InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Ghost of Love ❯ chapter 19 ( Chapter 19 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

The entire landscape had been blackened. The acrid smell of smoke still strong enough in the air to burn her nose. What structures had been here were now unrecognizable piles of rubble. Most not even smoldering anymore. A haze hung in the air, evident of the destruction that had been wrought just mere days before. Around her she could see ashen fields and bloating animals. That explained the second smell that had assaulted her—decay.

She stood silently beside her companion, taking in the shocking scene before her. Nothing had been spared. Every building, every field and every animal had been laid to waste. As her eyes scanned the area, she spotted the first human victim. A single arm that stretched out from beneath a pile of burned wooden beams. It's darkened flesh clinging to bone, the hand pointing up, almost as if it had been reaching out for something.

“Holy...” even words failed her as she looked at that arm. Kagome hadn't been ignorant of death. She had seen plenty of it in the past year, even the year before when she had traveled with Inuyasha she had been exposed to it. Battlefields were different than this though. The death of innocents seemed so much harsher than of those who willingly died in battle. This turned her stomach far worse than anything before. It drowned her in despair and fueled the fire to her anger. She was utterly overwhelmed.

However, being overwhelmed was not an option, there was work to be done. Kagome reached out and squeezed Sumire's hand. She wasn't oblivious to the strain that was showing on the woman beside her. Despite the lack of emotion the girl was exhibiting, Kagome knew that what they were witnessing had to be extremely distressing for her. First they would put these people to rest and then she could help Sumire find her own peace.

“Sumire, they need to be laid to rest.” Kagome squeezed again before releasing her friend's hand. She waited for her friend to gather herself, for they had a grisly task at hand. They both needed to push their anxieties aside and focus on simply putting one foot in front of another and doing what they had to do. This wouldn't be easy, but Kagome knew she had to push through. For herself and for Sumire.  

“Right.” Sumire inhaled deeply and took the first step towards the buildings. Kagome frowned, closing her eyes against the tears that already threatened. Her heart was breaking for this woman, who was trying her best to put on a brave front in this hour of darkness. If Sumire couldn't cry when this was done, Kagome would shed those tears for her.

Together they worked their way through the debris, searching for bodies of the islanders who had devoted their lives to the young youkai woman. Kagome knew there was little chance of finding any survivors, each burned timber she overturned and every stone she pushed aside made that all too clear. There was nothing left here. The eerie silence that hung over the area was driving that notion home.

What had the Southern scum derived from this utter and senseless destruction? Why had he needed to go to this extreme? Whatever point he had been trying to prove had been lost on her. This was beyond barbaric. She hadn't even been able to find complete corpses. The fire had obliterated everything, including its human victims. Their burials would be sparse as there was not much of anything to bury. The heat from this blaze had to be beyond normal fires. To burn with such intensity as to destroy bone was unimaginable.

When they made their way to the main house, she was astonished to find that the stone foundation had been destroyed by the heat. The mortar holding the large stones together had been turned to a sandy grit and the stones themselves were actually brittle and breaking. What in Kami's name had happened here?  

Her work got easier as the day went on. The bodies that they had found to bury were few; any they had suspected to find in the manor had been completely destroyed in the heat of the inferno. The inside had been completely cremated along with the rest of Sumire's belongings. All the poor girl had now where her memories.

With the day coming to a close the pair had finished their meager burials, Kagome blessing the area in traditional Shinto manner. Bowing her head one final time she said another prayer, this time for her friend. Sumire had overall managed quite well today but the emotional strain was beginning to show. Not often was someone forced to bury everyone they had ever known on the same day. Even worse was the fact that she lacked closure over the ones they couldn't fully identify.

“Thank you.” Sumire appeared at her side, bowing her head in her own prayer. The shaky words tell tale to the turmoil she was going through.

Kagome waited until Sumire had finished her prayer before nodding in acknowledgment. Her duty as a miko required as much from her but she was grateful to have had the opportunity to do something for her friend. She felt better herself knowing that the people here could finally rest in peace. Suddenly she felt a strange tingling sensation, felt the unmistakable approach of an unknown youki. Instinctively she reached for her bow.

 “Someone is coming.” Sumire announced as she pushed passed Kagome, making haste towards the shoreline. She was out of reach before Kagome could call out to stop her.

