Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any other characters created by Rumiko Takahashi.

Author's Notes: Wow, where does the time go? I'm really, really sorry that I haven't been able to update this story, guys. The email address I had been using managed to kick me out, but thankfully I am able to get it back and running. I got caught up in this wonderful thing we call life and work (being an adult sucks, fyi), but now I'm happy to go ahead and update to you wonderful readers. Also, I am working on a Labyrinth fanfic, titled "The Half-Breed and the Goblin King." Give it a read if you're into Labyrinth or if you just enjoy my writing I appreciate all the support you send my way. Thanks so much guys! Hope you enjoy.

Recap: Inuyasha watched the woman quickly run into the street and drape her body around something. He frowned as he tried to determine what and then he noticed a car approaching her. He don't know what caused him to run out into the street, but he used his hanyou strength to knock the car away from the woman. He ignored the driver, who was swearing up a storm and made his way to the woman still curled up in the street. When she lifted her head, her brown eyes filled with desperation and helplessness, his golden eyes widened in shock as he took a step back. He couldn't believe it. The Piacere model.

"Kagome."

He watched as her brown eyes widened as she realized who had saved her. He noticed something squirm in her arms, causing her to release her strong grip. His heart stopped as a child with silver hair and gold eyes was clutching onto a neon pink ball with a white hamster inside. The child looked up at him and let out a cry of surprise as the harsh wind blew her hat off, revealing dog ears like his. "Mama, who's that?"

Chapter Sixteen

Inuyasha rested his head against the cool tile of the state of the art shower that was part of his hotel suite. Feeling the scalding hot drops of water slide over his shoulders, against his muscled back, and down his spine was soothing. Most humans would be unable to even last thirty seconds with how hot the water was, but there were small perks to being half-human. The hot water was a lot better than having to deal with a massage. A lot faster, as well.

"Mutt! Stop hogging all the damn water! Some of us need to bathe too, ya know!"

A growl left the curled lips of the former rock-star, his eyes clenched shut in annoyance. "The last time you took a bath was 500 years ago, you mangy wolf! Go bother Miroku for his damn shower. There's no way in hell that you're getting mine!" He snarled and waited for Kouga to leave his room. As soon as the door slammed shut, he let out a sigh and reached behind him to shut the water off.

He grabbed the fluffy, burgundy towel that hung on a hook near the shower door and wrapped it low on his hips. He grabbed an extra towel on the sink nearby and started to dry his long, silver hair, shaking it every now and again to rid himself of the excess water.

As he looked up into the mirror of the bathroom, he met the golden eyes of his reflection, but instead he saw the golden eyes of the little girl with silver hair and ears. Just like him.

"Mama, who is that?"

"Why does he look like me?"

"Is that my Daddy?"

Inuyasha moved away from the mirror and headed into the bedroom. How in hell did Kagome manage to hide a child from him? His own flesh and blood. His lips curled into a snarl once again in annoyance and anger. His own pup. He missed watching his pup grow for five years. Walking towards the huge king size bed, his hands gripped the sheets, his extending claws ripping through them easily. Closing his eyes shut, he let out a growl and felt his fangs extend as well. He knew his demon was furious with Kagome for doing such a thing to him. He had to calm down. The last thing he needed was to revert back to his demon form, especially with the large crowd of photographers outside.

Ring! Ring! Ring!

Taking a few short, calming breaths, he grabbed his cell phone and answered it. "What?!"

"Sheesh, work on your manners, ya grouch! Kouga, Miroku, and I are going to head down town for dinner tonight. You in?"

Inuyasha turned toward the dark skyline, watching the storm continue to pour outside of the hotel. Hearing a loud crash of thunder, he stayed perfectly still as a bolt of lightning lit up the sky and illuminated his dark bedroom. "No. I'm having dinner here."

"By yourself?!"

The lightning struck once more, making the room brighter before quickly casting it back into the ominous shadow. "No. With Kagome." Then, he hung up the phone, casting it to the side of the bed as he gathered his clothes and went to change.

Kagome sat in the taxi, barely paying attention to the scenery outside as Gin snuggled against her. Her hand absently stroked her little girl's hair and would gently rub her ears, but her mind was elsewhere. Stuck in time. Just a few hours ago.

Her eyes couldn't widen even more. She had known he was in town. How could she not have? Inuyasha was plastered all over town and showing up all over the television, with fans gathered outside his hotel. Kagome wasn't an idiot. She knew that with Sesshomaru showing up that Inuyasha was most likely around as well. The older brother was known to be in town, mainly to keep an eye on the younger half-brother, to bail him out of some trouble or cover up some ill thought comments that a reporter would've loved to keep in an article.

