A/N: HELLO, SNOWFLAKES! SANTA HERE!

It's sups nice to see you little snowy things again. Snowing in July. Oh mai Gahaaad.

T'is a miracle.

Anywhozals! Here you go!

It was early the next morning, with puffy eyes that hurt when blinking, and tired muscles that ached when moving, that Kiyowa rose. Her movement for early morning was a little sluggish as usual, but her face looked of sickness - horribly pale and sickly-like.

Stepping out of her home and taking a moment to gaze upon the streets that were laid out amongst the remnants of wreckage and lying debris, she took note.

Many of the usual early risers around that part of town were nowhere to be seen, and so it seemed even more bare than usual. Empty even. Her heart couldn't sink any further. It was already settled neatly at the bottom of the pit she had referenced once as being her chest.

She stepped down to level herself with the street, and quietly began to take her leave.

Looking to Motsuki's house as she passed by, she realized that the ebony haired female hadn't risen with a jump that morning. Sasuke hadn't been around either. Naruto didn't energetically spread word of training, and Sakura hadn't knocked on her door to invite her along with the affairs of the rest of the team. Kiyowa was almost certain that they had been coping together through the loss, and affirming their goals for the future, hand in hand as a team.

Little by little she began to realize...

"I'm just the extra member..."

Just that one person stuck there where they didn't belong. The one that was too shy to speak, with a tendency to disappear into the background slow and steady until she lay forgotten. If that were truly the case, then all of the praise they had given her, and friendship they had shared with her before...

...What was that?

"..."

It was confusing. Perhaps it was just grief, but thoughts were running free in her mind, fueled by depression and desperation.

If they had offered her enough friendship... Where they could rely on her, and trust in her. Or at least enough companionship to share in the work of training, while also allowing her to thrive in their words of praise. Then, damn it, why was it that they could not trust her nor rely on her enough to share in their strife and tribulations? Did they think so little of her..? Maybe confuse her sensitivity with fragility?

She couldn't worry about that anymore.

Just like some had verbally and some how wordlessly said, there was a necessity for alone time, and she was no different. She would focus her questions and pain into getting herself ahead.

It wasn't long before she found herself on the outskirts, and just as she was once told by the Tiger ANBU, she'd spoken to at the Chunin Exams. The only issue seemed to be that it was completely void of any thing that could be remotely classified as a training area.

So it really was a stretch to believe it would actually work...

Offering a light sigh, the young kunoichi stepped back in resignation, turning around to begin the voyage back home.

"Hey! Where are you going so soon?"

The Tiger Anbu...

Turning around, Kiyowa's eyes raised up to a tree overhead where the Anbu seemed to be casually seated on the edge of an outdrawn limb, "Are you having second thoughts?"

"No... I..." What was she to say? That she thought he had gone back on his word? Certainly not an option, especially when she still wanted training from him.

"You thought I'd ditched?" Just after the thought had crossed her mind, it rolled off his tongue fluently without pause nor hesitation. He hopped down effortlessly from the overhanging branch and approached her, standing away some as to provide her with some comfort room to breathe, "An Anbu doesn't go back on their word that way... And even if they do, well at least I don't."

She offered a nod of understanding and quietly lowered her eyes to the ground, "I understand... I.. I'm sorry..."

He ruffled her hair, a warm gesture, and turned on his heel to begin walking away, "Follow me. It's early, but we should get started before everything starts filling up."

"Filling up...?"

"Precisely. You see, training at an ANBU camp means that it's usually private from the village, yes, but public in a sense of the group. Every ANBU has a right to the camp, and so it ends up on a first come first served basis." As he continued to walk, he would occasionally pass glances over his shoulder to her. Though his face was covered, the cloak was absent this time around. It was easy for Kiyowa to see now that he had a rather trained physique, and the hair -divided through the middle with the strap of the ANBU mask- was a soft shade of brown.

