Chapter 3: Changes

Author's POV

Kagome grunted as her eyes fluttered opened. Her hand automatically went to her forehead as she tried to sit up. Seeing her struggle, Inuyasha helped before she hurt herself.

"What happened", she asked.

"Don't you remember anything", he asked trying not to get lost in her dark purple eyes.

"Sesshoumaru..."

"He's gone", he stated with a cold voice directed at his brother.

"Why do I feel so different", she asked, "And what is that wonderful smell... It's sweet yet masculine..." she trailed off. Before the blushing Inuyasha could answer the others came in.

"Kagome", Shippo yelled as he jumped into her awaiting arms.

Inuyasha took this time to stand up and control himself. Miroku gave him a questioning look but decided against asking him anything at the moment. Several gasps of surprise were heard as everyone finally took Kagome's appearance in.

"What", she asked nervously at all the stares. Inuyasha sighed. They're going to make me explain all of this to her aren't they?

"Drink this first", Kaede handed her something. The miko gulped it down and made a weird face.

"Ewe", she complained.

"What is that stuff", Kagome asked.

"Anti-Purification potion", was all Kaede said before giving Inuyasha a look. He nodded.

"Do you remember when you asked me why you felt different", he started.

"Hai. But do you have to scream my ears are killing me", Kagome said as she instinctively reached to where her ears were supposed to be. When she couldn't find them she panicked and screamed. Inuyasha grabbed his own ears and winced.

"Shut up wench", he yelled at her. She glared.

"Where are my ears", she demanded.

"Did you try looking on top of your head", he asked with an irritated attitude.

"W-why would I look there", she asked.

"Just do it", he snapped. She slowly raised her hands to the top of her hand. Okay, slow was an understatement. Inuyasha rolled his eyes at her.

"Will you hurry up", he said.

"Humph", she said as her hands finally landed on the top of her head but they didn't land on her hair, as she would have expected. She felt something else. They feel like his ears... Her eyes went wide and she opened her mouth to scream again but a hand stopped her. She looked up at the frowning hanyou.

"Don't. You'll just hurt us both", he said. She nodded slowly and he released her.

"What did you do?" Kagome asked him. He glared at her.

"Nothing you baka. It was my brother remember", he stated. But I should have protected you better…

"Ye were hit by a spell", Lady Kaede explained before a fight could start, "Ye are now an Inu-hanyou as Inuyasha is."

"W-WHAT!" The young priestess yelled, only to hold her ears in pain.

"I warned you wench", Inuyasha growled. Surprising all of them so did Kagome.

"You're not helping", she told him. Then she turned to the old woman again.

"Isn't there a way to change me back", she asked.

"No. There is not. Ye should get used to this in no time with Inuyasha's help", Lady Kaede stated.

"What about my family. What about school", Kagome panicked.

"Your mom said she wanted to see you when you woke up", Inuyasha said.

"You went to see them", she asked. He nodded. She smiled sweetly at him. Maybe he does care...

"Thank you", she said.

"Keh", he said with a shrug but couldn't help the smile on his face.

"You guys should go to your time then", Sango suggested, "We'll wait for you here."

"Could you bring me some more candy", Shippo asked. Kagome smiled again and nodded before standing up with a little help from Sango.

"Of course", she said as she walked to Inuyasha's side.

"Let's go", was all he said before he took off at a running speed.

"Hey!" She yelled at him. With all of her will she wanted to catch up to him. Without thinking she began running faster than ever. She had even passed Inuyasha and made it to the well before him. A big grin was plastered to her face.

"First lesson complete", Inuyasha said with a small smile as he took his place beside her.

"That was so fun! How did I even do that", she asked with a never fading smile.

"Instinct. That's why I left you there. It was the only way you would have learned to run like me", he explained, "Now, think fast."

He gave Kagome a small push and she fell down the well. She screamed, thinking she would hit the floor painfully but her feet automatically made her land perfectly, only to tumble and fall on her but afterwards. She heard someone chuckle beside her. She looked up to her hanyou friend.

"Good but we still need to work on your landing", he said enjoying this all too much, "I guess you're still your clumsy self." Kagome glared at him and stood up.

"Does that mean I can jump up this well in one shot", she asked.

"I wouldn't try that yet. We still have to work on the basics", Inuyasha said. He grabbed her hand and lifted her onto his back. In one jump they were in the well house.

"Ewe! Does it always smell this bad in here", Kagome complained, trying to block the scent from her nose.

"You get used to it", the arrogant boy stated.

They made their way towards her house. Kagome tensed and froze in place half way there.

"What's wrong", Inuyasha asked her.

"N-nothing", she lied horribly. He gave her a look.

"I-I'm just worried", the miko admitted, "What did my family say when you told them what happened?"

"Your mom told me she didn't care what you were", Inuyasha said, "You're still her daughter. She'll still love you, you know."

Kagome suddenly hugged him. At first his body tensed but he relaxed eventually and hugged her back.

"Thank you Inuyasha. I needed to hear that", she pulled away quicker than both of them would of liked.

"Keh", Inuyasha replied trying to hide his red face. She just smiled and walked up to the front door. She opened it slowly as if contemplating her options of running away.

"Hurry up wench", Inuyasha said impatiently.

Well his good mood didn't last long…

Kagome took a deep breath and stepped into the place she called home.

"Mama", she asked as she walked towards the one room she knew her mom would be in. There stood Mrs. Higurashi, washing the dishes in the kitchen. The woman turned as she heard the approaching steps.

