Disclaimer: Can you guess what I am going to say here? Heh, that's right, I do NOT own InuYasha. Just everyone keep quiet, they all fell asleep…finally!

P.S: Again I say, this is a story, so don't flip out if a character is acting in a way that they normally would act. IT"S JUST A STORY! ENJOY!

            The sky overhead began to glow orange as the day progressed into nightfall. One by one, the stars began to appear and the shining rim of the full lady moon could be seen at the horizon. The wind whispered softly through the meadow grass, sending the scent of the wild beasts into the night. Nearby, steam rose from a clear hot spring, and Kagome sighed as she lowered herself into its warm waters. She dunked her head into the smooth water, rubbing her head to lift some of the debris from her head and scalp. Coming up in a whirlpool of bubbles, Kagome reached over and grabbed the shampoo bottle from a nearby rock, her skin glistening in the moon's light, and her black hair clinging to her body. She gazed around her, taking in her surroundings and sniffed at the air.

"Come out Sakura, I can smell you," she told her daughter casually, "You too Ryuujin." There was a whimper and a rustling of the leaves in the bushes but the twins did not come out of their hiding spot. Kagome sighed and waited, knowing that they had to come out at one point or another. There was a brief hissing of a discussion between the two children, and they came out of the bushes slowly, yet staying in the darkness. Kagome looked at her children, waiting for them to tell her why they were skulking together in the dark. She sighed, the demon part of her growing impatient.

"Out with it," Kagome ordered them, "Or at least come out of the shadows so that I may be able to see you." The two shuffled out of the shadows, and Kagome gasped at the sight of them. They had changed into human children, but they aged again as well. They were about five years old, but their hair was changed. Sakura's hair was completely silver, she had normal human ears, and deep blue eyes. Ryuujin had black hair, normal ears and deep blue eyes, exactly like his sister. They seemed to have shrunk in size because they were now humans with human weaknesses.

"Mother," Ryuujin said, "Why are we like this? How did we change?"

"I do not like this feeling of being weak and helpless," Sakura muttered, looking at her hands in unease.

"It seems that you have inherited this trait form your father," Kagome replied after getting over her initial shock, "You see, when it is the night of the new moon, your father changes into his human form, rendering him helpless. Apparently, you two are exactly the opposite: On the night of the full moon, you two will change into your human forms."

"But for how long?" they asked in unison, worry clearly heard in their voices.

"Until tomorrow morning," Kagome replied simply, "Now get in, you two need a bath." Sakura giggled in joy and began to take off her clothes, while Ryuujin snorted in disgust, and turned his back on them, blushing.

"I do not bathe with women," he said softly. Sakura sharply turned back to him, and stopped her brother by pulling on his hair.

"Why? We bathe together all the time, why the sudden change Ryuujin?" Sakura asked, the hurt visible in her voice.

"Because I am becoming a man, it's not right for us to bathe together," he said, his throat tight, his gaze forward. He shrugged her off and walked back towards the camp. Sakura's lower lip trembled and she turned away from him, getting into the water slowly. Kagome hugged her daughter, saying that everything would be alright.

***

The next day, the group started on their journey again, the twins fully restored to their original youkai forms. They had avoided each other all day long, not walking together, or holding hands as they normally do, hardly speaking to one another. InuYasha looked over at Kagome, who merely shrugged at her mate. She had an idea as to what was going on between the two of them, but she did not want to pester them about it. (Ya! Kagome is a cool mommy!) Shippo went up to Sakura and asked if she wanted to run ahead with him. Sakura looked at her brother, who did not even glance at her, and told him that she would be delighted. The two held hands as the ran off into the distance, and Ryuujin hung his head, moving towards the back of the group.

"What's wrong with those two, Kagome?" Sango asked her. Kagome sighed, and shook her head slightly. Everyone looked at her, believing that she possessed the answer to this curious riddle.

"Last night, Ryuujin refused to bathe with Sakura, like they always do, claiming that he was becoming a man and could no longer do so. They aged another two years, perhaps that is setting their minds for separation. You know, 'boys on one side, girls on the other' kind of thing," she answered. Kagome went on to explain how maturity goes on between two boys when suddenly she stopped. She felt a chill go up her spin, and her whole body went numb, her ears standing on end. Before Kagome could react, Ryuujin ran forward towards the direction that Shippo and Sakura had gone. Kagome and InuYasha tore after their son, knowing, somehow, that their daughter was in some kind of pain, or danger. The others ran after the three of them, only Kouga was able to keep up with their speed.

They found Sakura squatting on the ground holding her hands to her body, while Shippo stood over her, trying to comfort her.

"What happened?!" yelled Ryuujin as he reached the two of them, "What's wrong Sakura?"

"She picked a flower and then cried out in pain," Shippo said, chewing on his clawed hand, "I don't know what's the matter!" Kagome and InuYasha reached them and gathered their child into their arms, demanding to know what was wrong with her.

"Something bit me!" Sakura cried, tears flowing down her face. Ryuujin took her hand, just as the others finally caught up with them, and looked at her finger. He scowled at her and pushed her hand back in her face. The parents looked at her hand and laughed softly, realizing what had 'bitten' her.

"It's only a rose thorn, baka," Ryuujin replied, crossing his arms over his chest and scowling much like his father, "Stop crying!"

"Well it hurt you stupid ass! Kami! Why won't you grow up?" Sakura snapped back at him. They glared at each other and the Earth seemed to shake as their anger erupted like electricity.

"Wait, the Earth really IS shaking!" yelled Miroku as he fell to the ground. Everyone looked around, searching for the demon that caused the disturbance, when suddenly, it stopped.

"It must have been an earthquake," said Kagome, getting to her feet unsteadily. As soon as she said these words, the ground beneath her feet split, showing the black bowels of the Earth. She jumped to the side, just in time. Had she stayed where she was, she would have fallen below.

"What the fuck is going on?!" yelled Kouga as another crack ripped open beneath him. From this crack, however, burst a demon unlike any of them had seen. It's body was poison green with hard scales protecting its body, and glistening in the sunlight. Its six heads turned to them, fangs dripping in gaseous saliva that spread noxious fumes when it hit the ground, and its red eyes glittering with fire and malice. InuYasha grabbed the Tetsusaiga from its sheath, positioning himself for battle while Kagome and the others got into a fighting stance. However, the worm did not attack. It sniffed the air quickly, and, just as quickly, wrapped its green body around the twins and disappeared back into the Earth, their cries echoing on the wind as the Earth repaired itself.

A peasant in the distance of the hill heard a high-pitched scream, and shivered. He wondered what kind of monster had made such an inhumane noise, and continued on with his travels.