Hello everyone! I'm sorry I didn't write Happy Thanksgiving and pardon me for being late so I'll say it in this chapter. Happy Thanksgiving! I hope that last chapter was filling and I hope this satisfies you. Yup, I'm afraid this is the last and final chapter for this story, sorry that it had to go so soon. But never to fear, I will be up with another story the week after this one in the Princess Tutu section. I hope your into that one if you like classic Christmas stories with twists.

Well let's get started shall we?

Some of the characters are going to be OOC. And the rating will be under T.

The Dog Demon Who Stole Christmas

Previously on The Dog Demon Who Stole Christmas: Motherly instincts took it's effect on Kagura, who pushed Sesshomaru out of the way, to get to her daughter. Grabbing her daughter's hand, she too stumbled over the cliff, grasping the front of the sleigh to stop their fall. However, the snow that was packed below it broke loose sliding both the sleigh and the girl's down over the cliff to their doom.

Chapter Nine: Sesshomaru's Thawed Heart

'It's quiet. Too quiet.' Kagura thought as she remained holding her daughter's hand. And since when had they stopped their downward descend down the cliff? Opening her eyes just enough to see out of them, she was meet by the surprising fate that was hovering above her. There at the back of sleigh, a man wearing a Santa costume, had a tightly grip on the sleigh. That man was the lord of the western lands, Sesshomaru.

"Sesshomaru?" Kagura raised one eyebrow as if questioning his name itself. Looking down at her position, she noticed that Rin had passed out from fright and the sleigh was leaning in an eighty degree angel. Grimacing in slight fear, she didn't like her disposition and frankly didn't feel quite comfortable dangling from the head of the sleigh. Lifting her upper up to shift her fingers to intertwine more securely around the edge of the railing, a nasty pop resounded in Kagura's ears as she let out a groan. Inspecting her arm, she noticed that her shoulder bone was jutted and grotesque, with her bone arched upward in an unnatural way. "Kuso," she cursed under her breathe as she averted her eyes toward the direction she felt Sesshomaru tugged on.

"Sesshomaru if you could hear me, I need you take Rin. She's unconscious and needs medical attention, please aid her." A tear cascaded from her face as a batch of tears erupted soon after.

A fine pointed ear, twitched upon hearing her request. His heart pounded in his chest in renewed compassion and determination to help Kagura and Rin. His unusually small heart that was two sizes two small, seemed to expand double that size on that Christmas morning. Unexplainable, strength touched his muscles making him stronger and successfully heaving the sled from the cliff. Slowly, he brought it up in a two second rhythm.

Perspiration, dripped from his scrunched visage in ceaseless torrents. Although, his face was bunched together in concentration and ascertainment, there was a very strong wave of dread. Funny how the lord of the western lands, who appeared to be impeccable with no heed for any useless emotions overtaking his body, now was engulfed completely in terror. And for humans nonetheless! It was strangely out of character for the stoic youkai to be benevolence, but don't forget that today is Christmas, the day of miracles that makes anything possible.

On the other end of the sled, Kagura was grateful for the hasty rescue, however, each time the sleigh inched closer to the hill her fingers would slowly slipped from their secure location. The pain in her left shoulder was too excruciating to handle for the human who bit down on her lip to prevent her screams to escape from her lips. Gazing downward, she took in the beautiful terrene below.

The twinkle from the pure white snow resembled mountains of sugar in a surreal world of a child's imagination, with evergreen trees and houses covered with snow to complete the fantasy-like world.

The magnificent scenery nearly sidetracked the mother that was currently, still in danger from falling. Sadly, Kagura was not only losing her gripping, she was also caving in to fatigue. The snow on the ground looked soft and reassuring like a warm blanket waiting patiently for her to fall into the depths of it's sheets.

"Kagura." A voice sounded off distant but also so close by too.

"Kagura." Again the voice called, though more stern than the first time.

'Who's calling me…it sounds so familiar.' Lukewarm breath breathed on her pale hand tingling her senses as her head automatically shot up toward the top of the cliff, to have her crimson eyes clash with amber ones. The golden orbs brought the young woman into a fantasy world surrounded by the glow of amber as the bordering sky. However, Kagura still had some sense of reality and knew it was no time to be delusional…especially in her current predicament. She jolted from her dream as turned her gaze to her motionless daughter on the other end.

