Chapter 36

All My Problems

Kagome awoke feeling groggy and still extremely tired, rolling over she wrapped her blankets around her tighter as she tried to fall back asleep. The sunlight that shown through the shoji screen was so bright that it pierced through the thin skin of her eyelids making it impossible for her to fall back asleep. Sitting up Kagome foolishly opened her eyes only to blind herself, groaning softly she fell back down, turning away from the light source she pulled her blankets over her head to block out the light. Opening her eyes she let them slowly adjust to the small bit of light that filtered through the blankets. Feeling that her eyes were adjusted enough she pulled the blankets off her head as she sat up. Staring at the wall across from her dumbly she let out a long sigh.

"So tired." Kagome groaned pathetically as she fell over to her side.

"How can you still be tired My Lady when it is so late in the afternoon?" Hotaru asked astonished.

"Yeah, well I am." Kagome replied groggily. "Wait, noon?" she asked as she sat up and crawled out from around her shoji screen, which was a difficult task while wearing a sleeping yukata.

"Yes, noon." Hotaru assured her.

"What time is it?" Kagome wondered as she searched the walls for a clock that did not exist.

"Half way through the hour of the Horse My Lady." Hotaru informed her.

"Hour of the Horse?" Kagome asked rhetorically as her mind began reeling to decipher the code of the olden days. "Why can't they just use numbers?" Kagome thought desperately to herself. "Horse, Horse, Horse, Horse, Horse," she thought fleetingly hoping that something would trigger but her mind seemed to be like a two legged hamster on a wheel. "Ok, the hour of the Horse starts at eleven, right?" Kagome asked herself. "Right," she replied. "Right, so half way through it would be noon cause it goes to one, right?" she asked herself again. "Right." Her mind replied. "Right." Kagome agreed. "O that's what Hotaru already said, she already said it was noon!" Kagome groaned in her mind. "All that thinking for nothing!" Kagome whined as she fell to the ground, her hair laid about in a mess around her.

"Excuse me Kagome-Sama?" Hotaru asked, completely confused.

"O never mind Hotaru, its ok." Kagome assured her.

"If you say so My Lady." Hotaru replied.

"I do." Kagome said with a sigh as she sat up and scooted towards the low table. "What's this?" she asked as she picked up a piece of parchment which was folded nicely and sealed with the symmetrical cherry blossoms.

"It is a message from Lord Sesshomaru." Hotaru answered. "It was brought earlier this morning but I had not the heart to awaken you."

"O, thanks." Kagome said with a smile as she grabbed the arrowhead, which she had made into a makeshift letter opener. Breaking the seal she unfolded the parchment and read it to herself.

"Then become like ice
praying fire burns inside

Gold and blue mirror"

Kagome's stomach turned to lead and she felt as if Sesshomarus words had built a wall around her, caging her in. she didn't know what to do, she didn't know what she could do, she wanted to stay but she had to go. Kagome decided she hated life, especially hers.

"What does it say My Lady?" Hotaru asked worriedly, she hadn't been able to read the past few messages between her Lord and Lady and she was beginning to worry about their relationship. She wasn't stupid she knew there was something there and part of her was glad that Kagome was leaving soon, things were just becoming too dangerous for Kagome and even for Sesshomaru.

"Nothing, important just commenting on the temperature." Kagome said with a gentle smile as she refolded the paper. "Why don't we go get some food?" she suggested quickly before Hotaru could comment on the matter. "I'm starving." It was a lie but it would have to do.

"Of course My Lady." Hotaru abided as she rose and opened the door for Kagome.

"Thanks." Kagome stated with a smile as she walked out the door, standing Hotaru gazed at the letter upon the low table and let out a small sigh then slid the door shut and followed after her charge.

"Are they gone?" Lady Taree asked as she sat languidly against a pile of throw pillows that looked to be from the main land.

"Yes My Lady." Nami answered, bowing her head in the affirmative.

"Good." Taree replied with a smile.

"I do not think this is a good idea My Lady." Sakura said demurely from her corner, her head down cast but her light brown eyes glancing up at her every so often.

"That is why you are not coming." Taree bit out. "Riko you will stand guard down the hall if you hear the slightest sound of some one approaching inform Kaida who will remain outside the door." She informed them and they bowed in agreement. "Miho, Nami, you will accompany me." she added as she stood to leave and they followed. Taree waited from the raccoon and fire demons to take their places, with a signal from Riko that it was all clear Taree entered into the Miko's chambers.

"Would you look at this!?" Nami awed as she walked to the Miko's personal screen. "It's beautiful!" she whispered as she took a closer look at it.

"It seems the Miko has been in Lord Sesshomarus care for some time to have acquired such an exquisite piece of art." Lady Taree stated dismissively as she began to closely scrutinize a kimono that was hung up on its stand. Ignoring the other two Miho sat at the low table and began examining the small drawings that Kagome had done. "Interesting." Miho thought, they weren't exactly what she was use to but it wasn't not astetacaly pleasing. Passing them off she reached for the papers that had the Lords seal on them, which of course was broken, she read through the haiku swiftly. Brows furrowed slightly Miho grabbed another and read it as well, and then another before she was finished with them. She found the haikus to be strange and she didn't quite understand them but she understood enough. It didn't take a fool to realize the relationship that had bloomed between the Taiyoukai and Miko especially after hearing the way he dealt with women whom he did not fancy.

