Winter's Chill

Hey everyone, sorry for the delay in updating. I started writing and just kept going. Which is actually good news since it means that chapter 3 isn't far behind. Still no sex in this chapter but look for it in the next one...and the one after that...and after that...and well you get the idea.

Let me know if you find any errors in the writing.

Disclaimer: I don't own these characters or the world they live in. I have no intention of using this story to make money or deprive people of it.

All Alone in a Crowded Den

The first thing Inuyasha became aware of when he awoke the next morning was how cold he felt. This both relieved and worried him. It meant that although he still couldn't move, his body was able to at least feel again.

This also meant that he could feel that Kagome wasn't laying next to him anymore. Where was she? How long had he been asleep?

Then he heard them. The screams. Well, not screams; they were more like angry yelling that were echoing off the walls so much they were overlapping.

“No, I can't just leave him here!”

“You don't have a choice. Moving him now could kill-”

“I could stay-”

“You wouldn't last the first night. Kagome, even the strongest demons will barely survive this. Three turns of the moon, maybe four and it will be safe to come back....I'm sorry but it has to be this way.”

The shouting stopped after that and when the young mortal girl didn't respond right away, Inuyasha's worry increased. What were they talking about?

A flicker of light waved across the ceiling and for the first time the hanyou realized that his eyes were open. A moment later, Kagome appeared. Over he usual priestess robes she wore a cover of fur and when she breathed thick puffs of white air floated around her face before vanishing. (Was it really that cold?) Inuyasha thought to himself.

“I...I don't have much time.” Kagome said as she knelt beside him. “I don't even know if you're awake but I can't just leave without saying good-bye.”

(Good-bye?) Inuyasha repeated the words in his head. Why was she leaving?

“There's too much to explain.” Kagome continued, oblivious to her husbands growing distress. “But I can't stay and you can't leave with me. Just...” She pause wiping tears from her eyes. “Just stay safe and come back to me when you can.”

She bent down and kissed Inuyasha. And the hanyou, summoning every ounce of will, tried to force his body to respond in some way. Move a finger, moan, grunt, anything; he demanded of his body. He had to let Kagome know that he heard her. To indicate that he wanted to go with her.

But nothing happened. His body remained so limp he might as well have been dead.

“Kagome-sama.” Miroku's voice rang out in the distance.

“Just a few more moments, please.” Kagome pleaded.

“It has to be now.” The monk answered without hesitation. “The sun will be setting soon and the storm is getting worse.”

She gave Inuyasha one final embrace and then dashed out of the small room as fast as she could. Kagome knew that if she paused, if she looked back, the others would be fighting her all the way back to the village.

Inuyasha, of course, remained motionless. He couldn't believe this was happening. Stuck here...with Kouga and his pack. No way was he going to accept this. The instant he could move under his own power, he'd head to the village. Cold weather be damned. Inuyasha had spent nearly a century on his own before being bound to the sacred tree. A little chill wouldn't stop him.

Inuyasha wasn't sure how long he lay there. He could only see the reflected light (probably from a fire or torch) which danced across the cave walls whenever the wind blew. The need to know what was going on outside weighed heavily and he tried to extend his senses like he had done yesterday when the entire world just fed him everything he wanted to know. Problem was that he had no idea how he'd managed it the first time.

He tried to quiet his mind and focus on the ever present air as it caressed him and enter his nose. Sounds carried on the wind started becoming more sharp and defined. Then as the currents moved down the rocky tunnel, the half-demon followed. He could somehow picture what the corridor looked like; where every cold stone and rock lay along the path. It was like being able to see and feel without actually doing either. How was...

“Inuyasha?”

Kouga's voice shattered Inuyasha's concentration and he found himself 'back' in his body. (Damn fleabag.) The hanyou cursed. He'd almost had it.

A shadow darkened the room and a moment later the wolf-prince appeared in Inuyasha's field of vision.

He looked different. Instead of his customary armor and shoulder-pads, Kouga now garbed in coat of thick furs around his upper body; as well as a furry cloak which went down almost to his feet. He still had his kilt wrapped around his middle but had added leggings so that nearly every inch of his body was covered.

“Kagome and the other humans made it down before the mountain passes closed. They're safe.” He pulled the cloak from his shoulders, tossed it aside and sat down next to Inuyasha. “There is so much that I have to tell you, so much that you need to know. But my pack need to be prepared and every moment I spent here is one less that I'll have to help them. But there will be time later, when the poison is gone and everything is ready. Just trust me until then.”