Pulling Rin's body upward, she groaned from extreme pain her shoulder had taken from her reckless action earlier, as she used the last ounce of her strength to have Sesshomaru save her child. Craning her neck, she called to Sesshomaru.

"Take Rin now…she's slipping hurry." Her hand that was gripping the sled slowly slipped farther when the extra weight was removed. Seeing Rin safely in Sesshomaru's arms, her hand released it's hold as she whispered a "thank you," as gravity took control of her weak body. Smiling up at having accomplished bringing Rin out of danger, she embraced the lightness she felt as she tumbled down toward the snowy valley below.

Cool air engulfed the fallen maiden into a numb prison of pleasure. The wind that rapidly came at her, wrapped around her body, making her forget the excruciating ache in her shoulder she felt. 'This isn't so bad.' She thought, snuggling into the fall. Loving the new lightness in her stomach, she felt so free from the troubles of the world like a feather. A feather, only not swaying in the wind but rather remaining in a constant acceleration and speed.

Although, she could feel the force of death knocking at her door, she was still sadden to leave her family behind. 'Rin, Kanna…gomen I couldn't be with you for this Christmas. I hope you will forgive me for saying goodbye.' As her mind was transfixed with her thoughts, they drafted to the man that was her daughter's savior. 'Sesshomaru…I'm so glad that we were reunited only for it to end so abruptly. Still…I'm lucky and grateful for the chance meeting again. Thank you for everything.' The ground inched closer as Kagura clasped her hands into tight fist, piercing her tender flesh, drawing blood from the new wounds. But what happened next was something that literally blew her away.

Instead of impacting with cool morning snow, her body landed perfectly in the arms of Sesshomaru, who finished the fall by landing gracefully on the powdered sugary paradise. The wind that was in a strong, ceaseless fashion, no longer whipped at their bodies as it now resumed into a slight chill in the air. Ebony and Silver hair too cascaded back to earth, resting rightfully below the napes of their necks. The frozen numbness of their descending bodies, rejuvenated with instant warmth from the sun beating on their bodies. Puffs of white smoke escaped their lips continuously as they tried to regain their breath.

Looking down at the woman in his arms, relief could be seen on his countenance. A tinge of pink across his cheekbones, painted his normally pale visage as well for the woman too. The youkai lord felt gratitude to make atonement for his past experience. Though, shame soon clouded his head as he separated himself from the beauty. Turning his head to the sunny sky, he tried to block such nuisance of emotions aside, though this time he would have to encounter these emotions head on.

From the moment they hit the ground, Kagura quietly observed Sesshomaru's visage twist from relief, to warmth, and finally to shame. This was the one and only emotion she saw that puzzled her into a tangle of confusion that consumed her. Not enjoying to be left out on anything, she lifted her head up to ask her question, but was pushed aside not allowing her enough time to utter a single word.

Bewilderment covered her inquiring mind at the final actions displayed. 'Was it something I did to offend him?' She fussed to herself. She felt hurt and slightly rejected by his course of response that she wanted to burst into tears from the entire scenario. It was too much at once. First her daughter was "kidnapped", then she almost had her lips locked with Sesshomaru's, then she fell from the cliff, and now this! A tear went unnoticed by Kagura who was too lost in her parallel world that she didn't see Sesshomaru's head turn in her direction.

The scent of the old, but familiar smell of tears made Sesshomaru steer his eyes away from the sky to the sobbing woman behind him. The second he laid his sight on her, the instant he felt a throbbing in his chest. It had been nearly two decades since he last saw her, let alone see her cry. His feet moved forward increasing the depths of his previous footprints in the snow, as he filled the gap between them.

The crunching of snow didn't interrupt her train of thought as he approached her. That is…until she felt suddenly consumed by warmth that wasn't there a second ago. Snapping herself out of her trance, she gasped at exactly what was the heat transmitting from.

"Sesshomaru?" She mumbled in his torso as one clawed hand cupped her cheek.

