DISCLOSURE STATEMENT: This author has no financial or non-financial relation nor do they possess any right to "Inuyasha: A Feudal Fairy Tale" franchise. Full ownership of all characters is the sole intellectual property of Rumiko Takahashi.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Sorry for the long delay. Given the feedback I was receiving I determined that the direction I had plotted out for this story would send the wrong message regarding getting treatment. Therefore, I had to make alterations to the plot which took time. I hope this alternative direction does not disappoint. Thank you for your patience.
Wherever You Will Go
Driving through the snow laden hillside was torturous. Even more so because the asshole lived off the beaten path and even with their all terrain tires, the ride would have made anyone car sick - the nausea rising and falling in time with the slow swishing of the windshield wipers gently brushing off the snow trickling down from the sky.
"We should've just taken the skimobiles," a rather portly officer groaned miserably as he leaned his head against the glass and closed his crimson eyes in attempt to stave away the vomit, "Or just not gone at all. How many times do we have to check out this guy's house before he realizes he's just a paranoid freak?"
"There's only so many demons on this mountain and they're all accounted for. None of them were in the area this..."
"You're new here so let me fill you in," the fat moth demon chuckled darkly as he gave the young panther demon a withering glare, "The guy is insane. Sees things that aren't there. I've come up here every other week for the past year over bullshit. Nothing is ever..."
"His wife verified that someone was there," the red haired freckles man huffed dismissively, "We need to check it out. Besides, don't they have a restraining order against some guy? Maybe it was him."
"This isn't Tokyo," the moth groaned miserably, "And the wife said it felt like sprites or something small not a crocodile."
Emerald eyes blinked once as his face furrowed on confusion.
"We have a crocodile out here? Is he native?"
"Paperwork said he came over from Burma or something in the late 40s," the moth mumbled before sniffing, "Got a taste for Japanese men after some battle in the Second World War."
"I can see that. Sometimes I miss the days when humans were fair game," the panther mused nostalgically as he turned to give his companion a friendly grin, "I might not seem all that old but I remember..."
"No one gives a shit what you remember. Pay attention to what you're doing."
Rolling his eyes at the moth man's attitude, the young man chose the path of least resistance by not arguing but he did set his jaw and adjusted his grip on the wheel.
"So the guy they have a restraining order against is a crocodile? What did he do? Try to eat the wife?" the panther joked awkwardly and the moth let out an exasperated sigh to end all sighs.
"Like I say the guy who made the report is crazy. The crocodile was his doctor or something and every so often he shows up trying to commit the man," the chunky moth huffed as he reached up to absently scratch his scalp, "The captain seems to be on the crazy bastards side but I don't see why we don't just let the doctor at it. I don't want someone like that around where I eat and sleep."
"God forbid someone interfere with your eating," the panther mumbled under his breath earned a half-hearted yet withering glare. Silence followed the jibe - the car bumping along the never beaten path before the tire began having some difficulty in the deeper snow. Tapping the breaks and putting the truck in park, the panther sighed heavily as he turned the keys in the ignition and removed them entirely.
"We'll have to walk from here. Snows too deep."
As the young officer unbuckled himself and propped open the driver's side door, the attitudinal moth settled down in his seat and refused to budge.
"You coming?"
The question was more or less rhetorical. Even if the fatass wanted to come, he'd tell him it'd be better if he just watched the car. Honestly, the panther wouldn't doubt that half the time his predecessors didn't even bother coming to check on the reports after the first few deadend visits. A fresh set of actually interested eyes might redeem the poor dude who sounded like he was struggling enough without a bunch of lazy cops who couldn't be bothered to show the tiniest bit of understanding. In a station where nothing ever happened, you'd think they'd want to get out of the office but judging by his assigned partners stature they'd probably all let themselves go instead. Not all but definitely most.
"I'm not getting out of the damn truck. You go and when you come back maybe you'll realize this was all a waste of..."
"Fine by me. Wait here," the panther huffed before slamming the door shut and making his way up the mountains. Even though he was a fair distance away, he could smell that someone had been here recently who shouldn't've been. Coming from Tokyo had some perks - like knowing the scent pattern of a 'go-for' as opposed to just some harmless demon minding its own business. He'd transferred to this region to get away from the more serious crimes for the sake of his mental health but it seemed like crime was the same no matter where you went. While so many things had changed in the last several centuries, many demons preferred to buck the new order and use the freedoms the shadows provided to do what they wanted without consequence.
And the closer the panther got the more he was convinced something nefarious was going on here. From the subtle markings on the trees to the wrappers on the ground, it was clear something was off. Wrong even. Especially considering the distance of the wrappers from the house was the exact distance when the hum of the electricity started hitting his ears. This was the furthest you could be and still be in sensory range.
