Have you ever seen the hue sunlight takes when it drowns into darkness? Did you notice how dimmer it gets the further it pierces the abyss? Inch by inch it dives in deeper; stubbornly fighting fate. Inch by inch it thinks it can change darkness into a shade that wouldn’t frighten it quite as much. If you never seen a ray of sun foolishly die for the dark, then turn to a crevasse in your room, a corner in the walls, or, if you are very, very misfortunate … a mirror.

What a dreadful morning, he thought to himself before turning his back at the piercing sunlight.

The sun was shining, the birds were singing and he was sure that if he would focus on the ambient sounds just for a tad longer, he could hear his maid humming ‘Ave Maria’ at the breakfast dishes. He groaned.

What was so great about mornings anyways? All it did was bring back yesterday’s memories and ..events. He absentmindedly sighed before cocooning himself in enough blanket space to successfully camouflage himself from the onslaught that was about to come.

“UNCLE ITAAAACHIIII!” the man let out a high-pitched yelp just as his little attacker lodged her knee right into one of Itachi’s favorite and most shielded spots. “Daddy said to wish you a good morning, and then he smiled!” Itachi bit back a tear before struggling to get the little monstrosity off of him.

“Of course the bastard smiled. These little wake up call of yours, Sakura, have become simply mundane.” He murmured darkly, successfully ignoring the chibi like glare that his niece was sending him for calling her father a naughty word. “Oh give me a break. Like he doesn’t say worst?” The man chuckled at the girl’s flushed checks.

“Moou … you’re a mean morning person Uncle.” She huffed with a pout before crossing her small arms over her chest. Itachi simply chuckled. It had been nearly six years since his littlest brother became a father- albeit unwillingly, and by a woman who’s career choice involved a striper pole and the stage name ‘Cherry’s Blossom’, but the child was taken in as a true Uchiha nonetheless. Sadly however, the ‘classy’ lady died giving birth to the little demoness that was currently jumping up and down on Itachi’s bed; Sasuke still hadn’t decided if he was saddened or relieved that his little daughter never had the opportunity to meet her mother.


“Not mean. I just had a rough yesterday.” He waved off the accusation.

“Daddy said you went to see a pet.” Itachi frowned. “And that I might be getting a new nanni that even you could play with.” Itachi frowned harder. “What did he mean uncle Itachi ? How can you play with nannies if you’re so old-“

“Enough.” The man commanded and right on queue the child stopped, a pair of equally black eyes staring back at the older man. “I have to get ready for work.” He stated flatly to which he got an enthusiastic smile. “And you haven’t washed your teeth or had breakfast yet. So … “ the Uchiha trailed off, uncharacteristically scratching the back of his head, ignoring the big eyes staring back at him.

“So …?” she asked back tilting her head to one side.

“It’s breakfast time.”Abysmal chibi eye widened in shock to which Itachi simply smirked; snatching the fleeting toddler by her collar before she could fully escape his reach.

“No way! I hate Mani’s cooking!”she screamed, struggling to get free. “It taste like feet! I want to eat your cooking, or daddies … even grand-papa’s burned toast!” ignoring the tantrum, the man simply grabbed her under his arm, carefully averting the random punches and kicks she would aim in every direction, and calmly walked downstairs. He couldn’t really blame her; he hummed to himself before hiding a yawn with the back of his free hand. Their maids' cooking was appalling.


========================================================================

There is nothing quite as peaceful as morning in a traditional shrine, especially on the days when the public has no access to it. Everything seems more alive in the morning. The birds sing happier, the air seems fresher even the sun shines brighter. A peaceful, uneventful morning- for some people at least.

“AGAIN!” A dark voice commanded before a loud attack cry broke through the air fallowed by a muffled thud.

“AGAIN!” the man’s ordered fallowed by the same rhythmic sounds

“Harder!” he screamed

“You’re not fast enough!” he bellowed.

In the back of the shrine, shielded by a few trees that kept the prying eyes out of their business, a bruised and bloody Aoi looked up fiercely at a silver haired man that seemed keen on smirking happily down at her.

“Get up. Do it again!” he ordered, to which the girl simply smirked, whipped her bloody nose on the back of her hand and jumped in attack stance. “Remember, the key is balance.” The silver haired man spoke calmly, keeping his fists in a default defensive stance while both he and the young girl began circling each other; both seeking an opening. The girl nodded, ignoring the pain in her left eye that, by this point made it swell shut, and tried to focus on the man’s legs with her one good eye.

‘This time … maybe this time, I have to try … One more time.” She told herself in a way that could only be catalogues as a mantra before her left foot shifted over her right ,making her pirouette in a split second. Smirking slightly at the man's apparent lack of defence she shifted her body just enough to place a strong foot in-between the silver haired man's legs; trying to use momentum against him. In the blink of an eye though she found herself being hurdled downwards; the silver haired man’s hand brutally clenching her head and driving it with an inhuman force into the ground beneath them.

Darkness … all she saw after that was nothing but darkness. In the background she heard the man calmly command her to dust herself off and get up; and for the first five minutes she tried her hardest to move her hands and feet, but nothing wanted to respond the way she wanted it too. Defeated, a pained groan passed her lips just as her vision slowly began to recognize light again.

“Weak. You are still so …very weak, my little Aoi.”

“Sorry … sen-sei …” the whisper sounded pained and regretful, and the man simply smiled to himself allowing his student to pass out from the injured he had delivered for the third time that morning.

======================================================

Shouts, cry’s, plea’s and the occasional threat were now how the Uchiha’s had breakfast. Unlike their stoic sons, that were the epitome of all that was their family name, their littlest granddaughter seemed keen on expressing herself and her dislike for their maids food in a more … volatile manner.

Fugaku sighed. At least it was limited only towards the maids cooking. With a confident ‘hn’ delivered to the reflection in the mirror the man concluded he was ready for another day of bureaucratic hogwash, when the passing image of his eldest son caught his eyes.

“Ah, Itachi.” The man drew his sons attention in a flat monotone voice. “There was a call earlier for you.”

“From?” the older heir replied with a raised brow.

“Your uncle, Madara. “ Itachi froze “He asked for you to call him.”

S**t.

Glued to the comfort of her bed, Momoko starred at the ceiling of her dark room. Through semi closed eye lashed she remembered the events taken place the previous day. It was almost as every Friday, only with one exception. Lord Sesshomaru.

Grumbling under her breath, she turned on her stomach placing her tiny palms on each side of her head, her face sinking deep into the lavender perfumed pillow.

