Chapter 10

Serena looked down from a hilltop trying to remember things about Kahona when she saw Britt sitting on a high tree looking at the sunset sadly.

So she hopped over and sat next to her.

"What's wrong Britt I thought you'd be happy about this sorta thing?" asked Serena watching the sunset as well, not knowing someone was creeping up behind them and eavesdropping.

A few minutes of silence and then, "ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" cried Britt to the sky. Serena nearly fell out of the tree when she had this outburst.

"OW!!! My ears, Britt. What's wrong?" she asked paranoid while she regained her balance.

"This dang necklace is my problem," she said, pointing to a spiral metal coil that held a wierd looking stone in it, it hung on a nice white gold chain enforced with titanium and lithium hung loosely around Britt's neck

"What about it?"

"First of all, it keeps breaking...see?" She easily snapped it by gently tugging on the end. "Plus, I so want different colors and stuff..."

"So get a stronger one."

"Tried. Even had Bre send me the strongest stuff, but none of them worked. Guess it just can't stand up or something..."

"Is that it?"

"...and I have to have a date to the dance or else. Then I have to do all these things that I don't wanna do like dancing and silly shows and stuff," said Britt more calmly while closing her eyes. "It gets annoying after awhile," she said like she did it every day.

"Or else what?" she asked skeptically raising her eyebrow.

"I don't know but knowing Kakashi and he loves to torture me so it's bad," she said.

"What's so special about this festival? And why are you forced to go with someone? And- sigh nevermind," she mumbled as she rested against the tree's trunk and closed her eyes.

"Well this festival comes once every Blue moon it starts on the new moon and last for two moon cycles," started Britt "And for the so special part it goes with being forced to go with someone you get asked by anyone you have to go with them no questioned asked. They say its supposed to keep people from being left out and all. But what if no one asks you or you don't have any friends then what," stated Britt. "And nevermind what?" asked Britt.

"Well you'll see," she said rubbing the back of her head still with her eyes closed. "I have not actually been to a festival or anything in a while and by that I mean not since I was probably like 6 or something so I can't remember anything at all," she said sheepishly.

"Well I wouldn't know because I always avoided things like this so it new to me to but I do know, you have to be asked by someone to go to the festival or go with a friend just not alone that's the tradition."

"Wow, I'm glad I don't have to do that," said Serena looking down. She convinced Britt that she didn't like it but the person listening could tell by her tone of voice she longed to go to it or wished to see one again.

"Well lucky you. Now I am going to try to stay away from er this place for a while." as she hopped to the ground only to be disappointed by the shoutings of all the girls. After a few minutes Serena heard Britt scream "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NOT SHOPPING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Britt cried as she was being dragged away to go shop. The eavesdropper left to go fetch something.

Serena sadly wished she could remember this place to her it seemed wonderful even if she didn't show it. She watched the last of the sun go down on the cool March night and slowly drifted off into unconsciousness by the gentle swaying of the branch while sitting on a high tree branch leaning against the tree trunk

when the eavesdropper returned. She felt him put something around her neck as it glowed she could feel a choker now around her neck and fell asleep to the person saying.

"There now you have an excuse to go to the festival," said a man as she faintly saw a spiky haired man stand over her. She couldn't see his face so she blacked out as her head fell a couple inches.

She deserves to have some fun! She might hate me for it but I know in the end she'll be happy, thought Kakashi as he smiled. He looked at the choker around Yin's neck. It was a 3/4 of an inch thick, was a dark black with silver speckles dense in the back and fanned out as it came toward the front, it was silky to the touch and had the Yin-Yang symbol in the middle and below that on a small loop was a diamond kunai half the size of a regular kunai, the kunai had some engravings he couldn't figure out. at least I know she can't take off a choker necklace that has no beginning or end "Hm?"He saw her shivering in the cool May night even with her cloak on and brought out a blanket he had brought and wrapped it around her. "You remind me so much of my adopted little sister. If I only knew where she was I would go to rescue her," he said as he looked at the waning moon. Tomorrow the festivals ceremonies would start at 9:00pm but the games started at 6:00pm.

"Yes you would go and find her anyway you could," said a sweet voice. Kakashi looked down a branch and saw Sakura Sensei.

"What are you doing here?" asked Kakashi as she jumped to a branch across from his.

"I should be asking you this," she said looking at the peacefully sleeping Serena. ". . . . . . She does remind me of Sin ya know only one letter difference and all. The silver ribbon too. You two grew so close in those two years. . . " she sighed.

"Yeah, but Yin hides her face so I can never really tell." Kakashi said as he sat down on the branch.

