Chapter 3: Snowed In

Heading for the mountains, nobody was looking forward to the snow that was waiting for them there. Just 2 days ago they had heard of an avalanche there that buried 5 people, 2 surviving it.

Barely.

As they continued walking, Miroku began acting strange. For no reasons he would have outbursts of happiness.

"What's your deal?" Inuyasha asked after this happened after the 5th time this happened.

"For once we're having an adventure and I won't have to worry about getting drawn into a Wind Tunnel."

"Well…that's true I don't have to worry about running into Kikyo with Naraku gone.

There was a sharp snap behind them as Miroku and Inuyasha turned, Kagome standing there with a broken twig. This had been happening lately whenever someone mentioned Kikyo and Inuyasha. But even she knew Inuyasha was hers.

As they got into the mountains the temperature began dropping quickly. Putting on extra clothes the cold got worse as snow fell. The snow became steadily worse as the team continued their trek up the mountain. Shippo hid himself in Kagome's pack, the snow covering his head completely.

"Don't worry I'll protect you Sango," Miroku said before slipping and falling into the snow.

"Yeah and who's going to protect you?" Sango asked.

Inuyasha began carrying Kagome on his back after she was unable to continue on her own. Looking up Inuyasha saw a cave and pointed, walking towards it.

Soon there was a roaring fire and everyone was safe inside with just one problem. Miroku had gotten sick from falling in the snow.

Sneezing he said softly, "We must continue on…," he said despite his weakness. Swaying he tried to stand the room around him spinning. "Nice joke guys! Quit spinning and moving around."

Sad thing was, nobody was moving at all.

Sneezing again Miroku lay back down closing his eyes, his breathing short and weak. As the sickness became worse everyone began worrying, but nobody more than Sango. Kneeling beside him she stroked his hair softly whispering soft words. As everyone fell asleep Sango watched over Miroku. She kissed his cheek softly then lay back to rest closing her eyes.

"Thanks…," Miroku whispered softly his eyes opened slightly.

Blushing madly Sango nodded, thinking he was awake! Oh no….

Miroku placed a hand over Sango's squeezing lightly. Closing his eyes once more he fell asleep thinking about nothing but the kiss.

The next morning Miroku was the first up. He leaned against the cave wall at the entrance and stared outside.

"Good to see you're better," Inuyasha said his voice echoing ominously about the cave.

"Thanks, how long have you been up?"

"Basically since you woke up."

Miroku nodded still staring outside, the snow hadn't stopped and was now coming down softly. Smiling Miroku looked at Inuyasha and smiled, "One weird adventure we've gotten ourselves in this time."

"Not as weird as the last one, people were brought back to life!"

Chuckling Miroku nodded, remembering all to well of seeing Kikyo. As he looked at the snow he smiled. "Hey Inuyasha…do you think that now that Naraku is truly gone…there will be happiness?"

"I don't really know, I mean nobody is going to be happy all the time that's not possible. But I think now that Naraku is gone and all the suffering is as well…more will be happy."

"Wow…Naraku's defeat brought a different side of you out," Miroku commented smiling. "I guess it's done that for all of us in one way or another."

"Yeah like you don't flirt as often with every woman you see."

"Yeah well…can you really blame me?"

"At time yes then at times no…"

Kagome opened her eyes slowly, then smiled watching Inuyasha and Miroku talk. She looked over at Sango who was also watching. Both of them knew that this was one of the few times that they've ever talked this way. At least not without worrying of a demon about to kill them.

"So what orb do you think the demon will go after next?" Inuyasha asked.

"Well it has Darkness and Fire according to my-I mean um Sango…" Miroku responded softly, his face growing hot.

Leaning against the cave wall Inuyasha sighed. "Well it was closest to the Earth Orb but we have that…"

Miroku suddenly cried out as the shield on his back shocked him. Looking as the shield he saw the Orb of Light insignia glow, flicker and then fade.

"I guess it has the Orb of Light then."

Miroku didn't respond his eyes wide with shock.

"T-Then we're going after the Orb of Ice…but we can't do a thing with the snow this thick."

"Well we may be able to use Kilala," Miroku said trying to think of a way.

"Might as well, it's the best way we have so far…"

Sitting up Kagome stretched and yawned loudly enough for the two to hear. Sango smiled and did the same, slowly looking outside.

Slowly they began to march out in the snow. Looking around the three got on Kilala as she turned to her larger demon.

Flying in the air they scanned the area.

"Wait! Kilala stop!" Sango cried ponting to a large snowball…a large glowing snowball.

Looking at it Miroku nodded. "Yup definitely weird."

Slowly hovering down Kilala waited till they all climbed off before turning to her smaller form.

Smiling Inuyasha pulled out his Tetsusaiga as it grew quickly. As a swirling light began to grow around it Inuyasha held it up above his head. As he jumped and swung it down the barrier breaking light came from it…but nothing happened to the glowing light.

"Inuyasha," Miroku said breaking the silence. "Let me try the shield we have."

Nodding Inuyasha took a step back as Miroku held up the shield. Slowly the Ice insignia began to glow as everyone watched in awe. The snowball stopped glowing and slowly began melting, as well as the area around them. The temple slowly revealed itself pushing out of the snow.

"The next temple," Miroku said grinning. "I'll take care of this Elemental."

"How you have no powers," Inuyasha said.

"Yes I do, the shields Orb remember? I adopt the powers it has after we get the Orb so I can do what the last Elemental did."

Nodding Inuyasha pushed open the door.

Slowly they stepped in waiting for the Elemental to introduce itself.