It was cold. Kagome almost instantly started shivering, now exposed to the biting temperatures. Had InuYasha really walked through this cold for her?

            She looked around, and then saw InuYasha. She gasped as she saw his flushed cheeks, tears still frozen on to them. His saliva was frozen around his mouth, and every once in a while he would twitch slightly.

            Kagome's eyes widened in panic. He was freezing! What was there she could do? She looked around frantically, scanning the snow covered landscape for any sign of warmth. The only thing that stood out was the dragon sitting in the middle of the path, several hundred feet away. It sat coolly, regarding them with calm eyes. It had a slight smile on its face. She wasn't finding any help there.

            Thinking quickly, she hoisted the quilt out from under the hanyou, and laid it on top of him, feeling the inner warmth coming from it. Then hanyou still shivered intensely, though. She had to get him to some shelter, fast! There was only so much that quilt could do.

            'Okay, shelter!' Kagome's mind raced. 'You could dig out a hole in the snow, right? That's supposed to keep people warm!' She quickly began to dig frantically, her hands quickly turning white a numb. Her eyes widened as she reached the barren earth. Only about two feet of snow! That wouldn't do.

            She hopped to her feet again, and blew on her hands to warm them up, stomping up and down rapidly. What other shelter was there? This was a barren wasteland! What could she do?

            Behind her, there was a sudden beat of wings, and she whipped around to see the dragon launch itself into the sky, and bolt over across the horizon, heading south. Kagome looked at it in suspicion, then at the spot where it had left.

            Her eyes widened. Lying on the side of the mountain, where the path carved out upward in the mountainside, there was a crevice in the rock! Shelter.

            Kagome nodded to herself, grabbed a corner of the quilt, and determinedly began to drag InuYasha towards the cave.

~~

            Miroku sat down slowly, composing himself despite the burning in his face. How had that happened? She had said yes? No one ever said yes! It was what he counted on! If everyone said yes, then where would society be? Honestly! It wasn't as if it had been a serious question, anyway!

            Kitty was still snickering at him, and Sango was giving him a speculative look. He didn't like that look. Atma just sat there in the sand, grinning broadly at him. 

            "Y'know, if you want to reconsider…" She left the question hanging.

            Miroku blushed anymore. It was girls like her that were the threat to monks like him! They said yes. People couldn't just say yes to the bearing child question! It wasn't right! He glared at her, angry for once.

            She simply grinned back at him.

            Shaken slightly, Miroku simply scooted over towards Sango. Things had gone way too awry on that one. From now on, he was sticking more towards familiar ground. Kisses were unpredictable. Slaps! Now those were better! You knew where you stood with slaps!

            He scooted over to Sango a little more, staring subtly at an area which was sure to earn him a glowing mark on his face.

            Then, to his utmost horror, Sango fixed him with one of the most evil glares he had ever seen, and scooted over towards him, staring right back.

            Miroku paled in horror, and scooted away very quickly whimpering.

            He missed the imperceptible nod between the youkai slayer and the dragon.

            Suddenly, Atma looked up, and her grin widened. "Ah! At least some people are here."

            They all looked up to see a winged figure passing overhead.

            Slowly, and gracefully, a petite red dragon landed in the sand, its claws piercing into the hot sand. A tall, blonde figure vaulted off of it, and the dragon itself seemed to scrunch up, it's scales condensing, and slowly it reformed into a little crimson haired girl… wearing very little.

            Miroku eyed the dragon carefully, and slowly scooted away from it.

            Atma looked at the monk through her peripheral, and chuckled. The dragon shook herself slightly, and walked prettily over to the circle. "Hiya, Atma!" She said cheerfully, waving.

            "Hello, Tiamet." Atma said, smiling back. "How is the plan?"

            Tiamet nodded. "Their well on their way to the glacier. I came as soon as you called."

            Atma nodded, and clicked her claws together. "Excellent…"

            "Plan?" Sango asked, dimly aware that Kitty was staring at the blonde man standing next to the dragon.

            Tiamet glanced at Atma. "How much have they figured out?"

            Atma smiled at the youkai slayer, and the monk. "A decent amount. They don't actually know what I'm after, but hey, it's obvious enough that even I wouldn't think about it."

            Tiamet nodded. "Reasonable." She mused, and stuck out her hand. "Hi! She said brightly to Sango, shaking her hand. "I'm Tiamet, Wyrm of Flames."

            "Wyrm of Flames?" Sango asked.

            "It's a status." Tiamet said, and then glanced at Miroku on offered her hand. Miroku drew back defensively. "What's his problem?" She asked.

            "Girl trouble." Atma said.

            Tiamet glanced at Sango, then back at Miroku, and laughed. "Aw, poor baby!" She cooed. "Is Sango not slapping you any more?"

            Sango wasn't really surprised that Tiamet knew her name, but watched the dragon and the monk with interest.

            Tiamet nodded. "Well, that's okay; I'll play your little game."

            Miroku eyed her suspiciously. Then, slowly, they eyeing became slightly more than suspicious, running up and down the dragon's body.

            SMACK!

            Miroku recoiled backwards, his hand on his face. There was a glowing red slap mark there.

