Finding You: The Oneshot Collection by Demonlordlover

Peace

OOPS!  I posted this under my own account in error at first... sorry for any confusion!

Welcome to the One-shot Collection from “Finding You,” written by Demonlordlover.  As she entrusted me with her stories, I finally got the time to edit and polish these little gems and now they’re being posted here, only on Dokuga, as a special holiday gift for all my dear friends!  This series of one-shots was written subsequent to the finish of “Finding You” and, although the story has an epilogue, you can see that these vignettes follow Kagome and Sesshoumaru after their mating.  ~~Wiccan~~

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“Tell me again, why I am here?” The deep baritone of his voice washed over his companion, causing her nerves to tingle. He smirked, noticing the change in her scent that his voice brought about.

“There are much more pleasurable activities for us to be engaging in right now. It is not too late to leave.” Hoping he had convinced her to give in to his persuasion, he was disappointed to see her take a deep breath.

Fortifying herself against giving in to the desire she felt just at the thought of some time alone with her gorgeous mate, Kagome turned to Sesshoumaru. “Sess, I love you. And while the thought of, uh, other things we could be doing is almost enough to convince me to leave, I really want you to be here. I want us to be here, with your family.”

Looking around the cozy den-style great room, Kagome took in the little additions Izayoi had made to the décor. Across the heavy oak tables and every other available flat surface, pine garlands, complete with cones, were draped. There was a small tree in the corner, it’s purpose purely decorative as it had tinsel flowing down it’s branches in a shower of silvery glitter. Red bows, made of genuine crushed velvet, adorned both entranceways, their hanging ribbons fluttering in the air to brush against anyone entering the room. All in all, it was a tasteful addition to the room in honor of the holiday season.

Kagome had been surprised and upset to learn that her love, her mate Sesshoumaru, had never celebrated Christmas. Having been raised in America, she had grown up with the tradition of stockings and cookies left out with a note for Santa. Sure, the early years were tough, but they always found a way to celebrate. Later on, Kagome had been able to delightfully supply her family with showers of presents and decorations. She, herself, took joy in seeing their happiness, and the spirit of Christmas had never lost its sparkle for her.

Sesshoumaru, having been born in an age of wars and bloodshed, had not been introduced to the notion of a fat man giving out presents until his father moved to America with Izayoi. However, it wasn’t until recently, in the last hundred years, that he had received cards from his father and Izayoi every year, wishing him a merry Christmas. He knew it was the hand of Izayoi writing the notes, as he couldn’t see his father participating in such foolishness. Regardless, they were received, and then trashed. After all, he had no use for such frivolity.

He had wanted to kick himself for telling his compassionate mate that he had no use for a holiday dedicated to giving. He had her, and he had no intention of making her wait for a day at the end of the year to give to her. While she had smiled gently at him, she had also lightly bopped him on the arm. Ignoring his slight growl, knowing he would never hurt her, she had been about to scold him when the phone rang.

Listening in to her conversation, Sesshoumaru could feel the noose tighten about his neck. It had only taken his lovely mate a month to figure out that he was wrapped around her finger. While she did not abuse it, and for that he was grateful, she was not above using her sweet eyes to convince him to see her way of things. Sure enough, after she hung up the phone, her brown eyes glistening, she got up to move closer to him and plopped herself in his lap.

“No.” He might be wrapped around her finger, but he still had a little pride. He wouldn’t go down without a fight.

Her eyes lowered, and her bottom lip pouted out, before she leaned in and kissed him lightly. “Please? We are a family now, and families visit each other on these days. We won’t be there long, only one day.”

Grunting, his hands reached around to pull her closer as his lips made contact with her neck, sucking and licking as she shuddered in his arms. So sweet. Sighing, he lifted his head to lean his forehead upon hers.

“This is not something I think we need to do. Surely you see the commercialization of this holiday. It is meaningless.”

His mate, beautiful and intelligent, looked at him as if he had lost his mind. “No, Sesshoumaru, it’s not. Sure, people like to go overboard, but it’s not meaningless.” Seeing the arch of his brow, the smirk on his face cleared when he opened his mouth to argue, just as her finger came up to his lips, silencing him.

“Give me this. Just this one day, please? I’ll show you the meaning of Christmas.”

