Disclaimer : It's a wonderful life, and it would be even better if I owned Inuyasha. (HINT, HINT, NUDGE, NUDGE, WINK, WINK) But I don't. (SOB)

Chapter 4 : Kagome Higurashi's Day Off

Where everyone in this story stands

After they finally got breakfast, Inuyasha and his group started for Kaede's village again. They walked and led the cow for three days. They weren't really in a hurry to get rid of Kaede anymore. Stopping for everything from diaper changes to naps didn't anger Inuyasha in the least. This was a big surprise to Kagome, who was ready to fight him tooth and nail for the welfare of the baby. Unfortunately, with the baby taking up so much of Kagome's time, day and night, he never got his chance to ask her, you know, his "questions".

All this time Sango and Miroku had followed their last clue to no avail and headed for home discouraged. This wasn't the first trip where they hadn't even gotten one shard. Amazingly enough, they had the feeling that Inuyasha wouldn't care. Neither knew why. Usually they were scared to come back after an unproductive trip, but now, they didn't feel any pressure and they were coming back empty-handed. ...?

Also in a far off village, Kikyo and Kosimu had found a kimono shop. Kosimu was fitted for a flowing purple and blue number that accented Kikyo's miko outfit perfectly. Just thought you might want to know. Also, Kikyo let him keep his skin tight black ninja outfit for when he was fighting and being all ninja-like. Very noble of her, huh?

Now that you're up to speed

Kaede's village was coming into view and our intrepid group of travelers were exhausted. Inuyasha and Kagome had been walking all day. Shippo had found a comfy post on Inuyasha's head in which to watch Kagome holding the baby who was wrapped in a blanket from her pack. Surprisingly, Inuyasha didn't tell him to get off, but let him stay up there as a kind of lookout. The cow was following behind on a lead rope held by Inuyasha.

As they neared, a familiar sight came into view. Sango was holding her Hiraikotsu up over an unconscious Miroku's head while panting heavily in a barely controlled rage.

No use killing the pervert. Knocking him out for a few seconds is good enough.' She thought as she lowered her weapon.

"Well it's good to see you two again." Kagome shouted and waved.

"Kagome-chan!" Sango yelled back, putting her boomerang away and beginning to run to her best friend. She then noticed the cow following them and the odd bundle that Kagome held in her hands.

As they came closer, she realized that the cow was being led and the bundle was Kagome's blanket. She tilted her head to the side and decided to question it after Miroku woke up.

"Hey, Inuyasha, do you think you can kick the letch up again? I really want to get to Kaede's hut." Sango asked politely. He grunted and walked away.

"Did you have any luck finding the shards?" Kagome asked trying to make conversation.

"Nope, not a single one." Sango replied. "Though, we did find many youkai without ones. They just kept coming at us. It was so annoying."

In the background, away from the girls, Inuyasha nudged Miroku with his foot.

"Do you think Sango finally killed him!" Shippo asked from atop his head.

"Nah. I can hear him breathing. I think he just needs a little help getting up." Inuyasha said with a rueful smile as he pulled back his foot and gave the monk a good kick in the ribs.

Miroku went sailing like a football at kickoff and landed with a thud a few feet away. Getting up, he mumbled a few curses and started walking back holding his side.

"Damnit, Inuyasha! Do you always have to wake me up like that?" Miroku muttered low enough for only Inuyasha and Shippo to hear. "You could've let Sango bend over my prone body and-"

"Okay, that's enough from you letch. If you hadn't noticed there ARE little ones around." Inuyasha said in a low tone.

Miroku just gave him an odd look and decided not to question where THAT had come from, seeing as how Inuyasha had the worst mouth of any of them. He walked back toward the girls. At a warning look from Sango, he held up his hands in a gesture of innocence and joined in on their conversation.

"So, are we going back to Kaede's hut together then?" Miroku asked, anxious to get a good meal after a week on the road with nothing but some old bread from the crowded house, Ramen, and fish from the rivers along the way.

"Yep." "Let's get going." "I'm hungry!" and "Keh!" Were heard from just about everyone, except Baby Kaede AKA the blanket that was not alive', as they hurried along the path.

When they finally reached the hut, Kaede was already cooking a rather large pot of stew. She seemed to know that they would be back right about then and had prepared for it. After announcing that dinner was to be ready in two minutes and for everyone to get comfortable, she turned back to stir the pot of stew and take the buns out of the oven.

Speaking of which, Baby Kaede finally decided to let her presence be known as she smelled the food.

Sango, Miroku, and Kaede all stopped what they were doing when they heard the baby's cry. They slowly faced Kagome who still held her with shocked expressions on their faces and started looking pointedly at Inuyasha and Kagome as if they had some explaining to do. Baby Kaede had stopped crying and was looking from person to person as if she understood what was happening perfectly.

Inuyasha, fed up with their looks, blurted out, "Oh come on! She can't get pregnant and have a kid in two weeks!", at the same time Kagome said, "We didn't do anything like that on OUR trip.", with a glare at Miroku and Sango and an exasperated sigh at them all. After a quick look down at their laps, everyone started to talk at once.

"Whoa, whoa. Slow down. We can't understand a word you're saying." Kagome said with a smile. They quieted and took turns asking questions.

"So what is it?" "Whose is it?" "Where did it come from?" "How did you get it?" and so on and so forth was heard from all three. Kagome and Inuyasha were overwhelmed at the sheer immensity of their questions and began to answer them one by one as best they could.

"It is a she." Kagome started off and related the whole tale, since that was obviously what they wanted.

Once she was done Inuyasha added to it. "And we thought that you might find her a nice home Kaede-sama."

