A/N: I'm so happy everyone loves this little story. Even I go 'awe' when I write it XD

-MissKatt

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or its characters. All credit goes to the amazing Takahashi-san!

A Christmas Healing

By: MissKatt

Chapter Eight: Kagome's Enemy

"Ahh, I think we got too much!" Kagome laughed as they walked along the snowy side walk, puffs of white forming in front of her lips as she did. She looked down at the plastic bags they each held, the contents nearly protruding out from the tops and sides.

"Perhaps," Taisho responded, his amber eyes glancing down towards her. She kept flexing her left hand around the loops of the plastic bag, the skin pale from the cold. "But at least we will have a big dinner."

"I agree! It'll be nice to have a big dinner. Plus, I can freeze some of the meat and use it for the Christmas dinner in a couple days. Ahh, I'm so excited, four more days until Christmas!" She cooed, smiling happily. She turned towards him, beaming up at him. "What are your plans for Christmas, Sesshoumaru-san?"

He blinked at her question and then looked forward as they walked. "I do not have any."

"What? No plans for Christmas? Why not?" She asked, suddenly curious. Surely everyone had some sort of Christmas routine?

"I do not celebrate it." He replied, inwardly sighing. Here we go…

"What! Why not? It's an amazing holiday! Don't tell me you're a Grinch, Sesshoumaru-san! If that's the case then I'm afraid we cannot continue talking any longer!" She feigned mad and turned her head to the side dramatically.

"It marks a…personal time for me," He replied, trying to keep the cold from his tone. He wasn't too sure it worked for her bright blue eyes dimmed a little as she turned her head back towards him. "My mother died on Christmas."

"O-oh, I'm so sorry." She gasped, looking down at the snow as they walked. When he had first stated that he did not celebrate Christmas she nearly hit him for saying such crazy stuff. She even called him a Grinch! Now she felt really bad for thinking such negative thoughts about him when she didn't even know the details of the situation.

"Do not trouble yourself, Kagome-san," He said, sensing her distress. "You did not know."

"Yes, but it was very rude of me." She said softly and moved the bag in her left hand to join the other in her right. She then breathed on her left hand, trying to warm it up. Once semi-satisfied, she lowered it and looked back up at him. "I should have asked before I assumed anything."

Sesshoumaru watched her carefully, taking in her movements and the way the winter breeze played with the stray strands of her ebony hair. "Again, it is alright, Kagome-san." He then transferred the bag in his right hand to the left and gingerly reached for hers, holding her hand within his own.

Kagome let out a soft gasp, butterflies flying into her stomach at the contact of their hands. Was he really holding her hand? Oh, and how warm it was compared to her own. She looked up at him and saw that he was looking at her with a questioning gaze. "Huh?"

"Is this acceptable? Your hand was cold so I am offering you mine for warmth." He stated, trying to sound nonchalant when in reality his heart was nearly soaring at the touch of her.

"Is it-? Yes! Of course," She beamed once more, a blush on her cheeks. "Thank you so much, Sesshoumaru-san."

"It is nothing." He said and turned his head to focus forward as they walked. He felt something flutter in him when he felt her adjust their hands so they were now lacing fingers.

Kagome blushed a deeper shade of red as she dared to take their hand holding to another level. But, when he didn't protest or pull away, her nervousness melted into a warm smile. Could there be some small chance that Sesshoumaru liked her back? Her heart skipped a beat at the thought.

They walked in a comfortable silence back to the shrine, simply enjoying each other's presence. Once they got to the stairs, she released his hand and he looked down at her with another questioning look.

She gave him an embarrassed smile. "I am super clumsy, Sesshoumaru-san. If I fall I don't want to bring you down with me."

He blinked at her and then let out a soft chuckle. "I assure you, you will not. Besides, if you fall, I will catch you."

She blushed at his comment and gave him a kind smile. "You are so sweet, Sesshoumaru." She said softly, momentarily forgetting to use the honorific.

Sweet? That was new. He had never been called 'sweet' in his life before. Still, he offered her a small smile. "Shall we, Kagome?"

She nodded and began to walk up the stairs, Sesshoumaru walking behind her just in case. They wandered over to the house and walked in, removing their shoes and putting on their house slippers before walking to the kitchen. As soon as they ventured into the kitchen, Kagome stopped dead in her tracks, Sesshoumaru nearly running into her.

"Kagome?" He asked, gazing down at her to make sure she was okay. As if nothing had happened, she straightened up, holding her head high, and stormed deeper into the kitchen, placing her bags down on the counter top. Regarding her carefully, he followed her suit before glancing at the dining room table when his name was called.

"Ah, konbanwa, Taisho-san," Kaede croaked, nodding at him.

"Shikon-san." He replied, returning the gesture. He raised a brow when the other female at the table stood up to face him. Her long, straight black hair was tied into a ponytail, her bangs cropped straight across, right above her brown eyes.