She looked so serious. This really matters to her. I do not like seeing her so serious. I want her to be happy and free. He sighed. One day is not too much to give for my woman. I would sacrifice so much more just to see her smile.

“Fine. We will go to my father’s house for Christmas Day. After that I give no guarantees.”

Hearing her squeal in delight, Sesshoumaru allowed a smile to break free as she kissed his neck, and all over his face, before claiming his mouth in a scorching kiss. As their tongues dueled and all thoughts of trees and elves flew out of his brain, Sesshoumaru thought that perhaps it wouldn’t be too bad if it could give his love such joy.

Now, they were here, in his father’s manor, waiting for his father and mate to come in. They had spent the day before together, loving one another sweetly and then passionately as the day grew cold, and snow fell beyond the glass of their rooms. In his desire to give her a taste of freedom, he had taken his mate on a trip around the world, a sort of honeymoon for them. After Izayoi had called their hotel room in England, they had flown out the next day to return to Pennsylvania. They had not been able to make it to the manor due to a freak snowstorm, so their first Christmas Eve was spent between just the two of them in the luxurious hotel room. That was fine with both of them. Kagome could think of no one else she’d rather be with and Sesshoumaru KNEW there was no other he could want.

Her family was still gone on a trip, a new fad in experiencing ‘Christmas Around the World.’ Perhaps that was why Sesshoumaru was so willing to go to his father’s manor to spend Christmas Day. Kagome had never been without family on this day, and he did not want her to feel bad about it. Unfortunately for her, the snowstorm had kept on until the next day. While he could have traversed the entire trip in a few minutes in his orb form, he was in no hurry to leave for what he was sure would be a wasted evening. So, it wasn’t until evening on Christmas Day that they made it to his father’s manor in the chauffeur-driven limousine.

Looking up, he saw his father enter the study, followed by his mate. Inuyasha and Rin followed soon after. Rin was adorable in a little green velvet dress, complete with a dainty elf hat upon her brown curls, hiding her pointed ears. Inuyasha was himself in a t-shirt and jeans while his mother had decided to celebrate in a dress much like Rin’s, only red. Inu had on a red sweater and black slacks. Sesshoumaru raised a brow upon seeing his father with a Santa hat upon his silver hair. How undignified.

Snorting at his stoic son, Inu produced a similar hat from behind his back and threw it at him. “Lose the attitude. No one is here to see your fall from grace. Give it a try.” That said, his father motioned for everyone to follow him. Sesshoumaru and Kagome stood up, his hand coming to rest upon the small of her back. He could never seem to let her out of his touch.

The family came to the Hall, so named for its immense size, like a Viking Great Hall. In it, a towering tree stood, at least 30 feet high and covered in glittery silver and blue decorations. Kagome, having seen their trees before during the years spent as a friend of the family, still found it an awe-inspiring sight and sighed in appreciation. Reaching up, she brushed a stray, silvery strand of her inuyoukai lover’s hair behind his pointy ear and leaned upon his shoulder, taking comfort in his strength.

Using an arm around her shoulders to guide her, Sesshoumaru brought her to a comfortable leather couch and sat upon it, pulling her into his lap, and enjoying the feeling of her lush figure snuggled into his lean frame. Inu and Izayoi took up a similar position on the couch next to them and Sesshoumaru felt a brief surge of - could it be - happiness? To have his mate in his lap, snuggled and warm in his hold while his father and his mate sat so close, sharing in the companionable atmosphere?

While he and his father had forgiven one another for their years of silence, it had been too soon for them to truly come to know one another again. His mate had been more important, seeing to her happiness, rather than sitting at the manor with his father. Sesshoumaru knew his father did not resent this, since he had been guilty of much worse when he had mated Izayoi.

Now, however, after being gone for almost two months on trips to show his Kagome the world, he felt a connection with his father once more. Inuyasha and Rin were diving under the tree to retrieve the presents for Sesshoumaru and Kagome. Inu and Izayoi, not knowing when the storm would let up, had already exchanged gifts with Inuyasha and Rin. Kagome, being prepared for anything, had already mailed ahead the presents they had found for everyone almost a month ago while on a trip to Australia.