"Mama, who is that?"

Kagome's mouth was frozen. Her voice no longer worked. She had heard Gin's question, but her brain could not comprehend that the man she loved was standing right in front of her. Had just saved her and their daughter. A daughter that he did not even know existed. Until that very moment.

"Why does he look like me?"

She remembered people coming out of their cars to make sure that they were all right. She thought she had seen Miroku, too. Her eyes were only stuck on one person. Inuyasha. His silver hair that was drenched with rain water, the ears that she adored, and those eyes. Those golden eyes.

"Is he my Daddy?"

That was the key word that snapped Kagome back to her senses. Blinking her eyes several times, she broke eye contact with Inuyasha and quickly moved out of the street with Gin safely in her embrace. She moved to the sidewalk, assured many people around them that they were okay, and kneeled down to make eye contact with another set of golden eyes. Ones that were anxious yet hopeful. "Gin, why did you run out into the street? You know you could've been badly hurt."

The little girl looked down, her ears flattening against her silky, silver hair. "I had to get Skippy."

"Skippy?" a rough voice asked. It caused Kagome to jump a bit. She thought Inuyasha was tending to the driver of the car, especially since they were already mad.

Gin looked up at him and held up the neon, clear plastic ball with the small rodent inside of it. "My class hamster. Two boys in my class were being mean and took Skippy's ball and tossed it in the street. I didn't want Ms. Dell to be sad that Skippy got hurt so I had to save him." She explained.

Inuyasha frowned. "You ran into the street to save some rat?"

Kagome scowled at him as she looked at him over her shoulder. "Inuyasha!"

"Hamster." Gin corrected him and hugged the ball to her chest. "Rats have long tails. Everybody knows that."

"Gin, I think Ms. Dell would have been more sad if you had gotten hurt, do you understand me?" Kagome asked in a very firm, yet soft manner. She was so thankful that neither of them had gotten hurt. She truly owed their lives to Inuyasha. She just didn't know if she was ready to let him know that yet.

"I'm really sorry, Mama." The little girl whimpered and wiped away the little tears that formed at the side of her golden eyes.

Kagome hugged her tightly and whispered soothing words into her daughter's ear. She wiped away the last of her tears and stood up to face the man she was doing her best to save and stay away from. "Thank you, Inuyasha, for what you did for us. If it wasn't for you, well…"

"We need to talk. Tonight at my hotel. Bring the kid." He said sharply, his golden eyes staring into her surprised brown ones.

"You can't be serious."

"Oh, I'm very serious, Kagome. I'll have Miroku text you the room number. Seven o'clock sharp. Don't even think about bailing on this. I'm sure the last thing you want is for all this paparazzi showing up on your doorstep. Trust me. I can't do much to stop them." He growled low enough for only her to hear. "Understand?"

Her eyes narrowed and lips puckered into a sour expression. "Perfectly." She watched as he gave her a curt nod and turned on his heel to walk back to Miroku, who was watching the entire scene nearby. She was ready to pick Gin up and go home, when the little girl quickly moved forward and grabbed Inuyasha's hand.

"Gin."

"What?"

"Gin. That's my name. Not kid." She gave him a smile. "Am I going to see you again?"

Inuyasha's eyes widened in surprise and gave her a small smirk, removing his hand from hers and ruffling her wet hair. "Yeah. You and your Mom are going to have dinner with me tonight." He leaned down to whisper in her ear. "Make sure she stays out of trouble, though. Most humans don't know how to survive very well unlike us half-breeds."

Gin giggled and looked up at him with awe.

"Make sure you keep a better grip on that rat, too." Inuyasha said over his shoulder as he walked away. "See you later, Gin."

"Bye!" The little girl waved and walked back to her mother, who was shocked at the exchange between her daughter and her former lover. "We are going to go have dinner with him, right?"

"Yes."

Kagome sighed as she recalled her afternoon. How on Earth did she manage to get herself into situations like this? At least she was able to leave a note for Jakotsu. The last thing she needed was for him to be blowing up her cell phone with calls and messages about where she was. She made sure to leave out the part about her meeting with Inuyasha. She was fairly certain that Jakotsu would've wanted to come with her and Gin. However, not as moral support. If anything, he would've jumped all over Inuyasha.

"Here we are, ma'am." The cab driver said as he pulled up to the hotel entrance.

Gin sat up quickly and pressed her face against the window. "Wow! It's huge!" She looked to her mom. "Are we really going to go in there?"