“Twhat emvil whif hai-ed dofg.” she shouted, her words muffled by the puffy item. “I HATE HIM!” she shouted raising from the bed. “Why does he always have to be so condescending?” her arms were thrown into the air as her eyebrows closed into a semi frown.

Gathering her dark emotions into a small box, she pushed them deep down inside her very core, the inner 3 year old Momoko locking them and throwing the key in her chibi pocket, dusting off her wee hands.

The only reason why she was so frustrated in that early morning was due to the departing of her former master, without even saying good bye. Guess he had a reason to do that...i left him alone. She thought as guilt overwhelmed her. With a sigh she got off the bed and started her daily morning routine.


Dressed in normal clothes she stepped in the shrine and began to pray for a better world.




----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



On the other side of the shrine’s whereabouts, one grimacing boy listened to his master bossing around, giving orders and shouting unpleasant words, unacceptable on a holy ground. But then again, if the high priestess could do it why to others should be forbidden. Rolling his eyes, Neji dropped his white apron, leaving behind a frowning executive chef.

“Get back here boy! don’t you dare step outside this kitchen or you will regret it!” the chef shouted angry at the retreating body of his semi-employer.

“Why shouldn’t i?” Neji asked without turning around. “From what i remembered i came here on my own at your request.” he glanced over his shoulder, glaring at the man with gray eyes. “Ja ne...have fun torturing someone else old man. I’ve had enough of your face and manners.” with that said he calmly stepped outside the kitchen closing the door without a sound after him. If from ones eyes daggers could shot, then the poor wooden door would be shredded to pieces.
With his hands deep in his pockets, a black haired boy stepped outside in the cool breeze of a Saturday morning. The sun was already sending his warm rays over the great sakura tree. Stepping under the shading branches, he eyed a mossy parcel, before his body fell to the ground silently.


It didn’t even pass 2 minutes since his peace started when a hand touched his shoulder slightly. “Morning sunshine!” his vision was greeted with a big grin no one else could give than the high priestess herself. When only a nod was her reply her eyes shot in surprise.

“Go away?” she questioned looking dumbfounded at the boy. Nothing. Ok that’s something new, she thought moving to stand in front of the boy.

“Oi, what’s wrong?” she asked again, this time kicking the boys legs slowly.

“Go away.”

“AHA! so nothing is actually wrong. But still you don’t seem to enjoy this morning. At what is odd is that at this hour you should be in the kitchen help the old man cooking.” two of her finger tapped her chin in thought. “And you are not!” a finger shot in his direction. “So what happened?” her arms crossed over her chest and glared at the boy below her with amused but fierce black eyes.

Inside his being, Neji was in flame and ready to burn the person in front of him for disturbing from his peaceful moment. After few seconds he sighed in defeat, shifting his position in a sitting pose, with his legs crossed.

“I quit.” he stated, bringing his hands behind his back, his eyes aiming a singing blue bird.

“Huh?” Momoko looked at him with her mouth opened, her ears not believing his words. Since she knew him, Neji never quit from any duty that was offered to him, be it given or voluntarily. She always saw him as a person who would take the task until the end, even if some times, some were hard to complete.

“I...i would like to do something else, Momoko.” he said, his eyes still glued to the singing bird above him. At his words, Momoko’s features softened. Well that’s a part of him i never saw. It would be nice to hear his wishes.

“Well if i didn’t know you, i would say you want to defy the nature of fate.” she smiled, approaching the boy, asking for permission to sit next to him.

“It’s not that.” he paused for a second. “I would like to become something that i always dreamed of.” he scooped few inches away, leaving some place for the small girl to sit.
Momoko fell on the mossy ground with a low thud, bringing her legs up to her chest. “We haven’t spoken too much since you came here Neji. You should know by now that despite my behaviour, i AM a person with who you may talk to.” she eyed the boy, mentally cheering. He never opened to her like this before, and she noted that it might be something big coming.

“I know. It’s just, when my parents sent me away because of my lack of understanding magic, i lost my trust in everyone around me. I preferred to be on my own, never socializing with people around me. I thought fate gave me this task to become more powerful and confident in my own self.” he brought his sight down to his hands, the bird flying away as if it woke up from a deep sleep.

They sat in silence for few minutes, both of them thinking at their own past. With a smile, Momoko looked back at Neji.

“You know Neji, sometimes being all by yourself works exactly as well as being surrounded by people.” a smiled appeared on her pink lips. “But either way, in the end, both of them brings you to uncertainty, both of them makes you feel lonely, one more than the other, but it does nonetheless.” she raised from the ground, dusted herself off and hold her hand to the boy, who looked at it with a frown. “So the best thing is to use only half of eachs power. Choose your friends wisely. Its never good to have many, but it’s never good to be all by yourself.” she gave her best warm smile for the boy.

At the sight of that smile, something inside Neji grew, making him feel secure and...loved. With a shaky hand, he took Momoko’s and got up.

“You are one of a kind, pervert, you know that?” he said and for the first time his lips turned into something close to a smile.

“I am unique and the only one!” she grinned, rubbing the back of her head. “Oi and stop calling be pervert!” she shouted at Neji’s retreating back. You changed, she mentally thought, her eyes aiming the tree behind her. “You do change people, Sakura. I’m glad you are here.” her tiny hand caressing the crust, then running off after the boy. “Oi wait, baka!”

Her face hurt; that much she registered right away, and if the all piercing pain that slowly pulsed up and down her left leg was any indication, somewhere along the line the bastard most likely broke something there too. A small whimper escaped; the struggle to keep the pain to herself finally proving a futile battle.

“It’s not broken.” Her teacher’s voice seemed to yawn in an almost telepathic accuracy. “Despite appearances I am neither incompetent nor cruel. I would never hurt a student … too much.”

“Oh … great, because between my bruised eye, broken nose and possible fractured ribs, I was worried there for a while that you might have went overboard again sensei. “ the now black and blue redhead grunted away the sarcasm, trying her hardest to at last stand on her elbows. Gods. Everything hurt.

“You now,” The man chuckled, looking lazily over his ‘literature’ towards his student “What with you red hair and blue eyes … those bruises and bloody noose make you look almost technicolored.” A small frown threatened to tug at the girls brows; action which she forsake quite quickly. When had he struck her brow bone?

“You’re a lucky man sensei.” The girl finally sighed before slowly lifting her back from the ground.

“Hm …? Why is that I wonder?” a sickeningly sweet smile glued the man’s one good eye into an almost inverted u shape.

“Because if I wasn’t such a fast healer, and these bruises didn’t heal by Friday you’d be in some trouble; both Momo and Itachi would be knocking on your door.” She chuckled softly, resting her chin on her knees.

