A/N: Sorry it took so long to update, but I was finishing ACE and had a slight bout of writer's block. But hey, it's my first one and I don't think I'll have a repeat episode! Yeah, see, I actually have the rest of the story planned out!

What's up, eh? Well, I was a bad author...I started a sequal to ACE and have been working on that. However, the good news is that I'm going to try and finish this story soon! As in, within a week or two!

Yeah, it's spring break and I'm very bored. Outside of my sister playing her new KH2 game as much as she can...

So, I think I'll just say that, if you are confused, Kagome was in the castle about October and by the end of the chapter, it's about February or so.

Oh, yeah, one other question. What do you guys think about a christmas sidestory for Kagome and Youko? Hm?

Another mug of ale was set in front of Inuyasha. He didn't even tip his head in acknowledgement to the barmaid, who walked off in a huff. Inuyasha took a long drag of the amber liquid, sighing as his head became fuzzy once again.

For months, Inuyasha had sat at the same table he currently occupied in the same tavern he sat in now, nursing countless tankards of ale as he wallowed in depression.

It had been months since the love of his life had disappeared. Months since he had last seen his one and only, the light that shined in the darkness surrounding him, his little blooming flower trapped in the ugly flowerbed that made up her father's farm. Months since he lost his Kagome to some strange fate that he didn't know about.

So he sat there, day after day, thinking about what was happening to his precious woman. He had tried to appeal to the villagers to get them to send him after her, but they had rejected her outright. She had been gone for too long, she was probably already dead, she disappeared in the same forest that nobody ever returned from, it was same old excuses as always whenever someone disappeared without a trace.

He could just see it, what was happening to his woman. She was most likely kidnapped by bandits a short time after she had gone into the forest. After all, that was the source of all the disappearances. The bandits sold all of their captives into slavery overseas, but since Kagome was such a rare beauty, she was kept around as a pleasure toy for the men.

It disgusted Inuyasha. He could picture Kagome, her eyes welling up with tears as one of the men went for her as the sun descended past he horizon. She had become terrified of the night, for that was the only time they came for her. The evil men, with their brash voices and plaque-ridden teeth smiling maliciously in the firelight.

Inuyasha knew that if he only had a chance, he could go after her. He would kill any of them who had dared to touch what was his, and after the battle ended, Kagome would fling herself into his arms. She would hold onto him like a lifeline, sobbing her heart out on his chest. His arms would come up around her and hold her, letting her know that she was safe.

Then, after all her tears were cried, she would pull back and look up at him. He would wipe away a lone tear of happiness at seeing him. Her eyes would brighten at him, her mouth drawing itself into a shy smile. Inuyasha would smile back, before claiming her soft lips as his. She would readily participate in the battle between their tongues, but would conceed to Inuyasha as the stronger of the two. After all, he was the strong savior and she the helpless maiden that he had freed from the clutches of evil. But, oh, she how her mouth belied the fact that she was not at all a shy young girl...

A tankard being slammed down onto his table forced Inuyasha from his daydream. He looked up with fury at the man in front of him. He was even angrier when it proved to be his only rival in love.

Kouga, his ebony hair the envy of women everywhere and his height enough to challenge even Inuyasha, sat down at Inuyasha's table without invite.

Inuyasha's eyes flashed. "What the hell do you want?" he snapped.

Kouga's blue eyes met Inuyasha's blazing violet orbs. "I just thought you would rather take your anger out on something that can fight back, rather than a helpless piece of furniture."

Inuyasha glared at his rival. "Why don't you just leave me alone and go back to that whore you picked up?"

Kouga stiffened. "You'd do well not to insult Ayame, Inuyasha. She is an honorable woman, one who has earned your respect."

Inuyasha snorted. "You're right." Kouga's face slackened in surprise. "I should be calling you the slut, seeing as as soon as Kagome disappears you screw the first thing that willingly walks into your arms." Inuyasha took a long sip from his drink.

