Winter's Child

Chapter 1 Surprise, Kagome!

The cover was made by ladyarchangel74 and is also dedicated to her for all the help she's given me and for patiently waiting for an Elijah Mikaelson story.

“What do you mean Dad isn't my Dad?” Seventeen-year-old Kagome screeched at her mother.

Emi, Kagome's mother, sighed, “No, sweetheart, your father wasn't your biological father, but he loved you as if you were his.”

“Well, if Dad isn't my dad, who is, and where did you meet him?” Kagome asked.

“I met him in France; I was part of an exchange program when we met. He was visiting the city on leave from the military. We met at a small cafe close to the Effiel Tower. He was so handsome with piercing blue eyes I could get lost in. He told me he was from America, but he had a slight Russian accent.”

“What was his name?” Kagome asked.

“His name was James. James Buchanan Barnes,” Emi informed her daughter.

“What happened?”

“James and I spent every waking moment together when I wasn't in school; even then, he would bring me lunch. We fell in love and got married. Your father and I traveled the world together, though your father always seemed on edge. He tried to hide it, but I could tell. I asked him once about it, but he became so upset that I never asked again.”

“When I became pregnant, your father was so happy he could barely contain his joy. James was always worried that something would happen to me, and he barely let me leave the house. He waited on me hand and foot. It was initially annoying until I realized James felt this overwhelming urge to protect us. So, my sweet girl, you were born in London, where we had finally settled.”

Emi sighed, and tears welled up in her eyes, “Until one day when we were in the park, you were a few months old, and James went to get me some ice cream, and I saw in the distance a white van pull up, and the doors were thrown open, and men in tactical suits surrounded your father and shot him. I think it was with a dart gun. But your father was a strong man; he didn't go down without putting up a fight. They shot him two more times, and your father fell. They dragged him into the van and sped off.”

“Did you call the police?” Kagome asked.

“Of course. They did their best to locate James but were unsuccessful. Interpol also got involved, but your father disappeared off the face of the planet. After two years of searching, I had no choice but to have him declared dead. I was so devastated that I returned to our family in Japan. A few months later, I met your dad, and well, you know the rest.”

By the time Emi finished her story, she and Kagome were in tears. Emi cleared her throat and took both of Kagome's hands in hers, then looked at her straight in the eyes that reminded her of her husband's, “I want to make something obvious to you, Kagome, the man you knew as your dad will always be your dad, but your father loved you fiercely. He often told me that we were the light in his bleak life and that he would do everything to protect us. You were his Little Moon, bringing light to him in his darkest hour. James sometimes had nightmares of falling from a train, and he needed to get up and hold you to calm down.”

“Do you have any pictures of him,” Kagome asked, sniffling.

Emi gave Kagome a sad smile and pulled out an old photo album inside a box that Kagome hadn't noticed earlier. She handed it to Kagome, and they started flipping through it together. Kagome noticed how happy her parents looked together, though she did see her father's eyes looked a little sad. She wondered why.

As they flipped through the photo album, Kagome noticed that her father always wore a glove on his left hand. She asked her mother, and Emi explained that James had a prosthetic arm and didn't like the attention it brought. Kagome wondered how he lost his arm, and Emi told him he had lost his arm in an accident. She did not elaborate anymore.

Kagome smiled when she saw her father holding her high and smiling at her. Every time there was a picture of James with Kagome, he looked so happy, and Kagome wondered what her life would have been like if her father had been with them.

Kagome suddenly looked at her mother, “Do you think my dad could still be alive?” Kagome asked.

Emi sighed, “I don't know, Dear. I would imagine that if he were, he would have looked for us.”

“But they never found his body, so maybe he is alive.”

“It's possible, and if he is alive and someone was hunting him, I'm sure he would have chosen to stay away from us to keep us safe.”

The thought of her father being alive ignited a flame in Kagome's heart. She decided that if he were alive, Kagome would find him. She'd ask Sesshomaru to help her with his connections around the world; Kagome was sure that she would find something out something. Kagome told her mother her plan. Emi thought it could be dangerous, but Kagome was no stranger to danger, and once Kagome made up her mind, there was no stopping her. Kagome decided to talk to Sesshomaru the following day and see what they could do.

Kagome went to her room but couldn't sleep. She was too excited to start her search.

The following day, Kagome got ready, grabbed the photo album, and went to Sesshomaru's office. It took a while to see Sesshomaru, but when she finally entered his office, she was vibrating with excitement. Kagome was sure that if anyone found her dad, it would be Sesshomaru. Sesshomaru was reading a report when Kagome entered. He looked up and raised an eyebrow, “Miko, This Sesshomaru is surprised to see you. Should you not be in school?”

Kagome smiled sheepishly, “Yes, but I have something important to talk to you about.”

Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow, indicating for her to continue. She rushed to Sesshomaru's desk and placed the photo album before him. She opened the book and showed him the first picture, “See this man? My mom told me yesterday that he's my biological father and disappeared when I was a year old.”

Sesshomaru looked at his ward, “What does this have to with This Sesshomaru?”

Kagome explained to Sesshomaru everything her mother had told her while Sesshomaru flipped through the album. When she finished her tale, Kagome gave Sesshomaru a pleading look, “If he isn't dead, I want to find him. Could you help me, Sesshomaru?”

Sesshomaru glanced at the photo of Kagome and her father; they looked so happy together. He could tell that the man adored his daughter. Sesshomaru thought momentarily, then nodded, “This Sesshomaru will help you look for your father. But He makes no promises that your father will be found. He may be dead.”

Kagome took a deep breath, “I understand, Sesshomaru, but if he's dead, at least I'll know, and my mom and I can have some closure.”

Sesshomaru nodded, then called his spymaster to begin the search for Kagome's father. He hoped, for Kagome's sake, that her father was found. However, he had an inkling that Kagome wouldn't like what she learned about him. It had been a long time since Sesshomaru had seen the Winter Soldier, and Sesshomaru wondered if the assassin was still alive. If he were dead, Sesshomaru would tell Kagome the truth; if not, Sesshomaru would ensure the assassin did not hurt his ward.