Disclaimer: I don't own Kagura, Sesshoumaru and the rest of the Inuyasha characters mentioned here. They all belong to Rumiko Takahashi. But I do own Kagura's new identity.

The night grew deeper, as stars FINALLY began to appear in the skies. Sesshoumaru asked Koeshi to look after Rin, while he and Jaken were out in the forests. Koeshi has started a bonfire and was now roasting some meat from a wild boar she caught a few minutes ago. Rin was skipping around the bonfire, singing a made-up song about stars. Koeshi sat near the fire, as she watched the little girl play with her song.

"I see crystals up in the skies! Glinting, glimmering in my eyes!" Rin twittered. "What are they? What are they? They are called stars, they say!" To her surprise, Koeshi found herself smiling underneath the face mask. Rin's song made her smile. The little girl's cuteness just seemed to capture her emotions. She never knew she had the heart to grow fond of humans…or simply to take sincere interest in anything. She always thought that since she was a detachment of Naraku's, she was to be purely evil. She then noticed that Rin was already near her, staring at her with large, observant eyes.

"You seem to be spacing out, Ninja-girl!" Rin remarked. She then looked at the roasting meat. "You must be really hungry! Most people often space out when they're hungry!"

"Oh no, no! I'm not hungry. I'm not gonna eat." Koeshi said to Rin. Yes…unfortunately, eating meant blowing her cover. "If you are, then go eat ahead." The ninja offered Rin. But Rin refused, saying she isn't hungry. Koeshi said nothing and looked at the roasting meat. Sesshoumaru has been gone for almost three hours now, and the night has grown deeper. Different thoughts continued to frolic inside Koeshi's head- both personal and objective.

When I get Sesshoumaru to trust me, then that swine Naraku will finally be no more… Koeshi thought to herself. But another thought struck her mind. And after that…I can finally be with him again… A small smile formed from behind Koeshi's face mask. Rin noticed the little wrinkled in the mask and noticed it was a smile.

"…Hmm…even your smile looks a lot like Kagura-san's!" Rin suddenly interjected. "You look a lot like her, you know." Koeshi's smile grew a bit wider and began to ask Rin some questions.

"So…tell me. What's this Kagura-san like?" Koeshi asked playfully. Rin then started to pace around, thinking.

"Hm…well, she's pretty and powerful." Rin said, clenching a fist as a sign of power. "She uses the wind to attack and control dead people! It's really cool, but can get sort of creepy." Koeshi let out a small laugh.

"Oh…is that so?" Koeshi asked, a little mischief in her tone. She was enjoying the things Rin was saying and wanted to hear more. "What else can you say about her?"

"Oh yeah! And she's very rude, too! She can bad-mouth Sesshoumaru-sama and live to tell about it!" Rin recalled, getting all wide-eyed. "And she has no common sense of decency! She didn't even mind when Sesshoumaru-sama saw her naked!" Koeshi's face twitched a little, a heated and irritated feeling climbing up to her head.

"I…I'M NOT LIKE THAT YOU LITTLE-" She paused, seeing Rin's curious and suspicious eye on her. Koeshi cooled down and fanned her hand away from her as if shooing Rin. "I-I mean, I'm not like that Kagura! Ehehe…" Koeshi lied, sweat rolling down the sides of her face.

"Uh-huh…OK!" Rin exclaimed, and then continued to dance around and sing. Koeshi heaved a sigh and censured herself in her head. Koeshi, you idiot! You almost blew your cover… Koeshi then noticed that the meat was already cooked. She took the meat from the fire and beckoned Rin to come sit down and eat.

"Hey, it's time for dinner!" Koeshi called Rin. The little girl skipped towards the bonfire and sat down. Koeshi gave her a large piece of meat, skewered on a twig. "There. Eat that." Rin held the piece of meat in both her hands and chomped off a huge bite.

"This tastes good!" Rin said almost incoherently, chewed meat stuffed in her cheeks. She continued eating, while Koeshi took the rest of the boar from the fire. She used her katana to cut the rest of the pig in thirds. One for Sesshoumaru and one for that annoying toad guy. Koeshi thought, skewering the meat on two different twigs. Suddenly, a tall shadowy figure accompanied by a small one emerged from the nearby woods.

"I really don't see why you want that ninja to go with us, Sesshoumaru-sama!" Jaken squabbled to his master. Sesshoumaru said nothing and ignored Jaken. The two of them saw the bright bonfire burning at the campsite.

"Sesshoumaru-sama!" Rin shouted in joy, completely forgetting about her food. She ran towards Sesshoumaru and beckoned him to join them. "Come and eat! We're having wild boar tonight!" Rin said happily. Sesshoumaru merely let out a short grunt and approached Koeshi. The ninja immediately stood up and greeted Sesshoumaru's return.

"Uh…um…come join us, Milord." Koeshi offered Sesshoumaru. Sesshoumaru looked at the two skewered pieces of meat next to Koeshi. "I…um, divided the parts among the three of you."

"…Where's yours?" Sesshoumaru asked, resulting to Jaken and Rin's surprise.

