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: Changed up last section and didn't want to confuse people. Sorry for double posting.

Wherever You Will Go


Gramps sighed as he set the worn scrapbook down on his bedside table and pulled the phone into his lap. Amidst the various scrolls and papers long since forgotten, he had come across this testament to the life that once dwelled under this roof. Oh, the things his son had found and collected within those pages when he was younger. Literally anything even remotely related to youkai whether it be candy bar wrappers, advertising flyers or business cards had been crammed in each sleeve. The boy had dreamed of being a priest of old and fighting against fearsome demons. Spent countless hours twirling around sticks like weapons in the courtyard. Broken quite a few precious artifacts as the boy went but that was to be expected with children. If memory served correctly, when he was younger quite a few things had been broken as well.

While searching for reference to youkai disease, of which there were many troublesome tidbits to be sure, he had found this particular blast from the past. There was one picture drawn in crayon, however, that he didn't remember seeing but the figures it portrayed looked awfully familiar. A phone number too was scribbled along the bottom and it was that number he intended to call now. Whether this phone number would still be working more than thirty years later was unlikely but whomever had drawn this had either been a fortuneteller or had known that one day this picture would be found.

Why else would someone draw two children in dog and cat pajamas yelling at each other? Two children who bore a striking resemblance to a certain granddaughter and half-demon he knew. There had to be some meaning to this. Someone who knew help would be needed and wanted to lay breadcrumbs to follow. Someone who, hopefully, would know what to do with the poor boy who felt he had no place to belong. Who would knew where that place might be. Who may know what could be done to avoid the inevitable. Whomever was at the other end of the line had done left this picture with his son intentionally.

That or the person on the other end of the line just enjoyed drawing half-dog, half-cat people with weapons when they were young. A child who had wanted a friend and put his parent's number down so that he could be contacted for a playdate. Which, to be honest, was a possibility. The image was rendered in crayon after all.

Letting out a soft sigh, gramps dialed the number on his antiquated rotary phone and held his breath.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Just take small sips," Mama soothed as she gently rubbed the trembling hanyou's back with one hand and held a bucket with the other, "You need to stay hydrated."

Inuyasha's crimson eyes glanced at Kagome's mother wearily before nodding and trying the chemical-tasting water. Almost immediately, the bucket was in use and fresh tears were stinging at his eyes.

"Just let it out," Mama hummed reassuringly as she reached up to gently hold his forelocks out of the line of fire. Sighing softly, she began glancing around Kagome's old room for some form of headband before shaking her head. Trying to get the already very insecure, unstable boy to wear something bright pink and extremely feminine would probably be a mistake. It was clear he already felt humiliated needing help in the first place. A part of her suspected this might be some type of flu, but she wasn't quite sure. Usually the vomit didn't flow quite as freely nor did the fever soar so high.

Sniffling slightly, as he pulled back, Inuyasha wiped off his mouth before casting a broken glance at the woman next to him.

"I…I was getting better, you know," he whispered shakily, "I figure you could tell I'm not…myself….because…because you…"

"Don't feel ashamed. It will just take time sweetheart," Mama soothed as she continued rubbing circles on his shoulder and he let out a shuddering sigh, "You're not going to feel like yourself again right away. What matters is that you're trying. No one expects anything more than that."

"Kagome does," Inuyasha sighed shakily before flinching and looking quite panicked, "Not….not that she's doing anything wrong. Its me. I…I should…"

"What makes you think Kagome expects you to do more?" Mama asked softly although she knew full well the damage her daughter had inflicted. Inuyasha absolutely looked panicked and full of regret but Mama kept her face soft and kind.

"She isn't doing anything wrong," Inuysha blurted out hoarsely as he averted his eyes, "She hasn't done anything wrong."

"That's not what I asked," Mama cooed as she cupped his chin and gently forced him to look at her, "I asked why you think she expects you to be different."

"Just look at me," Inuysha chuckled a little hysterically as a tear leaked out of his eye, "I've lost my mind. Of course she didn't expect this."

"You won't always feel this way," Mama comforted before adding as she gently ran her thumb across his cheek, "And I don't think you're crazy."

Inuyasha wasn't sure what to say to that and it was apparently written all over his demonized features because Mama gave him a knowing look.

"You're not a burden, Inuyasha," she addressed his unspoken fear, "We know this won't last forever. When all of this is over, Kagome will still be here. I will still be here."

Inuyasha snorted and shook his head.

"During your quest, did Kagome ever abandon you when things were difficult?" Mama asked knowingly and Inuyasha sighed and weakly shook his head.

