Kaira's POV.

''You should talk to her.'' Sasuke said after a short moment of silence.

I looked at him. I just told him what happened yesterday before he found me outside. We were currently sitting on the floor at the training grounds. We had just been sparring for some time, both holding back. After that, I finally told him what all the commotion was about. He listened well, without interrupting. After I finished my story, he was silent. He looked like he was thinking, so I decided not to say anything just yet.

''Talk to her..?'' I spoke quietly. ''I can't.''

Sasuke sighed as I looked down at my lap. I knew he was only trying to help me, and I did appreciate that, but I couldn't talk to mom right now. I had yelled at her, and was, honestly, a bit ashamed about it. II acted before thinking, and it was stupid of me.

''Kaira, you don't know when she'll die. It can be in a year, half a year, a month, a week, maybe tomorrow.'' Sasuke began, and I felt my chest tighten at his words. I didn't want to think about my mother's death. ''So now you still have a mother, you should spend time with her, talk to her.'' Sasuke continued. ''Once she's gone, you'll still feel guilty, and you won't be able to apologize to her anymore. Now that you still got time, you shouldn't waste it. I don't have a mother anymore. If I knew that she would die that day, I would have stayed by her side till the end, I wouldn't walk away. You can't run from what's going to happen Kaira, you will have to accept it.''

I clenched my fists, gritting my teeth. I knew he was right, and I knew what I had to do. But thinking about what's ahead.. I didn't like that one bit. I rather mom die a sudden death, than knowing she's going to die but not knowing when. That's just tormenting.

And what am I supposed to say to mom? How should I apologize?

''Want me to go with you?''

I nodded slowly as I kept looking down. I heard Sasuke move, and the next thing I felt was his elbow against my arm. When I was about to look up to glare at him, but then I saw him look past me, and followed his gaze, seeing Izuna stand a little bit further away. Looking back at Sasuke, I let out a small sigh. ''I'll be right back.'' I whispered before I got up, and ran at my brother. Still a bit tired from the training, I was slightly panting when I arrived in front of Izuna.

''Izuna.'' I breathed. ''Do you need something?''

''About yesterday..'' he began, and I looked away from him. ''I know you don't like it, of course you don't like it. Nobody likes it, but you had to know what was coming. Mom also told me and Suki..'' he trailed off. I could hear he had a bit trouble talking about the subject.

He wasn't the only one.

''I want you to talk to mom about it.'' he said, and I turned my gaze towards him. ''But-'' ''I don't know what Sasuke and you were talking about, but I was able to tell it was about the same subject.'' Izuna interrupted me.

I bit her lip and nodded. ''I'll talk to her.'' I muttered quietly. Izuna smiled and pulled me into an embrace. Not really expecting that, I stiffened. Even though Izuna and I were pretty close, we almost never hugged. Sometimes, we were more like rivals than siblings. We saw everything as a challenge. A challenge only one of us could win. Izuna almost always won. He is stronger than me, and I didn't like that one bit. No wonder he's dad's favorite. I didn't blame Izuna for that. He was just the better one, but that doesn't mean I didn't strive to surpass him.

I felt him ruffle my hair. ''It'll be fine. We haven't given up yet.'' he murmured. I sighed and put my head against his shoulder, hugging him back. ''Thank you, Izuna..'' I whispered.

Izuna let go of me, and I turned around, seeing Sasuke look at the both of us. I waved at him, motioning for him to come here. Sasuke got up, and began to walk at us slowly, taking his time.

I looked back at Izuna and heaved a sigh. ''Where is she?''

''I think in her room..'' he answered slowly, a bit hesitantly. ''But I'll be going now. I still want to go on a mission.''

I nodded and Izuna flashed me an encouraging smile before he left.

Sasuke's POV.

I watched in silence as I saw Kaira talk to her mother. Miyu's back was turned to me, so I couldn't see how she was reacting, but everything seemed to be going fine. Seeing Kaira and Miyu together, reminded me of being with my own mother. Pictures of her lying dead on the ground flashed through my mind. Her skin pale, her lips parted. Blood.

