A New Beginning

Disclaimer: I don’t own Inu Yasha or its characters, but oh! How I wish I did. X.x;

A/N: Sorry all, writer’s block got the best of me while I’ve been trying to keep up with a couple of stories. Yep, if this is how slow I’m going to be, I’ll just wait to start my other ones later, at least until this and Power at Hand are completed, lol.

But thank you all for your reviews! I very much appreciate it and I’m glad that so many like my story. ^_^ I know the Naraku/Leiko bit was weird, but it’s a working plot, so where as the details weren’t necessarily needed, I felt like putting them in there if nothing more than to disturb you. Bwahaha… O.o; Sorry about that.

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Chapter IX: New Growth, New Opportunities

Kagome let out a wide yawn, stretching her arms above her head and brushing some fluffy thing from tickling her nose. Scrunching up her expression, she looked towards Sesshomaru who was now sprawled over her sleeping bag, his tail having been flung over her face. Lying on his back, his hair mussed in different directions, he had his arms above his head with his face curled into his left elbow. She giggled at the sight, thinking that the young demon lord reminded her so much of her Buyo back at home, only he wasn’t a cat. She got up to go through her yellow pack, making sure no one else was awake, and dug out a small packet of napkins. Taking one out, she gingerly began to wipe the drool from the demon pups mouth and stifling a giggle as he gave a faint whine before swatting at her hand in an attempt to get some more sleep.

Sesshomaru struggled to open one of his golden eyes, all but glaring at the girl who was dabbing at the side of his mouth, until he felt an unfamiliar wetness on his arm. With a look of disdain, he sat up only to see the spot of drool staring at him, mocking him for being young and….well, sleepy. I wasn’t supposed to be asleep! I was supposed to be guauding her! What’s wong with me? Has this spell affected all of my twaining? With a heavy sigh, he felt his eyelids grow heavy once more as Kagome’s fingers started playing with his hair, causing the young demon’s chest to rumble in his puppy-like contentment.

“Sesshmaru, how long you think we going to have to be this way?”

Sesshomaru quirked a brow, wondering if she really wanted to know or if she was trying to kill the silence.

“I don’t know. I hope it is ova’ soon. Dis Sesshomawu does not like being stuck as a pup.”

Kagome let out a cute pout towards her companion, putting another braid in the silver strands.

“But I like you like this, Sesshmaru. You’re nice now.”

The demon pup inwardly flinched, his golden gaze shifting over his shoulder.

“Do you think me weally to be that mean? Have I not pwotected you in the past?”

Kagome thought a moment before a giggle distracted her from her braiding and thinking. Rin lifted herself from Ah-Un and dropped herself beside Sesshomaru, picking at his puffy tail playfully. Sango and Miroku had both started to stir from their sleep and checked on the children. The demon pup narrowed his eyes at the sudden intrusions, having been enjoying the tiny miko’s company, only to have it taken away by his dear ward, and the miko’s comrades. I can handle Win, but the monk and the slayoh need to leave now.

Sango knelt down with a smile, looking at the three.

“Are you hungry?”

Kagome and Rin’s faces broke out into broad grins as Shippo’s voice chirped in the background.

“I am! I am!”

Miroku gave a warm smile to the small kit, watching at Shippo jumped onto his shoulder before scurrying towards Kagome, Sesshomaru, and Rin. The young demon lord could feel the beginnings of a twitch possessing his right eye as something close to claustrophobia started to set in. He never liked having too many people surrounding him, just about as much as he liked the idea of being shackled or locked in a closet. A fear no one would ever know. Just when he thought he couldn’t take the boxed-in situation anymore, with Rin on one side and Shippo on the other, Kagome came to his rescue by grabbing his hand and dragging him to where the food was going to be served. He sent a mental thank-you to the young girl, knowing she couldn’t hear him, but needing to do so anyway.

“Here you go!”

Sango handed Sesshomaru and Kagome their bowls first, then Rin and Shippo, before taking a bowl for herself. Kagome happily twirled the noodles with her fingers, humming a sweet tune to herself as Sesshomaru listened intently, unaware that his head was swerving to the rhythm. Sango gave a gentle nudge to Miroku and pointed in the children’s direction, earning a knowing smile from the monk. The two tossed a look to one another, agreeing to discuss the happenings soon, but only when they knew the young demon lord was fast asleep.

