The Merry and the Miffed by Stella Mira

Goddamn Minute!

December 2013 Challenge: Holly

Word Count: 600

"I'm sorry, Kagome-chan. We should have stopped him, but we failed you," Sango apologized with a downcast expression, trying to make amends after the miko had calmed down enough to hold a civil conversation. A wave of guilt coursed through her at Inuyasha's misdeed since Kagome had appointed her and Miroku as Mr. Gingerbread's bodyguards. Yet the promiscuous monk had whispered sweet nothings in her ear, tempting her away from her duty, she thought, chastising herself mentally.

"My deepest apologies, Kagome-sama. We were… preoccupied," Miroku apologized as well with a small bow, his husky timbre bathed in flagrant insinuation. The satiated gleam in his amethyst gaze showed no sign of repentance or regret, earning him an elbow strike from Sango.

"You did not just imply what I think you did!" Sango hissed at him, enraged he would make such a perverted jest when all she had done was lend him her ear.

"I don't even wanna know…" Kagome murmured dejectedly, leaving them alone to their lovers' quarrel.

"Miko –" Sesshōmaru's deep baritone called for her attention, his icy tone carrying veiled impatience.

"I know, I know – hurry up, right? Jeebus, you sound like your brother," the dark haired woman snapped at him bitingly, her nerves rubbed too raw with the day's events.

"This one warned you against making such assumptions," the daiyōkai rumbled, voice becoming frostier than before if that was even possible.

"And this one would like a goddamn minute! If you don't like being amongst humans then you can wait at the outskirts of the village; nobody forced you to be here in the first place. Sango-chan and Miroku-san are more than able to protect the kids should anything happen," Kagome yelled at him, finally losing her last thread of sanity and trying to stare him down despite their height difference.

"The taijiya and the hōshi are unreliable. They allowed Inuyasha to eat whatever creature was under your protection," Sesshōmaru stated with unyielding conviction, and Kagome restrained the urge to slap him senseless for his endless misconceptions.

"Mr. Gingerbread was edible, okay? Yes, I'm beyond pissed off that the moron ate him, but in the end someone would have eaten him. I just wanted to save him till Christmas came. I assure you – Sango-chan and Miroku-san can handle anything that threatens the kids; Inuyasha, too, once he digs himself out of that pitfall," the miko explained in a clipped tone, visible veins bulging in her temples from her seething ire.

"Very well," the daiyōkai conceded – albeit grudgingly – after a small pause as he took in her wrathful countenance, "Make –"

"Haste! I know!" Kagome finished his sentence for him with a shrill voice, almost frothing at the mouth.

"Kagome, are you angry?" Shippō dared to ask, clutching at her knee with fearful uncertainty.

"I'm not angry with you, Shippō-chan," Kagome denied, forcing herself to smile a sweet smile. She ruffled his auburn locks in reassurance despite her inner raging mood, making Shippō giggle lightly.

"Why don't you show Rin-chan how to make wreaths while you wait for me to come back?" the miko suggested when the idea stuck her, bending to his level to place a soft kiss on his forehead.

"Can we?" the fox kit asked, green eyes alight with palpable enthusiasm.

"Sure, we gathered enough pine cones to make one Christmas wreath at least. And –" Kagome nodded, reaching for her backpack, "here's some holly to add a vibrant touch!"

"I'll be back soon!" she promised after she gave both Rin and Shippō a crushing bear hug and started for the Bone Eater's well.

A/N: Late Merry Christmas, y'all! :3