Disclaimer: I'm a fan, this is a fanfic. Do the math.

A/N: I like this story a lot, so I would like to continue it. My other story doesn't get many reviews, but hey, I don't blame the readers. It's mostly for my friends, so the OC's are coming out of the walls, it seems. But I think this one has the potential to be as great as Broken Hearts Change Nice Girls.

Beep! Beep! Beep!

Kagome groaned, turning over in her comfortable bed to slap at her alarm clock. Once the Snooze button depressed, she returned to her fetal position on her side of the bed, covers pulled to her forehead to filter the siren call of the rays of sunlight from her window. She had the strangest dream last night.. Something about a man with silver hair and dog ears.. His face had been stunning and rough, though she could not remember it for the life of her. And he had seemed so confident, so strong.

There had been trees.. Wisps of mist shrouded the area, giving it a serene, unearthly appeal. She had felt melancholy in her dream, like something ongoing had just come to an end.

"'Morning, Higurashi!" Houjou's warm voice drove away the remnants of her dream. Even after three years of dating, he still called her by her last name, trying to be respectful. She peeled back the covers slightly to look over at her significant other, trying to force a smile as she tried to remember anything about her previous thoughts.

Nothing.

The dream was gone, but the sense of sadness was still there. And there had been someone strong, protecting her.. It almost felt like he still was, but gods, she could not recall anything else but the feelings.

"Ohayo, Houjou-san," she returned the greeting. He still grinned, his smile almost blinding, like the sunlight illuminating her bedroom. He was a morning person, as she had suspected when she was fourteen. Fifteen to seventeen, however, she had no idea..

"I have an early class today, but I left you some breakfast on the table," Houjou informed her, nursing a steaming cup of coffee. It smelled so delightful, like it was mostly cream and sugar. Kagome suddenly craved a cup of coffee..

With that silver-haired man and his strangely-golden eyes..

"Oh!" she exclaimed suddenly, memories of the night before flooding back. She had snuck back into her apartment after leaving her kidnapper's residence, using the key hidden on top of the doorframe to get inside. Once in, it was easy to replace the key and slip back into the soft covers beside her soundly-sleeping boyfriend.

"What is it?" Houjou inquired, instantly coming to her side, his eyes worried. He had seen her 'sick' so many times in the past that he feared everyday that she would slip back into her poor health.

"I, uh.."

Beep! Beep! Beep!

"I remembered I only hit Snooze!" she lied, silently thanking Kami for his mercy. Houjou flipped the switch to the Off position, then smoothed down some of Kagome's stray hairs.

She flinched.

Houjou blinked, though ignored it, choking it up to shudders from an upcoming illness. "Remember to take your vitamins, Higurashi. I'll see you after class." She nodded, and he was gone.

Slowly, Kagome pulled herself from the covers to make up her bed. Houjou was on his way to college; he was a pre-med student, but it was no surprise. He had studied her ailments often when he was younger, though she still had no memory of his medical sandals, healthy treats, and get-well-soon sutras. Kagome herself did not have the grades to get into college; she passed by the skin of her teeth, no matter how hard she studied.

Somehow.. She was just upset. All she got was a shaded version of her illnesses from her family.

The smell of coffee hit her again and she remembered that unique man. Yet, she could not even remember his name.

As she smoothed down the comforter, she glanced at her digital clock, the large, red numbers reading 9:30. I told him to come by in the afternoon, but as far as I know, he's bound to show up one minute past noon.

Sighing softly, she made her way to the kitchen and looked over her breakfast. Chopped up strawberries, grapes, and a grapefruit half laid out on the plate, along with a fork. Beside the plate sat a glass of what she suspected was herbal tea and a small saucer of vitamins.

For once, just once, she wanted a glazed donut for breakfast.

Maybe she would get one at the coffee shop…

Inu-Yasha ran his clawed fingers through his hair for a moment, pausing in front of her apartment door. One hand, balled into a fist, was poised to knock, while the other remained tangled in his long, silver tendrils. He seemed focused on the solid, wooden object before him, a barrier keeping the past from the present.

