The priest at the Inari shrine had certainly been no help! He had practically run in the other direction when she showed him her belly.

I am NOT a pervert!

Inuyasha smirked at her again so she threw a pen at his head. He caught it easily. The merchant stalls outside the book archive were bright and clean and free of dusty shelves. The books were good at historical information but were distinctly lacking practical mystical directions. The Compendium of Japanese Heritage and A History of Feudal Japan provided no rituals for understanding one of the Lucky Seven! A giant, playful fox with unlimited holy energy had marked her with a flower! She did not know the answer to that tattooist's questions – what did it matter if the tattoo was tebori-style or irezumi? Inuyasha's reaction when he tried to touch her belly was priceless!

"Marking yourself with ink is illegal." Inuyasha grinned. "I'm married to a criminal."

"How do we know whether it's ink? It glows!"

"Wait, I remember! Kaede had sacred powers when she was a child too. Kikyo was training her to destroy demons. She could use the Sacred Arrow. One of the books said kitsune can put dreams into your mind. Inari must have unlocked the memories your father sealed."

"Dad, what if I don't like the new baby? Can we take it back?"

"It's non-refundable, peppermint."

A handsome face. Dark hair. Blue eyes. She had helped him put together Souta's baby crib, the same crib Mom had found in the old shed, the same crib that she had mentioned to Inuyasha. The little airplane mobile. Sweet little baby clothes and fun toys. Dad laid on the rug with her and played with building blocks.

"What if you like the new baby better?"

"You are Dad's special girl, Kagome. Nothing can ever change that."

Inuyasha's arm surrounded her. She swallowed with a lump in her throat. Tears were threatening to spill down her cheeks. The sympathy in his eyes helped her growing sense of loss. Souta would never have memories like those.

"Dad brought Buyo home so I would have a friend!"

"Oh, yeah?"

"Y-yeah." Kagome sniffled. The memory of the tiny tabby in Dad's big hands was clear. "I was jealous about the new baby so Dad gave me a kitten. I fed him, I played with him, he slept in my room, I talked to him. I think he wanted to teach me about Souta. Taking care of Buyo made me love him so much that I would do anything to protect him."

"He sounds like a good dad." The memory of her younger self and Buyo crawling around the second floor was too much. A family pet was a great way to distract her from being worried about the new baby. She would obsess over measuring out his food and carrying him to the water bowl. She would sit in the kitchen floor with him to make sure he ate enough. Dad showed her how to cradle him in her arms like a new baby, belly in the air, how to be gentle with his paws.

"Babies cannot have pets. Only big girls can."

"Speaking of cats - " A bendy, flexible band pinched her head. She caught a glimpse of herself in the market mirror. The sight of herself with fuzzy, black kitty ears made her giggle. Inuyasha grinned.

"Six hundred yen." The girl running the stall held out her hand. Inuyasha happily laid the paper down. Kagome laughed at the silliness of the purchase. Her husband led her to the next stall. Other, young patrons were investigating the stalls. No one thought twice about her cat ear headband. Her husband's mood had greatly improved. As she had suspected, he was not suited for long hours of concentrated research in dark book cellars. Under the sun with the smell of food everywhere, her guy had brightened.

"Kagome, look. Jewelry, right?" The little stall was bright and colorful. An independent jewelry artist that sealed blooming flowers in resin. She did not have a choice. Strong, excited Inuyasha pulled her forward to examine the display. She exclaimed loudly when he picked the ugliest piece – a necklace made of huge sunflowers that would drape to her navel with big, oval silver loops. Trust Inuyasha to have hideous taste in jewelry!

"What? You like flowers!"

Kagome shook her head. There were other pieces for sale that she actually liked. She was surprised that he was also interested in the jewelry. It was weird. He picked up a dainty silver ring with his claws to examine. The silver made a ping noise when he tapped it. Is he still worrying about an engagement ring? I told him it was unnecessary! I would have to remove it for surgeries and births and scrubbing up for nursing clinicals anyway. The ring was simple – a stamped silver flower was attached to a thin band.

