Chapter 109

The letter of challenge




Mai sighed with relief and slid off Ah-Un's back, her legs wobbling slightly.

"Lucky." She muttered. Yet once again they miraculously escaped from the clutches of death. The journey to Saga was a pure nightmare and she was sure, that the chain of misfortune would continue.
The rest of the passengers also dismounted Ah-Un and the dragon laid on the ground, exhausted by the crazy flight.

Jaken stretched his limbs and gawked at Sesshomaru, confusion rising in him.

"Um… Sesshomaru sama?" he began, wanting to ask, what bugged him for the last hour. "Why didn't you just use Tenseiga to kill those youkai? Or your claws maybe…"
Mai flinched, when she saw the way, the dog demon glared at his servant. If his eyes could turn red, they would do that in this moment. Sesshomaru clenched his fist, the vein pulsing in his neck.

"None of your business." He growled, sending a warning look at Jaken, who yelped from fear, the urge to ask his master more uncomfortable questions suddenly decreasing. The dog demon glared at Jaken again.

"The letter." He demanded harshly. Jaken instantly began searching his kimono and finally handed the folded piece of paper to Sesshomaru. The inu-youkai impatiently broke the seal and started reading.

In the meantime Mai studied the dead body of the demoness, who attacked them a while ago. Hesitantly, she took a step closer to examine her. Who was she? Why was she chasing Jaken? And most of all – what connection did she have to Rin's abduction? There was only one way to learn the answers to her questions at the moment. Feeling disgusted, she took a step closer and knelt by the corpse. Desecration of the dead was quite horrible, but if it would help Rin…

The girl rolled her sleeves and took a peek inside the woman's kimono, but found nothing. Then, she grabbed one of the broken arms and lifted it with one hand, another palm searching the inside of the crow demoness's sleeve for some clues. Having found nothing, Mai proceeded with another sleeve. It was difficult and disgusting to roam through the dead woman's pockets, but she heard the rustling of the paper. She clutched it and carefully took it out, cautious not to tear it. She sat on her heels, examining her founding – it was a folded letter with an emblem of a flame on the outside. The seal had been broken already. Mai unfolded the piece of paper and read the elegant characters.



To Anzu, the leader of the Crow Clan.
Honorable lady Anzu,
We have yet to meet, but surely you are aware of the fact, that your revered Father, the previous leader of the Crow Clan, was a member of the Alliance of a Flame, destined to defeat our common enemy. Four long centuries passed since the Alliance crumbled, as the enemy proved to be stronger, forcing us to forsake the fight However, I believe, that now the time has come for the flame to light the darkness of the night anew.

In this moment we should wake up from the numbness and stand up to our enemy. Before their leader was strong and many allies supported him, but he has perished long ago, leaving the Clan in hands of his son, who lacks his charisma. The Dog Clan is weaker than ever, what gives us the chance to get rid of it once and for all with the death of the one called Sesshomaru. I have already took the liberty of making certain arrangements to accomplish this goal. I am certain, that the enemy will fall in the trap I set.

I expect the Crow Clan to join the Alliance against the rule of the Dog Clan once again in order to erase the centuries of humiliation. The first meeting of a council will take place at the night before the full moon. I sincerely hope, that you will arrive and reinforce our cause. I enclose the map, that will lead you to the meeting place. As none of us met you before, show this letter upon your arrival to prove your identity. I expect the Crow Clan to join the new Alliance.

Ichizo, the leader of the Fox Clan



Mai stared at the piece of paper, comprehending, what she just read. According to the letter, Rin was kidnapped by some evil secret organization, that wanted to lure Sesshomaru, using the little girl as a bait, and murder him. Damn, that was just horribly dangerous. She glanced at the other piece of parchment – the map. To her surprise there wasn't any secret caves, mountain passages or something like that. Instead it depicted a plan of a city – Kyoto. One of the largest buildings was marked red, presumably it was the meeting place. Youkai in the human emperor's capital? It sounded unbelievable. Well, the darkest place wass under the candlestick, after all.

The girl furrowed her brows, not happy about, what she just learned. If Sesshomaru stormed in, even with his youki intact, he would play right into those bastards hands, but there was another way out. If only they could use some ruse… Mai glanced at the letter once again.

As none of us met you before, show this letter upon your arrival to prove your identity.