“Oh threatening me? And with and Uchihas no less; my how you’ve grown.” The man chuckled, to which the girl pressed her face against her knees in a weak attempt at hiding a faint blush.

“I’m allowed to threaten with my friends!” her shout was muffled against the fabric of her pants while even her ears seemed to take on a tint of red.

“Aoi, “ the man’s voice turned cold in an instant “I hope you do realize that he cant have any part of your future. “ the girl simply nodded vigorously against her knees, bringing her bruised hands around them and squeezing as tight as the pain let her. “Not only is he an Uchiha, which would put him out of any regular person’s reach, but he is also Mahou. You are …”

“I know!” a stifled bark spat at the man, while the girls arms tightened around her knees. “I know what I am. I know what the rest of you are. I know what I cant be … I know !” her cry hung unfinished for a few seconds “I … know” she added softly, and Kakashi had to blink at how small her voice sounded.

“Aoi …”

“I’m fine.” She answered back without actually lifting her head from her knees. “I’m always fine aren’t I ? I’m always happy and smiling … I even take your punches with a grin. “ she chuckled against her knees while the man’s at ease expression was slowly being replaced by a worried frown “I’m always … just fine.”

“That you are.” He sighed, fainting boredom while his gray eyes roamed worriedly over her. He had been waiting for this talk for a while now, ever since ….

“I don’t hate you, ya know?” she smiled softly, lifting her head towards the sky. “I don’t hate magic or Mahou-no … um …sorry I mean Mahou.” a cocky grin flashed back at a grey pair of eyes.

“You don’t ?” he asked in a slightly higher tone, before coughing awkwardly to get it back to a more manageable level.

“Naah. I can’t hate what I don’t understand. I’m upset with ‘you’ … “she winked gingerly “I find you confusing, suffocating and upsetting … but I would never hate you. You are like … the sea.” a grey brow rose in confusion, urging the girl to go on.

“The … sea?”

“There’s an old Buddhist chant I remember my mother reading to me … before … you know.” An awkward smile flashed towards the heavens while a few sun drops bathed over her face “"WUOshang mayer, maysheen, BYEN shr-to" she smiled at the memory before continuing “It roughly means: I will close my ears and my heart and I will be a stone. Please God make me a stone"

“It’s was Buddah’s cry to the heaven, upon seeing the decadence of the world “ she spoke as Kakashi nodded, wishing he would at least look like he knew what she was talking about. Religion, chants, history … he vaguely even remembered his magic lessons and he was by all accounts a genius. When had his student become so wise?

“But you see sensei,” she snapped him back to his senses “God has already answered my prayer, I’m already a stone. I’m a stone slowly sinking to the bottom of the sea; slowly suffocating under its pressure. I’m a stone among many little stones.” Her lips tugged into a small smile “And if one day somebody would swim to the bottom of the sea to pick me up and set me on its sores, I would cry … I would cry lone for all the little stones I’ve suffered with, all the little stones who love me.” Her smile, if possible, grew even softer before she turned to the silver haired man “So what good would it do to hate the sea, when I seem so happy just to drown in it ?”

===============================================



From behind a tree a long hared demon smile. ‘Foolish little cat,’ he thought, tuning on his heels towards the main entrance of the shrines housing area ‘One day you will understand that even the sea has it’s share of storms. And little stones like you are simply washed on the shores with the rest of the trash.’ He told himself, eyeing his students form further ahead …with …a man beside her.


“I see you’re speeding the word of the wise to the uneducated masses.” Sesshomaru blinked down at his surprised student. He hadn’t realized how fast his feet had moved in her directions since he saw her form in the distance. And for some reason seeing her talk to the long haired mongrel made something in his chest tighten … a little, dam it.

Feeling a little relieved at seeing the boy’s disappearing back he stared down with enough fire in his eyes that even he wondered just what had the girl done to make him this angry. “That looked like a fun … chat, was it?”

==================================================


“Hello. Yes, it’s me. I tried reaching you earlier.”

“Hn.”

“Cheerful as always I see.”

“Hn.”

“Very well. Your instructions are as fallows: locate a girl by the name of Aoi Okita “ Black eyes widened against the receiver “ She is the two tailed cat we have been tracking.”

“….”

“Are you still there ?”

“H-hn.”


“Good. Don’t take any unusual risks. Demon cats are supposedly powerful and vicious. Pain will take care of her, you just deliver the intel.”

“…..”

“Fine! Be a little bitch, just do your job.!” {click]






==============================================

FOR ALEX:

I hope you get Aoi’s metaphor. But in case you don’t here’s the simpler version:

She refers to living with Mahou as being a small stone that was thrown in the sea; Slowly drowning as it sinks. She then says, that even if she would one day be saved from the Mahou, by either being taken away or fighting against them she would miss the people that loved her. All of her little stones.

So her final question to Kakashi was: Why should she fight for freedom, if by gaining freedom she would loose the people she loves.?

Sometimes in life, you get what you want, but you get it too easy that in the end it makes you don’t want it anymore, sometimes to achieve the thing you crave for the most you place around your actions powerful feelings, but even with such a huge weapon you still don’t reach the destination. And why is that? Because it doesn’t want you back. Because it seems that life is a bitch and it fucks you up whatever you do -be it good, bad, mighty, tiny...it always fucks you up.


The black haired boy stopped for few seconds and turned his head to call the small girl behind him to hurry up, but the words got stuck in his throat when he saw who sat behind Momoko. With a deep frown on his face he turned back and picked up his pace, almost stumbling over a stone just to get away from the sight.



----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Momoko stopped in mid track upon seeing Neji’s face. She automatically thought what made him contort his face like that while her eyes scanned the surroundings.

“That looked like fun...chat, was it?” a calm voice called from behind. She spun around just to see a white haired man, his eyes looking deep into her soul.

“Sess-homaru?!” she squeaked taking a step back. Black eyes looked back after her friend but nothingness met her vision. Why... “Y-you didn’t leave?” her voice quavered as her eyes darted back to the man behind her. Something in those honey gold eyes told her she is as good as doomed as the man stared at her, but in the same time something in those honey gold eyes told her...something that she couldn’t quite decipher. A small frown got it’s way on her face before she could stop it. No - she didn’t like it. In fact, she didn’t like how her voice trembled every time she saw him. She didn’t like how her heart beat increased every time he looked at her. And she definitely didn’t like how she felt entirely every time her black eyes catch a glimpse of white hair.


It wasn’t fair. Momoko’s lips turned into a pout as she looked up into those eyes.

