Any Inuyasha characters in this fic don't belong to me.

Strange Happenings

--Shizu Town--

Still on the search of the Shikon Jewel, Kagome lead her friends to a barren town known as Shizu. Looking around, they noticed a particularly odd thing about the town. Something Miroku caught onto really quickly. "There aren't any women around," the amorous monk stated as he took another, more careful, look around.

The half bred dog-demon scoffed and shook his head, "Figures a lecher like you would notice." He took a big whiff of the air, followed by another. "You're right though, Miroku. This is a little strange," Inuyasha commended, "I can't even smell a woman here." He took a step into the town and beckoned for his comrades. The moment they followed, all the townsfolk stopped what they were doing and averted their eyes to the two girls. Already, Inuyasha could sense something amiss.

Thinking quickly, Kagome grabbed Inuyasha's hand and gripped it tightly. "Um, Inu-Kun? What's going on," she asked loud enough for the villagers to hear. Inuyasha gave her a look that said 'What are you doing?' The modern girl looked to him and winked. "Just play along," she pleaded with a playful wink. Whatever Kagome was trying to pull worked for her as all eyes turned to Sango. Though thinking she may regret it, the demon-slayer took Miroku's hands and wrapped them around her waist, prompting him to pull her closer. "You and your boyfriend are so cute together, Sango," Kagome said, with a broad, forced smile, making Sango blush brightly. Kirara made an amused little mew and Shippo giggled a bit.

Kagome's plan had worked; all the men stopped gawking and went about their normal business. The hay carrier schlepped his load, the water carrier hefted his buckets, and the merchant continued to shout at people to buy something. Inuyasha, Miroku and Sango looked to Kagome, who just looked back and smiled sheepishly. "Well, it worked didn't it," she asked, still wearing that same face. Suddenly, Sango gasped and slapped the monk hard across the face and turned away from him angrily. "Miroku, you didn't just-"

"You know he did. Why even ask, Kagome," the half breed said and shook is head at Miroku. "Back to business. Kagome; do you sense any shards nearby?"

"I have a sneaky suspicion that there's one or two around," she said, not completely sure. "One is moving around town; that much I do know."

Shippo hopped on top of something to get a better view of the town. "What about the other, Kagome," he asked, zealously. Suddenly, he was swatted off Inuyasha's head by the clawed hand of the red-clad dog-demon.

With a frustrated sigh, she glared at Inuyasha. "First: SIT!" The necklace around his neck flashed and thrust him to the ground with a great thud and sent some debris around. "Second: I'm not sure if there even is another, Shippo."

The grounded demon growled and slowly picked himself up and clenched his fist at the little fox demon. "What was that for, Kagome?" The only response he got was her placing her hands on her hips and pointing to a little lump Shippo got after he was swatted onto the ground. "He had it coming," he bantered. The other group members stepped away from him, making him wonder why…

--Shizu Town Inn--

After a whole days worth of searching, the five of them managed to find an Inn just before it got too dark and decided to stay there for the night. "I'm sorry, guys," she apologized again and again, not looking up at her friends.

"You don't need to apologize, Kagome," the demon-slayer assured.

"That's right. We're not disappointed with you, Kagome," Miroku added in.

"And besides, you can't be expected to find every shard we come across," Shippo finished assuring her.

"Yeah, they're right about that Kagome, but I accept your apology for hammering me six feet under the dirt earlier," Inuyasha sulked, still a little dizzy from the fall. She looked to him with a stern expression, and he looked back at her. They both then turned away from each other with an audible scoff. He turned to the clerk at the counter and narrowed his eyes at Kagome, looking at her from the corners of his eyes. "Two rooms."

The clerk's eyes gleamed as he eyed the peeved Kagome and the fair Sango, then looked to Inuyasha and Miroku. "Ah, are they your women," he asked, greatly interested. Inuyasha immediately shook his head and barked at him with a swift 'No.' "So, I believe one for you two men and the child, and the other for the maidens?"

The demon raised an eyebrow as a thought whizzed passed his brain. If he left Kagome and Sango in a room separate from him and Miroku, they run the risk of these crazy and obviously womanizing men sneaking in and kidnapping them. He didn't know for sure, but it was in the man's voice that gave him that suspicion… "No. Myself and… the one with the cat will stay in one, then the monk, the fox and the odd one will stay in the other." When Kagome heard that, she yelled 'SIT!' causing him to slam against the counter.

