Chapter 2

It was her first night back at home and the Nakamitsu household was full of light and life and laughter. There was still and undercurrent of guilt and hurt but it was easily forgotten as the family sat together at the dinner table for the first time together in a long time. Yuri had crafted a large home cooked meal. Nagato was able to make it since he had helped with border patrol of Suna.

Shiori was all smiled as she looked at her two loving parents who were laughing at a funny song she had made up. She was happy; her mother took her to the bathhouse that day and helped her to her hair in cute braids. They had planted flowers on their window seal and Yuri had plucked three to put in her daughters hair.

They sat down and prayed, beginning their family dinner. Nagato looked up and realized that Shiori had grown quiet and withdrawn, starring at her food and playing with her chopsticks.

"What's wrong, baby?" Shiori looked up and her eyes were frosted over with a fire both Yuri and Nagato could see, they looked at each other suspiciously.

"Mama, Papa... I need to ask you something." They put down their chopsticks and gave her their full attention. "I... want to be... a ninja." Nagato looked to his wife, she kept starring at Shiori. She was the sensei of the Suna Ninja Academy as therefore in charge of all the children. She was thoughtful as she put a hand to her lips.

"Why do you want to be a ninja?" Shiori placed her small fisted hands on the table and stood up.

"Mama, I have people I need to protect! And I don't wanna be weak, so that they have to save me! The people that I love!" Nagato turned his head down, shoulders shaking, tears leaked to his eyes. He had never been a sensitive man until he found her on the street, his little girl Shiori singing to herself. But now, he could hardly control the rush of emotion. It seemed as though he wasn't one of the strongest ANBU in Suna at this moment. As he cried at his daughters wise words. It melted his heard to know she was saying them, his little broken girl who monsters have ravaged. And he wasn't able to be there.

He grabbed his wife's hand.

"Alright, baby, Papa and I will talk about it, ok." Shiori just nodded. She started eating her meal again. The air was stirred and what she said lingered on the table, on all their minds.

They had put Shiori to bed who fell asleep shortly after she hit her pillow. Nagato and Yuri stayed downstairs in their living area, sharing a bottle of wine.

"Yuri..." Nagato's voice trailed off, the unsaid question between them. She sat next to him on the couch, facing him with her knees up to her chest, the glass of wine on the table forgotten for now.

"I think... It could be good." Nagato looked up from his hands. He looked at his beautiful, strong, wife. The love between hadn't dimmed after all the years they had been together. He touched her leg and she smiled.

"Shiori, we know nothing of her past or where she came from..."

"She could have a blood line limit, kekkai genkai." Yuri nodded as Nagato finished her sentence. "But... She's our little girl, and we first became ninja we thought it was about glory and saving lives and all that." He waved his hands around passionately. Yuri smiled.

"Don't we still? When I look at the kids at the academy... It gets a little easier to forget the bad." She stared off into space, as though remembering something.

"But it's still there. And I don't know how I feel about Shiori going off being a kunoichi with all the bad out there." Yuri sighed, taking a sip of her wine.

"She's our baby girl but she is going to grow up one day, and I would rather know she can defend herself and protect those she cares about rather that knowing something like what... Happened... could ever happen again." He looked up at her after a long while and they understood.

They stayed up late talking. Talking about everything. Shiori and her aspirations and what to do, to how they met to how their duties were going as ninja. They loved each other, and god how he loved her. She was his forever and he was so lucky to have such a woman with a heart on his side. He touched her cheek and smiled. They went up to their bedroom and fell asleep in each other's arms, happy to have their family.

That morning Yuri snuck into her daughter's room. She woke early, too early. She had a few hours before work but she wanted to surprise Shiori. She looked at the sleeping child and smiled lovingly at her.

She placed a gently hand on her small shoulder and rolled her over.

"Shiori, baby, wake up." She whispered softly, shaking her shoulder to wake up. Shiori yawned and stretched as she rolled over. Her bright eyes popping open to look at her mother.

"Mama?" She questioned sleepily. She just smiled at her.

