Things did not look better the following day.

Kerri woke up with a lot on her mind. Too many things were jumbled together, too many ideas fighting with one another. Katsu, Kamatari, even Sojiro…this whole thing was getting more and more complicated.

She showered, taking her time in the bathroom. Both her parents were gone to work and she would have been alone, were it not for the cats and dog. So she padded down to the kitchen, searching for something to eat, trying to clear her mind. It was a gray, dreary day which matched her mood perfectly.

"I need to talk to Kamatari, Wu." She addressed the cat, "I want to tell him I'm sorry for making him do that yesterday. It wasn't fair to him. But I don't know what the hell to say…"

"Mrow?" Wu blinked his glassy eyes, rubbing against her leg.

She sighed. "You're just a cat. What could you possibly know? There's no one to give me advice though. I'm in this alone. Guess I better just go see him." She was dreading this. Telling him she thought she loved him would be the most embarrassing thing she ever did because for once in her life she cared about what the response would be.

She picked up the phone. It was late enough in the day that he would be awake and functional. She dialed, nearly hanging up after the first ring, but forcing herself to stay on the line.

"Hello?" He answered after the fifth ring, his voice a sort of high pitched whisper.

"Kamatari?" She raised her eyebrows. He sounded upset and frightened. "Are you okay?"

"Oh, Kerri…Hi. I'm fine." He was still whispering and she wondered what was up, but didn't have a chance to ask. "Mom's in one of her moods. She didn't go to work today because she's got a hang over."

"Oh. Well, I need to talk to you. It's really important."

"You want me to come over? I'd invite you here but, you know…"

"How about we meet on the bridge going over Slate Creek? I don't want to stay here any more…I'm sick of my house. I hate it here."

"It's raining." He pointed out.

"That's okay. There's nothing wrong with a little rain. I really like weather like this."

"Okay…I'll see you in a little bit."

"Right."

Hanging up the phone, she wandered back into her room to get dressed. Breakfast had been consumed in her bathrobe. She rummaged through her clothes, trying to find something suitable to wear.

In the end, she put on a pair of jeans that had rows of little snaps running up the leg to the knee and a gray shirt with the kanji for "hope" on the front of it. Silver hoops in all her holes, a fairy necklace and her watch completed the outfit.

Not bothering with shoes, she grabbed her house key and ran out the door barefoot. The bridge wasn't very far from her house and she knew Kamatari would drive the purple beetle there. He'd park at the end and meet her in the middle.

Or at least this is what she hoped would happen. She had a romantic vision of him running to her, taking her in his arms and telling her he loved her before she even had a chance to say anything.

She looked at her watch. Where is he? She was nervous, her heart pounding in her chest. If I tell him everything and he laughs or turns me away, I will just die…

Headlights through the rain…Kerri could hear the sound of tires on the wet blacktop. She looked up, her wet hair drooping in her eyes. There was the purple bug, parked on the side of the road, and there was Kamatari, sauntering towards her.

He looks worried…She was suddenly overwhelmed simply by his presence. A flood of emotions washed over her; nervousness, compassion, love, and also a little fear…

"Kerri!" He ran across the bridge, splashing through puddles as he went. Something's happened to her. She wouldn't do this if she weren't upset. The way she was on the phone…I could tell…

"Kamatari…" Her dark eyes were wide and frightened; her expression sent chills up his spine. She looked lost. "I'm just…I'm trying to figure everything out. I don't know what to do any more."

"Oh, Kerri…It's okay." He caught her in his arms, hugging her warmly.

It's not okay… "Kamatari," She pushed him away slightly, "Last night, Katsu called me." She stared over the railing, her eyes focused on the muddy water bellow. "He asked me to go with him to the concert in August."

There was a long, uncomfortable silence. Kamatari was dying. Had she said yes? Was she going to…? I thought she gave up on him…

Why doesn't he say anything? Doesn't he care? Finally she looked back up at him. "I said yes, Kamatari."

My heart…He forced a smile. "That's great, Sweetie. I'm happy for you." Inside, he was reeling from the bow she had just dealt. How come it hurt so much? It shouldn't have bothered him.

"You're happy for me?" She looked at him curiously.

