Work Text:
One Winter's Afternoon
Kagome's sandals crunched in the snow as she headed back towards the house. The wind was blowing, carrying on it a heavy burden of white snow, not enough to be a white-out, but still enough to coat everything with its soft icy whiteness, muffling all sounds except for the wind. She was bundled up against the weather as best she could, with her feet in heavy tabi and geta instead of straw sandals, multiple kosode and over that, a straw raincoat that was quickly being caked with the falling white weather. Still, the wind still found its way to chill her. Her head was wrapped in a scarf, drawn over her face, and topped with a reed hat, and her well-wrapped hands clung to an umbrella, trying to keep the snow off of her face. It worked, somewhat, but blocked her view of the path ahead.
Staring at her feet, she leaned into the wind as she walked, trying not to think about how cold she was, but of the warm house waiting for her at the end of her journey. But suddenly, it was more than wind in her path and she ran into a red and white wall.
"What in the hells are you doing out in this weather, woman?" said a gruff voice. "You ought to be home." Red cloaked arms wrapped around her, one hand grabbing the umbrella out of her hand.
Kagome looked up, caught off guard by the scowling face looking down at her. She pushed her hat back a little to see the disapproving amber eyes staring back at her. "But...I was going home."
InuYasha's ear flicked. His scowl let up just a little. "And where is Atae? You didn't bring him out in this mess, did you?"
"He's...he's with Sango and Rin, playing with the kids." Kagome took a deep breath, finally recovered from being startled and gave him a little push. "You think I'd want to drag my son out in this mess? Anyway, where did you come from? I didn't expect you home until the storm was over. Tomorrow at the earliest."
"Feh." He turned around and motioned for her to get on his back. "We got done early. An easy exorcism. I could tell the weather was getting ready to go to hell. I decided to come back anyway, in case you needed help. Left Miroku behind at the inn. I just felt like I needed to be here more than I was worried about the weather."
Kagome clamored up, not worried about the snow dusting his fire rat, since her straw raincoat was sure to leave even more on him than was was there. "I'm glad you're back. I missed you." She gave his shoulder a little kiss. "It's always better when you're here."
He began trudging the path up to their house. "Why'd you come out anyway? What could be important enough?"
Kagome sighed. "Atae forgot his toy horse and dog."
"You came out to get hammered by the snow because of a wooden horse?"
"Remember what happened last time we didn't have his toys?" Kagome asked, resting her chin on his shoulder.
InuYasha picked up his pace. "Maybe you have a point there. Let's hurry home before she decides never to babysit for us again."
"Oh, she won't do that," Kagome said, confidently.
"Why's that?" he asked as they neared their house.
"I told her we'd babysit the night after the new moon."
Luckily for InuYasha, Kagome couldn't see the face he made at that news, but she gave his ear a tweak just for good measure.