February Eighth.

Today was supposed to be a special day, Kagome mused while suffering through her last period math class. It was her birthday. And not just any birthday anniversary, today she’d turned eighteen. Five minutes ago to be exact. Yet it seemed like no one cared.

Eri, Yuka, and Ayumi, Kagome’s three best friends, had forgotten in lieu of a critical test in another class that the three desperately needed to pass. Kagome’s mom, Grandpa, and little brother Souta were all out of town, visiting relatives, leaving Kagome home alone at the Shrine. Even the annoying stalker boy Hojo wasn’t in school today for some reason. Kagome sighed quietly. There was no way her twenty-one year old Kurama would be able to come see her either, he was away at college, the finest in all of Japan. He couldn’t take time off from his studies, she knew this. All she had to look forward to today was sitting at home with some oden and maybe putting a candle on a cupcake, celebrating unaccompanied.

The final bell rang, and Kagome escaped outside as soon as she could. It was a freezing day, with snow on the ground and the icy flakes still falling. She pulled her warm, blue coat closer around herself, although it didn’t help warm her long legs. She mentally cursed the school dress code and started her long walk home. Kagome reached the school gates crossing to the outside, and stopped.

There, leaning back against a silver car, stood a very familiar figure. Clad in a blue turtleneck, white dress pants, and a long brown trench coat, snowflakes fell onto a shock of beautiful long red hair which partially concealed ageless, intelligent emerald eyes. Whispers erupted in the courtyard. Shuichi Minamino? What was he doing here? Didn’t he graduate a few years ago? Kagome’s sapphire eyes widened, and she raced into her lover’s arms.

“Kurama! But, you’re supposed to be at your school?” she exclaimed quietly, so as not to alert the others nearby of her “human” boyfriend’s true name.

“Simple really, I took a few days off and told them I was sick,” he confessed with a smile. “Did you really think I’d leave my precious one all alone on her birthday?” Kagome blushed and shook her head no. “Good. Come on, get in, I have a few plans for tonight and places that we shouldn’t be late to.”

A few hours later, after a delicious dinner at a five-star restaurant and a stroll through the mall, found the couple at Kurama’s home. It was a quaint house on the far outskirts of town, back into the forest, surrounded by miles of undisturbed woodland all of which Kurama owned. The two were in the cozy living room, seated on the couch. Kagome relaxed in Kurama’s lap, his arms wrapped around her. She sighed contentedly, leaning her head back against his shoulder, turning slightly to look up at him and smile. Kurama smiled back and gently pressed his lips to hers, kissing her for a good few minutes before pulling away.

“Kurama?” Kagome asked softly. When the emerald orbs settled gazing into her own, she continued. “I love you…” Her first response was another long kiss, this one not quite as gentle as the one before.

“I love you too, Kagome,” Kurama murmured softly. Kagome instantly seemed to relax further, as if a great worry had been lifted from her shoulders. This puzzled the kitsune. “You weren’t sure my feelings? I knew from the first day I saw you, 503 years ago, that I loved you. I don’t wait a half a millennium for just anyone. I love you. I need you with me, Kagome,” he admitted. “Will you be mine? Forever?”

Kagome’s eyes widened considerably and she blushed. Her mind and time just seemed to stop. Thoughts flew through her head, and she didn’t reply for a minute or two. When she did, it was the most she could do to nod. Kurama’s smile turned into a satisfied, golden eyed smirk.

“Good.” He kissed down Kagome’s neck to the space just between her neck and shoulder, and stopped there, his fangs brushing against her skin. She shivered at the contact, and he smirked at her one more time. “Forever.” Kurama sunk his fangs into the spot and licked away the two drops of blood, sealing the mark. He picked Kagome up easily and carried her back to his room.

The next morning Kagome awoke, cradled close in the strong arms of her kitsune. Her black tresses against his silver hair truly stood out in the weak early morning light. She snuggled closer against him, warm, sleepy, and content. Kagome Minamino. Mrs. Kagome Minamino. Mate of the infamous youko Kurama. She liked the sound of that. A slight movement caught her attention and she looked up, straight into Kurama’s golden eyes. She yawned cutely, and closed her eyes, her head tucked under his chin. Apparently he wasn’t as asleep as she thought he was.

“Kurama?”

“Hmm?”

“I don’t want to go to school today.” Kurama chuckled, his ears twitching to catch her hushed voice.

“Who said I was going to let you?” he asked teasingly. Kagome giggled quietly and drifted off back to sleep again, her dreams filled with hopes of the future.