Disclaimer: Don't own

Warnings: Refer to other chapters

A/N: Hola, chapter four is written by meSilver I want to thank everyone who reviewed and is enjoying the story so far. It's so much fun to see what people think about it and how much they enjoy it.

Don't like, Don't read, Don't bitch. Period.

Red Zone

SilverYoko & Miss Lady Death

The miko in training bit her lip; she had yet to get to sleep. Her heart wouldn't allow it, adrenaline coursed through her veins making her heart pump harshly. Regardless of what she had told the halberd wielding mercenary she still knew that she could die most horribly by his hands.

She had opened up to him, poured her heart out. But she thought he had a right to know. Kikyo would be the best one to actually get Inuyasha's attention. The only reason he was even on his way to get at her was because Kikyo wouldn't join the group and he had no one else to see the shards. He denied it when brought up, but she wasn't stupid, or blind.

His heart belonged to the undead priestess and she knew this the moment she saw them. It always would, the circumstances of their parting made their hearts still hold one another close.

He had promised to always protect her. He was lying when he said it. She saw it in his eyes but she reacted as he would want her to. And she played the part of naive Kagome, the one who was the weakest. But that wasn't true anymore. Each passing day Inuyasha's loyalty to her dwindled and each time she made a mistake she was even more critically compared to his old lover. She never measured up.

And she knew she never would. She had talked long and hard with Sango about this topic. The demon huntress agreed with her, looking at her with pitying eyes. So she took her own fate into her hands, if Inuyasha dared betray them she would be prepared. She was still a long way from being the priestess Kikyo was, and knew she wouldn't get anywhere near her power, but she knew a deal more than she did when she came to this era.

Her fingers played with the rocks, the slender digits flicking them out towards the shrouded ground. It would be so easy for her to try and get away now. She knew she would pay a hefty price and it wouldn't be worth it since she wouldn't be capable of getting away.

A tendril of raven hair obscured her view, the silky hair tickling her nose. The air was crisp and fresh in the early morning, the birds just beginning to sing their songs for the new day. A small smile was curving her lips as she watched them swoop and dive for morsels. They were so carefree and so unknowing of the emanate danger they were facing each day Naraku was allowed to roam freely in the land gathering the shards of the shikon no kakera.

I hadn't realized how late it had gotten...I mustn't let myself get distracted like this. If I don't sleep I'll be more vulnerable to be making a mistake.

The bed seemed so comforting as she looked upon it. The material, seemed silky smooth and almost called her name. Bankotsu would be coming for her in a few hours so she had little time to get to sleep. Not that she wasn't used to it.

She almost purred as she felt the material melt under her fingertips as she slid underneath the covers. She happily buried herself in, her worries of what was to come forgotten as sleep enveloped her.

Bankotsu's tongue curled back, almost like a cat. The last effects of sleep were loosening around his mind as he rubbed his eyes. His sleep wasn't as fitful as he would have wanted it, he had tossed and turned. Thoughts came unbidden as his day was replayed, sometimes with different outcomes, over and over.

He knew he should get the miko first, but he wanted to speak with Jakotsu about what she had told him last night. If she was beginning to trust him he could use that to his advantage. And he would take full advantage of it.

He found the eccentric member of the group grumpily nursing a hangover, his head leaning over bushes.

"Jakotsu, I need to speak with you on something."

"Shut up! Don't talk so loud, Big Brother! Speak slowly and in whispers otherwise I'll make you take care of me!"

"Fine, fine. I want to speak with you about the miko. Where is Suikotsu?"

"Training."

"Alright."

He dropped down to sit on the dusty ground. He was facing Jakotsu, watching as the older member tried to steady himself enough to sit without falling over.

"Yesterday I got the miko to speak of some things. It was slightly unsettling. It seems that Inuyasha's feelings for her aren't as deep as I thought. There is an undead priestess that he was involved with fifty years ago and he is still loyal to her. He only views this miko as he reincarnation and a shard detector. If this is the case then she is useless to as, as is. I don't know if we have to go to stronger tactics to make him hurry his hanyou ass up or what. His half brother–"

"That sexy Sesshomaru...!"

"...as I was saying, his half brother Sesshomaru may have a hand in this. It seems he holds a grudging respect for her as she keeps on attacking him while in combat to protect her precious hanyou, though we don't stand a chance against Sesshomaru and Inuyasha both."

"True, the sexy monk and wench would be with them and with just three of us against them it wouldn't be much of a battle."

