The night was black as pitch. Not even a star twinkled in the sky. The wind blew chilly and made the naked trees creak eerily.
Sesshomaru heard the crunch of leaves under his feet, and could smell the icy chill of Winter approaching. He could also sense someone following a small distance behind him. He knew this creature was evil. Evil smelled of rotting animal flesh to his sensitive nose. "Show yourself!" he demanded. There was a rustling and snapping of twigs.
A woman appeared dressed in white robes. Her hair and face were white , adorned with red lips and colorless eyes. "Lord Sesshomaru, many years ago you killed my mother and father. I will now have my revenge." She cried. A glowing white orb shot from a stone around her neck and struck the Taiyoukai square in the chest. She cackled evilly. " killing you would be mercy. You will be what you most hate, and you will start from the beginning. " she laughed again. " Oh and your consciousness will be just fine. You will be imprisoned in your own body and no one will know until you can speak again. " she cackled again and was gone.
The next thing he knew, he was opening his eyes. Far away things seemed so blurry to his vision. He was also cold. He felt significantly weaker than usual. He could feel tears well up in his eyes. An infant's cry erupted from his throat.
"That woman turned me into an infant?!." He thought. He heard someone approaching and wailed much louder.
"Who would just abandon a baby out in the cold in the middle of nowhere?!." A woman said as she lifted Sesshomaru into her arms. Her face came into focus, and Sesshomaru sighed. Kagome. She smiled down at him and his infant side squealed and cooed up at his savior. 'At least its not Naraku. I'm glad that bastard is dead.' Sesshomaru thought to himself. He yawned despite himself.
"Hey we can't keep some blobby toothless cry bag with us. He aint big enough to protect himself if we're attacked. Not to mention he's human. He could be killed." InuYasha said gruffily. Kagome smiled wistfully.
"That's InuYasha for You're precious cargo." She whispered . Sesshomaru was having a mental breakdown.
He was a human infant. He would be trapped for at least two years before anyone would be able to understand him enough to help him! He started wailing again. He was feeling so many emotions his small body was wearing out quickly. Kagome started gently rocking him until he calmed down.
" I will stay with Kaede while you guys go save the countryside. I can learn more about herbs and healing. The baby will be good practice for when we have our own baby." Kagome announced. InuYasha blushed and cut his eyes over at Shippo. He didn't want Shippo picturing him and Kagome making babies. The fox demon shrugged.
"Who said I wanted babies? " InuYasha blurted. Kagome took on the face of someone slapped. Her eyes welled with tears.
"You don't want children with me?" She asked her voice barely above a whisper. She gave a slight nod turned and started to walk towards Kaede's home. InuYasha's ears flattened against his head.
"Wow InuYasha it only took you six months into your marriage to ruin everything. I thought you'd make it at least a year. I owe Miroku a silver coin." Shippo said before following after Kagome. Sesshomaru saw the hurt on the woman's face. His brother was an idiot. Even the great Lord Sesshomaru wanted children someday
It was dusk by the time Kagome trudged into Kaede's home. She was physically and mentally tired. "What be wrong child? " Kaede asked. Kagome sighed sadly.
"My husband has informed me that he doesn't want children. " she answered. Kaede's eye widened. She smiled. "He said he be building that big hut for ye and your family. " Kagome looked up.
"He's afraid he'll be a bad father. " Kagome stated. "He's told me that. " she added looking down at Sesshomaru asleep in her arms.
InuYasha listened from outside. He'd hurt Kagome pretty bad. Why were babies so important to women? He was terrified of parenthood. His mother was gone before he could take care of himself, and his father was never there. Kagome was his everything. He couldn't deny her anything. If she wanted to have kids with him that's what he'd give her. He squared his shoulders and marched into the hut.
"Hey hag I need to speak to my wife in private. " InuYasha stated. Kaede walked out patting InuYasha's arm on her way out. InuYasha sighed. "Kagome if babies will make you happy, I'll give you as many as you want." He said. Kagome's face bloomed into a brilliant smile.
A week had creeped lazily by. Kagome was attentive to Sesshomaru's every need. He'd been beyond mortified the first time he'd soiled himself. Kagome had only smiled and cleaned him up. She called him Aito. He didn't know if darling child is what he'd call himself. InuYasha was true to his word, and was doing his very best to give Kagome a baby. He had decided to stay in the village and finish their home. Sango was as big as a boulder with another set of twins they believed. Miroku wouldn't leave his family when winter could approach any day. He busied himself learning how to smoke fish and meat for storing from the old men of the village.
