The root demon was vicious. Inuyasha and Miroku had originally sought to destroy it by themselves, as they usually did with their work. But it proved to be a malicious foe, and soon, Sango and Kagome found themselves in battle alongside their significant others. They fought it relentlessly, pursuing it toward the forest where their tale had all began.
Kagome drew her arrow from Inuyasha's back, aiming for the heart of the creature. They'd been fighting with it for what seemed like several hours then, and it was finally starting to take a toll on the monster. It was also taking a toll on the rest of them. They would have to finish it off as soon as possible.
Kagome's beaming arrow struck the bark of the creature as it futilely attempted to dodge the purity, and Inuyasha followed it with his wind scar. Waves of dirt and debris flew through the air upon the power that surged from the half demon's sword combined with the spiritual abilities of his wife. They were a force to be reckoned with.
"Keh, that demon was a fucking persistent one, wasn't he?" Inuyasha sighed, allowing Kagome to slide off his back as he sheaved Tessiaga.
"I don't think it's over yet," Kagome stated wearily, looking through the clouding dirt to see the enormous wooden demon's form emerging.
It slithered through the roots of the forest behind it, Inuyasha instantly jumping up to follow it. The others tried to go after it as well, but he was already deep into the wood. He slashed through the ends of the demon, a hot golden light surrounding them as they exited the trees. They were in the clearing that held the Bone Eater's Well, the very well that had managed to surpass time all those years ago.
"Here it is," the demon seethed upon seeing the old well, slipping across the clearing to grab hold of it and finally revealing the entirety of its form. Inuyasha readied himself to use his wind scar once more. That was all that demon could take, and it would be finished.
But the wooden entity had already begun to fuse itself to the well. That had been its mission all along, after hearing tales of its omniscient abilities in accordance with time. Tales of its power, allowing a girl from the future to travel back to this time had been whispered all across the west. What immense strength could be gained from such a mysterious ability.
"I haven't the means to kill you, half-demon, but I can send you somewhere you will not prove so damning," the monster hissed at Inuyasha, wrapping its roots around the boy's body.
Inuyasha growled, but before he could break free of his opponent's hold, he found himself being plunged down the well. An all too familiar purple glow surrounded him as the dark chuckle of the wood demon faded out of hearing. Looking up, he found he was at the bottom, and the sky was the same deepening blue of darkness above him as before.
"What was that?" he wondered to himself, no longer smelling the scent of the root demon.
He jumped out of the hole with ease, landing on his feet only to smell the sweet smell of Kagome... but not just her. The smell of her fear was almost tangible. He leapt through the trees without a second thought, pondering if perhaps the wood demon had somehow concealed its smell? How had it managed to evade him and hunt after his friends? He'd only been in that well for a second.
He broke through the wood to find himself in front of the Tree of Ages, immediately seeing Kagome sliding across the ground... in her odd, other world clothes? Without a second thought, he jumped up in front of her, turning to face the demon who dared to try and harm her.
He saw it then. The demon had a mane of white hair, and it whipped around him as he moved to slice through the trees with little to no effort, effectively cutting off the villagers who had come to Kagome's aid. He crouched on one of those stumps, a gleam of furious red anger.
It was himself, the Inuyasha of his past.
"Are you okay, Kagome?" he asked without a thought, his gaze set on himself as he wondered how the hell this had happened.
When she didn't answer, he quickly glanced behind him to find Kagome looking back and forth between the pair in confusion before mumbling to herself, "There's two of them?
There was no time to explain. His twin had laid eyes on him and had begun to approach them. How was he going to get out of this one?
"Who the hell are you?" he growled, his claws casting off a bloodthirsty glint in the starlight.
Inuyasha ground his teeth together, well aware it was going to take a bit of convincing to make himself believe he was himself. He pulled out his Tessiaga, its blade growing in a second. He crouched in front of Kagome even as he knew from his memories he would never get the chance to hurt her, glaring at this other Inuyasha.
"I'm you, stupid. Smell my scent - it's the same as yours," he managed to growl out as the other boy scoffed at him.
