Alrighty, so we're continuing on with the celebration. I know it seems a little long, but I thoroughly enjoyed writing this part of the story. You'll see why next chapter! ;)

Slowly but surely our story is coming to an end, and I am saddened at the thought that soon it will be over. All the same, I loved posting it, and appreciate your reviews and support.

Disclaimer: Mmrrr… don't own it.

The Feast

Amidst the mass of conversing youkai, three, jubilant voices could be heard. Childish laughter filled the air and, within seconds, Shippou, Rin, and Yumi were upon them, swarming Kagome.

"Mommy you look like an angel!" Yumi piped up, tugging excitedly on the young miko's kimono.

"I hope I look as beautiful as you when I grow up, mommy," Rin sighed.

Patting the young brunette on the head, Kagome praised, "Very good, Rin, I see you've been working on your grammar. And don't you worry your pretty little head about it. I can already tell you're going to grow up beautifully."

"Mama," Shippou began, jade eyes cast to the floor.

"What is it, dear?" the raven haired female inquired softly, fingers running through his soft, auburn locks.

"Can I have some sake?" Shippou asked quietly.

Laughing lightheartedly, the miko told him, "I don't know if that's such a good idea, baby. Even I can't handle sake very well."

"Let the lad have a drink!" Takura implored good naturedly as he returned, Sesshomaru at his side. "He's becoming a man, he needs to drink a man's drink!" the taller male ensued.

Lifting a hesitant brow, Kagome murmured, "I don't know…"

"Oh please mama, I can take care of myself!" Shippou beseeched, his eyes now trained on her.

Blowing a raspberry, she turned to Sesshomaru and queried, "Well, what do you think?"

Glancing down at the eager young kit, he responded, "Let him drink of sake tonight. He needs to begin some time."

Cheering in elation, the young fox demon was off, the two young girls following after him.

Shaking her head, Kagome sighed, "I hope he can handle it better than I can. That's all I need, a drunken son."

"He is your kit?" Keiko inquired curiously.

Attention snared by the young demoness, Kagome replied, "Yes… well, sort of. I adopted him. I consider all of them to be my children." She gazed serenely into the crowd, her eyes trained upon the small group of youngsters. How she loved them, each and every one. It would be difficult leaving in the morning, but if it meant protecting them and the lives of other innocent beings, she would do so without hesitation.

"Well it seems you are fond of children," Takura observed, elbowing Sesshomaru in the side, "Let us hope that this war ends soon, so that the two of you can add to your little family."

Blushing wildly, Kagome looked up at Sesshomaru quickly, catching his intense gaze for only a second before smiling and turning her eyes to the floor. Having children with Sesshomaru… what would that be like? The thought wasn't at all unpleasant, and she sincerely hoped that one day it would become a reality.

Sesshomaru reached forward and captured her tiny, feminine hand in his, pulling her to his side. Tilting her chin upward, he kissed her softly and wrapped his arms around her waist.

Gawking rather blatantly, Takura stammered, "By the gods it's a miracle. Lady Kagome, you truly are one special woman."

"I'm just stubborn," she assured him.

Laughing merrily, chestnut eyes filling with merriment, Takura escorted his wife toward the beverage table.

Turning in Sesshomaru's arms, Kagome inquired playfully, "Children, huh? Would you be able to handle that?"

Snorting lightly, the western Lord reminded her, "Perhaps we should focus on the war for now, koi. If we survive, then we can discuss expanding our family."

She nodded. Why did he always have to dampen her mood, always taking things so seriously? He was such a shrewd bastard, but she loved him none the less. Hugging him tightly, she sighed. When a loud rumble ensued, she blushed slightly and gave a nervous chuckle. Turning her deep blue orbs on him, she looked up at him with a pleading look and solicited, "When are we going to eat, I'm starving?"

Shaking his head, the western Lord led his little onna toward the dining area. Three massive tables were adorned with plates and decorations, the center strictly reserved for nobles and their families, the other two meant fort the soldiers.

