A/N: After a refreshing break after that WONDERFUL chapter, I am back! Well, I know you all LOVED the Kiri/Akuto fluff, sorry, there isn't going to be any more of that for a while. Now, I'm going to go back to the main Kuro/Suki storyline. And yes, there is still a long way to go in this story, I added a bit when fleshing out the plotline the other day. I hope that no one will be disappointed as the plot moves forward! (And gets darker…I dunno why. I LOATHE battle scenes, but somehow, I always end up writing them…)

Chapter 12: Back Home

"It should only take us about less than a week to get there!" Kuro said excitedly. Kiri didn't have to ask, she knew he was happy because he would get to see Suki again. She would have normally been annoyed with him and his obsession over her, but now, she didn't care. She didn't care one bit.

Because she had problems of her own at the moment.

Ever since that…moment…in the cave, she had avoided Akuto. He, at least, understood that she was avoiding him and did not try to engage in conversation. But she wasn't avoiding him like because of a petty argument. She was avoiding him because—

I…I'm afraid of what I felt… she thought, looking at the ground as they traveled through the countryside. I…just don't understand what I'm feeling…I mean, I'm not supposed to feel anything…and then Akuto comes along and…

Slowly, Kiri's eyes grazed over him, his long black hair in a ponytail, to his green eyes, his form that she had dubbed "cute" not too long ago. But while she was surveying him, his eyes met hers. She quickly looked away and blushed up.

W-what's happening to me? She asked, looking up at the sky as if hoping it held the answer. I don't want to feel this way about anyone…and suddenly, I find myself thinking about him…

Kiri remembered that kiss vividly in her mind, the way the world had suddenly melted away and how everything had seemed so right, yet she knew it was so wrong.

I'ts…it's not like I'm in love with Akuto, but…having feelings for someone—any feelings—is your undoing…it's…it's what killed Father…

Her fingers grazed the spot where the bead necklace lay under her yukata. Father…and Mother…

She dropped her hand, sighing. Besides, I know I am for no one. I possess miko powers. And they vanish once the miko is no more a virgin. Even if I did inherit them from my mother, the same rules apply to me. And besides that, I…

Kiri closed her eyes upon reflection. I know I am meant for no one…

"What are you afraid of?" Akuto asked.

"A-afraid?" Kiri replied, hoping that it wasn't showing in her voice.

He was still holding on to her hand. "You're shaking."

She shook her head, even though she knew she was shaking. "I'm not shaking."

Somehow, Akuto seemed closer. He lowered his voice to a whisper. "You know what? You like me as a scoundrel, jackass, perverted bastard, and whatever else you call me. You like me because there are no scoundrels in your life."

Kiri shook her head again, not able to pull away from the spell of his emerald eyes. "I like nice men."

Akuto grinned. "I'm nice."

Kiri's eyes popped open and a gasp escaped her as she awoke, shaking all over. As she tried to restore her breathing to its normal pace, she thought, No…now I'm revisiting that in my dreams!

"I don't understand you, Akuto." A voice said. Kiri instantly stiffened. Though she couldn't see the person speaking, she knew who it was. Tsume? She looked around her and Kuro's camp. He was still sleeping, clutching the Tessaiga.

"What don't you understand, it's perfectly clear." Akuto replied, with a hint of strong annoyance in his voice.

Kiri recognized the sounds of a fire crackling. "I am going back to our den tomorrow, because Father will already be angry because we've wasted a week. He told me specifically to bring you back, and to tell you that he apologizes, but he needs you to come home, and yet you won't!"

"Well, maybe I don't want to!" He spat forcefully.

"So, you're going to follow these hanyous back to their village? What are you, a dog?" Kiri felt a rush of anger at this statement.

Akuto didn't answer her second question. "Yes, I am going back with them. And you can't say anything about it."

His sister sighed. "I know I can't, but I know Father can. What will he say when he finds out his son is following the children of the Hanyou…?"

There was a sound like a fist angrily colliding with a log. "You know what, I don't care. Father can't tell me what to do. He only cares about me finding a mate and proving him with a precious heir to his tribe."

"And I suppose this will help you find a mate and get that 'precious heir'?"

Kiri and Akuto drew a sharp breath at the same time.

Tsume continued. "Don't think I haven't noticed Akuto, the way you look at that hanyou girl. And the way you keep advancing on her when you think I'm not looking. I smelt you on her the other day, what were you planning, to mate with her right then and there?"

Akuto gave a warning growl. "Tsume, shut up."

But she didn't. "You're pathetic, Akuto, if you've sunk to wooing hanyou wenches to spite Father. I won't make you come with me, or tell him, but," she added in a warning, "I won't forgive you when you've come crying to me because you've made a mistake." And then there were sounds of her departing.

