Hello people! Sorry for not updating in a while, but I've been busy with school and other things.Anyways, thanks to Lyris88, jjayno1, Hibiki-chan, larrycucumber2, MistFairie93, lovingo0Kawaii0oGirl, Mizu Hime, Tsukinoyo, Uchiha Sasha, and ruler of dragons for reviewing. Please review, the sooner you review the sooner I update and the more reviews I receive the more I write. Now on with the story!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything, but the lovely yet clumsy Rei, the dashing and cowardly Okoru, the childishly charming Zakyo, and the arrogant yet loyal Yu.

Chapter Forty-Three

Rei and Okoru walked to the ramen shop and Rei had to try not to laugh as Okoru clung to her and looked around as they walked.

"You know, just because Ino is insane doesn't mean everyone else is."

"Easy for you to say." He muttered darkly.

Rei sighed and shook her head. Okoru could be a pain in the butt sometimes, but at least he distracted her. He looked up at his friend who had become uncharacteristically quiet and frowned slightly at the empty look in her eyes.

"What's wrong?" He asked as he composed himself.

"Huh? Oh, nothing, everything's fine." She said as she smiled.

Okoru frowned at her.

"Yeah right, like that look isn't fake enough."

She sighed and gave him a weak smile.

"You know, for an idiot, you sure are perceptive."

"I have to be to know you so well." He said smirking.

"Yeah, I guess so."

"So, what's wrong?"

"Well, nothing really, I've just been thinking about some things."

"What kind of things?" He said suspiciously.

She sighed and stopped. Okoru stopped and turned to her.

"I've been thinking, maybe…I'm not as strong as I though…."

Okoru looked at his friend and then down at the ground. He sighed.

"But, you're strong enough. You shouldn't have to train more."

"I know, but I don't really want to either. I just thought that maybe I should since Orochimaru is around. Besides, if something happens, I want to be able to keep you guys safe, and not just you, but the village."

"You shouldn't worry about that kind of stuff, besides, I told you, you're strong enough already."

"No, I'm not. There are a lot of things I have to learn. Even though my attacks are strong my strategies need some work and you know I need to improve my genjutsu and chakra control."

"Your strategies are fine and so is your genjutsu. What is it that is really bothering you?"

"I guess, I still fell uneasy about Orochimaru being so close."

Okoru sighed and grabbed her hand. He began dragging her away.

"Come on, I'm hungry."

Rei just smirked.

After eating they went up to the Hokage statues and looked down at the town.

"Hey, Okoru-kun, are you guys going back after the exams?"

"I guess so, I mean, we just came for that. Besides, if Zakyo stays too long she won't want to leave."

"She already doesn't."

"True. I guess we could stay for a while longer."

"Good, then you can stay with me."

"Won't Uchiha mind?"

Rei smacked him on the head.

"No, he won't mind, and stop calling him by his last name, it's very rude."

"Yes ma'm."

Rei grinned and looked back at the town. She frowned a bit.

"Hey, Okoru-kun, do you think I'm a bad person?"

Okoru looked at her with a questioning look. She turned to him and grinned.

"I know, it's random, but I just wanted to know."

"Rei, you idiot, of coarse you're not. Why would you think that?"

"I don't know, I guess I was just thinking about the time I spent with Orochimaru."

"What do you mean?"

"I was thinking about his training and about the people I killed."

"You really are stupid aren't you?"

"Huh? Why?" She said puzzled.

"Do you feel bad about killing?"

"Well, yeah." She said blankly.

"Why?"

"What do you mean why? Killing is wrong."

"You're a shinobi. If you don't kill then you'll be killed. You know that. If you really feel bad about it and if you're right and killing makes you a bad person then I'm a bad person and so are Zakyo and Yu. We've all killed, Rei and we'll do it again if we have to because that is what a shinobi is supposed to do." He said sternly.

"I know that, and I know that we're supposed to kill as shinobi to defend our home. But, there's a difference between the people I killed and the people others killed."

"What are you talking about?"

"Killing someone when you are angry, afraid, or to defend someone or something important is normal for a shinobi, even for a regular person. However, killing innocent people simply because you are told to or because you want to become stronger, that's not normal."

Okoru looked at her and she could see that he was surprised. She sighed and looked back at the village. She looked at the sun as it set behind the forest and the colors mixing together as night approached.

'Twilight, huh?'She thought.

'I guess it fits me as I'm neither good or bad, I'm just caught in the middle.'

She sighed and looked at her friend who seemed concerned. She smiled.

"Sorry for bringing up such a grim topic, but I guess I'm just one of those people that can't forget about things."

"Yeah, I guess you can't, even if it hurts you."

She smiled and began to walk away.

"I'm going to the marketplace to get some things. You should go back home."

She looked at him and saw that he looked somewhat concerned.

"I'll be back in a little while. Oh and don't let Zakyo wreck my house." She said smirking.

Okoru just sighed and shook his head as he turned back around. He still couldn't understand his friend as well as he wished he could. She could be so confusing at times, but he guessed it was just because she had so many things to think about. Sometimes he wished he could help her, but he knew he couldn't do much. All he could really do was listen to her and try to make her feel better when she needed it. He smirked as he thought that he was really some kind of private shrink.

