Kanna set to work, digging through what was left of her home. The construction team had already cleared the rubble of the main house, but the shed was still a pile of old wood.

She needed to find Sesshomaru's swords and be rid of them once and for all. Akutoki had come to her the night before, eyes blazing as if she were seeing through him and straight into hell.

He'd been short with her, unwilling to compromise. She had two options; get the sword or watch the very people she'd wished for he murdered before her very eyes.

So she dug. She pulled back broken boards and labored under the rubble until well in the morning. It was daybreak when she pulled the case from the pile.

And it was empty. The seal had been peeled off, something that shouldn't have been possible, and the swords stolen.

Panic overtook her. She had to find them and steal them back. It was the only way. Until she found them she'd have to beg Akutoki for more time.

XxXxXxXxXx

Sango stared at her newest evolution in the mirror. Fangs. Her yokai marks were still faint, but when she tilted her head just right she could see them.

Sesshomaru barged into the bathroom holding up two shirts. One was dark red, but his skin was so pale that it looked more threatening than anything, like blood against snow. The other was green, like pine needles. She chose the green, deciding that it had a far more Christmas feel, even if she wasn't sure exactly what Christmas should feel like.

He handed her Bakusaiga, "I was told to leave this in our room, but I don't want to take the chance. Will you carry it for me?"

She held the sword, pushing against Sesshomaru's own energy, willing it to shrink how her dagger did. When it did, she added it to the holster on her thigh, right beside her own.

"Even Bakusaiga loves you."

"Are you ready for your big showcase?" She tugged her dark green dress over her head, not missing the way his eyes raked across her form. The plunging neckline took some getting used to, but she was a huge fan of the way the velvet fabric settled on her hips and flared at the hem.

He snorted, "I still say I was had. She shows up with Rin and peanut butter cookies, then claims it wasn't a set up."

Sango stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek, "you can just tell me that you're nervous. I won't judge you."

He spluttered, chasing after her as she moved to the small collection of jewels that she'd been lent for this very occasion.

"Lord Sesshomaru does not get nervous."

She inspected the sparkling bracelet in the light, "yes, that's why you're referring to yourself in the third person again?"

"Again?"

"You did the same thing when we fought Naraku," she fastened the bracelet, heading into the living room to meet with Kagome, "and when InuYasha first kicked your but from here to Kyoto."

He was trailing after her like a puppy, absolutely scandalized at her accusations, "for the record! I wasn't nervous about fighting Naraku. He got what was coming to him. And I sure as hell wasn't nervous about fighting InuYasha and his pathetic Tessaiga!"

She dropped onto the couch, waiting patiently for Kagome to arrive. As expected, she and InuYasha were both in red. Kagome's dress was rimmed in fluff around the hoop skirt and InuYasha looked to have been violated by the tie that hung limply around his neck.

"How come Sesshomaru doesn't have to wear a tie!"

Kagome sighed heavily, patting him on the back, "you could ditch the tie and the head scarf for the Santa hat. You truly are being insufferable."

He scowled at her, "not on your life wench."

"Is everyone ready to go?"

Kagome stared at Sesshomaru especially hard and Sango raised an eyebrow at people who pointedly ignored her.

"Ready as we'll ever be."

XxXxXxXxXx

Sesshomaru was nervous. Despite the fuss he put up.

The auditorium seemed to be overflowing with people and, even though he'd practiced this song every day for the past week, he still wasn't confident.

"You're on in five." The stage hand, Sesshomaru decided, was increasingly more irritating. So much so that he was considering breaking his dietary restrictions and eating him, just to shut him up.

Better yet? He'd send him to his mother. She enjoyed human meat.

The makeup team had fought to cover his markings, claiming that in these uncertain times it was best to blend it, but he'd chased them off with frothing claws. Of course that caused Sango to scold him and now she was in the crowd, projecting her displeasure.

To make matters worse? The ring was burning a hole in his pocket. Just yesterday Sango had been trying to break up with him. His heart was going double time as he paced up and down the walkway.

Kagome seemed to be doing her part and keeping Sango in a good mood, but Yuka hadn't shown yet.

She was in charge of the fake snow and the projector.

The flashing of a light let him know that she was in place and he relaxed a smidge. Just a smidge.

"Get in position."

Sesshomaru took a breath. It was now or never. He'd find Sango in the crowd and he'd make his intentions apparent.

The piano started and he stepped onto the stage, his expression a perfect expression of boredom.

There goes my heart beating

'Cause you are the reason

I'm losing my sleep

Please come back now

And there goes my mind racing

And you are the reason

That I'm still breathing

I'm hopeless now

The stage lights were just bright enough that he couldn't see beyond them. He switched the mic to his left hand, signaling to Yuka to lower the brightness.

I'd climb every mountain

And swim every ocean

Just to be with you

And fix what I've broken

Oh, 'cause I need you to see

That you are the reason

There goes my hand shaking

And you are the reason

My heart keeps bleeding

I need you now

She did. He stepped off of the stage, floating before the crowd. Sango was in the front, her dark eyes tracking his every movement.

If I could turn back the clock

I'd make sure the light defeated the dark

I'd spend every hour of every day

Keeping you safe

And I'd climb every mountain

And swim every ocean

Just to be with you

He reached downwards, pulling Sango upwards with him. His hand landed on her waist and he pulled her close. Yuka had taught him the dance, basically drilled it into his skull, and now he was leading Sango higher and higher.

Her perfect hands were clutching his shirt, but her head lay against his chest as he led her in circles around the auditorium.

And fix what I've broken

Oh, 'cause I need you to see

He gripped the microphone, dipping the love of his life towards the crowd as he readied himself. This was for her.

That you are the reason, oh

The note tore out of his chest, ringing like a bell. She was the reason.

I don't wanna fight no more

I don't wanna hurt no more

I don't wanna cry no more

He found that the words that he sang rang true. What was the point of fighting if he had her?

Come back, I need you to hold me closer now

You are the reason, oh

Just a little closer now

Come a little closer now

I need you to hold me tonight

He brought her back towards the ground, placing her gently on the stage. She was smiling at him, brilliant and perfect and his.

I'd climb every mountain

And swim every ocean

Just to be with you

And fix what I've broken

'Cause I need you to see

That you are the reason.

Snow began to drift downwards as the last of the piano notes rang out and he dropped to one knee, holding the ring out towards her.

"Will you marry me, Sango?"

She stared at him in disbelief. They'd been dating for four months and now here he was on one knee. They were supposed to be taking their time getting to know one another, but his eyes were shining and the snow crown that accumulated on his head made him regal and irresistible.

Besides. Her answer was set in the stars at this point. Whether it was today or one hundred years from now, Sesshomaru would be her husband, her mate, and her perfect piece.

He was everything she wanted and she couldn't wait to be his in her entirety. With his ring on her finger and his fang in her holster there was no God she would not conquer.

Tears were blinding her and it was hard to make out the ugly, sobbing yeses that she was hiccuping over. She dropped into his arms, nodding dumbly and kissing his cheeks and then his lips.

He would be her forever.

A.N./ (: me thinking about the next couple of chapters.