Kouga gave Inuyasha an apologetic look before speaking again. “But right now, I have to do somethin and I know you are not going to like any of it. And just so you know I'm not doing it because I'm trying to torture you or anything like that. It's gotta be done so just endure it.”

Kouga then uncovered a small wooden tray that Inuyasha hadn't seen him bring in. Once uncovered a strong smell of cooked meat hit the hanyou's nose. His stomach tightened and growled with hunger.

“The potion won't be any good if your body gets too weak.” Kouga explained. “So I brought you some food.”

(Sure, I'll get right on that. Idiot, how am I supposed to eat if I can't move?) Inuyasha thought.

Kouga took one of the long strips of meat, bit into a large chunk of it ans started chewing. Then to Inuyasha's horror, the wolf bent down and kissed him.

Inuyasha would have screamed if he could. The wolf's tongue slid into his mouth and back towards his throat. It wasn't until the Inu tasted pork and felt Kouga massaging his throat that he realized he was being fed. Just as Kagome had done the previous day. Inuyasha's throat moved and the food disappeared, traveling down to his stomach.

Kouga pulled away (though he unconsciously licked his lips) and looked into the hanyou's expressionless eyes. “Yeah, yeah I know. You're going to kill me, right?” He could just imagine the colorful and creative curses Inuyasha was mentally throwing at him right now. “Look, Mu-er Inuyasha. You're not the first one I've had to do this to. That pup Kagome saved is getting the very same treatment from his mother or father. That forest-worm has been plaguing my people for a long time and every one of us has had to learn how to care for anyone lucky enough to be rescued.”

Kouga put more of the meat into his mouth before speaking again. “There's no humiliation here, nothin like that. In fact, when you're healed you'll be surprised at how grateful we all are. But for now and probably tomorrow but you don't need to know that I'm going to feed you this food and then I'm going to give you the potion.”

(Blasted, no good, couldn't even kill a worm, BASTARD!!! Don't you dare!) All of Inuyasha's rage and hurt burned at the wolf. Though at his core he wasn't sure why. Kouga wasn't responsible for him being hurt and needing to be fed in such a manner. Nor did he summon the supposed bad weather which sent Kagome away. Kouga was trying to help the only way he knew how. But Inuyasha needed someone to be angry at and since Shippou wasn't there, Kouga was the next best thing.

The alpha wolf kept on 'kissing' the paralyzed inu over and over. It got to the point where Inuyasha tasted more of Kouga than the pork, but eventually all of the food was eaten.

“Okay.” Kouga said sitting back on his heels and again running his tongue over his lips; found the hanyou's scent every pleasing. “Mmm, now we just have to wait for the potion.”

He had barely finished speaking when Ginta entered the room. “I just finished making it.” He said holding out a small, steaming cup which Inuyasha guessed to be the same one he had seen the day before.

“Thanks.” Kouga answered, taking the cup.

“Do you want me to stay?” Ginta asked. “If Inuyasha is as strong as you said he was yesterday, I could help hold him.”

“Nah.” The alpha replied. “I think he's going to have enough of a problem with doing it again....but stay outside. If I yell your name, come running.”

He waited for Ginta to leave then pulled the blankets off Inuyasha. “I'll bet you're relieved that I don't have to bathe you like Kagome did yesterday.” Kouga said, try to lighten the embarrassment the hanyou was probably feeling. Though he knew better than to say it out loud, as Kouga quickly surveyed Inuyasha's lean body, he didn't think there was any reason to be embarrassed.

The wolf slowly pulled Inuyasha's into a sitting positing and then sat down behind him. Once the nude hanyou was settled in his lap and resting against his chest, Kouga secured his legs tightly around Inuyasha's to keep them immobile.

“Here we go.” He said, picking up the elixir and drinking it in one go. Locking lips again, he forced the cure down the inu's throat. Kouga didn't waste a heartbeat. The second all of the liquid passed to his friend the ookami wrapped his arms around Inuyasha's upper body. And then he pressed his forehead against Inuyasha's temple to hold it up against his shoulder.

The smaller demon wasn't going anywhere...at least that's what Kouga hoped.

The liquid burned on its way down and Inuyasha's heart began to race with anticipation. He waited...and waited. Nothing happened.

Kouga must have begun to wonder if Ginta had gotten the ingredients wrong because his muscles relaxed and he turned his head towards the cave's archway.

