Well good news everyone I am feeling much better, but being a woman I was feeling quite sick. *ahem* Anyway, I decided to update as soon as possible since I got a job today, so I will try to get the chapters up as soon as I can.

Winter Wonderland

Chapter Nineteen

He could feel a pulsing pain ripple through his head, as if he were having a bad headache. His eyes were closed shut, and he inhaled the smells around him. It was nothing he had ever smelled before, but could distantly make out Kagome's and Kikyo's scent. Finally opening his eyes, Inu-Yasha found himself face down on the snowy ground. He was in a gigantic clearing with no trees, or anyone around him, yet he could still smell Kagome and Kikyo.

"Kagome!" called out Inu-Yasha, "Where are you?"

The half demon started to run, but there was no sign of her or Kikyo. Inu-Yasha kept running and running, but there seemed to no end of the clearing, there were no trees or any animals that could be seen.

"Damn it!" screamed Inu-Yasha punching the ground, "Kagome where are you?"

"She is fine Inu-Yasha," said a voice.

The half demon almost jumped out of skin and twirled around to come face to face with Kikyo. Inu-Yasha growled deep and his throat and suddenly lunged at the priestess, pinning her to the ground, his fangs ans teeth bared, "Where the hell is my mate wench?"

Kikyo had a calm look on her face and didn't seemed frightened at all, "Inu-Yasha, your mate is perfectly fine,"

"Then where is she?" snarled Inu-Yasha.

"She and I are one at the moment,"

Inu-Yasha immediately got off Kikyo and just stared at the miko, "What?"

"When Kagome was touched by the maiden of earth and bones they became one, and I was awakened,"

"What are you talking about?" whispered Inu-Yasha.

"Smell me,"

"What?"

"Smell me,"

Inu-Yasha sniffed the air, his eyes widening. It did not smell of the Kikyo of earth and bones, but the familiar scent of the miko that he recognized from fifty three years ago.

"It's me Inu-Yasha . . . the Kikyo you knew fifty years ago,"

"What is going on?" asked Inu-Yasha.

"Inu-Yasha last time we met, I will admit I was rather angry at you,"

"Angry? You tried to kill me!"

"I know I was, but then I truly believed you betrayed me, but now . . . I know the truth, about Naraku and all,"

" . . . ."

"Inu-Yasha, when I was resurrected, a part of my soul was left in the body of earth and bones, but I will tell you right now, it wasn't me,"

"Kikyo . . ."

"It was nothing more than my hatred for you at the time, but when Kagome had touched the fake me . . . and I was awakened . . . "

"But . . ."

"Shhh, let me explain. We are in a realm where time stands still, it is the place where the maiden of earth and bones wanted to drag you to. Inu- Yasha, that day we were snapped into Naraku's trap . . ."

"Kikyo I'm sorry I didn't trust you," Inu-Yasha said, cutting her off.

"I should also be saying sorry, since I did not trust you as well. Inu- Yasha, did you really plan to go with the fake me?"

Inu-Yasha lowered his head, "I did at first, since I thought it was you . . . and that it was my dept to pay, but then . . ."

"Then you realized it wasn't the real me,"

"Yeah, I guess you could say that, but . . ."

"But what?"

"I remember when you were resurrected that you said your spirit could not rest in peace until you saw me dead, which is why I thought I had to go to hell with you,"

Kikyo walked forward, which caused Inu-Yasha to freeze. She placed a hand on his cheek, staring into Inu-Yasha's eyes, "You've changed greatly,"

"Wha . . ."

"Your eyes are different . . . they hold a certain softness to it . . . of course it is Kagome's doing,"

"Yes, she taught me to trust people again,"

"Inu-Yasha, it is true that I followed you in death, but for two reasons. One I did not want you to die alone, and two because of the jewel. It was tainted with my hatred, and therefore would have turned me into a monster,"

"Kikyo . . ."

"It is true that I died for you . . . but Inu-Yasha I am dead . . . only my soul exists within Kagome . . . and she is not me,"

"I know that . . . ."

"Good, because it's time for you to move one. We were not destined to be together, because if I had lived, you would not have met your mate. Inu- Yasha, it is not true that your death would bring the anger part of my soul to peace, but would increase its wickedness by holding your heart and poisoning it,"

" . . ."

"The only way it will be at peace is returning to Kagome's body,"

"I have no regrets, except that maybe we should have trusted each other more, before we decided you were to become human,"

"Maybe,"

"But what happened happened, and what is done is done. We can not change the past,"

"Kikyo, may I ask you something?"

"Of course,"

"Did you truly love me?" asked the half demon.

Kikyo continued to stare into his eyes, but released her hand from his cheek, "I'm not quite sure what it was I felt for you . . . what about you?"

