Hello my lovely readers XD. Here I am yet again with another chapter for you. I personally feel that the last chapter wasn't as good, but I tried right. I did hear from someone that the ending of the last chapter was funny, and that's what I made it out to be. Since the ending was so funny I thought of making a certain part of this chapter, fun or at least enjoyable to read. The last few chapters were pretty depressing, so why not make up for it with a good 'ol time XD.

Okay, well enough of my chatter, on with the chapter.

Disclaimer – I do not own Naruto or Young Justice. They belong to their rightful owners.

~Chapter 26~

Naruko stood in front of the infirmary door, her face tense and her eyes downcast. She had her hand on the door handle, clenching her fingers over it. She had come to this room with hopes of seeing how Aini was doing, but...

"I have no right to be here," she mumbled. After everything that happened, she doesn't think she should show her face to her at all.

"Angel?" The blonde flinched and turned her head towards the person who called her name.

"Superman, uh..what are you doing here?" The man smiled at her.

"I was headed to the monitor room, but seeing as how I saw you I decided to stop and chat for a few minutes. Do you mind?"

Naruko shook her head. "Uh, I don't mind at all." Her eyes drifted back down at her hand on the door handle. "Talking will get my mind off a few things."

Superman frowned at her sullen expression. "What's the matter?" His eyes moved from her face to her hand. "...You're worried, aren't you?" He saw her shoulders flinch and her hands tighten. "Naru-"

"Yes, I am worried. Aini got hurt because of me," she moved her free hand to he stomach, grasping on to the cloth like material like it was her life line, "I know she only did it to see me safe, but she really didn't have to. I would have lived." Naruko's voice trembled as she spoke. She knew she was close to tears, she could hear it in her voice.

"...Naruko, listen," Superman began, taking a few steps forward until he was standing directly in front of her, "I don't really know how you feel right now, but I can tell just from looking at you that you feel awful. I feel bad since she is a member of the league-"

"You don't anything else, I know what you mean," Naruko sighed and raised her head revealing to the man of steel that she was, smiling. Her cerulean eyes were filled with sorrow but her lips were quirked up into a small smile. Strangely enough, it seemed that that smile alone made her glow radiantly.

Superman couldn't help but blush at the sight. A few seconds passed by before he shook his head and coughed into his hand. "Well, I'll leave you to it...maybe I'll see you later?"

Naruko grinned. "Yeah." She waved goodbye to him as she watched him walk away, leaving her to stand in front of the room all alone again.

"Kit, you need to do this or else you'll never be able to forgive yourself," Kurama reminded her gruffly.

"I know, but..." Aini was one of her closest friends in this world, her sister even. Seeing her get stabbed was one of the worst possible things she could have witnessed happening to a friend. The mental image was stuck in her head for Kami's sake!

But...

Naruko's hand tightened on the handle. "If I want to get over this then I need to take the first step. I've been through much worse than this." She slid the door open slowly, she ducked her head inside taking a small peak. The room was dimly lit and it looked like Aini was still asleep. Naruko sighed in relief and opened the door all the way. She walked inside and close the door behind her. While walking over to the bed she noticed the long wires that still seemed to be connected to Aini. One was in her arm, another one led to her finger, and another was connected to her breathing mask. Her maroon colored hair was messed up and uneven, giving indication that some how it had gotten cut during a fight. She had large bags under her closed eyes, and her usual tanned skin was pale. Naruko grabbed the bench that was sitting up against a wall and brought it next to the bed. She sat down in it and just stayed silent for a few minutes, staring down at her friend.

"I...I don't know if you can hear me, but...I just want to apologize to you," she paused, "I never really wanted to get you involved with any of this. It was my mess to fix, yet I still brought you and everyone else into it. For that I am truly sorry." Naruko moved her hand across the blanket towards Aini's hand and grabbed it. It wasn't cold like she had thought but it wasn't warm either, which was a good sign.

"Heh, if I were in your place right now you'd probably be freaking out like there was no tomorrow...you were always quick to anger..." Naruko bit her bottom lip. She could feel tears begin to pool around her eyes as she stared down at Aini's unconscious form. "I-I-" Naruko's eyes widened as she felt her hand being grasped.

