Author's Note: It's been a while! Enjoy the chapter!

The march back to Konohagakure saw Maiko escorted under heavy guard. On top of her restraints, each of her guards had spears pointed at her, so that every movement warned her against disobeying. If she had to guess, they were all jounin-level shinobi, with stone faces and unbridled resentment in their eyes. She could hardly blame them. Maybe she hurt some of their friends. Maybe even killed some of them.

She stumbled, pricking her neck on one of the points. She could feel the trickle of blood running down her chest, but she couldn't stop marching. One of the guards prodded her in the back, and she continued. She didn't have any complaints. She deserved this.

The village received them with mixed emotions. Families were ecstatic to see their sons and daughters, wives and husbands return, but others were not so lucky. Some were desperate, reading the crowd of returning soldiers, waiting for a familiar face that would never come.

Maiko watched as Haru ran to Kakashi, nearly tripping over her little legs as she jumped into his arms. Despite his obvious injuries and exhaustion, Kakashi lifted her into the air, and kissed her face until she stopped crying. She had to turn away when Haru's big blue eyes met hers. She couldn't bare it.

She was escorted to a cell, buried deep beneath the Hokage's main office. The guards untied her ropes, only after she was inside her room, and closed the door behind them. Every wall was more than likely a two-way mirror, and there was an intricate seal on the only door. It must've been a kind of chakra-draining seal because Maiko felt weaker the second she stepped inside.

Tiredly, she examined her new lodgings. There was a cot in the corner with crisp, musty sheets on it and a single pillow. In another corner, there was a toilet that Maiko didn't feel like using.

The fluorescent lights were giving her a headache, so she laid down on her cot and closed her eyes. She couldn't see out of her cell anyways, but she imagined that she had an audience. Maybe there were villagers demanding her death for all of her crimes. Perhaps the Five Kage were there, deliberating how to end her peacefully. Or worst of all, there was no one, and Maiko was to rot in this cell for the rest of her life.

She dug her face into her pillow, smelling the ages it had been left here. It was alright. It was what she deserved.

-:-

Kotone was static as a stone during Neji's ceremony. Hiromi stood nearby, holding a handkerchief tight, though not using it to wipe away her constant stream of tears. Kiba held tight to her side, holding her close to him as though he could smother the grief away. Kotone watched the entire event from outside of her body. She felt like she was floating along, observing her body go through the motions.

Afterwards, after she gave her condolences, she marched home with a dry face and sat inside her wooden house until it was dawn. It was a shockingly empty place. She owned no personal items except the kimono on her back and the book that sat unused on the ground. Its withered cover and yellow pages stared her in the face. The rising sun shined into her eyes, yet Kotone could not stop looking at the cover. This book was the only gift she could give to Aiko and Akio. She could never repay them for their kindness. After all those years they had spent looking for her, and protecting her while they traveled, she could never thank them for their constant love. Kotone wanted to apologize. She wanted to grovel before their feet and beg for their forgiveness.

When she stood in front of their simply marked graves, she could not even recall leaving her home. She couldn't find any words either. She wanted to apologize, for her lack of understanding, and her father's actions, but no words came out. Kotone knelt in the freshly arranged dirt, and laid some flowers to rest. They were growing prettily nearby, and she ripped two up from the root. It was eerily akin to the feeling of white hair being pulled from the skull, but Kotone pressed those feelings back, as far away as she could. The flowers were weightless, and without a vase, they nearly blew away. Gently, and as lovingly as she could, Kotone gathered dirt around their stems, propping them up as though they could stand,

"Do you think," she murmured to the planted camellias, "that my father even knew you were his brother's children?"

The camellias didn't respond, and neither did Aiko and Akio, so Kotone stood, and began to walk home. She was sleepwalking, in a haze knowing that no one was waiting for her in the wooden house. She dragged herself on and on until she was halfway to somewhere when she was snapped out of her daze by Kakashi.

He was made Hokage not long after their return. He had stood atop of the office and waved down at his recovering comrades with his daughter's hand in his own. Haru, reunited with her father, was more attached than ever, and happier than she had been in a while.

"Hey, Kotone. Where are you headed?" The Hokage asked, his daughter hiding behind his robes.

The white-haired kunoichi took a moment to think. Where was she going?

"I'm not sure."

Kakashi smiled beneath his mask, inscrutable, "Hm. I also enjoy wandering the village."

When he noticed Haru peeking from behind the cover of his clothes, Kakashi looked back up at Kotone, as though he had an idea.

"We're on our way to visit Sasuke and Naruto in the hospital. Would you care to join us?"

Kotone had yet to see either of them since they had arrived back in the village. She stopped to ponder whether or not someone would miss her at home, but her mind raced, ending on a visual of wilting flowers, leaning over two bodies.

"Yes, please." She replied, trying to erase her thoughts.

Naruto and Sasuke were located in the same hospital room, though it was unclear whose will that was. Both of their shirts were laid across the chair between them. The blonde shot up in his bed when they slid the door open, and Sasuke glanced over his shoulder, his eyes lingering on Haru, then on Kotone.

"Yo!" Kakashi held up a hand in greeting, "Haru, Kotone and I came to stop by for one of your check-ups."

"Hey, Haru-chan!" Naruto gave the little girl a big grin, and she flushed, burying her face further into Kakashi's leg.

"Haru," Kakashi's voice was a different octave than Kotone had ever heard him use, and it calmed even her, "you remember Naruto, right?"

The girl nodded, her lips still shut tight. Her giant blue eyes nervously bounced between her father and the other faces in the room. Kotone didn't quite know how to react, trying to recall anything and everything she had been told about interacting with children.

"Hey, hey, Haru-chan," Naruto slid off of his bed, kneeling down in front of the child, "This is my friend, Sasuke! Would you like to say 'hello?'"

Kakashi pulled on his robe to try and reveal Haru's face to Sasuke. He was sitting on the edge of a hospital bed, looking exponentially better than when Kotone saw him last. His dark eyes were soft and tranquil as he watched Haru's little fingers curl around her father's leg.

Kotone stepped forward, and spoke in a soft tone, trying to mimic Kakashi, "It's alright, Haru. He's very nice. You can trust him."

