Disclaimer: The characters of Inuyasha are owned by Rumiko Takahashi, but this story belongs to me. Parts of this story are based on my true events.

When the Rain Fell

Chapter Three: Racing the Rain

"Please Inuyasha," Miroku begged, "Please stop. You will injure yourself at this rate."

"Please Inuyasha!" Shippo begged, "Please don't stop! I want Kagome! Kagomeeeeee!"

"Shippo..." Sango said in a soothing voice. Unable to decide who she felt was right, she contented herself with laying a hand on the kit's head to try to calm him. Instead she turned to Inuyasha. "Did you not say that the time Kagome comes from is safe?"

Was Kagome safe?

Inuyasha stared down into the rising water in the well as his bloody, broken claws dug into the side of the well.

He had to know if Kagome was safe!

Then he turned and gave Shippo a nod before diving back into the water.

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Water.

So much... just so much water.

Her yard was gone.

The streets were gone.

Debris was piled up near the trees that had fallen to the ground.

The well house was just a skeleton of wood, the well itself nowhere to be seen.

Kagome put her hand to her chest. "Inuyasha..." she whispered.

"Hey!"

Kagome blinked and looked around.

"Hey, girl!"

Kagome spun around, the water splashing around her. She saw a man and his dog swimming out towards a boat. The man in the boat was waving to her.

"You okay?" they yelled.

Kagome nodded. Then realized they likely couldn't see it. "Yes?"

"Stay there, we will come for you! We will take you to shelter!"

Glancing back towards the house, Kagome yelled back. "There are four of us! And Buyo! We have a cat! Can we take our cat?"

She wouldn't leave without Buyo. She could find a way to the roof if she needed to. Not the attic. Visions of drowning in her attic filled her head. It happens. Never trap yourself in the attic in a flood. If the rest of her family was safe...

"Yes! Bring the cat!" The man spoke to the man next to him. "We will be back in ten minutes! Be ready!"

Ten minutes.

Ten minutes!

Kagome spun around towards her door and started to hyperventilate.

"Maaaamaaaa!"

Buyo... she had to get Buyo first. If he thought he was going in his carrier he would hide and they wouldn't find him in time.

"Mama!"

Kagome slowly walked to her cat and gave him a scratch on the ears. Then she picked him up and tucked his legs under her arms, keeping him pinned to her. He yowled unhappily, but Kagome kept him snugly in place.

"Kagome," her mother said sleepily. "What's wrong, dear?"

"Men are coming in boats. Ten minutes. Get Buyo's carrier. Hurry!"

Her mother looked out the window and bolted into action. She ran to the hall closet and pulled out the cat carrier, then she ran upstairs to wake her son and father.

"Get some clothes, your wallet, your passport, phone charger" her mother yelled as she ran, "Put them in plastic bags!"

Kagome gently put Buyo in his carrier then bolted to the kitchen and grabbed a bag of cat food and put it on the counter. She dumped out her backpack and put the cat food in it, stuffing back in some of the snacks that had been stored in there for her trips to the past. Then she ran around the living room unplugging all of the electronics. The cat was howling as Kagome ran up the stairs.

She was used to packing in a hurry, but never like this.

She put her laptop on the top shelf of her closet and threw a couple sets of clothes in a plastic sack. Before she left her room she scribbled a note to Inuyasha.

She had to let him know.

Sobbing, Kagome scribbled a note to Inuyasha, knowing that with the well house destroyed she may never see him again. And... and not everyone survives a flood.

Inuyasha. I love you. I've always loved you. You are amazing, I hope you know that. Be happy, you deserve all the happiness in the world. Love, always and forever, Kagome

"Kagome!"

"Coming, Mama!"

It wasn't the way she planned to ever confess her feelings…. But he had to know he was loved. Especially if she…

Kagome shook her head. Then after a quick drawing of a heart, Kagome left the note on her bed. Then she ran down the stairs.

At the base of the stairs stood Souta, clutching a plastic bag to his chest, eyes wide and fearful. Kagome swallowed her fear and made sure there was no trace of tears as she handed her bag to her mother as she was putting the bagged items in a plastic cooler. Wow, her mom was smart!

"I hope you packed your game machine, little brother," she joked. She nearly laughed as Souta showed her his game and charger in a ziplock bag clutched to his chest.

Mama looked around the house with tears in her eyes as she held Grandpa's hand. Kagome tried not to cry as she watched her mother silently say goodbye to her home.

Would they ever see it again? Would she ever see Inuyasha again? Or Shippo? Or any of her family in the past?

Kagome looked around at the kitchen and the living room. Her home had been filled with such happy memories. And now... now they were leaving it. The hollow feeling in her chest was becoming overwhelming.

Kagome hugged her little brother, he didn't pull away.

Together the family waited silently as the men with the boat came closer to take them away as the rain continued to fall and water continued to rise.

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Author's Note:

When the men in the boats came to take us away, I didn't know if I would ever see my home again. Staying calm to catch a cat while you are panicking is very difficult, by the way. Since I have more than one I had to make sure I caught the more skittish one first.

I knew I was going to be one of those people who stayed trapped or died in a flood because they couldn't leave their animals…. Thank goodness they said yes!