Chapter Thirty-Six: Lights and Shadow

"A wise lover values not so much the gift of the lover as the love of the giver."

-Thomas a Kempis

"Of course...if you need us just call." Jade remarked, noting the boy couldn't be all that normal with the red eyes. He had long known it to be a sign of the supernatural after all. But if it was another of the many people falling for Kagome then he couldn't really react unless she asked him to. Or the man attacked.

Kagome nodded, walking up to the demon that had helped her at Lezard's mansion – apparently having frightened the boy enough that he still hadn't returned. She offered him a smile. "Hey, it's nice to see you again."

"Of course it is." Kazama apparently didn't lack pride. "You are still keeping company with a fair amount of these watered down creatures. Why?"

"Still trying to get my old body back." Kagome answered, not sure what else to say to the boy. "I should thank you again for your help. I'd rather not think about where I'd be if you hadn't frightened off Lezard."

"Duty, he was playing with things he shouldn't be." Kazama waved it off as nothing. "He even managed to make you smell like a full demon – but such a form is unnatural. I am relieved to hear that you are planning to remedy it."

"As soon as I can." Kagome nodded, more than happy to get her normal body back. "No luck yet, apparently whatever he did was really complex. I ah...did you come here cause you needed something? You said someday you'd ask for a favor in return."

"No, not at this time." He shook his head negatively once. "I was merely checking in."

"Hold on..." Kagome held up a finger to gesture for him. "I wasn't sure if I'd see you but I got you something for Christmas, lemme go get it."

Kazama perked a wheat colored brow as she dashed into her house but didn't leave, this girl was curious to say the least. She returned with a small wrapped package and he smiled slightly. "We don't know each other. Giving me such gifts, are you falling for me already?"

"No...no." She'd been handing over the present when he made the remark, and blushed as his hand traced the back of hers before he stepped closer. His presence making the air somehow warmer, Kagome tried to swallow to get her mouth to wet – his words and approach had made it go dry.

"You are a beautiful thing, even I have to give that sorcerer credit for getting this copy so close to the original...not as good of course. I wonder...does this new body feel the same as the last?" His voice became a low purr, hand up to cup her cheek – the thumb rubbing over it before tracing her lips. "Do you have the same experiences to touch..."

Kagome found herself leaning into the hand, surprised at how gentle he could be given she knew a demon's strength well enough...her heart racing as his thumb tickled her lips – not at all helping with the cottonmouth. Her mind was in a pink fog, the suitors inside – and the Christmas party in general – temporarily forgotten as she stared into his eyes. The red had it's own inner glow, richer than any of the lights people had out for the holiday but still seeming to fit the theme.

"What about taste?" His whispered query was followed by his tucking a finger under the chin to tilt her head up to access. Pressing her into an embrace so tender she felt herself falter until he held her up with his free arm – she understood what weak in the knees meant as her body seemed ready to turn to goo for the young demon. He tasted like hot chocolate – or was that the cup she'd had before returning to her home? Her home.

She pushed the dizziness away and pulled back before he could kiss her again – she was fairly certain she'd just added another name to her roster of admirer's. The impish smile he was offering as she stared didn't help the thundering of her body to ignore 'the right thing' to lose herself in those lips again.

"Kazama...ah, there's something I should tell you..." Here she went again...

"Some curse yes? A love spell if my research was correct." Kazama interjected making her brows raise, was everyone spying on her these days? "Doesn't matter, spell or otherwise, I am someone that knows what he wants, and I take it. Tonight, I'll spare you, consider it your gift – but the next time you see me I'll be there to take you Kagome Higurashi."

Kagome blinked and he was gone, a rush of wind around her from the speed of his exit – her blood thundering in her ears and her mouth still alive with the touch he'd offered her. Yet, his words made her shiver more than the sudden rush of cold air – had she just gotten a kidnapping threat from the demon that saved her life?

She stared a long moment before shaking her head in confusion and slipping back toward the house to go back inside. Spotting Eri hanging mistletoe she had to smile at her friends. Their mischief at least would keep things interesting.

