"So, now what?" Kazuko mumbled as the four walked through the village.
Yama turned to look at the three. "Ah, something has come up. Sorry, but that's all we're going to do today. Go home, or... whatever it is you do. I'll see you guys... tomorrow... at nine." Yama's eyes were like daggers as he stared at Keiko. "Bye!" A cloud remained where he stood.
"Well, that's one thing he has in common with Kakashi; he disappears without any real reason or warning." Kazuko said with a laugh. "Wanna go catch somethin' to eat, Keiko?"
"Yeah! Why don't we go catch us some flying ramen!" Keiko said sarcastically. "I'm sorry, Kazuko, but I'm just not up for any socializing right now."
"I see, well how is that any different from usual?" He asked simply.
"I meant with you either." Keiko said.
Kazuko's eyes widened. "Are you sick? Need me to get a doctor?"
"Where did Satomi go?" Keiko noticed that Satomi had disappeared from Kazuko's side.
Kazuko sighed and looked around, also noticing the missing girl; he shrugged. "Probably off practicing like the good, hyper-active angel she is."
"I feel like she is taking being a genin more serious than we are. Maybe we should step it up a notch, huh? Want to make a deal that we both take our training much more seriously?" Keiko smiled sheepishly.
Kazuko stared at Keiko blankly. "You must be sick... this is the second day of us as Genins. We're not behind! That girl is weaker than us, she has to train harder!"
"We don't know her, Kazuko. She may be stronger than you and I put together! All I'm saying is that we should obey Yama-sensai a bit more and actually try to learn something from him, alright?" Keiko tried to defend herself.
"Did that Yama guy get to you or something, or are you still asleep? Second day, hello! We are fine, and the only one who didn't obey Yama, is you!" Kazuko stated coldly.
"Still." Keiko stared gently at Kazuko. "I'm sorry about how I've been acting lately, but please, let's just do our best." She leaned forward and kissed Kazuko's cheek gently before smiling. "I'll see you later."
Kazuko shrugged off her kiss and turned, his hand waving goodbye as he said, "Get your head together before we hang again."
Keiko sighed and shook her head before turning and walking in the opposite direction of Kazuko.
"She hasn't acted this strange since the day I met her," Kazuko mumbled as he walked. His hazel eyes glaced up to the sky as he spotted a bird. "I wish I could fly... I miss my brother..." His eyes returned ahead and he spotted the Hokage coming out of a building.
Kazuko suddenly had an idea and ran up to the Hokage. "Lord Hokage!" Kazuko yelled as he approached the elder.
"Ah, Samsara Kazuko! How is it being on Nara's team?" The Hokage asked.
Kazuko smiled brightly; he had always been fond of the Hokage. "It's alright. I had a question for you though, sir."
"Ask away," The Hokage replied.
"I was wondering if I could have some time off to go and see my brother?"
"It is only the second day, Kazuko."
Kazuko shuffled his feet nervously. "I-I know, b-but it's been so long. I want to know how he is doing. Besides, it is his birthday in a few days."
"What about your parents?" The Hokage raised his eyebrow.
Kazuko sighed. "What about them? They could die tomorrow for all I cared."
"I'll tell you what; I know you love your brother very much and I can understand you miss him very much, but the only way I would allow you to go is if you have an escort."
Kazuko's face brightened. "Okay! S-so as long as I have an escort, I can go for a few days?"
"You're only a genin, and it could be a very dangerous journey, not to mention a long one."
"W-well, when can I go?" He asked, suddenly excited.
"I have an important package that I need to send to Sunagakure; you'll go with him. He's leaving very shortly so I suggest you go pack and speak with Yama about the plan. I'll let Gautami know not to leave without you, so be quick."
Kazuko bowed to the Hokage respectfully. "Thank you sir! I will go pack right now!" Kazuko ran off before the Hokage could respond.
Kazuko rushed home and put together a small bag filled of clothes and other necessities. He quickly ran out, locking the door and running off to find Yama who was, conveniently, near the gates.
"Yama!" Kazuko yelled as he caught up to Yama.
Yama came to a halt and turned to face Kazuko. "Oh, where are you going?" He asked, gesturing to the bag in Kazuko's hands.
"Ah well, I was coming to tell you I'm going to Sunagakure for a few days to be with my brother."
"Oh, well... have fun then- wait... you got permission, right?" Yama responded with a warm smile.
"Yeah, I did! Anyway, see yeah later sensai, bye!" Kazuko ran off to the gate where his escort was standing.
Gautami caught sight of Kazuko and smiled. "Ready to go, kid?"
"Yeah, need any help?" Kazuko asked, noticing the several bags Gautami was carrying.
"Nah, let's just go, we're burning daylight."