            Sango blinked in confusion. Was Miroku smiling?

            Tiamet turned to her. "It's a game, you see?" She said. "Miroku tries to do something perverted without getting caught. When he gets caught, then you slap him." Sango nodded slowly. "But!" Tiamet added. "When you start being a pervert back, then it upsets the rules of the game, and then anarchy reigns." She explained. "Miroku plays the game whenever he gets the chance. I guarantee you he keeps score somewhere."

            Sango eyed Miroku, and Miroku's eyes dipped to the ground guiltily. So THAT was it! Hmph! Well, two could play at that game!

            Tiamet looked over her shoulder at the two dragons. The blonde was standing on one end, and Kitty was sitting at the other, both staring pointedly at the other.

            Tiamet sighed, and shook her head. "Will you two just get on with it?" She demanded.

            The two dragoons jumped up guiltily, and looked away.

            Atma began to giggle in amusement.

            Sango and Miroku both looked up confused.

            Tiamet looked over her shoulder at them. "Dragoons aren't supposed to have romantic relationships, as it takes away some of their loyalty as dragoons." Miroku nodded. It was reasonable.

            Tiamet shrugged, "But we honestly don't care." She turned around to the blonde man and snapped. "Aaron! Go over there and hug her."

            "But…" She dragoon called Aaron said, halfheartedly.

            Atma glared at Kitty. "Well, go over there and give him a kiss!" Before Kitty could protest, Atma's voice raised. "Well? That's an order, go!"

            Kitty shot out of her seat, and was in Aaron's arms in seconds.

            Tiamet and Atma, in absolute unison, put there ands together, and crooned a big, sappy "Aaaawww!"

            The kiss lasted several minutes. During which Atma continuously made humorous comments to Tiamet, or vise versa. Finally, Atma glanced at her wrist as if watching for something, then stood up. "Alright! That's enough; break it up, you two!"

            The couple broke thee kiss, both breathing heavily.

            Sango suddenly found herself blushing, and Miroku was busy trying not to laugh.

            Atma grinned at them, and snickered. "Well, now that that's all cleared up, why don't we get down to business."

            Tiamet frowned. "But, were still not all here." She pointed out.

            Atma nodded, then put her hand on Kitty's shoulder. "Yes, But poor Kitty here, is out a dragon." She said. "Can't be a dragoon without a dragon."

            Kitty suddenly looked nervous. Sango wondered what was going to happen.

            Atma pressed on. "However, I'm probably gonna be aching for a dragoon after she" She indicated Sango. "Steals Kohaku back."

            Kitty suddenly looked up, hope in her eyes.

            "So, I guess I'll keep you on layaway." Atma finished with a grin and a wink.

            Kitty blinked at her in shock, then started laughing. She jumped up and down excitedly, and dashed into Aaron's embrace again, half strangling the poor man. The jubilation was interrupted though, as another dark shape passed over head. They all looked up as a large, glistening white dragon dropped down to the desert floor, panting in the heat.

            "Hey Atma." He wheezed, flapping his wings to cool himself off.

            Atma looked over and nodded. "Hey, Gelledius." She said.

            Gelledius grinned at her, and lumbered over, still fanning himself. Slowly, mindful of the little humans near, he lay down, almost cat-like in repose.

            "I just saw that hanyou and the girl. Their making better time than we had planned." He hissed to Atma.

            Miroku and Sango looked up, perplexed.

            Atma nodded. "You didn't let them past, did you?"

            The dragon shook his head.

            Sango was about to ask what was going on, when Miroku grabbed her shoulder, and shook his head. Now was a time for listening, not for speaking.

            Gelledius pressed on. "The hanyou was half dead from walking. He's really serious about getting the girl to Vadise fast. He was frozen stiff."

            Atma looked up at him. "What did you do?" She asked quizzically.

            Gelledius smiled. "I gave him a blast of cold when he tried to get past. He's unconscious now. They're shacking up in a little cave." He turned his gaze to Kitty and Aaron. "They seem to have a special blanket that resists extreme temperatures." He remarked.

            Aaron and Kitty looked at each other guiltily. Aaron attempted to whistle an innocent tune.

            Atma held up a hand, and silence fell. Even the wind stopped. Atma mused for a moment, then spoke. "So… InuYasha, and Kagome… are in a cave. Alone."

            Gelledius nodded.

            Atma tried desperately to keep in a laugh. "In arctic temperatures."

            Gelledius nodded again.

            "With only one blanket…"

            Tiamet and Gelledius looked at each other, then back at the superior dragon. "Are you going to…"

            Atma rubbed her hands together evilly. "Why yes… Why not." She said to herself. "Sure. It would work."

            Tiamet groaned.

            Atma smiled. "I think it's time for a certain hanyou to have a very good dream." She purred.

            Sango and Miroku exchanged nervous glances.

**

            No, next chapter is NOT gonna be a lemon… or even a lime… maybe an orange… or maybe and apple. The rough equivalent of five grapes I think, actually.

Anywho! Sorry if you had trouble understanding this chapter. I had to get a lot of stuff to happen, in a short amount of time, and so it might prove a little confusing. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me. I'll try to address most of them.