HOME | DD

Description
Ichigo yawned and stretched out cat-like on the branch he slept in. His father had left to get fruit from a nearby tree and the river for fish. He sat down cross legged on the branch in his dad’s robe he had gotten use to walking around all day and eating fish all the time because that’s all his dad could cook really without burning it. Inuyasha walked out from the bushes holding a full basket. “Come on!”

Ichigo hopped down and walked over his arms were hurting a little and pulled up his shirt. “Dad I don’t know why they hurt.”

“what hurts?”

“My arms!”

“Growth spurts, last time you had one your legs were hurting too much for you to get out of bed.”

“I don’t remember that.”

“Probably not, the herbs we put in you drinks to release the pain made you sleepy all the time. But it helped you.” Inuyasha explained.

Ichigo looked at himself he didn’t look different. He still looked like the size of a six year old, which was always the case with him he was always a year behind on size.

“Looks like you have some muscles starting to show up too.” Inuyasha cheered. He rubbed the boy's head who looked at himself.

“I don’t see them.”

“You got a six pack kid, how don’t you see that!” Inuyasha frowned. He tickled the boy who held up his laughter. “You're going to have to let it out sometime!”

“Never!”

Inuyasha tickled him harder but the boy kept it in.

“Will you stop?” Ichi asked turning purple.

“What running out of air?”

“Stop it!”

“Emit defeat and laugh already! You know I’m winning!”

“Alright you win!” Ichi yelled. Inuyasha quit tickleing the boy. Ichigo waited for his dad to turn back around when. CHOMP! Ichigo had jumped on his dad’s back and nipped his left ear!

“Ichigo! You little liar!”

“I’m not a liar!”

“You said I won!”

“You won THAT round but not this one!” Ichi growled shaking his head back and forth with his dad’s ear in his mouth.

“Oh really?” Inuyasha snickered and flopped over on his back laying on top of Ichigo who grunted from the weight on him. “You're not going to win Ichi and neither is Arisu or Takashi going to beat me!”

“I’m going to beat you some day! You’ll see!” Ichigo mumbled.

“Maybe one of these days but just remember who’s teaching you to fight, Then remember that I’m the one who knows how to avoid and send them back at you.” Inuyasha laughed.

“You haven’t taught me anything yet!”

“Yeah cause you're not ten yet and your mom would kill me if I did.”

“Don’t call me a liar again because I don’t know how too! AND GET OFF ME!” Ichigo screamed now out of breath.

“True you don’t lie so I’ll take that back.” Inuyasha yawned getting up. Ichigo laid on the ground a little longer catching his breath.

“Lose some weight dad!”

“Gain some weight Ichi!”

“I would if I could!”

Inuyasha smiled at the boy who smiled back. Ichigo got up and grabbed another fish that was cooking. “aren’t you hungry.”

“I don’t know why I am.” Ichigo sighed.

“You're just growing. It’s natural to be more hungry. And when we get home you’re going to drive your mom nuts with that stomach.” Inuyasha laughed patting the boys shoulder.

“What do you mean?”

“Takashi started getting his teenage stomach around your age and drove your mom nuts how many times he'd ask for food and act like he was starving.” Inuyasha started snickering at recalling the event. Ichigo could only imagine it because he wasn’t even a thought back then. Then he thought of how Arisu got to that age and started eating more but she wasn’t as bad as Takashi. He then thought of how Ichigo was born earlier than the others by a month then he was supposed too, and how little he was, and how helpless he was. He use to sit in his mother’s lap saying ‘Ahh’ to eat because he couldn’t use chopsticks since his fingers were so small to hold them. And whenever he got hungry for a snack he’d go and tap someone's leg or arm and go ‘Ahh’ he always thought it was cute. Ichigo looked around and saw another fish and looked at his dad.

“Go on ,eat up.” Inuyasha said.

“But you need to eat too.” Ichigo replied.

“Yeah but you’re growing. I don’t need to eat too much anyway. Just don’t get yourself sick eating a lot like you use to.” Inuyasha passed the fish to Ichi who gave a confused look.

“I made myself sick eating?”

