A/N: Alright everyone, I'm aiming for three chappies today. Maybe more if I have time. You've all been great reviwers, and it's really helping me get motivated. I'm really in the spirit today…let's see how this goes.
Disclaimer: You know what? They'd make a great Christmas present, waiting under the tree. Along with my Hot Topic pants and DDR. But I think it's a bit of a stretch. ::pout::
The 12 Pains of Christmas: chapter 4
"And who's this one for?" It had to be about the fiftieth time Inuyasha had asked that question. The family was all sitting around the kitchen table, each with a stack of Christmas cards reaching over their heads. Mrs. Higurashi would write them out and pass them to Inuyasha, who checked them off the master list. He then passed them to Kagome who would put them in envelopes and write out the address, and Souta got the highly sought-after job of licking the envelope seals. The poor runt kept making disgusted faces and reaching for his glass of water. Jii-chan was around somewhere, more than likely taking a nap in his meditation room.
"Let me see the name," Kagome said, leaning over to read it while her hands kept working methodically. "Oh. That one's for my mom's uncle's half-sister's son. His name's Davie, and he's almost 2."
"You people really send these cards to your mom's…whatever?" he asked incredulous. Kagome giggled at the look on his face.
"Sure, we just saw them at the family reunion last summer. Which I almost missed because someone wanted me to go shard hunting," she replied with a pointed look in his direction.
Silence reigned for a few moments, and then the hanyou spoke up again.
"Do you mean me?" and Souta and Kagome almost fell out of their chairs. Mrs. Higurashi laughed lightly, and then answered him.
"Yes, dear, she did. But it's okay, really. She doesn't mind, right?"
Kagome looked guilty.
"No, mom."
Things were quiet again, the soft Christmas melodies playing again. Kagome started humming along to the symphony playing, she had always liked the Trans Siberian Orchestra. The only sounds heard above the music were the gently snipping of scissors and the shuffling of paper. Ever since Souta and Kagome could remember, their mother had always created and decorated her own Christmas cards. This year was no different. The cards advertised little white doves with their wings spread on a background of green and red marbled paper. On the back, personalized messages were written in black calligraphy.
"Mom, how do you do it? Keep track of everybody, I mean," Souta asked a little while later.
"It isn't very hard. And I enjoy doing it," she answered.
Inuyasha finished his current pile and decided to bug Kagome while he waited for Mrs. Higurashi to be done with a few more. He poked her in the side, his hand under the table. She jumped and let out a shriek, then glared at him accusingly. He held up his hands in a placating gesture he had learned from Souta.
"I just wanted to know what we're gonna do after we're done this," he said with an innocent look.
Kagome sighed, 'Why can't I stay mad at him?'
"Well, I still have to get some last minute shopping done, so it's off to the mall again. Is that alright?"
"Feh. Anything is better than this. My hand hurts," his voice started off macho and nonchalant, but by the end, he was whining. His ears drooped slightly, making Kagome want to reach out and perk them back up. Mrs. Higurashi didn't even look up, instead commenting that he should take a break and eat something. He got up from the table and began rummaging in the cabinets.
"They're in the top cabinet, bottom shelf to the right," Kagome said, knowing exactly what he was searching for. He came out with an instant ramen in each hand and a big grin on his face. They didn't last long though, and Inuyasha was soon back in his seat. Kagome looked, ready to ask him something, but stopped as she noticed the mess he had made of his face. With a laugh, she got up to find a towel.
"Here," she said, offering him a damp washcloth. He looked at her, puzzled, until she motioned for him to wipe his face. A light blush stained his cheeks before he realized that before it had never bothered him to make a mess of his food. 'Why now?' he thought.
"Inuyasha?" Kagome's voice came from next to him several minutes later.
"What?"
"Why aren't you working?" she asked, diligently writing out addresses as her pile dwindled slowly.
"Feh, I'll work when I want to, woman! It's not like I know any of these people anyway," he said, nose in the air and arms crossed over his chest. He didn't have to look at her to know what was coming. 'What is this? Do I like being 'sat' or something?' he thought as his face was buried in the plush carpet of the kitchen. When the spell wore off, he lifted himself with aching joints. Mumbling incoherently, he retook his spot at the table.
Inuyasha wasn't the only one getting antsy. Souta was fidgeting in his seat as well.
"Mom, do we have to send them all this year? I think I got a paper cut on my tongue," the boy whined in an impressive imitation of his all-time favorite role model. Kagome ducked her head to hide her smile. The little dork just wanted to get back to his game systems. She had heard him last night yelling at the T.V. something about the evil monsters in the last level. 'Probably wants to finish it before he opens all those new games I know he's getting for Christmas.' Her little brother never was very good at lying, especially to their mother.
Mrs. Higurashi sighed. "Souta, I really need your help this year. There are so many still left to finish, and they all have to be mailed today," she said, hoping to guilt the young boy into helping. She didn't feel too bad, because sometimes, especially with her son, it had to be done. He played enough Gameboy and Nintendo and whatever as it was.
"But, Mom…I don't even know half of these people! And the ones I do know like to pinch my cheeks and tell me how cute I am!" The resistance was still there, but it was crumbling rapidly.
"Please, Souta? It would mean a lot to me," she pleaded, trying to avoid using the 'help me or Santa isn't coming this Christmas' line.
It worked, and the runt slumped back into his seat, taking a sip of water before going back to work. Inuyasha was impressed. Next to him, Kagome was shaking with silently laughter. Souta scrunched up his face and stuck out his tongue at her. The chuckling stopped, and she glared at the boy. This only prompted him to stick his thumbs in his ears and make faces at her. Kagome started shaking with anger, her hands itching to wrap around her little brother's throat. The little twerp was asking for it.
"Sit!" she yelled, not realizing it wouldn't affect Souta in the slightest until it was too late. Inuyasha slammed face-first into the floor, breaking the chair he had been sitting in.
"Oh! I'm so sorry, Inuyasha!" she apologized automatically before turning her glare to the boy across from her who was laughing so hard he looked ready to wet his pants. He teetered precariously on the edge of his chair for a moment before falling off. "I finally know what I'm going to get you for Christmas, Souta," she said in a singsong to her brother. The runt's laughter was suddenly replaced with a shocked silence as he lay on the floor with a horrified look on his face. 'Good, he isn't as dense as I thought. Every male should come with his own subduing spell.'
It took another hour and a half for the four to finish, the time liberally sprinkled with laughing, 'sits', and Kagome's apologies.
**Wow, that didn't take me too long at all. Maybe there will be more out today. Please read and review. I'll love ya forever in the non-icky way!
Thankies lots to:
Inulover12, xo-Kagome-ox, Celeste08,Akako the panther hanyu, jlp, Demongirl6381, The Turmoil Twins, and Musical Nymph of the Rose Forest.
Celeste08: I had to put Hojo in somewhere. I'm actually much better now. A five-hour nap will do that to ya! You really got out last week? No fair!!
The Turmoil Twins: Thanx for the idea. I should have the chapter out later today. Can you picture Inuyasha in a mall full of last-minute shoppers?
The fourth thing at Christmas that's such a pain to meSending Christmas cards
Hangovers
Rigging up the lights
And finding a Christmas tree.