InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Rose in Winter ❯ Chapter 1

A Rose in Winter:

by:

Goijh

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Chapter One

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"Marriage!"

Kagome scowled as she tossed another log onto the dancing flame of the fireplace. Holding her hands out before it she sought to warm her hands from the bitter cold that shook at the windows and walls outside.

"Marriage!"

A growing distaste was forming in her mouth each time she repeated the word. Each time she thought of it. It was a prospect that definately was no longer what she had pictured in her childish dreams when she was but a girl. A knight whisking her away into the sunset, saving her from oppression and poverty to bring her to his castle, where they were wed and lived happily ever after.

No.

Now it was an ideal she would rather spit upon than act upon, and she blamed her father for her now warped persective on it. It was all Onigumo Higurashi's fault! Him and that...that...Yankee scoudrel!

Akuma wasn't it?

Yes, Inuyasha Akuma! It was all his and her father's fault!

Continuing to scowl, Kagome wiped a raven lock of hair out of her stormy sapphire eyes before heaving a final log onto the flame. Content that the fire would burn for at least a while longer, she rocked back onto her heels and stood. Throwing one last scornful glance at the flames that danced so merrily upon the hearth, deliberately defying her unpleasant mood, the young woman left the parlor in favor of the slightly colder kitchen to make dinner.

Onigumo Higurashi was the mayor of Flemming, a small town nestled in the hills of England, reigned over by Lord Naraku. Once quite wealthy, his wife had died almost ten years ago, and without her careful budgeting of their finances, Onigumo had steadily drained away his deceased wife's small fortune, losing it to drink and game. Soon he was left with only the spawn of his marriage, Kagome, his eldest and only daughter, and Souta, his youngest and only son, as well as the frequent company of various tax collectors who came around to try and collect on the many debts that Onigumo piled up.

Reputation soiled and without a farthing to his name, Higurashi had sold off all of his possessions in London in hopes of paying off the debts and keeping some for himself. When the sum of the prices he fetched though didn't even begin to cover it all, Onigumo had feld with what he had left into the northern countryside, bringing with him his children, and contenting himself with the posistion of mayor, graciously offered him by Lord Naraku himself.

That had been almost six years ago now, and if anything, life for Kagome Higurashi had only gotten worse. Despite the troubles in London, Onigumo had insisted on gambling and drinking still. With his meager salary he could scarce afford his sometimes pricey pastimes though, and as Souta was beginning to take after his father, a new source of income was needed.

Onigumo wandered into the lavish and treacherous world of playing cards.

And from there danced his way back into debt.

Debt to Inuyasha Akuma.

On business for Lord Naraku in the port city of Seton, Higurashi had stumbled, half drunk already, into the sailor infested bar, with Souta close at his heels, looking to play a round or so and earn some fast cash. For a while the games had gone well. Onigumo raking in a few pounds, but still loosing too many to really consider himself making a healthy profit.

So how could he refuse when suddenly the captain of the ship, The Shikon, of which many of the gambling sailors were from, came waltzing up to the table, and upon sitting, requested to be dealt in and laid a hefty bag of coin on the table?

Kagome didn't know the rest of the story very well. It was at this point that her father tended to start spewing random curses and incoherent nonsense. In fact, he would behave so every time the yankee's name was mentioned in his presence. Through his jibberish and babble, and partially from Souta, she had managed to piece together a general picture.

Inuyasha and Onigumo had played for almost an hour, bets growing steeper and steeper until Higurashi found himself losing the profit he had thus far made. Throwing in his all in a last desperate attempt to walk out of the bar a bit the richer, the stakes had been raised to something near two thousand pounds.

Two thousand pounds.

With that money Kagome reckoned she could have fixed the small cottage up quite nicely, made some new curtains and replaced some of the worn scarce furninshing.

With that money, Onigumo reckoned he could buy himself some better quality rum and take an outing to the gambling tables in London.