Licking his lips, he glanced around the area before slowly making his way back to the car. He wasn't about to go into this situation with only the most apathetic cop in the world to back him up. The scent was far too heavy and the poor bastard who made the report was probably only crazy because no one believed him when he told the truth. That alone was enough to make anyone insane and god forbid the guy was looney tunes before that...
"Back so soon? Told you it was..."
"Just shut up. Someone's been here," the rattled young man informed the man they called his 'partner' while attempting to buckle himself in, "Enough for their scent to be everywhere and I'll be damned before I go any further with only you covering my back..."
"Aw is the big city cop afraid of a few twigs? Did you see a shadow on the snow covered..."
Counting backwards from ten did nothing to cool his temper, especially when the useless sack of fat kept trying to humiliate him instead of taking the very real threat seriously. Hands gripping the steering wheel so tightly the metal whined under the pressure, the one and only want he wouldn't maul the asshole for his callous disregard is if he got out of the vehicle.
"Get out."
The portly cop froze and blinked a few times before seemingly to realize that this young overeager newbie was ordering him to actually get out of the vehicle.
"The hell you say boy?!"
"I said remove yourself from the vehicle," the panther managed as he set his jaw so hard his teeth cracked, "If I'm being ridiculous, I don't see the problem."
"I'll tell you what the problem is! It's a half days walk back to the office!"
"Better get walking then. I'm sure you could use the exercise."
As the moth went to swing, he realized how egregiously he'd miscalculated when he found his arm caught and a hand pressed hard up against his throat while a terrifying looking demon snarled less than an inch before his face.
"Don't underestimate me. I'm asking nicely right now but I have no issue tossing your sorry ass to the curb," the panther hissed as his eyes glowed momentarily red, "Get. Out."
"I'll report you for this!"
The panther snorted but did release him if only to open the door so the moth tumbled out onto the snow.
"Only if you live but seeing how there's 'nothing' to out here I'm sure you'll have the opportunity."
Even after so many months, it never ceased to bother her that Koga, of all people, was the one they were forced to deal with in the modern era. Not that he was bad at his job but it was hard to adjust to him being so different than he used to be. Then again, he'd lived through five hundred years and lost his wife so it stood to reason he'd be much more subdued and mature. Gone was the impulse, cocky demon they used to know and in his place was a very patient, quiet man who was genuinely trying to help. In an irritating 'I have my kid gloves on' kind of way but still, Kagome knew he had been fighting tooth and nail for Inuyasha behind the scenes. At least, that's what she'd been told in private while Inuyasha was with his shrink in the sound proof room they held their sessions in. That was something else she hadn't expected. The hoops the hospital went through to accommodate and circumvent demonic senses. In any case, there had been more than one argument and at least one instance of formal reprimand arising from Inuyasha's care. The crocodile had been busy and, despite the restraining order, had found more creative ways to interfere with Inuyasha's life. Like getting random doctors to write letters about how her half-demon needed to be committed because he posed a danger to youkai society and the statute of secrecy. Koga and Jinenji had thankfully gotten involved and put a stop to the whole thing but still…
It was worrisome. The sooner they could get back to the shrine the better. While the mountains had been good in some ways, Kagome worried staying here indefinitely would end badly in the long run. There were too many eyes here and one little slipup could have Inuyasha in a mental ward for the rest of his unnaturally long life at the mercy of a doctor whose primary motivation was having been thrown by someone half his age. Letting the crocodile win...
Not that any of that was the immediate issue. Right now the issue was something much less serious. Irritating but not life changing.
"Well that's bullshit," Inuyasha blurted exasperatedly, "No one said I had to wait for a second shot. They said it was just one vaccine! One shot. I don't understand why...
"Well I'm sorry if this is upsetting but what matters is that it's a start," Koga sighed in a calm, even tone, "Today you receive your first dose and then in thirty days, you will receive the second dose. After that, you can leave if you're cleared...well, after that, you can go anywhere you want."
While Inuyasha didn't seem to notice that tidbit of the explanation- or he did and didn't think much of it - Kagome picked up on the subtle implication on what 'cleared' actually meant. Even with the shot, they still might refuse to let him leave this place because they deemed Inuyasha a threat to youkai existence for god knows what reason.
"Still say its bullshit," Inuyasha huffed before averting his eyes and trying to get a handle on his anger before it spiraled out of control, "You should've told us this. Way back. You didn't…."
"To be fair, I don't remember you explaining the two shot thing either. You constantly said it was just the one," Kagome offered and Inuyasha sent her an appreciative loving glance before turning his attention back towards the wolf. His wife obviously knew that he needed someone validating his memory and the fact she knew what he needed without him having to say it was endlessly comforting.
"It's one vaccine but the vaccine itself is a two part dose. If I didn't explain more fully I'm sorry," Koga admitted apologetically, "We were more focused on other aspects of his care. That was an oversight because I didn't think the delay would bother him. I assumed he would want to stay here."