When Haru did nothing but gape at her, Kotone wondered if she had said something too complex or beyond a child's understanding, but then, the little girl waddled out from behind her father and to Sasuke. His eyes were wide, from what, Kotone was unsure, but he gave Haru his undivided attention as she inched closer to his side. Naruto was positively beaming at the results.

"Hi," her voice was so little that Kotone strained to hear it.

Sasuke responded accordingly, "Hello."

"My name is Hatake Haru-Rin and I'm four years old."

Kotone took a moment to digest this. Haru had only been two years old when they first met. Time flew by so quickly. Now this little girl's father was the Hokage and her mother… Sasuke seemed to be going through the same process as Kotone, because his eyes bounced between Haru and Kakashi for a few seconds before replying.

"I'm Uchiha Sasuke."

Haru turned back to look at Kakashi and Naruto for affirmation. Kakashi nodded solemnly, and Naruto nearly vibrated with excitement, giving her a big thumbs-up. Haru returned it, and turned back to Sasuke, who was failing at hiding a smirk.

"How old are you?" She prompted.

Sasuke gave Haru a kind smile, "I'm seventeen years old."

It was strange, yet oddly endearing to watch him interact with Haru. He patiently listened as she spelled out her name incorrectly, and even spelled out his own for her when she asked.

"U-ch-i-ha Sa-su-ke," Haru repeated after him. For a moment, she seemed to be trying to comprehend the letters, but she threw it aside to jump up suddenly and point at Sasuke's surprised face. "You're the one Sakura-san used to tell me stories about! The big, fat dummy!"

Kakashi smiled beneath his mask. It was nice to know that his daughter still had the straightforwardness and judgement of her mother. It felt almost as though if Haru had met Sasuke before, before all this betrayal and heartbreak, she would have ended the conflict before it even started.

Then, the room erupted as Naruto burst into laughter. Kotone couldn't help it either. She tried to stifle her giggle with her hand, but it evolved into a loud laugh. If she had laughed like that before, she couldn't recall it. Haru joined in, her glee apparent in her face now, and even her father began to chuckle.

Sasuke, appearing both dumbfounded and unamused, decided to lean forward and pat Haru's head with his one hand.

"I suppose I am." He said, and Haru laughed at him until she turned scarlet.

-:-

No later than thirty minutes after they arrived, Kakashi took his daughter home. It seemed she was tired from laughing and talking, as if she had been keeping it all inside during the war. She waved good-bye to Kotone, Sasuke and Naruto from Kakashi's arms, drowsily blinking one eye at a time as though she could fight away the sleep. By the time the door closed behind the Hokage, Kotone imagined that Haru's eyes had slid shut in peaceful, seemingly unwanted rest.

"Sooooo, Kotone." Naruto's voice had a mischievous tone, so she was careful to keep her expression blank.

"Yes, Naruto?"

"You and Gaara are pretty close, huh?" Kotone thought that Naruto looked incredibly similar to a fox, with his curled lips and impish eyes.

"He is not presently in the room with me, so no, we are not close."

Naruto gave her a dumbfounded look for a moment, until she cracked, and her lip curled, and he pointed his finger at her accusingly, "Hey! Don't tease me like that!"

"I didn't realize you were capable of joking around," Sasuke noted.

Kotone smiled at him, and it must've caught him off guard because he had to quickly look away. "It's something I picked up," she said, and it must've tickled Naruto because he gave a hearty laugh.

"I never realized how cool you were, Kotone!" He said, after calming down.

Unsure of how to respond, Kotone shrugged, and before Naruto could prod her more, the door slid open. The three shinobi all turned to look as Hinata entered the room, her cheeks a little pink. She was carrying a tray of some kind of food, and Naruto must've recognized it because he seemed to start drooling.

"I'm so sorry to interrupt," She spoke sweetly, "but I brought some ramen for you, Naruto… to help you recover."

"Wow, thanks, Hinata!"

Hinata went and sat by Naruto's bedside, and suddenly Kotone felt the same way she did when she saw Kiba and Hiromi kiss.

"I should probably head home," she started to head towards the door.

"I'll walk you there."

Hinata and Naruto watched wide-eyed as Sasuke stood, replacing his shirt and tugging on a jacket. Hinata winked at Kotone, uncharacteristically coy, as she and Sasuke left, but she couldn't quite understand what it meant.

The sun was just setting as they left. People were out, lighting their lanterns to illuminate the incoming night. Celebrations were beginning in the restaurants and bars, praising the end of the war. The noise was welcome. It was cheerier than the silence waiting for Kotone at home.

The wooden building was little more than a shack. She wasn't expecting Sasuke to follow her inside, but he did, and she realized that she had nothing to accommodate him. She had a single chair and table, a mini fridge and a futon that lay folded on the floor.

"This is your house?" Sasuke inquired, sounding unimpressed.

Kotone opened her refrigerator, smelling the rotten food before she saw it. She closed it, feeling downtrodden.

"Yes," she said, looking for a seat and settling for the edge of the table.

Sasuke eyed her fridge with a look of disgust, and turned to her, "You should take better care of yourself."

"I hardly have any money," Kotone shrugged, "and I have no appetite."

He frowned, and stood up, appearing a bit exasperated with her. When he left her house, walking out the door without a word, Kotone stayed seated on her table. For half a moment, she wondered if she had offended him somehow, but then she heard him cough pointedly outside. Kotone went to the doorway to stare at him. With his dark garb, he could have melted into the building shadows that were creeping out from the other houses, were it not for the homely orange light falling on his face from some nearby lanterns. He was looking at her expectedly.

"What is it?" She asked.

Sasuke jerked his head in the direction of the warm village lights. Kotone followed his motion, admiring the view. This was a beautiful village, despite everything. Sometimes, she felt like she missed the heat of the desert, or the luxury of her castle, but it all washed away into the back of her mind when she saw what was around her.

"Are you coming?"

Kotone looked up, and saw that Sasuke was already halfway down the street. She didn't really know where he was planning to take her, but she was interested, so she closed her door behind her and walked with him.

They went down alleys and wide streets alike, with a variety of villagers around them. There were two children reenacting what they thought may have happened during the war, and a street vendor thanking two shinobi for their service. Kotone noticed a woman carrying a baby on her back like a package and holding the hand of a teenage boy, who was cautiously guiding his mother down some steps. It was charming.

