"Good morning, Ijichi-san!" Kagome chimes as she opens the door further so he can step inside. "Sorry, Satoru is still sleeping, but if you're hungry, I'm still making breakfast and lunch."

"Gojo-san is still sleeping?" Ijichi-san scratches his cheek as he slides his shoes off.

"Yeah..." Kagome turns her head away. Her cheeks warm. "Koushi is hanging out in his playpen. You can eat at the table or on the couch. It's your choice. I made some pancakes, milk bread, eggs, salmon, onigiri with tuna, and I made some takoyaki."

"... You made all that this morning?"

"Well, I prepped some last night. Did you want to take some for lunch?" Kagome walks into the kitchen and opens the fridge. "I thought about steaming some vegetables because Satoru doesn't eat nearly as many as he should." She closes the fridge door and glances at Ijichi, who looks far too frail in her opinion. "Feel free to help yourself. I'm going to get Satoru up." Kagome smiles at Ijichi-san and heads to the bedroom.

Satoru lies on his stomach with his arms under the pillow. Kagome stares at him for a moment and then turns towards the closet to pick out his uniform. Hands wrap around her waist right as she grabs the clothes from the hanger.

"Whatcha doin?"

"Getting your clothes ready." She tilts her head up. "Ijichi-san is in the kitchen eating breakfast."

Satoru's eyes twitch. "That so... Ijichi sure is getting spoiled these days."

"Well, he is a bit frail looking. I don't think he is getting enough nutrients. Can you be home by 6?"

His brows furrow together before smoothing out. "For you, yeah, I can be here by 6."

"... Do you need the shikigami to take any missions? Mama sent me a text this morning inviting us over for dinner. Figured you would want us to all go as a family." She turns around and holds the clothes close to her chest. "I know it's last minute."

"How much does your mom know? What's the play here?"

"About what? Us?"

Satoru chuckles. "No, you're mine. I'm not hiding that. I meant about cursed energy. Does she know what you can do?"

Oh. That's what he's worried about.

"Mama doesn't know about curses, though Gramps might. As far as I go... she knows I'm a priestess, but she doesn't know what I can do since there's never been any real reason for her to see me in action. It'll be fine. You don't have to sugarcoat anything around my family." Her eyes drift down. Satoru likes to sleep shirtless and in a pair of sweats.

"Baby," Satoru starts, voice slightly strangled.

"What do you want for your birthday?" Satoru's birthday is next month and if it's something extravagant, then she needs some time to get the gifts together. Then there's also getting the new house together. She has yet to order any furniture for it and with the way Satoru has been hounding the realtor to speed up the process, she should probably start on that sooner than later.

"You."

Kagome meets his eyes and bites her lip. Ijichi-san's cries float through the walls and the moment is ruined. She gives Satoru a look, and he sighs. "Koushi must have scared him again."

"Who gets beat up by an infant?"

"Satoru."

"I could get you off in five."

Kagome flushes. Satoru is so candid about the things he wants to do to her. It's not something she is used to, but she doesn't hate it.

"Gojo-san!"

"You should save Ijichi-san," Kagome says, a bit reluctantly. It is far too easy to get swept away by Satoru. She needs to keep a clear head around him.

Satoru hums. "What time does Koushi go down for a nap?"

"Are you trying to play hooky from work?"

"Well... if I had extra support today, it wouldn't be playing hooky so much as delegating."

Kagome holds the clothes with one hand and rubs her forehead with her other. "Satoru, if you interrupt my nap time, I'm more likely to edge you and leave you hanging so I can sleep."

His eyes lighten. "Sounds like fun."

"Huh? You'd like that?" Kagome's mouth drops. She didn't mean it, but Satoru is taking her words for truth.

"I'd love to be at the mercy of you. You like bondage?"

Kagome tilts her head to the side. "Can't say I've ever done it. You want me to bind you?"

"There are no bindings that can hold me."

"But I'm a priestess," she points out. "I can put a seal on the rope so you can't get out unless I want you to."

Satoru hums and looks at his wrists. "Anything else you want me to pick up?"

"Clamps." She waits for the disgust to flint across his face, but it never does. Satoru smiles at her so brightly she almost needs sunglasses. "You're such a pervert," she says with a snort.

"Oink oink."

She laughs as she brushes past him.

"GOJO-SAN!"

