A/N: Just another thank you to everyone. This story is gaining popularity. It has about 27 faves. Please, keep reading and sharing this story. I want this one to be as popular as Lavender Love was. That said, this chapter will be another cheery one, but it will have a twist at the end. Here we go.

Chapter Twelve: Fireflies in the Dark Night Sky

July had arrived in Konohagakure. Kaze awoke to feel the sun burning into his window. He looked over at the calender and he smiled. On the calender with pictures of famous Shinobi was a day marked in red. Today was the day that Syaoran and Lyn turned fourteen. Kaze idolized Syao. It was a given that Syao was talented. He could control Chakra extremely well and he could use some Wind Ninjutsu. But if Syao were talented, Lyn could be considered a genius. She was the top of her class by far. Neji considered her a Hyuga genius, already able to use Rotation and the Sixty-Four Palms technique.

"Kaze, are you awake?"

Syao had moved from his bed to look at Kaze who was daydreaming on the top bunk. Kaze snapped to attention and he nodded. Syao chuckled. Syao was the only person he had told about the night on the roof. Syao didn't do anything other than smile. Syao knew deep in his heart that the four of them were like a real family. Syao brushed his raven hair behind his head and he spoke.

"Mom's going to try and get me and Lyn out for a while. Would you and Rise like to come to the lake and swim with Lyn and I?"

Kaze nodded and he rolled off the bed and he made it quickly. He dug in his drawers to find his swimwear and he pulled on a shirt over his bare torso, sliding the red trunks on. Syao did the same and he opened his door. Lyn was already coming out of her room. She smiled at her siblings. Rise came out of her room, dressed in a white shirt and a blue plaid skirt. She winked at Kaze and she turned to her siblings.

"Happy birthday Syao and Lyn. Fourteen. You're gonna be Genin soon."

Rise hugged her siblings and she kissed them.

"Shall we go?"

Lyn said. She was a natural leader, full of life and charisma. Everyone respected Lyn a great deal. She had many friends and a lot of the village boys liked her. Lyn led the four of them out into the living room where their parents were setting up for the party to be held later that day. Lyn led them out after telling Hinata where they'd be. Once they were outside, Lyn led them out of the village and into the forest. Rise remembered the lake well. She had seen the pictures of her parent's wedding. Hinata was pregnant with Syao and Lyn at the time, but everyone had seemed so happy. Rise smiled over at Kaze and she whispered to him.

"I love this place. Its so peaceful here. And its filled with flowers."

Rise sat on the grass once they had arrived. Lavenders had started growing around the lake in a small ring. Kaze bent down and picked one. Rise watched as he tucked it into her hair.

"It suits you. It matches your eyes."

Rise smiled gently and she hugged him.

"Want to go in the water, now that you can swim?"

Kaze nodded and he drew his shirt over his head, standing in just his red trunks. Rise eyed his body. Kaze had been training his body and mind a lot with Syao and it was paying off. Kaze's abs were tight and his pectoral muscles were well defined. Rise felt her heart racing as her face flushed red. He's got a nice body. I need to train harder. Rise thought to herself. She felt happy, being around him. Syao was already in the water with Lyn on his shoulders. Kaze dove into the water and he surfaced, looking at Rise. Rise stood up and she took off her skirt and and shirt, showing a cream bikini underneath. Kaze felt his face heat up. Rise was already curvaceous and her breasts were larger than most of the girls her age. Kaze closed his eyes in bliss and he thought. Gorgeous. She's really gorgeous. Rise down into the water and she swam out to her siblings and Kaze. Kaze grinned at Syao and Lyn. Rise climbed onto Kaze's shoulders and they faced each other.

"Let's joust."

Syao said. Kaze smiled and he looked up at Rise. Rise grinned at Lyn and she held her arms out.

"Don't go easy on me Rise."

Lyn said as Syao and Kaze moved towards each other. Rise and Lyn tried their hardest to knock each other over. Lyn smiled and she moved her arm under Rise's arm. Rise burst out laughing and she fell backwards, taking Kaze with her. The two younger Shinobi to be came up for air at the same time, laughing.

"No tickling Lyn!"

Lyn stuck her tongue out and she smiled.

"First rule of the battlefield: Never let your opponent get the better of you."

As if on cue, the other three groaned in mock agony.