Taking his place at the center of the table, he helped seat his mate to be and waited patiently as the other nobles joined him at the table. To his right, Takura and his mate, Keiko sat, to his left, next to Kagome, Kouga and, surprisingly, the Princess Ayame were arranged.

When the young miko spotted her ookami ally, she nearly fainted. Instead of his usual fur garb, he was dressed in a traditional haori and hakamma. The deep blue color suited him marvelously, and she thought to herself how absolutely regal he looked. Yet, despite his handsome appearance, he seemed somewhat uneasy in what he was wearing.

Kagome was surprised to see Kouga with Ayame, who looked equally as stunning, though she was somewhat happy the girl was there to keep him in line. What perplexed her even more was the fact that he hadn't raced to her side the second he saw her.

Shrugging it off, she leaned over and whispered, "Hello, Kouga."

"Yo, Kagome," he greeted, signature wolfish grin spreading across his lips. "You look lovely tonight," he informed her.

"You look wonderful as well," she mentioned, giggling when he blushed and rubbed his neck.

"I hate wearing this sort of thing," he admitted, pinching the material of his navy haori with distaste.

"You look fine," she repeated. Leaning over slightly so she could see Kouga's escort, Kagome addressed, "I'm glad to see you, Ayame, it's been a while."

"It sure has," the young wolf demoness replied, smiling brightly.

Kagome noted with mild amusement that the ookami female's hair was still in pigtails, though they were decorated with beautiful ribbons and pale green lilies. She too was wearing a traditional garb, and her kimono looked marvelous on her. The shade of emerald really complemented her skin tone and matched her eyes, and Kagome pondered to herself why Ayame didn't doll herself up before. Perhaps she too preferred the freedom of fur skirts.

She watched as the soldiers took their seats and, half way down the table to her right, she spied Ginta and Hakkaku, who were dressed in rather impressive looking armor. When she finally managed to get their attention, they waved animatedly; wide, fanged grins lighting up their faces.

"Friends of yours?" Sesshomaru questioned idly.

Gaze swinging to her tinsel haired demon, Kagome nodded and answered, "Yes, Ginta and Hakkaku. I met them through Kouga."

Nodding, Sesshomaru noted that everyone had been seated and stood in one graceful, fluid motion. The air grew instantly still, and conversations dying down the second the western Lord rose.

Eyes quickly sweeping the room, he greeted, "Welcome. Lord Takura, Lord Kouga, I thank you for your support throughout these dark times. Tomorrow we leave at dawn, and march into battle. The site in which we will fight may very well be our resting place, so let us fight to the best of our abilities. We, the men of war, fight for honor, for glory. Tomorrow, we will be fighting for so much more. The fate of the world as we know it rests in our hands. And so tonight, let us feast and build our strength, and may the gods guide us on the morrow."

Lifting their glasses in salutation, the soldiers bellowed, "Hail, Lord Sesshomaru!"

Taking his seat again, the western Lord sipped his sake and turned to his soon to be mate. She was regarding him with kind, adoring eyes, and he smiled at her. Her eyes left his when a soft chiming rang through the air, and his golden orbs followed to the source of the noise.

"A toast," General Meiyo proposed as he lifted his own glass, "to the honorable Lord Sesshomaru, may your blade be swift. And to the Lady Kagome, long life and prosper!"

Kagome smiled deeply as the blonde warrior turned his gaze upon her, and he nodded in return. Again a loud chorus of agreements resounded through the room, followed by the clinking of glasses.

Lifting her own glass, which was filled with a very light wine, Kagome tapped it against Sesshomaru's. When he gave her a quizzical look, she simply winked at him and took a sip.

The food was served shortly after, and Kagome was overjoyed. Her stomach had been behaving, only having acted up the one time, and for that she was grateful.