“Look Sesshomaru, i know how you feel about Aoi and Neji and probably everyone else from here, but...” she took a deep breath, her eyes looking at his chest “Don’t make me choose between them and you.” One hand reached Sesshomaru’s cheek. “You are important to me, i care about you, i don’t want you to despise me for loving muggles. They are not weaklings, they are strong, they feel and they understand what they are.” she stopped, her hand still glued to his cheek. Why do i feel this...my heart...his eyes...uh oh - her chibi turned red head to toes and she knew that the reddish would soon go out and color her already burning cheeks.

Take our hand back Momoko...or you will regret it.

Nothing happened.

Move it now! her chibi screamed as she ran in circles grabbing it’s big head.

Black eyes widen in panic. Oh dear, i will regret this for the rest of my life... as her thoughts chanted in her head, her hand moved slowly behind Sesshomaru’s neck, while her legs took 2 steps forward. Eaaasy girl, you don’t want to do something bad now would you.

Momoko’s eyes went down to his lips, she gulped moving her head slowly...

Just for the fun of it, let’s pretend for a moment you are a coincided bastard. Now, now settle down … humor me, it might be fun. Imagine yourself in a position of power over most men, and with enough intellect, tenacity and cunning that would ensure people would crumble beneath your feet.

Sounds like a fun fantasy now, huh?

Now imagine just for a second, that even though you are this overpowered man, your heart wants something so desperately that your brains can’t even begin to comprehend it. You pushed it back, ignored it and that strange little tightening of your chest whenever you found yourself yarning. You hated to admit it, but deep down inside you were terrified of how comfortable it seemed; and out of fear of entertaining such thoughts further on out you decided to look past that one thing you wanted most.

She never really knew why your eyes never seemed fully there whenever you stared at her. She never fully knew why your smile never seemed completely sincere when you would allow yourself a moment to acknowledge what she’d say. She never knew how scared you were of being near her.

So you never looked at her out of fear she’d find out why.

You looked past her.
Over her;
Through her;
But never at her;
You build up walls around you to keep her out.
You thought you were safe.
Foolish little dog.


I suppose all walls must come down sometimes.


A pair of golden eyes widened in shock. Her lips were inches from his, and the warmth of her hand seemed to radiate over his skin with a softness he failed to categorize properly. A part of him – the rational part of him- wanted to urge a frown, interject sarcasm and point out just how below his standards he was. To hurt her and push her away; but then there was that irritating voice in the back of his mind, that always seemed to have a louder tone each time it demanded something selfishly. It screamed and barked for attention, spouting threats of self sabotage and long lasting regrets if he didn’t embrace her, if he didn’t press his lips against her, if he didn’t …. Finally, seize what he truly had been wanting.

For once, the powerful man was placed in front of the only thing that he had ever wanted; and for once he had no excuse of looking past her.

Any and all words somehow managed to die in his throat, when a pair of fluttering blue eyes slowly opened – shimmering with emotions Sesshomaru couldn’t even begin to recognize- and looked wantingly towards the taller man’s lips. Unconsciously he liked his lips in response, and a small giggle was his confirmation that perhaps he wasn’t the only one who had been fighting his desires.

He moved slowly - so painstakingly slow. He pressed his lips as gently as he could over hers; pecking as if any sudden move might make the girl before him shatter into a million pieces. His eyes closed in that split second, urging his mind with everything he had to memorize every single breath of her before they opened unhurriedly to stare back at an equally lost pair of blue gems.

“Little girl … “ his voice murmured low and accepting, while his hand cupped the side of her face; ghosting his thumb over her pink lips “What are you doing …” he asked, and it was pure and confused - A question inching towards despair and running on insecurity; a question whose answer could either make or break him.


======================================================

Not everything goes as you wish it would. For example: he went to bed with the idea of getting a target and finally being able to scratch a win in his boss’s favor. But instead the fire headed man was currently exchanging looks with a mildly homicidal looking Uchiha that was glaring back at him from his threshold.

Nope. Not everything goes as planed, Pain thought to himself while idly scratching the top of his orange scuffled hair.

“We need to talk, Pain.” The Uchiha hissed poison.

Pain simply blinked away a yawn.

All of us have different opinions about feelings in general, the way we embrace them, when we choose to show them, even when they appear out of nowhere, slipping inside your very core, turning yourself into someone you didn’t even know it existed. Anger, care, love, fear, hatred, disgust...feelings that your body interiorise, but which, at the right moment, comes to the surface willingly or unwillingly, for the sake of yourself or for the sake of someone else.

The moment those lips touched Momoko’s, something exploded inside her heart. Something she denied for far too long. Though the moment lasted less than a second, the feeling remained inside - beats of her heart sounded in her ears as a train sprinting on the railroad. The smell of cinnamon tickled her nostrils, her consciousness printing it inside her brain to last forever.

Her heart couldn’t stop, moreover it unruly knocked against her rib cage as his thumb ran over her heated lips. Before she could stop, one single clear drop calmly made it’s way over her cheek, towards her chin.

“Little girl...” at those words she sucked in a breath, forcing another wave of tears fall down her face. “What are you doing...”

Oh god... she mentally cried at the emotions in those few whispered words.

Midnight eyes opened half way and blinked few times to clear from water. She rose her face upwards only to meet a sight that made her running heart stop.

“S-seshh...” her voice broke, a sob making it’s way out. I could help so many people, and you...i couldn’t help you. “I...i lo-”

“Yumiiiii!” a voice called from the shrine, suddenly breaking Momoko in two. As if from sleep she woke up, glanced at the man in front of her, almost dazzled by the emotions that were continuously changing. Anger to sadness, to desperation, to hurt and then settled down back to it’s usual mask.

“Oi Yumi come here you perverted woman!” the voice called again, and this time Momoko recognized it.

“Temari-chan...” her eyes watered again while her lips murmured the name. She moved her hand from the face she craved to see every morning for the rest of her life, and took one step back. Her mind recalled his whisper. What are you doing... something tighten in her chest at those words. She was about to confess something, she was about to say the word she never voiced truly to someone.

The kind of love she felt towards others were parallel with the lo... No! a hand was brought to her chest unconsciously, grabbing the cloth above the place her heart was and clenching it with her tiny fingers. No...he would...he could never accept someone like me. Again the feeling flowed into her veins, a barbed wire tightening around her heart. She forced back tears that threaten to course down her cheeks again. Her lips curled into a tiny smile. I can’t believe i cry in front of you...because of you. Black eyes locked with golden ones. It took all her strenght not to hug Sesshomaru and declare the feelings she felt for him, so instead of doing that, she backed up slowly, with her hand still clenching the cloth.

