A/N: I particularly like this chapter :) writing Emi's true appearance was fun and I'll go into detail later about why she feels the need to cover herself. Also, I'm going to assume that Konoha and Suna have become pretty chummy and therefore a few medics travel back and forth learning about new healing techniques and antidotes :) NO FLAMES OR I'LL HAVE TO MAKE BBQ FOR CHOJI.

Emi rolled her eyes underneath her black goggles as the old medic clucked her tongue at her.

"You healed the wound superbly but the kunai struck bone and a sliver broke off. I'm surprised you managed to move it at all," the old woman said.

Emi sighed as the old woman went to work, fishing out the bone fragment and sealing it back in its rightful spot. It hurt, but Emi didn't let the old hag have the satisfaction of knowing. Once she was finished, she saw the old womans fingers twitch as her wrinkled face stared into Emi's covered one.

Most of Suna was desperate to know what she hid underneath her covers. Only her mother knew. Her step father had tried on more than one occasion until Emi threatened to tell her sensei about him swindling money from the local fruit market via intimidation. He always beat her mother harder those nights. After a year of training with the Demon of Suna, she was beginning to question whether or not she cared about her mother being abused. She could stop it, she was strong enough to at least defend against his blows but she didn't. Her mother had seemed to pick up her husband's attributes, contributing to the mental and verbal abuse to save her own skin. Emi couldn't really blame the woman for her self-preservation but she failed to see the appeal in staying with the man who saw her as nothing more than a punching bag and sexual play thing.

She also couldn't wrap her head around why the woman chose an abusive asshole over her own flesh and blood, but it was what it was. She was in the process of saving up enough money to buy a small apartment in a good part of the village, but that would be put on the back burner for a little while, especially after this particular mission.

"All done. Would you like me to send you the bill?"

Emi shook her head and rummaged through her weapons pouch to find the hidden pocket full of money she kept for emergencies like this. She handed over a substantial amount of cash and leapt off the healing table, rotating her shoulder. Damn. She hated to admit it but the old woman had magic fingers.

The old woman shooed Emi away to clean up. Wandering through the hospital hallway, Emi went through the glass doors and into the night. The wedding between the shinobi and the noble happened the moment they arrived, Yumi practically having hearts in her eyes the moment her eyes landed on the rough and tumble desert ninja who she was about to marry. Emi snorted and left straight for the hospital while her sensei and his siblings stayed to watch the ceremony.

She rounded a corner and almost bumped into someone. Muttering a hasty apology, Emi made to walk around them when a man stepped in front of her. Sighing, Emi lifted her gaze in the eyes of a familiar Suna jonin.

"Hello, father," she spat. Her step father, Rino, sneered down at her, his two teammates shifting to surround her. Shit, she thought.

"Hello, my lovely daughter. Tell me what brings you out here so late? Your mother will be awfully worried." Emi rolled her eyes beneath her goggles. Her mother couldn't give two shits about where she was and what she did anymore.

"Not sure. Why don't I go home and tell her I'm fine? Excuse me." Emi made to move around him, his fist in her stomach making her double over to a stop.

"Is that a way to talk to your father, you little bitch?"

Emi gasped, clutching her stomach. He must have infused a bit of chakra into the blow. Shit, that hurt. She glanced up at Rino. "My father's dead," she spat.

Rino snarled and delivered a swift kick to her ribs, toppling her over to curl into a ball. As soon as she stopped rolling, her father was on her again, dragging her to her feet by her collar and twisting, making it hard for her to breathe. His other hand snaked up to grab her masked chin, forcing her to look at him.

"You know, I still haven't managed to see your face yet. What are you hiding under there, hm?"

Emi tried to kick him in the balls but he kept twisting, her oxygen cut so short stars dotted her vision. His hand touched the edge of her mask just as a familiar rustling sound reached her ears.

Sand slammed into Rino, forcing him back onto his ass and dropping Emi to a heap on the ground as Temari rushed over to help her up.

"Emi, are you okay?" she asked, her voice sounding worried. Emi nodded weakly and watched in silence as Gaara drove Rino and his teammates down the street, Kankuro managing a swift punch to one man's face before he took off after the other two men.

Emi straightened, only to double over again in pain. She barely registered Gaara and Kankuro returning.

"Emi! Are you okay? Who were those guys?" Kankuro growled.

"I'm fine. They're just… friends," Emi rasped.

Temari scoffed and lifted one of Emi's arms over her shoulder, gripping harder when Emi tried to shove her away.

