Kagome sighed as InuYami raced out the door, a bright smile on her face. Something had happened to her demon daughter over the past few weeks. Something suspicious. It was unlike InuYami to rush through meals and sleep all day like she did now. The whole thing had started weeks ago when Sango and Miroku had paid the family a visit. InuYami had changed everything about herself. Once the girl was gone, Kagome confronted InuYasha.

"I'm worried about InuYami," she said bluntly.

"She's fine," InuYasha nonchalantly replied. "Full youkai can be strange sometimes. Just look at Shippou!"

"Shippou's always been that way!" Kagome shot back. "This is a huge change for InuYami. Last night was the new moon. She cried all night. Cried, InuYasha. I asked her why, and she said she wasn't going to be able to see him that night. And she refused to tell me who he was."

"Sounds like she's got a boyfriend," InuYasha muttered around his noodles. "A hanyou boyfriend. You know how we get during the new moon. I'd be surprised if he wanted her to see him like that."

"InuYasha, she's nine years old."

"That's old enough for a boyfriend. Shippou had a few flings when he was her age."

Kagome stomped her foot angrily, causing Tsugaru to flee the scene and InuYasha to ignore his dinner. InuYasha looked up from his Ramen Noodles to see her angry face. He dropped his chopsticks nervously. "Something...is...wrong...with...our...daughter..." Kagome gritted. "And...your...only...interest...is...your...meal?"

"Eh-heh-heh," he laughed nervously.

"Go...out...and...find...what's...wrong. She's...your...daughter..."

"Right." InuYasha bounded out the door and away from Kagome. Once outside, he put his nose to the ground and began to sniff. "I know where you are, InuYami," he muttered. "Your scent is everywhere...This shouldn't take long at all."

;-:-;-:-;

InuYami heard the voice of Sesshoumaru whisper in her ear Through water, child! Someone is trailing you.

All right, she replied, splashing through the nearest puddle. Shaking her feet dry, the youkai continued along her way, taking a different path to throw off her mysterious tracker.

;-:-;-:-;

InuYasha swore and splashed his hand in the puddle. Wherever she was going, InuYami didn't want him to follow. The hanyou couldn't decide if it was a good thing or a bad thing. He sat down to wait. InuYami would pass back here again on her trip home. He could talk to her then.

;-:-;-:-;

InuYami was panting slightly as she entered the meadow. She could see the faint shape of Sesshoumaru sitting on the stump, waiting for her. She padded over to him and jumped into his lap. Sesshoumaru stoked her hair. What news do you bring? he asked.

"Tsugaru's still a big baby," the youkai growled angrily. "Yesterday, when I was crying because I couldn't see you, he comes into my room and starts laughing at me."

Oh, my.

"He keeps saying 'Yami's got a boyfriend! Yami's got a boyfriend!' over and over! I hit him to make him shut up."

What happened then?

"Mom came in a started yelling at me. She said he was just trying to annoy me and I had rewarded him." InuYami looked up at her uncle. "I told her he was just a stupid half-breed. Then she gets really mad at me and says that Dad is a half-demon, the same as Tsugaru, and if I was insulting Tsugaru's hanyou heritage, I was insulting Dad's as well."

But you know just as well as I do that youkai are better than hanyou, Sesshoumaru said. We are stronger, faster, smarter...Are there no other youkai that you can play with?

"There's Shippou," InuYami replied. "And he's a lot of fun."

Then perhaps you should start playing with Shippou more often, he suggested. After all, we youkai should stick together.

"I know! I'll bring him here to meet you!" InuYami exclaimed. Sesshoumaru shook his head. "Oh? No? Okay, then. Maybe I won't bring Shippou."

Shippou and I did not get along very well. I do not think the three of us could be friends, InuYami. But you can be friends with Shippou and friends with me. Just not as a group of three.

InuYami nodded. "I see." She gazed up at the sky. "Uncle Sesshoumaru? Why can I only see you when the moon is out? And why are you harder to see when the moon is small or covered with clouds?"

Because as a dog demon, I am linked closely with the moon. He pointed to the blue mark on his forehead. As you can see, I have the moon on my body. The moon gives me strength to project my image into the mortal world. When the moon vanishes, it takes my strength with it. When it is small, I have very little power, and it becomes difficult.

"I wish you didn't have to strain yourself, Uncle Sesshoumaru. Is there anything I can do?"

Keep visiting me, Yami. You are making me stronger just by your presence. Perhaps when I am stronger, there is something we could do. And you can help me do it. Then I could walk the mortal world again and we could play together. He smiled gently. InuYami sighed.

"How much longer do you think it would take until you are strong enough?" she asked.

