The digital clock flashed the early morning time for her, and she sighed as she rested her head on the pillow. There was no point, really, to lying down on the bed. It wasn't like she could rest, or lose consciousness for that matter. Normally, she didn't mind, but lately...

She frowned and buried her head into the fabric. Oh well, today could change things. Today could bring so many possibilities as well as so many endings.

What would she gain? She wasn't sure. However, she knew all too well that once today was over so many things could end. That's why she dreaded this day. That's why this day may be etched into her memory forever.

//+//

"Pass, please."

Smiling, he fished out a pass and handed it to the guard, who glanced at it before nodding. "Welcome to Konoha, Okino-san." The guard said in welcoming before handing the pass back to him.

"Which way is the arena?"

"North of here; just follow the crowd."

"Ah, arigato." He thanked the guard before walking into the village and easily mixing into the bustling crowd. Only ten in the morning, and the village was already heading towards the arena for seats. He smiled before reassuringly sticking his hand into his vest pocket. He felt the glass vial and sighed in relief; he had thought for sure that he had dropped both of them in the hurry to get away.

"Are you betraying me, Usaka-san?"

"No, sir. Just let me do this one thing."

"I see. Well, I wish you luck on getting out of here alive, then."

He shuddered at the recent event before looking up at the sun, it warming his face.

Quietly, he wondered why the sun couldn't warm the cold spot in his chest.

//+//

"Yo, Yume?"

Zai sighed as he knocked on the door again. If she wanted to get a good seat, they'd have to leave early.

Koji stood behind him, arms crossed over his chest idly. "The door's unlocked..." Zai blinked before scowling and opening the door.

"Yume?"

He frowned at what he saw.

The bed was made neatly, and there was no trace of her even being in the room. Koji blinked as he stepped inside, looking around while Zai just stood in the doorway. "She already left."

Zai stared at the untouched bed for a moment before sighing and turning away. "Let's go, then." Koji blinked before looking over his shoulder.

"You don't want to look for her?" Zai stared at the floor of the hallway before walking out, shrugging.

"She doesn't need me watching over her all the time." He stated before walking down the hallway, leaving Koji to stare at his retreating back with slight awe.

'...Zai.' After a moment, his lips curved into a small smile. 'It's better this way.'

//+//

It was crowded, to say the least. People from throughout the nation were mixed in the stands on the circular arena, like a giant melting pot. With the exception of the Hokage and the Kazekage, who would be sitting above the crowd, as well as the Genin participants who would be waiting on a slightly higher platform than the crowd but below the Hokage and Kazekage.

"...What's wrong?"

Kaya frowned at her hand, which had suddenly begun to sting. "Nothing." Keij stared at her for a moment before shaking his head and looking out to the arena.

The Genin were scattered in the middle, all five of them. He blinked before frowning. Three were missing.

"That Sound guy is dead." The two blinked before looking behind them, only for Kaya to smile.

"Zane." Zane nodded, looking out at the Genin.

"They say he was murdered." He stated lowly, causing Keij's eyebrows to arch.

"Who do you suspect?" Keij inquired, only for Zane to shudder.

"I'd rather not say..."

//+//

"Y-Yukio-san?"

"Stop stuttering, Taji. You look pathetic." Yukio stated idly as he swung his kamas in a wide circle, stepping over the broken glass of multiple vials. Taji swallowed nervously as he backed up against the wall of the laboratory, his usual clipboard lying on the ground.

"What are you doing here?" He asked feebly as Yukio glanced at the experimental equipment.

"Where is it?"

"W-What-"

Taji was cut off as the wire connecting the two kamas was wrapped around his throat, mildly choking him. He gasped for air as he looked up to see Yukio towering above him. "Don't play with me; where is it?" Yukio asked darkly, eyes narrowed. Taji gasped as the wire loosened, only to swallow.

"Usaka...He took it." He replied, his throat sore. Yukio stared at him blankly for a moment before chuckling, pulling the kamas away.

"Of course, Usaka decided to save the day. How predictable." Yukio sneered, swinging one side of the kamas over his shoulder before turning around, aimlessly kicking a table over. Glass shattered and liquids poured onto the ground, allowing Taji to stare at his reflection in awe.