"Why would I want to stay here?" Inuyasha asked wearily as he began blindly reaching for Kagome's hand and she mercifully took it with a firm squeeze.
"He's doing better? More stable?" Koga pressed and Inuyasha narrowed his eyes incrementally.
"Yeah, and?"
"And his care is based here?" Koga supplied and a cold feeling of dread began settling in the half-demon's stomach. They were going to make him stay here. Even though he was doing better and the vaccine offered freedom, they were going to make him stay here no matter how much he might improve. Exactly where he didn't want to be. He wanted to be near Kagome's family. Wanted Kagome near her family. Wanted their support with the baby that was coming in just a few short months and…
"You have a clinic in Tokyo, don't you?" Kagome pointed out dourly, "Inuyasa's 'care' is is wherever you are, isn't it?"
Koga looked between them for a moment as he realized he'd made a miscalculation here. Inuyasha looked a hair away from crying and Kagome…well, there was a reason he'd fallen for her so hard back in the day. She looked every bit a demon as she stared him down and held her ground waiting for his response.
"We've discussed it and we want his care to continue at home. Not here," the miko finally stated and Inuyasha breathed a sigh of relief as he gave her hand a light squeeze. At least he wasn't the one to say it. Most likely if he said that, they'd chalk it up to him being crazy and not knowing what he wanted or maybe even dock him a few sanity points just for disagreeing with his doctor. That Kagome was the one doing the arguing, taking that burden off his shoulders, meant more to him than words could ever express.
"This is his home and he doesn't…"
"No. Its not and seeing as how he's right here, please don't talk like he's not in the room. You've been doing it over and over and it's pissing me off," Kagome interrupted tersely and Inuyasha's lips twitched upwards at her tone. Koga had never been on the receiving end of one of Kagome's anger bouts and given the surprised look on his face, he didn't know how to handle it.
"The...the psychiatrist we brought over is only provisionally licensed in this region," Koga finally countered – slowly and deliberately like he was trying to formulate his thoughts, "In this hospital to be precise. If you do move to Tokyo, you will have to come back here for his…for your appointments, Inuyasha."
The wolf nodded once at half-demon and gave him a genuinely sympathetic half-smile.
"I know you want to go back. That you want your wife to be near her family but we're making actual progress with your condition. We think you'll eventually be able to control it fully but we'll need to monitor you carefully to make sure," Koga tried and Inuyasha paled slightly at the idea of having to raise a child here for the foreseeable future whether that be months or god forbid years…
"If they can arrange for me to have a half-demon baby in Tokyo, I don't see why they can't arrange for his appointments to be there too. There has to be a way to get approval for your clinic or something, right?" Kagome countered heatedly – noting how Inuyasha was slowly looking more and more distressed with each passing second. He'd been doing so well and if Koga didn't stop, they'd be set back weeks…
"It'll take time to arrange the paperwork to…"
"Well you've got thirty days so figure it out," Kagome snapped coldly before sighing heavily and pinching the bridge of her nose, "Sorry. I didn't mean to say it like that. I just…"
Koga, to his credit, gave her an understanding albeit sad little smile and nodded.
"You haven't changed very much," the wolf laughed softly before his eyes became somewhat distant and his smile faded, "Strong women tend to become stronger with the passage of time. Especially when they become mothers. Ayame..."
Licking his lips, Koga cleared his throat and brought the subject back to why the couple had come here in the first place.
"I guess what I'm saying is I'll get right on that as soon as we're done here," Koga sighed as he moved towards the counter and began preparing the first shot, "You make a very persuasive argument Kagome. Perhaps you should consider a career in youkai law."
Inuyasha furrowed his brow slightly in amusement and gave Kagome a speculative glance.
"I can see her doing that. She always did like things done right."
Four hours, one shot and one irritatingly invasive therapy session later, Inuyasha contentedly watched his wife cooing over the variety of flavors at the shaved ice parlor in all her puffy wobbly glory. From what he remembered of Sango's pregnancy, which admittedly wasn't much, the slayer never seemed to waddle nor did Sango ever get quite this chunky. Not that either was a bad thing - both were absolutely perfect and adorable in his eyes - but the fact that Kagome's pregnancy was different than the only other one he'd ever paid attention to did make his anxiety a little worse. Supposedly her doctor said everything was fine. That she didn't have the diabetes or the bad pressure but she was getting so big! That couldn't be good, even if it was absolutely adorable, right? Sango popped out twins and didn't ever look gigantic. Granted, Sango was also running around doing errands all the time and lifting heavy things while Miroku was almost always mid-stroke but...
Over all, if the worst thing happening in his world right now was that he had to wait another month before being able to leave, it was a pretty good life.
