---27---

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'Lee-kun!' I yelled. Lee turned back to face me, his eyes wide.

'Kasumi? What is it?' he asked. I clenched my fists at my side and looked at him.

'Let me fight alongside you, I won't take no for an asnwer, I want to fight for my friends, and you too, and if I die trying, then so be it,'

'But Kasumi, it is too dangerous,' Lee answered, facing the enemy again, waiting for their first move.

'I don't care! It would be an honor to fight alongside you Lee!,' I grinned, appearing at his side, in my own battle stance. Before Lee could argue, the enemy with the big bushy coat on his back, made his first move. Lee thrust his fist into the ground and an alarmed Sakura threw a kunai from behind. I performed some hand signs quickly and followed Lee's lead. I knew that Lee was strongest in his Taijutsu, in fact, it appeared that he wasn't able to use Ninjutsu or Genjutsu. Earth and mud shot out from under our enemies' feet as they were thrown back from the impact. I stood beside Lee, waiting for what the enemy would use on us next, planning my own tactics in my head, but Lee had other ideas.

Lee began unwrapping the bandages that were covering his hands and lower arms, just as Bushy Coat made his move, darting towards Lee. I saw Lee leave his bandages loosely wrapped and crouched down, just in time to duck Bushy's attack. Lee's incredible speed and agility gave him the advantage of springing back up and kicking Bushy Coat in the face, sedning him backwards. Lee appeared underneath him within seconds and kicked Bushy Coat up into the air, following him closely behind. Lee's bandages wrapped around Bushy Coat's body as if they had minds of their own and Lee used his own body-weight to turn them both upsidedown and start spinning.

'INITAL LOTUS!' Lee's roars echoed through the forrest as they both hurtled to the ground. Unfortunately, I hadn't been quick enough or aware that Spikey Hair had used his own abilities to cushion Busy Coat's fall. Lee bounced back and was next to me again, a shocked expression on his face when Bushy Coat stood up, barley a graze on him.

'Heh, there's no way I would've survived that if my fall hadn't have been cushioned. Nice moves kid, now it's my turn!' he laughed. I glanced at Lee who looked exhausted and weak. Bushy Coat ran at Lee. I gritted my teeth together and stepped in front of me.

'You won't hurt my friend!' I yelled, spreading my arms out and leaving my body open. Bushy Coat outstretched his arm that had some weird wind pipe thingy clipped to it, running straight for us.

I planted my feet in the ground and held my breath as I came into contact with the Sound Monster. He forced me out the way with ease, as if I was just an obstacle in his way. He used so much force to move me from Lee, that I went flying through the air. I landed in the dirt, knocking my head hard against a rock. I felt dizzy and lay there, unable to move, my whole body tingling.

'Kasumi-chan!' I heard Lee yell. I heard more shouting, the Lee cry out in pain. I flinched.

'Lee-kun! Kasumi-chan! No!' I heard Sakura cry. I titled my head slowly, trying not to black out. I saw Lee, passed out behind Sakura, who now at the mercy of the Sound Shinobi girl. She had Sakura by the hair and was sneering insults at her.

'You can't save them. A friend you are, huh? Maybe if you spent less time doing this lovely hair of yours, then maybe you'd be able to consider yourself a real Shinobi. Face it, you're stuck here, you can watch your friends die, Princess,' she sniggered. Sakura was trying not to let them see her cry, my heart went out to her and I slowly lifted my had and tried to reach out to her. But I was too far away, both in mind and body. Suddenly, Sakura smirked and drew a kunai from the side of her pouch and brought it up. My eyes widened as she pulled her kunai through her hair, sending the Sound girl falling back and Sakura'a Konoha headband to fall on the floor with her hair.

It hurt my head to remember but I though about the time it had just been us two.

---

"'I'll have my moment, Kasumi. The one time that I'll show my true courage and strength, I promise!' She vowed, as a gentle breeze blew. I smiled to myself as Sakura turned to face me, a large grin across her face. I gave her a closed eyed smile.

'I'll be there,' I grinned. Sakura held out her hand, and stretched out her pinkie finger.

'Pinkie Promise?' She asked. I smirked.

'I pinkie promise, Pinkie,' I laughed."

---

This was it, this was Sakura's moment, and I was here to witness it. I felt proud for her, proud to call her my friend, and I knew then, that she would save us...and finally, I blacked out...

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I found myself falling through the darkness, my whole body was as light as a feather but still I fell, down, down.

Suddenly, I stopped falling and the world caught up with me. I was floating, though I was unable to move, I found myself turning up and facing ahead of me. My hair was flowing out behind me, as I were underwater. I started to panic when I realized that I was underwater. There was a strong current that wouldn't allow my body to move. But I stopped when I found that I could breathe normally and even speak too. I looked up and saw Mom and Dad, standing just in front of me.

They looked worried, Mom was crying and Dad was hugging her tight, doing his best to comfort her, when he was crying himself. I felt a pang of guilt in me and I fought against the current and raised my arms out to try and reach them.