"Oh..." She merely replied, keeping her eyes to his feet to follow behind him. She was sensing absolutely nothing from him... It was odd. Almost as though he had no kind of feelings. At times she felt a tinge in her chest like maybe, just maybe, during their trot towards this training camp that they, she was feeling a bit of what he felt... but it was so difficult to decipher.

He had studied her ability, she remembered him saying, and so perhaps it was not so uncommon for him to have found a way to negate it.

After all, he seemed not to have been the only one... That white eyes boy from a while ago could block off her sensory ability as well.

'Maybe... it's not as special as everyone thinks...'

"Now the way I intend to do this is to go in early and get as much done so that we can leave early too," Glancing over his shoulder once more, he seemed to try gauging her reaction to his words, "But I hope you've come to realize this won't be a one-day job."

"I understand, sir..."

"Sir? Nah.. While you're here, call me Tora."

Tora... That meant tiger. It was unlikely, in Kiyowa's eyes, that something would be so coincidental, and so firming it in her mind, she assumed it was some type of codename. ANBU did that kind of thing, right? "Yes...Ah... Tora.."

"Good good. Now come on," He waved his black-gloved hand to usher her into following him, and as physically instructed, the blonde haired kunoichi followed obediently.

The two past through what seemed to be an underground passageway. Brick lined the ceilings and walls, neatly pressed against and layered atop one another to provide a more sturdy and welcoming environment, despite leading deep into the ground. The light from the sun immediately left them, and shadow masked them. There, as they walked, light was limited, and the only sound seemed to be their footsteps against the hard turf.

"You see it's quiet here now. Also, while training here, I'm sure I don't have to tell you but..." He shifted and pressed his finger against the mouth portion of the mask, "No word of this should get out to anyone else."

It seemed to make sense. ANBU were a secretive group, and even he, himself, had said when telling Kiyowa about the location of camp that they tend to be secretive. It would only be respectful to listen to his whim for secrecy. She nodded firmly, to which the ANBU also nodded.

~.~.~...~...~.~..~..~.~...~...~...~.~.~...~...~..~~...~.~.~.~...

Training was harsh. It was highly advanced, and Kiyowa felt as though she hadn't stood a chance. Not only was there so much running involved, but a spar against an ANBU, even when he was clearly taking it easy, was a lot. In fact, there was no doubt in her mind that she lost horribly in that training scrap.

Her face was covered in sweat, her hands red and sore. Her chest was tightened from the way she heavily took in breaths and her legs felt like jelly. It was so easy for her to lose! She had gotten so used to relying on her ability to take a guess or utilize intuition when it came to the enemy's next move and being prepared. Unfortunately, being she could barely read this male, she was left with her own instincts, which clearly seemed to be without proper sharpening.

Why were they training physically though..? She was supposed to be working on training her ability.

"I know what you're thinking," Tora casually began, not breathless nor tired in any way, "For us to train your ability, we have to train your physically first. It's nothing to know something if you can't stop it."

She slowly nodded, dazed by the fact that he was able to so easily see what she thought. It seemed to make sense that he could understand her, after all, he'd probably known quite a few people, and she was positive that he wouldn't have only trained her in all the time as a ANBU. "Yes... Tora..." She was quiet and skittish, as well as coming off as quite obedient. It made sense. She did not know this male, and as a result, she was right back in her shell.

"What's going on in here?" A female voice questioned, walking inside. Her voice had a commanding sense to it, and the way she stood, posture straight and chin up -despite being masked- gave a sense of status.

"Just training," Tora spoke casually. It was a surprise that he seemed to be so calm and relaxed, for Kiyowa had been spooked by the stern woman's words, and jumped up at attention out of respect despite her fatigue.

The woman, carrying a mask similar to that of a boar, turned her head to Kiyowa, making the young blonde haired female jolt in reaction. It almost seemed like behind that ANBU mask, she was studying her. "She's not authorized to be here."

"I already gave it some talk. Don't worry your boarish little head," Shrugged the tiger. You could practically hear the teasing smile in his voice.

