Chapter 3-Periods of Adjustment

I do not own Inuyasha or related characters, but I do own Ichiro, Sanae, and Akiyoshi.

In an upscale house, a woman felt tapping. A pair of brown eyes opened to see golden ones peering at her as a clawed hand poked her arm lightly. Kagome pulled her head out of her covers and yawned. She'd been up until late researching and crawled into bed with the sunrise. Nothing. Nada. Zilch. No references to anything like Shards changing color or the well sealing without a Priestess or someone else doing it. Inuyasha had slept on her couch downstairs as Ayame and Sanae pinched the guest rooms. Now-he was crouched by her double bed and blushing a bit.

He could smell what went on in here...that this room was a couple's. Inuyasha had only come up because the youkai had sent him up, they had already awakened and were making breakfast. He didn't look closely at anything. This-was not his place to look, a married couple's private chamber. Only a quick peek.

It was cozy. A big soft bed, wardrobes, a chest at the bed's foot. Little tables on each side with lamps and an alarm clock with a well thumbed book beside it on the opposite side of the bed from hers. Pegs-that had to be for his sword. Lamps and a carved table with a mirror and stool. A box on it with jewelry for her adornment, brushes, makeup things and bottles. A dresser.

"Morning," she murmured, and ruffled an ear until he pulled away. No kiss good morning, she noted. It had been hard to sleep alone even exhausted-no snores in her ear.

"Eh-they sent me up to tell you you've got time to shower, and there's some of that coffee stuff ready."

"Good. I need some," she answered. Kagome yawned and crawled out of bed. He averted his eyes, she wore a tank and shorts, but wasn't properly dressed and wasn't his. Besides...a mark was on her shoulder like Ichiro's, one even more faded and set deeply into her skin. A bite pattern he knew from whenever he ate. As the mortal had said, it was bad manners to look at someone's mating mark.

Even his.

"Are my clothes washed?" he asked.

"Probably dry now. I hung them out to air last night," Kagome told him, noting he was wearing a set of tan plaid pajamas bottoms and a matching t-shirt. Her Inuyasha's clothes fit of course, if a little bit long because he hadn't finished growing. He did look adorable in modern stuff...mm.

"Fine," he answered, and slipped out to allow her to dress privately and change himself.

She just smiled, and got dressed. Such a sweet boy, really. It was kind of nice to see the dear, gruff, shy boy he was back then. After all, she was rather used to the man he'd become. For a moment, Kagome considered that the girl she was had him with her now, and her smile widened. If she knew her husband...oh, my.

That miko didn't know what she was in for.

In a hut in the past, another was shaken.

"Kagome, wake up! You've got to see this!" Shippo shook her again. The young miko woke up and frowned as she stretched.

"What?" she asked, yawning. A glance at her watch-she'd slept in. After Inuyasha had come back the night before, they'd all tried to sleep. It wasn't easy and she'd tossed and turned half the night.

"Well-just come see! We let you sleep late, but come on! You missed the first part!"

"Alright." She rose, saw to her bedding fast, dressed quickly, and looked outside. Her jaw dropped as she joined the bemused Sango and Miroku where they sat watching under a tree. The monk was sipping something from a tin cup she recognized by smell.

Coffee?? She never brought any.

Several huts had been wrecked the day before. But the villagers were working on them now-with help. Akiyoshi was holding a support beam up by himself, Ichiro was helping fasten it...and...and someone was directing it all, lifting a beam one handed into place at another hut while yelling orders to some of the others working in teams as they framed up some of the damaged homes. Someone in jeans and a t-shirt that read 'Played poker before it was cool' in English. He'd packed a couple of changes of clothes and impishly decided to wear one today.

Inuyasha?!

"What's all this?" Kagome asked in surprise. It looked kinda familiar, almost...

"It seems Inuyasha knows quite a bit about building matters now. Between him and this Akiyoshi, they've already gotten several days work finished in a single morning. If they keep it up, they'll have the huts ready to live in very soon," Sango answered.

