Saiya, the Hanyou Pup

The group had started their search again, with a new member. Saiya looked around from her perch in Inuyasha's arms. Her ears swiveled around back and forth, making her look kinda silly. On her small head, the ears looked slightly too big but that didn't discourage her. "Papa? Where we going?" she asked innocently, looking up at him. Inuyasha smirked slightly, glancing down at her.

"We're searching for the Shikon shards." he replied. She blinked, her ears drooped slightly, then perked up.

"I know where some are!" she caught his attention, as well as the group's. "Momma protected the village from mean youkai, and she killed a few with these glowing thingies! She hid them in a secret place!" she put her fingers to her mouth, meaning to be quiet. "Momma was good at hiding things." she nodded, serious.

"Where are the shards, Sai-chan?" Kagome asked. The group smiled slightly as the little girl frowned, trying to remember.

"Um," she looked around, then leaped from Inuyasha's arms to the ground. She scurried away, then crouched beside a plant. The group watched, perplexed as she tapped the plants leaves. "Where's the big cave?" she asked the plant. The group crowded around, seeing the plant start shifting its leaves. It pointed to the right, into a large bush of thorns. Saiya stroked the plant and it burst into bloom. "Arigato!" then she moved to the bush. "Mister bush? Could you move so we can go through?" she asked, blinking innocently. The bush trembled for a moment, then parted enough for the group to be able to move through. "Arigato!" Saiya climbed through the gap and scurried on forward.

"Um, what just happened?" Miroku asked slowly.

"She can talk to plants," Inuyasha said softly. "Sesshomaru has poison, I have strength, Shippo has fire, she can control plants." he said. The group shrugged then followed the happily skipping pup. She often stopped to talk to a plant before they finally reached "the big cave" she was talking about. It had runes and pictures carved into the surface, but Saiya walked right past it to a tree.

"Hello Juni!" she waved to the tree, placing a hand on its bark. A few leaves dropped to land on her head and shoulders. "May I have the shards please?" she asked, jumping up and down. The tree paused for a moment before a small black pouch fell from its branches. Saiya caught the pouch easily then opened it. Out tumbled four shards of the jewel. "Here Momma!" she held out the shards to Kagome, smiling. The miko took out the jar that held the shards and slipped the four inside. Saiya stared at the jar before uttering a small coo sound. The jewels lit up then fused together.

"Thanks Saiya," Kagome patted the girl's head. She purred, then patted the tree.

"Arigato Juni!" the tree dropped a small pouch down, which landed on Saiya's head. The group heard a few clinking sounds, of coins. Saiya pouted, then rubbed her head. "Arigato!" she gave the pouch to Inuyasha, then climbed onto his back and hid beneath his hair. "No more gifts Juni, onegai?" she called. The tree rustled then stilled. "Juni says you're welcome!" Saiya peeked over Inuyasha's shoulder. Miroku patted the tree.

"Thank you, uh, Juni," he bowed slightly to it, as did the others. They continued on their way, but stopped by the cave for a lunch break.

"Saiya? What's in the cave?" Kagome asked, cooking some lunch. She perked up, looking over at the cave.

"I'll show you!" she scampered over to the cave on all fours, then plopped down infront of it. She let out a piercing whistle, which Inuyasha responded to.

"Saiya?" he asked. The hanyou pup looked over at him, then turned back to the cave. The runes lit up, and the pictures glowed dark blue. Lines appeared over the entrance, crisscrossing to form a net. The group watched, entranced, as the net brightened before a tear appeared. Saiya scampered inside, then the net closed behind her. Inuyasha was up in a second, seeing Saiya vanish. The net tore again, Saiya skipping out and holding a few things in her arms. The net closed, then vanished as she left the entrance. She dropped what looked like a pile of rocks infront of the group.

"All that's in there are rocks?" Miroku asked, picking one up. Saiya giggled, then let out a deep coo. The rock in his hand glowed brightly, turning different colors, then rose into the air and shifted into a circular shape. It turned black and floated in the air, then the group saw an image appear in the rock. Miroku holding a small boy and girl, his wind tunnel gone.

"Fortune rocks!" Saiya cried, breaking the spell. It returned to its original shape before plumeting to the ground. It hit the ground with a thud, then broke in half. Instantly the group saw different colored gems buried deeply in the rock, which sparkled with a hidden power. "Opals! Mommy told me alot about them."she chirped, picking up the two halves. She skipped back to the entrance, then let out the whistle. The net appeared and tore so she could throw the halves into the cave.

"Sai-chan? Who was your mother?" Sango asked, when the pup returned. She cocked her head frowning slightly. She pointed to Kagome wordlessly.

"Mommy! But Mommy's different." she reached up and grabbed her ears. "Mommy had ears like me and Daddy!" she pointed to Inuyasha. Kagome frowned for a moment, then dared to ask the question in her mind.

"Saiya? Do you know what a microwave is?" Kagome asked slowly. The group stared at her for a moment.

"Yup! Its a big black box that cooks food!" she chirped, unaware of the surprised looks she was getting. Kagome sighed and slumped.

"That's what I was afraid of," she murmured. The group didn't talk at all for the rest of the day. They found out that the rumor was a lie so they went back to the village. That's when Kagome decided to take Saiya to her time. Inuyasha agreed, only if he could come as well.

"Why are you bringing her?" Inuyasha asked, holding Saiya in his arms while Kagome rode on his back.

"I want to see something, how she would react." Kagome said softly, seeing Saiya's eyes and ears drooping in exhaustion. Inuyasha looked down at the small pup, whom was clutching his haori tightly. She was faintly purring, because his large sleeves prevented the wind from touching her. Thus keeping her nice and warm. "If she reacts the way I think she will, then I have reason to believe, that we'll be mates in the future." Kagome continued. Inuyasha skid to a stop at that, nearly dropping Saiya.

"WHAT!"

"Be quiet!" Kagome covered his mouth with her hand, as they both looked down at the pup. She shifted slightly but went right back to sleep. They both sighed in relief, then leaped into the well. Saiya opened her eyes long enough to see the blue and white swirls of magic.

*Yay, I'm going home,* she thought, smiling as she curled against her father. _______________________________________________________________________

There ya go! The next chapter tells about Saiya's history, though one of the reviewers have already figured it out. I won't put the third chapter up until I get a total of at least 10 reviews.