Domestic Bliss

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha and Co

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Carting in the gallons of various paints, the newly mated couple set them in the middle of the large room and began to discuss where they were going to paint first.

"Let's start with the outer rooms, then do the kitchen and family one last." Wisely suggested the inuyōkai to his tiny mate, who shrugged. "Sounds like a plan." She eagerly said, not caring where they started as long as they did soon. "Which room first?" asked the teen, carefully picking up the paint supplies and looking about.

Sesshōmaru grabbed two cans and motioned his head towards one of the doorways. "Our bedroom since it will take longer than the other three." He said while moving in that direction.

"Okay." She shrugged and quickly followed. "Do we need to tape off the rooms?" the teen asked, unsure of what he had done last night.

"No. I did that yesterday along with priming." He disclosed and promptly set the paint cans on the tarped floor. "All we have to do is paint." The yōkai pried open the can and stirred the liquid, passively watching the color swirl. "What is this color's name again?" Sesshōmaru inquired, scraping the stir stick against the lip then carefully began to pour it into the trays.

"Moonbeam. It's supposed to be a pale grayish-blue." Kagome said, running the roller into the paint. "I thought it would produce a calming effect to help us sleep at night." She revealed while starting on one of the walls.

"I suppose it will." He agreed then quickly asked another question. "When are the furniture and other items arriving?"

She had scheduled them to come the next day, so hopefully, they will get all the painting completed before then. "Tomorrow in the afternoon. Do you think we will get done by tonight?" It would be marvelous if they did since she really didn't want their things to have to sit outside. Even though the rainy season was over, there was still a chance that it could rain.

"We should." He said without glancing up from his work. "Didn't you mention Sango stopping by to help?"

Shit, she had forgotten that Sango was going to drop in to lend a hand. "Not until noon. Sango has to work at the dojo for a few hours this morning. She said she would bring lunch, though."

"Good. With more help, we will finish before the night is through," Commented the dog demon as he dipped his roller into the paint and continued with the bare wall.

Kagome silently agreed and carried on with the even strokes of the roller as her youthful mind wandered to what Sango would be bringing for lunch. Her stomach rumbled lightly, making the teen regret not having that extra piece of grilled fish. She hoped she could make it to noon and that it was something good.

Hours later, the active couple was wrapping up the bathroom when the familiar carefree tone echoed off the walls. "Kagome? Sesshōmaru? I came bearing food. Come out, come out, where ever you are!" The voice crooned happily.

A snort escaped from the inuyōkai before he shifted his piercing gaze to his mate brows raised high in amusement. "Your friend is a strange one."

All of her friends were quite quirky and different, and that was what made them the perfect group. Full Yōkai, Hanyō, Miko, Slayer, and Monk, it didn't matter in the least and definitely didn't stop them from being friends. "Yes, she is," remarked Kagome proudly and passed him the dirty roller to clean for the next room. "and I wouldn't want her any other way." The young woman quipped, winking at the chuckling yōkai as she hurried out of the room to greet her friend.

Approaching the brunette whose back was facing her, Kagome noticed that the teen was digging through a large bag. "Hey!" She enthusiastically greeted the distracted woman and bit back a giggle when her friend jumped.

Sango whipped around, hands flying about, then landed over her heart. "Holy shit. Don't do that!" She took in a few deep breaths before continuing. "I can tell you've been picking up on some of the stealth skill of your mate."

The inuyōkai hummed in agreement and caused the brown-haired teen to jump once more. He chuckled at her playful glare then quipped aloud. "It is better than her stumbling about." He chuckled again and began to wash the rollers in the large sink.

"Too true." Sango laughed, her mock outrage forgotten as she agreed with the demon.

"Hello. I'm right here!" Barked the tiny woman, hands drifting to her hips and glaring at the two.

Sango laughed some more then motioned to the familiar boxes, quickly changing the subject. "I've brought pizza."