As if Inuyasha asking for help wasn't enough, the honorific was a doozy. All eyes got ten times larger and mouths began to hang open. Inuyasha had somewhat expected this reaction, but it still bugged him.

"Oh, come on. You act like you've never heard respect before."

"Not coming from you Inuyasha. Especially not to Kaede-obaa-chan. You usually just call her old woman or hag." Shippo said with wide eyes and slack jaw.

Inuyasha, to his credit, kept in his displeasure with only a small twitch of his eye. Kagome, seeing his deteriorating control, changed the subject.

"So, Kaede, can you do anything about Baby Kaede?" She asked with a hopeful expression.

"Well child, I don't know. Truth be told, I don't think any of the villagers would want to raise a youkai, despite all the improvements that you and Inuyasha have made to their thinking. I think your best bet would be to find another set of chameleon youkai and ask them to take her in. They'll be hard to find and probably wouldn't want to take her in anyway, but it's worth a try."

"Of course. I hadn't thought about that. Thank you for being so honest." Kagome tried not to let her disappointment show. "Say, Kaede, do you know anything about chameleon youkai, like where they live? And do you have any baby clothes we can borrow? We've been using Shippo's bandanna and I don't think he'll ever want it back."

"No, I've never raised a child and my mother gave Kikyo and my own baby clothes away long ago. We could see about a few sets in the village, but usually the mother makes the clothes herself so the children only have a couple sets themselves." She sighed heavily. "It sounds like a hopeless situation, but we shall see."

"Oi, Kaede, is that dinner burning?" Inuyasha asked as he sniffed the air.

"Oh my, I completely forgot about that." Kaede rushed to the pot and stirred the stew. "It will be fine, just stuck to the bottom of the pot a little." She said with relief.

She started ladling out the thick rabbit stew into bowls for the weary travelers. Baby Kaede started crying again as she saw everyone eating the delicious smelling stew.

"Kaede, do you have a pail I could borrow for a second?" Kagome asked as she handed the baby to Inuyasha. Kaede nodded and handed her a nearby water pail. "Thank you. I'll be right back." And she left to go milk the cow which they had tied up outside.

"What is she doing with that pail?" Sango asked puzzled.

"She's milking the cow to feed the baby." Inuyasha answered without stopping his eating, propping Baby Kaede in the crook of his arm.

"Why? Why not just find a wet nurse when we're done eating?" Miroku queried, surprisingly he didn't have a perverted thought in his head at the thought of the volunteer breast feeder.

"Because baby youkai don't need to suck to eat like human infants. Kagome's going to milk the cow and then feed her from a cup." Inuyasha again answered with an unusual patience.

"Oh." Was basically the consensus of the room.

Kagome came back in, took Baby Kaede from Inuyasha and began feeding her. Miroku, Sango and Kaede watched with rapt attention. Shippo kept eating and Inuyasha looked on with soft eyes while everyone's attention was diverted.

She's so natural with kids. She'd be a great mother for my pups.' Inuyasha thought until the newness of the situation wore off and everyone turned back to their food, forcing Inuyasha out of his reverie and back into his assimilated role of indifference.

Soon the milk was gone and Kagome set the baby back on her blanket and continued to eat. Baby Kaede let out a big burp, which shocked Miroku, Sango, and Kaede. Kagome just shook her head and Inuyasha hid his small smile behind his hair.

Once the meal was done and the bowls were washed and put away, conversation went back to what they would do about Baby Kaede.

"I'll just take her home with me. It'll be easier to find fitting clothes and diapers and stuff in my time." Kagome decided. "And before you say anything Inuyasha, we all agreed that I'd get to go back after the two weeks were up. Besides," She sniffed. "we're out of Ramen." She warned when he opened his mouth.

"I was just going to say that I'd go with you." Shocked gasps were heard all around. "She does need clothes and those are easier to get in your time. I don't know what diapers are, but if you say she needs them…..Besides, it'll be easier to keep her safe if I go with you. And it's my night tonight." He gave her a meaningful look.

Needless to say, everyone was shocked speechless. Again. But Kagome managed to nod her compliance.

"Okay, if no one has any objections…..Let's go." So he grabbed her pack and strode to the door. In the doorway he turned back and said, "Oh, before I forget, don't forget to feed the cow for us. We need that milk as healthy as we can get it. For the baby. Bye. Come on Kagome, don't just sit there." And he strode out the door.

Everyone left in the hut looked at each other with big eyes and wide, gaping maws over Inuyasha's strange behavior. Numbly, Kagome stood up, said her goodbyes and followed Inuyasha out the door. She walked stiffly to the well with Kaede in her arms. Once there she turned to him.

"I just thought of something. We don't know if it will actually let her pass. It's only let us through so far." Kagome looked at him fearfully. "If it doesn't let her pass, then we'll have to leave her here and I don't think I'm ready to leave her without you or me."

Inuyasha's stomach fluttered at her innocent confession of trust. Even if she didn't outright say it, it was implied that she only trusts him to protect someone she sees as her own. "If it doesn't let her through, we'll leave her with Miroku and Sango. They can care for her for one night. Then tomorrow I'll come back as soon as the sun comes up and guard her. Problem solved."

Kagome still looked a little indecisive, so Inuyasha put his right arm around Kagome's waist and Baby Kaede, held the pack over his shoulder with his left, and jumped in. He was very pleased that she didn't object to him touching her and when they set down in her time he didn't let go.

Kagome smiled and released the breath she was holding in a relieved giggle. "She's still here." She looked up at the man holding her. "It let her through Inuyasha."

He half smiled at her. "As if there was any doubt."

