It had been a nice day for the shard hunters and they decided to have a picnic under a shade tree. They were all enjoying themselves. Even the ever impatient Inuyasha was having fun.
Kagome sighed. "It's such a peaceful day. Nothing could possibly ruin it." That's when an unexpected visitor showed up.
"Well, well. Isn't this nice and cozy. I myself find it boring. Let's have some fun shall we? Dance of blades!" Kagura yelled coming into the clearing.
"Ya just had to say that didn't you Kagome? You just love to jinx us." Inuyasha said as they all dodged out of the way.
"Hey! That's not fair! I'm not a jinx!" She yelled.
"Are too!"
"Am not!"
"Are too!"
"Am not!"
"Are too! Are too! Are too!"
"Not! Not! Not! Not! Not!"
"Inuyasha!" Kagura yelled interrupting them.
"WHAT!" He and Kagome yelled at the same time. Just as Inuyasha turned to face her, Kagura blew a blue powder in his face.
"Well my job here is done." She said before flying away.
"What the hell was that all about?" Inuyasha said sheathing his sword.
"Whatever it is, it's not good. I could sence dark magic in that dust she blew on you. I'm betting that she placed a curse on you. I think it's best that we head back to Kaede's until we know what this curse is." Miroku said.
"Yeah, good idea." Inuyasha said.
They set off back to Kaede's. They were all quiet and each of them were lost in their own thoughts trying to come up with what the curse could be. When they got to Kaede's they explained to her what had happened.
"I'm sorry but I've never heard of such a thing. I'm sorry that I can't be of more help." She said.
Inuyasha growled. "I shoulda known you couldn't do anything ya old hag!" He yelled angrily.
"Inuyasha sit!"
"You should be more respectful of your elders Inuyasha." Miroku said shaking his head.
"Shut it monk!" Inuyasha huffed.
"Maybe we should all get some sleep. We can discuss this more in the morning." Sango said.
"Ok." Kagome said as she got their beds ready. Before she went to bed, she went over to Inuyasha and crouched in front of him.
"What do you want?" Inuyasha asked gruffly.
"Don't worry. We'll figure this curse out. I'll be with you every step of the way, no matter what. I promise." She said trying to reassure him.
"Thank you Kagome." He said quietly.
"Now get some sleep." She said.
"You too."
Soon after everyone had gone to bed, strange changes started to happen to Inuyasha. Nobody would expect to see what they did the next morning. When morning came, Kagome was woke up by a gentle poking in her arm.
"Scuse me miss, me gots ta go potty." Said an adorable little boy who looked shockingly like Inuyasha.
"Inu-Inuyasha?" She whispered in shock.
"Uh huh. How you know my name?" He asked tilting his head in confussion.
Kagome's eyes widened. "OH MY GOD!!" She yelled scaring the poor boy and making him jump.
"What's goin on Kagome?" Shippo asked groggily as he woke up.
"Look! It's Inuyasha! He's a little boy now!" She yelled. At her outburst, everyone else woke up.
"Aw! He's so cute!" Gushed Sango as she walked up to him. That's when they heard a trickling noise. Inuyasha's ears drooped as he began to cry.
"What's wrong?" Kagome asked.
"Me haded a asadent. Me sowwy." He sniffled. He had wet himself in all the excitment.
"Oh no. Don't cry. We'll get you all cleaned up. You can borrow one of Shippo's outfits until yours is clean."
"Otay. Who is Shippy?"
"That's Shippo. Over there is Miroku and Sango and my name is Kagome." She said pointing to everyone.
"Oh."
After Kagome got Inuyasha changed and cleaned, she washed his cloathes and then got breakfast ready.
"I was wondering Inuyasha, how old are you?" Sango asked.
"I is dis many!" He said proudly holding up four fingers.
"Hey Kagome, after we eat can me and Inuyasha go play?" Shippo asked.
"Sure. Would you like that Inuyasha?" She asked.
"Otay Shippy!" Inuyasha said excitedly.
"Uh...it's Shippo not Shippy but you can call me that if you want to."
"Otay!" Inuyasha said smiling as they ran out the door. Sango, Miroku and Kagome watched as the boy's ran around.
"Well guys, what are we going to do now?" Kagome asked.
"I don't know Kagome. I just don't know." Miroku said sighing.