It's only a door, for Kami's sake!

But it was much more than that. What if she rejected him? What if she really thought he was a crazy kidnapper? Kouga had angrily argued with him all morning, but finally agreed to stay home. The wolf prince may have been eager to see his "woh-man," but the males had agreed that Kagome needed to take slow, baby steps when it came to befriending them again. Kouga would see her next, then Shippou and Mirai.

Five hundred and one years, dammit! Knock already!

Gathering his courage, he yanked his claws from his hair, pulling out several tangled strands in the process, and knocked on the damn door.

Within a few seconds, his ears twitched to the sound of Kagome moving around inside her apartment. He warily watched the eye hole in the upper-center of the wood, knowing that she was probably watching him, making sure it was really him. After a moment he heard a soft rush of air: a sigh. She seemed relieved.

"Hi," Kagome greeted as she opened the door just enough for him to catch a glimpse of the couch he had stepped around the night before. He could not help but smirk at the memory; her human mate could not properly protect her.

"Hey," he gruffly replied as Kagome braced herself on the door frame with one hand, sliding her high heels on with the other. Like the day before, she wore a short dress, only it was baby blue instead of green. The woman was already all legs before, but the heels made them seem even more luscious and impossibly long.

"Inu-Yasha, was it..?" He looked up at the sound of his name and instantly colored. She had caught him staring at her more-adult form, although he had not been fantasizing like Mirai's ancestors would.. But it is not like she would believe that!

"Yeah. Inu-Yasha."

"Let's go, shall we?" Kagome asked, a soft smile on her face as she shouldered her simple purse. He only nodded and fell into step beside her, following her down the steps of the apartment complex and to the sidewalk, where she paused.

"Which one's your car?"

"I didn't drive here," he responded with a shrug. "I thought we could walk. We used to walk when we went shopping."

Kagome looked sad for a moment, her gaze drifting to her perfectly painted toes strapped in her painful heels. However, she nodded, and they set off for the coffee shop together.

After a block of walking in silence, she looked over at him, studying his defined profile. He was much taller than her, even with the heels, yet she felt protected and safe in his shadow. Somehow, if someone attacked her and tried to steal her purse, she felt she would not even utter a scream. Inu-Yasha would get it for her.

And we used to walk together like this.. What were we?

"How often did we take these walks?" Kagome suddenly asked, curious about her past actions. Inu-Yasha jarred slightly, broken from his contemplative state. He cleared his voice, stepping closer to her to avoid hitting the shoulder of a bystander; the downtown area was always crowded, even the sidewalks.

"We were always walking together," he began, thinking of their travels throughout Japan, all spanning from the Mushin Domain, "but we walked together like this whenever I came to visit you at home."

"Did I see you at other places?" she asked, her brow furrowed in confusion.

"Sometimes," he admitted, unsure about how much to reveal. A subject change was in order.. Anything to steer away from Sengoku Jidai and the quest to take down Naraku! "Who was that guy in your apartment yesterday?" And in your bed, he mentally added.

"Houjou-san," she replied, though felt a twinge in her heart suddenly. What was that feeling? Guilt..?

"So you and Hobo are married?" His voice sounded tight, but Kagome could not place why.

"Houjou," she corrected almost absently. "Oh, no. We're just dating. We have been since high school.. And when I was sick. He said I would push myself to go on dates with him years ago, but always have to leave."

His blood almost boiled. Kagome.. dating this man while they were on the quest? Sure, he always went after Kikyou, but he never got to get angry with Kagome over Houjou..

It's not like we were mated. he chided himself mentally, nodding to show he heard Kagome's statement.

"The coffee shop is just ahead! Come on," Kagome suddenly exclaimed, filled with excitement she had exhibited since he knew her five hundred and one years ago. Her hand unexpectedly latched onto his fingers, pulling him along with her like she had when they shopped for ninja food. His chest tensed in pain, and his eyes turned crystalline for a moment. One blink and the gold was back to normal.

An overhead bell rang as the door was pushed in, and the two were assaulted by the refreshing smell of coffee beans and cream. Kagome dragged him to the counter, ordered her coffee (and glazed donut) happily, and waited for him to place his. But, before she could pull out her wallet, Inu-Yasha was there, holding out the money.

