~Their Salvation~

~Chapter 38~

"Ok, roll-call! When I call your name, say 'here,' ready?" Hana asked before taking in a deep breath.

"Shippō?"

"Here.~"

"Aia?"

"Here!"

"Kaito?"

"Here."

"Kaida?"

"Here!~"

"Kirara?" Kirara mewed cheerfully. The group has decided to bring her as well instead of just keeping her here at the village, the larger the group the better.

"A-Un?" They growled and nodded.

"And Sesshomaru?" Hana asked playfully only for him to ignore her and start walking. Hana frowned.

"C'mon, can't humor me for one second?" She asked innocently only to be ignored again.

"Meanie." She pouted before smiling.

"Let's go, gang!" She chirped then playfully skipped ahead.

"She's in a good mood." Kaito whispered to Aia.

"I think she's happy that she gets to travel in the snow." Aia whispered with a giggle. With that, the walk was silent other than Hana, Kaida, and Shippō goofing off once in a while to play in the snow, which soon resulted in a snowball fight. 

"Got'cha!" Kaida cheered as she hit her father.

"Oh, it's so on!" He said with a playful grin before getting hit in the face making Kaida bust up laughing.

"Yay Hana!" She giggled before jumping on Hana's shoulder. This went on for a bit, Aia and Kaito soon joining when stray balls hit them. Inuyasha decided to move beside Sesshomaru while this happened.

"Regretting this yet?" Inuyasha playfully asked in hopes he wasn't mad at him for Yōki's behavior.

"Questioning it still." Sesshomaru muttered making Inuyasha snicker.

"Hmm, they're young, let them have fun." He said right before Sesshomaru froze. Inuyasha looked and saw some snow on his shoulder.

"O-Oops." Kaida stuttered before she hid behind Hana. Sesshomaru glanced back before kneeling down, picking something up, and throwing it making Hana quickly duck. Sesshomaru threw a snowball right in Shippō's face making Kaida laugh.

"What the fuck?!" Shippō snapped.

"She's your child." Was all Sesshomaru said before turning only to be hit in the back rather hard by a massive snowball. Shippō grinned as Sesshomaru glared at him.

"What? You started it." Shippō growled, his tail wagging playfully. Hana giggled as she quickly moved out of the way as Sesshomaru walked over. Shippō only crossed his arms. Sesshomaru stopped and drew his weapon making everyone tense. He stabbed the ground, then the ground trembled a little. Suddenly, Shippō fell and disappeared.

"Wh-What?" Kaito asked confused. Shippō's hand popped out of the snow as he struggled up. Sesshomaru smirked for a split moment, then he began walking again. Hana laughed and walked over to help Shippō only to slip and fall into the hole too, Kaida screeching and jumping off quickly. Inuyasha quickly perked up and rushed over carefully kneeling down.

"Hana?" He asked moving the snow trying to find them, suddenly Hana popped up with hands under her arms holding her up.

"Drop something?" Shippō asked playfully. Inuyasha quickly took Hana setting her to the side while she shivered, then helped Shippō out of the hole.

"Are you ok Hana?" Kaida asked as she jumped in her lap only to squeak and jump off.

"You're colder than the snow!" She said making Hana let out a shaky laugh.

"W-Well, maybe." She stuttered out. Sesshomaru had stopped, staring back at the group.

'He has some n-'

'It was an accident.' Inuyasha quickly growled to Yōki before feeling Hana's cheek.

"Damn." He whispered.

"Shit, Hana you ok?" Shippō asked worriedly.

"N-Nah, I'm good!" She said with a smile, though her shaking told a new story. Inuyasha sighed before taking his armor pieces and fur pelt off, then his fire rat robe off leaving him in just his undertop. He carefully wrapped the robe around Hana.

"Put it on." He commanded softly. Hana nodded and put it on, then Inuyasha wrapped the pelt around her.

"There." He whispered before putting his armor back on.

"Thanks." Hana whispered. Inuyasha nodded before having her stand.

"Here, I think you've had enough snow for today." He said before kneeling down. Hana sighed but nodded as she climbed on, Inuyasha picking her up easily. She wrapped her arms around his neck loosely as everyone started walking once again. Hana closed her eyes with a smile as she rested her chin on Inuyasha's shoulder being careful of his armor pieces. Inuyasha glanced up, then a smile tugged at his lips.

'Cute.' He thought before tensing at his own thought.

'Keh, told you. You want her just as bad as I do.' 

"You ok?" Kaito asked making Inuyasha look over.

"Yeah." He muttered before relaxing again.

"How long until we get there, since we uh, stalled a bit." Shippō asked noticing the sun was already setting once again. Time flies when you're having fun he supposed.

"We should be there by tomorrow night." Sesshomaru muttered.

"Hmm, Kirara give us a ride?" Aia asked. Kirara nodded before jumping off her shoulder and transforming.

"C'mon Kaida, bedtime." Shippō said before transforming to a rather large fox form, nearly bigger than A-Un.

"Aww, fine." Kaida complained before jumping up and curled into a ball on her father's back, his fluffy thick fur nearly hiding her completely.

"Sesshomaru, can me and Inuyasha ride A-Un?" Hana asked, not shivering as bad now.

"Yes." He simply answered. Hana smiled before wiggling out of Inuyasha's grasp, taking his hand, and dragging him to A-Un. She jumped up so Inuyasha followed reluctantly. Thankfully, A-Un had no issue with them on him, namely Inuyasha who thought A-Un wouldn't like him riding them. He's never ridden A-Un after all.

"Hey Inu?" Hana asked softly making him look down at her.

"Yes?" He asked in a gentle tone.

"If Hahanaru Shizen really is a thing, what do you think she'd look like?" She asked.

"U-Uhh, maybe... leafy?" Inuyasha said making Hana roll her eyes and lean on him.

"So uncreative." She muttered with a slight pout.

"W-Well how am I supposed to know?" Inuyasha asked making Hana let out a gentle laugh as she closed her eyes.

"Hmm." She hummed tiredly. Inuyasha's gaze softened as he gently leaned back against her touch.

"Rest."