Chapter Thirty-Two: Cleaning Slate

"The holidays drape us in magic and give us the hope that we can do better than we have done in the past."

-Toni Sorenson

So. Flying perhaps wasn't quite as bad as she'd feared, she did take to it pretty fast – mostly it just got cold so she couldn't stay up for too long since her coat didn't help her much in the cold snap that had absorbed much of the Tokyo area. She had to smile at Sephiroth though as she landed on the snow next to him, sinking into it with a little more grace than her first few attempts to stop. Apparently Lezard had also made her more graceful since she was certain in her old body she'd of done just what Albel joked about and broken her neck.

Kagome warmed her hands, glancing at the sky – when had it become the night? Had she really been working with him all afternoon? Her stomach growled at her, as if annoyed at her long distraction. It had been hard work flying about the shrine all afternoon. She leapt up to hug Sephiroth when he suggest they go inside so she could relax.

"I see it must have been horrible for you." Sephiroth remarked, settling his hands on her hips so she couldn't easily withdraw from the sudden hug.

"No, I don't mean that. I really enjoyed it, I didn't think I would. It made me forget about...well, that I am like this. Even though I was using wings and I guess it shouldn't – but it did. I had a lot of fun with you today. It let me really smile for the first time in a while. Like the world isn't over just cause I was kidnapped and shoved into another body." Kagome rambled, blushing at the sudden approach by Sephiroth. "Um, we're having the Christmas party tomorrow, I know it's only Christmas Eve but I didn't know if people would want to spend the actual day with their families and everything. I'd of made it not on the holiday but it was sort of last minute and I did invite you right?"

"Yes, though I have no where else to be, I could visit you on the holiday as well. I know your family still has to remain away." Sephiroth remarked. "I wouldn't want you to get lonely."

Kagome licked her lips subconsciously and smiled at him. "I think I'll have at least a few people around but I appreciate the offer. You are very welcome if it's not an inconvenience."

"I think only the other people might be that." Sephiroth commented, pushing a few bangs from her face before leaning down to give her a more tender kiss than she was expecting. She vaguely wanted to melt away – making out with anyone was hardly a way to avoid sending mixed signals to her many men. She felt like she could fill up the whole bone eater's well with them by now.

"Crap!" She suddenly announced after they withdrew from the kiss. "I...not you. The kiss was good, really good. I forgot to wrap my gifts. I need to do that tonight, I won't have any time tomorrow since I need to cook everything."

Sephiroth chuckled, ruffling her hair with a hand. "Well, I do have to admit you keep me on my toes. Come on, let me help you with something. I can at least aid in the preparation of a meal. I have no plans tomorrow so I am able to arrive early to help as well."

"Really, you cook?" Kagome asked, not sure if he'd mentioned that before.

"Often, I'm single as you might recall. Unless you plan to start dating me regularly and forget the rest of them." Sephiroth suggested, gesturing back at the house. As much as he didn't want to be out of her company he knew she might fall ill if she remained out in the cold.

"Um, you know I'm not really ready..."

"It's fine Kagome, I am aware. I am not trying to rush you, just putting my hand in the pot – perhaps my culinary skill will win you over." He commented as they headed into the house.

"What culinary skill?" Roy asked, he was sitting in the living room watching television with Jade nearby looking over bills. "Are we all cooking something tomorrow?"

"We should." Sephiroth remarked before Kagome could protest. "We could have a small friendly competition between all of us. Let Kagome be the judge of the various dishes we pitch in."

Kagome sighed mentally – why were they always picking fights? At least it wasn't a fistfight but she was a little afraid it might become a knife one if they were planning to use only her kitchen. She glanced at Jade hoping for some sort of save but he just nodded at the idea thoughtfully.

"I do make some exceptional curry. Not a traditionally Christmas dish but I could add sweet pumpkin to it..." He was already planning. Kagome was doomed. She hung her head in a defeated acceptance of what was being said.

"All right, all right, but no cheating or messing with each others dishes. And one of you has to call everyone else coming and let them know what's happening." Kagome relented. "I'm pretty exhausted after all that practicing so I'm going to bed since I gotta be up early to get the turkey ready."

"Not to worry, I can make that piece – get some rest." Sephiroth remarked. "It'll be my portion of the competition and I get to take a little stress off your shoulders – a win-win."

Kagome smiled at that, she did appreciate the gesture. She enjoyed cooking but she still had to get a lot ready so she wouldn't turn down the help. When she left they were still discussing and Roy was calling the others – she wasn't sure how fearful she should be. Thankfully she'd worked herself out in the flights enough to feel exhausted – she was sure when she did finally get to sleep that it wouldn't take long to pass out. She was right – she could hear them speaking below – picking out different voices but not exactly what was being said because of the distance.

