Disclaimer: I own neither Inuyasha nor Big Hero 6 and make no money from these writings.

Changing Fate

Chapter Four

Waking up to the smell of food, Tadashi almost thought that he was home, but that illusion was dispelled when he opened his eyes and saw a room that was very much not his. 'What?' As he gradually woke up and shook off the haze of sleep, he began to remember exactly what had happened the night before. Sitting up in the bed quickly, he took in his surroundings with a clearer mind. This wasn't his house. This wasn't his bed. These weren't his clothes. 'No way...' That crazy night hadn't been a dream?

After straightening his bed as best he could and making his way to the bedroom door, he poked his head out and heard who he assumed was Kagome moving around in the kitchen. It was when he stepped into the hall to go to the bathroom that he noticed a kitchen stool by the bathroom door with his clothes folded in a neat pile on top. Very eager to get back into clothes that actually fit, Tadashi gathered up the pile and stepped into the bathroom to find another pleasant surprise. Along the edge of the sink was a comb, an unopened toothbrush which looked like the kind one usually got at the dentist, toothpaste, a pink disposable razor, and some shaving cream.

Several minutes later, Tadashi emerged from the bathroom feeling much more refreshed and trying to ignore the fact that his face smelled faintly of strawberries. It was all still incredibly surreal. Traveling two years into the future but still going about a normal morning routine like it was any other day. But then he supposed that it was the little normal things that were keeping him from really freaking out. It brought a sense of stability to what was going on, and Tadashi would take what he could get until he fully adjusted to the idea of evading death and traveling through time.

As he stepped into the kitchen, he saw Kagome standing at the stove cooking something. "Good morning," he said as he walked around the kitchen table and Kagome responded in kind. Curious, it wasn't hard to glance over her shoulder and see that she was using a long pair of cooking chopsticks to make a rolled omelette. It caught him a little off guard. Sitting down at the table, he continued to watch her. He'd seen a few people use chopsticks to cook, but not with the dexterity and practiced ease that Kagome had. As she reached for different things and moved while humming under her breath, it was obvious that she was doing most of this from muscle memory.

Looking around the kitchen, Tadashi began to notice other things that pointed towards something very obvious. Little decorations, utensils, even some of the food on the table. There were very traditional Japanese influences everywhere. Sure, San Fransokyo had a lot of heavy Japanese influences, entire districts in some areas, but the city and its inhabitants were all still very Americanized. And though she was fluent, Kagome had a noticeable accent on some of her words and pronunciations. Tadashi wanted to ask about it, but he wasn't sure if she would think it rude.

Kagome plated the omelette and sliced it before bringing it to the table to set it with the rest of the food she'd prepared. Glancing down at the mix of different foods, she explained, "I didn't know what you like for breakfast, but I just can't give up some staples. Is there something else you'd like?" Thinking as she looked over the rice and miso soup and omelette along with the fruit and bacon, she offered, "I there are some toaster waffles in the freezer?"

"No, this is great," Tadashi told her with a thankful smile. "Thanks. You didn't even need to do this much."

Shrugging, Kagome waved off his concern and said, "Breakfast is important. Besides, I think we both have long days ahead of us. Hey, what do you want to drink? I have milk, water, tea, maybe some juice…"

Over the years, Tadashi had gotten used to coffee waking him up, but since it didn't seem like an option, he questioned, "Orange juice?"

"Mmmm," Kagome hummed in thought as she checked the fridge and responded, "nope. Is apple okay?" At Tadashi's nod, she grabbed the bottle and poured a glasses for both of them. "Last question," she told him as she walked over to a drawer. "Fork or chopsticks?"

"Ah, fork please," Tadashi answered a little embarrassed. It wasn't that he couldn't use chopsticks. He could get by, he just wasn't very good at it. When Kagome finally came back to the table and sat down while folding one leg underneath her, Tadashi watched her as she deftly used her chopsticks to eat as easily as she'd cooked. "So," he began as he pierced a strawberry with his fork. "You seem pretty used to making a traditional breakfast."

Kagome lifted an eyebrow at the hesitant inflections in Tadashi's statement. She was pretty sure what he wanted to ask, but decided to beat around the bush a little more. "It's what I grew up with, and I used to help my mom cook. I've had a lot of practice."

