Chapter 39

Mai's charming patient.




"Will you stay now?" Sesshomaru asked quietly.

Mai's hands stilled. What have gotten into him? Maybe he had a fever again. The girl leaned down and carefully touched his forehead, but it was cold. She furrowed her brows and poked the demon with her finger, but he didn't react. She sighed. He must have been so exhausted, that he fell asleep like a log. The girl decided, that it would be the best to finish dressing his wounds. Quickly, she put on the sticking plasters and bandages, where needed, and picked up the rags from the cave floor.
She stretched her aching limbs and went outside. The weather was marvelous, as expected from the hot summer. She went on a little trek and found a river. Mai couldn't resist the temptation. The girl undressed as fast as she could and jumped into the water.

"It's the best!" she giggled to herself. Mai took her clothes and washed them in the river, as it was possible, and left them on the stones to dry. Satisfied, she went back to splashing in the cool water.




Elsewhere…

Sango, Miroku and Shippo were sitting around the well, waiting for either Kagome or Inuyasha to arrive. Mai was missing nearly for a day already.

"I can't believe, we lost her." Sango sighed heavily. The monk and the fox-demon nodded in agreement, equally worried.

"Kagome-sama will skin us alive." The monk commented. "It seems, that we fell for Ah-Un's diversion."

The tree of them sat in complete silence for a while, when Shippo tugged Miroku's sleeve.

"Miroku, look! Someone is coming!" the little fox demon exclaimed. The monk and the demon-slayer turned their heads in the direction, Shippo was pointing.

Two small figures were darting towards them. One was a girl with black messy hair in an orange kimono and the other – the green imp carrying Nintoujou. Sango looked warily around, expecting to spot Sesshomaru, but the dog demon was nowhere near.

"Jaken? What are you doing here?" asked Shippo. The green imp was panting heavily. He took a deep breath.

"Did you people see Sesshomaru-sama by the chance?" Jaken asked.

"Did you see Mai?" Sango replied with a question.

"Mai?" Rin asked abruptly. "Mai is here?"

"Sesshomaru has gone somewhere?" Shippo asked.

Miroku coughed, trying to get everyone's attention. Once ensured, that all eyes were on him, the monk began.

"I think, that we must get some things straight. First, Mai. She has returned and Ah-Un kidnapped her yesterday. Jaken, do any of you have something to do with it?" the monk asked, glaring at the imp. Jaken made a resentful face.

"Ah-Un abandoned us too – he suddenly flew off somewhere, so how would we know? Did you meet Sesshomaru-sama? He left us some time ago and is not back yet." Stated Jaken and Rin nodded with worry all over her face.

"Sesshomaru and Inuyasha battled against Naraku yesterday and he chased after Naraku alone." Sango offered an explanation. Jaken and Rin gasped.

"Jaken-sama, do you think Sesshomaru-sama is okay?" panicked girl started shaking the imp by his shoulders.

Everyone was so absorbed in observing those two, that they didn't notice the arrival of three more newcomers.

"HEY!" everyone whirled around at the yell and saw Inuyasha, dismounting Kirara and – to everyone's surprise – Ah-Un. The half demon took a look at the strange group gathered by the well and folded his arms. "Does anyone care to explain, what the hell is going on? And what Jaken is doing here?"

Everyone started talking at the same time, trying to explain the situation to Inuyasha. The irritated hanyou growled and they went silent.

"Miroku?" Inuyasha asked. The monk sighed and nodded.

"I see, that you found Ah-Un, Inuyasha." Miroku commented. The hanyou shrugged his shoulders.

"Feh! It glued to me along the way." He said and glared at Jaken with suspicion. "Shouldn't you guys be with Sesshomaru?"

"It seems, that Sesshomaru is missing." Miroku explained.

"So what? Who cares about the bastard anyway?" answered Inuyasha, yawning. The monk made a troubled face.

"Actually, Mai is missing too. She was kidnapped by Ah-Un yesterday and I believe, that she may be with Sesshomaru right now." He said hesitantly, waiting for the hanyou's reaction. Inuyasha stayed silent for a while, processing the information. Finally, his eyes widened, as he linked the facts.

"WHAT?!" he yelled. "He'll kill her! And Kagome will kill me, if Mai is dead!"

The hanyou turned to Ah-Un and glared at the dragon. The group flinched, when they saw, how scary the hanyou's face was.

"Where are they?" Inuyasha growled. Ah-Un turned his heads away, clearly avoiding answering.

"WHERE. ARE. THEY?!" The half-demon yelled at the creature, but the dragon was stubborn.

"Inuyasha…" Shippo began. "I don't think, that he is going to tell you that."
Inuyasha shot the last glare at Ah-Un and turned to the group.

"All right, we have to track Sesshomaru down. Let's go!" he said.
Sango, Miroku and Shippo mounted Kirara and took off. Inuyasha turned around, when he saw Jaken and Rin climbing Ah-Un with looks of determination on their faces.

"Where do you two think you're going?" he asked.

"After Sesshomaru-sama." Stated Jaken.

"And Mai." Added Rin.

Inuyasha sighed, deciding that it would be pointless to argue with them.
"Let's go!" he shouted and the enlarged group set off to find Mai and Sesshomaru.



Sesshomaru opened his eyes slowly and looked around. The rays of light seeping into the cave had slightly red shade – the sun was already setting. Did he lose consciousness again? The demon frowned, angry at himself for showing weakness in front of the human woman. He should have not let her see him in such venerable state. Speaking of which, she was nowhere to be seen. Instinctively, he inhaled air, seeking her scent, but berated himself almost immediately – he remembered, that she masked it with the herbs. What an annoying creature, trying to hide from him. Where was she? Probably she took advantage of that he was not conscious and escaped again.