"That's enough of that, Inuyasha." Kouga's heated glare bore into Inuyasha's eyes. "You're just acting childish with the fact that I grew up." Inuyasha was about to retort, but Kouga cut him off. "No, you listen to me and I'll explain. I care about Kagome, but I don't love her. I think that I might have sometime when I was younger, but somewhere in my life that love became infatuation. It took her leaving, and me being away from her for the first time in my life, for me to see that."

"I realized that I loved Kagome because she is so spirited and has such a strong personality. I didn't love her for her, and I didn't think that was fair. Kagome deserves someone who won't hold her back and try to mold her into something she's not, and I wouldn't be able to give her that. I decided to look for someone whom I loved for herself, and Ayame was there. I got to know her. I fell in love with her. And I know that I can let Ayame be herself without feeling like she needs to change." Kouga stood abruptly. "I just thought that you ought to know that Kagome deserves better than the both of us, and that you should give her up and find someone else."

Inuyasha watched with eyes cold as ice as Kouga walked back to his wench, giving her a long and passionate kiss. What the hell did Kouga know, anyway? Kagome was rightfully his, and they both knew that. Kouga was just such a sore loser that he wouldn't admit to falling into second place against Inuyasha.

Inuyasha flagged down another barmaid and ordered another ale. Inuyasha would find a way to save Kagome from whatever horrible beast had a hold of her. He swore to anybody who would listen; Kagome would be back with him and safe in his arms by spring, where she rightfully belonged.

"Come on," Kagome begged. "Why not?" She was standing in the middle of the library, two days after it had been gifted to her. Her dress was light pink in the skirt with a maroon bodice that brought color into her face. Her hair was, again, pulled simply into a tail using a ribbon more intricately embroidered than the gown. In her hand she clasped a leather covered novel, one of the newest discoveries in the cast collection hidden away in the book cases.

"Look, I've never been a fan of reading. I won't listen while you prattle on, saying words already dictated onto a page of parchment and ink. It's not my kind of thing." Youko stood with his arms crossed, his nose upturned at the piece of literature.

Kagome fisted her hands and put them on her hips. "You decided that you were going to be nicer to me, and since I'm no longer allowed to help out anywhere in this place, I need something to do. I don't want to spend every waking moment reading silently to myself! I'm used to being around people, and I like company."

"Then go talk to someone else. Have them dragged into the room and bore them with your stories. I don't want to listen!" His tone and expression said he was used to being obeyed quickly and without question.

Kagome narrowed her eyes. "Look here, they're all busy. You're the only person who doesn't seem to do anything but work, and so you're the only person who will be able to listen. So, please, would you let me read to you?"

Youko was about to retort when the doors to the library burst open. Yuusuke ran in, panting, and moved to stand before the prince. Breathing heavily, he put his hands on his knees and took a moment to catch his breath.

Kurama's eye twitched. He knew when someone was just putting off something, as Yuusuke was doing at the moment. He narrowed his eyes and barked "What is it, Yuusuke? And you'd better not try and avoid what you were sent to say."

Yuusuke straightened. He wore a pleased smirk and, had he been a young boy, his chest would be puffed out with pride and happiness. "Your esteemed majesty," he drawled with a bow, "and my lovely lady." He bowed again, and Kagome smiled sweetly. Both men could practically hear her thoughts about proper gentlemen. "I have been sent to tell you that the first snows have fallen, and to invite you to watch it."

Kagome's eyes lit up. "Really?" She hurried past Yuusuke, out the door, and towards the south wing of the castle.

The immortal raised an eyebrow at his leige, who just smirked. "I do believe I owe you one, Yuusuke. She was about to attempt and read at me."

"Don't you mean to you?" Yuusuke inquired as he followed Youko after Kagome.

"Nonsense." The kitsune waved his hand absently. "You can't read to someone who isn't listening in the first place."

Yuusuke nodded and they both walked the rest of the way to the balcony in silence.

Months passed quickly for Kagome. She loved the winter; it was her favorite season. There was just something about the world, blanketed in a sparkeling white dress, that took Kagome's breath away. There was only one problem about spending the season at the castle.

