Touches of Ice -- Revised Edition -- January 11, 2006 -- 12:04 A.M. EST

Please enjoy.

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha and company.

Touches of Ice
By,
Luvz Fluffy-sama

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Chapter One

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Lightening flashed across the nighttime sky. Rain fell mercilessly onto the cold, hard ground. Thunder rolled in the background. It seemed to worsen with every beat of her broken heart. She slowly tilted her head to face the sky, an onslaught of rain soaking her to the core. She let the rain wash over her, hoping that maybe it would wash everything away. Her tears mixed with the rain, making it appear as though she was not, and had not been crying.

The miko did not care that she would probably catch her death out it the harsh winter weather. She thought that dying would feel nice at the time. She was all alone, no one to do what she needed, and wanted most. Someone to hold her, not in one of her friends kind gestures, or a family members. Someone who could hold her like she meant the world to them. Like if they let go, they would lose her forever.

The miko felt terrible on the inside. The pain she went through every day for so very long finally went over the edge of a cliff. She didn't care about anything at the moment. Just the pain that was in her heart. The pain that made her want to scream, to cry, to kill, anything to make the pain disappear. The pain twisting about inside her heart, tearing all emotional strings. Making her a walking icicle.

The miko was aware that it was dangerous for her to be alone in her state, but she couldn't take it anymore. It was too much to handle. Watching everyone being slaughtered right in front of her very own eyes, and knowing that there was nothing she could do. Knowing that her dream would be reality if she didn't leave them. She hated it, the anger from it was coursing through her blood, even after all the tears she cried.

Narrowing her eyes slightly, the miko thought she saw someone walking toward her. She sensed a demonic aura rolling off of the approaching stranger. It wasn't evil, but it wasn't pure either. The miko hid behind some bushes, in hopes that the demon wouldn't sense her presence, but the miko knew better of that. She really didn't know why she was hiding, she didn't care if she died. Besides, she was a miko, she could easily kill any demon that apposed her. That is, if she had control of her powers, and at the moment she was a wreck, and had no control whatsoever of her powers.

The demon got closer and closer, allowing the miko to get a good look at his face. She gasped when she took in what was before her.

There stood the mighty and proud dog demon that was Lord of the western lands, Sesshomaru. The half-brother to her old love also. God, tears threatened to fall at the thought of how he hurt her, and how she was hurting herself. Sesshomaru must have heard her gasp, because he suddenly looked at the bush she was hiding behind.

Sesshomaru walked over to the bush and a smirk graced his lips. He had thought before he reached this area that someone else was already here, but he did not expect it to be that miko that traveled with his damned half-brother.

Sesshomaru noticed the smell of salt coming from the girl. And he silently wondered why she had been crying. Sesshomaru decided that he would get her to face him, just to see her reaction, so he called to her.

"Wench, why are you in my lands? Why are you not with my damned half-brother, and the rest of that puny little group you have?" Sesshomaru inquired.

Instead of answering, or screaming, the miko stepped out from behind the bush from which she was using to hide. She faced Sesshomaru, looking him straight in the eyes, not blinking even once.

To say that Sesshomaru was shocked, would be an understatement. Not only did the girl not scream for his stupid half-brother, she stepped out from what she thought was going to hide her and looked him straight in the eyes. The last person who had the courage to look him straight in the eyes was currently dead.

Slightly annoyed by the piercing gaze coming from the miko, Sesshomaru spoke again.

"I will ask you one more time, woman. Why are you here in the western lands, and not with Inuyasha and the rest of that group?"

This time Kagome spoke, the ice dripping from her voice rivaled that of Sesshomaru.

"I did not know I was on your lands Sesshomaru. I assure you that I will be gone soon, as I have no intent on staying. If you wish to kill me for intruding on your land, then go on and get it over with. Otherwise, I would like to be left alone." Kagome spoke, not even trying to hide the frigid sound of her voice.

Sesshomaru was a bit taken back at how cold, and emotionless her voice was. He was not use to hearing her sound as such, she reminded him of himself.

"I see, and why is it that you did not answer my other question?"

Kagome paused a second, wondering if she should tell the demon the complete truth as to why she left. Deciding that it would be foolish to do so, she told him only part of it.

"I am no longer needed for finding the shards, and so I decided that I would travel around on my own, gathering shards myself." Kagome said, this time her voice wasn't as frigid as before, but cold nonetheless.

"Why is it that they no longer need your ability to sense the shards? They couldn't have found someone else with your ability. It is too rare."

Kagome paused a minute before answering Sesshomaru's question.

"They have found a replacement, well, at least one of them has. The others are not happy that I left. Besides, I could not stay anyway. I would only bring pain to them." Kagome said, this time her voice was full of sadness, just barely any ice to it at all. It was true that Inuyasha had told everyone that Kikyo would be joining them to hunt for the jewel shards. However, it wasn't the whole reason she had left the group. It was because of the dream.

Sesshomaru thought over what she said for a moment, silently wondering what she meant by saying she would only bring them pain. His demon curiosity getting the better of him, he asked her what she meant.

"What do you mean by saying that you will only bring them pain?"

Kagome thought about the best way to tell him. But she was getting cold, and was very weak from running so much. Speaking of being cold, a shiver ran over her entire body, causing her to shake.

Sesshomaru wondered if the miko was going to answer his question or not, but then he noticed that she was shivering. It was then that he noticed how wet she was. She had apparently been out in the rain for quite some time. Sighing inwardly, he thought over what he should do. All he wanted to do was leave her there to die, but if Rin ever found out that Kagome was dead, she would probably revert back to the way she once was. He didn't want his charge to do that.

Kagome coughed lightly behind her hand. She groaned in frustration. Now, not only was she going to be heart broken for a while, she was also going to be sick, and alone in the wilderness to look after her lonesome self.

"If you must know why I'm not with Sango and the others, it is because of your damn brother. I also have other reasons, but they do not concern everyone in this damned world." Kagome said, her voice sounding as cold as before again, no longer holding sadness in it.

Sesshomaru was about to say something back to her, but Kagome conveniently decided that now was a good time to pass out from being soaked head to toe, having no energy, and not having any food in her system for at least a day and a half.

Thank you for reading. I hope you found it interesting enough to continue reading.

Luvz Fluffy-sama