A/N: Sequel to Unfortunate Life Decisions. Very poor summation of ULD: Beads Broke, He was a dick, Kagome got hurt, Jewel Destroyed, Kagome sent to her era, Inuyasha manages to make it to her era. ANNNNDDDD...

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Back to the Future

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"INUYASHA!" Sota damn near screamed as he ran towards the hanyou grinning broadly at him, "YOU'RE BACK! SIS SAID YOU WEREN'T COMING BACK!"

As the much taller young man made impact with his childhood hero, Inuyasha wrapped his arms tightly around the young man and pulled back only to find someone tugging – painfully – on his ear, dragging him off to the side.

"You are not taking her back to your side of the well," Gramps hissed angrily, "She has worked too hard to get to this point. You may not understand what a big day this is but listen here…"

"I'm staying on this side," Inuyasha interrupted him cheerily– his good mood making him blind to the axe hovering over his head, "We're going to be together now."

"Like hell you are," Gramps gasped incrediously, "How on earth will you provide for her? You have no documents, no education, no prospects. No sir, it'd be better for her if you just went back to your time."

Paling visibly, Inuyasha's eyes widened in shock as he mouthed wordlessly before managing to croak, "I…I can provide for her."

"How?" Gramps huffed to which the hanyou merely mouthed wordlessly as he struggled to come with a logical response, "Now I'll give you the day boy but come morning you best be gone."

Nodding numbly, Inuyasha remained frozen where he was – staring blankly at the numerous smiling faces in front of him as they milled about – as Gramps turned to head back to his family just a little ways away. With each passing second, his stomach tightened, churned and ached all the more. Five years. He'd waited to be reunited with her for five years and now he was being told that wasn't good enough. Kagome was the first and only person to ever see that part of his soul that he'd never wanted to let out. When she was pulled away from him – the jewel's last act of vengeance against them – he had called for her, held out his hands and let his face become wet with tears he'd never shown anyone before in his grief. And none of that was enough. He didn't belong in this era. Never had and apparently, never would.

"Inuyasha?" came Kagome's soft voice from behind him, "Are you alright? I thought maybe we could go to my apartment and freshen up before heading out to dinner in a few hours but…"

"Do you want me to go?" Inuyasha's soft spoken question took Kagome aback as she moved to look into his face while he continued, "Did I mess up your life by coming back?"

"What? No! What gave you that idea?" Kagome asked incredulously as she reached up and cupped his face – smiling softly when he leaned into her touch and gazed down at her with love shining in his eyes.

"No reason," Inuyasha lied lamely as he gave her a partial smile before furrowing his brow and sighing heavily, "Just…I don't have the education you do and…and…I don't…"

"That's something that we can work on," Kagome soothed warmly - running her thumb gently across his cheek, "My new job is in a different city but while I'm at work, you can go to school during the day if you want. If not, I'm sure you can do something. Not every job requires an education in this era."

"Okay," Inuyasha sighed in relief as he gave her a more genuine smile before his smile faltered, "But I've got a lot to learn in any case. Can we…um…I think I need different clothes."

"We can go shopping if you want," Kagome offered kindly before looking mournfully down at his signature robe, "But I'll miss these. So much."

As Inuyasha glanced around, he added timidly - suddenly acting uncharacteristically insecure, "And I'd...to better fit in, can I...should we cut my hair?"

"If you really want," Kagome agreed uneasily, "I don't want you to change for me. That isn't necessary. I have always loved you for who you are and nothing is going to change that."

Relaxing visibly, Inuyasha smiled down at her as he brushed a stray hair back behind her ear, "I love you too. I just want to make you happy. I want to do whatever it'll take to make this work. I...I don't want to be a burden, you know?"

"You're never going to be a burden to me," Kagome chuckled, "Ever."

"You say that but I don't see anyone else carrying around a sword," Inuyasha teased lightly - awkwardness pervading his tone as he glanced down anxiously. Sighing, Kagome forced him to look at her again, "Nothing is taking you away from me again. You hear me. Nothing. I don't care if you grow wings or a tail or suddenly became purple with yellow spots. You're stuck with me."

Giving her a shy grin, Inuyasha firmly gripped her hand in his own. He'd prove to that old man he was worthy of Kagome. He'd show them all.