"Ai-chan," she whispered, "A-Are you awake?"

Aini blinked twice before opening her eyes and looking up to see her blond friend staring at her with worry. She smiled. "Angie, so it was you who spoke to me in my dream. I figured you must have been here if I heard you in my dreams." Aini chuckled, her voice raspy. "I'm glad you're here."

Naruko smiled back at her. "I'm glad I'm here too...I-I didn't really know what to do if you woke up. I just feel so-"

"Guilty? Angie I've known you for a long time. We're practically sisters. You don't think I don't know what you're thinking?" Aini quirked her brow and frowned. "You told me once that Sasuke did the same for you, taking a heavy hit for you."

Naruko nodded, shifting her weight back and forth in her seat. "Yeah, he did, but that was different."

"How so? I don't think what I did is any different from what he did." Aini narrowed her eyes. "You can't say that it is...Naruko, you have to understand that you can't deal with things on your own. You need help, and that's why I- what we are here for." She grabbed the blonde's hand and grasped it. "Angie, we care for you, more than you know."

"...Daichi told me something similar to what you're saying...and I understand. Aini, I'm sorry," Naruko choked out a sob, she moved her other hand to Aini's and lowered her forehead to touch her hand. "I'm so sorry, Ai-chan! I'm sorry," she blubbered out, her words slurred.

Aini's eyes widened a bit at the apology, then, she smiled softly and moved her other hand to pat Naruko's head. "It's alright Naruko, everything is alright," she whispered reassuringly to the blonde as she continued to pat her head. This went on for awhile until Naruko drifted off to sleep, laying her head on top of the blankets of the bed.

"Good grief," Aini sighed, smiling down at her sleeping friend, her hand stroking her long blonde hair. "You always were the more emotional one, but that's what I love about you, Naruko." She continued to stroke Naruko's blonde hair, not looking up at the door as it slid open.

"Oh, I was wondering where she went," Daichi sighed with relief as she walked into the room. He chuckled at the sight of his wife stroking his friends hair, as if she were a pet. "Aini, hun, I didn't know when you would be waking up."

"Of course you didn't. There was no way you could have predicted when I would," Aini smirked at him as she raised one of her brows.

Daichi coughed as his cheeks turned bright red. "A-Aini, please, you just woke up. You don't have the energy to-"

"To do what? Tease you? Geez dear, you need to get your head out of the gutter." Daichi's shoulders slumped in defeat. His wife, even when injured, definitely knew how to get under his skin. He sighed as grabbed another chair from the wall and set it down on the other side of the bed to sit in.

"How are you feeling?"

Aini shrugged. "I'm definitely in some pain but I'll live. What about you?"

Daichi smiled. "I'll be alright...you gave us all quite a scare when you ran off like that. I-I...I thought I lost you Aini." His brows furrowed and he moved his hand to touch he bandaged right cheek. "I can't lose you Ai, you know I need you, the kids need you...Naruko needs you."

"...Dai, I can't always tell you that I'll be alright, or that I'll stay out of harms way. I may be your wife and a mother, but I'm also a hero. No matter what evil threatens you or the others, I'll always be sure to stop it with my utmost," Aini moved her hand from Naruko's hair to touch the hand on her cheek, "You know how I was raised, I can't stop for nothing, and you can take that to the bank."

"Okay, I understand," Daichi caressed his wife's cheek with a soft smile adorned on his face, "I'll make sure to do the same," he whispered. He leaned in to her face, placing his forehead on hers and closing his eyes.

Aini gave a breathy chuckle and closed her eyes too. "You better, or else I'll have to come and get you."

"That might not be such a bad thing," Daichi replied as he opened his eyes.

"Oh kami, can you two please not do this while I'm right here." Daichi jumped back from his wife, his face bright red as he began to babble incoherently.

Aini pouted. "Angie~! Why did you have to interrupt us?"

Naruko rolled her eyes. "I didn't really want to interrupt, but things were getting a little too hot in here for me not to." She raised her head up from the bed and raised her arms to stretch. "The moment did remind me of old times though."