Oh. She forgot about Ijichi-san. Koushi's giggles follow Ijichi-san's cries, which grow louder in volume.

"I'll save him," Satoru says, stretching his arms above his head. He lets out a groan as he lowers his arms. "He better not have eaten all the food," he mutters as he walks out of the room.

Does Satoru not like Ijichi-san? She frowns as she sets Satoru's clothes on the bed. That can't be it. Ijichi-san has a key to the apartment. Satoru wouldn't give that away unless he trusts Ijichi-san.

"Kagome!" Satoru calls. "You gotta look at this."

Oh boy. That can't be good. Kagome heads out of the room and stops at the scene. Poor Ijichi-san's hands are gone and in their place are cymbals. His once freshly ironed black suit and tie are gone and replaced with some kind of fox costume. Kagome bites her tongue.

This is not funny.

"Kagome-san! Please help me."

Satoru holds Koushi out like an airplane and pretends to fly him at Ijichi-san, who squeaks and clangs his cymbals for hands together. The sound elicits laughter from Koushi, who claps his hands together. Ijichi-san stiffens and his cymbals clang together once more.

"... I'm gonna have to homeschool him," Kagome mutters.

Satoru pauses and looks at her. "So, housewife then?"

Kagome falters. She was somewhat of a housewife once and that didn't exactly work out for her. Though Satoru is not InuYasha. "We'll see," she says.

Satoru smiles. "Whatever you want."

Whatever she wants?

"Umm, Kagome-san? My hands and my clothes," Ijichi-san speaks up. His hands clang together again.

Oh right.

"Koushi, that's enough," Kagome says, walking over to Ijichi-san. She places a hand over the cymbals and closes her eyes to concentrate. Every day, Koushi is getting into something new.

"As soon as you learn how to talk, I'll show you how to do a domain expansion," Satoru coos.

"Oh Kami no!" Ijichi-san shouts. "I'll die. Everyone will die." He sinks to the floor, holding his head. "No. No. No."

Kagome blinks. "What's a domain expansion?"

"Come with me tomorrow and I'll expand yours."

"You two are psychopaths," Ijichi-san says, sniffling.

Kagome frowns. "Satoru, you need to get ready and stop stalling. We have plans tonight."

"I'm going. I'm going." He hands Koushi over and winks at her. "Ijichi, we'll be getting off early today. Kagome is gonna make some more shikigami for today's missions."

Ijichi-san nods and wobbles to his feet. "Please do not make so many this time. It may be difficult to explain if others ask questions."

Kagome presses her lips together as she cuddles Koushi. Why does it matter how many she can make? If it lessens the overall number of curses, shouldn't that be a cause for celebration? The villagers were thrilled when she did the first time. "I don't understand. If it helps with the curse problem, why does it matter how many shikigami I summon?"

"Because the higher ups want to keep the status quo," Satoru says. "That's really what it boils down to. They like the power they have and the more people stronger than them, the less control they have."

"But a good leader doesn't have to be the strongest," Kagome points out. "Everyone has strengths and weaknesses. They should be thrilled to have stronger allies, since curses are so rampant."

"Perhaps," Ijichi-san starts, "If Kagome-san is looking for work, then—"

"No."

Kagome raises a brow. No? "I thought it was whatever I wanted."

"You can exorcise curses, sure. But I don't want you working for them. They'd more likely try to set you up somehow. I'm not risking you."

Kagome shifts Koushi in her arms and frowns. The villagers were never like this. Maybe because it was a small village, and they all did their part to survive, but the way Satoru describes Jujutsu hierarchy seems so backwards. "Fine. I get it. You just want me to do missions with you." Kagome bounces Koushi. "You get dressed and I'll finish getting your lunch packed."

"... Lunch packed? We aren't meeting up?"

Kagome shakes her head. "No, I'm meeting the girls for lunch and then Koushi and I will take a nap." Satoru's shoulders slump for a second and then he straightens them as if nothing happened. Kagome blinks. Does he really value their lunches that much? Maybe it's because this thing between them is still so new?

"Would I also be able to get a lunch?"

"No. Kagome doesn't need to feed you."

"Satoru, be nice. Sure, I can pack you something to eat, too."

Satoru makes a choked sound in the back of his throat and grabs the back of his neck as he heads down the hall. Kagome hums. Satoru sure is a strange man.

