The Festival

The next morning, when Ayame awoke, she was back in her bed. The sheets lie tangled around her. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and pulled back her hair. Inuyasha was not in the room, and by the look of the sun, she had woken late.

Ayame got up and lowered the bamboo door cover and dressed in her dragon kimono she had received from one of the villagers. She smoothed it down at her sides to rid all the wrinkles. Just then Inuyasha walked in.

"Good, you're awake." He said as he entered.

"Well, what do you think?" She said as she spun around, displaying her new garments.

"Not too bad, not too bad at all." He said aloud, but thinking more of her than just that. "You're just in time." He said now getting down to business.

"In time for what?" Ayame asked.

"In time for the festival,"

"What festival?"

"You'll see," Inuyasha said with a grin and walked out the door.

Ayame stared blankly at him. 'What is he up to this time?' she thought. She followed him out of the hut and past a few other ones to now find the festival. There were different colored lanterns hanging on wires attached from hut to hut, small tables were set out in a long line, two were at the front, barrels of fish and rice were not too far away, and there was sake, lots and lots of sake! Ayame dazzled at it all.

"Wow!" she exclaimed, "What's all this for?"

"It's a celebration of Jakotsu's death, and it is dedicated to you."

"Inuyasha! You set this up didn't you?" She said socking him in the arm.

"Hey! The villagers came up with the idea, and they wouldn't take no for an answer."

Soon the villagers saw that Ayame and Inuyasha.

"Lady Ayame!" the villagers celebrated as two men lead them both to their seats at the front of the row of tables. Once Inuyasha and Ayame were sat down, the villagers quieted for an expected speech from Ayame.

"I am greatly honored that you have made such a wonderful festival dedicated to me, and I would like to say thank you. As you know, the phantom, or better known as Jakotsu, has been slain. But I could have not done it without Inuyasha and his friends. Yet, the problem has not been solved. There lies within these lands a greater demon, a demon all Inuyasha and his friends and I have a grudge upon. He goes by the name of Naraku and he very well deserves to die. His blood shall repay the losses of many others. And so, it is my wish to defeat Naraku by their side, that is, if they will accept me." Ayame glanced at the group whom sat next to them. Sango raised her glass in a way that said she accepted Ayame. Miroku raised his, as did Shippo. Kagome reluctantly raised her glass and forced a fake smile. There was only one person left. Ayame turned to Inuyasha as he raised his glass high, and gave her a soft smile that seemed to say 'you have always been accepted'. With that, everyone cheered and drank up. Another round of sake was passed out.

From a far away distance, a curious Kouga sat in a high tree listening to the speech. He had found out that the elders of Ayame's pack were dead and she was now the heir of the northern lands.

"Ayame has grown powerful," he thought aloud, "And quite beautiful. She might just be good enough to be my mate."

Kouga had always seemed a loving, respectable wolf, but now that power was mentioned, he was willing to do anything for it. He was willing to do anything to defeat Naraku, even more importantly, Inuyasha…

By nightfall, Inuyasha, Ayame, Sango, Miroku, and some of the villagers had become quite tipsy from drinking so muck sake. Most of the time Miroku had been fooling with young girls (That he finally found) Sango had given up on trying to stop him and went with Ayame to the hot springs. Kagome had passed out in her hut and was fast asleep. Inuyasha had been relaxing in the grass, looking at the stars for the clouds and rain had cleared out by morning.

Both Ayame and Sango were in the hot springs, discussing girly topics. The main topic was about guys.

"So what do you think of Inuyasha?" Sango asked Ayame.

"Well, he's strong, handsome, and has a great ass!" Ayame giggled.

"Really? You saw it? When?" Sango gaped, she was quite interested.

"When he came back from the hot springs that one day, I gave him some dry clothes and he changed in the hut while I was there. He was facing a wall, and so was I, but I peeked just in time."

"Ooooh!" Sango giggled, "Did you see anything else?" she asked, wanting more juicy details.

"Like what?"

"Well, you know…" Sango said in a hushed tone and gave a few winks to her friend.

"Ew! No!" She said laughing and splashing Sango.

When Ayame came back from the hot springs, she found Inuyasha not too far from their hut. He seemed deep in thought as he lay in the grass and gazed at the stars.

"It's beautiful out tonight," she said as she lied next to him.

"Yeah," he replied blandly. His mind belonged somewhere else and she wanted to know where.

"What are you thinking about?" Ayame finally asked.

"Just on how I'm gonna defeat Naraku,"

"We all gotta work together you know,"

"Yeah I know,"

"And I'll fight right by your side," She said almost in a vowing way.

"Right by my side?" He repeated. He was afraid of such a commitment.

"Yeah, of course! Why wouldn't I?" She asked.

"Well, if anything happened to you, I don't think I could forgive myself," he said as he softly put his hand on hers.

"I thank you for your concern Inuyasha, but this is something I have to do, even if it costs me my life." She replied and laced her fingers between his.

Ayame turned to him and looked him straight in the eye. He looked her straight in the eye back. She was the only one he could do so to. Inuyasha blushed at the moment, but mostly at her comment.

"It's not that simple," he said now pulling her close to him and embracing her. "Ayame, I really don't know what I would do if- if." His voice cracked at the very thought of losing her. How could he lose someone whom was so precious to him? I mean, come on! She's the only one he hugs, or looks in the eye, or spends every waking moment with.

Inuyasha's eyes became clear as he blinked back tears. His chin rested upon her head as emotions rushed through him. 'I love you, Ayame. I love you with all my heart. You are the reason the sun rises to me.' Inuyasha felt like saying, but he couldn't, he was so scared of rejection.

"Inuyasha," Ayame said, her voice seeming to waver as well. "I just want to thank you for your care, I mean for everything. You've been so great to me, and I never thanked you." Tear drops began to fall down her cheeks.

"Don't thank me," he said sternly as he held her even closer. It didn't seem right for her to be thanking him, it wasn't a favor. It was something that he had to do, like it was natural.

Ayame just lie there in his arms, huddled up against him and fell asleep as did he.

Inuyasha woke up. Realizing that he was still outside, he shifted his weight to get up when he felt warmth against his chest. He looked down to see Ayame snuggled in close to him. Softly smiling, he picked her up and took her inside. Her garments were cold from the night air, but her body was warm. He put her in the bed and crawled in with her.

'She's so gorgeous,' he thought as he gazed upon her. Then he crawled into bed with her and fell asleep.