• Juro looked in my face for about three seconds before turning around to look out the window. "They're evaluating you Akane," He said like he didn't approve of it.
    "Evaluating, what's that suppose to mean?" I was so confused by what he said. He turned around suddenly grabbing my shoulders.
    "They want to see how powerful you are, seeing if you can make it through to become an Ak........" He abruptly stopped talking. I started putting pieces together in my head about what he was saying.
    The Akatsuki members watching me, my brother being in this organization, and now him saying they were watching me to see how strong I was to see if I'd make it to do something.
    My eyes widened, and I held my breath for a second. Juro looked down at me for a bit waiting for a reply.
    "They want me to join," I said suddenly, looking away out of shock and then back at him. "Why? I d-don't want to hunt people I care for, especially Gaara and Naruto," I said.
    "I don't want you in it either but I don't make the decisions. My Leader does Akane, I'm sorry," Juro suddenly pulled me into a hug. "I wish you were just a normal girl and didn't have to go through this," I felt his hold gown tighter. "Maybe I shouldn't have trained you to become a ninja," Juro suddenly said. I pushed him away once he said it.
    "Why not?! So I wouldn't be in this mess? I love being a ninja! It's what I'm good at and I can do so many things, and without it I wouldn't of had the drive to find our parents, since they've been gone so long!" I said.
    "I know that, but you could have had a more regular life," He said running his fingers through his hair. "You could have had job, normal school, and maybe even a boyfriend," Juro said the last part a bit quieter, anyways I started blushing after he said it.
    "I do have those things, except the boyfriend, I've gone to school, and my job is being a ninja," I said looking at him again.


    The first thing I noticed about the apartment was that it was...to put it bluntly, very suckish. There was one half shredded couch against the wall, and a bookshelf made crudely with cinderblocks and wooden planks. At this, Takashi said sheepishly, "It would be better, but Iruka told me you like to read. So I threw it all together at the last minute."
    He set my bags on the couch, which creaked loudly. I looked around. The walls were cracked and eggshell white, with two pictures hanging up - one was a larger copy of the wedding picture, and the other was a picture of a black and white daisy. It was strangely depressing. Takashi reached out and tugged the chain of a lamp by the door, bathing the living room in a flickering amber light. "Lamp's broken," he sighed. "I never could figure out how to fix it."
    "Um...I'll take a look," i offered quietly. Turning the lamp off, I tugged off the shade and unscrewed the lightbulb, before screwing it back in. It hadn't been all the way in before, apparently, because the flicker was gone. I set the lampshade back in place. "It's fixed."
    "Wow, that was fast." my dad turned to me, beaming. "Thanks, Matsuo."
    "Don't mention it." I touched the crooked lampshade. "Um...where's the kitchen?"
    "Oh, right through there." He pointed to a nearby doorway and I went through it, to find a small kitchen the size of a bathroom. There was a rusty refridgerator and a lot of cupboards, one with a crooked drawer. The sink looked questionable, but the stove looked alright. I returned to the living room, glancing down at the fuzzy orange carpet. Takashi straightened as I came back in, and gave me an apologetic shrug. "I...it's not much. I'm sorry. But I'm saving up - soon it'll be great. You'll see."
    I smiled weakly, picking at the edge of my shirt. Remembering the short goodbye with Iruka. It hadn't been much, just a "sorry, uncle, but I've been waiting so many years for him to come back I'm so sorry bye I love you".
    I sat on the arm of the chair, gazing sadly at the door. Takashi came over to stand by me, setting a hand on my shoulder. It was more unsettling then comforting. "I know it's wierd. I...I swear, I'll explain everything. But I'm really trying hard, Matsuo. Really. You have to believe me." After a long moment, i reached up and set my hand on his. The contrast was startling.
    "I believe you, dad." a shaky breath. "I'm trying hard, too."
    He smiled and hugged me, before kissing me on the head and drawing away. "I'll make you something to eat." He headed off to the kitchen. "All I have is ramen....is that alright?"
    I smiled faintly at the doorway. "Ramen sounds great," I lied.


