Chapter 2

Kagome was looking out of the cave, she has changed into something warmer then her usual school attire. She couldn't rest knowing he has not come back yet. She pulled her red swear on her shoulders embracing her knees, inky fluent hairs, going on her eyes.

The weather was getting worst and worst, the darkening blue sky had storming clouds which passed quickly. Brr... Wow... It's so cold...I think it will snow tonight. Inuyasha where are you? Is it possible you are keeping yourself away from me? Am I so... tiresome for you? I know I remember her to you, it has always been so, till the very beginning. I thought you had learnt that I am not her, but... now she is dead...again... and I am still here... Are you frustrated about this? Yes, I think you are. You would have had her here with you, not me. I know. I have accepted this before. It's heartbreaking but I accept your feelings.. and mine. I cannot stop loving you. And will be with you till you let me so. I will do everything in my power to help you being happy again. And then... I will simply go back home...and never coma back.

With all her mind she swore on her resolution. Her heart aching at her promise, at the thought of not seeing all her friends again.

A sudden noise coming from the forest in front of the cave, averted her mind from the hurting thoughts. With well-known movements she reached for her bow and arrows and in half a seconds she was there, standing straight at the forest, alerted, bravery in her warrior pose, the arrow ready to hit the enemy.

The vision of a wild warrior miko was what greeted Inuyasha coming back to the camp. His breath caught by the deadly sight of her. Her curvy hairs, moved by the wind and enlightened by the fire behind her, framed her beautiful intense face wildly. Kagome... she is so...beautiful!

"Inuyasha! It's you! Rin!!! What happened to her? Where is Sesshomaru? Is she hurt? And you?" she asked suddenly, noting him with the sleeping child in his arms.

"Damn woman! How many questions you can have?" he answered back nestling himself in his anger.

She run towards him, to see how Rin was, when she sow the rest of the little party.

"KOHAKU! You?!?" Kagome exclaimed looking from the boy to Inuyasha and back.

"He was with my half brother" he simply answered.

"Let's go inside the cave, it's too cold here" she hugged the child, guiding him near the fire.

Sango and Miroku woke up at the voices. When the sow the little group entering the cave, their eyes got shock open.

Sango's voice cracked in her throat "Kohaku...oh...my little brother!".

She threw herself on Kohaku's arms embracing him with strength, joyful tears dropping from her cheeks.

The little boy replied with a sweet smile that from months was missing from his eyes; a feeling of absolute protection and love in his heart. He cared so much for his older sister! I would have never hurt her and our own family so deeply...How could she forgive me for my past actions? How can I? But the sadness in his thought could not achieve his heart, too happy to be back in his sister's arms.

Miroku observed the scene in a corner of the cave, feeling relief for Sango but troubled for her future. Kohaku was dead, and only the last pure fragment of the Shikon no Tama was keeping him alive. Defeating Naraku could mean kill the little boy... again. What about Sango if so? What will I do for her? How will she react? I have to talk to her, make her understand the terrible possibility...I cannot let her broken... no! Thinking about a way to protect her, Miroku stood in silence.

In the meanwhile, Shippo helped Jaken to find a place in the cave for Ah-Uhn, both worried about the little girl in Inuyasha's arms, still asleep.

Kagome prepared a bed for Rin using her night pack near the fire, Inuyasha put her inside it, then he put off his haori and covered the sleeping child. Quickly Kagome took some soup Sango had previously prepared and tried to have her drinking it. Opening her sleepy eyes, Rin swallowed some "Inuyasha-nee-chan! Oh Kagome-chan! Thanks, Rin is really cold and hungry."

"Rin, drink some soup, then I will cook something else while you stay near the fire. Are you feeling any better?"

"Yes, thanks Kagome-chan"

"Where is my brother? Why had he left you in such a cold night? What happened?"

"Sesshomaru-sama has gone some way. He told he would have come back quickly. I think we fell asleep while waiting for him".

"Keh" What a bastard! Leave them in that way! Keh!

"Kagome-sama, Jaken has two rabbits with him, we can cook those!" Miroku said with an evil grin, his punch still lying on a bumped one-tear-crying Jaken.

"Yeah.. I forgot them..." Inuyasha said shyly.

So I was worrying for nothing... he simply was out hunting and then found them...I am so reassured... Thinking so, Kagome, brightly smiled at Inuyasha, calming and at the same time agitating him at once. He quickly dismissed his glance looking away from her, his cheeks lightly pink.

