I is so sorry! I've been MEGA busy and MEGA lazy... A.T.
Dylan and the others watched as Mai's face went from shock to excitement to disbelieving. Dylan was in more shock
the Mai was.
" I can't even believe that you're a demon... but at the same time it makes sense."
Miroku stood beside Dylan while looking at Mai and the others.
" All we can do for now is keep you both out of harms way, especially with that shadow demon after Mai."
" Oh great, so I lose my staff and NOW I'm getting baby sat... Fantastic..."
Inuyasha gaze her an unbelievable look as they all walked to Kaede's home.
" Hey! You're the target."
" Calm down Inuyasha. Mai, we're not taking it away from you."
Kagome handed Mai back he staff and she clung to it for dear sweet life. Dylan gaze Mai a small smile to help calm
her down.
" We just need to lower your demonic aura."
" How?! It's not like being a demon comes with a 'How To' guide."
" Inuyasha can teach you."
Good ol' Miroku... what a genius.
" What?! How the hell do you expect me to do that?"
They arrived at Kaede's and filled her in on the situation, asking her for her input.
" If what you say is true, there are rumors of a water shrine by the sea that can cleanse a demon aura."
Songo looked up from petting Kilala.
" I've heard of that. But there is a barrier guarding it. Demons have been heard to be drawn to it for some reason."
Mai went to ignoring everything by plugging in her music and blasting 'So Alone' by Anna Blue, but she read
everyone's lips as best she could so she wasn't totally left out. Inuyasha growled in frustration and stood.
" Fine, let's go."
He grabbed Mai by her shoulder and walked out, walking in a random direction. Lucky they had Kagome to point out
the obvious to him.
" Inuyasha! You don't even know where the shrine is."
Inuyasha stopped in his tracks, nearly making Mai fall forward from the jerk, and muttered curses under his breath.
Dylan turned to face Kaede who stood in her doorway.
" Lady Kaede, do you know where this shrine is?"
" They say it is due North-East from here, but it is late and you should all rest and then leave in the morning."
Everyone thanked Kaede and Mai bit down on Inuyasha's hand that hand some how moved to grab the ring on her
spiked black dog collar. Her couldn't grab her shirt since it was nothing more than a black wrinkle style tube top with
little red stars going up the side, and her black skinny jeans were tucked into her knee high flat boots that were
perfect for the wild terrain.
" OUCH! What the hell Mai?!"
" Mai you didn't have o bit him!" ' We've been back not even half and hour and already she's bitten someone.'
Shippo looked between Mai and Inuyasha, who were busy with glaring at each other.
" Inuyasha doesn't seem to be in a very good mood now."
Miroku and Songo tried to intervene before things got to heated.
" Let's all calm down and get some rest."
" Miroku is right. We've got a long day head of us tomorrow."
Mai was getting so heated which was actually rare, mostly she'd get ticked but not full blow pissed, that the coloring
around her eyes turned a red which under-shaded the black she wore around them. It would have been cool in any
other situation that didn't involve anger.
" Well sorry I don't like being dragged around by the collar like a dog!"
" Then why the hell do you wear it?!"
" Because it's special to me!"
" How is a dog collar special?!"
" It belonged to a dead friend!"
Silence.
Mai turned to a corner of the room, throwing down her bag before situating herself up against the wall and closing
her eyes. Dylan and the others watched as she seemed to instantly fall asleep.
" Well, this is gonna be an interesting adventure. Huh, Kagome?"
" Yeah, but it could become a big problem if the jewel shards become involved."
*On Journey to Water Shrine*
" So... bored..."
Mai looked towards Shippo while they were all walking at a decently slow pace.
" Hey Shippo, let me carry you."
" OK... but why?"
Mai swept the little demon up into her arms and hugged him close.
" 'Cause you're so cute."
Dylan looked forward at his sister with Shippo in her grasp.
" You're done for Shippo."
" Huh? Why?"
" She see's anything cute and adorable, she'll never let it go."
