here is the second chapter. Enjoy
Chapter 2: Decorating the Christmas Tree
Inuyasha blinked as the bright blue light of time travel faded, leaving him in the frozen familiarity of the shrine. Shadows danced across the walls as only a small sliver of light shown down through the crack of the well’s doors. “Damn, why is it so dark in here Kagome?” Inuyasha questioned as he turned towards her.
Kagome bit her lip. “Wind must have blown the doors to the well shut.” Squinting, she strained to see Inuyasha within the darkness. Slowly she shuffled herself over to the walls of the well, arms outstretched in an attempt to find the ladder she knew hung over the lip.
Inuyasha watched her with little patience as he waited behind her. “What’s taking so long?”
Kagome jumped when Inuyasha voice rang out right beside her ear before scowling at Inuyasha in the darkness. “Excuse me for not having demon eyes. I can’t see the ladder.” she growled continuing her blind search.
Inuyasha huffed and placed a hand on the small of her back, giving her a quick but gentle push in the direction of the ladder. Kagome gasped when she felt his cold hands hit her warmer skin but then smiled when her hand hit the soft rope of the ladder. “Thanks,” she whispered before she started to ascend the ladder. When she made it to the top, she pushed carefully on the door. They did not budge. Oh no.
“Now what is it?” The impatient hanyou asked from the foot of the ladder.
Kagome ignored him and tried again, pushing with all her might. The doors still refused to budge. Maybe if I get a little higher. Climbing up another two steps, Kagome wrapped her legs around the edge of the ladder and reached up to throw her full weight against the doors. The minute her hands left the ladder, she knew she was making a mistake. As her feet tumbled off the rungs, she quickly closed her eyes not wanting to watch as the ground rushed up to meet her. Instead of hitting the hard frozen ground, she felt herself smack into something soft and surprisingly warm.
Kagome opened her eyes to see a wall of deep red. Blushing she looked up to see small glints of silver where the light hit Inuyasha hair. “Uh… The doors are frozen shut.” She stuttered.
Inuyasha smirked down at her, glad it was dark so she could not sit him for it. “You think.”
“Kagome blushed even deeper as she strained to see his features in the darkness. “Um… Inuyasha, you think you can put me down?”
Inuyasha flushed and carefully set her on her feet. Stepping around her, he glanced up at the offending doors. “Step back, I’ll get the them open.” Inuyasha pulled out his sword.
“No, you can’t do that. You will shatter the well.” Kagome cried out. Inuyasha just rolled his eyes before flipping the sword and ramming it hilt first into the wells doors. They popped open without much resistance. Inuyasha jumped out and into the shrine. Blushing, he bent down to offer Kagome his hand and helped her out of the well.
“Thanks, “she muttered… The shrines outer doors open effortlessly. The two youths stepped in to the clear night air. “Oh no, I told mom we would be home before dark.” the young girl grabbed the hanyou’s hand and dragged him down the path. Around them, a light snow fell silently as the youths raced up the walkway and up to the house. When they reached the door, it opened suddenly. Kagome flinched looking very quietly. “Sorry mom.”
Kagome’s mother sighed as she stood leaning against the doorframe. Moving aside, she usurer the two teens into the warm house. “I was worried.”
“Sorry, the doors were stuck.” Kagome explained again, removing her boots and throwing her book bag down onto the floor.
Kagome’s mother nodded before turning to Inuyasha with a smile. “You’re staying for the holidays then Inuyasha?” The young boy blushed and nodded, feeling slightly awkward standing in the entranceway. Usually he entered through Kagome’s window. As if understanding the boys discomfort, Kagome‘s mother smiled down at him, “I‘m glad. Kagome, I put some extra blankets and a sleeping bag on your bed. Inuyasha can sleep on the floor for tonight.”
Inuyasha looked at Kagome’s mother in surprise. “You mean you are going to let me sleep in her room?”
Kagome’s mother smiled warmly. “Well of course Inuyasha. We trust you. . I am sorry it might be a little uncomfortable, but don’t worry. It is only for tonight. Tomorrow I will look for the air mattress.” She paused for a moment, thoughtfully. “Unless you want to sleep on the couch tonight. Whichever you prefer. We just want you to feel comfortable here.”
