Well. For no logical reason that I can find, I am back on fanfiction. I should probably be working on my stories on fictionpress but I got the sudden urge to edit and pick this story up again. So… enjoy.

Chapter 1

Rei stared boredly up at the wall. The clock seemed to be mocking her, taking just the tiniest hop every long silent moment. She sighed, re-positioning herself on her seat, turning to rest on her other elbow. She still hadn't touched the work sitting in front of her, and did not plan on starting any time soon. Iruka was sitting in front of her, silently grading papers. Every so often, he glanced up at her, just to make sure she didn't try anything. She huffed, brushing a lock of black hair back and tucking it behind her ear. She had been caught cheating on a test again and was sitting in Iruka-sensei's classroom doing extra work. She knew he was stressed out right now with graduation exams coming up, but that didn't excuse him giving such a boring punishment! Though… she supposed she was lucky not to have been suspended. Cheating called for serious measures in the academy.

She readjusted her pink tube top, pulling it down a little more. She reached into her mini skirt's pocket and pulled out a packet of itching powder. She had been planning to put it in Aruka's clothes during gym class, but had forgotten about it because of the pop test. She had been careless, and had gotten caught cheating. A snore broke through her thoughts, and she suddenly realized Iruka was sleeping. Ha, setting a great example for your student, Sensei, she thought. She took her papers, and turned off the light as she left. If he woke up and discovered her missing, he could only doubt himself and think he was so tired that he was dozing off and imagining things. Of course, it would be a problem when he couldn't find her test, but she lived life for the "now", not the consequences of "later".

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They were waiting for her outside the academy.

She sighed. Aruka and her gang made it their business to make her school life miserable. Aruka walked up to her, smirking.

"How was the work, bitch? You definitely got off way to easy, trying to cheat off Neji-kun's test. If he weren't so chivalrous, I'm sure he would of beaten you up so bad. But he would never hit a girl. So we'll just have to do it for him." She and her followers started advancing.

Oh, crap. Rei was outnumbered twelve to one. She backed away as they advanced, and Aruka smirked. Rei took a deep breath, knowing there was no way she would be able to fight her way through this. She took another breath, then charged straight towards Aruka, suddenly switching directions and going to the left. Naoko stood in front of her, the most petite girl in the class, and with the element of surprise on Rei's side, Naoko was dispatched with a punch to the gut. Rei twirled by her fallen opponent and thrust the heel of her hand into Yukiko's nose, at the perfect angle to break it. Rei jumped suddenly to the right, almost tripping over Tenten, a meek follower of Aruka's group. Rei swerved, hooking her left foot into Tenten's ankle, pushing her down as she passed. She felt sort of bad for Tenten- Aruka used to be her best friend, but then they got older, and Aruka became more popular. Tenten only was part of her group because they were Neji's official fan club.

Rei broke free of the formation and started running. Shit, She thought, I really don't want to deal with this right now. She shot a look over her shoulder and stuck out her tongue. Aruka was following her, while the others crowded around Yukiko, trying to see what was wrong. Tenten picked herself up from the ground, limping on her left side. Rei ran through the town to the training grounds. Aruka could look as tough as she wanted- Rei knew she would be to scared to follow her into the depths of the forest while it was getting dark. She looked behind her, glad to see that she was keeping a good distance between her and Aruka. After a while, she made a large turn, back to the village. It was late, and she was getting tired of running. She was going to go home now, and Aruka could follow her into her apartment for all she cared. She looked behind again, but noticed Aruka missing. That was too bad for her; she was going to get lost in the dark. Rei almost pitied her. She knew how it felt to be so lost, and give in to panic. She lowed and stopped, bending over and catching her breath.

"Giving up now, whore?" Rei started at the fact that Aruka was right in front of her, and stood up so fast that she accidentally caught Aruka in the chin with the top of her head. Aruka cursed, falling backwards, and Rei took advantage of that, stomping down with all her might on her leg. Aruka shrieked in pain as her knee popped out of its socket. Rei jumped over her, then turned back to stick her tounge.

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Iruka awoke and yawned. He looked around sleepily, and was startled that he was still in his classroom. It was dark outside, and the lamp on his desk had been turned off. He looked at the desks in front of him, but of course Rei wasn't there. She had either done the work and handed it in, or she had left when he dozed off. Knowing her, probably the second. He did worry about her, as she was a favorite pupil of his, and he was worried that she would not be able to pass the graduation exam. She seemed so weak. Even if she did pass, would she be able to become a Genin, or be sent back to the academy? He sighed. He had a stronger connection with her than his other students. He recalled a fateful event, ten years ago.

Iruka looked down at the polished stone marker, as if blaming it for his misfortune. He kept glaring, till he lost the contest with a tear. Within seconds, he had collapsed, blubbering, to the floor calling for his mother and father.

"Mom… Dad… I'm sorry, I promised myself I wouldn't cry! But How could you leave me alone! I've been working so hard, to be as great as you two were- and I always smile, and laugh… Mom, are you proud of me? I'll be fifteen next month! Too old to cry…I wish you could have been here…" He broke off with a sob, covering his face. His tears mixed with the rain that had started to fall. He must have been there for hours, releasing his bottled up emotions and hopes...

