The Shiraito Falls were quiet in March. The weather was too cold for most hikers but Kagome was determined. Their luggage had been delivered to a nearby hotel. The rest she had packed into the pack she carried, essentials like clothing and food. A fervor pushed her muscles farther and farther up the trail. Inuyasha carried the heavier bag over a single shoulder. He looked back nervously.

"We're almost there – I can hear the falls."

"Good!"

Transferring from one bus to another, Kagome was glad to be on the final part of their journey. Ama-no-Uzume had insisted that they make the journey to the Falls as soon as they could. How were they supposed to balance their souls?The peerless white kimono were inside Inuyasha's pack. She knew what the water cleansing ceremony consisted of doing, the ritual was fairly simple, but what else could they do? She was nervous about losing her powers – could the purifying waters take them?

No matter what, I choose to be Inuyasha's wife!

Ama-no-Uzume had painted a terrifying picture. What if she hurt Inuyasha? What if her powers prevented her from conceiving? What if she became pregnant and purified their baby? Just the thought made her feel faint.

The Falls were a short hike from the main road. As they climbed the next ridge the glorious downpour of water into the basin came into view. Greenery poked through snow in the cavity where a huge face of rock provided the support for the falling water like silk floating through the air. In the evening light, orange and red and gold beamed through the foliage. She paused to admire the natural beauty. Her thick sweater protected her from the chill in the air. The temperature of the water was freezing! Her hands pulled the straps of her pack tighter just thinking about it.

We have to go into that water!

"It's a pretty spot. I'll get the firewood." Inuyasha dropped his pack on a brown patch. She set down her pack to unroll her sleeping bag. Their pack of water sat near her bag. There was definitely a peaceful sense about the area. Neither youkai nor large animals seemed to have disturbed the foliage. Inuyasha darted back and forth to deliver firewood to their site. After Inuyasha had arranged their campfire, she easily used a cheap lighter from the way station to light it aflame.

The inn in Matsumoto had been surprised about their early check-out but had been kind enough to offer a partial refund. The money had paid for their bus tickets. Home was only a few hours from their current location. Her mother had been surprised but supported her decision. Souta had monopolized the rest of the call to pester Inuyasha. Her cute husband had been forced to answer 'big-brother' questions for a half hour!

Inuyasha dropped next to her. The pot brewing over the fire had fresh water from the falls. She hoped that wasn't sacrilegious.

"Do you think Konohanasakuya-hime will mind us stepping into her waters? The stories say she has a temper."

"Who is that?"

"The kami of the mountain. Sometimes they call her Sakuya-hime, the blossom princess, daughter of the mountain god Ohoyamatsumi. She is married to Ninigi, grandson of Amaterasu, the grandfather of Emperor Jimmu."

"Who?"

"The first emperor of Japan, descended from the kami! Ninigi brought the three celestial gifts – the sword, the mirror and the jewel – to his grandson as signs of his right to rule!"

"Hell, if the kami got mad whenever a human came around, there would be no humans left."

The white kimono were wrapped in plastic wrapping to protect them. Kagome brought them out of the pack to smooth them out and lay the folded fabric flat. Stickers on the exterior marked the sizes for both the male and female. Inuyasha eyed them.

"What's involved in this so-called ritual?"

"We get dressed in the shiroshozoku to perform the misogiharae. We meditate under the falls to purify our souls of things like sickness or bad thoughts. Once we are in the water we do the furitama with our hands." Kagome clasped her hands together as an example. "Most men just wear their fundoshi but I thought you might prefer the kimono."

"So taking a bath in this water will show us why your powers flare up?"

"Whenever someone in the village has dark moments, she brings them to the river falls to cleanse their spirit. It is meant to align your senses and your mind to the kami so that you can develop your spirit's flow centers. It's real!" Kagome crossed her arms. Inuyasha huffed. "Miroku-sama performed the misogiharae before Master Mushin would repair his wind tunnel."

