A/N: Well, at least I didn't wait over a month to update this time…that's progress right? ;) Anyway, this isn't exactly the fluff I promised, but this chapter grew too long to be considered as one whole chappie--at least to me--so the fluff is in the next chapter. The good news? Well, the next chapter is halfway through, so there should be another update pretty soon…who knows? I might be able to finish this sooner rather than later after all!

Thanks to my wonderful reviewers who deserve all the ice cream that I can offer…or chocolate, if that's better…or maybe even chocolate ice cream…mmmmmm…must stop...drooling... well, you guys get the point…hope you enjoy this one!

By the way, to those of you who were wondering, Kikyo's appearance in the last chapter wasn't meant to be anything really. Like I said a while a go, she's just like Orc #5 in a Lord of the Rings movie…she has really no purpose or plot, except to fill in as a random character. And as for Kagura in this chappie…well…I can't really explain how she got the part, but as I wrote it, it all just seemed to fit. Have fun reading!

Chapter 17: The Games We Play
Perhaps for the first time in his long life span, Sesshomaru was utterly confused as to what to do next.

It wasn't as though there were so many choices that he just couldn't pick one. And it certainly had nothing to do with a lack of motivation either.

No, what had caused this new turnabout was the latest report one of his men had supplied. It had only recently been written, and the news it contained was not exactly the happiest.

So the slippery snake has found its prey, he thought bitterly, hands clasping and unclasping on his expensively tailored pants. And he means to beat me to it.

Naraku had gone and created trouble again, by being conveniently spotted at the same gas station that the good for nothing hanyou and his friends were last reported being seen--before they apparently fell of the face of the bloody earth. Another fascinating point of interest that the writer of the report highlighted was that the greaseball lawyer had chosen to drive in the same direction that the getaway car for his brother had been heading as well.

Either Northern Japan was gaining in popularity in the middle of January during snowstorm season, or Naraku's agenda included a visit to the idiot Inuyasha. A fact that the businessman was trying to process in his head, along with the many other strange circumstances surrounding his problems.

But the most baffling question was what exactly the bastard had in store for Sesshomaru's brother. The older youkai knew that they weren't going to be swapping stories over cups of tea, but there was a strange feeling about all these little puzzle pieces that he didn't like.

And he wasn't known as ruthless for sitting on his rear end all day.

Silver claws grazed the telephone when suddenly Yura's voice piped over the intercom in its usual grating perky manner.

"Mr. Sesshomaru, sir?"

He let out a low growl, and abandoned the phone. "Yes?"

"A Ms. Nikiwa wishes to have a word with you."

"Tell her I am busy."

"She insists it's urgent." There was a short pause. "She says that she has information about your family problems. She also wishes to mention that the longer you delay in keeping her, the less likely this information will have importance, and therefore your problems will only increase."

Sesshomaru racked his memory, trying to figure our why the name Nikiwa sounded so very familiar. With casual ease, he typed the name into a search engine that popped up on the sleek laptop at his side. The information might very well be important, but he wasn't about to jump at what she dangled in front of him like a starving dog. He had discovered long ago that power came in various forms of control, and each time it had to be used in the right context.

Leaving the woman waiting while he went about his own devices was definitely a preferred method.

At last a link came up on the screen, explaining everything that the youkai needed to know about the new arrival. With a mild grimace, he signaled for Yura to send the woman up. She would have information, that he was certain of, but how high would the price be?

In moments, there was a strong knock on the door, and upon Sesshomaru's firm "Enter", Ms. Nikiwa stepped into the room. The winter sunlight that illuminated the silver hair of the youkai gleamed in the dark tresses that were tied back from the woman's face. Her attire was that of a strong businesswoman--a simply tailored jacket and skirt, with a white blouse underneath, accenting a trim figure. She would have been considered lovely, probably even beautiful, if it hadn't been for the shocking colour of her eyes.

Only those with demon blood could possess eyes as red as those of Ms. Kagura Nikiwa. And no human male could fall for a woman that would soon as slit his throat for approaching her.

"I would like to know as to why a co-worker of Naraku Omori would step forward to offer information, especially since his firm wishes to destroy all I have worked for." Sesshomaru had dispensed with the formalities. This was not a business deal that would go on record, nor would it benefit the company. This was entirely personal.

