When Shina awoke, she decided that this was not her bed. Her head tried to move, but sharp pain kept her still. She lay there for a while, comfortable enough to not chance the pain. A ray of light fell across her eyes, annoying the young woman, but she was determined to stay asleep for as long as she could. If it was sunlight, then it would move eventually, right?

But it didn't move.

She groaned and tried to move again, but she ached all over.

"Shina?" Someone said. "Don't move. You're very hurt." Despite the man's warnings, she sat up, and he helped her lean against the wall. She opened her eyes, blinking a bit as her vision cleared. He was blurry, but she could make out his face.

"Iruka-sensei," she stated. He smiled at her.

"Seems like you got a rough beating." His smiled dropped off his face. "Why did you come back?"

"I needed someone to—" She cringed and cradled her hand. "To know."

"Know what?" Shina shook her head and coughed, causing more pain to ripple through her chest.

"Give me… a m-moment," she groaned. She closed her eyes and leaned back. Iruka backed away as she started glowing blue. Light spilled out of her cuts and warmed her bruises. When she opened her eyes, blue light came out and illuminated the room. Iruka was speechless. He had never seen anything like it, but it was completely awe-inspiring.

"Shina?" Iruka said when the glowing finally stopped. She lifted her head and shook it fiercely.

"God, I haven't done that in such a long time!" She said and shivered. Shina hopped out of the bed and stretched.

"So you're just… all better?" Iruka said. Shina nodded.

"One of the few jutsus I can actually accomplish," she replied. "Small things—broken bones, snapped muscles, cuts, and bruises—they're easy to heal. Now ruptured spleens are another thing, but I don't have one of those," she muttered.

"That's a neat trick," Iruka replied.

"Do you have a mirror?" Iruka nodded and brought it to her. She tugged down the remains of her mask and looked at herself. The seal had receded to barely caressing her face, what more could have been expected? Her hair was horrendously short, and she took Iruka's kunai to fix it. It hung by her ears, and she longed for her Leaf headband to keep it out of her eyes.

"So what are you going to do now?" Iruka asked, helping her with a few tufts of hair she missed.

"I gave my sister an ultimatum, and she should at least know me well enough to know I always follow through," she said, completely determined and completely scared at the same time.

"You still haven't told me why I shouldn't take you in right now," Iruka said, crossing his arms.

"Well, you shouldn't take me in because I'm not guilty," she hissed. Iruka started. Not guilty? "For years, I've been running from a crime that wasn't even mine. I've been called a traitor, a coward, and some names not even I should repeat."

"It was Kei," Iruka breathed. He sat down heavily on the bed and put his face in his hands. "I should have known. You would never betray your team, but Kei… two years younger and spoiled to death." He shook his head. "I should have known," he said again.

"It isn't your fault," she grumbled. "I pleaded guilty for that little… Oh! She just gets me so angry sometimes!" She chuckled anyhow. "The way only family can."

"I hear that," Iruka said. "You should see the brats at the Academy." As Iruka sighed, Shina began laughing.

"I remember those days. I'm glad I always had you," she admitted. "I personally think you're the best teacher in Konoha."

"You're very flattering, but I'm afraid I failed you," he said. She sat down on the bed next to him and frowned.

"You were nothing but excellent!" She declared. He shook his head and smiled at her.

"I never noticed how lonely you were. I should have. I had you for three years. Do you remember the last thing you said to me when you graduated?" He chuckled. "I said something about how stressed you were and how you shouldn't put that much pressure on yourself. You replied with 'Three years as my teacher, and you just figured that out.'"

"It's okay," she said and punched her former teacher's arm. "No one else noticed either."

"That still doesn't excuse… I'm sorry, okay?" He looked at her and their gazes met. "I'm really truly sorry." Shina began to tear up.

"That's the first time in my life someone has said their sorry," she sobbed. He watched her cry for a moment before wrapping his arms around her.

"Shhhh, it's okay. I'm sorry," he said. "I'm sorry."

Gaara's hand slid down her leg and pulled her closer. Kei arched her back, moaning into the Kazekage's mouth. He felt his body instinctually react to her, but he felt no connection. He felt rather removed from the whole situation. He didn't really remember how the sister of the woman he loved came to be on top of him. She sighed, frustrated at his lack of interest.

"You're thinking about her, aren't you?" Kei said. Gaara hesitated and then shook his head firmly.

"No," he slurred and went back to kissing her. She ground her hips down onto his, as she was straddling him. The alcohol she'd given him made him feel… Different. Animalistic. His hands were under her shirt, but her skin felt different than… hers. Kei kissed differently too, faster somehow. Everything was fast, much to fast. The room spun. "Kei," he muttered and she stopped.

"What is it?"

"What was in that drink you gave me?" He asked, breathing heavily.

"Just a little something to loosen you up, nothing major," she replied and started sucking on his neck.

"The last time I loosened up, I destroyed my village," he said back and tried to push her off, but his fine motor skills weren't working properly. Kei chuckled and kissed the base of his ear.

"Just relax," she said.

"Kei, this isn't a good idea," he mumbled. She pulled back and smirked at him.

"And why not? You're obviously into it," she said and ground down onto him again, making him groan.

"I'm in love with your sister," he blurted, the alcohol loosening his tongue. Kei stopped. She got off of him, plopping down next to him on the couch.

"Wow."

"Yeah." Gaara shifted uncomfortably, the haze from the drink clearing a little.

"Well, you'd be the first. I don't even think our father loves her anymore. It's sad really," Kei said. "He just, expected so much more out of her, you know? I mean, here she was taking up the role of mother, giving up her friends and free time for us. I expected more out of her. She was quite a good ninja, I mean it did take her three years to complete the Academy, but still." She didn't know it, but Gaara was feeling more and more forgiving towards Kei with every word she said. "Then, she goes and abandons her teammates. I mean, who does that?"

"Did she really do all that for you guys?" He said.

"It was nothing, really. She never really fit in with her age group anyways, so she had a lot of free time. If I were a social outcast, heaven forbid, I would probably spend a lot of time with my family too." Kei shrugged.

"I really should go," he said suddenly.

"Where?"

"To find her."