Natsumi rushed home. She was enjoying herself with the group, but she had a sudden feeling in her gut that something was wrong at home. She reached the front door, it was closed, but her panic had not faded, it actually only heightened. She ran in, yelling for her mother.

"Rao! Rao! Where are you?" Silence answered her.

She ran to the kitchen, it was empty. She headed to the livingroom, also empty. Her own bedroom, empty. Her moms bedroom, empty. Balcony, empty. Natsumi was stumbling as she ran, the panic was making her legs feel like rubber. Finally she ran to the backyard, last place her mother could be found.

"RAO!" The yard was empty.

"Where are you..." Several tears slipped down her cheeks as she headed back to the house.

"Natsumi!" Someone was calling her, and they didn't sound very cheery.

"H-hello?" She yelled back as she ran to the front door of the house.

Outside stood Sasuke, Naruto, Kakashi, Yushiro, and Shikamaru. They were all out of breath and had a look on panic on their faces. Natsumi approached them with caution, she felt like she was going to faint.

"Natsumi, I have some bad news for you.." Kakashi started, Natsumi prepared herself.

"Y-Your mother was just found dead in town." His voice was slow and calm.

"NOOO!" Natsumi lost her balance and fell to her knees, crying uncontrollably.

Sasuke rushed to her side and hugged her tightly as she cried on his shoulder.

"Rao! No!" She yelled over and over. The other boys stood there helplessly.

The rest of that day went by in a blur. Natsumi could only remember bits and pieces. She remembered crying in Sasuke's arms for quite some time, then after that the boys basically dragged her to the hospital. She remembered them asking her if she wanted to see her mother, she must have said yes because the next bit she remembered was seeing her mother's beaten up and bruised body laying in a hospital bed, after that, she blacked out.

When Natsumi woke up, it was dark. The moonlight was shining in her face, blinding her. Her face hurt, instantly reminding her that her mother being dead was not a dream. She sat up crying again all over.

"R-raonoo.." Her words slurred together with her tears. Then she felt someone touch her shoulder.

Her whole body jumped as she lifted her head to see Naruto, Shikamaru, Sasuke and Yushiro in the room, Sasuke was the one touching her shoulder.

"P-please tell me it isn't true.. PLEASE!" All four boys lowered their heads, speechless.

Natsumi's tears started again as she hopped off the bed and pushed past the boys running.

Natsumi ran through the building to the top of it. On the roof she collapsed to the ground. Roofs seemed to be her mother's favourite spot, the spot her and her mother shared their best memories. She felt safest up there.

"RAOO!" She screamed to the sky before lowering her head, now leaving her tears to be silent ones.

She lost track of how long she sat up there, she figured people were probably looking for her everywhere. Then she heard footsteps, she turned expecting to see someone like Naruto or Sasuke, but instead she saw Yushiro.

"Y-Yushiro? W-what are you doing here?" Her voice was no louder than a whisper.

He stayed silent as he walked over and sat beside her on the ground, she starred at him, a look of confusion on her face.

"Y-Yushiro?" She asked again, more confused than ever.

"What?" He asked, sounding almost casual.

"I ah..." She was speechless, but almost happier. His odd actions were momentarily taking her mind off of her mother's death.

Just then Sasuke and Naruto burst up the stairs that lead to the roof.

"Natsumi!" Sasuke yelled as he ran to her.

She stood up, then looked from Sasuke back to Yushiro, something about this guy made her feel uneasy.

"A-are you okay Natsumi?" Naruto asked with his head down.

"Of course she's not okay you loser!" Sasuke yelled at Naruto.

"S-Sasuke please..." The two had turned her attention back to her mother rather then being on Yushiro, she was now crying silently again.

All of a sudden, Natsumi felt something pull at her arm, looking down she saw Yushiro trying to pull her back to the ground. She starred at him in confusion. He tugged at her arm again, this time she lost her balance and fell to her knees, but the way she landed sent her to end up leaning on Yushiro. She blushed as she looked up to him before she moved off of him.

His lips formed a small line as he suddenly put his arm around her. Sasuke, Naruto and herself looked at him with confusion, but she let herself melt into his body, he was so warm, his grip so tight, she felt just as safe if not more than when she was in Sasuke's arms.

"Natsumi, if you don't want to be alone in your house, you can come live with me for a bit.." Sasuke said awkwardly.

"T-Thank you Sasuke, I will take you up on your offer... but, can I stay here, at least for a little while?" She asked, tears still staining her face as new ones continued to fall.

"Yeah, I'll wait for you downstairs." The look in his eyes told her that she was hurting him, but at that moment, she had no care for anyone but herself.

Sasuke and Naruto headed back toward the stairs silently, then disappeared, leaving Natsumi in the arms of a stranger. Then it started to rain. The rain was cold, she could feel the water soaking her to the bone. In under a minute, she was completely soaked. She shivered uncontrollably as her tears began to mix with the rain.

Natsumi swore she heard a small chuckle from the boy beneath her, then she felt warmer, looking around, there were black wings wrapped around her. Her eyes widened as she looked into his eyes in astonishment.