"Ah, Taisho-san, it is a pleasure to finally meet you!" She cooed, walking over to him and bowing low. When she straightened, she held out hand to him. "I am Tama Kikyou. I am the secretary for Zoku Inc."

"Zoku?" He replied before the name clicked in his head. "Kouga?" Knowing it would be rude not to, he shook the outstretched hand.

"Hai!" She nodded and grinned before putting a saucy smirk on her face. "Might I say, Taisho-san, you're much more handsome in person." She gave his hand a slight squeeze.

Sesshoumaru glanced over his shoulder when he heard a sudden loud clank from pots being dropped. "Kagome? Are you alright?"

Kikyou's eyes then darted behind him when she heard the clatter. "Tsk, tsk, so noisy! I see you're as clumsy as ever, Kagome-CHAN." She always used the honorific with a condescending tone. She knew it pissed off the other miko.

Kagome turned to face the woman, a scowl on her face. "And I see you are as bitchy as ever, Kikyou-CHAN." She said, venom seeping into her voice.

Sesshoumaru raised a brow. Did the overly nice, sweet Kagome just call this lady a bitch? And her feisty tone…he liked it.

"And I see that you are going nowhere as I predicted. Still bothering the orphanage with your presence, I see. You just can't cut ties can you? And poor Taisho-san, being dragged around by the likes of you. Making him go grocery shopping? Don't you have any shame? And I bet he paid for it too." She scolded, putting her hands on her hips.

Kagome froze at her words. Wasn't that what she was most concerned about? Sesshoumaru thinking all those things about her? Did she drag him along? But…he offered. And he insisted on paying. Still, guilt began to nag at her conscious.

"Ha, so pathetic as always, Kagome-chan." Kikyou snickered.

Kagome glared her eyes at her once more. "Why are you even here, Kikyou? And you were talking about me still bothering the orphanage? At least I'm actually wanted here."

The older female stormed past Sesshoumaru and got in Kagome's face. "What exactly do you mean by that?"

Kagome didn't back down from the challenge. She put her hands on her hips, her sapphire eyes burning into her chocolate colored eyes. "No one likes you and no one wants you here. When have you ever came and helped out with anything? Never. You hate children and they hate you. So leave!"

"Don't think you know everything about me, Kagome-chan, because you don't." Her aura surged and pressed against Kagome in a soft blue light.

"Oh, but I do, Kikyou-CHAN. I've grown up with you so I know exactly how you are. Skanks like you never change." Kagome's aura snapped back, pink flaring against her.

"Stop it ye two! That is quite enough!" Kaede shouted, rising from the table with a jolt. She wobbled uncertainly and nearly fell over and he would have if Sesshoumaru hadn't appeared at her side in a flash, stabilizing her. She thanked him before turning her attention back to the mikos. "I will not repeat myself!"

Kagome instantly backed down, drawing back her powers. "I'm sorry, Kaede." She murmured and sharply turned from Kikyou to focus on the groceries piled on the countertops.

The other miko glared at the sudden lack of confrontation. She turned towards Kaede and Sesshoumaru and pushed the bangs from her eyes with a sigh. "Anyways, Kaede-baachan, when do I get to pick a child?"

Kaede clicked her tongue. "I did not agree yet to let ye just 'pick' one, Kikyou. They are not objects, they are children."

"Yeah, but I am more than qualified! I have a large house with a big backyard and I have plenty of money. Isn't the whole idea of having these children here to get them adopted? So, what's the issue?" Kikyou asked, crossing her arms over her chest.

"The issue is that you're a self-center bitch," Kagome breathed, but Sesshoumaru's sensitive ears easily picked it up, causing him to let out a soft chuckle.

"There is no issue, Kikyou. But, well, perhaps ye should join us for dinner and we will go from there." Kaede suggested, causing the woman to sigh heavily.

"Fine. Whatever it takes." She began to head for the door, going to go relax before she had to deal with a bunch of little brats. She stopped before she left, glancing at Kagome. "Don't poison my food."

"I make no promises." Kagome snapped back, not even looking up from task of chopping vegetables. Kikyou glared hard before leaving.

Sesshoumaru walked over to her and watched as she chopped the vegetables with more speed and force than necessary, nearly slicing the cutting board in half from the effort. Scared that she was going to chop off one of her fingers, he gently grabbed the knife from her hands.

She huffed and looked up at him. "I'm sorry you had to witness that, Sesshoumaru. I don't want you to think poorly of me."

He shook his head. "I do not think poorly of you at all. The things she spoke of are not true for if they were, I would not remain here."

She smiled up at him. "I'm glad."

"Although, I did not know you were capable of speaking ill of someone by using profanity." He commented, causing her face to flare up in embarrassment.

A/N: DUN DUN DUN!