Chapter 31: Life Debt

Kyo smiled sadly at his young students as he watched them finish up their practice session. He really didn't want to tell them that they had to leave, but he knew that there wasn't much choice. If they stayed they would die. For a moment the world faded out as he remembered the final conversation he had had with his wife only a few hours before.

He had been meditating deeply as he had been doing for the week following her death, but this time something had been different. There was a presence. It was located inside of him. In his heart. Curious and very cautious Kyo allowed his mind to sink deeper into the symmetry plain until he came across what he had been seeking. The base of the heartstrings was a very interesting place. It looked was a million fine threads all wrapped into a large ball with the nearly invisible lines racing out to their owners hearts.

Expertly weaving around the sensitive strings Kyo made his way through the mass of threads to the hollow core of the strings connection. In the middle of the core a thin platform floated high above where his own heartstring core was located. He started as he noticed a pair of sandaled feet dangling from the edge.

His heart thumped loudly in his chest. How had someone managed to make it past his shields? They were nearly impenetrable.

Kyo's face hardened in determination and he leapt high. He landed softly behind the figure that had invaded his heart; ready to attack.

"I was wondering if you would come."

Kyo froze. Every bit of himself seemed to shut down as only one thought rang from his and past his lips.

"Kairi?"

Kairi turned and smiled up at her stunned husband. "Hello."

Kyo instantly dropped his stance and raced forward to embrace his wife. His hands held her close as tears tracked silently down his cheeks.

"This is a dream. I know it is, but…I…"

Kairi placed a gentle hand to his lips. "It is not a dream. I really am here." Her fingers traced his face and her eyes narrowed in pain. "But I can't stay. I'm already pressing my luck as it is. Thankfully the goddess of death and chaos is the twin of the goddess of life and love. She was quite happy to allow me one last chance to see you."

"Why did you wait so long to come to me?"

"Oh Kyo." Tears slid from Kairi's eyes as she pulled him into a tight hug. "I've been here the whole time. You just never came."

"I'm sorry. I was—."

"There isn't time. I came to warn you. Ryoki has informed me that there is a traitor in our midst. He has already betrayed us to Orochimaru and at this moment I believe he has been given the whereabouts of the kids."

"The kids-?" Kyo's eyes widened. "Sakura and the others."

Kairi nodded. "The only problem is I don't know who it was. I can't tell you who to be wary of. I'm fairly sure that he isn't in the village but…well…things of the living world are a bit muddled when you're dead."

Kyo was silent for a long moment as he pulled Kairi into his lap and gently stroked her hair. Kairi sighed and leaned into his chest. He had always done that when he was troubled. Perhaps now it would be something he shared with their son.

"We'll have to leave. The whole village."

"Where will you go?"

Kyo shrugged and gently kissed her hair. "The world is a large place."

Before Kairi could respond a girl appeared to their right. Kyo started, at first thinking her to be Hikari, but her eyes were different. They were silver.

"I am sorry Kairi. But it is time for you to leave."

The dark haired woman sighed and kissed Kyo's lips softly. "Don't ever forget that I love you Kyo."

"Never Kai-koi."

"Take care of Akira and the kids. I may miss them terribly but that doesn't mean that I want to see them anytime soon."

Kyo forced a smile as she stood. "I promise."

Kairi bit her lip to force back her tears and she turned to face the glowing girl. "I'm ready Kaliea."

"Very well." Kaliea turned to face Kyo and nodded. "Until next we meet."

Kairi blew Kyo a kiss, and then she was gone.

"Sensei!"

Kyo jerked suddenly from his thoughts before his eyes met the source of his abrupt return. "Hanabi-chan. What is it?"

"Gaara-nii-chan said that he has something to tell you. He and Baki-sensei said that they figured something out."

Kyo nodded and ruffled the young girl's hair. "I'll be there shortly Hanabi."

Hanabi scowled and swatted at Kyo's hand before she turned to leave. "Oh yes." She looked over her small shoulder. "They also said to bring Ichi-nee."

"Alright. Look out for Akria for me."

Hanabi nodded and left to play with her red haired companion.

"We sure do have a lot of red heads here." He sighed in amusement before he turned towards the training ground so that he could collect his little sister. Whatever this discovery was it must be fairly important. He truly wondered what it could be.

XXXXXXXXXXX

Sakura stirred uneasily in her sleep. For some reason something was greatly troubling her. Unable to stand it she slowly opened her eyes and nearly screamed as she saw pools of jet black staring strait into her own dark green eyes.

"H-hello," she said. "I…I didn't think that you would be awake so soon…"

The long haired boy was silent for a moment as he turned his eyes to his stiff fingers. Slowly he flexed them open and closed. "How long have I been sleeping?"

"Just a little over eight days."

"I see."

Sakura tugged gently at her hair in an attempt to clear the awkward moment. She didn't want to say anything but she didn't really want to sit in silence either…

"How is Zabuza-sama? Is he well?"

"U-um yes. He…has been awake for a few days. He was in here earlier with my friend Sasuke but he was growing thin so I had Sasuke take him to the kitchen to eat."

"We tried to kill you."

Sakura nodded slowly. "Yes."

"…You saved us."

She blushed. "Well…yes…"

The boy finally turned his attention from his pale fingers to the awkwardly kneeling Haruno girl. His eyes were hard, searching, for several minutes before he nodded.

"I am Haku."

"Sakura."

"I owe you a dept Sakura."

Sakura's eyes widened and she hurriedly waved her hands in denial. "No, no, no, no! I didn't save you for that! I just didn't want you to die!"

"Never the less, I now owe you a life dept. Until the time where I save your life or loose my own I will be in your dept."

"Really! That isn't needed!"