"Like you?" teased Sakura Sensei. Kakashi laughed.

"Yeah, Sin took that on about several months after I found her," after he said that there was a few minutes of silence.

"What about her eyes Kakashi, have you ever seen them? Maybe you could find her that way." suggest Sakura Sensei.

"I-I've only seen them once and that's the day she was taken. The last thing I saw in her eyes was happiness because she sacrificed herself to save me but behind that were pain and cloudiness and confusion. . . "he said as he closed his eyes and tightened his hands into a fist." Her eye colors. . the right side was a rainbow kind and on the left was a white eye but you could see the thick out line around the edge of the iris then it quickly faded into white and in the middle was a black pupil."

Wow, that's quite a stand out. And Yin keeps her eyes covered so another reason to think it her, . . but what I don't get if it were her wouldn't she recognize us all even if it has been nearly 8 years,"

"Unless something happened to her to make her forget. " he pondered. After thinking for a few minutes Sakura Sensei spoke.

"I-I came here for another reason and thought you'd be here," she said suddenly.

"Hm? and what would that be?" he blinked.

"I made bet with Britt that if she bought a kimono that I would ask you something. . . "

"Go on,"

"Kakashi will you go to the Moonlight Festival with me. " she said fast blushing hard.

"You know the rules, I can't refuse so yes even without the rules I would've gone with you." he smiled

"Awww thanks Kakashi-kun," she said hugging him with relief.

"Now who to set Yin up with is my question?" he said

"Hm? But I thought she didn't get a necklace?"

"Look," he said pointing to the sleeping Serena.

"Wow!!!!!!!!!!! Its beautiful how did you get that on her without her noticing?"

"Well, I over heard she and Britt talking about it. Apparently she hasn't been to one in a long time and can't remember and she seemed to want to go to it unlike some others I know. (Hm? who could that be??) She said she couldn't remember what it was like, so I asked Tusunde if she could join in on the fun and she said yes. When I came back she was asleep so I just slipped it over her head but then it was a thin silver chain with a mini kunai on it that

had the Yin-Yang symbol on it and when I did it, it glowed and turned into a choker necklace like it is now."

"Wow. . I wonder why that happened?" she wondered. He shrugged. Just then a cool breeze came by and Kakashi saw both Sakura Sensei and Serena were shivering.

"Come on lets get you and the little one inside before you or her catch a cold," he said standing up. Sakura Sensei nodded. Then they both heard.

"A DRESS IN ENOUGH BUT MAKE-UP!!!!!!!!!!! I ONLY HAVE TO SAY ONE THING TO YOU PEOPLE. NEVAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" they both sweatdropped as they heard Britt's shouting. Kakashi shook his head as he picked up Serena and wrapped the blanket tighter around her and held her bridal style.

"Nee-san (Older brother)," mumbled Serena in her sleep but they both heard her clear as day. Sakura Sensei and Kakashi's eyes went wide. "Hmm..." then she fell silent.

"Uuuuhhhhhh, you're not gonna freak out are you?" Sakura Sensei asked Kakashi. He just shook his head no and went back to normal. "I can't have her sleep at my house tonight because me and the girls are going for a last night shopping spree till 3am. I'll ask Britt what kind of kimono Yin would want and ask to see hers," she said grinning happily/evilly. "But, I'll come by early in the morning to help with pre-partying stuff an all. OK?" she asked.

"Sounds good to me, I'll let her sleep in Sin's old room. I haven't opened it in years," he said. They took their separate ways at his house. "See ya in the morning." he said as he went into his house.

"Yeah I'll be here at 5:00 am. BE UP OR ELSE!!!!!!!!!!!" he heard her say. He gulped. Last time, we'll just say his arm was in a cast for about 6 weeks and had a huge bruise on his head for about 3 weeks and many many other cuts and bruises. He was the laughing stock of Kahona till Gui had gotten a cavity.

He slowly made his way up to Sin's room and went to the end of the hallway. He grasped the handle and he pushed it opened. It was just liked he always pictured it the same as always: every thing in order and the bed neatly made in the middle of the room with a big window behind it, dark midnight blue covers, with silver stars all over it. Over that was a bug-net canopy draping all around it in a silver shade. In the room was a desk with papers neat and pens and pencils and her sketch book on top. Then on the night stand on both sides on the bottom shelves were books and scrolls. On the right one, there was a lamp and her three stuffed animals. On the left was incense and jars filled with different things. There were many things on top of one of her dresser that resembled poisons, weapons, ect. The room smelled of light grassy meadows.

