Disclaimer: I do own it. I'm NOT insane…I think. All royal members of Japan are real, meaning their real names are used. However, their personalities are probably a far cry from what I've wrote of them.
Story: Due to the jewel shards on their necks, the last four members of the Shichinintai were somehow able to travel to Kagome's time. Unfortunately for her, the well has sealed up. At least they don't have their weapons!
Set after Ginkotsu's death.
Spoilers: After Ginkotsu's death, no.
Warnings: Eh, maybe…this is anime after all.
Pairings: No telling! Secret, secret!
A/n: Never ending circle of madness, sadness, and wackiness continues.

Kagome Higurashi! No Need for Shichinintai
Chapter Fourteen: My December

It was a strange affair after that, in which they explained all that had happened for them to receive the royal gifts and they also told of that day in which they snuck out of the house. Kagome laughed it off and afterwards, Kagome decided they should all go house hopping. That is where one goes to all the houses they've been invited to, hang out and eat for awhile in one house and then go to the next.

Christmas actually passed by quite quickly and they found themselves heading towards the New Year. During the week leading up to the end and the beginning, they all found themselves cleaning the house, the shrine and grounds inside out. Although, cleaning outside was futile as the snow kept building right up.

And on the Saturday before New Year's, they had a movie night in which they watched several movies that resulted in some very weird dreams for the Shichinintai.

When it finally arrived on New Year's Eve, Kagome had a surprise for all of them.

"These are firecrackers. Those are sparklers. And…" She gave the names of the fireworks she got, knowing it'll be quite the experience for them.

"We'll light them all later on tonight when it's dark. But for now, all of you are going to help make rice balls."

So for an hour she made rice balls with the men, teaching them the way she was taught to make them. After that, she sent them to go polish the statues in the shrine as she made brownies for them and just lazily made a bowl of beef cup of noodles.

All of that had been in the afternoon and it was about dinnertime when they were able to eat the noodles and the brownies. They were saving the rice balls for midnight.

So, it came as a surprise when they had finished eating dinner and the door bell rung.

"I'll get it, Kagome." Jakotsu said.

"Mr. Lady!" A childish voice was heard. The next second, Jakotsu found himself choking to death by tiny arms around his neck.

"Kiko! You're killing the poor man. Down, child. Lest you cut off his circulation."

The Empress appeared right after the little child and then the Emperor cheerily made his entrance.

"Why, isn't this a cozy little home. Hey, we should have a little simple house somewhere to retreat to!"

For the first time, Prince Akishino and Princess Nori appeared. The Crown Prince and Princess weren't there, however.

"Hello, everyone."

Akishino and Nori seemed like composed people, someone you wanted to hang out with –cool people.

Of course, Bankotsu and Jakotsu were easily ruffled and suspicious. Meaning, straight away Akishino was on their radar. One, he was a man. Two, Kagome was beautiful and right in the same house. Conclusion, they needed to keep him in check. They had automatically assumed Akishino would be trouble and competition.

Maybe they were just paranoid.

"Well then, I hope you don't mind us crashing your party. Usually we go to Sensoji Temple for New Years but it's a nice change to go to a nice small one where it isn't crowded and you don't have all the hustle and bustle." The Empress explained their presence.

"Yes, I do believe Mother was right to have gone to this one, where such a lovely maiden resides."

Maybe they weren't so paranoid.

They began exiting outside, to start the festivities. Kagome brought out the fireworks and offered some to the royal family and then the rest to the Shichinintai.

"Alright Kiko, you hold the sparklers away from you and keep it away after I light it, okay?"

The little princess shouted in joy as the sparklers in her hand were lit and she watched the pretty lights. Kagome went to go help Akishino, making the Shichinintai believe their assumptions even more.

"Oh, like this?" Akishino asked, waving the sparklers.

"Yes, that's it."

"Thank you. You are truly a wonderful person."

Kagome blushed and Akishino smiled at her. The Shichinintai bristled. Even Renkotsu and Suikotsu were giving into the suspicions.

Was that how royalty flirted?

Michiko was waving the sparklers around elegantly while watching her husband enjoy himself. Kagome lit up some firecrackers, also carefully letting Kiko light a couple. Akishino tried it but it was Nori who successfully lit eight of them at the same time.

She grinned at her accomplishment, mock bowing.

Akihito grabbed his wife's wrist and ran over to the firecrackers.

"Michiko, you light four and I light four, okay?" he said excitedly.

"Okay, okay!"

Lighting them, the Emperor once again grabbed his wife and ran away, dropping to the ground as if a bomb was about to explode behind him. He peeked behind and his wife chuckled, looking behind also.

"Ah ha! It's smokin'!" he exclaimed happily, watching as the firecrackers whizzed around, their light slowly dying out.

Kagome giggled and the others straight out laughed. She turned to her male co-inhabitants and grabbed Jakotsu's hand.

"Come on, you four. Time for you to try the firecrackers."

They had tried the sparklers and had fun but had been so distracted watching everyone that they forgot to try the firecrackers themselves.

