Truth: You are a good man.

Sayuri wasn't pleased. She was logical enough to know that they would not get to Kimimaro quickly.

That didn't mean she had to like it.

The problem was that there were worse wounds, people closer to death that Kimimaro was, and besides, he was the enemy. His purple sash proclaimed him as an ally of Orochimaru's for all to see. He was stabilized and sent to a room to wait as Neji and Choji were worked on by a frantic team of med-nin, headed by Lady Tsunade and her assistant, Shizune.

By the time they got to him hours later, Sayuri was pacing restlessly outside of Kimimaro's hospital room. Every time a nurse came in or out with something she tried to get a sense of how he was doing, but his presence was different than it used to be. She couldn't tell what was caused by illness and what was simply him getting older.

Gaara had seated himself in one of the chairs as soon as the three patients were taken off his hands, eyes tracking Sayuri as she paced. She looked like a stressed-out mess, quite a contrast from the put-together girl she usually was. He had been completely thrown when she broke down at the sight of Kimimaro. He clearly meant more to her than someone like him could ever understand.

"You should sit," he said, and she flinched.

His voice had startled her, and she knew he was right. Wearing a hole in the tile and worrying herself into madness would do nothing for Kimimaro. She flopped into the chair next to her and braced her elbows on her knees, face buried in her hands.

The silence was uncomfortable and oppressive. "Do you… want to talk about it?" Gaara offered awkwardly.

"Do you actually care?" Sayuri challenged, a snappish tinge to her voice as she lifted her head and faced him.

He wasn't entirely sure he could honestly answer yes. While she claimed to be his friend, they weren't actually that close. Sure, he could see that she was on edge because of Kimimaro's appearance, but he wasn't sure they were really close enough for him to ask about it.

"I care… that you're upset," he replied honestly. She raised an eyebrow, a tremulous smile crossing her lips.

"I suppose that's enough." She leaned back in her chair, closing her eyes. He stared at her profile, waiting for her to speak.

"As a child, I was slave," she began. "Much sooner than is really reasonable, Kaguya children are left to fend on their own. If they can't take care of themselves, they die. Survival of the fittest, ensuring the clan stays strong. Despite my infirmity, I lived. However, I was not only a girl, but blind, and therefore useless except as a worker. I cooked meals for the men, I cleaned the camp, I mended their clothes, and washed their sheets, long into the night. If I didn't finish everything or if I messed up, I was beaten. It amused them to move things into my path or trip me and watch me fall."

"Did your mother… do nothing?" Gaara asked, pressing her to continue. She was speaking differently than usual, more formally, but this was clearly helping and he was quite proud of himself that he was actually making her feel slightly better.

Sayuri scoffed. "That's not quite how it works in the Kaguya. The fight is everything. If a man wants to have a child and continue the clan he leaves and finds a prostitute, or any woman willing. If there is a child, he takes it. Most of the girls die, and those that don't are sent away into the forest instead of being inducted into the clan. After all, women cannot fight." She smirked slightly. "Something I delighted in proving wrong when I came here. I was kept around because I worked hard and was amusing. At the time, I was the only girl in the camp."

Gaara blinked at that. He'd thought that Suna was harsh in training its shinobi. The Kaguya were just as tough if not moreso. They did not tolerate weakness in any form, apparently.

"Kimimaro was one of my duties," Sayuri explained. "He had the Shikotsumyaku, the rare and coveted kekkei genkai of the Kaguya. He'd displayed it as a child, and out of fear they locked him away in a cell in a dark cave. I was to feed him three times a day. As the years passed, we became friends. We were the only people we had, us against the world of the Kaguya."

"But you have the kekkei genkai as well."

"Yes, but I didn't know until I was much older. I knew what Kimimaro could do. When I was alone one day I tried it, and it worked. I told no one, not even Kimimaro. If the Kaguya found out, I would be locked up just like him. I knew that I already had lost my eyes, I couldn't stand to lose any other feelings and sensations."

Gaara remained silent, waiting for her to continue. Sayuri ran her fingers through her gray hair and sighed. "Then came the day the Kaguya clan went to war. We'd always lived close to Kirigakure, and as I said, the fight is everything to the Kaguya. They let Kimimaro out of his cage and attacked, purely to show how ferocious they were. You must understand, the Kaguya have no tactics for battle. They refuse to back down even when completely outnumbered and outmatched. They would fight to the death just for fun, for bloodlust."

"I was left behind, of course, the only one. I had prepared the evening meal, assuming they'd be back, down a few people, of course, but that they would return. But they didn't come, not that night or any night after for a week. There was no sign of Kimimaro and I finally had to accept that they had all died, and I assumed he had died with them."

