A/N: You can thank Wenchster for this being completed on time. Her love for this story has single-handily fueled my writing muse. Hope you enjoy!

A Christmas Story
Chapter 5: All I Want for Christmas is You
(Part 1 of 2)

Kagome knew she was blushing.

She could feel the heat growing in her cheeks as she continued to stare across the room to where the object of her affections sat. Inuyasha sat at the dining room table, his face screwed in concentration, as he battled against frosting and gingerbread.

He had somehow managed to get icing everywhere, including his face and hair. He lifted his fingers to his mouth, licking them clean, and then running his tongue slowly over his lips to catch any remnants. Her heart beat quickened, and she shamelessly thought that his lips looked very kissable.

"Kagome?"

Biting her lip, Kagome watched in a daze as Inuyasha began to slip off his button-up shirt, grumbling something about it being one of his nicer ones, leaving his arms bare and his chest covered only by a wife-beater. She could practically feel the drool drip down her chin as he continued his work, his forearms flexing.

What she wouldn't give for him to wrap those arms around her.

"Kagome, are you still there?"

Sango's voice over the receiver finally startled Kagome out of her audacious musings, further deepening her blush.

"Y-Yes, I'm still here." She immediately turned around and proceeded back into the kitchen, covering her face with her hand as if to hide her rosy cheeks. "Sorry about that. What were you saying?"

"I was saying that I won't be able to join you guys today. Since my dad and Kohaku went to the hockey game, my mom needs me to run some errands with her."

"Oh, well that's all right," Kagome said, while simultaneously trying to cool her blush by fanning herself. It didn't help that the oven was on, making the room feel much hotter than it probably was. "I think we can survive without you this time."

"Really?" Sango spoke skeptically. "You think you'll be able to keep the boys in line?"

Kagome pondered for a moment before smiling sheepishly. "Well, I've left them unsupervised for a few minutes and they haven't caused a disaster yet. So that's a good thing, right?"

Sango exhaled deeply on the other line. "Well, just tell them if they don't behave, I'll castrate the both of them."

"Sango!" Kagome shrieked, all efforts of disposing of her blush now gone to waste. "Since when have your threats become so crass?"

She could hear her chuckle on the other line. "Since the boys stopped believing I could actually beat them up – which, by the way, I still can."

Rolling her eyes, Kagome leaned the phone in the crook of her neck, held in place by her shoulder. "If you say so."

"Inuyasha, what the hell is that?" Miroku's voice came from the dining room.

"What are you talkin' about? It's a house."

"More like a haunted mansion. Seriously, do you even know what a house looks like?"

Inuyasha scoffed. "I can do whatever the fuck I want."

"Language, boys!" Kagome called out before turning her attention back to the phone. "Look, Sango, I have to go. But call me later tonight after you're done helping your mom."

"Will do. Good luck!"

"Thanks," she murmured sarcastically. The girls said their goodbyes, allowing Kagome to return to her task at hand, as well as the sinful thoughts she had minutes earlier.

Even though she told Sango it was okay, she silently berated her for canceling on them, leaving her to fend for herself against Inuyasha and Miroku's usual depravity. Although, she couldn't help but wonder how much damage they could do with some icing and gingerbread.

Sighing deeply, she took a moment to pull herself together. She breathed in the aroma of that perfect blend of spicy and sweet, filling her home with warmth not just from the oven. Gumdrops, marshmallows, and coconut shavings separated, Kagome gathered up their respective bowls and proceeded toward the dining room where she was sure to find disarray.

"Hey, here are some more—" Her words cut off as she paused in the entryway.

The boys froze upon her entrance, each holding a tube of icing, and looking as if they had just been caught with their hands in Santa's cookie jar. She glanced over their makeshift masterpieces, and almost laughed at the appearance of Inuyasha's gingerbread house – which looked more like a lean-to.

But that was not what caused her to stop in her tracks. Somehow, icing was everywhere; on the table, smeared across the chairs, and even on Inuyasha's face – again.

"He started it!" Inuyasha called out, immediately putting down his weapon when he realized they had been caught.

"Me?" Miroku rebutted with raised brows. "You're the blockhead who couldn't take a little constructive criticism!"

"Keh! Who asked for your opinion?"

"I merely tried to assist in your foundation!"

The two men, faces flushed from the heat of the argument, looked absolutely ridiculous, more-so because of the entirety of the situation. Kagome couldn't even be angry with them for destroying her mother's dining room or wrecking their gingerbread experiment.

