Chapter 48

The way to Kaga




"Myoga-jiji, what the hell are you doing here?" she whispered, not wanting anyone hear her chatting with a youkai. The tiny demon managed to regain his normal shape, as Mai flattened him a bit before.

"Uff! I'm on a secret mission." He said. Mai arched her eyebrow and with the gesture urged him to tell her more. "Inuyasha-sama and Kagome learned of your escape already. Kagome asked me in secret to give you this. Inside this pouch are the seeds of the scent-masking herbs. If you grow them and harvest every three months, you can stay hidden from Sesshomaru-sama's nose forever."
Mai carefully took the pouch from Myoga.

"Kagome asked you to give it to me in secret?" she asked and Myoga nodded. God bless Kagome!

Mai smiled – her friend might have saved her skin. Now she was completely safe from Sesshomaru's wrath. Although it was quite unsettling, that Myoga managed to find her, but the flea youkai just had this special ability.

"Myoga-jiji, will you stay a bit?" she asked, grateful for the old demon's help. "I'm sure, that the maidservants have very tasty blood."
Myoga laughed at the mere thought.

"Of course I will." He said.

Mai had to admit, that it was fun, having Myoga around – she had someone to talk to honestly, without pretending to be the princess. Moreover, the old demon had quite an extensive knowledge and he told Mai this and that.

The next two weeks passed in the blissful atmosphere, aside the fact that the fake father stated, that Mai had to depart to Kaga with the end of the week to marry Goemon. She was quite nervous about that, but Myoga promised, that he'll stay with her till that time, as she couldn't count on Shinji – he was constantly on some council meetings. In the meantime Mai was either spending time with charming Goemon or with Myoga.

In the afternoon Mai took a scroll and went to the garden, carrying the flea-demon under her hair. She sat on the bench and unrolled the scroll, pretending to be reading. Myoga hopped on the bench beside her. They sat still for a while, observing the colorful koi-carps, swimming in the pond.

"This brings back memories." Said Myoga sighing.

"What do you mean, Myoga-jiji?" Mai asked him.

"Not that long I was keeping company other princess, who was about to marry a handsome samurai. She was happy about it just like you are."

"Oh." Mai thought it must be a romantic story if Myoga-jiji brings it up right now. "And what happened?"

"She met a fearsome demon one day…" the flea-youkai continued. Mai rolled her eyes.

"Myoga-jiji!" she interrupted him, fed up with listening about the demons. "Spare me this. Tell me rather if she ended up with her beloved and was happy afterwards?"

"She did and they had a wonderful baby boy." Myoga answered, however his face showed some sorrow. "But her beloved died short after their son's birth, fighting with the samurai."

"With the samurai? She didn't marry that samurai?" Mai asked, getting confused by Myoga's story. The flea-youkai shook his head.

"Her beloved was the demon." The flea answered.

"Myoga, what kind of stories you are telling me!" Mai scolded Myoga.

"That was the story of Inu no Taisho and lady Izayoi, Inuyasha's mother." He answered. Mai narrowed her eyes.

"You were supposed to support me, not the opposite. It's like you wished me to go back to Sesshomaru!"

"Do you despise Sesshomaru-sama so much?" Myoga asked. Mai felt her anger welling. Why the hell the old demon had to bring up that arrogant jerk again?

"I hate him!" she exclaimed.

"Izayoi said the same about Inu no Taisho." He replied, grinning smugly.

"Myoga!" Mai screamed atop her lungs, smacking the flea-youkai with her palm.



Finally, the big day has come. Mai was quite happy, that Myoga decided to accompany her along the way and hid himself under the girl's hair. The aristocrats and servants gathered in front of the castle to say goodbye to the princess. Aiko was standing behind Lord Asakura, weeping. The fake father himself did his best to maintain the emotionless façade, but Mai noticed, that he also looked, as though he was about to cry.

"Aiko, stop crying." Mai whispered to the old crone, but she began sobbing even more.

"Amayami, my child, stay safe and be happy." Her fake father whispered to Mai. Then, he cleared his throat and said louder. "Maeda Goemon-dono, I, Asakura Sadakage, the lord of Echizen, hereby bestow on your shoulders the task of taking care of Amayami-hime and the future of this province. Take my daughter as your bride."

Lord Asakura bowed and Goemon bowed back courtly.

"I accept the responsibility." The young aristocrat said. Mai was now officially passed from the father's care to her fiancé. Goemon reached out his hand to help the girl get into a palanquin. Mai wasn't happy about this mean of transport, but decided not to complain just yet. She took the man's hand and sat inside. She felt the servants lift the palanquin, that was partially on wheels, like a cart and they set off, accompanied by quite a military force. When the curtains around the girl fell, Myoga hopped from his hideout. Mai decided to take a nap, considering, that there wasn't anything else to do. Anyway, she didn't sleep at all from all the nervousness last night. She took of the hairpin and placed inside her kimono, so that she wouldn't lose it in the sleep.

"Mai," Myoga whispered. "This hairpin, you seem to be fond of it. Did Goemon-dono gave it to you?"

Mai glared at the flea.

"No." she whispered back, hoping that the old youkai would drop the topic. Unfortunately, she was wrong.

"Did a man gave it to you?"

"Yes." Mai hissed, getting angry at Myoga. She had an idea, where the conversation is heading. Well, she really shouldn't expect anything else from the flea – he was Inu no Taisho's most loyal retainer. But why did he have to insist on playing a matchmaker?

"Did Sesshomaru-sama gave it to you?" Myoga asked with wide grin. Mai cast him her poisonous glare and mumbled a positive answer.

"Are you sure, that you hate Sesshomaru-sama?" he asked happily.

"Yes, I am sure. And it's mutual. Now, Myoga-jiji, please shut up and let me sleep."

Mai clasped her eyes shut and pretended to be asleep, hoping, that the flea would stop teasing her. The company of the old youkai was pleasant most of the time, but that one issue pissed her – Myoga kept convincing her to go back to Sesshomaru, what was an idiocy. The girl had a hunch, that she escaped one time too much and this time the dog-demon wouldn't forgive her that easily. She was even surprised, that he did it last time.

Mai cursed inwardly. She was thinking of him again. Shouldn't she be all lovey-dovey with Goemon and have eyes only for him? That was all Myoga's fault. Set on not thinking of anything, Mai took a nap.

When the girl woke up, the sun was already setting. Mai peeked out of the palanquin. Close to her, there were samurai's riding, surely for her protection. The young lord rode on his horse. Mai waved to him. Goemon noticed it and rode to her.

"I must have been very tired. I slept all the way." She said to him, smiling. "Did we cross the border between Echizen and Kaga already?"

"Yes, a few hours ago." Goemon said. Something was not right. Mai examined his impassionate face. Where was the gentle smile? Maybe he was just tired as well.

"Goemon-dono, when we will be in your castle?" the girl asked, impatient to get out of the wretched palanquin at last. Goemon turned his head and smiled at her, but the smile creeped her out.

"In two days, just in time for your execution."