Sango's feet ached. She, Kirara, Shippo and Miroku had been out since before the sun had gone to sleep, searching for their companions. They hadn't rested after the fight. They hadn't paused to eat since dinner from the night before and the physical exhertion was starting to take its toll. They had worked in complete silence, each one too afraid that they would snap at another from their fatigue and anxiety over the sudden lack of Inuyasha and Kagome.
They worked slowly and found it tough to see their surroundings until Shippo had gone through the yellow backpack that Kagome left on the field. They searched now with the aid of a flashlight to cut the black drape of night air around them. The little bulb in the flashlight had also done a bit to raise their spirits. Their faces brightened a bit, both with the light and with the restored hope that they would see something to guide them to their friends. Miroku waved the trio back to the center of the clearing where the battle had raged and surveyed the surrounding with a quick glance before he pointed to Kirara then to the edge of the cliff and Sango, understanding his intent, nodded in agreement.
They had descended on the same path as Inuyasha and Kagome, but they used a controlled fall with the help of Kirara. It seemed to float slowly through their senses and they marveled at the strength their lost friends must've had to withstand the dizzying fall. Shippo clung to Sango's back, burying his face between her shoulder blades. Sango could feel his face rubbing on the old scar that she had been given by her brother's own weapon and a small piece of her inside quavered. She didn't shake off the little youkai, however, but felt a small bit of determination growing within herself that was determined to protect the kitsune.
Their first flight had turned up empty. There was no sign of a struggle, but fortunately there was no sign that either comrade had been killed by the jagged ledges that stuck out throughout the face of the cliff either.
Reaching the bottom, Miroku and Shippo clambered off of Kirara's back and resumed their scavenger hunt along the edge of a small basin of water with a make shift foundation of fallen rocks. Sango, however, couldn't shake the feeling that they had missed some clue hidden among the rocks looming ominously above her, the lecherous monk and the kitsune. She angled the flashlight back up along the craggy cliff and traced a trail a bit farther from their original path down the ledge. Something glistened back at her from about half way up.
"Kirara," she muttered, receiving a growl of recognition from the fire cat demon and they rose noiselessly into the air.
"Where are you going, Sango?" yelled a concerned little fox demon, not sure if the demon hunter was out of earshot just yet.
"I saw something up there. I'll be right back, Shippo. Help Miroku look for any clues down there, alright?"
She ushered Kirara forward without waiting for a response. She could hear the concern and tension in Shippo's voice and the demon hunter knew that he was worried for her own well being and afraid of what had happened to Inuyasha and Kagome. The thought lightened her heart a bit and she smiled a little as she rose and fell on Kirara's back.
There was no doubt in Sango's mind that the little kitsune was hard at work, searching for any shred of evidence of Kagome and Inuyasha, but the houshi was probably sitting cross legged in deep meditation trying to see a vision of their lost friends whereabouts from his spiritual power. It was either that or he was day dreaming about one of the young maiden's he had seen while traveling through nearby villages. Sango shook her head a bit and figured it was probably the latter of the two.
She flicked the flashlight upwards once again, remembering why she had chosen to take flight once more, and the same glistening object rested embedded in the rocks. She was getting closer, almost close enough to make out its shape. It seemed long and frail in the vastness of the wall surrounding it.
Kirara hovered parallel to the glittering object and Sango shone the light on it once more. She gasped, dropping the flashlight and heard a loud "kerploonk" as it landed in the water below.
Kirara inched closer and Sango's hand came to rest on the hilt of a very familiar, very distinguishable blade. Her heart sank into her chest as she seized the hilt firmly and ripped it from its rock sheath.
If Inuyasha lost his sword in the rocks, then there is no doubt that they were here. Wait a second, they're left unguarded on the night of the full moon without the tetsusaiga!
Placing the blade gignerly across her lap, Sango retreated back to her friends and dismounted Kirara as the fire cat reached the ground. There was a familiar burst of flame and a cheerful meowing chirp signaling to the others that Kirara was now the size of an ordinary house cat.
"Miroku," cooed Sango as she approached the monk who had, indeed, been meditating, and more likely daydreaming, while the others were digging for clues.
He opened one eye and gave her a sideways glance. His stomach lurched as his eyes came to rest on the tetsusaiga. He suddenly felt guilty for thinking of the pretty young maiden with the long brown hair and the soft green eyes in the village they had passed earlier in the week.
"Where…Where did you find that?"
"It was embedded in the rocks over there," Sango responded as she pointed vaguely into the distance from which she had returned.
"This does not bode well, you know."
"I know."
"But," continued the houshi rising to his feet, "it does mean that Inuyasha was here and if the tetsusaiga was found buried in the rock wall, he must have fallen into the pond."
"Right, but…"
Sango was brought to silence as the monk placed a hand on her hip and allowed it to dip further over her buttocks.
She stiffened immediately and a look of sheer horror came over her face; within seconds, her eyes shifted to the perverted holy man and if looks could kill, Miroku wouldn't have stood a chance.
Shippo heard a distinct THWACK as Sango's hand came into contact with Miroku's cheek.
Honestly, when will he learn?
The little kitsune continued his way around the edge of the pond, scouring the water and inhaling deeply for any trace of either Inuyasha or Kagome. His clothes were becoming extremely damp with both perspiration and the chilled pond water around him. He shivered a bit and tripped over a root at the edge of the pond, falling face down on the dirt.
He grumbled and when he opened his eyes, he saw a swatch of red fabric that was undeniably fire rat fur. His hand flew out to the scrap and he jumped up and practically ran on top of the water to show Sango and Miroku what he had found.
Miroku watched as the orphan kitsune rushed to Sango's side and presented her with a piece of red fabric. A fixture of fear and delight flared in Sango's features and Miroku watched as she hugged Shippo close and told him he had done a good job.
The houshi inwardly sighed. What he wouldn't give for Sango to hug him like she did that demon child. He was falling for her and he knew it. He loved the way her demon hunter's out fit hugged her body. He loved the way her hair fell messily in her face after a particularly demanding battle. He even loved the way she'd slap him after he initiated intimate contact. It told him that she had deep morals and a strong will to preserve them. He smiled a bit to himself.
It was only a matter of convincing Sango that he wasn't a lecher through and through that kept him from pursuing her completely. It was a guise he used to protect his heart from breaking.
"Kirara!"
The cat transformed in a whirl wind of flame almost immediately. The trio climbed onto her back and Sango, having given the fire cat a good whiff of the fire rat fabric, urged Kirara forward and off into the night in search of the lost miko and half demon.