The ramen stand they stopped at, Ichiraku's, was comely. The woman who took Kotone's order was friendly, and familiar. She recommended some dishes when the kunoichi couldn't decide fast enough. Sasuke's dish arrived at the same time as hers, without him even needing to order.

"Do you come here often?" Kotone asked, genuinely curious.

Sasuke had to stop sipping his broth to answer her, a faint smile on his lips. "This is Naruto's favorite place. He's quite a glutton, so we came here a lot as kids."

Kotone nodded, and went to filling her spoon with broth, "Hiromi tells me that… it was incredibly difficult for her to adjust to life with one arm. Have you been having much trouble?"

"It's not much different," Sasuke replied nonchalantly, "It's similar to a kind of training exercise."

Kotone's ramen was rich, and it made her stomach feel warm. She slurped up her noodles with little grace, and she felt whole after finishing the dish. As they were leaving, the woman and an elderly man waved them good-bye. Kotone, despite not knowing their names, waved in return.

"Do you like children?" Sasuke asked, after a few minutes of silent walking.

Kotone pondered the question. It was definitely random, and she'd never even considered it before. She thought of Haru, and the little baby she saw earlier.

"It's strange," she replied, looking at the night sky, "I used to think of them as simply another generation of people, but now I realize that they are the future. They are what we shinobi are trying so hard to protect."

When Sasuke didn't say anything in response, Kotone turned to him, "And what of you? What do you think of children?"

He stopped in his tracks, being sure to meet her eyes. They were black, and sharp, like they could cut through any lies.

"They're potential." He said simply.

They reached her house under the same warm light as earlier, but the wooden cottage took on a different image as before. It looked more appealing with a full stomach, and was haloed by orange lanterns. This time, Sasuke did not invite himself in, so when Kotone turned around to her kitchen table, to ask him a question, she was surprised he was not there.

She went to her open door, and saw that his shadowed form was already a ways down the street.

"Sasuke!" She called out.

He turned, his pale skin glowing in the night.

"Let's spar tomorrow, like you've always wanted!" Kotone felt a little silly yelling into the night, and was almost unsure if he had even heard her, until she thought she saw a smile on his distant face, "And thank you!"

-:-

Maiko didn't know what time it was. To her, the fluorescent lights on the ceiling indicated it was forever daytime, and the blazing sun was glaring at her. She spent most of her time laying in her cot, or sitting in the center of her cell, with her eyes focused on a spot on the wall. It reflected her own bony carcass back at her, and she had to strain to not see what was there. Instead, she tried to see past it.

Without her Dragon Eyes, she felt limited. She couldn't see into the future anymore, and she couldn't shape what may happen with her mind. Instead, everything was speculation, and Maiko feared it. She didn't want to think of what may happen to her, so she tried desperately to see past the mirror, to see who was watching her, who was deciding her fate. She couldn't grasp anything solid, so she closed her eyes.

The door opened, and she heard footsteps. For a split second, she thought she was having a vision, but then someone touched her arm, and she jolted out of her mind. It was Shizune, Tsunade's assistant. She was wearing medical garb, but didn't hide the weapon pouch at her hip.

"I'm here to examine you, Maiko. Please, remove your clothes, and lay on your bed." She commanded, curtly.

Maiko did as she was told. The most obvious wound on her was her stomach's puckering scar. It was pink and raw, and according to Shizune's pursed lips, not healing perfectly. She hovered her hands over it, sending down chakra. It felt fresh, like someone was pouring something cold and minty into her body, and Maiko sighed in relief. She hadn't realized how hot and itchy her stomach was.

"You're looking more nourished," Shizune said, peeling her gloves off, "and you're coming along as well as can be expected."

Maiko shimmied back into her clothes. After a few hours, or days of staying inside her cell, Shizune brought her new clothes, some glorified hospital gowns that covered what needed to be covered. The material was similar to paper, but it felt clean, and Maiko didn't mind. It was more than she deserved.

"The Hokage will want to see you soon, and evaluate your progress. He's been strongly considering what to do with you."

"He?" Maiko gave Shizune a confused look.

The brunette appeared surprised that she was even listening, "Huh? Oh, yes. Kakashi Hatake has been made Hokage."

"I see." The Aizawa girl considered her feet.

She hardly even noticed when the door shut behind Shizune. She was thinking about Kakashi and his daughter, Haru. Then, she thought about Hanako.

It was a haze of memories stirring together to create a single moment. It was Hanako, smiling at Maiko, and calling her hair lovely, and it twisted into the same woman, laying in a pool of her own blood, as it mixed with the dry earth. There was a hollow pain in Maiko's gut, and she tried to grab it, but it slipped right between her fingers.

-:-

Hiromi wasn't sure what to do with herself. She felt the need to stay constantly busy, as though it would help keep her mind off of Maiko. Every day had a different task to complete. Some days, she helped repair houses, and others, she went out to escort traders who were arriving at or leaving the village. For a solid week, she spent the night on the road with a caravan that was bringing fresh produce to Konohagakure.

Kakashi was set on making sure the village got back on its feet. There was always something to do, but he assured Hiromi that he was constantly thinking of what to do with Maiko. The girl plagued Hiromi's thoughts. Every time she was at home, she looked outside and stared at the Hokage's office. Somewhere, in that big building, Maiko was being held. Maybe it was a prison cell, with thick iron bars keeping her separate from society. Whenever Hiromi asked, however, Shizune always assured her that Maiko was being taken care of. Hiromi constantly worried.

It was eating her alive even as she danced. It was one of her favorite things to do, especially after integrating it into her ninjutsu. The studio was new, one of the many new additions to the recovering village, and filled with the scent of lumber. The mirrors were crisp, with no cracks or stains. It was a lovely studio and a welcome distraction. Hiromi stretched her leg on the barre, nearly touching her chin to her kneecap. She was a bit out of practice, no thanks to the lack of peace and quiet.

She almost jumped out of her skin when she heard Kiba, as he entered the room.

"Wow, it looks-"

"Ah!" Hiromi cried out in alarm, pulling her leg from the barre. Her shout must've scared Kiba in turn because he looked startled when she turned towards him.

