Kurama ended up taking Peggy out into the city regularly after that, every few days. Having the standing plans seemed to raise her spirits, and it pleased him to do so. So far, she hadn't asked him about Youko, and he hadn't really found a good time to tell her. Then the full moon rolled around, and the choice was made for him.

The moon was high as Youko quietly made his way across the temple courtyard. Genkai allowed him free reign of the temple forest on the moons, but tonight his goal was different. He crept around, following his nose until he found the right window, and then slid it open.

Peggy was still awake, sitting in bed reading a book. So when the window opened, she had grabbed a bow she kept in her room and had the string pulled taut, a gleaming spirit arrow in place. She still couldn't hold it real well yet, but it looked impressive, at least for a good ten seconds. Once she saw who it was, though, her eyes went wide and the arrow vanished.

Youko looked at the arrow with one eyebrow raised.

"Impressive reaction time," he commented. His ears flicked back and forth a bit. "I assume you know who I am."

"I know," Peggy agreed, lowering the bow. "I didn't expect to see you, though."

"Oh?" Youko asked. He smirked a bit. "And here I thought our meeting... overdue."

"Overdue?" Peggy's voice at least was steady. "I haven't been here that long."

"Long enough," Youko replied. He shrugged. "It doesn't matter now." He tilted his head a bit and grinned. "Now... why don't you come out with me? It's a nice night, after all."

Oh she really shouldn't. She really, really shouldn't. But... "Let me get shoes on," Peggy said after a moment. She really couldn't say no.

Youko just nodded and waited for her outside the window. He absently played with some of the vines that were starting to climb up the temple wall.

It didn't take Peggy long to be ready, and she hopped out the window. "So where are we going?"

"Out," Youko said, sauntering back towards the trees. "It's a nice night, and there's very little in this forest willing to pick a fight with me."

"That's not surprising, it would be a really dumb idea," Peggy muttered, hurrying after him.

"Yes, well, some aren't that bright," Youko replied. He touched a few of the plants as they passed, and the ones he touched seemed to immediately grow bigger and stronger.

Peggy grinned as she noticed that. "Can't help but tend them?" She asked, watching him.

"Guilty," Youko replied, glancing at her. "I can't help myself, sometimes."

Peggy grinned. "So can you tell if a plant needs it?"

Youko nodded even as a vine reached up to tangle with his fingers.

"Granted, most of these are just spoiled and needy," he commented, gently pulling his hand free.

Peggy snickered and reached over to pat the vine. "Somehow I'm not surprised," she commented. "Considering how often you're here."

"There are worse places to spend time," Youko said. "Though I do occasionally check on my old hideouts."

"How many do you have?" Peggy glanced at him as she carefully stepped over several roots that she could mostly see in the dark.

"Several," Youko replied, walking easily between the plants. He had forgone shoes this time around, instead opting to walk barefoot. He glanced at her. "Finally something you don't know?"

Peggy smiled. "I'm finding there's plenty I don't know," she said. "Which is better, actually. I think if I knew everything already it wouldn't be as fun."

That surprised a bit of a snort out of Youko.

"Indeed," he murmured, glancing at her.

Peggy grinned and carefully skirted another plant trying to trip her up. "Not quite what you expected?" she asked, rather teasingly.

"I can't say for certain what I was expecting," Youko replied. The voice was his, but the words sounded more like Shuichi. "A surprise nonetheless."