The youkai in question did not keep them waiting long. He appeared before them, perched high upon a cliff overlooking the rolling plain they were currently positioned upon. Kagome couldn't make out much of him from the distance he was at. However, she could see the incredibly strong jaki that flowed around him. This was a youkai of great strength and ability.  Cautiously she reached for an arrow, she didn't want to escalate tensions any higher than they already were.

“Greetings my little flowers!” He chuckled deeply, the booming voice echoing in the air around them. “I wondered how long it would take for you to come.”

“Are you the one who did this?” Sumire's cold voice vibrated with the anger.

“Hmmm, I wonder.” The youkai jumped then, coming to land no farther than ten feet from Sumire.

Kagome could see him clearly now. He was stunning as far as looks went. Tall and broad shouldered with a strong bone structure and raven hair. His eyes a brilliant shade of jade and sparkled in the waning light. Those eyes were also filled with great intelligence and to her it was easy to see he was taking them both in with an interested gaze. Slowly she approached, her arrow strung in readiness.

“You beast! What did these people do to deserve this!” Sumire cried out in frustration. Kagome could  see that the woman was visibly shaking in a barely controlled rage.

“Hn? I was merely looking for my precious gem. My treasure that has been hidden away for too many years.” Cocking his head curiously to the side he gave Sumire a once over before grinning like the Cheshire cat. “I believe I have found it.”

Sumire's eyes widened in surprise. This man was after her! Her loved ones had been subjected to such a vile manner of death because of her. She should have never left the island. Instinctively she backed away, all too well aware that she was no match for the malevolent creature before her. With every step she took back, he took one menacing step towards her. He shifted on his feet as if to lunge and she almost tripped as she pushed back on the balls of her feet to jump away.

A blinding burst of light zipped past her ear, a glowing light crackling through the air and landing just short of his feet. Sumire felt the power of Kagome's reiki pulsing from the arrow that was embedded in the ground at the man's feet. She was doubly glad she had waited for her miko friend to join her on this journey. Together their odds at winning had increased substantially. Reaching into her boots she pulled out the two knives she had stowed away. At least she could help out by defending herself.

The youkai looked  past Sumire to stare curiously at the woman behind her. Those jade eyes twinkling in mirth as he contemplated the new situation. “Well, well, well... an added bonus to my treasure chest.”

“Kagome, back away!” Sumire called out to her friend, anxious to keep one of the few remaining people in her life safe. She moved carefully, blocking the miko from the male's view. They had to think quickly to get out of this. First was to find out what they were up against. Just who was this youkai that had appeared out of the blue?

“Ladies, please! No need to run. I assure you I will be the perfect gentleman.” His charming smile, no doubt used to woo most women senseless, was flashed once more. As if to add credence to his words he bowed respectfully and took a step back.

Sumire eyed him warily as she continued to move back slightly. Behind her she could hear the approach of Kagome—her friend was soon closely behind her. Her ears picked up the sound of the miko  nocking another arrow on her bow. At the most they could counter an attack or two. Sumire was nervously watching the unknown male as her thoughts raced wildly in an attempt to figure a way out of their predicament.

“Where are my manners?” He announced suddenly. Bowing slightly his heavy gaze never left Sumire's. “I am Asahara Daichi, son of the Southern Lord Asahara Katsu and leader of my Lord's great military. I am pleased to make the acquaintance of such beautiful maidens.”

“Introductions aside, what do you want with us?” Kagome questioned behind Sumire, causing her to turn her head slightly to engage in a meaningful look with the miko. Sumire didn't want to involve her friend in this at all. Again she shifted to hide the woman behind her the best she could. Kagome should realize that this was a battle best fought between youkai. As a human she was the most vulnerable out of all of them, miko or not.

“I was coming here to propose of course. I heard of an interesting beauty who had been hidden away from everyone. I arrived to free the entrapped flower and make her my wife. Consider this your wedding gift.” He motioned to the burned earth around them. A smug smile on his lips.

“Propose! How could anyone consider the murder of their loved ones a wedding gift?” Sumire's blood was boiling. The nerve of this man, the utter inconceivable arrogance and despicable nature of him made her sick.

“Tsk, they are nothing more than pathetic humans. Easily disposed of and variable tools for our use. You should thank me from riding you of such negative influence. They practically caged you!”

