A/N: Sorry this chapter took a while. I didn't want the village celebration to sound skew (which it might've a little though anyway) and I needed to get a thousand words plus in without making it sound like I knew nothing about traditional Japanese celebrations, even though I do in fact know nothing about traditional Japanese celebrations. I'm a little insecure on this chapter, so reviews would be a big help if you fancy to gimme a little support. Or even if you want to confirm my uncertainty and tell me how awesomely bad it is. Or if you are some ancient Japanese customs buff that could give me some pointers for future reference. Or just don't review at all. I hate those amateur authors who beg for reviews, and don't want to sound like one. Or am I too late? Oh well, ramblings…

Review Responses

Missymiss: You think I'm a sweet person? That is nice to hear. Until now I thought my girlfriend (and a few other girls who are nut cases anyhow) were just humoring me. I'm glad that there is proof that I do in fact have a shred of humanity left in me :-P

Demon Exterminator Barbie: I know that I already responded to you, but did you know that I have a shirt that's dyed in Fire Rock Pale Ale? (A Hawaiian beer that's brewed on Kona) I'm actually wearing it right now. Or was. I'm actually shirtless now. Is it just me or is it like 12,000 degrees in this room?

Shipposangoffe: Kohaku is actually 11 (his father says so in Ep. 21 "Enter Sango, the Demon Slayer (don't ask me how I remember that)) and I think Rin is more like 7? I don't know, but since so many whack jobs just loooove the Sesshomaru/Rin pairing I don't see why Kohaku/Rin would take any flak.

Punk Rock Miko2: Love your penname (even though it's almost an oxymoron)

Chapter Fifteen: The Set-Up

The crescent moon was high in the sky as countless villagers danced around the grand bonfire that burnt so bright it seemed almost day in the village. Miroku was sweeping a young girl into a dance, which would've peeved Sango, had she not been occupied dancing with the headman's son. Kohaku continued to eat his meal; boars had been roasted on the spit. Sure, he wanted to dance with Rin, but if he was going to make a fool of himself, it wouldn't be on an empty stomach. Rin had tried to instruct him in a few simple steps earlier in the day, but Kohaku wasn't good at that sort of thing. He had been trained to kill all his life, not do something as petty as dancing.

Rin, however had had several dances already, most of which had been with Shippo. Shippo had somehow in his relatively short life learned how to dance, and happened to be quite good at it, no matter what tune the troubadours chose to play. He was at the moment entertaining the young girl with his shape shifting abilities, first making himself into a perfect effigy of Sesshomaru, then a bumbling likeness of Jaken. Shippo excused himself from Rin to go fetch a drink and sat himself down next to Kohaku. "So," Shippo began taking a long draught of his beverage. "What do you think of our young lady Rin, eh?"

"What do you mean by that? I like Rin. She's my friend, I'm the reason she wanted to visit in the first place." Kohaku answered.

"I know, but what do you think of her? She quite loves to dance you know, and she looked rather disappointed when she told me you hadn't pleasured her with a single one. You should, she did go through a bit of trouble to show you how." Shippo continued to drawl.

Kohaku wondered if Rin had simply told Shippo all this, but figured it wasn't all that important. "I don't like to dance, I don't even know how, though she did try to show me. I don't want to make a fool of myself." Kohaku explained.

"Why? Do you like her?" Shippo teased.

"I never said that." Kohaku snapped.

"I don't hear you denying it."

"I don't like her that way." Kohaku confirmed.

"Shame." Shippo said. "She'll be awfully disappointed to hear that."

"Why? Does she like me?" Kohaku asked, sounding a bit more excited than he had meant to.

A sly, Miroku-ish grin began to spread across Shippo's face. "Why so interested all of a sudden? I thought you didn't like her."

"Don't change the subject. Are you saying she likes me?" Kohaku demanded.

"Are you still saying you don't?" Shippo countered.

Kohaku harrumphed. "Even if you didn't like her, wouldn't you be interested if you heard a pretty girl had it for you?"

"Ah, so you think she's pretty. Now we're making some progress. Go ahead, put down your plate and have a dance with Rin." Shippo encouraged.

"I told you, I don't know how." Kohaku persisted.

"Then dance your own kind of dance! Start a new trend!" Shippo suggested.

"I've had a lot of boar, I really don't want to regurgitate-"

"Quit making excuses and dance with the poor girl before she begins to think you're a lost cause!" Shippo practically demanded, swiping Kohaku's plate. "And you aren't having another bite until you've danced with her and liked it!"

Rin, who had been on her feet since the sun set sat tiredly next to Haruko with her own serving of pork. "Hi!" Haruko greeted the older girl.

"Hello. Have I met you already?" Rin asked.

"Nope! I'm Haruko. I'm Kohaku's niece." she explained.

"I'm Rin. I know Kohaku from several years ago. He helped me escape from a pack of demons." Rin replied.

"Oh? You know I think Uncle Kohaku likes you." Haruko said, also with her father's trademarked smirk.

"Of course he does. We're friends." Rin responded, as if that was the most obvious thing in the world.

"No, I mean he really likes you. Like you know?" Haruko explained wrapping together her middle and index fingers. "Are you his girlfriend?"

Rin blushed several shades or red at the thought and turned her head away quickly. "No! Absolutely not! Whatever gave you that idea?"

"My daddy says that he can see it coming from a mile away." Haruko giggled. "You may not be his girlfriend, but do you like him?"

Rin blushed yet another color. "Oh I dunno…"

"I bet you do! He did save you from demons after all! I'd fall in love with a boy who saved my life!" Haruko laughed.

Rin gave her a perplexed look. "Do you even like boys yet?"

"Not yet, but if one saved my life I bet I would. My mommy and daddy say that's how Auntie Kagome and Uncle Inuyasha fell in love." Haruko explained.

"Well, I dunno if he really saved my life." Rin continued. "I bet the demons would've attacked me if he hadn't been with me though."

"So theoretically he saved your life. What's the difference?" Haruko asked.

"Point taken." Rin was silent for a moment. "You know, you are quite smart for such a young girl."

Haruko giggled. "Mom said I got that from my daddy! But you said I'm smart, so if that's true, you do like my uncle! Dance with him! I don't think he's anymore shy than you are."

"Who said I was shy?" Rin clucked, trying to sound offended.

"The fact that your face bears a striking resemblance to a tomato is a hint" Rin tried her best to drain some of the color from her face. "I think he's coming over this way in fact." Haruko advised. Rin looked up to see Kohaku was definitely headed in her direction and her blush renewed itself. Haruko rose. "Well, no need for me to be in the way of you two. Knock him dead girlfriend. So long." Haruko gave Rin a wink and sauntered off.

A/N: Children are evil, aren't they?