Two years after the battle that took everything from Samuru and Chii Abare:

"Chii, you're getting better," Samuru spoke calmly as I sat at the lake edge, manipulating the water into various shapes and weapons.

"As are you brother," I smiled. "You have gotten a better grasp of your ability to stay in control and not tire out so fast. We both have improved a lot since then."

"What do we do now with our lives? We are considered dead to most nations and have no money or a place to stay," Samuru frowned. "We promised each other to not ever loose control and not take from others, but how can we not do that when we are in this situation?"

"I don't know Samuru, but we'll figure something out."

"My, my, what is this?" a half-black/half-white person who had a black cloak with red clouds on it and also the design of a venus fly trap that surrounded his head appeared on the lake a ways from us. "Two homeless children who have a great deal of power. Ever heard of the Akatsuki?"

"Isn't that for S-ranked nin?" I asked.

"Yes, but we make exceptions now and then when we see potential in others," the black half spoke.

"We'd love to have you with us," the white half smiled.

"That's just a little creepy," I frowned as half of their lips spoke in correspondence to their side color.

"Forgive us but we are special. Would you care to join us? We have plenty of money and food that you wouldn't have to go hungry like you have been the past two years."

"Samuru?" I looked up and my older brother and he nodded. "Alright, we accept your offer."

"Great! Touch our hands and we'll take you to meet the group," the man held out both hands and we walked across the water and placed our hands in his, unknowingly sealing our fate.

Now at the Kazekage Tower:

"Was he born that way?" Gaara asked as he looked at them.

"I can't say that I remember if it was from birth or not. He is a year older than me," she frowned, shrugging. "I've always lived around people signing to each other."

Gaara nodded but didn't lower his guard. He looked back at his papers and started to write out missions for some of the genin teams. Occasionally he'd look over at the two strangers on the couch and noticed that Muru was sleeping while Chii sat up playing with something in her hands. Her dark red hair was pulled over her shoulder so he couldn't see her face. He saw a small sparkle of light glint off her hands and she clasped her hands closed and took a slow breath.

"What are you doing?" Gaara asked and she looked up, surprise in her eyes.

"Oh, nothing, just playing with my ring," she smiled, showing him a diamond ring. "I'm bored, how long will it take for your brother to get here?"

"It depends on the day. Kankuro can be very lazy when he wants to be."

She frowned and crossed her arms and slouched against the back of the couch. He went back to his work and after a couple minutes, he heard her stand up and come closer. Not feeling any threat, he let her come past the desk and saw her look out the window at the village. She stayed there for a good ten minutes before there was a knock on the door and then kankuro came in.

"Hey Gaara... whoa, who are you?"

Kankuro looked past his brother and at the red haired girl as she turned around to look at him. Her eyes narrowed for a second but she didn't say anything. She walked back to the sleeping teenager on the couch and woke him up then started signing to him and he stood up.

"Kankuro, since you were late, you will finish up my work for the day," Gaara spoke standing up and strapping his gourd to his back.

"Who are they?"

"When you learn your manners, then you can meet them properly later," Gaara growled then walked out of the office with Chii and Muru. "Sorry about Kankuro, he is not very patient or level-headed."

"It's alright," Chii smiled then signed something to Muru and he pulled out a piece of paper and wrote something down before putting it back in his pouch.

"What was that?"

"Just something I needed him to write down so I don't forget later," Chii smiled but her smile reminded him of the Leaf Shinobi, Sai, when he had first come out of Root and was always using fake smiles.

"What are you hiding? Your smile is fake," Gaara stopped walking in the streets and turned to face the two siblings.

"Why would you assume such things?" she smirked, but he saw her guarded gaze.

"Because I've met someone who was never really good at showing emotions and always did a smile just like the one you just did." Gaara narrowed his eyes and she laughed.

"Oh, you have a way with words don't you Kazekage," she smiled and this one was real. "I just don't like frowns all the time. If Muru could talk, he'd tell you the same thing. I'm always smiling no matter the situation."

Gaara looked at her for several more minutes then resumed walking towards the Restaurant that he always ate at. He heard a frustrated sigh come from behind him and he smirked as the two siblings followed him inside and they sat down at a booth. Chii had a small smile playing her lips but didn't try making conversation after they had ordered dinner. It was slightly unnerving every time Muru looked at him, but he didn't say anything even though the teenager was deaf and mute.

When dinner was over, Gaara led them over to the Kazekage manor where Temari had prepared two guest rooms on the upper levels. Muru went directly into his room while Gaara saw Chii snuck up the stairs. He followed confused and saw that she had made her way to the roof.

"What are you doing up here?" Gaara asked and she spun around surprised.

"I...I wanted to get some air and had guested right when I wondered if you had a roof access," she spoke, no trace of a smile on her face. "Why are you stalking me? Have some crush or some trivial thing with me?"

"No, I was just confused because it looked like you were sneaking," Gaara growled, forcing himself to stay calm at the insult.

"I'm always cautious at night, Kazekage. Night is the time for demons to emerge," she spoke.

"And what do you know about the night demons?"

"Plenty, I know you noticed my scars, its from those night demons one night that I was not being careful," she snapped, her eyes narrowed at him.

"What demon?"

"Ha, you think that I saw the face of my attacker? They came up from behind then disappeared before I could even see a shadow," she laughed before walking back inside.

Gaara followed and walked into his room after, he heard the lock to her room being turned.

Chii snuck back out of the bedroom provided for her around 1 am and back up to the roof.

"You've kept me waiting long enough," black Zetsu hissed.

"I'm sorry, the Kazekage followed me last time before I could summon you on our progress," she whispered as she stared at him as he stood in the shadows.

"I have been watching and Samuru is right, you don't have time to be flirting around with your assignment," black Zetsu snapped.

"I think it's intriguing at her ways to gain his trust," white zetsu smirked.

"Well you never get bored, do you?" Chii muttered. "You can get away with talking to yourself."

"Gasp, she's onto us," White Zetsu squeaked, acting surprised.

"Idiot, is there any new information from Pein?" Chii sighed.

"No."

"Good, I'm going to bed."

"Just be careful with what you say around the former jinchuuriki, we wouldn't want him to figure out this little play, now would we?" Black Zetsu hissed before they disappeared.

Chii sighed and ran a hand through her dyed hair as she laid back on the roof.

"Chii?" Chii bolted to her feet and was in a defense position without thinking before she saw Gaara come into view. "Who were you talking to?"

'Shit!'