Chapter 12

Spirited away

Mai got up in high spirits that day. She stretched her back and hurried to the bathroom to bathe before all those maidservants could storm into her room and wrap her again in an uncomfortable attire.

As she was soaking in the water, she kept thinking about this day. She had to get Shinji to take her to the temple because alone she didn’t have a chance to leave the castle. There’s no way the guards would let her out. Well, no need to worry. If the things go well, she will soon be back in modern Tokyo.

Feeling a bit impatient, she got out of the tub and dried herself. She rushed to the room, where her kimonos were kept, not wanting to wait for the servants today. She picked a couple of kimonos, all in the shades of green and a beautiful expensive one, which was also green, embroidered with red roses. Mai found also a wide golden obi that would go with her attire just fine. She looked at the pile of clothing, then at the mirror. She had to manage to put all that on herself. Alone. Mai sighed and started dressing herself. Tying an obi proved to be quite a challenge, but she succeeded, although her neck was sore from constantly looking back into the mirror. She checked once more to see if everything was in its place and brushed her hair. She wondered if she should tie it with a hairpin or decorate it with a comb but finally decided against it. Now pleased with herself, she set off to find Shinji.

However, the young samurai was nowhere to be found. Mai cursed, as she was running in circles for over an hour now, searching for the useless guy. Tired, she leaned against a wall and was trying to figure out how else she could get to that temple. She didn’t want to wait another day. Mai was stuck in this cursed era for nearly a month. The girl shivered as she thought about all the classes she missed. Did the princess even go to school? Mai was horrified when she realized how much her grades could drop during this month. Oh, the return to school would be tough, but first she’ll have to actually return.

Mai noticed a familiar silhouette heading her way. Acting on instinct, she turned quickly around the corner and plastered herself to the wall. Damn, of all people, she had to meet the last one she wanted to see – Gorouza. Unfortunately, the girl wasn’t fast enough to hide and the man found her with an ever-present charming smile on his lips.

“Amayami,” he said softly. “How unexpected to meet you this early. Did you not sleep well tonight?”

“Umm…” Mai muttered, thinking of an excuse to escape.

Then it dawned on her. This Gorouza guy maybe wasn’t the best companion, but the guards would surely let her out of the castle if she was with him. “Sounds like a plan,” Mai thought and smiled to herself. She assumed the role of the princess and cleared the throat.

“I am pleased to meet you as well.” She started, recalling all the period dramas she watched on TV. “I would like to pray in the temple for our marriage and I was looking for someone to accompany me. Would you like to escort me?”

Mai felt as if her tongue would rot from all this politeness. Gorouza, however, smiled even more, if it was possible. He took her hand and bowed slightly. Mai shivered with disgust but didn’t pull her hand out of his. She still needed him.

“Of course my love. I shall make preparations immediately. Please meet me at the castle gates in an hour.”

He bowed deeper, flashed her another smile and walked away.

“An hour?” Mai repeated, furrowing her brows. Why the hell would he need an hour to take a thirty minutes’ walk?

An hour later Mai found out. At the gates, Gorouza was waiting for her and he wasn’t alone. A while later she was sitting on a horse and beside her rode her betrothed. They were accompanied by about a dozen samurais and more or less ten servants. Mai frowned as Gorouza motioned his horse to get closer to Mai.

“I have personally chosen the gentlest horse for you.” He said to her. Mai arched her eyebrow.

“I can see that.” She muttered. In fact, the mare she was riding on was more like a mule than a horse. Mai was walking faster than that horse. Additionally, one of the servants was leading the animal, which made her feel as though she was disabled.

Time was dragging on mercilessly. Mai was under the impression that her walks with Shinji took less time. The girl sighed as she saw the awed eyes of the villagers as the small caravan rode through the village. She thought that it must be a funny sight, seeing her one day shopping in the market and now making such an entrance… She prayed that her visit at the temple would be worth all this fuss.

Mai’s face brightened as she saw the elderly fat priest on the road. The old man must have been on his way from the village. Mai waved to him energetically. The priest raised his hand, as to wave back, but when he saw Gorouza riding by her side, he bowed deeply instead. Mai decided that it’s best not to dismount the horse now – how would she get back on in her kimono? She took the reins from the servant while kicking the sides of the lazy horse. The animal moved slowly towards the old man. The priest waited for her to say something.

“Hello,” She said cheerfully.

“Amayami-hime,” started the man with a huge smile. “My friend has the answer you are looking for. Please, come to the temple.”

“Umm… yes and I will pray there.” Mai said quickly, looking cautiously at Gorouza, who listened with interest and maybe suspicion too.

“We intend to pray for the happiness in our marriage.” Stated Gorouza. Mai nodded vigorously.

“Oh, yes. Definitely.” The girl agreed maybe too eagerly.

She was about to ask the monk to go already, when she noticed the priest’s troubled face. The old man turned abruptly and looked in the western direction, worry all over his face.

