The Christmas Addition

The Christmas Addition





Sprawled in a comfortable armchair, Inuyasha watched the twinkling blue lights of the huge Christmas tree in his living room. It was December twenty-third, and he was still puzzling his way through one of the most common and frustrating problems of the season: what to get a certain someone for Christmas.



It didn't help that he was the only one of the two who embraced the holiday. Sesshomaru just didn't get the concept. Inuyasha had tried explaining it on several occasions over the years, but the older youkai seemed uncharacteristically dense about it. Either that, or he just viewed it as "another pointless ningen custom" and didn't try understanding. Inuyasha had long since given up trying to convince him otherwise.



His last attempt had been about a decade ago. It had gone no better than any other time.



"I fail to see the point," the daiyoukai had replied simply after listening to the hanyou's long and maybe slightly over-exaggerated explanation. "If there is something you or I need or want, I will buy it that day. Waiting until one day in December makes no sense. And neither does filling the house with all these ridiculous, sparkly ornaments and... tassles. Where the ningen got the idea to place a large tree inside their houses is unfathomable."



Inuyasha hadn't even bothered replying. Contrary to what those who knew him thought, he knew when to give up on an argument, and this one was as much of a dead end as it could possibly be. He knew it was simply best to keep his mouth shut and settle for the consolation prize: indulgence.



To be fair to Sesshomaru, he did indulge. He didn't complain when Inuyasha filled the house with decorations (though any request for help was met with silence and a baleful stare). He bought and wrapped gifts for Inuyasha to open (they were seldom what Inuyasha would consider Christmas gifts, but always useful, at least). He even patiently unwrapped the gifts Inuyasha bought for him (even if he did so without even a tiny bit of suspense). But no matter how much he indulged, it was always simply that. He never got into it.



Inuyasha supposed it was just the best he could hope for.



He sighed and scratched behind one of his ears. Thinking about that wasn't getting him any closer to figuring out what to get Sesshomaru, unless there was some way to bottle Christmas cheer.



The problem was, Sesshomaru was rich. Not just comfortable or even wealthy, but insanely, ridiculously, obscenely rich. Like, rich enough to own his own island or some shit. Inuyasha didn't even dare look at the balance of their bank account for fear it would blow his fucking mind. Sesshomaru literally had the money to buy himself whatever he wanted... and he did.



So what the hell was Inuyasha supposed to buy the guy who really did have everything he wanted and needed? He was lacking in any creative skills, so going the arty route and making something unique was out... and besides, he wasn't twelve anymore.



Maybe he could break something Sesshomaru already had... But no, Sesshomaru would have a replacement before Christmas even got here (lots of money made for quick service, Inuyasha had learned) and Inuyasha would find himself in the proverbial doghouse for the foreseeable future.



Taking a leaf out of his friend's book was a dead end, too. Having a pervert and a horny wolf for friends was, as usual, a real downer; picturing Sesshomaru unwrapping some sort of sex toy or something, then slowly turning to look at him... Gods, the image alone had him feeling painfully, painfully embarrassed. And it wasn't like they needed any help in that department, anyway. So why the hell did he just think of that?



Fucking hell, he must be getting desperate for ideas if he was thinking like Miroku and Koga.



Rubbing a hand over his face as though to dispel such thoughts, he picked up the TV remote and started flicking through the channels, idly hoping for some sort of inspiration. And as he landed on an appeal, he found it.



"Dogs are for life, not just for Christmas," the advertisement declared over footage of frightened, abandoned dogs, both young and old. In spite of himself, Inuyasha felt the tugs on his heart strings as always. He felt sympathy for all animals in bad situations, but dogs got to him just that little bit extra. Probably some sort of unconscious kinship or something.



"I know what we should do for Christmas," he said abruptly, looking over at his brother.



Sesshomaru was stretched out on the sofa closest to the fire, all long lines and graceful angles. He looked up from the book he was reading and marked his page with a finger. "Yes?"



"We should adopt a dog."



"A dog," Sesshomaru repeated, and paused as though waiting for the punchline. When none came, he sighed. "Why would we adopt a dog? They shed hair and make all manner of mess," he said, with what Inuyasha considered a far too accusing look in his direction. He ignored it with difficulty for the sake of pressing his point.



"Well, just look at all the dogs that get abandoned around this time of year," he said, gesturing at the TV, but the advert had finished already. "Don't you want to help our fellow canines?"



"I don't consider myself a dog, Inuyasha."



The hanyou rolled his eyes. "Says the guy who turns into the biggest fucking dog on the planet."



"While maintaining physical and mental capabilities that far exceed those of normal dogs," the dayoukai countered. "I feel no connection to them, nor do I feel any drive to save them."



"Oh, come on," Inuyasha cajoled. "How could you say no to rescuing a cute little puppy?"



"Even messier than older dogs."



"Then how about an older dog? Some down on his luck mutt that no one wants?"



"Still messy. And riddled with fleas, from the sounds of it."



"You're a heartless bastard, you know that?" Inuyasha grouched.



Sesshomaru turned back to his book, his interest waning rapidly. "If we did acquire a dog, would you actually take care of it? Caring for an animal requires more than simply providing it with food and a place to sleep."



Inuyasha snorted. "You sound like a nagging mother."



"With how much you misbehave and get into trouble, I often feel like one. Sometimes you act so juvenile, it's worrying."



Inuyasha threw a pillow at him, but the daiyoukai caught it without even looking up from the page and set it aside calmly. "My point exactly."



"Oh, fine, then. Just forget it." He folded his arms and turned back to the TV, which was showing a late night Jerry Springer marathon, and stubbornly turned up the volume. He could feel Sessomaru's eyes on him, but refused to look.



A full minute passed in this fashion before the older brother finally sighed. "You want the dog that badly?"



Carefully suppressing the urge to smile, Inuyasha turned his attention back to his brother.