"It did? I don't recall Daichi getting fresh with me in high school. Although there was that one ti-"

Daichi quickly put his hands over his wife's mouth. "Please, don't bring that up. I'm embarrassed enough as it is."

Aini blinked. "Mhhm hmmm mhm," she mumbled behind his hands.

"Pfft," Naruko snickered giving them a lopsided smile. "You guys sure haven't changed a bit. Makes me feel nostalgic."

It had been nearly 16 years since Naruko first met these two, and since then they've been the best of friends. They've held onto each others hands during the toughest of times, and have each shared with one another their hardships. When people asked if they were friends, they had to correct them and say that they were family, because that's what they were, family.

Daichi chuckled. "I guess we haven't."

"But is that such a bad thing," Aini grinned, "We wouldn't be ourselves if we changed. The only exception is Bruce, and he has his reasons for changing."

Naruko's eyes softened at the mention of his name. "Yeah, I guess he has." She sighed.

Aini and Daichi stared at their blonde haired friend with knowing looks. Naruko was the first out of the three to see Bruce change first hand, yet she was oblivious to everything to else, like how he felt about her. Well, that might have changed since they had dated for such a short period of time, then broke it off about a week later.

"Naruko, have you by any chance talked with Batman before coming here," Daichi asked her.

She shook her head. "No, but I did talk to Superman though. Why do you ask?"

Aini smiled nervously. "No reason." Her eyes shifted to the side avoiding Naruko's confused. It was best not to tell her anything yet, not until she figured things out for herself.

Naruko was oblivious after all.

"What's wrong," Naruko asked with her left brow raised.

"A-Ah nothing, nothing at all," Daichi replied shaking his hands back and forth.

Yep, she definitely didn't need to know yet.

Back at the cave...

The team, Kaname, Kiyo, and Yukine were currently in the process of making lunch, that is until someone(Kaname) decided to throw some food at Kiyo, who in turn got mad and threw something back at said person. Yukine berated his siblings for getting into something so stupid, but someone threw something at him...things just got serious.

"Uh," Artemis was lost for words when she saw the scared expressions on the siblings faces.

Seijirou groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Oh kami why."

"What?" Superboy quirked his brow in confusion. "What's wrong?"

"Hehehehehe," Yukine chuckled darkly. He grabbed two apples from off of the counter and in the blink of an eye threw them at Kaname and Kiyo. The fruit hit both teens point blank, breaking into pieces as soon as they hit.

Everyone stared wide eyed with shock at the sudden turn of events.

"You should know better than to throw something at big brother," Yukine chuckled with glee at his siblings shocked faces.

Kaname and Kiyo stared down at where the apples hit, they looked at each other, then they turned to look at their brother, identical smirks on their faces.

"Food fight," they yelled in unison as they jumped behind the counter, grabbing for whatever food was sitting out.

Seijirou face palmed. Something like this was bound to happen, especially if his siblings started it. They were more trouble than they were worth.

"Aren't you going to do something about this," Artemis whispered to him.

"Why should I," he questioned back at her.

"Well, you are their brother after all, so that makes them your responsibility, right?" Artemis saw the males expression change from tired to amused. Her eyes widened as she saw a smile form on his lips, his amber eyes softened as he looked at her.

"Is that so...then I suppose I should stop them," Seijirou chuckled and turned his head towards where his siblings were. The three of them were currently throwing food back and forth at each other, making a big mess in the kitchen. An vein popped up on his forehead from irritation and he clenched his teeth. "Oi, trouble makers! Stop making a mess in there or you'll have to clean it up!" He ran over to them yelling other useless and obscene threats at them.

Robin walked up next to Artemis with a smug grin on his face. "Hmmm, let me guess, he has a nice smile is what you're thinking, am I right?" He took a quick step to the left as he dodged an oncoming punch from the blonde. "Oooh, scary, but you know I'm right."

Artemis growled at him with her cheeks tinged red, shaking her fist in anger and annoyance. "You little troll!" She tried to hit him again but Robin sidestepped her causing her to stumble a bit. "Gah, stop dodging!"

Robin let out a cackle as he ran away, with Artemis following behind him throwing insults his way while trying to hit him.

Aqualad sighed. "It never fails."

