Overhead, the sun hid behind a cloud. Shade spread over the land. Trembling a bit, Mizoshi chanced a glimpse at Kita. Kita gazed back serenely with a mellow stare.

Did I imagine it?

"I hope you two girls get along," Ken was saying, breaking into Mizoshi's worrying thoughts. "I am going out to chop some firewood. Goodbye for now, both of you."

"Bye, Ken," Kita replied. "I'll stay with your sister, and help her sell her paintings, though, I'm honestly not sure if many will buy them."

"Do the best you can."

With a parting wave, Ken strode down the road, headed for the trees that surrounded the outskirts of the village.

Good. He's gone.

A wildfire was blazing in Mizoshi, and she could no longer hold it back.

"What did you mean, Kita, that not many would buy the paintings?" she demanded.

It's not as if I'm offended; I'm simply curious.

"Oh, Mizoshi. This is a very humble, peaceful, not to mention religious village. Most villagers buy only what they need and nothing else. People would rather have something to eat or wear than look at something hung on the wall, yes?" Kita's voice was so sincere.

I suppose she's not really mean. I must've imagined her look of hostility.

"Yes, I understand. I never sold my paintings before, not even in my own village. It is purely a hobby that brings me joy."

"Your village?" Kita interjected. "Tell me of your village, Mizoshi."

Mizoshi leaned back in her seat and sighed in remembrance. "It was called Tora Village, and it was quite large. Larger than Jari Village anyway. It bordered the seashore, and there were many flowers in bloom during the springtime and many shops to explore throughout the seasons."

"It sounds beautiful." Kita eyes took on a faraway glaze. "I've never seen the ocean, but I've often longed to. The blue waves must be so pretty in the morning sunlight."

"They are," she agreed. "My other brother, Nibori, and I used to walk along the damp sand and bring the shiny shells home to our mother. Sometimes, we'd sneak away and hide there for most of the day."

Kita giggled. "Sounds fun. I wish I had a brother. My parents have prayed for a son, but their prayers have never been answered."

"That's a shame," Mizoshi replied solemnly.

"So, Mizoshi. In your village, did many dress in that fashion?" The young maiden gestured to her scarlet kimono.

Mizoshi reddened in frustration. "No. I wore this when I was employed by a lord." Almost immediately, she could feel her eyes tear. Desperately, she hoped Kita wouldn't notice. That would pose more annoying questions.

The girl gasped. "A lord? A royal lord?"

Was Naraku considered demonic nobility?

"Yes," she ground out. "A royal lord."

"And what…services…did you perform for him?" Kita bit her lip.

It took merely a matter of moments until Mizoshi got the inquisitive maiden's meaning.

Does she think me a…?

"I painted for him," Mizoshi responded in a wintry tone. "The lord employed other ladies, and all were dressed as this."

No, not really. I lie. As usual. There was only one other lady, and Kagura, the cunning demoness, hardly passed as such. But what choice do I have when this girl wants to learn everything under the sun and probably the moon too?

"What finery! The lord must've been rich. You have led such an exciting life, Mizoshi. I love my home, but I have never left Jari Village." A slight frown had appeared on Kita's face.

"Not such an exciting life, although I have traveled many distances."

"Stop. You'll make me envious," Kita scolded teasingly.

Kita? Jealous of me? Who in their right mind would be jealous of me?

That's right. Kita doesn't know about my origins. She doesn't know that we onlytraveled so much asto avoid persecution. And, it was all because mother had to fall in love with a half-demon. Once, that made me bitter, butnow, I appreciate my demonic blood. Truth be told, this atmosphere with these judgmental "true" humans is starting to wear on me. Perhaps I was happier in Naraku's castle.

Wait, what am I thinking? Naraku's castle with the snippy wind witch and the strange void child coupled with a toxic, polluted environment is preferable to this cluster of buildings and its green landscape of trees? I must be mistaken.

Yet, I sense it is true. I was happy at Naraku's castle. I had more freedom there while in bondage as his abducted "captive."

Didn't I?

"Mizoshi?" Kita called through the mist. "Did you hear me? I said you might wish to change your wardrobe."

