Keepsake by Sereia

Chapter 1

Kagome trudged through the snow, more flakes swirling around her with every step. She'd hoped to make it to the village before the next flurry started, but it appeared luck wasn't on her side. Heaving a sigh, she adjusted the pack on her shoulder. Sango had urged her to leave earlier, but the skies had been bright and clear, so she'd pushed it off until the sun was just starting to disappear behind the mountains.

Kouga had offered to take her, claiming he'd be back before Sango could blink even without the shards in his legs, but it was the first winter where the twins were able to join the hunt, and she'd seen the hesitation in his steps as he escorted her toward the entrance of the village.

The next village wasn't that far, so she honestly hadn't been worried about it, but the storm had materialized out of nowhere, and now she wasn't sure if she was even going in the right direction. Gritting her teeth, Kagome pulled her cloak tighter around her neck. It wouldn't do to freeze out here, so she had to keep going.

The snap of a twig had her turning around, the final bits of sunlight illuminating a woman in rags holding a bundle. Blinking in surprise at not having sensed her sooner, Kagome stepped closer. "Are you alright?"

"My child," the woman stuttered, holding out the bundle. "She's so cold. Will you help warm her?" Kagome automatically held out her hands, then suddenly jumped back as the woman's pinched features curled up into an eerie smirk.

She wasn't human.

The woman clicked her tongue. "Such a clever miko. I will enjoy feasting on your entrails." The bundle screeched as she dropped it, and the woman rushed her, fingers turning to claws as she swiped at her face.

Kagome easily dodged, throwing up a barrier as she tried to assess which was a bigger threat. It wouldn't do to ignore who—or what—was in the bundle, and she didn't want to be caught off guard a second time. Reiki shot out of her fingers in the shape of a crescent moon, and the woman sneered at her, regrouping around her abandoned offspring.

Power swirled around them, eyes glowing as they hissed. Icicles formed around the woman's fingers as her head tilted in a way that was anything but human, and Kagome dove out of the way as they penetrated her barrier, unable to detect what kind of youkai they were. "What in the world—"

"How is it that any time there is trouble, you are at its epicentre?"

She didn't even bother turning around, knowing exactly what kind of expression he was wearing. "Hello to you too, Sesshoumaru."

"I did not use any such greeting," he huffed.

If she weren't so focused on her attacker, she would've rolled her eyes. "It's called sarcasm. If you spent more time around humans, you might understand it." Icicles shot out again, catching her shoulder. Hissing in pain, Kagome threw up another barrier, adjusting for the random flares in power.

"You could easily vanquish her," he stated, almost bored.

"I don't even know what she is!" Kagome shot back. "I don't attack people without talking to them first." The creature spun around, throwing snow in every direction. "I kill less people that way." Sesshoumaru huffed again, not deeming her important enough for an answer, and she shoved him out of the way. "If you're not going to help, you might as well leave. I don't need distractions."

The baby let out a high-pitched squeal, and the ground rolled, sending them toppling into each other. Sesshoumaru pursed his lips. "She is a yuki-onba. She intends to freeze you so that her child may feast on your flesh while your heart is still beating.

Dread made her shiver worse than the cold, hands clenching under her cloak. Why was she always at the top of everyone's most attackable list? "She can get through my barrier," she said, rolling off him.

"Because you are focused on defending instead of attacking," he chastised, righting himself. "There is no good in her miko. She wanders the land in search of her next victim—and is likely the cause of this storm." She'd had the same thought, considering how quickly it had started, but she'd never encountered a yuki-onba before, so she hadn't been sure.

She also hadn't planned on starting the winter solstice with bloodshed, but maybe she'd get lucky, and the creature would give up—especially considering the present company.

Another screech told her the likelihood of that happening was next to zero, and she would've taken a direct hit if Sesshoumaru hadn't grabbed her around the waist and taken the brunt of the attack. He let out a grunt, his body feeling hard and heavy, and Kagome watched in horror as his leg started to ice over. It looked like armour, encasing his boot and pants, and her power blazed.

She'd had enough.

Throwing up another barrier to mask their auras, she sent images of herself running in all directions, leaving the spectre to guess which one was real. The storm reached a lull as the yuki-onba's attention was splintered, and Kagome yanked Sesshoumaru to his feet, dragging him in the opposite direction.

She waited until they were out of blast radius, then enfolded the barrier the other way, trapping the creature inside. She beat at the edge of the pearlesque bubble, her claws causing it to ripple as it shrank around her. It wasn't until the baby started crying that she realized her fate was sealed, and Kagome turned away, not needing to confirm she'd been snuffed from existence.

