A Dog- Eared Child
Chapter 2: Confused
Angelneko22: Thanks for all the reviews. They were very nice. Sorry for such the delay we had internet problems. And thanks to all who read this. It is really fun to write. I've always thought Inuyasha would be cute as a child. Oh and thank you arubabu for the names of Kagome's friends.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Inuyasha characters...I just wrote this Fanfic.
Kaede led Inuyasha into her home then shut the door slowly behind her. Inuyasha stared curiously at Kaede. What the hell is wrong here? Kaede sat down next to him and asked Inuyasha what had happened.
"What are you talking about, old woman? I didn't do nothin'. Must everyone be so noisy?" Inuyasha glared.
"Obviously something happened to ye. Do ye know what ye looks like?" Kaede asked.
"What do you mean? Your crazy I look fine. Just because I don't feel fine doesn't mean I'm not fine." Inuyasha barked hotly.
"Ye'd better go to the river Inuyasha."
"Why? I told you I'm fine" Inuyasha stood angrily and stomped out the door. He staggered all the way to the nearest river, tripping and falling over his now clumsy feet. His kimono dragged behind him.
When he reached the river he bent down and gazed into it. A reflection of a small familiar child stared back at him. W-what?ཀ He bent closer to exaim himself. His face brushed asked the cool water and he lost his footing.
He tumbled into the icy, cold water flailing helplessly against the swarming tides. He thrashed violently against the overpowering water. He couldn't even swim anymore. What was happening to him? He wondered. His overly large kimono swirled around him pushing him under. He fought his way back up to the surface.
Finally he spotted a bolder sticking up from the depths of the river. He paddled over to it and clung on for dear life. He was gasping for breath, heaving and spitting out the water he had swallowed.
"Inuyasha Ye alright?" Kaede was rushing over to the edge of the river. "What might ye be doing?" she asked.
"Trying not to drown" he gasped.
"Ye does know that, that water is barely three feet deep right?"
Inuyasha just about lost his grip on the slipperily rock. "What? You've got to be kidding me! I practically drowned. The water isn't safe."
Kaede pointed toward a group of villagers. Inuyasha followed her gaze and noticed them stepping in and out of the river that almost claimed his life. They were washing fruits and plants so they'd be okay to eat.
Inuyasha sighed. He was pathic! He almost drowned in an easy going river. He really should of listened to Kagome. Kagome! He had forgot to tell her he was leavingཀ Oh...she must be so mad right now. But she'd be even madder if she found out he had drunken that glass.
Kaede helped him out of the water with ease considering she was an old woman. She and Inuyasha walked back to the village and she found him a village boy's outfit.
He just couldn't believe he was a child! How had this happened? Then again, it was all his fault. Kaede stewed soup for the both of them. She graciously let him sleep in her house.
He consumed his share of the tasty soup then lay down in the corner. He covered himself with a blanket Kaede had given him and slept thinking deeply about Kagome. He really missed her.
Kagome was sitting at the table munching on her breakfast. Her mother had left for the market to pick up some things at the store. Kagome had found a note lying by her bed in the morning.
Sota was still sleeping along with Grandpa. Guess they were up late, Kagome thought, remembering their sound asleep expressions and loud snoring when she had peeked in on them.
She finished her meal, cleaned up the dishes and snatched her book bag. She ran out the door, locked it behind her and managed to catch up with her three friends.
"Hey Kagome!" Arimi said happily. "You've been at school a lot lately you must be feeling much better."
Kagome nodded. "Yeah, I have."
"Oh, Kagome how's your boyfriend?" Yuka asked.
"What? Boyfriend? Uh...Oh! Uh well we sorta had a fight yesterday and I haven't heard from him since." Kagome said honestly.
"Are you to going to break up?" Eri asked nervously.
"Uh...I'm not sure like I said we haven't talked since yesterday.
Her friends were quiet the rest of the way to school. Kagome entered her classroom, took her seat and waited patiently for class to begin. I wonder how Inuyasha is doing...I haven't seen him since last night...did he go back? No! He wouldn't leave without telling me! He wouldn't do that no matter what. So what is he up to?