Kagura did not seem to hesitate at the cold voice, nor did she seem visibly stricken by the strength that the youkai emanated. Instead, she merely took a seat across from him and dumped a small pile of papers onto the smooth surface of the desk.

"My business with my fellow lawyer is my own. What concerns you can be found in those papers there," She informed him in a brisk manner, indicating the paperwork with a tilt of her head.

Sesshomaru reached to grab them, and was surprised to find another, more feminine hand keeping them in place.

"You didn't think I'd offer them up for free, did you?"

She was playing a game, one that Sesshomaru had spent many years playing. He had also spent many of those years winning it as well.

"The thought did cross my mind," He admitted slowly, "But then I only need to remember whom you work for to realize that nothing you will offer me will be free."

Her smile was icier than his tone. "Just because I work with that lousy S.O.B. doesn't mean I'm his mirror image. Still, I do expect profits when I go to great lengths to acquire certain things that are rather…difficult to find."

"Ms. Nikiwa, I would be willing to negotiate a deal with you, once I know what those papers contain." Sesshomaru pursed his fingers together, wondering why the woman before him was so hard to read. Even when sizing up demons, he usually managed to get a pretty good grasp on what they were feeling, and what their next move might be.

But this Kagura woman was different. Her tone was as removed as his own, and her blood-red eyes reflected nothing but the light. If he were any lesser of a demon, Sesshomaru might have felt frustrated by this. Yet that was not the case, so he had to content himself with trying to remain one step ahead of her.

Her hands grasped the papers and she picked out a few. The selected sheets were passed to him, and he carefully read the headings on each one.

It took him a moment before he could speak without letting his anger and surprise seep into the words. "How did you get this?"

"I work with Naraku on many cases, even when he doesn't need any aid. This particular case seemed a little shadier than most of his other dealings, so I thought I should give him some extra help. "She smirked, the cold glitter remaining in her eyes."Since your father's will is supposed to be read in full by his two sons, I felt it was my duty to let them both read it. Or at least, let the one that mattered the most read it. I don't think Naraku's edited version was completely clear on certain issues."

His father's will--the full, goddamned thing--was at his very fingertips. The truth was all here, the answer to his problems with his brother and his lawyer buried beneath the technical jargon that the document was no doubt filled with.

"Is this all? Or have you any more items of interest before we cut the deal?" Sesshomaru asked, careful to appear cool and relaxed. Even for someone who valued no emotion, it was hard to contain the itching need to scoop the papers up and get down to business as soon as possible. Things take time, and some things are worth the wait.

"Let me see."

She dug through the papers, and soon three piles were created on the desk as she sorted the various documents into their rightful place.

Pointing to the biggest pile first, she informed him of what each held, making sure only the barest details were explained. It wouldn't do to give away the priceless secrets that each pile held--not before getting paid. "This one here is your father's will in its entirety, along with the accompanying legal papers verifying the will. The pile next to it is evidence of Naraku's deceit in your legal affairs, as well as few juicy bits on other adventures he's had. That last pile is probably going to serve you the greatest, at least in your latest problem. You haven't found your brother yet I take it?"

The sudden switch in conversation jarred Sesshomaru from his dark thoughts. Thoughts including his silver claws digging into Mr. Omori's neck. "What concern is it of yours?"

Her smile widened, not entirely in a nice way. "Oh, I don't care if you find the brat one way or the other. I'm just curious, since that pile contains some interesting travel documents that my co-worker mistakenly left behind."

The silver-haired youkai took a long look at the piles of papers spread out on his desk. As desperate as he was to finalize the entire mess his life had fallen into, there were still a few problems with the situation.

"How can I trust that these papers are the real thing?" He stared hard, bitter yellow eyes squarely meeting red ones. "Prove to me that these are not forgeries, and maybe then we can discuss something."

Kagura sighed, and broke the strong gaze by casually examining her manicured nails sporting a dark red varnish. "Please, you think that I would go out of my way to forge not only your father's will, but the fifty or so other papers that I've dumped here? I'm a busy woman, Sesshomaru, and I barely have time to sleep, let alone to construct a giant scheme to fool you into giving me money."

"You are so willing to get rid of your delightful co-worker though, Ms. Nikiwa. How do I know that you aren't trying to destroy my company as well?" The question sounded rather stupid, when he thought about it, but her enthusiasm in destroying Naraku was a little suspicious. She had ulterior motives--that could be counted on.

