First part of the chapter sucks.. but it's a long chapter, and the rest is better. So, enjoy :)

Kaira's POV.

I walked at mom when I saw her sitting at a round table in the middle of the library. She sat here pretty often. Mom is one of the few who really make use of the library. I'm ony here when I want to learn a new technique, or want to know something really badly. Almost everything you want to know is written on one of the scrolls in the library.

Mom looked up from the scroll she was reading, and looked at me when she noticed me approaching. ''Kaira..'' she murmured.

I could tell her condition had worsened. She looked a bit paler than before, and also thinner. Why would she eat less than before? Her voice as well.. It sounded hollow..

I clenched my fists and sat down next to her. It was silent for the first few minutes. Neither one of us said anything. Things were so messed up right now. Dad is pissed at me, mom is sick, Sasuke... I don't know if I should call things between Sasuke and me messed up, but things aren't very clear either. We only kissed once, but what did that mean? I don't know what Sasuke feels for me..

''Kaira, I want to give you something..'' Mom whispered, snapping me out of my thoughts.

Mom smiled weakly at me and handed me a scroll. I looked at her, and she nodded at me, silently telling me to open it. As I opened the scroll, I noticed techniques were explained on it, but frowned when I read the title.

This was a scroll with ice release techniques.

''Mom, I can't do such techniques, I didn't inherit your Kekkei Genkai..'' I murmured. ''Shouldn't you give it to Suki?''

Mom shook her head. ''You have inherited my Kekkei Genkai, you already showed signs of having it. You can do these as well. It just requires a lot of training. We all know Suki isn't the strongest, and she doesn't have much chakra either. Suki won't be able to do these, since you need a lot of chakra for some of these techniques. Even I couldn't master them all, only the easiest ones and a few more diffucut ones. Both Izuna and you may be able to do it Of course the training will take a year or more, so it's your choice if you do something with it.''

I have inherited mom's Kekkei Genkai? And Izuna as wel? Just like my siblings and I all have inherited dad's Kekkei Genkai? I was currently trying to master earth techniques, and that was already hard enough. Mastering a third chakra nature isn't so easy, and now mom tells me I can learn ice release techniques.. I think I'll need more than a year to master such techniques. ''Thanks mom..'' I whispered. ''I'll try it.''

''How is Sasuke?'' Mom suddenly asked. ''I saw him walking a while ago, is he badly injured?''

I glanced at mom. Why did she bring Sasuke up? Why would she care? Almost everyone of the Akatsuki had already died, and mom didn't look like she cared. Not much at least. ''He's fine, I guess.'' I mumbled. ''You should worry about yourself.''

Mom looked away, and let out a soft sigh. ''Kaira, I need you to listen to me.''

The way she said that didn't make me feel any better. I bit my lip and nodded slowly, hesitating if I should really listen or just go. I know that what she was going to say wasn't anything good.

''I probably won't make it.''

I felt my chest tighten, and I shut my eyes tightly. I knew something like that was coming, but hearing her say it.. Mom, the most important person in my life.. wasn't going to make it.. She was going to die.. What would I do without her? If I had problems, I would always go to her, she helped me with everything, she raised me, taught me.. and soon, she won't be able to anymore..

I glanced at mom, and noticed a sad smile on her face. ''Why are you smiling?'' I whispered inaudibly.

Mom frowned at me and put a hand on my shoulder. ''I didn't hear you. Speak louder.''

''Why are you smiling?!"'

Mom pulled her hand back at my sudden outburst. I didn't meant to yell, but how could she be smiling like that, after she said she would die?

''Because I've accepted my fate.''

I clenched my fists, and glared at her. She had accepted her fate? Her death?! I wasn't able to control my anger anymore and slammed my fist on the table as I stood up, startling my mother. ''Well I haven't accepted it!'' I yelled. ''How could you say that so easily? We're all doing what we can to keep you alive, to find a cure, and you've already given up?!''

''Kair-'' ''No!'' I cut her off. ''I don't want to talk to you anymore.''

I turned around, and began to leave. I heard mom call after me, but I ignored her and left the library. Asuki is spending hours in her room, trying to make a cure, for what? Nothing? It's like mom's not even trying to stay alive, while we all want her to. Doesn't she think about what we think? Does she intend to leave us all behind?

