AKARI

"You're what?"

I sigh, shaking my head at Kiba, who is flailing his arms dramatically, his face red. Why he can't understand this, I don't know. "I said," I say slowly for his benefit, "that you guys are going back to the Village ahead of me. I'm going to the Land of Waves."

I made this decision last night, after my conversation with Gaara. When I'd finally stopped laughing, he'd convinced me to go to sleep. I reluctantly agreed, having liked his company after pushing people out for so long. And he'd made me smile, for the first time in... in a while. But I was dead tired, so I did what he said and made my way back to camp. I curled up on my sleeping bag a little ways away from Hinata, Hanabi and Temari, who were all fast asleep. And as I lay there, slowly drifting into the blackness of sleep, I stared out at the Land of Waves' bridge, connecting it to the Land of Fire, and made my choice.

I'm going to see Haku and Zabuza's graves.

Kakashi told me where they are some time ago, when I'd asked him about Haku. When I'd found out he was nice enough to give the two of them a proper burial, I almost broke down crying. Not my best moment, but whatever.

"BUT WHY?!" Kiba demands, with Akamaru barking just as loudly, trying to lend his voice to his owner's agument. It still doesn't carry much weigth if you ask me.

"I have some... business here," I say, reluctant to bring up Haku. My team knows who he is, but still. It's personal for me.

"But you're going alone!" the noisy Inuzuka shouts, arms still flailing. "Yes," I agree, grabbing onto his arms and pulling them down to his sides forcefully. "I am. But the Land of Waves is a peaceful country now. I won't be in any danger."

"Akari! You just can't do this!" he argues, and I roll my eyes. "Please, Kiba," I say. "Just let me do this. It means the world to me."

He blinks, leaning closer to squint at me. I sweat drop under his intense gaze, then give him a tentative smile. "Please, Kiba," I beg, as his eyes widen to an unimaginable level, so much so that I'm afraid they're going to pop out of his head and hit me in the face.

"Y-You're smiling," he breathes. Then his voice grows stronger, and louder. Much, much louder. "YOU'RE SMILING AKARI! WHAT THE HELL?! WHY ARE YOU SMILING?! AH! THIS IS GREAT! AKARI'S SMILING!"

Everyone turns to look at him due to his poorly planned outburst, and I sweat drop, feeling all their gazes shift to me. I guess it is a little surprising...

I wave at everyone casually, holding back a frown when I spot Kankuro'a smirking face. Even Temari is hiding her giggles behind a hand. Uh, did I miss something?

At least Gaara seems normal, calmly looking at me with his sea-green eyes.

But really, it's my teammates who worry me the most.

Shino... Why do I get the feeling that you might actually tackle hug me? I may faint if you do that. And Hinata. Oh God, she's gonna start blubbering!

Hanabi, eh. I don't think she gives a crap about my well being. Back at ya, little Hyuga. You already remind me of you father. Not. A. Good. Thing.

"I'm gonna go now," I say slowly, backing away from the group. I don't get five steps away when my entire team, including Shino, tackles me to the ground in a pile-on hug. They're crushing me to death!

I groan, as Kiba's grinning face appears above me. "You're back," he says happily, his smile turning soft and sweet. I offer a small one of my own, despite the fact that I can't breathe. "Now... would you mind... letting me... breathe?" I pant, and his canine eyes widen. "Crap!" he hisses, and starts to shove the others off me. I laugh slightly as I see their apologetic faces, turned towards the ground. Hinata looks back up at me when she hears the smile. "Akari!" she exclaims, our earlier tension forgotten. She wraps me in a hug of her own, as soft and sweet as Kiba's smile. I hug her back, saying softly, "I'm sorry I worried you all so much." She blushes as she pulls away, shaking her head adamantly. "You have no reason to be sorry," she assures me, then blushes harder. "I'm the one who couldn't understand your feelings."

My lips twitch into a tiny smile. She's stopped her stuttering around me.

It takes a while, but the others eventually agree to let me go to the Land of Waves, though they've promised we're meeting up the moment I get back to Konoha. I agree, because it's what I want as well.

I help everyone pack up the rest of their things, then grab my own small pack and sling it over my shoulders. "I'll see you guys soon, ok?" I say, and they all, besides Shino, smile in response. Of course, he could be smiling, but I can't see his damn face behind his damn collar.