Rin was depressed. It wasn't like her dear Lord Sesshomaru to not show up when he was expected. She sighed once again as she searched the sky for any sign of him.
"I'm sure he had a good reason for not showing up Rin." Kagome said. Rin smiled sadly.
"The older I get the more I realize I never belonged in his world. " Rin stated. Kagome smiled at the little girl.
" You're as important to him as if you were of his flesh." Kagome assured her. Aito cooed.
Sesshomaru was grateful the young priestess had keen insight. Rin was his daughter blood be damned. Sesshomaru was growing fond of Kagome. He really had no choice. His first day as an infant the goats milk had curdled on his stomach every time, and he'd vomited. Kaede finally made a tea that gave Kagome the ability to breastfeed. She blushed the whole way through the first time. InuYasha just stared in awe. Sesshomaru was impressed at how well his foster parents treated him. He just wished he could communicate to Rin that he was here with her.
Sesshomaru was finally big enough to sit up by himself. The view made him squeal with delight. Winter raged on outside, but he was happy.
"Aito is such a beautiful baby. If I didn't know any better I'd swear he was a demon." Kagome gushed. Sango gave a tired smile.
"You know I think he looks like a baby human Sesshomaru." Sango said. "But that could be the fatigue and hormones." She added. Kagome smiled.
"It would take someone very powerful and not very smart to do that to him, but you know
we haven't seen Sesshomaru in months, and he never goes that long without seeing Rin. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to have Kaede check him out. Kagome stated. Sango laughed.
"I highly doubt that's Sesshomaru. More likely he's found a mate, and he's been tangled in the sheets." Sango replied. Kagome smirked.
"Your husband has rubbed off on you." Sango blushed. "I'm going to have Kaede check him out anyway. " she added.
Kaede let her reiki pass over Aito. Sesshomaru was hopeful that his adopted Grandmother could find the spell and break it. The faint pink glow disappeared, and the old woman sighed.
"There be dark magic here. This in fact Sesshomaru. His conciousness is very much in tact. Kagome's eyes widened and her face burned.
"You mean I've been breastfeeding Sesshomaru and he's aware in there? !" Kagome screeched. She too several deep breaths and calmed herself. "Can you break the spell Kaede? " she asked. The old priestess sighed.
"Thirty years ago yes. I be too old and weak. I could teach ye Kagome. " Kaede replied. Kagome smiled and gave a nod.
"Could we maybe wait til tomorrow? I'd like time to say goodbye properly. " Kagome asked sadly. Kaede gave a nod. Kagome took the opportunity to trudge home in the snow. Aito sleeping peacefully under her winter clothes.
"Hey Kagome, what did Kaede say about the baby? " InuYasha asked when she walked into their home. Tears began streaming down our face.
"We can't keep him. He's under a spell. He's your brother. " she sobbed. InuYasha stared at her, his eyes wide..
"I wonder who did it and why." He said. She laid Aito in his basket bed, and stripped off her coat and other outdoor layers.
"I don't know. That's not all either. Kaede could sense Sesshomaru still has his adult conciousness." She answered. InuYasha looked over at the seemingly human baby trying to catch his feet in his pudgy hands.
"So he knows its us taking care of him. I kinda feel sorry for him. That explains a lot though." He added. Kagome sat next to her husband. The stew he was cooking smelled wonderful.
"I asked Kaede to let us have one more night with him snuggled between us. I hadn't realized that in the five months we've had him that I'd grown so attached to him. I love him as much as if he'd been born from my body. I don't want to let go, but he deserves to have his real life back." She said. InuYasha wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into his side.
"Let's enjoy one more night with our son. " InuYasha said reaching over and pulling the basket closer and scooping the baby into his arms. Kagome started serving her family amd herself the stew. They ate and played with Aito til his little eyes closed in peaceful slumber.
Kagome laid looking into InuYasha's eyes as Aito slept between them.
"You're going to make a great mom when our baby finally comes. I'm sorry it hasn't happened yet." He whispered. Kagome smiled and caressed his face.
"You'll be a great dad. You'll spoil them. Especially a daughter. Please don't be sorry. " she whispered.