Wednesday, December 23rd.
The air was a bitter cold, so cold that it held that crisp scent only winter air could. Most nights he didn't get cold, but that night he had. Inuyasha hadn't left Kagome's the way he wanted to. Sure, hot chocolate and the food fight had been fun, cute even, but Koga's image nagged at him.
The wolf had been up next to Kagome for hours and she seemed to almost enjoy it. Laughing at his jokes and encouraging him at times. He was sure he'd even heard her flirting with him. Which was fine right? She was single and could flirt with whomever she desired, but it stung. He liked her and only her.
Plus, why would she want half when the full thing was right in front of her? Telling her terrible dad jokes…
"Whatever," he grumbled to himself, pulling the covers above his head to hide like the five year old child he felt like he was in that moment. He sighed loudly in the privacy and comfort of his own home. 'Even if I can't have her as a partner, keeping her as a friend is worth it,' Inuyasha thought to himself, frown deepening.
Her alarm had gone off at nearly the crack of dawn. There was so much to prepare for before the party, and the party was tomorrow. Mostly, Kagome needed to bake and finish decorating. Then she needed to get her look down for tomorrow.
More than anything though, Kagome was anxious. She'd received ten gifts, meaning there were only two more and she still hadn't caught anyone in the act. Worse still, Kagome still hadn't found the fifth damn ring! She chewed at her lip nervously, 'where the hell could it be? I can't believe I've lost one before I ever found it!'
After berating herself for her perceived failure, Kagome decided baking and cooking for the party would ease her mind and help her prepare for the follow day. Then her gaze landed on the nine C.D.s of famous women and Christmas ballads. A smile pulled at her lips.
Kagome threw on her old ratty clothes and walked downstairs, old family recipes in hand and her motivation climbing. Being up this early also meant that she almost surely was up before-
"No way!" Kagome exclaimed seeing her neighbor already peering into his fridge in those ratty grey sweats of his. Quickly, Kagome darted to the door and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that her step was empty. She looked down briefly at the gold rings on her fingers. She hadn't taken them off since she'd found them.
Kagome considered it a victory that her step was empty and walked back to her kitchen. After all, cookies wouldn't make themselves.
Across the small dividing patch of dead, frozen grass Inuyasha quickly glanced over at Kagome. He watched her move fluidly through her kitchen pulling out flour, sugar, eggs, milk, cinnamon, the works. He stood there for a minute, as her eyes fixated on the recipes in front of her briefly before reaching for more items. His thoughts roared in his mind, loudly demanding that he text her or just fucking show up at her door. But something stopped him. Doubt? Fear? Lingering feelings of self-consciousness? Memories of Kikyo? It all crossed his mind and each one presented a different reason that held him back and forced him to hide in his room where he sat, staring at his blank computer screen, every so often checking his phone.
He waited and waited, his mind replaying every little interaction they'd had since they met and treasuring every nugget of time with her. Inuyasha sighed heavily then ran his clawed hand through his silver hair. He'd let his feelings for her run rampant in his mind and now… well now he was fucked. Now he was roped fully in. He wanted it all with her. Which is probably why he found himself walking back down and into his kitchen, amber eyes immediately landing on her again, phone in hand. She was covered in flour with a number of large bowls stacked in her sink, various sheets out with what looked like raw cookies covering every free inch of space in her kitchen and he wanted nothing more than to be there with her. Helping her with whatever stupid dessert she was making, inevitably getting covered in flour or sugar and whatever the hell else.
[Need a buddy?] - Inuyasha
Okay, so he didn't tell her all of that but for him… it was still putting himself out there. Still saying to her I'm here if you want me and that I'll be here when you want me to be. Maybe it was a lot to put on her to understand, but if not her then who? Who would get him better than her? So far in the short time that he'd known her Kagome had become the best of the best. She'd accepted every flaw, every defect in him with grace and even gratitude.
[Ah! Yes! :) ] - Kagome H.
He smiled down at his phone then bolted out the door, leaving his sanity behind him.
Moments later he stood in front of her unit waiting to be let in. Kagome opened the door, that big, warm, all-encompassing smile greeting him along with a grand hug. When Kagome pulled away, Inuyasha looked down, staring at the flour that now clung to his jacket. He shook his head in feigned frustration, a stupid smile betraying his utter delight at being included even in the most mundane tasks of her life.