It was the first time she'd managed to relax since the transformation forced on her by Lezard. She owed Sephiroth for helping her get her mind onto anything more positive – maybe she should have gotten him something more for the holiday – but it was a little too late now...

They'd met cause he'd kidnapped her but he was thoughtful to her now. Would it be different without the spell? Kagome growled as she thought about it and shook her head animatedly. Now wasn't the time for this, she was trying to decide on who she wanted – but all of a sudden she understood Inuyasha's perspective of years before. Some part of her sort of wished she could just keep them all. That wasn't possible though – eventually they would start fighting more than they already had. It was a marvel they'd kept the piece so far. She needed to figure out who it was she was going to choose.

Tossing off her shirt followed by the kicking of her pants she pulled her pajamas off the edge of her desk. Digging out the presents and the paper and bows. No matter how much she thought about it she couldn't ever figure out which one of her many suitors she actually wanted. This was getting to be impossible...the only time she ever thought of just one is when they got intimate. Overall it just made her feel a bit like a whore – even if she hadn't slept with any of them. Eventually they'd figure out what she had to do or say to pick one of them...or possibly to let them out of the spell?

"I doubt it's like pokemon, random guy I choose you!" She whispered to herself with a half bittersweet laugh before cutting some paper for the first gift. She would have to figure it out eventually...

ooooo ooooo ooooo ooooo ooooo ooooo ooooo

Kagome was certain she'd still been dreaming – or maybe having a nightmare? One of the two. But it shattered from her mind the same moment she was shocked back into consciousness. Consciousness being used lightly as a description since it was more of a between state with how exhausted her body was prior to climbing into her bed. She couldn't have said for certain what it was that woke her, and had already sunk back down when she heard muffled voices from downstairs.

This had become common in her household, so most days she would ignore it – but the nagging sensation in the back of her mind brought her to remember that she needed to be cooking. With a groan she pulled herself out of the bed, her whole body was sore – too much work the day before. It seemd fine at the time but she'd definitely overdone it. She moved to take a shower (she didn't have time to soak in a bath) and then got dressed in the nice holiday dress she'd picked out during her shopping trip with Kyoya. She figured since he'd spied on her she could include a few things for herself. After picking up her gifts to carry downstairs to the tree she balanced them all the way down, blinking at all the gifts that had ended up beneath it. She supposed it probably came with all her suitors but it was still strange.

Her mouth started to water – the house smelled absolutely amazing, all manner of scents were throughout, the kitchen was the center of most of the activity – with the main room strangely empty for the first time since she'd gotten all of her new guests. There were several people in the kitchen already however,giving it a weird sort of 'other dimension feel.

Sephiroth was basting a turkey with an apron tied around his waist. If that alone wasn't enough to make her wonder if she was still dreaming there were other oddity's. Ghaelon was making pretty details on a set of chocolates that looked professional. Jade was stirring what appeared to be curry and had rice in a cooker going nearby but also was sporting an apron. Ishida was already there as well adding a layer of mergaine carefully over a bit of lemon with a pumpkin pie nearby. She didn't think he'd be able to make it but was glad to see he had.

"Good morning." Ghaleon was the first to notice her entry and she smiled at him a little awkwardly before glancing at the others.

"Morning guys...I uh, should I even do anything?" Kagome asked. "Do you know what other people are bringing?"

"Ed and Winry are bringing Mashed Potatoes and Green Beans." Roy remarked, immediately on it – despite his usual laziness he could manage things when he put his mind to it. "Albel said he'd figure out something and I asked Seto Kaiba to bring drinks."

"Kaiba?" Kagome forgot about that she'd sent the invites before she found out about his spying...and apparently he was coming for sure if Roy called him. Ugh, that would make things uncomfortable to say the least...what was she supposed to say to him? Sure, it didn't seem like Kyoya knew anything of her supernatural aspects, and neither did Ishida, but she was nervous having them around her magically capable guardians. Still, she could hardly back down now.

"Just relax for a while, I imagine people will be trying to monopolize your time shortly." Jade recommended, adding a bit of spice to his curry after having taken a taste. "I imagine we have enough food as it is."

"Right." Kagome nodded, she had to admit it was a little disappointing since she did like to cook.

Then the bell rang and she was so busy playing hostess that the free time was appreciated. She let Ed and Winry in, followed shortly by Kaiba with his younger brother and a various set of waters and sodas or other drinks. Kagome was surprised at how much he probably spent but then it was likely nothing to the millionaire – she was more interested in Mokuba. Who she was glad to meet – the young dark haired boy was sweet. He certainly seemed to appreciate the fact that there weren't many other people to steal the candy canes from the tree. It was surprising to see Kaiba with such a sweet kid, did they have different mothers or something? It was a pity her family had to be somewhere else right now – she figured Mokuba and Souta would get along.

