A/N: I forgot my notebook at my friend's house. Who cares? I'm serious. If you look at my notebook, not much of the story you are reading is the same. I always change or add things when I type this fan fiction! Okay, so on with the fifth chapter, "What Has Become Of Us" Hope you all will like it! Especially those who own the two other OC's...

O-O-O

It took around four or five... or six days... It actually took a little more than a week for two ninjas to get back home. Once they got to their village's gates one night, the guards opened them, the gates. The two kunoichis walked past the gates. One of them was greeted by many, the other was just there as if she were invisible. Sound ninjas greeted one of their two leaders, Yakushi Yumiko, with Cello walking beside her, as she arrived home. And they, the Sound ninjas, after many years, still ignored the lost demon, Kagachiwa Ritsuko, with Nell on her right shoulder.

"I hate it when they do that... They even have to bow for Yumiko..." Ritsuko grumbled.
"C'mon Ritsy-chan. Why don't you wave to our fellow Sound ninjas?"
"Have you completely forgotten that I am not one who is adored by many, by most of the people around our very own village?"
"Oh. They'll adore you. It's just because you act so mean." Yumiko sticked her tongue out at Ritsuko.
"Feh. What will I do? Shall I go to someone and grin at him or her?" Ritsuko asked. She pictured herself walking to a little girl who was looking around, making sure if she was the one the lost demon was walking to. Then Ritsuko pictured herself showing a wide grin, making the little girl cry, frightened and not knowing what Ritsuko was trying to do. Ritsuko frowned at the thought.

"Oh Ritsy-chan. You should be a little more... positive about other people..." Yumiko said, smiling. They walked one direction from another and stopped in front of a grocery store. They walked inside. Yumiko was only greeted by the villagers that were shopping and Ritsuko was only ignored, once again.

"Ritsuko! You're back!"

"At least I have my father..." Ritsuko murmured, turning to see the store's owner who had messy, black hair. "Hello father. It's nice to see you again."
The man smiled. "Is that the best you can do? Why don't you give me a better greeting? You were away from here for one week's time. I've missed you."
Ritsuko managed to smile which was horribly rare.

"Hi Mr. Kagachiwa!"
"Yumiko-san!" Mr. Kagachiwa said in surprise and bowed, making Yumiko smile.
"If you don't mind, Mr. Kagachiwa, I'll stay here for the night. Kabuto-kun can wait for just one more night anyway. Then tomorrow, I'll help him with the paper work." Yumiko said, still smiling.
"No problem, Yumiko-san." Ritsuko's father bowed again, making Ritsuko roll her eyes.

The two kunoichis went to the back of the store where they found a set of stairs which lead to the second floor of the building. They walked up the stairs and walked into a living room. From the second floor to the third, that is where the Kagachiwa family's house is. And an 18-year-old boy; just like his father, having messy, but brown, hair; was lying down on the living room's red couch.

"Hey there, little sister. Hey there, Yumiko." the boy said, smiling.
"Hi Hisoka." Yumiko replied, smiling back. Cello barked happily.
Nell, being on Ritsuko's shoulder like always, chirped at the sight her owner's brother.
"It's nice to see you again, brother." Ritsuko finally greeted.
Hisoka sighed. "Do I have to go through with you calling me that again? Do I, your very good looking brother, have to? Can't you call me by my name for once?"
"Good looking? Very good looking? Brother, you were dumped by four girls so far."
"And so? I'm still looking for another. And hopefully she'll look better than my last girlfriend..."
"Your looks are amazing... It's just your attitude, dear brother."
"Hmph. I can fix that in one night..."

Ritsuko shook her head. As much as talking to her brother annoyed her, Ritsuko liked her brother's stupidity. It makes her feel very much smarter than one who is older than her.

O-O-O

-I just feel lucky to be with you...-

It was dark, yes, as the night swallowed a well known village. A brunette ran back to the fields just outside this well known village. She, a kunoichi from Rain, looked around for one who was from Konoha. Yes, you may all know it already; Agurashi Mei was looking for a certain black-haired shinobi.

