Inuyasha was already enjoying a freshly made omelet when Souta burst through the door. Higurashi made him go back to remove his shoes and hang up his pack. Very soon the boy was seated next to him at the family table firing questions about his trip. The grandfather came back listening to the weather wizard on the television who predicted a moderate spring day.

"Quit pestering him, Souta." Kagome glided past. The freshly bathed girl with her newly primped hair smiled at him. He ducked his head when the grandfather hummed in his throat. The women brought more servings of food to the table. A fresh cup of tea was poured for him.

"Kagome gets all that money – what for?" Souta pouted. When Higurashi turned to wash a dish, Kagome made a face. Souta mirrored her.

"Do you have enough food, Inuyasha?" Kagome took the end seat. A fresh omelet steamed on her plate. He twirled another strip of golden goodness on his chopstick before making a big bite. "Want seconds?"

Breakfast was quiet but joyous. The Higurashi family seemed happy to have their daughter back. The siblings battled over the last omelet. Kagome pushed him out the door forcefully. The city was only beginning to awaken. Higurashi half-turned to judge their squabbling before giggling into her hand. In a large, white-washed building Inuyasha waited while his mother-in-law greeted a man familiarly. Kagome explained that it was her friend Yuka's father. The same intense energy bubbled off the man who accepted the shoe box filled with red envelopes for processing. The women chatted about the girls' graduation and the wedding and paying for university!

"Yuka sets goals and takes charge! A law firm will give her long hours."

"Indeed. Kagome would like to be a doctor but the fees are so expensive. Have you seen the brochures?"

"Watanabe-san is a very skilled physician. She delivered our cousin's newest. Pity that Ayumi does not have her mother's stomach for medicine. She prefers the arts. I heard that she wants to produce musical theater. It seems likely only yesterday the girls were having a mud fight in the back yard! Now little Kagome is married."

At the end of the interaction the man handed Kagome a sheaf of paper with associated receipts and tallies. She showed him the numbers gleefully; he nodded silently. Higurashi studied him when Kagome gave him the papers to read for himself. He forced his eyes to scan the pages like others did. The text he could understand in pieces but the little strokes were foreign. Kagome thanked the man and skipped ahead to the luggage depot. They bowed slightly to the man before following his wife into the street.

"You cannot read the numbers, can you?"

"Yes I can." Inuyasha set his jaw. Memories of Kagome's stolen math book made him irrationally angry. All of the strange strokes and symbols had reminded him of his own lack of childhood. Even her little brother could work with the set with ease.

"Japan did not adopt Arabic numerals until the nineteenth century. I am so foolish." Higurashi pressed her fist to her heart. "They used to teach the counting rods in schools but that was ages ago. Do you use the Chinese system?"

"...don't tell Kagome, ok?"

"Why don't I mentor you? The house will be empty during the day. I taught both my children when they were little." Higurashi touched his arm. "You have done so much for our family. It would be an honor to help you. Oh, say yes!"

"Fine, just - " he went silent when Kagome stumbled out of the shop. The girl was unable to handle all of the handles on her own. He claimed the heaviest bags and dipped his torso to lay a strap across his chest. The human women each took custody of one of the smaller articles. The shop owner came to the glass window slotted into the door.

"I suppose you will be leaving the remainder of the day to settle your home? Do you have what you need? Kagome promised to take pictures to show us your town. I would like to do something kind for your friends, especially the one named Kaede. She is like an aunt or grandmother?"

Kagome is Kikyo's reincarnation; Kaede is Kikyo's sister. Does that make them sisters?

"Kaede is the most wonderful person, Mama. She is kind and brave and wise - a healer and protector of the village for decades."

Kagome began to load their dirty laundry in the water demon while he unpacked the smaller cases. Souta sat on the stairs to pour over his illustrated karate manual. Kagome's mother beamed when presented with her tome containing the art collection of Matsumoto Museum. The old man appreciated the antique clock that didn't tick and promised to restore it to working condition. Even though the silver was tarnished and the hands were loose he treated it like gold. The way they looked at him for such small gifts of appreciate made him uncomfortable. Higurashi winked at him conspiratorially when she stacked Kagome's banking papers in a folder.

"Laundry's running, Mama. We'll be back this evening!"

The villagers greeted Kagome warmly while he waited. It seemed like each one wanted a moment to ingratiate themselves to the beautiful, powerful priestess in their midst. The old women compared her to Kikyo and the young gave her the latest gossip. The smile on the men's faces made him want to punch them. Kagome was immune to their attempts to flirt with her! His wife purposefully made special effort to flirt back with an elderly gentleman that complimented her glowing skin.

