The Truth Comes Out

AN: As usual all of these characters are mine. Don't use without my permission. Also, if you wish for me to continue please review. REVIEW!!!!

PS: Sorry for the long wait, I've had too much to do along with a writer's block. Hate those.

It had been about a week. Niroku had noticed something wrong with Katia, but he had no idea what it could be. It was the night of the eighth day and Niroku was watching the fire and trying to figure it out.

Then it hit him. It had been her eyes. They had been more like they were when he had first met her. Both her eyes and her face were more stolid around him than they were before she died and came back, even a little after that they weren't like this. But he just couldn't figure out when this had happened. He knew she was more like the happier version of herself he had known when they were kids when they had run into Kamen so it had to be a recent even that had caused her to close up again. He decided to talk to Kamen, he may be a pervert, but he can give good advice on occasions.

He found Kamen trying to sneak off, probably to see if any unlucky women happened to be present. "Hey, Kamen. I want to talk to you."

Kamen shrugged and, knowing he'd have to come whether he wanted to or not, followed Niroku to a section of the stream where Niroku could sense no one nearby.

"What is it?" Kamen asked. He could sense that his new friend had a lot on his mind.

"Have you noticed anything...odd..about Katia lately?" Niroku asked hesitantly.

"Well, I did notice that she has become more closed about her emotions, but as I haven't been traveling with you long it could be normal and I wouldn't know it." Kamen said. He studied Niroku's profile. "I take it that it's not normal for her to behave this way?"

"It used to be." Niroku said. "I guess I better start from the beginning hadn't I?" Niroku asked. Kamen nodded, clearly not understanding exactly what Niroku was saying. "Okay then. I first met Katia when we were still kids. At that time she was really out with her emotions, you'd always know when she was happy, sad, or just plain angry. Well, we only knew each other for a short time, but we promised to look for each other again when we could travel alone. Well, I found her traveling again about seven months ago. We've been traveling together since except for around three months about four weeks ago. She had disappeared around that time, but that's an entirely different story. Anyway I'm getting totally off track here. When I met her again about seven months ago she was more reserved and distant toward people she didn't know and even those she did. She kept her emotions almost completely hidden, but as time went on she opened up more to me. She showed me more of her emotions than, I believe, she has shown anyone else in a long time. But now she's like she was when we first met up again. I have no idea what could've made her react that way. The only way I can see is if she was hurt, and then I still don't know what could've hurt her."

They sat in silence while Kamen mulled over the facts he'd just been given. "From what you said," he finally said, "the only way she'd close up again is if she was hurt, probably emotionally correct?" Niroku nodded. "Well, she stared acting like this about eight days ago, that night. What could've happened to hurt her eight days ago?" Kamen asked.

"Well, eight days ago we met Caterina. We helped her and her family with their wagon problem. Later we were sitting by the fire and Katia had gone to take a bath. Caterina asked to speak to me, but Katia wouldn't have been there." Niroku muttered this last bit to himself, though Kamen heard anyway.

"She might have. She returned shortly after you'd left and asked where the two of you were. She also returned shortly before you and looked quite upset." After Kamen said this Niroku visibly paled.

"Oh no. Oh gods, why?" Niroku muttered staring down at the water.

"What?" Kamen asked, feeling as though Niroku had to get something off his chest.

"When Caterina took me to the clearing she told me she loved me and kissed me. I was so stunned that I couldn't react for a few second. Then I told her I couldn't love her because I already loved Katia. Katia might have come in those few second and left before hearing what I said. Despite her fantastic hearing, I doubt that she would've heard me if she was very preoccupied." Niroku said. He felt, for one of the very few times in his life, real fear. He was afraid that he might've just hurt Katia to the point where she'd never forgive him.

"Not good. I suggest you tell her before you unconsciously hurt her more. And I do hope you know that she loves you, almost anyone can see it. Well, anyone that has spent a few days around you two." Kamen said. He really hoped that Niroku would take his advice.

"Yeah, I'll go find her now. Thanks a lot Kamen." The still pale Niroku said before rushing off to find Katia. He found her back at camp about to start cooking their dinner. She looked up as he walked into the clearing.

"Yes Niroku?" She said. He saw tat her eyes were devoid of any emotion. Niroku gulped.

"Can I talk to you for a minute Katia?" He asked nodding his head toward the section of creek he'd just come from, sensing that Kamen had already left. Katia shrugged her shoulders and stood up. She followed him to the creek.

"What did you want to talk to me about?" Katia asked. Her masked still remained though inside was a completely different story. She really hoped that he wasn't here to tell her that he couldn't love her, it had been painful enough to watch him kiss Caterina. Yet, a part of her, a very foolish part in her mind, hoped that he had taken them here to tell her that it had been a mistake. That Caterina had kissed him and that her thoughts were wrong. She quickly squashed down those thought, they would only bring more pain.

"I was wondering what was bothering you lately. You seem more distant." Katia shrugged in response. "Well, I think I may know. Eight days ago you saw something didn't you?" It was more a statement than a question. He saw a flash of pain in her eyes that was quickly smothered.

"Yes, I did. If we're here to talk about that I think this conversation is over already."

"Wait, hear me out." Katia paused from leaving the stream. "Things weren't what they must have looked like. I didn't kiss Caterina, if you'll let me explain. Please?" He said. Katia nodded and sat down at the base of a tree. "Caterina asked to talk to me that night and I followed her. When we got to a clearing she said she loved me then kissed me. I was stunned. I couldn't react for a moment. Then I pushed her away and told her I couldn't love her." Niroku paused. He wanted to tell her the reason why but was having difficulty phrasing it.

"But why?" Katia asked standing up and looking him in the eyes. There was a painful hope in her eyes. "Why did you tell her that?"

"Because...I love you Kat" He said then he kissed her quickly. "I've loved you for a long time but never got the chance to-" his next words were cut off as Katia kissed him then pulled back and smiled, tears of happiness in her eyes. He smiled too. "I'm glad you understand."

"I love you too." Katia said. They kissed again and when they pulled apart it was Katia who spoke first.

"We better get back or else Kamen's perverted mind is going to be making up all sorts of embarrassing situations that we could've been in." Katia said with a hint of laughter in her eyes.

"I guess you right." Niroku said with a sigh, though he was seriously relieved that she was back to the way she had been before. "But let's not keep secrets from each other anymore. It nearly drove us apart this time."

"Okay." Katia said. Then they headed back to camp, much to the disappointment of a certain perverted monk who'd hoped they'd be gone a while longer so he could tease the. Though he glad that they had fessed up to each other, finally.