"My sensai says that too," Kazuko said dryly as he turned to leave the village with Gautami.
Meanwhile, Keiko was walking about the village when she caught a glimpse of Kazuko as he was leaving the gates of the village. Shocked and confused, she began to chase after him.
"Keiko?" Yama called as Keiko ran past him.
She hadn't heard Yama call her name; she ran faster to finally catch him before he was out of sight.
"Kazuko!" Keiko shouted as she ran up behind him and grabbed him by the arm to stop him.
His eyes glanced behind himself before looking forwards, Gautami up ahead still walking. His eyes looked back at Keiko as he turned to face her, ripping his arm from her grasp. "What's wrong?" He asked simply.
"What are you doing?" She asked, confusion clear in her tone.
He stared at her confused. "Going back to my village, didn't I tell you?" He had been so busy rushing, had he really forgotten to tell Keiko his plans?
"No, as a matter of fact you didn't! Why are you leaving me?"
He laughed. "To be with my brother of course, he misses me."
"But...I'll miss you."
"I know, I'll miss you too, but it will be okay, you'll be fine without me," He said, a smile tugging at his lips.
"You were my first friend, Kazuko! Why?"
"I-I'm sorry, but I got to go before I lose my escort. See yeah around!" He called, turning to catch up with Gautami.
"But, Kazuko!" Keiko ran forward and reached for his sleeve.
"Keiko, stop!" Kazuko said sternly looking coldly into Keiko's eyes.
Kazuko's sleeve slowly slipped from her hands as he turned to resume running to catch up to his escort again.
"Kazuko, I hate you, you know that right? I hate your guts!" Keiko waited for Kazuko to turn around but he didn't. "I always have!"
Kazuko disappeared from Keiko's sight. "Kazuko?" Tears began to pool in the corner of her eyes and her heart began to pound violently. "I didn't mean what I said, Kazuko! You can come back now! Alright? Just come back, I miss you!" Keiko stepped forward, scanning the horizon for some kind of movement, hoping this was just one of his games.
The wind began to pick up, and the clouds that had covered the sky since that morning had now darkened, threatening to down pour on Keiko. The tears began to flow and she fell to her knees, sobbing into her hands. "I didn't mean what I said!" She whimpered.
Drops of rain began to fall from the black clouds and all at once, suddenly it began to downpour. Footsteps came from behind Keiko before warmth was wrapped around her.
"Come on, let's get out out of this rain, Keiko."
Keiko turned her face to look up at Yama's soft face. She wipped away her tears as Yama helped her to her feet and began to lead her to his apartment, which was the nearest place.
Once they got to Yama's place, he provided the two with warm clothes; Yama's clothes were baggy on Keiko. Yama made his way to the kitchen and called, "Want anything to eat?"
"I didn't even mean what I said, Yama! He's going to hate my guts and I won't ever even see him again to apologize!" Sobs took over Keiko once again and she buried her face into the couches cushion.
Yama sighed and made his way to the living room, looking down on Keiko he tried to hold back a laugh.
"Keiko, he doesn't hate you, he is coming back in a few days."
Keiko looked back up to Yama. "No! He isn't! He never told me that he was going back! His plan was to just leave! He usually tells me everything, but he didn't say a word about visiting! He left; and he was angry!"
Yama made his way to the couch, sitting down beside Keiko with his hands behind his head. "Men are like that... he probably forgot to tell you, or didn't think it mattered."
"No, Yama, you don't understand! He's angry at me and I don't know why. He always wanted to go back to his brother, but he knew leaving would hurt me!"
Yama's eyes drifted to the window as he watched the rain fall rapidly to the ground. "He wasn't mad. And I told you, he is coming back, he just went to visit his brother because he misses him."
"How do you know, huh?"
Yama's eyes drifted back at Keiko as he laughed.
"Why are you laughing? You jerk!" Keiko's lips turned down and she punched his arm.
He stopped laughing and smiled. His hand reached out and patted Keiko's mahagony hair. "I'm laughing, because you're silly. He told me himself he'd be back in a few days. You watch, he will." Yama pulled his hand back and stood up, now stretching.
"Then why didn't he let me know?" Keiko wipped away her tears and cocked her head.
He shrugged. "He seemed like he was in a rush, that could have been it."
Keiko gasped, suddenly realizing her mistake. "I completely forgot! It's his brothers birthday! Ahh! I feel so horrible. Oh man, I'm sorry you had to see me like this, Yama. Stupid!" Keiko facepalmed.
"I've seen you worse." He said simply, pulling his hair from his pony-tie.
"Very funny; this morning doesn't count." Keiko diverted her eyes.
"I wasn't talking about this morning."
"Then what are you refering to?"
Yama's eyes widened as he turned around and headed towards the kitchen while mumbling, "Stupid! You're not supposed to do that, Yama!"