“Yeah, well kind of. You were about two or three and couldn't use chopsticks. You got sick if we feed you too much because you had a small stomach.” Inuyasha explained. Ichigo started to scratch his hair.

“Dad I need a bath and to cut my hair.” Ichi continued, “I’m itchy.”

“Itchy Ichigo huh?” Inuyasha snickered. Then he got up and started walking. Ichigo followed after him. “Alright but I like your hair that way.”

“But it get’s too hot like this.” Ichi explained.

“I’ll help put it up after we get out of the hot springs.” Inuyasha said.

“I don’t want to look like Takashi!” Ichi yelled. Ichigo’s hair had grown out past his shoulders and Looked like a mini Inuyasha. Takashi had his hair up in a ponytail while his sister had her hair in pigtails or down at times. Ichigo definitely didn't want to look like either of them he liked his hair short his hair naturally stuck out and was actually fluffy. But now it was long and laid flat on his back. Inuyasha jumped in the water and relaxed as his boy took his clothes and laid them neatly down beside his father’s who just through his down without care. Then got in the water. He washed his hair or tried too. He felt a sharp pain in his ear. “OW!”

“What’s the matter?” Inuyasha asked walking over to him.

“My ear!” He whimpered. Inuyasha looked at his right ear had been cut and was bleeding a little then looked at where the boy’s hand where blood was on them.

“Looks like your claws are coming in too. Here I’ll help you.”

“No I can do it!” Ichi said glaring his father.

“Do you want to cut your ear off?”

“No.”

“Then let me help you until we get home.” Inuyasha sighed. After they finished they got dressed. Ichigo was starting to turned around and start walking when Inuyasha shoved him down on the ground into a sitting position.

“WHAT ARE YOU DOING!” Ichi yelled.

“First you complain then you don't want my help with your hair.” Inuyasha rolled his eyes sitting behind him. He started to part the hair.

“What are you doing?” Ichigo demanded again.

“Braiding it.” Inuyasha replied without much care.

“THAT”S FOR GIRLS!” Ichi shrieked.

“No Bankotsu from The Band of Seven had one and Henten from the Thunder Brothers had one. It’s not just for girls.” Inuyasha recalled aloud.

“But I’ll look like a girl!” Ichi whined.

“Well do you want me to shave it all off?” Inuyasha barked.

“NO!” Ichi growled.

“Then quit complaining and sit still.” Inuyasha pulled Ichi’s hair back and continued his work. He then tied it back with a strand of ribbon he had in his pocket. Ichi looked at himself in the water and actually liked it back. It kept it cooler on his neck and you could still tell he was a he. Inuyasha dragged him backward. “Come on let’s get moving!”

“Alright!” Ichi laughed and turned around to walk with him. He walked along for awhile longer. They had been gone for almost two weeks and Everything was strange to Ichi, he had never been this far away from home. Then he remembered the comfort of his mother and sister and started to get homesick. Inuyasha looked at his boy who was starting to slow down.

“Ichi i’ve seen slugs move faster than that! Come on we need to keep moving before sundown!”

“Dad...I miss mom...”

“I know you do. But the more we sit around and cry about it the longer it will take to get to her.”

“Do you think she’s okay without us?”

“If I know Kagome then she’ll be fine. Your mom knows we’ll be back soon.”

“Okay.”

“Now come on lets get moving.” Inuyasha called. Ichigo still didn’t like it though. He felt alone even if his dad was there he didn’t get the comfort he needed. That night when Inuyasha looked up at the stars Ichigo was watching them too.

“Alright I’ll tell you another adventure.” Inuyasha looked down at his boy who stared off into the night sky.

“Dad.”

“What is it?”

“Do you think mom’s looking at the stars too?”

“Yeah, and she’s probably praying for our safety like she always does at night.”

“How do you know when your not there.”

“Because she always does every night before she goes to bed. She prays for all her little kids to be safe and grow up strong and healthy. When you were born you came too early and was very small and quiet. She prayed all the time for you because we all thought you were sick back then. So trust me I know what your mother is doing right now.”

Ichigo looked up at the stars then smiled. “I hope mom’s looking at the same ones as we are.”

