[Truth 11]

While their gone so is Kiba, doing food supply runs. Rini finds it odd returning to their new home alone with Nao. After one particularly quiet day, Rini lies on the couch staring at the ceiling with Nao lying on her stomach.

"It's been along time since we've been alone, huh Nao?" Rini pats the little fox. The black and white fuzz ball simply squeaks contently as she rubs behind his ears. "The house feels so empty with them gone." She sighs glancing over at an old photo of them.

Staring at the photo she smiles softly. 'It's okay, I can wait. Because…' Rini's eyes slowly begin to shut.

Nao greats Kiba home hours later. As he walks in he finds Rini asleep on the couch.

"I'm home." Kiba whispers softly into her ear.

He carefully picks her up in his arms carrying her to bed. After brushing her hair behind her ear Kiba leans down gently kissing her forehead before crawling into bed himself.

'Kiba's my home.' Rini, still asleep, snuggles into his chest.

"Goodnight Rini." Kiba hugs her close as he closes his eyes.

Half a month has passed since Naruto set sail. Everyone keeps pretty busy with rebuilding the village and preparing for the coming war. Despite this cloud hanging over everyone keeps up the spirit.

The morning is peaceful with the sun shining and birds chirping. A simple morning, at least for the most part. Akimaru runs around the yard avoiding Rini and Kiba.

"Don't let him get away Kiba!" Rini chases after Akimaru.

"Got him!" Kiba grabs a hold of the fur on his neck. "Come… on… Akimaru! It's time… for you're… bath!" he pulls him over to a tub.

Akimaru digs his paws into the ground whimpering and struggling. After the two of them pulling for a while they finally get the big dog in the sudsy tub.

"F-finally." They huff holding him in the bath on either side. Akimaru grunts sitting in the bubbly water.

"Time for a good scrubbing, you filthy mutt." Rini drenches him with the hose satisfactorily.

Akimaru grumbles as they start washing him. While they wash the giant dog, Nao lies on the warm deck napping in the summer sun.

"This is your own fault boy." Kiba scrubs his back. "You should have taken your bath with Nao yesterday."

The large dog fidgets as they rub him down. Akimaru barks over at the napping fox, seemingly asking for help. Nao wakes up with an ear twitch to look over at Akimaru, but quickly lies back down after turning to face the house. Akimaru whimpers at this, as if he was abandoned.

"Reinforcements not coming, huh buddy?" Kiba laughs cleaning his paws. "Well you abandoned him yesterday so fair is fair." He rubs out all the dust from his fur.

"You're almost done anyway you big baby." Rini finishes scrubbing his ears.

After finishing his cleaning they wash him down with the hose. Once all the soap is gone Akimaru gets his revenge by shaking the water on to Kiba and Rini.

"Hey!" Rini tries to block the soapy water.

"Akimaru! Stop that!" Kiba looks at his wet clothes.

Akimaru barks with a wagging tail, pleased with himself. Seeing their wet and irritated faces his tail quickly goes between his legs as he runs over to the deck lying down near Nao glad they have to go out for the day.

"Well I would have had to change before heading out anyway." Rini shakes her wet sleeves.

"Oh yeah, your vetting is today." Kiba glances over at her.

"Yeah." Rini nods with slightly shaking eyes.

"You know… you don't have to do it." Kiba rustles his wet hair. "No one will doubt you as a loyal ninja."

"I know that." Rini laughs slightly. "And I am nervous, not about the vetting it's self but the memories that will be raised from it." Rini has a slightly sad smile as she touches her locket. "But it's something I need to do so I can truly say I'm a Leaf ninja." She smiles softly at him.

"You're so stubborn. You know that?" Kiba laughs smiling over at her.

"Says the guy that wouldn't stop asking until I moved in with him." Rini laughs happily.

The two of them laugh for a bit before heading off for the day. Rini, feeling better, walks through the ever changing village streets watching the workers and kids playing around the construction. People stop to wave and say hello to her as they work or walk bye. Rini waves happily.

"Alright allow me to explain what's going to happen." Yamanaka starts to explain sitting in front of Rini. "I will be using my jutsu to enter your mind and read past memories. But only up to you entering this world and Lord Hiashi is here to monitor you." He motions over to the Hyuuga eyed man sitting next to him. Hiashi gives a small head bow. "So if you need a break he'll pull me out."

"Right." Rini listens stiffly.

"Please don't be so tense Rini." Hiashi pores some tea. "This will go more smoothly if you are relaxed." He hands her the cup.

"Thank you." Rini sips the warm and nice smelling tea. "So nice." She breathes a relaxing sigh.

"Ready?" Yamanaka smiles softly at her.