Rin and Inuyasha approached Kagome and Sesshoumaru, holding three packages in their hands. Rin’s was a small box, almost like a shoebox. She handed it to Kagome and waited with a wide smile as the wrapping paper was removed. Opening it, Kagome gasped in surprise and began to tear up. Inside were a dozen or so Crayola watercolor paint trays and two bags of plastic paint brushes of various sizes.

Rin, seeing her tears, but understanding in that mysterious way that females had that it was good thing, clapped her hands together and chuckled. “I knew you would like it! Papa told Mama that you like to paint. I wanted you to have lots and lots of paint so you won’t have to stop.“

Sesshoumaru watched his beautiful mate reach out and hug Rin to her, whispering her thanks to the girl and kissing her on the forehead as she pulled back to finger her new paints. He could not but help to compare the cheap set of paints, no doubt bought with Rin’s candy money, to the expensive organic oils and acrylic paints she had at their home. Hell, she even had some packed in her bag. Yet, she treats these like they are gold. He knew Kagome had a hard life and did not take things for granted as others in the position of his mate would, but this was an eye opener. It was no ploy to make Rin feel good. Kagome truly was grateful for the present she had been given.

The next gift was for Sesshoumaru and it came from Inuyasha and Rin together. Inuyasha had already sent Kagome his present, knowing she could use the scarf and glove set in England during the winter. Using his claws to cut through the paper, Sesshoumaru opened the box to find a tin of his favorite teas. Very expensive, but well worth the price. He looked to his brother and nodded. Inuyasha smiled, a genuine lifting of his lips in place of his usual smirk, and sat down on the floor with Rin to play with the new remote control cars she had received this morning, leaving a confused youkai brother to hold onto the silver tin with one hand and his mate’s back with another.  How did he know I drink this tea? I was not here often and, when I was, we did not talk much.

Seeing the last gift, a small box that fit in the palm of her hand, Sesshoumaru nodded to Kagome to open it as it was addressed to both of them. Once it was opened, his body stiffened in shock. Kagome, in awe of the object's beauty but not knowing what it was, looked to Inu for an explanation.

Izayoi, tired from all the hustle and bustle of the day, and from worry about their safe arrival in view of the storm, had fallen asleep in the arms of her mate. He gently stroked her hair with a clawed hand and his chest rumbled, further soothing her nerves in sleep, as he answered the question he saw in the eyes of his new daughter.

“The mark of my house. You are the mate of my son. This amulet, however, also marks you as a daughter of the Tashio line.” He smiled gently, seeing the tears come into her eyes and reached out to her with the hand that had been upon his mate’s head. Kagome needed no more invitation and went into his one arm to receive, and return, a hug of love and affection. Once she returned to Sesshoumaru, he pulled her onto his lap once more to feel her body against his. He felt her move and saw her put the amulet, which consisted of an amethyst stone the size of a quarter, engraved with the Tashio crest and set into a platinum backing, over her head to rest against her heart. He felt it then, the contentment that overcame her.

He knew she completed him and she had given him back his family. Now, his father had given her the same feeling of completion. He knew that, for her, she needed family. With her being mated to him, she would live as long as he, and it had been discussed a few weeks ago how she would cope when her own family passed on. He had been saddened and frustrated to see her fear at being alone, despite the fact that she would still have him. He knew it was different for her. And now, his father had given her what he could not on his own. Her family would still pass on, but his would still be here, their family would live on. She wouldn’t be alone.

Her gentle breaths upon his neck signaled her lapse into slumber as well. Inuyasha looked up from his game with Rin and smiled at seeing his mother and friend sound asleep on their youkai mates. He stood, picking Rin up to throw her over his shoulder, carrying her off to bed too. Then, it was just Inu and Sesshoumaru who were still awake. Looking over his mate’s dark hair to meet his father’s amber eyes, Sesshoumaru knew then what it was about the holiday that drew Kagome to it; this feeling that he had sitting here with his loved ones. It wasn’t about gifts, but about showing that you cared enough to think of another. It was about this... contentment... in knowing you were loved and letting others know they were loved in return. Kagome was right. Perhaps there was more to Christmas than trees and fat men. The only word that came to his mind - upon seeing his father close his eyes and rest his head upon Izayoi’s crown, while he felt his own eyes close with Kagome’s heady scent floating around him - was not greed, Santa, or even joy. No… sitting here, surrounded by the love of his family, he felt peace.