A/N: @schnee-amsel SURPRISE! I'm your Inuyasha Secret Santa this year for @iyfss! Here's some cozy Inukag! I hope you enjoy! 😊
When she'd asked him to go chop down one of the larger trees from the forest, he didn't question it. After all, they could always use more wood for their home's hearth.
But when she asked him for one just big enough to fit inside their hut, and to actually NOT chop for firewood, he thought she was insane.
And he'd told her as such, but she just flashed him that sweet smile that made his heart flutter and his tummy tingle, and he huffed--knowing he was helpless against her.
So he'd brought in a tree, one more wide than tall, and had even fashioned a groove into the floor of an area within their hut that was just big enough to snugly hold the tree's trunk, at her request.
Now the damn thing was just taking up space and was completely impractical and unnecessary. He groused and complained, asking what the heck it was for, but she'd told him it was a surprise.
Even more curious were the little knick-knacks she had been bringing home from the villagers over the last week. From ceramics fashioned by the ladies, to some glass balls of various colors and designs fashioned by the men, to wooden shapes whittled by children, as well as a variety of flowers and other plants.
Bah! Dumb woman. He was half sure she had lost her mind, but she seemed perfectly content bringing the trinkets home and adorning them amid the branches of the tree.
And he still didn't get it....
Until one cold winter night when he'd come through the door to haul in the latest logs of wood he'd chopped to ward off the incoming cold, and saw her on her knees with a candles lit in front of the tree--giving it an beautiful glow.
He froze, ears twitching as he just heard her mention the softest, "Merry Christmas mom, gramps, Souta," just as she hung another trinket up....he recognized it.
It was one of those small pieces of art, she had called it a picture, of her with her family in winter. They were all bundled up in front of the Goshinboku, surrounded by a blanketed powder of soft white.
It reminded him of the image still in the "locket" he kept around his neck, tucked away under the inner layers of his robe.
She gasped and turned to him, and he jusy caught the glimpse of tears in her eyes before she quickly brushed them away.
"Inuyasha!" she sniffled, "Oh. S-sorry, I didn't hear you come in..."
He walked over to her and stared up at the tree.
"This....was really important to you wasn't it...?"
"Mmh. I know it's silly but, it was a tradition my family did around this time...to decorate a tree in our home with ornaments we made...to share our love and spend time together."
"I know it was silly but, thanks for honoring m--"
"Why didn't you say anything? If I had known, I--you, wouldn't have had to carry that burden alone!"
She looked up, noticing his ears fiercely pushed back against his head.
"Inuyasha," she took his hand, "It wasn't a burden. Yes, it's my first time I'm away from them during this time of year but, I wanted to surprise you and share this with you, because you're my family too."
Her hands were so cold in his.
"Idiot....you're gonna catch a cold..." he kneeled and covered her hands with his own for a moment before pressing his forehead to hers.
A few moments later found a warm fire crackling as the two huddled together in front of the tree, Kagome wrapped in Inuyasha's robe while he held her in his lap.
And then....he could see it. And feel it.
The warmth that came from all the hearts that went into the trinkets that decorated the tree....seemed to make it glow brighter.
A Christmas tree, she'd called it.
And even though he didn't know much about it, he knew, that Kagome in his arms was all the "Christmas" he needed.
"I love you," he whispered hotly against her ear.
She smiled and hummed just before turning to press a warm, deep kiss to his lips.
"I love you too, Inuyasha. So much."
Heh.....maybe he could get use to this Christmas after all.
