The Servant of the Demon Lord

~Chapter 20~

"I wish our lord well!"

"Poor soul, he's doing his best."

"Let him rest, he's doing great."

"Can you please give this flower to our lord for me?"

"Best of wishes to our lord." Mayu couldn't believe it, she really couldn't. So it was only the higher-ups that despised him? She couldn't help but wear a bright smile and she walked back inside the palace, she was overjoyed to relay their messages to Sesshomaru.

"Mayu." Speaking of the devil.

"Yes my lord?~" Mayu chirped cheerfully. He froze at her tone, never has he heard her so peppy before. She almost sounded like Rin.

"The paper I was doing last night-"

"Right here, finished and organized.~" Mayu said with slight pride as she held it out. Sesshomaru stared, took it, then carefully read it.

"Eri watched Rin for the morning so I could go to town and gather information of the needs. Oh! Also, a pup wanted me to give this to you." Mayu said holding out a Suisen flower, the flower of respect. Sesshomaru gently took it and stared at it.

"Several people sent their best wishes, and many even telling you to rest, that they know you're doing all you can." Mayu said with a smile. Sesshomaru glanced up at her, an odd glimmer in his eyes. Relief?

"Don't listen to these people, your true people are those who stand by your side with pride knowing you'd do anything for them." Mayu said in a reassuring tone. Sesshomaru looked back down at the flower, he held it ever so gently. Mayu thought for a moment, then clicked her fingers making Sesshomaru look up again.

"I know, you're taking a day vacation!"

"Mayu-"

"You're only going to town, nothing more. Come on!" She said with a cheerful smile.

"If your mother wants to nag, it's for business." Mayu whispered very softly.

"I can't-"

"Oh come on, take a break." Mayu insisted.

"I look bad if I don't get this plan set in stone." Sesshomaru spoke in a quicker tone than usual so she didn't interrupt him again.

"No, you don't. If you take your time you'll make your mark! Take a break." Mayu begged.

"We can take Rin, I'm sure she'd love to play with the pups, she'd love the bakery I saw." Mayu pushed on further putting her hands on his arms gently.

"I can't stop until we fix this Mayu." He said sternly. Mayu frowned, but then glanced at the flower. She smiled again taking it and getting on her tippy toes to reach up and place it gently in his hair, the stem resting behind his ear.

"Shame, I'm sure they'd love to give you ideas or insight.~" She cooed before getting off her tippy toes, turned, and started to walk away. He was silent, then she heard a very soft sigh.

"Get Rin." Mayu spun with a gleeful smile.

"Anything else I should grab my lord?~" She asked.

"No." He muttered.

"We'll be right back!~" She chirped then rushed off. Sesshomaru watched her leave, then let out a drawn-out heavy sigh.

"I'm curious, Sesshomaru-sama." He looked over to see Amaya.

"How come you don't just go after her?" She asked crossing her arms, her tone was serious.

"Excuse me?" He asked. Amaya sighed and walked over placing an arm on his shoulder as an armrest.

"I grew up with you- well, you're older- but still. I know you well, and you've never acted like that with a female. For a while, I thought you liked men better." Sesshomaru's nose scrunched up a little at the idea.

"Don't give me that look, being with the same gender is so much easier, you know the language.~ Anyway, she plays you like a ragdoll! And don't pretend I don't see the soft, gentle gaze you give her." Sesshomaru looked away from Amaya, but he didn't push her off.

"What's holding you back?" She asked curiously. He stayed silent for a moment, then glanced over.

"I won't make his mistake." He muttered softly. Amaya frowned, her pointy ears falling a little.

"Sesshomaru, this is different." She said dropping the "sama" trying to be closer to him even if she's scolded by someone later for it.

"It's not." He growled.

"She's here though, your father's human wasn't. Even if someone went after her, it's not just you here to protect her, you have us. You won't die, she won't die, Rin won't die, none of us will die. You can't let your father's doings haunt you forever, keep you from your happiness." Amaya spoke in a gentle tone.

"Hmm." He only hummed.

"Wait, I just realized something." Amaya said perking up.

"You said you won't make his mistake? I knew it, you do like her!" She cheered making Sesshomaru growl at her.

"She is my servant, nothing more." He said lowly.

"Uh, you sure? She acts like your wife- no, your husband." Amaya pointed out. Sesshomaru glared.

"Come on, she's got more balls than all of the men here combined! A human standing up to my father as she did? Even I wouldn't." Sesshomaru sighed softly.

"She-"

"We're going to town Sesshomaru-sama?!" Rin asked as she ran up hugging him excitedly. He looked down at her.

"Yes." He simply said.

"Yay!~" She cheered.

"I'll leave you to it.~" Amaya said with a wink before walking off.

"Ready?" Mayu asked.

"Yes." Rin took Sesshomaru's hand as they headed out. The walk was about fifteen minutes, but when they got to town, believe me when I say there was a loud cheer. Many people bowed, greeted Sesshomaru, offered gifts, the whole works. Mayu looked to the side to see the pup who gave her the flower's eyes sparkling seeing it in his hair. Mayu tapped Sesshomaru's arm making him look down, she then nodded to the pup making him glance up, then nodded before walking over kneeling down. He thanked her giving her a gentle pet behind the ear making her smile brightly hugging him.

"I remember when that man was just a pup himself." Mayu looked over seeing a woman who looked to only be in her late thirties or early forties.

"Now look at him, how time flies." Mayu smiled.

"He still has a long way, as in he has no idea how to take care of himself and will work himself to his grave if you let him. I had to drag him out here to take a break." Mayu said crossing her arms. The woman laughed.

"Ah, sounds like his father. Yes, I remember his father would always bring him to my shop for treats, those were the days." The woman said with a gentle smile.

"I'm sure he feels that way too." Mayu said, then perked up.

"Wait, that's it!" She cheered.

"I know that you're low on stock-"

"You're more than welcomed into my shop." The woman said with a bright smile.

"Thank you so so so much!" She nodded, then walked away and back to said shop. She looked over seeing Sesshomaru being completely trampled by pups making Mayu giggle, Rin was over there as well.

"Cute."