A/N: Hi!! It's me again!! Sorry that it took so long, I sort of had a writer's block but I finally had a chance to finish this chapter! It's short but please forgive me. The chapters in the future will be longer, I promise! I'm so happy at how people are enjoying this story so far and I appreciate the positive feedback! A few of you were wondering when Kagome would be growing up. Only more chapter of that and then it will progress from the five year old and then a few more until she finally reaches either 16 or 17, I'm not sure just yet. Well, enjoy a short chapter and I will be back soon with more! Enjoy and as always, please R & R!!!

Chapter 4: Moonshine

Tonight was as clear a night as one could get. Inuyasha sat on the cool grass and just looked up. There was a humongous and perfect full moon in the dark midnight sky, surrounded by billions of shimmering stars. There was such a light breeze tonight that it was just perfect for a night out in the garden. The moon's light beamed; casting its' immense pale glow across the garden; making the bodyguard's silver locks glow lustrously.

Inuyasha always looked to the moon when he needed answers. It was like it could give him some kind of reassurance or help to find those answers. Right now as he lay on the chilly ground with his hands on his bare chest; he continued to glare at the moon. For the past month he has been questioning himself a lot. How could someone change so quickly? What was exactly happening to him? Why did he have to feel this way about a small child? Although he cared about Kagome; who he slowly thought of as a little baby sister-which was still pretty foreign to him seeing as he had no young siblings; why did it happen so suddenly? He had no clue and probably would never figure it out.

While in the midst of his inward questioning, the garden door slowly opened to reveal the girl in question. The five year old; dressed for bed in a loose aqua blue shirt and short pajama set, quietly made her way to the oblivious half-demon.

Kagome wanted to cuddle up to him again after last night. She went to his room but didn't see him. She looked out the balcony window and saw his figure down below. Since it was way past her bedtime; she had to be very silent and very stealthy to sneak out to the garden. Luckily no one caught her on the way down.

The night air caused her to shiver a bit but she held Sasha close for warmth and security. Last night after she slept beside her bodyguard she wanted to do it again. She had lost her only sibling some years ago so she was very lonely. When she fell asleep beside Inya, it felt like she was loved by someone other than her father or Kaede. She didn't see it before but; she looked up to him for many things: fun, comfort, security.

"Inya....?" She tentatively whispered.

Said hanyou sat up upon hearing the small voice and the overwhelming scent of cherry blossoms and lilac. He turned his upper body to see Kagome in her sleepwear with her eyes half closed. "What are doing up so late past your bedtime little missy?"

She walked up and sat beside him; the cool grass touching her legs. "Can't sleep; I wanted to...um sleep in your room again but you weren't there and I you saw here so I came to the garden."

"Really?" He knew she felt comfortable the previous night sleeping beside him but wasn't expecting her to ask again. He grinned and sighed. "Well I came out here to think." He then turned his attention back to the full moon.

Kagome looked up too. The moon was big and bright and she gazed wondrously. When she sat out here in the garden beside her flower patch and watched the sky and clouds drift by, she was in a world of her own. After her mother died and before Inuyasha came; this is where she liked to be. She then blinked and turned to her hanyou companion. Then something occurred to her: The moon's pale silver color was exactly like Inuyasha's long hair. She loved how unique and pretty it was. Whenever she played with it, it was soft to touch.

"You hair is the color of the moon, Inya; why?" She asked curiously after a period of silence.

He turned and looked down at her and saw how those brown eyes looked back at him in inquisitiveness. He sat Indian style and crossed his arms. "I was born with this color; just like you were born with black hair, I was born with silver."

She awed in understanding and nodded. "Like I was born with brown eyes, you were born with gold eyes?"

"Yep, that's it kiddo."

"But why do you have puppy ears and I have normal ones?"

Inwardly he sighed. This child was full of questions! He jumped a little as he felt a small weight in his lap and looked down to see her on his lap looking up expectantly. It was still a strange sensation to have her on his lap but was getting used to it.

"Why, Inya? Why are we so different?" Her voice reached his ears. It was a mix of confusion, curiosity, and exhaustion. She was growing tired the longer she stayed up. So he would explain the best he could.

