XOX Kagome was having the most wonderful dream involving Greg from CSI and a whole lot of banana pudding when something small began jumping on her bed. At first, she thought it might have been the cat but upon remembering that she didn▓t actually own a cat but two ferrets, she slowly opened her eyes and saw a pyjama clad Shippo bouncing up and down in a hyper fashion. She peeked at her alarm clock and groaned. ⌠Shippo, it▓s seven in the morning. What could you possibly want this early?■
Shippo stopped bouncing and crawled over to her, climbing into bed beside her. ⌠Momma, its Christmas day! We have to go and see if Santa came.■
Kagome cursed under her breath as she realized that he was right. ⌠Go and wake up your uncle Sota, don▓t forget to be as loud as you can, while I get up okay baby?■
Shippo nodded and scrambled out of her bed to claim his next victim. Kagome sighed and pulled the covers off of herself and reached for her glasses. Once that was done she headed to the closet to get her hoody and slippers. She heard a girlish shriek as she pulled her hoody over her head and smiled. Sota was now up. Once she was done in the bathroom, she went to the guestroom to wake her mother. Knocking on the door softly, Kagome entered and saw that her mother was already up. ⌠Merry Christmas momma.■
The elder Higurashi smiled softly at her daughter. ⌠Merry Christmas Kagome. Come give me a hug.■
Kagome walked over and embraced her mother. ⌠What are you doing up this early?■
⌠Sota▓s shriek woke me. I take it my adorable grandson woke you?■ Akira said.
Kagome nodded. ⌠Yep, now I have to go and feed the beast so to speak.■
Akira chuckled and brushed some stray hair from her daughter▓s face. ⌠You look so beautiful with your glasses on Kagome. Why don▓t you wear them more often?■
⌠Because it▓s easier to just wear my contacts mum. I don▓t know about you but there▓s a coffee waiting for me in the kitchen.■ Kagome replied and started walking toward the kitchen. ⌠What time is Grandma coming over?■
⌠She said about eleven. Do you think Kikyo is up yet?■ Akira commented as they walked into the kitchen.
Kagome switched the coffeepot on and poked her head into the living room. ⌠Definitely. Both Sota and Shippo are in there sorting presents into piles, so I doubt that she▓ll stay asleep much longer. Come on, let▓s go stop the boys before they reap havoc on my living room and scare the ferrets.■
Kagome and Akira walked into the living room while they waited for the coffee to brew and sat on the love seat seeing as Kikyo was lying on the sofa. The duo watched as the two boys carefully put everyone▓s presents into piles before looking over to their respective mothers.
⌠Come on momma, this is your pile and you have to open my present first.■ Shippo said with much enthusiasm as he passed an oddly shaped gift to his mother.
Kagome took the gift and put it on her lap. ⌠I▓ll wait until you▓ve opened your gifts first baby.■
He nodded and picked up the first gift, reading the tag aloud. ⌠To Shippo, merry Christmas lots of love grandma.■ He smiled at Akira before shredding the paper and leaping up to give her a hug. ⌠You got me a viewfinder! Thank you grandma!■
Akira kissed the top of his head. ⌠You▓re welcome sweetheart.■
Sota squeaked as he opened the gift from his sister. ⌠You have no idea how much I love this Kagome! You▓re the best sister ever!■ He sent her a beaming smile and placed his new Smallville collection aside.
Kikyo gave an indignant shout and Kagome smiled at him. ⌠You▓re welcome Dork of Ages, I know how much you love that show.■ She was assaulted by a very happy Shippo seconds later.
⌠Momma it▓s perfect! Where did you find it?■ He said as he held out an orange and blue jumpsuit. ⌠I▓m gonna look just like Naruto!■
Kagome patted him on the head and placed him back on the floor. ⌠That was the point baby. Kikyo do you want a coffee?■
Kikyo nodded slowly. ⌠That would be wonderful Kagome.■
⌠Alright I▓ll be right back.■ Kagome walked into the kitchen and took out three mugs from the cupboard. She added the correct amount of cream and sugar to each one and was pouring the coffee in when the phone rang. She reached across the counter and picked up the cordless. ⌠Higurashi▓s house of crazy, Kagome speaking.■
⌠Merry Christmas tenshi.■ The person said with a chuckle.
Kagome cradled the phone on her shoulder as she loaded the coffee cups up onto a tray. ⌠Merry Christmas to you too Kurama. Tell me, was it Hiroshi that had you up this early?■
⌠You know him too well. What is it with small children and jumping on beds at five in the morning?■ he said.
