By the time Sesshomaru returned to the small camp, Nazoki was nowhere to be found. He could smell the woman, so he was positive she was nearby. It was not until he glanced at Rin that he realized where she was. Nazoki had curled into a ball beside the sleeping child, who was comfortably snuggled into her fur. When the Lord approached the group, Nazoki peered up at him, before tucking her slender snout under one of her arms. Still embarrassed.
When morning arrive, Nazoki and Rin left to bathe together. Afterwards, the two returned to Jaken and Sesshomaru to continue scouting the land. The lord intended to leave again, if not today then the next. Morning light surrounded the group as they walked across an empty plain. Nazoki seemed anxious, yet only Sesshomaru noticed. When they reached the edge of a forest, the woman shifted and walked to his side.
"M'lord..." After bowing, Nazoki gazed up at him.
"What is it?"
Rin and Jaken stared at the two curiously. Their travels came to a halt, and Sesshomaru turned to face the woman.
"I do not mean to sound invasive, but do you intend to take your leave today?" The woman's emerald eyes met with his of gold, and he raised his brow to her. A moment passed, and Jaken was the first to speak.
"How dare you ask the lord of his intentions! Learn your place! You do not question-" Words immediately stopped pouring from the toad's mouth as Sesshomaru shook his head.
"I, this Sesshomaru does not. Why?"
Shifting her gaze, Nazoki's anxious expression softened. She glanced at Rin and Jaken, only to allow her eyes to settle on the lord again.
"There is a gathering nearby. I wish to join them." She responded in a low tone. Sesshomaru offered a slight nod of approval, to which Nazoki smiled. Thanking the man, she bowed and the group continued to move in the direction they had been headed.
The vixen led them to another grassy plain, and to Rin's amazement, there was a group of about twenty people. Some of them were in the form of foxes, yet when two shifted, she figured they were like Nazoki. Shifting into a fox, Nazoki stopped atop a hill and studied the gathering below. Sesshomaru stood beside her, also looking at the meeting. Jaken and Rin sat down, soon followed by the lord, and Nazoki trotted to the group.
All festivities halted as the woman neared. One large fox approached her; a meter from the people, and they stared at one another. Cautiously inspecting the other, Nazoki and the fox touched noses, and soon she was joining the rest. Sesshomaru recognized the group as Shippou's family. The dominant male offered a wave of recognition, to which Sesshomaru simply stared at. Rin watched in awe, as the foxes started to play with one another. It seemed that a competition had begun, as the animals all force their flames to grow as large as possible. Nazoki easily bested her competitors, both men and women, and soon she had shifted back into her human form and was laughing.
The others crowded around her, and Nazoki picked herself up from where she had been sitting in the grass. Most of the other women had sleeves on; identical to hers. The few who did not sat back from the group with a male at their side. It seemed to be a diverse group, all having hair of different shades; black, orange, blond and brown. Not a single other had hair as red as Nazoki. A man clothed in yellow started to play a flute, and all of the others gazed at him. Soon the women had joined hands forming a large circle. They skipped around and strutted, all in high spirits. When their hands fell Nazoki stepped to the side, and peered up at Sesshomaru's group.
"Rin!" Motioning for the girl to join her, Nazoki offered a warm smile.
Rin gazed up at Sesshomaru seeking approval. When he nodded, she jumped to her feet, and ran down the hill to meet Nazoki. The two worked their way into the circle of dancing kitsune, joining the festivities. When a woman would reach one specific position, she would twirl in a circle, and her skirt would flutter with the motion. Nazoki followed suit, and picked Rin up to twirl the girl with herself. Joyous laughter graced Sesshomaru's ears, as Rin voiced her amusement.
"I don't think we have ever spent a day like this, Milord."
Glancing at Jaken, Sesshomaru nodded.
"We have not."
"That woman seems to have taken a liking to Rin." The toad noted.
"And Rin to her." The lord added.
When Rin grew tired, she returned to Sesshomaru's side, grinning as if there was no tomorrow.
"Did you enjoy yourself?" Sesshomaru asked. Breathlessly laughing, Rin managed a "Yes, Lord Sesshomaru!"
