Sasuke, Sakura, Naruto and Rei walked out of the hallways outside. A boy stood there he wore white uniform similar to Sesshomaru's. His hair was braided back and he held a halburt as his weapon The most defining was a mark on his forehead it was purple and in the shape of a . He looked at Rei and grinned. As Rei looked up her blood froze and she started to shake while she seen the man before her, her brain didn't want to believe it. Her mind flashed back to a shadowed figures swinging his blade.

"Well well, long time no see huh Rei?"

"How… how are you here Inuyasha killed you at Mount Hakaray."

"Why bring up such harsh memories?" He said taunting her.

He shrugged

"Guess I wasn't as dead as you hoped. Oh well I'm hear to seek revenge against you for betraying me."

Rei snapped back into reality. If we have to fight it has to be away from everyone in the village. Rei thought and nodded then started to run. The hole time all everyone did was stand in shock. The boy fallowed Rei as she started to run down the road. She ran fast hopping to avoid the whole battle and save her the trouble. She ran around a corner and while running across the street slipped right in front of a cart. Lucky it stopped and she got to her feet and kept going down the street. She ran into a restaurant and out the other side with the boy fallowing close behind. She ran into a building and up the stairs onto the roof. She rested a second before the boy showed up She jumped across the rooftops before coming into a clearing outside of the village. She jumped down and soon after he was there to.

"Why did you run Rei, are you that scared?"

"No, I just don't want people getting hurt!"

"Since when do you care for safty? I've never seen you so careful."

She grinned a little to herself.

"You got it wrong."

"Oh Really?

"Yeah, you do. I never cared about MY safty."

"Well then at the dojo you nodded for a fight."

"And a fight you shall receive."

"Any request?"

"Yeah no swords, no arrows. Just plain Marshal Arts."

"Ok I agree." He threw his halburt in the ground.

"I'm waiting"

"That anxious? Fine let's get started."

He ran over and went to punch Rei. She back flipped out of the way.

"You'll have to do better than that to take me down."

"I see you've improved from the last time we meet. No matter I always win in the end."

"Not this time you won't"

She ran at the man who steady himself for the attack. She went down on her hands and came up and around to kick him. He dodged and came around and punched her in the stomach. Her pupils went small and she flew back into the ground. She put her hand on her stomach and got up. Just as the next attack was going into play Naruto shows up.

"Hi there!" He said smiling "Would you need help miss?" He said jokingly.

"NO!" She answered firmly.

"Sorry, What did I do?"

She smiled.

"Nothing it's just not your fight. Ok? I'm sorry I snapped."

"Oh that's so sweet is this your boyfriend? Well if he's in the way I'll just remove him form the picture."

He ran at Naruto who still was clueless about the situation. Rei managed to see him coming from the corner of her eye and ran over and took the hit instead. Rei fell to her knees in pain. Naruto turned around and seen what was done and was shocked almost no one had ever done anything for him like that. She got up and once again ran to him only this time she got about 3feet away and teleported herself behind and threw her punch. This knocked him down. He got up and wiped the blood from his cheek and got up.

"Well I underestimated you Rei you have gotten stronger. BUT SO HAVE I!"

Now he ran in at her trying to end the battle. He noticed a surican flying his way stopped and dodged out of the way. By now Bankotsu was getting mad.

"Rei Hino either you show these chumps the way out or I WILL!"

Sasuke appeared, Sakura close behind. He stepped down from the tree he was hiding in.

"What's going on here." Sakura asked confused

"Nothing that concerns you" Bankotsu snapped as he picked up his Halberd and pointed at Rei but didn't move. "Rei Hino, it seems that your friends will not keep interfering. We will reschedule our battle for a different date. Till then see ya around." He started to walk away then stopped. "Oh and Rei."

She turned around Bankotsu had injured her left side pretty well, she moved her hand and covered it to keep everyone from knowing. "Yeah, what do you want?" She said calmly yet coldly.

"Next time leave your friends out of it or I WILL kill them"

Rei nodded , and Bankotsu leaped up and vanished. As soon as she was sure he was gone she started to walk then caught a sharp pain in her left side, she held her hand there more tightly content on not letting anyone see. She kept walking slowly but steadily, And left everyone where they stood.

"Hey Rei wait up who was that guy?" Naruto asked clueless.

