Chapter 03- Calm

Kagome massaged her temple to prevent a persistent migraine before repeating, "So, you fell asleep for a few minutes to wake up and discover that Salem was a toddler?"

InuYasha nodded, irritably using his foot to keep said toddler from hugging him.

Kagome sighed and said, "Now we really need to find Sesshomaru."

"He's at his castle. It's about the time when he returns there for about a month. If he isn't there yet, he will be," InuYasha said.

"How do you…oh never mind. You won't tell us. First, we need to get Salem something else to wear. She can't go around in an oversized kimono," Kagome said busily as she rolled up her sleeping bag.

"Why does it matter? She should only be like that for a few hours," InuYasha protested.

"You don't know that. What if Sesshomaru won't help us? Or what if he doesn't know?!" Kagome snapped.

Upon hearing her savior's name, Salem piped up with a hopeful look at InuYasha, "Sesmaru?"

"No brat! I'm InuYasha!"

Salem tilted her head and sniffed InuYasha before attempting his name, "InuYasa?"

"Close enough," InuYasha muttered before making an attempt to grab the toddler.

Salem evaded his grasp gracefully and said, "I walk. Like Sesmaru taught!"

"Are you sure she's talking about Sesshomaru? That doesn't sound like him at all," Kagome whispered to InuYasha.

"I don't know," InuYasha muttered.

"You three clean up the camp while Kagome and I take Salem to get a kimono that actually fits," Sango said, shouldering her weapon and starting towards the nearby village.

As they entered the market square, Sango knelt down in front of Salem and gave her an assuring smile.

"Now Salem, you need to understand this. Don't tuck your hair behind your ears ok? Because you're a demon in a human village without the influence of someone like Sesshomaru, you could be hurt. Don't show off and don't attack anything. Do you understand?"

Salem nodded confidently.

They wandered through the village market for about half an hour before the two older girls were starting to get irritated.

"Salem, do you see a kimono you like? You can have whichever one you choose," Sango said kindly.

Salem looked around the small market, silver eyes flickering in every direction. A flash of red caught her child-like attention, causing her to walk over to it. She pulled a blood colored kimono from the mess of clothing and held it up to the light.

It was a beautifully made kimono, cut from cloth a slightly darker shade than InuYasha's robe of the firerat. It was accented with gold and black, with flowing sleeves.

"That's a very regal choice for a child," Kagome whispered to Sango, "Do you think that she still has some of her adult consciousness?"

"I don't think so. Look at the way she walked over to the kimono. She looked excited yet she did not run or skip. Yet the teenage Salem that we knew could not contain her emotions in such a way. It must be how she was raised as a child, which makes sense if it really was Sesshomaru that she keeps talking about. And, like a teenager, she changed. After all, she's definitely a teenager in demon years, probably just came of age before all this happened," Sango observed as Salem returned to them, holding her chosen garment carefully.

"Is that the one you want Salem?" Sango asked, extracting some money from a pocket inside her kimono.

"Yes Sango-sama," Salem said solemnly, though her eyes shined with happiness, "I will pay you back."

"Oh Salem, you don't have to do that. InuYasha really gave me the money to buy it for you anyway. Don't go telling anyone though, ok?!"

Salem looked confused, causing Sango to giggle and say, "Don't worry about it, ok Salem?"

Sango paid for the kimono while Salem quickly slipped into the new, fitted kimono. She handed the larger kimono to Sango's offering hand.

"Tank you," Salem grinned.

"Not at all, you wouldn't be able to carry it without it dragging through the dirt anyway," Sango replied, gathering the kimono in her arms.

"Are you two coming?" Kagome yelled from up the road, already heading back to the campsite.

"We're coming Kagome!" Sango yelled up the road.

Only Salem heard the whispers behind them from the villagers, which caused the toddler a little worry though she ignored it.

"Did you see that? A pair of human girls with a demon brat!"

"No! How awful!"

"Maybe it was a half-demon?"

"Good thinking dear, it must've been!"

"That demon brat is wearing one of my best children kimonos! If I only knew that the human wench was going to buy it for a demon I would not have sold it to her!"

"Then go get it back."

"Maybe I will!"

"HEY WOMAN!"

Sango and Salem turned to see an angry storekeeper waving at them. His other hand was clutch tightly at his side, but Sango did not think much about it.

"Can I help you?" Sango asked.

Before Sango could react, the shopkeeper threw a rock and hit Salem square on the head. A cross between a whimper and a growl emitted from Salem's throat. She barred her sharp fangs at the offending man.

"That dangerous demon does not deserve such a fine kimono!"

"It's your fault for agitating her! She's a child and you just hit her!" Sango yelled.

"That HALF-BREED doesn't deserve to live!"

Salem growled and made a move to go after the storekeeper. Sango attempted to grab her, but she eluded her grasp. A blur of red and white streaked in and grabbed Salem by the scruff of her kimono, holding her up off the ground.

"Let me down InuYasa!" Salem demanded, making an attempt to hide her tear-stained face.

"That idiot doesn't know what he's talking about Salem. We're leaving. Come on Sango," InuYasha growled.

"Do you like your new kimono Salem?" Miroku asked as they walked down the trail.

Behind them, InuYasha and Kagome were whispering to each other angrily. Sango, Kirara, and Shippo were behind the two.

"I just don't understand why we couldn't ride on Kirara to get there," Kagome complained.

"Yeah, well I don't understand why you left Sango and Salem alone in a hostile village!"

Miroku looked over his shoulder and caught Sango's eye. Their exchange of looks did not go unnoticed by the young toddler.

InuYasha froze suddenly, eyes flickering around, almost calculating. Shippo had to put on the brakes to keep from slamming into the hanyou and avoid angering him.

"What is it InuYasha?" Miroku asked.

"We're about to enter Sesshomaru's territory."

Author's Notes: Thanks for reading and sorry it took so long to get this out. I'm really trying to get it out as fast as possible. I'm at a dead standstill on the Voice and Mirror is moving VERY slowly. I'm getting them out though, slowly but surely! Watch for the next installment of Kids: Another Kind of Demon!

Disclaimer: I don't own InuYasha, any of the characters (except for Salem), or any of the locations. This is for entertainment purposes only and there is no money made.