Sometimes taking a wrong turn will take you to the right place. Sometimes, though, taking a wrong turn takes you to the wrong place. Sometimes one wrong turn will lead to multiple wrong places.
The atmospheric humidity mingled with the smog that permeated every corner of this wretched world made it hard to breathe. As if the suffocating and relentless stampedes of nameless faces didn't do a good enough job stealing the air from his lungs. A thick film of grim clung to his skin. The bottoms of his feet were black and sticky. He was tired. He was hungry. He was gross.
And, worst of all, he was lost.
All he'd wanted to do was make sure Kagome got home safe. That's all he'd wanted but the crowds slowed him down and the doors to the train closed faster than he could reach them. With this many people, he couldn't very well run after her so he'd waited for the next train which logically would take him to the same place Kagome went. From there, he could follow her scent.
Except…there was no scent. Not at any of the stations and when the train announcer said "last stop" Inuyasha realized he'd royally screwed up. So he'd done the next logical thing and hopped on a different train. Which took him a completely different way from where he came. The next two train rides had similar results. Now he didn't know up from down much less if he'd been at this particular station before. Going above ground wouldn't help. He could barely track Kagome here unless she was in danger. Her scent was barely detectable above the pollution and when he sniffed too ardently here, his head started spinning. Shit, one time he'd nearly passed out from the effort.
Which meant that running around above ground until he found the shrine would probably get him more lost. Five hundred years had changed the topography and any landmarks he knew like the back of his hand simply weren't there anymore.
Confronted with the fact he was hosed, Inuyasha sank down into a bench and dropped his face into his hands. This, right here, is why Kagome's mother told him not to use these damn machines. But did he listen? Was that a joke? Of course, he didn't. He never listened to anyone. Life was just a compilation of him trying to outrun the consequences of his own actions.
Like carrying a sword around in crowded public spaces. That had been another warning he'd ignored too for obvious reasons.
Inuyasha took a moment to cast a worried glance down at the sword on his hip. Carrying around a sword - even though he knew it was necessary - was against the law. This was an "issue" because he had no identification and therefore no permit meaning he'd very likely be detained. Couldn't murder his way out of that situation which was his normal go-to when his life was in danger. Not here. Sniffling lightly, Inuyasha raised his head just enough to glance at the officers around him. A few were already starring at him. One had their phone out and was taking pictures.
The one taking pictures suddenly began moving towards him and Inuyasha's stomach dropped. This, among many other valid reasons, was why Ms. Higurashi had insisted he'd learn how to use a phone and memorize the phone number that would get him to Kagome in the event something did happen. In case he got in trouble.
"Excuse me sir," the youngish looking officer began with a somewhat shy grin, "May I ask who your cosplay is?"
Inuyasha blinked a few times before running his sleeve beneath his nose and sitting up.
"Sorry?"
"The character? Who are you dressed up as?" the guard repeated, "I have a bet going with my friend. Kenshin Himura or a member of the Hakkenden."
Opening then closing his mouth, Inuyasha was more confused than ever and already extremely frazzled, couldn't think of a good answer quick enough. So he took the easy route.
"F-first one," he muttered with a miserable sigh, "The first one."
The man's grin widened before his eyes glanced up at Inuyasha's long hair.
"It think it's your hair that threw it off for him. And the pants. Next time you do it, just wear some more comfortable sandals so you don't wind up barefoot and maybe splurge for a good red wig. Black-"
Inuyasha's eyes went wide and his hand flew to his hair to check for himself.
Oooohhh. This was bad. This was so bad. Not only was it too soon for this but he was lost in the middle of nowhere. Trapped in conversation with someone who could totally arrest him if they wanted. In essence, he'd have no way to fight back were something to happen and also it meant he'd been lost for hours. Literally all day. Which was much longer than he'd previously thought.
"…but I mean your costume is super authentic. I'm very impressed. Really-"
"Thanks. I guess," Inuyasha interrupted softly before swallowing the bitter pill that he needed to actually ask for and accept help, "Look. I think I'm lost and I need to find the Higuarshi shrine? Do you know where that is?"
The man made a face and laughed softly.
