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


Staring blankly at the same tree as he had for the past several hours, Inuyasha continued to sit in the open doorframe on 5% battery. It had been about a week since they'd come here and while less stressful overall, it was extremely exhausting. The house Kagome intended for them to live in reeked of mold and decay – which was to be expected apparently. The point was for them to fix it up to be in livable condition for some godforsaken reason. Kagome had hoped that having a task would make him better but just the sheer amount of work that was going to be involved merely overwhelmed him instead.

Combined with the fact that he'd fully and truly ruined Kagome's life, it was all too much and he'd just kinda checked out. Because of him, they were now stuck here in this moldy ass house for at least the next year. Kagome was torn from the only place she'd ever truly lived. Condemned her to a life away from her family in a world neither of them understood. She'd quit her job, her home, her family and god knows what else just to be here with his pathetic ass. All because he had the audacity to fall back into her life.

He should've just stayed in his time. All he was a burden in this one.

A burden who Kagome was now stuck with for as long as she lived because in order for her to stay here where he was required to live, they had to get married. And he was a selfish bastard who couldn't bring himself to let her go. Who was too much of a coward to say no. Their wedding, if you could even call it that, consisted of showing up to a small room where some old geezer said a few words in front of strangers and they all signed a piece of paper. The whole thing had taken maybe five minutes. Maybe less. During the time he was in the hospital, he'd been assigned a last name that had no significance and no meaning and now Kagome was saddled with that too. Her entire identity, her entire way of life gone because of him.

She said women changed their last name all the time when they get married but he didn't believe her. He'd never heard of last names, not really, until very, veryrecently anyway but as far as he knew, what they called last names were family names that meant something and his new last name meant literally nothing to either of them. It had been assigned at random and was as empty as he felt.

But since he couldn't get what they called 'vaccinated' for at least another year, he'd just gone along with it. They needed a place to live. Well...Kagome did. He'd lived in trees most of his life. Wasn't like he needed to live in a house. A part of him wanted to just risk it, leave and if he died from this bullshit disease, he died. Would probably be for the best if he did die anyway. Kagome wouldn't be saddled with him and would be able to move back to be with her family. She could marry a nice boy who could actually work for a living and have babies that were normal. Instead, she...

It didn't matter. Kagome got what she got and that's all there was to it.

And he had been trying to get better. To be more normal. It was just a matter of mind over matter and if...if he pretended he was okay long enough, his mind would eventually catch up, right? Or something. Something new would happen. Something different.

His nose felt even more congested than it had felt a moment ago and one hand sluggishly moved to wipe away the runniness.

One not-as-painful thing he discovered recently was that he had a…a niece. Sesshomaru's daughter was still around although she lived in Tokyo. And a sister-in-law that had been a child last time Inuyasha had seen her which was undoubtedly the result of the most cringe worthy, disgusting grooming he'd ever had the displeasure of discovering. Yes, Rin was still around too – also living in Tokyo. Found out he was still alive and supposedly wanted to visit but Inuyasha knew he was not in a place where he could act not totally creeped out should either seek him out. Despite the general unease at the circumstances, Inuyasha had decided he would seek them out eventually. When…when he felt a little better. The fact that Rin was still around had him wanting answers. Just to have in his back pocket. Like why she was still alive. How she was still alive. Why…why she survived his dead bastard brother. You know, just to have. Just in case.

His normally sensitive ears faintly registered Kagome's approaching footsteps and he couldn't find the energy to look at her when she sat down beside him.

"I picked up some beef ramen from the restaurant down the street," Kagome informed him hopefully, "They're supposed to be really good."

"You shouldn't've spent money," he mumbled numbly as he continued staring blankly at the tree – eyes partially glazed over, "Not hungry anyway."

"We're not poor Inuyasha. We can afford to eat out. Besides you've got to eat sometime," Kagome teased in a very strained tone.

Inuyasha shrugged but otherwise didn't respond. For a moment, the former miko was silent before she huffed and suddenly she was kneeling in front of him with her hands cupping his face.

"We don't have to stay here," she stated firmly as his face remained flat and disturbingly vacant, "You just say the word and we'll leave, okay? We can go back to the shrine. Mama has offered to pay to have the whole shrine sanitized – inside and out - and we'll be careful. We'll wear masks and…and anything we need to do to keep you safe. But we don't have to stay here if you don't want to stay here."

Inuyasha's reaction time was slow as he sluggishly blinked at her in confusion before his brow furrowed.