Inuyasha sat down near the group, soundly eating his meal before his ears swiveled about. He looked directly at Kagome, who had just begun to give off a slight whimper. Sesshomaru put his hands over her shoulders as the young girl began to shake, and then cry out. The young dog demon’s eyes suddenly went wide as he too began experiencing an excruciating pain, causing him to double over in a coughing fit. Sango hurried to gather Rin and Shippo, who both started towards the other children, to get the two unharmed children out of the way. Miroku took to Sesshomaru and Kagome, trying desperately to figure out what could possibly be wrong with them, but it was Inuyasha who spoke first.

“They ain’t sick.”

Miroku turned curious eyes to Inuyasha.

“What do you mean, Inuyasha? They’re coughing and in pain.”

“Yeah, but they ain’t sick.”

The hanyou took another sniff in the direction of his half brother and miko, while Miroku took a more spiritual approach. Closing his eyes, the monk positioned his hands into a contemplative prayer before picking up on the spell.

“The spell. The spell that caused them to turn so young…”

Sango looked up worried for a moment, her eyes widening as she wrapped her arms around Shippo who was now calling out to Kagome, and Rin who was crying.

“What do you mean? Are they going to get younger?”

Miroku shook his head.

“I don’t think so. When they first transformed, they weren’t in any pain, so I can’t see why becoming younger would have this effect on them…”

His train of thought was cut off as both Kagome and Sesshomaru dropped to the ground unconscious, neither able to take the torture their bodies were going through. Miroku gently picked Sesshomaru up while Inuyasha took a hold of Kagome, his nose twitching slightly.

“Hey Miroku, is it just me or is her hair getting longer?”

Miroku looked from Inuyasha to Kagome, and noticed that indeed the young girl’s hair was growing. Not by much, but enough to be noticeable. Her limbs also were shifting as she whimpered in her sleep. A second whimper came from Sesshomaru as the young demon pup seemed to be experiencing the same condition. Miroku watched in amazement as the two children went from being at about six years old, to about ten.

“Ah, that would explain the pain. They are aging, albeit slowly.”

The demon slayer frowned, her brows knitting together in confusion.

“Aging? How can that explain their pain?”

“Well, my lady Sango, if you think about it, their bodies are growing at an accelerated rate compared to what would be considered normal. It probably shocked their bodies to have to develop so quickly.”

“So they should age every few days?”

“I wouldn’t say that. We still don’t know what spell exactly was used, or how to counter act it. For now, I don’t want to get anyone’s hopes up by saying that is exactly what’ll happen.”

Sango nodded in understanding, finally letting Shippo and Rin go.

“I see, in case it’s a random pattern. Rin, Shippo, let Kagome and Sesshomaru rest.”

The demon slayer sighed softly, calling Kirara forward. Inuyasha twitched slightly as the demon cat transformed and Sango hopped on.

“Where the Hell are you goin’?”

“I’m going to get them some more clothes. They grew, which means what they have on won’t be comfortable.”

Miroku’s broke out in a grin as he looked towards his beloved Sango, a brief thought of what a wonderful mother she would be for his children, passing through his mind.

“My dearest Sango, you might want to purchase several sets for several ages. At least if you have enough money. If not, direct me to the village and I am sure I can find some demonic presence to exorcise from the area.”

Sango rolled her eyes before taking off, unable to keep the smile from her face at the thought of Miroku’s old tricks. She just couldn’t show him her humor as it would only encourage the insufferable monk.

Kagome and Sesshomaru began to stir, both stiff in the joints and uncomfortable with the tight fit that the clothes only offered. Miroku gazed at the children curiously, wondering just how their reactions would be, his thoughts even venturing so far as to see what developments to two personalities could have undergone.

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A/N: Wrote this late at night, so if there’s a lot of typos or if it’s hard to follow, let me know and I’ll rewrite it.

Hope you all enjoy. ^_^ Critiques and comments always welcome.