I don't own Inuyasha or any of the characters. So please don't sue me.

The first place they went to, at Inuyasha's request, was a store to buy new clothing. He feared what he was wearing would rip should he make anybig movements. Plus, he had caught a group of young girls looking at him. When he had scowled at them, they giggled. Giggled! Demons he could handle, but not giggling girls. They could be far more dangerous.

Taking the clothes Kagome had picked out for him, he went into the 'dressing room'. After closing the door, he had been momentarily startled to see his own reflection in the mirror. Not that he didn't know what a mirror was; he wasn't that out of place. But he hadn't seen his own reflection in so long, that it had taken him aback for a moment.

Taking the hat off, he studied his face, his body. Did he look very different to Kagome? Worse, or better than before? He hoped it was the later.

Pulling on the new garments, he was pleased to find that these fit much better. He could move freely. He stepped out of the dressing room wearing some of the new clothes, the rest piled up in his arms.

"Kagome, these..." His voice trailed off. She was leaning against the counter, talking to a boy with shoulder-length black hair and glasses. Something the boy said made her smile, and the boy then reached out and put his hand on her arms.

Inuyasha gritted his teeth.

"These will do." He announced loudly, marching over to the counter and dumping everything. Kagome flinched slightly when the hangers struck the glass counter top, but her pleasant expression never slipped.

"And the ones he's wearing, Tomo." Kagome pulled a small, square card from her purse and handed it to the boy.

Jealousy burned in his gut when the boy shot a smile back at Kagome as he slid the small card through a machine. The smile faded, however, when he saw the angry look on Inuyasha's face.

"These are much better." Inuyasha said gruffly as Kagome got her card back.

"Good." She began a quick study of him. When her hand brushed against his as she checked the length of his shirt, he had to shift slightly. The pants had fit back in the dressing room, but they suddenly felt a bit tight.

"Blue is a good color for you." Kagome murmured, taking the bag from the boy. "I like it." She flashed him a small smile and headed out of the store. A moment later, when his legs started working again, he headed out after her.

> > > > > >

"So... who was that?"

"Hmm? Oh, that was Tomo. He's a friend of mine."

"You were... intimate?" Kagome felt a flush creep up her neck.

"No! I mean, no." She stammered, shaking her head. "I mean, we went out a couple of times, but nothing serious."

"But, you dated this boy."

"Yes. Kind of. God, this is the strangest conversation."

"Oh."

They walked in silence, now, as they ran the last of Kagome's errands. Inuyasha's expression was bland, but she could hear a clicking in his jaw as though he was grinding his teeth. Her stomach kept flipping end over end, though she wasn't sure why. It shouldn't have bothered her that Inuyasha knew she had dated in his absence, but it did. It bothered her a lot.

As they headed back towards her house, Inuyasha's hand suddenly wrapped around her wrist, pulling her to a stop.

"Thank you."

"For what?" He gestured for them to sit on a nearby bench. "You mean for the clothes? That's nothing. You needed something to wear."

"No, I mean for today."

"Well..." Her brows knit together. "You asked to come. Or rather, you demanded to come. But you demanded nicely, so it's fine. I didn't mind the company."

"No." Inuyasha's hands gripped her shoulders. The warmth of his skin sank into hers, sending trembling shocks down and along her nerves. "I didn't deserve any of this."

Kagome opened her mouth, but nothing came out. She wasn't sure what to say, let alone remember how to form words with her tongue.

"What I did to you was inexcusable. I hurt you; I know this to be true. I deserve to be banished from your home, taken outside and beaten. But you still took me with you, clothed me, talked to me." He shook his head slowly. "I am deeply humbled by you, Kagome."

"You think you hurt me?" She managed to stammer. His golden eyes were so intent on her face that she could almost feel him touching her skin with his gaze. She shivered slightly.

"Are you cold?"

"The opposite, actually." Kagome whispered. "Why do you think you hurt me?"

"I made you cry last night."

"No, you didn't."

"I could smell the salt."

"I was overtired, and dehydrated. Oh, and I lost the Shikon jewel. You, Inuyasha, did not make me cry." He was quiet for a moment.

"I had to leave, Kagome." His voice cracked slightly at the end, his gaze slipping away and focusing on something behind her. "I am truly sorry. I had to do it. I don't know if you saw that, but I hope you did."

"Why? I was going to stay there, Inuyasha. I waited, and I waited. And you never came back. What happened?"

"I..."

"Yes?"

"Do you know them?"

"Excuse me?" Kagome blinked.

"Those two women behind you. They're staring at us." Turning her head, she saw Eri and Yuka standing a few feet away, staring at Inuyasha with their mouths slightly open.

"No, never seen them before in my life. Why did you leave?"

"Kagome!" Yuka was suddenly right in front of them, a sly smile on her face. "Who's this?"

"Are these your friends?" Inuyasha asked her.

"Not any more." She muttered.

"What?"

"Inuyasha, this is Yuka, and that's Eri."

"Pleased to meet you." Yuka breathed. Eri continued to stand where she was, staring at Inuyasha.

"What are you doing here?" Kagome asked.

"I have a date tomorrow, and needed a new dress." Yuka held up the small bag she was carrying. "So you're the legendary ex. We've been dying to meet you." Inuyasha's quizzical gaze swung over towards her, and Kagome quickly looked away, her cheeks burning. "It's so nice that you two still hang out."

"Is that real?" Eri asked suddenly.

"What?"

"Can I touch it?"

"Excuse me?" Kagome and Inuyasha said at the same time.

"Your hair. Is it real?"

"Of course it isn't." Yuka rolled her eyes. "He's about our age; how could he have silver hair?"

"So, can I touch it?"

"Um... I guess so." The way Inuyasha said it made it sound like a question.

"Wow..." Eri was leaning into him, now, running her hands through the ends of his hair. "It's so soft. What kind of dye do you use? There's no damage." Inuyasha shot a helpless glance towards Kagome, but she just shrugged.

Leaning foward, elbows on her knees and her chin in her hands, she watched them. Her friends teased Inuyasha, and he struggled to keep up with what they were saying, all of them ultimately ignoring her. And all she could think about was how close she had just been. He had been about to say where he had been, what had happened.

And he had apologized! How weird was that? It was almost surreal. For now, she supposed, that would have to be enough.

For now.