Before she could reply to that arrogant comment, he held her closer, jumped out of the well and through the well house door. As they neared the main house, he reluctantly let her go. He didn't want her family to question his intentions. By discretely sniffing the air, he found that they were all home.

Souta saw them walking across the yard and made a run for Inuyasha's knees. He skidded to a stop just in front of him and proceeded to ask excitedly, "Inuyasha-no-nii-chan are you going to stay with us while nee-chan is home?" It wasn't everyday his hero came home with his sister.

"Yeah kid. I'm going to be staying here for a couple of nights. But right now we need to talk with your mom. Do you know where she is?" He could smell where she was of course, but decided to let the kid help' him.

The fact that he was staying for more than one night and needed to talk with her mom was news to Kagome and she looked at him with questioning eyes. When he caught her look he said, "I'll tell you later.", and turned to follow Souta to her mom. He had shocked her into silence again.

He's acting so weird today. Is it because he'll be human tonight or something else. Maybe he's possessed!' She took a closer look at his aura. 'Nope. Nothing. Well that's a relief. So why the odd behavior? First he gives Kaede-baachan an honorific. Second he doesn't fight me on going back and volunteers to come WITH me of all things. Third he actually acts like he cares about the baby. Come to think of it, he hasn't cursed for the last few days. Well except for calling me bitch' every now and then. And he's been lenient with Shippo. What's going on! I'm so confused! And he said he'd tell me his plans later! What am I? His underling? MEN!' She reached the house and had to drop her musings to greet her family.

She walked into the house and saw that everyone was at the kitchen table. Inuyasha was already there and, surprisingly, not fighting with Grandpa. After warmly greeting her mom, Grandpa, and Souta, Kagome got quite a shock.

"Inuyasha said you had something to show us dear. What is it?" Her mom asked tentatively looking from her daughter to the hanyou standing behind her baby girl.

Kagome paled slightly and gazed down at the bundle in her arms. "Um, yeah." 'Well, now's as good a time as any.' "We found a little surprise on the side of the road." And with that she tossed back the top part of the blanket and gave her family a good look at the blue haired, blue eyed, scaly skinned youkai in her arms. 'Here it comes.' She thought and braced herself for the gasp and "the look" that signaled a mother's displeasure.

So, the poor girl was sorely unprepared when her mother squealed, yes squealed like a school girl, and ran to the baby.

"It's soooo cute Kagome! What's it's name?" She asked, never taking her eyes off the child in her daughter's arms.

Kagome's vocal cords wouldn't work. She just kept opening and closing her mouth, looking very much the part of a fish out of water. Inuyasha, while silently enjoying Kagome's shocked expression, soon took pity on the girl and answered for her.

"Her name is Kaede, and she's a chameleon youkai." He then proceeded to fill them in on the story of what happened, making sure he praised Kagome's part in it. If she was going to be his mate, she had to think he didn't hate her. He had realized in the last few days that how he was acting towards her wasn't getting him very far. He had realized a lot of things about himself and his behavior actually. Like he grew up two hundred years overnight or something.

"Wow. My baby brought a baby into this world." Kagome's mom said with awe in her voice.

At this comment, Kagome's face turned bright red. "Come on, Mom. You make it sound like I was the one giving birth."

Inuyasha choked on the tea that Mrs. Higurashi had placed in front of him, at that mental picture. After what he'd seen, the screaming, yelling, pain, blood, and gross fluids, he didn't want Kagome to go through that for a while. Much as he wanted pups, he couldn't stand the thought of Kagome being in that much pain. 'What am I thinking? I haven't even asked her yet and I'm already planning our life together.' He thought with a hint of a blush spreading along his cheeks.

Everyone's attention had turned to him after he started choking and were watching intently, some in concern, some with mild interest, until he calmed down enough to breath right. All watched in confusion as he blushed for no apparent reason. Everyone, that is, but Mrs. Higurashi.

She had a knowing smile on her face and a hint of mischief in her eye. 'You have to be blind not to see the attraction between them. Oh, I love when I get to play matchmaker!' She thought with silent glee.

She approved of Inuyasha. He took good care of her daughter, and had a sense of modesty that was hard to find these days. Yes, she definitely wouldn't mind having him as a son-in-law. The thought that her daughter was only 17 barely crossed her mind. Kagome had matured very quickly because of her travels in Sengoku Jidai. She was responsible. Sensible. A real adult. Even if she wasn't considered one in her time for another year.

Pausing in her musing before it got too far, she held up her hand for silence. Apparently a fight had broken out between Inuyasha and Kagome as she was daydreaming. It was a harmless tiff over who got the last Biscotti. Hey, old habits are hard to break. They kept going at it. Those two just don't listen. Souta and Grandpa were absorbed in this display.

"It's mine. I saw it first." Kagome cried.

"Well, I'm your protector. I need it to keep up my strength." Inuyasha fought back, waving it in front of her face.

"Children! Stop it." Mrs. H had had enough. "Give me that." She fixed them with "the look". Inuyasha handed it over with wide eyes. He hadn't been on the receiving end of "the look" in a long time. She broke it in half and gave a piece to each.

"You broke it." Inuyasha pouted. Kagome just scowled. Biscotti's are good, but they're not big enough to begin with.

"Would you rather I had eaten it?" She said with a raised brow.

"No ma'am." Inuyasha said with bowed head and dipped it in his, now cold, tea.

"No Momma." Kagome practically whispered and dipped her half in her own.

"Good. Now, does Kaede have clothes or were you just gonna let her go around in that bandanna?" Mrs. Higurashi asked with a mocking tone.

