The procession to the haiden was too quiet. Inuyasha's nerves were strung tightly as he fought the urge to say something to the girl beside him. They were moving slowly to accommodate the shiromuku tradition required she wear. Without flutes or drums, with a small procession of humans following them, the lack of noise had him on edge. Kagome's mother smiled at him. His bride seemed to have the same concerns, but she wouldn't look at him directly. Someone had colored her lips with expensive red paint, but she kept her face forward. The red parasol cast a shadow on them both in the sunny stone path. Their gait slowed down further as they approached the red torii that protected the entrance to the Higurashi family shrine. Souta coughed quietly, too quietly for human hearing. He remembered to bow at the entrance of the shrine in unison with Kagome.

Definitely owe the kid something extra. One cough to bow, two coughs to say something -

The interior of the haiden weighed on him heavily. The artwork, the crest on the banners over the doorway. It was an enclosed space, much as Kaede's shrine, but larger. Light from the day easily lit the wall where the priest and miko stood, though glass lamps had also been lit. His heart fluttered as Kagome's mother moved to sit on the intricately carved low chairs on the bride's side. The side meant for the groom's family remained empty.

Don't do anything stupid. They're counting on you.

Inuyasha bowed with Kagome and the others in the room. Kagome accepted the bark of the Sacred Tree from the miko and passed it to him, before he passed it back. Together they offered it to the blind priest and the ancestors of the Higurashi shrine. The priest accepted the bark before he urged them to sit and began to recite the Norito. Inuyasha resisted the urge to clench his hands in anxiety as the priest promised them unending happiness in their marriage, a sacred vow before the kami of the shrine and the Higurashi family.

Inuyasha internally held onto the promise that the wedding would be simple, that Kagome's mother had not added something modern to confuse him. The priest waved a large green branch before them both. Inuyasha flinched as the man brushed him in the head with the stiff ends. There was a cloudiness to the priest's eyes that soothed his worry that he might recognize the demon in front of him and refuse to continue. The miko flanking the holy man retained their smiles as he nearly brushed Kagome with the same branch. The priest's red robes flowed over the bright red carpet as the miko fetched shallow wooden cups for the ichi no sakazuki. The miko poured the sake into his cup with three small tilts.

The first cup, Heaven, appreciation of the ancestors. Kagome lifted her eyes toward him as she nearly sipped at an empty cup. Her cheeks colored naturally as the miko filled her cup with three small tilts, undisturbed. His heart skipped several beats at her beauty. Inuyasha fought his bout of irony at the empty chairs in the room as he sipped three small times. The crest marking his clothing was strange to bear. Sesshomaru was hardly family, but he did have a sense of tradition.

The second cup, Earth, our marriage. Kagome was his home, his reason to fight. For whatever years they could share together, he would always protect her. It had been decades since he had last resided in a stationary home. It would be an adjustment for them both, living in his era permanently, without the constant need to travel. The village had accepted their human friends without trouble. He hoped they would accept Kagome and himself. Previously they have been passing travelers, temporary nuisances visiting Kaede, bringing trouble to such a small village. The men had been helpful enough building their home. Adjusting to a young married miko and a dog hanyou in their daily life might be something else.

The third cup, our united family. Inuyasha briefly wished for the presence of their friends. Miroku and Sango might have joined his side of the ceremony, to balance the room. Their wedding had been informal, having limited family as well. Kagome met his eyes briefly with the same longing. They're our family too, but Kagome deserves a wedding with her mother present. Even Sango had confided in him that she missed her father, that it had saddened her on their wedding day.

Kagome stood carefully as he prepared to recite his vow to the Higurashi family and their shrine. The second miko offered him the rolled scroll that held the script, written out so formally in proper penmanship. While he could read, his skills were out of practice. Panic briefly took hold when he struggled to find the beginning. Shippo's taunting of his education were more accurate than he cared to admit. Other than Shippo, he was the least educated of his group, and the kitsune was merely a child. Despite being the oldest and the strongest of their alliance, he had the most trouble with reading. His aversion to the strong smell of ink and his instincts did not assist.

"On this day, before the gods, we are sincerely thankful for this ceremony. Going forward, we will love each other, trust one another, share the good and the bad, and swear that this will stay unchanged throughout our lifetime. March Nine. Husband."

"Wife," Kagome's clear voice recited.

Hearing the girl's announcement to her family shrine, he carefully folded the paper in half and rested it on the pale table placed before them. The miko approached and presented them both with a Tamagushi. The little branch was thin and he briefly struggled to hold it in front of his heart with his clawed fingers and bow his forehead against it. They both turned the Tamagushi to the shrine and laid the branches on either side of the vow. Inuyasha's heart raced as they slowly bowed twice, and clapped, then clapped. A final bow was completed.