Tilting her face to meet his, concern illuminated from his amber orbs just as the sun outlined him. With such unwonted beauty, Kagura had to blink a few times to affirm if she wasn't daydreaming. 'Was he ever this handsome up close before?' With that question as her final thought, it lingered much more than she intended causing her face to turn face scarlet, mesmerized by his appearance.

A thumb that supported her face, gently raised their thumb up to erase her tear streaked face. With that one simple action the brunette felt radiating heat her entire body. Filled with so much pleasure and content, she suppressed the moan that yearned to be heard from her ruby lips. Unfortunately, the romantic moment didn't last very long.

The close contact hadn't only brought allurement, it also brought back the wrenching ache in her muscles from her left shoulder. She unleashed the scream she pressed down from earlier. Instantly he let go, letting her have space. Clutching her injury, she cursed at the winds for melting away her numb haven. Groaning from the shrewd pain, she also moaned at the disturbance of the "perfect moment," ruined once again. 'I swear to kami someone isn't too fond of me.'

"Are you hurt Kagura?" Biting his tongue, Sesshomaru felt moronic for asking of such. 'Of course she's injured baka. Why else would she be groaning?' Mental slapping himself for stating the obvious, he lifted her in his arms careful not to harm her any farther, as he told her he'd carry her.

"Hold on tight, this might hurt slightly." Once that was said, he jumped from the place he was standing to the jutted rocks which littered the side of mountain. Moans arose from Kagura as he picked up the pace to reach the top faster. He couldn't transform his body into a ball of light like his father had when he carried him home, for she was a human and not a speck of demon blood coursing through her veins. Thus was the reason he leaped from one rock to another.

It wasn't long till the castle came into view that he bent his knees in a squat and with one final jump, he successfully reached the top. Upon reaching the top, Jaken who was still in his reindeer costume, trotted over to his lord with tears streaming down his slimy face. As a result, Sesshomaru who was bothered by the scene, kicked the imp for his pathetic behavior and thus used him as a doormat as he stepped on the poor toad with his black boots. For umpteen time that day, Jaken had the undelightful experience to be a shoe mat.

Without a word of a single apology to the squashed imp, Sesshomaru ventured toward the castle with a shocked and smirking woman in his arms. 'Was he ever this rough?' She pondered when two oak doors were kicked open by Sesshomaru who looked eccentric which still had been difficult for Kagura to get adjusted to yet.

Immediately, as soon as the sound of the grandeur doors slam loudly against the walls to the manor, servants and maids quickly entered the main hallway entrance to greet their master and lord.

"Ohayo Sesshomaru-sama." Their unison of a hello bounced off the walls all about the room, creating an enormous echo right after.

Falling death for a split second, his ears regained their normal frequency soon after. Shifting his eyes to Kagura then to his servants, he ordered them to aid her with her injury as he put her down. Though the girl wanted to do something else instead.

"Umm… excuse me but could you tell me which room my daughter is in?" Kagura asked one of the maids that was leading her down a corridor.

"Oh the kawaii little girl?" She paused in her step to point her index finger in the direction where her room was currently settled. "Down that hallway third to the lef-Wait, where are you going?" The girl shouted at the departing form as she too followed closely behind the injured woman. 'Oh dear, I'm going to be fired if I don't help her,' Were her thoughts as Kagura reached their destination, while the maid staggered behind trying to catch up.

In a haste, Kagura slid open the doors with both hands in much strive, that her broken shoulder blanked from her mind.

"RIN!" Kagura's frantic calls were silenced by a clawed hand to her mouth. Averting her crimson eyes where she saw Sesshomaru's face. A hand was placed in front of his mouth as his index finger towards the ceiling, indicating to be quiet. Nodding, she turned to the bed where Rin was sleeping peacefully. However…the silence was intruded by a maid who rushed into the room out of breath.

Both Kagura and even Sesshomaru's visage, was scrunched into deepen lines across their foreheads, with their eyebrows bunched together. Curiosity was clearly seen from their expressions as the girl dusted herself off, and marched right up to Kagura demanding not to do that again, unaware of her lord's presence.

