Chapter 2

Photographic Memory

Kiba sat silently on the small cushion in the living room of a certain pink haired kunoichi. He couldn't make eye contact with her or Sakura. Of course he was ashamed, he'd jumped to conclusions…but it was different this time…he knew it was. Everything about her was perfect. Although with the larger problem at stake her physical appearance didn't make much of a difference.

"How's your jaw?" Sakura finally asked him. He rubbed it gently and winced. "Hurting, I think the bone is bruised." He looked up now to glance at the other girl. She had her knees pulled against her chest and her arms around them. She looked so……fragile. "So, Rori," Sakura said after handing Kiba an icepack. "Where are you from?" Rori's head shot up and she smiled, although it looked like a smile of sadness. "I…I don't know." Sakura and Kiba exchanged glances then the kunoichi continued. "Well…do you have any family? Parents, siblings, children?"

Rori grinned and stretched her legs out in front of her, her grin quickly faded away. "I lost all of my memories a few years ago. The first thing I remember is waking up in a forest, there was blood everywhere…and bodies. I didn't know where I was…or who I was. I couldn't remember anything except the feeling of needles," she stopped and sucked in as much air as she could. Kiba sat up straighter. Needles. He looked to Sakura but she wasn't looking, of course she wasn't. Kiba was the only one who knew about Kousetsu's past. "I just remember the feeling of needles everywhere, poking at me, hurting me…that and a picture is all I have from my past."

Now Sakura sat up straighter. "A picture? Why don't we look at it?" Rori looked as if she were about to refuse but she didn't. She slowly slipped the picture out of the front pocket of her bag and handed it to Sakura. It looked old, maybe about a decade old. The color had started to fade and the edges of the picture had been damaged. In the photograph were too faces, one a girl the other a boy. The girl had skin the clarity and tone of porcelain and long locks of black hair. Her large green eyes held a spark in them and were touched by the smile that was spread across her face. Beside her was a boy with short brown hair that stood at ends. His soft brown eyes held a hint of anxiety to them that was clearly evident by the blush on his face. His smile was slightly less euphoric looking that the girls but it still touched his eyes the same hers did.

"Kiba, look at this," Sakura said quietly handing him the picture. He took it and examined it as she had. "You know who that it right?" He didn't have to answer. He stroked the picture of her face with his index finger lightly, "Kousetsu." She had always been stunning, but the film didn't capture all of her. There was so much more beneath her beautiful exterior. She was an intuitive, creative girl, a wild force a nature that many would do well to keep a distance from, but she was captivating and drew people in at the same time. It took much effort to stay away from her. His eyes flickered to the boy beside her and he almost chocked on his own saliva. His eyes darted from Sakura to the photo to Rori over and over again.

"What?" Rori finally asked. Kiba shakily turned the photo around and pointed to the boy, "That's me."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Kiba muttered curses under his breath at his current situation. Sakura placed a hand on his shoulder. "Calm down, Kiba. It's not her fault." He exhaled slowly. "Sakura…," he said looking down at Rori's figure, sleeping soundly in Sakura's bed. "It's her." Kiba was positive about it. He'd never ever been more certain about something in his life!

"You don't know that. A picture doesn't mean anything."

"A picture can mean anything!" he retorted angrily. It was just something he could understand. No one else would be able to understand… He loved her…well loved Kousetsu. But it felt so…right. "Sakura, you just…you don't understand." He turned to the pink haired kunoichi who was staring sympathetically at him. "You've never had the one you love leave…on a suicidal mission. I thought that the woman I loved was dead for ten years." Kiba stood and exited the room and practically ran toward the front door. Sakura rushed to his side before he could leave.

"Kiba…I'm sorry about Kousetsu, I really am, but you can't just assume that Rori is Kou. It's true, she looks just like her, but we have no backing evidence!" He turned to face Sakura, his eyes were filled with frustration. "If you believe that this is really her…then maybe you should explain that to her. I don't know what else to tell you, but you scared her pretty bad tonight. Try to subtle it down a bit." He nodded, considering the idea. It wasn't too bad of a plan… Or was it? Rori probably thought him a freak in the least. It would definitely be difficult trying to get Rori to even agree to see him.

"I'm just going to go home and rest, Sakura, thank you for letting her stay here," Kiba said gratefully to his friend before leaving. He sighed deeply as he walked down the street, once again, heading for the Inuzuka manor.

AN:

Sorry the update took so long...I've been seriously preoccupied with reajusting to school life and updating my bird series. I truly apologize for making you guys wait so long...PLEASE ACCEPT MY APOLOGIES! I am also looking for a beta for this story AND for my bird series, my old beta is really caught up with school at the moment and needs a desperate break. So please if you are available, please please beta for me.

I've also finished the second story of my Bird Series, I'ma work on this series for a while before I even start the third story, unless of course you want me to start the third now. Send your messages and reviews. Happy early Valentine's Day, this will be my first Valentine's Day that I'm actually in a relationship, well...a GOOD relationship. Hopefully you guys will have a good Valentine's Day. Spread the love...ew...

Signed,

Megumi Tsukazu