Tadashi nodded. He still didn't want to just outright ask, but he wasn't sure how else to go about it. 'Does it even really matter?' Well, no, it didn't. But now that he'd spent some actual time around Kagome, seeing what she was like as a person instead of a scientist or student, he kind of wanted to know more about her. After the previous night, it was safe to say that they were probably past the hey-can-I-use-this-thing-from-your-lab acquaintance stage.

Watching Tadashi try to come up with something else to say, Kagome continued to eat her breakfast before finally grinning and giving in. "I'm from Japan," she confirmed. "I'm here on a visa and a scholarship."

"Oh," was all Tadashi could say in response. Had he been that obvious in his curiosity? "My grandparents were from Japan," he offered.

"Have you ever been?"

"No," Tadashi shook his head as he started relaxing into the conversation a little more. "I'd like to go someday, though."

"You should probably learn to use chopsticks, then," she teased as she sipped at her juice.

"I can use chopsticks," Tadashi defended.

"You say as you eat rice with a fork."

Looking down at the bowl and utensil in his hand, Tadashi had to concede the point this time. Deciding to change topic, he said, "You said we'd both have long days today. I know my day is gonna be rough, but what are you doing?"

"Well," Kagome said as she reached for a piece of omelette. "I'll take you home after breakfast, and I'll stay if it looks like you need me to. Otherwise, I'm coming back here to break down my giant paperweight and get rid of as much of it today as possible."

"You're really gonna destroy it?"

"Mmhm," Kagome hummed in resignation. She really didn't want to, but she just had to keep telling herself that it was for the best.

"How long do you think it'll take?"

"A few days if I work all day?" Kagome guessed. "I won't have to be as detailed taking it apart as I was putting it together. A lot of it will just be boxed up and dropped off at different recycling centers and dumpsters. Why?"

Looking at her seriously, he still couldn't imagine completely scrapping what had to be one of the most revolutionary inventions science had ever seen, but it was her choice. "I can try to get my family and friends to keep quiet about things so that nobody comes looking for you until you're done."

Surprised, Kagome stared at Tadashi for a moment before telling him in all sincerity, "Thank you."

"Well, I do owe you a lot," Tadashi pointed out with a light smile.

Kagome smiled in return, and they turned towards talk of Tadashi's impending meeting with his family through the rest of breakfast. The previous night had been crazy and stressful and tense, but Kagome and Tadashi were finally starting to settle in and be a little more comfortable around each other. It wasn't something that either of them had any complaints about.

"Are you ready?" Kagome asked as she and Tadashi sat in her little hatchback parked just up the street from the Lucky Cat Cafe.

Tadashi looked at the windows of the little cafe which still had the blinds down and hesitated. He thought he was ready, but he was nervous about how Hiro and Aunt Cass might react. He'd just seen them the day before, but they hadn't seem him for two years. He could only assumed that they'd been through the mourning process. He couldn't imagine the shock he might put them through. Taking a deep breath and breathing out slowly, Tadashi looked over at Kagome and nodded. "I think so."

"Okay," she answered as she took her keys out of the ignition. "Let's go."

They walked down the early morning sidewalk, seeing very few people outside yet. 'Good,' Kagome thought. They really didn't need anyone in the neighborhood recognizing Tadashi just yet.

Standing outside the cafe's front door, Tadashi looked inside through the glass front and saw Cass carrying a tray of fresh muffins to the display case. He swallowed down his nerves before knocking lightly against the glass to get her attention. When she looked up at the noise and saw him, he heard the muffled version of her startled scream through the glass. It also sounded like she dropped her muffins. She was still staring at him in shock when Tadashi saw Hiro - who had to have literally jumped out of bed at hearing his aunt's scream - stumble down the stairs to see what was wrong.

He couldn't really hear what they were saying, but Cass pointed to the door while telling Hiro something. When Hiro turned to look at the door, Tadashi almost couldn't breathe. How could two years change the skinny, goofy kid he knew so much. And he suddenly felt very guilty about not being there for his little brother during what he knew could be some very awkward years.

