Kaidan by OnyxIvyStone

Yuki

Kaidan

"It's snowing." There was delight dancing faintly in the whispered words. She reached out and smiled as a few snowflakes fell on her fingertips. Soon others joined the solitary ice crystals and the earth became blanketed in white. She watched from beneath the sill with her hand still extended to catch the dainty, weightless lace.

The soft weight of another leaning against her arm made her smile warm from one of wonder to one of amusement. The girl who was more a young woman now had rested her head against her affectionately as they watched the first snow of winter. "Do you think Sesshomaru-sama will let me play in it?"

"That's a question you have to ask him, Rin." Her voice was liquid with warmth and tenderness that she felt for the once small girl who had managed to disarm the cold and distant taiyoukai as no skilled samurai had ever managed to.

"Do you think that perhaps he would let me if you came with me?"

Kagome chuckled and turned to look at the dark haired girl. Over the years, she had grown into a perfectly behaved lady befitting the position she held as Sesshomaru's adopted daughter. It worried Kagome at times, but then again she was not a part of this era. She never would be. She kept her worries to herself concerning Rin. Before anything else, Kagome was a guest in Sesshomaru's home even if it had become her permanent residence and she did not wish to wear out her welcome. "Again, Rin, you will have to ask him that question. Though, if you do decide to ask him, make sure you tell him that I wouldn't mind going outside with you if he permitted it."

Her eyes danced with a childish glee reminding Kagome that the girl was still very much a girl and not a woman. At thirteen, after eight years beside Sesshomaru, the innocence, wonder and delight that had so easily captured the love of so many was preserved. It was that same purity that had reminded so many of Kagome when they looked on the young Rin and the same gift which had manifested itself as power. It was for that reason that Kagome, lost in the world and nearly entirely alone, and was asked by Sesshomaru to train Rin as a miko. She had agreed on the stipulation that Shippo was allowed to join her at the taiyoukai's palace. In the four years since, Kagome had made a home with her adopted son beside the icy Lord and his sweet, warm daughter. "I'll go and ask him now!" She giggled and jumped up and raced to the door of the sitting room where they had been watching the snows together.

She remembered herself a few feet away from the door and slowed to a stop. Kagome could see the faint blush on her cheeks before she smoothed her kimono and hair and walked out into the hallway. Once the girl had gone, the miko sighed and looked out into the gradually building storm. The white reminded her of snowy strands of silken hair blowing back behind a long lost hanyou as he sat and watched the sun set. She remembered reaching out from where she sat behind him, letting her fingers feel the caress of the pure white unknown to him as the wind fingered through each tress. She had always loved him. A part of him always would and, in the end, she had known how much he loved her. He had simply never said the words.

"Rin tells me that you would accompany her outside to... Spin in the snow." The words seemed foreign on his tongue, but they had been the girl's description and he could find no other means of describing the recreation his daughter had in mind. He mused silently that the miko had not noticed his approach this particular instance. He had only noticed her surprise because of the catch in her breath and that she had not addressed him upon entering the room. She had actually turned before she had spoken to him, indicating she had been deep in thought. He did not allow himself to contemplate what or whom she had been thinking of. It would have left a sour taste in his mouth for the rest of the day and into the next and he had no desire to experience such a thing again.

Kagome smiled faintly once her surprise had settled. Sesshomaru could only surprise her when she was thinking of Inuyasha. After telling him as much the first time he had caught her unaware and seeing the instant scowl and look of infinite frustration, she had stopped sharing her thoughts on his brother with him. She didn't share them with anyone. Shippo knew. He had never said he was aware of where her mind went when her deep blue eyes seemed miles and years away, but Kagome knew he understood. The kitsune was nothing if not perceptive. But then so was Sesshomaru. "I actually told her that I would be happy to go out with her to play if she wanted to and you said yes. Spinning in the snow as it falls sounds fun, though. Rin always has good ideas."