His wife bit her lip while the top of her tongue poked out and Inuyasha could barely stop his heart from bursting.
A very good life in fact.
"Can we get two? Please, please, please?" Kagome hummed excitedly as she glanced over her shoulder and gave him a pleading glance like he had any control over their finances. Shit, he didn't even know if they had any money much less whether they had enough to cover two snow cones.
"Get whatever you want," Inuyasha laughed as he watched her straighten up with her belly sticking straight out while she stared up at the flavor board with the biggest doe eyes he'd ever seen. Kagome had apparently not been exaggerating when she said she'd been craving these icy snacks. Either way, this was the first time in a long time that he felt like what they were doing was a perfectly normal thing to do. Usually, whenever they went out and about he felt like a foreigner in a strange land because in essence that's what he was. Today though felt different.
It felt like he belonged here. In this stupid shop. With his idiot wife who wanted pointless sugary sweets that couldn't be good for her or the baby but what did he know? Women crave things they needed. Maybe Kagome just needed large quantities of sugar.
But given the amount of weight she'd put on, maybe she needed to cut back. Not that he'd ever be stupid enough to say that thought out loud. He might not know much but he knew not to call a pregnant lady fat. Sango had bashed his head in enough times for that message to get across.
"You liked the lemon one and wanted orange," he offered gently as Kagome seemingly couldn't make up her mind and began fidgeting, "Or you could get that cherry one I got last time. You seemed to like that. Or..."
"I kinda just want ice," Kagome mumbled sheepishly as she gave him a somewhat apologetic look, "But like flavored ice."
Why did she have to make it so hard not to laugh at her? He'd done it a few times and had learned the hard way teasing her was the quickest way to make her cry.
"Well that is why we came here. If you can't make up your mind, can't you do half and half flavors?" he tried to offer with his eyes sparkling and jaw held tight from the effort of keeping it together, "Maybe do a flavor on one half and no flavor on the other?"
Sapphire eyes grew round like that was the most brilliant thing she had ever heard suggested before she turned and began inspecting the menu with more detail. After what seemed like a very amusing eternity, she had ordered and he was soon following his very roly poly wife to the park carrying her coat, her mittens, her scarf and everything else she had donned that morning. He couldn't really complain about being her own personal pack mule though - even though he was right when he'd prophesized that she was going to get overheated. In just a few short weeks, they'd be able to leave this place and really start living. This whole experience had been a trial run - more or less. A journey for him to get his sanity back and it had been more or less successful. Especially since everything had been going relatively smoothly and there had been no worrisome...
As Kagome turned the corner, Inuyasha chewed the inside of his cheek as his thought once again returned to the two blips on his radar that morning. They'd been worrisome. Kagome told him they were real and while he hadn't been able to trust his instincts in years, now that he was feeling a little more sane he wanted to give them a little credit. Just a tiny bit. A smidge really. Their aura might not have been ominous but something had been snooping around the outside of their house for months now and...
'No, I can't think like that. Those weren't real. Well okay they were real but...'
"Do you ever wonder why Koga became a doctor of all things?" Kagome suddenly asked curiously as she took a tiny bite of the flavored side of the ice and wrinkled her nose like she disliked what she'd done of her own volition. Which was precious. Everything she'd done recently absolutely made him melt as quickly as that ice was melting in that puffy hand of hers. The ease in which the feeling came always surprised him. For once in his life, it was a truly pleasant emotion without a catch to it. No rug was ever pulled out from under him. Hadn't been for quite some time. If he didn't know better, he would've sworn what he'd been feeling these past several weeks had been happiness like how everyone else experienced it. That didn't mean he was completely better. There were still moments he knew weren't right. Like imagining things that weren't there. Things outside their house that made his hair stand on end for absolutely no reason. Nothing was ever there. Nothing. It made no rational sense that something or someone in this time as plotting to harm them. No one was that invested in their lives and they had no enemies. But maybe if he ignored it and kept following the suggestions Mei had given him then what was left of the paranoia would leave and then he'd be fine. More than fine. So fine he might finally be able to figure out how to be normal. A well adjusted person who knew what to say and what to do. Who would know how to speak and act around others - demons, humans, pets even. He'd never known how to do that and sure before his rapid descent into madness he'd been doing better, he certainly hadn't mastered social skills...
"It just seems weird to me. Yeah, he always wanted to take care of his pack but that was through brute strength," Kagome continued to speculate, "I mean I guess he just took that energy and decided to be less flashy."
Rolling his eyes at her asinine question, her half-demon shadow kicked absently at a rock with the tip of his sneaker while he adjusted this wife's discarded outer layers in his arms.
"You answered your own question and you already know why he decided to be a doctor," Inuyasha sighed with no lack of sympathy as Kagome wobbled her way through the very urban park that lacked both trees and grass for some unknown reason, "Same reason Jineji got into it. People were dying. Ayame died. Hell, they even said Sesshomaru died. Shit woman I probably would've become a..."