Sesshoumaru tried to push her away, but he couldn't put any weight on his frozen foot and was forced to use her as a crutch. "I passed by a cave not too far back," she said. "We can wait out the rest of the storm and get you warmed up." He scoffed at the notion of needing any help but didn't argue, allowing her to lead him through the snow.

She knew it wasn't the best option, but they had no choice. And even though he wasn't the best company, it was her fault he'd been injured in the first place. She may as well repay the debt now while he was injured instead of being forced to repay it down the road when he was less inclined to be merciful.

The cave was further back than she thought, though she'd been completely turned around during the fight, the ice having reached his thigh by the time they hobbled inside. She helped him sit down far enough inside that even the blistering winds wouldn't bother him, then ran back outside to collect tree branches.

He'd likely state something as mundane as a fire wasn't needed, but she was going to need one if she was going to survive the night, and from the looks of things, she wasn't going anywhere soon.

She could barely see over the pile of sticks she brought back, laying some of them in a triangle next to his foot. The ice had stopped but not receded, so she fished her flint box out of her bag, sparks illuminating the darkness as she set the kindling ablaze. Shadows danced along the walls as she made sure it would last, collecting some stones from further inside the cave to keep the fire contained.

Then she gathered another round of branches, not wanting to run out in the middle of the night. Amber eyes followed her as she puttered around the cave, eventually settling down beside him to warm her hands. "The ice should disappear now that she's gone, right?" she asked, looking worriedly at his leg.

"Hnn."

Kagome breathed a sigh of relief, leaning back against the cave wall. "You can sleep if you need to. I'll keep watch until you're healed. Feel free to leave after." His pinched glare told her exactly what he thought of that plan, and she rolled her eyes. "Complain all you want, ice prince; you're in no condition to leave on your own." He likely would've tried to, and she pinned him with a knowing stare, telling him without words she'd drag his ass back to the cave if necessary.

And she would.

Regardless of his view of humans, Rin aside, he'd saved her from the yuki-onba's attack, and likely certain death, and she was just as honourable as him when it came to repaying debt. Even if it meant putting up with his condescending remarks all night. He likely wouldn't sleep—he'd actually have to trust her to do so—but she'd be able to keep an eye on him and keep the ice from worsening.

Glancing at his leg, she wondered if there was a way to speed up the process. Was it just the demise of the one who cast it? Or would it respond to someone else's power?

"There is nothing to do but wait, miko," he said.

Kagome let out a guilty chuckle. "Am I that obvious?"

"When it comes to the care of others, you opt for the swiftest course of action—even at the expense of your own safety." She wasn't sure if it was a compliment, but considering who it was coming from, she doubted it was any of the sort.

She decided to take the bait if only to keep him talking. "Preach all you want; I've seen you save others firsthand, so it's not like you've never done it either."

"There was never a danger of This One life."

Kagome leaned back against the cave wall. "Maybe not when you rescued me—twice, I might add—but from what the others said, there was a chance before you formed Bakusaiga." She felt him bristle, as she'd intended, and patted his knee above the ice. "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone. We wouldn't want them knowing you actually have a heart."

She expected a scathing retort, but silence followed, then a slight snort. "Sleep, miko. Before that mouth gets you into more trouble." She wanted to argue that he was the one who needed rest, but her body betrayed her, jaw cracking with the force of her yawn.

"Fine," she allowed, closing her eyes. "Just don't leave before the ice is all gone. And rebuild the fire if you need it."

"This One does as he pleases."

"Which is why you're in this situation in the first place," she shot back, a grin threatening to break through. She shouldn't push her luck, but he was so easy to needle. He was likely glaring at her right now, or coming up with some nasty form of revenge, but hopefully, he'd save it for the next time they met.

..::**::..

Kagome wasn't as sore as she thought when she woke. She was used to sleeping on the ground but usually had her sleeping bag to stave off the chill and kinks in her joints. Neither was currently bothering her and when she sat up, something fell off her shoulders.

Blinking several times to let her eyes adjust, she suddenly realized the fire was not only still giving off heat, but the flames were high enough to illuminate the entire cave.

Sesshoumaru hadn't let it go out.

The fact that he'd done anything was almost as surprising as the pelt covering her body. She'd clearly been using it as a body pillow, the downy fur draped over her side and curled up her back. She would've survived with the fire alone, even if it had died out, but sharing his pelt was something she'd never even considered before. She hadn't even known it could come off.

The urge to run her fingers through it was almost as strong as touching Inuyasha's ears when she'd first discovered him bound to Goshinboku, but unlike his brother, he'd been unconscious and a little less prone to putting his claws through the perpetrator. There was also no way Sesshoumaru would've just left it with her, meaning he was still nearby.