Inuyasha nodded and looked away. She is worried about whether or not I will be comfortable here. He tried to remember the last time someone tried so hard to make him feel welcomed. The only time that came to mind was the days he spent with his mother. “That’s ok. The floor is fine.” He replied smiling uncertainly. He was touched by her concern.
Kagome’s mother nodded her smile widening. “Good.” Swiftly, she gathered up Kagome’s things and headed off to the closet to put them away.
“Thanks mom.” Kagome yelled after her. Grabbing her bag, she ushered Inuyasha into the living room. “Stay right there. I will run this up to my room and be right back.” Leaving the young teen there, Kagome rushed up the stairs and into her room. Throwing the giant bag on the floor. She noticed that the blankets were indeed sitting on her bed ready for the night ahead.
Rushing back down the stairs, she burst into the room, prepared to drag the hanyou up to her room so she could plan every minute of the upcoming holiday. What she saw made her stop in the doorway and smile. The young hanyou was standing in the middle of the living room examined the room with wide eyes. Kagome’s smile widened as she too studied the walls. Her mother had clearly done some decorating while she had been gone. Glittering garland in colors ranging from silver to gold framed the window and doorways as well as winding up the banister and across the ceiling. Red and green bells made of layers of delicate paper hung over doorways secured with pins and boughs of mistletoe. Intricate homemade snowflakes were taped to walls and doors and images of snowmen, angels, and fat jolly Santas stuck to the windows in a backdrop of spray on snow.
Inuyasha walked in a hypnotized dazed over to one of those windows and stuck a finger in the loose white powder. Pulling it back, he examined the powder before sniffing it carefully. He pulled back abruptly and released a thunderous sneeze.
Kagome giggled, “Bless you.”
He glanced over at her with a confused look on his face, “What is all this, Kagome?”
“There Christmas decorations. Mom loves the holidays so sometimes she can go a little overboard with the decorations. Do you like them, Inuyasha?” she asked walking over to his side.
Inuyasha nodded as he gazed at the decoration with a look of childlike wonderment. “Yes, their beautiful.” He turned back to the window and bent down closer to examine the other decoration. Studying a Santa window cling, he cocked his head to one side, reminding Kagome of a confused puppy. His brow furrowed in concentration before he turned back towards Kagome and stuck his thumb in the window clings general direction, “Hey Kagome, who’s the fat man?”
Kagome laughed. “That’s Santa Claus. You’ll learn more about him later.” she explained wondering once again just how she was going to go about explaining the whole concept of Santa to a hanyou born hundreds of years before the holiday even came over to Japan. Maybe Mom will know. After all, she had to have told us the story when we were younger.
As if she could read Kagome’s mind, Kagome’s mother’s voice rang out from the kitchen. “Kagome, would you and Inuyasha like some hot coco?”
“Sure,” Kagome cried out eagerly, pulling the reluctant Hanyou away from the Christmas decorations and into the kitchen. As they entered, Kagome’s mother turned to smile at them as she carried two steaming hot cup of coco towards the table.
“Here Kagome, this one is yours, and this one is Inuyasha.” Kagome’s mother set the two cups in front of the youths before returning to pour her own. Kagome lifted the cup eagerly but paused when she noticed something. The cup in the hanyou’s hand contained liquid several shades lighter then her own. Kagome glanced up at her mother confused. “Its caramel coco, Kagome. He is a dog demon after all. This coco has less chocolate in it. We don’t want him to get sick and not be able to put up the Christmas tree later.” Her mother explained quickly smiling at the young boy who was eagerly gulping down the coco, ignoring the conversation the two women were having about his health. Finishing her own coco, she wandered off, leaving the two young teens alone.
Inuyasha finished his coco and wiped his mouth before looking up at Kagome sipping her coco across the table. “Kagome are you going to tell me what this Christmas tree thing is about?”
