A/N: Its that rare time once again. An update! I'm not sure if this counts as fluff or a transition, but it had to happen, and it was fun to write. The next chapter will have much more action and romance. Please let me know what you guys think about the possibility of citrus after the next big fight scene. Enjoy!

Shippou tugged at the curling length of ribbon he held above Kirara's head, giggling as she batted at it in kittenish delight. Lying on his side with his head propped up on one arm, he gazed out a nearby sliding door. The sun was quickly sinking below the horizon, and the soft light of paper lanterns glowed in the road below the inn.

Shippou rolled impatiently onto his stomach and glanced over his shoulder. "Aren't you done yet? You're taking forever!"

Kagome's voice answered from behind the adjoining room's door. "Now Shippou-chan, its been days since we've had a chance to bathe. Although I think I may have overdone it a bit…" She stepped through the doorway pink-faced and freshly scrubbed, smoothing her kimono nervously. The pale blue material was covered in ivory sakura blossoms, intermittently decorated with stylized raindrops. It suited her in its understated elegance, accenting her large blue-grey eyes. "I'm not sure about this, maybe I should just wear my own clothing…"

Sango followed behind her, coaxing her with a smile. She was wearing a more vibrant kimono of apple green on which delicate leaves had had been hand-painted, fluttering upon an unseen wind. "Nonsense, Kagome-chan, the innkeeper said she would launder our things and have them back in the morning. You don't really want to wear dirty clothes after a bath, do you?"

"Well…" Kagome considered uncertainly, twisting the delicate material of her kimono between her fingers. "I'm just not sure if this looks right, I'm used to wearing more modern clothes."

"And you should be more patient." Sango ruffled Shippou's hair playfully. "After the pace that baka set earlier, we deserve a little time to pamper ourselves."

Kagome rolled her eyes in commiseration, agreeing with her friend. "I would have sat him if it wouldn't have taken down half the forest with him." Sango threw back her head and laughed whole-heartedly in agreement and Kagome watched her friend in wonder. She's so much more open now with her emotions than before.

"It's really the monk you should be blaming." Kagome said in a dry tone. "I thought Inuyasha was going to tear him and Miyouga apart when he realized that Sesshoumaru had only been seen in the area, not the village specifically."

"You're right." Sango agreed with a dangerous glint in her eyes. "They both deserve our wrath." They all shivered at the ice in her tone.

She brightened quickly though, checking at the elaborate knot in which she had twisted her normally loose hair. "But not tonight. Let's relax and enjoy the evening. Stop worrying about the clothes, it would be disrespectful to turn down such hospitality during a festival."

"I'm hungry! Let's go already!" Shippou whined, gazing up at her with puppy-dog eyes that he had learned and perfected from his hanyou mentor.

Sango winced, her defenses failing. "That's no fair! Make him stop, Kagome-chan! You know I can't resist the puppy-dog eyes…"

"One should never rush a lady, Shippou-chan." Miroku chided from the doorway as he entered the room.

It was strange to see Miroku in clothes other than his robes, and Kagome was flustered by how handsome he looked. He might be a bit thinner from his trials of the past few weeks, but the despair that had hung about him like a rain cloud had lifted and his playful grin was back. His borrowed kimono was spartan compared to the ones the girls wore, but the dusky blue cloth was a fine linen slightly more colorful than his usual clothes. He still had an air of authority without the religious accoutrements, but he seemed younger, and the wicked way in which he was devouring her with his eyes was more pronounced.

Miroku purposefully walked up to her and Kagome blushed as he took her hand to place a kiss upon her wrist. "You were definitely worth the wait." His voice conveyed that he meant much more than the few hours they had been apart. From the moment their eyes met the others seemed to blur into the distance and any discomfort at being open about their affections didn't seem quite so important. She gifted him with a smile as warm as a sunrise, feeling happier than she could remember.

Sango sniffled and accepted the handkerchief that Shippou handed to her, dabbing at her eyes. Loud thumps were quickly heard from the hallway and Inuyasha flew through the doorway with his sword in his hand, sniffing the air for any trace of danger. "What's going on? Why are you crying!"

"Nothing's wrong, you baka!" Sango wailed in exasperation. "It's just so beautiful!" She gestured at Miroku at Kagome, still caught in a private sort of trance.

"No need to get so worked up over that mushy crap." Inuyasha snorted in disgust, earning him a glare from both women. He had stubbornly insisted on wearing his usual fire rat robes, but he had at least bathed, and his hair was drawn back into a formal style for the festival.

"And what's that behind your back, Inuyasha?" Miroku asked slyly as he eyed the hanyou.

"N-nothing, I just picked…I mean I found some flowers near the inn and I t-thought…oh hell, these are for you." He shoved a handful of wildflowers in Sango's direction, blushing deeply. Her eyes widened in shock, and she silently took the bouquet and inhaled their fragrance. They stared at each other in their own sort of trance and the others snuck out the door to leave them alone.

The festivities had begun at sunset and the streets were now filled with brightly-dressed villagers making their way among the vendors. Various stalls were selling food and drinks, and a few had games set up for the children and adults alike. Miroku and Kagome trailed slightly behind the small kitsune and fire cat, keeping an eye on them as they romped around with the village children.

Miroku stopped for a moment and bowed to an important looking older man. "Excuse me, sir. Do you know when the auction will be held for the jewel?"

The old man eyed them both carefully and jovially chuckled. "Potential buyer, young man?"

Using his most charming smile, Miroku nodded his head slightly in affirmation. "In a matter of speaking, yes."

"The plan is to sell it once the priest blesses the village after the fireworks. Haven't seen this much excitement round these parts in years. Had to send over to the next village just to find a priest for the blessing." He chortled then and winked. "Sounds like you'll have a bit of competition in the bidding though, so I'd prepare to dig deeply into your pockets."