"Lady Kagura, please don't run off. Do you know what would happen if Lord Sesshomaru finds out that I lost sight of you?"

"Ahem…" A throat cleared to get the girl's attention who stiffen from the abrupt noise. Shakily, the maid craned her neck to the side as she was meet with two piercing eyes. The sheer look he gave her sent chills down her spine. Gulping in complete anxiety, she felt a lecture to be thrown her way. Clasping her eyes shut, she gave her explanation of why she wasn't with Kagura when she arrived in the room.

"You see I tired to tell her, I tried to stop her but she-"

"I've heard enough." Sesshomaru roared, surprising his old friend. Sighing, he sauntered over to the bedside where the girl laid motionless. "Yoka you are dismissed. You will have your luggage packed and ready by this afternoon. Understood?" At this order, he shifted his amber eyes to the trembling girl on the ground. Closing his eyes, he rubbed his temples in irritation. "And for 'petes sake' pull yourself together in front of your lord." Standing, beckoning to his every word, she bowed in respect as she dashed out of the room. The scent of tears was detected with his nostrils soon after.

Smirking with a cocky grin, he seemed to enjoy how astutely he was and how he took deprived satisfaction of removing the girl from the premises and her loss of a job. 'She was nothing but a nuisance anyway.'His string of thoughts were cut short when a hand swished through the air and made direct content with his cheek.

SLAP

Stumbling back from the quick and sudden movement, he regained his balance as he brought his hand to his now redden cheek. Growling at the assault, he turned to the source of the cause. His eyes widen in surprise before they turned scarlet from anger. Pushing Kagura to the wall, her head hit it with a loud thump.

Hissing from the impact, she stared into the red orbs that replaced golden ones that she loved to gaze into. Old memories flashed behind her eyelids as snippets of a younger version of Sesshomaru with the same crazed expression and appearance, envisioned her mind. Renewed terror crept into Kagura's body, dulled her senses and surroundings all around.

She saw him. Sesshomaru with blood glistening from his talons dripping in a relentlessly onto the puddle of blood on the floor. A sadistic smirk painted the perfect psychotic criminal's countenance. Added with the additional pearly white fangs that poked out of his mouth, and piercing blood colored hues, and you got an excellent picture of a villain.

On the ground was the curled up body of her father's. His face was distorted into an expression of fright. The black eyes that were normally brimmed with maliciousness, now held the look that the very prince of darkness visited himself. The murderous eyes shifted to the scared girl on the floor. Quivering and shivering from the glare, she started to crawl backwards.

His towering figure took sauntered steps to the cowering girl but the expression altered. The red eyes that possessed the youkai, lost their control, swirling into spirals of gold, which blended in with the new color, as amber became the now dominant shade. Fangs and talons then reverted to their usual length, as a friendly smile replaced the vicious one.

His lips began to animate but his voice was mute. Although his lips were moving, no words could be heard or spoken aloud. Kagura tired to read his lips to comprehend what he was saying, but found it difficult. The overwhelming feeling of helplessness cast a shadow over her. That was when the words became coherent and understandable.

"Gomen Kagura, please help me."

Reality slapped her in the face when it became apparent where her current located was. That dream that gave her a scare, had given her the insight of Sesshomaru's imprisoned heart crying for help. Although she fully couldn't understand how she attained her vision, she had a distinct impression what it meant, and how exactly to return Sesshomaru into the child he used to be when they were children.

"Why did you strike me?" Sesshomaru asked with a dangerous aura enveloping him.

Kagura smirked at his mention from earlier. Why exactly did she hit him? She knew why and she was going to tell him too.

"Why? Don't you know what you just did? You made an innocent servant cry after firing her for something so trivial." His grip tighten around as she ignored the pain and continued. "You know what you are? Your acting just like your father when he ruled the western lands."

That seemed to strike a nerve at his pride. Growling at the insult, he pressed his claws further into her skin, this time making a sound come out of her. Still that didn't quench him with the satisfaction he seeking for…it only brought him misery. A part of him started to argue with his inner self or rather old self…over the whole ordeal. And if anyone who could witness this would see the aspect of who was the stronger voice.