'Now I know were my bitch gets it from.' Inuyasha thought with a small smile. He respected Mrs. H. After all, she had raised his Kagome and her brother without a father. Just the old man, and he didn't look like he helped much. For once Inuyasha wondered what had happened to Kagome's father. He'd have to ask her later. For now, he turned back to the interaction going on between the Higurashis.

"Of course we aren't going to keep her in that bandanna, Mom. What do you think we brought her here for? Besides to show you how adorable she is."

Kagome smiled down at Kaede who smiled back.

Mrs. Higurashi and Grandpa were shocked. "How old did you say she was?" They asked in unison.

"About a week old. Why?" Kagome was confused. Her mom hardly ever looked shocked.

"At a week old you were sleeping almost 24/7. You didn't smile until you were about two…..almost three months old." She looked like she had just been hit by a truck. "No babies do what she just did at that age."

Kagome was worriedly looking between her mom, jii-chan and Inuyasha. "Maybe it's just a youkai thing." She wasn't really sure though. Inuyasha had no idea what to say. He didn't know the growth rate of youkai babies.

"I don't think we should worry about it. A smile never hurt anyone." He said with a shrug.

Kagome was finally starting to get used to his weird mood. "Okay, since it's Saturday, can we go shopping?" She asked with her most charming smile. Inuyasha's stomach was doing back flips. He loved it when she did that. Souta was looking disgusted. She always pulled that face when she wanted something.

Kagome's mom looked at her with a calculating look. "You don't have any money, do you?"

Kagome was still smiling. "Not a cent."

Her mother sighed. 'Well, you can't really expect her to have any money, baka. She has no job and keeps going to feudal Japan in her spare time to save the world. But what about.….' "What happened to your birthday money from last year? You don't stay here long enough to spend it all."

Kagome gulped as she revealed her only indulgence. "Pocky for Shippo." She stated with a nervous laugh. Souta was cracking up.

Her mother sighed again. "I suppose you need to buy baby clothes and diapers, right?"

"Yep." Kagome winced.

"And Inuyasha needs clothes to go with you, right?" She looked beside her daughter at the nodding half-demon. Oh yes. He knew all about going out in public dressed as is.

"Right." Kagome was literally cringing in her seat.

"Okay, that one shouldn't be a problem. How many clothes were you thinking of buying? Never mind. I'll just come with you." She said quickly.

"What are you talking about Mom?" Kagome asked. She stared at her mother. "I'm going to go baby shopping with you dear. Now we'll need-"

"No, Mom, before that. What did you mean getting Inuyasha clothes shouldn't be a problem. Men's clothes are ten times more expensive than baby clothes." Kagome was getting curious. Inuyasha was getting nervous. He didn't want to be the cause of a fight between Kagome and her mom.

Mrs. Higurashi got a defeated look on her face. "I kept some of your father's clothes. They're about the same height and build, so he should fit in them." She didn't want to think about her husband more than she had to. It hurt too much. By looking over at her children, she could tell it pained them too.

Poor Inuyasha had no idea why the table had gotten so quiet all of a sudden. It's like someone died in here.' Suddenly his eyes got wide. That must be it. Kagome's father is never around because he's dead.' He decided he wouldn't ask. After all, both his parents were dead. He knew how hard it was to talk about it. He decided to take everyone's mind off the past. "So, where's everyone going to sleep tonight?" He asked.

Mrs. H shot him a grateful look and took over. "Well, you can either sleep with Souta or on the couch in the living room." She had to think for a while. "And Kaede can either sleep in Kagome's or my room or out here with you, if you choose the couch. It's really up to you."

Inuyasha thought for all of five seconds before he decided to sleep on the couch with the baby. He could watch her and let Kagome get the sleep she needed. Plus protect the entire house from downstairs. If someone broke in, they'd have to go through him first. He hardly ever slept when he was human anyway. "Alright, I'll take the couch." He said with finality.

Souta was a little put out. He really wanted Inuyasha to share his room. But Inuyasha pulled him aside and had a short "hanyou-to-man" talk with him about his reasons. He was okay with it after that.

Once that was taken care of, Mrs. H spoke up. "Okay Inuyasha. Follow me and we'll get you dressed." And she led the way to her room.

She had him get a large trunk out from under her bed. She opened the lock and proceeded to take out some pants and a shirt and some unmentionables and handed them to Inuyasha. She told him in what order to put them on and led him to her bathroom. "Okay, I'll be in my room. Come show me when you're done." And she left him to put on the strange future clothes by himself.

So, here he was, in the bathroom, alone, with Kagome's dad's old clothes. As with all new things, he sniffed them first. He picked up on the musty trunk smell, and buried underneath that was a very old and fading male scent. 'Must be Kagome's father. He smelled like her, a little. Or I should say, she smells like him. He didn't smell threatening. I'm sure he was a nice man.' And with that he turned his mind to figure out how to put on the odd clothes.

He grabbed the underwear. 'Alright. She said these first, right? They look awfully small. Well, if he wore them, I can.' And with that mentality, he put on the briefs. Yes, good old tightey-whiteys. 'Argh! How could he stand this! It's nothing like my fundoshi! But, oddly enough, I can still move. Hmmm. Future fabric. Weird stuff.' After that, he made quick work of the shirt and pants, after the initial button trouble of course, and went to go find Mrs. H. A quick look in the mirror was all he needed to know one thing.

'I look.….like an idiot.'

He went to her room. She was there like she said she would be. But she looked sad. Inuyasha looked for the source and found that she was looking at old pictures from the trunk. He shifted his weight from foot to foot in the doorway and finally got the nerve to go in. Mrs. H looked up with a teary smile and put away the pictures.

