Hi! I have to say, isn't school breaks great? Well, they are when you don't have homework to do. Still, I am happy to say that I was able to write two chapters! Let me know what you think, and yes…the ermine does have a purpose! What is her purpose? Well, you'll just have to read and see. I still haven't really picked a name for her yet, maybe in the next chapter, ne?

Disclaimer: I don't own anything, but I do have to hand it to those girls outside my window. It's about 9 degrees F outside with snow all around, and their still there.

Through Rain or Snow, part 3

I woke Miaka-san up about three hours before dawn. With the little ermine in my lap, and the interesting school books to pass the time, I didn't notice how late it was until I finished a book called "Eigou no guraama." (English Grammar). Miaka-san got up, without complaint, as I wandered into bed and snuggled down into my blankets and waited for the fun to begin.

As always, my mind's eye opened up into a white world. I was about to ask if any of my relatives were here, but I was cutoff by a snowball to the back of my head. I turned and felt that I should have sweat dropped, but the sight of my Otou and Byakko-ji throwing snow down the back of Seiryuu-ji's clothes just seemed to give me warm fuzzies for some odd reason. I was about to laugh, when I felt a snowball hit my face thanks to my Gembu-ji. I started in on the fight and was struggling with my Otou on the ground, for he wished to so his best at stuffing snow into my clothes when we heard a voice that didn't belong.

"Mattaku, if this is how the five of you act, it's amazing that you have so many followers."

Standing before us, was a beautiful young woman, with curly, shoulder length white hair, with the last inch and a half tipped in black. Her black eyes seem to fill up the entire eye space, so that little of the white of her eyes showed. Her complexion was as pale as a peach. She wore little in the way of clothing. The top of her outfit was white, with thin straps on the shoulders. The top it self stop just short of her bellybutton. The bottom of her outfit was indeed interesting. She wore black pants, but over that, she wore a white skirt that opened up in the front's middle. The back end trailed to the ground. As she walked closer to us, I could see that silver threads had been incorporated to create a gentle cloud pattern in her skirt. This being said, it was no surprise to find my Byakko-ji already by her side, holding her hand.

The surprise was finding out that this pissed-off young lady had the ability to beat Byakko-ji to a pulp.

"Heh, stupid pervert. If you weren't my God, then I would do some serious damage to your pathetic a…"

"Um, moshi moshi, demo… How did you get here, mortal?"

The young lady turned towards my Otou, with an annoyed glance.

"I'm not sure…ask your kid."

Caught unaware, for I was trying to revive Byakko-ji, I was shocked to hear her words.

"But…I've never seen you in all of my life!"

"Yes, you have. I have to say, you have good aim."

I looked and noticed that she was rubbing her head.

"You're…the…ermine…right?"

"And you're supposed to be a genius? Yo, kitty-cat? Explain to me why I have to be teamed up with this kid, again?"

"Ah…Karasuki…you see…"

"It's been a hundred years, pervert, and I'm sick and tired of being a stupid ermine! Now, I'm okay with the kid…"

"Umm…Gomen…"

"…petting me and giving me food, cause I HATE hunting…"

"Karasuki-san…could you please…"

"…but you promised me that you would change me back to normal after I completed a few tasks for you."

"Ano~…it's time for me to wake up…"

"I alphabetized your naughty magazines, kept your home clean from your shedding hair, cleaned out your sandbox…"

"Ouch, Byakko-ni, that last one is really low."

"Shut up, Seiryuu."

"…did you're grocery shopping, dealt with Tai'itsu-kun for you, washed and ironed your stupid white clothing after you decided that it would be GREAT fun to play in a giant mud bath, delivered all your messages to your countries most beautiful girls…"

"Byakko…We have to talk…"

"Ye…YES! Gembu-ni, let Us go and have Our talk!"

Byakko-ji was stopped short by Karasuki-san's hand grabbing his unfortunate tail.

"After everything I did, in the body of an ermine no less, you are NOT going to stiff me! If I had a chance, I would hurt Kokie, but that jerk just had to be killed by that warlord before he could turn me back. Plus, I couldn't talk to Subaru or Tokaki. Do you know what I had to go through for you!

