The next day, Kagome didn't worry so much about her date with Hojo. Her attitude had changed and she wasn't all depressed anymore. She had a fight with InuYasha, which had really pissed her off.

When Hojo came to the door, Kagome put on a nice smile and opened it. Hojo smiled back at her and said, "So I guess this means your feeling a lot better than you had in the past few weeks."

"Yeah," Kagome said.

Hojo didn't want to go as slow as everyone else did on the first date, and he took Kagome's hand. This time, Kagome didn't feel hurt. She felt a warmth go through her body. Maybe it was Hojo she really needed after all.

Hojo held Kagome's hand all the way to the movies. He paid for both their tickets and small popcorn. He didn't want either of them to eat too much because he wanted to eat with Kagome for at least an hour.

All the way through the movie, Kagome and Hojo could see other couples kissing. Kagome didn't want to kiss Hojo, but she could tell he wanted to kiss her.

Even when they were eating, Hojo still showed signs of wanting to kiss her. Then Kagome said, "Let's stick to hand-holding. I'm not ready to kiss yet."

Hojo didn't look too hurt, but Kagome knew he'd look very happy if she had let them kiss.

At the park, Hojo still wanted to kiss Kagome. Kagome wasn't too into the thought, but she may as well. She knew she was never crossing times again. She knew she'd never see InuYasha again. Hojo was her new boyfriend and she was going to keep it at that.

Kagome and Hojo were about to kiss when a noise came out from somewhere. There was someone wearing a hat. He had long, brown hair. He came up to Kagome and looked very hurt.

"Do I know you?" Kagome asked.

The boy's face looked twisted and hurt. He said, "Kagome, you do know me."

"Then what is your name? I don't know it."

"InuYasha."

InuYasha? How's he here?

"Hojo, I'll be right back," Kagome said.

"Okay," Hojo said.

Kagome took InuYasha behind a tree and said, "InuYasha? InuYasha from the feudal era?"

"Yeah," InuYasha said. He took off his hat and showed Kagome his ears.

"How are you here? And how come your hair isn't white?"

"Demons live a long time. And Sesshomaru and myself – never were killed. And I dyed my hair brown to fit in. Kagome, listen – I know it's been five hundred years. But I still love you. I know the last we'd seen each other we were in a fight, but please, forgive it!"

"InuYasha . . ." Kagome said. "I forgive you."

"Finish up your date. I'm sick of living with Sesshomaru. Even thought he's a lot nicer, he keeps talking of Rin and Jaken. Jaken was killed and Rin was a human, so of course she never survived."

Kagome nodded. She went back out to Hojo. "Hojo, I'm sorry, but -,"

"We're breaking up, aren't we?" Hojo said, miserably looking at the table he was sitting at.

"I'm sorry," Kagome said.

"No, I understand. Who was that guy, anyway?" Hojo asked.

"My ex-boyfriend. I forgot about him, and then he reminded me. I'm sorry."

"It's okay," Hojo said, getting up. He kissed Kagome on the cheek and said his good-bye.

"Bye, Hojo," Kagome said.

InuYasha came up behind Kagome and said, "So, is living at your house an option?"

Kagome laughed and took InuYasha. They came into the house and everyone looked at InuYasha. "Who is he?" Kagome's mom asked.

"InuYasha," Kagome said, taking his hat off and showing them his ears. They were all asking questions.

InuYasha answered each question without getting pissed, like he normally would've.

InuYasha and Kagome both went up to Kagome's room. InuYasha was moving in and he was going to stay in Kagome's room.

"InuYasha, I still have the Shikon No Tama," Kagome said.

"Yeah?" InuYasha said.

"It's purified," Kagome said. She took the jewel off the necklace it was connected to and gave it to InuYasha.

InuYasha looked at the jewel and looked at Kagome. "What do you want me to do with it?"

"Become a full human, InuYasha," Kagome said.

"All right," InuYasha said. He took the jewel and held it in his hands. A glow came from the jewel. The jewel flashed a few times, and then began to disappear. InuYasha's hair turned from brown to black and his ears disappeared. His claws began to shorten.

"Well?" Kagome said.

"I – I'm a human," InuYasha said. "Thanks, Kagome."

InuYasha pulled Kagome close to him. Kagome smiled.

"Oh, yeah, Kagome?" InuYasha said.

"Yeah?" Kagome said.

"Can you go back to the feudal era? Go find me and tell me it's going to be all right. Tell me to stay around Sango and Miroku and tell me we will be together in the future."

"I can't do that," Kagome said.

"Why not?" InuYasha asked.

"I don't have the Shikon No Tama," Kagome said.

InuYasha unfolded his hand. One shard was left. "How come the last shard wasn't used?" Kagome asked.

"Probably because I was a half-demon and didn't need the full thing. Kagome, use the shard and go back to the feudal era."

Kagome nodded and took the shard. She ran out of the house, into the shrine, and down the well.