(A/N: I'm back, and my computer is fine. Problem solved. In this chapter, Kikyou and Suikotsu start to open up to each other, and even Kanna was a bit of insight. Hope you like it.)

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Chapter 14: Moonlit Night

Suikotsu slowly recovered his strength as he got used to his new body. In a way, this body was like that of a newborn's, and needed time to gain strength. Kikyou's body had been the same way when Sesshomaru had brought her back to life, but she had healed faster due to her priestess powers. It made her wonder why Yamikotsu seemed to have all his strength almost immediately after he got his new body, but she assumed that it was because he had absorbed a demon and recovered quickly.

As the days went by, Suikotsu and Kikyou became very good friends. Not that they weren't friends to begin with, but now they were actually getting to know each other. Kikyou had to admit, it was good to have someone around that she could actually talk to; her normal companions weren't all that talkative.

But tonight was one of the rare occasions that one of her companions actually approached her to ask a question. "Master, we are curious to know how much longer we will be staying in this village." Said Kocho.

Kikyou turned to the Shikigami. "I am not sure. Until Dr. Suikotsu recovers his strength to be able to take care of himself."

"Then should he not be resting?"

"He is resting."

Kocho shook her head. "He was spotted leaving the village a short while ago."

Kikyou stood up. "He what?" She took off in the direction Kocho pointed in. 'What is he thinking? He is a doctor, he should know better. Even if he is well enough to get around, he shouldn't leave the village this time at night; there may be demons about.'

Fortunately, being a priestess, Kikyou was able to sense the presence of anyone nearby, and Suikotsu was close enough for her to be able to detect him. She found him just outside the village sitting on the branch of the highest tree.

Not even needing to request it of her soul collectors, the snake-like demons carried her up to the doctor, setting her down on the branch he was sitting on.

"Lady Kikyou, what brings you here?" he asked.

"You." Kikyou replied. "You shouldn't be doing such physical activities until you've completely recovered."

Suikotsu chuckled. "I thought I was the doctor."

Kikyou smiled. "Being a healer is part of being a priestess. So right now that makes me your doctor, and I say that you shouldn't overexert yourself." She frowned. "What are you doing out here anyway?"

Suikotsu looked back up at the sky. "I just wanted to look at the moon for awhile."

Kikyou's gaze shifted to the nearly three-quarter orb in the sky. "The moon?"

Suikotsu nodded. "Yes, I've always liked looking at the moon. It reminds me of myself."

"How so, if you don't mind me asking?"

"I don't mind. I've always felt a connection to the moon. It has a dark side and a light side, one slowly taking over the other. Just like me and my dark half. He would slowly take over me until there was nothing but darkness. But I would always fight, and slowly gain control again, but the darkness would always return."

Kikyou returned her gaze to the moon. She understood what he was saying. "But you don't need to worry about him anymore. You're free of him. He's in Hell where he belongs. And you're here where you belong. You don't have to fear the darkness anymore."

Suikotsu chuckled. "You have quite a way with words, Lady Kikyou." He was smiling, but there was sadness in his eyes. "And right now, you're really my only friend. Ever since my dark side came to be, I've always avoided others, because I was afraid that I would hurt them. When I was at Mount Hakuray, I felt like I could actually control my dark side. That was the first time I attempted to connect with people for as long as I can remember. And it was with you that I connected with the most."

Kikyou didn't quite blush, but she did feel slightly warmer. "I-I connected a lot with you too. After Urasue revived me, I never really got along with anyone. No one seemed to care for me."

Suikotsu raised an eyebrow. "What about Inuyasha? He loved you."

Kikyou shook her head. "He was in love with a memory. I became a different person after Naraku tricked us into betraying each other. He was in love with the person I used to be, and not who I was." She sighed. "Everywhere I went, I always had to hide what I was, because I knew that no one would accept someone among the dead. But you accepted me and what I was." She chuckled and shook her head. "Look at me. I haven't opened up like this in so long; not since Naraku tricked me and Inuyasha."

