It was early morning when Inuyasha opened the sliding door. Even human eyesight gave him clarity to identify the shape of Miroku. The monk had taken it upon himself to maintain the fire through the night. Fingers pinched the sleep from his eyes when the human yawned massively.

"The girls are still asleep?" Kaede had wandered home for her early morning duties but Sango and Rin had stayed to sleep off the massive dinner. His friend nodded. Inuyasha cracked his knuckles before stoking the fire in the irori. His new married routine involved waking before Kagome to warm the house. The girl was far more likely to rouse without a chill in the air and a fresh pot of tea waiting. Miroku let his eyes drift close; his head rested against his staff.

The bastard stayed up all night to guard the house if I fell asleep. As if!

Inuyasha served his friend the first cup before leaving to fetch more water. The yoke was too heavy for Kagome to carry with two full buckets. By the time he returned yellow light was beginning to filter through the trees. It cast shadows on the tidy rows of furrowed ground behind the house. He paused in the shadow of the eaves while his powers returned in distinct pulses. It was a relief when his foggy eyesight cleared. The exhausted monk didn't budge when he reentered his bedroom; Kagome slept tangled in their bedding. The smell of her filled the space. He grinned at the way she had reclaimed the entire futon for herself. The bedding had tangled around her hips and torso. He left the bucket by the door to smooth her tousled waves of hair. This private scene behind closed doors was reserved for him alone.

In the main room, Miroku drowsed while he started a basic breakfast. Until the scent of fresh rice rose into the air he was essentially alone. He pushed a bowl towards his friend when a violet eye reopened. "You cook, Inuyasha? How domestic."

"Eat it or wear it." The man chuckled. Just because he chose to let the others cook didn't make him an imbecile. For fuck's sake, he was older than the humans combined! In the beginning Kagome had assumed that he was a helpless cook. The girl-child had immediately taken charge of their campfire. It was a rhythm they had fallen into without question. Any companion could be allowed to make his luncheon but a wife deserved equal concern.

"Now I know that I am dreaming. Inuyasha cooks." Miroku laughed softly.

"You need sleep. Humans. One night without rest and you lose your minds. Go take the third room. Kagome made sure we have extra beds. I'll make sure the girls stay quiet through the morning. What's the matter with you?"

"I am almost afraid my life is an illusion. Would that not be a perfect trick? If the moment I least expect the Wind Tunnel opens to swallow me whole and leaving my child cursed. What could be crueler than giving a man hope then taking it away?" Miroku held up his unmarred hand. "It would be just his style."

"I'm no illusion, idiot. The curse is gone. Your baby will be a normal weak human." Inuyasha added another helping to his friend's bowl. It seemed the monk had continued to enjoy the sake they had set out for the dinner. The new bottle was more than half drunk! An inebriated Miroku was rarely maudlin. Articulate, yes. Free with women young and old, definitely. Inuyasha didn't like the sound of his laugh.

"What a selfish choice to make. A cursed man seeking a woman to bear a cursed child. Cursing her. Inuyasha," Miroku sighed. "You would protect Sango if anything happened, wouldn't you? I hate the idea of leaving her alone. She has already lost one family."

"As if I would let something happen to Sango! She's my friend too...even if she has shit taste in men." The monk laughed but he was making progress with breakfast. Hopefully the grain would help his body soak up some of the sake. While Miroku mused tiredly in the firelight, he went to pull the third futon from its closet. The room was cool but the human might appreciate a slight chill in his drunken state. The monk was sipping another round of sake when he returned.

"Should I have encouraged her with Takeda? Perhaps I should have been cruel to push her away. Sango could have been the wife of a rich man with an army of attendants rather than facing my mother's destiny. I wonder if my father lied to her; did she know the truth? Did she love him anyway?" Miroku rubbed at his face with both hands. Inuyasha had never thought to ask about the monk's mother. After the death of his father, Mushin had raised Miroku. Mushin was the only one skilled enough to sew the edges of the Wind Tunnel. Even in his worst moments there had been no mention of a woman.

Perhaps he guards his mother's memory as painfully as I guard mine.

"Imagine a woman giving birth alone within the sanctuary of a country temple. She must have been brave. Brave and beautiful and kind." Miroku closed his eyes. "Perhaps not as radiant as Kagome-sama - " the monk chuckled. "Now that was unexpected. Does it always happen? No wonder you waited for the New Moon."

