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Chapter 13
Inuyasha clung to Kagome, ecstatic and relieved that they had rescued him. Miroku and Sango said nothing, but they didn't have to, he knew that they were happy to see him. The wind whistled in his ears just a little bit, and he welcomed it. Anything was better than being held prisoner by that witch.
"Inuyasha?" he heard, some time later. Had he fallen asleep? He opened his eyes and found himself curled up on Kagome's sleeping bag. He looked up at her and saw that she was back in her school uniform.
"Hi," he said, smiling. "When did I fall asleep?"
"Shortly after we picked you up," Miroku said, looking at him. "I can't get used to you: You're so little."
"Thanks," Inuyasha growled, throttling his anger.
"Come on, you guys," Kagome broke in, playing peacemaker. "We have to go see that spell-breaker."
"Yes, but will she see us?" Sango asked. "She may not want to."
"I'm sure that once she learns I serve Lord Sesshomaru, she'd be happy to help," Jaken said proudly.
They all glared at him.
"Well, let's go, everyone," Kagome said, packing up her bag.
They set out, approaching the spot where her cottage was said to lie. Inuyasha walked a little ahead, trying to think. What would happen? What if he had to grow up again, or worse, was stuck like this forever? You could only get away with things by being cute if you were human—if you were a half-demon, you'd be screwed each time you went among regular humans or demons. If he were a full demon, he wouldn't have to worry, no one wanted to mess with a demon even if it were only a child. If he were a full demon child, some demoness would probably want to take charge of him until he grew up, and with a father like Inutaisho, they would probably seek him out, knowing his parents were both dead. He sighed. If only.
He hadn't been watching where he'd been going and tripped over a tree root, falling onto something that was warm and soft. He started to get up, wondering what it was, but got the scare of his life when he realized that it was moving!
"Here now, here now," an old crone's voice grated. "What's all this?"
Inuyasha got up quick, and wished he'd been watching where he was going.
"Why don't you apologize?" the crone demanded, turning around, looking at all of them. "When I was young, oldsters were shown some respect! Why…?" she trailed off, staring at Inuyasha.
"I'm terribly sorry," Kagome said, stepping forward, "but—"
She was cut off by the old hag's screech, and Inuyasha found himself swept up into a hug that threatened to crush his rib cage. "He's so cute!" she gushed, playing with his ears and smoothing his hair back. "Oh, simply adorable! How would you like to come home with me?" she asked, smiling at him. "Hmmm? You could learn how to break spells, and I would feed you lots of good food, and in the winter my house is always warm."
Inuyasha stared at her, too surprised for words.
"Are you the spell breaker?" Miroku asked.
"Yes, yes," she said, distractedly. She was still trying to push Inuyasha's hair back. "If you've come to get a spell broken, I'm the one you want to see. Come along," she said, addressing Inuyasha. "You'll all stay with me tonight, and this little one and I will get to know one another." Leading him by the hand, she led the way up the path while his friends followed. He smiled the slightest bit. Sometimes, being cute really helped out, and apparently, it didn't matter if he were demon or human. All he had to be was cute.