"Kagome", she asked shock evident on her face. She dropped the plate into the sink and engulfed her daughter into a hug.

"Oh, Kagome! I was so worried", she told her.

"I'm okay mama", the teen told her mother as they pulled back from the hug. Mrs. Higurashi played with her daughter's ears.

"Now I'm sure my grandchildren will have ears", she stated happily.

Kagome blushed and pulled away.

"Mom", she complained in embarrassment. Her mother laughed.

"I'm sorry dear", she said with a smile.

"Now you know how I feel", Inuyasha stated crossing his arms.

"I don't know why you both complain. You have adorable ears", Kagome's mother said. They both blushed and looked in a different direction.

Just then footsteps were heard going down the stairs. Kagome's little brother, Sota, came into the kitchen.

"Mom", he started asking but froze as he saw a strangely familiar person standing next to his hero.

"K-Kagome", he asked uncertain.

"Hey Sota", she said with a small smile.

"Cool! Now you're just like Inuyasha", the little boy exclaimed, "I have the best sister ever!" He gave her a quick hug then ran back to whereever.

"Where's that old guy with the weird sutras", Inuyasha suddenly asked. I glared at him for his lack of manners.

"Where is grandpa, mama", Kagome asked.

"He was in front of that tree a few seconds ago. Didn't you see him there", she asked. They both shook their heads.

"Hmm. I'm sure he hasn't gotten too far", Mrs. Higurashi said, "Now on to the important matters."

"Huh?" Kagome asked now confused.

""Come sit down. We have some things to discuss", she said. They all took a seat at the kitchen table.

"What's wrong", Kagome asked now worried.

"Nothing. But there are a couple of things that are going to have to change", her mother said placing a hand on her daughter's.

"Okay…Like what exactly", the nervous miko asked.

"For starters I pulled you out of school yesterday since you wont be able to go anymore", the woman said.

"I guess that's alright. I wasn't going much anyways", Kagome said.

"The second thing might be the hardest", Mrs. Higurashi took a deep breath, "You should find a house in the Feudal Era."

"Y-you want me to live there? But what about you and Sota, and grandpa", she asked as tears brimmed her eyes.

""Don't cry dear. You can always visit. But we all know that you belong in that time. With your friends and Inuyasha", her mom said, "We'll always love you, but I always knew someday that you would be staying in that time."

"But what about my future? A job? Everything else", Kagome said.

"Don't you want to live with all of your friends in their time? I think that's where your future is", her mom explained.

"Hai, you're right. I'm just going to miss you so much", Kagome said. Mother and daughter hugged as tears fell down both of their faces.

Inuyasha looked away. He couldn't stand it. It's my fault… I caused them all of this pain…

"Now you should go pack all of your clothes and stuff. Don't forget to visit often", Mrs. Higurashi said before turning to her dishes again.

"Of course mama", Kagome said. Then she turned to Inuyasha. "Come on", she told him. He didn't say anything. He stood up and followed her to her bedroom.

"Hmm. Did I always smell like this", she asked looking around her room.

"Yeah, but now it's different. Like there are more spices to your scent now that your blood is mixed with the blood of an Inu-demon", he explained. She nodded.

"It's like a mixture of fruits and plants…" She tried to describe.

"Close… But we can work on your scent later. Can we hurry up with the packing so we can go back", he said.

"Fine", Kagome let out a sigh.

She turned to her dresser to pull out some clothes but froze at the sight of her reflection. Her hand touched the glass and as she saw the lavender haired, purple-eyed reflection do the same she gasped.

"That really is me", she whispered to herself.

"Of course it is wench. Now hurry up I'm hungry", Inuyasha complained.

"You don't have to wait here you know", she told him.

"And leave you here by yourself? You'd probably get hurt or something", he said.

"I'm not that useless", she yelled, "I can take care of myself."

"Whatever you say bitch. Now hurry up", he growled at her. She growled back instinctively.

"Inuyasha… SIT!" She yelled. THUD

"What did you do that for!"

"SIT!" THUD "SIT!" THUD "SIT!" THUD

"Ah! Enough! I get it", Inuyasha said, as he was tired of constantly kissing the carpet. Kagome didn't answer. She turned around and started throwing stuff into her open bags lying on top of her bed. Mom must have got them out for me…

When she was finally done she closed all three bags and put one onto her back. As she was about to grab the other ones, a hand stopped her. She was surprised to see Inuyasha grab the other two and easily fling them onto his shoulders.

Inuyasha opened the window.

"What are you doing?" She asked.

"What I always do. This way is quicker, but you should probably go out through the front door", he said.

"Hai", she agreed. She walked back to the kitchen to say goodbye.

"Bye mama", Kagome said as she gave her mother a hug.

"Bye dear. Come back and visit as soon as possible", her mom said.

"I will. I promise", the miko said as they pulled away.

"And don't forget, I want grandchildren", Mrs. Higurashi stated with a knowing smile before turning back to whatever she was cooking. Kagome blushed, thinking it was better to say nothing and made her way towards the door.

Once in the well house she saw an impatient hanyou waiting for her.

"What took you so long",

"I was saying goodbye", Kagome said tears in her eyes. Inuyasha's expression softened a little. He placed a hand on her shoulder.

"You going to be okay", he asked. She nodded.

"Hai. Let's go", she said. He picked up the bags again and jumped into the well right after Kagome had climbed in.