Disclaimer: Not mine.

Winter Rose by Serasa

Chapter 13

Constant thoughts of hesitance and annoyance fluttered in his mind. It wasn't because of the little human girl trailing behind him boring her bright blue eyes into his back, nor the snail-like pace they traveled at, nor the smell of decayed blood that assaulted his senses nonstop…

It was the fact that she had not spoken a word since their departure. She had awakened hours after their leaving, her swollen eyes had scoured the eerie forest in confusion and when it dawned on her that it was not her home nor any known human-dwelling region, she had hastily squirmed out of his hold and away from him.

And now she had begun to weep again. He stopped walking and sighed.

Kami save his soul…

Kagome's eyes squeezed shut as hot tears poured out of the corners of her eyes. The flashbacks of the attack were causing a great toll on her body and mind. She felt abandoned again. After losing her mother, she had believed that she would receive the love that was lost from her new family, from father and Kikyo, the only family left in this world. But betrayal hit hard again. Kikyo…

And Sesshoumaru was not helping. He maintained his distance, keeping a distance wide enough for a troupe of performing travelers to fill between them. How splendid, I have to marry that block of ice who does not even notice me stumbling and weeping my eyes out over here. I can trip and fall over that cliff there and he'll probably feel inconvenienced for having to turn around and realize that his useless wife-to-be died before reaching their destination. No…no…he is not like that…when I thought I was about to die, I called out for him, and I knew that he was coming to save me…and that time we had tea…he played, almost joked around with me…and that time we went out to the gardens…he was warm…

Her cheeks heated to a warm pink color. Kagome immediately brought her hands up to hide them, shaking her head side-to-side to rid her mind of these indecent thoughts. Wake up! What was I thinking? Maybe this happens to people who keep losing precious people…

Sesshoumaru suddenly turned and she collided into him, her head banging into his shoulder, her chin into his breastplate armor. He cast a semi-questioning look of irritation and annoyance down at her. What? How dare he! And I was thinking of how sweet he was for… She burst into a brighter shade of red when she suddenly remembered of her thoughts before. She hastily averted her eyes and swept around him, ready to walk away with her head held high.

But a deep voice interrupted her plan.

"Girl, we have arrived."

And Kagome could only stare up and gape at the palace above her.

Her new home.

It was like a stone fortress sticking halfway out on the side of a very steep very high mountain. Soaring high above the earth with a gloomy aura, it was the most magnificent and strange structure she had ever seen. It was impenetrable. The entrance was impossible, an open balcony at the pinnacle of the palace.

Sesshoumaru beckoned her towards him and was rewarded with obliviousness. He grabbed her and pulled her close to him, encasing her with an informal hug. Shocked Kagome tried to pull away, thinking of how improper it was to be constrained by him when she was still not too familiar with him. He ignored her feeble protests and forcibly tucked her head on his shoulder and wrapped her securely around with an arm. Sesshoumaru glared down and lingered as her temper simmered to near explosion.

Then he jumped higher and higher, above and beyond the tall sparse trees and into the sky.

She yelped as she was flung from the white earth and gawked in surprise as the trees and shrubs became smaller as the sky turned brighter. The frosty air was bitter and stung her vulnerable cheeks and hands but she could only peek over his shoulder at the sloping terrain and scattered villages and bonfires as people scampered around and lived their meager yet cheerful lives. And high above her, the heavens were a canopy of azure and periwinkle and the glaring burst of orange sunset brought tentative tears to her eyes. This is home.

An overwhelming sense of peace invaded her soul and she hesitantly brought her arms around Sesshoumaru's neck, silently thanking him for this gift. She carefully laid a wind-chapped cheek onto his shoulder and admired the warmth that emanated from him and closed her weary eyes.

Then she breathed.

Hey, it has been a while. But just to let you know… I WILL FINISH THIS….
And I appreciate all the commentary that I have received. Thanks, I really do read and keep in mind all the things that have been brought up by you guys. You guys ROCK! I'll see you soon.