The irritation Kagome had felt instantly wiped away with the word pizza. She sniffed the air taking in the cheesy goodness. "Smells great. I am starving!" She said just as her stomach rumbled and swiftly came closer to the island to peer at the closed boxes. "What kind did you bring?"

The brown-headed teen smiled broadly and opened the first box. "Cheese and honey for you," She revealed then lifted the lid of the other. "and for us normal carnivorous folks, sausage and thickly-sliced bacon with meat sauce."

The shorter woman practically drooled at the sight of the golden pie, and her stomach rumbled yet again. "Mmm…Looks good." A frown crawled onto her delicate features as her gaze left the food to skim the newly installed cupboards then back to her friend. "Shoot. We don't have any plates right now." They had nothing until tomorrow night's delivery.

"No problem. I figured you wouldn't, so I grabbed some on the way here and napkins too." Sango said while digging through the bag. She pulled out the plates and napkins sitting on them on the table before rooting in the bag once more. "Also, picked up some melon soda. Do you want one?" The teen asked, holding up three bottles.

"Yep." Kagome popped the p and grabbed the soda then twisted around to ask her mate. "Maru, would you like a soda?"

He set the rollers in the sink to dry and wiped his hands on the tea towel. "Yes." He said, taking the carbonated drink from the brunette with a nod.

Grabbing a plate, Kagome motioned to the pizza. "How many pieces do you want?" She asked her mate.

"I can get it." Protested the yōkai stepping forward to take the plate.

She shooed him away with a wave of the plastic dish. "No, it's fine. How many?"

He ceased moving and nodded towards the second pie. "Three of the meat pizza."

"Three it is." She happily remarked, fondly smiling as she snagged the slices and passed the full plate to him. "Here you go." Her mate nodded in thanks then went to lean against the counter to begin to eat.

Kagome's gaze traveled to her best friend and mate, then to the first pizza. "No one wants cheese and honey?" She asked, picking up a slice and offering it to the two.

Sesshōmaru and Sango glanced at one another then shook their heads, declining the other pizza. "It's all yours, Kagome."

Shrugging, the teen took a large bite out of the slice and softly moaned in delight. "You both don't know what you are missing." She managed to say after swallowing the sweet and cheesy goodness.

"We can guess." Retorted Sango drily while Sesshōmaru snickered behind his pizza.

Her blue eyes narrowed at the duo before rolling back to her food. "Hardy Har-har." Kagome sarcastically muttered then smiled at the pie. "More for me then."

In between bites, Sango glanced at the couple then the large room. "So, what have you two gotten done?"

"The four outer rooms have their first coat, and since the kitchen and living room are one large space, we will be painting it the same color." Sesshōmaru let the teen know as he continued to eat.

"Sounds great." The brunette said and giggled when her tiny friend excitedly clapped her hands.

"Okay. Let's finish eating and get to some painting!" She enthusiastically cheered then went back to her lunch.

The other two glanced at one another, shaking their heads at the excessive energy the petite woman exuded before returning to their meals.

Once the trio finished eating, they split the supplies and began to paint the large walls in sections. It was well past midnight when the teens placed the last coat of paint to the main room and started to clean up.

"This is a beautiful color," Sango commented, admiring the damp walls as she carried out some empty paint cans.

"Hai." Kagome agreed and followed her friend to the front door. "I'm glad we picked it." She happily mused and stopped at the door when she heard her mate scoff. "Woman, you chose the colors, and I just followed your lead." He said while setting the dirty rollers into the sink.

If her hands hadn't been full, they would have been thrown about in mock agitation. "Not quite true. If you didn't care for a color, you would say something and did just that." She pointed out, dark brows rising high. Sango came in and took the cans from her as she waited for his response.

"You had some questionable choices." He retorted smartly.

There was one that he thought was god awful, and the rest he simply didn't care for that shade, and they chose another in the same color family. The demon was majorly exaggerating, and she couldn't believe he was still on those few chosen choices. Kagome stepped closer to her yōkai partner, hands moved straight to her hips and playfully glared up at the cheeky Inu. "They weren't that bad."