"Does what happen?" Inuyasha narrowed his eyes suspiciously. The pervert looked too amused. The chopsticks in his grip snapped when Miroku laughed.

"A flash of spiritual energy. What were you and Kagome-sama doing to pass the time?" Miroku sipped sake. "A game of dice, playing cards? Inuyasha never sleeps on the Night of the New Moon. You mentioned her powers were flaring at inconvenient times. You should have been blunt."

"That – that is not what I meant! Drunk pervert," he grumbled. "What flash?"

"Distracted, were we?" Miroku grinned. "I was minding my own business, thank you, sitting here. Light flashed through the cracks in the door. I suppose that settles the wager! I have never been prouder, though I did have to bet the over. How was it?"

Wager?!

"I suppose she IS young and quite innocent." Miroku murmured to himself. "And Inuyasha always places his foot in his mouth."

Inuyasha was so stunned he could hardly respond! Sango's exit from the second bedroom spared him a sound beating. The taijiya wished him a good morning in her sweet voice. Miroku grasped the slayer's wrist gently for an embarrassing display. Her cheeks turned red at the way his breath warmed her pulse. She pulled her arm free and covered the skin with her sleeve. Her heart was still beating rapidly.

"You're drunk!" Sango peered at him through her hair. Inuyasha grumbled but the woman seemed affected. The human man dropped his smile but his eyes had that look, the silly-hopeful-romantic thing that made Kagome giggle.

"Ah. That does explain Inuyasha's eagerness to prepare breakfast for his lady!" Miroku held up a finger. Sango's brow furrowed. Inuyasha was ready to knock his friend unconscious but Sango was proximal. The monk flattened her hand between his own. She blushed violently when they met eyes. "You should prepare a tray with fresh-cut flowers. I am sure Kagome-sama would appreciate the gesture."

Inuyasha almost opened his mouth to defend his manhood. The treasured vision of nude, wild-haired Kagome eating pizza in their bed silenced him. Who cares what he thinks? Kagome likes having sex with me! The matter of this ridiculous bet could be handled later. An evening of sweet kisses without fangs or claws calmed his ego. He left Sango to put her idiot husband to bed. Kagome opened her eye when the tray met the floor. The girl smiled at him when she realized there was food! He tossed her pink kimono at her. While she began to eat, he brought the interior lantern to life. The shadows faded to make Kagome's skin glow.

"Breakfast in bed! You shouldn't have," she sighed.

"You do not want it?" Something about his tone made her giggle. Inuyasha sat internally reciting the rules about their bedchamber. The girl liked clean sheets. Perhaps he had done the wrong thing by bringing food near their futon. The Higurashi family were strict about crumbs! He worried until she tweaked his ear.

"I fell asleep again, didn't I? I am sorry, Inuyasha." Kagome whispered. "I promised to stay up with you. Can you forgive me?" The loose configuration of her obi let dark tendrils of wavy hair tickle her cleavage. The sight distracted him. Even though he could hear Miroku whispering to Sango, Kagome's touch was powerful. Sango quietly remarked agreed with Miroku's conclusion on the loss of Kagome's powers – that was the likely cause of the flash.

Idiots! She didn't lose her virginity last night!

"But I am glad you're you again. Did you get any sleep?" Kagome stroked his cheek. "Share some breakfast and have a lie-down. It was selfish to tire you out and fall asleep!" His exasperation made her laugh; the idea of a clumsy, human having more stamina than him! Her forehead rested against his jaw while he stammered.

"You confuse me on purpose." Inuyasha grabbed her wrist. The girl squirmed when he kissed her knuckles. Miroku might be an idiot but he knows how to get girls. Somehow the female was more flushed from that simple action than being naked! She lowered her eyes shyly. Simple, soft kisses to her inner wrist made her heartbeat soar. Kagome's pulse stayed high while they finished the tray.

"Take an hour to sleep. I can water the garden. Thank you for breakfast." Kagome pushed. To ease his wife's worries, he settled against the wall with Tetsusaiga against his shoulder. His ears swiveled to follow her while she dressed and removed the tray. The quiet discourse between the women helped. Sango would accompany Kagome to the river for more water. Rin was roused to begin the morning housework. Inuyasha let his senses relax; his muscles uncoiled.