"What?" He asked cluelessly.

The blonde giggled, pointing to the door, "You- you scared me!"

"Ha? Hiromi, I was so loud walking in here!" Kiba walked forward, giving her a gentle poke.

She halfheartedly pushed his hand away with a smile, "Sorry, sorry. I was just thinking."

The Inuzuka had a knowing look on his face. It wasn't uncommon for her to be consumed by her thoughts, drifting away into silence. Luckily, she had Kiba there, to shake away her anxious what-ifs. He was there now, looking at her up and down with a red face. Hiromi instinctively covered herself with her hands.

"What is it?"

Kiba grinned, "That looks good on you."

It was a simple leotard, she thought. It was standard, and the tights beneath it weren't special either. Hiromi looked down at herself, to try and see what Kiba saw. And she did. It must've been a bit colder in the studio than she'd known. She was going to warm up with some exercises but then Kiba arrived. She felt like she was on fire with embarrassment.

"Ah, I, its-!" She backed up against the barre, feeling the polished wood against her back. "Don't look!"

Kiba obediently covered his eyes, and suddenly Hiromi was aware of just how red he was. He was almost the same color as the stripes going down his cheeks. Despite dating for some time now, they'd never done anything…

Hiromi tried to shake away those thoughts, but they came right back. They'd kissed, of course. She loved the feeling of his lips on hers, how warm and loving he was. But he'd never… they hadn't… well, he had never seen-!

She put a hand to her own cheek. It was hot to the touch, like a stovetop. She couldn't believe how shy she still was. After everything that's ever happened in her life, shouldn't she be a little bit more mature? She looked over at Kiba, and his covered eyes.

"A-actually," She murmured, almost too soft to hear, "I don't mind."

"Are you sure?" Kiba peeked between his fingers, as though testing the waters. Even he knew how sheepish Hiromi was. Especially him, actually.

Hiromi let her hands fall, and rest against the barre, "I-.. I don't mind if you… see me."

Kiba felt hot blood rush, and he thought about turning around, just to avoid what could be an awkward situation, but he didn't move. He did what Hiromi suggested, and took in her form. She had always been lithe growing up, but now, he could truly see how she'd grown. The leotard was tight, tight enough that he could see the details of her breasts, and where her hips jutted out a bit. He almost stepped forward to grab her, to touch her somewhere, but he felt like he was approaching a wild dog. There was no telling when it might run, and he'd hate himself if he hurt Hiromi somehow.

On the other hand, Hiromi felt like…. Well, she'd never felt like this before. It felt like she was being examined by a doctor, but at the same time, she wanted to be examined? It was such an odd feeling. She trusted Kiba more than anyone. She was vulnerable, doing something that she'd never done before, but she trusted him. She wanted him to trust her, too.

Hiromi tried to close the gap between herself and Kiba. She must've done something wrong because he put his hands on her shoulders, keeping a space between them.

"Ah, ummm."

She'd never seen Kiba so hesitant. He looked nervous, and a bit hunched over, looking at every inch of Hiromi's face, and nothing else. She almost felt ashamed for putting herself out there, in such a weird way, time, and place. She was in the middle, debating whether to proceed with confidence or end this (whatever it was) before she further embarrassed herself, when Kiba gripped her shoulders a bit harder.

"I, ah, I don't want to, I don't want you to think that, um, you have to, uhhh, you have to…"

Hiromi smiled at his stammering attempt. He wanted her to feel safe. He wanted her to feel comfortable. He wanted her… It finally clicked in her mind, which side she was going to join. The mental debate was over, and Hiromi did the first thing she could think of.

Kiba's thoughts were everywhere, though mostly on Hiromi. On her lips, on her hair, on her eyes, on her body, on her legs, on her arms… But when she peeled off her leotard, Kiba had no thoughts left.

When she stood completely nude in front of him, Hiromi thought she might jump through one of those mirrors in an attempt to escape, but she only had a few seconds to think coherently. Kiba backed her up against the wall, with predatory eyes and scooped her up in his arms, forcing her to wrap her legs around his middle. Hiromi didn't have much to say, but she giggled, out of nervousness, and out of pure love. He pressed up against her, and went to kiss her neck. She felt something like the ballet bar press against her inner thigh, before she made the connection and felt a little lightheaded.

They were intertwined like that for a while, kissing every inch of each other that they could see, until Hiromi went to stand. Kiba kept his arms wrapped around her, but pulled back from leaving a purple mark on her neck when she placed a hand on his chest. They were breathing hard, struggling to get enough of each other. Hiromi tugged on the edge of Kiba's shirt, somehow still feeling a bit meek.

The message came across as clearly as possible, and his shirt was gone before Hiromi could tug on it again. Hiromi could've drooled. He was in top physical shape, that much was clear. She leapt forward and wrapped her arms around his torso, trying to get all that she could in an embrace. Unknowingly or not, she pressed her breasts against Kiba, and he was lost. His knees wobbled, and he let himself and Hiromi go to the floor to continue.

Needless to say, Hiromi found the perfect distraction from her thoughts.

-:-

The last time Kotone sparred with someone, it was when she and the Akivi helped prepare Hiromi and Kiba for the war. She remembered the feeling of Kiba's claws, and Akamaru's bite. It wasn't anything she couldn't handle, but it had left a few bruises.

With Sasuke, however, she was ready to receive some wounds. Kotone had even gone as far as to ask Hinata for some healing herbs, in case things got too serious. She had spent the morning preparing, sharpening her katana with a whet stone for what felt like hours. Sasuke had boasted beating her for years, so if they were finally going to do it, she wanted it to be serious, and fair.

They decided to battle on the training grounds, out where Sasuke claimed he and his team underwent Kakashi's graduation test. The spot had been decimated by the attack on the village, but there was some new growth nearby, and the rebuilt academy looming in the distance gave Kotone a sense of familiarity.

They also planned to bring the same equipment. They both had their standard weapon pouches, and their signature blades. Kotone, however, was unsure if this was still a fair fight. She glanced between her arm and where Sasuke's was missing, and decided on a solution.

"What are you doing?" He almost sounded alarmed as Kotone shrugged her arms out of her kimono.

