Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha or its characters. All rights to Rumiko Takahashi.

Chapter 2: Inuyasha

Inuyasha's mind drifted during his last class of the day.

It was mid-afternoon on Friday, and he had a date tonight.

And he was excited…or so he kept telling himself.

Kagome had been acting weird lately, but he knew it was best to not pester her. Sometimes she was quiet and brooding; that's just how she was. He couldn't help but feel like this time he had something to do with it, but he figured she would open up to him about it in time.

He went straight home after class to shower and get ready for his date. As he was trying to brush out his thick, annoying hair, his phone went off with a text from Kagome.

He frowned at his best friend's shorter-than-usual text, once again reaffirming his suspicion that something was wrong.

She was coming over after her class got out, so he resolved to seriously ask her what was wrong.

As he slipped on a pair of dark khakis and a light blue button-down shirt, he heard a knock at the door.

When he opened it and saw his best friend, he smiled.

The look on her face was one he'd never seen before; it was a mix of fear, worry, and something he else he couldn't quite name.

But what shocked him more than anything was the first thing that came out of her mouth.

"I'm in love with you."

Inuyasha forgot to breathe. His heart forgot to beat. His eyes widened and he felt his jaw drop a bit.

Then he said the worst thing he could have said:

"Huh?"

Kagome looked horrified at his response, knowing him well enough to know it wasn't a positive one.

Her face went redder than he'd ever seen and her eyes went wider than his.

A small squeak came out of her as she turned around and ran back down the stairs to the parking lot.

Before he could react, he heard a car door slam and the rev of an engine as Kagome drove away.

Inuyasha stood there for a solid two minutes just staring in confusion. He couldn't even fathom what had just happened. He'd had no idea that Kagome still felt that way about him.

But the question that confused him the most…

How did he feel about her?

When Inuyasha finally gathered his bearings, he closed the front door and went back to his bedroom. He flopped onto his bed and just thought for a moment.

When the answer didn't come to him, he sat up and ran a hand over his face. He had no idea what to do, and his thoughts just felt muddled and-

His gaze caught on his shoes and socks he'd set out. At the sight of the socks, he sighed. She was his best friend. If they dated and it didn't work out, then that friendship would be ruined.

He decided to call her the next day to tell her he was sorry, but he didn't feel the same way about her. She was still his best friend, and he wanted her to know that.

We've gone through this before and still been close, he mused to himself. It'll be the same thing again. I'll give her some space and then tomorrow I'll call her and we can talk.

With his new resolve planned out, he got up from his bed and put those socks on with a pair brown shoes. He was ready for his date.

The plan was for him to pick Kikyo up from her apartment and then they were going to get dinner before heading over to the pond at the park to feed the ducks. It was simple, which was good because Inuyasha was a pretty simple guy.

Once he was completely ready, he locked his front door behind him and headed down the stairs to his car. He was still bothered by Kagome's reaction to the foot he'd shoved way into his mouth with his "huh" response, but he felt confident that things would be fine by the next day. There was no point in worrying about it.

It was a fifteen-minute drive to Kikyo's apartment, and when he arrived, he found that he wasn't as excited as he'd been earlier. Kagome was running rampant in his mind.

Get it together, he chided himself. You're going on a date with Kikyo, the girl you've been into for a while now. Focus on that.

Inuyasha got out of his car and walked to the door of Kikyo's apartment before knocking on the door.

When she answered the door, he had to keep his eyes from going wide.

She looked fantastic in a little black dress and white sandals. Her dark blue eyes peered up at him, a shy smile coming onto her face.

"Hi," she greeted. Inuyasha smiled.

"Hey," he replied. "You look great. Are you ready?" Kikyo nodded and walked out of the apartment, locking the door behind her.

They made small talk as they headed to Inuyasha's car and made their way to the restaurant.

Kikyo was funny, and Inuyasha was thoroughly enjoying her company.

But there was something off.

He couldn't pinpoint what it was, but something was starting to eat away at him. He pushed it out of his mind and focused on his date.

Dinner was nice, but he found that the easy conversation he and Kikyo were having was good, but it wasn't like a dream or anything.

She sure is different from Kagome, he thought to himself. Not as lively and her smile is nowhere near as contagious. Her eyes are blue like Kagome's, but they're darker and don't show her every emotion in them. Kagome's eyes do. So how did I not realize how she felt about me?