But the moment his grip lessened, all hell broke loose. Inuyasha's body convulsed and tried to wrench itself free. Kouga barely managed to hold on. Having been given nearly a full day to heal from the wounds he had received, the half-demon was much strong than it had been yesterday.

Kouga was thrown onto his back, knock the wind out of him and nearly making him let go. Then they started rolling on floor, ramming into the walls with enough force to kill any mortal. Kouga knew that if this kept up, the poison would overcome the potion and Inuyasha would remain stuck like this. He cried out.

“GINTA!!!!”

A moment later not one but two demons fell on top of the runaway hanyou. Ginta went for the legs while Hakkaku helped Kouga bring the Inu's upper body under control.

“Hold...'em tight!” The alpha grunted. “Shouldn't be much... longer now.”

He proved right. A few minutes later, the cure managed to burn off the last of the poison's control. One last dose was all that was needed to completely remove it from the half-demon.

Inuyasha felt like an entire castle had just been dropped onto him. His bones and muscles burned with every breath he took. He heard a long moaning noise and it took a minute for him to recognize his own voice. Hot tears also stung his eyes.

How mortifying. Not only was he naked and being held by Kouga AND his two useless friends, but now he own body was betraying him by showing the epitome of weakness.

“It's okay, Inuyasha.” Hakkaku said before licking the hanyou's cheek. “I know how badly it hurts. I had to go through the same thing when I was a pup.” He went to lick Inuyasha again but was prevented by Kouga.

“Don't do that.” The youkai-prince said. “He doesn't know our ways yet. He may not like it.”

Hakkaku couldn't comprehend why someone would take offense to a sign of affection but he obeyed his alpha.

Eventually Inuyasha's breathing eased and returned to his limp state. The wolves carefully placed him back on the cushion that served as his bed and covered him back up.

“Hakkaku, you watch over him; I'll relieve you at sunset.” Kouga said. He headed towards his den's main gathering area, followed closely by Ginta. Kouga need to make sure that the structures his people were building were put together properly and finished by tonight. There would be no second chances after today. Tomorrow he was going to have to deal with an irate half-demon and the first assault of the Ice Bringer.

The Next Day

When Inuyasha opened his eyes the next morning, he was surprised to find that HE had actually opened his own eyes. He also didn't believe it and had to blink several times to make sure. Realizing that his body was once more under his control, the hanyou sat straight up...or at least he tried to. He'd just managed to lift his shoulders when searing pain racked across the muscles he was using.

Inuyasha fell back panting. Gritting his teeth he tried and failed again. And again, and again. Each time the the pain in his abdominal muscles increased and soon he couldn't even lift his head. Deciding to switch tactics, the inu rolled onto his stomach, pushed himself onto all fours and then managed to sit back on his heels. Looking around the cave he found that it was larger than he had originally thought. It was about the size of the home he and Kagome lived in. And in the far corner he saw his clothes, clean and mended; his sword resting on top of them.

It took far longer than usual to dress, his fingers refused to respond to their normal nimbleness. As fast as he could, Inuyasha made his way down the stone corridor to where he hoped to find the caves exit. Each step was agony but he had endured worse. He wouldn't be stopped from making it down from the mountains.

The tunnel opened up into the large area that sat just behind the waterfall which separated the wolf packs den from the outside world. All the ookami appeared to be rushing about, ignoring the hanyou. That was okay, Inuyasha wasn't paying attention to them either as he limped towards the exit.

He very nearly made it too. Until a shout from behind caused him to turn. Inuyasha put more spin in his turn than his body could currently handle and he would have fallen had Hakkaku not caught him.

“*Oof!* Inuyasha, what are you doing here?” The spiky-haired wolf asked steadying the hanyou.

Inuyasha tried to answer but his mouth worked about as well as the rest of him. Wrenching open his jaw locked it in place and forcing it shut shut jarred his teeth, which made his fangs stab into his gums. He was forced to speak with his jaw closed.

“Leeving....goin hom.” He managed and tried to step away form the wolf.

“You can't!” Hakkaku said, the shock in his voice was unmistakeable. He grabbed the other male's arm and pulled him back.

Inuyasha would have none of that. He was able to push the wolf away but the effort felt like he had just ripped his own arm off. Stumbling as fast as he could towards the waterfall, he discovered that it had been frozen into a solid block of ice.

The only opening was a small crack near the cave wall and it was rapidly filling up with snow.

(Snow? It's can't be snowing already.) The hanyou thought. He brushed his worry aside and sliding past the frozen water, he climbed out. (Finally! Outsi-What the hells?!)