"How can you be jealous? Eizō-san is a senile grandfather, Inuyasha; his family died in a fire. Can't you be kinder? So what if he wants to have a bit of fun flirting with Kikyo?"

"I don't like it."

"Then I suppose I'd better confess. I am leaving you for Eizō-san the first chance I get. Between his gout limp and scars and his ear hair, how could a girl resist? We shall marry and live in a cottage by the sea with twenty children!"

Inuyasha scowled. Kagome hitched the gift basket higher on her forearm as she sprinted down the past. She lost a few vegetables while he chased her over the grass to their home. He caught her by the door. The way she melted against him soothed his worries. The elevated pulse in her neck made him chuckle.

"Twenty children?"

"From all the lovemaking, of course."

Kagome peeled Miroku's sutra from the door frame while he collected the vegetables. Brown paper boxes waited to be unpacked. The sliding doors to their future garden were opened to let fresh wind and sunshine stir the dust. He waited while she evaluated the work to be done. It amazed him when she took a moment to press her hands together for a quiet prayer. Sweet, charitable words fell from her lips about the prospects of their home and family.

Kagome…

"There should be good energy in a home, you know. Kaede and Miroku both said this was a fortuitous place. It's even cooler than I remember!" Kagome opened the door to their sleeping chambers. She ran a finger over the red lacquered cabinet meant for her nighttime things. Dusting, she proclaimed. Inuyasha obediently shrugged out of his coat and rolled up his sleeves. As the taller of the two he was charged with dusting the walls and the ceilings. When that was done she merely pointed at the futon. It needed a proper airing!

"You get bossier every year – ow!" Inuyasha rubbed his shoulder dramatically. The pillow landed in the floor. Kagome returned to her work lovingly dusting each side of the bedroom cabinet. The box containing her undergarments was already opened. He opened his mouth to make a remark but she was humming happily to herself.

"We could put the desk here, couldn't we? For your studies?"

"And maybe some little shelves!"

Serving trays for food made of dark wood leaned against the wall. Sitting cushions in serviceable gray were placed on the lower shelf sewn by her own mother. Inuyasha showed Kagome how the cream-colored vertical boxes called okiandon had a divot on the front to pull out the oil dish with a treated shelf containing extra wicks. There was an ariake andon lamp for the bedroom so she could see in the dark which was smaller and square with a curved wooden handle. Human eyesight was limited and he didn't want her to fall.

"Inuyasha, these lanterns must have been expensive!"

"They're only paper screens to spread the light and some wood. I thought you could use stone lanterns in the garden for your herbs too. Why are you sad?" His nose sniffed. His wife's blue eyes were brimming over with tears. "I did nothing wrong! I bought the paper. I didn't steal them!"

"I am not sad, I'm happy!" Her face buried itself in his collar. The salty-water-sad scent made him nervous. "All of those months planning; lanterns and cabinets and a house guardian. You thought of everything but you said nothing. Do I really mean that much to you?"

"You and your mother were planning the wedding – Souta said that was women's work. The least I could do was make sure you had what you need here." Inuyasha squirmed. Blankets, pristine white bandages, metal tools and more were already waiting to find their proper placement. Kagome nuzzled him. He felt his cheeks redden in the silence. "Kaede thinks you will need more reeds for baskets. I do not know how to make those."

A rap on the door disturbed them.

"Shippo!"

"Kagome!" The boy jumped into her arms. She hugged the little fox with all her strength. Inuyasha leaned against the open frame. "So you did marry mean old Inuyasha?" Kagome yelped when he made a playful swipe for the disrespectful kit but it was in jest. Shippo grinned back from the cradle of her arms.

"We're married proper, runt."

"So that means you're staying!"

"Of course. How could I leave Inuyasha? He's practically hopeless by himself."

"Don't talk about me as if I'm not here!"

Kagome nudged past him without a thought. Shippo claimed a new cushion for himself practically shaking with excitement. Kagome unpacked enough sweets and candy for all the village children while the kit asked questions about their wedding trip and rambled about his training and occasionally mentioned gossip from the village. It was good to see him. Inuyasha tuned out for a moment to watch Shippo's tail twirl around. He gave a playful tug.

"That's attached, you jerk! Kagome!"

"Look at you, Two-Tails."

