A/N: Sorry this took so long to get out. I've been picking up a lot of extra hours at work. Unfortunately, this will be the last update until next holiday season. I will try to work on this story in my spare time between now and then, and hopefully I'll be quicker with the updates next December. Hope you enjoy this chapter! See you next year!

Thank you, as always, to my amazing beta Evervescent. If you haven't checked her out yet, you need to. Right after this chapter.

A Christmas Story
Chapter 4: Baby its Cold Outside

The wind howled, piling up snow in drifts, and blinding the night with ice-white dust. Kagome shuffled down the street, bent over against the cold, protecting her eyes with her arms. Trees loomed in her vision, then vanished, swallowed in white.

It had been snowing nonstop all day. The temperature had dropped way below freezing, and the blast of cold air stung every time it hit her skin. She blinked and brought her mitten-clad hands to her lips, blowing a breath of warm air into them. It had to be one of the coldest winters yet, and it was only the end of December. The frigid air bit sharply into her cheeks and numbed her nose. She would have rather been curled up by the warmth of the fire while sipping a cup of hot chocolate.

Unfortunately, there were more pressing matters to attend to. Dismal, brown eyes glanced up at the house towering in front of her. All the windows were dark even though it was Christmas Eve. She felt her heart ache beneath her chest. Inuyasha hadn't been heard from in a few weeks and she was beginning to worry.

His mother had passed away from illness a few months before, rocking their quiet neighborhood. Izayoi had always been so kind and sweet. Everyone loved her. Her death was a heavy loss on all of them. But Inuyasha… he took it the hardest.

Kagome gnawed her bottom lip as she shoved her hands into the pockets of her jacket. Her best friend had been pretty absent from her life since then, and she tried to understand what he was going through. Her own father passed away years ago, but she had been so young at the time, she barely remembered him.

She had already tried giving Inuyasha his space so he could grieve, but when he didn't seem to be getting any better, she grew concerned. Sighing deeply, she reached out and rang the doorbell, hoping someone would answer so she could at least find shelter from the cold.

A few minutes passed before the door finally opened and there stood Inuyasha, looking worse for wear. His clothes were wrinkled and stained; his silver hair was unkempt; and bags hung under his eyes. An expression of stunned surprise overcame him as he recognized Kagome's frozen form.

"K-Kagome?" he questioned, simultaneously opening the door wider and stepping aside to let her in from the cold. "What are you doing here?"

She shuddered as the warmth of his home came over her. "I was worried about you," she muffled through the thick fabric of her scarf. She slowly began to peel away all the layers of her clothes as he shut the door behind her.

Inuyasha frowned and folded his arms over his chest as he watched her. "It's a blizzard out there. What were you thinking?" he chastised softly.

She shrugged as she hung up her coat on a hook. "I was thinking that I hadn't heard from you in a while."

"So?" he replied hotly. "You could've called you know."

Kagome narrowed her eyes. "Why? So you could not answer? Or better yet, hang up on me like you did last time?"

He looked down and to the side, avoiding her gaze. "I've had a lot going on."

"So you've said." Finally free of the last of her winter gear, she sighed deeply and stepped over to where her best friend stood. She peered up at him. "I understand that you've had to deal with a lot lately. I just want you to know that I'm here for you."

"Yeah, I know," Inuyasha acknowledged.

Kagome clasped her hands together and smiled up at him affectionately.

He rolled his eyes. "Come on, you goof," he grumbled, nodding his head toward the kitchen. "Let's get you warmed up."

"Inuyasha," she began, following after him. "I don't plan on staying. I just wanted to make sure you were all right."

"Nonsense," he replied over his shoulder. He placed a coffee mug of water in the microwave and started the timer. Turning around, he grasped her hands in his and his eyes widened. "You're freezing."

His hands were warm and calloused around hers as he brought them to his lips and blew hot air against her fingertips. Kagome felt her heart begin to race as heat crept up the back of her neck and flushed her cheeks. "Inu-Inuyasha…?"

"You're such a fool," he mumbled quietly, his black brows furrowed. "You should've stayed home."

She frowned. "I was concerned," she reiterated.

"Keh," he scoffed, blowing another breath of air into their hands. "I can take care of myself."

Kagome exhaled deeply. "I know you can. But there's nothing wrong with accepting help once in a while."

"I don't need any help," he argued.

She frowned at his response. Why did he have to be so stubborn? Ever since he was a boy, he had always kept everyone at a distance, including herself. Why couldn't he just let her in? Why couldn't he allow her to see him openly and completely?

Quickly pulling her hands free from his, she began walking back toward the foyer. "I'm going home," she stated quietly.

Her cool response immediately grabbed his attention. "What? Kagome, wait!" Inuyasha pleaded as he chased after her. "Why?"

"My mom will start to worry if I'm not home soon."

"It's a complete whiteout," he said, gesturing to the front window. "I'm sure your mom would prefer if you stayed."

Kagome lifted her eyes to his and watched him carefully. Soft wisps of silver hair swept past his ears and caressed the skin of his neck, jaw, cheeks, and around his beautiful, deep eyes. Those honey-glass eyes seemed to bore into her every time she looked into them.

These feelings weren't new to her. She wasn't sure when he began to evoke such emotion within her, but now it was a normal thing. Her heart would race every time his voice reached her ears, she profusely blushed anytime his skin brushed against hers, and each time those amber eyes glanced her way she nearly lost herself.

Over the years, she had slowly learned to read him through the emotions that danced like fire, licking the walls of honey-glass. Suffering, longing, desire; his eyes held all those deep seated emotions and many more. However, sometimes, like today, the fire dwindled down to smoldering ember and even she, who had gotten to know every part of the boy before her, could not tell what emotions were soaring just beyond those walls.