Inuyasha smiled and patted the boy’s head. “We’ll get home soon I promise.” Ichigo looked up then laid his head against his father’s chest. “Do you still want to hear a story?” But Ichigo was already asleep. Inuyasha smiled as the boy slept in peace.

“Night mom... love you...” He said out loud in his sleep. It only made Inuyasha grin. The next day Inuyasha left Ichigo sleeping in the branch. They had started a habit of jumping to a high branch before sleeping and Inuyasha going in the morning to fish and stock up on supplies and let Ichigo sleep for awhile until he returned. Ichigo sat in the branch waiting for his father. He suddenly heard some bushes break and saw his father.

“Come on down look what I got for us!” His father waved him down.

“Alright! give me a minute.” Ichi called from up high and began scaling his way down the tree. He walked over to his father who grinned. “Where’s the basket?”

Just as he had asked the puppet broke and revealed the demon’s true identity. It was fives times his size with poisonous spikes on it’s long grey tail. “You fool you fell right into my trap!”

“Dad!” Ichi screamed running the way his father’s scent came.

“There’s no escape!” The demon roared. He shot a blast of fire toward the boy. Ichigo quickly dodged the attack and kept running calling for his father. The demon shot more blast at the young boy who dodge all but the last. The demon flung his poisonous spikes after the blast. Ichigo’s chest was hit badly twice with the spikes one in the rib cage and the other in his stomach... Inuyasha came running as fast as he could through the trees. He heard his son’s calls and explosions and had started to smell blood. He came through another pair of shrubs and saw his son brutally slashing a demon in half.

“Ichigo!” He yelled. His son turned and faced him , two blue stripes race across his face much like him when he became a full demon. Inuyasha saw two spikes with blood off to the side. Ichigo breathed deeply and rushed toward his father with a grin on his face. “Ichi stop I don’t want to hurt you!”

Ichigo lashed out at his father with every step increasing his speed. Inuyasha dodged as many as he could but the boy was too fast for him. Ichigo lashed out again and scratched his fathers right side and cut his cheek. His grin widened as the blood rushed out of Inuyasha. Inuyasha winced and dodged another swipe of his sons claws. Inuyasha felt the tessaiga pulse. Inuyasha reached to grab the sword and it’s sheath. Ichigo growled and charged for another attack. Inuyasha held out the sheath and clipped the boys legs, the boy toppled over. Inuyasha took his chance and grabbed the boy and held him in his arms . Ichi growled as the tessaiga began to change him back. The boy bit into his father's arm in last resorts to escape. The boy soon started to weaken and let go of the arm and winced in his father’s lap. He looked up at his dad with tears.

“Dad...I-I couldn’t. I didn’t want t-to...” He cried.

“It’s alright Ichigo. It wasn’t your fault. We need to get you some bandages right now.” Inuyasha hushed his boy. He pulled his fire rat robe over the boy and picked him up. Ichigo whimpered from the pain during the movement.

“Dad...”

“Shh. Ichi you need to rest right now just hold onto tessaiga a little longer.”

“what about the food?”

“Don’t worry. I can make us another basket and fill it up later. My priorities right now is to find a priestess or monk for help.”

Ichigo looked up at his dad clutching the tessaiga closer to the chest that hurt badly. Inuyasha ran on for about an hour before seeing a temple. He ran up the steps in a hurry not caring that he woke the sleeping Ichigo as he was for the boy’s health. Temple monks froze in fear as Inuyasha came up bloodied. “Demon!” Some of them called. A monk and priestess came out from the temple and inspected Inuyasha.

“What brings you here?” The priestess asked. She pointed an arrow at him.

“I need help for my son he’s hurt. I need some bandages. I’ll be on my way afterwards I promise.” Inuyasha said stepping toward her.

“You’re in no condition to be leaving so soon.My name is Mizuki and this is Sachi. Please come in.” She kindly smiled and lead them inside the temple. After bandaging the two up Mizuki offered food for the two. Ichigo whined as he tried to sit up.

“Ichigo don’t move. Let me help you.” Inuyasha said leaning the boy against his side.

“Is it good dad?”

