The next morning I didn't take the drug. I was too awake from practicing the Water Prison Jutsu while constantly plashing water in my face.

I heard a knock on the door, "Who is it?" I asked.

"Yasashiku."

"Hang on." I wiped my water-splashed face and ran a brush through my hair. I then went to my mirror but the crack reminded me that I broke it.

I opened the door and Yasashiku stood looking very tired, though he had the biggest of grins.

"What's going on this morning that makes you wish to smile?" I asked formally.

"Today is Friday." he said.

"And...?" I had no clue where this was going.

"Do you know what day it is tomorrow?"

"Saturday?"

"Do you know what will happen on Saturday?" he still had a smirk on his face, it made me wonder.

We started walking as I spoke, "More training? Look Yasashiku just spit it out!"

"Didn't you say tomorrow was the day Kenshin gets out of the hospital?" his smile slightly faded when I didn't answer right away.

"That is, if they let him, but he will be strong enough to move around by tomorrow, that's definite. Though it might take five more days before he can train with us. But..." I stopped talking when I noticed Auntie wasn't in her usual spot, waiting for me. I sighed sadly as I opened the door and walked in the direction of the meadow. Yasashiku caught up with me, "What's wrong?"

"I haven't seen Auntie in over two days. I'm getting worried."

"Don't worry; I'm sure she'll come around." I thought I heard a tone of bitterness, "Hey, did you sleep last night?"

"No, why?"

"You look tired again."

"So do you." I challenged.

"What made you look well slept yesterday?" He said, ignoring my challenge.

"Um...just the fact that...I spoke to someone." I said flatly.

I heard him mutter, "Sure," as Ayumi joined us in her normal, I'm-gonna-pop-out-of-nowhere-to-see-what-happens.

"Hello, Sensei." I said at the same time Yasashiku said, "Hi."

"You two ready to work on Elemental Jutsu again?" she asked, a little peppy.

"Uh..." I didn't make much progress with my late night training; all I really did do was burn off chakra.

"Well, read or not, you need a weapon." she said.

"Well...what about the choker you gave me? That should be good for long range and my whip is good for short range."

"Yeah, but the more you train the more chakra you get, thus the more bugs you can summon and control."

She had a point, and she knew it too because she smiled and continued walking. Yasashiku followed with me in the back.

I tried to think, 'How will I boost my chakra in ten minutes without letting Yasashiku and Ayumi know?' I felt around in my pockets for a chakra pill. There was one left. I swiftly popped it in my mouth and felt my chakra surround my body. Ayumi must have sensed something because she turned around to look at me, "You okay, Roza?"

"Yeah, fine why?" I asked, trying to sound surprised.

"No reason." She said, "Here we are."

The meadow was just as beautiful as always.

"Now, Yasashiku, about elemental jutsu..." she started, but Yasashiku interrupted her, "I can already do an Elemental Jutsu."

"Really? What element?"

"Fire."

"Wow! That's a tough one. Where did you learn it at such a young age?"

"My father taught me and Kenshin."

"Oh, so Kenshin can too?"

"Yeah, but he's better; he can light his katana without burning his hands."

"What Jutsu can you do?"

"Phoenix Flower."

"Show me." She demanded.

"Okay, watch out though, sometimes it gets a little...out of hand."

I got out of the way with Ayumi to the side. Yasashiku did a few handsigns and blew fire through his fingertips.

"Well, Roza, once you master your water element, you and Yasashiku can spar." Ayumi said.

I didn't answer. I felt so weak having to not know elemental jutsu. Ayumi noticed my sadness.

"Don't worry, you'll get them down in no time. I bet today you'll master both Water Prison and Mist."

"What does mist do?" I asked, as Yasashiku's fire faded.

"It covers the environment with a thick fog. It's so thick your enemy won't be able to see you."

"Sweet."

"Okay, now try that Water Prison while I teach Yasashiku about more fire jutsu."

"What will I use to...trap?"

She bit her thumb, performed some handsigns and pressed her hand to the ground. In a puff of smoke, eleven training dummies lay.

"You take one and I'll use the others for Yasashiku...you know...just in case."

I nodded while she gathered hers up and went to where Yasashiku stood, waiting.

'My God! I'm gonna look so stupid trying to surround a freaking dummy while Yasashiku burns them! Oh Hell!'

I had to try harder to trap it because I didn't want to look like a fool. I performed the signs and stretch out my hand. A small mist swirled around my hand for a second but disappeared. I tried again, this time with a bit more Chakra, same result.

I kept trying until finally the dummy was surrounded by solid water.

"Great job, Kid" Ayumi said, seeing my success. "Now I will teach you Mist while Yasashiku gets more control over Fire." I noticed her arm was wrapped in a place it wasn't this morning.

She performed handsigns, a lot more then the Water prison Jutsu needed, and soon a thick fog formed.

I couldn't see much of anything. But I did feel someone grab my arm and twist it behind my back. I yelped.

"See if you can get out." Ayumi's voice said from behind me. I twisted my whole body and faced her. I kicked her hard in stomach and found out it was just a training dummy.

