Final chapter to this story. May start a sequel after this. Dunno...

I'll figure it out. Until then, ponder away!


Chapter 55

Tsunade's funeral was as momentous as Kubiki's, and just about as moving. She'd scheduled with the morticians to cremate her body as well as hold a small service, with as few people there as possible, not being a fan of drama.

Sheeva could only smile and bow her head in respect, remembering the last words Tsunade had spoken to her. They made sense now, and filled her with a mix of happiness and sadness. Naruto cried, as did Sakura. Kankuro and Temari watched, wiping away the occasional teardrop from their eye.

Eva was deep in thought, staring at the burning remains unblinkingly. She was shaken by the fact that some of the medical ninjutsu that she would be learning were self-sacrificial. Kiba was also deep in thought. It had to take guts to do what she'd done for Sheeva. For them, even.

It started to rain again; the embers smoldering and hissing as the raindrops evaporated.

Gaara pulled Sheeva aside shortly after the funeral, and finally gave his niece a hug.

"Where did you go, after Tsunade split you?" He asked.

"The void. Back to the darkness. I was not scared this time. I trusted Tsunade completely, even though I didn't know her intentions." She explained, saying more than he'd expected. He chuckled.

"I'm not sure what is worse. The void, or hell." He mentioned somewhat nonchalantly. Sheeva chuckled too, not surprised. She then sighed, suddenly feeling nostalgic for Naomi.

"How do you feel?" He asked. Sheeva wrapped her arms around herself, shifting uncomfortably.

"It's annoyingly quiet. It's very… strange, being alone with my thoughts. This will be difficult to get used to, considering what I've been put through." She said, rubbing her temple. Gaara nodded.

"She was there, when I had no one else. If it weren't for her, I'd have never escaped. Never met you guys. God, at times, I'd be dead if it weren't for her." She began to cry, trying to hide it, wiping the tears away with her hands. Gaara swooped her into a hug.

I'd say that she was only protecting her vessel, but I think she really cared about you. He thought. He couldn't tell her something like that. Sheeva's emotional ties to Naomi were much stronger than his own to Shukaku. He supposed he could relate to her emotional loss. Yashamaru's betrayal through his assassination attempt had shaken his faith in relationships, but it had been the first loss he'd ever had.

He patted her head and stared blankly ahead. She didn't notice Kiba's presence as he'd tried to walk up to them. Upon seeing Sheeva crying, he stopped, signed later to Gaara, and walked away.

Sheeva finished her cry, and backed off, sniveling. Her face paint was falling down her face. Gaara used the hem of his robes to wipe it away, and she giggled, muttering that "he didn't have to."

"If you ever want to talk, you can talk to me. I know what it's like. Naruto too, perhaps." Gaara began. She sniffled and nodded slowly.

"I think Kiba wanted to talk to you. Go find him." Gaara stated, walking away to talk to his own siblings. He needed to give them a little insight on what Sheeva felt, so that they could help her to recover in any possible way. He wasn't too worried; Kiba and Eva watched after her like they were siblings themselves anyway.

Kiba was sitting on a hill, looking out at Konoha's horizon. Sheeva sat down next to him, and leaned against his shoulder. He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her closer.

"Are you doing ok?" He asked. He had a feeling she was confused. His thoughts were confirmed.

"I'll be alright. It's just… silent. There's a piece of me gone." She summed up. Kiba nodded.

"When I lose a lot of kikai in battle, I feel that way too. Sheeva, remember:" He paused to make sure that she was listening completely. "She might be gone, but she's still there in your memories." He reminded her. She smiled, and thanked him.

Eva was still thinking, daydreaming about possibilities of the future, if she might ever have to use that jutsu Tsunade had performed. She barely noticed Sakura approaching her until she cleared her throat as if to say: Hello, I'm here!

"If I'm going to train you, you'll have to stay here for a while." Sakura began. Eva nodded.

"How long?" She asked, uncomfortable about being left behind.

"It could be anywhere from a year to two years. It depends on how serious you are."

Eva's eyes went wide, and she looked for Kiba and Sheeva. She felt a little sad when she saw them together on the hill top, missing the connection she had with Kubiki. She averted her gaze to the ground at Sakura's feet.

Sakura had followed Eva's gaze, and smiled a little.

"You can still visit them, you know. You're not in confinement." Sakura joked. Eva chuckled, smiling too. The smile faded when she thought of the events leading to Kubiki's death. She screwed her eyes shut, and shook her head. Her determination rose again.

"When do I start?" She demanded.

"Meet me at the training grounds tomorrow, six o'clock. AM. I'll give you some scrolls that you'll need to learn. Rest well. You'll be needing it." Sakura walked away before Eva had time to protest.

Eva felt a chill in the air.

I'll be alone here. Damn.

She sat down with her back to the smoldering ash, holding her head in her hands.

"Can't think like this. You've got to do this. They have faith in you. It's time you did too." She told herself, muttering under her breath. It didn't seem to help much, as she'd never had much in the way of self-confidence without someone else there.

You'll be training under Sakura, so it shouldn't be too lonely.

She snapped her head up and stood, rushing over to Sheeva and Kiba. She threw herself down beside them.

"I'm staying here. I'm training with Sakura tomorrow." She blurted before she told herself not to. They smiled.

"We know. We figured you would. You'd never pass up the opportunity to improve. That's what makes you special, Eva." Sheeva smiled, setting a hand on her shoulder and shaking it.

"You realize you'll have to get over your fear of thunder, right?" Kiba asked. Eva almost shuddered, but slowly nodded. She hadn't had the time to think about that, either.

"Hmm." She sighed.

They stared at the setting sun for a while.

"If I'm going to be sleeping alone from now on, can I still share the bed with you two until you leave?" She joked. Sheeva laughed and shrugged her shoulders, muttering that she didn't mind. Kiba hid a smirk behind his high collar. In truth, he didn't mind, either.

Sheeva sighed, and looked at the eventide glow that was beginning to appear above the horizon.

Goodbye, Naomi. I'll miss you. You were... the best friend I ever had. Sheeva thought, a bittersweet smile forming on her lips.


I think I will end this here, and begin a sequel. Suppose we could say that Part I of II is complete! :)

Sheesh, it only took me... 6 years? Sorry, guys. I'll have a start posted soon, perhaps later this weekend.