I do not own Inuyasha. Please read reveiw.

Anything in italics is in English.

It was early morning as Sesshomaru led his little pack into Inuyasha's village. Melissa was practically skipping, she was excited to show Kagome how good she'd gotten at archery. She had gotten good, Sesshomaru had to admit. Especially under his tutelage.

He pushed her hard still. But he had discovered there were times when he couldn't push her quite as hard as he wanted, to do so would only lead to tears. These times usually coincided with her having to go to a town and buy the paper plugs that women used for hygienic purposes.

Melissa had been quite embarrassed to tell him she needed them. Sesshomaru had been mortified to realize she didn't know enough Japanese to go into town and buy them alone. Still she was his responsibility, he had to make sure her needs were met, and so he had. But that was behind them. For a couple of weeks anyway. Traveling with a woman was not the same as traveling with a little girl.

Inuyasha smelled them and came to meet them just outside of town and walked silently with them towards the town center. His own house came into view just as Kagome lurched out the front door and made a beeline for the outhouse before losing her breakfast halfway there.

"I see another illness is making it's rounds, has Rin been infected?" Sesshomaru asked seeing Kagome puking in the grass.

"What are you talking about?" Inuyasha asked his brother.

"Kagome having baby." Melissa told him at the same time.

Sesshomaru ignored his brother for the moment, choosing to address Melissa first "Yes, I know she is with child. I was remarking on her illness."

Melissa shook her head "Not illness, baby."

"Pregnant women barf, Sesshomaru. I don't know why, but Keade said it'll pass in a couple of months." Inuyasha explained. Between what he'd seen traveling with Melissa and what he'd just learned Sesshomaru was intensely grateful to have been born a male.

Melissa ran down the hill and helped Kagome up. A little voice called her name and a small black hair girl collided with her. Rin embraced her then she dashed up the hill and skidded to a stop in front of Sesshomaru, her face glowing with adoration. "Welcome back Sesshomarusama!"

He nodded in greeting, his face impassive. She'd greeted Melissa first. His Rin had greeted Melissa first. It was ok. It was logical, Melissa had been closer, that's all. She just reached Melissa first and greeted them in the order she got to them. It would have been rude not to greet Melissa.

Before Sesshomaru had a chance to process why her actions bothered him she was off, rambling about all that had happened since he'd been gone. Sesshomaru continued walking, his brother on one side, Rin skipping and chattering on the other. Jaken brought up the rear and complained about Rin being noisy and how inappropriate it had been to greet anyone besides his lord first, earning himself a kick for annoying his lord.

Once they reached Kagome the group split into three. Inuyasha, after asking Kagome if she was ok, went to see Miroku about some work they had to do. Melissa stayed with Kagome. Sesshomaru, Rin, and Jaken kept going, wandering aimlessly. That is until Rin broke away and ran back to Melissa.

"Melissasama, aren't you coming with us?" She asked pulling on Melissa's hand.

Melissa smiled down at the girl then hugged her. "We talk later. I want talk with Kagome now. Sesshomaru been with me for weeks, I think you daddy wants spend some time with you."

She stopped tugging and her brow furrowed, "What does daddy mean?" Melissa had used the english word, daddy.

"Well... Daddy is man who loves and protects little girl." Melissa explained.

"So... Sesshomarusama is Rin's daddy?" Rin asked looking back at her silent lord then back to Melissa

Melissa nodded. "I... think Sesshomaru you daddy. He treat you like daddy."

"So then, is Sesshomaru your daddy too? He protects you too."

"No!" Melissa's eyes went wide and her face turned red at Rin's innocent question. Sesshomaru listened and watched the two closely. This daddy sounded like a word for father. He did veiw Rin as his own pup. But why had Rin's question embarrassed Melissa? Unless the word had more than one meaning. Kagome hid her mouth behind her hand and chuckled just a bit.

"Who's your daddy?" Now both women were laughing.

"I not have daddy." Melissa told the girl.

"Maybe you should ask Sesshomarusama to be your daddy." Now Kagome had both hands over her mouth, bent over with tears in her eyes. Melissa turned beet red. She looked to Kagome, a silent plea for help.

Regaining her composure Kagome explained, "Daddies take care of their little children. Melissa is to old to ask anyone to be her daddy, it would be inappropriate"

"But why?"

"Because Melissa is not a little girl. You are. Daddies take care of their children."

At this point Sesshomaru helped the women by calling Rin's name. She about faced and ran back to him, turning to wave at the women as she went. Still giggling the women retrieved a basket from Kagome's house and a couple of spades and went to dig medicinal roots in the fields, chatting about this and that as they worked.

While they worked a ball rolled in between them followed by a gaggle of small kids. Melissa picked it up and teased the kids, acting like she was going to keep the ball. She smiled the whole while so the kids would know she was just kidding. Then she handed it to the smallest boy and ruffled his hair. She got back to work as the kids went back to their game.