"What did you find Miho?" Nami asked curiously as she crawled up beside her.

"Nothing of importance." Miho dismissed, she decided she would keep there secret until it suited her to reveal it, and turned to the water demon.

"Hmm, look what I found." Nami declared as she handed the piece of paper to her.

"What is it?" Taree asked as she came over and kneeled down beside them.

"It is a piece of paper Lady Taree." Nami informed her.

"Well what does it say?" Taree demanded.

"I do not know Taree-Sama. It is written in a strange language." Miho offered as she handed her the paper.

"I do not understand, its like nothing I've seen." Taree exclaimed as she glared at the paper.

"This Miko is definitely strange." Miho observed.

"Yes, it seems that way." Taree agreed.

"Maybe its some Miko spell." Nami fantasized.

"Quite your foolishness." Taree reprimanded.

"Yes My Lady." Nami replied submissively as she put the paper back where she had found it. Miho glanced up at the doors and watched as Kaida crouched offensively at the door watching Riko intently for any sign while she listened intently to them scurry about the room. "Hmm what's this?" Nami asked rhetorically as she began looking through Kagomes backpack. With out any hesitation Nami began pulling out things from with in the back pack and examined them closely before placing them on the low table and continuing to delve even further into its mysterious depths.

"How odd." Taree stated, she watched curiously as Nami pulled out a white box with a red cross on its lid.

"Hmm I wonder what's in here." Nami mused as she lifted open the lid, she leaned further over the box only to reel back as her sleeve flew to her nose. "Awe it smells terrible." She whined.

"It seems to be medicinal items, though what, I am unsure." Miho informed them as she picked up a few things to look at before placing them back in the container and shutting it.

"Ooo." Nami opined as she pulled a very strange object from the depths of the yellow bag.

"What is that?" Taree demanded.

"I don't know but I like it!" Nami announced as she tipped it this way and that. "I wonder what these do." She stated as she pressed down on one of the buttons. The object gave off a sligt buzzing sound before loud sounds began emitting from further within her bag.

"Where's that sound coming from?" Taree demanded as she cupped her hands over her ears.
"I think it's coming from the end of this string." Nami speculated as she began pulling on it only to reveal a set of headphones.

"Well turn it off!" Taree ordered, frantically Nami pressed another button. "Awe that's better." She sighed but then more sounds began to emit from the object at the end of this string but this time it was softer and more melodious.

"I believe it is playing music." Miho divulged as she grabbed the headphones and began to examine them.

"How odd, an instrument that plays by itself." Taree admonished.

"It may seem that way." Miho agreed.

"Maybe its been placed under a spell." Nami suggested.

"Nami!" Taree began to reprimand but she was swiftly cut off.

"My Lady the Miko is returning!" Kaida called urgently.

"Put everything back in its place." Taree order sternly then turned and left the room, desperately Nami shoved everything back into the backpack with help from Miho. Standing they swiftly exited the room and made their way back to the room, the door slide shut behind them just as they heard Kagome and Hotaru round the corner.

"Nami, did you turn that music thing off?" Taree asked, her eyes narrowing sternly.

"N-no My Lady I never figured out how." Nami stammered, her head cast down in shame.

"You better hope the Miko does not find out." Taree warned and Nami only bowed in reply.

"What did you find My Lady?" Riko asked curiously, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips.

"I do not know, but the Miko is not to be underestimated, we do not know what tricks she has." Taree order and all her women bowed to her in acknowledgement.

The day continued on in a languid manner, upon returning to her room Kagome became curious when she had found her music was playing but she dismissed it thinking that she had maybe pressed the button on accident as she left her room. The warmth from the sun had bled into the room making it comfortable enough to slide the door that led out to the veranda open just a jar. The birds outside chirped happily at what seemed to be signs of an early spring which made Kagome happy for she never did much care for winter but saddened that in little to no time at all she would be gone. Back down the well to a world that moved to fast for her, to a world that no longer remembered that magic had once existed.

Slowly but diligently the sun began to sink lower and lower in the sky and the temperature began to drop faster then what seemed natural. The birds had grown silent and the trees began to moan as a frigid northern breeze swept through them, freezing the melted snow. Which in turn made the trees sparkle in the last moments of sunlight. Hotaru slid the screens shut and stocked the brazier before she returned to her seat at the low table with Kagome as they finished up a card game.

"It seems we are to have a cold snap My Lady." Hotaru informed her.

"A cold snap?" Kagome repeated.

"Yes My Lady, they seem to happen every year." She added.

"O, but what of the plum blossoms?" Kagome wondered as she looked over her shoulder in the direction of the tree even though she could no see it she still knew where it lay.

"It is a hardy tree, it will be fine and the blossoms have yet to bloom." Hotaru reassured with a smile.

"I see." Kagome commented off handedly as she began to gather up the cards in some semblance of order and put them back into their case.

