One night on the day of December, a woman with dark brown hair and dark brown eyes was sitting on a couch while gazing out the window of her apartment. She saw snowflakes slowly come down from the skies; some stars are glistening as the full moon shun bright silver. The woman sighed as she stared at the night sky; she has seen beautiful scenery before, but still, she felt something wrong. She somehow felt empty inside. She knows it is almost the end of the year and Christmas is coming within a week or less, but still, she felt sadness. As she stood up to close the curtains, she then felt a shiver. She started to feel cold, she touched her hand, it was as cold as ice. Almost ignoring the chill of her skin, she closed the curtains and then walked towards a fireplace. The woman got out about 3 or 4 pieces of wood from the box that was on one of the sides of a fireplace. She then placed them inside of the firebox; the logs are put in place by a log grate. Before she can start a fire, she walked up to the chest of drawers, opened the top drawer and looked for matches and a piece of paper. She got back to the fireplace and knelt behind the hearth. After crumpling up a piece of paper or two, she got out a match from the matchbox and lit it. She then gently tossed the paper into the logs and got her hand with a burning match closer to the logs and then lit a piece. "Ouch!" Yelled a woman as she somewhat burnt her fingers and waved her hand to put out the match as the fire now started. She then sat back on the floor and enjoyed the warmth of the red and orange dancing flames. "This is much better." said the woman with relief. She can feel the warmth starting to come in her toes. After a few minutes of the flames dancing in front of the woman, she now felt so warm that she is about as toasty as a roasted marshmallow from head to toe.

However, she still felt sad. Has she been alone all this time? Was no one there for her? "Dakota?" cooed a male voice. Dakota turned to see who called for her. It was a man with long blood red hair, emerald green eyes, and was wearing a white fleece sweater with a red rose pattern on a center of it; It was Kurama. Dakota and Kurama stare at each other for only 5 seconds before Dakota turned her head again trying to hide her loneliness. Wanting to help his lover and realizing that Dakota looked rather blue, Kurama walked close to Dakota and sat right next to her before placing his hand on her shoulder. "Dakota, what's wrong?" He asked. "Can't you tell me?" Dakota had her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around her knees not answering back. Kurama gazed at Dakota sadly and was now concerned. She then whispered quietly. "Kurama... I just feel... Lonely." Dakota slowly turned to her concerned fox. "I know the Holidays are soon. But somehow, I am not getting into the spirit." She then sighs. "Have you ever felt that you are lonely even if you are around people and someone that you love?" Kurama nods slowly; in his mind, he felt that in his Youko times, he would most of the time shut out Ginko, Dakota's demon self. He thought he would never feel lonely, even when being with his friends like Yusuke, Kuwabara, and Hiei. But now that he is with Dakota, Kurama had experienced something much more than just friendship. He had experienced what it is like being a fatherly figure towards Raijin and Tyria. He even experienced what love is actually capable of. As Kurama turned back to look at his wolf, he just smiled at her before saying, "Everyone feels alone once in a while. However, no one is truly alone." Dakota looked at his emerald eyes. She felt a little warmth inside of her as if her heart is starting to thaw. Kurama then helped Dakota up as he stood up slowly. "Even if I am away..." Kurama then gently grabbed Dakota's hand and placed it over his heart. "You are not alone. You are in my heart." He said as he then placed his hand over Dakota's heart. "I am always here with you... And... you are always with me." He then gave Dakota a kiss on a cheek; Dakota blushed softly but returned him a kiss full on the lips. After a few seconds of a passionate kiss, she pulled away from Kurama's lips and smiled. "Thanks."

"I have something for you," Kurama said as he reached down his pocket. "I was going to wait until Christmas, but.." He then got out what appears to be a small box, he opened it to reveal a silver wolf pendant with ruby eyes. "A pendant?" Dakota asked. He then slowly raised the cord up so that he can show her that the pendant is actually a necklace. The cord was as silver as the pendant. Dakota covered her mouth in awe. Kurama can tell that she loved it. Dakota then hugged him tightly, without hesitation Kurama gently hugged back. "Thank you, Kurama. I love it." Kurama chuckles. "You're welcome, Cuddle Wolf." Dakota blushed as she heard him call her that. She then turned around with her back facing the fox. Kurama then puts the necklace around her neck, he smiled as Dakota smiled while looking at the Wolf Pendant. "It looks beautiful," Dakota said smiling. She had tears in her eyes, not out of sadness, out of joy. Kurama then held Dakota's hand as he started to lead her to a couch where Dakota sat earlier to look at the night sky.