I squeezed my eyes tightly shut and brought my hand to my head while clenching my jaw. It's been long since I thought of them. I usually look ahead, instead of looking back at the past. It was also painful to think back. I lost my whole family. I saw them all lying dead on the ground. Covered in blood. Eyes wide. Stiff. Cold.

Motionless..

''Sasuke, are you okay?''

Miyu's voice snapped me out of my thoughts, and my eyes shot open, seeing Kaira and Miyu glancing at me, both looking a bit worried.

''Sasuke..?'' Kaira whispered.

''I'm fine.'' I mumbled flatly, before walking away. I left the room, walking though the hallway. I heard Kaira say something I couldn't hear clearly, and then heard footsteps behind me. ''Sasuke!''

I didn't stop. I kept walking. Pictures kept flashing through my mind, and it was like I couldn't stop them, not matter how hard I tried to get rid of them.

''Sasuke!''

It was like I was reliving the incident. Everything I saw, I felt.. Even the smell of the blood. It was horrible. Frightening.

I froze when I felt a hand grab my wrist, stopping my movements. I blinked, and saw an empty hallway before me. No corpses. No blood. Just a hallway. My breathing slowed down, and I looked over my shoulder, seeing Kaira still holding my wrist. ''Sasuke.. Are you alright?''

I looked away from her and nodded. Kaira squeezed my wrist. ''You sure?''

I turned around to face her, and looked into her onyx eyes. ''I'm fine, Kaira.''

She didn't look very convinced, but let go of me. ''Just tell me if there's something wrong.'' she whispered before she turned around, beginning to walk away. I had to admit, I felt comfortable around Kaira. Around her, I could be myself. I had the feeling I could trust her, even though her father wasn't very trustable. I hadn't told her any of my plans yet, just to be safe. If Madara were to find out, I would be in trouble.

As Kaira left, I was debating about whether to call her back or not. I still had to look for Suigetsu and the rest, but preferred to be with Kaira now.

I sighed, and just when Kaira was about to walk around the corner, I spoke up. ''Wait.''

Izuna's POV.

I felt dizzy, and my head was spinning. The burning pain in my chest wouldn't disappear as well. Through half lidded eyes, I looked up to the starry sky. It was already around midnight.. I don't know how long I've been lying here.. maybe an hour?

I never thought my mission would turn out like this. Being ambushed is never fun, unless you're the winner of the fight. In this case, I wasn't. It was nine against one. And I couldn't deny those ninjas were pretty strong. They weren't wearing a head protector, so I guessed they were criminals as well. The only thing they had was a tattoo. A black cross. What it meant, I didn't know, but I would think they were of some kind of organization. An organization that didn't like the Akatsuki one bit.

I managed to kill seven of them, but one of them got me in the end, with a poisoned knife. I was cut across my chest, and my arm as well. It took a few minuted before I realized I had been poisoned. My vision became blurry and I couldn't stand straight anymore.

They just left after I collapsed. I wonder why they didn't kill me. Maybe they wanted me to suffer? Well, I was suffering, but I have felt greater pain than this.

But currently, I was more worried about Rai and Kuri than about myself. They were in this area too. I took the scroll mission because then I could go to Suna, the village Rai and Kuri were. They took the mission I wanted to pick, so I chose one that was a bit comparable.

Their mission would take longer, but since they left earlier than me, they should be on their way back now either. They don't stand a chance if they are being ambushed too. Rai doesn't have the Sharingan, and Kuri just isn't strong enough. It's the hard truth. I endured long hard training from my father, while they were being lazy. I chose power, while they chose for fun. Idiots.

A pain shot through my eyes from using the Mangekyou Sharingan, and I winced. I should have already been back. Would they notice my absence? That I was taking too long?

Would they come to find me?

I didn't want them to come. Those guys were still walking around, and it's possible they have back-up. They will just ambush the next person coming near.

My eyes widened when I realized something, and I growled in frustration.

They were using me as bait!

They wanted people to find me, so they could take them out. That's why they left me alive, I guess. Of course I didn't know for sure, it was just a thought, but it was possible...