Slowing his pace slightly, Inuyasha couldn't help but feel a wave of sympathy for the entirety of demon-kind. He could hardly imagine being in the middle of a plague capable of taking down even the most powerful demons with no rhyme or reason. Worse yet, he knew from personal experience how fast the disease tore through someone. How painful and disorientating the entire thing had been. At least medicine in this time had answers. Inuyasha could hardly imagine how terrifying it must go been to go around not understanding what was happening and not even being able to trust the people you love. If he was told correctly, entire species had been wiped out in a matter of months.
If how quickly he'd deteriorated was any indication, he wouldn't have survived the first wave of the plague either. Would anyone have cared about him though? Enough to spend the rest of their lives trying to prevent others from dying? Probably not. Kagome and his friends had definitely the exception to the rule. No one had ever been able to tolerate his presence much less give a shit. Probably would've...
Inhaling deeply and letting out a long exhale, Inuyasha cut those thoughts off before they went too far. After all, given the number of people literally bending over backwards to help him get better, it was clear people cared. That he was loved after all.
Kagome cared enough to stay during his darkest moments and love him so much she was willing to become a roly poly of a woman just to carry his child. Amber eyes affectionately took in her absolutely adorable double chin as she glanced at him over her shoulder. In that moment, despite his brewing inner turmoil, Inuyasha honestly believed she'd never been as beautiful as she was now and loved her impossibly more.
He smiled softly as she took another bit of the flavored side she didn't want before her eyes widened and she gasped. Probably because her foggy pregnant mind forgot she'd ordered a...
"Oh! Speaking of Sesshomaru, Rin called again," Kagome suddenly blurted as she stopped and waited for him to catch up to her - which he did in two steps, "I forgot to tell you. They want to meet you and grab lunch if you're up to it."
"Rin has met me," Inuyasha sighed - both out of exasperation and because pregnancy had turned his smart wife into a forgetful yet adorable idiot, "Don't understand why the brat would want to see me though."
As Kagome chided him and pointed out that he was the uncle Sesshomaru's spawn never had, Inuyasha felt the hairs on the back of his neck prickling and the hair raising on the back of his arms but he refused to acknowledge it by looking around. After over a century of surviving on his own, he wanted to trust his instincts and search out the threat. A threat he already believed existed back at home. It would make sense if someone did want to hurt him or Kagome they'd follow them. Keep track of their movements. A predator stalking their prey.
But the time he could trust his instincts had come and gone. Nothing was more terrifying than a battle with an enemy you couldn't see. That you couldn't touch. Not being able to trust your own senses and being entirely at the mercy of thoughts that weren't real.
And he was getting better. This was not the time to start getting anxious and paranoid again. To give anyone a reason to lock him up and throw away the key. Besides the current cocktail he was on and the tricks Mei had given him were working.
And those pills had been working so why...
Letting out a shaky breath, Inuyasha stubbornly fought back the stinging at the back of his eyes as he followed Kagome through the park in search of whatever she was looking for. Probably a place to sit down. Her feet were always swollen anymore but the stupid wench refused to be carried. Said it was embarrassing.
Him caring for her was embarrassing.
Setting his jaw, Inuyasha desperately tried to argue against the latest unwanted thought and to assuage his fears, he picked up his current snails pace to walk beside his wife with his hand in her sticky hand.Somehow the sugar laden treat Kagome had been craving had almost completely melted despite the cold winter air. Probably from the heat radiating from the layer of fat on his pregnant wife's chubby hand. She was a walking furnace anymore but her doctor insisted this was not a bad thing. Yet another thing making him anxious that shouldn't. But he couldn't let them know that he was having any problems. They'd report it and then they'd be stuck here longer. God forbid Kagome couldn't be with her mother when she gave birth - although they did say once he was vaccinated Kagome's family could visit them. That..
In any case, while the syrup coating her hand was absolutely disgusting but he was willing to put up with the discomfort the stickiness caused for the emotional comfort her hand provided. Letting out a controlled exhale, Inuyasha tried to keep his wits about him but it was getting harder and harder to keep his emotions in check.
"Look at me," Kagome whispered quietly enough for it to be solely for his benefit, "Tell me what's wrong."
Amber eyes widened in mild panic before he offered her a strained smile.
"Nothings wrong. I'm fine," he argued weakly before glancing suddenly to the side when his instincts started screaming at him. Instincts he could no longer trust or so he thought. A sprite was staring at them from the edge of the cement covered park. Watching them. Making direct uncomfortable eye contact with him with an eerie smirk that sent chills down his spine.
But he couldn't trust his eyes. His mind. They had said his medication wasn't a cure. Just something to manage the symptoms but the symptoms did stay. Maybe the medication wasn't working anymore or at least not working as well or...