I cannot say, child. Perhaps weeks, or months, or even years. I am not sure yet. But I know that someday it will happen. And someday, you and I can meet in person.

"I can't wait for that day to come," InuYami murmured.

Neither can I, child. Neither can I. Sesshoumaru gazed off into the forest that lay outside the field. He smiled maliciously. And when that day comes, he added to himself, no one will be able to defeat me. Not that human wench. Not that frivolous fox. Not that demon cat or its riders. And especially not that half-breed...Unless they want to see their precious Yami dragged into hell alongside me...

;-:-;-:-;

InuYasha looked up at the sky. "She should be back by now," he grumbled to himself. "My Ramen is getting cold, but Kagome's right. InuYami is my daughter, my own flesh and demon blood. I can't leave without knowing what's going on."

His golden gaze turned back to the ground. Absentmindedly, he started to sketch with a claw in the soil. When he was finished, it came out as a rather clumsy doodle of himself fighting Sesshoumaru's true form, the giant dog. He stuck a claw in his mouth thoughtfully. "Still needs something...Hah! The Shikon Jewel!" Hurriedly, he drew in the mysterious Jewel of Four Souls between the two figures. "Even though it wasn't there in the final battle, who cares? It's my drawing! I can do whatever I want to it." After that thought, he grinned mischievously and doodled buckteeth on Sesshoumaru. "Whatever I want."

;-:-;-:-;

"I want to stay here forever with you, Uncle Sesshoumaru," InuYami said with a soft sigh. "I really like you. You listen to me. You respect me. And best of all, you're a youkai too! You know how it feels to have a hanyou in the family."

I understand the shame you feel. I was so ashamed when my great father—your grandfather—took on a human wife. But you are different. You have a sympathetic ear for you. I had no one but that miserable servant of mine, Jaken. Sesshoumaru shook his head. But he had his uses, I'll admit. I was almost sad when your mother killed him.

"Mom killed one of your friends?" InuYami was shocked.

Now, now, do not blame your mother. She was only doing what she thought was right. Even though it meant killing one of my "friends." He decided to use her word for Jaken, even though the creature had only been a henchman of sorts. It would stir up feelings of rebellion in her heart, and make her cast away the family she knew in leu of her kind and caring uncle.

"I can't believe it...I thought it was bad enough that Dad had to go and kill you...but now I find out that my mom is a killer too?" She started to cry. Sesshoumaru patted her shoulder soothingly. "Why? Why, Uncle Sesshoumaru?"

Sesshoumaru knew better than to try and lie about his works of evil. She knew him too well now. There was seemingly no way out. But Sesshoumaru was no ordinary demon. He was smart. There were misunderstandings, InuYami, great misunderstandings. Your parents and their friends were convinced that I was evil. And for that, I was slain.

InuYami sniffled. She cuddled closer into Sesshoumaru's lap, seeking comfort from the spirit. The demon stroked her hair gently, whispering like leaves in the wind a spell to bind them closer. He felt a tie begin to form and grinned. The child was his now. She was all his.

You should be getting home, Yami, Sesshoumaru said after a few minutes. Your parents will be worrying about you.

"You mean the murderers?" InuYami's voice was hard.

They are your family! You must return to them now. They care about you. And remember, as always, our meeting is a secret.

"A secret." InuYami nodded and raced off through the grass. Sesshoumaru watched her for a few minutes more, then dissipated.

;-:-;-:-;

InuYasha looked up. "There you are, InuYami," he said. "I was worried about you. Where have you been?"

"Oh...just...meeting a friend."

"What's his name?" InuYasha asked coyly. InuYami stared at her bare feet.

"I'm not telling you."

InuYasha recoiled slightly. Had that been anger in her voice? Her posture didn't suggest anger. On the contrary, she looked downright ashamed. He bent down and twisted his head so he was looking her eye to eye. "Yami? Is something wrong?"

"No. Nothing's wrong. Stop worrying about me!"

InuYasha bit his lip in frustration. Kagome had been right. There was something wrong with InuYami. He turned around. "Hop on my back, Yami," he told her. "We'll get home faster that way."

InuYami looked like she wanted to argue, but finally she gave in and jumped on his back, clutching his shoulders to stay on. InuYasha leapt into the air and started to drift back to the house. After a few minutes, the hanyou called, "You're pretty quiet back there, InuYami." He glanced back to see the youkai sound asleep, her eyes closed gently. He smiled. Seeing the child demon filled him with warmth and pride beyond measure. There was just something magical about having a daughter on your back.

When he touched down outside the house, InuYami was still asleep. He took her down gently and carried her to bed. "I don't know who you keep going out at night to see, InuYami," he whispered as he left the room, "but whoever it is, I hope they make you happy."