The teacher began class by calling role and Kagome answered with her usual "here".
Inuyasha was out collecting crops in the fields. After he was unable to pile anymore vegetables and fruits into the basket he trudged back to the village and handed them to Kaede. Then he went to go play with the other village children. They had also finished their daily chores and were playing by the river. Inuyasha joined them.
They ignored him and tossed the brightly colored ball back and forth to each other. Inuyasha sat under a tree and watched them sadly.
It's happening again. He thought despairingly. Just like when I was little. The children in my mother's village all ignored me and so did most of the villagers. They thought I was an outsider. That I did not belong. I wasn't good enough for them.
Inuyasha slumped helplessly against the trunk. I miss Kagome. Has she even noticed I'm missing. Has she? Or does she just not care?
Inuyasha watched the children again. Then he realized something. He didn't belong here. He belonged with Kagome, Sango, Merroku, and Shippo.
He really wasn't a child anymore. Well, he shouldn't be.
He stood up. Walked confidently past the village children and went to go find Kaede. She was healing one of the village men who had a deep wound in his shoulder. One of the village women had told him. She introduced herself as Lisian Thus. Her husband was the one with the wound.
Inuyasha gave her a message to give to Kaede when she was finished then wrapped up a small hanker chief with rice balls and three different types of fruit.
He set out to go find Sango and Merroku. I'll find them and tell them who I really am. Maybe they'll be able to help me. And if not...well I don't really want to think about that, hopefully they will help me.
The day went by peacefully. No big tests to study for. Almost too peaceful, reasoned Kagome. The day was so peaceful Kagome couldn't help but let her mind wander. She couldn't stop herself from thinking about Inuyasha.
Usually studying for a test would take her mind off him. But her teachers took it easy today. After her classes her friends could sense her disappointment, so they invited her to join them at a fast food restraunt. Kagome reluctancy agreed.
They also bought her a sandwich and drink. She insisted to pay them back but they refused.
After they left the restraunt Yuka said they should have a sleep over tonight.
"Yeah! Great idea Yuka!" Eri exclaimed happily.
"But who's house should we have it at?" Arimi asked.
"Hey! How about my house my parents won't mind and besides we got a new televison with a built in DVD system. Its so cool!" Eri said excitedly.
Yuka nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah! I'm sure I can go! My mom and dad have a dinner to go to tonight and won't be back until late. So they'd be happy if I stay the night at someone's house!"
"I'm not so sure, my mom and dad have to make important phone calls all night and they need
to get a lot of work done so they had asked me to watch my younger sister Ayumi. I'll have to ask them first." Arimi said.
Eri turned to Kagome. "You'll be able to come right? I mean it wouldn't be fun without you."
Yuka and Arimi gazed pleadingly at her. They knew how upset she was because of that fight with her boyfriend. They thought she needed to take her mind off him and just have fun.
Kagome stared thoughtfully at her friends. It wasn't hard for her to realize they were doing their best to cheer her up. She smiled. "Sure I'd love to come. My mom won't mind at all."
Her friends looked relieved and also happy. They missed Kagome when she suddenly got sick and then was out for a week or two..
"Come on you guys we'd better let all our parents know our plans." Kagome said.
Inuyasha found Sango's village with the help of an usually friendly demon. He made it just as the last rays of the sun were setting. The colors amazed him and he suddenly wished Kagome was here to enjoy it with him.
He couldn't believe how much he missed her. Oh Kagome, Kagome. What are you doing right now?
"Inuyasha? Is that really you?" A familiar voice spoke curiously.
Sango appeared from inside a shrine. "What are you doing here?" She paused stopping to analyze him closely. "And what exactly happened to you! Do you know what you look like! What did you get into! I'm not your mother for gosh sakes! Can't you watch out for yourself!" Sango began rambling on and on until Merroku walked out as well.
"I-Inuyasha?"
Inuyasha nodded stubbornly. "Yeah it's me so nice to see you guys too."
