Kagome laid out the checkered cloth on the grass. Sango helped distribute the packed meals. The house in the background was going up quickly. She happily handed out her mother's cooking to the others. The men thanked her for her kindness.

"You are a lucky man to have a mother-in-law with such talents for cooking." Miroku smiled widely at the contents of his box. His kesa had been set aside during the work. Sango handed him a soda. Inuyasha was picking food out of his box and stuffing his face.

"The house looks good." Kagome smiled. Inuyasha continued to eat.

"A wooden roof. A glass window in the kitchen." Miroku whistled in regards to the expensive kamado being installed. The pieces were carefully waiting on a sheet.

"Are you bringing anything from your world?" Sango eyed her manufactured shoes.

"I hadn't thought about that." Kagome eyed the house. The roof over the kitchen was in place but the rest was still being installed. The frame was strong. It was one-storied but larger than any building in the village save the shrine. The window in the kitchen was still covered with protective paper. The carriage that had transported the glass had been driven by a very nervous man.

"It's a wonderful design. So different." Sango smiled.

"There will have to be many children to fill the rooms." Miroku's face was straight but his eyes sparkled. Inuyasha nearly choked. Kagome's cheeks flushed as she imagined the final house, children playing on the grass. A round belly keeping her awake at night.

"How many do you think they'd need?" Sango played along.

Miroku pretended to count on his fingers. Kagome rolled their eyes as Inuyasha overreacted. She beat on Inuyasha's back until he could breathe again. The hanyou nearly lost his mind when Miroku held up his thumb and curved forefinger.

"Oi, what is your problem!" Kagome watched Inuyasha pale. Both humans stared in amazement. The words were Inuyasha's but the voice was female. "Are you making a dirty gesture?"

Miroku was too stunned to respond.

"Down, wench." Inuyasha put his hand on her arm. His gentle tone convinced her to let the matter go. She took another sip of her soda and gave Miroku a warning look. His amusement pulled the corner of his mouth up as their friends still seemed gob smacked. Kagome's obliviousness flattered him. She had taken his words for herself and stunned their friends.

After their quiet lunch, Inuyasha and the men resumed hammering boards into place. Sealing the wood. Laying down the wooden floorboards in the bedroom. Installing the doors. Kagome followed Sango as she swept the dust from the work. She wiped the workdust from the boards with a damp rag.

This is going to be our home. I'm going to live here. Some trays, some furnishings, perhaps a few decorations to cover the walls? Kagome caught herself smiling. Miroku's taunts held some merit. Inuyasha had built a fine house for them. It would feel a bit empty without Mama, Souta and Grandpa. Without Sango or Miroku to fill the silence, it would be very quiet at night. Kagome suddenly felt very much like an unprepared teenager playing house. So many people were working to help her live with Inuyasha. All very grown up.

Am I really ready?

"Miroku can barter for some pots and things. He's good at handling that busybody in the village. Unless your mother is gifting you with the basics. You'll have a good firepit for the winter. They're going to build a little cache in the back for easy fuel." Sango ran her hands over the beautiful edge of the shelves.

"Are you alright?"

Despite Inuyasha's reaction earlier, was he expecting a house filled with children? One or two were normal in her age, but Miroku constantly made jokes about a dozen. It was only a matter of time until Sango had a baby. Did Inuyasha even want children? His own childhood had been harsh and horrible and lonely. Or maybe he was excited about having his own family? Sesshomaru was the only relative he had but they weren't close.

"Kagome-chan." Sango grasped her forearms. "It's perfectly normal to be scared. My first night with Miroku was awkward. It's still Inuyasha. He loves you so much."

"M-Miroku?" Curiosity got the better of her.

"He was very kind. We laughed." Sango shrugged.

"D-did it hurt?"

"...no. The first time was a bit strange." Kagome giggled at Sango's expression. "For all his flirting, it lasted all of a few minutes. It was so quiet we could hear the neighbors bickering." Kagome couldn't help but laugh as she remembered Miroku's playboy act. Sango smiled.

"He was nervous. I found it adorable."

"But it got better?"

"With a bit of practice. Patience."

Inuyasha's not patient. He cannot even wait for ramen some days.

"Kagome! Get out here." The abrasive voice ordered. Sango only giggled as they filed outside. The men were gathering what remained of the tools. The distant crack of lightning caught her off guard.

"Grab the nails. The hammers!" Kagome grabbed a basket. Tools were rescued from the tarps. She and Sango squealed as they ran after the men to gather everything up. It was fun as they got everything back into the shed. Kagome huddled underneath Inuyasha's arm in the doorway as the sheet of rain began to fall. His warm side pressed against hers. Despite the sunlight filtering through the crowds, a downpour had started.

A pack of cards was discovered. They sat in the floor of the house with the door open. The sound of the rain falling against the solid wooden roof and the tarps was comforting. Inuyasha threw her pen at Miroku's head when he caught the man cheating. There was a short, hard debate about whether to count Inuyasha's points in the next round after she helped him organize his cards.

It was Sango's decision to bring out the sake as the lightning worsened. Miroku kissed his wife full on the mouth as the cups were set out. Their card game became progressively less maintained as Sango's dealing got sloppy. Kagome's head drooped against Inuyasha's shoulder as evening fell. His hanyou resiliency had left him less drunk than the rest of them.

"This is kinda nice," Inuyasha murmured against her head.

"The house is amazing." Kagome nuzzled closer.

"Yeah?"

"It could use some color. Some cushions."

"We'll get all that." Inuyasha kissed her temple. She knew he was pleased. The sake had her nodding off while the rain provided background noise. A pleasant sleepiness carried her over the threshold. Kagome was dead asleep when he lowered her to the floor. Her arms wrapped around his bundled haori. Inuyasha closed the door against the rain and cursed as it stuck. Tomorrow, when the rain stopped, he would have to rebalance the hinges.