[center][b][i]Sadako's Birthday[/i]

Kuni is a year older, but...[/b]

Six days ago

[i]With help from two awesome people~[/i][/center]

The sun barely begun shining on Amegakure. The birds who took their chance in the break in the rain started to fly throughout the village, letting out their tweets and landing on different buildings and in the wet streets as the light came upon them. The people in the market and in the different shops had begun setting up and preparing for another day filled with many visitors from the different villages, with many hoping that they will have enough supplies for all of the people that may come to them throughout the day.
As the sun came out some more, it's light begun shining some more on more buildings in the village, and eventually covered all of Amegakure. As the light grew stronger, it begun to go through the covers of a window in a certain building. It appeared as if the resident of that apartment did not wish for the day to reach, and made extra efforts to ensure the light won't reach her. 

Kuni laid in her bed as she felt the light still manage to reach her eyes through the covers of the window. Moving to lay on her side, She shut her eyes tight, trying to forget that she even saw a bit of the light. Staying like this for more than ten minutes, she realised that she is unable to go back to sleep now that she knew. Moving to lay on her belly, she went and struck the bed with her fists several times before stopping, just grabbing the pillow and holding it tightly. She didn't want this day to come. She wanted anything but that.

[center]Yet it still came.[/center]
Slowly pushing herself away from the mattress, Kuni moved to sit on the bed and looked with an annoyed look around. The room was mainly clean and organized, except for the shinobi outfit she wore yesterday. It had been quite a fun day, as she met two new friends. One who she hoped she'll get to see again sometime, and another who she knew for certain that she'll see again, as he was her teammate. Getting up from her bed, she grabbed the outfit on the floor and threw it into a small basket in the corner, which had been empty until that moment. Walking to a small desk in front of the bed, she looked at a picture on it. A picture of her younger self with her mother, both smiling with no worries in the world. 

Moving the picture so it's face had been on the desk, Kuni glanced at the back of it for a moment before going to the closet, taking out her casual outfit and then went to shower. After finishing to shower and getting dressed, she went and grabbed the first thing she could eat, which was a small bowl she had prepared to herself last evening. A small cereal bowl with Cherries was waiting on the small kitchen counter, with a banana next to it and a note that said 'Add Orange juice'. Quickly cutting the banana into even pieces and adding it to the bowl, she went and added the orange juice, only to then realise what she had prepared. It was her mother's favorite breakfast. Did she do this to herself on purpose or just randomly? She had completely forgotten.

Sighing, she went and ate it, trying to ignore the fact she had realised. After finishing and throwing the bowl and spoon in the sink, she went back to her bedroom and sat down on the bed.Looking at a calendar above her bed, she went and marked the date. which was March 15, by taking a sticker from the drawer next to her bed. Moving to sit on the bed properly and putting her hands on her knees, she closed her eyes and focused. [b]Son? Can you hear me?[/b] She asked in her mind, focusing only on him. She knew it was the only way for her to contact him now.

[b]"Barely,"[/b] a deep voice responded. In the depths of Kuni's mind, a large, solid cage stood both tall and wide before her. It was clear who the occupant was before the booming voice even came from its walls. [b]"As slightly refreshing as it is to hear anything at all, it only comes in the form of your voice and only after days of silence."[/b] There was a subtle inflection of anger, though it wasn't clear who it was directed towards.

Staring at the cage, Kuni couldn't help but feel sad, but she knew she had to focus on him and not on anything else if she wanted to be able to hear him even a bit and not just look at a cage without being able to do anything [b]"I'll find a way around this thing Son. I promise. But for now, I thought you should know, even if you can't do anything about it... It's my birthday today. I'm 15 years old, which is nothing compared to you, but... Seeing you can't see everything I see now and such, I figured I should put that extra effort and let you know. Oh, I also lost my Chuunin Exam, but that doesn't mean I didn't get the rank. That will be announced at the end of the whole event, and I'll be sure to also let you know then how things are going."[/b] She told him, hoping he hears everything, because she wasn't sure how much longer she would be able to keep focusing like this on him.