"Don't you dare compare me to my father. He's nothing but a bastard who isolated me from civilization." His glare intensified when he saw Kagura's content countenance. "And I will never become a coldhearted bastard like him."

At that remark Kagura laughed. "Hah, you really believe your not your father but your too distracted with your high superiority, that you fail to realize your exactly like him, in fact…your just like a replica." Her tone of voice dampened when she took in a long drag of air. "What happened to you Sesshomaru. You use to be kind to Kanna and me when we were children? What happened to make you resent humans?"

Sesshomaru turned his face away in shame.

"Please I'd like to help you."

His ears twitched from the pleading in her voice. 'After so many years the one that hadn't changed was Kagura. When exactly did I transform into my father?' Even though he had a debation brewing inside him, the youkai still felt the sting of betrayal in his veins. The seams to his heart began to untangle the perfectly intertwine sewn heart.

"Then why had you abandoned me?" Sesshomaru whispered as his shoulders slightly shook. He let her arms sag as he released his capture. The hazardous aura that licked in flames of anger, burned out leaving a lonely hollowness to remain.

The response that Kagura received wasn't one she didn't expect from her friend. Probably if they were younger but now seemed fable. Lifting her arms despite her aching muscles, she encircled his form in hers'. The warmth of her embrace stiffen the dog demon until he to returned the hug. Raising her right hand from behind him, she drew circles on his back to sooth his broken soul as she hummed a tone she remembered from childhood. Between her chorus she whispered an apology as she resumed her song.

The smell of lavender from Kagura's skin drove Sesshomaru's senses into a peacefully serenity. The melody sounded like a heaven's angel singing sweet nothingness into his ears. Indescribable feelings that were strange to him, erupted from his frozen heart. Acceptance, placid, covet, and love? It felt impossible to believe he'd feel this way again, but when he gazed into her crimson eyes his cold stature melted away as lust manipulated his every movements. His gold eyes stared hungrily at her full lips below his. Bending down, his passion wistfully, claimed to capture what was rightfully his. But today hadn't quite been the best of days for the two.

"Lord Sesshomaru." The shriek split the two apart faster than a hand touching a hot piece of coal. The squeaking and squishing of two webbed feet on marble, irritated the couple. "Lord Sesshomaru I have been searching for you everywhere. I have some urgent ahh!" Jaken croaked when a foot meet his hideous face. But it wasn't his master who collided with him.

Smirking at the display before him, Sesshomaru laughed at Kagura's expression. He knew back then she had a short temper and quite frankly was glad that, that part of her didn't fade. That spark of fury always made him crack up each time.

Hearing laughter Kagura swirled around and just about joined in on the laughter too. Seeing him chuckle even if it was just a little, brightened up any foul mood she was in. That was one thing she loved about him.

Turning to the bed, she noticed Rin sitting up and giggling at the foot imprinted imp. She blushed at the embarrassment of the whole situation. It wasn't everyday that she'd be chuckled at by not only her daughter, but Sesshomaru too. Her face went downcast as she heard Sesshomaru's attire shuffle across the floor along with his boots that made tapping noise to alert her of his approaching. The tapping halted when they stopped promptly next to hers.

"I'll have Yoka come in here to bandage your wound. But for rehiring her, you must tell me the events of the years of your life I missed out on." Once said, he exited the room to inform the distress maid the good news himself, instead of sending the toad to deliver the message.

It was peculiar for the lord to do something so civilized and so "uncharacteristic," of him, made the demons that resided in mansion, ponder the queerness of it all. But what really had the servants and maids turn heads was the fact that two women were present in manor and their master didn't mind in one bit. Something was a brewing, and they could sense it in the air, especially with the santa and reindeer costume, and the chemistry that was ignited between Lord Sesshomaru and Lady Kagura. But they wouldn't know how the events would unfold into many interesting turns of events that were soon to come.

When he dismissed himself from the room, Kagura swore she saw him wink and grin at her before he covered it up. 'Can it be…No baka, quit with such ridiculous delusions.' Her cheeks heated from that simple question that she refused to finish, let alone answer, as she distracted herself with the marble on the floor. Once she assumed her cheeks were their normal glow, she walked over to the bed taking a seat down on bed next to her daughter who was grinning from ear to ear. The suspicious smile made her uneasy and uncomfortable.

