Disclaimer: This is not mine. Inuyasha does not belong to me. Neither are the characters belonging to the series. No profit is being made. Nothing is mine.
A/N: I know it's not winter yet, but I couldn't wait until winter to put this up, so let this cool you down :) I wrote this a while ago, and forgot it was in my documents. Hope to update soon.
"So, Inuyasha, are you coming?"
"Where?" He looked up from his bowl of Ramen.
Kagome sighed, exasperated. "To my house for Christmas!" She all but yelled, for the thousandth time that day.
"Why can't you stay here? I don't understand what's so important about your stupid chris-mas."
Kagome sighed once more, but this time with understanding. She had neglected to tell the group about the importance of the Holiday season. Shippo at once jumped into her arms, ready for a story, while Sango and Miroku looked up from their tasks of cleaning weapons.
They were all in Kaede's hut, near the fire. It was cold outside, and they were all warming up and healing from the year's battles. Except for Inuyasha, who only admitted to being hungry.
"Well, see, the Holiday season is all about being home, and celebrating the end of another year with your family… and Christmas is a special holiday where we exchange gifts and are grateful for all the things we have."
"But aren't we your family Kagome?" Shippo asked earnestly.
Kagome was caught off guard. Family…
"Uh, well, yes, Shippo, I consider al of you my family too, but you see, I need to spend some time with my mother, and my Grandfather… and Souta's been missing me so much…" She wandered off, looking into space.
"Hello… earth to Kagome…?" Shippo was waving a hand in front of her eyes, confused at her sudden silence.
"Huh? Oh, right, and so these two weeks I'm going home.."
"Two weeks?" Inuyasha exclaimed. "Keh! Too long. We need to look for the rest of those"
"Quiet down Inuyasha." Kaede entered her hut with a basket of raw fish. "The shards will keep. You know most demon Youkai either migrate to warmer places, or go into deep hibernation during the great freezes. Let Kagome see her family, the rest of you can stay here and sleep and eat. The villagers will feel safer even if they know Demons don't dare attack."
Hegrowled. "What does 'home' have that we don't have here?" Inuyasha grumbled to Kagome, as everyone else went back to their tasks.
Kagome was now packing up he yellow bag.
"Well, for one, it has a bed. Warm shower water. And people who DON'T POKE AROUND WHERE THEY DON'T BELONG!" She finished with a yell as she caught Inuyasha's wandering hand in her yellow pack, slapping it.
Inuyasha retreated quickly, and sniffed her. Sensing she wasn't extremely angry, he moved along with his next statement. "You're not staying for that long."
"I'll come back briefly for Christmas to bring you all presents." Kagome said, waving to them and Ignoring Inuyasha.
Inuyasha's eys widened, and Kagome felt him growl behind her, though it was very low.
She shivered, not knowing whether it was the cool air she could already feel hitting her, or just the feeling of Inuyasha;s sounds vibrating up her spine.
But she bundled up, much to everyone's interest, as they hadn't ever seen such modern contraptions to fasten things such as zippers, and Velcro, and clipping buttons.
But finally she shouldered her large backpack, and was almost ready to open the door when… a hand barred her way out.
"Inuyasha…" She bagan to say 'Sit', but he spoke quickly.
"I'm taking you there."
She was silently touched by this, and she looke dup into his calm eyes. She smiled. "Okay."
She was amazed he could still carry her with all the stuff she had on, but only partly. Of course, he grumbled at how bulky she was when he was flying through the air, but she didn't mind. She could still feel his warmth, even throught her tumult of warm layers.
Out side the air was frigid, and white snow flakes rained softly throught he air.
Let this village be safe from snowstorms. She sent the prayer up silently, as she saw the village fade from distance.
Soon, they were at the well. He jumped in with her, surprising her.
"So you're coming?"
"Feh." He said in way of answer. You would have never been able to make it up the ladder with all the stuff you have. You would have frozen in this well before they found you, and that old man would have tried to exorcise me… again." He said the last part in a mono tone grumble.
She giggled as he lifted her out. When they stepped out of the shrine, she gasped in delight at her home. She hadn't seen it for months…
"When's… Christmas?" He said, wrinkling his nose at the unfamiliar word.
"9 days from now." She said, grinning in anticipation.
"Is that when you'll be back?"
"Briefly, Inuyasha." She said in a warning tone. "To give you all your presents."
"Kagome… can I stay for dinner? I'll be leaving after."
