I'm sick with the flu. Maybe that's why I feel like writing, when I haven't been able to get out of bed since Friday. I don't really remember what exactly I was doing with this, but I'm pretty sure I will do just fine again.

I had to reread everything, and I noticed I sort of left out the akatsuki and the mysterious Toku out for a while. I am trying to fit this a little more into the storyline of the series, since I dislike destroying it for my own purposes.

I guess it's time to start!

-o-o-o-

Mei picked up Kina from the bed, placing her out of the way as she hovered over Kira. She placed hands over her chest, arms, legs, and just about anywhere else before giving a satisfied nod. "All of your chakra pathways are fine, and you don't have any injuries that I can find." She smiled at the blond, "You also look much better. Scared me half to death when you came in here as white as a bed sheet."

Kira lifted a hand as the feline rubbed against it, scratching behind her ears before pressing a kiss to her forehead. The cat gave a delighted meow, before leaping away to rub against Gaara's legs. "I'm glad to look healthy again. I don't think I would like to have a complexion similar to Gaara's." she said before laughing at the look she received from said pale person.

He took a step forward and helped the other stand up again. He watched her carefully as she stretched her limbs, earning a few cracks. "Can you tell us what's going on?"

-o-o-o-

Toku slammed her fist on the table, gray eyes glaring at Osaka as she seethed. "What do you mean it's not complete?"

He shrugged, sitting down on a cushion on the floor. "I don't know either. From our research, that should have been the last step to release the seal. Our Hime is awake but she doesn't seem to be coming out like we had hoped." He removed that mask from his face again. There was a large claw-like scar across his face starting from the ridge of his nose. "I think Kira has a will to live now."

"So we need to destroy that will to live…" Toku turned her head as Deidara and Sasori entered the room. Both akatsuki members looked irritated, but they were more perplexed on the situation than anything else.

"Our leader agrees to your terms, as long as you are willing to tell us the importance of your target. If it could possibly create a problem for us in the future, we won't agree." Sasori was the first to speak, surprisingly. The large puppet's mouth opened slightly. "Kagura Kira, we want to know the importance of this creature. She is obviously not fully human, but she is not a jinjuriki."

The blond akatsuki opened his hand to reveal a clay bird, clenching his fists again before speaking. "We're not stupid, hn. If we think you might use whatever this woman is against us, we'll kill you."

"I have different plans than Akatsuki. I know your leader won't agree to something unless he gains without any loss." Toku gestured to the few seats left. "Osaka, go get our guests something to drink."

"Yes, Master." The man said as he placed the mask back onto his face before standing and leaving the room.

The two criminals seated themselves, both impatient and irritated that this woman felt she could just order them around. They killed people for less, on a daily basis…well, they did.

"Kagura Kira is one of the last of her bloodline. You know all about those types, but there's something a little different about her." She went to the small desk behind her, pulling out an old scroll. The words written on it were faded, and some parts were so damaged they couldn't be read. She set it out on the table in front of them before pointing to one section that was more worn out than the rest. "I'm sure you know all about the whole quest for eternal life. If I recall, you have a rather unique bunch in your group that some people call immortal. The Kagura clan practically devoted themselves to two things; cats, and living longer. They even managed to bring someone back from the dead, but there was a minor mistake."

"This Kira person is dead?"

"This Kira person is very much alive. When they were banished, Sunagakure didn't tell the entire story as to why. The Kagura clan created a gem, using the chakra of the Nibi, and the blood of infants. Most people just know it as the gem, but it has numerous names such as the Philosopher's Stone or Cintamani. For years these people powered their temples and technology using the single stone. They perfected jutsus of great damage, all revolving around that one single gem."

"It sounds powerful, but obviously we can't use it." Sasori stated as Toku closed the scroll and put it away.

"Only those with the Kagura bloodline can use it, since it was created by their own infants. I guess they wanted a security blanket, but even so, there are always problems within a family."

"Somebody wanted to use it as a weapon. What a surprise, hn?"

"No, they wanted to bring back their heiress. Kagura Kira died saving kittens from a house fire; ironic, seeing as how fire is their specialty. Her body wasn't burned, but she had suffocated from the smoke. The medical staff healed her lungs, and used the stone to try to bring her back."

Osaka came back in, placing two steaming cups down in front of the guests. "Only they brought back the wrong soul. Kagura Kira was gone, and someone else took her place."

"So who is she?"

"Hime. Well, that's what they call her anyways. Princess, though of what we're not really sure ourselves yet." Toku turned and paced the floor, "Osaka only knows the exact details of when she first awakened, but those who were there died. The Kagura clan leader had to take her down on his own. He erased her memories, sealing them in the very gem that brought her to life. He had to seal the gems power as well, which is why everything looks so desolate and ancient there. When the power source was taken, everything aged and died off within seconds. Those 'ruins' are only about a decade into being ruins."

"You still haven't told us why you want her." Sasori interrupted. The story was interesting, but it seemed like the gray-eyed woman was still leaving a few details out.

