Chapter 3
(1 day later)
"Inuyasha! Inuyasha, where are you?" Sango cried flying through the air upon Kirara's back. The moment the rain had stopped she and the cat-demon had flown out to find Inuyasha. She and Miroku had been searching on land for the past day, and the stop of the rain had given Kirara the chance she needed to take to the air. That anguished howl and stuck Sango's heart, and she knew something was wrong.
"Can you find him Kirara?" she asked. The large cat growled an answer. Tilting an ear Kirara hovered in midair. Her sharp hearing detected a small sound to her left and she flew for it.
Sango gasped. "Oh Inuyasha…" The hanyou was lying facedown in the mud, his silver hair spread out over his back. His clawed hands were fisted in the dirt, and Sango could see his back heaving.
Kirara landed with a thump on a bit of dry ground and Sango leaped off her back, running to Inuyasha's side. "Inuyasha?" the woman said gently, laying a hand on the red-clad shoulder.
Inuyasha looked up at her and Sango was shocked to see the normally strong face streaked with tears and mud. The demon-huntress pulled him into a sitting position where he leaned against her.
"Talk to me Inuyasha. What happened?" Sango demanded shaking the hanyou's shoulders.
Inuyasha's eyes were covered by his silver bangs, but his voice told Sango all she needed to know. His tone was so full of sadness that Sango felt a pang in her heart. "She's gone….." Inuyasha whispered. "And she's not coming back."
"Oh no…." Sango muttered. The rain started falling again and Sango put one arm around Inuyasha's waist, draping his right arm over her shoulders. "Come on Inuyasha, let's go find Miroku."
The hanyou struggled to stand, but his legs were weak from the ceaseless hours of running as fast as he could through the mud and rain. Kirara came forward and Sango helped Inuyasha onto the cat's back where he slumped forward onto her neck.
"Let's go Kirara." Sango murmured. She walked beside the large cat, watching Inuyasha worriedly. Though he was limp and still on Kirara's back his golden eyes were still open and he would not sleep.
(3 hours later)
"Sango!" Miroku called as he spotted the tall woman coming closer. "Did you find him?" The monk was silenced when he saw the figure draped limply over Kirara's back. "Is he alright?"
Sango nodded. "He's just weak. He can't stand. He's awake too."
"Awake? I figured he'd be sleeping." Miroku said, looked sadly at Inuyasha.
"So did I. I think he ran for the entire day." Sango looked down. "He said Kagome isn't coming back."
Miroku's eyes widened. "Not coming back?"
Sango moved forward. "Let's get a fire built and get some food cooking. I'll bet he's at least hungry."
(Kagome's time)
"Kagome dear, are you alright?" Mrs. Higurashi asked opening the door to her daughter's room.
Kagome was sitting on her bed, her face thoughtful. "I'm fine mom."
Mrs. Higurashi sat on the bed beside her. "What happened with Inuyasha the other day? He ran out in quite a hurry."
Kagome's face hardened slightly. "He deserved it. He was so rude."
Mrs. Higurashi sighed. "But perhaps you were too hard on him dear." She put a hand on her daughter's knee. "I heard some of what you said. Some of it you have every right to be mad about. But you have no idea how much he cares for you. I can see it in his eyes every time he looks at you. Your opinion matters immensely to him, and I think what you said has shattered his heart."
Kagome's eyes were wide. "Do you really think so?"
Mrs. Higurashi nodded. "You should go back honey."
Kagome nodded, standing up forcefully. "You're right mom. I shouldn't have been so hard on him. I'm going back, right now."
Her mother smiled. "Good luck dear. And take a sweater in case it gets cold."
"Mom!" Kagome groaned, yet the miko grabbed a blue sweater on her way out the door.