"I said I'm fine! Just let me go, already," Emi huffed. The wind kunoichi gave her a glare that could level mountains.

"As one of your sensei's I'm giving you an order to come with me," she said icily.

Emi scowled at the wind kunoichi. Emi was still technically a chunin so she had to follow Temari's orders, especially since she became a jonin not too long ago. Emi fumed in silence as Temari dragged her through Suna to an unknown house, slipping inside as her siblings followed.

"Isn't Sakura here from Konoha?" Emi asked, assuming this was where her sensei and his siblings lived. Temari nodded.

"Yeah I think I hear the shower going. She's going to be a while, at any rate."

The lights were already on and illuminated an open plan kitchen/lounge and dining, a staircase leading to what Emi assumed were the bedrooms upstairs. Temari dragged Emi towards the couch and plopped her down, staring at her with her hands on her hips.

"Now, are you going to tell me what the hell that was all about?"

Emi sighed and leant forward to brace her chin on one hand, wincing as her ribs protested. "No."

Temari scowled just as Kankuro and Gaara entered, closing the door. All three Sand Siblings made their way over to stand in front of her, each crossing their arms. The only one not wearing a scowl was Gaara, but that worried her most of all. After over a year being under his tutelage she had gotten better at being able to read him. His eyes, although sometimes cold, were expressive and at the moment they said 'tell me what happened or else I'll think of the most horrible ways to train you for the rest of your life.'

Emi didn't really like the sound of that.

"Who were those guys Emi?" Kankuro asked gruffly.

"Is there anything I can say to get you three off my back about this?" Emi asked hopefully.

"No," they all said in unison.

Emi sighed. "It was… my step-father and his little groupies," Emi said with venom in her voice. Surprise flashed across Kankuro's face and Temari just eyed her curiously.

"This isn't the first time it's happened," Temari said; a statement not a question.

Emi shook her head. "No. It started shortly after he married my mother."

"Why doesn't your mother stop him?" Kankuro asked, slightly appalled. Their own father had been a cold, callous bastard but their mother had protected them until the day she died. Her spirit was still protecting Gaara through his sand.

Emi gave a dry, humourless chuckle. "Are you kidding me? She joins in."

Silence washed over everyone. The casual way Emi said it gave the Sand Siblings pause. Why had she put up with it for so long? She was a kunoichi now, and a damn capable one. Why hadn't she fought back? Long moments passed and Emi started to feel her skin itch under everyone's gaze.

"As of tonight, you live here."

Everyone's eyes snapped towards Gaara. His face was serious and blank as always, his demeanour never wavering as Emi shook her head.

"Thanks for the offer but-"

"As your sensei, I have a duty to watch over my students. Your missions require you to be in peak physical condition. With your home life, I can't expect that to be so. You will live here."

Emi gaped at him. Although he couldn't see her face, he knew she was shocked, perhaps even angry.

"Gaara, I don't think…" Temari trailed off as Gaara levelled his stern gaze on her. She quickly acquiesced. Kankuro didn't need the bribery of fear, he was all for the idea.

A half hour later, Gaara and Kankuro had taken off to gather Emi's things, refusing to let her leave the house. Temari remained behind to show her to her new room, Sakura now clean and hovering behind Emi. Temari had given her the quick run-down of the events of the night, the Leaf kunoichi wholeheartedly agreeing with Emi's new living arrangements.

"Your room will be between mine and the bathroom. It's not much, but at least it already has a bed." Temari opened to door and flipped the light on to a spacious bedroom. Emi paused at the door and took in the unfamiliar surroundings. A large bay window lead to a small, private balcony. A twin bed was against the wall to her right with a dresser along the left. It was about four times the size of her 'bedroom' at her mother's place. She wouldn't call that place home anymore.

Temari was ranting on, showing off the features as Emi moved to sit on the bed, gasping a little. She forgot about the pain in her stomach and sides where her bastard of a step-father kicked her.

"Let me see those," Sakura offered, sitting at her side. Emi shook her head.

"No thank you. I'm fine."

Temari scowled. "If she doesn't I'll be forced to take you back to the hospital where they will do it. Choose. Sakura or them, and I'm not mucking around either."

Emi glared at her superior through her black goggles. She knew she wouldn't win this fight. If she went to the hospital, the nurses would want to check her over everywhere and try to remove her mask and goggles under the guise of 'necessity' and Emi would be the hot topic of gossip in the village for the rest of the year. Or she could let Sakura take a look, who wouldn't breathe a word to anyone.