"I want to kill her. To keep the others in the family from knowing, they lied and pretended that the abomination really was Kira. Sadly for them, those who knew her knew better than to believe it. I was one of those people. I was thrown out of the village, since I am of a lower bloodline than the others." Toku's face contorted to one of rage. Her eyes flashed a red, but it didn't stay. The Kagura bloodline was in her veins, but she didn't have even a fraction of their powers. She had to come to her level of skill without the help of her family. Not that she had one anymore. Hime had taken care of that.

Osaka watched carefully from behind his mask, knowing his annoyed expression was hidden by it. Toku's hatred for Kira ran deeper than that, and he knew it. Hime, the being that was now Kira, was going to slowly remember who she was.

"So you just want revenge then." Sasori deducted. He turned slightly to Deidara, "or do you gain something from this gem as well?"

She shook her head, "I can't use it, and everyone else who could is already dead."

"…How deadly is she, exactly?" Deidara asked again. He knew that Sasori and he could handle a jinjuriki, but if things could be made easier they could take the help. If the Leader was okay with it, they had no problems at all especially.

"You know how the village that used to be the clans house is completely destroyed?"

"Hn."

"Hime did that, with a single blow. She's almost as devastating as a jinjuriki, though not quite."

-o-o-o-

"I think the gem is a part of me, literally." Kira said as she watched Kankuro and Temari train. Gaara was sitting next to her on a sand dune, allowing her to lean against his gourd. She had a few cuts and bruises from sparring, but she seemed to be fully recovered.

"When did you realize this?" He asked, turning his head to her slightly. He watched as her chest moved up and down heavily, her cheeks still flushed from her training. Her hair was tussled and crazy, a few blond curls falling into her face. She had cut her hair the other day. The once waist down length was now just above her shoulders. He had been shocked at first, but she stated that for some reason she just felt like cutting it. He missed being able to play with the long curls when she slept, but he soon grew to like the new look. It…suited her personality more. He also noticed she would wear it down more often, and her neck seemed more slender without all the curls hiding it.

It had been a little over a week since the incident. At night, when she slept he watched as her dreams caused her to either toss and turn or cry. He never asked when she woke up. She never remembered the dreams, or even when she fell asleep.

"After I cut my hair. I haven't had it short in so long, but when I saw it, I just seemed to remember something about my youth. My memories…aren't real. I have them, but it feels like they were placed and I never really remember them. Like I was told them, but never experienced them." She explained, reaching into her bag and pulling out two waters. She handed him one before uncapping the other and taking a large gulp. "I think that my memories were sealed, and that that masked person has been releasing them. The only thing I can't seem to remember is why."

He handed her his now empty water bottle, standing up to dust himself off before extending a hand to help her onto her feet. She took it, tilting her head slightly as she reached up and wiped some sand from his face. "Your eyes look more tired than usual." She commented, looking into his aquamarine orbs carefully. "Don't worry too much about me. I've taken care of myself with Kina for years. I don't mind the concern, but don't let it affect you! You're the Kazekage, after all."

Temari gave a shout of triumph as Kankuro fell to the ground, looking defeated. The poor puppet master lifted his head, laughing as her expression changed when a certain Nara appeared next to him. "Thought I'd find you three here…" he grumbled, helping the fallen up before turning to the Kazekage. "I have some information for you. It's important, so I'd prefer to say it in your office."

Gaara just gave a nod, "I'll head there first then. Go ahead and rest for a bit before coming. A storm is going to hit soon anyways."

"I still don't see how he can sense that…" Kira mumbled to Kina as the cat leapt onto her shoulder.

'He is one with the sand like you are one with the flame…' Kina replied with a purr as they dashed behind the red head, leaving the others to catch up at their leisure. 'I wish I could help you more, but sadly I cannot explain everything in a way that you could understand.'

"You don't have to. I will figure it out on my own, like always. I don't want them to think I'm helpless, after all. I am one of Suna's strongest ninjas, and don't plan on my past to tear the small group of friends and possibly family apart."

Kina glanced at her companion. The cat was one of the kittens that Kira had given up her life to save, and she was the only one who did come out alive. She knew that Kira wasn't really Kira, but she had taken it as her own to help this strange lost soul. She was so similar to the real Kira, she wasn't really sure what to do. Humans tended to make things so difficult. 'Just remember you are not alone, Kira. That no matter what, you are you.'

Kira grinned at that, "Of course. Like how Gaara is still Gaara, not matter what."

At the sound of his name he glanced back, a questioning look in his gaze.

"Nothing, Gaara. Just talking with Kina."

"I don't like being left out of the conversation."

"Well you talk to Shukaku."

"She has you there."

'Good retaliation.'

"No more talking until we get back to the office." He finally snapped, feeling a headache as Shukaku seemed to be waking up.

Kira, Kina, and Shukaku laughed, but consented to his order as the Kazekage office came into view.

Sadly, the news that Shikamaru would be bringing would end laughter for some time.

-o-o-o-

and that is all for now. Now to go see if I can eat something, and it actually stays down in my belly. I hope this shines some light onto who Kira/Hime really is. If it confuses you, so sorry. Things are going to pick up now.

Ja ne~