A/N: Another chapter guys! Yeah I know I have Kouga as a character. He'll become a character later. I just haven't figured out exactly how and when I want to bring him in yet. This is probably going to be a very long story as ideas for it have been flooding my mind long before I even posted the first chapter. I'm just glad people are enjoying reading it as much as I'm enjoying writing it!

:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:

Chapter 7: To the moon and back

Miroku had actually had a surprise for Inuyasha when they'd visited his temple. He had been storing funds for his friend throughout the years. Inuyasha had always accompanied Miroku on demon hunts in various villages around them, and had always helped in slaying the demons. And he had always refused to take any money. His reasoning had been that Miroku needed it more than he did, that Miroku had a family to take care of whereas he didn't. But, now that he did, Miroku showed him the stash both him and Sango had kept for him. It had shocked him instantly, sure. His friends really did care about him, and had always sort of held up hope that Kagome would come back and he would need that money.

At first he refused to take it. But, Sango insisted, telling him he would need it to take care of Tamako.

It was probably the best thing his friends could have done for him. And he appreciated it probably way more than his friends could ever know, more than he could express to them.

So, he'd made the decision that he would take Tamako to the market that was being hosted a few towns over. Several of the villagers from their village were going, including Miroku. He wasn't exactly comfortable at the idea at first, but he might as well take Tamako, and see if there were anything she would want, along with the regular every day things they would need.

Walking along the road, holding Tamako sitting on his shoulders while the monk walked beside him, his hands resting within the sleeves of his haori. He couldn't help but smile at the sounds of Tamako's amazement of the things around her.

She was smiling as she looked around the woods, taking in deep breaths, taking in the smells. Leaning against her fathers head a little, looking down at him. "Otou, is there gunna be lotsa people there?" she asked in a cheerful tone.

Nodding to her, he smiled. "Yes, there will be.." he said. The idea crossing his mind that it might not be such a good idea. Humans could be the meanest species sometimes, and Tamako was only a little girl. "Tamako...are you sure you don't want your necklace? I've told you people can be mean about us..." he started to say, wanting to continue to explain.

But, the toddlers words cut him off quick. "Hmph! No otou! I like my ears and I don't wanna hide 'em! They just haveta get over it."

The toddlers words caused Miroku to chuckle next to them. "She sounds so much like you, Inuyasha." he said amusingly as he stared forward. It was cute to him, to watch Inuyasha interacting with his daughter. Never had he thought the hanyou could be so caring and loving. They all knew that he'd loved Kagome, but the hanyou never showed it in front of people. Tamako seemed to be the final thing that drew that side from their friend.

"Oh yeah, and is that a problem, monk?" Inuyasha's annoyed voice rang, shooting a quick glare towards his friend, almost warning him to be careful of his words around Tamako.

Miroku shook his head, holding one hand up. "There there friend, of course there is no problem."

Nodding, the hanyou looked forward. "Good. And you monk, just remember, you better behave yourself around my pup."

"What ever is that supposed to mean?" Miroku asked in an innocent tone, glancing towards his friend. But, one look from those golden eyes told him exactly what he'd meant. "Oohh that. No worries, Inuyasha. I am a happily married man now." he said with a smile. However, his friend knew his lecherous ways weren't completely behind him outside the view of his lovely wife.

"Keh, you better be."

"Is Uncle Miroku gunna get in trouble, Otou?" the toddler asked curiously, looking down at her father.

"So long as he behaves he won't."

"Are you gunna send him to his room too?"

"Keh, no. Don't worry of it, Tamako."

The child pouted a little. She was always asking questions about every little thing. She was curious about everything around her, asking every little question that could pop into her little brain. She didn't seem to have a filter as what questions to ask, and which ones to not ask. And usually, after she received an answer, it only was followed by another question.

Almost as if he could tell another one was on the way, he shook his head. "Tamako, you are filled with too many questions." he stated to his daughter as they walked.

"They're all like that, better get used to it Inuyasha." the monk added.

She didn't understand completely. What was wrong with questions? But, that in itself was a question. Shifting a little and looking ahead as the village began coming into view. Sitting up on her fathers lap, blinking slowly. The village was a lot like their home village, and very different from Tokyo. And as they walked along the streets, her ears twitched and moved to all the different sounds. Not nearly as much as Tokyo, but all different to her. Since the sounds and smells of this world were so much less than her own world, it was almost overwhelming to the child. She'd learned quickly in Tokyo how to drown out noise. But in this world she wasn't too sure what was noise and what was not.