The young woman chuckled and paid the driver. "Yes, Gin." She was getting ready to open the door, when the doorman finished opening it for her. "Thank you." Her hand wrapped around Gin's small one and the two of them quickly walked with the doorman, sharing the umbrella.

"Who are all those people?" the little girl asked the doorman as she pointed to the large crowd who had cameras in their hands.

He chuckled and swiftly ushered them into the warm hotel lobby. "Those are paparazzi. They're people who like to take pictures of celebrities. We have a few here staying at the hotel for their reunion concert."

Kagome saw her daughter ready to ask another question, but one look at the clock in the lobby told her that if she let her daughter's curiosity get the better of them, there is no way they would make it on time and the last thing she wanted or needed was Inuyasha's horrible temper. "Come on, sweetie, we have to go meet someone." Thanking the doorman, she led Gin into an elevator and let her press the highest button.

"Mama?"

"Yes, Gin?"

"Are you scared? You smell scared." The little girl said softly as she held her mother's hand. She had smelt her mother's fear before earlier this afternoon, but this fear seemed different, smelt different.

Kagome gave her a small smile. "A little, sweetheart. I haven't seen Inuyasha since you were born."

Gin squeezed her hand and gave her a cute smile. "Well, you don't have to be scared, Mama. I'll be with you."

Laughing softly, she picked her daughter up and gave her a hug and kiss on the cheek. "Yes, you will." Hearing the elevator's floor signal, she waited until it completely stopped and the doors opened to reveal a hallway with a door at the end of it. "Here we go." Walking down the hall with Gin in her arms, she made her way there and set the little girl down before she knocked. As her fist was ready to hit the wooden door, it swung open quickly, startling her and causing her to jump a little.

There stood Inuyasha in a red wine button down shirt as well as sharp, black dress pants. His hair and eyes contrasted greatly against his clothing selection, but he always managed to make it work somehow. She was sure he could make a paper bag work if he tried. "Are you just going to stand there gawking at me like everyone else does or are you going to come in?" He grumbled.

Kagome mentally shook her head and walked into the hotel room, removing Gin's coat as well as her own. She had gone through several choices from her closet on what to wear. Her room looked like a tornado had ripped through it, stringing clothes left and right. She finally decided on a navy blue wrap dress. She knew she couldn't come off too sexy, considering she was bringing her daughter and that this was a formal meeting, not a date. Seeing a chair near the door, she gracefully placed their coats and her purse over the arm and placed her hands on Gin's shoulder. "They certainly gave you a nice room even though you'll be in time for a short time."

"Only the best for us. Sesshomaru insisted on it." He replied as he moved past them to the kitchen.

"Who's Sesshomaru?" Gin asked, clearly wanting to be part of the conversation.

Inuyasha chuckled and turned to look at her. "He's my half-brother and boring as ever." He turned back to walk into his original destination. "I'm glad to see you were able to make sure your mom got here in one piece, kid."

Rolling her eyes, she led the little girl to the table and stopped as she heard her phone ringing like crazy. She sighed and helped Gin sit in the very luxurious and expensive dining chair. "I'll be right back, sweetie. I have to go answer Uncle Jakotsu's call." Quickly walking back to her coat and purse, she pulled out her phone and made eye contact with Inuyasha before stepping out into the hall way.

The former rock star brought a bottle of wine to the dining table and started pouring it into the two glasses. "Your mom always answering calls at dinner?"

"Nah. Just Uncle Jakotsu. He's probably wondering where we are."

"Yeah? He live with you two?"

"No. Just me and Mama. Are you a Dog-boy?"

Inuyasha stumbled a bit as he poured the wine and quickly pulled the bottle up, so he wouldn't spill any. "A what?"

"Dog-boy. Mama isn't a dog-girl because she doesn't have these." She pointed to her ears. "Since she's not a dog-girl, that mean my Daddy is a dog-boy and you're a dog-boy."

He smirked and took a seat beside the little girl. "You're pretty smart for a three year-old."

She frowned at him. "I'm not three! I'm five!"

"Ah. My mistake. Most five year-old kids aren't as tiny as you are." He watched as her ears flattened against her head and felt his heart sink. "Now, come on, kid, don't be sad, I was just-"

"Mama said I was tiny because she was really small in her class, too. She said that's what I got from her. She also said that even though I'm small, I'll grow to be really strong like my Daddy."

Inuyasha looked at her in surprise and chuckled. "Well, your Mom is a pretty smart lady."

