Darien rolled out of bed blearily. 'What time is it?' Glancing at the clock he yelped in surprise rushing to gather his things together. 'I'm going to be late for my English final!' A groan sounded from the other side of the bed.
"Why are you running around at this ungodly hour?" The redhead complained.
"I'm going to be late." Darien answered.
The redhead squinted at the clock. "S'only six thirty, class doesn't start 'til eight."
Darien sighed. "We can't all be demon foxes with super-speed. I have to catch the bus."
Shippou grunted climbing out of bed with a yawn. "So I can take you to school."
Darien was about to protest when the sleepy fox demon threw him down on the bed and pounced on him.
"Wouldn't you rather spend a little more time with me?" Shippou purred.
Darien stifled a moan as his boyfriend began to fondle him. "Promise I won't be late."
Shippou smirked triumphantly. "I swear it."
Kagome burst into the clinic in a full blown panic. 'I'm late I'm late I'm late' she chanted in her head changing in record time. She raced toward the front desk only to run smack-dab into a wall. 'Ow…'
"Do you enjoy crashing into my person?" Sesshoumaru asked with one brow quirked.
"I'm so sorry!" Kagome began flustered. "I was running late and I wasn't watching wear I was going. I'm so sorry Dr. Tashio."
Sesshoumaru pulled her to her feet utterly amused by distress. "Kagome."
Kagome felt like the breath had been sucked right out of her. "Yes?"
"I believe that marriage affords you the right to address me by name." Sesshoumaru's eyes gleamed wickedly.
Kagome flushed scarlet. "Sesshoumaru."
The demon lord pulled against him for a searing kiss. "I believe that you are late for work, Mrs. Tashio. However, since this is the first time in four years I am inclined to be lenient."
Kagome was blushing prettily. "You're horrible."
Sesshoumaru gave his wife another toe curling kiss then sent her to the front desk in a dreamy haze.
Luna lay curled atop Mina's desk feeling more than a little depressed by the absence of a certain white cat. She began to feel a tingling in her spine. She jumped off the desk uncertain what was causing the strange sensation. Luna swayed feeling disoriented, the entire room began to spin and spin until all the colors became a swirling vortex of light. She lay dazed upon the floor completely unaware of the world around her until he knelt beside her.
"Are you alright beautiful?" He asked cradling her head in his hand. His human hand.
"Artemis?" Luna touched him hesitantly.
"We are whole once more my love." Artemis smiled down on her.
Luna closed her eyes and wept for joy. 'Finally, we are ourselves once more.'
Car doors slammed as a large gathering of people began their ascent to the shrine. The females all chattered among themselves while the males remained mostly silent. Upon reaching their destination, the females all placed flowers in front of the shrine inside the legendary priestess Midiriko's cave. They lit incense and offered prayers to the souls of those long past. A young hanyuo, a monk in training, awaited them at the mouth of the cave.
"It seems as though the years are passing more and more quickly." He smiled.
"You think so?" Serena asked watching the trees waver in the breeze.
"Hey, minx!" Kouga called to get her attention. "I got a pack meeting to go run, you gonna stay out of trouble?"
"Of course she isn't." Inuyasha scowled. "She follows trouble around just like Kagome."
"I do not!" Serena pouted. "I'm gonna talk to Sesori for a while."
"I would also speak with Sesori." Kikyo announced.
"I want to talk with Miyo so I'll see you later, love." Ayame kissed Hakkuko on the cheek.
"Are we really going to leave them here unsupervised?" Kagome murmured as Sesshoumaru escorted her back to the car.
"We'll have to. We have pack meetings to attend." Ginta reasoned.
"It's not like two of you are the Alphas of your packs or anything." Shippou huffed.
Kagome smirked. "I hear you have a new boyfriend."
"Kagome!" Shippou blushed.
"Why haven't we met him yet?" Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes at the young fox.
Shippou blushed and looked around before muttering a "keh."
"So who is he?" Kagome pressed him for information.
"Hey Shippou!" Serena called from the top of the steps. "Tell Darien I said good luck with his finals, okay?"
Shippou pretended that the others weren't staring at him and shouted his reply. "Sure thing! He aced English by the way."
Serena waved goodbye then bounced back to the shrine keeper's side.
Inuyasha and Kouga were giving Shippou dangerous looks.
"I can date Serena's ex if I want to!" Shippou exploded. "She gave me her blessing and he's not into girls anymore!"
Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow at that little outburst. Kagome's mouth dropped open.
"Dinner is at seven." Sesshoumaru said meaningfully.
"We'll be there." Shippou pouted. "Five hundred years and you still don't trust me to choose my own lovers."