"I've been training really hard. Can we practice some tricks later, Inuyasha? I have some new illusions. My fake Kagome is much better! I can fool some of the villagers and even Sango for a minute. She says I have to learn to disguise my aura better."

"And your scent. You reek of male fox. You need a talisman."

Shippo was rewarded with Kagome's red necktie. Inuyasha studied the fake Kagome closely. The illusion itself was very good except for the hands. He could still smell kitsune underneath the magically extended scent but it might be enough to fool someone less familiar shortly. Kagome's real scent was imprinted in his head. The kitsune clasped his hand together and did a bit about falling in love with him. He scowled and pushed the kitsune down with a pop! that broke his concentration.

"I don't sound like that!"

"Can you make fake purification arrows yet?" Inuyasha interrupted. Even as a distraction, the kitsune could be a valuable asset on the battlefield. His wife's reputation as the girl who defeated Naraku was widespread. Shippo held up a bowed wooden charm that grew to become a bow. While the light show lacked Kagome's true powers, the kitsune did a fair impression of her angry warrior stance. Any demon who stood their ground would be trouble anyway.

"I am training to hold both illusions but it is really hard! 'Get away from my friends, you jerk!' Like that?"

"More girl attitude. Maybe in collusion with magical chains like the Holy Demon Spirit?" Overall Inuyasha was damn proud of the kitsune. Kagome huffed about the imitation but she knew it was necessary. Transforming into a convincing human woman was a basic kitsune trick. The Miroku farce was more convincing. His lecherous friend mused quietly about the aura of their house and offered to purify it for a small fee before asking nonchalantly about where they kept their women. Then he casually asked Kagome to bear his child. They applauded his performance while he bowed dramatically.

Inuyasha stayed back quietly while Kagome showed Shippo the 'clever little lanterns Inuyasha made' and 'her beautiful cabinets'. Her pride shone clearly on her face while she pointed out how well the irori was set into the floor and how well the sliding doors opened. Shippo followed her out into the garden to make plans for herbs and stone lanterns and a fence. Shippo readily volunteered to help her sow seeds and burn away encroaching weeds with his foxfire. The boy scurried forward on all four paws while Kagome walked the borders looking for bad ground. There wasn't any – Kaede had checked thoroughly for sinking earth or rocky soil.

"We could host festival parties! Inuyasha could install posts to hang lanterns. Wouldn't that be lovely, Shippo? Big paper lanterns and food and games."

Shippo perched on his shoulder while Kagome went inside to finish sorting through her medical supplies. Colorful baskets from her era were arranged in particular order as part of a grander design. Inuyasha walked around the edge of the garden to give her space. They both stayed tuned to the various bumps, thumps and growls from the interior.

"Kagome seems happy," Shippo remarked.

"You think?"

"Make sure you tell her you love her and bring her flowers and hold her hands."

"Idiot, who's married here?"

"I want Kagome to stay with us forever."

"Me too, runt."

"Lunchtime, boys! Come on," Kagome clapped her hands from the door. She whistled insultingly while patting her thighs. Shippo sprung forward without a second thought. When she called him again like he was a disobedient dog, he huffed. She winked teasingly. Shippo slurped on fresh noodles.

Halfway through their light meal another chorus of voices came to the front door. Children of all sizes offered bouquets dripping soil and dead lizards and quartz stones to the new miko. Kagome invited them all inside for a look. Some of them glanced twice at the demons eating at her fire but others strolled right past. They marveled at Kagome's window and Kagome's books! Little feet made smudgy dark marks on the pale floors but she didn't mind. A ball was withdrawn from inside her pack to start a rousing game in the yard. The rowdier boys retreated immediately but a girl stayed to hide behind her slender calves.

"It is alright, Yuusuzu-chan. Have you met Inuyasha? He's really quite nice."

"Mommy says he is a demon."

"Inuyasha is a person just like anyone else and my best friend. Since we are friends, that means he's your friend too. He has very good hearing because of his dog ears. Would you like to see?" Kagome coaxed the girl forward. She continued to hide behind her knees while she openly stared. A cup of warm noodles was enough to convince her to sit down.

"Yuusuzu-chan helps Kaede and I gather herbs for medicine," Kagome smiled.

"We have a friend that runs his own herb farm. Is that what you like?" He purposefully kept his voice quiet. The children of the village would return to their homes and tell their parents tales one way or the other about their new residents. For Kagome's sake, he wanted to be accepted.