"But what…what will you do?" he asked hoarsely as he titled his head to the side, "You quit your job there. You have a job here. I don't…"

"We can work for the shrine. I can get a job somewhere else. Or we can not work at all. Jobs come and go in this time. There will always be something," Kagome soothed, "If you want to go, we'll go. You just say the word."

A flicker of hope and relief lit in his heart as he considered his limited options.

"Is…is it expensive to have the shrine…"

"Don't worry about that," Kagome interrupted tersely as her grip tightened incrementally, "What do you want to do?"

Being put on the spot had Inuyasha tensing as mild panic welled in his gut and Kagome's nostrils flared slightly before she began shushing him.

"Hey, hey. Its okay. You don't have to answer right now," she cooed reassuringly as she began brushing some hair out of his face, "Just know that's an option. We don't have to stay here. We don't even have to go to the shrine. We'll go wherever you want."

"Anywhere I want?" he asked for clarification and Kagome nodded before adding with purposefully emphasis, "Anywhere you want."

She was talking about going back through the well, he realized. But that would present other problems. What if it let him back but not her? He was still too selfish to let her go. To selfish to leave even if it would be better for her overall. Still, it did sound nice to go somewhere other than this place. He'd never felt at home amongst demons anyway if he was really being honest. Being around so many at one time felt uncomfortable even though none of them seemed to give a shit about him. As much as it rubbed him the wrong way, the only times he ever felt truly accepted had been arounds humans.

Well…some humans anyway.

"I'll…I'll think about it."

Kagome looked infinitely relieved for some unfathomable reason before she leaned forward and planted a chaste kiss on his lips.

"I love you. You know that, right?" she asked softly as sapphire eyes searched his face. The smile he offered in return looked hollow and forced.

"I know," he offered in a very tired sounding tone, "I love you too."

Kagome squeezed one of his hands lightly as she gave him a soft smile.

"You seem tired. Do you want me to reschedule your appointment today? Do it tomorrow?" she asked warmly and Inuyasha shook his head.

"I have to do it, right?" he mumbled in a flat tone, "Or else I have to go back."

"Who said you'll have to go back?" Kagome asked softly and Inuyasha shifted slightly.

"Part of why they let me leave is that I had to agree to keep talking to that guy," he continued dejectedly, "If I go back on that promise, they'll take me back."

"They won't get upset over for changing your appointment. And, for what its worth, thats not what Koga told me. It was a suggestion last I heard," Kagome promised as she squeezed his hand once more, "Besides, didn't you say you wanted to talk to someone? If you don't like this therapist, I'm sure there are others you can try. A therapist is someone you need to feel comfortable with."

"I did want to talk to someone..." he admitted begrudgingly as he wrinkled his nose and sighed heavily. While it was true he wanted to talk to someone, he just wished that someone was literally anyone else. This crocodile youkai was about as useless as tits on a boar. All he wanted to do was dissect every part of his life like he was looking for something. And the last two appointments had consisted of him asking all sorts of questions about Kagome, of all people, which had Inuyasha's heckles rising. This 'doctor' wanted to know their entire background and pressured him into talking about Kikyo. By the end of that conversation, the poor hanyou had felt...he'd felt almost violated.

"Will you call? To change it I mean," Inuysha asked after a long moment and Kagome nodded. Talking on the phone was something he wanted to avoid if at all possible.

A few moments later, she was on the phone but Inuyasha felt anxiety whirl in his gut at the way Kagome seemed to bristle at something the doctor said. The last thing Inuyasha wanted was to get Kagome in trouble over him. By the time she returned her aura was fuming but she seemed almost unnaturally calm.

"So, they said...they said they didn't have any openings tomorrow," Kagome began slowly, "But next week they promised the appointments wouldn't be so close together."

That explanation didn't sit well with him and didn't explain why Kagome smelled so irked.

"Oh," Inuyasha sighed heavily as he settled back against the door frame and began blindly staring at a different tree, "That's fine. Doesn't matter anyway."

"Well, why don't I get our ramen and we can eat, huh? I'll go the store while you're meeting with him. Anything you want?" Kagome asked as she headed towards the kitchen and he shook his head numbly. The last thing he wanted to do today was meet with the wheezy, strange doctor who probably would've done better in literally any other profession. How someone looked at him and said I think you should be a healer must've been on something powerful.

"What about ice cream?" Kagome called out as he heard her messing with some plates, "I don't think you've had ice cream before. I can get a lot of different flavors and see which one you like."

