Me: Hi! I'm Kesharocks1071 and this is my first fan fiction so I hope you like it! Sorry it's so short! Kagome, could you do the honors?

Kagome: Of course! Kesharocks1071 does not own Inuyasha or me or anything even though she wishes she did because she's in love with Inuyasha. Right Kesharocks1071?

Me: * Blushing in embarrassment * You didn't have to tell them that! Oh well… ENJOY! ^ ^

CHAPTER ONE: THE UPCOMING DAYS

"Bye Mom!" Kagome waved as she jumped into the darkened void that was Bone Eaters Well. She gasped as the ground came close, but before she could smash into it, she was surrounded by twinkling stars and light. Kagome could never grow tired of the feeling of floating gently into oblivion. Suddenly, a burst of white light caused her to squeeze her eyes shut. Behind her eyelids, she could feel the light recede and felt her knees and hands touch the mossy bottom of the well. Kagome looked up with a sigh of relief as she saw the crystal clear, blue skies that seemed to sparkle with it's glorified appearance. As she started her climb to the top of the well, she could hear the scuffle above.

"Kagome! Your back!" Shippo squealed happily. He rushed over to her just as she threw her leg over the top of the well and pounced onto her shoulder. Kagome gasped as she felt herself lose her footing and her weight shift back into the well.

A clawed hand suddenly shot out and grabbed her by the wrist before she could completely fall off the ledge.

"Idiot." Inuyasha grumbled. "What the hell are you doing?" He yanked Kagome over, sending her sprawling on the grass. Then, he grabbed Shippo by the tail and shook him before fisting his head.

"OUCH!" Shippo screeched. "What was that for?" he whimpered, making puppy eyes at Inuyasha. Kagome looked up, glaring at Inuyasha.

"Why did you do that, Inuyasha?! Your such a jerk!" She grabbed Shippo and embraced him, whispering that he would get extra ninja food later.

"Feh." Inuyasha said under his breath.

"Inuyasha…" Kagome warned. His head shot up, his eyes alert and full of remorse. "SIT!" Inuyasha face planted into the dirt, creating a foot deep hole. Shippo grinned and laughed while Kagome sniffed disdainfully. She got up, putting Shippo on the ground, brushed the grass off of her uniform and stomped away, just as Miroku and Sango arrived at the clearing. Sango took one look at the scene before hurrying after Kagome.

"What did you do this time Inuyasha?" Miroku sighed. Kagome had been gone for a week and a half, yet it seemed Inuyasha had already irritated her enough to get sat.

Inuyasha pushed himself into a sitting position, his face red from the impact.

"Inuyasha was being mean so Kagome sat him." Shippo said before adding in a whisper, "He deserved it." Inuyasha's fantastic hearing caught the words as they tumbled out of Shippo's mouth. He grabbed Shippo again and threw him into a close tree stump. Shippo wailed when he peeled himself off the tree and ran into the forest.

Tears burned Shippo's eyes as he ran to where he thought Kagome might be. He slowed down when he heard the soothing voice of Sango and Kagome's sobs through the plush thicket.

"Please calm down Kagome." Sango pleaded. "Tell me what's wrong." Shippo peeked through a gap in the leaves of the bush he was looking through to get a better glance at what was going on. He saw a tear streaked face that belonged to Kagome and a card in her hand. "Please?" Sango asked. Kagome shook her head.

"I'm sorry Sango," She said, wiping her tears. "I don't know why I'm so upset. It's not like he would know anyways." She looked at Sango only to find the girl staring at her, clearly confused. "Oh silly me!" Kagome chided herself. "My birthday is tomorrow Sango. I'm turning 16 and my mom said I could celebrate it here." She smiled weakly.

Sango nodded. "Is turning 16 really important?" she questioned.

"Yes. In my era, turning 16 is the most important birthday and lots of girls have these huge parties and get all dressed up and reserve limos and all of this other stuff that makes them feel special on their day, but when my mom asked me if I wanted a party like that, I had to refuse." She looked at Sango. "I wanted to be here with you guys instead."

Shippo had heard enough. He realized that he and Inuyasha had ruined her happiness about being able to stay here on such an important day by their squabbling. He knew that if he didn't tell Inuyasha, it would just make them bicker even more. With that thought set in his head, Shippo rushed back to the well, hoping that Inuyasha and Miroku were still there.