He had seen her before, so she was a bit taken back by his surprise. Even if it had been when they were kids, everything was relatively the same. Kotone sent him a confused look, but he was looking away from her.

"I figured to make this a battle on equal footing." Kotone rigged her arm behind her back, and when the Uchiha didn't turn back to her, she added, "My breasts are wrapped, if that is your concern."

"That's not what I… forget it." Sasuke kept his eyes on the top of Kotone's head, avoiding even her eyes, which she found a bit insulting.

"If you're ready to begin?" If he wanted to give her an advantage, that was his own prerogative.

Sasuke and Kotone unsheathed their swords. Her white katana was a nice contrast to his black handle. It was difficult to keep it balanced with one hand, but Kotone was not going to try and face Sasuke without her blade. The two took a few steps back, and waited for a few moments, until Kotone made the first move.

She leapt forward, hoping to catch him off guard with her attack. He countered it well, pushing her blade away from his with the hopes of slashing her stomach. Kotone leaned back, bending her body at the waist, and when his katana passed, she shot back up with a stabbing motion.

In reality, she expected that Sasuke would be able to dodge everything she sent his way. She didn't reflect on how dangerous things could have gotten had they both not known this until much later. Sasuke twisted his shoulder out of the range of her attack, and whipped his blade back around, forcing Kotone to back up.

They circled one another, and this time, Sasuke made the first move. He went in as though to slice at her, but at the last second, the blade lit up with a chidori. The electricity bit at Kotone's skin, giving her goosebumps, but nothing more, as she rolled out of its range. Facing his back, Kotone quickly went in to cut at him, but he twisted around her met her blade with his own. The metals made a ringing sound that sent some nearby birds fluttering into the sky.

Instead of staying in deadlock, Kotone lightened her force, causing Sasuke to go forward. She ducked, and went to hit him in the stomach with her hilt. She only ended up hitting him in the hip bone, but it still got him to stagger a bit.

In return, he got in a hit on her back, near the middle of her spine, also with his hilt. The two seperated for a moment, and Sasuke saw that Kotone had a smile on her face, like she was having fun. It was a nice smile.

They went at it again, with their katanas meeting, and sometimes getting a hit off on one another, but nothing deadly, until finally Kotone disarmed Sasuke. With the flick of her blade, he felt the sting of metal on his hand, and dropped his sword. It was foolish to not have a collar on his weapon, and Kotone was sure to exploit it. She went to kick it away before he could pick it back up, and it hit the trunk of a nearby tree.

Without a weapon, there were only a few options Sasuke had. He could try and counter her with a kunai, but he would have limited range. Kotone lunged with her blade, wondering if that was his idea. But instead of countering her in anyway, Sasuke just barely dodged, and grabbed Kotone's arm as she slipped by him. He twisted it, and with a cry, she dropped her blade on the ground, hearing it spiral out of her reach.

Now, they were both unarmed, and Sasuke had the advantage with Kotone's arms out of commission. So instead, Kotone sent some chakra to her legs, pushing herself up and headbutting Sasuke's chin. He released her arm, and staggered back, and with this moment, Kotone reached into her pouch for a kunai. She leapt out, to hold it at his neck until he yielded, but he must've seen this coming, because he met her weapon with a spinning shuriken that could've taken her hand with her kunai had she not had the mind to drop it.

"Strange, isn't it?" Kotone finally spoke, her voice haggard from the match, "We've hardly used any ninjutsu."

"You're right. Let's rectify that." Sasuke replied. He put his hand to his mouth, and took a deep breath.

Kotone, thinking quickly, rolled out of his immediate range, feeling the heat from the fireball on the back of her neck. He had to stay firm, or the fire could hurt him also, so Kotone decided that she would test how far they were each willing to go to win. She got a running start, and slid beneath the fireball, feeling the flames lick and snap at her skin and face. At the end, she knocked Sasuke off of his feet, and the flame hissed from his lips as he fell.

They both raced to stand, but Kotone went for a different approach. She called the wind to her, feeling it curl around her arm, and whipped it towards Sasuke. It tossed him back, hitting one of the fresh trees. It shook, and some leaves fell from its branches, but the two shinobi didn't pause.

Kotone could feel the sweat on her temple, and as she waited for Sasuke to stand, she did her best to wipe her brow, and push her hair away from her face. With free reign to use ninjutsu now, things were going to heat up. In retrospect, it was unwise of them to fight as roughly as they did. Sasuke was fresh from the hospital, and they could've damaged some of the land with their techniques, but Kotone was too eager to prove him wrong. She wanted to show him that her skills weren't from her life as a puppet, but from her new life as a girl, now a woman.

As Sasuke stood, Kotone eyed where her blade had landed. Perhaps, if she could retake it, she would be able to overpower him. The Uchiha followed her eyes, however, and neither of them were fools. They both dived for the weapon, with unfathomable accuracy, however, instead of grabbing the blade, they collided, their bodies tangled in a mess of kicking and shoving. They tumbled for a while, with Kotone struggling to conjure up some hand seals, until finally, Sasuke gained the higher ground. He had her one hand pinned with his other, and they were at an impasse.

They were panting at one another, and Kotone could feel strands of hair stuck to her mouth and forehead. Sasuke looked just as tired, if not more. It was exhilarating to fight, with no looming threat of death. They were powerful, and struggled to keep up with one another. It was a challenge. Kotone smiled. She was enjoying this.

"What?" Sasuke's brows were pulled together in confusion.

Her smile didn't flee, "This is fun."

What she said must've been surprising, or offensive, because Sasuke gaped at her, clearly caught off guard by her words. His grip was loose on her wrist, but she didn't feel like striking him while he looked so vulnerable. Kotone sat up a bit, and he let her.

"I didn't think that sparing could be so… fun," she explained, thinking back on her time with Team 14, "I'm enjoying it."

Sasuke still had nothing to say. He was looking deep into her eyes, as though searching for something. Kotone wondered later if he ever found it.

"I think it's because you and I are both friends and equals. Wouldn't you agree?"

Kotone didn't get to keep talking, or even keep thinking because Sasuke pressed his lips to hers. He was warm. His mouth was wet, his lips were bordering on chapped, and he tasted like something uniquely similar to rain.