"Yeah." Rini places down the cup.

"Then close your eyes and take a deep breathe." Yamanaka instructs ready to use his jutsu. Rini closes her eyes and takes a deep breathe.

'A garden?' Yamanaka looks around. 'Well everyone's mind scape is different.' He starts walking around the lush garden.

The garden has all sorts of flowers around. With all the green grass and a large veracity of flowers the large sakura tree stands out. Figuring that must be the memory core Yamanaka heads over gently touching the trunk.

-Memories:

'Daddy!' five year old Rini wraps her arms around his neck.

'Hi sweetie.' Mr. Izumi hugs her. 'What do you have there?' he looks at the paper in her hands.

'I got a gold star for my drawing.' Rini shows him the picture of a house and dog in the yard.

'You did?' Mr. Izumi looks it over. 'Then this calls for ice-cream.' He stands up with Rini on his back.

'Yay! Ice-cream! Ice-cream!' Rini cheers with a little head dance.

Some older kids push a seven year old Rini to the ground. 'No family will adopt a freak like you.' They laugh pointing at her.

Rini stares at the ground by their feet fiercely. The boys' feet are soon tied up by vines and tripped landing in the dirt face first.

'I don't need a family! I'm fine on my own!' Rini glares down at them with misty eyes sticking out her tongue before running off.

Rini cries in a little fort of hydrangeas with her knees covering her face. Mr. Nao approaches the fort with a small plate of snacks.

'Want to come out? I have cookies' Mr. Nao sits by the entrance.

Rini peeks her head out showing her tear stained face. Mr. Nao simply smiles kindly offering her some cookies. Rini gives a little smile coming out of hiding. Mr. Nao tickles her getting the sad little girl to smile again.

Fifteen year old Rini at her final winter Junior High Kendo tournament. She wins her match and their by winning the championship for her team.

'Very impressive.' A man approaches her. 'We could use talent like yours at Ouran.' He hands her a scholarship packet.

'Thank you!' Rini bows her head holding the packet and her trophy.

'You're going to Ouran girl!' her teammates surround her in a hugging circle.

'Rini.' A woman calls for her.

'Mrs. Belle!' Rini runs over to her. 'Where's Grandpa Nao? I can't wait to tell him! I got a scolorship to Ouran! And I won my match!' she smiles happily.

'Rini, I'm… I'm sorry. Mr. Nao… he…' Mrs. Belle places her hands on Rini's shoulders.

Rini's eyes widen with shock as she drops the trophy and packet. As they hit the floor Rini falls to her knees sobbing uncontrollably.-

As Yamanaka leaves her mind scape Rini falls over, fast asleep. Hiashi catches her then lies her down gently.

"How did it go?" Hiashi glances over at a teary eyed Yamanaka.

"The poor girl, she went through a lot." Yamanaka wipes the tears from his eyes.

"Should we wake her?" Hiashi glances at the peacefully sleeping girl.

"No let her rest for now." Yamanaka shakes his head slightly.

After waking up they pass her. Rini happily leaves then heads to help out where she can. While helping at the medical tent Tenten comes by inviting Rini, Hinata, Ino, Sakura, and Shiho for a girl's night out.

Later on that night they are joking around at Barba Q. They all have some juice and tea just chilling out with one another. As the girls are doing that on one side of the restaurant the guys are on the other. Rini stares at all her friends laughing and joking around.

-Flash Back:

'I don't need a family! I'm fine on my own!' seven year old Rini glares with misty eyes, sticking out her tongue before running off.-

'I never believed that even then.' Rini laughs to herself enjoying the moment.

"Hey! What are you girls all talking about!?" A drunken Tsunade comes stumbling over to them. "Talking about the boys you like?" she sits with them.

"We were just talking about old times." Sakura smiles with a small laugh.

"Is that so?" Tsunade chugs some water. "You girls are so lucky to have each other." She smiles goofily at them.

'I wonder how long she'll last.' Rini watches Tsunade nervously.

After a couples hours they all decided its time to go. Each of them goes their own way. Kiba takes Rini's hand wanting to go star gazing at their spot for awhile. Sitting on the hill top, Rini gazes at the stars while the wind blows through her hair.

"So peaceful." Rini sighs happily. "I guess when the war starts… we won't get to enjoy this anymore." She gazes down at the quiet village.

"That's why… I wanted to this here." Kiba goes into his pocket.

"Do what?" Rini turns to him confused.

Kiba pulls out a small ring box with a simple silver band inside. "When this war is over I want to start a family with you and to always be your home." He places the ring on her hand.

Rini, unable to speak, simply wraps her arms around his neck nodding with tears of happiness rolling down her face. Kiba holds her close grinning ear to ear.