Man I am sooo excited! Expect a lot of WAFF here, I'm a hopeless romantic!

Seriously tempted to put up the lemon....must control urges...must edit and....grrr...perfect!!!

Sorry, guys, wait till Saturday night.

By the way, just saw Club Dread a few hours ago. Freakin hilarious if you're as easily amused as I am....wow...my fingernails are shiny....awesome!

See what I mean... *groans*

Anywho, thanks so much for reading and for being so understanding! You guys are awesome, and I can't wait till tommorrow!

Ja ne!

~Sabichan~

Why she

Had to go I don't know, she wouldn't say.

I said,

Something wrong, now I long for yesterday

**I POV**

"Aw shit." I muttered as I exited the building. It was raining, and thanks to Miro's brilliant advice, I'd left the apartment without an umbrella. I sighed and pushed on towards the bus stop, hoping I wouldn't get too soaked on the way there.

I ran to the only stop nearby that I knew of with some kind of shelter. I sat down on the bench, alone in the dark wet night. I watched as the puddles in the street rippled with each heavy drop, and smirked as I heard the thunder boom overhead.

In all honesty, I really didn't mind that it was raining. I had come to like the weather like this. I reminded me of the first day I met Kagome.

I could still vividly remember the black haired girl walking slowly towards the bus stop where I stood. The cool blue tint of her wet hair, drawing out the intensity of her gorgeous brown eyes.

When she stood next to me, sharing my father's umbrella, I remember wanting to just keep staring at her, taking in each and every detail I could. I mean, it wasn't every day you saw a girl like that taking the bus.

I was soon proved wrong when I learned she would be coming the same time the next morning.

She had been startled by the thunder, and latched herself onto my arm, as if I were capable of protecting her. Something about the thought of taking care of her...appealed to me. It felt like it was almost natural. That's why I had let her borrow the umbrella. Hell, even if she had told me she was never coming back there again, I still would have let her take it. Just so long as she was out of the rain and safe.

I looked up to see the bus coming and stood. I boarded quickly and made a beeline for the very back. Funny enough...it was completely empty. Not a soul, just me and the driver. I shrugged and looked out the window as we began to move.

Everything seemed so much more alive when it was raining. The lights, reflected in the puddles would twinkle twice as brightly, bringing a hopeful look to an otherwise glum city landscape. It was soothing, and I started to care less and less about being soaked.

I wonder what it would be like to kiss Kagome in the rain? I wondered. No doubt it would be romantic as hell, but it would be so symbolic too. The rain washed away the sins of the city I lived in.

In turn it would wash away the turmoil that seemed to rule our lives as well. Each droplet of water, erasing yet another fear, uncertainty or doubt. And when it was over, we would have a clean start, never forgetting the past, but not letting it burden us like it did before.

And of course I'd have a very wet Kagome.

I shook my head at my own thoughts. When had I become such a....Miroku? Still, it was a fascinating image, so I began to think about ways to dry her off.

As we ran over a rather large pothole, I realized my stop was coming up soon. I reached up and pulled the cord, letting the driver know that his sole passenger had reached his destination. I glanced once to my left as he pulled towards the curb, and caught a glimpse of red out of the corner of my eye. I thought nothing of it and stood, saying goodnight to the driver as I got off.

The rain hadn't let up at all. I zipped up my jacket and shoved my hands in my pockets, preparing myself for the walk home. I turned around to cross the street...

....and stopped.

Someone was standing there, holding a red umbrella, their head bowed and face hidden. I found it odd for someone to actually be out on a night like this, so late. And at my bus stop too? Never in all my years, had I seen anyone waiting there when I got off of work.

I squinted through the rain, trying to make out the figure. It looked like a girl, not too tall with black hair and-

Suddenly she lifted her head. My heart stopped, I swear it did. Even from where I stood, could see the deep brown of the eyes staring back at me.

I'm not sure how long I stood there rooted to the ground. I do know I wasn't breathing, because I began to get lightheaded. I exhaled sharply and took another deep breath. My heart was now going a mile a minute, and I could feel my entire body trembling.