Dancing subsided, and soon the women had gathered on a large white cloth over the grass. They started to fold grass together, and tuck things inside of the tiny containers they had made. It seemed that they were making other things as well. Though it was unclear as to what exactly they were doing, half an hour later, Nazoki was approaching the group again. She held two necklaces in one hand, and smiled softly. The women of the group behind her were presenting their crafts to the man of their choice, and Sesshomaru figured it was a sort of mating offer.
"Rin, this one is for you..." The vixen draped a white jeweled string around Rin's neck. Excitedly studying the necklace, Rin grinned.
"It's moonstone. Feminine and protective." Nazoki stated. Turning to Jaken, she smiled.
"And this for you... It's sunstone, and masculine... Plus, you need to be more positive..."
Though Jaken clearly did not like her last statement, he accepted the clear orange necklace. It was identical to Rin's, despite its color. After glancing at Sesshomaru, Nazoki shifted her gaze. She seemed to want to say something, but quickly turned away. Without a word, she rejoined the group at the bottom of the hill.
Rin and Jaken were busy studying their necklaces. Sesshomaru glanced at his companions, unsure of how he felt. Though he knew it was a sort of mating ritual, he had expected a necklace as well. But to his surprise, and possibly dismay, he received none. An undeniable sense of isolation crept over him. It became apparent that he felt left out.
"Lord Sesshomaru, do you want mine?"
Gazing down at Rin, the man shook his head.
"This Sesshomaru does not need such a thing, Rin."
The gathering of Kitsune soon turned into a display of strength. The women seemed to strive to be as feminine as possible during so, and gracefully frolicked about, throwing flames at one another. Each burst of fire was a different color, an harmlessly washed over whoever it hit. It became apparent that the men would pick the female of their choice to dance with. Malice spike within Sesshomaru at the sight of multiple men trying to take Nazoki's hand. The vixen grinned, and continued to dance around them matching the tempo of the music. Though she did not take anybody's hand, she made a habit of circling around them in a manner that could only be described as teasing. Seductive even. It was slightly surprising how light she was on her feet, and though she maintained an appropriate distance between herself and the multiple men who attempted to choose her, Sesshomaru felt himself scowl. Looking away, the lord attempted to hide his expression.
When Nazoki took a man's hand, Sesshomaru had seen enough. The vixen had chosen the strongest of the men; the one who had proven to have a larger flame then the others. She had placed a hand on one of his broad shoulders, and circled around him as she had been doing the other suitors, but the moment she clasped his hand, Sesshomaru stood up.
Rin and Jaken stared up at the man curiously, as he started into the grassy clearing. The man Nazoki was dancing with was just about to slip some sort of ring onto her finger. But Sesshomaru knew it wasn't just any old ring. It was a mating ring. This could not happen. In her peripherals, Nazoki noticed a small white blob which had grown alarmingly large. She turned to peer at it, slightly stunned to find Sesshomaru. The brunette man was staring at him as well, seemly flustered.
"What is that unsightly piece of trash?" The lord's words cause Nazoki and the man's jaws to drop. Wide eyed, they seemed entirely caught off guard.
"Ses- M'lord!" A startled pleading edge hung in the vixen's voice. Sesshomaru eyed her coldly, despite her obvious humiliation.
"Lord?" The man asked, and Nazoki turned back to him.
"No- Well... Yes, but-"
The man retracted his ring, which disappeared in a small wisp of flame, to Nazoki's dismay.
"Wait, I still have my sleeve. He's not-"
Sesshomaru eyed the pair, with apparent frustration as he cut Nazoki off.
"Come with me. Your time is up." After taking another second to menace at the kitsune man, the lord started away, followed by a chastened, vexed Nazoki.
Half way up the hill, Nazoki lightly tugged at his sleeve. When Sesshomaru peered at the vixen over his shoulder, he found her looking as though she might cry.
"Why would you say that? Command me to leave?" Grief laden words parted her lips, and the lord's aggravated gaze lessened.
"I, this Sesshomaru does not need to explain himself to you." Sunlight illuminated his white hair, giving it a golden hue. Pulling away from the woman, Sesshomaru continued towards the group.