Then I realized why she was doing this. I remembered when we first came to the meadow, the first training method we had together; I took out my kunai and felt around for a tree. When I found one I stuck my kunai in it, cupped my ear around the handle, and closed my eyes. I felt someone running at me very quickly. I waited until she was close enough and I blindly punched upward in the stomach.

"Excellent job, Roza!" Ayumi's voice said. She didn't sound like she just got punched in the gut, nor was she breathless. I opened my eyes to see Yasashiku doubled over, panting.

"Oh my God! Yasashiku I'm so sorry." I bent down and saw he was smiling, "It's...okay." he said between breaths.

I felt horrible as we walked back to town, "Yasashiku, next time we are in that situation, we are to whistle to each other, like a code or something."

"Yeah good idea." he said, his arms still wrapped a little lower then the stomach, "What part were you aiming for anyway?" he asked.

"The stomach." I said innocently, "Why?"

"Work on your aim." he grunted.

"I'll take you home," Ayumi offered. "You coming?" she asked me.

"Nah, I could use some fresh air for a change, and maybe more training." Really, I didn't want to see Auntie's spot empty.

I walked back to the meadow, not knowing exactly what to do. I went to the river, and the surface was just gorgeous. Without thinking I slipped off my boots, emptied the remains of my pockets and took off my weapon pouch. Then I went to the edge of the river and did an absolute perfect dive into the water.

I soon discovered that the river was a home to various see creature; a crab sideways walked across the see floor. A school of angle fish swam above my head and I noticed a starfish was perched lazily on a rock. All in all, it was beautiful.

I swan to the surface and took a deep breath. Then I went back under and followed a catfish downstream. Soon it got annoyed and splashed me in the face.

When I resurfaced, I noticed my boots were now right in front of me, 'What? I must've just swum a quarter of a mile. If anything, I should be looking for them.'

I got out of the water and look around to see if anyone else was with me. I then noticed a faint movement in the shadows, "Who's there?" I asked.

I heard the sound of someone running away. "Hey!" I said, following.

The wood was so thick I could hardly see where I was going, but I knew I was following someone from the sound of movement. I saw a piece of white fabric whip around the corner. I stopped running and leaned on the other side of the corner, breathing softly, but heavily. I heard that neither of us was running, 'Now or never, Roza.' a voice said inside me. I jumped around the corner and tackled...

"Shino!?"

"Um...hello, Roza."

"What...?" I started but he interrupted in a pained voice, "Could you get off me please?"

I realized I was sitting on his stomach, "Oh! I'm sorry." I said, getting off and giving him a hand up. "Were you watching me swim?" I asked.

"I was nearby. I almost jumped in when you didn't come up the first time." he answered sheepishly.

"Why?" I wasn't angry, just curious.

"I'm not going to let you drown!"

"Well, I guess that's a good reason." I tried to walk back but I stepped on a rock and screamed the nastiest of all swear words ((your choice, pick one ;D)).

I felt my face go hot and quickly said, "Sorry about my rude language."

A sound escaped his mouth. Laughter? "That's the first." he said.

"Fist what?"

"Not many people apologize for saying such words."

"Well, it was uncalled for for me to say such a nasty word." I tried to put my foot down, but it still throbbed.

"Need help?" he asked.

"Um...I'll get there...eventually."

"Do you know the way?"

I felt my face turn even redder, "Not really...no."

"Okay, I'll lead the way...unless." he glanced at my foot.

"Um...that won't be necessary, unless you're impatient."

"I'll live." He said, walking in front of me slowing to my pace occasionally.

I tried to put my foot down a few more times, but each time I stepped on more rocks. Then Shino stopped and pulled back a tangle of leaves; my boots, pouch, and pocket contents lay where they were before. "Wow." I said aloud, blushing a deeper shade of crimson. "Thanks, Shino, you're the best."

"Why? I just led you to your stuff."

"Yeah, but I would have been wondering around this thing and have gotten nowhere." I said, slipping my boots back on. He sat next to me and said, "Why don't you soak your foot, it might help."

"Okay," I said, but I continued staring at him.

"Um..."he said, "You okay?"

I jerked my head and looked away as I lowered my foot into the water. "Sorry, spaced out."

The water was delightful and I sighed happily. But the sigh soon turned sad when I remember Auntie.

"What's wrong?" he asked, as I took my foot out of the water and put my boots back on.

"I'm really sorry, Shino, but Auntie said I can not see you anymore." I said, holding back tears with all my might.

"Oh..." he said, a tone of absolute sadness was detected in his voice, "Well...bye then." he didn't move an inch while I gathered my things and left without another word. I went down the familiar path, a single sob escaped.

I walked through the doors of the Inn and found, to my surprise, Auntie wiping down the front desk. She didn't look up when she said, "Hello. What have you been up to?"

"Training." I said, bitterly.

"Oh...any..." she started, but I broke her off, knowing what she would ask.

"Yes, Auntie, I hung out with Shino! But I was just being a good little girl and ditched him. Are you happy now?!" I stormed up the stairs to my room and cried in my pillow.