We stared at each other for what seemed like hours. I blinked again and again, wondering if I was imagining things, if I had really gotten that bad. But no matter how many times I did, she remained in that spot, her eyes shining brightly in the darkness.

I don't know how I did it, but I somehow got my body to move. I took a step forward off the curb.

Then another into the street. Then another, and another.

I have to admit I was pretty dumb just walking blindly into the middle of the road like that. But somehow, the Gods smiled on me, and I got across unscathed.

Each step of the way, I never once took my eyes off of her. I hardly even blinked for that matter. I reached up and wiped my bangs from my eyes, as I was now completely soaking wet.

She, on the other hand remained completely motionless, her dark eyes shimmering, tears lightly streaming down her otherwise dry face.

Finally I stepped up onto the curb, and stood only about a foot away from her. Absently, she moved her hand so that the umbrella now sheltered me from the downpour.

We gazed at each other intently, and her eyes swirled with so much emotion, turmoil and happiness,

I thought she would burst into tears.

Yet another minute passed in silence. I moved even closer to her, swallowing hard and finally found my voice to say the name that had been on the tip of my tongue for a year.

"Kagome."

She reacted then. She inhaled sharply and I could see her biting her bottom lip to hold back a sob.

"Inu.. Yasha."

I could have died right then, and never been any happier than when I heard my name fall from her lips. My heart leaped in my chest and I brought my hand up to her face tentatively. Ever so gently, I traced her cheek, and wiped away a stray tear in my path.

I felt like the entire world melted away just then, and that all I could see was her. Those chocolate depths framed by ebony lashes; that ivory skin with the blush of the cold gracing her cheeks- those pink full lips, flushed by emotion, begging me, pleading me to kiss them.

And who was I to disappoint?

Without another second of hesitation, I cradled her face in my hands and pressed my lips to hers.

Immediately, her arms wrapped around me, the umbrella falling to the ground forgotten.

I kissed her passionately, pouring into it every ounce of love, devotion and happiness that was coursing through me at that moment. One of my hands moved to tangle in her wet locks as the other pulled her closer to my body.

The rain poured down on us as we were reunited after a year of separation, of utter loneliness, regret and despair.

A thousand thoughts raced through my head the whole time

Why was she here? How long had she been back? Where had she gone, and what had she been doing this whole time? And if she was kissing me back, did that mean...she loved me too?

I left all my questions unanswered as I deepened our kiss, wanting nothing more than to taste more of her, to feel her closer against my body, to make myself realize that for once, this wasn't a dream.

My Kagome was really here.

She mewled softly as my tongue grazed her lips, and she opened her mouth to me. I nearly moaned aloud as her sweet taste flooded my senses. I had dreamed about his for so long...

I felt the droplets of rain running down between our faces, the fresh water cool against my flushed skin. It was exactly how I had imagined it. I felt her small hands fisted in the back of my jacket and I hugged her even tighter.

Thunder boomed just then, and she jerked away from my lips, clutching me even tighter. She looked up into my eyes shyly, a small smile resting on her swollen lips.

"Kagome... I..." I wanted to say so many things just then. That I had missed her, that I was so happy to see her, that I loved her more than she could imagine. But I chocked on my own words, unable to complete my own sentence. She brought her hand to my face and cupped my cheek. I leaned into her touch instinctively, and her eyes took on an even brighter shine. She leaned close to my lips, still gazing intently into my eyes and whispered ever so softly.

"I love you Inuyasha."

Before I could even think about replying, her lips were on mine again. I froze for a moment, the words sinking in slowly.

She just told me she loved me. Kagome just told me she loved me, my Kagome.

' KAGOME LOVES ME!!' I screamed silently. I kissed her back, even more intently than before.

Finally, after all my heartache, my loneliness, she had come home to me, and graced me with the three little words I'd waited so long to hear. The ones that all along I knew in my heart that she felt, but meant nothing until I heard them from her lips.

She loved me, too.