“Yes try some.” Inuyasha held out some rice cake to the boy who held his mouth shut. “What’s with you? There’s nothing wrong with it or I would’ve known.”

“Just making sure.”

“Then eat up.” Inuyasha said passing him a rice cake.

Mizuki came in through the door and gave a basket to Inuyasha. “This is for your journey. May I ask where you two are going?”

“We got swept down the river and we’re trying to get home.” Inuyasha grinned shaking the boy’s shoulder. “we’re trying to get home before his birthday.”

“How old are you going to be Ichigo?” Mizuki asked.

“Eight.”

“Well I hope the two of you can get home in time. And a happy birthday.”

“Thank you miss.” Ichigo said politely.

“Your welcome.” And left the room. Ichigo fell asleep against his father's chest after eating a few more rice cakes. Inuyasha smiled and laid down. Inuyasha stayed up and watched the boy the rest of the night making sure no intruders came into the room while they slept. Ichigo whined every once in awhile but Inuyasha hushed him back down. Ichigo nuzzled deep into his father’s chest with his ears twitching ever so often. The next day Inuyasha thanked Mizuki and Sachi and left carrying Ichigo in his arms. Ichigo kept getting sick from the wound to his stomach and eating food he hadn’t ate in a while didn’t help much either. Inuyasha could only sigh and try his best to help the boy who hadn’t let go of the tessaiga ever since he had transformed into a full demon. The basket they had received had been packed with bandages for several weeks and food that could last them several days until they could stock up on food. Ichigo couldn’t stay awake for too long any longer and left Inuyasha doing all the walking which was fine for him but he knew the boy was suffering deep down and needed to get to Totosai faster to make something like the tessaiga for the boy until he could actually use it for protection.

He then thought of his other kids... What if they transform as well? Inuyasha left that question off and thought of having Totosai make swords for the kids except Ichigo because he was too young for one at the time. The tessaiga didn’t choose Takashi or Arisu so that means Ichigo has to be the person that holds tessaiga after me thought Inuyasha and looked at the boy as he slept in peace. Inuyasha smiled and brushed some of the boy’s hair out of his face and continued on their long journey ahead of them.

Description
Ichigo yawned and stretched out cat-like on the branch he slept in. His father had left to get fruit from a nearby tree and the river for fish. He sat down cross legged on the branch in his dad’s robe he had gotten use to walking around all day and eating fish all the time because that’s all his dad could cook really without burning it. Inuyasha walked out from the bushes holding a full basket. “Come on!”

Ichigo hopped down and walked over his arms were hurting a little and pulled up his shirt. “Dad I don’t know why they hurt.”

“what hurts?”

“My arms!”

“Growth spurts, last time you had one your legs were hurting too much for you to get out of bed.”

“I don’t remember that.”

“Probably not, the herbs we put in you drinks to release the pain made you sleepy all the time. But it helped you.” Inuyasha explained.

Ichigo looked at himself he didn’t look different. He still looked like the size of a six year old, which was always the case with him he was always a year behind on size.

“Looks like you have some muscles starting to show up too.” Inuyasha cheered. He rubbed the boy's head who looked at himself.

“I don’t see them.”

“You got a six pack kid, how don’t you see that!” Inuyasha frowned. He tickled the boy who held up his laughter. “You're going to have to let it out sometime!”

“Never!”

Inuyasha tickled him harder but the boy kept it in.

“Will you stop?” Ichi asked turning purple.

“What running out of air?”

“Stop it!”

“Emit defeat and laugh already! You know I’m winning!”

“Alright you win!” Ichi yelled. Inuyasha quit tickleing the boy. Ichigo waited for his dad to turn back around when. CHOMP! Ichigo had jumped on his dad’s back and nipped his left ear!

“Ichigo! You little liar!”

“I’m not a liar!”

“You said I won!”

“You won THAT round but not this one!” Ichi growled shaking his head back and forth with his dad’s ear in his mouth.

“Oh really?” Inuyasha snickered and flopped over on his back laying on top of Ichigo who grunted from the weight on him. “You're not going to win Ichi and neither is Arisu or Takashi going to beat me!”

“I’m going to beat you some day! You’ll see!” Ichigo mumbled.

