A/N: Uh, hi there. You all know who I am, the author SquallStorm. When you see an A/N, you get a free win, er new chapter. Heheh, sorry bad joke. Anyway, hey everyone. It's been nearly five months since I updated. I don't have a bs excuse. I just cannot write when I'm not being inspired or stimulated somehow, but fortunately for you all, the readers and fans, I've not only found inspiration bu rediscovered what made me an author in the first place. For those few of you on my Facebook page, you know why I'm inspired. If not, I strongly suggest reading Kimi no Iru Machi. For all of you, here comes a new chapter! Also, follow the fanpage if you'd like more info!

Chapter Thirty-One: I Can't Keep Lying to You

Kaze arose to the sun shining in his eyes. He rolled over and he immediately noticed the empty spot next to him where Rise had lain mere hours before. Kakashi-sensei was awake of course, his bed empty and already made from the previous night's slumber. It was then that Kaze's mind flooded with the memory of the night before. He felt his face flush and he looked down at his right hand, the one wrapped in a fresh bandage. As he unraveled it to examine his wounds, he noticed writing on the bandage. Don't tell anyone about last night. It said in Rise's distinctive handwriting. Of course I'm not going to say anything you silly. Kaze dressed quickly in his night clothes and exited the cabin. It was there that Serah Uchiha was waiting for him.

"About time. I thought you'd never wake up. Have you seen Rise? Kakashi-sensei needed to speak with us all."

At the mention of Rise's name he felt his face flush again. He grinned and shook his head.

"No, I haven't seen her this morning."

The familiar shock of raven hair that everyone on board knew at a glance came around the hallway just then, carrying a basket of laundry.

"Oh, good morning! Kakashi-sensei had asked me to help him with the laundry. Here, Serah, Kaze."

When she passed Kaze his fresh clean clothes a hint of mischief appeared on her lips. Serah's eyes narrowed curiously at her best friend and she crossed her arms over her chest.

"Rise. All of a sudden you've become very responsible and courteous, but that little smirk worries me. You've both been very cheery this morning despite Kaze nearly destroying the cabin bathroom. What happened between you two?"

Kaze felt the heat rise in his face. Rise was quicker on the uptake than he was, as always.

"We talked for a long time last night. We worked some things out. Right?"

Kaze nodded and he chuckled nervously.

"Yes that's right."

Serah put her hand to her forehead and shook it disapprovingly.

"Why the hell would you be so blushy then Kaze? Did you two night swim naked or something?"

Kaze's eyes glistened at this and Serah knew she was onto him. The three of them had grown up together and were quite good at reading one another's body language. Rise shifted her weight from her right leg to her left.

"You two are such terrible liars. Come on, tell me the -"

She was cut short by Kakashi-sensei's sudden appearance.

"Up on deck, keep your mouths shut. We've docked and we've already trouble. Kaze, get Nana from her room and let's move while we can. You two, get dressed, now. We don't have time at this point."

Rise and Serah ducked into their room to change while Kaze fetched Nana from her room. As Kaze opened the door, he felt his legs give way as if knocked from under him and he fell to the floor. A voice he'd heard before spoke.

"Well well. I come for Nana and who do I find but the Shukaku brat. I wonder if I should just kill you now and be done with you."

Kaze felt cold steel press against his jugular veins. A shrill screech pierced Kaze's ears, his ears bleeding. He looked to see Nana forming the Rabbit seal. Kaze's hearing was damaged from the sharp sound before so he couldn't hear what she had said to his assailant. When the blade had been taken from his throat, he saw it was a kunai held by Tsumi Osada. Kaze spoke, knowing he couldn't move. Not only was his hearing gone, but he was disoriented and couldn't stand.

"Tsumi, you bastard! What was that sound blast?"

Tsumi grinned and put his hand to his ear.

"I couldn't hear you Sand Child. Say that again please?"