    Eyeing me for a bit Juro gave in. "Fine it's just I'm worried you're going to get hurt is all," I smiled, and started heading for my room.
    "You'll just have to deal with me getting hurt then, because I am since I'm a ninja now, you should know that," I told him. "Okay!" I said clapping my hands together." Since we had our family bonding time is over you do kind of have to go," I said. Looking at his face it seemed a bit saddened about something.
    "Huh what? Sorry I wasn't listening," Juro suddenly popped out of his thoughts. He saw the look I was giving him, and knew what I wanted. "Oh right I have to leave," He said pointing over his shoulder at the door. As he made his way to the door, he turned around suddenly to look around at the apartment, and began getting a bit on the soft side. "AW~! My baby sister is growing up, and she has her own apartment!" Juro ran back over to me and gave me a bone crunching hug.
    I began making an odd sound, that indicated to him I wasn't getting enough air.
    "I swear Juro you are going to give me brain damage someday, from your hugs when I don't get enough air or something," I complained, and watched him leave through the door instead of the usual window exit.

    Juro's POV.

    Leaving Akane, I still couldn't get over the thought that she had grown so much. At least she was happy about how most of her life had been going.
    Maybe I should have told her. I started thinking to myself about how she said her gaol know was to find our parents, when actually the were killed about a month ago on their long mission. She would be devastated by hearing this, since now she knew about the whole Akatsuki thing too. "How am I going to explain everything to her?" I began talking to myself as I left the Leaf Village. Rubbing my chin I couldn't help but go ove all the scenarios I could explain it too her. As I made my way through the forest in the dark to the Akatsuki hideout, I smelt something fishy, no pun intended.



    After eating dinner I went to the couch (my bed) and curled up under a blanket. My dad followed and sat at the other end of the couch, leaning on his knees. "Matsuo, we need to talk..."
    "Shoot," I said dryly.
    He sighed slightly, twiddling his thumbs awkwardly. "Ok. I...I took it hard, when your mom died. When we got married, I thought it would be forever...and then you were born, and I had this whole lifetime planned out...we were supposed to grow old together." his voice cracked slightly. "We were supposed to raise you, together, and be this perfect family. And then she died, and...and then there was no one to grow old with. No one to help raise you." He took a shaky breath. "Everytime I looked at you, it just...reminded me of her, you know? And I tried my best to raise you myself. But...but I couldn't take it anymore. And so I took you there, to Iruka's, in the middle of the night. He had no idea. I just rang the doorbell and left you there. And...and that moment just...just hung in my mind forever. It haunted me. seeing you there, all bundled up in the cold, watching me leave..."
    I swallowed hard. He was wiping his wet eyes hurriedly, thinking I couldn't see.
    "I went up to the Sound. I had heard that this man...Orochimaru...was studying jutsu to bring the dead to life. I wanted your mother back, Matsuo. I was desperate. But...i saw the horrible things he did to his 'patients', and I couldn't bring myself to be a part of it. I left and came back to the Leaf. I wanted to see how you were doing...and I was going to take you back." He spread his hands. "But when I got there, it was Christmas. I remember looking in the window, and seeing you there. Iruka had bought you this big, plush, pink teddy bear. You were ecstatic, practically bouncing off the walls." he let out a choked laugh. "And then you guys got hot cocoa and sat in front of the fire, and Iruka was telling stories...I couldn't take you away from that, Matsuo. So I left. Tried to start all over. But...all I could think about was you."
    And suddenly I was crying. "Then why take me away now?" I sobbed. "So much later? Right when things started feeling right?"
    Takashi looked pained. "Matsuo...I never meant for this to happen. I just...I'm trying to fix things, Matsuo! Please!"
    Sniffling, I wiped my eyes and, suddenly feeling a lot younger then usual, I extended my arms. "Daddy..."
    Face wet, he pulled me to him. So many hugs, I thought. So much bonding. But I still miss the way things were.