Sighing, Kagome turned from her window. There was a chilled breeze fluttering the curtains softly, bringing the biting winter cold into her room. The brunette moved over to sit in front of the fireplace and ponder her life as boredom settled in.

This was the first winter where she had ever spent it away from her family. Normally, she would have been sent after the villagers to purchase different gifts to family members. Souta would have great big fights in the snow with his friends. Kagome would sometimes join in on the fun, everyone laughing as the soft white fluff flew back and forth.

Afterward, being thoroughly soaked, they would head inside and settle around their simple fire with warm cups of soup to bring warmth to their shivering bodies. They would go around, sitting in their little half circle, telling the craziest and most fanciful stories they could come up with. Either that, or Kagome would take one of her books and read out of them to the young boys.

It was one of the few times where Kagome wasn't too busy to read. She had all the time in the world. Only, now that she was at the castle and actually had all the time she could ever want to peruse the world of literature as she had wished she could've done so long ago, she found that she just wanted to get out and do something completely childish.

Of course, she hadn't had a chance to. Touya, the groundskeeper, had quietly and calmly pointed out that Kagome was a lady while she was staying there. And ladies, of course, would never act anything but mature.

Kagome pushed herself out of her chair with a 'hmph'. "They say that a lady is supposed to act civilized, hm? What about all those times I ran about the halls, screaming like a little kid? Did they forget about those times?" she asked nothing. Shaking her head, she looked down at her lovely dress.

She fingered the crimson velvet bodice, and sighed over the pale rose colored silk that made up the skirts and sleeves. It was a real masterpiece, with just enough lacing over the front and cuffs to draw the eye. Saddened, Kagome knew that she would never be able to romp about in the snow in an outfit like that...

Then she brightened. "I can't run about like a maniac in a dress like this. I can, however, act perfectly childish in a childish outfit." Her mind made up, she stripped to her skin and ran over to the armoire.

Dancing from foot to foot over the frozen stone flooring, Kagome rummaged through the clothes holder until she found the outfit that she had worn her first day there. She thought it was fitting, as she pulled the worn cotton gown over her head and reached for the tattered bodice, that she would relive old traditions wearing an outfit from her home.

Straightening the cloth, Kagome grabbed one of the heavy cloaks she had acquired and flung it over her shoulders. Opening the door, she stalked outside; she was a woman on a mission, and woe to the soul who stood in between her and her goal.

The sunlight was bright when Kagome made it outside, forcing her to squint. Still, she couldn't help but smile as she lifted her skirts and began to run out to a giant tree in the middle of the courtyard.

There was no other soul outside that she could see, and for that, Kagome was somewhat grateful. It wasn't that she didn't like any of the people she had met, but she just didn't feel like talking all that much.

Her eyes having finally adjusted, Kagome stretched her arms to either side of her, palms down. With her head facing the sky, she let herself flop down into the snow around her. She didn't care that, as she was laying there, snow was starting to soak her clothing. It was a nice change to the harsh cold of the castle that surrounded her so much.

Her eyes closed of their own accord as the raven-haired maiden soaked in the sun. He mind wandered, not touching many subjects and instead drifting without reason. It was a fairly warm day, and since she hadn't had to do anything for some time, she didn't have to worry about moving until she felt like it.

"You're going to catch a cold like that," a voice said above her. Opening her eyes, Kagome saw Youko standing above her. His arms were crossed and the expression on his face was somewhat disapproving. "You should get up before you get sick. Besides, it's not proper for ladies to be outside laying in a bed of snow."

Kagome stuck out her tongue. "I don't care. For now, I'm no lady. I'm just Kagome, daughter of a poor farmer and a girl who likes to lay in the snow and get sick." She closed her eyes again. "I refuse to move."

She heard Youko move around her, and thought she would finally be left alone. She was just letting her mind drift again when something very solid, and very cold, hit her in the face.

She sat up with a squeak, shaking her face. It was cold! She used one of her hands to scrub at the moisture clinging to her face, and heard chuckling behind her. She looked to her left and saw Youko standing a short distance away. A small rut in the snow next to him proved he was the culprit.