Kagome rushed back inside, closing the door of the hotel room and placed her phone back in her purse. "Sorry. Jakotsu was kind of hysterical and heard about Gin this afternoon." She made her way to the dining table and sat down. "What were you two talking about?"

"Nothing for you to worry about." He replied and took a sip of his wine. Hearing a knock on the door, he got up to open it and a few waiters from the restaurant in the hotel quickly served them their meals.

Dinner went by fairly easy for the small family. Inuyasha made sure to keep avoid questions about being Gin's father, even though the little girl would look at him every time she said 'Dad'. He found the little girl very fascinating and entertaining with all her stories from school and from home. Every now and again, he'd look up to see Kagome just shaking her head with a smile and couldn't help but smile as well. After they ate, he put the plates on the cart that the food had been brought up on and put them outside the room.

"Hey, kid, do you still have room for ice cream?" Inuyasha asked and grinned as her little silver ears perked up.

"Mama, please, can I go get ice cream? Please, please, please please?" She begged as she tugged on the hem of Kagome's dress.

"Maybe a small cup." She stood up and looked up in surprise as Miroku walked through the door. "Miroku, what are you doing here?"

He smiled warmly and looked at Gin. "I'm here to take the young lady down to the restaurant and get her a bowl of ice cream. We won't be gone too long, Kagome. I have had a hankering myself and Inuyasha refuses to go with me, but did suggest that Gin might want to go."

"Yes, please!" Gin giggled and quickly dashed over there, grabbing Miroku's hand.

"Not too much, got it, kid?"

"Okay! Let's go!" She squealed and practically dragged Miroku out of the room. "Wait." She stopped and looked at Inuyasha.

"What's wrong?"

"Gin. My name is Gin." She smiled. "Promise you won't forget it."

"I won't. Don't worry." He scoffed and waved her away.

Holding out her pinky, with a small little claw tip, she held it out to him. "Pinky promise. Ms. Dell says that's the strongest promise you can make someone."

"Uh, your teacher might want to reconsider what she's telling you kids at school." Inuyasha grumbled as he folded his arms across his chest, but frowned when the little girl pushed her pinky more in his face. "All right, fine!" His own pinky quickly curled around hers. "I promise I won't forget your name."

Her little fangs peeked out as she gave him her brightest smile. "Good." Turning around, she grabbed Miroku's hand and dragged him away to the elevator.

Kagome smiled as she watched her little girl manhandle the manager in a childish way, but the smile quickly faded as she saw Inuyasha's scowl. "I know what you're thinking."

"Do you? I didn't realize you had the abilities of a mind reader now. Or did you get those as soon as you became pregnant with my child?!" He snarled as he moved towards her. "Five years, Kagome! That's five years I missed of seeing my own pup! You stole five years from me and from her!"

She quickly moved backwards as he advanced. "You have no idea how much it kills me that she had to spend those years without you, but I had my reasons, Inuyasha!"

He growled and his hand struck a decorative vase in anger. "Your reasons? Did you even think of telling me that I had a daughter?"

"Several times. I-It was a lot for me to process. I didn't even know that I was pregnant until a few months after I got to New York. Besides, by that point, I had heard you had moved on with Kikyo. Did you two get married at long last?"

"Don't try to change the subject here, Kagome. You kept my daughter a secret from me for five years. I can't believe you would do something like that." He hissed as he moved closer to her. He stopped and groaned, closing his eyes shut as he felt the demon clawing at his mind to let it out and show this young woman what anger was really like.

Kagome backed up against the wall and watched in panic as Inuyasha's demon state started to come through. Her breath hitched in her throat when he finally looked up at her and she saw those sharp blue pupils glaring at her from those red irises. Her stomach clenched as the sharp claws began to grow in length. She was thankful Gin was not here to see her father lose control of his demon. "Inuyasha." She tried to be stern with her voice, but couldn't help a slight bit of fear from creeping into it.

His claws slammed on either side of her head and he let out a very loud growl. Baring his fangs at her, his rough voice was deeper and sharper. "Pack your bags in the morning, Kagome."

"W-What? Why?!"

His red eyes connected with her brown ones as she shrank back in fear. "I'm taking you and my daughter back to California and there is nothing you can do or say to stop me."

I wonder how this will turn out for the small family? What will Inuyasha think when he discovers that his family already knew about Gin and Kagome being pregnant? How will Kikyo deal with this new member of the Takahashi clan?

I hope I can put out another chapter soon, but it all depends on time, lol. Thanks so much for reading guys. I look forward to reading your reviews. They honestly do mean the world to me.