"You good with kids." Kagome told her, speaking in English. With two dogs in town is was impossible to ensure they were not overheard, but they could ensure they were not understood. "I am surprise you never have baby."

"We tried." Melissa replied. "My husband and I, but we couldn't. I couldn't. I wanted to adopt, but he wouldn't hear of it. I should have known it was over when he told me he wasn't interested in raising someone else's accident."

"What terrible thing he say!" Kagome exclaimed. Melissa nodded then gazed off thoughtfully. Then she saw Sesshomaru in the distance with Rin.

"You say his baby look like other person?" Kagome asked, recalling a conversation they had long ago.

"Yeah, his best friend. Oops. I guess karma has a ironic sense of humor." She continued to watch Sesshomaru and his little pack.

Jaken was on his feet ranting again. "Kagome, what is Jaken?"

"Jaken, is kappa, water demon."

If he was a water demon why wasn't he in the water? Why was he following Sesshomaru around on dry land? And what was their business relationship? Sesshomaru was obviously the boss, but she had never seen him pay Jaken. And how much money did he need when all he had was what he could carry? Or was he a slave?

He seemed happy with his job, what ever it was. He always praised Sesshomaru very highly, even though he could be a bit of an asshole. Jaken really seemed to love Sesshomaru... Oh! Oh the poor guy... wait, was he a guy? She'd always assumed so, but Jaken was a kappa, not a human.

"Um, Kagome. I always assumed Jaken is a guy, but he's a kappa, so they might not be like us. Is he a guy?" She asked somewhat hesitantly.

"Yes, Jaken is boy." Kagome replied "Why you ask?"

How could she put this delicately? She didn't know medieval Japanese views on the matter. But Kagome was a modern woman, like Melissa. Even if she didn't agree with it she'd probably be tolerant.

"What are Japan's current views on... um... well, gay people."

"Not such big deal. is not uncommon samurai take young man lover. Is called way of youth."

She sighed, "That's a relief. I wouldn't want him to be in danger, but I think our little aquatic friend is in love with our fluffy lord."

"Oh, poor little guy. I never think about it. I think you right. He in love with Lord Fluffy."

"If he is its one sided. Poor little guy."

"Rin once say he serve Lord Fluffy because he save his life. Perhaps when he feel he repay debt he settle down, find nice boy." Kagome explained.

"Or girl, you never know, he might go both ways." Then the idea of a female kappa caused an absurd image to pop into Melissa's head. He had a vision on Jaken in a blond wig and pink mini dress with a hand bag. The mental image was so ridiculous that Melissa burst out laughing. Sesshomaru, sitting not to far away, looked over at her as though she had lost her mind.

After she regained her composure she told Kagome about the imagine that had caused her outburst. Both girls broke out into a fit of hysterics, holding each other to keep from falling over.

Then Kagome stated "We in Japan, Froggy wear kimono, pink kimono with flower."

"Maybe hold his hair up with combs."

"And make face white."

"And paint his beak red!"

"He not make pretty girl." Both girls were laughing hysterically again.

"What are you hens cackling about?" Inuyasha asked walking up to them with his arms crossed.

"Girl talk." Kagome answered.

"You're welcome to join us Inuyasha. I don't speak great Japanese yet, but I'm sure Kagome would be happy to translate everything we say about menstrual cramps and sore boobs." Melissa answered with a wicked smile. Kagome grinned and translated Melissa's statement. Inuyasha's face went white then blood red. He back away so fast he tripped, then jumped up and ran away. Kagome and Melissa laughed again.

"You know, He might make a pretty girl with all that hair."

"You Lord Fluffy have more hair."

"Oh my god, could you imagine him with P.M.S? I love him, I really do, but he's already bitchy enough!"

Kagome paused in pulling the herbs in her hand and turned to stare ant Melissa. "What you say?"

"What? Oh, I said he's bitchy. And it's true, he can be a bit of an asshole. A sweet asshole, but an asshole none the less." She replied, not even looking up as she tossed some herbs in the basket and moved to the next clump.

"You say you love him." Kagome replied sounding worried.

Melissa turned and stared at her. She blinked once then waved a hand carelessly "I'm from the south, we say we love everyone Kagome. If you ever hear me say I love someone to death you best listen up because I am about to talk some smack!"

Kagome started to say something, but then changed her mind. She still seemed worried. Both girls worked in silence for a moment, then Sango approached.

"Kagome, I need some more of that ointment for my breasts. The baby has been suckling real hard lately, my nipples are starting to crack." Melissa noticed Sesshomaru quickly stood and moved further away. She smiled and shook her head, men were such babies.

Sango chatted with the two for a while, then left to rescue Miroku from the girls. The basket was full and Melissa insisted on carrying it back to the house for her.

"So, you say Lord Fluffy sweet asshole. I not know there such thing."

"Me either, but he is. He does the cutest thing when it rains..."