EDIT: Wow. It's been years and now, I actually have my own computers…ironic. Please see the older commentary below.

Here's the fourth chappie! Right before break, too. Chapter five is a bit longer, though, and it'll probably take a little longer to type up, considering that I don't have computer. As always, enjoy!


Tranquility

Chapter 4: The Search

"Goddamn it!" Inuyasha shouted into the night. He had just killed his fifth demon and it was beginning to become annoying. It appeared that many hostile demons lived in the Western Lands—either that or they just had bad luck tonight. "We'll never find Kagome if demons keep attacking us!" It was becoming a chore, cutting down demons wherever they appeared.

"Perhaps…I should erect…a force field, Inuyasha." Kikyou suggested in her sing-song voice.

Sango snorted. She could have brought that up hours ago when they set out, or maybe when they first entered Sesshoumaru's large territory? Any time she could have interrupted and put in her two cents. But five demons later here they were, and Inuyasha was beginning to become exhausted. Sango could have gone ahead and helped, but considering how big and powerful Inuyasha always projected himself to be, she figured that he could handle it.

Kikyou used a protection spell, and a light blue shield appeared around them. Kirara pawed at the shield, and Sango took her into her arms. "No, Kirara. You might break it." Sango said; she knew of Kirara's true power and she was sure that it was a lot more than anything Kikyou had to offer. Of course, that meant that the shield probably wouldn't do much against the demons in the territory, though. Kirara mewed, looked at Kikyou, then shuddered.

"She scares you, too, huh?" Miroku whispered, walking beside Sango and scratching Kirara's ears.

"Guys, hurry up! You'll break the shield if you stray too far!" Inuyasha yelled to them.

Miroku and Sango exchanged glances and sighed. They walked faster, closer to the couple who led them. Inuyasha was always in charge now, or thought so. He was always backed by Kikyou, directly or indirectly and no one dared argue with her. It was just easier to keep silent, because debating with Kikyou meant debating with Inuyasha, and most people didn't want that.

"Another demon!" Inuyasha howled suddenly, and the party watched as indeed yet another demon sprang from some bushes beside them, and tried to pounce on them. This was shaped like a serpent, a great forked tongue slipping between its thin, colorless lips. It connected with the shield, and the demon began to hiss in pain—its body was deteriorating. When the snake demon disappeared, only then did Inuyasha and the rest begin to walk again. They slowly made their way across the territory, and by nightfall of the next day, Kikyou claimed that she could feel Sesshoumaru's demonic aura looming closer. They had slept in protection of the shield, though Inuyasha didn't notice that he and Kikyou were as far away from Miroku and Sango (and Kirara) as possible.

However, the next morning, Kikyou addressed the issue. Inuyasha had "playing" with Kirara, which was what he called trying to catch her while she jumped all over him, kicking and punching with her paws. Sango wondered if Kirara was getting rid of some unvented frustration. But when Kirara heard Kikyou approach, she stopped jumping, twitching her ears. "What?" Inuyasha said, presumably speaking to Kirara. She simply turned and ran to Sango. The dog demon guessed Kirara had been called, although that was hardly the case.

"Inuyasha." He heard Kikyou call from behind, and turned, a smile plastered on his face. A fool's smile.

"Yes, Kikyou?" He said, pulling her down into his lap. The miko's cheeks tinged pink. At least she had the grace to blush.

"Well…Kikyou said, "Your friends…I am not sure…that they enjoy my company."

"Of course they do, Kikyou."

"…"

"Well, if you feel that strongly about it, let's ask them."

"Inuyasha, are you sure…?"

"Hey, guys!" he called to Miroku and Sango, who were talking under the shade of a tree.

They looked up. "What, Inuyasha?" Miroku said in reply.

"Hey, you guys like Kikyou, don't you?"

Miroku paused. He didn't know what to say. Only Inuyasha would actually ask such a question. Luckily, Sango had an answer. She held Kirara in her arms and put on a smile. "Of course we do!" she lied, then frowned. "We had doubts at first, but…"

"That was before we got to know you. You and Inuyasha are good together. You make him happy, like Sango and me," Miroku added, trying to make things sound more believable.

Kikyou smiled slightly, although neither was sure if she was that gullible. "I was foolish to think…I apologize deeply for my…unnecessary concern."

"See?" Inuyasha said.

"But," Kikyou said. "We…should continue our search. Anything could be happening…to Kagome right now."

So they worked through even more of Sesshoumaru's territory, striking down demons the entire way.


EDIT 6/08/10: I don't really have anything to add to this, actually. I'm beginning to like this chapter a bit more than I used to, so I'm pretty sure that it's my general dislike for Kikyou's character that tainted my opinion when I wrote it. I wanted to work in more detail about the actual terrain of Sesshoumaru's territory in the Western Lands, but I couldn't find an appropriate place for it. Hopefully, I'll be able to expound upon it in later chapters or in Calm. I hope that you enjoyed this chapter ^^

OLD COMMENTARY:

I know that it's not much, but I hope that it'll hold you over the break. Like I said before, I hate the chapters with Inu and friends, so all chapters starring them will be shorter than the rest. Thanks for all you wonderful people who reviewed the last three chaps, and I hope you'll come back for more.

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