A low grumble came from the wall before her. The Yonbi inside seemed to be pondering her words. [b]"You failed your promotion exam, yet you didn't..."[/b] Son Goku reflected, letting out another low grumble that was apparently his equivalent of humming. [b]"That interests me little."[/b] The sound of movement came from inside the walled cage. [b]"But you are only fifteen, yes? Rather young. I suppose I never accounted for your age before."[/b]

[b]"fifteen, yeah. But how are you doing in there? I hope you are not too angry or upset. I know I would be if I was placed under such conditions, but at least you are not alone in this. At the same time this happened to you, I was affected to, which greatly irritates me, but at least we are...somehow... together in this. Do you get what I mean?"[/b] She said and wondered how he felt about the whole deal.

A scoff was heard. [b]"Together... that's stretching the word,"[/b] Son claimed first. [b]"While before it was bad enough my fate was tied to a child and my free will was stripped of me, now I cannot even communicate at will nor can I even detect the outside world. Furthermore, I can feel this seal trying to rob me of my power. This is worse than before on a scale you cannot possibly understand."[/b] The giant beast let out a long, exasperated sigh. Or perhaps a groan of disdain. [b]"You were foolish to let this happen."[/b]
Looking down to her feet, she knew very well what he meant. He had seen her not try and stop Meisa [b]"I'll make this up to you...Somehow..."[/b] She told him before looking back at the cage infront of her [b]"I suppose apologizing won't be of any value until this changes, so I won't apologize until then. But for now, I need to go. I think I'm starting to get a headache which makes it harder for me to stay here, so I'll-"[/b]

Before she could finish her sentence, she opened her eyes back at her bedroom and allowed herself to fall back on her bed while sending her right hand to her head. She indeed started to get a headache, and it made it impossible for her to focus on Son and keep the communication between them going. Letting out a sigh, she moved back to a sitting positiong and rubbed her head for a couple more moments. Looking at the clock, she saw it was still somewhat early in the morning. Closing her eyes again, She let out a deep breath before getting up, opening her eyes and then within a minute she was outside of her apartment already, heading down the stairs of the building towards its exit and soon enough being in the street.

The sun was shining rather brightly for a day in March in Amegakure, and Kuni thought it was somewhat odd. After looking at the cloudy but bright skies for a bit, she begun making her way throughout the streets. She saw people who already started heading to the different shops, to try and beat the many people who came for the Chuunin Exams. Giving a single thought to Reyna and wondering how she will spend the day, something suddenly caught her eye. A young boy and his father, down the street. She moved to lean on the wall of one of the structures as she watched the two.

[b]"Dadd! Come on! Let me get it! I want to be able to protect you and mom!"[/b] The boy told the older man, who laughed in return [b]"You are still too young. And besides, like I have told you, I'm capable of protecting us. I am a jounin in the village."[/b] The boy made an annoyed face before his dad picked him up and placed him on his shoulders [b]"Don't worry now. One day others will look at you as you will protect them. Some might even view you as a kind of [i]hero[/i] among many heroes in the village. Every single person who helps protect the village is a hero to the village, and you need to remember that."[/b] The older man said, and the young boy patted his dad on his head [b]"You are a good hero then! Good hero!"[/b] He said and kept patting his father's head.

Shaking her head a bit, Kuni snapped out of her odd trance that she was in while observing the two. She had no idea where it had come to her so suddenly and she resumed walking, and then looked a bit down as she begun to figure out why it had caught her attention. The fact that her father never went to find her earlier, and when he did, she turned him down. Was she feeling sad about it now? She shook her head a bit, remembering why she had decided to react in that manner.

But then another part in the father's little speech came to her. That all of the shinobi in the village are heroes. She begun passing through the market as she thought about the last time she had heard the word, and the last person who told her he had expected to see her as a hero, and how it was a rather short time ago.