"Okay!" Kagome exclaimed, clapping her hands together. "So, the dough for a few of the cookies needs time to come together in the fridge so we won't need to bake for a bit, but I could certainly use your help decorating the tree." She explained.
"Lead the way," Inuyasha answered, taking in the warmth of her scent and the way it mixed with the sugar in the air. It was sickeningly sweet and Inuyasha would absolutely die to roll around in it all goddam day.
Kagome nodded, her big sapphire eyes sparkling as she took him into in the living room. His ears flicked hearing the faint sound of Mariah Carey in the background and immediately recognizing it as one of the C.D.s Kagome had received. Inuyasha looked down at her hands as she spoke, pointing to the different boxes of ornaments and decorations for the tree; her gold rings glistening with every movement.
He pulled his gaze up, slowly meeting hers. Kagome paused briefly, looking back at him intently.
She swallowed quietly and turned away from him, her heart pounding, "yeah, so, um, we just need to put up these ornaments today and I'll deal with the final touches tomorrow morning."
"Okay," Inuyasha answered, still watching her.
Kagome tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear shyly then stepped to the side grabbing an ornament and placing it on a branch. He followed her lead, taking different decorations and placing them on the ends of the branches.
She giggled as he struggled to get a heavier one to stay. "Here," Kagome murmured, coming to stand next to him and gliding the ornament a little higher up on the branch, her hand brushing his as she did so.
The touch was so light and fleeting and yet his hand tingled long after she'd moved on and placed more decorations on the tree. Inuyasha took a long, deep breath trying to steady his nerves.
"What's wrong?" Kagome asked, peeking over at him from the opposite side of the tree.
"What? Nothing! What's wrong with you?" He replied quickly.
"Nothing," she chuckled, walking to pick out another decoration.
Inuyasha let out the breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding and stared at the box full of different ornaments still to be hung. Before grabbing another for himself, he looked over at Kagome. She'd pulled her raven hair into a braid and a few strands kept breaking loose, framing her face. He could hear her humming along with the song as she reached up toward the top of the tree to hang another glass orb.
He wondered quietly to himself how she could make such a mundane task as dressing a broken tree seem so fun, and Inuyasha also wondered, how the hell he was enjoying himself so much participating in a holiday that usually brought him nothing but frustration and grief.
"What is it?"
Her voice broke his trance and Inuyasha's brows furrowed in confusion until he realized he'd been staring at her. "Oh nothing, just… there's another broken branch… there…"
"Oh don't worry about that!" Kagome smiled, "I've got a plan."
"Right," he sneered.
"Have a little faith in me," she chastised not unkindly as she walked over to him. "I think that's good for now. Wanna help me bake too?"
"Yeah, I guess," he muttered, following her dutifully into the kitchen.
She walked into the kitchen, peering behind her every few steps, eyes dragging along his frame. Kagome could see him fidgeting with his claws and could feel the nervous energy radiating off of him. 'Wonder what's got him so anxious…"
"I need to roll out the sugar cookies now and then we can place them on the sheet," Kagome explained looking at him and noticing how hard it was for him to make eye contact with her all of the sudden.
"I've, uh, never done that. I don't… know… how," Inuyasha murmured.
"Oh it's easy!" She giggled, throwing flour on the counter and grabbing her rolling pin. "Just roll it out!"
"Oh… really?" He snickered, "that's all?"
"Yeah, and then we use these…" Kagome continued pulling out a bag of cookie cutters, "to make the shapes."
Inuyasha nodded, grabbing the rolling pin from her and beginning to roll out the chilled dough, his ear flickering in her direction while he tried to focus on the task.
Kagome smiled to herself, watching his ear turn toward her then away then back toward her again, shyly keeping stock of her. "Sorry about Koga," she mumbled. "He's never been that aggressive before, I wasn't expecting it."
"He's not a problem. But, uh, how thin do you want this?" He asked turning to her.
Kagome stepped up, pressing her shoulder against his, her face barely inches from his,"that's good." She answered leaning closer to him still, holding open the bag of cookie cutters. "What one would you like?"
