The years passed by rather quickly. When Kiku was 9, Kana was married off to a succesfull store owner from somewhere in the land of wind. Kiku never bothered to visit her oldest cousin after the wedding. Kana seemed happy enough, but Kiku never cared much for her in the first place. Kana was nicer than Kimi, but she was just so boring. It wasn't much different with her being gone.

After a while, Kana's old bedroom was given to Okarina. Kiku no longer had a roommate.

For the next few years, Kiku and Okarina began to take mother's teachings seriously, in the hopes that they could put up a good enough facade to hide what they were doing behind her back.

Both girls' cooking skills flourished, they were sweet and polite in public, and a graceful and charming addition to important social gatherings. Kiku's mother even noted, proudly, that they both seemed to obtain such lady like grace overnight. Kimi, on the other hand, hated them for it. She could never stand being upstaged in anything, and she did her best to outshine the younger girls every chance that she could.

Neither of them cared though. This was only a front they both had put up to hide their true intentions. Whenever Kanako and Kimi were away, or whenever Okarina and Kiku had time to themselves, they would steal away and practice from Okarina's scrolls. They would put in countless hours of ninjutsu practice in their rooms during the days, and at night they would both sneak off through an open window to practice their taijutsu away from everyone. Neither girl was much good at the hand to hand fighting, as Okarina was rather clumsy and Kiku was rather timid, but they enjoyed it none the less.

Kiku was worried about being so secretive, but she and Okarina both felt that it was worth it. They were both very good at hiding their secret, at least that was what they both believed.

Maybe it was overconfidence on Okarina's part, that led to Kanako's discovery...or maybe it was just fate. Kiku would never really know. Okarina didn't tell her exactly what happened, but Kiku was there when her mother angrily dragged the girl into their home.

"How dare you do that foolishness in my presence, you horrible little girl. After everything I sacrificed to help you and your sister! THIS is the thanks I get?" Kiku's mother shoved Okarina into a kitchen chair and glared at her. Okarina glared back.

"I don't see why it's such a problem..." the girl mumbled.

"It is a problem! This is my home! These are MY rules. All this ninja garbage was supposed to be wiped out of your mind years ago. What would your parents think about you doing all this behind my back? Hmmm?"

Okarina scoffed. "They'd be very proud of me, Auntie...in case you're forgetting, both of my parents were ninja. Being secretive is part of the job description sometimes."

Kiku stood on the stairs, watching. She knew this wasn't going to turn out well.

"Well look where there job got them, Okarina-chan. Dead in the ground with three useless brats following in their footsteps."

"There were four of us..."Okarina whispered.

Kanako smirked. The hushed tone of Okarina's voice proved that she was getting to her. The woman leaned in closer.

"Only three useless brats. Your sister knew her place and did what was expected. I won't lump her in with the lot of you. If being a ninja is what you want I'll send you back with your brothers before they die too. Then maybe you'll realize the stupid mistake you're making."

Okarina stood up and pushed past her aunt. When she got to the top of the stairs, she turned and pointed a finger at the woman.

"If anyone in my family deserved to die, it would be you. My real family worked hard to protect others, you only live to protect yourself. You're a horrible, useless woman. You don't deserve to share the same face as my mother, because you're NOT my family!"

With that, Okarina stormed off to her room. Kiku stood frozen in place, unsure of what to do. Her mother didn't seem angry with her, so she could at least tell that Okarina hadn't told on her as well. She wasn't a snitch like Kimi. Okarina was going to be a kunoichi...she'd never sell out a teammate. That was why Kiku had always respected her so much. She expected her younger cousin to always be there, but her mother was always there to drive away those Kiku care for.

Kiku's cousins first arrived when she was 7 years old...and the last one left when she was 11. It wasn't even a week after their fight when Kiku's mother had her neice sent back to Konoha. Both girls cried the entire night before, and into the following day. Kiku was the only one to see Okarina out of Suna...Kanako and Kimi wouldn't be bothered. Kiku stood at the edge of the village and hugged her cousin tightly. She didn't want to let go. She didn't want her to go away.

"I promise I'll become a powerful Kunoichi, Kiku-chan. So you have to promise me something too."

Kiku looked at her and nodded.

"Just promise me you won't let that woman control your life. Don't let her scare you away from the things that you want, because her perspective on life is twisted. Once we're older we'll meet up again...and I better hear that you accomplished something cool!" She giggled and Kiku smiled.

"I will." she said.

Okarina's ninja guide beconed for her to follow and she walked towards him.

"You better or I'll use my new ninja skills to kick your butt!" She laughed and gave Kiku one last wave before she and her guide took off towards Konoha.

Kiku felt crushed, just like when she was a little girl and she'd lost Gaara. She was all alone again, and just like last time, her family didn't care.

Chapter end note:

Sorry this is rushed...Gaara shows up again next chapter though. ^^"