Chapter 23: Fun in the Snow

Weeks pass and things settle back down to as normal as castle life ever gets, though there was a bit less yelling then before. Kagome made breakfast for both Inuyasha and herself, making other simple 'dishes' such as pancakes and sandwiches before the hanyou prince decided that he rather just have ramen every day (A.N. Typical Inu, eh? Lol)

She goes on cleaning like usual, though the servants notice that she seems to hum more then she used to, she smiles more as well. As the weeks go by, the weather gets colder. Soon the first snowflakes are seen falling to Earth, much to Shippo, and Kagome's, delight. After just a few days the snow piles to a place where it covered the ground, practically begging to be played in. The cup-child and young woman were not ones to decline the offer. After she finished her jobs in the morning, Kagome bundles up before taking Shippo out to play in the pristine white powder, making snow angels, snow forts, and just all around horsing around, unaware that a pair of watchful red and blue eyes were on them most of the time.

One day, during one such play session, the two happen upon the cursed prince, dozing in a tree. Shippo turns to leave before Kagome stops him, a playful grin on her face. She puts a finger to her lips, then gathers a good-sized lump of snow in her hands quietly. Shippo's eyes widen before he stifles a giggle. Kagome continues to grin as she stealthily slinks to just under Inuyasha's branch. She then chucks the snowball at him as hard as she can.

Immediately afterwards a sharp yelp is heard, followed by a muffled crash as the rudely-awoken hanyou falls into a snow drift slightly to the side of the branch he'd been sleeping in, spraying snow everywhere, including on Kagome.

The girl busts into a fit of giggles, yelping herself when she loses her balance and falls into another snowdrift. After she recovers for the shock, Kagome just laughs even harder, even when the face of a cranky prince comes into view, possibly because he was still covered with snow. Inuyasha frowns "Oi wench, what was that for?"

Kagome has trouble breathing but manages to get out "Thought...you'd like...a wake up...call..." before busting into laughter again, at this point laughing so hard she has tears coming from her eyes and has to hold her sides.

Inuyasha growls softly, though he's hard pressed not to start laughing himself, and brushes himself off a bit, "Feh, am I really that amusing to you woman?" As soon as he says this a precariously hanging pile of snow that was on the branch above him loses it's balance and falls on top of him full force, sending Kagome further into fits of laughter. (A.N. Predictable? Yes. A bit corny? Sure. But still funny as all get out lol)

After freeing himself from the white substance that seemed determined to make a fool out of him, Inuyasha looks to see Kagome rolling from side to side in her drift, holding her sides while gasping out "Oh gods...I can't breathe...I can't breath..." between giggle attacks. It's then that an idea pops into his head, and he smirks when he gets it, eyes flashing with mischief.

Kagome couldn't hear anything outside of her own laughter and gasps. Her face hurt from cold and having her mouth open so wide. Her sides felt like they were going to split open at any second, and she felt wonderful. She hadn't felt this good in years, if it wasn't for the fact that it did hurt, she would never want to stop. Suddenly she's broken out of her reverie went something sharply cold and a bit wet hits her in her left shoulder. Her mouth snaps shut and she looks around in confusion. Her eyes finally fall upon a smirking Inuyasha, snowball in hand, tossing it lightly up before catching it on it's way down. Her eyes narrow playfully, 'So he wants to play that way huh?' she thinks before shouting "BATTLE STATIONS!"

Inuyasha cocks an eyebrow in confusion, his eyes shifting slightly side-to-side, some little part of him almost expecting that little kid and old man to come out of nowhere. He doesn't have long to wonder when suddenly out of nowhere a dozen or so snowballs come flying at him at once. He blanches and barely has time to lift his arms before being hit full force with the barrage. As soon as he's sure it's over he uncovers his head, growling out, "What the hell?! I thought only the runt and you were out here!"

He finds himself yelling at a now vacant snow drift. 'Damn it, where'd she go off to?' he wonders to himself before a shot of "FIRE TWO!" rings out and he has to take cover behind a tree before he can sniff her out or even tell where the yell came from. He growls before quickly sniffing the air, at least trying to tell what direction she was in. 'No good. She's staying downwind. She's smarter then I thought.' He thinks before smirking, 'The runt's not quite as quick though, I've got his scent down.'

