With winter around the corner, it took over two weeks for Hikari to come from the capital with Prince Takashi, her demon lady's maid Maiha, Kurama, and Yasha once Nanashi had written to her and the king to tell them what happened. The road was hard on the full blooded elves in their midst. Nanashi could just imagine how much the prince likely complained of the cold on their journey. She would not hardly blame him though. Winter in Alaric was on par with the cold of the summer up in the far North where Maeshu was now.

Kaze was quick to seek her out when the staff and villagers who had the fled the area returned the day after the ice maiden attack. She was surprised when the first thing he did upon seeing her was bow down low before her. When she asked him why he did that, in his child like why he answered that it was because of her hair. He was at least forgiving of their abrupt separation due to the ice maiden attack.

Hiei was distant with her, even though he was accepting of her grief. She figured if he was giving her time, she would give him time. She occupied her time, helping Kotone look after her son, whom she named Koji. Kotone asking questions about things was difficult to communicate, which frustrated her. Nanashi tried not to jump to finish what she was asking, but even then Kotone struggled to get her point across. Kotone did not know how to write, but had been learning sign language with Izo from books they found in the library. Nanashi struggled to understand her though. There were times where she leave in a huff to seek Hiei out and get him to read her mind to ask on her behalf. He got frustrated with it, telling the girl to learn to read and write instead. When Izo heard about that, he taught her to read and write on top of learning sign language with her.

The other three shinobi stayed with them, mainly just waiting for what to do next. Airi was ready to go immediately to the far north and challenge Maeshu herself, but Touya kept her in check, ordering her stay and wait for Hikari. Hikari needed to be part of the group that went to the North to challenge Maeshu. It was part of her territory after all.

When Hikari and the others finally arrived, and Prince Takashi loudly complaining of the cold, the lot of them, Nanashi, Hiei, Asa, Hikari, Maiha, Prince Takashi wrapped in a blanket, Kurama, Yasha, Izo, Kotone, Touya, Haru, and Airi, gathered together in Hikari's old presence chamber, standing around a round table with a map of Alaric on it. Nanashi had been surprised when Hikari, upon first seeing her, bowed to her like Kaze had. Touya was pointing down at the map, explaining the different territories as they were of the different tribes that traveled around in the fall, winter, and spring. He pointed out which ones were most loyal to Maeshu, which ones had been the worst affected by Ichiro's take over, which ones would be likely to hear them out of respect for Hikari and/or the shinobi, and which ones would just turn them away or worse, attack them.

"... our best choice to start would be with the woods demon tribe by the port," Touya explained. "They are the most loyal to Hikari for rescuing those of them enslaved by Ichiro and the wolf demon tribe. They trusted Maiha in Hikari's protection in the capital. Plus at least one of them was willing to give food to Izo and Kotone when they needed aid."

"Healers first? Shouldn't we go after the more rough and tumble tribes first?" Prince Takashi asked. He was standing next Hikari, who was flaring her temperature nearby for him a bit. Nanashi noticed Yasha was standing a bit close to her as well. The castle did feel a little chilled yet to her. Part of her wished she could be closer to Hikari to warm up as well.

Airi looked over at him. "You mean like who? The shinobi?" she griped.

"Well..." the prince hummed out, shrugging.

"Because we're the four left, thanks to Ichiro and now thanks to Maeshu," she spat out temperamentally.

Tension hung around the air when she finished. Touya gave her a sharp, but understanding look, and continued. He pointed at the map, continuing to point out which tribes to go to afterwards. He did point out that if they brought Kotone along, it might frighten some of the tribes into closing their doors, especially the ones closest to the ice mountains who know what they risk in provoking an ice maiden attack. They would have to be quick to point out she was a run away who survived her huntresses' pursuit.

Nanashi looked over at Kotone, who was moving her hands and mouth rather quickly. Izo faced her, speaking for her. "I'll scare them at first. But then if I am with a different group, they'll know I am not a runaway or a huntress. It will intrigue them. Might make them more inclined to listen." She dropped her hands. Izo spoke for himself, "you want to go?" he asked her. She nodded resolutely.