'You…'
Without answering, Inuyasha reached his hand in and picked a cutter at random, noticing that Kagome never took her eyes off of him. He cleared his throat and held up a snow man shaped cutter. "I'll go with this."
"Not a bad choice," she murmured picking out a Santa-shaped cutter.
They worked side by side, both cutting out cookies and placing them on the baking sheets. Neither speaking, but each stealing glances and gentle brushes as they moved. Inuyasha began placing the sheets in the oven and racking the desserts when they finished with the sugar cookies, while Kagome decorated and packaged them once they had cooled.
Inuyasha snuck glances over to Kagome almost as often as she peeked over at him.
The first time they had stolen a glance at the other at the same time, each shyly looked away, quickly busying themself with the tasks in front of them. The second time it happened, Kagome nibbled on her lip as she looked away… only to catch his gaze again a second later before they both went back to what they were doing.
The third time it happened, Kagome didn't shy away and neither did he. She blushed against her will, but she held his gaze and he hers. Kagome smiled over at him, refusing to listen to the anxious part of her brain screaming to look away or duck and roll into the nearest room. When he stepped closer to her, she felt her heart jump into her throat but she still didn't look away. Kagome held her gaze, looking up at his burning gold eyes as they came closer, her heart pounding harder and louder in her chest, every second feeling like a hundred, her entire focus on Inuyasha and only Inuyasha. Waiting for what she was sure was coming and desperately wanting it.
The harsh sound of the sharp ringtone abruptly broke their concentration, causing her to jump and involuntarily look away. Inuyasha blinked quickly and rolled his eyes, swiftly reaching to silence his phone, muttering curses to himself, and seeing quite possibly the worst name pop on his screen before sliding his thumb across the screen to answer. "What?" He snapped, more than a little frustrated at the situation.
Kagome waited patiently, letting out a breath she'd been holding in and looking back down at the cookies in front of her, her heart still pounding and that deep-seated ache and desire settling in. All the cookies in the world couldn't entice her like his mere presence did; always leaving her wanting far more than what she'd received.
"No." Inuyasha bit into the phone, sighing heavily and angling away from Kagome. "I said no, Sesshomaru."
Staring at the plain treats and trying to ignore the way her thoughts took a turn into x-rated territory, Kagome couldn't bring herself to work on them as she was far more interested in when his conversation would end and plotting how to recreate the moment said conversation had unceremoniously ruined.
"Can I call you back? I'm kind of in the middle of something," Inuyasha stated, trailing off at the end. "No, Miroku is - fine," he snarled right before ending the call, angrily shoving the phone in his pocket. Inuyasha slowly turned to face Kagome, his ears pinned to the back of his head. "I, uh, I need to go handle something."
"Okay," Kagome responded, nibbling on her bottom lip as he walked toward his flour covered coat. "Oh I'm so sorry! I had planned to wipe all that off when I cleaned up…"
"Don't worry about it," he replied sliding the coat on.
"But-"
"Kagome, it's just flour. Don't worry about it."
"Okay," she mumbled, attempting to shove down the overwhelming disappointment she felt at his sudden departure. It felt like some one had dumped a bucket of cold water on her and she was not a fan. "Um, will you-will you be back soon?"
He could hear it and he hated it. Inuyasha could clearly make out the dejection in her voice. He didn't want to leave but if he didn't Sesshomaru would show up and ruin everything anyway. The fucker was nothing if not a massive pain in Inuyasha's ass who would undoubtedly delight in ruining any chance Inuyasha had with Kagome. That was the last thing Inuyasha needed when he was in the midst of wrestling his own fucking demons over his feelings for her. "I don't know when I'll be back," Inuyasha answered honestly.
Kagome nodded before stepping up to him and wrapping her arms around his waist.
"You're getting more gunk on me!" He exclaimed, watching her sugar covered hands smear across his jacket.
"Just a little something to remember me by," Kagome answered smiling teasingly before releasing her embrace and watching him go.
Inuyasha waved as he walked over to his car, grumbling expletives at his brother under his breath only slightly irritated by the sugar staining his coat. 'I'll make that fucker get me a new coat, that'll show him!'
