Kazue sat on the edge of her bed, looking down at her beige carpet. Her eyes were closed and she ran her fingers through her short blonde bangs. After a few minutes, she stood up and took one last look into the body length mirror. She fixed her red belt that circled her waist and pulled the two ponyties that held up her long blonde hair tighter. She reached up and pulled her bow off the hook on her wall and drapped it over her shoulder. She picked up the bags of arrows on her dresser and wrapped the string around her waist to hold them up. With on last look in the mirror, she walked over and opened the door. She stepped out but then retreated back into her room to pick up the book that sat on her dresser - she never went anywhere without that book.

When she finally made her way downstairs, she spotted her father laying on the couch in the living room relaxing with his eyes looking at the ceiling. When he spotted his daughter he moved his legs off the couch to set his feet on the floor and gave a soft smile. "Morning, Kazue." He greeted.

Kazue smiled and walked over to sit beside him. "Morning, dad." She smiled back and gave him a quick hug. "What's on your agenda today?"

Sora shrugged. "Nothing actually. The Mizukage is letting me off a missions for a bit."

Kazue laughed. "He lets you off, and sets me on..."

"You're on a mission?" Sora asked with a brow raised. "I didn't know that."

"And you forget too often. I told you two nights ago. Nikito and I are going together..."

Sora smirked. "I think that guy likes you, Kazue."

Kazue rolled her eyes. "Yeah right. We're friends, dad. Besides, if he wants me, he has to go through you, remember?"

Sora laughed and leaned back against the couch with his hands behind his head. "Yeah, I guess that is true... He coming to meet you here?"

"If he works up the courage... You have a tendacy to chase the guys off." Kazue laughed.

Sora smirked. "I gotta protect my daughter."

Kazue's expression softened and she reached over to hug her father's neck. "I know, dad. And I really do appreciate it."

Sora smiled and kissed the top of her head when there was a knock to the front door. Sora made his way off the couch and to the door, opening it to see a fairly tall male with black shaggy hair.

"Ah... hey..." The boy said nervously, looking up at Sora.

"Kazue... he's here..." Sora murmured.

Kazue laughed from the living room and made her way to her father's side. "One way to make my friends like you a little more, is to seem cheery." She reached up and made her father's lips turn up into a smile. "Like this."

Sora chuckled and smiled without his daughters help. "I'll try, Kazue."

"R-Ready to go on the mission?" The boy said to Kazue.

Kazue nodded and pushed past her father, turning back to give him another hug. "Goodbye, daddy. I'll be back soon."

Sora hugged her back and whispered, "Never goodbye... alright, sweetie?" He smiled and pulled back. "Be kind to my daughter, Nikito..." He stated sternly before smiling.

Nikito blinked and took a step back. "Y-Yes sir..."

Kazue let out another laugh before letting go of her father. "See you soon!" She smiled and turned with Nikito.

Sora watched the two walk off before closing the door and returning to the couch with a sigh. "She still misses Jatsu.."

Nikito let out a sigh of relief as he ran a hand through his shaggy hair. "Your dad is creepy."

Kazue laughed lightly. "You can't blame him, he's already lost two other girls..."

Nikito sighed but nodded. "I guess that's true..." He sighed. "Anyway, on a better note, this mission should take no longer than a day or two." He chuckled.

Kazue nodded. "Hopefully. Dad gets uncomfortable when I'm gone too long." She laughed.

Nikito smiled. "Maybe we'll find her this time.." He whispered as he put his hands in his pockets.

Kazue nodded. "It's been fifteen years..." She muttered. "I'm starting to wonder whether I should try to move on by now.. but everytime I try, I can't help but have hope the next time. Then it's back to the same daily cycle."

Nikito frowned as he pulled a hand from his pocket to wrap around Kazue's shoulders. "Don't give up. I have no doubt she's out there."

Kazue shrugged. "I just refuse to believe that she was killed. I...have some fantasy that someday I'll find her. But it's a childs dream."

Nikito shook his head. "Don't say that... I don't think you're dreaming far enough... You will find your sister alive and well."

Kazue smiled softly and turned her eyes to look at him. "Mr. Dreamster. You have big dreams, don't you?" Kazue broke out from underneath his arm and spun. "Mr. Mizukage~" She sang quietly an winked.

Nikito blushed faintly and laughed. "Okay, so mine is probably more of a stretch than yours, alright?"