I didn't even notice I was crying until I reached the entrance of the base. Tears were running down my cheeks. When was the last time I actually cried? I leaned against the wall, slowly sliding down to the ground.

I was going to lose mom, just like I lost Itachi. Those two were the only people I could trust completely, even though Itachi held a few secrets from me, and soon, both will be gone. Wasn't there anything I could do? I've never felt so hopeless before, so helpless..

Sasuke's POV.

I was walking around the base,  looking for Suigetsu, Karin and Juugo. They went to the infirmary before me, since I went to Kaira's room at that time, but now I couldn't find them anywhere. Maybe they left the hideout for a bit? I let out a frustrated sigh. I wanted to talk to them about our next move. I didn't intend to stay in this place forever.

I was about to walk into the living room, when Izuna, Kaira's brother, walked out. He looked a lot like Madara, but then younger and with no bags under his eyes. Then I noticed the worried look in his eyes, and immediately knew something was off. Izuna looked at me, and the worry in his eyes was replaced by hope. ''Sasuke, have you seen Kaira?''

I frowned. Kaira? ''I saw her an hour ago, she went to the library.'' I spoke.

Izuna grimaced, and ran a hand through his hair. ''Where did she go after that?''

''How am I supposed to know?'' I asked. ''What happened?''

Izuna let out a sigh, looking hesitant. ''Well.. Let's just say something happened and she walked away. I was asked to look for her, and looked almost everywhere in the base, but I couldn't find her anywhere.''

It wasn't hard to guess where she was. Not for me at least. ''I think I know where she is.''

''Where?" Izuna asked hastily.

''I'll go to her.'' I said, not answering his question.

''But-'' ''Leave her to me.'' I cut Izuna off.

''Fine, I'll leave my sister to you then..'' Izuna muttered. ''Take care of her, she's probably pretty depressed now.''

I nodded and turned around. What could made Kaira depressed? I knew her as a girl who would be either smirking or glaring at people, so it was hard to imagine she could actually be sad or depressed sometimes. I sighed once I neared the entrance of the base. I believed Kaira was outside. Madara told her not to leave the base, but knowing Kaira, she would leave, but stay nearby. Or would she dare to ignore his orders? Madara won't go easy on her, it doesn't matter if Kaira is his daughter or not. He doesn't accept traitorous behavior. Betray him, defect to the other side, ignore his orders, and he'll make sure you regret it.

Only I will get away with it.

I do not plan on siding with Madara much longer..

When I finally was outside, I walked around the corner, only to bump into Kaira. Just the one who I was looking for. Kaira's eyes widened when she saw me, and she quickly rubbed her eyes, trying to wipe the tears I had already noticed. Her cheeks were tear-stained and her eyes were red and a bit puffy as well.

What in the world could make Kaira cry? Kaira looked at me, her eyes holding an empty look. ''What are you doing here, Sasuke?'' she whispered hoarsely. I could tell things were still a bit awkward between us, but that didn't matter at the moment.

I put my hands on Kaira's shoulders, and she looked away from me, at the ground. ''I was looking for you.'' I replied softly as I removed one of my hands from her shoulder, placing it on her cheek instead, using my thumb to wipe a tear. Kaira's shoulders began to shake, and I knew she was trying to hold more tears back.

My eyes widened slightly when she suddenly gripped my shirt in her fists. Looking down at her, I saw her sobbing softly. I've never seen her like this... so fragile.. She was always so stubborn.. seeing her like this made me feel sorry for her.

Slowly, I put one arm around her shoulders, pulling her against me. My shirt was became a bit wet by Kaira's tears as she had buried her face in my chest. I felt my chest tighten. I was still wondering what could have made her cry, but questions would only make the situation worse. I don't think Kaira would want to talk about it anyway.

Kaira's POV.

Why was I still crying? I didn't even want to cry anymore. It made my eyes hurt, and I could feel myself getting fatigue as well. But.. I did feel already a bit better.. I guess crying does help a bit, even though it makes you look weak. I have to admit that I needed someone to lean on right now, so I'm glad Sasuke was here. Anyone else would only make it worse. Suki is probably being a bigger crybaby than me right now, and Izuna wouldn't understand me, maybe he would even laugh at me for crying, not matter what the reason is.