"Well, you look all spiffy." She made a slow circle around him. "Yep. Not bad at all. The sleeves are a little short though. Can you move alright?" He nodded. "Nothing's too tight or too loose?" He shook his head. "Good, let's go show Kagome." And she headed for the stairs.

At the bottom of the stairs, she told him to wait. "I'll be right back." And she scurried off to get Kagome. 'Hehehe, now my plan begins.'

She found Kagome in the kitchen, doing the morning's dishes. "Put down your washrag sweetie. I've got a surprise for you." And she led Kagome out to the bottom of the stairs. She just watched as Kagome took in Inuyasha's lean figure in the black slacks and white dress shirt. Her eyes raked over his form, from head to toe and back again. Inuyasha began to blush from the attention. Her mom scurried behind him and put her hands on his shoulders, smoothing out the shirt. "Doesn't he look great honey? Of course he needs shoes, but I think there's some that would fit in the trunk. What do you think?"

Kagome began to blush as she met his eyes. Her mother had a huge smile on as she watched her daughter size up her no longer feudal-looking friend. "He looks…..very nice." She said slowly.

"Why don't you get him cleaned up while I finish the dishes?" Mrs. H said with a conniving smile and gleam in her eye that neither teenager noticed.

"Uh-huh." Kagome said and snapped out of her Inuyasha-induced trance. "Follow me Inuyasha." and she walked towards the bathroom she shared with Souta.

Inuyasha followed behind her and Mrs. H danced to the kitchen sink, humming and chanting "I'm gonna be a GrandMA!" to the conga-line beat.

As Inuyasha was following Kagome, he admired the straight line of her back and the way her hair trailed behind her. Allowing his eyes to roam lower, he watched the hypnotizing tilt of her hips as they swayed back and forth in a slow rhythm. He snapped out of it when she turned the corner and he lost his eye candy.

Following her around the corner and through a doorway, into the kids' bathroom, he saw her looking around at the mess. "Souta doesn't know how to keep this bathroom clean." She said with a sigh. He looked around and saw the clothes on the floor, the empty hamper, the toothpaste on the sink, the erect toilet seat and the filth ridden tub. "Guess I have to pick it up before we can get you cleaned up." And she set to work.

Luckily, the tub was just dirt. It seems Souta had washed his favorite pair of cleats in the tub after a muddy scrimmage, and never rinsed it out. She put the clothes in the hamper, put down the toilet seat, wiped off the counter and splashed the sink and tub with water. The bathroom finally looked halfway decent and she turned to Inuyasha. "Okay Inuyasha. Should I get started on you, or do you want a bath first?"

'Can't I have both. Argh. Bad me, bad.' "I think I'll take that bath first. Thank you." Was it just him or did she look disappointed. She quickly showed him how to work the tub and left.

So, here he was. In the bathroom. Alone. Again. With Kagome's dad's clothes on and Kagome's scent in the air. He was surrounded by her life and didn't think he'd ever want to leave. But, Kaede needed clothes and he'd be damned if he let them go out alone. So he quickly stripped and ran the water. 'Hmm. Cleaner than the lake. More temperate than the hot spring. I think I finally get what she's always talking about.' He started the shower head, got in, quickly soaped up and got clean. He got out and dried off, then realized…..his clothes were missing.

In the kitchen a bit earlier

Kagome came down after showing Inuyasha how to work everything and saw her mother finishing the last dish.

"Did you get Inuyasha cleaned up already?" She asked. She was expecting them to take a little longer than that.

"No, he decided to take a bath first. Maybe a shower. I showed him how to do both." Kagome was a little disappointed that he didn't want her to run her fingers through his thick silver hair, massaging his scalp, and rubbing his ears as she.….'Okay, little too much. Why would he want me to do THAT anyway? Argh! Unrequited love sucks!'

"Well, that's nice dear. I think I'm going to go see if Grandpa needs help with Kaede." And she left.

With a stealth born of repeated middle of the night trips into her children's rooms, Mrs. H made a clean get-away with Inuyasha's clothes while he was in the shower. He was relaxed for the first time in forever, so he wasn't on guard and couldn't really hear much over the spray of water. She stashed them in Kagome's room and, giggling, went to find Grandpa so her alibi wasn't seen through.

A few moments later

Inuyasha had just discovered his missing clothes and frankly, he was pissed. He had wrapped the towel around his vitals and had gone in search of someone, namely Mrs. Higurashi, to see if he could borrow a robe or something. And to ask if she knew anything about it. Her scent was all over the bathroom for some reason.

Unfortunately for him, the first thing he saw as he came down the stairs was Kagome. 'Just great. Nothing better than seeing the girl you love after you lose your pants. Perfect.'

She was sitting in the living room, getting reacquainted with the TV by watching an old episode of Ranma ½. She thought she sensed Inuyasha, but when she turned around, he wasn't there. The sucker had fled to the kitchen and was confronted by Souta.

Souta saw his state of undress and asked what happened.

"I don't know!" Inuyasha fumed. "I was taking a shower and when I got out, my clothes were gone. So, you seen 'em anywhere?"

Souta thought for a moment, "Do you mean your red ones or the ones Mom got for you?"

"Either one! I'm naked here!"

"Okay, okay. No need to yell. I think your red ones are in the washer. Mom thought they looked nasty. But I don't know where your other ones are." At this, Inuyasha gave a soul-heaving sigh and turned to go look for them. But being the baka that he is, he went right back into the living room and was caught by

Kagome, who gasped.

Kagome looked at Inuyasha. Inuyasha looked at Kagome. The staring contest went on as both sides blushed a vibrant shade of red. Until...

"INUYASHA! GO GET SOME CLOTHES ON!"

