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December had arrived with its colder days and nights. Near the bone eater well, Kagome and Inuyasha were arguing as usual.
"I'm going back home!"
"No. You stay here Kagome."
"Oh come on Inuyasha! I already told you that I promised my mom to help her to make Sota's costume and bake the cupcakes for the annual winter fair!" she exclaimed, getting tired of always having to fight to go back home.
"Fair? Is that another weird thing from your time? We need you here!" he answered, crossing his arms and frowning.
"The fair is a big weekend of celebrations for the winter solstice and it's important. Sota has a role in the school play and needs his costume. Plus I can't let my mom bake 200 cupcakes by herself! I'll be back in two days!"
"I said no."
Kagome took a calming breath and changing her tactics, looked at the hanyo, mustering the cutest puppy eyes look she could.
"I'll bring you back TONS of ramens…" she said in a sing-song voice.
"No, there's no way you'll convince…ramen?" Inuyasha said, his arguments dying on his tongue as the thought of those delicious noodles made him salivate.
"Mhmm…" she answered, smiling as she was feeling his resolve melt like snow in the sun.
"..."
"Ok bye! See you in two days!" she shouted as she jumped into the well.
"Hey! Ugh stupid Kagome…" he mumbled, pacing back and forth. He finally jumped in the well a few minutes later.
"Mom! I'm here! I promised I would help you to do Sota's costume and the cupcakes!" Kagome exclaimed as she got in the house.
"Oh hey sweetie. I don't need that much help anymore. Sota rented a costume for the play and I already baked the cupcakes. I just have to frost and decorate them."
"Oh, ok. Then I'll help you with that and maybe rest a little." she answered.
Outside, Inuyasha emerged from the well, cussing under his breath.
"Damn Kagome… Always getting me by my feelings to have it her way. Brrrr… so freaking cold here!"
Unlike in the feudal era, the ground and buildings were covered with a thick layer of snow. As he was walking towards Kagome's house, the hanyo got hit right in the back of the head by something cold.
"What the hell??? Sankontess-"
"Inu no nii-chan! Wanna have a snowball fight with me?" Sota shouted as he threw another snowball at him.
"Wha-" Turning around, Inuyasha dodged the offending object and glared at the boy who was now running away, laughing.
"Catch me if you can!" Sota yelled.
"Just you wait!" the hanyo responded, having picked up a giant snowball and now chasing the boy.
Alerted by the commotion, Kagome went outside to see what was going on.
She bursted out laughing when she saw the boys all covered in snow, like two snowmen. The only thing missing was a carrot for the nose.
"What are you guys doing? And what are you doing here Inuyasha?" she asked.
"Keh! I followed you to make sure you won't take too much time." the hanyo answered.
"Ok now. Come inside, both of you, before you catch a cold." she said, rolling her eyes.
Inuyasha shook himself like a dog to get rid of the snow, making Sota laugh.
"What?" he grumbled, annoyed.
Kagome went back to the kitchen to finish icing the cupcakes with her mom. Inuyasha was observing them, the sweet smell tickling his nose.
"Want one?" she asked him, presenting a vanilla flavored cupcake with baby blue icing.
"Uh… yeah…thanks…"
As he was about to take a big bite out of the treat, Mme Higurashi stopped him.
"Wait Inuyasha! You have to peel off the paper cup before" she told him, amused.
"Oh… ok…" he replied shyly, making Kagome giggle.
After all the cupcakes had been decorated and they had eaten a delicious (and not too spicy) warm dinner made by Kagome's mom, Inuyasha followed the miko to her room upstairs.
She let herself fall dramatically on her back on the bed, sighing exaggeratedly.
"Ahhh… I missed you my dear mattress! You're so comfortable! Much more than sleeping directly on the ground…"
"What exactly are you trying to say?" the hanyo asked, frowning.
"Nothing! Just that I love the comfort of my bed." she answered, smiling.
"Keh!”
Not looking at Kagome, he sat on the bed, near her.
"It's not THAT comfortable." he mumbled.
"You have to lay on it to feel it!" she answered.
Inuyasha laid on the bed, facing Kagome who had turned on her side. They were so close right now… He was entranced by her scent, and he couldn't tear his gaze from her. She was blushing and getting nervous under his serious look. Inuyasha in her bed, with her also in said bed… He was looking at her so intensely…
Panicking, the miko didn't think twice and shoved the hanyo off the bed. It was a surprisingly strong push, making him fall on the floor on his back.
