanted her to help him out of sudden? No way! The girl turned her head away from Sesshomaru, showing him how pissed she was.

The demon sent her an angry look, before he clumsily wrapped the red uchikake around her shoulders, having to do it with his only arm. Then, the pair made their way to the podium, where they were seated. The reception began, what meant another hour or so of sitting and listening to the guest's speeches, that dragged on mercilessly. Sesshomaru wasn't ignoring Mai anymore, unfortunately. The demon kept glaring at her with the murderous intent in his golden eyes. The girl tried to return the angry glare, but the demon's gaze was just too intense – once the reception finally ended she would be in a deep shit for sure. Suddenly she regretted not helping him with the damn uchikake.

"Stop making such faces, both of you!" Mai flinched, hearing the voice of her new mother-in-law, who was sending her and Sesshomaru a scolding look.

"Hn." Sesshomaru turned his head away.

The girl sighed. What a nightmare! To make the matters worse, during the whole ceremony and the reception she was stuck sitting by the dog demon's side and didn't have a chance to talk to Rin, Kohaku or Jaken. However, she doubted that she could exchange any words with the imp, who was still wailing. Mai saw, that Rin waved happily to her. The girl couldn't help smiling and waved back.
Then, the various dishes were served, but neither Mai nor Sesshomaru touched the food. Finally, after three long hours of sitting still like some stone statue, lady Sayuri came to retrieve the girl.



"Come, girl." The dog demoness motioned Mai to trot after her.

She had a little problem getting up, because her legs fell asleep, but it got much better after taking a few steps. Lady Sayuri, along with eleven other demon females, led Mai to some big, luxuriously decorated chamber with a huge bed in the middle of it. She covered her mouth with the sleeve to hide a yawn.

"It's over at last!" she said out loud, stretching her arms casually. Lady Sayuri and the other demonesses gave her scolding looks.

"Not so fast." Lady Sayuri hissed out, as she and the other female began undressing Mai.

Every of the twelve woman participated in it, as though it was some kind of ritual. She didn't have a clue exactly what kind, because her mother-in-law didn't explain what would be happening after the reception. Usually it was supposed to be a romantic wedding night, but considering how affectionate she and Sesshomaru were, Mai was sure that it wouldn't happen. Once the youkai women undressed her completely, she had a thin plain silk sleeping kimono put on. The demonesses gathered around her and bowed twice, then clapped their hands also twice, bowed again and left the chamber, all except lady Sayuri.

The demoness motioned the girl to sit on the edge of the bed and sat down beside her. She looked at Mai seriously.

"Did someone explain to you, what to do?" Sesshomaru's mother asked. The girl gawked her, unsure if they were thinking about the same thing.

"What do you mean?" She asked the demoness cautiously, suddenly having a disturbingly bad hunch. The female inu-youkai sighed and looked at Mai, as though she was an idiot.

"Since you are officially a married woman, you will have some duties and conjugal duties are among them." She explained patiently. The girl's eyes opened wider at the realization, what was her mother-in-law trying to say.

"You can't seriously expect me to…" she shook her head, feeling panicked at the thought. "No way!"

Lady Sayuri sent her a sharp look.

"Your marriage must be consummated tonight. Simple as that." The demoness said in a tone, that indicated that she was considering their conversation over. Mai felt her hands getting sweaty again.

"I won't ever do that with Sesshomaru!" she protested. "It's impossible!"
The demoness stood up and straightened her kimono. Before she made her way to the exit she glanced at Mai.

"You do not have to enjoy it, you have to do it. Besides it is a woman's duty to keep her husband satisfied in a bedchamber. I advise you to get used to the thought quickly, it will make the matters easier for you." She said coldly and left the room.