He looked out at what a few days ago had been a mountain range half-way through its Autumn. Now, clouds were raining down sheets of ice and snow which obscured his vision. But from what he could make out, there was nothing but a frozen wasteland. No visible paths down the mountains, no signs of trees or life of any kind. No one could survive long in this.

A cold, raspy moan from behind caught the hanyou's attention. Inuyasha turned to look up the mountain and his eyes widened at the massive demon floating above him.

It was far larger than any youkai he'd ever seen. Bigger than Sesshoumaru in his true form or Ryukotsusei; even his father's bones were dwarfed by this demon. It's face was little more than an elongated skull; complete with dark, empty eyesockets. And on its head was a crown of long, pointed icicles. Two skeletal hands gripped a pair of mountain peaks as if it were using them to try to pull itself free of the clouds that covered the rest of its body.

Inuyasha couldn't tell if the demon was even aware of his presence. But as it loomed over him, it opened its mouth as if to speak.

Instead a blue mist flowed out and blew down the mountain so fast that it washed over Inuyasha before he could react. Suddenly, the Inu's lungs stopped working.

He pitched forward into the snow, his insides had been flash-frozen. Every breath he drew seemed to stop in his throat. The cold and darkness enveloped him and he felt as though he were falling. He was going to die.


Then just as fast as the cold had been, a blast of warm air hit his lungs. Then another and when the third came, Inuyasha's body and brain remembered how to function and tried to take over.

He coughed and retched while struggling against the person laying on top of him. The hanyou tried to inhaling only to cough even more and this time he felt a familiar pair of lips against his own; blowing more hot air into him before withdrawing.

“Damn it Mutt!!” Kouga's angry voice drilled into Inuyasha's ears. He forced his eyes open and found the wolf inches from his face.

“What were you thinking, going outside?” If I hadn't come out for you when I did it would've been too late.” The wolf pulled Inuyasha to his feet but continued to hold him. “If you want to survive this winter, you'll do what I was, when I say.”

The little light inside the cave suddenly dimmed and Kouga turned to stare at the ice covered entrance.

“Sun down!” He bellowed so loudly that his voice echoed down the caves multiple tunnels and levels. “Everyone to your shelters right now!” He started dragging the hanyou further inside.

Inuyasha, still trying to recover and still hobbled from the poison, couldn't do more than watch as pairs and small groups of wolves entered into what looked like furry huts. They weren't very tall but most looked wide enough to hold four or five adults. And there were enough of them to cover every flat surface in the cave's expansive commune area.

Surprised, he continued to watch until Kouga set him down next to a hut which sat alone on top of a large rock outcropping. It overlooked all the other shelters; the perfect spot for an alpha to be placed.

“Get inside!” Kouga commanded. He looked down to make sure the rest of his pack was already safe and was pleased to see that the only ones that were left were Ginta and Hakkaku. The pair scrambled to the small furry dwelling that was just below Kouga's and quickly pulling off their heavy cloaks, they dove inside. Now all the wolf-prince had to do worry about was a single stubborn inu-youkai that was still handing in front of him, gripping his furs for support.

“Whut...hap-ning?” the hanyou asked.

“I'll tell you everything, just get inside.” The wolf answered. He looked back at the frozen waterfall, almost all the light from the sun was gone.

Not only could Inuyasha see the near panic on Kouga's face but his own instincts were screaming at him to do what the wolf was telling him to do. So with a growl of frustration, he pulled back the small flap at the base of the hut and crawled inside as best as he could.

If he was expecting a spacious interior, the hanyou was disappointed. Beyond the first layer was more and more layers of fur and other thick materials. It wasn't until he made it to the center that it opened up into a small living space; barely enough for two people laying side by side.

….side by side...

Inuyasha instantly tried to back out, only to bump into something solid.

“Hey!” Came Kouga's voice in the darkness. The wolf didn't even bother to stop, he just pushed his way onto Inuyasha's body. “Hurry up and get that stuff off.”

When Inuyasha felt the wolf's hands pulling at his obi and realized that Kouga was trying to undress him, he instinctively brought up his arms to ward his 'attacker' off. His hands didn't meet fur or armor, but the bare skin of Kouga's stomach and chest. The wolf was naked.

What came next was a short but epic struggled. Inuyasha trying to keep Kouga away from him long enough to escape. While Kouga pulled at the loose crimson colored clothing in an effort to strip it from the hanyou's lean form.

Unfortunately for Inuyasha, his impaired motor-functions prevented any chance of success and he soon felt hot naked flesh pressed against his own.

