Chapter 4
I Think I Love You
You wander far and deep into the forest. It is pitch black, you cant even see one hand in front of your face. "What a jerk. Does he really think I am that easy." you think and begin feeling sad. "Are all men like this.." You sigh deeply with your hands in front of your face, feeling for things that you could walk into. The moon is hidden behind a cloud, but it doesn't really matter because of the thick branches and leaves overhead. You feel a little bad about leaving him in the spring, but you must make it known that he cannot think he can use you like that. You begin cheering yourself up a little by convincing yourself he is one of the biggest jerks on the planet, which is making you giggle. "Mai." you hear from behind you. You hear deep sniffing noises, then a laugh. "Yeah, its you alright." Right after the voice silenced, you were suddenly grabbed by your waist, and taken above the trees. You notice it is Inuyasha. "What are you doing in the forest at this time of night alone." "Well..me and Sesshomaru kind of got into a fight.." you say lowering your head. "Feh, didn't I tell you he was no good." he says as he moves you onto his back. You hold on with your legs wrapped around his stomach and your hands on his shoulders. "Why wont you just stay with me." he says in a low voice. He suddenly twitches his ears and says it again, but louder. "Why wont you just stay with US." You stare at his back while twirling a strand of his silver hair in your fingers. "Because, Sango doesn't like me. She lied to me and tried to get Kagome to hate me. You don't like me either so you don't have to fake it." "I don't like you?" he screams. He stops flying and lands on a tree branch. He spins you into his arms, and stares into your eyes. "You don't know how wrong you are about that, Mai." You stare back into his eyes, then turn your head. "Inuyasha don't you have Kagome? And besides that, no matter what…I have Sesshomaru." You sit on the branch, and he sits next to you.
Inuyasha sighs deeply and puts an arm around you. "She doesn't have to know you know. He doesn't either." he says trying to pull you in for a kiss. You fight to get free from his grasp, and finally manage, but fall from the tree in the process. Just as you are about to hit the ground, he catches you. He places you on your feet. "I am really sorry Mai. I don't know what came over me." He turns and you climb on his back. A few minutes later you are at his camp with the others. He walks to Kagome's bag and brings you a blanket, then turns to walk away. "Inuyasha, isn't this your blanket?" you whisper. "Its okay. You need it more then me. Goodnight Mai." he says yawning. When he gets far enough, you roll on your stomach and begin to cry. Sesshomaru didn't even try to stop you from walking away. "Maybe it was all an act just to get with me." you think. You wipe your eyes and roll the blanket into a ball, then bury your face into it and cry more. You wish you would have never left the spring, you want to still be with him, no matter how much of a jerk he is. You cry for a while longer, then finally fall asleep.
You awake to Kagome shaking your shoulder. "Mai, what are you doing here?" she keeps asking until you open your eyes. You sit up rubbing your eyes and she smiles at you. She stands and helps you to your feet. You look around and everyone is gathered around the fire, which Inuyasha is trying to start. You look back at Kagome and give her a weak smile. "Is everything okay? Inuyasha said he found you in the forest." she says. "Yeah everything is fine." you say with your fake smile. "And yes, I just wandered a little too far I guess." You decide not to tell her about the fight with Sesshomaru or the situation with Inuyasha. She gives you a disappointed face, then takes your hand. She takes you by the fire and sits with you. "Inuyasha your going to burn your face off!" she screams as she grabs the matches from him. "Come on Kagome! I almost had it!" he screams as he stands and walks into the forest. Kagome giggles, then makes the fire. You sit, not looking at anything, but your hands. "Is Sesshomaru going to come looking for me." you think to yourself. "Maybe he hates me now." You cover your face with your hands, and begin crying hard. Kagome comes back next to you and rubs your back. Shippo jumps into your lap and hugs your arm. "Hey Mai, if it makes you feel any better, we always run into Sesshomaru." he says cheerfully. You look at him and smile. "Yeah, I hope so." "Feh, why would you want to go back with him anyways!" Inuyasha says as he comes out from the forest. You lower your head and begin crying again. "Inuyasha don't say that! Its obvious that she loves him and misses him." Kagome whispers to him.
