It wasn’t merely in Kagome’s head, this atmosphere of looming dread. Fell, icy winds blew in from the west, and under the spell of this cold malignancy, strange happenings were taking place all throughout Edo. Vicious fights broke out between blood relations. Longtime friends remembered past grudges and fell into silent stalemates of resentment.  Dreams

On her way home, Kagome stopped at Inuyasha’s grave, but it was as cold a comfort to her now as it ever was. Her fingers numbed as she held them to the frigid stone. Her frozen breath veiled the characters of his name. At her side, Ikiryou whimpered, anxious. Stuffing the unlit incense back into

At the bitterness in his voice, Kagome swallowed, wishing she could retreat further back into the wall. The heat of Kohaku’s body rushed over her as he pinned her in against him. Desperately, her eyes darted up to his. Her fingers seized at his wrists. “W-wait,” she said faintly, grasping at straws. “What about Rin-chan?

As Sesshoumaru stepped soundlessly across the threshold, Kagome scrambled up from the floor. She never thought she’d be relieved at the sight of her brother-in-law standing here in her house once again, but amidst the turbulence of emotions warring through her, there was an undeniable tendril of relief present there. It was a feeling that

Kagome stared. Sesshoumaru as well. Trembling like mad, Kanako continued to pad toward them from the doorway. Her normally braided hair streamed limp and free down her shoulders. Between this and her quivering lower lip, there was something decidedly suggestive about her approach, even before she began fumbling at the knot of her obi. Kagome’s

With clear reluctance, Sesshoumaru returned her to her feet. The moment her toes touched the ground, Kagome retreated from him, pulling her robe closed about her. Bringing her breathing back under control, she glanced between him and Kanako, her fingers ruffling through her bangs in exasperation. “You did it again,” she accused, frowning at him

As the water began to cool, so too did Kagome’s thoughts. Gone was the heady warmth of the sake, the false fire it lit in her veins. Clammy and obscure, her doubts condensed to weigh upon her. She felt the heaviness settle in her limbs. She felt the sluggish pump and slide of her blood.

“Go on…” A low growl ensued, punctuated by a short snap of fangs. “Just eat it, you stupid dog!” Kagome’s blood pressure spiked as she smacked the door curtain aside and stormed out onto the porch. “Kanako-chan!” The waif tensed. Her fingers clutched white-knuckled around the large wooden bowl she was cradling to her chest.