⌠You got that treatment too huh?■ Kagome said as she picked up the tray and began the small walk into the living room. ⌠Shippo bounced on everyone▓s beds this morning, but not until seven. I was lucky enough to get it first though.■ She placed the tray on the coffee table and sat back down beside her mother. ⌠So, how is your morning so far?■
⌠Wonderful actually. I am now the victim of a run by shooting.■ He chuckled a little before he explained. ⌠My stepbrother Shuiichi decided that I was the best person to test his new supersoaker on. I am now sitting in a pair of awful flannel pyjama▓s that belongs back up in the attic where they were found. Tell me Miss Higurashi, what exactly are you wearing right now?■
She giggled and switched the phone to her right hand. ⌠I don▓t think my boyfriend would approve if I disclosed that information Mr. Minamino. Besides, my mother is in the room.■ ⌠▓Tis a shame, really it is.■ He replied with mock hurt. ⌠Anyway, will you be able to tear away from your family this afternoon? I would love to see you sometime to give you your gift.■
⌠I think I could manage that. I have dinner scheduled for around four this evening, and my grandma is coming over at eleven, but you are welcome to come over if you like. I have your gift waiting for you under the tree and I know that my mother would probably like to meet you.■ Kagome said.
⌠That sounds like a great idea, unless I would be imposing.■ Kurama said.
⌠No of course not, I would love to have you here! I will warn you though, I got Sota the first four seasons of Smallville so we▓ll probably be watching that.■ She replied with a giggle. ⌠That and I don▓t plan on changing out of my pyjama▓s.■
⌠I think I could suffer to see you in your pyjama▓s Kagome. I▓ll be over later love. Bye.■ He said.
⌠Alright see you then.■ Kagome said and hung up the phone. She looked at her mother who was giving her a questioning look. ⌠It was Kurama.■
⌠Ah.■ Akira said. ⌠Who is Kurama dear?■
Kikyo batted her eyelashes in a dramatic fashion and answered for her sister. ⌠Kagome▓s boyfriend.■
Kagome threw a cushion at her sister. ⌠You hag! I wanted to tell her!■
⌠Children, behave.■ Akira scolded playfully. ⌠Now Kagome, why didn▓t you tell me you had a boyfriend?■
XOX
Kurama rubbed his temples as Hiroshi chased Shuiichi around with the plastic kunai he got that morning. Whatever had possessed his mother to buy them for Hiroshi was beyond him. Like his little brother needed anything else to beat on him with. He looked at his mother and smiled. ⌠Mother, would you mind if I snuck away for about an hour to see Kagome?■
Shiori shook her head. ⌠Of course not dear! I▓m sure she would love to see you sometime today.■
Kurama nodded his thanks and looked at his stepbrother that was giving him an odd look. ⌠What?■
Shuiichi▓s smirk grew. ⌠Who▓s Kagome?■
Hiroshi answered that one. ⌠Brother▓s girlfriend and Shippo▓s mum. You remember I told you about Shippo right?■
⌠So is she hot?■ Shuiichi said. That one earned him a smack on the back of his head from his mother and a mention of how he should use manners. ⌠I was only asking.■
Kurama send a half-assed glare at his younger brother. ⌠Not that it▓s any of your business, but Kagome holds enough beauty to bring angels to their knees.■
Shuiichi nodded before looking back to his brother. ⌠Does she have a sister?■
⌠Yes she does, but I doubt she▓d be interested in you.■ Kurama replied.
Shuiichi▓s chest puffed up indignantly. ⌠And why not! I am a total hottie!■
Kurama chuckled and shook his head. ⌠Because she▓s about twenty seven and has a younger brother your age.■
⌠What▓s his name, I might know him.■ Shuiichi said.
⌠Sota Higurashi. From what Kagome say▓s he▓s a bit on the insane side.■ Kurama said before getting up, fully intent on going to change. ⌠Now, if you▓ll excuse me, I have to change and go pay my tenshi a visit.■
An hour later, Kurama pulled up to Kagome▓s apartment building. He▓d basically said ▒fuck it▓ and decided to wear a pair of jeans and a sweater instead of going all out and wearing something overly dressy. He was, after all, only meeting her mother and seeing as how most mothers loved him (though he couldn▓t see why) he didn▓t feel the need to dress up. He picked Kagome▓s gift up from the passenger▓s seat and exited the car, locking the door behind him. He walked up to the door and pressed the buzzer to Kagome▓s apartment, only having to wait for a moment for her to open the door. He slowly walked up the stairs and straight to Kagome▓s front door. Knocking twice, he waited for someone to answer. Said someone was Kikyo.
⌠Hey Kurama, Kagome is in the living room picking up wrapping paper.■ Kikyo explained.