Kagome waited by her phone for the next several hours, checking her messages every five or ten minutes for something from Inuyasha. As the sun set and the cool evening air settled all around, Kagome began to feel more and more deflated. She could see he wasn't home and there hadn't been any knocks on her door indicating a gift had arrived. So she sat at her table, staring at the cooling pastries and cookies, sipping on wine and wallowing in her disappointment.
'So close! We were so close!' Kagome internally screamed. He was going to, she knew he was! But then the call… "Ugh!" She exclaimed, taking a large gulp of her wine.
When there was a knock at her door, Kagome shot up out of her seat, eyes peering over to Inuyasha's drive full of hope. She sighed loudly when she saw that it was still empty then walked over to the door expecting another gift. But, her step was empty. "What…" Kagome mumbled frowning at open space in front of her.
She looked up and around then noticed it. A gold bow wrapped around the flag on her mailbox. "What in the world," she muttered, walking out and opening the mailbox. Inside there was a silver box. Kagome ripped open the gift and rolled her eyes, a smile forcing its way onto her face. For her eleventh gift she'd received the "Pied Piper Peppermint Holiday Manicure Set" complete with nine different holiday-themed colors, a top coat and a bottom coat for the "perfect Holiday at-home manicure."
"Should have gotten that camera system." Kagome muttered, walking back to her apartment and shaking her head in astonishment. She had to hand it to them, whoever was giving her the gifts certainly knew how to spoil her.
Thursday, December 24th.
"Ready?" Miroku asked, grinning like a devil and patting Inuyasha on the back.
The half-demon swallowed thickly, twirling the ring on his index finger and staring at his reflection in the mirror. He'd never admit it to Miroku, but he'd changed in and out of his shirt at least half a dozen times trying on various other items in his closet and wondering what looked best. He'd settled on an old favorite - his red button up.
Miroku had insisted they wear business causal and he certainly looked more comfortable in his attire than Inuyasha felt. Though, the half-demon wasn't sure if that was due to his nerves or… yeah, his fucking nerves. The party meant something to him and he was more excited than he cared to admit to see Kagome again. Especially after his jackass of a brother had interrupted him and Kagome the day prior.
He had been so sure in that moment that Kagome felt the same as he did and he had been seconds from testing that theory. Now all that remained were doubts and fucking nerves.
"Yeah I guess," Inuyasha grumbled in response to his friend.
"Oh come on! You look great, I'd fuck you," Miroku stated, smiling up at his friend as if his words provided any real comfort.
Inuyasha rolled his eyes and sighed irately.
"Dude, relax. It's just Kagome. I'm sure she'd jump your bones even if you were wearing those ratty ass grey sweats." Inuyasha glared at Miroku in response. "How… but, uh… how do I look?" Miroku asked, turning so Inuyasha could see him.
"What?" Inuyasha asked incredulously. "What is this? Junior prom all over again? You look fine." He answered dismissively.
"I'm serious Inuyasha, I… I like Sango."
"Yeah, yeah," Inuyasha dismissed.
"Inuyasha," Miroku repeated firmly, "I like Sango. Do I look like a goddam idiot or not? Just tell me the truth."
"No," he responded honestly, "you look… good."
"Thanks, so do you." Miroku stated, taking a deep breath to calm himself. "Shall we grace them with our presence now?"
"Yeah," Inuyasha replied, though his tone lacked the strength Miroku was looking for.
"Look, Inuyasha, you gotta put Kikyo behind you. Kagome is not her, or any one else… and I think… I think what you have with her is different."
"We don't have anything."
"Right, sure, whatever… I still asked Santa to give you Kagome for Christmas though, so… be prepared." Miroku teased, flashing his signature grin over to his best friend.
Inuyasha's nerves were getting the best of him as he and Miroku approached Kagome's apartment. He tried to shake it, he really did, after all he'd been to the unit several times before but this was… different. It just felt… heavier. There was something behind it, so much so that even Miroku seemed to feel it. Tonight mattered and that scared Inuyasha.
His mind kept taking him back to every failure… every disappointment… every heart break.
Sensing his trepidation, Miroku rested a hand on Inuyasha's shoulder and waited before knocking on the door. "It's just a holiday party," Miroku muttered. "That's all." Inuyasha stared ahead, taking in a deep breath before nodding over to his friend.
