The Servant of the Demon Lord

~Chapter 29~

Birds sang Mayu awake, her eyes were met by something she knew wasn't there when she fell asleep. Rin, asleep in between her and Sesshomaru. She blinked a couple of times, then sighed with a smile. She carefully sat up and got off the swing bed fixing the blanket to better cover them, she had decided to come get them after she cooked instead of before like she usually does. She walked inside and down the halls to the dining hall silently. When she made it to the kitchen, she started cooking.

"Need a hand?" Mayu jumped and whirled around only to let out a gentle shaky breath.

"Don't scare me lik- wait... Shouldn't you be at Amaya's place?" Mayu asked Eri who stood in the doorway with a smile, arms crossed.

"Maybe, but I need to get my mind off of things." She said before walking over.

"Saw Rin and Sesshomaru asleep outside, they're so cute together." She said as she started helping Mayu who only let her without question.

"Uhn, I don't know when she showed up, must've been after I fell asleep." Mayu said with a soft laugh.

"Ah, so even after his mother's words he felt bold enough to sleep with you, outside in her view at that." Mayu gave a confused look.

"From her room, you can see the swing bed perfectly." Eri explained making Mayu turn bright red.

"Wh-What?" She stuttered.

"He must've wanted to show her that he didn't care about her words. You should feel honored, he obviously wants to flaunt you." Eri said with a giggle. Mayu sighed heavily.

"U-Uhn."

"More so with that hickey he left on you." Eri pointed out with a nonchalant tone making Mayu wanna pass out. She felt where she knew it was, right in plain sight. She tried to pull her kimono's collar up to cover it, but it hardly worked. Once breakfast was done, they set up the table before Mayu made her way to go gt Rin and Sesshomaru. She smiled seeing Rin curled up in Sesshomaru's protective embrace, she almost felt bad for waking them. She walked over and put a gentle hand on Sesshomaru's shoulder making him instantly tense.

"Morning.~" She cooed gently. She felt him relax as his eyes fluttered open. He looked back at Mayu with a slightly tired look in his eye. 

"Breakfast is ready." He let out a gentle breath before stretching with a strained groan. When he moved, Rin stirred a little, then she looked up seeing Sesshomaru relax after his stretching. She smiled and sat up stretching too.

"Come on then, before it gets cold." Mayu said before standing to the side to let the two get up. Once they did, she made the bed making sure the blankets didn't touch the ground, then she trotted to catch up with the two. The morning was peaceful, Sesshomaru had greeted Eri as soon as he saw her, they spoke for some time making Mayu smile. She wondered if Sesshomaru saw Eri as a mother figure thanks to his mother not partaking in his life all that much growing up.

"I can't wait, I've missed the Obon Festival if I may be honest." Eri spoke with a smile as she took a sip of tea.

"So have I." Sesshomaru admitted.

"I like the Obon Festival, humans celebrate it as well. I get to tell mom and dad that I'm doing ok and that they don't have to worry!" Rin chirped cheerfully, then she looked up at Mayu.

"What about you, Mayu?" She asked. Mayu stayed silent for a moment, then looked away. Rin tilted her head.

"I never got to celebrate it." Mayu finally answered.

"Hmm, hey, your first time will be with us!" Rin cheered happily. Sesshomaru glanced at Mayu knowingly, he hadn't thought about it too much, but a celebration to speak to your passed loved ones mustn't settle well with her.

"Are we using colorful lanterns?" Rin asked.

"We plan on so, yes." Sesshomaru answered.

"Oh oh, and we're doing the lantern releases right?" Rin asked again.

"Yes." Sesshomaru answered.

"Can we invite Kagome and the others?" Rin asked once more. Sesshomaru fell silent at this.

"Why not?" Mayu asked giving Sesshomaru a glance.

"Please?~" Rin begged with puppy eyes. Sesshomaru stared for a moment, then sighed closing his eyes.

"If they wish to come." Rin's eyes sparkled.

"Awesome!" She squealed happily.

"Where should we start first?" Eri asked.

"Not too sure." Sesshomaru muttered.

"Why don't we start here? Then we can have some of the guards help do the town tomorrow, keep it a surprise." Mayu suggested.

"Sounds like a plan to me." Eri agreed. Sesshomaru then nodded.

"We should get the supplies, then get started." He spoke up before standing.

"I wanna help!" Rin cheered getting up as well.

"Go with Eri to grab some things, meet me and Mayu in the main hall, we'll start there first." He spoke before turning to walk away.

"Yes, sir!" She cheered before taking Eri's hand and hurrying her to get going. Mayu laughed before rushing to catch up with Sesshomaru.

"Mayu." He spoke making her look up.

"Yes?" She asked.

"Are you alright?" He asked looking down at her as they walked.

"Why wouldn't I be?" She asked, tilting her head.

"You hesitated on Rin's question." He clarified. Mayu looked down at this.

"It's fine, she doesn't know." They fell silent, then Mayu jumped feeling him take her hand in his own gently. She looked up with a smile, he didn't return the smile, but his eyes said it all. When they got to the main hall, Mayu looked around for a moment.

"We could use this for your family, Inuyasha and the others I mean, before we go to the town to join everyone else?" She suggested.

"Possibly, yes. We'll need to bring in more seating arrangements." Mayu looked at the thrones in the back of the room, a red carpet leading up to it.

"You sure? Those things are so massive they could fit all of us." Mayu joked with a laugh. Sesshomaru stared at her bright smile for a moment, then closed his eyes leaning down gently nuzzling her.

"Smile more, Otome." He whispered. Mayu wore a confused look, but before she could ask, Rin and Eri returned.

"We got the decorations!~" Rin chirped proudly. Mayu smiled and knelt down ruffling her hair.

"Awesome. Let's get started, yeah?" She asked with a warm smile.

"Uhn!" Rin chirped. Eri walked beside Sesshomaru with a gentle smile.

"Rin loves her dearly." Eri pointed out.

"Yes." Sesshomaru merely muttered.

"You picked wisely, Sesshomaru-sama." Eri complimented before walking over to help unpack alongside Mayu and Rin. Sesshomaru watched from afar for a moment, then walked over as well.