Hello everyone! I know that this chapter is well overdue and for that I'm really sorry. Kazey got me into a Tales of the Abyss fanfic and now that I'm done this story is now back the top of my to-do list.

Thank you so much to those who have read and reviewed so far. You all make me really happy and I'm happy to hear your thoughts after each chapter. :D

Please enjoy. :3

Appropriate

Cold ran down the side of his face and he shuddered slightly at the feeling of the melting snow.

"What are you doing?" he questioned with a cocked brow.

"Throwing snowballs," Nina chimed happily.

"Why?" he questioned, confused.

"It's fun," she stated happily, hitting him in the back of the head this time.

"Why are you throwing them at me?" he asked again.

"'Cause you're my friend," she laughed pleasantly.

Shaking his head, he got to his feet and grabbed a handful of snow.

"Well if it's because I'm your friend, then I guess I have to show you my affection as well," he mused, turning his golden orbs on his half bred friend.

She hit him in the chest as her reply and laughed happily before running away.

Throwing the snowball, he hit her in the back. She stumbled, falling into the snow. She was on her hands and knees; crawling away through the white fluffy substance. He laughed to himself as she hid behind a tree.

"I wonder where she could be," he mused, pretending not to know where she was.

"I'm not a four year old!" she hissed at him, "I know you know where I am!"

He laughed at her reaction.

"Alright," he mused, grabbing another snowball.

He threw a decoy to get her to tease him on how he missed. When she peered around the tree trunk, he hit her on the top of her head.

She scowled at the action. He laughed, shaking his head before holding his arms open for her. Immediately the scowl turned into a grin as she ran to him. He lifted her into his arms and held her closely to his torso.

"It's getting colder," he murmured, "I think that it would be better for you to stay at your own hut for a little while."

He felt her stiffen almost immediately.

"I don't want to!" she protested, "I won't get sick, I promise!"

"Nina, I don't want to have to worry about you in this kind of weather. Please do me this favor," he prodded, holding her closer.

Her body softened, hugging him back out of defeat.

"Okay," she muttered.

Placing her back on the snow, he ruffled her dark brown hair with a small smile on his face. She made a face before holding his hand.

"Could you walk me home?" she questioned curiously.

He nodded before she started to lead the way back to the small village. She hummed a non-existent tune as she grinned. He was glad that she was happy… that she enjoyed his company.

- - - -

Perfect by nature

Icons of self indulgence

Just what we all need

More lies about a world that

Never was and never will be

Have you no shame? Don't you see me?

You know you've got everybody fooled

- - - -

It was a good feeling – a content feeling – knowing that there was someone that liked him just for who he was. Her kindness wasn't a fake kindness like so many others. It was a real kindness, and he hoped that when she got older it wouldn't change. He wanted to keep the relationship as it was now… keep the adoration that they held for each other.

He hadn't noticed when they broke through the trees and stood at the top of the hill. Villagers were working outside as if there were no thick white layers of snow across the ground. He was surprised to say that they had dedication.

"Okay," the girl pouted, "I guess I'll see you when it gets warmer…"

"Take care, Nina. Don't get sick again."

"I said I promised!"

He chuckled as he watched her slide down the hill. She laughed when she fell down in the snow.

She turned and waved before going into her small hut. With a small smile, he left to go back to the castle. His feet walked rather silently across the snow. His golden orbs glared coldly to the side, locking with the brown ones of a man.

"A-a demon…" the man stuttered with fright.

He glared coldly at the man.

"Does that fact bother you?" he questioned icily.

The man shook with fear and it caused his eyes to narrow.

Why couldn't the mortals see past the appearance of a demon and see that they all weren't savage beings? Were all demons the same in their eyes?

"Be gone mortal," he muttered, continuing on his way.

The man ran toward the village, probably afraid of what may happen if he hadn't left.

When the castle was in sight, he sighed at the sight of the wooden building. How that he had been able to taste the freedom outside of its walls, his born home seemed more like a prison. People ordering him what to do, telling him that his mother or father wished to see him… If only there was a way to keep his freedom and not stay at the castle… He would have taken that path in a moment.

The guards allowed him entry and he passed them in silence. Snow was starting to fall, which meant that he would be confined to the study for a while. Once winter had come, his training had been held off until the spring would come. Once all the snow was melted, he could do as he enjoyed once again.

"Master Sesshoumaru," an older woman called to him, "The lady has been calling for you for quite some time. She wishes that you have a word with her."

His brows knitted together in confusion.

"Can she not wait?" he asked.

"I'm afraid not master Sesshoumaru," the maid apologized with a bow.

- - - -

Look here she comes now

Bow down and stare in wonder

Oh how we love you

No flaws when you're pretending

- - - -

He walked down the hallway that led to his mother's chamber. Her condition was not improving in any way. She was still confined to walking only a certain amount. He wondered if maybe that was what she wished to discuss with him.

He stood and stared at the door before him. It was fully closed and beyond it awaited his mother. Her personal servant had been the one to call for him…

"What does mother want?" he asked himself again with a cocked brow.

He disliked how strict she was on his behavior. He hoped that this wasn't another unending lecture about him having a half bred peasant friend.

Despite the weather, he had been spending much more time with his younger friend. At his age, he could understand exactly what his half bred friend meant to him. He knew fully what she meant to his being – how much he depended on seeing her. He no longer needed to be treated like a small child by his mother.

Slowly, he opened the door and silently stepped into the quiet room. His mother say in her wondrous pink silk kimono covered with blue flowers. Her black hair hung down around her porcelain skin and framed her small face. As per daily, she was quite beautiful.

"You called for me mother?" he questioned as he bowed politely.

