Chapter 2

Sango, Miroku, and Shippo joined Kagome by the dragon. They all just stared for several moments at the two children who were clutching each other, staring at the others fearfully. Kagome tried to process what she was seeing. Inuyasha, transformed somehow into a child, clutching at Sesshomaru, also a child. It was like a bizarre dream.

"Is… is everyone else seeing this?" Kagome asked, managing to find her voice again.

"Seeing… not believing!" Sango said.

"This can't be a coincidence," Kagome said. "Both Inuyasha and Sesshomaru are turned into children at the same time? There's got to be a connection. But what?"

"Maybe we should start with Lady Kaede," Miroku suggested. "She is quite wise and may be able to shed some insight onto what has happened."

"Good idea."

"This is all your fault!" Jaken screeched, starling them. They had forgotten where they were as they looked at the two silver haired children.

"Master Jaken, why would Kagome do this to Lord Sesshomaru?" Rin asked. "Look at Lord Inuyasha. He's been turned to a child, too!"

"How should I know why this human did such a thing! Undo it at one!"

"We didn't do this," Kagome protested.

"Well who else could it have been? That despicable half-breed Inuyasha has been a thorn in my lord's side for far too long. This is some insidious plot to usurp my mater. I'll not stand idly by!"

The imp's yelling and the subsequent quarrel had frightened the pups, who had shrunk back, each one still holding tight to the other.

"You've frightened Lord Sesshomaru, Master Jaken!" Rin scolded, noticing the pups' distress. She let go of Kagome's hand and climbed over Ah-Un. She knelt down beside the pups that were smaller than she was and smiled, holding out her hands to them. "It's okay, Lord Sesshomaru. Rin will protect you the way you protect me! Lady Kagome and her friends will help find out what happened and make you yourself again. Inuyasha, too!"

Two sets of gold eyes looked at the girl for a long moment. Hesitantly, Sesshomaru inched forward, sniffing the outstretched hands cautiously. He drew back a little but didn't retreat fully. He looked up at her, taking in her easy, friendly smile. Inuyasha too crept forward and sniffed the girl's hands. Apparently deciding that Rin wasn't a threat, the pups hesitantly took her outstretched hands. She beamed with pleasure and stood.

"First thing we should probably… ah… find them something to wear," Sango commented as Rin coaxed them over to the group. Both pups were completely naked, their clothing not having shrunk when they had. As was typical with young children, neither seemed to notice or mind their unclothed state.

At the mention of clothing, Sesshomaru pulled his hand from Rin's and went back to the pile of white silks he had been found in. He picked up his kimono, clutching it possessively to his chest. "Father?" he said plaintively. The gold eyes filled with tears and he sniffed them back. Inuyahsa went to his and patted his shoulder, whining softly.

"Lord Sesshomaru, those are your clothes," Rin said.

The pup stared at her, tears hovering in his eyes and shook his head. "Father's!" he insisted.

Kagome, Miroku, Sango, and Shippo traded a concerned look. "I don't think he remembers anything past the age he is now," Kagome said softly. "Same with Inuyasha."

"But why did Inuyasha come running to find him? It's not like he and Sesshomaru are exactly buddies," Shippo said.

"Family," Inuyasha said.

They turned towards him. They had forgotten how good his ears were.

"Pack," Sesshomaru agreed.

"Of course," Sango said. "Inu yokai have a pack mentality. They have the same father so they smell like family to one another. Neither has any memory of being an adult or whatever triggered their animosity."

"Well, let's keep it that way," Miroku said with a warning look at Jaken who had opened his mouth to speak. The imp glared at them but remained silent, recognizing the wisdom of keeping peace and harmony. At least for now.

"Hey!" Shippo piped up suddenly. "Sesshomaru has both his arms!"

The others blinked at this announcement and looked again at the pup. Sure enough, the left arm that Inuyasha had severed was there. Sesshomaru held out both hands, staring at them, confused. Why wouldn't he have two arms? He looked at Inuyasha who shrugged and tugged at both his brother's hands to see if they were really attached. Then he held out his own arms to be tugged. They went back and forth, sometimes falling over as their grip slipped, laughing.

