Angel of the Rain

The rain fell from the sky in small droplets, sending the world into a wet and peaceful bliss. The cool liquid was steady and wrapped itself around the foliage of the forest. The forest was large and she had forgotten an umbrella, but at this point, she really didn't care…

The park was her refuge. What she loved about the park was that it was so large, and the grove of trees in the center was a place people rarely visited. As far as she knew, she was the only one who knew of such a place. Deep within her she knew that she shouldn't be leaving the shrine alone, but she needed to be alone.

The rain quieted as she made her way deeper into the forest. She had to escape, had to get away from the responsibilities, away from the pressure, away from everything. She soon found herself in the small clearing that was near the center of the trees. Flopping down into the soft grass, not caring that it was wet, Kagome fell to her back and stared up at the crying heavens. She closed her eyes in contemplation and allowed the raindrops to splatter across her body. Maybe if she stayed out here long enough she'd die.

And then Inu-yasha came.

He was currently looking up at the sky, he'd forgotten to bring his umbrella, but had merely tossed that thought aside as a convenience of his time he didn't need. The day was reflecting his mood almost too perfectly as the heavens cried. The small grove of trees was his sanctuary, he was the only being that knew of the small clearing, or so he thought. He was pondering what had gone wrong on this special day when he'd lost his footing on something and went falling on his face with a rather rude exclamation. His silver hair flew around him and over his head as his face came colliding with the wet grass. Sighing deeply he cast this event as karma of some sort. Breathing in the scent of wet grass he mumbled some profanities and sat up.

Turning and trying to pick the wet grass off, he looked at the thing he'd tripped on, a girl. She was sitting up her whole front wet from the rain and looking at him with curiosity. His alarm was evident as he backed away a few feet from the girl. Her blue eyes twinkled in amusement and confusion as she looked at him. He instantly felt self-conscious and turned away from her blazing eyes, the blue depths appearing to look into his soul.

Never in her life had she expected to see a boy trip over her body. She had instantly sat up to tell the boy off for coming into her refuge when he'd sat up and looked at her with surprise. She had felt her breath leave her at one glance at the man. His long silver hair was plastered down by the rain and framed his handsome face. His face was soft and boyish yet still had the outline of a mature adult that he was. His long coat was fanned out around him as he backed up away from her, almost afraid of what she would do.

His golden eyes flashed with curiosity of a young boy and the interest of an older man. Though his body appeared to be young, his eyes seemed old and wise, like he'd lived through things she couldn't begin to fathom. His mouth opened and then closed in surprise, like a gaping fish, but no sound came out.

Inu-yasha looked at the girl in front of him. Her long black hair was flung against her back and her school uniform clutched her undeveloped body. Her eyes were as blue as he remembered, but had yet to mature, the childlike innocence still shown in his eyes.

"Hello?" her small childish voice broke the silence as he leaned towards her.

"Kagome?" Inu-yasha fond himself asking hesitantly, trying to believe it to be so.

Kagome blinked and nodded, "my name's Kagome, who are you?"

Kagome looked at the man who knew her name and tried to recall any memories of seeing a silver haired man. But no, not a single memory came to her. She wondered if she'd ever met the man before and had simply forgotten, but deep down she knew she'd remember such a gorgeous person.

The man shook his head and smiled, "It's not important. What are you doing all the way out here?"

Kagome looked at her feet, surrounded by the wild grass, "I was running away from home." If the man knew her name it was safe to tell him things, he probably was a friend of mommy's.

"Why would you run away?" the man asked and scooted closer to the girl.

"Because mommy and daddy don't love me anymore," she whispered softly, her bright blue eyes staring at him, pleading silently for him to understand her reasons for leaving the shrine she lived in. "they love Souta now."

Souta was her knew baby brother, and had all the attention from mommy. Last night she hadn't even tucked her in.

Inu-yasha smiled softly and reached out hesitantly. He stopped short of her tiny head before tucking some hair away from her eyes. "I'm sure that's not true."

Kagome looked up at him with wide eyes and blushed softly, "Yes it is."

"How old are you?" Inu-yasha asked, laughter in his eyes.

"Um..." Kagome looked at her fingers and counted softly to herself. She grinned and held up seven fingers, "This many."

"And how old am I?" he asked softly, making sure to speak clearly so the child would understand.

"Um..." Kagome blushed, "I dunno."

Inu-yasha sighed and pulled the girl into a small hug, "I'm over six hundred years old. That means I've had more experience then you…trust me."

The child looked up at the man with wide eyes, staring into his golden orbs with curiosity and amazement. "Really?"

"Really," Inu-yasha smiled, showing a fang.

Kagome's mouth opened in awe as she inspected Inu-yasha's face carefully. "You don't seem that old."

"I'm special, I don't age quickly," Inu-yasha sighed, "I'm pretty old by my standards."

"Oh," Kagome smiled, "You're still very pretty though."

Inu-yasha chuckled at the child's innocence and hugged her tightly. "Yeah?"

