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A/N: WOW! I finally wrote a story that's broken the single digits in reviews! (SQUEES! YAYS! THANK YOU!) No, this isn't a one-shot. It could almost be one, if you don't read any of the other chapters. Just so you know this story isn't going to have much action (if any) just mush and my thoughts...and THE problem...if it's boring (and with so many reviews I'm actually terrified of losing my little audience! So scream at me if it is! I will endeavor to listen!!) I have a problem with adding too many details and not enough plot in one chapter...therefore too long...I apologize. I'm going to personally thank everyone who reviewed this story at the end of this chapter...so read and then make sure I got you...and if you want to be noted next time...REVIEW! (winks)
A young Japanese woman stepped out into the sunlight, squinting at the sudden brightness. Her black hair was swept up in a loose bun to keep her cool in the summer heat. A casual yet exquisite silk kimono, bright red with an embroidered dragon of white sprawling on one side, decorated her thin, lean frame. She was a beautiful, commanding figure standing in the doorway of her rather luxurious home, despite her flushed, overheated face.
"I think I'm going to tear the sleeves off this kimono," she growled to herself, huffing in the heat and scowling as she stared into her gardens.
Another woman behind her, wearing a much simpler robe and also with her graying hair in a messy bun, looked up, mildly amused from where she was cutting vegetables and chopping meat for the nightly meal. "Lady Kagome!" she laughed, "You know that Lord Inuyasha acquired that fine kimono for you at no simple price! You would destroy it just because you're overheated!"
Kagome scowled again, not bothering to turn to see the other woman as she answered, "No Mayuko, you're right. I wouldn't destroy it..." she grinned as she finished the thought in her head then, but I will sit him when he gets home.
Kagome sighed and stepped away from the house and Mayuko, walking down the stone path and through the cherry trees toward the stonewall that marked the edge of the property. Barefoot, unfortunately, the stones were painful against her still tender feet. Mayuko, Miroku, Sango, Shippo, Kaede, and Inuyasha of course wouldn't have been bothered so much by the hot stones digging into their feet, but Kagome, having always been pampered with shoes, wasn't so lucky now. Indignantly she hobbled and hopped down the path until she reached the wall. In the shadow the stones of the rock path through the garden weren't heated by the sun, it was a relief to her burning soles to make their acquaintance.
The wooden gates faced her now, large and threatening in their looming greatness. Inuyasha had wanted them to be huge, she recalled, not only as protection against superstitious humans, but also as a challenge to any demons that might still bear him a grudge. When Kagome had protested that such gates wouldn't stop any demon really, just be an annoyance, Inuyasha had surprised her with his intelligence on the matter, he wasn't all huff and pride as it turned out!
"I don't care whether it stops them or not, Kagome, what I want is an alarm system. If my stupid jackass brother shows up I don't want him to just waltz in and kill you or me or Mayuko or Shippo...or anyone! I want him to knock the gates in like I know the stupid bastard will, make a lot of noise, and give you time to flee." She could easily remember his grinning with the words—he'd noticed the look of astonished awe she'd given him. It'd been obvious to her that he'd known full well what he was talking about, and that she could and would trust him to protect her or die trying.
It'd been nearly two years since Inuyasha had asked her that fateful question after Miroku and Sango had married. She'd never imagined it possible—well, no one really had for that matter—but it'd been the happiest day of her life. As a half-demon Inuyasha was caught between two customs, taking a wife or taking a mate. Demons considered "wives" to be almost burdens, he'd explained to Kagome. They weren't necessarily lovers, more like business partnerships. Two demons chose one another and paired up, sometimes to help one another in wartime or to defeat another demon. Sometimes a child resulted, sometimes more than one, and sometimes lifelong commitments too. Most of the time, however, demons didn't bother "marrying" someone they cared about.
"Sesshomaru, I'll bet, has had numerous marriages..." that'd shocked her.
"Him!? Married?!"
"Yes, Kagome, aren't you listening? He might take a wife to win a power struggle or something," the hanyou waved his hand vaguely, "Then, when the challenge is over with he can either choose to continue the marriage or simply call it off. I actually don't know whether he's done that at all. In the fifty years I was..." he'd paused then, mildly uncomfortable with the topic, "...sleeping...he could've done anything."