“G-gomenasai S-sesshomaru -sama...” her voice broke right before her body turned around and sprinted into the opposite direction from where Temari called her.


Baka...baka....baka Mini Momoko chanted, pulling of her hair as her huge container ran off towards loneliness.


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



BANG! BANG! BANG!

“Stupid...stupid...stupid!” an angry voice screamed while one hand made craters in the wall. Neji could feel his wounds slowly opening up, crimson liquid coursing down his wrist.

“Why did i let myself so open for her...when she...she...loves...that...uuuugh!” he spat the word like venom while his hand finally went through the wall. A sharp cry of pain shot from his lungs, grabbing his bleeding hand and sliding down to the floor. His huffs slowed down into a steady breathing.

“Why do i feel this...why...” he whispered to no one in particular, letting his head fall down, his bangs covering his face. “I don’t want it...” his voice broke, bringing his knees to his chest.

He didn’t even notice the small figure looking down at him through his window.

The world around you seems oddly happier when you hop on one foot, she concluded happily ignoring the odd looks and whispers the shrine residents were giving her. Part of her couldn’t blame them though; it’s not every day that you see a bruised and bloody nosed idiot hopping past you with a silly grin on her lips.

‘Today’s training was a step further. The elder man’s words rang in her head ‘You’re still crap at this, but a more manageable level of crap.’ Stupid old man, she grudgingly stuck out her tongue to no one in particular just before she hopped in the main housing area. She made progress; granted small progress but progress nonetheless; what gave that one eyed pervert the right to judge so harshly after 5 years of using her as a punching bag. The read head stopped.

“Five years… “She frowned in disbelief. Had it really been five years since that silver haired creep walked up to her with a misleading smile? He promised her strength and confidence, and if the little girl hadn’t been crying her eyes out at the time maybe she would have had some second thoughts regarding the suspicious looking teacher. After all at the time, Kakashi Hatake was new to the shrine; rumors about his sudden arrival and the life he had led up till that point being the fuel of many dinner conversations and a lot more gossip. The fact that he rarely spoke to anybody other than the higher ranked clerics, going as far as ignoring anybody around him he deemed weak. A part of her still wondered why the aloof pervert decided to walk up to a crying little girl and promise he would one day make her strong; part of her didn’t even want to know.

“Stupid old man.” The girl grunted through the kitchen doors, idly brushing away the memories whilst gingerly hopping to the fridge. She was on a mission: ice … and lots of it; not even HER smile could last for much longer against that little annoying pain in her thigh.

“Lets see … “ a small mumble was added before the refrigerator doors flung open and the redheaded terror began rummaging in its innards “ Ice, ice, ice … ice?” a small crash fallowed “Ups …well Momo didn’t need that strawberry jam anyways. “ she chuckled before victoriously emerging from the bowels of the frozen beats with two packs of sacred ice and what looked like a half eaten piece of celery dangling from her lips.

‘VIC- “ the celebratory cry halted over her lips while a pair of azure blue orbs darted towards the shadowed figure staring back at her from behind the glassed window “ …tory ?” a confused frown fallowed the feminine figure before her eyes finally locked on a trembling figure on the far corner of the room.

Well, now this was weird. When was the last time she had been so unaware of her surroundings, that she’d fail to notice not only one person, but two?

“Hyuuga, right? She asked the once stoic looking man. “You look like you’ve seen better days.” She concluded nodding towards his bloody fist before hopping towards the sink. She grabbed a towel and submerged it under the cold running water without saying a single word. She must have moved fast though, because before the man could even notice she was plopped on the floor besides him, rubbing the bloody fist with the damp towel.

“You know, I’ve never seen a girl do that.” She chuckled nodding towards the newly formed hole in the wall. “Taking out your anger on an inanimate object seems somehow a typical male hobby. “ a small chuckled fallowed before his hand fell free out of the girls clutches; a wet white towel wrapped around his fist left behind. “You’re not the only one that has problems Hyuuga” she added quietly before whipping the blood off her face with another wet towel.

“We all go through the S**t tunnel, its just a matter of how clean you come out on the other side” was added with a hissed breath whilst the redhead placed on ice pack on her tight and another on her bruised shoulder.


=====================================

For his part, he could blame the daggers his eyes were currently piercing in the Uchihas face on the lack of sleep, and perhaps the rude awakening. Burt for the life of him he couldn’t figure out why the man in front of him was currently sporting a look that – if given the change- Pain had no doubt it could kill.

“Uchiha … what.do.you.want ?” the man asked slowly, stressing the lack of sleep in every word.

“Madara told me about you new mission. “ Itachi finally spoke, pushing past the half sleeping man and making his way into his living room.

“Would you like to come in ? No please be my guest .” Pain added sarcastically, eyeing Itachi as he moved to the couch. “So what if I did ?”

“I’d like to know what you plan is in capturing her ?” the Uchiha replied, his face void of any emotion.
“I find your concern in the way I perform my missions, disturbing.”

“Humor me.”

“Tck …”

No matter how much his mind pushed that face out, the picture remained there. What happened after he left? What did Momoko speak about with that man? Why she didn’t come after him?

Neji brought a hand to his face. Why am i thinking to such things? I don’t fucking care what happened! He mentally screamed, never realizing someone was slowly approaching him.

He watched the figure closing distance, her feminine childish voice calling for him. It was the girl Momoko always molested. His eyes narrowed at the wounds the girl showed and wondered to himself from where she would possibly get them. He decided to keep the stillness, seeing as the girl started to clean his own sore hand. He listened to the red head as she spoke calmly while she caress his hand with softness, before she went to nurse her own wounds.

They sat in a comfortable silence, no one wanting to disturb the peaceful moment, when Neji took the lead in breaking it.

“You are quite a character.” he stated with a voice muffled by his knees. “The previous day you acted like a true strong person, while i chickened out and could barely take a breath...” he whispered. After realization had hit him, his head shot up with wide pale eyes looking in front of him.

What the hell...he cursed under his breath before going back to his cold posture. In the last few hours he changed to much for his liking. Speaking so open with everyone...he sulked in silence, sending rays of destruction all around his body.



=====================================================================



Outside the shrine, the dark figure continuously started back without blinking between those green branches, but when blue orbs stared back in the direction of the hiding person, violet ones widen in shock. Impossible... it thought and before a blink of an eye, it disappear.

One slim hand dag deep into it’s pocket grabbing a small device, before placing it over it’s pale ear. It calmly waited for the other person to pick up.

