Kagome and Sachi stumbled about the village cautiously. Fear played with their minds and tugged at their hearts. There was no end to the uneasy feelings they both had. Nothing could eradicate the feeling of immediate danger that surrounded them and filled the air.

"Kagome?"

Kagome looked down to the little girl who was walking steadily behind her. "What is it, Sachi?"

"I'm hungry...my legs hurt."

"I know." was all she could think to say. She was hungry too, but there was nothing to eat and now was not the time to think of food.

It surprised her how much more talkative Sachi had become since they had found this place. Before, she barely said a world. No sounds ever escaped her lips. Maybe it's because there is nothing but quiet here, kagome thought to herself.

Inu-Yasha sat atop Kaede's old hut. There was nothing but sun, villagers, and noise. The sounds of the living world pounded in his ears playing with the fact that they could hear better than anyone within a hundred miles.

He scanned the horizon line for danger, but wasn't really all that interested in fighting at the moment. He didn't owe humans anything, if something were to happen they could take care of themselves...

"Inu-Yasha!"

"What, you little brat?" Inu-Yasha said knowing full well who the voice belonged to.

"Where's Kagome? You said she'd be back in three days. It's been three days and she's not here. Did you scare her off again?" Shippo gave him a good hard look before hopping up onto Kaede's hut so that he could better examine him.

"No, I didn't scare here away! If anyone could do that it would be you and all of your insistent whining. You're always making her bring stuff back for you. She has a life you know."

"What about your ramen?" Shippo asked knowing all too well that it wasn't a good idea.

"That's different so shut up!"

"How is it different, Inu-Yasha? You won't let Kagome come back with out it."

"It's because she owes me! She broke the jewel and now she has to do whatever I say because it's her fault."

"Really, Inu-Yasha?" Shippo asked curiously. "I thought she only owed you here help. After all, she is the only one who can sense jewel shards."

"Shut up! It's none of your business anyway!" Inu-Yasha was on the verge of ripping Shippo in two, but he was trying to contain himself...for some reason.

"Ah, I see that Lady Kagome has not returned." Came Miroku's voice from below.

"Shouldn't she be back by now?" Sango chimed in.

That was the final breaking straw. He was past the point of no return with his frustration.

"Is that all you guys care about! Kagome, Kagome, Kagome! She'll be back when she comes back!" With that Inu-Yasha leapt from the hut's roofs and began stomping off and away from his irritating friends.

"Inu-Yasha!" Miroku called a bit frantically. "Where are you going?"

"To get Kagome! She's been gone way too long! We should be hunting jewel shards now!"

"But you just said-"

"Shut up!"

When Inu-Yasha had vanished from sight the other burst out laughing. It was funny how he could be so easily tricked. It wasn't that they had meant to make him angry. No, he could do that all by himself, but a little push in the right direction never hurt anyone.

As Inu-Yasha made his way toward well, his anger grew. Sharp words raced through his mind. Kagome said she would be back in the morning. It was well into the afternoon now, but still she had not returned. I'm going to drag her back here if it comes to that, he thought. She'll come rather she wants to or not. No more tests, no more baths, no more school, and definitely no more relaxation.

Throwing himself into the well, he continued to fume over Kagome's absence. She was supposed to be with him collecting jewel shards. That's all there was to it.

The well house was dusty on the inside and Inu-Yasha wanted to puke from all the unwanted smells of Kagome's world. He didn't understand how she could possibly live in such a place as she did. There was nothing good about it, except the ramen...and the chips. Otherwise there were too many humans. Too many people crammed together, and too many disgusting smells.

He rushed to Kagome's bed room window. He entered through her open window as he always seemed able to do. It like it was open in case he came back for her, only for him.

"Stupid girl. You're going to get yourself killed, then what would I do."

Finding that she was occupying her room, which he had been sure she would be, he opened her door and proceeded downstairs. Instantly his nostrils were invaded with the smell of something delicious cooking. He made his way to the dinning room. When he slammed open the door it revealed Kagome's family. Her mother was just bringing in what looked to be the last dish of a meal. Though the food smelled incredibly well made, no one seemed to be eating. Kagome's family just sat around staring at the table. Mrs. Higurashi's eyes widened when they fell on Inu-Yasha.

"Where's Kagome?" He blurted out hastily. He had scanned the room over and over, but she wasn't there. He assumed she would be with her family. After all, that was almost always the excuse she used to get him to allow her to return home. So, where was she now?

"So she's not with you then? I had hoped..." Kagome's mother said solemnly, as if she had let go of the most important dream in all of her life.

"Where is she?" He questioned again. He was becoming irritated.

"We don't know." Her mother answered softly. "Three days ago she left to get some ice cream, she never came back."

"What?" Inu-Yasha's eyes widened in shock. she's not here.

"She's missing, Inu-Yasha."