"…so~…I asked you to come now…" Rinsu informs, poking her index fingers together shyly as she looks down.

"…Let me get this straight… You sent Mitsuki on a D-rank mission that should take her hours…and asked me to come here when your cousin is out contacting his family…to do a ritual with me for us to see…what would have happened if you moved to Konoha when you were kids?" Naruto asks, seeming to be slightly confused.

"…yeah… I just…wanna know…if things would have been different if I came here a little earlier…" She answers, blushing as she rubs her stomach. "We'll have to swap memories of this life first, though…heh… It'll make us a lot closer, I guess…"

"And… if it is… then what?" The blonde points out with a soft and concerned frown.

"…I guess maybe I was hoping it'd make us…f-feel…better…and more able to be friends…" She responds, turning to look out at the large window at her back.

"Oh… well, then… alright…" I guess that's the best that could happen… what about the worst that could happen? …..If it's anything like what I'm thinking of, it's probably better to figure that out now than in twenty years when we're both married with kids… The blonde slowly nods and sighs deeply. "Okay. What do we do…?"

Lighting the fire at one side of the room, Rinsu sighs as she stares at it before waving Naruto over, lifting a bag to move it to her side as she sits on the floor. When he sits at her side, she throws a handful of a dust into the fire, which makes a sweet, floral vanilla scent, making the two slightly drowsy. "Try to relax…and think about the earliest memory you can…"

The earliest… Slowly closing his eyes, Naruto slowly begins to recall a time when he was only eight and walking through the streets of Konoha alone.

Quickly, this memory is replaced with the vision of a small girl with long tendrils of brown hair almost to her hip cries to an unseen argument rages on and she sits, cuddled up on her bed, another brunette girl looking her exact likeness utters something to her and then runs from the room; leaving the first to cuddle upon herself.

…why is he all alone…? …looks so sad… such a great guy… can't believe… Naruto can hear Rinsu's voice murmuring in the distance.

What…? I can hear… Rinsu? Can you hear me, too? Naruto wonders in his mind as he views the memory of Senka and Rinsu's past. What's… going on there?

…seeing each others memories… joining our minds… She replies as their memories continue on through their youths and into their teens.

Oh.. Okay.. The blonde 'murmurs' telepathically in acceptance.

"He likes you, you know." Senka states obviously as the memories slowly come to a normal speed and the fluffy haired brunette crosses her legs, raises her brows and sighs, leaning back on the houses' couch.

"…You think so?" The vision of Rinsu answers, and when Senka nods, she sighs and seems thoughtful before offering. "…I kinda already knew… We've been talking about dating…"

"But aren't you already with Lee?" The older looking female asks, raising a brown, but Rinsu only shakes her head.

"Not really… We're playing with the idea, too…"

"Well, aren't you little miss popularity all the sudden." The fluffy haired female chuckles, her foot bouncing on her knee.

"Jealous?" Rinsu grins mischievously, her eyes squinting though Senka simply shakes her head and crosses her arms.

"Nah, not really. Shikamaru's a good guy. He just…needs a little guidance." Then becoming thoughtful herself, Senka's arms fall as she asks simply. "Think you're in love with either of them?"

"…I am…honestly…but there's that girl…Mitsuki. She keeps watching Naruto… I don't think he notices… It's weird, because that Hinata girl's been following him around since we got here. Probably longer, too. …He seems really popular, and those girls are…kinda creepy… So, I think I'm gonna back off…see what they do, you know?"

"If he's the one you're in love with, you'll regret it." The darker brunette points out with a frown, but Rinsu only sighs and shrugs.

"…I know… But…if we're really meant for each other, we'll be horribly drawn to one another, you know? No matter what…even if he dates someone else, or if I date Lee…"

"You're so naïve. Men are easily drawn to pussy; and Naruto is definitely a virgin. If those girls are that into him, and he gets with one of them; he'll have that virgin in bed within two weeks, tops. And he's so honor driven, he'll stay with them; no matter what."

"…What do you want me to say, Sen?" The longer haired brunette asks with a soft frown, throwing her hands up into the air.

"…I can't tell you what do to. I'm no expert on love." The taller female states, shaking her head, to which the green-clad girl only sighs and walks away.

That… happened but… why didn't you…? Naruto finds himself wondering out loud coincidentally as he views Rinsu's memories.

…I thought my way was better… guess I was wrong… Is all she offers, sounding fauxly cheerful.

But… now I don't know what to do… I mean, I think Senka's right but… I also know that I think we'd be really happy together but… if we do then Mitsuki… It's almost like there's no reason for her to be here… When there's already someone perfect for me…but she doesn't have anyone else… I'm worried what might happen to her… and Gaara. He's already been through so much pain and betrayal in life… if something like that happened… and it was my fault… I don't know what he'd do…But I don't want to go on lying to myself and doing what might be just as difficult or painful to either of them… I really… don't know what to do, and it feels like it's all on me…. Naruto's thoughts wander, in a typical way that isn't known to most people.

…I'm sorry… …maybe this way a bad idea…but I can't stop it now… Rinsu's sad voice answers before sighing deeply. …you knew you liked me before we even talked… why didn't you try to get with mebefore I got with Lee…? or even Kakashi..!

Because Sasuke… because Sakura…. Because… I… I don't know… there was that talk the three of us had before the party… but… then all of the sudden you were really with Lee so I just figured… I must've got beat out again….

…you're so strong when you're fighting for someone else… why can't you fight for your own happiness…?

It's different… Naruto explains. I don't know, I never really thought about it that way… I guess I'm just used to the way things are. It's why… even though I knew … or at least I thought… I loved Sakura, when she came to me in tears… and begged for me to bring Sasuke back… all I could do was smile and tell her I'd do whatever it takes…

…well…I guess you did do anything… She offers in return as the memories continue by.

Yeah… He returns lowly before thinking again out loud. …Was Hinata really following me like that…?

…yeah… it was kinda creepy… Lee says she's been doing it since you guys were really little kids, and almost everyone notices but you..

Well… I noticed… but I never thought it was Hinata. I didn't know someone was watching me… lovingly. I just figured it was somebody thinking of ways to creep me out or hurt me. Sounds paranoid, huh…? The blonde asks.

No…she just sounds creepy. She reiterates before becoming quiet. …you saw the sutra…didn't you…?

Yeah. I remember… it said 'soul mates'. The blue eyed shinobi confirms softly.

…you remember…what I said about my soul mate…?

Becoming quiet for a minute, Naruto then utters sheepishly. Uh… looks like I'm drawing a blank… heheh…

…maybe it's…better that way… She answers before Naruto starts to feel oddly detached. What…?

What 'what'? Why do I… feel different? Naruto asks with concern evident in his tone.

I-I don't know..! …never…cast…before…! He can hear her distant voice calling to him as the images begin blurring away into nothingness.

You… brought me into a ritual you've never done…? Oh great… The blonde returns cynically.

..sorry…?