Christmas Holiday Gathering
(A/N: There's time skip here [August to December])
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December 24 through the (very early) 26:
Christmas. Is. Finally. Here!
Finally, it was Kagome's favorite time of year. Not to mention her birth month. It was snowing outside and Kagome could not help but sit outside on her balcony and watch the slowing falling snow. It was mesmerizing to watch the beautiful frozen liquid.
Mm, yuki. My favorite thing in the world. It always calms me down. Kagome exhaled, watching the steam swirl around her before dissipating.
I really do love the snow... She thought before falling asleep in the grey recliner chair with a fluffy black blanket on her, keeping her warm. Her hot cocoa was still steaming next her on its small black end table. She had barely touched the drink, and now it was growing cold. Kagome had been reading until it had started to snow, and when it finally did, she was as excited as a child usually was when it was their first time seeing snow. She had watched it fall for a good hour before she grew sleepy. And now finally, she let the darkness overtake her.
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His eyes narrowed.
Christmas.
Sesshomaru was dreading the fast approaching holiday. He didn't have anything against it, it was just it meant a lot of trash to deal with each morning when he got in his office. The moment the date went to December 1st, he would always come into his office to see tons of chocolate and gifts on his desk. He always throw them away of course, since he had no real use for them and the chocolates, he just gave it to Jaken to let him have his way with it.
The other thing he dreaded about Christmas was that his stupid half breed little brother sent out invitations to the family for a small family gathering. Only his mate's cousin and the cousin's little brother were coming, and Sesshomaru was going by himself. The only reason that he hated this was because it meant he had to see his half brother and deal with his new mate, Kikyo. Not to mention that the party's date is December 24, his day off, at 11:30 P.M. The only reason he was going was to discuss the issues in Inuyasha's department, which Inuyasha was in charge of, but, he had been taking a vacation and wasn't doing his work. Sesshomaru sighed out loud.
This was going to be a busy day...
Kikyo's POV
Hmm... They should be here in a few minutes... She was grinning happily, she invited her cousin just so she could tell her of her recent mating to Inuyasha her...and some other news... She of course by then had felt bad about what she had done to Kagome, and wanted to reconcile their relationship.
Then there was Sesshomaru.
She asked Inuyasha to take some time off from work, not to mention not do any of his work so she could get Sesshomaru here. After all, the stoic Daiyokai would never come if there wasn't anything to gain from it.
Smiling to herself, she did some last minute organizing, mentally preparing an apology to Kagome as she did so.
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Kagome had just woke up and quickly left her house, carrying some presents with her. Thank Kami it took 15 minutes to get there. And if there was traffic, she always had an extra 10 minutes to spare. She briefly wondered if Souta was going to get there on time... She hoped he did.
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Sesshomaru looked at his watch. 11:27 a.m. Good. He was on time. He walked up to the wooden door, smelling of his brother scent. He breathed in the scent disdainfully. Sadly, because he was an Inu yokai, he couldn't help but notice it.
He knocked on the door twice, it only taking a second before the door swung open, shocked when amber eyes met sapphire blue ones.
Was this miko stalking him?
You'd like that, wouldn't you?
Sesshomaru glared.
No.
As if reading his mind (at least some of it), Kagome smirked at him.
"Why are you here" he had regained himself to sound rather annoyed.
"It's my family's Christmas party" she said nonchalantly.
Yet again Sesshomaru was at a loss. "Explain" he commanded.
"Manerfull as always I see." she said disdainfully. "Well come inside first." She said, ushering him into the small cottage.
"Woah. He actually came!" a familiar voice said as Souta stepped into his view.
"Keh!" He heard from the kitchen
Kikyo walked into the room and said "So, at long last, you finally grace us with your presence".
"Hn"
Kikyo ever so slightly narrowed her eyes.
Souta walked into the room carrying a big bottle of gin and said "Kami, the tension is so high that you could cut it with a sword!" he handed Kagome the gin.
"Okay, minna, lets just remember that it's Christmas Eve and that its against the law to kill people" Kagome said amusingly.
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Kikyo and her cousin were in the kitchen. Kagome was probably the best kitchen helper, and Kikyo found It easier to manage the kitchen with her and with Kagome's assistance with the cooking and the cleanup was faster.
They all jumped suddenly when there was a loud crash in the room and Kagome rolled her eyes.
Here we go...
Kikyo picked up her rolling pin with a determined but scarily relaxed expression and stared out of the room but Kagome grabbed her elbow.
"I'll go" she murmured in her ear easing the rolling pin from her cousin's hand. Kikyo looked at the doorway and then at the unfinished dishes before conceding and letting Kagome go. Kagome sighed in relief; she didn't want a murder on her hands and Kikyo could be violent when she wanted to be.
Kikyo sighed.
I couldn't tell her while we were working together...
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Kagome looked at the broken glass and then at the two brothers who were glaring at each other.
"Stop it right now!" she ordered "I understand that there is some bad blood between you two but you are seriously acting like two year olds!
They both blinked and looked at her. "If you continue like this I will get Kikyo to put your food in a dog bowl and you can eat it off the floor".