"Are you ready to go to the academy with me today?" Shiori woke right up and jumped hugging her mother and giggling. Yuri laughed with her carrying her out of bed and helping her grabs some clothes. "We have to talk to some people so that we can enroll you." Shiori smiled as she put on her navy blue shirt and black shorts. Yuri helped her put her hair up in a ponytail that went down her back, as white as cotton but as smooth as silk. She smiled and they headed off. Mother and daughter hand in hand.

Gaara sat outside on the roof of his favorite building. The academy was one of the tallest in Suna so allowed for the best view as he had so much to see. He had just finished a mission and was left to his own devices until the next. His missions were far and few in between and he attended private tutoring sessions when he was on a mission. But today he eluded everyone. His thoughts a sandstorm. His gourd lay off to the side and the sun glinting off his headband got caught in his eyes.

He looked down and saw two people walking towards the academy. Rather a child and her mother. He noticed the child smiling and dancing about, hair in a long ponytail atop her head, falling down her back and flailing in her glee; it caught the light and looked like silver. She was looking up to her mother who was smiling kindly down, laughing, her chocolate brown hair falling in waves down her frame.

His interest peaked as Shiori and her mother entered the academy. He knew Shiori's mother worked at the academy and wondered what she would be doing here. Perhaps she is going to become a ninja, like she told me.

A flash of anger ran down his spine at the idea, but he didn't move nor pay any attention to his anger. He just stayed and watched the girl who was his only friend walk into the academy. His thoughts flowing with her.

Yuri had talked with the other sensei's of the academy as well as the Kazakage. All had agreed that her daughter would be a good addition to the academy and Suna's elite ninja corps. Shiori had to stay outside during all the meetings. The Kazakage called her in with the other teachers after her mother met with them all.

"Shiori, baby, come on in." She stood and took a big breath. Walking in with her mother. They all stood on the sides of the room, the Kazakage in the middle sitting at his huge oak desk. Papers cluttered it but he kept a space in front of him clear for his hands. They were clasped together and he looked at her from under his Kage hat, a kind smile playing on his lips.

She stood nervously at the center, wringing her little hands together. She looked up nervously at everyone.

The meeting had gone by fairly smoothly with a lot of laughs at Shiori. Her ambitions of becoming a kunoichi had been answered and she was to start private tutoring that afternoon. She was 9 years old and would be able to graduate as a genin with the rest of the class as long as she maintained her studies. Lucky she lived with two of Suna's best ninja to help guide her.

That evening she brought home five books and started reading them. She didn't sleep until three hours before the sunrise, engrossed in her materials. She was able to catch in quickly to her studies.

It was the weekend and so there wasn't any class. She was excited because she didn't have to do anything, and it was her birthday. She didn't have too many friends and that was something she was fine with. Shiori walked along the road in the sunny afternoon, humming and singing to herself. A lizard was on her shoulder, she found in the shade of her home.

She stopped when she neared the park that was strangely empty for a Saturday morning. She saw a sight that made her entire day burst with life. She ran towards the red haired boy with the kanji tattoo of love on his forehead. She ran up to him breathless. He just looked up at her with his eyes she loved, but with his normal dead look.

"Gaara-kun!" She said breathless, "It's my birthday today!" She smiled up at him. He was sitting under a sparse tree in the shade. "I'm so happy I got to see you for my birthday! I am nine now!" He just nodded at her. She kept smiling as she sat next to him, completely unafraid of him. She started swinging a little.

"I go to the academy now. I'm ahead of everyone! Sensei says I have very good chakra control."

"That's good, but you have to be the best if you want to come on missions with me." His arrogance didn't escape her notice and she huffed, she crossed her arms over her chest and looked away and up, nose in the air. For a second he believed he offended her and he didn't' know how to respond, so he waited.

"I will be the best." She said, head still looking up. He smirked at her.

"I hope so." She looked at him and smiled, grabbing his hand and swinging with him. His stomach exploded with butterflies at her unfamiliar and unscarred touch. He wanted to pull away because it shocked him but he found he couldn't move. She was just laughing at him. Silence stretched between them but it was a comfortable thing, and she began to sing. It sounded so sweet and soft that Gaara felt another crack in the shell of numbness he wore over his heart. It calmed him and the demon inside. Almost putting him to sleep. He snapped his eyes awake and took his hand back. He looked directly at her; eyes boring in to her soft light blue ones.