Something went wrong though. Just as Onigumo had thought he was winning, Inuyasha had declared him a cheat. The yankee announced that Higurashi had been holding cards, delierately trying to make a fool of all present.

The mayor's honor was ruined.

Never again would he be allowed to show his face at a card table. No one would trust his word. He might even lose his table at the Boar's Inn in Flemming if word got around. He had to avenge his honor.

Or rather, Souta did.

The youngest Higurashi had taken a table a bit in the corner while his father played. Though Souta was beginning to take to his father's passion for drink, he had yet to help his hand at cards. Most likey due in a large part to his sister's discouraging of the game. But upon hearing the vagrant abuse being done to his sire's name, Souta had leapt from his table, joined the commotion, and done something that would forever change his life.

He challenged the yankee to a duel.

The duel would restore his father's honor if he won, and earn the two thousand pounds. But if he lost, they both would walk away with nothing, never permitted to enter the bars and taverns of Seton again.

Realizing the high stakes, Souta had turned around and fired his pistol early. A few split seconds before the judge gave the call. Unfortrunately his bullet did not aim true and the yankee was unscathed, and fully capable of returning fire.

Which he did not even a second after Souta's bullet grazed by his forearm, shooting with amazing accuracy for a colonial pistol, and striking the younger Higurashi in the arm.

Souta's left arm no longer functioned properly, just barely able to move enough to lift his flagoon to his lips as he hastily supped his ale.

He was lame. Onigumo two thousand pounds in debt to Inuyasha Akuma.

And Kagome left to suffer for it all.

Unable to sacrifice the drink and game that he had become so dependent on, Onigumo had resorted to what he claimed was, 'A loving father's only hope.'

Kagome was to be married off to whatever rich old man would have a wench without a dowry.

So far a number of suitor's had been brought before her, each older, uglier, and crueler than the last. But each with a hefty purse. Exactly what he father was looking for.

But Kagome turned them all away.

Kaijinbou, Goshinki, Rygouga...to name a few...all of them had three things in common.

Large sums of money.

Lust for a pretty young wench to turn into their sex slave.

And all of them digusted her.

Today, Onigumo informed her, Kagome's next suitor would come to call. Whether or not he would be accompanied by her father, she did not know. Whether or not he would be staying for dinner, she did not know. Whether or not she would take a liking to him and choose him...She had a pretty good idea on the answer to that one.

The young woman's prefect pink pout twisted into a frown as she stirred the rabbit stew that would be the Higurashi's supper. Today's suitor was named Maten...Maten Cheveux. Her father had insisted that she put on her best dress to wait for him, a rather simple deep blue garment that lacked the lace and ribbons a proper mayor's daughter should own, but that was the finest she had and set off her vibrant blue eyes beautifully.

She would have rather worn a nun's smock.

The stew was almost done, the bread in the oven, only just beginning to bake. Taking the soup off of the wood stove's heated top, she placed it farther back and to the side so that it would still be heated, but not over cook.

No sooner had she finished doing that then she heard a knock at the door. Silently mumuring a prayer to any merciful god that it wasn't Mr. Cheveux, she timidly made her way to the door...

...Only to have it thrown open with such force that it nearly swung off of its hinges.

The only thing that saved Kagome from letting out a shriek and turning on her heels to flee was the sight of her brother Souta, wobbling unsteadily in the doorway, flashing her a drunken and lopsided grin.

"Hiya 'Gome!" He slurred happily as she rushed to his side to offer him a source of balance before he fell. Placing his lame arm over her shoulder, Kagome did her best to help him to the kitchen table, despite his much greater weight.

"Aww, 'at were awful nice o'ya 'Gome..." Souta thanked her, the stench of ale permeating the air around him as he spoke. It was only the careful manners that her mother had taught her that prevented Kagome from holding her nose or fleeing to take a fresh breath.

"Souta!" She scolded, taking a step away from him and putting her hands on her hips. "What do you think you're doing? Drunk at this hour already? It's not even dinner time yet?"

Souta hiccupped and grinned sheepishly.