"I'M TRYING TO FIND SOME CLOTHES TO PUT ON! GEEZ BITCH, YOU THINK I'D WALK

AROUND YOUR HOUSE, IN NOTHING BUT A TOWEL WILLINGLY! DAMN!"

It seems that both were embarrassed by Inuyasha's appearance. Mrs. H walked in and had to stifle a giggle. Seeing her daughter and her half- demon protector in a glaring contest, while he was in a towel that barely stayed up, soaking wet and blushing was enough. But the fact that Kagome was turned around on the couch at an odd angle also wearing a blush was just too damn funny. Especially when you considered the reason for the blushes across both faces. She smiled at her handiwork.

"Weeeellllll. I see you two are having fun, so I'm just gonna go." She said and was turning to leave when Inuyasha lost the contest and fixed her with a glare.

"I need to talk to you. Come on." And with that he grabbed her arm and pulled her to her room.

"What do you need Inuyasha?" She looked at him innocently, giving away nothing of her recent transgressions. He face-faulted then got up and looked at her like she was brain-dead.

"Well, I would like some clothes." The wind left his sails as he remembered who the clothes originally belonged to. "The other clothes you gave me, kinda, disappeared." And he looked at the ground, shuffling his feet. "It wasn't my fault though, they just-"

"It's alright, Inuyasha. I believe you. I'll see what I can do." She started searching through the trunk, pulling out various clothes. "Maybe you can sniff out the clothes later. I think everything from this trunk has a rather pungent odor."

"Yeah. That could work." Then he got the most disgusted expression of his life as she held up a tacky Hawaiian shirt and cutoff khaki shorts. Then she brought out the big guns: Flip-flops. Oh yeah. He was gonna be stylin'. She had to restrain her laugh and wipe off her smile at his face. 'Now he HAS to find the other clothes. No one would be caught dead in these. Except, maybe, Grandpa. And when he finds them...' She giggled inwardly at the possible out comes. The clothes had been a gag gift for her husband 10 years ago. 'Was it really that long ago?' And even he had never worn them. Inuyasha took them from her, mumbled a thank you and went to put them on in the bathroom.

When he came out, the poor boy looked like a 'Gilligan's Island' reject. All he needed was the big floppy hat, and possibly sunglasses, which she had conveniently found and threw on his head the minute he stepped out of her bathroom. It covered up his half-demon attributes well enough, but he looked ridiculous. Mrs. H couldn't help but laugh as she looked at his finished ensemble. He looked none too happy.

And ready for a day at the beach.

"I guess you'll just have to find those clothes if you want to look halfway normal", she said with a giggle. "Is there anything else you wanted?"

"Well I did need to talk to you about something else, but it's important and we don't really have time to have a big ol' long discussion about what I want to talk about." He said all this in one breath, looking down at the ground with a tinge of pink on his cheeks.

"Alright, just find me sometime and we'll talk, okay?" He nodded. "Now go find Kagome. I have things to do and you need some finishing touches." And she left him.

He looked after her confused. 'What more could I possibly need done? Oh well, she's the mom.' And he went back to the living room to get Kagome. He found her in the same spot, but she was staring off into space. He cleared his throat and she turned around beet red. Then she started giggling, then sputtering, then all out laughing at his clothes. He looked at her indignantly and then, "Quit it! Your mom said for you to put the finishing touches on me."

Finally, she stopped. "Sorry. It's just-...you look so funny."

"What?….." His brow developed a distinct tick.

"Never mind. Follow me."

She led him to her room, and she started getting detangler and a brush and some rubber bands. Apparently she was going to do his hair like her mother had implied she do earlier. She sat down on her bed and motioned him over. He came to stand next to her. "Okay, now sit down in front of me and I'll do your hair. It's a mess."

He sat down in front of her and she started fixing his rat's nest. First she sprayed in the detangler, next she started brushing his waist length hair from the bottom up. She couldn't believe how silky it was. She had never seen him brush it before and yet, it was as soft as a pup's fur. She was so in awe of his hair that she didn't notice how Inuyasha was taking her ministrations.

He was currently swimming in her scent. She had her smooth, soft legs on either side of him and he was in heaven. He had his arms propped on the outside of her thighs and squirmed a little to get more comfortable. She instinctively pushed her legs into his sides to stop his movements. Unfortunately, she was making the youkai signal that she wanted him. Now. It took all his willpower not to give in to his instincts and twist around, throwing her to the bed and having his way with her right there.

He started to make a low growl of pleasure in his chest when she started to move his hair around his ears so as not to catch them with the brush. He could barely stand it and the bulge in his pants proved it. He readjusted his borrowed shorts the moment he noticed and hoped she hadn't seen. She didn't, fortunately, for she was too focused on his hair to do anything but brush.

She had brushed out all the tangles and started brushing again. She couldn't get enough of him. Any part of him. She started imagining them, together, on her bed. He was kissing her neck, shoulders, jaw, anything he could get access to. She was touching his well toned chest, abs, rubbing his ears, and running her fingers through his hair that was tickling her exposed stomach and- 'Man! I've got to stop doing that.'

He noticed the spike in her scent that went down almost as quickly as it had come up. In that small instant, his eyes changed to a blood red with blue pupils at the sweet scent of her arousal. He closed his eyes and forced his youkai instincts down. He could not let go like that again. Not until she had said yes. But it would be so easy to just turn around. She couldn't fight him. But he didn't want to rape her. That's what it would be if he gave into it like that. He wanted to love her with his whole body. He wanted to mate her and mates don't force each other.

By keeping his eyes closed, he could center himself and have better control over his instincts, right?