"What the hell was that for?" Kagome asked angrily. "I thought that gentlemen didn't attack women!" She stood and fisted her hands onto her hips.

Youko nodded. "That's true, but it's only with ladies. Therefore, since you are 'just Kagome' today, you're an open target." The prince scooped another handful of snow and packed it into a small ball. He looked at Kagome slyly.

Kagome backed up, her eyes wide. "Oh no, don't you even think about it!" Her protests were in vain, however, as within moments there was another snowball sailing at her.

Kagome ducked, the object barely missing her, and stared at Youko with indignation. "Oh, you're just asking for trouble, aren't you?"

Youko smirked. "I'm not afraid. After all, I have first hand experience that women can't hit anything that isn't nailed down two feet in front of them."

Kagome growled and gathered her own ammunition. She lobbed it at Youko, who dodged it easily. However, she had anticipated his moving and had another ball launched from her hand within a handful of seconds after the first. The second hit its mark.

Kagome balled up with laughter as she watched the prince stand there in surprise, little bits of snow clinging to his face. His eyes narrowed and he growled.

"That's it! This means war!" he decreed before he had to dodge another snowball.

When Touya went outside to check the ground later in the day, confident in the fact that it would remain untouched for the entire season, as it had for years before, he was shocked to see the prince and the lady Kagome acting like five year old children in their first real snowball fight. That wasn't the most surprising thing, however. The prince, by some inconcievable force, was actually laughing freely with the young woman. It was enough to shock the ice demon into spreading the order that the grounds were off limits for the rest of the night, giving the two young adults time alone.

After both were thoroughly soaked, Kagome and Youko had somehow ended up aimlessly wandering the outside grounds. They had started talking about nothing, enjoying each others company- not that either would admit it, of course.

Currently, Kagome was talking about her brother, Souta, and their winter traditions. "So we would get up as soon as we possibly could and both go out in the snow to just play. We would make angels in the snow, have large fights with the other village children, attempt to make snow forts and ice castles...all sorts of wintery fun."

Kurama nodded. "Which is why you can actually hit a moving target," he said. He rubbed his arm again, which was still smarting from a rather hard throw by the young woman walking next to him.

Kagome narrowed her eyes. "You know that I can hold my own in a snowball fight as well as the next person. I managed to slug you more than you did me, don't forget." She waited for Youko's reluctant nod before continuing her talking. "Anyways, I could usually last until sundown before gathering the boys inside."

"We would all gather around the fire, and just sit there telling stories. Either that, or I would read from one of my books borrowed from the local bookstore to them. Souta really liked that, reading to him. Even if he won't admit it, I'm sure he would love to be able to read the kinds of things that I tell him about." Kagome smiled sadly.

Kurama could feel the mood drop slightly. "You really miss him, don't you?"

Kagome's head snapped up a fraction of an inch, barely enough for Youko to catch. "Of course I do. He's my brother."

An uncomfortable silence descended over the two. Both knew that, even though Karasu appeared to be gone, there were still three other guardians out in the forest that would prevent Kagome from returning to her home. A moaning wind ripped through the two, causing Kagome to shiver.

"We should go in," Kurama said absently. Kagome nodded and the two slowly walked back to the castle.

Somehow Kagome and Youko ended up in the library. In one corner, there was a blazing fire. Both migrated to the couches arranged in a neat manner at the hearth and sat down.

Kagome pulled a blanket around herself, curling her feet in under herself. She rested her arms on her legs, and then her head on her arms as she stared into the fire.

She blinked when a book was thrust under her nose. She raised an eyebrow in question at the fox prince, who was holding the novel.

Kurama merely said, "Traditions shouldn't be broken, no matter how annoying."

Kagome covered her surprise and took the storybook delicately. It was the same one that Houjo had given her, so long ago, and one she had read and re-read many times. Opening it up to one of her favorite stories, she began to read it aloud. The only other sounds, other then her soft voice, was the fire as it continued to crackle cheerfully.

End Chapter
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