10. Gifts

Just as quickly as it had begun, the ceremony ended with the couple being presented to their few guests. Sesshoumaru and Kagome finally broke their eye contact. Kagome squeezed his hand, and when the demon looked at her her eyes motioned to the tree line behind the guests. It was there that he caught sight of four figures standing in the shadows. Three gave him slight bows of respect, and one, the most flamboyantly dressed, blew out a mouth-full of smoke before kissing his fingers and making a 'V' shape with them, showing the 'peace' sign that Kagome had told him about. The gods and spirits gathered were certainly an odd lot. Then without alerting any of the others guests, they softly faded into the shadows.

That evening, as the celebration was winding down, Kagome and Sesshoumaru stepped into Keade's small hut. Before either could say a word, they were set upon by two small bundles of energy. "Kagome!" Shippo shouted, hugging the young woman as Rin stood before Sesshoumaru.

"My Lord!" she beamed up at him as he patted her on the head.

"Why are you two so excited?" Kagome asked with a tired smile.

The two gave each other a conspiratorial smirk. "You were brought gifts!" Shippo finally replied, indicating the small group of ornately wrapped and carved boxes sitting in the corner.

Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow as Kagome asked, "From who?"

The two children began to giggle before Rin finally broke the silence. "Lord Santa Claus sent them."

The two adults looked at each other for a moment. Both had seen the spirits give their nod before leaving, what could they want to give them with?

"You are certain?" Sesshoumaru questioned the children.

Both nodded, "I remembered him from the first Christmas." Rin stated with a grin.

The adults just looked at her. "You were awake." Sesshoumaru stated with an eyebrow cocked.

"Yes, my Lord." the young girl replied.

Kagome just shook her head as she moved to kneel in front of the elaborately decorated boxes, the rest in the room following her. She reached first for the scroll on top of the stack. It turned out to be a letter to her and Sesshoumaru.

Sesshoumaru and Kagome, it started in a familiar tone, we apologize for not making a longer appearance at your wedding. Circumstances being what they are, we would have been pushing our luck with the controlling powers by exposing ourselves to anyone else. We have, however, left you a few wedding gifts in celebration of your special day. Think fondly of each of us when you put them to use. Please cherish the days you have together and remember to lean on each other in the times to come.

Yours with love and respect~

and it was signed simply

Claus

Kagome smiled as she read the letter then handed it to Sesshoumaru. She reached first for a small red box, one the top was written For Your Travels ~SC~ when she opened it, she puled out a small, drawstring bag. It had a pair of straps, making it look similar to a modern backpack. Kagome smiled and ran her hand over the soft, green fabric. She smiled at Sesshoumaru. "This will help with traveling."

She set the bag aside and moved onto the next small square box. There was no note with it. Nothing to indicate who it was from. When she opened it, there was no denying the giver. Inside was a long, narrow strip of fabric with the words New Year written on it. Her smirked turned rather sad. "I suppose he died at the end of the year..."

Sesshoumaru watched his wife closely. She had such a habit of attracting and attaching herself so quickly to individuals. "There was a different one at the wedding today." He commented. "Though I wonder if his kind truly dies or simply disappears from this plain."

She gave a small nod. Kagome was brought out of her musings by a couple of loud giggles. "Kagome! Watch!" Shippo said. When she looked up, both he and Rin pulled her bag from Santa up and over their heads. The bag flopped to the side, looking as if it had very little in it. Kagome dropped New Year's gift and quickly reached for the bag. She started to panic when she lifted it up and it felt as light as a feather.

Sesshoumaru placed a hand on her shoulder to calm her. "I suspect the bag is spelled to hold a good deal, as Claus's bag does."

Suddenly, more giggles erupted from the sack in her hands. Kagome frowned. Opening the bag, she saw a small blue light of foxfire in otherwise utter darkness. Two cherub faces grinned up at her. She looked at the outside of the bag then back into it. "That wasn't very nice. You nearly gave me a heart attack. Besides, you both know better then to play with magical items."