"You are humans! What the hell do I need from the kami?"

"Ama-no-Uzume said our souls are connected now because of the marriage." The instructions suddenly clicked in her silly human brain. "If the water will remove our impurities maybe our spirits can connect better! After all of the fuss over the wedding, maybe we need some clarity."

"We're not connected now?"

"Of course we are, but our marriage is new. Ama-no-Uzume said that it might take time."

They fell into companionable silence while their dinner finished stewing. Her husband could never turn down instant ramen, chicken or beef flavored. She popped the tab of soda pop for him. He kept his head down while he ate. Mama assured her that the single-mindedness would fade with time. It was the clearest indicator of Inuyasha's feelings. The poor guy was worried about the waterfall meditation – she was worried too! But she knew that picking at the matter while he ate would violate his safety zone and make it worse.

I'm a planner but Inuyasha is a worrier. I don't know what balancing our souls will entail either. Will I have to decide between keeping my powers and having children? I won't allow myself to hurt our family. Losing my powers will have consequences too. I would still become the village miko but I would be powerless if a band of demons attacked the village. I would be totally reliant on Inuyasha to protect me – not that I'm not already.

"Hey, Kagome – when we go home, will we still take trips?"

"I mean, why wouldn't we?" She took another swig of fizzy cola. "There will be demons to stop, won't there? Or do you mean that you don't want me to go on trips anymore? Can't we still take trips to any hot springs?"

"Miroku still plans to accept exorcism jobs. Sango might be sticking close to home."

"So what, wives don't travel in the Feudal Era?" Inuyasha paused while he estimated the danger. Kagome's scent was marked by her monthly cycle; triggering her famous temper would ruin their evening.

"They can, of course they can! If you want!"

"Oh, but Sango cannot leave the village because Miroku says?"

"I was traveling with Miroku for your family's presents, we talked! Now that things will be settling down in the village, they want a baby before the end of the year."

"Seriously? That's fast!"

Inuyasha stayed quiet while Kagome mulled their friends' decision. He added another stick to their small fire. The burble of the water as it washed over the moss-covered rocks in the riverbed provided some background noise.

"He can't be serious about having ten or twenty babies can he?" Kagome drummed her fingers on her soda can.

"I d-dunno. The idiot has tried to procreate with every pretty girl he has ever met! Remember when we met? He tried to con you!" The memory of the diversion so that Miroku could swipe her piece of the Jewel made her giggle. The severity of Inuyasha's brow increased. "What's so funny? He practically kidnapped you! Remember the scratch he put on your bi-cycle?"

"Oooh, that's right! He adjusted my seat!"

"And he kidnapped you!"

"Well, yes – but he let me go. Now Miroku-sama is our best friend, so it all worked out. Twenty babies in their little house! Poor Sango. We'll have to hide her at our place when he gets that look in his eye." Inuyasha growled but added another log to their fire. The imagery of Miroku surrounded by young children made her smile. The way the man glowed when teasing Sango about their family! "I guess they really want a honeymoon baby."

Inuyasha choked on his ramen.

"Eat slower, silly! Even demons need to breathe. There's no reason to hurry." She rubbed his back soothingly until he returned to normal. Inuyasha's cheeks were red from embarrassment but she didn't care so long as he was safe. She pressed the can of soda into his hand. "Drink! It'll soothe your throat. That'll teach you to chew your food properly."

"T-thanks."

Kagome smiled at him before resuming her cup of noodles. She hummed happily to herself thinking about their friends. Miroku wanted nothing more than a house full of children. Sango was only a few years older than her but times were different in the Feudal Era. Her friend didn't quite understand the context of her Health book. They had plenty of time to have their family but they were making up for lost time. By the end of the year! It certainly wasn't an open discussion at their group dinners but Miroku's playful conversation only highlighted their shared baby fever. It will be an adjustment to think of them as parents but they're overjoyed to have the chance.

