Winter Wind

Disclaimer - I own nothing of Inuyasha, the characters, the songs used, nothing. I make no profit of any kind off of these works which are for entertainment value only.

“I need to get up” Kagome said from her nest of pillows.

Golden eyes stared at her down an aristocratic nose, “You are still weakened.” Sesshoumaru replied in that cool tone that Kagome was swiftly becoming accustomed to.

“It’s been nearly a day” she pointed out, sweeping her colorful silks covers from her legs, she swung them over the side and stood.

The Taiyoukai said nothing, merely waited.

Kagome took a step and then another. Her legs felt like wobbly jelly and she willed strength into them. Koga was arriving today, Inuyasha too. She couldn’t let them see her in a weakened state. She turned a triumphant smile up to Sesshoumaru, “See” she said smugly, “I told yo...”

He moved at her small gasp catching her around her slim waist as she stumbled, sweeping her upwards. She stood breathless and mortified in his one armed grip for several seconds. Then she blinked taking in her current state. Her hands curled against the armor over his chest, her body plastered against his side.

She could feel the heat of his skin radiating from beneath veneered armor and silk. The power of that arm coiled so tightly around her. Holding her steady, holding her captive. She could smell him at this proximity. Like sandalwood and nighttime skies. Slowly she let her eyes trail upward, even as heat blared to life across pale cheeks.

Sesshoumaru heard her heart hammer like a birds wings against a gilded cage, waiting patiently for those eyes to rise and meet his own. He felt oddly protective of her. Perhaps because he had seen the struggle she had undertaken and in a moment when she should have harmed him, she had healed him.

Kagome noticed the line of his lips as her gaze swept slowly upward. Not the compressed visage she’d seen so often. They were relaxed, looked soft and firm at the same time. She felt the heat in her cheeks grow stronger and finally forced her eyes to rise the last few inches.

She saw herself reflected in liquid gold depths. Her breath caught then. And she found she was unable to look away, powerless to blink. Her mind raced with a thousand things to say, but none of them translated properly to her tongue which lay in her mouth like a lifeless lump of clay.

She was barely aware of clawed fingertips tracing over her jaw and chin. A thumb gently pressing the corner of her mouth brought her back to herself. “Kagome”,  Sesshoumaru whispered, angling his face closer to hers, “How many times must I remind you to shut your mouth?” And when then he smiled. No, not a smile. He smirked!

Kagome blinked once. Twice. Then she sputtered and pushed against him.

“Why you…” She sounded very much like his foolish sibling.

 Slowly he released her, nudging her back to the bed. “You are still weak” he reminded her.

She slumped in defeat. “I know” she said then, “But Koga and Inuyasha can’t see me like this. They will blame you.”

A silver brow arched ever so slightly, “They are nothing to me”

Her little hands clenched into fists then, “They are something to me.” She said angrily, “I won’t have them worrying for me!”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The fortress was quiet when Inuyasha arrived. The hanyou tried his best not to notice the way several bowed as he crossed the threshold of the gates. There were whispers now. Sango and Miroku catching phrases like ‘lord Inuyasha’ and ‘young master’.

Inuyasha’s spine stiffened to an impressive degree as he half stomped, half swaggered towards the main steps where his older brother stood. An imperial vision of white silk clad strength. His arms at his sides.

Wait...

Arms?

How the hell had he gotten his arm back? And Inuyasha was certain it was his arm. From the pale skin tone to the magenta stripes at the wrist.

As if taunting Inuyasha, that hand raised to tuck a stray strand of silver hair behind one delicately pointed ear.

Beside him stood a striking woman that Inuyasha realized at once was Kagome. Dressed as lady of the castle, her hair caught up in shining combs, she stood close to Sesshoumaru. A bright smile on her face.

“Inuyasha” Sesshoumaru greeted with all the enthusiasm of a pall bearer.

“Bastard” Inuyasha allowed, “Hey Kagome.”

Those warm brown orbs lit on the half demon and then she launched herself from the top step of the keep into his arms. Inuyasha caught her quickly. His cheeks turning eight shades of red in the process. Kagome felt…. Slightly… curvier.

“I missed you guys!” she said as she pressed her face to his shoulder. His grip on her tightened for moment. Over her silk clad shoulder he met his brother’s eyes. Something dark moving there but it was gone swiftly.

“Kagome!” She looked up to see an auburn blur flying towards her and caught the green eyed kit to her chest.