Unable to control her anger, Sumire let the first blade fly. A skilled throw it flew past his face, slicing a thin cut across his check.  He didn't even flinch and simply smiled at her as the skin mended before their eyes.
“Now is that anyway to treat your future husband?” Daichi grinned when a second blade came flying towards him, this time with deadly aim. He easily avoided it, and feeling even more alive than before. He loved the fact that his prized treasure had a little fire in her.

In a flash he was by her side, wrapping his arms around her tiny waist and capturing her silky hair in a fist behind her head. With a tug, he relished the look of panic in her eyes as he forced her head back and took possession of her lips. She tasted heavenly he thought as he swallowed the scream she let out. Sweet and warm, her lips and mouth filled him with great need as he ground his against her. Her smell... He broke the kiss suddenly when he realized she smelt of another male. His eyes narrowed even more when he felt a pulse of youki near him.

He barely had time to push away from the woman before whip of poison snapped the air beside him. No sooner had he dodged that when that damnable miko let loose another reiki charged arrow in his direction. Drawing his sword he hardly got into position when he came face to face with a very angry Taiyoukai. What the hell was the Western Lord doing here? Secondly, what the hell had Risa been doing? The Taiyoukai he was suddenly faced with was supposed to be on the same battlefield as his father right now, hopefully ending that useless old man's life.

When the wind shifted, he caught the scent of the Western Lord and he frowned instantly. It was the same faint smell that clung to his delicate flower. His anger flared when he realized the man in front of him had touched what had ought to be his. He pushed back the other's attacks, gracefully dodging and avoiding the death blows that were targeting him. This was an unexpected hitch in his plans. He sent a huge energy attack at his opponent to spare him just enough time to escape.

Landing on his feet next to his prize he gave her a quick wink. “Until we meet again my sweet!”

Sumire watched in disbelief as Asahara winked at her and vanished without a trace. Her lips were bruised and swollen from the abuse he had forced upon her.  She was finally at her breaking point. What she had been forced to deal with today she had held in to the best of her ability. But the toll of this latest turn of events had cracked the wall she had carefully constructed around everything. Her family had been burnt to a crisp because some freak had discovered the legend behind the island. All the destruction around her had been her fault.

“Are you hurt?” An angry voice growled at her. When she looked up at the white clad form that loomed over her, vivid red eyes glared back at her.

She realized that her husband had witnessed the kiss and embarrassed she wiped at her lips. That was when the first tear fell. The monster that had murdered her family had kissed her, defiled her lips with his own. She rubbed harder as more tears spilled forth. Soon she was using the rougher material on her  arm covers to try and scrape away the lasting impression of Asahara's lips. She didn't even stop when she tasted blood.

Kagome cringed as she watched Sumire hastily wiping at her lips. Her heart breaking each time a tear slipped down her dirty cheek and that arm scraped against her face. Taking a step forward she was suddenly caught roughly by the arm. Her head snapped sideways only to make her cringe at what she saw. A very, very angry hanyou had her in his grasp. Looks like Sumire was going to have to fend for herself against her inner turmoil and the husband who stood angrily over her. For the time being she had her own problems to contend with.

“Inuyasha, I can explain...” she began but was quickly cut off.

His scowl deepened as he turned and pulled her along with him. “What the hell Kagome!”

Kagome's feet naturally moved as he pulled, she turned to look behind her, torn at the thought of leaving a distraught friend in the hands of an angry Taiyoukai. “But Sumire...”

“Fuck Sumire! Sesshoumaru will deal with her as he sees fit and he has every right to do that as her husband.” Inuyasha was seeing red. Perhaps it wasn't right to take his frustrations out on Kagome but he had arrived at the island to find this hazard-prone pair facing off against an incredibly strong youkai. Sesshoumaru had lost it when the Southern general had dared place his hands on his wife. Inuyasha's heart had nearly stopped when Kagome had let fly that arrow. What if that scum had decided to finish her off before dealing with Sesshoumaru. She could have been killed in an instant!

Kagome let herself be dragged away from the other pair. Her mind blanking as they passed the freshly dug graves. A roll of thunder signaled the arrival of yet another spring storm. This one would likely be fiercer than the last, having the strength of the ocean winds behind it. She was tired of the rain, tired of the blood and death, and tired of the drama. Thankfully Inuyasha halted only to turn and face her with his anger once more.

