Gazing up at the stars again, they reflected in his eyes, and made his hair almost seem as if it was glowing. It sparkled like freshly fallen snow, and his skin looked luminescent, ethereal. As if he didn't belong here in this world, and was lost from some other one, far far away. The longing in his eyes as he stared at the moon definitely seemed to echo that part, for sure. A faint wind brought the scent of pine and moss, and an even more subtle scent of flowers. He closes his eyes, taking a deep breath, enjoying the feeling of the breeze on his skin, ruffling his hair, and the calming sensation that it gave him.<br/><br/>Sitting like this reminded him of when he was younger, when things were a lot easier. Before the academy days, when all he had to worry about was keeping his room clean and making sure he kept his clothes from getting grass stains. When people weren't horrid, when he actually showed his emotions. When he knew how to feel things without cursing them, when love and happiness were a good thing. The sky was bluer, the clouds puffs of cotton, the grass and trees greener. When he knew how to smile without a care in the world.<br/><br/>But that was all quickly taken away when he grew, and the world became a darker place, and things weren't as grand and great as they'd seemed before. He slowly grew to hate everyone, and no longer opened up to anyone, shutting himself away and pushing others away even further. Even when the sun was out, the days were rainy to him. He'd forgotten how to smile for no reason, and the stars had lost their brilliance. Why had things changed like that? Why did the world have to be so cruel to him, why did fate hate him so much? Why couldn't he have remained like he'd been when he was little? Happy, carefree?<br/><br/>Sitting there, he questioned all of this, for the first time in a long time. Would he ever be like that again? Would those days remain as just a distant memory, never to become reality once more? And...as he thought...why did he want that? Why was he yearning for that after such a long time in the darkness? Why did he want to find the light again? It made no sense. But if he thought about it...it did a little. But he didn't want to accept it. Not yet.<br/><br/>After a while longer, he opens his eyes once more, sighing softly. "Time to go back..." He mutters to himself, and slowly slides off of the rock, his feet quietly hitting the ground below. Turning towards where he had come from, he stops frozen in his tracks when he saw Hikari standing there. His eyes were wide, and for a moment it felt like he'd forgotten how to breathe. How long had she been standing there? Had she seen him, looking like a star-struck moron? A split second glance upwards he realized his horns were visible, and quickly reaches up to brush his bangs back in place, a pale, almost invisible shade of pink forming on his cheeks.<br/><br/>He then walks, or rather quickly shuffles towards where she was, his head lowered slightly to hide the embarrassment on his face. How many times was she going to see him vulnerable? This had better not become a thing, or he didn't think he'd be able to handle it. He noticed that she was carrying his things, and inwardly he was grateful, but doesn't say anything when he finally reaches the edge of the grass field where she was standing. He pauses next to her, facing the opposite direction, his back to the field. "Let's go back. To Konoha." He reaches towards her and takes the things from her, quickly putting them in place. He saw no reason to stay any longer where they were...they might as well start traveling if sleep wasn't on the agenda.<br/><br/>After finishing putting his swords and such where they belonged, he glances toward Hikari once more before moving forward, and eventually taking to the trees, slowly jumping from one branch to the next. They didn't need to hurry back, but he didn't want to take forever either. He hoped she wouldn't say anything about what she'd seen or ask what he'd been doing...or why his face was still blushing slightly. Shaking his head slightly from side to side, he sighs before focusing on the path ahead of him. No time to think about stupid things like that.