On the Twelfth Day of Christmas
A/N: In which each day, Kagome gives Inuyasha a gift signed by his Secret Santa in hopes of bringing back his Christmas Spirit.
I got the idea from Hallmark as a prompt. Im just using the idea for the story, the only thing I kept the same from the movie is the newspaper, so don't sue. I do not own Hallmark or Inuyasha and Co. So, enjoy! I'll post a ficlet a day until December 25th. Enjoy everyone!
Day Ten December 21, 2016:
-IK-
"Kikyou! Kagome! Get up!" Kagome groaned as she rolled out of her nice, warm bed. Suikotsu was going to be the death of her with his early morning rising. If he was awake, then everyone had to be awake. Shuffling into her fuzzy, pink bunny slippers, Kagome made her way down the hall to her sister's room and knocked.
"Kiki, you up?" Kagome opened the door and heard the shower running. "Kiki, Suikotsu is going to have to stop wi-" She paused when the sound of sniffling came from the shower. What tha- Kagome walked through the bathroom door to see Kikyou's silhouette sitting on the shower floor. Carefully approaching the glass door, Kagome slid it open softly. "Kikyou?"
Said woman looked up through wet lashes and soaking raven hair. "Kagome, what are you doing in here?"
Ignoring the water, Kagome stepped under the running shower head and sat before her sister. She ran a thumb under Kikyou's red-rimmed eyes. "You're crying. What's wrong?"
Her twin, not caring that she was naked, launched at her sister and sobbed into her wet top. "I- I don't know how it happened. W- we were so careful. He wanted to wait until af- after the wedding! B- but I-" Her sobs got louder and harder to understand.
"Shhh. It's okay." Kagome wrapped her shaking sister in her arms and rocked her gently. The water still falling hot around them. "I need to know what happened. You can tell me."
Kikyou stilled before pulling back and wiping her runny nose with the back of her hand. Her nose was red and raw while her brown eyes were red and leaking tears down flushed cheeks. "You can't judge me. I didn't think this would happen so fast. I wasn't trying to, but it happened and he's going to be so mad."
"Kikyou, please." Her twin ran a hand against the crown of her head as she smoothed wet strands of raven hair out of her face.
Sighing, she drew her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. "I'm pregnant."
It was so low Kagome almost didn't hear her, almost. "Oh. My. God." Kikyou was afraid to look at her sister, fear that Kagome's eyes held disappointment. Kikyou tensed when her sister began to speak, a cringe formed when the sentence stalled. "Kikyou, that's- that's amazing!" Brown eyes widened as Kagome latched herself onto Kikyou and hugged her as if she'd disappear. "I'm so happy for you!"
"But- but he won't feel that way. He wanted to wait Kagome. We're getting married in six weeks. The plan was get married, get a house and then talk about kids."
"Stop. He'll be thrilled! He loves you, he loves kids and he will love y'all's baby. Trust me, just talk to him."
"I don't know-"
"I do. Talk to him. Now." Kagome stood up, pulling Kikyou with her, before turning the water pressure off. "Let's get cleaned up- er, let's dry off."
Kikyou laughed with a sniffle. "Okay." They exited the bathroom to get changed.
Twenty minutes later, after Kagome had convinced Kikyou to talk to Suikotsu, Kikyou rehearsed what she was going to say before descending the stairs. Suikotsu was frying bacon and eggs when he head the girls enter the kitchen. "Oh there y'all are-" When he saw Kikyou's red-rimmed eyes and raw nose, he removed the skillet off the eye and turned it off. "Baby, what's wrong?"
Kagome kissed Kikyou's cheek. "I love you. Everything will be alright. I have to get to work. Call me later. Okay?" Her twin nodded with an I love you too. When the door closed, Suikotsu embraced Kikyou as she let the tears fall once more before she finally told him what she feared would upset him the most.
She never would have guessed that he'd be over the moon at the news. He swung her around as he laughed shouting he was going to be a father. When Kikyou had voiced her fears of his rejection because they weren't married yet, Suikotsu deadpanned as he told her that no matter what order it happened, he was thrilled that she was pregnant and nothing would make him love her any less.
