Kira gazed out the bus window, mesmerized by the beautiful setting sun. Her heart already was aching missing her parents, wishing she had had the time to visit her friends one last time before she departed. To visit Scott. However she knew they would ask why she was leaving… she couldn't bear to cause them concern. It was safer if they thought she still needed to learn control from the Skinwalkers. She'd mastered control only a few months ago, and now it seemed she needed all of it to control herself to not call out to her friends for help.

Kira realized she was still holding the folded paper her father gave her earlier that day, tightly in her hand. Though she had it's contents now memorized, she still opened it and stared at the words written in her father's haste speed.

Stars Hollow

Lane Kim

With a sigh, Kira leaned back on her bus seat. She needed to disappear and her parents knew this. Apparently this 'Lane Kim' was a long lost cousin of hers. Lane's mother and Kira's father were second cousins, who had never met, but maybe once, yet still knew of each other's existence. Kira prayed that Lane would be accepting of her company, though she most likely had no idea who she was.

A noise came from Kira's bag. She reached in and retrieved her phone to find a text from her mother.

"Let us know when you arrive. We love you and are so proud of you. Be brave."

The bus came to a stop. Kira leaned her neck from side to side, hearing it crack. The next stop was Stars Hollow.

With the help of some music, Stars Hollow approached quickly and Kira shuffled off the bus along with a few others. The town seemed fairly quiet and serene for a Friday night, that Kira couldn't help but feel some peace inside her. However as soon as she began to walk, the ongoing fear once again gripped her stomach. Perhaps she should get some food.

Having no idea where to start first, Kira got the attention of the first person she could, a short woman, accompanied by a tall man.

"Um, hi, excuse me, sorry," Kira began awkwardly, "could you point me in the direction of the nearest restaurant or diner?"

"Oh sure thing, sugar," the woman said in a loud voice. "Luke's Diner is right over there, on the other side of the gazebo, you can't miss it! What's your name, you new here?"

"Yeah I am, I'm, um," Shit. Kira thought. I should've come up with a cover, the less people who know I'm here the better. "I'm Kira." Well, there goes any cover. God, for a fox I'm not very… foxy.

"Nice to meet ya, Kira," the woman said, squeezing Kira's arm. "I'm Babette, and this is Morey. I'd love to walk you over and chat a while, but Morey here ate some bad tuna, so we gotta get on home. We'll catch up tomorrow!"

Babette waved happily at Kira as her and Morey walked off in the direction of their house. Kira couldn't help but smile as she waved back and watched as they disappeared around the corner.

Kira entered Luke's Diner and was hit immediately with the wonderful smell of hamburgers and fries wafting from a table near the door. Two girls were seated there, and as the older one took a bite, the younger asked her, "How are you so hungry after dinner at Grandma's?"

"Really? Have you learned nothing as my daughter? I'm not sure you can handle that fancy education at Yale, if you are still astonished by my eating habits."

"Oh that's right, my mistake. You carry on."

Kira smiled to herself at their conversation and approached the register.

"What can I get for you?" A man in flannel and a blue backwards baseball cap addressed her.

"Just fries to go please. Also," she added as he turned to go away, "um, I was wondering if maybe, I mean this seems like a pretty small town, so maybe you would know where someone named Lane Kim, lives?"

"Yeah actually, she works here," the man replied, looking a little confused. "Who're you?"

"Oh I'm Kira."

"Luke." Luke extended his hand and Kira awkwardly shook it.

"You know Lane?" said the younger girl at the table near the door. Kira turned to face her.

"I'm Rory," the girl said, "this is my mom, Lorelai."

Lorelai waved.

"Hi. I don't actually know Lane, but I know of her. We're sort of long lost cousins. Anyway do you know where I can find her?"

"Actually she's been staying with me at my dorm at Yale. I'm staying here for the weekend, but she's still there. I can take you there. There's an extra couch you can sleep on and don't mind my roommates, they're a little weird."

"Really? It's already late, I don't want to cause any inconvenience…"

Rory shook her head. "It's no inconvenience! Let me just call Lane and tell her what's going on before we get there."

Rory stood and addressed Lorelai. "I'll be back, Mom."

Lorelai smiled, "Okay, hun, drive safe."

Luke appeared by Kira's side. "Here are your fries."

"Thanks," Kira replied handing him some cash. "Keep the change."

The car ride with Rory was quiet to begin with, but soon Rory began to talk and Kira couldn't help but realize how good of a conversationalist she was, even while they were both a little awkward. But then Rory asked the question.

"So… why are you here?"

"It's difficult to explain. I'm in a little bit of trouble, nothing to worry about, but I didn't have anywhere else to go."

At least half of that was true.

Rory nodded. "Lane's mom just kicked her out. That's why she's been staying with me. What's happened with you?"

That was the perfect alibi!

"Something similar…" Kira said quietly. "I don't really want to talk about it."

"Oh, okay that's fair."

In the silence that followed, Kira felt a little itchy as she thought about the true reason she came to Stars Hollow. The reason she had to run. She hoped it wouldn't follow her here. If she was the reason chaos and pain came to this nice town in the months that followed… she wouldn't be able to forgive herself. She took a shaky breathe. The nogitsune was back. And it wanted revenge, on her, and would destroy anything in it's path to get it.