Yeah, there's not really an excuse as to why it took me nearly a year to update. I just had no idea what to write, and I was swamped with schoolwork.

. . .

It was dark by the time I got home, and I stepped into the house silently.

I was glad that Kazuki had forgiven me, and that there were no more bitter feelings between us. Kazuki may be my sensei, but she was also my friend, and I had hated that we were fighting.

I wasn't going to let a little boy come between that.

Especially not Yoshi Akiyama.

"Taidama," I called softly.

Mum returned my call, and she stepped out of the kitchen to greet me, a sleeping Akito nestled in her arms.

"Yū-chan," she said softly, "Be as quiet as you can. Your brother's asleep."

"I know," I replied.

I reached a hand out and gently brushed his hair from his face. Akito shifted slightly, but other than that, he didn't wake up.

I was glad.

Akito didn't need to know what was going on; he didn't need to know that a war was already brewing around us. He was too young for all of that. He was three, nearly four, and though Rin had started training me when I was four, Akito didn't need any of it.

He was a smart little cookie though, and could already speak in near perfect sentences. It made me wonder if he was some sort of prodigy.

I hoped he wasn't.

I held my arms out, "I'll take him," I said, "He can sleep with me tonight."

"He'll like that," Mum said softly.

I balanced him precariously in my arms, and, as if by instinct, his arms latched themselves around my neck.

"Yūyū," he murmured sleepily, smooshing his face into my shoulder, "'m tired."

"I know," I replied, "We'll get you to bed, okay?"

"'kay," he mumbled.

I smiled in amusement when he let out a tiny little snore, and held his small body closer to my own.

"I'll see you in the morning, Kaa-chan," I said, "I'm taking him to bed now."

"Alright," she said softly, leaning forward and kissing the top of my head, "But don't you have a day off tomorrow?"

"Yeah," I said, "But I'm going around to Rin-san's tomorrow, and after that, I'm going to meet with my team. I have something important to tell them."

"And that is?" she prodded.

I shook my head, "I'll let you know tomorrow, 'kay? But right now I'm really tired. I'd like to get some rest after the crappiest mission of my life."

I swallowed at the reminder.

Get over it, I told myself harshly. You may have killed someone, but others have gone through worse. Get over it.

I walked up to my room and lied down on my futon, pulling the cover over both myself and Akito. My little brother nestled closer to me for warmth, and I absently placed a hand around him, pulling him closer to my side.

Tomorrow, I was going to Rin's house to tell him I'd be his apprentice. I would tell my team, and everything would be alright.

Hopefully.

For now, I would sleep.

. . .

Blood gushed from his mouth.

It covered my hands, and there was a huge hole in his throat.

"Rei'll kill you!" he spat.

The life faded from his eyes.

"You're just like me," came Rei's haunting voice.

I turned to face him, looked upon his empty, haunted eyes, and heard the carelessness in his voice. Then his arms were around my throat, squeezing, squeezing, squeezing-

I jerked awake, a cold sweat pooling on my body.

"Yūyū," Akito mumbled sleepily, "You okay? Did you have a bad dream?"

"You could say that," I answered breathlessly.

It was Rei. Fucking Rei.

He's not here, I reminded myself harshly. Get over it.

"C'mon, Akito-chan," I mumbled, "Gotta get ready."

"Where're you goin'?" Akito asked curiously, his voice still thick with sleep.

"Hiroshi's house," I answered carelessly.

"Ooh," Akito exclaimed excitedly, "Is he your boyfriend?"

I just stared at him, and, not for the first time, I felt incredulous, "Where do you get these ideas, Akito-chan?" I demanded.

"Nii-chan's got a girlfriend," he responded immediately.

I shook my head, exasperated, "No, Akito," I groaned, "What I mean is, how do you know these things? You're three years old for crying out loud!"

"You taught me, Yūyū!" he practically squealed, "You always talked about Nii-chan! Always!"

I stared at him. Seriously. What the hell! My little brother, practically still a toddler, was way too advanced. He could speak in near-perfect sentences and seemed to know what a lot of words meant.

I shook my head again, "I've gotta go, Akito-chan," I mumbled, "I need to see Hiroshi."

"You boyfriend," Akito cackled.

I boxed him over the head, and, seeing him pout, I restrained a smile.

"Alright, no more sleeping in my futon," I declared, "You're too old. You're turning four in a week, and when I need my privacy."

Predictably, he started to whine, but I ignored him, smirking in satisfaction.

"Later, Akito-chan," I called to him while pushing him out of my room.

I heard him grumble outside, but I quickly dressed in plain clothing, wincing slightly when my leg throbbed.

I wore the scarf that Mum had given me to hide the bruises from Rei's fingers, but they were already faded to a dark blue, when, yesterday, they were purple.

I let my hair down, too, and, noticing its length, I decided I needed a haircut.

So, I walked out of my room and past Akito, who shot me a sullen look, and found Mum in the kitchen speaking with a tired looking Takashi.

When I entered the kitchen, my big brother turned to me.

"Hey, Yū-chan," he said, "How was your mission?"

"As good as it can get," I replied snappishly, "Now, if you'll excuse me, I really need to talk to Kaa-chan."

"What's up with you?" Takashi demanded, raking an agitated hand through his hair. His hair was so long now that it was sort of spiky at the bottom.

"You should cut off your hair," I retorted prissily, "Long hair makes you look like a girl."