"Oh… of course, Inuyasha. I wish you'd stay longer…" I love you.
She looked up at him, and he returned the tender look. He seemed to be searching her eyes for something.
"These two weeks you belong to this home, Kagome. And you belong to your Mother and Brother, and Grandfather. It makes you happier… and I will be much happier to see you in nine days, with my present." He looked down at her in a seriousness.
Kagome was taken off guard. "huh? Inuyasha, you don't have to get a present, it's not your-" She was cut off my a finger being pressed gently against her lips.
"Lets go inside." He said reasonably. Her eyes widened, but she nodded.
He could see her turning a little pale, he knew humans couldn't stand the cold for too log sitting still. He led her to the door, which she unlocked.
As she led him inside, he helped take off her back pack and all her layers of clothing, once they felt the rush of warmth of a heated house. Kagome kept sneaking glances at Inuyasha, wondering why he was so different all of a sudden.
"MOM! SOUTA! GRANDFATHER! IT'S ME, KAGOME, I'M HOME!"
She yelled into the hall. First to come running was little Souta, who she picked up and hugged.
"Sis!" He squealed. Then turned to Inuyasha, and hugged him, surprising the half demon, who ruffled his hair affectionately.
""Kagome!" Her mother said delighted, hugging her daughter.
"Mom, Inuyasha's staying for dinner." She said happily. Her mother smiled, in an odd knowing way, bowed to Inuyasha.
"You are welcome here." She said, scaring Inuyasha slightly with her eerily calm smile.
And then Grandpa Higurashi. "Hello children!" he said, waddling over, and before Kagome could hug him, he pulled two boxes out. "I have your presents here, want to see? They're really good!"
"Grandpa, wait till Christmas." Souta said in a chastising voice.Grandpa sighed, "But they're really"
"No." Kagome suddenly took on a stern tone. "You know the rules of Christmas, Grandpa. Don't break them."
This startled the old man, who smiled nicely at his granddaughter before retreating and grumbling about odd things.
Inuyasha looked at the scene amusedly. "Come on, Kagome, we should get your stuff settled in your room and leave your mom alone with her cooking." He said.
Kagome nodded. "Right, sorry, mama. We don't mean to distract you."
"It's all right dear. I love to know that you're home for the holidays."
"All two weeks." Kagome beamed as she led Inuyasha and a following Souta to her room.
"Where does ths go?"
"In the second drawer on the left."
"What about this?"
"The box under the bed labeled 'cleansing waters'."
"What about this?" Kagome down now from putting a book on her high shelf. Souta held a wooden box with a lock on it with a bunch of scroll charms she had made herself. It was her priestess box, which Kaede had helped her fill.
"Top shelf on the closet. I should put it away."
"I can do it." Souta said firmly. Kagome softened at his determined look. She nodded, watching curiously as he stacked a few things on her computer chair and bega to climb. She understood that he needed to feel like he still meant something to her, even though she knew it was dangerous, what he was doing. She had to let him be. It would also help him grow.
He safely put the box in it's niche. He turned around and grinned, hands on his hips, about to remark on his accomplishment, when the chair began to roll.
Inuyasha was watching, sitting on the bed, as the scene unrolled. He would have helped Souta, but he sensed Kagome would be there already.
She caught Souta in her arm, and smiled softly down at him. "Thankyou very much Souta, you were very brave to go risking your life, though Id rather you not for simple box." She ended on a wry note.
Souta blushed, but puffd his chest out all the same, feeling pride kick in. "Why don't you go see if Mom needs any help now, were just about done with unpacking, and I'm about to go shower."
"Okay, sis." He said, running off eagerly ready to help more.
Kagome smiled to herself as she bent down to get the pack and put it away when she heard Inuyasah's soft whisper.
"You'll make an excelled mother to our pups." He said it without realizing it, being caught up in the moment. He had just been observing Kagome with her little brother, and they were just the thoughts that had been going through his head. He hadn't known that he had actually said it until Kagome tensed, and spun around, wide-eyed and blushing.
"What?" She exclaimed, still red.
His eyes went wide in realization, but then he played it normal. "I'm going to go see if your mom needs help."
"INUYASHA!"
"Go take a nice long warm bath Kagome, you never know the next time you'll have one." He said cryptically, smirking as he left a speechless (for the first time in her life) Kagome gaping at the now empty doorway to her room.