He opened the canopy, very gingerly laid Serena on the bed, and tucked her in. He smiled as he closed the canopy he opened the window open like he always did before and silently closed and shut the door.

Meanwhile with Britt. . . .

"NEVER, EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER!!!!!!!!!!! SHALL I GO EVEN LOOK AT MAKE-UP OR EVEN THINK ABOUT IT LET ALONE WEAR IT AT ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" this could be heard throughout the shopping area's of Kahona. Britt was on a very long rant on why she hated make-up and all the girly-girl things.

"Yo! Kiddies what's. . . . . up?" asked Sakura Sensei as she look at the girls bickering over things.

"OH MY GOSH!!!!!!!!!!! Please tell me you are here to save me from the jabbering queens of stupiness?" asked Britt hugging Sakura Sensei's legs.

"Ummmmm. . . I just came to see how all of you are doing. I also needed to ask you something," she stated.

"What ever it is I'll answer it just can we go somewhere else besides here!!" exclaimed Britt as she looked at the girls fighting for accessories.

"U-ummm-mmmm B-Britt-chan what are y-you doing behind Sakura S-sensei's legs?" asked Hinata as she came over with a small bag in her right hand and a huge bag in the other hand.

"Hiding from the accessories and the mad group of girls fighting for them. Hey what do you got in the bag Hina?" asked Britt pointed at the small bag.

"Just s-some hair clips a-and ribbon and a p-pair of e-earrings."

"Oh."

"Hey Hinata, why don't you come with us since your done and we need your help?" asked Sakura Sensei. Hinata just nodded as she and Britt followed her to a huge kimono store that was 5 stories tall.

Britt groans "Why are we here again?"

"Do you really want to be back there or here helping a friend?" she stated.

"Here," Britt said quickly.

"Good now I have to ask you for suggestions, opinion, and better judgment," started Sakura Sensei.

"To what? See wich kimono looks best on you? You've got one already." said Britt.

Sakura Sensei got an anger mark. "NO!!!!!!!!!!! TO ASK WICH ONE OF THESE KIMONOES WOULD YIN WEAR TO THE FESTIVAL!!!!!!!"she shouted.

"Oh" Britt and Hinata reply.

"Something that covers her body up she, doesn't even like to even take off her cloak, but not too much. we should get her comfortable," mumbled Britt thinking intensively.

"She would p-probably like the colors w-white, black, s-silver, or a nice d-dark color," stated Hinata.

"Wait a minute, I thought she wasn't going to the festival?" said Britt breaking her train of thought.

Sakura Sensei gave a mischievous grin and said "Don't worry, Britt. If I know Kakashi-kun he won't let someone be left out."

Britt sweatdropped, "I hope she can handle it." Britt mumbbled. Kakashi-kunBritt thought to herself.

"By the way what kimono did you guys pick out?" asked Sakura Sensei eyeing the two girls.

Hinata held hers out the kimono was a periwinkle with big flowers at the bottom a dark navy blue. The outline color is a sky blue. The shash around the waist is silivery-blue-ish, and the obi(the thing that ties it together) was a sunset orange. The sleeves were just a couple inches longer than her hands and the dress flowed to the floor. It was made of pure silk and shinned in the store light, it went perfect with her necklace she wore wich was a siliver lily with a saphire gem in the middle.

Sakura S. turned to Britt, "And you?"

Britt sighed and said, "I didn't get a kimono, OK?"

"WHAT?! Why not?!"

She rubbed her ear. "Well, for one, I don't wear kimonos. Two, I already HAD a dress, so I saw no reason to get another."

"Well, let's see!"

Britt, muttering under her breath, held hers up. She held up a long dress that was made of a material that shimmered in the light and changed to and from more colors than anyone could ever imagine shifting along it's surface. It had no sleeves or straps for that matter, and reached the floor. It was layered from about the waist down so it looked like it had about 15 layers, and there was a large ribbon that have changing streaks on it that was tied in a loose bow at the back, and long matching ribbons to wrap around her arms and legs, and one for around her neck were tied to the hanger. The back was so low, it basically wasn't there until about her tail bone.

"Cool, mine's at my house I just dropped it off." she said sweatdropping. They spent the next 3 hours looking for a kimono but no luck. They all were either to bright or to short, or to small or big.

"Ugh! IF we find Yin a kimono she WILL wear it weather she likes it or not!!" said an angry Britt sitting down on a bench on the 4th floor and puttig her hands to her forehead . "I don't know how they can just look for hours on end looking for something that not worth it and still be HAPPY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Britt exclaimed as she threw her hands up in the air in defeat.

