Disclaimer: Don't own Inuyasha.

"Inuyasha!" Kagome called as she looked into the last hut of the DemonSlayer's Village. "She isn't here."

Inuyasha grunted and crossed his arms over his chest. "I could've told you that," he snapped. "As a matter of fact, she's never been here or I would've caught her scent."

"Then where could she have gone?" Miroku queried. "It isn't like her to take off on her own without at least telling someone where she is going/"

Kagome stood silent with worry. Inuyasha had given no indication that Sango's scent was anywhere remotely along the route they'd traveled and now he detected nothing of her in her home village. Still she had insisted that perhaps she'd used a demonslayer's tactic to cover her scent for her own protection since she was traveling alone.

"Kagome," Miroku interrupted her thoughts. "What did Sango say to you the morning that she left?"

Kagome was inclined not to respond. Miroku had taken full advantage of the fact that he could do whatever and whoever he wanted in Sango's absence without a semblance of respect for the woman he claimed to "care" about. For all he knew, Sango could be lying dead in a ditch somewhere while he was off "flirting."

Gah! That was hardly the word for it.

"Kagome, are you deaf or somethin'?" Inuyasha said gruffly. "We ain't got time to be pussy-footin' around. If you know somethin' about Sango, you need to speak up."

"Inuyasha," Kagome growled between clenched teeth.

Inuyasha's entire countenance changed from furrowed impatience to wide-eyed dread. He'd heard that tone and he knew it was coming. He clenched his eyes and braced himself for the inevitable slam.

And waited.

And waited.

But it never came.

Inuyasha cracked open one eye to see a glaring Kagome right up in his face. "Kagome?"

"Sit!" she yelled in his face.

The subjugation beads glowed and Inuyasha went face first into the dirt. After the dust cleared, Inuyasha simply laid face down, groaning and twitching. "Damn it, Kagome," his voice cracked.

Miroku looked at Inuyasha on the ground and then to Kagome's retreating back as she walked away from the two of them, Shippo perched on her shoulder. He assumed that she was still upset with him after leaving the village a few days ago.

'How can she sit in judgment of me?' he wondered. 'It isn't as if I don't have needs.' He looked down at his right hand. 'Not to mention this wretched wind tunnel that will undoubtedly be my fate if Naraku isn't defeated. Should Naraku never be defeated, then I need a child to carry on our family's quest'.

He cared for Sango, perhaps not as romantically as Kagome felt he should, but he had feelings nonetheless. It wasn't as if other husbands didn't hold other conquests while married and their wives were perfectly accepting of their behavior. Though he knew Sango had her issues, but in time, he would make her see that it wasn't anything to be hurt over. He cared about her more than any other woman and that's all that mattered.

"I miss Kirara," Shippo said sadly as Kagome took a seat on the porch of one of the huts.

"I'm sorry, Shippo," Kagome reached up and patted his head.

"You don't think they've been killed by Naraku, do you, Kagome?" he asked with high-pitched dread.

The thought had crossed her mind that Sango could no longer be alive for whatever reason. There were a million things that could've happened, but they couldn't wait forever. Naraku was out there somewhere, searching as diligently as they were for the sacred jewel shards. But Kagome couldn't stop thinking of the baffling mystery.

"Come on, Kagome," Inuyasha said gently.

Kagome looked up at the half-demon approaching her. He was still dusting himself off and she felt guilty for slamming him into the dirt the way she did.

"Inuyasha, what could've happened to her?" she couldn't help asking.

"Don't know, but we'll find her," he replied.

"You mean, you're willing to look for her?" Kagome was a little surprised. She would've figured Inuyasha to want to look for the jewel shards and hope Sango showed up later.

"Of course!" he spat. "Sango's a good friend and great fighter. We need her to help us."

Kagome's face relaxed into a smile. He was worried too. "Inuyasha, that's sweet."

Miroku couldn't help scoffing inwardly. Inuyasha is sweet because he cares, but he's a bastard because he cares too.

Suddenly, the slight sound of sucking came to Inuyasha's ears, along with a strange tickle he knew all too well. He reached up to slap the irritation.

A tiny "ack!" could be heard and Inuyasha looked down into his hand to see a very familiar, but flattened flea resting in his palm. "Master Inuyasha," the flea greeted in a strained and pained voice.

"Myouga?" Inuyasha demanded. The unsaid of question of "what are you doing here?" needn't be asked.

Myouga managed to compose himself in a gentle 'pop' back into his form. "I was passing through when I heard that you were a man and a demon short."

"Myouga, have you heard something?" Kagome asked as she leapt up from her spot on the porch.

"Merely rumors of where she's been sighted, but nothing more. I came to see if the rumors were true and Sango had left you," he informed quietly.

"Sango didn't leave us! She had something to take care of," Inuyasha shouted angrily. "If you know where she is, flea, you'd better start talkin'!"

Myouga simply ignored Inuyasha's rash temper. His father could be a rash demon as well and he supposed that he should inherit something of his characteristics, but did it have to be this one?

"I thought better to extend my services," Myouga offered. "I could search for Sango and return to you with her whereabouts."

"Look, flea, we'll be the ones to find Sango, got it!"

"Wait a minute, Inuyasha," Miroku intervened, finally speaking up. "Myouga is right. Naraku isn't going to stop until he has found all the shards of the jewel. If he is willing to let us begin our search while he searches for Sango's whereabouts, I don't see why we shouldn't consider the idea."

"Look, monk," Inuyasha shot him an angry look. "Just because you—,"

"Myouga," Kagome interrupted softly. "Where did you here Sango was last seen?"

Myouga was so grateful for Kagome. It seemed she was very much like the Master's human companion. Izaiyoi also had that gentle, soothing demeanor. She had such a way with the Master that he never thought possible after the death of his first mate, Sesshoumaru's mother.

"It seemed that she was on her way here, but she had taken an alternate route and then…simply vanished," Myouga explained with his flare for mystery. "I have eyes and ears in various communities that owe me a few favors. I would be most happy to cash them in on Sango's behalf."

"What do you think, Inuyasha?" Kagome looked up at him.

Inuyasha had a slight inner turmoil over the whole thing. On one hand, he desperately needed to search for the jewel. On the other, he couldn't help feeling as if he were abandoning Sango to the fates if he chose not to search for her. Though, he had to admit, Myouga wasn't without his talents. Being courageous in the face of battle, not one of them. However…

"All right, Myouga," Inuyasha finally conceded. "But if we don't hear something soon..."

"I understand, Master," was all Myouga said and bounded off. He'd better be at his best if he was going to find Sango within a week. He fostered his own curiosity by the mystery. The demonslayer was even more diligent in her quest to find Naraku. What could've made her stray from her journey?

A/N: Kind of short, but I thought it was about time that Inuyasha and co. entered the picture again at some point.

Thanks to all the reviewers:) You guys are the ones that keep me going!