I need to work on my swearing issues.

I spin on my heels and begin walking towards the bridge, which I can see in the distance.

"Hey wait!"

I look over my shoulder. Kankuro is smirking again. This can't be good. "What is it?" I ask warily, narrowing my eyes at him. "Our mission," he says, "was to back up your team. I think that extends to your little adventure in the Land of Waves."

"So what?" I ask. "The three of you are going to tag along?"

He shakes his head, still grinning like a mad man. "Not the three of us," he assures me, throwing a meaningful look at Temari. She smiles at me brightly, before joining her brother in shoving a bewildered Gaara forward, towards me. He stumbles a bit, and I grab onto his arm to steady him. Kankuro's mad grin widens.

"What is wrong with your siblings today?" I ask Gaara quietly. He glares at Kankuro and Temari, and says, "I have absolutely no idea." I shrug and turn back to them. "Is this really necessary?" I ask, placing my hands on my hips. Temari nods eagerly. "Of course! We can't say we completed our mission if we don't have Gaara accompany you!"

"And why Gaara?" I question. "Why so eager to have him be the one that comes with me?"

Temari shrugs a shoulder coolly. "No reason," she says, waving a hand dismissively. I blink at her attitude, then groan and face palm. "There's no getting answers out of them," I mutter, mostly to myself, but also to Gaara. He shakes his head, annoyed by his siblings' actions. "Well, whatever," I say, deciding to deal with those two later. "C'mon Gaara, if you're up for it, we might as well get going." He nods to me and we walk side by side, away from my crazy teammates, and his sneaky family.

***

"Ugh, I just remembered something."

"What?" Gaara asks, turning from the ocean beside us to look at me. I chuckle. "This bridge is called the Great Naruto Bridge. A guy named Tazuna named it that after Naruto and the rest of Team Seven saved this country from a guy named Gato, and allowed this bridge to be built. I just think it's funny that Naruto of all people got a bridge named after him."

"He is a strange boy," Gaara agrees, watching the ocean again. I smile a little, quickening my pace so that I walk in front of him, and turn around to face him while walking backwards. "You like the water?" I ask, and he blinks in surprise. "Is it that obvious?" he asks, tilting his head. I laugh lightly. "A little," I tell him. "But don't worry. I'm fascinated by it too. The Leaf Village isn't exactly close to any sea."

"Neither is Suna," he says. "I've seen the ocean before, because of missions I've gone on, but it's still very unfamiliar to me."

"This is my first time being this close to the water," I say, tilting my head back to the watch the clouds. They're puffy today, and a startling white. They make me think of Shikamaru, my best friend in the entire world. I can't wait to see him when I get back; he'll be the most happy about my return to my former personality.

"Can you swim?"

The question catches me off guard, and I almost trip over my own feet. I regain my balance, and look at Gaara questioningly. "Yes," I say slowly. "Why?"

The next thing I know, I'm being shoved off the bridge into the water.

But halfway down, my hands begin to work on auto pilot, forming a now very familiar, and comforting hand sign. An ice mirror appears below me, and I sink into it graciously, ready to pop out of one over the bridge.

Except, I made a mistake, and this one dumps me out about fifteen feet above the damn bridge.

"Ahhh!" I shout, too unprepared to catch myself. I should really better my reflexes. But ah! That's not the point right now! I'm freaking falli--

I land softly, on a bed of sand.

"I wasn't expecting you to do that," Gaara says, folding his arms across his chest and nodding towards my mirror, which is slowly dissipating. "Well, you shoved me off the damn bridge!" I counter, shooting him a glare.

"I would have caught you," he replies, as the sand beneath me finds its way back into the gourd on his back. "Oh," is all I can say as I get to my feet. I rub the back of my head, embarrassed. I screamed like a little girl back there, and from the almost imperceptable smirk on Gaara's face, he caught it too.

"Sorry I scared you," he says, resuming in our walk. I fold my hands together behind my head, smiling at him. "No problem," I say. "Kiba's done worse things. He once thought it would be funny if he caught me in one of our traps, so he dug a pit, lined it with fake paper bombs, and covered it up. Sadly, I fell right into it, literally, and screamed at the top of my lungs."