Kagome nodded and set down her cup, “During Christmas, people of my time chop down pine trees and bring them indoors to decorate them with different colored balls and lights. Then, we wrap presents for each other and put them under the tree to be opened on Christmas morning.”
“You and your mother are going to chop down a tree,” Inuyasha gave her a skeptical look. “You can’t even lift your book bag out of the well and you guys drag a pine tree through the forest?” Inuyasha laughed at the thought
Kagome’s face turned red. This time it was not a blush. Inuyasha eyes widen as he realized his mistake. Her fist tightened on the handle of her cup. “Inuyasha . . .”
“Inuyasha,” Kagome looked up towards the door in surprise when she heard her mothers voice calling from somewhere beyond the living room. She glanced irritated at the hanyou. Inuyasha froze glancing a Kagome wearily before slowly standing up hands out peacefully. He then placed the coco cup in the sink and hurried towards the sound of the voice.
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Once Inuyasha made it around the corner, he let out a sigh of relief. He would definitely have to thank Kagome’s mother for getting him out of that one. That is if he could find her. He crossed the living room, eying the decoration wearily. Pausing in the doorway, he reached out to pole the garland curiously. To his utter surprise, it was soft and course. It feels like kilala’s hair when she is angry. He thought absentmindedly stroking it. Inuyasha tugged gently at the strand, trying to lift it closer so he could examine the various colors in the light. But to his shock, his tugging caused the tape at the top of the doorway to come loose. The sudden weight of the loosen strand caused a chain reaction. Inuyasha watched with wide eyes as the garland fell from not only the doorway but from across the ceiling and down the other side of the room as well, pulling piece after piece of tape down. The shinny strand of tinsel came fluttering down to land softly on the now panicking hanyou. Oh crap, Kagome is going to sit me through the floor. Frantic, Inuyasha scooped up the garland and tried to reattach it to the wall.
“Did that fall down Inuyasha?” Inuyasha jumped when he heard a voice behind him. Blushing guiltily, he turned around with the garland still clutched tightly in his hand.
“I’m sorry,” He whined, looking slightly scared like a child who was caught stealing cookies.
Kagome’s mother smiled at the boy. “Oh don’t worry darling. It happens all the time.” She said as she held out her hand, motioning for him to give her the garland. “I am sorry I startled you. I saw you looking at the decorations. Do you like them?”
Inuyasha nodded shyly as he handed her the garland. “Yes, they are very beautiful. Sorry about the garland really. Can you fix it?” he asked hopeful, looking up at the doorway where the garland was once hanging.
“Of course. In fact you can help me put it back up later if you like.” She said smiling. “But first come help me bring some things up from the basement.”
Inuyasha nodded eager for any way that he could make up for the mishap. Quietly he followed Kagome’s mother into the basement of the house. Stacked high on the hard tile floors were several cardboard boxes.
“Could you carry these up stairs and into the living room?” She asked, hefting one of the heavy boxes up and handing it to the half-demon.
Inuyasha took it eagerly momentarily shocked at the weight. He gave Kagome’s mother a curious look. “What are in here?”
She smiled. “You’ll see in a minute,” she said before picking up another box and carefully stacking it on top of the first. “Just take them up to the living room and I will be up in a minute.”
Inuyasha obeyed, heading back up the stairs. As he climbed, he heard Kagome calling his name. “I’m coming up the stairs, Kagome,” he called back, struggling to see around the heavy boxes. As he made it to the top, he heard Kagome gasp and suddenly he felt one of the boxes being lifted out of his hands. “Oy Kagome, I got it.”
“That’s ok, Inuyasha, it’s not that heavy.” Kagome huffed, her face red as she carried the box over to sofa and dropped it onto the floor none too gently. Inuyasha chuckled as she shook her arms as if she was trying to get feeling back into them. She then turned and went down the basement steps. He placed his box beside hers and followed her down. After a few more trips, he finally carried the last box up the stairs. It was larger then the others and had a picture of a pine tree on the outside of it. Setting it carefully among the others, he stared at the box curiously.