"I see," Gaara nodded, though he didn't. The level of attachment she had to Kimimaro was something he wasn't capable of understanding, and that disappointed him slightly. He'd thought he was getting so much better at dealing with people, at being human instead of a snarling monster, but things like this were still beyond him, and it was just a reminder of how far he would have to go.

"Sayuri!"

Sayuri stood up sharply as three people came charging down the hall. Ayano, Satoru, and Miyako. Satoru collided with her in a hug, Ayano placing a hand on her shoulder.

"What the hell happened?" Ayano demanded. "We heard you were running around with Gai's double and that redheaded sand midget and some corpses."

Satoru pushed her back and looked her over critically.

"Are you alright?" he asked seriously.

"I'm alright," Sayuri replied, and a smile actually made an appearance. "I haven't been this good in years." She seized Satoru's shoulders and pulled him close. "He's alive, Satoru. Kimimaro, he's alive!"

Satoru blinked dazedly. "Your friend? I thought…"

"So did I, but he's not dead, he's been alive this whole time!" Sayuri said, sheer delight in her voice now that the reality was sinking in. Kimimaro was alive! "He's sick, but Tsuande's treating him now, so he should be alright. He has to be," she said, the happiness overtaken by worry for a moment.

"My father told me," Miyako spoke up shyly. "He was one of the ones assigned to Neji's case when you brought the three of them in and he heard his name was Kimimaro. I had a hunch…" She proffered a bundle of red silk to her. "I brought these. I know you don't like people touching them, but I thought…"

"No, no, I'm glad you did!" Sayuri said, taking the bundle eagerly. She stroked the silk lovingly. "I need to return these…"

It was at that moment that a troupe of weary-looking nurses and med-nin made their way out of Kimimaro's room, Tsunade bringing up the rear and shutting the door behind her as the others scattered to other duties.

"Well?" Sayuri stared at her desperately.

"Quit looking like someone died," Tsuande snapped. "He'll be fine. He'll have to come back a couple times a month for checkups, but he should pull through and become the pinnacle of health."

"Thank god," Sayuri breathed. Ayano and Satoru both hugged her, smiling supportively.

"He's been put in chakra cuffs," Tsunade added quickly. "He will be questioned by Ibiki, but not until he's more stable, probably in a week. Depending on how cooperative he is, we may offer him asylum," she said, stressing the condition. "Otherwise, he'll likely be executed."

"Whoa, wait, why?" Satoru protested.

"He was working with Orochimaru," Gaara spoke up, rising and making his presence known. Satoru blinked at that.

"I… see."

Ayano looked Gaara over. "Well, not a midget anymore. Way to grow kid," she nodded before turning back to Tsunade.

"One more thing," Tsunade said to Sayuri.

"Yes?"

"He's awake, and you can see him, but try to help him get away, and you'll be on trial with him." She caught Sayuri's arm as the girl tried to push past her, desperate to see Kimimaro. "Don't ever threaten me again, or I'll pound you into pulp and put you in one of these hospital beds," Tsunade warned, before releasing the girl and continuing after her nurses.

Sayuri turned back to them, smiling nervously. "Who wants to meet Kimimaro?" she asked hesitantly.

"I think everyone's curious about this kid," Ayano said, entering the room curiously with Satoru following after her and Miyako bringing up the rear.

Gaara made to go to the entrance of the hospital, intending to meet his siblings when they came in.

"Gaara, where are you going?" Gaara looked back at her, surprised. Sayuri was leaned back through the door. "Come and meet him." She gestured for him to follow. Shocked that she wanted him along, he wordlessly moved towards the hospital room.

Kimimaro was sitting up in bed. He looked like hell, his hair mussed and his face pale, dark circles lingering under his eyes, but he watched them all with sharp eyes. Thin silver bangles rested on each of his wrists, sealing his chakra and preventing him from using his kekkei genkai. Since he was also gifted at taijutsu, long handcuffs fastened his wrists and ankles to the bed.

His eyes lingered on Sayuri. "How long until they kill me?" he asked. "By bringing me here you have saved me and damned me," he accused.

"If you cooperate and tell them what they want, they may give you asylum," Sayuri explained hopefully.

"I don't want asylum," Kimimaro said. "I want to return to Lord Orochimaru." His voice rose slightly on the end in irritation. "I am healed, I can serve him."

"He has Sasuke now, Kimimaro," Sayuri said brokenly. Ayano cursed sharply and Satoru inhaled. Miyako actually squeaked. They hadn't known. She glanced at the others in the room and forced herself to get it together. She wouldn't cry in front of them. "I-I can't stop you if you want to do that, much as I wish I could. I could never make you unhappy, Kimimaro." She moved forwards and sat on the edge of his bed by his leg, pulling a rolling tray table over towards him and laying out the red silk on it.

