"So, how was the mission? Did you enjoy it?" Jiraiya asked the five younger nin as the village gates of Konoha swam into view.

"That was a mission?" Kikiru asked in disbelief.

"I-It was o-okay…" Hinata stuttered.

"Yeah, it was OK." Kiba repeated. "So, what were you doing?" he asked accusingly.

Jiraiya rubbed the back of his head smiling nervously. "Heh-heh-heh. There's a funny story to that-"

"You were in the bath houses!" Naruto yelled, pointing at him.

"NO! I was…gathering Information!" the old man combated.

"Sure you were." Kikiru said sarcastically. "And we were retrieving a lost scroll to an important village."

Jiraiya stopped and looked at them. "Really? I… didn't know. Well… how hard was it, did you encounter any trouble?" he asked in a serious tone.

Five faces turned from a look of tiredness to one of shock that was then replaced with anger.

"Are you serious?"

"I was being sarcastic!"

"Ero-Sennin…"

"N-Naruto K-kun…"

"You didn't Know?"

"Well, I'm glad to hear it was a success." Tsunade sad smiling as she looked at the five nin, Jiraiya having to leave for his 'info gathering'. "You may leave now."

The five headed towards the door, ready for a nice warm shower and a night in their own beds.

"Kikiru, I need to tell you something." Tsunade asked.

Kikiru stopped and looked back at her. "Yes?" she asked in an innocent tone.

Hinata glanced at her friend as she headed out the door. Naruto made a motion to protest but was rushed out the door by Shizune.

Orange eyes narrowed. "What did you want?" she asked.

"Well, while you were away on the mission… the Kazekage came and asked for you." Tsunade informed her.

"Why? What did he want?"

"Why don't you ask him."

"He's here?" she asked, cocking her head.

"Yes. And he wanted to talk to you about something."

"Oh…ok. Where is he?" she asked tentatively.

"He's in the downstairs waiting room." Tsunade replied.

"You wanted me?" she asked as the door closed behind her.

He looked at her, face masking his emotions. "Yeah. Um… you're family came and they wanted to know where you were."

Turquoise eyes narrowed as he watched her tense. "Family?"

"Yeah… what were their names?….umm…..I think one was Ichi.. And the other two were Verin, and a Dark…."

He watched her relaxed and give a short laugh. "Family? They aren't my family. The only one that's actually blood related to me is Seeficata.

"Oh." Well the way they were talking about her I thought they were. I thought for sure the man was her father.

"He isn't." he eyes looked down. "But sometimes I wonder if that's what they're like."

He blinked, he hadn't meant to say that out loud.

"Why… why did you think Ichi was related to me?"

"Well, the way he talked about you…"

"Oh… where are they?" she changed the subject, firmly shoving the subject of Ichi aside.

Orange eyes met blue as an uncomfortable silence filled the room. The tension between the two was so heavy it was almost visible.

It was almost silent except for the low whimpering coming from Dark who was being held back by Verin. Vein himself wanted to run up to her and make sure she was fine, but they weren't little kids anymore and they needed to deal with things by himself, he respected that.

Tears welled up in Ichi's eyes, bottom lip trembled. Kikiru watched him with no expression, as always.

It had a year since he had last seen her, maybe even longer. He couldn't remember.

The only thing he did remember, was her tears.

A/N: oooh! Cliffhanger! Gotta love 'em. Next chapter is flashback.

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