Nanashi was not sure what to think of Ruka as she joined the three of them on their mission to rescue Hiei from Sakyo and the bounty hunters. She seemed friendly enough, genuine. She was surprisingly hardy when it came to traveling on horseback and camping. She seemed to fair better than Nanashi.

When the four of them left Gandara, Kurama did steal an opportunity to talk after they set up camp for the evening to Nanashi privately while Yasha distracted Ruka with trivial sounding conversation about Queen Minha.

Kurama pulled her aside and told her quietly, "be careful around Ruka."

"Why?" she breathed.

"She can be quite convincing when she wants to get her way," Kurama explained quietly. "She may try to convince you to agree to do other work for her when the two of you get back to Gandara. Don't agree to anything she wants if you are unsure or don't want to at all."

"What else might she try to get me to do?" Nanashi whispered.

Kurama pursed his lips. He looked back over at where Ruka and Yasha sat by the fire. He turned back to Nanashi. "She might try to convince you it'll be faster and more lucrative for you to... hmm... to sell yourself to pay back your debt to her." Nanashi stared at him, face going pale. "You have a unique look. A part elf that looks like a part demon, but are certainly half human. It could be intriguing to some of her clientele."

The very idea scared her. She shook her head. "I won't do that," she insisted.

"She may even try to seduce you into it," Kurama warned her. "She... likes women. More than men. The more intriguing they are, the better."

Nanashi went from pale to blushing at the idea. "I won't..." she started, not sure how to finish that sentence. "I don't like... I don't know if I like... women..."

Kurama put a finger to her lips. "You don't have to do anything with her or for her that you are not comfortable with. If you're not sure about doing something she asks, tell her no," he advised.

Nanashi swallowed thickly and nodded. "Okay."

Kurama led her back to the fire where Yasha and Ruka were. Nanashi watched Ruka out of the corner of her eye. She would be sharing a tent with this woman, be traveling with this woman, and sooner or later working for this woman.

When dinner was finished and cleaned up, Nanashi felt nervous about retiring for the night in the same tent as Ruka. She would have much preferred to be in a tent with Kurama or Yasha. The way the two of them carried on made her felt less uncomfortable.

When she entered the tent, Ruka was already laying in her sleeping bag. Nanashi was quick to get into her own bag with the chill of the night on coming.

Nanashi was hoping to lay down and go to sleep without conversation, but then Ruka commented, "hopefully those two are far enough away so we can get some sleep."

Nanashi was sleeping with her back turned to Ruka. The comment intrigued her. "Hmm, what do you mean?" she asked curiously, turning her towards Ruka's direction.

"They're lovers, you know," Ruka said in a husky voice. "A bastard elf from a noble house and human whose soul was possessed by a demon. Interesting pairing, don't you think?"

Nanashi turned around to face Ruka, the desire to not a have a conversation forgotten. "Kurama's part demon?"

Ruka was closer than Nanashi had thought. "He was dying in his demon form, so right before he died, he transferred his soul into an unborn human child's. Technically he would be classified as a half demon." Nanashi gaped at her. "Makes him stronger and an exceptional pit fighter. As for Yasha, well, few elves can boast that their half sister is the queen."

Nanashi raised herself up on her elbows, staring over at Ruka in shock. "He's a royal?"

Ruka shook her head. "His sister married into the royal family. Yasha's just the product of an affair their father had after Minha's mother passed away." Nanashi stared at her in disbelief. "You don't know your traveling companions very well. You're safe with them though. And with me, my dear." She gave Nanashi a demure look.

Nanashi felt herself blush in spite of herself. "I'm tired," she flubbed out. "Good night." She turned around and laid back down in her sleeping bag, back facing Ruka.

"Good night, sweetheart," Ruka breathed. Nanashi could have sworn she felt Ruka's hot breath on the back of her neck.