This update is a little late, I know. And I got this entry from the website a few days ago, but I did not have the opportunity to finish this little one-shot until now. Enjoy!

He was staring at Sango again. Only the demon-slayer and Inuyasha didn't notice, but Inuyasha never noticed anything. Miroku definitely noticed and when he did, he would move closer to her. She would give him a wary look, but he would always behave himself at those times.

Kagome couldn't help being jealous though. They had met the red-eyed demon during their travels and after Inuyasha defeated him, Hiei had begun following them, watching them carefully. Kagome believed he was trying to learn from them, or looking for weaknesses.

But there was something about him that fascinated her. His quiet strength and arrogance, the way his red eyes smoldered. After two years, the fascination had grown into a full-blown crush. And it seemed like he only had eyes for Sango.

Kagome had to admit, the woman was beautiful. She was lean and her spirit was both tough and loving. When fighting, she slung the Hiraikotsu around with a certain amount of grace. It was like watching a dancer until the boomerang connected and blood began to fly.

Kagome sighed and Shippo shifted on her shoulder.

"What's wrong Kagome?"

She smiled. "Nothing to worry about Shippo. I'm fine."

It was getting close to being time for her to go home, for good. She and Inuyasha had ended their non-relationship more than a year ago. Naraku had been killed shortly after that. All that was needed was the final jewel shard and then… Kagome knew she couldn't stay. Although Sango, Miroku, Shippo and Inuyasha had become like family to her, she needed to go home. She had a family waiting there too and college waiting.

But she would miss them. And she would miss the enigmatic fire demon that had joined them.

The sun was setting though and she could think about this later. "Inuyasha," she called, "let's set up camp. It'll be dark soon."

Inuyasha's ears swiveled adorably. "Feh." But he stopped and Kagome and the other's began to gather firewood and dig a small fire pit to cook over.

Hiei sat in a tree and watched them. Inuyasha had scampered off as soon as they stopped. Hiei could not smell the scent of clay and the hanyo had gone toward a stream, so the demon assumed he was going to fish. Hiei kept watch over the humans instead.

There was one in particular that interested him more than the others. She was feisty and had a strong spirit, so unlike other women that demurely obeyed whatever orders a man gave. When she fought, she did so with all her passion. And she cared. She cared deeply for their motley group. It was fascinating to him how much she loved them, yet at times, when she was deep in thought, her sadness would permeate the air so much that even the other humans could sense it.

She was the reason he had stayed with the group. He cared little for a jewel that gave false power and false promises. But she was interesting.

Inuyasha returned with several fish and Kagome couldn't help smiling. They had eaten ramen for the past few meals and everyone seemed tired of it. She thanked him and set about cleaning the fish, seasoning them afterwards with some spices from her time. She made sure to add extra spice to one, as she had realized that Hiei loved spicy food. Soon, the fish was sizzling in a skillet over the fire.

It was then that the oni decided to make his entrance.

They all leapt to their feet, scrambling for their weapons as it charged Kagome. She jumped back, into the fire. She screamed in pain as she hit the hot cast-iron skillet and the fire itself. Her ankle twisted and she fell, trying to move out of the fire.

To her surprise, it flared up in a circle around her, no longer nipping at her flesh. The oni roared as his arm was burned. The fire spread further, though the creature had taken his arm from the circle protecting Kagome. In a moment, his head was separated from his body and both were being consumed by flames.

Kagome fell to the ground as she gave into the pain in her legs. Hiei had acted quickly, so there was little damage from the fire, just a slight redness that would probably leave no mark when it was healed. But the cast iron skillet had caused much more damage.

There was an angry red welt on each of her legs, the width of the pan. Kagome couldn't help whimpering. It hurt more than she had imagined it would.

She was lifted off the ground. And let out a started cry. It was Hiei. She wrapped an arm around his neck to hold on as he took off through the forest. In moments, he had set her beside a stream and removed her shoes and socks. He gently place both of her legs into the cool water.

"Ummmm, thank you."

"Do you have anything for burns in that ridiculous bag of yours?"

"Yeah, it's a kind of blue gel in a bottle."

"Hn."

"Wait!" She said before he zipped off again. His red eyes connected with her grey ones. "Can you tell Inuyasha…" she sighed and stared into the stream sadly. "Tell him that oni had the last shard. It was in his belly."

"Hn."

Kagome kicked her feet in the water as it rushed across her skin. I t was cold, but soothed her burns slightly.