"Inuyasha, I don't need a ring." Kagome interrupted his inspection softly. He looked startled. Inuyasha's proposal may not have been as well-spoken as Miroku's but she would treasure the memory forever. A special dinner underneath the branches of the Goshinboku. Kissing under the stars. Racing home to tell her mother waiting to toast their engagement with sake. Souta bouncing on the couch in excitement over having a new big brother! Mama crying with happiness when she hugged them both.

"Kagome, w-would...would you come live with me? As my wife, I mean."

"Are you serious? I mean, yes. Yes!"

"Did you propose to Kikyo?" The question made her cringe. Inuyasha cringed. For a moment, old hurts crawled to the surface. Jealousy over Inuyasha and Kikyo. You're being ridiculous! You know Inuyasha loves you.

"Kagome - "

"N-nevermind! It's silly." She forced herself to smile. Kagome clasped her hands behind her back when she walked away from the stall. The erratic beat of her heart and her emotional state were dangerous. Adrenaline pumped through her veins. I don't want to fight with Inuyasha about Kikyo on our honeymoon! What does it matter? Kikyo never married Inuyasha. Kikyo wanted Inuyasha to become human! If she truly knew him, she would know he could never be happy that way. It is his only connection to his father. It makes him proud.

"Kagome, stubborn girl!" Inuyasha caught up. Before she could squeak, Inuyasha swept her into his arms. In an isolated alleyway, she was pinned against cold concrete. Inuyasha's kiss was desperate. The hand in her hair gave her no choice. The tongue invading her mouth silenced her questions, her doubts. Tears leaked down her cheeks.

"Kagome, Kagome!" Chaste kisses consumed her tears. "I thought we were past this! We are married. I love you!"

"But you still love Kikyo, right?" Kagome wiped her face with her sleeve. The soft fabric felt good against her dumb, stupid face! Maybe Inuyasha was trying to improve on his last proposal, his last engagement! I bet it was really romantic too. Stupid Kikyo!

"Yes, I do." Inuyasha's affirmative answer made her ache. "A part of me will always love her, Kagome. We understood each other. I loved her because I was lonely and so was she. Her life was filled with misery and blood. She had no friends, no parents. No one in the village remembers her as a woman beyond Kaede and me. What kind of man would I be to forget someone who was kind to a rude, friendless half demon?"

"S-so I bet you wish you were married to Kikyo!"

"No, I don't!" Inuyasha gripped her shoulders. "You're the one who showed me real love, stupid! I didn't know you were possible! I wanted a home, a place to belong, someone to belong to. Kikyo wanted a life of her own. She wasn't perfect, Kagome. Neither of us knew any better."

"So you did propose to her?"

"Kikyo asked me to become human to purify the Jewel. I told her that I would so we could live together. That was the day Naraku forced us to betray one another. She died thinking the man she loved never cared." Inuyasha's fingers touched the plastic band behind her ears with a thoughtful expression. "She was sad and lonely and trapped in her life so she empathized with me. I thought that was love."

"Inuyasha?"

"Even from the start, you never gave me a choice. My partner, my friend - " Inuyasha tucked her hair behind her ear. "I have loved you since our battle against Yura of the Hair. You could have stayed home with your family but you chose to fight by my side."

"It's made with hair of the fire-rat. You'll have some protection at least."

"Thank you."

"Yeah, well, if you weren't so weird looking, you wouldn't even need it."

"You should talk, dog-boy."

"That was the first time you teased me!" Kagome looked up. Nostalgia softened her anger when she saw Inuyasha looking at her like that. "You told me I was weird looking in the well house."

"I had never put the robe of the fire-rat on anyone before. You were cute." Inuyasha flushed.

"It was the first time you used my name." Kagome could hear his voice telling her to go. When she purified the red skull that controlled Yura, she had earned Inuyasha's respect. It was the moment they truly became friends.

"You are the first person to try to rip my clothes off."

