Chapter 45

The emerald hairpin




"Mai! Mai! Wake up!" Mai heard Rin's shouts and felt, that the child was tugging her. The older girl rolled on the other side, but the kid was persistent. Finally, she opened one eye.
"What?" she mumbled. Rin stared at her with her big chocolate eyes.

"Sesshomaru-sama said, we're leaving! Come on, Mai!" the child shouted, shaking her.

"Let me sleep." She mumbled and closed her eye, nearly falling asleep again. She felt someone tugging her again. She groaned, thinking, that it was Rin. Suddenly, Mai felt, that she was lifted from the ground by her obi. Her eyes snapped open, just in time to see Sesshomaru tossing her on Ah-Un's saddle. The demon cast her a cold look and marched away. Rin ran to her and was blabbering something, walking beside the dragon. Mai nodded from time to time, struggling to wake herself up. The girl sat up, thinking about the situation, she was in – back to being the arrogant jerk's servant. So far it wasn't that bad, considering that he threatened her seriously only once. Mai sighed heavily. It looked like she had to stay with the wretched demon for a longer while, till she figures out what to do next. Right! It was time to concentrate on the daily matters.

"Rin," she asked the child, interrupting some story about flowers. "Do we have any soap left?"
The kid shook her head.

"We used it up already." Rin said. Mai wondered what happened, that made the kid go anywhere near soap. Hmm… no soap… no normal baths… not good. She really hated the feudal era. Mai decided, it was the time to negotiate a few vital things – the soap was of utmost importance. She slid of Ah-Un's back and ran to Sesshomaru.

"Sesshomaru," she said, but the demon didn't made a sign, that he even heard her. Not that he ever did. "Sesshomaru, I need to buy few things – soap, food, that kind of things."

Mai stared at him, waiting for an answer, but the demon simply ignored her. The girl took a deep calming breath, careful not to blurt something, that would anger that asshole.

"Sesshomaru, this is important." She insisted, knowing that he wouldn't use his technique of ignoring her forever. "Sesshomaru…"

Finally, he looked at her – or rather glared.

"We will reach a human village soon. Now do not bother me." He snapped at her.

"Okay!" Mai answered and went back to Ah-Un, grinning happily, that she had the permission to go shopping today. Finally she was getting hang of how to make Sesshomaru do, what she wanted.
She hopped on Ah-Un, who roared, not particularly happy to carry her all the time.

"Oh, shut up, Ah-Un. I'll bring you carrots." She said to the beast, who turned his heads to gawk at her. That was the dragon's weakness.



Sometime later, Mai discerned some buildings. That must be the village, Sesshomaru mentioned. When they approached it, it turned out, that it was rather a town.

"Great! I would use a new kimono!" Mai exclaimed, as all her old outfits were either lost or torn. She slipped from Ah-Un and marched to the silver-haired demon to get some of his money. Rin trotted beside her.

"Sesshomaru, I need money." Mai said, smiling sweetly. Give me lots of gold, you rich bastard, she thought at the same time.

"Sesshomaru-sama, Rin wants to go too!" the child exclaimed with the identical smile as Mai.
The demon stared at both of them, slightly bewildered by the sudden attack of the two females, who approached him making demands. The two pairs of puppy eyes looked at him. Even the demon such powerful as himself could not withstand the joined forces of Mai and Rin.

"Jaken." He finally said. "Stay here with Ah-Un."

Jaken nodded and Rin tugged Sesshomaru's sleeve.

"Sesshomaru-sama, can I go with Mai?" the child asked. The demon nodded and tossed a leather pouch to Mai. The girl caught it and grabbed Rin's hand.

"It's great, that Sesshomaru let you come along, isn't it?" Mai said to the child, who nodded vigorously, excited. "Come on, Rin."

Mai and the kid set off towards the buildings. However, she stopped after they walked a few meters and turned around to discover, that the silver-haired demon was following them. She furrowed her brows and stared at him. Sesshomaru walked past them and stopped as well to look back at Mai and Rin.

