Notes: Sorry it's taken me so long to get this chapter up. But I hope your ready for a long one. What can I say...Writers block is a suckfest.
Quick clarification. When I said that due to my faith I prefer to not research Buddhism, what I actually meant to say wasn't so much that I had a problem with researching it for myself, but I don't think I should be putting that information out in my fics where someone could read it and decide it sounds kinda groovy to them. I would feel horrible!
I also want to mention, for flamers out there, yes I am aware Kagome's family wouldn't celebrate Christmas…I have addressed this at length in the last couple chapters. Read it there please because I have neither the time nor the inclination to retype all that out again.
For my devoted fans, thanks, your support means tons, Puppy love all over the place for you guys
Sango psycho or whatever... PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!Do not, I repeat, PLEASE DO NOT...EVER, EVER, EVER again, make threats, even in fun, about killing my family. My daughter reads my reviews...and you scared the shit out of her.
Part One-Chapter Eleven
With Love This Christmas
Sango tiptoed quietly around the hot spring, careful not to make the slightest sound that might wake Kagome. She had a tiny bit to finish sewing on InuYasha's gift and this would be her last chance to find a private minute to finish it. She peeked into the cavern that Kagome and InuYasha shared, thankfully, Kagome was sound asleep. She rushed out into the big cavern where InuYasha waited to boost her up into the alcove. He stood by the Christmas tree, a huge grin on his face as he told her his end of the bargain was nearly finished. Sango climbed onto InuYasha's back and he leapt up into the high alcove.
"Can I see it?" Sango asked as she settled down with her sewing needle and lap full of rabbit fur.
"I guess." InuYasha handed her the almost finished gift, she smiled over his attention to detail.
"You've done such a beautiful job InuYasha; I don't know how I can ever thank you." She handed it back so he could continue his work
"Keh, you've thanked me enough, trust me" he smiled a little "My fingers are grateful" he held up a hand, still full of needle pricks from his own attempts at sewing.
Sango giggled into her hand. "I'm glad we were able to help one another."
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Unbeknownst to them, down in the cave another exchange was taking place.
Kagome always woke when InuYasha left her in the night. Before she learned he was sneaking off with Sango to work on her Christmas gift, she had dismissed it, assuming he was going to relieve himself. Then, she had always just rolled over and gone back to sleep without waiting for him to return. Now, things were a bit different.
It was three a.m. officially Christmas eve, and Kagome had to sneak in a meeting with Miroku to give him his gift for Sango.
Kagome peeked out from behind the curtain that separated the private cavern from the huge cavern, making sure the coast was clear. She giggled a little bit, she felt like a spy in one of those corny old movies Gramps was always watching when he couldn't sleep.
She looked around, not seeing InuYasha anywhere, then waved Miroku over. Miroku scampered across the big cavern on quiet feet. If InuYasha caught him sneaking into the area where he and Kagome slept, InuYasha would kill him and ask questions a month after his funeral.
Kagome pulled the curtain open, hurrying him inside with a stifled giggle.
"Shhh!" Miroku warned, "If InuYasha catches me in here…"
"Oh, he won't dare lift a finger, besides, I'll sit him." Kagome giggled again, wishing they had a secret password or something.
Miroku laughed a little "Right, well? Did you finish?"
"Yes! I did!" Kagome went to her backpack, pulling something from its contents and handing it to Miroku.
Miroku took Kagome's hand. "It's so pretty, thank you Kagome!"
"Your welcome. She will love your gift Miroku, it's so sweet." Kagome smiled.
"InuYasha will love yours as well." Miroku grinned, "What was it again"
"Nice try!" Kagome squeezed his hand and let it go "You'll see soon enough."
"You know Kagome" He teased "A body would think that you don't trust me"
"Oh, go on now" She peeked through the curtain, making sure that InuYasha was nowhere in sight.
Miroku ran out into the dark cavern, slipping around the corner into the cavern that he had chosen to sleep in.
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InuYasha felt a warm arm wrap around him from behind, a soft cheek cushioned itself against his shoulder blades as her hand lightly caressed his chest. He felt her lips, and then her tongue barely touched the shallow valley in the middle of his back. He didn't open his eyes, but turned around taking her in his arms, pulling her close. One arm folded up between them while the other caressed where her lips had been just a moment before.
Kagome tilted her head, pressing her lips slowly to the underside of his jaw, working her way down his throat.
InuYasha sighed deeply, squeezing her tight, loving the feel of her soft coziness next to him.