After the millionaire arrived came Yuka, Eri and Ayumi who each brought small snack dishes to put out – a relief since Kagome had forgotten them. Then Albel, who tossed some prepacked sides onto the kitchen table at the first chance. He looked even grumpier than usual – dressed in a long sleeved shirt and slacks instead of his usual more comfortable clothes, he was already pulling at the collar and seemed in general like he didn't want to be there. Of course, that was him being normal so she wasn't that concerned. At that point she figured the house was done. She had everyone that was there for the party, people were chatting in the living room or the kitchen – it was as full as she could remember her house since her father died. It made her smile.

The bell rang again and she canted her head curiously, she's assumed that was it but she went to open it, surprised to find Kyoya on the other side since she hadn't invited him. He had on a heavier coat again – as the temperature was still very cold – common for Tokyo this time of year. She could see his breath and he offered a winning smile over his hands after warming them.

"I don't mean to interrupt Kagome, I see you have several people here. I wanted to give you something for the holiday – I'll be busy the rest of the break but I stopped by here on the way to the airport." Kyoya remarked. "May we speak a moment?"

"Sure." Kagome nodded, getting a coat from the hall closet before stepping out after him. Even though it was still early and busy the outside of her home was much quieter. A small layer of snow on the ground and over the trees around the shrine gave it a peaceful aspect that she appreciated after the nonstop morning. "You didn't have to get me anything Kyoya, you already did more than enough helping me out with shopping."

"Here." He took off his scarf to wrap it around her neck since she was still shivering a little. "Besides, I felt the need to do something a little closer to the actual day...and really it's something I should have done already. I didn't have a chance to really wrap it but here."

He pulled a file from under his shirt, handing it to her. There was a black bow tied around it but she could see a pile of papers within. She glanced at it then him, pulling the bow free to look at it – it was all information about her – copies of her birth-certificate, pictures of her through the years in her yearbooks, other papers and more information. She frowned a little at it, about to say something when Kyoya spoke up.

"It's all the information I'd gotten on you for Kaiba, it's the master copy of the file. I felt it was better if the new year comes and we start fresh." Kyoya remarked, a little unsure why he was giving up information he'd paid good money and put in time to get. "I know it doesn't really make up for the invasion of your space but I didn't want you to think your history was just subject to the highest bidder. I imagine it's more strange than senti..."

He statement paused, interrupted as she leaned up on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek. Grey eyes surprised by the gesture – though he covered it quickly enough. He should be accustomed to the often fickle feelings of girls by now – likely Tamaki would be laughing if he'd of seen the exchange.

"It's sweet Kyoya, thank you." Kagome answered. Certainly she'd still been very wary about Kyoya but this gesture did say a lot. A physical show that he wanted to clean the slate was something that he didn't have to do but went out of his way for. "I'd invite you in but you said you had to go, where are you headed?"

"My family wanted to spend the holiday somewhere a little warmer, it's a private island in the Caribbean." He remarked with a shrug. "Otherwise I'd be happy to take you up on it. I hope we can see each other again after my return? Maybe after the new year?"

"Sure." Kagome nodded at his request, he was always so polite and normal guys holding an interest in her were so rare that she did want to explore anyone that got caught in the spell. Besides, there was always the vain hope that one of her many suitors would like her without the curse. "Oh, your scarf."

She raised her hands to take it off and give back to him but his caught hers. Each blushed a moment and then he shook his head before rasing her hands to brush his lips against the back of them. "It's fine, I'm not going somewhere I need it. Keep it. Merry early Christmas, Kagome."

End Chapter

I thought Kyoya's little invert was cute...I promise there is a counterpoint coming up as soon as I can fit it in. I want each of the guys to have a sweet holiday moment with Kagome, so there will be much more to come. I hope I can finish it all (read: get the time) before Christmas this year. Hopefully since I have a month to work on it. I have a little outline for some chapters finished but not all the way through. Figured in the spirit of the holidays I'd start people out on Thanksgiving.

-Aura

To my reviewers:

Thankful to have all you guys reading and enjoying my madness : )

Vixen – I like the idea of Sephiroth and Kagome together as well. I think it's sort of sweet to see them together. I'm hoping they'll have another – more detailed – lesson later. Just trying to fit everything in gets a bit tough sometimes.

Kakashixangela – It did help, she recognized that he made her not feel as much like a freak.

Dierdreaes – I'm still unsure if I'll bring in the jewel of four souls, I have some ideas as to how to manage it but I haven't gotten a way to pull it into the plot just yet.