"Rin's happy that mommy is infatuated with Sesshomaru-sama. Is Rin going to have a new daddy?" The smirk on her countenance wasn't creepy, it was just how deep its arch on her face was.

Poor Kagura, it indeed seem like someone was out to get her. The tint she tried to shield a few seconds again, soon broke from it's creamy peach skin, reddening her complexion to show her emotions on the outside world to see. And truthfully…she didn't want anyone to know.

"R-R-Rin sweety. Where did you hear that word infatuated from?" She stuttered at the sheer question she asked her daughter.

But the little six year old had a keen and cunning mind despite her young age, to know what it meant when adults tented to ignore certain discussions and draft to different topics. She wanted to know if Sesshomaru was going to be her new papa or not, though either way she still had a plan to bring them both together no matter what.

Placing her toothy smile on, she said, "Well papa told Rin when Rin was five, when Rin heard strange noises coming from your bedroom."

That was the final straw that broke her sanity. A tingling sensation from her nose had accumulated liquid that seeped from her nostrils to drip on the floor. Growling aloud, she cursed Hojo for telling Rin about the birds and the bees at such a young age. It was no wonder how she had such a splendid knowledge of sexual activity and vocabulary. Thankfully, she was glad she hadn't developed cursing too. 'Hojo if you were still here I'd give you a piece of mind.' Though when she said her deceased husband's name, it chipped at the wall of memories she blocked mentally in order to not cave into depression.

"Will Rin have Sesshomaru as a papa or not?" Rin stood up from the bed, jumping up and down, impatiently demanding to have a response. Outside the room, a stature of man paused by the door to hear what the mother had to say.

The brunette raised her bloody face with sorrow filled eyes. Two fingers pinched her nose, to stop the flow of blood spilling onto the small puddle on the floor. The two men that Kagura loved, entered her mind as confusion placed its ugly head into play. Her feelings for Hojo and Sesshomaru began to react as her heart pounded with uncertainty. She loved both men equally, but she didn't want to be unfair to one or the other. Lowering her head, she gave her an answer.

"I'm not sure Rin, I'm not sure."

A knock on the sliding door alerted the two girls that someone was at the door. Getting off from the bed, Rin ran to the door to greet Yoka and Sesshomaru. Seeing the silver haired demon, she launched herself at him, clinging to his red suit. Yoka smiled at the kawaiiness, as she went to Lady Kagura to examine and bandage her injury. At the moment Kagura had to remove the top of her Yukata, Sesshomaru had his back facing the opposite direction. After all, he was still a gentleman.

"Sesshomaru-sama's going to be Rin's new father right?"

This stung the proud lord in the chest. He knew that Kagura had married from Rin, but the weight of it all, bothered him, frustrating himself in everyway. Swallowing the lump in his throat, he pushed the matter aside, focusing on the woman who was now bandaged and had a sling on her left arm. Seeing that it wasn't as serious as he assumed, he unleashed the breath he didn't know he was holding. But Rin on the other hand, was shocked beyond words.

Letting go of Sesshomaru, she rushed to her mother as she glomped her in a tight hug. The corner of her eyes brimmed with tears at the new discovery.

"Is mommy going to be okay?" She sniffed as she tried to be a big girl and refuse to cry in front her mother and Sesshomaru.

Kagura smiled warmly at Rin's concern. Wrapping her uninjured arm around Rin's waist, she whispered 'everything was alright,' simultaneously until Rin wiped her tears away as her frown turned upward.

Sesshomaru gasped at the sheer beauty of the scene he witnessed. Though the pain then crept back into his chest.

"I believe it is that time I hear Kagura tell me her events of her life." Approaching the bed, he sat in the chair beside the left side of the bed as Kagura's voice spread across the room eagering even Yoka who sat at the foot of the bed. Removing her hand from her nose, the bleeding stopped.

Two and a hours later…Jaken reappeared, with his face battered and clothes torn to pieces. Exhaustingly, he plodded to Lord Sesshomaru. His staff clutched in both hands, he used it as a crutch to support his weight. The yellow eyes that always gleamed with admiration bore with fright. Launching himself at the powerful demon, he was brought down by the familiar swift kick by his master's reflexes.