Sasuke was silent, well aware that I didn't want to talk about it now. It would only make it worse. I wanted to forget it, but it wouldn't leave my mind. Mom would die, she said. Doesn't she believe in Asuki, that she would make a cure. I know Asuki isn't the best medic nin out there, but she's giving it her all.

I wished I could be useful as well. I wanted to be able to do something, even if that would only make mom live a second longer. I was now determined.

Determined to do everything to keep mom alive.

Sasuke's POV.

It was getting a little bit dark outside. We've been sitting here for a few hours now; on the ground, my back against the wall of the base, and Kaira on my lap. Her cheek was pressed against my shoulder. She had stopped crying long ago, and fell asleep. Her cheeks were still a bit red, and her lips were slightly parted. We had barely said a thing to each other all the time we've been out here.

Kaira shifted a bit in her sleep, snapping me out of my daze.

I decided it was time to go back inside, and carefully scooped her up in my arms, not wanting to wake her up. Kaira hummed softly as I slowly stood up, holding her in my arms.

When I walked inside the base, I only heard my own footsteps. Normally, I would also hear voices of the people in the living room or kitchen, but now I heard no one. They must have all gone to their rooms already. I didn't realize it was already that late..

When I walked past the living room, I saw Izuna sitting on the couch. He had his face buried in his hands, and even from where I was standing, I could see him slightly trembling. Deciding to let him be, I walked further. How further inside the hideout we went, how colder it got, and I held Kaira's warm body closer to me. When I finally ended up in the hallway where Kaira's room was, I opened the door, which was a bit difficult since I was still carrying Kaira. I walked inside her room and looked around. I had been here before, but never really took a good look. Her room was pretty empty. Just a bed, closet, a nightstand, a door to the bathroom and a desk.

I carefully placed Kaira on her bed, but when I was about to pull the covers over her, my hand brushed over her waist, and I felt something hard. Frowning, I zipped her vest open and saw a scroll in the inner pocket of her vest. I took it and opened it, but only grew more confused when I saw that ice release techniques were explained on them.

I looked up to Kaira's sleeping form. I didn't know she could use ice release, only fire and lightning, just like me. I decided to ask her tomorrow about it, and put the scroll on her desk, where some other scrolls lay as well.

I turned around, waking towards the door. I took one more glance over my shoulder, and saw Kaira still asleep, lying on her bed. I didn't know what was going on, but I guess it was something in the family. If Kaira and Izuna are both saddened, then it must have something to do with Madara, Miyu or Suki.

I grabbed the doorknob and opened the door again, and walked into the hallway, but a soft voice prevented me form leaving. ''Sasuke..?''

''Hm?'' I hummed, not turning around.

It was silent for a few seconds, and I heard Kaira move. Her soft footsteps came closer, and then suddenly stopped. Right behind me.

''Thank you.'' I heard her whisper.

I turned around, and saw Kaira standing in front of me, looking at the ground. ''And.. I'm sorry you had to see me like that today..'' she murmured. ''I was just...''

''It's fine.'' I said. ''I understand.''

Kaira looked up to me, and a faint smile appeared on her lips. My eyes flickered from her eyes to her lips, and then to her eyes again. Her black eyes glistered in the dimly lit room, the only light coming from the lamps in the hallway.

I suddenly felt cold fingers on my cheek. I didn't even realize Kaira had moved her hand. The cold tips of her fingers brushed against my cheek, going down to my neck. I shivered at her touch, and Kaira moved closer. Her other hand was placed on my shoulder, and I felt Kaira's breath fanning my lips before she placed her lips on mine. Unlike her fingers, her lips were warm, and soft. Intoxicating.

My eyes closed slowly, and I moved my arms around her waist. The kiss was sweet, and slow. Pleasurable. I never thought she would kiss me though. Last time, she seemed quite nervous, not sure what to do.

Kaira pulled away, her lips leaving mine, and I opened my eyes. Kaira took a few steps back, and she put her hand on the doorknob. ''Goodnight, Sasuke.'' she whispered softly.

Kaira closed the door, and I couldn't help but smile slightly.

''Goodnight.''