Her mouth fell open a little as she looked around at all of the things that were going on in the village. Upon seeing the merchant tables, she seemed quickly excited. There was so many things. The stores of Tokyo surely had more, but the way the things were displayed here was quite different. Hearing peoples words, conversations, noises. However, she was quickly becoming used to this world. She would have to as it would be her new home for the rest of her life.

Barely even paying attention to the monks words, Tamako looked up when she saw them approach one of the stands, apparently because of Miroku's suggestion.

"Tamako?" she heard Inuyasha's voice ring in her ears, blinking a little.

"Yes, Otou?" she asked.

Chuckling a bit at catching his daughter off guard, he picked her up from his shoulders and held her against his side, looking at her. "Sango mentioned getting you a new kimono. You'll grow out of those clothes quick, and you did not bring nearly enough that you'll need. So...you'll need to pick out a print or something." he told her, walking to the table with her.

Inuyasha looked up at the merchant, seeing the look in his eyes, letting out a low growl as if to warn him to watch his tongue. He did not want the merchant to upset Tamako. She seemed to be in a good mood so far.

Her eyes looked over the fabrics, blinking slowly. They weren't full kimonos, they had to be sewn and put together. Inuyasha had no idea how he was going to manage that. He had no clue how to sew or anything.

Seeing her point to one fabric, a smile on her lips. "Otou, I like that one. Its pretty." she said as she pointed to one fabric that was red with little white and yellow flowers all over it.

Nodding a bit, he glanced towards his monk friend. He had no idea how to barter with people. After all, he'd never had to do it before.

Gratefully, the monk took over the bartering for the things that Tamako seemed to want.

:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:

The afternoon seemed to go on and on as their shopping commenced. Inuyasha would have been bored out of his mind if he wasn't so happy about giving his daughter the things she wanted. Within reason, of course. He wanted to spoil her so much, but at the same time he knew that spoiling a child was no way to raise one.

Coming back to their hut, he'd let Tamako walk on her own as he carried the things they'd gotten all wrapped up. Watching her skip happily just ahead of him, holding a brand new doll that he'd just gotten her. She'd seemed to love the thing, so he'd given in and got it for her.

Overall, the trip to town went fairly smoothly. There were awkward whispers amongst the people milling about in the market square, but other than that, nobody dared to say a thing to their face. After all, he was a grown adult now, and it was evident that if someone messed with his pup, they were messing with him.

Walking into the hut, he moved to put the things down, looking down at her. She had come in just seconds before him.

"Otouu, when can I have my kimono? It'll look pretty right!?" she asked happily.

Inuyasha chuckled and nodded. "Yes Tamako, it will. You will be the best looking girl in the village." he told her. "But, it might take a while. I do not know how to sew...so we'll have to ask Sango-chan verrry nicely if she will make one for you." he said. He knew Sango had already said she would help them, but he was trying to teach Tamako something. Trying to teach her that you ask for the things you want without just demanding him. Which, was completely the opposite of how he'd grown up and how his demeanor was most of the time. But hey, his pup could have better manners than him any day. In fact, he preferred it.

Seeing her small nod. "Okay otou, I'll ask her real nice." she said, moving to sit on one of the mats around the fire pit, looking up at him. "I like Auntie Sango, otou. She's so pretty and nice. You think I'll be that pretty when I grow up?" she asked, looking down at her feet almost unsure.

Caught off guard by that question, Inuyasha moved to sit next to her, shaking his head. "No, I'm afraid not..." he started, glancing at her disappointed face. "I'm sure you'll be prettier than anyone else. You already are anyway." he said, smiling to the child.

But the little comment didn't seem to effect her mood. Moving her feet a little, staring at them slowly. "But...but those people said I was ugly and dirty...they called me a dirty hanyou. Whats that mean otou?"

Sighing a bit, he moved to scoop the girl up into his lap, holding her back into his chest. "I thought we had discussed the things people say, Tamako. They don't like what they don't understand. And, you might hear a lot of people talk like that. Don't let that bother you, though. They're just jealous that they cannot look as good as you." he said, looking down at her, starting to see her smile. Kissing the top of her head just by one of her dog ears. "And, being a hanyou is not bad at all. Your okaa loved me because I'm a hanyou. Being a hanyou just means you're half human, and half demon. The best of both worlds, your mother would say. But some humans are just mean about it. Not all of them though. Miroku, Sango, Kaede, Rin, Chiyo and Sara all love you no matter what."

Seeming happy by his answer, she smiled, looking up at him. "And you love me too, Otou!" she declared.

He only smiled to her, nodding. "I love you to the moon and back, princess." he whispered to her.

:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:

Later in the evening, it was almost impossible to get Tamako settled down. He'd taken her to the spring for her evening bath, just like Kagome always usually insisted on having, and brought her back to the hut. Sitting just behind her, carefully brushing through her long dark silver locks, looking down at her.