"Grandpa says you destroyed the shrine." Another girl stared him down with her hands on her hips.

"That was a long time ago...before you were even born. I-I was in a hurry."

"Inuyasha, Kagome!" A voice thrummed with glee. Kagome waved the former demon slayer inside for a warm welcome. "We were doing laundry down at the river or we would have come sooner. You look so well. Are you truly married?"

"Why does everybody keep asking her that? Of course we're married! Idiots," Inuyasha scoffed. Yuusuzu nodded. Sango giggled into her fist. Kagome pulled her forward to admire the fan placed in a position of honor on their wall. The symbol of friendship would bring goodness their way. The girls were still squealing when Miroku knocked on the frame.

"Miroku. They're married," Sango exclaimed.

"And have adopted seventy children!" Several kids screamed in delight as he navigated a foot around them. The man held a loaded basket with checkered cloth well over their heads. The children hounded the Houshi-sama with requests for new stories about the Princess Shrine Maiden and her journeys! Kagome's eyebrow twitched.

"It is a fitting nickname, Kagome-sama."

Pickled cabbage and steamed roots where shared with the children but the sake was spared for the adults. Miroku offered to lay a sealing sutra to the door to expel the little demons underfoot. Sango shooed several troublemakers from their bedroom. They were all voyeurs while Kagome presented their gifts. The monk picked carefully through the wooden case for shodō with an aged inkstick, stone, paper and a horse-hair brush bound in bamboo that included materials for creating official wax seals.

"How clever!"

"The Night Parade of One Hundred Demons," Sango recited. Inuyasha moved to her side. The volume clearly described a human's encounters with various creatures. Kagome huffed when he crouched beside her to show her the illustrations. How anyone could worship the kappa was strange! Sango lifted the binding higher to inspect the book when a page slid loose to land in Miroku's lap. The parchment was several layers thicker than the book and colored differently. Handwritten black ink covered the page. Miroku looked taken aback.

"Kagome can fix it, can't you?"

"Half-demon, canine. Name – " Miroku frowned. His general shape filled the other side without color. The monk went pale while he read the text for himself. The girl children had a small fight over Kagome's hairbrush displayed on its own shelf. Inuyasha shooed them outside and shut the door. Even in his confusion there was a fragment of pride that the wood closed with barely a sound.

"What does it say? Miroku?" Sango touched his elbow.

"Distinctly different than the Inugami, this spirit sleeps pinned to the Goshinboku by the Sealing Arrow of a fallen woman. The surrounding area is called Inuyasha's Forest," he recited. "I encountered this spirit while searching for a great beauty called Kikyo-sama in Musashi. I had hoped to ask – oh dear."

"Don't let the children see that!" Sango slapped his shoulder.

"This is my grandfather's hand. How do you have this parchment?" Miroku passed over the sheet. Kagome flushed at the descriptions. Kikyo was known to be a great beauty but no one had the right to embarrass her that way! Inuyasha glared at the pervert. The man held up his hands in an offering of peace.

"It looks torn, Inuyasha. The edges! I bet it was part of a journal. This isn't scroll paper."

"It was tucked inside this book?"

"it seems that Miyatsu came looking for Kikyo-sama years ago about Naraku's curse but she was deceased. He had no interest in Kaede so he passed the village. That it what it says, Inuyasha!" Miroku held up his hands. "An inherited appreciation for the female form is nothing shameful! Kikyo-sama was a very powerful, beautiful woman. If in his quest to find a solution to the curse, he managed to find a female willing and able to continue his line - "

"Not in the house!" Kagome screeched. A candy bar smacked him in the back when he charged the bouzu.

"Your family is cursed all right, you fraud!"

"I come from a long line of lovers!"

Sango delicately turned another thin page of her new demon slayer's tome. Kagome went to the door to supervise their battle. The children cheered. The older boys were placing bets about whether the demon would slay the monk or not. Shippo perched on her shoulder to read the entry about kitsune.

Kagome waited until Shippo left to organize a larger game of hide-and-seek with the children to show Sango her pictures!

"Mama is still getting the remainder of the pictures developed but she expedited these! There we are getting dressed, my friends, my mom! Those are the cranes they hung in the Goshinboku. That is my cat Buyo. Souta took this one of Inuyasha when he was being moody. Here I am fully dressed in my wedding kimono. Thank you so much for the wedding fan! It was lovely." Dozens of loose photos were scattered around them. Sango laughed softly at a picture of Inuyasha dressed in formal clothes.