Inu-Yasha lowered his gaze, "I was so lonely, and you were the only one who didn't seem to shun me for what I was . . . I don't know what is was that I felt for you . . . maybe just companionship . . ."

"Perhaps, but we were both lonely and needed someone to share the pain with," whispered Kikyo, stepping forward to hug Inu-Yasha.

"Please don't," said Inu-Yasha, stepping back.

Kikyo smiled, "Inu-Yasha it is time fore me to return to Kagome's body, but I must let you know that you must destroy the me that is of earth and bones,"

"But I can't harm you,"

"If you don't, she was most likely harm Kagome then,"

Inu-Yasha sighed, "I guess,"

"May I just give you a friendly hug,"

Inu-Yasha nodded and wrapped his arms around Kikyo in a brief, friendly hug.

"Farewell Inu-Yasha, It was an honor to meet you,"

Inu-Yasha nodded, and was suddenly surrounded by pink light once again.

************************************************************************

The half demons eyes flew open to find himself in a large clearing. Kagome was lying on his chest, and Kikyo was lying not to far away. Suddenly the two girls eyes opened, and Inu-Yasha winced remembering he had an arrow in his wrist.

"Where are we?" asked Kagome, groggily.

Inu-Yasha was about to respond, but could see Kikyo out of the corner of his eye getting to her feet.

"I don't know what happened, but I won't let you live," she screamed, lunging at Kagome.

Kagome closed her eyes, expecting Inu-Yasha to pick her up and run, but she didn't feel his arms around her. She opened her eyes to see Kikyo's hands a few inches from her shoulders, and Inu-Yasha clawed hand right through Kikyo's chest.

"Inu . . . Inu-Yasha," gasped Kikyo.

The half demon said nothing as he took his other hand, and swiped at Kikyo's stomach. Her body crumpled into a pile of dust, with the miko clothes falling to the ground.

"Kagome, are you okay?" asked Inu-Yasha.

"I'm fine,"

Inu-Yasha smiled and pulled the arrow out of his wrist, giving off a rather small yelp.

"Is . . . Kikyo gone?"

Inu-Yasha nodded and watched silently as a small whit orb came up from Kikyo's ashes, and floated to Kagome, and entered her body. No words were spoken as Inu-Yasha crawled towards Kagome, and pulled her up in his lap, kissing her lightly on the lips.

"Maybe we should find Miroku and the others," whispered Kagome.

"Maybe . . ." whispered Inu-Yasha. He felt relieved knowing that Kikyo was at peace, and that her soul was free. The half demon looked into his mates eyes, "We don't need to find them, I can hear them coming,"

Kagome smiled and briefly kissed her mate, before standing and seeing Miroku and Sango heading there way.

"Kagome!" cried Sango, approaching her friend, "You're okay,"

"What happened?" asked Miroku.

"It's a long story," sighed Inu-Yasha, "Say, where's Kouga?"

"He's with Shippo and Kirara at the moment, and Sesshoumaru and his comrades have left,"

"Go figure," sighed Kagome.

The four headed out of the forest, and walked back to the cave where Kouga was resting from his wound when Kikyo shot him with the arrow. Shippo immediately ran to Kagome, and started to leap all over her, which caused Inu-Yasha to growl slightly in his throat. Kirara jumped onto Sango's shoulder, and now Kouga was standing, walking towards Kagome.

"Kagome, can I talk to you . . . privately," said Kouga, eyeing Inu- Yasha.

This caused the half demon to growl, "Whatever you have to say to her, you can say to me,"

Kouga also started to growl, "This is not for your ears,"

"She's my mate! Of course it's for my ears!"

The wolf sighed, knowing in the condition he was in, there was no way he could fight the half demon.

"Kagome . . . you are my woman . . ."

"Kouga I never agreed to that in the first place. You were just a good friend to me . . . I'm sorry, but . . . it's Inu-Yasha I love,"

"But . . ."

"Besides, you only wanted me to be your woman since I could only see that shards,"

"That's not true!"

Inu-Yasha growled and stepped in front of Kagome to talk face to face with the wolf. Miroku and the others had disappeared to give them a moment to talk, "Look wolf, Kagome doesn't love you, she's with me! Maybe you did start to love her for who she was, but Kagome doesn't return the feelings. Besides she has been marked as mine in the three traditions of demon mating,"

Kouga looked slightly hurt, "But I claimed her first!"

"No you didn't! I claimed her the moment she released me from the tree!"

Kouga was now even more hurt, and turned around, his eyes staring at the ground.

(I know he would put up more of a fight for Kagome, but since she said she didn't love him, it kind of is a waste of time to fight for a woman who doesn't love you)

"Kouga, you still have Ayame," said Kagome.

(Ayame is a wolf girl demon who is in love with Kouga. Kouga promised her she would be married to him, but Kouga doesn't remember)

Kouga only nodded and sped off into the trees.