He was shaken out of his emotional state by a clap of thunder, followed by a shriek. He sat upright abruptly, stooping the tear flow. His head whipped around, finding the source of the noise. He stood up, and ran toward it, stopping at the bank of a wild river. There was a small child in the violent waves. She looked like she was drowning. "Mama!" she shrieked. She was struggling to keep afloat, and her head disappeared for a few seconds, then it reappeared, sputtering. Her tears were swept away by the rough waters, and she had no energy left to scream. Her eyes closed, and she sank again, her hand reaching upward. Iruka tore off his jacket and jumped into the freezing water, swimming directly for the spot were the girl had disappeared. He reached it and dove downward, finding the girl's hand and gripping it tightly. He grabbed the child and rose to the surface again, then swam back to shore, where he set her down. She must have been about three or four. Her eyes were closed, and her wet black hair was plastered to her face. Iruka sat panting for a minute, then picked her up again and headed back to the village.

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"Good work Iruka-san. If you hadn't rescued her she would have definitely drowned."

"She really can't remember anything?" Iruka was talking to the Hokage outside of the girl's hospital room. Sarutobi shook his head.

"No. It's a shame, I've already dispatched teams to try to find her family, but they can't locate them. It will be hard for her to grow up with no memories of her parents. Do you want to see her?" Iruka nodded and followed the old man into the room. The child was awake and squealing happily petting a stuffed bunny toy. Bandages were wrapped around her neck and shoulders. "Usagi-chan!" she squealed, hugging the toy to her chest. Iruka smiled. The Hokage walked up to the girl and patted her head. "How are you today Rei-chan?" The girl smiled wide- then bit him. The old man looked surprised, and withdrew his hand.

"Ow, Jii-san!" the little girl squeaked in her high-pitched voice, then laughed like she had just made a hilarious joke. Her deep blue eyes shone. A medic walked into the room holding a clipboard. "Hokage-sama, a word about the girl." Sarutobi nodded and followed him into the hall. There was silence, except for the girl's maniac giggling. Iruka wondered if the Hokage had forgotten about him. He turned to leave, but was stopped by that squeaky voice.

"What's your name, Onii-san?" The girl was smiling at him, her head tilted to one side. He smiled sadly back at her. "I'm Iruka, Rei-chan." The girl squeaked and nodded. She held the bunny up in front of her, and stared at it. "Sekka-kun says he likes you!" She giggled for a few more seconds, then turned away from him abruptly, rubbing the bandages on her neck. "Onii-san, these itch." She was clawing at them, finally managing to tear them off. She curled up in a sleeping position, and clutching the bunny next to her. He thought he heard her whimper, but then a snore erupted from the girl. She rolled over in her sleep, revealing the back of her neck. Iruka gasped, seeing an intricate seal tattoo starting at the base of her neck and continuing down to her shoulders and shoulder blades. The door suddenly opened, nearly making him jump out of his skin. The Hokage walked in, looking serious. He told Iruka to go home and sleep, and that his team had a mission tomorrow. He had left, wondering about the tattoo.

Iruka was shaken out of his memories by a clock tolling the hour. He sighed and left the building. Walking home, he heard the sound of someone wailing. Déjà vu flashed through his mind, and he flinched, shrugging off the memory. He followed the sound and came across Aruka and Rei. Aruka was on the ground crying, and Rei was sticking her tongue out, walking away.

"Rei! Aruka!" he shouted. Rei jumped, then looked toward him guiltily.

"Sensei! Re- Re- Rei followed me and then she kicked me so hard and then- then- it hurts so much!" she broke off again, wailing. Iruka was surprised. He thought Rei would have gone straight home after sneaking out of detention, and was shocked that she would do such a thing. He crouched down and placed his hands over Aruka's knee expertly. They glowed green with healing chakra.

"Rei! Why on earth would you do such a thing?"

"Do what, Iruka-Sensei? Aruka tripped. I think its horrible that she would try to pin the blame on me!" she asked sweetly, standing beside him. But Iruka was not going to let her little act fool him this time.

"What did you do to Aruka!" he glared at her, daring her to lie. Instead she burst into tears.

"Whe- When I le… left, she and her friends came up to me and called me names, and then she threatened to beat me up, and I tried to run away, but then she stopped me so I I- had to- I kicked her!"

"Aruka is this true?" Aruka shook her head and whimpered. Damn it. Rei was frustrated. She was doing her best acting, but Iruka wasn't buying it. Aruka was the guilty one anyway; she shouldn't have to lie to get out of trouble!

"Rei-chan, tomorrow, you're staying after school again and doing the work you should have done today, and extra! I need to take Aruka home. You are in huge trouble. What, are you a baby that has to cry every time it wants something? Grow up! Graduation exams are in a week and I'd hate to see you fail!" with that Iruka picked up Aruka and left. Rei stood up and wiped her face, then went home scowling.

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Well, now I'm off to edit and repost the other chapters.

R&R (no flames, just happy comments crap).