[hider=Kuni's Talk with Ryoku]

[center][b]A Collab between FoxSVK and Mr Nim[/b]

[i]One week ago[/i][/center]

Ryoku hated to tell people facts that might change their view on life. He always blamed himself for the news he was telling and held himself responsible for them, even if it was not his fault. But this time was different. He felt a slight tremble in his legs as he was getting up from his chair. His hands were shaking as he placed them on his table to support himself. His throat felt narrow, as if the passage for air was obstructed by something. Ryoku knew very well that that "something" was. It was fear. He took the few steps and opened the door on his office, only to see Kuni already standing there. He wanted to speak but ... the words were unable to come out. Instead, he just stared at her awkwardly for a few seconds. Only then did he step aside and by a gesture of his hand, he invited her in his office.

Standing next to the entrance of the Amekage's office, Kuni waited while whistling a weak tune. She didn't want to disturb anyone with her whistling, and because she had been told to wait there, she didn't want herself to become bored while waiting there either. So after thinking a bit, she chose to whistle to pass her time, which was a good choice. She barely noticed Ryoku opening the door to her office and looking at her for a few seconds. Once she noticed, she sent him a friendly wave with a smile before seeing him move aside, indicating she needs to get inside his office. She walked into the office and then turned to look at him before taking a bow [b]"Amekage."[/b] She said and rose from her relatively short bow before moving to take a seat in one of the chairs in front of the desk, waiting to hear what he wanted to talk about.

Ryoku was shocked by the bow. He was not used to peopel doing such things for him - despite being the Amekage, he considered himself just an ordinary man, equal to all the members of his village. So as she took a seat, Ryoku walked up to her and placed his hand on her shoulder.[b]"Yoshikuni ... thank you for finding some time for me. As you already know, I summoned you here because I wanted to have a discussion with you. I would like to ask some things, explain many things and ... ask a favor from you. Now, if you don´t mind ..."[/b] Instead of sitting down on his chair behind his desk, he took another chair and placed it next to Kuni, then proceeded to sat down on it.[b]" ... I will sit here for now. Can you tell me how are you doing, Yoshikuni? How are you feeling?"[/b]

Listening to Ryoku, Kuni became annoyed that he called her by her full name. Obviously he needed to be formal, but she hoped that would change [b]"Its Kuni. Only person who called me Yoshikuni is my mom."[/b] She said before properly turning to face him with her chair [b]"Well, I'm doing fine, I guess. my birthday is coming up in a week and it seems like its gonna be a fun one too. If you mean by how I am handling being the Jinch of the Yonbi, its alright. Nothing too much. Or at least, it was fine until that Meisa lady came. Since I met her something been off."[/b] She said, trying to see if she could recall any specific details about that meeting. But she couldn't remember too much, and her head ached a bit in the back while trying to remember.

Ryoku was surprised by how quickly she moved to the topic of being the Jinchuuriki of a tailed beast. With a sight, he looked at her, deep in her eyes.[b]" That is exactly what I wanted to talk about, Kuni. About Lady Meisa and her visit to you."[/b] He was not sure how to continue - should he go and explain politics to a little girl? There was no meaning in it - he personally hated political machinations and this was one of them. No, he will have to find another approach.[b]" And thus, we are getting to the part where I wanted to do the explaining. Yes, Lady Meisa visited you for a reason I will try to explain to you. But there is one thing you have to know ... it was me who allowed her visit."[/b] Ryoku decided to be quiet and wait for the reaction of Kuni before trying to continue.

Keeping her eyes on Ryoku, she kept hearing what he said. So the topic he wished to discuss was about that Meisa lady and what she did. Kuni nodded at first and then resumed paying attention to what the Amekage was saying. When he said he was the one who allowed her to visit, she didn't quite get what he meant at first. Wasn't it obvious that anyone from the outside of the village needed to go through him? At least, thats what she thought. Thinking about it a bit more, she started to slowly understand what he actually meant. Her sight moved from him to her legs and the expression on her face changed into a more neutral one [b]"What do you mean by allowed her visit? And I mean completely."[/b] She said in a weak voice, drastically different from her regular voice.