"Please let him still be here..." Mei whispered, walking to a spot she was just lying down on hours earlier. She frowned and sighed, finding no one there.

"Looking for me?"

Mei turned around to the direction from where she came from and saw who she was looking for. She smiled. "Shika-kun..."

Before they knew it, the two of them walked to each other and held each other's hands. They both walked to the nearby tree and sat on the grass in front of the tree. They just sat there for a few minutes of silence.

Shikamaru looked, past his shoulder, at Mei who sat at his right. The girl was quiet, though she was smiling. Shikamaru stared at Mei's eyes which, unfortunately, weren't staring back at his. But this didn't bother Shikamaru. He simply watched as Mei's eyes continued to shine in the moonlight. And what actually bothered the Leaf ninja was that his companion was awfully quiet. So then, he decided to speak.

"Is there something on your mind?"
Mei kept her eyes on the ground. "Well, yeah. I guess there is."
Shikamaru moved his lips into a pout. "Hmph." He then leaned on the tree behind the two of them. "Well, people say it's best to... Well, for me, I think it's usually best to tell someone what's on your mind to... get whatever's on your mind out of... your mind..."
Mei giggled. "I don't want it to get out of my mind, Shika-kun. But I'll tell you anyways..."

"While I was with Ino, I was thinking about," a flush of pink appeared across Mei's cheeks, "you. And," Mei smiled anyway, "I was thinking of how I felt about being with you. I feel lucky. Do you know that, Shika-kun? I mean, look at Neji and Yumiko. They hang out together, yeah, but they only talk about things. I wish they'd do a little more like... I don't know. Maybe they could do just a little more than talking.

"And look at Ritsuko and Naruto. They're... They're far from close! Well, they're not exactly far from close. They like each other, I can see. But they don't show it most of the time. It's rare to actually find them together. It's very rare. Ritsuko even acts as if she hates the guy! They really have to fix a lot of tings between them. I almost feel sorry for them. It's as if I want to help them... So there you have it. I just feel lucky to be with you..."

Mei looked at Shikamaru, her eyes were still glittering in the night. Shikamaru was looking at her, too, smiling. He placed his right hand on top of Mei's left one which was placed on the grass as well as her other. Mei looked down at both of their hands for a short while and looked back up at Shikamaru. Shikamaru held Mei's chin with the index finger of his left hand. He slowly leaned closer to the brunette and locked his lips with hers as he closed his eyes. Mei's eyes, on the other hand, widened while the flush of pink on her face became red. It was soothing, really...

But after a few seconds, Shikamaru just broke the kiss and smiled. He removed his left hand from under Mei's chin and brushed the kunoichi's hair with it. "It was just my... 'thanks' for earlier. I was glad you actually came to join me and... watch the clouds... But then it was embarrassing to find the two of us falling asleep later on."

Mei blushed a little more with that, if humanly possible.

"So... You feel like helping the other two out? I mean you feel like helping Yumiko with Neji and Ritsuko with Naruto, right?"
Mei nodded as the flush of red faded but the flush of pink returned. "Yeah."
"Well, Naruto isn't a problem. He left a few days ago for a mission. And it's a coincidence that the mission involves going to the Village of Sound. Heh. It's so obvious that he'd probably stop by to... try to hang out with Ritsuko. So you can, I guess, talk to Neji."
Mei smiled. "I'll do that in the morning." she whispered, lying down on the grassy field. Shikamaru did the same and Mei cuddled once more by his side.

In the morning, the two found themselves still in the fields and it was pretty embarassing. They didn't mind it much, seemingly. Mei did what she said she would do. She walked to the Hyuuga family's house once she and Shikamaru arrived back in the village. She knocked three times on the door which was opened later on by a 17-year-old blue-haired kunoichi.

"Oh. Hey Hinata."
"Mei-san. What brings you here?"
"I want to talk to your cousin. Is he available?"
"Uhm, he's doing something but please do come in."

Mei nodded and walked into the house. Hinata closed the door and brought Mei to the garden, thinking that Mei loved the gardens. The two kunoichis sat on the grass.

