Minako's POV

I watched my daughter, test out some of her improved skills. She had changed so much in the last month. Everything about her had matured her power, her personality, her intelligence, she had physically grown as well. One month on Earth was equivalent to two years here. Sadly... But yet joyously... She was ready.

Kabuto's POV

Nami played idly with her pencil. Ukon was making random marks on the sheet of paper before him. Karin was gazing at the book in front of her blankly. It was just one of those days that no one could focus. It was the end of December and snow was thick on the ground. Or at least the last time I was outside that's the way it was; that was a week ago. We don't go outside much in Oto. Why should we? We have what we need down here. Friends, a place to hang out, places to be alone. What's up there that we need?

I can only think of one thing. The lake and... Her statue... My Angel's Memorial of Crystal that lay under the willow. I got to my feet and left the room no one but Nami acknowledged the fact that I left. Nami followed me out.

"Where are you going?" I asked. Nami hadn't been in a daze like Ayame and Megumi have been in. She was sad yes but she wasn't dwelling on it.

"Angel's Lake." Nami said sadly.

"Mind if I join you?" I asked. Nami's reply was a shrug. I took it as a yes.

Though clouds covered the sky it was fairly bright out as the snow still blanketed the outside world and more continued to fall. We walked the all too familiar path to Angel's Lake. We walked in silence. I thought about the events that have happened since My Angel's death.

The Base had been plunged almost back into the darker days of Oto. Yeah the Lounge was now the only place with life again. But it seemed even bleaker than it was before My Angel came, and I never thought that was possible. The Mess Hall became a quiet place, only mutters of 'Can you pass me that?' 'Are you done with that?'. Although Karin, Ukon and Nami seemed like they became more determined in their path to become full fledged Medical-Nin. Most likely not wanting to let Nozomi down.

Karin became a Medic in the first place to prove her worth in the Shinobi World and to Nozomi. Nami had been trained as a Medic before she came to Oto but never said where or who or how; I wasn't going to pry. Ukon approached both Nozomi and I because he was tired of having to rely on his brother all the time, he wanted to be able to stand on his own two feet, to not be dead weight.

An other Jinchuriki had been created. Orochimaru found out that the Three Tailed had no Jinchuriki and was roaming wild. He sent some of his Shinobi, including me, to seal it in a young boy. We met no resistance from the Mist, if they even know we were there. The boy about a year and a half older than Nami; his name was Yukimaru.

No one in our group held a grudge against me for helping to create a new Jinchuriki, it was officially/unofficially known that Nozomi was a Jinchuriki, so people here showed no hatred to him; except Sasuke's group but they didn't say or do anything because they didn't want to get beat up by the entire Village.

I pity Yukimaru all the same, the Sealing prosses looked painful but at least Guren was there holding him the entire time. Guren was a mother to him and he was a son to her. I'm not proud of what I had to do but I knew he'd have a chance of having a family this way. He would have had both Nozomi and Nami to help him, but now he just had Nami. Yes, I know Nami is the Zero Tailed's Jinchuriki. Nozomi told me this in confidence; I will never betray that, Nami doesn't even know I know.

I glanced at Nami as she clutched Nozomi's necklace. At some point before the funeral Nami took it. I don't think Nozomi would object to one of her students wearing it. I wrapped my arm around the young girl's shoulders was we approached Angel's Lake.

Yugito's POV

I gazed out the window and out into the garden. It was covered in snow, I watched Aoko try and get a cardinal but as usual some of my Clan's children showed up and scared it away. I think they like annoying Aoko, they love her but I think they like messing with her. Actually my entire Clan loved Aoko, they loved her childish antics, the way she was always eager and happy... It makes me wonder what kind of life I would have had if I could Summon Aoko since my childhood. It probably would have been a lot better but at least this gives my successor a chance for a happy life.

Aoko and her siblings were so sad when Sumi and Nozomi first died, to be honest I was too. But Roshi... He was right. There was no reason to be sad. I would be with Nozomi and Minako again. My best friends besides Aoko and Tsukiko. Yes, Killer Bee was a childhood friend but I... Well... Wish it to be more... Aoko and Hachirou try to push Killer Bee and I together but Killer Bee can be so thick sometimes!

I sighed, put a hat on and went outside. Aoko chased a squirrel around the willow tree and then up it and back down it and the cycle repeated. I couldn't help but laugh so hard I was rolling in the snow. Aoko pounced on me and we wrestled for a moment. She curled up on my stomached and I think she fell asleep.

I stared at the clouds, sunlight actually peaked through them for once. I stared at a particulat hole in the clouds. I could see it clearly from under the willow as there were no leaves and the snow had fallen off the branches. It was shaped like a winged girl, an angel. Nozomi...A tear trickle down my cheek and I felt Aoko lick it away, apparently she hadn't been sleeping.

I stood up and Aoko leapt off my stomach. She ran to the door and waited for me to open it. I walked to the door slowly, still in deep thought.

I opened the door for Aoko and she bolted in to curl up by the fire. I don't know why but something in me jolted as if it had been shocked by lightning. I looked at the sky. The gap between the clouds had closed in, the wings were gone, it was just a girl now...

What does this mean...?

Nami's POV

Kabuto and I walked rounded the bend in the trail and Ange's Lake was before us in all it's glory. The snow was untouched and the lake looked like glass as it was covered in a sheet of ice one foot thick, the Hallelujah Mountains stood in the backround, a mountain chain that went from The Land of Sound to The Land of Lightning. I saw my Sensei's Crystal Memorial near the shore under a willow tree. But it wasn't the only thing under the willow.

Mine and Kabuto's Medic instincts took over. Someone was lying in the snow before the statue under the willow.