Ryoku sighed and look away from Kuni. How would he tell her? Will she understand? Will she hate him? Probably. It was a probability, but Ryoku decided that knowing the truth was above everything else in a situation like this.[b]" I allowed her visit to you. As you are aware, our village recently joined the Fire Union ... I did that step in hopes of helping our village to forget its painful past and move ahead towards a birghter future. But since we are now a part of a larger organization and we are not in a leading role, we have to obey ... [i]higher authorities[/i] ... "[/b] He said the word with a certain tone of dislike in it, but continued a short while later.

[b]" Lady Meisa was afraid that I might use you as a special weapon to improve our standing in the Fire Union ... I am not sure where you get it. It is up to you if you will trust me, Kuni. I never intended to use you in such a disgusting way ..."[/b] Another deep breath, and he looked back at Kuni, visibly saddened.[b]" My dream is one of peace and prosperity for our village, not world domination. The visit Lady Meisa [i]honored[/i] you with was to modify your seal so that you will not be usable as a weapon. My reasoning for clearing his visit is ... is that I wanted to protect you ... "[/b]

[b]"Protect me? Whoever said I need protecting, I wonder. Was it her? To protect me from the beast I was just starting to get to know?"[/b] Kuni said in the same weak voice as before, but this time something was added to it. Just a tiny bit of disbelief. Standing up, she went and approached one of the bookshelves and leaned herself on it [b]"Tell me, Ryoku, why do you wish to protect me from something that you cannot do anything about it? And just because they are higher authorities, does that mean I am just a weapon? Because the hell if I am. I might have caused a lot of mess in Ame from time to time, but it was never something that couldn't be fixed and it was never aimed against any other village. And when I was in Konohagakure, while the soldiers of Shoji were around, I knew how to keep it down very well."[/b] She said and raised her sight from the ground to look at him, and her eyes appeared to be cold.

[b]"You and Meisa basically decided that I am an uncontrollable kid who cannot think for herself and must be tamed in another way. A way that ensured that I will be incapable of using anything I might've gained from the beast you sealed into me. I never intended to gain anything but a new friend, but it seems that you two decided that what I wanted is pointless to look at."[/b] Kuni said and then placed her right hand behind the back of the shelf [b]"If you really think I'm uncontrollable, then you are wrong. I am fully aware of any action I do and the results that come after them."[/b] She said and then pushed the shelf with her right hand with all of her strength, taking a bit but making it fall against the floor and then looking at it [b]"I can already assume that with the fact there is no one here but me and you that you prepared for facing such a thing, for example."[/b] She said before moving to stand behind her chair and to look at it with the cold eyes.

Letting out a fake sounding laugh, she shook her head a bit [b]"You can assume how I'll react all you want, but I won't let you have the benefit of the doubt. I won't react how you think I will. In fact, I will present a simple fact towards you, Ryoku. Whatever Meisa did to my seal might cause me to eventually need to stop being a shinobi. Because since she had messed with the seal, if I try and use chakra for a period of time, then I find myself become dizzy and my vision becomes blurry."[/b] She said and then turned to look at him with the cold eyes again [b]"So tell me, [i]oh great and wise and protective Amekage[/i], did you not ask what Meisa's adjustment might do to me? Did you not ask what the end result could be? Because if you claim to be so protective, then I cannot see it. A person like you, who does not look through into things that will affect his people, should not be a leader of a village."[/b] She said and then shook her head in disapproval. If Kuni had any respect towards Ryoku before, then it was clear that she had lost it.

All Ryoku managed to do during Kuni´s speech was to stand up and look at her for the entire time. All she was telling him was right from a certain point of view.[b]" I wish to protect you from the beast that almost destroyed our village. You were out there ... based on our current experience on how to provide all the ... necessities for a Jinchuuriki, there were certain risks I was not aware of. I am admitting ... my lack of expertise on seals in general and Tailed Beasts caused all of this. I am really glad that you wanted a new friend and even more glad if you could succeed ... but ... "[/b] He stopped mid-sentence while still looking at her.

