Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Inuyasha characters, mainly Sesshoumaru in this story. I do however own everyone and everything, including the rights to this story, in this story… that sounded kinda weird… oops.
Summary: Sesshoumaru Fukai, owner of Western Lands Co., has been left behind during the holidays while the rest of his family has gone on a cruise. A co-worker, Kadasa Mori, offers him a place to stay during the Christmas break. He accepts and then finds out she has 6 adopted brothers and sisters living with her. He'll have to survive through 'church' her family, shopping, and two teens and 4 toddlers for Christmas. Maybe he should've just stayed home…
Warning: Sesshoumaru is very much so out of character. Please excuse that…
Author's Note: Hoping you're having a happy holiday, here's The Meaning of Christmas: Part II
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The Meaning of Christmas
Part II - December 22nd
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Beep! Beep! Beep! Be-slam! The alarm clock met Sesshoumaru's fist as he rolled over to see what time it was.
8:00? What the… why'd I set it for 8? He did a quick mental run through of what day it was before groaning lightly and rolling back over. Need more sleep…
An hour later, he crawled out of bed and to the shower. Ten minutes after that he was dressed in a simple black sweater and blue jeans and sipping a cup of coffee, watching the news.
Tut tut, looks like snow, he thought with a sigh. Snow. What's it good for? It's white, cold, and wet. I hate winter. He turned to his kitchen and set his mug in the sink before heading to his bedroom to pack.
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Beep! Beep! Beep! Be-thud! Kadasa groggily sat up, looking at the alarm clock on the ground before yawning.
It's already morning… not that I'd call 8:30 morning. It's kinda like… not morning… God. I need to get some caffeine.
She stretched then tossed the covers back, slid out, and tossed them the right way, straightening the bed before she reached out and grabbed a silky blue robe to pull over a gray spaghetti strap shirt and black pajama pants.
Ruffling her semi-neat hair she went downstairs to the kitchen. Opening the fridge and pulled out a few things before making herself a cup of hot chocolate. She leaned against the counter, holding it close to her face to warm up before letting out a yawn.
She turned back to the stove after finishing it and began making breakfast. Let's see… pancakes work.
After making enough and keeping them in the oven to stay warm she went upstairs to wake everyone up. All of the kids lived on one end of the second floor while her and the guest bedrooms were on the other end.
She stepped into Rin's room. "Rin-chan," she called softly, walking over to the girl's bed.
Rin stirred, opening sleep filled eyes up to her. She smiled. "Hi Kasa…"
Kadasa smiled and sat next to her. "It's time to get up sweetie."
"M'k…" Rin's eyes began drooping and Kadasa laughed. She pulled her up in a hug and sat her up.
"Come on Rin-chan. I've got pancakes and hot chocolate waiting for you downstairs."
Rin smiled and nodded. Kadasa shook her head lightly and reached over, grabbing a brush and running it through the girl's hair before pulling it into its normal pigtail.
Rin giggled before stretching and sliding out of bed.
"Good girl. Go wake up Neal and Hatsu."
She trotted out of the room, Kadasa going into the room across the hall. "Cree," she called. She walked over to the bed and frowned, seeing the covers displaced but no Cree.
"Asa?" She turned to find the little girl coming into the room rubbing red eyes and sniffling.
Kadasa knelt down. "What's the matter Cree?"
"Bad dream."
"Really? Want to know what will fix that?"
"Wha?"
"Piggy back!" Cree giggled and climbed onto her back. She walked into Yuki's room. The boy stirred lightly then rolled over.
Cree giggled again. "'Uki!" she cried.
He sat up looking around blurrily. "Huh?"
"'Uki! Time for food! Time for food!"
He blinked to clear his vision then slid out of bed. "What kind of food?"
"Pancakes," Kadasa answered.
A head poked in. "Did I hear pancakes?" Carrie asked happily then skipped away.
Kadasa laughed and started marching out of the room. "Follow the leader!"
The toddlers all marched down the stairs and into the kitchen, taking their spots at the breakfast bar. Yuki wandered in yawning and sat at his spot, Carrie already in her seat.
"Order up!" she cried, serving out plates and forks. "Pancakes for Rin-chan, pancakes for Cree, pancakes for Yuki, pancakes for Carrie, pancakes for Neal, pancakes for Hatsu!"
After getting them settled with butter, powdered sugar, syrup and hot chocolate she turned on the news, dragging her stool across from them with her own plate.
"Tut tut, looks like snow!" she chirped.
"Yay!" Neal cried.
"Yippee," Yuki grumbled.
"When-when?" Cree asked.
