Hey! Over a year later, and I'm back. Expect irregular updates. Thank you everyone your reviews and your patience. *bow*Happy holidays!

Christmas Eve

Kagome arrived at the Inu Estate the day before Christmas with Souta, her mom, and Jii-chan in tow. The ticket Shippo had given her was for four people so Kagome had to beg Ayumi to take care of Buyo for the next days. Her family would pick him up when they returned. The shrine was a pivotal part in the New Year celebrations, they couldn't miss that so they'd be leaving a few days earlier than Kagome. There was also some begging to Nakamura to let her return to her job after the new year. He had only smiled knowingly and warned her that she'd be fired if she was even a day late.

Unlike Sesshomauru's apartment, the estate was mainly traditional with tatami floors, sliding doors, and paper lanterns. The few modern amenities were exclusive to the apartment Sesshomaru's new assistant had assigned to the Higurashi family, like a modern kitchen appliances and electric heating.

"This is frickin dope," Souta exclaimed as he dropped his bags in favor of the balcony across the family room.

"Sesshomaru-sama has really done nicely for himself" Mrs. Higurashi complimented.

Jii-chan mumbled as the rest of the family followed Souta to watch the first few snowflakes blanket the surrounding forest. The Higurshi family hardly could afford extravagant trips but knew this trip was more in support of Kagome than a holiday. Mrs. Higurashi tutted at the naked pine tree that adorned the far corner of the family room on her way back inside.

"This will not do," she sighed.

The main entrance to the apartment opened and Shippo came through with bags in each hand.

"No worries, Mrs. Higurashi, pack always come prepared." He gave her a wide grin that reached his emerald eyes.

Shippo made his rounds for hugs and hair ruffles for Souta until he reached Kagome. Unsure what to do, Kagome softly wished him a Merry Christmas.

Shippo grabbed her and spun her around. After planting her on her feet, he nuzzled her in a very inu way. "I'm glad you're here," he whispered. Kagome couldn't help but try to match his strength. She was happy to be here too. With all her family but there were a few missing.

Pulling away she asked, "Where is….everyone else?"

"Our fearsome leader will be here later tonight and the girls will be travelling all day today to get here for tomorrow."

"And Sesshomaru's mother?"

At that moment, the sound of clicking heels on wood filled the room. "Hello, Miko and," a sharp nail pulled down a pair of glasses to the tips of her nose, "and other humans. Let's get this Christmas thing started."

Shippo cringed, almost embarrassed. And Kagome let out a little giggle. The Lady of the Western Estates was dressed in a tight Santa inspired dress with her hair tucked in a white rimmed Santa hat.

"Uhh," Shippo started, "Maybe we shouldn't tell her that Christmas is tomorrow."

Kagome could hardly hold back the fit of giggles waiting to burst out of her.

"Shippo, darling, I'm neither old or deaf. And I know that Christmas is tomorrow. Where is the Christmas spirit you humans are so bat crazy over?"

Mrs. Higurashi was the first to come over to her and give her a hug. Kagome and Shippo looked at each other. "It's nice to meet the mother of the man who takes so great care of my Kagome."

Kagome had never seen Sesshomaru's mother without composure or in constant command of a room. The hug had definitely caught her off guard. Mrs. Higurashi held the Lady's hand in her's even after the initial hug.

"My son can be pigheaded but I made sure he understood the meaning of pack," she replied.

Soon Shippo had started putting ornaments up and Mrs. Higurashi started prepping for dinner. Sesshomaru's mother and Jii-chan had found themselves in an intense game of Go, with Souta as an intrigued onlooker. Jii-chan was none the wiser to how adept Sesshomaru's mother was to strategy but she hadn't counted on Jii-chan's experience in the game.

Kagome decided she would start to help Shippo put the ornaments up and maybe sneak in the apology she owed him before Sesshomaru arrived and made things harder.

Shippo was hanging a kitsune ornament when she arrived at the tree.

"Beautiful," Kagome complimented.

"Rin got this for me a few years before she passed. It wasn't originally an ornament, I added the loop when I did glasswork for a little while."