The dark-haired woman took one last look at her sculpted nails, then found Sesshomaru's gaze again. "Tell me, what would a lawyer like myself want with a hotel chain? My reasons for getting back at Naraku are personal, but I will ease your fears slightly by letting you in on a little piece of information." She leaned in closer, dropping her voice to a dramatic whisper. "The bastard has cheated me of countless promotions and raises that are rightfully mine. Instead, he works me like his bitch, and expects gratitude for it. I'm sick of the asshole degrading our firm, and with a little co-operation from you, I could take my place at the head of it. Is that good enough for you, or do you wish to intrude on my personal life as well?"

The frozen barrier that had hidden her emotions had disappeared for a moment, and Sesshomaru saw the fire and hatred that had been simmering beneath it. If the speech hadn't convinced him, then it was the conviction in those eyes that would.

Leaning back in his chair, the businessman waited a beat, and then gave a small nod. "Your personal life is not required, Ms. Nikiwa. What is your price?"

She named a reasonable fee--reasonable, at least, for the head of a multimillion-dollar company. As Sesshomaru wrote out the check, he felt the tension in his shoulder blades ease up. The end to the dark tunnel he had been planted in was suddenly in sight, and it was about ruddy time too. Maybe it is true that good things come to those who wait. Or at least, to those with patience.

Kagura took her check, tucked into her briefcase, and gave his hand a quick, definitive shake. Sesshomaru was already delving into the documents on his desk, when a soft sound pulled him up from the papers.

He found himself staring at the lawyer who had paused halfway out the door, only to turn back briefly.

"I hope you give that rat bastard what he deserves, Sesshomaru," Kagura said, her chin raised defiantly. "We at the firm wouldn't hold it against you if you slit his throat."

"We'll just have to wait and see."

With a small smile that could only be described as malicious, Kagura sauntered out of the polished office, and disappeared behind the closing door.

Sesshomaru shook his head, amused by the comment. Naraku wasn't in line to suffer a quick death.

Oh no, he was going to lament the day he ever began to meddle in the affairs of Inutaisho and his sons.

It had all seemed so innocent, so simple.

In fact, it had appeared to be the only solution to the ever-increasing problems in the household. Particularly that of Kagome and Inuyasha.

Now, Sango wasn't one to pry too willingly into the personal lives of her friends. But when you were stuck with them in a small cottage, in the middle of a rather violent snowstorm, it was pretty hard to stay out of any issues that they were having. Especially when you were stuck sleeping in the same room with one of them, and not particularly trusted by the other.

So when she had caught sight of the Scrabble game, tucked away at the bottom of the feeble bookcase, it had felt like some heavenly being had shown her the light. This was the answer to the unresolved tension that erupted every time Inuyasha or Kagome came within ten feet of each other. It would also shut Miroku up about the failed satellite system that was currently broadcasting static on every channel, and stop him sulking about missing the "Big Game".

The board game had been set up at the kitchen table, and she had sat down with hope gleaming in her eyes. Whenever she and her brother had become bored, they had always cracked out a board game as entertainment. Sango had many fond memories of triumphantly claiming the last of her brother's Monopoly money.

But the whole idea had begun to lose its magic as soon as seating arrangements were established. It had taken all of Miroku's strength to get Inuyasha to sit down at the table so he could participate in the "piece of crap game". As soon as Kagome had taken her place across from him, it had taken the combined effort of Kirara and Sango to drag the hanyou back to his chair and keep him there.

And that had just been the beginning.

What have I gotten myself into? Sango thought, supporting her head on one hand as she waited for Miroku to spell out the rest of his word. Letters that was suspiciously forming the word…

"Miroku! That's not acceptable!" Kagome cried, a little exasperated at his spelling habits.

"Yes it is. It's just another term for a male rooster." He looked innocently at his friend. "What were you thinking about, Kagome? Sheesh, and you accuse little old me of having a dirty mind."

"Don't tell me that was the only word you could possibly spell out of eight letters," Sango warned, eyes narrowing at him.

Miroku held up his hands in defense. "As it so happens, yes. Unless you know a word that starts with X and includes only one vowel."