He pulled away for a moment, and their eyes met again. His obsidian eyes were usually so soft and cool, like stones in a riverbed, but now they were smoldering coals, burning into Kotone's own gaze. When neither of them moved, sharing the same air in silence, Sasuke moved in once again, but with vigor. He sucked gently on her bottom lip, and her whole body went hot. She didn't have the slightest clue of what to do. She felt like her heart was beating out of her chest, and her temperature was skyrocketing.

Was this something friends did? She had seen Hiromi and Kiba do something similar, but her body didn't react in any way besides bashfulness. Now, she felt like Sasuke had lit a fire in her mouth, and in her chest. It was like there was a flame inside of her and it was fighting to get out. Atop the heat, Kotone felt heavy, heavy with a sense of nervousness. She didn't know what to do. She couldn't recall the word for what this was, for what they were doing. She knew what this was, but it scared her. Her lack of experience actually frightened her.

Finally, when she felt she couldn't breathe, with Sasuke on her, and her own mind escaping her, Kotone pulled her other arm out of its position behind her back, and gently pushed Sasuke back so that she could sit up fully. Sasuke followed suit, moving to sit in front of her. When she finally looked up at him, he had a smirk on his lips instead of her mouth.

"Wh-?" Kotone had to search for her words. They were hidden somewhere, but she struggled to find them. She settled on, "Why?"

Sasuke leaned in once again, watching as Kotone's usually pale visage burnt red. He stopped before he touched her lips, hovering there to admire her. Her cheeks were dusted with rosy sheepishness. Her brows were pulled together in confusion, and she was taking quick, little, nervous breaths, like she couldn't get the air back in her lungs. There were stray hairs lost on her face, stuck in her lips, and on her cheeks. She was stunning.

"Hm. You're no friend to me, Kotone." He said, bluntly, "You're something different."

The heat left Kotone entirely, and she felt cold as ice. She was no friend to him?

"I defended you when you returned to our side. I told Haru you were someone to be trusted. I didn't report you that day I met you at the inn! How could you and I not be friends? Have I not been anything but kind to you? At the very least, civil?"

She didn't realize it, but the heat was back, angry and red inside her body as she spoke.

"I never said you weren't kind." Sasuke replied coolly, "I simply said you are something different. Not just a friend."

Kotone simmered. Why didn't he just say that in the first place? "I see. Is there not a word for what we are?"

"For someone who's as smart as you," The Uchiha stood up, also helping her to her feet. When they were both standing, close and warm together, he finished his thought, "You sure are clueless."

-:-

The sound of the door opening roused Maiko from her position on the floor. She wasn't sure how much time had passed since Shizune's last visit. It could've been minutes, or days, maybe even weeks. The fluorescent lights burned her retinas as she sat up, blinking away whatever thoughts had been clouding her mind. She hadn't been able to sleep since she arrived. When she closed her eyes, and felt the darkness creeping in on her, Maiko thought she could see hundreds of eyes peeking at her.

There were only so many eyes on her now, though. Shizune had two ANBU officers with her. Maiko grinned at the floor. Was this the day she was to die? Were they going to take her to receive a lethal injection? A public hanging perhaps? Or were they going to throw her in a jail cell, and leave her to be forgotten?

"Arakawa Maiko," Shizune addressed her as coldly and formally as possible. She wasn't wearing any kind of medical garb this time. "The Hokage has summoned you. Will you come willingly?"

What was this? An evaluation? Maiko kept her eyes on the ground. What did he expect her to say? She remembered next to nothing about murdering Hanako. She only really knew that she'd done it. She'd killed Hanako, regardless of Yami's influence.

Shizune was still looking at her expectedly, so Maiko decided on an answer.

"Yes, I will."

The ANBU officers went right to work. One of them tied Maiko's hands tight behind her back, the rope twisting and burning her skin. The other placed a paper seal on her forehead, likely the same seal that was on the room itself, and a dark bag over her head.

"We wouldn't want someone to recognize you before the Hokage decides what to do with you." Shizune explained.

What she really meant, Maiko thought, is that they didn't want her to die before Kakashi could do it himself. Regardless, she let herself be lead down a series of halls, and up a set of stairs. It felt like they had been walking forever, to the edge of the world to push Maiko off and be done with her. However, when the ANBU officer pulled off her hood, she didn't see a ledge leading to nothing. She saw Kakashi Hatake, sitting in his office chair. His mask guarded his expression well, but Maiko saw it all in his eyes. They were filled with sorrow, hatred, and most confusing of all, guilt. She couldn't bare to look at him.

Even worse, beside him, stood Shikamaru. Had he begged Kakashi to allow him to stand in? Or was he being forced to watch her die? She wanted to send him way, send him somewhere where she couldn't hurt him anymore. However, the way he looked at her, with determination, and sternness, made Maiko turn away. Perhaps even he wished her dead.

"So, Maiko." Kakashi's voiced revealed nothing about his emotional state. "How are you feeling?"

She glanced up at him, curious as to what he was truly asking.

As though sensing her confusion, Kakashi clarified, "How are your wounds healing?"

"Shizune-san is a skilled medical nin." Maiko deadpanned, "It barely even hurts."

"I see, I see. Are you being treated well?"

Again, Maiko looked at him. His mask and his voice were guarding how he truly felt about her.

"I… I've been treated better than I deserve." She bowed her head.

"Hm. What do you think you deserve, Maiko?"

The teen peered at Shikamaru. He was staring so intently at her, as though trying to tell her something mentally. She wanted to know what he thought she should say. It probably wasn't the same thing as she was thinking.

"I deserve to die."

"Hokage-sama, she-!" Shikamaru intervened, but Kakashi raised a hand to silence him.

"Arakawa Maiko," he said, emotionless, "You stand accused of treason, by abandoning your village to join the Akatsuki, assault on your fellow villagers, and murder, of Iro Daisuke and Hatake Hanako. What do you have to say in your defense?"

What could she say? What kind of reason could she provide? When she found some kind of response, Maiko opened her mouth and began to speak.

"When I first came into my Dragon Eyes, Yami… she tormented me. She manipulated me and forced me to do her will, without me even realizing it. I was lost. All I wanted to do was belong somewhere. I thought I found that in the Akatsuki, but I was wrong. I thought I found it in my own eyes, within myself, but I was also wrong. I… Yami wanted me to die. She wanted to make my life miserable, and she did.