The precise location of Jinenji and his mother was uncertain. Miroku led the group hand-in-hand with Sango. They would split into pairs further down the road. The couple were looking forward to sharing their good fortune with Miroku's guardian. Kagome, Inuyasha and Rin would take the opposite trail to find the half-demon. Obedient to Kaede's instructions when they stopped the first night, Kagome and Rin sat with the trained monk for evening meditation. Inuyasha perched in the canopy above pretending not to care. When she peeked upwards he snapped his head to the side and huffed.

"Anyone can benefit from meditation," Miroku suggested. "Even human wives. Even stubborn half-demons."

Sango smiled but focused on preparing freshly caught fish for dinner. He sighed dejectedly but continued to lead the lesson. Rin clapped her hands together enthusiastically while Miroku used his calm, smooth voice to extol the virtues of visualization, kindness and knowledge of the self. Kagome inhaled deeply when instructed. Distractions were not encouraged but recognized. Focusing on the familiar red aura in the trees limited her vision. The smaller aura of the teenager beside her was interesting. Talkative, intuitive, adorable Rin was having greater troubles than she vocalized. As a teenager it was not uncommon to face spiritual turmoil as one found their place in the world, particularly an orphaned child with an unusual guardianship arrangement. Kagome internalized her good wishes for her soon-to-be sister and sent them forth.

Please help Rin find peace and happiness!

"- and out," Miroku guided. "In - "

Kagome smiled when she could separate the spirit of her friend from the little nudging spirit. In her spiritual vision it reminded her of a kangaroo and its joey. Sango moved with grace around the fire to season their roasting fish with packed salt. Her vision sharpened to sense the invisible knots binding Sango and her husband. It was not as clear as the red string tied around her smallest finger but the bond was strong. She wondered if Inuyasha was secretly participating in the meditation. Could he see the Red String? It was doubtful that Rin had spiritual powers but her long proximity to demons had given her vision. Could she see it?

The spotlight shifted to her teacher. Quiet. If Inuyasha was a shout, Miroku was a whisper. Shallow on the surface but deep like a pond. Complex. There was no mistaking her husband's aura, bold and strong and challenging. Miroku leaned towards blue rather yellow. He inhaled. Kagome tested herself by probing the edges of his spirit. The monk revealed nothing!

"Meditation is an inspection of one's own soul, not others'." Miroku chuckled. "Nosy, are we?"

"Sorry," she flushed. Following his example she resumed the pose and closed her eyes. She honestly tried to focus inward but she was curious. A flawed human being but one who had accrued significant spiritual power and knowledge on his own merits. While she had been born with powers she did not fully understand, Miroku had studied. There were wounds that he had overcome through strength and reflection. A monk who had a habit of allowing himself to fall into traps to save lost souls! The spirit of a kind woman had become trapped within a yuki-onna who controlled a snow beast. How could he throw himself into danger and become a willing victim to diagnose his patient without suffering damage to his own soul?

A dark-haired woman and man were walking the boundaries of a wild, grassy field. The man draped purples robes over his companion's head and shoulders. When she turned Kagome noted the protective way she cradled her belly. There were both barefoot. Beyond the simple black clothing the man was surprisingly tall and broad-shouldered. A familiar country temple loomed in the picture. A pretty face lifted to gaze through her. Violet eyes.

"Stop! Please stop, Kagome-sama," Miroku covered his face. It was difficult to drag herself out of the dream, akin to rising fully-clothed from an ocean. The monk was no longer meditating peacefully. She felt sorrow for his distress. She shifted from sitting seiza to resting on her knees. He held out a hand. Stop.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry," she pleaded. The man had certainly been his father! Which means the girl was his mother! Kagome prayed forgiveness for violating his privacy. Inuyasha landed quietly at her side. Miroku dragged his hand over his jaw. Her palm closed around the pendant at her throat. Its warmth soothed the sudden chill of guilt. She knew very well how devastating a sudden recollection of a deceased parent could be! Tears pooled at her eyes.

"Who was the pretty lady?" Rin whispered.

"You are certainly not in danger of losing your Sight, Kagome-sama." Miroku sighed. "What a fool I am. You saw through me as clearly as an open frame."

"Kagome-chan, your hands!" Sango exclaimed. She drew her fingers closer. The buzz on her palms ached to be released but she didn't dare. Her husband stayed close but declined to touch her. It was not until Miroku drew closer that he retreated to the canopy overhead. Her knuckles rested firmly against his palms while his fingers held her thumbs in place. The light made it difficult to discern anything. Frown lines appeared in his forehead while he traced the ridges and trenches of her life. Miroku broke the top from one of Kagome's pens to acquire the ink. Black stained her skin when the reiki faded. Inuyasha dropped down onto the straw, leaves and grass without a sound. The squiggles on her palm seemed random.