"Well…you see…I-I do not really know how, theonlytwowhowouldknowareTai'itsu-kunandIknowshehidall knowledgeinsideDoukun'shead,youjusthavetofindit!"

"…nani…Nani…NANI!!!!!!!! You mean I have to follow after this kid, hoping that he'll cough up the information that I can finally live my life? THIS SUCKS! THIS…"

"Karasuki-san! We're out of time!"

"Chiriko, Chiriko! Wake up!"

"Miaka, move out of the way, I have a sure fire trick that has always worked on him. One bowl of warm water, one hand in warm water and one jug pouring water into the bowl by his ear and…"

"ARGHHH!!!!!"

"Out of bed and on the floor, five yard dash to the bathroom door!"

"Miaka!"

Otou…help me…I think I want to maim Opii and Miaka-san!

FWOOSH

"What was that? Doukun, daijoubu?"

No, I'm burnt to a crisp, worse than what Tasuki-san is capable with his Tessen. I take that as a no from Otou. It takes all I can muster just to walk back into the clearing.

"I…ite…"

"What happened, Otouto?"

"Betsu ni. (Nothing) Let's eat and get moving. We need to meet up with the others soon, because our food supplies are going to be drained faster than we anticipated."

"Souka? Naze?" (Is that so? Why?)

"Because of Karasuki-san."

And there she sits, grooming her fur, giving me an innocent "What" look.

"Ano~ Chiriko, that's just a…um…"

"It's an ermine, right?"

"Well, yes, but, you see…"

"It's great that you want a pet, but just keep it out of the food. Ermines are gluttons."

"But, One! She's really…"

"Chiriko, we need to get moving!"

"But…would you two just listen?"

So far, though she is pretty, I have to say, I'm about ready to drown Karasuki-san. All morning, she purposely annoyed Opii and then, hiding behind me, I had no say in taking the blame. I know that she's mad at my Oji and that she hates being an ermine, but that's no reason for taking it out on me. Okay, so I'm pouting.

Moving on, after a small midday meal, something seemed wrong to me. It suddenly grew quiet and what more, if I didn't know any better, I would say that Karasuki-san was also noticing this. The wind was becoming colder and I could smell snow upon its way. Unfortunately, we were entering the part of the pass that narrows and our horses were becoming nervous. They refused to move faster.

This being said, the storm caught up with us in no time. The horses did their best to make time, but as the snow built up, there came a point where the horses could move no farther. My feathers were keeping them and my companions warm, as was the inner fire from my birth rite keeping me comfortable, but even I have limits. I'm already hiding my ki from the rest of the Seiryuu Shichiseishi, while that is not as much of a strain; something within this area has been zapping my ki. It has been rather disturbing, as I know for a fact that none of the Seiryuu have this power. I can also tell, by her actions and her scent, that Karasuki-san is not to blame. There is something bigger working behind the scenes. When I gain the first chance of freedom, I will investigate this, with hopefully my Otou or one of my Ojis, but for now, I have more pressing matters.

"Chiriko, we have to get free from these winds! We've already lost some of our supplies to it! If the wind becomes stronger, then we're next!"

"I know, but the snow's too deep. What more, this is not the weather for flying! I know that I can't fly all of us to safety."

"Could you teleport, or something else godly?"

"No. Something is draining my ki! I doubt I could move myself, let alone anyone else!"

"Do you have any ideas?"

"Do you see any trees that we can find shelter under?"

"NO!"

By this time, Karasuki-san is frantically trying to get my attention.

"If you can do anything to help us out, please!"

Karasuki-san seems to look at me, as if trying to see if I have an alternative motive. Jumping off my horse, I proceed to try and win her over.

"Look, if you don't believe me, then think about this. It's you're life on the live, too. If you try and escape by yourself and leave the girls behind, then I will never give you the information that you want. At least take them out of here, I can survive by myself. But I'm begging you, get my One and my Otou's Miko out of here!"

She seems to think my proposal over for a split second, before nodding her head. Throughout the wind, a warm-aired whirlwind comes flying through, picking up my friend, family and horses. The last sounds that I hear before they are whisked away are the desperate cries of Opii and Miaka-san as they realize that I am being left alone in the growing bitter cold.

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Well there's the first one! I hoped you enjoyed the plot twist!