"Jack of all trades".

"Master of none," he grinned at her, "Grab one. Don't just stand there."

Kagome reached into the bag and carefully pulled out an ornament wrapped in paper. Peeling back the paper revealed a more modern cup ramen ornament. Kagome smiled at the thought of Inuyasha living on through his pack despite his passing. Consequently, she ran into a boomerang, a cat, a monk dressed in dark purple robes, and what looked very much like a transformed tetseiga amongst the plain glass ball ornaments.

"This was never Sesshomaru's thing, but I almost always found a new ornament everytime we were here. He'd cook while I put up the decorations and the tree."

Kagome nodded as her fingers traced the creases of an inu ornament. "I'm sorry, Shippo. For the way I treated you. For not being fair to you in all this. I didn't mean…."

Shippo sighed. "I wasn't mad at you. I was mad at myself for thinking you could just up and jump back into it like you were fifteen again. That wasn't fair. I'm sorry."

A mutual understanding passed between adopted mother and son right before a shriek pierced the room. Jii-chan had lost the first game of Go. Souta was revealing in his defeat as a triumphant Lady of the West smiled victoriously. Souta begged for her to teach him how to play and Jii-chan looked mortified.

Kagome and Shippo looked on. It wasn't long before Mrs. Higurashi was calling for them to sit for dinner, which Sesshomaru's mother even joined. The dishes were cleaned and the presents set under the tree once Souta, Shippo, and Jii-chan had gone to their rooms. Kagome and her mother sat on the balcony with glasses of wine looking over the snow covered trees.

There was a peace the city couldn't offer. A peace she hadn't felt in a few weeks. Mrs. Higurashi wrapped her arm around Kagome's waist. "Remind me to make sure we thank Sesshomaru-sama properly for inviting us."

"He won't accept it. Pack politics, alpha duties, blah, blah, blah."

Mrs. Higurashi smiled, "I'm sure he is willing to compromise."

"On the contrary, Mrs. Higurashi. There are some things I am not willing to compromise." The cool baritone entered the space of the balcony to the two women's surprise. Kagome had found the bottom of her glass more interesting as Mrs. Higurashi hugged and thanked the daiyoukai for his hospitality. Mrs. Higurashi had made herself scarce before Kagome could protest.

"You're here."

"Hn. As are you."

Kagome squirmed under his molten gaze as he took a step closer to her. His swift hands pulled from behind his back and presented her with a simple box.

"The moon is full. There would be no day more appropriate than to express my intentions in person to court you, Kagome."

Kagome took care to take the box from him without touching him. She didn't know how she would act if she did. She already yearned to kiss him and they'd only been in the same space for a minute.

She opened the box to find a crescent moon, much like the one that adorned his forehead, but in a dark opal. The moonlight radiated off the blues, pinks and magentas. Kagome beamed, it was beautiful but accepting this meant accepting his challenge to please her as a mate.

She could feel his youki blossom and blanket the space around them. He was pleased that she liked it. She caressed his youki with her reiki. The two danced in a familiar way, greeting each other boisterously.

"Accepting this is one thing but I am sure wearing it enters us into a different ball game?"

"You are astute as ever."

"So is it possible that I can accept this and not wear it as I consider your challenge?"

His eyebrows furrowed like a confused puppy. "I suppose. That is not traditional. But then again, you are anything but traditional."

Sesshomaru's mother had given her some warning to what to expect when he arrived. Especially after hearing what he had written in his letter. Kagome was glad to have spoken to her right after dinner before she left to her own apartment. "This is the symbol of your House. To bare your mark would mean permanence. But you have to please me first." She teased.

Sesshomaru instinctively grabbed her hips and pulled her close. He nuzzled her cheeks against his. She had forgotten how easy it was to fall into step like this with him.

"Yes." The single syllable sound more like a surrender than confirmation.

What's with canines and nuzzling?

Kagome turned her head and her lips brushed against his neck. A strained whimper filled the crisp air. She planted a small kiss at the base of his throat and she swore she could hear a whine. He gripped her tightly and held the sides of her face to angle her to his lips as they crashed into hers.