Forgotten Snow
Chapter eight


Inu yasha leaned back in his chair; it turned towards the window centered behind his desk. The clouds stirred ominously above and small powdered snow fell from the sky, plastering to the windows before turning to small droplets of water and falling down the window.

His hands were clasped and his chin rested upon them as he stared out the window with a faraway look on his face. People on the streets below bustled about doing their Christmas shopping and dragging little children around to see the various Santa Claus's that positioned them selves on every street corner.

It was all very festive with the lights awaiting nightfall so they could twinkle like stars in the sky.

His ears were drooped forward and his golden eyes, usually alive with an inner fire, seemed dull and lifeless. He sighed deeply and shut his eyes, trying to rid himself of the memory he had been reliving:

"Inu-yasha!" Kagome came running up to him in the hallways of their school. "There you are, I've been looking all over for you!" she smiled as she stopped before a tall teenaged boy.

He smiled at his friend, "Hi Kagome!"

She blushed when he smiled at her and it made him feel good to know that the girl was attracted to him.

"Oh, before I forget, here's your homework from yesterday, I know you were sick again," Inu-yasha handed her a small stack of papers.

Kagome smiled and thanked him. "I've got to go to class now, Inu-yasha, I'll talk to you later, ok?"

"Wait, Kagome!" Inu-yasha called out to her and the girl stopped right before she was about to run off.

"Yes?"

"I was wondering..." Inu-yasha fidgeted and forced his courage to come to him. "Are you doing anything tonight?"

"No..." a small smile began to creep up Kagome's face.

"Do you want to see a movie or something with me?" Inu-yasha asked and blushed, "You don't have to...I mean...if you want to go somewhere else or- "

"Sure!" Kagome smiled and hugged Inu-yasha, "Call me, ok?"

She dashed off before he could answer.

He stared after her in shock, his whole body feeling warm from her hug. People walked by him and stared at the stationary boy in the hallway before he sprung into a large grin. He punched the air and yelped in happiness.

"Damn straight!" He yelled the ceiling and skipped down the hall to his class, occasionally clicking his heels and running into walls. That one date would lead to their high school relationship, but would ultimately lead to his heartbreak...

Inu-yasha shook his head and his eyes focused on the snow outside. Why was that memory coming to him now? It was too late for him; he would never be the happy and enthusiastic boy he once was. Kagome had changed him in their time together. And he hated to admit it...

...But...

He missed her.

 
---

Kagome looked out the window of Kouga's car. Her reflection stared back at her with sad, droopy eyes and tangled hair. She looked sad and depressed, which is to be expected since that was what she was feeling.

She sighed and her breath danced across the glass surface. So far, she wasn't too impressed with Kouga. The only reason she'd really gone on a date with him was only to spite Inu-yasha. How dare he say that she couldn't get a date? It was completely rude of him; after all, she had gone out with him for a time.

So long ago...

But it seemed like only yesterday, and Inu-yasha's presence was only making it worse, his being near her was stirring up the old memories she'd locked away in the back of her subconscious, only to reappear in her dreams. Simple dreams that she often looked forward to.

She looked towards Kouga, whose eyes were steadily trained to the road as he made several turns. After several moments and turns, a red light appeared and he turned towards her, "So, where do you want to go, Kagome?"

"Um..." Kagome looked out the window as the snow fell, "I don't care."

Kouga rolled his blue eyes, "Come on, Kagome, you pick, it will be my treat."

Kagome bit her lip and blinked out the window. Then her eyes fell on the one place she'd loved to go during high school. "Oh, let's go ice skating!"

Kouga smiled, "Anything for you."

Kagome smiled her thanks and her eyes drifted to a distant memory of her high school years...

"Inu-yasha, come on, it isn't that hard," Kagome smiled as she watched her date nearly fall over himself trying to ice skate.

"Kagome," he whined as he grabbed the railing, "I can roller blade, but I can't ice skate!"

"It's exactly the same thing, you goof!" Kagome giggled and grabbed his hand. "Here, I'll help you, I'll make sure you don't fall."

"Promise?" Inu-yasha said apprehensively.

