Disclaimer: Why do I even bother? You know what I'm going to say-.-

A/N: Eep. I just realized how...short my chapters are.......This sickens me. Um, sorry for leavin' ya hangin' like that...but I am back! ...I think. It depends on how well my Muse behaves today. xD I haven't written anything since May 13, though I have tried. I've wanted to update but my Muse was dead. oo.

Chapter Eleven

IPOV

Yawning deeply, I wandered back over to Kaede's hut. I had to consult her on my gift. I really couldn't afford to mess up again. Or...I didn't want to think of the consquences. Pushing open the reed door, I froze upon seeing who sat inside. Greaaat. I must have made a sound because, soon, everyone was looking at me.

"Hello, Inuyasha." Kaede greeted cheerfully. Oh, how blissfully unaware she was. Sango and Miroku were smiling coyly at me and that's when I noticed her. Kagome. So now it was official. The Gods hated me. She made a move to stand up but I just turned and left. Of course, she just had to follow.

"Inuyasha!" She called and I stopped.

"Yeah? What?" I snapped back harshly. I could feel her eyes on the back of my head.

"S-Sango said you had something...for me..." She sounded shy, I realized. Had they told her? Nah, they weren't that cruel, were they? Oh, of course they were.

"Maybe I do." I responded absently, "What's it to ya?"

She began to kick at the dirt. I could hear the tip of her shoe hitting the ground, "Well...I just wanna know what it is..." I didn't answer her. I was afraid to. What if she didn't like her gift? What if I got her angry again? I'd be screwed. Reaching in to my haori, I thrust the beaded necklace at her, not looking or facing her. There was a small, barely audible gasp that I even had to lean in to hear.

"Oh...Inuyasha..."

"If it's not something you like you don't have to keep--"

She cut me off, "No! I love it!"

"Excuse me?" I turned on my heels to face her, hardly believing it.

"I said I love it! This is the most thoughtful thing..."

I had to be hearing things. I had lost it, right? This was a joke. I was dreaming. Anything was better then actually believing Kagome was saying this…to me! Of all people. She must have noticed my shock because she giggled, tears already forming in the back of her eyes. This must have been the calm before the storm. She was going to sit me. Yell at me. Anything! Maybe I was over-assuming things. After all, she could actually like her present…but that didn't occur to me, really.

Of course, I knew I was jumping in over myself when she tightly hugged me.

"Thank you. InuYasha." She said quietly, burying her face in my haori, "Thank you."

"Uh…you're welcome."

"It's beautiful."

I could feel my cheeks burning and I knew that Sango, Miroku, Shippou and Kaede were watching. I could almost feel their eyes upon me. But when did I care what others thought? Always. Despite that, I returned her embrace, wondering if I should perhaps take Sango's advice. Would I really fix all the stupidity and hurt I had caused. Boy, I sure hoped so. Barely daring to breathe, I took her chin in my hand, tilting her head up towards mine.

"I am sorry, you know."

I don't quite know why, but Kagome had begun to cry. Maybe it was the fact that I got her a present, perhaps it was how open I was being or maybe it was just that I apologized. Either way, it had her pretty shaken.

"I know…"

"You don't know…" I murmured, keeping my eyes on her. Man, why did I have to be so mushy? I felt stupid. But it was making her happy, and in turn, I guess, it was making me happy.

So slowly, regardless of how stupid I felt, I brought my face to hers and gently placed a kiss on her lips. I knew it was her first, I just wished I could say the same. Could this be our beginning? I hoped so. I wanted to start over; Naraku be damned! Kikyou be damned! Sure, Kikyou still was in my heart, I accepted that but she wasn't the woman I loved anymore. I guess I got over that, but I don't quite know when.

When we parted, Kagome had basically began to sob in my arms and all I could do to comfort her was to hold her tightly and tell her that I was sorry. I could see everyone in Kaede's hut and all of them were grinning like idiots. I stuck my tongue out at them and made a face, as if daring them to say something. What could any of them say? I knew that they had all wanted us to be with each other. So, in a way, this was a good ending for everyone. I think.

"InuYasha…" Kagome whispered in shock, stepping back a little to wipe her eyes, "I-I can't believe you did that…"

I shrugged as if it was no big deal, but inside I felt like screaming. Kissing Kagome was a rush; it was exciting, calming, relaxing, exhilarating…all at once! It was like nothing I had ever experienced. Not even Kikyou made me feel that way. This really was the new beginning; and I was glad I was taking this step with her. I really wouldn't want it any other way.