Kurama sat down on a couch before gently placing the wolf girl on his lap. As soon as they are in their comfortable positions on a couch, Dakota slowly slumped down so that her feet were on the other end of the couch and buried her face into Kurama's chest. Enjoying the contact, Kurama placed his hand on Dakota's head and began to intertwine his fingers in her hair. Dakota softly growls as he stroked her head and started to nuzzle closer to his shoulder. Dakota's breath can be felt on Kurama's neck, it was warm. "I really enjoy being with you, Kurama." Dakota cooed gently as she buried her face into a crook of Kurama's neck. "I am just glad that you are here with me and that you care about me. Even if... We had our arguments." Kurama chuckled, "You being happy makes me happy." Dakota and Kurama can hear the soft crackling of burning logs in a fireplace. The light of the flames brightened and warmed up the room where Kurama and Dakota sat and cuddled. Dakota started to feel tired as she was all cuddled up to her lover. All that she can hear are the sounds of the soft crackling logs in the fireplace and the sound of Kurama's steady heartbeat, which is very comforting to her (It had been like that ever since she first cuddled with Kurama). It is music to her ears, her lullaby, her sanctuary, and her comfort. She started to fall asleep as she listened to his heartbeat, feeling his chest slowly rise and fall with every breath he took, and sensing his presence. Before Dakota completely fell asleep in his arms, Kurama gently whispered in her ear. "Let's get to bed. Tomorrow will be a busy day for us." Dakota's eyes slowly opened and nodded as she hesitantly got off of Kurama so that he can get off the couch. As soon as he walked off to get ready for bed, Dakota walked to the fireplace and put out the fire using her earth coming out of her hands; The fire got put out within a few tries. She then walked to the bedroom with her lover.

Sometime later, Dakota got into their bedroom and took off her jacket before climbing up on the bed. She buried herself in red and silky covers. They are cozy and warm to her, but not as warm as her lover who she will lay next to within the next few moments or so. Dakota then thought to herself, "He really is one hell of a gentleman... I am glad that I found him." Dakota tossed and turned for a little bit, but she did not sleep; She just stared at the ceiling. She was wondering what her foxy lover was doing, maybe taking a shower or getting his pajamas on. Or, possibly, wearing something smutty. Dakota blushed at that thought, her face was redder than last time. She started to giggle at her own dirty thoughts. trying not to laugh out loud. She then heard a door open, Dakota sat up to see who was at the door, it was Kurama himself. She then blushed at the sight of her lover, he was only wearing his jeans, he did not have a sweater on at all. His physique was indeed beautiful and breath-taking. He was lean yet muscular, but not too muscular; His chest was as perfectly chiseled as his 6-pack abs. Kurama then brushed his flowing red hair with his hand so that it somewhat went behind his broad shoulders. He stared at Dakota as she was blushing and he can tell that she praised his body. "Hey," Kurama said with a sheepish grin. "I was taking a shower." Dakota then sat up on a bed and smiled at him. "You are fine."

He then walked up to his wolf with a smile. As soon as he got closer to her, Dakota wrapped her arms around Kurama's neck while saying, "At least you are as clean as a whistle now. I love you either way." Kurama chuckled gently and kissed her passionately on her lips. Dakota kissed him back as she slowly lowered her hands so that they can touch his shoulder blades. After a few seconds of a passionate moment, they stopped and stared at each other. "So..." Dakota began. "I have to ask you something..." Kurama listened attentively. "Ask me anything, Dakota. I am here." Dakota looks down as she then placed her hands on top of Kurama's shoulders. "Since we will get married... What do you think our lifestyle should be like?" Dakota then looked into Kurama's eyes, he then sighed softly. "You make your choice, I will make mine. The future is full of mysteries." Dakota then smiled. "Yeah. It is, in fact, up to us on how we should live our lives. No one else." She took one of her hands off of his shoulder and then gently touched Kurama's chest. She can feel his heart beating strongly yet softly under his pectoral. Kurama slowly inhaled and exhaled to slow down his beating heart. Kurama smiles at her once again before chuckling and then caressing her cheek. Kurama kissed her one last time before he went to the other side of a bed and laid down right beside Dakota. The wolf girl then laid right back down and stared into the fox's Emerald eyes. They are as beautiful as the silver moon that was shining out the window. After a few seconds of staring into each other's eyes, Kurama pulled Dakota close to his warm body so that Dakota can rest her head on his bare chest. She loves sleeping so close to him; she especially loved how the warmth of his body can warm up her own body whenever she is cold. Not only that she loved to feel his muscled body so close to her own, feeling his breathing, and most of all, hearing his heartbeat in her ear. She felt incredibly safe and sound whenever she is around Kurama, she wanted to tell him that someday; but deep down in her heart, she can tell that Kurama already knew.

Kurama then hugged her tightly and pulled the covers over them. Dakota slowly drifted off to sleep while listening to Kurama's heartbeat. It can be heard in a silent, dark, and cold room. He smiled at a now sleeping Dakota and kissed her forehead while burying his fingers in her dark brown hair. Kurama stared at his sleeping wolf for about 15 minutes. When he looked at the digital clock, it was 30 past midnight. He then thought in his head that he thought he would never find his love again, nor will his love forgive him in the past; but he already knew that she forgave him after all those years. Kurama gently smiled to himself and started to feel tired as he listened to Dakota's soft breathing. "I love you, Dakota." He whispered into Dakota's ear before falling asleep.