Once again happy, Kagome helped Miroku preparing the dinner, while Sango and Kohaku still hugged each other chatting happily. Inuyasha sat in the entry of the cave in middle light, lost in his own thoughts.

Rin, cuddled in the sleeping bag, giggled looking at the fire, with Jaken.

While cooking, Miroku approached the miko: "Kagome-sama...I'm concerned about Sango and Kohaku."

"I know, Miroku, me too. But you know...we all will do our best to save him. That's all we can do, I think."

"You are right, but... Anyway, there is another thing. He will came soon"

"Yes, I know, I was thinking the same. I am a bit worried"

"Don't!" the husky voice of the hankyo interrupted their speech.

Kagome looked at him furrowing her brow.

"Don't be worried about him. I'm here" he explained briefly.

They went on turning the two rabbits now on extempore skewers in silence.

OOOoooOOOoooOOOooo

The powerful tai youkai reached back the glade in which he had left his pack, knowing no one was still there.

Inuyasha...

He could smell his scent all over the camp.

Narrowing his icy glance, Sesshomaru followed the tray. He knew his half brother would have never done any harm to his company, it was his weaken human heart...Keh!...

OOOoooOOOoooOOOooo

He entered the glance in front of the cave with the usual cold elegance.

Inuyasha stood still covering the entrance with his body, a groan escaping his lips.

Kagome looked at the new figure out in the night, worried.

"Sesshomaru-sama! Welcome back!" Rin giggled happily.

She was smiling, a big piece of meat in every hand and her mouth surrounded with scraps of food. She was enfolded in a strange canvas and in Inuyasha's haori. His heart relaxed.

"Why are they here? Why did you kidnapped them from this Sesshomaru?" he grinned, stepping nearer the entrance.

Inuyasha moved nearer him. "I didn't kidnap anybody! She was freezing! You, fucking bastard, had left them in this cold wind without even a fire, and without food!" At his words Jaken paralyzed with fear.

Sesshomaru looked for Jaken with his glare, an angry growl escaping from his throat.

"Inuyasha-nee-chan took Rin here! Rin is well again now!" the little child said.

Inuyasha-nee-chan?!!??! For a moment his cold golden eyes became overwhelmed by a strange feeling.

"So little brother you cared for her." He simply stated.

Inuyasha nodded in silence, his grip on tetsaiga softened.

"Sesshomaru, it's cold and a storm is approaching. It would be bad for your companions to be out in such a weather. Why don't you join us?" Kagome, with a sweet smile, asked politely.

Everyone in the cave stared at her with shock.

"Kagome-sama..." "Kagome-chan!" Miroku and Sango said in disbelief.

Inuyasha's mouth dropped open. She has got crazy...

Sesshomaru looked directly at the young miko. She was brave. Maybe crazy. But brave. He then looked at the little child sat near the fire, at the guilty toad youkai and then at the other human boy, sat near his sister.

"Thanks miko, I think I will accept your offer."

Walking elegantly toward the cave, he stopped near the hankyou. "Ok little brother, I will kill you next time, now don't bother me."

Then he simply walked inside the cave and sat near the entrance in front of where his younger brother had stayed before.

Inuyasha was still astonished. His rage written all over his face. Angry golden eyes stopped in Kagome's. Then, nodding, he sat back in front of him. Damn! I have to watch at him. I don't believe him.

Kagome's smile widened. Maybe something good can spring from this night. She took two bowls with ramen and offered them to the two brothers. Maybe they are more similar then what it seems.

"Ehy! Those are my ramen!!! Why are you giving them to him!!" he griped childishly.

Sesshomaru, who wanted to refuse the disch, at his half-brother complain changed his mind. "Thanks" he kindly took the bowl, and tried the food.

Oh! It's good! It's really good!

He ate all his ramen quickly, with manners.

"It'll do" his only comment.

Kagome's smile widened. Yes, they really are. Maybe they can understand each other better... She then came back to the fire, sitting near Shippo and Miroku who were eating.

The dinner went on in the usual chatting mess they were accustomed, Shippo, Rin and Jaken playing with each other food.

Sango was happier than ever, together with Kohaku, she had joined Kagome and Miroku near the fire, chatting.

The two brothers were still in their posture, studying each other secretly.