KPOV

Wow. Things really do happen fast, I suppose. One minute it seemed like InuYasha would rather have me disappear from the face of earth and now...I couldn't believe it. Well, in all reality, I had been wondering if he did have feelings for me. I guess, after that little stunt, I was proved right. He loved me! Or, I think he did. Showing emotion wasn't his strong point, I had noticed. But….why didn't my feelings reach him? After this, I didn't doubt that I loved him. I knew I did. Did he feel the same? I felt almost sick. All these questions. I knew I couldn't wait for him to answer them for me. I had to know. And I was going to find out now.

"InuYasha…" I had to pause and wipe my eyes again, "Do you love me?" I was being blunt. What if I scared him off? I somehow doubted he would run.

"I…" He hesitated. I didn't mind, though. This was a big step. I understood that. But did he?

"Well?"

"Yes." He seemed so sure. Much more so then I had thought, "Yes. I do."

"Do…you mean it?"

Before my mind could even register what was going on, he was hugging me tightly to his body, trying not to tremble.

"Of course I do…" He whispered in to my ear, hot breath tickling my skin, "You had me going crazy…I was so worried I would loose you because of this, Kagome."

"You were?"

"Yes."

I felt my voice waver and all I could do was blubber, burying my face into his neck, nuzzling against his broad shoulders. I felt like bursting. I felt like a balloon, swelling up with hot-air and just waiting to burst.

"I'm so sorry to have left you so hurt…"

"It's alright." I choked back tears, "It's alright…"

"Are you sure?" He suddenly sounded almost scared and I wondered if I had been too harsh on him. If that was what it took to get this, then I didn't regret it.

"Of course…" I replied, taking his chin and forcing him to look at me, "I'm just sorry I worried you."

"I'm glad you did." He answered rather honestly, "If you didn't, I don't think I would have had the nerve to do what I did."

"Really?"

A nod was InuYasha's answer and I felt like popping. Imagine!

"How long have you…loved me, InuYasha?" I wanted to scream his name, suddenly. I loved it. InuYasha, InuYasha, InuYasha! Eat your heart out, Kikyou! He's mine, now!

"For a while, I think."

I loved his uncertainty.

"Kagome." He appeared serious. I was hit with a pang on nervousness. He was silent for a moment, "I want you to understand something…I'll always love Kikyou."

I felt my heart sink. No. He had said the one thing I didn't want him to say.

"But I'm not in love with her. She's changed, I've changed. There's nothing left there and I know it."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Actually, I didn't understand it.

"What?" I had to ask. What did he mean?

"She's not the one I fell in love with. But, she means a lot to me. Not as much as you, but I will always be there if she needs me. Do you understand?" He was trying so hard to be gentle with me but it still hurt.

"You love her?" I stepped back. Why, oh why, did he have to do this to me?

"In a way, I think I do. But right now, you're the only one I want to be with."

I think I was catching on, "You'll always care for her but differently, right?"

"Yeah." He nodded slowly, seeming much more relived. I gathered I could live with that. Not that I wanted to, but I could.

"Alright, InuYasha. That's fine…"

"Are you sure?"

I smiled and touched his cheek gently, "Yeah…I guess I can accept it. Only for you."

He couldn't hide his grin and nor could I.

Who would have thought it? Me with InuYasha. Wow. I never thought that would have happened. Despite the fact that I was now 18, I began to picture our wedding; I in a long, flowing gown, InuYasha dressed up in a suit, hair neatly tied back. Or….maybe a traditional Shinto(I think that's Kagome's religion) wedding. With Kimonos and everything! Mr. and Mrs. InuYasha. Mr. and Mrs. InuYasha Higurashi. Would he take my last name? Or would I take his…whatever it was. I made a mental note to ask him that when the time came.

"InuYasha?"

"Hm?"

"When's Kikyou's birthday?" I couldn't help but wonder.

He shrugged his shoulders, "Who knows? Truth is, I forgot years ago.

I laughed. Well, I underestimated him. Whatever. I wouldn't do that again. He was a superbly amazing guy and he was all mine. Was this our beginning? I didn't want it to end if it was going to be this amazing. What a great start to our lives together.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A/N: Well. That's it folks! 'The Perfect Gift' has come to its end. I've had a grand time writing this. It was my second InuYasha fanfic…and I really enjoyed it. I hope I didn't disappoint anyone with the ending. I tried to make it as romantic as I could. Did I succeed? I just realized this story has taken me over a year to write. I started it in October. It wasn't supposed to take that long. Thank you to all the reviewers who kept me going. I really liked writing this and I'm really glad everyone enjoyed reading it.

Date finished: December 9, 2004

Ja ne!

-Dead Punk Girl