There were few attendees for the miko to serve sake. Kagome's family waited patiently for the miko to pour sake into each cup. After a call of congratulations, they drank.

That's it - we're married. Inuyasha glanced at Kagome and sensed a similar erratic energy. He wanted to run outside, but he caught himself, and walked out as elegantly as he could. Kagome had no problems keeping a similar pace as before, perhaps not by her choice. Her clothing kept him in check as they stepped into the sunlight outside the shrine.

I'm married. We're married.

"Inuyasha." Kagome's hand slipped into his larger palm. The shape of her small, human hand helped calm him. Underneath the bridal attire and the red lipstick, Kagome smiled at him. Happiness surged through him and he lost his breath for a moment. People were already filing out of the shrine behind them. Kagome's mother was talking at him and Souta was already calling him big brother. The noise didn't register. There were weird clicks from the camera-machine that had been deemed so important earlier.

"Your hair looks nice." Kagome gestured to the knot holding his hair backwards. Her mother had left enough hair loose to hide his lack of human ears, but his mane was not hanging loose over his shoulders. The rosary had been disguised as part of his wedding attire. He shrugged.

"You look beautiful." Inuyasha was almost afraid to touch her. He had never seen a more beautiful bride or more delicate white silk. No princess had ever looked more regal.

"It took long enough. I can barely breathe." Kagome's teasing tone cut over her brother's excited jabbering. There was a large flash and he covered his eyes.

"Mom! It's daylight!" Souta scolded. "You don't need the flash!"

"It's shady under the roof. It was a test shot!"

"Inuyasha?" Kagome's hand on his arm steadied him. She steered him towards a bench of stone. Stars danced in his eyes as he pressed his palms against his face.

"Mom, you can't use the flash. He can see in the dark," Kagome whispered.

"Mom, turn off the flash!"

"We should take photos in front of the shrine. Get your grandfather. Inuyasha? Oh, Inuyasha." A soft hand landed on his shoulder. A matronly touched rubbed circles on his back. When the suns in his vision faded, his mother-in-law dragged him forward. Kagome shrugged as she stood next to him. He warily looked where Kagome pointed while more clicking sounds came out of the machine. He posed with Kagome. He posed with Kagome and her brother, then her brother. Souta fetched Buyo from the courtyard and held him against his chest. When Kagome's grandfather emerged with the priest, Inuyasha found himself being awkwardly pushed into a group to stare at the little machine.

"How long are we doing this?" Inuyasha whispered.

"We have to do photos, silly. Wait. Mama!" Kagome moved forward, restricted by her formal kimono. Inuyasha found himself being posed with Kagome's mother in front of the shrine.

"We should do a round of photos with Kagome and her brother." Inuyasha was pulled away while Kagome stood with her younger brother. Kagome's mother coached the two to stand closer. Inuyasha understood the old man's exhaustion as he sat on the stone bench to wait.


It had been Inuyasha's foolish idea that after his wedding, he would have had more than a few minutes privacy with his new wife. He had forgotten about the schedule.

After endless pictures in the courtyard, in the sunlight, in the shade, sitting, standing and otherwise he wanted to break the little clicking machine. Kagome had held his hand on the way back to the separate dressing rooms. They had stopped to sign a piece of paper under the supervision of the priest. His embarrassing signature above Kagome's neat, practiced hand made his cheeks redden. No one had warned him that he would have to sign a marriage license. The family name they had provided him matched the name on the legal papers. He recognized the picture on his new identification papers from the last night of the new moon.

"Keep this with you. Everyone carries one." Mama Higurashi pushed the little card into his hand. "Do you have a wallet? Oh, dear. I didn't think. I am sure Papa has a spare in the house."

"How did you get Inuyasha an ID?" Kagome took it from him to examine the little rectangle.

"Your grandfather has many friends, dear. He was able to ask a favor from someone in the government. Your grandfather once performed an exorcism on his daughter, poor thing. She was suffering from a spirit that made her walk around the house at night causing trouble. One visit from your grandfather solved that!"

"Sleepwalking? Mom, that's not an exorcism."

"Your grandfather has great gifts, Kagome. It runs in the family!"

"Sure, Mom." Kagome shrugged. Her mother was already reviewing the marriage license. The priest nodded absently as the taller miko rolled the contract up. Kagome touched his shoulder before the women were ushering her upstairs to the dressing area to remove her shiromuku. Inuyasha sat down in the lobby with a cup of tea. Souta perched beside him, kicking his legs in the air. Kagome's mother sent Souta to fetch a new roll of film.

"That was a lovely ceremony, dear. You did well." Inuyasha flinched slightly when her hand touched his head. He relaxed when she only patted his hair. His new mother-in-law turned to pour herself a cup of tea from the moveable cart. She sat on the cushioned seat and sighed quietly.