"Hey, don't leave me out of this," Wally whined speeding into the kitchen. He grabbed one of the banana's that was sitting on the counter and threw it at Seijirou. Sadly, he missed. "Dude, why did you dodge that?"

Seiijirou's left eye twitched. "I didn't want to get hit baka!" His words were ignored by the red head who picked up another piece of fruit, it was a pear this time, and threw it at him. Seijirou raised his hand quickly and caught it, gripping onto it so tightly that it burst. "You are so dead!"

Wally winced. "Oh crap!" He sped over to the table dodging several shuriken and somersaulted to the left avoiding another cluster of wire.

"Uh, guys," M'gann tried to grab their attention but her voice was drowned out by the sounds of the siblings yelling at one another, Artemis cursing at Robin, and Seijirou cursing at Wally.

Superboy snorted at the display in front of him, crossing his arms over his chest. "They are so going to get in trouble." He shook his head at the sight of food and shuriken being thrown around without a care. Everything was such a mess, it was amazing that some of the furniture was able to withstand the sheer amount of damage the food and shuriken has caused.

"It will not be just them that gets in trouble," Aqualad chagrined. He had wondered whether or not he should stop them or not. He should but...

"What in kami's name is going on here?!" The teens(the ones who were causing trouble) stopped what they were doing, turning their attention towards whoever had just spoke.

There, standing at the platform of the zeta tube was none other than Angel in her hero garb. She had a bandages a-plenty on her person but over all she looked okay, though the scowl on her face gave a clear indication that she was mad, or was it irritated? They couldn't really tell.

"I'm gone for three days and this is what I come back to," Naruko walked over to them looking around at the damage the trouble makers had caused, "You all should be ashamed of yourselves."

Aqualad got over his shock and stepped forward. "Angel we are all very sorry for this."

Naruko glared. "You should be...you guys didn't invite me."

…

"What," Wally spoke unsure of what he just heard her say.

"I said you guys forgot to invite me. I was out cold for a day, had to stay in bed the next, then had to get checked today." She pouted and put her hands on her hips, leaning to the right. "I thought when I came back here I would see some training, but I guess you guys had other plans. Am I right, Yukine?"

Yukine's faced flushed with embarrassment, and he dropped the handful of apples and pears in his hands to the floor. He dropped his arms to his side and bowed his head. "Gomenasai, Angel-sama! If I had known that you were coming back today I would have done a better job in trying to keep everyone in check."

Kiyo snorted. "Yeah right. You know you would've kept going." She smirked at her brothers flabbergasted face.

Kaname snickered. "She's right bro, you would have totally kept going." The brother and sister laughed at their older brothers flushed face.

"Damare," Yukine snapped at them, but they did not stop. "Ugh, you two are impossible!" He threw his hands up into the air and left the common area heading to who-knows-where.

Seijirou rolled his eyes. "What else is new."

Artemis smirked taking her place next to him. "So, they pretty much do this all the time."

"Yeah, all the time. It's quite funny actually, seeing them get Yuki-nii so riled up." It was one of his favorite pass times back home.

Robin shook his head. "Aside from that, we're really happy to see you Angel. We were worried, especially Superboy." He cackled at Superboy's glare, not really paying any mind to it since he knew he was right.

Naruko's cerulean eyes glistened and her lips quirked up into a large grin. "Is that true Conner? Were you really worried about me?"

Superboy turned his head away from his mother, his cheeks flushed pink. "...Y-Yeah...I was worried, but not as much as Seijirou."

Said teen gaped. Now Naruko's gaze was on him. "I-I was, but that doesn't mean anything! It's normal for a protege to be worried about his mentor!"

"Is that so," Wally grinned slyly, "If it doesn't mean anything then why is your face red?"

"Ah?" Seijirou quickly placed his hands over his cheeks to cover the redness. "U-Urusai!"

"Aw~, are you embarrassed? That's so cute," Wally teased throwing his arm over Seijirou's shoulder. "Hey, I got a question for you."

"What ever it is you have to ask I don't want to hear it." He was already embarrassed enough as it is.

Artemis frowned. "Come on Baywatch, leave him be."

Wally shrugged. "It's his loss, but he seriously needs to hear this."

