"Damn it!"

Kagome looked up from her book, watching as Inuyasha punched a number into his phone for the sixth time. They'd managed a few runs before lunch, but by the time they'd been ready for their afternoon excursion, the winds were so bad that they'd decided to call it a day.

Inuyasha cursed again, then slumped down in the seat in front of her.

"What's wrong?"

"The bastard won't pick up his phone."

Curiosity piqued, she closed her book. "Why does it matter? He's probably too busy downing sake with his investors."

A strange emotion flashed through her friend's eyes, and he shook his head. "His meetings finished yesterday. He's in his cabin, probably ignoring his phone. And the damn weather."

Taisho has a cabin? Why is he roughing it when the resort is stocked with amenities and the latest technology?

Reading her mind, Inuyasha growled and tried his phone again. "He doesn't like the noise. He prefers to have a place by himself, so people won't bother him."

Kagome frowned, then looked out the window. The clouds had multiplied overnight, turning the sky a foreboding violet before pelting the skiers with snow and freezing rain. Even Kouga and Kagura had stayed inside, not chancing being caught in the storm.

Was Inuyasha worried for his brother's safety?

"K'gome—"

Her eyes narrowed as she turned back to him. "No."

"Please! The last time this happened, he was stuck in there for a week."

Crossing her arms over her chest, book forgotten, she glared at him. "It'll make for a better vacation than."

"He doesn't have enough supplies to be there that long," he grumbled, punching numbers into his phone.

Kagome watched as large chunks of snow were torn from tree branches. What did she care if the jerk starved to death? There was probably something he'd done in his life to deserve it, especially considering how he acted towards her.

Then again, she could always hold it over his head that she'd saved him. Given how much he cited family tradition and honour, it would likely piss him off more to be indebted to someone he hated.

"He won't listen to me," she sighed, now trying to talk herself out of it.

"You're the only one he will listen to." A dark eyebrow raised, but he brushed it off with a shrug. "He's used to me naggin' him. You're the one who gets a rise outta him."

"Not helping your case."

"Bastard's got no one to blame but himself after I've tried to call him—" he checked his phone again, "—ten times."

Another protest was on the tip of her tongue, but when she turned around, Kouga and Kagura entered the lounge, the first giving her an enthusiastic wave.

The idea of conversing with Kouga, and trying to spurn his advances, was less appealing than traipsing through the snow to find Taisho.

"Fine," she lamented, getting to her feet. "Where's this stupid cabin?"

It was easy enough to find, even with the visibility being as poor as it was. She'd had to carry her skis and poles part of the way, but Kagome had a feeling Taisho had chosen the location on purpose.

Secluded amongst a large group of trees, the cabin was far enough away from the slopes that no one would come across it unless they knew where it was. There was already a foot of snow packed up against the front door, and she cursed the younger brother for being right.

And then the older one for making her come out there in the first place.

Kagome pounded on the door, dislodged snowflakes fluttering around her before being carried off by the wind. A minute passed with no sound or movement from inside, setting her teeth on edge as she repeated the action.

"Taisho! Open the damn door before I kick it in!"

Still nothing.

If she'd come all the way out here on a wild goose chase, she'd string Inuyasha up by his—

The door was yanked open, revealing the bane of her existence as a puff of warm air melted the snow stuck to her beanie. Taisho's eyes were wide, and Kagome was taken aback by the unfiltered surprise on his face.

"Why—" he cleared his throat, his voice resuming its usual timbre. "—why are you here?"

"Inuyasha sent me. There's a storm coming, and you weren't answering your phone."

The shock disappeared so quickly that she wondered if it had been there at all, and he turned around, retreating back into his shelter.

"It is nothing. I am well equipped to handle such weather."

"Inuyasha didn't seem to think so."

He paused, giving her a scathing glare. "Inuyasha is a meddlesome mongrel who enjoys interfering with affairs that do not concern him."

Incensed, Kagome stomped inside, not caring how much snow she brought with her. "He cares enough to call you a dozen times and then almost beg me to come out here! Now grab your coat; we need to leave—"

"No."

Her mouth fell open. "What do you mean, no?"

His back still towards her, he dismissed her with a wave. "Exactly as I said."

Gnashing her teeth together, Kagome turned on her heel. "Fine. Freeze out here for all I care. I'll be sure to tell Inuyasha just how ungrateful you are when I—"

A hand clamped around her wrist, preventing her from passing through the doorway. "You are not returning either."

She yanked herself free, then shoved him with both hands. "The hell I'm not!"

"It is too dangerous."

Blue eyes narrowed, and she wished she'd brought her skis inside so she could pound him with them. "Too dangerous for me to go back but not enough for you to come with me?"

He gave her a look as if the answer was obvious, and Kagome dragged her damp gloves down her face to keep from doing something stupid yet extremely satisfying as throwing her boot at him.

Inuyasha's concern was clearly misplaced. "I'm going back. Unlike you, I actually have people who will care if I die, you emotionally constipated ballsack." Flipping her braided hair over her shoulder for good measure, Kagome braced herself, then stepped out into the storm.

The wind whipped ice across her cheeks, and she hissed, pulling her jacket up to protect her bare skin. If she did die, she'd haunt Taisho for the rest of his miserable life.

And she would make it miserable.

She'd just clicked her bindings into place when he joined her, sporting a sleek white ski jacket with red plum blossoms on it of all things. Kagome admired it for the three seconds it took her to realize he'd probably had it custom-made.

Pretentious asshole.

"Guess you aren't as stupid as I thought."

"I am merely ensuring our safe return back to the lodge."

Kagome rolled her eyes, then snorted for good measure, realizing he probably couldn't see her reaction through her goggles.

"Right, because that's so important now."

"It hardly seems fair to allow any harm to come to you when you risked your own safety to fetch me."

For some reason his words had blood rushing into her cheeks.

"Guess I'll just leave you to suffer next time," she retorted after swallowing enough times to steady her voice.

"Impossible."

"Why? You're not some kind of invincible demon."

He slid past her, and she caught a glimpse of a smirk. "No, but your compassionate heart would not allow you to put someone else in danger."

The offhand remark had her hands tightening around her poles, and she made another mental note to murder her best friend when they got back.

Taisho was drunk.