"I'm sorry about my signature." Inuyasha mumbled.

"Hm? Your signature?"

"I haven't had much practice."

"Oh, the contract! It's only a formality, Inuyasha. Don't you mind." A small, soft hand patted his knuckles sweetly. He drank from his tea and grimaced at his dulling senses. Human noses were practically useless. It was impossible to detect anything with such weak senses.

"If it isn't rude to ask - when do you change?"

"Not long now. I can't smell anything." Inuyasha frowned at the dainty little cup.

"Your ears will disappear?"

"Yeah - when I turn human. As human as you." Like Kagome, she didn't seem disgusted by his half-demon status. She merely looked at him curiously.

"I hope you know how glad we are to have you. It's been a long time since something so good happened to this family." The sentiment weighed heavily on him. He loathed the day that he would disappoint Kagome's family. Would she be so fond of him after their next fight?

"I hate to think how Kagome might feel, getting married alone. I don't want you to feel that way." The sparkle of tears in the corner of her large brown eyes threatened to spill over.

"I've been alone a long time. It's not a big deal."

Fuuuck. Inuyasha winced as tears actually rolled over her cheeks. He knew better than to say stuff like that to Kagome. It made sense that her mother would be the same way. Guilt flooded through him when she pulled a handkerchief from her pocket. He set the cup aside and turned towards her.

"I'm not alone now, that's what I meant. I'm the happiest I've ever been, honest."

"In y-your letter - "

"I meant it." Inuyasha's ears pinned to his head. "Your house feels like home."

Kagome's mother dabbed at her face. When she lifted her sweet, heart-shaped face her eyes were shiny but not wet. She gripped his clawed hand fiercely. The door burst open again as Souta brought his mother a small canister. Mama Higurashi thanked him for the quick return. The emotional human focused her attention on popping open the back of the picture-taker to replace the film. Souta's expression was inquisitive but he shrugged.

The sunlight through the window finally dipped below the pane. Inuyasha turned his hand over to watch his claws shrink and disappear. His hearing deadened and he lost the faint echo of Kagome's voice from upstairs. Souta was staring at him. He shifted uncomfortably when the kid climbed on the bench to touch his hair. A larger, female hand glided over his head to search for his missing ears.

"Is that magic? Wow!" Souta tugged on his ear.

"How strange!" Kagome's mother touched his jaw. His shorter, human teeth seemed to astound her.

"Mom, Souta!" A welcome voice scolded. Inuyasha's head snapped to the top of the stairs. She didn't wait for assistance descending the stairs. Kagome proceeded to scold them for their rudeness. Her clothing was a brilliant red color, a pleasing contrast to her pale skin and dark hair. Blue eyes blazed as she forced strange hands from his dark hair.

"Oh, Kagome. We were just curious!"

"Can you teach me magic, Inuyasha? That's so cool!"

Inuyasha was grateful when his new bride grabbed his hand and pulled him free. He didn't bother glancing back. The next room was a nice sitting area, gently lit, but unused. His heart raced when she turned on her heels. Love and something else filled her eyes. His hands were nervous to touch her for fear of mussing her clothes. The kind, smart, selfless girl standing in front of him was his wife. It was surreal.

"Hey."

"Hey, wench." Kagome's red lips quirked. He smiled back at her. While his pitiful human nose couldn't identify the subtler scents that defined Kagome, her presence was a balm against the inexorable panic that always filled him at sundown. Being unable to smell the smoke of her world was a temporary blessing in that sense.

Kagome's hands were gentler than her brother's as her fingers tweaked his earlobe. It tickled a bit.

"The cars are going to be waiting out front to drive us to the reception."

Inuyasha inwardly winced as he imagined the crowd of people at the hotel, all staring at him, judging the new husband of their precious heir. Souta had warned him that they would have questions about his family, his education and any numbers of questions he didn't care to answer. Kagome had promised him the food would be good in any case. All the versions of the menus he had seen featured a course of steak.

"Mama invited my friends from school. Grandpa can't wait to introduce you to his friends. They're all antiques hoarders too. I'm not sure what Mama told them about you, but I'll do most of the talking." Kagome's words came too quickly. She was nervous about the reception too? Her proximity helped. People from her era habitually asked him strange questions he didn't understand.

"Thanks."

"It's only a couple of hours." Kagome's hands reached up to touch his face. "We'll sit together and have dinner and be introduced to people. It won't be so bad."

"Keh." Inuyasha shook his head nervously.

"Inuyasha?"

"Yeah?"

"We're married." Kagome smiled. He couldn't resist smiling back. The girl squeezed him around the waist and rested her cheek against his shoulder. Nothing else matters. Not the pesky humans or the metal machines they trust or the weird food. Kagome's relatives want to make a good impression on the town members. It's only a few more hours. How bad could it be?