Disclaimer
I don't own anything, any characters I use from the Inuyasha manga/series are not my property, not making any money just fun, so please don't sue!

A/N
Thank you all for the lovely reviews! I will of course keep going with this story! This chapter was a bit harder to write, I really wanted to explore Gaia a bit, to give a sense of her personality, and the reaction of the villagers to her. Of course the story is going somewhere, but I have to lay the basis now don't I? ;)
Please keep in mind this is my first story and English is not my mother language haha.

Chapter 4

Rubbing the sleep from her eyes as the morning light shone through the window of the hut, the young demon sat up, opening her eyes slowly. "I hate mornings." She murmured to nobody in particular.
As her eyes adjusted to the bright light of the Fuedal sun she was greeted by the big expecting eyes of her younger sister. "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" The girl screamed right into her face, inducing a very faint headache.
"You've been waiting till I woke up?" It wasn't really a question, more a statement. Aiyo's enthusiasm never wavered. She nodded her head vigorously, Gaia wondered how her head was still attached after such an attack.
She groaned, she hated birthdays, especially her own. Standing in the lime-light was NOT her cup of tea. "Thanks." She merely said, knowing full well her sister would do everything in her power to make this day as much about her as possible.
'Luckily birthdays are only once a year, better get up and get it all over with. Hopefully the sudden transfer to the Fuedal era would be enough distraction for mom to have forgotten.' She thought to herself.
However, to her horror, as she stepped out of the hut still slightly sleepy, it was pretty clear her birthday had not been forgotten.

The sight was exciting the bubbly young Hanyou beside her. The town center had been decorated with strings of vine decorated with flowers. It must have taken somebody a long time to make such a nice looking garland, let alone one that was long enough to circle the entire square.
Right in the middle was a large pile of what looked like presents, of course there was no brightly colored giftwrap in the Fuedal era, so all were neatly packed in cloth. Large blankets were thrown on the group, usually used for festivities like weddings, for people to sit on. "Ow no."

As they made their way to Kaede's hut, where Gaia figured everybody would be, she couldn't help but smile a little at the work that had been put into this. There were flowers everywhere, decorating the houses, the path and trees. They truly went all out. 'Mom knows I don't like birthdays, she's never went full out before, why now?' She questioned.
What was even more peculiar was that every villager seemed to greet her with great bravado. With every step she and her sister took another birthday wish came her way. Kagome had told her demons were not loved in this age by humans, so why were they being so nice to her? They even let their children run up to her. Gaia couldn't help the feeling of acceptance that crept into her heart, she could feel the warmth, but she just didn't understand why. Was she so different from other demons?
The questions in her mind only seemed to grow louder with every step, she wanted to know desperately why she was treated with such respect. Did they not see her as a demon? Was she really that different? Was is because of her mother?
She knew she had the power to read and control minds, however, her mom had told her it wasn't okay to listen to other people's thoughts as those were ' private'. At first she didn't feel like it was a big deal, but she came to understand that she herself would not be happy either if somebody else was able to know her deepest thoughts. So, with help from her mother, she had carefully placed a mental block in her mind. She could still feel the emotions behind the thoughts people had but no longer hear the exact words.
After a few times of trying, and sometimes failing, she was able to remove and reset the block, making her able to hear the thoughts people had when she felt she needed to hear them. Or, she confessed to herself, curiosity took over. And in this case, curiosity killed the demon.
Taking a deep breath and closing her eyes, she cleared the block in her mind holding the words at bay. As soon as she did words flooded her ears like a tsunami, and it took her a while to focus and hear them.
'We are truly blessed to have this child in our presence.'
'Even after destruction the jewel found a way to protect us.'
'Such a beautiful child the jewel has graced us with.'
'This girl is a gift, we should praise her.'
'The Kami must have great plans for this girl.'
'Lady Kagome has truly blessed us with her.'
'A demon, two half demons and two miko's, nothing will ever happen to our town again. I hope Kaede really knows what she's doing.'
The old woman's thoughts did shake Gaia a bit, there was still some apprehension in the town about her, however, it only seemed to come from the older residents.
Placing back her mental block Gaia sighed hard enough for her sister to hear. "What's wrong sis?" She asked. "Nothing Aiyo, you know I hate birthdays." Aiyo smiled at her sister, not knowing that Gaia wasn't really telling the whole truth.
'Jewel? I've heard mom tell about it her stories but what does that have to do with me?'
Somewhere deep inside her mind she knew the answer. But every time she tried to reach the memory it would get farther from her reach. She could remember everything that ever happened in her life, even the first time she opened her eyes and looked into the smiling yet sad face of her mother. But she felt there was more, trapped inside her mind, she just couldn't reach it.

Aiyo, oblivious to the various of facial expressions that crossed her sister's face, was skipping happily alongside her. Gaia left her thoughts for what they were at the moment, and looked at the seemingly care-free expression on her sisters face.
'How nice to be so obviously unknowing.' She giggled internally, she did love her little sister with all her heart, and would protect her even if it would mean giving her own life.

