Sango went for a long walk the next morning in the hopes that exploring the town and the surrounding countryside would distract her from her worries. She was more familiar with the area when she got back, but still felt uncomfortably ill at ease.

Miroku was sitting outside Kaede's hut when Sango returned. He seemed to want to stay close, which struck her as unusual. Worried that this meant his arm was still bothering him, she asked, "How are you feeling today, Houshi-sama?"

"Much better, thanks to your kind attentions," he said with an overdramatic flourish that told her he was indeed feeling at least a little better.

"I'm glad," she told him. And she was. Still, she was surprised that he hadn't slipped away into town to make the most of his injuries yet. Surely the local girls would be impressed by the story of how he'd acquired them. Perhaps they would even be impressed enough to agree to bear his child. Realizing that this line of thought would only annoy her, she asked, "Where is everyone else?"

"Inuyasha ran off after you left, and Kaede has roped Shippou into helping her with the chores." Conveniently for Miroku, his injured arm meant that he was allowed to spend the day idly. "Did you happen to pass by the old well on your walk?"

"There was no sign of Inuyasha or Kagome, if that's what you're asking."

"I figured as much," he said glumly.

Upon overhearing their conversation, Kirara slipped out of the hut. She paused for a yawn and a luxuriant stretch before coming to sit at Sango's feet. Sango crouched down to scratch her gently on the forehead the way she liked and earned a happy purr for her efforts.

"So why did you go all the way out to the well this morning?" Miroku asked. "That's usually Shippou's thing."

"Just wondering what we'll do if Kagome doesn't come back," she admitted. It made her nervous when Kagome went through the well to go back to the strange land she came from. The future, Miroku had said it was, but that seemed even more impossible than a magical otherworld. Regardless, there was always the chance that she wouldn't come back, especially with Inuyasha insisting on being so unreasonable.

"We'll have to address that question soon, won't we?" the monk mused.

"We will if Inuyasha keeps being so stubborn."

Her annoyance must have showed in her voice, because he chuckled at that. "I propose we join forces," he suggested. "Together we might be able to convince him to do what needs to be done."

"You think so?"

"He's stubborn, but eventually even he will see reason."

She sighed, not yet fully convinced. "I certainly hope so."