Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. This is a fanfic, so of course I don't.
Note: I have a quick 5 min sketch of Airi. Check profile for link.
Airi and Naruto left early the next morning. Since Airi would not be able to catch up to him, they needed more time for traveling. They jogged through the streets as they headed towards the meeting place where they, along with Sasuke and Sakura, would meet with Master Kakashi.
"I sure hope he agrees to this!" Naruto exclaimed. "It really would be more fun if you joined us!"
Airi smiled. "I hope so, too! I'd like to try out one of those missions you guys do."
"Yeah, and if you join us, we'd be done much faster. Then, maybe all of us can do something together." He paused. "Hey! Hey!"
"Huh? What's up, Naruto?" she asked.
He smiled at her mischievously. "Hey, I think Sasuke likes you! Want me to find you guys some alone time?"
The very thought of Sasuke made her blush. "No, don't do that! Sakura likes him!"
"Don't worry about Sakura. She likes him, but he doesn't like her. And besides, with you two paired up, I just might stand a chance with her." he said. "Now, back to you and Sasuke...I think he likes you, and you seem to like him, so what's the problem?"
Airi sighed. How did I know he was going to bring this up?
"See? You're taking a long time to answer! Alone time it is then!"
They bickered until they reached their destination. When they arrived, Naruto was surprised to see it deserted. Sakura and Sasuke were usually there before he was. Checking a mini watch Airi possessed, he discovered that it was thirty minutes before the agreed time.
"Huh," He frowned. They had to do something to pass the time.
"Do you have any techniques I could learn while we're waiting?" Airi asked enthusiastically.
After some thought, Naruto smiled. "Would you like to learn how to walk on trees?"
She grinned in delight. "That sounds like fun! Teach away!"
He explained how to focus chakra into the soles of the feet and was amazed by how quickly she caught on. She had already reached halfway of a fifty-foot tree when he decided to get some water. Shortly after he left, she lost her footing and quickly plunged to the ground.
"Aaaahh!" she screamed and closed her eyes as she descended lower.
A pair of strong arms caught her and carried her to a nearby branch. She looked up into the eyes of Sasuke. Realizing he was holding her close to him, She blushed. "S-Sasuke?"
"You'll fall again if you try to pull away." His voice was comforting, and he held her closer.
"Sasuke."
The new voice startled the pair, and Airi nearly lost her balance for a second time.
"Master Kakashi!" The pair exclaimed.
"Hey! Master Kakashi!" a voice cried from below. They looked down to see Naruto. "You're not supposed to disrupt their alone time!"
"Alone time?"
Airi's heart sank. It was Sakura. All hope of being friends would be completely demolished if she saw them...
Sakura ran to where Naruto was standing and looked up to where he was shouting. The sight made her freeze. "Saaaaaasssssuuuuuuukeeeeeeeeee..." She shook with fury.
"Uh-oh."
The next few hours were spent weeding some rich, old lady's backyard. True to her word, Airi, along with Naruto, conducted the doppelganger technique, and their work was indeed soon over.
After they were paid for their hard work, Kakashi offered to treat them for lunch. He had noticed that none of them had spoken a work during their time together and, being the cause of their silence, he wanted to make up for it and perhaps change it.
They entered a restaurant and were quickly ushered to a large table. There, the children just sat there sullen-faced. Soon, they began ordering.
"Airi," Master Kakashi said.
She looked up. "Yes, Master?"
"You said you awakened to find yourself here, right? Do you remember anything else?"
She stayed silent and looked back down.
He continued. "You see, there was a similar case about 6 years ago, in the Land of Waves. I was wondering if the two incidents had any connections or a similar cause."
Waves. The word triggered unwanted memories. They flowed through her mind like liquid water. She gasped, and gripped the edges of her chair, shaking ever so slightly.
"Airi!" Naruto cried out. "Are you alright?"
She didn't answer. She didn't even hear him call out her name. The events of six years ago came crashing into her mind, each more heartbreaking than the first.
I HATE YOU...hate you...hate you...
NEVER BEEN BORN...never...never...
I'M LEAVING...leaving...leaving...
TO THE LAND OF WAVES...waves...waves...
She looked up with unseeing eyes. "No..." she whispered. She grabbed her head, and shook more violently.
Kakashi jumped from his chair and rushed to her. "Airi! Airi!" He grabbed her shoulders, and looked into her eyes. What he saw shocked him. Those eyes...they hold the expression of absolute fear...and pain...
"No..." She shook her head. "Don't!"
"W-what's wrong?" Sakura asked, a hint of worry in her voice.
Sasuke was frozen. He, too, had seen the look in Airi's eyes.
Naruto ran to Airi's side and hugged her, trying desperately to cease her shaking. "It's okay, Airi...it's okay..."