"What the hell??? Are you crazy??" he shouted.
"I'm sorry! It's just… hum…uh… Hey! Wanna go for a walk?" she answered awkwardly.
"Keh! Whatever. You're weird."
Kagome extended her hand towards him. He didn't need help to get up but still took it. Once he was on his feet, she didn't let go of his hand and tugged on his arm so he would follow her.
Kagome put on her winter clothes.
"Hum… you're sure you want to walk barefoot in the snow?" she asked, looking at his feet.
"I'm tougher than that, you know. And I did earlier, remember?" he answered, crossing his arms.
"Of course you are tough. But still… I think we have my dad's old pair of boots somewhere. They might be big but it would at least protect you from getting frostbites…"
"I'm not sure about that…" Looking at Kagome's begging face, he caved in. "Alright…"
Kagome searched in the closet where they kept some of her dad's belongings since he passed away. She let out a "Ah ah!" when she found them. The hanyo put them on and followed her outside, walking awkwardly.
"Oi. What are you laughing at?" he asked, noting Kagome's amused look.
"You just totally look like my neighbor's dog when she made him wear doggy boots." she answered, chuckling.
"Keh!"
They were distracted by Sota calling for them.
"Kagome! Inu no nii-chan! Would you help me build a snow fort, pleaaaase!" he begged.
Unable to resist to her little brother, the miko accepted. They started to dig with shovels (and claws) in a snowbank and it soon became a small but sturdy snow fort. Sota got inside, excited.
A little while later, Mme Higurashi called her son, asking him to come inside to do his homeworks.
Kagome couldn't resist going to check inside the fort after her brother left.
"Inuyasha, come in, it's nice here! And there's enough space for two."
He sighed and leaned forward to get in but his foot slipped and he fell face first in the snow. Kagome bursted out laughing and the hanyo glared at her.
"Damn boots! How the hell are you supposed to have some grip with this…" he mumbled, irritated, as he got inside.
Still giggling, the miko removed the snow caught in his bangs and behind his right ear. Then, she softly wiped the water left by the melted snow on his face, making the hanyo blush. He didn't look away though, mesmerized by her gentle gaze.
Noting the intensity in his eyes, Kagome's hand stilled against his cheek, as she got lost in his amber hues. Her heart was pounding as he started to nuzzle her hand. When she felt the warmth of his lips lightly pressed against her palm, she blushed and didn't dare to move.
Inuyasha didn't know what he was doing or why he was feeling like this. But he knew that right now, in this light, her ebony hair contrasting with the whiteness of the snow, her soft smile and her reddening cheeks, he found her freaking beautiful. The confined space they were in had concentrated her delicious scent around them, making it hard for him to resist twitching his nose. He placed his hand on hers and grabbing it, pulled Kagome against him before wrapping his arms around her waist.
She hugged him back, sliding her arms around his torso. They stayed like this for a while, his nose buried in her hair, until she leaned back to look at him.
"I hum… I think we should go back inside before it's too dark." she said softly, trying to convince herself more than him.
"Uh yeah…"
But neither of them moved, gazing into each other's eyes, blushing, until the hanyo unknowingly leaned in very slowly. Kagome's heart skipped a beat when she felt his hot breath fanning against her lips. Her breath hitched in her throat when he finally closed the gap between them and kissed her tentatively.
It was a short and light kiss, but it was electrifying. Only hesitating a second out of shyness, the miko kissed him back, a bit longer this time. She smiled against his lips, wondering if she was dreaming. Neither of them wanted this moment to end, so they stayed in the fort way after the sun had set, exchanging kisses, away from anyone else's gaze.
When she started shivering because of the cold, they reluctantly went back inside and got to her room, him sitting on her bed and her on the desk chair.
"It definitely becomes colder when it's dark." Kagome said, rubbing her arms in an attempt to warm herself up.
"Yeah…Hey, come here, you." Inuyasha said, tapping the spot in front of him.
She obliged and sat before him. He enveloped her in his robe of the fire rat and she settled in his arms, her back against his chest. She sighed, content with being surrounded by his warmth.
"You know, I could stay like this forever..." she told him, her eyes closed, slumber slowly gaining her.
"Keh. You'd probably get sick of me after a while." he answered, his voice low.
Turning her head a bit so she see his face, she smiled to him softly.
"Never." she answered, kissing him tenderly to close the argument. Sighing, she nestled in his arms, finally lulled by the sound of his beating heart.