Haa-chan: This is a good chapter…

Ama: Very good…

Haa-chan: yayness!

A Winter Wonder

Learning the New Rules…

Kagome started to breath again as she looked around at the green grass and the forest. Kurama was trying to calm her by holding her and murmuring soothing words to her. Hiei felt pity for the girl. He looked around and saw the Goshinboku.

"Kagome…You have to lead us to the village." Kurama said. Kagome stood up straight with her will alone. She held her bow in her hand as she headed to Kaede's village. She got to the hill just before the village.

"There it is…Kaede-baba's village. This was my home here…" Kagome murmured. She took a step forward but stopped. She narrowed her eyes. I sense youkai…She shook it off and continued to the village. Hiei and Kurama followed her.

Something seems to bother her…Kurama said to Hiei.

Maybe because there are youkai in the area? Hiei replied with a roll of his eyes. They followed Kagome into the village and looked around.

"It's Lady Kagome!"

"Kagome-sama is back!"

"She's brought friends…"

"Get Kaede-sama!" The villagers whispered then yelled. Kagome smiled as she glanced back at Kurama and Hiei who were swarmed by children. Kagome laughed as Hiei just glared at the children who kept tugging at his shirt. Kurama was picking up the kids and answering their questions.

"Children…please leave my friends alone…" Kagome said. The children turned to Kagome and smiled.

"Hai Kagome-sama!" They rang in unison before running off to play.

"Kagome!" A girl screamed. She ran and jumped onto Kagome's back. "Rin is glad to see Kagome-chan back even after a week!"

"Rin, it's good to see you…but what are you doing in Kaede's village?"

"Kaede needed some help so I brought her here…" A woman said behind Rin. Next to her was Kaede-baba. Kagome's eyes widened.

"Kin---"

"Don't say it…I'm in a human disguise…" She said. "It's Kaze now…" Kurama looked at the young Lady Kinaki in her human disguise. Hiei snorted. Kinaki glared at the apparition.

"Kagome…" Kaede went to the young girl. Kagome smiled slightly and hugged Kaede.

"Kaede…I've missed you…"

"It's been hard without ye, child…" Kaede answered as she let go of Kagome. "I am guessing that what has happened in this time has affected ye time." Kagome's eyes became suddenly dark as she looked down.

"Please tell us, what has happened in this time?" Kurama said from behind Kagome.

"First…tell us who you two are…" Rin said as she got off Kagome. "Demons…" She said lowly.

"I am Kurama and this is Hiei." Kurama introduced themselves as Kagome sighed.

"Alright…come to Kaede's hut, we'll speak in there." Kinaki said. Rin smiled and grabbed Kagome's hand dragging her to the hut. The others followed.

-----Kaede's Hut

Kaede was sipping tea while sitting in between Kinaki and Rin while Kagome was in between Kurama and Hiei.

"So tell me Kaede…what happened?" Kagome urged.

"Though it is not in this village child a new dark creature has come to cause chaos among this world in place of Naraku..." Kaede said.

"Kagome-chan…Sesshomaru has to send Rin to this village because this village is one of the neutral villages in the area." Rin said.

"Enough going around the question what's going on?" Hiei said irately.

"Hold your tongue apparition!" Kinaki growled.

"Please…calm yourself Hiei…" Kurama said looking at his friend.

"Kagome…someone has made humans have youkai slaves…and the same thing with youkai having human slaves." Kaede said as she put her tea down.

"NANI?!" Kagome jerked backed in surprise. "You can't be serious!" She looked at them. They were very serious. "That's why you are disguised as a human right Kaze?" Kinaki nodded. "What happened to your lands?"

"Controlled my rebel youkai and human with slaves…same with Rei's and Darius's lands…" Kinaki answered. "They two are into hiding…but I fear that they might have been captured."

"Sesshomaru-sama is fighting with Kaien-sama to protect their lands together against evil youkai with slaves." Rin said with tears in her eyes. "Rin could have helped but he won't allow it."

"We have to stop this…" Kurama replied. Kagome was silent as she fisted her hands in her purple hakama. I can't allow this to go on…I have to save them…I promised them that the danger was over. Kagome clenched her eyes shut. I PROMISED! She held the tears as bay as she had her inner turmoil.

Hiei glanced at Kagome as she was fighting with herself. She's got determination…I'll give her that. But that alone will not help her. Hiei crossed his arms as the other finally noticed Kagome's silence.