-CLICK-

“You are an idiot. Period. Have a nice lunatic day...ass hole.” a feminine yet strong voice stated, before one finger pushed the turn off button. With her hands deep into her pockets she wandered off from the shrine. “I still need confirmation.” she spoke to herself, looking at the big rocky wall behind her.

A small grunt fallowed the young boys statement while an icepack was removed and placed more cautiously over the tender wound. Part of her wanted to laugh it off, seeing no real reason why the long haired boy was afraid of the silver dog in the first place; but then again that far away look in the boy’s eyes told her otherwise.

“I wont lie.” she chose to begin with, slowly turning her eyes towards the ceiling “I don’t see what you were afraid off. I found him annoying more than anything, but scary not in the very least. “ she sighed, patting the icepack in memory “Now Kakashi … that is scary. But ‘lord’ Sesshomaru ? “ she hissed out his name “Sides kid … nobody should take your breath away .” a cocky wink flashed back at the man.

============================================


Itachi was slowly loosing it. He knew he was, there was no doubt he was. The thought of killing off the man before him happily played in his head for a moment; images of dancing Itachi chibis with oversized knifes prancing around the remains of the fire haired man vaguely grabbed his sadistic attention.

“Look.” His eyes held the others in a silent threat, almost narrowing over the man’s obvious strength disadvantage “I am not asking you. I am telling you.” His cold determined voice seemed to sent shivers down Pains back while a sadistic sneer threatened to thin his lips “Tell me what you plan on doing to Hijikata Aoi .”

“None of you business Uchiha.” The man’s voice betrayed no fear, though he did slowly inch closer to his table. Itachi smirked. His patience could stretch only so thin, and inevitably he would snap; Pain knew this, he was well aware of it and was stalling for something … be it either back up or a moment to strike.

From the moment he picked up the phone till now Itachis mind had been boiling with ideas; escape roots plans and schematics … anything to get her away from his Uncle. This was the kind of job Akatsuki did, collecting demon souls from unsuspecting muggles. It wasn’t pretty, nor particularly interesting; in fact at time Itachi found it quite mundane … that is until today. If asked why a terrorist organization like the Akatsuki was so keen on collecting souls the Uchiha would shrug. He genuinely had no idea, nor did he plan on stumbling on the information unless it was freely given to him; it would ruin his cover after all.

This was his job, his mission assigned by his superiors, and right now he was dancing on a fine line between blowing his cover or loosing her forever..

===========================================

“Need I fucking remind you this was your fucking idea IN THE FIRST FUCKING PLACE ?!” the man screamed in his radio, ignoring the gasps and murmurs of the people he passed on the street..

The slim finger pressed one more time on the small device button grimacing at the inappropriate way of speaking from the man on the other line.

“Whatever. We wait for few more days.” the voice calmly spoke in the walky-talky. “For the moment we stay hidden.” a pause was made before red lips turned into a smirk. “Go grab me lunch...slave.” Oh winning a bet was something the blue haired woman loved more than her entire being. Sighing contently she turned around and left.



=====================================================================



Meanwhile, inside the shrine, one blacked haired boy flashed a light blush at the words Aoi seem to voice. He shook his head slightly to clear the faint color from his cheeks and turned to look at Aoi, one eyebrow raised in question. Maybe his unclear mind was playing games, making his ear understand a different meaning between that phrase.

No. It was impossible. That or the girl in front of him spend way too much time with that perverted little priest. A picture of Momoko suddenly appeared in front of his gray eyes; the smile, her midnight blue eyes; that small, slim body running around, laughing as the rays of sun touched her skin - his eyes widen at the realization. Could he, unwillingly, fall in love with the high priestess? Or was it just a mere fantasy of his darkest side kicking in? Again his head shook side to side while his eyelashes closed.

Faith seems to make jokes with it’s fellow sister Love, huh? Why those @#$%! His small inner side cursed inside, while on the outside Neji slowly let out a sigh.

Oh what the hell, might as well leave everything behind and see where this whole new Neji would head to.

A cough sounded in the unusually silent kitchen. “How about you keep you hints to yourself. I don’t need another pervert in this shrine. I highly think that one it’s enough.” his fingers pinched his nose in distress. No matter what, he could not bring himself to ask Aoi. The hardest part was which question should he ask first; in his own head, both sounded awful, both were subject unknown to him, so instead of just bluntly ask, as how he initially decided, once again, he closed inside.

Abruptly rising, he locked eyes with blue one. “Thank you Miss Aoi for your nursing.” he showed his arm, stumbleing over an inside stair as he backed off from the girl. “I...i will just...go” he waved with his hand around as if a swarm of bee were attacking.

What the...I stammer...i never stammer... Neji-chi ran desperately inside.



=====================================================================



The sun was shining over the blue sky, once in a while a cloud or two stopping it’s light from touching the green earth. It was a perfect spring; the perfect amount of heat, the perfect amount of noise. Though some of the shrine’s workers were fidgeting outside with daily chores, there was no agglomeration - meaning there was no one to question why would the high priestess run like a stampede between the stables and towards the small forest behind the shrine.

Tears were coursing down her heated cheeks as her legs couldn’t keep on with her will. Momoko’s mind was screaming at her body to keep on running, but her body was screaming opposite. It was few moments later when her feet stumbled over a fallen branch sending her body flying and hitting the ground hard. It gave her eyes another reason to shed tears as pain shot through her right leg.

“Itaaaaaaaaiii~” her lungs screamed while her teeth bit hard onto her palm. She took one glance at her already swollen ankle and muttered few curses which also included the name of her reason for misery.

“IYAAAA---waaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!” she screamed again, sending few birds in the air. “I am going to dieeeeeeee---waaaaaaaaaaaaaa!” her bottom lip trembled as her eyes took in the immense, purple ankle. One finger slowly poked the bruised skin where the joint was, forcing the tremble to rise drastically, while her eyes watered more. A frown made it’s way between her eyes, adding at the already pained face a very amusing tone, yet no words came out.

“Mmmmm- “ her bottom lip came out a little bit more, her eyes watered more, making the tears coursing down. It was a matter of second before disaster would enter full speed; even every single living being that surrounded the high priestess was waiting for the cry to come.

3...

2...

1...

“Onegai - sob - watashi - sob - o TASUKETEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!” the screamed before she fell into a bitterly weep.


“Huh?” a man looked around.

“What was that?” a woman asked worryingly. When a second sound didn’t met their ears every person who heard the mysterious sound went back to their tasks.

scarred as in scar, not scarred as in scare :P



Everybody is scarred; be it as subtle as a past trauma or as deep as the blade that pierced your skin … everybody is scarred but hides it differently – perhaps if we weren’t so wrapped in the riddle of our own story we would see the tale-tale sings in the people around us easier.