"That's fine," he mumbled barely loud enough for her to hear, "Whatever you think."

"I'll do that then. And then tonight we can maybe watch a movie. You wanted to watch the other Jurassic Parks right?"

"Not really," he sighed as she returned and he accepted the bowl he didn't want. Setting it down, he pulled one knee up against his chest and rested his chin atop it.

"Okay. Maybe something else then..."

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Smacking his scaly lips in a sound similar to a wet mop hitting the ground, the doctor gave Inuyasha an appraising look before beginning a new line of questioning.

"Why did you pick this era?"

"I told you I didn't pick it," Inuyasha sighed heavily as he sagged further down into the couch and folded his arms tighter against his chest, "It was the only way that worked."

"For who?"

"I don't understand what you're asking," the half-demon muttered tiredly, "It's not a matter of who. The bone-eater's well didn't let her come to me but it let me go to her. So I'm not really sure what you mean."

"I'll rephrase. Who wanted to stay in this era?" the slimy reptilian continued, "You said Kagome had bought an apartment for you, picked clothes for you, basically controlled your life here. It seems like she intended you to stay here all along."

"And I built a hut for her. Furnished it and bought her a bunch of clothes. Same difference," Inuyasha countered as he narrowed his eyes, "What's your point?"

"How many times did you try the well?"

Setting his jaw, Inuyasha realized where the doctor was going with this line of so-called therapy. Twisting what happened to make Kagome look like the bad guy. Finding someone to blame for why he was nuts when the reality of it was completely the opposite. No one was to blame but himself. He was weak. Kagome had nothing to do with that.

And yet he couldn't tell this bastard to go to hell. His idiotic questions were working to re-start his comatose mind though so that was good. Maybe. Or it was extremely bad. Who knew anymore?

"Five hundred twenty nine times," Inuyasha admitted begrudgingly as he waited for the question he knew was coming and which was going to be an uphill battle to explain.

"And how many times did she try?" the doctor followed up knowingly and a growl built in his patient's chest.

"That's not fair," Inuyasha groaned with a roll of the eyes.

"That doesn't answer my question."

Snorting derisively, Inuyasha scowled and have the crocodile a withering glare.

"And I don't give a shit. Didn't you tell me I didn't have to answer questions I don't feel comfortable answering?"

"So you're uncomfortable admitting she did not try - what was it? Five hundred twenty nine times," the doctor laughed softly and Inuyasha set his jaw.

"I'm uncomfortable giving you an answer you clearly want to twist," the half-demon snorted, "She tried. I tried. The well let me through. That's all that matters."

The doctor sighed and adjusted his glasses. His calm, collected manner making anxiety swirl in Inuyasha's stomach.

"You're very protective of her. Going out of your way to cast her in a positive light," the crocodile opined, "Why do you feel the need to defend her if she's done nothing wrong?"

"Because she hasn't done anything wrong," Inuyasha ground out before glancing at the clock and nearly wilting in relief, "Times out anyway. I've been here for an hour. I'll ask you to leave now."

"No."

"I beg your pardon. What do you mean 'no'?," Inuyasha scoffed, "I only got to meet with you three times a week. An hour. No more, no less. And it's been..."

"I decide when we end our sessions. Not you," the doctor informed him as he raised a single scale laden brow, "And I say we're not finished."

Inuyasha swallowed thickly and had to force himself to stay calm even as the bottom fell out of his stomach.

"You told Kagome she couldn't be here today, didn't you?" Inuyasha accused, "She's been here for the other appointments. In the house. But not today."

"I instructed her to leave the house for today's appointment. That much is true," the doctor hummed as his lips twitched upwards, "You are very perceptive but I wonder why she didn't tell you herself? Does she keep secrets from you often?"

Inuyasha scowled and kept stubbornly silent. Anything he said seemed to be making this 'therapy' session worse. There had to be a way out of this. Had to be. As much as he hated the idea, maybe he could call Koga and see if there was literally anyone else he could talk to. Fuck, he'd even talk to Koga at this point.

"I'm going to take your silence as yes. Given everything you've told me, I'm going to suggest a trial separation," the doctor interrupted, "A few weeks to adjust on your own and determine whether..."

Whatever explanation the doctor was giving was drowned out by the sudden ringing in Inuyasha's sensitive ears. For some reason, what had just been suggested submerged him in a deluge of ice water creeping ever higher until it covered his mouth and nose making it imposible to breathe.