"W-what are you?" She asked attempting to get out of his wings.

"Your new friend." He smiled seeming pleased with his answer.

"Y-you're kidding right?" She had stopped moving as the shock of his answer seeped in.

"Of course not." His lips formed a thin line again as he used his wings to pull her back into his embrace.

She starred at him wide eyed. This guy was so weird, her mind had been off the thought of her mother for too long now.

"Y-Yushiro, a-are you... Ah..." Natsumi couldn't seem to get the words she wanted to say to form in her mouth.

"A monster? Unfortunately not." His smile faded, he looked almost angry with himself.

"Ah... I need to go..." She finally found herself saying. "Sasuke is waiting for me and... I still have a lot of... stuff I have to do..." She began to attempt to stand up.

Yushiro stood up, grabbing her hand, he helped her stand, then he frowned before he flew off into the sky, Natsumi felt cold and alone again.

Sighing Natsumi headed for the stairs. Downstairs sat Naruto, Sasuke and Shikamaru. Shikamaru and Naruto looked to be asleep, Naruto for sure since he was snoring. Sasuke was merely sitting there, looking like his old gloomy self. Suddenly, Shikamaru lifted his head and yawned.

"Natsumi, where's Yushiro?" He asked, almost sounding worried.

"He ah... Flew off." She frowned, feeling cold again.

"Flew off?" Shikamaru cocked an eye brow at her.

"Yeah, he like, grew wings and flew off."

"D-did you hit your head or somethin'?" Naruto asked sleepily as he sat up in the chair.

"N-No... I'm serious, go look for your self, he isn't upstairs!" She found herself yelling in frustration.

"Theres several ways to get out of this building you know..." Shikamaru said looking annoyed.

"It's okay Natsumi, it's okay... You're just fatigued from the day you've had... You're drained." She looked to Sasuke, he looked more like the newer version of himself that Natsumi had created.

"Ah... Maybe you're right... I need sleep." She suddenly felt drained and lost her balance, Sasuke caught her.

She looked up into his eyes, there was a hint of sadness buried deep within them.

"Here," He said as he took off the jacket he had been wearing and draped it over her damp, shivering shoulders. He smiled faintly.

"T-Thank you." Natsumi buried her face in his chest, wrapping her arms around him as he did the same. She was too drained to even cry now.

"Let's just go.." He said as he led her out of the hospital, Naruto and Shikamaru following them.

Sasuke's place was still just as empty and depressing as the last time she had visited it. The place was dark when they had walked in, there was a faint sent of blood she had not noticed last time she was here, but then she realised that people's senses heighten when sad.

"T-Thank you for letting me stay here Sasuke... it's much better than being alone." She forced a pitiful smile.

"It's no problem, I know what you're feeling right now..." Sasuke said as he led her through the house.

"Here, this was my parents room, you can use it, I stay in my old room."

"Y-You sure Sasuke... like, isn't this room kinda important?"

"Nah, not really. Anyway, night, see you tomorrow." He began to walk away when he felt a hand on his shoulder.

"What?" He asked sounding irritated.

Natsumi just merely hugged him tightly, letting his familiar sent fill her. Pulling apart, she starred into his eyes. A tear found its way down her cheek. Sasuke's hand lifted and wiped it away. She laughed under her breath as her lips formed a thin line. His hand rested on her cheek, a shiver ran up her spine from the contact.

"Sasuke?"

He didn't respond as his face closed the spaces between their faces. He stopped, inches from her lips, he hesitated if he should go through with it, but did. His lips pressed agaist hers gently, her eyes instantly closed as all bad feelings disappeared. The desire for this filled Natsumi as she lifted her hand, it rested on his neck, she pulled him closer as she let her tongue graze over his bottom lip, she felt him tense for a moment before he relaxed, opening his mouth just enough for her tongue to slip in. Their tongues entwined with one another. A moan escaped from deep within Sasuke's throat. She explored his mouth with her tongue, finally she broke the kiss, all too quickly. She pushed him away and fell to the floor.

Sasuke was in shock, he didn't understand.

"I-I'm sorry?" He panted, taking a step back.

"N-no, it's nothing S-sasuke, nothing that you did was w-wrong... Thanks again, I am tired though." She was also out of breath as she lay on the ground.

"Alright.. I'll see you tomorrow. Night." Sasuke said as he left the awkward room.

Natsumi stood up and sat on the edge of bed as she wiped her lips with the jacket that was still draped around her shoulders. Truth was, halfway through her kiss, she pictured herself kissing someone else instead, she pictured Yushiro. She didn't know what it was about that guy, but he seemed to pull her in, even if he didn't mean to.

Natsumi sighed as she pulled her legs to her chest, her head buried in his knees, she cried again with the last amount of energy she had.

Natsumi inhaled, then she heard footsteps. From behind her legs, she put her hands together, preparing herself, the step was too light to be Sasuke. Slowly she lifted her head and hands, but her whole body froze, Yushiro was standing before her, a emotionless expression plastered on his face.

"Y-Yushiro? W-what the hell? Why do you keep showing up... or am I dreaming?" Her voice was no louder than a whisper.