The others who had been listening in were curious as to what Wally had to ask Seijirou. It might be something completely redundant, but it also might be something worth hearing. Either way they had to pay attention.

Seijirou sighed removing his hands from his face so he could look at Wally. "Okay, fine, I'll hear you out. What is it that you want to ask me?"

"Are you by any chance, in love with Angel?"

What?!

"...Okay, I did not see that coming," Kiyo said looking dumbfounded.

Kaname furrowed his brows. "Dude."

Wally quirked a brow. "Why?"

Robin face palmed. "Really Kid, of all things to ask."

"What? I'm just curious is all."

Superboy scowled at him. "You're too curious." He had half a mind to throttle Wally right here and now.

Artemis frowned at Wally before shifting her attention over to Seijirou, whose face was still flushed red. Somehow seeing him like that made her feel-mad. It made her feel mad and frustrated.

Naruko took a deep breath, held for a few seconds, then exhaled before she spoke. "Alright guys, that's enough. I didn't snea-I mean come back here just to see you all argue."

The teens bowed their heads in shame, especially Seijirou since it felt like he was being reprimanded.

"We apologize for our behavior," Aqualad spoke, a look of shame on his face. He was the teams leader yet he let their foolishness continue.

"Yeah, we didn't expect any of that to get out of hand," Kaname chuckled. Kiyo elbowed him in his side and glared.

"What he means to say is that we should have stopped ourselves before any of that got out of hand."

Naruko waved the off nonchalantly, giving them all a lopsided grin. "What's done is done, there's nothing to worry about. Now, since I'm here how's about we have a little fun. I've been gone for a while so we haven't gotten the chance to spend any time together at all." It almost drove her mad being away from the team for so long, not to mention the pain she felt in her heart because she hadn't seen her son either. It was sheer torture.

M'gann smiled. "That's wonderful, right Conner?"

Conner grunted. "I guess." He'd be able to spend some alone time with his mother later.

"I'm all for it, how about you Kiyo," Kaname asked his sister. She giggled.

"Eh, why not. Just means we get to stay here a little longer."

"Which means we can spend some more time together," Wally smirked and threw his right arm over her left shoulder.

Kiyo stared at him blankly then smirked, a tinge of pink showing up on her cheeks. "I'd like that."

Artemis and Seijirou rolled their eyes. The latter sighed crossing his arms over his chest. "I guess that would be okay, but what about Yuki-nii? He walked off somewhere didn't he?"

"I think he was headed for the rooms," Robin answered, "Said something about lying down." It would be kind of difficult to get in any of the rooms since a door code was needed. Batman made sure there was security on everything, before and after the Joker incident.

"Well why doesn't someone go and get him so we can start. I want us to have as much fun as possible today, so we can make up for lost time," Naruko told them shifting her weight to her right hip.

"I'll go," Seijirou volunteered as he raised his hand. "He won't listen to Kaname and Kiyo since they would most likely tease him, so I'm the more reasonable choice."

"Hey," said teens yelled looking very offended by his claim. "We would not!"

"Really," Naruko asked skeptically raising a brow. She smirked as she watched them begin to shift in place nervously.

Kaname and Kiyo stared at each other furrowing their brows then turned back to Naruko. "We would." Who could blame them though. Yukine was an easy target to tease.

Seijirou smirked triumphantly at his siblings. "I rest my case. Now, if you all will excuse me, I have idiot to go find." He left the common area heading back to the rooms to look for his brother, leaving everyone else to stare after him.

Robin leaned over to Wally and whispered, "I think he's still pretty ticked about what you asked him."

"Yeah, but I wasn't really doing it to hurt him or anything, it was just some harmless teasing."

Artemis glared at him. "Harmless teasing huh." She crossed her arms over her chest and shifted her weight to her right side. "I hardly believe that was harmless teasing."

"Artemis," Aqualad said her name with warning tone in his voice. She ignored him and continiued to glare at Wally.

"What are you talking about? It was harmless teasing, or did you not notice," a smirk flitted across Wally's face watching as the female archer flinched, "I see what it is now, you have a crush on Seijirou don't you?"