"Kagome-chan…" Kaede asked.

"Kaede-sama…" Kinaki, Kaede, and Rin were surprised the only time Kagome called Kaede sama was when she was serious. "Kaede-sama…you have to tell me what I must do! I have to know how to fix this!" Kagome pleaded as her fists tightened. "I promised them Kaede…I promised them I would keep everything okay…I would keep everything alright! Please!" Tears were in her eyes as she looked at them but they did not fall.

Kurama put a hand on Kagome's shoulder. She turned to him, he smiled. She smiled in return and silently thanked him. /Willing to help her?/ Youko said in his mind. Kurama mentally nodded as he gave Kagome's shoulder a squeeze. /Good…/

"Alright…" Kaede said. "But Kagome…you must become a miko with a youkai slave."

"Doushite?" Kagome asked.

"No human in the area other than us and Jineji's village are neutral…" Kinaki said. "If a human walks into a village with another human it's okay…but a demon with red-hair…they'd kill you on sight."

"So we have to stay here?" Kurama asked. Kinaki and Rin grinned. Hiei raised an eyebrow.

"Kurama, Hiei…I'm betting Kagome brought the two subduing necklaces I told her to get." Kinaki said smirking.

"Rin thinks that perhaps…Kurama-san and Hiei-san can be Kagome's 'slaves'." Rin said.

"Us…slaves to a human…" Hiei growled. "You must be kidding!" Kurama was silent.

/This could get interesting…and we would be able to travel close with Kagome./ Youko said.

Yes…but…

/But what? You can also fool some enemies…/ Youko insisted. Kurama sighed in defeat and looked at Kinaki. "I'll do it…" Kagome looked at him like he was insane.

"You must be kidding fox!" Hiei protested.

"Think about it Hiei…we would be able to fool whoever is behind this whole ordeal into thinking we are just some ordinary slaves." Kurama reasoned.

"He's got a point apparition…" Kinaki said. Hiei glared at them all. When he turned to Kagome she was bowing her head in a pleading way to him. This took Hiei by surprise.

"Please Hiei…I have to correct what has gone wrong." Kagome begged him. Kurama looked at Hiei.

"If we have to we will go without you Hiei send you back to the future." Kurama said. Hiei snorted and looked away.

"Fine…I'll do it…"

"Thank you Hiei…Thank you…" Kagome said to him sincerely as she jumped up and hugged him.

"Hn…" He glared at Kagome and pushed her away from him.

"Now…would you guys like to start training or rest?" Kinaki asked.

"I would like to train." Kurama said. Hiei shrugged.

"Thank you guys…" Kagome said as she stood up. Kinaki and Rin also stood up.

"Kagome get the beads from your bag. Rin and I will take Kurama and Hiei to the far side of town in the woods." Kinaki said with a smirk. Kagome nodded and set down her bag as they left. Kaede smiled as Kagome brought out a ruby and obsidian beaded necklace and one dark emerald and light jade necklace.

"Ye know those necklaces would go perfect with Kurama and Hiei. Perhaps ye knew in ye heart that ye would have to do this." Kaede said as she drank her refilled her cup of tea. Kagome sighed.

"Kaede-baba…please, don't go on with I can unconscious know the future stuff…" Kagome said as she stood with the beads in her hand. "Wait…it would be better to train in the exterminator suit…" Kagome said as she quickly peeled off the miko garments. Kaede smiled as Kagome put the bow at her back and the quivers at her side.

"Good luck child…" Kaede said as Kagome ran out of the hut.

-----Far side in the woods

Kinaki smirked with Rin as they looked at Hiei and Kurama. Kinaki walked around them thinking.

"Now Rin thinks, Hiei would be a perfect Guardian slave…but Kurama…Rin doesn't know." Rin said to Kinaki. The older woman smiled.

"Kurama…what type of fox are you?" Kinaki asked curiously.

"A silver kitsune spirit is inside my body, why?" Kurama answered.

"I think its best not to tell you what kind of slave you are going to be." Kinaki said as she walked to Rin and sat beside her. Kurama raised an eyebrow.

"Rin thinks we should go on with lesson one." Rin said. Kinaki nodded.

"Now when Kagome gets here, she is going to have to put a subduing necklace around each of you." Hiei growled. "Calm down, I'm sure she'll use a word that will not hurt you…"

"Like it did Inuyasha?" Kagome said as she stepped into the clearing. Kurama and Hiei looked at her.

