As the days passed and the moon cycled slowly through its phases, baby Shin remained perfectly and perplexingly human. At first, Kagome was frankly too tired to be troubled by it. Too in love with her newborn son to worry over what form he took. She might be biased, but in her eyes he was the handsomest, sweetest baby she’d ever seen. He could stay human for as long as he liked, as far as she was concerned.
But Inuyasha didn’t seem to share her sentiments. With Shin in the crook of his arm, he paced the hut, frowning down at him in consternation.
“Maybe it’s not the moon that causes him to change,” Inuyasha said lowly, as if to himself. “Maybe it’s something else.”
“Like what?” Kagome asked him, anxious as well—to have her baby back in her arms again.
Inuyasha shrugged, one-shouldered. He wiggled a claw in Shin’s face, until his blue eyes started to cross from trying to follow its glinting course. Kagome frowned, annoyed at Inuyasha’s behavior. Shin must have found it annoying too, because after another minute of this, he swatted out at the offending claw.
“Ow!” Inuyasha said, drawing back his smoking finger as he grumbled, “…Reiki, huh? Fucking stings.”
“You deserve it, pestering him like that,” Kagome said sternly, holding out her hands. “Give him back to me.”
Sulkily, Inuyasha handed Shin back to her. “There’s a demonic side to him somewhere. I was just trying to tease it out.”
“Honestly, Inuyasha,” Kagome scolded as she settled the fussing infant to her breast. “He’s just a baby. Leave him be.”
Inuyasha’s ears flattened. “Easy for you to say.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means you don’t have to sit around and wonder when he’s going to look like he’s yours.”
Kagome stiffened. As Shin started to nurse, she nodded, forcing herself to calm.
“I’m sorry,” she said, glancing away. She didn’t know what else to say.
“It’s not your fault,” Inuyasha said, plopping down cross-legged next to her. “It’s not his, either. He’s mostly human, isn’t he? So I guess I shouldn’t be surprised he’s like this. I’m not disappointed or anything,” he said quickly, as Kagome looked back to him. “I’m just itching to get the whole picture, that’s all. I know his signature, his scent. But the human part of me needs to see.”
“What’s his scent like to you?” Kagome asked, genuinely curious.
Inuyasha propped his chin in his hand in thought. “It’s kinda hard to describe. It’s a little like mine, I guess—like how Sesshoumaru’s is. But everyone’s scent is unique to them. Like a—like a different color, sorta. And his, well, whether he’s full human or not it’s still the same color but…” His brows knitted together. “You know how there’s red and pink and, uh, darker red…”
“Shades of red?” Kagome prompted.
“Shades, yeah,” Inuyasha said shortly. “Yeah, I was just about to say that. Anyway, I guess his scent has different shades to it, too.”
“How many?” Kagome asked him. “How many shades does his scent have?”
Inuyasha’s lips thinned as he squinted aside. “Depends who you ask. I’ve scented two—human and not. The rest feels like splitting hairs to me, but some people like to make their senses seem superior by drawing a bunch of distinctions.”
Kagome could guess just who ‘some people’ was. Mouth quirked, she asked, “And what does Sesshoumaru say?”
“He claims there’s four,” Inuyasha said flatly. “At least.”
Inuyasha © Rumiko Takahashi
Revised 6/21/23
This was a nice little chapter. Calm and cozy. I’m just waiting for things to blow up when he transforms because there’s going to be SOMETHING right??! Kagome can’t just keep hiding this. But… What are the four scents? So interesting. I’m wondering if it’s like… A hanyō scent is their parents combinations and Sesshomaru would be inherited from his parents: yōkai | yōkai – kagome: human | miko – Shin yōkai | human | miko | ?? from one of the parents-like maybe kagome has a third scent from say… yōkai waaaay back in her bloodline
And Inuyasha’s would be: yōkai | human and if shin had been his: yōkai | human | human | miko and depending of the fourth scent is something inherited from Sesshomaru or kagome, that may be present as well. Like maybe the more blood is mixed the more complex the scent. Dunno I’m just rambling at this point and probably way off BUT I’M INVESTED. saw you post on AO3 and immediately came here to check for updates lmao. Thank you for sharing. I love your writing. You’re an excellent storyteller. ❤️
Thank you so much, uissuteffu!! <3 Love hearing your thoughts on what the four scents could mean! Baby Shin's mixed heritage presents a lot of interesting possibilities 🙂
So glad you enjoyed the chapter & thank you for sharing!! <3
Great chapter!!
Thank you, mim!! <3
We’re just waiting baby Pikachu to get to his final evolution. 😁
😂 hahaha I hear ya!
Thanks, Mary! Hope you enjoy the next part <3
I truly love this story. However, I’m all nervous because this just needs to blow up already. Can’t wait till the baby looks different. If he does…
Yeah, it’s nerve-wracking for sure 😓
So glad you’re loving the story, Katherine! Hope you enjoy the next chapter <3
So is Shin going to only look fully “demon” on the full or new moon like how Inuyasha looks fully human? Or is it when he is near his real father Shin will take on his characteristics… like how he is near his mother at the moment and looks human and has reiki? So many ways this could go!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on his transformations, Emily! Yep, there are a lot of possibilities 🙂
Hope you enjoy how things turn out! <3
Just getting caught up here as life hit hard the past month or so, but I couldn’t stop thinking about this! I’m so happy Kagome had a safe delivery of her and Sesshoumaru’s baby. I’m shocked only the human side of the baby is showing though. Makes me wonder if the baby is concealing itself on instinct since Sesshoumaru isn’t around as a protective measure for itself. Also, the baby having reiki power is very interesting. I can’t wait to see how the powers manifest and if there will be a dominant side between human and demon.
Hey Blackberry! It’s so great to hear from you ❤ So glad you’ve been enjoying the latest chapters and are looking forward to how things play out with baby Shin and his curious powers!
I’m sorry you’ve been going through some tough times lately, friend. Hope things have smoothed out for you and that you’re doing well. Wishing you all the best 💞