His lips quirked slightly in the faintest of smiles, but it were his eyes that carried his amusement. Kagome had long learned not to pay attention to the taiyoukai's expressions or the actual words he spoke. What she listened to was his tone and what he allowed to escape when he spoke. What she watched was his eyes and how they changed with the shifting of his emotions. He was so greatly in control of himself that even those shifts and allowances were slight, but Kagome, as Rin had before her, could read the cool inuyoukai Lord. Once Kagome had learned to read him, she had found herself as loyal to him as Rin had become. He had inherent nobility to his person even though he was cold and distant. His cruelty was an unfortunate byproduct of his battle to hold onto control of his father's lands, however, once Naraku had been defeated and Tenseiga had been absorbed into Tetsuaiga, Sesshomaru had found his own strength. Years later there was not a youkai or human who questioned his power and rule. He was not loved, but he was respected and throngs were loyal to him as their Lord from all breeds that lived in his lands. Rin, Kagome and Shippo were the closest to him and so they were forgiven many things and also given insight and consideration over all others. In return they gave him loyalty, respect and that which he had secretly craved his whole life. They gave him a family.

"If you are to go spinning, ensure you both are properly covered. There are boots available for you and I will have Jaken alert that once you return you will be given a hot meal. Neither of you are to become ill."

Kagome smiled and met his gaze in thanks and warmth for his care. She knew that he was not ordering them not to become ill. He was simply voicing his concern and desire that they remain well so he did not need to worry about their health. "We'll be careful, I promise." She stood slowly, again noting the soft quirk of his lips and how his eyes shimmered as she approached him. "How is Shippo's training going?"

He reached out with his regenerated arm. The miko had given him much in the time she had resided in his home aside from the return of his limb, however it was the most visible and a constant reminder of her presence. He took her hand gently and the faintest frown creased his brow below the crescent. "Your hand is cold."

"I was catching the snow." She murmured, noting how warm his hand was wrapped around her own. His heat seeped into her skin, warming her again. "It is harder than you might think. Snow is fragile. It floats away at the slightest breeze."

"Remaining still ensures such a feat, I would think. Stirring the air might chase them away."

She gripped his fingers just slightly and noticed that he did not pull away. "But once you have hold, it always melts away... Like it were never there."

"So it would seem." He said softly. She could hear the worry in his voice hanging like spider silk across his words. He released her hand slowly and met her eyes again. "Rin is waiting for you. You should spin before the first falling turns into a full storm. I can smell the promise of a thick blanket by the morrow."

"You never told me about Shippo."

"He is sore, but he will live to fight tomorrow morning. Though I am certain he would rather not at this moment."

She laughed faintly and shook her head. Her eyes closed a moment and she sighed before looking back to meet the inuyoukai's eyes. The shade was so similar to Inuyasha's. So similar it was painful. But it was a blissful pain because the shade was just enough different that he was his own. It was the difference between amber and gold, silver and white. It was the difference between the adventure of her youth beside a temperamental hanyou fighting to save the world and her adulthood where her life composed raising two children saved from the cruelty of the world beside a placid and steady taiyoukai working to rebuild and build the future.

"Could you ask Jaken to bring him some sweets for me?"

"He is being trained to be a warrior, Kagome."

"And Rin is being trained to be a miko, but I know for a fact that every evening when she is exhausted from her training you have her favorite meal sent to her to eat in bed rather than having to sit up like a proper lady and eat with us. Let me be a mother to my son as you are father to your daughter."

He bowed his head so that the fuller curve of his smile was hidden slightly by the curtain of his hair. "A fair point. I will ensure it is done. Now go. I do not want Rin disappointed."

Kagome smiled and nodded. As she passed beside him to exit, she allowed her hand to brush his before she rushed to meet with Rin.

He felt the residual warmth of her hand that she had sapped from his touch and smiled inwardly so that his eyes shimmered faintly. The brush of their skin had been deliberate, he knew, for the miko had enough room to ensure they never made contact as she exited the room. The deliberation, her intent, made him glad that he had been standing in perfect stillness.

