Starry Skies, Moonlight nights.

AN: And I'm back...finally decided to sit down and type this. ^^; ehe. Laziness...and schoolwork. X_X

Disclaimer: Nope..don't own the canine youkai..nor the gunman..u.u *goes off to sulk*

AmoebaFive: Ah..yes...tears and stuff. ^^ I usually angst..so its good to hear that. the rest of it was somewhat amusing. -.- I'm my worst critic..when it comes to that...*shrugs* Hope you enjoy this.

Arika-^^; Annoying me? eheh. *arches a brow.* I'll try and keep my updates regular..but work and school..have a tendency to interfere.

Riina-*pats shoulder* Yes. Inuyasha. Nice surprise,eh?

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Hoshi looked up at the sky. Night had finally fallen and with that came the welcome cold breeze. They were still out in the desert,somewhere near to their destination, she hoped. She wrapped her jacket closer. Insomnia was lovely when you had such a vast expanse of blue to stare up at and contemplate..things. Now what was she going to do, try and find the meaning of life in a star? Appropriate for it was the heavenly body she was named for. Wrinkling her nose she shifted. It had been a day and a half since Ai had disappeared. 'Where is she?' The thought plagued her day in and day out. Sleep was hard to attain. She feigned sleep, whenever she realized that she was being checked on. It was aggravating how cautious they were with her since Ai disappeared. Did they expect her to cry hysterically and regress to infantile behavior? Or, did they like so many others expect a masochistic result.

This thought made her expression go sour. 'Just gotta figure out, what ...happened. There has to be some logical thought as to where she might have gone. She fell down something..' Her eyes widened. 'Just like...Kagome..' She smiled. If that was the case, she just might be safe. Knowing the characteristics of the miko, she'd treat her fine. Inuyasha, however wasn't exactly the most nice of entities. She was almost certain that would be the most logical outcome of her friend's sudden departure. She shifted to rest her head upon her palm. She fidgeted with her bag and pulled out a small spiral notebook and began to scribble her thoughts down. It would not do to forget anything. So immersed was she in her writing, she did not notice the pair of aquamarine eyes watching her, as their owner drew nearer. Slowly quietly her companion was checking to see what she was doing. He smiled a bit before speaking.

"Awake a litt-" He didn't finish his statement as she squeaked in shock and nearly fell over. She sat up and looked up at him, startled and a bit peeved. This, made her look adorable. Standing at an unitimidating 5'0" she had placed her hands upon her hips and glared up at him as if she meant to maim him. He was trying so hard not to laugh.

"You almost killed me. I think that took 'bout ten years off my life. " She muttered before sitting down once more and putting what she had been writing on away. He took a breath, wary of speaking.

"Sorry about that. " He said and she nodded gesturing for him to sit down, seeing as craning her neck to look up at him was growing rather..uncomfortable. 'Damn tall people..' He sat down.

"How long have you known that I was awake? " She asked eyeing him curiously. Once again green was drawn to aquamarine. She looked away before she allowed her eyes the luxury of lingering too long. He smiled.

"You don't sleep much ,do you? " She grinned sheepishly. 'Damn. So he's known? Bah. I need to be more quiet.'

"Insomnia...kinda kills the ability to sleep. " Slowly she drummed her fingers upon her leg.

"Are you ok?" The question was finally out. The tension, and tentative hand with which they treated her. She fought the urge to growl and nodded.

"I'm as fine as I'll ever be. I just hope that Ai-chan is. Thats all that matters. " She smiled as she paused. "Its not like anything is going to happen to me,ne? Especially not in the company of someone so infamous as you. " She smirked as he sighed. He smiled at her humor nonetheless. 'I'm not so sure about that one..' He thought watching her. She was putting up this act.

'Are you really ok...or are you pretending? ' He pondered this watching the girl. She fidgeted momentarily then looked at him and flipped the page.

"I have an idea. " Discarding his thoughts for the moment he tilted his head.

"What kind of idea?" Brandishing her pencil and a grin that made Vash a little nervous,she began sketching , or so it appeared to the confused onlooker.

"I'll sketch a portrait!" Saying this quite happily he just looked at her afraid to move as her eyes went from him to the paper and back again. He found himself blushing slightly under her gaze. Her eyes narrowed as they transferred the image before her to the paper.'Might as well make use of my drawing skills..'

