Kawa followed Kasei upstairs into his neat house and into Koumei's temporary room. It was very bare, and the only things aside from the bed and dresser, were the many weapons on atop of them. She rushed ahead and took off the weapons on the bed as Kasei lay the Moon-nin down. Kawa began her examination.

The medical ninja took off Koumei's vest and folded it neatly on the dresser. She checked her pulse and breathing, and forced one of her eyes open. But then she jerked back suddenly.

"What the-?"

"What is it?" asked Genma. He looked over at Koumei's unconcious form.

"Her eyes...They are filled with blood. Look."

She leaned over again and forced her eye open. Kasei leaned in closer with the rest of them. He gasped. Her usually light brown eyes were slpotched and dotted with dark black liquid. And whats was worse, it was underneath the surface.

"Has she been taking her medicine?" asked Kawa, closing her eye again.

Kasei looked up. "What medicine?"

"I thought so. Koumei you baka. You're killing yourself."

She brought chakra to her hands and passed them over Koumei's chest, over her tanktop, and back. Then she paused, letting it hover for a moment. Koumei's eyes twitched and she removed her hand. She opened her bloodstined eyes and looked around.

"Oh, shit. What did I do now..." she closed her eyes again. Ice. Blood. Needles, Haku. When she opened them, she saw more blood. On the walls and her hands and over her assembled comrades. She was trapped. If she closed them it was back to nightmares, and if she left them open it was more blood.

"Why is there so much blood?" she shook her head, trying to dislodge the image from her mind. It didn't work.

"Koumei, have you been taking that stuff I gave you?" asked Kawa carefully watching her.

"What? Uh... Gomen- I gave it to a friend."

"Huh? A friend? Who?"

"Hayate. He needed it more than me."

"Well get it back! You're killing yourself. Again."

"Uh- Ano... Hayate died and I don't know where it is." She fiddled with her hands as she sat up in her bed.

"Well, then you'll have to get some more then won't you. I can make some more, but it'll take awhile."

Koumei looked horrified. "N-no. It's okay. I don't need it."

"What do ya mean you don't need it? You are internally bleeding. It's more serious than you think, Koumei."

"Ano... It tastes horrible. I practically pass out everytime it gets near me..." She continued looking down and fiddling with her fingers. There was a moments silence, before Kawa and Sora broke out laughing.

"HAHAHAHAHA!!!!! YOU ARE SO PATHETIC!!! YOU'RE ACTING LIKE A LITTLE KID! HAHAHAHA!" Sora tripped over the corner of the bed and rolled on the floor, laughing harder. Kawa tried to stifle her laughter, but ended up snorting loudly. This caused even Genma to smile. Koumei was crossing her arms and glaring at the new arrivals angrily.

"Just because you two are almost ten years older than me doesn't mean you can make fun of me. It's true. The stuff tastes like something died in it and sat there for a few decades. You try drinking it. I don't know how Hayate did it."

This resulted in Sora laughing harder on the floor. Kawa eventually managed to stifle her laughter, and kicked the Lightning-nin in the ribs. He began crying and laughing, harder than ever, tears running down his bright red cheeks. Koumei got out of bed, dangling her feet off the edge for a moment before standing.

"I'm gonna go get some food. I haven't-"

"You haven't eaten in about a week, ne? Why?" interupted Kawa, placing her hands on her hips.

"I didn't have any money. But now I have enough to feed me for about two weeks."

"Only? How much did you get for killing that sand demon anyways?"

"Uhh..." Koumei turned and began walking away. "100 dollars..." she was stopped by Sora, who grabbed her arm and spun her around. He had stopped laughing finally.

"That's all!? The Kazekage promised you five thousand! Don't tell me you let him push you around again?" he said releasing her arm. Koumei brushed past him and left.

"Honestly, that baka, she never stands up for herself," Kawa shook her head and turned back to the others. "Uhh... Where do we stay? Koumei never told us..."

"...I guess you can stay with me also." said Kasei slowly.

"YAY! Can I share a room with Kawa?" asked Sora excitedly, jumping up and down like a little kid.

"UGH! Please don't make me! Ah- Genma, you look nice, can I stay with you instead? Please?" she asked as she ducked behind him.

"What? Ah, fine" mumbled Genma. Kasei noted that he probably had no clue what just happened and that he was just agreeing because a question was directed at him.

"I have to go follow Koumei. You two should come with me and Genma, because we need to keep track of you also." said Kasei turning towards the door. "At nightfall, I'll take you to the Hokage. Do you have a scroll from your Kages?" there were two 'Hai's' and Kasei walked out. "Alright then, let's go."

They drew in their wings and headed out after Koumei.

"Do you always follow her around like this?" asked Kawa as they jumped across the rooftops silently. The sun was low in the sky, but it still glistened brightly off of the snow.

"Hokage's orders," replied Kasei unconversationally. They eventually found Koumei sitting at the Ramen bar with a large bowl of ramen in front of her. There were two empty ones beside that one. Suprisingly enough, Naruto was not there. Koumei finished quickly, obviously famished, and paid for another bowl, which she ate just as fast. But it was her last one. She thanked the owners and left. But instead of heading back to Kasei's house, she went to the Yamanaka flower shop.

