A/N: Please be advised that I'm writing this purely for fun! Flames are more than welcome—in fact I could use some advice on what to work on if my characters become too OOC and such. Also, just so there is no confusion, I want to be clear that this story will be written in the first person of MANY POINTS OF VIEW! Be sure to note who is speaking before you read! Please please PLEASE drop me a review when finished reading! I am NOT above begging! Thanks so much to those of you who have the courage to read my horrible writing! Until later!

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha. Dammit.

talking

"speaking"

'thinking'

Emphasized text

Flashback

Chapter 1: I Am the Last of a Beginning

INUYASHA'S P.O.V.

I looked down at my hands, clenching and unclenching my fingers, noting how rough and broken the skin over my palms was. I usually didn't retain scars thanks to my quick healing abilities, but if I were able to keep marks, I could feel where they would be. I could feel the underlying burns on my wrists from where villagers tied me up as a pup and beat me to the ground. I could still feel the soreness in my cuticles from where dozens of my claws had been ripped off in battles. And I could still smell the blood of my enemies underneath my fingernails, though the evidence was long gone. Hands like these should never be able to hold anything as precious as a child.

"Inuyasha…would you like to hold your daughter?" Kagome asked. She was smiling faintly, exhausted from her long hours of labor. Her raven hair was glued to her brow with sweat, and I could tell her eyelids were growing heavy, drooping lower and lower over her chocolate orbs. Snuggled into the crook of her arm was a tiny, wiggling bundle, which coincidentally was also gurgling its displeasure at having to stay still. They were the perfect picture of love at that moment. And I was scared to death to ruin it by holding that bundle.

I looked at Kaede who nodded her approval at my approach. She smiled and mouthed 'congratulations,' then marched to the door to leave my mate and me in peace. However, on her way out, I heard her whisper softly so only my super-human hearing would hear, "Good luck Inuyasha. She's a mischievous little thing." I smirked, but otherwise ignored her comment. All that mattered now was that Kagome and my pup were safe. I crawled over to where Kagome lay, and started to settle myself behind her—using her body as a barrier between the curious little bundle and me, but I was stopped by a hand on my wrist.

Using what little strength she had, Kagome held the child up to me. I glared at my mate, trying to make her understand. Did I want to hold my daughter? Did I want to feel her hand around my finger? Did I want to surround her? Protect her? Love her? More than anything else in the world. More than I wanted the ability to breathe! More than I wanted to live!...but I couldn't. Not with these horrid, nightmarish hands. Her skin was too soft, too warm, too pure to ever be touched by me…a killer…a creature…a…a—'WHEN DID THAT WENCH DO THAT?!' I looked down to find the tiny figure of my daughter cuddled to my chest, already in my arms. Kagome had given her to me without me even realizing it. I looked from my pup to my mate, slightly annoyed that she had outwitted me. She only smiled, and closed her eyes. Minutes later, I heard her slow, even breathing. She was asleep.

The pup however, was far from dreamland. She was wiggling, clutching and unclutching fistfuls of air, whimpering and pouting in a look that was all too familiar, though she had yet to open her eyes. I knew that look. I invented that look. That was my look. My pout. Feh. Pup thinks she can fool the master? Pup thinks she can melt my heart? Pup thinks…pup…aw hell. She was just too damn cute. It was impossible in that moment to deny her anything she wanted. "Shhhhh. Hush, Pup. Quit squirming. I'll be here when you wake, just sleep." But that damn runt wouldn't stop! As a matter of fact, she enhanced her whimpers, her voice raising an octive or six. Her eyes were still tightly shut, and her mouth opened wider to produce her first baby scream. It was then that I noticed the tiny, almost invisible fangs that protruded from her gums. However, I didn't have time to admire them. I had to stop the kid's wails or else Kagome would wake.

"HEY! Pup! Shut up! You're gonna get me in trouble!" Shifting her to one arm, I pointed an accusing finger at her little nose. Then the pup did something that scared me half to death. She sniffed my claw, stifled her screaming, reached up, grabbed my finger and with a little yank inserted the digit in her mouth, sucking lightly on my claw…all without even bothering to open her eyes.

