Who's The Cursed Doggie?

Kagome woke up and frowned. Usually Inuyasha would be waking her up at dawn, but now it was long after that time and the hanyou wasn't poking her sleeping bag to get her attention and make her make him ramen. The rest of the gang was waking up at their own too.

Inuyasha was missing, that was the reason. The group, quite surprised at this, ate breakfast and collected their things, so they'd be ready when he returned. The group was using the free time to talk and do some minor repairs to their belongings.

Suddenly, there was a movement in the bushes around their camp and before anyone could do anything a big white akita inu jumped out of the forest into the meadow holding their camp. Everyone gasped at the sight of the animal, his white fur matted and covered in dirt. The dog looked around and wagged his tail, looking unsure, but friendly.

"Inu... Inuyasha?" Kagome breathed out. The dog looked her way and wagged his tail more.

"What happened to you?" asked Sango, bewildered. Miroku stood up carefully and approached the dog, who shied away and growled in warning. The monk took a step back. Kagome offered the dog the piece of fish that had been left for him. It took the dog a few minutes of watching the humans, but finally he came closer and started eating. Shippou sighed, knowing that now he couldn't claim the leftover fish for himself.

"I'm sure he can be turned back," Miroku said quietly, so not to scare or annoy the dog. "We just must bring him to Kaede."

Kagome looked down at the dog, who was devouring his meal with gusto. 'Poor Inuyasha...'

They spent a whole day walking in the direction of Kaede's village. Inuyasha seemed to be unaware of his past self, acting just like a dog. He was following Kagome, but after a couple of hours got less wary of others too. He still didn't go close to Miroku when the monk was holding his staff, but otherwise was glad to just walk beside Kagome or run ahead. He had ever played chase with Shippou, his tongue hanging out of his mouth in a doggy smile. Kagome was looking at him fondly. She hoped that Kaede could lift the curse and then they could learn how he got changed into a dog, but for now she was just glad he was happy and relaxed.

Near the sunset they reached the village. Inuyasha wasn't that happy to go close to it, but Kagome managed to bribe him with pieces of dried meat. Slowly, the white akita got to Kaede's garden and the old miko went to examine him. The group was watching her anxiously as the priestess was observing their canine friend, who was just sitting on the ground, tilting his head in curiosity. Then Kaede turned to them and sighed.

"Please, tell us that you know how to turn him back?" Kagome pleaded.

"I'm afraid..." Kaede started.

"Oi! You bunch of morons, why did ya go back to the village without me!?"

"..That it isn't Inuyasha," finished Kaede while the said hanyou jumped out of the nearest tree, obviously pissed.

"What were you lot thinking! We have shards to find!" barked Inuyasha.

"I almost regret he wasn't cursed," muttered Shippou.