At one moment as the light faded in the cavern slowly she though hearing a bell. It was dark, there was no difference now if she closed or opened her eyelids. The warm of the stone was forgotten as a peaceful drop fall little by little on the water. Breathing long and hard, the first steps to meditate. It could have been like any other time she had done it. The thing was that, she had never enhanced her senses like this before. So quiet that she could hear loud and clear her own heart, the blood running through her veins, her breathings, the muscles contracting and expanding.

It was turning unbearable being so conscious of her own body, the water was touching Kaoru legs and it was so cold she shouted. Or so she though, because slowly but surely her senses were… disappearing. The silence she wanted came, leaving her rest until she noticed that… she could not hear a sound. Nothing. Why?

Waiting for something, for anything to interrupt the darkness. Moving was an option, but… she could not feel her body. And… waiting was all she could do. Time. It was all that was left, the thing that lingered on her mind. Silence, apart from everything, far away from the… world. How was it?

How was… what?

…

A question that bothered… but the reason was becoming unclear.

"You learn fast, yet I won't show you all the secrets" Yue grinned playfully at Sasuke who blinked unsure of how to respond. Harumi returned to the boy side and bowed to them before transforming to a blue amber floating around. The water around them was sucked slowly by Harumi. Suigetsu snickered as Utakata tried to pinch the amber just to receive a water shot on his face.

"Oh, man. That was the best mock battle I had on a very long time" Suigetsu was on a good mood. As expected without Karin around, even Sasuke felt at ease. Black eyes stared back at his spirit companion, those golden eyes could read his soul like no other, it was strange feeling what his teammate must felt with Isamu. Being sure he will never be alone, gazing at the world with a broad vantage point much different than the Sharingan.

Is this what she could see? The shine of the soul inside Yue, pulsed with a vitality and brightness that lacked on Suigetsu and Utakata, but he could distinguish in the man a bubble, something was there peacefully much like fire ambers. Not he understood why Kaoru looked first for Reishi, it was easier to point out than chakra. With Utakata was different. Is that how a jinchuuriki is distinguished? Blinking a few times to get rid of that vision and see normally was the first thing he learned. Kaname sight was focused on the temple. Gaara and his sister were walking down the stairs, the woman with a worried frown.

Three days had passed and still she had not come out. How long could Kaoru go on without food or water? Kaname didn't returned to his side but floated out in the direction of the temple, Yue noticed his silence and took them out to eat. What he liked of this place was the peace, he could wander around without problem given that most of the people who lived here seemed young and happy. Knowing well where the boy took them, he was not surprised that on the middle of the lunch break Gaara and company reunited with them.

"Dad!" Yue took comfort on hugging him and ordering for them, not taking a no for an answer. "Are you tired? Do you want jasmine tea?"

"Little rascal I'm here as well! Hum… stop pampering him Gaara" Temari took a scroll and tossed it to Utakata who catched it with ease.

Curiosity got the best of Yue, even if Utakata wanted privacy it was useless fighting with the boy. Gaara was doing his part, it made him wonder a bit what kind of changes had passed through someone who wanted blood the first time they met.

"Think about it, there's no pressure to answer now." Temari stoled a dumpling from Suigetsu whom frowned as she left them for the rest of the break. Once full, a small talk accompanied them.

"Do you know something of Hikaru-chan?"

"In Konoha, like everyone else" The answer upsetted Yue, Sasuke frowned thinking of the man, prefered him far from them. It was at night when Sasuke found Yue staring at the cove sky, stones shining as he ruffled his orange hair in frustration.

"You should be asleep"

He didn't mean to scare him, but Yue relaxed when he took a sit. "It's… nothing" However his stare was focused on the temple and Sasuke knew what troubled the boy, with no experience on how to appease instead opted to divert his attention.

"From where are you?"

Yue turned to face him, not caring to hide the grimace. "Kirigakure, not the main village but close enough to the border"

A coincidence. Sasuke assured himself, it brought memories back and even explained why the boy mentioned Zabuza before. "Do you miss your home?"

