Words; 1,135
Type;
one-shot
Pairing; SesshoumaruxKagome
Disclaimer; I do not own Inu Yasha or any of it's contents
Wordlist;
Miko – priestess
Youkai - demon
-sama – respecting honorific, lord/lady

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Chapter 4, Winter

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The sound of pattering footsteps, running through the castle.
The last strands of a girl's dark, chocolate-colored hair could be seen as it's owner had already disappeared, opting to take a turn to the left to look at the western wing.
Heavy breathing, probably because of the lengths she had already ran, formed small, white-ish circles in the cold air.
Running down another corridor, down the hall, left, left, right, slamming a door open and catching her breath, with a big smile decorating her features.
"Sesshoumaru-sama! Hurry up, it's starting!"

Winter.
Cold. Really cold. That was probably the most logical definition of this season. People were more likely to catch illnesses, due to their frailty and lower defense to bacteria, and walked around with stuffy noses for weeks, wrapped up in thick sweaters, coats, shawls and hats.

"What is it, miko?" a bored voice drawled. He had been working silently on a peace treaty with the southern lands, and he had been on a roll, writing down several rules and guarantees in response to the parchment the southern lord -a young bear youkai, nothing more than a cub, really- had sent him with claims, demands and promises, with a elegantly formed quill, when that noisy girl had burst into the room.

"The fireworks! You didn't forget, did you?" she asked, a shocked look on her face.

Of course he hadn't forgotten, she had been sure to pester him for weeks to let him allow the celebration, and then followed him around for the remaining weeks to remind him of his promise to attend.

"This Sesshoumaru did not forget, Kagome." he sighed inaudibly, making sure to she didn't see the movement, or she would doubtlessly jump around, singing that he had emotions! And since he oh so obviously had a human side, wouldn't he dance with her in the rain? He wouldn't be harmed by the little wet sky-fallen drips, but that girl would most definitely somehow catch a cold, making him -though he would never admit it (again, the utter denial of a human side)- worried, so he would always be careful, never showing too much enthusiasm, too much curiosity, too much anything.

"You didn't forget?" her eyes had gotten that happy gleam again, the one that made him slightly dread her next move.
"I did not," he deadpanned, trying desperately with emotionless eyes predict her thoughts. It was always strange, that he could guess, no, know, what others were thinking -it also helped that he could smell their emotions-, but with her, he could smell something, but that was always there -mischievousness, playfulness, curiosity; at least those three, as far as he could identify, but many, countless many more that he just couldn't quite place-, so he was never sure exactly what she was going to do now.

Her eyes flashed happily, and he fought back -successfully, of course. He was the great Sesshoumaru-sama, after all- a relieved sigh; he could always read her eyes. Big, open windows to her very soul, but never betraying her exact thoughts anymore; she had learned to guard herself after several incidents regarding people manipulating her and her naivety. Still, thoughts she may guard, she could never hide her emotions, and for that he was grateful. After all, if he couldn't read her, how would he ever be prepared -if only a little bit- for her random ideas and suggestions?

"Then," and she advanced, and he could've sworn that there was a delighted skip in her step, "let's go!"
And she grabbed his and tugged him from his stuffy desk to the hall in his western wing, and he let her.

But it was also the holiday season; Christmas, New Year; it was a season to be surely filled with laughter and fun. People tended to get together more, and my heater's broke, can I stay at your place until it's fixed? followed by a sure, come in, I just made some hot chocolate. Yes, winter was also, cheesy as it always sounds, as they sing in the songs, 'the season to be jolly'.

She ran outside, with him still dragged along, and they were joined by a bouncy young girl on their way.
"Sesshoumaru-sama! Kagome-nee!" she squealed, and would've hugged them both had they not been running, "I've been looking all over for you two! Where were you! You were taking so long getting Sesshoumara-sama, Kagome-nee, and everyone was getting worried, so Rin volunteered to look for you!"

The older girl -her big example- laughed (a bell-like sound she also tries to make, though she never quite gets it) and patted her head with her free hand, ruffling her hair a bit before lifting it again and extending the hand to the small girl, who happily grabbed it.
"Eheh, gomen Rin-chan, I couldn't find him, so it took a while.." the taller -though not by that much- girl apologized, and Sesshoumaru, who had just been silently dragged along, and only had to walk a bit faster than usual to keep up with the miko's running,

They arrived at the courtyard, where several of the personnel were setting up the contents of the packages, of which the little miko explained it was firework, whatever that was supposed to mean.

Sesshoumaru had caught glimpses of her the last few weeks, traveling up and down to her well, coming back with strange packages, entrusting them with great and excited gestures to some of the castle-maids whom she had befriended.

"Ah, we're here! We're at the courtyard, Sesshoumaru-sama!" Kagome smiled brightly, and Sesshoumaru resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Of course he knew this was the courtyard. This was his own castle! Instead, he 'hn'ed, and she seemed happy enough with that, as she happily made her way through the snow-covered yard to talk to the castle servants, releasing his hand, and Rin quickly followed her.

Soon, they were both back at his side, and Kagome's eyes swept over the working people.
"Well then, is everybody ready?" she then called out, thrilled.
When all answers were affirmative, she smiled brightly.
"Then—" she fumbled a watch out of her pocket, "okay, we don't have much time left! Light everything when we're at one, please! Everybody, count down from 10! 9! 8!"
"7! 6! 5! 4! 3! 2! 1!" it chorused everywhere around the courtyard, and at 'one', several flames appeared and lit thefuses of the firework.
"ZERO! Everyone, happy New Year!" Kagome called as what all but one occupant of the courtyard thought to be the embodiment of color surged into the air, exploded, multiplied and took on the must amazing forms.

At his side, Kagome smiled.

"Isn't it beautiful, Sesshoumaru-sama?"
The great lord of the west looked at her, and nodded, "Yes."

And soon, spring will come again.

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I FOUND IT! I finished this long ago, but then my computer crashed, and then I didn't want to write it again, and hoped I'd find it someday~ and then I found out I didn't delete the practically-finished version on my laptop! It was in my Recycle Bin all this time! And with that, it's finished! My first multi-chapter story J I'm sorry it took so freaking long to write it, because I have no other excuse than being lazy~ Then, just one more time for this fic, please R&R! *bows* If you do, you'll get cookies!
I'll try and rewrite summer and autumn when I have the time, because I hate them~
Now, I'm going to get some other -probablypossiblymaybe aka real- work done, promise.