A/N: Thank you xRaianx for the review. I promise that Miroku and Sango aren't the only ones who will have a wedding night by the time that this story's over. Just keep reading. Right now, I have to concentrate on making my version of the Lady Mother as accurate as possible. After all, it's not easy writing a character that's not entirely sane.

Disclaimer: I do not own the Inuyasha characters, manga, anime, movies, etc. They belong by copyright laws to Rumiko Takahashi.

Her Monk

Ch. 9

The Lady Mother made herself comfortable against the far wall in Miroku and Sango's home. Her long silver-white hair blended seamlessly into the fur that lined her robe. She appeared elegant yet there was no denying how lethal she could be if she put her mind to it. From the moment she had arrived, Inuyasha had been walking on egg shells around her in attempt to keep her from attacking his pack. So far she had been content to scold him for not informing him of his marriage and was willing to hear out the story of how his human friends had become part of the Taisho clan.

Unfortunately he knew from past experience that her mood could change in an instant. Currently she sipped tea while Sango and Kagome hurriedly made a simple meal of rice and fish. He doubted she would eat it but maybe she'd be pacified by the offer of hospitality.

She hid her amusement as she drank the tea and watched the two human girls scramble to fix her something to eat. The Lady Mother wasn't impressed with what they were offering but that fact that they recognized her as an important figure in their future was enough to satisfy her for the moment. Her sharp golden eyes fixed on the kitsune child and the odd bowl he was taking out of the grotesque yellow bag that belonged to his adoptive mother. The scent of dried noodles and chicken drifted to her through the package and she raised one thin brow.

"What is that?" she asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.

"Ramen," her stepson answered absently.

"I will have that." She waved a hand imperiously, expecting to be obeyed immediately.

"But, my lady, it is a simple meal not fit for one such as you," Miroku protested, not wanting her to become offended by the quick meal they often ate when traveling.

"It has chicken in it, does it not?"

"Not really, my lady. It's just flavored with it." Kagome shared a look with Sango. "You're welcome to have it, of course, but it really isn't anything special."

"I think I will." Inuyasha's eyes widened but he remained silent. He had been uncharacteristically quiet. The half demon nodded to his wife and the miko shrugged, pulling another odd bowl from the bag. Hot water was added and then it was set aside for a few minutes. Once everyone was served, the Lady Mother returned to the reason for her visit. "Your explanation, Stepson."

"Ah, yeah," he mumbled, watching his powerful lady "stepmother" take her first mouthful of ramen noodles. "Well, you know all about Naraku and the Shikon no Tama. In a last ditch effort to get even with us, the Jewel cursed Miroku and Sango to live as long as me because it couldn't hurt Kagome nor I more than it had previously. We found the Taisho crests on their arms not long after the cursed thing was destroyed. Sesshoumaru knows all about it. He's the one that suggested Kagome and I get married right away even though she's too young to get married where she comes from. Her mother gave her permission for a simple blessing but we had to promise that there'd be nothing more until she finished her studies. It's her grandfather's wish that she do so. He's a priest and doesn't really like me to begin with and Kagome wanted his blessing. We'll have a bigger ceremony in a few years."

Miroku listened carefully in case there was anything he could add that the demoness could possible want to know. So far, his friend seemed to have covered everything. It was odd that Inuyasha would give such details but he seemed almost afraid of his brother's mother.

"Ah," the Lady Mother uttered before taking another bite of her ramen. "This is good," she complimented and had the group exchanging shocked glances. She meant every word but the surprised looks were an added bonus.

"Is your mother available to talk to, Kagome?"

"No ma'am, not for another five hundred years if you want to do it in person. I suppose if you wanted to write her a letter, we could go give it to her. Unfortunately, the only ones who can go to my home are Inuyasha and me. The passage to my family shrine only allows myself and him to go through. Even when we had jewel shards, it didn't let anyone else through. I'm sorry."

Displeased, the lady demon frowned, setting aside her meal. "You will dictate," she ordered the monk. The humans rushed to gather writing supplies and she hid her smile behind an icy stare. Settling hard eyes on Inuyasha, she saw he wasn't surprised by the change in her mood. After their first few encounters she supposed he was used to her swift temper and quick judgment. He had avoided her after that so she couldn't blame him for not knowing her change of heart.

She wasn't the best mother, there was no denying that. The female demon had none of the warmth his mother had had but having watched over his body during the fifty years he was trapped to Goshinboku, taking turns keeping demons away with the nekomata that sat in one corner glaring at her in warning, there was little point in pretending to be aloof.