For a long time, the boy didn't answered and Sasuke was fine with that. However, Yue facepalm attracted his attention again and suddenly murmured. "I'm so stupid" Then, bowed and thanked with such sincerity that… he felt uncomfortable and confused. He hadn't done more for him, but Yue denied quickly and revealed with hurt in his tone.

"You killed Orochimaru. I… I feel better because of it. He deserved it"

"Almost everyone wanted him dead"

"Not as much as… me." Curiosity had been a constant visitor now with such a boy around, well.. the company he had assembled. Yue reluctantly confessed the Snake Sannin wrong doings, and the puzzle assembled on his head with that old photo of a baby. So that must be, since Yue was willing to answer his questions Sasuke took the chance.

"How did you found her?"

"No… she found us. That… changed everything" Yue embraced his legs and sighed, regret painted on those clear brown eyes.

Dots, of light. It had to be that, it was different from nothing, the emptiness that was there. It prickled something up as the dots painted of color the surroundings. Beautiful. What was beautiful? The things that occupied the space were… different and familiar. The lights moved, everything was… full? No, it was close but the concept was not right. It? no. He? no. She? That sounded right. She was something, but what? Another dot of light? It would be beautiful if that was the case.

Then loud impressions of resonance surrounded her one by one. Sound? SOUND! That was it! She could hear the water clashing against the sand, the leafs dancing with the breeze. A sense of urgency wrapped around this realization and continued to pull for more, until that prickle inside her was satisfied. Fog was surrounding her, she wanted to see the beauty again and tried to blow it out and was startled to see a pair of limbs following the commands.

A body! She had a body! The warm and tingly sensation enveloped her body and when the fog was gone two dot sparkled, becoming with a seductive light.

It was one of those cold nights of autumn when sleep was more difficult to achieve. Usually a little walk around the small cottage was enough to divert my attention from it. Yet one bed was empty, I was worried so I closed my eyes and tried to locate Yue's chakra. Inhale, exhale, empty your head. It took me some time but I followed the red soft light in the foliage. A shine made me stop, the unmistakable polish of a shuriken colored by… before I could reason my legs already marched towards him, dropping far away the weapon and taking his wrist. Yue trashed, shouted and kicked me but I didn't gave up, stopping the bleeding was my priority.

"What were you thinking! ANSWER ME!" My anger was so palpable, between grunts I finally managed to stop him.

"LEAVE ME ALONE! Stop pretending you give a damn about me… You monster" I ripped my shirt and made him fall in the ground, took his arms and covered his wrists the best I could in the night.

"Don't touch me! I hate you! It's all your fault!"

He continued, but with less vigor and that made me panic. Making a knot the best I could I lifted him, still he resisted until I entered the cottage waking up Hikaru in the process. The scarlet stains in his wrist was all it took to gather bandages and medicine from our bags.

"I want to die… let me die" he pleaded until then I realized he was crying and I could not hold it anymore, I slapped him.

Silence. Hikaru stopped briefly. Looking into those clear brown eyes that sometimes appeared orange like his hair covered in shadows, a cherubic face in shock, rings of black encasing a lost expression so foreign in a young face it made me pause a moment. However, the tremble in my hands when I touched his face couldn't fool my own fear, in the same way I had seen once in a memory, I rubbed his tears with my thumb, trying to not let myself fall as well.

"Don't say things like that. Not now, not ever. I don't care if you hate me for it but I won't let you."

Hikaru tentatively continued with his work, I left him enough space so he could do just fine. Yue stared but didn't moved, what scared me was… that I recognized the truthfulness in his last words. The emptiness that scratched all the way through your heart and mind. When nothing seemed right, just breathing without purpose, battling against the temptation of giving up everything because your soul felt heavy with an endless tiredness...

"You… you don't understand" His voice barely a whisper, so low that anyone could had misheard, but not me.

"Maybe. Yet… have you forget your promise?" I asked, he tensed and again watched me with anger.