“Oh Shippo!” Sesshoumaru watched her cuddle the kit close and then noticed the slight waver in her frame.

Her hand shot out to brace against Inuyasha who peered down at her in question. “Kagome?”

Sesshoumaru was there in an instant, his arm catching her and pulling her closer to his side, “Inuyasha, rooms have been prepared for your pack. Enoa will show you the way.” He gestured to the lovely demoness that moved forward from the shadows.

“What’s going on?” Inuyasha wanted to know.

But Sesshoumaru gave him no answers, merely leapt upwards, Kagome clasped to him, looking tired and pale.

“This way Lord Inuyasha” Enoa said softly and turned to lead them inside.

“Don’t’ call me that” he groused.

The demoness peered over her shoulder at him, “What then should I call you if not lord?”

“Inuyasha, Just Inuyasha”

“But you are your father’s son. Out of love for him I cannot deny your blood.” Then she turned and floated down the hallway in gracefully smooth strides.

“What’s wrong with Kagome?” He asked.

The demoness didn’t turn or pause, “She has purified the shards. They were heavily defiled.”

“I want to see her”

“No doubt my lord is settling her in her rooms at this moment.”

Sango and Miroku were silent as they wandered the halls, taking in the towering stone columns and rich inlay along the walls. They seemed to walk forever, taking an endless number or turns until at last, they reached the family wing.

Inuyasha knew at once, for Sesshoumaru’s scent was heavy here.

“These shall be your rooms for the duration of your stay. The onsen is just beyond the blue doors.”

“Where is Kagome?” Inuyasha asked,

Enoa gestured to a set of tall double doors, “She resides there, beside the master’s chamber.”

Soft white ears clamped hard against his skull at those words. He didn’t like the idea of her being so close to Sesshoumaru. His mind went back to his brother’s actions in the courtyard and his golden eyes narrowed.

 

“What going on with them?”

Enoa blinked, “I would hardly have leave to say. Please, visit with Lady Kagome and I shall see to refreshments.” She pushed Kagome’s doors wide and stepped back in to the hall.

As she had predicted Kagome was settled in a comfortable chair. Sesshoumaru was nowhere to be seen.

Her friends rushed forward and Kagome smiled wanly at them.

“What the hell is going on?” Inuyasha demanded.

Kagome shook her head, “Sorry about that” she said quietly, “I purified the shards and I guess it took a lot out of me.”

Sango touched her hand, “Oh Kagome. Are you ok?”

The little miko smiled, “Yeah, just tired. They were so polluted! And when I tried to purify them, it’s like they fought back.”

Miroku frowned, “Fought back you say?”

Kagome nodded, “I’ve never seen anything like it.” She pushed her flowing sleeves up to show them the bandaged limbs. “I didn’t think they could do something like that without a body.”

Sango chewed her bottom lip in thought while Inuyasha fussed over Kagome being hurt. “Rare, but possible.” She said at last, “It’s possible that strong demon was manipulating the energy of the shards.”

“But Sesshoumaru had then sealed away.”

“They would have had to be close, probably somewhere in this fortress.” Sango mused.

“Well, they are pure now.” Kagome said with a sigh of relief. She pulled the small bottle free and let her friends see the number of shards contained within.

Shippo climbed into her lap, “Are you sure you’re ok?”

She nodded, “Yes. I wanted to be up and about but Sesshoumaru said I was still weakened. Tried to prove him wrong but that didn’t go as well as planned.”

She cast her eyes to the bed sheepishly. Inuyasha followed the movement. “Just what’s going on with you two anyway?”

She blinked and flushed, “Eh?”

He crossed his arms over his chest, regal nose lifting to the sky. “I saw it. Standing there all chummy and he was awful handsy with you out there. Rooms so close together. Dressed up like his little pet doll.”

“Inuyasha” Miroku said sharply.

Kagome was turning that foreboding shade of red, “Inuyasha,” she said sweetly, far too sweetly, “SIT!”

~~~~~

In the halls several soldiers and maids looked up in alarm at the loud sound that echoed from the family wing.

Enoa has just reported to Sesshoumaru that his guests were settled when the sound took her breath away. She jumped and spun, ready to spring to action when a heavy clawed hand at her arm stopped her.

Sesshoumaru was staring towards the family wing, “I see Inuyasha has already upset her. I should have told her to only subjugate him outside. At this rate I will have cracks and craters in my floors by day’s end.”

Enoa blinked in confusion…”What?”

But Sesshoumaru was already moving to the training yards.