Suikotsu gave her a curious look. "Whatever happened to him and the others? You said you would tell me, but you never did."

"I haven't seen them in over a year." Kikyou replied. "But I'll tell you what's happened since the last time I've seen them. Inuyasha and Kagome became mates. They already have a daughter, and the last time I saw them Kagome was pregnant again. Then there's the demon slayer, Sango, and the monk, Miroku. They're married and they're in over their heads with kids. They have 15 so far."

"They have 15 kids!" Suikotsu exclaimed.

Kikyou smiled and nodded. "Yes, and during my last visit, Sango was 7 months along with yet another one. She's probably had it by now and is pregnant again."

Suikotsu looked shocked. "Wow. Miroku must really love his wife." He and Kikyou laughed at that. "What about the others?"

"The fox-demon, Shippo, mated with a thunder-demon named Souten. They have a son named Raiden. Sango's two-tail cat-demon, Kilala, mated with an ordinary cat and has a litter of half-demon kittens. Sesshomaru mated with a panther-demon named Toran, and they have a son and daughter. The wolf-demon, Kouga, mated with another wolf-demon named Ayame. They have 6 kids. Kohaku and Rin got married. They have a son and a daughter, and Rin was pregnant again when I was there last."

Suikotsu chuckled. "Rin and Kohaku. I did think they would be cute together."

Kikyou nodded in agreement. "There's also my sister." she continued. "Even in her old age, she found someone to marry." She decided to leave out the fact that it was Kagome's grandfather from 500 years in the future to avoid confusing the doctor. "I'm happy for her and the others. They've all found love."

But even as she said this, Suikotsu noticed a look of longing in her eyes. "Lady Kikyou? Are you alright?"

Kikyou seemed to snap out of her depressed state, but the look of longing was still in her eyes. "O-Of course, I'm fine. Why would anything be wrong?"

Suikotsu tried to think of the best way to explain this to her without upsetting her. "Well, for a moment there, you seemed kind of lonely."

Kikyou blinked, then immediately hid her feelings behind her emotionless mask. "Nonsense. I am not lonely. I have Kanna, Asuka, Kocho, and my soul collectors. They're good friends that I can depend on."

'She missed the point I was trying to make.' "That was not the type of lonely I meant."

Kikyou cocked her head to the side. "What did you mean?"

Suikotsu sighed. "Please do not take offense by what I am about to say, but when you were speaking of your friends and family's love lives, you seemed almost envious, like you wish to have someone to love and be loved by."

Kikyou shook her head. "Nonsense! I decided long ago that I would never fall in love again."

Suikotsu gave her a knowing look. "Because of Naraku, and what he did to you and Inuyasha?" He received no reply, but could tell that he was right. "You shouldn't be afraid to love. Being in love is a wonderful thing."

"How would you know?" Kikyou demanded. "Have you ever been in love?"

Suikotsu shook his head. "No, but I have seen others in love. There is always a chance for heartbreak, but love can bring the greatest of happiness."

"Love brings only pain." Kikyou insisted.

"Are you sure?"

"Positive."

Suikotsu looked at her for a moment. "Then do me a favor, think back to the time when you and Inuyasha were in love before Naraku entered the picture. Tell me those were not the happiest moments of your life."

Once again, Kikyou remained silent. She wasn't answering because Suikotsu was right. Her time with Inuyasha was the happiest of her life. But she was not going to admit that.

Suikotsu chuckled. "You can't help who you fall in love with. The heart wants what the heart wants. Besides, you know how the saying goes, 'it's better to have love and loss…'"

"'Than to never have loved at all.'" Kikyou finished.

She hated that saying, because it was true too. What she felt during that time had been worth the pain that followed. But she was not going to go through that pain again.

"It matters not, because I will not allow myself to fall in love again." she insisted.

Suikotsu sighed. "If that is your decision. But I feel sorry for you."

Kikyou looked at him in surprise. "Feel sorry for me? Why?"

