Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.

Kagome giggled like a schoolgirl with her old high school friends. Most of them she hadn't seen in over three years, since graduation. They were all together now for her friend Sango's bachelorette party. Instead of more traditional entertainment, Sango had decided she wanted to relive a simpler part of their childhood. Really, Kagome wasn't surprised at this choice. In spite of her take-no-prisoners attitude; Sango had always been shy around men. That's why Miroku was oddly perfect for her. He flirted and cajoled and teased until he made her respond to him, and didn't complain when that response was a violent slap to the head. Remembering his contented smile while laying nearly unconscious on the ground, Kagome gave another giggle. Sometimes she thought he hoped for that slap to the head.

So now here they were, two nights before Sango's wedding, watching girly movies in their pajamas and snacking on pure sugar disguised as food. When the credits started scrolling down the TV screen, Rin sat up with her customary energy and squealed, "I know what we should do next! Truth or Dare!"

Sango's eyes lit up. "That's perfect! Except I think Truth or Dare would be much better with ice cream. Let's make a detour to the kitchen first." Traipsing to the kitchen, they continued to chatter and gossip and generally luxuriate in girl talk. Once everyone was settled back in front of the TV on their sleeping bags and air mattresses, Rin piped up.

"Does everyone remember our old rules?"

"Yep," Kikyo replied, "you're only allowed two truths in a row before you have to do a dare."

"Otherwise it's boring." Sango added, nodding her head in agreement.

"The guest of honor should get to pick someone first, I think." Kagome offered. Inside she was a little nervous. Being an essentially honest person, she had no problem with truth; it was the dares that made her break out into a cold sweat. Her friends could be fiendishly creative, and delighted in making everyone do things outside of their comfort zone. One time in high school, they dared her to sing in the school talent competition. Normally that wouldn't be a problem, except Kagome had never been gifted with a sense of pitch. Embarrassing as it was, she survived by making a joke out of it, adding a funny dance, and speaking the words to the music rather than trying to truly sing them. Afterwards they all went out to a karaoke club, where Sango, Rin, and Kikyo serenaded her (badly) to make her feel better.

Sango picked Rin first, and Kagome got into the enjoyment of the game, laughing and encouraging by turns, depending on what was necessary. When it was her turn, she of course picked truth.

"Have you ever had a true date? With someone other than Hojo?" Kikyo asked with a stern look.

Kagome gave an embarrassed laugh. "Well…no."

"Girlfriend, why not? I know the pickings are slim, but that is no excuse." Kagome thought it very unfair of Sango to claim she had no excuse, when Sango had never dated anyone other than Miroku.

With that in mind, she stuck her nose in the air, 'hmph'-ed at everyone and loftily declared, "That is a separate question."

"No it's not!" Rin shook her finger at Kagome. "It's a related question, which is allowed if the response to the original question was under ten words. Speak up so all of us can hear you."

Knowing she was stuck, Kagome did her best to explain, without revealing the only secret she'd ever kept. "Of the few men who have shown an interest, I just haven't felt that way about any of them."

This time Kikyo scoffed. "What about those that don't show an interest? You are a modern, independent woman. You can pursue them."

"Guess I'm a modern, independent woman who is also a bit of a traditionalist. Now, it's my turn to pick."

Unfortunately it wasn't long before it was Kagome's turn to answer another question, only this time the question came from Rin. "Okay, so you've never had a true date. Please tell me you have at least been kissed."

The answer to that question made Kagome blush in embarrassment. Who had ever heard of a 21 year old who had never been kissed? Apparently guessing the correct answer from her shame-faced look, Rin's expression morphed from hopeful anticipation to what all her friends called her 'resolve face'. She gave Kikyo and Sango a look that apparently the other girls understood, and quickly moved on with the game, not even stopping to tease.