Miroku paused for a moment, giving Inuyasha another minute to breathe then he knocked on the door in front of them, his own anxiety eating at him.
"Hey!" Sango exclaimed, opening the door and letting the boys in, her smile brighter than normal but not half as bright as Miroku's. "Welcome!"
"Thanks," Miroku answered with feigned confidence while Inuyasha mumbled his words.
The half-demon immediately surveyed the party, all of his senses instantly searching for one person he was desperate to see and also terrified of confronting. The first thing Inuyasha noticed was how crowded the apartment was and a noticeable lack of Kagome's aroma in the air. The place was filled with men and women neither Miroku or Inuyasha recognized and worse still, Inuyasha couldn't find Kagome through the cacophony of smells even if he wanted to, which… he did.
"So, where is our darling host?" Miroku asked upon entering the threshold and noticing Inuyasha's lack of interest in engaging with the woman in front of them.
"Oh, she's bee-bopping around. You know, greeting her guests and what not." Sango answered as she turned and scanned the crowd.
"Is it normally this crowded?" Miroku continued leaning in toward Sango and speaking in a more hushed tone, asking the same questions Inuyasha had been wondering.
"Oh yes," Sango laughed, "Kagome is pretty popular with people. I personally find it exhausting, but she never wants anyone to be left out this time of year. She says that-"
"Everyone deserves to be loved," Inuyasha interrupted, not unkindly.
"Yeah," Sango nodded, noticing the slight frown that had made a home on Inuyasha's face.
Inuyasha's amber eyes scanned the crowd, ignoring the way Sango and Miroku were looking at him as if he was some lost puppy that needed a home. He didn't need a home, he had one… he just needed to locate where it was hiding. Regardless, Inuyasha didn't want their pity.
Then he found her. Those brilliant sapphire eyes locking with his from across the room and over several heads. Even from a distance he could see her smile expand and the way her eyes sparkled a little more as they connected with his. He couldn't hear what she said to the guests nearest her, but he watched Kagome as she moved toward them, those big eyes never leaving his.
As Kagome stepped out of the crowd, Inuyasha had to stop himself from audibly gasping. She sauntered over clad in a tartan flannel shirt that clung to her, a high-waisted black pleated skirt and black leggings that sloped with her delicious curves as her heels clacked along the floors of her apartment and announced her presence with every step. She looked festive and gorgeous, her raven hair wild and free, bouncing as she glided over to them. "Hey," Kagome murmured as she reached the trio, her gaze locked on Inuyasha.
Miroku snickered then paused, waiting for Inuyasha to responded first.
"Uh, hi," the half-demon managed.
"You both look absolutely stunning," Miroku interjected quickly.
"Thanks," Sango and Kagome answered in unison.
Miroku waited for a moment, occasionally glancing at Inuyasha trying to give him the opportunity to say well… anything.
"Kagome, you did a phenomenal job decorating, I feel like I'm in a movie right now," Miroku commented, nudging Inuyasha.
She smiled brightly at him, "thanks! Inuyasha helped me put things together yesterday-"
"I didn't do even half of this," Inuyasha interrupted looking around at all the different wreaths, lights, scented candles, food and decorations.
"I still really appreciated your help," Kagome continued fidgeting nervously with her fingers, drawing his attention to her hands where she was still wearing the four gold rings, her nails painted with colors from the manicure set.
'She-she used the nail set…' Inuyasha took a deep breath, trying to calm himself before speaking again only to stop as he noticed that in addition to the rings and the nail polish, Kagome was wearing the necklace.
"Whoah, those flowers are stunning!" Miroku gushed, noticing the massive bouquet of red flowers standing in the middle of the rooms.
"Wish I could take credit," Kagome responded, her smile faltering. "It's my final gift."
"I thought the last one was drummers?" Miroku questioned.
"Yeah, you see those big flowers that are the center of the bouquet? Those are 'Drummer Boys' and there are twelve of them." Kagome explained.
"Why does that make you sad?" Miroku continued, looking over at Inuyasha for a brief moment.
"I-I still don't know who has been sending me the gifts and…" Kagome sighed loudly before lifting her hands. "And… I only found four rings."