She stopped.

"His name is Bankotsu, the leader of the Band of 7." Then she continued walking.

Everyone stood there dumfounded (again) When Sasuke caught the blood running down her left leg.

She was injured greatly during her battle. I'm glad I stepped in when I did. He thought to himself. Naruto and Sakura started to leave.

"Hey Sasuke come on." Sakura trying to be his girl again.

"You guys go on I'll ketch up in a few minutes."

Sakura seen that it was Rei again and grabbed Naruto's hand and stopped off. While Sasuke ran after Rei.

"Are you alright?" He asked

"I'm fine."

"No, your not look at your waist."

"Way to point out the obvious," She paused "What are you doing looking there anyway?" She smiled at this and so did Sasuke.

"Nothing at all." He said innocently.

"You better go with your friends, their waiting."

"It's ok their annoying me anyway"

"no you better go I don't want to weigh you down. Besides it's gonna rain in a few anyway" It started to rain and thunder. Everyone got stoked and the blood started to wash away. She looked up at the sky.

"Like I said" And she as she turned and started walking. She got home and only a few minutes later Snow shows up. And hands off some mail.

"Fight with Bankotsu huh?"

She looked up and nodded.

"Well let's get this wound cleaned up." She bent down and used her water bending for close the wound. "There it's clean. I'll worn you that it will STILL hurt." She smiled. "Wow, that's some rain storm we're having, huh? I better get going Artemis Luna and Diana are waiting to get fed. And Rei remember that I'm still here to support you when you need it. Your not as alone as you think."

"Yeah I know your always there."

"Ok smart-as you knew what I was gonna say but you have to remember that. Call me later" Snow leaves and Rei goes to open her mail. When Kilala jumps up and lays right in the middle of it. Then finds a certain letter and pushes it forward.

"Hmmm, what's this? Oh It's a letter from Mina" She opened the letter and started to read.

Dear Rei,

Hey are you girl? It's been forever since our last letter. Who are you? Making any new friends? Myself I did and now I wish I hadn't. This guy I met two months ago seemed really sweet. So knowing me I decide that a guy was gonna be a nice addition to have around considering your NOT THE ONLY ONE REALLY SMALL! J Oh well, as I was saying. We've been dating for about a month and everything was going very well, until a week ago when he turned violent. He's hit me and everything else. I know it's a lot to ask but could you PLEASE come down here at least for a day so I know I have safty from someone I trust. If you don't I understand you have things you need to do and I don't need to get involved. I REALLY need you.

Your Friend Always,

Mina

She pick up a paper and started to write to mina causes she knew the letter would reach her before she got to the city Mina was staying in.

Dear Mina,

Hold on girl. I'll be coming soon don't try to break up with him till I'm there. As soon as you get this read and burn it before he sees it. It's not safe. Be strong I'll be there tomorrow morning. I'll leave tonight. I have to go tell snow where I'm going so I'll have some excuse to be gone. My sensei is pretty understanding about my stuff. Don't feel alone I'm not the most popular girl here. Where you be at about 7:30 A.M.? Never mind forget it I'll find you . I don't want to endanger you to much. I'm already risking it by sending you this letter. Keep a hold I'm coming.

Be There Soon,

Rei

She set in in an envelope, grabbed her side bag and ran out the door. She run quickly around the corner towards Snow's house. On the way there she ran past Naruto and Sakura. Who just looked at her like she was crazy. She ran past Sasuke who stopped her before she could run past.

"Woh , what's wrong?" AS he grabbed her hand to stop her.

"I'm sorry Sasuke I really am but I have no time for this my friends in trouble and I have to go save her." She took his hand and ran again. And before he knew she was gone. She ran and finally reached Snow's house. Then banged on her door but she wasn't home. She rummaged through her bag and found a piece of paper and a pen and quickly wrote:

Snow,

Said I'd stop by and I did. Mina's in trouble with a guy. I'm leaving for Kyoto and be back in hopefully two days. I'll have to go now. Don't fallow and don't send someone in your place. I know you'll respect my wishes, If I'm in trouble I'll call for you, ok. I have to go.

See ya around,

Rei

With that she ran out of the village and kept running for about two miles before she slowed down and realized that she needed to save her energy. She slowed down and look in her bag for some water where she found Kilala in her bag.

