A/N: Be kind, and check out my beta Evervescent. Her work is simply to die for.

A Christmas Story
Chapter 3: Spirit of the Season

"Come on, Inuyasha!"

Kagome pulled on the sleeve of his jacket insistently. He shot her an annoyed look as he slipped on his winter boots. "I'm comin'," he grumbled in return, as she tugged on his elbow again.

She worried her bottom lip nervously as her eyes kept stealing glances at the time. "We're going to be so late!" she reminded him with a groan. "We're going to miss it."

Inuyasha rolled his eyes as he stood and grabbed his scarf off the hook in the entry way. "We are not gonna miss it," he assured. "We have plenty of time."

"We have fifteen minutes!" Kagome emphasized sharply, tugging open the front door and allowing the chilly winter air to bite at her cheeks. "I bet Sango and Miroku are already there."

"Great, they can save us a good spot," he said with a smirk, receiving a glare from the girl in front of him.

He closed the door behind him and shuffled out into the snow. Stars illuminated the night sky and he could clearly see his breath fogging in the frigid air. The entire street was pristine and white thanks to the snowfall hours earlier. Even the dark green of the pines was mostly coated in crystalline snow.

Inuyasha could have stood there drinking it all in, listening to the silence that hung so thickly in the air, but the girl ahead of him wasn't about to hear of it. Cheeks flushed pink from the cold, Kagome spun on her heel to face him and shoved her hands into the pockets of her jacket.

"Inuyasha, come on," she prodded again, narrowing her eyes as she pouted.

Despite Kagome's frustration, he grinned. With each step, he heard the soft crunch underfoot as he hurried to catch up to the impatient girl. "I'm coming," he called, pulling his scarf tighter around his neck.

It was nearly midnight on the last day of November. Every year the entire town gathered together on this day, and when the clock in the square settled on the twelve, the dazzling Christmas tree in the center would light up the night, officially announcing the arrival of December first.

This was a tradition they had been accustomed to since they were kids, and Kagome was hell bent on being there in time for the lighting of the tree every year. Every. Single. Year. Inuyasha wasn't always a fan, as it usually fell on a school night, which meant he would have to drag his ass out of bed the next morning with barely a wink of sleep. He would much rather ditch school altogether on those days, but Kagome wouldn't allow it.

However, he simply had never been able to deny her infectious smile when she rang his doorbell each year. Her cheeks were always rosy from the short walk in the cold between their houses, and her knit hat was so loose fitting it almost always covered her eyes.

Inuyasha caught up to her and they walked in silence for a few moments. His eyes glanced around the quiet street, noting the dark houses and those that only had a flickering candle in the window. By this time tomorrow, most would be glowing with holiday lights, and the stars would cease to be visible for a month. Icicles hung from roof eaves as the shingles glittered with ice-white powder.

Kagome sighed beside him, catching his attention. "I can't wait," she chirped, sniffling against the cold. "It's going to be so pretty."

"Yeah," Inuyasha gruffly replied.

She gave him a sideways glance, catching onto his lack of enthusiasm. "You didn't have to come, you know."

He rolled his eyes and scoffed. "Of course I did," he grumbled. "You wouldn't leave me alone about it."

Her lips pulled into a frown. "Fine. Go home then. I'll just go with Miroku and Sango."

Inuyasha shoved his hands into his pockets. "We're already half-way there," he pointed out. "No sense in turning back now."

"You are such a scrooge," she grumbled under her breath before quickening her pace.

Noticing her attitude, Inuyasha groaned and fought to keep up with her. Of all the things to get upset about, Kagome surely picked the littlest of things. Seriously, what did he do this time? He was here, wasn't he?

They made it to the town square with a minute to spare and found Miroku and Sango in the crowd easily enough. Kagome grinned as she stepped up beside their friends, opposite of Inuyasha. He found a spot next to Miroku and must have had a sour look on his face, for the other boy addressed him.

"What's bugging you?" he asked, stamping his feet to keep warm against the cold.

Inuyasha shrugged. "Don't worry about it."

Miroku glanced between him and Kagome as his eyes widened with realization. He grinned. "What'd you do this time?"

"I didn't do nothin'," Inuyasha spat out defensively.

"Sure," he agreed, although his voice dripped with sarcasm.

Frowning, Inuyasha hunched his shoulders to fight off the chill, deciding to stay silent. Around them, the other townsfolk chanted as they began counting down from ten. Amber eyes glanced over to see Kagome with her mitten-clad hands clenched into fists with excitement, her voice loud and clear through the night.

Five. Four. Three. Two. One.

Simultaneously, bright lights lit up the entire square. The seventy-foot tall Christmas tree towered over them, sparkling with thousands of multi-colored bulbs. The tinsel glittered brightly and red ribbons danced upon the branches, rustled gently with the cold breeze. Ornaments of red, green, and silver caught the lights, sending an array of colors upon the snow. At the very top, a large, twelve-pointed star glowed, glistening with its flash-silver luster.

Inuyasha stole a look at Kagome and his breath halted in his throat. She smiled brightly, her eyes shining from the lights of the tree, mesmerized as she gazed upward at the beauty of it all. Puffs of air escaped her lips as she clasped her hands over her chest.

Feeling his gaze, she turned toward him and smiled, pushing passed their friends to come to his side. "Isn't it beautiful, Inuyasha?" she questioned, peering up at him.

It seemed all annoyance from earlier had already been forgotten. He opened his mouth to reply, but his words stuck in his throat. She blinked as she waited, allowing her eyelashes to flutter like the wings of a butterfly. Her brown eyes were like a piping hot mug of hot chocolate after a day of playing in the snow. They were warm and comforting, and as bright as the night sky.

"Uh, yeah," he finally responded lamely.

Kagome took no notice, though, and instead looped her arm through his. She sighed deeply, once more admiring the scene in front of them. He felt his heart race in his chest as her warmth sank through his jacket into his very bones.

Quiet as a breath, it began to snow.