"Kagome…" He whispered against her hair, brushing his lips over her forehead.
"Yes" she lifted her face, brushing her lips over the underside of his chin.
"I'm still not going to tell you." Kagome opened her eyes, forcing her mouth down into a pout.
"Fine!" She rolled over, turning away from him in feigned temper.
She had been trying for two days to find out what her gift was, since Sango had confessed to him that she accidentally let it slip to Kagome that he had one for her.
Inuyasha reached for her, pulling her back against him.
"Kagome, come on, don't be like that." He kissed her shoulder and neck, trying to get her to give up first.
"Hmmp" she snorted, turning her face away from him and into her pillow.
"Kagome…" he licked the outer ridge of her ear, knowing it always raised bumps on her arms, while he cupped a breast playfully. She still wasn't budging.
"Okay" he sighed, "I'll tell you what mine is if you tell me what yours is"
Kagome looked up, rolling slightly backwards.
"Really"
He pulled her face to him, pushing her on her back and lying next to her. He took her lips, plunging deeply, doing all he could to send even the smallest bit of his feelings to her.
"InuYasha…" she whispered against his lips, pulling away and caressing his cheek with the backs of her fingers. She kissed him again, shallower, smiling the brilliant smile he held so precious.
"Are you really going to tell me?" She looked up, actually batting her eyelashes at him, rubbing a finger over his lips.
"Hell no. But it worked didn't it?" Before she could say anything he jumped out of the alcove, and shot out of the cavern, laughing his head off and almost mowing Miroku down in the process.
Not to be outdone, Kagome chased after him, pillow in hand.
"You baka jerk!" She yelled, trying to hide a grin as InuYasha faked her and then made a dash for the waterfall.
"You're just mad because you didn't get your way," he yelled over his shoulder when Kagome caught up to him and started to make her way down the rocks.
"Baka! Baka! Baka! I should give you a nice big Christmas eve big O command for that!"
"Keh, you wouldn't dare." He glared at her as she caught up.
"Maybe not, but nothing's stopping me from doing this" Kagome swung her pillow as hard as possible. Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it, InuYasha hadn't really thought she would hit him with the pillow and was caught totally unaware, making a rather nice splash as he fell into the base of the stream.
Kagome stood on the edge, laughing hysterically. Inuyasha surfaced, spiting water and growling. He pulled himself out, glaring at Kagome.
"You ready for your swim?" He looked at her with an evil glint in his eye, shaking his head and flinging water drops around her.
"InuYasha….you don't want to do that, not really do you?"
"Want to bet?" he inched closer, his hair now shooting out in very direction imaginable, and some that weren't. He dripped water and looked for all the world like a very angry, very rabid dog.
"InuYasha…" She batted her eyes again
InuYasha looked down at her; her eyes reminded him of the sweet innocent young girl he had first met that night at the Goshinboku. The girl that had tugged at his heart even though his mind told him she was Kikyo and he hated her.
But that sweet innocent girl had just pushed him into the water! His mind reminded him.
"Oh yeah…." he thought…that required revenge!
He began to advance again.
"Sorry Kagome, you made your bed, now your gonna have to swim in it." he grinned at her, his protective nature making sure she was aware this was just play and not scared.
He needn't have worried.
"But, InuYasha…If you throw me in," She curled her hand up and coughed dramatically into it. "I might get sick, and we already used so much of the medicine when Miroku and I were sick before"
Out of the corner of her eye she caught his dripping wet ear twitch slightly. She had him. Sucker!
She started "coughing" again, this time holding the pillow over her face so he couldn't see her laughing.
She pulled the pillow down.
"Okay" she dropped the pillow, letting her hands flop down at her sides.
"Fair is -cough cough -fair" she sighed, a slight pout coming to her mouth. "I understand cough-cough-cough I pushed you in cough, rules say you have every cough-cough right to get revenge"
cough-cough-cough -cough-cough-cough -cough-cough-cough
InuYasha rolled his eyes.
"Let's just cough-cough-cough get it over with" she stepped a little closer to the edge, plugging her nose.
InuYasha glared at her theatrics. "Keh! Baka! Come on already it's your turn to make breakfast. And try not to cough up any of your guts into it."
Double SUCKER! Kagome grinned behind his back.
Kagome skipped to catch up to him; she smiled at him as he reached out hold her hand. A second later, he pulled the pillow out of her hands, giving her a sound shove into the shallowest part of the base of stream.
When she surfaced, InuYasha was already standing halfway up the rocks.
