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.

Wherever You Will Go


InuYasha breathed a tired sigh of relief when they got into the elevator and immediately took off his shoes one by one using his feet to do so. It honestly hadn't been too bad although the music had possibly damaged his hearing and he definitely wouldn't call it fun. It was...

Strange.

Yes, most definitely weird. No one paid much attention to him except for the two or three women who had actually seemed to find him attractive of all things. The undeniable scent of arousal when they looked at him both thrilling and off putting. He was just a guy to them. Normal. InuYasha wasn't sure how he felt about it. It felt nice but also wrong.A part of him wished they would've just gone to dinner. Exhausting didn't even begin to cover this misadventure. Ultimately he'd almost clung to Kagome as they wandered around the various bars on the street doing what Kagome called 'bar hopping'. Shadowing her a little too closely as she pushed through the overwhelming multitudes of people.

His usually, okay historically courageous mind wasn't quite as brave as he wanted it to be. In a sea of strangers, the only voice he could head was the one in his brain whispering he wasn't good enough to be here. Half-wondering whether those drunken idiots knew or could tell he was new to this experience. To this world. Kagome, bless her heart, had tried to get him to pay for one of their drinks using the currency he still wasn't confident using and his hands had literally trembled as he clumsily counted out the bills. He choked on whatever concoction Kagome had ordered and he'd stuck firmly to water after that. It had been a nightmare but he thought he hid his discomfort pretty well. At least, Kagome hadn't seemed to notice how he was a hair away from losing his ever loving mind and for that he was grateful. She was having fun. Appeared thrilled even that he was there with her.

"Hey," she whispered affectionately as she reached up to remove his bandana and began gently massaging his ear. He sighed and leaned into her touch.

"You okay?" the former miko asked a little nervously and he shrugged. He would not tell her that was hell. He wouldn't do it. He wanted to prove to her he was flexible. It was a lie but he felt the need to pretend in either case. Fear of losing her was holding him back but deep down, he knew he was only biding his time.

The elevator door opened and she quickly ushered him into their apartment before gently closing the door behind her.

"You're not okay," she opined calmly and he tensed with wide, frightened eyes.

"No, no, You're..." Kagome backpedaled desperately when his breath began to come out in short controlled pants, "I just meant that you seem, uh..."

Her heart sank as she realized she honestly was doing a terrible, terrible job at handling whatever was happening. She was usually so good at helping people. At being kind and friendly and generous and inclusive but...but she'd been...

Yeah, she had no idea what she was doing here. None. Her brilliant idea of doing something she considered fun and relaxing had only seemed to fuel whatever beast was raging inside him. His cold sweat and glazed over eyes telling her they needed to go but every time she tried to say 'hey let's go' he insisted they stay until she finally fell back on old faithful and lied and said her feet hurt and she needed to go home thinking she was giving him a way out that wasn't about him. It had worked and then she thought maybe she'd address the elephant in the room when they got home and now...

God, he looked like he thought she was going to reach into his chest and rip his heart out. She wanted to cry but she refused to make this situation worse by shedding tears.

"You seem hungry," she tried with a very forced smile before adding, "I'm hungry too."

The tension in his muscles lessened slightly before he cleared his throat and shook his head.

"I could make you something but I'm not hungry," he offered hesistantly before giving her a very forced smiled and scratching the back of his neck, "I think I can figure that out. What do you want?"

Kagome's lips twitched upwards even as the mental image of their apartment burning down flashed through her mind.

"Eggs?" she asked after deciding that was probably the easiest thing for him to make. He gave her a patient look as the remaining tension seemed to seep out of him.

"I know you woman," he replied knowingly as he rolled his eyes and moved towards the kitchen, "You like your eggs to be sweet. You won't like how I make them."

"How do you make them?" Kagome asked curiously as she followed him, "I've never seen you cook before."

"I don't make them sweet," he sighed as he opened the fridge and sniffed a few times before grabbing the butter, and the egg carton.