"Aren't you afraid of me?" He demanded voice on the hard edge of anger. She looked dumbfounded and confused. Shaking her head.

"No. Why would I be afraid of you Gaara-kun, you're my best friend." She smiled and it lit up her face. He couldn't hide the pink tinged cheeks that grew hot at her statement. Best friend? He never had a friend and how she was his best friend? His heart nearly stopped as she grabbed his hand, swinging it with hers. She kept laughing.

"Gaara-kun you saved my life so many times, I just want to protect yours too." She said it softly as she lifted her head. The now ten-year-old Gaara stopped breathing. He clenched his hand around hers and he knew. He would protect her forever, this strange girl who looked like snow in the middle of the desert. She was his now, and she always would be, whether she would accept it or not. He nodded and walked away; before he disappeared he turned to her.

"Happy birthday, Shiori... Chan." She beamed as she smiled and waved. He was gone the next second in a whirlwind of sand. The Shukaku demon strangely at peace, almost emitting a calm vibe to his soul, which had become so shredded with his insanity that at his waking mind.

Weeks had gone by and the girl studied hard. She saw Gaara occasionally here and there whenever she got the chance. Gaara came and started visiting the girl at night, usually just watching over her as she slept. When she sang his demon was happy, as though hypnotized by the voice, so he felt safer near her knowing the demon would not want to strike out against her.

She was his most guilty secret, and one he protected viciously. The only way a demon child knew how. The demon did the same, protecting her from others, making sure others never knew how she affected him.

But weeks turned to months and they remained friends, quite close. It was the night of her graduation from student to genin and she was so excited, she had asked him to come to her graduation.

Shiori stood tall, now 12 years old, about to take her test so that she could go from student to Genin. Her parents had wished her luck though they knew she would make it. She studied so hard and was very advanced, even learning a few other jutsu's. Her father wanted her to be the best.

Shiori walked into the classroom. She received the looks she always got when she went in. She had worn a simple black dress that went down to her knees. She wore mesh stockings and a mesh shirt that covered her arms. She left her hair down and down her back. She wore little Band-Aids on her cheeks and wrappings around her knuckles. Her ninja boots sandals went to her knees. She sat down in the front, back straight and ready.

Her mother wouldn't be able to administer the test since her daughter would be taking it this year. Sarutobi-sensei was a thin man who was tall. He wore the general attire of a Suna Chuunin, his headband secured around his forehead. He called the students into the back room to be tested. Shiori sat nervously as the other's walked into the room, some came out looking dejected, and others smiled and waved. She sat there, head in hand looking bored.

She held in her hand a trinket that Gaara had given her on her 13th birthday. It was a small shell he had picked up from the ocean on a mission he had on her birthday. It was his form of an apology. She smiled as she looked at it, thinking of the one person she considered her best friend.

The time came when Sarutobi walked in and summoned her. She stood; shoulder's back and ready, shell safely secured around her wrist.

*** Shiori POV

My nerves were destroying the facade of my confidence. I had been waiting for this day since that night in the hospital when Gaara came to see me. My heart fluttered and I put a steady hand to my chest. I entered walking in behind Sarutobi-sensei.

I stopped on the indicated X and faced the panel of teacher's. Sarutobi took his seat at the head and proceeded to tell me what the test entailed. We could either created 3 clones or any original jutsu we may have learned. I sighed and bowed.

"I would like to use an original jutsu my father taught me." The waved me to continue. I centered my chakra and felt it build inside me. Creating the hand seals that became second nature I executed the jutsu. I was a water style user for the affinity of ice.

"Ice Crystal Style: Crystal Ice Barrier!" My chakra pushed out taking the energy in the room and making it cold. Surrounded me was a thin crystal like fore field that sparkled like ice. It was extremely transparent but very strong. I saw their faces through the veil of the jutsu, and I smirked. They looked at me impressed. The sensei on the end stood dumbfounded a kunai in hand.