Inuyasha smirked "Yeah, yeah keep your hair on Kags"
Kagome rolled her eyes. "I think my hair will stay on as long as you keep you mouth shut!" she glowered at him and Inuyasha backed off, thinking about a murderous Kikyo.
Inuyasha glared at Sesshomaru and then they were once again locked in a freaky staring competition. Kagome sighed.
At least they're not breaking things... for now.
She kneeled down and picked up the big pieces of glass and threw them away. Then she grabbed the broom and dustpan and cleaned up the rest of the glass.
A few hours and a personality transplant on Inuyasha's part allowed them to sit under the kotatsu together.
Sesshoumaru found himself besides to the only person who would sit next to him: Kagome.
He had to admit that Kikyo and Kagome were great cooks and now that Inuyasha was in a better mood he no longer wanted to kill the hanyou as much. To his disapproval, it would be a different story tomorrow. Kikyo was also acting a bit more courteous around him since Inuyasha had calmed down.
Bizarrely Sesshoumaru found that he was having a feeling of light heartedness. He thought it was because Kagome was next to him for a split second and dismissed it as the stuff Souta was giving him to drink. It looked a bit like liquid gold but it was good.
Tch. You are so in denial.
Kikyo's POV
It was now or never.
"Um, Kagome?"
"Hm?"
Although they had worked together In the kitchen, they had hardly spoken a word to each other. If anything, the fact that Kikyo started a conversation with her was a little surprising. After all, she assumed that Kikyo would be the one to outright ignore her.
"Um... I... I'm so sorry Kagome!"
"Huh?" Kagome's eyes widened. She never thought Kikyo would even apologize to her!
"On that day in August... I've felt terrible about it ever since! It was a horrible, despicable thing to do, and I've been feeling so guilty about it! I feel disgusted with myself. What we did... I know I'm selfish to even ask this, but could you forgive us?" she blurted.
Kagome sat there, staring at her in shock. She took Kikyo in: a teary face and her head bowed, her right hand holding down the drunken Inuyasha's head down, forcing him to bow in apology as well.
She then blinked.
"Kikyo, I forgave you back in August. If I hadn't, I wouldn't even be here." She replied honestly.
Kikyo whipped her head up, her chocolate eyes happy. She then got up and wrapped Kagome in a tight embrace.
"Oh Kagome, how I've missed you... you're to forgiving for your own good. Kamis, I wish I was more like you..."
She smiled "There, there. There's nothing to fear..."
She didn't notice Sesshomaru staring intently at her.
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After the sleeping arrangements had been settled, everyone headed off to their rooms except for Souta since he was going over to the shrine in the morning bringing everyone's Christmas presents with him. Everyone bid him farewell and made sure to tell him to drive safe and be careful of the black ice, especially since it was now 11 at night.
Inuyasha and Kikyo went off into their room before Sesshomaru and Kagome went into their shared room, one bed in ech corner. Kagome had blushed at the arrangement, but got over it quickly before gathering her pajamas and changing in the bathroom. By the time she was done changing, Sesshomaru was already in bed. She turned off the lamp that was next to her before saying goodnight.
She fell into a deep slumber in a matter of minutes.
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Sesshomaru was absentmindedly listened to the miko's even breathing until his beast spoke.
She would make a great mother..
Hn.
Hey, there's something we agree on!
...
She'd make a wonderful mate as well.
Go to sleep.
His beast chuckled at him before going back into the back of his mind.
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Present fiasco. Check.
An enraged inu Daiyokai? Check.
An almost equally enraged hanyou.
...if he wasn't, I'd think there'd be something wrong with him...
A silent but deadly Kikyo.
That's a given...
And last but not least, a still ever cheerful spectator? Check.
"Half breed!"
"Fuck off!"
Super long and creepy staring contest! Crap, I forgot to add that to the current list!
Not paying attention, she didn't notice that Sesshomaru held Inuyasha by his legs and flung him out the open balcony into a giant mound of dirty, black snow.
Coming back from her little world, she looked up to see a giggling Kikyo. Turning her head to see what she found so funny, she almost choked on her own spit.
Inuyasha.
Face down in a pile of black snow.
With a stray dog peeing on him.
Kikyo's giggling turned into full on laughter, Kagome's voice joining in with hers a moment later.
Dusting off his hands, Sesshomaru turned on his heel and grabbed book from the nearby bookshelf in the room, a smirk on his face.
"Hey Inuyasha, who would have known that you were the bitch in the relationship!" Kagome yelled, cleary able to tell that the dog was male.
Kikyo snickered and Sesshomaru's smirk grew. Some unidentifiable choice words flew out the hanyou's mouth before he sputtered, apparently have having eaten some of the snow. Kagome rolled her eyes before turning away, giving a moment to smile at Sesshomaru before plopping down on a leather recliner.
Sesshomaru getting rid of an irritating hanyou for a little while?
Check.
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Sesshomaru watched as the two miko's and the freshly bathed hanyou as they opened presents.
"Alright! Kagome, this is awesome!"