"I'm ignoring it," Inuyasha admitted as quietly as he could but have Kagome still hear him, "I'm fine. It's fine. Just..."
He gestured next to his head as he gave her a pleading look - begging for her forgiveness rather than her condemnation.
"What..." Kagome licked her lips before reaching up yo cup his cheek - a gesture he leaned into with debilitating relief, "Tell me what's going on."
"Same thing as this morning. Thinking people are watching us," Inuyasha mumbled miserably as he rubbed his cheek into her chunky unnaturally warm palm, "But I know I'm just being paranoid. That it's not real, okay? I..."
The miko glanced around the park before she saw exactly what was making her husband so antsy. Sure enough, there were two or three monkey sprites all looking directly at them and to make matters worse once she started paying attention they all turned and walked away almost in sync. Maybe Inuyasha hadn't been paranoid earlier. His instincts used to be spot on and now that he was more in control, maybe his inner danger radar was working like it should.
But because he'd lost himself and fought to get it back, he didn't trust himself to know what was real and what wasn't.
And no one else would trust him either. Chalk up his intuition as nothing but paranoia. However, if the observation came from her instead of Inuyasha...
Maybe they'd take the strange occurrence seriously.
"I don't think it's in your head. You might be right," Kagome whispered anxiously and Inuyasha furrowed his brow in confusion.
"I don't understand," he admitted anxiously before lifting his face up and away from her in favor of glancing around himself, "Are you saying there is something?"
"Hold this," Kagome ordered gently as she held out her ice come that was more syrup than anything before fumbling around with her purse, "I just need to text Mama real quick."
"You're lying," Inuyasha accused wearily as he watched with heartbroken eyes and yet made no move to stop her, "You're texting the doctor aren't you? You think I'm getting worse."
He let out a shuddering breath before dropping what little remained of the sweet treat and gripping her wrist.
"Please don't. Whatever you think I'm doing wrong just tell me. You promised to tell me first before telling them" Inuyasha pleaded as Kagome stared up at him with heartbroken eyes, "You promised."
"Inuyasha I'm not...please just...just breathe," the miko pleaded as glanced around at the unwanted voyuers and noticed one of the sprites had paused in its retreat. Watching them once more with a wicked grin that sent chills down her spine. But why? It's aura didn't feel menacing. It felt as calm and peaceful as the ones she felt this...
"Nothing is wrong with you but please don't look and don't react. Someone is watching us," Kagome finally mumbled under her breath and Inuyasha froze.
"W-what?"
"Breathe," Kagome insisted a Inuyasha's hand began trembling, "Just breathe. All I'm doing is asking Koga to meet us or send someone."
Heart sinking to the base of his toes, Inuyasha closed his eyes as his nose twitched and his ears swiveled at a fascinating rate of speed. For the first time in what felt like an eternity he actually listened to what his senses were telling them while his instincts began screaming at him to scoop up his wife and run.
Those creatures he'd felt and smelled earlier were everywhere. A dozen maybe more and every single one of them far too close for comfort. Every once in a while he could even distinguish his name and hers amongst the hustle and bustle of the city.
A tear of relief slid down his cheek as his throat grew tight despite the very real danger. Thinking someone was watching them wasn't a set back like he feared but a sign he was getting better. He couldn't even remember the last his instincts had actually been right much less the last time his fears had a basis in reality. This, of course, didn't mean he could trust them all the time. Not yet at least but it was morbidly comforting that he was finding himself again. For so long, the core of his very being had been ripped away from him to the point where he didn't even know who he was.
But listening to his instincts, being reminded they weren't faulty, allowed a piece of himself to fall back into place. That piece of a once powerful warrior who was a master in battle tactics. In the midst of battle he could read body language like a book and adjust accordingly without a second thought. He always knew what to do because his instincts and mind never lied to him.
Until, of course, he went absolutely insane but maybe, just maybe, that piece wasn't as destroyed as he'd believed.
"We need to move," Inuyasha mumbled calmly as he opened his eyes, "Somewhere with more people. More witnesses. If they make a move, I doubt I can kill them like I could in the good old days and I don't trust myself to show restraint. Especially if they use you."
Kagome nodded once in understanding and agreement before glancing at the various exits which, of course, had more than a few suspicious assholes lingering around them. God forbid one of them try to touch her.
Why would anyone be stalking them though? Was this a test? Surely Koga wouldn't stage something like this just to see if Inuyasha would snap. Well, okay, Koga might seeing as how he'd more or less given up on Inuyasha ever being normal again but Jineji hadn't and Mei would undoubtedly give at least her a heads up.
"Can you hear what they're saying?" Kagome asked quietly as she gently extracted her wrist and began trying to casually make her way towards one of the park entrances, "Or do you recognize the scent?"