Relenting to the insistence in his tone and letting go of her annoyance, she sighed. "Okay, but only for a bit."

The pair once again made their way to the kitchen just as the timer for the microwave dinged. Inuyasha poured some hot cocoa mix into the mug and stirred it before handing it to her. "Here drink this," he instructed. "It's hot, so be careful."

She curled her hands around the mug and peered into the piping hot cocoa. A soft smile came to her lips. "There are little marshmallows," she commented tenderly.

Inuyasha placed his hands on his hips as a light blush dusted his cheeks. "Uh, yeah. You like those, right?"

"Mhm," she mumbled, taking a sip of the scalding liquid.

"Come on," he said, venturing off toward the living room.

Kagome followed without protest, too caught up in the taste of chocolate warming her tongue. When she entered the room, the first thing she noticed was the large, elegant Christmas tree that had always been in the corner was absent. There were no holiday lights or twinkling stars to speak of. She stopped short, her wide eyes glancing over the space, feeling heartsick by how barren the room was.

Inuyasha moved to the fireplace and began placing logs on the grate, which seemed to have been rarely used this year. The hearth was absent of stockings that had previously hung with care, and no candles flickered softly in the night. There wasn't even a present to be seen even though it was Christmas Eve.

She took a few hesitant steps toward her friend, watching him carefully. "Inuyasha," she acknowledged quietly.

He tilted his head toward her in recognition, but didn't stop what he was doing.

Kagome opened her mouth, intent on questioning him on why there were no decorations, but abruptly stopped herself. She worried her bottom lip. Inuyasha's mother had died. His workaholic father had always been pretty absent from his life and his half-brother was no better. It pretty much had always been Inuyasha and his mom. Now she was gone.

She smiled sadly and moved to sit on the couch. "What were you doing? I mean, before I came over."

Inuyasha shrugged as he worked to light a match. "Nothin' much. Just watching some TV upstairs."

Nodding slowly, she was unsure as to how to reply. His mother had always been the one to embellish their home with lights and ornaments for the holidays. Izayoi would play cheerful music and her voice had raised high into the ceiling as she sang along. Even though she had been sick for a while, she always seemed livelier around Christmas time.

With the fire started, Inuyasha sat down on the couch beside her. "You warm enough?"

She smiled. "Yeah, feeling much better."

Half-turned to face her, he laid one arm across the back of the couch. "Did you go to Sango's this year?"

"Mhm," she mumbled as she took another sip of hot chocolate. She pulled the mug away from her lips. "We missed you."

Inuyasha scoffed. "Doubt it. Miroku probably fondled Sango again and she probably smacked him around in return. Nothing new."

She smiled. Their two best friends had recently started showing affection toward one another. Although Sango denied anything was going on between them, it was obvious to everyone that the two would end up together.

"Well, I missed you." Kagome averted her gaze to her hot cocoa, feeling a blush creep into her cheeks. "It wasn't the same without you."

He was silent for a few moments. "I'm sure you didn't even notice I was gone."

"Why didn't you come?" she dared to ask, pinching her brows together.

"Just didn't feel like it," he replied gruffly.

She frowned, not really believing him. "Its tradition," she pointed out.

"Keh. Traditions change." His eyes moved to the fireplace.

They were silent for a moment. Kagome was exhausted with his evasive answers, but she also knew that the real reason he didn't show up for Christmas dinner was probably related to his mother's absence. She didn't want to push the issue if he wasn't ready to talk.

"I bet Souta is worried sick," she whispered quietly, attempting to divert the conversation in a different direction.

"About what?"

She shrugged. "Me being out in the storm. Probably wishes I stayed home with him and mom."

Inuyasha rolled his eyes. "I told you. There was no need for you to come over."

"I guess I should be going then," she mumbled, feeling tears in her eyes. "I didn't mean to intrude."

He placed a hand on her arm. "You're not goin' anywhere."

Hesitant agate eyes glanced up. "But I—"

"No buts," he cut her off. He gestured toward the window. "It's bad out there. Knowing you, you'll probably get pneumonia and die."

Kagome scrunched up her nose at his words and glanced over at the flurry of snow blowing wildly in the wind. "Yeah, I suppose."

"Besides." He moved to grab a red-checkered blanket and placed it over her lap. "Just listen to this fire roar. Have another cup of cocoa and stay awhile."

She curled her hands tighter around the mug in her hands and rolled her eyes. She was a big girl. She could handle a little snow. Deciding to tell him just that, she turned to face him. "Inuyasha…"

Her breath halted in her throat as her voice trailed off. His eyes glazed like honey and turned into a million shades of gold as the warm glow of firelight reflected off them. He gazed at her intently, and for the first time, she could see right through to his soul.

His eyes were frozen over like the surface of a winter puddle, robbing them of their usual warmth. He was in there, she knew, but it was like he just took a huge step back from life. Kagome wanted to reach in there and tell him it wasn't hopeless. She wanted to rekindle his heart, but she was sure his insides were too damp with unshed tears.

Kagome had known he had pain locked up inside, but now it was visible in his eyes and she wished she could take it away. She now realized why he was so adamant about keeping her here with him, in this big empty house.

He was lonely.

She smiled softly up at him, earning a confused look in response. "Okay," she agreed. "I can stay awhile."

Inuyasha tilted his head and raised a brow. "Huh?"

Kagome shook her head. "Never mind." She curled up next to him, snuggling into the warmth his body offered. "I just want to enjoy tonight with you."

She felt him loop his arm around her and a soft mumbled 'keh' reached her ears.