Chapter 18- One Time, One Choice
Mai held onto Shippo tightly, scared out of her mind at what she had just done. Then from the pink beam, came a sort of fairy.
She was a beautiful fairy, pink as the light from the well, but emotionless, like all life had been drained from her. Something haunting and mysterious seemed to hide in her eyes. Mai gulped and held onto Shippo tighter. The world around Shippo and Mai seemed to silence as the pink fairy began to speak. A slow, soft calming hypnotic speech.
"Your home you shall find, the light of which you seek. True love cannot lead you back, a consequence you must face for breaking the bind. Choose one: Your home or your love. One time, one choice. No returning to the past, present or future."
With that, the fairy disappeared. The light disappeared as well. Leaving Mai with a choice, one that was tearing her up inside. Should she go home to the future with her family? Or stay in the past with Shippo? And whatever she chose…was permanent.
Mai collapsed onto her knees, sobbing ridiculously. She couldn't choose. If only Shippo could come to the future with her, maybe one day they could get married, like InuYasha and Kagome had. Her parents. But she couldn't leave her parents and stay here, she just couldn't. She would miss them too much and they would miss her.
It was selfish, she knew, wanting both when she was only allowed one. And maybe you really couldn't change the past.
Mai knew what she had to do. And she did not want to do it.
Mai got up, wiping the dirt that she had gotten on her. She turned to him; her tears fogging her eyesight and making her feel blind. She hugged him close to her, crying onto his shoulder, and then turned and kissed him. Kissed him like she never wanted to stop.
She pulled away and walked over to the well. Shippo couldn't believe it.
"Mai! Wait! No!" Shippo yelled running towards her. He grabbed Mai's hand but she let go.
"No, Shippo. I can't. You can't change the past. We would never…work. I need to go home, that's were I belong." Shippo let a few tears fall, he didn't care who saw them. He grabbed Mai's hand.
"You belong with me, Mai. I love you." Mai shook her head, it was hard for her to talk like this, it was all a lie, and she wanted to be with him. "Please…Shippo…let me go." Shippo tenderly let Mai's hand go. Mai went to jump into the well but Shippo followed her. All the way back.