"Merry Christmas Sucker!" he laughed at her "Now fuckin hurry up, it's your turn to make breakfast."
Kagome glared at him until he was gone, his laughter trailing behind him. "MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU TOO YOU BAKA JEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERK!"
Kagome laughed, falling backwards and splashing in the water.
Sometimes, it was just so, so, wonderful to be alive.
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"Kagome?" Sango sat across from the fire with her weaving, almost finished with the last handle for Hiraikotsu. "You okay?"
"Sure, why wouldn't I be?" Kagome smiled
"That's your third deep sigh in the last minute." Sango smiled
"Guess I am a little obvious huh." Kagome sighed again, pulling her knees under her chin.
"Your family?" Sango guessed. Kagome nodded. "I'm sorry Kagome. I know it must be hard for you, to be away from them at a family time."
"Right about now, Mama is hustling around trying to pull things together for the big dinner tomorrow. It's always so much work for her; it takes us two days to do it all. I guess I'm a little sad that I won't be a part of that, I love working in the kitchen."
"Why can't you cook here?" Sango smiled, Kagome looked up at her. "I know, all we have is a bunch of meat and dry soup and ramen, but I bet with all that stuff you carry around you could do something amazing."
"Well, I do have all those spices, but…"
"But nothing! Kagome don't doubt yourself, just try. Ifs it's wonderful, we will cheer, and if it's bad…"
"InuYasha will toss me back in the waterfall" Kagome grinned
"Well, at least you were both adorable dripping wet." Sango offered.
Kagome smiled, jumping up and hugging Sango quickly. "I gotta inventory my bag! Thanks Sango"
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Miroku smiled, watching as InuYasha slung the heavy bag over his shoulder.
"We better get back before Kagome decides she has to throw you in the water again."
"Keh, she don't have the guts," InuYasha snorted, watching his breath fan out in front of him. "Look at the sky Miroku"
InuYasha looked up at the moonless, starless, angry blue-black sky.
"I think we could be in for the worst storm yet." InuYasha shook his head.
"InuYasha, normally that would make me worry. But we have the most wonderful company a man could ask for, enough firewood to last three winters, and thanks to you, we have shelter and plenty of food. What more does a man need?" He patted InuYasha's shoulder.
InuYasha smiled a little.
"But you have to back off on all these surprises for Kagome…She's going to get spoiled and then what? She'll be so let down when the real InuYasha comes back"
InuYasha growled.
"How'd you like the real Tessiaga up your ass houshi?"
Miroku laughed.
"Look out Kagome…he's back!"
-
Part Two-Christmas Morning
-These gifts I bring-
Miroku finished tying the purple robe into place; he looked up and saw Sango coming from the direction of her sleeping cavern. They walked towards one another; something was different in the room, something about how the light played on her face. She had a kind of magic about her, everyday she was more beautiful than he remembered her being the night before. He knew that if she hadn't been by his side, his curse would have taken him long before Naraku was defeated. His strength to hold on, to use the utmost discretion about when to open the rip, had come from her.
How had he ever thought he could live without her? When he had chosen to break their engagement after the demon bear attack, it seemed the right decision, but…how baka could a man be? Kami, how could a man live without his reason for living? It was impossible! And Sango was his reason to live, his only link to his dreams…his only link to happiness. His only everything.
"Good morning" She smiled pleasantly when they met in the middle of the huge cavern. He took her hands in his, raising them to his lips.
"Miroku?" She seemed concerned by his manner, as if something was wrong.
"Sango…Do you still want to marry me? Even if I am a complete baka?"
"Of course." She pulled a hand away, and then timidly lifted it to his cheek, wiping away tears that rested on his eyelashes. "That never stopped me before."
He smiled at her, and then laughed as she allowed him a close hug and chaste kiss in honor of the holiday.
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"InuYasha"
Poke.
InuYasha tried desperately to go back to sleep.
"InuYasha!"
Poke. Shake.
But she wasn't giving up.
"InuYASHA" she said loudly, her hand cupped around his ear
Shake, shake, shake.
He slit open an eye and growled at her. "Yell in my ear again and you're going back in the waterfall."
He closed his eye again and nuzzled back down into the pillow.
"But, InuYasha….It's morning!"
Shake, shake, shake. Shake, shake, shake.
"InuYasha."
Poke. Poke. Poke.
Shake, shake, shake.
Poke. Poke. Poke.
Shake, shake, shake.
"Knock it off Kagome! Your gonna poke me full of holes!" He growled
She sniffed, then sniffed again, sounding like she was wiping her face with her sleeve.