Gaara narrows his eyes, looking deep in thought. Slightly concerned, I unfold my hands and bump his side with my elbow. "You ok?" I ask, as he's startled from his thoughts. "Oh, yes," he says, sounding like I'd caught him breaking some rule. "I was just... thinking about you might've reacted to that."

I know that's not what was just going through his mind, but I'll ignore it for the time being. So instead of asking him about it, I say with a laugh, "Yeah, I got him back all right. Kiba's big into the hot springs back in Konoha, so one day when I knew he was going there, I switched the signs for the male and female bathing areas. Now there are about a dozen women in the Village who think he's a bigger pervert than the Sannin, Jiraiya!"

"Your team," Gaara says, and I frown at him slightly. "You don't seem to act very seriously." I nod, a sly smile creeping onto my face. "I'd say it's mostly Kiba's fault," I say. "But I'd be lying. We pull more pranks on each other than Naruto. Well not recently, but before the Chunin Exams, we were so bad the Hokage suspended us from missions for a week. That was after Kiba had tried to light Shino's hair on fire."

"Why would he do that?"

"I... I don't really remember." I frown to myself, thinking back to that particular incident. I think Kiba was mad because he thought Shino was trying to take over as team leader, and as we all know, that's Kiba's special position. But at the time... "Oh I got it! Kiba was high!"

Gaara gives me a "what the hell is wrong with your team" look, and I smile sheepishly at him. "It's not as bad as it sounds," I promise, and his features relax somewhat. "It's just, at the time, Kiba was on pain medication for a broken wrist, and he took too much one day. So when Shino got on his nerves, he decided it would be 'smart and funny' to turn Shino into a living bug zapper.... by lighting his hair on fire. I guess he thought that bugs would be attracted to the flames, and then they'd burn up or something, and Shino would be devastated because he's a bug freak and then--"

OH MY GOD STOP FOR A BREATH ALREADY!!!

I take a deep breath, before I pass out from lack of oxygen. I did a little too much talking there, didn't I? Well it isn't my fault! Sometimes I talk when I'm nervous, and Gaara's making me nervous! Not in a "oh my God I think he's going to kill me" sort of way, but... I don't know. I just feel a little awkward around him.

And now I'm worried that Gaara is going to think I'm a total freak, because my team is full of a bunch of idiots. Well, not Hinata. I love her. And Shino's really smart, he's just a little strange. So I guess that just leaves Kiba as the freak... and me too. Ugh. We are really weird, aren't we?

But Gaara only smiles at me.

His smiles are totally different from KIba's, but they give me the same kind of warm feeling inside. Maybe it's because his are so rare.

"Leaf Village Ninja are certainly a lot more easy going than Suna Ninja," he muses, sounding amused. I shrug in a carefree way. "That's true, I guess. But it doesn't change the fact that Kiba, probably the most childish Ninja on my team, can still kick my ass any day of the week. Just because he's an idiot for most of the time, doesn't mean he's stupid during a battle."

"Like Naruto," Gaara says, making me laugh. "Yeah, exactly like that knucklehead. Hm. I wonder how he's doing right now..."

We finally make it into the Village at the end of the bridge. It's lively, though not as bustling as Konoha usually is. Kids play in the street, laughing and calling out to one another. Adults and teens alike stand at stalls, buying produce or knick knacks, or whatever, or just chatting with the merchants.

It's a very different place from what Kakashi described to me.

Now, I know the general location of the grave, but I really want someone to show me. And I think I know who that is.

I walk up to a young man wearing baggy clothes, who has shockingly pink hair. Does he dye it, or is this natural? It's like, hot pink. Way more conspicuous than Sakura's Cherry Blossom hair. I tap him on the shoulder, and he spins around.

Aw crap. I really don't like that boyish smile flashing on his lips.

"Excuse me," I say, trying my hardest to be polite. This is a public place after all. No need to cause a scene by smacking him upside the head after only a first impression. Even if that first impression's left me thinking this guy is a hormone crazed moron.

"What can I do for ya, babe?" he asks cockily, leaning against a wall and smiling at me. His eyes travel up and down my body appraisingly, and widen. I fist my hands at my side in an attempt to placate my growing anger; it barley helps.

"I'm looking for a man named Tazuna," I say, and the boy puts on a puppy-dog pout that's meant to be cute. It's far from it. "That your boyfriend?" he asks, sounding hurt. I groan, and shake my head. "No, it's just a guy I need to talk to."