When she finally came out of the bath, which she had indeed spent her time in, she was still confused over Inuyasha's words. If they were even true. If she had heard right. What if she hadn't? He was acting strange lately. Why did he have to keep sending her such mixed messages.
She became even more lost when she found Inuyasha huddled in conversation with her Grandfather. She wasn't sure if he smelled her or heard her first, for she had tried to be quiet. But he suddenly froze, turned around, and gave her a grin, and a glint in his eyes that partly frightened her. The other part of her didn't know what to feel.
But she was saved from trying to decide when her mother tapped her shoulder. "Would you mind setting the table, dear?"
"Oh… of course." She said, turning to her mother's always calm kind face.
She began to move around the kitchen, trying to see if she could eaves-drop on the conversation. But it was no use, they were whispering to low, and by the time she was done setting the table, Inuyasha and her Grandfather came in, and they all sat at the table, neither of their faces the least bit revealing.
Over dinner, her mother Mostly made the conversation, while Kagome eyed Inuyasha suspiciously.
"So, Kagome, how are your other friends?"
"Oh, they're all fine, Mother. Miroku and Sango have decided to get married, and Shippo just learned how to do long division." The young Kitsune had taken a liking to Math, he had been attacking Kagome with questions that actually turned out to help her study better as she made up explanations and answers. Shippo was more the teacher than the student. "And Kaede says my priestess training is coming along well."
"Ah, so, Kagome, would you like to help me make demon scrolls"
"No, Grandpa." Kagome cut in, sighing. He deflated in a comical manner. "There aren't any real demons in this era, grandfather." She tried to amend.
"But the other day I saw a spirit, and it was going to attack this house, had I not seen to sealing the doors with my special expensive scroll."
"Grandfather, that was Buyo." Souta said in a monotone voice.
"YOU LOCKED BUYO OUT?" Kagome yelled outraged, while the cat in question walked into the room. Grandpa Higurashi shrinked back from her glare.
"So, Inuyasha, are you doing well?" Mrs. Higurashi inquired pleasantly, changing the topic.
And so dinner went.
After it was finished, Inuyasha stood.
"Thank you for the meal. Miss Higurashi. I will help you clean up."
"Kagome, let me show you some new decoratons we put up outside the shrine. Come on, Souta, you too." Grandpa said suddenly, rising.
"But I wash the"
"Don't worry, Kagome, I'm sure your mother and Inuyasha can take care of the dishes. I really want you to see these new decorations I got. They're going to attract so many visitors."
As Kagome was ushered out of the room, she shot a glare in Inuyasha's direction as he turned to talk to her mother.
When she came back to the kitchen finally after seeing
The new Christmas decorations
The store's new replica scrolls
A goblin;s hand
A unicorn's hoof
Grandpa's dirty hairy laundry.
Inuyasha was already finished talking with her mother.
He turned to her. "Well, Kagome, I am ready to leave."
"I'll walk you." She offered.
"You'll freeze out there like that." He scoffed.
She blush then ammended. "I mean to my room window."
He looked at her hard before saying his trade mark 'Keh!'. Then he turned to lead the way.
For some reason, Inuyasha had never used the front door naturally in terms to her house.
When they were in her room, she stopped him before he opened a window. "What have you been up to, Inuyasah?" She asked warily.
"Keh. Like I told you, I'm going home."
""That's not what I-" But before she could speak he grabbed her arms, and brought his lips down her hers for a deep kiss. She was shocked by the sudden action, but soon was forced to return it as he delved into her mouth. Juast as she began to get into it, however, he drew back.
As she was left breathless, he smirked. Then he was out the window before she could say a word.
In the feudal Era…
"Kaede, I'm going to be gone for about two days. Come on Monk."
"Where are we going Inuyasha? Where can we go without Kagome?" Sango asked, curious at the demon's odd behavior.
"Keh… you're not going. Monk! Get your shit. We need to borrow Kirara, is that okay?"
"Sure." Sango said, confused.
He kicked at a sleeping Miroku.
"Inuyasha, for the love of the gods, can this wait until morning." Was the grumbled reply.
Inuyasha growled out "NO!" Before slamming the door shut to wait outside, quite determined and a bit on the grumpy side.
"Inuyasha... may I please ask what we're doing outside in the freezing cold at this hour?"
"It's only 9, monk."
"In this weather?" He ignored Inuyasah's comment.
"We only have 9 days."
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