Christmas is only a week away! Hooray!

Please enjoy.

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Icy mounds still shaded the green earth even as the festive day began to reach it's almost sorrowful end. A time when the joyous holiday was forced to cease. Love, enjoyment, company, and togetherness was shattered as the new day would soon come. Christmas would go into hiding until it's loving return next year.

For this particular group it was even harder than it sounded. Because they were not an average everyday gang of friends. No. They were warriors, fighters, peace bringers, and shared a connection like no other. For the past three years they had fought through all the hardest of times…The hardships with family, curses uncured, fights with one's own demons, a struggle with growing up in a world of hatred, and even the tragic spilt between lives. And for this special holiday those problems seemed to not exist. On this one day all of life's troubles don't matter. All that counts is the love you share with the people that matter most of all.

And as the sun set over the cold hills it symbolized that tomorrow would end up with not as much caring in the world. And a new battle may begin, the fighters returning to their strong appearances.

However the sun may go but Christmas Night was still upon them. There was still a little time left before they must do as their destiny tells. Time to make the best of things.

"….So to make things worse, Mom spilled the entire pan on Sota. Oh you had to be there to see that horrified look on his face!"

Kagome told of her past Christmas stories, the times before she discovered the mystic well.

"I can't even imagine how scared he must have been. If Kohaku had that happened I bet he'd start screaming." Sango smiled at the thought of her young brother covered in the "hot piping sauce" of which her friend spoke.

"It was funny though and he was more shocked than anything." She assured.

"If that happened to me I'd probably cry." Rin joined in as she began laughing.

The ex-schoolgirl wrapped her arm securely around her shoulder. Even as a teenager, Rin never lost her childlike wonder. Her body had matured but her mind still pranced in a familiar field of ever growing flowers. Always off in wonderland yet still able to comprehend all things around her. Smart yet simpleminded.

"I don't think you have to worry about that." Kagome smiled down at her younger friend.

"Huh? Why is that?"

"…Well I don't think Sesshomaru would ever let you get decked in the head with anything. Especially hot sauce."

"…Oh…Yes well he does protect me…I guess." She looked at the fire the fox child had made.

"Yeah and even if it did hit you he'd lick it off like the dog he is."

An enormous, disgusted group glare was shot at Shippou. It was obvious of what he thought of the purebred. To bad he had to share it with the rest of the clan. Even the quiet half breed was sickened by the comment about his older brother.

"Shippou."

"Hmm?…AH!"

A powerful fist was quickly planted in his tiny skull. The fox kit squealing as he tried to get the dog to release his strike. Surely a large wound would be there beneath his fist, oh the pains the kit went through.

"That'll shut you up, runt." He replaced his cold hand back into his kimono top.

"Ow! InuYasha you don't have to be such a jerk!" He rubbed the large bump that spanned most of his head.

"Taught you a lesson…" He mumbled before sending his hand back out to pick at the remaining cold turkey.

"Ah it's just another day…" Kagome laughed.

She watched the dog eat the scraps, only furthering the irony of dog stereotypes. It didn't help his reason for wailing on the fox but of course that was InuYasha's style. Still the human enjoyed watching him as her fox friend began ranting at him again. Even away from home on Christmas it still felt very homelike.

Her gaze turned back to the young girl she still held. The teen's eyes flickering off the dancing flames. So in depth with the fire but naturally her curious mind wasn't actually seeing the nature before her. Her eyes looked on at the orange glimmers but her mind was thinking of the lord she assumed was still home.

InuYasha had not spoken of seeing or even acknowledging his big brother. His mouth had kept closed about it for reasons still foreign to him. Even as Kagome and him traveled back from their romantic attachment in the forest, he didn't speak of the demon. He still sensed his presence but couldn't bring himself to tell anyone.

Of course Rin would more than anxious to know if her leader had come. If he had changed his mind about being around the half dog or even decided out of kindness to just be there. Any way she saw it, it was a good reason for him to join them.

"Hey it's getting kind of late…Rin can you help me take down the mistletoe?" She rubbed her friend's arm reassuringly.

"Yeah. Sure Kagome."

The two stood together as their gang carried on with chatter. Dog and fox still nagging at each other's throats, slayer and monk talking of their follow day's events, and their tiny cat demon simply watching. Kagome smiled at them before releasing her grip on Rin.

"Umm Rin?"

She spoke before the two parted ways to search for the scattered mistletoe.

"Yes?"

"Since this morning you seem to be going in and out of being depressed. Is something bothering you?"

She thought about it for a moment. A lot of things bothered her today but nothing as major as the real problem at hand. Her anxiety for certain things to happen, the closer coming of a Christmas end, and just life's irritants. She had tried to forget them but some how they broke through her mind's barrier.

"My wish…," she began walking towards the nearest grove of trees, "…it didn't come true."

Kagome could only watch as the younger girl disappeared into the forest. Her heart feeling a little saddened that she got Rin such a depressing gift. Maybe a bear or chocolate would have been better. But in Kagome's eyes, Sesshomaru's entire group needed a wish to come true. Especially the human, whom she feared may have given her heart to the dog.

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