“Maybe one of these days but just remember who’s teaching you to fight, Then remember that I’m the one who knows how to avoid and send them back at you.” Inuyasha laughed.

“You haven’t taught me anything yet!”

“Yeah cause you're not ten yet and your mom would kill me if I did.”

“Don’t call me a liar again because I don’t know how too! AND GET OFF ME!” Ichigo screamed now out of breath.

“True you don’t lie so I’ll take that back.” Inuyasha yawned getting up. Ichigo laid on the ground a little longer catching his breath.

“Lose some weight dad!”

“Gain some weight Ichi!”

“I would if I could!”

Inuyasha smiled at the boy who smiled back. Ichigo got up and grabbed another fish that was cooking. “aren’t you hungry.”

“I don’t know why I am.” Ichigo sighed.

“You're just growing. It’s natural to be more hungry. And when we get home you’re going to drive your mom nuts with that stomach.” Inuyasha laughed patting the boys shoulder.

“What do you mean?”

“Takashi started getting his teenage stomach around your age and drove your mom nuts how many times he'd ask for food and act like he was starving.” Inuyasha started snickering at recalling the event. Ichigo could only imagine it because he wasn’t even a thought back then. Then he thought of how Arisu got to that age and started eating more but she wasn’t as bad as Takashi. He then thought of how Ichigo was born earlier than the others by a month then he was supposed too, and how little he was, and how helpless he was. He use to sit in his mother’s lap saying ‘Ahh’ to eat because he couldn’t use chopsticks since his fingers were so small to hold them. And whenever he got hungry for a snack he’d go and tap someone's leg or arm and go ‘Ahh’ he always thought it was cute. Ichigo looked around and saw another fish and looked at his dad.

“Go on ,eat up.” Inuyasha said.

“But you need to eat too.” Ichigo replied.

“Yeah but you’re growing. I don’t need to eat too much anyway. Just don’t get yourself sick eating a lot like you use to.” Inuyasha passed the fish to Ichi who gave a confused look.

“I made myself sick eating?”

“Yeah, well kind of. You were about two or three and couldn't use chopsticks. You got sick if we feed you too much because you had a small stomach.” Inuyasha explained. Ichigo started to scratch his hair.

“Dad I need a bath and to cut my hair.” Ichi continued, “I’m itchy.”

“Itchy Ichigo huh?” Inuyasha snickered. Then he got up and started walking. Ichigo followed after him. “Alright but I like your hair that way.”

“But it get’s too hot like this.” Ichi explained.

“I’ll help put it up after we get out of the hot springs.” Inuyasha said.

“I don’t want to look like Takashi!” Ichi yelled. Ichigo’s hair had grown out past his shoulders and Looked like a mini Inuyasha. Takashi had his hair up in a ponytail while his sister had her hair in pigtails or down at times. Ichigo definitely didn't want to look like either of them he liked his hair short his hair naturally stuck out and was actually fluffy. But now it was long and laid flat on his back. Inuyasha jumped in the water and relaxed as his boy took his clothes and laid them neatly down beside his father’s who just through his down without care. Then got in the water. He washed his hair or tried too. He felt a sharp pain in his ear. “OW!”

“What’s the matter?” Inuyasha asked walking over to him.

“My ear!” He whimpered. Inuyasha looked at his right ear had been cut and was bleeding a little then looked at where the boy’s hand where blood was on them.

“Looks like your claws are coming in too. Here I’ll help you.”

“No I can do it!” Ichi said glaring his father.

“Do you want to cut your ear off?”

“No.”

“Then let me help you until we get home.” Inuyasha sighed. After they finished they got dressed. Ichigo was starting to turned around and start walking when Inuyasha shoved him down on the ground into a sitting position.

“WHAT ARE YOU DOING!” Ichi yelled.

“First you complain then you don't want my help with your hair.” Inuyasha rolled his eyes sitting behind him. He started to part the hair.

“What are you doing?” Ichigo demanded again.

“Braiding it.” Inuyasha replied without much care.

“THAT”S FOR GIRLS!” Ichi shrieked.

“No Bankotsu from The Band of Seven had one and Henten from the Thunder Brothers had one. It’s not just for girls.” Inuyasha recalled aloud.