Inuyasha glared at Shippo's retreating form. He's probably gonna go tattle to Kagome, he thought. Well he's got another thing coming if he thinks that I care.

"What really happened Inuyasha?" Miroku pestered him. "I know that Shippo tends to exaggerate, but I think he was telling the truth so why don't you tell me the full story." He hid a shudder as Inuyasha threw daggers at him.

"I don't know what happened." Inuyasha growled. "Kagome came out of the well, Shippo jumped at her, she nearly fell back in and cracked her head open, I saved her, I hit Shippo for almost killing her, and then I got sat. Simple." Miroku sighed. Honestly, he acts as if Shippo would have killed her. If she fell back into the well, she would just be transported back to her own time. He thought.

"So, Inuyasha, are you happy Kagome's back?" Miroku asked tentatively. He knew Inuyasha was sensitive about his emotions for Kagome.

"Nah." Inuyasha said. Miroku did a double take.

"What do you mean, 'nah'?" He half yelled half whispered. "You never do anything when she's gone. You just sit near the well and mope around! So don't you dare tell me you're not happy she's back because we all know you missed her!" Inuyasha was taken back. The peaceful monk seemed to have snapped. After regaining his composure, Miroku took a couple deep breaths. Finally, a sigh escaped his parted lips and he looked at Inuyasha, clearly still irritated.

"What?" Inuyasha glared. "What is it this time, you moody monk?!" Miroku just sighed again and waved a dismissive hand.

"Inuyasha! Miroku!" Shippo said as he clambered out of the trees. He made a dive towards Miroku's shoulder and landed perfectly. "I followed them!" He said proudly. "I followed them and listened to what they said and they never even knew I was there- OOOWWWW!" Shippo screeched in pain as Inuyasha picked him up by his tail and dropped him on his head.

"Shippo," Miroku said, his voice stern. "You're not supposed to be spying on them…" He winked. "That's Inuyasha's job."

"Why you monk!" Inuyasha said. He raised his fist to punch Miroku when Sango burst through the looming wall of trees.

"Stop!" She said loudly. "Inuyasha, don't hit him!" She rushed over and grabbed his fist in her hands. Miroku looked up at Sango and sighed.

"Sango, I don't need you to protect me." He said, reaching up with his perverted hands. A sudden swing of Sango's Hiraikotsu nearly chopped off his hands and he shrieked, jumping up.

"I'm not protecting you," She seethed. "I'm protecting Kagome." She turned to Inuyasha and glared before asking him to sit down. He looked at her, puzzled before shrugging and sitting down.

"Feh." He muttered. "Stupid wench." He looked at Sango and was shocked with what he saw. She was looking at him sadly, tears threatening to spill over her rosy cheeks. Suddenly, she clasped her hands together and said, "Inuyasha, you stubborn fool! What is wrong with you? Kagome is sobbing in the woods! Do you know why?" She asked him. He shook his head incredulously. "Because she has sacrificed a very important day to be here with us! She wanted to spend it with us! But the moment she gets here, you come along and start yelling at her! So now, she is by the Sacred Tree trying to man-up! It's an important day for her tomorrow," She said sniffling. "And she sacrificed spending it with her family to spend it with us. And I know, I probably am being dramatic and I don't normally do this, but after Shippo stopped spying on us," Sango sent daggers toward Shippo to let him know that she and Kagome sensed him. "She said some things that were really * sniff * truly * sniff * sad." Miroku walked over and rubbed Sango's shoulders as she wiped a lone tear that had creeped past the dam she was holding.

"Come now Sango." Miroku soothed. "I'm sure Kagome will be happier later. Now, why don't we go ask Kaede for some nice, hot green tea?" Sango nodded and meekly followed him towards the village. Shippo, realizing Kagome would be coming back soon, scurried after them.

"Feh." Inuyasha huffed. "Stupid woman." Suddenly, he jumped up hearing a scuffle in the bushes before him. His hand hovered around the hilt of his sword as the bushes shook violently. After a second, they spit out a red faced Kagome who fell on her face.

