Lazarus Heart: Found in the mist
Episode 4
Kiri guides Sango through the mist. He says, �There are demons here.� She tells him, �Yes, some of my friends are demons; they are not evil.� Kiri tells her, �I wish I could merely accept your word; but that cannot be enough. Here is one now.� As he speaks, a breeze shifts the mist and Inuyasha is revealed. �Sango!� he calls. Seeing that she is not alone, he draws his sword. The mist swirls around the Tetsusaiga, but it does not transform. Kiri says, �Your sword will not work here, half-demon. The mist will not allow it to harm anyone.� Sheathing his sword, Inuyasha shouts, �Get your hands off�a her!� Sango says, �It�s alright Inuyasha; he saved me.� Taking a slightly less defensive stance, he harumphs his acknowledgment. Kiri looks to his right and Kagura stumbles into the ever expanding clearing around the three. She says, �Sango, Inuyasha, are you alright? There is something about this mist; none of my wind powers work here. Who is this?� Before Sango can answer, Miroku stumbles upon them. Sango says, �This is Miroku; he�s not a demon.� Kiri says, �I can see that; still, the mist is uncomfortable around him. Finally,� he says, gesturing. Kirara and Shippo join the others; Kirara is in her little form. She looks at Kiri questioningly. Then she walks over and begins rubbing against his leg. He says, �Hello again. It�s been quite q long time.� He lowers to one knee and begins to scratch behind her ears. He asks, �These others, they are your companions, friends, do you trust them?� She looks up into his grey eyes. He says, �Good enough for me.� Standing, he continues, �You are all welcome on these mountains and free to pass.� Sango says, �Umm�Kiri, there were others; my brother and a friend of mine...� He says, �The humans, yes. There was never any question of whether or not they might pass; or you for that matter. I only came to you first because you needed me. Here they are.� Separately, Kagome and Kohaku join the group. Addressing them all, Kiri says, �Come, you are welcome in my home until it is safe for you to move on.� With that, he turns and walks toward a wall of fog. At his approach, the fog recedes and the group follows him.