Authors Note: Yay, its the next update, though this one is the same as the last. only a few changes and nothing too major.

Update Occured: September 14th 2016

Rin really did try to enjoy the festival. Villages from all around came to celebrate every year and it was quite a profitable event for the village. Families separated by marriages to other villages reunited and trade flowed between the different villages now surrounding Inuyasha's Forest. Since the defeat of Naraku and the rise in the demon slayer population, the area was safer than ever. Inuyasha's village alone had doubled in size as the protetion of a half demon was now something to boast rather than hide. Many people would come to feast, and many men came to try and ask for Rin's hand. Though, tonight was different. The men that normal accosted her every year seem to shake with fear whenever she looked at them. Thank the Kami's, maybe my reputation as a slayer finally made it through their thick skulls.

Though she had the weight of the night resting on her shoulders, the young demon slayer wished to enjoy her night. Sango and Miroku's children skittered about her feet, begging her to come and play, pulling at her armour. Their youngest, a small girl named Aina, looked curiously between Rin and her mother. Both were dressed in their slayers uniforms, Sango taking the opportunity to always wear it between pregnancies.

"Aunt Rin?" The girl made Rin's eyes go soft, loving the title that Aina had gifted her.

"Yes, Aina?" The girl drifted closer to her Aunt, and tugged at her sleeve as though she wanted to tell her a secret. Rin bent down and Sango's daughter cupped her hands around her ear.

"Why does your armour look different than Mommy's?" The girl shifted back, looking around as though she wanted to make sure that no one heard her question.

"Oh, Aina. It is quite alright to ask that." The child looked relieved as Rin knelt down next to her. "I have different armour because I come from a different clan that your mother." The girl still seem curious and Rin guided her over to the nearest empty bench, pleased that suitors seemed to run from her sight. "My clan consists of me, Master Jaken, and Lord Sesshomaru. They are the people that I used to travel with, and I am a ward of Lord Sesshomaru's." The pain of speaking his name had slowly ebbed away, but always returned on this night. Aina seemed to notice her Aunts pain and reached out to hold her hand, as her mother had always done for her.

"It's okay Aunt Rin." The minor amount of comfort spoke volumes to Rin who nearly crushed the girl in a hug.

"Thank you Aina. But I will continue," The girl seemed entranced by Rin's voice. She always used a different tone when speaking of her lord, reverence and devotion dripping from every word. "Lord Sesshomaru is the ruler of these lands, and he is often too busy to handle the small matters this near his borders. So since there are no official protectors near here, I will protect it for him. And since I am his ward it is only right that I bear his symbol and let others know who they are messing with." Rin and Aina continued to speak, eventually Rin guided the younger girl through the crowds to play games and eat.

Kagome had watched Rin for most of the night, making sure that she did not wander off too early. The first few years the young demon slayer would sit on the hilltop for the entire night, scared that her lord would come and she would miss him. But Kagome and Sango slowly started to reel her in for more and more of the festival, only letting her leave just before the sun set. Now it seemed as though Aina was keeping the young slayer busy with questions about new wares being sold and food. The miko glanced around the party, noting the wariness of the suitors. Every year, men from all over the Western Lands would come, using the festival as guise, to ask for Rin's hand. They had slowly waned over the years, some being married or killed on the journey.

Inuyasha had been told of the demon attacks on the way to the festival. The year following the first killing Inuyasha had brought in a nearby village of demon slayers to protect the festival goers. The other slayers noted the presence of a strong demon force, but they never approached the villagers, only the young suitors. The half-demon had figured out the identity of the attacker after the third year, and had stopped the village protection. If the bakas are stupid enough to continue to come, let them risk their own lives. Inuyasha appeared at his wife's side, glancing over her, his eyes stopping at her rounded belly.

"Stop staring, Inuyasha." Kagome's cheeks warmed at her husband's attention.

"Soon," He stepped behind her, pulling her close. "very soon," His hands came around her waist, rubbing at her stomach as his child kicked its fathers hands. "you will finally be able to call me mate. " The emphasis put on the word mate was not lost on Kagome and her cheeks heated more.

"Why must we wait?" She turned, looking up at the half breed. "Why must mating season hold this over our heads?" Her eyes cast down and a look of sadness floated into her eyes. "I will continue to age until we mate, I will become an old woman by the time that rolls around." Inuyasha grabbed at his future mates chin.

"It is approaching, it will be here soon. Then we can be together until the end of time." He kissed his wife, while both cursing and thanking his demon blood. A demon could not officially claim another as his mate until mating season. Contrary to popular belief, at least with half demons, mating season did not cause a frenzy or men forcing their women. It was a time to bind yourself to another, in both life and death. Kagome's body would feed off of Inuyasha's energy, keeping herself alive until the day that he died.

But there was not a set time that the season came. If there was a large number of demons wishing to take a mate then the Gods would bring upon the time. Their demon blood would know and the power to take a mate would be gifted to those ready. The season often lasted for years, because as a few demons took their mates and reproduced, the others would want to do the same.

Inuyasha continued to hold his wife until a strangely familiar scent ghosted through the village. He saw Shippo lift his head, and sniff the air. A look of confusion overcame his face and he glanced over at the half-breed. Inuyasha shook his head, telling the young fox demon not to worry, knowing that his brother would announce himself when he was ready.