"I couldn't.." she shook her head, trying to push his handful of dollars back. He only replied with a 'keh!' and paid despite her protests.

The two sat down beside the window, both with a cup of steaming coffee before them. Throughout the years Inu-Yasha had watched this plain of existence change drastically. But, because of his youkai blood, he had been able to experience various bits of culture, such as the Western coffee his former self would have scoffed at after burning all the taste buds off his tongue.

And it had really hurt, but that was about three hundred years ago.

"So, Kagome.. What have you been doing since your.. illness?"

"I was so behind in my studies that I could barely graduate.. Luckily, I was already in a high school that Houjou-san had gotten into. So, he helped me pass. I couldn't get into college, though.." She looked down in what seemed like shame and embarrassment and watched the swirling bits of off-white in the brown liquid before her.

Inu-Yasha had finally understood the importance of her "testous" and "school" when he saw the educated man prevail in society. The understanding had made him feel badly about his past actions.. And guilt became a rock in his gut. It was because of him that she could not get into college.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, once a rare admission from the hanyou. He straightened his cap and took a long sip of his coffee, not caring that it was still hot enough to burn.

"Oh, it's nothing.. I work in a children's hospital. I may not have the degree, but I still get to change bandages, read to the kids, bring them their food.. It makes me feel good. Maybe because I was in hospitals so much before. I guess.. I don't remember being in any." She looked up, as if struck by a sudden thought. "You said you knew me back then.. What was I like?"

Inu-Yasha almost choked on his coffee; admitting what he really thought of someone was never easy, even in the 'future.' But, if anyone knew Kagome, it was him. She always forced him to go save villagers being attacked by demons, even if there was no shard shining as a reward. Also, she was the first human since her incarnation to stand up to him, meet him word for word, and not be afraid.

She made him a good person.

"Well.. You were strong and stubborn, hot-headed and determined. But, you were always willing to help someone out in need, even if it was incredibly out of your way. You were just a good person, all around," he said slowly, his voice a low rumble. She only nodded, swallowing some of her coffee.

"I guess you knew me pretty well, huh," she said not in a query, but a contemplative statement. He nodded, thinking of how there was barely a day that he was without her.

"Kagome, I'd like you to get to know me again," he suddenly blurted, a bit surprised with himself. "Maybe you'll remember.."

"I'd like to remember." Kagome sipped her coffee eyeing him over the rim, then set down the mostly-finished drink. "Could you tell me your favorite memory of our friendship?"

"Uh.." He nervously trailed off, the image playing in his mind.

"Osuwari!"

The purple beads and teeth strung around the hanyou's neck illuminated for a split second, the combination of the light and solemn, heated word causing his heart to sink deep into his stomach.

Then, he was flattened against the ground almost instantly, his face crushed into the hard dirt and roots, while his legs flung in the opposite direction, cracking his spine in the sickening way he was so familiar with.

For a moment, he just laid on the ground, letting the grass tickle his tanned cheek. His nose burned from the smashing impact, yet it was not broken.

He wished it was, though.. Then, he could not smell the salt lingering in the air.

Sighing as the subjugation spell began to lose effect, he shifted to look up from behind his thick bangs. There, the schoolgirl miko stood, shoulders squared despite their slight shaking as she desperately held back tears. Her eyes were watery, undoubtedly making her vision nothing but a blur of red splattered against green, but they still burned with a hot anger aimed directly at the unfortunate hanyou. It appeared that she bit down on her lower lip, trying to keep it from trembling, but he prayed to Kami for her to activate his rosary over and over, until he was nothing but a crater in front of her loafers.

He felt he really deserved it.

"How could you say something like that?" she finally choked out, her fingers curling into small fists at her bare thighs. That skirt really is too short, he suddenly thought, cursing his jealousy for getting him into this mess.

He remained silent, and she continued, her face glowing red. "Just because I don't want you killing Kouga-- my friend!-- doesn't mean I want to.. to.. 'rut' with him!"