She blew off the eraser's remains and paused looking at it from a few inches away. She narrowed her eyes again. Nodding she continued. A bit confused he shrugged and waited for the final product. One could imagine his frustration as the following occured.

"Ah all done!" She grinned..and...closed the book. He blinked.

"Can I see..?"

"Nope." He nearly fell over. Looking at her with an incredulous expression he sputtered before asking.

"Why?" She smiled.

"I'll show it to you someday. When the occassion calls for it." Grinning at his gaping mouth , she spoke amidst the giggles that threatened to overtake her. " If you leave your mouth open..something might hop in.." Closing his mouth slowly he shook his head. 'Odd girl..'

"Well.." She yawned and stretched. "You've tired me out. Its time for some shuteye." She smiled again and settled into her sleeping bag. Shaking his head again he stood and walked to his sleeping area. He looked back at her hoping she really was sleeping this time.He heard a faint sigh and saw her relax. 'Good..' His eyes closed slowly. 'Things are going to be very interesting from now..on.'

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Hoshi rolled over with a groan.Was someone poking her? She burrowed deeper under her bedroll. As if she'd wake up so easily. Her eye twitched as she opened one up barely. She looked at her assailant. She was greeted by an all too cheery grin. 'And here I thought..it was a dream again.' Reality hit her and she sat up. Her body protested. She yawned and stretched.

"Morning.." He smiled as she stood and continued stretching.Quietly she gathered her things and rubbed her eyes. She was packed and ready to go. She spared a glance over to the two women. She had this feeling that Meryl just didn't like her. Looking away she sighed. All she wanted to do was survive this and be able to go home at some point. To have a nice long shower and a night in her own bed. Her body yearned for it. 'Pfft..and its only been a couple of days. Im gonna die..'

The suns were rising in the skies, higher with the passing time. She followed squinting. She remembered her sunglasses and quickly put them on.Squinting had begun to make her face sore. She swung her arms as she walked eyes upwards. 'Walking...the joy of movement.' She thought as the soreness in her limbs began to subside. She supposed getting the blood flow moving had improved her state of mind and body. She looked over to find Vash watching her. Blinking she furrowed her brows.

"Hm?" She asked.

"Can I see it now?" She laughed. He looked hopefully at her, eyes pleading.

"Not yet." He snapped his fingers lips drawn into a "sad" expression.

"It was worth a shot." Smirking she shrugged hands sliding into her pockets. Her eyes went back to their stare at the vast sky. She seemed to be falling into that habit he noted,mildly amused.

'If she keeps that up, when we get to the next city..she'll run into something..' His lips twitched upwards. In spite of the fact that it was a bit mean to think that. He nearly laughed and didn't notice the women slow down and nearly ran into her. Sighing in relief he looked over at Hoshi who was shaking silently.

Holding her mouth her shoulders continued to shake as she drew in a breath rather loudly. Narrowing his eyes he looked at her. 'She's laughing?' Blinking he continued walking looking over every so often as she seemed to be closer to collapsing in a fit of laughter.

They all watched. A breeze blew the only other sound as the sands sifted..and she laughed. And laughed indeed she did. Her face was red and the tears streaming down her cheek.

"Hoshi..? " Vash questioned, still confused. She drew short breaths looking up at him as she slowly began to regain her composure. She smiled, took a deep breath and continued on. She left the three behind her in utter, silence and confusion. A moment passed and Vash blinked before following her, gesturing for the last two to do the same.

A smirk lingered on her lips. He prodded her back.

"What was that all about?"

"What do you mean?" He nearly fell over.

"That laughing...."

"oh! That?" He nodded. She tilted her head. "Nothing really. Just felt like laughing."

For the second time in nearly two minutes he'd nearly fallen over. Weird was an understatement, he had a feeling it was just beginning.

" Laughter's good for everything." She smiled brightly. "If I don't laugh.." She trailed off. "I'll cry. And I figure a bit of laughter is better than tears,ne? " Receiving a surprised look she continued on as he paused to mull this over.

So thats how she dealt with things? Maybe laughter wasn't as simple. Why did women always make things so complex?