Kagome and her mother appeared beside him shortly afterwards. Kagome’s mother then began to shuffle the boxes around without opening them. Inuyasha backed up and watched her with a look of confusion on his face. “Kagome, what are we doing?”
“We are going to put up the Christmas tree now.” Kagome explained as she took the big box with the picture of the tree on it. “Would you like to help me put it together?” Opening the box, Kagome began to pull strange peaces of wire with what looked like thick green garland on it. In the tip of each wire, a piece of colored plastic wire spiraled downwards to form a sort of hook.
Inuyasha picked up one of the artificial branches up and examined it. “What is this Kagome?”
Both Kagome and her mother giggled. “It’s the Christmas tree Inuyasha.”
Inuyasha stared at them blankly for a moment before turning back to the piece of wire in his hand. Sniffing at it, he huffed in disgust before dropping it. “Doesn’t look like a tree. I thought you said that you chopped pine trees down and brought them in the house.”
“Well, they use to, Inuyasha. Traditionally, you would go out and get a tree, but now you can buy artificial ones. Lots of people get them because they are easier to care for. Less needles.” Kagome quickly explained holding out her hand for the branch. Kagome sighed. By the look on his face, Inuyasha had no idea what she was talking about. “You’ll see when we got it all put together. Here hand me that plastic piece.”
Inuyasha watched intently as Kagome and her mother started to stick those little plastic wires into a plastic stand. Plastic wires, fat men, and furry stuff everywhere, what in the world is going on here? I don’t understand this stupid Chrispmas any more then those books with the funny spells she always carries around. He had to admit though, the little green fur attached to the wires they were now fanning out did look kind of like pine needles. . But why do they want to have a tree in the middle of the living room. If they want to see, a tree why don’t they just look outside they got plenty of them. Then he remembered what Kagome said about putting presents underneath them. I guess if they put the presents outside they would get wet. But why put the presents under the tree at all. Inuyasha shook his head, which was beginning to ache with all this confusing information. Inuyasha train of thought was suddenly broken when he heard the front door slam shut.
“Is he here yet, is he here?” A young voice called from the entryway eagerly. Before Inuyasha could turn to the sound, he was suddenly grabbed tightly from behind and squeezed in a bear hug. “Inuyasha you came. This is going to be so cool. We will go sledding and you can help me pummel Kagome in the snowball fight…”
“Souta, your dripping snow all over the carpet. Please go take your boots off. You can talk to Inuyasha in a minute.” Kagome’s mother chided gently, hiding a smile.
“Sorry mom,” the young child said as he released his hold on the hanyou and ran back out of the room to remove his things.
Inuyasha gasped, relived to finally be able to breathe again.
“Honestly Souta, you should be more patient. The hanyou is not going anywhere after all.” Inuyasha turned to see Kagome’s grandfather appear where the young boy had disappeared through. He flinched, prepared to run up the stair, and hid if the old man happened to be armed. “Hello, Inuyasha. Decide to stay for the holidays?”
Inuyasha was slightly surprised. Usually the only type of greeting he got from the old man was a chase around the room with a broomstick. “Yes.” he said wearily.
The old man just nodded as he shuffled his way to the chair in the corner of the room and plopped down into it. “Well that’s alright then. It’s been awhile since we had some company for the holidays.”
“Inuyasha, will you carry the tree over there please while Kagome and I get out the ornaments.” Kagome’s mother asked as she and Kagome finally finish separating all the branches.
Inuyasha turned back to them, trying to sort out his thoughts over which sickness the man might be suffering from to cause him to be so kind to him, and was momentarily stunned. Somehow, while his back was turned Kagome and her mother managed to turn the heap of wire into a pine tree. Startled, he leaned forward to get a better look, absentmindedly wondering what spell they had used. How did they do that? He got closer to sniff the branches. Still doesn’t smell like a pine tree. Upon closer examination, he realized that the wires were still there but were hidden with the stiff funny green garland. He glanced back at Kagome who was smiling softly at him.
“Told you it was the Christmas tree. Now take it over there and we can decorate it.” She commanded.