"How can you look so not old?" Kagome's little face scrunched up in concentrations before whipping up to look at Inu-yasha, "Are you an angel?"

The rain poured steadily, making small splashes on the surface it hit, but besides that there was no sound. The faint smell of sunshine was clear in the distance, signaling that the rain would soon end. The overpowering scent of Kagome drove Inu-yasha's senses wild. But yet, the smell was different. Kagome was young and her scent was different. Over time it would mature like her body and mind would. She was seven now, that meant that he had over ten years before he could hold her properly in his arms again. To some, ten years may seem long, but to an aging hanyou who had waited centuries to see her again, it seemed like just another moment without her. Something he was willing to sacrifice.

On the eve before Naraku's defeat, he had told her his feelings. He had confessed his deepest desire: to forever be with her, and he had told her that he would wait forever to hold her in his arms again. When Naraku's body lay slain, bloody and defeated, his eyes forever closed, Kagome had been flung away from him by a twist of fate. It was the jewel that brought him to her but it was that same sphere that pulled him apart from the love of his life.

When the last shard had been placed inside the orb of pink, a blinding light had spread across Kagome's body, blinding all around. When Inu-yasha was able to see again, his Kagome was gone and all that remained was the jewel and his memories. Agonizing feelings had boiled within him. His life had come rushing back, nothing had ever been joyous about his life until Kagome and then she was ripped from him.

But he knew she was still alive and the moment he had gotten over his shock, he had sprinted five days without stopping to the well, only to collapse before reaching the rim. His wounds reopened and he cried crimson tears of regret and longing. When finally his strength returned to allow him into a sitting position he had basically fallen into the well only to fall on his back at the pit of it, his body strewn amid the bones of youkai long since slaughtered. He had lain in a state of shock, tears falling from his eyes as the rain poured from the heavens. The Earth's tears. The fact that Kagome was gone forever wore heavily on his being. He no longer cared for the jewel, his pride, his honor, or even the glory of finally winning the battle. All he wanted was to hold his sweet angel in his arms again.

It was about two weeks before Sango and Miroku found him, still at the bottom of the well, nearly starved to death and pale white. He refused to believe that she was really gone forever that she really wasn't coming back. His heart wouldn't…couldn't take it. His life had already been ruined, and the sun had finally risen with the fact that Kagome loved him in return. But after the two years of knowing her and never making a move, he had his regrets. Because she was gone forever.

"An angel," Inu-yasha whispered, testing the word on his tongue. His voice was raspy, as if holding in tears and he felt like he would start to cry like a little baby to the child Kagome. But he withstood the pressure behind his eyes and allowed a wistful smile to cross his face. "I'm no angel."

"Yes you are," Kagome said smiling, her eyes still happy and bright, unaware of the pain and agony he would make her go through in years subsequent. "An angel can live forever and is extremely pwetty."

"I'm not pretty."

"How come?"

Inu-yasha leaned his head down and wiggled his ears, "Because I'm a freak."

"You're not a freak," Kagome said staring at the dog ears, "You're a cute angel now."

"At least someone thinks so," Inu-yasha sighed.

Kagome looked up at his golden eyes and touched his velvety soft ears. "I think you're beautiful."

"Don't say things you don't mean, Kagome," his voice was soft and pained.

"I don't lie," Kagome said, her stubborn attitude shinning through even during such a small age. "You're special, you're my special angel."

Inu-yasha smiled at the young girl's purity and bad pronunciation of words. Sighing, he disposed the child on the ground and stood.

"Are you leaving?" the child whispered.

Inu-yasha smiled, "You'll see me again, but until I do, return to the people who love you."

He began to walk away, casting a long look at Kagome before his figure disappeared into the tree line. He was on the home stretch; he wouldn't have to wait much longer before he was reunited with his love.

Kagome watched the angel leave. He had come to her in the rain, his hair reflecting off the small amount of sun that shown through the thick clouds. He was her beacon, and she would never forget him.

Standing she ran to her home on the giant hill. She raced past the well house and the God Tree before running into her house. "Mama! Papa!"

Her mom and dad came running out in shock and grabbed the girl in her arms, "Oh Kagome, where have you been?"

"Talking to an angel!" Kagome said and told them the story about the conversation she had had with her 'angel'. "I laid down in the grass and closed my eyes as the rain fell on me and he tripped over me! Mama, he was a fallen angel!"

Her mother and father exchanged looks and sighed softly, "Kagome, you take a warm bath right now. You fell asleep in the rain!"

"I wasn't dreaming," the seven-year-old complained, "It was real. His eyes were golden! And he had dog ears!"

Her father chuckled, "Was he a dog?"

"No…" Kagome said softly and looked out the window at the pouring rain, "He was my angel of rain."

Outside the window, sitting amid the branches of the God tree, sat a silver haired angel who eagerly awaited the growth of his love. And like he'd declared so many years ago, he would wait until the sun died to have her. Until then, he would watch and pray over her like any good guardian angel would. For that's all he could give her for now.