She met Rin at the main door to the palace and slipped on the boots that had been left for her along with the furred cloak and wrapped gloves that covered all but her fingertips. Once they were ready, they pulled up their hoods and Kagome took Rin's hand, rushing into the icy curtain of white lace. Their laughter made an almost musical harmony as the two held hands tightly and spun together. Fragile crystals clung to their clothing and a few fell onto their eyelashes like heavenly jewels.

From the window he watched the two mortal girls dancing their winter dance and he felt himself smile genuinely as they parted and spun on their own creating whirlwinds of white around them. He closed his amber eyes and sighed. He wanted her pain to fade as Rin's had eventually faded. He understood why it could not. Rin's pain had been that of a child losing her family. That place was filled and that need to show devotion sated by her connection to him. Her pain would never completely leave her, but his presence and steadiness was enough to ease it. He only wanted the same for Kagome, but he knew the pain came from another place. She had lost more. She could have survived the loss of her home, her friends, even her purpose. She could not survive the loss of his bastard brother no matter how unworthy he had been of her devotion. Kagome's devotion was the devotion Rin showed to him though it came from a different place. It was unquestioning, pure and filled with easy delight. Just as Sesshomaru only had to show the slightest care for Rin to bring her joy, Inuyasha had only ever needed to give Kagome the barest crumbs of affection to make her happy. However, he had never given enough to her. He had mostly only given her the promise of affection and care and while it had ensured her devotion never waned, it was not enough to make her happy. Not the way she should have been made happy. Not the way Sesshomaru wanted for her to be happy.

He could still see her the day he had found her settled with the kitsune in a shack the two had built together far from any city or the safety of others. She could defend herself. She had shown her aptitude in the final battle and so she had stood fearless in the wilderness providing for herself and her adopted son as he grew and became taller and more of a man. It was the first time that he had found her surprised by his approach.

Her eyes rose as he intentionally allowed his feet to break a twig as he walked toward her. Her eyes were dangerous at first, glowing with the power she held deep within her complete and bright soul. Upon seeing him, she calmed and smiled faintly.

"Why are you here, Sesshomaru?" She asked softly as she stood. Her eyes seemed to be returning from the great distance she had been residing in as he had come upon her.

"Rin has been showing signs of the same power you possess, miko. I am in need of your assistance to train her lest she harm herself or others." When she nodded and he noticed she was still not entirely present with him, he growled faintly. "Kagome, miko of the Shikon no Tama, you will give this Sesshomaru your full attention. What I speak of is most grave and endangers my ward."

Her eyes snapped to full attention and he noted the sadness in her. "I'm sorry, Sesshomaru. It was only... I was thinking of Inuyasha."

He scowled and felt his control slip. He advanced on her and grasped her chin with an almost painful tenderness. It was that gentle touch that caused her tears and forced her to look at him. It had been entirely unexpected from the taiyoukai so many had insisted was no more than an evil and cruel being without care for anyone but himself. She had always known it to be untrue, but the almost caressing of his fingertips as he guided her face to look up at him only instilled her knowledge into belief.

Once he was certain he had her full attention, he sighed and considered his words carefully. "I... Am concerned for you, miko. For you and the kit. I fear that your soul is being devoured by your sorrow and I cannot stand by and watch such a thing occur. Not only is it a waste, but also it will leave your charge and responsibility to the dangers of the world. This Sesshomaru needs your help. I have relinquished my honor to admit such a thing, but I cannot accomplish what you could with Rin. And you... Need something more. I hated Inuyasha. I hate him even more for what he did without freeing you of the bonds he placed upon you. Please come and help Rin. If not for your own sake, for the sake of the kitsune. He will mature in less than half a decade and he will need training. I could give him that."

Her eyes were the frozen blue of a deep lake half claimed by ice. He longed to see them enflamed again and warm, as they had been when she'd stood against him beside his bastard brother. He longed, but he knew he would go wanting. He accepted it. She agreed to his terms. She had taken up residence in his home in one of his best suites and the kitsune in a room near his daughter. His concern had lessened over the years but not faded. He knew, like her pain, the worry he felt for the miko, Kagome, would never completely leave him and he rued the day that it ever might. To lose meant that he would no longer care for the azure eyed miko and that was the last desire he had with regard to her.

