InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Cold Winter and Warm Hearts ❯ Between Children and Adults ( Chapter 1 )

Cold Winters and Warm Hearts

Chapter One

Inuyasha and the rest of the group were standing outside Kaede's hut, bidding the elderly woman farewell. Two rumors about the Shikon no Tama had reached their ears, and the group decided to go after them both. Since the locations of the rumored shards were a good distance from each other, the group decided it would be best to split up. Unfortunately, things weren't going too well in the dividing process.

"KAGOMEE!!" Shippou cried yet again, "Why do you always have to hang around that JERK?!?"

"Shippou-chan..." Kagome sighed again. "Miroku-sama and Sango-chan are traveling together with Kirara because they are a really good fighting team, and can both sense the shards somewhat. Inuyasha always protects me, and needs me to sense the shards for him."

"Feh. I don't need you." Inuyasha grumbled quietly. All he got from Kagome was an eye roll in his direction.

"But KAGOMEE!!" Shippou whined again.

"No butt's Shippou, if you and Inuyasha can't get along, you can either stay here with Kaede-obaasan," Kaede perked up a little at that, "Or go with Miroku-sama and Sango-chan." Miroku sent a longing gaze towards Sango.

Shippou opened his mouth to whine again, but Inuyasha interrupted "Oi brat. Make up your fucking mind. We do have a mission to go on you know."

With one last glare at Inuyasha, and a slightly less harsh one at Kagome for not sticking up for him, Shippou turned his tail on them and marched into Kaede's hut. "Shippou-chan," Kagome started towards the hut with a hurt look in her eyes. Inuyasha reached out and laid his hand on her shoulder, effectively stopping her. When she turned back to look at him, he just shook his head and motioned for her to get on his back.

Taking on last look towards the doorway where Shippou disappeared, she turned to get on Inuyasha's back. It would feel different, traveling without Shippou, but she would manage somehow. Plus, she thought, This way Inuyasha and I get some time to ourselves...

Every since the weather had started to get cooler, Inuyasha and Shippou had been at each others throats, and Kagome was at her wit's end. She could be running around smoothing the furs of both a kitsune and an inu. It was just too much with all of her other responsibilities. Not to mention, she would get one calmed down, and the other would stop speaking to her.

Kagome shifted on Inuyasha's back. They had only been traveling for about two hours, and she was already beginning to get uncomfortable. She's wasn't exactly used to the jeans she'd had to resort to wearing. When the weather had stared cooling off, she realized how little her school uniform would protect her against the cooler elements, and decided to change her wardrobe a little. She now wore light blue faded denim jeans with a long sleeved navy shirt.

Not only did the changed outfit keep her warmer, but it also offered more protection against scrapes and bruises from getting tossed around during battles (which happened quite frequently.) The only downside was that it didn't allow her the same amount of free-movement as her short skirt had. Which made riding on Inuyasha's back uncomfortable after a few hours.

Wincing, Kagome shifted again and sighed. "What's wrong?" Kagome jumped and almost fell off.

"Nothing…"

"Don't nothing me."

Kagome sighed, he never let anything go these days.

"You're mad at me for making you leave Shippou behind, aren't you?" He asked, slowing down his pace since they were talking.

"No, it's not that. Although I don't exactly like the idea of leaving him behind." Kagome sighed again, and absently reached up to stroke one of Inuyasha's ears.

"What's wrong then?"

"I'm still trying to get used to wearing these jeans. They're more restricting than my skirt was."

Inuyasha twitched his ears a little and clenched his teeth together as she shifted around on his back again. Another good reason for slowing down, her movements were so distracting, he might have crashed into a tree before he realized it was there. When she didn't quit moving, he decided to do something about it. "Do you need to stretch your legs a little?" He asked, trying not to growl.

"Ugh, yeah, that would probably help." Kagome muttered, waiting for him to set her down. When her feet touched the ground, her legs collapsed, having already fallen asleep. Fortunately for her, Inuyasha spun around and caught her before she hit the ground. Wincing from the pain of her circulation being restored, Kagome looked up at Inuyasha gratefully. Inuyasha just shook his head with an amused look and kept his arm wrapped around her waist to hold her up while the feeling in her legs was restored. He then scanned the area for any signs of danger with his senses. Finding none he turned his attention back to the miko in his arms.

"You okay yet?"

"Getting there," Kagome replied shyly. "Sorry about that."

"Keh, whatever. (translation: No problem.)"

Kagome smiled up at Inuyasha and tested the strength of her legs. Finding them almost back to normal, she rested her full weight on them and placed her hand over the one around her waist. Gently stroking the back of the hand, she said "Thank you, Inuyasha."

Inuyasha's eyebrow drew together, then back to normal, and he nodded his head slightly. His hand tightened slightly on her waist before releasing her. "Let's go."

Kagome nodded, "Hai."

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Authors Note: Short, I know, but tell me what you think, and I'll try to keep this one updated regularly ^_^ Please read and review! Arigato!

~(*)~ Gothic Butterfly ~(*)~