"No school talk!"

Rise said and she splashed her sister with water. Lyn chuckled and she floated on her back, thinking.

"If I told you all I wanted to be a Medical Shinobi, what would you say?"

Syao just smiled. Rise nodded and Kaze spoke.

"Follow your dreams Lyn."

Lyn smiled at Kaze and she hugged him. They were like family after all. Rise hugged them both.

"You'd make a great Medical Shinobi Lyn. You're top of the class after all. And you have the best Chakra control out of us all."

Syao hugged the three of them and spoke.

"Everyone would support you Lyn. Mom and Dad would be proud."

Lyn sniffled and she smiled.

"You guys are great. We should probably go back to the house. The party is starting soon. Its Uncle Sasuke's birthday too."

Everyone climbed out of the lake and dressed again. Rise rang the water from her long raven hair and she smiled.

"Want to come back at night?"

She whispered to Kaze. Kaze nodded and they made their way back home. The party was just heating up when the four of them arrived. Chouji and Ino were there with their daughter Ashari. Sasuke was there with Serah and Sakura. Shikamaru and Temari were there as well with their daughter Kiana. Kiana smiled when she saw her cousin Kaze. Most surprising was that Gaara and Matsuri were there. They saw Kaze come in and they smiled at their son. Gaara hugged his son as did Matsuri. Rise smiled at her parents, and she sat down at the table. Hinata then stood up as Syao, Lyn and Sasuke came forward.

"You all know why we're here. We have this party every year to celebrate their birthdays. So, in place of the normal speech I usually give, let's just eat!"

A cheer of approval went up in the room. Rise noticed her mother was a little giddy. She's never this happy. Rise thought and she moved to the tables full of food. She piled food onto her plate and she smiled as she ate. If there's two things she's good at, Mom can cook and fight. Rise finished her meal and she moved around the crowded room to find Kaze. He was sitting with his parents. Rise sat with them and Gaara asked her questions.

"Have you been well Rise?"

Rise nodded nervously. Gaara seemed to pick up on this and he smiled.

"You don't need to be so formal Rise. We're good friends."

Rise smiled gently.

"Thank you. I've been very well."

Gaara smiled.

"That's good. How is your training with Kaze going?"

Rise grinned. They had been training together for several months. Rise explained that they were both doing well. Gaara asked her many more questions, and Rise answered them truthfully. Eventually the party ended. Kaze said goodbye to his parents and he moved to Rise's side once they had departed.
Eventually, all of the guests had left. Rise and Kaze helped clean and then they asked Hinata for permission to go back to the lake. Hinata looked at the clock.

"Just be back for before midnight."

Rise felt that it was too easy. She exited the house with Kaze and they made their way to back to the lake. Rise and Kaze sat by the water's edge for a long time, not saying anything as the midnight fireflies buzzed around them. Kaze held Rise's hand as they watched the insects dance. A rustling in the bushes startled the two of them. Rise and Kaze hid back in the trees. Rise activated her kekkei genkai and she saw two young people coming into the clearing. She cleared her eyes and she and Kaze watched as Nanjo entered the clearing with a girl that they both recognized as their classmate, Yuzu. Nanjo and Yuzu sat in the clearing and embraced.

Kaze whispered to Rise in a barely audible voice.

"I don't want to watch this."

Rise nodded, but her eyes were glued on the couple. They were moving closer, and then it happened. Yuzu and Nanjo's lips met under the stars. Kaze looked away and he ran back to the main trail. Rise followed him, catching up to him just in front of Konohagakure's main gate.

"Kaze?"

She whispered and Kaze turned away.

"I'm sorry Rise. Its just he beat me."

Rise hugged Kaze from behind and she laid her head on his back.

"I'm better than she is. You won in my book."

Rise said and Kaze smiled. That night was the start of everything that would happen for the rest of their lives. Rise and Kaze walked home in the darkness, hand in hand. Rise and Kaze entered the house silently. They made their way to their rooms. Kaze opened his door, but Rise caught his hand before she could walk in. Kaze couldn't see well in the dark, but he felt something warm on his lips for a brief moment. Then he heard Rise's voice.

"Goodnight, Kaze."

He heard Rise's door open and close, and he made his way to his bed, falling asleep in mere moments, not realizing what had just happened.

TO BE CONTINUED...