Author's Notes: The flu sucks. It's been kicking my ass all day as I write this, but I think I can shake it off soon. Either way, I'm not getting to sleep anytime soon, so I'm writing instead.

Lights, Camera, Action!

Chapter 14- Christmas Eve

Inuyasha finished very carefully wrapping Kagome's present in his room, and the inconvenient position meant his back was now killing him. Hopefully this would be worth it. Kagome's gift was by far the most elaborate he'd come up with. There was a square, flat package with a rectangular package underneath it, and a round box on top of them both. The three packages were bound together with ribbon, and a tag bore Kagome's name. She better like this, or Inuyasha would probably end up knocking his head into the wall long enough to leave a permanent imprint of his face. Unfortunately, no matter what she would never appreciate the fact that he spent his entire morning doing this, trying to beat the crowds at the mall while everyone else slept in until noon. He certainly wasn't about to tell anyone that he would disrupt his precious sleep schedule for one individual person.

Of course, that meant he'd have to go shopping with Kagome, Souta, and Rin to pick up gifts for everyone else. He had to keep up appearances. This was probably the most elaborate Christmas he'd ever devised.

"Inuyasha!" Kagome's voice called from downstairs. "We're ready to go shopping!"

"Be right there," Inuyasha answered. He grabbed up his leather jacket and wallet and trotted down the steps where Kagome and the two kids were waiting. They all went out to Inuyasha's car when he realized that his car was clear of snow, unlike the others. Please, please, please not let them notice. Act casual.

They climbed into the car and no one said anything. So far so good.

"Huh," Kagome remarked looking at the windshield and hood. "I just noticed..."

Oh shit. Better nip that in the bud. Inuyasha turned on the ignition and hit the CD player before Kagome could finish. This was Custom Mix 5, which opened with a pair of Children of Bodom tracks. Perfect.

"What the hell?" Kagome protested the instant Alexi Laiho's "singing" came in.

"Children of Bodom," Inuyasha casually answered as he backed out of the driveway. "Finnish power metal with harsh black metal-style vocals."

"Is this what all black metal singers sound like?" Souta asked curiously.

"Some of them," Inuyasha answered. "There's also guys like Dead, Cronos, Abbath, Tom Warrior, Maniac..."

"The more I learn about your taste in music," Kagome said while gently shaking her head, "the more you scare me."

Success. Crisis averted. "Actually, I'm not a huge fan of black metal. Just some of it. I prefer classic metal and power metal."

"How many different kinds of metal are there anyway?" Souta asked.

"Oh let's see..." Inuyasha tried to tally up the genres he knew while keeping his mind on the slushy roads. "There's classic, power, black, death, speed, thrash, shred, NWOBHM, progressive, doom, sludge, Viking, folk, grindcore... A whole bunch of fakey genres too like math metal."

Kagome just raised an eyebrow. "I find it a little unnerving that people put that much thought into heavy metal."

"Why's that?" If this was going where Inuyasha thought it was, he might actually win this argument for once.

"I don't know. It just seems really weird. The music hasn't been around for more than 30-some-odd years and people keep making up all the genres to describe it."

"There are even more genres and sub-genres for books, you know."

"Well books have been around for centuries."

"So?"

"Well... you know it's older, and..."

"So because something's older, it's more valid?" Oh yeah. He was going to win this one.

"Well... the thing is..." It was probably wrong to enjoy watching her squirm, but this was too much fun.

"Kagome, I guarantee you that if Beethoven were alive today, he would be drinking buddies with Fast Eddie Clarke, Lemmy, and Alice Cooper."

Kagome opened her mouth to say something, but just stared at Inuyasha in surprise for a moment before closing her mouth and looking out the window. Inuyasha flashed a quick Horns over his shoulder at Souta and Rin in triumph. He'd been waiting forever to use that line.

-x-

Miroku was out shopping at the town mall. Sango had invited him to spend Christmas with her family since his father had finally done something smart and sent himself to detox the day Miroku came home. He wouldn't be out until some time after New Years, but at least he finally decided to start cleaning himself up.

Miroku had already gotten Sango's gift that he would allow her family to see. The other one... well, one only needed to see the Victoria's Secret bag stuffed secretly into the Bed, Bath, and Beyond bag to figure out what he had in mind. Sure he knew he wasn't getting laid anytime soon, but he could wait. And since he caught a glimpse of the black thong sticking out of Sango's jeans the other day, he figured she did intend on eventually showing him what her underwear drawer consisted of. This would simply be the romantic/erotic flattery that would score him some brownie points.