"Sorry Kagome." The children chorused, though she plainly saw they didn't mean it. She placed the bag down and watched with interest as the two climbed out of what otherwise appeared to be an empty bag.

"That is definitely going to be useful." She mused. Looking at children and confirming they were okay, she said, "Now, go out and play for a bit more before bed." and without another word, both children were out the door.

Kagome gave another small smile as she pick up the next gift. Sesshoumaru sat near her, leaning against the wall. She placed a small box between them and gently unwrapped it's rye-dyed silk covering while giving a small giggle. "No guessing who gave us this." she said softly. Sesshoumaru said nothing as the ornate lid was lifted, revealing two stark white feathers, each on their own silver chain. Kagome carefully lifted one of the necklaces to look at it more closely as Sesshoumaru read a note that had been tucked into the box next to them.

"Two of my feathers," He read, slightly startling his wife, "so you will always know where each other is at... Stay Peaceful... Man." Sesshoumaru frowned at the note, realizing that Cupid was able to get him to speak in the infuriating dialect, while Kagome giggled softly.

Without another thought, she brought the necklace in her hands over her head. The moment it settled on her chest a small flash of warm light illuminated the hut. Opening her eyes again, she noticed the chain had slightly shortened so it could not slip back over her head easily. "I suppose that will prevent them from just falling off. Would you like me to put yours on you?" She asked Sesshoumaru. He gave a slight nod of his head, sitting forward a bit as she worked his long, silver hair through the chain. "You know," she began, while trying to not knot the hair around the chain. "In the future, long hair is considered a sign of rebellion, not status."

"Hn." came the eloquent reply. "Then I shall have some time to think about getting it cut."

She smiled and gave a small shake of her head as the necklace settled on his chest. This time they both were prepared for the flash of light. She gave a small giggle and mumbled about being "right back" as she darted out the door. A moment later he felt a pull on his chest and noticed the feather levitate slightly, pointing back towards the door as Kagome reentered the hut. "Apparently, I simply need to ask the feather where you are and it points the way." She smiled, gently touching her gift.

Sesshoumaru looked again to it's twin sitting flat again against his chest. "And this one reacts as well, pointing to you."

Kagome's smile could have lit the small hut and with a small skip, she sat down next to the last gift. Again, she gently removed the fine silk wrappings and opened the ornate wood box. From the box, Kagome lifted out a large, hand-carved wooden bowl. She placed it between them, giving Sesshoumaru a questioning glance before reaching in it to read the small note placed inside.

Water to the brim

A touch of blood

A spatter of energy

See the when you've lived

"How very odd." She remarked before standing to retrieve the bucket of water the was kept near the fire. She carefully filled the bowl completely, then sat back down. Without a word, her husband gently lifted her hand, and using one of his claws, he poked the padding of her finger. She said nothing as they both watched a single drop of blood fall into the water. Their eyes locked as his brought the wounded digit to his lips and began to suck on it until it was no longer bleeding. He appreciated her flushed face a moment more before giving her hand a gently squeeze in an attempt to bring her back to reality.

Kagome place her hand against her cheek and softly cleared her throat as she broke eye contact, wanting desperately just to fan her heated skin. After another moment she brought her pure energy to her hand and touched the water. Instantly the water swirled and fogged... they watched it move for a few minutes before she finally asked, "What now?"

"Think of your shrine and mother." he replied.

Kagome looked at him then back to the bowl, slowly the water cleared and an image of her mother showed. She was in that familiar kitchen cooking a delicious looking meal. Kagome's eyes started tearing as she watched her little brother toddle into the room, a gasp escaped her has a young version of herself bouncing in right after him. "See the when you've lived." she whispered, almost as if afraid of breaking the spell. "It's like a video tape... I can hear and see everyone...I love it."

Sesshoumaru nodded... "And in 500 years, you will have a number of more memories to watch."

Kagome gave him a small, watery smile as he gently ran a knuckle down the side of her cheek. They would watch...together...