Rin grabbed Kagome's hand again tightly and drew her further into the dense trees at the edge of the gardens. The dense edge of the forest had been encircled by the walls of the palace and was one of Rin's favorite play places. Their laughter could be heard as they ran and darted around trees in a game of chase. Kagome tagged the smaller girl and ran from her closer to the wall where the trees ended and a steep rock outcropping ended the protection of the gates. It was the weakest point of Sesshomaru's personal grounds and so he had several warriors placed there to guard at a small tower through all of the day and night. As the girls approached, however, Kagome found herself stopped short. The curtain of snow was thickening and the air had been claimed by an eerie stillness and silence. She should have heard the sounds of the warriors speaking and patrolling. She should have at least been able to see the tower, but as she approached carefully, keeping Rin behind her protectively, she saw the reason for the silence and stillness. She turned quickly to the girl behind her and met her eyes meaningfully.

"Run and get Sesshomaru. Tell him there is danger at the northern tower. Keep your barriers up for defense and do not look back. Go now, Rin. Run." It was one of the few times Kagome was glad that Rin was such a well-trained lady. She didn't even question the miko's words and turned quickly to run toward the palace and her Lord.

Kagome turned back to look at the tower and was glad that she had kept the girl's eyes away from what her eyes could not escape. Encased in thick blue ice glowing with power was the small, well-guarded tower. She felt herself tremble at the sight of several warriors caught in the ice, frozen in battle postures against whatever enemy had attacked. The enemy that was on the grounds and watching her from a distance. She could feel their presence and it unnerved her. She had stayed because she knew she had to defend this weakest point and fend off the intruder until Sesshomaru arrived. She extended her perception and located the exact location of the intruder.

"Come out and face me!" She called out with a faint snarl in her voice. She had lost so much; she was not about to lose her home and family again. Nor the Lord she had come to follow and become devoted to. She could not place the moment when she had decided to follow him as willingly as she had Inuyasha. However she did not ever want to discover that moment. It took the magic out of it all.

Slowly out of the sparse trees that were half encased in ice near the tower the dark, slender woman approached her. She was beautiful, ethereal almost with long ebony hair that kissed the ground as she walked. The snow didn't touch her. It didn't even kiss the hem of her kimono. In her arms she carried a small bundle that squirmed and began to fuss slightly. Kagome's eyes widened. "I mean you no harm, Miko."

"You killed all those men!" She said in disbelief. She felt frozen as the beautiful woman approached her. Her voice, while firm, seemed hollow to her. She could not keep her eyes off the tiny child the woman held. She held out her hand in warning. "Stay back!"

"I cannot. I do not want to harm you. I came for your Lord. I came to speak to him about his sins." Her voice was hypnotic and Kagome found herself almost incapable of looking away. The woman was within reach of her, but did not extend her arm to grasp the miko's hand. As Kagome looked at the small child, she noticed the tiny silver ears and hair that were not hidden by the warm fur he was wrapped in.

"He is not evil... What ever he did to you, he'll amend it. He's changed and grown... Please..."

She tilted her head slightly and slowly reached out her hand. She could sense the taiyoukai coming. She would have to be quick. She touched the miko's outstretched hand and sent a burst of ice through the girl. She mourned for an instant that she had to harm her, but then her wrath returned. She met the miko's eyes and smiled faintly as she began to tremble and shiver. "Do you know who I am, Kagome? Do you know what sin I am using you to punish him for?"

"P-please... Stop..." She chattered out, falling to her knees. The woman would not let go of her hand. She tried to gather her energy from the deep well of power within her soul. She stared in disbelief as she realized even that was being frozen solid. "Wh-who are you?"

"A mother, Kagome, avenging her son." She released the girl and let her fall as she sensed the last of her power frozen. She was not dead, but she would be in time and it would be justice enacted on Sesshomaru. She raised her eyes and jumped back as said inuyoukai approached in a rush, stopping short at the sight of the miko collapsed and nearly frozen through in the snow. He knelt and gathered her into his arms, raising his eyes to meet the gaze of the yuki-onna. He felt his breath catch in his throat. "Do you recognize me, Sesshomaru? Do you remember your sin now? She will die."

