A/N: I'm sorry for losing most of you, but for those of you who figured it out, KUDOS! Yes, Inuyasha, the baka, gave the wrong earrings to the girls (Emerald was to go to Kagome and ruby to Kaori - instead he switched it.) This sent him back to the same place, same time. Nothing changed! Thus, our story continues. Can Ai prevent him from goofing again? Of course she can, but first, a bit of deja vu!

Chapter 14

Somebody read his mind. Somebody called out,

"STOP!"

Inuyasha heard the voice, but in his mind he thought,

'I can't stop! I must do this. I must destroy Kagome and Kaori. They would never want this and Kagome would be heartbroken if she knew her pups were dead.',

But the voice called out again, more insistently this time,

"STOP INUYASHA! YOU MUST NOT DO THIS!"

Inuyasha stopped.

'Who was saying that? Where was the voice coming from?'

He looked around. To his amazement, not a thing moved. No human, demon, plant or animal. The birds were quiet. The wind still.

"Who called to me?", he yelled out.

"I did, Inuyasha. It is me, Ai. Sesshoumaru's wife. Rin and Kohaku's daughter."

"Where are you, Ai?"

"I am everywhere. And nowhere. That is none of your concern, right now."

"What the hell are you babbling on about?"

"Inuyasha, you must repair time. A rip has occurred in the fabric of time. This should not have happened."

"The battle?"

"No. The battle is as it should be. But the deaths of Yasha, Hiroshi, Kazuo, Taikan. The death of my mate. Tetsu's death. These were not to be."

"So what can I do to change it back? What has happened, has happened.", he said sadly.

"Witches can time travel if the problem directly effects them. This does not directly affect me. Kagome is under their spell and thus she cannot go back. You, Inuyasha. You must go back and set things right."

"How do I do that?"

"Kagome and Kaori must fall under the spell of the dragons ... but not a real spell. They must be in strategic positions. Kaori to retain the jewel, oracle and mirror and Kagome to infiltrate. You, too, must do what you did. You were able to combat them. Kaori and Kagome were too weak to fight off the necklaces."

"So what do I do?"

As he finished his statement, two pairs of earrings appeared on the rock before him. Two pairs of sapphire earrings. Different but similar.

This time, Ai explained that the earrings had magical powers and to give one pair to Kagome and one to Kaori. The earrings would let them know what they were supposed to do. And then he would need to go south and get Arie of the southern dragons to get involved. Only Arie could finish off Pauru.

"I am sending you back as a merchant. You will be old. Do not mess up.", Ai sternly warned Inuyasha.

"Me? Mess up? Yea, right!", he said, as the world faded around him and he ended up back at the marketplace.

"I can't believe she sent me back as a merchant, of all things.", Inuyasha said out loud to himself.

Looking around his cart, he found a mirror. Gazing at his reflection, he was shocked at what he saw. Gone was the silver hair, dog ears and golden eyes. In their place, he had black hair pulled into a top knot, brown eyes and an aged face. His outfit was typical feudal era clothes. A pair of brown hakama pants and a brown yakata. He was a human male.

"Ooooohhh.", he groaned, as he touched the wrinkles on his face. He already hated being old and he had only been old for a few minutes.

He took in his surroundings again. It was a peaceful time, yet busy. He recognized it as the spring before all this had happened. Before the dragons had made their appearance. He sniffed the air. Good. She had left him with his demon senses intact. He smelled that his family ... er ... Kagome and Inuyasha, weren't at the marketplace. Not yet.

A couple of people came up and started looking over his cart. Great. What was he supposed to do.

"Excuse me,", said a woman, "What do you have in the way of colored wool?"

"Wool?", he asked, confused. 'Damn, Kagome and the girls did the sewing. What was wool like?', he thought to himself, "Uh, here you go, lady.", he said, trying to sound as helpful as possible.

"That's cotton."

"Oh, sorry. My mistake. Here you go."

"That's tweed. You sell fabrics and you don't know what wool fabric is? How dumb can you be?"

