Chapter 2

Learning to Live Life as Another

Sesshomaru blearily blinked his eyes open, wondering where he was. Small things became noticeable to him over time. The dark grey and brown mixture of colors indicating a cave of some sorts. The sound and smell of dripping water just added more evidence to that theory.

A few more blinks, and the lord was beginning to remember just where he was and why he was here. Mating season had come, and since he was awake, that meant it had passed. He had no desire to tie himself down to anyone, no matter who pressured him, and he wasn't about to let his instincts take over to make a mistake that he would have to live with.

Letting out a yawn, and stretching out two long, white legs while putting his haunches in the air, Sesshomaru pushed away any fatigue he still held. With a shake of his soft, white fur, he pushed himself to his full height…and promptly froze.

He was in inu form.

He knew for a fact, when he laid down for his deep sleep, he was in his normal form, but now, he stood as his true self. Sure, it happened to other demons at a time like this, but he was the great Sesshomaru, the killing perfection, and to do so was a sign of lost control.

That would never happen to him.

Looking around and remembering that he was completely alone, he shrugged his shoulders and padded his way to the small trickling spring that made its way through the cave. He closed his amber eyes and began to lap up the cool refreshing drink.

After a sleep such as the one he just had, he always awoke parched. Drinking to his fill, Sesshomaru opened his eyes and, for the second time that day, froze. Where red should be looking back at him sat gold in the reflection. Markings that indicated the heritage to the West were gone, leaving just bare white fur.

Fangs that should be too large for his muzzle were hidden by the flaps of his lips, way too small for a yokai demon. Another aspect suddenly hit him as he looked up, eyes pinning on his two swords. He was as tall as them, only standing at about three to four feet.

Much too small for a yokai of his stature.

He attempted to pull in his youki, to force himself to change back to his humanoid form, but to no avail. Perhaps it was just a fluke and he could try again, however, dread began to fill him as he realized that he had no youki. He was mortal, just a mortal inu.

The sound of scraping caught his attention and wide golden eyes snapped up to the entering form. A growl rumbled low in Sesshomaru's throat, warning off the intruder. He was in no state to fight.

"Calm yourself, Son. Do you not recognize the spell you have been placed under?" The female asked, and Sesshomaru snapped his jaws at her, warning his mother to stay away. Somehow, he knew she had a part to play in this ridiculous outcome.

"I take it that you do." She nodded, folding her hands into the sleeves of her kimono before sighing. "I can see it in your eyes, Child of Mine. The anger and hatred. Must you look at me so? I simply wished to help you."

While Sesshomaru couldn't speak as his mother currently was, he could still speak in inu, and she could still understand. So, he quickly responded, letting out growls and angry yips, letting her know just what he thought of her help.

"You do not understand, Sesshomaru. The council came to a decision. You were given a year to find a mate of your own choosing, or they would choose for you. This one knows you think yourself untouchable, however, when it comes to the throne, you are not. They would get what they wanted, and I do not wish to see that fate bestowed upon you." Satori stated, begged, almost, and it caused her son to take a step back and to stop growling his insults.

While he did think himself untouchable, there was one thing that could at least hurt him. Something that the council had readily available, and a good amount of, considering the many slaves they held hostage. One thing that Sesshomaru could not overcome.

Reiki.

Should he refuse the council's demands, he would either be purified, or banished. Either was not a good choice.

Accepting her reasoning, he still had to know why this spell so he turned questioning eyes to the female that birthed him, and she sat herself on the edge of the rock and furs he had just been sleeping on. She held out one hand towards him, laying the palm downwards, giving the option to refuse, should he wish to do so.

It came of no surprise to her when he did.

Pulling back her hand, and hiding her hurt, she finally answered. "Even if I were to tell you of the council's plan, I know you. You would have ignored my warnings and continued as you were, waiting until the last minute and then picking the first suitable female you came across."

Sesshomaru cocked his head to the side, asking what was wrong with that idea, and Satori let out a saddened laugh before continuing on. "You are too much like your father, Sesshomaru. Do you not recall that is exactly what he chose to do, and look at the hand he was dealt. I do not wish the same fate upon you. For once, in your long life, trust me, Sesshomaru. Trust me, as the mother that this one is, as a mother loving her son and only wanting what is best for him."

Sesshomaru said nothing as he continued to stare down his mother, questioning everything she was saying. He was listening, but it has been some time since he trusted her, and the spell she had cast just proved that he couldn't.

What mother turned their son into a dog?

Satori let out a final sigh before standing to her feet, accepting that she may never have her son's trust. She turned to leave, her claws leaving marks on the cave wall as the screeching noise seemed to tear through Sesshomaru's ears.

For the first time ever, he flinched.

He looked up to see his mother's knowing eyes, and he narrowed his own. She intentionally caused him harm, reminding him that he was now a mortal dog. As if he needed reminding.

"Coincidentally, the timeframe of the spell lasts as long as the one the council has given you. A year. You have but a year to find a female, make her fall in love with you, feelings returned, I might add, or be stuck in this form for the rest of your days. Keep in mind, should you stay the way you are, you will only have so many years, ten tops. Be smart about this situation, my son, and use it to your advantage. For this could be the thing you needed to get the life you really want, or this could be the thing that breaks you down, leaving you with nothing." With one last look at a once-again-growling inu, Satori turned and made her way out of the cave, leaving behind a fuming Sesshomaru.

