"I'm ready," Aura replied as she slipped her shoes on. It didn't take much for her to be ready to walk out the door.

Kris pulled open the door before the two actually got there, pulling her own shoes on.

Sesshomaru blinked at that but didn't say anything, instead stepping aside and waiting for the girls to join them. He didn't mind waiting. He was wearing dark blue with flecks of gold strewn over it, and Inuyasha was dressed in a lighter blue without the decorations, even as he attempted to climb over Sess to get to Aura.

Aura smiled even as she reached out and took the pup.

"Watch your claws," she said to him. "They'll catch on my shirt." Then she turned her attention to Sesshoumaru. He really did look good in blue and gold; the colors complemented his markings well and made his hair stand out.

Hisoka, on the other hand, managed to find one of his very few pieces of clothing that wasn't gray. Although the bottoms he was wearing were a soft, dark charcoal, the top was red-orange shot through with gold.

Inuyasha grinned and latched onto her easily, though he was careful with her shirt as she asked. He snuggled closer to her, quite happy where he was for now.

"Ready?" Sesshomaru asked quietly offering her his hand. They had a little ways to go, and he didn't think she'd want to walk the whole way.

Kris couldn't help but grin. "Wow, you're not wearing gray," she teased, walking over to him. "Do I need to get a picture for evidence later on?"

"I felt something a bit more...appropriate was in order," Hisoka replied. He raised an eyebrow and his lips quirked into a bit of a smile. "I take it you approve."

Aura nodded.

"Ready when you are," she said, taking his hand. His hand was much larger than her own, and she could feel a few calluses on his palm, but it didn't bother her.

"Yes, I do." Kris grinned. "Color looks good on you." She glanced over at the other two and made a face at Sesshomaru's car.

"We don't have to get in that thing, do we?"

Sess smiled, just a little. "Would you rather walk or drive?" he asked quietly. Driving would be faster. Carrying her and running would be even faster, but he didn't know if she would approve of that.

"It isn't that bad," Hisoka said. "It has its uses, especially when humans are involved." He tilted his head towards Aura and Sesshoumaru.

Aura thought about it for a moment before she smiled at him a bit.

"It's up to you," she said. "Surprise me."

Kris sighed. "I know, but they're noisy and smelly. Horses were nice. I liked horses. Horses liked me. I don't know why humans felt the need to move past them..." She trailed off into inatriculate mumbling and grumbling.

Sesshomaru considered for a few moments before he nodded once, smiling a little. And then he picked her up, making sure Inuyasha was safely nestled in her arms, and carried her. Glancing at Hisoka to make sure the cat knew it was time to go, he started running easily.

Aura squeaked slightly in surprise when she was lifted off her feet, but other than that, she was surprisingly comfortable with the arrangement.

"Horses became difficult to keep," Hisoka replied. He remembered that particular point in history. "Regardless, we must adapt as humans change." He caught the look from Sesshoumaru and nodded. "And I believe that it's time to go. We won't be taking the car."

"Oh, good." Kristine grinned. "Much nicer." She started running after them, much more relaxed with that. Plus Shippou was happier this way too.

Sesshomaru glanced down at her. Inuyasha was used to holding relatively still while Sesshomaru was running, and he wanted to make sure that Aura was comfortable. it would take them a few minutes to arrive at their destination, after all.

Aura was holding still as well, and gave him a quick smile.

"Still good!" she said.

Hisoka kept pace with Kris. He didn't blame her for not liking cars; he didn't like them so much either, sometimes, although he had to admit they were useful devices.

Sesshomaru nodded and ran the rest of the way quietly, stopping only a few hundred yards from the edge of the festival. He had the feeling she wouldn't appreciate being carried into the middle of the festivities.

Setting her on her feet gently, Sesshomaru took a half-step back, giving her room to orient herself again.

Kris ran slower than Sesshomaru, so she arrived a few minutes later. Not that she really cared; it wasn't a race.

Although that would be fun to try one day.

It didn't take Aura more than a few seconds to get her feet under her again, and she shook out a few wrinkles in her skirt with one hand. She grinned at Sesshoumaru.

"That was fun," she said.

Hisoka arrived barely a step behind Kris. He could see a faint competitive gleam in her eye, and had a pretty good idea as to what it was for. His lordship had arrived first, after all.

Sesshomaru smirked faintly. "That is how I normally travel," he said quietly. He paused for a moment before saying carefully, "If you wish to travel that way again..."

