Celebrate Good Times Day- (Mid Morning) November 1. Note: Sorry that these paragraphs have disappeared all together. I figure that it is better to reflect and to live in a moment than to brood about the subject before hand. Besides, in life, there is no way of turning back the sands of time, so might as well relive a moment instead of making snide comments about it before. I can always do this just as well inside my journal entry.

Also, I have noticed I have forgotten to keep putting the days of the week, but mostly because Kagome keeps forgetting to tell me what day they are.

Last night had to be one of the most fantastic nights of my life. Well, more like all of yesterday, though I suppose I should really tell you what happened.

Well, we had all been sitting around Kaede's hut, feeling useless because Kagome was not around, and Inuyasha had been moody, so it had not really improved anyone else's mood. Shippou was outside chasing around Kirara, Kaede was also outside doing something medicinal, Inuyasha was sulking in a tree, Sango was out trying to find rumors about the Shikkon Jewel while exterminating demons, and I was reading palms for more of the village maidens, who really seemed to enjoy this activity, even though I must have told the same fortune to every maiden. I suppose all women really appreciate being told they're beautiful or desirable, no matter who they are.

Anyway, while the day was fairly lazy, it was also the day Kagome came back (after about a week's absence), so we were all quite relieved. Even though Kagome is always promising to return to us, we all hold our breath until she does. No one more so than Inuyasha. We welcome her back whether she is in a wonderful mood or in an Inuyasha mood. Luckily, today she was absolutely joyous. Even Inuyasha had nothing bad to say to her today.

Apparently, she has passed one of those huge tests she's always studying for and complaining about, and she had brought things to celebrate. She had found these strange little hats that were made out of wood, except not so heavy and thin. Breakable, and different colors. They were cone shaped, and had string so one could wear these one one's head. Kagome told me they are called 'party hats' and are made of some substance called 'cardboard'. Quite remarkable, these things from the future.

Then she had brought 'chips' (which are always delicious, and in so many flavors!), 'soda' (drinks that come in little 'aluminum cans' that always tickle my nose), and of course, Ramen! She insisted we all have a huge party, which is supposedly like a festival except for a smaller group of friends that can occur at any given moment.

Even though Sango was not there, Kagome insisted we start setting up for this celebration of her passing her test as soon as possible. If Sango did not show up, Kagome decreed, we would wait for her. But still, Kagome was convinced Sango would automatically know we were planning a festival, and would immediately come.

Still, it was a great way to pass the day, especially after a week of boredom.

We cleaned Kaede's hut and her yard until they sparkled and shone, smelling of a lemon, which was a bit strong since Kaede had liked the smell so much, she over used it. We had to crack open all the windows and the door, but even then, Shippou and Inuyasha wouldn't set foot in it.

Next, we cleaned all of Kaede's furniture and silverware, making everything sparkle and shine, Kagome letting Shippou do this task in exchange for a lollipop. Often when I went to the stream to collect water for whatever purpose Kagome had conjured up for me, I would see the young demon washing dishes and humming, a gigantic lollipop disfiguring his normal round face. It was quite interesting, to tell the truth.

And then, when everything was clean enough to satisfy Kagome and Kaede, we began decorating. Of course, all of these decorations were provided by Kagome herself, and came from the future. And how interesting these decorations are.

Kagome brought 'tape' so we could pin these 'streamers' around Kaede's hut. They were like scrolls, except more thin and extremely delicate. In fact, Kagome banned Inuyasha from helping for he ripped a lot of them in half when trying to hang them up or tearing holes in them with those claws he loves to brag about so much. It was a bit amusing to see a high and mighty demon like Inuyasha sulking because he could not put up the colorful but delicate scrolls around Kaede's hut. I felt a bit of sympathy, but only a bit. Besides, Inuyasha loves his claws too much to cut them for something as simple as this.