"S'ry 'Gome." He offered, his head rolling in a peculiar manner.

Before Kagome knew what was happening, his body slumped forward, sliding out of the chair and falling the the floor with a resounding,

Thump.

Souta had passed out.

Kagome was unable to hold in the indignant shriek that fled her mouth at the realization. Now SHE would have to find some way to get him up to his room, because, from the smell of alcohol on his breath, he wouldn't be awakening soon, and she had no idea when Maten Cheveux would be arriving...

Besides, he was in her way.

Fighting off the urge to give her younger brother a good kick in the side just so that he would have a bruise when he awoke, Kagome gathered her skirts and bent down to grasp the heavier man under his arms. With a grunt of protest, she struggled and finally managed to lift his chest partially off the ground.

High enough that she could drag him anyways.

And with that established, the young woman went about the exhausting task of transporting Souta to his room...

...on the SECOND FLOOR!

Grunting and groaning in a very unlady-like manner, Kagome managed to haul her brother into the parlor. She was just dragging him past the once grand armchair that her father reclined in to pass the evening time when he wasn't out gambling, when the worst possible scenario happened.

Murphey's laws, though not yet invented, really sucked.

There came a knock on the door. Its authorative booming echoed through the small cottage, commanding the attention of the despairing maid. Souta, still out cold, was blissfully unaware of his sister's predicament.

Flustered and unsure of what to do, Kagome frantically looked around. She needed someplace to stash her brother, QUICKLY!

Again the knock came, this time more impatient. Near panicking, and praying that whomever was paying call would not be staying, the young woman finished hauling her brother behind the armchair, and fetching a blanket from the back of it, threw it upon his unknowing figure.

Knock. Knock. Knock!

Apparently whomever was at the door knew not that patience was a virtue.

And Kagome had a pretty good idea who it was. Only two people were expected today, her father and...ahem...suitor. Had it been Onigumo he would have surely let himself in for the latch on the door was not caught.

So it must be the latter.

Bracing herself in preparation for the worst, Kagome timidly made her way over the wooden portal, hands clutching her apron in knots. Taking a deep breath as if to take from it the courage that she would surely need to put up with Maten Cheveux by herself, she leaned forward and opened the door.

What was on the otherside was nothing that she would have ever expected.

Before, silhouetted in the golden rays of light, was the profile of the embodiment of masculinity. Broad shoulder, tapered waist, and an unconcealable lean muscled figure stood before her. Fashionably long silver locks cascading freely over his shoulder, and amber eyes, staring curiously into her own sapphire eyes.

Staring at her, as she stared at him.

Suddenly remembering herself, and her manners, Kagome started a little, a blush coming to her cheeks as she realized she had been staring at her guest whom was left to stand out on the porch.

"I'm terribly sorry sir, please, do come in." She gushed apologeticly, a pretty blush dusting across her face as she moved out of the way and held an arm aside in welcome.

"This is the home of Onigumo Higurashi, isn't it?" The man asked, sounding a bit confused.

It was if he had not expected her gracious welcome.

Embarressed once again, the pink that had just been fading away from her cheeks, came back full force. Her father must have been talking of her dislike of the prospect of marriage and her presented suitors thus far. It would be just like her sire to not keep his mouth shut.

"Yes it is. My father is not home at the moment, but you are welcome to come in anyway. I, we, were expecting you." She responded in a gracious voice as she held out her hands for his jacket.

Mr. Cheveux accepted her offer as he removed the scarlet garment and handed it to her. As she took it from him, their fingers brushed. A thrilling sensation shot through her arm at the contact, and unable to contain herself she flashed him a brilliant smile.

Again he appeared surprised at the amicable demeanor she was presenting him with. Kagome cursed her father in her head for having such flapping jaws. Reminding herself that she had company though and this was not the time to be thinking up dreadful things to do to Onigumo, Kagome lead Maten into the parlor, her mind overflowing with jumbled thoughts on what to do next.