"Well good!" the boy chirps, latching onto my arm, dragging me down the street. "Then I can take ya out for a date right now, and help ya later, how's that sound?"

Like I'd rather stick a senbon needle in my eye. Repeatedly.

"How about you just tell me you don't know where Tazuna is, and I'll leave," I suggest, but his grip on my arm tightens. "Not a chance," he says lowly, his voice much different from before. It's not that of a teenage boy trying to score a date, but of a grown up predator. Man, I was really hoping I wouldn't have to hurt anyone.

"You're too hot to let go," he continues, smiling to himself. "And I wanna have some fun."

"You know what would be fun?" I ask, and he looks down at me. "Making sure you're never able to have children again," I say sweetly. His eyes widen, just as I spin and bring my knee up, hard, into a spot no boy ever wants to be kneed. He drops to the ground, but I'm not finished yet. I shove him up against a building, ignoring the shocked exclamation coming from those around me, and begin forming hand signs. "Demonic Illusion: False Surroundings: Winter Prison!"

I place my hand to the boy's forehead, and his eyes instantly shut, his body going limp. I let him fall to the ground, stepping back from him. I grin a little too widely, but only because this is the first time I've tried this technique on an opponent before. Ok, fine. An untrained civilian isn't a real opponent, but I'm just happy it worked.

"Genjutsu?"

I look behind me to see Gaara, his narrowed eyes on the unconscious boy. I nod proudly, wondering where the hell he went. It would have been nice of him to step in. Not that I needed help. Ugh. Whatever, it doesn't matter. But seriously, where'd he run off to?

"It's something Kurenai Sensei helped me perfect," I say, walking away from the boy and joining Gaara, ignoring the looks I recieve from the Villagers. "It's a variant of the Genjutsu that just changes your surroundings. Mine's stronger than the average scenery-changing Genjutsu, because it's much harder to break out of even if it is easier to spot."

"Aren't scenery-changing Genjutsu meant to keep the victim awake?" Gaara asks, waving one hand at the boy, who's now drooling in his sleep. I shrug. "I guess," I say. "But like I said, it isn't a normal scenery-changing Genjutsu. It's one I made myself during my month of training for the Chunin Exams. With Kurenai Sensei's help of course."

"You mastered a new, original justu in just a month?"

"Well, three weeks, because I was out of it for that first week. But yeah. And I know it seems really quick, but Kurenai Sensei is a Genjutsu genius! The only person I've ever seen that can best her is Itachi Uchiha."

"When did you meet Itachi Uchiha?" Gaara asks, concerning edging around his voice. I blink in confusion, unsure as to why he's so concerned about me. But maybe it's not me, just that Itachi was around. Everyone knows what he did to the Uchiha Clan, so they know how powerful, and how evil he is.

Why does that version of the truth... hurt?

"A few weeks ago," I say answering Gaara's question off-handedly. "It was nothing, really. They left before anything really bad happened. Well, they put Kakashi in the hospital, but he's fine now, so it's ok. Anyway," I say, wanting to finish the explanation of my jutsu. "My Genjutsu works by trapping someone in a frozen forest, where they wander around for what seems like days, until they slowly die, either of hypothermia or starvation. You know, in their head. They wake up when it's over."

"Were you always this... sadistic?"

I blanch. "No!" I insist, waving my arms in front of me for emphasis. "It's just... this guy's a pervert, and I was defending myself. I'd only use this type of thing on an enemy, usually and--- what?" I ask, seeing the look in Gaara's eyes had changed. He looks... murderous. Though it still isn't anywhere near as demented as before. Still, I can't help but frown at him.

"This guy," he grows, flicking a hand out towards the creepy perv, who's now shaking as if freezing cold. "What did he do?"

Scowling at the recent memory, I quickly tell Gaara what happened while he was away. After I'm done, he shoots a poisonous look at the boy. While I was telling the story, Gaara slowly tensed up, and the look in his eyes turned to pure hatred. I don't get what it's about, but I'm glad he agrees with me now.

"Anyway," I say, placing a hand on his arm, in order to try and calm him down. It works like a charm; his eyes snap up from the unconscious pervert and soften when they reach me. I smile. "We should just keep looking for Tazuna. He's got to be around here somewhere."

"Why're you looking for me, little girl?"

