Mai crept back into her bed quietly, still remembering the feeling of Shippo's lips upon her own. She had to visit him again soon; the thought of being away from him for only a little while even seemed unbearable. Buyo Jr. was fast asleep on the end of Mai's bed. She picked him up and cradled the cat in her arms.
"Thanks Buyo! I owe you the world!" Buyo purred and Mai pet him lovingly.
"I love him." Mai said into the darkness. InuYasha stepped out to greet her in the shadows. He scratched his head behind his ear.
"That's what I was afraid of."
Mai gasped.
"Dad! How long have you been…?" InuYasha sat down on the edge of Mai's bed and looked at his daughter sadly.
"Mai, I don't want you to get hurt…" Mai's eyes turned cold.
"Dad! I can take care of myself. You saw me yesterday, I could've killed Kikyo there if you'd let me…well kill her again I mean." InuYasha shook his head.
"Not about Kikyo. You can kick her clay-potted ass if you want. It's just Shippo, I almost lost Kagome a million times and I don't you to make my mistakes. And I don't want Shippo to either." Mai smiled and hugged her father close.
"Dad, it's ok. Whatever happens, happens. I love you daddy." InuYasha smiled.
"I'm …sorry Mai. I just don't like seeing you grow up. Before you and Kagome, I barely had what you'd call a family." Mai nodded, remembering Sesshomaru and the dislike hinting in his words.
"Can I tell you something?" InuYasha asked. Mai nodded again, though InuYasha wasn't waiting for an answer.
"When you were first born, we took you to the feudal era, my time. And we almost decided to stay there, if it weren't for Kikyo…" Mai stopped him, she knew about the Kikyo part. InuYasha continued.
"The thing was, it was so hard for Kagome and me to say goodbye to everyone. We should've destroyed the well, but we couldn't, well Kagome wouldn't let me." Mai giggled as her father finished.
"So, it's in your blood, just like the demon in you. And I should've known you'd find you're way back." Mai's eyes welled with happiness.
"Awww…Dad…" InuYasha narrowed his eyes, this may be getting a little to sappy. He smiled and left his daughter.
"I trust you Mai, you can make your own decisions." Mai watched him leave and then looked out her window into the stars.