Some called her crazy and still more yet wondered about her sanity. Inuyasha was one of them. It was obvious that he had worried about her reaction to the news that the humans of his pack had become part of a clan that had shunned him from his conception.

"I am ready, my lady," Miroku said, bringing her attention back to the present.

"Hmm, where shall I begin?" When no one answered, she repeated her question. "Well, where should I begin?"

"How about introducing yourself?" Sango offered tentatively. Honestly, couldn't the demon figure it out for herself?

"Ah. I am the Lady Mother, ruler of the Taisho clan…" Her prattling went on for nearly a half hour before she got to the point. Miroku was tempted to edit the letter once she left but figured she'd find out somehow that he'd done it and try to kill him because of that. "I wish to know what her plans are for this extra ceremony she plans on having for Inuyasha and Kagome. I would not wish to duplicate anything here."

"Duplicate anything…?" Kagome asked suspiciously, dread filling her.

"Of course, miko. Did you think I would allow the second son of my former husband to get away with a peasant's version of a wedding?"

Inuyasha's temper snapped. There was only so much of his brother's mother's behavior that he could be expected to accept. "That's enough! You've ridiculed me, shunned me and threatened to kill me each time we've met. Now you come with open arms and plans for my wedding. Just where do you get off telling me how I live my life? We're not even related. You're not even really my stepmother."

Sango was not surprised by his loss of control. She too, had been ready to snap at the female demon. "Inuyasha is right, my lady. You're not related."

The Lady Mother sighed dramatically. "You're just like your brother. So picky with the details. And I am the head of the clan."

"Go hang the clan. I've done just fine without them until now. We can live without them for the rest of our lives."

"Foolish pup!" she snapped, her own temper on thin ice. "How do you expect your human pack members to survive the hundreds of years they'll live without demons to teach them? Humans are frail creatures, their minds are not geared for living near millennia lengths of time."

That seemed to take the steam out of his anger and Inuyasha collapsed back into a seated position. He was clearly worried about the pressures that went with living centuries long instead of decades. "You need the clan, pup. Do not doubt that for a second. Things changed the second you claimed the young miko as yours. She too will live for centuries as your mate. You know that you will protect her from all danger. And without proper training she will be in danger of losing her mind. They all will."

"Keh," was his only comeback.

Pleased she had won the battle, she went back to her ramen. When she noticed that the houshi still had his brushed poised, she fluttered a hand. "That is all."

"Would you like to sign it, my lady?" he offered, showing her the last of several sheets of loose leaf paper Kagome had contributed to the project.

"If I must," she said, draining the odd cup of all liquid. "Interesting. I had never seen the material that this bowl is made out of."

"It's from my time period, my lady," Kagome answered. Vaguely she wondered what that had to do with signing the letter but didn't dare ask.

The Lady Mother nodded, showing her understanding then took the paper and brush from Miroku. With a flourish she added her title to the letter and then laid it aside to dry. "Well then, that is all. The matter of the monk and demon slayer joining the clan is over. I shall send someone to collect the priestess' mother's response."

She rose and with a sweep of her fancy robe, exited the house. The inutachi sat in silence for many minutes absorbing the implications of her decision. "She's insane!" Inuyasha finally declared.

"Oh, come on, Inuyasha, she's not that bad. Definitely eccentric."

"Kagome, you're being too kind," Sango pointed out gently.

"I'm forced to agree with Sango," Miroku seconded.

Inuyasha, wanting to bang his head against the wall, stood up. "Let's go, Kagome, Shippou. I'll bring you to Kaede-babaa's then I need to go for a run."

"Inuyasha…?"

"It's either a run or I tear down some trees." The monk and slayer watched the rest of their family leave, taking comfort in each other's presence.

"Miroku, do you think his stepmother's right? Are our minds really in danger because of our extended life?"

"I would say yes, my dear. Our bodies were not made to last more than a century. There is little doubt that our mental health would be just as fragile. We will learn what we have to in order to live, Sango."

Sango nodded and began cleaning the leftovers from dinner. Kirara brushed up against her kitten in sympathy. "How do you do it, Kirara? With everything you've seen and done, how are you still good at heart?"

The nekomata mewed, trying to give comfort to the suddenly confused young woman. She was angry at the way the other demon had left things. The Lady Mother never did make things simple. Purring, she climbed into Sango's lap and kissed the hand closest to her. Miroku saw her attempt and without a word picked up where his wife had left off in the clean-up. He'd leave his beloved in more experienced hands. Or rather, more experienced paws.