The Snow Angel by SunsetMiko

The Realization

Chapter 29 - The Realization *Shadow of Love* (Stella's Soundtrack Challenge)

"It really is a nice day," Kagome said, trying to force herself to be happy.

"Yup," Inuyasha said with a smirk. "If it keeps up like this, all the snow will melt, and we'll be able to get back to shard hunting." When he heard his companions sigh, he growled in frustration. "What? We can't just sit around waiting for Naraku to get all the shards, can we?"

"It's not that," Sango said, trying not to aggravate her temperamental friend. "We're just tired."

"Indeed," Miroku agreed. "We have been pushing ourselves to the brink of exhaustion for months. I think we were all hoping for a break during the winter months."

"You, of all people, should want us to be hunting Naraku every moment we can. Or do you want that hole in your hand to swallow you up?" the hanyou snapped.

"Inuyasha!" Kagome gasped. "Don't be so rude! Of course Miroku wants us to defeat Naraku. We all do. You always seem to forget that we're human. We cannot walk from dawn 'til dusk, day after day, endlessly. We require rest."

"What the hell have we been doing for the last two weeks? Besides the few days it took to head back to Edo, we've done nothing but sit on our asses!"

"Spending nearly a week in a dank cave is not my idea of rest," Sango replied. "If we continue on at the pace you insist on going, some day we will be attacked and be too tired to fight back. Being killed by some random demon with a shard isn't going to do us any good."

Seeing that Inuyasha was gearing up to start yelling, Kagome went to his side. "We need to find a happy medium, Inuyasha."

"Well, you guys need to tell me when you're tired! I can't read minds, you know."

"And you need to listen better. We do tell you."

Sesshoumaru, who had remained silent throughout the argument, took the time to study Kagome. She looked better than she had the night before, but her scent was still soured by sadness. He wanted nothing more than to punish the hanyou for upsetting her further. Inuyasha should know by now that he could not push his human companions past their limits. As their leader, it was his responsibility to keep them safe and healthy, not walk them into the ground. The taiyoukai had to clench his jaw to keep from telling him just that. Now that he cared for the miko, he did not like the idea of Inuyasha risking her health because of his ignorance.

Inuyasha sighed and ran his hands through his bangs in frustration. "Fine. You need to talk more, and I need to listen better. Deal?"

Kagome smiled. "Deal."

The hanyou turned and smirked at the miko. "Why the hell do I put up with you anyways, wench?"

Kagome's smile widened and she nudged Inuyasha with her elbow. "Because I'm your best friend, and you love me."

The hanyou wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her body close to his, and nuzzled his nose in her hair. "Yeah, yeah. Whatever you say." They walked like that for several minutes before he stopped and pulled away. "Climb on, wench. I feel like running." Inuyasha hunched down and helped Kagome onto his back while the others climbed onto a transformed Kirara.

Sesshoumaru was glad for the change of pace. If he had been forced to walk alongside the others in silence, he might have lost his mind. He wanted nothing more at that moment than to eviscerate the hanyou. In all the time he had spent with Kagome and her companions, he had never gotten the impression that Inuyasha had a romantic interest in the miko. Seeing him touch her so affectionately, witnessing him nuzzle her hair, it was almost more than he could handle. In reality, he had seen a scene quite similar to the one he had just watched, right after Kagome had found him buried in the snow. He had been so weary then, however, that he did not remember it.

He had finally figured out what he wanted with Kagome. After all the time he spent confused, fighting cyclical thoughts, he knew, and now he discovered that it might be impossible. His desire to touch the miko, to have her touch him... The unfamiliar desire to kiss her, to find out if her lips were as soft and sweet as they looked... The ache to have her look on him with love in her eyes... He knew now what it all meant. He wanted her, as a friend, as a lover, and as his mate.

It was almost amusing. His mother had placed that hellish spell on him because he refused to mate the female she had chosen, and because of that spell he had found the woman he wanted. Now, however, she seemed beyond his grasp. If she were in a relationship with Inuyasha, he would never be able to steal her away. She would always choose Inuyasha over him. He needed to know. Sesshoumaru needed to find out if they were together, and he would not rest until he had an answer.