Tis the Season
by That'sMyFiasco
On the eleventh day of Christmas...
Inuyasha sat in the knobbly old tree, every so often glancing down into the camp that clustered around its base. The blanket was draped over his shoulders, and the red-gold obi was tied securely around his waist. His chopsticks had been used to eat his meals that day, and now lay safely in his box- next to the pressed rose and blue stone.
Finally, a slight paper figure sat in the palm of his hand, the pure white of the paper stained by the dying scarlet light of the winter sun. The little square had been tucked and folded into the shape of a noble dog, the canine's nose pointed into the wind. The hanyou had been staring at the gift for what seemed like hours, jumping up into the welcoming arms of the tree overhead.
Exhausted, exasperated, Inuyasha ran his claws through his hair, staring down the miniature dog. For the past week and a half, present after present, each one surprising and unexpected- but no less thoughtful. There was no possible explanation, no conceivable reason that anyone would single him out in such a way, in any way.
Once the sky was black and the fire below had settled to embers, Inuyasha closed his eyes and curled up for the night- but kept the little dog in his hands.