Kris looked back at Hisoka and beckoned to him, starting to walk towards the lights and the stalls and things. They had plenty of time, and she intended to see as much as possible.

"I'm not sure whether to be jealous of you, or appalled that you're wasting that gorgeous car," Aura replied teasingly. Although, privately, she would settle on jealous. He just kept getting more perfect.

Hisoka nodded and followed her, with one glance back at Sesshoumaru. His lordship would likely appreciate the time to spend with Aura, even with Inuyasha with them. Besides, it was clear Aura adored the pup, so Hisoka decided he could wander around with Kris for the time being.

Sesshomaru snorted. "My father insisted on the car. And running is much more practical for hunting." He looked at her, offering her a hand again.

Kris took her time wandering around looking at things. More than one youkai gave her a dirty look as she passed, but she ignored most of them.

"Your father has good taste in cars, then," Aura replied as she took his hand. She barely paused as Inuyasha scrambled up from her arm to sit on her shoulders. She was used to such things by now.

Hisoka wandered about with her, smiling slightly at Shippou's enthusiasm as he bounced around from stall to stall. The one he was really watching, though, was Kris. He noticed the dirty looks she was getting, and his smile vanished. That was something that would have to be corrected, sooner rather than later. And he would figure out how to do it.

Sesshomaru smiled faintly and walked with her, looking at the stalls. He knew some of the people there, but not everyone. And he was watching both his brother and Aura to see if there was anything either wanted.

One youkai bumped into her, intentionally, and Kris bared her teeth at him. The wolf youkai sneered at her, looking down at her with clear contempt. Kris was quiet for a moment before she snarled under her breath and stalked after Shippou, her shoulders hunched a little as she was forced to turn her back on the youkai.

"So, I've been wondering something," Aura said as they walked. She looked up at Sesshoumaru. "Why a cat as an adviser?" It was one of those things that almost made sense, but she wanted to know exactly how it made sense.

Hisoka growled softly when he saw what happened. Nobody should be treated that way because of their heritage, least of all Kristine. A few quick strides caught him up to her, and he gently snaked an arm around her waist.

"Why don't you stay close to me?" he suggested. "I think fewer people will bother you that way."

Sesshomaru blinked. "Hisoka's grandfather helped my father with a delicate situation a while ago. Hisoka was sent to my father as a sort of... training exercise, you might say. He took after his grandfather in diplomacy. My father decided it would be amusing to have him help raise me, and after a few years when my mother tried to have him removed, I protested."

Kris glanced at him, surprised, before she sighed. "I'm used to it," she said quietly, though she sounded more defeated than upset. "You don't have to worry about that, Hisoka. It's fine. They don't usually do anything more than glare."

Aura blinked. Sometimes, she forgot just how much older than her the rest of them were. Of course, her minor epiphany didn't last long as a joke wormed its way into her mind, and she bit her lip a little to keep from laughing.

"You shouldn't have to be used to it," Hisoka said softly. He pulled her a little closer. "It isn't fine if it upsets you." And he was quickly discovering that he hated seeing her upset like this. Anger he could deal with, but not this.

Sesshomaru frowned a little. "What?" he asked, moving closer to her. Now he was curious. And if she made a joke about that he'd have to come up with revenge.

Kris sighed but didn't say anything to that, her shoulders still slumped as she walked next to him. Shippou bounded off ahead of them, though he remained in sight.

"Well..." Aura started, looking up at him and still holding back giggles, "I guess it's less of 'what the cat dragged in' than it is 'possession is nine-tenths of the law'?" She couldn't help that one, not when he'd practically handed it to her on a silver platter. A bit immature, yes, but they were at a festival. They could loosen up to have some fun.

"Come on," Hisoka said softly. "You can enjoy yourself. That's why we're here, to relax and have fun." He nudged Kris gently, stopping just short of nuzzling her. Oh, that was a close one. He hadn't realized just how familiar he was getting with her.

Sesshomaru looked at her for a moment before he snorted. "I see." He tilted his head a little. "Then what about you and Kristine? Would that be more a case of possession or dragging?"

Kris nodded after a moment, resting against him briefly before she started trying to distract herself with the stalls. Shiny things were always a good way to go as far as distractions went.

"When I figure out the answer, I'll let you know," Aura replied with a grin. "Assimilation, maybe." Okay, yes, now she was starting to flirt, but really, she couldn't help herself.

Hisoka stayed close to her, subtly warning off anyone who tried to send her dirty looks or other similar sentiments. He wasn't going to let them dampen Kris's evening any further.