I jump about a foot in the air. The guy's rough voice is right behind me! What. The. Hell?!?! Placing a hand over my heart, I spin around to glare at him. "Did you really feel the need to sneak up on me?" I demand, and he chuckles. "Aren't you Ninja supposed to be able to tell when someone's sneaking up on you?" he counters, and I sweat drop. "Well, yeah..." I mutter, rubbing the back of my head nervously.

"So wait, you're Tazuna, the master bridge builder?" I ask skeptically. He nods, scowling at me. "Why's that so hard to believe?" he asks bitterly. I shrug. "I thought you'd be younger or something."

"Just what do you want... Leaf Ninja?" He adds that in because he's just noticed the headband around my waist. I self-consciously pull at the cloth around the metal plate. "Do you remember a man named Kakashi Hatake?" I ask. Tazuna stiffens, then relaxes into a broad smile. "Of course," he says roughly, though that might just be how he talks. "Him and the Uzumaki brat, along with those other two. I remember them. You their friend or something?"

I nod, flashing my own smile. "Yes, I am. But I'm not here because of them. I'm here because of what happened while they were on their mission."

"Look," Tazuna says, holding up a hand to stop me from continuing. "I'll listen to your story. But I have to get home to see my grandson. He's waiting. So you two can just come with me."

"Thank you," I say, bowing to him as a sign of respect. Gaara bows also, even if I'm the only who has an obligation to. It makes me smile at him in gratitude. He returns the gesture as we both straighten up. "I'm Akari Yuki," I say as Tazuna leads us along the streets back to his house.

"My name is Gaara," my companion says.

"Reminds me," Tazuna says, as if he's really just rememebered something. "That headband on your gourd, kid. It's for the Sand Village. Why are you so far from home? And with a Leaf Ninja at that?"

I slide my gaze over to Gaara, silently asking if he wants to explain. Gaara isn't a big talker. I've noticed, because, sadly, I've been carrying our conversations for the most part. But he surprises me by explaining himself. "My siblings and I were asked to join in a Leaf Village mission."

"That mission was to come here and talk to me?"

"No, it was to rescue a child from a prominent Village family from a lone Mist Ninja. Akari, though, decided she wanted to come here early this morning. I was volunteered to go with her."

Tazuna looks at me out of the corner of his eye. "You remind me of someone," he says thoughtfully. I shrug, not sure how to reply. I've never met this bridge builder before. Maybe I just have that kind of face?

We stop outside an average sized home, and Tazuna unceremoniously passes me the two bags he'd been carrying. I stagger backwards from the sudden weight. What the hell did he buy? Bricks? A thousand cans of beans?

Tazuna pushes open the door and heads inside, calling out, "Hey! Inari! Tsunami! I'm home!" He doesn't even mention us! I roll my eyes, then gesture for Gaara to go in ahead of me. He asks if I want him to take the bags, but I just shake my head and tell him to go inside. He does, and I follow him. Inside, it's nice, home-y. Comfortable. And obviously lived-in. A pretty dark-haired woman is working on something on the stove. She turns when we walk in, and gives us a charming smile. "I'm sorry Father asked you to carry those, Leaf Ninja," she says. "You can put them on the table." I do, grumbling to myself. "Didn't even ask!"

Tazuna is sitting at the table, leaning back in his chair. He sighs contentedly. "So, Akari Yuki," he says, and he looks at me curiously. "What is it you want from me?"

I take a step forward and open my mouth to explain, only to be cut off by a happy squeal. "Grandfather! You're back!" A little boy maybe nine-years-old rushes down the steps I've only just noticed, skidding to a halt in front of Tazuna. He's adorable, with his spiky black hair and his excited face. He's wearing green overalls and a yellow shirt, and a white hat with two blue stripes above the brim. He collides with his grandfather in a hug, Tazuna patting the young boy's head warmly. "Hello Inari," he says, giving the boy a closed eye smile.

I clear my throat nervously, and three pairs of eyes turn to me, looking like they're surprised I'm still here. Well in Inari's case, he didn't know I was here in the first place, so I guess that's understandable.. "Sorry, kid," Tazuna says, releasing Inari, who drops to ground and stares at me with wide, curious eyes. Those eyes suddenly widen, and he backs away from me quickly. "Weren't you... weren't you dead?!"