Inu-Yasha sighed and turned around to face Kagome.

"What did you mean I was yours since the day I pulled that arrow out of your chest?" asked Kagome.

"You were the one that brought me back to life, and when I saved you from that centipede, that was the first step,"

"Fist step to what?"

"It's the three demon mate rules when choosing a mate. The first step is protecting, which I did when we traveled around. The second step is friendship, and we did becomes friends. The third step is trust, trusting the one you want as your mate with you life, which we have done,"

"So ever since our encounter with Yura, demons have seen me as your mate?" asked Kagome.

"Basically,"

"And to think then I didn't even like you, and we were supposedly mates,"

Inu-Yasha laughed and pulled Kagome in for a warm embrace, "Shall we find the others?"

Kagome nodded, and then hand in hand they walked into the trees. ************************************************************************

Sango and Miroku could do nothing but stare at their two friends. Kagome was asleep in Inu-Yasha's arms in the half demons usual spot up in a tree. They were surprised that the two were showing their affection for one another out in the open when Naraku's spies could be anywhere in the forest, but then again the exterminator and monk were also having a hard time as well.

"Inu-Yasha, you do realize we don't have anymore shards to collect," said Miroku.

"Yes, I know,"

"Which means the battle with Naraku will be coming soon. He will definetly go after Kouga, and us,"

"I know, so we should enjoy the time we have until that battle," whispered Inu-Yasha, his gaze shifting to Kagome.

"Is that what you two did on the vacation?" asked Sango.

"Basically," whispered Inu-Yasha.

Shippo was asleep on Sango's lap, and Kirara was sleeping with Miroku and Sango leaning against the cat for warmth.

"So, Sesshoumaru was captured by Kikyo," chuckled Inu-Yasha.

"You would have been too if you were a full demon," said Miroku.

"Feh,"

Miroku just smiled and wrapped his arm around Sango, "I think we should all get some sleep,"

"Sounds good," sighed Inu-Yasha, his arms wrapping more tightly around Kagome.

Unknown to the group they were being watched . . . not by an demon for their presence would have been sensed by Miroku and Kagome, and the scent found by Inu-Yasha.

Kanna held her mirror up to the group so that their reflection was on it. Her emotionless face was still the same as she watched them slowly fall asleep, before lowering her mirror and walking off into the forest. He small steps could not be heard by the half demon as she walked silently through the soft snow. After walking for some time, she came to the clearing where her sister Kagura was waiting for her. The two said nothing as Kagura summoned her giant feather and the two were lifted into the air. Kagura only glanced at Kanna, but still said nothing to her sister. She was a little disappointed that she wouldn't be able to attack Inu-Yasha and the others, but Naraku had given them strict orders to only spy. Kagura of course could not go near them with Inu-Yasha smelling her, so Kanna was the only one who could go since her presence could not be found. They glided through the cool crisp winter night, neither of them showing any sign of being cold. Finally they made their way to a small hut which had a powerful barrier surrounding it.

(Well Naraku doesn't have his castle anymore, so I just decided to put him in a hut)

The shield momentarily disappeared for the two sisters to pass through before it was up again. The sisters landed and entered the hut. A small fire was built in the center, with Naraku sitting down, waiting for them in the corner of the hut. No words were spoked as Kanna approached her creator, and held the mirror up for him to see. Kagura moved so maybe she could get a glimpse, but one swift glance from Naraku told her to stay where she stood.

"Interesting," sneered Naraku as he stared at the image in the mirror, "Which means we only have four jewel shards to go after,"

Kanna only nodded in agreement.

"So two from Kagome, and two from Kouga . . . what about the ones in Kohaku's back?" questioned Kagura.

"We'll get that one later, right now we need Kohaku for one more plan and then we will remove the shard,"

"When will we attack?" asked Kagura.

"Soon, when Inu-Yasha least expects it,"

"You do realize Naraku, then in three more days . . ." Kagura caught herself for almost revealing Inu-Yasha's secret of the new moon. (Ok, Kagura is the only one who knows that Inu-Yasha is human on the new moon, she has not told Naraku yet, oh and if some of you didn't know, Naraku also does kind of go human once a month, but the difference is he can choose when he can become human).

"What were you going to say?" asked Naraku.

The last thing Kagura wanted to do was help the person she most of all hated, but did not want to lose her life when she could be free, "In three days it will be a new moon, and Inu-Yasha will be human,"

Naraku's lips curled into a sneer, "Perfect,"

TBC . . .

Sorry for the long update, but hey I was busy with school and what not. Anyway . . . OVER 400 REVIEWS! *Dances around the house* Excellent! Never gotten that many reviews before. Anyway you guys, just review and I'll get the next chapter up as soon as possible. Oh and a thousand apologies if this one was a little short, but I can guarantee that the next will be longer!

Lynns