Suikotsu gave her a sad smile. "I had always wanted nothing more than to find someone to share my life with and to have a family. But because of my dark side, I was never able to. I guess I feel sorry for you because you can have what I've always wanted but you choose not to have it because of what happened to you."

Again, Kikyou said nothing. She had once desired to be an ordinary woman, to have a loving family of her own. She had once desired that with Inuyasha. But that dream had died when she did.

"You shouldn't stay up so late while you're still recovering." She said, feeling uncomfortable with the discussion they had been having and wanting to drop it. "I will see you in the morning."

She held her arms out and her soul collectors wrapped around her, carrying her off. Suikotsu looked in the direction she had flown off in until he noticed that he still had company. At the bottom of the tree stood Kanna. She was looking up at him with an emotionless look on her face that made it impossible for the doctor to guess what the child-like demon was thinking. He wondered how long she had been there; it was impossible to tell when Kanna was sneaking up on someone.

Suikotsu climbed down from the tree. "Hello, Kanna. Is there something you wanted?" Kanna just continued to stare at him. "Kanna?"

"You spoke of family." She said. "Do you desire a family?"

Suikotsu was surprised by her question. "Of course. I hope to get married and have children of my own someday."

"Why?"

"Excuse me?"

"Why do you want a family? What purpose would having a family serve? Do you need servants?"

"Servants?" Suikotsu repeated, not understanding what Kanna was talking about. "Kanna, I'm afraid I don't understand what you're saying. I don't need any servants. And what do servants have to do with having a family?"

"When Naraku needed servants, he created us, his children. He gave us life to serve him. If we did not obey, we were no longer useful to him, so he would destroy us. But I see no reason why you would need servants."

Suikotsu sighed as he caught onto what Kanna was saying. "Kanna, I think you're confused as to what a family really is. Naraku may be your father, and his incarnations may be your siblings, but that alone does not make you family."

"It doesn't?"

"No. It merely makes you relatives. You were nothing but tools to Naraku, and your siblings didn't care for you in the least. That is not family. Families are people you love and care about, and who love and care for you in return. Did any of your siblings care for you?"

"Kagura did." Kanna replied. "And I cared for her."

Suikotsu nodded. "See, you two were family. The others didn't know the meaning of the word. My reason for having a family is different from whatever Naraku had in mind."

Kanna tried to understand this. "So you simply wish to reproduce and carry on your bloodline?"

Suikotsu rubbed his head. What had Naraku done to this girl to make her not understand the meaning of family? "There are other reason to desire a family. I want to have people I can love and be loved by."

Kanna was confused. She had never felt anything Suikotsu was talking about when she was with her father, brothers, and sisters. She didn't really see a point to it all. The only one she ever felt anything for was Kagura, and she was dead.

"Why?" she asked. "Why would you want that?"

Suikotsu raised an eyebrow. "Do you not care for your family?"

"My family is dead."

"I'm not talking about Naraku and the others. I meant Kikyou, Asuka, and Kocho."

"But they…"

"Care for you. They really do, Kanna, or else it wouldn't matter to them what happens to you. Are you not happy with them?"

"I… I… am…"

Suikotsu smiled. "Good, because they are your family. Always remember that." He gently rested his hand on her head. "Good night, Kanna." He said, and walked off.

Kanna remained where she was, trying to comprehend everything Suikotsu had told her. She looked down at the mirror in her hands. Forged from Naraku's bones, this mirror was the only thing her father ever gave her, yet it was to serve his purpose.

"Family." She whispered. "My… family."

(A/N: Kind of sad, yet kind of touching, isn't it? Naraku really messed up Kikyou and Kanna. Poor Kikyou is afraid to love and Kanna doesn't know the meaning of a family. And Suikotsu has suffered a lot as well from his dark side. But he and Kikyou can really relate to each other, which is one of the reasons why I think they go so good together. Anyway, tell me what you thought of this chapter and I'll update soon.)