Emi sighed. "If I let you do this, you have to swear to me you will not tell anyone what I really look like. Deal?"

Temari brightened. "Deal. Sakura, close the curtains and I'll be right back with the first aid kit."

Temari darted out the door as the pink haired kunoichi leapt up to close the thick curtains over the bay windows, practically skipping back towards Emi.

"Glad to see you're so happy about this," Emi grumbled. Sakura gave her a winning smile.

"It's nice to know I'm helping someone," she said brightly as Temari entered the room with a bulky first aid kit, closing the door and locking it behind her.

Temari placed the kit besides Sakura who promptly opened it to dig around the contents, pulling out gauze, bandages and a tub of some sort of cream.

"Alright, off with the clothing," the Leaf kunoichi ordered. Emi started to fiddle with the opening of her coat. She had never let anyone besides her mother see her in anything besides her training gear. She rarely did it anymore. She had been called a freak too many times to count.

"Emi, we're not going to judge you," Temari added softly, Sakura nodding in gentle agreement.

Emi took a deep breath in and steeled her nerves, her fingers pausing on the first button. She turned her face back towards the two kunoichi looking at her with soft, understanding eyes. It made Emi relax a little, but it also made her want to cry. They were too nice for their own good. "Just… just try not to judge me, okay?" Emi asked in an impossibly quiet voice.

Temari gave Emi a reassuring smile, her heart breaking for the mysterious weapons kunoichi.

Emi made quick work of her black coat, revealing a long sleeved black thigh length tunic dress with a high collar that acted as her mask and under hood.

Emi hesitated as she reached for her goggles. No one had seen her eyes in years.

Sensing her hesitation, Sakura gave Temari a nudge and turned around, the wind kunoichi following suit.

"Thank you," Emi breathed. Sakura and Temari gave a small nod but kept their gazes straight ahead. Emi shed her goggles and made quick work of her tunic dress and pants, leaving her in nothing but her bindings. The air felt strange on her uncovered skin. She touched her chin to her chest, shadowing her face with her waist length chocolate brown hair. "O-okay. You can look now."

Sakura and Temari turned to face her, pausing as they stared at Emi in nothing but her bindings. Her ribs and stomach were bluish-purple from being kicked, the bruise spreading up under her wrappings but that wasn't what made the Leaf and wind kunoichi pause.

From Emi's right knee and up to her neck, travelling down her right arm to stop just before her hand was a dusky brown birth mark, the rest of her skin a luminous cream colour. Despite that, her body was curvaceous and tone thanks to her training but still retained a feminine softness. Her figure was the perfect hourglass; trim waist with beautiful rounded hips and breasts.

"Emi, why do you hide yourself?" Sakura asked gently. Emi's hair drifted to further shadow her face.

"Because I'm a freak," came the quiet reply.

"Emi look at us," Temari urged. Emi didn't move. "Please?"

After a moment's hesitation, Emi raised her head and the two kunoichi sucked in a breath.

"Emi you're… you're…" Sakura trailed off. Emi's face pinkened and she looked away, feeling more naked, even though her private areas were covered.

"You're beautiful," Temari finished. Sakura nodded in agreement.

Thick lashes framed bright emerald eyes a richer green than Sakura's, her skin smooth as porcelain. Lush pink lips sat beneath a straight, slightly freckled nose, a natural flush on her cheeks. The only blemish on her skin was the crescent moon tattoo framing her left eye.

"You don't have to feed me bullshit," Emi snapped, taking the kunoichi by surprise.

"We're not lying, Emi," Sakura said softly.

"No wonder you cover up. If you walked around with your face uncovered you'd have half of Suna chasing after you," Temari stated matter-of-factly. Emi blushed as Sakura nodded enthusiastically in agreement. Emi turned her head.

"Whatever. Just heal me so I can put my stuff back on."

Sakura patted the edge of the bed and motioned for Emi to sit as her hands glowed a soft green.

Emi sat and winced as Sakura's hands came into contact with her battered skin. Sakura gave her a rueful smile.

"Sorry. These are deep, that's why they're painful. After I'm done healing the worst of it, I'm going to have to slather on some healing balm and bandages, okay?"

Emi gave a stiff nod, averting her gaze as Temari stared at her.

"Why do you really cover yourself, Emi?" the wind kunoichi asked softly.

"Keeps people at a distance. You're lucky I'm not punching both of you through a wall right now."
Sakura giggled a little as Temari smirked. Silence stretched out as Sakura worked her way from her stomach to her ribs, the bruises fading as she went.

