Disclaimer - I do not own Inuyasha or the Chicken Soup series.
Author's notes - I kept the crappy 'i love you' scene...you people seem to be suckers for cheesy love, lol.
Rin's POV
I looked down at my Christmas shopping list, marking off another gift I bought.
"It seems I only need to buy Kohaku a gift..." I muttered to myself, unsure what a Suicidal Teen-age boy would want. I couldn't think of a simple gift. I already gave him a book, and I'm sure his sister would buy him clothing. But what else was there to give him?
"Rin, are you ready to go yet?" Dad's impatient voice rang.
I shook my head. "No, there's still one more person I need to buy for..." I chewed on my pen that I used to mark off each name.
"That Kohaku boy, right?"
I nodded, biting deeper into the tip. It then hit me like a bolt of lightening.
I rushed off to the music department before my Dad could ask any questions or stop me.
"H...H...where are you...Ah! Here we are. Hamasaki, Ayumi." It was the perfect gift. Kohaku didn't have an Ayu CD's and he was a big fan of her as well. I was now in another tough decision, what album would I get him? There were so many and I only had a certain amount of Christmas money left.
I didn't think shopping for a boy would be so hard...
I flipped through most of her albums and came across the "My Story" and "Memorial Address" track. "Perfect!" I grabbed the CD's and rushed back to my still dumb-stricken dad.
"I have his gift! We can go!" I set the CD in the shopping cart and marked Kohaku's name off my list.
"So what did you buy him?" Dad said out of no where.
"The My Story and Memorial Address Ayumi Hamasaki CD's." I said proudly. "Kohaku is fond of Ayumi and her song Moments. So I figured it'd be a great gift!"
He looked at the other items in the cart. "What did you buy your Mother?"
My smile grew. "Baby clothes! I could only find blue so..hopefully the Baby is a boy." I trailed off as I looked around the store some more. Dad didn't say anything after that. I figured it had something to do with my comment about mom having a Baby boy.
When we arrived at the house we quickly rushed into my bedroom and began wrapping all of Mother's gifts.
"So..Dad...if Mother does have a boy. What would you like to name him?" I finished wrapping the Baby clothing and picked up a Romance novel she had her eyes on for a while.
"I never really thought about it."
I handed him the next gift for him to wrap. "Well the Baby is due in April. I figured you'd have a name already."
He stayed silent for a moment. "Kaze."
I looked up at him. "What? Kaze? You mean Wind?" He nodded and set aside the freshly wrapped present.
"Your Mother wants to name the child Kaze." I blinked for a few time then understood. When my Mother was a Teen, her nickname at school was Kaze seeing as she always wanted to be free from her dad.
"I think it's an adorable name!" I set aside the wrapped Romance novel and picked up a few more of mom's gifts.
We didn't talk to each other much after that. Shortly afterwards he left and mom came in and we began to wrap his presents. Since there wasn't that many it went by quite fast.
We talked about the thing mom was now obsessed over; Babies.
It seemed to be the only thing she wanted to talk about. "So...I was thinking Rin. Since I haven't started painting yet, that you'd bring Kohaku over some time after the Holidays and we could paint the room, put up the wallpaper, and things like that."
I smiled as I picked up the last gift. "Sounds fun. Next time I see him, I'll ask."
Our Christmas wrapping lasted a good hour. Seeing as I also gave out four extra gifts from my regular list.
"So what did you get Kohaku and his family?" Mother eyed the large bag in the corner of my room.
"Oh." I picked up the bag and brought it over. "Well, I got their cat some...well cat toys. Kohaku is receiving two Ayumi Hamasaki CD's, I'm giving Sango a book called "Chicken Soup for the Big Sister's Soul" and I'm also giving Miroku a Chicken Soup. His is for the Doctor's Soul."
Mom took a look at all the gifts. "So Miroku is a Doctor?"
I nodded. "Yes."
She flipped through Sango's book. "And what does Sango do for a living?"
I shrugged. "I don't know. I don't even think she has a job."
She nodded and began wrapping the remaining gifts.
Oh god I look so horrible in these! Why did I even buy them?
-These make my hips look ten times bigger!
-I'm trying to lose my stomach, not make it bigger. This has to go!
Out of all of my clothes I couldn't find one thing that would please me. Everything was either to small or made me look larger. "Come on Rin, focus. The concert is in two-half hours. You still have twenty minutes to change!" I took a couple of deep breaths before grabbing a pair of jeans. "I suppose they look good...but if only my as-butt wasn't so large..." I sighed, knowing that I wasn't going to be thin enough in time for the Ayu concert and pulled a tank-top-blouse, even if my jeans were slipping off of me, I still wasn't satisfied. "This will have to do for now." I decided that since we were going to be in a dark concert room I didn't think much about make-up. A simple swing of lip-stick raced across my lips and a brush through my hair still made me seem and look beautiful.