"Agh... I don't know why I deal with you..." Uttering a displeased sigh, the woman turned to leave.

So wait.. That meant that this Tora male had planned for Kiyowa to accept his offer... Not only that, but he went through the trouble of receiving authorization for her..?

She felt nervous, self-conscious, and a little insecure, but glancing over slightly, she went on to ask, "...Why me..?"

"Mm..?" Tora questioned with a mere hum, turning his head even though his eyes technically were not locked with hers, "What do you mean?"

"...To... T-To train... Why.. did you choose me..?" Her eyes were lowered, off to the right to avoid looking in his general direction. If it was an obvious answer, she would want to hide that feeling of mental insufficiency.

"...Because of your ability, remember?" The hesitant sound offered Kiyowa a skeptical feeling, but it seemed right. He said that. He said that at the Chunin Exams. He had studied a sensory ability; her sensory ability, and simply gave it a random act of kindness of pity by helping her refine it.

"Yes..." She nodded. She understood.

Still, he seemed so thrown off now. His whole approach to speaking and gone from a relaxed and casual jabber to a more sluggish and slow speech. He even seemed to murmur a bit at times. Standing up after a few further moments of silence, he looked to her and motioned his hand in a shooing gesture, "I think we can call training a day today. "

"Eh.. auh..." Although she was to ask questions, she only agreed obediently to his statement, bowing her head. She should at least be grateful for him taking his time to help her. "Okay...Thank you... for all of this..."

"Hmh. You're welcome. Now I've got some stuff today. I'll see you tomorrow?" Tora seemed to be in quite a hurry to leave now, almost as though he was suddenly feeling uncomfortable with the situation.

Had she a choice? Kiyowa nodded. Certainly she would have to be returning on a regular basis to improve. After all, he had specifically said that it was more than a one-day job. Backing from the room humbly, she tucked her hands together affront her and bowed her head respectfully to her temporary trainer.

She could only hope and pray that this would be enough. She needed to be able to advance quickly. To grow as a kunoichi and be able to rely only on her own physical stength as she went on, without burdening her own teammates with the task of constantly slowing their progress to look behind them and help her along.

How long would it be, she wondered. How long until she was their equal. Maybe with this extra training while the team training and missions were prolonged, she could even surpass them! It was a wishful thought, and although just the day before she had become firm in the thoughts of being independent, she couldn't help but imagine the praise she would receive. She wanted them to be proud of her, and embrace her as a member of their team, just as Naruto or any of the others.

Maybe she'd been a bit too wrapped in assumptions and grief. They treated her so kindly. It would ridiculous to think of them as so neglegent, and she would certainly need to apologize.

The way out of the ANBU training camp was a rather simple straightaway that let out in a secluded part of the outskirts. It was an easy task for her to locate it now that she'd been there before, and finding her way home from there should have been just as simplistic. Kiyowa trekked towards the left, deciding she would spend the rest of the day trying to ice down her bruises, then maybe search for another way to earn some extra money. Productivity within the next few financially tight days would be key.

Now nearing the gates, she pawwed through a couple of overgrown leaves that seemed adamant in blocking off her path of travel, but just as she intended to advance forward, her path of travel was severed.

"Slow down!"

That was Motsuki's voice.

The ebony haired female was trailing quickly after her uncle, the two seeming to go somewhere just outside of the village. It would make sense that the two would need to get away for a while.

From the corner of her eye, seeing the sliver of blonde, the brown eyed girl slowly turned her head. She saw Kiyowa, and the latter kunoichi could see it... But Motsuki didn't seem to stop at all. She merely spared a glance, then detured her gaze back ahead, disappearing from view up ahead.

The small gesture left a stinging feeling swell back up into Kiyowa's chest. She dropped her head, casting her eyes to the ground as she began to trek home.

The background girl... The extra member. It must have been nothing but the truth...

That was all she was.

A/N: HNNNNNGGHHKK... IT HURTS IT HURTS IT HURTS IT HURTS.