Kazue let out a puff of air. "Longer stretch than mine? I'm trying to find a long lost sister of fifteen years. You have the Mizukage thing going for you. You're strong, you're smart. Very agile and strategic. You're quite a social one and you have quite the leadership skills..." Kazue smiled. "I'm cheering on the side for you..."

Nikito laughed and put his hand back into his pocket. "Thanks, but there's still many people who'd be better than me... anyway... if your sister is anything like you, I'm sure she's out there... probably looking for you in return."

Kazue closed her eyes and sighed. "I miss her so much it hurts sometimes." She reopened her eyes and looked at Nikito again. "Maybe this will be the one..."

Nikito forced a smile. He had known Kazue all the way through the academy growing up. They had been put on the same squad and even remained as partners after being jounin the year before. He knew of the burden she lived with and couldn't help but to feel like he shared it. The same day her sister had been taken, he had come inches from being taken himself when his father came in. He sighed deeply and nodded as the sky began to get darker, rain threatening to fall. "I hope for your sake it is..." He whispered.

The two of them walked down the path that led out of the village perametres and headed for the docks. This was one of many missions that Kazue was sent on a mission that involved taking a boat across the water. It was quicker to get to the Rain Village by taking the boat and walking the rest. The boat was already prepared, and Kazue and Nikito entered on.

"Oh the fun..." Kazue laughed and unhitched the boat, pushing off the dock.

Nikito chuckled and laid back looking up at the dark clouds. "And on top of the long boat ride, we're gonna get wet..."

Kazue shrugged and began to make a contraption to put over their heads. "It won't hold under strong winds, but maybe it'll just rain..."

Nikito laughed. "Yeah. So... what you want to talk about while we wait to reach the Rain?"

Kazue shrugged. "I'm not good at on-spot conversation starters." She laughed.

Nikito laughed. "Alright, then I'll start... That book you always carry... have you ever read it yourself?"

Kazue nodded. "Of course..."

"Yet you still carry it for Jatsu?"

Kazue nodded. "She told me one day, when I was older - and when she was finished with it - that I should read it. I'm older, so I thought I'd beat her to it." She winked and laughed.

Nikito smiled. "Maybe she'll be jealous that you beat her to it."

Kazue shrugged. "I think there would be other things on our minds." She stuck out her tongue playfully.

Nikito smiled before it faded. He sighed. "I-I know you don't want to hear this... but what if we do find her... and she doesn't remember you?"

Kazue walked over and sat down beside Nikito, taking her hands in his and smiling. "How many albino's do you know?"

Nikito laughed. "Guess you got a point..."

Kazue smiled. "If she doesn't recognize me, at least she'd probably wonder. I don't think she'd forget about me; we had too much of a strong bond when we were little."

"So what about who she is as a person... what if she's completely changed..." He whispered, moving to sit up, his hands still entwined with hers.

"She's probably matured a lot more, as have I." She smiled softly and sighed. "Whatever comes my way, I will have to deal with it..."

Nikito lifted one of her hands and kissed the back of it. "I'll always be here to help, Kazue."

Kazue diverted her eyes and hesitated before pulling her hands back and standing up. "I know you are, Nikito..." She muttered. She turned back to face him, her lips turned back up into a smile. "That's why you're the bestest friend I have."

Nikito smiled and laid back down. "I try my best..." He murmured.

Kazue reached into the bag she had brought and pulled out a small container. She walked back over and sat down beside Nikito, her legs tucked under herself. "I made rice balls, want one?"

Nikito laughed. "If you're willing to share."

"Of course." She stated and held one out for him.

Nikito lifted his hand to grab the rice ball before shoving it in his mouth. "Mmm.." He swallowed. "Good a cook as ever." He smiled.

Kazue smiled. "It's a good thing it wasn't just mother who knew how to cook."

Nikito gave her a brighter smile as he heard rain start to hit the contraption Kazue had made to keep the pair dry. Kazue lifted her eyes and laughed. "You think the winds will pick up?"

"With our luck? Most likely." He chuckled.

Kazue rolled her eyes and hit Nikito's leg. "Hasn't your mother ever told you to be optimistic?"

He laughed. "Well, yeah... but I'm just stating facts."

Kazue rolled her eyes again and brought a rice ball to her lips to nibble on. The rest of the boat ride wasn't as bad as Kazue was expecting; the contraption held out. Once they anchored the boat and stepped out onto the land, the sky cleared up and the clouds cleared up. Kazue squinted up at the sky and shielded her eyes. "That cleared up really quickly..." She muttered.

