The room was silent as she walked in, Kubo right behind her. The air was thick with mal contempt and she hated every minute of it. Tysa would not look at her and Deiyo refused to waver; glaring at her with such resentment. Kiyo had no emotion visible on his face; he simply watched. Mikoto was the only one smiling, obviously oblivious to all events currently at hand. Kyoko cast her gaze downwards and sat in the only open chair beside the small boy.
"Where are your shoes?" the boy whispered as the meal began.
She arched an eyebrow and looked down at her feet. Still only clad in those dirty, now off white, socks. "I guess I forgot." She said sheepishly.
"We'll fix that tomorrow, and throw out those horrible boys' clothes you were wearing." Tysa said while cutting into her sweet and sour pork. There was anger in her voice and she disdained the young girl seated at her table.
"Nani, no you can't! Kyoko said frantically. Kiyo shot her a look but she ignored him. "Please don't, please, you've taken everything else I have. Please let me have this one thing!" she was getting closer to tears then she would have liked.
Tysa contemplated this for a moment, then finally nodded. "Fine, you may keep them; but you will not wear them." She said sternly.
Kyoko nodded and stared down at her plate. "Aren't you going to eat anything?" Deiyo asked smugly.
She continued to stare at the food; sweet and sour pork, fried rice and stir fried vegetables. She couldn't remember the last time she had eaten, but the thought of food sickened her. "I'm just not hungry," she said softly. Kubo, who was sitting beside her, arched an eyebrow but said nothing.
Kyoko didn't talk for the rest of the meal and let their words float over her like smoke; choking her and threatening to kill her. Her mind was else where; on that picture. It made all of this real, every part of it. A knot formed in the pit of her stomach and threatened to break her.
When it was all finally over, she stood up with out a word and went to her room. She crawled up onto the bed and hugged Sasuke's shirt to her chest; holding on to the last of all her hopes. The picture lay on the table beside her bed. She glared at it and with one swift movement picked it up and ripped it into a thousand little pieces and stuffed them between the mattresses.
When Kubo finally caught up with her, he was accompanied by Mikoto. The small boy ran over and jumped onto the bed in front of her; smiling broadly.
"So we're cousins." It was more of a statement then a question.
Kyoko nodded, she didn't have the energy or the intent of correcting him; this was still all just a bad dream. Regardless of undeniable truth, it was not real!
"Do you want to play hide and go seek?" He asked, bouncing on the bed.
Her first thought was to say no, but then reevaluated her answer. What she needed right now, was an escape; a plan to be more specific. This gave her a chance to inspect the grounds; perfect. She nodded and he pulled her by the hand off the bed, out of the room and into the gardens; Kubo not far behind them. She sighed as her ran off, telling her to count to one million. She began counting, as he hid.
XXXXXXXXX
"Why did Kyoko never tell us about this Kiyo?!" Ruuto demanded; still brooding from the information Suki had given them.
"Ugh, shut up already!" Rai said, exasperated with Ruuto's constant annoying questions. "Alright, Suki, explain this to me again. Who is this Kiyo and what does he want?"
The young girl sighed, "I already told you! Boss wants to destroy the Village Hidden in the Leaves."
"Why?"
"He said he had a score to settle with someone, and that that girl was the key to his success."
"What's he planning?"
"To. Invade. The. Village." She said slowly, much to Rai's annoyance.
He sighed and rubbed his face with his palm. "Other then that; what did he mean when he said 'he had a score to settle'?"
The purple haired girl gave him a look he couldn't decipher. "I don't know. He wouldn't tell any of us." She paused for a minute. "But…I did over hear him talking to someone once; some girl. He said that he'd 'finally get back at him for doing this to him; him and her both'."
"Who are him and her?" Kankuro spoke up.
"I don't know," the girl said.
"Look kid, if you hold any information back…"
"I swear that's all I know!" she exclaimed, looking genuinely scared.
"Regardless, we have to rescue Kyoko; but we need to know where this 'base' is. Kankuro said.
"I said it's a few miles east of Tamaka." Suki said; getting more and more irritated with the interrogation.
"Argh! We've wasted too much time already! Let's go and rescue her already!" Ruuto barked angrily.
Kankuro sighed and messaged his temples. His headache was steadily growing worse. "Alright," he finally said. "We'll meet up with Gaara and Temari in Tamaka and leave the girl with Temari. We'll send word to Konoha then go find this base, alright?" he asked them.
"Hai," Came the mutual response.
XXXXXXXX
Chakra mixed with adrenaline raced through his legs as he pushed harder. He had to reach the gate. Once he hit the gate, the real challenge would begin. The figure beside him was pushing just as hard; both equally desperate for the same goal. Two other figures soon joined them, then a third; creating a team of five.
One single thought raced through each of their minds; one final task that each knew must be completed. Lives were hanging in the balance; their children's lives. Their actions, their efforts could tip the scale. Each act had to be preformed with precision; there was no room for mistakes, there never was.
With one last bound, they broke free of the village and left it behind them. Team seven was back once more; one final brawl before if legitimately finished. Pupils, teachers, friends, but above all else, they were family.
Failure had over stayed her welcome.
XXXXXXXX
Fear, would be the appropriate word. Kyoko was scared, terrified out of her mind scared.
She slowly eased open the small window and crawled out. She had wasted too much time in this place. Ruuto and the others were waiting for her.
She paused for a minute, observing her surroundings. Her view now was more panoramic then the small window had originally allowed her.
During the hours she was left in that pathetic excuse of a room; she would stare out the window. She made herself believe that, if she looked hard enough, believe hard enough, she would be able to see Konoha from her small prison. That's how she knew; it was time to get out.
