I was perfectly content with laying under the Christmas tree, biting at ornaments. New favorite past-time: spraying the ants with OUST air freshener while cleaning the bathroom. :giggles psychotically:

WARNING: Inuyasha is not related to Sesshomaru in this!

A Boyfriend for Christmas

From the over-imaginative mind of Artemis

Part Two

He tapped a pen against his yellow legal pad while swiveling from side-to-side in his chair. He glanced at the other men in the room with boredom clearly expressed on his face.

He rubbed his eyes with both hands while sighing, resting his elbows on the sleek table before him.

"Are we boring you that much, Sesshomaru?" The man turned his golden eyes to look into a pair of identical ones and shrugged. "Do you have anything of importance to report?"

"Well, I was thinking about the buildings in our possession downtown. They would make great low-cost apartment buildings for those trying to get back on their feet. We'd make money, more than we get for them now, and help a few people out in the process." Sesshomaru stated without pause, sounding rehearsed, yet bored.

"Well, son." His father started with raised eyebrows. "You've once again managed to throw everyone off with your compassion. I'm glad you actually have a heart. As for your suggestion…" He paused dramatically. "I like it. Where did you get such an idea?"

"I'm doing a bit of probono work for a woman who was, up until recently, homeless. She's trying to get…" He stopped abruptly, his mouth still open with the rest of his sentence trapped on the end of his tongue. He swiftly looked at the clock.

11:45

"Shit!"

As fast as lightning, he shot out of the door, briefcase in hand, and went to his car. 'I'm late…' was the only thought in Sesshomaru's mind as he raced toward the court houses in the center of the town, glancing at the clock every few seconds to watch the minutes tick away, one at a time.

He was late. Too late.

He realized that as he stepped off the elevators, almost running into a young woman with dark brown hair whom had two children in tow. He looked at her just as she looked him, and their eyes caught. He felt a jolt of electricity, then she turned, stepped into the elevator, and glanced at him once more before the doors closed, blocking her from his view.

Shaking his head, he quickly rounded the corner, almost running into his client. "I'm sorry I'm late." He stated, hoping for that to be enough, considering it was hard enough to even say it. He'd never been one to apologize, even when he knew he was in the wrong. That's how he had gotten the reputation as being "heartless."

Ms. Omishi shook her head and looked away from him. "I really hope it was important." She muttered before making her own way to the elevators, tears shining in the corners of her eyes. He closed his eyes and sat on a bench that ran along the wall outside the court room.

"Damn…"

"Kagome! Deary!" Kagome looked up wearily as she entered her office. Her best friend, Sango, sat at one of the desks with a coffee mug in her hands and a big smile plastered on her face. "How did the court hearing go?" She asked cheerily. Kagome grunted and took off her scarf, hanging it on the coat hanger beside the door.

"I just had to take Ms. Omishi's children back to the Orphanage." She answered grumpily. She let out a huff and shrugged her coat off. "Her lawyer didn't show up, and the judge didn't want to wait all day." She heard Sango tut behind her, acknowledging her understanding. "Who the hell does this Sesshomaru Akahori think he is, anyways?" She stomped over to her desk and pulled a file from the drawer, slapping it onto the desktop with abandon.

"Who knows? Maybe he had something important to take care of and was running a little late." Sango suggested, not even sounding as if she believed her own excuse.

"What's more important than children?" Kagome asked, pulling her hair from the tight bun she had placed it in. "What's more important than taking kids from a place where they can't get the attention they need and putting them with their mother? I think he just forgot, the heartless bastard."

"Whoa, put a hold on the theatrics, sweetheart. Neither of us knows who this guy is, so…let's just calm down a little bit." She took a sip of her hot drink and set the mug down. "By the way, want to come with me to pick out a Christmas tree for the company party?" She smiled innocently, ready to pull out the pout if the occasion arose.

"You know I don't like Christmas. Why can't you go do it yourself?" Kagome sifted through the file in front of her, already writing on a post-it pad and sticking them to random pages.

"Because, I need your help. And I don't want to go by myself." She puffed out her bottom lip and gave big puppy eyes. Kagome looked up and automatically groaned and looked back towards her work.