[b]" Try to understand my position, as I did my best to understand yours. I was out there, protecting my village from a threat. I am not sure about how the beast is now, but back then, he was a threat. I reacted accordingly. Seals are not always perfect, Kuni. If your seal would weaken or get distrupted by any influece you are not able to handle, the results could be catastrophic. The village could lose one of its family members ... you, Kuni. The village might cease to exist all together if we would not be able to stop the beast again."[/b]

[b]" It was a selfish decision, and I will understand if you will never able to forgive me. However ... I promised Eiji a solution for this problem, and I am always doing my best to keep my promises. I promised him an audience with Lady Meisa, where we will discuss the real changes done to your seal and demand changes that will allow you to function as a Kunoichi once again."[/b] Ryoku did not care about his shelf being thrown from its place. Kuni´s reaction was completely justified.[b]" Yes ... I admit. I am not great ... and neither wise, nor all-knowing ... and I have made several mistakes when trying to protect things I hold dear. You are a member of my family, Kuni ... I do care for you as I care for all the members of the village. I guess trying to protect you this way was ... a terrible mistake."[/b]

Hearing what Ryoku told her made Kuni push the chair in front of her against his office desk and then approach him [b]"I always try and understand others. I always try to listen and hear the letters in the words, to be capable of completely understand what others truly mean. And while I hear you showing that you truly wish to protect your village, I also heard something I could not believe. Instead of believing in your sealing team's capablities, you approached someone from the outside because you lack '[i]expertise[/i] and asked her to make things better instead of merely asking for advice. Instead of putting more watch over me and letting me have a chance, you let someone take any kind of chance of bonding with Son Goku. Tell me, is a Kage supposed to show his lack of faith in his own people's capabilities?"[/b] She asked and then reached up and grabbed his collar.

[b]"Asking Meisa to change the seal will most likely be pointless. From the way I heard the woman talk, she will manipulate things to always make them go her way. So asking her to change that will be futile. She tricked me into thinking that she was nice and gentle, only to have someone knock me unconcious before messing with my seal. And if you really thought about protecting the village from the beast, you could've came up with lots of different ways, such as putting me in a distant place from the village until you can unsure its safe to have me in the village. Even though I wouldn't like it one bit, I would understand that. But having my seal be adjusted and still having me in the village? Who ever said Meisa's adjustments make the seal perfect? What if the beast still escapes?"[/b] She said before letting go of his collar and then turning her back on him [b]"I keep hearing the truthful tone of how you want to protect everyone, but the amount of mistakes you make is incredible in my eyes.[/b] She said, and now a bit of sadness was heard in her voice along with the coldness.

[b]" I never judged you, Kuni. I understand why are you judging me right now. Let me tell you several things ... "[/b] Ryoku took a while to collect his thoughts before continuing.[b]" I understand you and Son Goku ... as he is appearantly called, are getting along. I never wanted to limit you. Imagine how would it look - to send you award from the village to a solitary, secluded place. Alone. Wouldn´t that be the same as imprisoning you for the same duration? In my eyes, it would be the same. Something I would never do. I thought that keeping you in the villages, with your friends, with Eiji as your Sensei will help you more than being isolated from everybody. That they would be there for you should you need them, where Eiji is here for you ... and even I, but now it is clear that I am not the one you would turn to for help."[/b]

[b]" Leave negotiatons with Lady Meisa to me. And let me tell you something ... Kuni. I was not the one who asked Meisa to adjust your seal. Neither did I contact them to provide ... [i]assistance[/i] with Son Goku. Lady Meisa was so generous to pay me a visit ... for her, it was not about your life. It was about keeping Ame in the line. I was not given a chance ... she made it clear for me. Our nation has no chance in standing against the Fire Nation ... so I decided to submit, instead of being annihilated. I trust the people of my village more than those of other villages. I never considered not giving you a chance ... if Lady Hoshi selected you, then it was clear that you, in some way, exceeded your peers. Now, you exceed them even more ... you are a hero of this village. Something I will never be. Now ... can you understand it a bit, Kuni?"[/b]