Miroku nonchalantly stepped on Jaken as the imp opened his mouth to blather about Inuyasha's cutting off his master's arm. They didn't need the pups knowing that their adult selves were mortal enemies.

Kagome knelt down, interrupting their game. "Inuyasha, why don't you wear this for now?" she said, holding out the Robe of the Fire Rat to him. He came up to her and smiled.

"Pretty!" he declared as she wrapped it around him. With some creative folding and knots, she managed to get it so the fabric would stay around him so long as he didn't move around too much.

"Yes," she agreed. "It looks nice on you. Red is certainly your color."

Meanwhile, Rin had persuaded Sesshomaru to bundle into his kimono. She had picked up his long sash to tie it with but the length of fabric was so long she wasn't certain how to go about it. Seeing the little girl's predicament, Sango went to help. Kneeling down she allowed Sesshomaru to sniff at her before reaching for him. He was reluctant to allow her too near, however, and drew away from her hands.

"I won't hurt you," she tried to reassure him.

Kirara chose that moment to jump onto Sango's shoulder. Sesshomaru's eyes followed the two-tailed cat as she licked her paws. Getting an idea, Sango reached up and plucked Kirara from her perch. She cuddled the cat in her lap. Gold eyes focused intently on them.

"Would you like to pet her?"

He nodded and crept forward and reached out a small clawed hand hesitantly. Kirara nuzzled his hand with her head and he smiled and stroked her, studying her twin tails intently. Kirara purred contentedly at the attention. Sango allowed him to pet Kirara for another minute before the cat jumped back to her shoulder.

"Can I help you with your clothes now?" she asked.

He nodded, eyes still fixed on Kirara. Not bothering with the too long sash, Sango tied the white silk as well as she could around him to hold it in place. A part of her felt it was a pity to treat such a fine garment thus but they didn't have much choice if they didn't want a naked pup running around.

"It might help if we move this," she said, reaching for the fur that wrapped over his right shoulder. To her surprise, it didn't move. She gave a slight tug, and immediately stopped when he let out a slight yelp.

"Huh. I always thought that fur was just for decoration," Shippo commented. "Who knew it was attached."

Inuyasha had wandered back over by then. The brothers looked at each other and giggled. "Tail!" Inuyasha said.

"That's his tail?" Sango asked slowly.

Inuyasha nodded and Sesshomaru looked smug as he snuggled the fur against his face.

He is a dog, after all. Kagome remembered the time she had seen Sesshomaru in his true form as a giant silver-furred dog. A ruff of fur had run around him and across his back to his fluffy tail. Very similar to the way it was now. And it did look a lot like dog fur… It had never occurred to her that he'd retain any of his demonic attributes in his human form.

Now that the pups were covered, if not properly dressed, they loaded Ah-Un with the rest of Sesshomaru's clothes, armor, and weapons. They took great care to wrap Tokijin so no one came in contact with the sword itself. While the evil aura had been subdued by Sesshomaru's own, no one was certain what would happen with him in his current state. Shippo argued for leaving the sword behind but in the end agreed that upon being restored, the demon lord would likely be angered by such an action. The more persuasive and logical argument that decided it was the blade was dangerous; anyone except Sesshomaru would be possessed by it. It was much too dangerous to leave it laying around where someone could stumble upon it. So they took it with them.

Inuyasha and Sesshomaru were both placed on the dragon's back, along with Rin. Both pups seemed agreeable to having the girl ride with them. Miroku held Ah-Un's reigns. The dragon seemed perfectly content to allow him to lead it. They returned to the clearing where they had camped the previous evening and collected the gear they had left behind when they had chased after Inuyasha. Tessaiga joined Tenseiga and Tokijin and the rest of the gear was piled around the children. Jaken muttered under his breath but followed along, refusing to let Sesshomaru out of his sight, convinced that these humans were somehow to blame for his lord's current state.

Double checking that everything and everyone was secured, the group turned and headed for Kaede's village and hopefully some clue as to what had occurred and, more importantly, how to fix it.