"Should I get you anything, Mei-san?"
"No thanks."
"Oh. Okay... But may I ask why do you want to see my cousin?"
"I just want to talk to him about him and Yumiko."
"It's about Yumiko-san?"
"Yup."
"Then that's not a problem."
Mei looked at Hinata with a questioning look. "Huh?"

O-O-O

-This may be a morning surprise with these nine words...-

Morning light struck another well known village. Two teenage girls and their pets stayed in the living room of a house above a grocery store that the family of one of these girls own. It was quiet but the girls didn't mind since it was usually quiet when there was nothing to do. To start a conversation, the black-haired one spoke.

"Yumiko, what time do you plan to go to your office? Kabuto is waiting for you, isn't he? He must've heard from many of the villagers that you've arrived."
"I'll go to our office after lunch. I want to stay here first."
"Okay then. I have training anyway in the afternoon with my two very boring teammates... They hardly talk to me."
"Do I have to say it again, Ritsy-chan? I said maybe because you act so mean... Jin and Kazuya aren't that bad."
"Those Neitaru cousins despise me, Yumiko, just like almost anyone around the village."
"But at least not as much! And they despise you sometimes. They like your company. You've been teammates for years now. And besides, you guys are one awesome team. With your special moves in taijutsu, Jin's special moves in ninjutsu and Kazuya's in genjutsu, you guys are probably the best team I know. And your sensei is awfully nice and cool. Ziku-sensei is the favorite of a lot of people here in our village."
"What's your point? All I'm saying is that I don't feel like going to training today."

"Good morning guys!"

Yumiko and Ritsuko, both sitting on the couch that faces away from the stairs that lead up to the third floor, turned their heads, looked over their shoulders and saw Hisoka wearing his blue boxer shorts, which matches his blue eyes, and a simple black shirt. He just came from his room on the third floor, also where Ritsuko's room was located as well as their father's. With his bare feet, he walked to the other couch, the one facing the stairs, and dropped his body on it. He looked at the two teenage girls and grinned. Yumiko smiled and also greeted her friend's brother. Ritsuko looked at her brother's grin for a moment and then greeted him later on.

"Hey little sister, why did you take so long in greeting me?"
"What do you mean, brother?"
"Ritsuko, sister, you were staring at my grin..."
"That was because you-"
"Oh my god! Do I have something stuck in my teeth? No! Girls think it's disgusting! I can't have anything stuck in my teeth! Damn. I knew I shouldn't have eaten that..." Hisoka started growling and saying things Yumiko and Ritsuko couldn't understand.
"No, Hisoka." Yumiko joined the conversation, "She was probably reminded of Naruto-kun because of your grin." With that, Yumiko received a glare from her friend.

But before anyone could speak, a brown bird appeared from nowhere, actually from an open window but it was just so sudden that it seemed like it came from nowhere. It landed on Yumiko's lap with a folded piece of paper attached to its leg. Cello, lying on Yumiko's feet on the floor, got up and took a look at the small, brown bird. He barked, making the bird flap its wings. Yumiko calmed the bird down and untied the string on the bird's leg. She took the folded paper and on it, it said "Yakushi Yumiko" Yumiko smiled. She knew whose handwriting it was. The bird flew back out the window, knowing its mission to deliver the note was finished. Yumiko unfolded the piece of paper and read the note, only to make herself smile even more.

Ritsuko murmured something neither Hisoka nor Yumiko heard. She simply walked near the open window, where the brown bird had came in from and exited, and leaned on the wall beside it. Nell jumped down to the window pane. Ritsuko knew Nell wouldn't fall off so she simply kept leaning on the wall with her eyes closed. Nell was chirping softly at first. But then she started chirping really loud, as if calling her owner to look outside the window. So Ritsuko opened her eyes and looked at her pet chick. She got off the wall and turned to face the window. But before looking outside, she took Nell and put her on a nearby table. While she did, Hisoka looked out himself and smirked.