His fingers snagged a hold of her paint-stained shirt and gently pulled her pouty form to him. He bent down and kissed away any objection she may have had. Pulling back to eye the dazed teen, Sesshōmaru presented a row of pearly whites and reached up to softly stroke her silky cheek lovingly. "Whatever you say, Love."

Sango had paused in the doorway and stared at the duo in wonder and amusement. 'They really do make a great couple.' Thought the teen, a little envious of how they seemed to have moved beyond their complicated history and nurture the seeds that were sprouting. Smiling some more while the couple continued to moon over each other, the brunette glanced at her watch. "Wow. I cannot believe how late it is." She said aloud, gaining the couple's attention. "I should be going. Will you guys need help moving things in?"

Kagome's face bloomed with color at being caught and swiftly sidestepped her mate. Ignoring the slight embarrassment and answering her friend, she let the taller teen know that they wouldn't need any help. The movers would be doing all the heavy lifting, and all she and Sesshōmaru would need to do is direct them to the rooms. She was sure that they could handle the unpacking and assembly, though one could never tell when something was going to go wrong. "I don't think so, but if we do, I'll give you a call." Said the young mother trailing closer to the entry. "Before I forget," She quickly added. "we are hoping to have a little house warming before the semester begins and would love for you and Grammy Kaede to come."

"Sweet. Let me know, and Grammy and I will be there." Sango informed her friend, who smiled brightly. "Great!" She said, clapping her petite hands together before the giddiness dimmed. "I wish the others could come." The young woman's shoulder's slumped with a large sigh escaping passed her frowning lips.

The young slayer stepped closer and gently grabbed the other teen's hand. She squeezed it reassuringly and tried to dispel the sadness. "I know, but the less who know, the less likely that it will be blabbed."

Kagome knew that Sango was right, but it still felt shitty no matter the reason. "It still sucks, though." She grumbled under her breath and rubbed the back of her neck. "I'm sorry you can't tell Miroku." The heavyweight of guilt made her delicate shoulders droop even more and her brow to deeply furrow.

Sango squeezed her friend's hand yet again while shaking her head in disagreement. "Nah. It's fine. As you said, you don't want to put him in the middle, especially being Inuyasha's best friend."

She was right once again, Kagome hadn't wanted to get Miroku thrown in the middle, and that is exactly what would have happened. Inuyasha would have wanted Miroku to be on his side, and knowing the monk, he would try to be on both, and that would have pissed off their hanyō friend. Even knowing this, she still couldn't shake the guilt at being a party to her friend building a relationship on a pack of lies. "As long as you're positive that you don't mind." 'I mind, though.' Kagome silently mused but managed to smile weakly.

"I'm positive." The taller teen reassured, pulling her friend into a hug before stepping away and heading through the open doorway. "Call me tomorrow if you need me. I'll see you guys later. Bye." She threw over a shoulder and waved goodbye.

Kagome returned the gesture and sighed when her friend disappeared.

"What is wrong?" asked her mate.

"I just feel bad that I'm putting my best friend in a position that she has to lie to her boyfriend. That is not the best foundation to start a relationship on."

"Even though Miroku is very impure for a holy one, he is very good at understanding people's motives and will not be upset." The inuyōkai reassured. "Do not worry about your friend. From what I understand, the monk has been waiting for her for a long time. I assure you, this will not deter him."

"If you say so."

"I do. Now come, I've cleaned the supplies while you were talking so we can go back to the main house to shower." Sesshōmaru's warm stare slowly roamed her paint-covered form.

"Just shower?" She innocently asked, lashes fluttered, and slowly backed to the front door.

"Now that you mentioned it, Mate." He said, prowling forward, a feral glint reflecting in his golden eyes.

Kagome's gaze widened, and a squeal ripped from her as she stepped over the threshold. She then swiftly turned on foot and took off into the night. Her mate quickly followed, and another loud shriek could be heard in the distance.