"Oh Kami!" InuYasha groaned "Don't tell me she's…"
"sniff…sniff…Okay, I'll leave you alone then."
He sat straight up, turning to her.
"Don't cry…"
Kagome grinned, looking straight at him.
"Good, you're up! Come on!"
He opened his mouth to yell and then he really looked at her.
She was wearing her InuYasha ensemble, complete with the freakily bobbing ponytail on top of her head and puppy socks.
He leaned forward, kissing her quickly "Go ahead, I'll be right there"
"Promise your not going to lie back down?" she looked at him skeptically.
He brushed a finger over her cheek. He wondered if he would he ever tire of the enjoyment of just watching her. Her hair jumped around the top of her head wildly as she bounced slightly on her knees, her eyes sparkled like sunlight on the snow outside. He kissed the tip of her nose where it turned up slightly, so cute.
"I promise"
"Okay" she smiled, kissing him quickly and bouncing off the bedding.
InuYasha flattened his ears to his head, he knew what would be coming next, he started a countdown in his head….
"10...9...8...7...6...5...4...3.…."
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Kagome stood in the middle of the huge cavern, completely transfixed for a minute by what she was seeing.
Every bit, even the tiniest speck, of light that shone through the cracks in the ceiling of the cave onto the Christmas tree was being reflected back, making the tree look as if a million lights twinkled from its branches. But how…she ran forward, grabbing onto a piece of the reflecting material.
Was that…no…but…it had to
"…2...1.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Kagome screamed out in absolute joy. It was adamant! Hundreds of little pieces of adamant shards!
Miroku and Sango took their hands from their ears, then stood holding hands by the fire.
"InuYasha! I think it's safe now." Miroku called, a grin on his face.
InuYasha popped out from behind the curtain, had down smiling sheepishly.
Kagome lost all traces of shyness. She ran to InuYasha, jumping up into his arms and wrapping her legs around his waist, planting a kiss on his lips.
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Finally, they sat around the tree, a million adamant stars sparkling around them in the promise of the early Christmas morning light.
Sango smiled, handing Miroku the fabric covered gift.
He pulled the note off the top and read out loud
Miroku…
Empty right now, but it is a promise of things to come. I will always believe in you.
Sango.
Miroku smiled, reaching down to squeeze her hand.
"Well open it baka" InuYasha rolled his eyes.
Kagome sat in front of him, his arms wrapped around her shoulders. She elbowed him in warning.
"InuYasha, hush"
Miroku opened the string, reaching in he pulled an empty scabbard. It was simple, with a simple scalloped design, on the back was the letters MS.
"A promise of things to come." he repeated to himself
"InuYasha made it" Sango smiled "There's another note inside"
Miroku reached his finger inside the scabbard, pulling out the paper.
He unrolled it, reading aloud
"This paper entitles Miroku to one….InuYasha!
You don't mean!"
"Keh" InuYasha looked away
"Miroku, what does it say?"
"This paper entitles Miroku to one….Inu fang, to be taken to Totosai to be forged into a sword for the purpose of protecting his family."
"InuYasha…" Kagome was overcome,
"Why?" Miroku asked.
"You saved my life." InuYasha shrugged. "Kagome, knock off the blubbering would you, kami. I'll still kill his baka ass if he steps out of line."
"InuYasha…I don't know what to say."
"Keh! That's a first."
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After a couple minutes of shy smiles, Miroku reached behind him, pulled out a small pretty box, and put it in Sango's hands.
"Careful, Kagome made the box." Miroku smiled when Sango finally got the end open and tipped the contents out. She untied the small cloth, finding the blue prayer beads.
"Miroku" Sango looked at him, confused.
Miroku took them from her, wrapping them around her wrist.
"For a long time, these beads were the only thing that kept me from death. But they use to be a constant reminder to me that I couldn't let anyone love me, or love anyone. Until I loved you Sango. Every time I look at you, I'm reminded of the beauty of what made me love you. Not the outer beauty, thought I think you're beautiful in that way too, but the inner beauty, inside your heart and soul.
"So, I want you to have these beads so when you see them, you remember how much I love you, and of the beauty that got beyond those beads."
"Miroku…I don't know what to say…"
Miroku put an arm around her.
Kagome sobbed loudly "That's so beautiful"
InuYasha rolled his eyes. "Baka"
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"Now me, now me, now me!" Kagome bounced excitedly in InuYasha's arms
"Oy! Are you trying to kill me?"