More often demons took mates rather than wives when they intended to form lifelong bonds and to produce their heirs. This arrangement was better all around for them, in general. Female demons especially enjoyed being a "mate," more than being a "wife," because wife tended to imply that the husband was dominant, and if there was one thing a demon never wanted to do it was lose power. Mates were equal; mates were fair.
But nevertheless Inuyasha had left the choice open to Kagome. At any time she wanted he'd marry her if she so desired the title of wife. Thus far she'd been fine with being "Lord Inuyasha's mate." It'd had plenty of perks all in itself.
In the two years since he'd claimed her as his mate Inuyasha and Kagome had begun planning something resembling a future together—a settled one. At first Kagome had had to visit her mother, to talk about the possibility of spending the majority of her time in the Feudal Era. It'd been a tough decision, one that Kagome fretted over for numerous months. At one point she'd even tried to decide against ever traveling through the well again, but when she missed her scheduled time to return Inuyasha had come for her and her resolve had melted like butter in the microwave.
Unable to stay in one era forever permanently, Kagome still ventured home on a regular basis, about once every three months. She'd dropped all plans of college but continued to keep herself up-to-date on matters of her home, city, country, and her era in general. Inuyasha never minded her absences, though if she were late he would come through the well after her no matter what, like a watchdog. Kagome wasn't sure whether he was just eager to see her again, eager to eat Ramen, or just afraid still that she might go through and never return.
They'd decided to settle in the Inuyasha Forest close to Kaede's village and the well. Inuyasha, once the feared, wild, untamable demon that'd stolen the Shikon Jewel, had decided to employ himself as a demon slayer. For a hefty sum he exterminated the pests, though it was never the payment that Inuyasha enjoyed—it was wielding his Tetsuseiga again. Though it'd been probably a year since he'd had to use it in defense, rather than the offense of extermination, the hanyou still carried the weapon everywhere he went, much to Kagome's amusement.
Building the house had taken more than a year. It'd only been complete for the last few months, since late spring as a matter of fact. Mayuko had been hired as housekeeper because frequently Kagome traveled with Inuyasha, or visited Kaede or Miroku and Sango, leaving the property and house unattended. That and, of course, there was Shippo to deal with. The kitsune, orphaned long ago, had long since come to see and accept Kagome as his mother. It just wouldn't due for her to abandon him—thus from the moment Inuyasha and Kagome became mates, Shippo became their son. Inuyasha pretended to be disgusted by this, but Kagome and even Shippo understood that that was just how the half-demon was...that and Shippo had the unfortunate habit of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, invading his foster parent's privacy.
"Hello!"
Kagome was ripped from her thoughts at that moment by a call from outside the stonewalls. Hurriedly she moved closer to the gates and leaned her ear closer, trying to identify the voice this time, for it hadn't sounded like Inuyasha. "Who's there?"
"My name is Miroku, I know Lord Inuyasha and Lady Kagome!" no wonder I thought it was familiar...that silly monk...doesn't he recognize my voice?
Kagome chuckled, shaking her head in slight bewilderment, as she moved to unlock the gates and swing them wide enough so she could view the guest to ensure he really was Miroku. When the gates had creaked open enough she pushed her head between them and grinned as, sure enough, Miroku the monk stood before her, his purple robes, sandaled feet, black hair, and blue eyes the same as she remembered them. When had she seen him last? Six months ago was it? Closer to a year?
"Miroku!" she pushed the gates wide and gestured for him to enter, but the monk remained where he was, puzzlement etched on his face like words set in stone by a scribe.
"My Lady Kagome..." he breathed wonderingly, then bowed respectively, making Kagome blush, "That's a very fine kimono! To be sure, I'm used to seeing..." his face creased uncertainly, "...you wearing something far different!"
"Yes...I know..." Kagome looked at her bare feet, her face burning in waves, "Inuyasha bought this for me."
"It's lovely. You look almost as beautiful as my Sango."