"No..." Inuyasha managed to choke as the doctor continued like nothing was happening.

"You've said you don't feel in control and I believe this girl is the cause. She has made all of your decisions..." the crocodile wheezed in what he must have assumed was a reassuring tone.

Shaking his head, Inuyasha embedded his claws deeply in his arms as he struggle to stay in control. Breathing heavily, he managed go ground out, "No. You're...you're twisting my words. I don't want..."

"She's a bad influence. Humans usually are. They don't understand youkai emotions and to top it all off, this girl is a reincarnation of the first woman you loved. It is entirely possible that any feelings you believe you have towards her are a projection. I believe with some distance it will become more clear which direction you want to..."

Inuyasha closed his eyes to combat how blurry his vision was becoming and how his head suddenly felt unimaginably heavy.

"...you only began having attacks upon being reunited with her," the doctor continued as he casually polished his glasses, "If need be I can arrange to have her removed from commune. That way she cannot return..."

Before Inuyasha could really process what he was doing, the doctor was flying across the room.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Centuries of institutionalized hatred of spiritual humans were still solidly present if the way the red seas parted as Kagome wandered through the supermarket was any indication. Supposedly, yes, there were other demons that had mated humans and Jineji had warned her his wife didn't like living here in youkai territory but that warning has been generous at best.

It felt like she was getting a mild taste of what Inuyasha experienced his entire life and the thought made her impossibly sad. Women ushering their children away when they saw her. Grown men watching her like she was about to murder them all. Whispers following her up and down the aisles.

Still, she wasn't going to let them bother her. Inuyasha needed her to stay positive and stay strong. He'd smell it on her if she was upset and think it was because of him. Right now, what he needed was a safe space to rest and recover. And to keep seeing the pyschiatrist although something about that man always rubbed her the wrong way. The way he talked to her was just...gross. Accusing her of eavesdropping on their sessions. Well, okay, not directly but it was heavily implied. Why would she change the appointment to a better time for her anyway? That made no sense! It wasn't her appointment.

But that didn't matter. Anyway, she had promised her man ice cream. Kagome stared at the frosty glass windows and smiled at the flavors. Who knew there was such a thing as Raw Horseflesh? Maybe that could just be a story to tell him. Just grab some mochi covered vanilla and some grape sorbet. Maybe a...

Nearly jumping out of her skin when her phone began to ring, Kagome immediately scrambled for her purse and began digging.

"Hello?" she answered breathlessly as she finally got a hold of her phone before her smile faded.

"You might want to go home. Inuyasha beat the crap outta Dr. Masaki and now he's on a rampage," Koga's exasperated voice came out rough and tense on the other end, "Wants to..."

"Wait, wait, did Inuyasha..."

"No, no. The doctor. Youkai law requires three treating physicians have to agree to detain someone and he just called me and Jineji here to authorize it. Said Inuyasha blew out part of your house and attacked him so it was warranted. Which we didn't concur with of course but..."

"So...wait, not that I wanted you to admit him but what happened? Did Inuyasha..." Kagome asked breathlessly as she began hurrying towards the door leading to the parking lot. Each step tense and quick - her groceries abandoned in the aisle.

"Inuyasha acted like you'd expect him to act if someone threatened you, Kagome. We're not going to admit him for being himself," Koga snorted derisively and all the air left her lungs in a whoosh.

"So after he threatened me, Inuyasha let Dr. Masaki live?" Kagome laughed shakily - the sound bitter and harsh as she crossed the parking lot and broke out into a run.

"Thats what I said! But in all seriousness, Kagome you have to know he's ill," Koga trailed off, "And what I told you was true. Youkai law doesn't have any legal way of forcing him to see a pyschiatrist but Inuyasha needs to see one. Really, really needs to see one. Jineji is trying to make arrangements with one of his colleagues at the medical school to see whether we can get someone else. If Inuyasha will see anyone after this that is. Wouldn't blame him if..."

"I appreciate that but...but will Dr. Masaki hospitalize him? Find other doctors to agree? For attacking him I mean."

"If he does, Jineji and I will get him out. Don't you worry Kagome," Koga promised, "But just because we won't admit him doesn't mean he's stable. If he attacks someone else..."

The wolf demon didn't need to tell her twice. Attacking someone who insulted her was one thing but attacking someone else for no reason? God forbid he goes full demon and starts a murderous rampage. They'd do much worse than just locking him up in a hospital room.