"On Christmas!"
"Yay!" Hatsu and Rin echoed.
"What are we 'yay'ing about?"
They all turned to find a woman walk in, a man behind her grinning.
She had brown hair with a red/orange tint falling around her waist and emerald green eyes wearing a green peasant shirt and black jeans.
He had gold brown hair slicked back and warm chocolate eyes. He wore a tan sweater and darker brown pants.
"AUNT SENNI! UNCLE WREN!" They were lunged at by four toddlers, almost toppling them.
"Hey guys," Serenity said smiling and hugging them. Wren bent down and picked up Neal and Hatsu in a crushing hug making them laugh.
Yuki suffered through a hug from his aunt and a hair ruffle from his uncle, Carrie hugging them both tightly.
"Step aside," Kadasa said. "Sister needs a hug." Serenity laughed and hugged her, followed by Wren.
"I missed you guys!" Serenity cried.
"Rin missed you too Aunt Sen-sen!" Rin chirped.
Serenity laughed and ruffled her hair. "So what's for food?"
Kadasa rolled her eyes. "Should've figured you'd only come for food."
Wren grinned. "What else would we come for? We're seeing you in two days anyway."
Kadasa chuckled and headed back to the stove, quickly making two more plates of pancakes.
Wren bent down and handed the kids a Disney movie. "Here guys. Early Christmas present."
"Kasa?" they chimed.
"Go. Begone you devils."
They disappeared and she heard the movie start playing in the other room. Yuki grabbed his plate and disappeared up the stairs. Carrie yawned and tossed her plate in the dishwasher heading for her room as well. Serenity and Wren sat down across from her.
"So what's new with you two?" Kadasa asked.
"Not much. You?"
"I have a house guest for the next week."
"Ooo," Serenity leaned forward. "Is he cute?"
Wren scowled at her. "Senni!"
She looked sheepish then hugged him. "Aw Wren. You know you're the only one for me!"
He gave her a dull look. "Yeah yeah." Serenity and Kadasa laughed before he grinned.
"I have to go take a shower," Kadasa said. "And make sure everyone's dressed. That'll take an hour at least and it's already 9:00."
Serenity nodded. "We'll watch the rugrats."
"We will?" Wren asked and she whapped his arm lightly.
Kadasa shook her head. "Just don't make out in front of them."
Her sister scowled darkly at her and Kadasa laughed heading to her room.
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Sesshoumaru glanced at the clock. 10:21. They've gotta be up by now, he thought as he pulled into the driveway behind a dark emerald car. He climbed out and went to the trunk, pulling out a suitcase and bag. The wrapped presents were in the back of the car but he'd get them later.
Walking up the front steps, he pushed the door bell.
"Mr. Sesshoumaru's here! Mr. Sesshoumaru's here!" He raised an eyebrow as little faces appeared in the glass around the door. A moment later feminine laughter sounded and the door opened.
He blinked in surprise. It wasn't Kadasa.
She smiled and he was reminded of Kadasa when she was actually being nice and not hyper. "You must be Sesshoumaru," she said in good humor.
"How did you ever figure that out?" he asked stoically.
She laughed and reached forward, taking the bag out of his hand and shaking it. "Nice to meet you. I'm Serenity. Just call me Senni."
"Sesshoumaru Fukai."
"Sen! Who was it?" A man came around the corner.
"Asa's new house guest." Serenity hooked an arm around his then turned to Sesshoumaru. "This is my boyfriend, Wren Warren."
Sesshoumaru looked curious. "Of Warren Industries?"
Wren grinned and nodded. "The very one."
"It seems we have someone intelligent in this house of children."
"I do hope you're not implying that I'm not intelligent!" They all turned to find Kadasa coming down the stairs holding Cree's hand.
"Of course he's implying that," Serenity scoffed. "What did you think he was implying? Oh wait. You can't think," she said innocently.
Kadasa scowled. "Thank you dear sister for your lovely comment." She turned to Sesshoumaru. "I guess you've met my sister already." He nodded. "Well, tell her that she can help you find your room."
Serenity stuck her tongue at her sister before heading for the stairs. "Come along Sesshoumaru."
He followed after her, Wren sticking to his side. "So, how's your business coming along?" Wren asked as they climbed the stairs.
"Really well," Sesshoumaru replied. "Why?"
"Well Western Lands Co. is still fairly new in the business world. Seeing as how it's only 10 years old compared to the 75 year old ones. And the fact your father has no say in it."
Sesshoumaru smirked. "He was quite annoyed by that."
Wren looked over then grinned. "Brilliant. He would've run it behind your back if you had."
