It had been only a month since Kai's mother's demise. She had returned to training the very next day after the funeral, which was quite shocking. She was quiet, and it was understandable. Shisui noticed that she had eye bags, and that she was sleeping very little. Shisui worried about her, and spoke to Fugaku, who replied, "If she thinks she can handle it, then she can."

After training one evening, when Fugaku wasn't around, Kai seemed a little better. She smiled that day, and it lit Shisui's world. Before she headed home, she waved at Shisui and smiled at him. He hugged the girl and smiled widely, making her giggle. She turned to Itachi and stared.

She smiled.

And she waved.

"Bye, Itachi, see you tomorrow." She said.

Itachi didn't even glance at her, and said, "Yeah."

Shisui frowned at his brother, and looked at Kai. Her smile faded a little, and her eyes looked dull. It was clear to Shisui that she was hurt, and he ever so badly wanted to smack his brother's head for making her feel bad. Kai walked off, slowly.

But Shisui knew what he had to do.

He was frankly tired of Itachi giving the cold shoulder to Kai ever since they've been put in the same squad. It made sense that she didn't deserve to be a ninja and all, but she was a ninja and she was rather good at it. Shisui saw it, hell, even their sensei saw it. Itachi, the prodigy didn't, and Shisui was going to change that.

"Kai cooks brilliantly. You should try some of her home made dishes, they're incredible!"

No answer.

Okay, move on Shisui.

"You know, the other day, I was trying to grab a kitten from the tree for a little girl, and the tree was tall right, and I fell and scratched my arm and shoulder. But then, Kai heals it for me, and look-"Shisui gestured his hand. "-no scratches!"

Itachi looked at his hand, and nodded.

Shisui frowned.

"You know Kai-""What are you trying to say Shisui?" Itachi asked.

"What?" Shisui asked, initially not understanding.

Then it hit him, and he smirked.

His plan worked.

Itachi sighed and said, "All these talks about Kai, what are you trying to say?" Itachi asked, his eyes closed.

Shisui was at a loss for words. There was so much he wanted to say, and he didn't know from where or how to begin. Should he begin with the fact that Itachi is such a jerk to Kai, and he makes her cry? Should he begin with the fact he's so full of himself around her?

Right then, Shisui didn't know what to say but this-

"Itachi give her a chance."

Itachi chuckled. "A chance for what?"

Shisui sighed in relief, and said, "A chance to prove to you she's strong."

Itachi stopped dead on his tracks. That was what Shisui wanted him to do? He looked at his best friend's face and saw that he was serious. Itachi frowned and continued walking. How can Shisui not realize that Itachi already knew?

"She doesn't have to prove anything to me. I've already seen how strong she can be…" Itachi whispered to himself, and walked quietly.

It was a week after that when the three of them were assigned for a mission. But this time, things were serious. The mission was an A rank. And the three of them were only Chunin.

Shisui was pumped up.

Itachi was confident.

Kai was scared, but she let it slide. She glanced sideways and saw the two boys. She smiled to herself and closed her eyes.

'I'll be fine.' She thought to herself. 'And I'll be there when you need me.'

The trio wanted to end the mission as fast as possible, but, it wasn't as they had hoped. They were surrounded, and two Sharingans weren't enough, and Kai's water Ninjutsu was slowly wearing off. There were too many Rock Ninja and there were only three of them.

But Itachi had another trick up his sleeve.

They shouldn't mess with the boy's Genjutsu, for it was known already as the Village's best.

Slowly, the three young Chunin were winning, and Itachi didn't see something coming at him.

Shisui yelled his name, and Kai ran toward him.

She took half the blow, but Itachi was injured as well.

Senbon needles pinned deep inside their flesh.

Itachi was lying on the ground, and Kai coughed out blood.

Shisui took out the last Rock Ninja and ran toward his team.

"Itachi! Kai, are you okay?"

Itachi knew for sure Kai wasn't okay. She was hovering over him, and plucked out the needles from his body, and placed her trembling hands on his chest.

Itachi's eyes widened.

He turned away before his gaze met hers.

He was still afraid to look at her.

Why he was afraid? He didn't know, but all he knew was, if he did see her, he knows his thoughts of her will change. To the better or worse, that he didn't know, and he wasn't ready to find out yet.

"Kai, you need to rest!" Shisui yelled at her, and she chuckled.

"I-I'll be f-fine." She stammered.

Blood was oozing out of her wounds, and she chose to heal the comparatively less hurt comrade.

What was she thinking?

Was she trying to be some sort of hero in front of Itachi's eyes?

Well, it won't work.

But Itachi knew, very well, that she wasn't the sort to save a comrade for recognition.

She coughed out blood once again, but she continued healing him.

Itachi closes his eyes, and felt his strength return to him.

That was fast, and he knew that he was never healed this quickly before.

And to think, she was healing him only with half of her used up chakra, and she was badly hurt as well.

'Kai…' Itachi thought, as his eyes widened.

He turned to look at her, but she got up and walked off, to sit under a tree, and slowly tended to her wounds.

Itachi was heartbroken to see how injured she was.

She jumped in front of him, and took his pain, and what was he doing to repay her?

Ignore her.

Treat her like a pest.

Itachi's lip quivered, and he walked toward the girl.

He muttered-

"Thank you."

She looked up at him, and saw that he was looking at her. She smiled up at him, and shook her head.

She smiled at him, in a way of telling him, she forgave him.

She forgave him for everything he's done.

And she smiled, warming Itachi's heart.

And little did he know, he smiled back, involuntarily.