A Bite of Heaven

It was the day before Christmas. Since the snow in the past era was too high to travel down most roads the gang was spending their time in the village, resting and preparing for spring.

Inuyasha was unhappy because of that, but he didn't try to drag the humans out of the village anymore. Even youkai were keeping close to their lairs. He was busying himself with providing meat and fresh wood for the village and when he was free he was often going to Kagome's time to bring her for a visit in the village or to stay at her home and enjoy the wonders (and horrors) of the future.

Right now he was shaking snow off of his feet on the dirt part of Kaede's floor before he could join the group greeting the newly arrived young miko who had jumped off of his back just a moment ago.

"I will be going home before dark," Kagome warned everyone and put her bag on the floor beside her. She smirked when Shippou and Inuyasha practically teleeportted to the spots on her sides. Judging by the sparks of mirth in eyes of the monk, exterminator and miko gathered on the other side of the fire pit, they found it as amusing as she did. Then Kirara jumped to her lap and purred, what was a bit abnormal, the cat preferred Sango's lap.

But Kagome smiled when she stroked Kirara's back, guessing that was normal. After all all three youkai sniffing around her could easily smell what she had in her bag.

And she was pretty sure it smelled as good for them as it would for a human.

"That's quite alright," Kaede nodded. "We're always glad to have you with us," Sango and Miroku nodded their agreement

"I'll carry you back later," Inuyasha grumbled, his eyes watching her bag as if was about to leap away.

"Okay," Kagome smiled.

"What's in the bag?" Shippou was the first one who voiced his curiosity, looking at Kagome with his big emerald eyes.

"You see, tomorrow is the Christmas Eve, a holiday in my time that many celebrate," Kagome explained. "In my time families come together to enjoy time together and show their love to each other," she smiled warmly at her friends. "That's why I'm going to stay home tomorrow and the day after tomorrow. I wish you all could come to my time and join my family," she added sadly.

"We have you here today, it's alright." Miroku said. "Spend time with your family and don't worry."

Kagome smiled at him, then poked Inuyasha's shoulder.. The hanyou looked deep in thought and somewhat sad when she explained about the holiday.

"You can come to visit, you grumpy dog," she teased and he just gave her a half-heated scowl. "Anyway, we usually eat a special meal during that holiday and I brought it to enjoy it with you guys."

"That's so nice," Sango smiled. "Thank you, Kagome. We're a bit like a family, I think, even if not related by blood. At least I see you as such." She blushed.

"Feh, the terms a pack, right, brat?" Inuyasha grumbled.

"Yeah," Shippou stopped his sniffing around the bag to nod.

"It's a beautiful image we make," Miroku said with a wide grin. "Obviously Lady Kaede is the honorable grandmother of the family, along with Kirara."

"Nan!"

"Obviously Shippou is the child of the family, while Sango and Kagome are sisters. Sango's the mother and Inuyasha is a..."

"Go on, monk, tell me what I am." Inuyasha growled.

"You... You are the future brother in law to the lovely Sango, my friend," Miroku grinned in the face of the scowling hanyou. "And I'm the father of the family."

"Miroku!" called three embarrassed and annoyed voices. Kaede and giggling Shippou had to wait a few minutes before the teens cooled enough to return their seats.

"Talking about denial," Shippou shook his head, causing the old miko to chuckle.

"Um," Kagome unfastened her bag and started handing out plastic containers with the aforementioned meal, trying to make others forget about Miroku's metaphor. And she was pretty successful, because the ragtag family quickly found themselves amazed by the wonders of the KFC menu.

"The taste of this chicken is so different than anything I had in my life," Kaede said. "I wonder what the seasonings were."

"I can bring some of them back when I get my hands on them," Kagome promised. "But I think we could try and make a sengoku jidai version of KFC too."

"This is like nirvana served in bite-sized pieces," Miroku sighed while licking ketchup off of his fingers.

"You can say that twice," Sango hummed. Inuyasha, who was already finished, eyes Shippou, who grinned and showed him his empty box. Then they both looked to Kagome, who hugged her meal.

"No, no, no, don't ever think about getting any of my chicken nuggets!"

A/N: I'm so terribly sorry for attempting to write a Christmas special, but I have no idea for a plot, so yeah.
And I really wish I could go and grab some KFC right now. Aaargh I'm hungry.
Anyway - have fun preparing and celebrating the holidays, whatever you celebrate. Stay safe, warm and generally happy.