~Narrator's POV~

The group woke up and packed up camp. Lee and Gai-sensei made a fire while Sasuke and Neji fished. Sakura and Tenten made the fish while the boys went to wash in the nearby lake. The entire time Kimiko just sat there staring at the ground going over what happened last night. She was afraid to start a conversation let alone draw attention to herself. Everyone ate breakfast in silence. No one had spoken this morning except for saying what they were going to do. (Like when Sasuke and Neji went fishing.) When breakfast was one the group put out the fire.

"Well, let's get on our way. If we hurry we can make it back to Konoha by dusk," Gai-sensei said breaking the silence. Everyone just nodded. Neji and Lee walked in the front. Then Tenten, Sakura and Sasuke were next. Lastly, Gai-sensei, Kimiko and Shita walked in the back.

"Hey Gai-sensei," Kimiko said.

"Yeah?"

"Do you mind if I go ahead a little? I'll take Shita with me."

"Sure Kimiko, I know you can take care of yourself. You're a strong youth." He gave a nice guy pose. So Kimiko made some hand signs and pressed her palms on Shita's forehead. Shita grew to the size of a full-grown tiger, just with a few demon characteristics.

~Neji's POV~

You heard Kimiko ask if she could go ahead a little ways. You thought she was crazy. After the memory she projected last night she shouldn't want to be alone. She should be afraid, but she's not letting it get to her. You glanced behind you as you felt a strong chakra. It was Kimiko's. She used it to make Shita turn to her demon form. You glanced at everyone else and saw that they were watching too. Kimiko climbed on Shita and whispered something in the demon's ear. Shita raced forward and ran toward Konoha. Shita slowed the pace as soon as they were out of earshot.

"Gai-sensei, why did she do that?" Tenten asked.

"I'm not sure," he replied.

"She probably felt embarrassed about what happened last night," Sakura said.

"Your right someone should go cheer her up," Gai-sensei suggested. Immediately you raced forward to catch up with Kimiko.

"Well, that's a surprise," you heard Lee say as you raced toward Kimiko. As you got closer to Kimiko you heard her talking to Shita.

"Shita, why me?" she asked. Shita made a sound and Kimiko seemed to understand. "But, I can't help it he's so hot."

You stayed back listening. Shita made a sound again. "Maybe, I do. I'm not sure." You thought now would be a good time to interrupt.

"You what?" you asked. Kimiko spun around so fast she fell off Shita. Shita turned around and seemed to laugh.

"SHITA it's not funny!" Kimiko exclaimed. You laughed a little and offered a hand. She shook her head. "No."

"Why n…" you stopped and remembered last night. "Oh." Kimiko got up and sat on Shita again.

"What do you want?" she asked.

"You look sad, I was gonna try and cheer you up, but I can see you can handle yourself." You turn around slightly smirking. Completely unaware that the group behind you saw this and starts grinning and laughing. You take a step towards the group and Kimiko jumps off Shita.

"No wait. Stay here. You can ride with me on Shita."

"I...w… what?" you stammer.

"You can ride with me," she blushes and looks down.

"Ok."

"Really?" she asks looking up confused.

"Yeah, why not?" you say. She gets up on Shita...again and this time pats Shita's back. You glance at the group behind you to see them motioning for you to get on. You get on and sit comfortably. You wrap your arms around her and she moans. You move your hands.

"Sorry," you say.

"No it's ok. Go ahead," you hear her say. So you put your arms around her and she moans again.

"You ok?"

"Y… yeah."

"I'm not hurting you?"

"N… No."

"You sure?" She laughs.

"You really care about my well-being don't you?" she asks. You blush. You two don't say anything else. She leans back and falls asleep.

"Hey Shita, she's asleep," you say to the tiger demon. Shita nods and slows her pace so the others catch up. They were about to say something but noticed her asleep and shut up.

"Tell me later," you whisper. You hold onto Kimiko so she doesn't fall and soon you see the Konoha gates.

~Inside gates a few minutes later~

You whisper, "Home." Instantly Kimiko wakes up.

"Neji, I can't move."

"Sorry." You release your grip on her and get off Shita. Kimiko gets off only to fall onto the ground.

"Guess my strength hasn't come back yet," she says laughing a little.

"Doesn't it bother you, that you lose your strength?" She stops laughing but still smiles.

"A little, but not enough to let it affect my life."

"Oh," you say. You help her back up on Shita.

"Thanks."

"You're welcome." Just then Tsunade-sama, Lee, Tenten, Gai-sensei, Sakura, and Sasuke walk up to you.

"Kimiko. Do you have enough energy to get into Club Jynx?" Tsunade asks.

"Uh," she glances at you. "I think so."

"Good. If not, Neji she's going to stay with you." (You look like this O.o)

"Uh, ok," you manage to get out.

"Well, Goodnight," Tsunade-sama says then disappears.

"Well, I gotta get up early for my morning training so bye!" Gai-sensei says and also disappears in a puff of smoke. The rest of the chounin surround you and Kimiko. (In this story everyone is a chounin except Neji, Shikamaru, and Sasuke, they are jounin. The whole Orochimaru scene never happened.)

~Kimiko's POV~

"So, you didn't do anything...unprofaned to Kimiko did you?" Lee sneered.

"Lee, your mind is sick," Neji said. You giggled and everyone looked at you.

"What it was funny," you shrugged. They all started picking on Neji and you tuned them out until...

"A little help Kimiko?" Neji asked.

"Huh? Oh with what?" you asked waking up from your daze.

"Ulgh! Never mind," Neji said upset. Everyone laughed at him including you. The small group had walked to the lake near the second training field.

"Why don't we all go home and get some sleep, and meet back here tomorrow?" Tenten asked. Everyone agreed and went home. Except you and Neji.

"Uh, Neji?" you said as he started to leave.

"Yeah?"

"I really, really don't want to see the members of Club Jynx right now. I probably wouldn't get any sleep."

"Come on." He dragged you to his house.

~Morning~

~Neji's POV~

You woke up and decided to go see if Kimiko was up. You walked down the hall to her room and opened the door. She was sound asleep. 'She looks so peaceful sleeping, and yet her life is a nightmare for her,' you thought.

"Morning Neji," a voice said behind you.

"Sh!" you said turning around to find Hinata. She recently got over her stuttering problem.

"Huh? Oh, who's she?" Hinata asked.

"Kimiko Anuwa. One of Club Jynx."

" *gasp* Club Jynx! They're like famous!"

"Yes now sh! She's sleeping."

"Ok."

"Hinata we are going to the lake by the second training field you should come with your team. I'm sure she'd like to meet them."

"Oooooo Neji's gotta crush and he was gonna take her somewhere. Ooooooo."

"Shut up you'll wake her up!"

"Sorry."

"We are meeting my team and Naruto's team there."

"Naruto! I'm so going bye, bye." She runs off. 'I knew that would get her,' you thought.

"Nnnn Neji, Mmmornnning," Kimiko slurred a bit from tiredness.

"Morning, Kimiko. You should get ready we have to meet the group there. Hey what happened to Shita?"

"She brought a message to Club Jynx for me."

"Oh, I see. Well I'll let you get ready." You left and went to fix yourself some breakfast. A half-hour later Kimiko came down. You fixed her some breakfast and she ate it. Then the two of you raced off to the lake. When you got closer to the lake you saw four figures you didn't recognize, along with all five shinobi teams. 'My team, Naruto's team, Hinata's team, Temari's team, and Shikamaru's team.' They were all there. You two said hello to everyone and then Kimiko saw the four strangers.

"NO WAY!" she shouted. Everyone stopped and looked at her.