Kagome paced tirelessly across the floor of her bedroom, chewing her fingernails to sore stumps. She was sure she'd worn a trail through the fibers, but she couldn't stop. Worry, panic, disgust and despair choked her, and her racing mind drove her on and made her restless.

'WHAT was I thinking?' She thought for the millionth time, 'I've ruined everything, AGAIN!'

She didn't know what was wrong with her, didn't know why she couldn't just appreciate a great friendship without her stupid heart deciding to get involved. Again.

Damon was probably horrified. He'd let her into his home as a friendly gesture and now she was assaulting him in his kitchen, after he'd made her breakfast no less! He'd been open and sincere with her, and she'd completely run off the deep end with it. AGAIN. When would she learn?

Finally sick of herself, Kagome tossed herself across her bed and let her tears come. They soaked through her blanket and sheets, but she didn't care. It was barely noon and today had already been an emotional hurricane.

'Kami, why am I so stupid. HOW could I have let myself fall in love with him.' She thought desperately, before her thoughts sank fully into her conscious mind and she sat up abruptly with a sharp gasp.

'I... I love him?'

She sat and digested that for a second. She'd been up here panicked about what she assumed was a crush, but her sneaky subconscious apparently had wildly different ideas today.

'How.. how did this happen?'

Suddenly every cheeky smile, every wink, every smirk, every time he'd looked at her with those devastating blue eyes like she was his favorite person flashed in her mind's eye, and she wanted to scream. She'd never really stood a chance, had she?

'Way to go, Kagome. You really know how to screw yourself.'

She hugged her legs to her chest and laid her cheek on her knees, eyes closing in mental exhaustion.

'But do I love him because I love him, or because he's the only person I know who isn't going to die?'

And that presented another conundrum for her, because she was not going to torture herself, or risk ruining their wonderful friendship, if it wasn't for the right reasons.

Damon busied himself cleaning up the mess in the kitchen, and then sat in the chair Kagome had abandoned earlier. He was still reeling from everything he'd felt already today.

He'd been a bit nervous while cooking that he'd screw it up and embarrass himself, he'd been worried when Kagome had appeared ill, he'd been shocked and then elated when she'd kissed him, and then he'd been confused when she'd ran off like her tail was on fire.

He desperately wanted to know what she was thinking, desperately wanted to go to her and ask what it had all meant, but something told him that she did not want to speak to him right now. So he'd give her some space, even if it killed him.

Kagome crept down the stairs as quietly as possible after having spent too many hours in her room moping. She needed to make a phone call.

She made for the front door, but noticed Damon sitting and reading one of her books she'd left downstairs. He was staring at her, both brows raised curiously. He opened his mouth to speak, but before he could say anything, she waved her phone around in the air, a barely intelligible explanation following her out the door.

"Gotta go make a phone call and some other things see ya later, bye!"

She practically slammed the door behind her and rested her back against it, breathing heavily and trying to calm her racing heart.

She was such a coward.

But she was out of the house with no confrontation, and that's what mattered for now.

She got in her car and drove toward town and parked outside of that fateful cemetery. It was old enough that it had precious few visitors, especially with it being later in the afternoon. It suited her purposes just fine. She dialed the number to her home all the way in Japan, waiting anxiously for the line to pick up. Her mother always took the time to remind her before she left on these journeys that she could always call home for any reason at any time no matter what the time difference was. She'd rarely taken up that offer, choosing to mail letters and postcards instead, but she needed more than letter correspondence this time.

She thought the phone might ring forever, but she finally heard the line pick up, and her mother's sweet voice using the traditional greeting.

"Moshi Moshi-"

"Mama..."

Her mother could hear the heartbreak in her voice and paused for a moment, before Mother Mode activated full force, even with an ocean to separate them.

"Kagome? What's the matter? Are you alright?"

"Oh mama, I'm so stupid!"

And she broke down again, wishing more than anything she could just be in her mother's arms.

Damon sat slumped back on Stefan's couch scowling darkly at the ceiling.

"She kissed you and then just ran away? Did you say something mean? Did you eat something gross? You must have done something to mess it up!"

He sat up and glared at the meddlesome blonde in front of him before turning on his brother.