"Is this more of your palm-reading? We won't be paying you for your stories," Inuyasha huffed.

"Then it is fortunate I do not have a story. You have a rare hand, Kagome-sama. A pity I have not looked before," Miroku smiled. "The Red Bird is the luckiest of signs for the newly married. Anyone who bears such lines is sure to have a long life and great love. The crane is a sacred bird capable of greatness in exchange for sacrifice. A fitting emblem, I think. They mate for life, you know. Once they gathered in the clearing near Mushin's temple for their courtship. The mating dance is elaborate and the males are rather loud."

"Inuyasha, be kind!" Sango deflected a flying cup. Her muffled laughter could still be heard while she tended the campfire.

"I am not a squawking bird! Apologize," Inuyasha growled. Sango pretended to consider it.

"But Inuyasha likes to perch in trees," Rin contradicted. Miroku continued to study her palms while Sango and Rin avoided the flying hanyou. She listened to his story about the thousand-year crane and the star-pattern in the heavens with one ear. It was good to see him relaxed in his own era. If only for the absence of Shippo and Kirara they could have still been on their quest to gather the shards of the Jewel. Even during their hardships there were nightly games and shared stories and the aura of home with her friends. While Inuyasha might pretend he could hit Sango and Rin over the head, he would not. It was still great fun to watch them race round.

"Wait a minute – are you teasing Inuyasha?" Kagome glared at the innocent monk. "I already have great love and I am only nineteen. How do I know you are not telling me what I want to hear? I have seen you promise dozens of young girls the same fate!"

"No, no. I promised them a long life and many children." Miroku ran his finger along her palm. "When did you become such a cynic, Kagome-sama? I have studied for many years to grow my own spiritual power. There was little else to do at the temple in my youth beyond train. The crane is a very good sign. It mirrors the stars in the sky that call the summer stars to fall."

"You mean meteor showers?"

"The stones that fall from the Heavens can sometimes be used to create precious weapons. My khakkhara was passed down from my grandfather to my father. Mushin claims that the Monk Miyatsu took stone from such a fallen artifact to have it forged into an unbreakable staff. Neither demon fang nor human sword can mark it." Miroku gestured to his weapon proudly. Kagome remembered its battle against Tetsusaiga in the little town they had first met the monk. She doubted Inuyasha had attacked with his full strength against a mere human but still. Inuyasha could punch down a gate with his fist! "It was Mushin's parting gift after I had taken my vows, when I left the temple."

"Inuyasha, sit!" Kagome folded her arms. The hanyou slid on his stomach to a painful stop. Sango and Rin came round the far side of the oak. He glared at her. "You forget we're not like you, baka. Humans get tired running around a tree."

"Perhaps we should increase your training if you are having problems with control." Miroku leaned back. "You had no training as a child, did you? Your daily obligations to the shrine may not suit your needs. A regiment of meditation, training and learning ancient prayers. Do you know the Heart Sutra?"

"Well...no." Her education in the modern era had taught her math, science and history but lacked Shinto religious preparation. She did not know the Perfection of Wisdom and could not recite the Five Paths of the Mahayana but she could name the Three Golden Paths of the Buddha and the seven elements of the earth. Miroku's smile was comforting. Despite the angry hanyou hurling insults at the monk, they resumed the meditative pose. She listened while he recited the Heart Sutra. Inuyasha's outbursts quieted while she followed the rise and falls of Miroku's voice. She knew he had chosen a purposefully short sutra for her sake.

"Finally! We can eat," Inuyasha clapped his hands on his knees. They rejoined their friends to take part of the evening meal. The finer aspects of religion were lost on her husband but Sango listened to their discussion of the Heart Sutra and its implications on the interconnections of the soul. Inuyasha snorted when Miroku reaffirmed that she had no training as a child in the modern era. The suggestion that she increase her training had merit but school was impending. It would be hard enough rushing between her duties at the shrine to attend class at the nursing academy without additional homework from Miroku! Recitations and detailed analyses of the soul. Meditations at dawn. She grumbled into her stew.