Inuyasha complied, carefully lifting the base of the tree, trying not to smash any of the wires. Behind him, he heard the sound of the boxes being open and the soft tinkling of glass upon glass. Gently he set the tree in the corner and turned back to the others. “Now what?”
“Now we decorate. Here.” Kagome stated holding a beautiful glittering bulb towards Inuyasha. Souta stood beside her, loading his fingers up with other bulbs and skirting the hanyou to place them on the tree. Inuyasha was stunned. He carefully took the bulb from Kagome and examined it. It was a deep red, shiny, and delicate. He had never seen decorations like this for any of the other holidays back in his own time. Inuyasha held cautiously, knowing just by the feel of it that if he was not careful the bulb would burst in his hand. Glancing back, he watched as the young boy move from branch to branch, putting the little bulbs in place. Slowly, he rose and went over the tree. He scanned the branches thoroughly with all the concentration of a scientist handling a container of nitroglycerin before placing the bulb carefully on the tree. Pulling his fingers away, the boy studied his work before turning to smile proudly at Kagome.
Kagome stood behind him, her fingers covers with ornaments of all colors of the rainbow. She gave Inuyasha an amused look before holding them out. “Good, here’s some more.”
They continued like this in silence for a while. The bulbs turned into little glass snowflakes to bells to drumming soldiers to bows. Inuyasha studied each one before moving to place them on the tree. This is kind of fun. Inuyasha thought as he placed a glass figurine of the energizer bunny in a Santa hat (we actually have ornaments like that and I love them) on the tree. Turning, he eagerly held his hand out for some more. Kagome’s mother placed two rather heavy ones in his hand. Without looking at them, he eagerly went to the tree to place them on the branches. As he lifted on he paused, surprised. Within a tine frame of gingerbread there was a picture of Kagome standing in the doorway covered in snow. Inuyasha gasped as he held it up to his face to study it.
“How did Kagome get on the tree thingy,” he asked turning to face Kagome’s mother.
She smiled. “It’s a picture frame. You buy it in the stores and you just bring it home and stick in a picture.” She frowned, “Do you know what a picture is Inuyasha?”
Inuyasha nodded still examining the picture. “Yeah, its painting thingies you get with that camera thing Kagome brings,” Inuyasha replied pronouncing each syllable of the word carefully.
Kagome’s mother nodded, “that’s right. We buy new ornaments every few years to put our pictures in. See, there is one for Souta, me, Kagome, and father.” she stated holding up a rather amusing picture of the old man yelling at the camera in the last one. “One for every member of the family. That way we can see how everyone has grown.”
“Or aged.” The old man grumbled from across the room.
Inuyasha looked over at him in amusement and to his surprise, the old man smiled. He returned the smiled shyly and turned his attention back to the ornament. One for every member of the family. He thought. He went over to the tree and reverently placed the picture frame on the tree.
“Ok, time for the candy canes.” Souta cried out excitedly when Inuyasha returned.
“No, young man its not.” The old man spoke up from his chair.
“But grandpa. . .” the boy whined.
“No buts. Every year we put those canes up and every year they completely disappear days before Christmas.”
“Father is right. This year we will wait awhile before putting them up.” Kagome’s mother agreed.
What is a candy cane? Inuyasha wondered silently. He did not have time to ask before Kagome’s mother stood and picked up the last unopened box. Inuyasha jumped up and held out his arms, “I’ll take that if you like.”
Kagome’s mother looked surprise. Not often, that Inuyasha seemed to go out of his way to be helpful. Then she smiled softly, “That is alright it’s not at all heavy. Its time to put the tinsel on the tree.” She said walking the box over to the tree and setting it down.
Inuyasha’s eyes widen when she opened it to reveal thousands of strands of shiny thread.
“Mom, I heard in school that tinsel was bad to have around cats. If they eat it, it can kill them.” Souta commented informatively as he reached into the box to grab a handful of the glittering substance.
“Oh, that cat is smart enough to know better by now.” Kagome’s grandfather added from his chair.
“Here Inuyasha, just take a few strands and drape them over the branches like this.” Kagome’s mother demonstrated before holding out a handful to Inuyasha.