Lowering her sight to the floor as he spoke, she carefully listened to each word. After he finished speaking, she turned around to look at him. The cold look was gone, but there was no strong facial expression on her face either [b]"What I understood now is that you were pushed to the corner and did all you could to protect the people you care for. And I'm not a hero, just like you are not. I'm just a teenage girl who wants to explore and make friends from all around. Both things were taken from me. And now I know that its not your doing, but its done under orders from the Fire Union. So you should work on finding a way of making the Fire Union's grip on Ame be lessened. Perhaps make them realise that while they are strong, they cannot control what information passes between the villages under their so called 'protection'? At least, I know its impossible. Its just like how I keep being told by a merchant in the village that everything in Konohagakure is fine."[/b] She said with a small spark in her eyes. She realised that while Ryoku wanted to help make Amegakure become stronger, he was also starting to slightly regret being under their protection.

[b]"If I was in another village and heard about what they did to me, I'd be furious. Thats my opinion, Anyways."[/b] Kuni said, and the spark in her eyes vanished. Letting out a sigh, she looked around at the bit of mess she created [b]"I will not apologize for what I've done or said here, Ryoku. And you have lost all the respect I once had towards you. So if you want to talk to me again, don't. Send Eiji-sensei or Hoshi, but I do not wish to speak to you again, no matter what may be the reason."[/b] She said and turned to look at him again [b]"Freedom means everything to me. Right now, I've become aware that Amegakure's freedom has been taken by the Fire Union. That needs to change. Understand, Ryoku?"[/b] Kuni asked him in a clear voice, returning to the normal volume of he voice, but having a very unusual serious tone.

[b]" I see. I am saddened that this is how you see things, Kuni. While I am glad that you are ... offering me goals to lead my politics towards to, you must understand this is not how it works. We were undesired persons in the past, Kuni. There can be no happiness in a world where the undesirable are thrown away. You thought that I lied to you, Kuni ... in this world, there are no truths or lies. There are only hard facts ... and for you, only the facts that are favorable to you are true ones. If you can give me advice on how to handle the foreign policies of a village, I am all open to suggestions. However ... as long as you don´t have an idea how it works, please do not come up with ideas that are just nonsensical idealism. What saddens me even more than your attitude is that, despite all you told me and all you did here ... you fail to see one thing. I am responsible for more persons than just you, Kuni. I had to act with their best interest in my heart in my mind, while my hands were tied behind my back."[/b]

[b]" But that is a burden of being a Kage, Kuni. I do not expect you to understand it, as I will never understand the burden of being a Jinchuuriki ... or the burden of going through what you are going through right now. Trying to do everything you just told to me in my situation is like trying to fit two puzzles that do not match. I understand that I lost all the respect I had, Kuni. But you must accept that you, too ... lost my respect. I expected to see a hero today ... if you have nothing more to say, than please excuse me, but my duties are waiting for me."[/b]

Not reacting to what Ryoku said, Kuni merely went and approached the office door [b]"Good day, Ryoku."[/b] She said in the same cheerful tone that she had entered the room with, seemingly reverting back to her usual personality. She had no intention of letting this keep her down or anything of that sort, and after closing the door behind her, Kuni begun to run, wanting to resume her training for the Chuunin Exams, to also be capable of taking her mind of this current conversation.
[/hider]

After thinking about that talk of her and Ryoku, she felt kind of sad for having reacted the way she did. It made her think that she is sometimes too compulsive with her reactions, and that maybe she needs to understand how to react better. And before she realised it, she stood at the entrance to the place she had been going to. Walking inside, she begun to pass between the many similiar objects until she had found the one she had been looking for.
Her mother's grave.

