It was another rainy Friday afternoon. The girl walked home slowly, not even bothering to try to keep dry. What was the point? She was

already soaked to the bone. Besides she always loved being in the rain. It instilled a much wanted calm in her. After an all too short ten

minute walk back home Kagome now stood at the bottom of the stairs to her family's ancestral shrine. She looked up the stairs. At least

as far as she was able to see. The last two minutes of her trip had really been a hassle. She loved the rain but when it was raining so hard

that you could only see five feet in front of you and your face was pink with a light sting from the force of the rain; any fool knows its time

to go inside. "Damn, why did they have to build this thing on a mountain? Couldn't they have built it on a flat piece of ground down here

so you didn't have to climb these endless stairs to get to the shrine?" After attempting to blow up at her bangs, which only resulted in her

sputtering out rain water from her mouth Kagome rolls her eyes at her own foolishness and starts to climb the stairs. It had been almost a

week since she had left the Feudal era and she was just about ready to head back. "Stupid insensitive Inuyasha." She muttered to herself

as she could see the last few steps of the stairs. Keeping her head down to avoid the blistering rain and wind she pushed forward. After

reaching the top stair she looked down and saw a pair of brown loafers. More surprising was that the rain had suddenly stopped.

Relieved to be out of the rain but obviously confused she slowly let her graze follow up the body starting with her fathers old brown

loafers that he used to wear when he was alive. Next she saw an obviously new pair of blue denim jeans that seemed to fit well with the

muscular legs. As her gaze continued upwards she saw a red short sleeved shirt that clung to a tight body. Then she saw nothing. Nothing

except deep, dark, penetrating violet. Kagome felt as if her body couldn't move. This powerful gaze made her feel exposed as if

someone was seeing straight into her soul. As if often does, this shock passed quickly. Taking into account the visible features as well as

the face that obviously belonged to the man she loved; she stuttered out, "Inuyasha?" With the normal cocky attitude that always seemed

to lace his words he replied, "Welcome home sunshine. What took ya so long?" Switching the umbrella to his other hand Inuyasha

quickly presented a single white rose directly under Kagome's nose which he had held behind his back. Rearing back at first out of reflex,

Kagome quickly noticed the rose and reached out with a shaky hand; gently receiving Inuyasha's token. Faster then she knew a ball

quickly formed in her throat and she was barely able to whisper out a soft, "thank you". She didn't know what to think at that moment.

Never in a million years would she have ever thought that Inuyasha would be there waiting for her in the rain wearing some of her father's

old clothes not to mention the rose. Her past resolve instantly broke, her past anger left as soon as it had arrived almost one week past.

Suddenly it dawned on her, like she had been hit by lightning. "In..Inuyasha, what happened to you?" With a small wink he coyly replied,

"What are you talking about Kagome?" Reaching out quickly, Kagome grabbed a fistful of his hair, bringing it in front of his face for his

inspection as if he didn't already know; obvious shock written across her face. "Your human! I, I mean; how did this happen, why?" The

former look of amusement wiped from his face he replied, "I'm a human now. You said that you wished I could be more like that human

boy. So I used the Sacred Jewel to grant me my humanity. Now here I am." Kagome stared at him in complete shock; faces almost

touching under the mid-sized umbrella in the middle of the rain. She followed his finger as he slowly raised his right hand up, grazing a

finger across the soft petals of the rose. Leaning down, breathing steadily and softly into her ear he whispers, "I would have never have

thought to have given you this flower before. I took it from your mother's garden when I came out to wait for you. Also, I would have

never done this." Cupping her chin with his right hand, tilting her chin upwards slightly; staring into her eyes; he leans down and kisses her

lips softly. Softer then the flower she dropped when she felt him press his lips against hers. Softer then her hands as they instinctually

began to wrap around his lower back as she began to return the kiss. She never expected her first real kiss with Inuyasha if she ever had

one would be anything like this. She was expecting something firmer, harsher, and rougher. This kiss was soft and sweet, everything that a

girl dreams their first kiss will be.

Suddenly without warning, Kagome broke the kiss; running inside crying as Inuyasha stands there in his spot wondering what was

happening. Turning to run after her he heard a soft crunch. Squatting down Inuyasha picked up the now ruined rose that he had given to

Kagome. The stem was broke in half and the bottom half of the flower was crushed. He walked inside slowly, removing the loafers as he

entered the house. Now it was Inuyasha's turn to be stunned. Out of all the things that would happen he did not expect Kagome to kiss

him, only to run away crying to her bedroom. There was only one way to get to the bottom of it and it resided at the top of those stairs

and through the door to her bedroom. He cracked open the door to see her sitting on her bed, her hands clasped in her in lap.

"Kagome?" Inuyasha called as he hesitantly took the four steps it took to stand beside the weeping girl. "Kagome what's wrong? I'm

sorry I kissed you like that. I didn't think it would upset you like that. It was stupid of me to think you would still be interested in me after

all of the things I have done to you." The young woman's sobbing ebbed slightly as she gave him a heartbroken glace that made his

stomach tighten up instantly. "Inuyasha why? Why did you do this? You wanted to be a demon so deeply. Your greatest desire was to

cast aside your human blood and become like your father. Why did you give up your dream?" Inuyasha chuckled softly as he knelt down

in front of Kagome; like a father who is going to explain to their child that there really is nothing under the bed. He runs his thumb across

her red checks, removing her salty tears. Looked into her eyes softly he shakes his head slowly. "You're wrong Kagome. You're so very

wrong. I lived out my greatest desire five minutes ago at the top of the stairs to this shrine. My dream Kagome….my dream is to be with

you and finally tell you that I love you Kagome. More then I ever thought I could love anything. I did not even truly understand what that

word meant before you." The smile that broke across Kagome's face could easily light up any room. "I love you too Inuyasha!" she

yelled as she leapt into his open arms hugging him as if she would never see him again. After their special moment of loving words and

caresses was over, Inuyasha rose to his feet slowly; Kagome's eyes following his every move. "Come on Kagome. Lets go on one of

those…what are they…ya dates!"