"Hey guys look at that one," Hinata pointed. It was a pitch midnight black kimono with white trims. The shash was a light sparkly siliver and the obi

was a deep, deep, deep gray. There was a white-siliver dragon starting from the bottom swirling up and around the dress twice and stopped on the right

side near where the collarbone would be.

"Its her size too and would be a comfortable fit, the sleeves look like they would come to just above her finger tips." said Sakura Sensei.

"Then here's an idea," said Britt impatiently. "Why don't we get it? And then leave."

"Yeah, sure why not. It goes with her necklace." Sakura Sensei said. They got the dress and headed over to the acessory shop where yet STILL

the girls were fighting over things. "Did our trip seem better than this," she asked as she saw Britt twich.

"If it wasn't for Yin I would rather have be here fighting for nailpolish" she said with utter most regret.

"Well how about me and Hinata pick out her's and your's acessories while you go to my house and set things up Ok? And-" Salura Sensei said tossing her

the keys but got caught off.

"I don't need any accesorries but...YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! FREEEEEDOMMMMMMM HERE I COME!!!!!!!!!!!" shouted Britt as she raced out of the store with just her bag with her dress and the keys in her hand. She bounded happily across the roof tops toward Sakura Sensei's house general direction when she relized she was near Kakashi's house. She decided to go pay him a visit.

Knock, Knock.

"Just a minute," came a voice from inside. She waited for about one minute and was about to kick the door down cop style when someone opened the

door and caught her leg in midair and hung her upside down holding her leg. "Hello. . .er. . .Britt. What's are you doing here?" Kakashi asked.

"Oh I'm just hangin around like a ragdoll here," Britt said sarcastically. He just looked at her. "That means LET GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

she screemed at him. He just shugged and dropped her, she landded on her head wich got her even more mad. "HEY THA- mahmahumabaam. MHANMDMAHAMMHAHUUHUAMMHAUAMNVABMDG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" she TRIED to say but got muffeled.

"Be quiet, Britt. I am having a guest sleep over and there already in bed," he said sternly. Britt just huffed angerly. "Now what did you come here for?"

"Just to say and drop by to tell you that, I SURVIVED THAT TOURTURE OF SHOPPING AND ECSAPING THE DEADLY FEATS OF THE MAD MOBBING GIRLS AT THE ACCESSORY STORE!!!! MWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" she said. He sweatdropped.

"Con. . gradu. . lations?" he said slowly.

"You better belive it!" she said throwing her fist in the air.

"So are you heading over to Sakura-chan's house for the slumber party?" asked Kakashi eyeing the keys to her house.

"No, I was gonna ditch and go hide."

"You do realize that those are her only set of keys?"

"Ummmmmm. . . no but here give them to her," she said handing the keys over to him.

"sigh Fine but I would fear tomarrow afternoon at 5."

"Why?. . . . "

"You haven't gotten a date yet right?"

"HECK NO I HAVEN'T!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

"Then yes you should fear."

"Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuu. . . "

"Sakura-chan is pairing up people who don't have parteners," he stated smirking. Britt's eye widdened with fear.

"No," she whispered.

"Yesssssss! You can run, but ya can't hide!" he said as she twiched.

"Bye bye," she waved as she fled. He chuckeled.

Britt had to stop, out of breath, after running for so long. She looked around, curious to see where she ended up. It seemed so familiar, this village she had landed in. But why? She walked around-then saw something that made her stop dead in her tracks. An old sign, hanging by one hinge that said, "Ramen of the Flame."

She realized exactly where she was now. She was home. Or at least her old home. The Village Hidden in the Flame, the place of her past. She must have, by instinct, gone back to here. Suddenly, she remembered something.

"No...oh man, NO!" She raced off.

She slowed down as she approached a house on the outskirts of the village. She entered hesitantly, then ran up the stairs. She paused right before opening the highest up room door, then steeled herself, took a deep breath, and entered.

It was just as she had remembered. The softest mattress she had ever felt covered by at least 30 super soft or silky blankets, pillows, and millions of stuffies, all piled upon a loft bed, underneath of which was a desk of deep mahogany. On the desk was a scattering of papers covered in drawing of things like people, plants, animals, and landscapes, stories, and other things. Colored pencils and crayons and markers were all in neat cups, color-coordinated and by type of medium all over the desk edges and back The shelves were stuffed with books of every kind. She turned and looked at the dusty shelves behind her, and blew on them to reveal figureines of various creatures. On the wall were pictures tacked or taped to the wall, and weapons in glass cases hung in safe spots. She went over a to a speacil framed photo and wiped the dirt off the glass. Tears started to form in her eyes as she gazed at the photo, sitting down on cushy beanbag chair that was in a pile of cusions and other beanbag chairs in one corner.