"Keh, like I'd believe that one," he sneered, and Inuyasha briefly recalled all of the anger he felt after being released from his binding. Angry at Kikyo, because of the betrayal he thought she'd given him. Angry at Kagome, because of the similarity in her scent and her body. Angry at himself for trusting anyone for even a second.
"I'm not lying," Inuyasha spit out, fury growing in himself now as he thought of Kagome here and then the Kagome he'd left in the future. "I'm from the future; I got sent back here somehow."
"If you're me, then how come you're protecting that girl and the sacred jewel?"
"Well, it's kind of a long story," Inuyasha replied sarcastically, his eyes burning with growing rage. This fool wasn't going to listen to him.
It was then the Beads of Subjugation passed through the air and found their place around the Inuyasha of the past's neck. He glanced down, attempting to pull them off. But to no avail.
"What the heck are these?" he questioned whilst Kaede commanded Kagome to say the word he hated the most.
"The word of subjugation?" she pondered outloud, moving to stand.
Inuyasha winced in anticipation, his fear allowing his guard to be let down for just a second. And that was all his past self needed to leap over his head towards Kagome. Her eyes growing wide, she uttered the first word that passed through her mind.
"Sit, boy!" she exclaimed, and both Inuyashas found themselves slammed into the ground - one on top of the other.
She repeated it several times, and Inuyasha found himself groaning. She had refrained using that word as much as possible - or as much as she could - since their marriage. He had grown to forget the extent of pain from so many commands at one time.
"Cut it out, Kagome!" he whined into the ground.
"Hm, interesting. It seems this other Inuyasha is also bound by Kagome's word. Does it mean he truly is the Inuyasha of the future?" Kaede observed as the two half demons struggled to stand up.
Inuyasha sheathed his sword, muttering about those damn commands while glaring at his other self. If he had only listened, that stupid necklace would have never been put around his neck. Of course, there was little he could do. At least Kagome would be safe until he came to his senses and realized she was the last person he needed to fight.
"Does she do that a lot?" his past self moaned in pain and annoyance, rubbing his shoulder.
"Keh, you just wait," he replied, rubbing his own shoulder as an afterthought. It was pretty sore.
They all started to head back to the village, but Inuyasha of the future had no interest in staying here. Kagome and his friends needed him - he had to get back to his time and make sure they were alright. But how? It had been that wood demon that had sent him back in time... it was still tied to that well, but how was he going to get to it? The demon's scent had vanished; surely it was somewhere in the depths of the well, attached to its carcass.
He tried for what seemed like forever to pass through time again. He'd jumped through it countless times, howled for that damn coward to come out. He even slashed at the walls of the well, but tried his best not to do any permanent damage - just about everything he could think of. He heard footsteps approaching him after sometime, but he was calm when he realized it was Kagome's scent was nearing him.
He turned around upon her arrival, feeling the slightest reassurance at her being by his side. He wondered what the Kagome of the future was doing, if she was alright. Another wave of worry ran over his body, and he felt even more anxious to escape this time.
"Kagome," he greeted her, slumping against the well. He'd made no progress as it was anyway.
"Inuyasha," she said, hesitantly sitting down beside him. "Are you trying to get back to your time?"
"Yeah, it's not working, though," he sighed, glancing at her.
She looked much the same as she did in their present time. Her jet black hair fell down her back in a spill of ink; her kind blue eyes gripped his own with the same electricity. But her cheeks fell a little rounder, her voice a little younger.
"I'm trying to do the same actually," she responded, shyly tucking a piece of hair behind her ear. "I was wondering... why did you come protect me, against yourself?"
He was tempted to scoff at the question, but withheld his automatic response. He knew now that he would always protect her with his life, yes. But back then, things had been very different, hadn't they?
"Well, I don't know what all I'm supposed to say... I don't want to make any big changes to the future. But you're a very important person to me, Kagome. I really don't know where I would be without you. You've taught me kindness, compassion, how to trust others. You're the love of my life, Kagome. I was born for you and you me."
He looked up at Kagome to find her eyes had grown big, and she was staring at him like he was crazy. She inched a tiny bit away from him, and he audibly groaned. How could he have said that to this Kagome, who was only 15 and just recently met him? Of course she would think he was nuts.