"You've got to admit it though, he is adorable." Sango said.
"Yeah. It's hard to imagine him so carefree. Makes you want to have children, eh Sango?" Miroku asked wiggling his eyebrows and smiling lecherously.
Sango bonked him in the head. "Stupid lecher."
"Gome! Gome! I gots you a prise." Inuyasha said running up to her with his hands behind his back.
"Really? Well what do you have for me?"
"Here. Me gots these for you. I membered daddy giveded mommy fowers all the time! Him say that's what you apposed to do wiff a pwitty lady." He said smiling.
"Aw thank you! That's very sweet." She smiled and kissed his cheek. She giggled when he blushed.
"See Miroku, you could learn a thing or two from him. He's only four and he's a gentleman." Sango said crossing her arms.
"Makes you wonder what happened to him when he got older." Miroku wondered.
A few minuets later, they all saw Inuyasha raise his nose in the air and begin sniffing as his eyes lit up. That's when he shocked them all by throwing his head back and letting out a little puppy howl.
"Uh oh." Shippo said crawling up to Kagome's shoulder and hiding in her hair.
"What's wrong? What's he doing?" Kagome asked.
"Well since he's a pup he still needs the care of his kin, his alpha. He's calling to his alpha to let him know where to find him. This is bad. He's only got one relative left." Shippo said trembling in fear.
"Yay! Shomu come! Shomu come!" Inuyasha squeeled running away from them. They all turned just in time to see Sesshomaru emerge from the forest. Inuyasha ran up to him and threw himself at him hugging his legs.
"Yasha miss big brover! Did big brover miss Yasha?" Inuyasha asked smiling up at him.
"Hn." Sesshomaru picked him up and sniffed his neck.
"That tickles Shomu!" He squeeled giggling.
"What happened to him miko?" He asked putting the wiggling pup down.
"Perhaps we should go back to Kaede's and we'll talk." Miroku said. Sesshomaru nodded and looked down as Inuyasha grabbed his hand.
"These peoples are nice Shomu! They takeded care of Yasha till you gotted here!" Inuyasha said happily.
"Is that so? Have you been a good pup?"
Inuyasha's ears drooped. "Yeah, but me haded a asadent when me wakeded up. Gome not get mad though. Is Shomu mad at Yasha?"
"No pup. This Sesshomaru is not mad at you. It was only an accident."
"Otay." Inuyasha said smiling. Nobody could beleive how kind Sesshomaru was being to him.
Sesshomaru looked at them. "My brother and I may hate each other, but this Sesshomaru would never lower myself to harm a harmless pup." He said as if reading their minds.
Inuyasha giggled. "Looky Shomu! A butturfwy! Can Yasha go catch it?" He asked looking up at his brother.
"Yes you may."
"Tank you Shomu!" He said hugging Sesshomaru's legs. "Come on Mr. butturfwy! Time for me to catch you!" He said as he ran after itInuyasha happily chased the butterfly until he saw something else in the tall grass that caught his attention. They watched as he stalked towards it slowly and quietly until he pounced and grabbed it.
"Looky what me got!" He said running up to Sesshomaru.
"What have you got pup?" Sesshomaru asked. Inuyasha smiled proudly and opened his hands.
"A hopper!" He said showing everyone his grasshopper.
"Cool! Can I see?" Shippo asked coming over to him eager to see the grasshopper.
"Shippy not hurt hopper will he?" Inuyasha asked holding the grasshopper close to his chest.
"No way! I like bugs." Shippo protested.
"Otay! Let's go pway wiff hopper!" Sesshomaru watched as he skipped away with Shippo and his new found 'pet'.
"So do you have any clue as to what's going on?" Miroku asked Sesshomaru.
"I beleive it was Naraku's intention to do this to leave your group at a disadvantage. He beleives that Inuyasha is your strongest fighter and with him out of the picture, you would stand no chance against him." He said.
"You make it sound as if Inuyasha is not the strongest in the group." Miroku said.
"He is not. He is strong but not the most powerful one in the group."
"But if he isn't, then who is?" Sango asked. Sesshomaru looked at Kagome.
"Me? Yeah right! All I can do is shoot arrows! And half the time they miss!" Kagome protested.
"Do you have any idea who you really are or how much power you really possess?" Sesshomaru asked.
