Tranquility

Chapter 2: The Missing

Sango burst into Kaede's hut, scowling as her eyes were met with the sight of Inuyasha nibbling on Kikyou's ear. Just because Inuyasha chose Kikyou didn't mean that anyone liked her. She was still dead to Sango, a fallen hero who had truly failed in her task. Kagome was the priestess now, and in her opinion there did not need to be two of them. Good luck telling that to Inuyasha—he'd turned into a kitten overnight, as he always did when Kikyou was present.

"Hello Sango," Kikyou said. "How is your brother's health?" She had always feigned niceties with her; it wasn't going to make her like Kikyou any more than she already did. She could be as flattering as she wanted but it wouldn't get her anywhere.

"Fine," she mumbled, "but that doesn't matter!" she added in a more panicked tone, getting to the point of her visit. It would take something important to drive Sango to be anywhere near that tainted couple. "Kagome's gone missing! I went to get her up this morning and she in her room. When I asked around, no one had seen her since yesterday when she went out. Miroku went to look for her, but she's nowhere to be found."

Inuyasha stood. "Stupid girl. I always told her that walking alone was a bad idea."

"Give her more credit, Inuyasha," Kikyou said. "She did assist you in defeating Naraku…the girl is not stupid. She probably found a lead on a jewel shard and went looking for it." Sango stared. Was the wench actually defending Kagome? "We must consider all possibilities, however. Where are her weapons?" Kikyou asked. "If she left them, then perhaps we should begin to worry."

Sango was still in shock. "She left them near the fire," she answered.

"Foolish girl," Kikyou said curtly. "Simply because the greater evil was defeated does not mean that she could walk about freely with her guard down." Sango was even more surprised that she had to agree with the miko.

Miroku suddenly burst into the hut. "I've found the spot where she was last. She was gathering herbs, some of the villagers said, and there are tracks from the camp to the nearby ford. I sensed a demon's presence was there as well as Kagome's, although they're both really faint. Follow me." While they were walking towards their destination, Miroku continued talking. "The auras are faint. She wasn't there recently, so she must have left, or been abducted yesterday. Strangely, there's no blood or signs of a struggle, so I doubt that she's been injured." Sure enough, they were led to an area that contained a surplus of bushes and trees with healing leaves and poisonous berries. Some of the nearby growth had been picked, Sango saw—some of the bushes had empty patches where Kagome had removed the flowers and some of the branches on the trees were bare. What's even more was that her basket as left in the middle of the grass. But as Miroku said, there were no signs of a struggle at all. The basket was right side up, and Sango knew that Kagome had placed it in that spot with her own hands. What exactly was going on here?

"That's strange," Sango noted. "There are no tracks leading away from here."

Inuyasha sniffed the basket of herbs left on the ground. He smelled salt, so faint that if he hadn't known Kagome for as long as he had, he never would have recognized the scent. Tears—she had been crying. He would kill whoever had made it happen. Then he caught the scent of something else, and his eyes filled with hatred. "Sesshoumaru," he said, and everyone beside Kikyou gasped aloud. The only being alive who had managed to take the Tetsusaiga from him. The hanyou recalled the event as though it had happened yesterday. After defeating Naraku, directly after he had confessed his love for Kikyou, and she for him. Kagome had been unconscious at the time, all energy spent from the Final Battle with Naraku. He had delivered Kagome's body to Sango and Miroku for caretaking; then Sesshoumaru had appeared out of nowhere and challenged him for the Tetsusaiga. And after all that he and Kagome had been through, defeating Naraku and saving the realm from evil, he lost. He outright lost, and even he couldn't deny it; Kagome had been the one to take Naraku down and Inuyasha had almost been at full power. But for some reason that Inuyasha couldn't discern, Sesshoumaru hadn't killed him; he'd only taken the Tetsusaiga and left. Although his pride had been hurt, he had escaped with his life and with the woman that he loved, and that was enough for now. He had planned to eventually challenge his brother for the sword back, but he would wait and become stronger first. He wasn't strong enough.

"Sesshoumaru was here with Kagome?" Kikyou asked.

"He kidnapped her," the dog demon said through his teeth. "I know he did."

"Perhaps…" Kikyou began.

"What, Kikyou?"

"If she is not dead, it would prove that he needs her. Most likely, he would be using her…to get to you, my dear Inuyasha."

Sango wasn't sure if it was believable; Kikyou seemed to think that everyone was against Inuyasha in some way. However still, it was a possibility, and Sango didn't think that Inuyasha would lie about his brother, and it was well known by all of them that Sesshoumaru had interfered with their plans many times. "That means that the bastard took her with him!" Sango said. "Fine, we have to go…"

"To the western lands," Kikyou completed.

Miroku groaned. It seemed like he, like Sango, didn't like the possibility of having to travel with Kikyou for more than one day. "What…" Sango began, remembering her brother. "What about…?"

"Kohaku?" A cracking voice sounded from behind them. It was Kaede. She was panting. "You young ones travel fast. I shall watch over him. As long as ye can find Kagome."

Kaede's eyes locked with Kikyou's and the young miko nodded. "We shall have to prepare," she said. "The western lands are Sesshoumaru's main territory, but he has also claimed many small areas near it, especially venturing into the North, in Naraku's old territory. She…I don't know how long Kagome has, so I believe it best…to leave at nightfall."

"Then that's when we'll leave, then," Inuyasha said decisively, heading back to the hut with his priestess behind him.

Sango wanted to point out that leaving during the night might put them at a disadvantage to their enemies since demons practically lived in the night, but knew that it would do no good. Inuyasha only listened to Kikyou. Sango and Miroku exchanged glances before the monk took her in his arms for a hug, and he whispered, "Everything will be fine."

She certainly hoped so.


EDIT 6/08/10: I definitely dislike this chapter. Not enough Kagome XD. In any case, I went ahead and corrected some mistakes. A lot of them were spelling issues, but I'm glad that I was able to fix them.

OLD COMMENTARY:

I know that this is short, but I didn't enjoy writing the scenes with Inu and the gang as much as I liked the Kag/Sess ones. You'll see what I mean. I still read them over now; I like them that much.

Also, for those worrying about VR, don't worry, the eighth chap will be going up soon.

"I will return, for I am the darkness..."