"Owww." She said rubbing her forehead. She winced when she felt a slight bump begin to rise. She picked herself off the ground and groaned when she saw her shoes had been scuffed. After a minute or so, she looked up to see Inuyasha standing a few feet off with his hand on the hilt of his sword, ready to pull it out and strike. She gulped slightly before saying, "Inuyasha? I'm… I'm sorry for yelling at you earlier. I was just a little emotional." She prepared herself for him to laugh at her and say 'You better be sorry' but he never did. Instead he put his hands by his side and walked towards her.

"No Kagome," He said. "I'm… I'm…" He stumbled, not knowing how to apologize without hurting his pride. He neared her before stopping and tensing up. Suddenly, he was bombarded by a hug. He looked down at her, smelling the tears before he saw them.

"I missed you Inuyasha." Kagome sniffled into his robe. "I know it's silly, but I was gone for over a month and you didn't come to see me at all!" She buried her head into his chest. Kagome held back a gasp as Inuyasha put his arms around her and patted her head.

"I missed you too." He murmured into her hair as he inhaled her aroma. He couldn't help himself. It was such a perfect moment that he embraced the fact that for once they were alone. He hunched over and blew gently into her ear. He grinned as she giggled. Then, Kagome looked at him. She looked at him with such passion and determination that he almost took a step back.

"Inuyasha…" She stood on her toes as she leaned into him.

"K… Kagome…" He whispered. He ducked his head to meet hers and felt a sting of electricity as their lips connected. He pulled her against him and shuddered when her arms where thrown around his neck. They stood, frozen in time like that, for what seemed like hours before their lips had to part for air. Kagome panted as she stepped back. Inuyasha stood dazed, still feeling a ghostly warmth on his lips. "Kagome?" He looked down at her. His eyes turned to narrow slits when he saw her, standing just a step away, breathing unevenly. He stood before her, cupping her face in his hands. He saw the tears still trickling down her cheeks and he kissed them.

"Inuyasha?" Kagome asked, obviously scared. "Do… Do… Do you love me?" She choked. Inuyasha was taken back.

"What do you mean?" He said urgently. "Do you mean family type love, friend type love, or… or… or mate type love?" He questioned nervously. She looked up at him, puzzled.

"What's mate love?" She asked him. She smirked inwardly when she saw his eyes widen.

"Well, it's… uh… It's the type of love that, uh, mates have…" He stuttered out, clearly uncomfortable. He knew what was coming next. And boy was he right.

"What's a mate?" Kagome asked him innocently. Inuyasha's muscles tensed and he felt like bolting, but then he looked into her eyes. Her eyes that were swimming with tears. Her eyes that were the most beautiful brown. Her eyes that he loved so much. He inhaled deeply before saying, "A mate is the person you belong with. Like wolves, they mate for life. They were created by fate for each other." He said quickly. "You have pups together and the female is always marked by the male when they have the bonding ceremony with the Blood Rites and all. They belong to each other and , uh, love each other very much. Mates normally find each other around the age of 16." Inuyasha sighed in his mind. He was 17 and had yet to find a mate.

He was so deep in thought, he didn't notice when Kagome lay down and set her head on his lap. He snapped out of it just as she started speaking slurred words.

"Did you know," She murmured, her word blurring together. "I'm turning 16 tomorrow." She closed her eyes saying the words so quietly that Inuyasha could barely hear them, even when he strained. "I think I've already found him though…" She said as sleep captured her body, mind, and soul. Inuyasha ran his claws through her hair. He growled at the thought of Kagome having a mate other than him. He though about all the other things mates were entitled to. Even before being bonded, they could speak in each other's minds, read the other's thoughts. They would both get tattoo like markings on them. The female's marks are only for her mate, while the male's are to show off. Because of the Blood Rites, they would smell like each other because they would have the other's blood with in them.

Inuyasha sighed. He hoped he would find his mate. Gosh, he really hoped it was Kagome. 'My Kagome,' he thought. 'I like the sound of that.

Me: Hey guys! Thanks for reading my first chapter of my first fanfiction! I hope to finish this one soon, but I'm also working on others so… ^-^

Shippo: I wanna see what happens with Inuyasha and Kagome! I bet Inuyasha starts fighting with her again and then she sits him!

Inuyasha: * Hits Shippo on the head * Why you!

Shippo: WAAAHHH! Kagome! Inuyasha hit me!

Kagome: Inuyasha! SIT!