Pursing her lips, she stared at the fur, the edges turning orange in the firelight. Was it just for decoration? Or something more significant? She'd never seen him without it, but then again, she'd never seen him without armour, and there was no way that was a permanent part of him.

She flared her power to see if he'd simply stepped out of the cave, but she couldn't sense anything in the vicinity, so she gave into the temptation and sank her hands into the pelt. "It's not like he'll know, right?" she mused aloud. "It's going to smell like me anyway. I guess I have something else to thank him for." The fact that she had anything to thank him for was mindboggling but had her laughing all the same. "Can't claim the title of ice prince now, can you, Sesshoumaru?"

Kagome liked seeing the good in everyone—it's what gained her so many friendships and connections during the shard hunt—and though some took longer to show it than others, she knew they were capable of it.

Even Sesshoumaru.

"You don't have to be a condescending ass all the time, you know," she said, fingering the edge of the fur. "Rin and Jaken love you, so you can't be all bad." She knew Jaken's willingness to follow the daiyoukai wasn't the same kind of love as Rin's, but their devotion was unwavering. Plus, Sango still trusted him with training Kohaku.

Her eyes became unfocused as she pulled the pelt around her shoulders. "It's okay to let people in once in a while. Your brother did it, and look where it got him. Hell, even I'd let you in for tea or something." She snorted. "We'd probably be better suited to go hunting, though."

A soft crunch had her glancing toward the mouth of the cave. It was still dark out, though she couldn't be sure if it was due to the ongoing storm or if she'd only slept for a few hours. He seemed to glow as he stepped back into the cave, something clasped in his hand. They stared at each other, the only sound coming from the crackling flames.

An odd heat crept up the back of her neck, and she broke eye contact, shifting so she could return the pelt. He ignored it, offering up something instead, and Kagome's eyes widened as he lay two skinned rabbits in front of her.

"I assumed you would be hungry," he said, resuming his place beside her.

Arguments and other protests at his change in behaviour bubbled to the surface, but in the end, all she managed was a soft "Thank you." He inclined his head, bending one leg at the knee as she wrapped the kill around some sticks so it could cook. "I assume you don't want any," she said, changing the subject.

"There is nothing in the vicinity that interests me." His tone was clipped, and she had the feeling he wasn't being entirely truthful but wasn't about to question it. Maybe the scent of cooked meat offended him. Perking up, she reached for her bag, rifling through it until she found what she was looking for.

Placing the kabocha near the fire, she let it roast for several moments, then cut it open and offered him a piece. "It's a vegetable. Sort of."

"Do you normally carry around an assortment of plant life?" he asked, motioning to her still-open bag.

"I was going to use these once I'd found a hot spring, but I doubt I'll have time with how bad the storm is." Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow at the golden fruit. "It's yuzu. You're supposed to put them in your bath water to celebrate the Winter Solstice."

"Humans track time in such odd ways," he sighed, finally accepting the squash. "You have an incessant need to celebrate everything."

She shrugged. "We don't live as long as demons do, so we like to have annual events." She turned the rabbits around to cook the other side. "Maybe if you participated a little more, people wouldn't hide in their huts when you visit Rin."

"Perhaps I do it on purpose to keep the vermin away." Kagome snorted so hard she started to choke, quickly dissolving into laughter. She could feel Sessohumaru's eyes on her, but it took several moments before she was able to control herself. "I do not see what is so amusing."

"You are."

Youki spiked, and she wondered how close he was to grabbing her. "Explain." It was hard to believe he'd been sneering at her less than a day ago, but maybe this was why Rin and Kohaku enjoyed his company so much. Leaning back against the cave wall, Kagome gave him a considering look.

He was still a warrior but far more approachable than when they'd first met. Back then, he had no qualms about destroying anything or anyone who stood in the way of his quest for power. Blood didn't matter—human, demon, or spilled on the ground—but Naraku and the jewel shards had set a series of changes in motion that none of them could have predicted.

It had started with Rin and ended with—what? Not indiscriminately killing anymore? Offering his protection to the village? This moment right now?

She tilted her head, the answer to his question disappearing under the weight of one of her own. "Why did you save me from Mukatsu?"

Something shifted in his eyes, closing them off. "As I said at the time, he was in my way."

She pursed her lips. "And in the bowels of Naraku?"

That answer came easier, tension easing. "Your power was needed to defeat the spider."

"And yesterday?" she pressed.

"I did not—"

She grabbed his hair, forcing him to look at her. "You appeared out of nowhere and took a hit meant for me. Whatever you think you didn't, you did."

He scowled at her. "Rin values your friendship. And any time she is upset, Jaken is inconsolable. I was merely preventing a tantrum." He was lying, his voice taking on that same tone as before. Incensed to prove her point, she released him, digging through her bag again.