Kagome blushed, realizing just where her elbow had been hitting him.
InuYasha jumped up into the alcove.
"So that's his hiding place!" Kagome watched in wonder when her big canvas bag fell out. "Hey, I wondered where that went."
Kagome smiled when InuYasha jumped out, picked up the bag and returned, plopping it in her lap.
"There, now give me some damn peace already. Sango did most of the sewing." InuYasha sat down behind her and put his arms around her.
"Hey, I helped some." Miroku smiled.
"Keh, some" he sniffed, grabbing onto the bottom of the bag to help Kagome pull it out.
"Hey! That's one of my ….InuYasha! KAMI!"
Kagome had unrolled a mat made of rabbit fur, backed with flannel.
"InuYasha…kami…it's…"She ran her fingers through the soft fur, then rubbed it on her cheek.
"Keh, I thought it would be warmer to sleep on than that rock. I'm tired of your cold nose on my back all night."
Kagome grinned, "Well, I don't need you to sleep with me at all anymore now that I have this."
InuYasha looked like he wanted to cry for a second, worse, everyone noticed it.
"Keh." She reached down, twining her fingers with his. She hoped that the gesture would say what should couldn't at the moment. "I'll always need you InuYasha"
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"Okay Kagome…Hand it over" InuYasha grinned.
Kagome bit the inside of her lip, nervous about handing the scroll over to InuYasha. He was hardly the hearts and flowers type, least of all poetry.
He unrolled the scroll, quietly reading it to himself.
A Poem
For InuYasha
from Kagome
Merry Christmas
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I'm sorry I can't say
What you wish to hear
When you are so close to me
When our hearts are near
--
If I could write music
I'd write the sweetest song
So you would know my love
It's nothing you've done wrong
--
What I feel is oh so real
I've felt it from the start
From the moment you awoke
And stole away my heart
--
I wrote these simple words
Not knowing what else to do
Please hold them in your precious heart
till the day I can say,
I love you….
InuYasha looked up from the scroll, letting it roll shut once again.
Kagome sat in front of him, refusing to turn her head; he eased backwards, away from her.
"Hey come on InuYasha," Miroku teased, "We read our stuff out loud, we want to hear."
"Shut the fuck up" he said, jumping to his feet and stomping into the cavern.
Kagome sat quietly, tears rolling down her face. She hadn't thought he would get upset, but she'd felt his body tense at the first words, and only tense more until he was like a time bomb or something.
She stood, picking up her blanket and smoothing the fur with her hands.
"Excuse Me," she whispered, wiping her face with her sleeve.
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Kagome found InuYasha lying with his face to the wall. Timidly she sat on her knees facing him.
"InuYasha…I" her voice failed her as she began to cry again. "I thought you …I mean, that day when you yelled in front of Miroku I thought you were upset because I couldn't "
Kagome was a total blubbering mess now, she couldn't stand to be there another second, she had to get out of that cavern away from him. Her heart couldn't possibly take more.
"InuYasha…I…didn't mean to upset you…I'm sorry…." she said it in a rush, then began to get up, but found her wrist caught in his hand.
"Fuckin baka," his voice sounded funny, like he was being strangled.
"InuYasha…what do you…I don't understand."
He let go of her wrist, letting his hand slide down to link their fingers. He sat up, his head bowed, face hidden behind hair.
"InuYasha?" Kagome reached her hand out, gently brushing the hair out of his eyes. His eyes were red and puffy; the scroll was still clutched tightly in his hand and quite soggy.
InuYasha put his arms around her, holding her heart against his.
"Can't you tell the difference between when someone is mad and when they are overcome Baka?"
He pulled away, lifting her face to his. "Kagome, no one has ever made me feel so cared about…so worth being cared about since my mother died. Kami, I don't deserve you…you deserve so much better than me"
"I don't want anyone but you. Ever InuYasha. You're everything I want."
She pulled his head down to her, kissing him softly. He sighed, laying back down and settling her against his chest.
Kagome sat up, grabbing her new blanket and throwing it over them.
"Thank you for my blanket InuYasha."
"You have to share it with me."
"Good."
"InuYasha?"
"Yeah?"
"Merry Christmas."
He scooted down so he could look into her eyes.
He brushed her hair back behind her ear, brushing his thumb over her cheek.
"Merry Christmas Kagome."
He closed his eyes, then pulled her closer, sighing happily as his lips touched hers.
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Chapter 12 Preview
I'm not exactly sure what direction I am heading in…I MIGHT do one more Christmas chapter, or I might just go on.