A/N – This seems to be the most popular type of Inuyasha fanfic. I always like reading them, but I always end up aggravated because the characters always seem to be a little OOC. So this is my attempt at a completely in-character Inuyasha/Kagome story. The rating is only for suggestiveness; other than that, this story is completely innocent. I've read through volume 31 of the manga, so there are some mentions of things that happen WAY later in the series. I hope you enjoy it – R&R!
* * *
YOU CHANGED MY WORLD
PART ONE
Chapter One -
Inuyasha's Decision
A cool breeze drifted through the hut, slightly ruffling Inuyasha's tangled silver hair. He lay, fighting sleep, as the girl beside him gently wiped his face with a wet cloth. His red haori and inner shirt lay in tatters on the floor beside him, and his hakama was in no better condition, though he still wore it. Along his body were countless wounds from the last battle he fought; the final battle that changed everything.
"You're awake?" Kagome asked when she saw his eyes flutter slightly. He peered up at her with barely open golden eyes, and then grimaced as one of his many wounds demanded attention.
"Kagome…" he gasped quietly. "You're hurt…"
The girl looked down at her bandaged arm. "It's nothing really. Just a scratch."
"Did…did we…beat him?"
She smiled softly. "Yes, Inuyasha. Naraku is dead, along with all of his detachments. You did it, Inuyasha."
"And…the jewel…"
"It's all in once piece. I have it. Whenever you're recovered, I'll let you make your wish."
Wincing, he forced his eyes open again to look up at her. "You…you still want…to give it to me?"
"The Shikon no Tama is too dangerous if it remains here. I think Kikyou had the right idea, in that if you wish on it, it will disappear. Then we won't have to worry about it."
The hanyou's eyes closed again. "Kikyou…"
Kagome looked away. "We don't know what happened to her. She may still be out there somewhere."
Inuyasha didn't respond. Are you still walking somewhere, Kikyou? He thought. What are you going to do now?
"You need to rest now, Inuyasha," Kagome told him. "Go to sleep, and heal, ok?"
"Wait…Kagome…"
"Nande [what is it], Inuyasha?"
"The others…how are they?"
She smiled again. "Miroku won't stop talking about how wonderful it feels to not have to wear anything over his hand anymore. Sango got a little banged up, but she's almost recovered. I think…" she paused. "I think they're going to do what they said a while back."
"You mean…get married?"
"Yeah. The deal was that they'd wait until the battle with Naraku was over, right? Well, Naraku is dead. You can imagine how excited Miroku is about finally having someone to bear his child."
Inuyasha smiled weakly. "That…pervert…"
"Inuyasha, you can barely talk. You need to rest now."
"Yeah yeah, stop…lecturing me…"
Kagome laughed to herself quietly, and then exited the hut. Inuyasha sighed, and finally gave in to sleep.
* * *
"Shippou! You little…"
SLAM!
"Wah! Kagome, Inuyasha's being mean!"
"Inuyashaaaa…."
The hanyou's eyes got wide, and he pointed a finger at Kagome. "Don't you dare say it, girl! This is the first time I've been able to move, I don't need you breaking my neck!"
Kagome glared at him, before marching up and whapping him on the head.
"Ow! What was that for?!"
"For not being able to do you-know-what after you messed with Shippou!" she yelled back. His ears wilted slightly at the force of her voice.
"Don't yell at me, woman!" Inuyasha responded heatedly. "The stupid kitsune jumped on my head while I was sleeping! He deserved it!"
"You weren't sleeping!" Shippou accused from his safe location on Kagome's shoulder. "Your ears were twitching!"
"Didya ever think that maybe they do that in my sleep?!"
"Inuyasha, stop it now or I WILL say it!" Kagome yelled. The inu glared at the kitsune, growling slightly under his breath, before spinning around to sit with his back to them.
"Keh," he muttered. It had been three days of confinement to this hut since he'd first been able to open his eyes. Three days of total boredom that threatened the little sanity he had left.
Glancing over at the rags that were once his clothes, he sighed. So much for the hinezume no koromo [fire-rat robe]. These clothes have taken so much beating, I doubt I could find enough pieces of them to make one sleeve! I guess it's time for new clothes.
