When Winter Comes

Chapter 3 "Past Remembrance"

"What… What's going on?"

"Kagome, my sister! You're finally awake!"

"My… sister?"

"Don't you remember me? It's me, Katsuki." She was becoming discouraged.

"Kagome, ye are finally awake. I was about to tell ye and Katsuki's tale."

"What do you mean our tale?" Apparently I've missed something. I only have a brother, Sota, not a sister named Katsuki.

"This pest claims to be your sister, Kagome. You seemed to know when you froze up at the well."

By the well? What is InuYasha talking…wait! That girl in the black kimono with the purple bow around her waist, she looks just like me… Who is she? (Looks at Katsuki) "You… the girl who looks like me. Katsuki, is it?"

"Yes sister! You recognize me?"

"I'm sorry to disappoint you, but no."

"Oh… I… I thought you would." Her face turned down and a tear escaped her eye. "I thought you would because… it's winter."

"What are you talking about?" Kagome became a little surprised.

"Allow me to explain to ye." (The group nods their heads except for Katsuki) "I knew from the beginning, Kagome, that ye where from this era…"

"Are you all nuts?! Kagome came from her era. She has a mom and a…"

"Silence InuYasha. Ye shall not interrupt me. As I was telling ye… Kagome was born in this era, the first born by minutes alone. Katsuki and Kagome are identical because of the birth they shared. Kagome's father was a demon…"

"I'm a what?!"

"Kagome, ye are a half demon, like Katsuki. I could see why you didn't know, but ye must let me explain. Your father was a dog demon, but your mother was a priestess."

The room grew tense. InuYasha got up, but when Kagome looked up at him, he sat down next to her.

"Thus Kagome and Katsuki are half demon, half priestess. This was forbidden in the village ye resided in, and the hut at which ye stayed was burned."

Everyone grew silent and still. A tear made it's way down her cheek and at moment's notice, Kagome began speaking.

"The only survivors were Katsuki and I, having been saved by our parents. The villagers' women took us in and hid us, but the head men had found us and took us away. We were to be killed, but Kaede had found us. We were not but one year old."

"Ye are right, Kagome, but how would we know that?"

"Let me explain that part."

"Ye may, Katsuki."

"You see, it's said in the Fuyurashii village that the ones born of a dog demon and a priestess from the village have an ability to recall information that was lost to them, when Winter comes."

"So Kagome is a half demon born to this era, but then how did she get to the future?" questioned Sango.

"My sister hasn't been to the future! That's not possible!"

"My being in the future was the doing of a demon of higher class. He took me to the Bone Eaters' Well and dropped me in at an early age of about two. I fear, though, that if I tell you his name, something terrible would happen." Kagome recited her explanation as if she were being mind-controlled, even when she was in her right mind. She snapped out of her speech and her expression grew from blank to in shock. "I… I need time to… be alone… and take this in… Excuse me."

Kagome rose and walked out of the hut. InuYasha got up and followed her. When Katsuki rose, Kaede intervened.

"Ye would be wise to leave Kagome to herself to talk with InuYasha."

Katsuki nodded and sat back down.

xXx With Kagome xXx

I've been living a lie, this whole time. Mom, or Ms. H, and Sota, they're my foster family? A tear welled up in Kagome's eye and slid down her cheek. She felt an arm wrap around her waist. InuYasha. He took her up the Sacred Tree.

"When I need to think, I always sit in this tree."

"InuYasha… Thank you."

His face became flustered. "Why are you thanking me?"

"Because… when I'm in trouble or upset, you do something to help me take my mind off of it." Mostly he does anyway.

InuYasha blushed, and to hide it he turned away.

"InuYasha, if I'm half dog demon, why do I look different."

He hadn't expected that question, and for which he had no answer.

"Do you know, InuYasha?"

"You'll have to ask Katsuki."

"Oh… Do you think I'm different now?"

What did she just ask me?! How am I supposed to answer that?! "I still think you're the same."

"Okay."

"Kagome…"

Her heart began to thump against her chest. She had noticed his arm tighten it's grip. She turned her head. "What is it, InuYasha?"

Her heart is beating so fast…He looked at her. Kagome had stopped the flow of tears now. InuYasha leaned in towards her and their lips met. Kagome was first shocked, but she leaned in, deepening their kiss. When they finally broke apart for air, InuYasha took hold of Kagome's hand.

InuYasha just kissed me! But I thought he was in love with… he's holding my hand. I must still be unconscious, or could this be… real? "InuYasha…"

Her voice is so soft and innocent. Why didn't she protest? Instead, she leaned in. Does she… love me, a half demon? Then again, she is one too… that's right, we should head back. "Kagome… we should go back to the hut."

Kagome looked up at him with disappointment in her eyes.

What's that look in her eyes? Does she not want to leave? "But is you want to stay a little while longer…"

"I would love to InuYasha."

It was growing darker. Kagome had left her time after dinner. None the less, Kagome buried her head in InuYasha's chest.

"A little while longer…" He repeated.

xXx With the Rest of the Group xXx

"If they don't come back soon, I'm going to get them." It had only been 15 minutes, but 15 minutes in silence is a long time, and Katsuki was growing impatient.

"Ye must be patient. This is a lot for Kagome and InuYasha as well."

"I understand Kaede, but there is something else with my sister and I that must be taken care of."

Miroku, Sango, and the tired Shippo tensed up. To Kaede it was nothing new. "What else could there possibly be?! Cried Sango.

"Katsuki and Kagome are special already by being their type of combination, but that is not all I suspect." Theorized Miroku.

"You are correct, Miroku. You see, being what Kagome and I are and where was come from, we can only develop our powers in the winter." Katsuki paused to let her newly made comrades soak in the information. "Since I have learned the extent of my abilities, and even how to transform, I can teach Kagome as well, but only in the winter."

The sound of a girl colliding with the floor caught their attention. It was Kagome, and InuYasha kneeling next to her to see if she was alright. She began forming words on her mouth.

"I… I what?!"