"Quit backing away from me - you're the one who wanted to know!" he exclaimed, his face turning red even as he knew this girl would one day be his wife. "Go comfort that stupid fucking jerk, okay? I know he seems pretty bad right now, but you two are going to grow on each other.
"Anyway, I've gotta get back to a Kagome who isn't going to complain about me telling her I love her," he muttered, standing and the young girl following suit.
He glanced over his shoulder as he prepared to jump down the well once more, a new resolve in his bones. Kagome stood there, hair waving in the wind and hand to her chest. She looked so young, and yet, so herself. He felt a mischievous grin coating his fangs as his hands took on a control of their own, wrapping themselves around her waist and pulling her to his body.
In a single motion, his lips had found hers. He gave her a slow, innocent kiss, much like their first one. She tasted just the same, sweet and perfect as her scent would entail. And in the next second, it was over. A shocked Kagome stood still as he leapt down the well, this time slicing through the bottom with his Adamant Barrage. The floor gave way, finally revealing the root demon that threatened his very family.
"You better send me back, or you're definitely going to die," he stated in a growl, sword shining in the now purplish light as the monster cowered. Giving in, they began to travel across time.
He landed at the bottom of the dark well once again; all signs of the demon had vanished. The sky was still black; he could smell Kagome and the others close by. Jumping to the top, he ran through the darkness to their scents. Inuyasha was eager to see his wife, more so than he cared to admit.
The white-haired half-demon burst through the trees to find them all looking around in confusion. Were they looking for him? But all he got was a spare glance from them, as if he was an afterthought. What the hell?
"Hey, are you all alright?" he called, going to Kagome's side immediately.
"Well, yeah," she replied, as if he'd asked a stupid question. "You're the one who ran off on us, remember? And then that demon came back to fight us anyway and vanished, like out of nowhere. You must've just ran right by him."
"Huh? You weren't even worried about me?" he exclaimed, rage rising past his head. Nevertheless, in truth, he was relieved that he was back here with his family. "I was gone for hours!"
"Oh, quit being dramatic, Inuyasha," Sango commented, rolling her eyes as they all began to walk towards the exit of the village.
"Yeah, it was more like five minutes," Kagome chimed in, all ignoring the way the demon was frozen by their words.
"I suppose the root demon retreated because it depleted its energy fighting us for such a long battle. We'll finish it off the next time," Miroku was discussing with his wife as they left Inuyasha in the dust, still shocked by their carelessness.
"Hey! You're going to leave me now, too?" he yelled, running after the group.
"You left us earlier," the priestess said in a sing-song voice, shaking her head at her husband's immaturity.
"Well - well - that was different," he sputtered, trailing behind as they all made their way to the village.
"Oh, is that so? How?" Kagome taunted, saying goodbye to their friends as they parted ways to their respective huts. It was just her and an odd Inuyasha now.
"You know, Kagome, you used to be a lot nicer," he grumbled, ignoring her question. "Even if you did sit me, at least you were more understanding."
"What was that, you want me to sit you?" she asked innocently as Inuyasha found himself in the ground. The girl paused, watching as he tried to pull himself up - his back was still hurting from her earlier commands. "Oops, sorry, boy."
"Kagome!" he groaned as he stood, glaring at his wife as she turned and continued to walk.
"Come, boy," she called over her shoulder, grinning to herself as he unconsciously obediently followed. "I'm sorry, Inuyasha, I'm just playing with you. You know if you were in any real trouble I'd of course be worried about you."
The half-demon sighed as the pair entered their hut, wrapping his arms around Kagome's middle and holding her close. He'd have to tell her about everything tomorrow. In that moment, all he wanted was her. Forever. Breathing in her unchanging scent, hearing her laughter as he nuzzled her neck. There was only one other thing he couldn't help but ask of her.
"Say, Kagome?" he whispered, moving his lips to her ear.
"Hm?"
"Do you still have that school uniform, the one you used to wear all the time?"
AN: Hope you enjoyed this little one-shot; there will be more to come. Let me know what you think, I truly appreciate you taking the time to read my story. Thanks!