Kiri had thought the fight was over, but then she heard the sound of wood splintering, just like she did when she was mad. "Damn her…" Akuto muttered. "She doesn't understand…this is real…"

Kiri hand flew to her mouth to keep her gasp from being heard. Akuto…he's really…he really does…

She hugged her knees to her chest, eyeing the waning moon, trying to keep her heart from bursting, yet it wasn't excited like it was before. It was more of a sick jolt, a realization that she didn't want to notice. Akuto…he…he loves me…but…

She rested her forhead on her knees. I don't want him to be…

They were traveling again after Tsume went back to her den. Kuro and Kiri were curious, (Well, Kiri pretended to be) about her disappearance, but Akuto told them that she was missing her mate.

When Kuro questioned him about why he was staying, he replied, "I'm not going back to face my Father, and I have no where else to go."

Kiri didn't feel to enlighten either of them that she knew the real reason he was staying. In fact, she kept wishing that she didn't know.

They were getting close to the village now, close enough that Kuro and Kiri could smell some far away scents that they recognized from childhood, and when their father used to take them hunting as children.

As they were getting closer, Kuro got even more excited. "Why is he so happy?" Akuto asked, talking to Kiri directly for the first time in days.

Calm down, she told herself. This is casual…only to tell him what's going on… "It's because, he's sort of promised to a girl that lives in our village." She told him. "Apparently, he can't wait to see her."

"That's obvious." Akuto rolled his eyes. "Is she pretty?"

"Well…I guess so…in the way of humans…" Kiri said, wondering why a simple question gave her such a bad feeling.

Akuto looked back at Kuro, who was now ahead of them since he was practically running. "I can understand him then. We're all ever so hopeless when thinking of the girls we love."

Kiri's heart skipped a beat. "Y-yeah…" she looked down, and remembered the conversation she had heard the night before. Akuto loves me…

When they got close to the village, Kuro was about ready to bolt into it. But he couldn't just run in, it was nighttime. "And, Uncle Miroku would probably do something horrible to your anatomy for visiting Suki at this time of night." Kiri said.

"If you would just let me go in to the village." He pouted; he couldn't really move anywhere at all since his sister had quite a firm grip on his haori.

"Don't." she said. "Kuro…I have a bad feeling about this. A really bad feeling. I'm telling you, don't make our presence known. Don't just go walking in there, stay in the forests until you see someone we know and signal them over. We need to find out what happened first before we go in."

Kuro rolled his eyes. "Look, Kiri, I know you have those miko powers and stuff, but I'm telling you, there is nothing to worry about—"

He suddenly found himself with a very pointy talon of hers less than an inch from his face. "Oh yeah? Remember that time when you were fourteen and I told you I had a seriously bad feeling, and you didn't believe me, what happened then, huh?"

Kuro glared at her, but he was in no mood to argue. For one thing, she had a good point. For another, he didn't fancy arguing with her when her extremely sharp nail was in close proximity with his face. "All right, all right." He grumbled.

"Come back soon." Kiri said, pulling her hand back. Kuro noticed by her tone of voice, she didn't say it for the benefit of him, but it seemed like she was more worried about herself. Then he realized that Akuto would also be staying behind. Kiri seemed…nervous about staying with him, and by her look, she was almost pleading Kuro to take her with him.

But he turned around and headed for the village, thinking, It would be better if I only go…because, if Suki shows up…well, he didn't want to waste any time with her. But, he wondered, why would Kiri be afraid to be alone with him? It's not as if she can't protect herself…Then he realized, But…its been weird lately. They haven't fought in…days…Is something going on between those too?

He considered it for a moment, and then threw the idea away. No, Kiri wouldn't open up to a man like that, I'm positive. I know for a fact that she wouldn't even think of liking any man.

Kuro had certainly inherited one trait from his father.

The extremely daft hanyou reached the end of the trees and stared out at the village, and sniffed the air. He was happy that the scent of the sickness was gone. He picked up various scents of villagers, but he was slightly surprised that he seemed to pick up Suki's scent more than usual. She seems to be walking outside more lately…

He had barely spent five minutes scanning the village, when he saw a silhouette of a woman against the moon. He leaned forward, to identify who it was, when they spotted him. They gasped, and dropped the flowers she had been holding in her hand.

"K-Kuro…"

He knew who it was. "Suki…"

A/N: Yeah, blah blah reunion. Big Whoop. Anyway, I have got quite a chapter up there, considering the number of scenes. Also, the next couple of chappies focus on Kuro/Suki, with hints of Akuto/Kiri. That won't be picked up majorly until later. Sayonara until next time!