Nikito pulled his sweater from his bag and set it on her head to shield the sun. "Better?" He asked with a smile.

Kazue laughed and handed back the sweater. "It's sweet of you, Nikito, but I think I can last a little bit..."

He shrugged and slipped the sweater back into his bag. "Don't hesitate to ask if you need it then."

Kazue smiled and nodded. "I'll be sure not to..."

The two of them started off down the path towards the Rain Village. With the sun beating down on them, Kazue suddenly felt like this trip was lasting a lot longer. Her skin was starting to feel irritated, and her eyes were starting to hurt more despite her eyes almost being closed. Nikito noticed Kazue's difficulty with the weather and grabbed her arm to pull he under the shade of a tree.

"Rest for a moment." He whispered. Besides seeing Kazue's pain, he was starting to sense a fair amount of chakra nearby.

Kazue nodded in agreement and slipped to her knee's. She lowered her head and covered her face with her arms and closed her eyes. "I'm sorry..." She muttered.

Nikito shook his head. "You know I don't mind.."

"Can...Can I borrow your sweater..?" She mumbled.

Nikito laughed and pulled out his sweater, holding it out toward her. She took it and slipped it on to her irritated arms and buried her face again. "I hate the sun..." She sighed.

Nikito knelt down beside her and nodded, only half-listening. He began to feel uneasy as the chakra grew even closer. "Kazue, I think we're gonna have to hide..."

Kazue nodded. "I was thinking the same thing." Kazue lifted her squinting eyes. "We can hide behind those bushes over there."

Nikito nodded and shuffled over behind the bushes and pulled Kazue with him as he peered out through the leaves. A tall male suddenly appeared in the middle of the trail, he looked scared as his eyes darted around.

"Come out you brats!" He screamed.

"We're not brats, old man." A female voice hissed before two hooded females with plain black cloaks appeared across from the male.

"You seem like brats to me!" He growled.

"I don't like you..." The taller female sighed, the girls faces hidden from Nikito and Kazue's view.

"Like I care!" The man hissed.

The taller female turned to glance at the shorter girl. "Umi, shall we do this?"

"Fast, slow, or meaningful?" Umi asked the man with no expression. Depending on his answer, then she would show emotion.

The man clenched his jaw and growled. "Neither... You will be the one to die here."

Umi shook her head and sighed. "Shall I ask you again? Fast... Slow... Or Meaningful...?"

The taller girl shook her head. "Don't bother with giving him options. Just choose what your mood tells you to do... mine says fast and painful!"

Umi lowered her head for a moment and raised it again. Her eyes turned from their natural pale pink eyes to a saphire shade. "Fast it is..." She smirked.

The taller female laughed in an eerie way as she took a step closer, pulling out a kunai. "Prepare yourself..." She smirked.

The male pulled a kunai of his own as his eyes narrowed. "Just try it!"

Umi lowered her hood and stuck her arm out infront of herself. The kunai ripped from the man's hands and flew ten yards from his body. She lifted her head again, moving from her spot and appearing beside him. Before he could realize where she now stood, she lifted her foot and kicked him in the back, sending him flying towards the other woman. The taller woman smirked as she caught the male's shoulder and ran the kunai through his chest, the wind knocking down her hood.

"Game over..." She whispered in the males ear before dropping his lifeless body to the ground. "How pathetic... I swear they keep getting easier.."

"You're too impatient, Jatsu." Umi said and came to stand at the head of the dead man. She brought a kunai out of the cloak's pocket and reached down to shove the kunai into his both of his eyes, plucking each eye out.

"That's for your disgusting sins." Umi narrowed her eyes and threw the eyes in her hands behind her. "You sicko..."

Jatsu sighed and ran a hand through her hair. "One down... two to go..."

"See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil." Umi shut her eyes and reopened them, her eyes turned back to normal. "They're all disgusting."

Jatsu nodded. "And to think these three aren't where it ends..." She sighed. "Well, ready to head out?" She asked, pulling her hands out of her cloak and forming hand seals before blowing fire at the body, watching it burst into flames.

Kazue shielded her eyes to get a closer look at the taller woman. She had spikey blonde hair that reached past her butt. The shape of her face look familiar, and her smile looked more than familiar. Kazue let out a quiet gasp and slowly turned to look up at Nikito.

"N-Nikito...I...I think that may be her..." Kazue whispered.

Nikito's eyes widened as he looked from Kazue back to the female. "Y-You do have similarites.." He agreed slowly.