Tadashi pointed down at the door handle and watched as a very hesitant Hiro slowly approached the door and flipped the lock before backing up quickly. Opening the door and stepping inside followed by Kagome, he offered a very soft, "Hey."

Hiro stared at him for a long moment before asking very seriously, "Who are you?"

The question hit Tadashi harder than he thought it would have, but he couldn't blame his brother. He probably would have asked the same thing. "It's me," he said simply. "Tadashi."

"No." Hiro cut him off quickly. "You are not Tadashi. Tadashi...he...Tadashi died," Hiro choked out, old wounds being opened up at he stared down his brother that he'd lost years before. "So who are you?"

"It's really me, Hiro," Tadashi tried to keep his voice level. He could clearly see how much Hiro was hurting.

"No, you're not," Hiro protested, emphasizing each word. Suddenly getting an idea, Hiro said, "I'll prove you're lying. Baymax!" He listened for a quiet minute before sighing and rubbing a hand over his eyes. "Ow!" He called out instead, more than a little exasperation in his voice. This time a sound could be heard after a few seconds. Soft, even footsteps were coming from upstairs and as they came closer to the stairs, there was a soft squeaking with each step. Hiro groaned a little as Baymax slowly waddled its way down each step and across the cafe before finally stopping in front of Hiro.

Scanning the teenager, his spoke, "I heard you say "ow" but you do not appear to have any physical injuries. However, your heart rate is elevated. You appear to be distressed."

"Baymax," Hiro cut off, ignoring the robot's analysis. "Scan him," he ordered while pointing towards Tadashi. "Who is that?"

Moving to face Tadashi, Baymax quickly scanned him before saying, "Based on height, weight, measurements, hormone levels, and brainwave patterns, this is: Tadashi Hamada."

Hiro stared at Tadashi, barely breathing, looking like he wanted to believe but afraid at the same time. "Are you sure? Scan him again."

"My scanners are fully functional," Baymax confirmed. "According to the match of my last recorded data, this is: Tadashi Hamada."

Stepping forward, Hiro stopped about a foot away from Tadashi. He looked his older brother over and had an intense wave of deja vu. He looked exactly the same. Same face. Same eyes. Same hair. Same clothes, sans jacket, as the last time he saw him the night he ran into that stupid fire. "You're alive?"

"Yeah."

"And you're okay?"

Holding up his bandaged arm, Tadashi smiled a little in an attempt to make Hiro feel better. "Mostly."

"How?"

"It's...kind of a long - and weird - story." Tadashi saw Hiro's jaw tighten and his hands ball up into fists. Tears were gathering in the teen's eyes, and Tadashi was about to hug him when Hiro caught him completely off guard.

"What did you think you were doing?!" Hiro yelled, punching Tadashi in the shoulder. After that, he let out years of frustration and anger and sadness as he continued to yell. "What made you think that was okay? Why did you have to be so stupid?" He kept throwing punches that lost a little steam each time, ignoring Tadashi's grunts as he blocked what he could. Finally losing the strength in his arms, he stepped closer to the brother he'd missed so much and rested his forehead against Tadashi's shoulder. "Why-" he hiccuped, "why did you leave me?...knucklehead."

Tadashi wrapped his arms around Hiro and held him tightly, trying to make up for his two year absence. It was only when Hiro returned the hug, gripping the back of Tadashi's shirt like he was afraid he'd leave again, that Tadashi felt tears start to burn his eyes. Over Hiro's head that was still buried in his shoulder, Tadashi watched as Cass, who'd been watching them with silent tears, slowly approached and touched his face, checking that he was really there and real. "Hey, Aunt Cass."

A watery laugh slipped from her mouth before she threw her arms around both of her nephews and cried with them. She was incredibly confused, but at the moment was too caught up in happiness and relief at having her little family back together to care. She could get (demand) answers later. For now, that hug was the only thing in the world she wanted.

Largely forgotten, Kagome watched the family reunion quietly, feeling very much like an intruder. Looking around, she grabbed a napkin from a nearby table and jotted down a quick note, This was a family moment. You guys catch up. If you need me, you can call. Adding her phone number at the bottom, Kagome left her note on the edge of the table and quietly let herself out the front door. The only one who noticed her departure was the large, huggable robot who quietly waved goodbye.