She just found it so funny.

And she started laughing, haphazardly placing the bowls on the table as she watched their dumbfounded expressions. Inuyasha tilted his head like a puppy dog. "What're you laughing at?" he asked innocently, as if he had no clue what kind of predicament he was in.

Kagome wiped a tear from her eye and pointed to his face. "You have some icing there."

He reached up to swipe at his cheek, but missed entirely, only causing Kagome's smile to widen.

"Here," she offered, grabbing a napkin and stepping close. "Let me."

She wiped away the frosting, dabbing his face lightly, and granted him an amused smile. "Uh, thanks," he grumbled, his voice husky as a light blush warmed his cheeks.

Kagome tugged on his hair playfully, pulling another glob of frosting free. "You sure are a handful, you know that?" she murmured affectionately.

It took her a full thirty seconds to realize their noses were only a few inches apart and she could feel his warm breath caressing her skin. Her gaze wandered to his lips and her throat suddenly felt very dry.

"K-Kagome?" Inuyasha whispered, effectively snapping her out of her stupor.

Eyes wide, she pulled back, feeling heat creep up the back of her neck and flush her cheeks. "Uh, th-there you go," she fumbled, clearing her throat. "Much better."

Inuyasha blinked, as if he too had just realized what they had been doing.

Fortunately, as the awkwardness of the situation settled over them, Miroku decided to call out with, "Kagome, I have some frosting on my face, too! Can you come help me?"

Kagome turned to him, chuckling at his child-like pout and hopeful expression. "Sure."

"Clean your own damn face!" Inuyasha snapped, sending Miroku a heated glare.

"But Inuyasha, why does the beautiful Kagome get to help you and not me?"

Ignoring the insults the boys threw at each other, along with a few pieces of gingerbread and candy, Kagome worked to calm her racing heart. She sighed, watching as they bickered, and realized her school-girl crush on Inuyasha was working its way deeper into her chest, leaving her at a loss.

On the bright side, she knew one thing was for certain.

Inuyasha and Miroku would never be allowed to build gingerbread houses again.

ACS

A low hum of Christmas music played in the background, coupled with the crackle and pop of the fire in the grand hearth. The beautifully embellished tree towered over them, lights twinkling across the glossy ribbons and brightly colored paper.

Kagome pulled another piece of tape from the dispenser and expertly folded the corner of wrapping paper, sealing it in place. She smiled at her handiwork, rather proud at how far she had come since she was a child. Her mother taught her well.

Glancing over, she realized not everyone had gotten better when it came to wrapping presents, evidenced by Inuyasha's catastrophe. He currently attempted to tape together an odd-shaped gift for their friend, Shippo, but he was having no luck in making it look pretty.

Sango suddenly exhaled deeply, pushing away her latest gift into her growing pile. "Well, I'm ready for some more hot cocoa." She stood up from where she had been sitting cross-legged on the floor, stretching her arms high over her head to loosen the muscles. "Anyone else want some?"

"Sure," Kagome replied, handing her cup over, as well as Inuyasha's when he distractedly agreed.

"Come on, Miroku," Sango urged, nudging him with her foot. "Help me in the kitchen."

"But I'm not done wrapping my gift yet," he protested, proceeding to fold another corner.

Sango swiftly kicked him again. "I can't carry four cups by myself."

Pouting, he slowly climbed to his feet and grabbed their mugs. "I've only finished half of my gifts. This is going to take all night!"

"Oh, quit complaining. It's not our fault you take your sweet time," Sango berated him as they ventured into the kitchen, the sounds of their conversation fading.

Kagome smiled and turned to Inuyasha, who was still struggling with his present. "Some things never change," she murmured, shaking her head affectionately. "Here, let me help."

"No, I got it," he assured, attempting to pull apart a piece of tape that had somehow stuck to itself.

She rolled her eyes at his pride. "Inuyasha, at least let me show you. That way you can do it yourself next time."

He opened his mouth to refuse her help again, but at the same time managed to tear the paper wide open, resulting in having to start all over.

Kagome smiled warmly. "Let me."

Scooting closer, she tore the paper off and began again. She folded the edges of his present neatly, her nimble fingers working quickly to tape it together. Inuyasha crossed his arms, grumbling under his breath that he was doing just fine and didn't need any help.

While he watched her work, he suddenly turned to her and asked, "Hey, what do you want for Christmas, Kagome?"

She raised her brows with surprise, sparing him a glance. "You haven't finished all your shopping yet?"

