Glowing embers and ash flew in the breeze from the dying bonfire. By the fire lay Sango and Miroku, both consumed with slumber. Shippo and Kirara lay close by, Shippo sleeping happily while wrapped in Kirara's fur and warmth. For a while all appeared serene.

"Ngh…", Sango groaned as she tossed in her sleep. She rolled on her side and wearily opened one of her eyes only to stare into Miroku's sleeping face…inches away from her own, his hot breath brushing her face. Her eyes opened wide and she felt her cheeks blush crimson.

"Hu…huh?…WHA…GET AWAY!!"

WHACK*

Miroku awoke startled to find another lump on his head.

"Huh?…Sigh* What have I done to anger you this time, Sango?", he yawned in annoyance, rubbing his injured head and giving her an irritated look.

"You! Haven't I made it clear before?! Stay your distance while I sleep!" She sat up abruptly, now wide awake, giving him an accusing glare.

"What?…Do you really think that I would try such a thing while you were sleeping…" His words stopped when he saw the look she was giving him. "Sigh* Of course you think so."

Shippo rubbed his eyes and walked wearily to his quarreling companions. "C'mon you two! You woke me up you were fighting so loud! You fight just like Kagome and Inu-Ya…" He turned his head and scanned the entire campsite. "Wait a minuet! Where IS Inu-Yasha?! And Kagome…SHE'S gone TOO!"

Sango and Miroku both stood up and looked at their surroundings. "well…", Miroku mused, "It appears that neither Kagome or Inu-Yasha have returned to camp." A slight smile kept over his lips as he pondered on this.

"WHAT!? Whadya mean they never came back! You two were supposed to be keeping watch in case they did!" Shippo jumped up and down angrily. "For all we know, they could be in TROUBLE!"

Sango and Miroku exchanged worried glances. "Shippo…", Sango began, kneeling down to talk to him. "Kagome is safe….She's in her future world…and Inu-Yasha is more than capable of handling himself. I'm sure he will return to camp by sunrise…." She gasped in surprise as Shippo jerked away from her and backed away.

"How can you SAY that? After all that's happened !!"

Sango looked at the ground and sighed as Miroku continued to rub his head injuries.

"LISTEN! If Inu-Yasha was gonna come back, don't you guys think he would have done it BEFORE dinner?! You both aren't even worried at all?!"

Before either of them could answer or calm him down, Shippo turned and ran into the woods at full speed.

"Well if you guys are just gonna stand there then I'm gonna go by myself!"

"Shippo…", Sango whispered and she reached a hand out, ready to run after him but Miroku held her arm.

"No. Let him go Sango. He will return shortly, I'm sure." He looked directly into her eyes with reassurance.

"I…I guess you're right…" She lowered her arm and sat down , Miroku sitting with her.

"Sango, If Inu-Yasha doesn't return by dawn…we will search for him. It is wise for us to rest before tomorrow's journey."

Sango nodded and returned to her mat by the fire to sleep. Miroku hesitated, then walked towards his mat, which was right next to Sango's.

"Don't even think about it Miroku!"

She picked up his mat and threw it at him, his mat whacking him in the face before falling into his startled hands. "I don't need company while I sleep!"

* * * * *

Meanwhile…

"What am I doing?1 I don't even know where that mangy little kitsune found those flowers!"

Inu-Yasha ducked under a low branch as he continued to sprint through the dark forest. He stopped running and closed his eyes momentarily, breathing in a familiar scent.

"That scent…."

He blinked as he remembered the scent's origin. It was the flowers Shippo had picked for Kagome. He remembered their gentle aromatic scent…mostly because they smelled so similar to the girl they were picked for.

Inu-Yasha smiled arrogantly to himself.

"I'll find those flowers in no time! A smell like that will be easy to follow!"

He dashed toward the flowers scent but stopped in his tracks as a new thought came to mind.

"Wait…I have an even better idea."

He turned around and ran…back to the cliff, the river and…Kagome.