"Why are you tearing up?" Inuyasha slurped down another noodle. He lowered his cup while he waited for her answer. She clasped her hands together to issue a little prayer for her friends to Sakuya-hime. There was nothing more fragile on earth than a new baby! She would have to start bargain shopping in secret for their friends' new family. Napkins and pins and little red outfits to bring good fortune!

"I'm so happy for them!"

"Eh?"

"They have both wanted a family for so long. Now that Kohaku is safe they can focus on their own family! We could have a baby in our group by next spring!" Kagome squealed. A fat, pudgy baby with Miroku's eyes and Sango's hair! "Isn't that just the sweetest thing? Kilala would be so happy!"

"Where are you going?"

"To make a real prayer to Sakuya-hime. She protects all earthly life by holding back the volcano! Come on," Kagome waved him forward. She gathered some salt from their bag to cast into the bubbling water. On her knees, she clasped her palms together. Inuyasha crouched beside her. Eyes closed, she wished and prayed as loudly as she could for Sakuya-hime to bless their home. She asked Sakuya-hime to intercede with her husband Ninigi to help her friends' live long lives with their many children. Given her friends' wishes, she prayed that Sakuya-hime bless their friends with a pregnancy as quick as her own, the result of a single night! After living so many years with their respective traumas, they deserved every happiness.

Inuyasha helped her gather the remains of the dinner. She did not bother going into the bushes to change. A pair of long, thicker sweats would keep her warmer in the vicinity of the mist of the falls than her skirt. Her husband added his coat to her exterior. The thick, red fur was waterproof and fireproof and a host of other magically positive incentives so she wrapped it close. Upon her insistence Inuyasha joined her in the sleeping bag. Since he was sooooo adamant that the mist didn't bother him, she let him be the median between her and the Falls. The warm arm around her abdomen helped negate the chilliness of the cold mountain weather. There was still snow on Mount Fuji and the water was freezing! When she shivered Inuyasha pressed closer to lend her his body heat.

Don't think about how cold the water is going to be tomorrow!

There was a male hiss when she pressed her covered feet against his bare calves but he made the smart decision not to complain. While her body settled into position, it began to gather heat. She grew warmer and warmer in the sleeping bag until she was capable of crossing the border into sleep. Inuyasha drowsed against her shoulder blade. The safety of his strong, safe aura soothed her concerns about their marriage. At least Ama-no-Uzume had seemed optimistic about their problems. Inari called me the protecting spirit, but the Dawn called me the star-breaker, Inuyasha the 'sky hound'. I guess his brother can fly around. His father probably could too!

The morning air outside the sleeping bag was crisp and cold. Kagome stretched alone. She turned on her side. Inuyasha was already up and about stoking the smoldering ashes into a newly raging bonfire. She rested her cheek on her folded arms. The resin of her necklace rested on her wrist. The robe of the fire-rat was soaked through with her husband's lovely scent. Its magical properties let it retain the pine-scent that mixed with the comforting aroma of wood smoke yet it never smelled like sweat. The sleeve had already repaired itself with her husband's energy from her reiki. She silently apologized to the coat for accidentally searing its cloth. She owed her live many times over to the hide.

"Is that lizard?" Kagome opened her eyes. The scraps from a skinned animal rested on a flat stone. Spears of meat were beginning to crackle over the fire. She issued a quick prayer for the little guy. Inuyasha practiced sheer practicality in regards to food. It was an attitude shared by her friends. Food was hard enough to acquire in the Feudal Era.

"You hungry? There's plenty. We'll need a full stomach if we're going to do this thing." Her husband stretched his arms behind his shoulders. The leanness of his form made her smile. In the early morning mist, in his white shirt, she was very proud of her handsome guy. Kagome stayed in the insulated bag while their breakfast cooked. Until the last moment, she enjoyed the brevity of her cocoon. When her stomach rumbled she dragged herself out to put on her shoes and join him at the flames.