I stood in front of the large mirror, still unsatisfied with the way I looked even if I could catch some eyes across the room.
How does Kagome manage to stay so tiny? She's so thin and yet she eats so much. And Sango, Sango is tiny as well. And heck, even mom who is pregnant still looks th-
A knock at the door interrupted my thoughts.
"Rin. Kagome called. She said she'd be here in five minutes." Mom voice was on the other end.
I sighed again and slipped into my shoes. "Alright. I just need to put on my shoes and grab a jacket. I'll be right out."
She didn't reply. I heard her footsteps walk away from my door.
I grabbed my jacket and stormed down the hallway, still furious that I wasn't thin enough in time.
Sure enough five minutes later Kagome, Sango and Kohaku arrived at the door.
In their hands were some presents. "Some of these are from Miroku and I..." Sango handed the three packages to mom. "And here are the ones from Kikyou, Inuyasha and I."
Kagome was now giving the gifts to dad. I then handed out my gifts. I didn't say anything when I handed them to Kagome and Sango. Just a simple nod and smile was all they received.
"Oh, and here are the pictures I took at the Wedding!" Kagome pulled out a small envelope and walked over to my parents. "Since you don't really know Sango and Miroku that well I'm just giving you the double prints of all the ones with Rin."
Dad flipped through the photos, his eyes narrowed more then they already were as he stared at each new photo. Knowing Dad, he wasn't pleased with the ones of Kohaku and I being so close in each one. When he finished he handed them to Mother and, in a furious state, pulled Kohaku aside.
Out of the corner of my eye I saw dad talking to Kohaku. They were whispering about something that made Kohaku look like he was fearing for his life. I heard some of the faint words he was telling poor Kohaku.
"You embraced her. Your hand was around my daughters waist!" By the looks of it Dad was going to snap Kohaku in half.
"S-she, told me that my other hand would go around her waist, Sir..."
Sir? Now I was certain Kohaku felt like he was about to die.
When I looked at dad's eyes they seemed to be full of rage that a boy had touched me.
"So, are you ready to go?" Kagome asked, once mom was finished with the pictures. I nodded and gave my parents a quick hug and kiss on the cheek before rushing out into the snow with everyone else.
Once we were in the car and on the road again I decided to start a conversation with Kohaku.
"So. Any plans for Christmas?"
He shook his head. "No. I'm just staying home with Miroku and Sango. An old fashion Christmas with the family. What about you?"
For some odd reason he seemed a little shy in front of me. "No, I'm not doing anything either. We're not even inviting my Aunt, Uncle, or Grandfather over."
He gave a weak smile before changing the topic. "So...what songs do you think she's going to sing?"
I glanced down at my watch. Two hours left. "Hm...I don't know. I hope she sings Moments. Though I'm sure she will...You?"
He shrugged this time. "Maybe Fairyland or something. I don't know."
It seemed to be an awkward silence after that, well, other then Kagome and Sango's random talk about Mistletoe.
We were lucky we even made it in time. The streets were packed with last minute shoppers and those who were trying to get to the homes of their loved ones. Other then that we had to wait in a long line to get in, though it was all worth it. Within a few minutes of us entering the Arena and we were in our seats Ayumi made her way onto the stage.
Kohaku's POV
Once Ayumi made her way on stage all three of the girls I came with began screaming their heads off. Yelling random things like, "We love you Ayu!" or "Yeah! Go Ayumi!" I couldn't help but feel embarrassed with them now. When everyone calmed down Rin squealed again and grabbed onto my hand.
"She's going to start singing soon!" I
smiled back to the giggly girl. Wondering if she was aware she was gripping onto my hand.
When the music to her first song started more people cheered and silenced just in time for her to start.
"Tachikomeru kumo sukima nuu you ni hoshitachi ga semegiau. Sakebi ni mo nita inori no you na kagayaki ga mune wo shimetsukeru."
Rin's grip on my hand tightened. "This is Happy Ending. It's one of my favorites." She began softly mouth the words, tilting her head from side to side. Still with my hand in hers.
When that song finished it was followed with a Merry Christmas and a thanks for coming. She then sang a English song called Silent Night thankfully some Japanese subtitles were on a large screen above her. She even had Gacket come on stage with her as a guest for Silent Night and the next song she sang called Merry Christmas then a few of her love songs like Is this Love, Still alone, Dearest...a few more songs passed by and finally, Moments.