"Why-"

"You should learn to keep your mouth shut." Yukio stated before exiting the room swiftly, leaving Taji to sit on the floor disgracefully.

//+//

She stared at the sky idly, her back against the trunk of the same tree she had been sitting in only days ago. The atmosphere, however, had changed drastically.

She blinked before looking to the left, only to blink again as a blonde sped past her. A moment passed by before she sighed. "Uzumaki's late..."

"So are you." She blinked before looking forward, only to sigh.

"What do you want, Usaka?" Usaka smiled before stepping away from the bushes and into clear view.

"Here." He said, casually throwing something at her. Easily, she caught the object in one hand, still staring at him.

"Pity present?" She inquired darkly, watching as his smile faltered.

"Excuse me?"

"You know, for ruining my life?" She retorted back, not even bothering to look at the object as she chucked it back at him. Surprised, he clumsily caught it in both hands before looking at her.

"Yume..." She shook her head, bringing her knees to her chest.

"Don't bother; Zai told me everything." She said idly, staring at her knees. "Sorry, but I don't think you can damage me any further." He blinked for a moment before looking away.

"...I was hoping you would forgive me...For what I've done." Usaka replied slowly, turning the object over in his hands. "And yes, I suppose you could say that this is a pity present...As you call it." He added, looking back at her.

"I just wish you could accept it." She blinked, staring at him. She sat in silence for a long moment, face devoid of emotion. Finally, she sighed and stood up, stretching her arms above her head.

"What is it?" She questioned with a scowl. Usaka blinked before smiling, moving closer to her.

"Your cure."

//+//

"You put it back on?"

"...Too many people." Koji responded lowly, the Suna head protector once again covering his eyes. Zai sighed before leaning back in his seat in the stands, idly looking down at the arena.

"Uzumaki finally showed up." He stated, and Koji nodded.

"Uchiha and Dosu are still missing, apparently..." Zai glanced over at him.

"Do you think they'll still start the first match at the scheduled time?" Koji frowned slightly before nodding.

"Most likely. If Yume isn't here by the second match, we'll search the village." He added, and Zai blinked before nodding.

"Uhn."

//+//

"...Cure?" She questioned cautiously while Usaka smiled.

"Here." He said, handing an object to her. She stared at it for a long moment before taking it in her hand, holding it up to the sun.

"Water. That's it?" She sighed, stuffing the vial into the kunai pouch that was above the metal plate strapped to her upper thigh. "How thoughtful."

"You're going to be late." He informed, glancing back at her, only to see her shrug. He tilted his head, "I thought you wanted to watch?"

"I thought I did, too." She admitted, looking out towards the arena as well. Both could hear the crowd start to roar; the first match must be starting. He stared at her for a longer moment before sighing and gently placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Goodbyes don't have to be sad..." Her eyes fluttered towards the ground before she turned to look at him. They stared at each other for a moment before he smiled sadly. "But I guess some things are just meant to be." He stated airily, letting his hand slide off of her shoulder before stepping back as she watched blankly.

"I thought I could fix this. I guess I can't." He sighed before scratching his neck. "Goodbye, imouto-san."

"Again?" He paused, glancing over at her. "You're doing this to me again?" She questioned quietly, causing his face to fall.

"What-"

"You always leave when things don't work out. You left when otou-san died, you left when you gave me to Samuru, and now you're leaving when you don't know what to do." She sighed before taking the vial out of her pouch and throwing it onto the grassy ground. He watched, paralyzed in horror, as the glass broke and the liquid dripped onto multiple blades of grass.

"You've said too many goodbyes. So just leave; I don't want you around." She added coolly before turning her back on him and walking away, leaving him to stare at the grass, still paralyzed.

Once she was gone, he allowed himself to fall to his knees, his hands clutching patches of grass tightly. 'Yume...' He felt his throat swell and his eyes water, but he bit his lip, refusing to make any sound. A sun ray was reflected back at him through a droplet of the liquid; the liquid that he thought was going to change everything.

It was this that finally allowed him to let a tear slide down his cheek.

'Some things just can't be fixed...I suppose...'

//+//

"Gaara? You okay-"

Kankuro's voice was muffled as Temari slapped a hand over his mouth, cautiously glancing over at Gaara. "Don't bother him; he's thinking of her." She whispered, only to freeze when she heard his voice.