Kagome just smiled at the whole thing.
" I think it's cute. Mai looks like a mom carrying her baby."
Shippo squirmed in Mai's grip.
" I'm not a baby!"
Everyone chuckled.
" Aw. But you're still as cute as one."
Mai gently snuggled the little fox demon.
Inuyasha looked annoyed.
" Yeah yeah. Enough of the mushy crap already. Let's go."
Mai glared at him and puffed up.
" OK. I'm sick of this. What the hell crawled up your ass and died!? It's always attitude with you!"
Mai put Shippo down and stalked up to Inuyasha.
Inuyasha gets in Mai's face. Bad Idea.
" My problem is that I don't wanna play nanny to a brat! Learn to control it on your own!"
" Oh and you had no one to teach you? Didn't you have a mom and dad around ? One of them obviously had to be a
demon. I had NO ONE! I still have no one... and I didn't grow with others like me around!"
Mai turned and stalked off towards the shrine. Dylan looked at Inuyasha.
' That look in Inuyasha's eyes... He's a half demon, but...'
Inuyasha hesitantly followed after Mai with the others.
Dylan decided to speak up to help break some of the tension.
" So if we reach the shrine and cleanse her demonic aura to a point where she can control it, then she wouldn't
need Inuyasha's help right?"
Kagome nodded while Miroku spoke up.
" It seems that we are coming up to a village. We might be able to sleep in an inn tonight."
Mai had no expression as she turned back to the others.
" You guys go on ahead. I'ma stay up in the trees for the night. See you in the morning."
As Mai finished speaking she was already at the base of the tree getting her footing. Dylan looked exasperated.
" Oh no. Now she's done it."
Songo and the others looked at him quizzically.
" Done what?"
" Her personality changed again. Now she's gonna be super quiet and more secretive, not to mention bite at
anyone who messes with her."
" Huh. Usually Inuyasha would be like that from time to time."
Shippo looked up into the tree.
" Yeah... This is kinda weird."
Inuyasha refused to look Mai's way.
" What ever. Let her do what she wants... come on."
The slightest hint of sadness laced his voice.
*Around midnight*
May laid in the top branches of the tree looking up at the stars.
" You know you're gonna have to tell him you're sorry."
Mai looked down to see her non-blood brother standing at the base of the tree. She nodded solemnly and turned
back to the stars.
" He's just like us you know. He's basically been alone since he was a kid. His mom was human and his dad... he
never knew him. I heard he had died when Inuyasha was only a baby."
Mai kept her gaze to the sky, giving no indication that she was going to comment. Dylan sighed.
" Good night Mai..."
With that he went back in to sleep while Mai watched the stars till the first signs of light came over the horizon.
After a while the others came out to collect Mai and continue the trek to he shrine.
" Hey, is this shrine supposed to be on a beach?"
Shippo asked from Miroku's shoulder. Songo answered while keeping her attention ahead.
" They say it's a shrine in an abandoned village that faces the sea."
Mai looked down cast.
" Oh fun... the ocean."
Kagome turned to Mai who was walking beside her.
" What's wrong with the ocean?"
" Salt water..."
Inuyasha humphed.
" Yet you don't have a problem being around Dylan who smells like the ocean."
Mai shot him a look that caused him to flinch.
" What the hell?"
" So the fight made her personality switch huh? I can see it. How many personalities does she have?"
Shippo looked at Miroku.
" This is not going to be a good day."
Dylan looked to Shippo.
" She has too many personalities. And you're telling me."
Songo looked ahead.
" We should be by the ocean in a few hours."
" Uuugh..."
Mai hung her head low. They reached the village and it was more lively than they thought it would be. Mai's head
only hung lower.
" Great, and people to boot..."
Songo looked around.
" I thought it was an abandoned village."
" Apparently not. Plus, everything smells like the ocean."
Inuyasha held his nose in the air as the others watched the village people go about their day. Mai started feeling a
bit high from the smell.
" Let's get moving..."
