Chapter 105

The eye of the storm



Mai closed her eyes, tired with the fruitless attempts to wriggle away. She wanted to have some hope, to cling to, but she knew, that this time her situation was different. Always before, when something nasty happened to her, Sesshomaru always came with the rescue. However, now it wasn't possible anymore, as he was right here, cuffed to the opposite side of pole, also waiting for the unavoidable. She muffled a sob, that wanted to escape her throat.

On the other side of mast, the dog demon was still fighting, trying either to break the chains or wriggle himself from them. However, his efforts were futile, as his strength now was lacking. He was raging – he should have noticed the danger earlier, he should have not taken the woman along with him. Sesshomaru gritted his teeth, knowing that in some hours either he would watch her being murdered or he would be killed before her eyes. The feeling of guilt was overwhelming and it even surpassed the rage and humiliation, he felt because of surrendering himself willingly to the humans.
For a long time they remained silent, aware, what they were waiting for.

"Forgive me." Mai's head snapped up, as Sesshomaru suddenly spoke, his deep voice sounding strangely humble.

"For what?" she replied with a question.

The dog demon leaned himself against the pole, fed up with fruitless struggling. If those were moments to the last moments of their lives, he wished to obtain Mai's absolution, so that he could rest in peace. Sesshomaru set his gaze on the waves invading the ship.

"I was supposed to protect you and I failed." He said, sadness resounding in his voice.
Mai reacted differently, than he expected. The girl snorted.

"Don't worry about that, I'm just your servant. Why would you feel guilty about leading me to death? Never before it bothered you." She said in a half-mocking tone.

The truth was, she was scared, she was terrified of what was to come. Would it hurt? What would she feel in the moment, when her soul would be leaving her body? Would she reunite with her parents? She didn't know an answer on any of these questions and she didn't want to learn it – she desperately wished to live. Mai couldn't help herself and blamed Sesshomaru for the situation, they were in. Actually, she blamed him for all the dangerous adventures and she just blabbered it to him in a moment of weakness.

Having heard her words, the dog demon fell silent, considering, what she just said. He wanted to scold her for her foolishness, to prove her wrong. She was not just a meaningful servant to him. She was his woman, his mistress, even though it has not yet come to pass.

"Woman, you are…" Sesshomaru began, having an intention to tell her, what he wanted the entire day, but stopped in midsentence, when he heard her sobbing. It was difficult to hear it, but despite the howling wind and the heavy rain he did – she was crying.

The tears mixed with rain on Mai's face, as the dam broke and emotions flooded her. She was afraid, so terribly scared, that she couldn't hide it any longer. When the enemy was here she managed to put up a tough front, but now no one was on the deck, except her and Sesshomaru. A sob shook her body.
"It's all your fault!" she coughed out between the sobs. The dog demon stilled at her words. He turned his head to the side to hear her better. Mai shook her head, as though to get rid of the tears and water from her face. "If you hadn't kidnapped me, none of this would have happened to me!"

Then, she sobbed some more, feeling so vunerable. She knew, that even if she thought so, she shouldn't have said such things to Sesshomaru, but now it didn't really matter. Both of them wouldn't live to see another day. She stared at the restless sea in front of her and continued:

"If you hadn't kidnapped me, I would have made it before the idiot princess died and would be able to live normally in my world! If not you, Naraku wouldn't have wanted to kill me! If not…" she made a wailing sound, as she cried. "I just… I just… don't want to die. Even if the things are, how they are, I don't want to die. I… want to have a good job, husband and children – nothing out of ordinary, just… live."

Sesshomaru was listening to her in silence the whole time. Her words saddened him. Was he truly the source of her misery? The demon felt uneasy – what should he tell her?

Before he found out his answer, something distracted him. The inu-youkai noticed, that a figure was approaching them, walking through the streams of rain, fighting with the horrible weather with each step. Sesshomaru furrowed his brows. Has the time come already?

It was difficult to determine, who the person actually was, as he was cloaked and barely visible in the rain. However, it did not escape the dog demon's attention, that the person was short.