The clerk's eyes kinda changed a bit. "Well, we have three types of rooms: room 1 is for men, room 2 is for women, and 3 is for both." Just before the dog was going to suggest 2 of the #3 rooms, the clerk informed him that there was only one of those rooms left. "The other offer stands."

Not wanting to risk anything, the half breed took the remaining room for all of them. The clerk seemed a little downhearted when he gave them the room, but Inuyasha paid him no mind. It was obvious he was up to something. Once in the room, Kagome became restless and started to pace around the room. Shippo paced around with her, Sango played with Kirara, and Miroku and Inuyasha looked out the window as the daylight died down. "I can't believe I lost track of that shard so quickly," she complained. With a frustrated sigh, Inuyasha turned away from the window and sat on one of the futons. "Well, I'm sorry, Inuyasha! Not all of us are perfect you know," she snapped.

"It's getting annoying to hear that every five minutes from you. Get it through your head that it's not your fault." Despite being mad at her for hammering him into the ground, he didn't like to hear her demean herself in any way. "You said you think there's another shard around?"

"Yes, I think! What about it?" Suddenly, she felt something from outside and whipped around to look out the window. Outside was a large red building with large torches lit around it, and huge crowds of men were slowly making their way into the building. "I-Inuyasha! I-I sense that second shard inside that building," she called and pointed out the window.

Inuyasha got off the futon and stepped over to the window. His gold eyes widened at what he was looking at. Miroku saw this strange behavior and looked out the same window at the building. "A brothel," the monk exclaimed. "Kagome, are you sure the shard is inside there?"

"Yes. I'm sure of it. This one isn't moving."

"A harlotry," Sango asked as she looked out, curiously. "Interesting place for a shard, wouldn't you say?"

Inuyasha nodded and scratched his head. "Looks like this is either an amorous demon or just a common man," he commented. Suddenly, a knock came at the door and the clerk from the counter walked in, dressed as if he were going somewhere. "What's going on," the irritable half demon grumbled, gesturing outside.

The clerk only gave them a strange look. "You two men. Bring your women to the red building outside." With that, he left. They could all sense something odd in his voice.

Inuyasha looked to his comrades and gave them skeptical looks. "Was it just me, or did he sound entranced," he asked with a suspicious expression. They all shared a slow nod. "A demon with a shard must be using some sort of mass seduction to control everyone," he stated and looked out another window. "See that? All the men in the town are gathering inside that building. There's no other way to explain that."

"I think Inuyasha's right," Sango added in. "We're going to have to get inside and find that shard." They all agreed and started out for the door. "Wait a minute," the slayer mumbled and looked over her shoulder to Miroku. "You stay here!"

Miroku stopped and looked at Sango with surprise. "But why not, Sango," he asked, "Don't you three trust me?"

"No," Inuyasha, Kagome and Sango barked in unison, causing him to step back. "You can't be trusted around women willing to do everything," Kagome finished.

"That's right! Given the situation," Inuyasha began, "you may ask every harlot there to bare your child, and all you'd need to do is offer a fair price."

He reached for a small bag under his robe and showed it to them. "I'm prepared to pay a reasonable price." The three of them fell to their side at this. "I… do not see a problem."

"Never mind. You can't come, monk," Sango declared sternly and crossed her arms. With a defeated sigh, Miroku sat down on the futon. "Shippo, you stay behind and look after Miroku."

Shippo stood up and gave a salute to the slayer, "Yes ma'am!" With that, he leapt onto the monk's head and glared down at him. Sango and Kagome smiled at the gesture, and Inuyasha shook his head, turned and left for the brothel. The two girls then followed the red clothed half demon.

The sun had completely set and the moon was out and shining. The streets were empty; not a single man out. "They must all be in the brothel," Inuyasha guessed. "Okay, we're going to need a plan. Any ideas?" Sango shrugged and suggested that she and Kagome go in through the back entrance and search for the one holding the shard; in the meantime, Inuyasha would go in from the front, looking for a good time. Kagome couldn't think of anything better, so she agreed. "Sounds good to me. Alright! Let's get that shard," he said as he dashed for the entrance, and Sango and Kagome went for the other way.

--Shizu Town Brothel--

Inuyasha took a look around in the lobby as he stepped in. "Swanky joint," he commented and stood in front of the door.

Almost instants later, three buxom young women approached him and threw themselves onto him. They each had curvy hourglass figures; large breasts, wasp waists, and broad hips. One had flowing blonde hair and piercing blue eyes. "Hey there, handsome," she purred.

Another had long, golden brown hair that reached down to her round posterior and seemingly endless pools of azure eyes. "Looking for a good time," she said in a deep sexy voice, toying with his ears.