"May we through a kunai at the jutsu to test it?" I nodded my accent. He flung the kunai wicked fast with the flick of his wrist. It clanged against the barrier, lighting the area it hit with a wave of light. It deflected easily and as it hit the ground it shattered into a millions pieces. Their eyes looked huge as they looked down at the now splintered to pieces kunai knife.

I dropped my hands and the barrier disappeared. I bowed.

"The barrier is made of pure ice enforced with my chakra and crystal jutsu, on impact it freezes weapons." Their mouths hung open and I felt a wave of warm pride sneak down my spine. Sarutobi grabbed one of the headbands of the Suna village and handed it to me.

"You've earned it kid, that was an impressive and extremely useful jutsu your Pop taught you." I smiled and bowed,

"Thank you so much." I tied the headband around my neck loosely and proceeded to walk out. The others stared and I smiled proudly as I took my seat. I fingered the charm Gaara had given me, and I couldn't wait to tell him I made it.

After the last few remaining took the test and those who passed, passed and those who failed, failed. Sarutobi-sensei came out again with a piece of paper. He cleared his throat calling for our attention.

"Alright, congratulations to those of you who have become ninja today, and to those of you who haven't, there is always next time. All right it is now time to divide you into you three man cells you will be in until you graduate to the level of Chuunin. You will be under the supervision of a jounin of Suna who will train you further in the practical ways of the ninja, and what it means to be one of Suna." Shiori laughed, it almost seemed as though he rehearsed his speech.

He started calling of names and I started to daydream. I didn't know half of the people in class, I always reading up on new jutsu's or the land, studying to grow stronger and become better.

I had come to surface in reality when Sarutobi-sensei called my name.

"Nakamitsu Shiori you will be in squad 8 with Matatsu Shin and Kyobi Kyo." I looked around at the two who had responded to Sarutobi-sensei. I saw a boy with black hair tied in a ponytail at the base of his neck, seated in the back of the classroom. He had black eyes that glazed over me and starred. His lips quirked up in a smirk and he sat back. I noticed his dark clothing that seemed far too hot for the desert. Then I turned to see the other boy who waved a confident and arrogant smile on his face as he winked down at me. I almost immediately got a headache. He wore a red and black shirt with mesh net shirt underneath and black gloves. He had bright red orange hair that was much brighter then Gaara's and bright yellow eyes. I nodded before turning to face the front.

I was not about to let any of my new teammates get the wrong impression of me. I crossed my arms over my chest and waited for Sarutobi-sensei to release us to meet our new sensei's.

Everyone cleared out quickly, excited chatter following them. I stayed in place and waited for them to come up to me. The black haired boy came and sat next to me, seating himself on the desk.

"My name is Matatsu Shin. Please just call me Shin." He did a little smirk, almost like that's as far as h is mouth would stretch into a smile. I nodded and bowed my head.

"Nice to meet you Shin-san, my name is Nakamitsu Shiori." He nodded back. Then a whirl of black and red came out of nowhere and slammed into me, my chest hitting the table uncomfortably. She put her head up, her hair was splayed everywhere and she death glared at the bright orange haired boy with the yellow cat like eyes.

"And I assume you are Kyobi Kyo." I sniffed at him, annoyed. I don't like when strangers touch me. It always bothered me for some strange reason, like at any moment something would happened and it would be horrible. I kept glaring and all he did was chuckle at me.

"Yo, Kyo at your service, and what's your name?" He raised his eyebrows suggestively and she was about to hit him when Shin slammed a fist on his head, making the boy fall down. He stood quickly, his energy seeming never to abate.

"What the hell was that for?" He raged at Shin, fist cuffing Shin around his color, bringing their faces close together. Shiori rolled her eyes and huffed. Men were so annoying when their tester one levels got to high.

"Alright, that's enough. I'm quite sure we should meet our sensei now, don't you two?" They stopped their fistfight immediately and straightened. Their cheeks turning a bright red. It had occurred to me that Gaara was my only friend and it was hard for me to accept the emotional state of others, since he seemed so closed from his emotions.

I stood and started walking out the door. The boys followed suit. Shin had his hands behind his head and Kyo had is in his pockets, still moping slightly. I just kept walking ignoring them, hoping to meet our sensei quickly.