"The more of us who go, the better," Nanashi surmised. "We get enough of the other tribes behind us so Maeshu will listen rather attack. Then we challenge her and over through her as leader of the tribes for what she tried to do to Izo and the shinobi."

Touya looked over at her. "That is the plan-"

"You're not going," Hiei interrupted.

Nanashi blinked over at him, surprised he would shut her down like that. "What?"

"It's too cold in the winter," he stated. "You could hardly handle the cold when it was the summer up there."

"That was summer?" the prince interjected. "Great Mother." He wrapped the blanket around him tighter.

"No pure elf, or half angel in this case, can handle the cold up their in winter," Kurama reasoned.

"We can't wait until spring to go after Meashu though," Prince Takashi exasperated. "People might not care to see us if we wait too long. Something else might happen, and who knows what else."

"Which is why only some of us can go, and we have to go immediately," Kurama concluded. "Only those who are not vulnerable to the cold can go."

Nanashi felt herself withdraw internally. She knew he meant she could not go. She looked around the room. Nor could Prince Takashi or Yasha. She wondered if Kurama could go though. He had handled the cold better than she did as a half human.

"You're half human," Yasha pointed out, a bit excitedly, at Kurama. "You shouldn't go either then."

"I was able to handle the cold just fine in the summer, but I can turn back if the winter is too harsh," Kurama pointed out.

"So us full blooded elves and the angel are left behind then?" Prince Takashi griped. He looked over at Hikari. "If you go up there without me, how...? Hmmm." He whined in a way that was certain to annoy Hiei.

"How what?" Hikari asked, looking up at him, a little annoyed.

Prince Takashi gave Hiei a side glance, shifting his feet nervously. "How will we, you know, what we planned...?" His face flushed crimson.

Hikari narrowed her eyes up at him, studying him. "We can have a child when I get back. You'll survive until then." Nanashi looked over at the two of them questioningly. Hikari looked over at her, shrugging. "Kind of expected of him as the crown prince. And with the prophecy over your mother."

Nanashi nodded, not sure what to say to that.

"Well, you can't stay expect me to stay behind and hide like a coward while my wife runs and picks battles for me in my future kingdom," Prince Takashi argued.

"You'll freeze up here," she pointed out. "Besides, it's my territory and my brother and his brotherhood who were risked by Maeshu's actions. I'll go up there by myself to challenge her to put it right if I have to."

"You can keep me warm," he countered.

"Not while I'm trying to fight," she snapped back. "You might not like having to stay behind, but what other choice do we have?"

Prince Takashi looked ready to say something else, but Yasha cut in, slapping the younger man on his back. "You can keep me company with the angel. As your advisor, I behoove you to accept the fact that the princess will go on this mission without you. You don't see the angel arguing fruitlessly to go along, do you?"

Prince Takashi looked over at Nanashi at that mention. She nodded, not saying anything. She felt the need to accept it so the prince would accept it. Prince Takashi nodded over at her, crossing his arms and scowling.

Kotone was moving her hands, looking over at Nanashi as well. Izo was translating as it were for her, "Mother, Kotone was wondering if you watch over Koji for us?" Kotone frowned at him just slightly. "For her. He does seem to trust you, doesn't burn you like he has with Kaze's nannies."

Nanashi nodded, "yes, I can do that," she replied, glad at least for something to help with in this mission.

The group of them strategized more through out the evening, then spent the next day preparing for those who would be going up to the far north. Nanashi spent extra time with Kotone, going over what to do with Koji, even though Nanashi knew his routine. She could hardly blame a new mother fussing so since she was about to be separated from her newborn. At least Kotone was able to write down things to tell her too, in scribbled writing.

The night before the demons among them were due to leave, Nanashi was heading to bed, feeling half exhausted and half restless. The mixed feelings of jealous and relief over not being to go herself. She hated the cold more now than ever. She hated that when she crawled into bed, she needed the thick blankets to help keep her warm at night, even with Hiei next to her.