"Uh...I'm the Shikon miko." She said a little confussed as to what he was talking about. He raised his brow and walked over to her. He studied her as if searching for something.
"Close your eyes for a moment." She did and he placed his hand on her head. He closed his eyes and concentrated to find what he was looking for.
"Hm. I see. So he placed a seal on you." He said as he let go.
"Who put a seal on me? What seal are you talking about?" She asked.
"Come. I will speak with you privately."
"We'll watch Inuyasha for you." Sango said.
"Thank you." She said following Sesshomaru. They walked until they came to a clearing with a stream that had beautiful flowers surrounding it. Kagome waited for him to speak while they sat under a willow tree.
"So what did you need to tell me?"
"You have a seal on you. This seal not only seals your powers away but your true form and memories as well."
"What powers? What form?"
"Kagome, you are not really from the future. You were sent there for protection by your birth parents. They placed a spell on you to make you appear human. They sealed away your memories and powers so that you wouldn't accidently reveal something or hurt someone."
"So who are my real parents then?"
"They are the lord and lady of the northern lands. Your mother died on the way home from taking you to the future. Your father was injured trying to save her but he survived."
"So if I'm not a human then what am I?"
"You are an Inu demon. A midnight inu to be exact."
"I'm...I'm a...demon?" She asked in shock. He nodded.
"I beleive you should go see your father so that he can take off the enchantment. I will take you tomorrow. Perhaps he'll know of a way to change Inuyasha back as well. I must admit though, I much prefer him as a child than an adult. He always was a well behaved pup." He said.
Kagome giggled. "He is cute isn't he?"
"Hn."
"Tell me something, you really don't hate Inuyasha do you?"
He sighed. "I do not. We never used to be the way we are now. We were very close growing up."
"What happened?"
"While father was alive, we all lived in the palace together in peace. His mother was more of a mother to me than my own. She was a remarkable woman. Father died in battle when Inuyasha was only five. There was a servant working at the castle who hated both Inuyasha and his mother. She convinced his mother that I actually hated them and was going to kill them. They fled the castle and I killed the servent for her trechory. I looked for them for years. By the time I found them, it was too late. His mother had been killed, she was murdered before his very eyes. He was only ten when that happened. He was so sure that I had ordered her execution and he vowed that one day he would kill me. That was the day I had to accept that I had lost my little brother forever." He said a little sadly. She felt bad for him.
"Wow. I didn't know that."
"Not many people do."
"Maybe this curse is a blessing in disguise."
"How so?" He asked curiously.
"Well now that he's little again, you've been given a second chance with him."
"Hn. Perhaps. We should get back, it's getting late." He said. She couldn't beleive how fast the day had gone. It was late evening already! When they reached the village, a red and white blur launched itself into Sesshomaru's arms.
"Shomu! I thought you got eated by monsters. I was ascared!" Inuyasha said touching Sesshomaru's face.
"No pup. I just needed to speak to Kagome in private."
"Otay." He said giggling.
"What is so funny pup?"
"Did Shomu kiss Gome? That's what daddy did with mommy when they sneakded away. They not know but me sawded them."
Kagome blushed. "No Inuyasha he didn't. He just wanted to tell me something."
"Oh. Gome, I is hungwy. Is it dinner time yet?"
"Well let's go see if Kaede's got dinner ready then." Kagome said. When they got to her hut, Kaede was already dishing out stew.
"Ah, you're just in time for dinner. Will you have some as well Lord Sesshomaru?" Kaede asked.
"Yes please." He said as he sat down and sat Inuyasha down on the floor next to him. Kaede handed Inuyasha his food and smiled when she heard his stomache growl.
"Sounds like you're hungry little one." She said.
Inuyasha giggled. "Yep! My tummy talkded and said he is hungwy."
"Well then you should listen to your tummy then." She said. At first Inuyasha just looked down into the bowl.
"Something wrong pup?" Sesshomaru asked.
"It gots carrots in it Shomu. I no like them."
"Eat them."
"But Shomu!" He whined.
Sesshomaru growled at him. "What did father always tell you about eating your carrots?"
"That if Yasha want to be big and strong like daddy, that I gots to eat them." He said.
"So don't you think you should eat them then?"
Inuyasha pouted. "Otay. Yasha will eat the ucky carrots."
