A/N: Another Chapter! Sorta more of an introduction! The story picks up realllly fast after this so be prepared! Yes yes the rating is R because of sexual situations.. isn't it always in my fics?

Falling Like Snow
Chapter 2:



         Two hours after school ended, Sango and Kagome finally had Sango's car packed. The snow already covered the ground and Kaede busily ran about warning everyone about the dangerous roads. Kagome flipped her pink scarf over her shoulder and looked to Sango. Her friend was busily looking at a map which she had spread out over the trunk of her car, "I ALMOST know how to get there" Sango stated.


         Kaede walked over to the two girls. Everyone had already left and now Sango and Kagome were the last ones. "Almost ready girls?" Kaede asked, she handed each of them a thermos of hot chocolate for their trip.


           "Maybe" Sango said, she attempted to fold the map back up the way she had it. "Mom and dad will be meeting us there. I didn't even know I would be driving until a few hours ago."


         The old woman's eyes wandered back to Kagome who had been looking at the snow on the ground. Kagome had been like that all day, but surely she would have fun on this trip. "Well both of you be careful, and Sango, let Kagome navigate, you need all your attention for the road"
That statement caught Sango's attention, she pulled her hat further down on her head so that it covered her ears, "are they calling for more snow Kaede?" The old woman nodded, her frown deepening as she thought about it. "Well we'll be there in about three hours, it's not that long of a drive, if we have problems, we'll call, promise"


         Kaede moved to hug both of the girls; she patted Kagome's back lightly as she did. "Merry Christmas to the both of you. I hope you have a wonderful trip, and I also hope you come back with stories to tell!"


         Both girls got into the car, the thought of seeing Sango's family made Kagome smile a bit. She had first met Sango when she arrived at the boarding school. They had been roommates for four years, and during that time they had become perfect friends. They would stick up for eachother and help eachother with homework.. though it was mostly Kagome doing the helping. Sango was more of the bold one. She would tell you exactly what she thought; formalities only got in the way most of the time.


        The car ride was smooth until it turned out that they had to turn off the main road and go into the back roads for a while. Snow had been falling constantly since they had left school. Outside there was already about a half of a foot. "We should be almost there," Kagome said. She narrowed her eyes a bit; she had to squint at the map to see the street names, "there! Turn right, Wilshire road. From there you'll see another road on your left, and go straight up the hill" Kagome folded the map back up the way it goes. "Sango be careful," she said to her friend.


         Indeed, the hill was steep, and with little or no traffic in the back roads, it would be dangerous. Sango's wheels skidded a few times, to one side, trees, to the other, more trees, neither option was a wonderful one. "Almost there!" Sango said, she could almost see the top of the hill.


          Her car rolled up the hill until Kagome's eyes went wide, "Sango stop!!!" Sango turned the wheel and pressed the break as hard as she could. She hadn't seen the iron gate right at the top of the hill. If Kagome hadn't yelled, she would have gone full speed into it. The car skidded to a stop, and Kagome looked to her friend. "I.. guess we're here, that wasn't that bad Sango!"


         Sango looked to her friend, eyes wide at her statement. She then looked to the rather large house behind the gate. "I.. don't see my parents here yet, are you sure this is right Kagome?" Both got out of the car to look at where they would be staying for the holiday.


         True, the place looked like someone's home. The house was old, but at the same time it was huge! There were two floors that could be seen from the outside of the house. It was made completely out of gray stone. On either side of the house were two great balconies. Chimneys poked from the roof everywhere, great trees lined the road behind the fence until the road parted to make a circle in front of the house. "Yep, it's the address your mom gave us. How do you suppose we get in?"


          "I'll let you in!!!" A voice yelled from behind them. It caught both Sango and Kagome by surprise. Both turned to find a young boy.. well one may call him a boy. He had brown hair with a sort of red tint to it and what looked to be a puffy tail! He wore a heavy blue coat over his light green pants. The kid looked no older than about 7 or 8. "My name's Shippo! Miroku told me we'd have people here today and he told me to let you in!" The kid ran over to the gate and pushed it open. It took a bit more effort than usual because of the snowfall. "Though.. I thought he said there would be five of you!.. and.. there are only 2! He counted on his fingers for a few moments before he came to the conclusion he wanted. "So three! Where are the other three?"


         Both girls looked at eachother for a moment before Sango replied, "Well, my family should be here soon, is it alright if we come in before they do?"


           After both sides of the gate were open, Shippo turned to them, "well of course! I wouldn't leave you out in the cold anyway. Let me warn you though.. Miroku.. is a bit.. Well let's just say he likes women!"