“What the hell were you thinking? You just up and vanished! It took us almost a full day before we got on your trail! Are you two fucking nuts?” Inuyasha huffed, letting go of the tension that had been pent up for days.

“Inuyasha, I left you a note! You know that if I had told you, you would have tried to stop us. That being the case Sumire would have vanished without a trace. Then what!” Kagome raised her own voice, frustrated at her own situation just as much as anyone else. Nothing had changed. When the shit hit the fan it always seemed to come down on her. Everything was her fault for some reason. She had thought he had changed but it seemed he was still the same arrogant ass as before.

“Then let her go! It's not always up to you to save the world Kagome.”

“Let her go! Look around you Inuyasha! Don't you see the destruction? You and Sesshoumaru both knew what would happen here. You knew that these people would die. Sumire only wanted to deal with things. As a miko I have an obligation to fulfill my own duties. Where we supposed to just forget everything?”

“Feh! What the hell would it have mattered? They're dead anyway! Think about it this way Kagome, Sumire is only safe as long as she stays in Sesshoumaru's citadel with him. Of course we didn't want you to leave and like hell we ever wanted you down here.  You haven't changed a bit, always running head first into danger. What the hell were you thinking!”

“Apparently not much!” Kagome spat back, tears brimming her eyes. Overhead a loud clap of thunder sounded and the heavens opened up, dumping water down upon them.

'Perfect! Just friggin' perfect!' she thought as she spun on her heel and left the bristling hanyou where he stood. The weather was just as dark and dreary as her mood. Talking to Inuyasha was like talking to a tree. No matter how much you yelled and explained you were never going to hear what you wanted to. Why couldn't he understand that she had done what she had needed to do? Why had it always been her that had been questioned about her actions and never him?

She was tired, the rain was soaking her and making her freezing cold, and her mood was a black as it had ever been. She didn't try to hid the tears of frustration that fell. What was the point! The rain was falling so hard that her face had tiny rivers running down it.

“Kagome!”

Behind her she could hear Inuyasha calling out to her, his frustration evident in his voice. As if she was going to respond to that. Notching her chin higher she pushed forward, retracing her steps back to where she had left Sumire. When she reached the graves Inuyasha grabbed her by the arm, forcing her to stop.

“Kagome.”

She refused to turn and look at him, despite the fact that his tone had softened fractionally. Beside her was evidence enough of why they had come. Sumire had every right to be here and Kagome had risen to her call as miko. Human or not, these people did not deserve to die. They deserved so much more than what they had gotten. Her friend had buried her entire family today. Some of the bodies they hadn't even been able to fully recover. Kagome had never witnessed such wanton destruction.

As a miko she had a duty to fulfill, as a woman she had a sense of compassion and as a human an objectivity that he may never understand. She had been honoured to have been allowed to accompany Sumire. Her destiny was one that was tied to her spiritual powers. She hadn't fully realized that when she had been chasing the jewel shards. However, she now had a greater appreciation for her abilities and of the responsibility that came with them. Even if Sumire hadn't asked her to go, she would have felt the calling of these people.

“Kagome.”

Again he called out to her, his grasp on her arm relaxing and his voice calm and soft. Kagome turned to look at the mounds of dirt, the heavy rain eroding little groves in the soft soil. “Look right there Inuyasha. That is why we came. There should have been thirty four graves but you can plainly see that there are only twelve. A few have more than one person... we couldn't tell which bones belonged to who. That grave right there...,” she pointed out a slightly larger one, “the skulls were clustered, like they had been huddling together in a corner. They suffered so much...”

Inuyasha just stood behind her, watching the rain as it beaded in raven hair. He had been so focused on his anger that he hadn't had time to stop and think about what the girls had been doing before Asahara had come upon them. Just as she had stated only twelve graves were beside them. Looking past the mounded earth he finally noticed just how much destruction had been wrought on this island. Nothing remained of the vibrant and thriving little community that had been here before. The fields were blackened, the stock that they had kept littered the area; bloated and rank from the little bit of spring heat. All of the buildings had been razed to the ground, only the foundations and burnt bits of timber –remnants of what had once been.

The task Kagome and Sumire had taken upon themselves had been a grisly one indeed. Something no woman should have to deal with. These two had though and he cringed in realization of how utterly despicable he must have sounded to her. She was right, these people did not deserve to die and certainly not in this manner. Kagome could never stand by and see someone suffer. Especially if it was someone she had become close to. It would have broken her heart to have seen Sumire in pain.