"Are you sure you don't want to go to sleep yet?"

"Uh huh...I'm sure Otou. No sleepy time!" she said, smiling happily up at him.

A sigh came from his lips and he shook his head. "Oi, you really should go to bed to get a good nights sleep, pup." he said as he carefully moved the comb through his daughters hair.

He never imagined himself like this. Being a father, brushing his daughters hair in the hut they lived in. It was amazing that he could have something like this. All growing up he had never thought he would even get a woman that willingly would want to be his mate and give him a pup of his own.

Looking down at her face slowly. "What will make you go to bed?"

Seeing the mischievous grin that crossed her lips made him gulp in fear. "T-Tamakoo...what is that look for?" he asked.

"You gotsta promise anything I want!" came the toddlers answer.

Shaking his head slowly. "Within reason, Tamako." he told her.

Grinning from ear to ear, the little girl got up from her fathers grasp, running into her bedroom quickly. His ears peaked up a little, wondering what the girl was up to when she came running back with a box she'd gotten from in her room, one she'd brought back with her. Quickly kneeling in front of her father, looking up at his face. "I wanna play with your hair first, Otou!" she declared.

The declaration made Inuyasha blush a bit, shaking his head. "Play...with my...hair? Tamako, no, come on. I'm a boy, boys don't have their hair played with..." he said. But, seeing the look on her face that came just after his denial. "Tamako, no. Now I said within reason...you know that." he started, pleading with the toddler.

"Come on, you don't wanna do that anyways. Its not fun."

Silent pout, turning into a sniffling expression.

"Nooo! No no no, no tears. Stop. I said no, and I meant it."

Sniffles, big golden-specked chocolate eyes looking up at him.

"Stop with that look. Stopppp...no. I said no."

Tears started to well up in her eyes as she sniffled a bit more, threatening to let her tears fall.

"I swear child, you better stop it right this minute...or else..." he started, not really finishing.

Slowly, one tear started to move down her cheeks.

Sighing, that tear proved to be his undoing. "F-Fine. Fine. But so help me you better go to sleep afterwards."

Instantly her face brightened as she giggled happily. "Yaaay! I promise Otou!" she said happily, watching her father settle down and put his hands into his haori sleeves, obviously not happy about the situation. He knew he would regret it later.

Closing his eyes once Tamako grabbed the comb and ran behind him with her little box. Taking the comb, Tamako began running it through her fathers long silvery mane that was much, much longer than hers. Really, it was longer than she was tall.

Opening her little box, looking through the hair things she had. Little barrettes, ribbons, bows, hair ties, and various things were within the box, all in various shades of pinks, purples, oranges, greens and yellows. Reaching her fingers up, tugging on her father a little to show him to lean down a little more. Taking two bows to put them in his hair by his ears, causing them to twitch and flinch underneath the touch. And then, after those were in, she began playing with various places in his hair, braiding a few bits, putting barrettes on them to hold them closed. Once she was satisfied with her work, his hair had several barrettes and bows in it.

Running around in front of him, holding up a little compact mirror and giggling happily. But, the response from the older hanyou was not so happy. A scowl plastered on his face as he looked into the mirror to see what had been done to him.

Kami...I'm so glad nobody like Sesshoumaru were to see this...or Miroku. Gods that monk would not let me hear the end of this...

Tamako only smiled up at her father slowly. "Otou looks pretty!" she declared.

Shaking his head, he chuckled as he looked at her. "Right. If you say so. But boys aren't supposed to wear these things you know...they look better in your hair."

Shrugging in response, she yawned, wiping her eyes a little bit. It was obviously past her bedtime, and she finally was starting to show it. Feeling her father scoop her up into his arms before walking into her bedroom, carefully placing her down onto the futon. "Now sleep. A deal is a deal." he said, leaning and kissing the top of her head like he usually did before tucking her into the covers. He usually joined her, but now...now he had to take those...things out of his hair first and finish putting the fire in the main room out.

Walking outside the room, glancing back and instantly seeing her having fallen asleep. Smiling a bit. What he wouldn't do for her, even subjecting himself to practically torture. Stepping outside of the room, he hastily took the bows and ribbons off, shaking his hair free of the braids. Once he was content that his hair was back to normal, he went to clean up the things she'd brought out. Putting them to one side and starting to put out the fire for the night.

:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:

A/N: Hahahaha, I had that final scene in my mind for so long, I just had to put it in there! My uncle had a once similar scene with his daughter, and I just thought it was too cute to resist. :-D. A bit of hilarity to end the chapter with. Enjoy!