"Yes," she stated pleasantly, "I have heard from the guards that they have caught glimpses of you playing with that filthy half breed again… Is this knowledge true?"

His palms clenched tightly at the question. Why was the concept such a large problem to her? Was it wrong to have made such an important friend? Why did such a thing matter to someone upon which would not ever live to see him as a ruler?

"Yes mother," he replied emotionlessly, "It is how you have said. These facts are not lies."

"Did I not make myself clear the last time?" she asked; her tone holding agitation.

"She is no more than a friend, mother," he continued, "Nothing would become of her."

Naturally that was a lie. He was aware of what would happen once she was old enough. He knew what he wanted. This was something he would lower himself to lie about.

"You should discontinue your lies Sesshoumaru," she told him through cold eyes and expression, "I know of your expressions toward her. The guards have told me of how… gentle and caring you are with her."

He looked toward his mother with his own cold orbs. He did not care on what she thought on the circumstances. He knew what he wanted, and knew what would occur once the time had come.

"Yes mother, I do indeed love that child," he stated with a fierce gaze, "I do not plan on changing that fact any time soon."

He turned to leave the room but stopped when he heard his mother's laughter.

"My dear son," she mused slightly, "Either you leave her be, or I will have the guards kill her instead. Which would you rather see; her die? Or watch her live for another day?"

His fists clenched tightly all the more at his mother's last statement.

"What might I do to change your opinion?" he questioned emotionlessly.

"That is my final opinion," she stated.

"You would dare to take away the only one friend that I cherish?" he continued, daring to bare his fangs at his mother.

"Your future is at stake if you choose that filthy half breed," she nearly growled, "You would dare to throw that away?"

- - - -

Never was and never will be

You don't know how you've betrayed me

And somehow you've got everybody fooled

Without the mask, where will you hide?

Can't find yourself lost in your lie

- - - -

He growled hatefully in his throat before his mother pointed at him with her claws.

"Keep him locked away for a few days," she ordered the guard at her side, "He needs time to think about what is the appropriate decision."

He coldly glared at the guards, daring them to come after him. They did though, and he decided that it wasn't worth killing these guards, no matter how much he would have enjoyed it.

Golden orbs stared hatefully at the closed dungeon door. The room was dark and empty… there was nothing but himself and his thoughts.

Was it wrong to want to keep his best friend? Was it wrong to want to set his own path and future? All he had done was want his own future and not one that had been decided for him… Was that really so selfish? Why couldn't his mother understand that?

The dark and being in the dungeon alone made his heart cold and hateful. He resented his mother… felt as if he hated her. She told the guards to not let him out… not until she thought that he had spent enough time down there. If his mother would do this to her own son… then he knew that he had no choice but to leave Nina alone… to go away for a long time.

- - - -

I know the truth now

I know who you are

And I don't love you anymore

It Never was and never will be

You don't know how you've betrayed me

And somehow you've got everybody fooled

- - - -

The thought bothered him to no end. He didn't think that he'd be able to bear turning her away… not now. He was too involved with her to want to give it all up now.

A day or two had passed before the dungeon door had been opened. His brows were furrowed when a light figure came into his prison.

"Why are you down here my son?" his father's voice asked with confusion.

"Why not ask my betraying mother?" he hissed coldly, glaring at his father.

He had never felt so angry before… he had never hated someone before this.

"Why would she be betraying?" his father questioned.

"She wished for me to eave Nina alone… to stop being friends with her," he explained, fists clenching as his father took away the chains, "She threatened to kill her if I don't."

His father sighed before looking him directly in the eye.

"Your mother just wishes the best for your future Sesshoumaru. She does not wish for you to throw it away, and to her being with a half demon defiled that future," his father explained, "You could always return to her once your mother and I pass on."

He thought about that for a few moments… wondering how true the statement was… wondering if it was possible to do.

Getting to his feet, he walked past his father and up the small dungeon stairway. His thoughts were running through his head. They were speeding on and making his heart ache.

At first he had been looking forward to Spring so he could see his friend once again. Now he wasn't so sure that he wanted it to come at all. How could he possibly get that ready to say such horrible things? How could he bring his heart to be cold enough to do it?

The pain was rather agonizing as he thought about it. If he dwelled off of the idea then it would tear him apart on the inside… it would only get worse. Then how could he stop himself from thinking about it? How could he make himself stronger on the inside?

In mid step, he stopped in the hallway. Golden orbs narrowed at the floor as he pondered the possibilities. He could go for a training journey… leave for a while before coming back in the spring… Spending the last months of winter alone would freeze anyone's heart over.

Feet went to the door to go outside; leaving behind the castle. He needed to get stronger; needed to prove to himself that his mother's will was not stronger than his own. He knew everything that he needed. He would turn his half bred friend away until the time was necessary to bring her back into his life. Once his mother was gone… there would be nothing to stop him from having the future he wanted.

- - - -

It never was and never will be

You're not real and you can't save me

Somehow now you're everybody's fool

- - - -

Stepping out into the cold falling snow, his eyes froze over. There was no turning back from this now… there would be no seeing her again before the spring. There would be no one except himself until the spring… until he could prove his mother wrong.

End of Chapter 5

So how was it? Was it good? I hope it was. It took me a little while to get started on this chapter and I'm really sorry that it's kind of short. I kind of wanted to get the story moving again, so hopefully the next chapter won't be as short as this one turned out. :D The song for this chapter was Everybody's Fool by Evanescence. I really hope that it fits well with this chapter. I thought that it did but I'm not so sure. -- sweat drops --

Thanks again for reading! I love you guys for it! Please R&R and I'll try to update as soon as I get the chance to. :3