He had gotten gifts for Shippo and Kirara off of , so now he needed to get something for his father when he came back as well as Kagome and Inuyasha. Inuyasha was easy to shop for, at least. Miroku was on a first-name basis with the guy at the music shop, so he could score Inuyasha those Running Wild albums he'd been drooling over. Kagome was a little harder, though. After wandering the mall for over an hour, he finally figured the best he was going to do this year was a gift card for SunCoast. He didn't really like giving gift cards, but Kagome was never terribly specific about what she wanted for Christmas, and her tastes were so eclectic it was like working with a blank slate: there was almost nothing to go on.

Rin would be easy to please at least. Another couple packs of Yu-Gi-Oh! cards would make her happy. Normally, Miroku would feel kind of cheap giving her stuff like that, but she treated those things like gold. A box of booster packs was her equivalent to a pony.

With shopping out of the way, Miroku made a stop at the food court. Cheese fries and on Orange Julius were a tradition for Christmas shopping. For him, anyway. He was just getting in line however when he heard a familiar voice ring out.

"Alright! That's it!"

Inuyasha. Miroku could only imagine. He swiftly exited the line and moved out of the food court. He leaned up on the railing and looked down to the floor below. A crowd was gathering at the scene. Kagome, Souta, and Rin were standing in line to see the mall Santa. Inuyasha was a few feet away, the center of attention as he pinned a guy to the side of a support column. Miroku recognized the guy and the other one with him who backed off at a scowl from Inuyasha who then turned to face his prey. They were a couple of rejects from high school who got expelled from the community college in their first year for substance abuse. They were always loitering and trying to stir up trouble in their teen years. It didn't look like much had changed.

Miroku leaned forward some more to listen in. Everyone around them was quiet with shock, so it was easier to hear.

"Listen to me as hard as you fucking can," Inuyasha slowly snarled. "Those kids say that the guy in the chair is real. And what they say goes, because it's Christmas. And if you want to fucking ruin it for them because you feel bad about your microscopic dick, then I'm going to beat you to death with a plastic reindeer. Got it?"

The dreg merely nodded, unable to speak from fear. Those guys were always troublemakers, but they were also cowards. Miroku could only smirk in sadistic satisfaction at them getting a little comeuppance.

"Good," Inuyasha growled. "Because if you two assholes mess with the kids again, I'm going to ring in the new year by drinking eggnog out of your fucking hollowed-out skull and giving my little niece your fucking spine to use as a jump rope." With that, Inuyasha carelessly tossed the man aside and stood beside Kagome, Rin, and Souta just outside the velvet ropes of the line.

Everyone was staring, unsure whether to call security or applaud Inuyasha. Miroku decided to break the silence and shouted down at the group, "This is a Kodak moment. Inuyasha saves Christmas."

Inuyasha looked up in slight surprise then narrowed his eyes. "Miroku... don't make me come up there," he said half-jokingly, and half-exasperatedly.

-x-

Kagome looked on speechless. One moment, these two jerk-offs were hassling the kids about the mall Santa not being real. The next, Rin started getting upset. Before she knew it, Inuyasha, who had only grudgingly agreed to accompany them for a photo with Santa, had jumped over the velvet ropes holding the line and pinned one of the idiots to a column and chewed him out. The excessive profanity wasn't too good considering all the little kids around, but still.

And then Miroku showed up and soon descended the escalator to join them. "Didn't know you had it in you, man," Miroku said with a smirk as he approached.

Inuyasha just shrugged and got back in the line, promptly getting hugged by Rin. "I've got my moments," he said coolly as he patted his niece's shoulder.

He certainly did. And when they came out, Kagome wasn't sure whether to scold him for going overboard or hug him. She briefly entertained the idea of giving him a not-all-that-chaste kiss as another option, until she realized just what she was thinking and turned away blushing. Why was it that lately she had been having these thoughts? Sure Inuyasha was cute, but he was a pain in the ass most of the time. He was pushy, cold, stubborn, short-tempered, reclusive... Then again he was also intelligent, loyal, witty (albeit slow on the uptake sometimes), dedicated, and charismatic. Gah, it was happening again! She couldn't think of one fault in him without thinking of a compliment that evened it out. And even in finding fault with him, it was so charming.

"Kagome?"

Kagome blushed as she realized she had been staring at Inuyasha in her own little world. She shook her head to clear it, trying to dispel all of those adjectives she was coming up with to describe his voice. "Sorry," she said with a nervous smile and an unbearable warmth in her face.

Inuyasha just pointed one finger forward ahead of them with a raised eyebrow.

