The Merry and the Miffed by Stella Mira

Jesus Christ!

December 2013 Challenge: Candy Canes

Word Count: 450

"What the hell did you put in your backpack, wench? It weighs almost as much as you are! Are you trying to break my back?" Inuyasha grunted after they reached Kaede's hut, rubbing his aching back in circles.

"Did you just call me fat?" the miko hissed, pinning him with a thunderous glare.

"Now that you mention it, you do see-" the hanyō started, but never got the chance to finish as he was plastered to the ground mid-sentence.

"Sit!"

"It's going to be Christmas soon and I thought we could celebrate," Kagome explained as she made a show of stepping over the fallen inuyōkai, pressing her foot into his back, and reaching for her overstuffed backpack.

"What's Christmas, Kagome-chan?" Sango asked, intrigue lacing her tone.

"Can you eat it?" Shippō piped in, excited.

"It's a holiday and, no, you can't eat it," Kagome laughed heartily at the kit's enthusiasm.

"It's an annual commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ. We decorate our homes, engage in feasts, and exchange gifts to name some of the festivities. It's a time for family bonding!" she continued, digging into her backpack and retrieving a few red and white colored candy canes. She passed them around, watching with mirth as the kit sniffed at the candy delicately before he let out a squeal and stuffed it in his mouth.

"Who the hell is this Jesus Christ, and why do we have to celebrate his birth?" the dog eared hanyō grumbled sullenly when he finally managed to sit upright, eyeing the sweets with strange fascination.

"Let's just say that he's an important person religion-wise," Kagome opted for the short version, knowing she would waste her breath on the hanyō if she tried to explain in more detail.

"We are Shintoists, Kagome-sama," Miroku cut in with a small frown on his handsome features.

"I know… but it's Christmas! How can we not celebrate?" the miko pouted, finding the idea of not celebrating preposterous.

"If the feast includes ramen then I'll celebrate or whatever," Inuyasha grinned wolfishly after he heard the word 'feast' being mentioned.

"Christmas is a time for family to come together, Inuyasha. Why don't you invite Sesshōmaru as well? I'm sure Rin-chan will be excited to join us!" Kagome suggested with exuberance when the thought struck her.

"What!? Have you gone crazy, wench? I ain't celebrating shit with that asshole!" the silver haired male exploded, loathing the mere idea of sharing the same space as his half sibling – much less celebrating anything with him.

"Watch your language in front of Shippō-chan, baka!" Kagome shoved a candy cane in his mouth, aggravated at his attitude, and Shippō snickered in glee at the hanyō's sorry state.