She had finally stopped brushing, so that wasn't a problem anymore, but now she had her fingers running across his scalp as she braided his long silvery mane. He never knew that having her fingers in his hair could have this affect on him. But he didn't want it to stop. She was nearing the end of getting his hair done when he turned his head towards her. She looked into his eyes and saw herself reflected in those golden depths.

An unseen force pulled her closer to him as he was pulled towards her also. They were so close to finally getting a piece of what they wanted when, according to the laws of the no-romance-for-you universe, Souta came in the door.

"Oops." He grunted embarrassed and effectively broke the spell they were under.

"What do you want Souta?" Kagome asked. She was very annoyed. Inuyasha began looking around at nothing in particular when he noticed something under her bed.

"Mom said to get you. Your baby is crying and she can't stop her." Souta said looking down. He wasn't stupid, he knew what was about to happen and he knew that he'd be pissed if something like that happened to him. Not that anything should happen, he was only 11, but still. It's the principle of the matter. He wouldn't mind having Inuyasha as a brother in law. In fact it would be the coolest thing ever, but he didn't know it might happen so soon. 'Awesome.'

Unbeknownst to either sibling, Inuyasha had pulled out what he saw from under Kagome's bed. He recognized them at once. 'Why would Kagome have my clothes? Maybe she wanted to see me naked. Yeah that's it. Ack! I'm spending too much time with Miroku.' But he couldn't stop the smile that graced his face.

"Okay. Tell her we'll be down in a minute." Souta left and Kagome quickly finished his braid and moved to climb off her bed. Unfortunately, Inuyasha was still between her legs and showed no sign of moving. He was in a daze, grinning like an idiot, with the clothes in his hands. She turned his face to look at her and stared at him. He had gotten the silly grin off his face and was now wearing a knowing smirk and holding up the clothes.

She gasped, "You don't think...that I...do you?" She asked uncertainly.

He looked confused for a moment. "Didn't you?"

"Why? Do you think I do?"

"Are we talking about the same thing here?"

"Do you think I'm a cross-dresser?"

"WHAT!"

"Do you think I dress in men's clothes?"

"I know what a cross-dresser is! I thought that you were the one that stole my clothes."

"Why would I want to steal your clothes?"

"I don't know." A tense silence settled between them and Inuyasha didn't like it. "So...did you?"

"No! Do you think I am one?"

"Of course not."

"Okay."

"Alright."

"So are you ready to go downstairs?"

"Yeah, just let me change out of these."

"Okay, I'll be waiting for you."

"Alright, I'll hurry."

And they parted ways. Both were a little disturbed at the turn the last half hour had taken. 'He almost kissed me. Stupid Souta, has to interrupt everything. Probably never get another chance. Thanks a lot stupid.' 'We were so close. Grrr. Why'd he have to interrupt! Wait. Did he say something was wrong with

Kaede? Shit.' And he started throwing on the clothes in reckless abandon.

Kagome was walking down the stairs when she sensed Inuyasha behind her. She turned around and saw his distraught face. She couldn't imagine what could be causing him such anxiety. As she pondered it in the few seconds it took him to reach her, she remembered what Souta's reason for interrupting them was. Her face reflected his horror as she turned to rush down the stairs. Inuyasha caught up to her and picked her up. He leapt into the kitchen with her in his arms, nearly giving the inhabitants a heart attack.

As soon as they burst into the room, they each had identical thoughts of murder towards a certain sixth grader for ruining their moment. She wasn't screaming or bawling or even making loud noises, just quietly crying, her face distorting into a silent yell as she cried for help. When she saw them, she held her arms out to the mystified teens and smiled. Inuyasha felt like a great weight had been removed from his chest as he saw that smile.

Mrs. H held out the, now happy, infant for Inuyasha to accept. He gladly did and reassured her that everything was fine with a growl of protection that only she could hear. It was an instinctive act. One that he didn't even realize he did until Kagome looked at him oddly. She could feel the vibration in his chest

through her back, which was still pressed against him. When Kaede had been properly comforted, in the youkai sense, she turned her eyes to Kagome and held out one hand. Kagome kissed her fingers and stood on tip toe to gently dry her tear streaked face while Inuyasha kept them safe in his arms.

"Oh. Isn't that sweet! I guess she just wanted her daddy." Mrs. H said with a sigh and a sly glance at her daughter. "And her mommy. Precious. Now where is my camera?"

Grandpa and Souta stared in shock at the pair in front of them with her choice of words. The two in question colored slightly and gauged the other's reaction before returning their attentions to the baby.

"I think we should be leaving for the store now, Mom. She looks like she could use a good diaper and a change of clothes." Kagome switched the topic to the task at hand. She was blushing fiercely at the notion of one big, happy family with herself and Inuyasha as the parents. 'Very tempting thought.' She resolutely turned her mind from this track and awaited her mother's answer.

Mrs. H didn't think long. Inuyasha had said that he was going with them to the store, and there would be plenty of time for mischief at her hand tonight.

"Yes, I think we shall." She walked a short distance to the counter and grabbed a black cotton baseball cap. She had found it in Jii-chan's room, but he obviously never wore it and she asked if she could give it to Inuyasha. He had said yes. So she took it. Now she stuck it on Inuyasha's head.

"Well, Inuyasha, how is it?" She asked curiously.

"Everything got muffled. I can hardly hear anything. Do I have to wear the hat?" He whined.

Mrs. H looked at the scene with a pondering look. In a flash of brilliance, she grabbed a white-out pen. She then took the hat off his head and put it back on in all directions before determining that it looked best backwards and asked where his ears started. Not understanding where she was going with this, he pointed. She took the pen and marked a line across the top of the hat. She took the hat away from his head and searched the kitchen drawers for some scissors.