"Is this too much?" Satoru asks, tugging at his tie. He turns and looks over at Kagome. She bites her lip to stop from laughing. Satoru pouts. It's not funny. He's trying to impress his in-laws.

"You don't need a three-piece suit to meet my family." Kagome sets Koushi down in his crib and then walks over to Satoru. "Take this off." She pushes the jacket off and unbuttons his top. Satoru sucks in a breath. Now is not the time. "Just wear something casual. My family is pretty laid back. Though Gramps may throw a sutra at you. If he does, just ignore him. His sutras are harmless."

Satoru nods, but his mind is focused on how quickly Kagome takes his clothes off. He stands there in his pants with the top part of his suit in his arms, while Kagome rummages through the closet. Satoru isn't sure how to feel about her picking out his clothes. He swears she woke up one day and just started doing it as though she's been doing it for him for years.

Is this what people in relationships do? Or is this a leftover response from her failed marriage? Or is this just simply Kagome being comfortable with him? He should ask Shoko sometime, though she's still pissed at him because she has yet to meet Kagome.

"Here, you'll be more comfortable in this." She hands him some pants and a black shirt. Satoru exchanges the clothes in his arms for the ones Kagome has.

"I'm starting to think you just like compression shirts on me," he teases.

"I think your mind is always in the gutter," she shoots back.

Satoru smiles. "Well, when it comes to you..." He lets the words hang between them as he slips off his slacks and slides the jeans on. "Alright, so I can tell them about me being a sorcerer?" He confirms.

"Yeah, they won't care. If anything, that's pretty tame."

Satoru squints at Kagome, but she misses the look he gives her. How is being a sorcerer tame? How is the knowledge of curses tame? He gnaws on the inside of his cheek as he waits for Kagome to finish getting Koushi together. Come to think of it, Kagome is nonchalant herself about everything going on. When would she have had the time to hone her skills and her family doesn't even know what all she can do? Is there another school out there similar to Jujutsu High but for spiritual users like her?

"Okay, we're ready," Kagome says, holding Koushi in her arms.

"Let's go. I want to stop at the flower shop on the way." He holds out a hand for her to take. Even with the shikigami's help today, he was still pushing it on time.

"Okay, the shrine isn't far from here. I'll let her know we'll be a couple minutes late."

Satoru locks up the apartment and then jogs ahead to open the passenger door. He takes Koushi from her arms and gets him situated in his car seat. "What?" he asks, sliding into the driver's seat. He doesn't drive all that often since Ijichi usually drives him around for missions, but he has been driving more frequently now that Kagome and Koushi are in his life. He should get Kagome her own vehicle. Maybe a Rover? Satoru eyes her stomach for a moment. "Yeah, something with a lot of room."

"What?"

Oh, shit. "Uh, talking out loud?"

"Maybe you should take some time off. When's the last time you had a day off?"

Satoru frowns. "I don't really take time off... why? You want to go somewhere?"

"No," she says. "I don't want you to push yourself too hard. Remind me to give you a massage later. Your muscles and your energy are super tense."

The visual alone nearly has him foaming at the mouth. The feel of her powers washing over him is intoxicating and now she wants to do some kind of massage with his? "If you aren't pregnant, you will be by the end of the night."

Kagome snorts. "We'll see about that. It's way too soon."

"So, there's a chance."

"I'm starting to think if you had your way, I would be locked in a tower somewhere."

Satoru laughs. "Don't be silly, I'd buy an island just for you." He pulls his shades down and winks at her. "Ah, but we should talk about something else. The last thing I want is to meet the family with thoughts of you underneath me percolating."

"I stand by what I said earlier. You're such a pervert."

"Yeah, I wasn't able to get the clamps or the rope. Maybe tomorrow? We could go together."

Kagome turns her head away, but he can still make out the flush in her cheeks. He grins. How is she still so shy after the things they've done? He chuckles to himself as he stops at the flower shop. It doesn't take long. He picks out about five dozen roses. Three for Kagome and two for his mother-in-law. Kagome splutters when he hands her the bouquets to hold.

"Three are for you," he tells her, pulling out of the parking space. Should he have made another stop at a jewelry store? He taps his fingers on the steering wheel. No, it's too late now. He doesn't want to make a bad impression on them.