"Why is she even here?"

Stefan's smile was one of resignation.

"I'm here because I was visiting Elena!"

"And where is Elena?"

"She's going to get food!"

"So why didn't you go with her?!"

Stefan stepped in between them to cut off any further argument between Caroline and his brother. It was obvious to him that his brother was experiencing some level of distress, and Caroline's seeming need to taunt him about everything was really not necessary at the moment.

"Hey Care, can you go call Elena and see what's taking her so long?"

She rolled her eyes and grabbed her phone from her bag and headed toward the back door.

"Fine, I can take a hint! But I'm telling Elena everything!"

When the door closed behind her, both brothers let out a whooshing breath of relief. Caroline Forbes certainly new how to frustrate a person with an almost professional level of skill.

"Alright. Tell me again what happened."

Kagome laid up on the roof of the huge mansion she now called home, letting the peace of the star filled sky soak through her soul and sooth her heart.

She'd climbed up here form an upper floor window, finding the cool air and unobstructed view of the sky refreshing. After spilling everything to her mother about finally finding someone like her, and subsequently falling in love with him like a fool, she had lapped up every piece of motherly advice her mother had offered her.

She let it all swirl inside her mind and settle in bit by bit. Admittedly it all made her feel a little foolish.

'Kagome dear, based on what you've told me of his behavior, he may be interested...'

'Why did you run from him?'

'Sweetheart, you need to TALK to him.'

When she'd voiced her next concern, her mother had actually laughed.

'But do I REALLY love him mama, for him... or just because he's the only one like me?'

'Oh my darling, don't be silly! You've already told me you've met someone else there, too! This Caroline? Do you love her knowing she will live forever?'

'Well no! I can barely spend a day just shopping with Caroline.'

'And If one of your other friends showed up from the past, like that wolf you were so fond of. If he showed up right now and asked you to marry him, would you leave this Damon and now love this other person who shared your life span?'

'I... no I wouldn't... I COULDN'T!'

'Exactly sweetie. Comparable life spans does not mean compatibility. Take a day or two to think about it, but then TALK to this boy! I've waited long enough to see you settled and happy Kagome, don't stand in your own way of a good life with someone who cares for you! And send me a picture, he must be terribly handsome!'

'Oh Mama!'

She had ended that phone call feeling much better about everything, and much, much sillier about her behavior. Such was the skill of the Higurashi Matriarch.

She decided her mother's advice was sound. She would take these next two days to make certain of her heart, and then she'd risk it all to see if she had any sort of future with the beautiful vampire that had snuck into her heart when she wasn't looking.

Elena had joined the party at some point, which was wonderful. He just loved having everyone poking around in his business.

That was the last time he tried to get any brotherly advice about anything.

Despite the awkwardness of having his ex-love giving him advice about his new love, he had to admit she had been pretty helpful.

"Just give her a couple of days to breath and then corner. You really should talk about this."

And so that's how he and the unexpected woman of his dreams spent the next two agonizing days, orbiting around each other like ships passing in the night. He tried to give her as much space as possible without seeming like he was avoiding her. If she passed him in the hall or on her way into the kitchen, he'd smile at her and make it an unmistakable greeting. He'd tell her good morning when she came down for coffee. He kept himself as approachable as possible, which was a feat in itself since he'd spent so long trying to seem unapproachable, but he wanted her to feel safe when she decided to finally come speak to him.

But she was running out of time for that. If she didn't come to him at the end of the two days he'd mentally allotted her, he would be confronting her.

The morning of the third day, Damon decided to make some coffee for Kagome as a sort of olive branch to the conversation he'd be having with her today. She'd had her two days, and it was time to talk. If all went how he wanted it to go, he would end this day with a new girlfriend. A girlfriend that would hopefully be his last girlfriend.

It seemed, however, that he wouldn't be starting this talk after all. Kagome came downstairs and stood before him, her expression open and teetering between hopeful and remorseful. He really hated seeing her like that, but if she was actually coming to him first, he'd let her have her say.

For Kagome's part, she was finally done freaking out. She'd been up too late and woken up too early fretting and agonizing about this before she decided that she was thinking way too much. If she could kick Naraku's ass, she could kick this fear in the ass and just get it over with. Her mother was right; happiness was just right there in front of her, and she was done standing in her own way.