"After the ceremony, are you still intending to climb the mountain? The weather will only get colder. Do you have enough clothes?" Inuyasha poured her tea. Kagome went into their pouch to bring out the cute ski cap she had purchased as a souvenir. The baby blue color looked good against her black hair. He shrugged but still looked concerned.

"Are you cold, husband?"

"I can tolerate the cold better than you can! That's what I get for marrying a human. Keh!" Inuyasha closed his eyes with a huff and turned his chin. His eye peeked open to gauge her reaction. She giggled and tossed her cap into his face. "Oi, wife! You'd better behave."

"Oh, really? Or what?" Kagome pounced. Her hands buried into his hair to tug on his ears. "What are you going to do if I don't behave, husband?"

"Hey, that tickles!"

Inuyasha rolled her onto her back for an assault on her feet. Her full back met the ground while her knee lifted into the air. Her sock and shoe went flying so he could lightly tickle the soles. She protested but he was merciless. He was too strong to pull down – one of the downsides of marrying a sure-footed half demon. Finally she had to concede to his physical supremacy although she did pinch him.

"There are places to stay on the mountain nowadays and proper trails; huts with pay toilets and such. Not like home. We can buy food and shelter on the trail if it gets too cold. We've hiked worse trails in the Feudal Era with way less!" Kagome sat back. "Besides, I have a big strong husband to carry me if I get tired."

"The air gets harsher the higher you go. Humans go mad in the mountains."

"Oxygen deprivation? We can purchase a few cans of O2 just in case." When Inuyasha looked confused, she briefly explained about the content in the air and why humans 'went mad' in higher altitudes. He shrugged but agreed they needed to purchase a few 'cans of air'.

The water was decidedly too cold to brave in the early morning for her own sanity so they waited until it was noon. It was fun exploring the area around the basin collecting smooth rocks pounded flat by the strength of the falls. She tried to explain the concept of placing the white stones in a bowl for the shrine as a decoration and failed. Her practical husband scoffed mightily at carrying any extra weight around for little gain.

The white shiroshozoku was quality, thick cotton – the merchant had been truthful regarding its price. She blushed when she stripped down naked to don the garment. Her tanned husband was less bothered by the cold mist drifting over them. To match her husband's rosary, she did not remove her necklace. Hand-in-hand, they followed the path as close as they could to the Falls. She was grateful that her husband could carry her over the rocks peeking out of the water. They crossed the half-bridge to stand under the falling water on the mound. Even the mist made her shiver. There was a good chance that the water contained melted snow water from the peak.

"This is crazy!"

Inuyasha extended his free hand to test the water.

"This water is freezing! You're going to get a cold!" He grit his teeth. "Humans are total babies when they're sick! There is no way I am carrying you up the mountain. It's stupid!"

Kagome stepped onto the mossy rocks and nearly slipped. Inuyasha caught her around the waist. His toughened feet had more grip on the slick surface to balance her posture. She clung to him while the thinner sheet of water fell over them. The temperature was as cold as she had feared! Her body trembled with the effort not to break free of the shower falling twenty meters onto her shoulders and the comfort of her sturdy husband.

"Kagome? Kagome!"

"I-I-I-I'm ok!" Her teeth were chattering. Ama-no-Uzume had sent them here without thinking about her human skin! Did the kami get cold? In the circle of Inuyasha's arms she clasped her shaking hands together to begin her prayer. She prayed for Sakuya-hime to provide clarity into their marriage. She called out for the Great Mountain to purify her human soul!

"Kagome!" Her eyes opened. The kagome on her chest shone through the shiroshozoku. As she blinked, she realized the water was warmer. Her muscles no longer shook with the effort to stay under the assault of freezing slush. Inuyasha blinked heavily. His ears were plastered to his head to prevent water from being trapped inside the fur. The knot of her obi was in his hands. The golden flower on her navel glowed!

"Wow – you were right!"