"What is that?" Kimimaro asked, nodding to it.

"In a moment," Sayuri said, sounding almost chastising. It was so tempting to just pretend it was like when they were children. "First I have people for you to meet."

"I know him," Kimimaro said, tilting his head towards Gaara. "Gaara of the Sand."

"Yes," Sayuri nodded. "He's one of my friends."

"A friend of yours," Kimimaro repeated slowly.

"This is Miyako Hasekura," Sayuri said, gesturing to Miyako. The girl came forwards nervously. "She's my teammate, and one of my best friends."

Miyako bowed deeply. "It's an honor to meet you, Kimimaro," she said softly. "Sayuri has told me a lot about you. She has missed you, and she loves you very much."

Kimimaro's eyebrows furrowed slightly in surprise when she said that. "I… see." His eyes drifted to Sayuri, who blinked back at him, unashamed.

"This is my teacher, Ayano Soma," she said, and Ayano stepped forwards.

"You must a pretty spectacular guy for my Sayuri to be so hung up on you," she said, looking him over unabashedly. "You don't look it right now though, I've gotta say."

"Ayano Soma," Kimimaro repeated slowly. "Konoha's Lightning Bolt, Izazuma Ayano. We were warned to watch out for you."

"I'm flattered," Ayano said proudly. "That's probably best. I would have fried your ass if I'd been the one sent after you."

Sayuri coughed. "This is Satoru Minamoto. He's my guardian."

Satoru moved forwards and waved awkwardly. "Uh, hey. Nice to meet you. Like Miyako said, I've heard a lot about you. From what Sayuri's told me, you're pretty important to her." His face hardened. "And she's like my own kid. So if you screw her over, I'll hunt you down and make you eat your entrails," he warned seriously. Kimimaro blinked at that.

"Whoa, kitty's got claws," Ayano chuckled. "Meow, Satoru. It's kinda sexy when you get all protective."

Satoru flushed and stepped back, shoving his hands in his pockets. "Ayano," he whined. "Not in front of the kids."

"Killjoy," Ayano complained, but she smiled at him genuinely.

"You have an odd collection of companions," Kimimaro said, looking at the quartet assembled by his bedside.

"Hey, you're hanging out with Orochimaru," Ayano countered. Kimimaro's eyes burned, and he opened his mouth to defend the sannin. Sayuri cut him off, gesturing to the silk.

"Guess what's inside," she said.

"There's no point in that. I have nothing to go off of," Kimimaro refused.

"The only things worth something in the Kaguya camp," Sayuri offered as a hint.

For a moment Kimimaro looked like a child begging for a favorite toy, but he quickly schooled his features. His hands were shaking slightly as he reached for the silk, unfolding it. Nestled inside were a little over a dozen carved wooden flowers, some of the edges slightly worn from years of being turned over in hands. His hands, mostly.

He couldn't believe it. She had kept the flowers all these years, rescued them from the dark depths of his cell and brought them into the light, taking care of them and keeping them near all this time. These carved flowers had been his companions in the dark when she wasn't there. It was a joy to have them back and he felt a rush of affection for her for salvaging them and not leaving them to rot. But then, she knew how much they'd meant to him.

"I thought you were dead," Sayuri said softly. "I thought, when I left, that at least a part of you should be free. It was all I had left…" She trailed off and shrugged, unable to explain beyond that why she'd taken them.

"Nigate," he whispered, looking from the flowers to her.

"Now wait a second!" Ayano protested hotly at the name.

Sayuri held up a hand. "That's what the Kaguya called me, my only name for years."

"It's true," Satoru nodded. "I helped her pick a name when I first met her. She goes by Sayuri Kaguya now," he added to Kimimaro.

Kimimaro trailed a finger over the carved lily. "One of my favorites." He stared at her and rolled the name around in his mouth. "Sayuri…"

His eyelids drooped and Sayuri realized how selfish she was being. Clearly there had been something critical wrong with him – something she was honestly afraid to ask Tsunade about – and he'd just recently had treatment. Here she was keeping him up when he probably just wanted to sleep.

As if to prove her right, a nurse poked her head in and announced, "I'm sorry, but visiting hours ended ten minutes ago. I'm afraid you'll have to come back tomorrow."

"Do you want me to come back?" Sayuri asked Kimimaro hopefully, fully aware that he may not want to see her. After all, she'd gotten him captured. For the sake of his health, but still.

He looked at her for a moment, and then slowly nodded.

"Thank you," Sayuri nodded, rising. She laid her hand over his on one of the flowers and smiled softly before turning and ushering everyone else out. "He needs his re- oh!"

Sayuri smacked face-first into the lintel and rebounded onto the ground, falling on her rear. She blinked sightlessly at the ceiling in surprise.