"Where is Sango?" Kagome asked, perplexed, and eager to bring the subject off her clothing, which was starting to make her feel faint.
"Oh..." Miroku shifted his weight uneasily; the slight movement made his walking staff jangle in protestation. "Sango wasn't feeling well. I wasn't helping her either. The heat has been getting to her."
"Is she ill?"
"No, merely...pregnant." He failed to add to that again.
"Congratulations! When did this happen Miroku?"
"She's only known a few months. You know, it's a most unpleasant thing, especially in this heat." He sighed and used one robed arm to wipe his brow, frowning.
"Come in Miroku, for heaven's sake then! At least come out of the sun!"
"Oh! Certainly Lady Kagome, you are a most gracious host." The monk started in, his steps weary with fatigue. As he passed her Kagome wondered how their firstborn was and whether Sango had thrown Miroku out of their home in her irritation...she frowned as she closed the gates and locked them securely once more. How old was their little boy Kohimu now? She couldn't remember.
When she turned to face Miroku again he was staring at the stone path and the cherry trees, his eyes wide. "My, my, Lady Kagome..." he breathed, obviously impressed.
"Really it's nothing." She knew Miroku and Sango lived much more humbly than what she and Inuyasha had made for themselves, but a lot of that was due to the fact that they'd become parents quite quickly after their marriage. Kagome and Inuyasha hadn't been concerned about such things and thus far were childless. That lack of children, with the exception of Shippo who already could mostly take care of himself, had helped them a lot. The exquisiteness of their home wasn't really Inuyasha's choice, it was more something he did for Kagome, and as a statement to others, both human and demon, that he was not only going to fit in, but he was going to live and love better than most of them too. He was still partial to sleeping in trees while they traveled and even while he was at home with her. In the back of their grounds, in one corner, there was a particular tree that he favored she knew...she had fond memories of sitting with him in its branches, watching the sun move through the sky above...
"Well Lady Kagome," Miroku turned round and looked at her with a raised brow, clearly amused, "I can see why you and Inu...Lord Inuyasha," he stuttered briefly, noticeably smirking over the hanyou's title, "...haven't had any children."
Kagome felt a jolt pass through her. What a thing for him to say! "But we have Shippo...and yes, we have been busy with the estates, and Inuyasha travels with his responsibilities..."
Miroku waved a hand at her, smiling gently, "Don't mind me Lady Kagome, I'm only joking."
Was he? She knew that children, as far as the people of Feudal Era Japan thought, were a measure of success within a marriage. When a couple didn't produce at least a pregnancy within a certain amount of time—she didn't know how long it actually was—it was considered a bad omen. As far as Kagome was concerned that belief was due mainly to the fact that there were no contraceptives in this time—with the exception, of course, of abstinence. Thus a wife, or mate in her case, who didn't become pregnant was assumed to be either frigid to her husband or...
Kagome blinked and came out of her thoughts, frowning through the sun, "Please won't you come to the house Miroku? I know Shippo, and Inuyasha when he gets home, would love to talk with you!" she chattered cheerily, "I'll have Mayuko prepare us some tea!" hiking up her skirt she hobbled passed the monk over the sun-baked stones in the path, up towards the house. Behind her Miroku shook his head, marveling...how she's changed...he started to follow her up towards the house, eyes still plastered on the beautiful gardens his old friends had so carefully cultivated.
"I'd love to Kagome!" he called to her, laughing, "But not tea please! Make it sake!"
Endnotes: Okay, here we go: Kohikari you read my other story too! Thank you! I LOVE multiple reviews! I'm glad you think this is sweet...(squees!), Heartbroken-Hanyou I'm sorry this has taken SO long to get updated...sincerely sorry...esta and LadyValkov, thanks for the support, and nope it's not over yet!...kagome4u GREAT GUESS...VERY close...biologic rules...RayGirl91, Blind-Sight, and especially ronithefish for your support and encouragement, I hope this chapter makes you happy...(winks)...laura I'm sorry but I do get bogged with details...feel free to slap me...sameena Good luck getting your own stories on here...I know i've wanted to for a LONG time...WOOT! I think i got everyone! Wowies! Review please! Tell me how I'm doing!