“Kagome?” He tried again and again she refused to look at him. Her mood was as dark as the rain cloud overhead. Closer inspection revealed how her clothes were worn and dirty, her hands calloused and sore. She didn't need his anger right now. Silently he cursed himself. He had reacted as he always had, rash and defensive. Twenty years he had sought to change his behaviour but when it came right down to it he was still the same man. Kagome fired up emotions in him he hadn't had to deal with in quite some time. When she was in danger he didn't really give a damn how he acted.

“I'm sorry.” He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her soaked body back into the heat of his own. He felt her stiffen at first before accepting and relaxing into him. He held her like that for a few moments. Breathing a sigh of relief when the rain slowed and finally stopped. The spring storm had been intense and brief, mimicking the his own anger. With any luck Kagome's mood would follow suit and improve with the weather.

Sesshoumaru was at a loss of what to do. The red tint in his vision slowly subsiding as he looked at his wife on the ground at his feet. He was still fuming over the fact that the bastard had dared lay a hand on the Western Lord's wife. She was his property and he took Asahara's actions as a personal insult.

“Are you hurt?” He managed to growl out. His duty now was to ensure the well being of the pitiful creature slumped on the ground.

When Sumire looked up at him he grew strangely uncomfortable. For some reason he didn't much care for the tears that began falling on her face. Those tears left him feeling very unsettled. He suddenly remembered the way her face had lit up in the garden. Her smile transforming her into almost a different person.

He didn't like how her change in appearance left him feeling confused and slightly off. Her angry expression at the citadel a week prior had made him irritable and anxious for some reason. Now her tears were having some increasingly strange affects upon him. Perhaps work was beginning to take a toll on his mind. That would certainly explain why he was feeling so out of sorts lately.

He watched as she began wiping at her lips and he was instantly reminded of Asahara forcing a kiss on her. He growled in response to the anger that again rose inside. His keen eyes caught a glimpse of how swollen and bruised they appeared before she brought her arm band up to rub at them. He frowned when the scent of her blood pierced the air. Again he fought against another unusual feeling. He decided he definitely did not like the smell of her blood.

“Enough!” Sesshoumaru demanded, his voice harsh and irritated, when he realized her rubbing was making her lips bleed. She merely looked up at him, panic in those violet eyes. Her rubbing increased in vigor.

“Enough,” reaching down he pulled away the arm that was causing more harm than good. Her lips were raw and swollen. Her eyes, puffy and red from crying. It was then he found himself longing for a glimpse of that transforming smile he had only seen once.

What form of magic had that devious mother of his spun into this spell of hers? That was the only explanation for the uncharacteristic feelings he had been fighting with as of late. He never would have had such issues around any woman. The only reason was that damnable spell that had been cast over himself and this woman. Because of the bond they shared he was completely unable to do her harm. That should have been enough. Why was it after seeing what he had today, did he have a sudden urge to protect what was his? No, it was something more than that. His duty as her husband was to see to her safety, yet he didn't feel quite content with that alone.

In the distance he could hear his brother arguing with the miko. Women were strange creatures indeed. Inuyasha had given him a little insight into women, but watching his brother now he wondered just how sound the advice had been. The miko was just as angry as his brother, the pair's emotions were raging just as much as the storm that had rolled in overhead. A loud clap of thunder boomed over head and the rain suddenly began falling down on him.

Sumire remained on the ground, her still falling tears being washed away by the cold rain. He was at a loss as to what to do.  He reached out to her again, intending to pull her up off of the puddling ground, freezing when she flinched and pulled back from his hand. He frowned in great displeasure. Why was she so afraid of him? They both knew that he was unable to harm her.

He reached again, ignoring her when she again stiffened and pulled away. He hauled her up with one arm instantly noticing how light and fragile she seemed. She was filthy too, evidence of the destruction around them clinging to her clothing. He realized then the dirt wasn't the only thing clinging to her. The rain had soaked her clothing, causing the cream coloured fabric that had already snugged her body to become transparent. He actually felt his face heat as he looked away for the sake of her modesty. Her leather pants that had once been loose on her girlish figure, were extremely tight on her new, fully developed body. What in the world had she been thinking dressing in such clothes? They rivaled the short dress the miko had once worn.

