CHAPTER SEVEN

*

Many of Miroku's idle fantasies and pleasantest dreams went this way. Stranded in the wilderness with Sango, with a raging blizzard that cut them off from civilization. In a secluded place, clinging close together for warmth -- and perhaps a few other things. Rather cliched, Miroku had thought, but then, they were HIS fantasies.

This wasn't quite the same. In his dreams, they were in a warm little hut, not a crevice in a cliff, covered of ice. Likewise, in his dreams, he wasn't encumbered by a shivering fox-demon inside his clothes, or a giant demon-cat behind Sango. And Sango was usually a little more...

"Keep your hands where I can see them," Sango said, shivering. Miroku quickly moved his hands up to her arms and shoulders, and began rubbing her to keep her warm.

Outside, the wind was whirling snow into the narrow crevice, but it didn't quite reach the huddled four. Shippo stuck his rumpled red head out of Miroku's heavy robe. His fangs were chattering. "Where's Inuyasha?" he asked.

"I've told you before," Miroku said. He pulled his outer cloak over Sango's shoulders; to his surprise, she drew closer and let him cover her. Kirara growled softly and flicked her long tails over her mistress. "Inuyasha vanished into the snowstorm. We tried to follow, but we had no way of seeing where he went."

Shippo sneezed and dove back into Miroku's clothes. The moving lump finally settled on his chest. "I wanna go home," the lump announced. "I want Kagome..."

A frigid gust of wind washed over the group. Kirara growled and bristled, as if the storm were an affront. "I want to go home too," Miroku said in a low voice.

"What do you think has happened to Kagome and Inuyasha?" Sango asked.

Miroku sighed. "I'm not sure."

Sango shuddered again, rested her cheek on Miroku's shoulder. "Of all the people in the world to be stranded with, it had to be you."

"Would you prefer to have been stranded with Inuyasha?"

"At least he doesn't try to TOUCH me!" A slap rang out through the howling wind.

*

"Your socks are tickling my feet."

"Too bad, because I'm not taking them off." Kagome shifted in the sleeping bag, trying to reach her inflatable pillow. "Your feet are like ice. Which isn't surprising, since you've been walking barefoot in the snow."

"Feh!" Inuyasha twisted around to look at her.

"If we had covers, I'd take them from you," Kagome said, tugging at his sleeve. "You're way over on my side!"

Inuyasha reluctantly shifted. "You sure this is a good idea?" he said gruffly. "Doesn't seem to be working too well."

When Kagome didn't answer, he turned to look at her. Her face was screwed up, with tears in her eyes. I didn't think she'd be this upset, he thought, alarmed. He touched her shoulder. "Kagome..."

"It's not your fault," Kagome mumbled. "It's my feet. They're still numb."

Inuyasha stared at her for a moment. Then Kagome yelped as he began burrowing into the sleeping bag, finally settling at the very foot of it. "Inuyasha!" she said loudly. "What are you-"

She stopped. She could feel fingers peeling off her socks and starting to rub her feet from the ankles down. She winced as the feeling started to come back. "I think I'm okay now, Inuyasha. You can come out."

After a lot of wriggling, Inuyasha came back out.

"Thanks," Kagome said softly.

"Hmph."

"Inuyasha?"

"What?"

"Are your ears cold?"

He didn't answer. Kagome hesitated, then carefully enclosed his ears in her fists. "These are pretty cold," she said, rubbing them. "How does that feel?"

"Mmph." Inuyasha closed his eyes.

As the minutes passed, Kagome began rubbing and blowing on Inuyasha's hands. It's the least I can do, she thought. Not only was he wearing a lot less in the snow, but he was carrying me too, keeping me warm. Maybe I should go a little easier on him.

She was starting to feel drowsy again, but wasn't sure if it was the cold or the fact that it was night. She certainly hoped it was the latter. The bone-aching chill was only held off by the sputtering little fire, and the warmth of Inuyasha's body. She yawned and drew a little closer to him; he responded by nuzzling up against her elbow. Outside, she could hear the patter of sleet.

An ice storm. Terrific, Kagome thought, gently pulling Inuyasha's hands between hers. He was starting to doze off, now that his ears and hands were warmed up. He looked so peaceful when he was sleepy, all curled up like a puppy...

Suddenly Kagome sat up.

"Huh?" Inuyasha said, blinking. "Whazzamatter?"

"I thought I saw a Shikon shard outside," Kagome said breathlessly. "I saw a glow -- it was in the sky."

"Where?"

Kagome hesitated. "I'm not sure. It was sort of all over the sky..."

TO BE CONTINUED