Inuyasha took the handful from her and was surprised to find that it felt just like the other stuff he had knocked down earlier. He began to drape the stuff over the branched and noticed that Souta, Kagome, and her mother were doing the same. Suddenly Souta smiled evilly at Inuyasha and threw a handful of tinsel at his sister.
“Hey Inuyasha, what did you do that for?” Souta cried when his sister swung around with and angry look on her face.
Inuyasha eyes almost burst from there sockets as he stared frighten at the boy and then Kagome. Kagome pulled back her hand and Inuyasha covered he face, prepared to get a mouth full of tinsel but was surprised when he heard Souta cry out suddenly. He glanced behind him to see the boy covered in tinsel and Kagome sitting there with a satisfied look on her face.
“Yeah right, like Inuyasha would be stupid enough to do that.” She stated triumphantly.
“Now children you really shouldn’t throw the tinsel.” Kagome’s chided before suddenly throwing her handful right at Inuyasha’s chest.
What ensued was a tinsel war to end all tinsel wars. Inuyasha dogged two handfuls carefully while delivering some very accurate blows himself. He laughed as one hit Kagome right in the nose only to regret the action when he got a face full of shimmering tinsel curtsey of Kagome’s mother a half a second later. All the while, Kagome’s grandfather sat on his chair shaking his head and muttered something that suspiciously sounded like “children” under his breath. After the fight was finished every inch of the tree and the three people knelt beside it were covered in glistening tinsel.
Kagome’s mother laughed. “Well, I think that we can safely say that the tree is done.” She said smiling as she leaned over and plugged it into the wall. Inuyasha let out a gasp as the strand of lights he did not see them put on the tree came to life, bathing it in a rainbow glow. Kagome’s mother put a hand around his shoulder and smiled as she watched his expressions as he gazed up in rapturous wonderment at the tree.
Inuyasha jumped a little when he felt her arm go around him in a motherly like half-embrace. He suddenly became very interested in the ground as the beauty of the tree and the warmth of the gesture hit him all at once. He felt a strange rush of joy and pain go through him causing him to bend forward reflexively to hide his eyes in his bangs. Feelings of warmth and love washed over him amplified by the heavenly glow of the tree. This is what Christmas is like? Suddenly he felt very much like an interloper within this little bubble of warmth and joy. Christmas is a holiday for family Kagome had said. A time that families spent together, thankful for each other’s company. I don’t belong here. He thought mournfully.
Kagome’s mother felt the boy stiffen in her embrace. Figuring he did not like to be touched she lowered her arm almost apologetically and glanced towards the window. Instead, her eyes fell on the clock on the wall. “Oh my, it’s almost midnight. You kids should get off to bed,” she stated rising from the floor.
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Up in her room, Kagome emerged from the bathroom dressed in her night clothing. She glanced down at the hanyou slightly worried. He had been strangely quiet as they helped her mother clean up the mess of tinsel and ascended the stairs towards her room. “Did you enjoy putting up the tree Inuyasha?” She said kneeling next to him on the floor as he spread out the blankets. Absentmindedly she reached up to remove a stray piece of tinsel that had wrapped itself around his ear.
“Yeah, it was fun. I still don’t really understand this Christmas thing.” he stated as he removed his sword and slipped underneath the blanket.
Kagome nodded and rose to slip into her own bed. “Don’t worry, you will understand better tomorrow. Night Inuyasha.” She said as she clicked the lamp off beside her bed.
In the darkness, Inuyasha yawned. He was exhausted by their tinsel fight and the sleepless nights he had suffered before with Kagome not being with him. His mind was still whirling with all that has happened today. The fight, the sorrow he felt when he didn’t get a present, the happiness he felt at the invite, and the strange mix of joy and pain Kagome’s mother embrace gave him. His thoughts traveled back to the words her mother said when he held that tiny ornament with the picture of Kagome in it in his hand. One for every member of the family. As the hanyou drifted of to sleep, his last thought echoed through his mind. I would give anything to have an ornament of my own on that tree.