"Ah, so you came from out of town. Don't feel bad. I know my girlfriend gets turned around every time she visits," the guard hummed in amused sympathy before raising his hand and pointing, "Go up the stairs and it's four or five blocks to the left. Or the next stop should drop you off a block away. To the right. I walk by every day on the way to work."
Blinking a few more times, Inuyasha felt both immensely relieved and also very stupid.
"Don't feel bad. At all. Like I said, it's super easy to get turned around," the man offered kindly before biting his lip and swaying slightly, "So...quick question. Where'd you get your costume? Did you make it or-"
"M-my father gave it to me. It's old," Inuyasha offered lamely after an excruciatingly long pause accentuated by an overly long emphasis on the word 'or'.
"Lucky. No wonder it's good quality," the man acknowledged with no lack of jealously, "Probably too expensive to alter then?"
Inuyasha nodded for lack of anything better to say.
"Makes sense. Makes sense. Well scratch what I said about the pants. I hope you had fun at Comic Market, I'm supposed to be going tomorrow," the man laughed softly, "Who are you going as? Maybe I'll see you around the convention cent-"
"I-I'm not going," Inuyasha cut the man off as he got to his feet and offered a quick appreciative bow, "I gotta get home. So, um, thanks."
"You're very welcome. Us Cosplayers have to stick together, no?" the man hummed and Inuyasha offered him a timid smile before quickly and awkwardly making his way towards the stairs.
About thirty or so minutes later, an extremely worried Kagome was pacing by the shrine stairs as she had been doing since the sun went down. Sota had seen Inuyasha here earlier. The group back home said he hadn't come back. The moon…who knew that the moon cycles were different here anyway?! She'd never paid enough attention to realize and she'd bet her life on the fact that Inuyasha hadn't paid attention either. Probably stuck atop a building all alone or maybe he'd gotten hurt. And it wasn't like she could track him without an aura. Couldn't get the police involved. All she could do is wait and hope-
A soft cry escaped her when she saw a very frightened and human Inuyasha appear on the street corner. The faint neon lights illuminating the subtle shaking body. Without further thought on the matter she broke into a run down the stairs.
"INUYASHA?!" Kagome managed to yell - her voice cracking and hoarse as she ran as fast as her legs could carry her. The way he jumped then absolutely melted in relief broke her heart. The way he stumbled then held her tightly when she collided with him made her love him more.
"Next time you go somewhere take me with you," Inuyasha breathed hoarsely as he pulled back and gently took her chin in his hand - his thumb gently stroking her cheek, "Do not leave me behind. Can you promise me that?"
"Technically, I didn't know you were even-" Kagome began before Inuyasha dipped down and captured her lips to cut whatever argument she had off. Before she could properly respond, he'd pulled back and was once again giving her a very stern look.
"No leaving me alone. Ever. Got it?" he repeated his earlier demand before smirking when she simply stared at him like a doe in the headlights. So, he dipped forward again and hummed happily when this time she responded. Maybe it was because he was human that he needed this type of reassurance and felt brave enough to seek it out. Maybe getting lost in a strange world was just this final straw that made him stop trying to fight how he felt.
"Are you going to leave me behind again?" Inuyasha panted lightly when he pulled back again and tried to read her shell-shocked expression. When she didn't answer imediately, he dipped right back down with all the passion he normally kept locked away.
Mainly, this was happening because he'd been scared shitless and kissing her made him feel better. After all, he'd wanted to kiss her for a long, long time now. Since basically forever truth be told. Almost getting lost forever in a dark dirty hole put some things in perspective. Life, for the most part, sucked but it sucked less when you weren't alone. When you asked for things like help and tokens of affection.
Not that he'd asked but he figured kissing her like he'd wanted might make her eager to agree with his demand. After all, anyone with a brain knew she loved him. Letting her know he returned that favor in a very blunt non-verbal way would get what he wanted. No more being alone. No more being afraid. No more being left behind.
Worked like a charm too. Mid-kiss, she nodded. Which was a win he needed after a day like today.
"Now that that's settled," he hummed hoarsely when he found the strength and will to pull back - grinning down at a very flushed and still confused looking woman with all the love and affection he normally held back, "Let's get the hell inside."
And so it was that several wrong turns led Inuyasha to the right place. Lead him a lot of other places too but what mattered was eventually he got to where he belonged.