"I'm sure you'll figure it out,"Miroku offered reassuringly, though it was clear from Kagome's expression she wasn't so sure. "In the mean time shall we drink?" Miroku suggested looking between Sango and Kagome before eying Inuyasha and his unusual silence.
"I can handle that, you can go back to entertaining your friends." Sango replied.
Kagome nodded slowly, pulling her bottom lip between her teeth and looking over at Inuyasha once more before waving and walking back into the crowd.
Miroku leaned over and whispered in Inuyasha's ear as Sango led them to the kitchen, "hey I know this isn't usually your scene and shit but, like, fucking go after her!"
Inuyasha started to roll his eyes then stopped, his gaze catching on a very specific wreath with four black birds that hung in the center of the far wall for everyone to see and admire. He turned to his side, looking into her kitchen where his four favorite appetizers were on display, along with the charcuterie set. The counters were covered in the cookies he helped make, but also served as a home for the keg of Lord Hobo beer and the egg nog with the stuffed goose watching guard nearby.
Sango poured each of them a drink and was trying to engage them in conversation, but Inuyasha wasn't listening. He walked into the living room where the tree was, amber gaze fixated on a single ornament that he knew she hadn't put up when they were together. Still, he instantly recognized it. It was her first gift. The partridge, resting front and center on the tree.
Kagome had made each gift a focal point when decorating, attempting to loudly proclaim their brilliance and importance to her. Inuyasha turned, examining everything she had done in the last twenty four hours to transform her home into an epicenter of celebration and cheer.
Even the fucking tree, with its broken branches, was unbelievably bright and cheery, full of life. In a way, the flaws that had put him off had made it better. The tree looked so real and so beautiful. But that was what Kagome did. She took that which was ignored or outcast in society and gave it love and let it shine. Like all the gifts placed in the spaces they would shine brightest. Like encouraging the children at her school with love and affection. Like the damn tree. Even, he thought, a little like him. Kagome had a gift all her own. She saw potential and value in everything.
Miroku had said it right, beauty was in the eye of the beholder and Kagome had a knack for bringing it out in others. It made Inuyasha nervous and self-conscious. He couldn't compare to that love or purity of heart even if he tried.
Inuyasha sighed, gaze dropping to the floor and ears drooping. She deserved someone so much better than him; a grumpy, abrasive, blunt, half demon who worked late all the time. Kagome deserved some one just as bright as her, some one who would help her shine.
He turned, looking back over at Miroku and Sango, both of which were leaning against the counter, eyes locked and happily conversing. Sango didn't even seem the least bit bothered by Miroku's hand on her knee. Inuyasha rolled his eyes.
This is why he hated the holidays. They were a constant reminder that he didn't fit in with everything or everyone else. He was just… there, taking up space.
"Hey!" Kagome exclaimed, coming up to Inuyasha pulling him out of his depressive spiral. "I've been looking for you!" She smiled shyly, her big bright eyes making his heart thunder in his chest so loudly he was sure even Kagome could hear it beat with her dull senses.
"R-really?" Inuyasha muttered, brows knitting in confusion. "Why?"
"I, uh, have a gift… for you." She mumbled, worrying her lip like he'd seen her do a million times before. Kagome tucked a piece of hair behind her ear, "will you, erm, come with me so I can give it to you?"
"I guess," he murmured in reply.
Kagome nodded, her warm gaze falling to the floor as she reached out, grabbing his hand and lacing her fingers with his. She quickly turned on her heel, leading him through the crowd, ignoring the heat that burned her cheeks and the color that stained his. "Up this way," she murmured, leading him upstairs.
She released his hand on the landing that separated the two rooms on the second floor. To both his relief and disappointment, Kagome didn't go into the bed room. Instead she sauntered into the spare room that she had evidently converted into an office. She walked up to the desk and grabbed a card before walking back over to him, her lip still tucked between her teeth and hands shaking when she extended her arm toward him, handing the card over. "Merry Christmas-eve," Kagome stated, smiling through the nervousness.
Inuyasha furrowed his brows and reached out to grab the letter, noticing that she wasn't looking at him. With a single claw, he easily tore open the card, made of the same ivory card-stock he'd since come to associate with her. His eyes widened in shock and awe when he opened the card instantly recognizing her gift: tickets to the play-off game where his favorite team would battle for the division championship before heading to the Super Bowl. "Ka-Kagome… this is… this is too much," he answered, staring at the two tickets that had undoubtedly cost upwards of $250 each.
