Author's Notes: This was supposed to be a very short story that I wrote for my kids who are huge Inuyasha fans. Of course, it decided not to cooperate and took on a bit of a life of its own. This is my first fan fic, so bear with me while I try to get the hang of this. Reviews, comments, suggestions, constructive criticism are always welcome. Flames will be used to roast marshmallows and make s'mores.

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of its characters. They're the property of Rumiko Takahashi.

Chapter 1

"Not a bad bit of work if I do say so myself," Inuyasha said. The half-demon was walking down the path, looking pleased with himself. His arms were folded behind his head as he walked. His long silvery hair blew in the breeze and the dog-like ears on top of his head turned to pick up the sounds of the forest they were passing through. He appeared little more than an adolescent boy of about fifteen years of age, dressed all in bright red with a sword at his waist.

"It would have been better if you hadn't practically destroyed the temple in the process of killing that demon," Miroku commented. "You scared all the women away!" The rings on his staff jingled as he walked.

"Pervert!" Sango snapped. She glared at the monk, too far away to slap him.

"Feh, you all keep going on and on about how I should help people and when I do, all you do is complain!" Inuyasha muttered.

"We're not complaining, Inuyasha," Kagome, a fifteen-year old girl from five hundred years in the future said. "It's nice that you're so willing to help out."

"Meh," he said, not mollified by her words, suspecting that she was only complimenting him in order to make him feel better. Her short green skirt swirled around her legs as she picked up her pace and came abreast of him. She gave him a sunny smile. He snorted again but couldn't stay mad when Kagome smiled at him like that.

"He's just mad that he didn't get to wind scar a few buildings down," Shippo put in from where he was riding on Miroku's shoulder.

"Hey! Shut up you little brat!" His arms dropped to his sides as he whirled on the little fox demon.

Kagome took Inuyasha's arm and hooked it through her own before he could take a swipe at the kitsune.

"I think I still have a few cups of instant noodles left," she said. "Leave Shippo alone and I'll make you some tonight."

"You'd better be sure you have noodles," Inuyasha muttered. But his gold eyes brightened and his ears perked up at the thought of having his favorite ninja food for dinner. Kagome shook her head and smiled fondly. Of all the food she had prepared and brought back to the Feudal Era with her for her friends, instant noodles was the one Inuyasha liked the most. At least the others appreciated her efforts, the thought ruefully.

Two hours later they came across a clearing that would be suitable for camping. Miroku and Inuyasha went to collect firewood while Kagome, Sango, and Shippo set up their small camp and went to collect water from a nearby stream. Shortly thereafter, a small fire was burning cheerfully. Kagome heated some water and handed Inuyasha the promised noodles. The half-demon slurped them down noisily, content.

Darkness fell and they all retired for the night. Shippo curled up in Kagome's sleeping bag with her as usual. Sango and Miroku wrapped themselves in their bedrolls. And Inuyasha settled with his back against a large tree, Tessaiga cradled in his arms.

The next morning, Kagome turned over in her sleeping bag and opened her eyes. She caught sight of a red bundle laying on the ground nearby. It looked suspiciously like Inuyasha's clothing.

"Inuyasha?" Kagome asked, surprised that he wasn't hovering over her, demanding breakfast. She sat up when there was no reply. By then, the others were also stirring.

"Where's Inuyasha?" Sango asked, having heard Kagome's inquiry.

"I don't know." Kagome was worried. It was unlike Inuyasha to go wandering off during the night and leaving the group unprotected. She got to her feet and went to the bundle. She gasped as she realized Tessaiga was laying on the ground beside the clothes, which were definitely Inuyasha's.

"Inuyasha…" she whispered fearfully.

Kirara had come over to investigate, sniffing at the red bundle. She began poking at it while the others tried to figure out where Inuyasha had gone. A moment later, the cat jumped backwards, her tails twitching.

"What is it, Kirara?" Sango asked her companion.

Their eyes were drawn to the cloth, which suddenly moved. Kagome stifled a gasp. She knelt down and reached for it as it moved again.

"Be careful," Sango cautioned.

Kagome pulled the cloth aside. A head full of silver hair and puppy ears popped up suddenly. She pulled her hand back in shock.

"In… Inuyasha?"

There was little doubt in any of their surprised minds that this was in deed Inuyasha. The dog like ears were a dead give-away. But now the half-demon appeared to be nothing more than a child of about three or four years old in human terms.

"What happened to you?"

Inuyasha stared at them, his gold eyes wide. He sniffed the air. Kagome started to reach for him but stopped at his low growl.

"Inuyasha, don't you recognize me? Us?"

He sniffed again.

"I don't think he recognizes us," Miroku said softly. "I wonder who could have done this?"

Kagome held her hand out towards Inuyasha as if she was greeting a dog. He sniffed her fingers and wrinkled his nose a bit. He sniffed the air again, turning as if searching for something. His ears twitched, picking up the sounds of the forest.

Then, without warning, he jumped up and ran off into the trees.

"Inuyasha! Come back!" Kagome cried. The forest was full of dangers, especially for a child. A naked child, she realized belatedly. The group took off into the trees after him. Kagome snagged his Robe of the Fire rat up as she ran.

Between Kirara and Shippo's senses they were able to track Inuyasha. And the pup wasn't making any effort to hide his trail. It wasn't long before they stumbled into another clearing in the woods.

When they emerged in the small clearing, they were met with a strange sight. A wingless, two-headed dragon lay in the center. A little green toad-like creature sat nearby, letting loose exclamations of shock and disgust loudly. Kagome recognized him as Jaken, Sesshomaru's servant. And a little girl about eight years old dressed in an orange and yellow kimono belted with a green sash. Rin, a human girl that also traveled with Sesshomaru for reasons none of them had yet figured out. The demon supposedly held a deep hatred for humans.

Speaking of Sesshomaru… Kagome thought nervously, looking around the clearing. She hoped they could gather Inuyasha and leave before the demon lord returned. In his current state, Inuyasha would be completely helpless against his merciless older brother.

"Kagome!" Rin cried, running up to the group. "Something has happened to Lord Sesshomaru! Please help!"

"What's happened, Rin?" Kagome asked kindly. While she held no love for Inuyasha's older half-brother, she didn't have any ill feelings towards Rin. As far as she could tell, the girl was a kind-hearted and friendly child who didn't have a malicious bone in her body. Which made it even stranger that she would travel with Sesshomaru. But Kagome didn't have time to ponder that mystery right now.

"I… I don't know…" Rin said. She looked to be on the verge of tears. She took Kagome's hand and led her to the dragon. Both heads turned to look at them as they approached, the others trailing a short distance behind Kagome and Rin. Apparently deciding they were no threat, it put them back down on the soft grass.

As the neared, Kagome saw that a pile of white silk and dark armor lay beside the dragon. Kagome caught sight of Inuyasha then, snuffling at something in the middle of the pile. "Inuyasha!" she said sternly. The silver head popped up and he stared at her innocently, ears twitching. Her eyes went wide as a moment later, she saw what he had been so interested in. Another head popped up and a second child sat looking at her. Gold eyes regarded her warily. Silver bangs ruffled in the breeze, revealing twin magenta stripes across his cheeks, another across his eyelids, and a purple crescent moon on his forehead.

"I don't believe… It can't be… Sesshomaru?"

A/N: 2/21 - I realized a bit belatedly that Inuyasha's name was misspelled a bunch of times throughout this chapter. I've gone back through and corrected it. Sorry for not catching it before posting.