    Juro's POV.

    I looked down at the ground again suddenly saddened more, by the appearance of the blue skinned Akatsuki member. "What is it now Kisame?" I questioned not looking up to see him standing behind me.
    A chuckle came from him, "The leader sent me to watch Akane for a bit, and see what I think of her," I saw the toothy grin in my mind that was most likely on his face now.
    "Whatever just go," I said to him, thinking about my parents now dead. After saying for him to go, I remember what Diedara tried to do to Akane early, and I whirled around to Kisame. "If you dare touch her," I began threatening Kisame even though he was about a head taller than me since he was 6 foot 4, "I will personally come after you and torture you with my ocular jutsu!" He knew what kind of stuff I could do so he began to back up quickly to make his way to the Leaf Village.
    "Hehe I see the Diedara's still under your skin. Isn't he, Juro?" I glared at him suddenly and began hastily back to the headquarters to get Diedara back.



    The next day my dad and I went into town to go shopping for more things in the apartment. "No way!" I exclaimed, after he told me a story. "I was never that weird!" Takashi grinned at me, handing over a new lamp for me to hold.
    "Yes you were! You dressed that cat up like a princess and hauled her around the village calling her your ninja cat."
    "Oh gosh." I shook my head, grinning. Momoko tapped me on the face from his perch on my shoulder. "Don't worry, Momoko. I won't dress you up like that." the tanuki settled down, content.
    "So, Iruka tells me you've entered the dating scene..."
    I blushed furiously, grabbing the box that contained my new bookshelf, and setting it in the cart we were wheeling around. "How often as he been calling you to tell you things like this?"
    Takashi stuck his hands in his pockets. He had taken to wearing his old Jonin uniform, vest unzipped, with his headband turned so that the metal plate was on the left side of his head. It hadn't aken much to restore his status - only a quick talk with the Hokage full of earnest apologies and welcome backs. It would have been harder if my dad had officially joined another village, but he hadn't. He chewed on a toothpick absent mindedly. "Just one or two times."
    I shook my head and started shoving the cart along. He matched my pace.I sighed and looked at him. "Dad...I uh...it's nice, living together and all...but..."
    "But you miss Iruka." He draped an arm over my shoulders. The feeling was still awkward, but not nearly as much. "I know we can never be as close as you and him are. And I know it's tough to be away from him."
    "But this is nice," I sputtered. "I mean, we have a nice father daughter relationship going on..."
    He grinned crookedly. I looked up and then saw Akane standing by the park. "AKANE!" I called, waving spastically. "HI!"

    IRUKAS POV
    The first thing he noticed was the silence.
    It was wierd for him, to get back from the academy and find the house empty, lights off, silent as a crypt. At first it wasn't that bad - Matsuo usually got home late - but it was knowing that it would stay that silent through the night sent a dagger in his heart. He missed seeing his niece flopped in the couch, reading, or eating at the counter. It was even harder when he remembered how much he detested the extra company when she was first dropped off out of the blue, and how much he wished she would go back to live with her father. And now, like all wishes, it came true when he didn't want it to.
    He set his things on the counter and grabbed a sandwich from the fridge. There was no more need for cooking big meals like spaghetti or homemade pizzas or things. Not when he was the only one here. Shrugging off his vest, he decided to torture himself further and climbed the stairs up to Matsuo's empty room.
    That room was even wierder. It was usually a mess, with her and ino talking about boys and flipping through magazines, or her sprrawled out on the floor after a tough day. And now it was bare and abandoned. He leaned in the doorway with a sigh, remembering how angry he was when he first had to clean out his little study. And now he didn't have the heart to empty it out again. Now more then ever that quote "you don't know what you had until it's gone" (or however the wierd little phrase went) was true.
    Deciding to call later, he shoved away from the doorframe and headed back downstairs.