AN: I only own Kitra. That's it.

*** = change in scenes

* * = thoughts or '' are thoughts

Over a few weeks, Kohaku and Kitra became fast friends, each telling the other about their life and their families. Kohaku had been both surprised and delighted that his sister, Sango, was alive and well, but was sadden that she wasn't at the manor. Kitra had told him about her plans to leave the manor and go elsewhere. She had proposed that they should travel together to find his sister.

"What will you do after we find Sango?" the now healed Kohaku asked the girl.

She smiled, "I can stay with you guys. I have no where to go."

"What can you do?" He asked again, looking out over the grassland. "I mean, can you fight or something?"

She nods, "I can use magic." She grins at his astonished face, "My mama told me never to show them, in fear I would be killed. So, I practice them in secret." She looks back at the scene, "None of my masters have ever found out about my powers, though they are small talents, they are useful for when we leave." She stretched, "And your skill as a demon exterminator will come in handy too."

Kohaku blushed and looks down at his lap, "I'm not that good."

Kitra glances at him, " Sure you are, Haku. You just need to practice like me and then you'll be able to do all sorts of things!" She stood, "Come on, let's go to bed so we can leave before dawn tomorrow."

He nods and climbs to his feet and followed the eleven year old back to her quarters.

~8*dream*8~

' Nooo! SAAANNNGGOOOO!!!' He yells running towards his sister.

'Kohaku...' her image was slowly fading away, replaced by a dead eyed zombie Sango.

'Kohaku, why?' the zombie asked, 'Why? Why?'

He backed away, ' I didn't mean it! I-I- Sango, please, forgive me! It wasn't suppose to happen!' he pleads to her.

'And us?' his father's body stood holding the head, 'were we just and accident too, Kohaku?'

'No,' Kohaku shook his head, 'this isn't happening!' He clenched his head and squeezed his eyes tightly, 'No, no, no, you're not dead! This isn't happening!'

'Why'

Why

Why

~8* end*8~

Kitra looks worried as she went over to wake Kohaku. "Haku, Haku, wake up." She shook him gently, at first, then vigorously, "Wake up!"

He awoke, with a start, sweat dripping from his forehead and neck, "It was a dream.." he whispered, "A very bad dream..."

"Kohaku..."

He looks up at her, "Kitra," He frowns, "Is it time to go already?"

She nods and tosses him some clothes, "Here, I got these washed for you." She turned away, waiting for him to get dressed so they could leave.

Kohaku looks down at the bundle and holds it up, "My uniform." He looks up at her and smiles, "Thank you Kitra!"

"Yeah, Yeah," She grumbles, shifting her weight a little, "Just get dress so we can leave, will ya?"

"Hai." He began to dress. After he was done, she shoved a kimono towards him.

"Dress in this and keep your hair down." She told him, "And what ever you do, don't talk!"

Kohaku stares at her then at the outfit. "Uh...why?"

"Just do it!"

Shrugging at this odd request, he did as he was told. "Ready, so how are we to get out of here?" He asked her.

"Just follow me, we'll be out in a minute, ok?" She told him walking out of her room, carrying a basket.

They walked on, through the semi-empty halls towards the shoji screen that led to the outside courtyard. "If we're lucky," She whispered holding his hand, "No one will question us."

"You there!" They both froze and turned to see one of the guards marching towards them. "What do you think you are doing?" He demands.

"We were sent to gather some herbs, for we are fresh out of Thyme." Kitra told him. "See, my friend and I really need to get going so Ayama doesn't skin us alive."

He stood there a moment, looking the children over before nodding, "Don't stray too far from the castle, or the youkai will eat you up."

Kitra nods and bows, as did Kohaku, "We will." And the two strolled out of the castle.

Once they were sure they were far enough from the palace, Kitra told Kohaku to take off the kimono she had lent him.

"So, which way do we go to now?" Kohaku asked her, adjusting his weapon in the back.

She looked around and sighs, "We'll have to go to the nearest village and offer our service to someone, for the night, then leave." She started walking, "With the money I smuggled out of the castle, we should be careful of what we buy, ok?" She glances at him, "Besides, we might find them on the way there."

He nods as they continued to walk, "How long do you think it will take to find them?"

She shrugged, "If we go by rumors, we might find them, any month." She paused in her speech, "Have you ever head of the Shikon no Tama?"

He nods, "Of course," He told her, "It was born in my village. We gather the shards in hope to find someone to purify them." He looked at her, "Why?"

She shook her head, "Lord Changii Wangi wants them." She looks straight ahead, "I don't know why. I overheard him talking about it with Lady Kagura and Lady Kanna."

There was a lap of silence between the two as they walked towards a village.

"Excuse me, sir," Kitra walks up to a farmer, "Can you tell us where-"

He shoved her and walked by, "I don't have time to talk to you."

"Hey!" Kohaku glares at him, "you didn't have to push her!"

The man looks at Kohaku, "So, you're a demon hunter?"

He nods, "What's it to you?"

"I have a job for you."

An: What job could that be? Even I don't know what it is! Anyway R&R....

And yes, Lord Changii Wangi is Naraku, k? Ok!