Chapter 11- Late Night Confession

It was late at night as Mai leaned back on her pink bed. She gave a sad sigh and began to pet Buyo Jr. who lay beside her.

"Buyo, you love me right?" Buyo Jr. meowed and purred softly. Mai smiled and looked up at her ceiling. She kept imagining Shippo's face everywhere she looked. She squeezed her eyes shut. He was still there! She groaned.

'Your InuYasha's Daughter? What did he mean by that? And what was he trying to tell me before I stormed off? Hmph, I hate Shippo.' One part of her mind stated while another said:

'You don't hate Shippo. You like him. You may even LOVE him.' Mai shrugged.

'But, how can I love him? He love's Satsuki and I'm just "INUYASHA'S DAUGHTER" to him.' Mai bit her lip. Her mind was fighting with her heart, and she didn't know which one she wanted to win. She gave up.

"I have to talk to him, again. This is killing me." She smiled at Buyo Jr.

"Can you cover for me?" She scratched Buyo's stomach and the fat cat silently agreed. Mai stood up and then noticed she was wearing her favorite pink teddy bear PJ's. She didn't want Shippo to think she dressed like a baby. Mai opened her closet and scanned through her clothes. Then she found it.

"Perfect. At least I'll look good." Mai pulled off her PJ's in favor of a blue silky dress that was much to formal to wear to the feudal age. It complimented her golden eyes and made her look very pretty. She opened her window and snuck out as quietly as possible.

The slightest loud squeak would wake up InuYasha. Once outside, Mai ran to the well and jumped down daintily, so as not to wrinkle her dress. Once in the feudal era, Mai ran to Shippo's hut as fast as she could. No more hiding, tonight Shippo was going to tell her the truth.

She knocked on the door of the hut, half excited, half scared to death of what Shippo would say. She was gravely disappointed as someone other than Shippo answered the door. It must have been Satsuki. She smiled warmly.

"You must be Mai, Shippo's friend. He told me all about you!" Mai glared at her, not caring how rude she must have looked.

"Can I talk to Shippo please?" Satsuki nodded, a little taken aback by Mai's rudeness. Satsuki closed the door and just moments later, Shippo walked out. Shippo closed the door and looked at Mai expectantly.

"Yes?" Mai cleared her throat.

"I'm sorry I ran off so suddenly. But I can't stop thinking about you. I need to know the truth, whether it makes me happy or tears my heart in two. Don't lie. Do you love me, Shippo?" Mai was proud of herself and astonished that she was so bold about her feelings. Shippo looked up at the moon and took Mai's hands in his. Mai's eyes began to water, and her cheeks grew warm.

"Mai, I shouldn't be saying this, I mean your InuYasha's daughter…" Mai flinched, why did he keep telling her that? She knew who her father was, that didn't mean that's all she was, she was herself too wasn't she? Mai felt uncertain, maybe this was a bad idea. But, Shippo continued.

"But, in the short time I've known you, I think I have fallen in love with you." Mai smiled warmly and threw her arms around Shippo's neck. Yet, Shippo released them from his neck.

"We can't be together though Mai." Mai stared at him

"Why not? Because of my father? You can't be serious! I love my dad, but he doesn't rule my life. I can love who ever I want!" Shippo leaned down and kissed her. Mai kissed him back, and after put a finger to her lips.

"I know Mai. But you can't stay here, and I can't go through the well." Mai was hit with this cruel reality check head-on.

'There has to be some way." She said thoughtfully. Shippo held her close.

"I hope your right."