~Chapter One~ ~Dwelling in the Darkness~

The dark night was more then just cold, it was freezing! The feudal Japan air chilled more people across the land then any other! The group of Inu-Yasha, Kagome, Shippo, Miroku, and Sango were huddled up inside a tent out in the middle of a forest, somewhere far away from Kaede's village, which was not a good thing! Miroku laid on the far right end of the tent, a small blanket over himself, sleeping soundly, for he had been trained long ago when he was young how to withstand the cold. Sango slept beside him, after a long fight with the others that she didn't want to be near the lecherous monk, but she had no choice though. Shippo slept in the middle, the lucky fox demon! He was more cozy then any of the others, for he was small, and fit just perfectly in-between Kagome and Sango. Kagome lay on the other side of her fox friend, and beside her, with his back turned as if he hated to be near her, was Inu-Yasha on the far left end. It had to be this way, for if it wasn't, they would all surly go sickly through the bitter weather outside.

Kagome opened her eyes after trying for many hours to sleep. It wasn't fair! She had no such training, or strength to handle such deathly weather, and yet she had to put up with it. She lay in silence, and listened to Inu-Yasha's steady breathing. She never really got to be this close to him before, and just the sensation of his back against hers was overwhelming! She knew he had his back turned to her for a reason though. He didn't want to be near her at all! He only could be close to that woman Kagome hated to me like. Kikyo. Kagome's fists tightened just by thinking of her name. Inu-Yasha could never love Kagome because of that priestess!!! Kagome settled herself down, and decided to see what Inu-Yasha would do if she turned around. So she did just that. She turned and faced Inu-Yasha's back, hoping he'd notice. He just continued to breath steadily. Kagome watched his back move as he inhale, then exhaled. She wanted so badly to wrap her arms around him and learn his heart beats. She forced herself to keep from touching him, so he wouldn't get mad, but she couldn't help but reach out the few inches between them and place her hand over his back. It felt so good! His body was so warm, and she wanted to be close to him that chilling night, but she dare not get any closer. This was how it was.

Inu-Yasha laid, facing the edge of the tent. His heart raced as he felt Kagome's hand fall onto his back. Her touch was so gentle. He wanted her to touch him all over. He let his eyes close as he continued to pretend to sleep, although it was hard when the one you love was trying to reach you in a most tender way. He wondered why she was doing this. Did she want to be near him? Surly not! She hated his guts! He knew that. She hated him because she thought of him as rude and vile like! He couldn't help it though. It was just the way he was, to cover up his true feelings. He wished so deeply though that he could talk to her as one of friend, and lover. He wanted her to love him, as he did her. But his hopes, he thought, were wasting brain room. She would never love him for him. This was how it was.

Suddenly, Kagome began to sit up, and he shut his eyes tightly. Kagome looked down at him and sighed a long sigh that Inu-Yasha didn't understand.

"I….I shouldn't be here right now. I should be home, in my own bed, sleeping soundly without burdening all of you, espies ally you, Inu-Yasha. You'll worry about me, and I know how annoying that can get. I'm annoying. I'll leave." Kagome stated to the air, not caring if anyone heard her or not.

Inu-Yasha cared though!! He didn't want her to go out in that horrid weather! It was snowing, and there wasn't a way to get to the well!! Was he the one that made her talk like this?? He sat up quickly.

"Stop!! What are you doing!!?? Get back in here!!" He yelled in a whisper as he saw Kagome heading out of the tent. She looked back at him and tried to be nice.

"I'm sorry, Inu-Yasha, but I can't stay. I'm not suitable for this weather!!" She explained, and smiled as fine as she could.

"Feh! Yeah right! You won't last a minute out there in that cold! You're not going anywhere! At least not tonight!!" He exclaimed.

Kagome scowled. "You can't control me!! I'm leaving, and that's all there is to it!!" She shouted.

As she began to head out of the tent again though, Inu-Yasha grabbed her arm and pulled her back in. She landed into his lap, just like that, and he began to blush instantly. She pushed up and away from him quickly, and it almost hurt Inu-Yasha for her to do that. He knew she thought he was stupid, rude, and all that other stuff he knew he was.

She glared, and tried not to blush. "Fine! I'll stay here! But only until tomorrow! Then I'm heading home!"

It was agreed, and they both settled in again for the night. Inu-Yasha or Kagome didn't sleep a wink though. They were too busy thinking about how rude they had been to each other, and that they wished they could turn back time and just say everything over again.

Later that night though, as unpredictable as the cold that had rushed in, a huge demon came around the camp, hitting and destroying anything in it's path!! As strange as it is, Inu-Yasha and the group didn't hear or sense the demon at all! Everyone, except Kagome. She opened her eyes and looked out the tent, only to be grabbed up into the demon's claws and carried away.

"INU-YASHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" She screamed in fear. He jolted up immediately and shook everyone else awake. They charged out of the tent and ran after the demon, trying to stop him from taking Kagome, who was very important to all of them, especially Inu-Yasha.

"KAGOME!!!!!! TAKE MY HAND!!!!!!!!!" He cried out to her as he ran along behind the demon inches away, and Kagome hanging over the demon's back. Her hand stretched out as far as it could go, as so was Inu-Yasha's!!!

"INU-YASHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I CAN'T REACH!!!!"

"PLEASE TRY!!!!!!!!! COME ON KAGOME!!!!!!! YOU HAVE TO TRY!!!!!!!"

Kagome's hand barley touched Inu-Yasha's finger tips, when suddenly the demon vanished into thin air! Inu-Yasha couldn't tell if it had simply seemed to disappear because of the heavy snow that fell around them, or if the demon had truly gone astray through magic. Whatever it was, Inu-Yasha stood in the snow, it hitting down on him hard. Miroku, Sango, and little Shippo, clinging onto Miroku's shoulder tightly, came running up from behind.

"Inu-Yasha!!!! Did you get Kagome!!??" Miroku cried.

"Did you get her!!??" Sango added her own words. Shippo stayed silent.

Inu-Yasha's head stayed lowered, his eyes unable to be seen. His hands trembled, not because he was cold, but because he had failed in saving his dear, sweet Kagome from danger, as he had promised her in the very beginning! She had trusted him! She had depended on him!! And for what!!?? He was so ashamed, he couldn't think of anything to tell the others. Except one thing.

"WE HAVE TO FIND HER!!!!! THAT DAMN DEMON GOT IT'S BLOODY HANDS ON HER, BUT I WON'T HAVE IT!!! COME ON!!!" He shouted.

Sango stared. "Inu-Yasha? Shippo is too young for this weather! One of us needs to stay with him!" She explained.

"Fine. Then you stay with Shippo back at camp and keep warm. Miroku and I will go and find Kagome. Get everything warmed for us, cause Kagome will need it! She's only wearing that school uniform of hers right now! And this is the worst part of the storm!! Go now!! We can't waste any time!!" He explained.

Sango nodded and took Shippo into her arms, as Miroku and Inu-Yasha set off to find Kagome. Miroku, as forgetful as he could be sometimes, had brought along a lantern, and that was the only source of light for the two men. Sango stood in the blazing snow with Shippo tightly set in her arms, and Kirara on her shoulder, staring after the two brave enough to go out in this weather to find Kagome. *Be careful, you two. And bring Kagome back safely.* She thought to herself.

~Hurray!!! Well, was that a good beginning!? I hope so! Well, you know the routine! If there is more to the story, then go on ahead and read it, but if there isn't, hold tight and wait for me to finish! Thanks!! *^.~*~

(chibikagome1@yahoo.com)