A gentle breeze blew through his fluffy mane as Achal sat on his hunched looking up at the moon. He'd had less trouble sleeping whenever he had a companion, though sometimes still he would feel the familiar whisper from the skies wanting him to gaze. However tonight he was alone and so as with every other night he was alone, he was awake and gazing.

He wondered if his sister and daughter were doing the same and if they missed him. Sighing, he stood and turned decided not to dwell to long on the thought, he did not feel much for sadness tonight.

He walked in the darkness heading back to the makeshift den he'd found earlier to settle in for the night.


The night air was cool; a welcomed temperature in the eyes of Midori. The days were too hot for her, and she found herself more and more repulsed by the savanna, and more and more interested in the reclusive jungles.

The stars twinkled, as if they were alive, and Midori was stopped in the middle of the grasses, gazing up at them. Turquoise eyes flitted from one star to the next, strangely drawn in by the vastness of space. But then the cheetah heard a sound. Ears perking, she shifted into stealth mode and jerked her head towards the noise. What she saw was a light-colored lion, walking right towards her.

Midori remained still and silent, believing she was blending in with her surroundings. She was blending into the darkness, but her bright eyes and "mask" gave her away. Of course, Midori didn't realize this, so it was a surprise to her when the male noticed her.


Achal moved forward not noticing the female who was right in front of him. He was rather focused on walking was about to walk right by her when he turned and headed away from her. A breeze blew and it was then that Achal lifted his head and looked around catching the scent of another in the wind.

He looked behind him to see bright yes and part of a face, but nothing else. Achal deciding instantly that it was very quickly. "You there," he called, "Eyes in the shadows, what to you wish of me? Are you following me?"

He back up slightly putting more distance between himself and the floating partial face. He'd lived a secluded life and it was his first time traveling alone, this was certainly something he'd never seen before.


Hm. He seemed frightened of her.

Interesting.

But, it was to be expected. She was a ninja, after all. Ninjas were assassins of the night, and were feared by many who knew of them; though they were feared more by people who didn't know of them. All to Midori's advantage.

But then, she really didn't wish to frighten that male. He had nothing she desired. He was not her mission. ...Or was he? Hm. What was her mission? Did she have one at the moment? Hmmmm...

"I follow the night." Midori answered. "I do not mean to frighten you." She observed him for a moment, pondered his other words, then said, "I do not wish anything from you, unless you wish something from me?" The clouds moved from the moon, and its light shone down on Midori, revealing her lithe form.


Achal calmed at hearing that the floating eyes wanted nothing of him, but raised an eyebrow at the question given to him. When the moons light shone on the pair of eyes and Achal could see the rest of what appeared to be a cheetah he calmed even more, moving forward slightly to get a better view, but not to close.

"I am happy you wish nothing of me miss follower of the night and I say the same for myself. I could not possibly wish something of you having only just met you," he said sitting down before the female smiling slightly in his ever friendly manner.

"May I ask, why it is you follow the night? I must say you startled me a bit fore I did not notice you?"


Midori tilted her head, watching every movement the male lion made. He seemed attuned to the night, as she was, but perhaps not on the same level as she. Still, it was nice to meet someone with some of the same appreciations for things as she had.

His question made her think for a moment; she didn't answer right away. Why did she follow the night? It was how she was raised. It was who she was. It was what she was; no, what she wished to become.

"Because I wish to become one with it." she answered in a single tone, her voice lacking emotion as usual. But there was a spark of interest in her eyes; a sign that she was enjoying the small talk. Constant missions were tiring, so to sit back and enjoy the night was pleasant.

"Why do you?" she asked, even though the male hadn't said he was following the night. Midori simply sensed it.


Achal thought it was very different for one to want to be one with the night, but at the same time he knew the night could be a very calming influence. Achal thought on her question, but he did not acutally follow the night, so he wasn't sure how to answer.

He gave a small sigh and flicked mane from his blue eyes. Deciding the truth was best he answered, "I do not actually follow the night. I find often though that the stars and the moon will wish to talk. However, they cannot talk, so instead I come out and sit with them for a while. I am often awake at night anyway, so I see no reason not to."

Achal yawned slightly although he was feeling much more awake than he had moments ago, "I am Achal, by the way. Who might you be?"