"I…will not eat." Koeshi merely responded. He then passed Koeshi without any further words and sat on a nearby rock. Koeshi followed him with her stare, crimson eyes fixed on the youkai lord.

"Hrmm…" Koeshi grumbled under her breath. A weirdo as usual. She thought, sitting back down and watched Rin eat. Jaken scuttled towards the fire, staring hungrily at the remaining pieces of the boar. Koeshi noticed him and held on of them in her other hand, giving it to Jaken.

"Eat this." She shortly ordered. But seeing that his master didn't partake in the meal, Jaken's innate instinct of following what Sesshoumaru does quickly sprang forth.

"Silly ninja! I, too, don't eat human food!" He squawked. Koeshi said nothing, as Jaken walked over to where Sesshoumaru was- probably regretting what he just said, and maybe was now suffering from starvation. Rin looked at Koeshi and asked her why she won't eat.

"Ninja-girl…Sesshoumaru-sama won't eat and Jaken-san won't eat…" Rin began. "So why don't you eat their meals! I bet you're hungry from fighting." Rin added. Koeshi looked at the meat. She was hungry from fighting Akuha…but she can't eat…well, she can't eat in front of Rin, at least. Eating meant taking off her mask and revealing her true self.

"I…ah…I don't eat meat. I only eat…uh…berries." Koeshi lied. She knew Rin wasn't going to be convinced, but it was the best she could think of.

"…" Rin stared at Koeshi. "You're weird." The girl said, taking the last bite of the meat and finally finishing it. Rin lay on the soft grass, and was now singing at how delicious the food was. The moon was now a beautiful bright crescent, while little stars continued to shimmer brightly in the dark sky.

o-o-o-o-

A few hours passed and Koeshi had put Rin to sleep, after the little girl said to her that she was sleepy. Koeshi had placed Rin near the fire so that she can keep warm (she had no blanket or anything to cover Rin with). Jaken was already snoozing under a tree, while Sesshoumaru was still over by the rock. Koeshi looked over to the other side of the campsite to see the small river all lit up by the stars in a glimmering display.

"Wow…sure is beautiful." She murmured, setting off to go to the river. But before she could take one step further, a sharp sensation boiled in her stomach. "Urgh…" Koeshi let out a pained groan. Her not eating is slowly taking its effects on her stomach. She then saw the two abandoned pieces of boar meat by the fire, which Sesshoumaru and Jaken did not want to eat.

No one's looking. Koeshi thought to herself, seeing that Jaken and Rin were asleep and that Sesshoumaru couldn't care less on what she's doing. She got one of them and headed for the river on the other side.
-o-o-o-o-

Koeshi took off her mask and looked fondly at the river. The stars were reflecting their brilliant lights on it, creating a bright show of luminosity. She took a bite of the meat and was relieved that she had tasted food.

I guess I have to act fast. I have to ask Sesshoumaru soon. She thought. Sesshoumaru still seemed to not trust her, so the odds that he will say yes to help her kill Naraku are still pretty unlikely. She looked at the river once more. The stars were so clearly seen in the water.

"Stars…" She said softly. That fateful memory of Sesshoumaru and her…it just seems to not fade away. Koeshi continued eating, feeling her empty stomach liven up with restored vigor. "This sure is good." She said to herself, swallowing another bite.

"I thought you didn't want to eat."

Koeshi quickly put her mask back on and turned to see the stranger who just spoke. "Milord!" Koeshi leapt up to her feet and faced Sesshoumaru. The youkai lord walked towards her and sat down by the riverbank.

"Sit down." He commanded Koeshi. The ninja did what she was told. A feeling of bittersweet nervousness engulfed Koeshi as she sat down with Sesshoumaru. "What are you doing still up?" Koeshi found it strange that Sesshoumaru was paying attention to her. Was it because he already knows? Does he know she's alive? Did he smell Naraku's foul stench?

"No!" Koeshi suddenly let out. It gave Sesshoumaru a bit of surprise.

"What's the matter?" He asked, a suspicious expression on his face. Koeshi shook her head and told him it was nothing. Sesshoumaru merely grunted. Koeshi didn't want to make eye contact with him. It was sort of awkward. As for Sesshoumaru, he eyed the unsuspecting ninja form head to toe. She…really looks like her. Especially her eyes… Sesshoumaru looked closely at her red eyes. Koeshi turned her head and saw Sesshoumaru surveying her intently.

"You…your eyes." He said in a low whisper. "…Just like hers." Sesshoumaru said, still looking into Koeshi's ruby orbs.

"W-W-What is it, Milord…?" Koeshi stammered. Sesshoumaru withdrew his stare from her and looked up into the moonlit sky.

"You…look like a friend I once lost." Sesshoumaru said. "And a very dear one, too." Now Koeshi was getting confused. She didn't expect Sesshoumaru to open up like this…especially to her, a person he doesn't know quite well yet. Koeshi noticed Sesshoumaru's one good hand once again clench into a fist.

"I…I'm sorry to hear that, Milord." She said in condolence. But Sesshoumaru didn't want her sympathy.

