Chapter 4

After a quick breakfast, the group left Kaede's village. They returned to the clearing where they had awoken to Inuyasha's transformation back to a child. They split up and searched the entire area and into the trees. Nothing. No trace of anything that could explain his sudden transformation. They walked through the forest, senses alert, to the place they had come across Sesshomaru and his group. They searched the second clearing with as little success as the first. Sango took Kirara to search a bit in the direction Rin indicated they had traveled from.

"There's nothing here," Kagome said dejectedly. "Now what? We can't leave Inu – them – like this. Miroku, do you sense anything at all?"

The monk closed his eyes and concentrated. The others held their breath in silent anticipation. He reopened his eyes and shook his head. "I can sense you, Kagome, because of your spiritual power. The only demonic auras I'm sensing are from the ones with us."

"How does Inuyasha's aura seem? Is it the same as when he's his usual self?"

Kagome knew she had worded her question awkwardly but Miroku seemed to understand what she was asking. "Inuyasha's demonic aura is weaker than normal. So is Sesshomaru's. Though it seems to be due to them being so young rather than any outside influence."

Kagome relaxed slightly. She had been worried that whatever had been done to cause Inuyasha's transformation would have more sinister effects on him. She was glad that didn't seem to be the case. Discovering what had happened and how to reverse it was going to be difficult enough without having to race against the clock as well.

Sango returned a short time later. She shook her head as she rejoined them. She hadn't discovered anything. They stood looking at one another for several minutes as each tried to come up with something, anything, useful. Kagome was startled by a sudden tugging on her skirt. She looked down to see Sesshomaru looking up at her. She was struck once again by how innocent he seemed, his expression open and warm instead of the cool mask she was accustomed to. She wondered if this had been what he'd been like as s child. And what had happened to change him so drastically.

"What is it, Sesshomaru?" she asked.

"We go see Father now?" he asked hopefully. Kagome didn't have the heart to tell him his father was long dead.

"I don't know where he is," she deflected.

The pup smiled at her, showing his tiny fangs. "Home!"

"Where's home?" Miroku asked.

The pup frowned. "Home," he repeated as if it explained everything.

"He's still just a young child, Kagome" Miroku said, seeing her frustration.

"I know," she replied with a sigh.

"Sesshou, come play!" Inuyasha said, running up to his brother and tugging at his hand.

"Stop pulling, 'Yasha!"

Inuyasha scowled at him. Then a mischievous grin came over his face as Sesshomaru turned away. Suddenly he pounced, landing on Sesshomaru's tail. Sesshomaru yelped in surprise, whirling and swiping with his claws as Inuyasha jumped back, laughing. They ran off, followed by Rin, to play.

"Jaken, do you know where Sesshomaru's home is?" Kagome asked, remembering the imp.

"I know everything about my lord!" Jaken declared proudly. He seemed to deflate a bit as several seconds of silence ticked by while they waited for more information. "But I am not aware of the location of a permanent residence," he admitted. "Or even that he has one."

"He doesn't have a home?"

Jaken shrugged slightly. "Not that I am aware. Though my lord often leaves on his own for a time so it is possible that is where he has gone…"

Kagome sighed again. "Well, that doesn't help."

"Rin!" Jaken called sharply. "Come here, girl!"

The girl looked up from where she was gathering wildflowers. She skipped over to them. "Yes, Master Jaken?"

"Have you ever heard Lord Sesshomaru speak of the location of his home?" the imp demanded.

Rin shook her head. "No. He has never spoken of it. Are we going there? I wonder what it's like. I bet it's beautiful. And regal. And -"

"Silly girl! Don't ask so many questions!"

"Sorry, Master Jaken." She seemed to deflate slightly.

Kagome smiled kindly at her. "It's okay. Thank you, Rin. Why don't you keep playing with the pups. Don't let them wander off."

Rin brightened. "Okay!"

"Their father was lord of the western lands," Sango said thoughtfully. "I don't know much about the area. Perhaps there are other inu yokai there that can help."

"Isn't that dangerous, though?" Miroku countered. "What if someone decided to take advantage of the fact that Sesshomaru is now a child? Not to mention, many demons are not exactly friendly towards humans. Or half-demons for that matter."

"It's a risk we may have to take. Kaede didn't know what happened to them and can't reverse it. Unless we can find someone more knowledgeable in such matters I don't see that we have much of a choice."

"Why don't we try the villages around here, first?" Kagome suggested. The only full-blooded inu yokai she had met was Sesshomaru. If the rest were more like him than Inuyasha she was in no hurry to try to ask for their aid. While she would do anything to help Inuyasha she preferred to try the less lethal option first. "This is where whatever happened… happened. Maybe there's someone powerful in the area that we haven't been able to sense. Maybe they have a barrier or something. Besides, it doesn't make any sense that someone would cause them to become pups again and then just leave."

"It's worth a try since we're here anyway," Sango agreed.

"And we can always head west if we don't find anything."

With a final check of the area, they decided to head for the village they had passed through on their first journey through the area as a starting place. The children were gathered and placed on Ah-Un and they were off.

#####

Shortly before midday they stopped for lunch. The village was visible just a short distance away but the pups were whining that they were hungry. They decided it would be better to eat outside the village to keep their strength up in case they needed it. Nobody said it out loud, but they expected whomever had caused Inuyasha and Sesshomaru's condition to be hostile and the confrontation would likely end in a fight.

A sudden "Ow!" from Inuyasha was followed by a loud slap. Inuyasha was holding something in his hand and he and Sesshomaru were both were poking at it with their little claws. A moment later a familiar voice sounded in Kagome's ear.