Moving closer she expected to see some of the victim's her friends had in mind but as she came around the corner an arm snaked around her waste to pull her under the innocent white berries hanging down from the ceiling. She blinked several times at the tall silver haired warrior that had snatched her – blushing furiously since her friend Eri was right there watching. Thankfully everyone else had left for whatever game was in the kitchen. Probably pulled away so they could lure Roy here for Ayumi – she should have known one of her various admirers would take advantage of the situation.

Eri made herself scarce fairly quickly at least...

"I have been waiting to find you separated from the others – I was working so much in the kitchen that I wasn't sure if I'd get a moment alone with you." Sephiroth remarked, pulling her up to him so they were lingering intimately close. "Did you ever tell me if you were one for tradition?"

"Usually, but..." Kagome didn't get to finish pointing out that this probably wasn't the time to be making out before he closed the rest of the distance between them. His embrace slightly less tender than the others – his tongue tracing her lips and not delving further until she let out a light moan of pleasure at the passionate approach. How many men had she kissed this afternoon exactly? Weren't some of them right next to her in the kitchen?

Still, it was hard to take those concerns that seriously when her fingers were tangled into the long locks of her once kidnapper. One of her legs coming up up along his thigh before she managed to push herself off and shake her head – trying to clear the dizziness. Did Christmas make this whole curse worse? She just kept making out with everyone today...

"Tradition isn't so bad..." She had to admit, smiling despite her own misgivings. Letting him wrap his fingers around hers. Canting her head curiously as she followed him toward the steps, not getting nervous until they reached the top floor. "Um...where are we going?"

"Your room." Sephiroth answered, nodding toward her bedroom.

"Uh, uh...no, that is a bad idea..." Kagome knew she had gone into lobster mode at the implication.

"My intentions were completely pure – unless you're prefer them otherwise..." Sephiroth remarked, his hand rising from her arm to caress her cheek and ear. "I could oblige either way."

"No no...let's stick with pure...what do you want in my room?" Kagome asked nervously.

"Your window is the only one with a good view for this," Sephiroth answered, checking watch. "Hurry. Or you'll miss it."

Kagome followed him frowning a little when he stood her at her window and turned the lights off, standing behind her. The view from her room had never been of the city but the shrine grounds so it was pretty dark. She was about to ask what he was up too when the grounds lit up – lights around the various pines surrounding the area glittering with electric beauty. It was mostly the inner circle but it still made her smile...he'd gone to a lot of trouble to even set up a timer if he was looking at his watch.

"It's beautiful." Kagome remarked. Subconsciously surprised that the prideful took the time not just for this but to help her with cooking today...all of her paramours were going out of their way. It made her laugh, while she appreciated it all – they weren't going to make it easy on her to choose any of them would they?

As her mom said though, she'd figure it out...if it took her a while then it would – better not to rush something such as this. She let Sephiroth wrap his arms around her from behind and stood quietly in the dark to look at her lights – they left an extra sparkle to the falling flakes around them – making orbs of light here and there. It was too beautiful not to sit and enjoy it – they'd all certainly made her feel like she was celebrating by the time the day had ended.

End Chapter

Yup, pretty much Kazama – gift is me not kidnapping you yet – next time though. That was his M.O. throughout much of Hakuouki so I thought it fit pretty well. For him it's really sweet I promise. Then Sephiroth got his moment too. Next chapter will be a counterpoint chapter – I know finally right? Only took – a while...Life has been more than rough since my last update. My son was born exceptionally premature and is still in the hospital desipte being nearly 10 months old. My other son is sick again...and I am fighting to keep up with good grades in my college courses. I just felt my dedicated fans deserved some time with me working. I will be trying to get some more work done on another chapter as well soonish-promise. Counterpoint chapters are difficult.

-Aura

P.S. Life has been more than rough since my last update. My son was born exceptionally premature and is still in the hospital desipte being nearly 10 months old. My other son is sick again...and I am fighting to keep up with good grades in my college courses. I just felt my dedicated fans deserved some time with me working. I will be trying to get some more work done on another chapter as well soonish-promise. Counterpoint chapters are difficult.

To my reviewers:

Thanks to anyone sticking with me. I promise I'll try to get up specific replies to reviews one of these days.