"Yama? What are you talking about?" Keiko followed behind Yama into the kitchen. "There is something you all are not telling me! What do you know?"
Yama was pacing the kitchen awkwardly mumbling stuff to himself that Keiko couldn't catch.
"W-I'm not hiding anything... there is nothing... j-just drop it!"
"I deserve to know! What is everyone hiding from me?"
Yama calmed himself and forced a smile. "Nothing is being hidden. Don't worry."
"Don't give me that!" Keiko pushed Yama up against the kitchen wall and searched his eyes. "My parents were killed when your parents were killed. They were in the same situation. It has something to do with that, doesn't it? My entire life I was raised differently, everything was hidden from me and I'm sick of it!"
Yama looked down at Keiko who still had him against the wall. "Nothing is being hidden from you, Keiko. The only thing that is going on, is that everyone remembers something that you don't."
"Yeah, well what is that? Mind shedding some light on that thought?"
Yama looked nervous as he remained silent, his eyes locking with Keiko's. "I-I can't."
"I'm sick of this! I'm sick of you!" Keiko slowly let go of Yama and stepped back. "What's so wrong that I can't be told something from my own past? I'm seventeen! I have the right to know about myself."
Yama straightened out his shirt and stepped away from the wall. "Keiko, please don't be mad... b-but if I tell you, everything will be differernt."
"What are you talking about? How would everything be different - what would have that much influence to change everything?"
"You only talk like that now because you don't know. Keiko, hasn't there ever been a time where you feel like something in your memory is blocked? Like you can't access it?"
Keiko gasped but quickly composed herself again. "I knew there was something I should have known all this time." Keiko stared blankly at Yama. "Are you going to tell me now, or am I going to have to kill you to get the answer?" Keiko's rosy eyes turned dark as her position changed to the offense.
Yama shrugged. "I can tell you if you really feel the need to know. But I'm telling you, nothing will be the same, especially between us..."
"What is there to change between us? There is nothing between us."
His eyes narrowed. "From what you can recall, right?"
"No more playing games, Yama! Tell me now and get to the point so I can leave."
"Who is to say you will believe me, Keiko? I could tell you and you wont believe a word of it."
Keiko let out a loud groan as she lunged at Yama, attempting to knock him the the ground. Yama countered Keiko's movements and grabbed her by his shirt and pinned her against the wall with his arm.
"I will tell you, and you can decide what to believe."
"Yama, you're- ah, it hurts." Keiko winced as she weakly struggled to push him away.
Yama released some of the pressure on Keiko but still keeping her pinned. "Thirteen years ago when our parents were protecting the village from the nine-tailed fox, the beast was going to take a hit at your parents when mine stepped in the way, ultimately getting killed. Unfortunatly, even with the sacrifice of my parents, your parents wounds got the best of them. Now as for us, we were best friends since the time you were born. But after the loss of your parents, the Jounin and the third Hokage thought it'd be best for me to keep a safe distance from you, in hopes that it would help you forget about the incident with your loss. However instead of forgetting that, you forgot me."
Keiko's eyes narrowed. She couldn't remember anything about having known Yama; and being best friends with him?
"Everytime I tried to go and see you, Kakashi would pull me back; he said that you needed time alone. I never understood at the time since our parents destined for us to be together, I was actually supposed to propose to you on your eighteeth birthday, but... you forgot all about that, so it doesn't matter now..." Yama pulled away, his back now facing Keiko as he scratched his head.
"Propose? Destined to be together?" Keiko tried to remember all this from her memories; searching hard for something. The only thing that came to mind was a glimpse of Yama holding out his hand to help her when she fell and scrapped her knee. She shook her head of the image and moved past Yama. "I said stop playing games with me." She grabbed her wet clothing and pulled on her shoes. "I'll return these clothes to you after I wash them. Goodbye." Without looking at Yama, she opened the door and stepped out into the pouring rain. With a sigh she headed back to her own apartment.
"Figures..." Yama mumbled to himself.
Kazuko was gone for an entire week and a half, but managed to make it back in one piece. He was able to spend good quality time with his brother and as soon as he unpacked his stuff back at his own apartment he ventured out to find Keiko to tell her of his visit. Kazuko wandered around the village for almost an hour before finding Keiko at the swings in front of the academy.
"Keiko!" He called, smiling brightly.
Keiko looked up to see Kazuko headed her way. She gasped and quickly ran to meet him half way; she threw her arms around his neck and squeezed tightly. "I'm so sorry for those things I said when you left! I didn't mean any of those, I don't hate you! I love you very much, and I hope you will forgive me!"
Kazuko hugged her back tightly while laughing. "I have no idea what you're talking about, so I totally forgive you! And I love you too, Keiko!"