"Look, can't you add to it somehow?" Kagome put in, taking her cue from Sango. "I don't know, modify it somehow so it's a little less…"

"Perverted?" Inuyasha supplemented, his eyes never leaving the game board. He wasn't a very chatty fellow, but at least he wasn't sparring with Kagome in their usual fashion. At least, not verbally. His last few words on the board contradicted his quiet behavior, especially since most seemed to be synonyms of stupid or angry.

"Crude?" Sango added, for effect, and noticed the dark-haired man across from her give in to defeat with a sigh.

"Fine, but one day you'll appreciate moments like these. When I'm dead and gone and you're all suffering from a lack of fun and laughter in your bleak lives, you'll wish you had me around."

He drew out another little block, and placed it carefully at the end of his word. With a sweeping grin, he sat back in his chair and gave his shoulders a stretch.

Sango would have hit him if Kagome hadn't beaten her to it. His loud "Ack" echoed in the otherwise empty house, and he shot a glare at his friend.

"What was that for?"

"That, you pervert, was for the addition to your word!"

"But you told me to make it different, so I did! See? Now there's an 'S' at the end. You're just trying to make life difficult because I'm winning."

"You're not winning, Sango is. And it's not different, you dipstick, it's just plural." With a sigh, Kagome grabbed his little letter holder, ignoring Miroku's vain attempts at snatching it back.

"That's not fair, you saw my letters. Cheating wasn't allowed last time I checked, Kagome dear."

"Well, Miroku darling," Kagome shot back, picking out a letter, and adding it to the word. "You'll be getting six new ones now, so technically I won't know most of them. Look, see how I made it better? It says 'CLOCKS'. That's not a dirty word, and it will get you even more points for it than your original one."

Miroku opened his mouth, and closed it again, as he understood that his friend had a point. With a roll of his dark eyes, he picked out his new letters, careful not to let Kagome see them. When he noticed Sango staring at him, he offered her a quick smile and a wink.

The little trickster was planning it all along, she realized, and returned the smile.

"Your turn, Inuyasha."

The hanyou said nothing, but merely placed his letters on the board. It took Sango a moment to grasp as to why he would write such a silly thing, but it she came to an understanding when she saw Kagome's face twist into a scowl. 'Quack' was a term commonly used for bad doctors, or in this case, probably used for bad veterinarians too.

"Uh…I don't think animal sounds count as words," Sango said, hoping to ease some of the sudden tension that was building between the two. It was getting thicker by the second.

"It's not always an animal sound," Inuyasha said, his tone dangerously pleasant. Although he spoke to Sango, his eyes were slowly finding their way to Kagome. "It can stand for other things as well.

Miroku, who was also beginning to pick up on the rise in tension, decided to help Sango in her quest to stop the next world war from breaking out. "Hey, if you wouldn't let me use my last word, then you can't use this one."

"It's all right, Miroku," Kagome intervened suddenly. With one glance at the young woman's strangely calm face, the demon hunter knew they were all doomed. "The idiot jerk of a hanyou can have his pathetic word. After all, he hasn't learned how to give insults like a man. Instead, he has to hide them in a stupid board game."

Sango caught herself before she could argue that Scrabble was not a stupid board game. There was enough of an argument brewing that her comments did not need to be heard at this very moment.

Instead, she braced herself for the onslaught that was no doubt going to begin. As of…

"And I'm not going to stand by and let some useless human female insult me on what's going to be my turf!"

…now.

"Your turf? YOUR turf? Need I remind you that not only did I let you stay in MY clinic, but I brought you back to MY apartment, let you eat my bloody food, and you slept on MY pullout couch!" Kagome yelled, her face flushed with anger.

"I wouldn't have been there if we weren't desperate for a freaking hideout. Hell, you wouldn't even be in this mess if Miroku hadn't needed a quick solution. YOU'RE USELESS!" Inuyasha suddenly raised his voice, a fist slamming down on the table. Letter blocks flew in all directions and one narrowly missed getting caught in Sango's eye.

"Useless? USELESS? I saved your damn hide from getting skinned by hiding you! You know what, Inuyasha? You're a selfish bastard, and frankly, I'm sick and tired of it. In fact, I'm done with this place, I'm done with this game, and I'm done with YOU!" Quick as lightning, Kagome grabbed the Scrabble board and hurled it at the hanyou across the table in a fit of rage.