I couldn't help myself. My face broke out in a smile and I chuckled. "So this is what you wanted all along, huh?" Kaede was right. She was gonna be trouble. As I watched her I felt a surge of protective instinct wash over me. I straightened my back and got up, pacing back and forth along the room. My daughter kept sucking on my finger, the whole time. Apparently she didn't care what I did, just so long as I held her and she got what she wanted. I looked down at her, now peacefully playing with my fingertips. Before I even realized I was speaking the words were out of my mouth. "I will protect you. I swear it on my father's grave, you will always be safe. Nothing will happen to you. I am your father and I'll be damned if anyone says otherwise. You will be strong. You will be safe. You will be good. You will be safe. You will be loved. And above all, you will be safe. I love you…My little Katana…"

Katana. That was her name. After all, Kagome said I could name her. Anything I wanted. I hadn't thought of what to name her until I saw her, held her, cuddled her close to my chest, heard her heartbeat strong and sound in my ears. Katana. She was perfect. Katana.

I heard the bamboo flap that covered the door move aside. I looked back to find four brown eyes staring into the room. "Hold her any tighter, Old Man, and she'll break." They roll their eyes as I growl at the very thought. "Can we see her now? C'mon quit hoggin' the pup!" Great. Now they even complain in perfect unison. Before I can answer, they drop the bamboo mat and disappear out of sight. There's nothing I wanted more than to snuggle up behind Kagome, hold Katana in my arms, and sleep. But thanks to that wonderful reminder, I couldn't. I looked down at my new pup. She deserves to see her family.

I march over to the door, my steps slower than usual lest I shake my daughter, and pull back the flap. Six sets of eyes are staring at me…no, staring at my burden. I lightly pluck my claw from her mouth, noting her annoyed gurgle and obvious snarl of disproval, and hold her out as far as I dare, still keeping a firm grip on her tiny body. I then cleared my throat. Looking down, I addressed my pup.

"Katana, these are your brothers. All six of them. They and your mother and I…we're your family. We've waited a long time for you, Pup. And believe me…none of us are that patient." I look up and glare at my sons, making eye contact with every single one of them. It wasn't until I noticed their vaguely startled looks that I realized I was growling. "Listen to me. All of you. You are not pups anymore, do you hear? I'm gonna trust you with one responsibility—and after this I will never demand anything of you again." I look down at Katana. "Protect her. Watch over her. Give up your lives if you must…make her strong. Love her. And keep her safe."

No one spoke. I don't even think any of them breathed. I looked up again and stared at my sons. I could see their chests puffed with pride, their backs straight under the weight of the burden I was placing on them. It was as if by speaking, the trance I had them under would be broken, and all of it would turn to dust. It was only after a full minute of stretched silence that Kyo, my third born, stepped forward, an awed expression on his features. "Look! Papa! Do you see her eyes!?"

All at once, our heads snapped down to peer at the creature in my embrace. Lazy, and slightly annoyed, Katana glanced up at us. I felt my breath hitch as I gazed in wonder at her beautiful eyes. The left was gold and a perfect replica of my own, reflecting courage and life and…well…trouble. The right however—the right was a deep violet, full of question and depth and wonder. My daughter…has my eyes. Not just my hanyou eyes. But my human eyes as well.

I pull back the blanket that had been covering Katana's head, trying to keep her from the cold. She gurgled a complaint, but otherwise did not move. A thick blossom of her silver hair blew in the warm spring breeze, but I didn't care. I was looking at her tiny, silver dog ears perched atop her head. I smirked. Aw, hell, I was grinning like a freaking love-struck fool. Not all of my pups had had my ears…but for some reason they just looked so right on her. I only had one thing to say. "Feh. We got another one."

A/N: Well there it is. Hope you liked it! Sorry if it kept switching between past and present tense…I tried to keep it consistent, but sometimes it just doesn't work. Please drop me a review! I would love feedback! Hope to update in the next week or two! Love you all!