Tsumi's condescending words couldn't be heard by Kaze, but Kaze felt his ears gushing blood. The sound wave came again, except this time Tsumi dropped next to him and vanished in a cloud of dust. Nana let the seal fall and tears ran down her face as she signed to him.

"I'm so sorry!"

Kaze knew enough sign language to respond to her, asking what she did. Nana smiled with tears in her eyes and she shook her head.

"Don't worry. I need to get you to Kakashi-sensei. I know you can't hear me but-"

Nana's voice was cut short by Rise, Kakashi and Serah's entrance. Rise saw that Kaze was bleeding from his ears and she turned on Nana.

"What happened here?"

Nana explained that just as Kaze had entered, an Earth Clone of Tsumi Osada had attacked him and crippled him with a sound wave attack and that Nana had chased him off with the same Jutsu. Kaze picked himself up off the floor and he cleaned the blood from his ears and he looked around the room. His head was spinning and as he took a few steps staggered but was able to walk just fine after a few moments.

Rise hugged him and she stroked his hair softly and she whispered to him.

"Are you ok?"

Kaze nodded, able to hear her voice now, ever so slightly.

"I'll be ok. Let's get going. Sorry to trouble you."

Kakashi inspected him for injuries other than his ears and when he saw bite marks on his neck, his eyes narrowed.

"Why do you have teeth marks on your neck?"

Kaze's eyes widened and he shot a quick glance at Serah and then at Rise. Kakashi sighed.

"Well whatever it is, you're not injured so we'll deal with it later. We need to meet Lord A, now. He's waiting for us at the docks."

The five person company disembarked from the ship. The Raikage greeted them with open arms and took them to Kumogakure to formalize the mission. The trip took an hour by foot and the entirety of the time, Rise, Kaze and Serah were silent. It was only when Kakashi, as the squad leader, left them with free time that they spoke. Serah stepped forward and she pushed Kaze against the wall and examined his neck.

"Rise..."

She whispered to herself. Serah's temper flared and she spun on her heel to Rise.

"What the hell did you two do? Why are YOUR teeth marks on HIS neck?"

Rise felt her temper rising and she took several deep breaths to regain her composure.

"It's none of your business why."

Kaze said timidly.

"What did you say?"

Serah heard his voice but not his words.

"It's none of your business why! What Rise and I do is our business and no one else's unless we choose it to be!"

Serah grinned and she shook her head.

"Why is it seeing you angry gives me a reason to smile?"

Rise felt her anger subside and she stepped forward to Serah.

"What would you do if I told you he and I actually went further than we ever have before?"

Serah looked like Rise had stabbed her heart with a spear.

"You slept with him?"

Kaze looked away as a chilled wind blew through his hair, the atmosphere around them immediately void of all pure emotions. Rise looked at Kaze and she nodded.

"Yes, she did."

Serah shook her head and she smiled victoriously.

"And wasn't it just forty-eight hours ago you told me that you'd rather have someone like me than someone like her, who as you put it, is vain and self-centered?"

Rise felt the smile fall from her face and she turned to Kaze.

"You think I only care about my looks? Who the hell are you and what did you do with my boyfriend?!"

Kaze looked up at the sky.

"I can't keep lying to you. I did feel that way, but it felt even worse knowing that I've had conflicting feelings for you both. I always have, but Rise I really do love -"

Kaze felt his face sting as Rise delivered an open palmed slap across his face. The wind howled briefly and the Hyuga girl turned on her heel and ran. Serah giggled to herself and she smiled, kissing the cheek Rise had slapped.

"Feel better Kaze."

Serah turned and walked until she was just out of Kaze's sight and then leapt into the air, her face streaked with tears. Kaze sat under the sky for a long time, until it began to rain. Even then the young man didn't move. Kaze never did leave that spot, until the next morning when a voice all too familiar to him spoke.

"Kaze, what have you done to Rise and Serah?"

Kakashi Hatake sat next to the young man and patted him on the head as Kaze's tears of grief mixed with the rains of Kumogakure.

TO BE CONTINUED...