"Well, excuse me for making a mistake, you old hag."

"WELL! Of all the nerve! You'll never sell anything with that attitude!", she huffed and walked away, along with other customers who had been standing around.

'Fine with me.', he thought, as he waited for Kagome to show up with Kaori. Then he saw someone else.

'That's right,', he thought, 'We saw Jiro had the marketplace that one weekend. He was upset that he had nothing to give to Kaori for a gift because he was broke.'

Trying to remember he was old, he called out,

"Hey, son, come here.", he called to Jiro.

"Who me?", Jiro questioned back.

"Yea, you, son."

"I have no money gramps.", Jiro said, as Inuyasha cringed at the word gramps.

"Don't need any, sonny. I bet you're looking for a gift for you're girlfriend, am I right?"

"How did you know?"

"I am a good guesser! Now, what does your girlfriend like ... ummm, I guess, jewelry, right?"

"All girls like jewelry. Even full demon girls."

"She's not a full demon, sonny?"

"Nope, she's a half-dog demon. Prettiest thing you've ever seen."

"I know she ... I mean ... I bet she is. I have something here for you," Inuyasha said, pulling out a pair of sapphire earrings, "I bet she'd love these."

"Oh man, would she ever. But, gramps, man, I have no cash."

"Never mind that. I was, cough cough, young myself once. I know she'll love these and I know she'll love you even more. Take'em. On the house."

"You mean it gramps?"

"Yea Yea. Go ahead. Get outta here before I change my mind."

"Sure thing. Thanks Gramps!", Jiro said, as he turned to leave.

"Sure, Jiro, whatever.", Inuyasha said, with a wave of his hand.

Jiro stared at the old man, 'Did I just hear wrong or did he call me by name?', he thought, and then dismissed the thought.

Later that day, Inuyasha saw Kagome and Inuyasha walking around. 'Good. We're finally here.', he thought to himself. Calling over to Kagome, he said,

"Hey pretty little lady, come check out my cart."

"Don't talk to my wife like that old man, or I'll rearrange your face.", said a jealous Inuyasha as Kagome started purring over fabrics.

"Inuyasha, leave the old guy alone.", she said, as merchant Inuyasha cringed again.

"Little lady, I have something you'll absolutely love.", Inuyasha said, ignoring Inuyasha's comment.

"Ooo, what is it?", Kagome cooed. She loved shopping, like all women.

"A beautiful pair of earrings. Here ya go.", he said, handing her the sapphire studded earrings.

"Oh, how lovely. For me?", she asked.

"Yes, for you."

"How much?"

"No charge for a lovely lady like yourself."

"Listen old man, I told you before ..."

"Inuyasha!"

"Don't be so damn jealous over a little flattery, my boy. I'm happily married myself, you baka."

"Old man ... !"

"Inuyasha, don't make me say it!"

'Oh shit!', he thought, 'I can still feel the subjugation necklace against my skin. DON'T SAY IT!' , his brain screamed.

"Fuck it old man. You're not worth it.", Inuyasha complained, as he turned away.

Kagome thanked the old man profusely.

"Don't worry about it, my dear. It's a gift."

As they walked away, Inuyasha packed up his cart and pushed it aside. He headed south. He had heard of the dragon demon clan to the south and knew basically where to find them. Sniffing the air, he picked up the scent of dragons. And it wasn't the scent of Pauru. Eventually, after a long run through treetops, he found a dragon herd. Running over to them, he asked,

"Are you the demon dragon clan of the south?"

"Why would a human be looking for dragon demons?", said one of the dragons.

"I'm not really human. I'm a demon. A half-demon. I am in disguise."

"I thought you were running awfully fast for an old human. Yes, we are the clan of the south.", said another dragon that came forward.

"I need to speak to your leader, Arie."

"Why?", said the same dragon.

"It's about Pauru of the north."

The same dragon that had been speaking stepped forward more, "I am Arie.", she said, as she transformed into her human self.