Whoa. That came out of nowhere.

Once again pushing thoughts of Kagome out of his mind, Inuyasha focused on the funny story Kikyo was telling about her younger sister.

He laughed, truly entertained by the story.

By the end of the date, Inuyasha was still having a good time, but there was still something in his mind nagging away at him.

When he walked Kikyo to her door, he saw her fumble with her keys for an extra moment, the universal sign that a woman wants you to kiss her.

But…Inuyasha couldn't.

He scolded himself. Why not, baka? You just had a great time, and she's beautiful and funny and pleasant.

But he just couldn't.

So he leaned in and just gave her a quick, chaste kiss on her cheek. "I'll see you later," he said as he stepped back.

If Kikyo was disappointed, she didn't show it.

Kikyo only smiled. "See you in class," she echoed back before going inside.

Inuyasha walked back to his car broodingly. What was wrong with him?

When he got home, he walked to his room and sat down on the bed as Kagome entered his mind again.

He shook her out of his thoughts as he took his shoes and socks off. As he went to throw the socks in the laundry hamper, he paused.

"Because they're my most favorite things ever," Kagome said, reaching down and touching his sock-covered ankle. Inuyasha laughed.

"Well, happy birthday, Kagome," he said as he pulled out a little gift bag. Kagome's eyes lit up as she took the bag.

"Thank you!" she squealed as she opened the bag and pulled out the socks.

"Inuyasha!" she squeaked. "My own pair of the best socks ever!" She attacked him with a giant hug. Her touchy-feely nature had taken some getting used to, but he'd grown accustomed to it now. He wrapped his arms around her and hugged her back.

The memory was random and confusing.

But as looked at the socks again, he knew.

Kagome. It had always been Kagome.

She supported him through everything, she was there for him whenever he needed her, and she just understood him in ways he couldn't even understand himself. He was so, so stupid.

He had to see her. Right now.

Inuyasha glanced at his watch and saw that it was eleven-thirty. He knew she'd be up, but he was sure she was in bed reading.

"Stupid, stupid, stupid," he murmured to himself as he put his shoes and socks back on before running out of his bedroom.

His roommate and close friend, Miroku, had arrived home at some point during Inuyasha's brooding, and at the sight of the silver-haired man running through the apartment, he jumped.

"What are you doing?" Miroku asked.

Inuyasha waved him off as he ran to the front door. "I have to go tell Kagome I love her!"

Without waiting to hear Miroku's reaction, he ran to his car and peeled out of his parking spot.

He was an idiot for thinking everything would be the same after she confessed her love for him again. Nothing would ever be the same.

Because she loved him and he loved her.

When he pulled into Kagome's parking lot, he slammed the car into park and ran out and up to her door.

He knocked and waited with baited breath.

When she opened the door, he saw that she was wearing her glasses instead of the usual contacts, her hair was up, and she was clad in pajamas.

Beautiful.

"Inuyasha," she said, her eyes widening in surprise at the sight of him. "What are you-"

"I'm in love with you, too!" he shouted, cutting her off. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier. It just…took me a little while to realize I feel the same way.

Kagome looked shocked into silence as he saw tears pool in her eyes. A few leaked onto her cheeks.

Inuyasha immediately panicked. "Why the heck are you crying?" he asked. "I thought you would be happy!"

Kagome laughed through her tears. "I am happy, baka," she replied, looking up at him and reaching up to cup his cheeks in her hand.

Inuyasha smiled and moved his hands to gently rest on her waist before wrapping his arms fully around her.

He slid one hand up into her hair before leaning down to kiss her.

It was so different, so new, from how he'd ever interacted with her. It was love, he knew, and he never wanted the feeling to end.

He relished in the long, lingering kisses and the taste of mouthwash on her tongue. A wave of affection for her washed over him. It was the same mouthwash he used and convinced her to try after swearing it was better than five dentist appointments combined. It was yet another little joke they had between them.

He held her a little closer, a little tighter.

After what felt like what he knew was longer than it had really been, they pulled away and Inuyasha tightened his arms around her to engulf her in a hug.

This was right. This was real.

He knew he was right: nothing would ever be the same. It would only get better.

FIN.

I hope you all enjoyed!

Much love. :)