When Rin heard this song she began to scream her head off. "Kohaku! It's Moments!" I gave her a weak smile, noticing that several fans around us had the same reaction she did.
"Kokoro ga kogatsuite. Vakeru nioi ga shita sore wa yume no owari. Subete no hajimari datta. Akogarete mono wa utsukushiku omoete. Te ga todokanai kara kagayaki o mashita no darou. Kimi no kudake chitta yume no hahen ga boku no mune o sashite wasurete wa ikenai itami toshite kizamareteku, hana no you ni hakanai no nara. Kimi no moto de sakihokorou deshou soshite egao mitodoketa ato sotto hitori chitteyuku deshou."
I knew that not anytime time soon Rin would let go of my hand, so without any second thoughts I gripped back and smiled. Though my eyes weren't fixed on Ayumi like I wanted.
They were fixed on Rin. Her dim smiling face and jet black hair still beared a few snowflakes that should have melted in by now. The lights that would graze over her face made her seem more beautiful then she already was. I felt as though I was in one of the movies where when the boy see's the girl of his dreams and a certain love song is playing.
Stop staring Kohaku! She's bound to notice soon!
I did as my mind forced. I shook my head and looked back to the stage, just as she was reaching the chorus of the song.
"Tori no you ni habatakeru nara. Kimi no moteo e tondeyuki deshou, soshite kizu o otta sono se ni. Boku no hane o sashidasu deshou. Hana no you ni hakanai no nara. Kimi no moto de saikihokoru deshou. Soshite egao mitodoketa ato. Sotto hitori chitteyuki deshou."
When the song ended she announced it would that this would be her last song that she would preform this year.
"What song do you think it would be? Maybe another love song?"
I really had no idea, though I loved Ayumi's music I didn't know to many of her songs...let alone the title's of them.
"Mata me atte soshite kotoba o kawashita. Mune ga takanatte egao de kakushita. Kimi o shiranakatta koro ni modorenaku narisou de."
"Oh this is another one of my favorites! This one is called Because of You."
I listed to the lyrics and somehow was drawn to them in a different way Moments had grabbed me.
The line "I found I couldn't go back to the times when I had not known you." made me think of Rin again. I knew I couldn't. It would be impossible for me even if I tried. Everything changed after I met her, I was spending more time with Sango, I would actually carry a civilized conversation with her and I didn't start cutting myself again like I had planned.
Kohaku! Pay attention! Stop getting sidetracked by her. She might get suspicions if not her then Sango or Kagome!
Why was it getting hard to pay attention now? Every though that traced my mind was about her and I couldn't focus on everyday things as well as I used to.
"Doushite tokidoki sunao ni jenai. Doushite tokidoki vasashiku narenai. Doushite tokidoki kizutsuke atteru. Doushite tokidoki tashikame atteru. Doushite tokidoki konnani kurushii. Doushite itsudemo konnani itoshii. Kimi ja nakya dame de. Kimi ja nakya dame de."
When she finished she gave a quick smile, wave, told everyone Happy Holidays and New Year and bow before walking off the stage.
"Wasn't the concert amazing Kohaku?" Rin had finally let go of my hand while we walked out of the Arena.
Before I could answer Sango and Kagome began giggling and frantically talking about it. "Yes I know! Did you see her outfits? They were so cool!"
"Yeah I know! And the music! Oh my gosh she played almost all of my favorite songs!."
"I know! We should go to more of her concerts!"
The two girls seemed to carry that conversation all the way up to the car, when I was finally able to say what I thought about it. "Yeah...it was really good." What would I say? It was the best thing I could come up with at this point.
We arrived at Rin's house shortly afterwards. "Make it quick Kohaku! The snow is really starting to pick up!" Sango yelled across the drive way as we tried to make our way to her front steps.
"I'm glad you could come to the concert." She smiled, rubbing her hands together and blowing into them every now and then, hoping to increase the heat in them. "Yeah...I was pretty glad I could come." I let out a small laugh at the end. She smiled and bit her lower lip. "Um...well I'll call you Christmas evening...maybe dad will let you Sango and Miroku come over." I looked up at the rim of her house, my eyes grew. Hanging above us was a small piece of Mistletoe.
Mistletoe? That wasn't there when we came to pick her up! And this is one family I thought would never hang Mistletoe especially in this place! It must have been hung here purposely...