"Do you have to do that? Honestly, sometimes I think we're in kindergarten all over again." She sighed and set down her pen with a snap. "Fine, I'll go. Just stop it already." Sango smiled and laughed, it worked every time.

"Goody. We'll leave in twenty minutes." She hopped out of her seat and grabbed more files to be put back in the cabinets, balancing her mug on top of the stack. "That should give you enough time to finish that."

"Yeah yeah." Kagome responded distractedly.

Sesshomaru stepped out of his car in front of the middle-class apartment buildings. He wanted to just get right back inside the vehicle and drive away, but some things were more important than his comfort. He walked up to the panel by the door-way and pushed the button for the right room.

"Hold on, I'll be out in a second, the speaker doesn't work." He heard a feminine voice reply crackly. He cringed slightly and rubbed the back of his neck…it was too cold to be standing outside on the streets. The door next to him opened swiftly and the woman stopped and looked at him while pulling on a pair of gloves.

"It's you." She stated, trying to keep the distaste out of her voice. This man made her lose her children…again! "I don't have much time, I volunteered to work down at the tree-lot, seeing as how I'll have to spend my Christmas alone this year. What better way than helping others?" He caught the tone and sighed, closing his eyes…Ms. Omishi was officially giving him a headache.

"Ms. Omishi, I apologize for my late arrival this morning." She snorted delicately, pulling her curly hair back into a pony-tail to keep the fly-away hair tamed just bit. "And I'm afraid you won't be able to go to have that quiet Christmas you were just talking about." She lifted an eyebrow at him in confusion. He cleared his throat and two children appeared behind him.

Ms. Omishi cried softly as her children ran up and hugged her around her middle. She bent down and gathered them in her arms. "Oh my…how did you…?" She couldn't quite finish her sentence, but Sesshomaru understood the question either way.

"Let's just say…I have connections at the courthouse." He repressed a smile as he watched the touching scene…easily done, since he just concentrated on the bitterness he felt. The whole loving moment just made the loneliness inside himself grow to immeasurable proportions. He cleared his throat to clear away his own unease, and Ms. Omishi stood.

"Thank you very much, Mr. Akahori. You've really made the holidays a lot brighter for me." She hugged him, much to his surprise. "Oh no," She began when she pulled away. "I can't just not go to the tree-lot. I told them I would help out this year, that old man really needs it, too." He pinched the bridge of his nose…this 'nice' thing was actually a bit tiring.

"I'll take your position, Ms. Omishi. I'm sure they won't mind, as long as they get the required help." She smiled brightly, shook his hand one last time, told him exactly where to go, and went back inside her building with her two children talking animatedly to her.

Sesshomaru went back to his car and prepared himself for a very long day full of Christmas cheer…how he hated that stuff…

The tree lot didn't have very many people in it, but had plenty of Christmas trees all around. Kagome rolled her eyes as Sango traipsed about with a double-yard stick, standing it next to most of the trees she came across.

"They're all six feet, Sango. Just pick one already." She watched her friend set the stick up again next to another tree while bending down and looking beneath it. Sango barely paid any attention to her.

"I'm just making sure, I'm going to check the other ones again." She began walking off to the other side of the lot, leaving Kagome alone in a corner.

"Fine then, I've got to make a call anyways." She huffed, pulling out her cell phone, and searching for some paper in her large purse.

Unbeknownst to her, someone had walked onto the lot just before her friend took off.

Sesshomaru walked over to the old man who was in charge of the whole operation, whom was putting money into a metal lock box. He smiled jovially, looking like a Santa Claus with his almost bald head and long white beard. "Merry Christmas Eve!" He said loudly.

"I'm here to help out. Ms. Omishi couldn't make it, and asked me to fill in." He stated in a business manner, wanting to get it all over and done before long. The old man raised a snowy eyebrow.

"Is there anything wrong with her? She's not sick, is she?" He asked, concerned. Sesshomaru shook his head.

"No, she just wants to make up for lost times with her children." The old man smiled knowingly and nodded.

"Well, pick up a hat and a beard. And here." He handed a green apron-like thing that had pockets for money. Sesshomaru growled lowly and put it all on. It was times like these…that he really hated himself.