"I see why Nell was so happy." Hisoka said, putting a hand on his sister's shoulder. "You should really check it out yourself."

Ritsuko glared at her own brother. Hisoka only smirked a little bit more and pushed her sister to the window, assuring that she would like the sight. Ritsuko gave him a deadlier glare before placing her hands on the window pane and placing her head out the window. She looked down to see what was so nice. But before she could make out of what she actually saw, not believing her own eyes at first, she felt a push from behind and before she knew it she fell out of a window from the second floor.

But then she landed on what felt like someone's arms. She looked to her side, her right to be exact, and saw an orange jacket with a bit of blue. She looked up, only to meet the blue eyes of a certain blonde.

"Uzumaki..."

Yumiko stood up from the couch and walked to a different window. Hisoka was occupying the space in the window Ritsuko fell from so Yumiko simply walked to a different one. She opened it and looked out herself. She saw Naruto with Ritsuko squirming in his arms. Seemingly, and obviously, Ritsuko wanted Naruto to put her down. So he did.

"Man. You guys are lucky."

Yumiko looked to her right where she found Hisoka's head still sticking out the window, just like hers. "You can say that..." Yumiko responded. She placed her head back into the house and read the note again.

Yumiko,

This may be odd for me to only say this now. I mean, I could've told you this a long time ago. Please forgive me for I should've realized things a lot earlier... So on to the point...

Do you know the feeling when you receive a gift from someone special? Do you know the feeling when you would cherish that gift more than anything? Well, I know how it feels like. You see, I have recieved a gift. And isn't it a coincidence that I recieved this special gift just when I met you? I didn't realize it at first. I didn't realize how important the gift would mean so much to me. But now I simply cherish this gift. It really is a wonderful feeling. If you know how it feels like, to cherish something... or someone special, you would feel happy, too.

You probably know by now what my gift is... Who my special someone is... Yes, Yumiko, it is you. I may sound out of character as I said that. That's why I chose to write you this simple note. Besides, I haven't heard from you in a while. How was your trip back to your village? Is Ritsuko fine as well? Naruto would be going there I assume. He has a mission. He would try to bump into your friend. Trust me... I know Naruto...

Well, there you have it. I know I should've said these before so please forgive me... That reminds me. This may be a morning surprise with these nine words... These nine words mean a lot to most of the people who have someone special in their life. Even a simple family would keep these fantastic nine words...

Three of these words I have said...

"Please forgive me."

The next three, I have also said...

"You are special."

And the last three... I have not said them yet. So here I go...

"I love you."

There. Now I am finished. It was a surprise, wasn't it? Like I said, of all the times to send this to you, it was this morning... Well... That's all. I'll wait for your next visit here at Konoha... Until then...

Life goes on,
Neji

P.S.: Mei stopped by to talk to me about the two of us. What a coincidence, is it not?

Yumiko smiled a lot more.

"Arigato, Neji..."

O-O-O

-I do not think that will work out...-

"Put me down, you idiot!" Ritsuko yelled, kicking the air and waving her left arm while pushing Naruto's face away with her right hand.
"Ri- Ritsuko! Listen- listen to me!"
"Put. Me. Down!"
"Listen to me! I was only here for-"
"You were here to try to talk to me again, weren't you?"
"I was only here on a mission, Rit-"
"Oh yeah? Then where are your teammates, huh? I don't see them! Now put me down!"

"Aww! How cute!"
"You better do what she says, Naruto."

Ritsuko looked to her left only to see a pink-haired kunoichi in red and a raven black-haired shinobi in a blue shirt and white shorts.