I let out a small cough. "Yeah. That would be great...um...does your Mom usually hang Mistletoe there?"
She lifted up her head and turned white as the snow. "No..."
I took a deep breath and moved in closer to her. "Isn't it tradition when two people are under a Mistletoe they must kiss?"
She let out a small noise as my frozen fingers were wrapped around her arms. I lowered my head and pressed my lips onto hers. I could feel at first she was unwilling to this but soon gave in and scooted into the lip embrace. When she pulled away her face was now a flaming red.
"Um...Merry Christmas..." She shyly mumbled as she tried to grab the door handle.
"Yeah...Merry Christmas."
When I knew she was safe in her house I rushed back to the car, really hoping Sango and Kagome didn't see what I did.
Opening the car door I beat them to a reaction. "I don't want to hear it. I'm sure you saw but I don't want to hear it!." I was lucky, all they did was let out loud giggles and heard Kagome whisper in a low voice that she asked Kagura to place it there.
"Merry Christmas Kohaku!"
Sango stood over my bed, a huge grin on her face, my stocking in one of her hands and a cup of Hot Chocolate in another. I sat up in my bed and took the items from her.
"Thanks...so where's Miroku?" Sango was now sitting at the foot of my bed. "He's changing. Come on, open up your stocking gifts!"
Rolling my eyes and taking a sip of Hot Chocolate I opened up my stocking to find that most if it was the Candy I received every year and small pointless presents. Though in the stocking was a black Journal looking book that beared the word "Kohaku" on it. She obviously wanted me to write down my feelings in this book.
"Now hurry up and get dressed. And wear your nice Christmas outfit, we're going to Rin's for dinner." She didn't even bother to make sure I got the whole message, she was already heading back downstairs to the living room.
When I reached the living room, Kilala jumped at me and landed on my shoulder, mewing happily and licking my cheek between each mew. "Merry Christmas to you to Kilala." I smiled, noticing her Christmas bow was already on. Sango was curled up in a blanket by the tree, ready to hand out the presents. Miroku sat on the couch across from her also wrapped up in a blanket with a camera right beside him and a large mug of Coffee beside it. I sat down next to Miroku, with Kilala still on my shoulder.
"Alright, well here's Kohaku's first present! And guess who it's from."
I rolled my eyes as I took the small package and said a sarcastic voice, "Santa Claus?"
She glared at me before grabbing the next gift she was going to hand out.
It's from Rin...who knows what she bought me...
When I finished removing the wrapping paper my jaw dropped. There in my hands was My Story CD, I knew that had Moments seeing as it was in Rin's large collection. When I picked up the CD to take a better look at it I saw the Memorial Address CD.
"So what did she get you?" Sango leaned over, trying to get a better look.
"Oh...just some CD's, nothing big." I set them aside and moved on to watch Miroku open his first gift.
Since there were only three of us our Christmas morning didn't last two long. We were done in forty-five minutes not including the cleaning we did afterwards. Once the cleaning was done Sango heated up another cup of Hot Chocolate and began reading the book Rin bought her. Miroku sat beside Sango and began reading one of the few books he received this Christmas.
I on the other hand took all my gifts, rushed up to my room and began playing the tracks she gave me.
Aw, isn't that just nice of Rin? She bought you Ayu!
-And all you gave her was a lousy-
The phone ringing caught my attraction. "It's Rin!" Miroku called, rushing up the stairs to deliver me the phone.
"Hello?" I paused the CD player and sat on my bed, wondering what she could be calling me about now.
"Thank you for the gift! I love it so much!" She was squealing her head off again.
"Oh...your welcome...I mean it wasn't anything big."
"Nothing big? Kohaku I love it!"
"Glad you do...thanks for the gift as well. Just before you called I was listening to it." I could hear her giggle softly on the other end.
"Your welcome. Believe me, thank was nothing big." It was my turn to let out a small laugh.
"Well I better go, Mom and I are going to make some last minute Christmas cookies...I'll see you around four."
"Alright...bye." We both hung up the phone. I tossed aside and laid down on my bed, hitting the play button on my way down.
Ugh...do I dare ask Sango or Miroku what love is?
Odd, instead of looking at the girls in the movies or posters that all the other boys drooled over, I looked at Rin and would feel different. My heart speeds faster and I blush at a simple word she says.
"Hey, Kohaku done with the phone?"
Miroku knocked on my door, letting me know ahead that he was coming. I motioned the phone on my floor and asked him, "Miroku...what's love?" I heard him let out a faint gasp and shut my door a bit more so Sango wouldn't over hear us.