By now everyone had caught on to her brilliant idea and watched as she cut slits in the top of the hat. She then put the cap on Inuyasha's head backwards and out popped his ears. As a final touch, she pulled some of his silvery-white bangs out the front.

"What do you think? Cute, ne?" She asked of everyone, but most importantly Kagome.

Kagome nodded, she loved his ears. And the way they poked out of the hat made them look like part of it, meaning she could enjoy them without people thinking he was weird.

"And what of you Inuyasha? Does that help your hearing?" He fervently nodded and tried out his new found disguise. The cloth didn't catch on his ears and the cap fit snuggly on his head. He had no fear of it falling off or of looking any 'weirder' than he already did. He didn't care what people said about HIM, but what they might say about Kagome if he stuck out, that was what worried him. After all, 'Deru kui-wa utareru, A nail that sticks out is pounded down.'

"Well, since everyone is in agreement of Inuyasha's appearance, let's get going." Mrs. H declared.

And so begins our adventure in modern Tokyo.

Meanwhile in Feudal Japan

Everyone was scattered.

They had rushed from the hut that morning after they realized it might not work for Baby Kaede, and had found the well empty. So, since they had nothing to do for a few days until Inuyasha and Kagome got back, they decided to catch up on some much needed chores.

Or in Shippo's case, sleep.

He hadn't had a good night's sleep since Kaede joined them. He was so used to sleeping with Kagome that when he couldn't anymore he really couldn't rest right. So, now he was waiting by the well for her return, like always, and being lulled to sleep by her remaining scent in the tall grasses below the well.

Miroku, Sango, and Kaede had gone back to her hut.

They all had something to do. Kaede had to make her rounds and gather herbs. So, Miroku and Sango were left in the hut. Alone. Unfortunately for Miroku, it wasn't as romantic as it sounds. He was on one side of the hut, polishing the gold on his staff, while Sango was on the other side, sharpening her Hiraikotsu. Kirara was at her side, keeping an eye on the monk for her mistress.

Miroku kept sending secretive glances at Sango. When he deemed the time right, he inconspicuously reached inside his robes and pulled out a bundle. Kirara, ever watchful, picked up on his movement and looked at him. Miroku jiggled the bribe in his hand and Kirara came over. She sniffed at the bundle and took the catnip between her teeth. Miroku tilted his head towards the door. She got the hint and left.

He had been planning a moment like this for the taijiya and himself ever since the over-crowded house. He made his way over to her and sat down. As expected, she immediately tensed up. He let out a low chuckle and started a conversation.

"So, what do you think they're doing right now?"

Sango looked at him curiously, "Who?" 'Why is he just sitting there?'

"Kagome and Inuyasha. It's been about a half a day and I realized, we don't know what's going on between those two."

"What do you mean Houshi-sama?"

Miroku cringed. "Please, lovely Sango, just call me Miroku. I mean, what is their relationship. We both know they like each other. That's obvious. Maybe even love each other. So what would they do in Kagome's time?"

Sango didn't like how that sounded and was about to show him exactly what she thought of it when he turned to look at her.

"We really don't know anything about her era. What could they do for fun or as a romantic evening to get to know each other better. Finding an atmosphere to talk everything out. Don't you want to do that, beautiful Sango?"

Sango was getting lost in his eyes. The purplish-brown orbs were drawing her towards them. Her breath was becoming short and she was getting a fluttering feeling in her belly. She could only nod her head to his questions as she felt herself leaning towards the lecherous houshi.

Miroku wasn't in a much better state. He was trying to ask her out on a 'date' as he had heard Kagome call them once or twice, but when he looked at her, he couldn't look away. His legs turned to jelly and his heart was dancing in his chest as he looked deeply into her delectable eyes. When she nodded and leaned towards him, he responded by leaning towards her. Little by little, inch by excruciatingly slow inch, they came together.

Amazingly, the no-romance-for-you universe gave them a break. This faceless, fickle entity, let the two have their moment. And what a moment it was!

It started out a mere brushing of the lips, but the two had liked each other for far too long to be content with a simple touch. They rejoined and that's when it all turned. Sango, not able to keep her hands to herself, wrapped her arms around Miroku's neck, pulling him closer. Miroku's hands slipped down to

her waist, and, amazingly, stayed there. He pulled her to him and started rubbing circles into her lower back. In return, she started pulling lightly on his dragon-tail. Both were quickly becoming unaware of their surroundings. Their senses swam and they just enjoyed being together. But, as with all truly passionate kisses, they had to break for air.

Pulling slowly apart, they stared into each others eyes again, panting slightly. Miroku suddenly noticed a tent was starting to form on his robes and decided a cold bath would be wise. So with a parting kiss on the hand, he stood, trying hard to ignore the pain of the action, and took his leave. With one last, lust-filled glance at Sango, he exited the hut. He hadn't meant for that to happen, but, hey, was he such an idiot as to complain?

Sango watched him go and slowly reclaimed her breath. Her hand made it's way to her mouth, remembering the heat of his lips, the firmness of his body pressed against hers, that last look that would usually have earned her wrath. And all she could do was smile. 'My first kiss. With the man I love. Wait. Love? Yes. I love Miroku.' Then she started giggling and couldn't stop until she was breathless, laying on the floor.

R&R my minions...

(A random shoe hits my head)

That hurt! Who did that! (looks around frantically) I guess I shouldn't assume you like it, huh? So tell me if I should call you 'my minions'. Maybe 'my friends'? Or how about 'my peeps'? Maybe 'my-

(shoe hits me again)

Never mind.