"Kagome?" Inu Yasha breathed, staring intently at the girl before him.

"Yes?" she asked sweetly, drawing closer.

"You're standing on my foot," he frowned.

Kagome rolled her eyes and stomped away, muttering curses she must have learned from Inu Yasha.

"What was THAT about?" Inu Yasha asked, turning to the kitsune.

"You idiot, don't you know?" Shippou growled.

"No, what?"

"Today is Kagome's birthday."

Inu Yasha glanced in the direction she had disappeared to.  "Is it now?" he asked softly, more to himself than the fox boy.

*     *      *

Kagome raced through the woods, muttering, "That jerk!" under her breath.  How could he not know how important the day was to her?  She stopped running and collapsed on the ground.  What made it worse was this was an anniversary of their first meeting.  At least that had some cause for celebration, didn't it?  She sighed heavily.  What would she get him?  The first thing that popped in her mind was ramen, but she doubted that would make a good present.  She thought for a moment.  "I know!" she brightened and ran back to the well. 

*     *       *

"Where is that stupid girl?" Inu Yasha seethed, following Kagome's scent trail.  Her scent went one
way then stopped abruptly.  The scent he had been following seemed fresher than the dead end as if she doubled back the way she came.  "Who would run into the woods, just to turn around and go back?" he growled.  He gave the area one last sniff before turning back the way he came.

*     *      *

Kagome pulled herself out of the well, back into feudal times with a package under her arm.  "I hope he likes it," she thought as she looked around the well clearing.

A dark presence was above her.  She looked up in time to be slammed to the ground.

"Give me the jewel!" the demon above her hissed.

Kagome screamed.

"Is it in here?" the demon asked, ripping apart the bundle in Kagome's arms.

"Get off of me!" she screamed, trying to protect the present as best she could.

"Hey you!" a voice called out.

The demon sat up and looked back over it's shoulder at a peeved Inu Yasha.

"Get off Kagome," Inu Yasha growled.

"And what if I don't?" the demon asked.

"Then," Inu Yasha grunted pulling something out of his belt.  He whacked the demon with it.

The demon laughed, "That was a threat?"

Inu Yasha glared at the damaged bouquet of flowers in his hand.  "Damn, wrong thing," he grumbled and stuffed the flowers back in his belt and pulling out his sword. "THIS is what I wanted," he smiled at the demon and readied his sword.

"Eek!" the demon cried as it was slashed from neck to hip, spilling slime and blood everywhere.

"Eew!" Kagome groaned, vainly trying to wipe off demon slime.

Inu Yasha pulled the bouquet with half of it's blossoms missing from his belt.  "Happy Birthday," he said, presenting them to Kagome.

Kagome took them and smiled.  She looked regretfully down at the torn package and kicked it with her toe.  "I'm sorry, the demon got to your anniversary present before you could open it."

"Anniversary?" Inu Yasha echoed.  Crouching by the present.

"Yeah, I met you on my fifteenth birthday," she smiled.

"May I open it?" he asked, poking the package.

"Yes, but I'm afraid it's ripped," she sighed, hugging her half bouquet to her chest.

Inu Yasha tore open the wrapping and held up a kimono shirt with various slashes, thanks to the battle it saw.

"It's the kind we use at the temple," Kagome blushed.  "I'll get you another one to replace it."

Inu Yasha stared at it and then at her.  "Happy Birthday... Anniversary, Kagome," he smiled.

"Thank you... you too," she smiled back.  She leaned forward and caught him in a tight hug.

His arms surrounded her and he sighed, holding her close.  THIS is what he wanted.

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