Hiei returned with her bag quickly. She dug through it and found a towel to pat her legs dry. She hissed as she touched the burns, but made sure the towel soaked up all the water. She dug through her bag again and pulled the aloe from it. She usually used it for sunburns, but it would help the burns on her legs as well, though she would need to see a doctor about them.

That thought made her pause. Soon, she would be returning home for good. Probably shortly after her friends joined her. It made her sad. Shippo, Hiei, Kirara and Inuyasha might make it to the modern age, but Miroku and Sango were only human. They would die in a few decades.

She jerked as Hiei sat beside her. "You will be leaving soon," he stated.

"Yeah. Once the jewel is completed, I think I'll be sent back to my own time."

"Hn." His eyes locked onto the others as soon as they came into view. It saddened Kagome to think she was yearning after a man she would leave shortly, one that had eyes only for the woman she considered a sister. One he never had a chance with, as Miroku had already captured her heart.

Inuyasha kneeled in front of her. "Here, wench." He thrust the jewel shard toward her. With a touch, it glowed pink.

Kagome latched onto the hanyo before he could stand, embracing him tightly. "I'll miss you."

The hanyo's ears drooped and he hugged her. "I'll miss you too."

Then it was Miroku's turn, then Shippo and Kirara and, finally, Sango. Kagome dried her eyes and turned to Hiei. Before he could step away, she pulled him into a hug.

"I think I love you, you know," she whispered in his ear. While he was still in shock, she pulled back and slipped the last shard into place. With a flash of blue and pink light, she was gone. She missed the demon's scowl.

Back in her own time, Kagome stood at the bottom of the well for a few minutes before she began to climb the ladder her family had placed in it for her. Somehow, her bag had made it back with her as well. It was difficult, but she managed to climb the ladder on injured legs, with the heavy bag. She left it in the well house and walked to her house, gripping the Shikon no Tama tightly in her hand.

"Mama, I'm home!"

Only a day had passed before she began to miss them all. Her leg had been seen by a doctor and she was told to keep it clean and prevent it from getting infected and it would be fine. Scars would be left, but no serious damage had been done.

At school they all gushed over how hard it must have been to take time to go to the country to recover from her tuberculosis only to get burned while she was there. She glared at Gramps when she got home.

By the second day home she was almost regretting finding the jewel shard. Almost.

That is, until she got home from school to see a certain koorime shrouded in black and standing at the very top of the stairs, waiting. As she ascended, Kagome couldn't take her eyes off of him, afraid he was just some kind of illusion that would disappear as soon as she got too close.

She winced as the skin on the back of her leg stretched, making her burns drag her attention from Hiei. When she looked up he was gone and she felt her heart sink.

"Hn. Stupid woman."

Then the wind was rushing past her, making her hair toss wildly against his shoulder. She stared up at him, her arms flung around his neck. "Hiei?"

"Who else would it be?"

They were high up in the Goshinboku. Kagome refused to look down or look away from him, but she could feel the silent thrum of power from the old tree. "You're really here."

"Yes."

She smiled. "Why are we up in the tree though?"

"Because you are too foolish to not walk even though your legs are hurt. And I will not let you run away again."

"What?"

"Repeat what you said to me. And this time, do not attempt to disappear. I assure you, a human would not survive a fall from this height."

Kagome blushed. "I said, 'I think I love you.'"

The demon kissed her forcefully. "Stupid woman. If you'd said that earlier, I would not have had to wait for 500 years."

"But… I thought you liked Sango?"

Hiei snorted. "Hardly."

"You were always watching her though."

"She was the bigger threat. And a better fighter than any of you were. And I was not always watching her."

"Sure seemed like it."

"Woman, do you think I would allow myself to be caught watching you?"

Kagome smiled. "I guess not." She felt something odd and frowned. "Now, what in the world have you done to your forehead?"

Hiei rolled his eyes and dropped her out of the tree. He let her shriek for half a second before catching her and landing gracefully on the ground. "Do not worry about it."

Kagome panted as she recovered from her panic. "I really hate you, you know that?"

The little demon was smug. "I love you too."

"The boy I was in love with for 2 years liked my best friend.
Everyone knew he liked her, but barely anyone knew I loved him.

I was dying inside everyday, and had almost lost all hope in ever being able to be with him.

Then, 2 days ago, I found him sitting on the doorstep to my house.

He was practicing how to tell me that he loved me. GMH."