Okay, turns out my buddy wasn't interested in keeping the job, so I'm the writer again. Hope you don't mind this long, long, wait.

The three of them were walking down the outer palace. Inuyasha was in the awkward position of trying to get as hidden behind Kagome's legs as possible while still clutching her hand. Kazono half turned to look at the partly-hidden tot.

Kazono: So, you excited to be in the castle?

Inuyasha nearly dislocated Kagome's shoulder as he tried to get even more of himself behind her legs.

Kagome: Sorry, he's a little uncomfortable here.

Kazono: I can tell.

They look at each other, feeling a strange sort of companionship. Kazono's only a little older then Kagome.

Kazono: So how old is he?

Kagome: About 18 months.

Kazono: Wow... He's pretty smart for that age...

Kagome: I think it's the demon in him.

Kazono: I thought he was just a really small three-year-old.

Inuyasha: (Quietly) I'm not little.

Eventually Kazono stops in front of a door.

Kazono: Since he's so smart, I dunno about putting him with the other 18 month olds. I was going to put him with the 3-5 age children.

Kagome: I think that'll do.

Kazono slides the door open just as Inuyasha peeks out from behind her legs.

The little Hanyou's first impression is that it would be worth living in the castle among those mean people just to spend time in the nursery. The beds along the walls were smaller then normal, but a great size for him, and they looked espicially soft and fluffy. There were clean, shiny new toys all over the floor and even the walls seemed colorfull and bright.

Kagome must've noticed Inuyasha surveying the room in awe. She smiled down at him.

Kagome: Bet you're glad we came now, huh, Inuyasha?

Inuyasha nodded numbly, but then noticed four other children in the nursery. Kazono moved forward and they greeted her excitedly. She moved for Inuyasha and Kagome to come forward.

Kazono: C'mon, these are the other children in this nursery. Their parents are nobles in the castle.

First she moved to a boy slightly bigger then the others with black hair and dark brown eyes.

Kazono: This is Yusuke. His father's a chief general.

She went onto a girl with long black hair who was sneaking sideways glares at Yusuke.

Kazono: This is Rei, her Grandfather is a priest, and a friend of my father's.

She moved on, and once her back was turned, Rei and Yusuke stuck their tongues out at each other. Kazono smiled and gestured to the next boy. He had very short brown hair and blue eyes. He wasn't looking at Inuyasha or Kagome, instead staring shyly at the floor. Kagome could see he was clutching a teddy bear tightly.

Kazono: This is Shinji. His daddy oversees battle tactics by our troops. Doesn't he Shinji?

Shinji didn't say anything, so Kazono moved to the last girl who inhabitted the nursery. She was smaller then the others, with a thumb in her mouth and dark purple hair on her head. She looked up to smile at Kazono, who smiled back.

Kazono: This is Fuu. She's the daughter of our Samurai. She just turned three last month. Everyone, this is Kagome and Inuyasha.

Kagome waved, and but Inuyasha remained partly hidden behind her legs. Yusuke peered at him, annoyed.

Yusuke: We're stayin' with babies now?

Inuyasha ran out from Kagome's legs so fast he nearly knocked her over.

Inuyasha: I'm no baby!

Rei: You're wearin' a diaper. Even Fuu's potty trained.

Inuyasha blushed. He still didn't wear anything other then a bright red diaper with Tessaiga hanging off it. Kazono saved him from coming up with a retort by clapping her hands to adress the group.

Kazono: Whoa, now. You children play nice. You've all got a few minutes until bedtime. Don't make me put you to bed early.

Kazono moved to sit by the door with Kagome as the other children gathered around Inuyasha.

Rei: Why's your hair all funny?

Inuyasha: (Blush) It's 'snot funny!

Yusuke: Why's it white? It's like old lady hair.

Inuyasha: It's not old lady hair! It's hanyou hair!

Shinji: You're a Hanyou?

Inuyasha puffed his chest up in pride. Fuu looked at him curiously, thumb still in her mouth.

Inuyasha: That's right, I'ma hanyou! I'm real strong, so watch yourselves.

Rei: (worried) Gran'pa says Hanyous are scary.

Yusuke: He ain't scary. He's justa baby hanyou.

Inuyasha: I said I'm no baby!

Yusuke: Are too!