"Come, woman." He said.

"Eh?" Mai uttered. "Don't say you're coming with us?"

"I am." Sesshomaru replied seriously.

"But… it's a human village! And you are a demon!" Mai exclaimed, imagining what would happen if Sesshomaru came along. First, everyone would panic at the mere sight of him. Then, something would irritate him and he'd slaughter the whole population of the town. No, bringing HIM along definitely wasn't a good idea. Then something popped into Mai's head. "If you expect me to run away, that won't happen."

"Hn." Sesshomaru looked away. "You need my protection."
Mai stared at him. Protection, he says? She was perfectly capable of keeping Rin safe in the town.

"I can protect Rin on my own well enough." She responded. Sesshomaru arched his eyebrow.

"I was not speaking of Rin." He said.

Mai gawked at him. What the…

"Hey!" she cried in protest as the demon approached her in a heartbeat and grabbed her wrist. Sesshomaru, ignoring her complaints, set off, dragging the girl along. Rin happily skipped around him and gripped his empty sleeve with a contented smile.

"Let me go!" Mai argued, trying to wriggle her arm from his firm grasp, but the demon was ignoring her. She struggled for some time, before she decided, that he's not going to yield. She sighed and kept walking silently. Luckily, he was holding her wrist with his large clawed hand rather gently, not in almost bone-crushing way, as he used to. Mai felt her cheeks getting warmer. Oh god, not again – she thought. Why does she always have to blush in situations like this?! All right, a man was technically holding her hand, but – it was Sesshomaru, the evil sadistic bastard Sesshomaru. There wasn't a reason to blush, but still… she was sure, that her face was bright red by now.
"Sesshomaru…" she spoke up quietly. "Can you please let me go?"

The demon glanced at her. Mai turned her face away from his, thinking, how awkward would it be if he saw her cheeks flushed like this. He could misunderstand or something like that. Finally, he released her wrist and Mai let out a breath, relieved. She quickly folded her arms to prevent him from grabbing her again and trotted by his side.

As they approached the town's gates, Mai noticed, that there was quite a commotion here. Busy people were walking fast, minding their business. Here and there she spotted a few aristocrats. Mai cast a doubtful look on Sesshomaru – no way he could pass as a human – his silver hair, golden eyes, demon markings and that fancy fur at the top of that. She sighed heavily and followed him. Rin squealed with excitement, as she had never been in such a big town. The kid was pointing everything with her finger and kept asking Sesshomaru questions, most of which he ignored or answered with his usual "Hn".

Suddenly Mai heard music and a large parade of men dressed as various youkai marched along the main street. It looked like it was a some kind of a celebration here. She looked at the tall demon and smiled. Good, at least he won't stand out. She would have only to watch that nothing pisses him.
Mai was so absorbed by the parade, that she didn't notice, as she bumped into Sesshomaru. The demon grabbed her shoulder and pulled her into the building. Mai looked around, confused. Apparently, the demon led them to a kimono shop.

He stalked towards a woman, that looked like a shop owner and stared her down.

"I want the best kimonos you have for the females." He stated in a commanding tone. The woman paled, as she looked at him and started trembling. She must have recognized, that he was a youkai. Probably she saw his unnatural eye color or fangs – Mai thought. The terrified shop owner offered Sesshomaru to sit and had one of her servants make him tea, he didn't even touch. The several women were running frantically, searching for kimonos suitable for Mai and Rin. Both girls were also ushered to sit down and were seeping tea.

Finally, the women asked Mai and Rin to try on the kimonos. The older girl ushered Rin to go first. Quickly they picked up a few, that Mai liked the most. Then it was the older girl's turn. The shop owner helped Mai change behind a changing screen, her fingers trembling, as she was tying an obi.
"Calm down, he's not going to eat you." Mai whispered to the terrified woman, who looked at her with fear in her eyes and nodded. The girl sighed. Then the woman unexpectedly pushed Mai on the middle of the room to present her to Sesshomaru.

