Disclaimer: I do hereby disclaim all rights and responsibilities for the characters in this introduction to the holiday season… especially for the one who loves to have fun. A nod of recognition is bent towards Rumiko Takahashi for her creative prowess.

A Debt of Gratitude: With abundant thanks to Fenikkusuken, who understands me so well.

Back from the long weekend…

Secret Santa

Susan poked her head into Kagome's office on Monday morning. "You're here bright and early! How was your Thanksgiving?"

"It actually turned out to be a lot of fun," the principal smiled.

"Fun is good… speaking of which, did you read the green memo yet? I put them in everyone's boxes before I left last week," Susan said as she crossed to the coffee pot.

"Uh… no," Kagome admitted, plucking the notice from her inbox and scanning it. "Secret Santa?"

"Sure!" she beamed. "You know the drill. Everyone's name goes into a hat. You do two or three nice things for the person you draw during the month—a gift, a card, a gift card." Her secretary made herself at home in the chair across from Kagome. "We never do anything big, but small gestures can be a real lift."

Kagome flipped to the second sheet and her brows went up. "This is quite the application," she remarked with a widening smile. "Who put this together?"

"I did!" Susan boasted, obviously proud of herself. "I organize the Secret Santa exchange every year, and that list makes things a whole lot easier for the gift-givers, believe me!"

"It does sound like fun. How many people usually take part?"

"Oh, I'd say there are at least twenty each year—enough that it's almost impossible to guess who has your name. That's part of the fun, of course. Last year, I had no trouble figuring out who had my name."

"What gave them away?" Kagome asked.

Susan laughed. "I was lucky enough to have Gert draw me. Every morning, there was a fresh muffin or cookie on the corner of my desk—best coffee breaks ever, courtesy of Gert!"

"Who did you have?"

Her secretary wrinkled her nose. "I had Vice Principal Murray. It's hard enough to shop for men, but to shop for a man I don't know well? Ugh! I ended up calling his wife, and she conspired with me. It turned out to be a real hoot once I had a partner in crime!"

"So… does everyone take part?"

"No, no; it's purely voluntary. Some people don't have the time for anything extra during the holidays, but… have I mentioned that it's fun?"

"More than once," Kagome laughed. "Oh, all right; count me in."

Susan smiled in satisfaction. "Good!"

Once her secretary had returned to her own desk, Kagome contemplated the questionnaire for several moments before filling in the blanks.

Name: Kagome Higurashi
Favorite Color: red
Favorite Food: chocolate
Favorite Animal: cat
Hobbies: board games
Collections: Everyone gives me apples.
Something you find beautiful: birch trees
Something you always need more of: sticky notes
Something that you love about the holidays: The smell of pine trees
Simple Pleasures: crossword puzzles
Tiny Indulgences: bubble baths
Minor Extravagances: good coffee

Kagome wondered what the chances were that she'd get Inuyasha's name—or vice versa—when the drawing took place, but on further thought, she doubted he would be joining in. He didn't seem like the kind of guy to volunteer to buy presents for a co-worker. With a wistful smile, she folded her sheet of paper in half and carried it to her secretary's desk. Handing it over with a small smile, she said, "Ho, ho, ho!"

"That's the spirit!" Susan beamed. "Santas will be assigned on Friday!"

Posted on December 1, 2008. 556 words.