"Ehehe... Hi Sasuke. Hi Sakura." Naruto said, embarrassed as he was just putting Ritsuko down on the ground, back to her feet.
"You two look so good together." Sakura said, teasingly.
Naruto blushed. "She barely likes me!"
"Exactly." Ritsuko murmured, walking away, "So if you'll excuse me, I'll go."
Naruto pouted. "Ritsuko! Wait! I-" he paused, looking for the right words.
Ritsuko looked over her shoulder for her back was facing Team 7 of the Konoha Village. She looked over her shoulder and at the 17-year-old blonde who was scratching the back of his head with his right hand. The boy was looking away, down to his left side at the ground to be specific, and was blushing.
"Maybe we can talk, Ritsuko?" Naruto managed to say.
Ritsuko just looked at him. Naruto looked at her, waiting for the answer and hoping it was good. "Fine." Ritsuko murmured and shrugged, "There isn't any harm in a simple chat, anyway."
Naruto smiled his wide fox grin. "Yes!" he yelled. Subconsciously, he ran to Ritsuko when she turned to face him and wrapped his arms over her shoulders. "I promise after this, I won't bother you again! I swear!"
"Get off."
Naruto blinked. "Oh. Sorry." he whispered but loud enough for Ritsuko to hear, removing his arms from over Ritsuko's shoulders, blushing.
"Hmph." Ritsuko murmured and started walking. Naruto did the same.
"Good luck Naruto!" they both heard Sakura say once they were out of sight.

Naruto and Ritsuko walked different directions with Naruto leading the way. Ritsuko knew where he was taking her. She knew this path very well, too well. It didn't take them long to arrive at their destination. It was a park, a really beautiful park. The place had many flowers, trees, butterflies, anything so peaceful. Little boys would fly their kites or would play a game. Little girls would pick up flowers. Families would have picnics. Couples would sit on the grass and cuddle together at each other's side. People who seem to have no company would simply sit on a bench and take out a book to read or a sketch pad to draw on... or just relax and enjoy the peacefulness...

"Oh! Hi Ritsuko!"

Both Naruto and Ritsuko looked to their left and saw a black-haired woman, who was around twenty seven years old, sitting on the ground, near the path, with a book in her hand. She was smiling with her eyes closed. Ritsuko simply looked at the woman while Naruto blinked, trying to find out where he saw the woman wearing a white gown before. And then he knew...

"Ah! It's you, the person who likes Iruka-sensei!"

The woman opened her eyes, revealing green eyes, similar to Ritsuko's. "Oh. Do you know Iruka? I'm not surprised. You're Naruto, aren't you?"
Naruto nodded.
"Iruka told me all about you." the lady said, smiling.
"He- he did? Cool!" Naruto replied, grinning.
"You're just as he described you. How cute." the woman, who was just reading a book, said and giggled.
Naruto looked at Ritsuko. "You know her?"
"Hazeku Takami. She's a medic ninja. Her mother's my father's sister. Yes, we're cousins. We both have the same hair and eye color, as you can see. She knows your former teacher. What else do you want to know? I can't tell you everything at the same time." Ritsuko said in a fast way.
"You- you're cousins? Why didn't you tell me before? It was so weird to find that you two looked alike! With your long black hair and her short hair and with both of you having the same green eyes, I was freaked out!"
"You never asked..."
Naruto pouted. He looked back at Takami. "Well, see you around." Takami simply smiled and waved good bye. Ritsuko and Naruto walked away as Takami continued to read her book.

The two stopped in a one spot where it was quiet. They sat there, staying quiet. It wasn't supposed to be quiet. Naruto was supposed to talk to Ritsuko, wasn't he? Well, it wasn't that Naruto forgot to talk to Ritsuko. He was just looking for the correct words to say. He did say he wouldn't bother Ritsuko after this. Maybe she took him seriously. Naruto was scared. What if Ritsuko would see things the other way? What if she really does have no feelings for Naruto? What if she never would? What if... What if she would never ever say "yes" to Naruto once he asked if she felt the same way... If she... All the "what if" questions were scary. Naruto shivered at them.

"Are you going to talk to me or not?"

Naruto snapped out of his thoughts and blinked. He looked at Ritsuko. He gulped. Ritsuko merely stared at him, waiting for something, waiting for words to come out of Naruto's mouth. Naruto stared back at Ritsuko, frowning. Ritsuko noticed the frown but didn't seem to care. They both stared at each other for a long while in silence but then, the silence was broken when Naruto let out a sigh.

