Inuyasha: Halloween Traditions
Sesshomaru leaned against a tree with his eyes closed enjoying the quiet moment and fall weather, his ward was currently in the village where his half-brother and his pack make their home. He had sent Jaken on an errand giving him some peace for the moment.
At the suggestion of the miko he was going to let Rin remain in the village during the winter months, that time was hard even for yokai to move and many hibernated till spring. It would be easier for him to move freely and Rin would be safe from the bad weather. For now he was letting his ward get acclimated to the village, another suggestion of the miko, so Rin could get comfortable with the people there. Inuyasha's pack she knew but Sesshomaru agreed letting Rin see if the other humans that lived there would treat her properly was important. She had already taken to the elderly miko Kaede as a grandmotherly figure so the daiyokai felt she would be well taken care of. Inuyasha's group wouldn't be able to travel much in the snow so Kagome had agreed to help Kaede care for Rin.
Sesshomaru thought of the months ahead. Though he'd be free to continue the search he had a feeling Naraku would take the time to hide and plan his next move while most of his enemies couldn't travel. Sesshomaru hoped to prove him wrong.
Sensing something approaching Sesshomaru glanced to his left when he felt yoki heading in his direction. The inu dauyokai could tell it was no threat, judging by the scent he knew it was the kit in his younger half-brother's pack.
A moment later the young yokai jumped out of the bushes with a white cloth draped over him. "Booooooooooo," the kit wailed moving towards him. . . only to collide with a tree root. "OW!"
Rin popped out of the bushes and quickly moved to the kit's side. "No, no Shippo-chan, your suppose to cut holes in the front to see."
"Oh yeah," he muttered sheepishly.
"What are you two doing?" Sesshomaru spoke up, wondering at their antics.
"Were celebrating Halloween," Rin said excitedly.
"Hal-o-ween," Sesshomaru said the unfamiliar word slowly.
Rin nodded excitedly, "It's a holiday Lady Kagome celebrates at her home."
"Yeah!" Shippo added, "You wear costumes and scare people into giving you sweets."
"That's not exactly what I said," Kagome stepped into the clearing. Walking up to the children she bent to their level, "It's okay to come back, Inuyasha finally calmed down."
"I'm sure it took several sit commands for that," Sesshomaru uttered dryly.
"Sad but true," Kagome agreed. Turing back to the children added, "Go back and finish helping Kaede gather herbs before the party." The children nodded and started off but Kagome stopped them by adding, "Oh, and Shippo," the kit's tail puffed out, "If you keep making dye's I won't bring you anymore art supplies. And stop calling Inuyasha a plant monster, it's going to take awhile to get the green out of his hair." One of Sesshomaru's eyebrow's rose, he would have to see that before he left. After the kids left she turned back to Sesshomaru and gave a lop-sided smile, "Kids, am I right."
Not getting a response Kagome turned to return to the village. "Miko." Startled she turned to the daiyokai.
"Yes, Sesshomaru-sama?"
"What is Halloween?"
She blinked, "Halloween." She gave a grin like the one Rin had given him earlier, "It's a holiday in my time." She lowered her voice in a way she must of thought of as frightful and added. "Also known as All Hallows Eveeee." He stared at her and she continued in her normal voice, "The modern way it's celebrated is you dress in costumes and the kids go door to door to get candy while the teenagers and adults go to parties."
Sesshomaru didn't want to consider the sugar rush that would come of that. "What kind of holiday is this?"
"Well I read it's based on ancient harvest festivals like Samhain. . . actually they might celebrate it right now given the time. Anyway, some believe that spirits and ghost and other supernatural creatures can walk among the living for this one night. . . though here they do it all the time." She gave him a look he choose to ignore.
"Like the Obon festival," Sesshomaru concluded.
"Kind of like that," Kagome agreed. "There are holidays around the world with some similarities, though some traditions change over time. Some of the best ones on Halloween are making jack-o-lanterns out of pumpkins, trick-or-treating and costumes, parties, food, games, decorations and haunted places you can visit. Spending time with friends and family." Sesshomaru thought over everything she had said, after a moment of quiet Kagome looked to the sky noticing it was getting darker. "The parties going to start soon, do you want to join us?" Deciding he wanted to see these traditions he nodded and rose to follow her.
She lead him to the older miko's hut, a blanket with unusual treats had been laid out. Everyone gathered wore masks, the monk wore a tengu mask while the slayer wore a cat mask. The elder miko wore an owl mask and the kit unsurprisingly wore a fox mask. He arched an eyebrow at Rin's mask, it looked like a fox mask that had been painted with his markings. He glanced at the miko who nervously wouldn't meet his eyes.
She had also donned a mask but it was different from the others, she must have brought it from her time. It only went around her upper face, it was black with lace, purple highlights and silver flecks. Purple and black feathers stuck out of the left side and with a purple ribbon hung down the right.
The nekomata wore a black and orange ribbon around her neck. Sesshomaru noticed an oni mask lying next to his half brother, no doubt the runt had refused to wear it judging by his grumpy demeanor. His hair was indeed green like the miko said and a corner of Sesshomaru's lip curled upwards. The hanyo glared at him.
"KAGOME!" The children shouted running towards the younger miko.
"Lord Sesshomaru!" Rin threw her arms around the daiyokai's legs, thrilled he was joining them.
"Can we start the party?" Shippo asked excitedly.
"It's nice of you to share your traditions before you return to your time to celebrate with your family," Miroku said as he and Sango passed the treats around.
"Holidays are ment to be spent with friends and family," Kagome answered with a smile as she passed something she called a cookie to Sesshomaru. He glanced at the round orange baked good with three triangles and what might of been a mouth on it. Kagome claimed it was a jack-o-lantern cookie.
At that Shippo tugged on Kagome's shirt, "Inuyasha says we can't make a jack-o-lantern."
Kagome wanted to sigh, Inuyasha had seen them when he force-got her from her time earlier though he thought they were stupid. When she had told her friends some of the traditions related to Halloween just like she had done with Sesshomaru Shippo was really insistent on making a jack-o-lantern. Sadly they wouldn't have pumpkins here for several more years and Kagome didn't want to risk bringing one. "Maybe we can use a kabochu squash," she suggested.
The children cheered but Inuyasha had to ruin the moment. "This whole thing is stupid," he grumbled, still mad for earlier and finding this all a wasre of time.
"This one is surprised you aarn't looking forward to the party." Sesshomaru spoke up startling everyone. Kagome felt a sense of dread as he gave a smirk. "After all little brother your already dressed for it."
"WHY YOU!" Inuyasha bellowed jumping at his half-brother.
As everyone watched and the kids started gorging themselves on cookies, no one really concerned with the fight, Kagome sighed in annoyance. Some traditions it seemed never changed.