"So why do you think she would abandon you now?" she followed up and Inuyasha opened his mouth before closing it again. Why indeed? She'd literally seen him murder a whole bunch of bandits as a full demon and hugged him afterwards. Every time he'd turned full demon, when he literally lost his mind, she was still there afterwards. Did that mean Kagome wouldn't leave him?

His face softened and a ghost of a smile played on his lips.

"She wouldn't," he laughed softly in disbelief. For some reason, Mama's naturally accepting and loving aura along with the fact that he literally had no one else to talk to had the words leaving his mouth before he could stop them. Desperately seeking reassurance that everything would be okay despite how out of control he felt.

"I know she wouldn't...but nothing I do makes any difference," he sniffled miserably, "In fact it makes it worse somehow. This isn't like before. I'll be okay and then not okay and now...now it's like...and I don't know how anything works here and..."

Mama sighed and knelt down in front of him - taking both of his hands in hers, "Is there anything I can do to make this transition easier for you?"

Biting his bottom lip to keep it from trembling, Inuyasha inhaled deeply several times to get his emotions under control after the shock from that simple question assaulted his frayed system.

"I didn't mean...s'just different here is all," Inuyasha managed hoarsely, "It never...it never bothered me before. I don't know why..."

Mama made a small noise of understanding.

"I wish I could see where you came from. I was always a little jealous when Kagome would go through the well," she laughed softly as she shook her head, "I miss the countryside. While I've gotten used to the city, I miss things being green."

"Yeah. You know trees..." Inuyasha mumbled distractedly as he felt himself begin to spiral but he stubbornly tried to force himself to stay calm.

"You know, there's a festival in the town where I grew up this weekend. Its a little distance away but the forest is beautiful this time of year," she hummed as she gently squeezed his hands, "Would you like to come with me?"

"There's forests in this time?" Inuyasha asked innocently as something Kagome had said on his first day back suddenly popped into his head. It was foggy for whatever reason but she'd said something about moving to the country. Of settling down outside the city.

"In some places," Mama acknowledged, "People don't appreciate nature nowadays. Especially not in the city. I used to spend hours just wandering as a child listening to the birds."

Inuyasha smiled faintly at the nostalgia that statement invoked.

"I'll have to ask Kagome," he sniffled before freeing one of his hands and rubbing his nose, "She might have stuff we're supposed to do."

"We can ask her tonight," Mama offered and he nodded before a wave of nausea hit him and a clawed hand shot out to pull the bucket back just in time. Luckily, Mama saw the warning signs and had moved.

"Would you like me to get some medicine to help with the nausea?" she asked quietly and Inuyasha's shoulders sagged before he nodded weakly.

"Go ahead. Just bring it all," he sighed hoarsely in defeat as he accepted his fate. Just a few short hours ago, he'd rejected all pills and liquid goops to save whatever pride he had left but at this point, he'd accept anything that made this shit stop. If she wanted to drug him, she could drug him all she wanted. Maybe there was a pill to fix his mind too that she could give him. Kagome had said those existed.

"Are there…" he tried weakly as watery crimson eyes looked at the matriarch, "Do you have any medicines for…for…"

He tapped his temple to show what he meant and searched her face before looking extremely defeated when she gave him a pitying glance.

"Unfortunately I don't have any I can give you," she reassured him softly, "But they do exist. Maybe we can find a doctor to see whether they think you need something like that."

"How can a doctor tell what's in your head?" Inuyasha asked weakly hoping that she wouldn't lash out at his primitive knowledge but instead she merely smiled reassuringly.

"You remember me telling you about counselors?"

Inuysha nodded and looked slightly more hopeful.

"There are also doctors who are similar to counselors. Those are called psychiatrists. By talking to them, they figure out what's going on in your head. What can be done to help. Sometimes with medicine and sometimes in other ways," Mama explained kindly, "Counselors can't give medicine but psychiatrists can."

Opening his mouth to ask a follow up question, his face suddenly turned sickly shade of green before he lurched forward and missed the bucket by that much.

Deflating visibly, Inuyasha found himself biting back tears as he stared down at the very vile looking puddle and began trying to get down to do something about it.

"It happens dear. Don't worry," Mama laughed as she gently encouraged him to get back on the bed, "You are not the first to miss nor will you be the last."

"I can…"

"I am more than capable of doing it myself, Inuyasha," she teased lightly and he gave her a slightly exasperated look that only had her grin widening.

"I know you can do it. I just meant…" he groused as he yanked a tissue of the box and began lightly trying to mop up some of the vomit that had gotten on his general person.

"I know dear."