She snapped back to reality. "What? Why? Why must I change?"

The young maiden was silent. Inquiringly, Mizoshi focused her attention on the thirteen-year old. Her eyes were brimming with concern. "You wish to blend in, don't you? Your kimono would suggest…"

Abruptly, Kita stopped, but Mizoshi could read between the lines.

"You're right. I will…change. But, I'm afraid this is the only piece of clothing I own."

"You mean the lord didn't give you any other clothing?" It was evident the young maiden found this quite astonishing.

I knew I packed too quickly. I should've been better prepared.

Surprisingly, the girl dismissed the issue with a smile. "No matter. You'll choose one of these kimonos." She pointed at the neighboring rack.

"N-n-o," she started to sputter. "I-I couldn't."

"Nonsense! Take one of them."

"But, they're for sale, and I haven't any money," Mizoshi reasoned.

"Mother won't mind," Kita insisted. "Pick one."

Reluctantly, Mizoshi scanned the rack. There were too many colors and designs to choose from. There was pink and lavender, navy and turquoise, solid brown, and a rainbow of other shades as well. All manner of floral designs flitted across the different fabrics. Still, some were plain. The unadorned kimonos were most likely for men. There were also several pairs of hakama, but it was unusual for women to wear such things.

I'll look even more out of place in hakama.

At last, Mizoshi made her choice. Near the back was a kimono that consisted of pale yellow and skyblue.

Perfect.

"This looks nice," she mused, holding the robe up.

"Take it with the Takahashi family's blessing," Kita stated, leaving Mizoshi stunned.

Kita really is mature for her age. I suppose that's why Ken likes her.

Finally, everything was the way it should've been from the start. Kita was smiling. She was smiling.

And, then it happened.

"That's a becoming kimono, Mizoshi. It matches your eyes."

Instantly, Mizoshi was on her guard, but there was no antagonism in Kita's face.

Or maybe, it is concealed. Does Kita run hot and cold like Ken?

"Excuse me, Kita, but could you assist me?"

Both gazed up to behold an old, bent grandmother with her tiny granddaughter dancing and twirling next to her. The child was obviously very energetic.

"I need a kimono for little Nishi here, Kita. Will you help?"

"Of course." Kita jumped up out of her chair. "What color would you prefer, Grandmother Ume? We have pink, lilac, green…"

As Mizoshi retreated in her mind, Kita's voice faded away.

A customer. Good. I need time away from Kita's interrogation.

This is ridiculous. I'm going to spend the rest of my existence here? It's not as if I am being arrogant, but I think I would literally become a petrified statue if I had to live here forever. Ken may want to stay here for eternity, but I don't.

I won't.

While Kita was occupied, Mizoshi set herself to the task of smoothing out her creations on her side of the wooden table.

However, I will not sell the portrait of Naraku. Never. It's all I have left. Besides, that would raise other unpleasant questions. A human cannot possess crimson eyes.

How similar our situations seem.

In the darkness, Naraku crept through the room that had been empty for the past two nights.

Strange I would come in here. There's little point. Mizoshi's not here. Never again will she be herein.

But, that's good; it's what I wanted. Now, I can get back to my own desires. Still, it was refreshing to house a woman who actually sought out my presence.

Wryly, his mind explored another train of thought.

Heh. My own desires. A shame Mizoshi remains in my desires.

Privately, Naraku was beginning to doubt his decision. He had not expected this development to occur. It scarcely did. However, before further speculation could be breached, he heard a light footfall in the corridor beyond. He smirked.

"Curious, Kagura? Still lurking about?"

"Why not? There's nothing else to do around here," she shot back.

"Still prying into Mizoshi's affairs? Still wondering if she's here and what she might be up to?"

"Still pining for her?"

At once, he bristled. No one dared talk to him that way. His incarnation knew it too. As he turned on his heel to glare at his creation, her features at once paled and slackened with fear.

"Speaking of Mizoshi," he pronounced slowly, "do you wish to replace her…position?" Furtively, he glanced over at the vacant bed.