Inuyasha and Kouga smirked at the pouting fox.
"Mom!" Miyo hugged Ayame delighted by her visit.
"Would you like some tea Miss Serena, mother?" Sesori addressed Serena and Kikyo.
Serena beamed at him. "I'd love some."
"Please." His mother replied more calmly.
Sesori excused himself to the kitchen.
"I wonder if Sesori has adapted to having a female that insists on cooking for him." Serena giggled.
"I'm sure he is scandalized on a daily basis." Kikyo replied amused.
"Rin and Kohaku were always such kind and thoughtful people." Serena grinned. "I'm sure it just irks all his wolf sensibilities to have Saiyuri dote on him."
"So long as she doesn't tell the pack." Kikyo smiled a little.
"It's good that he didn't choose Hanatoro then." Ayame joined their conversation. "For a human, he seems to delight in providing for his mate."
"What do you expect from the grandson of Miroku and Sango? The pack used to tell us bedtime stories about the strength of their love and devotion to each other." Sesori set the tea tray down and began serving.
"He can't have Hanatoro!" Miyo growled only hearing what was important.
Serena and Ayame laughed. Kikyo smiled.
"I would not dream of stealing your mate when I have one I love so dearly." Sesori reassured her.
"He sounds just like Miroku." Serena smiled.
"The old geezer was practically his idol." Ayame smirked.
Kouga brought the pack meeting to a conclusion. As his pack members filed out he made his way to the elevator intending to wait for Inuyasha so they could go pick up the little minx.
"Hey Kouga!" A couple of his wolves were looking at him questioningly.
"What's up?" He asked.
"Um… where's our alpha female?" One of them ventured hesitantly.
Kouga's snorted when he realized it was one of Hakkuko's cubs. "Did you forget what today is?"
The pup blinked slowly then brighten. "It's almost time for the festival."
Inuyasha practically flew out of the meeting when Sesshoumaru concluded it. Kouga was leaning against the wall waiting for him.
"The cubs in my pack seem anxious about our missing female." Kouga grinned.
Inuyasha grunted. "Because she brings them cookies."
"That might have something to do with it." Kouga acknowledged.
"They just want her to tell them stories about you getting your ass kicked." Inuyasha added with a smirk.
Kouga snorted. "No they want to hear about me pummeling you."
"As if." Inuyasha snorted.
"They probably just wanted to bask in her radiant beauty." Kagome said sweetly with an evil gleam in her eyes.
They stopped walking and exchanged a look.
"You don't really think that." Inuyasha said looking anxiously at Kagome.
"Well you know what they say about young men." Kagome shrugged.
"I'll kill every last one o-" Kouga stopped mid-rant as Kagome laughed at them.
"Relax. They are probably just hoping that it's near festival time." Kagome grinned.
"Keh." Inuyasha huffed. "We got a minx to pick up."
Kouga followed him out intent on finding their female.
Shippou rang the doorbell promptly at six forty-five.
"Come in, come in." Kagome ushered them into the house.
Shippou rolled his eyes but followed her into the den where Sesshoumaru was waiting to meet them.
Darien greeted Kagome and Sesshoumaru politely.
Kagome giggled and explained. "He doesn't usually bring home one with such wonderful manners."
Darien gave his foxy lover a speculative look. "And how many, exactly, has he brought home?"
Sesshoumaru smirked. "Three. One female and two males."
"I see." Giving Shippou a pointed look, Darien casually remarked. "I am pleased to say I will be the last."
Shippou almost choked on his drink. He looked at his boyfriend with eyes as big as saucers. The cheeky human had just laid claim to him.
Sesshoumaru's smirk grew wider. "I see."
Kagome looked back and forth between Darien and Sesshoumaru, convinced that she had somehow missed something important.
The festival was a unique celebration that both the Northern Wolf Pack and Western Dog Clan took part in as well as the descendants of the demon slayers village. All of Kohaku and Rin and Miroku and Sango's living descendants. Since many of their children and grandchildren had mated with demons it was a very big affair. All three clans would gather together to hear the retelling to the Feudal Fairy Tale. It was wonderful way in which to keep the their fallen friends alive in the hearts and minds of each and every generation. As the years had progressed more tales and stories from the three clans were added until it blossomed into the Festival of Memories.
Kagome stood up to begin the tale. A hush fell over the crowd. "In our lives we have all encountered obstacles. I want to tell you all a tale filled with nothing but obstacles and how we triumphed by forging ahead." Kagome smiled at her rapt audience. "My name is Kagome Higurashi. On my fifteenth birthday, I was dragged down an ancient well on my families shrine by Mistress Centipede…"