Kaede chuckled. "You certainly have a way with children Lord Sesshomaru. Perhaps you'll have your own one day." She said.
He snorted. "Not likely. I have no intention of having a mate or pup for a long time. Besides, I am a demon so I've got time on my side. We demons can live thousands of years."
"How old are you anyways?" Kagome asked curiously.
"I'm eighty and Inuyasha is sixty."
"Wow! You don't look a day over twenty! You sure look good for an eighty year old." Kagome blurted.
Sesshomaru smirked. "Indeed. I am already aware of how 'good' I look. But this Sesshomaru thanks you for the compliment anyways."
Kagome blushed. "Arrogant much?" She said.
"Hn."
"You sure are different than we expected." Sango said.
"Hmp. You can't beleive everything the fool tells you about me. I'm not the cold hearted killer he has everyone beleive me to be. Yes I am arrogant and I tend to stay away from others, but I also have my honor."
"Kayday, I all done. Can me have some more?" Inuyasha asked holding out his bowl.
"Why certainly child."
After he was done eating, he yawned and lept into Sesshomaru's lap. He smiled and nuzzled Sesshomaru's neck and then licked his cheek. Sesshomaru chuckled and patted his back.
"Yasha loves Shomu!"
"This Sesshomaru...cares for you as well." He said. Inuyasha hopped out of his arms and ran over to Kagome.
"Yasha want to give Gome a night night hug and kiss cause I is sweepy." She smiled and held her arms out to him. She giggled when he licked her cheek.
"Yasha loves you Gome."
"I love you too Inuyasha." She said smiling. Inuyasha ran back over to Sesshomaru and stood there looking up at him giving him puppy eyes. Sesshomaru sighed already knowing what he wanted.
"Come."
"Yay! Thank you Shomu!" He smiled as he jumped into Sesshomaru's lap. He laid down and grabbed Sesshomaru's tail and covered himself up with it.
"Night night Shomu."
"Goodnight pup." He said. When he noticed everyone staring at him he shrugged. "He always slept like this when he was a pup. He NEVER would use a blanket, he HAD to have my tail. If I denied him, he would wail like a banshee. So even thought he had his OWN room, he always slept in MY bed with me."
"That was sweet of you. A big brother taking care of his baby brother as he should." Kagome said smiling.
"Hn."
"On to other things. I think we should tell everyone about our discussion earlier and of our plans." She said looking at him.
"That would be wise." So for the next hour they told everyone about what they had discussed.
"Wow. Who would have thought that our Kagome was actually a youkai." Sango said shocked.
"A royal at that." Miroku said.
"Yeah." Kagome said sadly.
"What's wrong Kagome?" Sango asked.
"It's just that my whole life I've been living as one person, just to find out my entire life has been a lie."
"Your parents had a good reason for doing what they did." Sesshomaru said.
"What was it? I know you said it was for my protection, but protection from what?"
"I...that is not my place to say. You're father will have to tell you." He said as a far away look entered his eyes.
"Excuse me, I need to go for a walk. Here, hold him for me." Sesshomaru said handing Inuyasha to Kagome. When he got to the door Kagome asked if he was alright.
"This Sesshomaru is fine. I...just need some air." He said keeping his back to them. After he was gone, Sango looked at everyone.
"Is it just me or did he seem sad to you guys?" She asked.
"I beleive he was. He would never admit it though, he has too much pride for that." Miroku said wisely.
Outside the moon and stars shined down on Sesshomaru as he got lost in his thoughts. He sighed looking at the stars. 'Father, why did you have to leave us? Now that I remember who Kagome really is, I can't help but think of how you died that day. Damn that Naraku! I will avenge your death father, this I swear!' He growled. Naraku was the one who really killed his father. He sighed as another thought entered his mind. 'Poor Kagome. I wonder how she'll react when she finds out what her relationship with Naraku is. Well it's not up to me to tell her. That is her father's place, not mine.' After clearing his mind, he went back to the hut. Everyone but Inuyasha was asleep.
"Why are you not asleep pup?"
"Cause me wakeded up and you was gone. Gome said you'd be back so I waited. Can I sweep wiff you now?"
"Yes you may." Inuyasha smiled and climbed into his lap. Sesshomaru smiled as he watched him fall asleep sucking his thumb.