Mai began walking while dragging her feet in the dirt as Dylan watched after her.
" Well, let's split up and find the water shrine."
A random woman walked up to he group and Mai stopped in mid-step.
" Pardon me. Did you say you were going to the shrine?"
Miroku turned to her and almost turned perv except Songo was standing so close.
" Yes we are. Why do you ask?"
" No one has been able to enter the shrine before. Unless you have a pure heart or you are a priest or priestess,
you are unable to enter. Regular people will feel the barrier and demons will be harmed."
Mai nodded and turned to the women.
" Thank you. Now where is the shrine?"
" Just keep following the shore line ahead."
Kagome thanked her and they all continued on till Shippo noticed something odd.
" Hey Dylan, what's wrong?"
" Hmm... nothing really. It's just, it's been a long time since I've been to he beach... last time I was with the family
that raised me before I went to the orphanage. I got stung by a jellyfish..."
Inuyasha looked ahead.
" At this rate we'll be at that shrine soon."
By afternoon, they reached the shrine. Mai nearly sunk to her knees.
" Finally... Let's go."
Mai ran up to the shrine entryway. Miroku yelled after her.
" No wait!"
Mai got super-shocked and thrown back from the shrine into a tree. She laid upside down against a tree in the
distance and coughed up smoke.
" Ow! Damn it!"
*Cough*
Dylan and the others ran over to her as she fell over onto her side.
" Mai! Are you OK?"
" I'm fine... just a bit *Cough* toasty."
Miroku walked over to the shrine and looked in deep thought.
" This is one powerful barrier."
Songo walked up beside him while looking around.
" I'm surprised there are no demons here. They used to say that demons would try to get in the shrine. Though no
one knows why."
Shippo stood beside Mai as Dylan helped her sit up.
" I wounder what's in there."
" Me too."
" Well someone go in already before I cough up my lung."
Miroku shrugged and stepped up to the shrine.
*Zaaap*
" The woman said pure of heart. Miroku's a pervert."
Songo gave him a cryptic look.
" I am not!"
" Well I am."
Everyone turned to Mai.
" What?"
" Well I can't go. Half-demon remember?"
Inuyasha crossed his arms over his chest. Shippo shook his head. Being a fox demon, he obviously couldn't go and
neither could Kilala.
" I guess it's up to us humans."
Dylan held his hand out to Kagome and they went up to the barrier. They walked through the barrier and turned
back to the others.
" We did it."
" We'll be back."
Mai shrugged and pulled out a deck of cards from her bag. As the normies walked into the shrine My stretched then
went to shuffling.
" So what now?"
Miroku turned to Mai and began to say something until a scream rang through the air.
" Did that come from the village?"
" Let's go check."
They all ran off to the village.
*In the shrine*
Dylan looked around while avoiding cobwebs.
" It's so... depressing. Looks like a scene from a horror movie."
" Don't say that Dylan. I'm gonna start thinking that a ghost is gonna appear."
*Village*
" What the hell is going on here?"
Villagers were screaming to run. One of them stopped only for a second while pointing out over the water.
" Water demons are attacking!"
Shippo pointed to a mass of figures gliding over the water, heading straight for the village.
" Sea Dragons!"
Mai looked to the massive figures.
" Dragons? Huh... well what do we do now?"
" Well, you use fire. Maybe you can fight them."
Inuyasha laughed.
" She wont last a minute."
Mai humphed and ran to the waters edge, screaming to get the demons attention.
" Then again, they are water dragons."
Inuyasha turned to Miroku.
" What ever. What the hell is taking those two so long?!"
*At shrine*
" Dylan, come on. We should hurry back."
" Alright. Let me just grab these."
" Grab what?"
Kagome stopped suddenly causing Dylan to turn to her with a questioning look.
" What's wrong Kagome?"
" I sense demonic auras... coming from the village, and there's a sacred jewel shard!"
" Oh no! Mai... and the others!"
He was about to race out but then turned his attention towards another room.
" Dylan? Where are you going?"