The demon gritted the teeth at the thought. How dare his property run away from its master? Carefully, he touched the bandaged wound on his chest. It was still hurting, but the pain lessened much. It seemed, that once the effects of Naraku's shouki had been neutralized, he was able to heal as fast as ever. Slowly, trying not to reopen the wound, Sesshomaru stood up. His legs were slightly trembling, but they supported his weight just fine. He made his way to the exit.

The sun was indeed setting. The demon smelled the scents of small animals, that usually lived in the woods like this. His ears picked up the sounds of trees rustling, the forest creatures stirring in the bushes. He turned his head, as he heard a bigger animal not somewhere very near. Something was odd. His nose could not tell him, what it exactly was. Could it be… Slowly he made his way towards the source of the sound.

As he passed the trees, she saw Mai on the clearing. The woman was dancing with her eyes closed, as though she was engulfed in her own world, no one else had access to. The steps of the dance were foreign to him – he had never seen anyone dancing like she did. Surprisingly, now her moves were fluent and full of grace, the complete opposite of her usual clumsiness. Earlier Sesshomaru did not pay attention to it, but the woman was wearing a strange outfit, resembling attire of Inuyasha's miko. The demon frowned, as he saw how revealing the clothing was – it did not even cover her legs and shoulders. Was she not concerned about the lustful looks of men? Somehow he felt anger welling within him as the mere thought.

Mai kept swirling all over the clearing, practicing the moves, she had seen her mother dancing on the video tapes. She didn't do it for so long. First, she was afraid, that she would forget everything, but step by step everything came back and she let her body take control. With her eyes closed, she imagined herself dancing side by side with her mother – the moments she danced were the only ones, when she felt connection between herself and the woman, who gave birth and loved her and who Mai never really knew, as she died when the girl was only two years old.

The girl was about to make a pirouette, but stepped on a stone and lost balance. Her eyes snapped open, as she desperately waved her arms to regain balance. When she did, she let out a sigh of relief and looked in front of her. Mai froze, seeing a familiar person just three meters from her and stared into the golden eyes.

Sesshomaru stared back at her, not saying anything. They stayed like that for some time, when Mai finally regained the ability to speak.

"Sesshomaru… why the hell are you sneaking on me like that?!" she screamed, angry rather at herself, that she didn't notice him earlier. How long was he standing here, anyway?
The demon glared at her, his face remained stoic as usual.

"This Sesshomaru does not sneak. You are the one, who is not aware of the surroundings." He said coldly, making Mai even more angry. God, she nearly forgot how infuriating he was! The demon looked at her for a brief moment and turned around. "Let us return."

The girl stared at the demon, who slowly began walking away, limping slightly. What did he think, that she was his servant? No way! She would wrap him up for the last time and get the hell out of here! Hopefully he would faint again. However, a small voice in the back of Mai's head said, that the chances for that were slim, considering, that he managed to walk all the way here on his own. She sighed and went after him to the cave.

Once in the cave, Sesshomaru sat down and glared at her. The girl sighed, knowing what he wanted. She grabbed the first-aid kit and began examining his wounds. All except the biggest one were healed already and even the huge slash across Sesshomaru's chest was looking much better now. The wound was closed, didn't bled at all. Mai cursed in her mind, as she was wrapping the bandage around the demon's torso. She thought, that it will take him longer to heal. Now it can be too late for escape.

"Done." The girl announced. Sesshomaru didn't even spare a glance for her – he laid down on his white fur, closing his eyes. Mai pouted at his ungratefulness.

"You could at least thank me." She said angrily to the demon, packing the first-aid kit.

"There is no need." He retorted, not bothering even to open his eyes. Mai glared at him. She didn't believe it! She saved his life, nursed back to health and he insists on being such a jerk?!

"I'm not your servant or slave to talk back like that!" The girl shouted at him, clenching her fists. Her sudden outburst caused the demon to open his eyes and glance at her.

"You are my property." He stated calmly. Mai's eyes widened. Property? That was too much.

"You pompous jerk! I saved your sorry ass and you keep insulting me?! Where is gratefulness! I should have left you here to rot!" she began, ignoring that he narrowed his eyes and growled at her as a warning. "You really deserve to die, you arro… gah!"

Mai yelped, as Sesshomaru's clawed hand darted, grabbing her wrist and pulled it abruptly. The next thing she knew, was landing on her back on the hard cave floor, with Sesshomaru pining her to the ground with the weight of his body. When she realized her position, she tried to wriggle herself out from underneath him, but the large frame of the demon held her in place.
The demon glared at her furiously.

"How dare you speak of gratefulness to me, human? It is you, who should be grateful that this Sesshomaru let you live. Know your place!" He hissed to her ear. Mai wanted give him a witty reply, but she realized, that she was in no position to talk back to him right now. Apparently, he wanted to show her his dominance and she had to admit, that he did it damn well. She was scared out of her wits.

Mai didn't move for a while, trying to avoid Sesshomaru's eyes and to free herself somehow. She felt, that his weight was crushing her, not to mention the awkward feeling at the touch of her bare skin against his. The demon finally pulled back a little, enough to let her breathe freely, but kept glaring at her.

"Did you understand?" he asked. Mai returned the glare and gritted her teeth. She hated to admit, that she was defeated.

"I get it, just get off me!" she snapped, but he didn't budge. Mai inhaled deeply. "I understand, that you are the boss." She said. The demon looked at her for a while, considering her reply and rolled of her, resting his body back on the white fur. The girl sat up, furious at the sadistic bastard, who looked so pleased with himself. Prepare yourself, Sesshomaru! You might have won the battle, but not the war.