"Are you good?" Inuyasha eyed her hands. The light trapped between her palms was eeking out between her fingers. When she jumped into the water, it wasn't freezing. Her hanyou husband jumped in after her to bring her to the surface but she didn't need the lift. She kept her arms over his shoulders to avoid touching his skin with her palms.

"Have you lost your mind? Don't scare me, wife! Humans," he scolded.

"Well, you married me!" She grinned. He didn't object to a kiss on his bottom lip. It's fun to tease him! He takes things too seriously.

A ring of golden waves gently ripped around them. Kagome stayed fixed to Inuyasha while she focused on the waterfall. Beyond her husband's loud energy, the waterfall gently reminded her of its power. Volumes of water cascaded over the falls daily bringing water from the snowy tips of Mount Fuji. Inuyasha complained in hear ear about swimming for both but his kicks were enough to float them both. Inuyasha's aura was red and loud and direct. The gentle aura of their surroundings went far deeper. The mountain could not be moved by a single mortal event.

"Sakuya-hime?" Kagome called out. The noise from the Falls dulled her cry. The fall of the water absorbed her voice as easily as a thunderwave. Inuyasha turned to find the kami but none appeared. She smiled. "Can you feel the mountain, Inuyasha? It's huge!"

"So what?"

Kagome laid her cheek against his throat. The cleansing power of the water eased her worries. It had not purified her husband! Her desire to traverse the mountain trail grew in bounds. Now that they were hear, so close to the landmark that overlooked her home – in both eras – she wanted to see the top. She needed to see the crater!

"Eh, Kagome! Wench!" The panic confused her. Inuyasha yelped in fear.

The water was saturated with power. Light glittered from the surface; the water suspending them was no longer clear. She held onto him tighter in surprise when Inuyasha spun them.

"Are you in pain?"

"No! Did you do this?"

Power made her dizzy. Bewildered golden eyes waited for a response she did not have. Inuyasha's panic had brought her flush against his torso. Her palm rested flush against his neck but he failed to notice. The reiki shone against his bare skin.

Inuyasha cannot feel it!

Kagome sucked in her breath while she considered what it meant. When she had been possessed by Menomaru, she shot Inuyasha! Her arrow had pinned him against the Tree just like Kikyo's. So clearly she could cause her husband harm intentionally. But here – in these rare waters, he did not react to the sting of her holy powers. Her word could command his spirit through the rosary – something he clearly reviled! So how could his demon skin withstand her reiki?

Inuyasha was surprised by her kiss but he didn't reel back. Her palms cupped his head. There was no immediate objection, no yelp of pain. It was a nice kiss even if he was distracted. The holy aura of the water mystified her. How could they be literally swimming in holy power without pain? Was it because he was half-human?

A much smaller aura tickled her senses. She broke the light contact to admire the pretty hawk perched on a nearby branch. It completely ignored them to peck at the scraps of their lizard-breakfast. That she could separate the aura of the hawk from the mountain or her husband surprised her. She was drowning in the depth of the mountain's spirit! Still she could sense the hawk's spirit - a delicate spot of yellow energy against the backdrop of the green, serene forest. It was not unfamiliar to sense things in her vicinity as the group's long-term shard detector but her understanding had expanded.

"Do you see the man, Dad? He has a cat face!"

The crash of memories hurt. She clutched onto Inuyasha's shoulders tightly. Rather than facing individual memories spaced by a few hours, many years of her childhood became crystal clear. Painfully clear.

"Kagome? Kagome!" Inuyasha pulled them out of the water.

Her palm covered the reiki mark on her chest. The kagome burned painfully. She couldn't rise out of the wave long enough to comfort Inuyasha whose worried face filled her vision. A nekoyoukai disguised as a plumber had come to their house to fix the sink. A terrifying, baby-liver-stealing kurozuka had climbed the walls of their house one night to steal her brother's organs. Mama had seen the demon! Dad's barrier had prevented her from entering the window while they hid in the bathroom.