"That's..." She whispered. "They have the same na..." Kazue stumbled to her feet and ran out from behind the bush. "That's Jatsu-chan!" Kazue screamed, tears forming in her eyes.

Nikito's eyes widened as he jumped up and stepped from the bushes.

Jatsu looked over at the female running toward her and held out a kunai to keep her back. "What do you want, kid?" She sighed.

Kazue couldn't surpress her grin as she stopped a few feet from the outstretched kunai. "Jatsu-chan! It's me! Kazue!" The tears slipped from her eyes.

Jatsu's brows furrowed as she seemed taken aback. "K-Kazue..." She lowered her head, appearing to be in thought. "So... you're alive..." She murmured quietly.

Kazue laughed joyfully. "I should be the one saying that!" Kazue gasped and ran back behind the bush to where her bag was and brought it out, running back over and holding out the book she had left in the backyard the night she was taken.

"Fifteen years..." Kazue said and laughed. "I've held onto this book for fifteen years...you never finished it, but you were determined to."

Jatsu had lowered her arm and returned the kunai to the pocket in her cloak. She eyed the book that laid in Kazue's hands and let out a sigh. "K-Kazue... why didn't you let go?" She asked softly.

Kazue's face twisted with confusion. "Let go...?" Kazue shook her head. "Forget you?" She shook her head again. "How could I have forgotten?"

Jatsu shook her head. "You could have just let go... you were four... it would have been easy..."

"I promised dad I would find you one day. He said you went missing, so I refused to believe those men had killed you." Kazue explained. She stepped forward with her arms outstretched for a hug.

Jatsu looked over her sister and shook her head. "I-I can't... you need to go home... go home and tell our parents nothing..."

Kazue shook her head, anger starting to settle in. "They killed mom..."Kazue stated. "And dad hasn't been the same since."

Jatsu's eyes widened momentarily before she lowered her head. She sighed and looked back up at Kazue. "You should get out of the sun..." She murmured. "Don't want to wither away..."

"I can last a few minutes. It's been fifteen years, Jatsu..." Kazue said, finally lowering her arms.

Jatsu diverted her eyes to the burning body. "I-I know... I-I'm sorry... I can't... I-I just can't... you don't understand..."

"No, Jatsu. I understand perfectly." Kazue said and casted her eyes. "I understand the pain; the anguish. For years, I could hear dad cry himself to sleep each night after the incident. It took him forever to finally move on, but he never forgot. We both miss you to death. Have you really just moved on like that?"

Jatsu looked back at Kazue. "I never... moved on, Kazue... it's much more complicated than that. Please...-"

"I wasn't aware that we started to keep secrets..."

Jatsu's eyes widened as she closed her mouth, looking away from Kazue's gaze again. "Y-You know... things aren't as they were..."

"Life does strange things... but you still have a choice." Kazue stated.

Jatsu sighed and smiled slightly as she stepped closer to Kazue and set her hands on her shoulders. "I don't... but I will chose to say goodbye." She murmured, kissing the top of Kazue's head.

Kazue quickly stepped forward and wrapped her arms tightly around Jatsu's torso, tears slipping from her eyes. "Never say goodbye...as dad always put it." Kazue whispered.

Jatsu bit her lip before fully wrapping her arms around Kazue. "Please don't make this h-harder..."

"Somehow...I'm going to kidnap you..." Kazue laughed lightly.

Umi stepped forward. "Not with me nearby." She growled.

Jatsu looked over at Umi and pulled from Kazue's arms. "She's not a threat..." She murmured to Umi.

Umi turned to Kazue and said, "You shouldn't be going around throwing plans out like that so naively."

Jatsu narrowed her eyes at Umi. "Drop it."

Umi gritted her teeth and closed her eyes. When she reopened them, they had turned completely black.

Jatsu lifted her hand and grabbed Umi's collar. "I said, drop it." She hissed.

Umi let out a frustrated breath and ripped her collar from Jatsu's grasp. Her eyes flitted back and forth between Kazue and the male before she turned and stormed away. She knew that if she didn't turn and walk now, she would be ripping Kazue's throat open before Jatsu could stop her.

Kazue's eyebrows furrowed and she let out her breath. "What's with her?" She asked.

Umi clenched her jaw and kept walking, forcing back the strong emotions that were threatening to talk over.

Jatsu shook her head with a small laugh. "She's... different." Jatsu looked over at Nikito, then back at Kazue. "He your boyfriend?"