"Does it suit your liking, my lord?" the shop owner asked the demon. Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes scanning Mai up and down with discontented look on his face.

"It must be green." He stated. The woman bowed and pulled Mai back behind the screen.

After a horribly long hour, Mai had three new kimonos, all in the shades of her favorite green. The women bowed deeply. The shop owner stepped forward.

"Thank you, for choosing my shop to purchase the kimonos, my lord." She said, still bowing. "Your wife and daughter look beautifully in them."

Mai and Rin stared at the woman's faux pas. She took the three of them as a family? No kidding! Mai started coughing from embarrassment and grabbed Sesshomaru's sleeve. She had to do something, before he annihilates the shop along with the people in it.

"We have to buy supplies, Sesshomaru. Come on." She ushered him gently out of the shop, successfully.

Without further problems, she managed to buy food, bars of soap, and drawing paper for Rin. Sesshomaru was quite a pain in the ass, glaring at the villagers, but at least Mai managed to coax him into carrying the bags by whimpering how weak and pathetic are humans in comparison with the youkai.

They were about to back, when Rin spotted a stall with shiny jewelry. Mai laughed, remembering, that in the childhood she couldn't walk indifferently near sparkling things either. She went over and together with child started to look at the items – hairpins, necklaces, bracelets.

"Mai, which one do you like?" the kid asked. Mai squinted her eyes and scanned all the shiny things. Then, she spotted a silver hairpin, decorated with beautiful emeralds, the one that looked really fancy. Mai sighed, thinking how high the price must be.

"This one, but I bet it's too expensive." She whispered to Rin. "Come kid, time to go."

Mai began walking away, holding Rin close. She expected Sesshomaru to be beside them, but he wasn't. Panicked, that he'd kill someone if she didn't look, she whirled around to search for him. And there she saw the demon – at the jewelry stall.

"Tree golden coins." The seller stated firmly, but whimpered from fear a while later, as Sesshomaru stared at him with his demonic red eyes.

"It's for free!" the man exclaimed, backing away. Calmly, Sesshomaru grabbed the small item and walked to the girls. Mai had to admit, that he was naturally gifted, when it came to bargaining.
Mai widened her eyes, surprised that he came straight to her, standing so close, that she felt uncomfortable. The demon gently combed her hair with his claws and tucked something in them. Then he turned around and walked away. Dumbfounded girl slowly lifted her hand to her hair to feel, what he placed in them.

"Mai, Sesshomaru-sama got you the hairpin, you wanted!" the child exclaimed, grabbing her sleeve and dragging her towards the demon. Mai followed the girl, still confused. What the hell was that?! Either she was imagining things or Sesshomaru was being extremely nice to her – so nice, that it was beginning to be suspicious. Why would he buy the expensive jewelry for her? She could understand the kimono – it was useful – but not the hairpin.

When they reached Sesshomaru, cheerful Rin grabbed Mai's hand and Sesshomaru's sleeve, walking between them. Mai felt herself blushing again. Damn, they really looked like they were on some happy family trip.

"Sesshomaru…" Mai began, avoiding looking at him. "Thank you for the hairpin. I really like it." She uttered, suddenly feeling self-conscious.

The demon didn't spare her a glance either.

"Hn." He mumbled.

Mai was walking in silence, trying to think about other things, when she remembered something.
"Crap! I forgot the carrots!" she exclaimed and freed herself from Rin's grip. She looked at the demon. "Sesshomaru, I have to buy them, I promised Ah-Un. I'll just run to the market and be right back, okay?"

The demon nodded, granting her permission to get the vegetables. Mai hiked her kimono and ran to the market.

Once by the vegetable stall, she quickly told the seller to pack a couple of big carrots. She was waiting for the fat man to wrap them up, when she heard a familiar voice.

"Amayami-hime?" asked a male voice. Mai whirled around as she heard it and gasped from surprise.

"Shinji?"