A week.

He had been stuck in his mortal inu form for a week, and Sesshomaru felt as if he was in hell. He had already been in the underworld once, to save Rin, but now it was as if he was in the lower levels, the fiery, red-hot levels.

Getting used to being a mortal inu was harder than he would like to admit. The first day, he went without food, unable to hunt on his own. His normal, large game were too big for him to take down now, and rabbits and squirrels tended to be too fast for him.

Water was easy to come by, he could smell it, but food was another matter.

The second day, he made his way into a village, intent on getting food there. He would simply pay back the merchant or kind yokai or human that helped him. He was greeted with shouting and a kick to the side that had him yelping and limping for the rest of the day.

He was lucky the male was human.

Had it been yokai, he would not have survived.

So, he had left and continued on his way, that is until he came across an older lady that lived by herself in the middle of the woods. She had been sitting in a chair, outside of her hut, sewing the hem on a kimono as she sang.

She had noticed him and, instead of the hostility he had been expecting, greeted him with kindness. She had offered him food and a place to stay. He decided he could do worse and taken her up on her offer. She was kind, fed him when he needed it, gave him space as it seemed she could tell he didn't want to be petted, and in return, he helped to keep her safe.

Should a bear or unwanted critter show itself, he would bark and growl and do what was needed to send it away. It was peaceful, and he could admit, he was beginning to grow attached to the older woman.

That is until everything changed.

He had been out in the woods, relieving himself, when it happened. The woman was attacked and left for dead. By the time Sesshomaru returned, she had already passed, and the murders and bandits gone, along with her valuables.

Looking into the glassy, dead eyes of the only woman to show him kindness since he was forced into this whole ordeal, Sesshomaru felt sadness for the first time since he was a child. It seemed that his emotions were not as controlled in this form as they were before.

He did the only thing he could for the woman at that moment. He burned her and her hut. It was the only burial she would get for it was the only thing he could do. Once again, he was cursing his mother for allowing such a spell to be placed on him.

He left that forest behind, the sound of flames as they ate at the wood of the hut and the smell of burning flesh the last memory he would have of the only kind person he had met recently.

It had been three days since then, and Sesshomaru was nowhere near adapted to being an inu. Even walking was becoming difficult. The lack of food was making him weak which resulted in his limbs feeling heavier than they actually were.

To make matters worse, this time around, he was nowhere near a water source, and hadn't been for some time. If he didn't find something to put in his body soon, he would die.

It was humbling to know that one such as he could be brought so low. All because of his mother and a mage that didn't deserve to live. In his time as a dog, he had begun to make a list, a list of punishments that needed to be dealt.

It seemed to be growing.

Starting with his mother and that cursed mage, ending with the men who had killed an innocent elder for a few trinkets that weren't worth very much.

They were lucky that his swords were locked away in the cave he had awoken in for, had he been there when they attacked, they would have all been tortured until the blood flowing from their wounds begged for him to stop.

Then again, had this spell never happened, he would have never known, meaning the woman wouldn't have been saved anyway. Perhaps it was her time.

So stuck in thought was the lord-turned-dog that he was no longer looking at his footing. So he never saw the steep decline that appeared before him and, with his slowed reflexes and weakened state, he never had a chance to stop his tumbling descent.

Yelps of pain could be heard as he rolled and slammed into the ground, bouncing repeatedly, until he flew into something soft, yet hard. A loud 'oof' met his ears, but he just laid on the ground, wishing for the pain to go away.

Being mortal was going to kill him.

"What in the world?" A small voice called out, surprising the lord, and he picked up his head, ignoring the pain and fatigue.

He never expected to look into familiar blue eyes.

-sSs-

He didn't have too much of a reaction. Anger, of course, and some confusion. Sesshomaru has always been calm and collected, thinking about things before he reacts, and I feel he would be the same way here as he normally would. I also think it would be hard for him to adjust to living as a mortal dog. He lost his size, strength, poison, and just about everything he relied on to be who he was. First, he is going to have to learn to do that, then he will learn about his faults, and what he needs to change, and what he is willing to change. After all, if you have to change your entire personality to make someone love you…it isn't love. Besides, I like the arrogant Sesshomaru. Sesshomaru without a big head just doesn't seem like Sesshomaru. Lol. We will learn more about the curse in the next chapter…somewhat. Sesshomaru doesn't know everything. His mother left things out purposefully, and we will find out why later. Anyway, enough of that. I hope you all enjoyed.

On a side note, I start school August 29. Its cosmetology school and I'm excited. I feel that it really shouldn't cut into my writing time, but we will see as I progress with my learning. If anyone has attended cosmetology school, I will welcome any advice given.

Shout outs:

Guest: Thank you for your review, and I am glad that you like it so far.

Guest: Yes, I know. There are multiple stories that have the same idea. But one idea can change and morph into completely something different. I believe I know which story you are talking about, and if I am correct, I can say mine will be its own.

Maybb: I hope you still find this interesting.

Wren210: I had been watching anime, and everyone knows how crazy the artist can get with tits… they were my inspiration. Lol.

Decadenceofmysoul: Thank you for your review.

Redrake323: I hope this update was pleasing to you.

I do not own InuYasha.