The four shinobi waited in silence until their youngest comrade emerged. She was carrying a white rose wrapped in red cellophane paper. She headed off to the memorial and set the rose down. It was for Hayate. When she turned and left, still not towards Kasei's, Genma snorted lightly.

"What's so funny?" asked Kasei, turning.

Genma pointed to the memorial. The flower sat alone there, but a peice of white-cream coloured card stuck up beside it. "It says 'Get well soon'. Hayate was always sick. It's just kinda funny. I never knew she had a sense of humour."

Kasei smiled. Maybe she's not as cold as she says she is, he thought as he took off after her again. He found her standing, or leaning, against the side of a building. She had pulled her arms into her vest. Suddenly, Kasei spotted a brown trenchcoat sneaking around the corner of the building. It was Mitarashi Anko. Uh-oh, he though. He grimmaced as she jumped out from her hiding spot, causing Koumei to land roughly in the snow.

The loud jounin said something he couldn't hear from the distance he was at. Anko helped Koumei up and brushed off the snow. Unknown to her, while Koumei was down, she had made a large snowball and hid it behind her back. As they embraced, she stuffed it down the back of Anko's trenchcoat, resulting in a loud scream that they could hear from all the way to their current hiding spot. A snowball fight ensued as the sun set.

After a while, Anko declared herself winner and the two kunoichi said goodbye. After Anko left, Koumei spent a few minutes brushing off snow.

"Geez. I didn't know she knew the meaning of fun. She sure changes quickly." said Kasei.

"Maybe she's going crazy. Who was that cute little ninja, anyways?" asked Sora interestedly.

There were three groans, and Kawa whacked him over the head.

Finally Koumei was heading back, slowly dragging her feet through the snow. The four ninja were about to leave and arrive first, when suddenly she stopped. Her head spun around, and she drew four senbon, taking a fighting stance and looked behind her, down the dark alleyway. Kasei followed her gaze, and saw nothing. Suddenly, a kunai came from behind, and she spun around just in time to catch it with her free hand. There was a note attached to it. She began reding it over.

"Eagles Eyes no Jutsu" whispered Kasei preforming one handed seals. His vision became sharper as he squinted at the neat writing.

Kill me if you can. I know you want to. Make the nightmares go away. Your dreams of Ice and Blood. Come and fight us. Where he died. Perhaps you can reclaim what is rightfully yours. When we beat you, He will control you once more. Kill me if you can.

Koumei suddenly threw the kunai away, and to Kasei's suprise, the note exploded before it hit the ground. A jutsu...?

"What did it say?" asked Kawa in a quiet whisper. Kasei relayed the message to the other ninja, as they became more and more confused. Kasei realized Koumei had left.

"Quick. We have to beat her back."

They shot off into the darkness across the roof tops, finally reaching Kasei's small house on the edge of the town. There were no lights on. He quickly entered and led them inside, flicking on the lights and taking off his shoes. A moment later, Koumei knocked lightly on the door. He opened it, moving aside as she entered. Fear was easily seen flashing in her eyes.

"What's wrong?" he asked, closing the door.

"It's nothing. I have to go somewhere tomorrow though. You may come if you wish." Koumei stumbled slowly upstairs to her room, closing her door lightly behind her.

"Genma, take these two to the Hokage. I need some sleep. Thanks." said Kasei, quickly disappearing to his own room before Genma could complain. Genma was left with the two other ninja.

"Wha-fine. Come on, let's go" he moved his toothpick fro one corner of his mouth to the other and sighing. He opened the door and led them out into the night. This guy is kinda cute, thought Kawa. Genma looked over to her and she smiled nervously, and continued walking.

Upstairs, Kasei fell back onto his bed. He sat there for awhile, staring up at the ceiling, before getting up. He absent mindedly walked silently over to Koumei's room, opening the dorr slightly and looking in. Koumei was curled up on top of the bed covers. He opened the door fully and crept in.

He sat on an overturned garbage bin beside her bed and leaned back aginst the wall for a moment. He then sat up straight and looked over at Koumei. She was facing away from him, and her hair was down, falling loosely over her face. Kasei sat for a moment before leaning forward. He lifted his hand and brushed away the loose, dark strands from her face, peering intently at her troubled expression. He leaned closer, before stopping himself.

What am I doing? I shouldn't even be in here. If she wakes up... But he did not pull back, he simply remained frozen above her. He took in every detail on her face. Her smooth skin, her nose and lips, and her long eyelashes. He noticed that he was only a few inches from her, and pulled back. Do I...? I...I... I shouldn't do this. His better judgement got the best of him, and he stood up. As he left the room, he heard voices outside, and heard Sora entering the house. How'd he do that? The door was locked.

Kasei quickly left the room and went downstairs to show him to his room. In the darkness of her room, Koumei's eyes snapped open. She recalled the image of Kasei's face close to hers, and still felt the warmth of his breath on her cheek. His brown hair almost tickling her face, and his grey eyes examining her intently. She blinked a few times, before smiling and curling up tighter, falling asleep.