"I don't need your pity." He shot immediately. Koeshi fell silent. "I will avenge my friend. No matter what." He said in a very soft whisper, but Koeshi heard it clearly. Upon hearing this, the ninja saw a window of opportunity. She gathered the guts to talk to Sesshoumaru and went for it.

"Mil--" But she was cut off by Sesshoumaru.

"Wait…why are you here in the first place?" He asked, not even looking at her. Koeshi heaved a small sigh of relief that Sesshoumaru was the one to ask why she was here. She then thought of a believable reason.

"I…have lost someone, too. It was close friend of mine…almost my sister…" Koeshi invented, but referring to herself. Sesshoumaru seemed to be not listening, still looking away. This made Koeshi stopped.

"Go on, I'm listening." He ordered. Koeshi nodded.

"She worked as a servant in Naraku's castle. Naraku…the evil bastard." She said in between gritted teeth. The sound of Naraku's name seemed to have caused Sesshoumaru's eyes to narrow threateningly. "She did what she was told…and Naraku didn't know when to stop. She didn't want to live her life as a servant. All she wanted was to be her own master, to be emancipated." Koeshi's ruby eyes flared wildly, as her fist tightened menacingly into a strong ball.

Sesshoumaru said nothing, still waiting for the remainder of Koeshi's story. Koeshi bowed her head in both sorrow and resentment, recalling the events in the life she left behind.

"But Naraku didn't want to release her, so she rebelled." Koeshi continued. "But this rebellion only resulted to her own death. It's sad. Her whole life was joke."

"But that still doesn't explain why you're here." Sesshoumaru snapped coolly.

"Ah…yes, Milord." Koeshi began. "I…I came here…t-to-"

"I take it that you want to enlist my help in killing Naraku?" Sesshoumaru asked wittingly. Koeshi didn't say anything and just nodded. "…What makes you think I'll help you?" He said coldly, as he stood up and started to walk off. The fire of hope in Koeshi was immediately extinguish by Sesshoumaru's coldness. Koeshi felt herself heat up in annoyance. She will not take this. She stood up and shouted at Sesshoumaru.

"You are such a bighead, you know that?" Koeshi yelled. "You think you're all the rage! You think you're too cool to help anyone. Well, for your information, you're a genuine butthole!" Koeshi finished furiously. Sesshoumaru stopped dead in his tracks. Koeshi knew she was now in big trouble, yelling rudely at him like that. Sesshoumaru turned around and drew Toukijin from its scabbard and slowly approached Koeshi.

"I-I-I'm sorry, Milord!" The ninja found herself taking a few steps backward. Sesshoumaru held the sword in his only hand and looked at her with a pair of intimidating golden eyes.

"You insolent scum." Sesshoumaru breathed poisonously. He neared the petrified Koeshi, who was know stuck in the spot due to fear. Koeshi's eyes quivered in fear, as she watched Sesshoumaru's menacing figure move towards her.

Why did I have such a big and tactless mouth? Koeshi thought to herself. Sesshoumaru was now mere inches from her and raised his sword in the air. Koeshi closed her eyes and prepared herself for Sesshoumaru's deathblow.

"You are a brave one…" He said. Sesshoumaru then swung Toukijin downwards…and cut the meat Koeshi was holding in half! Sesshoumaru put Toukijin back in its case, got the half and took a bite. Koeshi uneasily opened her eyes and saw that she was still in one piece. She also caught site of Sesshoumaru eating half of the meat she was holding.

"Wh-what?" Koeshi was flabbergasted! She could've sworn she saw Sesshoumaru's deadly form lunge at her, but now, he was eating some of the meat she cooked!

"Not bad. I don't eat human food, but I'll make this an exception." Sesshoumaru commented. Koeshi's mouth fell open in extreme surprise. "Close your mouth. It might catch flies." Koeshi put herself back together, but was still confused of what was going on.

"But I thought- You- Me- Butthole- Dead-!" Koeshi continuously said incoherent and incomplete sentences. Sesshoumaru's usually emotionless face now had a very faint smile. "What's going on, Milord? I'm do not follow."

"You've got some guts saying those things to me." Sesshoumaru remarked, finishing the piece of meat. "I guess you're not completely useless." He "complimented" Koeshi.

"Huh?" Koeshi responded with a question. Sesshoumaru turned his back on Koeshi and started to walk off again. But then he suddenly stopped.

"You said you want Naraku dead, right?" Sesshoumaru asked. Koeshi affirmed. "Well, I want him dead as well." Koeshi knew this was Sesshoumaru's way of saying yes to killing Naraku. If only no one was watching her (and if only no one was sleeping), Koeshi would jump in joy and scream.

"Thank you, Sesshoumaru-sama." Koeshi said, bowing to Sesshoumaru politely. Sesshoumaru simply smirked.

"Besides, someone has to take care of that scruffy child." He added, obviously referring to Rin. Koeshi's eyebrows knitted together. The youkai then lord walked off, until he disappeared from Koeshi's view. It was a wonderful night for the ninja, for she has accomplished a very important task in her journey. She was know sure that she can beat Naraku, and finally settle down with Sesshoumaru to start over.