Kikyou let another wave of tears fall as she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him for everything that he was. Kikyou promised to never doubt his love again as they slowly fell to the couch with happy tears and wet, sloppy kisses.
-IK-
Inuyasha smiled when he walked through his office door. The familiar brown packaging sat perfectly still in the center of his large desk. Sango must have delivered it before she took off to the staff meeting he was probably supposed to be at as well. Shrugging, Inuyasha walked to his desk and picked up the package. "What do we have today?"
Ripping the paper carefully, he was met with a bright green box with an ice rink made out of white stock paper and little white snowflakes decorating the edges. In the center was a couple holding hands and skating. Inside the box was the usual written note and a cute, wooden ice skate dangling from red laces.
On the tenth day of Christmas,
My Secret Santa gave to thee:
On the ice is were to be,
Smiling bright for all to see.
Dancing on blades is always fun,
So go on now- RUN!
Merry Christmas, Your Secret Santa.
Inuyasha gave a deadpanned look. "Ice skating? I can't fucking skate." He sighed, white ears pinned back as he felt slightly guilty for not knowing and disappointing his Secret Santa. His guilt, however, was cut short when Inuyasha heard a small knock from his doorway.
"Hey you." She whispered as she stood in the center of the frame and smiled.
The half-demon gave a sexy smirk as he set the box down and advanced towards the woman who captured more than just his fascination, Kagome was quickly capturing his heart, body and soul. When he was arm lengths away from her, he held up the tiny skate. "Date number ten?"
Kagome erupted in a fit of giggles. "When was the first nine?"
Giving a playful growl, he scooped her closer. "Every gift has been a date for me. I just didn't know it until our first kiss. So, day ten, my secret santa wants me to go ice skating -which, I can't do worth shit- but with you, it may be fun."
Kagome shifted her messenger bag and wrapped her arms around his waist and whispered, "Okay, date ten it is." And when his lips descended on hers softly, she wasn't the least bot surprised.
-IK-
The temperature was damn near freezing when the couple arrived at the rink. The ice was littered with people skating or drinking hot drinks around the edge of the outdoor arena. Inuyasha pinned back his ears when a young girl fell face first on the ice. A string of curses echoed through the rink as she slammed her fist on the ice. Her parents raced to help her up as she yelled that her routine was immature and she'd never win with it. It took some soothing, but the parents convinced her to keep trying. The girl eventually wiped her nose and gave a nod before taking off once more.
She did a beautiful twirl -like a ballerina gracefully twirling on a stage- before she bent back slightly and circled her arms above her head as she picked up some speed in the twirl. The blonde braid flew around her rapidly and when she suddenly stopped, she threw her arms down and bent her right knee on the tip of her skate in a delicate pose. Inuyasha was in awe as the cheers of her parents sounded around him. "She must love figure skating." He murmured.
"That's Elsa Eriksen. She's from Norway and is competing in the Junior Grand Prix next week. I did an article on her last year when she won the gold in her division at the age of fifteen no less. Her younger sister Anna won silver in her age division this year. Miroku did a beautiful piece on the finals last week. I was even shocked." Kagome laughed as she took the offered skates and sat down to lace them on.
"So, she's a figure skater. Rin always wanted to skate, but when Sesshomaru and Kagura took her to a rink, she fell three times and that was all it took for Sesshomaru to scoop her up and walk out without a second glance. Kagura was pissed that he didn't give Rin a chance, I mean squirt was only five at the time."
Kagome laughed. "Somehow I can see that. Well, we should have invited Rin then."
Inuyasha smirked. "I did." When he spoke, Kagome looked up from tying her laces. When she asked where and when, Inuyasha pointed across the rink at his niece, who was waving enthusiastically at the two. Kagura's crimson eyes met hers and she smiled.
"Sesshomaru is going to be mad as hell, but I don't give a damn."
"She's the light of your life isn't she?" Kagome stood next to him.
A red blush spread across his cheeks as he adverted his golden orbs. "Yeah."