It connected with his thick head with a resounding 'thunk'. Stunned, he fell back onto his equally thick rear as Kagome stormed past him and out into the raging blizzard, slamming the front door as loudly as she could.

Blinking, Miroku and Sango could only stare at the empty table where the game had once been, too shocked to fully comprehend what had happened.

It was only when Inuyasha got off the floor--cursing and muttering all the way--and stomped off to his room upstairs that the two remaining humans broke out of their daze.

"One of us should go out there," Sango said, gesturing towards the curtained window. "I don't think she remembered to take a coat."

"I'll go. I know Inuyasha better than anyone. Maybe I can explain his puzzling character to her." Miroku ran an absent hand through his hair as he stared at the mess that had once constituted a Scrabble game.

Sango followed his gaze. "Don't worry, I'll clean it up. You make sure Kagome hasn't become the human icicle."

"It's a deal."

The house had gone eerily quiet since the big blowout, and once again Sango wished that Miroku had a radio, or just something that would disrupt the stillness. It was hard to maintain a cheerful façade when there was nothing but tense silence.

Miroku--bundled up in what appeared to be an entire winter clothing line--suddenly appeared at her side, and she found herself looking up into a weary face.

"Look, I just wanted to say thanks."

"For what?" She arched a brow as she scooped up the first pile of letters.

"For sticking with me. I couldn't have handled these two alone."

Sango tried her best to smile brightly, and failed rather miserably. "You are paying me for this, remember?"

He nodded, but the sedate expression remained plastered on his face. Boy, he must be really tired of this if he isn't trying to crack a joke or at least smile.

"Money or no, this hasn't been easy for you. I thought things would be a little…well, different."

"A little less hostile?" She offered.

"A little less like a war zone actually." He went to run a hand through his hair, but the edge of the woolen hat stopped it. Instead, Sango stiffened with surprise as she found that particular hand on her cheek.

"You know, when I first met you, I thought you were this tough female, who wouldn't take anything from anyone. But now…now, I see a woman who may be tough on the outside, and yet can still be kind and sweet on the inside." His hand gently caressed her cheek, leaving the skin tingling.

Sango felt her chest tighten. There was a note of seriousness in the air that she wasn't too sure she was comfortable with just yet. "Demon exterminators aren't generally called sweet or kind. I don't know if I should take offence to that."

"No offence was intended. And contract or no, I'm still so grateful to have you here."

He's thanking you for helping him with the other two, Sango reminded herself. He's not thanking you for being with him, or acting like a lovesick teenager every time he touches you.

Still, her thoughts couldn't dissuade her from grasping the hand on her cheek, and pressing it closer to the skin. Looking up at him, she attempted a smile again, hoping to keep the situation light. Hopefully, he wouldn't notice her lips quivering.

"You're welcome then."

There was a pause--Sango felt it was certainly awkward, at least on her part--and for an instant, it seemed as though Miroku was going to lean down and actually kiss her. But the flicker in his eyes faded, and the moment passed as quickly as it had come.

He drew his hand away and out of her grasp, and the weariness was suddenly replaced by the humour that was so familiar to his whole being.

Trying to hide her disappointment, Sango gave him advice about avoiding the big snowdrifts, and watched him disappear into the black night outside.

Feeling utterly foolish, the demon exterminator wondered if she should start donning pigtails and kilts if she wanted to complete this whole schoolgirl image she was starting to portray.

An image of herself giggling madly with bows in her pigtails, and one of those dinky little purses tucked under her arm teased a chuckle out of her, and Sango couldn't help but drop the self-pity. He was just another handsome guy who enjoyed flirting with figures that sported breasts and long legs. Heaven knows why he had chosen her as his latest object of affection--perhaps due to a lack of choice lately--but it wouldn't last.

Soon, she would be cashing in a nice fat check, and putting a down payment on the old cottage in the mountains. The same cottage her parents had once used as a summer getaway for the whole family, before her mother had died.

It had been ironic really. Although her mother had not been an exterminator like her husband and children, she had taken an active role in the school. Her father had always worried though about his wife's safety whenever she followed them on hunts, but each time she had come away completely unscathed. That was until the doctor had diagnosed her with a rare form of cancer, and had given her six months to live. Then they had to contend with watching their mother and wife die from the one demon that none of them could fight.