"You didn't have to get me flowers," Kagome says.

"I wanted to. If I took some time off, where would you want to go?"

"It would have to be somewhere in Japan since I don't have a passport."

"Well, that won't do. If you had one, where would you want to go?"

"Greece. Yuka went once and showed us some pictures. It was really nice."

Satoru nods. "Alright. Maybe we can bring both grandparents so they can watch Koushi."

"Mama doesn't have... you don't have to pay for everything."

They pull up to the shrine. Satoru parks the car and cuts the engine. He leans over and stares at Kagome until she looks at him. "What else am I supposed to do with this money? Not spend it?"

Kagome scrunches her nose. "I just don't want you to be in a bind."

He closes his eyes and swallows back the laugh. Satoru opens his eyes and blows out a breath. "Tell you what, we'll get you added to the account and then you can see everything. Good?" Kagome jerks her head. He smiles. He'll take that as a yes. "Alrighty, Koushi, you ready to see your grandma?"

Koushi babbles in the backseat.

Satoru gets out of the car and gets Koushi from his car seat. It'll be interesting to see how Koushi acts around this side of the family. He seems to enjoy bullying his uncle Ryu and seems to be a little nicer to his grandpa, though Satoru doesn't understand why. Koushi should bully his grandpa too. Satoru plucks the two bouquets out of Kagome's hand and flashes her smirk when she huffs at him. His eyes drift down to her exposed legs.

He loves it when she wears a dress.

Kagome opens the door and slides her shoes off. "Mama, we're here!"

An older woman with short hair rounds the corner and smiles at them. "Oh my! You are much taller than I was expecting." She laughs and holds out her hands for Koushi, who pushes against Satoru in an effort to get to his grandmother. If Satoru wasn't so amused, his feelings would be a tad hurt. "Gojo-san, is it?"

Satoru shakes his head. "No, Gojo-san. Just call me Satoru. We're family."

"Oh? Well then you can just call me mom if you'd like or Himari. Come on, Gramps has been grumbling all day about dinner. You know I had to chase him out of the kitchen." She shakes her head. "Dear, could you go make sure Gramps isn't getting into the food?"

Kagome hesitates, but nods her head and goes to find her grandfather, leaving Satoru alone with Himari.

"I know you two have just reunited," Himari starts, pinning him with a stare. "But if you hurt my daughter, I will gut you."

Satoru blinks. "I'd sooner gut myself than to hurt her." He holds out the bouquets for her to take. "She's told me a bit about InuYasha and I'm assuming he was also abusive." Verbal abuse is still abusive in his books.

Himari takes the flowers and sighs as she rocks Koushi. "Well, I had hope that despite their differences, they would be able to make it work. InuYasha was her first love, after all. Though I guess the... cultural differences were too much."

Cultural differences? InuYasha is already a strange name to begin with, but it doesn't sound foreign. Maybe InuYasha is Japanese, but was raised elsewhere? Satoru takes his shades off and hangs them on his shirt. "When you say cultural differences?"

"InuYasha was a demon, after all. Guess they couldn't make that part of him work." Himari shrugs. "Anyway, I hope you like Oden. It's Kagome's favorite." Himari smiles at Koushi and motions with her head for Satoru to follow.

He stands there for a moment. There's no way she meant those words literally. She must have meant InuYasha's demons were too great for Kagome to handle.

Yeah, that has to be it. No way, InuYasha is an actual demon.

A/N: Happy Sunday! Had to take my dog back to the vet this week for a biopsy. Luckily my vet is super chill and was just like you can pay monthly or call when you feel like paying. Should get the results back in about two weeks, but we both think Zelda probably has a zinc deficiency which is common in huskies.

"How many fingers has she purified?" - Only the one for now.

"Is he proposing at the party?" - Not sure. I feel like Satoru would like for it to be just them.

"When is mom going to meet Syouma?" - Probably at the housewarming party.

"Are the Zenins going to go after Utahime?" - I was going to say no at first because she uses cursed energy, but I sat on it, and I think that could show how desperate they all are to recreate what Kagome and Satoru did with Koushi.

"You can castrate?" - Yep! It's not hard at all. I can castrate, do necropsies (learned that in zoology class in high school), etc.

Have a great week! Get lots of rest and drink plenty of water. I took a week off so I might be back with another update this week.