Inuyasha chuckled darkly as he closed his eyes and swallowed down some bile. Even in the darkness it felt like the room was spinning out from under him. Whatever was happening to him was making him use every ounce of fight he had left in him in keeping down the limited contents of his stomach and the dark cloud was having a field day in his muddled mind.

Yeah, it whispered, there are doctors for humans but not for you. Whatever they suggest won't work on half-demons and you're going to wear Kagome down over time. This isn't like before. S'not like you're a full demon who'll be normal by the end of the day. She's already tired of you and it hasn't even been a week. You're broken. You're pathetic. Worth...

"Kagome should be home soon," Mama interrupted his thoughts as she paused in the doorframe, "Why don't you both stay here tonight? We have a guest room with a bed that should be big enough for both of you."

This offering had Inuyasha blushing furiously as his eyes bugged. Sure they had been living together but they weren't married. I mean, it was obvious they were fucking but how could she just come out and...

"I consider you married Inuyasha," Mama laughed softly at the look of horror playing out on his face, "There's nothing wrong with sharing a bed with your wife."

That statement alone made Inuyasha want to curl up and die. She was wrong. They weren't married. Mama knew they weren't married. Hell he'd called off the wedding a few days ago. Shouldn't she be mad that he was dishonoring her daughter? That...that...

Gagging, he couldn't finish that thought as he yanked the bucket in front of his face and puked for the umpteenth time that day. God he really was the most despicable being that ever lived. At least villains didn't pretend to be something they weren't. He was just as bad as Naraku, probably killed just as many, probably was just as greedy and selfish and...and...

The sickening voice in the back of mind reverberated around in his mind.

They really would all be better without someone like him dragging them down and wasting their time.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Stupid train," Kagome huffed as she bounced impatiently on the platform. While most people would think no phone calls in a similar circumstance was a good thing, the lack of communication was driving her insane. Sure he had not called but he also wasn't answering the cell phone now. Hopefully it was because he was sleeping or maybe he'd forgotten his phone instead of crying on his own. While he seemed better this morning, he had looked a little pale and his skin looked a little flushed. Nothing worrisome and it was probably more of a heated blush given that kiss but still something about it made her expect a phone call. He had been trying so, so hard these past few days. Managing to pull himself out of whatever funk he was in if only for a brief breath of air. But still...

Kagome wasn't stupid. She knew whatever was happening was definitely not going to just disappear overnight but now she was feeling like she actually had some tools to take some control over the situation.

Out of sheer desperation and in her first real moment alone, the former miko called an old friend during her lunch hour. Her newly licensed psychiatric social worker friend who she trusted with her life. It was strange that they'd become so close. Why it hadn't occurred to Kagome to call Ayumi right away baffled even her. Sure, there had been a lot going on but she knew beyond a reasonable doubt if she told Ayumi the truth about the well and where she'd actually been in high school, the girl would believe her. Especially if she threw in some attacks - both spiritual and demonic for good measure. It might melt Ayumi's brain a little but she'd get over it. Especially considering how supportive Kagome had been after her baby had been born.

That was the entire reason Kagome got birth control in the first place. A shocking impulsive decision to sleep her boyfriend and bam once (maybe twice) was all it took. Family disowned her. Boyfriend bailed. Friends judged harshly until only Kagome remained. The amount of times she or Mama or Souta babysat for free was borderline obscene. Souta's old clothes were even donated to the cause. But Ayumi was incredibly resilient and managed to be a mother, finish college, get her license and keep trucking. Her son was absolutely adorable to boot and many times when they had studied together his little burbles made their stress melt away.

It helped that Ayumi had been the only friend who actually liked Inuyasha back in the day. All Kagome had told her was that they reconnected and decided to get married right away. The former miko had definitely gotten an earful for not inviting her and Kagome's penance was to pay for a babysitter for their next girl's night and also during Inuyasha's therapy sessions.

That was if he agreed to them anyway.

But worst case, some advice had been given. Tips that might be able to calm him during panic attacks. Not that Kagome had expanded on everything going on. She'd stuck with the most basic of symptoms. Hopefully the true depth of Inuyasha's problems wouldn't drive Ayumi away. God knows they needed all the help they could get.

Still, regardless of this step in the right direction, today still felt like the longest day ever. Hopefully nothing bad happened and Inuyasha just fell asleep while watching Godzilla. That he hadn't called because nothing of interest happened. That the worst was behind them and it'd only be up from here.

But she was going to keep her hopes more realistic. If he did have a bad day, she needed to be supportive. She needed to be better and put in more effort. To be patient and not push so hard. To not focus on what was and accept what is. If it was her in his place, Inuyasha would have been bending over backwards to make her feel better. He would never give up fighting for her.

So she was not about to give up on him.