Glancing around the area he looked for a spot that they could take shelter in. The night was almost upon them and he knew the weather would shower them with rain off and on all through the night. He caught sight of a small overhang one the rocky slopes that turned into the burnt valley below. It was meager but it would keep them out of the elements.

Behind him he heard the approach of Inuyasha and the miko. His eyes returned to Sumire and her see-through top. He bristled at the thought of another man laying eyes on her in this predicament. Even if it was her brother in law. When Inuyasha was almost upon them he panicked, crushing the girl to his chest in an effort to at least conceal her front from the eyes of his brother. He refused to release her even when she squealed and pushed against him.

He glared at his brother, until Inuyasha looked down at Sumire and noticed how her back was clearly visible. Thankfully the hanyou understood instantly, respectfully averting his eyes from the girl. Beside Inuyasha, the miko stood, eying him warily. He didn't like how her blue-grey eyes inspected him, as if trying to decide whether or not to interfere with him and his wife. Wisely she held her silence.

“We will go to that rock overhang,” Sesshoumaru pointed out his chosen spot to Inuyasha. When his brother nodded in agreement he lifted Sumire, still hiding her exposed chest from everyone else.

He moved ahead of the other pair, shifting Sumire to carry her with both arms providing her with more comfort. Being ahead of the others he could carry her this way without worrying about them seeing her in such a revealing state. The rain had ended before Inuyasha had reached them, but the downpour had soaked them all. Tonight would be cold and long.

Inuyasha walked behind his brother, his mood still foul. Kagome had accepted his apology but she remained quiet and brooding beside him. Beside him... that was a bit of a stretch, as she walked farther away from him than she normally would have. He was irritated by the wall she had thrown up between them. He had almost forgot how their fights had been but tonight was a good reminder of those days. They were both stubborn and both prone to liking things their way.

He sighed inwardly watching his brother's back. Sesshoumaru was out of sorts, no doubt caught off guard by Sumire's evident clothing issue. He glanced over at Kagome, thankful that her thicker robes and layering had spared her from a similar fate. The last thing he needed right now was tension with his brother because of two women in revealing clothing. It was going to be difficult with just Sumire the way she was.

The way Kagome was looking at the pair ahead of him made him worry as well. She was obviously displeased at her friends anxiety. Likely not understanding why Sesshoumaru was so anxious to spirit her away. No doubt she thought him a beast, intent on mauling her kitsune friend. Well, at least it was reassuring that he wasn't the only man she was pissed off at right now.

By the time they had reached their shelter for the night, the sun had set and another spring storm was inching closer. Sesshoumaru set Sumire down, using his own body to block their view of her. He stripped off his armour, setting it within reach. Then he shrugged out of his haori and wrapping it around Sumire's shoulders. Sitting he pulled the still shocked woman into his lap. Then he arranged the haori around them both.

Inuyasha was relieved that his brother had enough sense to hold onto Sumire tonight. It would solve two problems in one. Even though Sesshoumaru's haori was still wet, it wouldn't take long to dry; an added bonus to the powers of their robes. He solved Sumire's clothing issue and his body heat would warm the girl up quickly. The obvious aside, Sumire would be unable to sneak away if she was imprisoned in the arms of her husband.

Inuyasha had similar ideas himself. Stripping out of his haori he wrung out the excess water and prepared it for his own precious woman. Looking at Kagome, he realized her clothes would not dry even nearly as quickly as his own. She needed to at least get out of a few layers.

“Lose the clothes Kagome.” He ordered, grinning to himself when she gave him a shocked expression. “Just the outer ones.” He added quickly, not wishing to push his luck any farther than he already had.

He watched as Kagome looked at him and then over at his brother. Knowingly he positioned himself in front of her giving her the privacy she needed. He knew that Sesshoumaru would show her the same respect that he had shown Sumire. The Taiyoukai would not stoop to peeping.

Kagome shrugged out of a layer or two before reluctantly allowing herself to be pulled into his chest. He wrapped them tightly in his robe as he settled his back into the cold stone wall. He quickly missed the warmth and padding that his haori would have provided. What irritated him more was how tense Kagome felt against his chest. She was not comfortable being in such a position.

Tonight was going to be long and cold.

A/N: Great job 'G'.D. You had your work cut out with this chapter!

Thank you so very much for all the great reviews all! I have enjoyed every single one of them.

Converting /tmp/phpxt0VeF to /dev/stdout