"You're the first guy to see me naked." Kagome bit her lip. Inuyasha grinned so boldly it made her squirm. Male hands squeezed her hips in a familiar way. She exclaimed when he kissed her ear. Both hands palmed her backside.

"Perverted dog-boy!" The clear-and-present weight of him pinned her against the wall so there was no escape.

"The ears are adorable on you. We're keeping them."

"Oh, you like them?" Kagome played with her hair a bit to fluff her bangs. "Why would you want to keep them, husband?"

"You know why." Inuyasha's low tone made her giggle. The kiss was deep and full of forgiveness. Whatever had happened in the past with Kikyo, she was sure Inuyasha was happier now. He was the one who said she was born to be with him! His loyalty to Kikyo was one of the reasons she could trust him. Her husband would never betray someone he loved.

"I bought the skirt."

"Skirt?"

"The ruffled skirt? Socks too." She smiled. "Maybe I could wear them together. That might be cute."

"The ones from the window?" Inuyasha's hand cupped her upper thigh. She brushed his bangs aside. The side of her husband's head rested against hers. Inuyasha's heartbeat was high.

"You are a good wife." Strong arms squeezed her.

Kagome continued to wear the cat ears when they sat down in the cafe. No matter what the waitress thought, she lifted her head proudly. Inuyasha's eyes were bright and flirtatious. She held his hands on the table. Calloused fingers brushed against hers. Fresh smoothies and sweet rolls were a brilliant afternoon snack. They had intended to scout the surrounding bookstores for information about Inari. That would spoil the mood! This is sooo sweet.

"Twin bears omelet rice! So cute!" The menu was overly kawaii. They also sold ice cream cones designed to look like animals. Pancakes with chocolate syrup faces. Fresh cut strawberries with cream. Little cakes in the shape of cat faces. One in particular reminded her of Buyo. It was absurd that she was sitting in a kawaii cafe with Inuyasha but he didn't seem to care. Kagome clapped her hands together when she realized they had Sailor Moon burgers! Colored buns for Luna and Artemis. Well, almost black. It was closer to a dark blue.

"My wife wants the omelet rice," Inuyasha told the waitress. "And the sweet rolls! The chicken sandwich for me. Her husband."

"One twin bear omelet rice, one happy bear sandwich!" The girl bowed slightly. Kagome hid her smile when she noticed what the picture portrayed. Wheat bread cut to look like a chibi bear's face with chocolate rounds for the eyes, the dark of the ears, holding a cherry tomato cut like a heart. Freshly cut apple slices that looked like bunny ears sleeping on a bed of lettuce. This is definitely not the restaurant Inuyasha would choose! Still, it was the manliest item she could see on the menu.

Inuyasha looked out the window. "Why don't you want a ring?"

"A wedding ring? Why would I need one?"

"Other women have one here. It is an oath from the husband, right?" Steady gold eyes turned her hand over. A calloused thumb brushed her ring finger. "We did not have a yuinou ceremony because I have no family. You should at least have a promise ring – because I promise to protect our family with my life. I will love you forever."

"Inuyasha, I love you too." From his perspective, an engagement-wedding-promise ring had great importance. It wasn't just a symbol to ward off potential suitors. He had no clue that men wore rings too! A ring carried the same weight as a betrothal ceremony to him, an important step they had missed because he had no family to join to hers.

"A ring sounds lovely – or a bracelet." The bare skin of her finger seemed to fascinate him. "We could even have a ceremony at home. Mama is already planning on a family dinner when we go back. We can browse the shops outside. A lot of husbands take their wives to shop for a ring."

"Do you like flowers?"

"I liked the one you picked outside, the little silver band? I like simplicity. Anything too fancy would interfere with my archery. Silver might tarnish. Jade would be pretty. It symbolizes healing and love. They bring good luck and supposedly ward off disasters."

"Jade? The green, shiny stones?"

"The more you wear a jade bracelet, the more good or bad energy it possesses. I think my grandmother owned one. Grandpa might still have it with his treasures. It used to be that you gave items like that to the eldest son but he might part with it."

