"Wait up, guys!" Lee and two girls stopped briefly to look back at the only other boy on the team. He was running towards them, his arm over his stomach. He slowed to a stop, leaning over to rest his hands on his knees in front of his three-man cell. "Can…we please… just slow down…a little…bit?" He panted, looking at his over-enthusiastic teacher and over-confident teammates.

"You should be thanking us," His brunette teammate said. Her short, boyish hair was hidden underneath her bandana. She fingered the charm on her wrist bangle; an obvious sign she was hoping to see her boyfriend as soon as they arrived at the gate.

"Yeah!" the other girl said; her own red hair was secured tightly in a curly bun on the left side of her head. She leaned over to pat her teammate on the pat cheerfully. "This will help you get better!" she encouraged childishly. He glanced up hopelessly at her.

"Easy for you to say Isamu," he said, accepting the water from her, "You're in better shape than I am." He threw the bottle back to her. She tucked it back into her bag and gestured towards the brunette.

"Let's go Hisa!" Hisa smiled and nodded toward her teacher before the two of them took off in the direction of home.

"Youth waits from no one Taku," Lee said, "There's only one more mile to go before we're at the gates. Let's hurry up." Taku sighed and straightened up, finally ready to finish the twenty-three mile jog they had started.

"There's more than just that reason your so eager to get home," Lee smiled guiltily, and continued at a slow jog; his student ran lightly to keep up. "How is she anyway?" Taku continued, "Did she get that medicine my mom sent her to help?" Lee nodded.

"She's been feeling a lot better now," Lee said as the gates pulled into view, "Thank her for us. It's been nice to see Kyra energetic in the mornings." They spotted the waving arms of Isamu from inside the gates and ran a little fast; Hisa was leaning against the wood next to a klutzy, blonde boy with very short spiky hair, her boyfriend Taro.

Lee left the trio to head towards the Hokage's tower -they knew what to do- and headed across the village towards his house. It was almost sunset and he was too impatient to sit through the debriefing in an office. Stopping by a shop first to pick up Kyra's favorite snack, hot red bean buns, he opened the door to his home with a grin on his face.

"Kyra!" He took a step inside, expecting Kyra to stick her head out of the kitchen door and smile at him as she mixed something in one of the metal bowls. He took a step forward when he didn't hear anything and stepped into something wet and cold on the hardwood floor. He steady drip of the overturned vase, the water and flower spilled on the floor next to the small table. There was a piece of paper hastily taped to the mirror.

Lee, Kyra collapsed this morning. At the hospital now.

Lee ran out the door, the bag of buns still in his hand as he ran as quickly as he could with his weights down the nearly empty streets. Some said hello as he ran past, shocked by his lack of reply. He ran till he burst through the double doors of the hospital glancing around for the nearest nurse.

"Lee!" he turned towards the door to one of the hallways as Tenten waved him over, "She's in her room now." She stated, as she led him down a long white hall.

"What happened, Tenten?" Lee demanded; she didn't respond as she held open the door for him to enter the small single patient room. Sakura was standing with her back to them over by the window as Tsunade stood next to the bed, laughing as Kyra finished acting out a joke. They all stopped as he stood there in the doorway. Kyra smiled up at him from her bed. He hurried over to stand next to her, his hands on both sides of her face.

"What happened?" He rested his head against her forehead and sighed in relief. She moved and kissed him lightly on the lips as Sakura came up behind him so he didn't see her.

"Turn around and see," she said. He looked at her in confusion before turning to face Sakura; she held out a small bundle for him to take, a smile spread on her own face. He looked from Sakura and back to Kyra. She nodded and he took the light bundle from Sakura's arm, sitting down on the chair Tsunade held out to him. Kyra smiled as he looked down into a small face.

"She's cute isn't she?" He glanced back up at his wife as she sat with her back against the headboard. He nodded numbly and she smiled again taking the bundle from his arms to hold it close to her.

"What about a name?" Tenten stood over by the window, opening it a crack to let the cool air rush in. Tsunade frowned disapprovingly before being summoned by a nurse who stuck her head in the door, saying that a familiar blonde genin had fallen down the stairs again. She left the room, closing the door silently behind her.

"I'm not sure…" Kyra looked out the window at the red sunset; the fireflies were starting the glow now. The door burst open again and Kori stumbled in, her hair in a tangled mess from falling once or twice. She tripped over the doorframe, sending her sprawling onto the floor; there was a faint mutter from Sakura.

"Why do we have such a klutzy nurse-?" Lee and Kyra laughed as Kori pulled herself up and came over to the bed.

"Oh, Kyra she's adorable!" she cooed. There was a faint glow coming from her hair. "Ack!" She shook her head, sending a firefly falling onto the bed covers. It quickly picked itself up and flew around, lost in its new surroundings. Sakura cupped it in her hand and took it to the window, letting it fly back out into the cool air. Kori was checking for any more stowaways from her trip into the bushes; she hated any flying bugs.

"Lee?" He looked up at his wife as she tilted her head curiously. He smiled back at her as he looked back down at his now sleeping daughter.

"Hotaru."

Ack! Major writers block! Sorry! Sorry it isn't much, but I wasn't quite sure that any other way would have been better. Sorry about the OC's! I didn't know any way to aviod it without the chapter being shorter than I wanted it. Come to think of it, here's a look at the characters and who their designed after:

Kyra: She's alot like a girl I met some time ago, and I desided to use her as the main charater (but I looked to keep the hair mavy. I Love navy hair for some reason) So no, Kyra is not based off of me, se's more like a collection of various people.

Taku: After one of my guy friends. He's a nice guy to be around, often very supportive and brotherly figure to most people in our group. HI ZANON!

Hisa: This was my version of what I would be like in the Naruto universe. Boyish hair and energetic. I'm not big on exercise right now, but I'm starting to run more often. I am not boy crazy, I like my boyfriend because he's funny. I'm usually the one that beats up the boys...

Isamu: Based off my best friend with the curly hair (but her's isn't red) and playful attitude. She loves to play around and has a LOT of energy to spare (Which she often uses to run me around the house wanting to strangle her) HI MAKO!

Taro: My boyfriend...sorry 'bout that. I thought I'd make him klutzy (oh wait...he really is) HI JANGO!

Reviews:

-Acea: Thanks Acea! I'll write more as soon as Jazz band lightens up!

Dedicated to Mako, Jango, and Zanon!!!