She stared at him, her eyes wide when he just froze. If his hands hadn't been holding her arms above her head, she would have thought he was a statue. The hanyou above her didn't even breathe. Kagome shifted, pulling her hands out from his grasp with surprising ease, but she knew it was the shock that had him immobile.

"She's… I… What?!" The broken and confused sounds made her giggle before she looked up at him and nodded. He looked down at her with an expression of such longing that Kagome couldn't help it, she reached up and tugged the man down, pressing her lips to his furry ear.

"I said.. She's… your.. Daughter." Each word was spoken with clarity, but softly as it whispered against the inner hairs of his ears. She knew it sank in when his hands flew to her arms and pulled her away to stare into her face.

"You're… not kidding?" Kagome shook her head, a smile touching her lips as she threaded her fingers through his forelocks, smiling at the silky texture of the strands.

"No.. I'm not kidding. She'll be home in about twenty minutes if you'd like to meet-EEP!" In one swift swoop, he had lurched off the bed and taken Kagome with him. She found herself standing on her feet beside the bed with enough speed that the room swam. Thankfully, Inuyasha seemed to notice her stumble and turned to steady her until the world righted itself. "What was that for?"

"Hurry up wench! Get dressed!" If she hadn't been as excited as him, she would have found the flying clothing humorous. He was dressed before she finished, and was waiting with his arms crossed, and a foot tapping on her carpet. "Can you be any slower!"

"You have time. Besides, if you just run at her she's going to go the other way." Stranger danger and all that. Kagome finished putting her clothes back together and grabbed a brush from her vanity to run through her hair. "I've taught her that anyone she doesn't know shouldn't be trusted until I say so." She could see how twitchy he was getting in the mirror, but when she pulled her hair to the side of her neck to brush it.. He was right there.

Warm hands rested on the back of her neck before he took the bulk of her hair and pulled it back behind her. "Let me.." She handed Inuyasha the brush and sat practically purring as he ran the bristles through her hair. "What's she like?"

"Well.. she has energy like Shippo did.."

"Does she look like me?" His excitement had her smiling but she shook her head as he continued to brush through her hair.

"Yes and no. Her hair is like mine, but it's got your texture.. Never tangles." Not that she was a little bitter or anything. Especially considering he was gently working through a knot at that exact moment. "No dog ears, I was both sad and happy about that."

"Why?" She could tell even with the softly spoken word that he was upset at her 'happy' emotion surrounding it. "Do…." In the mirror, Kagome could see the ivory ears fold down and press against his hair.

"I love your ears, Inuyasha.. And I'm sad that Maaya doesn't have them.. But I'm glad because in this era, demons aren't exactly well known. She would have been picked on and I didn't want that for our daughter." Not after Inuyasha went through the same thing. "But.. she does have claws like you."

The ears behind her stuck straight back up as he met her eyes in the reflection. "She does?" Kagome grinned, watching his expression turn to one of joy before she nodded, closing her eyes when he returned to brushing.

"She does.. And she has little pointed ears like Shippo did. They're not.. Prominent, but they're still cute. I have to cut her claws so she doesn't stand out - but she doesn't mind.. During the summer though, I let her run wild when she wants to.. And like you, she enjoys climbing trees." Kagome hummed in pleasure when his claws sank into her hair and started to gently scratch at and massage her scalp.

"I can't wait to meet her.."

"Well, give it a bit and you'll get your wish.. We should tell Shippo though.. Maaya usually gets off the bus and comes up the steps around now." She saw his ears twitch before he removed his hands from her hair and helped her stand, his mouth twisted into a smile. Kagome knew that it meant he was nervous.. But also happy. "Come on." She took his hand, leading him back down the stairs to where Shippo was playing with the TV on the couch.

"'Gome! This is cool. I've seen tv's in the last few years, but I haven't sat down to really watch them!" She giggled when Inuyasha let her go so the raven haired woman could hug the Kitsune from behind.

"I'm glad to see you too, Shippo! I'll show you all about the tv in a little while. I need you and Inuyasha to do something for me though." The eyes of her beloved Kit turned to stare up at her and she couldn't help the smile.

"Whatcha need us to do?"

"I need you two to stay inside for a little while.. Maaya will be coming home any minute and I want to make sure that I can tell her that you two are okay before she… well. Acts like herself."

"Who's Maaya?" Kagome felt Inuyasha's warmth as he came up behind her and tugged her into his chest, resting his lips on her shoulder before looking up at Shippo.

"Maaya's our daughter." Kagome couldn't have expected the reaction that came next. Shippo launched the couch and stood in front of her with all three tails twitching.

"She's your daughter?! 'GOME YOU HAVE A DAUGHTER?!" The power of his voice had her cringing backwards, and she knew without looking that Inuyasha's ears were plastered to his head. "'Gome can I meet her?!"

She laughed, nodding and wrapping her arms around the ones Inuyasha had around her waist. "Yea, Shippo.. You can meet her.. But I need you two to stay inside for a bit first." When she looked to the clock, Kagome noticed the time and pulled from Inuyasha. "I'll be right back! You two stay here!"

Running out the door, she picked up her broom just as the ebony hair crested the steps and the exuberant little girl came running up to her. "Momma! Momma! Guess what!" Kagome grinned as she knelt down, catching the flying body of the young girl.

"What's that?"

"Momma! I got a thing for you!" She opened her backpack and pulled out a small replica of the library. "I know ya like books an' stuff so I gotcha the library!" The bauble she put in her hands made Kagome smile as she looked down at it. The girl was simply too sweet for her own good.

"Thank you, sweetheart.. I have something for you to!" The bouncing of the girl almost had her busting out laughing, but she bit her lip to keep it in instead.

"What is it what is it what is it?!" Kagome lifted the girl into her arms, tossing the yellow backpack over her other shoulder and turned towards the large tree on the property.

"Do you remember when I told you the stories of all the demons and explained why you have such long claws?" She looked down at the girl, her expression kind and found eyes that were far too knowledgeable looking back up at her. Maaya odded, bouncing in her arms, but didn't say anything. "Do you remember when I told you your papa wasn't with us because Momma had to leave?"

"Yea!" The line of questioning had the girl practically vibrating in her arms before she reached up and grabbed some of Kagome's hair to force her momma to look at her. "Is it papa?!"

"You're too smart for your own good.. Yes, it's papa.. He c-Maaya!" The girl pulled away from Kagome's arms and landed on the ground, racing into the house. "Maaya! Come back!" Being quarter demon had left her looking more human than her father, but by god she had the strength and speed that told she wasn't quite human. Kagome scrambled to follow the girl as she threw open the door to the house.

Kagome reached her just as she stood frozen in the door, staring up widely at the two men standing in the room. "Maaya.. Meet your papa. Inuyasha.. Meet Maaya." Inuyasha knelt down, extending a clawed hand towards the girl who was suddenly full of nerves and had wrapped her arm around Kagome's leg to peek out behind her red hakama pants.

"Hi Maaya… it's nice to meet you."