"But if you show me how you like them maybe I can learn," he offered as he glanced over at her and smiled, genuinelysmiled, and Kagome wanted to melt before he added playfully, "Maybe."

For a moment, a perfect moment, it was everything Kagome had dreamed of these past six years. They cooked together and laughed and it was all things good and pure and filled with love. He teased her about being addicted to sugar as she showed him how she liked it. He made two batches and then told her to close her eyes and they were going to see which one she liked best.

To her horror, she actually liked the simple way he did it better and the smug look he gave her said it all.

It wasn't until they were kissing and making their way to the bedroom that it occurred to her that she hadn't seen him eat anything all day.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Mama eyed InuYasha speculatively as she went about preparing dinner. Reading his body language as Kagome left to retrieve Gramps from the shed. He was tense and seemed to be focusing all his senses on her location. His breath somewhat shaky as he closed his eyes and seemed to fight against himself.

"InuYasha, will you help me get lunch ready?" Mama hummed as though nothing was happening and he turned to look at her, "I have some vegetables over on the counter. Would you mind cutting them up, dear?"

He nodded once although the subtle nervous glance at the door did not go beyond her notice. Based on what she remembered, the poor boy always seemed rather agitated whenever Kagome was gone too long. It had always struck her as somewhat sad. While Kagome had insisted it was his desire to continue their quest, Mama had always been sure that there was more to his constant borderline stalking than just jewel shards. He had wanted to be wherever Kagome had been at all times. Going as far as to regularly follow her to school or around the city. There had been several times when she'd seen him come through the well only to have Kagome insist she hadn't seen him for several days. The boy loved her daughter, yes, that much had always been clear but she had a feeling, a motherly instinct, that there was some underlying fear there as well.

InuYasha got up and headed towards the vegetables. Mama held out a small knife and smiled kindly.

"Just cut them into slices," she instructed and he nodded and began doing just that.

"Have you been adjusting well?" Mama asked as she glanced at the boy whose hand paused for a moment before he began cutting again.

"It's been fine," he replied emotionlessly. Mama could tell it hadn't been.

"I'm glad to hear that. I know when I first moved to Tokyo, I had a very hard time getting used to everything," she began and InuYasha furrowed his brow wondering where she was going with this, "I came from a small town. Barely more than a few hundred people. I had a hard time adjusting to life in a big city."

"Did you?" he asked quietly after a moment, "What did you do?"

Mama smiled secretly to herself and continued as though she didn't suspect anything was amiss.

"Oh, I talked to someone at my school," she replied with a soft laugh, "A counselor. They suggested a few things to help lessen the stress. Meditation being one of them and actually, that's how I ended up meeting Kagome's father."

"Meditating," InuYasha repeated with a small thoughtful smile, "And that helped?"

"Sometimes," Mama replied as she began filling a pot with water, "She also suggested exercise but I hate running with a passion. I much preferred something stationary."

InuYasha looked somewhat hopeful as he set aside the carrots and began slicing a cucumber. Mama continued on without missing a beat.

"Listen to me just going on," she laughed softly, "You don't want to hear about all that."

"I.." he cleared his throat, "I don't mind. You can keep going."

"Well it must sound so silly but it helped to talk," she hummed as she moved the pot to the stove, "I had to learn how to live in a big city and I felt so scared sometimes. One time I got so frightened in the subway, I ended up crying in the bathroom for hours. I don't miss those times. I don't miss them at all."

InuYasha furrowed his brow as his slices slowed.

"So this counselor person helped with that," he asked indifferently as he glanced at her.

"I must be boring you with my story," Mama laughed softly as she moved to the refrigerador and took out a small package. Closing the door behind her, she offered him an apologetic smile.

"No, you're fine," he replied as he kept his face turned towards the vegetables, "Do a lot of people see counselors?"