"What is it now Jaken? You've bothered us earlier and now you insist on continuing to do so." Lifting his right arm, a green glow emitted from his fingertips, scaring the toad.

"N-N-No me lord. It is not a nuisance, it has matters to do with last night's heisting."

This statement caught his attention as he lowered his hand as the mysterious glow vanished. Stretching his long legs from the strain of having them bent in a 90 degree angle, he averted his eyes from the bed to the imp, he nodded his head for him to proceed.

"Well you see…when I was outside feeding AU-UN, a while ago, a mob with torches and pitchforks started to shout incoherent words at me, and thus chased me all around the yard, throwing rocks and sticks at my face particularly, as I barely escaped for my life thanks to the staff." He paused to kiss the staff of two skulls. "And now they are outside right now, demanding to speak with the lord of the castle." At the mention of the villagers outside, a rock was thrown into the window breaking the glass, and hurling smack into Jaken's already beaten face.

Glass shattered everywhere as everyone ducked to avoid the shards. Once they thought it was save to stand they all went to the window to see what the commotion was all about. It was a disaster. People were throwing their pitchforks at the castle guards as guards defended the castle with swords left and right.

The entire site was horrific for the young mother to handle as she choked on bale. The repressed memories resurfaced of the burnt village and the scared villagers screaming, afraid for their lives.

"No." Kagura mumbled loud enough to have Sesshomaru and Yoka to hear. Tearing her eyes away from the window, she ran out of the room to the entrance hallway. Sesshomaru, Yoka, Rin, and Jaken, pursued after the distress woman.

Upon reaching the grand oak doors, she pulled open the doors only to have them closed right in front of her. Turning around, she saw Sesshomaru standing there with his hand pressed firmly against the wood. Worry clouded the amber eyes the bored into hers. His gaze on her made her shrink from the intense stare that seemed to read her like a book.

Sighing, he dropped his hand and allowed Kagura to venture outside. Nodding she pushed the doors open to have the sun beat down on her face. Squinting from the brightness, she changed her eyes direction to the fighting guards and villagers. Huffing, she marched forward with Sesshomaru behind her as Yoka held Rin back from the violence by shielding her eyes.

When she was within ten feet of the battlefield, she sucked in a large amount of air and shouted for everyone to be quite. One by one they stopped their assault on the other, to stare at her with curiousness. Smiling at having accomplished their attention, she spoke.

"People of Edo, have you gone mad? Have you forgot what day it is? Have you any shame for starting a senseless battle?"

"But what about the ordeal with Christmas? You do realize that, that monster over there took each and everyone of our presents we worked hard to buy, or make?" An old woman from the crowd shouted.

From the remark "monster," Kagura shifted her eyes to Sesshomaru then back to the mob, with a flame of anger scorching her soul.

"That's not the point. Haven't you forgot the significance of the true meaning of Christmas? It's the season to give and receive not presents, but your hearts and kindness to your family, to your friends, and to strangers." Stopping in mid of her speech, she pointed her right arm to the sleigh with the presents nestled inside the sacks. "Flashy objects such as those, blind us from the true meaning behind this special holiday. Don't you see, Sesshomaru did us a favor and made us open our eyes to the truth. You have no right to punish your lord of his foul deed, but rather thank him for helping us snap out of the trance of the holiday shopping has done to us." Extending her hand out, she asked, "So what do you say?"

Whispers soon turned into an uproar as they contemplated to go with the girl's words, or to do what they have been doing for the last two and a half hours. They choose their word over Kagura's. A single shout, ignited them to hurl rocks at the defenseless woman who hissed from the impacts.

Instantly, Sesshomaru was in front of Kagura taking her blows, blocking the stones to struck her injured body. Gasping from his reaction, Sesshomaru walked forward to the slowly retreating humans, who still hadn't ceased their fire. Raising his right arm toward the crowd, the green glow emitted once again, this time larger than the first.