But first things first, she had to stop leaving Damon in the dark. He'd been so patient with her these last days, she didn't think he'd ever know how grateful she was. Maybe she'd start off that way.

He was already waiting in the kitchen, a fresh cup of coffee ready and waiting for her. She smiled at him, really looking him in the eyes for the first time in days.

"Damon..." she sighed, taking one last moment to shake off her remaining apprehension.

"Yes Kagome?" His voice was soft and inviting, but his eyes bore into hers intensely. She could tell he was very interested in what she had to say. This both bolstered her and made her more nervous.

"First off, thank you for giving me some space these last two days."

"Of course princess, if you need space I can give you space."

She wrinkled her nose at him slightly. He was trying to lighten the mood slightly for her, and she appreciated it so much. He'd been giving and giving to her, hadn't he? Maybe she didn't need to be so nervous. She rested against another counter top and looked down into the dark depths of her coffee.

"I just... had a bit of an emotional crisis."

"Are you alright?"

"Um... I think so. Sorry about... you know.. the other day in the kitchen."

"Why?"

She wasn't sure what he was asking.

"Why? Why what?"

"Why are you sorry?"

"Well I mean, I just... kissed you and, I don't know, you've been such a good friend that I'm sorry if I made it weird..."

She looked back up and noticed he'd moved closer, arms crossed over his chest. There was a look on his face that she couldn't quite decipher, a ghost of a smirk lifting one corner of his mouth.

'Oh no! Don't look at his mouth!'

She snapped her eyes shut and shook her head to clear it, and he used that opportunity to get even closer. It startled her when she opened her eyes to find him standing over her. She knew she was blushing brightly, and he grinned when he noticed.

"You don't have to be sorry that you kissed me, Kagome."

"I... I don't?" His proximity was clouding her head, but she couldn't find it in her to ask him to back up. The look on his face made him look like a downright predator, which he technically was. More surprising was how much she didn't mind feeling like his prey.

"No. I would like to know why you did though."

This time, her whole face burnt with embarrassment. Was she supposed to just say it now? Well, that had been her whole purpose with coming down here.

"I... I Uh..."

"Yes, kagome?" He was looming over her now, and staring into his eyes was hypnotizing. She felt almost as if she was staring into the eyes of a serpent.

"I just..."

He leaned over her, planting one hand on either side of her on the cabinet behind her, effectively caging her in. Her heart faltered and her mind felt like it was floating in a thick fog. And she was looking at his mouth again.

"You can say it Kagome, it's alright."

He'd practically purred at her, and her eyes fluttered closed as she let her feelings for him solidify one last time. She met his eyes with new determination and clarity, and she saw something close to triumph flare in the depths of his.

"I... I love you."

His eyes widened and sparkled, and the next thing she knew, she was swept up in his embrace, his mouth on hers again. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer, but he pulled away just enough to look her deep in the eyes.

"I love you too," he whispered almost reverently, and Kagome let out what was neither a laugh or a sob as tears began to stream down her cheeks.

She kissed him again, her soul singing with pure elation, and Damon tried to count every one of his lucky stars before the sound of her growling stomach broke their haze of emotion.

He chuckled at her embarrassment and kissed her nose. They could finish this after she'd eaten.

Though perhaps they would never quite be "finished" with this. As far as either was concerned, today was just the first day of their journey into forever. The future was no longer a bleak, lonely blank slate looming before them. The happiness they'd searched for so tirelessly was finally in their grasp, and every second, every heartache, every day of loneliness had been worth it for this.

-END-

A.N.: HEY WAIT! What happened to the yokai?! Good question! I don't know. That's a closure Kagome just didn't get, and neither do we. Maybe they'll turn up later, maybe they won't, life is unpredictable that way!

Thank you all so much for your views and reviews! If you want more DamonXKagome, I have another completed story called Sea Meets Earth you could check out if you haven't already. For more crossover fun, I'm currently writing a ThranduilXKagome called The Return of the Queen. I absolutely hope to revisit this pairing in the future, though I don't have any current story plots brewing. Well, see you all next time!