“Princess,” he addressed her, tension in his voice, as he took out his ofuda. “Go back to the castle, now. I can sense a powerful youki approaching!”

“Youki?” asked Mai, confused. What is he talking about?

She noticed that her companions were really scared by the words of the priest. The servants were glancing around nervously, as if searching for a safe direction to flee. The samurais took out their swords and surrounded her and Gorouza, ready to give their lives for the lord and the princess. Gorouza also ripped out his sword and was looking around warily.

“What is youki?” demanded Mai, not knowing what was going on. Neither Gorouza nor the samurais answered her. Finally, the old priest looked at her over his shoulder.

“It means that a youkai is coming, a powerful one. You must be prepared to flee, Princess.” He answered.

Mai stared at him. Youkai? Mai was sure that youkai were just mythical creatures created by people’s imagination, but still… Gorouza and the samurais seemed to be dead serious about this, which made Mai nervous. She positioned herself in the saddle and grabbed the reins tighter. And then it began.

At first Mai saw nothing, but the horses started to panic.

“Shhh… easy, easy…” said Mai to her mare, her voice shaking a little, trying to calm down the scared animal.

Then, a dark storm cloud appeared out of nowhere; suddenly it became dark. The sound of thunder scared the horses, and Mai swayed in her saddle as her mare danced under her.

“Prepare!” the priest shouted.

Mai heard a loud roar and saw a terrifying shape emerging itself from the cloud. Towards them flew a real dragon. The creature had two heads, its body covered with scales. And on the beast was a man riding. She couldn’t see him clearly from that distance, but she noticed long, flowing hair, completely white. Mai froze in place. She could only stare – she was just seeing the impossible.

The dragon flew closer and roared another time. The rider slipped from the saddle and jumped to the ground. Mai’s mind was racing. It was over 10 meters. The man should be dead or at least his limbs should be broken! However, he started to walk slowly toward them. Now Mai had the chance to take a closer look. He was tall, dressed in white – a white hakama with a red pattern and a white haori with a yellow and purple obi. He wore armor and had two swords, one of which was without a sheath. White fur was thrown over his right shoulder. Mai noticed that his hair was silver, reaching past his hips, but his face was young. His ears were pointed. His face was indeed strange. He had a blue crescent moon on his forehead and two magenta stripes on his cheeks. Did he paint them on his face? “They’re not painted…” realized Mai. “Those are demon markings. He is not a human!”

The samurais were glaring at the man, ready to strike at the first command. The man casually continued walking towards them and stopped. He started to observe Mai’s group, as if he was searching for something. Or for someone.

“What do you want, mononoke?” demanded the priest.

The silver-haired man didn’t answer, he kept on looking at the faces of servants; the samurais seemed to not have his attention, and then he looked straight in Mai’s eyes. She froze as their gazes met. His eyes were golden, cold and expressionless. “The eyes of a predator,” Mai thought. She shifted under his scrutiny and felt some kind of primal instinct awake in her – instinct of the prey to run from the hunter. The man smirked, which terrified the girl even more.

“You are Mai.” The man stated simply, not averting his eyes from her. His voice was deep and calm, so calm, that it was creepy. Mai opened her eyes wider. “How did he…”

“Youkai! Be gone!” suddenly the priest yelled.

The ofudas flew from his hand in the direction of the silver-haired man. He turned his attention from Mai and drew his sword quickly to shield himself from the priest’s spells. The pieces of paper were immediately destroyed. The old man took a step back, terrified by the demon’s power.

Gorouza motioned his horse to get between Mai and the youkai.

“Amayami-hime,” he said quietly, looking at Mai seriously. “On my sign, ride to the castle and do not look back, no matter what.”

Mai nodded quickly and watched as Gorouza rode closer to the demon. The girl had to admit that her betrothed was brave.

“Mononoke!” Gorouza addressed the demon. “Leave now or you shall be slain!”

The youkai showed no intention of leaving. He stood still, looking slightly annoyed. Gorouza lifted his sword.

“Attack!” he yelled. The samurais rushed toward the demon with a battle cry. The silver haired man didn’t even draw his sword this time. He only lifted his hand. Gorouza looked Mai in the eye.

“Amayami! Now!” he yelled.

Mai didn’t hesitate. She turned her horse and kicked its sides. The mare leaped forward and rushed towards the castle. Mai could hear only screaming men. The screams of dying men – she realized. Mai ushered the horse to go faster. She could hear now only the blowing wind. Suddenly she noticed something in the corner of her eye, but she couldn’t make out what it was. Then, just in her way, the silver-haired demon appeared out of nowhere. Her mare neighed in panic and reared. Mai tried to regain the control over the horse, but it got even more scared. The girl lost her balance and flew out of the saddle. She felt the sharp pain as her body made contact with the ground. Her mind went blank when her head hit a stone.