That meant, that if someone impersonated the demoness, no one would know. That way, it could be possible to slip in without fighting and steal Rin without Sesshomaru having to draw his sword. It was the best solution. Having convinced herself to the idea, Mai folded the letter and hid it in her sleeve. She sighed, before committing even more acts of the dead desecration. She took the clawed gloves off the demoness's palms and removed the feather-covered coat. She also stole the black outer kimono. Having obtained all the items, she would need, she stuffed them into the packs on Ah-Un's back.

The girl glanced over her shoulder at Sesshomaru, who was finishing reading the letter, his foul mood all over his face. The demon crushed the paper in his hand, barely restraining himself from giving out a furious growl. He tossed the paper onto the ground and turned around, trying to think of something. Mai tiptoed to the paper ball and straightened it, so that she could read it. It was a little wrong to read someone's correspondence, but it didn't really bother her right now.



To Sesshomaru, the leader of the Dog Clan
Your precious humans are in our hands. If you wish them to live, grace us with your presence at the sunrise, the day before the full moon. Shall you arrive later than at the sunset of this day, the hostages will lose their heads.
The leader of our Alliance will wish to challenge you to a duel to decide the supremacy. The humans were taken captive to ensure, that you will show up.
Alliance of a Flame



Mai narrowed her eyes. It sounded a bit like a challenge to a duel, but it was a trap. She looked at the dog demon, eager to inform him of this.

"Sesshomaru, you can't go there." She said, stepping closer to her boss. "It's not a challenge, it's a trap! I found a letter by the demoness's corpse. It says clearly, that it's a trap!"

Sesshomaru whirled around, pissed look on his face.

"Silence!" he growled. "I am aware of that."

"Sesshomaru-sama, what will you do?" Jaken asked.

"Hn." He snorted. "Is that not obvious? If they wish to see me so badly, I shall pay them a visit."
Mai and Jaken stared at the dog demon. Both of them opened their mouths to protest, but the girl was quicker.

"You can't do this! That's exactly, what they want!" she shouted.

Sesshomaru sent her a cold glare. He wanted to retort, but Jaken cut in. The imp folded his arms, the confidence written all over his face.

"Don't be stupid, Mai." He scolded the girl. "It's not like Sesshomaru-sama is going there to be killed. As powerful as our master is, he will surely defeat all of opponents and reclaim the children by force."

Silence fell after Jaken's words. Mai bit her lower lip and looked at Sesshomaru.

"You know, that if you go there from the front, you'll die. Not to mention, that you won't reach Saga.

The deadline is in a two days and Kyoto is far away." She said quietly.

The demon locked his eyes with hers.

"Would you prefer me to leave Rin to die?" he asked in a unnaturally calm voice.
Mai broke the eye contact. She didn't want the sweet kid to die, but she didn't want to let Sesshomaru get himself killed either. She decided to share her idea with him.

"You know, there's other way. I found an invitation on that youkai woman. They don't know her personally, so they won't know, if someone impersonates her. I thought, that we may be able to sneak into their meeting place, pretending to be one of them and somehow get the kids out of there. This crow demoness is about my height, I should be able to…" she was explaining her makeshift plan, but Sesshomaru interrupted her.

"No." he said harshly, glaring at her. "I will go there alone."

Mai stared at the stupid demonic asshole. She clenched her fists.

"But it won't work without a woman! You need me!" she protested, but Sesshomaru didn't intend to change his mind.

"I am not letting you become involved in this." He stated in a tone, that indicated, that the conversation was over.

Mai hissed like an angered viper. She shot her best poisonous glare at the idiotic youkai, who happened to be her boss. Was his stupidity without any boundaries?! She just gave him a good idea and he rejected it! The girl stalked closer to the inu-youkai and rested her hands on the hips, doing her best to look intimidating.

"I work for you, so it's natural, that I'm involved!" she shouted at the demon. The girl took a deep breath, about to begin her tirade. She pointed at Sesshomaru's chest. "I care for Rin too, so it's nothing weird, that I want to help. Look, I don't care how prideful you are, but we should cooperate on this one. My plan is the best! You just have to let me help you!"

Sesshomaru slapped her hand, glaring at her.

"You will do as I say." He hissed out. "And do not dare to disrespect me again."
Mai narrowed her eyes at him.

"Your plan sucks!" she shouted, enraged by his arrogant attitude. "We should do as I say! I will…"

"ENOUGH!" Sesshomaru bellowed, his face distorted by anger. He was clenching and flexing his fingers, as though barely restraining himself from snatching the neck of the stubborn female. "You are to stay behind. Safe. My decision is final, so cease your pointless barking."