"He washed his hair?"

"My brother combed it out. This is outside the shrine after we were married."

The photo pictured them all together. One of the attending miko had taken hold of the camera for a snap. She and Inuyasha stood together but her family surrounded them. Tears made her mother's eyes sparkle with her gentle hand on his arm. Her grandfather held Souta's shoulders.

"Don't be sad, why are you sad?" Kagome moved closer. "Sango-chan!"

The slayer openly confessed her private worries and hopes. In the year since Naraku's death she and Miroku had married very quickly, before even having a roof of their own! While Inuyasha had begun to 'court' her openly with freedom they had started their own home. There were still demons to be slain before they could claim Naraku's old territory. Plenty of other villages had suffered the effects of his reign, new villages forming from survivors. Knowing all this, there was no question that life would soon be very different. A quick dig through Kagome's private unpacked medical supplies revealed what she needed. Her own saintly mother had purchased the bright pink boxes from a pharmacy and forced her promise to keep them.

"I cannot do that, Kagome!"

"It is easy! One trip to the toilet and you'll know. Then you can tell Miroku."

Sango covered her face in embarrassment but acquiesced. Kagome popped the cap on the little strip and set her timer. As hopeful as her friend was she was very unfamiliar with being a nervous twenty-one year old girl rather than a fearsome slayer! To pass the time they pretended to organize the loose photos for the white cloth album her grandfather had sent. A new book of pictures to put on their own shelf. Inuyasha fancied poring through her school albums when she was occupied. The bound blue album on her shelf moved outside her awareness.

"Two? We have been distracted tracking bandits extorting refugee camps for goods. I don't remember, Kagome."

"Why didn't you say anything?"

"Your wedding. How could I interrupt your happiness? You and Inuyasha deserve your moment." Sango ducked her head. A woman at her element battling enormous ghost bears and petty gods but too shy to confide in Kaede! Her mentor kept every secret in the village.

"Are you having nausea, dizziness?" Kagome smiled reassuringly while she rechecked the directions. Sango mumbled. Her textbook confirmed that darkening areolas were a good sign! She stopped her alarm clock from buzzing. "See that, Sango? It's a positive sign. It means yes!"


The long road leading to the village carried them down to the main thoroughfare. It wasn't much of a road but the dirt was worn and packed from years of footprints. Miroku showed him the tracks in the field from a family of boars that had recently plundered the fields of old Botan and rooted most of his vegetables. As expected Inuyasha cracked his knuckles and promised to hunt them down if they returned. No pigs were going to get the best of their crop!

"There is also the matter of bandits. Sango and I have encountered a few on the roads. They seem to operate in subgroups that pay tithe to a boss though I don't know his name. With Naraku's threat diminished and families rebuilding they are riding into camps and causing trouble. Whether they will ride here I do not know. They are scavengers preying on weakened wagons of women, children and the sick. I pray we are too strong."

"Is the boss a demon?"

"Unclear. However their organization makes them dangerous. They have an uncanny knack for identifying what resources can be plundered. Rice, sake, horses, bolts of cloth, women - " Miroku held up his hands. "I would have informed you earlier but I have no leads. They are nomads with few witnesses who will give them up."

"What if we setup a trap? Get some goods together and make for the next town. Kaede might lend her horse. Cowards like that would rob a grandmother and a priest. If you know where the last theft happened we can patrol the corridor."

"That is quite a plan, Inuyasha. Much better than letting yourself get kidnapped by the Birds of Paradise! I believe married life suits you," Miroku grinned. Inuyasha swiped but the monk easily blocked his lazy fist. They easily traversed the road bringing them back to the village. Miroku nodded respectfully to each wife and widow and young daughter. It wasn't until Rin skipped out of a hut to disperse water that he realized where Kaede had been.

"Inuyasha's back! Hello, Houshi-sama."

"Has Mei-san had her baby yet?"

"A new baby boy with very dark hair. Kaede suggested we have a naming ceremony at the shrine. She also asked if Kagome-sama could bless the baby." Rin smiled. "Kaede-sama believes that being the first baby blessed by Kagome-sama will make him very special and destined to have a good life."

"I do not suppose she would mind," he chuckled. Inuyasha shoved his hands higher into his sleeves while they walked. The humans were happy to stop and chat with the monk on numerous matters. He was relieved that the women seemed interested in Kagome's service but they were directing questions at Miroku as if he were her husband! Yes, Kagome-sama would be tending the shrine. Yes, Kagome-sama would be performing cleansing rituals and dancing at the Harvest.