"Here, have a seat." She invited while beckconing to the armchair. Her guest gladly took it, glancing curiously around it as he did so. Kagome thought nothing of it.

"Would you like something to drink? Perhaps some tea? Or something stronger?"

"A shot of whiskey would be fine."

Kagome nodded briskly and departed to the kitchen to retrieve the beverage. It was upon returning that she noticed something most peculiar, and most mortifying.

A pair of worn leather boots were sticking out quite clearly from behind the chair Maten was seated in.

Kagome almost dropped the drink when she saw it, but just as quickly recomposed herself and averted her eyes. Maybe he wouldn't notice.

'Yeah right Kagome.' She thought to herself as she presented him with the beverage. Seeing that it was comfortably in his hand and that he wanted nothing more, she seated herself on an opposite chair, slightly less elegant, but surely just as comfortable.

Amber eyes fell on her with an appraising gaze. The young woman felt herself growing warm and slightly uncomfortable under his vigilant stare. It was almost rakish in the way that it seemed to take in everything about her, and then everything that might lie underneath her dress.

'Think of something to say!' She racked her mind as she sensed the silence lengthening into what would surely be an awkward moment. A quick glance out the window provided her with what she needed as she spied what seemed to be storm clouds billowing on the horizon.

"It looks like a dreadful storm is brewing." She began.

The amber eyes blinked as Mr. Cheveux downed his drink. "Yes."

And with that one word, he destroyed her attempts at conversation.

As if he could sense her distress, his amber eyes began to twinkle with mirth. Kagome's fingers began to fidget nervously as she tried to think of something else to say. Here was a suitor that seemed to be everything she had once thought her knight in shining armor would be, and with her father's approval. He might very well be the one that she would end up wed to, and not unwillingly mind you, yet she could think of nothing to say.

A soft warm chuckle drew her attention sharply to the man opposite of her.

"I hear your father is looking to marry you Miss Higurashi."

Her brows furrowed at the obvious question. He was here wasn't he? She couldn't be rude though. "Kagome, please. Yes, He is." She replied, unable to keep a hint of a matter of fact tone from her voice.

"And is this a rejected suitor?" He asked, an arm sweeping behind him to Souta's unconcious figure. Amber eyes glittering with mischief.

Kagome's face shone redder than it had ever before as she realized she had been caught. A thousand curses upon Souta. No more!

"I..ah...well..he...no. He's my brother." She stuttered before finally blurting out the honest response. "I'm afraid he drank a bit much a bit early and passed out. I was trying to get him to his room when you arrived."

Her head hung in mortified shame. She couldn't even look at him so deep was her embarressment.

Mirthful laughter caused her to lift her head and regard Maten curiously though. His head was thrown slightly back, his beautiful eyes closed as the joyous sound poured from his throat. Her blush began to fade to only a pretty pink as she found herself growing comfortable in his presence once again.

'He has a nice laugh,' she decided.

When he finally ceased his laughter, less than a minute later, he caught her eye. Captivated by the depths of his amber orbs, Kagome didn' t even really notice as he stood.

"Would you like some help with that?" He asked.

Shaking her head slightly as the sound of his voice brought her thoughts back to the surface she gazed at him blankly.

"Hmm?"

He laughed at her again, this time only a soft chuckle as he smiled down at her and held out his hand to help her up.

"Would you like some help to get him to his room?" He asked again.

"Really? Yes! That would be wonderful!" She exclaimed, quickly accepting the offered limb and all but bouncing to her feet.

Suddenly she found her own body in quite close proximity to his own. Nearly bossom to chest, their hands still clasped tightly together between the two of them.

Sapphire stared up uncertainly into amber as her heart began to race.

The moment was broken though as Souta let out a moan in his sleep. Releasing her hand and backing away, Mr. Cheveux went over to her brother's from and easily hefted him up, managing somehow to secure the limp body over his shoulder. Turning back to Kagome he grinned almost arrogantly.

"Lead the way."