           That statement left both girls with a questioning expression on their faces. Sango drove the car to the circle in front of the house. Shippo helped them with their bags, and when they stepped into the house, both were awestruck. In front of them there was a grand staircase that lead in two different directions once it reached the top. The ceilings were high and to both sides were two sets of doors. Paintings lined the walls that were covered in crimson satin wall coverings. Crimson rugs lead all the way from the door and up the stairs. "Shippo?!" a voice called from.. somewhere, voices carried rather well in this place. "Is that you? I got a call from our guests, it seems they won't be here for a while. The snow is causing roads to close"


         Shippo looked from the girls to a door, a quizzical look followed his glances, "But Miroku, two girls are already here" In truth, Miroku had been out of his room the moment Shippo had said the word girls.


          He looked nice enough. His hair was pitch black and pulled back into a tiny ponytail at the nape of his neck. Sango looked at him then down at her feet, Kagome could have sworn she saw a slight smile on her friend's lips. The one Shippo had called Miroku wore black pants and a dark purple shirt; it looked great with his eyes. You could see the tone of his arms through the shirt, "Did your group get split up?" In truth, he would be perfectly content with having two lovely ladies stay without the rest of the party. Once the two nodded he stated, "The road up the house has been closed, I'm surprised you got up here at all. I'm afraid it's not safe to leave for a while"


          "W...what about my family?" Sango looked back to him, both of her eyebrows furrowed at the thought of her family having to stay on the side of the road when it was snowing.


          What would a proper gentleman do when a woman is in distress? Of course, he would try to cal her nerves, "It's alright miss, they called shortly before you got here. They said they got another hotel room and they would be up here as soon as the snow melted" That statement alone would have comforted Sango, though.. Miroku accompanied his statement with a pat on Sango's bottom.


          Within a second, he was laying flat on the floor with a mark that highly resembled a handprint on his face, "oh Miroku" Shippo sighed lightly as he tapped him on the head a few times.


         "Well anyway, would it be alright for us to stay here. I know not everyone's here, but it's not like we can go anywhere" Kagome asked, she had dropped her bags by the floor.


          Miroku stood up and dusted himself off, though.. he seemed rather satisfied eventhough he just got slapped, "well of course miss.. er.."


          "Kagome" Sango said, "I'm Sango."


          He nodded sharply and stuffed his hands in his pockets. That would help his problem was wandering hands. "I'm Miroku, master of the household" he said that in a deep voice, meaning to impress the girls with his title, but after he saw no reaction, he sighed, "and you've already met Shippo. I'm afraid we are the only two in the house at the moment, most have gone on vacation, seeing as it is Christmas and all"


         Both girls looked over Miroku again, and they both came to the same conclusion, "wait a minute" Sango said, both hands were on her hips, "You only look to be about 18! How in the world do you own this house?"


          True, he did look rather young to be running a business like this one, but he got that question a lot, and he was more than prepared to answer it, "I'll tell you and give you a tour of the house at the same time. Shippo will take your bags to your rooms" Shippo stacked one bag on top of the other until the bags where taller than he was, but he ran up the stairs with ease. "Well if you'll follow me ladies" He tuned to this right and opened a door for them. He spoke as they walked down the hallway, "My grandfather got this house after the master of the household passed away. He only had a daughter, but she showed no interest is keeping the property. She had been married off to a rich businessman five years before her father died. With nobody to pass the house onto, the property went to his most trusted friend and servant, my grandfather. To the right is.."


           Something willed Kagome to answer, and she did, though she wasn't exactly conscious of her saying it, "the kitchen and to the left is the dining room" she said that sentence along with Miroku.
        

 Both Sango and Miroku looked to Kagome in shock, "Good guess Miss Kagome! Now if you'll follow me ladies, I'll show you the rest of the place." The House was pretty. Miroku showed them the library, Drawing rooms, and he even showed them around the grounds outside. For some reason, Kagome knew exactly where she was going. It wasn't an unpleasant feeling; it was just a comfortable familiarity. "and Dinner is in a few hours" Miroku said to the girls, he left them in the hallway that separated the doors to their rooms.
         

"I'm gonna go take a shower" Sango said, she walked into her room and left Kagome to do the same. Kagome's room was light pink with a great brass bed in the center. A white feather comforter lay over lacey white sheets. In one corner was a dresser; in the other corner was a very old desk. Once you walked into the room though, the first thing noticed were the doors on the other side of the room. The two large French doors lead out to one of those great balconies seen from the outside. She went outside to see Miroku shoveling snow away from the doorway, and Shippo was doing his best to help.


          Everything about this house seemed so familiar to her. She knew the way around everywhere. She rested her elbows on the railing of the balcony and rested her chin on her palms. Aside from Miroku and Shippo's bickering, she heard the distant sound of wind chimes.

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A/N: YES! lol the wind chimes are the same from her dream back in chapter one. Wuu spooky. Like? Review!