Akira bit his lower lip, sitting by the table in his chambers. Before him a scroll was laying, but he only pretended to read it, when one of the guards, who were standing outside, checked if everything was fine. The boy was terribly confused. The discovery of Mai's and the teacher's true identities was too much for him to take. He trusted them, he liked them. He respected his teacher and wanted to be just like him, but it turned out, that he was a vile demon, the greatest enemy of Kaga.

However, the boy didn't believe everything, Sasaki told him. If those two were supposed to be so evil and plotted to destroy his province, why didn't they try to kill him? Both of them had plenty of opportunities and the teacher could always say, that it was an unlucky accident during the training. They could and yet, the both of them were sacrificing their time for him, they ate meals together like a family should… there was a dissonance. Despite what Sasaki said, Akira was sure, that Mai and the teacher weren't bad people. About what happened earlier in Kanazawa, there had to be a reason for it. From what he saw, the teacher wouldn't attack unprovoked.

Nevertheless, the boy let Sasaki imprison the two and agreed to the execution, believing, that it was the rightful way. As an heir of Kaga's daimyo he did well, but as Akira… he had doubts. Agreeing with Sasaki was easy, but was it right? Was it right to let the people, he actually cared for, die? The boy clenched his fist. He didn't want to be like his own father, he wanted to be brave and rightful like Sesshomaru!

Having made his mind, he stood up. As the daimyo's son, he could order Sasaki to do his bidding, but even though Akira was a child, he wasn't that naive. He was raised on court among plots, so he knew, that he was alone on this one. Sasaki had the support of the soldiers. The boy had to get to his friends and free them. But, the soldiers wouldn't let him. As an idea sparked in his head, young Maeda folded his bedding in the way, that it appeared, as though someone was sleeping there and left the door to the bedroom open, so that the guards would think, that he was sleeping. Mentally encouraging himself, he opened the window and crawled outside.

Akira clenched his fingers on the wood, as the wild waves nearly washed him off the ship. Cursing under his nose, he slowly climbed sideways to reach the deck. He was extremely careful, as wet wooden surface was slippery. Just a little more… There! He reached the next window frame. Only one more and he would be safe. Then, something caught his attention. The boy looked inside through the window.

It was Sasaki's quarters, but currently no one was there – no one, except master Sekiguchi, who laid in the corner, tightly wrapped in rope. Akira furrowed his brows. So the old scholar was caught too. Maybe he would be an ally. Without hesitating any longer, the boy opened the window with a forceful kick. Thankfully, no one heard it, because of the storm outside. Sekiguchi looked at the kid, his eyes widened. He tried to say something, but he was gagged. Akira shushed him and jumped inside. He removed the gag.

"Young master." Sekiguchi said. "What…"

Akira shushed him again.

"You have to help me save Mai and the teacher." The child whispered and smiled, after receiving a nod from the scholar. The boy looked around, searching for something to cut the ropes. He tripped over some bundle and nearly fell. He looked down and saw a handle of a sword sticking out of the cloth. Happy with the discovery, he grabbed it and unsheathed it. The bundle belonged to Sesshomaru, he was sure of it.

Akira tried to cut the ropes with the blade, but there was no effect.

"It's blunt?" he whispered to himself. Finally he found a short knife and used it to slice the ropes.
Sekiguchi sighed with relief, standing up.

The boy heard a commotion outside and looked at the door, nervous. He placed the bundle securely on his back and climbed on the window frame.

Once outside, it was worse than before. The weather was his enemy, plus he had to safeguard the elderly scholar, what meant almost carrying him – Sekiguchi was weak and fragile, now his hand lacking a thumb.

"Only a little more, master Sekiguchi!" Akira called to the old man, dragging both of them towards the deck. The old man was panting, as the climbing was a little too much for his body.
Finally, they reached the solid floor. The old scholar patted Maeda's shoulder.

"You're a brave young man." He praised him. "Free those two and I will get the lifeboat ready."

"The lifeboat?" Akira repeated. Sekiguchi made a gesture to hurry up.