⌠Thank you Kikyo.■ He said as he slipped his shoes off. He walked into the living room and saw Kagome kneeling on the floor with a garbage bag at her side that was almost stiffed with colourful paper, much more littered the floor. He walked up behind her and placed his hands over her eyes. ⌠Guess who.■
⌠Grandma Genkai? Your voice has deepened since I last saw you.■ Kagome teased.
Kurama pouted and removed his hands. ⌠Just for that you don▓t get your present.■
Kagome giggled and turned around. ⌠That▓s okay, you don▓t get yours either.■
Kurama▓s pout increased and he folded his arms across his chest.
⌠Stop pouting you big baby and come here and give me a hug.■ Kagome said, he giggles also increasing.
Kurama smiled at her and pulled her into his arms. ⌠I missed you, you know. I didn▓t know you wore glasses.■
⌠ I wear contact▓s most of the time. I missed you too.■ Kagome sighed. ⌠Hey would you like a coffee? And you▓re just in time for breakfast!■
He kissed the top o her head. ⌠Coffee would we wonderful thank you love.■
Akira sighed at the sight of the display of ▒young love▓ and brought the attention of the pair to her.
Kurama quickly released Kagome and walked over to her. He offered her a small bow before he spoke. ⌠You must be Mrs. Higurashi. I am Shuichi Minamino, the man that your daughter has wrapped around her finger.■
Akira smiled at him. ⌠It is wonderful to meet you Shuichi, although I must say that Kagome has told me nothing about you.■
Kagome rolled her eyes and wandered into the kitchen. She put a fresh pot of coffee on and began pulling out pans for the traditional Christmas day breakfast. While the frying pan was heating, she walked to the fridge and took out the bacon, sausages, eggs, tomatoes, cream, butter and the turkey she had brought for dinner. Kagome flicked on the radio as she walked past in and set about putting the sausages in the pan.
⌠ ▒Young kid stepped in from the cold.
He ordered up a drink.
Said don▓t look surprised old man I▓m older than you think.▓
Okay that was Montgomery Gentry with ▒Tattoo▓s and Scars▓ and next up is ▒Angels in Waiting▓ by Tammy Cochran.■
Kagome gave a small squeak of delight and ran to the radio to turn it up a few notches. She pulled a metal bowl from the cupboard to mix the eggs in and walked back to the counter. She sang along to the music as it played.
▒We▓d camp out on the living room floor, in our old sleepin▓ bags by a make believe fire.
In a tent made of covers, we▓d talk for hours, my two brothers and me.
Keepin▓ the faith, racing with destiny.
They were angels in waitin▓.
Waitin▓ for wings to fly from this world, away from their pain.
Treasurin▓ time, till time came to leave, leave them behind.
Sweet memories.
Angels in waitin▓, angels in waitin▓ for wings.
They always knew they▓d never grow old.
Sometimes the body is weaker than the soul.▓
Kagome whisked up the eggs with butter and milk before setting it aside and rolling the sausages. She failed to notice the man standing in the kitchen doorway, watching her cook like it was the most natural thing in the world.
▒In their darkest hour, I made a promise I will always keep.
I▓ll give them life, I▓ll let them live through me.
They were angels in waitin▓.
Waitin▓ for wings to fly from this world, away from their pain.
Treasurin▓ time, till time came to leave, leave them behind.
Sweet memories.
Angels in waitin▓, angels in waitin▓ for wings.
They were angels in waitin▓.
Waitin▓ for wings to fly from this world, away from their pain.
Treasurin▓ time, till time came to leave, leave them behind.
Sweet memories
Angels in waitin▓, angels in waitin▓ for wings.
Angels in waitin▓, angels in waitin▓ for me.▓
Kagome felt hands on her waist and jumped five feet in the air, almost throwing the plate of sausages she was holding. She turned around and hit the offending person on the chest with her spatula. ⌠Kurama you jerk! You scared the hell out of me!■
Kurama chuckled and took the plate out of her hands. ⌠Sorry love, but you look so cute when you▓re cooking and singing. Anyway, do you need help with breakfast?■
Kagome shook her head. ⌠No thank you, I have it covered. But could you please go to Shippo▓s room and inform the boys that breakfast will be done shortly. My sister brought him a new game for his XBOX and I haven▓t seen his all morning save for when he was opening his presents. I▓m beginning to think that letting him have an XBOX wasn▓t the best idea in the world.■
Kurama nodded his head and gave he a quick kiss before he left to find the two boys. He walked down the hall to where Shippo▓s room was and opened the door slowly. Sitting oh Shippo▓s bed was both Shippo and a boy who looked like Kagome. Kurama assumed that this was Sota. ⌠Hey guys, Kagome said that breakfast is going to be ready soon and she want▓s you in the kitchen please.■
Shippo paused his game and took a flying leap at Kurama. ⌠Hey Kurama, do you like my outfit? I look just like Naruto now!■ He said proudly.