"Why to the eldest?"

"A long time ago when a woman married, she went to her husband's household. If you gave your daughter heirlooms, the family would lose them. By giving valuables to the eldest son, they stay in the family."

"So if we have a kid, would they belong to our family or yours?"

"Ours. The branch system? I bet you've never heard of a family tree! Everyone makes one in school. See, with every family, there is a main family, then there are branches." Kagome used a napkin to show Inuyasha the hierarchies. She sketched her family tree quickly, what she could remember. Then she drew a horizontal line connecting her with Inuyasha. She drew stems for his parents and his brother although she knew nothing about Sesshomaru's mother.

"Am I the head of our household?"

"Well, you are your mother's only son. We know very little about her family. That makes you the oldest male heir of your lineage. If we have a child, I suppose that starts a new stem. Souta would be the oldest male of my family after Grandpa." The imaginary little branch representing their child made her think. A brand new little family.

"You forgot Sango and Miroku." Inuyasha's claw pointed. Kagome quickly made another little gathering for their friends and the nekoyoukai. She tapped the pen against her lip before connecting Rin to Sesshomaru. She connected Shippo and Kohaku and Kaede and even Jaken.

"Can we make an official version of this for home? Your grandpa knows how to make big scrolls doesn't he? Miroku could make a copy." Inuyasha's eyes were too hopeful. The brief memory of Hojo and his family scroll made her eye twitch. She had never seen fit to inform him about that temporal oddity. Not that it mattered. Perhaps Akitoki Hojo married another woman named Kagome! It certainly would not be her.

Home. Inuyasha said home!

"I'll ask Grandpa. He knows everything about the family history."

"Twin bear omelet rice for the wife, happy bear sandwich for husband!" The girl in the cute pink skirt swooshed back. She served Inuyasha first before serving the omelet rice. It was absolutely adorable! Two bears cuddling underneath a blanket of sauce. Inuyasha was a bit put-off when the girl clapped her hands and sang a food song about the Happy Bear Cafe. She soothed his nerves when the waitress swooshed away again.

"What the hell was that?"

"It's a b-blessing." It was the easiest explanation for a kawaii cafe song. Much easier than explaining they were having lunch in a girl-oriented restaurant for tweens and little kids. It was fun watching Inuyasha pick the chocolates off his sandwich. He popped the tomato heart into his mouth. The bunny apples were very cute. She could ask Mama how to make them for Shippo and Rin. The kids would have fun eating decorative apples!

"What are you doing?"

"I wanted a bunny apple!" Kagome bit the bunny's ears off. She challenged Inuyasha to protest for stealing food off his plate. The husband thought about it before taking a spoonful of her omelet, holding the spoon with his thumb and palm. Removing the bunny's tail was satisfying. The crisp, moist apple was caramelized. Of course. Sugary, warm apple goodness made her lean back. She almost rested a hand on her belly before she remembered the flower.

"Thank you, husband."

"Is this a permanent thing? My wife steals food off my plate?" Inuyasha broke his apple slice in half before consuming it, less precise. He played angry but she could sense the game. Inuyasha liked sharing things with her.

"Yes. It's in the marriage handbook." Kagome consumed her first mouthful of the omelet rice. Absolutely perfect! It was the ultimate treat for spending hours in a dusty old cellar. It was bright yellow and kawaii and sticky.

"Anything else I should know?" Inuyasha picked up his chicken sandwiched between wheat for a first bite. Mama had made him several sandwiches at the house when she was registering at school. The word 'sandwich' might not be popular in the Feudal Era but her family had helped him with several menus. The closest substitute was anpan.

"The husband has to like his wife's cooking no matter what she makes." Kagome pointed her chopsticks at him. "It hurts my feelings when you insult my cooking. If I make a special meal for you, you should be polite."

"What if it's not good?"

"Then be politely critical. I'll stop making the dish or get better."

"Deal – if you promise not to sit me for my opinion. It pisses me off." Inuyasha moved his plate so she could steal another apple slice. Kagome nodded her head in agreement. She was not as immature as her fifteen-year old self anymore. By habit, she was more careful now.