The third had short red hair and deceptively cute emerald green eyes. She looked to him with a very anxious gaze as she pressed her breasts into his chest. "How about spending some 'quality' time with me?"

He looked each of them in the eyes and crossed his arms. "Can I speak to the head mistress here," he asked rather sternly. When they each gave him perplexed looks, he told them he was a mercenary for hire and thought they could use a good peacekeeper. "With a place as huge and as crowded as this, things may get a little out of control," he explained. They each gave him an amorous grin and took him by the hand and began to lead him to the head mistress's room.

Elsewhere in the back of the burlesque house, Kagome and Sango snuck around in the shadows. Kagome could sense the shard nearby, and confirmed that a demon was in possession of it. Kirara's fur bristled and she let out a low growl. Knowing this was a warning, the girls slunk closer to the shadows as a well developed girl strutted by, breasts so large, they threatened to force her to the ground any moment. She looked like she was a guard, seeing a sword sheath at her thin waist and down her back, a dagger at her thigh and clothes similar to Sango's battle guise, only more revealing and tight. "Well, you can sure tell the weather just by looking at her," Kagome thought in disgust, "How can women parade around like that?" Sango gestured to Kagome and waved her hand, signaling the coast was clear. The two then stealthily carried on with their search. "Sango? Do you find it odd that a brothel has guards that look that lethal," she whispered. Sango only nodded and held her finger over her lips, telling Kagome to keep quiet.

"Right through this door," the blonde girl told Inuyasha, gesturing towards the entrance of a room. The door was covered by drapes of beads and cloth. "You may talk to Madame Kira about your job."

The redhead stepped in front of him. "She's only 'nice' when you're 'nice' back," she said with a wink.

The brown-haired girl stepped beside him, "Don't look at her forehead. She doesn't like that." The half breed gave her a skeptical look. He figured the shard was imbedded in her forehead.

He walked in with red and blonde at his sides and brunette at his back and saw a dark haired woman with rather homely features compared to the other women. She was dressed in a flowery kimono. She looked up at Inuyasha with dark brown eyes and smiled sweetly at him. "Well, aren't you a cute one," she said and stood up. "My name is Kira, and who are you?"

Her forehead was partially covered with her bangs, but the trained eye can see the glint of a purple shard in between the hairs. He smirked at her and let his arm hang over the Tetsusaiga, so he could grab it at any possible time. "Name's Inuyasha, and I was wondering if you've, by chance found anything interesting lately."

Kira smiled a little fiendishly at him. "Why do you ask, handsome," she asked as she tossed back some of her long dark hair.

That was what he was waiting for. When she tossed her hair, her bangs moved out of the way for just a second, and his sharp eyes caught sight of the jewel. "Oh, no reason. Just that," he drew the sword of his father's fang and swung powerfully around with the blunt edge, knocking the three girls unconscious, "I'm here to take that Shikon shard from you!"

Kira snapped her lithe fingers and a few of the guards barreled in. They weren't human, so that made his job easier. They had cat ears and tails, clawed hands and feet, and cat-like features on their faces, arms, and legs. If they weren't so dangerous-looking, they'd be gorgeous. "These are my specially trained fighting force. They can fight as well as they can seduce, so be warned," Kira said and commanded them to attack the half breed.

With a slash of the sword handed down to him, the waves of the Wind Scar flowed out from the floor and took out half of the guards. He followed-up with a powerful sweep of the sword, hacking two of the remaining three to pieces. The last one took a step back and Inuyasha smirked at her and thrust forward, caws ready to run her through the abnormally sized chest.

Kira watched as he pulled his hand out of her fallen guard's fleshy mounds and smiled evilly. "Those were five of my best," she commented, "You'll make a wonderful addition to my forces…"

He didn't like the sound of that. He got back into his battle stance and prepared to defend himself. "You're not gonna make me a mindless follower!"

Kira laughed sinisterly as her brown eyes thinned out to little slits and turned blood red. Her kimono flew off with a howl of demonic aura, revealing a chain-mail bikini and a leather thong and not much else on her feminine body. She had that, some shoulder, leg and thigh guards, a pair of clawed gauntlets, and some fishnet from shoulder to wrist; possibly made of armor. "Do you think this is my true form?" The half breed remained quite and in his stance. "Well, prepared to be seduced!" She crossed her arms in an 'x' formation and began to growl as a crimson red aura erupted from her body.

