Chapter 30: Old Memories

The rain roared against the ninja's sturdy bodies, their will managing to keep them strong. Tobirama pushed against the weather continuing the search for his little brother. The elements were harsh, severe, it would be nothing short of a miracle if Itama had found shelter. The poor boy was most certainly terrified and in tears. The image was just enough to keep him going. "Itama!" He called once again, it was useless though. His brother's chakra was still so far away, just where in the hell had he wandered off to?

They all pushed forward to find the boy. Butsuma scowled through the rain. Anger, worry and gilt rushing through him in waves. He should have been watching the kid more closely, like a mother wanting to protect her children, but he did not. If he had been, then Itama would be safe, inside a warm, inviting house and eating a nice meal. Instead, he was probably shivering, drenched in the icy waters of the sky mixed with the tornado like wind. Scared out of his mind. "If my wife see's him so soon in the after life again..." A shiver went up his spine once more, but not from the cold. The thought of what his late wife would do to him, was worse then being sent to hell itself. He remembered all too clearly what hell his wife brought into heaven when she reunited with her darling husband.

"Ha! Kana would throw you to the fiery pits of hell." Tajima laughed giving a sly smirk to his rival. A serious and empathetic look flickering through his eyes. "Don't worry Butsuma, we'll find him before that happens."

Bustsuma gave a nod. "Besides," Tajima jumped forward onto a tree branch looking back over his shoulder. "The only one that can throw you to hell is me!"

A smirk formed on the old man's face, though they were former enemies it seemed being brought to this world had changed things. They no longer fought with hatred but more of a partnership, Jeri and Lori had an affect on them, bringing them closer throughout the months. Come to think of it, it had been only two months since the girls were introduced into their new lives. December and January. "Those girls, they changed us." And Butsuma couldn't be more glad they did.


Strapping on the bright red shirt Lori threw her towel in the laundry basket. Her reflection in the mirror staring back at her but it didn't seem like her. It was like she was gazing at someone else. Someone she was trying to be. The equally cool eyes were not her own. The pale, almost vitamin D deficiency colored skin lifeless and dull. The blonde hair now brassy from lack of care, everything was so different than when she first came here. She never really thought about who she really was, nor what she wanted to be. This was the only life she knew. The life of a criminal. But if she could have a loving family, would she? Would she take the chance no matter what she had to throw away and destroy to get it? Could she? To pursue and grab the life she had found with an iron grip? Just what was her life like before she was raised by Nazi's?

Three small balls sat in the corner of the room on her bed, one of them, her favorite, a swirl of angry crimson, a burning blue, a calming green. It was funny how the red clashed with the blue but was almost calmed by the green. In a way, she supposed that it reminded her of Jeri. She always seemed to calm her, and clash against her, but otherwise had been very kind to her, even when she didn't deserve it. If Lori had to pick a color on the ball to represent her, it would be red. The color of the blood that was on her hands, the color of anger that welled up inside her for so long, the hate. The color that would represent Jeri would have to be green, it absorbed the red, went well with it, and was just a relaxing color. Just like Jeri. As for the blue, that color was undecided.

"I still remember when I first got that ball..."

*Flash back*

The icy wind blew once more, her dark coat keeping her toasty. A small rubber ball slammed against the pavement tapping her stomach in return. The small child's hands gently picked it up as another child ran after it.

"Hey, sorry about that." The child had short brown hair and hazel green eyes. His cheeks holding a bit of baby fat. Lori nodded an okay and handed the ball back. "Hey, what's your name? Do you want to play?"

Lori smiled cheerfully. "Sure! It's Lori!" The boy smiled too and tossed the ball to her, and she did the same as well. It was a happy game of catch, which soon turned into tag and even dodge ball. Lori threw the ball hard smacking the boy right in the shoulder to which he laughed it off and threw one right back. They laughed the sun away and soon it faded to dusk. The dark sky tinged with an array of colors left from the sun setting.

"Alright! It's time to go home!" The boy's mother, a woman in her early twenties with short brown hair and the same hazel eyes, called. The boy turned to the girl who gave a sad smile. She wanted someone to call a mom too. A family. At least this kid was blessed with one, right?

"Here." The boy held out the ball towards her gesturing for her to take it. Unsure, Lori did so feeling happy to be given a gift, whether it small or not. "Promise me, you'll meet me in the park again tomorrow at noon?" Lori grinned like the Cheshire cat as she gave an excited nod.

"Come on, your dad can't be kept waiting!" The mother called once more and the boy rushed a goodbye to Lori, taking his leave.

*End of Flash back*

"He never showed up." Lori stared at the ball holding it in her hands.

A\N: Does anyone notice the color of the balls and the shirt Lori is putting on and what it represents? What about the opinions of Tajima and Butsuma of the girls?