The miko got the half breed a super soaker? Is she mad?!
Said miko was giggling to herself.
"This one is for Kagome."
"It's from Sango and Miroku, huh..." patiently tearing open the the wrapping paper, she gasped. It was a fine, silk miko's attire.
"This, they didn't have to do this! And it looks so expensive!"
"Kags, they did it cause they wanted to"
"Inuyasha, I know that but..."
"Miko, it is fine."
She turned her head to Sesshomaru, then back to her gift before Sighing in defeat.
"Oh Sesshomaru!"
"Hn?"
"Don't think I forgot about you!"
The miko bought us a gift?
It would appear so.
Kagome ran out of the living room, nearly falling on the kotatsu, and into the room they shared the night before. A couple moments later she ran back out again, a medium sized wrapped present in tow.
"I got you two actually " she chuckled slightly nervous. She handed him the box.
Interested, he slowly unwrapped it, taking care to not tear the paper.
When he opened the box, he stared at it, a bemused expression showing on his face.
Kagome burst into laughter. "Your face, Kami, I need a picture of this."
Apparently Kikyo was one step ahead, and had snapped a photo the moment Kagome had said that. Sesshomaru growled at the other miko, who merely smiled.
"The stapler is because I always steal yours" Sesshomaru rose a brow at that. "And the stuffed toad is something I made. It's supposed to be Jaken. " she giggled madly at that. Both of Sesshomaru's brows rose.
"So now when you're irritated, you've got an irritating toad to kick!" she laughed some more.
"Hn."
She's rather ingenuitive, don't ya think?
Hn, this Sesshomaru concurs.
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The sun had finally set. After yet another dinner made by Kagome and Kikyo, and watching some Christmas movies, it was time to go.
Sesshomaru was walking down the steps covered in salt for the ice, while Kagome and Kikyo were saying their last goodbyes.
"Kikyo!" Inuyasha called from inside the house
"Coming love!" Kikyo responded. She turned to Kagome. "I actually have something else to tell you..." she held up her hand, a shiny silver ring with a diamond on it glinted in the moonlight. Kagome's eyes went wide.
"Oh my Kami! You're engaged! Congrats!" Kagome said, still looking shocked...
Kikyo had to have blushed 10 shades of red before she continued.
"Yeah, we're getting married sometime in March because we found out that I'm..." she paused, another 10 shades of red flushed her face, "Pregnant..." she trailed off. "We mated and I guess we kind of got carried away or something..."
No wonder Kikyo wasn't drinking tonight...
"That That's great Kikyo! I can't wait until the baby is born!" she hugged Kikyo tightly. "Or should I say pup?" They giggled together.
I hope you two have a good life... together, with Inuyasha.
"Kagome...Thank you..." Kikyo said before turning towards the house and walking in, pausing only to give her one more brief hug.
Congratulations, Kikyo...
"Miko. What are you doing standing outside in the cold. You ningens are weak. Go home before you get sick, or I will fire you from your job as this Sesshomaru's personal assistant."
"Huh? I don't work for you anymore Sesshomaru. I quit reme " she stopped realizing what he meant. A large grin formed on her face.
"Of course. I'll make sure I'm on time tomorrow." Kagome said still grinning.
"Hnn"
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And so, here she was, in a great mood, at work for the first time in a few months (her poor savings!), checking a report for any spelling errors before faxing them off to Inuyasha's wing of Taisho Corps. She kept smiling to herself at Sesshomaru's blunt way of saying "You're re hired", it was, in a way, kind of cute.
"Ahh...I'm finally done...What time is it?" She glanced at the clock in shock.
I stayed until 9:30! I better tell Sesshomaru I'm done before he kills me for staying so late...Wait,
he stays pretty late himself, so, hopefully, it will be okay...
She knocked on Sesshomaru's door and waited before she heard an "Enter" before opening the door.
"Miko, I'm surprised that you're still here. What do you want?" he demanded
"I finished the work you gave me so I will be leaving now." she slightly bowed her head and left the room, closing the door.
Hnnn.
Ahh, she really stayed this late to finish the work you gave her? Now you have to find her something else to do for the week, since it was originally going to be that.
Hnn.
You know, today is her birthday right? You should give that necklace to her.
Don't order me around.
I'm not; I'm telling you should, not "do it now".
Hnn. I have already taken' care of the necklace.
Oh, really? The things you do when I'm asleep...
Hmpf, I asked the houshi to put it in her mailbox for me during lunch break.
Hnn. You're sometimes smarter than you appear.
Sesshomaru snorted. And this it's coming from the beast.
Shut up.
Sesshomaru smirked.
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Kagome just got home and went directly to check her mailbox.
Junk, junk, more junk, an electric bill, huh?
She stopped and pulled out a small white box and opened it up. She gasped. It was beautiful. She carefully picked up a beautiful amber colored jem held by a silver chain, and smiled, instantly know who bought this.
Sesshomaru...
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(A/N: Aww, Sesshomaru can be so fluffy sometimes... Kagome's birthday (in this story) is December 26th, just so you know. As usual, R&R! Bye now!