You stop crying for a few seconds. Do you love him? Even after he was such a jerk? You lift your head and wipe your eyes. Kagome is still rubbing your back with a worried look on her face. You stare into the fire, and try to think. "Heh, look who's here!" Inuyasha screams, then leaps into the sky. "Kagome, we should go with him." Miroku says. She nods her head and grabs her bow. Everyone stands and begins running in the direction where Inuyasha flew. Not even a minute after running, you start to hear swords clashing together. "Stay here with Shippo." Miroku says to you. Shippo jumps on your shoulder, and the others run faster into the forest. You stop running and begin walking slowly. "Why do we have to stay here?" you ask Shippo. "It doesn't matter I always go ahead with them anyways. Lets go Mai." he says as he jumps off your shoulder and runs towards the group. You begin running again as well, trying to keep up with him. You can almost hear Inuyasha and the others perfectly now. When you run past a few more trees, you see Shippo hiding behind a bush. You quickly go sit by him and look over it to see what is happening.
You see Miroku and Sango standing together, and Kagome closer to the battle with a bow and arrow in her hand. You look up and see Inuyasha fighting with a man. He has long black hair, and crimson eyes. He also has tentacle things sticking out from his back. "That man is Naraku." Shippo whispers to you. "Naraku.." you think for a second. "He's the man who was chasing me right?" Shippo stays quiet and watches the fight. Inuyasha and Naraku are fighting in the sky, clashing their swords together, when suddenly, Kagome shoots her arrow at Naraku. It fly's in the air right at him, and hits him straight in the chest. He falls to the ground, and purple gas comes leaking out of his wound. Inuyasha falls to the ground, seeming paralyzed. Kagome and the others run to him. She covers his nose with her sleeve, and Sango and Miroku take a battle stance, guarding him. Naraku stands, and laughs. "Until next time, Inuyasha." he says as he fly's away. Shippo jumps out from the bush and runs to Inuyasha, and you follow close behind. "Didn't I tell you to stay away from here Mai." Miroku says shaking his head. When you reach Inuyasha, Kagome pulls a little bottle out from her pocket, and pours the liquid inside into his mouth. He makes a face like it is very sour, then sits right up. "Thanks Kagome." he says. "That purple gas was Naraku's poison." Kagome says looking at you. "The stuff in the bottle is an antidote." "But it tastes like crap!" Inuyasha screams as he stands up. He suddenly looks to the sky, and so does everyone else.
A great big dog falls from the sky. It is white with red stripes on its face and..a crescent moon! "Sesshomaru!" you scream as you suddenly run towards him. "No stop!" Inuyasha says as he runs in front of you. "Miroku take her out of here now." he says. Sesshomaru roar's loud, then starts growing smaller, until he is back in his human form. "Inuyasha you shall take her nowhere but back to me." he says. "Heh you wish. Come and take her then." "Gladly." he says, then, disappears. He reappears behind Inuyasha, and tries to slice him with his sword. "Mai come on." Miroku says tugging your arm. You pull away from him and run to Sesshomaru. He puts his sword away as you jump into his free arm, and hug him tightly. "I am so sorry Sesshomaru. I thought you hated me." you say and begin crying. He hugs you back. "I would never hate you Mai." He releases you from the hug and glares at Inuyasha. As Sesshomaru turns away, Inuyasha comes racing at him with his sword. He quickly pulls his sword from its sheath and blocks Inuyasha's attack. "Jaken, come and take Mai and get her out of here." he says. Jaken suddenly comes running from behind a tree with Ah-un. He quickly pushes you on, and jumps on himself. You take one last look at Sesshomaru before you begin flying high into the sky.