"Promise!" Kagome smiled and began to skate slow, holding Inu-yasha's hand, who was in turn nearly cutting the circulation off from her own hand.

He slipped a number of times, but near the end had one hell of a time carrying Kagome bridal style and calling to all who would listen that he was Tarzan...ON ICE!

That had been embarrassing, but Kagome couldn't help but comment that Tarzan wore a loincloth and that if he were on ice, he would freeze his ass off.

Needless to say,
'Tarzan' ended up dumping 'Jane' in a pile of snow outside the outdoor skating rink.

At the end, Kagome remembered Inu-yasha giving her his jacket (after hers got remarkably soaked) and treated her to hot chocolate. It had been their first date and Kagome had given him a gift.

"Here Inu-yasha," Kagome gave him the necklace.

Inu-yasha eyed it and blushed, "No offense, Kagome, but I don't really wear jewelry."

Kagome grinned, "It's not jewelry, silly, it's a rosary. It's supposed to be powerful and protect you from evil."

"Your grandpa gave this to you, huh?"

"Duh," They shared a laugh.

"Thanks Kagome," he slipped it over him and the beads and teeth clinked together, "I love it."

Kagome felt like she was on cloud nine when he leaned over and kissed her softly on the lips.

"Oi, Kagome!" someone shook her shoulder and knocked her from her daydream. "We're here!"

Kagome opened the car door and hoped out. "Wow, Kouga-Kun, thanks for brining me here!"

She smiled at the wolf youkai as he led her to the rental store.

 
---

"Inu-yasha?" Inu-yasha looked up from his snow watching to lock gazes with Miroku. "Are you ok?"

"Dandy," Inu-yasha said sarcastically. "Peachy keen, even..." He turned back to the window.

"The girls went back to Sesshoumaru's office," Miroku said softly.

"Good, I was wondering why it was so quiet in here," Inu-yasha snorted and rested his head in his hand. He sighed deeply and closed his eyes, tapping a pen against the desk impatiently.

"I think something's wrong, Inu-yasha," Miroku said in concern and sat in the chair facing the desk.

"I think something's wrong with you, Miroku," Inu-yasha said sternly, "You don't seem to understand and comprehend the usage of ears." He leaned forward and tapped his dog-ear, "They're for hearing. I'm fine."

Miroku leaned back in his chair and casually crossed his legs. "I think you're lying," he said in a singsong voice.

"You're asking for an ass kicking, Miroku," Inu-yasha growled.

Miroku waved his hands in front of him, as if expecting Inu-yasha to pounce on him that second. "Come on, Inu-yasha, you can tell me."

Inu-yasha scowled and turned away.

Miroku stood so fast that the chair got knocked to the floor. He strutted over to the desk and grabbed Inu-yasha's collar. "You listen, and you listen good. I know something happened between you and Kagome, and I'm going to find out what, damn it!"

Inu-yasha and Miroku exchanged glares for several minutes before Inu- yasha's eyes misted over and he turned pained eyes towards the window. Gulping he nodded, "Fine."

Miroku calmed down and picked the chair back up, "Was it that bad?"

"She doesn't even realize how bad it was," Inu-yasha whispered and told Miroku his tale from the very beginning.

 
---

Kagome skated next to Kouga, his charming personality and his killer smile were nice and all, but he lacked the passion she wanted. There was just something about him that she didn't like at all. Something that just turned her away from him.

He seemed perfect and she constantly found herself wondering why on earth she wasn't as attracted to him as she thought she should. He was nice, generous, very good looking and he was very considerate of her feelings.

But yet....she found her mind drifting back to a certain silver haired man who she broke up with ten years ago.

She was so wrapped up in her thoughts, however, she missed the small group of children and completely ran into them, causing herself to trip over their small feet and land face first on the ice.

Kouga, noticing her distress skated over to her and stopped so suddenly, ice sprayed the children, causing them to shriek and skate away furiously.

He chuckled and knelt down, "Do you not know how to ice skate, Kagome?"

Kagome sighed, "I'm fine."

"Really, you sure you don't want me to teach you?" Kouga asked while wiggling his eyebrows.

Kagome shook her head, "I'd like to go home now."

Kouga sighed, "Fine."