Being the only human in the crowd, other than Rin, was rather unnerving, and she noted that, as Keiko had said, many women were sending her nasty looks. She wondered idly why they were even attending such an event, but surmised that all of the youkai nobles would be expected to show up.

Following the little woman's gaze down the table, Sesshomaru chuckled quietly when he saw that she was on the receiving end of many venomous looks. 'Let them look,' he mused to himself as he picked up his chopsticks, 'Let them writhe in jealousy. They will never measure up to her.'

Picking up a small clump of rice from Kagome's plate, he offered it to her and awaited her response.

Eyes swiveling to the small portion of rice that was currently in front of her, Kagome then looked to Sesshomaru, who was staring expectantly at her. Looking back at the youkai women, she noted that their auras were presently flaring up with anger and envy.

Letting a cruel smile cross her features for only a second, she opened her mouth and accepted the rice her mate to be was offering her. Picking up her own chopsticks, she did the same for him.

She didn't even have to look at them; she could feel their rage boiling over, venomous, seething vibes radiating from their very pores. She chuckled a little inside. 'Sorry girls,' she chimed happily, 'but this one's all mine!'

Pulling her closer to him, Sesshomaru continued to feed his little onna, loving how she managed to retain every once of her poise and beauty while she ate. It didn't seem to matter what she did, she always portrayed an angel in his eyes.

When the meal finally ended, Kagome found herself comfortably seated directly in Sesshomaru's lap. The women had, of course, continued to send threatening looks in her direction, but she waved them off and continued enjoying herself. No jealous hussies were going to ruin her night.

Eyes skimming down the table to where Rin, Shippou, and Yumi were sitting, Kagome noted that they all looked rather tired. Smiling, she kissed her mate on the cheek and rose from his lap, noticing that, as she did so, he seemed to tense up a little. Realizing what her movement must have been doing, she mentally whispered, 'Sorry, big guy.'

Padding quietly over to where the children were situated, she asked softly, "Time for bed?"

"Please mama, not yet. I'm not even… tired," Shippou implored around the wide yawn he let slip.

"Nice try, mister," she jested, lifting a very sleepy looking Yumi out of her seat. "Come on," she instructed, "if you want to wake up early tomorrow you need a good rest."

Sighing, Shippou gave in and rose, plodding wearily along behind his surrogate mother. Rin quickly followed, and the four exited the ballroom as quietly as they could.

"She certainly is good with children," Ayame commented as she watched Kagome escort the youngsters to their bedrooms. Turning to Kouga, she inquired shyly, "When are we going to think about having pups?"

Groaning softly, the ookami prince replied, "Someday." His soft, teal eyes followed the young miko's movements as she walked fluidly up the stairs and slid through the door.

He did feel for Ayame, he truly did, but it was hard to let Kagome go. Hell, it was difficult to know that she felt for Sesshomaru and not for him. He supposed that now he knew how Inuyasha felt, stuck on his first love while trying to have a life with another woman.

He shook his head. He was being foolish. Even if Kagome did suddenly change her feelings for him, he was betrothed to Ayame, and Sesshomaru would never let the young priestess go.

Nodding once to himself, he turned to Ayame and took her tiny, clawed hand in his. Smiling as he stared into her beautiful face, he whispered again, "Someday… someday soon."

Keiko smiled softly as Kagome left with the children. She hoped someday to have a child of her own. Turning her head, she cast a fond glance at her mate, who was currently speaking with the western Lord. Though their marriage had been arranged, and she had been rather stubborn at first, she had grown to love Takura, as he had her.

"Love is a wonderful thing, Sesshomaru," the eastern Lord explained, casting a glance at his mate, who was in turn looking back at him. "Never let her go."

Eyes traveling to the main doors, where Kagome had passed through only seconds ago, he promised, "I don't ever plan on it."

Ahaha, stupid, jealous youkai bitches! I know you're all going to adore the next chapter… it was fun to write, and I'm sure it will be fun to read.

Review for me!