Disclaimer: ((writes in huge bold letters)) THE ONLY THING I OWN IS THE CHARACTER, 'AIRI'. PERIOD. THAT'S IT.
AN: Hey there. I know I haven't updated in long time so today, I'm uploading 2 chapters. that's right. 2 chapters. enjoy.
Airi blinked. Darkness surrounded her. She sat up and discovered that she was back in Naruto's apartment. What happened? she thought.
Holding her head in her hands, she thought back to the scene at the restaurant.
WAVES.
Tears filled her eyes. That's right...Master Kakashi said that there was a similar incident before... She brought her knees up to her chest and cried freely. I guess it's true...
"Are you all right now?"
Airi's head shot up, and she quickly scanned the room using the little moonlight available from the window.
"It's me." A figure stepped out of the shadows. It was Sasuke.
She breathed a sigh of relief and wiped the tears from her face. "You startled me."
"I'm sorry." He sat on the bed next to her. Sasuke paused, then asked, "What happened?"
Airi looked away, unsure if she was ready to reveal her past. She could already feel new tears threatening to spill.
Sasuke reached out to cup her cheek, and he made her face him. At his gentle action, she released the tears and embraced him. "I-I don't know what to do anymore."
He held her close to him and breathed in her scent. "I'm here for you...Airi..."
There was a cough, and the two jumped. Sitting on the windowsill was the one and only Kakashi.
"I don't mean to disturb you two lovebirds, but..."
The door shot open with a loud bam! There stood Naruto, looking incredibly steamed. "Stop doing that!" He pointed at his Master. "You're always, always, always trying to disrupt their alone time!"
Sasuke and Airi were stunned. How long have the two been spying!
Naruto looked at Sasuke. "You know, you idiot, you could have told me you were going to do this. I would have been guarding this room from him. But noooooo, you think not telling me and sneaking into my place would do the job. Nuh-uh! You should have known, idiot!" He crossed his arms over his chest.
"Well, in any case," Master Kakashi began, "I need to talk with Airi. Apparently, she has information concerning that occurrence six years ago."
Airi's heart sand. She knew she would have to face reality sooner or later, but being ready to face it was a different matter altogether.
"Her reaction earlier at the restaurant before she passed out was proof." He continued. "I know she may not want to talk about it..."
The image of her precious fearful self flashed into the minds of Kakashi and Sasuke.
"...but I think it's absolutely necessary to know the reason, if any, for this."
Naruto was lost. "I don't get what you're talking about, but if she doesn't want to go home, why do you have to do this?"
It was awhile before anyone spoke up. "I think I understand." Sasuke whispered. "If she's not from our world, or time, or place, whichever you'd like to call it, it might cause problems for her. For example: Time may flow differently, affecting her age."
"Precisely. Which is why I need to decide if it would be safe for her to stay." He paused. "The girl who had traveled to the Land of the Waves died a horrible death."
Airi caught her breath. "She...did?"
"Yes."
"So...how did she die?" Naruto asked. "You can't just tell half of the story and leave all the details out!"
Airi braced herself for the answer.
"I don't know the details, but apparently, it wasn't...natural."
A chill ran up her spine. "Nee-san..." she whispered.
"'Nee-san?'" Sasuke had heard her.
"What? Sister?" Naruto yelled. "No way! She was your sister?"
Kakashi stayed quiet.
"...six years ago...right? In the Land of Waves? It...it had to be her..."
Master Kakashi had a question. "How can you be sure?"
After a few seconds of silence, Airi decided to tell her story. "I first noticed her changing when I was five..."
They listened attentively.