"Master Inuyasha, that is hardly the way to greet your loyal servant. That goes for you, too, Lord Sesshomaru. You should know better than to poke someone with your claws!"

"Myoga!" Kagome said, recognizing the flea demon. "What are you doing here?"

"Never mind that! What has happened to Master Inuyasha?"

"We don't know," Kagome admitted. "The other day we woke up and he was like this. We came across Sesshomaru a little while later. Neither of them seem to have any memories of their adult selves. Even Kaede doesn't know if this is a spell or a curse or what."

"I see," Myoga peered at the pups, who had forgotten about him. Inuyasha and Rin chased Sesshomaru, trying to catch his tail. The little demon was faster than both of them and giggled madly as he teased them by allowing them close, then darting away with inhuman speed, despite his age.

"Do you have any ideas, Myoga?" Sango asked.

The flea demon watched the children for another moment, considering. "Not really," he finally admitted. "I've never heard of anything that could cause a reversion to childhood like this. But whatever happened, it had to have been caused by powerful magic. I advise extreme caution."

"Oh? What makes you say that?" Miroku asked.

"Think about it. For all his faults, Master Inuyasha is a strong half-demon. He wields the Tessaiga, a powerful heirloom from his father. And Lord Sesshomaru a powerful full blooded demon against whom any but the strongest spells would be completely ineffective. Didn't you say even your purification arrows had no effect on him, Kagome?"

"Oh, yeah," Kagome said, recalling the time she had shot at him, only to have him catch her arrow in his bare hand and dissolve it with the poison from his claws. Something that would have outright purified any other demon.

"Did Lord Sesshomaru have Tenseiga with him when you found him?" Myoga asked suddenly.

"Yeah," Kagome answered. "Well it was beside him in the pile of his clothes and armor. It's on the dragon right now, along with Tessaiga and the rest of his and Inuyasha's stuff. Why do you ask?"

Myoga didn't answer her immediately. "You there, imp, you travel with Lord Sesshomaru, do you not?"

Jaken puffed out his chest and glared at the flea. "I am Lord Sesshomaru's most loyal servant!" he declared.

"Did Tenseiga react strangely at all before this occurred?"

"Tenseiga?" Jaken said. "That useless sword?" He stopped his bluster and thought for a moment. "No. Lord Sesshomaru wasn't acting as if it was, either." He remembered how Sesshomaru seemed almost puzzled by the sword at times. As if it was speaking to him but he couldn't quite understand. It made Jaken nervous to see his master unsettled, however slightly. But that hadn't happened in a while so he figured his master had figured things out.

Myoga frowned and answered Kagome's question. "Despite his hatred of the sword, part of the reason his father left him Tenseiga was because it protects him. You've seen it for yourself when Master Inuyasha hit him with his Wind Scar. That it did not react to whatever caused his and Master Inuyasha's current condition seems unusual. Though it could simply mean that Tenseiga didn't sense his life was in danger."

"Or that whomever did this is so powerful that they were able to do it in spite of Tenseiga."

Myoga shook his head. "That's highly unlikely. Remember, Tenseiga was forged from one of their father's fangs. His power is in that blade, just as it's in Tessaiga, and he was one of the most powerful demons who ever lived."

"Well, that's reassuring. I guess," Kagome said, not sounding entirely convinced. "Tessaiga's sheath didn't protect Inuyasha, either."

"No, which is why I do no believe the 'spell' itself was a danger."

"Only the effects." She sighed. This was getting them no closer to finding answers. "We're going to check with the villages in the area to see if they know of anyone powerful enough to do this. If that doesn't work we're considering heading west to see if we could find other inu yokai to help," Kagome said reluctantly. "Unless you have any other ideas. We can't think of anything else to do at this point."

"But we're not sure what will happen if they find Sesshomaru like this," Sango pointed out.

"Hm. Well, if it helps, inu yokai do live in packs and are very loyal to them. I doubt they'd harm Lord Sesshomaru, at least."

"But Inuyasha?"

Myoga shrugged. "It depends. You know that half-demons are not well received anywhere. You may find help, you may not. Being that he is the great Inu no Taisho's son may aid you. But I cannot say for certain."

"You're a big help," Shippo muttered sourly.

"Myoga," Kagome said as something that had been bothering her came to the forefront of her thoughts again. "How old is Sesshomaru? I mean, he's older than Inuyasha, right? He was old enough to remember their father pretty well. So why do they look like they're the same age now? Shouldn't he be older?"

"Wow, Kagome, nice catch. I didn't even think about that," Sango said.

"Not to mention he has his left arm again," Shippo put in.

"I couldn't tell you," Myoga said. "It is true that Lord Sesshomaru is several centuries older than Lord Inuyasha. Though keep in mind he is still very young for a demon. In demon terms he's still an adolescent, barely considered an adult." His eyes travelled to the brothers who were still running all over with incredible speed and agility. Rin was laughing and cheering them on as they raced and bounded about.

"Though you're right, Kagome, Lord Sesshomaru should still be older than Master Inuyasha," Myoga continued after a few moments of consideration. "He was a mid-adolescent when Inuyasha was born. Perhaps, like his arm regenerating, it's an effect of whatever caused their reversion."

"Well… that's interesting. Though not really helpful at the moment."

"I regret that I cannot be of more help. I will go and seek answers. Perhaps Totosai can shed some light on why their swords did not react. I'll send word if I discover anything."

"Thanks, Myoga," Kagome said as the tiny flea demon jumped down from her shoulder and took off. She looked at her companions. "I guess we have no choice but to keep going."

They finished cleaning up the remains of their lunch and gathered the pups and Rin, setting out once again.