"Dead?" I echo, watching his reaction with narrowed eyes. "I don't think so."

"Inari!" Tazuna barks. "What are you talking about?"

Inari, still shaking, can only stutter. "T-That boy on the b-bridge!" he says, fear in large dark eyes. "The one Naruto fought! He was d-dead!"

My surprise softens to understanding and I quietly walk over to the boy, cowering against the wall. I crouch in front of him and take his hand. "See?" I say. "I'm alive, not a ghost or a spirit or anything. You can touch me, not pass through me."

"B-But--"

"I know who you're talking about," I say, smiling sadly. "His name was Haku. We're from the same clan, so I guess it isn't surprising that I look a little like him. My name is Akari Yuki."

"Now that you mention is," Tazuna says, making me swing around to face him. "You look exactly like that boy, Haku." I frown. "He doesn't look that much like a girl." Then I blanch. "And I don't look like a boy!..... Do I?"

"No, you don't," Gaara says flatly. I blink, then smile at him, grateful for the support. Tazuna stares at him, his eyes hooded. He barks out a laugh, startling us all. When he calms down, he shakes his head, first at me, then at Gaara. I raise an eyebrow at him, but he never explains. So I choose to disregard it and get back to my original point. "That kinda explains why I'm here, actually," I say, gaining his attention. "I was wondering if you could direct me to Haku and Zabuza Momochi's graves."

There is silence in the comfortable home; even Tsunami pauses in her cooking.

Have I said something wrong?

Then Inari takes my hand. I look down at him, and he's smiling brightly up at me. "Naruto said those two were good in the end, so I'll take you to their graves," he announces, already bustling me out the door. "Be careful Inari!" Tsunami calls after us. "I'll be fine Mom!" he shouts back. "If these guys are anything like Naruto, they've got to be strong!"

Naruto has a fan boy...

Who knew?

He's just like Sasuke now!

......Yeah. Right.

I grab onto Gaara's hand as I pass him, and he's dragged along as well. Inari is surprisingly strong for such a little kid. The small boy leads us through crowds of people, and out of the Village. We enter the forest, with Inari's death grip on my hand not letting up at all. He takes us through the trees, in a seemingly straight path, until we reach a cliff, overlooking the water, and the Great Naruto Bridge.

Inari finally drops my hand, just after pulling me from the tree line. He says, in a soft, respectful voice, "Just over there." He points towards the edge of the cliff, and there they are. Two wooden crosses made from cut branches, tied together with rope. Behind one is the giant sword I'd seen Zabuza holding in my dreams. He must have some weird spiritual version of it.

"You can go now," I hear Gaara tell Inari. "We can find our way back." Inari says nothing, and a moment later I hear his soft footsteps as he makes his way home.

I walk slowly over to the graves, seemingly untouched after the months they've been here. I take a minute to study them, to just take in the fact that I am here. It's almost like closure.

Then I sit down, cross-legged, in front of the graves. I take a deep breath as I reach out and press a hand to what has to be Haku's grave marker. I get the same sensation I felt when reaching for Masaki's name on the Memorial Stone. Like I've lost a brother.

"Gaara," I call out softly. "Would you mind if I think out loud? I've got some things I'd like to say." He appears at my back. I don't turn my head, but I can sense him. "Do you want me to go?" he asks. I shake my head, closing my eyes. "That's sweet, but I'd rather you stay here, or at least close by. I don't really want to be alone right now anyway."

I feel Gaara take a seat beside me. He feels tense, like he's on guard. I guess that's good, considering I'm not even close to being focused on our surroundings.

"Did you know this is where I wanted to come?" I ask, feeling the need to.

"I had a thought," he replies.

I pause, wondering if my next words are necessary. I decide they are. "Thank you, Gaara."

"For what?"

"Coming here with me, staying, and you know, last night. I'm not entirely sure what you did, but you brought back my happiness. And for that, I can't thank you enough."

Gaara doesn't respond in words, but I can sense his muscles loosening, ever so slightly. Either he's relieved for some reason, or happy.

I'm going to go with the latter.

Now, I can focus on what I want to say to Haku and Zabuza. Sure, there's the chance I'll meet them in my dreams again in my dreams, and see them for real, but saying these words in front of the place where they're meant to rest forever... I think they'll carry more weight this way.