"No it's not," she pushed back. "I've seen you… you work all the time and you deserve a break. Even if it is only a night…"
"Kagome…"
"Take anyone you want-" she began, her gaze falling to her feet shyly.
"I'd only want to take you, stupid…" he replied, feeling heat flash across his cheeks.
Her eyes met his again… but this time they didn't have the same nervousness as before. At first they were big and excited, then they seemed to get darker. Kagome drank him in, her resolve hardening and taking a step toward him. Without taking her eyes off of Inuyasha, Kagome placed her hands on his chest. She felt his breath catch and the way his heart raced beneath the surface of her finger tips.
Kagome cocked a single brow. Her gaze flitted up and to the side, for only a second, before returning to his burning amber orbs. Inuyasha had that same heated look that haunted her fantasies as he watched her curious about her next move. Slowly, Kagome pulled her lip between her teeth then began to push him out of the office, steering him back toward the landing.
"Wh-what are you doing?" Inuyasha asked, stumbling backwards until she guided him up against a wall, unable to look away from her.
A devilish grin broke out across her lips as Kagome pulled her gaze from his and looked up, above them. "Oh my… how did that get there?" She murmured, feigning innocence and pressing herself against him.
'Okay, I'll bite,' he thought looking away from her to see what she was referring to. 'You've got to be kidding me…' Inuyasha thought dryly as he stared up at the green leaves adorned with red berries held together by a velvet red bow dangling above his head; a fucking mistletoe staring back, mocking and encouraging him at the same time. Inuyasha looked down at Kagome, a small, disbelieving smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "You-you planned this, didn't you?" He asked incredulously.
"I have no idea what you're referring to," Kagome purred, stepping closer to him, her hands trailing up his chest.
"Yeah, right," he muttered grinning at the sneaky vixen before leaning down and capturing her lips with his, knowing that that was exactly what she was looking for, not a single doubt in sight to poison his mind anymore. Kagome had orchestrated it all and he couldn't be happier.
Inuyasha could have died right there, with her soft, sweet lips against his and her body leaning against him. Kagome was warm and fit perfectly along his chest as he wrapped his arms around her waist, tenderly holding her close like he'd longed to do for weeks.
The joy and elation he felt at having her in his arms was unrivaled - by far - to anything else. She was home, and he was never leaving.
Kagome draped her arms around his neck, pressing herself against him more, smiling broadly as she kissed him back and reveling in the way he smelled and tasted. Her heart felt like it was going to break through her ribcage as she tightened her embrace, every nerve ending tingling in ecstasy. His touch and his kiss were far more potent than she'd expected.
Especially when one of his clawed hands came up to cup her cheeks, partially sifting through her hair.
That's when she noticed it, the soft caress of a thin band of cold metal across her cheek as he held her. Her heart skipped a beat and her mind whirled as Kagome took a step back, breaking their kiss but simultaneously reaching for his hand. She had to see if it was the ring…
Kagome breathlessly stared at it, her fingers tracing the lines of his fingers all around the lone, gold ring. "It was you!" She murmured, her big eyes slowly turning up to look at him.
Inuyasha nodded slowly, watching her intently.
"How… how did you do it?" Kagome questioned.
"Well, it wasn't all me… I, uh, Myoga is an old friend of the family… and he helped me…"
"Oh. My. God," Kagome laughed, shaking her head in disbelief, that smile of hers that he loved so much looking infinitely better when her lips were colored from their kiss.
Without warning, Kagome threw her arms around Inuyasha and pulled him into her again, embracing him with no reservations, squeezing him as tightly as she could. "Thank you," she mumbled, hot tears of joy pricking her eyes.
Inuyasha easily returned her embrace this time, rejoicing in her closeness and grateful he'd taken the time for her. "Merry Christmas, Kagome."
Author Notes: This is the end of the fluff! :) Thank you sooo much for reading!
I will be posting a "bonus scene" on AO3 shortly if you want to see what happens next!
/works/28217559/chapters/69145599
Wanna see what I'm working on next? You can follow me on Tumblr at FandomObsessions016!
xoxo