YULTIDE MEMOIRS

By Priestess Skye

Merry Christmas!

Summary: Two old enemies reunite in the most unusual of places. But did she ruin her only chance to find happiness again?

She stood in a corner while the cold air kissed her cheeks. It wasn't the same, she thought. For the first time in years, it wasn't the same. The crowds had come and gone and come again, those who hosted the show with NBC had packed up, but everything else remained as it was. As it was every year after the TV crews left. But this year it seemed empty, despite the hundreds of people who were standing in front of her.

Only one of them mattered though.

And he wasn't here.

She sighed and glanced up at the twinkling lights of the magnificent seventy foot tree. Any other time she'd be standing there with a hot chocolate or eggnogin her hand, something to toast the wonders of the season with. She didn't bother this year. There was nothing to toast as there was nothing wondrous to the season.

When did she become so morose?

She knew when, and she knew why. It was the same reason this would be the last tree lighting she'd ever attend. As much as she loved the holidays, she decided she could never enjoy this one scene again, not without the memories she wanted to keep buried inside resurfacing. She walked around the Rockefeller Centre, watching the families as they interacted with each other, watching groups of friends as they joked around with each other.

And watching lovers as they embraced in front of the twinkling lights.

It made her want to harden her heart so she would never have to feel such despair again. This was supposed to be a new life for her, and it was going her way until last year. Maybe it was time for a change, a change of pace, way of life. She had her degree, there was nothing left for her in New York. She had stayed longer than originally intended. Maybe she would go down south of the United States and work in one of the impoverished countries, helping some of the poor find food and get up on their feet.

Or perhaps she could teach out in California, southern California where winter was the same as summer and she wouldn't have the reminder of snow to bring her down. Yeah, she could do that, become a junior high history teacher in California. She would love it, teaching kids at such a young age to love history almost as much as she does. Her last placement had given her high praise for being able to engage the kids in an area where plenty had failed.

But she attributed that to the fact that she lived through history. She had the opportunity most would kill for; to spend at least one day in the past and walk in the shoes of some of the great historical figures. The priestess of legend who had saved the world from uncertain doom had a great historical perspective.

And only one person knew that the legend was indeed fact, and that she wasn't a mere history teacher; she was history itself.

She turned her mind away from such thoughts. She promised herself by coming here she was going to let go of the past, let go of the pain and let go of the sorrow.

She was going to let go of the loneliness that had threatened to overcome her so many times this past year.

She was going to let go of him.

The one she had loved.

And the one she had lost during the season that was meant to promote togetherness, peace and good will.

She looked up at the tree and it never failed to lift her spirits, even partially. Seventy feet of sparkling lights topped with a crystal star that shone so bright that even the people standing at the back of the square could see its brilliance.

The tree that represented hope.

And faith.

And peace.

It was the tree that brought them together, and ultimately tore them apart, she thought with bittersweet sadness.

She moved around the crowds to where the skating rink was located. As expected this year, like so many of the last years, it was crowded and she'd be lucky if she could find a spot all her own on it. But like so many other New Yorkers, she strapped her skates on and chose to skate one last time.

There would be no outdoor ice in southernCalifornia.

Nothing to remind her of the time she spent here.

And she took to the ice, knowing that at this point, there was no going back.

Author's Notes

Okay, so here it is, my Christmas fic. You'll probably see a post every two or three days right up until Christmas. I'll continue to update Mirrored Pasts when I can, but I want to get this one up in time for the holidays.

Disclaimer: Inuyasha and gang do not belong to me, they belong to Rumiko Takahashi