Inuyasha looked down. His hakama still tied at the waist and covered the important parts, but the legs were torn to shreds. He would need an entirely new outfit, unless he wanted to run around in rags.
I liked that robe too, he thought, pouting. We went through a lot together.
As if reading his thoughts, Kagome dropped some folded clothing into his lap.
"I think your clothes are completely ruined, Inuyasha," she said. "This isn't much, but you can wear it until you find something else you like."
Examining what she'd given him, he failed to recognize it. "What in the world is this, Kagome?"
"It's, uh, from my time," she said sheepishly. "I went there yesterday while you were sleeping and found something I thought you'd be comfortable in. It's just sweatpants and a t-shirt."
Without saying anything, the hanyou stood and began to untie his hakama, much to Kagome's shock.
"Gah, wait until I'm outside at least!" she cried, before bolting out of the hut. "Don't you have any modesty at all?!"
Once outside, she sighed and looked down at the jewel hanging around her neck. I promised to give it to him so he can become a full youkai, she thought. And I will. I wonder if, after all that's happened, he'll still want to make the same wish.
A few minutes later, Inuyasha emerged, and Kagome had to hold back a gasp of surprise. The clothes she had found fit him perfectly, though they were, of course, not as baggy as his normal clothes. He had Tetsusaiga slung over one shoulder, for there was no belt to tie it to. He looks like a boy from my time, she thought, and her heart fluttered slightly. If my friends saw him, they'd be in love.
Her thoughts were interrupted when he noticed her staring at him. "What, did I put something on wrong?" he asked. She snapped out of it, and looked away.
"No, it's fine." As he began to walk past her, she said, "Inuyasha?"
He stopped. "Nande?"
A shocked look fell on his face as he watched her lift the Shikon no Tama off of her neck, and hold it out to him.
"Kagome…" he said quietly.
"I promised it would be yours," she told him. "Now you can be a full youkai."
Inuyasha looked down at the jewel in his hand, and then back up at the departing girl. Kagome… he thought, and then quickly made his decision.
* * *
Kagome stood by the God Tree, her eyes fixed on the spot where Inuyasha had been sealed. So many times she had found herself standing in that exact spot gazing at the tree, remembering when she had first met him. He'd looked so peaceful sleeping under the enchantment. Back then, she had no idea what she was getting into when she broke his seal.
"What do I do now?" she asked herself quietly. "The search for the Shikon fragments is over. Inuyasha is going to be a full youkai, and might never be the same again. Miroku and Sango are going to get married, and have lots of kids. Shippou…I don't even know what Shippou wants to do.
"This isn't my time, but why does it feel so much like home? I have responsibilities in my own time. I have to finish school so I can get a job, and make a living. I have my own life to live. But why do I feel so much more at peace while I'm here, in the feudal ages?"
Sensing a presence behind her, she glanced over in surprise when Inuyasha walked up to stand beside her. He looked completely like himself, but his eyes were serious, as if he'd made a big decision.
"Inuyasha…" she said, confused. "You still look like a hanyou."
"I am a hanyou," he replied, refusing to meet her gaze. Her brow creased slightly.
"But the jewel…I can't feel it on you. What did you do with it?"
"It's gone, Kagome. It disappeared, like you said it would."
"But…" she couldn't figure out what he was saying. "What did you…"
"I wished that…" he stopped, and then made himself say it. "I wished that you would always be with me, Kagome, and that you'd always be able to travel between our times, so you'd never have to choose between us."
She gasped. "Inu…Inuyasha…"
She felt herself being wrapped up in his warm arms, and he hugged her tightly as if he feared she'd disappear. "You changed my world, Kagome. I was never this happy before I knew you. I want to be able to stay with you. You told me a long time ago that you wanted to stay with me, despite all I did. Now I just want to stay with you."
As she stood in his embrace, she remembered all the times he had protected her. Even though he got injured, he protected her from everything, and because of that not once did she ever get hurt badly while being with him. Yet, he'd had a hole through his stomach, poison in his body, and countless other things, just because he'd been protecting her.
She smiled. "Arigato [thank you], Inuyasha."