When you land, Rin is sitting by the fire cooking some fish. "Mai!" she screams as she runs toward you. "I am so happy!" She hugs you and you hug back. "I missed you so much." she says smiling. "I missed you too Rin." you say as you kiss her forehead. Jaken walks by and makes a remark. "I will never get you humans. Disgusting." Rin looks at you and laughs, then runs to Ah-uh and pets his heads. She then leads him under a tree, where she sits with him. Jaken is finishing cooking the fish she started. You walk to Jaken and sit by him. "The food smells good." you say. "He looks at you and laughs. "That's not what you really want to talk about is it Mai." You look at him and smile. "Your right, no its not." He stands, flips the fish over the fire, then sits again. "Sesshomaru told me of his plan to try to seduce you, and I told him it might not work. He came back hours after you both left. He woke Rin and told her to stay put because he needed to take me and Ah-un. I left her my staff for protection and we searched all night for you." he says yawning. He begins to stand again, but you flip the fish for him. "How about, you take a nap, and I will finish cooking the food." you say. "Oh no I cant do that. Sesshomaru will kill me if he found out." he says in a scared voice. "No he wont I will make sure of that. So go take a nap it fine. I can watch Rin." Jaken stands and smiles. "Thank you so much Mai." he says yawning again and begins walking into the shade. Rin runs over and sits next to you. "You told Jaken to take a nap?" she asks. "Yeah. So while he sleeps I will watch you okay." She smiles big and hugs you. "So.." she says. "You never answered my question." You look at her curiously. "What was that?" "Do you like to swim?" You laugh and she begins laughing too. "Yeah I like to swim Rin." you say. "Ill tell you what, how about after we eat, we swim." She smiles and quickly asks, "Well is the food done yet?"
When the food is finished and eaten, you both go into the water for a swim. "Rin, don't go out too far. The current feels kind of strong." you say to her. The river is wide, and looks like it goes on for miles. The water is so clear too, you can see the fish. The two of you splash and play until nightfall, and finally get out when you wake up Jaken and he starts screaming. You get dressed, and sit by the warm fire, which Jaken has just restarted. Rin comes over and gives you a hug. "I had a lot of fun Mai." she says yawning. "Goodnight." she says. "Night Rin." You watch her walk to Ah-un and lay on him like he is a big pillow. When she falls asleep you stare into the fire. "What is taking Sesshomaru so long.." you think to yourself. Jaken has fallen asleep again and is snoring very loud. You stand and walk to the river, and dip your feet in and stare at the stars. While staring, you notice a shooting star. You quickly close your eyes and make a wish. "All I wish for, is the strength to tell Sesshomaru how I truly feel." you say under your breath. When you open your eyes, the star has passed, and the moon is half full. The little fish in the water are nibbling at your feet, which tickles, but you are more concerned at what is taking Sesshomaru so long.
Finally, after another hour, you hear sounds coming from behind the trees. You quickly stand and turn towards the noise. You take a few steps forward, and Sesshomaru comes stumbling out. You quickly run to him and help him regain his balance. "What happened!" you say helping him sit. He stares into your eyes and pulls you to sit closer to him. "I would have never guessed, that disgusting half breed liked you." He looks at you seriously. "Do you like him? What did he do when he found you in the woods." His eyes are turning reddish while he is asking you. "Sesshomaru, don't worry. Nothing happened. And yes, I know he likes me." "Why didn't you tell me before then." "Because I didn't know before. I thought he hated me like the others." Sesshomaru looks at the river, staring at it hard. Its not till then you notice the big gash on his back. "Sesshomaru, your back!" you say. "Come on, I will help you to the river. Let me clean it." "It is fine, I am a demon. It will heal within a day." "No come on, now!" you say in a commanding tone. He smiles at you, and you help him stand. When he gets to the river, he sits back to you, and begins taking off the top part of his armor. When its fully off, you notice the back wound is even deeper then you thought. "Who did this?" you ask ripping a piece of your clothing off, and soaking it in the water. "Inuyasha sliced me when I was dodging one of Kagome's arrows." he says. You kiss his shoulder, and begin cleaning the dried blood with the cloth. "Does it sting?" you ask. "Not at all. You don't even need to, it will heal." he says. You continue wiping it clean anyways.
When you finish, you notice the wound isn't as deep as it was before, it isn't even bleeding. "Wow..that's impressive" you say in amazement. Sesshomaru laughs and turns towards you. "Mai, do me a favor. Promise me you will not wander off ever again." You lower your head. "I promise. I am sorry for making you worry." "Making me worry? I have a question." he says. He lifts your head by your chin. "Were you really worried about my wound?" he asks. You blush lightly and nod your head yes. He smiles and kisses your cheek. "Sesshomaru.." you say whispering. "Yes Mai?" You turn his head towards yours, and kiss his lips. "I..I love you."