Chapter 29:
Mavis stared down into her cup. There was something wrong here… Ah! Very carefully, making the gesture look natural, she passed her hand over the cup and hummed an incantation.
"Is everything alright, Mavis?"
Mavis turned to meet Kirsten's concerned silver eyes. "Everything's fine."
"Bullshit. I heard you do an incantation. What's going on?"
"Someone put arsenic in my cup."
"What!" Kirsten's hand flew to the knife sheath on her thigh.
"Take a stress tab, Kirsty. I fixed it. Remember I always did better in chemistry than you." Before Kirsten's startled eyes, Mavis raised the cup and drank – with no ill effects. "Apparently, I've pissed someone off. Anyone trying to leave the scene?"
Kirsten began to surreptitiously scan the room, years of training taking over. She noticed one young female trying to slink out of the room unnoticed. "Ten to one – there's our culprit. Intercept?"
Mavis laid a hand on Kirsten's arm as the mutant rose to a crouch. "Leave her be. She knows she failed."
They had by this time attracted Sesshomaru's attention. "Ladies?"
"Nothing, Sess. We're good."
"Bull pucky! Sesshomaru – you have to have that girl over there stopped. We think she just tried to poison Mavis."
Sesshomaru leaped to his feet immediately, pointing at the young female and calling for the guards. The demon girl froze in panic as she was surrounded by large, armed and very unamused men. Grabbing her by an arm, one of the guardsmen propelled her forward to land in a heap at her lord's feet.
Sesshomaru sighed. "Hanako. It would have to be you, wouldn't it?"
"Who is this, Lord Sesshomaru? Why would she try to hurt Mavis?" Kirsten had her hand on the knife hilt, ready to move.
Sesshomaru stared down at the girl as he replied. "This is Hanako, daughter of one of my courtiers. She has always been interested in pursuing a relationship with me, and I have rebuffed her more than once. Mistakenly, I thought that she had finally gotten the message – that I was not interested. I will deal with the matter."
"By doing what?" Kirsten's silver eyes were hard iron.
"Whatever is necessary."
The girl threw her arms up over her head, wailing as she cowered in front of the demon lord.
Sesshomaru rolled his eyes, aware that everyone in the room was now avidly watching the drama unfolding before them. It was now so quiet, you could literally hear a pin drop.
"Please, Hanako. I am not going to raise a weapon against you, although by rights, your life is mine. I am banishing you to join my mother. You have two candle-marks to get your things together and I will send two guards with you. Whether you actually arrive there safely or not will not be my concern. Understood?"
"My lord, please…"
"Start moving now, Hanako, or I may change my mind and slay you right here."
The girl scrambled to her feet and bolted from the hall. Everyone sat immobilized in shock. Sesshomaru levelled an icy glare about the room.
"Would anyone else care to join her? No? Very well."
He reseated himself and resumed his meal.
Kirsten shuddered. "That's cold, Sesshomaru."
"Would you rather I kill her? I am giving her a chance she does not deserve."
Inuyasha laid a hand on Kirsten's arm. "He's right, sensei. Here, his word is law. It's not the way you do things, but it is our way."
Kirsten gave a tight nod. "Point taken."
Mavis had sat quietly through this exchange. She had been shocked as well to see how quickly the matter was dealt with. From the astonished looks all around the room, it was not hard to see that most people had expected the girl to be executed for her folly, and were amazed when their lord had decided on banishment instead. Still a rather harsh punishment, but at least her life was preserved for the moment.
The mage looked into the dregs of the cup. She would not have let Sesshomaru kill the girl, of course, and had been ready to put a protective spell around her if it had been necessary. As a poisoner, the girl had been clumsy, almost as if she wished to be caught. Or perhaps she thought human senses were not keen enough to detect anything amiss.
She touched the jade necklace around her throat. Many of the single women had been leveling killing glares at her all afternoon, while the married or betrothed ladies had been smiling warmly at her and calling her "my lady" instead of just Mavis as she had asked them to. And the men! Every man she had encountered had bowed low, calling her "my lady" and asking how he could be of service.
Mavis elbowed the demon lord beside her, startling him into choking on his tea.
"Okay, big guy… what's up? What have you done to me?"
"A clean cup, Mavis?" He snapped his fingers for a servant to replace the cup Mavis held.
"Thank you," she said to the servant. "Sesshomaru…what have you done?"
Inuyasha snickered from his place at the table. "Put your foot in it this time, Sess. Lucky that she can't 'sit' you."
"Inuyasha – shut up." Sesshomaru's voice was as even in tone as ever, but there was a slight hint of panic in his eyes.
Inuyasha leaned behind his brother to catch Mavis' eyes. "He's not gonna tell you, so I will. That necklace you're wearing – it's for the highest ranking female in the clan."
"Inuyasha – be still."
"Not this time, oniisan. Mavis darling, he's telling everyone that you're his intended bride. That's why the unmarried females here would like to kill you – and the married ones would like to kiss you."
Mavis raised an eyebrow. "Oh how nice. So I can expect other assassination attempts, can I?" Her voice was heavy with sarcasm.
"I will protect you, Mavis – do not doubt me."