"Yūmaru!" Mum scolded, placing her hands on her hips, "Have some respect!"

And that when I lost it.

I had been patient, and I had not yelled at him. But I was sick and tired of how he treated me, and Mum telling me to have some respect?

Really?

"Takashi needs to give me some respect!" I shrieked, "'Cause I'm getting really tired of the cold treatment! It's like I'm some sort of monster with the way he's treating me now! He avoids me whenever I'm home and treats me like I have the plague! If you're gonna do that, Onii-chan, then fuck off! 'Cause I'm really getting sick of it!"

Mum gasped, but I could care less.

I turned the other way and ran from the house, taking to the roofs.

I arrived at Hiroshi's house rather quickly, all things given.

I knocked on the door, and a puzzled Hiroshi answered.

"Yū-chan?" His sightless eyes squinted at me, as if the motion could help with his sensing ability, though I doubted it did him any good, "Why are you here?"

"I need to talk to your dad," I answered easily.

Slowly, he smiled, "Okay," he agreed.

He stepped aside and let me in.

"Oh, and Yū-chan, how come you're not wearing any shoes?"

I felt my face flush as I gazed down at my bare feet, "Oh, that," I mumbled, "Takashi pissed me off, is what. I ran from the house before I could put any shoes on."

"Yūmaru-san, what a pleasant surprise."

I jerked at the unexpected voice, but smiled anyway, "Rin-san," I greeted, "Good morning."

"It is," Rin agreed, "Nevertheless, I presume you're here for only one thing?"

Well, he cut right to the chase rather quickly, didn't he?

My smile grew even wider, "Yeah. I wanna become your apprentice. My answer is yes."

And that was when Rin smirked, "Then you may call me Rin-sensei."

. . .

"Kaa-chan," I said, "Can you please cut my hair?"

Mum paused in her stirring at the stove, "Why do you want to cut your hair off? It's beautiful, all of that long redness. Just like Sosuke's, I'd say."

I sighed, "Kaa-chan, having long hair when I'm a ninja is impractical," I scowled and crossed my arms, "Besides, some guy grabbed my hair and threw me around on my last mission. So, I'd really like it short."

Mum was silent for a second, before she sighed, "Oh, fine, I'll cut your hair for you, but I'm no hairdresser," she warned, "It'll probably be very uneven."

That was when I realised something, "Is that why Takashi keeps his hair long?"

Mum laughed, "Part of the reason. I think that it's because he simply likes his hair too much."

"Well, it makes him look like a girl," I huffed, "Anyway, Kaa-chan, can you cut my hair quickly, 'cause I really need to go and meet with my team."

"I'm going as fast as I can," she replied with some annoyance, "I'm also cooking Akito's breakfast, if you haven't seen."

"Alright, alright," I said, holding my hands up in surrender, "Just pick up a clump and chop if off. I don't really care what it looks like."

Mum already had a pair of scissors in her hands, and as I spoke, she scrunched up the bottom of my hair and cut it all off in one neat snip.

When she pulled away, I stood up and surveyed myself in the mirror that hung just beside the fridge.

I looked… wow.

Mum really had just snipped it all off like I'd asked. It now reached my chin and stuck up in every direction, just like Akito's hair did.

"Well, at least I don't look like a guy," I said, patting down my hair. It stuck right back up. I turned around to Mum and grinned, giving her the thumbs up, "Thanks, Kaa-chan, it looks worse than before, but at least creepy guys don't have a leverage over my hair anymore."

"Your hair's a mess, Yū-chan," she observed, though she smiled widely at her handiwork, "I'm glad you like it. Maybe I should invest my time in opening up a hairdresser. I'd get a lot of money."

"They'd run away before coming to you," I teased, chuckling.

"Oh, shoo," she said, "Don't you have a team to meet?"

"Yeah."

I got up reluctantly. Now that I'd gotten my hair cut, I didn't really want to go and see them, even though I sort of missed them.

Not that I'd admit that to their faces.

I walked outside, "Bye, Kaa-chan," I tossed over my shoulder.

I heard her murmur back, but I was already in the air, my newly shorn hair slapping my face.

I reached the tea shop where we commonly met, and saw that Sasori and Yashamaru were already there.

"Hey, Yashamaru-kun!" I exclaimed.

He didn't look that enthusiastic to see me, and so he just dipped his head in greeting, "Hey," he muttered.

I frowned at him, before turning to Sasori, "Hey, Sasori-san," I mumbled.

Slowly, he raised his murky brown gaze to meet mine, "You're late," he declared, though his voice was soft.

"And you hate to be kept waiting," I teased.

Sasori frowned at my words, so I quickly raised my hand and placed it on top of his head, "Screw what you think," I told him, when I saw the stiffening of his shoulders, "You act way too uptight. I think all you need is a big hug."

I ruffled his hair for emphasis, and before he could reply, I turned to Yashamaru, "And you," I said, pointing an accusing finger at him, "Need to stop ignoring me. What the hell did I do to you for you to ignore me, huh? Sasori, I understand, 'cause that's how he is, but you, Yashamaru, always smile at me, regardless of how you feel."

Then, I grabbed his face and planted a huge kiss on his forehead, "Take it like a man," I told him, tapping his nose, "'Cause I never give these out."

Finally, finally, he looked up, bemusement in his indigo gaze, "What's wrong with you?" he asked bluntly, "You don't act like this unless something's bothering you."

I pulled back and blurted, "I have a new sensei."

There was complete silence at my words.