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Kagome leaned on the doorframe, the weathered down, dark but carefully maintained wood providing the solid support for her tired body. Another cold gust of wind permeated her cloths. Shivering she tightly wrapped a woollen shawl around her back and arms adding another barrier between her quickly escaping body heat and the cruelness of the dark night. She gazed at the sky where the silver orb was completely covered by Earth's shadow, providing neither shine or guidance on this fateful night. She tentatively took another sip of her hot Chai tea hopping that the rich and spicy fluid with a dash of honey and milk will warm her up. The almost scalding mug brought back the sensations to her frozen fingers, reddening them while the speedy shift of temperatures caused an unpleasant itching that she tried to ignore. Instead, she swirled another portion inside her mouth before swallowing it down. It's calm but… She looked worriedly to the black sky. Maybe it's just old paranoia talking?

She put the mug aside, going further on the porch right to the railing. Gritting her teeth, she held the shawl with one hand while the vicious wind tried to rip it off her frame. She went down the few stairs, still close enough to run inside on the first sign of danger but now touching the land with her feet, grounded, connected to the nature, she could expand her senses further than seconds before. She closed her eyes descending to her very core, to her immortal soul that brimmed with power and she looked around, not with her eyes or ears or nose but with the mystical spirit that allowed her to see more, beings not of this world, currents of power, spells and curses. Taking a deep breath she centred herself. She was like a tree that was fixed to one place solidly, immovably but grew roots to penetrate the hard, ancient land to reach water and precious minerals or sprouted branches that outstretched into the sky catching warm sunshines. Her powers uncoiled covering the land in soft, unnatural glow that was only visible to her and her kind. She searched, probed, looked for anything unusual… There. It was coming from the east. She furled her energy, cumulating it in her core, like a predator that was taking a deep breath right before attacking its pray. Her powers behaved more like a cobra that hissed, coiled, tensed, only to strike in one decisive move and direction. Her power reached its destination in less that a blink of an eye. Kagome brows came together as she played with her tongue trying to decipher why this aura seemed so familiar. It tugged at the back of her mind. It was familiar but… not at the same time. It was turbulent like the wind that tossed her partially bounded hair from one side of her face to the other, the dark tresses almost lashing her tender skin. Distracted, she impatiently put the longest strands behind her ears and went back to her self-appointed task. It moved fast. Not like a youkai but it was closer still. She chewed at her lips in worry. The energy was twisted, hurt and sick, blocking her every attempt to see its core. Gently cocooning the being in her warm powers, she stroked and caressed trying to soothe it. After what seemed like an eternity when her skin was ice cold and her hand half frozen and stiff from the biting wind the stranger's aura allowed her a brief peak inside.

Kagome's shoulders dropped as her powers retreated and she hurriedly returned to her home, picking up the now chilled mug on the way. She closed the door behind, so that no more cold could come after her and she critically looked around her kitchen. Mama would be so disappointed if she knew that she was bringing a guest to such chaotic room. It was borderline unclean. Dirty dishes still in the sink, fresh and dried herbs strewn across the kitchen, packed in small jars or hanging from the ancient eaves on the thin threads that bound separate stems together. Couple of jars of fruity preservatives cooling upside down in the corner. Grated apples with sugar for pies, pears in syrup with vanilla and cloves for desserts and cherries in alcohol for a chocolate cake. Countless cookbooks littered the room, opened and closed, marked and new, on the shelves and counters. A blanket hang loosely from one of the chairs almost touching the ground. Homely, she decided after closer inspection.

She lost the shawl and tucked up the sleeves to put on the water and to kindle the fire in the living room, throwing herself into established routine to distract herself from her excitement and worry. After all she hasn't seen him for a while. Was it 5 years? She looked at the wall trying to calculate when exactly she has seen him last. Time has after all flown quite differently for her in the recent centuries. Lost in half remembered, fond memories, she was brought back to the land of the living by the cool draft that flown right at her from the open doors. In the centre stood the broad imposing silhouette that lost some of its scariness thanks to ill fitting, mismatched and dirty clothes. She didn't care. She run the few steps and threw herself at him, her chest crashing with his lower ribs and stomach. In any other case her momentum would upset the balance as well as knocked out any oxygen the hug recipient might have in the lungs. In this case the barely audible moan escaped Kagome's lips as she hit the rock solid body that did not budge an inch, not even a step back. Slightly out of breath she encircled him tightly and pressed her cheek and ear to his chest, listening to the steadying up heart beat. His body tense and stiff, his hands hanging at his sides not returning the embrace and not offering any affection in return created an odd image which Kagome as always ignored. She squeezed harder before she untangled herself and grabbed his hand pulling him inside. She didn't have the necessary physical strength to move him but regardless he obediently made the first, second and then third step to enter the house completely. Closing the door behind, she took a step back. Drinking in his state she beamed a radiant smile "Yurei* - kun, welcome back!" and busied herself around him urging him to take off his outer layers and shoes, offering him the cute and cuddly, little sheep slippers instead.