"Deal!"

"So you are going to cook dinner?" Inuyasha tore a sweet roll apart. "At our house. It's the wife's role to make the food, right? I can collect the firewood and bring home whatever ingredients you want."

"Like splitting up the chores? I can do the cooking." Inuyasha might help her mother but she did not trust his daily cooking skills! "If you promise to help with the cleanup. Washing dishes, collecting water? It would probably be safer for you to fetch water after dark. Your eyesight is better."

"Definitely. I don't want you falling in the dark."

"We can split the housework. Airing the futon, washing the floors. You might have to dust the high corners." Kagome ran through a list of daily chores in her mind. "Weeding the garden will be a lot of work. Hauling extra water for the plants in summer. Cleaning the walls. Laundry. You'll need an extra set of clothes too! You can't come to bed dirty. I might need a day to wash your robes."

"What? My clothes are fine!"

"You're not getting in MY bed covered in mud." She pointed the chopsticks at her chest.

"Your bed? It's our house!"

"Yes, exactly! If you come home dirty from working, you are not mussing up our house. I'll wash your clothes but you are not getting into my bed smelling like the fields. That means clean feet." She gestured. "No tracking dirt into our sheets. I like cleanliness."

"Who says I want to sleep in your bed?" Inuyasha exhaled.

Ladies and gentleman, the most socially unaware person ever.

"Who said anything about sleeping?" Kagome dabbed a bit of sauce on her finger before putting it on her tongue. Her husband's cheeks bloomed.

"Is everything to your satisfaction? Would you like more bunny apples, husband?" The waitress reappeared. Kagome wiped her hands on her napkin. It resettled daintily in her lap. Her husband was speechless.

"The food is amazing – more bunny apples please!"

Kagome hummed the Hungry Baby Bear song to herself while she finished her omelet. Watching the passengers on the street stop to read the cafe menu was entertaining. More apples were delivered to the table. Inuyasha was still blushing like a bride. The memory of his reaction to that made her giggle. It had taken time to build up the nerve but he definitely appreciated it! After his enthusiasm to please her, it was past time she did the same.

Beautiful, resplendent Inuyasha calling out her name. Begging her! She had caught him by surprise. It had not taken very long to satisfy him. The magazines had said virgins were very sensitive at first. She was teaching him to connect more during sex with eye contact and touching. They definitely needed to work on their communication. Inuyasha definitely only used one – well, two – positions thus far. Then again, how much could she expect him to know? She wasn't an expert on sex herself. Catching random glimpses of late night television did not help.

Kagome ordered the Kute Kitty Kake! for herself and Inuyasha. A miniature little ice cream cake was delivered. It was vanilla except for the decorations. Chocolate, chocolate icing decorated the top to define the cat's face. She handed Inuyasha a fork before diving in. Cold cream cooled her back teeth. Inuyasha hesitated until he realized it was not white frosting on cake bread.

"Hey, it's good!"

"The kitty looks like Buyo."

Kagome sat back while Inuyasha frowned at their receipt. He counted out the yen while the waitress waited patiently. She took almost the correct amount back to the register to close the ticket. She returned with an extra bill. I am proud of him. He really is learning!

Inuyasha led her back to the jewelry stand. She showed him what size best fit her finger. Gold would be too flashy for life in a village. Silver was pretty but would require polishing and cleaning. She showed appreciated when he picked a square silver pendant with a resin flower. A pair of koi swam around lapis lazuli rocks underneath a cherry blossom tree in bloom.

"Try it on!" The woman behind the counter urged.

Inuyasha's claws could not properly handle a button so she did not expect him to help her with the tiny, delicate clasp. She looked at the pendant in the mirror. It was definitely unique! Her husband seemed to glow with pride when he patted her hair into place. The clear crystalline necklace looked good against her pale skin.

"Like the festival night! The blossoms, the koi fish. Do you like it?"