Beautiful…Kurama thought. Youko agreed with him as they looked at the exterminator suit. Her armor and sash were lavender while the rest was black.

Stop drooling fox…Hiei smirked. Kurama recomposed himself and raised eyebrow at Kagome. She smiled sadly.

"Inuyasha…he was the hanyou you told us about?" Kurama asked.

"Surprised you remembered," Kagome spoke. She looked at Kinaki. "What must I do?"

"Put the subduing necklace on each of them and say a word." Kinaki said. Rin nodded. Kagome when to the closest person, which was Hiei, she stood in front of him. She grabbed the ruby and obsidian necklace from her arm. It glowed for a moment from she started to put it around Hiei's neck.

"Hurry up ningen…" Kagome flinched at the name calling. Hiei noticed this and wanted to know what was wrong. Once Kagome put the necklace around Hiei she sighed.

"What word are you going to use?" Rin asked.

"Kuroi…" Hiei went down into a sitting position, Indian style withi his hands on his knees. Kurama blinked and couldn't help but chuckle.

"Shut up fox!" Hiei growled. Kurama blinked as Kagome put the emerald and jade necklace around his neck.

"Behave Kurama…" Kurama went down on all fours. "See what happens when you laugh at other people?" Kagome smiled. "Sorry guys…"

"It's okay Kagome…" Kurama said. Kagome nodded.

"Now Kagome, most demons have to ask for forgiveness. You don't have to though…but just in case…Kagome sit in front of Hiei." Kagome scooted over to Hiei and sat in front of him. "Now, Hiei, you must lean forward and allow Kagome to caress your cheek." Hiei growled but did just that. Kagome hesitantly raised her hand to caress Hiei's cheek.

She's shaking…Hiei noted as she caressed his cheek. He turned his head toward her palm and nuzzled into it. Kurama was starting to get a little jealous. /NO FAIR!/ Youko shouted in his mind.

"Alright, that should do it." Rin said smiling. Kagome stood up and looked at Kinaki and Rin. "Kneel before Kurama…"

"O-okay…" Kagome stutter as she kneeled before Kurama. He smiled are her.

"You okay?" He whispered. She nodded mutely.

"Kurama, put your head in Kagome's lap…" Kinaki spoke.

"N-na-nani…" Kurama blushed as did Kagome. Hiei mentally chuckled in Kurama's head.

"Do it! Or Kinaki will make you…" Rin said with her hands on her hips. Kurama slowly laid his head on Kagome's lap making her blush more.

"Now Kagome…run your hand through his hair as though soothing him, kind of like you do Shippo…" Kinaki commanded. Kagome shyly put her hand through Kurama's hair. Hiei was now getting slightly jealous. Kurama closed his eyes as he rubbed his cheek up and down on Kagome's thigh. Youko pushed his way out slightly purring. Kurama came back to his senses when Kagome stopped and giggled.

Having a good time fox? Hiei asked smirking slightly. Kurama sat up and looked at Kagome who smiled at him. Hiei smirked as Kurama fidgeted. Kagome stood up and looked at Kinaki.

"Now…" Kinaki started.

"No more for today…" Kagome said in a shaky, yet stern voice.

"Kagome-nee-chan?" Rin blinked. Kagome smiled an eerie smile before heading away from them deeper into the woods. Kurama watched Kagome leave. Hiei also watch curious of her actions.

"I guess you guys can explore the area for the rest of the day…" Kinaki murmured as she and Rin headed back to the village. "So things can't be forgotten…or fixed so easily."

-----

Shizuru smiled as her father, Mamoru, stood with her in front of the Goshinboku.

"So Kagome separated the jewel into nine pieces. Do you know where the pieces went?" Mamoru asked.

"The largest is in Kagome…the others are in Me, Yukina, Shippo, Keiko, Yusuke, Kurama, and Hiei and I believe in Kazuma…" Shizuru answered as she sighed. "She took Kurama and Hiei back with her. Dad, I don't know what to do…"

"I'm sure Asami would want you to protect the Shrine and the well house, not like you have a choice with the Lord of the Western Lands breathing down your neck." He laughed.

"Thanks dad…" She murmured. "No if only there was a way to make sure she was alright…"

-----

Kagome walked around the border of the village sighing as old memories revived themselves. She smiled. "I'm nothing but a stupid weak girl with lost ambitions…" She murmured as she sat on top of a hill overlooking the village. She set her bow to the sight and sighed again. The wind blew causing her hair to whip around. "The famous miko-child who reduced Naraku to dust and lost everything is reduced to a cry baby." She laughed coldly at herself. She leaned against the tree behind her and held out her hand as a small bird flew onto it. She smiled slightly.