'Mommy! Daddy! I'm here! Stop! Please I'm here, it's okay I'm safe!' I called to them. They froze and then began looking around them, their faces still sad, with confusion and desperation, as If they'd only heard me. I called out to them again and again, but they stopped listening, stopped looking.

'No! Don't give up on me yet! Mommy! Daddy! Please! Don't give up on me yet!' I screamed, tears streaming down my cheeks.

'Please, I miss you,' I sobbed, watching them disappear. It broke my heart and I looked down, letting the currents take control of my body again.

'Kasumi, Kasumi. So, you've discovered the Nine Tails' identity, have you?' A voice snickered. I froze, and found myself chained to two giant rock pillars. I was on my knees and my clothes were all torn and ripped and covered in dirt.

'You!' I growled. The Masked Man sniggered.

'So nice of you to remember me,'

'For you maybe. But it's hell having you and your stupid deal in the back of my mind all the time. What do you want now? You've already taken everything I held dear to my heart. This is all set up, you knew that the Nine Tails Jinchuriki was my brother. How could you be so heartless?!' I demanded.

The Masked Man chuckled.

'Clever girl,'

'Yeah, maybe I am, but you're not. If you think for one second that I'm going to let you lay a finger on Naruto then you've got to get a reality check. And don't even think about doing anything to my family back home. By all means take me instead!' I yelled, pulling against the chains. He glared at me.

'Hmmm, well, there's a new plan anyway, but you're key to it's success, Kasumi. I will have the Nine Tails but you don't have to worry about your precious family or village anymore. But like I said, you are key to my newest plan, especially with your new-found abilities. Who would've thought that such a terrible accident could prove to be the start of something great?' He laughed to himself. I growled and clenched my fists, rattling the chains.

'You look just like your Mother when I had her chained up here, that night. She was the previous Jinchuriki for the Nine Tails, you know. But I have something special planned for you. Don't let any of those worthless friends of yours get in my way, or else they'll pay the consequences,' the Masked Man snarled, turning away.

'I swear if you touch any of them I'll take my own life and you can kiss your brilliant plan goodbye! You won't have any victory with me gone, you jerk! I'd reconsider harming them if you want this stupid plan of yours to work!' I threatened. The Masked Man laughed and turned to me.

'You don't have the guts, brat,' he challenged. I glared at him.

I pulled hard on the chains and growled. I close my eyes as activated Blind State.

Raising my hands up, I heard the rock coming from out of the ground. I suddenly stopped and snapped my fists shut. The rock which I had summoned had been giant fists and had shut on the chains that held me against the rocks. The chains snapped like a twig and I stood up, stepping forward and drawing a kunai, bringing it up to my throat and deactivating Blind State.

'Try me, Jerk,' I barked back at him. He looked shocked but in awe of my strength.

'Don't act so foolish, I haven't done anything to them yet. I can see you're serious. Now put the kunai away and I'll spare them...for now,' he ordered. I put the kunai away, ad watched him.

'You've protected them for now, brat, but I warn you, I will have Naruto Uzumaki, you'll see,' he warned before disappearing into the darkness.

I was left alone and the sadness crept in. I wanted this all to be over, to go home, but taking my own life wouldn't solve anything, except for the Masked Man's plans to fail. That was a last resort, I decided.

'Kasumi,' a familiar voice called. I turned, my eyes wide. Was it really? Could it be...?

'Rikio?' I gasped at the figure standing before me.

'Who else could it be?' He smiled. Rikio, it was really him!

'Rikio! How is Mom and Dad? Are thy okay?' I asked frantically.

'Kasumi, they haven't given up on you, neither have I. I'm going to being you home Kasumi, just sit tight and wait for me...' His voice said, fading away.

'Rikio! No wait!' I called, running after him. But like my parents and the Masked Man, he'd vanished too...

I heard a voice, calling me, at first it was telling me to wake up but soon, it was begging. I knew the voice and my heart leapt to hear it. Sasuke. I tried to force myself to wake up, but I was struggling, all my strength had left my body and I was left numb. But I had to wake up! I had to get back to my my friends, my teacher, my boyfriend, my brother. I had to. That was when I heard them both, Naruto and Sasuke, begging me to wake up that the darkness started clearing.

I saw them up ahead of me and my face lit up. They were both smiling at me and were waiting for me. Behind them was everyone else. My face lit up and I forced against the currents which grew weaker as I desperately tried to fight it. Finally I broke free and began sprinting towards them.

'Wait for me!' I yelled, a smile on my face.

--

Slowly, I opened my eyes, one by one, to find Naruto and Sasuke beside me. They weren't looking at each other and I could feel a tension in the air. They were both watching me, and their faces lit up when my eyes opened.

'Kasumi!' they both exclaimed. I smile crept across my face and some tears rolled down my cheeks. I closed my eyes and smiled.

'You guys waited for me!' I whispered...

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sorry guys, as some of you may know, i recently lost my mama so updates have been slow. i've got exams next week but afterwards there should be plenty of updates! thanks so much for being patient, especially during the hard times. Arigato readers, this one's for you ^^ ~Georgie