Moving to kneel in front of it, she placed her hand on it as her eyes teared up a bit [b]"H-h-hey mom... It's that t-t-time of the year again... I didn't get anything because I didn't know what would make you happy, like every year... So I thought that a hug would do the trick..."[/b] She said before moving to hug the gravestove and beginning to cry. Her tears fell from her face onto the gravestone and moved across it and the writings on them, which read:

[center][i]Hanako Sadako, Born March 15th 437, Deceased 20th December 473. May her soul rest in peace[/i][/center]
After about a minute of hugging the gravestone, Kuni moved a bit away from it and wiped her face, only to realise it had begun raining a bit now. Looking back at the grave, the tears kept flowing on her face [b]"You always knew the best present for me... How'd you know I w-w-wanted a bit of rain?"[/b] She said and wiped the tears away again before putting her hand on the gravestone. Looking at the direction of the village, she just barely managed to see it through her teary eyes and the rain [b]"It hurts everyday, you know. Every day you are not there to be with me..."[/b] Kuni mumbled to the grave and looked back at it. 

Being there for about an hour, Kuni kept talking to the grave, not caring if it doesn't reply back to her. She expressed all the feelings she had felt throughout the day, including her wanting to make things better for Son Goku and how she should consider apologizing to Ryoku because he had been merely wanting to tell her the truth and she was seeing from her own point of view due to being hurt that he allowed to do such an action. She was still furious at him, but she figured that he deserved better. He is the leader of the village for a reason, after all. 

[b]"...And the last thing I think I can tell you that I feel sad about is that without you, I kept on feeling a bit of lonely."[/b] She said and without noticing, her hand moved to her belly. Upon noticing it, she raised her eyebrows [b]"But... I guess I shouldn't feel that way anymore, because I have Son Goku with me now at all times. Which also means I need to be a lot more careful. But at the same time, I feel like its harder for people to understand me now. I keep feeling Eiji tries his best, which is awesome for him to do so, but because of his daughter and role as the Jounin Commander, he isnt always around..."[/b] She said before feeling the rain become slightly stronger. 

Moving her hand from her belly to her face to wipe away a bit of raindrops and tears from her face, she slowly begun to stand up [b]"Although, even with him being so busy, I think that I could always count on him being there for me and caring for me. You could say that I found a dad in him, and he is the best dad in the world. And I should probably make it a bit clearer to him from time to time how much I appreciate him."[/b] She said before taking another look at the grave, and now smiled to it as the rain became even stronger [b]"Thanks mom. This really helped me clear my mind a bit. I think... I think I know what my next steps should be. Ryoku said that he expected to see a hero in me and that he couldn't. I guess I didn't think of myself as one, but... I should start to. Because if the Yonbi's Jinchuuriki will not be a hero for Amegakure, who will be?"[/b] She asked the grave, which merely stood on its spot. Kuni then gave a wave to the grave [b]"I'll talk to you in several more months mom. Take care."[/b] She said before beginning to head off in a slightly light jog.

As she made her way back, she felt as the rain begun to become lighter. Feeling like this means she can take things a bit easier, she decided on walking instead of continuing to jog. Her outfit was already soaked in water and there was no reason for her to add a bit of sweat into it. As she made her way through the streets, she decided to take a little shortcut in an alleyway. As she walked through, she suddenly noticed a bunch of cardboxes that were flipped and slightly moving, with a leg of something small stuck out of it. Stopping next to the boxes and moving them to the side, she saw a small kitten that was trying to take cover from the rain and now had no shelter. Feeling sad for the kitten, Kuni gently went and placed a box above the kitten in a manner that wouldn't trap the kitten, but would give it cover, before continuing to go in the direction of her home. 

Even if it was only a small thing, she already felt a bit better. Perhaps she should head to Eiji's place and see if he is there with Sachi. Last year she hadn't spent any time with him on her birthday, but perhaps this year it could change. Perhaps...

[center]Perhaps this is the year when she will finally take a step forward and stop looking back at her mother's death.[/center]