"We have to get out of the ship. Meet me there! Quick!" the old scholar hurried the boy again and began limping towards the place, where the boat was. Akira nodded, a determined look on his face and rushed towards the mast, to which two people were bound. Fortunately, no one was on the deck, as it was the middle of the storm. The waves were mercilessly invading the ship, nearly drowning the cuffed pair. Maeda had to be careful, not to end up washed away from the deck.

"Mai, teacher, it's me!" he called to his friends, when he was close.



Unfortunately, in this very moment it turned out, that he wasn't the only one, who was on the deck – Sekiguchi's disappearance had been already noticed. The soldiers run outside, followed by agitated Sasaki.

"Get Sekiguchi, quick!" he yelled, pointing towards the tree-people group at the mast.

Akira glanced over his shoulders, cursing under his nose and with two leaps got to his friends. He took out the knife, wanting to cut the ropes, but Sesshomaru and Mai were cuffed to the wooden pole with iron shackles. He tried to pick the lock, using the tip of the blade, but it was too broad. He wasn't sure if the liquid on his forehead was sweat or rainwater. The military men were in the half way, but his friends were still trapped and he had no idea, how to overcome the shackles.

Mai furrowed her brows, looking at Akira's actions. Damn, the boy had nothing to pick the lock with. If she had something useful… in the movies usually hairpins were used… The girl gasped, as she remembered, that she had her dear belonging always on her.

"Akira!" she shouted to the boy. "In my sleeve is a hairpin!"

The boy nodded and reached into the sleeve of his kimono. It was difficult to search for the pocket, when the ship was rocking violently, but he managed it – his hand emerged, a silver hairpin with emeralds between his fingers.

"Sesshomaru first!" Mai gave further instructions. The boy obeyed her without hesitating and began poking the hairpin into the keyhole of the shackles' lock. After a moment full of tension, a characteristic click was heard and the chains fell to the floor. After few more seconds, the boy managed to completely set Sesshomaru free.

He did it in the last moment, as the soldiers managed to make their way through the slippery deck already and, with the blades lifted, they charged on them with every intention to kill. The dog demon grabbed the chains and threw them forcefully in the direction of the attackers. The chain entwined around their legs and the men fell to the wooden planks, slipping on the wet floor. Sesshomaru leapt forward and, kicking one of the enemies in face, he snatched a sword. He jumped back and prepared to fight.

In the meantime Akira managed to free Mai. The girl stood up and took the hairpin from the boy, placing it back in her sleeve.

Sesshomaru smirked, now feeling much more in control. Sasaki gathered all the men on the deck – about thirty of them, as the dog demon disposed of the rest earlier. He was outnumbered, but his skill and the weather conditions were working for him, as the soldiers were easily losing their footing.
However, he wasn't the only one, who noticed the dog demon's advantage.
"Pull back!" Sasaki was shouting the orders. "Get the bows!"

The inu-youkai furrowed his brows, not liking the turn of events. The wind was strong, but one of the thirty arrows would surely reach its destination, as Sesshomaru wouldn't deflect all of them. He glanced over his shoulder.

"Get back." He ordered.

Mai narrowed her eyes, knowing, what that stupid demon was planning again – he wanted to take the full impact of the attack on himself.

"No way!" she protested stubbornly. "I'm not letting you pull that stunt again! We're getting out of this both alive or both dead!"

The demon hissed with irritation at her disobedience. The soldiers got their bows already and positioned themselves with the strings pulled, waiting for an order to shoot. Sesshomaru took a step back, knowing, that the distance should be the big as possible. With the wetted strings the range and accuracy of the bows will lessen. However, it was still dangerous.

Suddenly Akira left Mai's side and went forward.

"Sasaki!" he yelled, outshouting the howling wind. "I, Maeda Akira, the heir of Maeda house, order you to step down and set these people free!"

The soldiers stepped aside, making way for Sasaki, who came to the front. The man offered a mocking smile.

