Chapter 2

It was such a fine and beautiful day that the group decided to have a picnic outside for lunch after a whole morning with no sign of Kirara.

 Sango was beyond worried and she sadly picked at her food with her chopsticks instead of eating.

 "Look, it's Kirara," Shippo cried, pointing with his own chopsticks in the direction he saw there feline friend running to them.

 Sango looked up and her expression suddenly changed to a relieved smile. She stood up and ran towards Kirara. She met her half way, bent down, held out her arms and waited until Kirara jumped in them.

 "Kirara, where have you been?" she asked, hugging her. Kirara licked her to say that she was sorry that she worried her.

Sango wished she could speak cat like Kirara, but even though they spoke differently, the two had shared such a bond that Kirara could tell her anything without words.

"See, Kirara's fine," Inuyasha said as the two joined them. Sango split her share of food with Kirara, who sat in her lap, since Inuyasha and Shippo had ate most of the leftovers already.

"We're glad you're safe Kirara," Kagome told her with a smile.

Kirara rose from her food and meowed before digging back in.

"She certainly has an appetite," Sango said as she took a bite of her own food now, "she must not have had much food while she was by herself."

"Crazy cat, all that hunting and you let whatever it was get the best of you," Inuyasha said, woofing down more food.

Kirara cocked her head to the side, blinked and returned to her food.

"Well I'm just glad she's back with us," Sango said, stroking Kirara's soft fur.

"Me too," Shippo agreed, happily reaching for the last bit of food on the tray.

"I don't think so," Inuyasha said, reaching for it faster, grabbing the morsel with his chopsticks.

"Hey that's mine," Shippo pouted.

"Snooze you lose," Inuyasha said waving it in front of Shippo before gulping it down.

"Inuyasha," Kagome said frowning at him.

"Oh don't say it, I got it first," Inuyasha whined.

"Yeah, but you don't have to gloat about it," Kagome crossed her arms, "Sit boy."

Sango looked down, "Kirara's fast asleep," she said, surprised.

"I guess that long journey took it out of her," Miroku suggested. Sango nodded then stood up.

"I'm going to go put her in the hut where it's more comfortable," she told them before leaving into the small hut they shared.

Sango carefully put Kirara on her bed then petted her again, "I wonder what you were doing all that time," she said quietly to herself.

A/N: sorry it's so short, I'm just building the suspense now aren't I?;) btw please read my msg I posted on my profile under attention readers, I'm trying to expand my writing horizons and would like a new category idea, thanks;)