“But I’ll look like a girl!” Ichi whined.

“Well do you want me to shave it all off?” Inuyasha barked.

“NO!” Ichi growled.

“Then quit complaining and sit still.” Inuyasha pulled Ichi’s hair back and continued his work. He then tied it back with a strand of ribbon he had in his pocket. Ichi looked at himself in the water and actually liked it back. It kept it cooler on his neck and you could still tell he was a he. Inuyasha dragged him backward. “Come on let’s get moving!”

“Alright!” Ichi laughed and turned around to walk with him. He walked along for awhile longer. They had been gone for almost two weeks and Everything was strange to Ichi, he had never been this far away from home. Then he remembered the comfort of his mother and sister and started to get homesick. Inuyasha looked at his boy who was starting to slow down.

“Ichi i’ve seen slugs move faster than that! Come on we need to keep moving before sundown!”

“Dad...I miss mom...”

“I know you do. But the more we sit around and cry about it the longer it will take to get to her.”

“Do you think she’s okay without us?”

“If I know Kagome then she’ll be fine. Your mom knows we’ll be back soon.”

“Okay.”

“Now come on lets get moving.” Inuyasha called. Ichigo still didn’t like it though. He felt alone even if his dad was there he didn’t get the comfort he needed. That night when Inuyasha looked up at the stars Ichigo was watching them too.

“Alright I’ll tell you another adventure.” Inuyasha looked down at his boy who stared off into the night sky.

“Dad.”

“What is it?”

“Do you think mom’s looking at the stars too?”

“Yeah, and she’s probably praying for our safety like she always does at night.”

“How do you know when your not there.”

“Because she always does every night before she goes to bed. She prays for all her little kids to be safe and grow up strong and healthy. When you were born you came too early and was very small and quiet. She prayed all the time for you because we all thought you were sick back then. So trust me I know what your mother is doing right now.”

Ichigo looked up at the stars then smiled. “I hope mom’s looking at the same ones as we are.”

Inuyasha smiled and patted the boy’s head. “We’ll get home soon I promise.” Ichigo looked up then laid his head against his father’s chest. “Do you still want to hear a story?” But Ichigo was already asleep. Inuyasha smiled as the boy slept in peace.

“Night mom... love you...” He said out loud in his sleep. It only made Inuyasha grin. The next day Inuyasha left Ichigo sleeping in the branch. They had started a habit of jumping to a high branch before sleeping and Inuyasha going in the morning to fish and stock up on supplies and let Ichigo sleep for awhile until he returned. Ichigo sat in the branch waiting for his father. He suddenly heard some bushes break and saw his father.

“Come on down look what I got for us!” His father waved him down.

“Alright! give me a minute.” Ichi called from up high and began scaling his way down the tree. He walked over to his father who grinned. “Where’s the basket?”

Just as he had asked the puppet broke and revealed the demon’s true identity. It was fives times his size with poisonous spikes on it’s long grey tail. “You fool you fell right into my trap!”

“Dad!” Ichi screamed running the way his father’s scent came.

“There’s no escape!” The demon roared. He shot a blast of fire toward the boy. Ichigo quickly dodged the attack and kept running calling for his father. The demon shot more blast at the young boy who dodge all but the last. The demon flung his poisonous spikes after the blast. Ichigo’s chest was hit badly twice with the spikes one in the rib cage and the other in his stomach... Inuyasha came running as fast as he could through the trees. He heard his son’s calls and explosions and had started to smell blood. He came through another pair of shrubs and saw his son brutally slashing a demon in half.

“Ichigo!” He yelled. His son turned and faced him , two blue stripes race across his face much like him when he became a full demon. Inuyasha saw two spikes with blood off to the side. Ichigo breathed deeply and rushed toward his father with a grin on his face. “Ichi stop I don’t want to hurt you!”