"Shut up, both of you." Gaara said lowly, not bothering to spare the two a glance as he idly watched the match below. The only thing that was interesting about the match was that blonde, Uzumaki Naruto. And yet...He still couldn't focus completely.

"Gaara!"

"We make a good team."

A frown tainted his lips. 'Stupid girl...'

//+//

Zai blinked, sensing something. Quietly, he looked over his shoulder, only to blink. He nudged Koji, who nodded before standing up. Zai followed suit and walked with the other out of the stands and into the back.

"Yo, where were you?" Zai asked, hands folded behind his head as he peeked at Yume, who was leaning against a wall with folded arms. She shrugged and looked at them both.

"Where's Murabashi?" Koji stared at her profoundly before shaking his head.

"I see you are still interested in her..." He said idly, and she sighed, pulling out the file.

"Usaka put this in my room; I'm sure of it." Yume stated, causing Zai to sigh loudly.

"Why do you have to talk to her, then? You already have the file." He pointed out, causing her to stare at the file thoughtfully. After a moment, she nodded, looking back up.

"Zai's right; I have to go back to Samuru." Koji tensed before stepping closer.

"That is out of the question. He must know by now what you're up to; going back will only create problems." She blinked before shrugging, pocketing the file once again.

"Then I'll go alone; you two are the only ones that would be in danger anyway." Zai and Koji glanced at each other before Zai laughed.

"Yo, we'll go, we'll go." He said lazily, frowning slightly. Koji nodded in agreement, causing Yume to blink before smiling slightly.

"Thanks."

"Yume..." She blinked and looked over at Koji, who slowly took his head protector off again so that it was placed around his neck. "If we go now, do you realize that you might never see him again?" Zai blinked in confusion for a moment before his face grew solemn, and he looked away. Yume immediately looked away, eyes half-lidded as she stared at the arena, where Uzumaki and Hyuuga were still fighting. She looked across the stands to see the person she had discreetly been looking for, and to see that he was staring straight at her.

She closed her eyes and looked back at Koji. "Then let's get going." She said quietly, and Koji nodded, turning away.

"Zai and I will be waiting at the gates with our things." He stated calmly, walking off towards the exit, Zai quietly following, leaving Yume to stand there by herself.

Sighing, she took out the file, and flipped it over, where aquamarine eyes stared up at her. She looked up, only to see the exact same eyes staring at her from a distance. Hesitating, she took a step back before running to the left, opposite of the exit.

//+//

He blinked before turning towards the exit. Silently, he walked away, into the long hallway, leaving Temari and Kankuro to stare.

It was only a matter of seconds before he stopped, eyes locked straight ahead. He had to admit, she was faster than he anticipated.

"You're late." He stated coolly, arms crossed. She blinked before looking away.

"...I came to say goodbye." His eyes flashed with surprise before they recovered. He stared at her for a long moment before speaking.

"Then say it." She glanced at him before her lips curved up. He wouldn't use the term smile, because it wasn't one. Not one that he recognized on her face.

"Straight to the point as usual, Mr. Sandman." She said, trying to resist putting a hand to her chest; it was aching. However, she blinked in surprise when he put a hand to his own chest, frowning.

"It hurts." He mumbled, looking over at her. She blinked before placing a hand to her chest as well. He raised a nonexistent eyebrow at her, and she looked at the ground, smiling sadly.

"Maybe if we don't say goodbye...Maybe it wouldn't hurt so much." She said quietly, and he blinked. He stared at her for a long moment as his hand slowly fell away from his chest.

"...Then don't say it."

She froze before looking at him with a raised eyebrow. He stood plainly in front of her, a couple yards away with his arms now at his sides.

"Don't say goodbye."

She stared in disbelief before a genuine smile graced her lips. "Then I won't, Mr. Sandman." The corners of his lips twitched slightly, but just as he was about to say something, wires wrapped themselves around her and she disappeared from his sight.

"..."

He looked around the hallway with a frown, only to pause as he found something on the ground. Curiously, he picked up the object, and the smallest hint of a smile spread onto his lips.

In his hand was a red ribbon; the same red ribbon that had been in her hair when they first met. Swiftly, he tied the ribbon to the white sash that crossed his chest before turning and exiting the hallway, going back outside where the sun shone brightly.

'...Stupid girl.'