"Thank you for your aid, sir." They both bowed politely to the old man.

When they were a bit further down the lane, Kagome let out a sigh of frustration. "Multiple bidders? There's no way we can outbid a lord or merchant. We barely have enough to pay for the rooms and dinner!"

Miroku gave her a small, secretive smile. "We'll figure something out. We always do."

"You're awfully calm about the prospect of losing another jewel shard, monk." She eyed him suspiciously. "What have you been up to since we arrived in town?"

"A bit of this, a bit of that… And anyways there are more important things to worry about than jewel shards and money." Miroku replied loftily, his eyes teasing.

"Such as?" Kagome arched an eyebrow delicately.

"Such as the way the lanterns make your skin glow, little flower." He brushed his thumb lightly across her fingers in a caress that made her a little dizzy.

"Such as the way that each person here tonight is celebrating life in all its splendor." He gazed around at the work put into the decorations, taking in the festive air of the crowd. "They've seen difficult times here. To find such a treasure must feel like a gift from the gods."

More sober now, he continued as they made their way through the crowd.. "Such as the fact that you have finally opened your heart to me. If you hadn't relented I would have had to leave the group. It was too painful to be so close to you and be ignored." He admitted quietly.

Kagome gave a mournful smile as her heart ached at the thought of losing him forever. "As if that was even possible."

She tugged gently at his arm so that it was wrapped around her as they walked, and leaned into the crook of his arm. Miroku blinked at her boldness and she let out a tinkle of laughter at his expression. "Don't look so surprised, you did tell me I should reach out and take my happiness in life."

"I wasn't being literal, but who am I to complain?" He teased with a mischievous look in his eye, reveling in the feel of the delicate fabric of her kimono rustling between his hand and her waist.

Miroku glanced at the looks of the scandalized villagers whispering behind their hands at the intimate way in which they walked. "How does a couple display their affections in your time?"

Kagome gave him a naughty smile of her own and leaned up to whisper into his ear, "A bit of this, a bit of that." And then she nuzzled briefly against the side of his neck for which she was rewarded with a tightening of his hand at her waist.

"Keep that up and we'll have to drop off the children with the others so that I can pry these mysteries from you." He growled beneath his breath playfully, grinning from ear-to-ear. "By any means necessary, of course."

"I expect nothing less from you, monk."

"I aim to please, miko."

"Oh for the love of Buddha, would you two break it up already?" Inuyasha muttered from behind them, leading Sango upon his arm at a surprisingly docile pace.

Miroku raised his eyebrows in amusement. "I never knew you could be such a gentleman, Inuyasha. First flowers, and now manners and respectability? Sango-chan, what have you done with our fearless leader?"

Inuyasha muttered and cursed under his breath, obviously torn between being on his best behavior for Sango and letting his temper have reign. Certain words could be heard though such as "pain" and "get you all alone" "later, monk!".

Sango smiled in good humor, ignoring his ramblings. "Never mind him, you two. He gets crabby even when he is in a good mood. Have you learned anything more about the jewel?"

As they told the others what they had discovered Inuyasha sighed and frowned at the news. "Well there's no avoiding it, I'll just have to take the jewel by force."

"You can't do that! These villagers need that money, and they have been so kind to us since we arrived." Kagome cried.

"I'm not saying I want to, Kagome. But we can't let the shard fall into anyone else's hands. Its only a matter of time before Naraku targets the buyer, and at that point they'll be dead, so it won't matter."

Sango nodded slowly in agreement. "He's right, we don't have the sort of money to win a bidding war. Its our only choice."

Miroku coughed slightly to interject. "Yes, about that. You see there is another way but I don't think you are going to like it…."

They all turned to look at him but before he could continue Shippou and Kirara bounded from a nearby alley with panicked looks on their faces. "Kagome! Inuyasha! He's here, he's really here!"

Leaping into Kagome's arms they all surrounded him trying to calm the kitsune. "Who is? It's ok, sweetie. Take a deep breath and explain what's going on." She asked soothingly.

"I assume the child is upset by my presence, miko." A deep voice rang through the air, and the crowd parted silently without urging.

Inuyasha started to growl and his hand went to his sword as none other than Sesshoumaru coolly walked down the alleyway, Jaken and Rin trailing just a few feet behind.

Stepping in front of the group in a protective stance, Inuyasha asked in a demanding tone. "What the hell are you doing here, Sesshoumaru! You'd better not get in my way…"

"Don't, Inuyasha!" Miroku interrupted forcefully. "Your brother has graciously offered his aid, so there is no reason to insult him. He has done nothing wrong."

Inuyasha spun to gawk at the houshi, and even the others were a bit surprised at this new turn of events. "How could you agree to something like this without discussing it will us first!"

Miroku held up his hands in a gesture of peace, smoothly explaining. "No no, I didn't agree to anything but explaining his offer to everyone. And it is a gracious, I might add."

A squeaky voice came from Sesshoumaru's shoulder, and Miyouga bounced lightly upon the armor, earning a look of rare exasperation from the youkai lord. "It's true, Inuyasha-sama! Your brother offers a truce so that you may fight your enemies in one united force!"

Jaken mumbled under his breath. "I tried to talk him out of it but my lord wouldn't listen…" Rin frowned and nudged Jaken's staff from beneath his hands, causing him to stumble forward.

"All right, all right!" Jaken relented grumpily, showing a rare display of disobedience. "The Lord of the West wishes to end this disagreement between brothers and form an alliance to crush Naraku and his minions!"

Next Chapter: In what alternate universe does Sesshoumaru want to play nice? The chances of this ending without blood being drawn are slim to none...