"You don't remember? I completely thought you were leaving - leaving the village, completely leaving - as to go back and live with your brother again."
Kazuko pulled away enough to look into Keiko's eyes. "D-did I say that? I-I thought I said I was just visiting? I dunno... I was in a rush, it was all so sudden. I'd never leave you, Keiko, you'd be lost without me!" Kazuko ruffled Keiko's hair as he smiled again.
"So how did it go then? I finally remembered that it was your brother's birthday; that's how I was able to survive without you."
"Well why don't we go and get some ramen, it's on me. We can talk all about it, and whatever happened with you while I was gone."
Keiko turned away and nodded, "Whatever." She began to walk off without Kazuko, heading for the Ramen shop.
Kazuko stared at her retreating form awkwardly before catching up. Once they made it to the shop, Kazuko went off telling Keiko about how happy his brother was to see him and how he loved his present.
"So, how was your week?" Kazuko asked as he ended his story.
"No comment." Keiko replied and shoved noodles quickly into her mouth.
"Something is up. And you're going to tell me; you wouldn't want me to leave again, would you?" Kazuko asked, a smirk playing at his lips.
Keiko looked up and eyed those who worked at the ramen shop before leaning over to Kazuko and whispering, "Aparentally I'm destined to be with Yama."
Kazuko stared at her strangly. "And how did you come to that conclusion?"
"You know how I told you that there was something in my memory that was all blurry and no matter what I did I just couldn't move past that block? Well, after you left, Yama and I got talking, he finally told me what it was. Aparentally he was that blocked memory. I was suppose to forget that my parents died, but instead I forgot about his existence."
"S-seriously? Like... he wasn't just messin' with you?"
"I don't want to believe him, Kazuko."
"But something inside is telling you it's true, right?"
"I think so. I've started getting these...I guess flashbacks..."
"Of what? Him and you?"
"Of our parents visiting each other and us playing. I can remember images of my parents talking to me, saying something while motioning to Yama, but I can't hear what they're saying."
"Huh... have you talked to Yama about these flashbacks?"
"I'm afraid too." Keiko took another bite of her noodles and swallowed. "I don't like that fact that a stranger knows more about my past than I."
"Hm... I think you should still talk to him, I'll come with you if you want. I just think that the only person who can really help you right now, is him. Or Kakashi, he did raise Yama."
"I think I'd rather talk with Kakashi about this for some reason."
"Well then, when you're done eating, we will go find Kakashi, alright?" Kazuko ruffled Keiko's hair like he often did as he smiled.
Keiko smiled back and returned to finishing her noodles.
"Hey, Kakashi." Keiko scurried over to the Jounin who was sitting on a bench with a book tightly in his hand. She sat down beside him and playful punched his arm. Kazuko sat down beside Keiko as Kakashi finished the paragraph he was reading before turning to look at the two visitors. "May I help you?" He asked.
"Can you tell me about Yama?"
"What do you want to know?"
"Well, I've been having these spur of the moment flashback memory things, and they're of Yama. I'm always seeing my family and his together, and Yama and I are always hanging out and all that jazz."
"Well, what do you think it means?"
Keiko was taken aback as she looked at Kakashi confused.
"I...uh...don't..." Keiko grunted. "Yama said that we use to be best friends and he was suppose to propose and then I suddenly began getting random flashbacks! Tell me this isn't true!"
"Hm." Kakashi sat forward and put his book back into his pouch. "So he told you, did he?"
"What does the telling me part have to do with anything? All I wanted to know was my own past!"
"Calm down, Keiko. Yama had no intentions of ever telling you anything about your past with him."
"Well, why not? This is pretty big if you ask me! He said that you kept him from me."
Kakashi nodded. "Yes, I had to, it was my orders. Keiko, he didn't want you to know because he has been hurt."
"What do you mean?" Keiko cocked her head.
"He was hurt emotionally after you forgot him. One day when you were on a swing, he went to approach you, but you had no idea who he was. Ever since then he has been hurting; the way you talk to him now probably doesn't help either."
"Ugh! Why hasn't anyone told me? Why did everyone allow me to forget him? What else did I forget? Do I have siblings? Ugh! This is so annoying! Tell me everything, Kakashi!"
"I'm sorry, but I'm not at liberty to say anything, really. It's all up to Yama to spill what he wants to; it was him that told everyone not to help you remember. Speak with him."
"Whaa..?" Keiko groaned out loud and punched her knees. "Kazuko, we're going to gang-beat Yama right now!" She stood up abruptly and began to pull Kazuko to go and try to find Yama. Kakashi sat and chuckled as he watched the two leave his sight. Once again, Kakashi sat back and pulled his book out of his pouch and started where he left off.