The cottage had been her mother's haven really, and after she was gone, her father had quickly sold it off. But Sango had never really forgotten the one place that she had found her solitude, and--at eleven years of age--she had sworn to get it back one day. If not for herself, for her mother's memory that still lingered in her mind.

And when she was safely tucked away in her retreat, then--and only then--would she allow herself to maybe start thinking about looking for a man who could not only support her in her lifestyle, but deal with her quirks as well.

Shaking her head at her sudden girlishness, Sango continued to scrape up the wooden blocks strewn over the floor. There was no point looking towards the future just yet. There were still a few obstacles in her way.

One of those obstacles being a way of retrieving the wooden blocks that had been flung under the various pieces of furniture.

Grumbling, Sango banished all romantic thoughts aside, and shoved a hand into the dusty area underneath the couch, praying that she hadn't just invaded a colony of spiders.

The wind ripped through the holes in her knitted sweater, and tore at the sensitive skin below. Any sane person would have stowed away inside the house the minute the wind had picked up.

But Kagome wasn't sane.

She was pissed off.

And frustrated.

And ready to curl her hands around a certain half-breed's neck and strangle him to kingdom come.

Yet despite the ferocious wind, and the anger that caused her clutched hands to whiten at the knuckles, Kagome still couldn't get rid of the tears brimming in her eyes.

I'm such an idiot, she thought passionately. How could I even think that a jackass like him would like me? Heck, how could I have ever believed that I was even remotely close to liking him? Am I really that desperate for affection?

It's not like I haven't had my share of guys…Okay, so there's only been what? Three? Four? But I was studying to be a vet! No one has a life when they're going through vet school! And the only reason I'm not hitting the dating scene now is because my clinic is my main priority.

With a moan, she buried her freezing head into chilled arms. I'm doomed. Doomed to be an old maid who has animals in every corner of the house, but hasn't even seen a naked man in her paisley-printed bed!

"Holy freaking cow, it's freezing out here. Inuyasha may be an ass, but he's not an ass worth suffering over in this cold."

A hand full of warmth and comfort rested on her shoulder. Blinking back the tears that were beginning to drip down her face, she looked up into the sympathetic eyes of her friend.

Miroku handed her a coat, scarf, gloves, and even her winter boots. With a grin, he took a seat next to her on the stairs, and waited as she dressed. It took longer than usual, since her hands were completely frozen, and all feeling had been lost in her limbs long ago.

When she looked equivalent to a giant, multicoloured snowman, she glanced over at Miroku and met his gaze, tear-free. "If you've come out to apologize for that jerk's behavior, save your breath. I don't want to hear it."

"I'm not here to apologize. At least not for him. I do want to say sorry for dragging you into a situation that was never should have been your concern. For bringing you into this…this screwed up mess."

In all the years she'd known him, Kagome had never once seen him quite so apologetic and serious. The boy she'd known had grown up after all, despite his lingering obsession with all thinks blatantly sexual.

"Look, Kagome. I wasn't thinking, that night I came to you for help. I never thought that you might get involved in this as deeply as you are now." He looked earnestly at her and reached out to grab her shoulder again in an effort to convey his sentiment. "I once told myself I'd never, ever willingly put my friends in danger if they weren't already in it. And, of course, the minute I get to test that vow out, I manage to break it."

"Its okay, Miroku," She said softly, or as softly as the howling wind would allow. "Don't beat yourself up over something you could hardly control. I could have easily refused you when you showed up outside the clinic, or any of those other instances. It's not your fault."

He looked off into the distance suddenly, as if he needed to find something else to stare at. Something that he didn't care about. "Ever since I first met you, you've been taking care of me. You helped me get through my schoolwork, my girlfriend issues, and even my hangovers. I always knew that whenever I had a problem, no matter what it was, I could ask you for advice or help. You're too soft-hearted to turn someone down, especially if that someone is a friend or a really cute baby animal--" Kagome had to grin at that"--and I used that to my advantage. And I want to say I'm sorry for it."

Exasperated by her friend's pity, Kagome gave Miroku a light slap on the arm. "I may be soft-hearted, but I'm no wuss. Of course I'd never turn down a baby animal if it needed help, or any animal for that matter, but I do have my limits when it comes to humans. Just because you asked me for a favour doesn't mean I always say yes. I agreed to help your 'friend' that night because I cared. About you, and about that hurt animal you were fostering in your apartment. After that, I said yes to all your stupid schemes because I still cared, and I wanted to help in any way possible."