Anyway, hanging up the streamers were interesting, to say the least. I have never been very artistic, nor have I claimed to be, but it seemed that hanging up these streamers was an ordeal. Kagome wanted it to look nice. Kaede said she didn't want her hut to look like a colorful rat's nest. Both chimed they couldn't possibly hang up the streamers themselves. Kagome's excuse was the fact that she had to oversee other delicate matters (like Inuyasha not eating all the Ramen), and Kaede insisted she shouldn't shamble around the hut in such a manner that would be necessary to put up the streamers, so both opted instead to order me about. For a woman who said she was going to oversee other people's progress also, Kagome found a lot of time to come back into the hut and declare what I was working on looked strange. And for a woman who shouldn't 'shamble around the hut' pretty much tore up the hut under her hot feet. Honestly, with women, you should just keep them in line, or else they'll stretch your patience into a thin line.

I had half a mind to just toss the streamers around and tape them where they landed, but Kagome said that streamers are supposed to stream around the hut. Which I suppose means they're supposed to be 'taped' up , which makes sense as to why she brought tape. So, I spent the better half of the day being critiqued under the harsh eyes of those two women, and nothing I seemed to do pleased them. I tried to hang them from the rafters of the hut, but Kaede insisted it didn't look right. Kagome then suggested that I 'stream' them from the rafters to let them crisscross around, but when I tried to follow her instructions, both women made faces at my work.

Honestly.

Still, once I had finally finished the decorations, Kagome pulled out balloons. Now, I have never seen these things before, but apparently you fill them up with air from your own lungs and they can float for a while. What a wonderful idea!

It was fun to see everyone's faces while they tried to fill the balloons with air, and after one too many hard tries, Shippou had gone light headed and collapsed on the floor, and Inyuasha kept popping them whenever he did get air in them.

I did fairly well, though I couldn't really tie the balloons like Kagome instructed, so in the end, Kagome just tied the balloons while Kaede and I worked on puffing up the balloons. I had to admit, they were very fun, especially once Shippou and I started a match of hitting it back and forth and not letting it touch the floor or the overly decorated ceiling. Who would have thought it would be such a challenge to keep such a small thing in the air? And from popping, since Shippou would sometimes forget and strike it with his claws. Ah well.

As luck would have it, Sango arrived beaten and tired while Shippou and I were playing with the balloons in the front yard. Sango really does pull of the beaten and weary look very well. She's not an eyesore even when she's all rumpled up. Hehe. Anyway, she looked a bit startled to see the balloons and flinched rather horribly when Shippou gave the balloon a particularly nasty hit and sent it screeching down to earth with a horrible 'pop' noise.

After explaining the situation to Sango, she changed out of her demon exterminating suit and joined us in decorating, though there wasn't much to put up. The few balloons Kaede had carefully guarded where floating around the hut, and there were strict orders from Kagome not to pop anymore (she gave Shippou and I a rather pointed look, though we both whistled innocently and glanced away).

Then the party went into full swing. Kagome had managed to prepare most of the food (in between giving Shippou more lollipops and instructing me on proper streamer positioning), which was quickly crowded by Inuyasha who always needs his Ramen, and Shippou, who had eaten too many lollipops, declined to eat any. Because of Inuyasha's vast generosity, we only had one Ramen container left, which Sango was kind to share with me. We had both reached for it, and instead hands collided, pardons were swapped stuttering, and blushes and secret glances were exchanged.

The rest of the night was spent close to Sango, both of us a bit flushed and uneasy but excited, though I hid it better.

It was just one of those nights you were glad to be alive, your friends surrounding you, a beautiful lady sharing food with you, and Shippou and Inuyasha were arguing over something again. Kagome was glowing and looking so happy with herself, and Kaede had a small secret smile on her face as she surveyed us. I think out of all of us, Kaede really needed this the most. Being alone in such a vast hut must be horrible, even with all her duties to keep her busy. And I should know.

I love celebrating good times.