She wasn't sure what she'd been thinking when commissioning gifts for everyone, but her curiosity had gotten the better of her—especially after Rin had let it slip his preference for green.

"You have not answered the question," he said, teeth on edge.

"Neither have you," she shot back, pulling out a wrapped bundle. "I was saving this for the upcoming festival, but on the off chance you don't show up, I might as well give it to you now." She relished the look of open surprise on his face as she held it out to him. He stared at it, unmoving, and she finally got fed up, grabbing his wrist and placing it in his hand.

"This is specifically for me?" he asked, brow furrowing when she nodded. "Why?"

Her shrug wasn't as nonchalant as she would've liked. "It made me think of you."

That only made him frown more, eyes darting between the package and her. "You think of me outside of our casual meetings in the village?"

"Would you just open it already?" she snapped, not wanting to delve into any hidden meanings. She'd bought something for everyone. He didn't need to know she'd only done it to hide the fact she'd bought his first. 

This wasn't about her; this was about him—and whatever he was hiding. She'd look into her own feelings later. Much later. And doing so would entirely depend on his reaction to the gift.

Peeling back the parchment, amber eyes widened further as a small figure of his true form was revealed. Intricately carved wood showed off the beast's power, though on a much smaller scale. Clouds of youki swirled around the feet; a green ribbon had been slipped under the fur on his shoulder, and she picked it up, letting it dangle between them.

"I'm not sure if you have a place for it, but it's supposed to be hung up somewhere. Though it stands on its own too, so it could go anywhere." She avoided his piercing gaze. "If you plan on keeping it, anyway."

"Why would I not keep it?" he asked, tone hushed.

She shrugged again. "Because it's not to your taste. Or you don't like presents in general. Or I'm the one who gave it to you." Her smile waned as she tried to play it off.

"You will find my taste has changed over the last few years, miko." He plucked it from her fingers, spinning the carving around as he took in every angle. "The craftsmanship is exquisite."

Her smile widened. "Isn't it? As soon as I saw the stall, I knew the vendor would be able to capture your image—" She bit her lip, cutting herself off a little too late as he gave her a knowing look.

"You had this specifically made," he said. Stifling a sigh, she nodded. There was no point in hiding it now. "Even though I am an ice prince?"

"Uh-huh."

"And a condescending ass?"

"Well—"

"Because you wish to go hunting with me."

Kagome's mouth opened to reply before she'd processed what he'd said, blood rushing to her face. "What?"

His mouth lifted into a smirk. "I can assure you, miko; I am much more adept at 'letting people in' than my brother."

"Are you?" She waved her hands. "Wait, don't answer that. It's not important."

The smirk remained, eyes seeming to soften in the flickering light. "Yet you felt the need to chastise This One about it."

Her blush deepened. "You heard that?" Sesshoumaru eyed his pelt, the soft fur slithering up his arm and around his shoulder when he touched it, and she gasped.

"It is an extension of my youki, capable of many things. Even when I am not in the vicinity."

Tattletaling fur. Great. Kagome ran a hand down her face. "Look, about what I said—" The tips of his claws brushed her ear as he tucked a wayward lock of hair behind it.

"It appears neither of us are able to speak our minds in each other's presence." His fingers traced the line of her jaw, leaving her speechless before he settled back against the cave. "I will accept the gift on one condition."

A million questions left her tongue a jumbled mess, and she nodded, unable to answer. The possibilities of what he wasn't saying were endless, most of which unable to form in her mind due to the ridiculousness of the idea. There was no way he was suggesting what she thought he was suggesting. "I don't have to kill anyone, do I?"

Sesshoumaru snorted. "I would not expect you to do something so far out of your comfort zone." She had a comfort zone now? He had to have picked that up from Rin.

"What could you possibly want from me?"

"To allow me to return the favour."

Blue eyes widened before flickering to the carving again. "You want to give me something?" she asked incredulously. "Why would you want to do that?"

"For the same reason you have for procuring one for me," he replied, sliding the figure into his sleeve.

"You don't even know what my reasons are!"

"Perhaps not, but my gift will allow us to discuss it."

Her mouth snapped shut, that pesky blush returning, and she crossed her arms as she leaned back against the cave wall, arm bumping his. "Fine. But I'm not helping you shop. You have to come up with it on your own."

A soft chuckle broke the silence, and it took everything in her not to look at him. "You will find that your preferences are much more obvious than mine." Her raised chin earned her another chuckle. "But if I have miscalculated, I will just have to search for another one."

"You are not going to start giving me multiple gifts!"

"You forget, Kagome, This One does as he pleases."

She groaned, burying her face against her knees. What had she gotten herself into?