“Perv-t! Lemmme go!” Inuyasha continued to fight as Kouga's arms wrapped around his body and pulled them even closer. “I'll keel you fer dis!”

“Stop tryin to get away!” Kouga responded. “Need to...be touching! We need to warm this thing up before....oh no..”

It wasn't the sudden silence of the outside world that caused the two demons to pause in their struggle. It was the utter stillness. To their superhuman senses, it felt as though all life was holding its breath.

Kouga managed to whisper “No, not yet.” Then the cold came. What little warmth their brief fight had produced was swept away. And Inuyasha, who had still been trying to throw the wolf off of him, now found himself buried in Kouga's hard chest. His body having sought out the nearest source of heat.

“So....cold. If I had known, I...ah!” The rest of the wolf's words caught in his throat along with the frigid air. He planted his face between Inuyasha's fuzzy ears and tried to keep his lower half warm by sawing his legs against the hanyou's.

Inuyasha wanted to help but from either the cold or the poison, his legs remained locked in place. All he could do was remain as he was and shiver.

While the minutes stretched on into hours, the little spark of heat created by their joined forms slowly grew and began to beat back some of the cold. But then another wave hit and this time the cold brought with it a bitter howl that was so loud Kouga was convinced the Ice Bringer was blasting its deadly breath right outside the cave.

Thankfully it passed more quickly than the first and the wolf-prince soon rediscovered his voice.

“That was too close.” His voice sounded muffled as he spoke into Inuyasha's thick hair. “From now on, one of us is going...to have to be in here....well before sunset to warm it up. 'Cause it is only going to get colder.”

“Vhut....is it?” Came Inuyasha's strained reply.

“The demon? It's a....hold on a second.”

And Inuyasha felt one of the wolf's cold hands leave his back. When he heard a rustling sound he pulled his head away from Kouga and opened his eyes. And he was surprised to see Kouga holding a green ball of fire in his hand. The hanyou nearly made a grab for it until he noticed that it produced no warmth at all.

“Borrowed Kitsune magic.” The youkai explained. “It doesn't burn, wouldn't want the shelters to catch fire, but at least we can see each other.” He dropped the little sliver of flame next to them; it sat there giving off a dim glow but otherwise did nothing. “The giant demon you saw is one of the oldest of the demon-lords. If the ancient stories are true, it tried several times to cover the world in ice. And it nearly did until the other lords banded together and banished the Ice Bringer...to, well somewhere else. But if it can drive all life from the northern mountains then the banishment will be lifted and it will be unstoppable.”

Another howl and another blast of cold halted the conversation but when it passed, Kouga continued.

“Now every 300 winters the Ice Bringer comes back to either kill everything or drive us away but we-”

“Kill it!” Inuyasha interrupted.

Kouga shook his head. “We can't. Weren't you listening? It doesn't completely exist in our world, nothing will even cut it. And even if we could harm it, we wouldn't. It's a force of nature. Image what it would be like if winter ended forever. If all it was is a time when the days are shorter and the wind was a little cooler. Rivers and lakes would dry up, all the forests would whither and die.”

Inuyasha let out what sounded like something between a growl and a moan of surrender.

There's more for you to learn but it will have to be later.” Kouga started rummaging through a small satchel. “Right now...”

His voice trailed off but the wolf pulled out a small bottle and Inuyasha's nose instantly toldhim what it was. The fucking potion.

“It's the last one.” Kouga promised, shaking it before placing it under his arm to melt the iced up liquid. He then rolled over and pulled the hanyou with him so that Inuyasha was laying under him.

When Inuyasha forced his mouth open Kouga smiled but looked apologetic. “Sorry but it has to be much warmer in order to work. Close your mouth and try to relax.”

Before the hanyou could do anything, the ookami popped the cork that sealed the bottle and poured it into his own mouth. He swirled the potion around until it was at least lukewarm, then moved to transfer it to the hanyou.

At first Inuyasha jerked his head away and Kouga gave him a “We've already done this before so be a fucking man about this” look. Eventually their lips met and the potion (and a considerable amount of saliva) passed into the Inu's mouth. The smaller male swallowed quickly rather than run the risk of gagging but the thought of spitting it back in Kouga's face made it go down easier.


**

So let me know what you think of the update. Like I said, there's going to be some heavy breathing in the next chapter. Actually most of what's coming is going to be sex. I mean what else can I write about when all the of the characters are spending their waking hours trapped naked in small huts?

Later!