He observed her impassively standing in his muddy boots. "Yurei - kun, you know the rules in this house. Boots off, slippers on." She looked at him reproachfully but it did not bring the desired effect so she added the most pitiful please with wide eyes she could muster. Yay! It worked. She internally cheered as she left him to it, knowing well enough he disliked and avoided being in any vulnerable position. Or what he though was one.

"What's the poison of the evening? Coffee? tea?" she shook two containers in her hands emphasising the different nature of their contents. "Or maybe the bottles from my cabinet?" she indicated the general direction of the salon with her head.

He went around her, taking from her hands both boxes. He dropped them to the counter uninterested and went to hunt for a specific beverage. Amused twinkles blinked in Kagome's eyes as she followed the liberties he took with her kitchen. He passed the strong aromatic coffee with no reaction as well as her huge assortment of teas: white, green, black, dried or fermented, fruity or spiced. You name it, she had it there but none hold his interest. He went through the cupboards methodically until he found the one unassuming tin box with pandas that caught his attention. He opened it, smelling it deeply.

Kagome stifled a giggle. He goes for the cocoa every single time. She took the box from his hands, grinning widely and shooing him out with her hand. "I've got this."

He went to sit in his favourite place. It wasn't soft or very comfortable but she has learnt that trying to convince him to do anything he did not want to do was a difficult battle and she decided to choose them carefully. So he sat there in the corner, on a hard, traditional chair, no windows or doors behind or near him, just a solid brick wall at his back and a perfect vision of the whole room and any entrance point, his legs widely spread. His dangerous aura taking more place than physically possible however the menacing picture was spoiled by the little, fluffy lambs on his feet, her only indulgence and buffer, she insisted on..

She carefully brought the hot drinks and some chocolate chip cookies he so loved. Spreading them on the table between them she sat in her chosen spot, the old, comfy, slightly crumpled armchair that swallowed her petite form. She covered her legs with the blanket, one of many that littered the house and allowed some time to pass. Quiet always calms him. Her slow sips and occasional munching on the cookie barely disturbing the silence while he drank in big gulps and swallowed his share of bakery goods in chunks like he was afraid it would be taken from him any moment. She observed him from under her eyelashes, her expression soft and open. When her stomach was warmer and a little bit filled she gauged his might have been as well and that always left him in a slightly better mood that could result in some information so she started "What do you need?"

His features sharpened, any hint of relaxation evaporating, and she cringed, berating herself for the poorly chosen question but it was too late. His gaze focused looking at something far away and in a dispassionate and raspy voice, that was hardly used, he listed "Food, clothes, resources but mostly…" his voice broke, an extremely rare and unique show of emotion that made Kagome lean towards him focusing completely on anything that might follow. He swallowed before continuing "I need answers." Both his hands holding the table in death grip, the wood creaking under the pressure. Kagome covered his metal palm, stroking it gently with the tips of her fingers, until his clutch loosened revelling four new indentations.

"Yes, you do. And I will help you get them." her voice filled with resolve as she was making the promise that he did not ask for but needed so much to hear.

A/N - I am a very bad girl and instead of working on my other three ongoing stories I have penned this one. I am blaming it on the Winter Soldier movie and character. They both are that good so after watching it again today (some scenes more than once) this was created. Although I have some ideas where this could go I do not know if I will put them on paper/computer and post so I am putting it as completed for now.

Your comments are much appreciated so if you enjoyed (or not) please leave a review.

* - Yurei supposedly means Ghost in Japanese. I have read a little bit about Bucky history in the comic verse as well as theories on the movie and from that I understand that prior to his meeting with Captain, James did not know his identity. He was referred to as the Winter Soldier or the American. As you see Kagome has known him for awhile as well as prior to his meeting with Cap so either she did not want to call him Winter Soldier/The American or he did not tell her his code names. Either way she had to manage on her own hence the name Yurei which I believe is apt.