Rei walked around the marketplace like she had told Okoru she would. Contrary to what most people would have thought she had actually been honest to Okoru and was not simply trying to get some time alone. In fact she couldn't wait to get back home and bother her friends. She smirked as she thought of the pranks she could play on Okoru as he was now staying with her.

It was funny, but even after thinking of things as serious as her previous life with Orochimaru and killing people she felt fine. She guessed she was just getting used to dealing with her past as she had been reminded of it a lot lately, especially with the arrival of her friends. She was a bit relieved that she was able to accept things now, but she knew she was still bothered by them a little. She sighed and kept walking. After purchasing what she needed she headed back to her house.

The next morning Rei woke up and proceeded to wake Okrou up so that they could train. However, he wouldn't wake up as shook him and so she had to resort to more…drastic measures.

"What the hell!!!" Okoru yelled as he felt something rather heavy land on him.

"Well good morning to you too Okoru-baka." Rei said cheerfully.

"Get…off…heavy." He struggled to say.

Rei glared at him for the heavy comment, but got off of him. He sighed in relief and sat up.

"What do you want?" He yawned.

"I wanna train!"She said cheerfully.

He looked at her before smirking.

"You sound like Zakyo."

Rei smacked him on the head and he glared.

"Why are you so hyper today? I thought you weren't a morning person."

"Oh well, I woke up earlier and had a few energy drinks." She grinned.

"Oh great." He said sarcastically as he began to get out of bet, but stopped and looked at Rei.

"Could you at least get out while I get dressed?"

"Aww, is Okoru-kun shy?" She said mockingly.

"No, I just thought you wouldn't want to see me in my underwear, but if you don't care." He said as he started getting out of bed.

"Alright, alright, I'm leaving!" She said as she got out quickly.

After getting past an annoyed Zakyo (She wanted to train with Okoru) and successfully escaping the grasp of Ino they arrived at the training grounds.

"Alright, what do you want to work on today?" Okoru asked.

"How about taijutsu?"

Okoru looked at her strangely.

"What?" She said.

"It's just that I thought you'd want to train in Genjutsu since you have to fight Yu."

"Why would I? No matter how much I train she'll always be better than me at that. Besides, I'm pretty sure I'll win. I'm actually training to beat Zakyo."

Okoru looked surprised. He smirked.

"And why are you so confident in beating Yu?"

"Well, I know her, and I know that when she fights me she'll try her best, but unfortunately for her that will be her downfall."

"You just lost me." Okoru said blankly.

Rei laughed.

"You'll see what I mean at the exams."

"Riiiight…" He said.

"Well then, let's get started." Rei said as she got ready.

Okoru smirked and nodded. It had been a while since he had sparred with Rei. He got ready and grinned when Rei charged at him. He dodged and jumped up in the air, but Rei appeared behind him. He turned and blocked, but the force of her punch sent him back down at a high speed. He was able to land on his feet and slid a few feet back. He jumped to the side as Rei tried to kick him. He caught her leg and threw her up in the air. He jumped up and punched her, but she blocked and caught his hand. She got behind him and kicked him back down. Okoru got up and smirked at his friend.

"I see you've decided not to use your clones."

"I told you we were working on taijutsu. No ninjutsu is allowed."

"Fine with me."

He threw some kunai and she threw some as well. They clashed in the air and fell to the ground as Rei and Okoru exchanged blows above them. A while later they stopped as Okoru said that she had worked enough and she shouldn't do too much as she had just gotten out of the hospital. Still, Rei couldn't help but notice that he was panting heavily and holding his side as he said it. She grinned and they went back home.

"Hey, Okoru-kun, do you think it would be alright for me to back to Kirigakure?"

"Why would you want to go back?" He said calmly.

He knew she wouldn't go back so he didn't worry too much.

"I have some things I wasn't able to bring with me when I left so I thought I would go get them back. So, do you think it would be alright?"

"I guess, as long as you don't plan on staying there, but do you think your friends will be alright with it?"

"Well, I don't plan on going back anytime soon."

"Then why did you ask." He deadpanned.

"I don't know, I guess I was just bored." She said grinning.

Okoru sighed and shook her head.

"You are so annoying sometimes."

"Yeah, but you know you wuv me."

She glomped him and hugged him tightly.

"Hey, stop that!" He said.

Rei just laughed and failed to notice the slight blush appearing on Okoru's face. He stumbled and fell along with Rei who clung onto him tighter. He opened his eyes and felt Rei on top of him. He looked down and saw her burying her head in his chest. She raised her head and Okoru noticed how close she was. He also noticed how blue her eyes were and how cute she looked when she was surprised. He was surprised himself as he realized what he was thinking. He sat up quickly knocking her down. He stood up and looked down at his friend.

"Um, sorry about that." He mumbled

"It's alright, I guess it was my fault." She said as she smiled sheepishly.

He helped her up and then they went back home. As they walked Okoru tried not to think about what had happened, but he couldn't help it.

'Damn it! I can't keep thinking about those things. For God's sake she's my best friend. Besides, she's already with someone!' He thought.

'But Sasuke isn't here is he?' He frowned at his thoughts.

He glanced at Rei and when he saw her smiling as she looked around he knew he wouldn't do anything. She was happy and he wouldn't take that away from her.

End Chapter Forty-Three

Hope you guys liked it and sorry for taking so long, but I've been busy lately. Anyways, please review, the sooner you review the sooner I update and the more reviews I receive the more I write. Sayonara!