After dressing himself up to look absolutely ridiculous, he walked around. He was going to help a young woman with black hair that was carrying around a large yard stick, but another young lady caught his eye. It was the same lady he had seen in the courthouse earlier that day, the one that had actually taken Ms. Omishi's children away. She was rummaging through her purse with a cell phone in one hand, so he made his way over to her, trying to act as happy as he could.

"Hey there! Are you interested in buying a tree." He asked in his most polite voice. She looked up at him, then back down, then up again, as if double-taking.

"Uh, no. I'm just here with a friend." She responded, looking at him curiously. Kagome knew him from somewhere, but couldn't quite place it. It was probably because of the cheap two dollar beard he was wearing quite lop-sided.

"Well, if you need any help, just give a holler." He walked behind a row of trees, far enough away to where she wouldn't notice him spying on her. He wasn't sure why he did it, he was never into the whole "stalker" thing, but something told him that he would want to hear what she was saying to whoever was going to be on the other end of that line.

Kagome tapped in a number and pressed the send button. After two rings, a female voice answered. "Hey Shiori. I know what I want to put in that letter I was talking about earlier." She paused slightly, hoping the other girl could hear her. When she got a small "go ahead" she continued. "Dear Mr. Sesshomaru Akahori. What the hell is your problem? How could you let someone as sweet and caring as Ms. Omishi down on Christmas. Are you selfish or just rude? Children are much more important than anything else you could be doing at this point. You really need to get your priorities straight, mister. Sincerely, Kagome Higurashi." She finished.

"Are you sure you want all that in it? That sounded kind of…harsh." She heard Shiori reply. Kagome scoffed very un-lady like.

"Of course I want all of that. And harsh? That's nothing compared to the pain and suffering of those children! It almost killed me when I had to take them back to the orphanage." She leaned against the wooden fence that was situated behind her. "I've got to go, Shiori. Please send that as soon as possible. Bye!" She heard the "Bye" in response and snapped the phone shut.

Sesshomaru walked away, quite shocked at what he heard come from the girl's mouth. So he was rude with crooked priorities? She must really hate him. Oh well, most people did, what was one more person?

He saw another young woman struggling to carry a tree along. "Here, let me help you." He hefted the tree up on top of the station wagon that she was standing by while she got bungee-cords to strap it down.

"Thank you." She said while dusting off her hands. She pulled out a few bills and handed them to him. "Here. For the tree." He nodded and stuck them in the silly apron he was wearing. "Now, have you seen my friend? She's about this tall," She put her hand a little below her forehead. "Long brown hair, bright blue eyes?"

"The one over there?" He pointed through some trees towards Kagome. She nodded energetically. "She seems really mad about something. She was on the phone telling someone to write a letter." He shrugged nonchalantly, acting as if he didn't know what was going on. These two obviously were social workers.

"Yeah. She had a bad day because of some stupid lawyer. He didn't show up when he was supposed to and it messed everything up for a divorced woman." She waved her hand in front of her face. "All in all, she's pretty mad." He nodded.

"Understandable. Well, have a merry Christmas." He walked off to go sit by the old man that was in charge of everything, handing him the money he accumulated from the young woman and sitting down on a stool next to him.

"We could use your help at the shelter tonight as well, if you're willing to spend some time there." He said, taking out the lock box and a key.

"Sure, there's nothing else I have to do." Sesshomaru shrugged and watched the two women he had talked to get in their vehicle and drive away. The older man nodded.

"Well then." He began. "I'm Chris by the way." He put out a hand in a friendly gesture. Odd, though, he didn't introduce himself beforehand.

"Sesshomaru Akahori." He grasped the man's hand briefly.

"Thank you for the help. I'll be seeing you tonight, it's time to go invest some of this in something special for the children." The old man scooted off his stool and left Sesshomaru sitting by himself…thinking, about that angry little brunette that called him selfish.

"Once we drop this tree off, we have to meet Kikyo and my mother for dinner, and I think Kagura's going to be there as well." Kagome said as they drove back to the office. "This weekly dinner thing is really starting to bug me! All they ever talk about is why I don't have a man in my life…as if it's any of their business anyways."