Kagome glanced behind her shoulder to see that the line had just moved forward again. With a nervous laugh, she stepped up along the line with Inuyasha, Souta, and Rin. Miroku tossed of a brief good-bye to resume shopping and Kagome spent the next couple of minutes trying to push the blood down out of her face.

Rin went first then waited by Santa's chair as Souta went next. After he was done, they were going to take a group picture. Kagome had finally calmed herself enough so that she wouldn't be bright pink in the photo when suddenly Inuyasha stopped scanning the crowd and his eyes widened.

"Oh shit," he cursed under his breath and quickly tried to hide himself behind Kagome while trying to stuff his long hair into his jacket. This was of course made difficult by the fact that he was nearly a head taller than her.

"Inuyasha," Kagome asked in confusion, "what are you doing?"

"Trying to avoid notice," he hissed back.

"You're doing a great job of it," she replied sarcastically. "What are you trying to hide from anyway?"

"My ex," Inuyasha hissed again through clenched teeth. "The last person I want to see right now." He gestured one finger behind Kagome.

She turned and immediately figured out whom it was he was talking about. Striding through the mall with a single bag in her hand and a purse on her shoulder was a gorgeous woman about their age with black hair that hung down to her waist and brown eyes. With her looks and her clothes, she could have been a model. Yet there was also a strange detachment to her. As if she didn't want to get close to people. Combine that with her looks and the fact that she seemed to glide instead of walk, and you would have thought she was some kind of ghost. "You mean the Supermodel of Christmas Past over there?" Kagome asked, knowing the answer already.

"That's the one," Inuyasha whispered. "She gone?"

Kagome watched as the infamous Kikyo turned a corner and vanished. Now she knew what this girl looked like. That was the girl who had left Inuyasha such a wreck when they first met. She didn't look all that bad. But then again, appearances can be deceiving. She'd have to get the truth out of Inuyasha sooner or later. One way or another she'd find out what happened between those two. "Coast is clear," Kagome answered at last.

-x-

Christmas Eve at last. Sango kept looking out the window waiting for Miroku to drive in through the light snow falling to the ground. It was unfortunate that his father picked now of all times to leave the house, but at least it was to get himself cleaned up. That man had been beating himself up needlessly for so many years.

Kohaku and Sango's father were in the kitchen finishing up on dinner. Her family always seemed to unconsciously defy stereotypes, gender roles, and expectations. Whereas all the wholesome Christmas specials that got replayed on the TV every year showed the women cooking, Sango and her mother didn't dare go within five feet of a stove. Growing up, Sango's mother could beat up any guy who crossed her, usually out-matched the jocks, and wasn't afraid to curse like a sailor when she was angry. But if she tried to even boil water, some accident was bound to happen. Sango inherited that, and now it seemed the only appliance that wouldn't turn into a disaster at her touch was a refrigerator. Not that she minded. That just meant she got to relax on Christmas while her father and Kohaku did all the work. And in the case of this Christmas, watch for her boyfriend.

Speaking of whom, his car pulled into the driveway and he stepped out with a large plastic bag in hand. Sango immediately got up to go meet him at the door and stepped into the foyer just as he came in. "Evening, beautiful," he said with a smile.

Sango just smiled softly and gave him a peck on the lips. "Glad you could make it. Dinner'll be ready in a few minutes."

"Cool," he said as he slipped off his coat. He then reached into the bag and pulled out a rectangular package in red wrapping paper. "Here," he whispered. "Take this up to your room and don't let your father see it. If he finds out what's in there, I'm not sure I'll live to see the New Year."

Sango had a pretty good idea of what was in there, but said nothing. She just took the package and quietly went upstairs, depositing it on her bed. This promised to be a very interesting Christmas indeed.

She went back downstairs to see Miroku helping to set the table as her father brought the turkey out. The dinner opened with very light conversation. Sango was kind of hoping it would stay that way. Her father was still being very protective.

"So Miroku," her father began, "you'll be staying the night, correct?"

Uh oh. Red alert. Set-up in progress.

"I believe that was the plan, yes," Miroku said evenly before taking seconds on the turkey and sweet potatoes.

"Well, the only room available right now is Sango's." There was only way he could say that so evenly. Set-up. Sango called that one.

Miroku simply looked up, masking his surprise at that statement, meeting eyes with Sango's father. There was a brief paused. "Well... assuming you're not kidding, I'm guessing there's a 'look but don't touch' rule, meaning I'll be sleeping on the floor... or something to that effect."

"Smart man," Father answered. "I'll set up an air mattress for you after we clear the table."