"Exactly. Have to keep it simple."
"Guys. No business talk please," Serenity said before leading him down the left hallway. The top of the stairs basically made a T. The left side was guest / adult rooms the right all of the kids. He got the second door on the right in the left hall. It was fairly huge. A big bed, dresser, desk and bathroom attached.
"Very nice," he said, stepping into the dark blue room.
"Kadasa's got a thing for keeping a nice house with 6 kids," Wren said. A clock chimed down the hall and he cursed. "Senni we're gonna be late to my brother's if we don't leave now."
Serenity sighed then shook Sesshoumaru's hand. "It was nice meeting you. We'll seeing you Christmas Eve."
He nodded and they disappeared. He looked around once more before sighing and heading for the dresser with his suitcase.
Let's try and make the best of things.
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He now sat in the living room on the couch, watching Neal and Hatsu who were playing a game of Sorry. Neal had short dark green hair and bright green eyes. He wore a simple black tee shirt and kakhi pants. Hatsu had dark silver hair and lavender eyes. He looked a lot like Yuki now that Sesshoumaru thought of it. He wore a violet tee shirt and black pants.
Rin and Cree sat on the couch playing with toy horses. Rin had her dark brown hair in its pigtail to the side of her head, honey brown eyes focused on her horses. She wore orange jeans and a cream colored tee shirt. Cree had the same blond hair and blue eyes as Kadasa. She wore a pair of denim overalls and a blue tee shirt.
Carrie was sitting on the other side of the Sorry board, watching Neal and Hatsu play and gently helping them count the number of spaces they needed to move. She had auburn hair pulled into a high ponytail at the moment and bright blue green eyes. She wore a black peasant shirt and denim jeans.
"Hey Sesshoumaru?" Kadasa called and he turned to look at her. "Would you mind checking on Yuki and seeing if he's alive?" Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow. "His cat-like curiosity should have made him come see who was at the door so unless he's reading, he's probably dead."
He shook his head lightly and stood. She grinned. "Last door in the right hall, on the left," she chirped and went back into the kitchen. He climbed the stairs and went to the room.
Yuki wore a black tee shirt with a red long sleeve under it and jeans. He lay on his bed reading Lord of the Rings. He knocked on the door frame.
Yuki didn't even look over. "Yes?" Sesshoumaru walked in. Yuki turned to see who it was and blinked in surprise before sitting up, dull look back on. "Yes?" he repeated.
"I was ordered to check on you."
Yuki raised an eyebrow and Sesshoumaru put his hands in his pockets. "Kadasa seemed to think you'd died considering, and I quote 'his cat-like curiosity should have made him come see who was at the door so unless he's reading, he's probably dead.'"
"So why'd she sent you?"
"Because if you were dead, I'd be blamed seeing as how I was the only one up here since."
Yuki snorted. "Tell her that I'm alive and if she's so curious as to see whether I'm alive or not, she should get her big butt up off the couch and check herself."
Sesshoumaru grinned. "It'll be my pleasure."
Yuki looked surprised as he left. He watched the empty doorway hearing Sesshoumaru go downstairs. Two minutes later he heard Kadasa shout, "MY BUTT'S NOT BIG YOU BIGBUTT!"
Yuki snorted and shouted, "NICE COMEBACK SMART ONE!"
"SHUDDUP!" He chuckled and lay back, continuing where he'd left off.
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Sesshoumaru fingers flew over the laptop keyboard as he sat at his desk, working on something for Western Lands Co.
There was a knock at his door and he turned to find Kadasa walk in. "Hey. You working?"
Sesshoumaru nodded and pressed save. "Just trying to keep up and get ahead."
Kadasa smiled and nodded. "Understood. Just need you to see something." He raised an eyebrow and she led him downstairs. She stopped before the living room and put a finger to her lips before motioning in. He stepped around and peeked in. His eyes widened as he saw Yuki laughing. He glanced at Kadasa.
"You got the wrong impression of him. You were a stranger and saw him both times he was extremely tired and or half awake. He's a really good kid. If you take him out shopping he'll revert to his stoic self, like you, but around his brothers and sisters…" She smiled lightly. "He's extremely intelligent. Maybe you'll find out if he asks for help with homework."
He glanced at her then at the boy sitting on the couch being tackled by his two brothers. He nodded. "I suppose I might."
She rolled her eyes. "Cryptic psychopath."
He smirked. "Only for you."
"Thanks ever so much." She stepped into the room. "Oi! Who wants pizza?"
"PIZZA!"
"Guess that's a yes," Sesshoumaru muttered.
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