Kirara shifted back into her small, almost fox-like form only when she and Sango both had exited the forest. The latter was still confused, but simply reminded herself to return to the site later with backup to investigate. Carrying the bucket of cool river water, Sango made herself known by poking her head in the doorway of the village doctor's hut before stepping inside to place it down next to the doctor. He thanked the demon slayer and continued his watch over the ill monk.

The worried woman knelt next to the unconscious man and sat back on her heels. "How is he?" she asked quietly. Kitagawa looked up from his spot in the middle of the room, forearms wet as he pulled a cloth out of the water bucket. He partially wrung it out before standing and making his way to the couple. "He has improved. I managed to draw out most of the poison, but his body seizes after some time." The doctor bent down to place the cold, damp cloth on Miroku's forehead. There were fresh bandages on his upper body and both legs. While Sango examined her lover's healing body, she let herself relax just a bit at the sight of colour returning to his skin.

"I would like to examine you and the rest of your comrades as soon as possible. If what afflicts the monk can be passed around, I would very much like to keep it contained," Kitagawa explained, taking long strides to cross the room and kneel by the fire to stoke it. "Healing a village is the stuff of miracles; miracles I cannot bring to fruition." The doctor did not slow in his actions, but trailed off. Sango hummed thoughtfully at the humble admission.

"No doctor I've met could have drawn poison out and returned health to a dying person," she replied.

"It seems no doctor you've met actually knew what they were doing, from what I've heard."

"Well, doesn't that make you a maker of miracles then? To be the one doctor out of many who saved a man from the brink of death, despite his chances of surviving the first night being so low…" Sango paused for a moment, gaze trained on the flames licking at the newly placed logs. "You are a good man, Doctor Kitagawa. In this world, where nearly everything and everyone is out to get people like me, him, and my friends, a good person being present and providing us with help is a miracle within itself."

The older man turned and smiled warmly at the woman. "In all of my years, I have never received such thanks. I will continue to watch over him, young demon slayer." His eyes crinkled at the outer corners as he bowed halfway. "Worry not, and be on your way; It seems your small companion requires your attention." He pointed to the doorway, where Shippo stood awkwardly, shifting his weight between his feet and flicking his tail nervously.

The young fox demon was tense as he waited for Sango to exit the doctor's hut. His thoughts somehow jumbled themselves up more than before, frustrating him. Before Shippo could even make a noise of discontent, the taller woman stepped over the threshold and directly into his line of sight. He shuffled his feet, eyes glued to the ground. "Um…" was all he could get out. His thought process had halted in that crucial moment; Jumpstarting all of a sudden, he spit out what he'd meant to say.

"Kirara ran away!"

Well, that came out louder than he'd intended.

As it turns out, Sango and Shippo were the only two concerned. Though, that was probably because they were the only others around to be. Kagome had reluctantly left late into the night to return home, only after making Inuyasha promise that he would come to get her if anything happened. Speaking of, the half-breed was completely nonchalant about it. He yawned and scratched the back of his head, hardly sparing the two a glance from his spot on the floor of the tiny hut they'd been afforded.

"She's pretty strong, and I didn't smell anything last night," he began, closing his eyes and leaning backwards until his back hit the wall. "She'll be fine. Demons like that don't break easy."

Sango wasn't pleased with the unconcerned reaction; and her glare proved it 一if looks could kill, she'd have murdered Inuyasha in mere seconds.

"That was last night. Kirara was really on edge a while ago when we were in the forest," she recounted. "She started growling at the trees, even though there was nothing there. She had to have smelled something off, maybe heard something? You should be con-"

"Alright, alright, I get it. Yeesh." The older male interrupted, grunting as he stood. "I ain't got time for this…" he muttered; the hairs on the back of his neck raising with the feeling of eyes on him. "Will ya quit glarin' at me? I said I'm going!" His ears twitched in annoyance. Tessaiga in hand, Inuyasha rolled his shoulders and sauntered out of the hut and out onto the dirt road.

Shippo sat awkwardly by the doorway, watching Sango pace. "She never leaves without telling me…I don't know what it is that's so intriguing about the woods that made her run off like this…" she muttered to herself. The kitsune could only try to comfort her, taking Inuyasha's words and smoothing them out to be less harsh. "She's a strong demon, Sango. I bet she'll come back just fine! I bet she'll be dragging that big dummy back outta the woods by his robe!" He couldn't stop himself from giggling at the image. A soft huff of amusement made its way out of the demon slayer.

"I wouldn't doubt that happening," she agreed. "I suppose you and Inuyasha are right. Kirara is pretty powerful, she can handle herself!" she halfway exclaimed with a sort of reluctant finality.

Maybe Kirara will be okay.