"Miroku dealt with the Wind Tunnel for years. If anyone knows how to control spiritual powers, he does. No need to worry." Sango smiled. She flexed her fingers to test her powers but no reiki flowed. Maybe it had been exhausted? Her little finger flexed when she noticed the glint of red.

"Damn it!" Inuyasha dropped his bowl. "Kagome!"

"You can be so dramatic! It's just a string. Eat your dinner." Her cheeks flushed. Inuyasha was already trying to gnaw through the invisible string again like his teeth could cut through the spiritual world. It was difficult to explain what he was doing to their friends. Miroku's brow lifted when Inuyasha tipped backwards with a yelp. She put her bowl down. How could he still think chewing through it was a good thing? She stepped over his limbs. "Inuyasha."

"Ka-go-me!"

"Why are we fighting?" Sango merely picked up her bowl when Inuyasha kicked a rock. It was difficult to wrestle him still when he was preoccupied with tearing through the Red String. He ignored her smacks. Probably cannot feel them. She squalled when he rolled to avoid hurting her. It took a minute to explain about the string to her friends between outbursts at her husband. She growled in frustration. How could he be so stubborn? Now he was trying to get the rosary over his head again as if somehow seeing the spiritual energy gave him the power to remove it. Inuyasha ignored her while the rosary flared to protect Kaede's spell. It took a while for him to give up the resolve. Finally he laid flat in exhaustion.

"Inuyasha can see this string?"

"It's a lovely...romantic...connection!" Kagome poked her husband. His breath stirred his bangs.

Morning came sooner than she would have preferred. Miroku nudged her awake for a new meditation in the rising sun. Inuyasha stretched on his own. The monk scratched the sutra onto a fresh sheet of notebook paper. It certainly wasn't his preference but they were out of ink. The slim ballpoint pen looked comical in his right hand. More homework…She smiled when he requested that she take some time on their separate journeys to contemplate the prayer. It did make sense that she should make an academic study to write her own sutra. There certainly could be times when she could not rely on Miroku to banish unfriendly spirits like the bear plaguing the Takeda clan. Not every ghost can be quieted voluntarily.

"Are you going to grade my sutra, oh Monk Miroku?"

"I am interested to see the power of your prayers on spell scroll," he answered. Even Inuyasha did not balk at that. Breakfast was a quick affair after Sango became nauseous at the smell of roasted river fish. Kagome stayed silent but she was extremely proud when Inuyasha offered to trade her his instant ramen with its milder smells. Her good mood continued after they parted ways with the pair at the crossroads to Mushin's Temple. Rin skipped along happily ahead of them on the trail gathering a bouquet of flowers to gift Jinenji. Inuyasha tensed when she slipped her hand around her elbow and pressed her cheek against his shoulder.

"Oi, what's that for?"

"Isn't it a beautiful morning? Even the larks are singing. It is good to be on the road again even if I do have homework," she giggled. Inuyasha exhaled at the hated word. It meant hours and hours of concentration sitting at a desk pouring over books. They had already discussed her upcoming schedule for her first semester! She had even taken him on a tour of the school and introduced him to several of her new classmates. It had been Mama's idea to show him where she would be spending her time so that he would be less anxious. Most of the teachers were female and so were most of the students. The class roster only listed a few guys to spook her jealous husband. With Eri, Yuka and Ayumi gone to their own adventures, it might be nice to make a new friend. Preferably someone who takes excellent notes or good veins for my phlebotomy course.

Rin balanced on a fallen log with both hands extended to cross the stream. Inuyasha helped her hop over. He teased the kid lightly about getting the hem of her long skirts damp. Kaede had been undergoing the effort to drop the line on her beautiful collection of kimono. Someone would have to warn Sesshomaru the next time he made a delivery that Rin needed to wear full kimono now. Like Inuyasha the independent wild child also despised the idea of wearing geta for her coming of age. What need could there be for shoes?

"Humans need shoes!"

Rin stuck her tongue out at him before twirling ahead. Inuyasha chased her up the path until they could see an upcoming town. The girl sat with him by the fence while she made inquiries from the local headman about a giant half-demon with blue eyes. Her return path was interrupted by several old women asking if she was Kagome-sama and could bless their home? By the time she had agreed another request was made to bless the local pond where the river shrine dwelt. The local headmen thought it was a wonderful idea! There was no escaping the clamor of hopeful young girls who heard that she was recently married! Her palm stilled Inuyasha's involvement when the tide carried her further into the village. It is good for the village's reputation if I go along. How bad could it be?