Mai was sitting for a while, staring at the door, that closed after her demonic mother-in-law. She refused to believe what was happening – it was like some horrible surreal nightmare. To think, that they expected her to spread her legs before Sesshomaru out of sudden… She blushed, as her imagination got to work. The inu-youkai was terribly attractive and he sure had some neck-kissing skill, but the perspective of losing her virginity tonight to a man, who she didn't love and who most probably shared her lack of feeling was mortifying. Mai always thought, that there had to be love involved, if you want to experience your first time with someone. Obviously she was miserably wrong.

The girl clenched her fist. She won't give up! No way, that she's going to spread her legs obediently and let the demonic jerk rape her! She was set on beating the stupid idea out of his thick skull, if it popped into it. She bit her bottom lip, the look of determination on her face, and began searching the room for a weapon, just in case she would have to emphasize her opinion on the topic of her idea of spending the wedding night. There was really nothing useful around, so she had to be a little more creative. She picked up an expensive looking vase. Smirking, she dropped her on the floor and watched it shatter into pieces. She kneeled by them and grabbed the largest, longitudinal one and shoved the rest under her bed, careful not to cut herself. Mai approached the bed and tore of a stripe of fabric of the sheets. She wrapped it around the piece of vase and examined the effect of her work.
She smiled to herself, feeling like MacGyver. The girl hid her makeshift knife in her sleeve and waited for her new husband, mentally preparing herself for a battle.



Sesshomaru tied a sash over his simple sleeping kimono and left his quarters, heading towards the bedchamber, where his human bride awaited his arrival. Her behavior at the wedding reception was unacceptable – she humiliated him in front of the all onlookers, but he decided to forgive her insolence this time. Surely she did that out of confusion. An opportunity to deal with her stubborn nature will surely present itself in the future more than once. Now, the dog demon's mind was occupied by another thought. His union with Mai was supposed to be consummated tonight.

Sesshomaru smiled inwardly, as he had been anticipating this moment during the whole wedding ceremony and because of that he was barely able to look at the woman. The fact, that she was looking so beautifully in her wedding kimono was not helping either. He wanted to claim her as his for some time now, but it was inappropriate to reveal his desire to her. However, now that they were lawfully wedded it was his conjugal duty to bed her and it would be a very enjoyable one.

The demon stopped in front of the door, that led to the newlyweds bedchamber. The thought of bedding Mai tonight made him feel pleasurable tingling in the loins. Sesshomaru inhaled the air deeply, taking a calming breath. The female must have been nervous and it was not his intention to scare her more.




Mai was sitting on the edge of the bed, all tense. She barely controlled the trembling of her hands. She hoped, that Sesshomaru wouldn't be eager to go through the consummation the marriage, but maybe in the feudal era it was perfectly normal and obvious.
She nearly jumped, as she heard Sesshomaru's deep voice coming from behind the door. Her heart began pounding like crazy.

"I am coming in." the demon stated and slid the door open.

The girl looked at him and got even more panicked, when she saw, that he was dressed only in plain white sleeping kimono, with the sash tied around his hips. Sesshomaru didn't have even his white fur on or Tenseiga. Mai flinched at the sound of him closing the door. She gulped and looked at him confidently.

The dog demon looked at the woman, who was sitting on the edge of the large bed, her back straight. Then his eyes wandered to the futon and a pillow laying on the floor, as far from bed as possible. He turned his attention back to Mai and narrowed his eyes at her.

"What is the meaning of this?" he questioned her dryly. Mai didn't avert her gaze from him.

"I'm sleeping on the bed and you're on the floor." She explained casually, as though it was something obvious.

Sesshomaru furrowed his brows. He expected some resistance, but not something like that. The insolent woman dared not only to reject him, but also wanted him to sleep on the floor.

"I am going to sleep in the bed." He said.

Mai looked at him, considering something. Then she sighed heavily.

"All right, if you insist." She answered. The demon relaxed slightly, contented by the fact, that the woman yielded so quickly. Mai rolled her eyes. "I can take the floor."

The inu-youkai stared at her, realizing, that she had absolutely no intention of giving up easily after all.