That was a close one. Miroku somehow knew what to say and when. And now that he was exercising some self-control over his hormones, Sango couldn't stop thinking about how wonderful he was. Which of course led her to wonder what that mysterious gift on her bed was. Oh well, she'd find out tomorrow.

-x-

At the Takamura home, everyone was gathered in the living room watching The Nightmare Before Christmas. It was a tradition in the family, seeing as it was the only Christmas-related movie Inuyasha could sit through, let alone enjoy. But that was mostly because Danny Elfman would always be cool, and Tim Burton was god.

Rin fell asleep by the time Halloween Town was getting ready for Christmas, and Souta konked out not long after. Pity. Great kids, but no staying power.

Of course, that was when Inuyasha felt a weight on his shoulder and noticed Kagome starting to doze off against him. His face heated up, but he tried to act casual. This girl had a way of getting to him even when she wasn't fully conscious. Everyone noticed of course, but luckily none of them said anything. Inuyasha just wanted to finish the movie. Or at least get to the scene where Jack fought Oogey-Boogey. That whole scene was a masterpiece. He remembered seeing it in theaters for the first time. One of the coolest things he'd ever seen at that point in his life.

The movie went on a little longer, and Kagome completely dozed off, snuggling up to Inuyasha closely and causing a few reactions which her mother was bound to notice. He fidgeted a little and slowly stood up, using the motion to conceal his adjusting his jeans and delicately picked Kagome up bridal style. "I'm going to take her up to her room. I'll be right back."

The way Mrs. Higurashi was smiling at him when he said that made him nervous. He suddenly felt like he was in a tuxedo and Kagome in a wedding gown, which just caused his face to feel as if it had burst into flames all over again. And of course Dad just had to sit by and smirk. It was so weird. That old man seemed to love tormenting his sons, but in company, he was always so prim and proper. He seemed to think that he was an old-fashioned gentleman, always deferring to women and exercising his best manners around them, always speaking softly and fatherly. Unless you knew him well, you'd swear he was a walking anachronism.

Shaking his head lightly to clear it, Inuyasha proceeded upstairs to one of the guest rooms where Kagome was staying. Ever since he was a kid, he tried to accustom himself to doing various tasks from awkward positions, so opening to the door with Kagome still in his arms wasn't a problem.

He delicately pulled up a corner of the comforter with one foot into his hand and pulled it back, then set Kagome down on the bed and draped the comfort over her. "'Night," he whispered softly and left to go back to watching the movie.

He paused at the doorway though when he heard Kagome mumble out what sounded like his name and looked back to see her curling up and hugging one of the pillows. Inuyasha stood watching her for a moment as if mesmerized before heaving a sigh and closing the door behind him. Tomorrow morning. He had to smile at the thought of what she would think when she saw her gift. And for once... he didn't even think about what he himself would be getting.

-x-

Author's Notes: And... cut! Next chapter is Christmas Day. You'll all see what the crew got for one another at last. Happy New Year everybody!

Mimiko: Rin and karaoke will be in the next chapter. As for knitting, I can't make anything with my hands so I wouldn't know. The only thing I can do with them is play guitar (badly) and type (also badly). Of course with my knowledge of anatomy and nerve bundles couple with my romantic spirit... you know, it's probably better if I don't finish that sentence.

Megallan-chan: At first, I was a little unsure about how I was going to portray Rin, but her lines almost seem to write themselves.

Darkness-Kitsune: The way I see it, with their colorful personalities, I can't see Inuyasha and crew being anything but geeks/dorks/nerds in the modern era. Mind you, that's a compliment.

bluefuzzyelf: I can't wait for the April concert with Nightwish. I've decided to buy a Nemo fish plush to toss onto the stage when they play Nemo, just for the hell of it. It's apparently a tradition now. All because people heard they were playing at the House of Blues in Disney, and everyone thought Nemo was about the Pixar movie, considering Emppu is a Disney fanboy.

Thessalian1: Of course I'd be interested. I always get a thrill out of seeing the visions other people get when they read my works. Sort of compare and contrast to the mental images I was working with, and see what happens. It's hard to describe, you know?

Divine-Red-Crayon: Well, it's a little late, but like I said, I've been sick. Just stay patient a little longer to see what everyone's getting.

shaid: It surprises me that everyone praises the imagery, when I'm always concerned that there isn't enough detail. Kind of why I went overboard on the first chapter. But hey, go with what works. Anyway, I live in West Mifflin. Specifically, in a neighborhood I like to refer to as "The Tames Crack Alley in the Northeast." The people who have been cycling through here the last few years really suck.