"Release her. Your quarrel is with me, not Kagome." His voice was stony and immoveable. The girl in his arms was icy and weak. So weak she couldn't even tremble. Her eyes, her beautiful blue eyes stared up at him in broken apology he could neither acknowledge nor accept in fear of her loss.

"Nothing I could do to you would do half the harm that her death will cause you. I have watched you. Watched you and waited patiently. This is the greatest revenge. For while the death of your ward would have been equal retribution, the death of the miko will harm you more for she is what you dream of. Rin you would kill for, but Kagome you would die for."

"You know not of what you speak." He bit through clenched teeth. He held the miko tighter to his chest, willing his warmth to be absorbed into her frozen body.

"You should get her inside, great Western Lord. Much more cold and she will surely die frozen in your arms. At least within your palace she will languish a few days." The woman turned from him with a faint smile kissing her lips as she calmed the child in her arms.

He snarled and turned from her, rushing with Kagome to his palace and her chambers. The miko was too weak to even shiver in cold. His blurred form was enough to alert the house. Servants were following him to Kagome's rooms without even an order or word from him. He laid her back in her bed, smoothing the black strands away from her face. She looked up into his gaze, icy saline tears breaking the soft sheen of ice on her cheeks. He met her gaze and leaned to kiss her brow gently. He was beyond controlling himself. There were moments for restraint. This, most certainly, was not.

He reached out and caressed her cheeks, resting his hands there to warm her. She trembled faintly and a soft whimper escaped her. Their eyes never diverted and she felt that the amber of his eyes were warmer than any gold could have ever been. "Se... Sesshomaru..."

The servants began to rush in and access what needed to be done. He would not leave her nor remove his hands from her cheeks. The ice was overwhelming but he could feel some of his warmth melting the cold away. Some servants rushed out while others began bringing in hot tea and more blankets. As they worked, he found it nearly impossible to leave her side. He removed his mokomokosama and wrapped its living spiritual warmth around her before returning his hands to her cheeks.

"My Lord..." Rin's voice. He turned and looked to his daughter without removing his hands from the miko's face. She looked at the pair with concern in her eyes. "Her clothing is caked in ice... She must be changed so we can warm her more. We can take care of her, I promise. I might be able to heal her somewhat..."

He nodded faintly and looked back to meet the miko's eyes. They were closed. She had fallen asleep. He frowned deeply and leaned to kiss her brow, then to press his own against her still chilly skin so that he could brush his lips against hers when he spoke. "When she wakes tell her that I have gone to kill the yuki-onna who has harmed her and that Shippo is accompanying me. Tell her she is forbidden to give up. Tell her that I will not allow her to yield and that... It would most displease me." He leaned just slightly and kissed her chastely only long enough for his warmth to dispel the cold there. He stood reluctantly and nodded to the blushing Rin and his slightly wide-eyed servants. He barely took notice of the fainted Jaken near the door. He reached out and caressed his daughter's hair gently. "Take care of her."

Rin nodded, and then grasped his arm as he turned to leave. "Sesshomaru-sama... Do you know what the name of the yuki-onna was? Did Kagome say anything? If it attacked her, maybe she recognized her..."

"She came for me. To harm me." He said with venom that surprised his daughter and the kitsune who was watching him at the door. Shippo could see his eyes and the haunted look that resided in the taiyoukai's gaze. "Her name was Izayoi."

~

I know what you all are thinking. She's writing "Eclypsed Souls; To Know The Man," why the hell is she starting up another story? To that I say I wrote "Heart of My Soul" while I was writing "To Know The Man" and so no one should worry. I was inspired by a challenge I found and decided to take it where it led me really really late last night... Or early this morning. Or however you want to define the ungodly hour I was writing a bit ago. In any case, I hope you all enjoy. Peace.