"Oh yes, it's very common. More now than it used to be," Mama hummed as she placed the package on the counter with a soft laugh, "Back then, it wasn't as common but things, for me, were getting too hard and my desire to finish school outweighed whatever embarrassment I felt. And I'll admit I was embarrassed the first few times I went. I may seem very open now but when I was young I was very reserved. Listen to me rambling on when there's food that needs to be on the table. Can you rinse those vegetables off and put some of those noddles into the pot?"

As Inuyasha moved and began inspecting the strange stick-like tan noodles, Gramps burst through the door.

"Young whipper snapper you have returned," Gramps proclaimed as he entered the kitchen and gave the boy an appraising, disapproving look, "Am I to understand that you have been living with my daughter without you two being wed?"

Kagome's eyes widened in horror as her eyes snapped up to Inuyasha's face to gauge his reaction. For a moment, his face fell and he clearly didn't know what to say, which was Gramp's first clue that he perhaps had unwittingly stumbled into a sore spot. The second was when the old man looked at Kagome who was staring at the young man like she thought he might break.

"Well of course I will be honored to perform the ceremony," he interjected then as he moved forward and embraced the boy, "You have done so much for my granddaughter all those years and you did your job of returning her safe admirably. Come with me. Come with me. I'll need your help getting down some of the boxes. Why I believe I have some trinkets from your time boy that I think you'll appreciate..."

As Gramps ushered a very panicked looking InuYasha out of the room with him sending Kagome a 'woman help me' glare, Kagome sent him an apologetic grimace and waited until she was sure they were far enough away before rushing to the radio turning it on and turning on the stove fan as her mother watched on.

"Kagome dear..."

"I need your help," Kagome breathed barely above a whisper, "I don't know what to do and everything I do makes it worse. I'm messing up, Mama. I'm messing up and I need..."

"He isn't adjusting well I take it," the elder Higuarashi woman hummed knowingly and Kagome ran her hands through her hair with an exasperated, worried look.

"You have no idea," Kagome laughed shakily before groaning and burying her face in her hands, "And I can't take him to a doctor but he's so sad and panicked all the time. I don't..."

"First things first, I imagine he can tell you're upset at him," Mama soothed wisely as she guided Kagome to sit down, "You need to be patient with him. Take things slowly. You always adjust so well and are able to take change in stride but not everyone is like you."

"I took him bar hopping," Kagome groaned miserably as she leaned down and repeatedly beat her forehead against the table, "And like two days in I suggested he go home if he wasn't happy here and...ugh I'm the worst. I'm literally the worst. I have no idea what I'm doing."

Mama looked torn between chastising her daughter for such a thoughtless thing to say and trying to be supportive.

"You need to do research sweetheart," Mama suggested with a soft sigh, "And perhaps..."

"He hasn't been eating either," Kagome added softly, "I thought...he looks much thinner and I though maybe it was because he was more mature but now...I don't think he's been eating."

"Everyone handles tragedy differently," Mama opined as she gave her daughter a sympathetic smile, "My father suffered terrible PTSD after the war, although they didn't have a name for it back then. And I suffered from depression after your father died. The mind can be cruel. The important thing is to show him how much you love him without pressuring him. Let him take the lead. Just be patient with him sweetheart."

"Its hard..." Kagome sighed miserably before glancing towards the door and quickly composing herself. Mama bit her lip. Her daughter was many things. She loved taking charge, finding a quick solution and pushing herself and others. While good for so many situations, to say that Kagome was equipped to handle this new challenge would be misguided at best.

"Well InuYasha has chosen this upcoming weekend for the ceremony," Gramps announced happily and InuYasha himself gave the old man a somewhat exasperated look.

"To be fair, he asked for this evening but I felt that was much too soon," Gramps amended under the chiding glare.

"I'm ready whenever he is," Kagome tried as she gave the hanyou a warm smile, "Why can't we do it tonight?"

"Because neither of you have the traditional garments! There is no time to..." Gramps began to argue in his usual fashion before Mama interrupted.