"Mother...Father..." Tears began to fall on the glass. She started to sob.

A half an hour later, Gaara went looking for Britt. For some reason, he had the feeling that he should go into a forest that he'd never been to before. As soon as he entered the trees, a sort of whooshing sound came from behind him, but he paid no attention. He kept running and after about 10 minutes, he found himself in the middle of an abandoned village. He stopped, confused and started walking the streets. He was near the east-most edge where there was a solitary house, so he decided to go there. When he walked in and stood still, he suddenly heard soft sobbings coming from upstairs. He raced up them, fearing the worst.

He burst though the highest room's door to see Britt sitting with her knees up to her chest sitting on a huge beanbag chair. She leaned her head back and he saw tears streaming down her face. He went over to her hesitantly, as he'd never seen her like this. He sat down next to her and put one hand around her. "Britt?" he gently whispered.

Her head jerked up and she looked at him with wide, tear-filled eyes. "G-gaara?" She sniffed, and turned, looking back at the picture she clutched in her hands. Gaara reached over and put a hand on it.

"May I?" he asked. She nodded, so he took it. He looked at the two adults and the little girl in the picture. The girl was about five years old and had long, silky light blonde hair, only a few shades lighter than Britt's own. The girl's eyes looked almost like they were changing color as the picture was taken. The male had black hair and his eyes were closed. The female had dark red hair with a few blonde streaks in it and her eyes were a shade of violet. All were smiling. He suddenly realized something. Still looking at the picture he asked, "This is you and your parents, isn't it?"

He turned to her and she murmured, "Yes." He suddenly felt his heart sort of jerk, seeing her so terribly sad. He surprised both her and himself by throwing his arms around her and hugging her tightly. She buried her face in his shoulder, crying harder. Not knowing why, but not knowing why not, he put his hands on either side of her head and turned her face up by his. He then leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers, tasting the salty sweetness of her tears. Britt's eyes widened in shock, but he put one hand behind her neck, the other on the small of her back, deepening his kiss when she tried to pull away. She relaxed, and wrapping her arms behind his neck, kissed him back. He gently pulled her closer to him until she was pratically sitting in his lap.

A few minutes later she gently pushed on his chest and he reluctantly parted lips with her. Both were panting slightly. "what...was that...all about?" Britt whispered.

Gaara looked a little embarrassed and slightly hurt. "You didn't like it?" he asked. "I just...thought it might...cheer you up...I guess..." he said the last a little weakly and not looking at her.

She smiled sadly and hugged him. "It helped. thank you, Gaara. How did you know where I was?"

He shrugged. "I dunno. I just was so worried about you and followed my instincts and they lead me here. Where are we anyway?"

"We're in the Village Hidden in the Flames. I was born here. This is my room. From when I was little. see?" She picked up some drawings, one of her parents that looked almost like a photograph. "I guess I was pretty good, even for a kid, but..." She sniffed, and buried her face in Gaara's chest, crying again. "I miss them so much!!"

He wrapped his arms around her again. "It's ok, it's ok," he mummered, gently stroking her hair. She looked up into his face, then wiped her eyes and asked him, "What were you saying by a whooshing sound?"

He explained that part again and her eyes widened fractionally. "Really? That's interesting."

"Why?"

"well...you see...oh, how to explain this...um, ok here: Basically, a long time ago, a barrier, forcefeild, whatever, was installed to keep out enimes. It would open only for those with a speacail acess hand sign or whatever, and would atomatically close after them. It would activate if a citizen was in the village, but since it's been so long, it was slow to respond, but once a second person was through, the safety override kicked in and shut it."

"But...what about when the...you-know-whos came?"

She grimaced. "There are these maintiance thingies that help keep the barrier running strongly, but one of them got broken or worn down or summant, so there was a weak spot. They mangaed to break in...and it was far out to the north, farthest from the village, so...yeah..." A single tear ran down her cheek, but she brushed it angerily away. She grinned at him ruefully. "I guess it was self-repaired or something, but a drawback is that once it has been reactivated after a long period of time, it won't even SLIGHTLY deactivate for 26 hours. Meaning: we're both stuck here for awhile."

Gaara grinnned, looking at Britt. "I think I can deal with that." She smiled back, and they kissed again.

AWWW SOO CUTE!!! Thanks pplz for readin if you dont ever Rveiw!!

R&R

stay tuned till next time my friends!!!!!Ja Nee!!

Thanks Britt-chan!!

Yin Cardinal