Miroku opened his mouth, looking as though he was ready to protest, but she silenced him with another smack. "No, please stop with the whole 'blame me' idea. Look, let me put it this way. Whenever I help an animal, I know there are risks. The animal could bite or scratch or it could have some deadly disease that affects humans. If it's smart enough, it could go for my exposed neck and do away with me, depending on just how angry and hurt it is. But that doesn't stop me helping them. I knew the minute I saw the hanyou bleeding on your couch that there might be dangers involved, but I still lent a helping hand. So stop with the self-pity and let me kill your friend."

He chuckled, his breath frosting in the light emanating from the house behind him. "You don't know how many people have said that to me. I know Inuyasha isn't a barrel of joy, but he has his redeeming qualities."

"Like what? His ability to piss people off? I swear that guy could make Gandhi fall into a raging fit."

"He'd probably try," Miroku admitted. "This isn't an apology for him or an excuse, Kagome, but I just want to ask you to care about him a little longer. He has issues--with his family, his work, and his life--and none of them are proving to be a positive experience. He needs someone to worry about him, to make sure he doesn't give up."

"To give him a swift kick in the ass," Kagome muttered, just loudly enough for her friend to hear and was rewarded with a laugh. Rubbing her gloved hands together, she blew into them to give them back some warmth. "Look, until he gets around to actually apologizing for being an ass--or at least show some remorse for it--I won't hesitate to throttle him."

"Oh, cause all the pain you want. Just don't give up on him," Miroku asked, giving her shoulder a squeeze. She could barely feel it through the thick layers of down her coat had, but she smiled at him anyway.

Kagome opened her mouth to say something when the strangest sound was brought to her ears by way of wind. Or at least, she assumed it was the wind. Whatever it was, it made a high-pitched whine that had the hair on the back of her neck standing up on end.

A glance at Miroku confirmed he heard it too. They exchanged a glance.

"What was that?" She asked out loud, to no one in particular.

Miroku looked as if he was about to try and answer when something large and dark landed with a loud thump on the wooden deck.

Amid the howling wind, Kagome swore she could hear the shape sniffing. What it was sniffing for was beyond her. It certainly didn't look like bear. The shape in the dark was hunched over, its shoulders protruding well above the neck.

It scraped along the wooden floorboards, and suddenly its head appeared in the light. Muffling a scream, Kagome leapt off the stairs and into the snowdrifts, followed by Miroku. The head confirmed her suspicions that it definitely wasn't a bear. Bears had furry heads, with furry ears, and round eyes.

This head was reptilian in nature, scales gleaming a murky green in the diluted light. Oval shaped eyes glinted under bony brows, and there was only two slits that acted as a nose.

"Don't…move."

Kagome wanted to look up at Miroku--to see if he was as scared as she was, but she had to take his advice. The head moved through the light and was followed by a scaled body, with two small forearms, and two more muscular back legs coming into view. She couldn't see the end of the tail, but she knew that the creature took up most of the deck.

Her entire body felt frozen, her throat parched, as she stared at the bizarre creature that was currently inspecting the doorway. Never before had she even heard about things like this, and it was all she could do from running as fast and as far away as she could.

But Miroku's words rang soundly in her head, and she kept her place.

The creature gave up on the doorway, and suddenly stood up on its hind legs, and threw back its head. The strange whine she had heard was suddenly much louder, and seemed to emanate from the lizard-thing. Her ears were ringing as the high-pitched sound continued, drowning out the wind's furious cries.

Unable to take it any longer, Kagome threw her hands over her ears. The ache was unbearable--it felt as though her eardrums were preparing to explode.

As the ringing in her ears began to die down, she let her hands fall, and suddenly heard the sounds of snow being crushed by feet. She was just quick enough to catch a glimpse of another hulking form only a few feet away before something glinted in the light from the window and something sharp cut deep into her arm, reaching skin and muscle even through the thick layer of her clothes.

Crying out, Kagome dropped to the snowy floor, clutching her gouged and bleeding arm. She would have called out for help, if something else hadn't solidly connected with her head.

Suddenly the dark, night time world went utterly and completely black.

To be continued in Chapter 18…coming soon!