"I still have our wedding clothes," Mama offered and Gramps immediately became quiet, "And I'll go to the store to get whatever else we'll need."

As Gramps and Mama began planning this last minute affair, InuYasha seemed to be trying to read Kagome's reaction. He wanted to get married to her as soon as possible. To have a bit of normalcy in their strange new life together which had thus far been comprised of him being a whiny little bitch. She seemed to be doing the same to him and so he crossed the distance and tugged on her hand to indicate she should follow him outside.

"If it's too soon, just tell me," he whispered as he guided her towards the sacred tree, "I can wait another week if you want."

"No, tonight is perfect," Kagome hummed as she squeezed his hand before releasing it and wrapping her arm around his waist and squeezing, "I can't wait to get married to you."

InuYasha smiled as he rested his cheek atop her head and squeezed back.

"I love you," he chuckled softly before sighing and releasing her, "I know...I know I haven't been...well I'm going to do better, okay? I promise I'm going to do better."

"I'll do better too," Kagome hummed unsure of what else to say before clearing her throat and averting her eyes, "Things don't always go how we think they will but..."

InuYasha looked worried and confused and opened his mouth to argue but Kagome gave him a look that had him closing his mouth.

"Marriage is about two people becoming one," she continued vaguely, "Each day is a new adventure, with new challenges, but the good part is neither of us are ever going to be alone again. Ever. Whatever happens, we deal with it together."

InuYasha searched her eyes for a moment as he tried to read what she was saying through her eyes before seeming to relax as he offered her a shy smile.

"Always," he agreed as he pulled her close and kissed her forehead. Kagome hummed and pulled back just enough to kiss his lips.

"Kagome! Inuyasha! Lunch is ready!"

Kagome laughed as she glanced towards the house and then at Inuyasha.

"Are you hungry?" she asked and he gave her a curious, calculating look that faded as quickly as it came and he shrugged.

"I could eat. Not that hungry though to be honest," he sighed as he took her hand and Kagome tried to plaster a smile on her face.

"What is Mama making anyway?" she asked and Inuyasha laughed softly before sniffing a few times.

"No idea," he admitted before he amended, "Or at least I don't know what it's called. The red cow meat. She's made it before I think."

"Steak," Kagome offered before giggling, "Or beef. Depends on what part of the cow they use I think? Maybe. I don't know why they call it different things. Maybe because one is ground down and the other is like a whole piece?"

"Don't you teach children now? Shouldn't you know all the things?" he teased and Kagome humphed prettily.

"Just because I teach some of the things doesn't mean I know all of the things," Kagome clipped back with a slight pout, "I have a very specific set of skills that are limited to one area of expertise."

Inuyasha gave her an appraising look as his lips twitched upwards before shrugging.

"I think I'd like to learn how to cook like your mom," he replied after a moment, "I like cooking. Not...not that I really got the chance after Mother died. She used to make all sorts of things. I'd go collect the ingredients she wanted and then we'd make things together."

Kagome paused in her step and looked up at him with a fascinated smile.

"Wasn't your Mother a princess?" Kagome asked and Inuyasha shook his head with a soft laugh, "She wasn't royalty. More...I don't know. We had money I guess? Rich merchant family. Mother wasn't supposed to cook but she liked doing it. We had our own hearth for that even."

"I'm sure Mama would love you to teach you what she knows," Kagome hummed happily before adding with a guilty shrug, "I don't really like cooking so I never paid much attention. I can cook eggs and..."

"Ah but you prefer the way I cook eggs," InuYasha teased and Kagome pouted. Inuyasha's soft smirk widened into a full grin.

"I think I'll do that," he opined thoughtfully more to himself than her before adding, "You work late anyway, right? I can make dinner and stuff. So it's one less thing for you to do when you get home."

"I'd like that," Kagome sighed contentedly as she rested her cheek on his arm and squeezed his hand, "I'd like that a lot."