⌠Yeah you look great Shippo. I▓ll have to bring Hiroshi over one day so the two of you can play ninja together. Hiroshi got some weapons today.■ Kurama said as he too sat on the bed. ⌠So what are you playing?■
⌠It▓s called ▒Grabbed by the Ghoulies▓ and it▓s actually pretty fun to watch.■ Sota said. ⌠You go to this house to rescue your girlfriend but you are constantly getting attacked by things like Haunted TV sets, Zombie Pirates, Imps, Skeletons, stuff like that. Oh, I▓m Sota by the way.■ He said sticking out his hand.
Kurama took the offered hand. ⌠Nice to meet you Sota, I▓m-⌠
⌠Kurama, nee-san▓s boyfriend. I know.■ Sota said. ⌠Kagome is crazy about you.■
⌠That▓s wonderful seeing as I▓m crazy about her too.■ Kurama replied.
XOX
Kagome finished putting breakfast on the table and looked around. It had been half an hour since she sent Kurama to fetch the boys and in that time she▓d managed to cook an entire breakfast, set it on the table and make enough coffee for the four adult and squeeze some orange juice for the boys. Kagome shrugged and walked to her son▓s room. She opened the door and had to stifle a giggle at the sight. All three boys were sitting on the bed together, the older two cheering on Shippo as he fought something on the game. ⌠If I▓d have known you were addicted to video games Kurama, I wouldn▓t have asked you to fetch the boys.■
Kurama looked over to her and grinned sheepishly. ⌠Sorry, I only meant to sit here while I spoke to your brother, but then I began to watch Shippo play and I couldn▓t remember what I came in here for.■
Kagome shook her head. ⌠Well, in any case breakfast is on the table and fried slice gets nasty when it▓s cold.■
At the sound of fried slice, Sota shot up from the bed and ran to the kitchen. Shippo paused his game and walked over to Kagome. ⌠Momma, can you carry me?■
Kagome smiled down at him and picked him up into her arms. ⌠Jeez, you▓re getting too big for this Shippo.■
Kurama took the boy from her arms and placed him on his back. ⌠I▓ll carry him for you love. You don▓t mind getting a piggy back ride do you kiddo?■
Shippo shook his head quickly. ⌠Nope! Onward!■
Kagome giggled at the site and followed the boys to the kitchen.
XOX
After breakfast, Akira had volunteered herself and Sota to wash up while Kagome and Kurama exchanged gifts. The twosome were now seated in the living room, talking quietly while they gathered up enough courage to exchange gifts. Kagome smiled at her boyfriend and handed him his gift. ⌠I hope you like it, it▓s one of a kind.■
Kurama tore open the wrapping paper to reveal a box. Opening it, he gasped in surprise. Inside the box was an old leather bound book titled ▒Legend of the Great Thief, Youko Kurama.▓ Kurama looked over to Kagome and smiled. ⌠Where did you find this?■
⌠When I told my grandfather that I was dating you and that you have an affinity for history, more specifically, Youko Kurama, he insisted that I give this to you. It▓s been sitting in the shrines storage house since before I was born and is said to be written by Youko▓s old thieving partner, the bat demon Kuronue.■ She explained. ⌠It was written over three hundred years ago, and is very fragile so please be careful.■
Kurama nodded. ⌠I promise that I▓ll only read it with the special equipment at the museum. Wow, you have no idea how much I love it.■
Kagome just blushed. ⌠I hoped that you▓d like it.■
⌠I really do. Thank you so much Kagome.■ Kurama hugged her and gave her a quick kiss before handing Kagome her gift. ⌠It can▓t compare to what you gave me, but I asked your sister what I should get you and she suggested this.■
Kagome opened the present and looked curiously at the box. It was no larger that the box she had given him. She opened the lid and gasped. It was a pair of shoes that she▓d been saving for since she first started the spa; black Christian Dior ▒Dior Western Pumps▓. She put the box on the sofa beside her and turned to Kurama, enveloping him in a loving hug. ⌠I can▓t believe you! I have been saving for these since I started the spa. Why did you get me such expensive shoes?■
⌠Because I wanted to.■ Kurama said into her hair. ⌠And because you are the only person that I know that could pull off such beautiful shoes.■
⌠Kurama, you are such a sweetheart! Still though, as much as I love them, they▓re too expensive.■ She replied.
Kurama pulled away from her hug and ran his thumb over her cheek. ⌠Nothing is too much for you Kagome. I love you.■
Kagome smiled softly at him. ⌠I love you too.■
Meeting in the middle, they shared a sweet Christmas kiss.
XOX