.

There was a fire at the center of the camp, but as the night wore on, the fire burned out. The night was cold and Kirara shivered, drawing her blanket tightly around her.

When she awoke again, it was still dark and the sun had not yet risen. She shifted her weight and stretched, and then realized Katsushiro's cloak was draped on top of her.

Kirara stood up, rubbing her arms. Just beyond the clearing, she could see Katsushiro training. He moved through the forms like water, effortless and graceful. Then he struck, again and again, his katana powerfully slashing through the air.

"He looks like Kyuzo-dono," Komachi said. Kirara looked down and saw her sister standing next to her, rubbing her eyes. "It's weird 'cuz he's using Kambei's sword. But he's long and scary like Kyuzo was. Don't you think, nee-chan?"

"I suppose," Kirara said.

They left the clearing and returned to the camp. Komachi sat on a log and kicked her legs, the little crystal bouncing beside her. "I'm not scared of him anymore, you wanna know why?" Komachi asked. "I saw him looking at you while you were asleep. He's still totally in love with you."

"Komachi."

"He is!" Komachi puffed her cheeks out and crossed her arms. "And my crystal glowed, too. So that means he's still a good guy. And he did give you his cloak."

Kirara stared at the fire. "I can't imagine what he's been through, what's happened to him to make him this way," Kirara said. "It frightens me how much he's changed."

"He didn't change that much, nee-chan," Komachi said.

xXx

.

Earlier.

Komachi was too scared to go to sleep. She stayed up with her eyes wide open, clutching a blanket and listening to the sound of her breathing. She wanted to wake nee-chan, but nee-chan had fallen asleep. She was shivering though, and Komachi was hoping the cold would wake her up.

Komachi rolled over and stared out into the forest. It was dark and scary and Komachi didn't like it. "Sister," she said. She glanced back at nee-chan's sleeping form. "Sister wake up."

Something moved. Komachi pulled up her cloak and sucked in her breath. He was not their Katsunoji, he was not their Katsunoji, he was this big scary mean guy who looked like Kyuzo-dono but was probably meaner. "Sister...."

Something moved again and Komachi pulled the covers over her face. "Please please please." Slowly she pulled the covers down and came face to face with Katsushiro sitting next to her.

Komachi shrieked. She scrambled up but got tangled up in the covers. "Komachi, it's okay." Katsushiro grabbed her by the arms. "Komachi, shh, it's me. It's Katsushiro, remember?" And he was careful not to make his face too scary.

Komachi peered up. He didn't look like Katsunoji. But then his face was softer and he wasn't looking quite as scary anymore, and he had put his hair back in that topknot she remembered. "That makes you look like a girl," Komachi said, in a small voice. Katsushiro didn't quite smile, but then again his eyes were smiling, so that made it all right, right? And her crystal was glowing too, and that made Komachi feel better.

"What are you thinking, Katsushiro-sama?" Komachi asked.

"Katsushiro-sama?" Now his eyes were definitely smiling. "Well that's certainly something new. Whatever happened to 'Katsunoji'?"

Komachi pouted. "You're too scary to be Katsunoji anymore," Komachi said.

"You think so?" Katsushiro settled next to her, his body lean and lanky and folding over itself. "Your sister's not scared of me, is she?"

"Sister's not scared of anybody," Komachi said. Katsushiro glanced at Kirara, who was shivering in her sleep.

"Your sister is cold," Katsushiro said, and he shrugged off his cloak and gently laid it on top of her. Kirara sighed, and snuggled deeply against the cloth.

Komachi glanced up at Katsushiro, then back at nee-chan, then back at Katsushiro again, who was looking at her all sad and quiet and stroking the cloak where it was touching the ground. He probably didn't want to accidentally touch her, which Komachi could appreciate, because sister always said strange men who touch you are not good to be with, and if Katsushiro is petting the ground instead of sister, well doesn't that mean he's a good guy?

"You're still not very scary, you know that?" Komachi said.

Katsushiro smiled. "And why do you say that?"

"Well. Sister always said you never had the scent of battle, but you have it now and it's really strong, but you're still really nice even if you don't talk so much anymore."

Komachi liked the way Katsushiro smiled. He got little crinkles in the sides of his eyes, like he's been out in the sun too long. "You look different, you know that?" Komachi bounced. "I used to think you weren't scary, but now? You're really scary! Scary like Kyuzo was. But I know better because you're still moony-eyed for sister."

"I--" Katsushiro stopped. "I suppose I am," he said.

"I knew it!" Komachi bounced again. "Grandmother always bugs nee-chan that she should get married. And now that you're here, maybe she can! Samurai can get married, right?"

Katsushiro didn't really answer, but that was okay. He looked sad and he was too busy looking at the sky. Komachi liked the sky too, it looked like a big purple cloth, and she liked the way the clouds drifted over the moon. "You should get back to sleep, little one," Katsushiro said, finally.

And Komachi flopped over and slept, because she wasn't scared anymore.