The spell was completely worn off by now, yet the hanyou remained positioned on the ground, lying flat before her. She was the only person he would trust enough to be in such a defenseless position.. And, she was the one person that could purify him in an instant if she wished it to be so.

"I don't accuse you of doing.. that.. to Kikyou every time you follow her into the woods for some alone time!" Kagome choked on a sob halfway through her exclamation, drawing Inu-Yasha's gaze back to the soil beneath his chin. He took in a sharp inhale, held the air, then slowly let it escape his lungs. Before she could utter another word, he was to his feet, dusting his fire-rat kimono off.

"I know that, Kagome.." He fixed his golden eyes on her wavering form, and she pressed her fist against her lips. It made him look down in shame. It was not that he actually believed that the schoolgirl was lusting after the wolf. No, her friendship with Kouga was pure, even if the prince did want to make her his woh-man. It was just..

He was jealous. Plain and simple.

"Can't you see?" she asked, drawing his gaze back to her face. Tears had spilled down her now-rosy cheeks, leaving warm streaks in their wake. "I promised to be by your side! I'll always be by your side, even when you run off to her! I would never want to be with anyone else!"

His eyes widened, and in a rare moment, he crushed her against his chest. The rosary beads dug into her cheek and the moisture marring them burned against his neck. He was fearful for a moment that he may crush her. Kagome wanted to always be with him.. He knew this, had known it for a long time, in fact. But he had always assumed her feelings were more short-term and empty.

"Kagome.. I won't go again," he swore, just like he always did.

"Don't make a promise you'll easily break," she chided, though he felt her lips curve in a soft smile at the prospect of him keeping it. Her shoulders had stopped shaking; she was calming down.

"Kagome," he breathed her name, one arm tightening around her, while the other went further up, his claws resting in her ebony hair. She finally relaxed, her knees unlocking and her body supported solely by his embrace. Her hands fisted in the front of his kimono, while the haori's sleeves hid everything but the top of her head and her legs from view. An apology burned in his throat, but his pride held it in.

"It's okay," she whispered, knowing him all too well. Over a year of traveling side-by-side gave her this insight. Kagome pulled away slightly, raising an arm to wipe her eyes with her sleeve. Inu-Yasha studied her face for any signs of lasting anger, but found none.

When she finally locked eyes with the hanyou, she smiled. It was not a forced, fake smile, like the ones she often gave him when she was beyond-angry or upset that he had gone after Kikyou again. No, it was a real, true smile. Those were the kind he so often received, but craved. She then reached her hand up to the top of his head, delicate fingers catching the side of his triangular ear between them. There was a cautious tweak, then a light scratch at the base when he only stared wide-eyed. After a moment, she got more courageous and began to use her whole hand to stroke and pet his left ear. It twitched beneath her fingers, but the calming sensation had the hanyou's eyes drooping, a smile involuntarily pulling his lips upward.

Kagome stopped to giggle at his expression, and the trance was broken. He snapped back into reality, narrowed his eyes, and loosened his hold, his hands falling to the small of her back. "We better get back to camp," she suggested as her laughter subsided.

"Yeah, that stupid bouzou is probably driving Sango nuts by now." He nodded along with his own statement and dropped his arms back to his sides. Kagome inclined her head in a slight nod, turned around, and took a step back toward the camp. Inu-Yasha surprised her, however, by catching her hand in his and walking beside her. She did not look over at him; instead, she smiled and squeezed his hand.

He loved the memory because it was the closest they ever came to admitting their feelings. Unless you count her unfinished declaration after the final battle. But time had muddled the words; they could have just been his ears playing tricks on him.

But how could he tell Kagome that his favorite memory was comforting her after basically calling her a whore? He knew that was how she would take it, at least.

Just as he opened his mouth to speak, he was cut off by a voice he found incredibly annoying.

"Higurashi?"

A/N: I thought it was best to end it there, lest there be no real progress other than the questioning. Also, I used Bedard's idea about remembering the emotions and dulled scenery, so you get a virtual cookie.

You guys know the drill; press the little button and review! I'm open to any ideas as well.