He was not there now, surprisingly not as distant as she expected, but half as distant. He was bristling over the aftermath of the ice maiden attack still. She laid down on the bed alone, cuddling the covers closer to her for warmth. She cursed the cold once more. She felt herself nearly fall asleep when she woke up from sensing Hiei crawling into the bed. First night since the ice maiden attack he laid in the same bed with her. She saw him shirtless and barefoot, only a pair of black sleep pants between him and the cold.

"I hate the cold," she grumbled out sleepily. She turned over on her side to face him. He did not say anything to her, but she could tell he was still awake. "Worst weakness ever..."

He blinked his eyes open, looking over at her. "There could be worse weaknesses," he mumbled, turning to face her.

"Like what?" she asked, grumbling. He shifted closer. "Your wife?" she asked, looking away, burrowing her head into her pillow. "Too weak to even be allowed to face an attack on the castle because of that cursed cold..."

Hiei pushed her on her back, making him face her. "If it wasn't for the cold, you would have been able to kill every single one of them," he growled down at her.

Before she could answer, he crashed his mouth down on hers in earnest. His teeth clicked against hers, which smarted. He kept kissing her, rolling over top of her. He brought her hand down on either side of her head, pinning her wrists down. He ground his hips against hers. She pulled away from him on that, not craving roughness tonight. She could have cursed the Great Mother all over again for them to be about to be separated for weeks on end once more.

He pulled away from her, looming over. He pulled her up to sit up, pulling her top off. She shivered, annoyed with the cold. He pulled her closer, pressing against her the best she could. His hands dug into her hair, pulling on it almost in a way where he was trying not to be rough. She pulled herself closer to him, wanting to be warmer.

He pulled away from her, bringing the warm blanket with him, pushing it off the bed and out of the way. He took her pajama pants from her next. She could feel his temperature flare. She worried about him doing that, since once he lost control of it and burned her and the bedsheets by accident. Hopefully he could stay focused and keep it down enough tonight. She rolled over, pushing him to his back to pull of his pajama pants.

In spite of the cold, or in challenge to the cold, she guided him to dangle his legs over the bed and knelt down before him. She ran her hands against his thighs, feeling the heat of him from there. She kissed up and down the length of them. She leaned her head against his thigh, humming softly. He brought his hands to her hair, running his fingers gruffly through it. She brought her mouth up, bringing his cock into her mouth, moving her head up and down. He moaned breathily against her ministrations. She felt herself shiver slightly, but pressed on, wanting to finish him. Her lower legs felt numb due to the cold of the floor. She moved herself closer to him, feeling him grow warmer still. She brought a steadying hand to his hip, silently telling him not to raise it too high. She feel and hear him panting louder and louder, finishing in her mouth.

He sighed, laying his upper body back down on the bed. She rolled up to her feet, coming back down on the bed next to him. He was still hot, but less hot than earlier. She came as close as she could to him, craving his warmth. He rolled over to her, pushing her on her back. His mouth came down to kiss her, but not on her mouth. His mouth came to her neck, kissing from left to right and back again. He then pulled her right hand up to his mouth, kissing the insides of her fingers. He repeated the gesture with her left hand.

He sat her hand down, rubbing his own hand over her mound, making her almost flinch at the warmth of his hand. "Not too hot," she breathed nervously.

He pulled the warmth back a little, ensuring it was only a pleasant feeling as he slipped two fingers inside of her. She moaned at his action, pulling him closer so they could be chest to chest. He kissed her, commanding her attention to match him kiss for kiss. She squirmed as she felt herself finish, moaning into his mouth that restrained her.

He pulled his hand away, but was quick to roll over top of her and replace it with his cock. She cried out, half not expecting it so abruptly. She clung to him, half worried about how warm and sweaty he was now, but not wanting to let him go. The heat felt like sweet torture almost. If cold were her weakness, he would never let her feel it again. He moved against her, warming her up and turning her on anew. She squirmed against him, feeling herself tremble as she came on him. She felt too breathless to even cry out from it. He kept going, clinging to her in turn. She felt almost too warm now for her own good, but too worn out to speak up. He finished inside of her, laying against her in a hot mess. He felt less warmer than he had been, but felt warm yet in a natural way. He kissed against her neck, resting his head in the crook of it.

"Mine," she breathed out, just loud enough for him to hear it.