"Nah. I still have Miroku and Sango to do, but the rest are done."

"Yeah, I still have a few to pick up, too," she hummed in agreement.

"You didn't answer my question."

She looked up at him innocently. "Hm?"

"What do you want for Christmas?"

She shrugged and turned back to wrapping the gift. "Nothing really."

He furrowed his brows with surprise. "Nothing?" he parroted. "You always have a Christmas list made out in July. What do you mean 'nothing'?"

"I just don't want anything this year. Is that a crime?"

He didn't miss the light blush that dusted her cheeks. "Uh, yeah, for you it is. What's going on—?"

"Here we are!" Miroku exclaimed as he and Sango suddenly reappeared, effectively interrupting Kagome and Inuyasha's conversation, which Kagome was all too happy for.

After all, how could she tell him what she really wanted for Christmas?

Sango handed her a cup of hot cocoa, which Kagome quickly took a sip, relishing in the warm chocolate taste and sweet hint of marshmallow. "Perfect, as always."

"So, did you guys finish your holiday shopping?" Sango asked as she took a break from wrapping gifts.

"We were just talking about that. I still have Souta to buy for, but he should be easy." Kagome curled her hands around her mug and sighed. "My gramps will be hard, though. I never know what to buy him."

As the conversation turned to brainstorming ideas of what to buy for the rest of their family and friends, Kagome could feel Inuyasha stealing glances at her. Her answer to his question had left him confused, and contrary to popular belief, Inuyasha wasn't as dense as he seemed.

ACS

December twenty-fourth rolled around, and just like many years before, Kagome found herself at Sango's place to celebrate. However, she wasn't really in much of a partying mood, even after a few glasses of eggnog.

She had Inuyasha to thank for that.

It had been a week and Kagome still hadn't told him what she wanted for Christmas. Time was quickly running out, and at this rate, he had told her she would be receiving her present late. Not many stores were open on Christmas, and it was already seven o'clock at night.

Determined to avoid him and his insistent questioning, Kagome had ducked into a different room or another crowd all night. It was rather exhausting, not leaving much energy for actually enjoying the party.

Finally, she had given up on evading him. Curled up on the couch with a cup of hot chocolate in front of the fire place, she gazed at the hearth absently. She listened to the low hum of Christmas music playing in the background, sometimes drowned out by the laughter of some of the guests.

Over the years, the parties at Sango's place had grown. Extended relatives joined in, some newly married or recent parents, as well as neighbors or friends whose family had all passed and had nowhere to go. Sango's home was a place of solace during the holidays. After all, no one should be alone on Christmas.

Inuyasha suddenly plopped down next to her, effectively startling her, but when she realized who it was, she smiled. "Having a good time?" she greeted him.

He shrugged. "Yeah, I guess."

She nodded her head behind her to where his half-brother and his girlfriend were speaking with Ms. Higurashi. "How do you feel about Kagura?"

"Keh," he scoffed, following her gaze. "She's all right. Sesshomaru's more tolerable when she's around, so that's nice."

Kagome laughed. "Yeah, I can see how she can keep him in line."

Silence fell over them as Kagome sipped on her cocoa. She stole glances at Inuyasha out of the corner of her eye. He wore a red cashmere sweater that fit snug in all the right places and he had pushed up his sleeves to his elbows due to how warm it was inside.

God, did he look good.

"So…" Inuyasha prodded hesitantly, pulling Kagome's gaze back to his own. "Are you ever going to answer my question?"

She already knew what he was referring to. Averting her gaze to her cup of hot chocolate, she watched the marshmallows float in the milky-brown. "I already told you."

"That wasn't a real answer." He wrapped his arms around her bent legs, resting his chin on her knees.

She looked into his amber eyes, flecked with firelight, and affectionately tousled his hair. "I don't want anything," she tried again, hoping to ward him off with a smile.

He didn't buy it. "Liar." He pulled her hand free from his hair and held it. "I'm serious. What's going on?"

Kagome swallowed hard past the lump in her throat, feeling her stomach pool with unfamiliar warmth and the feel of Inuyasha's calloused hands against her own. She felt heat flush her cheeks, and it wasn't from the warmth of the fire. "Inuyasha…"

His hand tightened around hers. "Tell me, Kagome. What do you want for Christmas?"

She wasn't sure where her courage came from, but she suddenly found herself taking the proverbial leap of faith. So while staring into the amber eyes that gave her butterflies, in a small, breathy whisper, she spoke a single word.

"You."