"Why would you want to know what it is?"
I shrugged. He frantically looked around the room, hoping he'd find something to talk about so he could stall this talk for a few more years.
"Aren't you a little young?"
I shook my head and sat up. "I'll be Seventeen in February." I could tell by his expression and constant need to stall that he didn't want to tell me.
"Is it when you think about that someone constantly and almost every second. When you see this person and you can't breath and your heart speeds up and your blushing like mad all of a sudden?" He sighed before brining his head up into a smile. "It's Rin huh?"
I gave a quick nod, hoping he wouldn't see.
"So when are you going to tell her?"
I thought on that one for a moment. "When I feel the time is right."
Rin's POV
Where could Kohaku be? It's almost dinner time...
-His car could have been caught in snow? It is a blizzard out there you know.
-Yes...but what if he decided to spend Christmas dinner with the boys?
-No, he wouldn't. Besides, those boys have family members and it's not Kohaku to leave you waiting like that.
-And it's not like him to buy such a nice gift either now is it?
I waited patiently waited by the door, hoping Kohaku would arrive soon.
"The roads are icy...maybe he's just having a bit of trouble." Dad said, not even looking up from his book. That wasn't helping. I wished he was here now and didn't make me wait so long.
To my luck the doorbell rang.
When I answered the door I saw all three of them shivering and trying to keep warm. "Merry Christmas." Sango managed to spurt out. "S-sorry it took so long. We couldn't get the heater in our car to work." Miroku finished, walking into the house, still shaking a bit. When Kohaku walked in I immediately grabbed onto his cold hand.
"I love the gift. Thank you!"
He gave me a weak smile. "You already said that."
I returned the smile. "I know, but I really love it."
"Oh your just in time. Dinner is ready!" Mom called from the Kitchen entrance.
Though there were only four adults and two...well three children dinner was loud. As if we gathered a huge family reunion together. Miroku, Sango, and Mother were laughing about some old things they used to do when they were younger for the Holidays. Dad, like every Holiday, just sat there eating his meal and minding his own business, making small eye contact every now and then. And though it was a little hard with the others laughing Kohaku and I managed to start a conversation.
"So...did you have a nice Christmas so far?" I started the conversation. Then again, when didn't I?
"Yes. It was fun I suppose. And yourself?"
I looked at Dad. I noticed his eyes were now fixed on Kohaku. It seemed that whenever he was over Dad was watching him like a Hawk. "Yes. It was fun as well."
A few moments of silence was between us. Even if it was because we were eating the food on our plates, it still bothered me.
"I see your wearing the Necklace..." His voice was quiet now.
"Yes. The moment I realized what it was I opened it up and put it on. Does it look okay on me?" I flaunted a bit towards him, showing off the three beautifully cut stones. Two Diamonds and one Sapphire in the middle of each Diamond that stood beside each other on the metal cord.
"I think it's beautiful."
"Thank you..." It seemed like a polite enough reply.
While mom took our dishes away she sent us off again like the first time Kohaku came over.
"I'm guessing you'd like to hang around my bedroom until my mom calls us?" We were already at the door by then and it seemed so obvious that, that was what he wanted to do. We both sat on my bed, spending the first few minutes talking about the items we received this year. When that was over it was just more silence between us. I hated it when there was always a long silence between us after we finished a conversation.
"Rin..." I looked away from the floor.
"Yes?" He wasn't looking at me as he spoke, it was though he was embarrassed for what he was going to say next.
"Um...oh shit...how do I say it?..."
I was now utterly confused. "Is something the matter?" He shook his head, still not looking at me.
"Rin..." He now grabbed my hand and held it tight.
"Yes Kohaku?..." I heard him take a deep breath, urging his body to say the words.
"I..."
He paused again, this anxiety was really getting to me.
"Kohaku. You know you can tell me anything. In a way I'm still you consular, am I not?" I took my free hand and placed it on top of the his that was holding my other. Though his face was still towards the ground I could make out a blush under his eyes. "Come on Kohaku..." I scooted closer to him, it was now killing me that he wasn't talking and telling me the answer.
"Rin ...I...love you..."
I let out a small gasp in surprise. Here was a boy who is cold as ice at times now wanted to be my lover? It was all to much at first, true I had feelings for him that was different from any other boy I knew, but this was to sudden for me. When I came to my senses and looked back at him properly, I could tell he was waiting for a reply. I smiled and leaned my face closer to him, giving an honest to god answer;
"I love you too..."
Author's notes - Yes yes yes, I kept that crappy 'i love you' scene in...
Thank you for reading.