"Who put that there?" she demanded indignantly. "Thank you," she added as Ayano hauled her upright.

"The architect did, Miss Grace," Ayano snorted as they migrated into the hallway.

Miyako glanced back as she shut the door behind her and saw the slightest of smiles twitch at the corner of Kimimaro's lips.

All is forgiven, she thought.

"Gaara!" Kankuro exclaimed. He and Temari shot up from the uncomfortable chairs Gaara and Sayuri had been waiting in earlier. "We heard you got back safely!"

"What were you doing in there?" Temari asked.

"That was my fault," Sayuri said, stepping forwards. Kankuro and Temari were both surprised to see her. They hadn't realized she had been part of the team to retrieve Sasuke. "Kimimaro was among Orochimaru's men."

"Who?" Temari asked blankly.

"An old friend who I thought was dead," she expanded. "Gaara helped me get him back here and stayed with me."

Kankuro and Temari both looked at their brother in surprise. He met their eyes and looked back, daring them to comment.

"I'll give you permission to be late to training just this once," Ayano said pointedly to Sayuri. "I get this is big for you, but be there by noon or I'll come after you."

"Yes ma'am," Sayuri replied sharply.

"Good girl," Ayano nodded approvingly. She pecked Satoru on the lips and headed for the exit, leaving a dazed chunin in her wake.

"I have a meeting with the elders," Miyako put in. She hugged Sayuri tightly. "I'll see you tomorrow. Tell him I said hello."

"I will," Sayuri nodded as Miyako pulled away. She waved shyly to the Sand Siblings before following Ayano.

"Gaara? May I speak with you alone for a moment?" Sayuri asked softly. Everyone looked at her in surprise, Gaara most of all. He nodded slowly and then said "yes" aloud after recalling she was blind. It was easy to forget without her hitai-ate over her eyes, she moved and interacted with the world around her so well.

The two of them moved off down the hallway, well aware that Temari, Kankuro, and Satoru were watching them intently.

"What is it?" Gaara asked.

"I owe you… quite a bit," Sayuri huffed, chuckling weakly as she ran her fingers through her hair. "You helped me get Kimimaro here when I couldn't have done it on my own, and you didn't attack him despite the fact that he was the enemy. He means so much to me, and you helped me get him to safety. For that I owe you… more than I'll probably ever be able to pay back."

Sayuri honestly felt terrible. Gaara had been sent to aid Sasuke's retrieval and not only had he possibly failed his mission because of her, but he'd humored her by seeing Kimimaro when he probably didn't care anything about meeting the man and he had waited with her for news of how he was fairing.

Gaara blinked at Sayuri. She still looked like hell, even more so after messing her hair, but she was looking at him with so much… thanks. No one had ever looked at him like that. No one had ever been thankful to him for anything before, they'd only feared him, and she'd never done that.

"I wasn't trying to help you," he replied honestly, feeling she should know that. "I was just doing what I thought was right."

"Well then, what I thought was true," Sayuri nodded decisively. "You are a good man." She rose up on her toes – when had he gotten taller than her? – and kissed his cheek gently in gratitude before dropping back flatfooted. "Thank you," she said, before turning and moving to Satoru's side. They left the hospital together, making her the second member of her team to leave a dazed shinobi behind her.

"Where the hell is Sayuri?" Kiyomi demanded. "If she doesn't get her ass down here soon Ayano will kill her!"

"No she won't," Miyako disagreed, tossing a hand full of senbon at a human-shaped bundle of straw. "Ayano gave her the morning off."

Kiyomi turned and gaped at her. "Ayano gave her time off? Our teacher, as in, Ayano Soma, gave someone time off?"

"Yeah," Miyako nodded, turning to her in confusion. "Didn't you hear?"

"Hear what?" Kiyomi asked blankly.

Miyako stepped forwards, smiling. "It's amazing! You know about Kimimaro, right?"

The name was vaguely familiar. "He's some guy Sayuri used to know, right?"

"Not just anyone," Miyako disagreed. "He was her first and best friend."

"He died, right?"

"No, apparently not!" Miyako exclaimed, beaming. "Sayuri found him the other night! He's in the hospital now, but he should pull through!"

"Are you serious?" Kiyomi demanded. Miyako's face fell slightly.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing!" Kiyomi said hastily, a smile stretching across her face. "That's great! I can't believe it!"

"It's wonderful, I'm so happy for her," Miyako smiled. "I met him last night."

"You met him?"

"Yes, my father mentioned that he was there. I met Ayano and Satoru on the way to the hospital."

"Wow, that's… that's great for her," Kiyomi nodded.

"I know," Miyako smiled, before turning back to her straw dummy.

She didn't notice how Kiyomi's punches and kicks were now much more vicious.