Kazue's eyes widened and her face flushed slightly. She let out an awkward laugh and turned to glance at Nikito. "Just a very good friend, and partner." Kazue replied and turned back to Jatsu.

Jatsu looked at Nikito for a moment before looking back at Kazue. "I need to go... Umi will go too far ahead and I'll lose her if I don't go now..."

Kazue frowned and stepped to hug her sister again. "You can come back home..."

Jatsu bit her lip and sighed. "I-I can't... But... I'll let you in on a secret... my next mission is in the Sand Village..." Jatsu winked before running off to catch up with Umi.

Kazue stared after Jatsu until she was out of sight, and she finally turned around to look at Nikito, dumbfounded.

"A-At least you know she's alive.." He murmured.

Kazue missed what he had said as she was deep in thought. Fifteen years had passed, and she finally got to see her long lost sister, but she wasn't coming home. Kazue looked at all the possible situations, but hoped that this was just one of the incidents that wouldn't happen. The pain of her childhood returned and she dropped to her knee's as sobs took over. Nikito gasped and ran over to Kazue, dropping to his knees in front of her and pulled her close.

"Kazue.. it's alright..." He murmured comfortingly.

Kazue shoved her face into Nikito's chest and gripped at the front of his shirt. "I didn't...want this to happen!" She sobbed.

Nikito sighed and whispered, "This is actually good. She's alive, remembers you, and isn't evil. She even said where to find her... we can get her back, Kazue... maybe she nees our help to get free..."

Kazue let the next few sobs go, and finally pulled back, her eyes red and puffy, and her cheeks streaked with tears. She sniffled and wiped her eyes. "I...guess..." She mumbled, trying to stop the tremble in her lip.

Nikito smiled. "Look at the positives, okay? You told me to be optimistic, now it's your turn..."

Kazue forced a smile past her tear striken face and wrapped her arms around Nikito. "Thanks, Nikito..." She mumbled and buried her face between her arm and his neck.

Nikito held her tightly. "Shall we get this mission done quickly so we can get to the Sand?"

Kazue nodded. "My eyes hurt though..."

Nikito bit his lip as he thought. "Besides putting up the hood of my sweater, I'm not sure what else we can do..."

Kazue waited a few moments and pulled back with a smile. "Thank you...again."

He blinked in confusion. "I didn't do anything this time."

"For being a good friend... You take good care of me sometimes.." She laughed.

Nikito blushed faintly and looked away. "If I don't, who will?" He murmured.

Kazue's smile softened and she climbed to her feet. She picked up her stuff and began to head towards the Rain Village. Nikito smiled and jumped to his feet, walking after her.

Jatsu sighed as she put her hood back up, looking up at the sky that started to darken again. Umi walked in silence slightly ahead of Jatsu, her hood still down with her black and pink hair flowing through the slight breeze. Her eyes had long ago turned back to normal, and her heart beated normally again. The anger that had taken over completely left and Umi started to feel bad.

"I-I'm sorry about what happened..." Umi muttered.

"Hm?" Jatsu mumbled, looking at Umi. "Not your fault..." She muttered with another sigh.

"I didn't know what got into me back there..." Umi whispered. "...You never told me you had a sister."

Jatsu clenched her jaw. "Because I wanted to forget..."

"You say one thing, but your actions contradict."

"It's complicated, Umi. When I was seven, like you, I was taken from my home. She was only four. I was hoping the young age would help her forget me. I didn't want her to burden herself."

Umi lowered her head. "At least you have a family who cares..." Umi mumbled under her breath.

Jatsu rested a hand on Umi's shoulder. "I've told you... I'm your family now... I adopted you." Jatsu smirked.

Umi sighed. "Yeah... I know. But it's not so easy to forget the way they..." Umi shook her head and closed her eyes.

Jatsu's smirk faded to a frown. "I know things are harder for you than me... I'm sorry."

Umi shook her head. "In a way, I'm glad they tossed me away..." Umi forced a smile and turned to face Jatsu. "I wouldn't have been adopted by you..." She winked and laughed.

Jatsu smiled in return and hugged Umi from the side. "If we are ever able to escape, I'm taking you with me..."

Umi laughed, but then her expression faded. "I belong in this...organization...though..." Umi frowned.

Jatsu shook her head. "Neither of us do... no one does. You belong in a loving family... you belong with me..."

Umi sighed and forced another smile. "Should we stop by some inn and get a good sleep?"

Jatsu nodded. "We will need to leave at dawn though."

Umi nodded and they walked towards an inn that Umi spotted off in the distance.