A hallow stare here, a lost look there -it’s so easy to spot them when you know what you are actually looking for; those small looks and warning sings that lead down the rabbit hole towards an unwanted memory. That very moment when you got your little scar, screaming and wrapping itself around your heart only to remind you that it still can hurt you. Even if it’s just a shadowed glimpse into the past … it can still hurt you. But what good is seeing the sings if you are unable to cure the illness ?

You can’t help, not when you still haven’t figured out how to help yourself that is.



“It happened again, didn’t it ?“

A small sigh was forced to reply.

"First your mom, then you brother and slowly ... everyone you used to know left you behing"

"..."

“You helped like a fool this time too, and in return you were left behind, weren't you ?”

What good would answering a question like that do?

“How fucking useless are you? Look! Look at your fucking hands!” the voice nearly growled in rage forcing a set of blue orbs to descend towards the accused hands. “You’re still holding his fucking blood soaked towel. You piece of S**t!” she frowned.

“Inner voiced are not suppose to be this abusive.” She chuckled to herself, choosing to ignore the rand for the moment “Honestly … it’s almost like masochism.”

“Who the F**k said I’m an inner voice?” the sound of the wet cloth flopping out of the girls hand and landing over the tile surface was the response it needed to let out a sinister chuckle through the outskirts of her mind, while Aoi frowned in confusion at the stagnant blood soaked towel on the floor.

=================================

“Fucking Uchihas.” Pain chose as his reply to the menacing glared a pair of bloodthirsty red eyes swirled at him. He despised the sharingan spell, with everything he had.

“I’ll take that as a positive feedback from you then.” Itachi concluded, relaxing his shoulders just enough to indicate that imminent death was not in the man’s future. “Tell me .”
“I wasn’t told much more than you.” The orange haired man sighed, taking a seat opposite to the Uchiha “A few weeks ago we managed to breach the Counsel’s data base, through the S**t we got off of that job we were able to confirm that most Jinchuri children were hidden in strategic places around the country. Most common were enchanted places, less common …shrines .” a pair of obsidian eyes narrowed.

“Then … why was she hidden in a shrine?”

“Apparently she was the first.” Pain sighed, leaning back in his comforter “The sealing inst done exactly right. But hey, that’s good for us right ? We can get it out of her faster.”

“Without killing her ?” Itachi innerly flinched at how easily that kind of stupidity got past his Uchiha filters, while Pain’s eyes simply widened in surprise.

“Is she your pet ?”

“No.” the reply threatened to dip into bellow freezing temperatures, but all the rinnegan holder could do was laugh.

“Man , you cant lie for S**t. “ Itachi chose not to reply out of fear of what his glorious mouth could sprout out next, allowing a familiar homicidal glare answer for him “Alright, alright …” the redhead chuckled awkwardly lifting his hands in defense “God dam … you Uchihas … always with the killing.”

“Hn.” Yes, classic genetic line …stick with it.

“But unfortunately we cant extract it without killing her. “ if there was any sing of mental distress on his part, the Uchiha did a nice job on keeping it all bellow the surface. “I mean … we’re ot good guys here. If she rats us out …”

“I …see. “

“Sorry ?” Itachi frowned at just how happy Pain seemed when delivering bad news.

“You still haven’t properly explained why she was placed in THAT shrine though .” the Uchiha somehow patted himself on the back for the nicest segway he was able to come up with all day.

“Ah … yeah.” A pair of grey eyes narrowed “That’s … problematic .”


=================================================


“Must you always cry like a wounded animal?” Sesshomaru’s low voice peered from behind a tree, seemingly appearing out of nowhere. “ I always told you not to run when wearing those long robes .” he narrowed his eyes in a deep frown at the swollen leg that the chibi had.

“May I ?” he asked, hovering a large hand over her ankle .

Silence could sometimes be too overwhelming, forcing your mind to create sounds around one’s self to prevent the feeling of loneliness. So at that time, Momoko’s brain was sending fake sounds towards her ears, making the poor wounded chibi jerk her head up and down and all around. She couldn’t realize for how long she stood there without moving but it must have been a long time, for her muscles began to turn numb.

A sob escaped her trembling lips as sharp pain shot through her leg. It was no use. No matter how much she tried she couldn’t cast any healing spells on her own broken ankle, which made her frown deeply. Something definitely was wrong.


“Must you always cry like a wounded animal?” at the sound of that certain silky low voice her eyes went wide while her head jerked in general direction. Sesshomaru slowly made his appearance from behind a tree.

First: no casting abilities.
Second: outer silence.
Third: unable to hear or sense someone approaching.

Definitely something out of place. Wrong. Suspicious.

Her eyes focused back on her wound and tried again to heal herself, but with no effect whatsoever.

“May I?” came that low voice again. She watched closely as his hand loomed over her leg. A beaming light passed through his long fingers, lasting few seconds before it died out, leaving a painless, normal looking ankle behind.

At that Momoko had to smile, her face softening while her hands caress the skin gently. It felt so normal and so...old; memories overwhelmed her mind again, but her head shook them away.

“Thank you...” she barely whispered the words, avoiding his eyes. It was hard. It was that unbearable emotion that took over her entire being every time she found herself next to her sensei.

There is a story passed down from father and son about a young man that chassed after the sun, trying to protect it from the moon. Day in and day out he would struggle to keep his feet moving faster and faster, chasing after the shimmering ball of light almost like his life depended on it; and every sunset he would collapse –exhausted and defeated- and cry at his own inability to protect his precious gem from the threatening darkness.

Five years earlier, the same child sat alone in his small cramped and darkened room crying towards the heavens. He was convinced that the shadows were moving towards him and that one of these nights they would get him. Scared, defeated and alone he made a desperate bargain to the Sun; he would protect it from the darkness if it would, in return, protect him from the shadows. By either coincidence or good will, that very night the starts shinned for the small boy that slowly stopped shivering. It was the first time he’d seen the small shimmering lights that would from that point on save him from the shadows.

From that night, every day the boy ran after the sun. Convinced he had to protect it.