Walking as close to her as he fared, Inuyasha subtly shook his head. It was taking every ounce of discipline he had left not to react more than he already was. Every muscle in his body was shaking out of control and his breathing had seen more even days. Maybe the point of all this was to make him crazy. To prove he wasn't improving. They wanted him to stay here. Every single one of his doctors thought he posed too much of a risk to youkai kind. That he'd expose them.
Which, if that was the case, where the hell were they when that noh mask bastard was literally sucking up humans right and left. He'd give his right arm to learn why the bastards left him to handle that one on his own. If anything, they should've at least attempted damage control since it was broadcast on the human news. And who was regulating the soul piper? He seemed to be doing his work out in the open and that ghost girl definitely caused problems. Destroyed property, endangered life and god knows what else.
But oh no, the mentally ill half-demon who just wanted to live at a shrine and mind his own business was the real threat. What did they honestly think he was going to do? Strip down to his birthday suit and run wild through the streets of Tokyo? Although they did have a point if he turned full demon but aside from when he was on the brink of death, that never happened.
"Do you think they're trying to set me off?" Inuyasha whispered under his breath as he attempted to balance being on high alert and succumbing to panic. He used to be able to find the middle ground and win the day. Now that he was under control - at least mostly - maybe he could manage it today.
"I'm not sure. We just need to get out of here," Kagome muttered as she gave him a worried look over her shoulder and Inuyasha set his jaw as the scales began tilting in the wrong direction. Pausing for a minute, Inuyasha had to stop and remind himself to breathe but stopping only seemed to make him worse.
Gasping softly, earning a startled look, Kagome looked at her phone and realized belatedly she'd never sent the S.O.S.
"Keep breathing," Kagome instructed as she quickly began typing and hit send, "Just stay calm and walk with me."
"This doesn't make sense. This can't be right," Inuyasha breathed before a terrible, no good thought occurred to him. Maybe Kagome was only playing along with his paranoia. Trying to keep him calm until then men in their bright white coats came to take him away. For Koga to take him away. After all, she was big as a whale and couldn't really defend herself if her turned on her. Which he wouldn't. He'd never hurt her no matter how crazy he went.
But maybe she didn't know that. Maybe...
"Just because I'm thinking things doesn't mean I'm going to hurt you," Inuyasha suddenly whined and Kagome sent him a confused look that quickly morphed into horror, "You know I won't and...and you promised to tell me if I was acting weird before going to them. You don't need to get Koga involved just because...just because we're in public or whatever. You just need to talk to me. How else am I supposed to know?"
"Inuyasha, this isn't one of those times," the miko reassured him in a worried, "I just want Koga here as back up so you're not outnumbered. I trust him."
"You don't have to lie to me," Inuyasha huffed miserably as he pinched the bridge of his nose and quickly lost the battle to stay in control, "I was handling it dammit. I wasn't...you shouldn't've played along. That only makes it worse. You know that. I'm supposed to...they said not to believe..."
Looking around in mild panic, a boulder landed in the pit of the miko's stomach when the nearest sprite smirked like this, right here, was what he'd been waiting on. Inuyasha was right. This made no sense. None. Who would want to set him off? What would be the point? Besides, Inuyasha was just one of thousands of demons here. Nothing made him special enough to be stalked. If they wanted him to stay here, there were better not completely batshit insane and arguably evil ways to prevent him from leaving.
"Inuyasha I want you to listen to me very carefully," Kagome whispered as she reached up and covered his mouth with her hand - her eyes boring into his resigned amber, "The only thing you're doing that isn't normal is not trusting me. I'm not plotting against you. I don't think you're imagining things. I don't think this was an episode. Just walk calmly and quietly out of this park with me, okay? We have to get out of here."
For a moment, Inuyasha seemed to be gauging her sincerity before nodding once and pulling down her hand.
"Y-you're not l-lying to me, right? Trying to...to trick me or..." he asked shakily and Kagome gave him a imploring shattered look that told him what he needed to know even before she said it out loud.
"I would never betray you, Inuyasha. Never."
The responding weak smile he gave her both broke her heart and warmed it. For a moment, just a moment, there was utter trust in his gaze and love. So much love. It was the trust that humbled her and made her fully realize the power she held in her palm. This past year she'd seen many faces - most completely unrecognizable but there was always doubt in those amber eyes whenever she made promises to him. A resigned expectation lingering behind his eyes. For someone who had been let down at every opportunity, it made sense that he believed she would give up on him. That a switch would flip and she'd leave him in a land he didn't understand - forcing him to struggle on his own.
But now he finally believed her when she made that promise despite having made so many similar promises in the past. This was the one he believed for whatever reason and the fact that he accepted it so fully, that he was actually comforted by her words rather than seemingly disturbed by them, made all the struggles they'd gone through worthwhile. Everything would hopefully be much smoother from now on. Maybe he'd be more confident about his place by he side.