"I can't say why she did it, but she succeeded. I wanted to die just as much as she wanted to kill me. I tried to… I tried to extract her from my own body. She terrified me, but I needed her. I… just wanted to die and be with Daisuke again." Maiko couldn't stop the tears from falling, and she couldn't stop talking. It was like the words were cut loose inside her, and if these were truly her last moments, then she wanted them all out. "I wanted to disappear and never come back, never face the atrocities that I'd committed. But right now, in this moment… despite everything I've gone through, everything I've seen, and everything I've done, I… I …"

Maiko looked again to Shikamaru. His intense stare was giving way for many more emotions to appear in his eyes. They were hopeful, and empathetic. She didn't want him to see her like this. She didn't want him to see her in chains, or as a monster. She wanted him to see her as a person. As an equal. As a woman.

So, despite everything, she looked up at Kakashi, into his icy stare, and sobbed, "I don't want to die!"

-:-

As Hiromi crept back home, she felt like she had a secret. Technically, she had multiple little secrets, red and purple marks dancing across her body, bites and kisses and - her parents would kill her. More specifically, her father would be horrified. His baby girl was - ! Thus, Hiromi went as silently as she could to her room. However, she couldn't contain her shriek of shock to see Kotone Kimiko, sitting as pristinely as a marble statue on her bed.

"AH!" Hiromi reactively put a hand to her heart, clutching her jacket closer to her body. "W-what are you doing here!"

"I'm so glad you're back. You and your mother have such a remarkable resemblance, did you know that? Regardless, I need your help. Something's happened and… and I'm not knowledgeable in this… area? Yes. This area."

With her heartbeat lowering back to normal, Hiromi placed her bag on her desk, digesting her friend's words. Kotone sounded anxious. Not scared, not too serious, just…

"Kotone, are you nervous? What's going on? I've never heard you talk like this before."

The teen in question ran her hand through her hair. It was silky and soft, and a nice repetitive movement that satiated this need inside of her to keep moving or talking, or both. As Hiromi took a seat beside her, Kotone tried to get the thoughts in her head out of her mouth.

"I don't understand it. I don't understand why. Why? He did this, and I don't understand. It wasn't like when you do it, so I wasn't sure… It has a name but I simply can't find it. I know next to everything there is to know and yet this-!" Kotone felt her shoulders fall a bit, "Evades me. It simply… evades me."

Hiromi was taken aback. She was smiling a bit, not on purpose, and certainly not at Kotone's anguish. This was just her first time ever seeing the girl so human.

"Alright, alright. Start over. What happened? What don't you understand?" Without thinking too much about it, Hiromi placed a pillow in Kotone's lap and her own, giving them both something to grab and fidget with.

Where could she start from? Where was the beginning? When she and Sasuke met? When he developed some vendetta against her? When they sparred earlier today? Or when he put his mouth on hers, biting her bottom lip and pulling it towards him, like he didn't want them to ever part?

"Ah! Kotone! You're all red!" Hiromi didn't mean to, but she pointed at the girl's face, only amplifying the effect.

"I-! I don't know what's happening!"

"Okay, okay, okay, calm down! What happened? Like, what did you do today?"

Kotone took a breath. Her body still felt hot, so she fanned herself with her hands. "I… This morning, I woke up early, and prepped for my sparring session with Sasuke Uchiha."

"And then what?" Hiromi felt herself perk up with more interest.

"And then… I went to our meeting spot, and we sparred. I tied my arm behind my back to even the odds. We fought for a while, and eventually he gained the advantage and…" Hot lips, wet and still somehow a bit dry, his smug look, and that same kind of heat washing over her body, yet sending chills down her spine.

"Annnnd?"

"The fight … It was fun. I had fun." Kotone backtracked, her expression still surprised, and confused.

"Yeah? Okay, did you win?" Hiromi prodded.

The kunoichi paused in her odd nervousness. She turned to her friend and looked even more lost than before. "I'm not sure," she replied. This wasn't going anywhere.

"But, like, what happened? You're killing me, Kotone! Did he say something?"

No friend to me…. You're something different… For someone so smart, you sure are clueless.

"He said lots of things."

"Okay, like what?"

"He said…" Kotone put the pillow on her face. It felt nice and cool against her hot skin. "I'm clueless."

"You're what? Clueless?" Hiromi leaned in, trying to hear her friend's muffled voice. "What else did he say?"

"That… we weren't friends. That we weren't friends!" Kotone pulled the pillow away, appearing a bit angry, but quickly losing that feeling as she saw Hiromi's intensely curious and excited expression.

"Why'd he say that? Did you say something mean?"

"I don't recall doing so… and he said that we weren't friends, but something…" Kotone gestured in front of her, vaguely finishing with, "Different."

Hiromi put her hand to her chin, piecing together Kotone's choppy tale, "So… He called you clueless. And said that you weren't friends, but something different... "

A cat-like grin unfurled on the blonde girl's face, and Kotone somehow felt more anxious than before.

"Kotone, did Sasuke say anything else? Anything… personal?" She practically purred, leaning in for the story.

"Well, he…" The word was still gone. It was like her brain was hiding it away from her, hoping to keep her from understanding what had happened. Kotone looked around the room, avoiding her friend's eyes. Maybe if she simply tried hard enough, she could conjure up the description.. Find the words she was looking for.

Her eyes danced across the room, seeing clothes draped on furniture, and strands of blonde hair on everything. There was a vanity, with a large mirror, and a hairbrush that was basically golden from all of Hiromi's hair. Around the mirror were photos, pictures of the girl with her family, and her lover, Kiba. There was one where the two weren't facing the camera, but they were…

"AH!" Kotone stood up suddenly, causing Hiromi to jump in fear. "He! He did that! He…" The teen deflated quickly, sitting back down with an even redder face.

"What did he do, Kotone? Kotone?"

"He kissed me."