Her ears pointed a bit more and moved to the top of her head, becoming more cat-like. Then a long black tail with a spot of red at the tip coiled from the end of her spine. Her hips broadened a bit, waist began to shrink to a stunning 17 inches, and her modest breasts swelled to a massive size, nearly bursting the seams of the chain-link battle bikini. Her hair turned slightly red at the tips, her teeth and nails sharpened and her face became more cat-like, as did her arms and legs, with stripe patterns. She landed on her feet gracefully and arched her back. "Mmmmmeow… it feels soooooo good to finally be out of that human form," she stated sexily and rubbed her massive breasts. "I feel so much yummier…"

Though he was gawking, he knew he wasn't getting sucked into her sensuous trap. "Well, you didn't count on one thing…" She looked at him lustfully and licked her lips. On her face was a questionable look. "I don't like cats!" He raised his Tetsusaiga and prepared for his ultimate attack, but Kira's red eyes glinted and a smirk crossed her expression.

The three girls he had grounded earlier jumped up and held his arms in place as the brunette in back smacked the sword from his hands. They were different; they were now as cat-like as Kira, thought their figures didn't change nearly as much. He was being forced to the ground very quickly. Despite his struggle, he was unable to get himself lose. Red and blonde were holding his arms down with their legs wrapped around his to prevent him from moving whereas the brunette climbed up on top of his legs and held down his knees. "Get off me, you whores," he shouted and tried to fight back.

Kira pulled out a vile filled with this strange-looking green substance from her ample cleavage and walked to the grounded demon with a sinister smile. "I can't have a man in my forces, however," she stated and knelt before him.

He spat in her face. "So you're gonna poison me? Yeah, very smart." He sighed and continued to push the four girls off him… To no avail. The sexy cat-demon climbed on top of him, her chest on his, and licked his neck with her long velvety tongue. She then put the vile in his mouth and tilted it so that the contents would flow down his throat. He'd fight back, but her breasts were so large and heavy that they were literally cutting off his air supply to the point of weakness. Almost half of the vile was administered to him when a familiar boomerang whizzed by and knocked Kira and brunette off him and, on the way back, knocked off blonde. With his now free hand he swatted at red with an Iron Reaver attack, knocking her off him. He stood up and hacked up some of the substance, then glared back at the dead redhead, the injured harlots, and Kira.

"Ooh, such a dirty look," Kira chuckled. Suddenly, an arrow surrounded in a purplish aura shot out towards her. She sidestepped away from the projectile. Kira took notice of the strange-looking girl with a bow and another ready arrow. "Oh, and who is this? Your woman," she asked snidely to Inuyasha with a fanged smirk. Again, she stepped out of the path of another arrow.

"No, but you have to deal with me if you hurt him," Kagome growled and loaded another arrow.

"Glad you two showed up," the half breed commented; no one could tell whether it was sarcastic or genuine. "Let's take these sluts out," he declared and readied Tetsusaiga.

Kira looked questionably at him. "Why isn't anything happening," she thought and grit her teeth. "The reaction must be slower with him…" She extended her claw weapons and got into an offensive/defensive stance. "I suppose I'll have to wait it out…"

"Hiraikotsu!" The call brought Kira out of her trance-like state and back into reality. The boomerang hammered her against the wall, which caused her to rebound. With her suspended in the air, Kagome let loose another purified arrow. The arrow shot into her abdomen, causing her to scream in agonizing pain as the power surged through her. The instant she hit the ground, Inuyasha leapt into the air, and attacked with the Wind Scar, hacking her to bits…

Landing in a heaping puddle of her blood, the dog demon picked up her severed head by her hair and tore the shard off her forehead. "Here Kagome," he said, handing her the shard as he tossed the head away.

"Inuyasha, can't you clean the blood off first," she asked with a nervous smile. "It made me sick seeing how you tore it off her." Sighing, he wiped the shard clean with his sleeve and handed it to her again. She smiled again, this time sweetly, and took the shard. "Now, let's go back to the Inn, before Shippo gets tired of Miroku." Inuyasha and Sango both nodded in unison and leapt out the window.

When they returned to the streets, they noticed all the men looking around confused, mumbling about what they were doing in the middle of the night. Women were now mingling in with then, equally confused. "See? They were all entranced. The men were forced in there through seduction and the women were all under Kira's spell," the half breed reiterated his previous conjecture.

"All's well that ends well, I suppose," Sango added in. With a pleasant sigh of relief, they each began to walk back to the Inn. On the way, Inuyasha was showing signs of fatigue. His forehead was coated with sweat, his eyes looked weary, and he was shuffling his feet. Both companions looked to each other, then to the struggling demon. "Inuyasha, are you alright," the Demon slayer asked, concerned.