"Yes, now stop interrupting me and listen. Even if she isn't close to his heart she has the ability to see shards and I'm sure this is something that the hanyou sees as invaluable so he'll come. The two other companions and the fox child will be after her because of her friendship. The wolf because he thinks he's in love with her. Though I have a feeling because she spilled her heart to me, and was willing to take that blow for me she holds...something towards me. Maybe an attraction of some sorts, if this is so then we can utilize this to be our strength."

By now Bankotsu had crossed his arms haughtily over his chest, a slight puffing out to it. He was sure that there was something he could do to make Kagome stay on their side, make her fight for them.

Jakotsu scratched his head, tilting it to the side as he made his abused mind take in all that Bankotsu had said. He had to agree that the female seemed to have changed her opinion of Bankotsu, she seemed more open and relaxed with him. He had seen the damage that her sacred arrows were capable of and if Ban was right then she would prove to be very useful to their 'cause'.

He still didn't trust this Naraku but he kept his mouth shut so that he wasn't reprimanded for not trusting the one who brought them back. Though Bankotsu didn't entirely trust them either because he had said more than once that he didn't like Naraku's lack of trust in his abilities.

He had yet to meet the man. This didn't set well with him at all. If he was expected to trust and follow what he said he would need to know what and who he was so that he could see for himself exactly what Naraku's purposes were.

Kagome stifled her yawn with a fist. It felt as though she just went to sleep but she was awoken with a jolt. Something within her memory had been sparked. She hadn't seen Renkotsu at all. That in itself wasn't good. That particular member of this merry band of mercenaries was one of the greediest, and she had felt the malice that he held towards Bankotsu. She just hoped that Ban was able to see the same thing.

She threw the covers off her body, her clothing now dirty from the previous day's activities and she felt grimy all over. If she dared ask Bankotsu for a bath she was afraid he would accompany her along and watch.

A shiver ran up her spine at that though. Her lips pursed as she quickly banished the thought, mentally scolding herself.

The ground felt cool beneath her feet, her mind still telling her that people had been slaughtered here. All for Ban and his group of men to work for Naraku. Ban had boasted of finally killing one thousand men. That didn't make her feel safe. The risk she took in telling him she was useless to Inuyasha was incredibly great. If she was useless to him then she was useless to Bankotsu. And he did away with everything that was useless.

Her hands ran along her arms in an attempt to warm herself up from the chill of the room. She felt worse with each passing second, Bankotsu should have been up to wake her. But he had let her alone.

What is he up to? He isn't the generous kind so I'm sure that might've just forgotten to awaken me. If I walk around I'll have to look out for the schizo doctor.

Her footsteps were light and precise as she peeked around corners. She bit her lip to keep from giggling. She almost wanted to dart around corners humming 'Mission Impossible''s theme song. She felt like a spy or something of the sorts and wanted to play the part. But the rational part of her mind called her an idiot and told her to be quiet.

A bath...a bath...dammit Bankotsu how can you not know females need pampering! I need pampering...stupid boy...

A mantra had started in her head as she made her way into the kitchen, crouching along the ground and waddling along. She could smell the delicious scent of some kind of meat (the horrible thought it might be human surfaced for a moment).

Bankotsu had taken his leave of Jakotsu about five minutes ago, leaving him to tend to his own hangover. He had forgotten to tell Suikotsu to wake Kagome up and now he was stuck on doing it himself.

So to his surprise he watched her dart around corners and her eyes fearfully searching around. He followed her, knowing she would end up getting herself lost in this kind of place and not wanting to have to follow her screams.

Rubbing his head in confusion he watched as she covered her mouth, giggling softly. For a moment he wondered if she had lost her mind finally before he watched her waggle her finger in the air.

He noticed she didn't seem to realize she was doing it outright.

A grin lit his face as he watched as the girl child almost drooled at the smell of food.

"AHHHHHHH!"

His hand jerked from her shoulder to cover his ears. He had not expected that. Apparently she was more frightened here than he first thought.

"For the love of Kami! What the hell did you scream for?"

"What did you sneak up on me for?"

Renkotsu growled softly, he had failed at finding a quicker way to the dark witch's house. Two days would be wasted in finding her, plus she still had to make Hiten's body.

He had found out that the thunder brother had been completely destroyed and nothing remained.

Doesn't this just put a little damper on my plans.

A/N: Reviews are fodder for us to update quicker.

P.S. We noticed how delayed our update was, and we plan to jump right back into action!