'I wonder how I'll live without him..' The irritating thought lingered in her mind like a knife in the back. Leaving him behind, she couldn't do it. Ever. She loved him so much already. It had been two months since she had met Hiei. Two months ago he started visiting her more often, bringing her flowers some times, gifts the next, and they would always walk together and get to know each other better. The final battle with Naraku had been a harsh one, Inuyasha watching as Kikyo purified Naraku into nothing, then deciding to go to hell with her. The Shikon Jewel was now Kagome's responsibility forever more, unless she wanted to wish on it. She didn't know what she wanted to do. She knew that she loved him, and that she loved her family and few friends that remained in the Feudal Era.

They were still healing. The battle had inflicted many wounds, most physical, more emotional. It hurt Sango deeply to have to watch Naraku rip the shard out of Kohaku's back, instantly killing him. It hurt Miroku to watch the kind of suffering Sango went through, the pain in her eyes that still remained even after everything was over. It hurt me to watch the boy I though of as a brother die at the hands of his former lover. It hurt me when little Shippou limped towards me, wounded, and handing me the whole Shikon No Tama, whispering words of courage far beyond his few years. It hurt me as a mother figure to let Shippou see all the death and torture that always came across people who had been in contact with the Jewel. It hurt me badly, but not as bad as letting the man I loved stay in the past to die.

Today was the day that I left all of them, and I decided to leave as late as possible. I had said my sad goodbyes to my friends, and I was on my way to met Hiei. He had declared long ago that he would always be by my side, and I felt wretched for never telling him about my life in the future. It was time though, and he was probably going to hate her for it. I shifted the heavy weight of the yellow back pack to the ground and sat on the side of the God Tree. I was waiting for him.

"Angel?"

I looked up at the nick name he had given me on our third meeting. I loved him.

"Hey Hiei. I'm here." He came sniffing around the corner and hugged me when I stood up.

He looked at me, ruby eyes glinting like metal in the bright sunlight. He sighed.

"Come on. Lets sit down before I throw myself at you." I smiled at his strange humor.

I looked him over. I never understood before why he always wore black, and then I just didn't care anymore. I was changing for him, and enjoying it. He grabbed my hand, holding it. I looked at him like he had grown a third head. He grinned at me.

"Angel I have something for you." He twisted his other hand towards one of his pockets. I stopped him.

"Hiei I love you." His eyes widened.

"Y-you do?" I nodded and he sighed and leaned back. I was scared momentarily that he was going to say he didn't feel that way about me yet and my heart stopped and my eyes filled with tears.

He stiffed the air again and leaned back up to hug me. I held on like a leech. I could feel him grin against my neck and I smacked him hard on the back.

"Ouch! That hurt! What'd I do?"

I sniffed.

"This isn't funny."

He smiled again and I turned away from him.

"Angel, I love you to. You should have known already. Actually thats what I wanted to talk to you about." He rustled his hand in his pocket again and brought out a small silk bag and handed it to me. I looked at him curiously before opening it and bringing out a silver ring. It had the word love inscribed on the outside and on the inside it said,

"For my Angel - Hiei"

I couldn't move.

"I don't know much about what happens when humans fall in love but.. Kagome I want you to be my mate. Stay with me forever, and I promise, nothing will ever happen to you, ever! I'll protect you from everything... You'll never be hurt." He barely finished when I knocked him to the ground with me, hugging him and kissing him all over the face.

Hiei laughed at the unusual contact. We never kissed much.

"So I take this as a yes?"

I nodded in the crook of his neck. He smelt good, like blueberries. I breathed in deep and thought about how everything would change after I said this. I felt sad.

"Wait."

Hiei stilled.

"Whats wrong Angel?"

"I can't."

He sat up, making me fall off of him. I sat up too.

"Why not?" He asked carefully. I shrugged and looked away.

"I- I need to tell you something, but I don't know how you'll take it. Don't say anything for a minute, okay? I gotta get this out." He paused for a second then nodded.

"I don't live here. Every time you've come to visit me, I didn't want to tell you, but I don't even live in this Era. I'm different than all of you. I'm from the future, a-and I have to go back today, Hiei, and I'll never be able to return. I- I gotta go home Hiei. I can't stay here with you. I love you so much, but I can't leave my family alone. I- I just don't know what to do anymore."

I was crying by then, silent tears making their way down my face, onto the ground. Hiei gave a small sound of helplessness. I was sad for both of us.

"Angel I'll wait for you, if I can have your promise. I want you to promise to wait for me, no matter how long. I'll be there for you, and I'll protect you, if it kills me. Wait for me?"

I smiled at him, it was void of all emotion, but it was a smile.

"If you do something for me first." I slide on the ring he gave me. He watched my actions curiously.

I leaned up to him and placed my mouth on his, a slow silent plea for something I had never done before. He seemed to nod to himself before he took the kiss deeper, and he pulled his black cape off, showing his bare arms that wrapped around my waist. I unbuttoned the first button of my shirt to let him know I knew what I wanted. He complied.

That day I would never forget, never regret, and never forget my promise to him, and his to me.