"Don't worry, they're just looking out for you. You know your sister loves you and your mother just wants you to be happy." Sango said as they pulled into a parking space. The tree was easily put inside the building, and they quickly made their way to a little restaurant downtown to meet with the rest of their dinner-mates.

"It's about time you two showed up, we were starting to get hungry." Kagura said as soon as they sat down at the white linen table. Kagome stuck her tongue out and scrunched up her nose in a childish way.

"Yes, now we can hear the good news Kagura was going to tell us!" Kikyo exclaimed in a giddy-manner. The girl on the pedestal cleared her throat theatrically.

"I'm engaged." She stated simply, looking at her menu once again, as if it didn't matter. Everyone gaped at her in shock.

"Let's see it!" Sango said loudly, being 'shh-ed' by a few people around them. Kagura put on another dramatic show by pulling her arm up with her other hand and slapping it onto the table. On her ring finger was an enormous 14-karat diamond on a gold band. The whole table drew breath at the same time.

"I'm so proud of you! Finally settling down!" Kagome's mother said, daintily wiping at the corners of her eyes with her napkin. "What about you, Kagome. Anyone in your life yet?" Kagome rolled her eyes. No matter how many times she told them to not ask, they did anyways.

"No, I don't need a man to make me happy." She replied crisply, not looking at their faces as she took up her menu. Kikyo cleared her throat.

"Well, I heard Kouga's back." She said to their mother, keeping an eye on Kagome for any reaction. "He was asking Inuyasha about Kagome yesterday. What do you think, sis?" Kagome set her menu back down with an irritated sigh.

"He can ask about me all he wants, doesn't mean I'll give him another minute of my time." She glared at her older sister before continuing to ignore that line of conversation.

After dinner was over, they all stood outside, waiting for their taxi's to arrive. Kikyo and their mother left beforehand and left Kagura, Sango, and Kagome waiting.

"By the way, Kagome. I sent your Christmas present through the mail. It should arrive tomorrow morning." Kagura smiled slyly as the yellow taxi appeared in front of her.

"What is it?" The woman asked, intrigued.

"You'll see." She closed the door and took off, leaving Kagome dumbfounded in her wake.

"Let's get back to the office. You still have that report, and I have decorate that damn tree." Sango said as their taxi appeared just as the other left. Kagome nodded dumbly and joined her in the backseat.

"Come join the party, Kagome!" Sango yelled in a slur as Kagome made her way to her office for a little peace and quiet. Said girl turned and kept walking with a roll of her eyes. "Awwww, party pooper!"

"Lay off the alcohol, Sango. Just a little bit." She responded before closing the office door and pulling a box out from underneath her desk, filled with files. She glanced at the one on top and automatically regretted it.

Ms. Omishi's file was on top, and sympathy quickly claimed her being. 'Maybe I should go see how she's doing.' She thought. 'She should be working at the shelter tonight, helping Santa pass out his presents.' She grinned at the thought. Just because she stopped believing in him so long ago, didn't mean that others had as well.

She retrieved her keys from the hook on the wall and made her way towards the door, set on visiting the woman who had lost everything and still had time to help others.

The shelter wasn't so far away that she couldn't walk, but since the cold was settling in, her car was much safer and more comfortable. When she pulled into the parking lot a few minutes later, she turned the engine off and reveled in the magic that was pouring off the brightly decorated building. The outside shone with happiness while sadness always seemed to be contained inside.

She stepped inside the warm building and looked around the cots, where small children were unwrapping the gifts they'd been given, most likely donated by churches and other groups set up to help the homeless or poor during the holiday season.

She made her way to the Santa that sat in front of the enormous Christmas tree with a big bag of wrapped gifts next to him. He beamed at her when he saw she was there.

"Kagome! What a surprise!" He called out. She raised an eyebrow, but joined him at his side, confused as to why he knew her name.

"I was looking for Ms. Omishi. She said she was going to help out tonight." She said, looking idly around. He smiled and looked over her shoulder without her noticing.

