Inuyasha: A New Generation

New Additions And Adjustments

Chihiro's first inkling of how her little boy would differ from other babies came on the first night after bringing him home.

Chihiro knew that while no pets were permitted in her apartment, her street was home to quite a few dogs. Many times, she had been woken up by their barking and howling, but apart from a few times, it was never unbearable. It simply had faded into the background noise, and she almost never noticed it before.

That was why, when the dog who stood guard at the local convenience store let out a deep bay, and the poodle that lived with the foreign artist, the stray that lived in the alley behind the WcDonalds, and the two Shibas that lived kitty-corner to the restaurant took up the cry, she thought nothing of it.

Until a new sound met her ears. A sound that was incredibly, uncomfortably close.

Jolting up, Chihiro's first instinct was that it was Kohaku, currently lying in his bassinet by her side of the bed, fussing at all the noise.

But the noise didn't sound like her infant son's wails of protest. It didn't sound human at all.

Chihiro peeked into the bassinet, and what she saw sent her reaching over and frantically shaking Honda awake.

Yes, the sound was Kohaku, but he wasn't crying.

Her son had wiggled his way as close to the nearest window as he could, and he was howling in answer to the baying calls of the neighborhood dogs.

All humanity left her son's voice the moment it touched the air, and the lonely croon of a wild dog filled the apartment. Kohaku squeezed his eyes shut and howled louder and higher, despite Chihiro's best attempts to shush him.

"Huh? What's that noise?" Honda asked.

"Kohaku," Chihiro whispered.

"That's our son? It sounds like a puppy-oh."

"What can we do? The neighbors are bound to complain, and we can't just say it was a new puppy because we're not allowed to have pets!" She scooped up Kohaku and began to whisper-sing a lullaby and rock him gently. However, Kohaku only took advantage of the higher vantage point and his upright posture to howl even louder and longer.

"Oh, hush, hush, Kohaku, please stop," Chihiro whispered. "Go to sleep, shhh."

Chihiro quickly lost track of the amount of time she spent gently rubbing Kohaku's back until he stopped howling and settled down to suckle.

"I don't know what I'm doing," Chihiro admitted. "Oh, my baby, how are your father and I going to take care of you?"

Honda rested his hand on Chihiro's shoulder. "We learn as we go," he suggested. "Isn't that what all new parents do?"

"I guess," Chihiro whispered.

"Get some sleep, dear," Honda offered. "Kohaku's done eating, isn't he?"

"Yes."

"Then let me take him. You need to rest."

"I- OK," Chihiro said, gently handing Kohaku to Honda.

Learn as we go, she thought to herself. Caring for any baby was difficult. Caring for a half-dog baby was going to be even more challenging.

Chihiro smiled as she heard Honda gently whistle a lullaby to Kohaku as he settled into the chair she had been sitting in.

She was so glad she wouldn't have to take on the challenge alone.

///

"Oh! Haku! Get that out of your mouth! Chihiro!"