Renkotsu, of course, was the first to eagerly try them.

"Pyro!" Kagome teased flicking the back of his head and then running to hide behind Suikotsu.

"Hey! Hmph, I see you hiding. But I know where you live."

He cracked a grin and Kagome stuck her tongue at him, her eyes laughing.

A little later, Nori announced what they've all been waiting for.

"It's almost midnight!"

Everyone whooped and rice balls were passed around.

"Ooh, I love these! And hey! Left over brownies!" the Emperor said as they all gathered on the rooftop of the shrine. "And this rooftop is actually quite comfy to sit on."

Kagome laughed. "Funny thing is, my ancestors made the roofs comfy so that they could watch fireworks up here."

Everyone shared a laugh before it became silent. And then…

"…10…9…8…7…6…5…4…3…2…1…!"

Everyone had joined in the counting after Kagome had started and they all yelled out the last number.

"0! Happy New Years, everyone!"

They cheered and then became louder as fireworks erupted from the sky.

"Wow, look at that!" Nori yelled, pointing at a bright magenta and light green one.

"Oh, and that one!" Kagome pointed out.

"They're beautiful!" Kiko hollered.

Kagome grinned and brought something from behind her.

"I saved the best for last."

Putting it away from everyone and lighting it, everyone watched her as she prepared to use the last firework she had.

It exploded and flew into the night sky. Beautifully lighting up the sky, a form of a dragon appeared, flapping its wings once, before shimmering down back from the heavens like falling stars.

The Shichinintai made wolf whistles while Nori and Akishino made cat calls. Michiko clapped slowly, still staring at it. Kiko was silent, staring wide-eyed. Akihito made one long whistle staring at it as well.

"Wow."

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It wasn't long after that when their guests had to leave.

"Advisors probably pulling out their hairs by now," Akihito joked.

"Mmhm. Might even reprimand us on our 'disorderly conduct not befitting of royalty'," Nori said the last one in a mocking masculine voice.

Kagome laughed it off. "It was nice of all of you to drop by! It'll be good to see you again. Bye!"

They waved goodbye as well, with Kiko and Kagome having a quick snowball fight as the family left, the Shichinintai joining in after awhile. Soon everyone else were in it, the fight not stopping until they all reached the stairs.

By then, the Band of Seven had reconciled with Akishino in their minds. As long as he kept to friendly…

"Bai-bai!" Kiko said, waving madly. Kagome grinned and winked at her. Kiko giggled and started skipping down the stairs.

The Empress had one last word before they had to leave.

"The robe and bracelet were absolutely perfect for you. Bye dear. And you boys…good luck."

Kagome blushed. The assassins glued their mouths shut and averted their eyes.

"I guess it's time to head in and sleep, huh?" Bankotsu asked, stretching.

"Yeah," Kagome said quietly, a small smile forming on her lips slowly after.

Jakotsu yawned. "Hell's yeah we have to. Kagome's got to cook for us tomorrow morning!"

Kagome swatted at Jakotsu who ducked away from her.

When they were all asleep in her room, late at night, they had an unexpected visitor.

"Kagome…Kagome!" An urgent whisper sounded from her window.

Kagome furrowed her eyebrows, not really wanting to open her eyes but wanting to stop that voice. It didn't help that it sounded like Inuyasha…

"Kagome!" It was yelled out this time and Kagome and the Shichinintai bolted up.

The four men at her side went into attack mode and she just went to the window. She squinted her eyes and could've sworn that she saw a flash of silvery-snow white hair. She blinked and shook her head. But she couldn't shake the feeling that something was going to shock her.

"Kagome, I don't think that's a good idea…" Suikotsu said, his eyes narrowed at the window. Kagome shrugged it off. She was sleepy and therefore wanted to go back to sleep quickly.

She opened the window and stepped back, thinking nothing was going to happen and that all of them were just worrying over nothing. A face she didn't think she'd see again popped into view.

"'Bout time you opened your window. Now let me in, it's freezing out here." Inuyasha grumbled, his ears twitching every now and then.

Kagome's eyes were wide and she complied with Inuyasha, moving to the side. Inuyasha crept in, dropping to the floor and shaking the snow off of him like a dog.

"Now –"

He stopped talking when he caught sight of the half naked mercenaries in the room. His mouth curled into a sneer, a growl echoing from his throat before his hand twitched and the other settled on Tetsaiga, gripping it tightly.

He looked just about ready to battle them right then and there but changed his mind and reproachfully faced Kagome.

"Look here, wench. A problem's come out and you know, we still need you." He said gruffly.

The Shichinintai restrained themselves from attacking, even more so when Inuyasha called Kagome a wench.

"What's the problem?" Kagome asked softly, staring sadly at him. She started longing for Inuyasha's haori, wanting to change from her pajamas and feel Inuyasha with her, not angry but loving and caring.

"Sounga's back. And it's causing more trouble than ever."

Started 11/27/05 –Completed 11/28/05…End of Modern Mercenaries Arc