"But you are not a cry baby…" Kurama said from the left of her. Kagome turned to see Kurama standing there with his hands by his side. The bird flew off as the wind blew again causing leaves to spiral around them both. "May I sit?" He asked politely. Kagome nodded and watched as he sat down beside her.

"What do you want…if you don't mind me asking…" Kagome said as she looked back down at the village.

"I wish to see that you are alright," Kurama responded as he relaxed. Kagome smiled.

"Thank you…"

"For what Kagome?" He asked blinking slightly.

"For doing this," She gave the rosary a small tug. "For helping me…" It was Kurama's turn to smile.

"You need help, all you need to do is ask for it…" Kagome nodded and stood up. Kurama blinked.

"Come with me…" She grabbed his hand and pulled him up then raced into the woods. Kurama trailed behind Kagome glad she was happy. Soon Kagome stopped near a den, a fox den Kurama observed. Kagome put her finger to her lips motioning for silence. She knelt down and held her hand out. She clicked her tongue a few times and let her finger make a move.

Hiei sat in the tree behind them with a raised eyebrow. He watched as Kagome repeated the motion a few times before something came. Hiei watched as a black nose popped out of the cave followed by a head and ears. A kitsune den? Hiei asked Kurama ask a small kitsune tumble out toward Kagome. Soon a whole liter and parents came out.

It would seem that they know Kagome ne? Kurama answered.

/Beautiful and has a love of kitsune…/ Youko replied in his mind. Kurama shook him out as the kitsune cubs encircled Kagome and himself. The father growled as a tree as the mother glared at it. Kagome smiled and lifted the cub into her arms.

"Kawaii…you grew…" Kagome murmured as the fox nipped her nose. Kurama sat beside Kagome allowing the cubs to climb all over him.

"So Kagome how did you get to know these kitsune?" Kurama asked. She smiled.

"Well, I first meet them when I first came to the feudal era…but after Shippo came he was sort of what made them trust me." Kagome said while reminiscing. "The village cared for them ever since…" She smiled at Kurama then looked up into a tree. "Hiei would you come down so Lee can stop growling?" Hiei appeared beside Kagome causing the pups to jump and hide behind Kagome and Kurama. Kagome stood up.

"Hn…what do you want?"

"Why were you following us?" Kagome asked.

"To make sure you two didn't get in trouble…" Hiei said as Kurama stood up. The foxes went back into their den as Kagome smiled.

"You actually care!" Kagome giggled and hugged him. Hiei blushed slightly.

"I-I do not!" Hiei replied as he pushed her off.

Stuttering Hiei? Kurama smirked. Hiei growled at Kurama.

"Well, it's getting dark let's get back." Kagome said as she headed to the village.

"She's distracted…" Hiei said as he turned to Kurama.

"I see that Hiei…" Kurama said as he went down the same path as Kagome.

/So…what are we going to do with her?/ Youko asked in Kurama mind.

What do you mean? Kurama asked back.

/I mean I think we should make her our mate baka!/

YOUKO!

/Just a thought…/ Youko responded pouting. Kurama mentally rolled his eyes at the fox as he walked into the hut. Hiei followed him shaking his head slightly. They both looked up to see Kagome yawn cutely then look tiredly at Rin and Kinaki. They shook their heads and laughed lightly.

"Lesson Two: This is for Kurama…" Kinaki said trying to stop her laughter. "Follow me Kagome, Kurama…" Kinaki smiled. "Hiei you can come too if you wish." Kagome yawned again and got up following Kinaki. Kurama walked beside her and Hiei beside him. Kinaki took them into a hut at the outskirts of town. "The villagers and I made this will you were gone. This is where you will be trained and will sleep. Your things are already here Kagome…"

"What's the catch…" Kagome murmured cautiously.

"Sleeping arrangements…" Kinaki smiled innocently.

End of Chapter….

WARNING: THIS IS INSPIRED BY MY HISTORY CLASS! IF THIS SEEMS LIKE ANYONE'S STORY I APOLOGIZE!

Preview of Next: With things heating up in the training, we soon set off for our first adventure…wait…Kagome are you alright? You seem shaken…Next Time on Winter Wonder: First Time's the Charm…

(Guess who is the speaker of the Preview)