THE CELEBRATION

An hour after they were shown to their rooms, it was announced that the feast was ready to begin. Sesshoumaru arrived to the dining hall with Jaken and Rin in tow, and took a seat at the table of honor where Kagome and Shippo had already been seated. The others apparently were still…taking their time.

He was not normally one to eat human food, but he badly needed to replenish his spent strength, and meat was meat. He would simply choose the rarest cuts available and wash it down with whatever they gave him.

"Miko." He acknowledged, sitting beside her, while Rin took a seat next to Shippo.

"Sesshoumaru! How do you like your room?"

"It is acceptable." It was nowhere near the luxury he enjoyed at the Western Fortress, but it was a far cry from the forest floor, tree's branches, and occasional caves he had endured during their long hunt.

Inuyasha and Kikyo joined them at the table. The mark peeking out on Kikyo's shoulder from under her kimono was fresh; red and angry as it swoll painfully.

"Congratulations are in order, I see." He failed to see the allure of the miko that had once affixed his brother to a tree with her arrow, but she seemed to make the whelp happy. He didn't believe she meant him harm, any longer.

"That's right, bastard. Say hello to your new sister!" He doubted she was with him for his silver tongue, anyhow.

"Inuyasha! I'm sorry, Lord Sesshoumaru. And thank you," Kikyo smiled at him, and he inclined his head slightly. They took a seat just as Miroku and Sango entered the hall from across the room.

As they made their way over, Sesshoumaru quipped lowly, "Hn. This One was not aware humans bite one another's shoulders during mating as well." He was referring to the hickies they had apparently given each other back in their room.

The others tried to stifle their laughter as the pair got to the table. Sango was about to ask what was so funny, but was cut off by Miroku who offered his congratulations to the newly mated pair, and she followed.

As they took their seats, Lord Hano began his speech "...and so thanks to these brave warriors, we are now free of the evil Naraku. Raise a glass to our heroes! Tonight we eat, drink, and dance to our hearts content!" The hall erupted in cheers, and everyone clinked their mugs of sake before drinking them down. And he was right about the drinking. The sake flowed freely, and it seemed that every time a bottle was emptied, another was quick to replace it.

The joyous atmosphere was in sharp contrast to the difficult few months they had just endured. It was fun to laugh and joke again. Sesshoumaru didn't participate, but watched on with mild comfort. The monk was a fine orator, and his stories were amusing, if not exaggerated. His brother's optimism was infectious, and he found he much preferred it to the moody pup that had once been overcome with nothing but sorrow.

The females were unlike any he had encountered in the past. They seemed to scold the men in one breathe, and encourage their antics in another. Neither took themselves too seriously, and it made for easy company and conversation. They did not possess the grace and poise as did females he had encountered in court, but their lack of formality made it seem like they had more fun. Perhaps it was a human thing...

After the feast, the celebration moved outside, where the drinking continued. It was a warm summer evening, and by the lighting that had been set into place, it looked like it was expected to last well past dark. As the human villagers grew tipsier, more of them gathered to the large area set aside for dancing. Several bonfires roared nearby for warmth and light; and off to the side, a chorus sang accompanied by instruments so there was a constant beat to move to.

Kagome danced with her friends, and as the couples paired off, she took turns with several of the villagers-mostly eager young men, but also older ones and children. Her unconventional movements caught the attention of more than one of the humans in attendance, so Sesshoumaru figured that it was not, perhaps, a human thing. She was at the same time hard to watch, and difficult to ignore.

Upon exiting the dining hall, Sesshoumaru moved to join Jaken and Ah-Un who were sitting on their own at the far-off edge of the field. Before he got too far, however, Lord Hano accosted him. He had a full bottle in his one hand and a mug in another.

"Enjoying yourself, my lord?"

Sesshoumaru was feeling generous, "Indeed. You are a most gracious host."

"Let it not be said otherwise," and with that, he held the contents of his hands to the demon. When he made no move to receive them, Lord Hano added, "I'm aware that simple sake won't do much for a great demon such as you. I'm sure this will be more to your liking." He smiled mischievously then, waving the bottle in an attempt to entice.

"That is unnecessary," he informed him, not one to alter his senses. He was always in top form.

But Lord Hano wouldn't let up.

"Nonsense!" When he continued to hold the bottle out to him, Sesshoumaru relented and accepted.

"Even great demons deserve to have fun every now and then," with that, he walked away.

Sesshoumaru watched him make his way back into the crowd, then turned to continue on his original path toward Ah-Uh. His arrival found Jaken removing the beast's saddle, fumbling with the buckles in a long-practiced manner. Sitting unceremoniously on the grass beside his vassal, he placed the mug down in front of him. "Take the night off, Jaken," it was an order. He opened the bottle of demon sake and filled the mug as Jaken watched. "You have earned it."

Astounded into silence, thankfully, Jaken picked up the mug and took a seat beside his lord. Still looking up to him with even more admiration, he seemed frozen stiff until Sesshoumaru turned to make eye contact. He raised the bottle and clinked the neck against the lip of Jaken's mug before taking a long pull from it. The toad seemed to take this as permission and took a sip, savoring the rare moment of comradery with his lord.

They sat like that a while, watching the humans dance. Rin had been dancing with a boy, which caught the attention of the two. They continued to drink, feeling more relaxed as they did; and after a time, Jaken's gaze slid sideways to Sesshoumaru, "Will you kill the boy, milord?"

"If his hands stray any lower." Jaken smirked at that, turning his attention back to Rin, 'Kami help any poor boy who tries to court her.' Sesshoumaru regarded Jaken for a moment, and looked back to his ward as he spoke.

"You fought with great bravery and skill today, Jaken. I am impressed." The statement caused him to turn back to stare wide-eyed at his lord, whose eyes remained forward. He continued, "This Sesshoumaru is proud to be served by the likes of you." Jaken allowed a smile to break through as he turned his gaze back to Rin, tearing slightly.

"I serve the Western Lands, and it's lord, with everything I have."

The toad was annoying. Obnoxious. Obsequious...and fucking ugly. But he would follow his master to the ends of the earth; walk through flames for the only reason that he was ordered.

He did what he was told, and... he could trust him. He wasn't much of a fighter, but that was not his role. Sesshoumaru was the fighter, the protector. It fell to him to dispatch any and all threats presented to him...them.

That was why it was so irksome that he had relied so heavily on Jaken to protect the group beneath the barrier earlier that day. True, every other capable member had been incapacitated in one way or the other, leaving the fight disproportionately to him. But that was his job. He was supposed to be the best, to need no aid. If Jaken hadn't been so deft with his fire staph while he was distracting Naraku...he didn't even want to think about it.

The point was, he had stepped up, and they were victorious. Jaken served him; his job was to make Sesshoumaru's life easier so he was freed up to do the hard work. He vowed then that he would never have to step outside of his role again.

"I know."