Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha and co…not one bit…sniffles!!!

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Prologue: Winter's Promise

Kagome tapped her pencil against her open book. Her curtain's blew lightly in the breeze and ruffled her hair up as she stared absently at the homework she was trying to concentrate on.

"Maybe…just maybe…" she mumbled as her eyes slid closed for the twentieth time that hour.

She thought back to what had happened before she left.

Inuyasha was badly injured; the arm of the demon was still in his chest when she left to get some medical supplies for Kaede. When she came back he was unconscious.

How probably would've bled to death had it not been for Kaede's quick treatment.

She shivered slightly as a cold gust of wind rattled her window and slid the papers off her desk.

It was powerful and knocked down half of the things that stood in front of her window.

She walked toward it; a speck of white snow hit her nose as she poked her head outside.

"Winter's coming." She muttered as she closed the window tightly and walked to her dresser where she pulled out some warm pajamas.

"Winter…it's too cold." She mumbled as she pulled on her warm light blue pajamas.

After sliding back onto her chair the window burst open, showering her with a gust full of snow.

She froze.

"No…can't be…" she whispered as she slowly turned her head toward the window. The sound of a car came to her ears as she listened closely.

The sound of a car door snapped through the air and the clack of heavy shoes against the tall stone steps up to the Higurashi shrine.

She stood and ran toward the door.

"Mama!!" she called. No answer. "Ji-chan?!" No answer. "Souta?"

"Hai, ane-ue?" he asked from the kitchen.

"Where are they? Where's mama and ji-chan?" she asked urgently.

"Why?" he asked as he chewed a rice cracker.

"Shit…"

"Watch your language, young lady." Came a chilling voice from the door.

Kagome turned slowly.

"Dad…" Souta whispered as he clutched Kagome's sleeve.

"Who's gonna give your dad a hug?" he asked in a demanding voice.

"Oyaji…" Kagome said flatly. It was a habit to use her father's name in disrespect. It was only natural. A man behind bars should deserve such respect, if even none.

"Kag-chan?" he smiled at her showing his canines in a very threatening way.

I must stand strong, she thought painfully, I have to protect Souta.

"Ane-ue…" Souta whimpered from behind her.

Kagome reached behind her without looking, ruffled his hair and grabbed the sharpest thing she could reach, that happened to be a butcher's knife.

She handed it so Souta soundlessly and continued to glare meaninglessly at her father.

He stepped forward, dropping a bottle that had been behind his back. He scratched his side, bringing up his shirt slightly to show half of a large, thick looking knife against his side.

Kagome gasped. We're in deep shit, she thought desperately.

"Souta…" she grabbed his hand and scooted to the side. His eye's followed.

"Souta, don't you have homework to do?" she asked in a motherly tone. She glared at him for a second telling him he better say 'yes'.

"R…right…" he ran out of the kitchen, clutching the knife in his hands and out of sight. It was an old plan coming in perfect action.

Kagome stiffened as she felt his hand on her arm. It moved over until it was nearly on her breast.

She turned and slapped him out of impulse, then winced as she heard the loud and resounding crack of his jaw.

He recovered quickly and backhanded her, sending her flying into the wall next to the shoji.

She threw it open and ran through the hall. He didn't follow but she heard the sound of him collapsing on the ground like he always used to do.

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Kagome clenched her chest. Sexual harassment, sexual harassment, thank you Miroku for helping me protect myself.

She panted slightly as she slid down the sturdy closed door of her room. Her heart was racing wildly.

After all these years why…why now? Why did they let him out? Why in winter? When he's strongest?

She placed her face in her hands. He was at the peak of his strength in the summer. The coldness always sobered him up faster. The worst time of the year. And Christmas was when he promised…that horrid promise he had whispered in both the children's ear's.

Souta had never been stricken but he had been tripped and pushed. Kagome had always made sure that he would never hurt her younger brother. He was everything to her.

That knife would keep him safe for now but she had to keep him with her at all times.

She stood and felt her tender cheek. The force of his slap had actually broken skin.

She took a tissue and wiped off the blood. She silently checked the hallway for any signs of him and snuck into the bathroom where she put a patch over the wound.

She tapped on Souta's door and pushed it open to notice his room was empty.

"Souta…" she whispered. "It's me, Kagome."

There was a rustle of clothing as he crawled out from under the bed, the knife from earlier in his shaking hands.

She walked soundlessly toward him and gathered the trembling boy in her arms.

"Why?" he whispered over and over.

"Don't worry, when Mama and Ji-chan get home…he'll be gone…I'm sure of it." She comforted him.

He wrapped his arms tightly around his sister. "I'm scared Kagome…" he cried silently and practiced in the soft cloth of her pajama's.

She stroked his hair lightly. "It'll be alright. I won't let him hurt you." She reassured him.

"Thank you, ane-ue."

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"Do you think Kagome'll come back?" Shippo said as he, Sango, and Miroku sat by the well.

"They didn't fight so she probably will." Sango said absently as she stuck her arms in the sleeves of her yukata and leaned against the well.

"It's getting cold out." Miroku commented as he rubbed his hands together. His breath came out in puffs

"You'll catch a cold Shippo, if you don't wear something heavier." Sango said. "Let's go inside."

"Alright." Shippo said reluctantly.

"Let's see how Inuyasha's doing." Miroku offered as they started their trip.

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Was that a bad start? I don't know…oh well…Anyway, please someone review!!!

Please!!!

Next chapter:

Chapter 2: My Christmas