Artemi's cheeks turned bright red in both anger and embarrassment. "N-No I do not!"

Robin snickered. "It sure sounds like you do," he chimed in.

"Is this true," Naruko asked Artemis taking a few steps towards her. "Do you like him, cause if you do then I completely support you." She smiled softly at her fellow blonde.

"I-I don't like him like that," Artemis continued to deny, but she knew couldn't keep it up. She slumped in defeat. "Fine! I do like him, are you all happy now?"

"Very," Wally grinned, "Funny thing though, I thought you would have gone for a different type."

Kiyo nodded. "I thought the same too, then I realized that my brother is your type. He's quiet, calm, cool and collected. He's the ideal boyfriend or that's what the girls back home said about him anyway."

M'gann tilted her head with peaked curiosity. "Was he popular with the girls back where you live?"

Kaname snorted. "Popular? He practically ruled the whole dang place, heh, the same could be said about me too. The girls just flock to me...I mean us."

Connor rolled his eyes. "Whatever. Mo-I mean Angel, you said you wanted us to do something fun?"

Naruko looked to her son and smiled warmly. "I did, but I think this is enough for me."

Wally blinked. "What do you mean?"

"What she means is that talking with us was enough fun for her," Aqualad explained to him, smiling at the teams trainer/den mother.

"Oh, wait, then what was all the before she showed up?"

"A chase/food fight," Kiyo and Kaname answered. "It was fun."

Robin blinked. "Okay, so, what do we do now?"

Naruko looked to each teen with a thoughtful look on her face, then she snapped her fingers. "We train."

…

"Uh, what?"

Artemis gave the woman an incredulous look. " You want us to train, right after that whole Morinaga fiasco? You must've got hit harder than I thought," she muttered under her breath.

Naruko heard her comment and twitched. "Even after a huge battle like that it is still best to keep your body in peak condition just in case something like that happens again. We have to be prepared for the worst even when it is peaceful. Do you all understand?" The team nodded. "Good. If someone could please go and get Seijirou and Yuki-"

"No need, we're here." Everyone turned their heads towards the sound of the voice and saw Yukine and Seijirou walking from the back looking strangely calm.

"So you are," Naruko smiled, "Did the talk go okay Yuki?"

"Pfft Yuki," Kaname chuckled covering his mouth with his hand.

Yukine sent a glare his way before answering. "Yes the talk went well. Thanks for asking Angel-sama."

"Ugh, enough of that. I had to get Seijirou to stop calling me that via deadly sparring match," Naruko groaned.

Seijirou winced at the memory. He wasn't able to stand straight for a week after the beat down she gave him, but it seemed to stop him from calling her Angel-sama anymore.

"So that's why you were walking like a penguin," Wally realized smiling at the maroon haired teen.

"If you value your sanctity as a hero I suggest you shut up West," Seijirou said through gritted teeth his amber eyes narrowed into slits.

Robin gave a slow clap. "Congrats, I think you really made Wally pee his pants this time."

Wally blushed. "Dude!"

Kaname smirked. "You're not denying it though."

"I didn't!"

Connor looked at Wally moving his gaze down slowly then snorted. "Uh, you kind of did." The red head looked down at himself in panic. There was nothing there.

"Dude!" Everyone(sans Aqualad, although he did smile) laughed at the red heads expense either patting his shoulder or just making fun.

Naruko smiled at the team. She had missed them dearly. The few days she laid unconscious in the infirmary of the Watchtower was like years to her. She loved these kids, she loved the league.

And she wasn't willing to trade them for anything.

And that's a wrap! Sorry I haven't updated this story in so long, I meant to but I just forgot. Good news though, I got another job and its way better than the last one. I get paid more too XD. I went through a rough time before but now I'm glad things have turned out the way they have and it's thanks to everyone support. I love you guys lots XD.

Next chapter will be out sometime next month...maybe. I have a lot of things I need to do this month so I'll be too busy to write another chapter for awhile. I might start on it but it won't be messed with for awhile.

Alright well I'll see you guys next time. Please remember to R&R, I love all of your reviews and advice. I don't like rude people though. Treat others as you would want to be treated, okay? Okay.

Ja ne XD

~Anime hotty lover. 18