"I can protect myself, doofus, as you just saw a few minutes ago." She cupped her chin in her palm and leaned towards Sesshomaru, who squirmed uncomfortably. "Just when were you planning on telling me about this? Hmmm? So much for 'this is something to remember me by'. I'm very tempted to take this necklace off and throw it in your face, darling. But that would shame you in front of your people, wouldn't it? Another public rejection – so humiliating."
Kirsten leaned over at this point. "I think the two of you better go have a private talk – right?"
"An excellent idea, Doctor."
Sesshomaru got to his feet and extended his flesh hand to Mavis. She took his hand and allowed him to help her stand, all the while glaring into his eyes. He offered his arm and she took it – only Inuyasha and Kirsten saw the mage squeeze the demon lord's biceps in a warning manner.
Inuyasha watched the pair leave and sat chuckling to himself.
"Sess is SO dead."
"Oh, Mavis won't kill him, dear. Char him a little, maybe."
"We men are just plain stupid when it comes to women, aren't we?'
Kirsten patted his shoulder. "Got that right."
OoOoOo
What started out as a shouting match soon devolved into passionate embraces and fevered kisses.
When Mavis had tried to draw off the necklace, Sesshomaru had laid his palm against her chest to stop her… the next thing he knew, he was caressing soft mounds and nuzzling her throat. Mavis forgot her anger in his tender assault, but not before she had nipped his pointed ear none too gently.
Sesshomaru finally discovered how to get the hated bra off without destroying it utterly as he had threatened before, and set about exploring this new vista with a great deal of enthusiasm. When Mavis sighed and kissed the ear she had bitten earlier, he smiled against her soft skin, knowing that she was on the way to forgiving him – maybe.
OoOoOo
Old Toshihiro was startled into incoherency as his master embraced him warmly and asked him to watch over things in his absence. He had known Sesshomaru from a babe – had watched him grow into a very promising young man – had watched him change into a cold-hearted, near-emotionless bastard, as life had dealt him a near-debilitating blow. And now, Sesshomaru was changing yet again. He would never again be that gentle lad, nor the passionless killing machine. But perhaps, at last, he could find some measure of happiness with the human woman.
Mavis approached the old secretary next and kissed his cheek.
"Thanks so much for everything, Toshihiro. I'll miss you."
"Will you be coming again, my lady?"
"I'd like to."
"We would be pleased to have you here, my dear. We have been too long without a Lady." He leaned forward and whispered for her ears only. "He did not make this offer to you lightly. Give him a chance, will you?"
Mavis smiled at him and whispered back, "He's very persuasive, you know."
Toshihiro laughed as the mage winked at him. Oh yes! Lord Sesshomaru had finally discovered how to be persuasive in a non-threatening manner.
They turned to see Sesshomaru down on one knee in the dust of the courtyard, surrounded by a group of children that had come to offer the travelling party some treats from the main kitchens, in addition to their travelling rations. Toshihiro smiled as he watched his lord grin and tousle the hair of one young boy. He had not seen Sesshomaru do anything like this for such a long time, that it was startling at first.
A small girl ran up to Mavis with an armload of flowers. "For you, my lady," she cried as she thrust them into the mage's arms. "Please come again."
"Thank you."
As Mavis bent over to give the child a hug, the little girl whispered in her ear. "I wish you would stay, my lady. You make our master so happy. I've never seen him smile before."
Toshihiro smiled and nodded as the child ran off. "She echoes the sentiments of many of us, Lady Mavis."
Mavis bit her lip. "Thanks, Toshihiro. I can't say what may happen, but I won't forget you and your kindness to me. Take care, old man, eh?"
Another kiss to the withered cheek, and then the mage ran across the courtyard to allow Sesshomaru to lift her into place behind Kirsten on Ah-Un's broad back.
Akihiko clapped Inuyasha on the back, then pulled him into a rough embrace.
"Good luck to you, lad. We'll keep our eyes and ears open for any news of that bastard Naraku. Make sure you give us a chance to stand beside you and your brother when you're ready to take him on."
"We'll do that," Inuyasha promised.
"Akihiko…"
The Captain hesitated only an instant before embracing Sesshomaru as well. "We'll take care of things on this end, me and Toshihiro. Have no worries on that score, Sesshomaru."
"I know you will. My thanks, old friend, for all you've done and for all you do."
Akihiko whispered in his ear. "I've not seen you so happy in many long years, Sesshomaru. Make sure you bring her back with you."
"I will do my best, old friend."
Sesshomaru stood away and gave the gathered crowd a last measuring look, satisfied that everything would go on as it should in his absence. Motioning his readiness to Inuyasha, he raised a hand to his people before starting out of the gate.
Behind him, Kirsten urged Ah-Un into a gallop preparatory to the beast taking to the air. As Ah-Un began to lift, Sesshomaru took his brother's arm and called his magic to him so they could follow.
OoOoOo
Next time: a special request from Ookami No Taisho of the Wolves… Sesshomaru takes on Cerberus!
Also, it may be a while until my next update, folks! There's a serious illness in the family that must be dealt with, so I may not be able to post as usual next Saturday. Be assured that the story WILL be finished, even if it takes some time before I can come back to it.
Thanks once again for sticking with me, all of you! I appreciate it more than I can say…
Atelaar
