Axel's eye sight was blurred, her head was pounding, and her feet weren't stable. Where am I? She looked around a saw trees. There were people a few yards away, she started to stagger towards them. Is that me? She observed herself lying in the arms of another; pale white. Am..what is this? She realized she knew the girl holding her body. V-vladdy? Why are you crying? She reached her hand out when a voice from behind her called.

"Theres no use. Now come."

Axel turned around to see a boy about her age. He had long black hair and grey eyes. He dressed in a black kimono and held a sword.

Who are…what? Axel became scared as he held his sword towards her.

"No need to be afraid." He whispered.

He pressed the back of the handle to her forehead and light started to appear.

T-tell me…who a-are you…?

"Kuchiki Byakuya…" his voice became faint.

By..a-kuy..a

And all was dark for a long time until Axel's eyes fluttered open, to see a boy with orange spiky hair standing above her.

"Where am I?" she whispered.

"Vladdy?! What are you doing? I came for a visit and Tsuande just told me about Axel!" Gaara tried her best to hold back her tears. "I'm so sorry!"

Vladdy pinned her against the wall harder, "Sorry? Is that what you just said?"

Gaara's eyes widened. "Of course! Axel was our best friend, and to have her die infront of you is terrible!"

"YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO BE SORRY! YOU HAVENT BEEN HERE! YOU ABNDONED US!" Vladdy yelled.

Shikamaru pulled Vladdy off of Gaara and threw her to the floor. "Get a hold of yourself, Vladdy!" Tsunade ordered.

Vladdy slowly got up and gave Gaara a cold look. "If you were truly a Nisshoku, then you would have been there to prevent such an incident. But no, now you are nothing but foreign scum." Vladdy glanced a Shikamaru, "I know you agree with me." She said, leaving the office.

Gaara slowly slide to the floor and took many deep breathes.

"Are you okay, Gaara?" Shikamaru asked, not making eye contact.

"Not particularly." She sighed.

Axel's funeral was the next day. Gaara tried to stay out of Vladdy's way as much as possible. Vladdy, whom only came for part of the ceremony to tell Kyoya something.

"She wanted me to tell you that she loved you." Vladdy murmured and left, not even acknowledging Sai, or the other attendants.

For the rest of the day Vladdy laid in Axel's bed, staring at the ceiling.

Shikamaru and Gaara sat of the roof of Nara residence, gazing at the stars.

There was much silence.

"You agree with her…don't you?" Gaara said softly.

Shikamaru still didn't look at her. "Why did you leave? Why?!"

Gaara closed her eyes. "Because I needed to get away from all the tension here. And the Sand village welcomed me."

Shikamaru shook his head and then finally looked at her in the eyes for the first time since she returned. "Gaara."

She looked up.

"I have had two of the closest people to me die right beside me within three weeks. I don't think I can handle the thoughts of weather I forgive you or not.

Gaaras gaze turned sad. "I loved her too, shikamaru." She said softly, and then wrapped her arms around his shoulders.

"Vladdy."

Vladdy shifted her eyes to the doorway of Axel's room. In it, stood Sai.

"Ive been looking everywhere for you, are you alright?"

She didn't say anything.

After a few moments, she got up and started to walk towards the doorway.

"Where are you going?" sai pressed.

No answer.

For the first time in his entire life Sai felt completely frustrated.

"Answer me!" He grabbed her shoulders, and pushed her down on the bed, his body above hers.

Vladdy just stared at him, shocked.

He tightened the grip on her shoulders. "I've been trying to spend time with you for god know's how long, and you wont let me!"

She continued to stare, blank.

What am I doing? Sai loosened his grip, and slowly lowered his head to rest it on her chest. "I'm sorry" he whispered.

And without warning, Vladdy started to cry.

She cried until they both eventually fell asleep.