"Hello Ian."

Ian smiled as Kagome's mom let him in. He looked around the house, taking in the living conditions. "Geez, maybe having parents does have it's advantages."

"Ian! That is a terrible thing to say!"

Ian sighed. "I'm sorry…it's just…wow. I wish I lived in a home like this. At the orp…Tokyo Childs Home…we have to sleep 6 to a room. It's kinda hard to feel comfy in that kind of place."

"Your welcome to stay here if you ever want to." Kagome's mom said. "We've certainly taken in enough strange boys in our time."

"What are you…"

"Ian!" kagome said, running down the stairs and stopping in front of him, a grin plastered on her face. "What do you think of my house?"

"It's about time I saw it. It's been what…a month since we met?"

Kagome nodded. A month since she had first met Ian, and 2 months since she had last been in Feudal Japan. This was the longest she had stayed in one place since her 15th birthday. While the first month had been spent sobbing about the loss of her friends, the second month had seen her grow closer and closer to Ian. So close that some of her friends had labeled him her 'boyfriend'.

She hadn't stopped them.

The truth was, Ian made her feel so alive. When she had first met him, she felt as if the world was crashing down around her, or, to put it ironically, that she had been falling through a well with no bottom.

Ian had saved her.

But more then that, he had helped her better herself. While others saw some of her new quirks, like catching herself swearing, or making not-so-nice jokes…as annoying personality traits, Ian just laughed. He helped her be a teenager again, something she hadn't been able to do, fighting monsters and looking for jewel shards. Sure, she would never trade those years in for anything…

But she wouldn't trade this either.

"Well, you haven't shown me where you live silly!" Kagome said

"Pop in a copy of Oliver Twist, image less Hollywood glamour."

Kagome's mom scowled a little. "There is no need to be so…"

"I am joking madam." He said gently. "It helps ease…well….the mood. The fact that I don't have parents puts some people off. Sometimes it puts me off. I find joking about it eases the hurt."

"How do I look?" Kagome asked, deciding to cut through the tension. She had chosen a simple look for fall weather. A long sleeve green shirt, along with a pair of blue jeans. It was simple, tasteful, and perfect for walking about the town.

She gave Ina a once over. He had picked out a blue hoodie, along with a pair of black jeans, which, though they shouldn't have worked together, seemed to do just fine. His wild black hair had been grown out a little, giving him a bit more edge, making him look tougher, which was fine by her.

She liked tough men.

&&&

"Now that was a good movie!" Kagome said. Ian smiled, shifting the half eaten bucket of pop corn in his hands.

"I would never take you for liking Sci Fi films."

"That wasn't Sci Fi! That was Star Wars!"

"Did it not have robots." Ian asked as the walked down the street.

"Ya."

"Did it not have aliens."

"Ya, so?"

"Then it is science fiction."

Kagome frowned. "But it's a classic! An epic film of love, jealousy, of heroes saving the day and getting the princess. It's a…." She grinned. "It's like a story from the dark ages, a myth!"

"It was made in the 70s. That makes it a Sci Fi film." He chuckled and handed her the popcorn bowl. "Geez, they put too much butter in these things!" He paused, then looked at her shirt.

"Don't you dare!" She said with a laugh, jumping away.

"Ok…I won't…I'll just do this!"

Kagome let out a squeal and ran as he chased after her, trying to tickle her sides. She spirited into the park as the two began to rough house, rapidly turning the chase into a two person version of tag.

The two teens chased each other around the park for about an hour, ducking behind trees, laughing and hollering as they enjoyed the sun's rays. Neither really cared if they got strange looks form people. Ian was glad to be out of the orphanage, and Kagome was use to strange stares.

Finally, sweaty and hot and panting from al their giggles and chuckles, they dragged themselves to a bench were they feed the left over popcorn to the wildlife. Kagome burst into laughter when one squirrel reminded her of Shippo.

"Ian…can I tell you something?"

"Sure." He said, taking a deep breath, a big grin plastered on his face.

Kagome took a deep breath. She didn't know why…but suddenly…she wanted to tell Ian everything. She wanted to tell him about the well, about Feudal Japan, about everything.

'I can't lie to him…I don't want to lie. I can trust him…the worst he will do is think I am nuts, and he already thinks I am nuts…but what if he…no…I can trust him…I just know I can.'

"Ian…I have been lying to you…to everyone."

"Oh my god…" He said, his face ashen. "You're a dude, aren't you?"

"WHAT?"

Ian paused. "Nothing."

"I am being serious." Kagome said. Ian nodded, his mood calming down. "Ian, something happened to me…damn it…I don't know how to start!"

"Start like it's a story. You are the main character, and you are telling me what happened."

Kagome nodded. "Promise me you won't think I'm nuts?"

Ian shrugged. "Sure…but that comment doesn't help."

Kagome smiled. "When I turned 15…I fell into the well near my house…and…I was transported."

"To the hospital?"

"To 500 years in the past."

"Oh." Ian said gently, looking out over the park.

Kagome nodded, now wishing she hadn't done this. "There…I meet my friends…the ones that died." She sighed, closing her eyes…and told him everything. The whole story, of all her adventures.

"Can I ask a question?" Ian asked.

"…ya?" Kagome managed to say, waiting for the rejection.

"Am I the first person you've told this too?"

"Other then my family…ya."

Kagome felt a hand on her chin, and Ian looked at her, smiling. "You must really care about me to tell me that."

She was shocked.

"You…you don't think I am crazy."

"How can I? If you are telling the truth about telling your family…then that means…well…I don't know." He shrugged. "but I know it must be true, even if it sounds nuts."

"Oh ian!" Kagome said, wrapping her arms around his neck. He didn't think she was crazy! He didn't laugh or run or say anything mean…he accepted the story…he accepted her."You have…no idea how scared I was you'd think I was crazy."

"I still think you are nuts…but not for that." Kagome laughed at this, and soon both were chuckling. They sighed…and glanced at each other, noticing how close they were. Both blushed slightly, looking out as the sun slowly descending in the sky, giving the horizon a beautiful glow that only served to aid the mood around them and make everything softer.

Kagome looked at Ian, his dark eyes glimmering as he shifted on the bench. She could feel his heart pounding as she gently stroked his neck. She was sure he could too, as he gently slid his hand down the small of her back.

It seemed as if everything was slowing. The wind had picked up, blowing their hair around, but it wasn't a wild, rapid blow. Instead…it was a billowing, as if they were on the cover of a romance novel. Kagome could hear her heart, beating faster and faster in her ears, threatening to explode.

Ian kissed her.

He had just leaned in and everything went dark. All sounds, all smells, all sights, all tastes. Only touch. And even then, it was focused on one thing: Their lips, carefully pressed together.

And slowly, other senses began to kick in again. She could taste the popcorn on his lips, as well as the cherry soda. She could hear his soft breath. She could smell the fresh scent of fallen leaves, the only smell of death that was actually pleasant.

And she could see him.

Ian smiled as he pulled away, stroking her cheek. He looked her in the eye, and didn't say a word for a while.

"Kagome?" he asked gently. "How do you feel?"

Kagome let out a very happy growl.