By the end of January, the snow had let up a bit and was only still clinging to some patches of grass. However, the cold had decided that it quite liked spending winter in Japan, and so the temperatures remained close to freezing.
Kagome was sulking. She did not take very well to cold things. Sure, snow was nice, if it didn't stay for very long, and ice cream had its merit, but you mostly ate that in summer. Summer was more her kind of season, she decided as she wrapped her scarf around her face so tight she nearly cut off circulation to her ears. Which were already numb from the cold. Why, oh why did she have to lend Sango her earmuffs?
They had been travelling north for a few days now. Going North was really the last thing Kagome wanted to do in these already arctic weather conditions, but Naraku had been signaled up there and as the only shards that were still moving about where those of Kohaku and themselves, they had little choice but to go and seek the vile hanyou out.
Since setting out from the village, she had sensed Kohaku's shard moving in their general direction, but she had not shared this with the rest. While Shippou would probably be keen on meeting up with Rin, and Sango would be overjoyed to spend some time with her little brother, another little brother would probably not be quite as rapturous. She found that InuYasha would be difficult enough when he sensed Sesshoumaru coming himself, and she wanted to put that of for as long as she could. She didn't even know what she felt about him seeking them out. Ever since that fateful morning in the rain, she had been thrown into a fit of girlish giggles when it rained, she could not keep a straight face whenever she saw a big white dog on a leash when she was in her time, and that one time when she saw one of those dogs coming out of a lake and shaking itself dry, she had almost wet herself. Kagome did not really know what to make of these feelings and thoughts that kept swarming into her head all the time, but she thought it best to just ignore them as best as she could. Therefore, it would not help her if the source of said thoughts came waltzing into their midst.
On the other hand, he did owe her a pair of earplugs.
That night, they had to sleep outside. They had yet to pass through the mountains, which would be riddled with caves, but the forest they were in was not so rich in shelters. While InuYasha hunted for some food and Miroku and Sango got a fire going, Kagome fumbled with some extra blankets, ropes and sturdy tree branches to try and conjure up a makeshift tent. As her third attempt crumbled into a pitiful heap on the cold ground, she cursed herself for not watching more survivor programs on tv. Finally deciding it was not worth the effort, she handed everyone one of the blankets and crawled into her sleeping bag early to get it all warmed up before going to sleep. Inuyasha returned empty handed and so they ate noodles, relishing in the warmth they provided. As everyone got ready to turn in for the night, InuYasha left to patrol around camp for the night.
Kagome shivered in her sleeping bag. The others were already fast asleep, but it was just too cold to be comfortable enough to fall asleep. It didn't matter how close she was to fire, how many layers she wore over her pajamas or how she thought of hot chocolate, the ground she was laying on may as well have been an ice rink. Eventually though, fatigue caught up with her and she could no longer keep her eyes open.
The next morning, she awoke to somebody yelling at the top of their lungs about something. After spending years in the feudal era, she had become used to this, and, she decided, if it were something mortally perilous, somebody would just have to come and save, because there was no way she was getting out of her very warm and comfortable little bed. Kagome turned to her side, trying to block out the indignant screaming, and closed her eyes to further enjoy the overall feeling of content she had woken up to. Then her thoughts caught up with her.
Sitting bolt upright, she stared at the source of the warmth she had been feeling. Being big, fuzzy and white, she had a nagging feeling she had seen it before somewhere, but that it had looked quite a bit different, more intimidating then. Also, if it were actually what she was thinking of, it must have the ability to move on its own, as the owner of said it would probably not have left it in her care.
By now, their camp had gone silent, and Kagome glanced around, only to see a lividly seething InuYasha, as red in the face as his own clothes were, a mildly startled and confused looking Sango, a slight grin on Miroku's face and actually a bit scared looking Shippou.
'Kagome, why the he-' InuYasha started, but Kagome cut him off.
'I don't know, I don't care why, I'm just happy to be warm and comfortable again. Let's get this camp cleared up and get going.'
'Kagome-sama…'
'Miroku, I really don't want to discuss it right now. I have no idea why this is here, or why it is with me, so let's just let it be, ok?'
Miroku nodded, and they set to work in silence. InuYasha was still raging inside, everyone could tell, and it would not be long before he had to blow off some steam, but Kagome ignored him. As they got onto the road again, she slung the furry boa around her shoulders and breathed in its' scent. It smelled of spices, carnations, and, very slightly, of musk. She smiled. She didn't mind the cold so much today.
Author's note: This is what happens when you force your writers block away by writing. I took the scents from this site:
. You figure out what it means =P As always, characters are © Rumiko Takahashi
Also, you can now find me on dokuga aswell, same username. was having a cow over the weekend and wouldn't let me update, or else you would have had this chapter sooner. Bah.