It wasn't long, of course, before the adoring gaze faded into concern and fear and, were Inuyasha his old self, Kagome knew they would've been half way across the city ten minutes ago.
"At least let me carry you. I know you don't like it but this is an emergency. We need to move fast and you can't even walk right," Inuyasha sighed heavily and when Kagome wrinkled her nose in response, one amber eye twitched in annoyance.
"Woman this is not the time to act like I'm being unreasonable..."
"What's unreasonable?" Koga's voice suddenly called out from a distance away and two sets of eyes glanced in the direction the question had come from. The wolf raised his hand in greeting before he suddenly paused and began walking at a much faster pace.
Smelling the general concern morphing into a smell Inuyasha remembered all too well and being able to see the way Koga's eyes kept darting in seemingly random directions, a tear slid down his cheek as Inuyasha accepted that he wasn't crazy. At least, not today. Not about this. The only time he'd ever caught a whiff of that scent off the wolf was when he was preparing for a fight. When there was a threat. This small victory was worth everything. So, taking a shuddering breath, Inuyasha decided he was the one who needed to guide the conversation and 'play along' with Kagome's idea to have safety in numbers.
"Woman's f-feet hurt and s-she won't let me carry her," the half-demon shouted back shakily, "That's w-what she gets for w-wanting to w-walk everywhere."
Sadly that attempt at snarky confidence sounded as fake as the plastic in this era but mercifully Koga acted like what he'd said was a perfectly normal thing to say - even if the wolf did subtly cringe at the phrasing or his tone Inuyasha wasn't quite sure.
"Kagome you should know better! Do I need to tell your OB you're not following directions?" Koga called out - an edge to his voice despite the teasing smile on his lips. It was then that Kagome realized that several of the demons lingering at the exit they'd been heading towards began making their departure. One of them even grabbed his phone and began typing. Yes, something strange had been going on here. Something she didn't like in the slightest.
"She also said walking was healthy and good for me," Kagome countered before gasping when Inuyasha finally said to hell with this banter and scooped her up - the coat and kittens and everything else discarded without a second thought. To his credit, he did manage to suppress the urge to grab her for far longer than he normally would and he was being extremely gentle and trying his best to balance her in a way that didn't put any real pressure on her stomach. Unfortunately though, this position was causing other problems - primarily in the constant needing to pee arena.
"Put me down!" Kagome hissed as her cheeks flushed a horrible crimson, "Inuyasha! Put me..."
"Not on your life," Inuyasha chuckled darkly before picking up his pace to meet Koga on the corner across the street.
"You noticed them too I take it," Koga asked quietly before snickering at the expression on the pregnant and humiliated young woman's face, "There's no shame on having your husband escort you out of danger Kagome."
"I never said that I was embarrassed! I said I would like to be put..."
Her voice trailed off when she saw the look on Inuyasha's face. Like the wonder of a child seeing Christmas lights for the first time or someone hearing a beautiful symphony. Eyes wet. Face full of awe. Like he'd seen god or something almost. An extreme reaction but everything with him anymore was extreme so the look didn't so much bother her as make her very, very happy.
Because most importantly, everything behind those amber eyes was clear. Like the man she knew him to be was finally shining through.
"I t-thought I was crazy," Inuyasha laughed in relief, "I...for weeks I knew like someone was..."
"Take it slow," Koga interrupted - his eyes laced with a mixture of concern and guilt as he continued, "You need to be careful about what you believe and what you don't. Today might be the exception not the rule."
Setting his jaw, Inuyasha rolled his eyes but nodded his begrudging agreement. Kagome meanwhile was held captive in his arms - unable to squirm to freedom due the baby currently occupying her insides and honestly too exhausted to attempt such a thing anyway.
"Okay so crisis averted. Can you please put me down now?" Kagome sighed heavily and Inuyasha looked down at her with an affectionate yet chiding look.
"There are real actual villains stalking us and you expect me to release the Queen of being kidnapped? Fat chance," Inuyasha teased before dipping down and pressing a kiss atop her head, "It'll be..."
"It's hurting me," Kagome exaggerated her mild discomfort as she pouted up at him and she immediately got the reaction she wanted when Inuyasha set her down without further question.
"Why didn't you just say that, woman?! Use your words! I have..."
"You two have a weird dynamic which is both charming and off putting and for which we don't have time," Koga interrupted the strange exchange - taking the opportunity to glance around the area before turning and gesturing for them to follow, "Come with me. I have some phone calls to make and I want you both where I can see you."
"Wait! We forgot my coat! I need to go back!" Kagome suddenly gasped as she turned to go back but Inuyasha roughly caught her arm and Koga choked back a laugh.
"Woman this, right here, is why you always get kidnapped..."