The rain continued to pour, a relentless deluge that drenched Kagome to the bone as she led the large golden retriever, now affectionately named Max, down the dimly lit backstreets of her neighborhood. The dog followed her obediently, his once-shivering form now standing tall and proud under the shelter of her umbrella. Those big, soulful brown eyes seemed to convey gratitude, as if he knew she had saved him from the storm.
Kagome couldn't shake the feeling that there was something special about Max. As they walked, she pondered the mysteries surrounding him. How had he ended up in her neighborhood, far from the affluent homes where a dog like him should belong? What had happened to his owner, and why was he wandering the streets alone?
Her thoughts inevitably turned to her own past. The memories of her time in the feudal era still haunted her, especially the bittersweet recollections of her adventures with Inuyasha and her other friends. The raindrops that fell on her face felt like tears from the heavens, a reflection of the sadness she carried in her heart.
Kagome had made the difficult decision to return to her own time, to her family, after the completion of the Shikon Jewel. But it wasn't an easy transition. Her family disapproved of her choices, of the path she had chosen, and it created a rift that was hard to mend. They wanted her to forget her past, to live a "normal" life, but she couldn't simply erase the years she had spent in another era.
Vaguely she knew she was partly to blame for the misunderstanding. She had never fully disclosed the hardships, the danger, and the complex relationships she had formed during her time in the past. Instead, she painted a glossed-over, G-rated version of her adventures, hiding her wounds and tears in the middle of the night.
Now, waking up each day in her own time, with the god tree looming over her family shrine, she couldn't escape the memories of her friends, the battles they had fought, and the love she had discovered. The shrine, once a place of solace and tradition, now stood as a painful reminder of a world she could never fully return to.
She had responsibilities and people who depended on her in both eras, and she couldn't simply abandon them. Her choices and the consequences of those choices should rest squarely on her shoulders, even if it meant enduring the pain of separation.
Blinking out of her thoughts at the loud crack of thunder, Kagome paused, her heart racing. Thunderstorms had a way of triggering her PTSD, reminding her of the fierce battles she had fought alongside Inuyasha and the others. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself, and noticed that Max had stopped as well, his head tilted in concern.
The large dog's presence offered an unexpected comfort. She had always had a soft spot for canines, a connection forged during her time in the past. It was as if the dog had sensed her distress and wanted to offer solace in return. Kagome gave a small smile and resumed walking, Max falling into step beside her.
With each step, Kagome's determination to find Max's owner grew stronger. She couldn't ignore the unspoken bond that had formed between them, a connection between two souls who had been lost and found each other in the rain.
Upon reaching her modest apartment building, Kagome hesitated at the entrance. She had a decision to make. Max had become her unexpected companion, and she couldn't simply abandon him. With a sigh, she made up her mind, crouching down to Max's level.
"Max, it looks like you're stuck with me for a little while longer," Kagome said with a grin. "Let's get you settled in."
Max's tail wagged vigorously in response, as if he understood her words. Kagome couldn't help but feel that this was the beginning of a new adventure, one she hadn't anticipated when she set out to walk home in the rain.
As they entered her cozy apartment, Kagome grabbed a towel and began to dry Max's wet fur. He stood still, his eyes locked onto hers with a sense of trust that touched her heart. Kagome couldn't help but talk to him as she worked, as if he were an old friend.
"You know, Max, you're quite the mystery," she said, running the towel over his golden coat. "But I have a feeling we're going to figure it out together."
Max barked softly, his eyes reflecting a sense of determination that matched Kagome's own. Together, they were embarking on a journey filled with unexpected encounters and a bond that would shape both their lives in ways they couldn't yet imagine.
With Max by her side, Kagome felt a glimmer of hope, a belief that even in the midst of the storm, there could be moments of warmth and connection. Little did she know that Max's owner, a certain blond host club king named Tamaki Suoh, was about to enter her life, and their worlds would collide in ways neither of them could have ever foreseen.