Everyone just looked at her in astonishment and confusion. Why was she smiling? No one knew. Naruto broke the silence, scratching the back of his head, "Uh, you okay?"

"Ya." Rin said bluntly and everyone fell to the floor at her obliviousness. Rin smiled a bit at them then saw the only one looking at her at that moment, Gaara. "It's not a big deal. It was just a game." Rin stuffed her hands in her front pocket as everyone's expression slowly changed to anger and annoyance. Hinata, unlike the other, looked over at Rin with a sad expression.

"A game? That little boy's life was in danger!" Sakura screamed, in return she got shivers as Rin shot her a death glare.

"He didn't die…" Rin's mouth formed a small truly happy smile as she repeated it more to herself than to them, "He didn't die."

"Someone's life in danger isn't some game!" Ino yelled with anger causing Rin's smile to disappear instantly. Rin turns around, her back facing them, she continues as more insults came her way.

"P-please s-stop Ino-chan. S-she didn't do anything w-wrong." Everyone looked at her with a softer expression. Gaara looks at Rin for a long time then leaves instantly, walking the opposite direction.

"Hinata's right. I mean if it was really a game would she try so hard to save him?" Naruto stepped up with a serious expression.

"Then why would she say it then?" Ino crossed her arms over her chest as she looked at Naruto with a hint of surprise.

"She has a point Naruto." Sakura supported Ino a bit, no matter how much she didn't want to.

"You guys don't get it…she didn't think it was a game…she just wants us to hate her…"Naruto answers, painful past memories show in his eyes.

"Why would she want us to hate her?" Sakura asked, rather confused. Naruto closes his eyes as Rin's parting words from the ramen place replay in his head.

"She's…afraid." It shows Rin's faraway pained expression. Now his voice droned with sadness, he and Hinata exchange looks and then continue after Rin.

"Naruto…" Sakura started as her two friend's figures slowly disappeared from view. Naruto and Hinata walked in silence as they slowly catch up with Rin.

"You were really cool back there Hinata." Naruto gives a tomato red Hinata a big grin, they continue to walk.

"I-it wasn't THAT cool…and I know her better than that…i meet her before…when I was small."

"Really? How was she like…bet she was an emotionless kid." Naruto puts a hand to his chin, thinking an image of a bored little Rin.

"A-actually she never stopped smiling." Naruto's jaw dropped to the floor as his eyes bulged out. "W-well I did meet her once s-so I can't be so sure but her smile…gave me courage and warmth…"

"….No matter how much I try, I just can't imagine Rin smiling like that." Naruto's hands meet at the back of his head as Hinata squirmed a bit. "Rin!" Rin stood there, eyes widening at the sight of them. Her head bends forward, causing her hair to cover her face. Her face was filled with sadness but also happiness. She highers her head back to the original position with a calm composed face. She waves a bit, as if she wasn't happy.

"What are you guys doing here?"

"W-we know you didn't take as it a g-game."

"We left them and came to hang out with you." his shoulder brushes gently against Hinata's shoulder and she blushes scarlet, sending Rin's eyes to narrow. "I'm hungry! Let's go eat Ramen!"

"O-ok." Hinata answered timidly.

"Can't. But thanks for coming after me like that, I appreciate it." She leans to Hinata's ear as Naruto turns around to walk to the Ramen place. "Good luck." She whispers softly as Hinata blushed harder. Rin smirks a bit as she walks away, her eyes turning tired and restless. She grabs her stomach and feels a prick, she takes out a tiny needle from her side causing her blood too boil. When…? A flashback of him hugging her and her eyes glare as a faraway figure comes to view. "Y-you little bastard-!" Kyo grabs her chin, wrenching Rin's face to face his.

"You wouldn't have followed me if I didn't do this to you." Rin's breathing began to increase and get louder. "Oh but don't worry, this amount of poison is only enough to give you some pain and cause you to faint. This is only a thousandth of the pain you'll feel if you fail your mission." Rin takes a slow, weak swing at him but he grabs her arm tightly and easily, pure amusement all over his face. He inches his face closer to hers, "You know I always wanted to do this."

He presses his lips firmly and strongly against hers but as she tries to push him off, she begins to get weaker and weaker, old scars reforming in her eyes. He throws her on the ground as he licks his lips. He smirks bigly and cruelly as he bends down, pulling on her long hair, causing her to flinch a bit, not from the pain but by his touch. "Don't forget who owns you and me." He lets go of her hair and disappears, his laughter echoing even after he had left. Rin rubs frantically over her lips, with true hate and bloodlust flowing in her eyes, she spits out on the ground and soon finds herself surrendering to the calling abyss of darkness.

Gaara, walking around out of boredom finds an unusual prize. He sees a black rose with a thorny stem next to a white, slim hand. The hand belonged to none other than an unconscious Rin. He looks around and picks up the flower then carries Rin princess style. As he heads to the Third's house, he finds her shaking and trembling uncontrollably. He hugged Rin closer, her head resting on his chest.

Hinata watched timidly and shyly as Naruto had his second helping of Ramen and slurped it all down. Hinata took a smile bite and continued the slow pace, smiling cutely to herself. Thank you, Rin-chan. I'm really happy.