Her stupid brother had made the mistake of underestimating her. There was no way she was going to sit by and wait to be rescued. That dimwitted son of his was becoming a real pain to; always making wise cracks about her and Sasuke. Both of them were going to get what they deserve, eventually.
Slowly, she crept away from the house and silently hopped he fence surrounding it; completely unaware of the pair of eyes that fallowed her every movement. With a quick shoulder check, she began running. Hardly making a sound she flew past the other houses, one goal in mine; the wall. Once she hit the wall, she would be home free. With little effort needed, she scaled the wall at a horizontal angle; pumping chakra to the soles of her feet. A simple task.
Upon reaching the top, she jumped off, landing perfect and noiselessly in the other side. She then took of into the woods, abandoning that dismal place and baka of a brother behind her.
XXXXXXXX
"Heh, and I thought she'd never do it."
A dark figure stood idly by the side of the house. Silently, he watched her crawl out her window and hop the fence. He chuckled to himself as he watched her go; smugly mocking the victorious look branded across her face. She was dumber then he had originally thought; slipped right into a trap. She had fallen right into the palm of his hand; and now, he was going to crush her.
His entire plan was fitting perfectly together. Everything was running like clockwork. But, why did he fell so guilty? His utter disdain for Sasuke pulsated through him; surpassing every other emotion and all logical reasoning. If he hated him so much, then why did he fell this way? Was it because of her? Did this girl have something, anything, to do with this new found sentiment?
He dismissed this idea as quickly as it had come; merely a passing thought. He was simply nervous about events yet to take place. Tables were beginning to turn and soon, he would have his revenge.
XXXXXXXX
Night was settling in on their tiny group as they slowly approached Tamaka. They were running low on supplies, but their spirits rose high as the village became clearer with every step. They had yet to encounter Gaara and Temari, but they were getting closer.
Kankuro led his tiny team of genin, plus Suki, around the north side of the wall; being very careful not to draw any attention to their group. Unfortunately, with Ruuto as excited and anxious as every, it made this task near impossible.
"Ruuto," Kankuro hissed angrily. Ruuto turned and gave him a blank look. Kankuro sighed and rubbed his face for the umpteenth time; if this mission didn't kill him, this kid sure as heck would. "Look, go scout out the east wall, see if you can see the 'base' water girl was talking about. He instructed.
Ruuto nodded, "Hai," he said and left the small group.
"That kid's a few noodles shy of a ramen bowl, isn't he?" Suki asked, watching as he vanished around the corner.
Rai and Kankuro both looked at the girl, then nodded, "So troublesome," The said mumbled. Suki giggled slightly.
Meanwhile, Ruuto was busily sneaking around the east side of the wall.
"Man, I can't wait to find this Kiyo and give him a piece of my mind!" he said heatedly.
'Don't give him too much, you don't got that much to spare.'
He could hear her exact words as clearly as if she had been standing right there. A pang of remorse shot through him; making him feel sick to his stomach. He began thinking back to their first day with Kakashi sensei; about what Kyoko said her dream was.
"I want to protect everyone precious to me. Because, in the end, they make it all wroth it."
But now it was his turn, he had to protect her. She was in trouble and it was up to him; him, Ruuto Uzumaki! This thought made him even more resolved to save her. Determination creased his brow and he slowly began creeping around the wall; observing everything. Slowly, he made his way over to the east side of the wall.
XXXXXXXX
'Slowly, quiet, don't make a crack…..sound.' Sasuke thought, then sighed as he turned and looked at Naruto. He had an idiotic look on his face and Sasuke was about ready to strangle the doofus.
"Argh, Naruto," Sakura growled.
"N-Naruto…" Hinata stuttered.
Kakashi sighed, what a time to be nostalgic. Well, at least Sakura was no longer trying to win Sasuke's heart; one problem down. Now to get them to start acting like adults, there was the real dilemma.
"Alright guys, enough of that." Kakashi said tiredly. "We have to hurry and find the kids." All of them nodded.
"Alright let's do this, believe it!" Naruto cheered while backing up. Regretfully, he back right up into someone and yelled out in alarm. He spun around, ready for anything.
XXXXXXXX
Ruuto was beginning to get nervous; he could have sworn he had heard voices. He began spinning around frantically; jumping at every small sound. He began backing up, eyes grazing over everything. Just then, he bumped into someone and he let out a terrified yelp; which only scared him even more. He leapt forward and turned to face his opponent; kunai in hand.
His adversary had done the same and the two began a stare down. Ruuto stared closely at the figure in front of him. Hit with realization, his lips began to twist into a smile as he ran to embrace the person.
"Kazekage Gaara!" he yelled happily.
Temari peered over the confused Sand Nin's shoulder, "You know this kid?" she enquired.
XXXXXXXX
Naruto reared around and pulled a fist back, ready to defend himself. He then stopped mid blow, clearly confused. Before him stood an equally confused Shikamaru.
"Sh-Shikamaru?" Naruto asked, rubbing his eyes. "Is this some sort of genjutsu?" he asked, eyeing the man suspiciously.
"If only," Shikamaru huffed. "Man what a drag. Ino insisted on going to find Rai; though I told her a thousand times he'd be fine. Troublesome woman." Yes, it was defiantly Shikamaru.
"I heard that!" Ino said, irritated. She walked up to the small party, her blond hair bouncing as she walked. She was clad, like always, in mostly purple. "If Rai was fine, then why are these four here?" She asked him, pointing a finger at the other jonin.
Shikamaru sighed, finally giving into Ino. "Fine, fine, you were right." She beamed. "Have you found them yet?" He asked, turning his attention back to the others. They shook their heads solemnly.
Just then, a new voice spoke. "Hey guys," Causing many of them to call out in alarm.