Seeing the glow Kagura, Yoka, and Rin dashed to Sesshomaru's side tugging on his arm to halt. But Sesshomaru didn't this time want to. The glow intensified, forming into a whip of light as he cracked it upon the retreating villagers. Though, he wasn't expecting to see a small family of three to run towards the light instead of away. The sight of white hair and brown eyes froze his attack in mid air. There who was standing up to him was Kanna and her family.

"Kanna?" Sesshomaru asked as he sent the weapon back.

Nodding, the younger sister faced the shivering crowd, who didn't look so tough as they had earlier, as she strolled over to her sister's side as well as her family. Rin and Yoka too repeated their action.

A warm hand grasped Kagura's hand, who returned the same gesture as Rin, Yoka, Kanna, Shippo, and their daughter Shiore, made a line. The afternoon sky which was a pale blue, had clouds hovered over them in a cluster of white puffy clouds, remove their bulky bodies to have the orange sun shine down on the group of humans, youkai, and hanyous, creating a luminous atmosphereic phenomenon.

Struck by awe, the villagers bowed to the illuminated group as if they were gods or goddesses. Flattered by their gesture, the villagers didn't say a word as they went to the sleigh and unexpectedly pushed it off the cliff and threw a cheer. It's true that were hypnotized by the flashy presents and greed that they failed to realize their mistake, and were gladly happy to no longer be zombies prisioned to material possession.

The corner of Sesshomaru's mouth turned upward at the villager's triumpt. He raised his hand to the sky as he demanded every to have Christmas dinner in his mansion.

The crowd cheered again as they ran to the castle for the fancy kind of feasts they were expecting. Kanna spotted the uneasy tension between the two friends as she ushered her family and Rin to give them privacy. Kagura whispered a thank you as she and Sesshomaru stood in silence.

The clouds thickened shading the sun's rays beating down on them. The cool winter wind, twirled specks of snow into a frenzy. The sudden cold, made Kagura sneeze as she moved her arm in up and down in a manifold to keep her body from freezing. A warm coat drapped over her petite form as an arm snaked around her waist, pulling her to an ever warmer body. Blushing from the contact, she snuggled into the embrace enjoying it while it lasted.

"Kagura…" Sesshomaru's rich voice called out her name making her shiver with pleasure.

"H-Hai." She stuttered as her face was lifted to meet his. In one swift movement, his lips touched hers. Sparks of joy leaped inside her chest as she deepened the kiss. An off distants of hollowing in dissatisfaction could be barely heard, as it soon was halted by Rin and Shiore who plowed the mean old toad into the snow.

Breaking the kiss, Sesshomaru strolled to the castle as he left a breathless and speechless Kagura behind. Craning his neck in Kagura's direction when he didn't hear her footsteps, he shouted.

"Aren't you coming Kagura?"

Blushing from the flirty playful tone of voice he used on her, she growled at Sesshomaru for humiliating her as she ran after the retreating form known as Sesshomaru.

Although their Christmas wasn't something that any normal Christmas story went, it still had a purpose and that purpose was fulfilled. Lord Sesshomaru's heart thawed, Kagura's broken heart was repaired, Jaken had a few new friends that clobbered him, Yoka didn't lose her job, and even though Rin didn't get her wish this year, possibly in the near future, her wish could perhaps come true.

The End.

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Yah! I finally finished my story and it only took nearly a year to complete. (Authoress blushes in embarrassment.) I'd like to thank my fans who have patiently waited for the completion of this story and the ones who have currently tuned in too. Thanks from the bottom of my heart. Oh and I think I might put this under Sesshomaru and Kagura pairing, since it turned out that way in the end. Funny how one story could start from one thing and end so differently than you planned.

Thanks to:

Starlight Demon22

Thoughts13

Sugar Sprite

And

Renaki

Thanks for everything and be on the look out for my new story coming real soon in the Princess Tutu section, called "The Prince."

If you love the nutcracker than you will love this story with a few juicy twists formed into the magnificent play. Check it out if you are a Princess Tutu fan.

Well now is the time I must say my goodbyes. And tune in to my other stories I've written.

And if you read my other stories you should know what I'm about to say next.

Come on everyone together!

See Yah Anime Lovers!