"Don't dare"

"I will. If I must made you remember every day from now on. Believe me I will. Punch me if you really want to die, fight for it with me. Hikaru won't do anything to stop you either." Holding his shoulders with strength she challenged him one last time. Undoubtedly guilty for changing his life like this, unable to solve anything, just feeling herself like scum after being so careless and stupid. Because everytime she thought that she was doing the right thing… life proved it wrong. And for a moment as they looked at each other with a pain neither could hide. Did her own doubts surfaced, because how could she even chase the truth of Shisui dead if she couldn't fight against Kabuto.

"Even better, you say I'm guilty. Then take my life and die as well." His eyes reflected the shock, his arms started to tremble. This time at his suicide confession I felt the truth of his pain, it was a real plea this time. I didn't wanted him to die, but how I was supposed to stop him? What kind of hope I could give him when even I have my doubts? Cowardly avoiding Hikaru eyes, ashamed that such truth had just slipped like that off my lips. However, I just wanted to reach him in some way, if I have to risk myself for it… then so be it.

Waiting for him to move I opened my eyes and decided to stare him back, surrendering, testing my fate. It didn't happened, but I heard in the darkness his cries at last. Then something warm raised and made me fall in the ground, the boy had me there but I didn't moved, just gaping at the ceiling waiting for pain that didn't came.

Yue clutched my rotten shirt with all his might and let himself suffer in my chest. Tentatively caressing his hair, massaging his scalp relaxing slowly. My back ached at the coldness in the ground, but I ignored it for his sake.

Hope. That this was the last time he would plea. That maybe we can find comfort in each other. That he chased away the silence of the solitude and I dared to hope he could laugh and smile again. Taking his tears as a pure act of bravery myself lacked at that moment, and we let it all go. Confessing to him how little I felt compared to him, because he chose right. My fears I had and that he could still blame me for what happened to his parents, because I didn't deserve a second chance.

This boy proved to be someone caring and sensible, surprised me with apologies and Hikaru remained with us that night as Yue let his feelings out as well.

The next day, the sun was there and we were in the bed surrounded by sheets, I lifted one arm to block the light, but quickly was trapped in a tiny strong clutch, Yue was wide awake at my side, fear as palpable as his soft hair.

"Don't leave me… please promise me you won't"

It hurts, feeling that empty spot flutter as his brown eyes clinged to me, fearing being alone. He was so little, so young in my eyes. In a way his eyes made me think in similar expressions in the past. I had seen it in Sasuke when Gaara managed to tear my side open. In Naruto, when Sakura left after the failed mission to bring Sasuke back. That was the moment I realized, the solitude chased after his heart. To grow and place in his existence the cold emptiness of a life with no purpose, a life with no love. Afraid such a little boy that might fall in a similar path Sasuke has, I embraced him. Vowing to myself I will do anything I could to save him.

"I promise" was my soft answer, Yue eyes softened, for once relief and a sense of purpose much clearer made that morning look brighter and beautiful.

It was so white that when a young deep voice penetrated the space it lit the fire inside me. "Don't cry, I can help you making more"

A handsome boy, taller with black bright eyes and a spiky short hair smiled broadly to me. His hand was hot on my hair, but I felt enough disappointment preventing me to enjoy it. It was unfair, crying will not solve it but I really wanted to make him happy and now…

"Or we can do something else, tell me how can I cheer you up?"

He insisted but I was so sad and angry, couldn't answer as Naruto came running covered in dirt and seemed like had scratches on his face.

"I- I could save a-a few, t-those bastards…" My friend was breathing hard, extended his hand and opened it showing 3 paper cranes. Damaged, a bit black but I hugged him, apologizing because he was hurt.

"What happened?" Shisui offered a napkin to my friend, I clung to his hand, looking at the survived paper cranes on the floor around .

"A pair of dumb boys set fire on the cranes Kao-chan had been working. I tried to save some but… we are sorry" Even he was sad, Shisui tilted his head with a frown, there was no point in hiding our failure. Naruto was much braver than I, he stepped forward and bowed to Shisui.

"We heard from Mikoto-san that if you folded thousand cranes that… that we could make a wish and..."