Most of the time, not being teased would be a cause for celebration, but Kagome knew her friends. If they weren't teasing her, it's because they had something more drastic in mind. And indeed, it was only one more turn before Sango called once again on Kagome, forcing her to choose dare.

"I dare you to go up to Kouga tomorrow and kiss him for at least ten seconds. On the lips. Preferably with tongue."

Kagome paled. "Not Kouga! He'll take it all wrong! I'll never get rid of him!"

"Maybe that will be good for you. After all, I'm glad now that Miroku never gave up on me."

At her friends' eternal and entirely misplaced optimism, Kagome groaned and fell sideways to lay on the floor, trying to muffle her ears to the encouragement coming from all sides, completely unhelpful things like 'make sure you brush your teeth beforehand' and 'don't worry, he'll be happy to catch you if you feel lightheaded afterwards'.

With a half-hearted glare from the depths of her sleeping bag, she said, "If I have to get a restraining order against him, I am never talking to any of you again. Rin, since this was obviously your idea, you're next!"

Later that night, after everyone had gone to sleep, Kagome remained awake, thinking. Her friends couldn't have picked a worse person for that stupid dare. Kouga was thick-headed, stubborn, and arrogant, but worst of all, ever since she slapped him for getting fresh with her in senior year; he'd decided he was in love with her. His arrogance ensured she couldn't convince him of her lack of interest. As soon as she kissed him, he would become a demon on a mission. She wasn't kidding about the possibility of a restraining order.

More than that, though, she didn't want to give Kouga her first kiss, nor did she want it to be part of a dare. What none of her friends knew was her heart had long belonged to someone else. She'd tried to get over it, to move on, because the man in question definitely did not return her feelings and never would. She couldn't help how she felt, however, and even after a three year absence she still hadn't found someone who could push his image out of her heart. That's why she had never had a true date, or a kiss, for Kagome refused to betray her heart, no matter how pathetic she sometimes felt for being such a prude.

Just thinking about him made her breathing less even and her heart pound. He was quiet and abrupt to the point of rudeness most of the time, but with those important to him, he was so attentive and considerate, though she knew people would think her crazy if she ever voiced that opinion out loud. Probably even him. Everyone who knew him thought him cold and uncaring, but she had seen warmth under that frost. It was that warmth that had captured her unsuspecting heart. Sighing slightly, her mind turned towards the first time she'd seen evidence of his better nature.

She turned the corner to go to her favorite spot to eat her lunch after dropping off her shadow with the teacher. She was one of the volunteers taking around middle school students who would be attending high school next year. It was kind of exciting seeing all the new faces around today, and she was feeling in a good mood.

That mood declined, however, when she realized her usual spot was taken by a group of these students who were picking on an awkward looking girl their own age. About to step out and interfere, someone beat her to it.

"Hn." Somehow he managed to infuse that one sound with mounds of disdain. "It is my experience that such derogatory comments are most informative…about the speaker." Turning his head to look at them for the first time, he treated them with his signature icy glare. "Leave."

The group practically fell over themselves to obey his order, except for the poor girl they were teasing, who was subtly attempting to wipe tears from her eyes. Picking up her fallen books and shoving them unceremoniously into her arms, he spoke once more. "Cease this foolishness. The opinion of such ignorant beings matters not."

From that moment, Kagome slowly became enchanted with his rough kindness, so rarely shown. She never told anyone about her longing, because they would think her crazy. Half the time she thought herself crazy! In all likelihood she was one of those 'ignorant beings' in his view. How could she love someone who thought of her that way? Yet no matter how much she argued internally, her heart knew the truth and refused to waver. And now her friends were trying to force her hand!

Suddenly an idea popped into Kagome's mind, took root, and bolted itself to the floor. It was so bold, so unthinkable, that it couldn't be ignored. It was perfect. It was the simplest solution, and it would take every ounce of her courage to execute. Her love was in town for Sango's wedding. If she didn't want to give her first kiss to Kouga as a dare, then she should simply track down her love and kiss him first.