Haku didn't reply. Instead he settled back into his pillow and closed his eyes as sleep over came him once more.

Sakura bit her lip and tugged hard a her captured hair. What was she going to do now? The last thing she needed was some boy following her around. Really. What would Sasuke think?

The sound of the door sliding open caused the pink haired girl to squeak slightly as she jumped.

Sasuke's eyebrow raised in confusion as he gently pushed the bound mist nin into the room.

"What is it?"

"N-nothing!"

Sasuke glared. "Sakura."

Sakura gulped slightly at the growl in his voice. Quickly she looked away her fingers tugging at her short hair once again.

"He, uh. He woke up."

Red flashed in Sasuke's eyes as he quickly grabbed her arm.

"What did he say to you?"

XXXXXXXXXXXX

The once majestic estate of the Haruno clan now lay in smoldering shambles. What was no longer red with heat was now blackened by soot and ash as it lay in shambles; collapsed upon its foundation.

Under normal circumstances it would not have taken so long for the blaze to be extinguished, but under Orochimaru's orders, what had been a corner of hope to the remnants of Konoha had been forced to burn to the ground in a slow but steady heat. Nothing was left. The baron fire burned land was reflected in the hearts of all who had depended upon its stead fastness.

The hope had diminished greatly in Konoha.

Itachi sighed as he rubbed his fingers gently against his temple. It was easy for him to see that the people had all but given up. Every day for the past week he had stared out the shielded window of his cell at the blazing grounds that were once a great estate. Several of Orochimaru's followers had been employed to keep the blaze within that one area but the flames had been constant. Fed, every so often in an area where it seemed to be dying to early for the self proclaimed Hokage's taste.

Itachi slipped from his thoughts as the sounds of stirring reached his ears. He glanced to his left and his eyes softened a bit as his gently sat up and rubbed her tired eyes.

"Watch'ya doin' Itachi? The sun isn't even up yet."

"The fire has stopped burning."

"Oh." Hikari's face was drawn as she remembered the large red flames that had engulfed her home in its devilish clutches. She had never wished to see it but it was nearly impossible to avoid.

"I'm going to shower."

"Okay," Hikari said. "Wake me when you're done so I can go."

Itachi nodded.

Rolling over Hikari closed her eyes in an attempt to return to sleep. She knew that soon after Itachi was finished breakfast would arrive. Her stomach growled softly and she gently patted it.

She sure hoped that whoever made it this morning brought pickles. Yeah. She really wanted some pickles.

XXXXXXXXXXX

"You want to what?"

"I want to place a drop of blood in her eyes."

"You can't be serious Gaara. That could scar her eyes even worse."

"Not if it is this blood sensei." Gaara held out a small vial of dark red liquid and Kyo scowled at it in disgust.

"Gaara, what kind of blood won't make a difference!"

"That is a sample of your cousin's blood."

Kyo turned to Baki and raised an eyebrow. "Hikari?"

Ichigo gasped as she made her way to Gaara's side and touched the small bottle.

"Were did you get that? I thought that Gaara's sand absorbed it all."

Baki nodded. "It did. What was in the jar. But this was one of the samples taken for my testing. I forgot that I had put it in my med kit for emergencies."

"Do you think it will really give me my sight back?"

"Will someone please tell me what is going on?"

The other three turned in surprise to look at Kyo. They had forgotten that he was there.

"Sakura can heal things." Ichigo said. "Her saliva, tears, and blood all carry a great amount of healing chakra. That's what holds Shuukaku at bay in Gaara-kun's body. With out the blood that Sakura-chan gave him he would never be able to sleep."

"What do you mean her blood is filled with healing chakra? And what does this have to do with your eyes?"

"We mean brat, that your cousin is a natural medicine." He took the vial from Gaara's hand and held it up. "So, it may be possible that using this on Ichigo's eyes will return her sight back to normal."

Kyo stared. "That's impossible…"

He searched for any sign of deception in the eyes of the two men before him but he found none. His dark green eyes slowly turned to Ichigo's pale lifeless ones. For a moment he simply starred from Ichigo to the vial and back again, not really hoping to believe.

Could that really give his little sister her eyes back?

As if reading his mind Ichigo spoke.

"There is only one way to find out."

End Chapter 31

Kaliea: So what do you think? Should I give Ichigo her eyes back? Of course her fate is already decided but I figure I should give you a say anyway. If you give a convincing enough argument I may change my mind. Maybe. Anyway, please review and let me know what you think!

Review Answers:

Princess Ren: You know who he is already. You just have to think about it for a moment.

Twerplified: Thank-you! I try!

Tears like Crystals: I'm glad that you liked it. It was hard to write but it was fun too, and that's really what fanfiction is all about. I hope you enjoyed this one just as much.

grim reaper sakura: Like I told Princess Ren, you already know who he is. Just think about it. Who is creepy, weird, and has eyes that change black on demand? Hee, hee. It's kind of like a riddle huh?

ShinkuNoTenshi: No indeed, as this chapter well proves.

Suki dah Turdle: And more to come in due time. Probably not for a bit but maybe if you're lucky there'll be a hint of it in the next chapter. No promises though.

Dragon Man 180: If they make it in time to do the saving. Oh, thank-you so much for the suggestion. I didn't make it quite like that but I used a bit of it at least.

Danny-171984: Well, it hasn't been quite a month yet so this update is a bit faster then the last. That counts for something right? (innocent smile) Anywho, like I told the others who asked, the creepy guy has already shown himself before. You just gotta think about it for a moment or two. Thanks for the review!

Shinobi Darkbeak: I'll try my best!

Kaliea: Thanks so much for all of your reviews! I hope you all have a Merry Christmas. And don't forget to review my new ItaHika fluff story 'All Year Long'. Till next time, ja ne!