I bowed as well besides my brave friend, trying not to cry again "I-I thought to give it to you. F-For your birthday and see you h-happy but..now…. you can't." Sniffling back some tears. "I-I'm sorry!" How embarrassed I was, crying again but, I really wanted to show him how much I loved him. He was so nice with me and Naruto, funny playing with us and I loved his laugh so much, I couldn't do much for him being so young but… but…

Suddenly he embraced us and his smell comforted me, this was his special day and when I thought we ruined it Shisui backed off a little to give us those smiles that make him more beautiful, it confused me a lot.

"You don't have to do anything… I'm already happy" It was so simple, as he looked at us so gently, encouraging to collect the cranes that survived and offered to buy ice-cream. Feeling his hand on mine guiding us peacefully was something I wanted to treasure, because that day his grin lifted the stars in the sky.

The night sky, it was a bit cold but Sasuke covered my back with a blanket, I blinked a few times before he returned to Mikoto-san side on the kitchen. Itachi noticed me staring, I turned nervous. Usually I didn't reacted like that but I was not sure if I did something wrong while they trained with me. Being curious not always lead to what she desired, or so her experiments proved right that theory.

"Ginger?" His voice startled me, he had a knack for being so quiet. Itachi little grin reassured my insecurity and I accepted gratefully the cold mug of tea. Thinking that maybe I was the one that had to clear things I apologized.

Itachi just blinked at me and took a sit with his own mug, taking a sip before answering.

"It's natural. It will take time before you understand. What we have done doesn't make you think we are… bad, right?"

"No, never! It's just… I don't know. What exactly means being a ninja, then?" Itachi stared back, Sasuke soon joined us and asked what we were up to, his brother tilted his head and made the same question to Sasuke, I was curious as well of what he thought.

"That's easy. Konoha shinobi are the stronger ninja because our purpose is putting an end to wrong doings of our village. We respect each other abilities and fight against anything that threatens our life."

"Even… killing?"

"Specially that, shinobis are the masters of killing and deceit" Sasuke said seriously, frowning and it made me feel better knowing that it was uncomfortable for him as well.

"That is not all we are… we will always be human before anything" Itachi butted in as we continued drinking tea under the stars. "If we forgot that, we will get dragged on pointless fighting and hatred…"

"But if they strike first, it's right to defend us" Sasuke opinion was accurate; defend and protect, like Naruto. That make me smile, maybe that is why he seems so wonderful.

"There is a difference between defend and kill" Itachi seemed sad, his eyes said more than it was possible for him with words. "Fighting back is natural, however compassion and forgiveness is something few could grant, which is why those concepts are not welcome for every shinobi."

"Then… what are you fighting for?" Sasuke asked but Itachi silence and tender gaze was all we received. Sasuke huffed and crossed his arms, he really liked Itachi's attention. Now I understood better that if they have killed it was like the last option, Itachi and Shisui were nice and gentle, it must be painful for them.

"If there is a way to stop fights, I would like to find it" That could be my motto, just like Naruto dream to be Hokage, it could be my dream. It made me happy and excited, something I could look forward. Itachi and Sasuke eyes reflected wonder, feeling too conscious on their presence I blushed, leaving the empty mug aside.

Sasuke snickered "That is… so you" Embarrassed or not, I hit his side and defied stubbornly his doubts in my newborn dream. "I will do it, you will see, just like Shisui-kun and one day I'll protect you too" Taking the blanket and covering us, it was something that came so natural being there hidden from the night with them so close. So happy that I laughed and hugged them the best I could with my not so long arms, just content feeling their warm…

"Go… Go back" That voice… it was guiding on the darkness again and this time my spirit ran wanting to see his face again. My mind brought back the hapiness of finding a home. Their faces lifted the fog that once surrounded everything. "Kao-chan" My name, how sweet it sounded his voice saying that again. I could remember love, my love for Shisui lead me back to the others as well.

Finally, I found the answer... and this time I felt as if my very soul had been reborn. As the world around came visible, feeling the live around, my spirit started the search of the people who might be in danger, hoping I still have time.