Fighting to get her pulse under control, Kagome could only nod as she swept hurriedly past him, swiftly walking over to the staircase which lead to the second floor, where the bedrooms lay. Only giving him a nod in acknowledgement to his presence she began the climb. So absorbed was she in steadying her traitorous heartbeat that she failed to notice the amber gaze that appreciatively admired the sway of her hips as she lead the way to her brother's room.

"Here we are. You can just lay him on the bed." She instructed, motioning towards the furniture against the wall. Maten nodded and proceded to dump his burden onto the mattress only slightly ungracefully. Then he continued to remove Souta's boots and shirts.

"He would probably be more comfortable without them." He explained as if to answer her unspoken question. Kagome wanted to smack herself in the forehead for not thinking of that herself. Of course he would!

As soon as Mr. Cheveux was finished, Kagome lead the way out of the room. She was making her way back to the stair when her thin slipper came loose. With a gasp of horror the stairs loomed before her, each step suddenly seeming harder and more terrible than she ever thought they could as she tripped over the worn shoe.

She was going to fall.

Or at least she would have, had not a warm strong arm quickly wrapped around her waist, saving her from what should have been a nasty spill. Taking advantage of the moment, Maten pulled Kagome tightly against him, her thighs near tangling with his own, her breast against his firm chest.

No doubt he could feel the rapid beating of her heart.

Shocked at the indecency of their nearness she raised her head sharply, only to become trapped in his heated gaze. Vaguely she was aware of his other arm snaking around her waist, the former loosening and settling on her lower back. His chin tilted down, his nose nearly touching her own. The only thing she was really aware of was the golden shimmer of his magical eyes.

And how if he only lowered his lips a little more, they would meet with her own.

"Miss Higurashi..." He murmured huskily, something that could only be identified as lust burning in his eyes.

"Kagome..." She corrected, her voice barely a whisper. She was sure that her eyes were mirroring his own.

"Kagome..." He whispered back, the tip of his nose touching hers as he tilted his head slightly to the right.

He was going to kiss her.

Instinctively Kagome shut her eyes, her long lashes fluttering against her cheek. She could feel his breath caress her skin as ever so slowly he drew closer.

"OI! WHAT THE HELL IS THE MEANING O'THIS?!"

An enraged roar jolted the couple apart. Or at least jolted Maten away from Kagome. The young woman's mind was still in too much of a haze to realize what was going on at the moment to move away. But slowly she turned and her eyes began to open...

...At the bottom of the stairs stood Onigumo Higurashi, face beet red, a vein in his forehead pulsing dangerously near to the surface as he glared angrily at the people at the top of the flight. Behind him stood a short and stout man with a hairless plate, his eyes widened in surprise. Kagome's fogged mind slowly began to surface as her father's mouth flapped uselessly as he searched for appropriate words to describe what he wanted.

"I said what the hell is going on here?!"

Startled Kagome stepped away from Maten in order to turn more fully toward Onigumo. "What do you mean, father?"

At her innocent words Onigumo's face began to take on an ugly shade of purple. Mr. Cheveux coughed lightly. Bewildered Kagome glanced at him, only to see a troubled expression on his face.

"WENCH! WHAT DO YOU MEAN WHAT DO I MEAN?!?! I mean what the hell are you doing in the arms of that...that..Akuma BASTARD!"

At the mention of the hated man, Kagome's face visibly tightened. Inuyasha Akuma. The man that had injured her family and was responsible for forving her into marriage in the first place.

"Father, this is Mr. Maten Cheveux. You knew that he would be stopping by..." She retorted, but her voice lacked confidence as she began to grasp the meaning of her sire's words.

"Well you dumb bitch, you got the wrong man! This here," he said as he pushed the bald visitor roughly in front of him, "Is your Mr. Cheveux!"

Horror stricken, Kagome whirled around to face the silver haired gentleman, his face still sporting the slightly worried expression, but arrogant nonetheless. "You...." She couldn't finish the sentence so appalled was she.

"Inuyasha Akuma, Kagome. At your service."