The ungaikyo that contained the soul of another demon – one who had tried to drag her into the mirror. She remembered the twisted version of her own baby face reflected in the mirror. Dad had purified the evil object with a sacred sutra. The poor nuye cursed with the voice of a dying woman! Playing on the shrine grounds during Obon had attracted malevolent spirits to possess their red lanterns. She remembered her child self running the length of the courtyard to reach home. Dozens of lanterns with faces nibbling at her hair!

"Kagome!"

The emakimono that had trapped her in its rolled form! The tengu with red flesh and large black wings. It had mocked her – child her – with how it would drop her from the air and drink her liquefied bones. Several boys at her pre-school had gone missing with their brothers found hanging upside down in trees never to return. Even kama youkai had possessed their kitchen pots to cause trouble! Mama had battled the iron cooking skillet to force it into the cabinet.

"Ooh, hoo! What is this?" A booming voice cut through her pain. A shadow separated her from the overhead sun. Enormous hands reached down to grasp her shoulders. The bellow in her head calmed forcefully. A very large man with long white hair brought her to bear. Certainly not a youth, his face was wrinkled and had the reddish coloring of an aging man.

"This is the child! They obeyed faster than I envisaged." The familiar voice chimed. "Newly married! Aren't they a pair, Husband?"

"Sarutahiko Ōkami!" Her mouth went dry. She tried to bow but his grip did not allow her to kneel.

"Doesn't she pray well? A true heart!" Ama-no-Uzume twirled. "She called to Sakuya-hime with true words. Even the mountain deigned to heat its rivers! They have already encountered Inari Ōkami by way of Matsumoto."

"What is your name, little wife?"

"K-Kagome." The aura was different from his wife's. While Ama-no-Uzume felt soft and feminine, there was deeper strength in this spirit. The father of Aikidō furrowed his brow while he examined her. The kagome on her chest was still visible. The female kami stood beside Inuyasha with a reassuring smile. The curve of her beautiful lips gave her hope and lightened her heart.

"This is the newly married priestess from Edo? What troubles your spirit here? I sense great distress." His bushy, wild eyebrows somehow reminded her of her own grandfather. The comforting soul broke down her wall of defense. Wild tears streamed down her cheeks. Their marriage, her reiki, her childhood memories – every worry poured out in a garble of words. There was no overt change in his expression. Ama-no-Uzume was far more expressive with her compassion.

"Then you were wise to undergo the misogiharae in this sacred place. The waters may wash away even the most stubborn magic. I sense that your soul is straining to be liberated from a long-standing glamour. A father's protection, Inari Ōkami said? If your memories are truth, the caster imprinted a vigorous rune into his child. Warranted it seems. You bear great power that ill forces are wont to seek out but I have never sensed your reiki. It is rare enough in this age of metal and human ingenuity."

"The marriage bond should unmask her energy! How else will they grow?" Ama-no-Uzume beamed at Inuyasha. He squirmed at her familiarity. The Divine Female twirled behind him in a dance of her own making, swaying so that her sleeves brushed the damp stone without soiling her clothing. "She performed the misogiharae, Husband. No longer a child in her parent's home, in the bosom of her father's spirit! Inari Ōkami agrees with your wife's assessment!"

"How many winter seasons have you, Kagome?"

"N-nineteen?" Inuyasha looked as perplexed as herself. Assessment? They have a theory?

"Not yet twenty-one. Your parents consented to this union – your grandfather?" Sarutahko Ōkami stroked his long beard. She nodded uncertainly. Her emotions were still raw from her terrifying childhood. So many monsters! "Married in a family shrine, you say. Oh hmm," he muttered. "As a father, I would have sought to protect my daughter until she reached the age of full maturity without knowing her future. Humans are short-sighted and wary."

"But I'm married! We're married!"

"Indeed! Inari Ōkami looks favorably on your power. So many layers of magic on you both! It clouds the vision," the kami leaned back. His height blocked her from the sun even when she was standing! "A half human heir of the Sky Hound would be interesting enough, but he weds a priestess! An extraordinary woman cloaked with an extreme glamour since childhood. The protection survived the misogiharae which should have stripped your bindings."