"What do you mean, dancing?"

"There is a special dance performed at the Obon festival. Kagome will be expected to perform the ritual kagura dance to honor the shrine as well."

"Oh, that. Will Uzume attend those dances too?"

Miroku stopped him with a hand to the chest. The monk's brow sharpened at his casual mention of the Shinto goddess. He took a breath before calmly asking how Inuyasha knew that name! Inuyasha rarely paid attention to his philosophical debates with Kagome and seemed to honor no particular religion.

"The half-naked one? Kagome danced with her on our wedding trip outside a temple. She said Kagome's spirit shone like the new day."

"Kagome danced with Ama-no-Uzume, the kami of dance and merrymaking? The beautiful immortal woman who revels in sensuality and likes to strip bare?"

"Eh? I dunno about half that. She appeared after the morning ceremony at the temple to dance with Kagome. She sang and made Kagome cry. Then she told us to undergo a water cleansing ceremony so we could balance our energies. For the marriage." Inuyasha shrugged. Miroku's eyebrow twitched.

"Is that all?"

"Kagome prayed to the mountain?"

"May the Buddha grant me patience! What else?"

Bit-by-bit Inuyasha relayed most of the relevant details. Miroku listened seriously when he mentioned Inari's instructions that he build a shrine for his parents. His friend relayed that section of the story factually but maintained a nonchalant stance before casually mentioning the gift of his mother's family name on the mountain.

"Stupid. What do I need with a shrine? Dead is dead," Inuyasha snorted. Miroku kept his mouth shut while listening to his protests. He knew his companion well enough to know the defensive disregard. The Dawn had appeared on the mountain to give Inuyasha a family name. Named head of his own household by Inari.

"I would be a fool to deny such a request, Inuyasha. I would be honored to assist with your butsudan." Miroku curled his hand over his heart. The bow unsettled Inuyasha. More bluster followed but he was already planning the wood and the style. Kagome could teach Inuyasha to follow the proper rituals for their household ancestors. The more intimate the better. Inuyasha was clever enough at slicing down trees. While Kagome was occupied with her tutoring he could sand the boards and finish with a nice dark lacquer.

"Kagome surrendered her family name. I suppose that means she is serious about your marriage."

"Of course she's serious!"

"A heritage scroll would be appropriate. I copied several patents of lineage at Mushin's monastery to furnish payment for his habit. No worries, friend. My rates are quite reasonable," he teased. Inuyasha grumbled. "Perhaps you could ask your mother-in-law for a bento box or some of her roasted chicken? You are lucky to have so many women cooking for you."

"Keh. Does that mean Sango still burns everything?"

"A lovelier, more talented woman I have never met but I fear I might be the better cook." Miroku smiled while they followed the river. Women, children and men went about their business. Laundry hung on lines to dry in the breeze. Children helped their parents carry baskets and ferry packed meals to the fields. It was a far cry from fields full of dead men or villages razed to the ground by demons. Life surrounded them completely as women sat together in the sunshine to complete their sewing or mending or cleaning. They were soon drafted by a pair of sisters at the edge struggling to carry their water. Inuyasha easily hefted their bamboo yokes over his sturdy shoulders.

"The new husband, you say? My, he's a strong one. Isn't he, Tomiju?"

"Is that his honest hair color, monk? It is unusual. But so is Kikyo-sama!"

"She is not called Kikyo-sama now. It is Kagome-sama," the sister corrected. "I hope that she will lead the dancing at the summer festival! Such a pretty one. My Emica wants to shorten her kimono but she is too old to show her knees like a child."

"I saw Kagome-sama this morning. Her kimono was above her knees! Do you have sufficient clothing, young demon? I could pass along a spare," Humiya offered. Inuyasha's ears flattened. "No matter how strange, Kagome-sama needs proper kimono, not that little thing."

"Kagome has kimono. It only needs to be sewn for her. We need Kaede to help," Inuyasha explained after the women were gone. He didn't want the other women disparaging his wife's clothes. To comfort him, Miroku promised that Kaede had already fastened a set of robes for Kagome - she would look perfectly respectable. Inuyasha told him about the special cloth in their possession.

"Indeed? Sango might know how to fashion unique cloth. The demon slayers have a knack for shaping unyielding materials."

"Just not vegetables," Inuyasha smirked.