She sat on the couch in the apartment living room, her chin resting one hand a book in the other. In truth, she wasn't particularly too interested in what she was reading, she couldn't even remember the title of the book. Her mind was still lingering on the events that had happened earlier this morning, it was frustrating her. Sure, she was used to people asking questions about her mutation eventually (it seemed people couldn't help but want to know, for whatever reason), but never had someone been so straightforward about it before, they would always build up to the question, rather than come storming in with it.

The possibility that the future Kazekaga could be that brash never even crossed her mind, and the reason why was because she had formed expectations of him from those rumors she heard two years ago. While her impression wasn't based off of them entirely, she did give way to them in what she might expect. But now she didn't know what to expect. All of this was so frustrating for her.

Kameko let out a short, frustrated sigh and snapped the book closed. She was not prepared to meet with the siblings again. Jun, sitting in a chair across from her chuckled.

"Trouble focusing?" he asked.

"What could ever would make you think that?" she breathed hastily.

"You just seemed to be out of it is all. You still frazzled about earlier?"

Kameko turned her face away, a small frown on her face.

"They're going to be even more curious now. We might as well tell them, so they'll be prepared for when we get there next year. It won't hurt to talk about it, even if you're ashamed of it. Talking heals, Kameko."

She knew Jun was right, but she still didn't like it. Sometimes it seemed like he was the one who was supposed to be taking over for her mother and not her.

She was silent for some time before she finally nodded in defeat and opened her book back up. Her eyes still weren't focusing on the words, barely registering the letters or even the pages. Jun stood up and strolled over to her, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Perhaps you would have an easier time focusing on your book if it wasn't upside down," he whispered. With a pat on her shoulder and a satisfied laugh, he left her sitting there, her face becoming flushed with embarrassment again that day. Before her turned to go into the bathroom, he called back over his shoulder for her to go ahead and get ready, since the two of them with Isao would be meeting the siblings at the festival grounds to go to dinner soon.

They were dressed in their yukatas again, the only new one being Gaara's, since he had refused to participate in the festival yesterday. Today, he had no excuse and neither did she. His yukata was a simple red with a small gold obi.

Jun had tried to persuade her into dressing her hair up, Isao had also tried to prod her (he mostly liked to take Jun's side when it meant picking on her), however she had refused. He almost talked her into it when he reminded her that they were meeting with a Kage, but she reminded him that they had already met Lady Tsunade in much less formal attire.

Isao had decided that they would eat at the local barbecue restaurant, insisting that it would be nice if they weren't too formal with each other (after Kameko had convinced him that there was no need for it). And so now here they were, sitting at a large round table, Isao sitting between her and Jun, Gaara sitting between Temari and Kankuro, the girls sitting practically beside each other and the boys sitting together.

If she thought hard enough, Kameko was sure she could think of a much more embarrassing moment in her life, however she was far too caught up in this moment to really think properly. Jun was busy talking between their guests and Isao, making sure that there wasn't any long awkward silences that could potentially bring up questions better left not asked.

"So, Isao when do you and your students expect to be coming to visit our home?" Temari inquired.

"Oh, not for another six months at least. We'll be here for a few months I would say and then we have a few stops before hand." He paused to take a sip of his sake. "But don't worry, we'll definitely send word to you before we arrive." He sent the siblings a smile and two of the three returned them.

Gaara sat there in silence so far, his hands clasped together and covering his mouth, studying everyone at the table. Perhaps at this point he realized that Isao wasn't related to her and Jun, that his eyes were a nice forest green, no where near the shade of red that Jun had that matched her left iris.

It irked her, the fact that neither Isao or Jun had to deal with odd stares or prying questions. But she dealt with it, and she tried her best to smile a friendly smile. But sometimes it was too troublesome for her and she would look to Jun for help.

She was brought back from her thoughts when Jun starting grabbing food from the grill in the center of the table, piling it on his plate. She picked up her chopsticks and swatted his hand away from the grill.

"Save some for the rest of us, dear cousin." She shot him a look that said 'or you'll be dealing with me' and his only response for her was a smirk.

Jun let out a large laugh followed by a taunt. "Kameko may seem shy but she's really ruthless. She treats her poor cousin so badly." He feigned wiping a non-existent tear from his face and continued snickering at his own humor, being joined in by Kankuro and Isao. Temari only smiled, enjoying the show with dinner.

This is going to be a long dinner after all, Kameko thought.

They had finished eating and were filling the space in with idle conversation. She was actually having a rather enjoyable time, even adding in her own words on occasion. While she didn't talk as much as most of her party guests, she did talk more than someone else.

The conversation they were having had finally faded out in laughter, everyone catching their breath. Jun had been telling them of some odd adventure of his where he ended up making a fool out of himself, which he seemed to pride himself on. It was the next conversation topic that she had been dreading all night that made her frown.

"We're sorry about whatever we did this morning to make you run away, Kameko." It was Kankuro who had addressed her.

Dammit, why did they have to bring this up now? Why with Isao around? They had almost made it through the whole night without this being brought up, and she knew she would have to talk now. 'You should have no weaknesses', Isao always told her. 'The only one to blame for this is you. Own up to it, let it make you stronger.' She couldn't understand why something so shameful should be something to make her proud.

"Oh? Something happened? Surely nothing too wrong or else Kameko would have absolutely refused to let us have dinner together." Isao liked knowing everything going on. She could see the annoyance on his face for not being informed of the morning's events in total. "Please, do tell."

Kankuronand Temari shared a look, unsure if they should actually say something. However, it was Gaara who intervened, not seeming to care about the awkward silence.

"We were simply wanting to know the story behind the odd coloration of her right eye. Her left one matches her cousin's, while her right is... Odd, to say the least." Kameko turned her face away. Did he even know how rude he was being?

Isao couldn't help but laugh at this. "Kameko! You were upset about such a question?" Her sensei turned to look at her, only to drop his smile when he saw her. He knew she was ashamed, and immediately regretted making it seem like something to small to their guests. "Ah you must forgive me. I forget she isn't as easy going as others. However, Kameko, I have told you time and again that you can't let this bother you. Let it strengthen you, don't be ashamed." He paused to give an encouraging squeeze to her shoulder. "Go on, tell them."

She glared down at the table, angry at herself for coming. No getting out of this now, she thought. Kameko dropped the glare and looked up at the siblings.

"Fine," she hissed. "Im leaving afterward, though. I don't want to be here any longer than I have to."

And so she answered their question.