Half and Half
An Inuyasha Fanfic by Elusion
Chapter Two
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Disclaimer: Inuyasha and all characters therein belong to Rumiko Takahashi and Viz Video
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Inuyasha barely managed to catch the plummeting Kagome before she crumpled to the ground in a dead faint. He held her in his arms, and looked for a place to set her down. Laying her out on an improvised bed of soft blankets on the floor, he watched her silently, waiting for her to return to consciousness.
He was surprised at how calm he really was, considering his best friend and true love had just changed species. Maybe it was just shock. Or perhaps he was so used to strange things constantly happening around him that it wasn't all that much a surprise. Or perhaps, he was a bit... relieved.
He blinked. Relieved? How so? He thought hard upon it. Kagome was turned into a hanyou, meaning the Shikon no Tama was used. The Shikon no Tama was used, so that meant he couldn't change himself. Ahh, that was it. So he was relieved that he could stay the way he was. He felt a bit guilty that he felt relieved that Kagome changed so he didn't have to. After all, it really was his fault this all happened, wasn't it? He should have told Kagome straight out his choice. But he had still been slightly unsure of himself, and it was easier to assume she understood then to say it out loud, and make it so.. permanent. He shook his head. How could he be so cowardly?
He had been afraid still to choose, so his indecision had caused this mess, with Kagome being the victim of his own cowardice. He hung his head in shame. Would she forgive him? How would they adjust? Suddenly the seriousness of the change crashed down upon Inuyasha. Everything would be different- she would have to learn how to control her youkai blood, find out when her human day was, learn how to adjust to the heightened senses and the superior strength... the list went on. Inuyasha's head reeled at the prospect. She was going to have to relearn a great deal of things as well, her sense of balance would be off, and anatomically, her whole body was different. Inuyasha knew how long it took for him to get used to his once a month human body when he was young, but this would be a great deal harder for Kagome. At least with him, things had reverted back to normal after the night was over. But for Kagome, except for one day a month, things would never be normal again.
A thought suddenly hit his mind. How would her family react? What would they tell them? Would they be angry? Would they try to keep her from Inuyasha? After all, it was his fault. Would they disown her for being a half breed? Inuyasha didn't know Kagome's family very well, but he knew how his mother had been humiliated and shunned by her own family for falling in love and bearing the child of a youkai. So many humans had rejected him... would the same happen to Kagome?
His eyes narrowed at the thought. Just let them try to make fun of Kagome, and he'd rip them to shreds. If Kagome's family wouldn't accept her, Inuyasha would, even though he wasn't sure if she still wanted him around. He vowed then and there that he would take care of Kagome, even if she hated him, he would be there to protect her as she grew accustomed to her change. It was his fault, and he was going to take responsibility for his actions for once.
Kagome's eyes fluttered open. Where was she? And why was she lying on the floor? She looked up and saw Inuyasha's concerned face above her. She suddenly remembered what happened, and the world swung around, threatening to turn black again. She fought off the darkness, and slowly sat up. She looked down at her hands again, and sighed, her last hope that it had been a dream vanished. She wobbily tried to stand up, and Inuyasha quickly rushed over to help. She awarded him with a brief smile, and tried to get her balance. She felt strange. Her body felt different, like all the bones and organs had shifted, leaving her feeling disoriented and out of balance. She finally straightened herself out, but Inuyasha still hovered nearby, like she was a china doll he was afraid would break. She felt a little flattered that he would pay so much attention to her, but it was a little annoying. She tried walking a few steps. She was beginning to get the hang of it, she thought to herself, seconds before her knees buckled out. Inuyasha caught her, and she waved him away. She wouldn't be carried like a child. Hesitatingly, she made her way over to a corner of the hut. She sat down, and reached into her pack that was there, and pulled out a mirror in triumph. She held it up to her face, half curious and half frightened at what she would see.
The first thing she noticed was that her hair was still black. Somehow she felt immensely comforted. Her hair had been a matter of pride to her, she loved the black lustrous locks. She then saw the two puppy ears poking out. They were the same as Inuyasha's only more slender, and they were black, like her hair. The pupils of her eyes were demonically slanted, but the chocolate brown of her eye color had melded with the amber color of Inuyasha's eyes to create a golden brown somewhere in between the two. She flashed a smile and admired her fangs; she had always found Inuyasha's rather cute. The last touch on her now hanyou face was two skinny faint blue lines on either cheekbone. She thought that they made her look more exotic and interesting. She smiled in the mirror again. If she was going to be a half demon, at least she was a pretty one. She absently raised her hand to push her hair behind her ear, a nervous habit of hers, but her ear was no longer there. She sighed. That would be bugging her for weeks, until she found a new nervous habit. Hopefully not biting her nails, she thought with a glance to her razor sharp claws. All in all, it wasn't too bad, she supposed. She glanced up at Inuyasha, who was staring at her with a guilty, nervous look, much like a puppy who had been bad and was waiting to be punished. She almost giggled. She'd have to stop with these dog referenced jokes, after all, she wasn't one to talk anymore.
"What's wrong Inuyasha?" she asked sweetly. He looked shocked at the grin on her face.
"Are- are you okay? You don't mind? I mean, being a hanyou?" he asked, surprised.
"Might be fun." Kagome grinned. She had always tried to look on the bright side of things, and this was no exception. Inuyasha just stared at her like she was possessed.
"And now, I'll be just as strong as all of you guys!" she said, her smile brightening even further. Being the weakest one in the group had always bugged Kagome. Well, now she was stronger than Sango or Miroku, and with her miko powers, she might even surpass Inuyasha one day! That is, if she still possessed her miko powers. She would try to puzzle it out later, along with how the spell had gone the way it did.
Inuyasha just stared at the cheerful dog-girl. Yes, she was definitely dog hanyou, his nose told him so. He was glad, for youkai to marry a youkai of a different race was rare and usually didn't work out. Not that they were getting married anytime soon, he hastily added in his thoughts. Inuyasha, though he knew he loved Kagome, wasn't wanting to make such a big commitment right then. And Kagome had previously said she was too young. He wasn't sure why that was, but apparently in her time they waited longer before getting married.
While thinking of age, another thing popped into his mind. Now that Kagome was a hanyou, they would age at the same rate. Another problem solved, as he would have still been young long after Kagome grew old if she had stayed human and he hanyou. He was beginning to like the idea of Kagome being a hanyou, now that he thought about it, because now she would truly understand him. He smiled back at Kagome. Maybe she was right, maybe things really weren't so bad after all.
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End Chapter Two