Midori's eyes wandered to the sky as she listened to the male speak, pondering his words. Her lips parted slightly, teeth glinting in the moonlight, and she wondered if the stars really could talk? How interesting...Very interesting...If the stars could talk, that would mean they were truly alive. And if they were alive, it may be possible ot harness them and add them to her ninja team. If she had a team of stars behind her, surely that would be an unstoppable ninja troupe...

She smiled at the thought of it.

But she turned her head away from the stars, eyes meeting with the lion's.

The cheetah had two names, but one was only to be told to her master; the one who assigned missions to her. Her other name was given to anyone upon introduction. Therefore, the cheetah used that name.

"I am Kirei-Musume." she replied. "I am shadow, I am stealth." she added, her usual motto. Then she jumped to her feet, willing herself to blend in with the shadows. She failed, and did not disappear. But she didn't know that. She truly believed she had vanished completely. So she was satisfied with herself. Then, she made herself "reappear", and sate beside the lion. She moved her face close to his, as if examining his face for details.

"It is a good night, Achal." she commented after a while, still appearing to examine the male's face.


Achal smiled as Kirei gave her name and the jumped up, 'disappearing' into the shadows before coming forward again. He was tempted to laugh but he knew it would be rude and he knew it was probably hard to be stealthy right before another who knew you were there.

"Kirei is a lovely name," he began before his personal space was invaded by the female cheetah. A blushed immediately sprung across his face, slighty unfortable with anyone being that close. He was happy for the darkness, fore a blush was easily seen on his blue face.

Achal nodded in response to her statement trying to will himself to calm down. 'I wanted company, right,' he thought to himself, 'and now I have it, even if she is a bit close.' He calmed finally determined to just go with the flow.


Midori finally pulled back, sitting beside the lion normally, though her body was still close. She focused her eyes on the stars in the black sheet of sky that hung overhead, still pondering about "talking stars" and "living stars". She wondered if she'd ever get an army of ninja minions...She was given many missions to complete in her life, but ever ninja had one true life mission. Maybe hers was to create more ninjas? Hmm...

"Is there anything you desire, Achal?" Midori asked after a while of star-gazing. "Are you on a mission?"


Achal was happy have his personal space back and sighed lightly in relief. He turned to look at her as she spoke her questions. He hadn't thought on either question before but now that she'd asked and he'd been traveling on his own for some time, he knew there was on thing he did desire.

He desired family. He desired more cubs to raise. He missed it sorely, now that his sister's and daughter were grown. He'd raised them since his mother passed and it was something he loved. The desire had become stronger since his stay with Siti and her family, as well as the young adolescent Gao. He could'nt tell her that though, could he. She'd asked, hadn't she.

Achal nodded slightly to her question. "I want more family, cubs to raise and call my own. It is my desire, though not really a mission I do not think. I miss my family now the a grown and gone off on their own," was his whispered reply.

He was slightly embarrassed at words and feeling very awkward.


Ahh, what a good mission. It was slightly similar to her own, Midori thought. She wished for more ninjas, and Achal wished for cubs. Perhaps, in truth, both things were one in the same?

If that was the case, surely they could help each other complete their missions. He was a nice enough male, and she felt they had connected in some way. She felt she would be content to help him in any way she could.

Being a rather unromantic and realistic sort, Midori came right out with it.

"I could help you fulfill that desire." she said simply, turning her head to look at the male. She glanced at the stars, thinking. "And you could help fulfill mine. Perhaps our goals are the same?" she said, eyes flitting back down to meet Achal's. She waited for a reply, staring, unflinching.


To say Achal was shocked was an understatement. She was willing to help him! He simply couldn't believe it. He looked to the stars and thought this was it. That was why'd they been calling him tonight. Silently he thanked them.

He looked into her eyes, "Perhaps they are the same," he said smiling, his confidence gaining. He held her gaze, "If you are certain I would accept you offer. It is very nice of you."

Achal stood not really sure of what to do and wondered if he should invite her to his temporary den.


Midori smiled softly; a rare expression for the cheetah. But she sensed something genuine in the male; he didn't mask himself. He was an honest sort. Honesty was a very important quality in any creature. When one wasn't honest, bad things happened. So she respected that male, and it made her wish to help him all the more.

The black female stood and turned around, beginning to walk in a certain direction. Being a trained ninja, whether fake or not, she did have very well-honed skills. She could smell Achal's scent; his den. She knew the way. So without another word, she headed in its direction, confident that Achal would follow her. Both of their life goals would be one step closer to being completed that night.

The stars sparkled brightly in the sky, and if one listened, one might hear them whispering their approval to one another.