"Who hurt you?" Sakura asked softly.

Emi snorted. "My step-father and the rest of his fucking B-team."

"No, not the bruises. I mean, who hurt you to make you want to cover yourself? Why do you call yourself a freak?"

Emi froze and looked away, ashamed. She and her mother refused to speak about it. Just looking at her daughter made Emi's mother lash out and then hug her and apologise before shoving her out the front door to occupy herself.

"… it's no one important," Emi whispered. The pain was evident in her voice so both kunoichi didn't ask any more questions, the silence in the room cloaking them in deep thought.

A sudden knock at the door had all three women jumping, startled.

"Oi you three! Are you done yet?"

Temari growled stalked to the door, unlocking it and opening it only far enough so she could see Kankuro's face.

"No! Go away!"

Kankuro dropped Emi's pack and backed up a few steps, his hands raised in surrender. "Okay, okay just a question. Dinner's almost ready downstairs whenever you three are ready."

Temari gave a stiff nod, grabbing Emi's duffel before slamming the door shut, turning to face Sakura and Emi.

"Dinner's going to be ready soon."

"Okay," Sakura replied absently.

"Um… is it okay if I bring my dinner up to my room?" Emi asked hesitantly. She never let anyone see her face so she ate her food in solitude away from prying eyes. Her heart sank as Temari shook her head and placed Emi's duffel on the dresser.

"I'm sorry Emi but one of the rules of the house is dinner is eaten at the table. Since you live here now, it means you are a part of this house. Dinner is at the table. Eat it there or starve."

Emi blanched. "B-but what about no one else seeing my face?" she squeaked, mentally cursing how panicky she sounded. Sakura started lathering on the spicy smelling goo, a tingle starting up as soon as it touched her skin.

"No one here is going to say anything, Emi. We promise," Sakura said, grabbing gauze patches and the bandage. Temari crossed her arms and nodded firmly in agreement.

"The guys know this, and I'm letting you know it too. My house, my rules. If they want decent food and a place to sleep while under this roof, they'll do what I tell them. Just ask Sakura what I did to Kankuro when he had a party while I was away."

Emi winced as Sakura chuckled darkly. "Poor Kankuro. I think you made one recede."

Temari gave a smug smile.

Sakura finished wrapping her waist and stood, dusting off her hands. "There, all better. You can't train for a few days, and I'll be telling Gaara that. A few of your ribs had taken a nasty hit and are severely bruised."

Emi pursed her lips but nodded all the same. Doctor's orders, more or less. Temari rose to dig through Emi's bag, pulling out a seldom worn red sleeveless tunic dress, black under shorts and a mesh armour shirt.

Emi shook her head. "I'd prefer my usual clothing, thanks."

Temari strode forward and shoved the clothes in her hands, Emi glancing at the wind kunoichi in question.

"Another rule; no training or mission gear unless heading towards said activities. Now, get dressed."

Emi glared at the wind kunoichi as Sakura busied herself with righting the first aid kit. Muttering curses under her breath, Emi donned the clothing. A few colourful curses made Temari's eyebrows raise but she said nothing. The clothing covered a lot, but after a mask, long sleeves and a coat on top of that, Emi still felt naked. She couldn't help but fidget with hem of her dress.

"Perfect," Temari stated, heading for the door. "I'm going down to have a talk with the guys. Sakura will escort you down. I know this must be hard for you Emi but you have to realise that you're in a house with a puppeteer, a demon vessel and a volatile wind kunoichi. No one is calling you a freak here. If anything, you're more normal than any of us." With that Temari left.

Emi let out a shaky breath and sat on the bed, Sakura moving to rub soothing circles on her back. Normally Emi shied away from anyone's touch but she needed the comfort right now, even though her mind was screaming at her to leave, to fight, to do something.

"She's right, you know," Sakura muttered. Emi turned to face the pink haired kunoichi who had a small smile on her face.

"I've met some interesting people over the years and you are by no means a 'freak.' Whoever told you that overlooked your true beauty. You shouldn't feel the need to cover yourself because of a few hurtful words. I was called billboard brow when I was younger and it made me miserable until a friend told me I should embrace my flaws. So I did. It was the best advice I was ever given."

Emi stared blankly at Sakura whose smile was still in place, no lie behind her words. Emi felt her own lips quirk in response as she absently rubbed her birth marked arm.

"Thank you," Emi whispered. Sakura smiled back and rose, tugging Emi to her feet.

"Any time."