"He can build homes?"

"Apparently. Since he seemed so sure of how to do it faster, everyone just went along with it. He took over after his sword practice...and morning coffee. Quite tasty, actually. He said he enjoys it in the mornings more then tea now," Miroku finished, not taking his eyes away as he sipped.

"Sword practice? Coffee? He never practices where anyone can see," Kagome commented, wide eyed.

"He did this morning at dawn. After something he called-calisthenics," Miroku replied, carefully saying the odd word.

"Calisthenics?? Inuyasha?"

"I'll tell you something, Kagome. I watched him...and he is tremendously skilled. A master swordsman now. He was using a variety of styles I've never seen before. I asked him to show me some of it and he said he would later. I'm looking forward to it," Sango said with admiration.

"Inuyasha?" Kagome repeated.

"Yes. I am very glad he is our friend, Kagome. The one we know isn't half as dangerous, but then, he has discovered his full potential now. I doubt he would find many difficult opponents at this point," Miroku told her with complete seriousness.

"Wow," she said as the youkai in question checked the work as the humans secured the beam, and then came over to where they were sitting.

"Someone's finally awake. Sleep well?" Inuyasha asked, arms folded and eyes amused.

"Sure. Hey, um...you're busy," Kagome commented...noting he looked really, really good in that...

"Not so much. Haven't directed a construction crew in awhile, but it's like riding a bike. They know what to do, just needed some organizing to make it more efficient and a hand with the lifting, really," he replied, glancing behind him.

"It's really nice of you to help them, Inuyasha," Kagome told him.

"Glad to do it. Aki and the rest helped tear up the village fighting, so we might as well help them out. Otherwise they'll lose a lot of time with the rice crop." That left her blinking. Since when did he do anything like this? Drink coffee, not screw up anything he touched, practice sword work, dress in modern clothes, think about helping people?

"Oh. Yes. The rice." He noted the landed fish look on her face and hid a grin.

"Yes. They do need to get back to it soon," Miroku agreed, finishing his cup with a sigh.

"Told you it's better to wake up with then tea, bonzu. Mind you-a lot'll make you jumpy, especially if you ain't used to it." His eyes slid back to Kagome for a moment.

"It's quite good though. I see why it becomes popular," Miroku answered...and shook his head slightly. He saw what the hanyou was up to now-and thought it was extremely funny. Inuyasha was clever, he'd admit it.

All of this was to impress her for once. Inuyasha knew he could kill a thousand youkai and lay their heads at her feet...and she'd shrug because she considered that no big deal for a warrior such as himself. Not that he'd understood that back in the day. But this little courtship display? Oh, yes. Act like a leader and get things done she didn't expect him to know how to do.

That, now, that impressed her and he basked in her stammered praise while keeping his expression modest. Not incidentally noting that yes-she kept glancing at him in a rather new and amusing way. Thoughtful and slightly blushing as she looked at him as a guy for once because he wasn't wearing the old firerat. Might make a few things easier for these kids later too if she saw him in a different light now. Oh, yeah.

He knew his girl very well indeed.

In Tokyo, breakfast was a subdued affair. Ayame picked at her food, and Sanae was watching Inuyasha avidly when he wasn't looking. Kagome just sat, ate-and didn't say much over her coffee.

"Did you find something?" the wolf asked hopefully, setting uneaten toast aside.

"Not yet, but I'll keep trying. Eat for Ichiro's sake, Ayame, we haven't time to let you get tired out from pining. My son'll be back soon, you'll see," Kagome answered tiredly, and the wolf nodded.

"Pining?" Inuyasha asked.

"Wolf thing. We'll have to remind her to eat-and I bet she barely slept. She misses my twin," Sanae noted softly to Inuyasha. It was clear she did too and he sympathized. Her brothers and family were important to her. Still, it startled him. His only experience with youkai kin was Sesshomaru, who'd gone insane or something. Ick.