"Do you wish to leave so?" Hotaru asked as she watched her.

"What?" Kagome asked, some what startled "Um no, but I have other … obligations I have to attend to." "When did family become obligations?" Kagome chided herself. "I am a Miko after all, my practice isn't much needed amongst youkai." She added with a small wistful grin.

"If you must." Hotaru said with a slight sigh which only made Kagome feel something heavy sink into the pit of her stomach, she was glad that the sun had fallen enough that she didn't have to see the displeasing look that was no doubt crossing the old foxes face.

Kagome quietly cursed the life that she led, with the weight of the Shikon riding on her shoulders and her ability to jump through time. It left her feeling empty and alone and guilty for leaving those whom she cared for and cared for her in turn, behind no matter were she went whether in be past or present. "Maybe, maybe if I just stayed in the middle that way every one was miserable. Maybe it might work." Kagome thought fleetingly then she scoffed at herself and began to laugh softly and sadistically.

"What is it that you find so funny Kagome-Sama?" Hotaru asked as she stood to light the lantern.

"O its nothing," Kagome dismissed. "Don't bother lighting it Hotaru unless you have something to do. I'm just going to go to bed I'm tired." she said with a yawn.

"You read my mind My Lady." Hotaru replied as she set the matchstick back into its box.

"A psychic and a Miko!" Kagome exclaimed as she stood and made her way towards the bed, having already changed into her sleeping yukata a while ago. "I just keep impressing myself." She added playfully.

"Myself as well." Hotaru said with a laugh, which only made Kagome giggle softly with her before they both laid down to sleep for the night.

Slowly the cold began to creep in through the pores in the screen and the slight minute cracks in the doors. Gently it swept into the room like a blanket of snow and ice covering everything making the brazier crackle loudly in protest to the frigid air. It gently swept over the Miko pulling her gently from the depths of sleep with its frozen fingers of jagged ice. Groaning slightly Kagome curled further into herself as she tried to hide away from the cold but once its' clawed fingers had a hold on her she was effectively pulled from the depths of sleep and was thrown wide awake.

Vigorously she began rubbing her legs while rubbing her hands together simultaneously, which Kagome immediately regretted for the action made her desperate need to go pee. Silently she contemplated the thought of peeing herself so that she wouldn't have to move and she would be effectively warmed but the thought was fleeting. Taking in a deep breath, which she regretted for the air was so cold it burned as it entered her lungs. Stealing herself against the cold Kagome crawled out from under the blankets and heavy kimonos wearily and began to make her way down the hallway which was just marginally warmer then her room but as she turned down the hallway which was not protected by the rooms, the cold weighed down on her heavily and her breathe leaked out of her in smoky wisps.

Finally Kagome reached the bathroom, which seemed like a mile away from her rooms. She was just so tired that she would have fallen asleep while making her way there if it hadn't been so cold. After almost falling into the pot several times Kagome finally managed to relieve her bladder, readjusting her yukata she stepped back out into the hallway. Placing a weary had on her forehead she rubbed gently as she turned to lean against the solid wall across from the bathroom in fear that she might fall over. Opening a blurry eye Kagome looked up and down the hallways, with her mind still half asleep she made her way back down the hallway in the way she believed she had come in.

As she continued to wonder the hallways she began to grow even more tired and found that her feet were moving by their own accord. When Kagome finally stopped she looked about herself and found that she was in the entirely wrong wing of the house. Letting out a pathetic groan Kagome leaned up against the wall and slide down it until she came to rest at its base. Pulling her knees up to her chest she rested her head on her make shift shelf. Turning her head ever so slightly she looked back the way she had come and groaned again.

"Its so far away." She whispered softly to herself as she began rubbing her legs in attempts to keep them warm. Looking down the other direction Kagome vaguely recognized it. "This way." She decided as she got to her feet clumsily and began to make her way down the corridor. Her hand dragged along the wall as she continued on her way making sure she didn't fall or run into anything for the pure black of the hallways gave her slight vertigo. "Here." Kagome stated as her fingers caught the frame of a shoji screen. Slowly she pulled the screen opened and entered into the room then turning she shut the screen behind her.

"Finally." She breathed out as she crawled toward the bed. This room was slightly warmer then her own and she could no longer see her breathe linger in the air, pulling the heavy blankets back from the bed which was far larger then her own. Kagome slipped in and pulled the blankets and swath of sea otter fur (which was placed at the foot of the bed so eloquently) up so it lined her face and she quickly vanished into the folds of sleep.

\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

I can't help but think that all my chapters are way too short and that because they are so short that I'm going to end up with like a Billion chapters!!! And because I have so many chapters that people aren't going to want to read it because it'll be so long and OMG I'm freaking out but I can't change it cause that's the style I started writing in and I'm being paranoid TT O well this doesn't matter I just hope the shortness of my chapters isn't frustrating you guys too much! Sorry it's taken me so long to update, schools been taking up alot of my time... stupid Senior year -.- and I just got home from a weeks vacation in Hawaii which was very nice... and warm very warm but now I'm back home and its freezing ass cold! OMG I hate Alaska TT anywho hope you enjoyed this chapter I'll get the next one out ASAP!!