"Do you even know what you look like?" Merroku repeated.
"Yes! I know exactly what I look like would you people stop telling me that! Gawd! Can't anyone consider what's happening to me!" Inuyasha barked angrily.
"So then why are you here?" Merroku asked.
"Uh...well I was wondering if you guys could help me get back to normal. I don't plan to stay like this ya know."
"Sister! Sister where are you?"
"Kohaku! Out here!" Sango called.
Kohaku came out as well and clung to Sango. "Hello," he turned to his sister. "Who is this kid?" he asked curiously.
"Kohaku this is Inuyasha. The one that saved you." Sango hugged her brother affectionately.
Kohaku approached Inuyasha. "Thank you. Thank you very much." he whispered.
"Uh..no problem." Inuyasha answered modestly.
"So can you help me?"he asked Sango and Merroku.
"We can try."they chorused.
After going through at least three dozen different potions and chemicals. And uselessly mixing them together they came up with nothing. Nothing helped. It seemed he would have to stay in his child form for a while.
"Hopefully, it will wear out," Sango explained reassuringly. Even though she had her own doubts.
"But where will I go?" Inuyasha asked.
"Well, uh we're not very sure." Merroku replied.
"You can stay with us for a while." Sango said. "Kohaku would really like a friend."
"But Inuyasha have you told Kagome about this yet?"
"No...she's the one that warned me not to drink it. She'd be so mad if she found out what happened. I can't tell her. I just can't."
"You do know she's going to suspect something if you don't visit her." Sango said.
"Yeah, but hopefully in a few days it will wear off."
"If not," Merroku squeezed in front of Inuyasha, his face coming dangerously close to his chiby like one. "Your screwed!" he squealed.
"Hey! Watch it!" Inuyasha growled.
Sango suddenly started searching for something. "Kirara!"she called. "Kirara." It was useless obviously Kirara wasn't there.
"Hey Sango where's Kirara?" Merroku asked.
"Yeah, I haven't seen her since I came here."
"Shoot! I don't know where she ran off to. She was here all afternoon. Why would she go out now of all times it's dark out. What if she doesn't find her way back?" Sango panicked.
Merroku scooted closer to her. Enclosing her into his arms. He rubbed her behind affectionately.
"Merroku! This is not the time!"Sango shrieked. She smacked Merroku powerfully in the face.
Merroku smiled stupidly. Inuyasha stared at him. He never learns. They all rushed out leaving Kohaku sleeping peacefully where Sango left him. She said he had been exhausted lately and tonight was no different.
"Kirara! Kirara!" everyone called. "Kirara! Kirara!" There was still no sign of her.
"Oh Kirara where have you gone?" Sango whispered.
Merroku stared helplessly at the woman he adored. Above all woman he had met Sango truly was perfect in every way and it pained him to see her so sad and lonely.
He closed the small gap between them and encircled her in his loving arms. She wept quietly into his chest. And he held her. "Sango, Sango. It's going to be alright. I'm sure Kirara just went out for a walk. You remember last time she disappeared? She did come back. Didn't she?"
He heard a muffled yes that came from his chest.
Kagome's parents had agreed for her to spend the night at Eri's house. Yuka and Arimi's folks as well. They were cluttered around Eri's new televison. Randomly flicking through the channels.
"Wow did you know how many channels you have on this thing?" Yuka asked, her eyes glued to the screen.
"I'm not exactly sure, hm, over six hundred stations I think."
Yuka stared wide-eyed at her. "Wow," she breathed.
"So Kagome, did you bring the snacks?"
She nodded. "You bet. Popcorn, chips and three liters of soda." She pulled everything out of her bag. "Hope everyone likes cola, that's all they had."
Arimi smiled. "I know I love it."
"Me too." Eri agreed.
"Same here."
They all stayed up real late eating and enjoying the comedy movies Arimi brought. Kagome was so happy. She really missed her friends. She was glad that she was able to spend time with them. And for the one time all day she hadn't once thought about Inuyasha.
Her mind was far away from him.