In seconds, Kagura had wisped away just like the very element she believed she controlled. A muffled bump could be heard as her hip collided with the wall in her desperate attempt to escape from a fate that she considered worse than death.

Sighing, Naraku drifted over to the cosmetic box where Mizoshi had presumably stored her scant treasures. It must be empty now, save for the items that were originally present in the intricately carved box's interior. Wonderingly, Naraku allowed his hand to skim the edge of the polished lid before abruptly snapping it open and was astonishedat what he discovered there.

It's her bracelet. That rough wooden bracelet she wore when she first entered my castle. She's left it behind.

Why?

Almost instantaneously, his own words came back to haunt him when he first inquired about the handmade object.

Such an expression of love…

Gripping his thick fingers around the coil of beads, Naraku strode out into the hall and then directly to his favored spot where he could see the shadowy trees and inky hills for miles around. It was at this same window he had first formed the momentous question in his brain:

What is real love exactly?

Whatever it was, Naraku would never have another opportunity to learn. Not after he had literally thrown it away. The bracelet only added to this irony.

But why did she leave it? If it's such a tender expression of her brother's love, why wasn't it on her wrist? Why did she ever take it off?

Against his better judgment, he continued to muse.

She didn't want to leave in the first place. Perhaps the bracelet is a reflection of that. Or, could it be, she simply forgot? Forgot her origins, forgot her former home—everything—because she had already decided to stay with me and embrace her new life? So many options to ponder.

A bit angrily, Naraku sat, eyeing the greenery of Japan.

What can I do to assuage this human heart?

After a moment's consideration it came to him.

I do know where she is.

Tipping his head up, Naraku allowed his gaze to roam the stars.

I know where she sleeps under these points of light.

Is she thinking of me under them?

The bracelet was abnormally heavy in his hand. He was grasping it so tightly; he was sure it would leave imprints in his skin.

I'm not going to beg. I let her go. I won't plead for her return, even if that was what I truly desired.

Yet, the bracelet remained: silently taunting him.

Mizoshi ought to have this returned to her. Perhaps she misses this piece of jewelry. She could be alone after all. She could be homeless.

She could be dead

And I let her go.

Did I not promise myself none would leave my domain?

The evening breeze ruffled his smoky tresses. Stealthily, it brushed his ivory cheek akin to a lover's kiss.

Her kiss.

Second-guessing oneself was a part of human nature, not demonic nature. Still, his heart was only human. So weak. So wanting. So wounded.

Why did I release her from my web? Surely both the jewel shards and the girl could've coexisted.

In spite of all his wanderings, one fact would be forever unchanged: the bracelet would stay behind. Mizoshi would never have the chance to retrieve it.

But, I can give it back to her…

The insignificant, cheap loop of uneven wooden beads is reason enough, isn't it? It's the gentlemanly thing to do.

Surprisingly not wanting to think anymore, Naraku instead took action.

Less than a minute later, the space near the window was vacant.

So, a lot of people don't like Ken. He is full of himself. (I don't like him that much either, but he begged to be written.) And, he is Mizoshi's only family. (Unfortunately.) Anyway, within three chapters, Mizohi will reunite with Naraku. (Not the next one, sorry. I still want to smooth out the plot a little.) Also, Sesshy will show up too. And after that…well, I don't know. I'll see how much I can extend the fic. Also, I'm thinking of adding Kouga, even if it's only for one chapter.I'm not too sure though. It would depend on how many Kouga fans are here. Well, to all who reviewed, thanks for the support! Whoo! (I feel strangely peppy for some reason.)

NarakusGirlJeanne: I guess FreakyKrazer already answered your question in the review, but yup, it's the same castle, just not in the same location. (I'm pretty sure Naraku moved the castle after he was discovered when Kagome nearly killed him.)

someone: Don't worry. She won't sell it. (Ken isn't going to have all the power.) :)

GiR: No, Kita won't be mean to Mizoshi, and yes, Ken will continue being as unpleasant as he is now. (Only he'll get worse.)

Gryfffinrose: A Kuro plushie? As in make it? Wow. I bet it'll be cute. :)