Mai stared at the dog demon's sudden outburst. He looked like he was about to throttle her. She took a step back, just in case, but her eyes weren't leaving Sesshomaru's.

"Idiot!" she said, folding her arms and whirling around.

She stalked towards Ah-Un, pissed at the stupid dog. The youkai imbecile perfectly knew, that going straight to the enemy's den without using any trick was equal to the death sentence and he still insisted on doing it. Plus, Rin and Kohaku may be killed afterwards anyway, once the hostages wouldn't be needed anymore. The girl glanced at the cloak of the black feather's sticking out of the packs. She sighed. There was no other choice. She would have to manage somehow to save all of them, including that idiot Sesshomaru. Well, he was saving her and Rin countless times, so it may have been her turn to do the same.

Mai stomped to Ah-Un, still feeling intense glare on her back. She patted one of the dragon's heads. To carry out, what she was planning, she needed an accomplice. She also had to cut Sesshomaru off the swift means of transportation.

"You don't want Sesshomaru to die, do you?" she asked the animal quietly. Ah-Un stared at her with his reptile eyes and shook both his heads after a while. Mai smiled to herself. "If he goes there alone, he'll die. We have to save him. Will you help me?"

She thanked all the saints, that Sesshomaru was temporarily deprived off his youkai sense of hearing.

Ah-Un roared and Mai took it as a "yes". Quickly, before her boss managed to see through her plan, she mounted the battle steed.

"Ah-Un, up!" she called and the dragon leapt into the air, parting with the ground and hanging about three meters above its level.

"Tch!" Sesshomaru hissed out, angered by what the damnable woman just did.

"Get down this instant, you foolish woman!" he shouted his demands.
Mai shook her head and grabbed the reins.

"No way!" she shouted back. "If you won't let me help you, I'll do it anyway without your agreement!"

Sesshomaru clenched his fist, glaring daggers at the damnable female. He tried hard to protect her from any harm, that could befall her, and here she wanted to embrace the danger on her own. The dog demon set his gaze on his battle steed.

"If you do not land, you will be severely punished!" he threatened Ah-Un, but the dragon roared and shook its heads, refusing to listen to his master's orders.

The inu-youkai observed with fury blazing in his eyes, as the woman was patting his traitorous steed with a contented smile playing on her lips. Sesshomaru growled, angered, that she not only dared to disobey him, but also corrupted his faithful battle steed. He gazed at her.

"If you come down now, you will not be punished." He said to Mai, wanting to coax her into abandoning her foolish and risky plan.
However, Mai didn't want to listen to him.

"I won't!" she shouted back, before turning her attention to Jaken. "Jaken! Listen to me carefully. I'll handle taking Rin and Kohaku back. You have to make sure, that Sesshomaru arrives in Saga. There's the tree-days deadline, so don't let him to be late. I'm counting on you!"

Jaken gawked at her, not entirely understanding, what she meant. He stared at his master, who looked like he wanted to rip the human girl into shreds, but stood in place, as though he couldn't just fly up and grab her. The imp narrowed his eyes. What was going on here? He noticed earlier, that Sesshomaru-sama was behaving strangely, but… could it be, that he couldn't use his youkai powers? No… it couldn't be… not the powerful dog demon. But, what restrained him from doing so?

Sesshomaru emitted a guttural growl, clenching his fist so forcefully, that the claws broke the skin and the blood began dripping to the ground. However, that dog demon was so enraged, that he took no heed of little pain.

"So you refuse to obey me?" he asked Mai, his voice somehow sounding coldly calm.

The girl nodded.

"I'll free Rin and Kohaku. Just focus on meeting with the eremite, Sesshomaru." She said solemnly, but the inu-youkai was getting pissed more and more.

"Very well, if that is your final decision." He said, the malicious look on his face. "But know, that if I ever see you again, I will make you regret it."

Mai gulped, hearing the threat. Sesshomaru seemed to be death serious about it. Damn, the man was really frightening her.

"Reconsider now and escape the punishment." The dog demon offered her one last chance, but Mai decided not to take it. She clutched the reins.

"To Kyoto, Ah-Un!" she cried and the dragon glided northwards, towards the city, where the emperor resided, leaving Sesshomaru and Jaken behind.



Author Note:

Hi again. Yup, I'm trying to redeem myself right now... Review, okay?