The raven-haired beauty giggled before she took the ice to skate towards Rin. When she got closer, Kagome bent her knees in a squatting position as she glided towards the young girl. Kagura smiled when her daughter laughed and wrapped her arms around Kagome's neck in a hug. "Kagome! I am so glad Uncle Ash invited us. Daddy has no idea, but even if he did, mommy would of brought me anyway." She stated matter-of-factly.
"I'm happy too. So, shall we dance?" She asked, standing and holding a hand out to Rin. The young girl took her hand and bowed. "We shall." With that, they took off.
Rin was actually a bit better than she had expected. "When did you learn to skate?"
"I roller blade at home. Mommy had part of the back yard into an asphalt rink for me to practice during my summer vacation. I just took what I learned from that and implied it to the ice skates. Daddy is afraid I'll really hurt myself on the ice since you don't actually wear protective gear with a leotard, but at home, he makes me wear the full body gear. It's embarrassing."
Kagome laughed as she skated around her. "Well, it paid off." Rin watched as Kagome did a routine she said was from a class she took as a child. Inuyasha finally had his skates on and was getting ready to take the ice, when Kagura tapped his shoulder, bringing his attention to Kagome. His mind went blank, void of all thoughts that didn't concern her. In that moment, he never thought she looked more beautiful.
Raven hair danced around her, mingled with the bright red scarf she wore, -one that looked oddly like the one he had tucked away in his desk drawer- her arms spread out as she lifted her right leg and bent forward. She touched the ice with her right hand before she twirled around and began to skate faster and faster until she readied herself for a triple toe-loop with a salchow. Kagome stepped down on her right foot, propelling herself into the air where she completed a perfect triple loop. Kagome landed on her right foot as she glided out with her left leg arched delicately in the air. The dance was completed with a beautiful layback spin.
Rin erupted in cheers as she slid to a stop next to Kagome. "That was awesome! Where did you learn to do that?"
Panting, Kagome smiled placing her hands on her hips. "I- I took a class when I was younger. My sister and I did it to appease our grandfather because figure skating was better then martial arts, -which is unlady like-." Kagome bent down to whisper. "However, we ended up taking martial arts in high school."
Rin grinned. "Uncle Ash! Come on!"
Inuyasha was still stunned when Kagome skated to the edge and tapped his nose. "You're it." He gave a goofy grin before taking off to meet Rin. Of course his skating could use a lot of work and it was amateur at best, but he laughed as Rin tried teaching him the basics. She explained that it was a lot like roller blading and eventually, they found a rhythm.
Kagome took a seat next to Kagura. "That was beautiful."
Blushing, she smiled. "Thank you. It's a lot harder when I only do it every now and then. My sister is actually better. I hope she has a little girl so we'll have a reason to come more often during the winter."
"You're twin is expecting?"
A delicate hand flew to her mouth. "Oh crap. I don't know if she's telling anyone yet."
Kagura's ruby lips curled in a smile. "Your secret is safe with me." The two women chatted about any and every thing and somehow the conversation ended up on how Sesshomaru and Kagura ended up together.
"The shop I own has been around for a long time." Kagome nodded remembering when Rin had explained how her and her parents were demons and that they had been around a long time. "I was two-hundred and eighteen when I met Sesshomaru. He walked into my shop one day with an icy scowl and as royal as ever. I figured he came from a royal family, which he is, but when I approached him, his demonic aura seemed evil."
Kagome gasped. "Was he?"
Kagura laughed. "Oh yes. He was a ruthless demon, but over time, he became less cold and more- civil." Crimson eyes sparkled at the memory. "That is actually why he was there. His father had remarried to a human -Izayoi- and he wasn't thrilled about the whole thing. Of course they had been married for about twenty years and he still was sour about it. I think Inuyasha was thirteen at the time. Anyway, Toga wanted Sesshomaru to buy Izayoi a birthday present to show he could be civil to his stepmother."
"He seems fine now." Kagome commented as she looked at the half-demon dancing with his golden eyed niece.
"Now, yes. He came to get a gift for her, but all he did was complain about how pathetic my store was and how un-unique my antiques were. I had been collecting items through the years and had things museums could only dream of. So, I confronted him. We argued the whole time until he placed a blue snow globe with gold etching down on my desk. I rang it up and he left without another word." Kagura chuckled at the memory. "He came back a week later and told me I was an obnoxious wind-witch with no personality."