"Okay. Here, I go..." Naruto gulped one more time before continuing, "This park... You used to go here with your mother, right? You always go with her here, right? I mean, you've had so many good times with your mom and most of those them occurred here, didn't they?"
"I do not know how you knew all those things, but yes. All those good times with my mother happened here. And I won't get those good times back..."
Naruto looked away but looked back. "But you can get different happy times. You can go here with your dad and Hisoka. You can go here with Yumiko. You can go here with..." Naruto paused.
"Are you saying that I can go here with... you? Never."
Naruto frowned. That was one point down. "Ritsuko... I know you can hate me, and I know you can be mean to me, but I still want to hang out with you. You're a great person. You seem to hate being alone, being hated by a lot of people. So why not give me a chance to show you that there are people out there who don't hate you. There's your father. There's Hisoka. There's Yumiko and Mei. There's Sasuke and Sakura. There's... so many other people. You see, there are people who see you differently now. But most of all, there's... There's me."
Ritsuko blinked.
"Ritsuko. You might hate me. I'm not quite sure. But maybe, if you don't have any... feelings for me, maybe we can still... Ritsuko, can we still be friends even if you don't like me?"

Ritsuko looked away and closed her eyes to think for a moment. And then she reopened her eyes, still not looking at Naruto.

"I don't think that will work out. I don't think we'll stay friends very long, Uzumaki."

Naruto stared at her.

"Why? Why not? Ritsuko..."

Naruto smiled a fake smile and looked at the ground. But the smile faded away later on as Naruto stood up.

"O- okay Ritsuko. I... I don't mind. I... I understand."

It was a lie, a big, fat lie. Naruto didn't understand at all, not one bit. Deep inside, it hurt. It hurt to hear that the one he cared for so much didn't even want to be friends with him.

Naruto looked at Ritsuko once more.

"I did say I wouldn't bother you again. I won't. I promise you that."

Naruto turned to start marching away, never to be able to face Ritsuko ever again.

"Naruto."

Naruto's eyes went wide. He turned the second time to look at Ritsuko, forgetting that he was supposed to fight back some tears.

"I don't think that we being friends would ever happen because..."

Naruto's eyes went wider.

"Because I want to be something more than just your friend..."

Naruto's eyes went even wider, if they still possibly could. The tears finally fell down his cheeks and the smile came back. He ran to Ritsuko, knelt down in front of her and hugged her like he was some crazy man. "Ritsuko, Ritsuko, Ritsuko! Thank you so much! You don't know how much this means to me!" Naruto choked out, sobbing.

Ritsuko smiled.

"Trust me. I do..."

O-O-O

A/N: Yes! It's longer than the fourth chapter! I just know it! I'll have to wait until I count the words using Microsoft Word. You may have noticed that every chapter got longer and longer. One of my friends said it in her reviews and you know who you are, my friend.

Well, this is the final chapter! If you want me to continue, just say so. Oh, for a disclaimer, I do not own anyone but the following: Kagachiwa Ritsuko and her family, Nell, Neitaru Jin and Kazuya, Ziku-sensei, Hazeku Takami and… That's all. (shrugs)

Yeah. So… Special thanks to…

First, thanks to my friends, those who own the OC's, for giving me all the information that I needed. Second, my other friends for… reviewing? Especially you, the one who owns the Naruto/HP fan fiction. You know who you are (winks). Third, my friend who also based her KibaOC fan fiction on a song (I based "Scars" on the song "Scars" by Paparoach.) for helping me with some things. Thanks to you, too, the one who owns a GaaraOC fan fiction, the one with Olha. I don't want to leave my other friends out so I'll just say thank you to all of you! Next, thanks to my brothers for making me like World Wrestling Entertainment. If it wasn't for that, I wouldn't have gotten a few moves in the fourth chapter in Mei's fight against the Mizukage. Hehe. And thanks to you for reading this! But someone like me, who barely gets reviews from those who aren't my friends, needs reviews. So please do submit one!

That is all. Bye! And don't forget the reviews… XD