Hiromi could've somersaulted right out of her bedroom window. A big shocked grin was on her face, relishing in the drama and pure confusion Kotone was experiencing. This was the girl's first romantic encounter! And it was with the neighborhood bad boy (quite literally, the Uchiha was a horrific person, but they could unpack that later) Sasuke! Sakura was going to be so distraught. Actually, this was Kotone's business, and thus, her secret. Hiromi would keep it until she died if she had to.

Hiromi ceased the high pitched shrill noise she didn't know she was making. "Kotone!"

"Yes?"

"So! How was it?"

Kotone took a moment to think. "It was… very warm. And I didn't understand why he did it."

"Oh, sweetie," Hiromi placed a gentle hand on her friend's shoulder, "What do you mean you don't understand? It… seems pretty clear to me."

"Tell me, please. What this means. I… I don't even know how to think about this." Kotone was pitiful.

"I-... Kotone, I think Sasuke likes you."

"I like him, too. We're friends. Or at least, I thought we were, but now we're something different, apparently."

"No, no, I mean… he… wants to date you!"

"What's a date?"

Hiromi had a choice. She had a lot of different avenues to take this. She could force Kotone to watch her favorite romance movies, read her favorite novels, and compare her experience with the medias, or she could do her very best to describe what was happening to the quite accurately clueless teen. She took a deep breath.

"So."

She took another breath.

"So, I have an idea of what might help you, but you're going to have to spend the night here. Let's start with this film right here; it's about a young girl who falls in love with this monster who ends up being- well, actually you'll find out. Get comfy, Kotone, this might take a minute."

-:-

A minute ended up being nearly twelve hours. Hiromi wasn't sure if Kotone slept at all, as the blonde would doze off every once in a while, only to be awoken by Kotone replacing the discs and playing another film. She also wasn't sure if any of the material was getting through, as Kotone maintained the same analytic expression throughout every single one. When her father came to announce breakfast, he opened the door, only to see the tense girl's face, and instantly shut the door.

Hiromi yawned, unfurling herself from the blankets. She hadn't even had time to change clothes… Gross. She looked over at Kotone, and saw that she was engrossed in the television. So, she undressed, peeling off her layers and standing in front of her closet. What was she going to wear today? Maybe something red with…

"What are those?"

Kotone's voice was a surprise, after so many hours of silent processing, but the movie's sounds had stopped, and the girl was looking at Hiromi's body with a curious expression.

"Hm? What are what?" Hiromi groggily grabbed something from her closet, ready to tug it on. Then, she remembered yesterday. She remembered it quickly.

Hot breaths on her neck, hands on her breasts, an intoxicating warmth building up, and up and then…

"They're! Um!"

"Did something bite you?" Kotone was standing, ready to inspect her friend's wounds closer, but Hiromi retreated further into her closet.

"Y-yes! Insect! They're insect bites!"

Kotone seemed to buy it. She had a stern look on her face for a moment, as though ready to scold Hiromi for not properly disinfecting so as to protect her skin, but then the girl's white eyes went wide with something akin to realization. Hiromi felt her stomach drop.

"You're lying," she remarked, "those are kiss marks!"

Before Hiromi could ask how the teen would even know what those were, Kotone dug up the case of a film that had a harder rating than the others. She should've just explained what a date was instead.

"I-... yes. They are. But don't tell anyone!"

Kotone regarded Hiromi's body with seemingly scientific interest, "They're so numerous. I wouldn't need to tell anyone; they would simply have to look at you."

"Kotoneeee! This was supposed to be about me helping you realize Sasuke likes you, not you teasing me." Hiromi flushed, tugging her clothes over her head.

When her vision was no longer blocked by her dress, she took in Kotone's expression. It was like everything that had happened to her was coming back. Perhaps she had pushed back all of the events of yesterday in order to mindlessly watch those romcoms.

"Ah. Yes. Sasuke."

"How do you feel about him, Kotone?" Hiromi took a seat beside her, wrapping a friendly arm around her shoulders, "Do you feel like you could like him like how the people in those movies liked each other?"

"How do… I feel? About Sasuke?" She stayed silent, chewing the inside of her cheek for a few moments before continuing.

"He makes me feel so confused. I don't understand why he acts the way he does. He treats me so strangely, and… I don't dislike it. When he kissed me, I didn't dislike that, either. He was so warm, and my whole body felt like it was on fire. I'm just… lost."

Kotone looked so pitiful. It was so abnormal to see the usually put together girl struggle with something that Hiromi considered so basic.

"Well, maybe it'll help to talk to him. He could explain how he feels, and help you understand."

"That makes sense… I suppose Naruto will know where he lives. I'll ask for an explanation and then I'll understand."

Hiromi felt an itching in her mind. She couldn't just let this stand without asking… "Kotone, is there… anyone else who likes you? Anyone nicer?"

The white-haired teen looked lost again, "I'm not sure. I do have kind friends, however. You, Hinata, Kiba, Shikamaru, Naruto… Ah, and Gaara."

She could feel a light bulb go off above her. "Gaara? Sabaku no Gaara? You two are close?"

"Yes. He's incredibly considerate. He's helped me a lot through the years."

The light coloring on her cheeks wasn't lost by Hiromi. This was a classic conundrum: a love triangle! Hiromi didn't mean to diminish her friend's problem by comparing them to her favorite movies, but with Kotone so clueless it was almost frustrating to watch.

"Maybe you should talk to him, too, Kotone. Maybe he likes you like how Sasuke likes you."

"It would be three day's travel to go visit, and I'm sure he's busy with Kazekage business." Kotone looked almost a little bashful and Hiromi thought it was a good look for her.

"You never know! With how popular the village is right now, maybe he'll visit."

"What would I even say? I don't know what to do, Hiromi."

The blonde squeezed her shoulder, trying to comfort her, "You don't have to do anything, Kotone. I'm sorry if I'm giving you a hard time. Just… be yourself. If you feel like you need to do something, you'll know what it is when the time is right."

Kotone looked up into her friend's eyes.

"Your advice is so vague that I'm not entirely sure it's useful."

Hiromi playfully shoved her away, "Whatever! You'll know what I mean later! Curse me for trying to help my friend!"

Author's Note: Finally, with the war over, romance is blooming and things get pretty hot and heavy! Let me know if you guys want more... detail ;) I'll try and deliver. Also, if that's not your cup of tea, I'll leave a warning before the more explicit scenes.