"I believe, that you misunderstood me." He told her. "You are to perform your conjugal duties tonight and therefore we will share the bed."

Mai stiffened at his words. Dear god, he wanted to do it. Her biggest fear was just coming true. The girl tensed and her hand slowly wandered towards the vase shard. She really hoped, that she wouldn't have to use it, but the situation began looking rather badly. She gulped and forced herself to look at Sesshomaru, who was still standing near the door.

"I won't let you do anything to me tonight. Don't get any stupid ideas." She said stubbornly, sending the demon a challenging look, set on defending her virginity.

Sesshomaru glared at her, getting angry at her defiance. She should know better than reject her husband.

"It is your obligation as my wife to lay with me tonight and it is precisely, what you will do in a moment." The demon said confidently.

At his words all color fled the girl's face. Seeing her so terrified, the inu-youkai immediately regretted his harsh words. He knew, that tonight he should rather coax her gently into letting him take her instead of making demands. Sesshomaru sighed inwardly and tried to correct his mistake. "Do not fear. I will be gentle."

The dog demon's last words made Mai go crazy with fear more than everything he said so far. She clutched the handle of her makeshift knife, as Sesshomaru slowly made his way to the bed.

"Don't come closer!" the girl warned him, but the youkai didn't pay any attention to her protests. He approached her. Mai stood up, wanting to circle the bed and get away from him, but Sesshomaru made use of his demonic speed and snatched her arm. She struggled, but the demon didn't even budge.

"Do not fight me." He said in a hushed voice, that was supposed to calm her, but had the opposite effect. The girl began twisting under his grip more.

"Let me go, you lecher!" she shrieked at him. The youkai attempted to bring his face closer to hers, but Mai managed to land her fist right on his nose. Sesshomaru glared at her, angered by her behavior. He was trying to make this easier for her, but she rejected his gentleness. If the woman did not want to yield peacefully, it would be his pleasure to make her give in to him.

"Enough!" he growled at the girl. Mai made a failed attempt to kick him in the groin in response.

Now furious, the demon suddenly pushed the girl onto the bed. She yelped, startled, as she landed flat on her back on the soft bedcovers. Sesshomaru immediately climbed over Mai, his silver strands falling around them.

"No." she whispered, mortified by the fact that the demon wanted to do it by force.

She decided that it was the high time for the plan B. The youkai leaned down, wanting to deliver a kiss on her lips, but he saw a glimpse of something sharp, as Mai's hand moved towards his face and pain in the cheek. Startled, he pulled back and lifted his hand to touch the side of the face.

Sesshomaru felt moisture under his fingers and examined his hand, that was now stained with his blood. After slashing the demon's cheek, the girl didn't waste time and decided to escape while he was still surprised. However, the youkai swiftly grabbed her by her hair and yanked her back on the bed.

"Gah!" she yelped. Mai tried to get up and slash the demon once more, but this time she didn't have the advantage of a surprise attack – he swiftly snatched her wrist and began squeezing it till the makeshift knife fell from her fingers on the floor.

The girl struggled to free her wrist from Sesshomaru's forceful grip, but her efforts proved fruitless against his demonic strength.

"Mai." The inu-youkai growled her name and pushed her back onto the bed, pining her with his heavy body. Panicked, she was mindlessly tossing her limbs in futile attempt to get the man off her. Sesshomaru pulled back a little to gaze at her face. His golden eyes met hers, the tears welling in the brown ones.

He saw panic in those pretty eyes of hers – she feared him to the point of madness. In this moment Sesshomaru realized, how he had just behaved - he was no better than the oni, who wanted to rape her.

Suddenly, the demon rolled of her and stood up. Without another word or glancing behind, he stormed out of the bedchamber, leaving the trembling girl on the bed.


Author Note:

Yep, they got married. I suspect, that it won't be as easy for Sesshomaru as he expected... I pity Mai too...
Oh, I shouldn't be the one reviewing. Comment and you shall have the next chapter today. There are still 20 to go!