"I can't hear you, speak up." His expression didn't change.

"Huh?" She said, confused.

"I said, speak up."

"W-what are you-"

"Speak up!"

"What are you talking about Yushiro!" She instantly covered her mouth, worried she may have woken up Sasuke.

"Don't yell, it hurts my ears." He said with a sigh.

"W-what is your problem?" She asked as she stood up, she was only feet from him, she then realised he was only a few inches taller than her.

"I don't have problems. Goodbye." He turned and began to walk away when Natsumi grabbed his wrist.

"You came here for a reason, did you not?" She asked, letting her expression fade.

"Go figure." A mysterious force pushed away Natsumi's hand.

"Huh?" She said as her hand rested at her side unwillingly.

"Our clans are dead, even Sasuke's." With that, he put his hands together and disappeared.

"Y-Yeah... But what's his point?" Natsumi asked herself out loud as she sat down on the bed.

"W-wait... his clan is dead? I thought he ran from home? I need to talk to Shikamaru."

Natsumi laid down and allowed herself to drift off, it didn't take long.

When she woke up, the sun had just raised in the sky, she knew Sasuke would still be asleep. She ran and looked for paper, when she found a piece, she wrote Sasuke a small note.

Went to visit my mother... be back later kay?
Natsumi.

She tiptoed into his room with the note. He was still fast asleep, she placed the note beside his bed on the table, then ran out the door.

Natsumi ran through town in a hurry. She had no idea if he'd be up, but she ran to Shikamaru's, and pounded on the door yelling,

"Shikamaru! It's Natsumi, get up!"

She heard some shuffling before Shikamaru appeared looking tired.

"I-I'm sorry if I woke you, but I have a few questions."

"You didn't... I was just layin' around... What are the questions about?" He asked with a yawn.

"Yushiro."

"... What a drag... come in I guess." He moved out of her way giving her entrance.

She walked in. He led her to his room, Natsumi noticed a room across from his that was basically empty.

"Who lives here with you other than your parents?" Natsumi asked.

"Yushiro." He said as he sat down on his bed, Natsumi sat in a chair across from him.

"Oh. So, what do you know bout' him?"

"... Not much to be honest. He doesn't speak all that much to anyone. Are you okay though? Yesterday you were grieving your mother's death, now all you seem to care about is Yushiro..."

Natsumi opened her mouth to tell Shikamaru that she thought he may know something about it all, but changed her mind.

"I... I just need to know okay..." She lowered her head.

"Oh please don't tell me you're crying."

"I'm not, just, tell me all you know."

"What a drag... hmm let's see. His father died in the recent war, like how Rao's husband had, actually, I think that was the man Ryo tried to save... anyway, his father died in the war, and his mother ran off, a while after someone had found her dead."

"T-that's all you know?"

"Yes. When it comes to him, I don't know any more then you do, other than he's very powerful in battle. Sorry I can't be more helpful."

"I-It's okay, not your fault." She sighed as she stood up.

"C-can I look at his room?"

"Ah, I don't think he'd like that..."

"It's okay, he won't even know I was in there."

"Um, alright I guess." Shikamaru laid down while Natsumi crossed the hall into his room.

The room was basically empty. The bed was unmade, some clothes sprawled out on the floor, but then Natsumi noticed a big black box in the back corner of the room. There were metal click locks on it. She hesitated before opening the box, inside were over thirty katana swords, all black. She picked up a sword, taking off its case, she could see blood stains on it. She gasped at it. She turned to put it back when she noticed something buried a little bit under the pile of swords. Carefully she put down the sword in her hands on the floor, and stuck her hand in the box, she dug down till her hand grabbed the white piece of paper, taking it out, she noticed it was folded. She unfolded it and gasped again.

The picture was of a young boy, it looked like a younger version of Yushiro. The boy looked to be in pain. His head was facing the sky, he appeared to be screaming. Beautiful black wings came out from his back, and his eyes were gray with several black rings through it. Natsumi shivered as her grip on the picture loosened, it landed on its front, now showing writing on the back that said, "Cursed". Natsumi shivered again, she felt like that all the time when she was younger, she called her left eye a curse still. She felt like she was beginning to understand Yushiro.

Natsumi picked up the picture and folded it back up putting it back where she had found it. She picked up the sword, placing it on top of the pile, then locked the box back up. She inhaled, his sent suddenly filled her lungs. She sighed as she turned around, Yushiro was in the doorway, arms crossed, leaning against the doorway. Natsumi felt her heart skip a beat.

"May I ask why you're here?" He asked sounding annoyed.

"Oh ah... I was looking for you. Yeah, and I found you... yay?" The look in his eyes was making her uneasy.

"Mhmmm, What did you need me for?" He asked, sounding just as annoyed.

"Um... A lot... C-can you come with me? Like for a walk?" She asked cautiously.

"Fine." He said simply.

Natsumi made her way past him with caution. He moved out of her way and followed her outside. Natsumi had to play her cards just right, or else she may be walking on deaths palm with everything she said to Yushiro.

Author's Notes: Chapter 7... good? bad? Review~! :)

XxSoulNoteWritterxX