Ichigo lashed out at his father with every step increasing his speed. Inuyasha dodged as many as he could but the boy was too fast for him. Ichigo lashed out again and scratched his fathers right side and cut his cheek. His grin widened as the blood rushed out of Inuyasha. Inuyasha winced and dodged another swipe of his sons claws. Inuyasha felt the tessaiga pulse. Inuyasha reached to grab the sword and it’s sheath. Ichigo growled and charged for another attack. Inuyasha held out the sheath and clipped the boys legs, the boy toppled over. Inuyasha took his chance and grabbed the boy and held him in his arms . Ichi growled as the tessaiga began to change him back. The boy bit into his father's arm in last resorts to escape. The boy soon started to weaken and let go of the arm and winced in his father’s lap. He looked up at his dad with tears.

“Dad...I-I couldn’t. I didn’t want t-to...” He cried.

“It’s alright Ichigo. It wasn’t your fault. We need to get you some bandages right now.” Inuyasha hushed his boy. He pulled his fire rat robe over the boy and picked him up. Ichigo whimpered from the pain during the movement.

“Dad...”

“Shh. Ichi you need to rest right now just hold onto tessaiga a little longer.”

“what about the food?”

“Don’t worry. I can make us another basket and fill it up later. My priorities right now is to find a priestess or monk for help.”

Ichigo looked up at his dad clutching the tessaiga closer to the chest that hurt badly. Inuyasha ran on for about an hour before seeing a temple. He ran up the steps in a hurry not caring that he woke the sleeping Ichigo as he was for the boy’s health. Temple monks froze in fear as Inuyasha came up bloodied. “Demon!” Some of them called. A monk and priestess came out from the temple and inspected Inuyasha.

“What brings you here?” The priestess asked. She pointed an arrow at him.

“I need help for my son he’s hurt. I need some bandages. I’ll be on my way afterwards I promise.” Inuyasha said stepping toward her.

“You’re in no condition to be leaving so soon.My name is Mizuki and this is Sachi. Please come in.” She kindly smiled and lead them inside the temple. After bandaging the two up Mizuki offered food for the two. Ichigo whined as he tried to sit up.

“Ichigo don’t move. Let me help you.” Inuyasha said leaning the boy against his side.

“Is it good dad?”

“Yes try some.” Inuyasha held out some rice cake to the boy who held his mouth shut. “What’s with you? There’s nothing wrong with it or I would’ve known.”

“Just making sure.”

“Then eat up.” Inuyasha said passing him a rice cake.

Mizuki came in through the door and gave a basket to Inuyasha. “This is for your journey. May I ask where you two are going?”

“We got swept down the river and we’re trying to get home.” Inuyasha grinned shaking the boy’s shoulder. “we’re trying to get home before his birthday.”

“How old are you going to be Ichigo?” Mizuki asked.

“Eight.”

“Well I hope the two of you can get home in time. And a happy birthday.”

“Thank you miss.” Ichigo said politely.

“Your welcome.” And left the room. Ichigo fell asleep against his father's chest after eating a few more rice cakes. Inuyasha smiled and laid down. Inuyasha stayed up and watched the boy the rest of the night making sure no intruders came into the room while they slept. Ichigo whined every once in awhile but Inuyasha hushed him back down. Ichigo nuzzled deep into his father’s chest with his ears twitching ever so often. The next day Inuyasha thanked Mizuki and Sachi and left carrying Ichigo in his arms. Ichigo kept getting sick from the wound to his stomach and eating food he hadn’t ate in a while didn’t help much either. Inuyasha could only sigh and try his best to help the boy who hadn’t let go of the tessaiga ever since he had transformed into a full demon. The basket they had received had been packed with bandages for several weeks and food that could last them several days until they could stock up on food. Ichigo couldn’t stay awake for too long any longer and left Inuyasha doing all the walking which was fine for him but he knew the boy was suffering deep down and needed to get to Totosai faster to make something like the tessaiga for the boy until he could actually use it for protection.

He then thought of his other kids... What if they transform as well? Inuyasha left that question off and thought of having Totosai make swords for the kids except Ichigo because he was too young for one at the time. The tessaiga didn’t choose Takashi or Arisu so that means Ichigo has to be the person that holds tessaiga after me thought Inuyasha and looked at the boy as he slept in peace. Inuyasha smiled and brushed some of the boy’s hair out of his face and continued on their long journey ahead of them.