"Set them free? Do not make me laugh!" he shouted back. "Once I present their heads to your father, I will be handsomely rewarded. I will not give up my promotion because of a child's whim!"
Akira furrowed his brows, as he had been defied.

"I am your superior, you have to listen to me!" the boy yelled.

"I am sorry, boy, but you're not irreplaceable. I am positive, that one of your father's mistresses' bastards could take your place." Sasaki responded with a laughter. "You chose the wrong side, brat."

Having said this, the nobleman made a gesture and a rain of arrows glided in the boy's direction.

Akira widened his eyes, startled and frozen in place. Suddenly, he felt a forceful pull, as Sesshomaru threw the boy behind himself, deflecting the arrows. The group hid behind a mast, safe for a short while.

"What now?" Mai asked, wanting to glance, how the situation looked like. The soldiers must have been nearing and once they would be close enough, all of them would be done for.

"We have to jump into the sea." Akira said firmly. Seeing Sesshomaru's and Mai's doubtful looks, he decided to explain further. "Master Sekiguchi should be waiting with the boat ready."

The dog demon nodded, convinced to the idea. Even if he slaughtered everyone on the deck, four people would not be able to man a ship. The lifeboat seemed to be a good choice.

"I will come out first." He commanded. "Wait for my mark and run to the railing."

Mai and Akira nodded. Then, Sesshomaru jumped from behind the mast. Instantly arrows flew in his directions. He was waiting for all soldiers to shoot, to make use of the brief moment, when they had to ready the next arrow.

"NOW!" the demon yelled.

Mai and Akira darted to the ship's side, running as fast as humanly possible, their feet sliding on the slippery surface. Sesshomaru rushed beside them, ready to deflect all the arrows. They reached the railing, when the rain of arrows glided in their direction again. Akira already jumped into the sea and Mai was about to leap over the railing, when Sesshomaru stopped, not moving from the place.

"Sesshomaru, come on!" she shouted, but the demon wasn't leaving, standing in the same place and deflecting arrows.

"Go alone." He said to her.

Mai furrowed her brows, wanting to scold him for his stupidity, when she saw, what was the problem – Sesshomaru's thigh was pinned to the wooden railing with an arrow, making it impossible for him to move. She bit her lower lip, not wanting to leave the demon behind. He couldn't tear the arrow from his leg, as his hand was busy. Mai knew, that only she could save him.

"Hang on for a moment!" she told Sesshomaru, coming closer. She gripped the arrow with both her hands and snapped it just by his skin. Being freed, the demon jerked his leg forward, so that the remaining part of the arrow was left stuck in the wood. With a swift move, to tossed the sword away and grabbed Mai's waist, leaping over the railing.

Mai felt the freezing, salty water invade her throat, as she and Sesshomaru fell into the water. They swam to the surface, but the waves were covering them, making it hard to cough out the water and draw a proper breath. In the time, when she was struggling to breathe, Sesshomaru caught the rope, that was tossed from the little lifeboat, inside which Sekiguchi and Akira were sitting. The old man was occupied with rowing, while the boy began to pull the rope, hauling the pair into safety. Once near, the demon pushed Mai upwards and young Maeda helped her get inside. Then the inu-youkai crawled into the boat, using his own strength. Akira flashed a smile.

"We're safe now!"



In the meantime, Sasaki was yelling at his subordinates, generously distributing colorful insults.

"You idiots, shoot them down!" he screamed, but general Shimada patted him on the shoulder.

"The distance is too big and the bow strings are wet. The arrows won't reach them." The military man explained to angered Sasaki. The nobleman whirled around to the ship's captain.

"Men to the paddles!" he commanded, but the captain folded his arms and shook his head.

"I won't allow this! The storm is intensifying. Once it's over, we can row as much as you like, but now our ship can be sunken. Those people are as good as dead in this nutshell anyway." The ship's captain voiced his opinion, but Sasaki didn't seem to be convinced.

"If we don't kill them, our heads would roll." He hissed out. The general patted his back.

"Once the storm calms, we'll chase them. All we have to do is to wait. Even if they survive, we should catch up to them till they reach the shore. We have sails, after all."