Days turned into months and months into uncountable years; but the boy’s obsessions only grew and grew. He was older now, powerful and respected as a sorcerer … but not wiser. All of his time and endeavors seemed to be cast towards the same ridiculous tasks. After years of studying he finally devised a spell that would allow him to keep his promise. A spell that would steal the Sun from the Heavens, and one bright and shinny midday afternoon on the peaks of the highest mountain in the world, the young boy did just that.
The heavens roared and clouds threatened the sky while the spell flew over his lips in threatening speed and furry. The ground crackled beneath his feet just as his staff was lifted towards the sky and before anyone would be the wiser the entire world was plummeted in darkness … well …all but one single spot on a lonely mountaintop. The Sun, now shrunk to the size of a melon shinned brightly at the young man’s grinning face.

Finally … he was able to keep his promise. But how was he going to protect his precious little gem from the darkens now?

At first, he placed it in a golden cage. But people noticed the brightness and gathered around the shimmering orb flattering its beauty. The Sun in return, shimmered brighter.

Then he tried hiding it in a box. But every time he would open it his servants would marvel at the stunning light and HIS Sun would shine at them happily.

Angered, the young man shrunk the Sun to the size of a marble and wore it around his neck; convinced that his Sun should only shine for him. But like so many times before, whenever the small gem was seen in the perpetual darkness, the little Sun would try its hardest to shine for the people around it.

Furious that HIS Sun would shine for anybody but him the young man devised a plan. If he, its protector could not be the only one to benefit from its love … then nobody would. He cast the little gem into a metal box and threw it into the deepest weal he could find; convinced in his madness that the only was to protect that which he loved, was to store it away from the world forever.

Nobody told him, you see, that the only reason the Sun shinned so bright was because it loved the world. So in the depth of the cold weal, and in the darkness of its box the little Sun flickered – but because it had no one to shine for the little gem dimered into nothingness.

Soon after, driven mad by the loss, the young man took his own life.

Mahuo tell their children this story as a warning: “You can’t protect what you love from the world. Inevitable you will kill it’s spirit .”It is a tradition closely fallowed by all Mahuo, well …all except the Uchihas. Perhaps this was one of the many reasons why the socially inept Uchiha hair found himself is a emotional downwards spiral while listening to the orange haired man’s explication. Every inch of him seemed to be boiling at the thought, and if he would be less of a man he would have jumped towards Pain’s less than a minute ago.

“Could you … repeat … that ?” the monotone, controlled voice demanded; forever sealing Pain’s theory that all Uchihas are in some way shape or form …damaged.

“Like I said in the beginning, the seal is damaged.” The man replied, hiding an exasperated yawn behind his hand. Honestly it was way to dam early for this. “However … the thing that is sealed inside of her is extremely powerful. And as I’m sure you well know, that shrine is special for a reason … right ?”

“Of course … the Cherry blossom in it.”

“Well … not only is the Sakura currently contributing to keeping the shield from deteriorating further, but the Nekomata in itself is slowly feeding off of it. “ Pain added, turning his gray eyes towards his window and yawning yet again. “My guess is … whoever placed her there knew this, and was just buying some time. Because inevitably an S class demon like that will simply feed until it can break the shield by itself … then …”

“Then …?”


”Boom …?”

Itachi frowned.

============================================

A small smile threatened to overtake the silver haired demons features, but with a little control and a lot more willpower he somehow managed to look away from the girl.

“Little girl.” He managed to say, before puling his hand away from her ankle “Don assume that everytime you cry, somebody will be there to help you.” An almost undetectable smile fallowed his statement, before he reatched up and tucked a loose strand of black hair behind her ear. “Though, I promise you I will give it my all to try and be there when you need me .”


===============================================

Paniked voices and fear striken secretaries could be heard outside his door; while above them a sickly calm bellow managed somehow to make the poor women shriek. –Ah … the boy finally came to visit … the old figure behind the desk smile through his wrinkles.

“Sir! No I’m sorry … you cannot go inside. “

….

”No sir, I’m not allowed to let you in. “
“I need to see the old man …NOW!” the man demanded, breaking through the woman’s grip and sending two very sturdy mahogany doors flying open .

“OLD MAN !” the dark haired man bellowed. “I need to talk to you …”

“Ah … That much is obvious. “ the man turned into his chair with a pleasant smile on his face, much to his visitors everlasting dismay

“I’m sorry Hokage sama … he simply didn- “

“It’s alright Kurenai. “ the man stopped her apology with a simple hand gesture, to which she responded with a small bow and a haisty retreat. “Now then, what brought on this improptue visist …Itachi. “

“I need to extract somebody from the Shrine, and under MY protective custody.”

Sarutoby Asuma simply nodded.

There are times when we cannot lie to ourselves. There are times when we reach one point in our small life where we are almost forced to admit that we, indeed are selfish. Although our mouths says we are not, the heart yearns to surface it’s true feeling, the one and only feeling that could change us into monsters our mind didn’t even think we cage.

That’s why, at that moment Momoko felt the pull of selfishness at her throat and almost voiced the words that would probably make her regret. Her inner self screamed and banged inside her mind she tell the man in front of her to stay, protect and never leave her side. To tell him that she loved him with every single particle of her small, fragile body.

But she didn’t. She just forced her mouth shut, urging the feeling down in that small box inside her being, locking it away.

Her head shook, a sad smile covering her face. “It’s ok Sesshomaru-sama. You are a busy man. You don’t need to stay after my tail.” her eyes closed, she stood up brushing off few leaves from her robe. Her ankle was healed, no sign of pain being left behind.

“Thank you...” she whispered, her voice almost brittle while her eyes blinked off the tears. Silence fell upon the couple, only the graze blowing through the green spring trees as Momoko carefully listen to her surroundings. Her mind began the eternal war with her heart. While the first placed the negative vote, the latter gave signs of winning the first battle.

“My lord” she started, turning around. “Have you ever loved someone?”



=====================================================================



“I never thought i would see the day when you will take fate into your hands.” an amusing voice called from a shadowed bench.

Neji growled ignoring the woman currently sitting. With one glance from him, Temari burst out laughing. “You are amazing you know. One day you gave silent treatment to everyone, and the second everything changed.” Temari leaned against the bench, enjoying the breeze. “I over heard the conversation you had with Aoi. I might say, you are truly incredible.” a chuckle escaped her lips while her amused eyes looked at the man.

“That’s called eavesdropping and it’s a rude thing to do.” he replied frustrated, placing his hands hard into his pockets, but made no move to leave the place.

“Nah...i don’t think so.” she stuck out her tongue stretching her arms before standing up. “You know, changes are good in life.” she stalked behind Neji, who in returned rose one delicate eyebrow. “I heard Kakashi needs help. Try and give him a visit.” she winked before departing with a humming ‘good bye’.

Again the boy let out a growl followed by a roll of his eyes, but nevertheless headed towards the dojo.