"Not so. I'm not some domestic, after all, waiting on a master. I just want him home, that's all. Wouldn't have happened in the first place if he'd listened when I said no to him leaving. When we get him back, my Ichiro's paying for this. Big time!" Ayame noted with some of her usual spunk.

"Feh. Won't be long before we get back," he said offhandedly.

"Yep. But, you're tired, Mom, can we do anything?" Sanae nodded agreement and glanced at her mom.

"No, sweetie. Thank you though. I'll be fine," her mother answered. She smiled, but Kagome was far from happy.

"The well's broken-why can't you just fix it? You know stuff now like the old hag," Inuyasha asked. A frown...and she tapped her fingers on her cup.

"Real funny. Alright. Nothing in my stuff or online yet, so I do have to go to the source. I need to really look at the well today or tomorrow, girls. Preferably today after I make some calls and before we check in with the others over there. There's a few libraries and Temples that might have something. I just have to be careful about asking."

"The Shrine well? Mom-Grandma and the others..."

"I know, Sanae. I know. This might not be quiet work either."

"The boy will be at school, and the others might be busy a bit. Perhaps we could do something?" Ayame offered grimly.

"Maybe. Hm. Keep him busy while I call around, please?" Kagome asked, rising and taking dishes in.

"I don't need a keeper!"

"Yeah. Tell me another one," she sighed. Both youkai looked at each other.

So. Daddy watching. Sanae's cell rang and she glanced at the screen and hesitated, but went into the living room and answered. He wasn't really Daddy, he wouldn't know. Safe enough. Ayame and Inuyasha heard both sides of the phone conversation after he simply followed the wolf to the door she was eavesdropping at. She shooed him, but he ignored her. If this was something she wanted to hear-then he did too. Besides, this was to be his home, so he had every right to know everything that happened here.

"Oyoto! What's going on, handsome?" Sanae said softly.

"Hey! Where have you been? I've called for days! I was going to fine a missing person report, Sanae. Your brother's gone, your boss said you were fired, are you alright?" So she had been fired. As expected.

"I'm sorry you worried. Something big came up, and...we had to go out of town. All of us, my folks, my brothers, you know. I-probably have to go again soon. My, um..." she paused and tried to think..."my...cousin Rin, remember her? She got into some trouble and we're helping her. An accident."

"Oh. Can I help? I can wrangle a couple of days off if you need me, Sanae. Besides, I haven't met you parents yet, sweetness. You met mine, seems only fair to meet yours and I'd like to soon."

Inuyasha's eyes narrowed. Sweetness? Hadn't met her parents?? She'd met his, but he hadn't asked permission to spend time with her or anything? Improper!

"No, it's alright. They're-still out of town. How about we have lunch? Today?" Sanae asked. She ought to have plenty of time to have lunch and see to her duty. Ayame wouldn't mind taking watch for a bit, Sanae was sure of it.

"Sure, I can make that. Say that little place we went to last week before you left?"

"Sounds great. Noon?"

"Yeah. You can fill me in on everything. I gotta go, but I love you." Inuyasha's expression was priceless.

"Alright. I love you too," Sanae replied. She closed the phone and glanced over to see him in the doorway with an apologetic Ayame behind him. Alright...she'd been curious and sort of had him following...uh oh.

"So. Who was that?" Inuyasha asked suspiciously.

"Like you couldn't hear us! Ever hear of privacy? Don't you even look at me like that either! None of your business...for another five centuries! And just for the record it isn't then! I'm a grown woman and I'll see whoever I like!"

"I can smell that! Your mother and that-other one, they don't know this is the one who did it, do they? He is, ain't he? You're hiding a mortal...what do they call them...Boyfriend! Who is that, and where is he?" Sanae's ears went flat and perked up in outrage at the accusations lurking.

"I haven't-we had this argument a long time ago, and you are just a-a-kid! You aren't my father! I don't have to explain a damned thing to you!"

"If you ain't ashamed, they why hide him?"