"It's stunning. Can I have it?" Despite the money in her purse, she blinked her eyes at Inuyasha. As expected, his chest puffed with air. The saleswoman gave him a price and a paper jewelry box with non-reactive paper inside a bag. It helped soothe his need for a promise ring. Also, the resin flowers were lovely. Before they left, Kagome bought a smaller piece for little Rin. A small, individual sunflower preserved in resin was half the price. Sango was not much for jewelry.

"Rin will appreciate having a new treasure."

"It will look adorable on her! She is a sunflower, always so bright and sunny." Kagome tucked the bag into her purse. "Unique, too. Sesshomaru brings her kimono but no accessories."

"Kaede thinks he is building her worth or something. Gifts for her future. Marriage or whatever." They walked together down the street. "No idea where he gets the stuff. Money is a tool for weak mortals. Demons trade in power, not metal."

"If she does remain with humans, she might need money. Sesshomaru will keep providing her with kimono. The village will feed her as Kaede's protege. If something happened to Kaede, would that make her my protege? She's just a little girl. Would she inherit Kaede's hut?"

"I do not know. It's at the edge of the village. It might be dangerous for a girl living alone...assuming she even chooses humans." Inuyasha tilted his head. Kagome forced herself to imagine a future without Kaede. Rin living alone. Sango and Miroku would not have room for her. It would make sense for Rin to live in their house until she were older. They could walk to jobs together, gather ingredients together, mind the garden. No woman in the village lived alone except Kaede. It was rare. Single women were quickly offered marriages to protect them from rumor or threat. Not that Kaede permitted such crimes in her village. Inuyasha certainly would not stand for assault. There was also the ever-present threat that anyone who hurt little Rin would suffer the wrath of the snowy dog demon who occasionally haunted them.

Kagome gave Inuyasha a small heart attack when she picked up a red canister.

"What's wrong with you? Put that down!"

"It's a game! Sexy Truth or Dare." She wiggled the box. There were lipstick kisses covering the cylinder. Kagome picked one of the sample sticks from the vendor and proceeded to read it aloud! "Truth – where was your most romantic kiss?"

"Kagome!"

"That's a tough one! We've had some very romantic kisses. I hope it means when rather than where." It was fun to torture him. Just a little. When she picked up the next stick. "Dare – I am going to dab perfume somewhere on my body and you will have to use your nose to figure out where."

"Humans! Like finding that stink would be a challenge."

"Dare – join me in the shower and wash my body." Kagome showed him the prompt. He turned his nose up at the suggestion. They had already taken a bath together, he didn't need a game for ideas! Not that she disagreed. Taking a bath with Inuyasha had been sexy and fun. Washing soap off his lean, sculpted back unmarred by injuries was definitely inspiration for later.

"One please." Kagome handed over the yen. She received one red cylinder of Sexy Truth or Dare. Inuyasha stared at her like she was a pervert until she giggled. The little game was rather innocent but there was at least one resident pervert in the village who would appreciate it. Sango swore that Miroku was being faithful – or else – but he was still a major flirt. A game would give their friends an excuse to play.

"The kiss at Kaguya's castle was our first." Inuyasha pouted. "I missed the first half!"

"Our love was enough to break Kaguya's spell. True love's kiss can break any curse!"

"True love's what?"

"Love is stronger than any curse! Love can transcend time and pain and death. That's why I was born to be Inuyasha's wife!" Kagome swung his arm with their clasped hands. Inuyasha huffed. "So the very least you can do is play a game with me."

"Fine! When I posed the question. There were many good kisses." Inuyasha tugged to lead her in the right direction. She beamed. Maybe one day he would truly appreciate the appeal of a picnic under the branches of the Goshinboku. Her focus drifted. It was the first time they had truly 'made out' as a couple! Tangled together under the limbs into the early hours of the morning. Inuyasha's wild musky scent had permeated her clothes. It had taken some very strong will to drag him through the Well to tell her mother! The novelty of having Inuyasha to herself had left her keyed up and excited. The most beautiful, stubborn, courageous boy ever wanted to be her husband!