When the present volley finishes, he leaps into a tree and starts to track the scent, abandoning it when he hears whispers of "Where'd he go?"'s and "Can you see him?"s.

He finds the two behind a particularly big snowdrift that they (meaning mostly Kagome) built earlier that day. Around them were several spoons bent back over wooden blocks and kept in place by pieces of rope tied to pegs in the ground. Every spoon had a snowball ready to go in it. 'So that's how they did it. The sneaky runts.' He chuckles silently before smirking again and screaming "SNEAK ATTACK!" before jumping from the tree to a place between the playmates. The two squeal in mock-terror before running away, finding shelter where ever was closest to them.

This goes on for some time before Keade calls to bring them inside. All three are laughing their heads off and covered in snow, something that the servants present can't help but stop and stare at. Never before had any of them seen their master laugh so freely outside of the oldest ones that had known him as a child. They quickly go about their business though nothing was different though, afraid that their staring would ruin their lord's good mood. Shippo is swept off to the kitchen for a warm bath in the sink while the elder two are hurried off to their respective rooms by the head servants, Miroku winking at Sango before dropping out of sight.

A.N. Hmm...I wonder what Miroku and Sango are up to? Just a kinda pointless chappie, though it does show Inu-kun and Kagome getting closer, which is always good. Inuyasha doesn't have forever you know lol! Sorry it took so long to get this chappie up! Bad authoress, bad! Though in my defense, the first term is going to be ending in a couple weeks, so my teachers are pouring on the homework and crap like that. Also, my brother's seen fit to take the computer over for the last couple of days, so I couldn't get any writing time. /Sighs Ah the trials and tribulations of a high school writer. Well, I can't think of anything else to say, other then I don't think Koga'll be popping up again for a couple of chapters, but don't worry, pain is on the way for him! Oh, and also I just want to apologize again for taking so long! Now for Reviewer Replies!

Copperline Kitty- Yes, Koga is dumber than a box of rocks lol. Srry this took so long, eh heh, the 'lazies' held me against my will, I swear!

RebelWriter-Yeah, honestly, I noticed I was straying a bit too, so I made a conscious effort to get back on track (not an easy thing for me to do, just ask my friends! Lol) Anyways, yeah, Koga's stupid and forgetful and well...Koga lol. Plenty of Inu butt-kicking Koga in the future, just not the immediate future. Oh, and I totally agree, I don't feel like doing anything when the monster comes to town.

Inuyashasonly1- You'll get to see what Sango and Miroku have cooked up soon enough lol. Once again, sorry that the update was slower then usual, I'll really really try to be better about it, I promise.

ChibiSess-Yeah, Koga is an idiot lol. I wonder if his mommy ever told him not to talk with strangers?

Kikile-Glad you like the story so much. I'll try to be better about updating my story sooner, I promise.

Turtlerad17- Thanks. I try to do my best, but as I've said before, this story really writes itself lol.

RoseMaiden- Hmm...interesting question. I'll have to see if I can test that one...oh broo...lol. Just kidding, anyways, no, no one heard him at the castle, if for no other reason then because Naraku put up a shield of some sort to block the sound (I'm sure the slug probably could.) Once again, sorry for the delay, I'll try to resist the call of the lazies! It would be easy, but I will persevere! Lol, but seriously, I'll do my best to update asap.

Spirits Shadow- Yeah he is, and welcome to the club! Lol, sorry there wasn't any Koga bashing in this chappie, but I promise, plenty is coming! Just have to wait 'til Naraku has a chance to whip him into shape so that he has some semblance of a chance against Inu-kun. Our hanyou friend just wouldn't have any fun any other way lol.

Oki489Tsubasa- Sorry this took so long to get out. I'll do my best to get the next ones out asap, promise!

Goddess-lil-angel- Lol, very funny. We've already spoken about this, so I won't say anything lol, but as you said, I AM the only one that's reviewed your story so far, so don't try to say I'm not a good friend lol.

AnimeDivaFreak- Lol, I actually had to look up to chappie you reviewed for lol. Yeah, she was pretty stupid lol. Thanks for the compliments and I'll do my best to keep the good stuff comin'!

Well, that's all for now! R&R please!