It felt like they were paying tribute to the Kami. The amount of attention Gaia was receiving was not only annoying but…kinda creepy.
She was not used to all this…this…well for lack of better words worshipping. This was just not cool at all. Sure, any kid likes getting presents but all the happy birthday wishes, the bowing, the praying, that's just going overboard! The presents were very good though, especially for that time.
She had gotten lots of nice new clothes, special herbs, jewelry even some make-up. Hell, any girl would feel pampered.
She sat in the middle of the square on one of the blankets, between Kagome and Inuyasha. The man made her feel uneasy. She could smell her mother was his mate, but did that make him her father? She was to confused to know, and to embarrassed to ask. After all the annoying wishes had passed an all the presents were opened she just wanted to disappear. The sun was high in the sky, battering her pale skin with its burning rays. She sighed, which deserved her an understanding look from her mother.
"Why don't you go and play with the other sweetie?"
Gaia smiled up to her mother, that was the best news she had received all day. Sending a questioning look to Inuyasha, she waited for his approval. Why she did, she did not know. But he nodded none the less.

Playing in the fields next to the village, under some adult supervision, the time sped up quickly.
Gaia sat with a few other girls in the middle of the field. They were making flower necklaces, bracelets or crowns, depending on who you were looking at. Aiyo had started a game of tag with some of the boys of the village, Shippou quick on her heels as she tried to avoid his quick jumps and lunges towards her. Apparently he was "it". Children's laughter filled the air around her, and Gaia was sure, this was the most beautiful sound she heard in her life.
Shippou lunged another time, landing square onto of Aiyo as she fell backwards from the attack. "YOU'RE IT!" He screamed as he jumped off her and made a hasty retreat. With a joyous squeal Aiyo jumped to her feet and chased the boys around the field. Gaia noted Aiyo was being careful not to be too fast.

Gaia had just finished her 2nd crown when the giggling voices of the other girls broke her concentration. With wide eyes she stared as the other girls stepped in front of her, necklaces, crowns and bracelets in hands. Before she knew it she resembled the village, decorated, with flowers. A sly smile spread on her face as well as a slight blush. She appreciated the sentiment, although she probably looked ridiculous.
The girls started dancing around her as she sat, not a care in the world. Not fearing her, not rejecting her, not hating her. She was quite surprised, she had heard her mother tell so many stories about the Fuedal era, and the one thing that stood out was the detest most humans had for demons. Yet, the adults sitting on the edge of the field, were quite content in letting their children play with her.
Emotions were not as intense for her as she imagined them to be for her Hanyou sister and human mother, but she could not help the lone tear that happened to find a way down her cheek. It wasn't out of sadness, but more of the sheer acceptance she felt, it made her feel happy.
Before she knew it the sun had touched the horizon, it would be dark soon. The children seemed to notice and grabbed her arms. Nearly dragging her to her feet and towards the town square. For once she smiled and let them guide her.
'Birthday parties aren't so bad after all.' She mused herself.

When they reached their destination it was hard to miss the huge boar resting on the side.
"Inuyasha must have gone hunting!" The children nearly screamed in delight. They were definitely in of a feast.
The villages where cutting and cleaning the meat before cooking it over several fires that had been made in the town center. Inuyasha and Kagome had either resumed or stayed in their seating position, and Gaia, rather nervously, walked their way.
First she approached her mother, the easiest of the two, and placed one of the flower crowns she made on her head. Kagome smiled lovingly into the eyes of her daughter, who smiled back.
"You look happy sweetheart, and very pretty too."
"I am mom, I'm home." Gaia said in all her honesty. She meant every word. "But the flowers are a bit much don't you think?"
"Nah." Kagome shook her head. "You look good."
Placing another flower crown on her sisters head who had taken seat next to her mother, Gaia turned towards Inuyasha. The two looked at each other. It was clear to everybody that the two were not comfortable with each other. Not mistrusting, just not knowing each other well enough to be comfortable in each other's presence. Gaia thought this might be what stepchildren felt like in the first few weeks with their new stepparent. But she wanted to show him she accepted him, plus she wanted to see him wear that pretty crown she made. Even if it was just for laughs.
And that she got, once she placed the crown on top of his head, one ear in and one ear out of the circle, she could hear her mother nearly chocking on her water. Stifling her own giggle, she sat beside him once more. Taking her seat in the center of the festivities once again.
Although Inuyasha let out a signature "keh." He did not take the crown off, and gave her a secret smile.
"Thanks." He said, so soft only her ears could pick it up.
"You're welcome." She said softly in return. "I know I'm not your real daughter, but can I call you dad?" She felt good enough to ask the question that had been on her mind the whole day. The soft surprised intake of breath her mother took did not go unnoticed by her. Neither did the looks she received from her companies on the blanket she was sitting on. Although she hadn't said the question loud enough for the whole town to hear, it was load enough for Sango, Miroku, Shippou, Aiyo and Kaede to hear.
Inuyasha flinched slightly at the unexpected question, but as he turned his head and met the very vulnerable look in Gaia's eyes, he couldn't help but give a crooked smile.
Placing his hand on her hair and giving it a slight ruffle he simply stated.
"Sure thing squirt."
And for the first time that day she truly laughed. A laugh she only shared with her closest friend and family. She hugged him then, a bit to the side but a hug none the less. Inuyasha blushed a bit with the open show of affection, but he places his arm around her small body none the less, tugging her into his embrace slightly. Sending glares to Miroku, knowing he would be pestered by the monk about this.

That night, Gaia and Aiyo settled to bed very late. The moon was high in the sky and it seemed that the village had not yet settled down from the festivities. Loud laughter still filled the air with a sense of carefree joy.
"That was a good party hu?" Aiyo said with heavy eyes.
"Yeah."
"You liked it?"
Gaia laid down on her back, a warm and truthful smile on her lips.
"Yeah." And they both fell into a peaceful slumber.