She sat in her room that night, watching as he left through those gates. He would never be back, she knew that much. Slamming her fist against the window before looking away. He was gone, without a look backwards. His gaze was fixed forward, on what he wanted, the selfish asshole. That was always what she thought to herself. Her eye was caught by the picture of the two of them, it had been a secret between them, they're first kiss, it had been an accident while training, before the naruto kiss. She smiled sadly before picking up the picture and hurtling it across the room, the glass breaking, shattering on the floor by her door. Tears slipped out of her eyes, trailing down her face which she wiped away angrily.

It had been years since he had left, six in fact. Naruto was still chasing after him to bring him home, Sakura still crying about it. Most of everyone else had moved on. She herself had tried to move on, she did alright most days. Today was not one of them, she sat by her window, rain pounding against the window as it rained, it made her think of him, the selfish one. Tears streaked down her face, this time she just let them fall, she wasn't afraid to let them go anymore. She swept her black hair out of her face, her hand wiping the tears as they stopped, her blue eyes bright against her pale skin. She glanced outside seeing Hinata making her way to the house through the rain. She smiled getting up, she went to the door holding it open and rushing out with a smile. Hinata had a knowing look on her face, but said nothing as the girl came in with bags of stuff.

" What's all of this?" Aika asks curiously.

" Well your birthday is tonight. We're taking you out." Hinata says with a smile.

" We're?" Aika asks confused.

" Me and Naruto, out to dinner, then back here for some presents from everyone." Hinata says with a sheepish look.

" You guys knew you didn't have to do anything for me." Aika says hugging her best friend.

" Naruto and I know the promise you and Sasuke made that one night of the mission, that he would always be by your side.. and yet.. he's not here any longer it hurts you, and on this day it does the most." Hinata says while handing over a bag.

" What's this?" Aika asks confused.

" Go shower and get dressed in that alright? Its an early present for you mission tomorrow, We want to see you in it tonight." Hinata says with a smile.

"Alright I'll go change." Aika says taking the bag.

She made her way up to her room, locking the door before showering, after her shower she dried pulling out her new clothes, breathtaking was what she saw. A gorgeous light blue fighting kimono, outlined in black with silver accents. She pulled it on before noticing the black lower face mask, which also changed into a hood to cover her hair. She giggled.

" Kakashi."

She pulled on her black ninja shoes and pulled her hair up, braiding it and leaving it down, out of her way, she noticed she would need a haircut soon, her hair was all the way to her rear end braided like it was. She fingered her long hair for a few minutes, remembering one day they had been laying in the grass, he had complained after training with her, that her long hair got in the way. Right then she had cut it off agreeing, she had kept it long for her mother, who had finally given into her cutting it. After it had been cut he sat up fingering the long stands on the grass, before looking at her, he then told her he liked it when it was long. She pulled out of her memory and made her way out, she went down stairs to find Hinata and Naruto decorating the place with smiles.

" Hey." She says with a laugh.

" Aika! You look great! Hinata was right! That color really stands out on you." Naruto exclaims happily.

" Thank you both. It's amazing." Aika says with a smile.

" Sorry about the decorations, the others want to stop by with gifts, they want to drop them off while we're at dinner." Hinata says with a giggle.

" It's alright. You two done here?" She asks happily.

" Yep!" Naruto says while grabbing Hinata's hand in his.

They had been dating for two years out of the six that he had been gone, Aika looked away as their fingers laced together. She walked out first, leaving her door unlocked, the couple lead the way under an umbrella, she held her own as she noticed Naruto had his arm over Hinata's shoulder, holding her close while he also held the umbrella over them. How sweet. They had a nice dinner, no ramen, but sushi for once, not that she minded ramen, but something else was great once in a while. After dinner, they separated, Aika made her way home on her own. After opening the door she seen her table filled with present's she smiled taking them arm-full by arm-full to the living room. She sat down opening them slowly. Ino had given her some hand made hair chopsticks, all kinds of colors and a beautiful bouquet of flowers. She noticed a weird box with holes in it, she carefully opened it before seeing a small tiger, a white baby tiger laying in the box asleep. A tag on it shown it had been from Kiba and his family, a gift to keep her from being lonely. She took her out, the tiger woke slightly before mewing and curling up on her lap. She'd have to see Kiba and his family tomorrow to thank them in person. Choji left a note saying their were some cupcakes in the fridge, knowing how she wasn't a fan of cake. Shikamaru had bought her a couple of books she had mentioned to him that she had read but couldn't find anymore. Shino had drawn a beautiful picture, it was of her with gorgeous butterfly wings, they were torn and ripped up, showing she couldn't fly. It was so sad, but the smile on the drawing of her was showing that she would heal and when she did she would fly again. Tenten had brought over some new kunai, along with various other weapons. Thanks to Tenten she would be one of the best ANBU Hunters with the most weapons. Lee had gotten her a rose bush, he took the tag off so she couldn't see what kind of rose's they were, tomorrow she would plant them. The last thing was an envelop, she opened it and started to read.

Aika,
I know things these past couple of years haven't been good for you and we all know how much your hurting. I'll be the only one to just come out and say this to you. He won't come back. Not for you. Not for Sakura. Not for Naruto. He's gone. I understand this is harsh, I do, but seeing you waste away like this kills me. See the thing is, I like you, a lot. I have since the Chunnin exams, but you were always with Sasuke, I had seen you around town before that but never thought about it. When you fought though, amazing grace and agility, the moves you did would be impossible for most people including us ninja. You set the bar up pretty high for guys you like. Kiba was rejected, Kotetsu, Izumo, various other guy's from other villages. I don't expect to be any different, but I needed to tell you at least, don't treat me any different and I don't need you to mention it to me. I feel better having you just know my feelings, I'll be here, as will everyone else for you on hard days like this.
Neji

She rubbed the tears from the corner of her eyes, he was right, He would never come back. Sasuke would never return and she should give up on that thought. She set Neji's letter on the table before carrying the baby white tiger, who she had named Toraneko, upstairs to her room. She laid down with her on the bed, they fell asleep, her little head curled and tucked under Aika's chin.

" I... give up..." She mumbled closing her eyes.