Kagome gasped. "Wow."
"Yeah, tell me about it. I reared back to tell him off, but then -here's the kicker- he proceeded to slap down a business card. When I asked what it was, he growled that he was taking me out to dinner that night to be ready. I was speechless. He turned quickly and fled, -silver hair blowing behind him- and when I finally closed my mouth, I looked down to read Sesshomaru Tashio CEO of Tashio Enterprises."
"He asked you out just like that?"
"Yes. When I asked why, he told me that he didn't like anything in the store except me. Apparently I am the only one who can handle his holier-than-thou attitude. I give it right back to him." She laughed. "We ended up married a year later and it took a while for me to get pregnant, but eventually I did. Rin changed his life. He became less of an ice lord and more of a tolerable man. With her he's like goo. He may not show his emotions well, but he's a great father to her."
It was a wonderful story and Kagome sucked it all up. "Y'all are a great family."
"Maybe someday you'll be apart of it?"
Before the blushing woman could answer Kagura, Inuyasha and Rin skated up. "What are y'all talking about?"
"About how you use to sleep with Mr. B-"
"Say one more word Kagura and I swear-" The threat hung in the air.
Kagura laughed as she stood. "Come on Rin. It' getting late. Time to head home." Rin hugged them goodbye and took her mother's hand and left.
Inuyasha growled low in his throat. "What is it with the women in my life and constantly making me miserable?"
A delicate hand took his. "I'm sorry." She pulled him onto the ice and grinned. "Us women are always making men miserable."
He smirked. "You haven't made me miserable at all." He pulled her close as they danced across the ice.
"You skate a lot better than you led on." Her arms wrapped around his neck.
"Rin helped a lot." He admitted lowly. "She's a good teacher, with a lot of things."
Kagome smirked. She pulled him closer in her personal bubble so she could look into his eyes. "I'm having a great time."
Inuyasha surprised her by spinning her out and dipping her back. When he leaned forward, his breath ghosted her cheeks. "Me too." Then he kissed her deeply and passionately. Pulling back for air, he pulled her upright and smirked. "Picture?"
Kagome's cheeks were flushed red and her eyes were lined with tears from the cold air. Her breath was panting out in puffs as she opened her mouth to say yes. He cell phone was cold against her hands as she positioned it put to take a picture of the two. When the shutter clicked, they smiled.
-IK-
Kagome walked through the doors to the Gazette in a great mood. Her article from the rink practically wrote itself and she had the perfect picture to add to it. She really wanted to name it Love on Ice, but since it was supposed to be about him finding his Secret Santa, she decided on Blades Against the Ice. Kagome didn't think she could be any happier.
Miroku was standing next to her desk when she came in. He wore a grin so wide, she thought his face would split. "Why are you grinning like the cat that ate the canary?"
"Well, I just talked to Kikyou and I am beyond happy for her, but also because you just received this in the mail." He handed her a manilla envelope. "Open it."
She took it cautiously and opened it carefully. Inside was a note addressed to her and a newspaper from another company. She read the letter and instead of squealing like Miroku expected, she placed the paper down. "Miroku, that job is over a thousand miles away. I can't leave Kikyou and you." And Inuyasha. She silently added.
"I talked to Kikyou and she's thrilled for you. She wants you to take it. And don't worry about me. I'll be fine here. My job is secured here. They loved your series on the Secret Santa and after the holidays, they want you to fly out and work as a journalist for them. It's a high pay raise with benefits and you get to see a whole new place."
"I- I don't know. Let me think about it." She hugged him before turing to leave. "Oh and don't tell anyone until I figure this out." With that, she was gone.
Miroku gulped. He had already told Sango. Maybe she wouldn't tell Inuyasha.
Maybe, just maybe.
-To Be Continued-
Until later my loves. Check back and see what day eleven has in store for our favorite couple! ONLY two chapters left! Then I can finally finish the New years ficlet that I started on a month ago! Thank you for your patience!