A little note: As seen on Dokuga. Originally this was an interconnected drabble collection created with the prompts from dokuga_contest. However, since dokuga_contest is no longer running, I'll update as I see fit with prompts I select myself.

Disclaimer: I am not, in any way, affiliated with the creators or producers of Inuyasha. No profit is made from this writing.

The Eastern Highway

"Inuyasha!" Miroku called. Inuyasha, who was standing on a ledge, felt his ears twitch in annoyance.

"What?" he called back.

"Are you sure you picked up Naraku's scent? This place is...quiet," Sango interrupted, her trained eyes scanning the surroundings. They had been traveling on the Eastern Highway for two days now, and have yet to come across any signs of civilisation. It was unusual, and made Sango and Miroku wary. Something was wrong.

Inuyasha jumped down from the ledge, his frustration clear in the way his brows were furrowed.

"I did smell him," Inuyasha muttered. "My nose is never wrong."

"We don't doubt your sense of smell, Inuyasha," Miroku explained. "But he has tricked us before."

Inuyasha grunted.

Sango sighed. "If only Kagome were here...she'd be able to sense the shards."

The mention of the miko seemed to dampen the mood of the group even further. It had been a long time since any of them had seen her, and while she had never truly said goodbye or made it clear she was departing from them, they knew where she was. Inuyasha had alerted them, although not immediately. Apparently he felt it was not really any of their business, especially since he only knew because he had followed Kagome one evening into the forest.

He had returned with a strange expression of defeat afterwards. For days he had wallowed in his misery, until finally Shippo's continuous questioning made him snap.

While it saddened them, they understood. And so they accepted that Kagome had moved on, and continued on their travels as best as they could. Although her absence made it substantially difficult.

"This road," Sango dispersed the silence. "I used to travel along this road with the other demon slayers when we were hired. It was always busy, bustling with life. And now its dead. I don't understand how one of the busiest highways could be deserted."

Miroku moved to the side, where a small stone shrine stood, long abandoned by travelers. "A number of things could have made the people leave this area. War, famine, demons."

Inuyasha's ears twitched again. "An ominous presence of evil."

Miroku and Sango did not miss the hidden meaning behind Inuyasha's words. Naraku.

"Since we seem to have lost Naraku's scent, however," Miroku continued, "perhaps we should turn around? Go back to Kaede."

It looked like the half-demon wanted to argue, but seems to have decided against it. With a defeated sigh, he turned on his heel and stomped in the direction from whence they came. Miroku, Sango, Kirara and Shippo followed without a word. In fact, Shippo barely spoke these days. Inuyasha claimed it was a phase, but Sango and Miroku knew better.

They had not made it far when Inuyasha came to an abrupt stop. He looked up at the heavens and sniffed.

"What is it?" Miroku asked, curious.

"Is it Naraku?" Sango asked, her grip on Hiraikotsu tightening.

Inuyasha shook his head, then turned to his right. "This scent..."

Sango and Miroku followed his line of sight, confused. Two white pups had trotted from amongst the trees, closely followed by a woman with dark hair and her right arm in a sling. It was only when she came out into the clearing that they realised who she was.

"Kagome!"