"We aren't all that different." Subconsciously, he pulled her closer so her head was resting against his chest. "I mean we may look different but I think..."He looked to the moon and sighed. "Deep down, we're the same."

The girl looked up through her tired eyes. "Yeah, I mean I can see that and you may be different from me but..."She hummed and leaned down against him and listened closely. She could feel his heartbeat and listened to its' rhythm. She put her own hand to her chest and felt her heart thumping. Both heartbeats were exactly the same! It was amazing to her. Despite their appearance and background, their hearts beat the exact same way. That was something that would never change that they had in common.

Inuyasha looked down and realized that little Kagome was in deep thought. She had her head resting where his heart was and watched as she put her tiny fist against her own heart. He watched the many emotions through her eyes. He might not have heard anything but he sort of knew what she just realized: His heartbeat and her heartbeat were exactly the same. He pulled her closer and she cuddled into him. He had to admit it was pretty awkward to be sitting with a tiny girl in his lap but she's proven to be something special to him, and he enjoyed having her look up to him for so much; something he wasn't at all used to.

Just as she thought, she felt comfortable and safe in her bodyguard's arms. It was easy to fall asleep last night and now she felt just the same way. She didn't know why such feelings came from her from such a moment like this but she didn't complain. She enjoyed spending time with her Inya. Her dreams would be pleasant tonight because she was in the strong, protective arms of her hanyou bodyguard and with that assurance; she quickly fell asleep with the man's heartbeat lulling her.

In the master bedroom staring out through one of his windows, Akio saw the interaction. He usually was a light sleeper and couldn't get to sleep right away so staring at the garden his daughter loved so much; as did his deceased wife, it helped relax him after a rough day.

He saw his head hanyou bodyguard beside the Iris patch. He was staring at the moon as if in thought. Just as the moon comforted the Inu, the stars in the sky helped the businessman. He knew Masako and his unborn son watched over him and Kagome from that sky. She would always be there to help him and get him through; even when he blamed and hated himself. When he looked down again, he saw his daughter sauntering over to the unaware hanyou. His eyes narrowed as he saw Kagome, who wasn't supposed to be out of bed but softened as she sat beside her bodyguard.

He watched them for a while; the ticking of the clock penetrating the room and the lamp the only light on his bedside table. The father was aware of Kagome sleeping with the hanyou and was skeptical at first when she first told him. Sure she liked him but still anything could have happened. He shook his head and thought that was silly. The hanyou wouldn't let anything happen to the girl. He then saw as his daughter crawled onto the half-demon's lap and just settled within his arms.

"She's going to be okay. I know that now." He whispered confidently.

Ever since Inuyasha has arrived and lived in the house, he has noticed an apparent change in his daughter's behavior. She was so happy and so lively. Her smile lit up a room everywhere she went and her laugh was catching. The father was joyous that his little girl would have a wonderful childhood ahead of her. He, Kaede, and especially Inuyasha would see to that.

When he noticed that Inuyasha held a now sleeping girl in his arms and headed back inside, he closed the curtains and yawned. It was now approaching the eleven o'clock hour and he had a busy day tomorrow. He stretched his unused arm muscles and settled comfortably into the bed; where he once shared it with his wife. The side where she slept was untouched and it was just empty without her. He turned off the lamp and began to rest; although plagued by his wife's memories. Akio was feeling down and promised to not replace Masako with another woman; ever. He had his daughter and that was enough.

With one last thought of his daughter and her future with the hanyou; seeing at how close they've become within a short amount of time, he knew there was nothing more to worry about as he finally fell asleep.

How was it? I thought it was rather cute!! I know things are going slow right now but I want to get chapters where Kagome and Inuyasha interact in the beginning when Kagome is little and as she grows into a teenager, then the feelings start to grow between them. Right now, it's a brother/sister relationship but it gets much more than that later on. You'll see if you continue to read!

Next chapter is where Kagome sees Inuyasha for the first time as a human. It will have a nice ending to it, I promise. Remember how Inuyasha gets when the new moon is coming, well it will be just like that. I want Inuyasha to be in character as much as possible and not too much OOC'ness.

Okay, I said enough! I hope you look forward to the next chapter!!

Ja Ne for now!!