"You-you-MOTHER!" Kagome looked up from the phone and hung up, heading in to see Sanae and Inuyasha...oh, dear.

"Sanae, what-" sure enough, they started in at the same time.

"Mother, tell this Neanderthal times have changed!"

"Do you know what this kid's up to? Some parent!"

"Whoa! What is all this?" Kagome asked, hands up to stop them.

"Mom, it's complicated...long story," Sanae deflated when she realized she'd have to explain. Great. Just great.

"Sanae's boyfriend called, the one she hasn't mentioned to you yet, and Inuyasha accused her of sluttishness and is under the amusing impression that Oyoto is the one who deflowered her. They're now fighting, Kagome," Ayame answered. Not...so long a story really.

Kagome sighed to herself as wolf directness struck again. Ayame felt that one didn't lie to one's kin, after all. It meant that anything Ayame heard was directly relayed to Sanae, Aki's, and Ichiro's loving parents whenever situations like this came up.

Kami bless it.

"Oh. I see. Inuyasha, that's a long story, and I'll explain it to you later. Please?" Kagome asked, and he just scowled. But she smiled at her angry daughter and sat with her.

"Feh!" he snapped.

"You have a new boyfriend? Why didn't you tell me? Sanae...I'd like to meet him, you know. What's he like? What does he do? When did you meet him?"

"Well, um...you know. Normal mortal," Sanae sighed.

"Helicopter pilot, flies charters. Likes bungee jumping and parachuting, snowboarding, skiing, backpacking, they're well suited. He wants to meet you both as well. He's nice for a mortal, really, they met almost a year ago and he hasn't strayed or anything. Pretty unusual these days for a human," Ayame commented.

"Ayame, stop helping," Sanae gritted as Kagome frowned.

"A year! Sanae, honestly. Though it figures you'd have Ichiro and Ayame meet him before your own mother," Kagome chided. Eyes rolled.

"If Daddy was more reasonable, I'd have brought him over-but he doesn't change much, I see. Still stuck in the Stone Age where the sons get to screw around as they please and the daughters are sold off! We've moved past the invention of the wheel, you know, and it isn't like I can't manage myself!" Sanae glared.

"What's the-you don't get to be insulting when you're the one who's bringing shame on yourself and your family!" Inuyasha yelled.

"Why you-"

"Sanae, do not be rude! When we get this sorted I expect to meet him, and so will your Father. He's stubborn, I know, but he is your sire and has the right to meet your dates. He worries, sweetheart," Kagome soothed. Why, she really didn't get. Their daughter was a youkai. It wasn't like she couldn't handle herself.

"Mom, don't tell him. Please? Look at this guy-Daddy's not much better. He'll chase him off or something! You know he will!" Sanae asked. Kagome shook her head.

"Dear...he'll know. I remember everything that happened to that girl, and that now includes meeting Ichiro. I'm betting you'll be having to explain things to your father as soon as he comes back through the Well. Because he'll remember this baka hearing it."

"I am not a baka!"

"Oh? Osuwari!"

thud

"Now, I've got to get ready and go. Ayame, Sanae, bring him along around two. I don't want witnesses for this, and I've got a well to check."

"Right," Ayame agreed, and Kagome got her stuff and left not long after.

"I'm out. Ayame, you take care of this, please? I've got a date and I want to get some stuff done first," Sanae announced with a glare at Inuyasha.

"Sure." Sanae was gone, and the wolf just shook her head as Inuyasha, scowling and muttering...went poking through the house again. Inu. All mad, really. Completely nuts.

Not a minute later there was a crash in the rec room and wolf ears caught soft swearing.

'Ichiro...the things I put up with for you,' she thought with a sigh, getting up to check the damage.

Author's notes-Well! Chapter 3. Heh, while I won't recommend having to repost, it does mean you actually have to look at fics. I caught of lot of stuff this chapter, and did some editing to smooth it out. I hope you enjoyed, and thanks for reading as always.-Namiyo