"She's at home with her children." Kagome stiffened when she heard the deep voice behind her. She turned around and saw the same man she'd been seeing all day. She had to stop herself from giggling, considering the fact that earlier that day, she realized, she'd seen him with a beard, and now he was in a little Santa hat, carrying around a tray of coffee mugs.

"You mean, she got them back?" Her eyes widened in surprise. He shrugged and walked off, offering hot cocoa to some little kids sitting on a cot.

"Yep. She's spending all the time she can with them at the moment." The Santa told her. She smiled in pure delight, and turned to walk away with a simple 'thank you,' but, naturally, she was stopped. "So, why aren't you at home, celebrating?" he asked.

"Well, I don't believe in Christmas anymore." She responded kindly, not noticing a certain someone slip behind the tree in front of her.

"Why's that? And don't tell me you're too old, nobody's ever too old to believe!" He 'ho-ho-ho'ed for the children's sake and winked at her. She blinked and tilted her head ever so slightly to the side…something was weird.

"Well…when I was little, I asked Santa for something, and it never showed up. After that…I just stopped bothering." She divulged without even realizing it. Something wasn't right…it was like she was twelve-years-old again, talking the mall Santa.

"Well, what did you ask for? Maybe I can still keep my promise." The twinkle appeared in his eye. Her face flushed in embarrassment. She stepped closer, hoping to keep anyone from hearing.

"Well…I asked for the perfect boyfriend." She said quietly, her blush deepening. It was as embarrassing to say as the first time she ever mentioned it. "And he hasn't come. All I got was a teddy-bear figurine." She placed a hand over her eyes as if it would hide her from the world.

"I'll see what I can do this year." He said, kindly smiling. Her eyes widened as she glanced at him…that definitely sounded familiar. She turned and walked away, determined to go home and sleep for the rest of eternity, her head was pounding.

Sesshomaru stepped out from behind the tree and sat next to Chris. He sighed as he watched the girl walk out.

"Can I ask you for just one more favor?" Chris asked as he watched the man out of the corner of his eye. Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow and motioned for him to continue. "I need you to help me keep a very old promise…"

And done! Geez, that took me quite a while, eh? It old you that the next chapters were going to be quite long. I want this all out and done with by Christmas/New Years (since that's how far the story extends) so, it's going to have a lot happen in each chapter…which there should only be about two more. I didn't quite get to the part I really wanted to get to in this chapter, but then again…this was a lot to get out! My carpal tunnel is going to start acting up again…I just know it…Can you tell what I was reading when I actually began writing this? If you can, I'll give you a….lawn gnome! 8D I really do want one of those travelocity gnomes!

I think I'm getting sick…o.o So you guys are lucky…again. It's Christmas break from school, so I have a lot of time on my hands, and I really like this story, so it should be finished very soon…(this chapter was over 4000 words...o.o)

To clear up some confusion I know you'll have…Why are they waiting for taxis after dinner when they drove there? I have no clue. -.-;; I'll just cover up my idiocy and say that they decided not to drive there since the car was covered in tree "crap". I had to go back and add that part because I completely forgot about it (even though I had been thinking about it all day) There's quite a bit of humor coming up, so be prepared to laugh a little bit…well, if you have a bit of a dry sense of humor that is…which I have…starts beating head against desk Okay, I'm done rambling. See ya soon!

LOVES!

Artemis

Reviewer Responses:

KawaiiXkesshou: :gets covered in confetti: Thank you very much for that…spits some out of her mouth

Goddess1991: I'm so glad that you think I'm important enough for that, you're such a sweetheart. Thank you!

Jo21891: Erm…I'm sorry? I mean, I don't know what to tell you, but…good luck with that…hope you don't get flamed for it (which people tend to do if they think you copied an idea…which I know you didn't since I got this from a movie…) I'm just digging myself deeper into a hole, now aren't I? Thanks for the encouragement!

Dark Teenage Angel: I don't know how to take your review…I'm glad you reviewed, but I'm not sure if you meant that in a nice way or a "Oh-my-god-this-story-is-so-freaking-stupid-but-I-don't-want-to-say-it" way…

Thanks to: Avelyn Lauren, flying jade, Chelsea, and DudettRin101 for all your encouragement…you guys are the reason why I love to write…