"What kind of bindings?" Inuyasha interrupted.

"The girl's soul yearns to spill past. It is no wonder that so many evil spirits have preyed on you." Sarutahko Ōkami clapped his hands. When Kanna tried to absorb my spirit, it spilled out! Koharu's soul was taken from her body. Do I really have such an enormous soul? Kagome tapped her foot while the kami consulted with his wife in private. She heard something about bringing her soul into balance. Inuyasha slipped his hand into her sweaty palm.

"So you know that guy?"

"That 'guy' is Sarutahko Ōkami, the ancestor of all earthly kami! Amaterasu Ōkami may have designed the plan for life, but he is charged with executing her plan!" Kagome exclaimed. Inuyasha blinked back hopelessly. "Husband of Ama-no-Uzume?"

"So why aren't you in his plan if he's so important?"

Kagome fiddled idly with her sakura necklace while she watched the couple. Many lessons from her father and grandfather played in her head about respecting the spirits of nature. Sarutahko Ōkami had been charged with balancing the world; it applied to his wife. There was nothing feminine about his older, mature stance. Ama-no-Uzume was thin and feminine and beautiful in every respect. Dad had taken her to pray at a shrine with him! She had been so excited about having a baby brother. They had kneeled before an enormous statue honoring the elder kami. Her mother adored the festivals and the Goshinboku but she was less spiritual.

"Pray to Sarutahko Ōkami when your life is spinning out of control, little star."

"What do you mean, Dad?" Kagome felt very grown up! A day trip with Dad!

"Occasionally we humans need guidance for the future – especially when we are surprised." Dad ruffled her hair to annoy her. "New babies are very expensive. Your playroom will become the baby's room."

"I don't mind sharing! Grandpa gave me money for candy if you want."

Kagome could still feel his hug. Sadness made her heart ache while she wallowed in the memory. She wondered what he would ask Sarutahko Ōkami. She badly wanted to ask him what kind of bindings had been laid on her soul! Was it her Dad's protection or some other interference?

What was Lady Hitomiko trying to say? Where does my power truly come from?

Kagome remembered being underfoot while her parents decorated Souta's room. Crisp white sheets for the new baby! The secondhand changing table they had repurposed from her babyhood. Dad had installed the stars on the walls in her room to match the baby's mobile. Having those glow-in-the-dark adhesives had made her feel less lonely, more comfortable in the dark. There had been many nights where she could not sleep for fear of monsters. Had she really leaned out the window to reassure herself that the Goshinboku was there protecting her 'boyfriend'?

"It is settled then!" Ama-no-Uzume clapped. The kami crossed the distance. Kagome turned with the goddess into a full twirl. Her skin tingled lightly. Her shiroshozoku rippled and stretched. The water on her skin disappeared. A long-sleeved shirt with cuffs covered her torso. Adorable pink boots insulated her toes! The white jacket over her shoulders was quality silk of many layers with a silver design. Leggings conformed to her legs to match her attire.

"How lovely! Isn't she lovely, new husband?"

"The clothes are sorta cute, if you like that stuff." Inuyasha agreed.

"We agree that you must continue up the mountain. Husband is Lord and Master of the Earthen Spirits but cannot oversee the Heavenly. Bindings on the spirit are the providence of Heaven. Ascend the Great Mountain to the domain of Kuninotokotachi no Kami with humility and earnestness. Do you know of whom I speak?"

"The Nihonshoki mentions that he was the first kami but I know little else, Uzume."

"It is a very lonesome spirit, the First. Many traverse the mountain without showing reverence." Uzume tapped her nose. "There are many wars, mortal and not, but few come to the mountain. Sakuya-hime protects her realm fiercely. Go, climb! But honor the shrines and speak carefully. I fear that many spirits will be listening."