Meanwhile back in Feudal Japan . . .

Inu-Yasha sat in the twisted branches of a large tree gazing thoughtfully up at the sky. Large billowy white clouds migrated slowly across a tranquil blue. A distant memory came to his mind.

"Sometimes…when I'm alone…I look up at the cloud formations in the sky and I imagine the shapes and things they resemble…It makes me…happy."

He smirked as he remembered Kagome's words.

"See Inu-Yasha? That one over there…doesn't it resemble a flower?"

He focused his dark amber eyes on the white clouds above in concentration.

"Feh. How stupid! I don't see anything!", he snarled.

Suddenly a pure white cloud drifted in the wind…changing. For a brief instant it resembled a girl, smiling sweetly back at him.

"Gah!…Um..", Inu-Yasha uttered and he felt his face grow flustered.

He somehow found himself thinking about her again. He looked back at the clouds above and saw that the image had disappeared.

"Had...Had I imagined it then?"

He continued to study the sky, lost deep in his thoughts.

* * *

Miroku and Sango walked through the forest gathering timber for the fire. Rich golden sunlight illuminated the oak forest through the trees as a few leaves fell from overhead, dancing in the wind. Sango bent to pick up a large piece of dried wood, Her backside temporarily facing the lecherous monk.

"Uh….wha?!" , she gasped as she felt his hand caress her rear.

WHACK!!!

Sango huffed angrily after striking Miroku with a blow to the head from the wood. The result was a large throbbing bump protruding from his forehead.

"Miroku…don't you think Kagome should have returned from her world by now?"

She gave Miroku an agitated look as she handed him the dry piece of wood from the forest floor. Miroku sighed, still rubbing his head from the attack.

"Well, lady Kagome did express urgency concerning her responsibilities in her time so…It will be a while before she returns."

Sango nodded thoughtfully, turning her head away and smiling to herself.

"And just what are you smiling at?", Miroku said flatly, still rubbing his aching forehead.

"Oh…I was only asking that…considering that a certain someone is missing her…"

Miroku gave her a puzzled look as Sango pointed ahead in the distance to a large tree facing the bone eaters well. Perched in the tree sat Inu-Yasha, watching the well intently as the sun set over the horizon.

"Oh…I see…." Miroku whispered.

His gaze turned downward to a piece of dried wood by Sango's feet.

"Aren't you going to pick that up?", he asked, a mischievous grin forming on his face.

She gave him a threatening look.

"I think we have enough wood, Miroku. Let us return to camp!"