For a moment, he could do nothing but stare. She looked so desperate, as if she were trapped in a corner with no way out. Her lower lip trembled and her eyelashes were wet with…He couldn't tell if it was rain or tears. What did she want him to say? "Shouldn't I be?"

That's what I thought… She turned away, her head bowed., leaning over the railing to gaze into the river churning bellow. "Kamatari…I'm sorry about yesterday. I didn't want to make you do that. And I got a call from Sojiro…Every one knows about it already. They think we're lesbians."

What was she apologizing for? "Does that bother you, Kerri?"

She ran one finger along the rail, pushing the water droplets away and watching them run over the curve. "No." She said miserably, "It doesn't bother me at all. I really…" How to continue? She stopped, unsure of what to say.

Kamatari waited. If she wasn't bothered by that, perhaps there was a glimmer of hope. He could be patient with her. He could wait forever for her. She was the first person he felt this way about in a long time…

"You took me somewhere new…" She looked back over her shoulder at him. He was drenched, his hair falling into his eyes, and he looked wonderful to her. She licked her lips. To kiss him in the rain would be outstanding… "Take me by the hand…Please…I just want to be with you…I don't even know where I am, but…I want to be with you…Forever…" Her eyes welled with tears.

"Sweetie…I…" What to say? Did she mean what he thought she meant? Did it matter any more? "Sweetie…Nothing's going right, is it? Everything is a mess and you don't want to be alone." He offered her his hand, his shoulder to cry on, and she rushed into his embrace.

"Why is it so confusing? Why? Maybe I'm just going crazy…" She sobbed, "I thought I wanted to go with him. I thought I loved him. But I'm so confused now."

"Don't cry." He lifted her chin so that she was looking at him, "And don't feel bad about yesterday. You didn't make me do anything." He wiped her tears away with his thumb, "I wanted to kiss you." And I still do…

"You…You wanted to kiss me?" Her eyes widened and she stared up at him, "Why?"

"Because you mean so much to me." I could kiss you again right now…And I could hold you for a million years. "No one has ever been so kind to me. No one has ever treated me as you do, Sweetie. I thought I loved Shishio…I thought I wanted to do everything for him. But for you, I would do anything and beyond."

"Kamatari…" Her voice caught in her throat and her heart felt as if it would burst.

"Can I be selfish this time? Can I kiss you again?" His soft fingers were cold as he touched her cheek, brushing back a wet lock of her hair.

She nodded wordlessly. He leaned in closer to her, his forehead resting against hers. His wet hair tickled her forehead and his hands caressed her cheeks. As his mouth closed over hers, he could feel her chin trembling. She's crying…She's miserable…I want to take her away from all of this…

Why is he doing this? Tears sprang to her eyes as his lips met hers. She involuntarily wrapped her arms around him, holding him tightly as if she never wanted to let go. What could he possibly see in me? I love him. I want him to love me back. But why would he…?

"What are you two doing?"

Inu Yasha's disgusted voice startled them back to reality. They drew abruptly away from one another, both of their faces flushing red. Inu Yasha was apparently out jogging; his hair was matted to his forehead and he was soaking wet. He wore only a pair of wind pants and running shoes and rain ran in rivers down the natural contours of his muscles.

"What do you care, you homophobe?" Kerri quickly recovered first and glared at him, "Just keep running. It's none of your business."

"It's nasty, that's what it is." He sneered, brushing back his dark hair (AN: he's human, don't forget!). "That fag's just taking advantage of you."

Kamatari looked both hurt and startled by this comment, but Kerri was livid. "You've taken it too far, you asshole!" She rushed forward and slapped him hard across the face.

For a moment, he looked startled. Then he lost his temper. "What was that for, you little bitch?" He growled savagely, raising one hand to his cheek. It stung where the rain pattered onto it and only served to anger him more.

"Don't you ever call him anything like that again, do you hear me?!" Kerri was struggling to hit him again, but Kamatari caught her by the wrist, pulling her back into his arms. The wind whipped her damp hair across her face and she was once again in tears. "He didn't do anything to you! You have no rights-"

"Sweetie, don't do this." Kamatari hugged her, "You'll only hurt yourself by doing this. Come on, let's get you home."

She nodded wearily and allowed herself to be led to the purple Volkswagen at the edge of the bridge. She wanted to leave it all behind. Nothing matters any more…Nothing but being with him…