Yusuke gives Inuyasha a very light shove on his ribcage. But since Inuyasha's so weak, it was enough to easily knock him down hard onto his diapered butt. He sniffled and tears welled up in his eyes.

Inuyasha: That hurt.

Yusuke: You're kidding. I barely touched you.

Fuu: Doggy ears!

Fuu had spotted the white furry dog ears on the little hanyou's head. She grabbed them and began gently tweaking them.

Inuyasha: Hey, stoppit!

Shinji: Yeah, quitit, Yusuke. He didn't do nothin'.

Yusuke: Fine.

Inuyasha: Leggo my ears!

Fuu giggled and began scratching Inuyasha behind his ears. The hanyou stopped protesting and closed his eyes as one of his legs began whacking the floor involuntarilly. When she stopped, Inuyasha shook his head like he was getting rid of fleas. Shinji shuffled his feet shyly, still holding his teddy.

Shinji: So... uh... you wanna play with us?

Inuyasha: 'Kay.

The five of them played in the nursery for some time. It but after a while, they settled down, tired and waiting for bedtime. When that time came, they began to talk about their families.

Yusuke: Daddy's real busy but he's nice. Mommy's nice too, but she smells weird and sometimes late at night she acts funny.

Rei: My gran'pa's like that sometimes. What about your daddy, Shinji?

Shinji said nothing, instead twidling his thumbs and looking at the ground.

Fuu: You neva talk 'bout your daddy.

Shinji: I dun see him alot.

Yusuke: What about when you do?

Shinji brought his knees up to his shoulders, curling into a ball.

Shinji: He's scary.

Inuyasha: Scary?

Shinji: Real scary.

Rei: Well, my gran'pa's not scary. He's nice and smart and cool! He puts up scrolls on the walls to protect against demons.

Yusuke: (points at Inuyasha) Then why's he here?

Rei: Maybe it doesn't work on Hanyous. Or maybe it doesn't do anything for baby demons.

Inuyasha: I toldja I'm notta baby!

Inuyasha stand up, looking angry.

Inuyasha: My daddy was the Inutaisho! He was the strongest dog demon in the world, and he was the one who gave me my sword so I could follow in his footsteps! I protect nice humans like Kagome who need my help, because I am the mighty Hanyou Inuyasha!

Not a moment after Inuyasha finished this brief speech, a foul smell filled the air.

Fuu: (Covering nose) Ew!

Rei: Heh. I think the mighty Hanyou Inuyasha needs a diaper change.

Inuyasha: AH! Kagome!

The hanyou quickly ran crying for Kagome for a new diaper before bedtime.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

It was an hour later. The children were all lying in bed, them being small enough for three to fit in a single one. Yusuke and Rei were in one, while Fuu, Shinji, and Inuyasha were in another. In her sleep, Fuu brought her hand over Inuyasha, holding him like a teddy bear. One of the snoozing hanyou's ears twitched involuntarily.

Kagome and Kazono looked at the children sleeping, kindly.

Kazono: They look alot sweeter when they're sleeping.

Kagome: Yeah. Hard to believe Inuyasha can throw such big tantrums when you see him sleeping like that.

There was a pause.

Kagome: Thanks for being so kind to Inuyasha. He doesn't like humans that much, so you were a big help to him.

Kazono: Don't mention it.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

The next day, the Kitsune-Gumi was walking in the forest, the castle behind them. Inuyasha was again on Shippou's shoulders.

Sango: So it was just a centipide demon?

Miroku: Yeah. It had been nailed to the bottom of the castle when it was being built. We found it squirming and wriggling on this board-

Kagome: EW! That's so gross!

Shippou: Heh... Inuyasha, it sounds like you got some fans.

Inuyasha: Huh?

Inuyasha turned around to see Kazono standing at the edge of the palace. By her feet were Fuu and Shinji. Fuu was waving happily, Shinji in a much shier manner with his teddy bear still under his arm.

Fuu: Bye-bye, 'Yasha!

Shinji: B-bye!

Kazono: Come back anytime, you lot!

Inuyasha waved back before turning around ahead again.

Shippou: Made a few friends, Inuyasha?

Inuyasha: Uh-huh.

Shippou: So you change your mind about castle people?

Inuyasha: They're okay... in small doses.

There, wasn't that sweet? I've got an idea for a fourthand fifth chapters already, but I dunno how long it'll be before I write them out. Be sure to leave a review. I'd love to hear from you...