Yay, two chapters revised in one day, plus i updated!!!!! I soo rock today!!

Again, ahem.

Midnight Conversation

It was well into the night, the moon was high and the embers of the fire were slowly growing dimmer, even though the fire still blazed bright. The human child, whom Kirika had discovered after much patience and tolerance on not only her part, but Sesshoumaru's as well, was named Rin, who at present was curled up next to the dying fire, sleeping soundly.

As was the toad youkai Jaken, and though her line of vision ended there, she could only assume that Sesshoumaru was asleep as well. But Kirika couold not sleep, for two thoughts that refused to leave her be, and the effects that came with them. After all, a single drop of water that falls in a pond can and often does create waves on the shore.

So it was with the two thoughts which refused to give up their place within her mind.

The first thought being one of practiced alertness. The second being that Sesshoumaru, or the toad youkai may yet try to slit her throat if she fell asleep.

The first, came from years of constant running from her enemy's, many of whom she could name as kin. Their pursuit to destroy her for simply being alive, seemed never ending. As such, being a light sleeper when she dared to rest at all, was very understandable.

The second, came from having met far to many neko and inu youkai who seemed friendly, but would try to slay her in her sleep. As these thoughts rippled into many of the same kind, Kirika sighed and sat up. Abandoning any hope for sleep. She stared up at the stars, and smiled when she saw the moon, full and bright. The moon held many memories for her, some bad and some good. The feelings it brought up in her could only be described as bittersweet.

'But then,' she thought, 'life is bittersweet.' She smiled again, an action devoid of happiness as memories she longed to forget but could not, raced all throughout her mind.

"You cannot sleep?" Kirika gasped at the sound of Sesshoumarus's voice, as it stopped her line of thought.

"I didn't know you were awake." She managed at last.

"That much was obvious." He replied calmly. Kirika dared to look at him then. Much to her surprise, his face, which until that moment she had thought to be in cased within stone, held a look of quiet amusement. Despite her best efforts and better judgement, her left eyebrow lifted slightly and the corner of her mouth pulled up in a smirk.

"Just what is it that you find so amusing?" He asked in a tone that would terrify any being, mortal and youkai alike. But strangely, it did not frighten Kirika. She met his gaze head on and answered simply,

"I am not laughing at you Sesshoumaru. You can stop defending a pride that has not been wounded." It was now Sesshoumaru who lifted his eyebrow in amusement.

Restraining a smirk, that snuck through despite his best efforts, Sesshoumaru turned his head away and stared at the moon that had previously captured Kirika's attention so completely. Kirika did the same.

"Why could you not sleep?" He asked after a time. Kirika did not answer, instead she sighed softly. A noise that for some reason, made Sesshoumaru's heart twang with pain.

"I fear being killed, should I lower my guard." Sesshoumaru drew his gaze to settle on her, their eyes locking.

"Why do you fear such a thing?" He asked, his tone uncommonly soft.

"Because," Kirika began, her green eyes glowing. "You are an inu youkai, and both they and neko youkai, seem to wish for my death more than anything else in this world."

Sesshoumaru closed his eyes for a moment. He had no intention what so ever to kill her, his true youkai seemed to scream in pain at such a thought. He could not yet understand why this was, but he felt, no, he knew that somehow she held the answer.

But how to make her see that he would not harm her? And that he would not try to kill her?

"I swear as Lord of the Western Lands, no harm shall come to you by my hand." Kirika smiled and a light chuckle escaped from her throat.

"Many have sworn oaths higher then what you have, they extended their hands towards me in friendship, but held hidden daggers." Sesshoumaru nodded his head in understanding.

"You should not think ill of all beings." His gaze pierced through her, ignited something within her for which she had no name. It was almost like staring into pools of liquid gold, and somehow, she found herself wishing to never be without them.

Sesshoumaru was no better, as he looked into her shimming eyes, he found himself lost with the green depths which seemed to glow as green as the trees, and as bright as the embers of a fire. Kirika felt a slight warmth on her checks, and without thinking, quickly looked away. Breaking the magic of the moment.

"So, why can you not sleep?" Kirika said, desperate to try and change the subject and hopefully prevent Sesshoumaru from seeing her very slight, but still noticeable blush.

Sesshoumaru became very quiet at her seemingly harmless question. How could he tell

her that it had been her, and her confusingly intoxicating scent that kept him awake? That he had been staring at her supposedly sleeping form, ever sense she had laid down? And how he had, for perhaps the first time in his life, been rendered speechless by the sight of her moon bathed form? And that when he saw her face laced with sadness, that something deep within him had cried out at him, practically ordering him to comfort her. The fact was, that he could not.

"I was keeping watch." He said, tone calm as always.

"May I, keep watch with you?" Sesshoumaru nodded, and Kirika smiled as she rose from her spot on the ground and moved to a fallen log that was close to the large boulder where Sesshoumaru sat. A conversation which consisted of breaks of somewhat awkward silence and of quiet assessment, followed until dawn broke and the sun cast weak rays upon the earth.

"It would seem that keeping a watch is no longer necessary." Kirika said when the warmth of the sun's rays tickled her hand. Sesshoumaru nodded and stood.

"Jaken," The toad youkai snored loudly, and rolled over.

"Jaken," Sesshoumaru said again, this time his tone holding an indignant air. The toad youkai continued to sleep. Without saying a word Sesshoumaru walked over to where the toad was sleeping and without any sign of notice, stepped on the youkai and headed off toward the forest.

Jaken yelled in both pain and surprise at his rather rude wakening, before turning his head almost completely around as he tried to locate his lord. Once found, he shouted a few shouts for his lord to wait before running after him.

Rin, woken from all the commotion, started after both of them soon afterwards. Kirika stretched, adjusted the sword on her hip and prepared to be on her way. Sesshoumaru's voice stopped her.

"Are you leaving?" Kirika quite literally stopped mid step. She turned head to look at him, and found him staring back. His eyes locked with hers and she felt short of breath.

"I thought I should not inconvenience you any longer." Was her delayed response. A moment passed as both tried to see what the other meant in their words.

"Come if you wish, but we will not stop if you fall behind." Sesshoumaru said as he turned and walked on, seeming to not care on whether she traveled with them or not, but secretly praying she would.

Kirika thought for a second, weighing her options. She looked towards the direction she had planned to go, the road looked long and lonely. Then she looked towards Sesshoumaru and his vassals were heading and remembered the feeling she had the other night when their eyes connected. The choice was obvious, as she began following him before her mind sent the order. Sesshoumaru could not keep the smile, which was tugging at the corner of his lips from forming.

A/N

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