"Hello Haku, Zabuza," I say, my voice as soft as a sigh. I don't feel foolish, even though I'm speaking to two grave markers, in front of someone. And that someone is Gaara of the Desert. It just... doesn't bother me.

"I haven't spoken to you guys in a long time. I've been wondering... can you not visit me? Or do you not want to? I hope that's not it. That, for some reason, you're done with me. I don't think I could take that. I've only spoken to you two twice, but you both already feel like family. And God knows I can use all the family I can get."

Gaara slips his hand into mine, entwining our fingers. I smile softly, without commenting on it. He's being a lot nicer than I ever thought he could be. And he says he's changed, because of me... I'll have to think about that one, as I'm not sure how I feel about it.

"Anyway, in case you haven't been watching, I'm doing better, finally. After losing Masaki, I even got out of Shikamaru's house. I'm living with Kakashi now, who insists I don't call him Sensei. I've grown to like him, and I think he and Zabuza would've been good friends, had they not tried to kill each other. And he's been kind to me, so I think you'd like him too, Haku.

"That reminds me. Is Masaki there with you? Or is he somewhere else? If he is, and you happen to meet him, tell him I love him, and that I miss him. He deserves that much, I think.

"There isn't much I wanted to say to you two, just that I can't wait to see you again, and that I hope from here on out, you'll keep an eye on me, and maybe my friends too. In this world, a little blessing from you all would mean a lot to me. And, thank you, the both of you. Just for giving me a part of my past back."

I sigh, having said what I needed to.

"Do you feel any better?" Gaara asks quietly. I blink open my eyes, and give him a reassuring smile. "I feel more... right, I guess," I tell him, and he nods, like that's a completely understandable statement.

I look up at the sky and nearly freak out when I see how late it's gotten. Even if we leave now, we won't make it back to the Village for at least two days. But still, I don't want to worry them. And since I've done what I came to do we should--

A dull impact sounds behind us, like kunai thunking against a wall.

Gaara and I whirl around to find his sand shield activated. Two kunai are barely sunk into the almost impenetrable sand, the source of the thunking.

Three loud, slow claps echo through the sudden quiet of the forest.

"Impressive," a voice says. Gaara's sand begins to recede back into its container, revealing a cloaked man, with a Leaf Village ANBU Black Ops mask on. "I knew your sand was fast, but this really is something."

Gaara and I slowly rise to our feet, glaring at the masked figure. Obviously, this is not an ANBU member. They wouldn't attack a Leaf Village Genin for no reason.

"Who the hell are you?" I growl, swiping three shurkien from the holder on my right thigh. I raise my arm, holding it across my chest, ready to throw. But the fake-ANBU only chuckles. "A simple attack like that won't be enough to stop me, Akari," he says, and I freeze. Why the hell does he know my name?

"As for who I am," he goes on dramatically. "You already know me. At least, you should have seen my face before. Don't recognize my voice? Well, that makes sense. You only heard it once. And next to Naruto's, it must be so forgettable."

I've only heard his voice once? And Naruto was there?

"Gaara, you were there as well... Still nothing? My, my, I have to say I'm disappointed. Are you really going to make me remove my mask?"

He chuckles again, an agonizing sound. He just sounds so... arrogant, so prideful. And so, so annoying!

The masked Ninja, reaches up with one gloved hand, taking hold of his mask. "Now, don't seem so shocked," he says, sounding way too amused for the situation. With a sweep of his arm, the mask comes off and I... still don't recognize him.

"Am I meant to know you?" I ask, a little baffled. He blanches. "Really? Nothing at all?" he questions, his voice taking on an angry tone. Oh go cry to your mother, glasses boy.

"He's one of the Leaf Genin who dropped out of the Chunin Exams, before the preliminary round," Gaara says lowly, making me pause, thinking back to that time. I know Ei and Botan both left, and there was a third, a boy, who Naruto was with...

"Kabuto... Yakushi?" I ask, and a nasty smile appears on the teen's lips. "So you do remember," he says, now sounding pleased. "That's perfect. I hate introductions. This will make my job a whole lot easier."

"And what job would that be?" Gaara growls.

Kabuto smirks, throwing off his ANBU cloak. "Oh it's simple, really," he says, taking a few steps forward. "I'm here... to bring the little Yuki girl back to Orochimaru."