Title: Holiday Cheer
Author: Priestess Skye
Prompt: A ski chalet
Word Count: 1721
For: Madison, hope you have the merriest of Christmases!

Kagome stood with her tongue out in the air, laughing as the cool snowflakes hit her tongue. She could remember doing this as a child, and wondered why she had stopped all of these years. She just didn't have time to catch snowflakes, which was a shame because in that very moment, she was relaxed. The stresses of the world washed away the moment Sesshoumaru boarded her on the plane to the Aspens for the holidays. No phone calls, no e-mail, nothing to connect her to the real world. Just her, the snow, and Sesshoumaru.

Heaven, she had decided within the first thirty minutes of their arrival.

And it had just gotten better since.

She had slipped out of bed on this cold morning, letting him sleep in just a moment or two longer. Sesshoumaru had always been the last to bed and first to rise, not requiring sleep as she did. It was a rare occasion when she could wake before him. Looking back at him, she nearly chuckled. He had worked hard last night and was clearly exhausted from it. Four times overnight he had woken and set her afire. She couldn't remember the last time either had been intimate once, let alone four times. Finding herself blushing, Kagome rushed to put on her clothes and nearly ran down the stairs to the back sliding door. Snow was a novelty. She had seen it before, loved it, but for it to fall in such heavy amounts, and all of it pure white, that was special.

Snow crunched beneath her boots as she stepped off the wooden patio and onto the back lawn of his chalet. The air was cold, windy, and she could feel her cheeks beginning to pink. They would chap, as would her lips, but she didn't care. This was her time to be a child again, rediscover who she once was. She needed this, more than she realized. Her relationship with Sesshoumaru had always been solid. After her return and the disappearance of Inuyasha from her life, Sesshoumaru had become a rock for her. It didn't surprise her or her mother when she was ready to take that next step in her life and move in with him. She hadn't looked back since.

"Dare I ask?" he queried as he joined her outside, two mugs of hot coffee in his hands. She could see the puff of smoke come out of his mouth as he breathed, a sure sign of the chill that was in the air. Like her, he wore his boots, jeans, and nothing more than a heavy sweater. They would both catch their death if they kept up like this.

"You should know better," she teased, thrilled at the comfortable silence that fell between them. This past year had been rocky with the death of her grandfather, her promotion at work, and his demanding new clients. Time for themselves had come few and far between, and Kagome found herself changing into a new person. She was coming home exhausted, irritable and on edge. Small quarrels often grew into larger wars and there were many nights when they slept in separate bedrooms. Last week she had feared for their relationship, believing it to be at the end. There was no give and take between them, just harsh words.

Sesshoumaru had packed her bags and whisked her away, stating that he found the solution to all of their problems. This was perhaps a band aid, she knew, but it was also a start. If they could get back to the root of their feelings, rediscover what it once was that drew her to him, then they could survive even the toughest of moments. They weren't there yet, she knew. Not even close, but she was willing to give it a try. Life without Sesshoumaru would be empty. She wasn't fool enough to not see that. Last night was evidence enough of the depth of her feelings, and her need of him. "My mother once told me that every single snowflake was different. When I was young I used to catch them on my mittens just so I could see."

"And?"

"And they were too small, and I was too eager and became easily frustrated. I then began catching them in my mouth instead because they tasted good. They still do." Taking a sip from her coffee, Kagome let the bitter taste run through her mouth and savoured the warmth it provided. "Successful trip into town yesterday?" She had meant to ask him then. Instead he had merely come in, placed the packages in the kitchen and whisked her off to bed. The fact that she had dressed for seduction had nothing to do with it, she told herself. She was prepared, but a woman liked being swept off her feet. Sesshoumaru would deny that he was a romantic. Youkai weren't romantics. They were practical. He was practical and didn't need to waste unnecessary time on impracticalities, like romance, but she knew better.

"Very. I have a gift," he announced, holding up a small paper bag. She smiled at the Swiss writing on the front and made a mental note to save the bag. It drove Sesshoumaru nuts, but she loved the shopping bags of other countries. It was a reminder of where she had been. Everybody had souvenirs, but not everybody had the packaging, showing that they were there. Reaching out for the paper bag, she groaned, frustrated as he lifted it and held it just out of her reach.

"That's mine!"She pouted, jumping up, ignoring the gleam in his gold eyes.

"A payment, Miko, is required."

Kagome stopped jumping and glared. "It is a gift. I shouldn't have to pay to receive my gift. Then it's no longer a gift, it's something I purchased. Now hand it over if it is a gift."

Shaking his head, he stared down at her. "You don't get this one for free." Learning down, he hovered over her, his silver hair falling against her shielding her from the cold as he whispered in her ear. Kagome could feel the blush rising again, and knew her cheeks were pink for an entirely different reason. His wicked smirk was her undoing and she thought she'd fall to her knees.

"I am not doing that," she protested half-heartedly, knowing that in the end he would get what he wants. Sesshoumaru always did, something that irritated her to no end.

"Then you will not get your gift." He lifted the bag higher, causing her to pout more. The next step would be whining. It was a game, she knew. He'd give it to her regardless, just as she would give him what he wanted. Over the years, since she had first met him, he has loosened up quite a bit. Five hundred years ago, when she first saw him trying to kill Inuyasha, he would not have teased her then as he did now. Humanity seemed to have helped him break through his shell, though she liked to believe it was her. Even when he first returned he was stiff and formal.

"It's my gift," she argued, jumping up and grabbing his arm, hanging off it. "And no fair using your youkai strength. I am still human. You know that I cannot fight against it."

"I am still waiting for an answer to my satisfaction, miko," he taunted, the gleam in his eye just a little more obvious. The man was positively sinful. Like a dog he relished any contact she offered. His hands liked to roam and stroke and pet. Until recently, even when they argued, their bedroom life remained unaffected. He demanded everything of her, and gave her everything in return. She missed that. She missed the intimacy that used to enshroud them. They knew each other in all ways, and yet lately they had become strangers. This trip was about fixing it. So what if he was a dirty dog? She enjoyed every minute of it, though she wasn't about to tell him that.

"Fine," she bit out, gritting her teeth, frustrated that she had given into him again. The things she did for a small bauble.

Taking the paper bag from him, she carefully unfolded the lip upward and peaked inside. Gold eyes watched her intently, focusing on her every movement. She could feel his expectant watch as she slid her hand into the bag pulling out the small object.

"It's perfect," she announced, her eyes lighting up as she shook the small snow globe. It was nothing more than a money grab but she knew he picked it out with thought and care. The small plastic dome held an even smaller plastic village with skiers on skis. It was not a pastime that either she or Sesshoumaru enjoyed, but it wasn't so much the skiing that she focused on, it was the backdrop of mountains. Everyday for the next two weeks she would wake up to the wonder of nature and enjoy the freshly fallen snow and the feeling that came with it, but now she had a little bit of it to take back home with her. Shaking it, she watched in glee as the small white flakes slipped through the water. Placing it back in the bag, Kagome stood on her feet and reached for him, pressing her mouth to his. In the cold air it was a welcome heat, and she pressed closer, wishing to enjoy it some more.

This was why they had escaped the drudgery of city life and run away. This was what she had felt when they first came together. She was reminded of why they were together, her feelings for him, his feelings for her, and the depth of each. She needed this reminder, and she supposed he did too. "This seems so easy," she remarked, settling against him, allowing him to hold her and shield her from the wind. "We must be very complicated people if we can't make this work like others."

"A youkai prince and a miko who has lived in two drastically time periods? What's so easy about that?"

Laughing, she allowed him to lead her inside. After all, she had made a bargain and she intended to fulfill her end of it.