Overjoyed, I took her into my arms, sweeping her off her feet and spun around in absolute joy.

She pulled away giggling softly as I set her back down. I just gazed at her in pure awe as she blushed.

"Kagome...I love you...I've missed you so much...you have no idea how much...I...Oh, Gods Kagome, I love you."

She shed another tear which I readily kissed away.

"Inuyasha...I'm so sorry I-"

I laid a finger against her lips to shush her.

"Don't. Don't you ever be sorry about it. You didn't do anything wrong. I understood that from the moment I found out. I was happy for you."

"I know...I know you were. Inuyasha, I...I'm just sorry I took so long to come back, to come home." She whispered. It pained me to see her looking so guilty. She had had no intention of hurting me.

"Please don't cry...I hate to see you cry. All that matters is that you're home now. You're home with me."

She smiled and gave me a chaste kiss. I ran my fingers through her wet hair...then realized that it was in fact wet, and the rain hadn't once let up. I grinned and said softly.

"Let`s get you home. We can't stand here all night."

She nodded lightly and I moved to pick up the forgotten umbrella. I suddenly realized it was my father's- how had she come by it?

The thought troubled me only briefly as she slipped her small hand in mine.

I took a step in the direction of the shrine, but she made no move to follow. I looked back at her questioningly, and she shook her head.

"I've already been there, I've already seen my family. I want to go home with you."

I was a bit shocked at her words.

"With me?"

She nodded, again a bit shyly and I felt a smile spread across my face. I stepped off the curb and this time she followed.

We dashed across the street, the chill air rushing past us. Her hands were ice cold. I handed her the umbrella as we walked and slipped off my jacket, then draped it over her shoulders. She opened her mouth to protest but I quickly cut her off.

"You can argue with me when we get home."

We continued to walk in silence as fast as we could. I realized this would be the first time Kagome would ever see my apartment, and I mentally berated myself for being such a slob. Kagome's room had been so nice and neat compared to my own. 'Oh well, no time for that now.'

Within minutes, we came to the front doors of the apartment complex, and I let her inside. I shook out the umbrella, folding it and hooking it over my arm. Then I turned back to her and gave her a small kiss before leading her upstairs.

"Now I'm gonna warn you, I'm not much of a neat freak, so don't get all scared when you see how messy I am. My mom doesn't live with me anymore, so I'm kinda on my own." She laughed, the sound sweet to my ears.

"I know you are. Don't worry, I won't judge you." I furrowed my brow in confusion.

"Wait...how do you know?"

"Well...I told you I already saw my family and everyone else before I came to see you."

"So you've been back all day?!" What the hell?!

"Yeah." She replied kind of sheepishly as we reached my floor. "Honestly I wanted to come and see you, but it seems everyone had already had this all planned out." I searched my pockets for my keys. Suddenly a thought hit me.

"Who did? Miro and Sango? But I was with them all day."

"No. Rin." I balked at this.

"You met Rin?" I pushed open the front door.

"And Sesshomaru...in fact...Inuyasha...he was the one who convinced me to come back." I froze in my tracks and stared at her. Then I looked back into what should have been a very dark apartment.

Except it wasn't. Instead the warm glow of candlelight filled the front room, giving confusion a whole new meaning.

"Did he do this too?" I asked softly. She followed my gaze and smiled shaking her head. She stepped past me inside and I closed the door behind us.

I had to admit, whoever's idea this had been was gonna get one hell of a birthday present from me. Not only was the place in perfect shape, but the atmosphere of the room was more romantic than anything I could have ever come up with.

Candles lined the walls, creating perfect atmosphere of shadow and soft light. Kagome stood in the center of the room, looking like an angel in the dim glow.

A dripping wet angel at that.

Suddenly my thoughts from my bus ride came back to me, and I wondered how adverse she would be to such an idea.

Tbc…

better not push my luck, this is a miracle as it is!

GRRRR!!

Yes it even kills me to cut it off right there! The minute it's ready, the lemon will be up and ready for your reading pleasure.

Hope you liked the reunion :)