"Kilala? What are you doing here?"

Kilala meowed

"Oh, I understand. Well at least I'll have someone to talk to."

Kilala nodded and jumped on her shoulder.

"Kilala do you think I was to hard on Sasuke? I guess I was a little huh? I got mad at him just because he has everyone always trying to get next to him. Oh well I'll apologize later, right now my main concern is Mina." Kilala nodded and Rei smiled "It's been awhile since I've seen her huh? I'm really worried about her do you think you can fly?" Kilala grew BIGGER and Rei jumped on to her and they flew to Kyoto.

Meanwhile back in The Village Hidden in the Leaves…

Snow walked up to her house and read the note.

"What's that?" Diana asked.

"Hmm…?" Snow asked to into the reading the note

"I SAID WHAT IS THAT!"

"Oh" She smile and knelt down to a little above her level. "Rei went to Kyoto to see a friends that's all. This means I have to go to Kakashi and tell him Rei's gonna be gone tomorrow. That's all"

"Oh, why did she leave without saying good-bye?"

"Because she was in a hurry and I wasn't home so she left me a note. So do you want to go in or come with me to see Kakashi?"

"I wanna see Kakashi"

"Alright then lets go see him and tell him about Rei."

With that they walked along the path to go see Kakashi and along the way the see Sasuke who came over to see where Rei went.

"What happened to Rei?"

"Oh Hi Sasuke. Rei had an emergency in Kyoto and had to leave right away."

Diana jumped up and laid down on Snow's shoulder.

"Hi Sasuke it's been awhile."

"A talking cat?"

"Don't you remember me?"

"Oh yeah Diana right?"

"Yeah."

"A ok, so Rei went to Kyoto?"

"That's right Snow replied. Don't worry so much Sasuke. Rei's a strong girl who can handle herself."

"Yeah I guess."

"Well… nice to see you I have to go see Kakashi about Rei so see you around."

"See ya around Sasuke." Diana said innocently.

"Bye." He said in his monotone voice.

Rei arrives in Kyoto and looks for Mina. Kilala goes small and lays on her shoulder.

"Found her first. MINA! MINA OVER HERE!"

She walked up and could see that this boy had definably done a number on her. She was Injured in several places. That even cover-up couldn't hide. She ran over and hugged Rei tight.

"You're here" She said in pure delight

"Who's this!" voice said from across the street.

Rei looked up and already she didn't like this guy. She whispered down to Mina.

"It's now or never." She felt Mina nodded against her chest, as she turned around.

"My name is Rei Hino and I've come here by request. Your time to die has come." She clapped her hands together (once) and put them on the ground and when doing so brought a staff. (like Miroku's).

She ran over and jabbed the staff through the heart of her opponent.

"That's that." She said to Mina now I have to go if you have any problems don't be afraid to ask. Good-Bye my friend."

"Your leaving already?"

"Yeah." She said rubbing the back of her head innocently. "I actually skipped class for this so I need to get back ASAP. I'll come visit on a day off but I don't think that'll be for awhile I have to go take the Chunin Exams."

"What are those?" Mina asked

"You know I'm not entirely sure."

"So your taking an exam and you don't even know what it is?"

"Yep guess so. All I know is I get to kick a lot of ass."

"Sounds like fun" Mina said sarcastically

"Sure is. Well I better get going so I'll have some chance to train before I go to the Exam."

"Alright see you Rei." She said as she waved good-bye and with the Rei Hino began her long walk but to the Village Hidden in Leaves.

Meanwhile…

Sasuke look at the ground where Rei had bumped into him earlier. There was a journal laying on the ground he picked it up and opened it to a page. And Began to read one of the entries.

Peace -
a far off dream
where everyone has dreams and hopes of peace
we all try to reach it
but peace is simply an illusion
an illusion that we hold on to.
Maybe one day it will be real
but not now.
We are stuck in a never ending cycle
of war and peace.
But when we reach that true serenity of peace
we all hope
that it will last
last forever
I just don't want to lose anyone ever again…

As he flipped through the pages. This head filled with thoughts he had bothered to consider. Maybe Rei wasn't the witch everyone thought she was.

"I'm gonna keep a hold of this for awhile and try to see inside the locked mind of Rei Hino….