Just as he was going to answer, Kagome jumped in. "Did that Kira do anything to you," she asked, clutching her bow. "If she did, I'll go back there and smash the rest of her head in." Inuyasha wasn't surprised. Lately, she's been very protective of him. He shook his head with a hint of a reassuring smile. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah. Now let's just go back to the Inn and rest up," he suggested and quickly recovered from his fatigue. "Last one there is a rotten egg," he called as he ran.

Sango sighed and Kagome smiled and sweatdropped. "Guess he's been spending too much time in my era," she said to Sango. She simply nodded and they both gave chase.

--Shizu Town Inn--

"Would I have enjoyed it there," Miroku asked the instant they returned to the room. They couldn't say they were surprised with this.

With an irritated sigh, Inuyasha nodded, "Oh yeah. You'd love it there. Especially the ones with sharp claws that could rend the flesh from your bones in an instant," he said dryly. Miroku recoiled and sat back down beside Shippo.

"So, did you guys find a shard," the young fox demon asked excitedly and bounced up onto Inuyasha's head. However, his fatigue had returned on the way up the stairs so he didn't bother with Shippo. Kagome nodded and showed him. "Wow! It's a big one too," he commented, "You think it was the one you sensed earlier?"

"No, that one felt stronger." She put the shard away in her backpack and noticed Inuyasha, holding his chest and breathing heavier than normal. "Inuyasha? Are you alright?" The demon looked back to her and nodded. "Shippo, get off his head please," she asked, walking towards Inuyasha. The fox leapt off his head as Kagome walked close enough and felt his forehead. "You feel a little feverish. That's it! Bedtime, Mister," she commanded.

With a scoff, he turned away from her. "Over my dead body." He crossed his arms, telling her that he would go to bed when he felt like it… until he was hammed into the ground by her magic word. "Oh… Fine! I'll go to bed…" She stood over him with a broad grin and pat his head saying 'good boy.' He responded with a grumble.

"Argh… Why do I feel so weak?… Where did all my strength go? I couldn't even walk straight a while ago. And I almost fell down the stairs! What's happening? …Maybe I swallowed some of that poison Kira was giving me… Ah, it'll ware off…"

Inuyasha awoke hours into the night and scratched his head. With a yawn, he stood up and stumbled over to Kagome's bag, wanting something to eat. "Why can't I balance myself," he thought and got hold of the Tetsusaiga's sheathe, using it as a walking stick. He stepped on Shippo's tail in the process, awakening the fox rudely.

"Ow! Inuyasha, watch where you're stepping you, clumsy ox," he whispered harshly to the dog demon.

"Oh shut it Shippo," he growled back. It was then he felt something was wrong. His voice… Was that him just now? It sounded more… feminine…

"…Inuyasha? Why do you sound like a woman," the curious demon asked. Inuyasha didn't know how to answer, so he told Shippo to go into Kagome's bag and grab a flashlight. He complied and dove into the bag, and submerged with a long red flashlight. The second Inuyasha took it and turned it on, Shippo's eyes widened. "Inuyahsa! You are a woman!"

Inuyasha looked down at himself and let out a loud shriek, awakening everyone in, not just the room, the Inn. His friends jumped out of their respective places and stumbled about, still weary from being pulled out of their deep sleep. "Inuyasha? What's the matter," Kagome exclaimed as she pulled out a Taplight from her bag and switched it on. Her eyes grew wide as she laid eyes on Inuyasha. He was more like a she now. Rather modest sized breasts, a moderately thin waist and broad hips. His face was beautiful, but definitely not that of Inuyasha. Same golden eyes and silvery-white hair, but more feminine and pronounced. His arms and hands were now more lithe now, though still left the impression of Demonic strength. "I-Inuyasha?… What… happened," she stammered…

End of Chapter I: Change

Worenx's Corner

Worenx: Well… same story, but a little more drawn out.

Shade: Thank you.

Chachi: (barges in) No way! There is no way he's out staging me as a writer!

Worenx: Seize that guy and throw him in the air-lock!

Guards: (burst in, apprehend him and tosses him out of the air-lock)

Catra, Shade, Chachi: …

Worenx: Okay, that was the wrong guy, but I think we all got the point.

Chachi: … (leaves for the "Review Time with Chachi and Aya" set)

Aya: And where have you been?

Chachi: Out, honey… What did I just say?

Aya: I didn't think you'd say that! (laughs hysterically)

Chachi: SHUSH UP! (throws himself in the desk drawer)